Lots of thanks to everyone again for all the great reviews. I'm really quite a happy camper. It's been interesting to watch the theories take shape as everyone tries to figure out what's going on. Some think ill thoughts, others hope for happiness, and a third bunch just puzzle it out as they go along. It's almost time for the big reveal, so answers will be coming soon.

Quick comment about the Artemis/Atalanta disclaimer and debate: In all of the mythology that I've read and know of, Artemis never, ever has relations with a guy in any form. She punishes people who see her naked, and outcasts her followers who have lost their virginity. Therefore, it's pretty much impossible for Atlanta to be her descendent, or Atalanta. The runner/huntress is a much better fit. She gets married, at least. At any rate, this is just my opinion/interpretation.

Lost Experiment, faithful reviewer and brilliant artist, is starting up a story of her own. I suggest you hop over and take a peek, because it really is something. Frankly, I think it puts my writing style to shame. Go see for yourselves.

Disclaimer: I do not own Class of the Titans. If I did, more of the pantheon would make appearances. I'm still waiting to see Demeter, since Persephone is running around. And what about Hestia? Sure she's obscure, but if Hercules can be an important god, then so can the goddess of the hearth. I'm also interested in seeing some sort of interaction between Hercules and his wife, Hebe.

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Mind Games

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Odie was roughly dragged to the back of the room by Chronus and forced up against a wall in a corner, out of sight of the door. The Titan grabbed a crude human-shaped lump of clay resting on a nearby table and dropped it at the hero's feet. "I'm afraid I need to give you a bit of a setback, Pamela," he said. "I hope you don't mind too much." With a blast of his godly power, the clay expanded and hardened, effectively gluing Odie in place.

"Neil," Odie shouted, "run!" But the blonde only smiled from where he stood next to the frowning sculptor.

"Why?" he asked. "I'm not the one with bad timing."

Odie stopped struggling to free himself and stared at his friend. "What?" He couldn't believe it. "You're siding with Chronus?"

Neil shrugged. "Something like that, I guess. He has connections, Odie. Big ones." He stepped closer, dropping his voice conspiratorially. "You know what it's like, having power. Why not give up all this prophecy stuff and have some fun?"

"No!" the thinker shouted, and, "never!"

"Suit yourself, Odie. It's really too bad."

"Yes, it is," Chronus agreed. "But I suppose it's to be expected." He made a sour face. "Though it would have taken a great deal of time for me to trust you again, after the caduceus disaster. Still," he mused, "I might have spared your life if you had said yes."

Odie only glared at him. "What makes you think Neil isn't another Trojan Horse?" he asked, hoping to see some sign that the blonde was only pretending. "He could be doing the same thing I did, trying to gain your favor until he finally betrays you."

"But Odie," Neil said simply, "I'm not."

Chronus smiled. "You see? Neil is smarter than even you, with the witty Odysseus as your ancestor." He put an arm around Neil's shoulders. "He knows which side is the winning one."

"I hate to interrupt," Pam's quiet voice interjected, "but I'm not done the statues yet and you're in my work space." She was frowning at her hands, now covered in dry, cracked clay, and avoiding everyone's eyes.

"About your work, my dear," Chronus said, turning to her. "With this little interruption, I'd like to add something to my commission." He pointed squarely at Odie, who flinched. "Copy him, and soon. He's sure to be running off with the others later, and I want his duplicate ready to take his place and keep suspicion down."

Pam mumbled a soft, "Yes, sir," and went to find fresh materials.

The Titan cast one more smug grin in Odie's direction before turning to Neil, who was looking idly around the room. "I trust you'll take up the slack if there are any problems?"

Neil pulled himself to attention, giving Chronus a stiff, mocking salute. "Of course, sir," he said, in an attempt to imitate Pam.

"I think you were made too well," Chronus muttered under his breath and vanished.

--

Galen dumped the remains of lunch in the garbage with a small smile and then set about washing the dishes. As he put the plate and glass away in a cupboard, he noticed the small bundle he had given Pam during the night sitting on the counter. He had forgotten all about it. Grabbing it, he returned downstairs to the basement and set about replacing it in Neil's jacket pocket. Then, he returned to the bedroom.

Inside, Neil had fallen asleep again at last. Galen had been wondering when exhaustion would overpower whatever subconscious warning that kept him awake. He settled in beside the blonde and pulled Neil up so that he was being cradled. Aside from a slight snort, Neil showed no signs of waking up.

According to some psychologists, Galen knew, dreams could be influence by real-world events in strange ways. It was even possible, some said, to provoke specific dreams or to probe the unconscious mind while the subject was asleep. Galen wasn't interested in learning and deep dark secrets, for he was fairly certain he already knew the ones that counted, but rather in shaping the dreams Neil was experiencing; dreams that would leave him unsettled and as tired as ever when he woke up.

He ran his fingers lazily through Neil's hair, considering what he knew and what to say. There was definitely an underlying issue with self-confidence in the heroics department, and this was mostly because of a team with members that could do extraordinary things and didn't really realize what an asset looks and luck could be.

"Neil," he whispered softly into the model's ear, eliciting a soft sigh. "Think about your friends, Neil. They're only humoring you, aren't they?" They don't really need you, don't want you hanging around and getting in the way." Galen continued to pet Neil's hair even as they hero's face changed into a sleepy frown. "The only one you can trust is yourself," he said, holding him. "Trust me."

--

Neil looked around, suddenly standing on a grassy hill overlooking the sea. Along the shore, off in the distance, were a line of ships waiting to set sail. One had a broken mast, another with glimmering decks made of gold. A third had a black sail, and the last of the fleet seemed hardly fit to cast off let alone voyage anywhere. He wondered what sort of people would be traveling on them, especially the ship of gold. A small, inner part of him hoped he was lucky enough.

Voices from behind caused Neil to turn and search for their source, looking off down the hill. A group of armor-clad soldiers approached, stopping when they caught sight of him. They conferred momentarily amongst themselves, and then slowly drew closer.

"Narcissus," the lead figure called, his voice familiar. "We didn't think we'd see you again. Not here at least." As he approached, the warrior removed his helmet. Neil took a step back in surprise.

"Jay?" he said, confused. As he looked across the faces of the rest of the group, he realized all his friends were there, just dressed differently. "Archie? Herry?"

Jay shared a glance with Theresa, who had shorter hair and a helmet of her own tucked under one arm. "I told you," he said slowly, "to call me by my full name. Jason. It doesn't really help my image if I go around as 'Jay.'"

"Yeah, buddy," Archie agreed. "Those names might've been fine when we were kids growing up together, but now, it's just Achilles." He gestured to the others. "Hercules, Theseus, Atalanta, and Odysseus. No one else."

Neil looked them over, noting the breastplates, greaves and swords Jay, Odie and Theresa now sported. Archie held a long black spear while Atlanta carried a longbow and Herry wore a club through his belt. "I don't understand," he said, shaking his head. He looked down at himself, noticing for the first time the toga and sandals he himself was wearing.

Jay put a hand on Neil's shoulder sympathetically. "I know it's hard to let go of the past, but it's time to move on. We all have bigger things to worry about."

They slowly passed him by, walking down the hill toward the waiting ships. Neil trailed after them, trying to understand what he was seeing and hearing. "Can I come with you?" he blurted out as they reached the beach. "I can help you be heroes."

"Hardly," Atlanta scoffed. "There's no way you'll be any use searching for the Golden Fleece." Hand on her hip, she glanced at Odie. "Or navigating, or anything else we have to do. You're better off staying here, Narcissus. There's a nice pond back the way we came."

"Really," Neil protested, ignoring her. "I can help. I know some things about the Minotaur." He glanced at Theresa. "I've even fought one before."

They all exchanged a skeptical look that clearly said they didn't believe him. "All right," Theresa said at last. "Because we're friends, it's the least we can do."

"Then you take him." Herry pushed Neil toward her. "Since you're so nice."

"I couldn't. He'll be in too much danger." She nudged Neil off toward another one of the group. "Jason?"

The leader held Neil by the shoulders, looking between him, Herry, and Atlanta. "My crew his full," he said quickly. "Orpheus took the last free spot this morning. Sorry." He pushed Neil to Odie. "Your ship's a little empty, Odysseus. What about you?"

Odie stumbled back a few paces as Neil bumped into him, adjusting his shield and glasses afterward. "I wouldn't want him to be cursed by Poseidon or anything. I've already been traveling for five years."

Theresa laughed, a touch embarrassed. "Yeah," she said. "Dad can be a little cranky and unreasonable sometimes."

"Well don't look at me." Archie held his spear in front of him, warding off any attempt at pushing Neil in his direction. "I'm going to war. He wouldn't last a day against the walls of Troy."

"Sorry, Narcissus. We would take you if we could, but we can't." Jay clapped him on the arm and then headed for the golden ship, Herry and Atlanta trailing behind him, glancing back at Neil a final time. "Maybe some other time, you know?" Jay called over the rush of waves.

Theresa kissed his cheek apologetically and Odie shook his hand. They turned for the ships with black sails and broken mast respectively, wishing him fond farewells. Archie merely shrugged before sprinting off to the last boat.

Neil watched them go, a thousand reasons why he would be an asset crowding his mind but none of them sounding very convincing. He watched until the ships vanished from the horizon and the sun set, casting him in darkness. "But I'm lucky," he whispered, even though he didn't really feel that way anymore.

--

"Whatever Chronus promised you, it's a lie." Odie was crouched, examining the clay that held his feet in place. If there was a way to break free, he intended to find it. "The people who work with him never get what they want." He remembered Arachne, as one example, being transformed back into a spider on a technicality.

Pam glanced up at him, frowned, and looked back at her work. Odie had realized soon after Chronus left, as she closely examined his face and clothes, that she was intent on sculpting him. "I don't think you know what you're talking about," she said, trying to get his hair right. "You worked with him and had everything you wanted until you betrayed him. I'm not like that. I do what I'm asked to do."

"But he'll keep asking for more and more, getting you to do all sorts of things without really giving you anything in return." He straightened up, his inspection giving him nothing. "Whatever he's got on you, it can't be worth ending the world."

"You're wrong," Pam said, meeting his eyes. "I'm doing exactly what I have to in order to get what I want." Her eyes seemed to shimmer for a moment and she swiped at them with the back of her hand. "There's no other way," she said softly.

"There's always another way. My friends and I, we could help you. We do have experience with this sort of thing." And, Odie thought, it would be a whole lot easier if you helped us instead of forcing us to take you down with Chronus. "Just let me go. Please."

For a moment, Pam seemed almost tempted to take him up on his offer. "But Neil," she said, and then caught herself. The blonde had left not long ago, off to his next class. "I've come too far to lose everything now." She broke off a lump of clay and stood, walking over to Odie. "Just… stop talking." She divided the lump in two, mashing one over Odie's mouth and using the other to stick one of his arms to the wall. Both pieces hardened immediately. She snatched the PMR from his belt and returned to her seat, any hint of regret carefully covered up.

Odie's eyes widened as he tried to pry off the gag with his free hand, but it wouldn't budge. A search of his pockets turned up nothing that could help him chip away at his bonds except the medallion used to open the janitor's closet. He decided it would have to do and vowed to get to work as soon as he was alone, although he would wait on the one covering his mouth. Pam looked up at him impassively and he quickly glanced up at her.

"I just have to finish. Be a good model and hold still."