Michael

'So two children got a little butthurt at one of their little army get togethers, that doesn't mean that the city just pauses for a couple of days!' Senator Chen disregarded casually, with a clear air of disdain, her wavy long black hair uniform with the rest of her character, calm, but exuding a clear aura of being very dangerous to approach. As spokesperson for the pars populi, the more civilian faction, she immediately gained cheers from the rest of her party.

'They were ambushed and attacked by assassins sent by the Earth Mother herself. Praetor Reyna was wounded fatally, and is still in the ER. That's not exactly butthurt, Senator Chen.' Octavian, spokesperson of the pars ad bellum retorted, disgust for the ignorance of his fellow politician clear in his voice, his status as an ex-legionnaire clearly shining through with his blunt way of delivering information, not caring for the intricacies of politics for once.

'But this merely highlights my point. To have our entire government structured around these two individuals is flawed, especially when you see how easily they can be immobilised, which then further limits any action the government can take in response to any threats towards our sovereignty, which you are so adamant we protect, Senator Helvidia.' Senator Chen rebuked Octavia.

I didn't know Octavian had a surname. I mused.

'You're one to talk.' A voice scoffed from the other side of the room.

I groaned softly, already dreading what the man would say.

'When praetor Perseus presented an action plan for the expansion and modernisation of the Legion, I believe you, Senator Chen, as well as many others within your party, voted against it. Since when have you or your party ever represented taking action?' The spokesperson for the pars praetoria, Senator Vientos, demanded aggressively.

Credit where credit's due, he's putting those ignorant snobs in their place for once. I thought to myself, though that was about the most pleasant thing I could think to mention about the pars praetoria.

Ever since my meeting with Percy yesterday, I had done my best to try and keep the political landscape in the senate stable, calling on Octavian's help as per his instructions.

Percy willingly asking for Octavian's help was not on my bingo card for the war against the earth mother. I thought to myself wearily.

Despite the boost in support Octavian had brought in, the pars populi were fighting tooth and nail for any sort of decentralisation with the absence of both Reyna and Percy, calling snake meetings any chance they got, grasping for any sort of loophole or scandal they could possibly find.

It didn't help that the pars praetoria, our supposed allies in this coalition government, were as eager to pick a fight with the pars ad bellum as they were with the pars populi, at times leading to three-way stalemates on policy.

Gods, Percy better come back soon. Any longer and we'll have riots on our hands.

Just then, shouts were heard, so loud they were clearly audible within the senator house.

'We don't want your government! Long live the true praetor! Long live praetor Jackson!' The cry came up from outside the building from what sounded to be a large crowd of peopel, the sounds of marching boots clearly heard moving in time as their steps echoed against the buildings lining the roads.

Whispers went up all around the senate, senators whispering worriedly to each other, while military staff carefully put hands on weapons, ready to protect themselves and those in the room if needed, guards at the door similarly tense.

I strode forward, quickly taking command of the situation.

Signaling for the rest of the centurions present to follow me, I slowly approached the door, slowly pulling my gladius out of its sheath at my hip, as the others around me did the same, prepared for all eventualities.

Gods, things were so much easier when Terminus was here to deal with security.

I slowly pushed open the grand double doors of the senate house, to masses of citizens jeering and shouting obscenities.

…Just not at the senate house.

In the Forum, two opposing crowds were locked in an intense standoff, occasionally throwing anything they could find at each other.

One side was made up of civilians, largely dressed in regular clothes, with a couple of older citizens dressed in traditional togas, wielding bricks, steel rods and sometimes even engraved swords, likely heirlooms from past family triumphs. A dangerous and armed mob.

On the other side though, lay a much more dangerous foe in waiting.

Dressed in gunmetal black armour, with golden trim and purple capes, fully equipped with imperial gold scutums and gladii, the opposing group waited in perfect formation, scutums forward in case of any attack, sword hands firmly rested on the pommels of their gladii.

The middle of the formation seemed to ripple outwards, soon revealing a similarly armoured man walking calmly to face the mob, taking off his helmet to reveal the youthful face of a young man, with a mop of blond hair carefully slicked back, his jaw jutting forward, in keeping with his standoffish attitude.

'I am Cassius Baker, Centurion of the praetorian guard. We have mustered to maintain order, and restore the rightful ruler to his place in the senate. Vivat Perseus Rex!'

He raised his balled fist into the air, the action quickly mimicked by the rest of the assembled soldiers behind him, the uniform precision of the demonstration making my heart race.

I noticed a couple of auxiliaries nearby taking stock of the situation, hesitantly stepping forward, unsure if they should intervene in the fiasco.

'Michael, what's the plan?' Leila whispered from beside me.

I looked around, seeing more and more Auxiliaries enter the Forum, scutum and pila raised, ready to bring order if needed.

A three way riot. I thought. Fuck. Short of calling the Legion, I don't think there's any way I can deescalate this. And who knows how long the legion might take to muster.

'We wait.' I decided. 'If it escalates, we'll intervene, but I won't let us cause a riot if there's any way to defuse the situation.'

Meanwhile, the mob had continued to advance, the shouts and chants from the massive conglomeration of people massively outnumbering the more well trained and equipped self-styled Praetorian Guard.

I started advancing slowly, sensing that this was only going to get worse.

At least this explains where all the veterans went. I thought to myself drily

Just as the mob was closing in on the offending formation, a brilliant white light caused everybody to look away, averting their eyes from the source.

Once it finally dissipated, a singular individual was present in the centre of the forum, daring anybody to disturb the momentary peace she had brought.

'You dare besmirch the values of our culture?' The growling, but noticeably feminine voice asked dangerously.

Lupa had always been an impressive figure, I remembered perfectly from my time in the wolf house, where the goddess pushed me to my absolute limits to prove my worth to the Legion.

Though now she was in her human form, she was no less intimidating, with dark, navy blue eyes, and long, golden hair which lay loose, curling around her perfectly, accentuating her chiton perfectly.

Of all involved, it was the Cassius guy who reacted first.

'My lady, it is an honour to have you intervene in our quarrel.' He said graciously.

'There is no quarrel.' Lupa snapped. 'You have forgotten yourselves.' She gestured to the mob as well as the praetorians.

'This city has always been a safe haven for our kind, but do not let that fool you into thinking that there is no danger beyond the boundaries of our camp. Now more than ever, the gods beseech you to maintain unity in the face of the greatest threat Rome, and Olympus, has ever faced in its existence.' She ordered.

'You will all disband, return to your homes, your families, and remember to keep in mind the true enemy. She does not lie behind these walls.'

For what felt like an eternity, nobody moved, each side eyeing the other, waiting for the other to make the first move.

Eventually though, an old man dressed in a toga dropped a brick to the ground, dusting himself off grouchily before walking away.

That seemed to be the straw that broke the camel's back, with many more of the mob begin to desert, unwilling to face the wrath of the mother of Rome.

I let out a contented sigh, finally walking down the rest of the stairs.

I noticed the Praetorian Guard hadn't moved, though their body language indicated that they were a lot less sure with the arrival of the wolf mother.

'You have already disgraced the Legion by abandoning it for this… Circus. Leave. Before I change my mind and take you as fodder to lure werewolves.' Lupa growled at Cassius.

The man did not for a moment question the goddess' words, nodding curtly before turning around on his heel, quickly disbanding and marching away, his guard in tow.

'Lady Lupa.' I greeted, relief clear in my voice.

'Kahale.' Lupa greeted. 'I remember training you. Promising, despite your heritage. I am glad to see I was right.'

I nodded jerkily, surprised, although pleasantly so, by the compliment.

'Thank you, my Lady, for breaking up the riot, as well. I'm not sure the auxiliaries would have been able to break that up in time.'

Lupa scowled. 'No, they wouldn't have. I hope young Perseus will be ready to take leadership soon. This sort of power vacuum will only be a detriment to the war effort.'

'I'll see what I can do. Speaking of which, where is Terminus? I mean no disrespect, but he is supposed to be guarding the borders that allowed assassins to attack both Reyna and Percy in the first place.' I said, with more than a bit of doubt in my voice.

Insulting gods was never a good strategy.

Lupa grimaced.

'Terminus is reforming in Tartarus. Count hìm out for the war. From now on, the auxiliary cohort and Legion will have to be in charge of the security of the city. Both from outside threats and those within.'

'Like the Praetorian guard?'

Lupa had an excellent pokerface, not giving away even the slightest emotion.

'I wish you all the best, Centurion Kahale.

XIXI

Percy

The villa was silent.

Ever since… That.

I had mixed feelings about it all, once again Artemis had shook my perception of what was around me.

Every single time I think I understand… I mused irately.

It was comforting, in a way, to know she cared about me, more so than in the capacity of a short-term relationship most gods usually engaged in, and my heart warmed when I remembered how passionately she had denied my thoughts on the matter.

XIXI

Flashback

'I meant what I said, Perseus.' Artemis declared shyly.

It had been a couple of hours since our preliminary discussion, and although most of it was spent in comfortable, if not tense silence, clearly there were still unresolved issues in Artemis' mind.

She lay down on my sofa in my living room beside me, her head draped across my lap as I absentmindedly played with her hair.

'I am still mortal though, Artemis. Nothing I do can change that.' I said.

Artemis frowned. 'I can change that. Once the war is over, I can get father to grant you immortality. Make you at least stop ageing. It won't be a problem. I promise.'

I stared down at Artemis' face, sincerity clearly written across it.

'I don't want you to get hurt, Artemis. Things don't always work out.' The words felt strange in my mouth, even as I knew they were true.

This level of care, of love, was alien to me, the closest thing I could approximate it to being the love I held for my mother.

And I can barely remember her voice. I thought morosely.

It was so painful, to watch someone you cared for suffer, no less for you.

Not with any of my closest friends or family had I ever had a bond like this before.

Artemis smiled softly, a soft, lilting melancholy laced in her voice. 'I've made a lot of mistakes, Perseus, I'm not letting this become another one.'

XIXI

Percy

Water sloshed lethargically as I repositioned myself, submerged almost completely in the bath.

I felt myself close to full strength once more, and I only ever felt some strain when I tried experimenting with my powers without the support of my trident.

And Howard said that I would probably take a week to recover. I chuckled to myself, although part of me wasn't convinced he was wrong.

I felt like I would need a lifetime to recover from that poison. And yet two days later and you wouldn't know there'd been an attempt on me in the first place.

Something strange was happening to me, and I had a premonition that my trident was somehow involved.

It's no coincidence that I unlock some strange raw power in my trident, and then shortly after I start performing feats I probably would have died from before.

It pained me to be left in the dark like this, but I didn't have anybody I trusted that could know about this to turn to.

Look at Nereus.

If I had ever had a reason to keep the power of my trident a secret, it was the moment of crazed lust for power I had spotted in Nereus' eyes.

Artemis had already left earlier, promising to resume our nightly meetings once more.

Checking my watch, I slowly got out of the bath with a groan, making my way to my bed.

That night though, I didn't have Artemis to comfort me.

XIXI

Theseus

The now familiar beeping of heart monitors assaulted my senses as I entered the room, the nurse on duty recognising me, giving me a brief nod before exiting the room.

I gave a small sigh as I pulled a chair from the corner of the room, placing it beside the bed before taking a seat.

Reyna seemed calm, collected and in control, her face expressionless as she lay motionless in the hospital gurney.

I had left only long enough to shower, change and sleep, only just keeping myself functional, my focus solely on returning to this room.

I took one of her hands in mine tenderly, making sure not to cause her any discomfort, simply rubbing it softly, safe in the knowledge she was recovering.

Her face seemed angelic, her hair splayed out around her like a halo.

Don't let Percy take control.

That had been Reyna's final plea, before she passed out from blood loss.

Could I really follow through with that?

Heck, was it even the right thing to do?

The more I was around, the more I was included in the everyday goings of the government, the command, as ambassador, and my… Relationship, with Reyna, the more suspicious and alarming Percy's actions became.

His blatant disregard for those around him, aloofness, and tendency to throw his weight and rank around instead of actually politicking were all worrying signs of what could come to be a dictator.

Politicking? Gods, Reyna's rubbing off on me.

I would try and avoid more bloodshed, keep the peace, as Reyna would have wanted.

But if Percy did take control, what could I do to stop him?

Could anybody stop him?

AN:

So. I actually finished this chapter a lot quicker than I thought I would, given everything. (Granted, it is like a thousand words shorter than the last chapter, but oh well.)

Didn't upload this eventually because I wanted to build up a supply of chapters in case I have busy weeks that don't give me time to write, so sorry for the wait ig.

This chapter really is just a 'what happened to everybody after the thing' chapter, setting up new character arcs, resolving old tensions and expanding on the new political scene in New Rome.

Anyways, Reviews!

fugy: Thanks man, I agree that it's not perfect, (Nowhere near lol.) But for being my first time writing, I have to say I'm pretty proud of how this is turning out.

Dymp: Happy to hear you're enjoying my fic as of yet. Move has been great thanks, actually went a lot better than I thought, so I'm in a much better place now.

I'm so glad you appreciate the groundedness. It was something that always annoyed me with other fics, which are so quick to clutter the world with new places and characters without even fully expanding on the ones they already have, and I find this sort of smaller stakes make it a lot easier to get invested into a character's story.

I appreciate the support for the next fic too! It's probably not going to be for a while, since I just starte DP, which is, frankly, hell, but even then, my next fic probably won't be set in the PJO universe, but hey, if you're a fan of ace combat, you're in luck lol.

John23421: Always good to hear the chapters are getting better, means I'm going somewhere with this. Always quality of quantity, in my opinion, but if I can deliver both, well that's just a win win.

Also, please do drag me back to Ireland. I miss Wicklow.

But I promise I'll never abandon the fic you're welcome ;)

M0NAX1A: Good to hear, hope this chapter is up to scratch!

PetrogradAN: Hell yeah hahahah! The confession is finally out, and Percy and Artemis have pretty much sorted out their trust issues. I love how you put it as this 'Artemis and Percy against the world' Vibe. I never really gave it a name, but I think you just won first prize.

The vibe is real, and I'm going to crank it up even more probably next chapter, maybe the one after depending on length and decisions I make on pacing.

So that's about it, hope everybody is having or had a great summer break, and the best of luck to the new school year. (I know I'll need it).

Slán, Murph