Trojan War Chapter 14

 

14.

“Athena”

Zeus with his power and strength could never discard the fear that his children may undo him like what he did with Cronus and the latter to Uranus. Despite that fear, he was also not one to fear sowing his seeds into the many women he had met.

One was named Metis; an Olympian noble linked to a watery planet that was conquered by Cronus before. Metis was a beautiful woman and also held articulate skills in discussing matters of the state. It was how then she met Zeus in one of the sessions to discuss the future of Olympia. The almighty Zeus saw the wisdom in the woman and alleviated her rank to Goddess but due to the scrutiny of Hera, he had her hidden away on the other planet.

“Mother, Zeus is here.” Athena then of a young age called to her mother. “He visits us.

Metis will then lay down her task and went to greet the lover who once spurned her and had her kept in stasis but he was not to know that she was with his child. Zeus had feared the anger of Hera as it was with Leta.

“Women are without a doubt a hindrance to the way of life for Man but we have to live it.”

Zeus had then like Leta chose to hide the lover away but she was saved by an aide of her own. As not to have Zeus knew of her escape, she was not to surfaces and the child in her was removed and placed into an incubator that was to nurture and grew the embryo to the full-grown kid. While in the incubator, the child was given the knowledge that her Mother once held, and more to it, the child was taught many other skills.

When Zeus heard of the child, he had Metis and the child freed and demanded to see his child.

“She lives in a cocoon designed by me,” Metis told him. “While she lived in it, she was taught many skills.”

“She…. I had …” Zeus was disappointed in the birth to expect a son, but he asked to see her. He was brought to the incubator and it was then the child was released to the parents. She was a beautiful baby but with her stay in the incubator, once she was released, she screeched out loudly.

“She cries out loud.” Zeus had his ears clasped with his hands. “She will be a Goddess one day alongside my other children.”

“Give her a name, Zeus,” Metis asked.

“Athena as like in Athens, they called my name out loud. Athena will be her name.”

Archaeon had adored her and named a planet after her; Athens with the personal fortress named Parthenon. She was passionate about her patrons and when once another challenge her for the planet. She fought off the other named Arachne; who had commanded a small fleet to attack Athens. The Archaeon had offered to defend Athens but Athena told them to hold back. She took off in the mothership provided by Apollo and confronted the other on the hull of the mothership, alone. Athena had arrived in the single mothership to face the fleet of nine frigates and a single mothership named the Spider Web.

“Faced me alone, Arachne. I am your challenger, the woman to man.” It was an insult to the other who was also a woman and yet she was called a Man.

“I am a woman too, Athena,” Arachne reveals herself covered in the dark shade armor with a headpiece that held the wide fan at the rear. It was not that which defined her name but the eight metallic tentacles at the back of the armor. Each tentacle could reach out to eight feet and be independent of each other.

“The spike on the tentacles could stun or kill you on touch.” Arachne looked at Athena who was in armor and carried the bow and arrow notched on the bow.

“Where is your spear and shield, Goddess? Have you no faith in it.” Arachne mocked the other.

“I don’t need it to vanquish you.” Athena released the arrow towards Arachne. The arrow impacted Arachne at the chest and bolts of energies coarse into the other’s armor rendering it non-functional. Athena then arrived and stood over the rigid Arachne.

“You know for a woman, you talk too much like a Man.” Artemis took the second arrow and plunged it into Arachne in the face.

That ended the conflict and made Athena the legend then at an early age. It was not the only feat that she was to be called a legend.

“Perseus, the Gorgon cannot be stared at. She will turn you to stone.” Perseus, another God of Archaeon affiliated yet not of fame was told by Artemis. The other had taken the challenge to fight the Gorgon. The Gorgon was a famed subterranean species that had the command of the planet Gorgon. The planet was in the Archaeon controlled planets but not inhabited despite the abundance of minerals there. The Archaeon had taken the planets around Gorgon but never on that.

“Perseus of Athens, you will subdue Medusa of Gorgon.” That was the command and Perseus had taken to the Palace of Artemis for guidance. He had known that seven attempts have been made and none have ever returned to report of the task.

“I heed you, Perseus.” Athena had appeared before Perseus. “Medusa had fouled my tower when she cohabited there with Ares to mock me of my beauty. I may hold the weapon you need. It was crafted from the metal made by Hephaestus, and added in the weaponry by Ares himself not knowing that it was to be used on Medusa.”

Perseus held the shield that was handed by the aides there.

“Athena, I need an offensive weapon and not one to shield me.” Perseus had replied and was soon to find the shield was not any weapon.

“Another fool led to my domain.” Perseus heard the other standing there in the white tight skin suit and the stone shaded hair that reached the knees was undone billowing to the back like a fan of hair that was droids designed to look like serpents. He had confronted Medusa in the huge cavern beneath the surface of Gorgon. Medusa was alone but Perseus knew that the others were around hidden in the dark tunnels and cracks of the cavern.

“Medusa, we meet.” Perseus had on the dark goggles over his eyes and wore the armor that came with blasters and the heavy double barrel design over his left shoulder. He held the shield given to him on his back.

“Have you met others? Medusa motioned to the stone figurines that were seen there in various poses and some included retreating. “They were welcomed to my planet ….. forever in stone.”

“A monument of yours but I will add your fragments to them.” Perseus had leveled the blaster at Medusa. A creation of Ares and its destructive power was to kill anyone in the path. It did on Medusa but the kill was a mere hole in the chest and she could still move.

“Surely, you have more.” Medusa rubbed her chest and the hole was mended. “Since you showed me yours, let me show you mine.”

Medusa swung out her right arm and Perseus was thrown to the rear. His blaster was thrown aside and a boulder crushed it. His goggle was damaged and the cover was broken. 

“It’s typical of a Man. They think they have it there but it’s nothing compared to what we can offer.” Medusa approached Perseus. “See me.”

It was then Perseus had turned onto his front and the shield faced Medusa. Her stare was on the metallic surface on the shield which absorbs the glare and then with Ares design, it reflected the glare ten times its strength.

“Arghh…” Medusa retreated in pain but her body was turning to stone. Her followers saw the transformation and they screeched in pain. Medusa became what her victims were in the pose on her knees and leaned backward with the right arm over her face.

Perseus approached the stone frame of Medusa. He retrieved the double-barrel blaster and blew her head away.

“Thank you, Athena.”

“And I was not thanked by the Archaeon for the design. They did mine the planet and had it renamed Hephaestus. I am disgusted.” Ares had cursed at Artemis. “They are all bitches. Athena included.”

 

Trojan War Chapter 13

 

13.

“Artemis”

 “Wisdom is her mother’s and …. Courage will be hers. I will name her Artemis; the Goddess of Wisdom like her mother Leto but she will have more.”

“Artemis… It sounds like a butcher.” Leto looked at Zeus.

“Butcher she will be ….. but with finesse. She will be a huntress and none may challenge her at that. She will be a great warrior like Ares and Apollo. She won’t be like any woman.”

So, it was that Artemis will be without an equal among the women. She made it known to Zeus at an earlier age when she sat on Zeus then.

“I will have many qualities that other women will look at me as their Goddess. I will also have the strength and courage like a man and they will envy me.” Artemis told Zeus when he asked her about the gifts she would like to have. The list was more than what was mentioned.

“You will have it all, Artemis. I will get the best in the worlds to coach you.” Zeus had bequeathed her those gifts. Artemis was truly an equal or above the others. She was well protected by Zeus, unlike her mother who was in hardship when she was with Artemis and Apollo.

“The woman will not give birth to his children on any land on the planets.” Hera was enraged at the action of Zeus and had the worlds knew of her wrath.

Leto had fled to the Frontier but was rescued by Poseidon. He had known of her plight and on consent by Zeus, he had taken his mothership; the Oceans there.

“I had come for you, Leto. I am not here to harm you but I will protect you from Hera. These are words of Zeus to me. She will not fight me for you.” Poseidon had told Leto.

“I am with Zeus’s child and they are ready to be birthed,” Leto told Poseidon. It was then when Poseidon took Leto onto his mothership but she was in her labors.

“Let me birth the children here; not on any land and they will not incur the wrath of Hera.” It was done then that Leto was to birth on the mothership of Poseidon’s fleet that sailed the planets. Her delivery of the children while in warp speed between the worlds, thus avoiding the wrath of Hera. The children's first sight besides the mother was the stars and wide void of space.

“Children, you will be influenced like the stars and spread out far,” Leto told her newborn. The birth of the children reached Zeus who had raced there to receive the children and averted the wrath of Hera. He had named the boy, Apollo but his favorite was Artemis. She had looked at with her eyes at that tender age and had the wisdom in her like her Mother.

Artemis was brought up not any women and ranked equal with the men in the skills. She was known for her wisdom and frequently argues with Ares on the matters of strategy and accompanied them into the battles.

Artemis wielded the spear and shield for the battles but in the hunt, her skills with the bow and arrow were unmatched. She wore most times the armor chest plate and metal sewn plates for her skirt. She was the inspiration to some women who later declared themselves equal to men and even formed their legion named the Amazons. The Amazons were frowned on and then banished by Zeus to the Frontiers but their regard for Artemis remained defiant.

It was her alliance with the Amazons that earned her the wrath of Ares but between the two, there were many incidents that Ares was upset at her. Orion, the leader of Ares warrior had tried to force himself on a follower of Artemis at her tower when he accompanied Ares who was a guest of Artemis then. He held a huge frame and stood taller than most.

“Artemis, the mongrel tried to force himself on me.” Opis the aide of Artemis told the Goddess. “He was forceful and I managed to escape.”

“Lies!” Orion had denied the charges when he was accused of it at the Hall of Artemis Tower. “I am a great warrior and many women would have gladly given themselves to me.”

His boast then drew the laughter of the male guests, including Ares. The latter then added in his words.

“We, the warrior of Ares take what we want and when we want,” Ares added to the boast of Orion. 

“I am Orion, Artemis. You may recall that we once hunted together in the forests of Pantheon and … alone we were then.” Orion’s words drew applause from the male guests then.

“Do not insult my sister, Orion. Or I will have you gutted here like the animal you are.” It was Apollo who stood up for his twin sister. “Hold your tongue on the insults.”

“Apollo.” Orion backed by his God, sneered at the other God. “I am not to…”

Orion words were shortened by Artemis who had released the arrow into the other’s throat. All the guests included Ares turned to look at Artemis.

“He is in my vision, a boar, and needed to slew.” Artemis had then notched in another arrow and drew the bod taut. “I will challenge any man who will deny those words.”

Ares was to speak but he saw the stare of Apollo and backed down. He then spoke that he was leaving but his last words rang deep at the Hall.

“This is one of ours which would one day be resolved at the battle.” Artemis was not to be intimidated by the God of War. Artemis was an individual Goddess and had even defied Poseidon who had aided her mother before.

Poseidon had two twin sons named Otos and Ephialtes, who are like their father was aggressive and became great warriors. With the wars averted and the Games to replace it, the twins took their aggression to hunt. The arena of the hunts was under the purview of Artemis and words had reached her of the twin indiscriminate hunting. Artemis had forbidden the killings unless it was for a reason.

‘They have said that they will hunt you and even Hera like the animals in the forest.” Artemis heard those words and was in anger. She then approached Poseidon.

“Truly, my twins are wild and held their own against many. For the latter I am proud but I can’t stop them. They may end up killing each other of their aggression.” With those words, Artemis planned the killing of the twin with her twin brother, Apollo.

“We can’t kill them.” Apollo had reasoned with the sister. He knew of her sister’s vengeance streak. “We have to abide by the rules or even Zeus cannot protect us.”

“I do not intend to kill them but they will be lured to kill each other.” Artemis shared the plan with Apollo and it was soon carried out.

“Behold the wild deer in my forest at Macedonia. They roam freely and without fear.” Artemis had sent the words out. Those words reached the other twins and they took the task to hunt the wild deer at Macedonia.

“Otos, you take this side and I will do the other. We will drive the herd to the clearing and kill them all.” Ephialtes shared with the other. “Then we will leave the carcasses at Artemis Tower.”

It was a bold plan and hastily put together. The twins managed to chase the wild deer but it did not get trapped in the clearing but the thick forest there.

“I can’t see you, Otos.” Ephialtes has communicated to his twin brother but the other could not hear him. He saw what appeared to be the wild deer and shot with his blaster. At the same time, his twin brother had done the same. What they did not know, the image they shared was themselves. Both the twins died then.

“You have caused the death of my twins.” Poseidon had accused Ares. “You gave them the powerful blaster.”

The Gods and Goddess had held an inquest into the death of the twins at the Hall of Zeus.

“I did and it’s the tasks I do well. I can’t be held responsible for every death done by my creation. It’s the one who wields it must be responsible.” Ares had replied then. “They were misled by Artemis to hunt the wild deer which does not exist.”

“You are mistaken, Ares. The deer do exist.” Artemis had brought out the unique deer that was in the forest. “My aide, Callisto is the one who cares for them. Tell them, Callisto. What did happen then?”

“I was in the forest to care for the deer and saw the twins hunting it. I had hidden the deer and then I heard the shots. It was over before I could stop them.” Callisto explained the hunt.

“You lied to us, Callisto.” Ares confronted the other.

“Callisto does not lie. She is my warrior and even Zeus had called her Callisto the Bear for she is brave and held the courage to save the deer.” Artemis defended her warrior. “Would you had done it if it was your …. Warrior there?”

“I …’ Ares was cut off by Zeus.

“Enough is said. I declare the death of the twins on their own. They were uncontrollable and death may have resolved their journey.” Zeus's words were never disputed not even by Poseidon who was upset. He was met by Ares.

“Artemis drives the wedge between us and Zeus,” Ares told the other. Poseidon did not reply and moved on. Ares looked at the departing God and cursed at Artemis.

“Artemis, one day I will have you judged and humiliated.”

 

Trojan War Chapter 12

 

12.

“Hera”

Hera dragged herself from the stasis chamber where she was placed there by her father, Cronus. He was influenced by his fears that the children of his will revolt against him as he had done against his father, Uranus. Her first sight since birth then was her savior, Zeus himself.

“You are free now, my sister,” Zeus spoke to his sister then. He had acted on the instruction of his mother, Rhea. Since then Hera had felt indebted to Zeus till the day he approached her to wed him.

“I can’t.” Hera rejected Zeus. It was the rare rejects that Zeus had to face then. He was not to give up as his nature that whatever he wants, he will get.

Zeus observed and studied the nature of Hera. She was considered a lady of love and commitments. She professed that upon the wedding, the couple was to be committed to each other, and the man was obliged to take care of the woman for she was deemed the weaker of the two. He had to prove superiority over her but forced actions will not work. He then came up with a plan to seduce or overcome her virtues.

“Hera, help me.” Zeus had appeared to her one evening covered with drops of blood and appeared to be wounded. He had met Hera at her humble abode then on the land before the creation of his empire.

“Step in, Zeus. Who had dared to wound you?” Hera then led Zeus into her abode; a simple place compared to the tower she was to inherit later.

“Cronus loyalist. Lackeys they are.” Zeus was laid on the bedding and soon Hera tended to his wounds. He was hurt but none was grave to cause him the loss of his life. Hera then removed his clothes to bathe him. It was her look at a grown man and was embarrassed then.

“Why do you shy away, Hera? I am just a man.” Zeus had stood before her without his clothes but at his youthful age then, his hormones took on precedent then. Hera looked away and used her hand holding the cloth to clean him. Zeus himself was then having fixated on his choice of a lover and forced himself on her despite her protest.

When the body was spent, Hera found herself committed to Zeus as it was professed by her beliefs. She then agreed to his claim on her and was to bore him his children. It was a good commitment but Zeus was not ready to commit to it.

“A man is not to be constraint by a woman and what is it to me when I am the almighty Zeus. I will not be humbled to anyone.” Zeus will not be bounded by the same commitment that he had got from Hera. His infidelity was soon to be noticed by Hera and her anger was directed at him.

“How could you commit yourself to others when you are to me?” Hera had confronted him.

“I am not to commit to anyone but myself. And they commit to me and I have accepted it. Such are my beliefs.” Zeus had defended his amorous affairs.

“You will sow what you had sown.” Hera declared then. She could not discard him but she displayed her displeasure towards him. It was more adamant when the issue of Ares with Aphrodite was caught in the trap created by Hephaestus.

“My Lord Zeus, how am I to handle such matter?” Hephaestus had presented the illicit couple to the Great Hall attended by the Gods and Goddess. The trap was a metal cage that caught the two when in their moments of amorous acts. Ares had stood there in the nude and was defiant of his action. He had banged on the metal bars that defied his strength to be pried open. Aphrodite had sat on the flooring of the cage, glaring with anger at her lover.

“I begged of thee, Lord Zeus. How will you handle such a manner of misconduct?” Hephaestus had looked at Zeus. The latter looked at Ares who stood there and ranting on about his vengeance on any who will dare to comment then. The others who were present were fully assembled of the Gods and Goddess including the minor ones but none dared to look at Ares. The men there who would have slaves their lust for Aphrodite had then the look of disgust that the lady of their fantasy was seen then unclothed.

“She is not what I had imagined.” Words of such were heard but none will own to the words.

“It’s unforgiving. A harlot she is.” Such were the views of the Goddess but again none dare to measure themselves to the words. Infidelity was not condoned, but the acts were not without parties involved among the gathered.

“I will kill anyone who will utter a word of my action.” Ares had cautioned the gathered. The fury of his was well known and they feared his wrath, besides that of Zeus.

“Zeus,” Hephaestus called out. He had heard of the illicit affair of his lover, and yet with his commitment to the tasks of his labor, he had ignored it until he had chanced on them. He was spurned then by the lovers as it was his fault that his lover had found another.

“Who are you to offer her?” Ares had mocked Hephaestus. The latter had been laughing behind his back on his inadequacy due to his deformed looks.

“I am still a Man.” Hephaestus rushed to the metal cage bars designed by him. “More than you will ever be, an adulterer.”

“Bastard, let me out and I will show you my true worth.” Ares had counter threatened. It was then Hera who looked at Zeus and found him silent. He who was the almighty was silent when his siblings fight among themselves. She took on the action then.

“Silence! I demand silence to the issue now. I will see all three of you in the Hall alone. The rest will leave.” Hera looked to the assembled and then to Zeus. “You will do so too.”

It was the first time Hera had commanded Zeus and not the first if you include the personal rifts they had. Zeus had then momentarily wanted to object but he saw the anger in Hera’s expression. He saw then the Hall was empty while the others have departed, and himself did the same, with a scorn on his expression at Ares.

“I am not be silenced, Zeus. Nor my vengeance settled that easily.” Ares had snapped out.

“Silence, I demand,” Hera called out her demand while Zeus walked out of the Hall. She then looked at Hephaestus. “Free them now.”

Hephaestus wanted to object but he had seen Hera’s anger before. No wrath was greater than that of the woman’s fury. He unsnapped the lock and released the couple. Ares upon release immediately rushed at Hephaestus but Hera had known it. She lashed out with the command that even the motherships will halt in warp speed travel.

“Ares, I demand you stop. I am your …mother.” Hera used her other status. Ares had been her favorite since birth and he held his respect for her. Ares stopped in his track then. Hera then looked at Aphrodite who had remained defiant standing there without a shred of cover over her nude body. Hera admired the sister of her’ with the beautiful frame and was not surprised that many Gods had professed to own her but Zeus had her banished to the deformed Hephaestus.

“I demand justice, Hera. I was …” Hephaestus had called out in anger.

“And you will get it but not what you demand.” Hera looked at the other. “I am still a mother to you and Ares, and which mother will see harm to her children. I have held the two of you at my breast and fed with my milk. It’s not your fault that you have become the Gods that you are. It’s the fault of your father who …. Bastardize the upbringing.”

“Do not fault Zeus for my action.” Ares hit back. “I am Ares the God of…”

“And my son who has inherited his father’s character to the fullest. You have no wars to wage and not battles to inoculate now. You have seen fit to expand your ability to conquer others of their …. Love.”

“Sister, I resent that.” Aphrodite in turn protested.

“So your action to slut over my son does not love. The love to display all of your beauty and enticed him.” Hera looked at Aphrodite. “You disgust me, sister of mine. I had wished Zeus left you in stasis.”

“I am the one who requires justice, Hera.” Hephaestus reminded the Goddess. “We had a vow of love..”

“Love? Bah…” Aphrodite snarled at the other. “We have an ..”

“An arrangement by Zeus to pair the two of you; extreme to the other. Hephaestus, you were a … I shall say manipulated by Zeus to appease you so that you will do his bid to create new weapons and metals. He had seen only that in you and she was to …”

“Satiate your desires…. Aha, I would have if he had mine.” Aphrodite laughed cynically.

“I will crush you.” Hephaestus had reacted in anger. It was Ares who came to the defense of the lady and Hera intervened.

“The affair is known and I will sanction it. Hephaestus, you are free of the union and so is she. None of you may claim on the other but for the sake of Olympia, it will only be known in this Hall. Be away, Aphrodite. I will never have to see your beauty be used as a tool of revolt.”

“You will not hear the last of me, Hera. I am still Aphrodite the Goddess of Beauty.” With that Aphrodite turned and walked away. Ares had in turn followed her while Hephaestus looked to Hera for his gain.

“Hephaestus, you are the loser today but marked my words that you will win soon. The true culprit is Zeus and is the God to show him his action will be matched one day.”

Hephaestus sighed and then took his turn to leave. His anger with Ares and Zeus was still on his mind. He told himself that he will create the new weapons that will shake the foundation of Olympia in the coming years.

“It will be a war that will last ten years due to my creation.”

At that moment, Aphrodite had stood on the steps to the Great Hall where the other Gods and Goddess had retreated but not Zeus; he had withdrawn to his chamber. She stood there still unclad and wowed the assembled.

“I am Aphrodite, the Goddess of Beauty. None will ever match me.” Among the gathered were two young Goddesses named Artemis and Athena. They frowned at Aphrodite for the claim.

“A mere boast that only fools will listen to.” One of the younger Goddess remarked. “Does she know that she is old as Zeus?”

 

 

Trojan War Chapter 11

 

The Goddess and Helen

 

11.

“Aphrodite”

 

“God, when will he stop?” The Inspector at the Space Port lamented to his peer when the rumbling at the nearby volcano spewed smoke like that of a smoking chimney.

“Hephaestus is at it again. I was told that he is forging new metallurgy that will rival the ones we have now.” The other inspector replied while he adjusted the panels that were scanning the loads that were going onto the freighter. The Inspector had been at the task for over two decades at the Macedonia Space Port V. It was situated on an off-planet of the Macedonian’s controlled planets and the one that was there was a mining planet with one-third of it gored and removed like morsels of flesh to be fed to the other worlds.

Titanium was aplenty within the hard subterranean of the planet, and one of Hades Underworld was designated there.

“When will it end? We do not need such hard metals with the war ceased.” The earlier Inspector continued on his ranting. He looked to the readings on the tablet and then cursed at the aides who were loading it.

“Stop! For that shipment to Troy, you are registering sixty tons there and I can see there are more on the load. I may be old but I am not senile.” The Inspector screeched his call to the aides to recalibrate the loading.

“God! Imbeciles I am given to work with.” The Inspector screeched again. He then glared at the aide who was staring at him. “Don’t you stare at me? I am not the one who placed you here. You are as ugly as God himself.

Hephaestus stood out among the Gods, not because of his wonderful metallurgy but he was deformed in the looks from the works he does at the metals. The metallurgy was a tough assignment involving the handling of molten materials that could burn a limb into nothing in seconds yet when it’s molded into shape, it could take on heavy impacts. The works of the metallurgist required to heat and the volcano was an ideal location despite its danger.

“Check those readings. I am not getting the required heat.” Hephaestus roared to the aides; so named volunteers from Hades Underworld but more of condemned world outcasts forced to do the labor. The aide in front of the console looked at the readings and did the needed adjustments. It was to cause the foundation of the volcano to rumble and more ashes were thrown onto the outside.

“My Lord, we are tethering at the maximum.” The aide called back. The aide was dressed in the golden overall covered from head to toe with the goggles over the eyes and the mouthpiece. It was to protect the aide from the heat.

“Arghh…” Another aide at the furnace cried out when molten metal spat out like the spit of the serpent. The aide had retreated to a safer distance.

“I am burnt.” The aide was smoldering the fire at his overall.

“Get back to your post, imbecile. What is a small burn compared to me dumping you headfirst into the furnace pot?” Hephaestus poured his effort into the works of completing the new mixture of metal which will be the hardest he had ever produced. The first few shipments have been sent to Troy for testing on their motherships to reinforce the hull. If it’s successful the same will be applied to the other worlds.

“Then I can get the needed rare jewel stones for my consort, Aphrodite,” Hephaestus muttered to himself. He recalled the day he was brought to see Zeus and told the surprising news.

“Hephaestus, I want you to wed Aphrodite.” Zeus had looked at the younger God who had served him well with the invention of stronger metals and weapons. He had won over the world with that might without sacrificing his warriors. The God of Metallurgy was also a favorite of Ares. He was then at the Great Hall with Zeus and none of the others were present. It was intimidating to stand before Lord Zeus, who sat on the high throne with the golden seat that rose high above the Lord and had its top decked with the fourteen spokes to denote the fourteen major Gods and Goddess. Zeus himself was clad in the simple

“My Lord Zeus, I am honored but Aphrodite is …” Hephaestus had tried to reject the matter.

“Do you feel my sister is unworthy to you?” Zeus had on the Chiton and in his right was the weapon of choice; the lightning rod that was created by Hephaestus with the aid of the Archaeon; the one weapon that will absorb the power of the surrounding to be channeled through that rod into a burst of energy that even the hardest metal known then will melt on contact.

“No, Lord Zeus. I am your child to command and I shall obey but before I do so, please allow me to speak.” Hephaestus pleaded in a string of words swiftly delivered lest he misses on the words.

“I feel unworthy. I am a minor ranked God compared to her, and above it, Aphrodite is …”

“She is a beauty beyond the others in Olympia. I would have wedded her but I am to Hera now.” Zeus reminded himself.  “You do know how envious your mother will be if I did. Hera is your mother, I presume.”

“Oh, you are not her’s. I am mistaken.” Zeus muttered. Hera had abandoned the child upon birth as she saw him as incomplete. It was Zeus who raised him and given him the to create weapons.

“Anyway, I felt that you deserve Aphrodite. Do you agree?” Zeus looked at the other. “I am seldom mistaken.”

Hephaestus looked down at his own feet. He was not a handsome God-like Apollo or even charismatic like Hermes or aggressive in the looks like Ares. He was a simple Olympian conceived by Zeus and yet he lacked the looks. At the tender ages, he was keen at the qualities of fire, and with his silly attempts, he had burned part of a city but he was forgiven by Zeus although Hera wanted him banished. The latter saw the quality in him and made him a metallurgist. Zeus did caution him then.

“Hephaestus, the task is dangerous and you may…”

“Lord Zeus, I am willing.” Hephaestus displayed his wounded fingers. “It hurts but it was a good effort the pain.”

Zeus recalled those words which to him was like an oath. As he had then, summoned the other to wed his sister.

“Hephaestus, do you take Aphrodite as yours?” It was arranged then and the two were wedded. Aphrodite had no say on the matter and had to walk behind Hephaestus at the functions. The wedding of theirs was not without its rumors.

Aphrodite was the Goddess of Beauty claimed onto her for she was beautiful. She was the fairest of maidens in the Worlds, wooed by many but she stood by her brother’s choice. She traveled with Hephaestus to his abode and despite the harsh conditions of the place, she made her own home there as comfortably to herself. Despite her consent, Aphrodite was not to be led into a life of oblivion. Her lover, Hephaestus much as he was trying to oblige her but his main interest was on his tasks at hand. His absence however gave Aphrodite the freedom to be herself.

“I am a beauty and refused to be contained to one Man only.” Aphrodite thus was unfaithful to Hephaestus. She made it known to even Ares, the God of War.

“Hephaestus procreated for you the wonderful weapons, why don’t you do the same for me inside my womb?” Aphrodite had confessed to Ares during their illicit rendezvous.

“I am ever willing.” Ares had replied. “I will have wed no one but only you.”

“Why then did you not protest to Zeus during my wedding?” Aphrodite had glared at Ares. “Are you not manly to challenge him? Or are you a wimp that I ought to reveal?”

“I did it!” Ares upset at being branded a wimp. “I did and met Zeus. He told me his reasons. He feared with your beauty, you may drive the others to fight for your love. It’s will lead to the downfall of Olympia. He made you …. a …”

“Sacrifice to Hephaestus? Perhaps the Goddess is not spared of the humiliation as that had befall the womenfolk of the worlds. Are we commodities to be traded?”

“I would have stopped the wedding but Zeus is the almighty and even Poseidon stopped me from confronting Zeus. He was said to be Zeus’ equal and yet he relented me to act.”

“Then I am to be what I am but defeat is never in me. I had preserved my beauty as a feat that none others could challenge.” Aphrodite sighed. “Speak no more of this, Ares. Make me yours and filled my womb with your seeds. I will bore your sons that will stand by you in battle.”

“Aphrodite pride herself on her beauty,” Ares told Paris of the Goddess.

 

Weekend Special; Short Tales; California Series 2.1 Chapter 1 & 2

 For info, I like the song "Hotel California'; and had done some short tales based on the song before. Here is my second round at it. I did the write as a distraction from my other write which was the ongoing saga of ROBYN of LOCKSLEY. 

You may ask me why the song, and I will tell you I don't have a real answer. It just comes to mind the scenes I wanted to write about. I am no singer though; I croak at my choir audition, done two lines, and was told to stop by the Choir Master. It was a relief or I will be given makeup and wore those white shirts and dark pants singing on stage. 

Maybe to give you an insight into the song; this was extracted from ABC news which discovered while researching the song lyrics;

“It’s basically a song about the dark underbelly of the American dream and about excess in America, which is something we knew a lot about,” Henley said in a 2002 interview with "60 Minutes."

In 2005, Henley further explained the meaning of the song to Rolling Stone magazine, which placed "Hotel California" at no. 49 on its list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.

“We were all middle class kids from the Midwest," Henley said. "'Hotel California' was our interpretation of the high life in L.A.”

https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/things-eagles-hotel-california/story?id=36375155#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIt's%20basically%20a%20song%20about,%22Hotel%20California%22%20at%20no.

And it got me writing. I hope I stayed to that theme with my own twists.

Cheers

Here's to the Eagles.. Soar high, man.

On a dark desert highway
Cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas
Rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance
I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
I had to stop for the night

Songwriters: Glenn Lewis Frey / Don Felder / Donald Hugh Henley

Hotel California lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group

 

 

1.

The senior sniper had to close his eyes from the long glare at the telescopic lens on the rifle. He had done it for many hours on the range and at the black ops. It was not an easy task as the sniper where the works require patience and above it, tolerance for the location of his camouflage may not be the most ideal spot.

“Find the spot where you are concealed and above all, unseen even by the other sniper.” Stark heard them all. He had done the same when he was to conduct the training on the new snipers. He had them hideout at the hill and then he took his position to sniff them out with the telescopic lens.

“The first rule of sniping is to be with your camouflage.” Master Gunner Stark has five would-be snipers out there. He spotted two of them without battling his vision.

“You won’t feel being shot when it hits you for you will be dead.” Stark leveled the rifle; the M14, DMR Caliber 7.62mm was modified with the M118LR 175-grain long Range Ammunition. The twenty-two-inch barrel was bored to his specification. It held an effective firing range between six and eight hundred yards with the ten-round box magazine.

Master Gunner pulled the trigger at the first sighted target

The bullet impacted six inches from the sniper’s left shoulder at seven hundred yards. Master Gunner then hissed into the communication unit.

“You are dead, Barret. I did not adjust for the wind which was why you are still alive.”

Master Gunner moved his aim to scout the hill. He had ignored the second sniper that he had spotted. He wanted the others. He found his third one hidden beneath the clump of leaves attached to the camouflage netting. The second shot was in front of the sniper close to within one foot of the location.

“Your camouflage was good but you ought to know the nearest tree is too far for the leaves to drop in such volume.” Master Gunner Stark told the spotted sniper. It was then the shot came within a foot of the Master Gunner position and he yanked up the rifle to hide behind the mounds of sandbags in the shooting gallery.

“Who shot that?” The other Master Gunner at the range called out.

Master Gunner Stark had leveled his rifle and aimed at where he had seen the rifle muzzle flash. He looked hard and spotted the sniper retreating with slow movements above tree roots. That was a good camouflage with the shade of the tree to hide the silhouette of the shooter. The Master Gunner return fire and the projectile impacted the root below the rifle of the shooter.

“Good move, Ian but you should have moved earlier. Your flash muzzle handed you to me like the pudding for dessert.” The act by Ian had motivated the remaining two snipers to take initiative into their aims.  Two more shots hit the sandbags where Master Gunner had taken cover.

“Stand down, boys. This is training and not the killing fields.” The other trainer called out. “You will return here now.”

“Rescind that order, Gareth. The boys needed the simulation of the real thing.” Stark called out. He was distracted when the two sniper shots came in. He leveled his frame behind the sandbag and moved to locate the other sniper he had spotted earlier. The sniper had moved on and needed to ferret out. Stark needed the bait to lure them out from their hideout. He pushed the sandbag the right of him out and the shots impacted.

“I got you,” Stark muttered and then leveled the rifle to take out one of the snipers. He shot the low branch on the tree hovering above the sniper. The branch broke off and landed on the sniper. Then it was the last sniper; the one he thought spotted earlier but was hidden then.

“Sean, you are the last. Make it my day or I will make you run the fields with the rifle over your head.” Stark was playing on Sean’s ego to reply or shoot but the other had remained hidden with silence on his hideout. It was a game of patience than with both the trainer and trainee not taking the action to reveal them out to the other.

In the fields of sniping, it was all about patience.

Stark had thought he had it but the other was better. It lasted an hour and the shot came. It impacted a few inches from the Master Gunner’s face.

“You win, Sean.” Stark stood up. “I had to stop for the night.”

It was five years since then when Master Gunner declared himself the loser.

 

 

2.

The ‘Heuy’ or Bell UH-1 Iroquois is a utility helicopter powered by a single turboshaft engine with two-bladed main and tail rotors. It was the designated military helicopter still in use in service for over five decades. It was used in various conflict areas by several countries, and the one spotted over the river was for the local regime of the Southern American military. The helicopter or chopper for short was skimming the rive surface was heading upriver. The unit held its two pilots with the gunner manning the fifty caliber machine gun at the port side.  The unit held two sets of rocket launchers on the sides.

“Manuel One to River Base. Requesting permission to land.” The pilot called in on the communications. “I am five clicks out.”

“River Base to Manuel One. You are cleared. Your platform is marked by Charlie Two.”

“Manuel One to River Base, affirmative.” The pilot confirmed the clearance. The pilot took to starboard turn and then leveled the flying contraption. The view of River Base was then seen. The Base was the outpost by the river bend, with a temporary corrugated zinc sheets structure to house the forty-five personnel there. There six structures spread across the cleared area with the barbed wire perimeters and the dugouts reinforced by the sandbags and manned machine guns. There was two helicopter platform constructed at the river bend, and there were two river patrol boats berthed there.

The helicopter soon landed on the raised platform assigned and it solitary passenger disembarked. The passenger in the army fatigue hand-carried the long duffle bag stepped off the platform. He was met by the commanding officer there.

“Major Stephens. Ranger Division. Welcome to Hotel California.” The lanky officer took the passenger to the Commanding Structure. There were two others and one of them was in casual dressing.

“Master Gunner Stark, they are Major Diaz, and this is ...” The Major was interrupted.

“I am not surprised the DEA will be involved. Are we are in black ops here?” Master Gunner looked at the one who was not introduced.

“Agent Xavier…: The Major was again interrupted but then by the person, he was introducing.

“Hello, Stark. I called for you.” Xavier was part Cuban and Texan displayed his darker complexion beneath the green body fitting shirt and darker pants with the laced boots.

“I need your expertise. I know you retired but we have lost three of our men…”

“Who is he?” Stark asked. He knew he was not called out from retirement unless the odds were against the ones he had trained.

“It’s Sean Cannes. He is fighting for the other side.” Master Gunner was told.

Sean Cannes was trained by Master Gunner and spent three years in the assignment in the Middle East and the land below the States. He notched up twenty kills with his rifle and then did the disappearance act for over a year. He had packed up and left the Army two years ago. A year later, the name Billy the Kid rippled in the sniper’s world.

“Billy was no shooter. He was a killer. He killed only eight men. The ones in Mexico’s Lincoln County war of three were never verified.” That was the argument then of Billy the Kid. “Wyatt Earp had killed more. He did George Coy, Frank Mc Laury, Billy Clanton, and many others. Nobody knew who Billy shot.”

That was not true with Sean. He published his tally on the dark web under the name Billy the Kid.

“As of two months ago, Sean showed up here. He has taken down three senior officers with two others of the diplomatic section during that time. That was the starter to set his name.” Xavier gave the numbers.

“I heard there were more. Six or more confirmed kills of officers and who’s who.”

“We believed it was Sean but the tally to his name stayed at the earlier number. We may have another shooter out there but for Sean, we need your assistance. Take him down for good. Then we can talk of the other shooter.”

“I am here now. Sean is my boy. I will take him on. Where is Sean?”

“Sean is believed to hole up at the hacienda. He is with Cartel, doing their execution but for now, he is resting as we believed.” Xavier voiced to Master Gunner. “They called the place Hotel California.”

“That is sick,” Stark muttered. “California is up north and …”

“Wait till you see the place. It’s a replica of a hotel in the middle of the jungle. And it had the neon lights too with the safari night shows.” Xavier smiled. “They have their rock band too.”

“Tell me more of Sean.”

“He went off the grid and then came back with the boom ….boom… and his reputation was made.” Xavier smiled. “It’s like a movie star with a string of hits and then he is ranked marketable.”

“And I put him there,” Stark replied. “I trained dozens of them. They went on to do their task. Some may have retired dead or alive, and some are still at it. I am the fucking producer.”

“No, Stark. You did not. You taught them a skill to make the world safer. It’s what they do with it that was the outcome. Now, this one you have to put it down like the enemy counterpart. He had defected to the dark side.”

“Xavier, sometimes I feel as if I am also on the dark side.” Stark grabbed his bag. “Where can I get some grub? Do they have music there?”

“The chef is an Eagle fan. So space out, Master Gunner. You have four hours of rest before we leave for the jungle.” Xavier replied.

On a dark desert highway
Cool wind in my hair
The warm smell of colitas

Stark hummed to himself. He may need that.

Trojan War Chapter 15

 

15.

 

Merlin stood by the lake himself. He had left Arthur to think of his destiny. He shuddered on his shoulders what he told Arthur on Guinevere.

“You were always a good liar, druid.” Merlin turned to look at the person who spoke. It was Morgause in the splendid white gown that reminded him of her role as one of the ladies of the lake.

“Morgause le Fay. You dare to be here.” Merlin looked at the lake. “They may not be so accommodating on you. Or towards Morgan.”

“Oh, please don’t intimidate me. I do not fear them as much as they do of me.” Morgause stepped up towards Merlin. “You do look…”

“Older? Why shouldn’t I be? I have aged with the realities of the realm. It’s not liked the time had stopped here.” Merlin looked from the lake towards the castle. “We are mortals here.”

“Yes, I know. I am the mistress of the dark spells. I lived in its realm now. It has its appreciation towards me. It lent itself to preserving my beauty.” Morgause replied. She looked at the lake. “They can’t see me unless I want them to.”

“As you did with the alluring scents onto me then when I was …” Merlin was interrupted.

“When you were smitten by Vivianne.” Morgause laughed. “You were so fallible then. Your lust overcame your magical instinct then. Your defenses were down then. And I was attractive then and now.”

Morgause swept her gown aside and stood there naked to the sight of the druid.

“Be away, witch. I will not be tempted by you anymore.” Merlin raised his hands to call on the spell of banishment but it did not happen. Merlin was baffled why the spell had failed.

“You lost your spell, druid. I can’t say you feel helpless.” Morgause laughed. “Morgan, show yourself.”

Morgan Le Fay appeared then before the two of them. She was still as young; naïve in the looks, and dressed like Morgause, in the white gown. The other lady was ever silent with her presence.

“Morgan had learned some counterspells from me on yours.” Morgause smiled. “She had your banished spell dis-spell.”

“You will not win, Morgause.” Merlin reached into his shoulder bag. He drew out the wand made from the maple tree twig. “I hold the Dragon wand.”

The foot-long carved wood design was to behold the red dragon that was entwined onto the twig.

“I fear that…” Morgause feigned a retreat but later laughed. “Merlin, your sorcery acts are pre-dated and should be left to seduce ladies. I heard of no dragon wand.”

Merlin raised his right hand holding the wand but a loud voice stopped him. He looked to the lake and saw the approach of Vivianne. She was as always in the white gown.

“Stop it, Merlin. These two ladies are mine to handle.” Vivianne sailed over the lake water surface and then stopped before Morgause.

“You have intruded on the lake.” Vivianne looked at the other two ladies. “You will be punished.”

“Punished? I think not.” Morgause called on the demonic dark spirit with her right-hand fingers. The demons appeared in their dark forms and streaked towards Vivianne. The latter held up the palm of her left hand that dispels the demons’ attack. She then lashed out with her right arm at Morgause. The sweeping blow from the spell sent the latter off her feet and to the rear.

“Morgause, I am not without the defense to your spells. I suggest you depart before I vanquish you.” Vivianne cautioned the other. “And covered yourself. You look like a slut.”

Morgause and Morgan fled the lakeside. It was then Vivianne turned to look at Merlin.

“When will you return the wand? How come I was not to know it was missing.”

“This is a fake. I thought I scare her.” Merlin replied.

“You are a fool, druid. As you were then and also now. You could have been killed.” Vivianne was upset at Merlin.

“And you still care for me, Vivianne,” Merlin replied. “And I still …”

“Our past does not matter anymore. You have taken too much of my generosity. You build your castle so close to the lake. I shall call on the dragons to re-take their lair.”

“Hold on that. I will convince you and the others of Arthur.  He deserves to be judged.”

Vivianne did not reply and sailed off like how she arrived. Once again, Merlin was left alone there.

It was the same for the Prime as he sat on his high back chair looking forlorn. He had battled for over several seasons; not that he was unused to it. He had done it at Gaul, Spain, and lately at Britannica. He was elated than when he was new to the Legion with all the battles and bloodletting acts that made him climb the ranks but he also lost friends and above all, his lover. He was not there for her and even at her near death, he was not at her side. He felt lonely and then saw the round table.

There was once a round table at his home where his own family dined daily. His father had brought it back from a woodcutter who told him that he felled a huge tree and from it near the base of the trunk he crafted the tabletop.

“It won’t fit my home. We needed was a long table. I got the kid the length of my arms.” The woodcutter told him.

“I got mine around me and one more in the mother.” Artorius’ father had replied.

“Good for you. Then you shall have the tabletop. Make it good sturdy legs and it will stand forever.”

“Round?” Artorius’ father looked at the table.

“Round as in everyone on it holds an equal view of each other, and they may speak their mind.”

“And I won’t have peace in my home.” Artorius roared in jest.

“True, but it’s the truth you sought from them. The voice at the table will be there’ to not only you but all that will be seated there.”

That was how Artorius had that table in his house, and his other table in his tent to Camelot was also rounded.  

“Yes, I will not be lonely. I will get a bigger round table. I will have myself with my friends…. And knights. I will be with a Queen.”

At that moment, Lady Igraine woke up from her dreams where she saw the death of Lord Pendragon. She saw in vivid detail how the Lord was killed by the Black Knight. She shook herself to the then surroundings. She was still in Camelot but the walls felt as it was constricting around her.

“Guinevere!” Lady Igraine called out. The younger lady rushed in with the servants in the tow.

“Dismiss them all. I need to speak to you …. alone.” Lady Igraine waved the servants off.

“I must have slipped off to sleep and I have this dream. It was Lord Pendragon. He is dead. Killed by the one named the Black Knight.” Lady Igraine told Guinevere.

“Without your father here, you are …. vulnerable. More so, when we told the others that you are Lord Pendragon’s daughter. You will be hunted.”

“No…. It can’t be. My father… Lord Pendragon is all-powerful, and yet he rides with his aides, Lord…” Guinevere went into sobs of tears.

“Never trust those that may be allied to you unless they share…. No, not even your blood.” Lady Igraine looked at the young lady. “The sins of your father are upon you like the sins of mine shall be but I am deprived of any children…. Except you whom I regarded as mine.”

“Forgive us for we have sinned.” Lady Igraine sighed. “I should have done more to protect you.”

“No, Lady Igraine. You have done more than anyone had.” Guinevere replied.

“Yes, there is one other thing that you need to know. There is a knight named Green Knight. He will be your trusted aide and protector. Only he can vanquish the demons that will hunt onto you.”

“I heard of the Green Knight but he is a recluse. He…”

 “The Green Knight had taken the task to do so. Trust him and you may be fine. More to it, Guinevere. You must believe me. Your safety can be assured if you are well protected. Wed with the Prime for he is like the King. His men will protect you.”

“Wed the … Artorius? I … I can’t…” Guinevere tried to sort out her reply.

“Can’t or won’t but you have to. Only he can give you the comfort of a Queen and the protection of the kingdom. Lady Igraine looked into the other’s eyes. “We are the weaker creatures among them. We have not their strength but they have their weakness for us. We need to use our weakness upon them.”

“I need to think,” Guinevere replied. “I have to …”

“Go back to your home. The one where you were brought up. When the time comes, the calling will be upon you.” Lady Igraine looked at the departing young lady. She then turned to her bedding to shed her tears.

“Truly the circle of the events had returned.” Lady Igraine heard the familiar voice. She looked up and saw Morgause by the wall opening.

“The lake looked splendid from this view.” Morgause then stepped away to look at Lady Igraine. “I must not stand too long there. The sunlight will darken my skin.”

“Go away!” Lady Igraine told the other.” I want to be alone.”

“Alone? We are always alone. Men cannot be trusted. Men cannot be … shed tears for. They are the weaker creatures of the realm. Without us, they would have ceased to exist.” Morgause smiled. “Your Lord Pendragon is indeed dead. Killed by the Black Knight who in turn was killed by Lancelot.”

“Lancelot? He lives on.” Lady Igraine despised the name.

“Very much so. So, you’re telling the girl to sacrifice herself to that older man. Was it noble or selfish on you? As you did then with Lord Gorlois?”

“Leave Lord Gorlois out. He was …” Lady Igraine snapped back.

“An older man whom you wanted his protection and yet you lust for another. And another.” Morgause laughed. “Our weaker nature was that. We are never to know to whom we shall lay in bed but unfortunately, the men are too drunk to know if they were the first of the many.”

With that, Morgause left the lady there in tears.