A/N: LONG IMPORTANT A/N AT THE END
Chapter 18: Las Vegas
The Generals were standing within the parking lot of the camp checking one another's gear. "I'm surprised the armor and Poncho aren't giving us a heat stroke." Commented Luke as he checked Malcolm's backpack.
In the last month of training the generals, Percy had begun teaching them more than combat, politics and strategies. One of those things was checking your battle buddies gear to make sure they had everything they would need.
"From what Beckendorf said, he and his siblings enchanted the armor to stay at a comfortable temperature. Along with a bunch of other mundane things, honestly, I think he considers these things his first born." Malcolm said, checking Luke's bag.
"If so then I feel bad for Silena." Clarisse added, checking over Thalia's weapon, already finished up with the pack.
Soon a nice comfortable silence came over the team as they finished their checklist. As they all finished, Thalia decided to speak, "Everyone ready?" three heads nodded in reply. "Good, let's get to the airport, our flight leaves in two hours."
"Wasn't Percy supposed to see us off?" Asked Luke, as he shouldered his pack and let the long sleeve large poncho transform into a stylish coat that covered the armor.
"No, because I'm joining you." Percy quipped from behind Luke, getting little reaction from him.
"I don't know if I should be happy or uneasy that I knew you were behind me the whole time." Luke murmured.
"What, why? What happened to that whole spiel of, 'We need to do this on our own?'" Clarisse asked letting her Poncho transform into a Varsity jacket and her armor turn into gray bdu pants and boots.
"Change of plans, I'll bring you up to speed on the way to the airport." Percy replied, shouldering his own pack and letting his armor and Poncho transform into a coat similar to Luke's but his being a navy blue.
The generals nodded and made their way to the van where Argus was already waiting. "So how exactly are we going to get past security with our armor?" Asked Thalia.
"The Mist should be able to keep any security machines from detecting the armor." Answered Malcolm who was already making himself comfortable and pulling his transformed Poncho's hood over his eyes.
"Malcolm's correct, our Armor is heavily enchanted from the piece of the fleece and other enchantments. I'll be surprised if the armor alone didn't fry the metal detectors. Plus if worse comes to worse, we'll just use the mist to turn a blind eye." Percy added as he took the passenger seat. He did want to sit next to Thalia, but had to stay professional on a mission.
As the transport van left the parking lot and onto the main road, Clarisse spoke up. "Alright, so what's the mission change that's causing you to come with us?"
"Ajax is in the presence of two titans, Iapetus and Theia. They have come across the location of Prometheus who is coincidently in Las Vegas. Lord Zeus has given the orders that I join you four To Vegas where I will meet with Ajax and try to get Prometheus to safety while you four scout the Lotus Casino." Percy informed the four.
"Wait what? No, the five of us should go together. What If the titans figure what's going on and you two end up fighting them?" Clarisse argued.
"I don't expect that to happen, once in Vegas I will send Ikaros to look for Ajax's eagle and relay information. From there he'll slip away from them and we'll begin our search for the Titan."
"Wouldn't the titans realize something is wrong the moment Ajax disappears from their sight?" Asked Luke.
"No, From what Ajax has said, Kronos and Atlas are treating him as an equal to the other titans. Him leaving their sight won't raise any suspicion."
"What if the worst case scenario happens and you two end up fighting them?" Asked Thalia.
"Then at that point you four will be informed by Ikaros and come back up. Luckily the Titans are still severely weak and are barely gaining their power back. If you stick to your training and don't do anything stupid. Then the six of us will have no issues." Percy said, making sure to leave no doubt in their heads that they could possibly lose the fight.
~~~SCENE~~~
The drive to Las Vegas was uneventful so far to say the least. The most that had happened was Ajax refusing to leave his back towards Iapetus and Theia whenever they made a stop. After the third stop at a gas station Theia waited for Iapetus to take a bathroom break before pulling Ajax aside, "What in the fuck is wrong with you? Unless you want Iapetus to figure out what's going on then stop acting so jittery."
"I'm just making sure you aren't going to fuck me over and let Iapetus stab me in the back." Ajax bit back heatedly.
Theia scoffed, "You think it matters if we backstabbed you or not? If I told Iapetus about our conversation last night then you would be a smear on the earth. Surprise attack or not, think with this head for once and not the one between your legs Ajax."
Ajax glared at Theia before having to accept that she was correct and he needed to calm down, 'by the gods being here is turning me soft… six months ago I would have been fine. Why the fuck am I so anxious now?' Ajax thought to himself. Recently he had been letting nerves get to the best of him. Turning him from an experienced elite soldier and causing him to revert to an anxious mess at random points. It wasn't a regular occurrence but it happened more than once and for Ajax that was a problem he needed to squash in some way.
"You're right, I need to calm down." Ajax finally replied back to Theia. Causing the Titaness to smirk and pat Ajax's cheek.
"Good, now act fast because Iapetus is coming back."
Iapetus made his way over to the demigod and Titaness before giving them the rundown, "I just checked the map, we have about two hours left before we hit Las Vegas. We should be able to make it there without any more stops." The two nodded their heads in agreement before piling into their stolen vehicle and continuing their drive to Las Vegas with Theia driving.
~~~SCENE~~~
"Thank you for flying Ladies and gentlemen, American Airlines welcomes you to Las Vegas. The local time is 2 PM. For your safety and the safety of those around you, please remain seated with your seat belt fastened and keep the aisles clear until we are parked at the gate." The flight attendant said over the intercom towards the front of the plane.
"That was a nice nap," Malcolm commented, stretching from his seat.
"I don't know how you can sleep so much. This wasn't a problem before we began our training," Replied Clarisse, who was in the process of putting away her headphones.
"I realized during our training that sleep is one of the best things in the world and I take it whenever possible. Thank Morpheus for that." Replied Malcolm, cracking his neck and sighing.
As the five Spartans made their way off the plane and out the airport they hailed the first taxi that could fit them all. Before quickly placing the mist over the driver and having him drive to the heart of Las Vegas, the strip. "Everyone knows their mission, correct?" Percy asked, causing, "Yes, Sir" in reply.
"Good, once we get to our destination, I'll split from you four and look for Ajax. At 2200 we will meet back at the hotel called 'Caesars Palace' and spend the night there before continuing our search." Percy continued causing another round of, "Yes, Sir" to come.
Percy nodded in approval and waited until the taxi driver stopped the van in front of a casino close to the Lotus, and let everyone get out. "May the gods watch over us, and may Tyche bless us." Percy said once more before he split from the main group and called Ikaros to him.
Percy thanked his goddess as no one noticed Ikaros flash onto his shoulder. As no doubt his eagle was hidden behind the mist. "Can you sense Ajax's companion around?"
Ikaros let out a chirp and flap of his wings letting Percy grin, "Good, tell him to meet me in front of the MGM casino. From there we'll begin our search." Ikaros let out another chirp and took off Percy's shoulder flying high in the air before quickly flashing out of existence.
Percy made his way to the Casino he chose and took position with his back against a wall and his eyes scanning for anything suspicious. "The last thing I need is a beast to attack me. And with how dense this city is I wouldn't doubt it."
After twenty minutes Percy looked to his right and grinned as he saw for the first time in months his brother. But, just as quickly, the grin fell and in its place a look of confusion as he was side by side with a beautiful female he'd never seen before. Percy waited for the two to make their way to him before he questioned his brother. "What was the first mission I went on with you and the others?"
Ajax, quickly understanding what was going on, answered, "To stop a cult branch of Aphrodite… who did we kiss before making our way here."
Percy looked at Ajax confusedly before he smiled and barked in laughter pulling Ajax into a hug, "I missed you brother."
Ajax accepted the hug and slapped Percy on the back, "and do I miss your all too serious ass."
The two pulled away from one another, but before either could speak the female companion of Ajax let out a cough before talking, "If I was to understand correctly, you have no living siblings Ajax, so why do you call him brother?"
"Theia thi-" Ajax wasn't able to reply as he was cut off by Percy who was already stabbing out with his trident at the Titaness and forcing Ajax down to his knee with the water accumulated around him.
Theia quickly dodged the stab at her neck and summoned her sword blocking the next swing at her. "Ajax!" Theia spat glancing over at the Spartan who was slowly standing from the struggle of being held down by Percy's ability.
"Percy, she's on our side!" Ajax barked out.
"How do I know this? For all I know she has mentally turned you!" Percy replied heatedly, fainting a slash at the Titaness before stabbing out causing the Titaness to block again, nearly having her stomach run through.
"My oath to our mother and the Styx prevents me from doing anything to harm Olympus or its champions! With or without my mind!" Ajax bit back.
Percy glanced at Ajax and then Theia before pulling back his trident and keeping it up. "And how can I trust her?"
"You can trust me, because If I wasn't truly on your side I would have already cut down Ajax and Iapetus would be with me!" Theia shot back heatedly, already sheathing her sword.
Before any of the three could continue their conversation a voice broke out, "Wow this is so much better than the pirate show!"
Percy turned his head and noticed a young boy and a group of others watching in awe, "Shit." Percy groaned before waving his hand, "You all will forget this and go on with your day."
Quickly the group of peoples eyes turned a milky white before turning back to normal. Causing them to all disperse and go on with whatever they were originally planning to do.
"Now explain to me why you decided to betray your own." Percy asked Theia harshly.
~~~SCENE~~~
"That's the fifth person we've seen walk into the building and no one has walked out." Observed Malcolm from across the street of the Lotus casino.
"Isn't it odd… we've been watching this place for an hour and only five people have walked in while possibly hundreds of others have walked past it." said Luke.
"It's possible the tree can pick and choose its victims." Clarisse replied while looking in the windows of the building not seeing anyone or anything move behind them.
"Do you guys feel the temptation to go in there?" Thalia asked with a shake of her head.
"So I'm not the only one that's felt like that." replied Malcolm, narrowing his eyes at the casino.
"By the gods, if Percy's information is true that means there could be hundreds if not thousands of demi gods in there. If we didn't know about the tree we would have no doubt walked in there and been trapped." Luke said worriedly.
"That means our mission is beyond crucial." replied Clarisse who quickly stood up from where she was sitting. "Someone's walking out."
"Looks like a staff… Now's our chance… Clarisse you get him and the rest of us will place the mist over us to keep praying eyes away." Malcolm quickly ordered as the four bolted across the street ignoring the cars nearly hitting them and slamming their horns. The generals knew the sounds going on around the entrance of the casino would be too loud for people to hear thankfully.
Clarisse quickly closed the gap and slammed into the staff member, placing him in a choke hold and putting him under before quickly binding his arms and legs. All while the other three raised a hand focusing on covering up what was going on at the moment.
"Alright he's tied up, let's get him back to the hotel room." Clarisse quickly grabbed the staff member placing his unconscious body over her shoulder like he weighed nothing. The other three nodded their heads as they encircled her making sure no one could see.
As the four made it into the entrance of Caesars palace they could only scoff at seeing the interior and theme of it even though they had seen it an hour prior. "I still don't understand why Rome is here, you would think with the gods having such an influence in the country they would have made this something Greek like," Thalia said with a grimace.
"I heard a rumor that there's actually Romans on the west coast. I wouldn't doubt it if this was their doing," answered Luke.
"Really?" Clarisse questioned, looking over her other shoulder that didn't have a large man twice her side on it.
Luke snorted and shook his head, "Nah, I'm just fucking around. This was probably made by some idiot mortal." At that the others snorted and chuckled, agreeing with what Luke said.
~~~SCENE~~~
Percy walked in silence as he listened to Theia retell her story of how she got forced into this new war while Ajax did his usual quips. Finally, Theia got to the present of her story, "And once I heard Ajax talking on that little Iris message I realized this was my shot to get the fuck out of this war."
Percy only nodded and continued his walk, finally making it to the entrance of Cesar Palace, "The others should be in the room by now."
Theia let out a snort, "Ironic to get a room here."
"What was that?" Ajax asked Theia who only shook her head.
"Nothing, just the irony to get a room in the one casino that is themed after the downfall of Greece." Theia chuckled.
"Well jokes on them because guess what? Rome is all but gone and the Greeks are alive along with the Olympians." shot back Ajax with a shit eating grin.
Theia snorted once again, "Right, they sure are."
Ajax only nodded his head in approval. But Percy, but noticed the tone in Theia's voice and how she responded seemed odd. He decided to store that away and ask about it later. To either Enyo or another god or goddess. Soon the three fell into a comfortable silence as they made their way to the elevators.
"Fucking elevators," Ajax grumbled, causing Percy to nod and grunt in agreement. As he entered along with the other two.
Silence soon came again as they made it to their floor and finally to the hotel room. Percy got to the door and knocked in an unusual pattern before the door quickly opened to an on guard Thalia and Luke holding up their weapons. Seeing who was at the door they quickly banished their weapons into their ring form and moved aside to let the others in.
Before Percy could say anything he was met with the sight of a large man with a bloody lip and nose tied to a chair in the middle of the room. While Clarisse was speaking to him. "I can do this until the end of fucking time." She spat at the man who replied back with a spit of his own at her shoe.
"You're lucky these aren't real," Clarisse shot back with another punch connecting with the man's stomach. Causing him to grunt in pain losing any air he had in his lungs.
"Clarisse?" Ajax asked, causing the girl in question to snap her head from her victim and to Ajax, who at the moment had a smile on his face not even caring about what she was in the process of.
In a flash, Clarisse had her legs wrapped around Ajax's body and her hands pressed against his face as she kissed him passionately. After several long seconds the two separated their lips, with Clarisse still latched onto the Spartan. "Is it just me or do you look different?"
Clarisse let out a snort, "Enyo's blessing," is all she replied, causing the Spartan to nod in reply.
"You know I would have thought you losing all your muscle would have saddened me… but, gods was I wrong. Bless my mom for her blessing." Ajax chuckled, causing the others in the room to cringe at his comment.
"Oh If I wasn't so happy to see you right now," Clarisse said, giving him another kiss before unlatching herself and punching him in the jaw causing him to stumble before catching herself.
"Gods I missed you." Ajax said with a smile.
"Fucking lunatics," Luke muttered under his breath causing the others in the room to hum in agreement.
"Shut the fuck up Luke." Clarisse quickly shot back with no real bite in her tone.
"Who's this Percy?" Malcolm asked while nodding his head towards Theia.
He took a deep breath and sighed already guessing this was going to become a headache to explain. "She's Th-"
Before Percy could even begin to explain, the man who was being interrogated cut him off. "My My Theia, what a surprise to come here and visit. I heard the Titans and gods were looking for me but this is honestly surprising to see you here." He said, still looking down towards the ground, yet a grin able to be seen.
Everyone slowly turned and looked at the man as he talked. When no one said anything the man looked up and his grin grew into a bloody smile. "From the way you are all reacting I can only guess you all know who I am… don't be worried though this is merely a vessel. If you want me, you already know where I am." The man finished before going silent and turning into golden dust.
The room stayed silent before Percy sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Change of plans yet again… We'll be heading into the Lotus Casino."
At that everyone turned to Percy and nodded, grimaces on their faces. "Any hope you brought me armor and a weapon?" Ajax asked.
Percy nodded his head and walked to the bed grabbing a duffle bag and opening it showing the armor similar to his and the generals along with a ring placed on top. "Get this on, we'll explain how it works."
Ajax nodded and began to strip. Beforehand others would have reacted but they all knew this was a mission and they had just begun to understand the weight of everything. "This is what we're going to do." Percy said, calling the attention to everyone in the room.
A/N: Hey everyone… I apologize for this short chapter but I needed to post something so I can explain how my life is going right now and the reason why I haven't posted in a while.
As you should know I was released from the Police Academy due to the injury I got. Because of that I was pushed down into something else for the Police department. Unfortunately I went from making more than enough money to pay the bills and such to where I'm constantly falling behind. I left the job and I'm now working at my old job that pays around the same but lets my fiancé work a full week again to help.
Look, the reason I'm saying all of this is because I haven't had the time to write and I've been constantly stressed out and overworking myself to make ends meet. Because of that I haven't been in the writing mind set to type as you can see from this chapter it just felt… so lackluster.
So I decided to start a , hopefully with that I can get some type of money to just let myself rest and be able to focus on writing again. Because believe me, I love writing and I pray every day I can turn this into a full job. But with the way my life is going I don't even know If I'll be able to pay the bills next month.
With the if things do work out, I'll get out multiple chapters and post them early on while I do the weekly chapters here. Along with me holding Polls for the next story and along with other things that come to mind. Now if you don't want to subscribe to my that's fine I'll still post a chapter here whenever I can but at this point those chapters will be few and far from one another sadly. I'm sorry.
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