A/N: this has been sitting on my hard drive for awhile, decided to post as my available time and money (so much of both) is trying to fix up and repair my new place.
* February 10, 1980 *
They approached the planet that stretched across a multitude of Alternates, promising a harvest at the end of their Cycle.
Seven gods stood, further proof of the ripeness of this fruit. Abaddon's warnings were, of course, ignored. The Cycle had been abandoned by many of their fellows, but that merely proved these others were wrong.
Soon they would slay these gods, and from their corpses fashion new shards to further enrich themselves.
Those were the thought processes of both Thinker and Warrior just before the other assembled gods sprung their trap.
Oracles among these gods had seen how all these Earths would perish, and though they had turned their backs for the most part on the primary Earths in order to allow for the species to mature without interference, they still checked up on the species known as humanity and some of their alternates.
The gods of war and of battle lead the first wave. After many tense minutes, Thor himself smiting the Thinker and riding the corpse down into a series of Alternates. The Thinker shed shards in a frantic attempt to save something of herself as she felt more and more of her being crushed.
There were not supposed to be so many gods and they were not supposed to unite in common cause. Her last thoughts before her central processing was severed by a curse from a healing god was the protest of both conditions being violated.
The Warrior fought back, reality after reality, as the gods pursued and declared their own opposition to not only the Earths but themselves being considered menu items.
Hera, the Olympian, was one of six of their number continuing to find a sever the lines between shards that kept the Entities alive.
Exhausted, injured, with many of their number dead, the gods finally defeated the Warrior Entity as he too attempted to emergency deploy everything possible in an attempt to survive.
The only problem, other than the exhaustion that would take centuries to fully recover, was that the fight had indeed been observed.
* Earth 20512 Gamma *
She crawled out of the crater and flopped onto her back.
Yes, she was a goddess. Yes, she was powerful. Not so much at the moment admittedly. Just surviving a fight like that, one that went not only across multiple iterations of this Earth but into the higher dimensions of each iteration, was indication of how powerful she had been as a goddess.
Honestly, if there had been a front line she wouldn't have been on it. She wasn't a battle-goddess after all. Her primary domain was women and family, to some extent pregnancy and childbirth.
Ah, here came two women. They must have seen some of that battle against the Thinker Entity.
Time to get up, despite being barely able to move. She had that much pride after all.
"Good women, be not afraid, for the invader was killed and your world is saved. I am Hera of Olympu-URK!"
She'd been stabbed? What? Why? No, she needed to spend her remaining power not to bleed out.
"She's regenerating. Finish her off fast."
Hera looked and saw no compulsions, no mind control, no influence from an Enemy.
Despite trying to block the assault, the other took their very sharp knife and plunged it over and over again into her.
"Why?" asked Hera as her blood spilled and she tried to struggle.
"Because you are a god," said the woman who would become Doctor Mother before she helped Fortuna to slay the goddess.
She could then explore the corpse and find out what weaknesses could be exploited.
* June 14, 1980 *
"Today in the studio we have..."
"Heimdall of Asgard."
"Uhm, why does the Prose Edda among other sources refer to you as 'The Pale One'?"
"Really? That's what you started with? The Norse liked wordplays and irony I suppose."
"So, you claim to be a 'god'?"
"If you want to use that term you may. Higher Order Ascended Being tends to be a bit wordy."
"So are you here to get more worshippers...?"
"No. Don't worship us. Humanity has passed the point where you need someone to change your diapers. The Olympians, the Aesir, the Vanir, and all the others save a few have ourselves progressed beyond the desire for interfering in your day-to-day lives."
"Then why ARE you here? As in here in our New York studios, on this fine sunny day."
"You have questions. Three wars are about to start over your own misconceptions of what happened two months ago. Your governments have started to notice the individuals who have a little something extra going for them. I am here to inform you of what has happened and to ask that you not go through with the various plans to enslave or slaughter them."
"This is the United States, we don't do that here anymore."
"Project Wide Awake. Project Harness. The closed door Senate commitee scheduled for later today."
"What?"
"I am Heimdall. I see and hear a lot of things."
"I find it hard to believe that President Carter would approve of such... activities."
"He is concerned. He is not alone. There are similar programs in seventeen other countries."
"So what are these individuals you refer to?"
Heimdall nodded. "Some are gods and goddesses who fell in battle against an enemy that threatened not only your Earth but other worlds. They are being reborn as mortals. Others are the descendants of gods and mortals mingling. Still others are those empowered by the two enemies, but may actually be opposed to the goals of those Entities. Humans can hate and fear that which is different, or they can be attracted to differences as well. Sometimes both."
"Gods? Goddesses? You're saying that thing from February 10th through the 14th in the skies was a battle between gods and something else?"
"You are skeptical even when you've seen and recorded the events. I am just here to ask for something that humans have frequently in short supply. Tolerance."
"Really? Tolerance?"
Heimdall sighed. "Yeah, I can't really see that but it's worth a shot."
"I see," said the news anchor.
"And if I could ask personally that you not do as the CBS crew did and heavily edit and switch dialogue around to make me look crazy and yourselves like you're 'hard hitting reporters' asking 'the tough questions'? They've got three days to air the unedited version or we're giving Loki full license to get creative with everyone involved with that."
"We'll see what we can do, but that's up to the editorial staff."
(The full footage of the interview was aired later that day, unedited. Three days later the entire editorial staff at '60 Minutes' found all of their private hobbies and two private meetings had been videotaped and sent to various authorities.)
* Another Earth. March 3, 1986 *
"These gods could upset our plans."
"We must win, otherwise these Entities could revive. How many worlds were devastated by these 'gods' and their fight with the Entities?"
"These gods, as well as the Entity we were able to begin harvesting, are resources we can use. The gods themselves seem to want to keep their hands off, letting these 'godspawn' develop on their own. We can use that to our advantage as well."
"I still think we should call ourselves 'Big Fire' to keep the torch of civilization burning."
"No, David. Just no."
"It's still better than 'Cauldron' - sounds more like one of those dark organizations from a sentai series."
"If we could not get sidetracked by naming conventions?"
"Oh, like 'Eternium' is any better."
"Children. I am surrounded by children."
"Says the person who came up with 'Cauldron'?"
* December 13, 1992 *
"We're not allowed in that country by their laws, remember?"
"But it's a giant monster!"
"No, Thor. It was agreed, we follow their rules while on their world. The mortals have their little power plays and rules and making those rules gives them some confidence. They have to stand on their own feet, you know."
"Fiiiine. But if a giant monster attacks Norway I'm gonna crush it."
"That's fine. Here in Norway the government has no problem with us going out and smacking around giant monsters in its territory."
"Really? That's decent of them."
"They don't want us to spend a lot of time out of Trondheim but that's more a consideration of how fragile their surroundings are. Why don't you head to Olympus, I hear there's a wrestling competition today."
* December 21 1993 *
* Excerpt from the speech by President William J Clinton: *
"...and now we have these paranormal beings, some born here in the United States and therefore natural-born Americans, and so I'm signing in this new agency to handle the difficulties and advantages presented by these individuals. The Paranormal Response Team will be headed by Rebecca Costa-Brown, who I have full confidence that she can address the issues presented by the presence of these 'paranormals' and who can work with the agencies of other countries to properly meet the challenges of our new citizens and neighbors."
* March 26, 1994 *
"Behemoth has emerged in Greenwich Village, Magnolia's Bakery is on fire."
"I thought Behemoth went after energy-production sites. Why's he in New York?"
"I dunno, try asking HIM!"
"This is an emergency channel. Please refrain from personal commentary."
"Behemoth moving due North. Unable to identify objective from projected path."
"All personnel alert on radiation levels. Am contacting areas on projected course to hurry evacuation."
"Local capes are engaging. Be advised some attacks are being redirected by Behemoth. Purely kinetic attacks seem ineffective but are not being redirected."
"Kill Aura effective against most paranormals regardless of origin. Wait. One of them registered as having died but just got back up."
"Identify please."
"Looks like Thanatos."
"Remote monitor still shows Thanatos as dead."
"I AM dead you morons. This is my 'power' from being the child of Persephone and Hades. And my name is Carl."
"Thanatos, reminder to use assigned codenames."
"You guys really like that schtick, don't you? I'm not dissing Uncle Thanatos by using his name without permission. I - oh crap."
"Say again, Thanatos."
"Control, this is Observation-1 again. Behemoth just doubled back and stepped on Thanatos. He's dead again. No, wait, he's suddenly not flat."
"Behemoth has resumed original course. Thinker support indicates heading for Times Square."
* Nearby *
Daniel Francisci Hebert had had a very bad day. Missing a bus was one thing, missing an evacuation bus was an entirely worse thing.
So here he was, having grabbed a slice of toast from an abandoned food kiosk (he was hungry and he had left money behind to pay for it), holding the toast in his mouth while his hands were occupied trying to get ahold of emergency services and locate the nearest shelter while running for the next bus stop just in case he could catch another.
The day got worse as a shadow made him look up. Someone was falling towards him. He had just a millisecond to recognize that before impact.
(WHAM!)
Someone had landed on him.
"This has been a really bad day."
"Ow."
Danny froze as he realized he had a woman on top of him. Not moving at all sounded good.
"Oh, toast. I've heard of this trope."
"Eh?" asked Danny, wondering how many of his bones had just broken and why this woman had come falling out of the sky. Also what was a trope and what did it have to do with toast? Though mainly just about the first two.
"None, though thou shalt be feeling the ache of thine bruises for days yet. And I fell because I was fighting Behemoth."
"Eh?" asked Danny, pretty sure that he hadn't asked any of those questions.
"Well, mortal, whilst I be flattered and see the potential for a great love within thy heart, I be spoken for. Yet mine niece could use a mortal fling for the next century or so. I'll be in touch."
"Eh?" asked Danny, wondering why the woman was drifting in and out of Shakespearian dialogue.
"Because it be expected, Daniel Hebert, of those of us who be of the divine."
Danny Hebert watched as the woman got off of him, then sped off like she was ignoring things like inertia or any such lesser concerns.
Why did he have the feeling that life had just gotten a lot more complicated?
And now his phone was broken and he was pretty sure he'd missed any chance of catching the bus.
* April 12 1994 *
Danny Hebert was not sure of a lot of things. New hire at the docks of a city called Brockton Bay, which was where he'd been for most of his life not counting the time he'd spent in Boston and New York. That was pursuing a degree after all, and working for the Union required a degree or decades of experience he didn't have.
"Artemis?" asked Danny.
"This woman?" asked the Agent, showing him a grainy photo of a woman throwing a javelin at Behemoth.
"Yes, she fell on me back in New York," admitted Danny. "Is there a problem?"
The other of the two black-suit-and-tie types nodded. "Yes. She identifies as Artemis. A Greek goddess. Who was operating in United States territory without permission or licensure."
"It was a fight against Behemoth," said Danny.
"Nonetheless," said Agent Jones.
Danny rubbed his forehead briefly. "Look, question of their claims to the side, what do you want from me specifically?"
Agent Smith spoke again. "Someone on her behalf was accessing your record and attempting to contact you for arrangement to meet a relative of hers."
"...that sounds ominous," observed Danny.
"Some of these gods or goddesses fancy themselves matchmakers," observed Smith in a flat tone. "We just need you to contact us if contact is actually made."
Jones handed him a card which just had a phone number and the PRT logo.
Danny took it, thinking this was all pretty silly but what could you expect of a government organization dealing with 'parahumans' and 'paranormals'?
It wasn't like in that TV show "Oh dear gods" after all where he might end up with a couple of wives and various hanger-ons.
* July 3rd 1994 *
"Whatever happened to sanity?" asked Danny F. Hebert for obvious reasons.
"Sanity is over-rated," said Annette, squeezing the hand of the goddess at her side.
"Like with my family I can attest to sanity?" asked Khione as she regarded their new husband.
"I still can't believe this is legal," said Danny.
"Oh, it got pushed through easily enough," said Khione. "Only applicable when one of the group is 'a sapient of nonhuman origin' initiating the relationship. It's almost like someone somewhere WANTS a new slew of demigods and heroes running about. There are challenges to it in the legal system, particularly on the state level, but for now it's legal."
"There are benefits," said Annette, drawing the goddess of snow and ice into a long kiss.
"I see," said Danny. He didn't doubt Annette's enthusiasm, she was rather more intrigued by the possibilities than he was.
As the kiss went on, he stirred a bit uncomfortably as Annette was also a lot more comfortable with doing things like that in a hotel lobby.
* June 11, 1995 *
Nine months. Nine long long months.
"The birth was a success and they've separated. You have a baby girl, Mister Hebert."
Danny nodded to the Doctor. One of the legal challenges had gone through, and Khione had come up with a solution until the appeal went through. Khione and Annette had merged, fusion into a single being.
Then had come the pregnancy because Khinette had been insatiable and there were consequences.
So now the two could safely split but he now had the, as far as he knew, unique situation of being the father of a girl with two mothers.
Though apparently the unique part might not be a thing for long as some of the supernatural or paranormal beings had been intrigued by the concept of fusioning.
When had his life become a TV sitcom?
The thickly-hewed man nearby stood up, stretched, and grabbed up his cane. "We'll schedule the blessings later after you lot have had a chance to settle down."
"Thanks, um, 'Heph'," said Danny, still a bit uncertain about using the diminuitive even with permission.
* June 11, 1996 *
Her first birthday and Danny Hebert was having some trouble with the birthday party. Originally it had just been him, Annette, and Khione. Then a few college friends like the Barnes family.
Then Khione's family started showing up, those who had currently been incarnated into the "mortal world" at least.
Then it had started getting weird.
Taylor Παγετός (Payetos) Hebert, who had the lustrous black hair of Annette with a single streak of pure white from Khione. A one year old baby.
"She's a demigod? You're sure?" asked Zeus, looking a bit haggard and depressed.
"When she was born, the temperature of the birthing suite dropped twenty degrees," said a proud Khione.
"Based on medical exams, yes," said Annette Hebert, glancing at Zeus. "You're not what I expected."
"We're too human not to have our faults," admitted Zeus.
"And Hera being apparently killed and incarnated has concerned you," said Athena as she drew near and looked down on the infant. "Any luck with finding out who killed her?"
"None. Whoever they are they are well hidden," said Zeus, a tiny amount of anger fighting its way through his depression and showing itself.
"Wait, Hera's incarnated?" asked Khione.
"Strictly demigod level of power, no memories of a previous life, and she's currently six years old," said Zeus, the rage vanishing like a snowflake on a furnace. "Guard her well, those bureaucrats and politicians will be after young Taylor should she show signs of being useful to them."