"I set the controls to random." he tells me. "Anywhere in time or space."
We suddenly come to a stop. "Where are we?" I ask.
"Hmm.. Ancient Greece by the readings. Athens, I'm supposing."
I open the door of the TARDIS. Outside are the streets of Athens. At the top of a large hill is the Parthenon. Several people are gathered outside of the TARDIS, bowing down. "Praise to the goddess Athena." they chant.
My god they think I'm Athena. "And the god Ares. The gods of war have come to us in our time of need."
The Peloponnesian War. Of course. I can't let them down, though. They'll think their gods don't exist. I look at the Doctor. He nods.
"Shall I lead you to the Parthenon, my god and goddess?" asks one of the men.
"Yeah. That'd be great, thanks." the Doctor says. We follow the man to the Parthenon. When we get inside, the main focus is 20 some foot tall statue of Athena. You know, we kind of do look a lot alike.
I stand directly under the statue. "Wow." I whisper. Suddenly, golden coloured dust swirls around me. I'm lifted off my feet. I'm spun around and stopped. I look down. I'm in a flowing white dress. I have a golden helmet on my head and golden shoes on my feet. I look down at the Doctor, who gasps. "I am Athena." I whisper. I'm holding a spear and a shield. I'm gently let down on the ground.
The Goddess of wisdom and war. Why couldn't I see it? Of course! But how? My dad's not Zeus. My mum's not Metis. So how the hell am I Athena? Time's screwed up. I stand still and turn my head toward the man. "Tell the people I am ready for war." he runs off.
The Doctor just stares at me in amazement. "I'm still Alice." I tell him. "Call me Alice."
"Of course." he smiles and runs under the statue, where he is lifted into the air as well. He's put into a Greek warrior's uniform. "And I'm.. Ares? Alright...?" he seems unsure.
We walk out of the Parthenon where thousands of Athenians are crowding around the steps. They make a path for us to walk down.
We line up in front of the warriors that are ready to go to battle. "Allons-y!" says the Doctor and we take off in an organized block. The Doctor turns to look at me. "You be careful."
"I'll be fine. But you be careful as well, Doctor."
"Alright." We march into battle. Suddenly, we come to a halt. About 30 yards from us is the Spartan army. We stand still for a moment. The Doctor's hair trembles in the wind and my dress flows behind me. "Are you ready?" he asks me.
"People are going to die, aren't they?"
"That's what people do."
I sigh. "People of Sparta. I am Athena." I shout. "I will protect the city of Athens to all ends. Surrender now or face the death of your people."
"You're not Athena." one of the Spartans spit. "Just another one of those loons!"
"Go." I tell the Athenians.
They rush past me and into the Spartan crowd. I watch as people are impaled. I get a little nauseous. The Doctor holds my head. "Are you alright?" he asks me, as the people behind us are battling.
I look at him seriously. I have to. He understands that. I break away from his arms and run into the battle scene. The Spartans are beating us mostly. I see at least 20 of our people already impaled. I run to the center of the battle where there is a sort of clearing. A Spartan man runs toward me. I stick my spear out toward him and he runs straight into it.
I stick the spear in the ground and the Spartans watch as their leader slides down the handle of the spear.
"We surrender, you're powerfullness! We surrender! Please, sign this treaty! We'll be peaceful and not attack the city of Athens again. Please do not kill us." says one man.
I sign the treaty and walk off with the Doctor. The Athenians follow and the Spartans mourn over the death of their leader. I walk up to the Parthenon and under the statue of Athena. This time, red dust circles me and I'm lifted into the air once again and put back on the ground. I'm back in my old clothing. The Doctor does the same.
"Imposters!" screams one of the Athenians. "Bloody imposters!" he charges towards us with a knife. "I'll kill yeh! Claimin' to be one of the gods! You aughta be ashamed of yerselfs!"
Suddenly Athena's statue moves. It's a stone sound sort of like two stones being scraped against eachother. The statue sits on its knees. The man is paralyzed. Her eyes open.
She grabs my hand and shakes it. "Thank you, Alice." says the goddess. I'm not Athena, but her soul was in me. Helping me.
"Citizen of Athens. The one accusing of imposters?"
"Yes?"
"I will grant you one wish."
"I- I wish to become wealthy." says the man.
She grants his wish, but the gold is poisonous. "What did you do that for?" asks the Doctor.
"He's has done many crimes, it was much easier to catch him off guard. He once committed sacrilage in this temple. So now he is punished." she says. "Desire is what causes all suffering."
"Doctor?" I ask.
"Yeah, Alice?"
"We should-"
"EXTERMINATE EXTERMINATE" the sound eradicates through the temple.
"Run." I continue.
