Percy wished this didn't lead to his or his friends' doom.
Once he and his friends (he already considered Alabaster one of his friends, even when he fought on the other side in the Kronos' Army and he tried to take down Olympus) agreed with Chaos and his proposal, the Creator handed them capes with hoods that cloaked them.
'The capes and the hoods will allow you to hide your identity from your enemies. It can't be removed unless you pull it back yourself' Chaos had informed them when he was handing them.
"How do I look, Wise Girl?" Percy called his girlfriend, trying the cape on. Just to make it more funny, Percy twirled in his place, to make Annabeth chuckle.
"You look good, Seaweed Brain" she replied, a hiding smile of worry on her face "What if we make the wrong choice?" she asked him, turning the moment a little souring. Percy sighed, since he was expecting this from her. She liked to know all her options.
"Which ever choice we're making, we'll face the outcome, together, OK?" he promised. Percy scolded himself mentally for not noticing before. Annabeth nodded and pecked his lips lightly, before smiling.
"C'mon... Everyone is waiting for us" she said. All Percy could do was following her like a lost puppy, which made Annabeth laugh and their friends to surprise: since their runaway, they haven't seem Annabeth cracked a smile.
"Nice capes, guys" the guy previously introduced as Omicron, complemented. Only then, Percy noticed that the colour of his cape was a very dark shade of sea green, like if it was mixing with the black.
"Why our capes are different?" Frank wondered, which made Percy take all the capes in consideration: Annabeth's was a dark grey. Piper's, kind of magenta. Jason's a very much dark blue. Hazel's, almost black. Leo's, blackish red. Calypso's was turning kind of mustard and Frank's was a dark purple.
"Because, those are the capes of the generals" Chaos' protégée, Lambda, explained. Apparently, Lambda had been around Chaos more than te rest of his guard, because he talked little, but knew a lot "The rest of us are your second in command" Percy looked around and noticed that he was right. Even Alabaster was wearing a regular black cape, and he wasn't liking it.
"Seconds in command?" Jason inquired, looking at the Guard "I thought we all were equal..."
"Evidently, someone is always in meed of an ego boost" one of the girls, Phi, scowled at them. Percy didn't like her attitude.
"Look, we never asked for any special treatment" he started, looking at his friends "I wanna know why Chaos picked us up as leaders as much as you do, but if we ARE suppose to be Chaos' Personal Guard, then, I suggest we behave like one" All the guards were speechless at his words, until Omicron started to laugh.
Why the Hades is he laughing about?!
"Now, I know why Kronos never stood a chance against you!" he kept laughing and clapping but, for some strange reason, Percy didn't feel insulted or mocked. It was as Omicron had finally understood something that had been under his nose the whole time.
"Um, thank you?" He wasn't sure how to reply. Luckily, he didn't have to add anything, because that was when Chaos made his appearance.
"Are you ready to start?" he questioned them. Percy noticed some hesitation between his friends, but they all nodded "Very well, you must follow me-"
"Couldn't we say goodbye, first?" Piper's voice came out a little strangle and Percy couldn't place his finger around what was she asking.
"I'm afraid that's not possible, Ms. McLean..." Chaos acknowledged, lowering his head a little "If I do allow you say goodbye to your remaining family, we'd only put then in danger of been reached by the King and Queen of Olympus" Piper's expression fell "However, I can assure you that you'll be able to look after them, from the Void"
"How?" Hazel was curiously terrified about living his brother without protection.
"The Void will provide you with a room with different vortexes... Each of them are specified for different people" Chaos told them.
"So, if I want to spy on Sunshine while she is in the shower- Ow!" Leo surprised everyone with his question, though no one was surprised when Calypso smacked the bak of his head or it "Was that necessary?!"
"It was justified" Calypso defended herself, shrugging.
"I'm afraid, Mr. Valdez, that my vortexes don't work inside the Void" Chaos chuckled. For a guy that is all about the abyss and forget, he has a sense if humour "However, if you decide on the enemy or even allies... They can be pretty helpful..."
"That also works for the people we want to check on?" Annabeth analysed the situation. Since se had pulled the hood up, Percy was only allowed to see her stormy, calculating, yet beautiful grey eyes.
"Without a doubt, Ms. Chase. Now!" Chaos clasped his hands together, making some kind of portal next to him "Lambda, take the Guards to training" Lambda bowed at his Master and lead the hooded people inside the portal "To cross that portal, you all have to leave your identities behind"
"We'll stop being who we are?" It was the first time Alabaster spoke outloud and Percy was thinking that maybe he regretted this decision to join.
"The only things you'll leave behind is your names" Everyone shared confused looks "You'll remember them, but while you're in my realm, you'll be named differently.
"Are we allow to pick our own new names?!" Leo butted in, excited "Because I was thinking about 'Iron Man' or 'Supreme Commander' or-"
"'Repair Boy'" Jason supplied, making everyone crack a smile. Except Leo.
"Actually, I've already picked out your new names" Chaos admitted. He walked to Alabaster first "You'll be known as Rho" Alabaster nodded and crossed the portal, without a word "Frank Zhang, Hazel Levesque, you two will be Kappa and Iota" Chaos named them, before moving to Leo and Calypso "Leo Valdez, Calypso, you'll be Delta and Epsilon"
"Yes! I'm third-in-command!" Leo celebrated, making them look at him strange "What? It's like that in werewolves stories!"
"Jason Grace and Piper McLean" Chaos continued, shaking his head "You'll be Beta and Gamma"
"Wait!" Leo stopped him "If Jason is Beta... Who the Hades will be Annabeth?" Percy saw that Leo was right.
"Annabeth Chase, you'll be Alpha" Everyone kept quiet "Perseus Jackson, since everyone is searching for you, allow them to be the last thing they ever see..." Chaos trailed off.
"Then, who am I?"
"Percy" Annabeth whispered "You're the Omega"
Omicron didn't know how to react after seen the new leaders of the Guard.
He was more than excited to be finally on the same side as Omega and Alpha. Though, he wondered if they even remember him.
Or any of the Guards, for that matter.
"Again!" Lambda ordered them. Omicron swallowed his left pride and repeated the exercise along with Nu, Chi, Sigma, Pi and Eta.
"I don't understand why we're practicing while the newbies are not here" Nu grumbled under his breath. Though, Omicron knew he wasn't that upset about it. He simply liked to keep things in a balance.
"Master is showing them the ropes of the Void" Lambda explained, his arms crossed in his chest. Since they met him, Lambda had never showed his face. While everyone else knew each other.
"Besides, we all know that after a bit of training, Annabeth is gonna beat our asses without mercy" Sigma joked, his eyes on the target.
"And, I bet Percy won't keep behind as well" Pi continued, making them all crack up.
"They make quite a team..." Eta agreed, picking up a hammer. He swung it over his head for a while before releasing it and hitting his target "Like Jason and Piper, I can tell..."
"Isn't Piper sister of Theta?" Chi questioned him, while adjusting the tip of his arrows "Just like Leo is your brother?"
"We're not sure yet... Though Piper has Theta's eyes..."
"Enough with the chit-chat!" Lambda scolded them "Back to practice!"
"Bro, chill out for a minute..." Omicron tried to calm him down, but that only angered him.
"I'm not your 'bro', so I suggest you to take this seriously before Master finds out he did a mistake with you"
"Woah, woah! Who named you our superior?" Nu interjected, surprised.
"Not you"
"What's going on here?" Omicron recognised the voice as Mu, Nu's girlfriend. She was walking towards them, probably to practice too. Next to her, were Theta, Phi, Psi and Zeta.
"Is the male trying to get in charge?" Zeta raised an eyebrow at Omicron, who stared at her. Honestly, he knew that she didn't like men, but why that hate towards him?!
"I didn't do anything!" he defended himself "Why you are always against me?!"
"Zeta..." Theta began, placing a hand over her shoulder "Why don't you call a truce with Omicron? The Generals will be here soon..." she stated, leaving everyone speechless. Truce?! Omicron thought, She'll allow that the day her star stops shining!
"Fine" she grumbled, before walking towards the other side of the training area, with Phi and Mu hot in her tail.
"Guards!" Chaos voice's boomed across the training area, while walking with the Generals and the new other recruit. All the guards lined up, even Lambda "Let me introduce you the newest recruit, Rho-" Chaos gestured to the only black hooded person of the new group "And your Generals, Epsilon, Delta, Iota, Kappa, Gamma, Beta, Alpha and Omega" Chaos pointed at each of the new recruits.
"Is a pleasure to meet you all" Gamma waved at them, politely. Everyone smiled back at her.
"Now, for the teams! I had decided that the Generals need a team each, regarding specific matters..." Chaos started with a look like said 'You can't argue this one with me' "Rho and Psi, you'll be with Iota" Iota offered them a polite smile at both of them, but only Psi returned it "Eta, Nu, you'll be with Delta-"
"Welcome to the ship that is your General, boys!" Delta interrupted Chaos. Omicron seriously believed that Lambda was gonna snap him in two, but Chaos looked more amuse than anything.
"Epsilon, Mu and Lambda will be working with you" Epsilon nodded at them, Mu immediately siding with her "Kappa, you'll be in charge of Sigma and Chi"
"Welcome to the Void, General" Both, Sigma and Chi pulled their hands out to shake them with Kappa.
"Pi, Phi, with Alpha" Omicron heard Phi scowled, but nothing else "Gamma, Theta and Zeta will be your companions-"
"We're gonna be best friends!" Theta squeaked in delight, while Zeta rolled her eyes.
"Omicron" The named one raised his head in interest "You'll be with Generals Beta and Omega"
"Hello" Omicron waved at them, politely.
"I'll leave you alone to start practice... Generals, your special training will begin tomorrow. Be ready" Chaos warned them, before walking out.
"Special training?" Omega mumbled, probably scratching his neck "What kind of special training?"
"We don't have special training..." Omicron was the first one to talk "Probably, he just wants to give you some powers... You know, since you're the Generals..."
"But, we never earned our ranks..." Kappa realized "He just handed them to us..."
"Probably, he thought- wait, he thinks, he knows you'll be up for the task..." Theta comforted them.
"So... Are we gonna practice or what?" Alpha looked around, raising and eyebrow. Omicron couldn't help but to smirk.
"I was wondering when you'll say that..."
Zeta was outraged.
Why, why would her Master paired her up with those two vain girls?! It was like one wasn't enough for her suffering. Couldn't he paired her up with Iota? Or Alpha?
Epsilon was out of the question to ask. She will never miss her of her life. She's as guilty as those who preferred to chose their own wellbeing over the greater good. Then again, she regretted herself that.
"Not, it couldn't be only one..." she mumbled to herself. At this point, she had excused herself from practice and headed out, trying not to be seen "It had to be two!"
"Maybe, he'a trying that you learn a lesson" a voice surprised her, her bow and arrow ready to fire. She was surprised when she saw Gamma standing there, her hands raised in surrender "I'm not here to fight, Zeta. I'm here to understand"
"Like you would understand me" he grumbled. Zeta had her share of meeting girls like Theta and Gamma and none of those time had come out in a pleasant way "Master did this to punish me"
"Why you see me as a punishment? And, a punishment for what?!" Gamma asked her, between curious and exasperated. Zeta sighed.
"I was dead once" she began. Gamma smirked, as if she thought she was being played "I was actually dead, Gamma" The tone of her voice convinced her she was telling the truth "I was always ignored, but knowledge in a bigger crowd"
"What was that suppose to mean?" Gamma questioned, getting closer to her.
"Like mortals said, once upon a time I was one of the Hesperides" Zeta made a stop in her story to glance at her companion "And, I did a huge mistake"
"You stole an apple from Hera?" Zeta turned to see Gamma, who shrugged "My brain isn't hollow, you know" Zeta ha to stop the snort coming out of her.
"Oh, I didn't only stole an apple from Hera's tree... I stole it for her enemy" Zeta felt biles coming up her throat, the urges of throwing up at the memory were overwhelming. And, besides, even if she didn't want to be part of her team, she didn't want to look bad in front of her General.
"That cheating, lying, coward bastard!" Gamma snapped, her hands turning into fists. Zeta had to make a double take on Gamma. He never had seen a girl that wasn't impress by the guy "I swear, if he's helping this madness even in the slightest way, he's gonna get more than just food from my Cornucopia!"
"Wh-what?" Zeta was left speechless at that reaction.
"Pi- Gamma!" Both girls heard the voce of Beta, coming to them. He was covered in sweat and a little smile on his lips "You have to come to the arena, Alpha is kicking Omega's and Omicron's- Gamma, what's wrong?" Beta's smile faltered when he took one good look at the girls.
"I'm fine... Just, bonding time with Zeta" she replied, gritting her teeth. Zeta assumed that Beta would walk away, not wanting to deal with girl stuff.
"What you girls talking about?" he sat with them, earning a confusing look from Zeta "Yes?"
"Don't you should be asking for permission to staying with us?" she started, gaining back her confidence "You can't assume we want you here!" Beta chuckled, this time, angering her. Men will forever be the same.
"I know Gamma enough to know that she'll make me leave. But, since she has that hating face that I've only seen once before, I rather stick around to comfort her"
It's was the first time in along time that Zeta was speechless several times during a conversation. She couldn't understand it! Men will always be selfish, egocentric and possessive creatures! No one will change!
"I'm fine, Ja- Beta" Gamma corrected herself, trying to relax "Just talking..." she trailed off, grabbing the hand he was offering her.
"May I know about what?" Beta wasn't all business when it came to Gamma.
"About that someone we met before we sailed into the Mediterranean" To Zeta, those words sounded like a code, seeming like Gamma wouldn't want to reveal the name of the person. But Beta didn't need it. His facials changed into a thinking state before pulling his hand out to Zeta.
"Is a pleasure to finally meet you, Zeta"
"What are you doing?" se questioned him. Beta sighed and lowered his hand.
"You're not longer forgotten, Zeta. Every single demigod knows your story. Pe- Omega made sure of it. So did my sister"
"What do you mean by 'you're not longer forgotten'?" Zeta was amazed by the variety of emotions that they were displaying.
"Trust me, many girls had came forward because of your bravery" That reason only was enough to make Zeta crumble in tears. She was always strong, never showing weakness, not even in her death. But, comes once in someone's life that must release all of their feelings. After a few seconds, Zeta felt a pair of arms around her.
"Listen to me, Zeta" Gamma whispered in her ear "I know you think you were paired with me and Theta without no reason... But, I think there is one..." Zeta looked up, expectantly at her General who was alone "You showed the entire world that a woman can be strong without a man by her side. I still don't know which role plays Theta in all this, but I can assure you, that we're here to balance each other..."
"Balance each other?" Zeta repeated, wiping her tears. Gamma nodded.
"I think we were paired because we can show the world the balance between strength and love" Zeta couldn't help but snicker at that word. It wasn't something about disrespectful towards Gamma, it was a reflect.
"Reflect, sorry"
"I don't wanna force love of men into you, Zeta... I wanna teach you love of family and friends... Would you let me?"
Zeta didn't need much time to think about it. Her father was responsible for her death. Her own sister are cowards and puppets (except for the exception). It was safe to say she never had a proper family.
"How can I consider the men 'friends' when they don't give me reasons?"
"Omega never gave you a reason not to..." Zeta nodded, standing up with her.
"I'm ready to begin, General"