“Time grows short.” Zeus sighed and rubbed his temples. “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 as hoped. We need the results of your project now.” “He is not ready yet. If we press him into service now, he will shatter.” “What??” Zeus roared, slamming his fist on his throne. “After all the time we have given him? Worthless peon; I ought to smite him right now!”

“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 years.”

“I know, I know,” said Zeus, waving his hand impatiently. “But after ten years, one would think that he would be close to being ready. You make it sound as if he is nowhere near ready. That upsets me.”

“If progress was incremental with time, Father, this would not be a difficult task at all. Unfortunately, tempering individual 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, if you attempt to use a steel blade before it is properly tempered, it may shatter.”

“This is true,” Zeus said, much calmer. Athena always explained things in an intuitive way. “Still the situation has changed. We need something useable 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 pass him through one final trial. The passage will be intense – he will either shatter or achieve full form.”

“Do it then. We have no more time.”

Athena bowed and exited the throne room. She sighed and shook her head. Phil may think the past ten years were rough, but he ain’t seen nothing yet!