28th October 2012
09:52 GMT +3
"So…
" I raise my eyebrows at Hephaestus.
"Made a decision yet?
"
He regards me testily. "Come up with a new argument to persuade me, have you?"
"Honestly? No. But if you aren't prepared to take the risk, we'll need more time to work on your equipment, and delaying is only dragging this out.
"
"You want me to take the risk."
"Eh… I… Yes,
but-! I don't understand the thaumaturgy involved and it isn't me going through it. It's you. If, having heard all of the information that we have, you decide that it's not worth the risk, that's your decision. I'll just nod and carry on. We'll still be closer to our goal.
"
And I mean that. I really don't understand the explanation that Hecate started with, not in any detail. It turns out that Hephaestus's concern about dissolving in the power was entirely valid. Using the default version of the binding spell that could actually happen. However, with the ring and the Spear, Hecate had other options.
At the
safest level, we have the 'constant gradual drain' option. Using the ring as a moderating influence, Hephaestus would literally just use it as a booster when he needed it. He would actually have to use spells to expand his abilities and insight, not just to increase his power output.
At the mid-level, we can directly empower him up to his maximum… 'Stretch' level. That
could go wrong, but it
almost certainly wouldn't. Once he acclimatised to his new size, we could repeat the process up to his new 'stretch' level, and so on until… Well, most likely until the titan embryo loses coherency and we have to wait for it to re-emerge. The upside is that it would increase Hephaestus's innate power. He'd be able to just
do stuff, and his instinct for modern technology would increase. Not to the level of an actual God of Technology, but somewhat. Getting to full power would probably take… A few months, though, and might take even longer. And it might well not
ever get him to the point where he could fight Zeus.
And then there's option three. Conceptual unbinding. On the up side, it would result in him becoming a full-on God of Technology, far more powerful than even the most optimistic result of option two. It would be faster too; we could be out of here this afternoon. It's also…
Technically safer than option two, in the sense that it's virtually impossible that it would kill him.
But.
But it essentially involved chirurgically pulling his brain apart, sticking more brain in between the parts and sewing the whole thing back up and hoping that his mind still functions.
Maybe. Hecate was losing patience with me when she came up with
that explanation.
"When you fought the Lord of Order, Nabu." I nod. "Did you consider using the Ophidian's power?"
"Considered and dismissed. Too much risk to Mister Zatara.
"
"When you first bonded with her, then. The illusion world. If it had been real, would you have done it?"
"I
did do it. Remember, I thought that it was real. And I didn't think I'd still exist afterwards.
"
"Would you do it again?"
"It's not really the same thing.
"
"So, yes."
"But look how my social skills have improved. Uh?
" I sigh.
"Look… If it were me, I wouldn't be-. I'm not
sure whether I'd go for two or three. I put on this ring in the knowledge that it would
probably change my character, but I always
could take it off. I let the Ophidian in, but that was in a desperate situation and I don't live like that most of the time. The one time I absorbed a lot of demon magic and became ruthlessly utilitarian, I didn't like the person I became. But I can't make that kind of decision for you.
"
"No."
I shrug.
"I want you to take this power to smack Zeus down, free Diana and advance the cause of the technological revolution with your new power. But those are
my goals. What do
you want?
"
"The same. To smack Zeus down.
Ares too. To walk without
limping for the first time in more years than I care to think about."
"But
you want to be the one walking.
"
"That I do."
"Well… Is there any more information you need in order to make a decision?
"
"Yes, and I'm waiting for a response from the person I asked."
Oh.
"Because you, Orange Lantern, are the last person to go to for the voice of moderation."
…
"Thought I was… Fairly moderate just there…
"
"I
know. Ah." He stands up as… An owl swoops down, landing on the top of a nearby low diving board. "Here she is."
I'm bowing even as Athena sort of..
blurs back into a humanoid form.
"
Phaeste."
"Thena."
"My Lady.
"
"And my champion's
headache. I have learned something of your nature from her prayers. Rise."
I straighten up. There's… Actually a fairly strong resemblance between Diana and-. Well, this avatar of Athena. I suppose that it's not really too surprising that a people as militant as the Amazons would base their ideal of youthful beauty on their war goddess, but her statues on the surface make it a good deal less obvious.
"Do you intend to pay Hecate's price?"
"Not up to me.
"
Hephaestus raises his right hand. "If this is about your mother, we were already planning on freeing her."
Athena nods. "Then I will use my own magic to ensure that your mind remains whole during the process of elevating you."
He nods. "You think the third choice is best, then? Complete unbinding?"
"I think that if we want any relevancy as a pantheon that we will need to be led by a god who is both interested in the world and appealing to mortals. A God of Technology is certainly relevant; your holy day is being observed by mortal artificers even though their skills are outside of your domain. And you have remained better connected to the world than most. Tell me that this is not what you want."
"I can't, because it
is."
"Then embrace this opportunity. Become something greater than you are."
He nods, then turns back towards Hecate's house.
"Then let's do this."
