Beyond The Impossible

Argos, 100 light-years from Earth

For most of the citizens of the Mortal Republic, its capital world is just a distant concept. Most planets rule themselves and have only a relatively loose relationship with Argos: after all one of the main reasons for the very existence of the Republic is the hands-off way the gods used to govern their subjects, so it stands to reason that human sovereigns do the same thing.

If they could be present at the secret meeting that is being carried in the Presidential Palace, however, they would realize just how much influence a capital can have.

Only four people are present.

Aura, the current Acting President of the Republic.

Kylon, its Minister of War.

Torn, the current leader of Hell’s armed forces.

And Noriko Null, who needs little introduction in most of the Galaxy. She’s the one in front of a detailed holographic map of the Olympian Galaxy that lists the location of its largest fleets.

<Okay, we have three major pretenders to the Throne of Olympus now. Hebe, who has the most legitimate claim, can count on Hera’s support and a sizeable army. Enyo, as far as we know, is only allied with Hermes and holds no territory. And finally there’s Dionysus, who is just a puppet for his grandmother Harmonia and his wife Tyche.>

<If the intel from Vesta can be trusted. Can we be certain of her loyalties? She has been welcomed back to Olympus after all.> Aura intervenes, always skeptical of the gods.

<I trust her a heck of a lot more than I trust you.> Noriko replies, her silver eyes shining: the only reason she’s tolerating Aura is that she still have many loyalists in the Republic’s military.

<What about Athena? Or Aphrodite?> Kylon intervenes, trying to reduce the tension.

<Neutral. I’m fairly sure Athena is just waiting for one of the others to make a move, and I’m certain Aphrodite simply doesn’t care one way or the other.> Noriko answers.

<The Republic must remain neutral as well, for obvious reasons, but if the Galaxy must have a ruling god our best bet is Dionysus.> Aura proposes.

<Actually, I think our next move should be to take him out.> Noriko disagrees.

<Sorry but I’m with President Aura on this one, Noriko. Didn’t the Guild completely take over his sector for thousands of years? The Republic can do the same: Dionysus couldn’t care less about ruling, as long as he has fun.> Kylon replies.

<So it’s “Noriko” now? Interesting.> Aura comments, staring at the two. She hasn’t deduced the two have started a relationship, but she’s picking up the hints.

<Her name has always been Noriko.> Torn reassures her, completely missing the point.

<If this was only about Dionysus I would agree, but Harmonia is dangerous.> Noriko insists.

<She removed from active duty all the armed forces of the Ares and Apollo sectors. I say she’s only dangerous to herself, and killing her… if that is your goal… would only awaken them.> Aura replies.

<Exactly! First of all you’ve seen the reports of how life is like under Harmonia’s rule… people are mindless zombies. If we free them from her rule, none of those people will follow Dionysus. Her armed forces, in particular, would be split between following Helen and Enyo.>

<Helen used to be our ally, sure, but didn’t Enyo try to murder you more than once?> Kylon asks.

<She tried.> Torn succinctly recalls.

<I can deal with Enyo, easily, even if Hermes backs her. Look, it’s really simple: if we stop Harmonia we prevent Dionysus to keep his claim; Hera will immediately rush against Enyo, making it even easier to dispose of her. Maybe I won’t even need to kill her.>

<Let’s say I endorse this. How exactly do you plan to stop Harmonia?> Aura asks.

<Surgery.> Torn replies.

<He means a surgical strike.> Noriko clarifies.

<We know where Harmonia is: I can take Null there with a portal. She will never see us coming.> Torn explains.

<Then as soon as she’s dead and her forces are free from her mind control, our ships will completely surround their major fleets.> Kylon adds.

<I’m sure you know the size of the Ares fleet. We don’t have enough ships for such an operation, let alone the time it would take to move all of them.> Aura points out.

<We will have the support of the former Apollo Oracles. Leave the logistics to me, Aura: with a combination of the Portal Generator and the Shadow Network we will have the Ares fleet completely surrounded in no time. But even so it will take nearly every ship available… I really need the manpower only you can provide.> Noriko admits to the President.

<Can’t we do this before attacking Harmonia?>

<You forget how formidable her mind powers are. She would have our fleet under control before they can fire a single shot.>

<Not if you deploy your Black Hole Generators. Wipe her planet out of existence.>

Noriko knew Aura was ruthless, but the way she casually mentions that possibility sends chills down her spine.

<I will not murder billions of people to kill a single goddess, Aura.>

<The gods won’t be so kind to us, Null. Your plan would leave the Mortal Republic completely defenseless from an attack from any other hostile force. Even assuming Apollo’s Oracles won’t turn against us, which is a questionable assumption. And you are forgetting Harmonia has another ace up her sleeve: you say she won’t even see you coming… but she has Tyche.>

<Her precognitive powers are indeed a wild card.> Kylon nods.

<Tyche wants the throne for herself: it’s in her best interest if I kill Harmonia. But I agree, she’s difficult to account for, and I haven’t found a way to protect us from her interference.> Noriko admits, massaging her chin as she thinks of a possible strategy.

<Perhaps I could be of assistance.>

The voice comes from someone who definitely shouldn’t be there. By the time Null and Aura draw their Genius Gun and laser pistol, Torn is already placing an energy sword on the intruder’s throat… but he doesn’t get to use it before a snake breaks the blade in its jaws.

<My my. Is this a way to greet an old friend?> Lilith asks, calmly moving away from Torn even as the snake perched on her shoulder hisses at him.

<Eris. You have some nerve to show your face> Noriko tells the goddess.

<Please, just Lilith okay? It’s a more fitting name since my… upgrade.> she says, petting the snake that serves as a visual reminder of the powers of Apophis she has absorbed.

<I don’t care how you call yourself, you were always a snake. What do you want?>

<To provide assistance. I can keep Tyche occupied while you play Slayer of Gods.>

<Out of the goodness of your heart, I’m sure.> Noriko says sarcastically.

<Unlikely. She wants something out of it.> Torn replies.

<And here I thought she was the genius of your little team.> Lilith says, rolling her eyes.

<Don’t bother trying to sell me your latest scam, “Lilith”. I am not going to trust a single word coming out of the Goddess of Discord’s mouth.> Noriko firmly declares.

<I thought as much, so I brought some proof with me.> Lilith replies, looking at the snake as it regurgitates a tablet out of its mouth and into her hand.

<You’ll want to examine it to make sure it’s legit.> she says, trying to give the slime covered device to Noriko. The mortal moves away, fighting the urge to throw up.

<Maybe disinfect it first. With a flamethrower or something.> she comments as Lilith places the device on the table. Once she presses a button, the tablet creates the hologram of a familiar face.

<Hello, sunshine. I’m so very sorry I’m not able to be in your lovely presence, but I’m confident you can study this recording and be sure this is not a fabrication of my half-sister.> the recording says.

<Hermes. The guarantee you’re not lying is Hermes!? You’ve got to be kidding me!!!>

<I can only imagine you’re being skeptical, and I don’t blame you. But ask yourself this, sunshine: wouldn’t you like have a couple more gods on your side?>

Noriko stares at Lilith, who doesn’t seem to be able to stop smiling creepily. Naturally she would never trust those two… but she has exploited their treachery before, and she can’t throw away the opportunity to do it again on a much grander scheme.

<I’m listening.> she says.

 

Council Of The Twelve Gods, Olympus

Once Zeus resigned from his position and the possibility of a divine civil war turned into an absolute certainty, nearly all gods returned to their worlds to plan their moves.

Enyo had no luxury: she has no home. The pink-haired war goddess stands in front of the half-circle of empty thrones, feeling this is the same place where her brother Ares brutally executed their younger sister Ilithyia. There was little love between siblings, but Enyo is painfully aware she could’ve easily been murdered for her own betrayal.

<This place sure feels gloomy when it’s empty, isn’t it?> Hermes jokes, suddenly appearing behind her back. Enyo grabs Hermes by the throat, lifting him up with one hand and slamming him against the nearest Neutral Matter wall.

<Talk. Too. Much.>

<It’s… a gift…>

<Why?>

<Maybe… I talk… for both… of us?> he struggles to reply.

<Why. Me.> she says, finally letting him go. He considered playing up how much of a threat she is, but he won’t need to: he had forgotten just how ridiculously strong she is.

<Why did I back up your claim and ask you to marry me? Well, for starters, you’re actually cute in that want-to-burn-the-universe-down kind of way. But mostly I respect anyone who challenges authority and thinks outside the box. And besides, you need me.>

<Stronger.>

<Well yes, obviously you’re stronger than me: without your brother around you’re by far the strongest god who can sit on that throne, with the possible exception of…>

<STRONGER.> Enyo interrupts him before he can mention Athena, releasing a tiny fraction of her war cry. The sound pressure would reduce a mortal to ashes: it’s enough to shake the building.

<Alright, alright, I get it. Look, let me be frank: you literally cannot say more than a single word without breaking a planet. Even if you do punch your way up to taking Zeus’ place, how do you expect to keep all the other gods in line? In fact do you really, honestly want to rule Olympus?>

<Yes.>

<Are you sure? You’re a soldier, Enyo, not a queen. You would be bored out of your mind if you actually had to govern this galaxy. No, what you actually want to do is get back at your family for the horrible way they have treated you over the eons, isn’t it?>

<Continue.> she answers. And just like that, Hermes is sure he’s already won.

<You want vengeance against Hera for always siding with Ares. You want revenge against Hebe for never defending you. You want to take Athena down a peg for daring to be daddy’s favorite daughter even if she’s a bastard. Be honest with me, Enyo, you don’t want to inherit Olympus… you want to break Olympus. Just tear the whole thing down in a blaze of glorious violence.>

<Yes. How?>

<Am I glad you asked. Why not discuss this with a glass of ambrosia?> Hermes proposes, taking Enyo’s hand. She could crush it effortlessly, but she’s already his pawn.