by Kip Hartzell
Smart, informed, and pretty, Zeusticus thought. “Stalemate.” The question brought back a flood of memories. His wife was a casualty, his brothers, and many others. He was visibly shaken, she put a comforting hand on his shoulder, daring to be so bold. He looked into her deep brown eyes and was comforted. He broke his gaze away. “Go now, I must rest and heal.”
“As you wish Lord Zeus.”
Hermes felt the warmth of the sun on his back. It felt good, but the smell of fish was better. He opened an eye to see several piles of decomposing fish at the end of his snout. A non-Atlantean Minotaur had his back to him, but the other two saw the eye open, and ran without warning their comrade. The loan guard turned slowly to an upraised Dragon head. He peddled backward, but didn’t go anywhere, until he fell back. A gapping maw came down and consumed most of the fish pile. The Minotaur realized he wasn’t dead, jumped up, and ran away.
Hermes moved slowly up the sand bar, realizing just how hurt he was. His wings had holes in them that would probably never heal. He was old, and he felt old, too old for war games. His age was showing as he limped toward the cave mouth. He collapsed at the entrance, realizing he would be alright with a few days of rest.
Zeus stood up and bumped his head on the ceiling. He heard a giggle from the far opening. He should’ve been angry, but he found himself smirk. Alceme came all the way in with fruits and berries. Zeus took the bowl, brushing her hand as he did. She looked into his deep blue eyes, and for a moment, was mesmerized. She shyly looked away.
“Your Dragon is awake and eating faster than we can provide.”
“He’s not my Dragon. Hermes is a being all to himself.”
“He is another God?”
“We are not Gods.”
“Of course, you are, no mortal can ride a Dragon, and survive those wounds, Lord Zeus.”
Zeus just shook his head. He stretched his tall muscular frame and then washed himself. He redressed in his light armor and made his way outside, where he greeted a limping Hermes. His wing was drooping as he sat on his haunches.
“You appear in better shape than when I last saw you,” Hermes said, to the astonishment of all the Cousins and Minotaurs that had gathered around. They quickly kneeled down.
They both glanced around and shook their heads.
“Still sore, but I’ll heal. You look terrible,” Zeusticus said, moving closer to his comrade.
“Ha, that’s what Despin-A says after every excursion with John.”
Zeus half smiled, it felt strange that he could do that after he had lost so much. “Can you walk?”
“Yes, hurts, but I need to exercise it, not as young as I used to be.”
Zeus half smiled again, and then strolled toward the beach. People scrambled to get out of the way of a large swinging tail. “Hermes, the last thing I remember was the inside of Cronus’s mouth, the stench still lingers. I wanted to be somewhere else, more than anything. I closed my eyes, and then I was floating over a sea, then I woke up in a cave.”
“I was wounded and trying to get away, when suddenly, you appeared before me. I grabbed you, and escape through the chaos of battle. I flew as fast and as high as I could, until I reached a cloud bank. In my delirium, I kept flying until I couldn’t. I saw this island, and crashed here. I think more tests and experiments should be conducted, but I think you’ve mastered the art of self-teleportation.”
Zeusticus thought about it for a second. “It does seem logical, but it must take an enormous amount of energy.”
“Then you should be careful how you use it.”
Zeusticus looked out over the sea. The moon was a silver disk on pale blue-gray horizon. He spotted a few bright stars against a fading background and quickly calculated where he was. “You flew a long way my friend, thank you.”
Hermes just nodded acknowledgement.
Zeusticus looked back at Alceme. “I’m still weak. I think we should stay a few more days. I’m sure the war will still be there when we get back.”
Hermes looked at his old friend in understanding, snorted, and then dragged himself over to a dugout spot in the warm sand and curled up for a good sleep.
Athene-A easily won the Chief Councillorship. She set into motion a plan to study the dimensional rift, and how to close it. With the help of the Cousins, developed an observation protocol. Also, a way to incapacitate the Titans, killing was a last resort, if even possible. Passivism still ruled, if they discarded it now, it would render them just as culpable as the Destroyers. Arguing, instead of debating, ensued, and more and more she wished John were here with her. He always seems to know what to do, even if he didn’t know what to do. All the information they had gathered from the last battle would take years to decipher. The war would continue, but mostly, it was designed to prevent Orthys from being completed.
Jay felt what she was going through. The burdens of command in a war situation, trying to keep your morals intact as you make life and death decisions. He could feel her sadness, but he also felt her resolve.
Zeus still felt guilty when he smiled, or laughed when Alceme would do or say something that sparked his humorous side. She brought him some wine and sat down beside him. “You are almost healed. Will you be leaving us?”
“Soon, I must return to the fight.”
“But your wife, Her-A, has only been dead a week, surely you must take more time to morn.”
“True, but she had become cold and distant over the last few centuries. I think because we kept outliving our adopted children, her heart became hardened by constant loss. I did love her, and I will miss her dearly.”
Alceme put a hand on his bare chest. “Then I would take great pleasure in comforting you.” She pulled away her dress and straddled him. He tried haphazardly to discourage her, but became lost in her deep dark eyes, as she kissed him.
The next morning, Zeus felt her staring at him, and opened the one eye closest to her. He could not remember the last time he had slept so soundly. He rolled over to face her. “Won’t this discourage your husband?”
“Although, I am pregnant with his child, he is not my husband. We lost our honor, and he is battling to get it back.” She rolled over and took a deep breath. “My Uncle, Pterelaus, King of Taphian, came to claim a share of my father’s kingdom. King Electryon of Mycenae, of course he naturally refused. In response, Pterelaus ordered his sons to steal all our cattle. Without them, we would starve during the coming winter. My brothers did battle to retrieve them...” She paused, and teared up. “All, but one, was killed. All, but one, of my cousins was killed, also. My betrothed, General Amphitryon, saw an opportunity for peace, and offered to buy the herd back, he did so, but while parading the herd in front of my Father, he tried to dissuade a bull away from the king with a club, and accidentally struck, and killed my Father. My Uncle Sthenelus immediately seized the throne. He charged him with murder and exiled us. We went to Thebes for purification. King Creon of Thebes would exonerate him if he rid the countryside of the Teumessian Fox beast. He was a genius, and succeeded. King Creon, then left it to me for final purification. My anger still raged, I demanded Amphitryon avenge my brothers before I would marry him. He, and King Creon are at war with the Taphians and Teleboans, still. That’s why we have been exiled to this island. The Minoans have been gracious enough to let us stay here.”
Through the whole explanation, Zeus could only say, “You’re pregnant?”
“A most recent event. I know you could easily smite him, but he is a good man.”
“I will see to it that General Amphitryon is successful. I would love to take you with me, but you would be driven mad by incomprehension.”
She scooted herself up, and put her head on a large, muscular shoulder. “I don’t understand, but I believe in you.”
Zeus swallowed hard, and thought, this is why he loved the Cousins so much. There unconditional love, when Atlanteans did not deserve it.
He enjoyed her company, as another week went by. Zeus finally decided it was time
to go back and continue the war. Alceme took his arm before he could climb onto Hermes, and said softly, “I am pregnant.”
“I know, you said as much.”
“You don’t understand, I am pregnant with your child.”
He looked at her as if she had lost her mind.
“I have confirmed it with my mid-wives, and an Oracle. I have two children, now. One is General Amphitryon’s, and the other is yours.”
Zeus pulled a handheld from Hermes’s pouch and took some readings. They confirmed what she said. He smiled, then it faded. “I still must go.”
“I didn’t tell you to make you stay. You don’t have to coddle me, I’m quite capable of taking care of myself.”
“That I have no doubt.” He put a large hand on her shoulder. “That’s not what I meant. I have a war to direct. I promise, I will look in on you from time to time, and help if necessary.”
She softened. “I would like that.”
Zeus reached out with an injector and pressed it against her skin. “If you really need me, just call for me.” He kissed her on top of the head, and disappeared. He appeared on the Dragon’s back. Hermes scampered along the shoreline before getting airborne, and was out of sight in a matter of minutes.
Chapter Seventeen: From Time to Time
Athene-A sat in a comfortable high back chair, looking at the 3-D image of Tartarus. “Now that Olympus is complete, and the Titan call dramatically diminished, I think we should disband the Cousins, and disperse them back to where they came from.”
“That may prove to be difficult. They have learned agriculture, and better animal domestication. Their communities are growing, along with their knowledge of metallurgy,” Delphi-Apollo explained.
Athene-A slammed a hand down on the table. “Zeusticus’s single-minded ambition to end the planet bound Destroyers has sped up their maturation by an incalculable amount.”
“We’ll probably still need some to maintain the outpost.”
“I’ll put it before the Council.” There was a disturbance in the hallway, impact tremors could be felt. Athene-A stopped talking and looked at the over-sized doorway. Zeusticus strolled in with Hermes towering over him. Athene-A stood up. “Zeusticus...you’re alive.”
“Obviously.”
Athene-A was immediately angered by his insult of her intelligence. “I meant, how are still alive?”
“I’ve discovered a new talent.” He vanished before her eyes and appeared behind her.
She turned and faced him. “What...”
“I discovered self-teleportation in the waning moments of my demise. Although both of us were badly wounded, we did manage to make to an island, and there with the help of some Cousins, and Minotaurs, we were nursed back to health. It will all be in my report. Now, are we ready to continue the battle.”
“We have ceased hostilities for the moment. We need to research your brother’s findings.”
“What? I demand we attack immediately while they are weak.”
“We lost a lot of lives, and we are running low on equipment and supplies. We are weak.” She sat and leaned back in the Chief Councilor chair. “We are monitoring their progress on Mt. Orthys. When they start to rebuild the communications array, we will destroy it.”
“We can’t settle for attrition! I’m Chief Councilor, I have a policy in place.”
“Since your absence, I’ve been elected Chief Councilor.”
“In that case, I must invoke the law, one developed by John-Anee-Athain, himself: If after a long absence, a Chief Councilor is still fit and competent, may resume their Chief Councilor duties.”
Athene-A stood up and confronted him. “Unless a no-confidence vote goes against, said, Chief Councilor.”
Zeusticus was quiet for the first time since he had been there. He had lost a lot of support over the last few battles. He wasn’t sure he could prevail. “Athene-A,” his tone softened, “I propose a compromise, you remain here as Chief Councilor, and I’ll conduct the war from Olympus as Vice Chief Councilor.”
Athene-A studied him for deception, then considered it. “That would still require Council approval, I’ll call an emergency meeting, we’ll let them decide.”
Zeusticus smiled, and disappeared.
“That’s a bit unnerving.” She turned to Hermes. “How are you, old friend?”
“Sore, old, and tired, but well.”
“Thank you for your service.” She moved in closer to his large face. “Could I ask a favor?”
“Of course, anything.”
“Zeusticus has been erratic for some time now. Maybe it’s the Destroyer psyonic influence, I can’t be sure, but I need someone to inform me if he oversteps his authority.”
“I understand. But Zeusticus is an old friend.” Hermes swung his head around as if checking on eavesdroppers. “He has become more erratic as of late. I will keep you informed.”
“Thank you.”
“Now, I must find Despin-A and give her the bad news, that I’m still alive.”
Athene-A smiled. “She was last seen in the nursery.”
Hermes rolled his huge cat-like eyes and lumbered out of the room.
The Council approved the division of power, research and fighting would continue simultaneously. The information compiled by Hades would take them to a new level of understanding. Zeusticus continued to attack the Orthys facility relentlessly. His planning and tactics kept damage high, but casualties low. The native population, along with Minotaurs, Centaurs, and most other species created a large spy network, and on occasion put them in harm’s way. Hundreds were now assisting his efforts.
After ten months since the ingestion of Her-A, Poseidon, Hades, Hesti-A, Demeter, and the deaths of many others that fateful day. Athene-A was called to the TSD section. She walked in and approached Pandor-A, while watching her manipulate the controls.
“What’s so important?” Athene-A asked, leaning on the console.
“It’s John, he is free from the Extra-Temporal-Dissociation state.”
“Let’s bring him out, he’ll have a solution. He always sees a way out of any given situation.”
Pandor-A struggled with the controls, at times looking confused. “I don’t understand,” she stopped and looked at holographic images. “He’s gone.”
“What!”
“I mean, he’s gone, again. He’s out there again, I’ve never seen anyone have back-to-back Extra-Temporal-Dissociations. All we can do, is wait.”
“For another lifetime. Keep monitoring.”
Zeusticus appeared in the room. It was dark, lit only by scented candles and moonlight. Alceme lay struggling in labor. “How is she?” He said to a now shrieking and panicking group of mid-wives.
“Zeus, my love. I thought you had forgotten me.”
He moved to her side and with a large hand, cupped hers. It was clammy and perspiring. She was racked with pain and a pasty glow matched the moonlight. “I hate seeing you in pain.”
“It is worth it to bear the son of a God.”
Zeusticus took out a handheld and passed it over her. He frowned at the readings. The larger child was breach, preventing both from being born.
“She is cursed,” one of the midwives said, “It’s like Hera, herself, doesn’t want this birth. An evil stare, sent all of them groveling to the floor. He gave her a mild sedative and with large hands, along with telekinesis, move the child into position. “Now, you may continue,” he told the group of women.
Zeus stood back and watched them work. Soon, there was a baby’s cry, followed by another. Zeus kneeled beside her and took a damp cloth and wiped sweat from her forehead, while two midwives cut the umbilical cords. Two others cleaned and swaddled the babies. The smaller one was handed to Alceme, while the humbled midwife presented the larger one to Zeus. He gently cradled the child and stared into his eyes.
“What shall I name him?” Alceme asked, looking up at Zeus.
He studied the cherub face, sensing something special about this c
hild. “He is strong, he should have a strong name. I want to honor my deceased wife.” He looked at Alceme for approval.
“We shall call him, Heracles,” Alceme weakly said.
“Then, from this day forward, he shall be known as Heracles.” The smaller brother cried out. “I haven’t forgotten you little one, you are Iphicles.”
Suddenly, the door burst open. A man of authority strolled in with a half dozen guards. Zeus immediately assessed the threat as minimal. He noticed quickly how there metal working had vastly improved to mimic their own. As soon as the general came into the lighted room, he immediately registered who the giant was, and quickly kneeled. “Mighty Zeus, thank you for your presents.”
Jay could feel something wrong as Zeus approached the men, anger? No. A darkness of spirit. He could feel the overwhelming sense of being all powerful, a feeling of being a Destroyer, being infected by their malevolence. Zeus slowly suppressed it, put it away as if it wasn’t needed anymore. But he was no longer denying his Godhood status. “Subjects...rise. General Amphitryon, I’ve watched you, and believe you to be an honorable man.”
“Thank you my Lord,” he said, as he stood up.
Zeus strolled near them. “I don’t know exactly how long it will take me to defeat the Titans, but I cannot have a child at my feet as I do. I therefore charge you, and Alceme, with raising our children honorably. Do you accept?”
“Yes, my Lord. I’ll treat him as my own, and recite the praises of your glory.”
Zeus walked back to Alceme and took her hand. “You should be feeling better, soon. I will be watching over you, my love.”
“Will I see you again?”
“I will visit from time to time.”
She brushed back tears, reached up, and kissed him. A moment later, she kissed only air. Heracles and Iphicles cried for her attention.
The battle raged for years, as neither side gained an advantage. Zeus became more unpredictable, Cousins became more educated and more populous. Fighting amongst themselves, learning more brutality than any Atlantean could imagine. Monsters expanded to all areas. Almost all of them had a taste for humans. Athene-A had all but lost any influence over Zeusticus, and many of the others. Both Groups battled the Titans in their own way, but it was not enough. The bond between Atlanteans had been fractured. Zeusticus looked in on Heracles as the boy grew twice as fast as his twin brother. He became one of the few things that kept him sane, thus, more children were born to keep him rooted in reality. Jay watched time pass quickly, as battles raged. Civilizations rose and fell. Years into the conflict, Athene-A got word from Rhe-A that an escalation in the conflict had occurred, one that needed her immediate attention. Jay saw her in the Great Hall of Olympus, confronting Zeus.