Chapter 4: Contact

Arbiter's POV

The Arbiter strode through the keep; its pink interiors, blue neon-like lights, and graceful curves reminiscent of the now thoroughly destroyed and flood infested High Charity. He knew this Simodee was going to give him some bad news. (Simodee is currently the Minister of Defence) The Arbiter knew when he was called up something is always wrong

The Arbiter walked into the briefing room, looking disdainfully at the well-furnished and decorated room. A circular table dominated it, with a hologram projector located at its centre. Standing in front of large crystal like windows, opposite from the entrance, Simodee's grand gold, ceremonial armour reflected the blue light.

"Arbiter" Simodee began, saluting the Arbiter.

"Is there anything serious?" asked the Arbiter

"It seems we have receive an old problem coming back to haunt us once more."

The Arbiter grew curious at that statement. "What do you mean old problem?" he asked.

Simodee narrowed his eyes. He clapped his hands and the lights in the room dimmed. Covers slid over the grand windows, and the Hologram projector came to life. Soon, the only light in the room came from the Projector's pale blue effulgence.

The directed light from the projector began condensing into recognizable shapes. This chilled the Arbiter's heart; he knew exactly what he was looking at. It was a wheel, with eight prongs sticking out of it - the Ark. The Ark looks severely damage from the Halo firing prematurely. One of the spokes had even been broken off, but the damage had been repaired, and worst off all, there was a grand fleet, consisting of a couple assault carriers, swarming with CSS class battle cruisers, and destroyers and the image was literally covered with a screen of frigates.

Simodee cleared his throat, "An ONI long-range spy telescope took this picture when it accidently travelled due to a different region due to the wrong coordinates. We need to take out their fleet, lest they activate the Ark. Our fleets are ready at your command and the humans have given us some support."

"Who are the commanding fleet and the human support?"

"The commanding fleet will consist of the Assault Carriers Shadow of Intent and Lawgiver the CSS battle cruisers Purity of Spirit, Resplendent Fervour, Eternal Faith, Reclaiming Hope and Malevolent Providence. The humans support fleet are some destroyers The Heart of Midlothian, The Belfast, The Aegis Fate, Stalwart Dawn, Allegiance and their carriers the Atlas and All Under Heaven"

"Tell the commanding fleet that I will be joining them at the Shadow of Intent, I will be leading the strike team to stop the loyalist if they found a way to activate the Ark"

"But Arbiter…" objected Simodee

"My decision is final." The said Arbiter firmly

"By your word Arbiter." Simodee gave in as he saluted and exit the room

"I just can't believe even after the prophets are gone and their lies are revealed, they still wish to activate the ring." said Rtas

"I know it is just disappointing to see our brethren are still clouded by their lies." said the Arbiter

"Then it is of the upmost importance we must put them out of their misery." said Rtas in a grim tone

"But something intrigues me."

"What will that be?"

The Arbiter diverts his attention to the hologram. "How did they manage to get the Ark to move?"

Percy POV

We reached the peak of Half Blood-Hill. Peleus the dragon was wide-awake; his diamond red and orange head was raised in the air, alert. His tail flicked back and forth, waiting impatiently.

Below was where the action was taking place. Eight hellhounds were attacking a group of twenty girls, and one huge green thing. The hellhounds came charging toward the girls, whom I realized were the hunters of Artemis. The hunters would fire their arrows and the hellhounds would break off and move out of bow range.

The green giant was armed with something that looked like a gun. That's where the gunshots came from, I thought. The giant levelled the gun, and produced similar gunshots to what I heard earlier.

Man, that thing was beast, a hellhound tried to jump on its back, but lightning fast, it grab the hound by the paws, and slammed it onto the ground. It finished the hellhound off by stomping it's heavy armoured foot onto the creature's jaws.

Further up the hill, I noticed a satyr, accompanied by two small figures, upon closer inspection; I saw they were a boy and a girl. That was probably the reason the hellhounds were there in the first place. Annabeth, who was standing right next to me, caught her breath. "Look," she whispered as her eyes widened with worry. I looked back and what I saw made me catch my breath. A girl in black, punk style clothes was heavily injured; her outfit was caked with blood. "Thalia." breathed Annabeth.

We ran down the hill as fast as we could, followed by the counsellors, as well as the rest of the campers, who had been roused by the commotion. As we entered the hunter's ranks, they didn't look annoyed by my presence, they just stared at their lieutenant.

Annabeth and I pushed through the hunters surrounding Thalia. When we finally reached the centre of the mob, I saw Artemis was leaning over her, administering nectar and ambrosia to her wounded lieutenant. The Green Giant was looking at the scene; its face, if it wasn't a robot, was obscured by a golden faceplate, I guessed it was like one-way glass.

This "robot" was firing off questions at Artemis. "So, exactly what were those, things?" it asked.

"Hellhounds; they serve Hades but now it seems Kronos has managed to get them on his side. Not exactly the best thing to happen."

"And who exactly are you?"

"I am Artemis"

"Like the goddess Artemis?" it asked. I slowly started stepping away; this was dangerous territory.

"I AM the goddess Artemis!" she exclaimed, standing up to her full height- a mere five feet. She marched towards the giant with a blazing glare in her eyes and stood staring daggers at him. Not much, but considering the energy flowing from her body, she might as well have been one hundred feet tall.

"A goddess?" questioned the giant, unfazed by the goddess's apparent wrath.

"A goddess that will turn you into a jackalope, yes." Her eyes looked up to the helmet. Her attempt to peer through the glass of the helmet failed. She saw only her own reflection, staring back angrily at her.

So apparently it was actually man inside that armour. Gods, he is tall. On the jackalope side of things, there wasn't a lot you could do. Don't tell them, but they all seem to have huge egos, touch one, and you can expect the fields of punishment in the underworld for infinity if you dare tell them what I just told you.

She closed her eyes, any I could feel her aura getting stronger, climaxing, until... It just dissipated and her eyes flew open, and then narrowed. Sort of like when you're interrupted doing something really important. "It seems," she began, through gritted teeth, "Your past deed warrant some... attention. I would have to reconsider my actions."

Past deeds? More unexpected variables I know nothing about. A couple of years ago, the gods voted whether they should destroy me or not, right after I had saved Artemis. Six years back, I recovered Zeus's lightning bolt and narrowly prevented World War Three. Whatever that stopped a very angry Artemis from committing jackalop-cide, must be something really, really major.

"You were going to turn me into me into a jackalope?"

He turned around without saying another word, and started walking through the Hunters' ranks. Its movements were decisive, and so precise.

"Where do you think you're going?" Asked Artemis in a threatening tone. The Hunters raised their bows.

The Giant turned around and tilted its head. "Is that a threat?" He raised his rifle, and cocked the bolt back.

"Then, exactly who are you?"

"UNSC, Master Chief Petty Officer, Spartan-117." He answered simply.

"Wait, did he say Spartan? Whispers like these spread across the amassed group of children. Everybody, even mortals, knew the best warriors of ancient Greece's given name, so who was he? A Spartan from the future? The idea seemed to far-fetched to be a true.

He turned around, and walked through the crowd; the assorted campers and hunters parting before him like water before the bow of a ship. I suppose they didn't really have a choice. Spartan or not, he probably weighed a ton.

Artemis cleared her throat, "And exactly how did you get here?"

The Spartan turned back, and said only "Reclaiming." before walking off into the rising dawn.

Wait! Reclaiming? Would that mean he is a reclaimer? A bit of the prophecy flashed back to me:

Then the reclaimer, who guarded against the prophet's lies

Though gods and demons he defied.

I guess he could be the reclaimer, judging from his strength and speed. I could see how he could defy the gods and demons. Still who were the prophets? I looked over at Annabeth, she looked back at me. She had a determined "I'm-going-to-go-after-him-and-make-him-tell-the-whole-truth-and-you-are-coming-with-me" face on.

I sighed. This was going to be a long day.

Master Chief POV

The Master Chef walked through the forest, retracing his steps to the downed Albatross heavy transport

"So, how was your little play date with your new friends?" Cortana piped up.

The Master Chief just grumbled, "I think I've stepped into a world full of crazy things. Hunting girls, Gods, supernatural hounds, you name it. They got it."

"Hmm, it seems to contain components centred on mythology; Greek mythology to be exact."

"So, what should we do?"

"Wait five hundred years so we can go back to the present?"

"Cortana..."

"I know, I know."

"Well, it seems that there is a war, or at least preparation for war. This guy Kronos is on the opposing team."

"Ah yes, Kronos. Hmm, database has suggests that he is the Titan king, as well as the lord of time; He was replaced when Zeus and his brothers overthrew him."

The Chief shook his head as this was ridiculous, Gods, Titans, Monsters, this was impossible. He knew what he had to do though. To not adapt meant death.

"I guess it would be only natural for the Titans rising up against the Gods." continued Cortana, as if unaware of her protector's musings.

They walked through the forest together. As they walked, Chief silently hoped everything would turn out alright. He released a breath of amusement. He is thoroughly amused by the jackalopes threat the small 'goddess' girl made.

Unknown POV

Meanwhile, a spherical object made its way toward a planet. The object had a single "eye" and was made of silver-like metal. It flew through space, looking for a certain reclaimer, on a certain human home world.

This floating bowling ball still had some protocol to carry out and carry them out he will.