Beyond The Impossible

Washington D.C., Earth

Todd Slate hasn’t seen Noriko Null since she was crowned Co-Empress; in fact, he doesn’t even know if she’s been back to Earth after that.

When he enters his office only to find her sitting on his desk, however, he’s not exactly surprised: he’s used to her barging into his office without asking.

<Hey Todd. I let myself in.>

<I have a door, Noriko, you don’t have to teleport every time. But it’s nice to see you again… you were always saying how much you’d hate taking a leadership position, but you look great.>

<I still hate being Co-Empress, but someone had to do it. Besides, it’s only a temporary thing.>

<I’m pretty sure that job is supposed to be for life, Noriko.>

<It also wasn’t supposed to be done by a mortal, but that didn’t stop me. It’s good to see you too, Todd, and to get back to Earth… how’s the planet, by the way?>

<Since when do you need asking?>

<Since I stopped automatically absorbing all of mankind’s knowledge and started picking just what I needed. And I’ve been away for so long that doing it now would take more mental energies than I can spare.> she explains.

<Where do I begin? People are still figuring out how to deal with Earth now being part of the galactic community. The Ministry of Planetary Development is working with several countries to fix global warming and provide food… don’t you know about this? It’s your government.>

<I’ve seen a couple reports about eradicating malaria in six months and reversing global warming in a couple of years. Sounds like everyone’s taking this well, right?>

<For the most part. Plus, get this, we’ve hit two whole months without a single armed conflict on the whole planet. I don’t think this has ever happened.>

<And, uhm, what do people think of me?>

<Let’s just say I’m happy that I’m no longer your public relations manager.>

<That bad, uh?>

<It’s… complicated. Why do you ask? You’re not thinking of isolating Earth again, right?>

<No, nothing like that. But I have to do something that will not sit right with some people… including the Secretary of Homeworld Security.> Noriko admits.

<I knew taking that job wouldn’t make things easy between us. What did you really come to discuss, Noriko?> Todd asks.

<I need to take the Key of Heaven.>

Todd takes a deep breath, slowly getting to his chair and sitting down. He already knows this is going to be an exhausting day.

<I know, I know, I promised the Global Defense Organization that I’d let Earth keep it, but I have my reasons.> Noriko explains.

<The Key is supposed to be Earth’s greatest defense, now that you’re no longer here all the time. You unilaterally decided to entangle the planet in galactic politics, Noriko… I had to reassure several governments that as long as the Key is here, nobody would dare to attack Earth.> Todd reminds her.

<Things have changed. With the Key here, Earth is a target now.>

<Which god did you make angry this time?>

<Gaea. Before you ask, no, I can’t kill her: she’s a Class-1 goddess.>

<Wasn’t Tiamat in the same class as well?>

<The way I used to kill her was a one-time deal, Todd. Gaea is too powerful even for me, but I believe that if I get rid of the Key she’ll leave Earth alone.>

<You believe or you know?>

<You have to trust me on this one, Todd. Haven’t I proven myself enough?>

<I was there the last time you fought a Class-1 goddess and you barely survived… it was one hell of a risk, it’s basically a miracle your plan worked.>

<Well, some people do say I’m a goddess.> she shrugs.

<You don’t get to joke on this, Noriko. We both have responsibilities to our governments… I can’t just take your word that giving away Earth’s secret weapon won’t backfire.>

<I can’t risk having the Global Defense Organization or the United States working behind my back, Todd, not when my resources are spread this thin. You work with these people every day, what will it take to get the GDO to agree giving me back the Key?>

Todd takes a moment to think this through. Things must be pretty desperate if she’s this worried about keeping Earth on her good side, despite having control over the rest of the Galaxy.

<The Key is not the only alien superweapon on the planet. If the GDO could get its hand on the Heart Of The Universe, they would let things slide.> Todd suggests.

<You’re joking, right? The Heart was destroyed ages ago, after the Guild’s invasion!>

<The GDO knows it’s still intact, down below at the Earth’s core. They have Voron’s studies on the subject, and according to his estimations… plus the tests run by our scientists back when the Heart was in our possession… the Heart is basically indestructible.>

<How does the GDO have Dmitri’s data?> Noriko wonders, raising an eyebrow.

<Russia is a member of the GDO, and Voron used to work for them… even if he didn’t give them everything, they still have his notes. And let me tell you, the President wasn’t happy to learn this from the Russians and not from you.>

<What would’ve been the point to inform him? As you said, the Heart is at the center of the Earth.>

<And you don’t have a way to recover it?> Todd asks, looking at her straight in the eye.

She considers lying to him. But he could always tell when she wasn’t honest.

<Yes, fine, I do have some ideas on how to recover the Heart Of The Universe. But Todd, that thing is the most powerful weapon I’ve ever come across… it’s even more dangerous than the Key. The one time I managed to use it, I completely wiped out the Guild from the face of the Galaxy! I don’t trust myself handling that thing, you can’t ask me to hand it over to the GDO.>

<I’m sorry, Noriko, but it’s the only thing more valuable than the Key. The GDO will not trade it for anything else.>

<You know I don’t have to ask for permission, right? I could take it at any time.>

<That would be interpreted as a hostile action, Noriko. You would be getting dangerous enemies.>

<Speaking from experience?>

<Speaking as the Secretary of Homeworld Security. I have to take this to the President and to the GDO, Noriko. But I know these people: they will want your head for this.>

<Like half of the universe. They better get in line.> Noriko comments, her silver eyes shining.

<Look, I’m on your side on this okay? But try seeing it from Earth’s perspective: you’ve tossed us into an environment we know nothing about. Every government attempting to deal with galactic politics is flying blind right now, and…>

<Wait, that’s it! I have something else to offer.> Noriko realizes, snapping her fingers.

<One of your inventions?>

<Something like that. I can give Earth a seat at the table where the big decisions are taken.>

<How?>

<Making it the political capital of the Empire. Hebe can keep Olympus for all the ceremonial stuff, but I can set up my office at Midgard City. Now that I think about it, since it’s in Antarctica it would even make dealings with the Lar much easier.>

<Wouldn’t that make Earth an even bigger target?>

<With the capital here, nobody would bat an eye if I brought a large chunk of the imperial fleet in this solar system.>

<Well that’s… that’s quite a move. It might convince the GDO.>

<That’s great! Would you mind informing them right now? I’ll get started with the next phase, it’d be best if I could get the Key back within today.> Noriko says, excitedly jumping off the desk.

<Are you always on a tight schedule?> Todd asks, rolling his eyes.

<Only when I’m under pressure, which yes, is basically always.>

<And of course you’re not going to tell me what this “next phase” is, right?>

<Sorry Todd, it’d take too long to explain and I can’t exactly take you with me to show it.>

<Why? Is it somewhere dangerous?>

<Only if you’re a man.>

 

Themiscyra, 90,000 light-years from Earth

Vesta never really liked the Amazons. She tried to change their bloodthirsty nature when she was in charge of their planet, but her plan to help them evolve by giving them android technology developed by Hephaestus backfired… the new android Amazons are not as willing as their ancestors to attack other planets, but they are just as single-minded.

<Let me tell you, Lady Vesta, that you are welcomed on our planet only as a courtesy to the alliance forged by my predecessor. If it were up to me, you would be facing the whole Amazon armada at this point.> the android sitting on the throne threatens her.

Like all androids on the planet, she’s a stunningly beautiful woman that could easily pass for a goddess. The only hint that this is not a being of flash and blood is the red glow in her pupils.

<I was saddened by the death of Queen Tecmessa, Your Majesty, but…>

<Call it by its actual name: murder. Our Queen was murdered under your watch; the responsibility of her death falls under you and…>

<Empress Null is here, Your Majesty.> one of her soldiers informs her, opening the golden door leading to the throne room.

<Ah, Noriko, finally you’re here. This is Queen Clonie, the successor to Tecmessa.> Vesta introduces her, relieved to have a friend nearby.

<I thought Tecmessa would be rebuilt.> Noriko admits.

<Considering her failure as our ruler, our people decided for an upgrade. Is it no longer a tradition to bow in front of a fellow monarch?>

<I meant no disrespect.> Noriko replies, taking a respectful bow. She doesn’t care much for protocol, but she needs the Amazons enough to endure this.

<If you are here to ask us to submit to our rule, know that the Amazons don’t recognize the sovereignty of the Olympian Empire over Themiscyra.>

<May I ask why?>

<Your government includes men in position of power, and there is no rule to prevent men from ascending to the role of Prime Minister or inherit the throne. And no man shall ever rule Themiscyra, it is our most sacred directive.> Clonie says.

<That’s fine by me, admission to the Empire is entirely on a voluntary basis: believe me, I have no intention of conquering your planet.>

<And why should I believe you? You have promised my predecessor to move Themiscyra outside of this Galaxy, but you have failed to do so. Time and time again the Amazons have supported your efforts and we have received nothing in return.>

<I’m here to rectify that mistake. If you’ll just allow me access to your laboratories for a single day, I will use the Key of Heaven to move your planet to whatever Galaxy you want.>

<I find that suspicious. You are reasonably intelligent, why do you need our laboratories?>

 

<Themiscyra is the most technologically advanced planet in the Galaxy: I’ve seen what your trans-dimensional forge can do, and it would take me months to build a new one. Months I don’t have.>

<Because of the impending ecological disaster about to be unleashed by Gaea? Yes, I know all about that: the Amazons are independent, but we keep ourselves informed… although this is no threat to us. If all vegetation on Themiscyra were to die out, we evolved past biological needs.>

<You would let thousands of planets die?> Vesta asks her.

<They could always be repopulated by androids. An overall improvement.>

<I’m sure you could probably do it, but it would take you ages. If you want to be in your own galaxy without organics, you could get it tomorrow with my help. And don’t tell me you can do it yourself: if you had the technology to move a planet that far, you would’ve done it already.>
“Probably better keep quiet about the Key of Heaven having been built by a man.” she thinks.

<It is tiresome to be surrounded by fleshy things. Very well, Empress Null, our laboratories are yours for the day, but be warned: if you betray our trust again, the full might of the Amazons will wage war against your kingdom.>

<You won’t be disappointed, Queen Clonie.> Noriko replies, with another respectful bow.