Hehehe, here comes Mars- who Percy would love to fight again- and Mars would love to... well, you'll see. Percy is not amused anyway.
My usual update, 8 chaps into the Kane Chronicles fic, would you guys like a snippet of one of the chapters at the end of the next chapter? Just to get a taste?
Reviews:
Undeath9087: Yeah, Bianca definitely saved his life, but hey, at least she did it for Percy's sake.
The Official Clarisse: Bianca was just there like 'Oh shit I know who's doing that, shit I gotta stop her before she straight up murders the guy.' also- how do you guys think Frank and Hazel will react when they find out what Percy's capable of?
Guest: Reyna doesn't realise it was Percy who did it- she knows Percy can control huge amounts of water but she doesn't realise Percy can control the water inside of the body too- it's not exactly something most people think of when they think of kids of Neptune or Poseidon after all, but she would be fucking terrified at this stage if she found out, and Bianca's just there doing her best under the circumstances.

Before anyone could say anything else a thunderous voice rolled across the field: Death loses its hold. This is only the beginning.

Campers drew weapons. Hannibal trumpeted nervously. Scipio reared, almost throwing Reyna.

"I know that voice," Percy's eyes narrowed, her entire body going tense as she tightened her grip on Riptide. Somehow she got the feeling that that voice was not one that was particularly friendly, especially not towards her.

In the midst of the legion, a column of fire blasted into the air. Heat seared Percy's eyelashes. Campers who had been soaked by the cannons found their clothes instantly steam-dried. Everyone scrambled backward as a huge soldier stepped out of the explosion.

Percy felt as if she'd been punched in the gut. The soldier was ten feet tall, dressed in Canadian Forces desert camouflage. He radiated confidence and power. His black hair was cut in a flat-topped wedge like Frank's. His face was angular and brutal, marked with old knife scars. His eyes were covered with infrared goggles that glowed from inside.

He wore a utility belt with a sidearm, a knife holster, and several grenades. In his hands was an oversized M16 rifle.

Percy felt a rush of anger- she knew him. She didn't know how but she did know him somehow- and she saw Frank stepping forward, one step- then two, three then four, and he dropped to one knee.

The other campers followed his example and knelt. Even Reyna dismounted.

"That's good," the soldier said. "Kneeling is good. It's been a long time since I've visited Camp Jupiter."

Percy gripped Riptide tighter, she didn't kneel. She'd never kneel for him, she knew that even if she didn't know why she felt like that. "You're Ares." her voice was low, dangerous, "What do you want?"

A collective gasp went up from two hundred campers and an elephant.

The god bared his brilliant white teeth at her, "You've got spunk, demigod," he said. "Ares is my Greek form. But to these followers, to the children of Rome, I am Mars—patron of the empire, divine father of Romulus and Remus."

"We've met," Percy said. "We…we had a fight.… I know we did."

The god scratched his chin, as if trying to recall. "I fight a lot of people." his eyes flicked up and down her, taking her in before his lips twitched, "Maybe we've fought. I don't remember you. Maybe I spared you for some reason-" the way his eyes raked up and down her form made it obvious to Percy what he was thinking, "You're a fighter. I can see it. A survivor- You have a lot of power in you kid, more than you know" his eyes flicked to her arms, the visible scars, "I respect that. I like spunk," he moved forward, "and I like courage. I can see why I might have spared you- you're a beautiful one. It almost makes up for your lack of respect." he was standing close to her, a slight smirk on his lips, "But I do expect respect. Now kneel as befits a child of Rome before you try my patience."

Percy gritted her teeth, "Nev-"

"Percy-" Frank's voice was tight, worried, "Please."

"Fine." Percy ground out after a moment, "But it's not for you. It's never going to be for you." she knelt down, wishing she could punch the smug gods smirk off his lips.

Mars scanned the crowd. "Romans, lend me your ears!" He laughed—a good, hearty bellow, so infectious it almost made Percy smile, though she was still too angry for that.
"I've always wanted to say that. I come from Olympus with a message. Jupiter doesn't like us communicating directly with mortals, especially nowadays, but he has allowed this exception, as you Romans have always been my special people. I'm only permitted to speak for a few minutes, so listen up."

He pointed at Gwen. "This one should be dead, yet she's not. The monsters you fight no longer return to Tartarus when they are slain. Some mortals who died long ago are now walking the earth again." his gaze swung to Bianca and he glared at her, though Bianca didn't falter.

"Thanatos has been chained," Mars announced. "The Doors of Death have been forced open, and no one is policing them—at least, not impartially. Gaea allows our enemies to pour forth into the world of mortals. Her sons the giants are mustering armies against you—armies that you will not be able to kill. Unless Death is unleashed to return to his duties, you will be overrun. You must find Thanatos and free him from the giants. Only he can reverse the tide."

Mars looked around, and noticed that everyone was still silently kneeling. "Oh, you can get up now. Any questions?"

Reyna rose uneasily. She approached the god, followed by Octavian, who was bowing and scraping like a champion groveler.

"Lord Mars," Reyna said, "we are honored."

"Beyond honored," said Octavian. "So far beyond honored—"

"Well?" Mars snapped.

"Well," Reyna said, "Thanatos is the god of death, the lieutenant of Pluto?"

"Right," the god said.

"And you're saying that he's been captured by giants."

"Right."

"And therefore people will stop dying?"

"Not all at once," Mars said. "But the barriers between life and death will continue to weaken. Those who know how to take advantage of this will exploit it. Monsters are already harder to dispatch. Soon they will be completely impossible to kill. Some demigods will also be able to find their way back from the Underworld—like your friend Centurion Shishkebab."

Gwen winced. "Centurion Shish kebab?"

"If left unchecked," Mars continued, "even mortals will eventually find it impossible to die. Can you imagine a world in which no one dies—ever?"

Octavian raised his hand. "But, ah, mighty all-powerful Lord Mars, if we can't die, isn't that a good thing? If we can stay alive indefinitely—"

"Don't be foolish, boy!" Mars bellowed. "Endless slaughter with no conclusion? Carnage without any point? Enemies that rise again and again and can never be killed? Is that what you want?"

"You're the god of war," Percy spoke up. "Don't you want endless carnage?"

Mars's infrared goggles glowed brighter. "Insolent, aren't you? Perhaps I have fought you before. I can understand why I'd want to kill you. I'm the god of Rome, child. I am the god of military might used for a righteous cause. I protect the legions. I am happy to crush my enemies underfoot, but I don't fight without reason. I don't want war without end. You will discover this. You will serve me."

"Not likely," Percy snapped, capping Riptide and crossing her arms over her chest.

"I order a quest!" the god announced. "You will go north and find Thanatos in the land beyond the gods. You will free him and thwart the plans of the giants. Beware Gaea! Beware her son, the eldest giant!"

Next to Frank, Hazel made a squeaking sound. "The land beyond the gods?"

Mars stared down at her, his grip tightening on his M16. "That's right, Hazel Levesque. You know what I mean. Everyone here remembers the land where the legion lost its honor! Perhaps if the quest succeeds, and you return by the Feast of Fortuna…perhaps then your honor will be restored. If you don't succeed, there won't be any camp left to return to. Rome will be overrun, its legacy lost forever. So my advice is: Don't fail."

Octavian somehow managed to bow even lower. "Um, Lord Mars, just one tiny thing. A quest requires a prophecy, a mystical poem to guide us! We used to get them from the Sibylline books, but now it's up to the augur to glean the will of gods. So if I could just run and get about seventy stuffed animals and possibly a knife—"

"You're the augur?" the god interrupted.

"Y-yes, my lord."

Mars pulled a scroll from his utility belt. "Anyone got a pen?"

The legionnaires stared at him.

Mars sighed. "Two hundred Romans, and no one's got a pen? Never mind!"

He slung his M16 onto his back and pulled out a hand grenade. There were many screaming Romans. Then the grenade morphed into a ballpoint pen, and Mars began to write.

Frank looked at Percy with wide eyes. He mouthed: Can your sword do grenade form?

Percy mouthed back, No. Shut up.

"There!" Mars finished writing and threw the scroll at Octavian. "A prophecy. You can add it to your books, engrave it on your floor, whatever."

Octavian read the scroll. "This says, 'Go to Alaska. Find Thanatos and free him. Come back by sundown on June twenty-fourth or die.'"

"Yes," Mars said. "Is that not clear?"

"Well, my lord…usually prophecies are unclear. They're wrapped in riddles. They rhyme, and…"

Mars casually popped another grenade off his belt. "Yes?"

And Percy couldn't help the laughter that bubbled up past her lips at the look on Octavian's face. He still looked unwell from her little... well, big, lapse in control, and he looked even paler at the not so subtle threat, but when Mars turned his head to look at her he smirked, winking. "Something funny?"

"Oh, nothing." Percy couldn't help her grin- okay, so maybe, just maybe she could find a little bit of humor. That didn't mean she didn't despise Mars- and Octavian looked furious as he glared at her.

"The prophecy is clear!" Octavian announced. "A quest!"

"Good answer." Mars tapped the grenade to his chin. "Now, what else? There was something else.…Oh, yes."

He turned to Frank. "C'mere, kid."

Percy felt a rush of realisation at that and her eyes widened as she watched Frank walk forward, he looked pale and sickly as he stood in front of Mars, who grinned.

"Nice job taking the wall, kid. Who's the ref for this game?"

Reyna raised her hand.

"You see that play, ref?" Mars demanded. "That was my kid. First over the wall, won the game for his team. Unless you're blind, that was an MVP play. You're not blind, are you?"

Reyna looked like she was trying to swallow a mouse. "No, Lord Mars."

"Then make sure he gets the Mural Crown," Mars demanded. "My kid, here!" he yelled at the legion, in case anyone hadn't heard. "Emily Zhang's son," Mars continued. "She was a good soldier. Good woman. This kid Frank proved his stuff tonight. Happy late birthday, kid. Time you stepped up to a real man's weapon."

He tossed Frank his M16. The gun changed in midair, becoming smaller and thinner. When Frank caught it, the weapon was a spear. It had a shaft of Imperial gold and a strange point like a white bone, flickering with ghostly light.

"The tip is a dragon's tooth," Mars said. "You haven't learned to use your mom's talents yet, have you? Well—that spear will give you some breathing room until you do. You get three charges out of it, so use it wisely. Now, my kid Frank Zhang is gonna lead the quest to free Thanatos, unless there are any objections?"

Of course, no one said a word. But many of the campers glared at Frank with envy, jealousy, anger, bitterness.

"You can take two companions," Mars said. "Those are the rules. One of them needs to be this kid."

He pointed at Percy. "She's gonna learn some respect for Mars on this trip, or die trying. I look forward to seeing her when she does have some respect. Maybe once she does we can have a drink" he eyed her again, an almost curious look on his face- did he know something about her after all? But- if he did he wasn't going to say anything. "As for the second, I don't care. Pick whomever you want. Have one of your senate debates. You all are good at those."

The god's image flickered. Lightning crackled across the sky.

"That's my cue," Mars said. "Until next time, Romans. Do not disappoint me. And hopefully I'll see you soon Percy Jackson."

"I'd rather not if it's all the same to you."

The god erupted in flames, and then he was gone. And Percy silently prayed that no one else had registered the fact that the god had kind of been trying to flirt with her.
Reyna turned toward Frank. Her expression was part amazement, part nausea, like she'd finally managed to swallow that mouse. She raised her arm in a Roman salute. "Ave, Frank Zhang, son of Mars."

The whole legion followed her lead, and Percy gave her friend a wry smile when he met her gaze- he looked like he was going to be sick. She couldn't blame him- she got the feeling that she knew how it felt, having that much pressure on you. It wasn't a nice feeling. But if there was one thing she was sure of, she was going to be there to back him up all the way.