Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or settings in this fanfiction. Some of them I have created, while most are either the work of Rick Riordan, or other fans, whose permission I have obtained for use of their characters. Again, all Percy Jackson characters and settings go to R.R.

Author's Note: This chapter is told from the first-person POV of Katrina Darrow. This is the *last* Katrina chapter.

Chapter IX: In Our Darkest Hour

Never before had I experienced such a wave of emotions as I had in these last 24 hours. My entire world was being put to test as Evan Pravus was leading the Golden Age Revolution. His army easily dwarfed our own. In just a couple of hours, we had lost all exterior defenses of the city. Our forces were now fighting an urban war, where we strove to hold off the enemy street by street, building by building. The danger was real.

But in this darkest hour, when it seemed we were going to lose more than just a few of closest loved ones, one came back from the brink of death. I had believed when Scott presented Howard's ring on his severed finger, I knew only death could separate him from his family heirloom.

Ellen and I had taken Howard to the Del Sol clinic in the middle of the night. The day's casualties were being piled up in hallways, some living, others dying. It felt like going through the battlefield all over again, weaving through crowds and crowds of injured people.

"This is a priority," I said to one of the nurses. She was busy checking off on three of four patients at a time.

"Everyone is a priority!" the nurse shrieked, tending to a patient. It was an older camper, one who had suffered from some burns. The damage looked terrible. I could only imagine what he must have been feeling. "He'll have to wait out in the hallway with the others."

"This is the highest priority right now," I said to the nurse.

"Under whose authority?" the nurse asked me.

"Mine," I said. "The dictator of this city. This is Howard Amos, and he needs a room. Now!"

"H-Howard Amos?" the nurse uttered. She quickly snapped out of her trance and moved about quickly, clearing a room for us. "Quickly, in here."

We got him situated in the bed as quickly and carefully as we could. Howard looked like he had sustained several injuries to his body. I also looked grimly at the bulb of bloodied bandages he had wrapped around his left ring finger. The nurse and Ellen did what they could to treat most of the injuries. When they did all they could, the nurse went back to tending to the other patients. I had Ellen go get Hannah and Scott.

The two arrived, almost running once they saw who I was sitting beside.

"By the gods," Hannah almost cursed. "How?"

"I-I know how," Scott said after a moment of silence. Hannah and I looked at him. Scott knew?

"What do you mean?" Hannah asked Scott.

Scott sighed, pacing around a bit.

"When we were in the detachment and met up with the Greeks, we were ambushed by Harkin and his forces," Scott recalled. I remembered that from my dream. I was almost there. Jake was taken during that incident. "Howard needed to figure out what they were up to. So, after we had withdrawn from the ambush, in the chaos and confusion, he left me with this... "

Scott pulled out Howard's ring from his pocket and placed it in the prodigal praetor's hand.

"He needed to fake his death to successfully get deep behind enemy lines," Scott continued. He sighed again. "He always did sacrifice too much. He didn't even hesitate to cut it off once he made up his mind."

"He said he knew how he was able to defeat Evan Pravus," I stated. "Before he went out."

"Then it seems our key to winning this battle lies with Howard," Hannah said. "While he lies before us. I'm glad he's back, alive, but... What good is he now? He can't help us like this."

"So, we're just gonna fight them without listening to what Howard had to say?" I protested. Howard was my best friend, he was more than that too. He was also Scott's best friend. Surely, he wasn't going to be so easily discarded.

"We have to focus our efforts on halting the enemy's advance within the city," Hannah said solemnly. "They're already on the other side of town."

"Then you command the defense," I told her. "Because I'm staying here, with him."

"As you wish, dictator," Hannah said, almost glaring at me. "Gods, help us."

Hannah and Scott left, going back to help defend the city, while I stayed behind. I sat in the chair beside his bed, waiting for something. I didn't even realize I fell asleep watching him.

When I woke up, I saw an empty bed. His blanket was now laid over me. Realizing he was gone, I quickly got up and looked around. No, Howard couldn't just get away from like that. Not again.

I searched up and down the clinic, asking each nurse I saw if they had seen him. They all responded the same, saying that they hadn't seen him. I even asked the nurse who treated Howard. She wasn't even aware that he was gone. Deciding I would need more help, I ran back to the Senate.

It was still early in the morning, before the sun was up when I ran outside. The sounds battle had never been so closer. Explosions in the distance, screaming and the clash of metal against metal even closer. In any case, I was armed, now that I had deactivated Terminus.

At the Senate, I saw a couple of people suiting up for some kind of deployment. Among them were Daniel Oak, Logan Osborne, Layla Lobo, Cain Alvarez, and... Howard?

"You're late," Howard said, tossing me some gear. It was heavy, but I was able to catch it. I was speechless. I had believed I was never going to hear him say that again, but when he did, I dropped the gear to the floor. Running over to him, I hugged him. It was in front of everybody, but I didn't care. He was alive, and that made things so much better right now. But there was also some other things I needed to get off my chest.

I pulled back from him, then punched him where he stood. Everyone in the room was between being completely awed into silence and laughing their heads off. Cam walked into the room, fully geared up for whatever operation was about to be conducted.

"Um, what did I miss?" Cam asked.

"That's for faking your death!" I screamed. A fist print was brightened pink on his face. "If you ever pull a stunt like that, I will make sure its not a trick, do you understand me?"

"I see you've taken to your nominated office very comfortably," Howard muttered, rubbing his cheek. I was breathing heavily now. Howard stepped forward and resumed our hug. "And your swing has gotten better. That's good, we'll need it. I know, I know. I miss you, too."

"Ooh, Howard!" I said furiously. "Fine, what are we doing here?"

"I was just about to explain," Howard said, drawing out shapes on a paper on one of the tables. It was awhile before I could recognize what it was, but when I did, it was unmistakable.

"We're going to be the ones who win this war," Logan boasted, gearing up. The others did the same, so I decided to follow suit.

Howard came forward, nine fingers and all, with his blueprints that he had drawn from memory.

"Our greatest threat is coming from a weapon on their flying ship," Howard explained, pointing to its shape. The sound of the fighting was coming closer. "If we can get a small strike team, we can disable it, or possibly use it against them."

"That would mean we would have to know how to use it," Cain commented. Layla and Logan nodded. Cam looked unsure. "Which we don't."

"I do," Howard said, marking down some more details. "The people they abducted have been methodically tested and used for their weapon on the ship."

I remembered that they were testing Jake for something.

"How does it work?" I asked. Howard's face went grim as his eyes slid over to meet mine.

"Its some kind of siphon that draws off the power of an individual," Howard explained. My eyes widened. "The stronger the person, the stronger the beam."

"That means that they were using Jake's power to... oh gods," I uttered, realizing how much danger Jake was in. As powerful as was, he was finite. I was afraid they would toss him aside like a used up battery. "That must also be why Pravus went after Javier. He's the grandchild of two Big Three's."

"Trent wasn't enough juice to fire off a shot," Cam noted. "But how were they able to siphon power before Jake?"

"They used one of their own," Howard answered. His face went ever more grim. "Harkin had been volunteering to siphon his power until they had Jake."

"That... monstro," Layla muttered hatefully. Cain glanced over at her.

"Are you sure we don't know each other?" he asked her. Logan stepped in between the two. "Fine, fine."

Daniel put his face in his palm.

"Using Cameron Smith's weather manipulation, a small strike team can infiltrate the flying fortress and take out the weapon," Howard prompted. "Freeing the prisoners or taking out Pravus and his entourage is secondary. It won't be his army that will win the battle, it will be his ship if we don't take it out."

"Agreed," Daniel said, stepping forward. "I'll accompany you, dictator, should you wish to take up this desperate gamble."

"I'll join," I said, without even hesitating. "Cain, I'll need your technical expertise."

"I thought you would never ask," Cain said, moving closer to Layla. "You'll be joining us too, right? You can be right next to a big war hero."

"Dude, you're so weird," Logan chided. "I want to take on this Harkin guy. You know what they say, the bigger they are... "

"I guess this won't be possible if I don't help," Cam said, frowning a little bit. "I have no choice but to help. But just a heads up, I'm a little drained from yesterday. I can't guarantee Zeus' finest."

"I'll prep the steeds," Layla said, dismissing herself.

"Hey, princess, catch!" Cain shouted, tossing her a communication piece. "I have a private channel, just in case."

"Come on, lets get ready," Howard said, getting ready himself. I stopped him as soon as I saw him limping. I put my hand against his stomach, feeling moist bandages underneath his shirt. "What?"

"You're staying behind," I whispered to him. He was showing signs of protest, but I knew he couldn't accompany us any further. I grabbed his, running my fingers around his missing finger. "You've done enough already. Stay here, and guide us from the war room."

"I have to do this," Howard said in response. "I've already done so much."

"I'm ordering you to go there," I said. I knew he wasn't going to listen to me, so I put my hand on his face and pulled him in for a kiss.

It was the first time I had ever kissed a boy. I was glad it was Howard I was kissing, but I had a ship to take down.

"But... " he tried to say.

"Please, Howard," I said quietly. He sighed in defeat, wrapping his arms around me. We held each other for what seemed a moment.

"Just... please, be careful, okay?" he requested of me.

"Aren't I always?" I grinned.

"Yeah, I guess you are," he said. I swore I saw a smile break through that stone face of his. He was about to walk off when he suddenly stopped and looked back at me. "Hey, Katrina."

"Yeah?" I said.

"Thanks," Howard spoke. "I don't think we would be here without you."

I smiled.

I spent the next couple of minutes gearing up for what would be our most desperate struggle yet. When I was done, I met up with the others, who were readying their pegasi. I counted them and saw that they were only enough for everyone... except myself.

"What gives?" I complained. "Where's my mount?"

"Uh, yeah," Layla said a little nervously. "We were kind of short on pegasi, so I had some help looking for more. And, uh, Ellen found this in your garage."

Layla directed my attention to the horse that looked like it had been dragged straight out of Tartarus itself. It was a black steed, as dark as night. But that wasn't the best part. Instead of regular hair for a mane, flames trickled instead. It snorted out a small column of fire from one of its nostril.

I hate dust, the monster horse said. I hate allergies. I hate everything.

"I'm so jealous," Cain said in awe. "I think I want one."

"I think we can agree on that," Logan joined in.

Huh? the horse said, looking at us. Great, children. I hate kids.

"We're not that bad, are we?" Logan asked aloud. The others, except me, gave him a weird look. "What?"

Okay, who's in charge here? the horse asked, looking around. It walked around a bit, pushing Cain and Logan aside. It eventually came up to me. You look familiar... I'm looking for some punk about more or less your height, dark hair, like yours, but his eyes... his name is Lucius, I think. Or was it Idiot? I can't remember. What day is it?

"August 25th," I said. It was early in the morning, but I was still able to tell what day it was.

Oh, August 25th... the horse spoke. Er, what year is it?

"2030," I said. I had the feeling he wasn't expecting that.

2030?! the horse neighed. By Mars' spear, I was only asleep for a couple days! Where is Lucius, where is he?! That kid is gonna need my help before he does something stupid! Come on, speak up!

"Lucius is my dad," I said. I had to bite back the tears for what I was going to say next. "Was my dad. He died five years ago."

Oh, er, my condolences on your loss, the horse said solemnly, bowing its head. I smell war. Is that what's going on? I can help. My name is War. I'm good at what I'm called. You look important, let me help you.

"I need a good steed," I said. "Can you help me look for one?"

I can be your steed! War said cheerfully. Lets charge straight for the enemy! I'll kill them all underfoot. Ha!

"Hold up, War," I protested. "I need to get to a flying fortress. You're just a horse."

"Tell me she did not just say that," Logan spoke.

Just a horse?! War protested. I used to pull the boss' war chariot. I can take you anywhere - land, air, sea - you name it. Just as long as I get to kill some stuff!

"Okay, okay, you've made your point," I finally gave up. "Can I hop on?"

Say no more and climb aboard! War prompted. I threw on a saddle over his back. Thankfully nothing burned.

When I was ready, I climbed up one stirrup and slipped my foot in the other. The others were commanding their pegasi to take off into the air by galloping in large circles. I followed, commanding War to gallop in large circles before he was running over thin air.

Looking down, I saw a mother and her two twin children. She held them close as the wind we generated blew against them. It was Basilia North and my two cousins, Romulus and Remus. Their worried faces brought me to truth. In my ascent, I realized I wasn't just fighting for the city, for demigods, I was fighting for the future. I was fighting for them. They were only four years old, and already they had lost their father to a war they were never part of.

I caught up with the others who were ascending above the clouds in the sky, generated by Cam. We needed to move about undetected, so Cam was accompanying us. His abilities proved invaluable. The world below the clouds was dark and had not yet come to morning with a rising sun. I was cold with the wind blowing at us, against us, around us, through us. But when we broke through the clouds, I saw something no one on the ground would.

It was like a painting, with the clouds like a infinite sea of cotton. The sun off in the distance was just peeking over in the corner in the East. It bleached away the darkness and its stars rapidly. I was so caught up in this, that I hadn't realized how far I was lagging behind.

Katrina, you coming? Logan asked over the radio.

"Yeah, on my way," I said into my communication piece.

War took us up in altitude, where the others were. Their pegasi were galloping in circular formations with their wings flapping.

"How come you guys gallop when you fly?" I asked. War whinnied angrily.

Why do you move your arms when you walk? he asked in response.

"Fair enough," I said.

Once we were back together, we changed our formation into a straight line. We were flying forward for some distance before Howard began briefing us over the radio.

In two minutes, you'll be over the ship, Howard spoke. Make your descent in 60 seconds.

"Roger that," Layla responded, signaling to the rest of us. Out of all of us, she was the most skilled in pegasi riding. With her in front, she could give all the appropriate maneuvers and commands. I was glad she was with us. "Increase altitude to 15,000."

I looked down as we went up. The sounds of battle were almost a world away. With a long drop like this, I prayed to Poseidon and Mars to protect me, and to Jupiter to excuse my presence in his domain.

"30 seconds!" Layla shouted. She put on her flying goggles. The rest of us followed, mostly because she knew what she was doing. I had never rode a flying horse like this before, so I was especially nervous. "Weapons ready! Parachutes ready! 20 seconds!"

I had forgotten that we were wearing parachutes. It was something that we learned from yesterday - just because you were flying, didn't necessarily mean you always would. We lost enough as it was to simply falling to their deaths. We hoped we could change that factor today.

"10 seconds!" Layla said. I was breathing really fast now. It was like the climb before the big drop on a roller coaster. Only this didn't have any safety belts or harnesses. "Cam, get me a line of fog 200 yards in front of us, and 500 yards below us... now! Ready, DIVE! DIVE!"

I could never truly describe the experience of diving at 15,000 feet in the air at more than 120 miles per hour. I was speechless, holding my breath as held onto the reins of War for dear life. My legs almost flew off, but I dug them into the stirrups, in fear of death.

We plunged through the cloud line and met the cold embrace of the near-morning. Trails of the sun's light followed us in our wake as we broke through a secondary layer of fog that Cam had provided.

That was when we were met by fierce opposition. Alarms were being raised, troops were scrambling and Stymphalian birds were screeching and running for a takeoff. In a couple of moments, they were off, advancing to meet us head-on.

Metallic bird after metallic bird flung itself at us as we cut them to bits. It was like jousting with race cars and buzz saws. I had to carefully keep an eye on rapidly approaching enemy birds that flew at us like kamikaze fighters. War shot out a column of fire that caused a couple of oncoming birds to catch fire and veer off in flames.

A couple of Scythian dracanae were mobilizing anti-air cannons, but Layla dove in and impale the operators while still keeping her forward momentum.

We need to dismount, now! Layla commanded us over the radio. But the LZ is too hot!

I got it! Logan shouted over the radio. I saw him in the distance. He had his pegasi come to a halting gallop atop the deck of the flying skeleton-ship. Dismounting, he whipped his silver gauntlet and changed it into a katana, slicing and slashing foes to dust. In seconds, he was clearing a space large enough for two more to land.

Daniel fired a special arrow from his bow that held a wire. Tying it to his saddle, he dismounted and slid his way down, firing a couple of more arrows into enemies, some of them approaching on Logan's rear.

Cam landed and dismounted. A large number of enemies were quickly advancing on his position, so he unleashed a great wind that blew them over the side of the deck and falling to their demise.

Cain came to rolling tumble onto the deck. He quickly drew out a shotgun and began firing into crowds of monsters. His shots were loaded with a strange mixture of Imperial Gold and Celestial Bronze. Either way, it proved effective as his targets fell to dust.

Unfortunately for War and I, we did not fare so well. One of the birds managed to pierce through War, critically damaging his ability. In a panic, I pulled up.

Looks like this is the end, kid, War moaned. Its been a good fight. But I haven't had my moment yet, so get.

War bucked me off in our ascent, flinging me off and down to my fall. I tumbled and spun furiously through air. I saw War increase his fire output as began to fall, firing a trail of fire in his wake. He exploded when colliding into a formation of onboard giants and shock troops.

But I was still falling. In my struggle, I thought I was going to die. It was only then did Layla come to rescue, her arm extended. I grabbed on and she dropped me at favorable height onto the deck. I willed Vicis to return to my hand before I engaged into combat with the others.

In minutes, the top deck had been cleared of enemies. We met up at a door leading to the lower decks, while Daniel contacted Howard.

"Okay, top deck is cleared, what's next?" Daniel asked, his finger pressing the device in his ear.

They're kicking the ship into top-gear, according to our scouts' reports, Howard said over the radio. Cain, you'll need to kill the engines to stop the ship completely. Depending on how long that takes you, they'll still be in range to get a couple of good shots off. The power siphon and its corresponding Helios cannon are our priorities.

"Kill the engines?" Cain asked. "How come we hadn't started this war sooner? Sí, I'm on it."

"Where's the Helios cannon and its power siphon?" Daniel asked.

Logan and I exchanged glances. He must have felt out the ship as I did when we set foot on it.

The power siphon is in the mall, Howard said. You'll need to go down a couple of decks before you reach it.

"So that's what that big space was for," Logan noted. I felt it out too. Even though the ship's skeletal frame made everything harder to feel, I could still sense that there was an amassing of great energy within a large space of the ship - the Promenade.

Its heavily guarded, so a diversion is needed, Howard stated. Killing the engines will do just that. Over and out.

"The rest of us will have to have take out the power siphon," Daniel summarized. "Come on, let's go."

We went deeper into the flying ship, carefully evading patrols. They were hundreds, if not thousands, on board the ship. It must have been why he wanted to move his ship up with the advance, so he could unload what looked like a conquering force. Taking the ship out would surely win the day, but I had rescue my brother and Trent. If Pravus got in between and them, then he would have to go down as well.

We kept on going until Layla came to a realization.

"Weird," she whispered.

"What?" Logan asked.

"I thought monsters could smell demigods and half-bloods easily," Layla spoke.

I was having suspicions, until suddenly, someone spoke over the radio.

Uh, guys, I'm in a bit of trouble, Cain said over the radio. There's too many in front of the engine room. I can't take them all out. I can distract a couple of them with some smaller explosives, but the entire will probably be put on alert if they aren't already.

"We need to take out the engines if we're going to try to get to the power siphon," Cam stated. "But Cain will be putting himself, and the rest of us in a lot of danger if he does this."

"Do it," I commanded, after a moment of thinking it out. We had to do this. It was the only way.

Okay, I'll do it, Cain said before the sounds of him moving around were made over the radio. Hey, ugly! Come and get me!

There were more sounds of him running and then...

BOOM!

The entire ship shook a little.

"I thought you said you were going to use a little bit of explosives!" I shouted into my communication device.

That was a little bit! Cain responded. Suddenly, red light alarms flared and footsteps began to turn into sprints. There were the sounds of a gun being fired, cocked, then fired again multiple times over. Okay, I'm in. I'll need a bit of time to set all of it up, so if you can divert some of their attention for me... gracias.

An electric sound rang through the ship, followed by what sounded by some form of a dying mp3 player.

Well now, it seems our friends have decided to board our ship, a familiar voice spoke over the ship's speakers. Seek them out and bring them to me. Alive, if possible. If not, then bon appetit.

"Come on, we don't have a lot of time," I said to the others. We ran through the hallways, most of whom had gaps of interior missing. Chiron had told us the other day that the ship was once the command vessel from a previous that some of our parents fought in. It was destroyed once via bomb, but not it was back, worse than ever before.

Brace yourselves! Howard suddenly shouted over the radio. None of us saw it coming, but the ship suddenly shook violently, rocking most of us off of our feet. I heard a fading scream and saw Daniel being thrown into a gap of the ship. I tried to dive after him, but I wasn't quick enough. I saw him through the gap, falling and falling. He struggled to pull of his parachute, which was still strapped on. Thank the gods.

Crap, I can't get my chute open! the panicked and descending Daniel shrieked over the radio. He kept on falling and falling. I didn't know what to do, we didn't know what to do. We were already in so deep, that Layla wasn't able to go riding to save him. Save Trent...

Those were his last words before his communication device cut off.

"What was that?" I shouted furiously into my communication device.

Hannah and Blake are firing long-range ballistae at the ship, Howard stated. They didn't know you were onboard. I've already told them to stop firing. How bad was it?

"We lost Daniel Oak," I said solemnly. This was the second person I had seen or known of going down due to friendly fire.

I'm sorry for your loss, but the operation you're conducting was not made aware to me, Hannah said over the radio. We will reposition our bombardments away from the ship until told otherwise. Again, we're sorry.

We kept on advancing deeper into the ship until we came into an office room. It was empty, but looked like it had been recently used. We went over to the nearby windows and saw the Promenade. It looked like a massive valley, with holes in various places from the explosion. Most of the holes were sealed up, however, blocking the flow of wind from the outside.

Up against a wall on the ground floor of the mall, I saw it. It was like a set of circular rings, layered over one another. In its center was an open and unused harness. Good, I thought. At least they hadn't used Jake again yet. We still had time. I also saw a familiar antagonist - Harkin. He stood to almost rival some of the giants near the power siphon. It was hard to imagine how someone could grow so big like him. His size and strength, as well as his reputation, made him a formidable opponent.

Suddenly, I felt a blade at my throat. I gasped, but held my self not to move, in fear of getting my throat slit.

"Well now, look what we have here, brother," Devin said to his twin.

"Centurion Pravus did mention that some of them would be trying to go for the power siphon," Dwayne noted. "This office makes a great vantage point. Too bad you won't be able to use it."

"Come on, lets show them our toy," Devin said to his brother.

An escort of monsters came to us and prodded us to follow Devin and Dwayne Coll. It wasn't a long trip to the power siphon from the office, but I felt like I had made a huge mistake telling Cain to fire off some premature explosives.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked the two ex-Centurions.

"People don't ask that question as much as they used to," Devin said. "Its always 'You'll never get away with this!' "

"Your Legion dishonored our father," Dwayne explained. I had heard very little of Mark Coll of the Fourth Cohort, but when I did, it was usually in a negative connotation. "Lashing out at his fellow Centurion, pah. Everyone says he was goaded into striking at his man, but those are just lies."

"Now, its our duty, to restore the order of the House of Coll," Devin said.

I was going to ask more questions, but it didn't seem like the Colls were going to play along. We finally arrived to the mall's floor, where the siphon was. Harkin, standing on an observation deck right above us, was overlooking some reports and some monitors. For such a big guy, seeing him like this made him look almost sophisticated. When we got within his field of detection, he slightly turned his eyes on us. His expression was that of stone.

"Why did you bring them here?" Harkin asked the Coll brothers. "Of all the places... Toss them off the ship."

"I got a better idea... I challenge you, Harkin!" Logan shouted abruptly. He pulled out his gauntlet, which quickly morphed into a silver samurai sword. "Face me in single combat! Just you and me! Or are you scared?"

Our escort of monsters had pulled out their weapons, ready to strike at us, until suddenly, Harkin raised his hand. They lowered their weapons and backed up away from us. Harkin then turned around and leapt from the observation deck, his feet crashing onto the same floor as us. We were all startled by the amount of force he carried.

"What are you doing?" I asked Logan. He grinned where he stood, facing Harkin.

"I told you I wanted him," Logan said to me. "Besides, its not time yet."

My eyes widened, as I backed up. Logan was trying to buy Cain time in order to blow the engines and stop the ship's flight path. But against this kind of foe was not smart, not smart at all. I probably wouldn't even take on Harkin by myself.

Harkin took off his sleeveless t-shirt, revealing a body riddled with scars. His camouflage pants and combat boots flexed and moved as he did. He was a specimen constantly tested by opposition. Unlike Logan, the only opponent he hasn't been able to defeat, is the one he hasn't faced yet.

The almost-giant demigod cracked his knuckles and neck. Logan gave in a good couple of practice swings to get his arms warmed up. He nodded when he was ready, his hands held out in front of him. The fact that he was comfortable enough to take on Logan without a weapon only made me more nervous for him.

The two circled each other, forcing the rest of us bystanders to back up in such fashion. Logan went in for the first attack, swinging at Harkin's legs. His opponent stepped back, just outside of the blade's reach, and charged back in, throwing a swing from his fist. Logan rolled out of the way, the fist slamming into the metal floor just behind him. From Harkin's side, Logan cut at him at his leg, forcing him to let out a small cry of pain.

The sudden success was met with sudden failure, as Harkin backhanded Logan, knocking him off of his feet, and sending him some distance back. We cleared the space, in fear that we would get hit. Harkin slowly approached Logan, checking on his leg on the way. Logan quickly got up, shaking a little.

Logan struck overhead, but Harkin caught it with his metal gauntlets, parrying the attack. The cancelled movement left Logan defenseless, allowing enough time for Harkin's hand to swiftly come and grab ahold of his neck. Logan was lifted off of his feet.

"If this is all you have to offer, then your race's existence is forfeit," Harkin taunted Logan, who was being choked from his grasp.

"Likewise, buddy," Logan said, kicking Harkin in the groin. He was quickly dropped to the floor, to which he moved out of harm's way and readied himself for more punishment.

When Harkin recovered, he turned was met with attack after attack. Logan kept advancing in a forward motion, forcing Harkin back and back after attack. The idea was to constantly be on the attack so that when your opponent does lose his guard, you can quickly go for the deathblow.

Years of training had prepared Logan for this kind of flourish, his endurance being put into overdrive as he swung and swung at Harkin. His opponent parried attacks with his gauntlets the best he could, until eventually, his guard was completely open. Logan saw this opportunity and stabbed his weapon into him.

My heart froze as I saw what laid before me.

Both fighters were still standing.

Logan was outstretched from his failed stabbing attack, his blade stopped in motion by Harkin's now bleeding hand. The tip of the blade was just inches away from finding its mark into Harkin's stomach. Both of them were shaking from the result. A look of strain spread over Harkin's face, but Logan's was worse. In a shaking effort, Harkin moved aside the blade with his hand still wrapped around it.

But Logan couldn't get away this time. Grabbing hold of Logan with his free hand, Harkin lifted him up once again. Logan flailed repetitively, failing to break free.

"Come on, you want a piece of me?!" Logan barked defiantly.

Harkin was silent for a moment, Logan still struggling. He quickly revealed a grin before letting it vanish.

"No," Harkin replied calmly. "I WANT TWO!"

I can never fully describe the horror that laid before my eyes. While Logan screamed beyond the point of agony and terror, Harkin tore him in half. I looked away as soon as my mind was able to comprehend what was to occur. Several cries of terror rang out from my friends. Some of the monsters nearby were somewhat set off by it.

When I heard Harkin toss aside what was left of Logan, I looked at him and saw his inhuman appearance before me. His hands bloodied, as well as the blood of Logan all over, he stood there, satisfied in his victory.

"I am Harkin!" he shouted triumphantly. "Demi-titan, son of Atlas! I will tear Olympus in two!"

But just as Harkin was reveling in celebration, the entire ship shook. Everyone was struggling to stay on their feet, including Harkin.

Engines are destroyed! Cain shouted over the radio, Sounds of shotgun fire soon followed.

Good, now take out the power siphon! Howard prompted. The ship is still within firing range of the city.

Layla and Cam also heard this through their earpieces, acting accordingly. Layla knocked over the Colls, who were momentarily distracted by Cain's handiwork. Cam let loose his electric whips, scraping a permanent streak mark against Harkin's face. With his other whip, he got a hold of Logan's silver gauntlet and tossed it to Layla.

"That wasn't very kind of you, cousin," Devin Coll said to Layla, who was back up on his feet.

"Didn't your parents teach you better?" Dwayne asked, adding salt to the wound. Layla lunged in for an attack, which Dwayne parried and pushed away.

I worked my way to take out the group of monsters that were still with us, while Cam kept Harkin busy and Layla fought the Coll brothers. Most of them were still distracted by the two fights, so I was able to take out most of them without much opposition.

Cam used his whips to swing from railing to railing, keeping some distance from Harkin, while he struggled to keep up. Harkin then reverted to throwing things at Cam, anything he could find. Cam slashed the projectiles in half as he swung to and fro.

Layla was starting to have some trouble taking on to opponents at the same time. I couldn't see it at first, but they were fighting while constantly shadow-traveling from location to location. In one second, they were on a floor above me, in the next, just right beside me. It wasn't until Layla fell into a trap did the odds finally play out. While Dwayne pressed Layla, Devin came up right beside her and knocked her down.

The legacy of Hades and Aphrodite, now on her back on the floor, tried to back as fast as she could, but the Coll brothers kept on coming toward her. She came up to a wall, too exhausted to shadow-travel again, and shrieked in panic.

The air seemed to grow cold as the Coll brothers froze in their tracks, sensing something approaching them. They stood there for a moments until Devin broke their silence.

"Huh, I thought that was a- " he said before being interrupted. A dark, giant, snout entrapped Devin, furiously thrashing him within its grasp. The mouth belonged to a very large, and very bloodied Hellhound, with dark blue eyes. Devin screamed as the teeth of the dog pierced through his armor and shook him like a rag doll.

"Diablo!" Layla shouted cheerfully. "Come here, perrito!"

Dwayne rammed himself into the beast, forcing it to free his brother. The Hellhound clumsily leapt to join Layla. It stood, head placed low, snarling toward the Coll brothers. Diablo leapt at the two, just as Layla did. Like before, they fought in between instances of shadow-travel.

Cain came running in, blasting at monsters both in front and behind him. He slid over and stopped beside me, reloading his shotgun.

"I'm not too late to the party, am I?" he asked.

Just then, Harkin got a hold of Cam somehow and tossed him against a wall. He met the metal surface and subsequently the floor with a large thud. He wasn't moving much afterward. With Cam down, Harkin joined to help out his allies, the Coll brothers, against Layla and Diablo.

More monsters came running in, forcing Cain and I to handle them while Layla and Diablo tried to keep the other three busy.

Harkin got a hold of Diablo, lifted it over his head, then dropped into his knee. Diablo whimpered and trotted off, half-dragging itself away from the fight. That just left Layla, against three, five if you wanted to count Harkin for what his size actually counted for.

Cain fired his shotgun at the Coll brothers, forcing Devin to shadow-travel out of harm's way. Dwayne caught the full brunt of the shot, almost falling instantly.

"You guys didn't the Fourth any justice," Cain muttered. Harkin quickly intercepted Cain before he could another shot off and knocked him aside. Layla shadow-traveled and reappeared standing next to me.

It was just us two against Harkin and Devin Coll. Dwayne, however, staggered off to the side, his hand clutching his wounds. His bleeding immensely and in multiple places. He eventually laid down and stopped breathing. Dwayne knelt beside him, staying there in his final moments. I thought of Gwen and Joanna, and how they had been forever split apart by this war.

I knew that they weren't as innocent as my two cousins, but I knew the Colls felt something similar to what they did.

"You're going to pay for that!" Devin snapped at us, tears falling from the sides of his face. I readied myself, as did Layla, for what may have been our last battle. "All of you! You took everything from us!"

"Your father's honor could have been restored through other ways," I said to Devin, who was only getting angrier. "You could've helped make this place better. Instead, you betray the Fourth Cohort, the same cohort you, your brother, and your father had fought in! Not only that, you killed countless numbers of our parents. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of children without parents now because of you!"

"Only but a fraction of the price to make up for the infraction against the House of Coll," Devin responded viciously. "Retribution will be mine!"

"I'm sorry, Devin," I said. "But retribution is no longer yours to obtain."

Suddenly, a thick wire wrapped itself around Devin's neck, cutting so deep into his flesh as it pulled him up off of his feet.

I followed the wire and saw Trent pulling on it from atop the observation deck above us. He tied it against the railing, then dropped down, taking Devin's weapon in the process.

Trent stood by us, face bruised and bloody from days of torture and captivity, weapon in hand. He showed off the keys to his cell in front of all of us before putting them back in his pocket.

"You should've learned from your time in the Hermes cabin that you should never expect a descendant of Hermes to stay locked up," Trent taunted Harkin. I saw in the corner of my eye, Cameron and Cain working their way back up to their feet, despite looking very, very groggy and disoriented. "Its five against one. Even you know you can't take us all on at once."

Harkin stood his ground, squinting challengingly. I saw behind him, was the open harness for the power siphon. I looked to Layla and Trent, both nodding. The three of us came at him at once, attacking him at all sides, but slowly working our way towards the harness. We were just a push away before he dug in his heels and grabbed Layla and I by the necks. We were on our feet for one second, then almost off of them in the next, constantly switching back and forth. Trent rammed into Harkin and pushed with all of his force, but Harkin was not budging. Cam and Cain ran and joined Trent, trying to push him back into the harness. I saw Harkin's boots slowly, barely, dragging back across the metal floor.

With my hands, I beat against Harkin's arm and chest, as well as his head. Layla did what she could on her side and eventually, were dropped. Gasping for air for a moment, I joined the others and pushed against Harkin, who was now putting his full effort into pushing us back. Everyone except Harkin's shoes were scraping across the floor now.

It wasn't until a large black Hellhound leapt on top of us and pushed with us, did Harkin finally give way. We forced him to fall backwards, falling right into the harness, which we all hastily worked to strap him in to.

"Hit the switch!" I shouted to Cain, who was standing near the lever. He pulled on it, despite the initial resistance it gave. The power on, the rings around the harness began to spin very rapidly. The sound of a strange vacuum began to ring out. Harkin's power was being drained by the power siphon! "I got an idea! Use the Helios cannon to fire on the enemy!"

"Good thinking!" Cain shouted, who ran over to some of the controls and began messing around with them. "What kind of power output were thinking of?"

"Maximum power!" we all shouted.

"RAAAAAAARGGHHH!" Harkin shouted and jerked from within the harness as his power was rapidly seeped and leeched.

"HASTA LA VISTA," Cain shouted, slamming his fist onto a big red button.

The ship was still for a split second, before shaking violently. From a monitor, I saw the familiar pillar of fire rain down with the power of a thousand suns onto the enemy reinforcements. They were obliterated in less than seconds, leaving only miles of burning ash and black earth.

We all cheered at the small, but very significant victory.

Gods of Olympus, Howard said in awe over the radio. You did it.

What in Tartarus was that?! Hannah shouted over the radio. Did you guys do that?

Whatever you guys did, it helped us a lot! Blake said appreciatively. That loosened up a lot of pressure over in my sector. I think some of them are pulling back!

Guys, next time you burn the whole sky, at least let me know when, Wyatt whined.

Okay, cut the chatter, Hannah said over the radio. What's the sitrep?

"We've lost Logan," I said after biting my cheek. "He died buying Cain time to blow the engines."

Dude... Wyatt said solemnly.

He died a hero, Blake added. The last thing he did was what he liked most - fighting. He couldn't have asked for more.

They didn't even know how. I told myself I wasn't going to look at his remains, so I turned the other way. It was so horrible what Harkin did, but now at least he was paying for it. Hopefully all of it.

"Um, there's a problem," Cain said as he was fiddling with some of the machinery. "When we used max power for that last shot, it sent part of the siphon into overload."

"En ingles, por favor," Layla requested.

"This thing is gonna blow," Cain explained. My heart raced with the sudden remembrance of Jake still being on the ship. "And judging from the firepower, its going to be a big boom."

How big are we talking about? Howard asked. Still within range of the city?

"Desafortunadamente," Cain said sadly. "And with the engine dead... "

By Olympus, are you serious? Blake spoke over the radio. What are we going to do?

The four of us looked at Cain. He was the tech expert, after all.

"Hey, don't look at me," he said, putting his hands up. "I got nothing."

"I-I think I do," Cam spoke up. "But its going to require both your and Trent's help."

"What do you need us to do?" Trent asked, coming in close.

"If you can guide the ship, I can get off one last gust of wind," he explained. "You guys can manipulate ships, right? Even if they're flying?"

"I guess... " I said to myself. This ship felt... foreign to me, more dead than alive. Yes, I had been able to feel my way around it when I set foot on it, but it still felt pretty murky seeing my way through it.

Whoa, whoa, hold up, Blake interjected. That means both of you would have to stay on the ship when it does finally blow. You can't stay on there!

I looked at Trent and I thought about that. Was I ready to give up my life like that? I was only 16 years old, with the whole world ahead of me, but... the alternative. If I didn't do this, then what would happen to the futures of Romulus and Remus, my cousins? All of the fighting yesterday and today would have all been for nothing. No, I had to this.

"I'll... I'll do it," I finally said, making up my mind. "But I need you guys to do something for me. Find my brother, find whoever is left on the ship and get them out of here and to safety. Please, for me."

"Of course," Layla said, running over to hug me. "I wish we didn't have to do this."

"I know... I know... " I said, exhaling.

Cain came over and gave me a salute, then hugged me.

"I probably wouldn't be here if it weren't for you," he said to me. Trent and Layla hugged each other. She gave him a kiss on the cheek, to which he was surprised, as was I. "I'll never forget that."

Layla whistled and soon a troop of armored pegasi flew in through one of the holes in the interior, landing beside us. We hopped on and took off. I split off from the others, heading for the bridge. Trent quickly guided the others to pick up Jake and the other captives, while I landed. Dismounting, I told the pegasi to leave.

Good luck, he said to me. He reminded me of War, who was another person I had lost today. So much death, how can someone stand against such hatred?

I stood at the bridge, believing this would be the best spot to manipulate the ship's entirety. From here, I could see the siege of New Rome in real time, explosions looking no larger than small flashes of light. Our positions were fighting hard not to lose any ground, but they were vastly outnumbered. The fighting went on from street to street, up until the no man's land in the forum.

After a couple of minutes of waiting, I saw two pegasi take off, both pulling chariots filled with young children.

We're heading down now, Layla said over the radio. Jake's with us. He's out cold, but at least he's breathing.

"Thank you," I said. I was so glad no one could see me cry right now. "Thank you so.. so much."

I saw Trent land toward the bow, the front of the ship.

Today has been quite an experience, Trent said over the radio.

"How so?" I asked him.

I found out that Tamara Ondrea's dad is... was, my dad, he explained after a moment. I know, I know. Its a sad world we live in. Turns out, Harkin was the one to kill her mother. He'd been manipulating her from the start.

"Did you see her after you freed yourself?" I asked. That was awful, the way that had ended. Uncle Jacob was the father to two kids of different mothers... and in the end, Harkin killed both of Tamara's parents just to keep the secret. I thought only the Olympians were capable of this... but I thought wrong.

She's still on the ship, he said. No, I haven't killed her. I think the truth did. Hey, Katrina.

"Yeah?" I responded.

What's your favorite color? Trent asked me over the radio.

"Red, I guess," I said.

Red, that's a nice color, he said.

I laughed a little. Trent always knew how to make me laugh.

Are you guys in position? Cam asked us over the radio. I looked around and couldn't see him, until I looked out of a window facing aft, toward the rear of the ship. He sat on his pegasus, with its majestic wings flapping.

"Yeah, I'm ready," I said, sighing.

Same, Trent echoed.

Okay, I haven't really tapped into this much wind manipulation, so here goes nothing, Cam said. I saw him raise up his arms, and soon, the sky around us filled with swirling clouds.

Cam, you should've told me about this, Trent joked over the radio. I would've brought my kite and key.

We both laughed. If Cam wasn't too busy trying to blast us away, he would've laughed too.

Okay, this should start you guys off, Cam prompted over the radio.

I felt the ship become fluid where I stood. I tried reaching out to it. Its hard to explain how Trent and I were able to move a flying ship without doing anything, but I can say that it felt like trying to roll around a giant boulder. Cam was simply providing the water for us to move it in.

More wind, Trent requested, his tone serious now.

Okay, Cam responded. In moments, I felt the ship become more manipulable. It was getting better, but we still needed more.

"More wind," I requested. "We're almost there."

The ship shook now, shaking more and more violently each second.

No, no, no! Cam cursed over the radio. I put too much!

Its okay, Trent said over the radio, trying to Cam. We got it from here.

I saw the clouds picking up dust, swirling through the cavities of the ship and over the decks. It felt like we were being tossed around in a tornado, but Trent and I fought to keep course. We propelled over the mountains with the tornado thrashing and throwing us about. It felt like it was getting worse and worse.

We're doing good, we're doing good, Trent said to me.

I suddenly felt a burning hot pain in my side. I looked down and saw the point of a bloodied blade sticking out from it. Upon further inspection, I saw it belonged to none other than Evan Pravus.

He quickly pulled it out, as I fell to my knees. I dragged myself to the window of the bridge, using it to help myself up. Pravus stood over by the doorway.

"Its... too late," I said. "You've already lost."

"It may seem that way, yes," he responded, his cold eyes of golden color glaring at me devilishly. "But I know how today ends."

"Yeah... " I said, pulling out my gladius, Vicis. Evan showed an expression like he was impressed. "... with your head."

"You've fought 10,000, experienced the death of countless loved ones, now slowly bleeding to death, and you want to fight me?" Evan mocked. "You're crazy."

"I'm a Darrow," I said, taking a step forward. "Remember it."

"So be it," he said, readying his weapon.

I went for the first attack, stabbing at his mid-body. He parried and walked off to the side. He wasn't striking back with riposte, which he easily could have. I stepped up my attacks with whatever energy I had left. I was losing a lot of blood, causing me to move slower and slower with each attack.

It was useless fighting him. There was no point. His ship was destined for the scrapyard, as were we. It felt so strange being in between two worlds, life and death, fighting for what seemed like nothing. What could he do?

Evan struck my wound with his pommel, causing me to stagger and cry out in pain. It burned so much, I could feel the pain, the rage, everything boiling up. My vision was fading where I stood, but I felt myself heating up so much. My vision grew cloudy... and red. My hands were shaking and trembling. Evan looked confused.

That was when I let out everything. All of my hate, anger, rage, love, passion, fear, hopes, everything. Everything I was expelled in a wave of force, obliterating everything and anything remotely close to me. Evan was knocked right off of his feet and thrown back by the sheer force. The wind from now-tornado blew over the now exposed bridge. Wind gusted around me, throwing my hair around.

Evan worked his way back up to his feet, unsure as to whether or not he should attack me. I wasn't going to hesitate. Not anymore.

I let loose a battle cry so harsh, so piercing and devastating that it too packed its own power. Evan reached for his ears, as they were soon bleeding from the pain.

"You're... a Darrow?" he asking, shouting over the gust of wind.

I responded, but felt that the words leaving my mouth were not my own.

"Immo!" I felt myself say. My words were Latin, the tongue of my people, the ancient Romans. "Ego sum Ira."

I am Ira.

I am wrath.

I walked to Evan and picked him up with frenzied strength and tossed him out of the bridge. I didn't care where he landed, I just wanted him away from.

But as soon as the frenzy had been induced, I felt it withdraw, leaving me in a state worse than before. My legs gave way, and I was slumped against part of a wall. My bleeding had not stopped. I felt my life slip away as I laid there. I didn't even realize I had Dad's last video scroll in my pocket. I pulled it out and started the video.

Dad's face appeared. His hair was very dark, and his eyes were very red.

Katrina, I think this the last one.

"I think... it is," I responded.

And if you're watching this, then you've probably watched all of them. That's good. You've grown up so much, and I'm so proud of you.

"Thanks... Dad," I said, my voice decreasing volume.

His eyes were starting to water.

What's wrong, Dad?

I want you to know that I'm not going to be gone forever.

I have you here, with me, Dad.

Katrina, I want you, I need you, to grow up to be the beautiful, responsible, healthy woman you'll one day become. I can't let myself get in the way of that.

What do you mean?

You need to destroy the video scrolls, honey.

What?

These recordings are nothing compared to the memories you have. Go, and live. You are a part of this world, and will be a part of it.

Dad, no...

I love you, Katrina. Everything is going to be alright.

I struggled there, whether or not I should heed the wishes of my dead father, or die with him near me in my final moments. Once again, I made the harder choice.

My hands shook and eyes watered as I struggled to tear apart the scroll. When it did finally begin to tear, the video was becoming corrupting putting Dad into repeating loop.

Everything is going to be alright.

Everything is going to be alright.

Everything is going to be alri...

Everything is going to be...

Everything is goi...

Everything...

Ever...

...

I cried to myself, using the paper of the scroll to pack up my wound. It burned as I put it in there, but I think Dad would have appreciated the gesture.

I laid out there until the end came, but it wasn't the detonation of a thousand suns at once. No, the ship was heading into something dark, mysterious, dangerous. I wasn't sure what it was, but I knew it wasn't where we supposed to be heading.

I laid out there as we were swallowed by it.

Into oblivion, I was undone.