Beyond The Impossible

Bridge of the N01-Ragnarok

Edge of the Olympian Galaxy

Even with the Negative Drive running at 50% of its maximum speed, it will still take five days to travel the 2.5 million light-years that separate the Aegian Galaxy from its nearest neighbor.

Max Black a.k.a. Quantum is staring at the viewscreen that is showing images from the Galaxy that the ship is leaving. Even if he’s been in space so many times, he’s still mesmerized by the view.

Torn is staring at him, tilting his head as he asks:

<What is so interesting about it?>

<Jesus Christ man, I didn’t even know you were on the ship!> Quantum exclaims, his heart rushing to recover from the surprise.

<I have been standing on the bridge for several minutes.> Torn points out.

<You didn’t say anything!>

<Was I supposed to?>

<Well, yeah! Something like “hey Max, good to see you man, it’s been ages since we’ve seen each other, how have you been?”.>

<That doesn’t sound like me.>

<That’s not what… nevermind. It’s good to see you, Torn. How are things on Hell?>

<Hot.>

<Anything more specific?>

Torn ponders his response for several seconds, trying his best to come up with an answer that might satisfy his human friend.

<Hot and on fire.>

<I guess it’s no use trying to make small talk with you.> Quantum says, rolling his eyes.

<If you wish to talk, I do have one question. You seem to have a fascination with the view.> Torn says, looking at the viewscreen that is still showing the slowly receding Olympian Galaxy.

<In fact, I have noticed that many humans are mesmerized by watching space. What is it that you find so interesting?>

<Uh. You know, I never thought about that. I suppose I should be pretty jaded about space since I’ve been there so many times at this point, but… well that’s the entire Galaxy! It’s like looking at a starry night, but on steroids.>

Torn opens his mouth and starts to lift a finger, but before he can say anything Quantum clarifies:

 

<No I’m not literally on steroids, that was just a metaphor.>

<I see. But even without stimulants, what is so fascinating about watching the stars?>

<You never did that?>

<I was raised on Hell. We don’t see the stars, our sky is on fire.>

<Oh, right, I forgot about that. Let’s change the subject, okay? Trying to discuss deep things with you is like talking about comic book continuity with someone who only goes to the movies.>

<As you wish. I did miss our conversations, Quantum.>

<Oh? You did?>

<You say the weirdest things.>

<I’ll take that as a compliment. But on a more serious subject… you’ve been to the Aegian Galaxy before, right? What can we expect to find there?>

<Stars.>

<Again, you need to be more specific, Torn…>

<Stars and water.>

<I was thinking more in terms of gods and people.>

<I never met any god there. My sister and I operated there in secret, pushing one system against the other; we kept a low profile, as much as my sister’s bloodlust would let us.>

<I’m sorry I brought it up.>

<Why?> Torn asks, raising an eyebrow.

<Well… talking about your sister must be painful for you.>

<Because she murdered my mother and I had to get revenge by killing her during the Strongest Under The Heavens tournament?>

<Uhmm… yes?>

<Why would that be painful to me? She’s the one who died.>

<She was your sister!>

<And?>

Max can feel a chill down his spine. There are moments when he’s reminded that Torn, despite being a friend and a teammate, is still an alien with thought processes he can’t always fully understand. He decides to change the subject again.

<Okay, so no gods. What should we expect in terms of people?>

<Humans are rare in the Aegian Galaxy. Every biped you meet will probably be a Thalassian: they look the same, but can breathe underwater.>

<Wait, you do you mean by “biped”?>

<With two legs.>

<I know what biped means! Are you talking about the green aliens we saw in the Anubis galaxy, those snake people with four arms and a tail instead of legs?>

<The Naga. There are some Naga planets, yes, but most mortals without proper legs are either Lamians or Ichthyians.>

<What’s the difference?>

<They both look like humans from the waist up, but from the waist down a Lamia is like a snake and an Ichthyan is like a fish.>

<Wait wait wait… there are mermaids in that galaxy!? Space mermaids!?>

<You get excited about the most mundane things.> Torn comments; if he wasn’t a Demon, this would’ve raise a chuckle out of him.

<I disagree! I mean… mermaids!? Really!?>

<Why is that so…> Torn starts to retorn, but he then pauses. Quantum has seen him do this enough times to understand what it means.

<You sensed something. What is it?>

<We are not alone on the ship.>

<Well yeah, Kari is…>

<There’s a soul I don’t recognize. It’s unlike anything I ever sensed.> Torn says, creating a pentagram-shaped portal made of fire.

 

The ship’s cargo bay

Nalani Null sips from her juice box, looking at her travel companion: the woman made of blue energy that is actually the fusion of Kari’s three daughters. And she’s starting to think that bringing her along hasn’t been her best idea ever.

<This is booooooring. We want to go on the bridge!>

<I told you we can’t go on the bridge yet. This is a secret mission.>

<Why?>

<Because if we are caught when there’s still time to bring us back home, my mother AND your mother will get really angry.>

<Why? You said it was okay if we went on an adventure!>

<It’s going to be okay when I prove to the Vanguard that I’m smart enough to help them.>

<How are you going to do that?>

<I dunno. I’ll figure something out.> Nalani shrugs, going back to drinking.

<You weren’t smart enough to find a cool name for us.> the energy woman puts.

<But I did! “Norn” is a perfectly good name for a gestalt being like you!>

<We don’t like it. Sounds dumb.>

<It’s the name of a trinity of goddesses from Norse mythology that…>

<Hey we like that! “Trinity” sounds cool!>

<It’s pretentious. Norn is a much better name.>

<Is not!>

<Is too!>

<Is not!>

<Is too!>

The debate is suddenly interrupted by the appearance of a red sword made of Blood energy, hanging one inch away from the woman’s nose.

<Torn, wait! She’s with me!> Nalani hurries to warn the Demon.

<Three souls into one. Never seen that before. Who are you?> Torn asks, and from his tone even a child could understand he’s fully ready to use that sword: the woman raises her hands to surrender.

<We are Trinity. But we are thinking about changing our name.>

<Into Norn hopefully.> Nalani adds under her breath.

<What are you doing on this ship?>

<We wanted to have an adventure… but we just peed ourselves.> the woman admits, looking down in embarrassment and crossing her legs.

<We’re in trouble, aren’t we?> Nalani asks timidly.

<Your sister did tell me you are smart.> Torn replies dryly.

 

Megalopolis, 52,000 light-years from Earth

When she accepted the role of Mortal Co-Empress, Noriko Null knew there would be bad days; that doesn’t make it any easier to be presented with the worst ecological disaster she’s ever seen.

She’s holding a meeting with three of her ministers, but she just knows the entire Galaxy is going to watch very closely how she deals with the very first crisis of her rule.

<I am afraid this goes far beyond my capabilities, Lady Null.> the Minister of Planetary Development admits.

<You’re the god of agriculture, Triptolemus. Growing plants is literally your job!>

<Demigod, actually. Demeter was the goddess of agriculture, but even she wouldn’t have been able to reverse the effects of Gaea’s curse.> Triptolemus explains, pointing at the data projected on the screen and adding for emphasis:

<Megalopolis is no longer capable of sustaining any form of plant life. Every single tree is dead, every single piece of fruit or vegetable is rotten, and nothing can grow anymore.>

<We could import more plants from the rest of the Empire.> is the suggestion of Eunomia, Minister of Administration.

<We tried. Any plant transported here from another planet instantly dies.>

<Needless to say, but completely eliminating any form of vegetable from the human diet is not going to be sustainable.> Asclepius points out, present here as Minister of Health.

<I’m more concerned about people breathing right now, Asclepius. How long can this world survive without plants to recycle oxygen?> Noriko asks.

<Not indefinitely. We are deploying atmospheric converters, but it’s a temporary measure: without plant life, the result will not be stable.> Eunomia admits.

<This planet didn’t develop the way it is naturally, it was terraformed. Don’t we have the technology to do it again?> Noriko asks.

<I’m afraid the former administration didn’t leave us any terraforming technology. In fact, as far as we know all currently inhabited planets were modified by divine powers.> Eunomia adds.

<Great. Which god was responsible for that?> Noriko asks.

There’s an awkward moment of silence as the three ministers exchange looks, until Asclepius works up the courage to answer.

<That would be Demeter. This would’ve been her area of expertise before…>

<Yeah I get it. So what should we do, evacuate? Megalopolis is the most populated planet in the Galaxy, I don’t have a planet where to put 20 billion people!> Noriko complains.

Just then, her N-Phone beeps. For a second she hopes this could be good news, but she’s quickly brought by reality when she reads the message.

<Perfect. Just perfect. We have a second planet where plant life just vanished… it’s spreading.>

Asclepius has seen Noriko literally power through her own death, but this is the first time he’s seen her genuinely worried by the situation.

<So… what are you going to do, Lady Null?> Eunomia asks.

<Gaea knows she can’t hurt me, so she’s hurting the people I’m supposed to protect. Did she actually go to Olympus like she said she would?>

<She did, according to our sources.>

<Good. Let’s pay her a visit… Primordial or not, she’s about to learn what happens to gods who get in my way.> Noriko boasts, her silver eyes shining.