Table of Contents1
After a long trek back from the Underworld, they dropped Orpheus off at his loft on the way to Yu’s apartment. Jason tucked his exhausted friend into bed; the nymphs appeared to be long gone. “Get some rest. You did good tonight, cowboy. You did real good.” The musician was asleep in minutes.
After a long trek back from the Underworld, they dropped Orpheus off at his loft on the way to Yu’s apartment. Jason tucked his exhausted friend into bed; the nymphs appeared to be long gone. “Get some rest. You did good tonight, cowboy. You did real good.” The musician was asleep in minutes.2
As he left Orpheus’ loft and headed back to the waiting car, Jason noticed Phineas, the blind prophet, was still sitting on his corner surrounded by his army of pigeons. He couldn’t help but wander over again.
As he left Orpheus’ loft and headed back to the waiting car, Jason noticed Phineas, the blind prophet, was still sitting on his corner surrounded by his army of pigeons. He couldn’t help but wander over again.3
“How goes the quest, my young hero?” Phineas asked cheerily. He looked as emaciated as ever, yet the pigeons all looked well fed, fat, and bloated. “Have you brought me a luscious leg of lamb?” The prophet inhaled deeply, and then crinkled his nose. “You smell of death.”
“How goes the quest, my young hero?” Phineas asked cheerily. He looked as emaciated as ever, yet the pigeons all looked well fed, fat, and bloated. “Have you brought me a luscious leg of lamb?” The prophet inhaled deeply, and then crinkled his nose. “You smell of death.”4
“It’s my new aftershave,” Jason joked. “It’s a real hit with the goth chicks. Seriously, man, let me buy you something to eat.”
“It’s my new aftershave,” Jason joked. “It’s a real hit with the goth chicks. Seriously, man, let me buy you something to eat.”6
There was a street cart that sold hot dogs, soft pretzels, and the like just across the street. “Do you like hot dogs?” he asked Phineas. The old man shrugged. “I’m going to buy you a hot dog.”
There was a street cart that sold hot dogs, soft pretzels, and the like just across the street. “Do you like hot dogs?” he asked Phineas. The old man shrugged. “I’m going to buy you a hot dog.”7
Five minutes later Jason was back with two foil-wrapped half smokes. “I didn’t know what toppings you wanted, so here’s one with ketchup, mustard, and relish, and here’s another with chili and cheese.” He offered the first to the blind beggar. Phineas struggled to resist, but his empty stomach eventually won out. He reached out and snatched the hot dog out of Jason’s hand. But before he could even begin to unwrap it, the pigeons swarmed him violently. Two of the birds went directly for the food and tore it from the prophet’s hand. Once it was on the ground, the entire flock pecked at the hot dog. Within moments it was nothing but a mess of foil and condiments. Jason was shocked, but Phineas didn’t look even a little surprised or upset.
Five minutes later Jason was back with two foil-wrapped half smokes. “I didn’t know what toppings you wanted, so here’s one with ketchup, mustard, and relish, and here’s another with chili and cheese.” He offered the first to the blind beggar. Phineas struggled to resist, but his empty stomach eventually won out. He reached out and snatched the hot dog out of Jason’s hand. But before he could even begin to unwrap it, the pigeons swarmed him violently. Two of the birds went directly for the food and tore it from the prophet’s hand. Once it was on the ground, the entire flock pecked at the hot dog. Within moments it was nothing but a mess of foil and condiments. Jason was shocked, but Phineas didn’t look even a little surprised or upset.11
“Bullshit,” Jason told the man. “They’re just pigeons.” The pigeons once again assumed war formation, staring coldly at the hero, daring him to make a move.
“Bullshit,” Jason told the man. “They’re just pigeons.” The pigeons once again assumed war formation, staring coldly at the hero, daring him to make a move.12
“They are more than either of us can drive away,” the prophet told him. “It is alright. I have come to accept my fate.”
“They are more than either of us can drive away,” the prophet told him. “It is alright. I have come to accept my fate.”13
Jason, however, had not. “I’ll be right back.” He walked back over to the car where the others were waiting.
Jason, however, had not. “I’ll be right back.” He walked back over to the car where the others were waiting.16
Herk stepped out of the car and joined Jason by the trunk. They were in luck – the gear from the New Olympus Heroes Union Softball League was still back there. Jason grabbed a bat and handed another to Herk.
Herk stepped out of the car and joined Jason by the trunk. They were in luck – the gear from the New Olympus Heroes Union Softball League was still back there. Jason grabbed a bat and handed another to Herk.19
Jason took a deep breath, then let out a loud war cry and stormed back down the street. He was Jason, the hero that slew the Caledonian Boar, he could take on a few dozen bloodthirsty street birds. And if he couldn’t, Herk certainly could. One of the birds managed to make it into the air just as Jason arrived. With a full swing, Jason whacked the bird with all his might and it exploded into a dirty mist of feathery shrapnel. The other pigeons tried to mobilize, but Herk was right there by his side, swinging away. They really only had to hit four or five birds before the rest of the flock got the point, tucked their tail feathers between their little bird legs, and went waddling away.
Jason took a deep breath, then let out a loud war cry and stormed back down the street. He was Jason, the hero that slew the Caledonian Boar, he could take on a few dozen bloodthirsty street birds. And if he couldn’t, Herk certainly could. One of the birds managed to make it into the air just as Jason arrived. With a full swing, Jason whacked the bird with all his might and it exploded into a dirty mist of feathery shrapnel. The other pigeons tried to mobilize, but Herk was right there by his side, swinging away. They really only had to hit four or five birds before the rest of the flock got the point, tucked their tail feathers between their little bird legs, and went waddling away.20
“And don’t come back!” Jason yelled. He must have looked like a madman to passersby. Only one pigeon remained and he looked like the runt of the group. He stayed, but cowered in fear behind the old man.
“And don’t come back!” Jason yelled. He must have looked like a madman to passersby. Only one pigeon remained and he looked like the runt of the group. He stayed, but cowered in fear behind the old man.21
Herk was caught in a fit of laughter. “Why did we just do that?” He was usually the one prone to random fits of violence.
Herk was caught in a fit of laughter. “Why did we just do that?” He was usually the one prone to random fits of violence.22
“So I could do this,” replied Jason. He still had the second hot dog tucked safely into his jacket pocket. He revealed it and he handed it to Phineas. Herk flashed him a glance that seemed to say Do you always store food in your pockets? Phineas grabbed the hot dog, his hand shaking.
“So I could do this,” replied Jason. He still had the second hot dog tucked safely into his jacket pocket. He revealed it and he handed it to Phineas. Herk flashed him a glance that seemed to say Do you always store food in your pockets? Phineas grabbed the hot dog, his hand shaking.25
Phineas unwrapped the foil and took an apprehensive bite. One bit quickly turned into two, and a second later he was ferociously devouring the chili and cheese dog.
Phineas unwrapped the foil and took an apprehensive bite. One bit quickly turned into two, and a second later he was ferociously devouring the chili and cheese dog.27
The prophet finished and let out a monstrous belch. “That was best thing I’ve ever tasted. How can I ever repay you, Jason, son of Aeson and Chiron?”
The prophet finished and let out a monstrous belch. “That was best thing I’ve ever tasted. How can I ever repay you, Jason, son of Aeson and Chiron?”30
Jason wasn’t buying it. He knew way too much for a crazy homeless man. He either had the gift or had information. “There are more hot dogs in it for you,” the hero offered.
Jason wasn’t buying it. He knew way too much for a crazy homeless man. He either had the gift or had information. “There are more hot dogs in it for you,” the hero offered.36
“It’s four dollars. You aren’t going to break the bank here.” He handed a five to Herk. “Can you get another four dogs?”
“It’s four dollars. You aren’t going to break the bank here.” He handed a five to Herk. “Can you get another four dogs?”37
As Herk wandered back over to the street vendor, Phineas called after him, “See if they have sauerkraut! I love that stuff!” Then, turning back to Jason; “Now, where was I?”
As Herk wandered back over to the street vendor, Phineas called after him, “See if they have sauerkraut! I love that stuff!” Then, turning back to Jason; “Now, where was I?”39
Phineas nodded. “Ah, yes. Let’s start with the basics. Before any of this existed, there was the Fleece. It predates all of New Olympus and Olympus Lightning. It is a unique creature—a horned ram with a fleece made of pure gold. Some stories even say that the ram has wings.”
Phineas nodded. “Ah, yes. Let’s start with the basics. Before any of this existed, there was the Fleece. It predates all of New Olympus and Olympus Lightning. It is a unique creature—a horned ram with a fleece made of pure gold. Some stories even say that the ram has wings.”43
Phineas chided the hero. “That is where you are wrong. You know what the Fleece is now—a money-making machine for the capitalists of Olympus Lightning. They shear the ram four times a year and use the gold to fill their coffers, but that is not the Fleece’s true purpose. That is not why the ram was born.”
Phineas chided the hero. “That is where you are wrong. You know what the Fleece is now—a money-making machine for the capitalists of Olympus Lightning. They shear the ram four times a year and use the gold to fill their coffers, but that is not the Fleece’s true purpose. That is not why the ram was born.”45
“Like all of us, it was born to die.” Cryptic, yes, but the man was a prophet. Without being prodded for clarification, Phineas continued. “The Fleece was meant to be the ultimate sacrifice to the gods. A true sign of devotion from a people made to their creators. They sent it to test us and we failed.”
“Like all of us, it was born to die.” Cryptic, yes, but the man was a prophet. Without being prodded for clarification, Phineas continued. “The Fleece was meant to be the ultimate sacrifice to the gods. A true sign of devotion from a people made to their creators. They sent it to test us and we failed.”47
“The Fleece is more than a symbol; it is an actual physical manifestation of power. Whoever controls the Fleece is literally sitting on a goldmine. To sacrifice all of that is true devotion. Devotion we lacked, and so the gods left us to our own devices.” The prophet sighed. “And with the Fleece we built this city—a temple to our own materialism. The individuals that stole the Fleece want to bring that church down and replace it with something new—or maybe something old.”
“The Fleece is more than a symbol; it is an actual physical manifestation of power. Whoever controls the Fleece is literally sitting on a goldmine. To sacrifice all of that is true devotion. Devotion we lacked, and so the gods left us to our own devices.” The prophet sighed. “And with the Fleece we built this city—a temple to our own materialism. The individuals that stole the Fleece want to bring that church down and replace it with something new—or maybe something old.”48
Jason took a step back and considered all of this information. “Wow,” he finally said. The prophet beamed. Jason continued. “You don’t actually have any useful information do you?”
Jason took a step back and considered all of this information. “Wow,” he finally said. The prophet beamed. Jason continued. “You don’t actually have any useful information do you?”50
“Or I’m doomed to repeat it,” Jason finished for him. “Spare me any more cryptic clichés and bedtime stories. I mean seriously? A homeless guy lecturing me on the evils of material goods? Sorry, buddy. You’re a good con artist, with the pigeons and everything, but you overplayed your hand when you tried to convince me that the Fleece was stolen by a crew of religious fanatics looking to bring back the old ways via sheep barbeque.”
“Or I’m doomed to repeat it,” Jason finished for him. “Spare me any more cryptic clichés and bedtime stories. I mean seriously? A homeless guy lecturing me on the evils of material goods? Sorry, buddy. You’re a good con artist, with the pigeons and everything, but you overplayed your hand when you tried to convince me that the Fleece was stolen by a crew of religious fanatics looking to bring back the old ways via sheep barbeque.”53
The big man handed the prophet his payment and they headed back to the car. As they walked away, Phineas called out one more time. “This has all happened before, Jason! Do not make the same mistakes you did last time! Beware the clashing rocks!”
The big man handed the prophet his payment and they headed back to the car. As they walked away, Phineas called out one more time. “This has all happened before, Jason! Do not make the same mistakes you did last time! Beware the clashing rocks!”55
“He’s just a crazy old man,” Jason replied, frustrated. Chiron had taught him enough about the old ways to know that they had no place in modern society.
“He’s just a crazy old man,” Jason replied, frustrated. Chiron had taught him enough about the old ways to know that they had no place in modern society.56
Ace and Medea were waiting outside of the car impatiently. “Yo, you should have let me wail on those birds too, cus. I would have rocked that shit!”
Ace and Medea were waiting outside of the car impatiently. “Yo, you should have let me wail on those birds too, cus. I would have rocked that shit!”57
“Ace, stop calling me ‘cus,’” Jason replied wearily. “And stop talking like you’re some thug from the hood. You’re a rich kid from Elysian Plains.”
“Ace, stop calling me ‘cus,’” Jason replied wearily. “And stop talking like you’re some thug from the hood. You’re a rich kid from Elysian Plains.”58
Ace looked like Jason had kicked his puppy and ground it into sausage meat. “Thug ain’t a background, it’s a state of mind, yo,” he muttered under his breath.
Ace looked like Jason had kicked his puppy and ground it into sausage meat. “Thug ain’t a background, it’s a state of mind, yo,” he muttered under his breath.59
Jason ignored him. It was time to get back to real leads based on real evidence. He pointed at the brownstone just down the street. “That’s Yu Phemus’ apartment building?”
Jason ignored him. It was time to get back to real leads based on real evidence. He pointed at the brownstone just down the street. “That’s Yu Phemus’ apartment building?”60
Medea nodded. “We’ve been staking it out since you decided to go off and run your errands.” The excitement in her voice at the words “staking out” sounded inversely proportional to her obvious disdain at his distractions. “No one has come in or out in the last twenty minutes.”
Medea nodded. “We’ve been staking it out since you decided to go off and run your errands.” The excitement in her voice at the words “staking out” sounded inversely proportional to her obvious disdain at his distractions. “No one has come in or out in the last twenty minutes.”61
There was a low rumble at the other end of the street—the noise came from a half dozen figures on motorcycles. They pulled up and parked in front of the selfsame brownstone. “Way to jinx it,” Herk commented wryly. He squinted, trying to get a better look in the darkness. “Hey, Jason, doesn’t that bike look familiar?”
There was a low rumble at the other end of the street—the noise came from a half dozen figures on motorcycles. They pulled up and parked in front of the selfsame brownstone. “Way to jinx it,” Herk commented wryly. He squinted, trying to get a better look in the darkness. “Hey, Jason, doesn’t that bike look familiar?”62
Jason inspected the bike from afar. It was a leopard print adorned sports bike—one of a kind. “Shit,” he swore. “Amazons. Everybody get behind the car.” The figure on the bike removed her helmet and revealed a head of short, spiky red hair. She snapped her fingers and the other five figures dismounted from their bikes and headed toward the apartment building.
Jason inspected the bike from afar. It was a leopard print adorned sports bike—one of a kind. “Shit,” he swore. “Amazons. Everybody get behind the car.” The figure on the bike removed her helmet and revealed a head of short, spiky red hair. She snapped her fingers and the other five figures dismounted from their bikes and headed toward the apartment building.63
“Aren’t they a little far from their territory?” Herk asked as he ducked behind the car with the rest of the team. The Amazons, like most of the New Olympus gangs, rarely left the anarchy of the Underworld.
“Aren’t they a little far from their territory?” Herk asked as he ducked behind the car with the rest of the team. The Amazons, like most of the New Olympus gangs, rarely left the anarchy of the Underworld.64
“Pardon the new gal in town, but who is that?” asked Medea, pointing to the redheaded woman; she was the obvious leader of the group.
“Pardon the new gal in town, but who is that?” asked Medea, pointing to the redheaded woman; she was the obvious leader of the group.65
“That’s Lyta ‘the leopard’ Leonard,” Herk commented. “She’s the one woman I know that could take Atlanta in a fight.”
“That’s Lyta ‘the leopard’ Leonard,” Herk commented. “She’s the one woman I know that could take Atlanta in a fight.”68
Herk’s face grew a deep shade of red. “That was just once. And it’s not like I was going to fight back. I am a gentleman, after all.”
Herk’s face grew a deep shade of red. “That was just once. And it’s not like I was going to fight back. I am a gentleman, after all.”69
“How noble of you.” Jason turned to Medea. “He got caught trying to steal a pair of her underwear.” The nun couldn’t help but giggle.
“How noble of you.” Jason turned to Medea. “He got caught trying to steal a pair of her underwear.” The nun couldn’t help but giggle.70
“It was a dark time in my life, ok?” Herk told them, exasperated. “And I didn’t try to steal a pair, I successfully stole a pair.”
“It was a dark time in my life, ok?” Herk told them, exasperated. “And I didn’t try to steal a pair, I successfully stole a pair.”72
Medea tried, with effort, to stop laughing. “As a woman, I’m offended.” One final giggle slipped out. “Excuse me. Offended. Horribly.” Her face went back into business mode. “So what do we do? Follow? Fight? Flee?”
Medea tried, with effort, to stop laughing. “As a woman, I’m offended.” One final giggle slipped out. “Excuse me. Offended. Horribly.” Her face went back into business mode. “So what do we do? Follow? Fight? Flee?”73
Jason had a better idea. He dialed 911 on his phone. “I need to speak with Detective Theseus immediately,” he said, his voice slipping into a really bad cockney accent. “Yes, right now, chap! This is a matter of utmost concern. I need to report a crime. I just saw a large man with a chainsaw walk into the apartment building at 815 Erato.” Herk was cracking up next to him. Jason hushed his partner, though his face was also displaying a big grin. “Yes, a chainsaw! I’m so worried that he might chop someone up into little pieces! No I won’t hold! This is a bloody matter of life and death, good sir!” There was a short pause. “You found him, you say? He’s on his way over? Well hurry up! If there is a murder on my block my property values will plummet and I will have no choice but to write an angry letter to the city council holding you personally responsible.”
Jason had a better idea. He dialed 911 on his phone. “I need to speak with Detective Theseus immediately,” he said, his voice slipping into a really bad cockney accent. “Yes, right now, chap! This is a matter of utmost concern. I need to report a crime. I just saw a large man with a chainsaw walk into the apartment building at 815 Erato.” Herk was cracking up next to him. Jason hushed his partner, though his face was also displaying a big grin. “Yes, a chainsaw! I’m so worried that he might chop someone up into little pieces! No I won’t hold! This is a bloody matter of life and death, good sir!” There was a short pause. “You found him, you say? He’s on his way over? Well hurry up! If there is a murder on my block my property values will plummet and I will have no choice but to write an angry letter to the city council holding you personally responsible.”75
Herk let out a howl of laughter. “Brilliant. That’s why you’re in charge, Jason.” Both Ace and Medea looked confused. Herk explained. “Lyta is not just the leader of the Amazons; she is also ‘Detective’ Theseus’ ex-fiancée.”
Herk let out a howl of laughter. “Brilliant. That’s why you’re in charge, Jason.” Both Ace and Medea looked confused. Herk explained. “Lyta is not just the leader of the Amazons; she is also ‘Detective’ Theseus’ ex-fiancée.”77
“Popular misconception,” Jason corrected. “Just because they’re a revolutionary group bent on overturning the patriarchal system of power in society and replacing it with a matriarchal one doesn’t mean they all play for the same side, sexually.”
“Popular misconception,” Jason corrected. “Just because they’re a revolutionary group bent on overturning the patriarchal system of power in society and replacing it with a matriarchal one doesn’t mean they all play for the same side, sexually.”79
Medea ignored that. “And so the leader of a violent gang of feminist separatists was engaged to a cop?”
Medea ignored that. “And so the leader of a violent gang of feminist separatists was engaged to a cop?”80
“Theseus wasn’t always a cop,” Jason remarked darkly. “He used to be one of us.” Medea looked like she wanted to press for more information but thought better of it. Less than five minutes later, a worn out brown jalopy with a red and blue light flashing atop it came puttering down the street. Theseus and a uniformed officer emerged from the car and rushed into the apartment building, guns drawn.
“Theseus wasn’t always a cop,” Jason remarked darkly. “He used to be one of us.” Medea looked like she wanted to press for more information but thought better of it. Less than five minutes later, a worn out brown jalopy with a red and blue light flashing atop it came puttering down the street. Theseus and a uniformed officer emerged from the car and rushed into the apartment building, guns drawn.81
Once they had been inside for about a minute, Jason motioned for them to follow. “Ace—watch the car.”
Once they had been inside for about a minute, Jason motioned for them to follow. “Ace—watch the car.”82
“Aw man!” the boy whined. “When am I going to get to do something cool, like hit a pigeon with a baseball bat or sing a three headed dog to sleep?”
“Aw man!” the boy whined. “When am I going to get to do something cool, like hit a pigeon with a baseball bat or sing a three headed dog to sleep?”83
“There’s a really good chance that Lyta and Theseus will try to kill each other,” Jason said. “She did say something to that effect the last time we saw them together.”
“There’s a really good chance that Lyta and Theseus will try to kill each other,” Jason said. “She did say something to that effect the last time we saw them together.”85
“Anyways, Ace, I promised your father I’d keep you out of trouble.” That was a lie. Jason vaguely remembered saying something close to the opposite to Pelias earlier that day. “So stay in the car.”
“Anyways, Ace, I promised your father I’d keep you out of trouble.” That was a lie. Jason vaguely remembered saying something close to the opposite to Pelias earlier that day. “So stay in the car.”86
“What about me?” Medea asked, hands on her hips. “Are you going to make me stay in the car, too?”
“What about me?” Medea asked, hands on her hips. “Are you going to make me stay in the car, too?”87
Jason considered it. “I’m pretty sure you won’t listen if I do say that, so you might as well come along. Let’s go join the party-slash-reunion-slash-blind-date-slash-potential-bloodbath!”
Jason considered it. “I’m pretty sure you won’t listen if I do say that, so you might as well come along. Let’s go join the party-slash-reunion-slash-blind-date-slash-potential-bloodbath!”
