A/N: So once again, I'm back with another chapter. I'm so excited for the next few. The story's just beginning to get warmed up. Oh, and thanks a lot for the 100 follows. This is my first fic, so it means a lot to me.

Percy POV
I woke up to a strange weight on my shoulder and a slight ticklish sensation on my neck. Opening one eye, I tilted my neck very carefully and managed to look to my side. With some apprehension I noticed Zöe had fallen fast asleep on my shoulder sometime last night. Last night… I didn't remember much except for having a terrible fight with Kronos and then getting here. I must have become unconscious then although how Zöe managed to get to my shoulder was a different matter. It was quite a nice, warm feeling and I didn't feel like getting up just then.

Sadly, my pleasure was short lived. Barely a few long minutes later, I felt the weight on my shoulder change and the strands of hair shift on my neck. I quickly closed my eyes and feigned that I was still asleep. I felt Zöe get up suddenly and heard a slight sigh of relief. A few more minutes later she nugded the side of my head. In keeping with my act, I didn't move. But involuntary, my eye twitched. I don't think Zöe noticed, but the shaking suddenly stopped. Seconds later, a huge amont of water splashed on my face. This time I couldn't help it. Spluterring, I opened my eyes and looked across at Zöe with an annoyed face.

'Why did you have to do that?' I accosted her.

She shrugged. 'You're a son of Poseidon. Don't you like water?'

'Of course I do. But that doesn't mean I like waking up with my face in a bucket of cold water.' I answered.

'To be honest, that was just a handful of water. But you might be right, though. I'm sure there are more, better… different.. ways to wake up.' She had a sly look on her face as she said this and was staring at me intently. I did my best to keep my face neutral and expressionless.

'I guess.' I answered in what I hoped was a nonchalant manner.

'So what are we supposed to do now?' Zöe asked, changing the topic, seemingly satisfied. I mentally heaved a sigh of relief.

'I don't know.' I answered honestly. 'But I guess I could get the hellhound and get back to camp.'

'We can't leave Artemis!' Zöe shot back.

'So, its 'we' now, is it?' I said in a slightly surprised tone. Zöe looked at me murderously.

'Of course its we, you idiotic boy! Who know what other mess you might get into without me to save you?' Her voice slightly faltered as she said this and for the first time that day I got a good look at her face. I could faintly make out dried tear marks on the smooth skin of her cheek. I wondered why she had been crying. Was Artemis actually in that much of a trouble? Whatever the reason, Zöe was clearly very much affected by it.

'Technically, I saved y…' I tried to point out but Zöe's glare was enough to convince me to stop.

'All right.' I said quietly. 'I'll come with you. We it is then.' My voice was decisive and controlled; but inside a small part of me was jumping with joy. Zöe wanted me to come with her! I was ecstatic.

'Weit is.' A pause, 'Get to work then.' Zöe answered in her characteristic, no-nonsense way. But her smile at the end gave away her true feelings.

I quickly nudged 'Mr's O' Leary', as I had decided to call my hellhound, and gave her a long pat on the head. She licked me in delight and got up and stretched her legs. I climbed on with Zöe right behind me.

'Where to?' I asked her.

'San Francisco.' She answered.

'Get going, buddy.' I told Mrs O' Leary and she took a huge leap into the darkest shadow. This time, I was ready.

Bianca POV

'One of us is going to die. Here; and soon' Annabeth's voice reverberated in my head. My mind kept going over all the possibilities and the possible repercussions if one us really did go to underworld. I prayed it would be anyone but me. Self-centered, I know. But I couldn't imagine myself dying in this deserted, arid place with Nico back at camp.

All three of us walked in silence, Annabeth's statement had put quite a damper on the conversation. Finally, in the distance we saw what looked like a huge pile of junk piled up in the middle of nowhere. As we approached I heard Annabeth draw her breathe in sharply.

'Heaphasatus's Junkyard. The Junkyard of the Gods.' She said. We could also see a town in sight on the other side of the junkyard.

'We should go around.' I suggested.

Annabeth gave me a dirty look.

'In case you haven't noticed, we're short on time. The winter solistice is tomorrow. Besides, its just a junkyard. I doubt a pile of garbage could harm us.'

Wisely said, daughter of Athena, I thought scathingly but still followed her through the mountains of junk wondering if evil trashcans with plastic swords were actually true or mythical.

We silently clambered our way through the weird looking giant size machinery and other stuff.

'Don't touch anything.' Annabeth warned after awhile.

I looked at her scathingly.

'I can't help it if I have to climb over these things.' I said.

'I meant don't take anything.' Annabeth shot back.

'Why not?' I heard Theseus ask immediately.

'This stuff is here for a reason – they're defective. It belongs to the Gods. Besides, I doubt they'll let just anybody wander in and take what they wanted.'

Before Theseus could answer the sound of clanging metal came to our ears. We turned around.

'Damn right they won't.' I whispered. In front of me rose a huge automaton who looked like he wanted nothing else but to kill us right now.

'Talos! Run!' Shouted Annabeth, 'Nope, its too small. It has to be a prototype.' She quickly added in a voice I could barely hear. I almost shouted at the know-it-all. That monstrosity, too small?! What was wrong with that girl?

But taking my current situation at hand, I decided to run. I wouldn't be able to shout at her if I was dead. No, I couldn't die.

But soon it seemed we were fighting a losing battle. That automaton's one step matched about fifty of our own. It leisurely ambled towards us, knowing we had no chance to escape.

And much to my astonishment, the insuffurable Theseus volunteered to hold back Talos while we escaped. This was the second time in two days he was willing to fight alone so that we could live. Annabeth tried, like really, really, reallytried to convince him to run.

But he was not to be deterred. Slowly, Talos came closer. Now Theseus was willing to wait no longer. He charged at the monster with an unfamiliar sword and stabbed its metal leg. To my astonishment, the sword went clear through the metal plates and wires. The sword had a strangely ethereal glow to it. Was that what Theseus had picked up in the junkyard? He slashed at the automaton as fast and hard as he could, nimbly escaping the monster's confused blows. Large holes appeared in the monster's armour as even we plucked up the courage to deter it by throwing whatever else we could find on the ground at it.

'We can do it!' Annabeth shouted through the din of metal against metal. I grinned back at her to show my support.

Eventually, after what seemed like ages, the light in the machine's eyes dimmed. It grew sluggish and eventually stopped moving. Still alive, Theseus turned back and lifted his sword in victory. His sweat and dirt stained face grinned at us in relief. But that was the last we saw of him.

'Look behind you!' Annabeth shouted.

But it was too late. Talos, no longer functional, fell on his knees and collapsed with its entire weight on top of Theseus.

A/N: Oops, my bad. But what do you think of it? REVIEW!