Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians. All characters belong to Rick Riordan.

This chapter is slightly shorter than usual. It was getting too long so I had to cut it in half. Please read, enjoy and of course review.

VII
Call me Guy

By the time Jason awoke, the sun was already up. It seared his retinas as he opened his eyes and appraised his surroundings. They were parked in a sidewalk, and there were few people around. Somehow their chariot/car had traveled as far as Bishop over the night. A thin layer of snow covered the street they were on. It looked like a regular city, and Jason briefly wondered why it was part of the Roman Roads. He stretched his muscles where he sat, his neck creaking painfully. He recalled the terrible dream he had in the night. He didn't know why the horse and eagle were fighting in that stormy weather, but he knew who the evil voice under the earth belonged to. It was Saturn, the Titan Lord that swallowed his children the gods. The Titan Lord that had gotten chopped up and cast into the darkest pit in the underworld. Somehow he had gained power and wanted Jason to betray the gods. Leaving the legion before your ten years of service was a serious offense, one that usually ended in death if caught. But Jason had a feeling he would survive if he ever switched sides. Saturn would protect him.

For a split second, he considered the Titan Lord's offer.

He was right, the gods never had time for their demigod children. They were less involved in the mortal world, not to mention they were harsher and stricter. It was often said that meeting a Roman god was the worst luck you could have. They were easily offended and tended to kill quite willingly. Why should he serve them if this was how they behaved? His own father had abandoned him at camp, and as a result he didn't know anything about his mortal family. Sure the gods were family, but Saturn was his family too, right?

Jason mentally kicked himself for thinking such thoughts. He was a hero, and Saturn was evil. He should not be considering offers from the villain. The gods were cruel in their own right, but they represented western civilization. The older beings such as the Titans hated mortals, and would to kill and even eat them if they had the chance. They were worse than the gods. Jason remembered his conversation with Hadrian. The praetor had mentioned that older forces would try to get their hands on the master bolt, now that it was away from Jupiter. Saturn wanted to use the bolt to rise from Tartarus. Jason had to prevent that.

He turned in his seat to wake up his friends. They were both asleep in the backseat, Dakota's head drooping over Gwen's shoulder.

"Wake up, guys," he said, prodding them with his finger.

"Uhhh, where are we?" Dakota asked sleepily.

"We made it to Bishop. Come on, we need to find the guy with the information."

He stepped out of the car, the chilly air greeting him on the sidewalk. Gwen followed Dakota out of the car, combing her disheveled hair with her fingers. She had a gladius strapped to her hip while Dakota was adjusting a wooden shafted spear with a leather grip and an Imperial gold tip behind his back. Gwen inspected something on her shoulder.

"Ugh, Dakoka! You drooled all over my shoulder." She appraised Jason's face. "You okay, Jason?"

He must have looked off.

"Yeah, it's just that I had this dream." He told them about the horse and eagle as well as the conversation with the Titan while the walked down the street away from their chariot/car.

"It's obviously Jupiter and Neptune," Gwen said. "Those are their sacred animals. Does that mean they are fighting right now."

"No, the voice said they'll start fighting soon. I think that's one of the reason he wants the bolt. If Jupiter and Neptune fight, there will be civil war on Olympus."

"So, not only are we retrieving a weapon on mass destruction, but we are trying to prevent a war as well?" Dakota said. "Can I just say, way too much pressure."

"Let's just focus on on finding the bolt," Jason. "For all we know, the gods haven't even considered going to war."

"Right. So who are we even looking for out here?" Gwen glanced furtively around.

"His name is Gaius. Gaius Fidelius something, I forgot his last name. He knows a great deal about the mythical world."

A trash can fell loudly in an alley they were passing. Jason jumped in surprise, his hand gripping Ivlivs in his pocket. The alley was in shadow so he couldn't fully make out the different shapes in the semi-darkness. But he could see a figure moving towards them. Judging by their wary looks, his friends had seen him too. As the figure drew closer, Jason found himself feeling less threatened. The guy was short, almost his height, which was strange considering he was a grown man. He wore a worn leather jacket over a striped shirt, and his hair was slicked back. He looked like a low-level mobster as he swaggered toward them leisurely. He seemed to noticed their weapons.

"What do we have here?" he said. "You kids lost?"

"Actually, we're on a quest," Jason said. "We're looking for Gaius Fidelius-"

"You guys cops?" He looked up and down the street. The few mortals that were about were not paying them any attention.

"Obviously not, dude," Dakota said.

Gaius eyed Gwen's gladius warily.

"Did Bellona send you?"

"No. Look, we need information. We'll pay you." Jason showed him a pouch filled with golden denarii.

The short man's eyes widened with glee.

"Roman legionnaires, my favorite kind of demigods!"

"Is there any other kind?" Gwen asked.

He ignored her. "Call me Guy! So what do you need, kids?"

"We're trying to find someone. Is there a magical way we could do it?"

"Who you tryna find?"

"Not important. Can you help us or not?" Jason jiggled the money pouch in front of Guy's face.

The short man followed every jiggle with his eyes like a dog with a bone.

"Of course, but I prefer payment upfront."

Jason pulled out a couple of denarii and handed them over.

"Don't try anything funny."

"Don't worry, kid. Uncle Guy's got your back. Say, is that your sweet ride over there?"

He pointed at their chariot/car. From the outside it looked like a beat up yellow sedan.

"Yeah."

"Say what, I'm feeling pretty generous today. I'll walk you to your car." He started walking, and Jason jogged to catch up to him, making sure that he didn't escape with their money. "I don't usually tell people about this, but you seem like nice kids. There's a cave in Colorado. Contains something I hid during the Civil War. A mirror, shows you whoever you want to see. And their location. Does that help?"

"Yeah, thanks," Gwen said happily.

Jason still had a nagging suspicion, but he pushed it aside. They reached the car, and Guy patted the hood heavily. The car shifted and morphed back into the unicorn drawn chariot. Guy inspected the chariot and brushed the unicorn's mane.

"Sweet chariot. Standard legion issue, Imperial gold axle. Fine breed of unicorn, useful for transport and medicine. The horn looks pretty expensive too."

"I guess," Dakota said. "We're gonna go now. Thanks for your help."

"Oh, you kids aren't going anywhere." The short man smiled cruelly. "I like you guys, but I like your chariot more. I think I'm gonna take it. And all your money too."

Two goons appeared behind them. They had were big and brawny with stupid looks on their faces. One wore a sleeveless denim jacket that showed skull tatoos on his beefy arms. The other wore a leather jacket like Guy's, and had a red bandanna on his head. They cracked their knuckles menacingly as they approached Jason and his friends.

Jason pulled Ivlivs from his pocket. "Why you double-crossing little-"

"Save it, kid. I've heard them all. Bone Crusher, Knucklehead, take care of them."

Denim jacket cracked his neck joints and began to change. He grew taller and buffer until he was an eight foot tall giant with wild eyes, hairy arms and pointed teeth. Next to him, Bandanna morphed as well, and a large tree club appeared in his hand. They became monsters Jason liked the least, Laistrygonian giants.

"Let's have us some half-blood meat, Knucklehead," Denim jacket, or Bone Crusher, said.

Jason flipped Ivlivs, and a javelin fell back onto his hand. Knucklehead swung his club at him, and Jason leaped backward to avoid the strike. Next to him, Dakota and Gwen drew their weapons. They charged Bone Crusher while Jason brought his attention back to Knucklehead. The monster swung his club and Jason ducked. It swung again, but he sidestepped. It swung a couple more times and Jason managed to avoid all the strikes. The giant roared in frustration, and brought the club down on his head in a vertical arc. Jason dropped his javelin and leaped sideways, rolling twice on the ground and getting hastily to his feet. He was unarmed with Ivlivs lying a few yards from him. Knucklehead grinned evilly, his sharp teeth showing.

"What are you gonna do without your weapon, puny hero?"

"Improvise."

He summoned a gust of wind and aimed it at the giant with an open palm. It only blew Knucklehead back half a step, but it gave him enough time to pick up his fallen weapon. He dashed forward and stabbed. He caught the monster on the shoulder and green blood dripped out. Knucklehead howled in pain and rage. He swung his tree branch faster and more recklessly. Jason couldn't use his javelin to block, it would be pointless. He jabbed again, but Knucklehead blocked with his club. The javelin sunk into the dark wood and held. Jason frantically tried to pull it out, to no avail. Seeing his dilemma, Knucklehead lifted the branch, and Jason hung on as he was lifted off the ground. The monster ball waved his weapon above his head, trying to throw Jason off. He felt his grip slipping. With a triumphant shout, the giant dislodged Jason and sent him flying down the street. For a few moments he was in the air, then he fell on the hood of a parked car. He rolled off and collapsed on the tarmac. Shakily, he stood to face his opponent once more.

"You're still alive?" Knucklehead bellowed.

"It'll take more than a lousy throw to beat me."

He ran toward giant, unarmed and slightly injured. His javelin was still stuck on Knucklehead's tree branch. The giant held the branch above his head, waiting for Jason to approach. When he was a few from the monster, he jumped and slid baseball style between Knucklehead's legs. The giant swung his club downward and barely missed Jason's head. Jason twisted around in mid-slide until he was on his hands and one knee behind Knucklehead. The giant lifted his club up, trying to whack at him again, but before he could turn around Jason leaped and piggybacked the monster. Before Knucklehead could react, he clambered onto his shoulder and grabbed his javelin which was now within reach. He placed his foot at the back of the giant's head and leaned backwards, pulling at his weapon with all his might. It came loose and Jason fell backwards, but in mid-air he performed an acrobatic back flip and landed on his feet. The monster twisted around and swung the club with one hand. Jason ducked and, as quick as lightning, sunk Ivlivs into Knucklehead's flank between the ribs. With a final howl, the giant crumpled into yellow dust.

A few yards from him, Dakota and Gwen stood over another pile of dust. They had defeated their monster. Guy, the short man who had deceived them, had his mouth open in shock. He started backing away, but Jason rushed forward and held him by his collar with one hand and pointed Ivlivs at him with the other.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. Don't kill me."

"Give me a good reason I shouldn't?" Jason said through gritted teeth.

"I've got info, I've got info!"

Guy started to change. Fur grew on his face and arms, his nose and mouth stretching into some kind of snout. His ears grew long and pointed, his two front teeth protruding from his upper lip. A long thin tail grew behind him. The man now resembled a giant humanoid rat, like Master Splinter but more cowardly.

Jason tried to recall his myth.

"I remember now. You sold out your legion to barbarian invaders, so Bellona punished you by turning you into the rat you really are."

"That was ages ago, I've changed since then."

"You tried to rob us!" Dakota shouted. "And get us killed!"

Even Gwen looked upset.

"There is no mirror in Colorado, is there?"

Guy shook his rat head quickly. Jason pressed the tip of his javelin on his throat.

"Talk!"

"Okay, geez! If you want to find somebody, you should see Sybill Masterson. The one who sees all. She lives somewhere in Nevada. She tell you exactly what you need. That's all I know!"

"How do we know you're not lying?"

"It's the truth. I swear on the river Styx."

There was a distant rumble of thunder. Jason released the rat man. He clutched his throat while backing away from the half-bloods.

"Go on, get out of here," Jason said.

"You're letting him go?" Dakota had been puzzled look on his face.

"I don't like it either, but he helps legionnaires on quests. He doesn't normally behave like this."

They watched the rat man scamper back to his dark alley.

"Alright guys, we have a lead," Gwen said. "Let's find this Sybill lady."

A/N: I almost used the Laistrygonians that attacked Percy in Sea of Monsters, just to show how much the Greek and Roman worlds intertwined before HoO, but I decided against it. Did I make the right call? Stay tuned!