Table of Contents1
Two surprises confronted Jason as he emerged onto the roof of the OLI building. The first was that Pelias was not missing an arm. His uncle seemed to have all limbs intact, though he had been shot and was clutching his leg in pain. His pants were drenched in blood. The second surprise was a giant acid-breathing dragon.
Two surprises confronted Jason as he emerged onto the roof of the OLI building. The first was that Pelias was not missing an arm. His uncle seemed to have all limbs intact, though he had been shot and was clutching his leg in pain. His pants were drenched in blood. The second surprise was a giant acid-breathing dragon.2
To Jason’s right was a recently deceased OLI security guard, noncoincidentally missing an arm. Steam rose from the guard’s body in the chilly night. They were on top of the tallest building in New Olympus, nearly fifty stories up, and strong gales swept across the rooftop.
To Jason’s right was a recently deceased OLI security guard, noncoincidentally missing an arm. Steam rose from the guard’s body in the chilly night. They were on top of the tallest building in New Olympus, nearly fifty stories up, and strong gales swept across the rooftop.3
Medea stood a few feet away and looked akin to an angel of death. In one hand she clutched the pistol Jason had given her on the Colchian barge, and in the other she wielded a long, curved knife that gleamed under the full moon. Affixed to the base of the knife’s hilt was a silver crescent moon. Thick blood, which looked black in the moonlight, dripped from the blade.
Medea stood a few feet away and looked akin to an angel of death. In one hand she clutched the pistol Jason had given her on the Colchian barge, and in the other she wielded a long, curved knife that gleamed under the full moon. Affixed to the base of the knife’s hilt was a silver crescent moon. Thick blood, which looked black in the moonlight, dripped from the blade.4
One other figure was with Medea, Pelias, and Surprise on the roof: the witch Circe. She stood just off to the side, clutching the Fleece protectively. Of everyone on the roof, Circe looked the most frightened. Medea’s eyes were wild and her face broke out into a crazed grin when she saw Jason. Pelias looked more dazed than anything else.
One other figure was with Medea, Pelias, and Surprise on the roof: the witch Circe. She stood just off to the side, clutching the Fleece protectively. Of everyone on the roof, Circe looked the most frightened. Medea’s eyes were wild and her face broke out into a crazed grin when she saw Jason. Pelias looked more dazed than anything else.5
“Jason.” Medea’s voice was different. She’d dropped any intonation of affection or coyness. “I’m so glad you all could make it in time for the ceremony.”
“Jason.” Medea’s voice was different. She’d dropped any intonation of affection or coyness. “I’m so glad you all could make it in time for the ceremony.”9
She laughed a cold, callous laugh. “For such a brilliant hero, you are so easy to manipulate. You were gullible enough to believe that I only wanted what was good for the people of New Olympus the same way you were foolish enough to believe that my heathen father might actually try to reawaken Ares. And every step of the way, you kept giving me what I needed to fulfill our destiny.”
She laughed a cold, callous laugh. “For such a brilliant hero, you are so easy to manipulate. You were gullible enough to believe that I only wanted what was good for the people of New Olympus the same way you were foolish enough to believe that my heathen father might actually try to reawaken Ares. And every step of the way, you kept giving me what I needed to fulfill our destiny.”11
“Why don’t you tell me exactly what you want, Medea,” Jason said in as calm a voice as he could muster.
“Why don’t you tell me exactly what you want, Medea,” Jason said in as calm a voice as he could muster.12
“It’s alright, Jason,” Pelias told him. “Medea is going to help us. With her help, we’re going to live forever. She has revealed to me the true secret of the Fleece.”
“It’s alright, Jason,” Pelias told him. “Medea is going to help us. With her help, we’re going to live forever. She has revealed to me the true secret of the Fleece.”14
Medea shrugged nonchalantly. “I told him the truth behind the lie of New Olympus. I also pumped him so full of narcotics I stole from Nyx that he’d believe that he could fly right now if I told him so. It’s for the pain,” she added. “The man has been shot, you may have noticed. I’ve got a little bit more, Herk, if you’re interested.”
Medea shrugged nonchalantly. “I told him the truth behind the lie of New Olympus. I also pumped him so full of narcotics I stole from Nyx that he’d believe that he could fly right now if I told him so. It’s for the pain,” she added. “The man has been shot, you may have noticed. I’ve got a little bit more, Herk, if you’re interested.”22
Medea looked a little bit surprised. “So you did recognize him,” she told Herk. “Good for you. You aren’t nearly as dense as everyone thinks you are, Herk. You should really stop living in Jason’s shadow.” She turned back to Jason. “Yes, I killed them all, and a few more that may turn up over the next few days. You saved a lot of lives though, showing up when you did at Nyx. You led me to the Fleece without all that pesky bloodshed I had to inflict before I ran into you.”
Medea looked a little bit surprised. “So you did recognize him,” she told Herk. “Good for you. You aren’t nearly as dense as everyone thinks you are, Herk. You should really stop living in Jason’s shadow.” She turned back to Jason. “Yes, I killed them all, and a few more that may turn up over the next few days. You saved a lot of lives though, showing up when you did at Nyx. You led me to the Fleece without all that pesky bloodshed I had to inflict before I ran into you.”26
She shook her head, incredulous. “Prometheus really did a number on all of your memories. In a way, I’m doing this for us, Jason. I’m ending this cycle.”
She shook her head, incredulous. “Prometheus really did a number on all of your memories. In a way, I’m doing this for us, Jason. I’m ending this cycle.”28
She laughed again. “Wrong again, Jason. You don’t understand. We’ve done this before. Many times. And every time it ends the same. You get the fame and the glory and promptly drop me for the next whore that comes along.”
She laughed again. “Wrong again, Jason. You don’t understand. We’ve done this before. Many times. And every time it ends the same. You get the fame and the glory and promptly drop me for the next whore that comes along.”29
“I’ve never met you before last night.” He at least thought that was true. Jason was having a terribly strong sense of déjà vu at that moment. Could she be right? Prometheus had admitted to tampering with their memories. What if Medea was telling the truth, and she really was a figure from his past?
“I’ve never met you before last night.” He at least thought that was true. Jason was having a terribly strong sense of déjà vu at that moment. Could she be right? Prometheus had admitted to tampering with their memories. What if Medea was telling the truth, and she really was a figure from his past?30
As Jason struggled with these thoughts, Medea watched with aloof curiosity before responding, “Don’t worry, lover boy, this isn’t all about you. I’m not just some ex-girlfriend looking to settle a grudge. I am that, but I am also far more than that. I’m going to emancipate all of us.”
As Jason struggled with these thoughts, Medea watched with aloof curiosity before responding, “Don’t worry, lover boy, this isn’t all about you. I’m not just some ex-girlfriend looking to settle a grudge. I am that, but I am also far more than that. I’m going to emancipate all of us.”32
“Not all of them,” Medea cautioned. “But my mistress has been sitting in her self-imposed exile for far too long.”
“Not all of them,” Medea cautioned. “But my mistress has been sitting in her self-imposed exile for far too long.”34
“Shut up!” Medea told her fellow witch. “For too long, we’ve tried to maintain some semblance of the old ways in this modern society. It doesn’t work. The old ways were better and the world will thank us later.”
“Shut up!” Medea told her fellow witch. “For too long, we’ve tried to maintain some semblance of the old ways in this modern society. It doesn’t work. The old ways were better and the world will thank us later.”38
Exasperated, Medea responded to them. “But you’re all sheep! More so than even the Fleece! You go along performing your duties because that is all you’ve been programmed to do.”
Exasperated, Medea responded to them. “But you’re all sheep! More so than even the Fleece! You go along performing your duties because that is all you’ve been programmed to do.”39
“Well, if I have to be an archetypical stereotypical hero, then you have to know that we’re going to stop you,” Jason told her. “It’s how we’ve been programmed.”
“Well, if I have to be an archetypical stereotypical hero, then you have to know that we’re going to stop you,” Jason told her. “It’s how we’ve been programmed.”40
“Not this time. If any of you so much as take one step closer, Surprise here sprays the lot of you. Jason, you saw what her breath did to bulletproof glass; I don’t think you want to see what it does to human flesh.”
“Not this time. If any of you so much as take one step closer, Surprise here sprays the lot of you. Jason, you saw what her breath did to bulletproof glass; I don’t think you want to see what it does to human flesh.”42
“Yes, she does,” Medea agreed. “Yours will do for a start.” She shot the businessman three times in the chest.
“Yes, she does,” Medea agreed. “Yours will do for a start.” She shot the businessman three times in the chest.44
“Ah ah ah,” she chided. “That’s far enough. Spare me the false grief. Jason, I just did you a favor. Pelias killed your father; you’ve been looking for a way to get rid of him your entire life. Congratulations.” She turned to Circe. “Bring the Fleece.”
“Ah ah ah,” she chided. “That’s far enough. Spare me the false grief. Jason, I just did you a favor. Pelias killed your father; you’ve been looking for a way to get rid of him your entire life. Congratulations.” She turned to Circe. “Bring the Fleece.”46
“I can do this with or without you, you coward,” Medea warned. Circe begrudgingly complied, and led the golden ram over to her.
“I can do this with or without you, you coward,” Medea warned. Circe begrudgingly complied, and led the golden ram over to her.47
Medea kissed the Fleece on this forehead. “Do not worry, golden one. I’ll make this quick for you. There will be no pain. This blade was forged by Hephaestus himself for my mistress Hecate. It cleaves through skin and bone like air. You are doing a great service to the gods and to the world.”
Medea kissed the Fleece on this forehead. “Do not worry, golden one. I’ll make this quick for you. There will be no pain. This blade was forged by Hephaestus himself for my mistress Hecate. It cleaves through skin and bone like air. You are doing a great service to the gods and to the world.”48
Herk leaned over to Jason. “If you have a brilliant plan, I’d say now would be about the right time to put it in motion. Because we’re out of time.”
Herk leaned over to Jason. “If you have a brilliant plan, I’d say now would be about the right time to put it in motion. Because we’re out of time.”49
“Already in motion,” Jason reassured his friend. “Stay near the door and when it starts to go down, get off the roof. No one else dies tonight.” He looked at the dragon and Surprise glared right back. The beast was fully under his mistress’ spell and had its teeth bared and ready to strike. Jason felt sick. This was the only way out of the situation that didn’t involve being sprayed with deadly venom.
“Already in motion,” Jason reassured his friend. “Stay near the door and when it starts to go down, get off the roof. No one else dies tonight.” He looked at the dragon and Surprise glared right back. The beast was fully under his mistress’ spell and had its teeth bared and ready to strike. Jason felt sick. This was the only way out of the situation that didn’t involve being sprayed with deadly venom.50
Medea began to chant. “Great goddess Hecate, hear my prayers. I present to you this worthy sacrifice of blood and precious metal. Too long have we wandered this world without you to guide us. We have lost our way.”
Medea began to chant. “Great goddess Hecate, hear my prayers. I present to you this worthy sacrifice of blood and precious metal. Too long have we wandered this world without you to guide us. We have lost our way.”51
The sky rumbled with thunder. A storm was approaching. Medea continued, “I beseech you, please accept this sacrifice and return to us. Your people need you!” A chain of lightning flashed behind her to accentuate the point.
The sky rumbled with thunder. A storm was approaching. Medea continued, “I beseech you, please accept this sacrifice and return to us. Your people need you!” A chain of lightning flashed behind her to accentuate the point.52
Punctuated by several shouts of protest, Medea took the blade and with one quick slash of the ram’s throat it was over. Jason averted his eyes, he couldn’t bear to look. It was done.
Punctuated by several shouts of protest, Medea took the blade and with one quick slash of the ram’s throat it was over. Jason averted his eyes, he couldn’t bear to look. It was done.53
“It is done,” Medea said, with a triumphant crow. “It is done!” Rain began to fall hard and heavy on the roof and the wind picked up. “Come to me, Hecate; join us again in this world.” There was no response, save for the swirling elements. “Goddess!” she called again. “I await your return.” Again, no response from Hecate or any other deity.
“It is done,” Medea said, with a triumphant crow. “It is done!” Rain began to fall hard and heavy on the roof and the wind picked up. “Come to me, Hecate; join us again in this world.” There was no response, save for the swirling elements. “Goddess!” she called again. “I await your return.” Again, no response from Hecate or any other deity.54
“You can keep shouting but no one is going to answer,” Jason told her. “Hecate isn’t home. Maybe you should leave a voicemail.”
“You can keep shouting but no one is going to answer,” Jason told her. “Hecate isn’t home. Maybe you should leave a voicemail.”55
“Goddess?” Medea called again, her voice dropping from triumphant to desperate. “Are you there?” Nothing. “What have you done?” She demanded of Jason.
“Goddess?” Medea called again, her voice dropping from triumphant to desperate. “Are you there?” Nothing. “What have you done?” She demanded of Jason.56
It was Jason’s turn to smile. “You’re right, you did dupe me. I was completely blind even after you admitted that you wanted the Fleece. But you made one major mistake. You trusted me. Trusted that I would tell you everything.”
It was Jason’s turn to smile. “You’re right, you did dupe me. I was completely blind even after you admitted that you wanted the Fleece. But you made one major mistake. You trusted me. Trusted that I would tell you everything.”59
Medea looked down at the rain-soaked ram. As the rain pelted its body, the golden glow washed off of its wool, revealing grey underneath. “What is this?” she asked, her head spinning.
Medea looked down at the rain-soaked ram. As the rain pelted its body, the golden glow washed off of its wool, revealing grey underneath. “What is this?” she asked, her head spinning.60
“Gold spray paint. The expensive kind. Spared no expense. I thought it looked very realistic, and machine washable.”
“Gold spray paint. The expensive kind. Spared no expense. I thought it looked very realistic, and machine washable.”62
“You worked so hard to steal the sheep away from us, you never stopped to consider that this might not even be the real Fleece.”
“You worked so hard to steal the sheep away from us, you never stopped to consider that this might not even be the real Fleece.”64
“Safe. Moved to a new, secure location by Ace while you and I went back to the war barge for Atlanta and Herk.”
“Safe. Moved to a new, secure location by Ace while you and I went back to the war barge for Atlanta and Herk.”66
“I thought, ‘Who would people think I would trust the least?’ and Ace was a natural fit. No one would think that Ace would be carrying the Golden Fleece.”
“I thought, ‘Who would people think I would trust the least?’ and Ace was a natural fit. No one would think that Ace would be carrying the Golden Fleece.”68
Jason nodded. “I knew there might be someone else that was after the Fleece. Everything didn’t neatly point to Aetes and Colchis. I had to draw you out of the shadows. I really didn’t want it to be you, Medea.” Jason drew his weapon. “There’s only way this can end. You started this with blood; it has to end with blood.”
Jason nodded. “I knew there might be someone else that was after the Fleece. Everything didn’t neatly point to Aetes and Colchis. I had to draw you out of the shadows. I really didn’t want it to be you, Medea.” Jason drew his weapon. “There’s only way this can end. You started this with blood; it has to end with blood.”69
Medea didn’t seem convinced. “We’ve danced this dance before, lover, and we’ll do it again. Surprise!” Jason and company ducked back into the building as the dragon reeled its head back and spat venom across the rooftop. The rooftop sizzled. Medea climbed onto the dragon’s back and the lizard took flight. Jason and the heroes darted back onto the rooftop and fired off round after round at the lizard and its owner, but Medea disappeared into the stormy night sky.
Medea didn’t seem convinced. “We’ve danced this dance before, lover, and we’ll do it again. Surprise!” Jason and company ducked back into the building as the dragon reeled its head back and spat venom across the rooftop. The rooftop sizzled. Medea climbed onto the dragon’s back and the lizard took flight. Jason and the heroes darted back onto the rooftop and fired off round after round at the lizard and its owner, but Medea disappeared into the stormy night sky.70
“Don’t worry, we’ll find her,” Atlanta said, putting a hand on Jason’s shoulder. “I never did like her.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll find her,” Atlanta said, putting a hand on Jason’s shoulder. “I never did like her.”71
Jason couldn’t help but laugh as he surveyed the scene, littered with bodies. “I guess we won.” It certainly didn’t feel like a win. “Somebody call Theseus and the NOPD.”
Jason couldn’t help but laugh as he surveyed the scene, littered with bodies. “I guess we won.” It certainly didn’t feel like a win. “Somebody call Theseus and the NOPD.”73
“You aren’t going anywhere,” Jason said. “You are complicit in all of this, and that includes murder.”
“You aren’t going anywhere,” Jason said. “You are complicit in all of this, and that includes murder.”74
“I thought you might feel that way, and that’s precisely why I must take my leave here.” She got up and promptly walked off the side of the roof. A moment later, a raven rose up from the edge and soared off into the night.
“I thought you might feel that way, and that’s precisely why I must take my leave here.” She got up and promptly walked off the side of the roof. A moment later, a raven rose up from the edge and soared off into the night.76
“Can we move Pelias inside?” Jason asked. “I can’t say I’m sad that Pelias is dead, but I’m sorry it was like this.”
“Can we move Pelias inside?” Jason asked. “I can’t say I’m sad that Pelias is dead, but I’m sorry it was like this.”77
“It wasn’t your fault,” Atlanta told him. Jason was less than sure. He needed to talk to Prometheus. He still had a lot of questions about Medea.
“It wasn’t your fault,” Atlanta told him. Jason was less than sure. He needed to talk to Prometheus. He still had a lot of questions about Medea.78
A few feet away, Herk was struggling to lift Pelias with his one good arm. Atlanta went over and tried to help, but the big man was waving her off.
A few feet away, Herk was struggling to lift Pelias with his one good arm. Atlanta went over and tried to help, but the big man was waving her off.83
“You put that look away or a bullet wound is going to be the least of your worries,” she shot back.
“You put that look away or a bullet wound is going to be the least of your worries,” she shot back.85
Dawn was breaking over New Olympus by the time the heroes made their way back to their headquarters at the Argo.
Dawn was breaking over New Olympus by the time the heroes made their way back to their headquarters at the Argo.88
“You have been at that thing the entire way back here,” Jason noted. “Who could you be talking to at this ungodsly hour?”
“You have been at that thing the entire way back here,” Jason noted. “Who could you be talking to at this ungodsly hour?”94
The musician nodded. “Yeah, but they’re amazing musicians. If I can do something about their homicidal impulses, I think they can really make it to the next level.”
The musician nodded. “Yeah, but they’re amazing musicians. If I can do something about their homicidal impulses, I think they can really make it to the next level.”95
The front door of the Argo was open, which was troubling. Only a few people outside of Argos had the key to their base of operations/watering hole. Jason drew his gun and tentatively stepped inside. The room was empty save for one lone man drinking behind the bar.
The front door of the Argo was open, which was troubling. Only a few people outside of Argos had the key to their base of operations/watering hole. Jason drew his gun and tentatively stepped inside. The room was empty save for one lone man drinking behind the bar.97
Prometheus turned and saluted the heroes. “I understand that the situation has been resolved. Good show, heroes. You come through for the city again.”
Prometheus turned and saluted the heroes. “I understand that the situation has been resolved. Good show, heroes. You come through for the city again.”99
“I am sure you do, but first we celebrate. To the end of another quest.” The god-turned-newsman grabbed a shot glass for each of the heroes. Each was filled with a dark yellow liquid. “Come, come,” he beckoned. “This is the finest nectar available. It is from my personal collection, the drink of the gods.”
“I am sure you do, but first we celebrate. To the end of another quest.” The god-turned-newsman grabbed a shot glass for each of the heroes. Each was filled with a dark yellow liquid. “Come, come,” he beckoned. “This is the finest nectar available. It is from my personal collection, the drink of the gods.”100
The heroes gathered around the bar and each took a shot glass. “To endings and beginnings,” Prometheus toasted. They clinked glasses and downed the shot. The liquid was rich and sweet. And powerful. Jason reeled back, and he wasn’t the only one.
The heroes gathered around the bar and each took a shot glass. “To endings and beginnings,” Prometheus toasted. They clinked glasses and downed the shot. The liquid was rich and sweet. And powerful. Jason reeled back, and he wasn’t the only one.102
“The nectar will induce a feeling of pure euphoria in mortals. I hear that it’s an experience unlike any other.” Jason felt warm all over. “It will counterbalance some of the nausea associated with the Lethe water.”
“The nectar will induce a feeling of pure euphoria in mortals. I hear that it’s an experience unlike any other.” Jason felt warm all over. “It will counterbalance some of the nausea associated with the Lethe water.”103
“What?” Jason asked. His face radiated heat and his brain felt like it was melting. It was not an entirely unpleasant experience.
“What?” Jason asked. His face radiated heat and his brain felt like it was melting. It was not an entirely unpleasant experience.106
“Medea? We’ll find her. She had an extreme reaction this time,” Prometheus said with all the clinical coldness of a scientist experimenting on lab rats.
“Medea? We’ll find her. She had an extreme reaction this time,” Prometheus said with all the clinical coldness of a scientist experimenting on lab rats.107
“And so we just do it all again tomorrow?” Jason asked as words began to fail him. He could feel darkness approaching. It was not frightening. It was pleasant and inviting. The hero struggled to stave it off, if only for a few more minutes.
“And so we just do it all again tomorrow?” Jason asked as words began to fail him. He could feel darkness approaching. It was not frightening. It was pleasant and inviting. The hero struggled to stave it off, if only for a few more minutes.108
“It is what you were created to do,” Prometheus responded, and his voice seemed to soften. “Now rest my child, and when you awaken, the world will be fresh and new: ready for you to save it.”
“It is what you were created to do,” Prometheus responded, and his voice seemed to soften. “Now rest my child, and when you awaken, the world will be fresh and new: ready for you to save it.”
