Time grows short
By: Phil Safari on May 25 2008Category: Story
Phil Safari, a reluctant Candidate, must prove himself worthy to the gods by completing a Heroic Task: change 1000 lives for the better… or else! This is an episode of the philosophical sci-fi webserial, the Safaris.
Meanwhile, on Mount Olympus, Athena was summoned to the throne room by Zeus.
“Time grows short.” Zeus rubbed his temples and sighed. “An immortal worrying about time. Ha! Imagine that.”
Athena stood transfixed at the entranceway. Zeus, king of the gods, hunched over his throne, looking miserable. She had never seen her father in such a state, and it was at once fascinating and disturbing. As if sensing some subtle change in the air, Zeus looked up.
“Come in, child.”
“Father, is there something wrong?”
Zeus paused for a long time before replying. “Things are not going well. We need the results of your project now.”
“He is not ready yet. If we press him into service now, he may shatter.”
“What?!” Zeus roared, slamming his fist on the armrest of his throne. “After all the time we have given him? Worthless peon; I shall smite him this instant!”
“Oh Great Father, hear me out,” Athena bowed low, hiding her smile. It was good to have the old lion back. “When you charged me with this difficult task, I pleaded for patience. In your infinite wisdom, you granted me twelve earth years. It has only been ten.”
“I know, I know,” said Zeus, waving his hand impatiently. “But after ten years, he should be nearly ready, yet you suggest he is nowhere near ready. This upsets me.”
“If progress advanced incrementally with time, Father, this would not have been a difficult task at all. Unfortunately, tempering souls is not an exact science, and every soul is different. Progress is halting and can depend greatly on decisions made at critical junctures. As Hephaestus will tell you, attempting to wield a steel blade before it is properly tempered may shatter it.”
“This is true,” Zeus said, now much calmer. Athena had a gift for explaining things more intuitively. “Still the situation has changed. We need something usable now. How effective can he be, and when can we put him into service?”
“It is a dangerous move, but if the need is great, I can put him through one final trial. The passage will be intense, and he will either shatter or achieve full form.”
“Do it. We have no more time.”
Athena bowed and exited the throne room. Outside, she sighed and shook her head. If Phil thought that the past ten years were rough, he ain’t seen nothing yet!
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