ACT 3
FADE IN
The Alconian Lake. Just after sunrise. Hedda's leather pants, belt, top, and bracers lay abandoned on a large rock next to her boots. A few feet away, she stands in a black cotton bikini top with a matching black sarong wrapped around her waist, tightly braiding and binding her hair into a tight bun atop her head. Hedda removes her pendent, which bares her rune, and stuffs it securely down into her bikini top for safekeeping. Then she stretches, takes a deep breath, and dives into the lake. She swims furiously towards the bottom of the lake until she finally sees the three feet wide vortex that will suck her into Hades. She heads for it, and plunges through, falling for several seconds.
CUT TO:
Hades. Hedda falls from the vortex, but lands on her feet.
Shaking herself, as she is still a tad disoriented, she quickly gets her bearings and looks around for a patrol. A moment later a regiment of Proxidicae arrive and draw their weapons on Hedda who merely stands her ground. She's not here to fight. The Leader of the Proxidicae, Kalcian, steps forward and looks Hedda over disapprovingly.
Kalcian
Who are you, and what are you doing
in the land of the dead, mortal?
Hedda:
I'm Hedda, the Defender of Olympus, and I'm here to speak with Charon, Celesta, and your commander, Kalcian, about returning your new king, Thanitos, to his rightful place in the Underworld. Oh, and for the record, I'm only half mortal.
Kalcian:
(amused) You, the Defender? A woman? Why do I find that so hard to believe?
Hedda:
(guessing) You're a male chauvinist pig like your founder, Zeus, was?
Several of the Proxidicae snarl at Hedda's remark, but Kalcian holds them back from attacking.
Kalcian:
I am Kalcian, and if you are not who you say you are, my men and I will throw you into the abyss of Tartarus for your last statement. However, since this does indeed look like the swan song of the Olympian race, and the Defender of Olympus is supposed to arrive at just that moment, I will give you the chance to prove to me you are who you say you are. The Defender bears a sign. If you are… she, then prove it.
Hedda:
(confused) A sign? (to herself) Well, that's a new twist. I don't have any birthmarks…
Kalcian:
Then you admit you lied?
Hedda:
I didn't say that. (thinking) However, you never said that this sign had to be one of flesh…
Kalcian:
Show me the sign, or face the consequences of your words, Woman!
Suddenly Hedda remembers the rune on her Queen's mask and on her pendent. Slowly, as not to startle the Proxidicae, she reaches into her bikini top and pulls out the pendent baring her rune.
Hedda:
Is this what you're talking about? My rune?
Kalcian who has remained completely passive through their whole exchange just stares in disbelief for a moment, then immediately removes his helmet and bows his head in reverence and submission.
Kalcian:
We beg your forgiveness, Defender. (falling on one knee) Your will is ours, and we swear our lives and our souls to thee in all things.
After a moment, Kalcian looks up at Hedda, and we see he is a strong, and reasonably attractive man in his early to mid thirties.
Hedda:
Okay. Why the radical shift in attitude?
Kalcian:
When Zeus created the Proxidicae, he bound our lives and our very souls to him, and if he should meet his end as his father did by him, to the one who would be known as the Defender of Olympus in order to insure the lives of his family. When you proved yourself the Defender, you fulfilled our destiny, and though we are few in numbers, we will fight to the death at your command, Defender.
Hedda:
(nodding in understanding) Well, for right now, I need your men to guard the Alconian entrance. Nobody who isn't dead or an Olympian god, gets through till I return. Michael has no power down here, outside of his combat skills, and he wouldn't take an entire regiment of Proxidicae on capriciously.
Kalcian nods to his men and they all take up formation directly below the vortex.
Kalcian:
And my orders, Defender?
Hedda:
I need your assistance in arranging a meeting with Charon and Celesta, which you will have to attend as well. As I mentioned before, I intend to deliver young Lord Thanitos to his thrown in this Land of the Dead and I need to make sure he will be properly guided, protected, and hopefully, loved, once he is settled in and I leave.
Kalcian:
I can not promise to guide or love the child, but I promise you I will protect him as fiercely as I protected his father. As for arranging that meeting, come with me, Defender. I will take you to a guest chamber in Hades fortress. The food is from above and there is a washbasin and towels, so you can refresh yourself before the meeting, while I retrieve Charon and Celesta.
Hedda:
Thank you, Kalcian.
After nodding once, Kalcian walks off, and Hedda follows him.
CUT TO:
Ares Temple in Thrace. The temple is virtually empty as Ares, Todonius, and Thanitos arrive in a flash of blue light. However, there is one Junior Priest nearby and he quickly scurries over to them.
Junior Priest:
My Lord Ares, it is an honor to welcome you back to your temple.
Ares:
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Prepare two guest rooms… Scratch that. Hedda's bedroom for our guests. And bring me the key.
Junior Priest:
Hedda? The key? Forgive me Lord Ares, but…
Ares:
(rolling his eyes) Go find Garrilin. He's been here the longest and will know what I'm talking about.
Junior Priest:
Right away, my Lord.
As soon as the Junior Priest leaves, Ares turns towards Todonius who holds the clinging Thanitos.
Ares:
You and the kid will sleep in Hedda's room tonight and I'll keep the adjoining door to my room open in case of trouble. I'll surround the temple with guards and snipers, but Michael and his god's followers are determined.
Todonius:
(nodding in agreement) Alright.
Just then an old priest, Garrilin, followed by Two Younger Priests and Two Young Priestesses enter the throne room.
Garrilin:
Pardon my absence, my Lord. I was making out this months supply list.
Ares:
(cutting the man off)
The key. Did you bring it?
Garrilin:
Yes (handing Ares a key) Is the Little Mistress spending the night? Although, come to think of it, she's probably not so little anymore is she? I haven't seen her in so long, and I had feared I never would again. Yes, it won't be long now.
Ares:
(rolling his eyes) You want nostalgia, Garrilin? Meet Toddy.
Garrilin:
Todonius? (seeing Thanitos) Oh, how wonderful! You and our Little Mistress finally have a little one of your own! Lord Ares, I congratulate you on…
Ares:
(smiling at the old priest) He's not my grandson, nor Toddy's son. He's Hades and Persephone's ankle biter. With both his parents dead, Hedda is down in the Underworld trying to find him a place to crash.
Garrilin:
Ah, the Little Mistress did always have a good heart, just like her Mama… (panicking) er, I mean… not Athena, the other one… Not that your sister didn't have a good heart… I just meant that…
Ares:
(bemused) Yes, Hedda has many of both her mothers' best qualities.
Garrilin smiles with relief, when he is approached by the Young Priest, who whispers into his ear.
Garrilin:
Ah, yes, the Young Mistress' bedroom is now ready.
Ares:
(turning to Todonius) Take Thanitos and put him down for the night, then turn in yourself. I won't be sleeping tonight, but you're mortal and need to sleep. Thanitos maybe a god, but his mother was born half-mortal and with what he's been through, he needs the rest anyway.
Todonius:
Thank you. (needing to get this out) Not just for tonight, but for my whole life. When my father was killed, your being there…
Ares:
Everything I did I did for Hedda. You're her best friend…
Todonius:
No, not just that! You helped my mother when she became ill, and you've always encouraged me…
Ares:
To stay at Hedda's side. To keep Hedda grounded. When mortals loose what Hedda lost in the Twilight and don't have someone they can turn to, they either go mad or destroy themselves. I've seen it happen too many times, and I wasn't going to let it happen to her. If the price for Hedda's life and sanity is the best healers for your Mom, food in your belly, and the occasional pat on your head, than it's a bargain. You're a nice kid, Todonius and I'd be over the moon if you achieved your goal of becoming my son-in-law, if only to keep Hedda from fulfilling that Eire Mystic's prophesy, but if you think I ever cared about you for your own sake, keep dreaming. Hedda is the best thing in both our lives, and loosing her would be unbearable.
Todonius:
(striking out) Especially so soon after Xena's death, right?
Ares flinches at the mention of Xena's death, but then recovers and feigns disinterest.
Ares:
At times like this, Zeus used to say 'You're a smart boy, Ares. You know just how far you can push me, and you never risk the full force of my wrath by pushing too far'. Eventually, it just got shortened to 'You're a smart boy, Ares.' Well, it seems you're a smart boy too, Todonius. (between clenched teeth) For Hedda's sake, you better make sure you remember the rest of it whenever you speak to me in the future. Now get yourself and that kid to bed!
Fighting back his anger, Ares turns and walks away from Todonius, who sighs wearily and walks in the opposite direction towards the back of the temple.
CUT TO:
The Underworld. Hades Fortress. Night. Hedda is lying on a sofa, in the guest room, reading a scroll. Sitting daintily on an overstuffed chair across from her, staring at her candle, is death herself, CELESTA.
Hedda:
(getting angry) Alright, where in Tartarus is Charon?! I've been waiting here for nearly twelve hours! Who knows what's going on up there in my absence! Michael could have finished off half of Olympus while I'm down here sipping tea with Miss Death! (to Celesta sheepishly) No offense.
Celesta:
(smiling in amusement) None taken. Relax. If the Christians were doing any serious damage I'd be on Earth right now. (sadly) However, I admit they have been pushing Charon and myself to the limit recently.
Hedda:
With any luck I'll be able to put a dent in your workload. That is IF CHARON EVER GETS HERE!!!
Celesta:
(chuckling) Be patient, Hedda.
Hedda:
As patient as death?
Celesta:
Touché
The two women laugh together, just as Kalcian, followed by the waddling Charon, come in.
Hedda:
(jumping up) Where the hell were you two?! You're not the only ones on the clock here!
Kalcian:
(chastised) I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Defender.
Charon:
(offended) Oh, isn't someone high in their britches these days? Listen here, Missy, you may be this big wig Defender now, but you'se still mortal, and where is my coin?! Didn't your parents ever teach you to bring a coin whenever you come down here?
Hedda:
(confused) But I didn't use your services! Kalcian showed me the shortcut.
Charon:
(smacking Kalcian's shoulder) You showed a mortal the shortcut?! Are you crazy?! Most of the gods don't even know the shortcut, and you showed a mortal?! They can't be trusted with secrets! They're always yappin', can't keep their mouths shut for the life of them… or the death of them for that matter! Next thing you know, my entire business will be dried up! Thanks a lot Buddy!
Hedda shakes her head, still frustrated.
Hedda:
Stop it! I can't stay down here forever! I have a vocation to pursue, and your tardiness and lack of respect is keeping me from my duties!
Charon:
(whispering to Celesta) You'd never guess who raised her.
Charon and Celesta smirk which only makes Hedda angrier.
Hedda:
(angry but focused) First you keep me waiting for hours, when every second is essential to our survival, and now you waste even more time making jokes about who raised me! You people just don't seem to get it; Thanitos is the key to your home and your safety. We need to concentrate on getting him settled into his powers and close off the underworld to the living, else Michael and his henchmen will come down here and slay the rest of you like they did Hades and Persephone!
Celesta:
(quietly) Xena slew Hades.
Hedda:
(coldly) Only with Eli and Michael's prodding! (as crudely as possible) Growing up with Daddy and Aunt Athena, and spending so much time with the Amazons, I know very well no one, God or mortal, wants to hear that Xena, the greatest of all warriors, was some half-rate foreign god's prison bitch, but she was grabbing her ankles from the moment Eli resurrected her! It's time we face up to the real Xena, the hero to the masses, the kick-*ss fighter, AND Michael' personal assassin! Nobody has ever been 100% perfect, not even the Warrior Princess, so let's stop tiptoeing around her legacy and get to cleaning up the mess she left behind!
Charon and Celesta are silent, but numbly nod in agreement. Kalcian also nods, but in approval at Hedda's ability to take charge of the gods. She now is a worthy commander in his eyes.
Kalcian:
I agree. We have to find our young Lord a safe place to grow into his position.
Hedda looks over at Kalcian and nods in appreciation. The two then turn their attention to Charon, who startles.
Charon:
You don't mean for me to take in the little ankle biter, do ya? Not that I wouldn't be honored but I don't think a boat crossing the river Styx day in and day out is the right environment for a kid. Not to mention, some of the Tartarus-bound crowd can get pretty nasty. One of 'em might dump the Mite overboard, and then what would we do?
Hedda:
I thought of that, and I came up with a solution that should be amenable to everyone. Thanie would have the power to dam the river and create overland routes to Tartarus and the Elysian Fields. The Proxidicae could take up the task of leading the souls to their final resting places, while you spend your days teaching Thanie to rule. Once that is done, you'd finally be free of your duties and could live life however you see fit. (switching to sales mode) Charon, you've spent ions dragging human souls back and forth in that rinky-dink boat of yours. Who more deserves a comfortable retirement? You could finally take all those dinars you've been collecting these past centuries and enjoy all the pleasures life has to offer!
Charon is shocked speechless, while Celesta tries very hard to hold back her laughter at the look on his pasty face.
Charon:
You want me to give up my business to raise Hades' kid, then slink off into retirement?! I'm Charon, the boatman of the Styx! I can't just retire, move to some tropical island, and spend my days watching dancing girls in grass skirts and sipping drinks served with paper umbrellas for the rest of eternity! I can't! I'm sorry to have to tell you this, Hedda, but you've really gone off the deep end this time if you thought I was gonna go for that one!
Hedda:
We all have to make sacrifices, Charon.
Charon:
Sacrifices? What sacrifices have you made, Miss High and Mighty Defender of Olympus?
Hedda:
(disbelievingly) What sacrifices? (to Kalcian) What sacrifices, he asks! (in Charon's face) Oh, let's start with my spirit! I used to be a hero! I used to ride at the head of an army of warriors, each of who fought with no other agenda than a burning desire to free the oppressed! Now I have to abandon innocent people to horrible fates for the sake of keeping heartless allies and it sickens me to the core, but I do it, because it is the only way for those I care about most to survive! I had to leave most of my army in Chin as they aren't fit for this kind of war, and could easily be taken in by the Christians' promises of peace and love, and now I have to send Toddy off to live with Hercules, cause I can't bear to risk his life! And finally, there are my dreams; not just the big ones like taking the world away from despots and murderers and giving it back to those who live with honor, but the little dreams, like falling in love, having a family, and watching my daughters grow into proud Amazons! My childbearing years are going to be eaten up on battlefields and in trenches, fighting a war I may very well not live to see the end of! If I could take Thanie, keep him safe, salvage some semblance of a normal family, I'd jump at the chance, believe me! But no, I have to go back up to the living world and sacrifice myself, again and again, no matter the personal cost! (totally disgusted) Forget I even asked; I'll take Thanie and most of the Proxidicae back to Olympus! If Michael and his god haven't already attacked us directly, they probably won't any time soon! Ofcourse, I could be wrong, but that's not your problem, Charon! I'll just get out of your way and you can go back to row, row, rowing your boat!
Hedda stalks off, followed by Kalcian. Charon remains still for a moment before chasing her.
Charon:
(giving in) Okay! Okay! I can take a decade or two off to raise the squirt! I mean, I haven't missed a day in thousands of years; never taken a sick day or anything; always been punctual. (honestly) Hades did a lot for me. I guess I owe him to look out for his son.
Hedda:
(wholeheartedly) Not good enough; It can't just be about repaying a debt. You have to care for him, be there for him 24/7, teach him that he's special, that he's part of a family that loves him and wants him to be happy and well! (insistently) That's what I had, and that's what he deserves! That's what you have to promise to give him! Promise me, Charon! Swear it on the River Styx!
Celesta:
(cutting in) Hedda, the Christians are attacking your father's temple in Thrace! The dead are calling me! I must go!
Hedda:
(to Charon) Hold that thought! (to Kalcian) Gather your men, leave a few down here to protect the Boatman, but bring the rest and meet me outside my Father's main temple in Thrace A.S.A.P!
Kalcian:
Yes Ma'am!
Hedda and Kalcian leave the guest room and run off in different directions. We follow Hedda, who sprints purposefully through hallways of Hades' Fortress and down two long staircases.
CUT TO:
Hades Stables just outside the Fortress. The stables are quiet as the eight immortal stallions living there are munching on underworld hey. In the center of the large room is a magnificent, though frightening, chariot made by Hephestus himself. The horses' harnesses are slung over the grand machine, which has a thin layer of dust on it from over two years of disuse.
We see the following events in a Montage:
Hedda rushes in, quickly and efficiently leading 4 of the large stallions out of their stalls and hitching them to the chariot.
Hedda climbs onboard the now hooked-up chariot. She whips the horses several times, but they seem to have forgotten how to pull the vehicle and remain passive. Just as Hedda is about to give up, the two lead stallions begin to move and Hedda has to hold on tight as they eagerly race out of the stable.
Hedda:
(laughing enthusiastically) I feel the need for speed!
Hedda's braided ponytail whips behind her as the horses race through the underworld at supernatural speed.
A close-up on Hedda's face, shows her excitement equals the horses.
The horses pull Hedda towards a rocky dead end, and a moment of apprehension flashes in Hedda's eyes.
The opposite side of the dead end, which turns out to be a Thracian mountainside, opens up of its own accord and the horses and chariot burst out onto a sunlit field.
Hedda lets out a whoop, and urges the Olympian animals faster. The stallions race so fast that world around Hedda blurs, then suddenly a loud bang shakes the Earth as the horses break the sound barrier, quickly disappearing over a hill.
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT 3
Read Act 4