Percy and his friends were herded by the bear twins onto the aft deck of the Princess Andromeda. They were thrown down in front of a swimming pool with sparkling fountains that sprayed water into the air. A dozen of Luke's forces, a mixture of snake people, Laistrygonians, and demigods in armor, had gathered around to watch them receive some hospitality. Artie carefully stood up and reached for his sunglasses that fallen off when he was thrown to the floor, but Oreius stepped on them. Crushing the glass lenses and plastic frame into dust as rubbed the remains into the floor.

"Oops." he gave fake smile."Looks like y-y-y-y- . . ."

Oreius began to stutter as Artie slowly looked up and revealed his silver eyes. If the eyes weren't a surprise enough, the deep growl was. The meaning was clear to even thickest monster. Oreius had less than second before he was sent to Tartarus. Quickly as lightning, Artie spun as he stuck a leg out. His shin connected with the monster's ankles and he sent Oreius to the floor. He then struck down, his claws aimed for the monster's throat. When his claws was hairsbreadth from their target, Artie felt the back of his head explode. He was propelled forward over Oreius and he landed face down. Before he could even breath he felt a massive and hairy weight on his back. He snarled like an animal as he futility struggled to throw off Agrius, but he could do nothing as Agrius pinned him arms against his back. Oreius shook his head, rose to his feet, and rested the point of his javelin against the back of Artie's neck.

Percy took a step to join, but Luke held Backbiter to his throat, "One move, from anyone, and he dies."

"What do you want to do with him?" asked Agrius.

Luke went to Artie and knelt by his head, "Now are you going to play nice?"

Artie snapped at Luke's ankle with his teeth. Luke reflexively stepped back. In all the time he Artie, Luke had never know Artie to be aggressive. He took insults from the Apollo cabins, he ran from the Ares cabin, he even avoided Aphrodite cabin when they complained about all the cute rabbits and deer he shot. And the few time they had spared, Artie always stayed on the defensive. Preferring to avoid and evade to tire his opponent out, rather than using his unmatched speed to end the match in a blink of an eye. In short, this was not the Artie Luke remembered. Or rather Artie was acting like Luke had come to expect.

"Gag and bag 'em." Luke ordered.

"NO!" shouted Annabeth.

"He'll suffocate!" said Grover.

Percy clenched his fist as he realized he couldn't do a single thing to stop them. At most he would be able to take two steps before the bear twins killed Artie. Tyson was of the same mind, though he was actually shaking with rage as Agrius slipped bag over Artie's head to stop him from biting while Oreius went about tying Artie's arms and legs. Artie continued struggle and resist, but it futile. Together, the bear twin could easily overpower Tyson, and Artie was known for his speed, not his strength. Percy knew they had minutes to think of something before Artie suffocated or they were killed, whichever came first.

"Luke, please." pleaded Annabeth. "At least make some air holes, please!"

Luke's face remained impassively cold. "It won't make difference in the end."

Artie only half heard what was being said. The second the bag was slipped over his head, everything became muffled. He felt bear claws digging into his skin as one of the bear twins held him down while the other secured his arms and legs. He did his best to resist, cursing his lack of strength. After a few moments he felt the weight holding him down vanish. He then felt vibrations through the floor and guessed them to be the bear twin's footsteps. He did his best to calm down and slow his breathing. The last thing he wanted was to suffocate before he thought of something. His arms were tied behind him which were easily enough to deal with, he had seen plenty of movies that showed how to bring his arms forward. But he doubted his captors would allow him the chance. So he decided to deal with the more important and pressing issue of not suffocating on the deck of ship. He pressed his face against the floor and gripped the inside of the bag with his teeth. It slipped several times as the bag became slick with his saliva, but kept he at it. After what felt like hours though he knew it could have been more than thirty seconds, he got a solid grip and bite down hard. He then began grinding his teeth till he had two small hole the size of quarters. Instantly the bag was flushed with fresh, and slightly salty, air which he gulped in huge breaths. While he had solved the suffocation issue, his arms and legs were still bound tight. So there was little he could do, other than listen and pray something saved them.

"And so, the Fleece." mused Luke as he poked and prodded Percy and Grover. "Where is it?"

"Hey!" said Grover. "That's real goat fur under there."

"Sorry old friend." Luke smiled. "Just give me the Fleece and let you return to your little, ah, nature quest."

"Blah-ha-ha!" Grover protested. "Some old friend."

"Maybe you didn't hear me." Luke voice grew dangerously calm. "Where - is - the - Fleece?"

Don't tell him, Artie silently pleaded. Play for time. Let him think its hidden close by.

"Not here." said Percy sounding slightly smug. "We sent it ahead of us. You messed up."

Sure add insult injury. That'll keep us alive, thought Artie as he cursed under his breath.

Luke's eyes narrowed. "You're lying. You couldn't have possibly . . . Clarisse?"

Check out the big brain on Brett!, Artie longed to say, but he settled on thinking it.

"You trusted . . . you gave?"

Percy nodded.

"Agrius!"

The bear twin flinched, "Y-yes?"

"Get below and ready my steed. Bring it to the deck. I need to get Miami airport. Fast!"

"B-but b-boss."

"Do it!" Luke screamed. Or I'll feed you do the drakon!"

Artie heard the bear man's muffled footsteps as he lumbered below decks. Despite being hogtied on the deck of a ship with a bag over his head, surrounded by monsters and enemy demigods, Artie was hopeful. Even the through the bag, Artie could here the distress and unease in Luke's voice. He even allowed himself a slight smile as he heard Luke pace back and forth while cursing in ancient Greek. If Luke's judgement was clouded by anger, then Annabeth might be able to turn it against him. He only hoped Annabeth would take the opportunity despite her past with Luke.

Artie's mind went to Star Wars and mentally quoted to himself, Yes! Give into your anger.

Percy was thinking the exact same thing as looked at fountains and said, "You've been toying with us all along. You wanted us to ring you the Fleece and save the trouble of getting it yourself."

"Ha! Its all a cry for attention. Its classic case of abandonment. Let me explain." Artie shouted through the bag, hoping he could add fuel to the fire. "He coulda had class. He coulda been a contender. He could've been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what he is."

Luke kicked Artie in the ribs, "Shut up and die already."

Artie coughed hard but managed to say, "Yes! Give in to your anger."

Luke kicked harder, "I said SHUT UP! I've had it with you and your blasted movies."

Artie wished he could see Luke's face as he quoted as many movies as he could. "Well, nobody's perfect. Wait a minute, wait a minute. You ain't heard nothin' yet! Elementary, my dear Watson. What we've got here is failure to communicate. Forget it, Luke, it's Chinatown."

Luke kicked with each word, "WHY - WON'T - YOU - SHUT UP?"

"STOP IT!" pleaded Annabeth, but Luke ignored her.

Artie wasn't sure how long before Luke's attacks ruptured an organ or broke a rib, but he kept at it. "Houston, we have a problem. I got a feeling we;re not in Kansas anymore."

Luke put Backbiter against Artie neck and growled, "One more and it'll be your last. I swear!"

Artie gulped but said, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."

Luke slashed downward with Backbiter, but turned to deflect a small projectile. A golden drachma bounced of Luke's sword with a slight cling before disappearing into a rainbow mist created by the fountains. While Artie couldn't have possibly known what Percy was planning, he had inadvertently given Percy time to think of a plan. And luckily for Artie, Percy couldn't have cut it closer.

"Pretty tough when your opponent is tied up!" he yelled as he drew Riptide. "I bet you think you could even take on DIONYSUS, even back at CAMP HALF BLOOD!"

The fountain began to shimmer, but Luke turned to Percy and sneered. "This is no time for heroics, Percy. Now drop your little sword, or I'll have you killed sooner rather than later."

"Who poisoned Thalia's tree, Luke?"

"I did, of course." snarled Luke. "I used elder python venom from the depths of Tartarus."

"Chiron had nothing to do with it?"

"Ha! Everyone knows he'd never do that. The old fool would never have the guts!"

"Listen to him, Percy." said Artie. "A splinter is no laughing matter."

Percy really wanted to tell Artie to shut up, but he just said. "You were going to heal Kronos. Weren't you, Luke?"

"Yes! The Fleece would have sped up his healing tenfold. But you haven't stopped us, Percy. You've only slowed us down a little."

"So you poison the tree, betrayed Thalia, you set us up — all to help Kronos destroy the gods."

Luke gritted his teeth, "You know that! Why do you keep asking?"

"Because I want everybody in the audience to hear you."

"What audience?" Artie asked. "Percy? what did you do?"

Luke then turned around and his eye narrows, along with the rest of his goons. Above the pool, shimmering in the rainbow mist, was Dionysus and Tantalus in the dining pavilion, along with every single camper. Everyone watched in stunned silence, until Dionysus spoke.

"Well," said the god very dryly. "Some unplanned dinner entertainment."

"Would someone please explain to me what's going on!" Artie demanded.

Percy ignored Artie and spoke to Dionysus. "Mr.D, you heard him. The poisoning of Thalia's tree wasn't Chiron's fault."

"I suppose not." Mr.D sighed.

"The Iris message could be a trick." offered Tantalus who was more concerned with cornering his cheeseburger than the fate of Olympus.

"I fear not." said Mr. D "It appears I shall have to reinstate Chiron as activities director. I suppose I do miss the old horse's pinochle — "

Luke slashed through the mist, cutting off Dionysus and the connection. Artie was beyond confused. Somehow Percy had summoned Mr.D, who arrived in time for Luke admit the truth, just to reinstate Chiron and leave without taking them with him. Artie wasn't sure what exactly Percy's plan was, but he had a feeling it came short. The camp now knew who was responsible for the dying borders and Chiron was coming back, but that still left Percy and his friends surround by monsters and demigods,one more angry than the rest of them combined.

The least that lazy drunk could have done was untie me, though Artie. He would barely have to think it.

"Kronos was right." said Luke. " You're an unreliable weapon. you need to be replaced."

A brass whistle blew. Suddenly a mixture of monsters and demigods came up from below deck. They were all armed to the teeth and held brass tipped spears. They circled Percy and his friends and lowered the spear, making escape impossible.

"You won't leave this ship alive." said Luke smugly. "None of you."

"Well, Percy," said Artie, unable to resist the urge to quote Sons Of The Desert. "Here's another nice mess you've gotten me into."

A/N - While I have no plan to abandon Artie's story, I do have other stories in mind that I wish to write. Feel free to vote on which you want to see first.