Chapter 15: Recon

Hi you guys! I started this as soon as I posted the immensely late fourteenth chapter. Hope you like! Also, romance isn't exactly my strongest suit, and I don't really Reyco to get over sexual so... any tips on romance? PM me! Please read and review! ^_^

Jason

The blonde trembled as he brought his mouthpiece closer to his mouth. "Leo... Percy... Frank... Nico..." His voice was shaky and he whimpered more than once as he spoke with frequent voice cracks. "Someone... Anyone... Save me..."

o 24 Hours Ago o—

Leo

The clock struck five in his room. He looked up sleepily from his bed. The repair boy had spent the night with the others down below, and had only crashed in two hours ago. Unfortunately, he couldn't postpone it any longer. Leo groaned as the cold air hit his body through his thin Panic! at the Disco T-shirt and black skinny jeans. Shaking and shivering, he summoned a small flame in his hand, spreading it to his entire body, warming him up. He was careful not to burn his clothes, as he rushed into the bathroom.

"Ahh... that's more like it." It was a good thing that Leo invented bathroom floor warmers specially for the Argo II. Just as he was about to come out, there was a soft knocking at the door.

Leo opened the door to see a sleepy son of Hades, still in his black jeans and T-shirt, but without the leather jacket. Nico yawned. "Hey man."

"You sleep well?"

"Surprisingly so. Insomnia's wearing off I guess. I could barely get up as it is..." Nico's eyes closed and his entire body fell on Leo, making the son of Hephaestus grin.

"Finally feeling our pain huh?"

Nico sleepily nodded, bringing a chuckle from Leo. He splashed Nico's face quickly with water, forcing the boy to wake. "Wh-Wha?!" The son of death growled. "I'll kill you Valdez."

Leo grinned. He had skillfully gotten Nico to step into the bathroom when he had splashed him, and now he simply shut the door. "Gotta catch me first!" He sprinted off before the door could even open. There was a garbled but angry sound from inside the bathroom. "And enjoy the warm floor!"

Leo was waiting at the table for the rest of the group to come down. This was the last day he had to hang out with his friends without engine worries. He wanted to make the most of it. As he was thinking all this, the former insomniac walked in with more energy than he had had before. "Hot floor huh? I'm impressed. Impressed enough not to kill you."

"Thanks. Not everyone can warm their feet with fire, and sometimes that doesn't even work. Consider it my gift to humanity." The son of death grinned and punched Leo in the shoulder.

"Humanity eh? Not sure 'bout that."

Someone else had come. Silently and stealthily. And a female. Reyna. "Heeeeeey Reyna."

"Hey Leo." She settled into a chair on the other end of the table. Nico looked down in silence.

Oh please. Not the awkwardness of a newly exposed couple... Well I guess it is. It's time for the Leo Man to intervene.

"Not bad Nico. How'd you manage to nail the praetor of Camp Jupiter?"

The pale boy's face took on a red tinge. "L-Leo..."

"C'mon man gimme some tips will ya?"

Nico elbowed his acting wingman in the gut and rasped in an undertone: "What are you doing man?!"

"Oh c'mon please!"

"L-Leo!"

At this point even Reyna was blushing a bright scarlet. "I.. I gotta go. Piper, Hazel,Annabeth, and I have planned something. See ya!" And with that she left the room.

Unfortunately that meant now Leo was alone with Nico. "Leo...? What. The. Hell."

"L-Look I can explain." Nico's glare intensified. Leo cowered back. "Don't hurt me ok?"

"Talk fast. Or you're dead."

Leo talked faster than either of them thought possible. "Well I sensed the awkwardness in my presence and I knew you wouldn't approve of me leaving, so I tried to improve the atmosphere about you two—Don't hurt me!"

Nico grinned. "I won't hurt you man. Just wanted you to talk fast."

Leo scowled. "So you threaten me?"

"Pretty much."

"Eh I don't blame you. It's easy to threaten me."

Just then Percy walked in smiling. "'Sup you guys. Oh and Leo everytime I use the bathroom in the morning I just wanna hug you."

Nice smirked. "Seems floor warmers are pretty useful. Leo you could get rich off the idea!"

"Hm... I never thought of it that way..."

Percy rolled his eyes. "Of course you didn't. You only ever think of our benefits. Nothing for yourself."

"Well I'm fine that way."

"Speaking of which how'd you get up so early?! I know Nico's insomniac but Leo?"

Leo shrugged and rubbed his neck. "I'm used to it. I always wake up early and go straight to the engines. By the way... someone conquered their insomnia."

Percy's eyes widened and they met Nico's which were hinting at a grin. "Nico? You..."

"Yup."

"How? I mean when? So you're finally able to rest now? Oh man 'm sorry." He used the back of his hand to wipe his wet eyes.

"Perce? Are you crying?"

"N-No... dammit yea I am."

"Dammit why're you so sensitive!" Nico punched Percy's wrist lightly.

"But why now? How'd it happen."

Nico sighed and scratched his head. "Ever since I came out of my shadow, it's been getting better and now... it's gone."

"What's gone?" All heads turned to see Jason standing in the doorway, wearing a plain black T-shirt and white jeans.

"Well my insomnia's gone, and Percy's being a crybaby."

"Seriously? That's great!" Jason pulled a chair and sat beside Leo. So far, Leo was sitting at one end of the table, with Nico and Jason on his two sides, with Percy beside Nico.

Leo was smirking as he spoke. "Where's Frank? Anyone seen him?"

Jason nodded. "He'll be here." Just then a small parakeet flew in the room and flew around in circles before landing on the table and transforming into Frank Zhang, who bowed like a gentleman as Jason applauded. The praetor hopped into the chair beside Jason.

The son of Hephaestus took a deep breath. "So you guys... today's the last... tomorrow it's back to the engine for most of the day."

Everyone was silent. Jason spoke first. "So anything specific on your mind?"

"Well we could try to get the materials for ship repair but last time we tried..." That part didn't need to be said. "... speaking of which. We're heroes aren't we? We can't just go past one of Gaea's stronghold and let it thrive can we?"

Percy raised both eyebrows. "Leo I agree. We are heroes, but if we go in there to fight head on... we're dead meat. They'll kill us."

Jason nodded, eyebrows set. "As heroic as we are, we can't just charge into battle."

Leo grinned. "That's the thing. We're not charging into battle. You really think I'm built for that? We have to figure out their weakness. And if there isn't a weakness at least we'll rest assured that we tried."

Jason rested his chin on his hand, making him look so much more mature. "Ok but... What're ya suggesting man?"

"I'm suggesting... we infiltrate Monster Depot."

Percy

Percy couldn't believe his ears. "Leo if they catch us we're finished. We can't risk it."

"Oh c'mon we're better than that. Anyway like I said before. We're heroes. We can fight our way to safety. Even I can manage. We have to do what we can."

Jason nodded. "I second that."

Percy's jaw dropped. "J-Jason! Back me up here man! Do you know what you're saying?! We could all be killed!"

Jason rolled his eyes. "Dude get with the program, that's kind of an everyday thing now."

"B-B-But... fine... I guess it's not a bad idea. I'll agree."

Leo turned his eyes to Mr. Muscles himself. "Frank?"

"Anything you say."

"Aww you're the best!"

Nico nodded as well. "I support the idea as well." Leo beamed.

"So everyone agreed?" There was a moan of affirmation throughout the group.

Sparky stood up. "Everyone get back here in a few minutes. I'll go for the first sweep."

Nico

The son of Hades put on his signature leather jacket. He also picked up a watch, which served further as a comlink, allowing him to speak (with video) to any of his friends who also carry their comlink. Leo had designed it (gotta love the guy) as an improvement upon Iris messaging. Nico pulled the watch upon his wrist and walked out of the room and to the common room, where Leo was already leaning against the table, wearing the same P!atD shirt, black skinny jeans, the compacted belt, and an unzipped jacket.

"Hey. Sparky told me you had a new nickname. Gray was it?"

Nico smirked a little. "You don't have to call me that bro."

"Aww looks like someone likes their new nickname!"

The others slowly trickled into the room. Percy wore his normal green T-shirt and blue jeans, Frank wore a white shirt with abs drawn on it, and Jason wore a dark black T-shirt (almost as dark as Nico's) and black jeans. Jason also had a mouthpiece attached by an earpiece in his left ear, which caught sound from his comlink, enabling him to communicate without enemies hearing what his friends were telling him. "Well. I'm ready to go. This may be the last time I see you guys."

Tears sprung to Leo's eyes visibly. "D-Don't say that man!"

Percy put a hand on Jason's shoulder. "Ey. You're coming back. Like it or not."

"I'll do my best." Jason sighed. "Well I guess I should go. Leo you think you can drop me near the stronghold."

"'Course man. Festus? Follow the monster signal. Here's the deal. I rigged their security so you can get in, and hopefully out, safely. Get as much intel as you can, but I repeat save yourself if you have to."

"Ok I got it."

"Should be about now." They all made their way to the drop zone, and Jason took a deep breath as Leo pushed the switch opening the hatch.

The son of Jupiter jumped down perfectly and glided slowly onto the roof with wind control. Nico sighed as Jason disappeared from view.

Well that was it. I actually wanted to make it one big chapter, but I felt like splitting this into more short chapters. Well sorry for the delay. Please review! ^_^