Holodeck Herc – Slaying the Nemean Lion, Part 1

Posted on 03 Oct 2015 @ 2:24am by Commander Terry Walsh

853 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Rude Awakening
Location: USS Black Hawk, Deck 2, Holosuite 1
Timeline: MD 3, 0800

Terry had been in the ship’s holo-deck trying something new since about 0730 this morning. One of the shop owners on the station talked him into buying his first two holonovels yesterday. Terry wasn’t that much of a reader, but he thought he might like the idea of interacting with the characters since he was a people-person. The holonovels he bought were entitled The Twelve Labors of Hercules and The Twelve Labors: A Modern Adaptation. The shop owner was vague about the storyline, only saying that a man of Terry’s stature would enjoy them. But to get the full effect, he would need to play them in order. The sequel, having been written by a twenty-third century author, would be better understood that way.

Terry, or Hercules in the holonovel, had been purified by King Thespius and finished his conversation with Pythia, the Oracle of Delphi. She had instructed him to go to Tiryns and serve his cousin king Eurystheus for twelve years, performing whatever labours or tests the king would set before him. In return, Hercules would be rewarded with immortality and take his rightful place among the gods. Terry, who experienced all that late last night, was having a great time so far. He really liked this idea of playing the demigod Hercules, especially with the outfit that was replicated for his adventures.

Now, he was standing in the throne room, about to find out some interesting news that could perhaps change the way things unfolded. “The mighty Hercules graces my presence. Tell me cousin, how fairs the son of Zeus?” asked Eurystheus. The king never rose from his throne.

“I am well, king Eurystheus,” replied Terry. He could have sworn he heard sarcasm in the king’s voice. Something’s not quite right here, he thought.

“Do not take me for a fool, Hercules!” exclaimed the king, standing as he continued. “You have always wanted my throne! Zeus may have intended it for you, but Hera gave it to me! It is mine and you will not take it by force! Guards! Guards!” Royal guards came pouring into the spacious throne room. Some were armed with swords, some with bow and arrows, and some with spears. All were ready for battle.

“Oh for the love of Zeus,” said Terry. Now was not the time to test whether the computer had weakened his opponents physically and tactically to match his human strength and agility. But in the seconds that followed, Terry saw hesitation on the guards faces. It was this hesitation that he took full advantage of by using the mythos that surrounded Hercules.

Terry stood to his full height and put his hands on his hips. His loud, prideful laugh echoed off the walls of the throne room. “I am the mighty Hercules! You offend me, cousin, by coming to battle with old men’s staves and old women’s sewing needles!” He could see the guards visibly shaking and beginning to crouch. “If you wish to refill the ranks of your guards, continue. If you wish to know what the Oracle of Delphi has declared, stay your guards.”

The words of Pythia, the Oracle of Delphi, were regarded as those from Apollo himself. It was this that made Eurystheus sit back down and raise his hand to stay the guards. The guards lowered their weapons; however, they did not retreat from the throne room. They took up stations along the walls. “Tell me, Herucles. What says the Oracle?”

Terry never relaxed his posture. “I was instructed to come here, to Tiryns, and serve you for twelve years. The Oracle said that I was to perform whatever labors or tests you would set before me.”

“Is this true?” replied Eurystheus. “Was the mighty Hercules instructed by the Oracle of Delphi to serve me and accomplish the labors I assign?” There was no sarcasm in his statement, but surprise. Pure, unadulterated surprise. “I must have time; time to determine what you must do for me these twelve years. Go your way, Hercules. I will call for you on the morrow with the first of your tasks, son of Zeus. But before you go, tell me what this bright amulet on your chest means.”

Terry had forgotten to remove his combadge from the costume’s shirt before he activated the program. “Oh, uh, that is a talisman given to me by Athena, goddess of wisdom and warfare.”

Right about then, his combadge chirped. "Kos to Walsh. My meeting is over. Want to join me back on the surface? I've still got the room."

King Eurystheus exclaimed, “The voice of the goddess Athena speaks from her talisman!”

Terry smiled big and replied, “Indeed, it is the voice of the goddess Athena. Computer, freeze program and give me an arch.” After it appeared, he walked over and responded to the Commander. “Sure Commander. I’ll meet you down there. Gonna be a few minutes, though.”

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