Medusa followed Jim, Veronica, and the rest of their squad into a vast chamber that could easily hold a thousand people. A large bow-shaped table surrounded by chairs dominated the center, while tiered metal benches filled with soldiers rose beyond it. The setup reminded Medusa of a grand temple where citizens would sit around and watch sacrifices.

  Several soldiers dressed like Jim had already taken their seats at the table, along with Chiron, who lay directly on the floor since no chair could accommodate him. Jim gestured for Medusa to sit near one end of the bow and took the seat beside her. Perseus and his party sat on one side, and Veronica on the other, showcasing the evident division near Medusa.

  A brief silence settled over the chamber before the soldiers suddenly stood in unison. Those at the table followed suit. Medusa's gaze shifted as the trio of Maddock, Slater, and Chang entered via a side door. Maddock positioned himself behind a tall wooden podium at the center of the bow, flanked by the other two men. When he spoke, his voice carried a calm authority that commanded everyone's attention.

  "Good morning everyone. Be seated."

  Everyone took their seats as the colonel's voice filled the chamber.

  "Now that everyone's here, I'll get started. For those who've just arrived, I'm Lieutenant Colonel Vincent Maddock, Commander of the Special Recruitment Battalion here at Fort Bogart. This is our first major defense operation since we arrived. For this briefing, I'm going to loosen up on the military terminology since not everyone here is U.S. Army personnel." He paused, his gaze sweeping across the assembled group. "Here's the situation."

  The display behind him flickered to life, revealing a detailed aerial map of a city. As the image stabilized, various objects began moving across the screen. Medusa, Perseus, and Chiron watched in astonishment, their eyes fixed on the shifting elements.

  "Tomorrow, a massive sea creature known as Cetus will attack the city of Argos, located approximately twenty miles northwest of Fort Bogart," Maddock announced. "This creature has enormous arms and legs, resembling a grotesque humanoid—though far larger and far uglier. Imagine something the size and shape of King Kong—except Cetus dwells in the ocean and is no ape. It is Poseidon's prized pet—a beast he has probably unleashed before to decimate coastal cities and settlements. Make no mistake—we are facing a formidable enemy."

  The screen shifted, displaying a dynamic rendering of the monster in action. It surged from the ocean, crashing into an unfamiliar city, toppling buildings, and devouring terrified civilians. The air filled with screams as men and women fled in desperation, their homes collapsing under the beast's immense weight.

  Medusa recoiled in horror. "What city is that? Did... did that really happen?"

  "No," Maddock replied. "That's just a simulation—but it illustrates what we believe happens when a monster of this magnitude attacks." He paused, letting the weight of his words settle over the room. "The approaching attack, in our view, is fueled by vanity. Queen Cassiopeia of Argos insulted the goddess Aphrodite, who? joined forces with Poseidon to exact revenge. As punishment, Poseidon will set Cetus upon the city. However, Aphrodite offered a solution—the city would be spared if they sacrificed the queen's daughter to the beast."

  The auditorium buzzed with murmurs as some of the audience threw emotional outbursts. Maddock raised a hand, his voice cutting through the noise. "Settle down, everyone." The chatter died away.

  "The Council of Argos dispatched a small detachment of soldiers, led by Perseus, to find a way to neutralize Cetus and save both the princess and the city." Overhead lights snapped on, illuminating Perseus and his warriors in sharp relief. Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

  "What the detachment knew," Maddock continued, "is that Medusa, with her ability to turn living things to stone, was the solution to their problem."

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  A chorus of whistles and cheers erupted from the battalion soldiers, and Medusa flushed at the sudden attention.

  Maddock's tone darkened. "However, Perseus's original plan was to invade Medusa's home, decapitate her, and use her head as a weapon against Cetus."

  A ripple of outrage swept through the room. Chairs shifted. Soldiers jeered and booed, several craning their necks to glare down the table at Perseus. Someone in the back shouted, "Let's see him try that shit now!" Laughter rippled through the crowd.

  Medusa forced a tight smile, but her amusement didn't reach her eyes. Then she caught Perseus's glare—pure, unfiltered disgust.

  Her stomach twisted. She had seen that look before. It was the same expression etched onto the faces of every statue in her cave back home.

  The snakes on her head shifted uneasily, some hissing in response to the unspoken hostility. She willed them still. She wasn't that girl anymore. But she wasn't the monster he saw, either.

  Maddock's voice cut through the noise. "Enough! Keep it tight, everyone."

  The room fell silent at once.

  "Go easy," Maddock continued. "He's on our side now. Thankfully, we've rewritten that piece of history and have a new operational plan. The mission remains the same—save both the princess and the city by neutralizing Cetus."

  He stepped aside, motioning to another figure. "And now, I turn it over to Captain Slater for the mission briefing."

  Colonel Maddock stepped away as Captain Slater took the podium. "Thank you, Colonel. Good afternoon, everyone. Here's the plan."

  The screen displayed a city map, arrows marking key positions.

  "Argos is a waterfront city, naturally funneled by rock walls into a narrow channel leading to the port, where Princess Andromeda will be tied up." He clicked to the next slide. "Medusa will be stationed in front of her, facing the ocean. But unlike the princess, she won't be tied up."

  A chuckle rippled through the room.

  "Two attack helicopters will be stationed near the cove, strategically positioned behind the two. Artillery units and mortar teams will be spread across key locations, along with some personnel armed with rockets."

  The next slide appeared.

  "When Cetus arrives, Medusa will remove her sunglasses and turn it to stone. If she's successful, it topples into the sea, mission accomplished, no casualties."

  Applause broke out, then quickly faded.

  "If she fails, we move to Plan B. Medusa cuts the princess loose and gets her to safety while we unleash everything—Rockets, howitzers, mortars, gunfire, everything we have. We believe that should be enough to take it down."

  The crowd erupted in cheers.

  "And if it's not?" Chiron asked, drawing a few uneasy glances.

  Slater smirked. "Good question. If the strike fails, we pull back. Howitzers towed out, mortars packed, and Ajax One and Two will return to base. Black Hawks will evacuate civilians—including Princess Andromeda."

  He turned toward Jim. "Lieutenant, can you see to Medusa's safety?"

  Jim gave a quick, firm response, "Yes, sir, you can count on me."

  "Good. If there's nothing else, wheels up at 1200. ETA: 1400. We'll meet with the local leaders and coordinate defenses before Cetus arrives. Stay sharp, work together, good luck and godspeed."

  Slater stepped aside as Chang took the podium.

  "Special Recruitment Battalion, atten-tion!"

  In an instant, every soldier in the room shot to their feet—backs straight, heels clicking together in perfect unison. Medusa observed the movement and quickly followed suit, straightening her posture and rising to her full height—nearly eye level with Jim. Her snakes shifted, but no one reacted with fear or hesitation. Perseus and his group mimicked the formation, standing tall and rigid, their expressions mixing uncertainty with resolve.

  At the front of the room, Colonel Maddock and Captain Slater exchanged a last glance before turning on their heels and marching out.

  Major Chang drew a breath before issuing the last order. "Battalion... dis-missed!"

  A thunderous "Hoo-Aah!" erupted from the assembled soldiers, their voices reverberating through the chamber.

  The rigid formality dissolved into movement and chatter as soldiers gathered gear, discussed plans, and exchanged final words before deployment. To Medusa's surprise, several approached her directly. Some reached out to shake her hand with firm, respectful grips. Others offered nods of appreciation or words of encouragement.

  For the first time since being thrust into this strange new world, she felt something unexpected—acceptance. These warriors from an era she could scarcely comprehend did not treat her as an outcast or monster. They did not recoil from her appearance or whisper curses under their breath. Instead, they admired her, respected her, and in some strange way, even seemed to revere her.

  With quiet warmth blooming in her chest, Medusa left the building alongside Jim and Veronica. As they stepped into the open air, she wondered, for the first time in a long time, what the future might hold.