Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or the Heroes of Olympus Series.

Story: Divided Soul

Chapter 21: Explanations

On board the Argo II

Scipio sat across from Annabeth. He never knew that he had a Greek half-brother. The daughter of Athena had just dropped a bombshell on the Consul of Rome. Annabeth stared into Scipio's eyes trying to read his emotions, but at the very least, she could tell he was surprised.

"I take it that Percy and I look alike?" Scipio said. He said Percy like it was a bomb that could go off at any moment.

Annabeth smiled. Scipio was so observant and his reasoning was perfect. Annabeth couldn't help be impressed with the young man in front of her. He was Percy in many ways, but also so much different from her boyfriend. Percy and Scipio could really be brothers, but she knew that wasn't the case.

"Yes, everyone can tell that you're brothers," Annabeth admitted.

Scipio nodded. "Were you his friend?"

Annabeth lowered her head to stare at the wood table. "We are friends. Actually, he's my boyfriend." Annabeth looked back up at Scipio when she said boyfriend.

Scipio's eyes widened slightly, but his face didn't give away his emotions. He ran his hand through his short hair. "I'm sorry; I guess it must be hard to be on a quest with another child of the sea god."

Annabeth's eyes darkened slightly as she remembered what it felt like to discover that Percy was gone. She stared at Scipio, at this moment she wished she could tell him who he really was, but she knew that could endanger the quest. They needed Scipio at his best and not in turmoil. "It is hard sometimes. The two of you are very different, but in some ways the same."

Scipio gave her a small smile. He understood what she meant. He guessed Percy was less disciplined and more carefree like the Greeks. "I guess it's weird, but it must be just as strange for Reyna when she knows that she has Greek siblings. I never imagined Neptune having another demigod child."

"Technically he didn't. Percy is Greek and you're Roman. Therefore, Poseidon or Neptune only has one child." Annabeth's grey eyes seemed to lighten as she talked. Scipio couldn't help, but smile at her intelligence. "Why are you smiling?"

Scipio laughed lightly. "I like it when you reason things out. I guess Percy probably didn't like it. You know with the whole Poseidon and Athena rivalry."

A true smile crossed Annabeth's face as she remembered all the times she and Percy fought over how she like to think things through versus the way Percy always ran head first into danger. "At first no, but that was before we became best friends, and then more than that." Annabeth's cheeks turned a light pink as she discussed her relationship with Percy.

"Percy is a pretty lucky guy." Scipio said. Annabeth sensed a slight tinge of jealousy in Scipio's tone. Scipio cleared his throat. "I hope he's okay."

Annabeth smiled. "Me too, I hope he's waiting for me when we return to camp."

Scipio nodded. He stood up and stared down at the daughter of Athena apprehensively. Annabeth looked up at Scipio; she could tell he was nervous. "If I had someone like you to come home to, well I'd walk through Tartarus to get back to you." Scipio turned quickly and walked out the door. Annabeth just sat there staring at the place Scipio had stood. She put her head in her hands. Her life was really screwed up she thought.

The next day – onboard the Argo II

The seven of the prophecy left with little fanfare that morning. Chiron and a few campers like Annabeth's brother Malcolm wished them good luck on their quest or mission as the Romans called it.

Currently, the Argo II was flying over the Atlantic Ocean on its way to Greece. Their first stop would be the Peloponnese. There they would find the entrance to the underworld where they would discover the reason for the monster's ability to reform, so quickly.

Jason was currently piloting the ship through the air. Scipio sat near the bow of the ship. Flying was a little disconcerting to the son of Neptune, but you couldn't tell by looking at him. Scipio was broken away from his thoughts as Gwen and Alex joined him.

The dark haired son of Mars and the blonde haired daughter of Apollo watched the Consul of Rome closely. They knew something was up with their leader, but they had no idea what.

"Sir, we're sorry to bother you," Gwen said.

Scipio turned to look at the blue-eyed girl. "You're not bothering me and please just call me Scipio. On this mission, I'm not the leader," Scipio explained.

Alex shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah, about that sir… I mean Scipio," Alex said. "Nothing against Jason, but you're the Consul of Rome. How can you take orders from a lesser Roman?"

Scipio's eyes darkened and Alex looked away. "No one is a lesser Roman. Yes, I outrank Jason, but he is a true warrior of Rome. I trust his leadership skills. If I thought less of his abilities, I would never agree to allow him to lead this mission," Scipio said.

Gwen watched the conversation between her two fellow Romans. Jason was her friend too, but Scipio was more than that to her fellow Romans. He was like a father figure or big brother. Even though he had only been at camp for a few weeks, her fellow Romans loved him. Since the Greeks had arrived, she and many other Romans had seen a change in Scipio. He seemed more personable, more like a big brother than an overbearing father did as he had when he first arrived, but now he acted as if he no longer wanted to lead.

"We mean no disrespect. It's just you've been different since the Greeks arrived. You've acted more like a big brother to us and not just a general or leader, but now you seem to want to throw away your leadership responsibility. We're just concerned that's all," Gwen explained.

Scipio nodded. "I promised myself when Lord Mars gave me this mission that I wouldn't get attached to anyone," Scipio said as he stared off into the distance. "However, I became fond of camp and my legionnaires." Scipio turned to stare into Gwen's eyes making her feel like he was reading her mind or soul. "The Greeks haven't put me under a spell. I know Jason is destined to lead this mission." Scipio looked over the side of ship at the ocean below. "My fate has yet to be revealed."

Gwen and Alex both looked at each other thoughtfully. They watched Scipio, but he was no longer paying them any attention. The two Romans stood and walked away. Scipio never told them to leave, but they could tell that the conversation was over.

Jason had watched the entire conversation between Scipio and his two Roman friends. He knew they were talking to Scipio about why he wasn't leading the mission. He couldn't blame them. He would have rather had Scipio lead, but he had tried to argue the point. However, Scipio wouldn't budge. The son of Neptune was adamant that Jason would lead this mission.

"How're you doing Sparky?" A voice that Jason would know anywhere said.

Jason turned to see Piper standing behind him. Her eyes changed colors as he looked into them. The son of Jupiter's cheeks reddened. Piper's face turned pink as well.

"Just piloting the ship," Jason said awkwardly.

Piper recovered from her embarrassment. She smiled sweetly at her friend. "We didn't get to speak much during our stay in the Roman camp. Are you okay?" Piper asked.

Jason cleared his throat. "I'm fine. I remember more and more every day."

"Good, do you remember everyone now?" Piper tried to hide her worry by smiling, but she had to know, if he remembered Reyna as more than a friend.

Jason looked away from Piper for a moment before turning back to look at her. His electric blue eyes sparkled in the mid-day sun. "I remember everyone… yeah, all my friends."

Piper's hopes rose; his words made her take a chance. "What about Reyna?"

Jason's eyes widened in surprise; he didn't expect Piper to ask that. "We were just friends. I care for her like a sister."

Piper's heart fluttered in her chest. Jason stepped forward. His courage rose as he approached the daughter of Aphrodite. They both stared into each other's eyes.

"Hey guys, what's going on?" Leo exclaimed as he climbed up from below decks. Jason and Piper jumped and stepped back from each other. Leo climbed the rest of the way up onto the deck. He stood and stared at his two best friends. Jason and Piper were both red faced. They wouldn't even look at each other. "Did I miss something?" Jason and Piper both glared at him. Leo raised his hands and backed away from his friends. "Sorry… I…"

Before Leo could finish Scipio stepped between the son of Hephaestus and his two angry friends. "I think you interrupted our fearless leader here and his crush," Scipio said. Jason's face turned a darker shade of pink.

Leo let out a breath and gave Scipio a thankful nod. Jason and Piper just stared at Scipio in shock. They couldn't believe he just said that. Leo looked at everyone around him. "I've got to go I think I hear someone calling me," Leo said as he put a hand to his hear before running down the stairs. Scipio smiled as Leo retreated from the scene.

Piper and Jason were still frozen in shock. "I think Leo needs help; see you around," Scipio said with a mischievous smile on his face before he darted down the stairs after Leo.

Scipio saw Leo walk into the engine room and close the door behind him. Scipio walked down the hall and stopped at the galley when he saw Annabeth sitting at the table. He stepped inside and sat down across from the daughter of Athena. He hadn't spoken to her since their last conversation where she revealed a major surprise to the Consul of Rome; he had a Greek half-brother. That conversation happened in this same room the previous day. Scipio let that piece of information slide. He wasn't going to dwell on the coincidence.

The two demigods sat across from each other silently, until Scipio finally cleared his throat. "Sorry about running out on our conversation yesterday. It got a little too awkward for me," Scipio explained.

Annabeth just stared at Scipio in wonder. Percy would have never admitted such a thing. He would have played it off as no big deal.

"It can be strange talking to you, but in a way it makes me feel like Percy is still here with me. I know that might sound crazy, but I'm happy that I met you," Annabeth said.

Scipio nodded. "I'm glad I met you too. I'm sorry about being so cold to you at first. The whole Greek and Roman history can be hard to overcome. However, I never want to be held back by past occurrences. I believe we can shape our own destiny. I think prophecies have enough leeway to allow us mortals to mold them." Annabeth smiled at the son of Neptune. He fell back into the instructor or teacher mode, so easily. He was a lot like Chiron, except he was more disciplined.

"So, what brings you down here? I thought you'd be keeping a look out for trouble on deck?"

Scipio gave her a mischievous grin. Annabeth couldn't help but see Percy in that crooked grin of his. "What did you do?"

"Actually, it was Leo. He kinda interrupted Piper and Jason." Annabeth's eyes widened when she realized what Scipio meant by interrupt.

Scipio noticed her expression. He shook his head while he tried to stifle his laughter. Annabeth sighed before asking, "What happened?"

"I think they were about to… well you know and then Leo jumped up from below decks and scared them. I don't believe a Hydra would have made the two jump apart any quicker."

Annabeth smiled at the thought. "What did you do?"

Scipio's grin widened. "I implied that Leo interrupted Jason and his crush."

Annabeth shook her head with amusement. "You said crush didn't you?"

Scipio nodded. His crooked grin widened at the memory. "They just stood there stunned. Leo ran for his life and I followed close behind. Let's hope those two finally get together."

Annabeth stared at Scipio curiously. "Why would you want that? Wouldn't Reyna be hurt?"

Scipio's smile faded. "Jason said that he and Reyna were only friends. Besides, I can tell that he really likes Piper. Reyna will find someone else; anyway, I think she likes being a Praetor too much. She wouldn't give that up for Jason."

Annabeth stood up and Scipio followed her lead. "Do you want to go on deck to see the love birds?"

Scipio gave her another crooked grin. "I'd love to." He walked over and held the door open for the daughter of Athena. "After you my lady." Annabeth smiled as she shook her head. Scipio acted much less formal now that he wasn't in charge. He was more like Percy than ever before. Annabeth prayed to her mother that his memory would return on its own. Scipio was needed on this quest, but she needed Percy too. She would never admit that openly, but she felt empty without him.

"Let's go," Annabeth said as she walked out the door with Scipio behind her. She felt safe near him, but it wasn't the same as her feelings toward Percy, however for right now it would have to do.

AN: I hoped you liked this quick chapter. The quest or mission has started. Next stop Greece and the Doors of Death.