"-for so long," Zeus' voice cut through the silence in Janus' head. He was in the middle of a conversation.

"But you gave him food and water now right?" That was Nyx. She sounded annoyed.

"Water, yes. Food, no. How do you expect me to get him to eat when he's unconscious?"

Nyx just grunted in response.

Janus waited, completely motionless, expecting one of them to say more. When neither did, he stretched his legs, groaning quietly for effect. His hands were tied in front of him now. The rope was tied more like handcuffs, giving him a bit more mobility.

The three were in a smaller room than the one Janus had collapsed in. Janus was laying on a table, which made him uneasy. This was reminding him too much of his time as a lab rat only a few months prior.

Zeus pushed Nyx out of the room, ignoring her complaints. A bolt clicked into place, making Janus shiver. He grew tense despite himself.

Zeus walked over and stood by the table as Janus sat up warily. "I'm impressed. You were only out for a few minutes."

Janus closed his eyes for a moment. He stretched tiredly. His whole body ached from the last two and a half day ordeal. All he wanted to do was curl up and die, but he knew that wasn't a choice. "Do you have food?"

Zeus handed him a bag of chips that he seemed to have produced from nowhere. Janus ripped it open, eyeing Zeus suspiciously. He poked through the bag. He didn't seem inclined to eat.

"So, tell me your powers," Zeus ordered. "Or, since you like choices so much, I can electrocute you. I don't want to do it, but I need to know a few things."

Janus munched on the chips for a minute. "I can stop time to let people think about major choices, take them back if they change their mind while I'm still around, and... I can... travel long distances by doors."

Zeus looked confused by the last part, but he shrugged. "And your life?"

"Is absolutely zero of your business. I only tell those of whom I trust. I don't trust you at all."

Sparks crackled between Zeus' fingers as he raised his right hand. He looked very angry with Janus. Janus watched him in an almost taunting gaze. Neither moved for several minutes. Janus fully expected lightning to pulse through him at any moment.

As the pause stretched longer, Janus grew nervous. Was Zeus charging up? Was he going to actually attempt to kill Janus? Would he succeed?

Zeus lowered his hand slowly. "No... I'm being unreasonable. I apologize."

Janus glared suspiciously as Zeus untied his hands. He had barely touched the chips, too stressed to eat. "What are you doing? Get away from me."

Zeus stepped back once Janus' hands were free. "You can leave if you like, or you can join us."

Janus was on his feet in under a second. "You think I'm going to join you? You sent someone to kill me, you've threatened to do so yourself on numerous occasions, you demand to know my past, and now you expect me to just join whatever little cult you have going here? I think not." He reached out into the air, as if to open a door.

"Wait," Zeus said, making Janus pause. "I'm sorry. We thought your powers might have been technology manipulating the minds of people. We're under strict orders to deal with anyone who uses technology in such a fashion. And we aren't a cult."

"So rather than send someone to find out," Janus said flatly. "You sent someone to kill me."

Zeus huffed. "Nyx wasnt supposed to chase you across the country. She was supposed to validate your power, then bring you here."

Janus hesitated, his hand still resting on an invisible doorknob. "But instead she tried to kill me."

"She does that."

Janus glared coldly. "You're not helping your case here. Why should I join a couple maniacs, one of whom almost killed me eight seperate times?"

Zeus sighed. "We are a small group called Olympus. People like us, named after characters from Greek myths, have power and often immortality. We try to bring them all together so we can protect each other. Some choose to join us, others don't. We're hunted. You would have experience with that."

Janus removed his hand from the invisible doorknob. "So, you're saying that people named after gods and goddesses have powers like those of their namesake?"

"Correct."

"And you lead a group of... us?"

"A small one, but yes."

"And where did the orders to kill anyone using manipulative tech come from?"

"The President."

"Naturally... So you work for the government."

"Only for that specific order."

"And the hunt for us isn't illegal?"

"We need to be kept under the radar. We can't have laws made that announce our existance to the whole world. That would make us an even more notable target for scientists and...others."

Janus crossed his arms. "And what's the catch?"

Zeus shrugged. "You swear by the River Styx to not tell anyone except for potential members about us or where we are. The oath is unbreakable. No matter how much you may want to say it at any point, you won't be able to."

"What if I agree to join you but swear on something else?"

"Only the Styx. Torture may kill one of us, but if that one can't give up any information, it's one of us instead of all. We do our best to rescue those who are captured."

Janus ran a hand through his unkempt brown hair. He looked to the side and sighed. "Fair enough... Can I think about it?"

"As long as you don't leave the building."

"You're insufferable, you know that?"

Zeus smiled slightly. "I've heard rumors."

Janus rolled his eyes, then looked to his abandoned bag of chips. He really was very hungry. He looked at Zeus out of the corner of his eye. Zeus was watching him carefully.

Janus shifted on his feet. "Get me some real food. Then maybe..."

Zeus smiled. "Of course. Come with me."