Getting knocked unconscious wasn't Charlie's favorite past time. Somehow he had gotten it into his head that passing out and falling asleep were completely different, and therefore dreams would be too. His theory was proven false, to his utter disappointment.
Usually, Charlie had a sense of his body in his dreams, a sort of ghost like feel of transparency. Not this time. He felt as though he were the wind itself, constantly shifting and blowing. He hated it. He was looking down on an open sea, and one tiny white sailing boat sailed along the water. Charlie's instincts told him they weren't so far from the coast- but the coast of where? He peered in for a closer look.
On board, eight demigods looked severely troubled. He recognized his parents first- his father at the steering wheel, his mother by his side with a compass and countless maps. Reyna was across from her, looking sternly down. He saw Jason at the stern, absentmindedly blowing winds into the sail at the command of his hand. Piper was busy talking with Frank, Leo and Hazel. Charlie strained to hear their voices.
"-think that it's a good idea?" Piper was saying, brows knit in concern. "I just can't think that Silena and Leonardo are racing here right now...part of me, to be honest, doesn't want them to,"
"I know how you're feeling," Hazel grabbed Frank's hand. Charlie wanted to roll his non existant eyes. Please! They were old enough to go on a freaking quest with the grownups...even Leonardo, the youngest child of the seven, was older than Hazel had been. It infuriated Charlie to no end that they continued acting like their kids were newborn infants- he was twenty years old, for the gods sake! Apparently, Leo was with them.
"Pipes, Hazel...you guys worry too much!" he reclined back in his seat. "You forget who these kids' parents are?"
Hazel and Piper gave grudging smiles. Frank gave him a scowl.
"That's sort of what I'm worried about," he mumbled. Leo raised an eyebrow, and Frank sighed. "I'm not exactly thrilled that Emily and Sammy are going to be travelling together,"
Hazel shot him a dirty look, but Leo only looked amused.
"Why?" he questioned. Frank twisted his mouth uncomfortably. But before he had a chance to answer, the boat lurched to one side. The four stumbled- then all looked directly at Percy. Charlie's dad held up his hands.
"Wasn't me," he said innocently. The boat lurched more violently again, and the demigods were tossed starboard across the boat. His father cursed. "What in Hades-"
"Percy! Below us!" Charlie's mom screamed at him. Only then did Charlie notice the colossal red tentacle rising out from the depths. He tried shouting out a warning, but only thin wisps of air floated out. The tentacle came crashing down, but Leo shot a huge volley of flames at the thing, and it quickly recoiled below the surface. Leo grinned.
"Anyone in the mood for kalamari?" he flashed a wicked smile at the crew. Jason jumped up.
"Everyday of the week," he growled, and Charlie noticed for the first time how intimidating the guy was. His glasses had gotten knocked off in the commotion, and for the first time Charlie could see the raw power and anger that surged through Jason Grace's clear blue eyes.
Three more tentacles soared out of the turquoise water, angrily thrashing about in the open air. Reyna looked surprisingly calm, but not in a reassuring way- more of an alarming one. She looked almost...catatonic. Annabeth shook her friend's arm, and Reyna's eyes regained life to them. She looked around at the situation, as if seeing it for the first time. Charlie's metaphorical eyes narrowed- that wasn't normal.
The eight jumped into action. Frank immediately morphed into a shark, and together he and Charlie's father dived down into the water to fight the creature from below. Annabeth took hold of the wheel, trying to keep the boat from capsizing. Reyna wielded her weapon as Piper grabbed at her magic knife, or whatever that thing was. Charlie hadn't really paid attention when her mom explained it. Leo was furiously spinning some contraption on his toolbelt, while Hazel unsheathed her spatha. The three tentacles suction cups grabbed for the boat, but somehow Piper and Hazel managed to keep it from attaching itself to the side of the ship while Reyna went in for the attack. But just as Charlie started admiring how well the group was doing, a shark was batted out of the sea into the air.
"Frank!" Hazel cried, but it simply morphed into a seal and dived straight back down. That of course, didn't help the surface swellers. Another tentacle was wrapping itself around the hull, threatening to snap the thing in half. Charlie took a quick look at the structure of the boat- the frame used looked like iron, and there was no way that metal could support a pressure like that without snapping. Charlie started to panic, and he saw his mother quickly do the same calculations in her head. Her eyes widened as cracks appeared on deck. Where the heck was his dad?!
Just as all hope seemed lost, (Charlie cursed himself for thinking that phrase) a glow illuminated the sky. The six demigods on board looked up in fright, concern and awe. A goddess was descending from the heavens, literally, right onto their boat. Now, Charlie had seen plenty of goddesses in his time, but this was the first that struck him as actually godly. She had black hair, done on ancient Greek style with a gold cord. She donned a white chiton, draped over one shoulder and tied at the waist with a gold braided belt. She stepped a bare foot onto the compromised ship deck with a sour expression.
"This is no way to visit the greatest demigods of this generation," she frowned. Leo and jason both gaped at her, but continued fighting off the huge tentacles.
"Yeah, well, I'd love to chat, lady-" Jason flew up to slice at one of the spasming tentacles. "But we're a little preoccupied! So unless you want to zap the monster into-"
"Done," she waved her hand, and the tentacles disappeared, popping into nothing. Reyna caught Piper as she swung at nothing and almost launched herself overboard. Annabeth steadied the ship, and then ran to the side of the boat, completely ignoring the goddess.
"Percy!" she yelled. Nothing. Not even a ripple. Charlie's heart clawed itself up to his throat. No. No, he couldn't have-
"Miss me?" Percy's voice, strained, came up on the other side of the boat, an unconscious Frank slung over his shoulders. Annabeth sobbed in relief, then ran over with Jason and Hazel to help them up. They lugged the men over the side of the boat, where they collapsed with exhaustion. "That wasn't fun,"
"I should think not," the goddess raised an eyebrow. "If you enjoy battle with that monster, you're either mad, or Hercules."
"What the hell was it," Leo caught his breath. "A kraken?"
"Gods in Olympus, no!" she looked aghast. "The Kraken is much larger- and I couldn't have done away with him so easily."
"How did you 'poof' that guy away?" Hazel questioned, cradling Frank's head in her lap. "Not that we're not grateful, of course."
"I'm the Goddess of Youth, young ones," she said proudly. "A baby squid is not nearly so challenging,"
"Goddess of Youth?" Annabeth stepped forward, leaving Percy on the ship deck. "Hebe?"
"I knew I could count on you, Annabeth," she winked. The eight demigods stared at the goddess, seemingly waiting for something to go wrong. The goddess sighed. "I'm not here to smite you or anything. Believe it or not, some of us minor goddesses can actually be helpful to you half-bloods,"
"Well, forgive me if your track record isn't exactly in your favor," Piper frowned. The goddess laughed.
"Very true, my heroes. But I have always tried to change that image," she gave them a sad smile. "My own husband is, after all, a demigod."
"That's right," Reyna nodded. "Hebe married Hercules as a sign of good blood between her mother, Hera."
"Right, I'm sure that's what Mother would have them tell you," Hebe rolled her blue eyes. "She never approved of my love for the mortal- of course when that mortal is Heracles there's not much you can do,"
"Except murder his wife and children," Percy muttered under his breath. Hebe looked like she was about to say something, but Jason quickly covered.
"So why are you here?" Jason voiced. "I mean, we're grateful for the assist and all, but-"
"-usually the gods don't do something unless there's something in it for them," Leo finished. Hebe looked sad.
"I know you cannot trust me. But I have a gift for you, should you choose to accept it," she paused, considering. "Actually, two gifts,"
"Wonderful," Percy said under his breath. Hebe smiled brightly.
"First, I will restore your ship. This is no way to go about your quest. You think you could make it all the way to the Panama Canal like this?"
Panama Canal? Why were Charlie's parents headed there?
"And what do you want in return?" Reyna narrowed her eyes. Hebe held up her hands.
"Why do you have to assume I want something?" she asked innocently. The demigods weren't convinced. She sighed. "Fine. Since you insist on me demanding something, there is a favor I would ask,"
"Surprise, surprise," Annabeth grumbled. Hebe narrowed her eyes.
"There is a half blood by the name of Tanner Faraday off the coast of Jacksonville Florida. I need you to find him," she said evenly.
"Why?" Leo questioned. "He one of yours?"
"Son of Tyche, actually," she responded coolly. "But he's vital to your success. You have to convince him to join you,"
"Why? What's so special about the son of Tyche?" Percy asked skeptically. Annabeth shot him a look.
"I'm not one to spoil the surprise," she gave them a mysterious smile. "But trust me, you'll want to meet him,"
"How are we supposed to convince some kid in Florida to come travel with some thirty-something-" Hazel shot Leo a look, and he huffed. "Okay, forty-something adults?"
"Well, that brings me to my second gift," she smiled oddly. Charlie didn't have a good feeling about that. "Anyone remember the legend of Iolas?"
"Oh no, you're not thinking about-" Annabeth started.
"Remember- find Tanner. Bring him with you. Get to the Panama Canal, your children will meet you on the other side," Hebe said quickly. "And don't say I never gave you anything,"
She waved her hand, and a purple fog started rolling over the broken deck.
"Wait- what?!" but Hebe had already vanished. Charlie felt himself becoming the fog, being pulled and swayed in different directions. His old 'body' was stripped, leaving him feeling clean, refreshed...new. The fog clouded his vision, and all he could hear was the coughing of his parents and friends on the boat. What did Hebe do?
Finally, the violet smoke began to clear- and Charlie didn't recognize what he saw.
Eight demigods were still there, but it was an entirely different ship. It was enormous, for one thing, with hundreds of oars protruding from either side. The sail was massive, the mast soaring into the sky. There was even a bronze figure head on the stern. Charlie guessed this was the "fixing the boat" part. But he didn't quite comprehend what else he saw.
Eight teenagers took the place of where his parents had stood. Where his father was, there was a young man, about seventeen, with messy black hair and bright green eyes. His jaw was narrower, and there was no beard, but there was no denying- it was Percy Jackson. Charlie felt his world go sideways. Next to him was a girl about his age, with long blonde curls and stormy eyes, wider than Charlie remembered. Her face was unlined, her hair lacked any grays- it was his mother, who somehow looked more dangerous than ever. Next to them, a small Latino boy with dark curls and loose suspenders looked shocked- the elvish features and mischievous eyes made it clear- it was Leo. To his right, an even stranger sight. Jason as a young boy, maybe fifteen or sixteen, with his ice blonde hair and startlingly blue eyes. He wasn't so intimidating- more relatable, like someone Charlie could talk to. Piper was even more changed- her hair was choppy, messy with an eagle feather tied in. Her body was slightly slimmer, less toned. Her kaleidoscope eyes reminded him of Silena- their faces, despite the hair color, were startlingly similar. At their feet, a girl Charlie didn't exactly recognize cradled a buff, asian teen on her lap. With a start, Charlie realized the young girl was Hazel Zhang. Her hair wasn't pulled back like normal- instead it was loose, a cinnamon swirl of crazy hair. And standing to Percy's right, could only be Reyna. Even in her youth she had projected authority and confidence though now she looked shocked. Her long dark hair was in a braid over her shoulder and her obsidian eyes were wide in surprise. Percy was the first to speak.
"Man, I forgot how good this feels!" He laughed loudly. This seemed to break the tension, and shock turned to awe and laughter. Annabeth pulled her long hair.
"Ugh, how did I ever manage all this hair?" she complained, tying it back in a ponytail. Leo moaned.
"No! I finally had muscles! Why, cruel Gods, why?" he threw back his head in anguish. Frank stirred.
"Ha-Hazel? What-?" he sat bolt up. "Is this a dream? Am I dreaming?"
"No," she laughed. "You missed all the excitement, baby. We...I guess we're young again,"
"Just for the duration of the quest, I think," Jason said, then made a face. "Is that my voice? Holy Jupiter, I sound like a preschooler,"
"No you don't," Piper grinned, kissing his cheek. "That's the voice I fell in love with,"
"Why did Hebe do this to us?" Reyna narrowed her eyes. "All for this, Son of Tyche?"
"I guess," Hazel helped Frank to his feet, still looking severely freaked out. "What was his name? Tanner something?"
"Faraday," Jason nodded. "I guess we go to Florida."
Charlie's eyes flew open.
His first thought was, What smells like day old krill?
Then he realized he was on a whale's back. The creature was surfaced just far enough to give Charlie a faux island sanctuary. His eyesight was blurry with seawater, but it was daytime, and the sun cleared his vision. It seemed endless ocean in his direct line of vision- the only problem was- they were in the wrong ocean. The water here glittered green rather than grey, and Charlie was pretty sure there weren't manatees in New York. One of them came up, curious, but Charlie kicked it away. He felt a little bad, but he was in a sour mood. It didn't get any better when he turned around.
Silena Grace, too, was regaining consciousness. She sat up slowly, rubbing her head and trying to open her eyes.
"Why do my eyes burn?" she complained, struggling to see. Charlie sighed, and managed to scoot a little closer across the whale to her.
"Let me help," he rolled his eyes, and took her face in either hands. He concentrated, and the saltwater ran down her cheeks, like tears. "Better?"
"Loads," she sounded sincerely grateful, which Charlie appreciated. "What the hell did you put us on!?"
There goes the gratitude.
"It's a blue whale," Charlie sounded offended. "Sorry I didn't have time to whip up a five star resort for you to wake up in, princess,"
"It stinks!" she plugged her nose. A moaning sound echoed from the ocean, and Charlie patted the beast sympathetically.
"Don't listen to her, Rolo," he said. "You smell great,"
"You named it Rolo?"
"Of course not, do I look like it's mother?"
"Wait," Silena looked at him dubiously. "You can talk to it?"
Charlie shifted. He always had trouble explaining how he communicated with marine life. Animals weren't exactly intelligent enough to hold actual conversations, but he got the general idea. Like, if someone called you smelly, you might project, Offended!
"I can translate an apology, if that's what you mean."
"No- I mean, has it seen our friends?"
For the first time, Charlie noticed the absence of the rest of their party. He especially noticed the absence of Zoe and Robert. He jumped to his feet.
"Robert!" he yelled. Silena followed example, also struggling to stand up on the slippery surface. "Zoe!"
"Leo!" she screamed out. "Victoria? ANYBODY!"
A glimmer caught Charlie's attention in the distance- a pod of dolphins?
"ZOE!" he belted. A hand shot up out of the water. "That's her- Rolo, that way!"
"I still can't believe this freaking whale's named Rolo," Silena muttered.
"Leave Rolo alone!"
"Charlie!" Zoe gasped, bobbing on the surface of the water, holding onto a dolphin's dorsal fin. She had two bodies with her- two unconscious friends. "Pull them up!"
Charlie and Silena hoisted a passed out Sammy and Emily onto the whale's back, then grabbing Zoe.
"Thank you," Zoe panted, hands and knees on the whale. "That dolphin couldn't handle that weight to much longer,"
"Welcome to the SS ROLO," Silena held out her hand, and Zoe took it, grinning. She shakily got to her feet.
"Well you were a lot better at calling for help than I was," Zoe looked around. "Anyone know where we are?"
"Gulf, I think," Charlie stooped to turn Sammy and Hazel on their sides. "What happened back there?'
"I remember an explosion," Silena said warily. "And getting thrown into the ocean, not knowing which way was up, but I..." she blushed.
"You what?" Zoe inquired.
"I held onto Charlie and he pulled us up," she said quickly, averting her eyes. Charlie raised his eyebrows. He wished he remembered being so heroic.
"Where's everyone else?" he asked. Zoe looked troubled.
"Markus got thrown away from me," she looked away. "I don't know how far- but I've been calling for somebody for the last half hour. No one's answered- I don't know where Robert is either."
Charlie tried not to worry about that. If anybody could survive on their own, it was Robert. He'd done it before. Suddenly, the two unconscious passengers started coughing, sitting up slowly. Charlie leaned down.
"Hey, guys," he slapped Sammy's back. "How you doing?"
"I feel like I just inhaled a gallon of salt," Emily choked. "But other than that, peachy."
"What kind of ship is this?" Sammy grumbled, poking the slimy surface. Rolo moaned. "Oh. Not a ship,"
"Not exactly," Charlie admitted. "Did you guys see anyone before we went ka-boom?"
"No," Sammy stood, then helped Emily to her feet. "I thought I saw my sister and your brother get catapulted out, but I don't know where. I got knocked out, remember?"
"So what are we going to do?" Silena scowled. "We can't stay on a whale this whole time."
"Too bad we don't have any materials," Sammy muttered. "I could totally make this awesome row boat/jet ski hybrid-"
"What kind of materials?" Emily questioned. "Like, bronze? Or iron?"
"Yeah, that'd be perfect," Sammy blinked. "But unless you have some up your pocket-"
"I can sense it at the bottom of the ocean," she said quickly. "Shipwrecks, maybe?"
"Of course!" Zoe exclaimed, eyes bright. "This is the Bermuda Triangle- there's tons of wreckage at the seafloor. Sammy, if Charlie and I were to bring some of it up, do you think you could salvage it into some kind of vessel?"
"I can't promise it'll be instantaneous," he blubbered. "But yeah, I think so,"
"You up for it, Charlie?" Zoe turned. Charlie shrugged, pulling off his shirt.
"Ready when you are," he said. He looked over to Silena, but wait- was she staring at him? Her blush and quick turn away confirmed it- for some reason that made Charlie happy. Zoe took off her jacket as well.
"Alright, we'll be back," she smiled at the group, then dived off the whale into the turquoise water. Charlie followed.
The water was amazing. Charlie loved the ocean, and felt completely healed and revitalized as he entered the deep blue. He could breathe fine, thanks to his dad, and his vision was...well, Charlie could only describe it as awkward. It wasn't like normal seeing, exactly, but more like a thermal, night vision esque kind of viewing. That was, only when it was pitchblack. Now, Charlie was seeing just fine, and the scene was beautiful.
The tropical, brightly colored fish, whale sharks and sea turtles wandered in and out of the rocky coral foundations. The sunlight streamed through the water, filtering in patterns on the white sandy floor. And big, broken, bronze ships lay battered in the background. Zoe and Charlie swam to them, ignoring the excitement of the aquatic life.
"How do you think this got here?" he asked, the strange vibrating of underwater noise in his ear. Then he remembered they had to get closer. He swam forward, willing an air tunnel between their heads. She breathed in deeply. "How do we get the pieces up?"
"Without compromising the structure and sending all the marine life to its doom?" she looked at the swarms of fish swirling in and out of the sunken ship, and pursed her lips. "Start from the top. We swim back up to Sammy, then show him what we have. Then he tells us what we need."
Charlie nodded, and disconnected. He swam over the deck, where the hull had begun to waste away to the metal frame beneath. HE pulled out a long, thin sheet of metal, and looked up to the surface. He could see the whale easily, and surfaced beside it, tossing the metal.
"How about this?" he asked. Sammy inspected it, a gleam in his eye. Sammy turned to Emily.
"Gorgeous, you think you could manipulate the metal to form some kind of shape?" he asked, throwing his arm around her. Emily grinned.
"I think I could,"
"Excellent," Sammy smirked, then turned back to Charlie. "Bring up as much as you can, Aqualad. We're going to need alot,"