It's like my old friend Owch always says: I really need to buy that back scratcher. What does that have to do with this chapter? Nothing, my back just itches. A lot…So anyway here's the chapter. I really think this chapters pretty boring until the end. It's a filler chapter with one of my signature cliff-hangers. Read, review, and don't kill me!

"What is it now?" I asked.

"The Olympian Council is having a heated argument about Zeus's suggestion to eradicate humanity," Chiron said.

"Well maybe because it's a little drastic and some of the gods have enough common sense to see that," I said.

A net of lightning flashed in the sky followed by the horrible crackling thunder. I just looked at the sky angrily.

"Oh shut up!" I shouted. More lightning.

"Percy, many of the gods are backing Zeus. We need you and a few others to travel to Olympus and convince them this is a rather rash idea," Chiron told us.

"Alright, I'll talk some sense into them," I grumbled.

"I'll come," Annabeth stated.

"I haven't got anything better to do," Nico shrugged.

"Chance to yell at the gods?" Luke asked. "I'm in."

Luke still wasn't the gods' biggest fan, but he preferred them over the Titans, and he decided the West was worth his efforts, so he was a good guy again. As long as he was on our side, I really didn't mind if he still got mad at the gods when they acted stupid.

"I'll come," someone called.

We turned to see Chris walking up to us, with Clarisse following him.

"Oh no you don't," Clarisse warned. "Remember last time you dragged us to Olympus?"

Chris shivered, and I busted up laughing. That was the funniest day ever, well except for Clarisse, Chris, Artemis, and that huntress who looked a lot like Clarisse. I will never forget the look on Artemis's face. Anyway, I'm getting off track.

"Hey whoever said us? You don't have to come," Chris said.

Clarisse smacked Chris upside the head.

"Well of course I'm coming. You think I'm gonna stay at camp while you go make out with some naiad?" Clarisse joked/growled.

"Okay!" I shouted, interrupting the love fest. "You're both coming."

"That makes six," Nico said. "That's twice the normal number of people on a quest. Let's go."

Together, we all headed for Olympus. Two of the vans were out delivering strawberries, and the third was out of order. So we were walking to Olympus. And of course, we were spotted by the reporters.

"Mr. Jackson!" one shouted. "Who are these people with you?"

"Why do people always assume he's in charge?" Nico shouted. "Ever thought maybe they're with me?"

"Nico!" a young female reporter shouted. "Nico your last rampage tore apart six city blocks!"

"You're point?" Nico growled.

The reporter ran up to him until they were nose to nose, and she spoke in her best seductive voice.

"I love dangerous men," she whispered in his ear.

"Uh, okay well I…gotta…you know, save the world and…stuff," Nico stammered.

The reporter pulled out a pen and scrawled something on Nico's hand. She walked away with flirty wave to Chris.

"Mrs. Jackson!" a different reporter shouted. Annabeth turned to look in their direction before I could stop her.

"Your husband is rumored to be involved in a side relationship with the Oracle," the reporter informed. "Care to shed light on the situation?"

Annabeth linked her arm through mine. "If my husband was having any form of a relationship with the Oracle, they'd both be dead. End of story."

Annabeth gave the reporters her very scary I'm-going-to-kill-you-slowly-and-painfully look, and they all backed off.

"Mortals," I groaned. "The gods may have short fuses, but the mortals are pretty irritating."

Nico nodded. "I know. Had to toss a few back over the border just yesterday."

"How'd they get into camp in the first place?" Chris asked.

"My guess?" Nico asked. "Alien teleportation device."

Annabeth groaned. "Really Nico? Grow up. I'm guessing they flew, most likely HALO jump. From an elevation of about…ninety-thousand feet."

"That's high," Nico stated.

"Duh," I scoffed.

We made it to the Empire State building without any further hitches, and we all rode the elevator to the six-hundredth floor. As we walked through the city, a girl about sixteen years old walked up to us. She had dark hair, electric blue eyes, and a quiver of arrows strapped to her back.

"Thalia?" Annabeth asked in surprise.

The two girls hugged and told each other how cool it was to see each other again. Nico went rigid the second Thalia showed up. I knew it was awkward for them. They'd had a thing going on when the Titans took over, but once the West was restored things went back to the way they'd been before. Thalia was a huntress who couldn't date and Nico was the dark and lonely son of Hades. Poor guy.

"What are you doing here?" Annabeth asked.

"Well I'm Artemis's lieutenant, so I go where she goes," she explained.

A thought came into my mind. Thalia was the immortal lieutenant of Artemis. Her supporting us would probably give our say more weight when we talked to the gods.

"Hey Thalia," I said, "we're going to go talk some sense in the gods. Wanna come?"

"Define 'talk some sense into'," Thalia asked.

"We're going to convince them not to destroy humanity, and there will most likely be no hitting involved," I explained.

She thought about it, then nodded. "Yeah, I'm in."

We entered the throne room where the gods were having a heated debate.

"I'm telling you there has got to be another way!" Hephaestus shouted.

"I gave them a chance!" Zeus roared. "From the moment Prometheus gave them fire, I knew there would come a time when this would happen! The only logical way to fix this is to destroy them and start over!"

"Like you know the first thing about logic!" Athena shouted.

"Hey the mortals wanted a fight, I say we give 'em one!" Ares suggested. "Put them back in their place."

"Have you ever considered thinking with your head instead of your fists?" Athena asked.

"My fists do all the thinking I need," Ares insisted. "Watch!"

And he hit Athena in the face. Athena started pummeling Ares, and Poseidon tried to calm her down. He ended up getting hit in the face, so he hit Athena. Then Zeus got mad at Poseidon for hitting Athena and threw a lightning bolt at my dad. Hades defended Poseidon (Surprising, I know.) and suddenly he and Zeus were fighting. Before I knew it the twelve most powerful beings in existence were having an all out brawl and energy blasts and punches were shaking Olympus itself.

"Hey!" I shouted. No one heard me. Hades, I barely heard me.

"Hey!" I shouted, louder. Still no response.

"THAT"S ENOUGH!" Annabeth shouted.

All twelve gods froze mid-fight. Apollo had his fist pulled back, about to hit Dionysus in the face. Artemis had an arrow notched and aimed at Aphrodite. Hera had a death grip on Hades' hair. They were acting like kids. And we were supposed to trust the universe to these guys?

"Annabeth?" Athena asked, trying to stay calm. "What exactly are you and your friends doing here?"

"Coming to talk some sense into you dolts," Luke blurted out. We all grimaced. "Looks like we showed up just in time."

We all shushed Luke. He was going to get us killed. And he probably knew it too.

I cleared my throat. All eyes, immortal or otherwise, turned towards me.

"Look, obviously you guys are torn about this. That's because this is a bad idea," I told them. "It's time to stop all this. Just put it to a vote."

The gods sat back in their thrones, straightening out their appearances as best as they could.

"The boy is right," Athena said.

"I am?" I asked.

"The time for arguing is over. We'll put this to a vote, and stick with the decision. Agreed?"

The other gods nodded, and the vote started.

"All against?" Zeus asked.

Athena, Aphrodite, Hermes, Apollo, Hephaestus, and Demeter all raised their hands.

"All in favor?"

Zeus, Hades, Hera, Dionysus, Artemis, and Ares raised their hands. All eyes fell to my father.

"Brother Poseidon, you choose to remain neutral?" Zeus asked.

There was an edge to Zeus's voice, and I knew he would not stand for a tie. Poseidon must've known too, because he spoke.

"No brother. I will choose," he said.

"Well?" Zeus asked impatiently.

And just like that our fate is in the hands of the god of the sea. Will Poseidon decide in favor or against Zeus's plan? What has Ethan got to do with this? And with seven half-bloods gathered and the world possibly going to be destroyed, has the new Great Prophecy come true? Is this story finally getting good? Tune in next time to find out!