Annabeth

I didn't think I'd end up in limbo because I repeatedly walked through a door. But, here I am, being told that by the strange "Dreamer."

Truthfully, I had no idea how I felt about them. The Dreamer was regarded as this ethereal guide by Soundwave, and placed as his guide by one of the god-like Primes. Yet, all I saw was a sarcastic teenager who needed a good night's rest.

Kris, or as they were called, the Dreamer, didn't look all that remarkable at a glance. Just a teen with baggy cloths, long hair, and an unamused expression. However, when I actually bothered to take a good look at them, they seemed a lot more intruding.

First off, they had blood red eyes that glowed. Secondly, they had weird scars on their hands and face. Third, they had bandaged every part not covered by clothing, except their fingers. Lastly, is what they said.

The thing about Clovis being the one to put Soundwave to sleep was the only thing they said that made sense. First, they said that we had gotten there because we walked through a door over and over and that just so happened to send us to this pocket dimension. Next, they said that they and someone called "Swatch" would create a body capable of sleeping that was compatible with Soundwave's mind. Lastly, they told us to find Leo Valdez.

"What do you mean 'find Leo Valdez?" I shouted, "He's dead!"

Kris chuckled before smugly replying, "Two words: Physician's Cure."

"Why would the Physician's Cure matter? According to both Annabeth and Percy's memories, Hazel manipulated the mist to trick Piper into believing she had the cure, while Leo kept it." Soundwave questioned.

"Well, Leo put the Physician's Cure into Festus' systems, and after the blast, Festus used it to revive him."

"Despite the logic behind your statement, why would Leo not return to Camp?"

"He wanted to find Calypso."

"Why was he looking for Calypso?" I asked.

"Well, he kinda had a thing where he swore on the River Styx that he would find Calypso and free her from Ogygia. And, you know, the whole 'an oath to keep with final breath' thing from the Prophecy?"

"Oh my gods... Leo's promise to Calypso was the oath! But- how would he manage to find her? Isn't Ogygia supposed to be impossible to reach?"

"Leo wasn't the only one to try."

I questioned, "What do you mean?"

"Odysseus tried the same thing centuries ago, making a astrolabe that could find Ogygia. But, he could't finish it because he didn't have a crystal from Ogygia. Leo found the incomplete astrolabe, and he had the crystal needed to finish it. So, he completed the astrolabe, installed it into Festus, and the rest is history."

"Even so, how would we find him?"

"Simple. Soundwave can listen for him."

"How?"

"Well, Tyson can mimic Leo's voice, and Soundwave could use it as a sort of auditorial compass. He'd listen for a voice that sounded like Leo, listen dor a girl and a machine, triangulate his position, and use a Ground Bridge to get to him."

"Alright, but what about this 'body' you're going to make for Soundwave?"

"Oh, right. Hey G?" Kris yelled out.

Seemingly responding to something, they yelled, "Yeah, can you do me a favor and activate the Goner Maker?"

Yet again, Kris was doing something that made no sense. Then, out of nowhere, the entire dimension started to shift. Instead of just a black void, it had this pattern on it, and haunting music started playing.

Kris called out, "Thanks!"

"What the Hades?!" I shouted.

"Oh, right, should've given you guys a heads-up. So, this is the Goner Maker, where I'll make Soundwave a vessel."

"You are going to make me a vessel?" Soundwave asked.

"Well, I'll make it, but you choose the parts you want to use. Okay?"

"Affirmative."

"Alright. First, choose what head you prefer."

"What do you mean what head does he prefer... OH MY GODS!"

Suddenly, a row of gray, featureless heads appeared. The biggest difference between each was face shape and hair style, as none of them had faces. It was... disturbing, to say the least.

Soundwave also seemed shocked, yet swiftly recovered and selected a head that looked disturbingly similar to Percy's.

"Great! Now, which torso do you prefer?"

"Don't tell me... why?!"

The row of heads disappeared, being replaced with a row of torsos, also gray. The biggest difference seemed to be the shirts. Some had jackets, some just had t-shirts, and some had suits. Soundwave picked a torso with an open jacket and arm braces.

"Ah, I see the look you're going for. Now, the legs.

I didn't bother saying anything as the row of torsos were replaced with rows of legs, which were, again, gray. Like the torsos, the only difference between each seemed to be what type of pants and shoes they all had. Soundwave picked one with jeans, sneakers, and a utility belt.

"Yep, that's a cool look. G! You can deactivate the Goner Maker now!"

In response, the dimension once again shifted to a black void, and the music disappeared. The only thing left was a tall, gray-scale body made from the parts Soundwave chose. I had to agree with Kris, it looked cool.

"Okay. Now, to give it life. Stand back, and don't freak out."

"Not like anything can freak us out any more than rows of limbs and heads."

"Wouldn't be so sure."

Kris then reached into their pocket and pulled out a the drive labeled "Swatch." They proceeded to wrap their hands around the drive, and energy seemed to seep into it. Then, they threw it on the ground, and it became a glittering star. The star grew into a creature.

This creature was what I assumed was Swatch. It was tall, had black "hair" and a white body. It wore orange and yellow eyeglasses, had an alternating black-and-white suit with a red circle on the black part and blue, yellow, and green squares on the white part. It looked angular and somewhat muscular.

It spoke, "At your service, young master."

"What the heck is that?! Where did it come from?!" I shouted.

"Did I not just tell you to not freak out?"

"You didn't say a butler would randomly form from a thumb drive!"

"Young master, who is the yelling blonde girl?"

"Two things. One, she's Annabeth. Two, could you stop calling me 'master?' It feels weird."

"Well, 'Boss' sounds much too unprofessional, and referring to you by name is much too personal. I am a loyal butler, and you are my valued customer."

"Look, you can just call me Kris, okay? How many times do I have to tell you that?"

"No matter how many, I am a professional butler and will continue to regard my valued customers with respect."

Kris smirked before looking at me and sarcastically commenting, "You see what I have to put up wi- ph, you're still panicking from the whole 'Swatch randomly forming from a thumb drive,' aren't you?"

"Uh, yeah! Care to explain?"

"Annabeth, Soundwave, this is Swatch, one of my butlers. He's a darkner."

"A darkner?" Soundwave asked.

"Essentially, they're items brought to life by dark energy. Their form reflects the function of the item they originate from. For example, Swatch, who was a digital swatch in art programs, became a swatch-themes butler."

"Why do you need him?"

"Because he needs to put color into the vessel. Without it, it's just a gray husk. Got that?"

"Affirmative."

"Alright, Swatch?"

"Yes young master?"

"Do you see Soundwave over there?"

"I do."

"We're going to try to translate his color scheme onto the vessel. Could you please hand me a paintbrush, and follow my lead?"

"As you wish."

Swatch handed Kris a paintbrush, and the two of them got into a similar stance. Then, they looked at Soundwave, and began imbuing color into the vessel.

It was a fantastic sight to say the least. Swatch was following Kris's every move, every stroke, every dab, everything. They were in sync. As they did, color began streaming onto the vessel from the paintbrush and Swatch's hand. The jacket was colored blue, the arm braces silver, the shirt black, the pants silver, the boots blue and silver, the hair blue, the skin Caucasian, and they added a silver mask with a red visor. The vessel, once lifeless, looked like Soundwave now.

"Alright, thanks Swatch."

"Any time, young master."

"Alright, return!"

At the command, Swatch receded back into being a thumb drive. Kris then took the thumb drive and put it into their pocket."

"What. Was. That." I demanded.

"That was me and Swatch imbuing Soundwave's vessel with life. Anyways, you guys can go back now. Don't forget the vessel!"

"Affirmative."

Spundwave picked up the vessel, which just stood still, not even reacting at all. I walked over to his leg, and put my hand on the giant alien.

"So, follow me back to your camp!"

I looked at Soundwave, and he nodded at me. We followed Kris as they walked in an arbitrary direction, but seeing the nonsense happening, and the fact that Kris was right about all of it, I believed they could get us back.

We walked for a bit, and finally, we didn't see that Tree. Eventually, I saw the sunlight and green trees. Home.

Sorry about randomly shoving Kris in there.

"Yeah, that was kinda cheap."

Hush! Shouldn't you be going back to waiting for chapter 3?

"I know. Just heading back now. Hopefully, the next time I see you is in a fic that actually involves me."

Ha ha, hilarious. See you.

Anyways, just wanted to explain that this was the best way to do this. My previous plan had Leo make Soundwave into a headmaster, and have the headmaster become a pretender. However, that would be way too complicated. Also, I would still need to have an excuse to have them start looking for Leo, and it sure as heck wasn't going to be any way that was natural. Remember, at this point, everyone is sure Leo is dead.

So, since Kris would be dragged into this anyways, I decided "frag it" and just had Kris make Soundwave a vessel and tell him about Leo. Fixes the convoluted "headmaster-pretender" thing I was doing, and offered a better reason for Kris to be there. Dragging Annabeth into the mix was just for fun.