Beyond The Impossible

New Atlantis, Aegian Galaxy, 2.5 million light-years from Earth

The city-ship just arrived in this solar system the day before, traveling from the other side of the sector. Fixing the only deck suitable for air-breathers had the priority, considering the VIP that just teleported in.

While Noriko Null acclimatizes to the new environment, the merman floats towards her supported by an antigravity belt.

<Empress Null. It’s always an honor.> the former leader of the Atlantis Uprising greets her, remembering that shaking her hand is how her people acknowledge each other.

<Kestral, please, it’s just Null. Or should I start calling you Prime Minister?>

<I’m not used to it yet. Does it get easier with time?>

<Noted. Still think you want the job?> she asks, following him to the hallway that leads to a conference room.

<I don’t have much of a choice, Null. The goal of the Atlantis Uprising wasn’t just to overthrow Poseidon, it was to heal our galaxy. The job is not done: someone has to stand up for the mortals.>

<Well said. Just one advice, Kestral, from someone who’s been at this game longer than you: 90% of the time, all a god wants is to be seen as strong. If they can get away with that, they will agree to anything you ask.> Noriko suggests.

<And the other 10%?>

<They need someone to kick their ass so hard they’ll remember it forever. If it comes to that… just call me.> Noriko says, her silver eyes shining to prove the point.

The two mortals reach the conference room where the last three remaining rulers of the Aegian Galaxy sit at a round table: Calypso, Rhodos and Despoina. Plus an unusual guest.

<About f##king time! What took you so long, you have a thing for Tuna C##k here?> Persephone loudly asks Noriko, pointing at the merman next to her.

<We allowed Persephone’s presence as a matter of courtesy towards a former ally of my departed father, Null. But your insistence on her being present to the first meeting of the Confederacy requires some explanation.> Rhodos says, getting straight to the point.

As the oldest surviving daughter of Poseidon, she inherited half of the Aegian Galaxy under her direct control. Having to share the rest of the galaxy is not to her liking.

<It’s not a matter of courtesy, Rhodos. I have appointed Persephone as the special representative of the Olympian Empire at the Atlantean Confederacy.> Noriko reveals.

<That’s just ridiculous! I won’t allow it.> Rhodos comments, crossing her arms.

<You better change your mind, because I agree with Persephone joining.> Despoina intervenes.

<Seriously!? You would give away sovereignty of our father’s territory?> Rhodos insists.

<We are both daughters of Poseidon, yes, but I am Demeter’s daughter as well. And Persephone has finally recognized me as such.>

<Technically, I said I don’t give a f##k.> Persephone clarifies, looking at Noriko. She doesn’t actually believe Despoina’s belief is anything more than a fantasy, but it’s a small lie necessary to keep her seat at the table.

<You’re awfully quiet, Calypso. Nothing to say?> Rhodos asks the soft-spoken goddess.

<I have appointed Kestral as my Prime Minister. He will represent me at the Confederacy: I don’t want to get involved in your drama.> Calypso answers.

<This totally unacceptable! We agreed to create the Confederacy because we couldn’t agree who would take my father’s place! But if you’re willing to give everything away to mortals and foreign gods, I might as well take over both of your sectors and create my own…> Rhodos rants, shutting up when Noriko Null pounds her fist on the table.

It’s not the sound she makes that gets everyone’s attention, it’s her words:

<I won the war!!!> she says, raising her voice in anger.

Nobody has the courage to say anything for a full five seconds. Even Persephone knows better.

<Everybody got that? The only reason this galaxy is not a vassal state to the Olympian Empire is that I’m trying, I swear I’m trying, not to be a complete piece of s##t as a ruler. So you guys better shape up and actually give a crap about the people who live in your sectors, and I’m going to make damn sure you’re not screwing this up again. Kestral?>

The merman is taken aback by Noriko’s harsh tone; he’s fought against the gods before, but he’s never seen any mortal talk down to them to this level.

<The Calypso sector will implement several programs and initiatives aiming to modernize our infrastructure and gradually introduce democratic reforms. It would be in your best interest to follow our example as fast as you can.> Kestral begins his speech.

<Are we free to ignore your suggestions?> Despoina asks.

<If you’re a s##thead. You fishf##kers might not have realized it, staying in this p###hole of a galaxy, but your place is primitive as f##k when compared to other divine kingdoms.> Persephone replies.

<At least we still have a…> Rhodos starts to comment, but before reminding Persephone doesn’t have her galaxy anymore she decides to change the topic after noticing Noriko’s death glare.

<I mean, I’ll take that under consideration. Just to be clear, are all the three sovereign realms of the Atlantean Confederacy… mine, Despoina’s and Calypso’s… still fully independent?>

<They are. The Confederacy just exists to coordinate our realms and to represent our galaxy in relationship with the others.> Kestral explains.

<Then what exactly will be Persephone’s role?> Rhodos wonders.

<That’s why I’m here. I’ve had a look at the charter of your Confederacy and I have just one amendment to suggest… Persephone will be informed of every single action taken by the Confederacy, with exclusive veto powers.> Noriko says.

Both Rhodos and Despoina stand up to raise a cacophony of objections, talking over each other, while Calypso timidly raises her hand to ask:

<What does it mean?>

<It means that if I don’t like something you want to do, I say no and there’s not a f##king thing you can do about it.> Persephone gleefully answers.

<It means we’re not a sovereign entity!!! Giving veto powers to someone who answers only to Null and allowing one of her puppets to administer one fourth of our galaxy… we would just be a vassal with another name!> Rhodos complains.

<Sit down, Rhodos. I remind you that this arrangement allows you to keep your own realm and your own life.> Noriko doubles down.

<Some realm if I’m forced to…>

<SIT. DOWN.>

The goddess reluctantly obeys, without adding another word.

<All in favor of granting exclusive veto powers to Persephone?> Kestral asks.

<Anything to get me out of this.> Calypso answers, raising her hand.

<I hope you know what you’re doing, sister.> Despoina adds, looking at Persephone as she raises her hand. The former Queen of the Underworld responds by showing her the middle finger.

All eyes are on Rhodos now, as the fate of the Confederacy is now in her hands.

<If I say no I’m as good as dead, aren’t I?> she realizes.

Nobody answers.

<You win, Null. All hail the Mortal Empress.> she relents, raising her hand.

 

Beneath the universe

Hades doesn’t mind being alone. He wouldn’t have lasted long as ruler of the Underworld if he craved the companionship of the living.

But his new prison is the most extreme isolation he’s experienced: this artificially created dimension isn’t much larger than his own cell, and nobody has visited him since he was brought to this new reality that hasn’t even been given a formal name yet.

The hum of a portal generator on the other side of the door signals the arrival of his first visitor.

The candles arranged in a circle around his makeshift throne are the only source of light as Noriko Null opens the door.

<Hades. I’ve been told you’ve been a model prisoner.>

<I have little reason to attempt escape, and many mistakes to think about. Is it time for my trial already?>

<That will take months, or even years to arrange. It’s kind of a big deal… the first trial of a god in a mortal court, they tell me.>

<So this is not a social visit. Perhaps the trial is taking this long by your own design?>

<Perhaps. And perhaps I could put in some good words on your behalf if you were to, say, constructively use your time to help prevent another war.>

<You’re a shrewder ruler than you give yourself credit for, Null. I doubt the peace you created is already crumbling under the weight of its contradictions… no, I believe this is caused by a new threat. Something large enough to force you to ignore your resentment towards my crimes.>

<I really don’t get you, Hades. You’re a smart guy… how did you get involved with Poseidon and Ereshkigal? You should’ve known they were playing you.>

<Even the smartest among us are not immune to the intoxicating power of pride, Null. Let this war be a lesson to you: never buy into your own legend.>

<I hope the fact that I don’t think I’m going to get through this alone means I’m not falling for the same trap. I certainly have my hands full… Atlantis still needs a ton of work, Ereshkigal won’t stay down for long, I’ve got Rei breathing down my neck, and it’s not like keeping Olympus straight is a cakewalk. But none of them scare the s##t out of me.>

Noriko leans against the wall of the prison cell, hoping she played her cards correctly. All the crises on the horizon are a big deal, but at least she has some idea how to handle them… except one.

<Hades… what do you know about the Celestial Galaxy?>

 

Irkalla Galaxy, 100 million light-years from Earth

On a planet that used to be vibrant with life until just a few days ago, space is warped to allow a god to step in from another galaxy.

If any of the locals were still alive, they might find unusual to see a god taking the form of a dark-skinned human wearing an elaborate golden robe.

Marduk looks around at the devastation: something hit his planet at a considerable fraction of the speed of light, creating a crater the size of a sub-continent and wrecking the surface of the planet.

The god calmly walks on the air until he reaches the point of impact, where a goddess with skin blacker than the darkest night is dusting herself off.

<Don’t get involved, Marduk. This is between Inanna and me.> Ereshkigal tells him.

<Your little war caused the dissolution of the Nine Gods, Ereshkigal. Your rivalry with your sister should be the least of your concern now.> Marduk reprimands her.

<Is it? Hades, Poseidon and Anubis have fallen. The Sumerian Pantheon is now the most powerful in the universe; if we rally together, no god will stop us. I just need to knock some sense in what little brains my sister has.>

<No god, perhaps. But Null is a problem. She has to be removed now, before Sumer falls under her heel like Olympus has.>

<I’ve been sounding the alarm longer than any of us, Marduk. I don’t need your help to take her.>

<Your failure to defeat her in a one-on-one combat, even after learning the Final Abyss, proves otherwise. You got it all wrong, Ereshkigal, as have all gods who tried before you… Null cannot be defeated by sheer power alone.>

<And I assume you have a solution in mind?>

Marduk allows himself to smirk.

< I have the perfect thing that will destroy her so thoroughly, she will thank me for it.>