Chapter 10 - Callisto in Illusia: Scene 10


                                                   Callisto in Illusia
                                                        by Volpone

                                                          Scene 10:


          Things were fairly normal the next morning. Though they were all aware that things weren't
exactly the same, the behavior of the three was much as before.
          A little before noon that day, they arrived at the temple of Athena.
          Unlike so many of the temples of the Greek gods, it seemed that Athena went in for less
ostentatious surroundings than some of her kin. Simple fluted pillars of creamy marble lined the short
hall that lead to the structure's central dome. Under the dome was a plain, clean block of pale stone.
          "Well," asked Fionn, "what so we do now? I'm not current on the most recent god-summoning
techniques."
          Gabrielle said, "Here... let me try." She took the owl amulet from him and placed it atop the altar
next to some flowers and fruit that were already there. They waited a moment, but nothing happened.
          "Sometimes, breaking things gets their attention," remarked Xena helpfully.
          "I think I'll hold that in reserve, if you don't mind." He waited a moment more, then called out,
"Lady Athena! I know not why you've sent for me, but I'm here! Will you grace us with your presence?"
          In a flash, there stood the tall, dark-haired Goddess of Wisdom.
          "Fionn MacCumhail, blessed of Brigid, champion of Eire, I am here."
          He hadn't known what to expect, but it was quite unexpected for a Goddess of Wisdom to be so
beautiful as well. He bowed deeply, and she smiled.
          "What would you of me, my lady?"
          "I see why Brigid favors you. Intelligent, handsome, strong, and manners as well."
          Xena cleared her throat.
          The goddess came back to the business at hand. "Ah... yes. Perhaps we should summon the
others as well."
          Suddenly, three more deities appeared in the room.
          "Can we hurry this along?" groused Ares. "I've got a battle in Thrace on hold."
          Apollo yawned and looked put out.
          "Who's the new stud-muffin?" Aphrodite asked.
          "Fionn MacCumhail, at your service, lady." He bowed, and Gabrielle glowered.
          "Ooh, I love a man with an accent!" cooed the goddess. "And speaking of services..."
          Athena broke in before Gabrielle could.
          "Callisto has discovered something which can spell ruin for us all. My brother can explain."
          Without rising from his relaxed posture against the altar, Apollo said, "Two days ago, Callisto
visited my Oracle at Delphi. Last time she went, she tried to kill the Oracle and blame it on Xena. This
time, instead of kicking butt, she asked a question... 'What about the Tree of Life would cause the gods
to mourn?' The Oracle has no choice but to speak the truth. She told Callisto that, 'The death of the Tree
will cause the gods to mourn, for with it passes all mankind.'"
          Gabrielle interrupted. "Wait a minute. I thought she had already destroyed the Tree of Life."
          "She destroyed one Tree," explained Athena, "but Gaea is wise. She had hidden the first Tree...
the original... much better than its offspring."
          Apollo looked bored. "Have I done my bit? Have I been a good boy?"
          "And what of Artemis' contribution?"
          "Sis says that according to her calculations as Moon Goddess, the site of the cavern must be
somewhere on the eastern side of Mt. Pireas."
          Ares put in, "Artemis doesn't know a thing about astronomy. It's an honorary thing with her. She
probably got the information from Urania."
          Apollo didn't come to his sisters defense.
          "Are we through?"
          "Yes, brother, I'm sure we can manage from here."
          "Later." He vanished without another word.
          Athena unfolded the tale for them. Gaea, the Earth Mother, had created the Tree of Life and
bound all mortal life to it. She had then secreted it away in a virtually inaccessible place, and locked it
away from the gods completely, lest one should, in a fit of anger, destroy all life without hope of return.
          "She sealed it in a cavern which can only be opened under certain very specific conditions."
          She took a scroll from the altar and read.
          "'Only two women mortal born can open the portal when the bearded star touches the peak of
Olympus. Only then will the Tree which holds mankind in its branches again be seen by man.'" She
returned the scroll. "The one Callisto destroyed was a cutting taken thousands of years ago, so that the
benefits of the Tree's power could spread. But now she knows of the original, and plans to destroy it, and
with it all life."
          "Why?" asked Fionn.
          Xena knew. "Because she's insane. She started out just wanting to hurt me for my army
destroying her village and family. But she became immortal by eating ambrosia, and now she hates all
life. To her, the greater the suffering, the better."
          "She wishes to share her pain with the whole world." He nodded.
          Ares nodded. "No one to wage war. No one to make love. No one to learn. We're all
permanently unemployed if she succeeds."
          "Nice attitude, helmet-head!" Aphrodite sounded miffed. "Mankind is gone, but the important
thing is to keep you in a job. Jeez! I mean mondo bogus."
          "Just looking out for Number One."
          Xena was suspicious. "So why the whole Olympian Breakfast Club? Why are you all involved?"
          "And, if you don't mind, how might if involve me? Other than as a potential victim if this
Callisto succeeds," asked Fionn.
          "You," replied Athena, "are my champion."
          "Just like Xena's mine," added Ares.
          A voice from the entry said, "And I'm here at the request of Zeus."
          As they turned, Hercules strode into the chamber.
          "Hey, baby bro'!" called Aphrodite.
          Ares growled.
          "Hello, Aphrodite." He greeted the others in turn and was introduced to Fionn.
          Athena continued. "The Oracle revealed that the gods must remain uninvolved, but the more that
contribute something to the quest, the greater our chances of success. Apollo contributed the Oracle's
words, and Artemis the location of the chamber. Ares chooses Xena as his representative, as Zeus has
chosen Hercules, and with Brigid's permission, I have chosen you." She looked pointedly at Aphrodite.
          "Hey, my guy will be here any minute," explained the love goddess.
          "And the others have said they will help as they are needed."
          "But we can't wait any longer." Xena was impatient where her nemesis was concerned.
"Callisto's got a good head start already."
          Fionn said, "Then let us figure what her plan is and prevent her from putting it to action."
          Xena observed, "Easier said than done. We don't know how she'll strike, or even when. She
won't just wait at the chamber. She'll have something up her sleeve. The fact that she's immortal and can
toss lightning around doesn't make it any easier."
          "All right." Fionn turned to Athena. "The scroll said 'two women mortal born'. That means this
Callisto will need help... and no goddesses allowed unless she was once mortal herself. Now, who might
she know who would survive the destruction of the Tree, and be daft enough to wish to do it?"
          After a few moments silence, Gabrielle answered, "Valesca."
          Xena shook her head. "She'd be perfect, but she's trapped under about twenty feet of solid
volcanic rock."
          "So was Callisto, and she's out."
          Ares scoffed. "She escaped because of an earthquake. What's she gonna do? Whistle up another
earthquake?"
          This time, it was Hercules who had the answer. "Not whistle... ring. The Bell of Hephaestus can
cause an earthquake, and it hangs in his temple outside Corinth. She wouldn't care about any other
destruction it caused."
          "Okay. But what about this 'bearded star' stuff?" asked Ares.
          "Haven't you seen the comet in the night sky? How much would you care to wager it returns
every seventy-five years?"
          Fionn nodded. "It all fits. As I see it, we have four needs. One... find the chamber of the Tree
before her. We have a general location... we just need to be more exact when the time comes.
          "Two... stop Callisto from freeing this Valesca. That means stopping her from getting to the
Bell."
          Xena shook her head. "No good. You've seen how these immortals can appear wherever they
want. We'd never be able to keep her away from the Bell. We'll have to move it to someplace she can't
find it."
          "But how will the owner take to our carrying off his property?" Fionn asked in return.
          "And you haven't seen the Bell. It's not exactly something you can slip in your pocket," said the
God of War. Just because he had to cooperate didn't mean he had to be helpful.
          Hercules offered, "It sounds like I'm the best suited for that job. I'm on relatively good terms
with my uncle, and I can move it without help. He can always consider it his contribution."
          "The trick will be to move it without it ringing," Gabrielle pointed out.
          "I'll just have to be especially careful." He gave one of his boyish grins.
          Fionn picked up where he had left off. "Third, we need to open the cavern at the appointed time
so a new cutting can be take to replace the one already destroyed. A single Tree is too fragile, no matter
how well protected."
          "And that takes two women," Xena nodded. "Gabrielle and I look like the only ones here who
qualify."
          "Hey!" Aphrodite objected. "Chopped liver standing here!"
          "Two women mortal born."
          "Oh..." She dimpled nicely. "Okay."
          "And that leaves me to bell the cat," said Fionn. "Callisto will not likely sit by while we go about
undoing her plans. That means keeping her distracted."
          Xena said, "If you succeed, I'll consider our debt paid."
          "Aye. Lao Ma would consider this a fair exchange."
          Ares observed, "If he succeeds? Does the phrase 'grease spot' mean anything to you?"
          Fionn smiled in return. "I'm not so easily killed as all that. And who says I have to fight her to
distract her?"
          And he outlined what he had in mind.
