The group spent the remainder of the afternoon analyzing the cruzer switch and PDA. It apparently yielded quite a bit of important information, but Annabeth wasn't quite sure how much. She just trusted that Percy wasn't kidding when he had told her that it would be very vital and helpful to their mission.

When Percy's watch started beeping, they had to say goodbye to Jeff because they were scheduled to meet the son of Nemesis. Annabeth didn't know his name, but she knew they were supposed to meet him at 1700. Percy watch had started beeping when it read 1645.

"Alright. Sorry Jeff, but we gotta get going to meet a guy from MMS." Percy said.

Jeff nodded. "I understand. Do you want me to stay here or find another hotel?"

Percy glanced at the other men for a second before saying, "I think you can stay here. We'll find you a place to bunk. Eat dinner down in one of the restaurants in this hotel. Give them this room number."

Jeff nodded again. Frank said, "Well make yourself comfortable. The rest of us are all going to the meeting with the MMS guy. Stay in this room until we get back because it's the only room you're going to have a key for and we don't want you out in the hallway because you couldn't remember that." Frank also vaguely pointed to the desk where the room key for the room they were in was sitting.

Percy gave a sharp nod and led the group out the door. He checked his watch and proceeded down the hall to the elevator. Annabeth made sure to stay close to Percy. She just had an instinctive feeling that one of them might need the other again by the end of the night. She wanted to be prepared.

The feeling seemed to be mutually shared by Percy because he wrapped a protective arm around Annabeth when they waited for the elevator to reach their floor. He lightly gave her a reassuring squeeze. What he was reassuring her of, she didn't know, but she was sure that was a feeling behind the action.

When the elevator did arrive, the group quickly walked in. They tried to allow as much space as they could in the elevator so they weren't all confined more than they wanted to be. Annabeth knew that she wasn't particularly looking forward to the meeting with the son of Nemesis. She rather be in the confined elevator than at the meeting with another strange man for the second time in the same day.

Percy placed a kiss on Annabeth's temple as the elevator dinged telling them they had arrived at the lobby. The two of them were the last to get out of the elevator and Percy had to put a hand on one of the doors briefly to stop it from closing on them. They all walked swiftly to the van. Annabeth thought they might draw attention, but they easily blended in with other people leaving for a bite to eat.

It was nice that they were able to blend in with other tourists. They never seemed to draw the same unwanted attention that they had in Beijing either. For that, Annabeth was thankful. She did not want to thank the gods just then though. She figured that it was probably the A2's doing, not the gods of Olympus.

"Alright, everyone. Let's get in and we'll get to the restaurant." Percy said, clapping his hands together as they opened the back doors of the van.

"What's the name of the restaurant, Percy?" Travis asked.

"Don't know. I've got it marked in our map system though. Whoever is going to drive can pull it up and follow the instructions. I'd prefer we stay off autopilot while in town though. I think it might cause some questions for the van to be driving itself especially when people can see through the windshield easier in town."

The men all stared at Percy. Annabeth was barely able to suppress a giggle. He was the same Seaweed Brain that she knew when he needed to be. The men seemed to have some strange thoughts running through their minds though, based on the looks they gave Percy. Annabeth decided that Percy knew, or at least had an idea, what the other men were thinking about what Percy had said. Annabeth didn't let it bother her seeing as she saw it like they were just being friends.

Frank ended up driving and navigating Percy's directions. According to Frank, the directions were awful and not descriptive enough which was why they got lost a total of three times. Not like any of the group bought the lame excuse of Frank, but they didn't give him a hard time about it which Frank seemed to consider a personal triumph. Annabeth was just wondering if the men had actually let it go or if they were biding their time like a smart strategizer might.

They entered the restaurant and the men were all immediately scanning around the place. They were looking at everything from people and decorations to staff doors and furniture. It made Annabeth wonder what they wanted or expected to find. After all, they were only supposed to be meeting someone from another intelligence agency. Nothing to be worried about, right?

The host sat the group at a similar semicircle booth that they had sat at for their lunch with Jeff. This time they were just meeting a different man. Connor had been the one to go and wait at the entrance to show the man the table. Annabeth was slightly apprehensive about meeting a field agent from MMS. Even more worrying to her was that he was in no way of Asian descent and yet was able to work for their intelligence agency.

When Connor came back to the table, he was followed by the same man Annabeth had seen on the cameras earlier that day. He gave a slight bow when he was near and Connor was seated then he straightened to meet them. Percy stood first and shook his hand introducing himself.

"You must be Agent Jay Moore. I am Chairman Perseus Jackson."

Jay nodded. "Pleased to meet you. Introduce your companions."

Percy turned to the rest of the table and stretched a hand above each of the people he was introducing as he said their names. "This is Annabeth, our field strategist. Next to her is Admiral Frank Zhang. Then we've got Agent Travis Stoll. Agent Connor Stoll greeted you and, last but not least, we have Lt. Leo Valdez."

Jay looked puzzled at the end of the introductions. "Did you use military titles?" He asked as he sat down on the opposite end of Percy.

"Only for Lt. Valdez and Admiral Zhang who actually outranks me in the U.S. Navy." Percy answered.

Jay raised his eyebrows, but did not comment anything else. The group instead talked about their different customs and cultures. Business of any kind wasn't even implied. It was quite smoothly done and seemed too well done to be a silent mutual agreement. But by the end of the meal Annabeth was never able to find any subtle notions to steer them away from dangerous waters. They would steer clear without being told.

When they paid the bill and went out to the parking lot, it seemed like Jay had also taken a cab to their restaurant and requested a ride from them. Annabeth was wary to get into the van for the ride back to the hotel. It was a much longer ride than the lunchtime one was even without them driving off to nowhere. Annabeth definitely wasn't prepared to see Percy get unhinged anytime soon.

However, Annabeth didn't have to worry that time. Jay treated them like old friends and it was clear that their previous phone conversations had always gone much smoother as they were much more comfortable around each other. They spoke about their different militaries, but the conversation never drifted to the A2 or MMS for that matter. It was strange to Annabeth. They knew the van was secure, so why did they still seem hesitant to talk about the important things?

They made it back to the hotel unchallenged. Percy led the way to their rooms and they went into the room Annabeth shared with him. She was forcibly in the middle of the group. Jay was directly behind Percy and stayed close as they had an intense discussion about what sounded like politics.

Arriving at the rooms, Leo ducked into the room he and Frank shared. Annabeth assumed that he was checking of Jeff. The rest of the group filed into the room Percy and Annabeth shared. Annabeth's bag was sitting on the bed where they had been sleeping and she immediately went over to it to sit on the bed. Percy's suitcase was standing by the bed while his small bag was sitting on the desk chair.

Jay stood awkwardly by the small dresser that had the TV on top of it at the foot of the beds spanning the gap in between the two. The rest of the men had already spread out and gotten comfortable and Leo had also come in from his room. Percy had flopped down next to Annabeth and let the others take control of his computer.

"What's the password?" Travis called to Percy.

"Take a guess." Percy responded.

Travis set to typing. It took four tries, but he got it and when he did he just started cracking up. Percy even offered a small smile. The others just looked confused. Even Annabeth didn't know what Percy's password was to his computer. At least not the one that they were using. He had a regular laptop that he would use if he was doing office work. Normally it traveled with Percy constantly if he was using it that day. Annabeth did know the password to that computer. Just not the one he had on this particular trip.

Connor and Leo were pestering Travis to tell the password, but one look from Percy told Travis it would be better for his health if he kept his trap shut.

"Guys! Show Jay what we've got for him." Percy ordered after allowing several minutes of contemplation over his password. Not that Annabeth didn't quietly participate without confirmation or denial from anyone.

"Yeah, yeah." Travis said in a bored voice.

Annabeth didn't think that he meant it seriously because Percy just silently snorted and shook his head a bit. She didn't bother reacting. She knew if Travis was being seriously disrespectful, it would show more.

Percy had his arm around Annabeth. He was sitting up so he would be able to see what was happening on his computer hologram image. Annabeth thought that she might want to, but she didn't think it would be overly important and redirected her thoughts back to what Percy's password might be. The question would irritate her until she found out the correct answer and she knew it, as did Percy.

She sat in silence as the men worked at the computer. What was strange to her was Percy was just as silent. She had thought he would be right in the middle of the conversation, but every time the others tried to ask him something, he answered in short clipped tones. It confused Annabeth. She tried to think if he was mad or irritated, but came up short. She had no clue as to what was making him seem so irritable to suddenly.

The men finished up after three hours of work and called it good. Annabeth was half asleep by then and Leo had left to talk to Jeff. Annabeth didn't know what Percy was doing, but he hadn't moved an inch.

"I think it's time to turn in for the night." Frank said yawning.

Travis and Jay both nodded. Connor was tasked to get Jay settled. He had his only bag with him. It was small and was easily transported. They had decided that Jay and Jeff were both staying in the van. When Annabeth heard Connor say that, she was slightly alarmed, but he explained that beds rose out of the floor replacing the chairs. Once again, Annabeth was thoroughly impressed at the technology of the A2 as it was quite extensive in her opinion.

Connor escorted Jay out and Travis went over to the next room to help Leo get Jeff to the van. Frank put Percy's computer away and replaced his bag on the desk chair. He quietly stood up and gave a small nod accompanied by a smile to Annabeth. Then he too walked out the door and shut off the main light leaving only the light by the bed on.

Annabeth heard the door shut all the way and sat up to look at Percy. He had a brooding expression on. A few seconds passed before he blinked and his eyes focused on Annabeth. She didn't know what to make of his strange behavior, but she decided to let it slide for the time being. Percy gave her a weary smile.

"Well, I think it's time for bed." Percy stated.

Annabeth grinned and stood up. "Where are you going?" Percy protested.

"Just to the bathroom. Chill." Annabeth said.

Percy rolled his eyes as she turned and walked around the wall and into the bathroom. He joined her a moment later. They both brushed their teeth then retreated back into the main room and changed into night clothes.

They climbed into bed and Annabeth asked, "Percy?"

"Yeah?"

"What is the overall purpose of this mission? It seems like we're getting really sidetracked with the discovery of the messed up train."

"No. The train just coincidentally is involved in the matter we came here for originally. We are right on track with our plans right now."

Annabeth digested Percy's words. She nodded slowly. She understood the gist of what he was trying to say.

"You get what I'm saying?" Percy asked.

"Yeah, but you didn't answer my first question." Annabeth said.

"First question?"

"Yes. The one about the main purpose of the mission." Annabeth prompted.

"Ah. Yeah…." Percy trailed off. Annabeth let him think for a moment, but when he didn't respond for a minute, Annabeth sat up slightly to look at his face. He was frowning slightly, but also still looked deep in thought.

"Well," Percy started off, "I wouldn't really say we have an overall purpose. It's more many individual missions that, when combined, will help stop a huge, ah, international military, ah, crisis."

"Crisis." Annabeth repeated.

"Yeah…." Percy seemed to be searching for the correct phrase. "I say crisis for lack of a more accurate word."

"If it's a military problem, why is it the A2 that's dealing with it?" Annabeth asked.

"Mainly because the U.S. doesn't want word to get out and neither do four other countries. The A2 does our best to do what will benefit everyone. We do a lot more behind the scenes work than most might think." Percy explained.

Annabeth nodded. Percy seemed to be holding his breath. "I'm not going to ask another question, tonight." Annabeth said with a small giggle.

Percy let his breath out. "Good. I didn't think I could handle another one, anyway."

A/N: I apologize for the longer wait this time. I have been very busy with school and extracurricular activities. At the beginning of the year, it's always hectic because everyone needs to get back into the rhythm of things.

Thanks for the reviews/PMs.