Table of Contents1
The real Colchis base was a barge anchored about a mile off the shore of New Olympus and from the warehouse, in the Bay of Poseidon. Jason, Atlanta, Herk, and Aetes, along with six armed guards, traveled there via two zodiac speedboats. The ship, ominously named the Sword of Ares, was immense. As they approached it, the barge emerged on the horizon as a gigantic mechanical island in the bay.
The real Colchis base was a barge anchored about a mile off the shore of New Olympus and from the warehouse, in the Bay of Poseidon. Jason, Atlanta, Herk, and Aetes, along with six armed guards, traveled there via two zodiac speedboats. The ship, ominously named the Sword of Ares, was immense. As they approached it, the barge emerged on the horizon as a gigantic mechanical island in the bay.2
Once aboard the cargo ship, Aetes barked once more for his son. “Have him and his guest meet me in the grove. I’d like to show our heroes something.”
Once aboard the cargo ship, Aetes barked once more for his son. “Have him and his guest meet me in the grove. I’d like to show our heroes something.”3
“This is some operation you have here, Baron,” Jason said, without a hint of sarcasm. Truly, he was a little wowed by the sheer scale of Colchis’ operation.
“This is some operation you have here, Baron,” Jason said, without a hint of sarcasm. Truly, he was a little wowed by the sheer scale of Colchis’ operation.4
“Thank you, Jason,” Aetes replied, taking the compliment in stride. “The Sword of Ares is a fully functional remote operations station for us. It’s basically a city on the water—food, lodging, manufacturing—we do it all here. It’s a true marvel of the modern world.”
“Thank you, Jason,” Aetes replied, taking the compliment in stride. “The Sword of Ares is a fully functional remote operations station for us. It’s basically a city on the water—food, lodging, manufacturing—we do it all here. It’s a true marvel of the modern world.”6
“I’m not sure what you have heard about us, Jason,” Aetes continued. “But we’re not the bad guys. Colchis has done a lot of good in the world, much like you and your companions. We come highly recommended and I can offer several personal business and character references.”
“I’m not sure what you have heard about us, Jason,” Aetes continued. “But we’re not the bad guys. Colchis has done a lot of good in the world, much like you and your companions. We come highly recommended and I can offer several personal business and character references.”9
“You aren’t making a great case that you aren’t a criminal there, Baron. Of course, it didn’t help that you put a price on my head. And a pretty cheap price at that. I’m a little offended.”
“You aren’t making a great case that you aren’t a criminal there, Baron. Of course, it didn’t help that you put a price on my head. And a pretty cheap price at that. I’m a little offended.”10
Aetes chuckled. “I do apologize for that. My son is a bit, how do we say, direct with his problem solving. Trust me when I say that I would much prefer you and your friends be allies than dead enemies.
Aetes chuckled. “I do apologize for that. My son is a bit, how do we say, direct with his problem solving. Trust me when I say that I would much prefer you and your friends be allies than dead enemies.11
The military man and his guards led them across the deck of the barge and loaded them into a transport vehicle. From there, the truck shuttled the heroes into the heart of the Sword of Ares. As they got deeper and deeper into the ship, it did start to resemble a small city. There were houses, shops, even restaurants. Every person they saw—man and woman—wore the same red Colchis uniform, and all of them were packing serious heat. Similarly, all the buildings, despite their various functions, were completely uniform and lacked any style or adornment.
The military man and his guards led them across the deck of the barge and loaded them into a transport vehicle. From there, the truck shuttled the heroes into the heart of the Sword of Ares. As they got deeper and deeper into the ship, it did start to resemble a small city. There were houses, shops, even restaurants. Every person they saw—man and woman—wore the same red Colchis uniform, and all of them were packing serious heat. Similarly, all the buildings, despite their various functions, were completely uniform and lacked any style or adornment.12
One building on the ship stood out from the others, and that was the structure where their truck stopped and the guards shuffled the heroes out. The building in front them resembled an indoor arboretum. The tall walls were made of glass and tall trees filled the inside.
One building on the ship stood out from the others, and that was the structure where their truck stopped and the guards shuffled the heroes out. The building in front them resembled an indoor arboretum. The tall walls were made of glass and tall trees filled the inside.13
“Welcome to the Grove,” Aetes greeted them. The guards standing watch over the building saluted the Baron as he approached the door of the Grove. He saluted back and they in turn opened wide the doors.
“Welcome to the Grove,” Aetes greeted them. The guards standing watch over the building saluted the Baron as he approached the door of the Grove. He saluted back and they in turn opened wide the doors.14
The contents of the Grove were completely at odds with the rest of the ship—there was lush flora ranging from beautiful flowering plants to towering trees. Rustling, croaking, and chirping sounds indicated a wide variety of fauna as well.
The contents of the Grove were completely at odds with the rest of the ship—there was lush flora ranging from beautiful flowering plants to towering trees. Rustling, croaking, and chirping sounds indicated a wide variety of fauna as well.16
Jason couldn’t help but agree. It was remarkable. “How does all of this exist on a boat?” Jason thought out loud.
Jason couldn’t help but agree. It was remarkable. “How does all of this exist on a boat?” Jason thought out loud.17
“Experimental terraforming and environmental reclamation technology,” the Baron responded. “As I mentioned before, we’re not all about bombs and guns. Many of our technological advances do have civilian and humanitarian applications.” As they strode deeper into the forested area Jason spied a variety of rare animal breeds.
“Experimental terraforming and environmental reclamation technology,” the Baron responded. “As I mentioned before, we’re not all about bombs and guns. Many of our technological advances do have civilian and humanitarian applications.” As they strode deeper into the forested area Jason spied a variety of rare animal breeds.18
“Is that an Artemisian stag?” Jason asked, pointing at a horned animal grazing just a few feet off the path.
“Is that an Artemisian stag?” Jason asked, pointing at a horned animal grazing just a few feet off the path.21
“I’m a bit of a collector when it comes to rare wildlife. Everyone needs a hobby, and it is mine. I’ve also managed to acquire a pair of Stymphalian birds, a seven toed sloth, three Turkish turtles, and a Tasmanian devil.”
“I’m a bit of a collector when it comes to rare wildlife. Everyone needs a hobby, and it is mine. I’ve also managed to acquire a pair of Stymphalian birds, a seven toed sloth, three Turkish turtles, and a Tasmanian devil.”23
“Speaking of just that,” Aetes said, “I’d like to show you two of my most prized possessions.” They had come to a large stable, complete with bales of hay and feeding troughs. The baron put two fingers to his lips and whistled sharply. There was movement inside the darkness of the stable and two large bulls emerged. Similar to the Fleece, their hides were shiny and metallic; in this case, they were made of bronze.
“Speaking of just that,” Aetes said, “I’d like to show you two of my most prized possessions.” They had come to a large stable, complete with bales of hay and feeding troughs. The baron put two fingers to his lips and whistled sharply. There was movement inside the darkness of the stable and two large bulls emerged. Similar to the Fleece, their hides were shiny and metallic; in this case, they were made of bronze.28
“They’d be the most valuable balls in the world,” Herk continued, speaking to no one in particular. The bulls’ owner did not seem to hear any of the conversation.
“They’d be the most valuable balls in the world,” Herk continued, speaking to no one in particular. The bulls’ owner did not seem to hear any of the conversation.29
“Forged from the fires of Mount Olympus, built upon the anvil of Hephaestus himself,” Aetes declared proudly, like a father introducing his first born child. One of the bulls snorted and flames flickered from its nostrils. “They take after their maker that way. It makes it difficult to keep hay around, I will admit.”
“Forged from the fires of Mount Olympus, built upon the anvil of Hephaestus himself,” Aetes declared proudly, like a father introducing his first born child. One of the bulls snorted and flames flickered from its nostrils. “They take after their maker that way. It makes it difficult to keep hay around, I will admit.”30
“And it’s why we didn’t build them a wooden barn,” a new voice added from behind them. The heroes turned. Without asking, Jason knew this must be Aetes’ son Absyrtus. He was a mirror image of his father, save for being about thirty years younger. Medea was there too, looking calm, collected, and at ease.
“And it’s why we didn’t build them a wooden barn,” a new voice added from behind them. The heroes turned. Without asking, Jason knew this must be Aetes’ son Absyrtus. He was a mirror image of his father, save for being about thirty years younger. Medea was there too, looking calm, collected, and at ease.34
“This place is beautiful,” she noted. “It looks like you finally found a place worthy of the bulls.”
“This place is beautiful,” she noted. “It looks like you finally found a place worthy of the bulls.”41
Absyrtus spoke up. “Come on, Father. She’s here, we’re here. What’s the harm? You’re going to show these dinosaurs, aren’t you?”
Absyrtus spoke up. “Come on, Father. She’s here, we’re here. What’s the harm? You’re going to show these dinosaurs, aren’t you?”44
Herk looked crushed. “Damn. That would have been cool. I’ve always wanted to wrestle a stegosaurus.”
Herk looked crushed. “Damn. That would have been cool. I’ve always wanted to wrestle a stegosaurus.”46
“I’d settle for a triceratops,” he noted, not missing a beat. “Or maybe a t-rex.” Atlanta let out an exasperated sigh.
“I’d settle for a triceratops,” he noted, not missing a beat. “Or maybe a t-rex.” Atlanta let out an exasperated sigh.47
“Fine!” Aetes snapped, ending all of the side conversations. “Everyone come with me.” They followed the baron past the stables and into an opening in the Grove. “I noted one thing from our liberation of the Fleece from Olympus Lightning, and that is not to trust people alone as a security measure. People can be bought, manipulated, and removed from play. I needed a security protocol that could not be bribed.”
“Fine!” Aetes snapped, ending all of the side conversations. “Everyone come with me.” They followed the baron past the stables and into an opening in the Grove. “I noted one thing from our liberation of the Fleece from Olympus Lightning, and that is not to trust people alone as a security measure. People can be bought, manipulated, and removed from play. I needed a security protocol that could not be bribed.”50
Surprise indeed, Jason thought. Resting comfortably in the middle of the opening was the Golden Fleece. The ram looked content, which was surprising, considering the circumstances. Curled up around the golden animal was a very large, very green reptilian beast.
Surprise indeed, Jason thought. Resting comfortably in the middle of the opening was the Golden Fleece. The ram looked content, which was surprising, considering the circumstances. Curled up around the golden animal was a very large, very green reptilian beast.54
“Dragon,” Jason repeated, his gaze still affixed to the scaled beast. “I wasn’t expecting a dragon. I didn’t even know there were any dragons left. Good surprise, sir.”
“Dragon,” Jason repeated, his gaze still affixed to the scaled beast. “I wasn’t expecting a dragon. I didn’t even know there were any dragons left. Good surprise, sir.”55
“There are a few. This one has been in the family for some time. And Surprise is actually her name.”
“There are a few. This one has been in the family for some time. And Surprise is actually her name.”57
“She’s not the only one,” Aetes told his daughter. “You’ve become quite the woman since I last saw you.”
“She’s not the only one,” Aetes told his daughter. “You’ve become quite the woman since I last saw you.”59
“What? You’ve known me for less than twenty-four hours. I’m sure that there are plenty of things I don’t know about you too.”
“What? You’ve known me for less than twenty-four hours. I’m sure that there are plenty of things I don’t know about you too.”63
“You really don’t know?” Jason asked, incredulous. “You didn’t send your daughter to seduce me and throw me off your trail?”
“You really don’t know?” Jason asked, incredulous. “You didn’t send your daughter to seduce me and throw me off your trail?”66
Without saying a word, Absyrtus walked over to Jason and punched him in the gut. The hero reeled over in pain. “Sorry!” Jason apologized. “My bad. That was a little crude of me.”
Without saying a word, Absyrtus walked over to Jason and punched him in the gut. The hero reeled over in pain. “Sorry!” Jason apologized. “My bad. That was a little crude of me.”67
Herk leaned to the side and whispered to Atlanta. “I’m trying to keep up. Did Medea double-cross us or not?”
Herk leaned to the side and whispered to Atlanta. “I’m trying to keep up. Did Medea double-cross us or not?”74
Medea shifted uncomfortably from the ball of one foot to the other. “I’m here for the Fleece,” she admitted.
Medea shifted uncomfortably from the ball of one foot to the other. “I’m here for the Fleece,” she admitted.76
“The Fleece doesn’t belong to Olympus Lightning anymore than it belongs to you, Dad. It belongs to the people.”
“The Fleece doesn’t belong to Olympus Lightning anymore than it belongs to you, Dad. It belongs to the people.”77
Aetes couldn’t help but laugh. It started as a low chuckle but grew until it overcame him. Absyrtus, not entirely sure what the joke was about, decided to nonetheless follow his father’s lead and also began to laugh raucously. Between wheezes, Aetes told his daughter, “Medea, Medea, Medea. Always the idealist. Did you think you could just come in here and ask me for it and after all these years I’d find a soft spot in my heart for you and turn it over, after all I’ve done to get it in the first place? Or did you expect to snatch the Fleece from me?”
Aetes couldn’t help but laugh. It started as a low chuckle but grew until it overcame him. Absyrtus, not entirely sure what the joke was about, decided to nonetheless follow his father’s lead and also began to laugh raucously. Between wheezes, Aetes told his daughter, “Medea, Medea, Medea. Always the idealist. Did you think you could just come in here and ask me for it and after all these years I’d find a soft spot in my heart for you and turn it over, after all I’ve done to get it in the first place? Or did you expect to snatch the Fleece from me?”78
“I didn’t,” she replied simply. “I was going to let Jason and the heroes take it and then steal it from them.”
“I didn’t,” she replied simply. “I was going to let Jason and the heroes take it and then steal it from them.”80
“Yeah, I got that Herk, thanks,” Jason snapped. “So you were playing me from the start?” Medea nodded. “And it wasn’t a coincidence that you were at Nyx last night.”
“Yeah, I got that Herk, thanks,” Jason snapped. “So you were playing me from the start?” Medea nodded. “And it wasn’t a coincidence that you were at Nyx last night.”81
“No, that was a surprise. I was at Nyx for the same reason you were—looking for information. When I saw you and Herk talking to Hades I assumed you were also searching for the Fleece. Look, Jason, I’m really sorry. I…”
“No, that was a surprise. I was at Nyx for the same reason you were—looking for information. When I saw you and Herk talking to Hades I assumed you were also searching for the Fleece. Look, Jason, I’m really sorry. I…”82
“I’m not really interested in anything you have to say,” he said coldly, cutting Medea off in the middle of her apology. Jason turned to Aetes. “Everyone’s cards are on the table, Baron, except for yours. What is your end game?”
“I’m not really interested in anything you have to say,” he said coldly, cutting Medea off in the middle of her apology. Jason turned to Aetes. “Everyone’s cards are on the table, Baron, except for yours. What is your end game?”83
Aetes launched into another fit of laughs. “I’m not some villain from a movie, Jason. I have no intentions of rattling off my master plan in a maniacal monologue.”
Aetes launched into another fit of laughs. “I’m not some villain from a movie, Jason. I have no intentions of rattling off my master plan in a maniacal monologue.”84
“Then why did you bring us here and show us all of this?” the hero demanded. “Why not just feed us to the dragon now?”
“Then why did you bring us here and show us all of this?” the hero demanded. “Why not just feed us to the dragon now?”86
“Behave yourself, Surprise,” Aetes scolded. “I’m not going to kill you because I’m not a monster. And I still have plans for you heroes.” He turned to his son and the guards. “Take our guests to the brig. Make sure they’re comfortable.”
“Behave yourself, Surprise,” Aetes scolded. “I’m not going to kill you because I’m not a monster. And I still have plans for you heroes.” He turned to his son and the guards. “Take our guests to the brig. Make sure they’re comfortable.”90
Aetes snorted. “Surprise wouldn’t eat you if I wrapped you in bacon and dipped you in barbeque sauce.”
Aetes snorted. “Surprise wouldn’t eat you if I wrapped you in bacon and dipped you in barbeque sauce.”92
“But that doesn’t mean you can be trusted, daughter. Put her in the brig with the rest,” he commanded.
“But that doesn’t mean you can be trusted, daughter. Put her in the brig with the rest,” he commanded.94
The brig was the opposite of the Grove: barren, desolate, and gray. The cells were built for two (that is, two normal-sized people, not two Herk-sized people), but Absyrtus put all three heroes in one and Medea in another adjoining cell.
The brig was the opposite of the Grove: barren, desolate, and gray. The cells were built for two (that is, two normal-sized people, not two Herk-sized people), but Absyrtus put all three heroes in one and Medea in another adjoining cell.96
“Keep joking, hero,” Absyrtus replied grimly. “You’ll end up in a body bag yet.” He then stormed away brusquely.
“Keep joking, hero,” Absyrtus replied grimly. “You’ll end up in a body bag yet.” He then stormed away brusquely.97
“You have a lovely family, Medea,” Jason said after the soldier had passed out of earshot. “You all are such a wonderful group of sociopaths.”
“You have a lovely family, Medea,” Jason said after the soldier had passed out of earshot. “You all are such a wonderful group of sociopaths.”98
“Shut up, Jason,” she replied from the cell next door. “Just shut up.” From the other side of the wall Jason could hear her whispering to herself. He couldn’t quite make out what she was saying, so he pressed his ear against the wall, straining to listen.
“Shut up, Jason,” she replied from the cell next door. “Just shut up.” From the other side of the wall Jason could hear her whispering to herself. He couldn’t quite make out what she was saying, so he pressed his ear against the wall, straining to listen.101
Jason glanced at Herk, who was sizing up their cell, testing out the strength of the walls and bars. The giant shook his head sadly. “I’m strong, but not that strong, boss. We’re stuck here.” Jason didn’t have a better idea. He traced back his steps, trying to think of another path he could have taken that would have led to a better result. Would another hero have done anything differently? Would Odysseus or Theseus have done anything differently? Did it matter?
Jason glanced at Herk, who was sizing up their cell, testing out the strength of the walls and bars. The giant shook his head sadly. “I’m strong, but not that strong, boss. We’re stuck here.” Jason didn’t have a better idea. He traced back his steps, trying to think of another path he could have taken that would have led to a better result. Would another hero have done anything differently? Would Odysseus or Theseus have done anything differently? Did it matter?102
“Look, I know it doesn’t help at all,” Medea said, “but I did—do—like you. You can be pretty sweet, when you aren’t being a dick.”
“Look, I know it doesn’t help at all,” Medea said, “but I did—do—like you. You can be pretty sweet, when you aren’t being a dick.”104
“Twice,” she clarified. She reached her hand out through the bars of her cell and offered it to Jason. “You’ll figure this out,” she reassured him. Not knowing what else to do, he extended his own hand and interlocked it with hers. Clutching his hand tightly, she reminded him, “You’re the hero of this story, remember?”
“Twice,” she clarified. She reached her hand out through the bars of her cell and offered it to Jason. “You’ll figure this out,” she reassured him. Not knowing what else to do, he extended his own hand and interlocked it with hers. Clutching his hand tightly, she reminded him, “You’re the hero of this story, remember?”
