Chapter Four: Ave Perseus Jackson!

The test went well.

Well… At least for Percy. Jason? Not so great. Right now, he's lying on a stretcher, unconscious as two children of Apollo carried him into the now seriously overpopulated infirmary.

Percy, on the other hand has recovered quickly after experienced something similar but far worse two years ago on Mt. St. Helens and shoving a whole lot of Ambrosia and Nectar down his throat.

Reyna cleared her throat loudly to get the legionaries' attention.

"Legionaries! Perseus Jackson has defeated every single opponent during his test, and now he will be choosing a cohort. I believe every cohort here will accept him, right?" Announced Reyna grudgingly.

"Yes."

The centurions, or at least the ones who were conscious nodded, although the senior centurions from the forth and the fifth cohorts, Frank and Gwen were saying it forcefully, since they are the supposed weakest cohorts in the legion.

Reyna turned her gaze to Percy expectantly as well as every remaining legionary from the first and the second cohorts.

Percy leaned over to Reyna's ears and muttered something to her. Reyna stared at Percy, clearly confused before muttering back the answer.

Percy grinned and announced loudly, "If they accept me, then I will choose the fifth cohort."

Three…

Two..

One.

"BUT THE FIFTH IS THE WORST!" Protested a recently returned Bobby loudly despite the fact that Percy just humiliated both him and his father less than an hour ago.

Percy just laughed, "Said the guy got knocked out in mere seconds when he was fighting two on one. Gwen is the best fighter I fought aside from Reyna, Jason and Piper. And Dakota was even more skilled than you. In case your small brain has already forgotten, he was drunk!"

Yep, coming up with good insults got a lot easier with Athena's blessing.

Sneakers came from the fifth cohort and Bobby's face reddened at both anger and embarrassment.

Before he could retort, Gwen stepped forward with a wild smiled stretched on her face, "I accept."

Loud sound of shield being smashed against the ground from the ranks of the fifth cohort signaling agreements from the cohort.

"It's decided then," Announced Reyna loudly who looked clearly surprised, "Perseus Jackson will be a new legionary of the fifth cohort. Return to your trainings, senate meeting in one hour."

Line Break

"Are you sure about this Gwen?" Percy asked surprisingly.

The daughter of Ceres nodded.

"But wouldn't people, I don't know, be upset that a newbie becomes a centurion on day one?" Percy questioned again.

Gwen turned to stare at her soon-to-be counterpart with her warm brown eyes seriously, "Percy, you are the best fighter I've met in my entire life. Nobody, nobody has been able to defeat Reyna, Jason or Piper in an one-on-one combat minus themselves for as long as I can remember. I was going to support Dakota, but after you knocked him out in less than five seconds, I don't think if anybody is going to question you becoming the centurion of the fifth instead of him."

Percy nodded, while flashing Gwen a grateful smile.

"Besides, that was a good show you put up back there," Said Gwen with a chuckle, "I bet you are going to be a legend in New Rome for centuries, I've never had that much fun before in my life."

Percy chuckled as well, before turning serious again, "Thank you Gwen. My patron told me about Michael Varus and the legion's eagle standard back in the 80s, I promise you the days of fifth cohort being the legion's laughing stock will end soon."

Gwen's eyes widened a bit, before turning serious as well, "Good luck Percy, but I don't think if anyone can do that, not even you. Things only got a little bit better after Jason came a few years ago."

Percy just shock his head, "Nothing is impossible cousin, it's only yet to be done."

Gwen nodded thoughtfully.

"Although none of my patrons told me what really happened during that quest," Percy continued, curious as well as concerned, "Do you know what happened?"

Gwen shock her head sadly, "Nobody does Percy. The rumors are, Michael Varus read the prophecy wrong and ventured into Alaska with almost the entire fifth cohort back then. Only a few legionaries made it back alive, excluding their praetor. Those who were lucky enough to survive were never the same again and retired from the legion shortly afterwards, it's like… It's like something back in Alaska drove them insane. They did mutter something about evil goddess, giants, earth and stuff though, at least that's how the story went. I'm sorry but that's all that I knows, if anyone might know more then it would be Reyna."

Percy nodded thankfully, "Don't be, it's already a lot to go on with."

His mind quickly raced with thousands of possibilities, trying to put the pieces of puzzles together. He was so close, his mind was telling him that he's missing something really obvious, but he just couldn't figure it out.

"Thank you Gwen," Percy added, "I'll tell you if I finds anything out."

Gwen smiled warmly at him.

Percy's face quickly turned into a playful frown, "I don't understand." He said innocently.

"What?" Asked Gwen, obviously confused.

Percy responded while looking down at his body, "Why do we have to wear our bed sheets to the senate meeting?"

Gwen just laughed, "It's called toga, Percy. It's been a tradition ever since Rome was fist built."

"Maybe I should ask Lupa."Percy suggested.

Gwen laughed again, "Good lock with that Percy, lady Lupa often threatens to eat legionaries who displease her."

Percy chuckled, "I think I'll be fine. After all, I'm just, as our cousin Apollo would say, too awesome to be eaten by a wolf."

Gwen laughed even harder, "I like you Percy, I think we are going to get along just fine."

Percy grinned in response.

"Now come on," Gwen said while gesturing Percy to the doors of the senate in distance, "We've got a bunch of pain in the ass senators to deal with. Fortunately, or should I say unfortunately, Octavian just woke after you seriously wounded his ego. For Jupiter's sake can't I just have one day, just one gods damn day free from Octavian's annoying rants?"

Percy chuckled again, "That shouldn't be much of a problem, right?"

"The senators sometimes can be extremely stubborn, especially those Lares, some of them were there when the Twelfth Legion was first formed. Don't worry though, I already spoke to Reyna, she will back you, so will Jason, if he wakes up in time for the meeting from that show you guys put on." Gwen replied reassuringly, while flashing Percy another warm smile like how his mother Vesta would always do.

"One thing I'm curious about is," Gwen said slowly, while observing Percy's face carefully, "Reyna seemed to be a bit strange when I mentioned your name, have you guys met before coming to New Rome?"

Percy shock his head while being deep in thoughts, "I have the exact same thoughts. Her name seems familiar, but I don't remember her from my past, must have missed something."

Gwen put a hand on Percy's shoulder in comfort, "You shouldn't worry about it too much Percy. I can tell that Reyna respects you, same goes to most of the legionaries after defeating the best warriors in the legion."

Percy raised a questioning eyebrow at her.

"I can tell when I see a good leader and a warrior Percy, and you are both. The centurions, especially the ones from the first three cohorts have been struggling for power ever since the Battle of Othris. Our two praetors, David fell in battle during the assault, and Samantha retired when the war was over. Jason was raised on shields by the legionaries after defeating the Titan Krios single handedly, and Reyna was rightfully elected by the senate. We've loss lots of men during that battle, and right now we need someone like you in the legion to back our new praetors more than ever. Reyna is going to need you no matter what."

Percy nodded calmly.

"You don't seem surprised at all." Gwen asked as they approached the senate.

"My patrons kept me up to date. Besides, I've seen better."

Gwen's eyes widened in shock, "You mean, you've see someone done better than defeating a Titan single handedly and leading an army to destroy the Titans' black thrones at the age of fifteen?"

Percy just shrugged while pointing the senate with a finger, "Yeah, but it's a log story and I'm sure we'll get there when we need to, now let's go."

Line Break

The senators and the legion's senior officers took their seats in the senate, Jason was there while a bandage wrapped around his head.

Before Octavian even started his usual ranting, one of the Lares floated over to Percy scowling, "Centurion Gwen! How dare are you bringing a Graecus into the Senate House of Rome!"

Gwen scowled at the Lar, when she was about to retort, Percy beat her into it.

"What makes you say that?" Percy responded with a calm face.

The Lar glared at him harshly, before spatting at the son of Vesta in Latin, "Vitellius sum custos quintus cohortis una legio ex prima cohorte et Quinti; Tamquam si graece ridere quasi Graece Graecum nomen est, et Perseus!"

Percy scowled at the Lar named Vitellius angrily, before spatting back in Latin, "Stultus es contumeliosus; Quia non sum ego sicut unum spectare aut ridere; Nomen meum, et matrem meam, valde simplex, magna patris paveas. Nunc possum utique unde et dixerimus quinta cohors pessimus arroagnt tam stultus ut te in custodia!"

Vitellius' eyes widened in shock, before hardening again, "Just because you can speak a little Latin doesn't mean you can fool me, Graecus!

Percy narrowed his eyes at Vitellius before reaching forward, grabbing the Lar by the throat, much to the Senate's shock, "Et ego ad te, probas? Ego sum fortissimus Plutonis, cum non placet et patruus, Lar maxime ventus Responsio fratris tui similis. Aut si non possunt, antequam petatis eum replebor romanus sum si vos discere potest aliquid in agro Curabitur saecula supplicium!"

He then stomped his foot on the floor of the senate, opening up a enormous crack straight to the fields of punishment as slammed the back of the now terrified Lar to the ground, right next to the one-way ride to the field of punishment.

"P-Please… Have mercy, I'm sorry… I was mistaken…" The paled ghostly figure of Vitellius stuttered out nervously.

Percy stared at Vitellius harshly, before raising its ghostly body over the crack, "No, I think not."

When the son of Vesta was about to throw the Lar into the crack, a bright glow flashed behind him.

Percy turned to see whatever it was, only to see an twenty-year-old woman with a pair of startling stormy-grey eyes staring at him warningly.

His eyes softened at the sight of his patron, and the crack closed as how it was, as if there was never one in the first place. Percy released his strong grip on Vitellius' throat, and the Lar dropped to the floor soundlessly, while the rest of the senate just stared at them in shock, unable to form words.

Line Break

In the next hour, Minerva explained the four quests Percy went on, as well as defending Olympus with a small army of demigods and natural spirits on his sixteenth birthday. She then told the senate about how Vesta adopted Percy and how she decided to send him to Camp Jupiter, not mentioning a single word about Greek, Neptune or the betrayal, much to Percy's appreciation.

Every time a senator tries to speak would end up with Minerva glaring at him murderously or shouting about stupid Rome and how she will make every single Roman suffer in the slowest, most painful way her oversized brain contains.

After warning the senate to never cross her or her favorite cousin (I know, surprising right?), Minerva teleported back to Olympus, leaving a room full of stunned and scared Romans.

Reyna cleared her throat once her got over her initial shock and went over the minor affairs concerning the city and the legion first with Jason, before reporting to the senate about the damage caused to the coliseum thanks to our dearest Jason Grace and Percy Jackson.

The discussion went on for quite a while about plans to fund for the re-build as well as the new designs of the coliseum.

Reyna then eyed Gwen and Percy meaningfully, who both gave Reyna a small nod before she spoke up, "As you already know, there is an opening for the junior centurion of the fifth cohort that needs to be filled after Jason Grace was promoted to the praetor a few weeks ago. Normally, we would fill such post with legionaries who have already served for years, but under the current circumstances, centurion Gwendolyn of the fifth cohort, praetor Jason and myself have all agreed that the new junior centurion of the fifth cohort will be Perseus Jackson, after the combat skills he displayed in his test earlier as well as lady Vesta's word."

The senate was filled with chaos as the senators shouted out their opinions on the matter. Both Jason and Reyna tried to quiet them down, but no success. Percy rolled his eyes when he realized what Gwen has meant by the senators being a pain in the ass.

He slammed his foot onto the ground, shaking earth slightly as he called for order, earning appreciating glances from both praetors.

"Now," Reyna started, "As the praetor of the legion, I have the right to fill ranks of the legion with officers I deem suitable. With the recommendation of centurion Gwendolyn as well as the agreement of my colleague Jason, I have made a decision of the matter and it is final. Perseus, please come forward."

Grinning, Percy got off his seat and walked up next to Reyna and Jason. The daughter of Bellona turned to Octavian with an expectant look. The auger opened his mouth to argue, but a murderous glare from Jason shut him up for good.

Grudgingly, Octavian made his way to Percy.

"Hold out your arm." Octavian said bitterly while Percy just smirked at the auger.

Octavian raised his hands high, "We accept Perseus Jackson, Son of Vesta, Champion of Apollo, Diana, Mercury, Minerva and Pluto, Ambassador of Mercury to the Twelfth Legion Fulminata for his first year of service. Do you pledge your life to the Senate and People of Rome?"

"I do." Percy said firmly.

"Senatus Populusque Romanus!" The senate shouted loudly in unison.

Fire burnt on Percy's skin as his tattoo was being branded. Octavian stared at Percy's face, in search for any sign of pain, only to see the son of Vesta smirking smugly at him, much to the legacy of Apollo's terror.

The flame died as the new marks became clearly visible on Percy's arm: SPQR, The Senate and People of Rome, with an image of his mother Vesta's hearth. In a line next to it were a series of much smaller images, Apollo's sun, Diana's moon, Mercury's Caduceus, Minerva's owl and Pluto's Helmet of Darkness, with six stripes, representing five years of service for Olympus and first year of service for the Twelfth Legion.

Reyna gave Percy a Roman military solute, soon followed by the entire senate, "Perseus Jackson Ave! Filius Vesta, non quis fuerim, Apollinis, Dianae, Mercurius, Minerva, et Pluto, legatus Mercurii, centurio cohortis quinta legio Fulminata!"