IIIII

"Madam..."

"It's fine, Butler." Sally chuckled, her voice sounding sad even to her own ears. Moving forward, she joined the back of the crowd at the edge of one of the boat-loading platforms as she chatted with the AI. "I really should've expected this. It was a stupid idea going back into another event, wasn't it... And yet you know what? Even now, I can't help but think it was worth the shot. I'd give anything for Percy. So if I die here from trying to give my son a better life. Then okay."

It was weird how quickly her mentality was changing. She'd been scared, then sick to her stomach from having killed a man, then scared once more, this time for Percy in the future without her. Now though, Sally felt a strange calm fall over her, one that she'd never felt before but didn't mind. It was comfortable in a way that she couldn't even begin to describe if she tried.

Getting closer to the platform's edge, Sally glanced over it, down at the snowy mountain rocks below her. The length of concrete they were on acted like a strange dock for the boats above them. Why that was, she didn't know. But what she did was that whoever designed the place either was off their rocker or meant for the base to be used for this purpose. Looking up to the other side, Sally saw more crowds at the other loading docks by the other two boats. People yelling and screaming for the ships to reopen their doors, just like the group she was in was yelling. Loud voices shouting everywhere, creating a hectic yet fearful atmosphere.

"Butler, is there any way for you to make it to Percy? I know it's probably impossible and a lot to ask. But if you can, it would mean a lot." Sally asked almost pleadingly. No one looking after Percy was her only worry after death. She couldn't count on Poseidon or some random people at the camp. Butler, despite the little time she'd known the AI was trustworthy, and Sally knew he would take good care of Percy should the chance arrive.

"I do not know, madam. I may be deactivated or sleep until the next user is found. However, no matter the outcome. I shall strive to accomplish your wish."

"Thank you." Sally sighed, feeling the weight on her shoulders lessen a bit at the response. "Well, I suppose this is goodbye. It wa-"

Stopping her farewell, Sally, as well as the crowd, fell silent as a loud creak sounded from the boat ahead of them. A second later, she watched a crack forming at the top of the huge slab door, one that slowly started descending toward the crowd. The boat, as impossible as it may have seemed, now opening its doors. Why that was, Sally didn't know or really care, but she was all for it, a part of her unable to believe her last chance of hope of surviving. One that had vanished minutes ago was back.

"Madam, may I suggest investing more in your luck? It may be of more help than either of us first believed.

"You're telling me," Sally said, almost paralyzed in place as she watched the slab lower further and the crowd start to run up into the boat's entrance. It wasn't until nearly half the people around her had run up and got into the ship that Sally snapped out of her daze and followed them inside. A quick glance at the other boats showed a similar situation, though strangely enough, one boat's loading ramp stopped just short of the platform, forcing people to climb it. Regardless, that wasn't her concern, so Sally pulled her focus away from it and back to the inside of the boat.

It was gigantic, bigger than she'd imagined, the inside appearing larger than four subway tunnels combined. There were also a lot of pipes running everywhere. The sheer amount reminded Sally of both a water company and an oversized submarine. Following in line behind the person in front of her, they traveled in order through halls and open stairs to an open floor. One that almost made her think of a prison cell. That is, if the prison cell had fancy metal doors that opened with a keypad or rooms that could be passed off for a small eccentric hotel suite.

Sally only caught a peek from a soldier exiting one of the rooms, but they appeared quite spacious. Hopefully, that meant there'd be enough room for everyone. She also hoped they didn't start asking for tickets and assigning rooms. Sally knew the people around her had them. Most were like the man fidgeting with his glasses beside her, clenching them in their fists. Nervously looking towards the front to where a gray-bearded Soldier dressed in a neat light blue uniform was assigning rooms.

"Think this will cause a problem, Butler?" Sally asked as quietly as she could, trying not to attract attention to herself in the silent atmosphere. No one seemed to want to talk, or the shock of having really made it in on the boat hadn't sunk in for everyone yet. It certainly hadn't for Sally. She was still pushing her emotions down, trying to stay calm until she was completely safe.

"I do not believe so, madam."

Hoping he was right, Sally followed in line, everyone moving through the queue faster than most theme parks she'd been to as a kid. Before too long, it was her turn, and Sally didn't even try to fake being calm. Biting her lip, she stepped up to the line before the soldier. The man took one glance, frowning, then turning to stare at her before his eyes went lower to her chest. Something that would have made Sally glare or ignore as best she could. However, she was wearing a heavy military jacket, so she was a little confused and worried as to what the soldier was looking at.

"Yvonne, correct?" A gruff voice sounded from the older man after a few more seconds as he checked off something on the board in his hands. Yet, before Sally could respond, the soldier continued. "While this is the wrong boat for an American soldier, you are still a soldier, so you can bunk with the rest of the troops. Floor three, room nine. Next!"

Nodding, Sally waited until another person directed her to a set of stairs before talking with Butler again as she ascended. "What just happened, Butler? I thought for a second I was going to get thrown off the boat... And who the hell's Yvonne?"

"It appears, madam, that Yvonne was the owner of your jacket. Her dog tags are tied around the pocket on the top left corner."

"What?" Sally blinked and looked down at the pocket on her jacket. Sure enough, and going entirely unnoticed by her when she'd grabbed the coat out of the bag. There was a set of dog tags hanging outside her chest pocket, the name Yvonne printed on it, with some last name Sally couldn't even begin to try and pronounce.

Hardly able to believe her luck, Sally once more began climbing the stairs to floor three and easily found her way to room nine. The large yellow-painted nine beside the door only made it all too apparent as to which room she was going to be bunking in. Heading inside, the door sliding open as she approached it, Sally found herself standing in a similar room to what she got a peek of earlier. The only difference was that the bed was a bunk with twin dressers with someone already on top. A redhead with a somewhat muscular build, book in hand.

"I claimed the top, so bottoms yours." The woman on the bed spoke with a slight accent Sally couldn't place, not removing her eyes from what she was reading.

"Okay." Sally nodded, resisting the urge to be polite and introduce herself. From the way things were looking now, her bunkmate wasn't the talkative type. Sure, Sally could try and start a conversation, but she wasn't planning on being here long. So getting to know someone like she had Elena, only to leave, was relatively pointless.

After entering the room and sitting on her new bed, Sally immediately felt fatigued, the urge to yawn coming so quick she didn't even have time to try and resist before she let it loose. Yawning loudly and blinking her eyes to try and keep herself awake. A losing battle and not one Sally wanted to fight now that she was safe. So, jacket still on, Sally kicked her feet onto her bed and tried to doze for as long as time allowed.

"Madam, it's over."

"Huh? What's over?" Sally groaned, having just felt herself begin to drift off when Butler's voice pierced through her head. Sitting up, she squinted a little, then froze as a window appeared in front of her vision. A window she hadn't seen in what felt like forever.

[Disaster Event: 2012]

[Quest: Survive the rising tide!] [Completed!]

[Time left - 7 days!]

"Over... It's over?" Sally asked aloud, forgetting her roommate for a moment in her shock. The window before her eyes was the exact same one she'd seen when waking up in the hospital during the last event. The only difference, then, was that when seeing the timer, she'd chosen to wait and recuperate with Percy and Elena, not wanting to leave too soon. That wasn't the case now.

"Yes, madam."

"I can leave now, then, right?" Sally asked as she chewed her lip. She didn't want to stay in the disaster for another second. Things may have technically gone better, and she hadn't even come near as close to dying as before. Yet, as it was, the experience had still been awful and taxing on her emotionally. She also didn't want a repeat, nor did she want to stay long enough for something else to go wrong. Getting out quick and back home was the safer option.

[Of course.]

[Teleporting in 3... 2... 1...]

Holding her breath, Sally closed her eyes as she was teleported back home. Momentarily feeling weightless before she felt the solid ground underneath her feet and collapsed onto the grass, bile climbing up her throat as she took in deep breaths and tried not to throw up, not that there was anything left in her stomach at this point.

"Butler, is the teleporting getting worse?" Sally questioned as she regained her composure, rolling onto the grass and looking at the clear sky above. The feeling of home had never been so apparent to her until right now that she was back where she belonged.

"It should not be, madam."

Ding!

[Event Complete!]

[Completetion Rating... C]

+ 100 Exp

+ 2 Stat Points

+ Wish Shard

[You have leveled up!]

"Why so much this time?" Sally stared at her window page, two rewards the same as last time. She had some experience and another wish shard that she still needed to ask Butler the purpose of. However, receiving two extra stat points as a reward was a complete yet not-bad surprise. Anything she could use to increase her strength was good.

[Unless I am mistaken, madam. It is because you have received a C rating for this event. It's one grade higher than your previous results, which should explain the increased reward.]

"Makes sense." Sally agreed with the explanation while pulling open her stat page to study it. Now that she had an extra two stat points, plus the three she gained from leveling up to level four. Sally now had five to distribute as she pleased. What to choose, though, was once again tricky to decide. Every stat was useful in its own way, but if she kept distributing the points equally, she'd be okay, but it would be a very long time until she saw any significant changes.

"Butler, what do you recommend?" After a couple minutes of staring at her stats, Sally asked the AI, her finger hesitating above strength and luck. The latter was incredibly important but also random, and she still didn't know how much the stat affected the situations around her. A stat increase could be so minor that spending her points on something more substantial might be better. On the flip side, strength was important, and it would make a whole lot of things easier.

"Madam, perhaps another choice might be best. A few stat points into wisdom can't hurt and might be better than luck. As I previously explained when we first met. Wisdom can and will help with your state of mind. It should make dealing with that soldier's death easier to process should you increase the stat.]

"... I see." Sally frowned, not disagreeing but not agreeing either. When she'd been about to die, Sally had thought she'd accepted what she'd done. Killing that soldier, accident or not. Yet, now alive, breathing, and back home. She couldn't say with full confidence that was still the case. Even now, in the corner of her mind, she could almost see flashes of the scene shooting through her mind before being suppressed again.

With some hesitation, Sally took a deep breath and chose to trust her AI companion. Five clicks later, Sally placed one stat into luck for an even five, reaching the status of the average human, and dumped the rest of her remaining points into wisdom.

Status

Name: Sally Jackson | Lvl.4 - Exp: 40/100

Title: N/A

HP: 150/150

MP: 0/?

STR: 4

VIT: 6

DEX: 4

INT: 6

WIS: 7

LUK: 5

Points: 0

Money: $0.23

Item: Wish Shard x2

Skills: [Pain Resistance] Lvl. 1 | [Danger Prediction] Lvl.1

"Okay, not bad." Sally nodded, breathing out with relief now that the decision-making was over. Closing her eyes, Sally tried to bring up the memory of Rob's death, no longer trying to bury it in the corner of her mind. At once, as if she was not thinking of her own memory but right back to when it happened. Sally's mind played like a movie as she remembered the gun against her skin, the pain in her shoulder, and the bang going off, echoing in her ears.

However, the fear, disgust, and desire to throw up as she'd done were no longer there... Somewhat. To be more accurate, it was as if her emotions about the situation had a dial, and instead of ten, it had been lowered to five. So, now as she was thinking back to it, Sally was able to not only see the situation more clearly but also not feel as much about it.

"This isn't going to mess with my emotions, right?" Sally asked as she opened her eyes again, feeling better but worried about what increasing wisdom might change in her further down the line. Surely, raising the stat enough wouldn't deaden all her emotions? That would be absurd. She'd never increase the stat then or would have to find a way to reverse the effect if that were true.

[No, madam. It only weakens your feelings towards unwanted emotions or situations so you can understand and see things more clearly. If it will help you feel better, think of Percy and see if you can find a difference."

As Butler suggested, Sally thought of her son and instantly smiled. Of course, her joy was a little dampened as she wasn't with her son and had no way of getting to him currently. Nevertheless, she understood what Butler was trying to help her see. Her love for Percy not feeling diminished or deadened in any way like her feelings were towards killing Rob.

"That's a relief," Sally said, sitting up from her spot on the ground. "What do you think I should do next, Butler?"

She didn't want to enter another disaster. Oh, she probably would tomorrow or maybe later in the future. But, right now, Sally wanted to rest a bit. Find someplace to make a camp and sleep for the night without the risk of waking up to a disaster. Sure, she'd slept on the plane and taken a nap on the ship. Still, Sally felt tired, and really there was no harm in getting some more rest before possibly going on another suicidal disaster event.

[You might be able to afford a tent and camp out in the woods, madam. There was a sign beside the bus station for a general store and considering the area. Tents, as well as some other basic supplies, should be in stock.]

"You're not wrong... Sure, why not. Checking it out can't hurt." Sally agreed, having a vague idea of the store Butler was speaking of. If she wasn't mistaken, she'd been there before. It had been many years ago, during a school trip, she'd gone there for some snacks and to purchase a water bottle. That said, it was many years ago, so for all she knew, the place was now a coffee shop like the other dozen that kept popping up around New York.

Walking alongside the road, Sally began her journey, glancing at the sign for the general store as she passed the bus station. The distance from where she was was only a mile, meaning she'd be there in no time. While keeping her pace, Sally, both in an attempt to pass the time and because she was curious, asked Butler about the disaster.

"Hey, Butler, when did the disaster pass? I don't even remember if anything happened."

[It was a tsunami as you feared, though perhaps flood is a better term for it. From what I picked up while you were asleep, the water's height was higher than the mountains the ships were built upon. It was only because of the steel clamps holding each ship in place that the disaster didn't smash everyone into the Himalayan mountains.]

"Good to know," Sally responded with a slight huff, glad she missed the excitement. She was really beginning to dislike large bodies of water. It was as if everyone and everything connected with it meant something bad for Sally... Outside of Percy, that is, she couldn't dislike her boy even if he drowned her himself. A morbid thought, but that was the point. She couldn't hate Percy if she tried.

A short while later, Sally caught sight of the store and jogged up to it. The general store was an old wooden-style cabin with faded mahogany wood and a steel-plated roof above the building, a small yet nicely kept place that didn't appear to have changed the slightest bit from her memories. Which hopefully meant no coffee shop.

Entering the place, Sally gave a slight wave to the balding yet smiling old man on the other side of the counter and started looking around for some tents. Thankfully, as far as general stores went for wooded areas and beach campsites, it was pretty well stocked. The food was overpriced, even compared to city prices, especially the eggs. However, pricing wasn't too bad for some of the clothes and dry food, such as nuts and salted meat.

Spotting a small section of tents in a small corner, Sally saw the prices of only about twenty to thirty dollars for a single-person tent. Not the best or the worst, but it was in her price range. Picking up the one with a green tent image stickered onto the package, the color reminding Sally of Percy's eyes. She glanced around for anything else she might need, which, unfortunately, was quite a lot. A sleeping bag, clothes, food, soap, and a toothbrush were among just a few of the supplies she needed. Fifty bucks wouldn't even come close to covering all of that.

Deciding to go for the more critical items first, Sally grabbed a sleeping bag, two boxes of the cheapest granola bars in the store, and a small package of dried meat. Then that was it, the so-called cheap items taking up her last twenty dollars. Heading to the checkout counter, Sally glanced at a cute blouse on a clearance shelf before turning away. She could wash her clothes at a water pump if it came down to it. Food was more important at this current point in time.

"That'll be fifty dollars even, miss."

"Okay." Sally smiled and shoved her hands in her pockets, then paused. Feeling around for the money she was sure had been there and feeling nothing. Confused, Sally checked her other pocket and still couldn't find anything. Growing worried now, Sally was about to check the rest of her pockets then stopped as she remembered giving Percy the last of her cash. For some unbelievably stupid reason, she'd completely forgotten all about that. With everything that had happened, she'd just assumed she still had it.

"Uh, do you take credit... Joe?" Sally asked, eyes flicking to the name badge on the old man's shirt. She knew it was a weak question. No one did that anymore; if they did, it was assumed to be a credit card. Nevertheless, Sally didn't know what else to do. She was starving, she needed food, and without a tent, she wouldn't have a place to sleep come nightfall.

"No, cash only," Joe replied, then his eyes narrowed slightly, his silvery grey eyebrows furrowing together. "You can afford this, can't you, miss?"

Wanting to say yes, but unable. Sally glanced at the bag already full of her stuff waiting to be grabbed, and for a moment. She knew she could grab it and run out the door. It'd be reported, and it was stealing. She knew that and had never done anything like that before. Yet she needed the stuff in that bag. However, one thought of her son's face and the idea of him hearing about her being wanted on the radio or something else killed the idea. She couldn't do that.

"No, I'm sorry. I forgot I left my purse with my son." Sally said, a little annoyed with herself for forgetting such a critical detail and making the trip when she could have spent her time doing something else. "I dropped him off at camp and forgot. I'm really sorry."

"Ah, no problem," Joe answered, understanding dawning in his eyes, confusing Sally. "It's always hard leaving the little ones at camp. My wife and I have had to leave two of our grandchildren there... For safety reasons, as I'm sure you can understand."

"What? You...? Sally opened her mouth in surprise, unsure if she should be shocked at meeting someone who knew of camp half-blood or ask Butler again what luck really did. What were the chances of her actually meeting someone else who had a child that was a demigod? It seemed impossible, yet she had at a general store not even a few miles from said camp.

"Yes, yes. I know what your thinking." Joe chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest. "It's not my wife or me that had an affair with a god. No, we like to keep to ourselves for the most part. Our grandchildren are demigods, my son's children, to be exact. He's a good deal better looking than I, and somehow, the blasted boy attracted Aphrodite's attention... Twice."

"How old are they?" Sally asked, unable to help herself. She'd never imagined meeting another demigod parent or grandparent if she wanted to get into the specifics. It just never crossed her mind as even a possibility. It wasn't the typical thing one could advertise on a billboard or newspaper. Yet here she was, standing across from someone who probably had to deal with what she'd had when deciding to leave Percy at camp.

"Eleven and thirteen, Pearl and Coral. Thankfully living so close to camp means they get to visit occasionally, so while it's challenging. It's not so bad. My wife has the clear sight. You know what that is?" At Sally's nod, Joe continued. "So we usually keep a lookout for monsters and any strange creatures wandering about. As it is, being so close to camp, it's usually a rarity. Though I must admit, the safest times are when the goddess Artemis comes to visit. The woods are usually cleaned up by her hunters, making it much safer compared to other times."

"Is that why you work here, have this place?" Sally asked, finding the information fascinating. She hadn't known about Artemis visiting the camp or the goddess having hunters that killed monsters. It opened up the possibility of seeing Percy again outside of the camp, maybe in a situation similar to Joe with his granddaughters.

"No, funny enough, that was a coincidence. I've owned this place for over forty years. Being close to camp simply made me forgo selling the place a little longer. I'll probably retire in the future. For now, though, its purpose works as needed." Joe almost outright laughed, his smile practically beaming with delight. "How about you? What about your son?"

"Well, I don't know who his father is." Sally started choosing to hide Percy being Poseidon's son, then felt her cheeks flush as she realized how her words might sound to Joe and rushed to correct herself. "I mean, I don't know which god's his father. He never revealed who he was, only that he was an Olympian, and told me about the camp after I gave birth to Percy."

"Ah, seduced you, didn't he."

"...You could say that," Sally admitted after a slight pause. Seduction, whirlwind romance, summer fling, they were all the same and had the same result. "But it was nice and gave me Percy. I'll never regret that, even if I wish I could have gone with him into camp."

"Yes, I know the feeling." Joe sighed. "But you'll get used to it in time. Now though, were there any other items you needed?"

Raising an eyebrow, Sally stared at Joe, the man still smiling, unsure if he was serious or politely asking her to leave. Still, as uncertain as she was, Sally chose to answer the question. "A few things like a toothbrush, soap, clothes, and maybe more food. But like I said, I for-"

"No, no, no." Joe shook his head, cutting Sally off. "No charge. Meeting another demigod parent is extremely rare, and I can see you need these items. Grab what you need. It's on me. Trust me, I can afford to let you take a few items. It's not going to harm me at all."

"Really? T-Thank you." Sally replied, almost unable to believe her luck as she thanked Joe. Quickly gathering the necessary items she needed, as well as the cute blouse and some sportswear undergarments among some other clothes. Sally piled the stuff on the counter, and Joe immediately placed the items in a plastic shopping bag.

However, after the last package of meat was placed in the plastic, he frowned and stared at the stuffed bags of items, worrying Sally that she might've taken too much. Thankfully that wasn't the case, as Joe instead bent down beneath the counter, pulled out a large dark grey backpack, and packed the items into it.

"That should do it," Joe said, handing the bag to Sally across the counter.

"Thank you again." Sally smiled as she slung the bag across her shoulder, effortlessly lifting the bag. "I'll repay you somehow, I promise."

"No need, visiting again will do. Next time my wife should be here, I'm sure she'll love to talk with you."

"I will." Sally nodded, then turned and made her way for the door. However, just as she was about to leave, Joe's voice called from behind her.

"I almost forgot. What's your name, miss?"

"Sally Jackson."

IIIII

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