Hehehehe. I hope you enjoy this chapter and an emotional Percy! Anyways, please do keep up the reviewing- and an update for the KC au, I think it'll at the very least have Percabeth- though if you want it to be poly make suggestions- because let's be honest Annabeth loves Normal Percy- and this is gonna be a Percy who was raised by Julius Kane, home schooled by Julius Kane- so she had one on one schooling and is gonna be somewhat smarter because of that- and it's a Percy who grew up running around the places that Annabeth would kill to visit- just imagine it- Annabeth talking about some ancient building in Greece like the Acropolis and Percy just being there like 'Hey, I've been there- me and Carter played hide and seek when we were little' or something.
Reviews:
The Official Clarisse: It won't be happening quite yet obviously but it will happen! And yeah. Percy's basically just there like 'Can someone please tell me what the fuck is going on?!'
JjlovesPJO: I mean technically she could but I mean, she does own a boat already.
Guest: There will probably be some interaction between gods- and you gotta think, Nico and Anubis canonically look very similar, I can just picture Percy looking at Nico once and being like 'Okay, he's an Underworld baby which means his sister must be too. Yay!' because also, she's kinda an Underworld kid- we all know Julius merges with Osiris so I mean, she's gonna love the Di Angelos. And as for your last question, let's face it, if the newbie shows up and starts asking questions like that, it'd be kinda suspicious right? And Octavian would latch onto it.

Lunch felt like a funeral party. Everyone was still eating but people were talking in hushed tones and nobody seemed very happy- not that Percy could blame them. They all knew that what was coming would be bad. Their camp was in danger and its fate rested on the shoulders of three demigods that, if they were all being honest, weren't exactly well thought of so far.

People were looking at the questers as if they were the corpses of honor.

Reyna made a brief speech wishing them luck. Octavian ripped open a Beanie Baby and pronounced grave omens and hard times ahead, but predicted the camp would be saved by an unexpected hero (whose initials were probably OCTAVIAN). Then the other campers went off to their afternoon classes—gladiator fighting, Latin lessons, paintball with ghosts, eagle training, and a dozen other activities that sounded better than a suicide quest. Percy followed Hazel and Frank to the barracks to pack.

Truthfully Percy didn't have much. She'd cleaned up her backpack from her journey and she'd kept most of her Bargain Mart supplies.

She had a fresh pair of jeans, an extra purple tshirt from the camp quarter master, plus some nectar, ambrosia, snacks, a little mortal money, and camping supplies.

At lunch Reyna had handed her a scroll of introduction from the praetor and camp senate. Supposedly any retired legionnaires they met on the trip would help them if shown the letter. She kept the locket and the things she'd strung onto the chain.

And of course, as always she had Riptide in her pocket.

She left the diadem tucked under her pillow on her bunk- though she decided to wear the upper arm band.

One of Franks roommates, Bobby, gave them a ride to the border of the valley on Hannibal the elephant. From the hilltops, Percy could see everything below. The Little Tiber snaked across golden pastures where the unicorns were grazing. The temples and forums of New Rome gleamed in the sunlight. On the Field of Mars, engineers were hard at work, pulling down the remains of last night's fort and setting up barricades for a game of death ball. A normal day for Camp Jupiter—but on the northern horizon, storm clouds were gathering. Shadows moved across the hills, and Percy imagined the face of Gaea getting closer and closer.

Work with me for the future, Reyna had said. I intend to save this camp.

Looking down into the valley Percy could understand Reyna- she got why the other girl cared so much, she really did. Even if she was new to Camp Jupiter she felt a desire to protect this place. A safe haven where demigods could build their lives- live in safety- she got the feeling that she'd never been able to imagine that- that she'd never imagined living into adulthood. She'd do everything she could to protect this place- and the people living there.

When they reached their destination they got off the elephant.

Bobby wished them a safe journey. Hannibal wrapped the three questers with his trunk. Then the elephant taxi service headed back into the valley.

Percy sighed. "Well then." she turned to her friends, "Looks like we'll be alone from here on out- on the plus side, no Octavian." that made Hazel laugh and Frank grinned.

"Now that is a big plus."

"I'm telling you guys- we're gonna nail this-"

A familiar voice interrupted them. "ID's please."

A statue of Terminus appeared at the summit of the hill. The god's marble face frowned irritably. "Well? Come along!"

"You again?" Percy asked. "I thought you just guarded the city."

Terminus huffed. "Glad to see you, too, Miss. Rule Flouter. Normally, yes, I guard the city, but for international departures, I like to provide extra security at the camp borders. You really should've allowed two hours before your planned departure time, you know. But we'll have to make do. Now, come over here so I can pat you down."

"But you don't have-" Percy stopped herself at the looks Hazel and Frank gave her "Uh, you know what, sure." she stood next to the armless statue and let him conduct a rigorous mental pat down.

"You seem to be clean," Terminus decided. "Do you have anything to declare?"

"Yes," Percy deadpanned. "I declare this is stupid."

"Hmph! Probatio tablet: Percy Jackson, Fifth Cohort, daughter of Neptune. Fine, go. Hazel Levesque, daughter of Pluto. Fine. Any foreign currency or, ahem, precious metals to declare?"

"No," she muttered.

"Are you sure?" Terminus asked. "Because last time—"

"No!"

"Well, this is a grumpy bunch," said the god. "Quest travelers! Always in a rush. Now, let's see—Frank Zhang. Ah! Centurion? Well done, Frank. And that haircut is regulation perfect. I approve! Off you go, then, Centurion Zhang. Do you need any directions today?"

"No. No, I guess not."

"Just down to the BART station," Terminus said anyway. "Change trains at Twelfth Street in Oakland. You want Fruitvale Station. From there, you can walk or take the bus to Alameda."

"You guys don't have a magical BART train or some thing?" Percy asked.

"Magic trains!" Terminus scoffed. "You'll be wanting your own security lane and a pass to the executive lounge next. Just travel safely, and watch out for Polybotes. Talk about scofflaws—bah! I wish I could throttle him with my bare hands."

"Wait—who?" Percy asked.

Terminus made a straining expression, like he was flexing his non-existent biceps. "Ah, well. Just be careful of him. I imagine he can smell a child of Neptune a mile away. Out you go, now. Good luck!"

An invisible force kicked them across the boundary. When Percy looked back, Terminus was gone. In fact, the entire valley was gone. The Berkeley Hills seemed to be free of any Roman camp.

Percy looked at her friends. "Any idea what Terminus was talking about? Watch out for…Political something or other?"

"Poh-LIB-uh-tease?" Hazel sounded out the name carefully. "Never heard of him."

"Sounds Greek," Frank said.

"That narrows it down." Percy sighed. "Well, we probably just appeared on the smell radar for every monster within five miles. We'd better get moving."

It took them two hours to reach the docks in Alameda. Compared to Percy's last few months, the trip was easy. No monsters attacked. Nobody looked at Percy like
she was a homeless wild child.

Frank had stored his spear, bow, and quiver in a long bag made for skis. Hazel's cavalry sword was wrapped in a bedroll slung on her back. Together the three of them looked like normal high schoolers on their way to an overnight trip. They walked to Rockridge Station, bought their tickets with mortal money, and hopped on the BART train.

They got off in Oakland. They had to walk through some rough neighbourhoods, but nobody bothered them. When ever the local gang members came close enough to look in Percy's eyes, they quickly veered away. She'd perfected her wolf stare over the last few months—a look that said: However bad you think you are, I'm worse. After strangling sea monsters and running over gorgons in a police car, Percy wasn't scared of gangs. Pretty much nothing in the mortal world scared her anymore. Though a part of her felt like she'd felt that for a while.

In the late afternoon, they made it to the Alameda docks. Percy looked out over San Francisco Bay and breathed in the salty sea air. Immediately she felt better. This was her father's domain. Whatever they faced, she'd have the upper hand as long as they were at sea.

Dozens of boats were moored at the docks—everything from fifty-foot yachts to ten-foot fishing boats. She scanned the slips for some sort of magic vessel—a trireme, maybe, or a dragon-headed warship like she'd seen in her dreams.

"Um…you guys know what we're looking for?"

Hazel and Frank shook their heads.

"I didn't even know we had a navy." Hazel sounded as if she wished there wasn't one.

"Oh…" Frank pointed. "You don't think…?"

At the end of the dock was a tiny boat, like a dinghy, covered in a purple tarp. Embroidered in faded gold along the canvas was S.P.Q.R.

Percy's confidence wavered. "No way." her voice was low but she got to work quickly, uncovering the boat, her hands working the knots with a practised ease. Under the tarp was an old steel rowboat with no oars. The boat had been painted dark blue at one point, but the hull was so crusted with tar and salt it looked like one massive nautical bruise.

On the bow, the name Pax was still readable, lettered in gold. Painted eyes drooped sadly at the water level, as if the boat were about to fall asleep. On board were two benches, some steel wool, an old cooler, and a mound of frayed rope with one end tied to the mooring. At the bottom of the boat, a plastic bag and two empty Coke cans floated in several inches of scummy water.

"Behold," Frank said. "The mighty Roman navy."

"There's got to be a mistake," Hazel said. "This is a piece of junk."

Percy could imagine Octavian laughing at them- it made her want to go back and beat him up- she could maybe make it work but- how long could a boat like this last? Probably not long.

"What do we do?" Hazel's voice was tight, "Percy even you can't-" Percy held up a hand to stop her- she'd seen something out of the corner of her eye, in the water, a flash of rainbow scales, and she took off at a run, her friends following after her, protesting loudly and calling for her to wait as she sprinted along the wooden docks, all the way to the other side of the docks- and she skidded to a halt in front of a white ship, it was a luxury yacht, a small one- but it was painfully familiar to her- and she could see the words painted boldly on the side. 'Poseidon's Joy 2.'

"Percy what are you doing?" Frank's voice was panicked, "You can't just run off like tha- oh wow. Now that's a nice boat-"

"Wish ours looked like that." Hazel finished as the two Romans caught up with Percy.

"It does." Percy said, not even thinking as she stepped forward, reaching out and laying a hand against the metal before she took off again, rushing around the side to see the ladder-"

"Percy what- we can't just steal a boat."

"We aren't." Percy gasped the words, "It's mine-"

"What?" Frank's voice was stunned, "But that doesn't make any sense. "

"It- it was a gift from my father for my birthday I think." she wasn't sure how she knew, but she did. She could sense it.

"Your dad gave you a yacht?" Frank's voice was shocked "That-" he paused, "the Poseidon's Joy 2? Percy-"

"I- I know." Percy hesitated, "That's his Greek form." she could feel her friends worried gazes and she swallowed hard, "Listen- I don't- you know I don't remember anything really but this boat is mine I know it. And it's here because-" she'd prayed hadn't she? "I think my dad sent it here to help us out."

"Your dad's more helpful than most then." Frank muttered, his brows furrowing, "You're sure it's yours."

"I am." Percy started scaling the ladder before her friends could say anything else. When she reached the deck she looked around with wide eyes, a stunned look on her face, it was familiar, though she got the feeling that it hadn't been used for a while.

She turned around when she heard her friends climbing onto the deck and she grinned at the stunned looks on their face. "Oh this is nice." Frank was grinning. "If you're right we'll get to travel in style."

"Are you sure?" Hazel was still looking around.

"I am, c'mon." Percy quickly moved, following her instincts and opening up a hatch and moving down the stairs, flicking on the lights as she went- she looked around, her eyes wide. "Oh this is-" it was familiar.

"It's amazing is what it is." Frank was grinning as he they followed her. "You have a kitchen in here- we can cook- and what's in there." he pointed to a door that led towards the front of the boat and Percy quickly moved to it, opening the door and pushing it open to show a bedroom with two large beds in it- stuck to the wall above one of the beds was a photo and Percy ran to it, a choked sob slipping past her lips as she ripped it off of the wall.

She was in the picture, grinning at the camera between the girls Percy knew were Annabeth and Rachel, who had their arms around her shoulder. Behind them stood a beautiful older woman with a warm smile on her lips and dark hair with gray streaks in it stood in between two others- on one side was a man, handsome with salt and pepper dark hair and an amused smile on his lips. On the other side she had her arm wrapped around a tall blond boy, who was in the middle of rolling his eyes, a scar on his right cheek, he was laughing- his arm wrapped around a girl with short choppy dark hair and electric blue eyes, who was poking her tongue out at the camera, and in front of them, kneeling down and posing dramatically were two younger boys- one a latino boy who was leaning back with his arms outstretched dramatically towards the others as if to say 'Ta dah!' and the other boy was paler, with dark hair and eyes, wearing an aviator jacket making the crazy motion with his finger and pointing at the latino boy.

"Percy-" Hazel's voice was startled, "what's that-"

"I-" Percy's voice cracked as she turned her head to look towards Hazel and Frank, who's eyes were focused on the photo in her hands, "I think they're my family." and then the dam broke and she started to sob.