Jeyna: A History

Jason

Jason felt like being unconscious was his go to move nowadays. His head was in a constant state of discomfort and pain, he was just glad the Fuchsia hydra he had named Bill (who had miraculously appeared after his last concussion) didn't make a guest appearance.

He had surfaced back into reality to see the moon shining back at him. It wasn't full but was distinct enough that Jason could just make out the shapes of the Mare Imbrium and the Copernicus crater that he studied while just a pup in Lupa's den. The sky was clear, he would be content to just bask in the starlight for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, based on the day, week, and lifetime Jason was having things didn't go his way.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw the flicker of a torch bouncing off the water's edge. Jason sat up slowly and realized he was on the docs outside of camp. Boats floated on the murky surface of the water, and he could tell by the lights to the west that he was on the bay. The hushed voices coming from the darkness all around him told him that he was not alone. All around Jason campers, some of which Jason recognized were sitting in small groups up and down the dock. It was too dark that Jason could only make out the faces of some of his friends. One particularly twitchy kid with red stained lips sat in the glow of a distant torch. Dakota was speaking to a group of other campers huddled around him.

Jason crept closer to the group and saw that their uniform purple SPQR camper shirts were replaced with orange jumpsuits. The group of boys no longer looked like roughhousing teenagers but a small group of thugs hidden inside a prison yard. Jason looked down to find that he was still in his t-shirt and jeans, however his armor had been removed. A moment of panic overwhelmed Jason as he reached into his pocket. To his relief his golden coin was still there.

When Jason reached the group Dakota's face lit up. "Yes! I knew Jason was around her somewhere. How's your head feeling sparky?"

Jason's head was a little sore, but he wasn't going to give Dakota the satisfaction of admitting that. Joining the circle Jason knew two of the five campers sitting around him. Dakota directly across from him, and a kid named Omard just to the left. Omard was in the third cohort but was often summoned to senate meetings. Jason knew the others in passing but not enough to place a name or cohort. They were all wearing the same shade of orange but Jason notice that two of the campers had cuffs on their ankles.

"What are those for?" Jason asked.

"No idea" said Dakota, "They were on us when we woke up."

Jason stood up slowly and scanned the area. All he could see were groups of campers like his own. At the edge of the dock stretching off into the Berkley Hills he could only see darkness. No lights of the city, no rescue party from the Legion. They were truly alone.

"Did anyone know about the attack?" Jason asked, failing to return to his position on the ground. His eyes were still scanning for some unpredicted form of movement. Omard stood up next to Jason.

"If we did, the Praetors didn't care to share."

The other boys joined the two standing, "Jason, what are you looking at?" Dakota chimed in the background. But that was just it, Jason didn't see anything, anyone. The small group of campers were alone and seemingly unguarded.

"Has anyone seen tried to leave?" Jason asked facing the group.

"What? Don't you think if we could we would?" One of the campers that Jason didn't recognize responded.

"Then where are the guards? Who is stopping us? There is no one here!" Jason was getting agitated. He couldn't sting just sitting here not doing anything. If this was Kronos or Atlas then there were bigger dangers on the horizon. Jason freed the torch from the halter on the edge of the dock and began a brisk pace back towards the grass. There were cries and shouts behind him, with the torch now in hand he saw others from his cohort, others from the city, non-Legion members.

Rage filled Jason. Everyone was just sitting and not doing anything while the enemy was pillaging the city. His home. The shouts and warning cries behind him grew louder until finally Jason felt a hard thud in his right shoulder.

He tumbled to the ground his face taking the blunt of the impact. With a moan Jason rolled over to see Michael Kahale standing over him. The son of Venus pulled Jason to his feet by the collar of his shirt. His head was spinning and out of the corner of his eye he thought he saw a hint of Fuchsia. He could stand but just barely. Jason was trying to form a coherent sentence while mustering the strength he had to not vomit all over Michael (he would NOT appreciate that).

"You moron Grace! Do you know what you almost did!?" Jason decided that the should probably respond the 2nd of the three Michaels that were in front of him (if he didn't have a concussion before he certainly had one now)

"I was trying to leave. We are all alone. We aren't being guarded. We can't just wait here. We have to do something!" Michael couldn't have looked more exasperated with him.

"Did no one bring him up to speed? We are being watched. We can't leave." Michael sighed,"They have Telemachus, and Aaron is already dead."