A/N: Thank you to those who have reviewed and read this story. I regret to inform you that starting tomorrow I'll be leaving. (For more information, see my profile.) Until I return, I hope these updates will tide you over. Enjoy!

Chapter 12

Jack slowly moved through his forms, his balance perfect, his movements smooth. He could sense Zeyenth and Tra'yint were on either side of him matching him move for move. Three months had now passed since Jack had come to this Boy's Camp from Hades, and though he definitely wasn't enjoying every second of it, he had certainly adjusted. In absolute silence, he and the other boys in his herd flowed through their sword forms, their sharp blades held tightly in their hands. Other groups of boys around the courtyard were doing the same, as all practiced their swordsmanship. Next, they would pair off and practice against each other with real swords. If anything had been up to Jack, he would have at least given them wooden swords to practice with, but the Spartans didn't believe in saving themselves injuries.

Their 'father,' Atlantear, was a cruel taskmaster. Evidently, the powers-that-be that were running this place had decided Jack needed a firm hand to keep him in line, and they had sent the most stern humorless man on the face of the galaxy. As Jack liked to say, Apophis had more of a sense of humor than this guy. Jack had lost count of the number of times he had been punished in the last two months for speaking disrespectfully to the man. However, he had managed to avoid having the rest of his herd punished, by distracting the attention of their 'father' onto himself. It was a tactic he had used numerous times against the Goa'uld to spare his team discomfort, and he was pleased to find that it worked just as well against regular humans. Of course, his herd recognized what he was doing, and they had begun following his example of looking out for each other.

"Pair off!" Atlantear barked, swinging his knotted rope. The boys in Jack's herd did as asked. Jack found himself across from Erypthos like normal. The small, dark boy scowled at Jack and said, "This day will be the last day you draw breath, skylos!"

Jack rolled his eyes, "Aw, for cryin' out loud, you say that everyday. You think you'd come up with something original once in a while."

Erypthos had seemed to develop an instant dislike for Jack that had only increased as time went by. He'd become a teacher's pet to their oh-so-charming instructor, but none of the other members of their herd cared. Instead of the power and respect he obviously hungered for and felt he deserved, the other members of their herd had instead followed the natural lead of Jack. The jealousy Erypthos felt only seemed to increase every day as Jack took beatings that the other children should have gotten for daring to ignore Erypthos.

"Fine," Erypthos said, "then simply prepare to die!" Erypthos lunged with his short sword, and Jack instantly parried. For a few minutes, the dance seemed almost equal, both boys lunging and parrying their movements graceful and beautiful. Then Erypthos found himself on the defensive as Jack spun around, came up under Erypthos's guard, and placed his sword on the mean-spirited boy's throat.

Erypthos gulped nervously as Jack grinned and said, "Looks like I live another day."

Jack backed off and turned his back, walking toward the spears which were the next item on the agenda. Erypthos stood still, his anger burning inside of him as he stared at the back of his most hated rival, then he snapped and charged forward silently. By racing at the back of his foe, he broke many a Spartan code of honor, but he was too enraged to care. He bore down on the back of Jack, but Strithyos and Zeyenth happened to see him running toward him.

"Jack!" Strithyos yelled, and Jack turned just in time to see a sword slicing toward his face. Luckily his reflexes had been honed over the last three months and his body reacted incredibly fast, drawing his sword up and catching the falling sword just in time. The tip of it scratched down the middle of his left eyebrow, causing it to begin bleeding profusely but Jack ignored it as he stared into the eyes of Erypthos. The standoff continued for a long moment and then Atlantear interfered.

"What are you doing fighting after the practice match is over!" the older man roared, "Five lashes for Jack!"

Erypthos backed up smiling as Jack turned and spluttered indignantly, "What? Come on! How could you not have seen what happened there? I was the attacked, not the attacker!"

"It will be another two lashes for lying," Atlantear said with a sardonic smile.

Jack scowled angrily. Atlantear was beginning to really irritate him, and this was the last straw. "I'm not taking this punishment," he said, his mouth set firmly, his sword gripped tight in his hand.

The other boys stared at him in shock. Even Erypthos could only stand speechless. They had seen Jack be all levels of impudent, but this was the first time they had ever seen outright rebellion.

"What?" Atlantear said.

"You heard me, you sick sycophant. You do what you like, but I'm not taking this one lying down. You are one twisted little power monger, and I refuse to play your game anymore. Do what you like, but you just try to come near me."

Tauraus looked back and forth between Atlantear and Jack, and then stepped forward in an amazing show of courage and walked to Jack's side. Then he turned and glared at their mentor. "I agree," Tauraus said. "This is not a just punishment. I too will stand with Jack."

Zeyenth who was never far from Jack's side anyway, quickly walked up and stood on the other side of Jack. He simply nodded and crouched low, his sword bared.

Strithyos and Tra'yint nodded at each other, and took their places at Jack's side as well, then all five boys glared at Erypthos and Atlantear.

"Well," said a voice from the side, "this is what I like to see. Spartan youth standing together."

All of the boys turned an looked surprised at the new player and as one, all of them, except Jack, dropped to the ground in a kneel and saluted. Jack merely stood with his arms folded and his bleeding eyebrow raised.

"Hello, Jack," the new arrival said. "I take it you're still causing an uproar?"

"Spathatos," Jack greeted with a broad grin, "long time no see."

"Relatively speaking," Spathatos agreed, and Jack looked a bit confused at the statement. Spathatos then turned his attention to Atlantear and said, "So, what exactly is going on here with your herd, Atlantear? It looks like a full-scale mutiny."

"Sir," Atlantear said, a little thrown off by the apparent familiarity between the respected warrior and the irritating boy, "I have decreed a punishment and the boy insists he won't take it. His outright disobedience to a direct order is a most grave matter."

"Indeed it is," Spathatos agreed, "but perhaps there is a reason for his disobedience. I think maybe we'll allow him to voice his side of this charge. Well?" Spathatos asked, his gaze boring into Jack.

Jack stared at Spathatos. His instinct told him this guy was on the level, and so, he decided to spill it.

"Sir," he said, assuming military posture as any soldier would do while reporting, "I'm sorry, sir, but 'father' here is not following correct procedure. I'm all for just punishments, but this has gone too far. Erypthos and I were engaged in a sparring match, which I won fair and square. However, after I turned my back, Erypthos charged at me, attempting to attack me from behind. If it hadn't been for the rest of my team, I would be dead right now. However, after seeing this appalling display of disgraceful cowardice, our just and loyal 'father' assigned me five lashes while giving no punishment to the offending party. I'm fairly certain the correct procedure would be to punish the one who was actually guilty, is that not correct?"

Spathatos looked a little appalled as he stared at Atlantear. "Is this true, Atlantear?"

"Of course not," Atlantear said. "What actually happened, as far as I saw, is that the round had been completed, but instead of allowing it to end, Jack charged at Erypthos and attacked him without provocation. I think he was angry that Erypthos scratched his face and ruined his beauty."

At these words, the boys who were kneeling by Jack's side began to grow anxious. Finally, Tauraus could take it no longer. "That is a lie!" the boy yelled.

Spathatos turned his sudden surprised attention on the boy who had dared to speak. "And you are...?" Spathatos asked.

As he realized the famous warrior's attention was on him, Tauraus gulped, but forged ahead. "My name is Tauraus, my Lord," Tauraus said, bowing his head and avoiding the older warrior's eyes.

"Speak, Tauraus," Spathatos said.

"It's just like Jack said, my Lord," Tauraus said, looking shy at first, but slowly gaining courage, "Erypthos attacked him from behind. I don't know why Father allows his behavior, but this isn't the first time that Jack has been unjustly punished. Father has punished him over and over for small things, or for things that I or the other boys have done wrong, and Jacks' just taken it. But Erypthos was trying to kill him, for crying out loud!"

Spathatos looked deeply troubled. "This is not an easy decision. I am unclear who is telling the truth in this situation. If Erypthos did indeed attack Jack from behind, that is a most grievous assault. However, the disobedience of a direct order is also a most serious crime. Even if the order is unjust. In this circumstance though, the disobedience may be warranted. It is impossible for me to judge fairly. Therefore I will offer the two of you two choices. You may either let the matter stand trail before the Ephors...or you may battle it out with sword and spear. My only limitation is that the battle must not be a fight to the death. I will tell you when to cease if I feel death is eminent, but by then the victor should be clear. What do you choose?"

Jack considered Spathatos's words. It seemed that the man was being more than fair to him, and he still felt like he had judged him correctly the first time. He was obviously a man of honor to even give a supposed boy a chance to make his case. However, Jack didn't trust the rest of the Spartans as far as he could throw them. He'd rather trust himself in this situation. Therefore, the choice for him was easy.

"I choose trial by combat," Jack stated fearlessly.

Atlantear smirked. That suited him just fine. "I agree," he said.

Spathatos nodded. "The fight will begin at dusk. Until then, carry on as though nothing has occurred. And prepare yourselves." Jack nodded, turning to go back to his spear training, but stopped when he felt Spathatos's hand on his shoulder.

"Be careful," Spathatos whispered, "Atlantear has never been the most honorable amongst us. Watch your back." Then, he calmly lifted his hand and walked off. Jack watched the older man go, and then shrugged casually and hefted a spear.

However, as he began his spear-thrust exercises, he kept his eye on the older man's back and finally whispered a quiet, "Thanks."