"Place it higher."

"No. Place it lower."

"Use more powder."

"No, that's too much."

Percy listened to Teebs, Connor, and Travis arguing amongst themselves how best to blow up a section of wall. He was waiting for Marcus to get back, supposedly with their map of the underground of Olympus. All the while, he was extremely alert, waiting for the first call of an attack. Annabeth walked by with another girl he didn't recognize. They were both carrying a heavy bucket filled with water. Percy felt guilty for not helping with the water, but he didn't dare leave Teebs, Connor, and Travis alone right now.

"My lord." Marcus had returned.

"Don't call me that!" Percy said irritably.

"Here is the map that we drew." Marcus laid it out on a table. "The underground river could be heard around this area." He circled a portion of the map with his finger.

"Where is our entrance point?" Percy studied the map.

"Here." Marcus pointed at an area a good distance away from where he had just pointed at.

Percy tried to keep his breathing steady so everyone couldn't see the panic rising in his chest. "Otic. Is everyone ready?"

"Everyone has been put on alert and a team has been assembled." Otic replied.

"Some Olympian soldiers would like to assist." Marcus supplied.

Percy and Otic looked at each other and then back at Marcus. "You trust them?" Percy hated asking, but they couldn't afford sabotage.

"Yes, sir." Marcus replied.

"Okay. Have them meet us at the entrance." Percy snapped. Things couldn't get much worse, and if they did maybe it would align the Olympus and Athens armies with Captain Saleas out of the way.

Marcus saluted smartly and left.

"And our guide?" Percy looked up at Otic.

"On her way, sir."

"Then let's go." Percy gripped his sword as they followed Marcus to the entrance with Teebs, Connor, and Travis in tow, who were carrying their dangerous supplies.

It didn't look like much. Just a hole in the ground. Apparently it had been covered by a fake tree stump. Marcus headed down first followed by Teebs, Connor, and Travis and then the rest of the team that had been selected for the mission. Percy looked around, when Layland came running toward them with Rachael in tow.

"What is going on?" Rachael demanded.

"Didn't you tell her?" Percy scowled at Layland.

"There were people listening. I thought you didn't want them to know what she could do?" He replied lamely

"So now they think we're having a midnight meeting?" Percy growled.

"What is going on?" Rachael repeated.

Percy took a deep breath and focused on her. "I need you to guide us through the labyrinth. We have a map, sort of, but I would just feel better if you were with us."

"Of course, do I need, you know, something to disguise myself?" She gestured toward herself.

"There's no time. An attack could happen at any time. I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important." Percy pleaded.

Rachael took a deep breath as though preparing for an oncoming storm. "Okay." she breathed. She looked down the hole and then began climbing down.

"I'm sorry, sir." Layland began to apologize.

"Don't worry about it. You have the surface. Be prepared." Percy gave his last orders before following everyone else down.

"Yes, sir." Layland saluted.

When Percy reached the bottom, he found Rachael hugging herself self-consciously as every eye was fixed on her. "I want Marcus and Rachael with me in the front. Everyone keep your eyes and ears open. We don't know what we will encounter down here." Percy grabbed Rachael by the elbow and gently guided her to where Marcus was waiting.

Marcus glanced at her questioningly once before leading them down the tunnel. The tunnels were wider than Athens. They looked more traveled. They walked silently through the tunnel, always listening. Rachael stopped once to get a closer look at the walls before shaking her head and they continued on. Percy gave her a questioning look, when she whispered, "There are traps, but they have to be set off, like if someone is following you."

Percy nodded in understanding. Percy knew they had arrived at the wall that needed to be blown, when they heard a muffled rushing sound. Marcus pointed out the section of wall that was damp. "Here it is." He glanced at Rachael smugly.

Percy took in his surroundings. Further down the tunnel it split off. "Teebs, Connor, Travis, get going on the wall. I want everyone, but you five," he picked out five soldiers he trusted, "to watch that spit down there. Try not to be seen. You five watch the tunnel we just came down." Percy ordered.

Everyone moved into position. Percy watched as Teebs, Connor, and Travis ran their hands across the wall. "We got a problem." Teebs moaned.

"What?" Percy prepared himself for more bad news.

"It's granite." Travis supplied.

"It's just going to take longer." Conner grinned before he began digging in the dirt at the bottom like a little kid.

"This could be our one chance. Do your best." Percy said before moving to check on his men.

Rachael followed behind him, studying the walls as she went. Once she was where the soldiers had stationed themselves, she slipped by them.

"Where are you going?" Percy said with alarm.

"Don't worry. I'll be right back. Just trying to be useful." She smiled and disappeared into the darkness. Percy wrestled with whether he should follow her or not. But before he could make a decision, she reappeared. She winked at him as she slipped back through the ranks.

Percy spent his time wandering the section of tunnel they were in. Rachael had taken a seat against the far wall and had her eyes closed like she was sleeping. Connor had a good sized hole dug in the dirt and was checking the wall. Teebs and Travis had two holes drilled toward the middle of the wall. Connor grinned wildly when he started painstakingly drilling a hole in the wall toward the bottom of the hole he dug. Teebs and Travis started drilling other holes along the wall. "How much longer do you think?" Percy asked worriedly.

"Maybe an other hour." Teebs grunted.

"Can we help?" Percy asked helplessly.

"This is our expertise. Let us do it." Teebs snapped.

Percy walked back and forth checking on the status of the soldiers and the wall. Thirty minutes passed and several holes had been drilled into the wall. Percy was getting antsy as he paced back and forth. A soldier silently motioned for him. Percy made his way over to the group of soldiers who had their weapons drawn and were obviously tense. Another soldier wordlessly motioned for him to look around the corner. Percy did as directed and saw several torches further down the tunnel coming straight toward them.

Percy immediately tensed. "Wait until they are on us and then attack." He whispered. They nodded showing they understood his orders. Percy returned to the workers on the wall. "We've got company. How much longer?"

The three looked at each other questioningly. Teebs answered, "We'll start twisting the fuses."

"Even if we get a long fuse like we planned, what is going to prevent the enemy from pulling them out? If we set it off too early we are all going to drown." Travis questioned.

"Giving everyone up there a fighting chance." Teebs argued.

"Losing everyone isn't an option." Percy looked at all the lives he was responsible for. "Get it as long as you can, light it, and then get out of here. We'll keep them at bay until then." Percy spotted Rachael. "Do you know the way back?" he asked.

She nodded. "Percy, what are you planning?" she asked worriedly.

"Not sure. But when I tell everyone to run, I need you to guide everyone to the exit and get them out of here."

"Percy." Rachael started.

"Be ready." Percy said with finality. With that he left to join the soldiers.

The soldiers waited patiently as the torches got closer and closer, while Teebs, Connor and Travis were working like mad on the wall. The torches were a yard away, when several arrows shot out of the walls killing over a dozen men. "What the?" Percy questioned. He looked back at Rachael to see her smile and wink. The soldiers still waited as Percy watched the men approach cautiously. One picked up a fallen torch. It was when they got right on top of them that Percy roared and slew the first man. The rest of the soldiers followed suit and roared as they joined the fight. They had surprised the enemy and had slain quite a few before they began to recover and fight back. Percy fought fiercely, trying to put an end to the enemy before they even got close to the wall, but they just kept coming. He watched helplessly as three of his soldiers were killed. He could only fight harder to try and make their deaths worthwhile.

"We're ready!" A shout went out behind them.

"Retreat!" Percy yelled as he began backing up. "Run!" He roared at the soldiers. He could only hope that Marcus and Rachael would get them out in time. Percy continued fighting as he backed up. Soon, he was fighting alone, and he would continue fighting to give everyone a chance to get out.

He was at the section of wall that they had been working on, when a hand grabbed him by the arm and yelled, "Over here!"

Percy saw Connor, manic gleam and all, pulling him back. "Just light it!" Percy yelled, narrowly dodging a stab and stabbing the soldier back.

"Don't worry! I've got a plan. Just a few steps back." He yelled back as he stabbed a soldier in the neck with a knife. Percy would have defied him but the truth was, he wasn't able to hold his ground and was being forced back anyway. After a few steps back. Connor yelled, "Perfect!" He crouched down on the ground, effectively leaving the fight.

Percy fought to protect him, but knew he wouldn't be able to hold out much longer. "Get out of here!" Percy yelled.

There was a bright flash in the corner of Percy's eye, and Connor popped up and grabbed Percy by the arm pulling him back. "Run!" He yelled. Percy was going to stay, but saw several little trails of fire headed straight for the wall. He followed Connor's lead and ran.

They got ten steps before there was loud boom that shook the tunnel. Dust and rock exploded behind them. Percy didn't dare look behind as he managed to get his sword sheathed and kept running. But nothing could stop the overwhelming fear he felt when he heard the unmistakable sound of rushing water behind them. A few more steps and the water overtook them sweeping them down the tunnel.

"Wooh!" Connor whooped as if he were having the time of his life.

Percy however fought to keep afloat in his armor and scanned the walls for anything he could grab. He saw an opportunity when he saw a ladder up ahead. He grabbed hold of Connor and began swimming toward the side the ladder was on. First opportunity he got, he grabbed it and pulled Connor toward it against the current. "Get up." He strained to keep his hold. Connor found his footing and began climbing.

Percy was so focused on pulling himself toward the ladder that he didn't see another soldier coming down the tunnel. Percy had just got a foot on the ladder when the soldier barreled into him, causing him to loose his footing again. The soldier was panicking and holding onto Percy for life. But Percy wouldn't be able to hold on much longer with the soldiers weight pulling on him. It was all he could do to hang on. His arms began shaking from the effort and he could feel his hands slipping against his will. Suddenly, a hand reached out of nowhere and grabbed Percy's, seconds before he was about to let go. He looked up to see Layland on the upper part of the ladder. He pulled Percy closer to the ladder and kicked the soldier off of him, sending him screaming down the tunnel. Percy got his footing on the ladder and began climbing up. Layland continued up once he was sure Percy was good. When he got to the top of the hole, he saw that he was in an alleyway in the middle of Olympus. He rolled out of the hole and onto the ground. Several other soldiers were there hanging over him. Connor sat not far away, soaking wet and grinning like a cheshire. "Thank you." Percy said between breaths.

"Just doing what you told us to do. We just happened to be in the area. It was this kid who alerted us."

"Thanks, Connor. You are one crazy kid." Percy grinned at him.

"So are you." Connor grinned back.

"Let's get you up to the palace. I'm sure everyone is worried." Layland offered a hand.

Percy took it, and with Layland's help, got up. His arms were shaking from the effort of holding onto the ladder, but judging from the cheers he heard from the southern wall, they wouldn't have to worry about any underground attacks.