Outbursts
Null Tower, New York City
While Null Technologies employs thousands of people, very few of them work at the Tower itself. One of the upper floors houses all the Tower's living quarters: Vesta, Kari and Torn live here, as do Noriko and her father Bob. Max Black a.k.a. Quantum is knocking at Bob's door.
Max doesn't have the time to answer before Quantum opens the door, greeting them.
Kari does a double take: she's used to seeing multiple people with the same face, but she didn't expect to see Max shaking Quantum's hand. But despite not knowing they're the same person, Erika seems to be far more shocked.
Kari watches them leave, then turns towards Quantum. She tries to touch him, but her hand goes right through him
she asks. Quantum answers with a metallic female voice:
Space station Sword of Justice
The hearing has been going on for hours. Not a long time for gods, but as much as she tries to hide it, Noriko is exhausted. She has fallen asleep, resting her head on Vesta's shoulder.
The red-haired goddess instinctively warms the air around them a little bit.
The two goddesses chuckle, taking care not to wake up Noriko. The awkward silence that follows lasts a few seconds, before Vesta takes the courage to ask:
The family reunion is cut short when someone opens the doors with the force and subtlety of a battering ram. Still frightened by the noise, a dozen of ten year old girls leave rose petals on the floor and chant together:
The sound wakes up Noriko, who jumps on her feet to meet the latest would-be ruler of Myridia.
Artemis looks like a fitness model. All of the goddesses Noriko has met have perfect bodies (as well as Hermes, no matter how much she tries to forget him), but Artemis' clothes seem designed to emphasize her well-defined muscles. Aside from the dark blue low-cut shorts and shirt that leaves her abs exposed, she's only wearing metal bands on her wrists and ankles.
Her white hair is very short with a boyish cut; there is a deep, nasty scar over and under her right eye, which hasn't healed completely.
The children step aside to let her pass, bowing respectfully. Artemis ignores Athena and Vesta, going straight to Noriko who does her best not to look intimidated: she's almost two feet taller and looks like she could break her in half without a sweat. To answer her stare, Noriko's silver eyes shine menacingly. Artemis doesn't seem to care.
Noriko doesn't have the time to finish before Artemis grabs her by the jacket's collar, lifting her effortlessly with one hand, and kisses her.
Athena sighs, rolling her eyes. Vesta is too embarrassed to do anything for the first five seconds; but then she sees that Noriko is clearly panicking when her efforts to break free are in vain.
She's not strong enough to move Artemis by more than an inch, but finally she ends the kiss.
Noriko coughs heavily as if she almost drowned, which isn't far from the truth. Vesta immediately tires to help her, noticing that her eyes are now more shining than ever.
Noriko jumps towards Artemis; Vesta has to hold her to stop her. She's never seen her like this.
Artemis adds, leaving to join the hall of Themis.
Athena doesn't react. Noriko is still mad with rage; Vesta is still holding her to prevent her from running straight into the hall. She's acting like a caged animal: it's only a matter of time before she hurts herself. And her eyes are now painful to look at, even for a goddess.
Athena explains, touching Noriko's forehead with a finger.
Noriko calms down immediately. She leans on Vesta, too dizzy to stand on her own. As she catches her breath, with her heart still pounding, she recalls:
<"The darkest part of humanity crawling inside your head". You said it when you gave me the power. It's happening, isn't it?>
Vesta crosses her arms, giving her niece a stern look.
In an empty corridor, Noriko is sitting with her eyes closed and her forehead on her knees.
"I'm not going crazy. I'm not" she thinks.
"Can we go home now? This place is scary" another voice replies from within.
"Let me out again. I want to kill that b##ch"
"Oh great, another one! It's getting crowded in here!"
"Shut up! Both of you! I'm trying to think!!!"
"Build another God Eraser. We can kill all of them in a single shot and rule the galaxy!"
"Who cares about the galaxy, give them what they want and let's go home!
She looks up: Vesta is offering her a handkerchief. She didn't even notice she was crying.
"Hug her and cry on her shoulder!"
"Cut out our her heart and weaponize it!"
Noriko answers, taking the handkerchief. Vesta sits down besides her.
Vesta says.
Noriko's eyes flash intensely. She stands up, snapping her fingers.
Noriko smiles. It's the smile of someone who has just figured out how to beat impossible odds.