Boreas, 3,000 light-years from Earth
Hermes has lost count of how many children he has sired over his long life. To say he’s been an absent father would be an understatement: in the vast majority of cases, his children never even learned about their divine parentage.
Tyche has always been different. Not only she inherited the beauty of her mother, but also the passion for scheming of her father. Gods rarely, if ever, think about their death, but Hermes would be proud if Tyche were to succeed him in his role.
Watching her barely holding herself together after the brutal beatdown received at the hands of Enyo is harder than he thought… especially since he was the one instigating the fight.
A fight that is difficult to forget when the ground is shaking from the unexpected battle between Enyo and Dionysus.
<We should probably get out of here.> Hermes suggests, getting closer to take Tyche in his arms.
<Don’t touch me!> she replies, getting away from him. Her bleeding has stopped and the teeth are regrowing, but her face is still one giant bruise.
<Come on, sweetie, I know things got a little out of control but…>
<DIE!!!> Enyo shouts at Dionysus, her hypersonic scream generating a colossal snowstorm as the sound pressure pushes tons of snow from the mountains of the frozen planet.
<Drama queen.> Hermes comments, rolling his eyes.
A thousandth of a second later, Enyo looks around confused: she’s no longer on Boreas.
The two gods are floating above a completely different planet, a gas giant in the same solar system.
<Where?> she asks, looking around.
<I don’t know how they call the place, and frankly I don’t care. What were you thinking attacking my daughter like that!?> Hermes complains.
<Enemy.>
<Yes, I know we’re on opposite sides, but that’s the game isn’t it? I can understand Tyche not getting it, but you and I are roughly the same age, aren’t we? You should know there’s a rhythm to these things! One century you’re enemies, one century you’re allies, that’s how things play between gods! And here I thought you were more reasonable than your brother: you’re just as crazy.>
Enyo doesn’t seem to take kindly to the comparison with Ares, as her eyes become red with fury.
<Apologize.>
<For calling it like it is? Not a chance, sister. Besides, what are you going to do? You have no chance of actually catching me, whether we’re on Boreas or on this… whatever this planet’s called.>
<Zethes. You know they named a fantastic moonshine out of it?>
Hermes turns to face Dionysus. It’s not often that the god of speed is taken by surprise.
<How did you get here!?>
<I flew.>
<You’re not anywhere this… this… fast…> Hermes tries to argue, suddenly feeling dizzy.
<What did you do to me? Did you poison me? I can’t be poisoned…>
<Hey, I gave you my best stuff! It’s your fault for catching me when I wasn’t drunk.>
<Enough!!!> Enyo protests, flying towards Dionysus to punch him with enough force to pulverize a moon. But by the time she reaches him, her strength is barely enough to crush diamonds: Dionysus is completely unfazed by it.
<See what happens when I don’t drink enough? Other people lose their minds.> he explains, taking the opportunity to throw Enyo towards the gas planet.
Hermes would normally be on the other side of the Galaxy at this point… but at the moment he can’t quite remember how to move faster than light.
<Clever little bastard. But you can’t stay sober forever… sooner or later you’ll have to drink!>
<Probably. Do you think you’re god enough to face me when I’m sober?> Dionysus threatens him. Despite his carefree look, Hermes can sense Dionysus hides something beneath his usual drunken stupor… an unexpected lust for mayhem.
<You’re more powerful when you sober up… faster, stronger… I can sense it. How come I never learned about this?> Hermes asks, hoping to gain some time: Dionysus doesn’t seem to pay attention to the storm gathering on the planet beneath him.
<I didn’t know either until the honeymoon. You should thank my wife for the discovery.>
<Tyche knew? Then why did you stay drunk?>
<She had visions. She knew that whenever I’m sober… things die.> the god of wine answers, turning around just as the gas giant is now completely surrounded by a single storm.
<Looks like she’s coming back for more. Good, a little exercise will help me sober up faster. And besides…>
An impossibly loud scream blows away the atmosphere of a planet dozens of times larger than Earth, and Enyo approaches with enough speed and rage that frightens Hermes.
<…I have some s#it to work through.> Dionysus concludes, bracing to take the full blunt of the assault.
Leandros, 55,000 light-years from Earth
Even after the failed assassination attempt from Null, nothing seems to have changed in Harmonia’s domain: the goddess of harmony and peace is still overseeing the disarmament of the realm she inherited from Ares.
She’s distracted from her fixation only when she receives an emergency call, something she’s not accustomed to since no god ever decides to call her.
The face of Tyche appears on the viewscreen; it’s mostly healed, but it still shows the unmistakable signs of a brutal beating.
<You poor thing, what happened to you?> Harmonia asks, genuinely worried.
<Enyo just declared war on us.> Tyche answers, her rage still burning through her mind.
<Who’s “us”?>
<Dionysus and me!!! You have to declare war back on her!>
<Me, employing violence? Did you forget who you are talking to, young goddess?> Harmonia asks, her purple eyes shining.
Fortunately her power can’t travel such a distance, but her look is enough to shake Tyche from her anger and back into her usual scheming self.
<Excuse me, I am… I am still shaken by the battle. But surely you must do something!>
<Is my grandson fighting?>
<What?>
<Is my grandson employing violence?>
Tyche has to consider her words carefully. She hasn’t known Harmonia for long, but she’s quickly figured out her obsession for peace is all-encompassing.
<Of course not. He is offering a peaceful resistance.> she lies.
<As he should. But you are correct, I should take more active steps towards peace.> Harmonia nods, stroking her chin pensively.
<Perhaps you should… export your peace? It is only fair to liberate other sectors from war.>
<Absolutely. But Enyo holds no territory, isn’t it? There is no sector for me to liberate. And in order to use my powers against her, she would need to be convinced to face me.>
<I think I know a way. She has chosen Hermes as her champion: if we… liberate a world he holds dear, then he will have no other choice than to call for Enyo to rescue him.>
<You share his blood, Tyche. You know better than anyone else that Hermes only cares for himself.>
<Perhaps not. I happen to know a place he is very fond of.> Tyche says, pausing to consider the consequences of her actions. She wouldn’t have done this yesterday… but her bones still hurting from the assault are a reminder that she no longer has the luxury of playing fair.
<Have you ever heard of a planet called Earth, Harmonia?>
Null Tower, New York City
Doctor Catherine Kalama is nervously tapping her foot, keeping her arms crossed and a stern expression on her face.
<Care to explain what’s going on, missy?>
<I was just playing.> her daughter Nalani answers, taking care not to look at her mother.
She’s sitting on her bed, next to a mass of wires that come out of the exposed computer brain of a Nullbot. A new model of the humanoid robot is leaning against the bed, missing the head that has been removed and disassembled.
<With one of your sister’s robots. What did I tell you about those?>
<But mom…>
<What did I tell you, Nalani?>
<That they are dangerous and I’m too young to play with them. But I’ve been really really careful, mommy, it’s harmless! I was just curious to figure out how it works.>
<Why didn’t you just ask your sister to explain it?>
<She said she’d find the time. But she’s always busy.> Nalani answers, pouting. For all her enhanced intelligence, she’s still six years old.
<That’s no excuse. Now let’s put your toy away and…> Doctor Kalama tells her, interrupted when the light in the room turns red. Sunlight is blocked when a metal sheet slides over the window.
<Attention all occupants. Null Tower is in lockdown. Please remain calm, security protocols are in effect.> is the public announcement delivered by a metallic voice that resonates throughout the building.
<Mommy? What’s going on?> the child asks, rushing to hug her mother.
<I don’t know, sweetie. O.D.I.N., what just happened?> the doctor asks; she’s one of the few people in the Tower authorized to receive high priority updates from the skyscraper’s artificial intelligence.
<We are currently in Total Lockdown Mode. Null Tower is isolated from the rest of the planet.> O.D.I.N. replies. Despite the attempt to keep a soothing tone, it does nothing to make the doctor any less worried.
<Are we under attack?> she asks.
<Unknown. Total Lockdown Mode is initiated automatically whenever a Code Three is detected.>
<What’s a Code Three!?>
<Presence of a hostile god within the building.> Nalani answers. Her mother decides this is not the right time to ask how she can possibly know that. Especially since, the moment she lets go of Nalani, she disappears from the room.
Personal apartment of Noriko Null
Doctor Kalama has been teleported before, but this isn’t the sanitized technical process employed by Noriko: she feels as if her molecules have just been physically carried over to the upper floor.
She ignores the discomfort once her doctor instincts come to life: she’s in the presence of patients.
Specifically, Hermes has just dropped Enyo on Noriko’s bed; the goddess looks like she’s been hit by a truck, then a train, after falling from orbit, and she’s losing enough blood to paint the bed red.
Hermes looks slightly less wrecked, but he’s covered in bruises and his face is swollen.
<I know you. I was looking for Sunshine, but… you’re a healer, aren’t you?> the god asks.
<I’m a doctor, yes, but I’m not sure I’m qualified to treat gods.>
<Well, they say only Zeus is perfect, and look the trouble he got us into.> is the last thing Hermes says before fainting into her arms.
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