Chapter 1

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July 15th 1972

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Detective Bill Gannon was on his annual vacation with his family. Bill's partner, Joe Friday, was expecting a new partner. This new detective, Kevin Sorbo, had been a police officer for almost four years, did well at the academy, more than three years on patrol, recently passed his detective's exam with flying colors. Captain Mackey felt this was a good time to give detective Sorbo some on the job training, with Bill Gannon on vacation Sorbo could learn from an experienced detective, and Friday wouldn't be short handed. Friday and Sorbo met at the beginning of this night shift and got along. Sorbo seemed just a little green, but willing to learn. Saturday nights were usually the busiest nights for the police department, a lot of young people did drugs, needed help after. It was just after midnight that they got a call, a grocery store had been robbed, five suspects were in custody. They were all hippies, none seemed like they could pass a drug test. They also seemed to be some kind of cult, one even claimed to be the ancient goddess Aphrodite. This seemed to get officer Sorbo's attention. He spoke with sgt Friday in private.

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Sorbo: One of the hippies really think's she's Aphrodite?

Friday: That's what the caller said. Why?

Sorbo: When I was a patrol officer I arrested a hippie girl for possession, also seemed to think she was Aphrodite.

Friday: You think it's the same one?

Sorbo: She might be. If she is, she might be more willing to talk to a familiar face.

Friday: Worth a shot.

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Officer Sorbo went to speak with this young hippie girl. Sure enough, they recognized each other.

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Aphrodite: Herc, it's so good to see you again.

Sorbo: It's Kevin now. Officer Kevin Sorbo.

Aphrodite: Still pretending to be mortal?

Sorbo: Yes, makes it easier to help people.

Aphrodite: I help people too. These hippies are so cool, they're all about peace and love.

Sorbo: They have some good ideas, but they're going about it all wrong. They should be staying in school, learning how to solve society's problems.

Aphrodite: The schools are racist.

Sorbo: Change is coming. Dr King was right, non-violence is the best way to achieve change.

Aphrodite: They shot him for it. Just like they killed Ghandi, Lincoln, and the hippie from Bethlehem.

Sorbo: The bad guys murdered the individuals, they couldn't stop their message. Was it really neccessary to tell them who you really are?

Aphrodite: It's been so long since people have been willing to worship us, i couldn't resist.

Sorbo: Why were you robbing a store?

Aphrodite: We were going to start our own commune, we just needed food. Okay it was a mistake. Incidentally these new weapons, guns, are very dangerous.

Sorbo: I've noticed.

Aphrodite: Is the owner okay, I didn't mean to shoot him. I tried to heal him after, is he okay.

Sorbo: I'll find out.

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Officer Sorbo went to speak with the owner, Smith. He was a bit shaken, but otherwise unhurt.

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Sorbo: Are you okay mr Smith?

Smith: I guess. The doctors say I wasn't shot, I thought I was. One of those hippies, she shot me. And then, I woke up and she was standing over me.

Sorbo: That hippie girl, she was so high she also thought she shot you, and that she healed you.

Smith: I never take drugs, but it seemed like I was shot.

Sorbo: Maybe the stress caused you to faint.

Smith: This wasn't the first time I heard a gunshot. I served in world war 2.

Sorbo: And I served in Vietnam. You and I might have stringer stomachs than some, but everyone has a limit to how much they can take.

Smith: Yeah, you're probably right.

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Sorbo left, confident that his true identity as Hercules was in no danger. But, shortly after midnight, he and Friday got another assignment. Another young hippie girl, only 16 years old, had been found dead in an alley. Whoever did this had actually carved a symbol into her forehead. When Friday and Sorbo saw her body, Sorbo recognized it. He had seen this before, but not for a long time. He had hoped to never see this again, but no such luck.

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Sorbo: I know this symbol, I've seen it in the history books. It's a symbol of Ares.

Friday: The ancient greek god of war?

Sorbo: Yes. Whoever did this might consider themselves a follower of Ares.

Friday: What is it with the ancient greek gods tonight?

Sorbo: I don't know. A lot of people these days are questioning our institutions, religious and secular. I guess some are looking towards an idealized past.

Friday: How does a god of war represent an idealized past?

Sorbo: Why do people choose a religion, they like what's being said. If you believe in helping people, giving food to the hungry and clothes to the naked, you might join the Salvation Army. But if you want to hurt people, why not latch unto a god of war. It makes sense that he'd then murder people who claim to be all about peace and love.

Friday: Which means he won't stop, unless we stop him.

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Officer Sorbo worried that Sgt Friday was right, and they had to stop this psychopath. He was also worried that people might start worshiping Ares again, that it wouldn't stop with him. And the question remained, would he be able to keep his secret identity for much longer.