A:N/ I felt like updating early. :)

Rachel POV

I had gone back to my room, they had taken out all the Sphinxes very quickly. All but one, that seemed to be a leader. The others acted as if they were untrained, and had know idea what to do when faced with a sword.

The suspicious helicopter had come down, saw what was going on, and flew away again. As if it had new information to be given to its headquarters. For it flew away, its motor at full speed. I turned on the T.V. There was a Gieco commercial.

"Can Gieco really save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance? Do wood chucks chuck wood?" The screen changed to some 'wood chucks' chucking wood into a lake. Then it changed again. The breaking news sign popped up, and our local reporter showed up on the screen.

"It appears, that all around the Statue of Liberty are swarming dragon-horse-women. We talked to a few bystanders, some in very strange costumes, who seemed to know everything about this creature. Jim, take us to them now." The camera switched scenes, and Malcolm showed up on the screen. Of course, I got what they meant by 'costumes', he was in full Greek battle armor. And his helmet was under his arm as he talked into the microphone.

"They are called Kampê. We actually killed it in a battle, and that judging by the appearance and skill of these they must be clones. Cloned at least a year or two ago, right before they were killed." H wiped the sweat of his forehead. It had to have been at least ninety degrees out there, and the heavy armor was not helping one bit. I ran over to my window, and pulled open the blinds. Wrong window, this one faced the other direction. I ran to the other one, but a building two stories higher was in the way of my vision this time. I pulled off my hoodie; it was cold in my room, because I had the temperature turned down to at least sixty-five. I made yet another mad dash down the stairs, and was out of breath by the time I reached Malcolm.

"Again?" I gasped, "Were they delivered by a helicopter?"

"Yeah," he said, "the same one we saw earlier. You know, the one labeled 'Itex'." He said Itex with mystery in his voice, waving his hands slightly. "Does it have something to do with where Percy is?" He asked, as if I knew the answer. I had stayed here, and regretted it.

"I don't know, I did go with him." I said incredibly agitated. "But if I had a guess, I'd say yes." '

"Hmmm," Malcolm stroked his chin, like old, intelligent people do. Well, the ones with beards do, anyway. "We should Iris message him." Of course! Iris message! Why had I not thought of that…?

"Let's do!" I said, semi-sarcastic with an edge of aggravation and annoyance.

"Alright, and then we should see what's going on."

Percy POV

Dr. Martinez, Ella, Nico and I had found a flash light, still on, lying on the ground. Above it was a small hole, just barley large enough for Annabeth to fit through.

"She ran away?" I asked, kind of amazed that things were that bad. I wondered how much she had remembered, and how much it had hurt her.

"She crawled through a hole?" Nico asked. Ella sat down on a rock and played with a flashlight. She hadn't talked much since she had gotten here. I didn't blame her if she didn't want to be here, either.

"Were else would she have gone?" I began.

"Who's gone?" A familiar voice called.

"Who do you think!" I spun on my heel, but was reveled an Iris message, Malcolm was there, and so was Rachel.

"Hey!" I said to them, then realized they hadn't sent this message just to chat. Their expressions told me so much more. "What's happening down there?"

"Kampê, they've attacked the Statue of Liberty. And earlier, there were a bunch of Sphinxes around the Empire State Building. They were awful fighters. I have no doubt they were cloned, so the Mist didn't work on them. All the people have seen them, so New York and the rest of America are in panic." Malcolm finished, and I sat down on a rock.

"This is great," I said, sarcasm dripping from my words like a runny faucet. I put my elbows on my knees and buried my face in my hands.

"Hey!" Rachel said through the message, "You can do this, it's not the end of the world." Hurrah for motivation, but Nico had to ruin it.

"Yet."

Malcolm and I talked a little bit more; and then I gave him instructions on where we were and how to get here. We came up with a great plan, it involved everyone. Our finale would be better then the finale of the greatest musical on Broadway. A cast performance, all done in synchronization. It was a beautiful picture by the great Norman Rockwell. I felt poetic, but what the hey, I was happy as a dog on go-to-the-park day. We climbed out of the hole, it was night time, perfect for espionage. We snuck to the gates, floodlights streamed everywhere. The gates looked new, and the old ones were leaned up against the outside of the wall. A dented hummer, yellow, right by the old gates also. We heard some strong German accents talking, so we dove behind the hummer. Dr. Martinez grabbed for Ella's hand, but grabbed Nico's instead. His eyes flew open incredibly wide, and I stifled a laugh. She apologized telepathically and grabbed Ella's hand.

"I cazn't bevive he did zat." One said. They stopped in front of the gates. They had guns, and sword in sheaths by there sides. They looked like medieval gunmen.

"Dylzan wazn't even zuppozed to leave de Flock." The other threw his head back and crossed his arms over his over his chest. "Now wez haz to suffure from it. I cazn't stand him." I had a brilliant idea. I waited for the right moment, making sure my plan was right and would work.

"I wish wez could quit ziss stupid shob." Guard One replied, leaning up against the stone wall, and it crumbled slightly.

"You can," I said, and stepped out of the shadows. Ella grabbed my arm, but I shook her off, giving her a look, trying to tell her I knew what I was doing.

"Shtep back!" Guard Two shouted at me.

"No, it's alright," Guard One said, silencing his friend, holding him back. He stepped forward, and pulled his gun out of its holster dropping it on the ground; he didn't move his sword, though. I grabbed Riptide out of my pocket just in case. His eyes were focused on my hand.

"How can we be of service?"

Dylan POV

Omega had Annabeth by the wrist, which looked broken or dislocated. Her hair was clotted with dirt and grass, as if she was pulled out of a hole.

"I pull her out of hole." Omega said, completing my hypothesis. I was making sure every last detail was ready for my date with Max. I cleaned the floor and everything. Now Omega brought this girl in, and tracked dirt on the floor. Max was 'escorted' into the room by the Percy clones I had made. Annabeth looked over at them and gasped. Omega dropped her on the floor and she scrambled to her feet, rubbing her wrist.

"Let me go!" Max shook the Percy duplicates off her arm. She grabbed the biggest chair, which was supposed to be mine. "Let's get this over with," she said, and slouched in her chair. I took a seat in the other one.

"Take Annabeth to the dungeon." I waved my arms to signal her away. Half of the Percy duplicates grabbed Annabeth, the others swept the floor were she had tracked dirt in. Omega followed them all out, and we were alone. Max was wearing a nice blouse and jeans. I was wearing a tux. She had not worn what I originally picked out for her.

"What happened to the dress?" I asked, trying to make conversation.

"Too…-" She stopped, and put a piece of steak in her mouth. "dress-like," she said through a mouthful of steak and potatoes. "Can I get some more of this stuff? Like, to-go?"

"No, this is just between us." I leaned forward, trying to make myself slightly more seductive. She just continued stuffing her face. Then, after a while, she leaned in toward me. So, I did like-wise. She puckered up, and I thought I was going to get my first kiss at only one-year-old!

She socked me in the face, and ran out of the room.