The Olympians Episode One: IN THE BEGINNING By Nike ********************************************************************************************* A gigantic starship launched off from a lone planet in a far away galaxy. The planet was called Olympia and it’s inhabitants, was an ancient race of humanoid beings called Olympians. For years, civil wars had torn the planet’s inhabitants into two warring forces, the Harpies, a group of Olympians who were bent on conquering the planet, and the Firebirds, the ones who were trying to stop the Harpies from taking over. But the Firebirds were outnumbered and they were losing this ongoing war. So it was decided that some of them would leave their home planet and try to replenish their supplies until they are strong enough to reclaim Olympia from the Harpies. And now they sped off in that lone shuttle, hoping that someday they will be successful in their goal. “Speed level has been finally lowered, Commander.” A young woman with long dark blue hair who was sitting at the navigation section of the Starcruiser Bridge began as she glanced at the red haired young woman at the Command Center. “Synergy reports that we have already passed the Whirl Galaxy and we’re now reaching the Milky Way Galaxy.” “Proceed then, Meteor.” the woman from the Command Center replied. Another woman with long blond hair who was sitting beside the red haired lady glanced at her right. “Do you think we did the right thing, Phoenix?” The red haired woman frowned. “I don’t like this either but you know we have no choice, Dazzler.” Phoenix sighed after some thought. “I hate to say this but were losing this battle and if we don’t get some reinforcements we will DEFINITELY lose.” She worriedly added. Meanwhile, unknown to them, another starship was stealthily tailing behind the Firebird starcruiser. It was a Harpy vessel and its main goal was to follow the Firebirds and hunt them down. “I say we BLAST them!” A black haired woman angrily shouted as the image of the Firebird craft appeared on screen. “Hecate, what are you doing?! This is our chance to get rid of those meddling Firebirds once and for all!” she added as she turned to face the woman with the long emerald green hair that sat at the ship’s Command Center. “If I were leader…” Hecate, the feared Commander of the Harpies, cut her off with a sharp glance. “But you are not the leader yet, Darkhawk, so shut UP!” she said as she stunned Darkhawk with her psionic powers. She then glanced at young woman with long straight black hair and who was sitting at the navigation section of ship. “Shadow, continue following them. I want to make sure that those fools won’t escape once we start attacking them.” Shadow nodded. “It shall be done, Commander.” Hecate narrowed her dark green eyes. “Wait until we’ve passed this starsystem’s asteroid belt before firing.” Seconds later as soon as both starships finally got out of the asteroid belt and was passing through a certain red planet… “NOW! FIRE!” Hecate commanded and the Harpy vessel started firing at the Firebird ship. WHAM! The plasma blasts struck their target, causing the Firebird craft to rock from the impact. “AAHHH!” cried everyone in the starcruiser as they held on to their positions. “Phoenix, we’re under attack!” Blast, a Firebird with shoulder-length dark blue hair shouted as she stared at the radar. Firehawk, another woman with long brown hair, nodded empathetically. “Yeah, Phoenix. It’s the Harpies, they’ve followed us!” Phoenix narrowed her eyes. “Shoot,” she cursed under her breath. “Try evasive action!” Blast nodded. “I’m trying!” She exclaimed as she steered the ship towards the blue planet. Suddenly the ship shook once more. “PHOENIX!” Meteor wailed in alarm. Phoenix glanced at her wearily. “What is it THIS time?” “The engine’s broken! I’ve lost control of the ship!” Meteor shouted as she ran toward the engine room. Phoenix cursed under her breath once more and then glanced behind her. “Centaurie, Electra,” she began at the two Firebirds who quickly stood up to see what the problem was. “Can you two fix it?” Centaurie nodded. “We’ll try.” She replied, and then grabbed Electra by the arm. “Let’s go, Electra!” she added as they hurried to the engine room. Minutes later, Meteor rushed out of the engine room. “PHOENIX!” “What is it?” Phoenix began upon seeing the worried look on her face “I got some good news and some bad news.” “What’s the good news?” “There is nothing wrong with the engines.” Meteor replied. “What’s the bad news?” Phoenix wearily added. “The blue planet’s gravitational force is too strong!” Meteor exclaimed. “We’re gonna crash!” “HOLD ON!” Burning from the extreme heat, the ship reached the Earth’s atmosphere and crashed through a lone extinct volcano in the middle of a secluded area. But thought it was impossible for it to fly, the ship’s main computer, Synergy, wasn’t damaged by the crash. Immediately after impact, it had shifted to redesign the place as a base for operations, using the vast space inside the extinct volcano. The next day, the Firebirds, finding themselves marooned and nowhere to go, decided to explore the planet in pairs to see if the world that they landed on had any inhabitants. “Isn’t this place, wonderful?” said Psyche romantically as she stared at the peaceful surroundings. “This planet reminds me of our own world before the wars.” Surefire nodded as the two of them strolled beside a riverbed. “Yeah, me too.” He added. “Alone, with no one to see us…” Psyche smiled and glanced at her partner. “And?” she prodded. Surefire moved in closer. “No one to bother us.” He continued. “No one.” He was just about to kiss Psyche on the lips when suddenly… SPLASH! “SIRENE! SIRYN!” the two angrily yelled in unison, soaking wet as they glared at the two Firebird sirens laughing at them by the riverbank. Siryn chuckled as she struggled to control her laughter. “Just thought you’d like to cool things a little, seeing that you two were starting to get steamy.” She and Sirene burst out into loud guffaws once more. “Get it, steamy?” “Why you…” Psyche began angrily as she used her psi-powers to hurl riverbed stones at the two. “Hey! Whoa! We surrender!” laughed Sirene as she tried to shield herself from the small rocks. “Cut it out, we were only having fun!” Surefire’s face darkened and was about to say something when suddenly a huge shadow loomed overhead. “What the-?!” he began in surprise as he looked up. Harpies! “Everyone!” he ordered. “Take cover!” he added as they all hid to avoid discovery. Psyche frowned as they watched them pass by in the air. “How did they follow us?” Surefire shrugged. “Who knows? Come on; let’s tell Phoenix about this. Those Harpies are probably up to no good.” He frowned as he activated his wrist-communicator. “Hey, Phoenix. Can you hear me?” he promptly asked. “Loud and clear, Surefire.” Phoenix answered back from the base. “What is it?” “It’s the Harpies, Phoenix, we’ve spotted them heading towards west of our location.” Surefire reported. “Shall we follow them to investigate what they are doing?” There was a slight pause and then Phoenix replied. “Yes, but don’t take any rash actions yet. We’ll be there soon.” She paused again. “And Surefire?” “Yes?” “Be careful, if Hecate is there it could be dangerous if you and the others were to attack alone.” She warned. “Don’t worry, we’ll be fine.” Surefire responded and then faced the others. “Okay, people. Let’s follow them.” Sirene and Siryn both looked around uneasily. “Do we have to?” Siryn asked uncertainly. “NOW!” Surefire growled. “Okay, okay,” Siryn muttered audibly. “Sheesh, what a grouch!” “Siryn and I will take the water route, you and Psyche take the land route.” Sirene suggested, diving back into the water with Siryn close behind. “Fine,” Surefire wearily said as he watched them go. Minutes later… “Mom, who ARE those people?” Alex asked miserably to her mother from the energy ring that held them prisoner. “I don’t know, I don’t know…” Andrea replied absently, hugging her daughter fearfully. At that moment, the Harpies were turning the energy taken from the geothermal power plant into prismite, a kind of energy solidified into crystalline form, so that they could carry it easily back to their base. “Hah! I didn’t know that these so-called humans were weaklings.” Viciously, Darkhawk began as she glanced at the humans imprisoned in the energy cage. “Oh yeah, and what about you? You muscle-brained bimbo!” Alex demanded. “A bimbo?! You are going to pay for that remark, brat!” Darkhawk, drawing out a laser blaster, snarled at Alex. Meanwhile, Surefire, Psyche, Sirene and Siryn were watching the whole scene from the shadows. “That’s it! I can’t stand seeing Darkhawk about to throttle a kid. I’m making my move!” Siryn announced as she got up and moved in closer. “Wait, Siryn! Don’t!” Psyche tried to stop her in vain. She then radioed for help. “Phoenix, we need back up now.” “We’re on our way.” Phoenix confirmed. At that moment, Siryn let out an ear-splitting wail that quickly knocked out Darkhawk unconscious and disintegrated the energy cage at a molecular level. She then laughed and then stepped into view. “Sometimes you really have to raise your voice to be heard out here.” She began as she looked down at the downed Harpy. She then glanced at Alex and the other imprisoned humans. “Hey kid, get out now. I’ll handle them.” “Who are you?” Alex asked mystified. “We’re friends,” Psyche replied as she created a psychic force field to shield her and her mother from the Harpy fire that immediately ensued. “Get to safety! Now!” “Firebirds…” Hecate scowled. “Harpies, there are only four of them. Finish them off!” Surefire ran for cover from the hail of laser that came after him. “Thanks a lot, Siryn.” He sarcastically began at her.” Siryn gave him an innocent look. “What!? I had to do SOMETHING!” Psyche weakened under the force of plasma fire that now rained on her psychic shield. “Where’s Phoenix?” she whispered, half to herself. “She ought to be here by now.” “Who’s Phoenix?” Alex asked nervously behind Psyche. Suddenly, a beam of light shot out from the sky, lasting for a few minutes. When it disappeared, there were the Firebirds, led by Phoenix, the commander of the Firebirds. “Firebirds! Attack!” Phoenix shouted as they started attacking the Harpies. Psyche’s face brightened upon seeing the Firebird commander. “Phoenix! Am I glad to see you!” she began as Phoenix moved in beside them. “Sorry about the delay, Psyche. There were some adjustments that needed to be made on the teleporter.” Phoenix told them as she faced the Harpies who suddenly became VERY nervous upon seeing her. Her eyes glowed golden. “Step aside. I’LL handle them.” She added as huge flaming figure shaped like a bird emerged out of her body. She held out her hands and geysers of fire emerge out of them, forcing the Harpies to move back. “We’re being out numbered! Get all the crystals you can carry and return to base!” Hecate ordered, retreating along with the Harpies. Few minutes later, the Firebirds finally finished repairing the damages caused by the Harpies… “Who are you?” Andrea incredulously began at them. “We’re the Firebirds, we came from a distant planet called Olympia. The ones that you faced earlier are also from our planet and they are called Harpies.” Phoenix explained. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Cole. We didn’t mean to cause trouble for your kind.” She added, apologetically. Andrea blinked in surprise. “You know my name?” Phoenix shrugged. “I’m a telepath. I can read people’s minds. By the way, I’m called Phoenix, commander of the Firebirds.” “How did you do those fires, and is something wrong with your eyes?” Andrea asked curiously. Phoenix ‘s shoulders suddenly stiffened. “About my abilities, I guess its just the effect of a cosmic force bonded to my body.” She replied blandly. “Now, about my eyes, I prefer not to discuss about this.” She flatly said, leaving. “Huh?” Andrea began in surprise. “She’s a bit sensitive, don’t you think?” a voice suddenly spoke up from behind her. Andrea turned and saw that it was that blond woman who did the lightshows earlier that had spoken up. “Oh, yeah, I’m Dazzler,” she began, shaking Andrea’s hand. “Second-in commander of the Firebirds. Pleased to meet you….” “Andrea Cole,” Andrea replied. “Same here.“ She then glanced back at Phoenix’s retreating figure. “Why are her eyes so…” “Different?” Dazzler finished for her. “As Phoenix’s best friend, I’m not supposed to tell. It’s something that just happened to her a few decades ago.” “That made her look like that?” Andrea ventured. Dazzler looked uneasy. “Probably, yes.” She then shrugged. “Don’t worry, it usually takes some time before her eyes turn back to normal after using her powers.” Andrea frowned. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry on her like that.” Dazzler smiled. “Don’t let it bother you. Phoenix doesn’t hold grudges for log.” She assured her. Later… “Phoenix, I must talk to you.” Andrea began as she approached the Firebird commander. Phoenix frowned and them turned to face her. “Oh, Mrs. Cole. What is it?” “Andrea,” Andrea corrected her. “I just want to say that I’m sorry if I offended you.” Phoenix relaxed a little. “It’s all right. That was perfectly understandable.” “May I know why you came here on this planet?” Andrea asked dubiously. Phoenix shook her head. “We didn’t. We were pulled by your planet’s gravity accidentally. You could say that we are now marooned here for now.” She shrugged. “I supposed it’s the same for the Harpies.” Days later, inside the Firebird base, Alex had just received a writ teleporter from Centaurie. “Mom, look!” Alex began as she ran to show it off to her mother. “How nice…er, what is it?” Andrea asked as she examined the watch–like wristband. “It’s a teleporter.” Answered Centaurie, entering the hall. “It can teleport you to anywhere in the globe whenever you need to.” She added, giving Andrea an identical wristband. “It looks like a wristwatch.” Andrea began after a while. “Exactly. It wasn’t supposed to look suspicious at all. It even has a built in communication system connected to the computer if you ever need to ask for help.” Centaurie replied proudly. “Hi Centaurie, I trust you gave them the teleporters.” Phoenix began as she stepped into the hall. “Yeah, Centaurie did.” Andrea said brightly. “Look I got to go back to the power plant. I’m going to be late.” “Why don’t use the teleporter?” Centaurie blurted out. “How does this work?” Andrea asked, looking at the buttons. “Just write the place. Our Computer will do the rest.” Centaurie explained. “Thanks,” Andrea replied and then teleported out. “You know what, Centaurie?” grinned Alex. “What, Alex?” Centaurie asked. “I have a feeling that the Firebirds are to remain here on Earth for a looong time” After many more years… Alex wrote in her diary while sitting on a nearby cliff, and watched the preparations of a shuttle launch nearby. “Hey Alex! We’re to launch off in an hour!” Phoenix called after her below the cliff. “Just a minute!” Alex shouted back and then wrote once more in her diary. She added then Alex signed her name and closed her diary.