Chapter 68 - Infirmary

Nico stumbled when he emerged out straight into New Rome's infirmary, within the limits of the city. He leant against the wall as his heart skipped and he felt the energy drain from him at the cross-country jump. He vaguely heard a startled shout from a Roman somewhere nearby and a handful of curses.

Nico's lips twitched slightly, and he raised his head, still leaning against the wall and still slightly dizzy, to see a wide-eyed group looking at him. Four of the beds in the infirmary had been sectioned off from the rest. Jason lay on one of them, bare-chested and burns spiralling down his torso and the side of his face.

There was cream over them and a glass of nectar was held in his hands, along with what looked to be unicorn draught on the table next to him.

Nico gaped at him, ignoring the other three in their own beds. "What happened?" He demanded.

Thalia snorted, tears gleaming in her eyes from where she sat next to Jason's bed as Jason waved slightly at him with a grimace. Also in the room were Reyna, Frank, Piper and Nico was confused to also recognise Chrysaor standing away from the group. The ancient son of Poseidon had raised an eyebrow at Nico's entrance. Thalia squinted at Nico, before she scowled and tossed him a cube of ambrosia from beside Jason's bed.

"Thanks," Nico muttered as he nibbled at the cube, letting out a relieved sigh as he felt the fatigue from his shadow travel fade slightly.

Chrysaor gestured to Nico, more specifically to Nico's side where his sword was belted. "Why does he get a weapon within the city, but mine was removed from me?" He demanded sharply.

Nico gestured back to Chrysaor. "What's he doing here?" He asked with a scowl.

"Long story," Thalia dismissed. When Nico's hand remained hovering at his sword's hilt, she shrugged. "He's getting paid," she said.

"I didn't think the Hunt paid off mercenaries like him," Nico said.

Tears shimmered in Thalia's eyes again. "We don't," she said.

"It's good to see you again," Nico finally hesitantly offered Thalia when it seemed that no more was going to be said. Generally, Nico tended to avoid Thalia and the rest of the Hunt.

Thalia snorted. "You too," she said.

Reyna stirred. "You got the message?" She asked Nico.

"Yes," Nico said. "Percy's trying to get a sea serpent to defend Long Island Sound for us before he flies over here on Blackjack," he said.

"A sea serpent?" Frank asked. "Why? What's happened?"

Nico pressed his lips together. "Nero," he said. "He – well, I guess the Triumvirate struck first is what happened. We lost a few campers," Nico said. "Nero burnt them alive."

The horror in their eyes then made Nico grit his teeth to stop himself from feeling it all over again after he'd had to watch it all happen already. "Percy just wants to make sure Camp will be fine without us," he said. Nico gestured to Jason. "So? What happened?" He asked.

Jason grimaced. "Caligula," he said. "He's the one here in the West. He had Medea gather Helios' essence together for him and was going to use it to make himself into the new Sun god," Jason explained. "But we put a stop to that." Nico noted the new odd-shaped oval shield that was propped up against the end of Jason's bed. It looked old and important.

Piper smiled. "Not us specifically," she said. "We couldn't hurt Medea. But Hyperion could." Nico eyed her with a faint frown. Piper didn't look much better than Jason, covered in monster dust, golden ichor, blood and ash. Her siblings at Camp Half-Blood would protest, but Piper had never been one for caring much about her looks and it didn't seem any different now.

Nico's expression twisted and he looked over the burns down Jason again. "Hyperion…? Jason!"

His cousin's eyes widened. "It was the only way to stop Medea! And I wasn't about to let the others die," he added.

"Others?" Nico asked.

Jason gestured a hand in the direction of the other three hospital beds, looking like the movement pained him, but deciding to do it anyway. "Meet Caesars Augustus, Marcus Aurelius and Antonius Pius," he said.

Nico's eyes widened slightly. The others just smiled at the look on Nico's face. "How?" Nico asked.

"The same way as the Triumvirate," one of the old Emperors said. "Only to a far lesser extent."

The son of Hades slowly nodded. "Okay," he said, deciding not to ask further questions about how it was possible. "And they're here to help?"

"Yes," Jason said with a smile.

"I guess the Titan you ran into is responsible for the burns?" Nico prompted.

"Got a little too close when he set himself loose on Medea," Jason confirmed. "But I'll be fine. He wasn't focusing on us, only her. They're mostly just superficial burns," Jason assured Nico.

"Medea was incinerated," Piper said to Nico. "She won't be a problem anymore."

Nico nodded. "Good," he said. "So," Nico said, turning to Reyna and Frank. "What's this invasion force?"

"We don't know," Reyna admitted after a brief pause. "Thalia came back with news of an incoming force. We're doing all we can to prepare; I've instructed the cohorts to raise defences and ready themselves to defend Camp Jupiter."

Jason grimaced. "And I'm stuck here in bed," he said, frustrated. "I should be helping."

"You are in no state to help anyone," one of the Emperors said. Nico glanced over to them, but he had no idea what the one speaking was called. "Let Rome prepare itself without you, son of Jupiter. Your strength will be needed for the battle to come. You expended much against Medea."

"Antonius is right, Jason," Reyna said. "Don't worry. We'll be able to prepare without you," she said with a fond smile.

Nico looked over to Thalia and Reyna. "You two look injured too," he said.

Thalia waved a dismissive hand. "I'll be fine."

"Assassination attempt," Reyna said curtly, causing Nico to raise an eyebrow.

"Assassin?"

"The Triumvirate are trying to cause turmoil before their invasion force arrives," a second Emperor said. "Destroy morale, cause infighting amongst the Legion. By the time they arrive, New Rome will be easy pickings for them."

"We can hold together," Reyna muttered. "We have to."

There was worry in Jason's eyes. "How can everything have gone so wrong in two weeks?" He murmured.

"It had likely been building for many months now, but they waited 'til you were away from the Legion before making their moves, Pontifex."

Jason looked back to the Emperor who'd spoken. "I'm not that important to the Legion, Marcus," he said.

Reyna raised an eyebrow. "The Senate named you Pontifex Maximus, and you were a Praetor yourself. The one who destroyed Saturn's black throne and defeated Krios in single combat," Reyna reminded him. "Not to mention everything that occurred during the Giant War."

"There's other people too," Jason insisted, a faint frown forming on his face.

Reyna nodded slightly. "But they're nothing like you, Jason," she said.

Jason shook his head slightly, clearly disagreeing, but not willing to fight over the matter. "Rome," he said to them. "We need to figure out how to protect our home here."

"When Luke and his group get here we'll set them up on the Field of Mars," Frank said. "That will keep them away from the city and the barracks where people might want to target them."

Reyna nodded slightly.

"What about the ones that tried to kill the two of you?" Jason asked. "We need to find them."

"They must be found and punished," Marcus agreed. "I vote for drowning them in the Tiber."

Alarm sparked in Reyna's eyes. "We might cause more problems if we act too rashly. If we don't catch all of the ones supporting the Triumvirate then we risk the rest going underground and acting more from the shadows. We'll risk making things worse."

Someone knocked on the door, and a head poked in after Frank called for them to come in. "Praetors?" The medic said. "There's a Senator here asking for you two."

Reyna frowned, but she nodded her head. "Let them in," she said.

Nico raised an eyebrow as an unfamiliar woman strode into the infirmary with her head high, steps assured and steady despite the slightly narrowed eyes directed at her. "Praetors," the woman greeted to Reyna and Frank before inclining her head slightly to Jason. "Pontifex. I have here a signed statement from the Senate," she said, crossing the room towards the two Praetors. "I am afraid that this sudden stirring and activity of the Legion is simply something which is causing unneeded alarm amongst the citizens of New Rome."

"Unneeded alarm?" Reyna echoed flatly, expression highly displeased as she took the signed document off the Senator. Her gaze soured further as she read it. "You want to vote."

The Senator stood firm before the sharp gazes. Nico rather thought she had guts to not even flinch before Thalia's glower. "Yes, Praetor. You're posing all of this unneeded alarm on the words of the Greeks?" The Senator frowned heavily. "It's simply unprecedented and must be considered. What if it's a ploy so they can attack us while our backs are turned?"

Thalia stared at her in disbelief. "Why would we get the Legion to prepare if we were going to attack?" She demanded.

"Thalia," Jason muttered quietly, his eyes flicking between Reyna, Frank and the Senator. Reyna was clenching her fist, expression dark.

The two conscious Emperors were listening intently, neither of them looking very happy.

"We are currently having a time of peace after two large wars," the Senator continued after a brief pause. "Why should we risk that peace?"

"Of course," Frank said, "we will vote in the Senate." Reyna's gaze darkened. "If you wouldn't mind calling the Senate together for us, Senator?" Frank asked. "We will do it immediately, of course," he said.

The Senator paused briefly. "Well, in such a short amount of time it's unlikely that we can-"

"Bullshit," Thalia muttered under her breath.

"Thalia," Jason admonished with a faint frown. He still didn't look happy and a faint smile flickered along his lips at his sister's angry mutters.

"Immediately, Senator," Reyna said firmly. "This is a matter of importance that can't wait for you to procrastinate," she said as she rose to her feet, causing the Senator to splutter at her bluntness. "Jason, I'm sorry, but-"

"It's alright," Jason said with a nod and a small smile. "I'll see you later. Go see if you can get the Senate to see reason."

"Of course," the Senator added smoothly, "while this is all being discussed, the Legion has to stand down from these unauthorised actions."

Thalia bristled. "Unauthorised actions!" She echoed angrily. "The Triumvirate are marching here with an invasion force, and you want the Legion not to defend New Rome?" Thalia demanded.

"This is a Roman matter, graecus, the Senate must-"

"Take care with your tongue, Senator," Jason warned. "That's my sister you're insulting."

That caused the Senator to pause briefly, a brief moment of silence descending, before Reyna spoke up again. "Thank you, Senator," Reyna said flatly. "If you could immediately gather the Senate for us."

The Senator inclined her head slightly. "Praetors," she muttered to Reyna and Frank, before turning and leaving.

Reyna swore as soon as the door closed behind the Senator. "Why did we decide to expand the Senate?" She demanded.

Frank shrugged. "It seemed a good idea at the time," he said tiredly.

Jason looked worriedly at Reyna and Frank. "It'll be fine," he said. "You two will figure it out."

Reyna sighed. "I wished I had your confidence, but stupidity is rife in the Senate," she said.

Jason cracked a small smile as he watched them go. "Thalia, maybe you should go with them?" He asked. "Since you brought the news about the invasion?"

Thalia hesitated. "But you're injured."

The son of Jupiter's smile grew. "I'll be fine," he assured her. "The medics are great here. And they need you there, as a Greek." Jason's eyes flicked to Nico.

Nico would probably be trusted less than Thalia – as the Lieutenant of Artemis' Hunters – due to him claiming to be the Ambassador of Pluto when he first arrived at Camp Jupiter. The realisation that he'd been lying about being Roman had caused no small amount of anger within New Rome.

Thalia sighed. "Okay," she said reluctantly. "Okay, fine. But I'll come straight back after, okay?"

"I'll see you in a few days then," Jason said. Thalia snorted in amusement, but pushed himself to her feet and stared for the door.

Thalia paused briefly. "Chrysaor, are you coming?"

The son of Poseidon clearly considered it. "Watching some fools scream at each other across the Senate will at least be more entertaining than doing nothing," he said with a long, drawn-out sigh as if he hadn't just clearly been entertained by the Senator intruding into the infirmary. He trailed after her, the sink in the infirmary exploding as he left and making everyone jump.

"What was the point of that?" Jason asked in bewilderment as he stared at the shut door.

Nico didn't know the answer to that one as he stared at the water spraying from the sink, only shrugging. He drifted over to Jason, dropping into the chair Thalia had just vacated. Nico was vaguely surprised that Terminus hadn't yet appeared to steal his sword off him, but he wasn't about to ask questions. Nico gestured to the Emperors. "What's with them?" He asked.

Jason smiled. "We helped each other out in the Burning Maze, and they wanted to come back to help defend New Rome. That, and none of them were in any condition to protect themselves after our encounter with Hyperion." Jason grimaced. Nico eyed the burns running down Jason's face. "There is a big difference between a god-Emperor and a god," Jason said.

"We can see about getting in contact with Julius," the one called Marcus said. "While I doubt he'll come to help himself, he at least has his own allies he's managed to keep and make over the years. Maybe some of them can help," he mused.

Nico and Jason paused, Jason turning to raise an eyebrow at Marcus. "Julius Caesar?"

Marcus Aurelius smiled. "Indeed," he said.

The son of Hades scowled. "Is anyone actually dead?"

Marcus laughed. "Of course!" He exclaimed. "Some of us have had no interest in living forever, others wished to rule, and some simply to live and explore and greater world. Julius… is somewhat on reasonable terms with the Triumvirate – they at least speak without attempting to murder each other – but he will not help them." He had a bandage wrapped around his side, leaking golden ichor.

Jason grimaced slightly as he shifted himself. "I should be out there with Reyna and Frank," he complained. "Instead of just sitting here doing nothing. New Rome is close to collapsing and I'm not doing anything to help them keep us together," Jason said, frustration in his tone.

Piper stirred then. She'd been content to rest herself, Nico noted. But there was a frown on her face as she looked to Jason. "You can't do everything," she pointed out. "We've stopped Caligula's plan to make himself into a god, Helios is now out of his reach. Let Reyna and Frank do the next part while you recover, you're no use to anyone injured like this." She grimaced. "Besides, we'll need you to stop this invasion force. Especially if Percy's flying here on Blackjack, he could take too long to help us."

"We don't even know when their army will be here," Jason murmured worriedly. "It could be an hour, it could be a week. All we know is that they're coming," he said.

Nico nodded. "I'll help," he said. "And if Percy gets here in time he'll help too. Even if you're not up and moving by then, we should be fine."

"Might not be," Jason muttered.

Nico slowly nodded. "Maybe," he conceded. "But we have to try."

"Get some sleep," Piper said to Jason.

Jason frowned. "You need to sleep too," he said to her. "Stay in here, it's probably the safest place in Camp Jupiter right now." The son of Jupiter looked frustrated even more as he acknowledged the present state of the Roman Camp.

"I must sleep too to regain my strength," Marcus said. "If Roman politics are anything alike to in my day, we must be prepared for chaos within the Senate. There is every likelihood that the Legion raising defences around the Camp is not approved in the Senate vote."

Jason scowled. "They wouldn't be willing to let an enemy take New Rome," he said sharply.

"Would it really be an enemy though?" Piper asked. "You heard what Reyna and Frank said. Many of the civilians and legionnaires don't think that the Triumvirate are the enemy," she pointed out.

"The Greek is right," Marcus said, causing Jason to raise an eyebrow. "Rome is in quite a state. It will not be an easy fix, but first we must deal with the imminent invasion. After that, the rest can be dealt with."

Nico sighed. "Better rest up, Jason," he said. "Reyna and Frank can hold things down until you can join them," Nico said. "They know what they're doing."

Jason just scowled. "To think there are people trying to kill them," he muttered under his breath. "After everything that's happened lately. Romans trying to kill them." Jason looked utterly baffled at the prospect. "Romans turning against Rome."

Nico shook his head slightly. "Camp Half-Blood had to deal with that in the Titan War," he said to Jason. "Not knowing who your friends are, demigods leaving and joining the enemy… it was difficult," Nico admitted. He hadn't really been there at that time, but he'd heard enough from the demigods who had been there to know that much.

"Because of Luke," Jason said. He frowned heavily. "I'm not sure I trust him and the demigods with him."

"Trust that they want to see Kronos rescued," Nico offered. "And they kind of seem fond of Percy too, aside from Alabastor. They hate each other. But I think they're interested in seeing the Triumvirate crumble too."

Jason smiled slightly. "Not surprised they like Perce," he said in faint amusement. "He has a way of pissing people off, but also getting them attached to him."

Nico shrugged. "He's Percy," he said. "Of course he does." Jason squinted at him, but Nico only looked to Marcus. "What about you and those two?" He asked, gesturing to the two unconscious Emperors and trying to ignore the look Piper was also giving Nico. Antonius had fallen asleep while they'd been talking, and now snored softly with the occasional wince.

"We will help where we can, and fight alongside you all," Marcus said. "If only Antonius and Augustus are recovered enough in that time to join me in doing so." Neither of the two unconscious Emperors looked like they were about to get up and walking anytime soon, so Nico just nodded. "I will also do what I can to assist with dealing with the Senate," Marcus said with a heavy scowl. "They always were an annoyance. I suppose it is too much to ask for that much to change. But as Pontifex, you are the direct link to the gods – religion, for Romans, has always been a large part of life. You hold a position above many and-"

"No," Jason said sharply as Piper rolled her eyes and Marcus directed a sharp glare at her in response. "Reyna and Frank have that position, they are Praetors."

"Technically, within Roman society, the Consul has always been above the Praetors in the Roman Republics. Of course, when you consider the Roman Empires, then one must remember the Emp-"

"Nico," Jason said loudly over the former Emperor, "do you think you can raise some of the dead if you have to? I'd rather not disturb them, but if it reaches that point…"

Nico's eyes flicked to Marcus, whom looked rather irritated to be interrupted. Nico was surprised Jason had even spoken over him in the first place, the perfect Roman that he was. Still, Nico nodded to Jason and continued with the obvious change in topic. "If I have to, as long as there's enough time for me to rest between now and when their army arrives. Even with the ambrosia, that shadow-travel across America tired me out."

Jason nodded, his bright blue eyes keeping focused on Nico and studiously not on Marcus Aurelius. "Well, since you don't know when they'll be here, you might as well join us in sleeping here in the infirmary. I'm sure there's enough guards outside to keep us safe," Jason said.

Nico scoffed. "Unless some of those guards support the Triumvirate," he pointed out.

Jason sighed. "There is that," he agreed. "Pull the chair closer," he said to Nico. "And finish that ambrosia," Jason added. "You look like you need it."

"Thanks," Nico mumbled. "Why did Chrysaor join Thalia and the others in the Senate? Won't he cause problems?"

His cousin paused briefly. "Probably." Jason groaned. "I should've considered that," he muttered.

"Some controlled chaos is good for the Senate," Marcus dismissed. "You don't want them getting too comfortable without you."

Jason shut his eyes for a few long seconds. "This is a Republic, not an Empire," he slowly said. "Actually, it's not even that. We have no Emperors, and no Consuls. Just Praetors."

"That's awfully inefficient," Marcus said.

"Yes," Jason said, "it is. But it works and has worked the entire time we've been here. I tried to change the name of the Legion from the Twelfth to the First once, a few months after the Titan War ended," Jason said. "Everyone nearly mutinied. They like the way things are."

Nico smiled slightly. He could imagine that happening, the sheer chaos that would've engulfed Camp Jupiter from both New Rome and the Legion when Jason tried to change the Legion's name away from the Twelth.

"You Romans do like your tradition," Piper murmured with a tired and sad little smile.

Jason shrugged with a rueful smile. "Tradition has kept us alive so far," he said.

"Hmm," Marcus mused, looking thoughtful as he observed Jason, before he nodded slightly and pushed himself up with a pained grimace.

Alarm sparked across Jason's face. "Wait – where are you going?" He asked as he watched. Marcus picked up a toga with purple trimming which had been laid out for him and the other two Emperors, stepping behind a curtain to clothe himself. "Marcus?" Jason urged, looking like he was prepared to try to get to his feet too.

Both Nico and Piper moved to stop him, causing Jason to frown at them. "Don't," Piper said urgently, having reached Jason before Nico did. "You'll make your injuries worse," Piper said.

"Piper's right, Jason," Nico added. "You need to rest, not to get up and go running after him." How was Nico supposed to talk to the former Emperors, what did they want to be called? He didn't know, but he assumed just calling them by name would be disrespectful.

Marcus stepped out from the curtain, toga perfectly in place. He stepped towards the wash basin off to the side and cleaned off his face. "I will go to assist your Praetors in the Senate," Marcus said. "And ensure the Senate see reason."

The alarm bloomed further across Jason's face. "That's not – Marcus, this is not the Rome you are used to," Jason slowly said. "Threats and arm-twisting won't get you anywhere. No one's going to appreciate it if you start that now," he said worriedly.

Marcus Aurelius paused at the door to leave, hand hovering at the door handle as he looked back at Jason. "Perhaps that is where you and your Praetors have gone wrong, to allow the Senate to undermine you so," he said, his voice low before he opened the door and left.

Nico heard the guards snapping to attention outside the door as the former Emperor passed by before it was closed.

Jason cursed softly under his breath. "This isn't the same as the Rome he's used to," he groaned, pressing a hand to his face.

Nico shrugged. "Well, at least there's a chance he could get the Senate to back off from the Legion," he slowly said. "You need all the allies you can get right now, Jason," Nico said. "At least Marcus might give you some time."

Jason just looked pained at that. "They're not allies if he's strong-arming them into agreeing," Jason pointed out. "That's just going to cause us more problems down the line." He grimaced. "I need to be there," he groaned.

Nico firmly shook his head. "Rest, Jason," he insisted. "You're in no state to be seen by anyone. Everyone's relying on you for this invasion, you know that," Nico said. "If they see you like this they'll lose what little hope they have right now."

"Nico's right," Piper added. "At least trust Reyna and Frank to know what they're doing in the Senate," she said.

Jason nodded. "I do," he said, looking frustrated. "I'm just also aware that Marcus was an Emperor and probably dealt regularly with politicians and has a lot more experience there than Reyna and Frank."

"It can be dealt with after," Nico repeated. "When you haven't got burns along half of your body."

Jason grimaced, but he slowly nodded, his eyes flicking towards the door as if wanting to get up and walk out, storming into the Senate himself.

"I might not trust them," Piper said. "But I do know that they seem invested in New Rome. I don't think Marcus is about to do anything to jeopardise New Rome or the Legion."

Jason nodded again. "He won't," he agreed, relaxing a little at that. "But I'm still worried."

"You'd be stupid if you weren't," Nico said. "But there's nothing you can do about it now." Nico shifted slightly in the chair, stretching out his limbs. "And I need to sleep too, ambrosia can only do so much after shadow travelling like that," he said, settling back in the chair. "So I guess we'll keep you company," Nico added, glancing to Piper whom was sitting on Jason's other side.

Jason's eyes flicked to the door, which Marcus had firmly shut behind him. "Let's hope no one tries to murder us while we're sleeping," he said, his expression flat.

Nico winced and Piper grimaced. "Hopefully," Nico agreed as he too cast an uneasy look towards the door and the Roman guards beyond.

Yeah so, we now have 3 former Roman Emperors at Camp Jupiter, which is currently struggling with unity and trying to assassinate officers... what could go wrong with that? Nothing, I'm sure. XD

As this is New Rome, some future chapters will be dealing with Roman politics etc, which means lots of attempted murder and backstabbing.