The group stayed close together as they hiked out with Jim in the lead. The statues, once ominous and terrifying, no longer held the same fear—Jim and his team now had a better understanding of the person responsible for them.

  As they began descending the path toward the riverbank, Jim spotted movement below—figures weaving their way upwards by a different path on the rocky terrain. He motioned for everyone to stop.

  As the distance between them closed, the figures came into focus: five male warriors in ancient attire. They wore chitons—knee-length tunics cinched at the waist by belts—light-colored and practical. Each carried a large round shield and a spear, except for the one in front. He wielded a highly polished bronze shield and a sword with an unusual hook at its midpoint, the entire blade glowing faintly blue as if infused with some radioactive energy.

  Jim whispered, “Medusa, get behind me. Let us handle this.”

  She slipped behind him without a word.

  Jim raised his voice toward the approaching warriors. “You there! Halt! Don’t come any closer!”

  Veronica raised her rifle and zeroed in on the leader. Hansen and Brown trained their sights on the others, shifting their aim periodically to cover as many as possible. Outnumbered, the team stayed sharp, weapons steady.

  Jim drew his pistol and leveled it at one of them.

  The warriors stopped and ducked behind their shields, spears raised in poised, ready-to-throw grips.

  “Who are you?” Jim demanded.

  The warrior declared, “I am Perseus, son of Zeus. I have come to slay Medusa.” His gaze locked onto Medusa, and he pointed his glowing sword at her. “Is that the beast?”

  “Watch who you’re calling a beast,” Veronica snapped, her expression darkening.

  Perseus stepped forward. “I have come from the city of Argos. To save its people—and the princess, Andromeda—I need Medusa’s head. Its gaze can turn the Cetus to stone. Help me, or stand aside.”

  Veronica shouted, “Tough shit, cabrón! Argos and Andromeda aren’t our problem. Find another way,” as she tightened her grip on her rifle, finger on the trigger. “She’s under our protection!”

  “Protection? Are you mad?” Perseus scoffed. “That’s a monster! Stop this foolishness—restrain it so I can take its head!”

  The audible clicks of safeties being flipped off carried through the air.

  Veronica, her voice razor-sharp with warning, spat, “You hear that, Percy? Turn around and get outta here! I won’t say it again. This is your last warning.”

  “Are you really going to kill him?” Medusa asked, her voice pitched low.

  Jim exhaled steadily but firm. “I’d rather not. But if he pushes this.” He paused, assessing the threat. “I’ll have no choice. He’s set on taking your head.”

  “I’d prefer that you not take lives. Could you use a… taser on him?” Medusa asked.

  “Won’t work with that shield in the way,” Jim said, turning to Veronica. He lowered his voice. “Give him a warning shot.”

  “Where do you want it, sir?” she asked.

  “If your aim’s good, put one through the far side of his shield—opposite his body. That should be enough to scare him.”

  “You said it!”

  Veronica’s rifle erupted with a flash and a thunderous crack. The bullet punched clean through the left edge of Perseus’s shield, carving a neat hole before slamming into a boulder behind him and chipping off a sizable chunk.

  The warriors dropped into a crouch, shields lowered to the ground. Medusa’s snakes flailed in response, stirred by the slight pressure wave from the gunfire.

  “The next one goes through you, cabrón! Don’t do anything stupid. Turn around and beat it!” Veronica yelled.

  Perseus and his men trembled—but then gritted their teeth and readied their spears.

  Jim saw Veronica adjust her stance, rifle steady, tracking the space where Perseus’s chest would be behind his shield.

  “These guys aren’t backing down. Looks like we might have to take them out,” Jim said to Veronica.

  “Understood. I got Percy.” She turned to the corporals. “You two take the others.”

  “Copy, Sarge,” Hansen and Brown answered.

  A deep, booming laugh erupted off to the side of Jim’s squad and shattered the tension that had been building around them. Jim whipped his pistol around as he scanned the surroundings.

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  A figure descended from above, landing with ease almost between the two parties. Standing nearly seven feet tall, the dark red creature resembled a massive, muscular human male with huge ram horns spiraling from his head, curving forward. Deep-set brown eyes peered from beneath heavy brows, while a thick, coarse beard that added to his fierce appearance framed his pointed nose and sharp jawline. His broad chest remained bare above crudely stitched linen shorts, and a long tail swayed behind him, completing his imposing and otherworldly presence.

  With his pistol raised, Jim aimed directly at the creature. However, the figure's laughter grew louder, his hands clutching his stomach.

  “Gentlemen, do not mind me. I come in peace,” his voice deep and full of mirth. He raised both hands, showing he was unarmed. “I am Phineus. A pleasure to meet you.”

  Jim kept his gun trained on him. “Lieutenant James Barnett. United States Army,” he said, voice firm.

  “Oh, what a title you have!” Phineus grinned. “That’s the longest name I’ve ever heard. Do people call you that every time?”

  Great, a wise guy, Jim thought, keeping his expression neutral. "No. For you, Lieutenant Barnett will suffice.”

  “All right then, Lieutenant Barnett.” Phineus’s expression turned serious. “Now, I don’t want to be any trouble. My business is with that one over there,” he said, pointing toward Perseus.

  “And what do you want with him?” Jim asked.

  “Well, I wanted him dead. He has been a big inconvenience to me. But now…” He motioned again toward Perseus. “Seeing the situation, I’d be happy to let you deal with him. However, I have a better idea.”

  “And that is?” Jim asked.

  “Well, first, I’d like to ask that everyone lower their weapons. I would rather not speak under a threat of death… if it’s all the same to you.”

  Jim responded, “Fine, but let’s start with Percy first.”

  Perseus hesitated, then shrugged at his men, who nodded. He gave the signal, and they slowly lowered their spears and shields.

  Seeing this, Jim holstered his pistol. Veronica and the two corporals flipped their rifle safeties on and angled their rifles toward the ground.

  “Good enough. Now then, would you be interested in my proposition?” Phineus asked.

  “I’m willing to hear it.” Jim replied with a hand on his holster.

  “So… here it is. Perseus, you said you needed Medusa’s head?”

  Perseus nodded.

  “But you don’t need her… dead,” Phineus said. “You could still accomplish your goals with her alive, couldn’t you?”

  Jim watched Perseus tense. The idea of a living gorgon fighting at his side clearly unsettled him. His eyes flicked toward Medusa, then back to the surrounding warriors. His grip on his sword tightened, knuckles turning pale—as if reaching for a weapon he knew he couldn’t use.

  It took no time for Jim to guess what he was thinking. Killing her and taking the head would be the easiest option. The cleanest.

  Jim saw it in his eyes—the quiet shift from defiance to calculation.

  Perseus exhaled sharply, his shoulders drawing inward as though the weight of defeat had just settled onto them. His lips pressed into a thin line before he finally spoke. “I suppose you’re right.” His words were slow and measured. His hand drifted away from the hilt of his sword as he swallowed hard. “Perhaps… she can help us. Alive.”

  “I don’t know,” Veronica whispered to Jim. “I don’t trust this ese, let alone work with him.”

  “Me neither,” Jim said. “But this is an option where everyone lives.”

  Jim turned to Medusa as she seemed to wrestle with something. Her expression shifted from anger to resolve. “I’ll do it,” she said, her voice hesitant yet firm.

  All eyes turned to her in shock.

  “What? You’d really do it?” Veronica asked.

  “Yes. Cetus—this is Poseidon’s pet, isn’t it?” she asked, directing the question at Perseus.

  “The very one,” he confirmed. “Poseidon plans to unleash it and destroy the city. The council sent us to find a way to stop it, and we were told your gaze is the key.”

  Medusa took a deep breath. “I understand. I’ll help you.”

  “See?” Phineus responded, smug. “This is all coming together rather nicely, wouldn’t you say?”

  Jim eyed him skeptically. “And what about you? What do you get out of this?”

  Phineus smirked. “Why, I want to marry Andromeda, my betrothed.” Phineus continued. “So here’s how this plays out: Medusa saves Argos. I marry Andromeda. Perseus walks away with the glory of forging powerful alliances.”

  He turned his gaze toward Jim. “And you? You get my friendship. My gratitude. I would owe you a debt beyond measure.”

  Jim raised an eyebrow. “That’s the best you can offer?”

  Phineus chuckled. “Oh, I can do better. There are things I know—things few others do. Knowledge. Secrets. Powerful secrets.”

  Jim studied him for a moment, eyes flicking briefly to his tail. Then he glanced at Medusa.

  “Phineus is King Acrisius of Argos’s half-brother,” she whispered to him. “He’s known for his vast knowledge.”

  Jim paused, the offer swimming in his head. Finally, he spoke. “You know what? As much as I want to say yes, I’ll have to run it through my superiors. How about we all discuss this at Fort Bogart?”

  Veronica shot him a look, skepticism plain in her eyes. “We’re really bringing all of them back to base?” she asked, motioning toward Perseus’s group.

  “Why not? They don’t seem to pose much of a threat. Command will want a firsthand account—and besides, they might be especially interested in getting a good look at Perseus and Phineus,” Jim replied.

  Veronica frowned, still unconvinced. “Yeah… okay then. You’re the boss.”

  Phineus folded his arms. “I’m not opposed to going with you, but where exactly is this… Fort Bogart? I’ve not heard of such a place.”

  “It’s our base of operations,” Jim explained. “Located high atop a cliff, far from anywhere you’d likely be familiar with.”

  Phineus threw up his hands. “And how, exactly, are we supposed to get there if it’s perched on some remote cliff?”

  Jim smirked. “We’ll be flying. It won’t take long—we’ll probably be there before sunset.”

  “Flying?” Phineus asked, staring at Jim in amazement.

  “Yes, with a flying machine. We can take everyone. I’ll explain more later,” Jim replied.

  “Incredible. A flying machine! Who would’ve thought?” Phineus exclaimed.

  “Then let’s go,” Jim said, turning to lead the group toward the helicopter.