The Help Patrol

Author's note about some of the characters
¤ Learelia and Azirakon are my own inventions
¤ Iapetus and Clymene are really old titans of minor significance.
¤ In the myths several mothers of Nike, goddess of victory, are mentioned, among others Styx and Hera. But here she's Narlidda, my own invention.


Nike and I had started working for the deities Learelia and her son Azirakon, helping them with their society projects at the outskirts of Thessalia- Ekarantanni and in the neighbouring provinces Elesios and Angresidor. The two of us started off feeling mostly like apprentices, but soon we were doing real job in Learelia and Azirakon's Help-Patrol. Real tedious jobs, like healing, crime prevention, stopping accidents and so on. There were so many mortals always getting in trouble and so few of us to help them. And usually Nike and I were so tired that we skipped all the social life and only worked, slept and ate. Until Hera of all people told us to stop.

- Athena, Nike, you are wearing yourself to rags, Hera was saying. You can't help all the people all the time. You must stop and think about yourself for a while. How you two shall manage if things get too much. I know, I've been there, done that.

We were sitting in the sun at the inner courtyard of the main building at Olympos, trying to catch the last warm days before Autumn Month. The trees carried all the autumn colours and most of the flowers had done their work for the year and were gone. Only some late roses were blooming. We were drinking cocoa with rum and eating apple pie. I had invited up Nike, Learelia and Azirakon. Irdonan and Aeolus were there too. And Hera, who for once was not working or being with dad or her young children. Instead she worried about Nike and me in an almost Hestia-like way.
- When did you do these things? Nike asked Hera.

- When I was in my late 20:ies and lived in Xanetakar in Argos. There was this absolutely insane god there and he and I were fighting over the mortals. I tried to prove myself worthy and better than him, meaning that I didn't do anything else than toiling the way you two are doing now. In the end it didn't pay off as much as I thought it would. Leaving the mortals alone and let them cope with their problems is more the way to do it. Usually their problems are self-inflicted. You can do a better work if you start thinking in larger perspectives instead. As I came to understand being about 34.
- We should stay out of the mortals lives, Aeolus was saying.
- But they're asking for us to help them, Learelia answered.
- Help them, help them, like they ain't grown-up themselves who can take care of their own lives.
- Aeolus, we're talking people with a life span of about 80 years here. What can you possibly acquire in such a short life? I'm twice as old and I feel far from fully educated in life's twists yet.

- So what shall we do? I asked. I mean Nike and I? We both want to make a difference, but we can't do that without helping people, showing them that we're reliable goddesses.
- What are you two good at? Hera returned. What do you really want to do?
- I guess... I started. If I really could choose, I'd build that town of mine. It has come to a halt because of no money. I'd love to work with technologic stuff too. I want to work in engineering.
- Then you should do that instead of putting out wood fires, Athena, Hera said. And you, Nike?

- Hey, Hera! Learelia interrupted. Don't take away my co-workers here!
- Leri, they are only teens. They need to engage in things they think are fun and inspiring, or else they're going to be burned out and not able to acquire anything sensible as deities at all. I've seen it happen.
- But I need their help.
- That's because you've got used to it. Maybe you too should scale down your engagements slightly and start to enjoy life a bit more. And let the teenagers be teenagers and sample experiences from more areas of life than just miscellaneous deity work.

- Look who's talking, my brother smiled. Chair Lady Hera who's hardly at home.
- I know, Irdonan, Hera answered. But I'm not going to stay forever in the Office. A few decades more. Then I guess I will spend more time helping Zeus. Already now I can tell that this expanding Union is going to need a larger Divine King's Office. And Zeus can hardly do more than he does today.
- Miscellaneous deity work, Learelia snorted. Stop degrading...
- It's not about degrading anything, Learelia, Hera said. But I can tell that Athena and Nike aren't well. They push themselves too hard. And it's not your or Azi's fault. These girls are ambitious and a bit too young to know where to stop. And I'm worried about my co-pantheonite and her friend.

- You're not even of the Olympos, Hera, Learelia started but Hera cut her off:
- That's only a technicality having to do with the fact that reality doesn't always fit the politicians dream of an independent Chair Office. I'm married to Zeus, that's the reason for me being here. Officially I'm still of the Argos Pantheon. And because Athena has no mother to worry about her and her father is just as ambitious as she is and thus not really sees the problem, I have to follow my heart in this. Now, are you going to fuzz more about Athena and Nike having to go? You know, they may come back later if they feel that your Help-Patrol is what they really want to do with their lives.

Learelia did not answer, and I felt uncomfortable. I had been working for Lea for almost three years and I liked her and didn't want to let her down. On the other hand I knew that my stepmother was right. I was sick of "Miscellaneous deity work" as Hera had labelled it. And I could tell that Nike felt the same too. Probably even more than I. Nike was mindspeaking her awkwardness to me and I tried to reassure her. She had been pushing herself almost to the limit the last few months, and also having an argument with her mother about the very same thing Hera was seeing happening.

But while Nike's mother Narlidda had mostly nagged my friend about it, Hera had put the problem up front when both Nike, I and our employers were present. Now Learelia and Azirakon had to deal with Hera's words first hand instead of getting them from me and Nike. Thus they couldn't just pat us on our heads and say that we were doing fine and everything was going to be all right and "so-so, go out and do your work now!". Eventually first Azirakon and then Learelia agreed upon giving Nike and me an open ending break so we could try out other areas to work in.

- Now you're looking at an unemployed goddess, Nike said and giggled. So now what, Athena?
- I want to do engineering as I said. Then I believe dad can find something. For both of us.
- No more catching mortal rapists at least, I hope.
- No, just tell what you want to do!
- I guess... Nike looked down at her hands. Can you get me into the Divine King's Office? As a trainee or something? I really like your dad and I want to learn more about what he's doing. Not so much the politics stuff, but more the legislation works and the planning of it all.
- I'll see what I can do.

- Great! Nike hugged me. Hera was actually right. I was sick of working for Azirakon and Learelia, but I didn't want to tell anybody. I thought this was what I was supposed to do. That this was what being a goddess was all about.
- It's not! There are millions of opportunities out there. Now, let's celebrate! There's still apple pie left. We can take it and some Sparklewine to the hot spring and have a cosy afternoon without boys and oldies.
- Oh, boys! I want to gossip about boys, Nike smiled. You've been having my brother Nardalon recently?
- True...
- Your first one?
- Second. Aeolus was the first. How about you? Apollon, right?
- Close. Your other bro' in fact. Irdo.

¤-¤-¤

I talked to Hera that night, thanked her for rescuing me from the Help-Patrol gods.
- I saw the problem, she said frankly. And I decided to deal with it as soon as I saw the four of you together. On top of that, young Aeolus was right.
- About what?
- About staying out of the mortals lives. About not poking into details. Which is exactly what Azirakon and Learelia do. I know that they mean well, but they don't see that they are actually doing more harm then help, turning the mortals into helpless babies depending on deities for their everyday problems. They should be able to put out their fires, catch their criminals and cure their deceased themselves. While we immortals should worry about life's larger developments.

- But I can't help feeling guilty. Like I let them down.
- Don't! You did not! You're 19, Athena. You have big things coming for you. You just have to look out for the signs and grab the opportunities.
- I... How can I see them?
- I can help you, Athi. Show you a couple of things I think you might find useful.

Then Hera poured me some nectar and took me on a quick trip through her life, spoken word as well as telepathic motion pictures. She told me how she had found opportunities first in Argos and then later in the Union Nexus. Reaching the Chair Office after just one year in the Hyperpantheon was one of these. It was not so much about hard work as about being in the right place at the right time. About having the right helpers and keeping the mind cold.

- The only thing I wasn't really that good at was patching my love life together. Eventually it seemed like the whole world was pushing me in the arms of Zeus while I was holding back, too scared to let go.
- But it all worked out in the end. Between you and dad, I mean.
- Yes. But sometimes you have to be lucky too.
- I'm not good at being lucky, I answered. I'm better at screwing up to be honest.
- We all think we are, because it's so easy to forget when all was flowing fine the last time. Probably because we're taking it for granted.

This discussion of Hera and mine turned out to be the first one in an endless row of long talks I began to have with dads wife. Hera and I were more alike each other than we first wanted to admit. We needed each other very much too. We were both very close to Zeus, probably his most beloved kins, and we were both affected by his large plans and big dreams. As well as his great need for affection, his infamous temper and heavy mood swings.

Dad had lost so many loved ones during his youth, starting with his mother when he was just ten, so those he had now he clung to for dear life. Thus Hera and I weren't only the same kind of persons to start with, Zeus sort of formed us into mirror images of each other. Without anyone of us - not even Zeus - really aware of it.

I also talked a lot with Irdonan. Mostly about my lost mother. She felt like a part of my identity that was missing and which I needed to regain to feel whole and complete.
- How was she, Irdo? I'm trying to picture her, but I only keep seeing Hera with the face from the painting my dad keeps. That auburn hair and smiling gray eyes.
- She was different from Hera in many ways, Irdo said. She wasn't as solemn as Hera, she was more playful, more found of jokes and tricks. She and Zeus used to chase each other in the sky, and Zeus used to catch her, teasing her that he would eat her alive. She joked back and said that he would get really sick, because she was toxic.

- Can't imagine Hera saying such a thing.
- No. She was also very curious in a way that resembles you. She wanted to learn everything, to know everything. She was always carrying around books and magazines she was reading from when she got some spare minutes. I see her in your curiosity, Athi.
- She must have been very wise.
- She was. She was also a good teacher, both to Zeus, me and Mimi and Ollie. And everyone else who wanted to learn. You would have loved her, Athi. As she loved you the short time you two got.

I felt my eyes burn with tears to these words of my brother.
- Irdo, I miss her so much. Even though I never knew her, I miss her. Did she and Zeus... love each other?
- Yes they did. They loved each other very much. But Zeus loved her in a different way than he loves Hera. Metis was more of a teacher and a mother-figure to Zeus. A kind of mentor. She was after all almost 300 years older than him. Hera is more of an equal.

¤-¤-¤

I talked with dad both about the wish Nike had to work in the Divine King's Office and about the event caused by me and Nike leaving the Help-Patrol.
- I'll sure give Nike a chanse, dad said. She's talented, but I didn't know she was interested in politics.
- I guess she's just curious. Want to try out different things. And your Office is interesting. But what am I going to do with Learelia and Azirakon? They have become really hostile since Nike and I quit the Help-Patrol. Learelia've been hinting that we went whining to Hera instead of talking to her about feeling overworked, refusing to give her a chance to correct that.
- Is it so then? asked dad.
- How do you mean?
- Did you and Nike not talk to Learelia before Hera intervened?
- The truth is - no, we didn't.

Then dad talked to Hera who didn't back an inch from her position:
- Of course your daughter didn't say anything to Learelia. She's only 19, she didn't see it coming.
- She didn't see what coming?
- Oh Zeus, the overworked thing of course. She's just like you. So full of ambition, so eager to always do her best and to excel. And unwilling to show weakness. Why should she say anything to Learelia? And Nike, Athena's shadow, why should she had said anything?

- She's not my shadow, I interrupted. She's my best friend!
- Athena, dad said, Hera did the right thing. She saw the problems the two of you were facing before anyone else did. You're not a Help-Patrol goddess, daughter. You're meant for larger things. Now, leave this behind you!
- But Learelia has turned real bad against me. Not against Hera, she probably don't dare, but against Nike and me.

-That's not your problem. Dad crossed his strong arms over his wide chest and went on: That's Learelia's problem. If she's messing with you she's messing with me. And I don't think she can handle that.
- Dad, I don't need your help against Learelia.
- What's the problem then?
- I don't want her as an enemy, that's all.

- Powerful people do always acquire enemies, Athena, dad told me. There are people out there who hate me and my agendas and want to get rid of me. It used to anger and sadden me earlier, but these days I've become used to it. You can't be everybody's friend if you want to make a difference for real. You have to do what you believe in no matter what petty people think. Stand up for your ideas and be proud of them and rejoice in the followers you do get. My followers are plenty more than my adversaries, especially among people in my closest surroundings. I take that as a proof that I keep doing the right things.

- But those who hate and fear you - who are they?
- It's mostly people who want more power for themselves, regardless of deserving it or not. Sometimes they want to use that power to launch other ideas than mine but more often they want it just to get hold of the glory. Most of them are gathered in other parts of the world. They don't know me or my ideologies. Or they don't bother with understanding them. As long as they serve no threat to my realm I chose to disregard them as much as possibly. I will never get rid of that kind of people, so why should I let them cloud my mind?

- But if you win them over?
- There will be others.
- Zeus, stop it, Hera said.
- Stop what?
- Moving over focus to yourself. This is Athena's problem, not yours! Learelia is hostile against her not against you.

- I'm only trying to explain to Titi that she shouldn't worry about Learelia, she's only...
- I'm not worried, I'm...
- ...a minor goddess who does her best in her little world.
- ...not keen on having her as enemy, regardless of her status among deities.
- Don't let her bother you!
- Daaad!
- No one would have thanked you or Nike anyway if you had worked yourself to pieces in the Help-Patrol.

We went on like that a bit more, and I let off some anger both at Dad and at Hera, but in the end I saw that dad was right - in a way. Hera had gotten me and Nike out from the Help-Patrol, and thus turned Learelia against us, but it was either that or Nike and me being worn out in an area that dad called low-status.

- I'll get Nike in at my office, and... are you sure that you don't want to do the same, Titi?
- I am.
- Or at Hera's office, can you take her in, honey?
- I'd love to have her aboard, Hera started but I told them that I was not inclined to politics at all.
- I want more hard results out of my work. I'm going to take some time off, studying my mothers knowledge. Then I hope Iapetus and Clymene can take me in as an apprentice so I can learn about engineering and producing energy.

- I'll talk to Iapetus, dad started but I cut him off:
- I'll talk to him myself. I'm going to do this on my own. I'm not going anywhere because Zeus laid the ground.
- Good luck, Athena, Hera said. And if there's anything...
- I know. I'll ask. Thanks.

Zeus didn't say anything to old Iapetus, but I got a chance to study under him anyhow. I'm not sure if it was because of me as a person or me as a daughter of Zeus, but I decided to not care. It was exciting to learn about physics and power-stations, and I spent the next handful of years learning to master these subjects. In return Iapetus and Clymene got better turbines, conductors and fuse stations. I also invented the transistor, something that was going to give the world smaller radios and computers as well as being a precursor of the micro-ship, another invention of mine that still was years in the future. On top of that I dusted off an old dream of mine - electric trains.