Assassin's Creed: Transcendence Chapter 54: Closing the Quest, a Percy Jackson and the Olympians + Assassin's Creed Crossover fanfic

Closing the Quest

Yes, the chapter title means this is the end of the Sea of Monsters arc, which means the next arc, which I'm calling the Deciphering Jake arc, which focuses entirely on Percy going through Jake's memories and experiences, as well as examining US history with Jake's influence.

It'll also be me not so subtly beating you over the head with political sentiments, but if you if you've stuck around with the Christian backdrop, you should be able to handle some politics, especially considering this isn't the first story in which I've gotten down and dirty with the adult topics.

As I've said before, the M rating for me goes beyond just graphic violence and foul language.

Disclaimer: I don't own PJO or AC

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Luke was expecting trickery, of course.

It was too easy: the demigod that was a side-objective showing up with the main objective, accompanied with two powerful known demigoddesses, two unknown demigoddesses that were just toying the Agrius and Oreius—Luke could feel the divine energy coming off of them, but it was definitely not Greek; he'd ask his master later about it—and Grover the Satyr. Not to mention freaking Blackbeard—still processing that—but Luke took what he could.

He brought the quest back to the Princess Andromeda where there was much more personnel in order to handle any escape attempts. Luke was on a hair trigger, of course. Going over the water with Percy in the same boat as him was a dangerous thing, and the way that boy just kept grinning teasingly at him, like he was getting prepared for a life-ending joke, made Luke shudder.

There was also Lou Ellen Williams.

She had been engaged with no less than a dozen of her own siblings—not that Luke was complaining about a having bunch a magically inclined teens in his army, but he did find it strange how Hecate was seemingly passing herself around like a blunt at a frat party—and had been easily holding her own. It was a minor battle, but it was a sight that Luke would never forget: the children of magic duking it out with their special powers.

Lou Ellen was arguably more powerful than her boyfriend, if only because of versatility with her powers.

However, she wasn't a half-blood child of the eldest gods, and therefore wasn't near as important as Percy was to the grand scheme of things.

The two unknown girls, twins, were obviously very capable, and the way they were sitting around Percy made it very clear that they knew him very well. Not on a sexual level, but still intimately. That confused Luke, because through some friends in secretive places, he had detailed records on Percy's life from birth via C-section up until he disappeared for three months and then popped up again suddenly at Camp Half-Blood without warning, and then disappeared again for nine months, and showed back up just in time to go on the quest for the Golden Fleece.

There also freaking Blackbeard, the infamous pirate son of the late god of war.

Luke still didn't get that.

So, to recap the son of Hermes' current situation: the powerful son of Poseidon, on the water, had unconditionally surrendered, while accompanied by an A-Team of demigods, consisting of Lou Ellen Williams, Annabeth Chase, Blackbeard himself, unknown twins that had already displayed remarkable ability…and Grover.

…

Grover's presence made the A-Team go to a B+.

Roll all of together with the fact that said team had the upper hand on that beach before Percy arrived and surrendered, and you'd understand why Luke was ready to kill at the slightest twitch.

And Percy just kept on grinning at him, still in possession of the Golden Fleece.

"Hey, Luke."

"Percy."

"How have things been?"

"Oh, same old, same old."

"I see the bear monsters reformed quickly."

"Yes, they did. They're very hungry, too."

Percy's grin got just a bit wider, and a sinister little gleam appeared in his eyes. "Threats are not beneficial to your health right now, boy. We are in a boat, after all."

Luke swallowed.

"Dad, who is this?" one of the twins asked, throwing Luke for a loop.

"This man, girls, is your cousin on your mother's side of the family. Luke Castellan, son of Hermes. Luke, these are my daughters, Hylla and Reyna. Their mother is Bellona, the Roman goddess of war."

That was a bombshell if there ever was one. So many questions blasted through Luke's head all at once, so he settled on a simple one: "What?"

"What what, Luke?" Percy grinned. "What as in how these two beautiful angels are my daughters despite being my age? Or what as in their mother being a Roman goddess? Or what as in their mother being a Roman and goddess, and having children with me?"

"Yes."

Percy shrugged. "Just a few of life's many mysteries. If you want to live long enough to unravel them, I highly suggest not supporting Kronos and instead seek alternative methods to achieve your goals. We Greeks are big on Democracy, as you should know; I'm sure we can work to get a vote together to get our godly family in gear."

Luke offered a flat stare. "No vote at the hands of demigods is going to change the ways of the gods."

Percy shrugged again. "Probably. Luckily, I know a guy that can definitely get the gods in gear, all without violence, bloodshed, and unnecessary death."

"Who?"

"Guess," Percy grinned.

Luke honestly thought very hard about who Percy could be talking about. Someone that could bring justice to the gods without conflict, without any demigods dying? That was exactly what Luke wanted. He was going for Kronos because the Titan was coming back with the promises Luke wanted to hear, and he viably had the power to depose the Olympians. However, the drawback was that Kronos was called the Crooked One for a reason, and he had thousands of years to ponder on loopholes and phrasing when it came to the Styx, and so was very capable of weaseling his way out of any oaths.

It was also clear that oaths on the Styx weren't all that binding for the gods, so what did that mean for the Titans, especially the Titan king?

Who was also vile enough to eat his own children, and cut his own father's balls off?

What was his great-grandson of a demigod?

Let it be said that Luke was a desperate man to bring about the change he felt—and honestly, it really was—righteously just. So, if Percy was guaranteeing an alternative solution to the madness that was a cannibalistic, familicide-committing Titan, Luke was all for it.

"Alright, I give up. Who are you talking about?"

"The Flying Spaghetti Monster."

The hopeful wind was completely torn from Luke's sails, and he wrinkled his nose. "The what?"

"I'm kidding. I'm talking about God, boy."

"God? As in the Christian god?"

"The very same."

Luke adopted a shallow expression. "You mean the same god who's supposed to be the one true god but apparently lets all of these pagans run around and have children they don't take care of or use as tools to do their chores? The same god who's all about peace and love, yet lets mankind do all those horrible things to each other? You're telling me that god is going to step in on your behalf and change the Olympians?"

"The possibility is high, yes," Percy flippantly.

Luke stared at the "younger" demigod. "There's something wrong with you. I think you need a doctor."

"Also a high possibility. You live four lives with a combined total of 167 years and don't go through life without a few screws loose."

Once again, a smorgasbord of questions went exploding around in Luke's head, and he eventually settled with the ever eloquent: "What?"

"Another of life's many mysteries. If you want to live long enough to unravel them, I highly suggest not supporting Kronos and instead seek alternative methods to achieve your goals," Percy grinned crookedly.

Luke wanted to reach over and strangle Percy.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

On the main deck of the Princess Andromeda, a whole procession was gathered before a golden sarcophagus.

Luke, Percy, the quest, numerous half-bloods and monsters, and for some reason, a black Pegasus that Percy was currently in telepathic communication with.

Hey.

Hey, Boss.

Boss?

Yeah. Boss. Since you're Lord Poseidon's kid.

Ah, yes, that makes sense. How are things?

Terrible, Boss, absolutely terrible. They don't feed me any donuts here!

Yes, that is indeed a heinous crime that I will rectify post haste. Can you break free of your binds?

Psh, any time I want to. I haven't yet because I don't have a clue as to where the mainland is, or what I'd do with myself.

Easy solution. The mainland is about five hundred miles directly East of our current position. As for a job, Camp Half-Blood is always looking for additional pegasi.

Stable life? Naw. I'm and adventurous horse!

Fair enough. These twins here are my daughters, and I strongly suspect they'll be needing transport somewhere soon, after I clean up the mess we're in right now. You can aid them in where they need to go.

Got it. Will do, Boss!

Percy turned his attention back to Luke, who had been engaged in an argument with Annabeth.

"Alright, children, that's enough."

They both looked at him.

"Luke, I cannot thank you enough for providing my friends, family, and I with a new ship, since you destroyed our other one—"

"I'll get you for that, boy…" Blackbeard glowered at Luke, making the son of Hermes gulp.

"—but I find most of its passengers to be hazardous to the wellbeing of my children and significant others. I'm sure you won't mind if I thin the ranks a bit."

"Huh?"

The sea exploded to life around the Princess Andromeda, tendrils of water cracking and snapping around like the tentacles of a rabid octopus, piercing and ensnaring monsters and enemy half-bloods alike, spilling blood all over the shiny deck of the cruise ship. Screaming and panic ensued as chaos took hold, but as quickly as it started, it ended. Percy cleared the whole deck of hostiles in under half a minute, leaving only himself, his family and friends, the Pegasus, the sarcophagus, and a very pale Luke.

"You're…a Christian…? You just killed over 30 people, all under 20-years-old!"

"Just 30? Huh, I guess I'm getting rusty. May God have mercy on their souls." Percy drew the Sword out. In the afternoon sun, the polished blade gleamed, the golden hilt sparkled, and the emerald and ruby glittered. "I can kill you now, with the Sword or with the water, you can surrender and we can discuss the future, or you go overboard and hope for the best. Your choice."

Percy was still in possession of the Fleece, as no one had the balls to try and take it from him, so it was still thrown over his shoulder. Luke was eyeballing it, heavily weighing his options. He had taken a dip in the Styx, and so he had the same invulnerability as Achilles, but he was at all confident that it would protect him from Percy, especially if his god decided to hop in and take care of business. Behind him, he could feel the heat and power radiating from Kronos' glorified box, watching him, assessing him, testing him.

Luke tried something.

Reaching out with his mind—or at least, thinking he was reaching out with his mind; he didn't know how this thing worked—he touched against the power of the sarcophagus, and communicated with it.

'My Lord, I need your guidance, your assistance, and your wisdom.'

And a grating, scratchy, rusty voice answered. 'You shall have it.'

A golden stream of light trickled from the sarcophagus and into Luke, making him seize with a gasp as his body dimly lit up, his eyes going bright. The stream ended, the last bit settling into the demigod, and he slumped forward a bit before going erect, his eyes opening to reveal dimly glowing golden irises and pupils.

"Grandson," Kronos greeted cordially. He promptly drew Luke's sword and activated the collapsible shield that served as a watch. He brandished the sword. "Behold, Backbiter. A weapon forged of Celestial bronze," Kronos turned the sword over to reveal the other side, "and steel. Capable of destroying immortals and mortals. Have you thought of my words since our last conversation, Grandson?"

"I'm afraid it's been a few decades since that time. You'll have to refresh my memory, I'm afraid."

Percy actually wasn't lying. That 80 years as Jake had really screwed his memory up regarding obscure things during this present life, and a conversation with Kronos was one of those things he had forgotten. He supposed it must've happened either when he went to the Underworld during the Lightning Thief quest, or during a dream, but he honestly could not remember ever talking with the Titan of Time.

The best part was that Kronos knew this, understood this, and instead of being caddy or sassy about it, he merely waved his hand, causing a golden shimmer to appear out of nothing, and from the shimmer came the conversation they had back in Chapter 26, about 40 paragraphs from the top.

Go and refresh your memory.

"Ah, yes. I remember now," Percy said. "You claim that you devoured your children in order to prevent them from letting humanity do what they've done to the world, and the Olympians wrote history after their victory, making you and the other Titans out to be cruel villains."

"Correct."

"I'd ask you for proof, and then I'd ask my father and other extended family to corroborate, but since I know the nature of you false divinities, I have nothing but the utmost confidence that I will receive nothing but lies and deceptions all around. That's why I read the Bible. I at least know that's true."

"But is it really? Look at-"

"You're fucking right it's true," Percy said vehemently. "Honestly, in this nightmare of a contrived world I find myself in, with gods, monsters, secret organizations, and extinct advanced civilizations, with dozens of creation stories about the universe and mankind were made, about the only thing that's giving me piece of mind, especially with me having very, very long dreams roughly once a year about someone else's life—the Bible and the promise that God loves me is about the only thing keeping me sane. Besides, I've died and come back to life three times so far, and I've been reunited with my big brother, my beloved daughters, shaped the very world we live in, and there's the strong possibility that I will meet even more of my loved ones in this life. So don't you dare try to question the Bible before me, pagan."

The deck of the Princess Andromeda thrummed with energy. Percy's speech had electrified the listening half-bloods behind him, his confidence in God's Word in the face of all these other things inspiring them in their own ways, and Kronos himself had gotten a little excited at his grandchild's tirade.

"I see my tenacity has not been lost through the bloodline," the Titan remarked with a proud smile. "You will make a most remarkable ally in time, Transcendent Assassin."

Kronos' spirit, strong enough to maintain only a partial possession in his reforming state for so long, returned to the sarcophagus, and Luke stumbled back with a groan, feeling exactly like he had just stood up too fast after sitting for too long.

"That was trippy…" the son of Hermes muttered.

When he regained his bearings, he found himself faced with several half-bloods all with determined looks, and determined that he was at a severe disadvantage. It was clear that words weren't going to reach them in their present states, and as good a swordsman as he was, he wasn't good enough to fend off that many opponents, especially a full-grown man that out specifically for his blood.

Not to mention the smirking witch with the magical lights dancing around her palm.

Luke had no intention of being on the receiving end of whatever spell that was, and since he had already prayed to, and been granted assistance by, his lord and master, and this was the outcome, he decided that a tactical disengagement was required for his personal safety and the continued survival of the Cause.

So, Luke produced the teleportation medallion, grabbed the sarcophagus, and vanished in the jade vortex, surrendering the Princess Andromeda without a fight, firm in the knowledge that his benefactors in Triumvirate Holdings—though Tri effectively no longer applied—would provide him with another ship.

And just like that, Percy and co. were in control of a pleasure yacht with nothing to do but drive it back to Camp Half-Blood, and that's exactly what they did.

With a whole lot of carefree fun along the way.

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Percy put the Fleece on the lowest branch of Thalia's Pine, and physical, visible pulse rippled through the camp. The dying barrier shimmered and blazed a strong gold before fading back into invisibility. Then, just to prove its new strength, a Colchis Bull came charging through the trees with a roar, and it was smashed to thousands of pieces when it slammed headfirst into the barrier.

The campers cheered.

Later, in the Big House, Percy, Chiron, Mr. D, and Blackbeard could be found in the living room, engaged in private, businesslike conversation.

"Yes," the centaur said, "I do believe we can make arrangements for your indefinite stay, Mr. Beard."

The pirate grumbled.

"Finally," Dionysus exhaled as if depositing a great weight, "another adult to confer with during this wretched punishment."

The god of wine and revelry had taken on a different form, Percy noted. Before, Dionysus had a pot belly, saggy limbs, a scraggly, unkempt beard, and a general appearance of a slob. Now he looked more like the traditional depictions of the gods, with broad shoulders muscle, and great hair. Dionysus looked serious, capable, competent, and like a god, pagan or otherwise, should look like.

"Percy," Chiron said, "on behalf of this camp and its pantheon, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and beyond for what you've accomplished today."

Dionysus raised a can of Diet Coke in a toast.

"Oh, you'll be thanking me for more than just today, old friend," Percy smiled. "Tell me, what do you know of Jake Swallow?"

Chiron's brow furrowed, though he already knew where this was going. He could just feel it.

"That he remains the punchline of jokes oriented at Poseidon regarding John Paul Jones and a false gay marriage. That he's Athena's most favored and approved-of mortal for his mentoring role with George Washington. Uh, there's a museum dedicated to him, several statues, even a college, the Jake Swallow University at Philadelphia, and he's the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence. He was also a major figure in late Colonial America, being haled as the Grandfather of America; there's even a statue of him on Mt. Olympus, since it was through him that the kingdom came to be here in the first place. I'm also 90% certain that his reincarnation is sitting here before me, smirking."

Percy's smirk got a little bigger. "Correct."

Dionysus rose from his couch and stood before the demigod, hand outstretched. "It is an honor, sir."

Percy accepted the hand, not saying anything. Dionysus returned to his seat, and Percy looked at Chiron. "Since now is as good a time as any, let me tell you about who I am, and who I suspect I am."

For the next two hours, Percy outlined his three known previous past lives as Faris Ibn La-A'had, Virgil Cavaliere de Roma, and Captain Jake Swallow, and his suspicions that he was also Cheyenne Cormac and Peter Frye. Regarding his Sixth Life, he didn't have a clue beyond it was during WWI.

"Oh, boy," Dionysus breathed. "Even I know who Cheyenne Cormac is."

"Perfect. Enlighten me so I'm prepared."

"She was a spitfire of a girl that could kill and maim like I can grow grapes. She was strong, sassy, and managed to catch the four-thousand-year-old eye of Zoё Nightshade, the lieutenant of Artemis' maidens. They fell in love and got engaged, and since Artemis prohibits all forms of romantic love in her maidens, that means that Zoё was totally onboard with abandoning thousands of years of servitude, loyalty, family and immortality to be with Cheyenne, but before they could marry, Cheyenne was killed, and Zoё went on a rampage with a mortal man, Arno, who was also in love with Cheyenne but was turned down due to reasons. It was the love triangle of the century. Every night, Hephaestus was airing those three on his television."

Dionysus rubbed his chin in thought. "I'm pretty sure he even has recordings of Zoё and Cheyenne in bed…"

"Excuse me?" Percy snapped.

"He also has recording of Virgil with Claudia, too. They were another eye-catching couple back in the day."

"Excuse. Me?"

"Relax, old sport, I'm only joking."

"I'm not laughing."

"I am!" Blackbeard guffawed.

Percy shot the pirate a look so dark and murderous that the laughter instantly shut off, and Blackbeard tugged at his collar to release some of the heat that had suddenly built up under his clothes. Chiron smacked the wine god upside the back of his head.

"Now, those twins you brought along," the centaur continued. "The reincarnations of Christina and Maria, Virgil's, and by proxy, your daughters?"

"Yes. Hylla and Reyna Cavaliere-Jackson. Daughters of mine…and the Roman goddess of war, Bellona."

For a moment, Dionysus' form flickered, going from the muscular man with the well-kept facial hair, to an even more muscular man with even better facial hair. And also a more serious, military-like look on his face.

"Bellona, you say? Are you sure?"

"That is their claim, and I do not believe they would lie to me on purpose. I raised them better than that."

"I see…" Dionysus' purple eyes narrowed at Percy, shifted to Blackbeard, and then back to Percy, who bristled slightly.

"Keep in mind which God I worship, cousin."

"Oh, I've been around long enough to know that crossing the Christian God might not bring any detriments in the short run, but the long term consequences will be severe. No, I'm wondering if I should let the two of you in on some inside information….Aw, screw it. What's done in the dark will be brought to the light, as they say."

And so Dionysus gave the abridged version of the Roman gods, demigods, camp, and why the need for the separation and secrecy.

"Yes, Lupa did hint many times during my training at the existence of such a thing," Percy said. "California, huh? Just outside of San Francisco."

"Yes, to guard over Atlas, who holds the sky at the summit of Mount Tamalpais. And for absolutely zero other reasons. If the sky was anywhere else, that's where New Rome would be."

At the wine god's tone, Percy asked, "I take it California isn't a hospitable place?"

"Only if you enjoy communism, liberals, illegals, celebrity drama and outrageously high taxes," Dionysus said flatly.

"Oh."

"Yes, I've regularly petitioned that a tragic accident needs to occur regarding the San Andreas fault, which will sadly sink the whole state into the ocean, but Poseidon is a staunch advocate for not letting that happen. Something about his oceans having enough human waste in them already."

"Dionysus," Percy chided. "As bad as it may be, all of those people there are still children of God, and are still redeemable for their sins. Perhaps instead of thinking of killing them all, you might want to think about teaching them."

Dionysus smiled thinly. "They're at the level of Sodom and Gomorrah, my friend."

Percy stared at the god. "…that's bad."

"Very."

"And the Roman camp, Camp Jupiter, is there?"

"Next door to one of the worst cities in the state."

"Sounds like my girls will have their work cut out for them then," Percy nodded sagely.

"Percy Jackson, you are the most unique demigod I have ever met."

"Amen."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

In a private room in the Big House, Percy made special contact with a very old friend of his.

In the magic mirror, the visage of a rust-colored wolf with gleaming silver eyes appeared, and those silver eyes widened.

"Is that you…Virgil?"

"I see Chiron has been in contact with you, mentore," Percy said. "Vittoria per gli Assassini."

"Virgil Cavaliere," the wolf goddess said, almost reverently. "Words cannot," Lupa's voice broke, her eyes watering slightly, "words cannot accurately express what I feel right now, knowing that you are alive, and that so much of your work was undone, and that your sacrifice that day was for nothing. Rome still fell."

"Yes, but I understand that there is a New Rome in California, right next to San Francisco."

Lupa's ears perked up. "Dionysus allowed Chiron to tell you this?"

"Dionysus told me himself, actually."

"I am surprised that he would do that. The existence of Rome is a closely guarded secret."

"So I've been told. However, there is a special circumstance that I found myself in, and the information was given. I take it you remember my daughters, Christina and Maria?"

Lupa picked up on what Percy was hinting at instantly. "They've also been reborn in this time."

"Hylla and Reyna Cavaliere-Jackson. Daughters of Bellona."

"The twin sister of Mars Ultor," Lupa breathed. "I take it they are powerful?"

"They remember all of their Assassin training, on top of being the demigoddess daughters of the Roman lady of war. They're twelve now, and already leagues beyond what they were in their previous life."

"Goodness. And I take this call was not only just to let me know of your return, but also to ask if they have permission to attend my camp?"

"Yes."

"Oh, they're admitted. The sooner they get to California, the better. Things are starting to become heated. Monsters are showing up more often, and they're stronger. I need more good legionaries. Jason, son of Jupiter, your cousin as I understand it, fights well, but he cannot be expected to hold the whole camp himself. He's even younger than you, nearly by a whole year. However, he is still a very skilled combatant, using a kukri knife Imperial gold knuckled."

Percy blinked. "Unorthodox for a Roman soldier."

"Yes, he claims it's from his experience in a past life as one Jacob Frye."

Percy's brain halted. "Come again?"

"Jacob Frye. An Assassin from the London Brotherhood during the Industrial Revolution, 1868. He had an older twin sister called Evie, and a younger brother called Peter."

Percy slowly exhaled. "Oh."

"Something wrong, Virgil?"

"Well, since you asked…"

Some explaining on his past lives and his theories of other past lives later, and Lupa was left wide-eyed.

"I don't know what to say."

While she had only learned of Faris through her talks with Chiron, Virgil was someone she obviously knew very well, and Jake Swallow was a prolific figure even in Rome, since he shaped the very country she now resided in, and he was responsible for sinking Captain William Davis, son of Neptune, a blight on New Rome with his arrogance and disrespect. Cheyenne Cormac Lupa knew as well, for the same reasons Dionysus did, but Peter Frye, younger brother of Jacob and Evie…

While Jake and Cheyenne were certainly foiling to Virgil, Peter was the total opposite of Virgil in practically every way.