Labya, 34.000 light-years from Earth
The ground shakes as Herakles tosses aside the rubble that fell on his head, like it was nothing.
He’s completely unharmed, while the building that housed the regent of this realm has now been demolished… by Herakles himself.
<Got it out of your system?>
The question comes from Quantum, standing on top of what used to be a load-bearing wall; the dust passes through his body composed of photons.
<I know well thy very sorcery, changeling. Shalt thou confront me with manly valor, or prove a craven like thy mistress?>
<Dude, why can’t you speak like a normal person? I don’t understand half of what you’re saying!>
<That’s because he is only half a god. He can’t naturally speak all languages like we do.> Eros explains, floating next to Quantum taking the form of his wife Jane.
<Verily, I possess the divine might to vanquish a traitor such as thou!> Herakles shouts, charging towards the shapeshifting god like a bull.
<Don’t you understand we are on the same side?> Eros asks, now changing to take the form of Herakles’s deceased wife Hebe.
The demigod stops, unable to bring himself to raise his hand against that face.
<Eros is right. If you could stop hurting your subjects and THINK for a second, you’d realize that!> Vesta echoes the sentiment, touching ground after helping Gilgamesh land as well.
<But you didn’t think before attacking us, didn’t you? It’s a miracle you didn’t kill every single mortal in the building!!!> Gilgamesh shouts.
<It was indeed a miracle. You’re welcome.> Eros comments, winking seductively at the Sumerian.
Unfortunately, he does this while still in the form of Hebe.
<Darest thou profane the hallowed memory of mine beloved spouse, thou wench!?>
<Seriously, we HAVE to give this guy a dictionary.> Quantum comments.
<Nevermind him, he’s just a nuisance. We didn’t come here for him: the rest of you talk things through with Eros. I will handle the half-god.> Gilgamesh proclaims.
<Are you sure about this, Gilgamesh? He’s pretty strong.> Vesta reminds him, raising an eyebrow.
<So am I.> the Sumerian hero reminds her, cracking his knuckles.
<I harbor no thirst for combat against thee, Gilgamesh, for I hold thy legend in high esteem. I contend not with mere mortals.>
<I’m ⅓ mortal and ⅔ god. That’s more than your ½ divine heritage.>
<Thy math doth make no sense. How many mortals did thy mother take in carnal embrace?>
<Did you just call my mother a w##re!? You son of a known rapist!>
Now it’s Gilgamesh’s turn to charge like a raging bull. His fist collides with Herakles’s, unleashing a blast wave that further damages the ruins.
Both fighters are unharmed, but since neither one possesses the power of flight they can’t stop being thrown violently in opposite directions.
Quantum sighs as more dust passes through his body of light.
<I can’t believe I’m the most mature guy here.>
<Just keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t endanger civilians.> Vesta instructs him.
<Is Gilgamesh even strong enough to actually fight Herakles?>
<Fight? Probably yes. Win? Not a chance.>
<Great. What does Noriko even see in that guy!?> Quantum wonders.
<You have not seen him naked.> Eros giggles, once again in Jane’s body.
Quantum opts to drop the subject and goes after the fighting demigods, while Vesta approaches her nephew.
<Are you sure Athena won’t discover we’re here?>
<Not for a long time. She hates this realm and rarely listens to her informants here… who are too busy trying to have sex as often as possible.> Eros answers, then tilts his head.
His body returns to what is the closest thing to his natural state: a winged humanoid made of pink energy.
<You still won’t allow yourself to fall in love with anyone, won’t you? I sense so much sadness within you and so much love for your friends, but not romantically.>
<I’m not here to talk about myself, Eros. Why did you accept to become Athena’s vassal? You’re probably the member of our family with the least interest in ruling.>
<I had no choice, after my mother’s disappearance. I couldn’t let the Aphrodite sector lose what made it unique… I love its inhabitants too much!>
<But you don’t believe Athena’s lies about Noriko’s betrayal.>
<I could not care less about that. I am the god of love, Vesta, not of intrigue. If you’re here to recruit me into your rebellion, you’re asking for something that is not within my nature.>
<So, you’re fine with Athena being on the throne, indefinitely.>
<Love doesn’t care about politics, aunt. Emperors, presidents, governors, gods… they all come and go, but lovers only care about each other’s embrace.>
<And they say I’m the naïve one. If Athena stabbed Noriko in the back after everything she’s done for her, what makes you think you’re safe?>
<If it meant protecting the ones I love, I would stab myself. You used to understand what being in love felt like, Vesta.> Eros says, now taking the form of Vesta’s long-dead mortal husband.
Going as far as looking just like he did when they married, instead of when he died of old age.
<This is a low blow, Eros. Not everything is always about love.>
<Nonsense. Everybody loves somebody at some point!>
Vesta feels dejected: she thought Eros would be more reasonable, but he’s too attuned to his divine role that personal growth is beyond his grasp.
Then inspiration strikes her.
<Even Athena?>
<What?>
<Does Athena love anybody?> Vesta asks.
<Well…> Eros wonders, stroking his chin. His form vacillates between several different bodies in rapid succession.
Several heroes of legend… Ulysses, Diomedes, Perseus, Jason, Theseus, Herakles… and for a few moments even minor goddesses like Pallas and Nike.
But Eros can’t maintain any of these forms for more than a second or two.
<No, I don’t think so. Athena has never truly loved anyone.>
<Is that really the kind of goddess that you want ruling the Olympian Galaxy, Eros?>
<She’s not. But there’s little I can do to support your cause, Vesta. I’m a lover, not a fighter.>
<I also wasn’t a fighter until I met the Vanguard. Until I learned how to fight for those I care for.>
<That’s kind of hot.>
<You have no idea how much.>
Both gods pause their discussion when they hear Quantum taking the form of a lightning bolt to attempt stopping Herakles’s rampage, with no results.
<Think you can help us knock some sense into that thick skull?>
<I would love nothing more.>
Outer hull of the Destiny-One, 21.000 light-years from Earth
Three people are standing on top of the warship, five light-years away from the closest solar system.
Hermes taps his bare foot on the hull; wearing only a short white tunic tied around his waist, he’s completely exposed to the vacuum of space.
Roxiana is protected from the harsh environment by the Drylon device on her wrist: the Absolute Defense, always active and always protecting her from any conceivable physical threat.
She’s making the final adjustments to the third person, who is wearing the most advanced suit of armor ever built.
<I think we’re ready for the checklist.> Noriko Null says from within the armor, her voice sounding deeper when coming out of the radio transmitter.
The armor is currently operating in Rest Mode: only the life support and communications systems are powered by a miniature Fusion Reactor.
<Yes, can we please hurry? I’ve been standing still for hours, and it’s horrible.> Hermes complains.
<This armor is the culmination of Nexus hosts working on the project and passing their results to their successors, Hermes. You can wait for a little more.> Roxiana replies.
<As much as I hate to say this, he’s got a point. We’ve done all the simulations we could think of; let’s take this thing for a spin.>
<Hosts these days… no patience. Switch to Battle Mode.> Roxiana initiates the checklist.
<Battle Mode, check.> Noriko repeats. The circuitry of the Genesis Armor hums, as the Fusion Reactor kicks into high gear.
The boots disengage the magnetic lock that kept her anchored to the ship, and Noriko executes a couple of simple aerial maneuvers.
<Antigravity field and ionic thrusters, check.>
She closes her fists, and while flying around Hermes her hands release several kinds of particle beams. Some of these are powerful enough to tear down buildings, but he takes it all without even messing up his hair.
<Kinetic blasters, proton accelerators, photon shooters, microwave arrays, check.>
<Are any of these toys necessary? They are well below what you usually carry into battle.> Hermes discourages her.
<This is the baseline, Hermes, upgraded from my old Excess and Overkill suits. The Genesis Armor won’t function at full power for long, I need something to fall back to in case…>
While she talks, two turrets emerge from the hull to shoot plasma beams at Noriko; they are stopped by a green forcefield before they can touch her.
<Autonomous defense software, check.> Roxiana notes.
<Variable personal shield, check. You enjoyed that surprise a little too much, you know?>
<Check. Baseline systems are good, ready for the main event?>
<Ready as I’ll ever be. Unlocking spinal conductive network.> Noriko signals, her silver eyes shining as the Nexus within her brain synchronizes with the armor’s internal systems.
<Nexus synchronization established. Harmonics are at normal levels.> Roxiana confirms.
<This feel… weird. Like I’m not even wearing armor anymore.> Noriko comments, staring at her gloved hands opening and closing without feeling the metallic gauntlets.
<A security feature to prevent any other mortal from using it?> Hermes hypothesizes.
<That, and the armor’s higher functions require too much computational power for anything except the Nexus.> Roxiana explains.
<You still haven’t told me what this armor is even supposed to do, girls.>
<I prefer to show you. Loading Enriched God Blood.> Noriko says, and a pellet containing specially treated weapons-grade god energy is injected into the armor.
The two circles on the armor’s chest plate now glow bright green.
<God power supply fully charged. All systems checked. Fire it up, Null.> Roxiana says, taking several steps back… even with the Absolute Defense, some caution is warranted.
<Here goes nothing. God Mode activated.>
Noriko’s eyes become a source of permanent light, just as the circles on her chestplate turn red.
Hermes is taken aback. All of a sudden, he feels like he’s standing in front of an actual goddess.
<Something’s off. Energy levels are already at 99% and dropping. 98% now.> Noriko worries.
<That was always a possibility: 90% enrichment is too low, we need more. Shall we abort?>
<Not yet. Higher enrichment will require all the resources we have; we should at least check the armor’s offensive capabilities in God Mode.>
<Hurry up then. You’re already at 92% and still dropping.> Roxiana hurries her.
<So are you finally doing anything besides talking?> Hermes asks impatiently.
<Let’s start with something simple: a test of the Autonomous Combat Reflex systems. I’m going to punch you as hard as I can; try to dodge my attacks.> Noriko instructs him.
<If you are in a rush to lose.> he shrugs, clearly not taking this seriously.
<On three. One, two, THREE!> Noriko counts, and the end of the count she flies forward.
Hermes is shocked at how fast she’s moving: he doesn’t spend all his time moving at top speed, otherwise the passage of time would be even more tiresome than it already is for an immortal.
She comes dangerously close to hitting him, but Hermes sidesteps at twice her speed.
To his shock, the armor almost instantaneously quadruples her speed.
Unaccustomed to fighting at this level, Hermes doesn’t have room to dodge her a second time.
The punch actually connects with his jaw, far more devastatingly than either of them anticipated.
The whole action was way too fast for Roxiana to understand in real time. From her point of view, Noriko just knocked out Hermes with one punch.
A second later, she realizes that she didn’t just break his jaw… it was completely ripped away from his skull by brute force, and it’s currently floating in zero gravity disconnected from his head.
<Oh my God, I didn’t mean to…> Noriko realizes with horror what she has done.
Hermes is still alive: it takes even more than this to kill a god. What shocks Noriko even more is that the blood spilled, after floating away from the ship, moves towards the armor and is absorbed directly into its circuits.
Roxiana stares at the holographic tablet in her hand, which is relaying the same information being presented to Noriko by the armor itself.
<Energy levels are… back to 98%. You just absorbed his energy.> Roxiana realizes, finally understanding why the Genesis Armor is such a threat.
<Sweet. I can work with this.> Noriko comments, staring at her closed fist: the god’s blood has been fully absorbed, and the gauntlet is glowing with renewed energy.