Table of Contents1
Medea and Jason arrived to a mostly abandoned Olympus Lightning building. Pelias himself met them at the door to let them in past security. Pelias looked worn out. Covering up the Fleece’s disappearance for the day must have been taking its toll. He led them into the building, up the elevator to the thirty-seventh floor, and down the hall to his office. “I don’t believe I know of you, and I’m familiar with most of the New Olympus Heroes Union members,” Pelias said as he sized up the Medea.
Medea and Jason arrived to a mostly abandoned Olympus Lightning building. Pelias himself met them at the door to let them in past security. Pelias looked worn out. Covering up the Fleece’s disappearance for the day must have been taking its toll. He led them into the building, up the elevator to the thirty-seventh floor, and down the hall to his office. “I don’t believe I know of you, and I’m familiar with most of the New Olympus Heroes Union members,” Pelias said as he sized up the Medea.2
“I’m from out of town. Jason brought me on as a freelancer,” Medea responded, with a little ice in her tone.
“I’m from out of town. Jason brought me on as a freelancer,” Medea responded, with a little ice in her tone.5
Pelias laughed, noting Medea’s glamorous appearance. “Sweetheart, I run a department of accountants. I think I can recognize one when I see one, and you are not an accountant.”
Pelias laughed, noting Medea’s glamorous appearance. “Sweetheart, I run a department of accountants. I think I can recognize one when I see one, and you are not an accountant.”7
“Fair enough. No offense intended,” he told Medea in a completely disingenuous tone. “And where is the rest of the team, Jason?”
“Fair enough. No offense intended,” he told Medea in a completely disingenuous tone. “And where is the rest of the team, Jason?”8
“Well, Orpheus is taking a nap and Herk is watching him sleep.” Pelias flashed him a curious look. “It’s a long story,” Jason told him. “Atlanta is in jail for murder—don’t worry, she didn’t do it. The twins are looking for evidence to clear her name.”
“Well, Orpheus is taking a nap and Herk is watching him sleep.” Pelias flashed him a curious look. “It’s a long story,” Jason told him. “Atlanta is in jail for murder—don’t worry, she didn’t do it. The twins are looking for evidence to clear her name.”14
“Ahhh, yes. About that.” Jason shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “We seem to have—ahem—lost him.”
“Ahhh, yes. About that.” Jason shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “We seem to have—ahem—lost him.”18
“We were hoping you could help us with that. Could you maybe call him and ask where he is? We haven’t heard from him.”
“We were hoping you could help us with that. Could you maybe call him and ask where he is? We haven’t heard from him.”19
Without responding, Pelias picked up his office phone and dialed. After waiting for a few moments, he hung up. “Right to voicemail. Jason, if you’ve gotten Ace into trouble with one of your harebrained schemes….” The businessman was too busy fuming to finish the sentence.
Without responding, Pelias picked up his office phone and dialed. After waiting for a few moments, he hung up. “Right to voicemail. Jason, if you’ve gotten Ace into trouble with one of your harebrained schemes….” The businessman was too busy fuming to finish the sentence.23
Pelias tried to quell the steam that was about to come bursting from the sides of his skull. “Please tell me that you’ve at least made some progress.”
Pelias tried to quell the steam that was about to come bursting from the sides of his skull. “Please tell me that you’ve at least made some progress.”24
Jason nodded. “We think we know who stole the Fleece and how they got into the building. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the thief is dead and the Fleece is still nowhere to be found.”
Jason nodded. “We think we know who stole the Fleece and how they got into the building. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the thief is dead and the Fleece is still nowhere to be found.”26
Jason grimaced. “It gets worse. Your worry that this was an inside job is looking more and more likely.” He passed on all the information the twins had uncovered, plus what Yu had told them before being dragged off by the Amazons. “I’d like to talk to your head of security,” he told his uncle. “Try to confirm what Yu said, maybe find out who has been using his security badge if it wasn’t him.”
Jason grimaced. “It gets worse. Your worry that this was an inside job is looking more and more likely.” He passed on all the information the twins had uncovered, plus what Yu had told them before being dragged off by the Amazons. “I’d like to talk to your head of security,” he told his uncle. “Try to confirm what Yu said, maybe find out who has been using his security badge if it wasn’t him.”27
Pelias nodded. “Sure. Mr. Talos is still here.” He picked up the phone again and dialed. “Mr. Talos. This is Pelias up in Finance. I’m sending two contractors down to discuss our current ‘security situation.’ Please give them anything they ask for. Yes, they’ll be right down.” He hung up and turned back to Jason. “The security offices are downstairs on the 2nd subbasement level. I’m going to call some of Ace’s friends and see if they’ve heard from him. I’ll let you know if I hear anything and I assume you’ll do the same.”
Pelias nodded. “Sure. Mr. Talos is still here.” He picked up the phone again and dialed. “Mr. Talos. This is Pelias up in Finance. I’m sending two contractors down to discuss our current ‘security situation.’ Please give them anything they ask for. Yes, they’ll be right down.” He hung up and turned back to Jason. “The security offices are downstairs on the 2nd subbasement level. I’m going to call some of Ace’s friends and see if they’ve heard from him. I’ll let you know if I hear anything and I assume you’ll do the same.”29
“Oh, and Jason?” Pelias motioned for him to come close and he complied. “Keep an eye on that one,” he whispered in his ear. “I don’t trust her as far as I could throw her.”
“Oh, and Jason?” Pelias motioned for him to come close and he complied. “Keep an eye on that one,” he whispered in his ear. “I don’t trust her as far as I could throw her.”30
“Interesting words coming from a serpent like you. My plans don’t include throwing her.” He winked impishly and left the office.
“Interesting words coming from a serpent like you. My plans don’t include throwing her.” He winked impishly and left the office.31
As they walked back down the hall to the elevator, Medea spoke up. “So that was the bastard of the boardroom. He doesn’t seem so bad.”
As they walked back down the hall to the elevator, Medea spoke up. “So that was the bastard of the boardroom. He doesn’t seem so bad.”33
Medea did not take the hint. “Of course, he might have calmed down over the last few years. You would know better than me. Are you two close?”
Medea did not take the hint. “Of course, he might have calmed down over the last few years. You would know better than me. Are you two close?”35
There was a brief moment of awkward silence. “Jason,” Medea started. “I’m sorry. That was insensitive of me. I heard rumors about your father. I guess I just thought it was a rumor.”
There was a brief moment of awkward silence. “Jason,” Medea started. “I’m sorry. That was insensitive of me. I heard rumors about your father. I guess I just thought it was a rumor.”36
“You know an awful lot about me, Medea,” Jason said pointedly. “I think at some point you might have to shed some light on yourself.” And he left it at that.
“You know an awful lot about me, Medea,” Jason said pointedly. “I think at some point you might have to shed some light on yourself.” And he left it at that.37
As they made it down to the subbasement level, the door opened and revealed one of the largest individuals Jason had ever seen. He would have dwarfed even Herk, but that wasn’t the man’s most obvious physical characteristic. The imposing figure appeared to be completely hairless—and his skin was bronze. So bronze, in fact, that it looked like he was a statue cast out of the metal or at the very least a street performer that had painted his skin that color. It even had a metallic sheen.
As they made it down to the subbasement level, the door opened and revealed one of the largest individuals Jason had ever seen. He would have dwarfed even Herk, but that wasn’t the man’s most obvious physical characteristic. The imposing figure appeared to be completely hairless—and his skin was bronze. So bronze, in fact, that it looked like he was a statue cast out of the metal or at the very least a street performer that had painted his skin that color. It even had a metallic sheen.39
The bronze man didn’t seem to notice. He didn’t seem to have any expression on his face at all. “Are you two the contractors that Mr. Pelias sent down?” he asked in a deep, rumbling voice.
The bronze man didn’t seem to notice. He didn’t seem to have any expression on his face at all. “Are you two the contractors that Mr. Pelias sent down?” he asked in a deep, rumbling voice.42
“You should really lay off on the tanning bed,” Jason said, trying to break the ice. “There are other ways to deal with seasonal affective disorder.”
“You should really lay off on the tanning bed,” Jason said, trying to break the ice. “There are other ways to deal with seasonal affective disorder.”43
“It’s a genetic condition. Come with me,” was all he said. He led the duo down the hall to his office. There appeared to be some construction in process—a pile of lumber sat in the hall outside of the office and a tape measure, level, and nail gun rested on top of the wood.
“It’s a genetic condition. Come with me,” was all he said. He led the duo down the hall to his office. There appeared to be some construction in process—a pile of lumber sat in the hall outside of the office and a tape measure, level, and nail gun rested on top of the wood.45
Talos grunted. “It’s mostly for show. But it has given us a plausible excuse for closing off the entire wing of the building where the Fleece was being held.”
Talos grunted. “It’s mostly for show. But it has given us a plausible excuse for closing off the entire wing of the building where the Fleece was being held.”47
“I know.” The man took a close look at the hero. “I know you. Jason. You are one of the heroes from the Argo.” Both were statements, not questions, so Jason did not bother to confirm.
“I know.” The man took a close look at the hero. “I know you. Jason. You are one of the heroes from the Argo.” Both were statements, not questions, so Jason did not bother to confirm.49
“This is an internal matter,” Mr. Talos replied stiffly. “We do not need outside interference, especially not from you has-beens.”
“This is an internal matter,” Mr. Talos replied stiffly. “We do not need outside interference, especially not from you has-beens.”50
Jason let the insult slide off his back. “That’s not for either of us to decide. You’ve got your orders, and I’ve got mine, and I’m pretty sure that for both of us those orders are to play nice.”
Jason let the insult slide off his back. “That’s not for either of us to decide. You’ve got your orders, and I’ve got mine, and I’m pretty sure that for both of us those orders are to play nice.”52
“You have a security guard on staff named Yu Phemus that didn’t show up for his shift last night while the Fleece was being stolen.”
“You have a security guard on staff named Yu Phemus that didn’t show up for his shift last night while the Fleece was being stolen.”55
“He called in and told me that he’d sprained his ankle and couldn’t walk. He’s a subpar guard and would probably make an abysmal thief. And since he was not here when the Fleece was stolen, I doubt highly that he did it. Do you have evidence showing otherwise?”
“He called in and told me that he’d sprained his ankle and couldn’t walk. He’s a subpar guard and would probably make an abysmal thief. And since he was not here when the Fleece was stolen, I doubt highly that he did it. Do you have evidence showing otherwise?”56
“No, but your own security records show that someone used Yu’s security card to access the area by the vault during the heist.” Talos made no indication as to whether or not this was new information to him.
“No, but your own security records show that someone used Yu’s security card to access the area by the vault during the heist.” Talos made no indication as to whether or not this was new information to him.57
“So your working theory is that Yu called in sick, but then came in anyway and stole the Fleece? I hope that we are not paying you heroes that much for your stellar detective work.”
“So your working theory is that Yu called in sick, but then came in anyway and stole the Fleece? I hope that we are not paying you heroes that much for your stellar detective work.”58
Ignoring the further criticism, Jason soldiered on with his line of questioning. “Yu claims that someone stole his ID card last Tuesday and that he reported it to you.”
Ignoring the further criticism, Jason soldiered on with his line of questioning. “Yu claims that someone stole his ID card last Tuesday and that he reported it to you.”64
“Well I heard something really interesting about how Yu sprained his ankle. We did a little extra research and you’d be amazed at what one of his neighbors saw.”
“Well I heard something really interesting about how Yu sprained his ankle. We did a little extra research and you’d be amazed at what one of his neighbors saw.”65
For the first time in the conversation, the bronze man showed at hint of emotion: it was a mix of fear and disbelief. “That is impossible. There were no witnesses.” Talos immediately realized that he had revealed too much. He lunged forward, roaring, and wrapped his huge hands around Jason’s neck. Jason struggled against the giant man, but Talos was far too strong. The security chief wrestled the hero to the ground and continued to choke the life out of him. Medea leapt on top of Talos and began to scratch at his back, but with a slight shrug the bronze man tossed her from his back and onto the floor.
For the first time in the conversation, the bronze man showed at hint of emotion: it was a mix of fear and disbelief. “That is impossible. There were no witnesses.” Talos immediately realized that he had revealed too much. He lunged forward, roaring, and wrapped his huge hands around Jason’s neck. Jason struggled against the giant man, but Talos was far too strong. The security chief wrestled the hero to the ground and continued to choke the life out of him. Medea leapt on top of Talos and began to scratch at his back, but with a slight shrug the bronze man tossed her from his back and onto the floor.66
Jason pawed at Talos’ face but could feel his energy being sapped out of him little by little as the seconds passed. Why did I leave Herk with Orpheus? was all he could think as he began to slip out of consciousness.
Jason pawed at Talos’ face but could feel his energy being sapped out of him little by little as the seconds passed. Why did I leave Herk with Orpheus? was all he could think as he began to slip out of consciousness.67
Just as he was about to sink into oblivion, Jason heard a loud cha-chunk followed immediately by a cry of anguish. The hands around his neck loosened and Talos reeled back, clutching his own neck. He grasped at it frantically, and without thinking pulled a foreign object free from his neck. It was a long copper nail. A few feet away, Medea crouched with a look of horror on her face and Talos’ nail gun in her hand. Once the nail was free, blood spurted from the man’s neck, much like he was in a low budget horror film. The bronze man fell to his knees and tried to call out, but only gurgled up blood.
Just as he was about to sink into oblivion, Jason heard a loud cha-chunk followed immediately by a cry of anguish. The hands around his neck loosened and Talos reeled back, clutching his own neck. He grasped at it frantically, and without thinking pulled a foreign object free from his neck. It was a long copper nail. A few feet away, Medea crouched with a look of horror on her face and Talos’ nail gun in her hand. Once the nail was free, blood spurted from the man’s neck, much like he was in a low budget horror film. The bronze man fell to his knees and tried to call out, but only gurgled up blood.68
Having barely regained his senses, Jason got to his feet and looked for something to stop the bleeding. Not seeing anything in the office, he pulled off his own shirt and held it tight to the security chief’s neck.
Having barely regained his senses, Jason got to his feet and looked for something to stop the bleeding. Not seeing anything in the office, he pulled off his own shirt and held it tight to the security chief’s neck.73
“Come on, man!” Still holding the shirt tight with one hand, Jason slapped Talos across the face, trying to keep him conscious.
“Come on, man!” Still holding the shirt tight with one hand, Jason slapped Talos across the face, trying to keep him conscious.74
“Colll, Collllchhhhhis,” he managed to get out, and then his body went into a fit of convulsions followed by an awful grim peace.
“Colll, Collllchhhhhis,” he managed to get out, and then his body went into a fit of convulsions followed by an awful grim peace.75
“Dammit!” Jason swore. He looked over at Medea and she was shaking visibly, her eyes affixed to the bloodied, bronze corpse lying on the floor and her hand still on the trigger of the nail gun.
“Dammit!” Jason swore. He looked over at Medea and she was shaking visibly, her eyes affixed to the bloodied, bronze corpse lying on the floor and her hand still on the trigger of the nail gun.76
Jason moved slowly and methodically over to her, though he was still a bit groggy. “It’s alright,” he said, attempting to soothe her. “It’s over now. You can put down the gun.” Her eyes darted back and forth wildly between Jason and Talos. Jason sat down next to her and gently eased the nail gun out of her grasp and placed it on the floor. Placing his arm over her shoulder, he pulled her into a tight embrace. “It’s ok. It’s ok,” he repeated over and over again.
Jason moved slowly and methodically over to her, though he was still a bit groggy. “It’s alright,” he said, attempting to soothe her. “It’s over now. You can put down the gun.” Her eyes darted back and forth wildly between Jason and Talos. Jason sat down next to her and gently eased the nail gun out of her grasp and placed it on the floor. Placing his arm over her shoulder, he pulled her into a tight embrace. “It’s ok. It’s ok,” he repeated over and over again.77
After a few minutes, her breathing and pulse both went back to normal. “I think I’m ok,” she finally told him.
After a few minutes, her breathing and pulse both went back to normal. “I think I’m ok,” she finally told him.80
“You got him right in the jugular,” Jason told her, sounding a little impressed. “It turns out that you are still the hero of this adventure, not me.”
“You got him right in the jugular,” Jason told her, sounding a little impressed. “It turns out that you are still the hero of this adventure, not me.”81
Medea couldn’t help but smile as she cuddled up in Jason’s arms. The smile didn’t last long. “That last thing he said, did he say what I think he said?” she asked.
Medea couldn’t help but smile as she cuddled up in Jason’s arms. The smile didn’t last long. “That last thing he said, did he say what I think he said?” she asked.83
“The Colchis Corporation is a military contractor—they make everything from machine guns to missiles and use them to arm their own private army.”
“The Colchis Corporation is a military contractor—they make everything from machine guns to missiles and use them to arm their own private army.”85
“Exactly. They’ve been trying to set up shop in New Olympus for years now, but OLI has blocked them from getting any support from the city council.”
“Exactly. They’ve been trying to set up shop in New Olympus for years now, but OLI has blocked them from getting any support from the city council.”86
“And so they not only take OLI’s number one source of income—Colchis uses the moment of weakness as an opportunity to encroach upon OLI’s territory.” That was a scenario that finally made some sense.
“And so they not only take OLI’s number one source of income—Colchis uses the moment of weakness as an opportunity to encroach upon OLI’s territory.” That was a scenario that finally made some sense.89
Medea looked up at Jason with her deep, dark eyes. “Because their CEO just happens to be my father.”
Medea looked up at Jason with her deep, dark eyes. “Because their CEO just happens to be my father.”
