The Senate

Disclaimer: I don't own PJO

3rd POV

Percy sat up on his bunk with cold sweat dripping from his forehead, around him, his roommates were rushing around, getting dressed and brushing their teeth. Dakota was wrapping himself in a long piece of red speckled cloth—a toga. One of the Lares was giving him pointers on where to tuck and fold.

"Breakfast time?" Percy asked hopefully trying to forget about his little chat with his younger brother Tartarus, even if it was for a little while.

Frank's head popped up from the bunk below. He had bags under his eyes like he hadn't slept well, "A quick breakfast, then we've got the senate meeting."

Dakota's head was stuck in his toga. He staggered around like a Kool-Aid stained ghost.

"Um," Percy said, "should I wear my bed sheets?"

Frank snorted, "That's just for the senators. They're ten of them, elected. You've got to be at camp five years to qualify."

"Why are we invited then?" Percy asked.

Frank blinked a few times, "Because…you know, the quest," Frank sounded worried. Like he was afraid Percy would back out. "We have to be in on the discussion, you, me, and Hazel. I mean, if you're willing…"

Percy smiled, "Don't worry Frank, I'm not backing out," Percy assured.

Frank gave him a grateful nod, "I, um…I'd better get ready…" He climbed out of bed and got dressed. The whole time, he thought about Annabeth—his love. Help was on the way, but he only hoped that she would be careful.

At breakfast, Percy was sparsely conscious of everyone looking at him. They were whispering about the previous night:

"Two gods in one day…"

"Un-Roman fighting…"

"Water cannon up my nose…"

He was wise to erase their memories of the talk with Gaea, it was better to think they are going to war against her rather than Tartarus. He filled up on pancakes, eggs, bacon, waffles, apples and several glasses of Orange juice, he probably would've eaten more, but Reyna announced that the senate would now convene in the city, and all the folks in togas got up to leave.

"Here we go." Hazel fidgeted with a stone that looked a ruby.

The ghost Vitellius appeared next to them in a purple shimmer, "Bona fortuna, you three! Ah, senate meetings. I remember the one when Caesar was assassinated. Why, the amount of blood on his toga—"

"Thanks, Vitellius," Frank interrupted. "We should get going"

Reyna and Octavian led the procession of Senators out of camp with Reyna's automaton Greyhounds dashing back and forth along the road. Hazel, Frank and Percy trailed behind. Percy noticed that Nico di Angelo in the group, wearing a black toga—talking to Gwen, who looked a little pale, but surprisingly good considering that she'd been dead the night before. Nico bowed his head respectively at Percy, then went back to his conversation.

Dakota stumbled along in his red-speckled robe. A lot of other senators seemed to be having trouble with their togas too, they kept hiking up their hems, trying to keep the cloth from slipping off their shoulders. Percy was glad that he was a regular purple T-shirt and jeans.

"How could Romans move in those things?" he wondered.

"They were just for formal occasions," Hazel said. "Like tuxedos. I bet ancient Rome hated togas as much as we do. By the way, you didn't bring any weapons, did you?"

Percy narrowed his eyes, "Why?"

Hazel shook her head, "No weapons allowed inside the Pomerian line," she said.

"Really?" Percy asked

"The city limits, Inside is a sacred 'safe zone' Legions can't march through. That's so senate meetings don't get bloody."

Percy grinned, "Like Julius Caesar getting assassinated?" he asked still with a grin.

Frank nodded a little disturbed by the grin on Percy's face, "Don't worry, nothing like that has happened in months."

Percy raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

As they got closer to the city, Percy could appreciate how beautiful it was. The tiled roofs and gold domes gleamed in the sun. Gardens bloomed with honeysuckle and roses. The central plaza was paved in white and grey stone, decorated with statues, fountains, and gilded columns. In the surrounding neighbourhoods, cobblestone streets were lined with freshly painted town houses, shops, cafes, and parks. In the distance rose the coliseum and horse racing arena.

Percy was so absorbed with the city that he didn't notice that they'd reached the city limits until the senator in front him started slowing down.

On the side of the road stood a white marble statue—a life size muscular man with curly hair and no arms, and an irritated expression. Maybe he looked mad because he'd been carved from the waist up. Below that, he was a block of marble. "Single file please!" the statue said. "Have your IDs ready."

Percy looked around, he noticed that there was a line of identical statues that ringed the city every hundred yards. The senators passed through easily. The statue checked the tattoos on their forearms and called each senator by name. "Gwendolyn, Fifth Cohort, yes. Nico di Angelo, ambassador of Pluto—very well. Reyna, praetor, of course. Hank senator, Third Cohort—oh nice shoes, Hanks! Ah, who do we have here?"

Hazel, Frank and Percy were the last ones.

"Terminus," Hazel said, "this is Percy Jackson. Percy, this is Terminus—"

Percy smiled, "God of Boundaries and Frontiers," he said in Perfect Latin taking out riptide from his pocket.

Terminus beamed, "Ah, yes," Terminus said. "Leave it in the tray. Wait, where's my assistant? Julia!"

A little girl about six years old peeked from behind the base of the statue. She had pigtails, a pink dress and an impish grin with two missing teeth.

"Julia?" Terminus glanced behind him, and Julia scurried in the other direction. "Where did that girl go?"

Terminus looked the other way and caught sight of Julia before she could hide. The little girl squealed with delight.

"Oh, there you are," said the god. "Front and centre. Bring the tray."

Julia scrambled out and brushed off her dress. She picked up a tray and presented it to Percy. On it were several paring knives, a corkscrew, an oversized container of sun lotion, and a water bottle.

"You can pick up your weapons on the way out," Terminus said, "Julia will take good care of it. She's trained professional."

The little girl nodded. "Pro-fess-ion-al." she said each syllable carefully, like she had been practicing.

Percy placed Anaklusmos in the tray and silently placed a charm on it to prevent it from being uncapped.

"Not to worry," Terminus assured him. "We'll make sure it doesn't get lost. Won't we Julia?"

"Yes, Mr Terminus," Julia nodded.

"Now, a few rules, since you're new," Terminus said. "you are entering the boundaries of the city. Keep the peace inside the line. Yield to chariot traffic while walking on public roads. When you get to the senate House, sit on the left-hand side. And down there—do you see where I'm pointing?"

Percy frowned, "No don't see where you are pointing," he said still frowning, "you have no hands, but I know where you were pretending to point."

Apparently this was a sore point for Terminus, his marble face turned a dark shade of grey, but the colour quickly drained when he peered into Percy's cold stormy eyes, "Ah," he stammered, "it's right down there in the forum—Julia, point for me please…"

Julia dutifully set down the security tray and pointed towards the main plaza.

"The shop with the blue awning," Terminus continued, "that's the general store. They sell tape measure. Buy one! I want those pants exactly one inch above the ankle and that hair regulation cut. And tuck your shirt in."

Hazel said, "Thank you, Terminus. We need to get going."

"Fine, fine, you may pass," the god said testily. "But stay on the right side of the road! And that rock right there—No, Hazel look where I'm pointing. That rock is entirely too close to the tree. Move it two inches to the left."

Hazel did as she was told and the continued down the path, Terminus still shouting orders at them while Julia did cartwheels across the grass.

"Is he always like that?" Percy asked.

"No," Hazel admitted. "Today he was laid back. Usually he's more obsessive/compulsive."

"He inhabits every boundary stone around the city," Frank said. "Kind of our last line of defence if the city is attacked."

"And I guess he stare at them until they turn to gold dust, with no arms or legs he is pretty useless, but he does decorate the city at least."

"Terminus isn't so bad," Hazel added.

"That kid Julia…" Percy trailed off.

Hazel grinned. "Yeah, she's a cutie. Her parents live in the city. Come on. We'd better catch up to the senators."

As the approached the forum, Percy was struck by the sheer number of people. College kids were hanging out at the fountain. Several of them waved at the senators as they passed. One guy in his late twenties stood at a bakery counter, flirting with a young woman who was buying coffee. An older couple was watching a little boy in diapers and a miniature Camp Jupiter shirt toddler after seagulls. Merchants were opening their shops for the day, putting out signs in Latin that advertised pottery, jewellery, and half priced tickets for the hippodrome.

"All these people are demigods?" Percy asked.

"Or descended from demigods," Hazel said. "Like I told you, it's a good place to go to college or a family without worrying about monster attacks everyday. Maybe two, three hundred people live here? The veteran act like advisers and reserve forces as needed, but mostly they are just citizens living their lives."

"Senatus Populusque Romanus indeed," Percy muttered under breath.

Hazel looked at him surprised.

"I like the city, so I will protect it," Percy declared.

Hazel smiled at Percy while Frank gave him a nod.

The senators made their way to a big white domed building on the west end of the forum. Percy looked at the doorway and walked inside after Hazel and Frank.

The senate house interior looked like a parliament hall. A semicircle of tiered seats faced a dais with a podium and two chairs. The chairs were empty, but one had a small velvet package on the seat. Percy, Hazel and Frank sat on the left side of the semicircle. The ten senators and Nico di Angelo occupied the rest of the front row. The uppers rows were filled with several dozen hosts and a few older veterans from the city, all in formal togas. Octavian stood in front with a knife and a beanie Baby lion, just in case anyone needed to consult to the god of cutesy collectibles. Reyna walked to the podium and raised her hand for attention.

"Right, this is an emergency meeting," she said. "We won't stand on formalities."

"I love formalities!" a ghost complained.

Reyna shot him a cross look.

"First of all," she said, "we're not here to vote on the quest itself. The quest has been issued by Mars Ultor, patron of Rome. We will obey his wishes. Nor are we to debate the choice of Frank Zhang's companions."

"All three from the Fifth Cohort?" called out Hank from the third. "That's no fair."

"And not smart," said the boy next to him. "The Fifth Cohort will mess up. They should take somebody good."

Dakota got up so fast, he spilt Kool-Aide from his flask. "We were plenty good last night when we whipped your podex, Larry!"

"Enough, Dakota," Reyna said. "Let's leave Larry's podex out of this. As quest leader, Frank has the right to choose his companions. He has chosen Percy Jackson and Hazel Levesque."

As usual Percy tuned out the conversation as it was of little interest to him. He began forming miniature tornadoes in the palm of his hands with deep grey thunder clouds rumbling above and every so often miniature lightening struck his hand, at one point the thunder rumbled so loudly that you would have thought that a storm was brewing, but outside it was warm and sunny with a clear blue summer sky.

Percy willed the mini storm to dissipate as he heard Hazel's voice, "Weren't you listening last night, Octavian? Mars was pretty clear. We're going to the land beyond the gods—Alaska."

The senators squirmed in their togas. Some of the ghosts shimmered and disappeared. Even Reyna's metal dogs rolled over on their backs and whimpered.

Finally senator Larry stood. "I know what Mars said, but that's crazy. Alaska is cursed! They call it land beyond the gods for a reason. It's so far north, the Roman gods have no power there. The place is swarming with monsters. No demigod has come back from there alive since—"

"Since you lost your eagle," Percy said looking rather bored.

Larry was so startled that he fell back on his podex.

"Look," Percy continued, "I know I'm new. I know you don't like to mention that massacre in the nineteen eighties—"

"He mentioned it!" one of the ghosts whimpered.

"—But don't you get it?" Percy continued. "If we don't go and free Thanatos from his bonds, you are all as good as dead. This giants, the son of Gaea—he's the one who defeated your forces thirty years ago. Now he sitting up there in Alaska with a chained death god, and all your old equipment. He's mustering his armies and sending them south to attack this camp."

"Really?" Octavian said. "You seem to know a lot about our enemy's plans, Percy Jackson."

Percy looked at Octavian with hatred, "Curl your tongue and stuff it back inside your cheeks," he sneered, "I have no patience to trade words with an honourless worm like you. Now sit down and keep quiet."

Octavian would have retorted, but something about the way Percy's voice sounded made him reconsider.

Percy took a deep breath. "We're going to confront this son of Gaea," he said, managing to keep his composure. "We'll get back your eagle and unchain Letus."

Octavian sighed with exasperation. "How do you expect to do all of this and get back by the Feast of Fortuna? That's the evening of the twenty forth. It's the twentieth now. Do you even know where to look? Do you even know who this son of Gaea is?"

"Yes," Hazel spoke with such certainty that even Percy was surprised. "I don't know exactly where to look, but I have a pretty good idea. The giant's name is Alcyoneus."

The name seemed to lower the temperature in the room by fifty degrees. The senators shivered.

Reyna gripped her podium. "How do you know this, Hazel? Because you're a child of Pluto?"

"Yes it is," Percy said. "You see the giants were born to oppose the twelve Olympian gods. Each giant was to defeat and take over the god's domain. There is Porphyrion, the bane of Jove, Polybotes, the bane Neptune. The eldest of the giants Alcyoneus was born to oppose Pluto. The giants can only be defeated by a demigods and gods working together."

Dakota belched. "Sorry, did you say gods and demigods…like fighting side by side? That could never happen!"

"It has happened," Nico replied before Percy could. "In the first war, the gods called on heroes to join them, and they were victorious. Whether it could happen again, I don't, but with Alcyoneus… he was different. He was completely immortal, impossible to kill by a god or demigod, as long as he remained in his home territory—the place he was born."

Nico paused to let it sink in. "And if Alcyoneus has been reborn in Alaska—"

"Even if we do manage to free Letus and kill the giant, the doors of death will remain open. Tartarus will not allow them to be closed, but that is an issue for later. For now lets begin this quest. Reyna you and I must converse later," Percy said.

With that Percy walked out of the senate hall.

Line break

Percy waited for Reyna on the entrance of the Principia after he left the senate meeting. He was glad to have Riptide back in his pocket. Judging by the sour expression on Reyna's face, he knew that she was displeased.

She stormed into the Principia with her purple cloak billowing, and her greyhounds at her feet. Percy sat on one of the Praetor chairs.

"You leave after lunch. We have a lot to discuss," she growled.

"Indeed we have much to discuss," Percy agreed as he began to recite a spell to cast a soundproof barrier that flowed outwards like a water bubble.

Reyna could feel the power pouring out of Percy as he recited his spell, the hairs on her skin rose for a moment before falling back down when he was done, "What did you do?" she asked.

"Soundproof barrier," he answered her. "You never know which parasites could be listening, and Octavian is the biggest parasite of them all. Pray to your lucky stars that he does not get elected to Praetor, assuming this camp survives that long."

"Which brings us to the subject of doomsday," Reyna said, "and how might you prevent it. But before I place the fate of Camp Jupiter in your hands , we need to get a few things straight."

She sat down and put a ring on the table—a band of silver etched with a sword and torch design, like Reyna's tattoo, "Do you know what this is?" she questioned.

"I do, it's your mother's symbol," Percy said. "Bellona the goddess of war."

"Bellona, yes," Reyna scrutinized him carefully. "You don't remember where you this ring before? You really don't remember me or my sister, Hylla?"

"I remember, more specifically I remember your sister Hylla," he answered. "The servant of that witch Circe."

Reyna's face turned dark as a storm cloud, "We lost everything because of you," she spat.

Percy raised an eyebrow, "Well I didn't appreciate being turned into a guinea pig," he retorted without Reyna's coldness, as his eyes bore into hers with sadness and perhaps even longing. "I am sorry that Annabeth freeing me from the spell the witch cast lost you your home, but what would you have done when someone close to you was cursed by a lunatic?"

"Thank you for telling me," she said softly. "I understand, and believe you are sincere. But not everyone at camp does. Octavian thinks you're a spy. He think you were sent here by Gaea to find our weaknesses and distract us. He believes the old legends about the Greeks."

"Old legends?" Percy asked truly puzzled.

Reyna's hand rested halfway between her dagger and the jelly beans, "Some Believe Greek demigods still exist," she said, "heroes who follow the older form of the gods. There are legends of Battles between Roman and Greek heroes in relatively modern times—the American civil war, for instance. I have no proof of this, and if our Lares know anything, they refuse to say. But Octavian believes Greeks are still around, plotting our downfall, working with the forces of Gaea. He thinks you are one of them."

"Is that what you believe?"

"I believe you came from somewhere," she said. "You're important, and dangerous. Two gods have taken special interest in you since you arrived, so I can't believe you'd work against Olympus…or Rome." She shrugged. "Of course, I could be wrong. Perhaps the gods sent you here to test my judgment. But I think…I think you were sent here to make up for the loss of Jason."

"Both of you and Octavian are partially correct. Greek Demigods exist, but they are allied strictly with Olympus and had no knowledge of Roman Demigod, that is until recently. I suspect Jason Grace is among them. I would find another person to give my heart to Reyna. Jason's heart is already freely given to another."

Reyna's bore into Percy with shock, "You speak as the gods do," she said. "But do you mean I must find someone else?"

Percy smiled, "Jason gave his heart to someone else," he said. "You need to find the other half of your essence before you will find happiness."

"Regardless I don't blame you for the past, Percy," she said. "But my sister still hates you, it's true, but fate brought me here to Camp Jupiter. I've done well. All I ask you is that you work with me for the future. I intend to save this camp."

"I will help you," he promised. "You have many good people who know this camp better than I do. If we succeed on this quest, Hazel and Frank will be heroes. I will stand with you."

"Thank you," she said. "The praetorship will be yours for the taking should you prove successful in his mission. You and I could expand the power of Rome. We could raise an army and find the doors of death, crush Gaea's force once and for all. You would find me a very helpful…friend."

She said that word like it could have several meaning, and he could pick which one.

Percy looked at Reyna with intensity, "Your waking has begun," he said simply in the language older than the gods. "And a major part of your essence draws near. Soon you will be whole again. Don't question the meaning of my words, in time you will know."

Reyna nodded with confusion, "You must know that things are worse than you realise."

"I'm aware," Percy said. "Gaea is the enemy no longer."

Reyna leaned forward, "How do you know of this?" she asked.

Percy waved his hand to restore her memory of the night before, "This is how," he said.

Her form flickered for a second before settling back, "Thank you for returning my memory, but why take it?" she asked.

"To avoid panic," he said with a frown. "And false hope."

"It seems we have a common understanding then," she said. "Octavian has had a vision, he's seen a great army marching south, an army too great for us to defeat. They're led by a giant—"

"Polybotes!" Percy spat with distain. "These are dangerous times and they are about to get worse."

Reyna nodded, "Lupa and her wolves are trying to slow them down, but this force is too strong even for them. The enemy will be here soon…by the Feast of Fortuna at the very latest."

Percy nodded grimly, he was in no shape to fight Tartarus.

Reyna read his expression. "Yes, it's bad, but we are not without hope. If you succeed in bring the eagle back, if you release death so we can actually kill our enemies, then we may stand a chance. And there is one more possibility…"

Reyna slid the silver ring across the table. "I can't give you much help, but your journey will take you close to Seattle. I'm asking you for a favour, which may also help you. Find my sister Hylla."

"I will find you sister," Percy said. "She and the amazons will be of great help to the camp."

Reyna slid the ring to Percy

Percy took the ring and slipped into his necklace with the beads and probatio tablet. "Wish me luck."

"Go with the Pride of Rome Percy Jackson," Reyna said. "And thank you."

He could tell the audience was over. Reyna was having trouble holding herself together, keeping up the image of the confident commander. She needed some time to herself.

Percy rose from his seat, "Virtus et Honor!" he said placing his right fist on his heart.

"Virtus et Honor!" Reyna rose and copied Percy

"Vale Reyna!" he bowed to her.

Line break

After lunch Percy, Hazel and Frank stood a the dock of Camp Jupiter looking at a sad looking old boat the Romans had. Percy waved his hand and a black 50ft long yacht appeared in front of them like a mirage, "Lets get this show on the road," he said with a smile as he climbed the ship.

Frank looked on with wonder, while Hazel looked nervous about being on having to climb a boat, but in the end they both followed Percy inside to begin the quest to Free Letus.

Beyond sight Reyna looked at Percy climbing the yacht like the wife of a soldier in ancient times sending off her husband to war which is sort of correct, because Hydros is her husband—her complete self's husband, not the fragmented demigod self, "Return back to me my Hydros," she said.

Chapter 5 done. Sorry for the wait, but anyway I hope you liked it. Reyna and Annabeth are connected in more ways than one.