Sometime in the 20th century, Ethan Link, a mortal who was the son of Zeus, was trying to make the first computer.  Ethan was a thirty-year-old American inventor and scientist.  He had been blessed by Zeus at a young age with a keen mind, but he was also cursed by Hera with a prideful and arrogant spirit.  Ethan had always been envious of Hephaestus, the god of fire and metalworking, for his skill and craftsmanship.  Little did Ethan know that Hephaestus was planning to sabotage his attempt to invent a device that would steal people's attention from the things that Hephaestus ruled over: fire, metalworking, masonry, forges, and sculpting.  Hephaestus realized though that his attempt would fail, so he decided to try to make the first computer.   He wanted the fame and glory.  Since Ethan was a demigod, he challenged Hephaestus to see who could make it to the computer finish line first.  This made Hephaestus very angry.  How dare a mere mortal challenge a god?  Hephaestus wanted to vaporize Ethan, but he knew if he did, he would face Zeus's wrath.  Hephaestus did not want to risk Zeus retaliating against him and killing one of his children or worse - stripping him of his godliness. 

 

     To Hephaestus's horror, Ethan crossed the finish line first.  His computer was simple on the outside but complex on the inside.  First, people were hesitant about this new invention.  But they soon embraced it because they enjoyed having knowledge at their fingertips.  Hephaestus's fears came true – people started spending their time on their computers and not making things.  He became overwhelmed with rage, especially after he found out that Zeus had made Ethan a god.  Ethan's new name was Techno – the god of Technology.  A new era had begun.

 

     Fast forward to 2024.  Since the invention of the computer, Hephaestus had been secretly hacking and attacking the internet.  But he always failed to do any real and permanent damage – until the day that he came up with a brilliant idea.  It took him a few months, but he built a supercomputer whose sole job was to destroy the internet.  Unfortunately, Techno had no idea of what was coming until it was too late.  Hephaestus's supercomputer collapsed the internet and caused the world to plunge into chaos.  Businesses shut down.  Countries threatened war against one another.  It was like the whole world had stopped.  

 

     Zeus called an emergency meeting of the gods in the throne room because he knew that only a god could cause so much chaos.  He asked which one of them had done such a thing.  No one answered him.  After a long pause, Zeus said, "Techno, come forth.  Who would do this?"

 

     Techno scanned the room and answered, "My lord, I believe it was Hephaestus."  

 

     Zeus shouted, "Hephaestus!  Was it you?"

 

     Hephaestus nodded and grinned wickedly.  Zeus exclaimed, "Why would you do this?"

 

     Hephaestus answered, "I did this because of you and Techno.  You blessed him Zeus with the ability to invent the computer and he took all the attention away from all of the things that I rule over, the things that are useful in life.  I have wanted revenge ever since.  If this destroys the world, so be it." 

 

     "We can just destroy your supercomputer Hephaestus," said Techno.

    

     "You're too late," said Hephaestus.  It is set to self-destruct and take down the internet permanently in five, four, three, two, one."  Just then, a huge explosion rocked the throne room.

 

     "Techno," Zeus said, "See if it's true."

 

     Techno answered, "It's true my lord."  He thought though that he might be able to access hidden files that Hephaestus had not destroyed to get the internet back online.

 

     "How long will that take?" Zeus asked.

 

     Hermes interrupted, "There's not much time.  China is launching forty nuclear missiles on America in one hour.  World War III is about to begin."

 

     Hephaestus laughed.  "You're too late.  You'll never stop this.  World War III will happen."

 

     "I won't stop them.  But you will!" shouted Zeus.   Zeus locked Hephaestus inside a missile and primed it for launch.  An hour later, Hephaestus launched and intercepted the bombs, which stopped World War III.  Techno was able to get the internet back online using the hidden files and was seen as a hero for averting the crisis.  Sadly though, some bad computer-genius mortals figured out how the internet was hacked and followed in Hephaestus's footsteps.   Hephaestus, who had survived, was pleased.  The cyberattacks that he had created would continue...