The Chains of Olympus

Part 4

I stood behind a pillar with Socrates as the Doctor tried to speak to the gods. "Look, could someone listen to me? Hello? You're not who you think you are! You're not gods. You're psychic constructs!"

"He's right!" I said coming out from behind the pillar. My voice grabbed the attention of Zeus, who immediately gave me a death glare as he was interrupted from watching Ares' destruction spree. "WHAT INSOLENCE DO YOU SPEAK WOMAN?!" Zeus asked as if challenging me. A challenge I knew I could win.

"Insolance?" I asked Zeus. "Not insolance. Just the truth. You are in fact psychic constructs! You've been growing inside this belief engine for decades shaped out of human prayer. But the woman who created you is dead now! That's why you're out of control!"

"SILENCE WOMAN!" Zeus said as I was thrown to a pillar next to my uncle and found myself chained as well. "I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE IN CONTROL THAN I AM NOW! AND SOON THE MORTALS SHALL KNOW THE ABSOLUTE CONTROL OF ZEUS...AS THE DIE BY MY SON'S SWORD!" Zeus the turned to watch Ares's destruction of Athens as the Doctor and I could only watch chained to pillars.

"At least I wasn't chained upside down." I said. But my left leg did show through the slit of my dress giving a visual that would have had frat boys drooling. But I knew right away Zeus was not interested in being 'challenged'.

"Will you please pay attention?" the Doctor asked. "This is very painful and a little undignified and there's too much blood in my head!" Under his breath the Doctor muttered "So glad I didn't wear a toga today."

"I am listening my friends." Socrates said whispering behind the pillars so not to draw Zeu's attention. "You say this is not the true Zeus, but merely the idea of Zeus?"

"Yes, that's it!" the Doctor said. "Neatly summarized!"

"Doctor, Teddy, if a stranger came to your houses and told you you were not real, would you believe him?" Socrates asked. I answered "Well I suppose we might need a little convincing."

"Ah!" the Doctor said. "But you're Socrates. The world's greatest philosopher! If anyone can do this you can!" I then added "Olympus is held together by belief-If you can make Zeus doubt himself..."

Socrates got the gist of what the plan was. "You want me to ask the 'awkward questions'?" he asked. The Doctor answered "Exactly." I then followed with "Oh, and try not to get killed."

On Zeus's mirror we saw Ares destroying Athens boasting about the damage he was causing. "WHAT A PALTRY CITY IS ATHENS! YOUR BUILDINGS FALL LIKE WHEAT AND YOUR SOLDIERS ARE WEEPING CHILDREN!"

The soldiers looked ready to flee the battle but in the corner of the screen I saw Plato run up. I knew he was telling the soldiers to assemble in the main square at the Agora. Our plan was coming together.

In the meantime Socrates walked up to Zeus saying in his best voice "Hail to the great Zeus!" Zeus didn't take the flattery well. "ANOTHER MORTAL? MUST I CLENSE MY ENTIRE REALM OF THESE INSECTS? MUST I STRIKE YOU DOWN LIKE THE FLEA THAT YOU ARE?"

"Geez, doesn't this guy like anything?" I asked as Zeus was calling up lightning to strike Socrates down. Fortunately, Athena was providing the voice of wisdom. "WHY NOT HEAR HIS WORDS FIRST, FATHER? WHAT HARM COULD IT BRING?" I thought I heard an undercurrent in Athena's words, as if she knew something was going on, but wasn't going to stop it. Zeus however wasn't having any of it as he moved towards Socrates. "BE SILENT ATHENA!" he said as he called up more lightning to fry Socrates with.

Socrates however thought fast as he bowed showing humility. "Forgive me, great one. I-I merely wish to share in your wisdom! Please answer me this-can a god ever fall in battle to a mortal?" Zeus quickly answered "NEVER!"

"Then truly I can be of no threat to you." Socrates said. Zeus looked down saying "YOU OLD MAN? OF COURSE NOT!" Socrates then asked "So what need is there to strike down one who is no threat and therefore no enemy?"

Zeus considered Socrates' words and accepted the logic to them, grudgingly. "HMMPH. NONE, I SUPPOSE."

"The mercy of Zeus knows no boundaries." Socrates said as he breathed a sigh of relief. We then turned to the mirror viewing the destruction of Athens at Ares' hands. The next part of the plan was about to happen.

"IS THERE NOT ONE TRUE WARRIOR IN THIS CESSPOOL?" Ares said as he destroyed another building. A voice called from the ground shouting "Hey big boy!" The voice belonged to Amy who rode on a white horse who rode with Annabelle on another white horse.

"Newsflash!" Amy said. "Houses don't hit back." Annabelle then asked "You looking for a real fight or are you all talk?"

"YOU HAVE SPIRIT WENCHES!" Ares said. And while I appreciated Ares's compliment to my daughter, I didn't like her being called a 'wench'. Amy then spoke up saying "No, what I have is ten quid, on you going down in round one gruesome."

"Twenty bucks from me." Annabelle said. "If I carried money. Oh well, I probably could always ask P.J." Amy gave Annabelle a look as she was telling her to stick to the plan.

"Follow us if you want to get a kicking!" Amy then said. "GIDDYAP!" as she mothioned for her horse to move. Annabelle said "HYAHH!" as she got her horse to move. Ares took off in pursuit as Socrates continued to work his word magic on Zeus.

"Mighty Zeus, your power is absolute is it not?" Socrates asked. "LOOK AROUND YOU MORTAL, YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S SO." Was Zeus's answer.

"And is knowledge the foundation of all power?" Socrates asked. Zeus answered "YES."

Socrates kept on questioning. "Then your knowledge must also be absolute?"

"NOW AND EVERMORE!" Zeus said. Socrates kept questioning laying down the foundation for his argument. "So your knowledge extends to times yet to be?" Zeus responded with "MY KNOWLEDGE IS ENERNAL!"

I knew Socrates was going in for the kill now when he asked "Then you foresaw today's events?" Zeus answered "YES!" Socrates was now letting the shoe drop. "And allowed them to happen?"

Zeus then felt taken aback by Socrates question. "WHAT?" he asked. Socrates continued making his point. "You foresaw man's disrespect to the gods, and while you had the power to prevent it, you chose not to." Zeus was trying to gain his bearings as he said "THIS…DAY WAS DESTINED."

"So even the mighty Zeus must obey destiny? How then is his power absolute?" Socrates asked. The Doctor and I both knew Zeus was starting to doubt himself. It was up to Annabelle, Amy and Rory to keep drilling in that point as we saw Ares chasing Amy and Annabelle through the streets of Athens. On Zeus's viewing mirror.

"You're not the god of keep fit classes are you?" Amy taunted. Annabelle added "Try to keep up porky!" Ares kept charging as he said "YOU WILL KNOW MY WRATH GIRLS!"

Soon they made it to their destination. "Welcome to the Agora! Big open space, great view." Amy had said. Annabelle added "Lovely place for a showdown." Ares came to a stop in the center as a voice spoke from the side "Hi, Honey! Is this bloke bothering you?" Ares looked around and asked "WHO DARES?!"

Off to the side stood Rory dressed in Greek armor. All red with white trim, with a helmet to match. He pointed at Ares and said "I am Roranicus the first of the Upper Leadworth Empire! In the name of Athens, Greece and the human race I challenge you to a duel!"

Ares caught sight of Rory and laughed. "HAH-HAH-HAH! ALL ALONE LITTLE DOG? YOU ARE A WITLESS FOOL BEYOND MEASURE! Rory put on his helmet and said "Yeah, well…so's your mum. Let's see what you've got…"

Rory then drew out a golden sword saying "Because I've got this!" Hektor had finished what we wanted at his foundry. A sword of the same psychic metal as the Athena statue, the talisman and the egg. Rory was ready, and so was Ares.

"AS YOU WISH MORTAL!" Ares had said as he charged. "BE YOU BRAVE OR MERELY MAD…COME TASTE THE SWORD OF ARES" Rory then charged as a giant statue god came rushing in for a fight. I could make out Amy saying "Oh Doctor, Teddy, please know what you're doing…."

Off to the side the Doctor muttered "Oh crikey I hope I know what I'm doing." In the meantime Socrates' words were upsetting Zeus. "DO YOU SEEK TO ANGER ME OLD MAN?"

"Forgive me, great Zeus." Socrates said. "I merely try to understand. Is not your power an extension of your will?" Zeus answered "Yes."

Socrates then addressed the image of Rory in Zeus' mirror. "But I see a mortal who challenges your will. How can he do this if your will and power are absolute?" Zeus was struggling with the explanation. "YOU….YOU SPEAK IN CIRCLES."

"But a circle has neither beginning nor end….and I see and end approaching." Socrates made reference to the battle between Rory and Ares. Ares raised his sword ready to strike Rory saying. "DIE WELL FOR THE GLORY OF-"

Ares never finished his sentence, for when Rory's sword struck Ares' sword it was Ares's sword that had broken. Ares looked shocked as he saw his broken blade. "WH-WHAT? NO…THAT…THAT IS NOT…"

Rory didn't let up. His next strike slashed Ares' wrist. "NO!" he shouted. Using his remaining hand Ares tried to squish Rory which he dodged. Rory then hacked off Ares' right leg falling him. "NO! THIS IS MADNESS! HOW…HOW CAN THIS BE?"

"There's a special metal that's been mixed into this sword. It can absorb your power. Surrender now and I'll spare you." Rory had said. The town of Athens had other ideas. "Look at him! He's hollow!" one townsperson said. Another asked "How can Ares be defeated by a man?"

A soldier then rallied everyone together saying "It was a trick! ATTACK!" Soon the whole town was whittling down Ares shouting "Destroy this thing!" and "Smash it to pieces!". Ares pleaded the town to stop saying "ST-STOP! ST—" And he said no more. Soon the town was shouting "HAIL RORANICUS! HAIL RORANICUS!"

Hector came forth saying "Thatsword was forged at Hektor's foundry! Find us on Perseus street!" Annabelle and Amy congratulated Rory as well as Amy said "You are so keeping the armor."

To say Zeus was mad was an understatement. "NO! DO NOT CHEER MY SON'S DEMISE SO SWIFTLY MORTALS—NOT WHILE ZEUS CAN STILL SUMMON HIS THUNDERBOLTS…AND BURN YOUR CITY TO ASH!" The Doctor and I saw Zeus charge his hands with lightning which was affecting the egg outside. It was time for Socrates to deliver the final push.

"But was Ares not your true son? A true god?" Zeus answered "HE WAS! HE WAS!" Socrates continued with "And did you not say a good could never fall in battle to a mortal?"

Zeus knew there was no escaping the reality of his situation. "I…I DID…" Socrates then pushed on saying "Then Ares was not a true god." All Zeus could say was "I…" as Socrates asked "And if the son was not a god…then how can the father be so?"

Zeus knew the answer to Socrates' question as he shed a final white tear before shattering into pieces like Ares had. The Doctor and I were freed from our bonds as Olympus and all the gods started to crumble and shatter.

"The Pantheon." Socrates had said. "Gone with Zeus." The Doctor answered.

"And Olympus will be next! Get back to the portal! HURRY!" I answered. We were about to join Socrates when one goddess spoke her last words. "FOLLOW YOUR FRIEND DOCTOR AND TEDDY DUNCAN!" the goddess Athena had said.

We knelt to her side as she still sat bound by Zeus' chains as Olympus crumbled. "I'm sorry we can't help you." The Doctor said. Athena seemed relieved though. "ALL THINGS PASS. WE ARE EACH OF US BUILT ON SAND—GODS AND MEN ALIKE."

"You knew the truth all along?" I asked. Athena nodded. 'I WAS THE GODDESS OF WISDOM—OR AT LEAST AN OLD WOMAN'S DREAM OF HER. I SAW MORE DEEPLY THAN MY BRETHEREN." Looking at us both Athena said her final words . "MY TIME IS DONE, BUT I LEAVE YOU WITH THIS…THERS IS A QUESTION YOU MUST ANSWER DOCTOR AND TEDDY, AS WELL AS ANNABELLE. IF YOU TURN AWAY FROM IT THEN ALL WILL BE LOST…"

Athena then dissolved into dust as she asked the question. "WHAT IS BURIED IN MAN?"

And then she knew no more. The Doctor and I then left Olympus as Olympus continued to crumble. And then it was no more.

The next morning we all said our goodbyes. A soldier named Dimitrios said goodbye to Rory saing "It's plain that Upper Leadworth breeds great warriors. Thank you for saving my city Roranicus." Rory accepted Dimitrios's hand and accepted his thanks as well. "Oh, uh, anytime Dimitrios."

Annabelle pouted off to the side saying "I'd have made a great Centurion." I smiled saying "Next time sweet pea." We then turned to the Doctor, Amy, Plato and Socrates as the Doctor held the golden egg, now no bigger than a jellybean. "So that's what caused all this?" Amy asked.

"Well, it was bigger before we let all the air out of it." The Doctor said as he held the golden bean. "This thing literally builds gods. If the level of belief in them starts to drop, Bam! They're activated."

"Divine destruction follows, and a terrified population packs its bags and moves back to the caves." I said. Plato added "My people would have been kept in ignorance forever." I had a feeling what Plato had said was what the mysterious egg senders had wanted.

"It's a brilliant piece of design." The Doctor said. "Unspeakably nasty, but brilliant." Annabelle asked "But who built it?"

"No idea." The Doctor answered. "But I'd love to find out."

I then went to Plato and found him to blush. Couldn't believe the most famous pupil of Socrates could be bashful around a girl. "Lady Teddy…." Plato started to say. "I wanted…..I wanted to say…."

"Yeah?" I asked. Plato seemed to be struggling with his words until he blurted out. "Yours is a beauty that rivals even Aphrodite. I am marveled by your beauty. I see you as…."

"A woman." I said. "A smart, beautiful woman. And I am flattered as well." Giving Plato a kiss on the cheek I could swear his legs turned to mush as he could barely stand. "You're such a heartbreaker mom." Annabelle had said. I could only roll my eyes at what my daughter said.

We then made our way into the TARDIS as the Doctor said goodbye to Socrates. "You just saved the future of mankind Socrates. Feeling better now?" the Doctor asked as he shook his hand. Socrates then said "I am, Doctor. I have been reminded of my purpose in this life—to seek the truth. I hope you'll do the same…within yourself. You and your nieces."

The Doctor said "We'll try to fit it into our calendars." With that Socrates said his parting words. "Doctor, you are a brave man. You are a clever man. But you are not a wise man."

The Doctor said "Well….two out of three ain't bad." He then entered the TARDIS and shut the door as we dematerialized in front of a stunned Dimitrios, Plato and Socrates. We were off to our next destination.

END OF PART 4

END OF ACT 1

Author's Note: Well this is it. The end of the first story in a five act series. The next three should not be as big as this one, but when we get to Hunters that will be the big story to tell.

At any rate some groundwork has been laid down for Hunters. A puzzle for the Doctor, Teddy and Annabelle to solve, a supposed big bad hiding in the shadows somewhere using psychic metal, and a probable intent for that big bad. As the next acts take shape more and more bits leading to Hunters will appear.

The first three acts will take place around the latter part of Series 6 just before their battle with the Silence. The Fourth act will be in the early part of Series 7 just before Amy and Rory leave. The final will happen after the Christmas special where the Doctor meets Victorian Clara. I may start with the first three stories and wait until Ryan catches up season wise for the fourth one. And the fifth would follow after the meeting with Victorian Clara.

At any rate the first story is finished. 1 out of 5. The second will be next, and I think some writing opportunities presented themselves for the second story. What they are, wait and see.

John