Chapter 25 - I Learn Leo's Plan

Leo, Piper and Jason returned, with both the cure and a new basket of fresh ambrosia and nectar. We immediately went to the mess hall while Leo told Festus to continue to Athens.

Once we were all sitting down, Jason began the meeting.

"So, the good news is we've got the cure. Asclepius was one of the most helpful gods we've seen on this trip. Part of that was Piper's charmspeak - she convinced him to give us the cure even though he wasn't supposed to. Leo also disabled the automaton that was guarding Asclepius. It was this big statue and he, uh, basically reprogrammed it to idiot-mode. Like, he made the statue do stupid stuff so it wouldn't kill us."

"It was awesome!" Piper interjected. "Then he reprogrammed these signs that were like the key to Asclepius's office. We met him, and he could see every single thing that we had ever been injured or sick with."

"Apparently I needed glasses." Jason explained. His new glasses made him look smart and distinguished. Like a prep-school boy, and not the mean kind.

"Asclepius's snake, Spike, ate all the ingredients and spit out the Physician's Cure." Leo explained happily. "So we're good to go." He set the vial in the middle of the table, where we all stared at it. It was red - typically not a good color. Still, I relaxed. Now, we had a chance. Perhaps I really could get through this without losing any more friends.

"I don't like it." Jason said, suddenly. "The way Asclepius looked at Leo -"

"Ah, he just sensed my heartsickness. You know? I'm dying to see Calypso." Leo tried to smile at that, but it wasn't super convincing. I was still pretty sure he had some kind of a plan in mind, and knowing him, it would be both brave and stupid.

"That's so sweet." Piper remarked. "But I'm not sure that's it."

Percy frowned, looking at the vial in the middle of the table. I wondered if he was thinking about the Gorgon's blood he had taken that had restored his memories.

"Any of us might die, right?" Percy asked, tentatively. "So we just need to keep the potion handy."

"Assuming that only one of us dies." Jason reminded us. "There's only one dose."

My heart thudded, looking at the vial. A vision swarmed over me. The final battle. Camp Half-Blood. I held my half-brother Malcolm's head as he took his last breaths. I looked around desperately. I saw a Roman in a purple shirt with short blonde hair scream, "Die Graecus sum!" and run Piper through with a spear. I ran to her, desperately trying to bind her wounds, even though I knew it was too late. I heard a scream and turned to find Frank transforming from his eagle form, shot through the throat by an enemy arrow. Before I could race to him I heard a gasp that I knew far too well. I turned to find Percy, stabbed from behind. His Achilles spot. Logically, I knew he didn't have that anymore. But still, I ran to him. I yanked the Cure out of my pocket and held it to his lips. He held his mouth closed tightly and shook his head. He pointed me to Frank.

"Please, Seaweed Brain. Please." I begged him.

His eyes locked with mine. I knew as well as he did that Percy would never save himself over one of his friends.

I felt a hand grab mine and jolted upright. I glanced to my side. It was Percy, his eyes full of concern. I blinked back tears. I wasn't Rachel. I didn't have the power of prophecy. I tried desperately to convince myself it wasn't true. But I also knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that if that were to happen, Percy would insist that I save the others. There would be no question.

Piper was speaking. "We need, like, a designated medic to carry the potion. Somebody who can react quickly and heal whoever gets killed."

"Good idea, beauty queen. I nominate you." Leo said, far too casually.

"But, Annabeth is wiser. Hazel can move faster on Arion. Frank can turn into animals." Piper protested.

"But you've got heart." I assured her. I gave her hand a squeeze, relieved not to have that responsibility. "Leo's right. When the time comes, you'll know what to do."

Leo flashed me a grateful smile. I wasn't sure what his plan was, but for now, I'd go along with it. And I'd do my best to make sure he survived, and that the vision I just had never came true.

"Yeah. I've a feeling you're the best choice, Pipers." Jason agreed. "You're going to be with us to the end, whatever happens, storm or fire."

Leo plucked the vial from the table. "Is everyone in agreement?"

Leo gave Hazel a very clear look. Then he made a big show of wrapping up the vial. I wasn't sure if the others caught it, but I had. Leo took the vial. Hazel swapped it for a Mist version. Leo was so certain he was going to be the one to die he was willing to risk not having the vial accessible for the rest of us. I wondered if he had gotten a message or a prophecy from his dad or something.

"Ok, then." He announced, presenting the wrapped vial to Piper. "Athens - tomorrow morning gang. Be ready to fight some Giants!"

"Yeah. I know I'll sleep well." Frank muttered.

Silence filled the room. "What do you do?" Piper asked, looking between Percy and I. "When you think the world's going to end?"

Percy and I looked at each other.

"In my experience, one of your friends decides to take a helicopter into a war zone where the pilot passes out." Percy decided. "Then your girlfriend saves the day, flies a helicopter, and walks away like it's nothing." He smirked at me.

Everyone turned to stare at me. I was blushing, I knew it. "I just guessed on the controls." I muttered, not meeting their eyes.

"Alright, tell." Jason said, grinning. So, we did. Percy and I told our memories during the Titan War. Jason told his side of it. Everyone seemed a little relieved to hear that some members of our team had survived a world-ending prophecy before.

After dinner, Piper and Jason tried to grab Leo but he claimed he needed to work on the engine. He ducked out. I took the ambrosia and nectar to the infirmary, then I waited a few minutes, before I went to find Leo. I could hear him talking to someone, probably Festus. I walked in to find him curled up next to the engine in the dim light. I sat down across from him.

"So." I said, knowing he was awake, despite his closed eyes. "Have you decided if you want to talk to me?"

I heard a small sob. "Yeah. Ok. Close the door."

I got up and did as asked. Then I went to sit next to him.

"So…. in Olympia Victory said that one of the four of us was fated to die. And the prophecy…. To storm or fire. That's two people. Only my name is on both lists."

My breath caught as I realized he was right.

"So….. that means me. How we defeat Gaea… well, it's the opposite of Ouranos. We don't take the sky to the ground - we take the ground to the sky. Then….. Well. I'll make sure I'm the one she falls to."

"And the Physician's cure?" I asked him pointedly. "I know you took it."

He ducked his head. "I've got a plan. I got it all set up. Festus knows what to do. And then I'll go get Calypso."

I nodded, slowly. "What can I do to help?"

He looked at me, shocked. "You're really willing to help?"

I shrugged. "I don't want you to die, Leo. But fighting prophecy never works. In Tartarus, I came against that fact again. I…. there was this river…." I wasn't sure how to explain it. I took a deep breath. "Last year, in the Titan War, there was this prophecy, right? We all thought it meant that Percy was going to die. But it ended up that my friend Luke died instead. It was…. Hard. I felt guilty for a long, long time. I still do, sometimes. I felt like I should have tried harder. Found a different plan. Something that saved them both. But I still haven't thought of one. Sometimes….. There isn't another way out. Sometimes, no matter how wise or clever you are, a choice has to be made." I swallowed a sob, thinking of Bob and Damasen.

"I don't want you to die, Leo. But if you're the one that has to go, if this is the choice you're making, well, I'm going to do what I can to make it count. You're choosing this prophecy, Leo. Percy and I…. we both have some experience in that area. Percy chose to make the last Great Prophecy about him rather than Nico, to honor Nico's sister. I chose to be one of the Seven. I'm not sure if choosing to step into a prophecy really changes anything or not. But it seems to feel a little better. Make you feel like you have some control over your life.

So, if this is what you choose….. I'll do what I can to help. I'll do what I can to make sure your plan will really work. I wish I could guarantee that the Physician's cure would work, but I can't. I can't guarantee that nothing will happen to Festus, or that Jason won't try to sacrifice himself instead."

Leo looked nervous, but quietly said. "I thought of that. I'm going to make sure he takes Piper. He might be willing to sacrifice himself, but not her."

"Makes sense. It's a good plan, Leo. It might work."

He nodded, sadly. "I'm like, 36% sure."

I grinned and leaned my head on his shoulder. "That's pretty sure."

We sat in silence for a while. I was remembering all the moments I had spent with Leo, building the Argo II. He was absolutely crazy, insane, and a mad scientist. But he was also brave, and a total genius. And he loved his friends.

"Annabeth…. If it doesn't work….. Can you do something for me? Well, a couple things?"

I nodded. "Name it."

"Take care of Festus. And Buford. I'm not sure if you'll be able to get back to Bunker 9 or not, since you don't have fire power. But Nyssa and the others should be able to help."

"Will do."

"And another thing?"

"Sure."

Leo took a deep breath. "She said no one ever finds Ogygia twice. You've never been there. Maybe…. You stand a chance of rescuing Calypso if I can't."

I thought about that. I thought about rescuing the woman who had cursed me. The one Percy had almost left me for. Leo didn't know. I hadn't told him what had happened in Tartarus with the Arai. I wasn't sure how I felt about Calypso, but I knew this - if that was what Leo's last request was, I'd manage it. Somehow.

"I promise I'll do whatever I can. I'll ask the gods to remember to free her, at least. Bring her to New York. I'll get her settled into modern life."

He nodded. "That'd be good."

We sat in silence for a while longer.

"So." I said, trying to think of something to say. "Anyone ever tell you about how I woke up Festus?"

Leo looked confused. "You? I mean, Piper -"

I shook my head. "Way before that. Before the Titan War. I found his head in the woods, well, let's back up, so you know the Mymerkes?"

And so I told Leo the story of how Festus got his head back. It was a good story, though it still hurt a bit to talk about Silena and Beckendorf in the past tense. After the story, Leo sat back, looking at his dragon.

"You still afraid of me?" I asked him.

"Terrified." He admitted. "But I also admire the heck out of you. You're demigod supreme."

I laughed. "Jason told you?"

He nodded, grinning ear to ear. "I think it's a good name!"

I pulled out my phone. "Selfie. Since Gaea wants to spill my blood in Athens and you're fated to die with Gaea."

He grinned and we took several silly selfies.

"You'll be alright?" I asked him before I left.

He nodded. "I want a last night with my machines."

I looked at him, taking in every detail. "Whoever gets to the Underworld first, well, wait for the others."

He nodded at me. "Deal. No rebirth till we have an awesome Argo II Underworld party."

I nodded. "Nachos included?"

"If there are nachos in the Underworld, deal."

I smiled. "Love you, Leo."

His eyes filled and I could tell he was having a hard time speaking. Finally, he managed. "Yeah. Love you too."