Beyond The Impossible

Atlantis, Aegian Galaxy

Located between the inner edge of its sector and the space protected by the monstrous Charybdis, the capital of the Galaxy is the most unique city in the universe.

It’s not on any planet. It consists of three circular structures, connected to each other by several bridges; the megastructure rivals a true planet for its size and habitable space, with the light from the buildings integrated into the three circles being visible from an astronomical distance.

Atlantis is at the center of an ocean the size of a solar system; its water is kept in its liquid state entirely by Poseidon’s power, and it’s the very source of the galaxy-spanning systems of rivers.

Atlantis doesn’t orbit any star; the outer ring is surrounded by luminous swarms of fish made of pure light, an emanation of Poseidon’s own energy.

Ever since Poseidon built it nearly a million years ago, Atlantis has never been invaded: not only it’s under the protection of some of the most powerful beings in its pantheon, but any attempt to sneak up on its defenses is meaningless when Poseidon can feel the disturbance of a single drop in this cosmic ocean.

That doesn’t mean that, on exceedingly rare occasions, it can’t get uninvited guests.

Near one of the bridges that lead to the inner ring, a hexagon of black fire makes the water boil briefly before Calypso swims out of it.

She looks around before giving the signal.

<You were right, there are no guards around. How did you know?>

<Lucky guess.> Ulysses lies, following her through the portal. A Demon then follows him, carrying on his shoulder the unconscious body of Roxiana.

<I held up my part of the bargain. Give me the reward you promised.> the Demon says.

<In a rush to leave? Cowardice does not become you, Reaper.>

<My reward.> the Demon insists.

<Your kind is as single-minded as ever, old friend.> Ulysses quips, recovering something from his belt: a piece of paper.

<We are not friends. Are these the coordinates?> the Demon asks, unceremoniously letting Roxiana fall to take the paper from Ulysses’ hands. Either because the Demon only has one arm, the other having been replaced by a scythe of Blood energy, or perhaps out of spite.

<As promised. This shows the location of Klito, one of Aphrodite’s planet that holds one of the Gates of Heaven. You’ll get what you’re looking for there.>

<You have no idea of what I’m after.>

<Give me a little more credit than that, Reaper. In fact, if you stick around…>

<No.> the Demon simply replies, stepping back into the hexagon portal and making it disappear behind his back.

<Uh. I can’t believe he became even less sociable over the centuries.> Ulysses comments.

<You seem a little too relaxed considering he took away your only way to escape Atlantis.> Calypso reminds him, and she reluctantly picks up Roxiana to hold her in own arms.

<You know Poseidon is going to murder you the second you step into his throne room, right? You are easily the most hated man in this Galaxy!>

<Calypso, if Poseidon just wanted me dead, he would’ve killed me millennia ago. He wants to make me suffer, which will give me time to explain to him why I’m worth more to him alive.>

<Then why did you ask me to come?>

<To help keep Roxiana to be alive. We’re going to need her, at least until Null arrives.>

<You mean the Empress? Why are you so sure she will set foot on Atlantis?>

<She won’t be able to resist settling our score… because I wouldn’t either.>

 

Asgard Station, Null Zone

Noriko Null shakes the hand of Kestral, the merman leader of the Atlantis Uprising, then makes a gesture towards the table of the Operations Room.

<Thanks for recovering the Ragnarok for me. Please take a seat, we have much to discuss.>

<You saved my people, it’s the least I could do. Besides, that ship has the biggest target in the universe painted on its hull, it’s more trouble than it’s worth.> Kestral admits, floating towards the table with the use of the anti-gravity belt she provided.

<I need your help to figure out the Aegian Galaxy, Kestral. I’ve been operating in the dark against two people who know that place better than I know my own galaxy, and I’m tired of it.>

<From what I can tell, you already know as much of Roxiana as I do. I don’t know the details on how she acquired the Nexus, only that she became a scourge of the Galaxy in an effort to discover some kind of ancient secret. What it was, whether she found it, who killed her or how she came back to life… that I couldn’t say.>

<Right now I don’t care about what Roxiana wants, Kestral. What I need to figure out is what does she have that Ulysses could sell to Poseidon. Or better yet, what is Ulysses’ ultimate goal.>

<Skorpios believes it’s just self-interest. Selling access to Heaven to Poseidon means Ulysses won’t be hunted by the gods anymore.>

<And you think she’s right?>

<Null, you know Ulysses far more than I do. There are rumors that he used to be your lover.>

<Again with this s#it!? I’ve never slept with Ulysses!!!> Noriko protests, her silver eyes shining in anger as she slams her fists on the table.

<Touchy subject, uh? Listen, if you asked me a couple years ago, I would’ve believed the Zenith’s propaganda: that Ulysses wants the end of divine rule. Especially now that he’s essentially achieved the same goal on Olympus, thanks to you.>

<But now you have doubts. What changed in the last two years?>

<He let Roxiana take his place as leader of the Zenith. Everybody knows Roxiana doesn’t care about who rules what! So either Ulysses severely misjudged her, or he’s been lying about his real goals the entire time.>

<Maybe. Or maybe…> Noriko pauses, stroking her chin as her silver eyes become brighter. This time not in anger, but because she’s thinking.

<Maybe placing Roxiana in that position was just the first step.>

<What do you mean? Null? Hello?> Kestral calls her, trying to get her attention; she stopped talking and moving, and even waving his hand in front of her eyes gets no reaction.

After a couple of seconds her eyes shine brightly, and she comes to her senses.

<Sorry. I just relived every single conversation I ever had with or about Roxiana.>

<That was fast.>

<There was one piece of the puzzle I overlooked. While I was busy dealing with Gaea taking over Olympus, Roxiana sneaked in there and stole something called the Book of Mnemosyne. I couldn’t find out what that was about, and even Athena doesn’t know what was in the book… but it was the only operation Roxiana carried over in the Olympian Galaxy since her resurrection. Does any of this ring a bell?>

<I don’t know, why would a book ring a bell? It sounds inefficient.>

<I mean do you think Mnemosyne is significant. Do you know who she is?>

<Of course. Poseidon’s aunt, mother of the Muses. She lost her mind millennia ago; her sister Thetis takes care of her. She’s one of Poseidon’s vassals.>

<What do you mean by “lost her mind”?>

<She’s brain dead. Her body is still immortal, but her mind was destroyed when she tried to uncover the secrets of the Drylon. Poseidon ordered all her writings to be destroyed to prevent the insanity from spreading to other gods.>

<You mean… the book could be weaponized?> Noriko suggests.

<Don’t be absurd, you’d need to understand the language of the Drylon!>

<Not necessarily. A god can be killed if you transmit an overwhelming amount of information into his brain: that’s essentially how my Final Abyss works. If the contents of this book are complex enough to cause brain damage to gods just by reading it… dammit. Ulysses plans to replicate the Final Abyss and kill Poseidon himself.> Noriko realizes.

<If that’s the case, why didn’t he just go to Atlantis as soon as he captured Roxiana and took the book? Why keep her alive, and why lay a trap for you?>

<I doubt Roxiana still has the physical book, she probably just memorized the contents; as a former Nexus host, it’s possible her mind could resist what’s in the book. Or maybe it’s the fact that she wields the Absolute Defense now.>

<And Ulysses can read her mind?>

<With ease. Ulysses knows Soul Control; he learned it from the Monk. I’ve fought him using the Final Abyss once and he was able to resist it. I wouldn’t put past him being able to duplicate the same effect if he gets close enough to Poseidon and he has access to Roxiana’s mind. It’d be much easier to have me perform such a feat; without the use of the Nexus, there’s a good chance Ulysses won’t survive the experience. Although, knowing him, he probably has a failsafe I haven’t considered yet.>

<So this has nothing to do with the Gate of Heaven?>

<If it does, it’s a secondary objective. I will definitely have to deal with that too, but stopping Ulysses takes priority.>

<Stopping him? If he succeeds, Poseidon and possibly Roxiana will be dead. Surely that’s an outcome we can all agree is a positive, right?> Kestral asks.

<Not necessarily.> Noriko replies, and her face takes a very grim expression.

<What? Have you seen how he treats my people!?>

<If Poseidon dies, the other Nine Gods won’t just stay and watch mortals take over: it’ll be a signal that the Greek Pantheon is up for grabs. At the very least Ereshkigal has her sight on the Aegian Galaxy, and trust me: as bad as Poseidon is, you do NOT want her ruling you.>

<Would she still invade if we had the Slayer of Gods backing us?> Kestral suggests.

<Yes. Ulysses’ plan will be a one-shot that we won’t be able to repeat, and I can’t stop all the rest of the Nine Gods on my own. Not even with the entirety of Olympus supporting me. In fact, ever since I’ve taken over, they’ve been watching over my shoulder to see any chance to expand their domains.>

<I can’t believe I’m hearing this. I thought you’d be the first one to support our efforts to destroy the rule of the gods!>

<Poseidon’s regime will fail, Kestral, just like Zeus’ did. But in the past I’ve made the mistake of killing gods without considering who would take their place. When Poseidon falls, I will make damn sure he won’t be replaced by something infinitely worse.>

<I think I understand. But if you want my collaboration, Null, I must be sure that you will support Atlantis Uprising’s efforts to bring mortal rule to the Aegian Galaxy.>

<Kestral, I know that my word isn’t worth as much as it used to be. But I promise you, should it be the last thing I do before I die again, I will do everything in my power to make sure no Galaxy is ever ruled by gods… or by emperors of any kind, for that matter.>

<Do you swear this, Null?>

<I swear on my father’s life.>

Kestral hasn’t had the chance to know the Mortal Co-Empress as much as he would’ve liked. But he considers himself a good judge of character, and he can feel her sincerity in that oath.

<Very well. You have the support of Atlantis Uprising again, Null. And I will give you access to Atlantis without triggering Poseidon’s defenses.>

<I appreciate that, Kestral. I truly do.> Noriko replies, then takes her finger to her ear as a gesture to activate the Soul Relay and give her command.

<This is Noriko Null: everybody, report to the Portal Generator in ten minutes. We’re going to invade Atlantis to save Poseidon’s life.>