Chapter 4
3rd person
All the demigod cabin leaders were in the war room if you could even call it that instead of a table there was a ping pong table with a variety of snacks and currently a shouting match was taking place with the apollo head counselor lee fletcher and Zoe nightshade the lieutenant of Artemis's hunt
"You can't go against the oracle it never ends well for any one if the oracle stated that a mortal must take part on the mission then it's clear that Adam is meant to go on this quest!" Lee shouted earning a scowl from Zoe and Phoebe "I will not take a boy on a quest when all he'll be busy doing is flirting around with anything that resembles a woman!" Zoe shot back irritated at the boy's protests "we have already decided who will be going on this quest and it's not one of you filthy male pigs!" the girl Phoebe said a smirk on her face as if she just made her point and unleashed the most insulting words imaginable.
A sigh came from the farthest corner of the room almost everyone flinched back as a wave of freezing cold air washed over them the demigods could see their own breath now, the drinks they had were frozen solid and frost was building up on the table they all sat at, the two hunters turned their heads at the cause of the disturbance in annoyance sure they had near immunity to the harsh weather, even then Zoe couldn't feel her fingers she glared at the mortal boy in annoyance a growl escaping her frozen lips. "Are you done arguing now?" Adam spoke his voice cold and unnatural everyone flinched at his tone they were all thinking the same thing, what happened to his carefree joyful attitude "U-uhm you think you could warm up were kind of freezing to death over here" Lee asked politely "If the quest said I'm to go who am I to ignore this situation you've lost your patron goddess what makes you think you can do this alone you're a fool to turn away a powerful ally" Adam said ignoring everyone else in the room as he got up and left the room all eyes followed him as he walked up the stairs the room temperature gradually rising until Mr. D snapped his fingers returning the room to its original temperature.
"All right I think we have everyone who is going on the quest you all should retire for the night least you get devoured by the cleaning harpies" as if on cue everyone simultaneously everyone got up and filled out of the big house to their respective cabins for the night, Chiron's eyes never left Perceus
he let out a small sigh the loss of Annabeth was hitting him hard it didn't help that he couldn't go on the quest Chiron was so deep in thought he never noticed Adam leaning against the corner of the room until the boy spoke jolting Chiron from his thoughts "I'm pretty sure he'll be coming one way or the other"
"that's what worries me" Chiron sighed "don't worry I'll protect them all even at the cost of my life Chiron" Adam stated with determination "what about your partner Lynn right? quests are dangerous you may not come back from this are you sure you're fine with this?".
Chiron asked trying to dissuade the boy from taking part "ha-ha no offence Chiron but in my profession any day could be my last and I have a bad feeling about a certain line of the prophecy"
"Oh, what is it?" Chiron asked curiously "One shall be lost in a land without rain, if that means what I think it means- never mind I'm just being paranoid" Adam cutoff before he could finish his sentence "I'll be by the tree waiting for the others in the morning"
Chiron watched Adams figure fade into the distance once Adam was gone Chiron returned back to his room to rest.
Zoe Pov
I woke up from my nightmare and knew that Artemis was in danger and worse, yet I had a sickening feeling that my father was free, and he forced my mistress to take his burden I got out of bed and noticed that our newest recruit was restlessly awake as well I watched her sneak out of the cabin via the window and followed her making sure to stay out of sight of the harpies overhead it wasn't long before I caught up to Bianca "What's wrong can't sleep?" I said quietly almost causing her to scream I quickly cover her mouth and put my figure to my lips.
"You almost gave me a heart attack" Bianca whispered quietly "what's wrong?" I asked her seriously this time "I don't know if I'm worthy to go on this quest, what if I mess up and someone dies Pheobe is bedridden due to a stupid prank those boys pulled and now were down a member"
I listened as the young girl ranted her feelings out loud "don't worry the prophecy did say one would be lost in a land without rain and it doesn't rain here so this must be what it meant" I tried to reassure her
"It doesn't sound right didn't you notice Adams face I'm pretty sure he knows something about the quest we don't".
"The boy doesn't know anything he's just a stupid temperamental male that we are forced to deal with if I had it my way he wouldn't be on this quest, don't worry if he even thinks about trying anything I'll cut his manhood off, we should get back to the cabin before the harpies pick up our scent"
I said reassuringly Bianca only nodded her head in agreement as we made our way back to the cabin.
3rd person
"Ughh! where is he" Zoe let out a frustrated growl annoyed that their last member wasn't here yet "I swear if I have to wait any longer, I'm going to-" before Thalia could finish her sentence, she was interrupted
"You called?" Adam walked up the hill leaving a trail of frozen grass wherever he stepped "It's about time you got here boy!" Zoe snapped at Adam who looked impassively back at her with cold eyes "isn't their supposed to be six of us?" he asked coldly
"Pheobe can't make it one of the stupid male campers gave her a shirt covered in centaur blood"
"So, the quest barely started and were already a man down great" Adam said walking off and climbing into the driver's seat "what do you think you're doing boy!"
"I'm driving you look to young" Zoe looked at Adam irritated with the boy she sent him her best death glare trying to intimidate him.
"Get in before I turn you into a frozen block of ice" Adam called out to her completely unfazed "I promise I'm a great driver"
"If we end up in a lake, I'm going to electrocute you" Thalia called over from the passenger seat of the van "got it" was his only response, when everyone was safely in and buckled up Adam looked out the window and noticed a black winged horse following from a distance of the van, he smirked to himself
no one had noticed the son of Poseidon following them except him. A few hours had gone by the group stopped at a few rests stops along the way and were on their way to the Smithsonian
"Grover stop eating the cups people are staring!" Thalia called out Grover who was nervously eating a Starbucks coffee cup "I can't help it I've got a bad feeling, like were being hunted"
"you're being a little too paranoid relax a little It'll help a lot" Adam said from behind Grover in his own booth no one wanted to sit next to him as he was literally too cold to be with Thailia shook her head slightly banishing the thoughts from her head and asked "how dos Lynn not get harmed by you, I mean no offense but you're literally below freezing right now" Adam laughed at her question and answered "She has an affinity for ice thanks to her battle suit and stigmata she can be around me"
"It must be really lonely not being able to hold anyone" Grover said "I couldn't even begin to imagine what that feels like being cut off from the warmth of another" Bianca said sadly.
"It's not a big deal I made an oath to protect humanity no matter the cost this was just one of the prices to pay, I don't regret my decision" Adam stated signifying the conversation was over a few more minutes passed by before Zoe returned from the counter grumbling about stupid males and their inability to take a hint "what's wrong?" Grover asked "It is nothing to concern yourself over satyr-"
"He has a name and its Grover" Thailia interrupted Zoe midsentence glaring at the hunter Adam looked in between the two and noticed a drunk looking man waltzing up to the group with a smug smile on his face "hey what's up ladies why don't you ditch that freak over there and join me we could have a great time together" the man said still smiling, Zoe and Thalia stood protectively Infront of Bianca "We will not waste time with the likes of you boy now leave" Zoe said glaring at the drunken man "why you little shit" the man swung at Zoe and she prepared to counter the blow, but before the punch could land
Adam delivered a solid kick sending the man flying into a support beam cracking the paint the man let out a squeaky groan and fell unconscious "yeah I think it's time to go don't you" Adam said turning to the group they all agreed and left the Starbuck's running into Percy on the way out.
"What are you doing here boy!" Zoe yelled at him glaring
"We need to get out of here!" Percy responded franticly "why should we listen to you" Zoe responded annoyed "because the general is here, and he sent a group of monsters after you-" a resounding roar shook the building "Look a kitty mommy!" a little girl called out as a massive golden lion waltzed out of the hall "IT's the Nemean lion!" Zoe called out to her group instantly the mortals started to panic the mother picked up her child and ran as fast as she could go it was a mistake the lion launched itself at his prey "NO!" Zoe shouted despair washed over her as she fired arrow after arrow at the massive beast to no avail, she cursed herself for her inability to do anything as she could only watch as the Neiman lion lounged at its prey claws out and fangs open ready to rip apart the mother and her child.
"Hraugh!" Adam shouted delivering a devastating kick sending the beast flying through multiple walls, Zoe hadn't even seen him leave she starred in awe at Adam as he stood protectively over the little girl and her mother "are you all right ma'am?"
"You're with Schicksal Arnt you, are you a Valkryie too?" the little girl asked a million questions all at once Adam looked lost at what to do Zoe couldn't help but reevaluate her opinion of him a little
"I have an idea, But I need you guys to give me time to put it together!" Percy called from his cover the Nemean lion back up and very pissed off Zoe gave Percy a nod and Adam reengaged the lion he had pulled out his twin pistols and was in a dance of death which Zoe was very impressed by the boy's skills
he could probably take on the entire hunt she thought to herself as she fired arrow after arrow at the lion, Thalia used her spear to electrocute the lion whenever his flank was exposed while Grover played his reed pipes causing vines to wrap around the Nemean lion Which Adam took advantage of firing two shots off. they didn't land so far, the Nemean lion was hell bent on avoiding Adams weapons even Zoe could feel the power those two weapons held, and she was positive he was holding back Zoe made a mental note to interrogate Adam later about his weapons.
"Okay I'm ready guys" Percy called out getting the lions attention Zoe could swear he had freeze dried food in his hands, Zoe began to doubt the boy's plan
"Hey ugly over here!" Percy called out to the monster getting its attention the beast growled not liking the fact that someone called him ugly he raised his haunches and pounced at Percy time seamed to slow down as Percy threw the freeze-dried food into the lion's gullet and dived out of the way.
The lion immediately started retching trying to get the horrible food out of his mouth the hunters took advantage of the new opening and fired a dozen arrows down its throat the monster gave a gurgling roar before disappearing into golden dust leaving behind a pelt Percy walked over and picked it up
offering it to Zoe "hear you killed it its yours"
"No, it was your plan that allowed us to slay the beast the trophy is yours" Zoe said with respect Percy gave a nod and put the pelt around his shoulders reluctantly immediately the pelt turned into a jacket
"Get down!" Adam called as a bullet flew bast Thalia's head the group dove for cover "crap they must be after me!" Percy called out to the group "you guys need to get out of here they'll only track me down i can buy you time" Percy said in desperation.
"Not a chance" Zoe and Adam said in unison the firing stopped suddenly replaced by a suffocating cold Zoe looked at the new enemies and saw they were skeleton warriors frozen solid she looked over at Adam the source of the cold "come on that will buy use an hour at most" he said dashing off at speeds even she wouldn't be able to reach "well what are we waiting for let's go! "Thailia called out to the stunned group grabbing Grovers hand and pulling him along
the group made it into the van and immediately Adam guns it onto the highway with their pursuers not far behind "gah I can't lose them with that chopper on us like glue!"
"can't you use your pistol to take them out?" Bianca asked " I could but then it'll crash into traffic I can't risk that" Adam stated "look over they're it's a subway we can lose them there" Thalia called out getting Adams attention
"Good idea" he said as he roughly pulled to a stop in the parking lot everyone getting out running like their lives depended on it which they did, Adam made sure to match his pace to the demi-gods besides him and a few seconds later they were on the train and safe but for good measure they switched Mutiple trains until they reached an empty lot the cold air stinging their faces they saw a homeless man standing beside a fire for warmth " come on over don't be shy!" the man called the group over to which they hesitantly inched closer "my names Fred" the man now known as Fred said happy to have company "so what's a bunch of youngsters doing out here?" Fred asked in a friendly voice.
"We are heading to New Mexico" Thalia answered standing close to the fire with everyone else with the exception of Adam "Oh really well the train is about to leave it'll take you partway there" Fred replied cheerily "what train?" Percy asked confused the group nodded their heads in agreement
they were in an abandoned railway there wasn't a train in sight or so they all thought "the one behind you" Fred said smiling the group turned around to see a bullet train on the tracks that wasn't there before Adam grew suspicious "sun west line?" Percy called out to no one in particular
the horn blared "well you better hurry the train won't wait for you" Fred said and the demigods along with Adam and Grover got on board the train immediately after they were all on board the train slowly took off. As the group explored the train, they saw a bunch of expensive looking cars they each decided to split up and pick their own car Percy chose a blue mustang and soon fell asleep Zoe and the other following soon after in their respective cars Adam took watch "not going to take a rest its safe you know?" Fred said from behind Adam "nah I'm good, more importantly who are you?" Adam said leveling one of his guns at Fred "I guess you got me I'm Apollo but let's keep that on the down low, if father finds out I'm interfering with the quest I'll be in massive trouble" Adam nodded in agreement "alright ill play along for now".
"Thanks a bunch, and I mean it you can relax here your safe now" Apollo said trying to comfort Adam "fine I guess I can get some rest" Adam finally relented and sat down against the wall closing his eyes into a dreamless sleep Apollo under the disguise of Fred smiled and went to see the son of Poseidon
Apollo Pov
I found the son of Poseidon in a blue mustang and flashed myself in startling the young demi-god awake "who wha-"
"Relax its alright" I said to the startled boy "who are you really?" he asked me after the boy had collected himself, I smiled at myself and responded, "who do you think I am?" he looked deep in thought before he said "uhm you're apollo Arnt you?" I was impressed the boy guessed correctly
I quickly covered my surprise "yes I am but I'm under cover so call me Fred" I said "a god named Fred?" I chuckled "what it's a good name!" my response caused the young boy to laugh slightly before he fell silent when he finally decided to speak, he asked
"So, what are you doing here?". "I've got a lead for you" I said the boy looked at me not saying a word a slight nod telling me I had his attention, so I continued "you must seek out Nereus, the Old man of the Sea" and with that I disappeared causing the boy to quickly close his eyes
satisfied that I had helped out the group of questers enough I returned back to Olympus
Authors notes
Thanks again for reading this series I may not own Percy Jackson or Honkai Impact 3rd they belong to Rick Riordan and Mihoyo respectfully see you all next time
