Table of Contents1
“This overwhelming urge to keep saving me is going to get you into trouble sooner or later,” Jason told Medea as they hastily exited Circe’s bed and breakfast.
“This overwhelming urge to keep saving me is going to get you into trouble sooner or later,” Jason told Medea as they hastily exited Circe’s bed and breakfast.3
“That’s the good news,” Medea told him. “Circe called some friends who know some people who do business with some people in the Underworld. They found it abandoned a few blocks from the ferry, keys still in the ignition. We went to go pick it up this morning.”
“That’s the good news,” Medea told him. “Circe called some friends who know some people who do business with some people in the Underworld. They found it abandoned a few blocks from the ferry, keys still in the ignition. We went to go pick it up this morning.”9
They got in the car and drove to Orpheus’ loft. Inside, the musician was not surprisingly still sound asleep. Herk was also napping in a chair, with his head tilted back and thunderous snores emitting from him. Awake and watching over both of them was a familiar blonde.
They got in the car and drove to Orpheus’ loft. Inside, the musician was not surprisingly still sound asleep. Herk was also napping in a chair, with his head tilted back and thunderous snores emitting from him. Awake and watching over both of them was a familiar blonde.11
“Life on the outside is hard,” Atlanta responded. “Though I haven’t had to stab anyone with a whittled down spoon today, so that’s a small positive.”
“Life on the outside is hard,” Atlanta responded. “Though I haven’t had to stab anyone with a whittled down spoon today, so that’s a small positive.”13
Atlanta looked Medea up and down. “You must be the witch. Herk was right, you’re very pretty. I can never tell with him. He thinks every woman is ‘super hot’. You might be a little too pretty.”
Atlanta looked Medea up and down. “You must be the witch. Herk was right, you’re very pretty. I can never tell with him. He thinks every woman is ‘super hot’. You might be a little too pretty.”14
“Thanks, I think,” Medea responded. “I’m actually a big fan of yours. You’re such a great example of a strong, empowered woman in this male-dominated society.”
“Thanks, I think,” Medea responded. “I’m actually a big fan of yours. You’re such a great example of a strong, empowered woman in this male-dominated society.”15
“Yeah, ra ra, girl power, woo.” Atlanta turned to Jason. “Are we going to stab anything today or not? My time in the big house has made me a little twitchy.” Jason started to talk but the heroine cut him off before he could begin. “And don’t you dare say that you need me to watch Orpheus while you and Herk go do the fun stuff. I’ll scream and then I’ll stab someone.”
“Yeah, ra ra, girl power, woo.” Atlanta turned to Jason. “Are we going to stab anything today or not? My time in the big house has made me a little twitchy.” Jason started to talk but the heroine cut him off before he could begin. “And don’t you dare say that you need me to watch Orpheus while you and Herk go do the fun stuff. I’ll scream and then I’ll stab someone.”17
“Did someone say stabbing?” Herk muttered as he awoke. There were two things Herk did not sleep through: meals and violence.
“Did someone say stabbing?” Herk muttered as he awoke. There were two things Herk did not sleep through: meals and violence.18
“No one is stabbing anyone,” Jason declared. He updated everyone on the current situation and then gave them their marching orders. “Atlanta, I want you to take Orpheus back to the Argo. Argos and the twins will watch him there. Then I want you to go talk to the Amazons. See if they know anything about Ace and find out what they did with Yu Phemus. I’m pretty sure he’s just a victim in all of this. If Lyta will reason with anyone it will be you.”
“No one is stabbing anyone,” Jason declared. He updated everyone on the current situation and then gave them their marching orders. “Atlanta, I want you to take Orpheus back to the Argo. Argos and the twins will watch him there. Then I want you to go talk to the Amazons. See if they know anything about Ace and find out what they did with Yu Phemus. I’m pretty sure he’s just a victim in all of this. If Lyta will reason with anyone it will be you.”29
“Guys!” Jason yelled through the phone. “Tell me you called because you have information, not because you’re having an identity crisis.”
“Guys!” Jason yelled through the phone. “Tell me you called because you have information, not because you’re having an identity crisis.”32
“We found one group of murders using the same signature as the killer that murdered Mel and Autolycus. It was twenty years ago; he called himself the Headhunter. He killed five women, dismembered them and kept their heads in a fridge. He wanted be a Maenad, he told the police when they found him.”
“We found one group of murders using the same signature as the killer that murdered Mel and Autolycus. It was twenty years ago; he called himself the Headhunter. He killed five women, dismembered them and kept their heads in a fridge. He wanted be a Maenad, he told the police when they found him.”40
“I’ve got something new for you to look into.” He ducked out of the room and lowered his voice. “I want you to pull everything you can on the Colchis Corporation. History, financial records, employees, any property they own in New Olympus, the works. And one more thing.”
“I’ve got something new for you to look into.” He ducked out of the room and lowered his voice. “I want you to pull everything you can on the Colchis Corporation. History, financial records, employees, any property they own in New Olympus, the works. And one more thing.”42
“I need you to find me anything you can on a woman named Medea.” He stopped for a second. “I don’t know her last name.”
“I need you to find me anything you can on a woman named Medea.” He stopped for a second. “I don’t know her last name.”44
“She’s the smoking hot woman who’s been hanging around, isn’t she?” the other twin added. “Herk told us about her.”
“She’s the smoking hot woman who’s been hanging around, isn’t she?” the other twin added. “Herk told us about her.”45
“She also claims that she’s the daughter of Colchis’ CEO. Look into it and don’t let anyone else know about this part.”
“She also claims that she’s the daughter of Colchis’ CEO. Look into it and don’t let anyone else know about this part.”49
“A whole lot of nothing,” Jason replied with a sigh. “The twins are on the Colchis lead though. We’ll see what comes up between them and Theseus. Let’s go put some pressure on the press.”
“A whole lot of nothing,” Jason replied with a sigh. “The twins are on the Colchis lead though. We’ll see what comes up between them and Theseus. Let’s go put some pressure on the press.”50
The New Olympus Torch was headquartered downtown, only a few blocks from OLI. Although the Torch building was twenty stories tall and topped with a giant torch that seemed to blaze when the sun set in New Olympus, the structure was dwarfed by the massive OLI headquarters.
The New Olympus Torch was headquartered downtown, only a few blocks from OLI. Although the Torch building was twenty stories tall and topped with a giant torch that seemed to blaze when the sun set in New Olympus, the structure was dwarfed by the massive OLI headquarters.51
The duo of heroes and their nun companion walked into the Torch offices and asked to speak with Prometheus Titanos, the paper’s founder and publisher. Titanos had founded the newspaper as a way to “bring light to the people of New Olympus.” That very motto was still on the masthead of the print edition every morning.
The duo of heroes and their nun companion walked into the Torch offices and asked to speak with Prometheus Titanos, the paper’s founder and publisher. Titanos had founded the newspaper as a way to “bring light to the people of New Olympus.” That very motto was still on the masthead of the print edition every morning.52
“I’m sorry, but Mr. Titanos is in a meeting with the editorial staff right now,” the receptionist informed them. “I’m happy to leave a message with his personal assistant if you’d like.”
“I’m sorry, but Mr. Titanos is in a meeting with the editorial staff right now,” the receptionist informed them. “I’m happy to leave a message with his personal assistant if you’d like.”55
Jason decided to try a different strategy. “My colleagues and I are on important Heroes Union business. We are old friends of Mr. Titanos, particularly Herk here. Did I mention that this is the great Herk?”
Jason decided to try a different strategy. “My colleagues and I are on important Heroes Union business. We are old friends of Mr. Titanos, particularly Herk here. Did I mention that this is the great Herk?”56
The receptionist did not look impressed. “Yes, I’m aware of your identities, but Mr. Titanos does not take unscheduled visitors during his editorial meetings. The meeting should be over by eleven if you don’t mind waiting.”
The receptionist did not look impressed. “Yes, I’m aware of your identities, but Mr. Titanos does not take unscheduled visitors during his editorial meetings. The meeting should be over by eleven if you don’t mind waiting.”58
“We could cause a distraction,” Herk noted. “Medea could light the pile of papers on fire and we sneak past the desk in subsequent confusion.”
“We could cause a distraction,” Herk noted. “Medea could light the pile of papers on fire and we sneak past the desk in subsequent confusion.”59
“I think I have enough potential legal problems right now without having to add arson to the mix,” Medea noted uncomfortably.
“I think I have enough potential legal problems right now without having to add arson to the mix,” Medea noted uncomfortably.60
“I wouldn’t advise that,” the receptionist noted. The heroes probably should have stepped out of earshot before talking about setting the lobby on fire. “Do you know how many crazies we get in here every day, wanting to respond to letters to the editor with flaming bags of their own poop? Security here is a little tight. Even for heroes like you,” she tacked onto the end.
“I wouldn’t advise that,” the receptionist noted. The heroes probably should have stepped out of earshot before talking about setting the lobby on fire. “Do you know how many crazies we get in here every day, wanting to respond to letters to the editor with flaming bags of their own poop? Security here is a little tight. Even for heroes like you,” she tacked onto the end.62
They sat down in the waiting area. “I guess my name doesn’t carry the weight it used to,” Herk noted, his feelings obviously a little bruised.
They sat down in the waiting area. “I guess my name doesn’t carry the weight it used to,” Herk noted, his feelings obviously a little bruised.63
“It’s ok, your name still gets you to the front of the buffet line big guy,” Jason told the big man while patting him on his belly.
“It’s ok, your name still gets you to the front of the buffet line big guy,” Jason told the big man while patting him on his belly.64
They settled in for the long haul, but it was only minutes before Prometheus Titanos showed up unannounced in the Torch waiting area. The man was well dressed and ageless—he looked like he could be as young as thirty, but Jason knew that he was far older. Amazingly, he lacked a single wrinkle or graying hair.
They settled in for the long haul, but it was only minutes before Prometheus Titanos showed up unannounced in the Torch waiting area. The man was well dressed and ageless—he looked like he could be as young as thirty, but Jason knew that he was far older. Amazingly, he lacked a single wrinkle or graying hair.65
“Mr. Titanos,” the receptionist greeted him, alarmed. “I thought you were in your editorial meeting until eleven.”
“Mr. Titanos,” the receptionist greeted him, alarmed. “I thought you were in your editorial meeting until eleven.”66
“I was. Something came up.” He turned to Jason and Herk. “I was wondering when you two would make it over here.”
“I was. Something came up.” He turned to Jason and Herk. “I was wondering when you two would make it over here.”67
The receptionist frantically fumbled through the papers at her desk. “I’m sorry, sir, I didn’t realize you were expecting them.”
The receptionist frantically fumbled through the papers at her desk. “I’m sorry, sir, I didn’t realize you were expecting them.”68
“It’s alright,” Prometheus stated calmly. “Gentlemen, and lady,” he said, acknowledging Medea. “Let’s go up to my office.”
“It’s alright,” Prometheus stated calmly. “Gentlemen, and lady,” he said, acknowledging Medea. “Let’s go up to my office.”69
They headed up to the top floor, to a corner office with a panoramic view of the New Olympus skyline. It was breathtaking. “It’s a much better view than the other side of the building – over there you just get a look into the twentieth floor of OLI.” He poured himself a drink, but didn’t offer one to the others. “Speaking of OLI, I hear there was some unpleasantness there last night.”
They headed up to the top floor, to a corner office with a panoramic view of the New Olympus skyline. It was breathtaking. “It’s a much better view than the other side of the building – over there you just get a look into the twentieth floor of OLI.” He poured himself a drink, but didn’t offer one to the others. “Speaking of OLI, I hear there was some unpleasantness there last night.”73
Prometheus took a sip. “Do I have to say it, Jason, or are you going to spit it out? I think we all know why you’re here.” He paused a second, looking at Medea carefully. “Except for you, I’m not sure why you’re here yet, little one. You are an interesting wrinkle in this tale.” She shifted in her seat uncomfortably, but said nothing.
Prometheus took a sip. “Do I have to say it, Jason, or are you going to spit it out? I think we all know why you’re here.” He paused a second, looking at Medea carefully. “Except for you, I’m not sure why you’re here yet, little one. You are an interesting wrinkle in this tale.” She shifted in her seat uncomfortably, but said nothing.74
Jason put on his sales pitch face. “Look, Prometheus, I know you’re probably getting reports from the newsroom about rumors coming out of OLI.”
Jason put on his sales pitch face. “Look, Prometheus, I know you’re probably getting reports from the newsroom about rumors coming out of OLI.”75
Prometheus laughed. “Someone stole the Fleece. I know. I knew before you knew, Jason. Just like I knew that you would come here to ask me to keep it out of the paper. You brought Herk here to call in an old debt if necessary.”
Prometheus laughed. “Someone stole the Fleece. I know. I knew before you knew, Jason. Just like I knew that you would come here to ask me to keep it out of the paper. You brought Herk here to call in an old debt if necessary.”77
“I admit, your request is troubling to me. I founded the Torch to free the people of New Olympus from the meddling of the powerful. This goes against most of what I have worked for here.”
“I admit, your request is troubling to me. I founded the Torch to free the people of New Olympus from the meddling of the powerful. This goes against most of what I have worked for here.”79
Prometheus sat down in his chair and stared into his drink. “I know—far better than even you, Jason, son of Aeson and Chiron. That is why I will do as you request. The Fleece is far more than a money-making device.”
Prometheus sat down in his chair and stared into his drink. “I know—far better than even you, Jason, son of Aeson and Chiron. That is why I will do as you request. The Fleece is far more than a money-making device.”80
“I’ve heard. It’s a symbol of secular society, of humanity’s rejection of the old ways, blah, blah, blah.” He remembered what the prophet had said.
“I’ve heard. It’s a symbol of secular society, of humanity’s rejection of the old ways, blah, blah, blah.” He remembered what the prophet had said.81
“All of that is true, but I do not think you understand the implications. Tell me, Jason, do you believe in the gods?”
“All of that is true, but I do not think you understand the implications. Tell me, Jason, do you believe in the gods?”84
Jason’s jaw clenched. “I don’t know. I was raised to believe that they do exist, but that they abandoned us humans a long time ago. A homeless prophet named Phineas told me that it was because we refused to sacrifice the Fleece to them.”
Jason’s jaw clenched. “I don’t know. I was raised to believe that they do exist, but that they abandoned us humans a long time ago. A homeless prophet named Phineas told me that it was because we refused to sacrifice the Fleece to them.”85
“That is also true, though I think the Fleece was only the final straw that broke Zeus’ back. The rest of us had seen it coming. Humans were evolving. I knew they would eventually outgrow us. Zeus called a council of all the gods and decided to test the humans’ loyalty. The ram was forged from Hephaestus’ own fires—a living ram made of pure gold. I suspected from the beginning that Man would fail—not because I believed humans lacked conviction or loyalty—but because Man is a truly independent creature. Man is the only kind of creature with the ability to reject its creators. One of its finer traits, I thought, but I kept my mouth shut. The last time I opened my mouth I ended up chained to a rock for a thousand years with my liver being torn out every day. Thanks again for the save,” he told Herk.
“That is also true, though I think the Fleece was only the final straw that broke Zeus’ back. The rest of us had seen it coming. Humans were evolving. I knew they would eventually outgrow us. Zeus called a council of all the gods and decided to test the humans’ loyalty. The ram was forged from Hephaestus’ own fires—a living ram made of pure gold. I suspected from the beginning that Man would fail—not because I believed humans lacked conviction or loyalty—but because Man is a truly independent creature. Man is the only kind of creature with the ability to reject its creators. One of its finer traits, I thought, but I kept my mouth shut. The last time I opened my mouth I ended up chained to a rock for a thousand years with my liver being torn out every day. Thanks again for the save,” he told Herk.87
Prometheus continued. “Man failed the test. The temples to the gods gave way to factories made by Man as the Fleece ushered in an age of industry. And the gods argued about what do with or to Man in response. Many of them—Zeus, Ares, Poseidon—argued for a scorched earth policy. They wanted to wipe humans off the face of the planet, remove any sign they ever existed, either by storm, war, flood—it did not matter.
Prometheus continued. “Man failed the test. The temples to the gods gave way to factories made by Man as the Fleece ushered in an age of industry. And the gods argued about what do with or to Man in response. Many of them—Zeus, Ares, Poseidon—argued for a scorched earth policy. They wanted to wipe humans off the face of the planet, remove any sign they ever existed, either by storm, war, flood—it did not matter.88
“Luckily for humans, not all gods demanded such a harsh punishment. Apollo, Athena, Hera, Aphrodite, and others had developed a great affection for you. While they were saddened about Man’s newfound independence, they decided it was best to remove themselves from earthly affairs altogether.
“Luckily for humans, not all gods demanded such a harsh punishment. Apollo, Athena, Hera, Aphrodite, and others had developed a great affection for you. While they were saddened about Man’s newfound independence, they decided it was best to remove themselves from earthly affairs altogether.89
“In the end, it came down to a vote, and the moderates won. Zeus and his followers were not happy, but they abided by the voice of the majority of the gods. And so the gods departed, closing off the gates of Mount Olympus once and for all, and left man to his own devices. Several of us that had grown quite attached to humans decided to stay. Hades is the noted example, though others also remain: Cupid, Dionysius, and a host of demigods. I simply had to stay. I wanted to see what you humans would do next.
“In the end, it came down to a vote, and the moderates won. Zeus and his followers were not happy, but they abided by the voice of the majority of the gods. And so the gods departed, closing off the gates of Mount Olympus once and for all, and left man to his own devices. Several of us that had grown quite attached to humans decided to stay. Hades is the noted example, though others also remain: Cupid, Dionysius, and a host of demigods. I simply had to stay. I wanted to see what you humans would do next.90
“But there was one problem remaining,” Prometheus stated ominously, looking at Jason and Herk. “You. Or rather, men and women like you. Heroes like you two, much like monsters such as the Sphinx or the Hydra, do not fit easily into the old or new world. And so New Olympus was built. It is a place between here and there—one last link between the new world and the world of the Olympian gods. Here, liminal figures could continue their archetypal duties and at the same time protect the new world from the old one.”
“But there was one problem remaining,” Prometheus stated ominously, looking at Jason and Herk. “You. Or rather, men and women like you. Heroes like you two, much like monsters such as the Sphinx or the Hydra, do not fit easily into the old or new world. And so New Olympus was built. It is a place between here and there—one last link between the new world and the world of the Olympian gods. Here, liminal figures could continue their archetypal duties and at the same time protect the new world from the old one.”91
“Hold up, hold up,” Jason interrupted. “So you’re telling me that you’re ‘that’ Prometheus? The Titan that designed mankind for the gods?” Prometheus nodded affirmatively. Jason continued, “And Hades is ‘that’ Hades? I mean, I knew he always claimed to be, but I just figured that it was a gimmick, something to make him seem a little more sinister.”
“Hold up, hold up,” Jason interrupted. “So you’re telling me that you’re ‘that’ Prometheus? The Titan that designed mankind for the gods?” Prometheus nodded affirmatively. Jason continued, “And Hades is ‘that’ Hades? I mean, I knew he always claimed to be, but I just figured that it was a gimmick, something to make him seem a little more sinister.”92
“To put it in crude terms, I understand that it is a little bit of a mindf**k,” Prometheus told him. “The gods that remained thought that you humans would have trouble living in what is essentially a cyclical experience and muddied your memories using water from the Lethe River.”
“To put it in crude terms, I understand that it is a little bit of a mindf**k,” Prometheus told him. “The gods that remained thought that you humans would have trouble living in what is essentially a cyclical experience and muddied your memories using water from the Lethe River.”96
“None of it. You were born the son of Aeson, Pelias killed your father when you were a boy, and you were raised by the centaur Chiron. You dedicated yourself to being a great hero of the people and so while you remember all of your exploits, some of the details were changed to prevent cognitive dissonance.”
“None of it. You were born the son of Aeson, Pelias killed your father when you were a boy, and you were raised by the centaur Chiron. You dedicated yourself to being a great hero of the people and so while you remember all of your exploits, some of the details were changed to prevent cognitive dissonance.”98
“Only the remaining gods. There are several ‘gifted’ individuals that have some idea, but most of them have been marginalized or neutralized.”
“Only the remaining gods. There are several ‘gifted’ individuals that have some idea, but most of them have been marginalized or neutralized.”104
“Because you need to know just how important the Fleece is and how important it is that you retrieve it. The gods may be gone but they haven’t forgotten, and they surely haven’t forgiven. The Fleece is what keeps them at bay. If a radical element has gotten a hold of the Fleece, they could use it to open the gateway between here and Mount Olympus.”
“Because you need to know just how important the Fleece is and how important it is that you retrieve it. The gods may be gone but they haven’t forgotten, and they surely haven’t forgiven. The Fleece is what keeps them at bay. If a radical element has gotten a hold of the Fleece, they could use it to open the gateway between here and Mount Olympus.”106
“It depends on who they invite back. If it’s one of the moderate gods, like Apollo or Hera, maybe nothing.”
“It depends on who they invite back. If it’s one of the moderate gods, like Apollo or Hera, maybe nothing.”
