The mission to take out the Princess Andromeda begins. I actually got a review surprised at how often I upload, which is cool. I guess compared to other writers (I'm not even being subtle here, I don't care if you have other things to do, I have as well), I do write chapters rather fast. So, the next one is here…

We started creeping further onto the ship. Ahead, I saw Beckendorf pull out a piece of paper. I looked closely, and realised it was his girlfriend, Silena Beauregard. He hair was being blown sideways, but it looked natural. Judging from the fireworks and the night sky, this was taken on the 4th of July, on the beach. I heard Percy reassure him,

"We'll make it back, trust me."

Beckendorf smiled, then turned to me. I nodded my confirmation, saying,

"If there's one thing that Aphrodite's meddling hands have taught me, love is pretty powerful. A few bombs and monsters aren't gonna stop that."

He nodded back grimly, then tucked the photo away. "Damn right. Let's go blow Kronos into a million pieces."

We made it a few paces, then Beckendorf stopped, and I caught up with him. He turned, and grinned at me.

"Aphrodite's been messing with your love life?"

His face showed pure mischief. I muttered,

"Shut up,"

Then took the lead, skirting round the side of the ship. I followed down a narrow service corridor, Beckendorf behind me, and Percy in the rear, but before we descended a notoriously creaky service stairwell, we all froze. A hissing voice was coming from above us.

"I don't care what your nose says!"

It was half human and growling. My brain immediately went back to the forge of Hephaestus last year. A Telkhine. The voice continued,

"The last time you smelled Half-Blood, it was a meatloaf sandwich!"

I supressed a laugh, and Percy glared at me.

"Meatloaf sandwiches are good!" The second voice was higher pitched, "But this is demigod…and something else!"

"Something else?! Maybe a Baloney Roll to go with it! Get back to work!"

They continued arguing, and we very carefully made our way down the stairs. After a few floors, the voices faded away. Finally, we came across a metal hatch. It looked like those cartoon boat cabin doors: circular, with a big metal wheel on it. A large bolt held it closed, but Beckendorf pulled out some chain cutters, and the bolt split like butter. Inside, a row of yellow-ish turbines the size of grain silos growled and rumbled. Pressure gauges and data terminals lined one wall. A Telkhine was bending over one such gauge, but he was so involved in whatever he was doing, he didn't hear us. He was about a metre and a half tall, with slick black fur and tiny little stubbed feet. His head was that of a dog, slobbering and growling. He was tapping on a keyboard. Percy stepped forward, and he tensed, probably smelling us. I thrust out my hand as he turned, and he froze, half facing us, fangs bared. Percy swung Riptide, and I released my hold. A pile of dust drifted to the floor.

"One down…" Beckendorf shouldered through his backpack. He pulled out a jar of Greek fire and tossed one to me and Percy, then continued,

"Roughly five thousand to go."

I carefully handled the explosive…it was the most powerful substance in the world. Then he threw another essential and powerful tool to Percy- duct tape.

"Slap that on one of the consoles. I'll get the turbines."

Then he turned to me, saw my face, and nodded.

"Fayden…you do you."

Percy frowned. "What's Fayden doing?"

But I had already left the engine room, heading to the end of the corridor, where another staircase stood, this one ascending. I climbed it, pulling my hood up. After climbing a few floors, I peered into a room on my left. I was shocked to see demigods walking around in full armour. I knew that some had turned, but seeing it was different. I saw that the armour was standard issue, that is to say, they all wore different bits and pieces. Thinking, I concentrated, and let my armour appear. There. Looking down, then back in the room, the only difference I could see, once I put my sword away, was I had a full set of armour that actually looked good. I pulled out my Siccae. The katana was unorthodox, and probably suspicious. I walked casually past the room, now hoping my disguise would work. I guess it did, as I passed a Telkhine, and the monster didn't even look up as I scooted aside to let it pass. I was now far enough in the floors to see the rooms had changed. They looked like commercial rooms and halls, instead of engine rooms and turbines. I walked past a small shopping centre, and stopped, peering in. Ok, no kidding, I swear I just saw a giant crab leg disappear behind an aisle. Yep, definitely moving on.

I could tell I was getting close to the deck, so I stopped. Looking around, I found the biggest room, filled with monsters. My plan was to kill as many as possible, and hopefully draw as much attention away from the engine room at the same time. So…start stealthy, and get sloppier, meaning I could kill a few before my presence was known. I casually walked into a room. Well, it was closer to a hall. About fifty monsters were lolling around, looking bored. A few glanced up at me as I entered, but I didn't draw attention. I walked towards the middle of the room, and sat in a chair, hand on chin. After a few seconds, I casually moved to a sitting position with both hands out in front of me. Then they started to glow. I glanced around. No one noticed anything. The glow was getting brighter. How did the monsters not see the demigod in the middle of the hall with his glowing hands? It got so bright I had to look away, and finally, a Telkhine glared at me and growled,

"What are you doing? What is he doing?!"

Most of the monsters turned to look at me, and walked closer, hands on weapons. But it was too late. I clenched my fists, and then opened them. The entire room went silent.

"Ha."

I was too tired to really whoop with joy, but I'd just frozen 50 monsters. It got a little depressing thinking that this much energy for a dent in the enemy forces, but still. I walked around, slicing with my Siccae. After around five minutes, maybe less, I was breathed out deeply, and fifty piles of dust formed on the floor. I left quickly, before someone, or something, walked in. Next room. This time, I wasn't as stealthy. It had ten monsters and three demigods. I hid my hands under the table and did the same trick, but then saw that only the monsters had frozen. The demigods were still walking around. I ducked under the table, trying to hide the bright golden energy surrounding my hand. Finally, one realised what had happened.

"What the…!"

"How?

"Kronos?"

"Nah. Why would he do this?"

I peered round the corner, watching the three Half-Bloods. How dumb are they? They weren't even considering pressing the emergency button the wall behind me.

"Go and press the button. Something's going on."

Goddamn it me. Go ahead and jinx it. I saw the smallest demigod walking over, and had a mental argument in my head. These guys were kids. I couldn't kill them. However, it would e easy to kill them, and they chose the enemy side. The demigod drew closer to my hiding spot. The hall was partitioned, so I could kill this kid without being seen, but how bad was that. However, my hand was forced. I spun round the corner, trying to hide as he crossed over the partition and was hidden from his buddies. He turned, and saw me. Rushing forward, I stabbed him in the gut with my Siccae, and he gagged. I pulled it out and stabbed him again. I was going to have nightmares about that for a while. But I had to act. The button should have been pressed. They'd get suspicious if it didn't. I crept out of my hiding place, creeping up on the second kid, who had his back turned. I could feel myself get more and more tired, still keeping the monsters frozen. I crept up, and plunged my knife into the ki…no. Into the enemy's back. I have to think like that. He gagged on blood, and I bent up, slitting his throat. The noise made the final guy turn. He cried out, and I threw my Siccae at him. The blade went through his chest, and he fell to the floor. I ran to pull it out of his chest, then went around quickly killing all the monsters. Finally, I realised my power, and knelt, gasping for breath. Good gods am I tired.

Then, finally, something went wrong. A monster, a Dracanae walked in, saw me, and rushed to the emergency button. I threw my Siccae, but it bounced of the wall, missing. Her scaly hand slammed it, then turned to me. A massive

"WOOH WOOH WOOH WOOH WOOH!" echoed across the ship.

I lunged at the Dracanae, but misplaced it out of exhaustion. She sidestepped and slashed at my back. My armour deflected her claws, but the force pushed me to floor, my head smacking the floor hard. I lay there, dazed. The Dracanae picked me up, and unlatched my helmet, throwing it across the room. Then she positioned her claws over my throat. Of course, she's a bad guy. Can you guess? A fucking monologue.

"You picked the wrong ssside. Now, I'm going to ssslit yo…atchgh!"

Yep. Nothing rejuvenates me like the threat of death and stupid villain monologues. I had twisted, and slammed my head against hers. She tumbled back. I flipped up, charging her, and tugging my keyring of its loop. I thrust the tiny keyring out, and it elongated into the monster, straight through her stomach. She looked down, then dissolved. I panted, then sprinted from the room, the sirens still echoing in my head. I saw ahead of me a pair of Dracanae, their snaky double-trunked legs sliding towards something. I ran over, slicing at both of them. Then saw Percy. I pulled him up, saying,

"What the hell are you doing here?! And where's your sword?!"

He nodded back to the shopping centre he'd just ran past.

"Under a crab."

"Under a cr…what?!"

"Not important! I came up here because the siren went off. What were you doing?!

I shifted guiltily. My clothes had shifted back into a hoodie, and I concentrated again, making it armour. My helmet, thankfully, appeared on my head.

"I was killing monsters."

Percy scowled. "You were trying to find Kronos weren't you."

"No!"

He looked at me. I coughed. "Maybe…all right, fine! Yes, I was."

Percy sighed, and reached into his pocket. He pulled out his pen, which had returned.

"You're an idiot. But I get it."

I grinned, and we both ran up. Percy skidded to a halt in front of the door I had come from. He gazed in then turned to me, pale.

"Did you…did you kill those demigods?!"

His tone was accusatory, and that pissed me off. I had finally convinced myself I had to, so shut up Percy.

"Yes."

I tried to walk on, but he pulled me back.

"What the hell!"

He looked seriously angry. "They were being brainwashed!"

I pushed him away. "No! They weren't. They were almost my age. They made their choice. It got them killed. Suck it up Percy. War isn't nice. They're the enemy!"

He stared at me like I was an alien.

"They're, they were…teenagers!"

"SO AM I!"

I breathed hard. "I didn't join Kronos. And he's my dad. They don't have an excuse. They choice the opposite side. If you don't like it…"

I leaned in, whispering angrily, "Look away."

Then I stormed forward. I could sense that Percy hadn't moved. I rushed away, then stopped.

"Hello, son."

Kronos stood on the balcony above me. It looked kind of weird, seeing him dressed in normal clothes. He had jeans, a white T-shirt and a pair of flip-flops.

"Kronos."

He smiled, his scar rippling. I'd never met Luke, but Percy described him pretty well. Blonde, tall, somewhat muscular, but also quite lean. His scar was cut across his eye, down to his chin, where Ladon had scratched him. The only thing that didn't match my given description was his eyes. Instead of blue, there were solid gold. This wasn't Luke. It was dear old dad, Kronos.

"Come now, son. We can call each other the niceties, can't we? After all, nothing like a torture session to bring family together."

Percy frowned at this. I had never told him, and as far as I can remember, he hadn't even seen the scarred words on my chest.

"Bite me."

As if he wasn't expecting this, Kronos glowered, then sighed.

"Very well."

Then he waved his hand, and I went rigid. Percy charged, sword raised, but immediately, he slowed down, slowly trudging towards the Titan Lord. I wasn't frozen. Golden energy was coursing through me, but it was trying to take me over. If I was looking at me from a third person view, I would've seen the small flecks of gold in my eyes were getting brighter. Percy stopped near Kronos. The Titan laughed,

"Bow before me, little demigod."

I barely heard him mutter,

"Yeah. Right. Totally."

I was shocked to see my hand raise. I wasn't controlling it. WHAT WAS GOING ON! Kronos seemed to hear that thought, or at least see the panic in my face, and his harsh, grating voice boomed out in a laugh.

"Do not try to resist, Fayden. It'll will not help. However, the pain will be…more defined."

Then he laughed again. "On second thoughts…resist."

I could tell he was lying, but the pain was affecting my judgement. My hand was raising, trying to grab my sword, and I had slowly turned to face Percy. I figured it out at the same time Percy did, and his eye's widened. The Titan Lord laughed again,

"Isn't this marvellous? Percy, you don't want to fight me. Wait…yes. You do. But you might be a tad distracted."

And my hand came down. Percy just raised Riptide to block my strike. He rolled aside, ignoring all the laughing hisses of the monsters around us, focusing on me.

"Come one Fayden. Come on!"

It had no effect. I charged, thrusting forward. It just clipped his jacket as he spun away. I was a better swordsman, but I was still trying to fight back, so it made me a little sloppy. I'm not entirely sure if that's a good thing. Percy faced me again.

"Fayden. Come on!"

He seemed to be desperately thinking for something to say. In my head, I was as well. Kronos laughed.

"Nothing you can say will change this, Poseidon spawn. He is mine."

Suddenly, Percy blurted, "Thalia!"

My hand stopped suddenly, raised to swipe again. Kronos noticed.

"Thalia?! Why would she do anything! I will kill her as well! Nothing will stand in my way!"

My blood boiled. I brought my hand back, but I was still trying to kill Percy. The demigod had realised it was working, and kept talking.

"Thalia! Come one, Fayden! Think of what she'd think!"

My voice sounded rugged, like I was saying my first words.

"She'd…probably kick…my…ass."

I laughed, a short noise quickly cut off, but Kronos had raised his hand.

"Enough! Fayden, kill him."

His hand flashed gold, and my arm came up. Percy rolled aside, and I kept coming, swiping and slashing. Percy was barely dodging the blows. He had to physically move to avoid most of them, and the monsters around us were slowly closing in, making the circle smaller. Percy was trying again. In my head, I was screaming at him to keep talking about Thalia, but no words came out of my mouth.

"Fayden! If you kill me, Thalia is never going to forgive you! What about Annabeth! They'll. Hate. You"

I stopped. No. Thalia can't hate me. Never. Kronos seemed to know when something was working, ad he raised his hand again. It pulsed gold, but nothing happened. Percy was on a roll.

"Fay! Break out of it!"

And my eyes dulled back to brown. I lunged forward, my sword aiming for Percy's neck. Kronos cried out in delight. Percy raised Riptide, but I knocked it aside, placing my sword to his throat. He didn't seem to notice my eyes had changed. I leaned in, and said,

"Only Thalia, can call me Fay."

Percy suddenly looked up, and laughed. I stepped back, spinning to glare at the Titan Lord. He was dumfounded. Before he could open his mouth, I charged. My sword came down at full speed. I guess he can't slow me down at all. He quickly raised his Scythe, and smacked my sword away. It didn't halt me. I spun away, deflecting the power of the block, and came back again, swiping down at his head. He didn't even defend it. My sword glanced off his head like I'd hit a wall. I was so shocked, I didn't even see Kronos cry out, clutching his head. Apparently, he had iron skin, but even so, I had bruised him with my sword. Looking more wary, he waded forward, swinging his weapon. I rolled right, in front of Percy. The demigod looked like he wanted to help, but still moved too slow. I avoided a swipe that would've taken my head off, and rushed in, kicking my dad in the chest. It was like kicking a sofa. He stumbled back a step, but I had stumbled further. Finally, Percy broke free, and charged with me. But Kronos had been playing with us. He swept his hand towards us, and we flew backwards. Grinning evilly, Kronos looked down at us.

"Pity to kill you now. You'll miss the Grand Finale."

I spat on the ground. "Why?! Why does every bad guy need a finale!"

Kronos grinned. "Dramatic flair. My boy. You've picked some of that off me, I have seen."

I glared at him. Percy staggered to his fleet. He glowered at the Titan Lord, and growled,

"You'll never get this ship to Manhattan."

Kronos' smile immediately told me something was wrong.

"Why? Because of your little friend in the engine room?"

I paled, and he continued.

"Nakamura!"

A teenage guy in a full set of Greek armour pushed through the crowd. His left eye was covered with an eyepatch. I didn't recognise him, but it looked like Percy did, and didn't like him. Nakamura spoke.

"Success, my lord. We found him."

He clapped, and two Laistrygonian Giants pushed through, dragging Charles Beckendorf between them. I grumbled out a,

"No,"

But I couldn't speak any louder. Beckendorf had a black eye, and his eyelid was split. Cuts covered his body; his amour gone. His shirt had nearly been torn off. He seemed to glance down at his watch. It was the detonator. But surely the onsters had disarmed the bombs before they came up here. One of the Giants spoke in a lumbering, stupid voice,

"We found him amidships, trying to sneak into the engine room. Can we eat him?"

Kronos growled, then turned to Nakamura. "Are you sure he didn't set the explosives."

My heart leapt. Beckendorf, you legend. He tricked them into thinking he hadn't made it to the engines yet. Nakamura frowned.

"He was going towards the engine room, my lord."

"How do you know that?!"

"Er…" The kid squirmed on the spot. "He was heading that way. And he told us. His bag is full of the explosives."

Percy seemed to be understanding as well. I caught eye contact with Beckendorf, and he smiled at me. I saw Kronos hesitate. Buy the story. Please.

"Open his bag."

Crap.

One of the Giants ripped the rucksack of Beckendorf, and tipped it upside down. Instead of Greek fire, a dozen canned peaches and other fruits fell out. I laughed out loud, and it seemed to anger Kronos even more.

"Did you perhaps, capture this demigod near the galley?"

Nakamura swallowed.

"And did you, perhaps, send someone to actually CHECK THE ENGINE ROOM?!"

The demigod turned on his heels and ran. Damn. We'd have minutes. I saw Percy had mouth something to Beckendorf. I think he said, How long? At least that's what I hope he said. If he had said, Chaolong, then I was going to have a conversation about when the right time to discuss ancient Chinese kings. Beckendorf mouthed something in return. Either, zero, or, he was debating the moral code of King Chaolong, and had said, hero. In which case, I surrender to Kronos. I'll let him kill me. Going with the hopefully more reasonable subject, I glanced at Percy. A Giant had his hand around Beckendorf's throat. We were in no state to save him. The second Giant was rummaging through Beckendorf's bag, maybe looking for some snacks when on guard duty. I could relate. Beckendorf raised his hand slowly, mouthing: Go. Percy shook his head, he turned to me. I stared sadly. My gaze seemed to relate my message. Silena. His face saddened massively, but his hand was still slowly going down to the watch. I shook my head, mouthing, No! Then a hissing voice cried,

"What isss he doing? What isss that on hisss wrissst?"

Beckendorf squeezed his eyes shut, and brought his hand down.

My voice finally came back. "No!"

My voice brought what was happening to Kronos' attention. Percy through Riptide like a javelin, sufficiently distracting the Titan Lord, and then he grabbed me. We forged through the mass of monsters, and then he pulled me of the side of the ship, falling into the water thirty metres below. Muffled by the water, I heard the ship rumbling. Monsters were yelling from above. A spear sailed through the air, sinking harmlessly into the water. Percy kept hold of my hand, boosting the water to take us as far as possible. Even from a hundred metres away, I was tipped forward, my head dunking under the water from the force of the explosion. A giant mushroom cloud of green fire erupted from the top of the boat, and the glass portholes shattered, fire shooting out of them as well. A wave of fire rolled of the sea, traveling towards us, and Percy sank us under the waves. The last thing I thought of was the picture Beckendorf had pulled out. He'd never have survived that. And now he'll never see Silena again.

Then I blacked out.

Boom. (Lol. I'm sorry. This is a sad chapter. Serious face on). I'm not sure if I like the 'Fayden was controlled' thing. I usually don't like that kind of thing, unless it's a specific power/what a character does generally. I'm not doing it again, especially during the fight on Olympus. I have plans for that.