Chapter 5: Welcome to the space cult! Living on the left, dead on the right. (Frank)
Being locked up sucks. I know, I'm stating the obvious, but it really doesn't get any less embarrassing when you get captured for the 5th or 6th time (if anything it gets worse). Still, as far as I could tell, our captors didn't intend to kill us or force us to turn into sea creatures (ok, maybe that one's just me), so that was nice.
We were being held in a series of square rooms, with each room hosting 2 sets of bunks. By their size and accommodation, they seemed more like soldiers' quarters than prison cells. Did that mean they didn't think of us as prisoners? Maybe they weren't used to taking prisoners and had to improvise? Hazel and I had one of these rooms to ourselves, but the soldiers had taken all of our supplies, so we had little to work with for escape planning.
Being trapped in the room meant that the exhaustion of fighting across the underworld had finally caught up with us. After the first hour or 2 of being locked up, we'd started to fall asleep. I offered to take the first watch but quickly gave up after realizing there wasn't much point, and let the unconscious take me. Sleep was, for once, uneventful, but I wasn't sure that was a good thing. As bad as demigod dreams could be, any information about what in Jupiter's name was going would have been helpful.
Sometime later, Hazel's voice drew me from my sleep. "Frank, you awake?" she asked.
"Uhhh yep, definitely," I groggily replied. "I think something's happening, there've been footsteps outside our door for a few minutes,". I quickly got to my feet in time to see the doors slide open. A "wizard" (Percy really was the best with naming things (cough)) walked through and turned to us. "Come with me, the Orici wishes to speak with you," he said. I hadn't really noticed before, but in addition to the very pale skin, their eyes seemed clouded over, like they were blind.
Hazel and I hesitated for just a second, and in response something shoved us forward as the wizard walked out. Begrudgingly we followed. "Those powers really are just unfair," Hazel pointed out, and I couldn't help but chuckle. As impressive as their powers were, I had yet to see any of these wizards turn into a dragon, or collapse an island into the sea (the dragon one was me to be clear).
The wizard and a group of soldiers led us, along with some of the people taken from the underworld, through a series of hallways. The markings on the walls and doors were intricate and ornate, with lighting provided by blue orbs inside the symbol of their faction. Eventually, we reached a larger room with rows of chairs. It was filled with other captives, a bunch more soldiers, and at the center, the Orici, now dressed in a simple but colorful gown. The wizard quickly greeted her, saying "hallowed are the Ori". I turned to Hazel, "the Ori?" I questioned. "No idea," she responded, adding "Maybe they're whatever these people call their gods?". Now that she mentioned it, the whole place did have a kind of a mythical, religious vibe to it.
As we were commanded to take our seats, the Orici spoke. "Welcome, souls of the dead and condemned. By the will of the Ori, we have rescued you from your unholy prison and intend to give you a chance at salvation. All we ask in return, is that you embrace the holy faith of Origin, and assist us in enforcing the will of the Ori across this galaxy,".
Oooooookay, that's a lot to unpack. What are the Ori? What the heck is Origin? What did she mean by "this galaxy,"? Hazel whispered "It sounds like a cult, I think I'll pass,". I chuckled a little, but quickly stopped when I realized the wizard was staring right at me. The Orici continued "You are all imbued with the power of those you refer to as gods, and those gifts will aid you in our crusade. Should you pledge your faith to the Ori and follow the path you will be rewarded, if you refuse, you will be sent back to the damnation you were taken from,". There was much murmuring amongst the crowd. I hadn't really thought about it, but were all of the souls they broke out demigods? While I knew some of them were from the Fields of Punishment, it seems like most of them were from Asphodel (along with at least one from Elysium). I felt kinda sorry for them, Asphodel was neither paradise nor punishment, but it was far from the most unpleasant fate in the world. Now they were being "asked" to join some cult and spread their propaganda. And while the Orici had said they'd be returned if they refused, something told me they weren't going to go through the effort of going back through the portal and dropping them off at Pluto's doorstep. Hazel's expression communicated the same thing, this isn't a choice, it's an ultimatum. As the Orici continued spouting a (seemingly well rehearsed) propaganda speech, I noticed Hazel concentrating. Her shoes shimmered a little, then changed color, then brand, then size. While she seemed to be struggling a little, it was a relief to see that she could still control the Mist (the magical barrier that prevents mortals from seeing the world of the gods).
After what seemed like half an hour, the Orici concluded her speech and the soldiers began separating the crowd into smaller groups. She started walking toward us, and I gestured to Hazel to stop before she noticed. As the group was being filled out though, I finally spotted a familiar set of blonde hair. I subtly gestured toward him, and after Hazel and I stared at him for a few seconds, Jason noticed and spotted us. His expression went quickly from surprise to worry, as if to ask "what the heck are you 2 doing here?". Before we could communicate anything, though, Jason and the demigod next to him were quickly herded out of the room, leaving just the 2 of us, a few soldiers, and Ms Orici. "While that message was directed at those we rescued from your underworld, you both have the same choice," she explained.
"Don't you mean taken?" Hazel asked.
"No, quite the contrary, many of them were happy to be free of their fate, and I'm sure they will quickly accept the truth," the Orici responded.
"And what truth is that exactly?" I asked
"That the Ori are beacons of wisdom and knowledge, and that all who do not walk the path must be shown how to or be destroyed,". She replied.
Now that was a threat. As mysterious as these Ori seemed, the whole thing felt like an evil cult that converted and brainwashed as many people as they could. As I was debating what to say or do, Hazel innocently asked "What did you mean by 'this galaxy'?". The Orici smiled, "I'm sorry I'd forgotten your Earth is not as advanced as the one from this reality. We are in another universe, parallel to the one you call home. We found your world when we discovered a device created by our old enemies, but while they had written it off as a curiosity, we saw an opportunity,". My jaw felt like it fell to the floor, but Hazel pinched me and I tried to regain my composure. "The Ori have sent their forces to this galaxy to bring salvation to the billions of nonbelievers who inhabit it. We will arrive at a planet of loyal followers in a few days. Once we arrive, any who are willing to walk the path will be given the tools to help us in our crusade. So, what is your choice?".
I was still processing what she said, and there was a painfully awkward silence before I managed a response. "I…I think we…" "I need some time to think," Hazel finished. I felt like kissing her for saving my butt (again), but decided I should probably wait. The Orici quickly responded "Of course, I can provide you with the information to inform your decision,". "We would appreciate that, thank you," Hazel replied.
With that, the soldiers escorted us back to our room, and when we arrived there was a book sitting on each of our beds. On the front was the same staff with a pearl symbol as was everywhere else on the ship (presumably the symbol of the Ori). I quickly opened the book and the page inside read The Book of Origins. Blessed are the Ori. Once the door was closed I threw the book aside and crashed on the bottom bed. I looked up to see Hazel making her book appear as a children's story. Then, with a little concentration, the room's doors became wooden gates. "Glad to see that it still works here," I commented. "It feels harder than usual, like the Mist is a lot thinner here," she replied. Just to be sure, I concentrated and shifted into a gray wolf. Pleased that my powers still worked, I looked up at Hazel with my mouth open like a happy dog, and she laughed a little.
I changed back and settled on the bed. "Do you think Jason will choose to stay?' Hazel asked. "He fought an immortal emperor knowing he was going to die because that was the only way to save a friend, do you really think he'd throw that away to join a space cult?" I asked. But that got me thinking. Even if Caligula being dead meant the prophecy was now void, Jason still wouldn't have risked letting him come back without a damn good reason. Maybe he was taken by force? It was possible, but the Ori seemed to mostly avoid Elysium, like they knew it would be a harder sell to souls already living in paradise. No, Jason was here for a specific reason, I just wished I knew why.