Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or the Heroes of Olympus Series.
Story: Divided Soul
Chapter 7: Strength of Mind, Power of Deception
Camp Half Blood
Annabeth Chase awoke late that morning, and prepared herself for the day. She walked out of cabin six, but before she headed toward her destination, she looked towards the beach, thinking about the events of the previous night.
As a child of Athena, she could always come up with a plan quickly, but her current one flew in the face of everything she had been taught. Chiron was a father figure to the daughter of Athena; he had raised her since she was seven years old. However, she was planning to disobey his direct order, something she had never done before. Percy had disobeyed orders before and things worked out, so why not this time? Annabeth's plan would speed up the reunion between the Greeks and Romans. Even though her mother approved of this plan, she knew it was risky.
Annabeth shrugged away from the view of the Big House and walked to the mess hall for breakfast. She was going to have a lot to do this morning, if her plan had any chance of success. As she walked through the entrance of the mess hall she saw Thalia and Jason sitting at Zeus's table. She waved to both of them as she made her way to the Athena table, where Malcolm and her other siblings were already eating.
"Annabeth, you're late getting up today. Is everything okay?" Malcolm asked, concerned.
"I'm fine, couldn't sleep very well last night," Annabeth said, as she grabbed her plate of food before making her offering to the gods. She sat back down at her table next to Malcolm and leaned forward to whisper in his ear, "I need to see you in cabin three after breakfast. Bring Clarisse and Rachel with you."
Malcolm's eyes widened. He leaned next to her ear and whispered, "I have to get Clarisse?"
Annabeth smiled at him. "Yes, tell her it's about fighting. She won't give you a hard time then."
Malcolm smiled, and then nodded.
Annabeth quickly finished her breakfast, before rushing over to Zeus's table. Thalia and Jason both smiled at her as she stood in front of them. Thalia and the hunters were in camp, it was unusual, but with Artemis locked up on Olympus and the search for Percy on hold, the hunters didn't have much to do.
"What's up?" Thalia asked. Jason rolled his eyes at his sister.
"Thalia, I need to see the two of you at cabin three after breakfast," Annabeth said.
Thalia and Jason both looked at her curiously. Physically they didn't look alike, but at this moment, with their foreheads creased in thought, they did resemble each other.
"Why?" Jason asked.
"It's a secret and very important," Annabeth said. "Jason, could you bring Leo and Piper with you?"
Jason stared at Annabeth for a moment as his electric blue eyes seemed to flash in thought. He sighed, and then said, "Okay, but I hate surprises."
Annabeth laughed at him for a moment, and then rushed out of the mess hall and toward cabin three. She opened the door and was suddenly met by a sea breeze and the smell of sea salt. A smile crossed Annabeth's lips at the sensation. She walked into the cabin and sat down on the bed that was still a mess from the last time its owner had slept there. Annabeth looked at the messy bed sadly before touching the minotaur horn that hung from the bed post.
Annabeth was broken away from her thoughts a moment later when Thalia walked in, followed by Jason, Piper and Leo.
"Hey guys, have a seat," Annabeth said as she pointed towards the other beds in the cabin. The four demigods smiled at Annabeth before they sat down on the other two beds in the cabin.
"Who're we waiting for?" Thalia asked curiously.
As if on queue Malcolm walked in followed by Clarisse and Rachel.
"Annabeth, what's going on?" Rachel asked worriedly. Her red hair was tied into a pony tail and she wore a white shirt that was covered in a multitude of paint streaks and blotches.
"I talked to my mother last night," Annabeth said.
"Olympus is closed. How did she do it?" Malcolm asked. He stared at his sister with a penetrating glare, one that was well known to children of Athena.
Annabeth smiled at her brother. "She's a goddess, she found a way," she said. "Poseidon helped her."
The entire room erupted into a chorus of questions. Thalia and Clarisse were arguing, while Malcolm rambled on about the rivalry between their mother and the god of the sea.
Jason stood up and whistled loudly, everyone instantly stopped what they were doing to look at the son of Jupiter. "Come on guys, give her a chance to explain," Jason urged.
Annabeth mouthed a thank you to Jason. Then the daughter of Athena went into detail about her conversation with her mother and the news about Percy.
"Wait a minute. He was appointed Consul?" Jason interrupted. He had a surprised and somewhat jealous look on his face.
"That's what my mom said. It was part of Juno's and Mars's plan," Annabeth said.
"So what do you want us to do about it?" Clarisse asked.
"We need to go to the Roman Camp before the Argo II is complete," Annabeth said.
"Why? It sounds like Percy's safe and he'll be able to lead the Romans until we arrive," Leo questioned.
"Athena told me that Percy's... different now." Annabeth clarified with an irritated tone in her voice. "You didn't give me a chance to finish Valdez." Leo gulped visibly as Annabeth glared at him.
"Different, how?" Rachel asked trying to diffuse the situation.
Annabeth stared into the green eyes of the Oracle. "Juno took away his memories and identity and replaced them with new ones," she said.
"What?" Jason asked. Clearly, this information had struck a nerve with the son of Jupiter.
"He has no memory of being a Greek. He calls himself Scipio Marcellus now," Annabeth said.
"Staff of the sea," Jason translated. The others looked at him curiously. "I'm sorry, Annabeth."
"Thanks, but now you see why we have to go early," Annabeth said.
The others just looked at each other questioningly, before Thalia said, "I'm sorry, but I don't see the reason to rush into a potential confrontation before we are ready."
Annabeth stared at her best friend. "Who are you and what have you done with the real Thalia?" she asked. "Thalia, you're always the one to rush in without thinking... just like Percy." Annabeth looked at the ground sadly before finally looking up at her friend. "Since when did you get cautious?"
Thalia huffed. "Since the end of the world is near. We risk a lot in order to get one demigod's memories back. I'm surprised a daughter of Athena would think this was a good idea," she said incredulously.
Annabeth gave her friend an angry glare. "My mother supports this, so are you calling her decision stupid or just me for going along with it?"
Thalia stood up, but Jason put his hand on her shoulder. "Thalia, let her explain. I think there's more to it," Jason said, as if he knew more himself.
"The enemy is going to target the Roman camp, and I think Percy might be in trouble too," Annabeth said.
"How do you know?" Jason asked.
"My mom didn't tell me exactly, but I could tell that she believed that more was going on. The training that Scipio obtained from Mars and Juno, it sounds like their preparing him to lead the Romans against a great threat. We know that the enemy forces are in the west, and that they know about Juno's or Hera's plan to reunite the camps. I think they'll try to destroy the Romans before we can get there," Annabeth said.
"So, you want some of us to sneak out and go to the Roman camp. How will a few Greek demigods be enough to help defend against an all out attack by the enemy?" Malcolm asked.
"I agree, but we should try to help them. I don't want my friends to get hurt," Jason said. Piper and Leo both looked at their friend curiously.
"Did you remember something else?" Piper asked.
"I don't remember a lot, but I have some good friends there. I can't let them fight alone, if I know they're in trouble," Jason said. "I need to help them."
Annabeth smiled at how loyal Jason was to his friends. "I think the addition of the Hunters could help bolster their defense," Annabeth said, as she looked at Thalia.
Thalia stared back at her best friend. "Our last orders from Artemis were to look for Percy," Thalia said.
Annabeth smiled. "You'll find him at the Roman camp," Annabeth said.
"Okay, we're in. But I need to talk to you Wise Girl, once this meeting is over," Thalia said with a smirk on her face.
Annabeth glared at her friend for using the nickname that Percy always called her.
"So, who's going on this trip?" Clarisse asked. By the look on her face everyone could tell that she was itching to go and fight the enemy.
"Clarisse, I think you just volunteered," Annabeth said. Clarisse barely suppressed her smile.
"I'm going, if the Hunters are needed," Thalia added.
"You'll need me to talk to my friends," Jason said.
Leo looked at Jason, the son of Hephaestus dug into his pockets nervously and pulled out a set of wires and began assembling something. He stopped as he looked towards the others. "I have to stay here and get the Argo ready," Leo said. Jason and Piper looked at their friend sadly, but no one objected, they knew that Leo was need here.
"I know you're going Annabeth, so Leo will need me to help out with construction," Malcolm said.
"You might need a charm speaker, so count me in," Piper said, as she gave Jason a warm smile that made the boy's cheeks turn pink.
"Well, since I'm not allowed to fight, I wish you all the best," Rachel said.
"Hold up, O great Oracle," Annabeth quipped. "You need to help us with Chiron."
Rachel smiled at her friend. "What do you have in mind?" she asked slyly.
Castra Semideus
Scipio walked out of the mess hall and toward the tent of the first legion. The first legion tent had a golden eagle statue above it with the Roman numeral one emblazoned on the chest of the bird. Scipio stepped into the tent; he was immediately met with a hello from a tall demigod the size of an offensive lineman. He had broad shoulders and a dark tan. He had to be either a son of Mars or Vulcan.
The demigod straightened and stared straight ahead. "Consul, how can I help you?" he asked.
"What's your name?" Scipio inquired.
"Frank Durant, son of Vulcan."
"I need your assistance with a special project," Scipio looked at Frank curiously before continuing. "I have some weapons that I need built for the legions."
Suddenly, someone rushed into the tent. The male demigod was tall, a few inches taller than Scipio. He had dark hair and eyes that seemed to burn with a reddish brown color. "Did someone say weapons?" he asked as he walked through the tent entrance. When the demigod saw Scipio he stopped with a surprised look on his face, stiffening in recognition of the Consul of Rome.
"At ease," Scipio muttered suspiciously. "Who are you?"
The demigod stared at Scipio, but his penetrating gaze showed that he was sizing up the son of Neptune. "Alex Constantine, son of Mars."
Scipio smiled. "Good, it saves me the trip to go look for you."
"You're looking for me, sir?" Alex asked curiously.
"Yes, I need you and Frank here to work on a special project. You will most likely need assistance from some of your siblings as well." The two demigods looked at their leader in anticipation.
"What kind of project?" Alex asked.
"Let's go to the command tent, and I'll show you," Scipio said, as he stepped out of the tent. The two members of the first legion followed him. They followed the son of Neptune into the command tent and stood across the main table in the center of the room.
Scipio picked up a long black duffel bag off the floor and placed it on the table, pulling out something wrapped in a black cloth. He unwrapped the cloth to reveal a black pump shotgun with a short barrel. Alex and Frank both stared at the black weapon that now sat on the table in disbelief.
"A gun?" Alex asked.
"Yes, I want you both to work on building enough of these for all of the legions. Each warrior needs one. Frank, they need to be able to shoot these." He tossed a red shotgun shell to the son of Vulcan.
"What do you need me for?" Alex asked. "I can't build guns."
"You can shoot one, right?" Scipio asked.
Alex's face lit up in a wide grin. "Of course."
Scipio grinned at the son of Mars. "You and your siblings will teach the legions how to use this weapon," he ordered.
Alex gave a salute before picking up the shotgun. He looked at the gun analyzing the safety and other features before setting it back on the table.
"When do you need these weapons?" Frank asked. Scipio stared at the gun for a moment. His stiff posture and the worried look on his face made the other two demigods in the room nervous.
Suddenly, a trumpet sounded; it was an attack warning. Scipio turned his gaze away from the gun and toward the two legionnaires before him.
"Go join your legion," Scipio said. Frank and Alex nodded as they rushed out of the command tent.
Scipio touched the gold necklace around his neck. He squeezed the golden trident, and his body began to glow until his imperial gold armor and helmet appeared on his body. His golden gladius was in his scabbard attached to his hip. Scipio grabbed a belt of shotgun shells and the shotgun, and slung the ammunition and the weapon over his shoulder as he ran toward the sound of danger.
Scipio ran to the edge of the camp boundary closest to the gladiatorial arena. Three of the ten legions were already in position as Scipio arrived on the scene. He looked across the border to see dozens of creatures slowly forming out of the rock and soil. The creatures finally took the form of what Scipio knew as the Earthborn, the children of Terra, or Gaea, as the Greeks called her. The Earthborn, or Gegeines, were taller than a normal man and each one had six arms.
As the Earthborn formed, a young woman dressed in a white silk dress stepped out from behind a group of trees. She had long black hair with coffee brown eyes. Her skin was pale like snow. She strode forward through the mass of Earthborn. The creatures parted before her like water around the hull of a boat. She stopped only a few feet from the border. She looked through the legionnaires until she spotted Scipio.
"Are you the Consul of Rome?" the young woman asked, looking at him with hungry eyes.
Scipio stepped forward until he stood just on the other side of the boundary from the young woman. "I am Scipio Marcellus, son of Neptune and Consul of Rome."
The young woman's eyes widened when she heard that Scipio was a son of Neptune.
"I am Khione, the goddess of snow and ice, and the daughter of Aquilon," she said.
"Why are you here with the children of Terra?" Scipio asked pointedly.
"Straight to the point. I like that in a man," Khione teased. "You are an interesting demigod, son of Neptune."
"Again, why are you here?" Scipio asked with an edge to his voice.
"The vanguard of our mistress never returned, therefore we were sent to follow up on their mission," Khione said.
"What mission was that?" Scipio asked, but it was clear by the tone of his voice that he already knew about their mission.
Khione gave Scipio a devious grin. "I think you already know, but I will answer you anyway. We are here to check your defenses."
"And how do you plan to test them?" Scipio asked.
"I wish to challenge you and the first legion to a fight. As you know, a challenge cannot go unmet," Khione said,
A broad grin crossed Scipio's face. By the glint in his eyes it seemed like he had expected such a challenge. He turned to the first legion and looked directly at Reyna. "Daughter of Minerva, prepare your legion for battle."
Lupa stalked forward in her wolf form. She looked at Scipio expectantly. "You know this is a trap of some sort?" Lupa asked.
"Yes, but the goddess doesn't know that," Scipio said. Lupa just stared at the son of Neptune until her face morphed into what appeared to be a mischievous grin. Scipio stepped across the boundary followed by the first legion.
Khione bowed to the son of Neptune. She stepped forward and placed her pale hand on his shoulder. She walked around the demigod as she tried to size him up. Her eyes were cold and penetrating. "You are a beautiful specimen, son of Neptune. Why don't you put down your weapons and join me?" Khione asked. Scipio seemed unaffected by the goddess's attempt to seduce him. Khione glared at Scipio in frustration.
Scipio smirked at the frustrated goddess. "I can sense and resist all forms of charmspeak, even those of a goddess," Scipio said.
"It is a shame that I must destroy you." Khione removed her hand from Scipio's shoulder as she stepped away from the son of Neptune and joined the mass of Earthborn. The children of Terra stepped around the goddess protectively "Attack!"
The Earthborn moved forward. The first legion formed a shield wall behind their Consul. Scipio touched his left wrist band and his shield appeared. He unsheathed his sword and stood ready. Two Earthborn moved to attack him while the others stormed forward to attack the first legion. The two Earthborn held sharp dagger-like rocks in each of their six hands. They lunged toward the son of Neptune, but he jumped into the air as he flipped his body end over end, landing on the other side of the two children of Terra. Scipio swung his sword in a wide arc, severing the two Earthborn in half.
The two creatures began to pull themselves back together as they reformed using the power of Terra. Khione smiled at the power of the Earthborn. Scipio grinned mischievously as the two creatures began to reform. Instead of panicking, Scipio sheathed his sword and pulled out the shotgun. He leveled the weapon at the two Earthborn and fired. The metal pellets of the shotgun shells tore the two children of Terra in pieces. The molten metal was designed from a combination of ores that would keep the creatures from reforming.
Khione stared at the two destroyed Earthborn as the creatures finally melted into the earth, leaving behind the molten metal. "You tricked me," Khione yelled.
Scipio smiled at the goddess. "Of course. Do you think me a fool?"
Khione huffed. She looked at the other Earthborn, who were fighting hard against the first legion, but the warriors of Rome were holding their own. "Your friends cannot hold out forever," she said arrogantly.
Scipio turned towards the first legion. "Alex, catch!" he yelled as he threw the shotgun and belt of ammunition toward the son of Mars. Alex cut the head off an Earthborn before imbedding his shield into the chest of another. He leapt into the air and caught the shotgun and ammunition. He shot off a quick succession of rounds as he furiously pumped the gun between blasts. Earthborn blew into pieces as the shells of the gun detonated on impact. Each shotgun shell took out two Earthborn at once. The odds were now more than even as the first legion began to push the remaining Earthborn back from the boundary of camp.
Khione screamed in frustration as she turned on the son of Neptune.
"You may have defeated the children of Terra, but you cannot defeat a goddess," Khione screeched. The air temperature began to drop and snow began to fall from the sky. Khione forced a small blizzard toward the son of Neptune, who stood firm against the onslaught of wind, snow and cold. Eventually, the small storm subsided, but the Consul of Rome remained unharmed. Khione just stared at Scipio in shock.
Reyna and the first legion had successfully pushed the Earthborn back as the creatures dissolved into the ground and retreated. They turned towards Scipio and Khione to see their leader face off against the power of the goddess.
"How are you unharmed?" Khione asked.
"I am the son of the sea," Scipio said. "Water cannot harm me, no matter which form it may take." He stepped forward with his gladius in his hand. Khione raised her hand toward the son of Neptune and fired a blast of sharpened ice shards toward him. Scipio raised his hand and the ice stopped in mid-flight. The ice transformed into balls of water before they evaporated into the air. Khione stared at the son of Neptune with a look of shock and fear.
Suddenly, the humidity in the air began to rise and along with it the temperature. Khione glared at the son of Neptune. "What are you doing?"
"You're not the only one who can affect the air temperature," Scipio said. The air around the goddess began to warm and the humidity level became so high that the air itself thickened into a tropical atmosphere.
"We're not done. I will be back and you will pay for your insolence, child." Khione began to glow. The demigods turned away from the goddess as she took on her godly form and disappeared.
On the other side of the boundary, the other legions cheered in triumph as the victorious first legion joined in the celebration. Scipio stepped forward and raised his hand, the legions quieted down immediately.
"This is a small victory, but the real fight is still to come. Congratulate your fellow legionnaires, but tomorrow we must prepare for the battle of our lives," Scipio said ominously. The Romans cheers of congratulations arose, but at a more subdued level.
Alex walked up to his leader with the shotgun in his hand. "Your gun, sir," Alex said as he bowed his head toward the son of Neptune.
Scipio smiled at the son of Mars. "Good shooting. Now take the weapon back to Frank and start your work. We need as many guns as the children of Vulcan can make. We can expect an all-out attack in a few days," Scipio said.
Alex's face took on a grim expression before he nodded. "Yes sir, we won't let you down," Alex said before joining Frank and the other members of the first legion.
Lupa stalked up to Scipio. The son of Neptune turned to the wolf and nodded. "An impressive show of power and deception," Lupa said.
Scipio smiled at the mother of Rome. "All war is based on deception," Scipio recited.
Lupa nodded. "Another Sun Tzu quote. You like to quote the masters of battle strategy," she assessed.
Scipio's smile widened. "He's never let me down yet," he said as he left the wolf and headed towards the command tent.
AN: A little battle scene. I hope it was worth the wait. A big thank you to Starlit Reader for another great job. Stay tuned more to come.