Suddenly in a flash and puff of clouds the three Goddesses where engulfed in smoke. As they disappeared back to wherever they had come from, flames and fanfare erupted! Tate watched in fascination and horror as the entire room filled with the misty thick smoke and from the veil a figure began to emerge.
"Who has called upon Hera, Queen of the Gods?!?!!" Bellowed the voice, like a thousand bells. Sweet and threatening at the same time!
Hera emerged from the receding smoke, her beauty paled even that of the three buxom babelicious Goddesses she had just replaced. She had a haughty air to her and her hips swayed lusciously as she commandingly walked toward Tate.
"It is I, uh Marcus Tate..." Tate managed to stammer out, awestruck by the Queen of the Gods.
He suddenly remembered his manners and bowed low, hopeing that maybe he could please her in some way so she wouldn't kill him.
"So, you're the mortal that called me?" Hera said with a raised eyebrow. "Well mortal, to what do you owe this great pleasure of my prescence?"
Tate composed himself a little bit, he had to make this good. "Oh great Goddess, I humbly called you in the hopes that you could rescue a friend of mine..."
"Let me guess," Interjected the Goddess, "My husband has taken your wife and you want me to get her back for you?"
"Uh, well sort of... she's not my wife... we're just co-workers." Tate managed to stammer out, surprised at her accuracy.
"Don't look too surprised human, it's not the first time Zeus has done this." Hera stated flatly, "Well, I suppose I will aid you in your quest to bring back your 'co-worker.'" Hera smiled, then her face turned stern. "But in return, I expect that temple built in my glory! Plus mortal, you must recruit for me a legion of loyal followers!"
Without thinking Tate rose to his feet, "Done and done Goddess! Please help me save Fiana!"
Hera's relatively benine nature suddenly turned cold. "How dare you rise to an immortal?!?! As if we were equals!" she roared!
Then, as suddenly as it had come, the mood passed. Tate could have sworn he saw a sly grin cross her face, before the Goddess grew stern again.
"Since you are not accustomed to out laws I will forgive your folly mortal. Just make certain that it does not happen again!"
"Agreed!" Tate practically whispered as he fell back to the ground.
"Now know this mortal, I shall not help rescue your friend directly, but I will empower you to do it yourself."
With a wave of her hand Tate felt himself melting into the mists as they suddenly appeared and began to wrap themselves around him.
"Oh, and mortal" Said Hera as Tate disappeared, "If you do a sufficient job of humiliating my husband while rescuing your Fiana, I shall greatly reward you!"
Hera and the entire sick bay faded out of view, as Tate was completely surrounded in the mists. When they had cleared, Tate found himself...
