Beyond The Impossible

Empty space, 3 million light-years from Earth

There used to be a galaxy here. Billions of stars and planets and asteroids and nebulas… all gone after a single punch.

The N01-Ragnarok is traveling through completely empty space: there are no stars flying past the viewscreen, and other galaxies are too faint to be easily visible.

<Unbelievable. I’ve known Class-1 gods are galaxy busters since we faced Tiamat, but I had no idea they could do this so quickly.> Noriko Null admits, staring at the sensors in the hope to pick up something, anything.

<The idea that someone could erase everything we know so easily is just… I can’t even find the words.> Kari comments.

<Hey, at least nobody actually lived here, right?> Quantum adds, trying to find something positive about the situation.

<No mortals lived here. A few gods definitely died.> Vesta points out.

<Including Hades?> Torn asks.

<I’m not sure. As soon as we’ll get to the epicenter of the attack, which just happens to be the center of the galaxy… well, it was the center of the galaxy… the scanners may be able to pick up something. So far, it’s completely empty.> Noriko explains.

<People are going to freak out when they hear this. Heck, I’m freaking out right now!> Quantum admits. Nobody has much to say for a few crucial moments, until Noriko’s silver eyes shine.

<If, not when, they find out.> she says.

<Excuse me?> Kari asks.

<The Stygian Galaxy had no ties to the Olympian Galaxy, except a political alliance that wasn’t even formally acknowledged. People don’t need to know it’s been destroyed.>

<You plan to keep the destruction of an entire galaxy a secret!?> Vesta exclaims.

<For now. What would be the positive aspect for the average citizen to learn that their entire galaxy could vanish within the day if they piss off the wrong god?>

<And you don’t think people are going to find out?> Quantum wonders.

<Not right away. We’re three million light years away, the galaxy will still be visible for that long! And I remind you that it was very hard to visit the Underworld, even if someone wanted to. We have plenty of time to inform the general public, at the very least until the war is over.> Noriko explains.

<Isn’t the war over already?> Torn asks.

<We’ll have to ask Hades. The sensors are picking up something.> Noriko reveals, as the warship slows down beneath the speed of light.

<I don’t see anything.> Kari says, staring at the viewscreen.

<We’re still kilometers away, but it’s easy for the sensors to spot even the smallest mass when they’re surrounded by a literally galaxy-sized void. Let’s see what we’ve got.> Noriko says, activating the teleporter.

 

Minutes later, medical bay

This is a rare sight: there are two bodies on the medical bed. One belongs to a woman with porcelain-white skin, whose finely woven black dress has been ripped to shreds.

The other is a man who could pass for a human if it wasn’t for the black flame coming out of his scalp instead of hair. His cloak has also been severely damaged, leaving his chest exposed.

And his chest has a large chunk missing: the ribcage has been opened explosively, leaving his heart visible. It’s completely black and it’s not moving.

<Oh my Gaea.> Vesta exclaims, flying towards her brother and holding his hand.

<Is that Hades!?> Kari exclaims. She grew up hearing his name as the representation of every child’s fear: she never considered there would be an actual person beneath that dark cloak.

<Was Hades, perhaps?> Torn wonders, raising an eyebrow.

<He’s still alive. But just barely.> Vesta reveals, passing her hand through his head’s black flame.

<Just incredible. The destruction of the Galaxy was just the secondary effect of what hit him… given the gravitational binding energy of the Stygian Galaxy, he just survived the equivalent of at least three decillion Megatons.> Noriko calculates, stroking her chin pensively.

<That’s not a real number, is it?> Quantum asks.

<Six billion times more energy than what you’d need to destroy the Sun.> Noriko simplifies.

<What about her?> Kari asks, pointing at the unconscious Inanna.

Unlike her adversary, the goddess is still breathing.

<Judging by the hole in Hades’s chest, I’m betting she was the one to deliver the blow that destroyed the Galaxy. The pain I’ve felt through the Cosmic Background Network… I’m certain that was Hades attempting to use the Final Abyss.> Noriko reveals.

<Your attack? Since when are the gods able to do that?> Quantum asks.

<Since Hades learned. And I think he might have learned it from me.>

<Does it mean your Final Abyss would be useless against Hades now?> Torn asks.

<Possibly. I already figured out it would be, since it didn’t work on Zeus when I tried using it against him back on Aquilia… but this is troubling. At this point I’m hesitant to use the Eternal Eraser, the attack’s stronger form I discovered fighting Ulysses… if any god learns to use that, they will be completely unstoppable.> Noriko worries.

<Then we improvise.> Torn replies, creating a Blood scythe in his hands and moving towards the unconscious Hades.

<What are you doing!?> Vesta asks.

<We are at war and the enemy is not dead. We should fix that.> the Demon replies.

<Just look at him, Torn! He’s not a threat to anyone!> Vesta pleads.

A moment of silence as everyone stares at her.

<I mean not right now.> she awkwardly adds.

<Vesta. I know he’s your brother, but…> Noriko says.

<He lost, Nori. Both the war and his kingdom. Does he still deserve to die?>

<People died when he ordered the attack on the Olympian Galaxy, Vesta. If we hadn’t intervened, billions more would have died. I know you were close to him, but that does not absolve him of his crimes.>

<Shouldn’t there be a trial then?> Vesta asks.

<You have got to be kidding me.> Noriko comments, raising an eyebrow.

<I mean… she kind of has a point. You’ve killed gods in combat or in self defense before, but in cold blood? Doesn’t anyone else find it wrong?> Quantum asks.

<No.> Kari harshly replies. The scars of Demeter’s occupation of Myridia still run deep.

<Eris was the last goddess to be slain by Null, and that was in cold blood.> Torn points out.

“Dammit Torn, that was the worst possible example” Noriko thinks, anticipating Vesta’s reaction:

<Yes I know, I played a part in it and it was horrible. Please Nori, there has to be another way!>

<Hades is too dangerous to be held prisoner.> Noriko insists.

<Like your mother? You didn’t have problems giving her second chances!> Vesta replies.

<That’s a low blow. And I remind you that I’m currently physically incapable of killing Leiko, as long as she’s fused with Drylon DNA.> Noriko points out.

<Right. Because the Slayer of Gods is suddenly unable to do something impossible.> Vesta remarks, voicing doubts she’s typically unwilling to voice.

The two stare at each other, divided by Torn’s scythe, with silver eyes shining a bit more brightly and the room’s temperature rising a couple degrees.

<I’m not going to fight you for this.> Noriko admits.

<You want to put this to a vote? Kari and Torn are for killing Hades, so I’m going to lose it even if Quantum agrees with me.> Vesta replies.

<For the record, I think you should both chill out about this. We’re still supposed to be in a war, remember? Maybe we should make sure Poseidon and Ereshkigal are not going to continue the war before we start fighting between ourselves?> Quantum tries to be the voice of reason.

<They will fight. It’s the nature of gods to be stubborn.> Torn comments.

<Noriko, the gods know you are fearsome. But there are gods you can’t fight alone, and you don’t want to be followed only out of fear. Show both gods and mortals that you are different from the old regime… that you’re not a tyrant, and that even gods are equal before the law.> Vesta pleads.

<You’re asking me a lot, Vesta. Is Hades worth this?>

<He was the only member of my family to show kindness to me. I owe him the chance to become a better god, like I did. And he will pay for his crimes, you have my most solemn word.>

<I’m giving you one chance, Vesta. ONE. If even a single more mortal dies because of Hades…>

<I won’t let you down, Noriko. I take full responsibility for Hades.>

Noriko’s instincts, her logic and experience tell her that she should kill Hades right now.

But Vesta is her friend, and Hades is currently harmless.

<Fine, I won’t kill him now. Take him to Olympus and make sure he’s under the strictest supervision possible, I will decide what to do with him once the war is over.>

<Thank you for trusting me, Noriko. I won’t let you down.> Vesta says, taking her brother’s body into her arms and flying towards the nearest access point to the Portal Generator.

<That was close. For a second I thought we were gonna have to fight Vesta.> Quantum breathes a sigh of relief.

<Not a word of this gets out of this room. Got it?> Noriko orders.

<Of course. Now what?> Quantum asks.

<Now we continue the fight. Back to the original plan: reaching Atlantis to fight Poseidon. Why don’t you take a breather while we set a new course and check on Inanna?>

<That’s not a bad idea. I hate family fights.> Quantum admits, leaving the room.

The rest of the Vanguard is ready to leave as well, until Noriko calls them.

<Kari. Torn.>

Her second-in-command and the Demon turn towards her, noticing her hesitation in giving the next order.

<I want options on how to get Hades out of Vesta’s sight.>

<Are you still going to kill him?> Kari asks.

<It’s a possibility. I trust Vesta, but I won’t gamble the survival of the Galaxy in her ability to judge members of her own family. She doesn’t exactly have the best track record on that.> Noriko says.

She prefers to keep to herself the thought that she has exactly the same flaw.

 

Asgard Station, Null Zone

Leiko Tanaka is bored out of her skull… again. This is far from the first time she’s been put in solitary confinement by her own daughter, but this is worse.

Not only she isn’t allowed any visitors, except the Nullbots that routinely inspect and clean her room, but she’s had problems sleeping.

The half of her body infected with Drylon DNA continuously itches, even if she can’t really feel anything on the charred black scales that have covered her skin.

Tinkering with the handcuff that locks her in her current predicament has been useless, especially since she doesn’t have any tools to work with.

Her boredom is interrupted by someone walking through the door. Even if it’s closed, protected by several forcefields and several inches thick: a woman surrounded by an aura of incandescent plasma cuts through it like it wasn’t even there.

<You are still in place, yes? The Usurper’s seed hasn’t hatched?> Siduri asks her, and her faceless head is the last thing Leiko expected to see in her prison.

<What are you talking about? How did you get here!?> Leiko wonders.

<Someone is working with forces unseen since the time of the Usurpers. I see it isn’t you, my bad! You’ll disregard my visit, yes?> Siduri says, just walking back through the hole she just made.

<Wait! You can help me get rid of this, can’t you?> Leiko asks, pointing at her handcuff.

<Yes? Why would I do that?> Siduri asks, tilting her head.

<Because I can help you find what you’re looking for.> Leiko lies.

It’s impossible to tell whether Siduri is considering this, without a facial expression: her body language is as much a mystery as her true nature.

<No, you can’t. I shall look elsewhere, yes?> Siduri says, and with a flash of blinding light she completely disappears.

Leiko takes the opportunity to run towards the hole, in an attempt to escape her prison, but much to her frustration the backup forcefields activate and keep her confined.

<Dammit. I wonder what that was about?> she wonders.

<CELESTIAL.> says a inhuman voice inside her head.

Leiko looks at the palm of her infected hand, where a yellow eye is once again opening.

<You’re still in there, aren’t you? Whatever creature you are… what do you need from me to help me escape?> Leiko asks.

The seed hasn’t developed its sentience yet. But Leiko knows it for a fact it’s listening, counting down the days until it will reveal itself.