CHAPTER EIGHT

Aboard the Argo

The Argo II was awesome in Jason's opinion. Hard wood floors ran through the entire mass. Celestial bronze designs and shields were also installed into the woodwork, giving it a beautiful gleam in the sunlight. Crossbows were mounted to the exterior with an amazing rotating ballista. The upper deck was open to the sky as clouds drifted around them in the summer air. The white sails fluttered in the breeze and all of the edges and railings were trimmed in celestial bronze. On the lower deck, there were rooms that Leo had decked out with stereos with surround sound, mini-fridges that filled with whatever you wanted, but didn't have time to put in a television stating "That'll be my next project! Dude, this ship is going to be awesome when I upgrade!"

Annabeth was too geeked as she raced around the entire ship, checking propulsions, wind trajectory, and craftsmanship. She began to spit rapid fire facts about the original Argo and how it had been made from a magical wood that allowed the Argonauts to set sail on sea, land, or air. Leo had explained to the group that the wood used to build the Argo was called Osirius from a tree that once grew in the Garden of the Hesperides.

While everyone was in awe over the ship, Jason saw Dakota standing aloft at the bow. She stared out toward the sun in east. He walked over to her.

"Hey," he said, causally. Supposedly, Dakota was one of his best friends, but he felt so detached from her.

She didn't say anything and just stared at the sun.

"You know," Jason said, following her gaze, "Annabeth told me that Apollo rides in a red sports' car and that's really the sun."

Dakota scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"Do you really believe all this Greek fairytales nonsense?"

Jason shrugged.

"This nonsense has been real for six months," he responded, with a grin. "So, I guess so."

"I can't believe Juno," she said, angrily, punching her fist into her other hand. "She had no right to take the son of Neptune or your memories. It's not fair. What good did she think it would do?"

"For one thing," said Jason, as though it were obvious, "no one is dead yet. I'm alive and I haven't killed anyone at Camp Half-Blood. And everyone is cool back at Legion Camp, right?"

Dakota looked at him.

"Everyone at Legion Camp is tense," she responded. "First you disappear, another camper shows up, and now these giants are back and trying to raise Gaea. The world will fall into chaos if that happens. It will end."

"That's why we all need to work together," said Jason. "Camp Half-Blood and Legion Camp can't fight the giants separately."

"We did okay with the Titan threat," said Dakota.

"We've been apart too long," said Jason. "It's time we work together without killing. You have your memories. You've been to Camp Half-Blood, met some of the Greek demigods, so you know what their like and so do I. Their my friends. They are our allies."

"Greek and Roman allies," said Dakota. "Lupa would eat you for saying that."

"Lupa knows the deal," said Jason. "I know because she put me on this path. She knew what Juno did and that's why she hasn't ordered Percy's death."

"The son of Neptune carries a curse," said Dakota. "He is strong and able but he can't be killed."

"He bares the curse of Achilles," said Jason.

"Who?" asked Dakota, confused.

"Achilles was a Greek hero who bathed in the River Styx by his mom and became invincible."

"Oh," she said. "Ugh, that's gross! The Styx is so populated."

"I know," laughed Jason. And he felt a twinge of familiarity as he laughed at Dakota. It was as though they had done it so often. He tried to remember more about her. He was pretty sure they were very close. "Tell me about you."

"You know everything," said Dakota, wistfully.

"I don't-"

"Remember," she cut across him. "Sorry. Well, what's there to tell. My mom took me to the Wolf House when I was six. Monsters had started to come after me and she knew that I needed to go someplace safe. So, Apollo gave her directions and she left me there for Lupa to test."

"How did she test you?"

"I foresaw her attacks and she had given me a bow and an arrow to use. She saw that I was a capable demigod and took me the Legion Camp, where I met you. You and I became best friends. We need everything together and I was right by your side when you took down Krios on Mount Orthys."

"I wish I could remember more," said Jason.

"Yeah," said Dakota. "I do too. Look, Jason, it's been a long night and the day is just getting started. I think I'm gonna go down and sleep for a bit."

"Okay," said Jason. He watched her go and felt a sense of respect for her. She didn't walk away tired, sad, or even angry. She was cool and calm…disciplined like a soldier ready for battle.

The day went on smoothly but things still seemed to bother Jason.

He was heading back home. His real home. Not the contradiction of Camp Half-Blood he had known for the passed six months. But what worried him more was what he was going back too. He knew the Legion Camp wasn't as care free and light hearted as Camp Half-Blood. He knew the campers weren't as friendly and the training was way more intense. And he was this camp's leader. The consul and praetor which were high positions during the Roman Empire.

The smell of roasting beef went under Jason's nose and he followed his nose.

Leo was cooking beef over a nice fire in a cabin that was built on the other side of the Argo II. It was fully decked out with kitchen and refrigerator with a nice bar like the one's in old diners in the 50s and Chef Leo was at the grill. Annabeth and Piper were sitting there, obviously talking and had stopped once Jason had walked in.

"What is it?" asked Jason, suspiciously. He felt a tinge of annoyance that they had stopped once he walked in. Everyone in the room except from him was Greek and from Camp Half-Blood. They were the enemy. They could possibly be conspiring against him and Dakota, just like the sneaky Greek soldiers. He went for his weapon momentarily that hung at his side and immediately stopped.

No!

What was he thinking?

They weren't the enemy. They were his friends.

"Jason," said Piper, moving away from the bar, "what is it? Is everything okay?"

"Yeah," said Jason, shaking off the sudden urge to cut his friends' heads off. "I'm fine."

"Good," said Annabeth. "We were just discussing strategy. What we're gonna do when we get to Legion Camp. You're the camp's leader, obviously, and Dakota is leading us back. But we still can't forget Rachel's prophecy."

"Right," said Jason. The prophecy still went through his head and chilled him a little.

"The Legion Camp will be expecting an assault," said Annabeth. "What I know about the Romans, they were crafty and very intelligent. That's why they were able to conquer the Greek isles so easily."

"The children of Minerva lead that conquest," said Jason, remembering.

"Minerva?" said Piper.

"My mother's, Athena's, Roman form," said Annabeth.

"Bon appetite!" chimed Leo, setting down fresh plates of hamburgers in front of them. And a veggie burger for Piper. "How's that for French, beauty queen?"

"Needs a little work," she smiled, digging in her burger.

Leo grinned.

"So," he said, "conquests, Roman forms, and assaults. Check. Check. And check! Now all we gotta do is make sure we get in and able to get out."

"I agree," said Annabeth. "Where is Dakota?"

"Resting," said Jason. "It's been a long day."

Annabeth's stormy eyes ran over Jason's face and he felt like she was analyzing him. Looking for a good way to take him down in a fight. No! He pushed the thought from his mind. Annabeth looked concerned, almost worried. Why was he having these negative thoughts? Was it that he was almost back at Legion Camp? Or was it Dakota? Maybe even the gods, working against them. Or even more horribly…Gaea and her band of blood-thirsty giants.

Jason's thoughts were interrupted when they heard a loud squawk and the Argo II crashed into something in midair.