Puss In Bytes

Unworshipped, most of the old gods have died off, or live an attenuated existence on the manna that drifts into Allhome from the undirected spiritual yearnings of twenty-first century mortals. Messenger godling Iris, however, has managed not only to survive by being useful, but also to upgrade herself to Communications Goddess, becoming patron of computer users in particular. But before she can become securely established, her position is sabotaged by the upstart new god Hacker, who has been created by the enthusiasm of computer vandals. At a loss over how to defend herself against this vermin, Iris turns to her friend Pakht, the Cat Goddess, who is an expert in exterminating vermin. Pakht has spent the past thousand years away from Earth, so she is largely unfamiliar with the modern world. But she agrees to help Iris, partly out of the desire to be useful and thus prolong her own existence. Pakht locates Hacker by issuing a challenge through a recording angel. Hacker counter-challenges Pakht and Iris, proposing a deadly game: if they can discover and stop his latest secret Project to induce chaos on Earth, while spending the next ten days living on Earth without benefit of power drawn from Allhome, he will tacitly admit the old gods are not utter has-beens, and will pay the forfeit of providing anti-virus protection. If they lose, he will take all their remaining manna — in effect, their lives.