A/N: Hello there everyone *dodges tomato

Sorry for the long wait and I am so sorry to keep you guys waiting. Life has been stressful to say the least recently and trying to coordinate a collaboration between several authors hasn't made it much easier. That being said, I still feel ashamed of myself for keeping you guys waiting so hopefully I can get back to updating more often.

Going Up the Country

David POV

There was a definite side effect of being in Vietnam for as long as the demigods had been.

They'd been fighting practically non-stop for close to three months and it was obvious as David examined all his fellow soldiers as they gathered around a table to discuss an important mission with Chiron.

The room was filled of the smell of cigarettes and sweat from everyone as they anxiously awaited Chiron.

Percy had grown a lot since he first planted his boots on Vietnamese soil. His sea-green eyes that once seemed friendly and inviting now had a cold and merciless glare to them. David had heard people talk about the "thousand yard stare" and while he wasn't exactly sure what it was, he figured Percy definitely had it.

Annabeth wasn't much different as she sat in her chair sharing a smoke with Percy. They'd share a few words in between drags but nothing too sophisticated. They were too nervous about what Chiron had in store of us.

Piper and Jason sat across from them and seemed deep in conversation. Piper was sipping from a mug of coffee that she was gripping so tight her knuckles were white. Jason held her hand in his whole they spoke. He had been given a pair of glasses after a doctor found out just how bad his vision is. It made him look less like a blonde superhero and more like a blonde superhero in disguise.

Leo and Calypso both seemed to be in a good mood to no one's surprise. Leo was constantly cracking jokes to help keep our spirits up but David had a suspicion that Leo was just as worried as he is except he knows how to hide it better. He was currently showing off his fire ability as he helped teach Calypso how to blow smoke rings from her cigarette. David couldn't help but smirk as Calypso somehow blew all sorts of different shapes but she couldn't manage a simple circle.

Nico and Thalia kept to themselves and no one minded bothering them. Thalia was sharpening one of her hunting knives while she puffed on her cigarette while Nico fiddled with the radio that was currently playing a song by the Rolling Stones.

David was interrupted from his thoughts when Reyna laid her hand on his arm.

"Everything alright?" She asked with a genuine tone of concern.

David gave her a nod before grabbing a cigarette and lighting it. He took a few puffs before Chiron finally rolled in.

Everyone immediately shot to attention and saluted.

"At ease demigods," Chiron said as he rolled into the room with his wheelchair.

Everyone resumed sitting down in their spots around the table. David noticed something strange, Luke Castellan, Chiron's 2nd in charge, was missing. He usually accompanies him whenever he gives us missions and such.

Chiron, realizing that David and the others were a bit confused, started to explain.

"I'm just going to go ahead and cut to the chase, Luke has betrayed us and is now on the side of Kronos," he sighed.

It got so quiet after that that David could hear the sound of soldiers chatting outside the tent.

"How can you be sure?" Annabeth spoke up as she rose from her chair before Percy could stop her.

Chiron let out another sigh before pulling a folder marked classified and tossing it onto the center of the table.

"Luke went missing about two weeks ago and one of our spies picked up this image from a hostile base," he said as Annabeth reached forward and picked up the envelope.

It was clear from the expression on her face that she didn't want to believe what she was hearing but after looking through the pictures in the folder the look on her face shifted from disbelief to anger.

"That bastard!" she yelled startling everyone.

She slammed the pictures on the center of the table and David couldn't believe his eyes.

The picture was grainy and out of focus but David could still make out blonde hair. The picture showed Luke with a bloody dagger standing over what looked like a dead U.S soldier.

Everyone took some time to look over the photos and the reactions ranged from complete shock to seething anger.

"When do we get to kill this backstabbing son of a bitch?" Hazel asked.

David and a few others gave her weird looks. It was rare for Hazel to ever swear. She only did whenever she was extremely pissed off and it was clear that this was one of those times.

"That's exactly why I gathering you all here today," Chiron answered.

"What do you mean Chiron?" Reyna asked.

"We're sending all of you a mission to terminate Luke Castellan...with extreme prejudice," Chiron spoke swiftly.

There were some nods of agreement around the rom before David spoke up.

"How are we going about this Chiron? Do we have any idea where he is?"

Chiron pulled another folder out and tossed it on top of the other one.

"You'll be flown in by the Air Calvary to the opening of this river here," he instructed as he opened the folder to reveal a map.

"You'll travel downstream by way of the Argo II until you make it to this point here where we suspect Kronos has forces assembling," Chiron continued.

"This mission will be very dangerous and there is no guarantee that all of you will make it back but the gods have faith in you and so do I so I expect nothing less than absolute success. Do I make myself clear demigods?!" Chiron finished.

"Sir, yes sir!" we all shouted in unison as we stood up and saluted.

"Dismissed and try to get some rest for tomorrow, you all are gonna need it,"