Imperial Palace
Megalopolis, 52,000 light-years from Earth
Ever since she became the Mortal Co-Empress, Noriko Null hasn’t had a moment to herself.
There’s always something new to take care of: a new minister to appoint, a new dispute between gods… or even more terrifyingly, setting up the bureaucracy.
<You’ve got to be kidding me.> Noriko complains, rubbing the bridge of her nose.
The other two women in the office stare at each other. One is a short-haired brunette and the other one a youthful girl with long white hair.
<I’m sorry Lady Null, but the previous administration never ran an official census of the Galaxy.> the brunette speaks up.
<We seriously don’t even know how many planets we have in the Empire!?> Noriko complains.
<Well, we do have very reliable data from the Athenian Federation. There are currently 1,226 planets within their borders, with a total population of 1.6 trillion citizens.>
<At least that’s something. What about the other vassals?>
<We estimate Aphrodite has about 580 planets and a trillion citizens, but she has never checked. Helen advised us that only the old Apollo census is reliable, but adding the former Ares planets she reports 1,963 planets with a population of 2.4 trillion people. As for the Winter Kingdom…>
<625 planets, 208 billion people. I know, I’ve run the math myself, I know it’s the smallest sector. Now, what about the rest?> Noriko rushes her.
<You have to understand, Lady Null, that most of the planets now administered by the Crown used to be under the jurisdiction of Zeus. The vast majority of those are at the pre-industrial age and…>
<I asked for a number.>
<2,573 planets. We are not entirely sure about the population, however according to our projections there should be 5.7 trillion citizens.>
<Isn’t that half the Galaxy?>
<Slightly more: the estimated galactic population is between 10.8 and 11.2 trillion. The total number of planets in the Olympian Galaxy is between 6,970 and 6,985.>
<This is going to take forever.> Noriko sighs, leaning back against her chair.
A welcome distraction from the discussion arrives when the door to the office opens up, letting a duplicate of Kari Zel get through… something the white haired woman doesn’t appreciate.
<Stay where you are! Identify yourself!> she yells.
<Eunomia, that’s Kari. She can get in whenever she wants.> Noriko calms her down.
<I see. Where is your badge, miss Zel?>
<She doesn’t need one. Kari has full access to the palace.>
<Then she needs a badge.>
<Nori, who is this creep?> Kari asks, immediately feeling she won’t like this person.
<Kari, this is Eunomia, my Minister of Administration. Eunomia, this is Kari Zel.>
<The new leader of the Vanguard, yes, I received the memo. Heroine of the Myridian Uprising, isn’t it? I apologize for my outburst. You really should have a badge… it’s the rules.>
<Let me guess: you’re a goddess.> Kari says, not masking the disappointment in her voice.
<Goddess Of Good Order and Lawful Conduct. Daughter of Zeus and Themis.>
<Never heard of you.> Kari admits.
The other woman jumps into the conversation; she looks slightly older, possibly in her early 40s.
<Her mother didn’t appreciate her stance on mortal rights and wouldn’t allow to keep her any real power. I’m the one who suggested her name to the Mortal Empress.>
<And you would be…>
<Ariadne, the Minister of Infrastructure. I fully understand your distrust of gods; Hera imprisoned me for thousands of years, and who knows when I would’ve gotten out without Null.>
<Wait, you mean… Ariadne as in the wife of Theseus? Aren’t you a mortal!?>
<More like half a demigoddess: both my parents were demigods. Dionysus made me immortal as a gift for our wedding, after Theseus died… and then Hera imprisoned me in the labyrinth for divorcing Dionysus.> Ariadne explains.
<Lady Null, if miss Zel is to join our meeting, should I update her on our progress?> Eunomia asks.
<That won’t be necessary. Let’s take a brief recess while I talk to Kari alone, okay?>
<As you wish. I’ll use the time to make a badge for her and update the security policy for the Imperial Palace.> the goddess replies, giving a respectful nod to both mortals before leaving.
<I will also leave you alone. It was nice meeting you miss Zel, I look forward to working with you some day.> Ariadne adds, leaving and then closing the door behind her.
Kari sits on Noriko’s desk, noticing her friend looks even more exhausted than after killing a god.
<So. You’ve been busy.> she breaks the ice.
<More than you could possibly imagine. What’s the emergency?> Noriko asks.
<What makes you think I’m here for an emergency?>
<Apparently that’s the only reason anyone wants to talk to me these days.>
<Come on, you’re exaggerating.>
<Well, I’ve stopped listening to those who want to give me some new title or extravagant gift, so it’s either to deal with an imminent catastrophe or to take care of disastrous societal problem that’s been ignored for centuries. I knew the gods didn’t take good care of their sectors, but I never imagined the Galaxy would be suck a clusterf##k.> Noriko admits.
<I’ll take your word for it.>
<So what’s the emergency?>
<Calm down Nori, I just wanted to check up on you and make sure you’re holding up!>
<I’m fine, Kari. Just a little tired, that’s all.>
<That’s because you’re trying to fix all the Galaxy’s problems.>
<I have to. Someone else might get it wrong. But I do appreciate the concern, Kari. Now that you make me think about it, this might be the first time since my coronation that someone wants to talk to me about anything that isn’t related to the job.>
<Well, since I’m already here…>
<There it is.> Noriko rolls her eyes.
<This idea of having gods and demigods in your government… I don’t like it. Wouldn’t you be better off appointing only mortals?>
<Not all gods are necessarily untrustworthy, Kari. You trust Vesta, right?>
<Vesta saved my planet the same week we first met. You have Enyo as your Minister of Defense, Noriko… freaking Enyo! She tried to kill us in multiple occasions!> Kari reminds her.
<I saved your planet too.> Noriko pouts.
<Not the point. Are you absolutely sure these gods are not using you as means to get power?>
<I vetted all my Ministers extensively, Kari. Including Enyo. None of them has any intention to attempt a power grab.>
<And the whole idea of still keeping vassals? You can’t possibly trust those people.>
<I think that we can trust Hebe and that Aphrodite is too dumb to attempt anything. But of course I don’t fully trust Helen or especially Athena. I’m sure they think they’re using me, but in reality it’s the other way around.>
<I pray you know what you’re doing, Noriko. Because if you’re wrong, the Galaxy could very well come crashing down.>
<If it comes to that, the Vanguard will be ready to help before it’s too late… won’t it?>
<I’m still not comfortable with the idea of being the Vanguard’s leader.> Kari admits.
<You’ll do just fine. You were a fantastic second-in-command, and it’s not like I can be an effective leader when I’m stuck doing this all day.> Noriko complains, tapping her finger on a stack of tablets awaiting her official signature.
<You’ll be on the frontline the second we need to fight another god. You’d go crazy otherwise.> Kari replies.
<Now that I realize what I signed up for, Kari? Maybe I’ve already gone crazy!>
New York City, Earth
In the eyes of his neighbors, there’s nothing unusual in seeing Max Black return to his apartment with Jane Blake… she’s been his girlfriend for years at this point, and they’ve been living together for a while.
They could probably have a different opinion if they knew this isn’t the real Jane, but a god in disguise virtually indistinguishable from Max’s companion.
<This is where you live? Don’t get me wrong, it’s a wonderful love nest for a cute couple, but I would’ve thought that one of Null’s right-hand men would live in a palace.>
<In New York? I can barely afford this place. And nobody’s around now, can you please stop looking and sounding like Jane? It’s giving me the creeps.> Max admits, watching Eros sit down on the couch. It’s genuinely disturbing to see how much he copies Jane’s mannerisms and body language in addition to her looks.
<Why? You should be comfortable around this form! Trust me, I chose it because I know you love her. I’m the expert on the subject!>
<I thought you were an expert on being stubborn and irritating.> Max replies, taking his N-Watch out of his pocket and fidgeting with an app that is not exactly on the market.
<Alright, if this thing actually works, nobody should be able to spy on us.>
<Sounds exciting!> Eros exclaims.
<So what is this “Atlantean Uprising” you wanted to talk about, exactly, and what do they want from Noriko?>
<Well, I have some worshipers and old lovers in the Aegian Galaxy… the domain of Poseidon… and they tell me Null is extremely popular there. So popular, in fact, that… have you ever met the Mortal Liberation Front?>
<Sure, they tried to kill me a couple times. They worked for Ulysses before joining the Mortal Republic. Don’t tell me they’re still around!>
<Not that I know of. There used to be similar organizations in the Aegian Galaxy as well… some with direct ties to the MLF, some probably founded by Ulysses as well. That guy sure works around! What a handsomely smart guy.>
<Focus, Eros. What about the Atlantean Uprising?>
<Oh, right. None of these organizations made much progress because they were dwarfed by the Zenith, which is by far the biggest revolutionary force in that Galaxy. Except when Null exposed Ulysses as the leader of the Zenith, the news made their way to that Galaxy… and to fill the vacuum, the Atlantean Uprising took inspiration from Null’s work.>
<I can see how they’d love the fact that Noriko sits on the throne now. But why did they contact you? No offense Eros, but this revolutionary stuff doesn’t sound like your line of work.>
<Let’s just say I’m not particularly fond of Poseidon. And the Uprising thinks I won’t betray them, so they asked me to set up a… what did they call it? Ah yes, a backdoor channel to Null.>
<And you’re telling all of this and not to Noriko… why?>
<Have you tried to book an audience with the Co-Empress!? Only her closest confidantes have her full attention, and alas, she doesn’t love me as much as I love her. Besides, I want some reassurances.>
<About what?>
<That she has the interests of the Aegian Galaxy at heart. It doesn’t have much of a relationship with this Galaxy, so I’m not entirely certain Null cares about it.>
<Oh come on, we have saved other galaxies before! Just ask Anubis.>
<Null isn’t an independent agent anymore, my dear Max. It’s her job and duty to put Olympus first, but you? You genuinely love helping people. You’ll have to act as Null’s conscience.>
<Why do I get the feeling it’s not going to be that simple?>
<Perhaps because I want you to visit the Aegian Galaxy and meet the Atlantean Uprising…>
<That doesn’t sound so bad.>
<…and keep out of Poseidon’s sight, because if he finds out about this he’ll blow out the entire Galaxy.>
Discussion ¬