"Hey Perce there's an assembly at after lunch right?" Tuck asked leaning back in his chair in science.
"Yeah I think so; at least that's what Mr. Phelps said." I replied.
"Silence!" Mrs. Chesney called as she stormed into the room. "You all had Ms. Rakasenzesalvador as a cover teacher yesterday correct?"
"Yes miss." The class chorused.
"Mr. Kastro!" Chesney suddenly snapped.
"Yes miss?" Tucker yelped, giving me a look that said, see? She always picks on me!
"Can you give a summary of what we did yesterday for the class?" She asked in a phony sweet voice.
"Uh... We um, learnt about red shift and blue shift and the uhhh..." He choked.
"Ahh, Mr. Jackson, perhaps you could help him?" She said turning to me.
"Err..." I thought back to yesterday and remembered that I had been doodling the whole lesson.
"The Doppler effect." Azaylia whispered under her breath at me.
"The Doppler effect miss." I smiled. She wrinkled her nose and then turned to the board to start writing. "Thanks Azaylia."
"S'all good." She said, huh she had said the same thing yesterday. "Everyone hates Mrs. Chesney so anything to get back at her feels good."
"Who's talking!?" Chesney snaps turning suddenly and eyeing the classroom. Since everyone had become accustomed to this we had started talking to each other without looking at each other, making it harder for her to spot the person.
"That was horrible!" Tucker said as we left the classroom. He had been picked on the whole lesson and even I had to admit that she seemed to spend most of the lesson trying to catch Tucker out.
"Yeah. She really went for you today." I said.
"Ha! So you agree that she is hates me more than anyone else!?"
"Yeah yeah, she really hates you, happy?" I asked rolling my eyes.
"Hey guys!" Carrie said joining us as we left the Old Building toward the Main Building – i.e. the cafeteria.
"Hey Carrie." Tuck smiled.
"Hi." I yawned.
"Why are you so tired?" Carrie asked as we got our food.
"On Saturday night I stayed up all night with Annabeth –"
"Uh huh." Tucker asked his tone implying lots.
"Not like that." I rolled my eyes. "And then last night I did all my homework that I was meant to do on the weekend. So now I am super tired." I yawned again.
"Well I was reading last night and am super tired." Carrie told us as we went to the hill where we usually sit for lunch.
"What were you reading?" Tucker asked.
"I was reading up about demigods." Carrie smiled and brought out a bunch of papers from her bag. "The DEC had managed to catch around ten – eleven demigods but they have all escaped."
"Yeah because we have a demigod extraction squad." I said.
"A what?" Carrie asked.
"We have groups of demigods who go and find new demigods and get them to Camp Half-Blood –" I began.
"So the safe place for demigods is called Camp Half-Blood?" Tucker asked.
"Yeah and the extraction squads also go get kidnapped demigods from the DEC."
"Don't the DEC have like, super amazing defences?" Carrie asked.
"Oh yeah they do! I hear my dad on the phone telling his employees to up the security every time a demigod gets away." Tucker informed us.
"Yeah but nothing can beat Greek fire." I grinned mischievously.
"You go in against, what? Guns, lasers and other techie stuff with swords and fire?" Carrie asked.
"Lasers?" Tucker laughed. Carrie stuck her tongue out at him.
"Our weapons don't work against them but we're great at causing distractions." I cut in before a fight can break out.
"What kind of distractions?" Tucker asked.
"Different things, some of the older Aphrodite kids go and look hot to distract the guards, some Hermes kids pull a prank, Hephaestus kids will make an automation or blow something up, Demeter kids will make plants go wild, If Thalia's involved then lightening might hit the building and cut out the electricity. That kind of thing, I don't know that much since I'm here." I try not to sound bitter.
Both Tucker and Carrie look at me with a kind of "What the Hades" expression which cracked me up. Before any of us say anything else Aiden and Aspen come up the hill, arguing.
"You're just annoyed because I'm smarter than you." Aspen said.
"Oh please! Who was it that got an A+ in music? Oh right! That was me!"
"I'm getting A's in science, English and Sociology! And what are you getting? Oh that's right! C's to B's." I was mostly on C's...
"C's and B's aren't bad! And besides, I do extracurricular things." Aiden defended.
"The swim team doesn't count as you being smart!" Aspen laughed.
"Actually coach will only let you be on the team if you're doing well and passing, which I am!"
"Oh really?"
"Yes, really! Percy, you used to be on the team, isn't it true that coach will kick you off if you start failing!?" Both of them turned to me expectantly.
"Uh... Yeah..." I said hating getting it into it. "But Aspen is smarter, just accepted it Aiden."
Aspen grinned in triumph whereas Aiden just sighed in resignation.
"Fine." He mumbled sitting down. "Hey wait! You were on the swim team! And your dad is – er you know." Aiden accused. All of my friends looked at me.
"Hey I never used my skills when swimming!" I defended myself. "And besides, Annabeth told me drop out." They all rolled their eyes.
"What are you guys talking about?" Aspen asked sitting down next to him.
"Mistology." Carrie grinned.
"What are we studying today Mr. Jackson?" Aiden joked. I roll my eyes at him.
"We were just talking about the DEC." I replied. Tucker scowled whereas Aiden and Aspen just nodded awkwardly.
"What about them?" Aiden asked so Carrie gave him a quick recap.
When she was finished Aiden gave a low whistle and Aspen looked happy that no violence was used unless necessary.
"What happens when you find a demigod? That's why you're here and not at camp right?" Aspen asked.
"Yeah that's why I'm here. As for finding a demigod, the people undercover call for an extraction squad."
"What do the extraction squad do when they get called to a place?" Aiden asked.
"Well that depends on the circumstances. If let's say, the demigod knew there who the other demigod was they would call the extraction squad who would then come and get the newbie without outing the demigod who is undercover. However if a monster attacked and the undercover demigod was found out then they would either have to find their own way back to camp unless they had a newbie in which case the extraction squad would come to save the day." I explained the best I could.
"So if monsters attacked us here Perce, you'd have to run?" Aspen asked.
"Well I'd kill the monster." I replied avoiding the question.
"Ok then after you killed the monster you'd run? Would we ever see you again?" She rephrased sounding worried.
"Depends if I had a newbie or not. And as to whether or not I'd see you again... Well I don't know but I hope so."
"Have you found anyone?" Tucker asked. I bit the inside of my cheek, unsure of whether or not to tell them. I opened my mouth trying desperately to think of something to say when thankfully the bell rang meaning the end of lunch.
"We've got an assembly right?" I said quickly.
We walked together into the hall where we had our assemblies. When we got in there however there were no seats. I frowned at my friend confused. Their expressions told me they were thinking the same thing.
"LINE UP! NO TALKING!" The headmaster boomed from up on the small stage at the head of the huge room. No way near as big as the Hall of the Gods on Olympus but still big.
Teachers were herding kids so that small people were nearer the front. Somehow Carrie managed to stay near us as my group got shoved to the edge of the room. There was a huge amount of shuffling around and people chatting quietly but eventually everyone was silent.
"Good afternoon Goode students." The head said. "Today we have with us some representatives from the DEC. Do we all know what the DEC is?"
"Yes sir." Was the general reply. I said nothing as my stomach clenched. My face hardened into a mask, emotionless. I was aware of my friends shooting me a worried look but I kept my gaze forward.
"Even so, we have Jonno Pan and Helen McGonan to explain to you what they do, why they do it and why it's important." Head moved out of the way as two people came forward to take his place.
The first was a man, he was tall and robust with a head so shiny I bet I'd be able to see my reflection in it. He was wearing a suit but the jacket was too small and I could see the buttons straining to keep him in it. He waddled to the front with a sneer on his face as he looked down on the students before him.
The woman was his opposite. She was small and thin with straggly brown hair. She was smiling at us all but it made her look like a rat as her two front teeth showed and her nose wrinkle. She wore jeans and a T-Shirt that read "We know who the real heroes are." As soon as I figured out what it said blind rage hit me as I struggled not to go up on there and-
"Percy," Someone whispered, a strong hand holding onto my arm. "Let it go. You won't make anything better by going up there. Annabeth has a plan remember?"
I looked over and saw that Tucker was the one holding me back. I looked to my other side and saw that Aiden was ready to help if needed. I took a deep breath. "S'ok guys. I'm good." I spat out.
Tuck let go of my arm but stayed close to me just in case. As did Aiden.
"Hello Goode students." The woman started. "Now I'm sure you've all heard about the gods and their... offspring by now."
Another murmur of "Yes" and "Duh" went around the room. The woman smiled again looking even more like a rat.
"But who here really knows about them?" She looked around the room expectantly.
I grinned and sent a smirk to my friends. They all rolled their eyes in response.
"Yes? You over there!" Helen McGonan said pointing to someone who had their hand up.
"Well they're evil right? Bastard kids of the gods. They hate mortals because they're normal so they lure monsters in to hurt them." Said no other than Jonathon Hop.
"Yes!" Helen beamed. I felt like murdering someone. It was just so grossly untrue! Tuck's hand appeared on my arm again. This time neither of us said anything.
"I'm sure most of you know how to spot one as seen on the posters. I'm just going to go over it again." The she launched into the same old nonsense about us being terrible people and here were the reasons why. "You see, they're dyslexic because they're aberrations. Their brains can't handle the fact that humans have evolved past the gods onto something better. Their minds are stuck in ancient times."
WHAT!? Without the gods around mortals would be nothing! Civilisation would fall apart! Although did get the fact that our brains are hardwired for ancient Greek.
"They're troubles some and get kicked out of a lot of schools because they pick fights with people they know are better than them and get jealous. So they attack them or get monsters to instead." She continued.
Aiden's hand joined Tucker's but on my other arm as I growled at this woman.
"How do you know all this!?" A kid called out.
"Because we're the DEC. Demigod Experts and Capturers." The man – Jonno – spoke up. His voice was gravely and made me cringe.
"How are you experts?" Someone couldn't help but call out. There were so many kids in the hall that no one would be able to tell who was calling out.
"Demigod Experts and Capturers." Helen emphasised. "But we're not taking questions at the moment."
"What do you do with them when you capture them?" Someone else shouted.
The two DEC people shared an unsure look. Everyone in the hall was watching them now. Silence.
"We simply get them in and ask them questions in a nice controlled environment." Jonno smiled sickeningly.
"Liars." I growled. I knew from what Annabeth had told me about what actually went on within the DEC headquarters and it is not something I wish to repeat.
"Percy." Carrie said quietly. I looked at her trying to diffuse my anger. It wasn't easy but I managed to stay put.
Helen opened her mouth to say something more when there was a loud crashing as suddenly all the exits had monsters covering them. There were hordes of monsters and at the front was a dracaenae. There was a moment of silence and then the room was filled with screams. The students all ran to one side of the room leaving a huge space in the middle. The teachers bravely stood behind the students except for Paul. Paul looked toward me and then started carefully moving students so that they weren't near the exits and also smoothly moving my group toward the front so that if I were to take of the monsters I could.
The monsters moved toward the stage scaring off the DEC people. One dracaenae picked up a mic and hissed into it, "I can smell you demigod. Come out, come out wherever you are."
I couldn't do it, not that I didn't want to but I don't know who the newbie is yet. I glanced at my friends. "No Percy." Aspen whispered.
"If you don't come out we'll be forced to go through every mortal here. Do you want that?" An ugly Cyclops with two strands of hair combed over and a too small loin cloth said taking the mic from the dracaenae.
I looked around at the students. Some were frozen in fear, some were crying and shaking in fear and some were filming on their phones. I had to protect them. "Sorry guys." I said to my friends.
"No Percy!" Aspen pleaded again quietly.
The dracaenae on stage growled and sent forward two monsters that moved toward the students nearest them. The students there tried to move away but there was no space. Without thinking I grabbed a bottle of water out of my bag and threw it at them.
The monsters look toward me as I stepped out. "Leave them alone." I said giving them my Mess-with-them-and-I'll-kill-you glare. I was aware of a few students moving away from me with shocked expressions.
The Cyclops shouted, "Get him!" and the two monsters obeyed. Fortunately they weren't exactly the worst I'd ever dealt with so as they came charging at me I step sided and uncapped the riptide. Within a few second they were just a pile of dust.
I looked up at the stage and everything was silent for a moment and then a song started playing. It was Carrie – she was playing a song on her phone – I need a Hero by Jennifer Saunders.
Where have all good men gone
And where are all the gods?
Where's the street-wise Hercules
To fight the rising odds?
"Really?" I asked. She just smiled.
Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night I toss and turn and dream of what I need.
I sighed as monsters came toward me, I ran to meet them just as the music got faster.
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I slashed at countless monsters but it seemed as though they started working together like they had during the wars making it harder to defeat them all.
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
"Who are you?" The dracaenae screeched as I ended up on the stage next to her. I swung at her but she moved faster than I thought she would. She and the Cyclops moved backwards off the stage.
"Get his friends!" She yelled. A few telekhines moved toward the crowd. I cursed.
Somewhere after midnight
In my wildest fantasy
Somewhere just beyond my reach
There's someone reaching back for me
Oh that was so it. I felt a familiar tug in my gut as a spray of water fell from the piping above the stage. Hmm, to kill them or make a message? I asked myself. Message. I sighed.
"Oh Iris goddess of the rainbow, please accept my offering! Show me Chiron at Camp Half-Blood!" I knew I could have asked Winky but seeing the effect of what I had just said on the student and teachers was priceless.
Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat
It's gonna take a superman to sweep me off my feet
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
The mist cleared and I saw the whole dinning pavilion – they were still having lunch.
"Percy!" I heard Chiron exclaim.
"One extraction squad please." I smiled casually as a telekhine came toward me. I slashed at it. "Annabeth you know how many I need." I turned around toward the monsters. They were nearing my friends but there was a lot of running around. I sighed. "It would seem the monsters are working together again. Also we were having a talk from the DEC before the monsters came." I called toward the Iris message and was answered with a lot of booing.
"Thalia and Nico, wanna come with me?" I heard Annabeth ask. I smiled as I wiped the message away.
"That was the demigod headquarters!" Helen cried. I rolled my eyes and took in the scene before me. Kids were running around wildly, some were filming everything going on. Thankfully Carrie's music had been turned off at some point. Teachers were also scared. The very few monsters that were left looked toward my friends – probably smelling the demigod in there. Time to get the attention back on me.
The tug in my gut intensified as I made a huge amount of water swirl around me and then threw it out toward the crowd. Not harming them but enough to make everyone stop.
"I am Perseus Jackson, son of Poseidon! Defeater of Kronos and Gaia." I yelled knowing they were probably a bit angry with me for that.
I was right. Angry cries filled the air as all the monsters came at me. Someone joined me in fighting the monsters and saw that Nico had arrived.
"Hey Nico!" I grinned.
"Hey Perce." He grinned back.
"Hey it's the boy from the paper!" Someone called out.
"Where are the girls?" I asked.
"I shadow travelled, they're taking the pegasi and you know how they don't like me." He explained. "There are loads of monsters!" He sighed exasperated.
"I did say they were working together!" I defended myself. I noticed that more monsters were coming in through the doors.
"Oh that is it!" Nico grumbled and then stabbed the floor with his sword. The terrified student in the corner frowned at him.
"What's that going to do?" I heard them asking.
Then a horde of skeletons came from the ground and started attacking the monsters. Nico grinned and laughed like a maniac. I smiled too.
There was a crashing sound as a group of pegasi came through the windows. Yo boss! I heard in my head.
"Blackjack!" I smiled as I saw his rider. Annabeth on Blackjack, Thalia on Porkie followed by two other pegasi came in.
"Hey Seaweed brain, need help?" Annabeth grinned.
"I love you." I laughed gave her a kiss.
"Are you two gonna help at any point?" Thalia yelled. We broke apart blushing. Nico's skeletons were gone and he looked exhausted, luckily most of the monsters were gone, only the Cyclops and the dracaenae were left.
I shared a look with Annabeth. Ok, I thought to myself, let's do this. I went over to my friends as the students and teachers alike parted for me. I saw Jonathon and Gabrielle move out of my way and I couldn't help but smirk at them.
"Hey guys – you know when the emposa said there were three demigods? Yeah well one of you is a demigod. I don't know who so do you think that maybe all of you could come with me?" I said in a rush.
Tucker, Carrie, Aiden and Aspen all looked at me with similar expressions and then nodded grimly.
I asked for Porkie and the other two pegasi to come over and then got my friends on them.
"Carrie you can go with Thalia on Porkie. Aspen I know you're scared of heights so you can go on Frix who will fly low. Tucker and Aiden you guys are going on Nightwing." I got them each up. They were all silent unlike the pegasi who kept making jokes and complaining when Aiden accidentally pulled on Nightwing's mane.
I turned in time to see Thalia send an arrow into the Cyclops' eye and Annabeth drive her dagger into dracanae. Annabeth and Thalia grabbed Nico and ran toward us.
"Hey guys." Annabeth smiled at my friends. They smiled back faintly.
"Let's go!" I said watching Thalia climb onto Porkie with Carrie.
"One sec!" Annabeth said while taking something out of her bag. "Where are the DEC people?"
I pointed over to where Helen and Jonno were cowering. She wrinkled her nose in disgust then strode over to them.
"I am a representative of the demigods of Camp Half-Blood. My name is Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena." She said in a strong voice. "We wish to meet with you. We have prepared a presentation to explain to you who we really are and what we really do. Here." She handed the woman a piece of paper. "If you accept to meet with us then let it be known on the news, we will be watching."
She came back over to us. I climbed up onto Blackjack and helped her get up too.
"I'll see you guys there." Nico yawned. "I might be asleep so wake me up when you get there." Then he ran at a wall and faded out.
"Paul!" I called as the others left. "Can you tell my mom –"
"I'll tell her. I'm sure she will understand." Paul replied.
As we flew out of the broken window I saw some teachers hurry the students out. Some teachers were talking to Paul and looking rather angry. I saw some students still filming us. Then I saw the DEC people on the phone talking animatedly.
Even though this was one of the worst situations that could have happened I felt happy. I knew that I was going home finally. I knew that I could see my friends. I knew that I could be with Annabeth. And best of all, I could be myself.