Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or the Heroes of Olympus Series.
Story: Divided Soul
AN: I'm going to use this preceding author's note to answer a few questions about this story. I have read the first chapter of Rick's Son of Neptune as well as the second chapter that was read aloud. This story is not my attempt to predict what Rick will do in the second book. This story is my take on the second book with an emphasis on the Curse of Achilles and the impact on Percy if his memories were taken and replaced with a new identity. So I guess you would call this an alternative universe story. Scipio will not use Riptide because Mars and Juno are concerned that it might trigger some of his blocked memories. Also, I will try something a little different with this story, I'm going to write completely in third person point of view. Lastly, I got a few questions regarding the first name Scipio and how to pronounce it- Scipio (SIH-pee-oh). For a little history lesson, Scipio Africanus was the name of the Roman general that beat the great Carthaginian general, Hannibal during the Carthaginian War Now, here's chapter two.
Chapter 2: Juno's Plan
Mount Olympus – Five hours before Scipio's arrival at Castra Semideus
It was early in the morning as Mars, the god of war stepped into the throne room of the Olympians. He wore his golden armor and a blood red tunic underneath. He stepped up to his throne and sat down to await the inevitable. His father Jupiter would most likely interrogate and punish him for his absence from Olympus. The lockdown of the immortal city had been Zeus's attempt to protect them from the coming war and to keep the other Olympians from further contact with their children. However, Juno's plan had complicated Zeus's order. The queen of the gods had disobeyed her husband and the pact to keep the Greeks and Romans separate.
Juno's plan had worked so far. Jason had been accepted into the Greek camp and was now working with his fellow campers to unify the two camps in anticipation of the final battle in the ancient homeland of the gods, Greece. Mars for his part had been given the job by Hera to create the greatest warrior to ever live. The two gods had taken the hero of Olympus, Perseus Jackson, and had molded him through magic, godly power and training to become Scipio Marcellus, the staff of the sea. He would become the first Consul of Rome in more than a thousand years.
"I see that you've made it here easily enough," Juno said as she walked into the room. She wore a white stola that stretched to her ankles. On top of the dress was golden armor that gave the goddess the feel of a female warrior. She approached her throne and sat down confidently.
"Yes, Scipio awaits my orders to enter camp," Mars said.
"Good, my plan is working well so far. Neptune will be here soon," Juno said.
"Why are we speaking to Neptune, when Perseus's father is Poseidon?"
"For our plan to work we need Neptune, not Poseidon. Besides, it will be easier to get Neptune to agree. He was always more willing to listen to my plans and go along with them than his other persona."
The main doors to the throne room opened to reveal the Roman god of the sea, Neptune. He walked in wearing a green tunic under heavy gold armor. His armor would have weighed down a normal god, but Neptune wasn't ordinary. He was one of the Big Three and the supreme ruler of the seas. He stepped forward and strode to his throne with all the pride and confidence of a great king.
"Juno, why have you asked for this meeting?" Neptune asked curiously.
"This is about Castra Semideus," Juno said.
"What about it?" Neptune asked.
"I assume you know about the disappearance of the son of Jupiter?" she asked.
"Yes," the sea god said, impatiently. "We all know that he is at Camp Half Blood."
"He and his friends freed me from the giants and their allies," Juno said. Neptune nodded.
"It is a dangerous game you play Juno," he warned. Mars began to laugh. "What's so funny, nephew?"
"Well, your son is the Greek hero that has been sent to Castra Semideus," Mars said. Juno gave her son an intense glare.
"Perseus. You sent my son to the Romans?" Neptune asked. His face began to turn red with anger.
"Of course, you knew he was missing and where else could he be! Anyway, why such concern? You are Roman, leave the concern up to your Greek aspect," Juno asked.
"He is my one and only demigod child, that's why," Neptune said. Juno eyed her older brother curiously before a light shone in her eyes.
"You did it!" Juno exclaimed softly. "It would certainly explain his power." Neptune glared at her. Mars stared at her like she was crazy.
"Explains what?" Mars asked.
"Percy Jackson is not just a son of Poseidon, he's a son of Neptune as well," Juno said. Mars's eyes widened as he looked at his mother, and then at his uncle.
"How is that possible?" Mars asked. Juno looked at her son, and then something flashed across her eyes, like she remembered that her son wasn't the brightest of gods.
"Neptune was never in favor of the split between Roman and Greek, were you brother?" Juno asked.
"Of course not, especially since we came to the United States. Don't you see? This country is the great melting pot, as the mortals call it. It is unlike any country we've been in before. It is the heart of Western civilization, and has borrowed greatly from Rome and Greece, both in architecture, political systems, and in many other subtle ways. However, this country has added to the legacy of the West more than any since Greece and Rome. I always believed that this country would be the one where we would finally merge our two personas into one."
Juno looked at her brother curiously.
"You've actually found a way, haven't you?" Juno asked.
"Yes, so has Minerva, Venus and Mercury," Neptune said. Juno's eyes widened at that realization.
"How?" she asked again. Mars looked on curiously.
"The four of us travel the country a lot, especially Mercury. We talk to mortals and try to help where we can. I work to help environmentalists to help save the oceans. Venus is always involved in online dating services and chat rooms, and Athena goes to universities and research labs. We all interact with the mortals," Neptune said.
"It's against the ancient laws to do so," Juno declared.
"So is trying to reunite the camps or killing off Jupiter's kids and his mistresses," Neptune countered.
"Hold on, how does that help merge your Roman and Greek personas?" Mars asked trying to stave off a fight between his mom and uncle, while still trying to get the question answered.
"The four of us always believed that America was our opportunity to bring our Roman and Greek sides back together. We're stronger as one, instead of two halves. We spent time in the mortal world and learned from them. We learned that people of different cultures could work together for the greater good. I know the Civil War happened, but the country was split at that time too and not just the demigods. The country is now united and we were able to merge our two personas, especially when we're in the mortal world."
"So Perseus was born as a son of both Greece and Rome?" Mars asked.
"Yes, that is why he survived the River Styx. No other child of the big three had ever survived before, actually before Luke Castellan, no one except for Achilles had survived. He survived because Thetis dipped him in the Styx and therefore he had a way out," Neptune said. Juno's eyes widened.
"Luke was a child of Greece and Rome, too?" Juno asked. Neptune nodded.
"Are there any other demigod children of both personas that we should be aware of?" Mars asked.
"Yes, Piper McLean, daughter of Aphrodite and Venus, as well as Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena and Minerva," Neptune said. Mars and Juno both wore shocked expressions.
"That's why Piper and the Chase girl are so powerful?" Juno asked. By her tone it was clear that she didn't like Annabeth Chase.
"Yes, Piper is the most powerful of all charmspeakers and Annabeth is smarter and more powerful than any of her siblings, since Daedalus himself," The sea god said. "Now let's get back to my son, whom you kidnapped and sent to the Roman camp. I also take it that it was you that took Jason to the Greek camp?" Neptune accused, as he looked at his sister.
"Yes," Juno said, indignantly. "The camps must be united. The fight against the giants and Gaea requires that both camps work together."
"I can understand that, but the demigods will not survive if Olympus stays closed. We have to work with them to defeat the giants," Neptune said.
"You know I hold no love for demigods, but you are right. We need to work with them to defeat the enemy," Juno said.
"My son was not harmed in this trade of leaders?" Neptune asked. Mars looked at his mother in concern.
"We had to bury his memories, it was for his own good," Juno said. Neptune's eyes narrowed.
"What have you done to him?" he asked ominously. Mars's face paled at his uncle's tone.
"Uncle, it had to be done. Besides, Scipio is a much better warrior than that punk," Mars said. Neptune turned toward his nephew with a glare that made Mars shrink in fear.
"It had to be done. If he remembered his Greek past, then the Romans would most likely consider him a spy. You know what the Romans do to spies?" Juno asked. Neptune's anger seemed to drain away with that question.
"Yes, I know, but he won't be the same now. He won't be the same boy," he said.
"Uncle, we gave him new memories," Mars said. "He'll remember the war, but differently. He believes he was raised in military schools since he was seven. He has no memory of events before that age."
"Why did you create this new identity for him?" Neptune asked. He wasn't angry as much as sad.
"The Romans must believe that he is a great leader. Jason was the Praetor of the first legion, Perseus needs to be more than that," Juno said.
"What do you mean by more?" Neptune asked curiously.
"He must become Consul of Rome," Juno said. Neptune's eyes widened in surprise.
"There hasn't been a Consul of Rome in over a millennium," Neptune said.
"That is why we need your help and why Mercury, Minerva and Venus would make great additions to my plan," Juno said, as she closed her eyes. Suddenly, three bright lights appeared in the room. The lights dissolved into three godly figures. The first was a light blonde haired man who wore gold armor and a gold helmet with wings on the side. He wore winged shoes as well. The other two gods both wore white chitons with gold bracelets. One had coal black hair that was neatly braided into a pony tail. She had piercing grey eyes that could look into your soul. The second goddess had blonde hair and eyes that could change color. Her blonde hair flowed down her back in shiny curls.
"Mercury, Minerva and Venus, welcome to our meeting," Juno said.
"Why are we here?" Minerva asked.
"I have a plan that will need all of your assistance. As most of you know, I want to reunite the camps and to do so I need to make Perseus Jackson the Consul of Rome," Juno said. The three newly arrived gods looked at her in shock.
"So, he really is with the Romans?" Mercury asked. It sounded like he already expected that much.
"Yes, just as Jason arrived at the Greek camp, I had Perseus sent to the Roman one," Juno said.
"Why?" Venus asked.
"Isn't it obvious? She switched leaders to get the two camps together," Minerva said, as she rolled her eyes at Venus's stupid question. "Why would we agree to help you?"
"Neptune told me about Perseus, that he is a child of Rome and Greece. I also know about your children as well. You all want the two camps brought together and so do Mars and I," Juno said. Minerva glared at Neptune, but he just shrugged his shoulders.
"My son is dead; you can't black mail me into helping you. If Jupiter found out there would be Tartarus to pay," Mercury said. Juno gave him a wry smile.
"I know you care about Perseus and you know that both camps must be brought together to fight the giants. If the camps come together, then Jupiter will realize the error of his ways, and then we will be able to help the demigods more openly."
"The Greeks are more open minded," Minerva declared. "They have accepted Jason. The Romans will never accept a Greek, even one who is both Greek and Roman."
"That is where you are wrong for once. He is no longer Perseus. His memories have been buried and a new identity created. He is now called Scipio Marcellus, and he will be Consul to Rome." Minerva's eyes widened.
"Staff of the sea. You took away all his memories as a Greek, what about-?" Minerva started to say, but was cut off by Juno.
"Memories of your daughter? They were taken as well. He only knows what we want him to know. He believes he was raised since he was seven at military academies in Virginia. That he fought in the Titan war as the leader of a group founded by Mars called the Praetorian Guard. He was good friends with Luke Castellan, who ended up betraying him. He remembers the mission to free Diana and the final defense of Manhattan, but from a new perspective. That of a Roman general."
"He is much different from the Perseus you all know," Mars declared.
"His memories and the training we gave him will prepare him to lead the Romans. He is ready to be Consul."
"You ruined his love for Annabeth. How could you?" Venus asked angrily.
"I care not for Minerva's daughter, and this is war. Much shall be sacrificed to win," Juno said. Minerva glared at the queen of the gods.
"My daughter is heartbroken over that son of barnacle beard. I may not think highly of my child having a relationship with a sea spawn, but Perseus loves her," Minerva said.
"Perseus does, but Scipio doesn't even know her," Juno said.
"What do you need from us?" Mercury asked incredulously.
"I need you to cosign a letter to Lupa nominating Scipio as Consul to Rome. The Praetors of the legions shall vote on the nomination," Juno said.
"How do you know that he will get the needed votes?" Minerva asked, anger flaring in her grey eyes.
"Scipio is a natural leader. I assume some foolish Roman will challenge him to a fight, but Scipio never loses," Mars said proudly, like Scipio was his son.
"Most likely one of your kids?" Mercury said as he gave Mars a mischievous glare.
"Why are you so keen on helping Perseus, I mean Scipio?" Minerva asked Mars avoiding a confrontation between him and Mercury.
"I have helped train the boy and I'm Scipio's patron," Mars said, causing all the gods but Juno to stare at him in shock.
"I never gave you the authority to be his patron," Neptune said loudly.
"I'm Scipio's patron, not Perseus's," Mars said.
"Won't I have to claim him at camp?" Neptune asked.
"No, the letter will state that he is your son. Besides, he is nearly seventeen, too old to be claimed now. We will just make it seem that he was claimed long ago," Mars said.
"So, what do you all say?" Juno asked.
"I want my son to be safe, therefore I will sign. But if my son doesn't make it through this war, I will do everything in my power to see to it that both of you pay," Neptune said venomously. Minerva nodded at her long time rival.
"I agree with Neptune for once—with both of his statements," Minerva said, as her grey eyes flashed dangerously.
"I don't like this, but I must agree as well," Venus said.
"Neither do I, but the die is cast," Mercury said.
"Good," Juno said, as a scroll appeared in her hands. She unrolled it and beckoned the others forward to sign. The queen of the gods wore a triumphant smile as she watched them write their names on the paper.
AN: No action this chapter, but I needed to reveal some of Juno/Hera's plans for Scipio and some added revelations as well. This chapter has been revised based on my Beta, Starlit Reader's review. She did a great job as always.