28th October 2012
17:11 GMT +3
I smile as a familiar figure comes into pseudo-sight.
"Di-.
"
"Why are they cheering, Paul?"
"You know why. But if you
really want me to spell it out?
" My vision substitute doesn't reliably show me subtle facial expression, so I can't tell
exactly what her response is.
"Zeus is no longer parasitizing on them.
"
"You
promised me-."
"I
didn't! I stood out of the way and sang an insulting song! You want me to do the lasso again?
"
"Do you mean to say that you talked Zeus into amending his ways?"
"Diana, I'm a Lantern, not a miracle worker. He's still
alive, but he's not in charge of Olympus any longer which means that you're out.
"
"I am not even going to ask how-. You expect me to leave the titans unguarded while they grow in power?"
"Sure. They're still trapped by the nature of Tartarus and the Hekatonkheires can keep an eye on things. And the only thing that Cronus has done in living memory is create Donna and Deva. Do you think those were evil acts?
"
"It is a great risk-."
"Was creating two daughters an evil act?
"
She doesn't immediately respond, instead rising off the ground and flying towards the Gates of Tartarus. I give her a moment and then follow along behind her at a respectful distance.
"Who rules Olympus now?"
"Hephaestaean.
"
I can
hear her either sigh or just take a deep breath.
"Explain."
"You remember that stuff with Richard Simpson, where he was trying to change himself into a God of Technology?
"
"You put Hephaestus through that process."
"Hephaestus volunteered to go through the process after we workshopped it with Hecate, Eris and Athena.
"
She slows slightly at the mention of Athena, but I doubt that she's really surprised.
"So really he's become everything a forward-thinking pantheon needs their leader to be: stronger and with none of the weaknesses of his former self.
"
"And what of Zeus?"
"Cast down until he gains a decent understanding of meteorology. In the material world he's limited to avatar power, and he's got no titans boosting him any more. Oh, and obviously we freed Metis.
"
"At least that explains Lady Athena's support."
"I don't know. She's rather fond of you, too.
"
And
there's the door. Diana and I push through to see Hephaestaean completing his divine cybermancy on Akhlys, mechadendrites whirring and clicking as they replace
weak flesh with elegant machinery. She… Her gold-tinted flesh glows as the implanted arcane circuitry twists her nature to reflect the technological improvements humanity has made to medicine and healthcare since the days of Ancient Greece. Her robotic eyes shift and focus, taking in her new body.
Hephaestaean points to her left hand.
"As you can see, I focused your aura of ill-health through your left hand. You'll need to discharge it once a month or so, but you can do that ritually rather than by personal contact."
"I understand, Lord."
Hephaestaean nods in satisfaction, two servo arms with cameras already pointing at Diana and me as we land.
"Diana. You are free to go, unless there is anything in Tartarus that requires my immediate attention."
"No, Lord Hephaest-. Aean."
Hephaestaean smiles. "Don't worry. I'm not entirely used to it myself."
"What commands do you have for me?"
"None. Unless you feel like undergoing apotheosis, in which case I'm sure I could find some work for you."
"I think it best if I remain mortal for now, Lord. Quite aside from the responsibility of raising my sons-" She glances at me. "-I have concerns what might happen if I left the material world."
"Wise of you. In that case, continue your mission as Wonder Woman with my blessing. I'll put some new armour together for you once I have the free time; my capacities now are far in advance of what they used to be."
"If I may ask, what plans do you have now that you rule Olympus?"
"I intend to modernise. Every significant figure in our mythos will have to maintain their domain and encourage proselytism or get replaced like a broken part."
"Does that include me, nephew?
"
Hades strikes out of the darkness in… What I assume to be his full raiment. Never actually seen him wearing it before. Zagreus lurks behind him, still fully tooled up.
"Technically, yes. But you're doing a fine job, Uncle, and Thana is already trying to convert people at your instruction. I would appreciate you giving me a full briefing, but I fully expect to find that you are the most engaged of our people."
Hades nods.
"I can brief you at your-
"
A plume of rose petals erupts from thin air, spraying red and pink flakes across the desolate landscape. And emerging from the centre is…
"-convenience.
"
An entrancingly beautiful woman in the prime of her life, striding elegantly towards Hephaestaean with a
smile barely concealing her desire.
Hephaestaean pulls his mechadendrites in. "Aphrodite."
"
Dear husband. Is it true? Have you overthrown Zeus?"
Hephaestaean shakes his head. "It is, but I haven't changed my mind. You had no more desire to marry me than I did you."
"That-." She looks away, at least decent enough to feel shame. At being caught out, at least. "I…"
"I declare us to be divorced. We both know that you prefer Ares; go to him now with my blessing. He was on Olympus when last I saw him."
She strikes a pose that displays her physical charms to greatest effect without
quite crossing the line into full-on harlotry.
"Are you
certain?"
"Yes. Quite certain."
She shrugs, running her eyes over him. "Let me know if you change your mind."
The petals are sucked in towards her, vanishing as she does.
"
Bitch."
I smirk, raising my right hand to my forehead.
"If you'll excuse me, I'll go and give everyone the good news.
"
Hephaestaean nods and I
step out, reappearing
28th October 2012
09:15 GMT -5
in the Mountain. I-.
"Oh. Hey, Paul." Captain Marvel smiles at me. "Ah, I wouldn't ask, but Ollie always said that if anything weird happened I should probably talk to you first, so… I am."
"What's up?
"
"My transformation isn't working. I'm… Kinda
stuck?" He
looks at me hopefully. "You got any ideas?"
