Summary: That Scene in MoA where Leo gives Octavian a tour of the Argo II.

III

~The Auger & The Mechanic~

"Who built this flying monstrosity?" Octavian sneered as he gazed around the ship.

"Excuse me?"

"By monstrosity you mean OH MY GODS THIS IS AMAZING I'M NOT WORTHY!" Leo fell to his knees and brought his hands to the ground in a mock bow. Before standing up again with an insufferable grin plastered across his face. "You're looking at the Supreme Commander and builder of the fabulous Argo II. I built this baby from top to bottom with help from my Hephaestus bros of course." he announced his arms spread out gesturing towards his ship like a tour guide on a cruise.

Octavian just scowled as he surveyed the ship eyeing the many weapons onboard in suspicion.

"What weapons do you have on board?" The augur asked eying the ballistae wearily.

"Oh just about everything you can think of, and some...special inventions of my own." Leo supplied his eyes glittering with pride and mischief. "But c'mon there are more surprises below deck. That's where the real party's at. Maybe I can find you a snack in the galley."

Octavian's scowl intensified. This lowly mechanic was obviously mocking him. It didn't help that the ship was indeed incredible. It was a perfect example of Grecian power, and a humiliating reminder that the Roman Navy left much to be desired.

When they came to the galley Octavian was shocked to see the far wall was one giant video screen. It depicted a large courtyard surrounded by an odd assortment of buildings. Kids in orange shirts walking around, playing tag with fauns, wrestling, playing catch, etc. A pegasus flew overhead the kids on the ground waved as it passed.

"Is this your camp?" Octavian asked in disbelief. Leo smiled fondly.

"You bet! That's Camp Half-blood. The wall is enchanted to show different scenes of camp. I thought it would make the seven less homesick if they could see it whenever they wanted to." Octavian stared at it as if mesmerized. What kind of militia was this? Fauns mingling with soldiers like they were equals instead of little pests? There was no uniformity, no order everyone just seemed to be off having...fun. The audacity.

"What kind of military operation do you run over there!?" Octavian sniffed distastefully pointing at the wall.

"Military operation?" Leo repeated bewildered as he snacked on some hot tamales. "Besides playing capture the flag every Friday night the only places were going to go off and pillage is each other's cabins when we're in a pranking mood." He laughed sounding wistful.

"Pranks?" Octavian spat. What unqualified and disorganized people.

"Oh yeah you should see the pranks the Stolls pull. Those two are legendary." Leo said in awe. Octavian just shook his head in annoyance. He swore this son of Hephaestus just lived to annoy the heck out of him. Whereas Octavian's scowl never left his face, Leo's smile never wavered. The mechanic went on to show him the cabins, engine room, and the bridge.

"Well that's the Argo II the most ingenious, awesome, beautiful ship that ever sailed the sky. Captain Hook's got nothing on this swag machine." Leo wrapped up fondly scratching Festus's ears. Octavian scoffed and rolled his eyes. He couldn't believe this imbecile could possibly be one of the great seven.

"Alright I've seen enough of this glorified parade balloon take me down." Octavian spat arms crossed under his chest looking bored.

"Whatever you say your prophetness." Leo bowed.

'I'm an augur you cretin!" Octavian growled fists clenched. Leo just laughed as he walked over to the taller boy and put his hand on his shoulder as if they were buddies. The augur jumped away from Leo's touch as if he had a disease, when suddenly Leo's laughter stopped abruptly. His face went slack and pale. His eyes flashed gold before settling into a misty look.

"What is it now Greacus?" Octavian demanded. Leo turned to look at him his face twisted into a very un-Leo-like grimace.

"Romans, kill all Romans!" He shouted before running off to the bridge and firing away at the controls. Octavian heard something shoot off behind him, and he turned to see a missile shoot off toward his city from the ship! Octavian screamed Latin curses as he rushed toward Leo with his knife. Leo saw him coming, turned from the controls, raised his hand and conjured up a wall of fire. Octavian screeched as he was blasted backward by the heat. He tripped over his toga and hit the deck. He lost his grip on the knife and it skidded away from him.

"Must destroy the Romans! Kill them, kill them all!" Leo kept muttering to himself in a trance. Meanwhile the fire-user seemed to be unleashing his entire store of weapons onto New Rome aiming towards Principia! Octavian quickly realized there was no way he could stop the pyromaniac, deceiver, filthy… (He went on to call the boy several more unpleasant names). The Augur ran to the exit, and started climbing his way down the rope ladder dodging projectiles as it whipped violently in the air. He had to get down there, and command his cohort.

When Octavian was finally able to get down after only a few close encounters with death, he found that there really wasn't anything he could do. Rome prided themselves with their battle plans, defenses, and how they could lay waste to any army. However, that was the problem. They were ready to fight planned attacks, but when it came to surprise attacks... They were especially vulnerable now since the camp's leaders were all in the senate house in their formal attire without weapons.

"Let them land. Let them speak. If it is a trick, then I will fight with you, as I did last night. But it is not a trick."

Rome was in a state of pure chaos. Legionnaires scattered like spooked chickens dodging projectiles and blasted debris. All of them were rioting picking up stones (whatever weapons they could find to attack the perpetrators). Octavian saw Jason, perhaps the biggest traitor of them all, in the middle of a crowd trying to hold them off before being clocked in the head by a brick. Octavian grinned evilly.

He never liked the Son of Jupiter. The boy stole his praetor seat when he clearly wasn't qualified for such a position. Oh sure he's a warrior, and has all those heroic qualities everyone puts such emphasis on. However, a praetor of Rome has to have the intelligence, the drive to scheme and bring Rome to even greater power. Reyna would be the warrior (and granted she was smarter than that Jupiter brat), and Octavian would be the politician and together they would expand and create a new golden age. That dream was ruined when his comrades decided to raise Jason on a shield.

Before he knew it the firing stopped, and the Greeks with the Roman traitors zipped away with the eagles on their trail. Octavian dusted himself off from being pushed around in the crowd, and made his way to the now ruined principia. With Jackson gone he was in the second highest position of authority again. He smiled crookedly eyes glinting with ambition, as he formed plans of pursuit and conquest in his mind.