Chapter Twenty-One

Michael Kahale owed everything to the Imperator. He had taken a Son of Venus who others ridiculed, and trained him into a soldier, and officer that understood what it was to lead, and what it was to follow. So, when the Praetorian Guard was formalised, he had sought out Percy directly, and argued his case for being able to join, even though he hadn't completed his ten years. The Imperator and Prefect Zhang had looked at each other once, and the rest was history.

Michael didn't expect to become so essential to the protection of the Imperator, but somehow, he had. With the Prefect tasked with preparing for the Quest of the Seven, Michael began taking on more and more of his responsibilities, which led to his promotion to Tribune. But he never forgot his directive. Protect the Imperator. He had told Percy upfront that his duty to protect him came first and foremost, and as a result, Michael often found himself doing paperwork at the same time as the Imperator. Percy would ask him for his opinion, and sometimes, he even took it.

That changed with the destruction of his home. Percy now spent more and more time in the lake, and Consul Reyna was the only one able to get him out. Michael's duties were relegated to standing at the edge of the lake with nineteen other guards, nicknamed the Batavi, after Augustus' old bodyguard. They were the elite of the elite, and the only ones who were privy to everything the Imperator was. And they were standing around a lake.

The Imperator's head emerged from the water, followed by the rest of him, and he ambled right up to Michael, a blank expression on his face.

"Have the Guard assemble on the Campus Martius, Michael." Percy ordered. "Have someone else call the Senate into an emergency session."

Michael didn't even have to do anything, as the two designated runners detached, having a silent conversation as to who would go where. He followed Percy through the streets of New Rome, knowing better than to question the Imperator. Percy would tell him when he decided Michael needed to know. As normal, the people quickly moved out of Percy's way, but this time, there was something quiet, muted, about it. Instead of the calls of support, and admiration, there were solemn bows of heads, or heads held up tall. Percy absorbed it in kind, and armoured like his Praetorians were, sans helmet, he gave off the impression of a warrior king, going off to… War.

That was it, Michael realized. Percy wanted his people to see him as a warrior, because he was planning on fighting. But to use the Guard, over the legion? It meant it was personal, not professional. He didn't want for the lives of the soldiers sworn to Rome at risk. Only the ones sworn to him. Michael had to admit, it was audacious, and a very Percy move.

The Imperator wasn't the first one in the Senate, that was of course, the Consul. Percy bade him to stand back while they talked, and while Michael didn't know what the topic was, Reyna clearly wasn't pleased by it. She slapped Percy, and one of the Batavi beside him went to take a step forward, halting when Michael blocked him with an arm. The next few hits were on Percy's chest, and considering the armour, they were incredibly ineffective. Percy just wrapped his arms around her, and though his face was tight, Michael could read the emotions in his eyes. He wasn't enjoying it any more than Reyna was.

The consul and Imperator shared another series of hushed words, before both schooled their features, returning to the façade they normally wore in the Senate. Several minutes later, the first Senator arrived, Vanessa Hale, daughter of Venus. She was a steadfast supporter of the Imperator, and considered the head of the Populares Party, the faction of the Senate that represented Percy's interests. Michael admired her, not only for taking the ridicule she met as a child of Venus with pride, but turning it against her foes. Within her first year as a senator, just under five years ago, she had caused the resignation of three former praetors, all of whom abused their powers as senators.

The rest of the Senate filed in, and took their seats. For the first time, the entirety of the Batavi were present, something that clearly put some of Percy's opposition on edge. Michael grinned inside his helmet. He liked making people nervous.

"Let this emergency session of the Senate be called into order." Reyna intoned. "The Imperator wishes to speak."

With that, she sat back in her chair, while Percy rose from his own. His armour clanked as he moved, reminding the senators of the unusual breach of tradition.

"Several hours ago, I received word from Lord Mars, the Patron of Rome. In the east, our Greek cousins are preparing for war. The Quest of the Seven have successfully retrieved the Athena Parthenos, which has cured the split between our gods." Percy announced, drawing hushed murmurs from the crowd. "But the Greeks do not number enough to successfully fight off the hordes of monsters and giants that approach their camp. Normally, I would be sending the legion, but another horde of monsters, led by the returned Krios, is heading towards New Rome. The legion will be remaining here, to defend the city. I will be leading the Praetorians east, to New York, to aide our cousins against Terra."

Instantly, the room erupted into protests. It didn't last long. Percy gestured towards Michael, and the guard began slamming the butts of their pila onto the marble floor, silencing them after a few moments.

"This is not a debate. This was an order from Olympus, sent through Mars Ultor. Consul Reyna has command of the city while I am gone. Praetors Dakota and Nathan will assist her with the defence of the city." Percy growled. "As soon as I am able, I will return, but now, I must fulfil my duty to the gods, as you all must fulfil your duties to me. Effective immediately, all Evocati cohorts are called into service, until the threat from Krios has passed. Are there any questions?"

Wisely, Michael thought, there were none. The senate seemed to understand that Percy was clearly as unhappy about this as they were, but no Roman would ever shirk their duty. They would obey.

MMXVIII

AN: To war! So, about Michael Kahale. In the books, he's from the First Cohort, and was a centurion. In this, he was originally from the Fourth, but when a slot opened up, he was transferred to the First, and became the Junior Centurion under Octavian, becoming Senior Centurion upon that twit's death. Transfers between Cohorts were common in the old legions, and I can't imagine it possibly changing. Now, he's one of the two Tribune in the Praetorian Guard, but he protects Percy directly, while the other Tribune manages the rest of the guard. Both Tribunes report to Frank, who is the Praetorian Prefect. Also, to whoever keeps commenting about all the demigods being related, technically, yes, they are, but Gods don't have DNA, so only a select few, like the children of the Big Three, consider themselves related. Otherwise, none of these ships would work. For example, if we went by those familial ties, Charles Beckendorf and Silena were step-siblings, as their parents are married. I get your point, but Jesus, dude, take it down a notch.

Cheers, CombatTombat