Not updated last few days due to work, fighting with the website aaaand writer's block on Chapter 60.

Anyway

To RandomFanAuthor- I WANT DOESN'T GET.

To HoO Fans- thank you.

Leo had finished by the time the girls returned. He looked up, heart sinking slightly as Louisa slouched in behind Calypso, hands in her pockets. She stood to one side, staring listlessly at nothing in particular.

He raised a brow at Calypso as she stopped at his side. She sighed and shook her head.

"Won't talk to me."

"OK." He huffed. "Uh, who's your friend?"

"I'm Juni! What are you doing? Are you a demigod too? I've not met another demigod. Who's your parent? What are you building? Is it a hat?"

"She likes to talk." Calypso smiled weakly.

"Juni." Lucy-Jo called. The girl started, snapping to attention. She clamped a fist over her heart and winced.

"Sorry, Lieutenant! Didn't see you there!"

"What are you doing here, Juni? Aren't you supposed to be training?"

"Classes were rescheduled 'cos of the dragon destroying the cafeteria, Lieutenant. Where is the dragon? Can I meet him? Is it a him? Can I have one?"

"Juni. Focus."

"Sorry, Lieutenant."

"Try again." Lucy-Jo encouraged calmly. "What are you doing here, if training is cancelled?"

"I came to see Lou!"

"That checks out." Joel nodded. Lucy-Jo glared at the back of his head and he ducked in his seat, quietly singing under his breath. He was tapping away at his computer, a screen of code under his scrutiny. Wires ran from the computer to the contraption in Leo's hands. "How's the power holding up?"

"It's fine." Leo said, slowly turning the device in his hands. "Is the read coming back OK?"

"I think so, but it should be clearer if someone wears it. Hey, Juni-"

"No." Lucy-Jo exasperated, smacking him upside the head.

"What?" Juni asked. "What is it, what are you working on?"

"Joel calls it Zappy."

"What does it do?"

"Theoretically, targets bad memories and snaps connections that cause panic and upset." Joel spun in his seat, drumming his fingers on his temples. "Except, Leo's been tinkering with it."

"Lou," Leo said, "put this on." He held it up, closing one eye so it partially appeared to be on her head. She eyed him warily, hunching her shoulders. "I'm hoping it'll restore your memory. Or some of it, at least."

"I'll test it!" Juni offered, flailing her hand far above her head.

"No, you won't." Lucy-Jo corrected firmly. Juni's hand vanished, neatly tucked behind her back.

"Yes, Lieutenant."

Leo lowered the device slightly, contemplating Louisa carefully. She stared past his ear, a minor knit to her brow. She moved stiffly, a wince pinching the corners of her eyes. She was in pain and she was upset, mustering whatever defiance she could so he would not question her. At least, not in front of the others. Her gaze darted to the Zappy- probably realising what a stupid name that was- apprehension only tightening her shoulders.

"OK." Leo said, setting it to one side. "We'll take a break."

"But-" Lucy-Jo started.

"I'd rather we knew it worked for definite before putting it on her head. Need I remind you, she has full control over your plumbing, intentional or not?"

"Fine." Lucy-Jo sighed. "I've got some stuff to catch up on anyway. Joel, I'll send Neville your way, he knows about brains and smarty-pants things-"

"What makes you think I don't?"

"You need a brain to know about them."

"Mm, fair point."

"See if you can… fine-tune this thing or whatever it is you do, I don't know."

"You've been my friend for eight years and you still don't know what I do?"

"Something like that."

"You need your head checked."

"You need your head removed." She flicked him in the forehead, huffing. "Juni." She said, jumping the girl to attention once again. "Take them to the game room for a bit."

"Yes Lieutenant! Um…"

"What?"

"Can't I give them the tour?"

"No. We've got security measures in place. Game room only."

"But Lou's been here before?" Juni puzzled. She squeaked when Lucy-Jo raised an eyebrow at her, clenching her fist over her heart again. "Sorry, Lieutenant!"

"Lou was… an occupational exception. We needed her help. Right now, and no offense to you, Lou, but her amnesia is good for us. We don't let strangers in for a reason, Juni."

"Yes, Lieutenant."

"So take them to the game room. And you, fire boy. Show Juni the dragon. She'll be your new best friend." Leo blinked, about to remind her he had a name. Then Juni was on his arm, repeatedly tugging. She beamed up at him, springy on the soles of her feet, hazel eyes aglow.

"Can I see the dragon, can I can I can I can I, please please please please-?"

"OK, OK. Leave my arm in its socket and we'll go see Festus."

"YES! Oh my god, I'm gonna see a dragon! Best! Day! Ever!"

"Are you always like this?" Leo asked, baffled. Lucy-Jo snorted, setting her hands on her hips and shaking her head.

"Good luck, mate. She's calm at the moment."

Leo had a solution. He was a hyperactive demigod, so he knew how to manage that. Sticking a hyper ten-year-old girl on the back of an automaton dragon that spewed fire on her command was his best idea yet. They swooped and dived overhead, only so far off the ground, always remaining in sight. They could hear Juni whooping and screaming delightedly, encouraging loop-de-loops and barrel rolls and more fire.

They sat below, on the grass, not far from the manor. Juni had taken them out of a northern door; from their spot, they could see the lake to the east. Louisa sat with her back to it. Something seemed peculiar about it to Leo, a quality to it that marred the otherwise picturesque landscape. It was only when he looked up at Juni, did it sink in.

The water did not reflect the blue of the sky, like others of its kind. It remained grey, bitterly so, and unerringly still despite the light breeze. If he did not know better, he would have assumed it had always been an aspect of the land, formed over many years and filled with waters the sky itself had to offer.

But he did know better. And while he did believe it, he also could not believe it. Louisa looked so small, sat a few feet from them, cross-legged like a child, head bowed as she plucked at strands of grass. Her breathing was short and shallow, laboured and rippled with her chest pains. She was pale and bleary-eyed; even her hair had seemed to lose some of its raven hue. The creator of the lake and the girl before him seemed very different creatures.

A hand in his tool belt and he started. Calypso was searching his pockets, retrieving what little food he had squirrelled away- a banana, a slice of chocolate cake, two granola bars and half a dozen cookies. She pursed her lips at this minimal bounty.

"I wish they would return our supplies." She muttered, breaking the granola bars in threes. Festus roared, Juni shrieked. Leo looked up to see the steepest loop-de-loop so far.

"Don't drop her!" He called up. Festus clicked in response, spinning and beating his wings gleefully. "I really need to get him fixed." Leo mused. Calypso held out Louisa's portion, frowning when she shook her head.

"You need to eat." She persisted firmly. Louisa turned her head away, wincing. Her hand went to her chest and Calypso's expression softened. "Is it no better?"

"I'll be fine."

"Eat."

"I'm not hungry."

"But-"

"Leave it out for her, Cal." Leo advised gently. Protest sprung in her eyes, but she set the food aside. "Have this at least." Leo tried, retrieving their ambrosia stash. Louisa began to shake her head. Leo tutted, scooting closer. "It's medicine, not food." When she did not take it, he rested the square on her knee. "Eat it or I'll tell July."

"Don't-"

"Can't stop, won't stop. Eat it." She sighed, but obeyed. She seemed to savour the godly food- whatever she tasted, she could not remember, only adding to her upset. "OK," Leo nodded, offering a smile, "any guesses what this place is? They run some sort of operation."

"I bet they're spies." Calypso immediately said.

"FBI?"

"What's FBI?"

"Ugh."

"Roll your eyes at me again, I dare you."

"Sorry."

"And they're not demigods?"

"Not from what I've heard." Calypso shrugged. Louisa shifted, grimacing.

"I think… I think Juni is." She bit her lip, looking up. Festus barrel-rolled, Juni shrieking and laughing as she clung on. She drew her knees to her chest with a wince, folding her arms across the top of them. "I just… get this feelin' from her 'n'… I don't know who her parent is, if she is one of us, but…" She itched her little finger under her chin, sighing.

"What's wrong, Lou?"

"I brought her here. She said I brought her here." Leo and Calypso exchanged looks- was it even worth asking if she remembered?

Louisa could feel them watching her, bouncing her knee twice in agitation. "She didn't tell me much. I brought her here after her dad died."

"Did she say why?"

"No."

"Did she say anything else?"

"No, but…" Her sentence faltered. She picked at fluff on her knee, fidgeting.

"What is it, Lou?" Calypso asked gently. When she stayed quiet, Calypso shifted forward carefully, softly laying a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright? Did you remember something?"

"Sorta."

"What?"

"Juni's dad. I think… I think I got him killed."

New rule- the less reviews, the meaner I shall be ^_^ FYI- I love being mean to this lot.