Beyond The Impossible

Myridia, Heaven

The talent of Myridians for building things is well-known throughout the Galaxy.

But even on this planet, the new laboratory is impressive: assisted by their robots, in just a few days Noriko Null and her doppelganger have constructed a massive laboratory that rivals Asgard Station in complexity.

The real Noriko is busy working on laboratory’s centerpiece… a large metallic pillar with a hollow center where a sphere is levitating… when she’s approached by Kari Zel.

More precisely, by the heavily pregnant Kari of this world.

<I know I’m going to regret asking this, Nori, but what is that thing supposed to be doing?>

<It’s drawing a map of Heaven.> Noriko answers, with unusual enthusiasm in her voice.

<Uh? But I thought you said we aren’t in a real place.>

<Oh it’s real, just more malleable than normal reality. Heaven’s resting state is a uniform pool of energy, it’s simply able to restructure itself based on the thoughts of whoever is inside it. This device locks the quantum state of a sample material, that sphere in the center, and entangles its intrinsic dimensional frequency to the…>

<She’s not following you anymore.> Noriko’s doppelganger interrupts her.

<We’re calling it the Cosmic Surveyor.> the real one abruptly concludes her explanation.

<Actually, I came up with the name first.> the doppelganger corrects her.

<Kari, I appreciate that the version of me created from your imagination is smart enough to be useful, but do you really see me as that annoying?>

<You’re just jealous because I’m not as repressed as you are.> the doppelganger teases her, getting close enough to Kari to kiss her cheek and wrap her arm around her shoulders.

<And once we’re back home, we’re going to have a serious conversation concerning your fantasies about me.> Noriko continues, taking her double’s hand to move her away from Kari.

<Oh please, like you never had dirty thoughts about any of your teammates. You may be straight in your reality, but you’re not dead.> the copy answers.

<I won’t dignify that with a response.> Noriko replies, going back to the interface of the device.

Kari may have little memories of the original, but she recognizes the change in her expression.

<Something’s wrong?> she asks.

<I have the results of the survey. Turns out Heaven isn’t as big as we were told: it has a volume of only 3.9 octillion cubic light-years.>

<“Only”?> Kari repeats.

<To say that’s a fraction of the size of our universe would be an understatement. But the amount of energy it contains… “astronomical” doesn’t even begin to describe it. There’s enough energy in this dimension to match the theoretical total mass-energy conversion of the entire observable universe, just in a far more concentrated form.>

<And you say it’s artificial in nature!? I know the Drylon were fantastically advanced, but how does anyone create something like that!?> Kari exclaims.

<Good question, but one for another time. What’s important is that the Cosmic Surveyor has mapped ten “pockets of reality”, so to speak… ten galaxy-sized areas that mimic the real universe… surrounded by a sea of energy in its natural undefined state. Actually, if it wasn’t for that energy boosting the Surveyor, it would’ve taken ages to locate them.> Noriko explains.

<That doesn’t add up. You said that only the Vanguard, Leiko, Torn’s father and Roxiana were brought to Heaven.> the doppelganger notes.

<That’s right.>

<So there should only be eight people in Heaven right now. Who’s in the extra two?>

<According to Teraph, whoever opened the Gate of Heaven for us.>

<That’s not creepy at all. Are you sure it’s not safer to stay here?> Kari asks.

<The survey confirmed by copy’s theory: Heaven’s current situation is unstable. I’m sorry, Kari, but we really have to leave.> Noriko tells her.

Kari looks down, placing her hands on her pregnant belly.

<My son won’t exist if I leave and won’t even be born if I stay.> she realizes.

<But your daughters do exist in the real universe, Kari. They need you to come back.>

<I understand. And perhaps I will have another son as well. Nori, I know how uncomfortable it makes you, but could you please… uhm…>

<I’ll leave you two alone. I may be a bit of a prude, but I’m not a monster.> Noriko concedes, allowing Kari to share one last passionate kiss with her idealized version of her crush.

 

Seventh Circle, Heaven

A portal of fire opens up, delivering an eclectic group to a new world.

Noriko Null is the first to cross it, appreciating the return to her regular attire instead of wearing a Myridian dress. Kari Zel follows her, stumbling so much she needs to lean against her.

<Everything okay?> Noriko asks.

<I just… need a moment to adjust.> Kari answers, lifting her pink T-shirt to check her most definitely not pregnant abdomen.

<You were not kidding. This looks like Hell.> Leiko Null comments, looking up.

The sky is on fire, shining its light through thick clouds of sulfur. The buildings around them have been carved directly from stone, and the streets are so narrow they border on claustrophobic.

<Don’t make the scenery fool you, this is still Heaven. It’s not nearly hot enough to be the real Hell, we should be sweating worse than in a sauna right now.> Noriko corrects her mother’s “good self”, while taking her N-Phone out of her leather jacket to check something.

<Would someone please help?> Quantum asks, being the last one to cross the portal.

Dragging with him the Ice Empress, the other aspect of the real Leiko Tanaka that once again changes when moving to another part of Heaven. Now her skin becomes red like that of a Demon, accompanied with the equivalent strength.

<Unhand me, you mortal!> she shouts, shoving Quantum aside as she rips away the chains that used to immobilize her.

<I have suffered enough humiliation! You will now…> she rants, only to receive a punch in the face with enough force to push her through the nearest wall.

Everyone turns towards Kari, who is cracking her knuckles while her body glows thanks to the same technique that allows her to multiply her strength by a factor of ten thousand.

<Thanks for bringing something I could punch, but do we really need her?> she asks.

<She has a fraction of my mother’s soul. I have a theory about her unique link to the Heart Of The Universe being the reason why our presence is causing Heaven to malfunction.>

<And that is why “Hell” is not as hot as you said it should be?> Leiko asks.

Noriko now has the chance to check her N-Phone, and she raises her eyebrow.

<No, it seems I was mistaken earlier. It’s hot enough to kill us: it’s sixty-five degrees here.>

<That doesn’t sound like much.> Quantum comments.

<Sixty-five Celsius. Multiply by nine-fifths and add thirty-two.>

Quantum stares blankly at her: she might as well have replied in Japanese. She sighs.

<It’s 149 degrees Fahrenheit. Comfortable for a Demon, lethal to humans.>

<But we haven’t been turned into Demons.> Quantum replies, looking at his own hands to see they’re still their original skin color.

<No, but I guess someone must’ve wished we could visit him more often…>

 

Torn household, Hell

One of the blessings of being the Nexus host is a perfect memory, so Noriko can quickly see that the house of his alien friend is completely unchanged from the last time she saw it.

Finding Torn isn’t hard. He’s in front of the house, meditating in the lotus position balancing on a dozen polearms made of Blood energy.

In the distance, his daughters Lesion and Laceration are practicing a fight with energy whips and daggers, while his wife Agony looks over them in silent approval.

When his friends approach him, Torn opens a single eye.

<You’re late.>

<Some things never change. In any universe, he’s still weird.> Quantum comments.

<Torn, this may sound strange, but this is not…> Noriko begins to explain.

<Hell? I know. I attempted to pierce the veil between realities, but when I failed I expected you to be the only one to find a way.> he tells her.

<Hey, I helped!> Quantum adds.

<Wait, you knew this isn’t real? How?> Kari asks.

<I am one with the Blood. The real one. This reality’s cheap imitation holds the same power, but it lacks its passion. Are we ready to leave?>

<What makes you think that’s the plan?> Noriko asks, curious to hear where this is going.

<Because this reality is doomed. Doesn’t your soul hear its core twisting itself, attempting to weave perfection for imperfect beings?>

<Well, I can’t say I’m not impressed Torn. I wish I found you first.> Noriko admits.

<Hey!> Quantum complains.

<So… you retained all your memories, right? What did you change?> Kari asks the Demon.

<I don’t understand.>

<Heaven created this world to be your ideal. What’s different from the real Hell?>

<It appears that humans and Myridians are able to withstand its climate.>

<That’s it? Seriously, you had the chance to live your dream life and you didn’t change a thing!?> Noriko asks.

<I have my wife, my daughters, my friends and the Blood. I don’t wish for anything else.>

<Aww, that’s so romantic!>

<Dude, didn’t Ares kill like three quarters of your planet!? You could’ve wished them back to life!> Quantum reminds him.

<They are with the Blood now. The real one, not the cheap imitation of this fake reality.>

<Well, at least it won’t take much to convince you to leave.> Noriko shrugs.

<I see the other reason why you needed my help.> Torn says, leaving his meditation and walking towards Leiko.

He looks at her straight in the eye; she’s a bit intimidated both by his physical presence, but also because she can somehow sense he’s staring well past her eyes.

<A soul fragment given form. More stable than the other.> he comments, then looking at the other Leiko that now has the body of a Demon.

<Why didn’t I change like her?> Leiko asks.

<You are more sentient than her, less shaped by the environment. Null, I assume that you want me to merge these fragments?>

<Is it possible?>

<Yes, but only partially. One of the two aspects will need to keep control over the new form.>

<That should probably be me. The “Ice Empress” can’t be trusted.> Leiko volunteers.

<Can this one be trusted?> Torn asks Noriko, looking at Leiko.

<I think so. I didn’t sense any hostility from her. Do you?>

<No. But I shall still keep a close eye on her. SOUL FUSION!!!> Torn shouts, and both versions of Leiko are surrounded by an aura that looks exactly like the Blood.

The two merge rapidly, with the remaining one looking at her hands with surprise.

<I didn’t expect this.> Leiko comments, looking at her red-skinned hands.

<It’s just cosmetic. You don’t have access to the Blood.> Torn clarifies.

<That’s a relief. Once we find Leiko’s other fragments, I don’t want to give her extra powers!> Noriko says.

<We should be careful in selecting the location when we merge the other fragments, both for your mother and yourself.> Torn agrees.

<Uh? What do you mean?> Noriko wonders.

<Haven’t you two noticed?> Torn asks to Quantum and Kari.

The two stare at each other in confusion.

<This is not the real Noriko Null: half of her soul is missing.> Torn reveals.