Chapter 9: They do come back after all
Vesta is sitting on the edge of the roof on Two East River Place, the skyscraper that is her home now. She always liked watching the city from the sky, and she's glad that mortals in the last century have been able to do the same.
Noriko is approaching her, with a cup of coffee in her hands.
<Penny for your thoughts> she says.
<I didn't know you could read minds> Vesta answers.
<In a way. I have all of mankind's knowledge, remember? It includes noticing when someone is feeling blue. Here, this will help> she says, handling the cup to the goddess.
Noriko sits down next to her, and the two couldn't look more different if they tried. Noriko is a black-haired eighteen-year-old with short black hair, wearing jeans, sneakers and a leather jacket with a horrible shade of green. Vesta is a redhead of ageless beauty, wearing orange cut-offs and a pink T-shirt, going barefoot.
<Aren't you cold dressed like that? We're close to zero degrees up here.>
<It's not that cold> the goddess answers. Her hands catch fire for a couple of seconds, heating the cup.
<You're right. I've started thinking in Celsius instead of Fahrenheit, probably because most of the world does the same. Now, would you mind telling me why you're feeling down?>
<It's nothing, really> Vesta answers, standing up in front of the roof. Her feet don't touch the ground, in fact she simply walks on air as she talks.
<I guess you want to know why I'm paying your rent now> Noriko says.
<I've been wondering about that. You just rented…what, the top ten floors?>
<Just the top five. You'd be amazed how little a million dollars can buy. Vesta, I've seen what you can do, and I'm not talking just about the fire and the flying and the strength. On the Moon, the Many ripped Max to shreds and you pulled him back together.>
<It's not a big deal. I'm not even sure how I did it.>
<Max was basically turned into ashes and you took him back, Vesta. When I met you, you were working as a waitress. To say that I think you can do more would be the understatement of the millennium. And since you're thousands of years old, you know that's true.>
<You're very sweet, Nori. My niece Athena must have chosen wisely before making you…whatever you are now. Yes, my niece is always about wise choices> she says bitterly.
<Including disappearing right after turning me into the smartest person in the world, apparently. I take it there's quite some history between you two.>
<Nori, it's been twenty-five hundred years since I last saw my family. Athena was here, in the same city where I live, and she didn't even say a word. How long will it be before I meet her again?>
<Probably not as long as you think. Take a look at this> Noriko says, unfolding a large sheet of paper. It's a blueprint, highly technical and highly detailed, but it's drawn in pencil.
<You did this?>
<Last night. I had trouble sleeping. Some nightmare about war.>
<This is wonderful! What…what is it?>
<The world's first quantum computer. The only thing powerful enough to crack the operating code of the Heart of the Universe.>
<Cool! Can I see it?> Max shouts excitedly.
Noriko almost falls down the roof thanks to the surprise of someone appearing out of nowhere shouting right behind you.
<What did I tell about doing stuff like this, Max!?>
<Yeah, yeah, whatever. I get it, you plan on selling them?>
<Once completed it will be the most advanced technological device on the planet, Max; I estimate the prototype will cost about 200.000 dollars to assemble.>
<That's nice, but is this really the sort of thing Athena had in mind?> Vesta asks, confused.
<Once I understand how the Heart works, we'll be able to ask her. Don't you see? I'm the smartest person ever and I've got my hands on an alien device that can do anything, a man who somehow can turn into energy at will, and a goddess. If I've got enough time to concentrate, I can do anything. Everything is going exactly as planned.>
Just then, something flies by the skyscraper, with the sound of a roaring motor and the speed of a fighter jet, leaving behind a red streak of light.
<So what part of the plan is this, little miss evil genius?>
The first thing on everybody's mind is "not meteors again", but the falling object is clearly slowing down. It falls into the water, right in front of Liberty Island, making it boil thanks to the residual head of the atmospheric re-entry.
People on the island, here to visit the Statue of Liberty, have already stormed the waterfront and start taking pictures. A robot emerges from the water.
It looks like a man in a futuristic white and black armor, and from the sound of its boots it must weigh several tons.
Its head is similar in shape to a Corinthian helmet, but instead of eyes it has a single red visor burning with a fierce atomic flame.
<Ωηιcη γοδ οωνσ τηισ ωορλδ?> it asks, with a metallic voice.
The crowd is loving this: there isn't a single person looking at it who isn't taking a picture or shooting a video.
<Ι δεμανδ αν ανσωερ. Ωηιcη γοδ οωνσ τηισ ωορλδ?> it repeats, this time with an angrier tone and stepping towards the crowd.
Nobody seems to take a hint, thinking this is some kind of incredible publicity stunt. Only when the robot grabs one of the smartphones shooting a video that the protests start. The phone's owner tries to take it back, but the robot is holding it too tightly.
<Hey, give it back! That's mine!>
<Βε qθιετ. Ι αμ σcαννινγ> – the robot replies, showing the man the palm of its hand.
An energy blast blows away the poor man's head, and with good reason the crowd goes into panic immediately. There are screams, male and female, but the robot is only hearing its own voice.
<Σcαννινγ. Native language decoded. I will repeat the original question: which god owns this world?>
It's too late: everybody has run away from the scary killer robot. It almost looks confused from the reaction, then it looks around.
There is a very prominent statue of a woman in front of him, holding a torch in her hand. To the robot, this can only mean one thing.
<This is Hestia's world. Beginning takeover.>
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