Chapter 34: I Get Invited to the Sea God Convention

Percy was back at lunch at Merriweather Prep, years before when he had gone to school with Tyson. Tyson sat across from him, his head buried in his hands as he cried.

"I…I am a freak?" he was asking.

Percy wanted to jump across the table and tackle him in a hug. To hold him close and tell him that no, he wasn't a freak. He was his little brother. He was his friend.

But Percy remained glued to his seat, watching his brother cry as he was powerless to stop it.

When he woke up, he realised he would rather be trapped in that dream than forced to face the reality of what had happened.

There was a pain in his chest, but it wasn't from any injury. There was a pang of emptiness from the Tyson shaped hole in his heart. He wanted to cry, but he was too depressed to actually bring any tears to the surface. He lay there for a while, eyes closed, reminiscing about his adventures with Tyson in the Sea of Monsters and in Daedalus' labyrinth. He thought about when Tyson had handed him his shield for the first time. He remembered how they had won the chariot race because of his shield, when Percy had claimed Tyson as his baby brother in front of camp for the first time. He remembered the cheers, and the look of unrestrained joy on Tyson's face.

He found the energy to cry, and when the tears came they didn't come in short supply.

He opened his eyes for the first time and found himself staring up at a strange looking ceiling. The ceiling was an endless expanse of shimmering blue, dotted with flickering lights that danced like stars. He blinked, trying to focus, and realised that the lights weren't stars, they were schools of fish, swimming gracefully overhead. It was as he sat up that he realised how weightless his body was, moving effortlessly through what he now realised was water.

He took in his surroundings, noting that he was on a plain bed made of silky woven kelp, in a room panelled with abalone shell. Glowing pearls the size of basketballs floated around the open-air (water?) ceiling, providing light. Overhead was the open ocean, but he was so deep under the water that he couldn't see the surface.

He recalled the last time he had woken up underwater, it had been right after he and Charles Beckendorf had blown up the Princess Andromeda. Tyson had been at his bedside when he woke up.

He pushed the thought away and stood, appreciating for a moment that he didn't feel exhausted or weak. Groggy? For sure. Depressed? Of course. But he felt fully recharged, and it was then that he started to get angry.

Ishtar's face swam into focus in his mind, followed shortly after by Vesper and Jett. Enlil, the most powerful being to exist, the personification of power itself had declared war on Percys family, and his brother had been the first casualty.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out Tysons camp beads, holding the necklace in front of him as he perched on the edge of the bed.

"I swear to you," he whispered, his voice vibrating out throughout the water, "I will get stronger. I wasn't strong enough to protect you…but I promise…I'll be strong enough to avenge you."

And with that, he stood and swam out of the room.

Outside of the doorframe he found a meeting room, a large circular mosaic table was laid out in the centre, circled by two seated figures muttering quietly about various sections of the map. As Percy approached they all looked up.

"Percy," his father sighed. His sea-green eyes were gentle, but heavy. Full of grief, but also concern as Percy approached.

Triton sat at their fathers right hand. His bruises were gone, but his face mirrored the look of grief on Poseidon. He stood, and as he did so Percy realised that his legs had been replaced by two mermaid tails. He swam over and, much to Percy's surprise, pulled him into a hug.

"I'm sorry Percy, I should have protected him better. I should have realised we were heading into a trap."

Percy couldn't hold back the ironic laugh that slipped out as he returned the hug, "Here I was about to apologise for not being strong enough to save him."

Triton smiled, but it was a tired one, "It must be a trait of our fathers."

The prince turned and swam back to his seat, gesturing for Percy to join them. He took the seat to his fathers left and leaned back as his father fingered his trident worriedly.

"What happened?" Percy asked, turning to each of them in turn, "I don't remember much after Tyson went down."

Poseidon stroked his beard as he replied, "I heard Tritons call, and responded as soon as I could. My arrival seemed to scare them off, and the Annunaki took to the skies with the dragon. Besides, I was more concerned with making sure my sons were safe. Unfortunately I was too late for Tyson. The fleet headed southwest, towards the Panama Canal. I have been tracking them, slowing them down with storms but they are protected by powerful magic. On top of that, I was also unable to track the dragon. That is my brother's domain and he is being…less than helpful."

Percy turned his attention to the table, and realised that the mosaic table was a map of the globe, with various figures moving slowly across the surface. There were two small tridents and a large one huddled together in the middle of the Pacific, while not too far from them a red ship sailed towards central America. Various other symbols were scattered across the world, but the ones in the ocean moved, whereas the ones on land remained stationary.

"Is this live?" Percy whispered.

"As up to date as my knowledge is," his father huffed in quiet pride, "And in the ocean, my knowledge is unmatched. But before we get into the map, there is something else we must discuss. Losing Tyson is a tragedy. But it does not have to be the end of his story."

Percy raised an eyebrow.

"Your brother," the sea god continued, "Is a cyclops and, like all cyclops, his death is not necessarily permanent."

Percy's eyes snapped open wide, "Wait a minute, you're saying we can bring him back?"

Poseidon held his hand up in a cautioning gesture, "I am saying that Tyson is, technically, a monster. And monsters do reform given enough time. The issue is-"

Triton cut off his father, "The issue is that he will reform in Tartarus. And the pit is unforgiving. He will have to figure out how to survive down there, long before he thinks about escape."

"So I'm confused," Percy said, his eyebrows furrowing, "What's the problem here? I'll just go down there and get him."

Triton baulked, "Percy, Tartarus is incredibly dangerous. It is the prison of the gods where the worst of our enemies are contained and where monsters are the least of your worries."

Percy shrugged, "I've been there before, this time I won't forget to hit the souvenir shop on the way out."

Triton frowned, "You…you've been there before?" he asked incredulously.

"Yeah, Annabeth and I closed the doors of death. My friend Bob helped."

Triton turned to Poseidon, "He…he went to Tartarus?"

Poseidon couldn't stop a wry smile from gracing his features, "I believe when he says 'his friend Bob' he means your great-uncle Iapetus."

Triton's jaw slackened, and he looked at Percy in awe, "If he has survived Tartarus once then…perhaps he really can get Tyson back."

Poseidon sighed, "I don't doubt that Percy has both the drive and capability to rescue Tyson from the pit, especially after his time in the ice. But I believe it is an unfortunate reality that at this point Percy does not have time to invest in an expedition into Tartarus."

"The Annunaki," Percy growled, a statement more than a question.

"It appears," his father started, "That the Annunaki were far more prepared for us than we were for them. And it is high time we changed that, starting with bringing each other up to speed on what we know about the threat. And for that reason…I have invited a guest."

The way his father phrased it put Percy on edge, and so when Poseidon's gaze moved to something beyond him Percy spun in his chair to see the newcomer. The figure that entered was striking, a huge merman with the upper body of a tall and muscular man, with a long green beard and hair, along with the horns of a bull. Percy recognised him from somewhere, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it, until Triton howled in anger.

"YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" The godling bellowed, his trident expanding in his hand as the water around him hissed with energy, "HOW DARE YOU COME HERE. I'LL BLAST YOU BACK TO WHATEVER ROCK YOU CRAWLED OUT OF!"

Triton moved as though he was going to charge the newcomer, but Poseidon placed a heavy hand on his son's shoulder, "Peace son, I invited him here."

Triton looked incredulously at his father as the newcomer swam towards the table, taking a seat at the last remaining chair, on the other side of the table across from Poseidon and between Triton and Percy.

He surveyed the three of them, his dark blue eyes looking tired as he lazily stroked his beard in a manner that was remarkably similar to Poseidon. His gaze settled on Percy's father, and when he spoke his voice rumbled from deep in his chest, heavy with an accent Percy couldn't quite place.

"You called for me, your majesty."

Poseidon nodded, "You are already familiar with my son Triton. So allow me to introduce you to my other son, Percy. Percy, this is-"

"Oceanus," Percy finished for him, his icy blue eyes meeting Oceanus' dark ones as the Titan of the Sea sized him up once more. Percy knew he recognised him, and now he remembered where from. He had seen a miniature version of Oceanus on a mosaic table not unfamiliar to the one in front of them now, when he had woken up in his fathers palace before the Battle of New York. He had been in full battle regalia then, being pulled by a chariot of giant crawfish, waging war on his father. Now he just looked like a tired old man.

"So you are the boy who defeated my brother?" Oceanus mused, raising an eyebrow.

"Someone had to do it, he was about to get my high school prom cancelled."

The Titan cackled, his chest heaving as he leaned back in the chair, grinning at Percy with a glint in his eyes not unlike Poseidons. "Defeated by a boy not yet able to grow a beard. And to think I let the bastard fool me into joining him."

"You killed thousands of good men," Triton growled, still standing, "Do you have no shame?"

"War is death, boy. I've seen enough of it to know. For every man you lost I lost five," Oceanus' gaze shifted from Triton to Poseidon, "Your father is formidable."

"You lost your men in a war you started," Triton spat, "You chose war, and you were punished for it. My men died for nothing. You were nothing but a distraction to keep my father tied up so Kronos and Typhon could destroy Olympus. But-"

"But they didn't!" Oceanus finished, his dark eyes flashing, "I am sorry for your losses, but I did not come here to be scolded for something that happened decades ago. I lost, I retreated. Kronos started a war he couldn't finish…and I knew when I was beat."

Percy couldn't help but like the Titan. He reminded Percy a lot of his father, and the way he took responsibility for his part in the war was something that Percy respected. The fact that he had heeded Poseidon's call and had come to help also won him some brownie points.

Triton turned to Poseidon, "He is a war criminal. He should be punished."

Poseidon sighed, "And how would you like me to punish him? We are gods, Triton. If you keep holding grudges you will end up like your uncle."

"Miserable bastard," Percy told Oceanus," I don't know if you've had the pleasure. Very dreary. Wears all black even in summer. Tried to lock me up in the Underworld…twice."

Oceanus smirked, "I've been acquainted," He turned to Poseidon, nodding his head towards Percy, "I like this one."

Triton was glaring daggers at Oceanus, but at Poseidon's insistence he took his seat. He kept his trident out though, spinning it as he glared at the Titan, as though he was wondering how his head would look on its spikes.

"I invited Lord Oceanus here, because he is a Titan, and as my own knowledge of the Annunaki is severely lacking, I was hoping he could fill in some of the gaps for us." Poseidon explained, gesturing to the Titan that he had the floor.

Oceanus sighed, the fingering of his green beard picking up speed with a hint of nervousness, "I was not close with my father, but I was close with my mother. She would tell me stories, stories of great beings that descended from the stars. Mighty. Powerful. She told me how they saved her as she lay dying at the hands of Khaos. She would recall that day with such fondness. 'The start of civilization' she would call it, 'the day it all began'. There were twenty Primordials that emerged from the void. But they were not the beings we think of them as today. They were weak, infants by godly standards, coming to terms with a world they did not understand. They were created in a void called Khaos-"

"We know how primordials were formed," Triton interrupted, "We're asking about the Annunaki!"

"No, I want to hear this," Percy told him, gesturing for Oceanus to continue.

Oceanus nodded appreciatively towards Percy, "The Primordials were created from a void called Khaos. Think of it as a Big Bang of sorts, but of godly energy. An immense concentration of energy that was unleashed in the form of twenty beings here on earth, each destined to personify the world around them. My father the skies, my mother the earth, my uncles and aunts the rest of the world. Pontus, my favourite uncle for obvious reasons, was the Primordial of the Oceans, and it is he that learnt under the tutelage of the Nammu, the Anunnaki of the Oceans."

Percy glanced over at his brother, "You mentioned finding a prison with the inscription Nammu."

Triton had been glaring at Oceanus, but he turned his attention to Percy and his expression turned thoughtful, "We found the tomb just off the Kenyan coast. It was being guarded by a kraken."

"Did you check to see if the Annunaki was still imprisoned inside?" Oceanus inquired.

Triton narrowed his eyes, "The tomb appeared sealed."

"We also thought that all the Annunaki were imprisoned," Percy sighed, "And our recent confrontation with Ishtar was a bit of a reality check. She said that they were nearing the endgame."

Poseidon nodded, "After this meeting, I will check the tomb."

Oceanus leaned forward, "As I was saying, there was an immense concentration of energy that was unleashed. But just as there was matter and antimatter in the Big Bang, in Khaos there was godly energy and…something else."

"A monster?" Percy offered.

Oceanus raised an eyebrow in surprise. "A monster," he agreed, "It hunted the fledgling Primordials, containing within it all the power of the void that created them. Existence is a struggle, a fight against a gaping chasm of nothing that seeks to consume all. The creature that came out of the void after them was the personification of that nothingness. It sought to squash out the potential of life before it had time to flourish. And it would have until-"

"The Annunaki," Percy finished, "They came down and saved them. Healing them…and killing the monster."

"How could you know that?" Oceanus asked, frowning.

"It's part of my destiny," Percy replied, "That or the psychedelic trip my satyr friend sent me on was uncannily accurate."

Oceanus turned his frown to Poseidon, and the sea god shrugged in response. Oceanus shook his head in disbelief, chuckling quietly to himself, "My mother would speak in awe of the power they demonstrated. She said she had never seen anything like them, before or since. The most powerful beings in the world, descended from the heavens to bring life to a desolate planet."

"She makes them sound like the good guys," Percy noted.

"According to my mother they were," Oceanus shrugged, "But apparently there was infighting among them, a few went mad with power, and they ended up destroying themselves."

"Destroyed themselves how?" Triton asked, frowning.

Oceanus shook his head, "She never told me that part of the story. It seemed to upset her quite a bit."

Percy leaned back in his chair and sighed, "Well, it's not exactly the story I got, but some things are starting to add up," When he looked up he realised all three of the sea gods were staring at him, as though waiting for him to continue, "Oh, right. Firstly, they aren't from Earth. I don't know where they're from, obviously, but everything points to the fact that they're from offworld."

"Aliens?" Triton asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I guess," Percy laughed, "Some sort of ancient aliens. It seems like they came to Earth and protected the Primordials, killing the Khaos creature or whatever it was, and then teaching the Primordials how to use their powers."

"That sounds like a nice story," Poseidon interrupted, "But it does not explain the situation we are in now. Nor does it line up with the stories of the Annunaki that I was told." The rest of the table turned their attention to the sea god, and he continued, "When I was growing up inside my fathers stomach, he visited one of the tombs of the Annunaki. Which one? I cannot answer, I was of course in his stomach, but we could feel the power. Ancient, foreboding. The stories we were told of the Annunaki were that they were imprisoned around the globe, and that one day they would rise up to assume their rightful place as rulers. To the younger gods it was a boogeyman story, a way to keep the likes of Hermes and Apollo in line. But to myself and my siblings, those who experienced the weight of the Annunaki, we knew there was an element of truth to the stories."

"So they were good, then they turned bad and killed a bunch of people," Percy summarised, "So the question is what happened to turn them evil and why did they kill everyone?"

"What do you mean kill everyone?" Triton asked.

"Chronos told me that one of them created a race of beings called the First Men, and that their king was angry with them so he wiped them…out." Percy trailed off as pieces began to slowly slot into place from his dreams, "Marduk…"

"Marduk was supposedly a hero," Poseidon added, filling the silence left behind by Percy, "It was said he was the one who stopped the Annunaki the first time."

Percy was silent for a moment, but when he spoke, there was an edge of certainty underlying his words as the thousands year old story finally began to make some sense, "Marduk was king of the Annunaki, and it was he who descended from the heavens to lead the Annunaki to the Primordials defence. However, he fell in love with a mortal woman, one of the First Men, or First Women I guess, and he abdicated his throne to his younger brother Enlil. Enlil is the one who wiped out the First Men, and with it Marduk's lover. I'm guessing that's why Marduk fought against him, and according to Chronos he was able to seal him offworld but at the cost of his own life."

"So the Annunaki can be killed?" Triton frowned.

"Only by Enlil. He has a power, its called-"

"Blue lightning," Oceanus and Poseiodn finished Percy's sentence in unison, and a heavy silence fell over the table.

Percy finally understood the disconnect, why some saw the Annunaki as heroes and others as villains. Both the stories were true, but it all hinged on who was leading the ANnunaki. In Percy's dream, he had seen Marduk hand over the throne to his younger brother so that he could leave his duties and live with his mortal lover. Doing so had not only cost him the life of the mortal he loved, but her entire race, and eventually his own life.

"So what do they want?" Triton finally spoke, his voice barely above whisper.

Once more the three sea gods turned their attention to Percy, and he was suddenly keenly aware once more of the enormous pressure that had been piled onto his young shoulders, "Enlil says he will kill the ruling gods, Ishtar says they will wipe out the mortals. All of a sudden being a demigod doesn't seem like such a bad thing."

The gods didn't seem to appreciate his joke, and so Percy ended up scratching his head awkwardly as they sunk in the reality of what may face them.

"So to recap," Triton groaned, "A race of beings more powerful than the Primordials have returned and are planning on bringing back their leader, who was only able to be beaten by one of their own. He will then lead them to kill the Olympians, emphasis on kill, not beat, kill. Wipe out the mortals, and assume the throne of what I can only guess will be the ashes of Earth. Did I miss anything?"

"They have a dragon," Percy offered, and Triton nodded in thanks at the reminder.

"All of a sudden," Oceanus sighed, "The depths of the ocean offer me safety, as opposed to humiliation."

Percy turned to face the Titan, "So that's what your plan is? To hide in the depths of the ocean and pray they don't find you?"

Oceanus shrugged, "Even when the Titans ruled the heavens, I was not greatly involved. I kept to my business, always have."

"Except for when you attacked us," Triton spat.

Oceanus nodded, "Rather out of character for me if I am being honest, and in hindsight a very costly mistake. It seems I would be best served by avoiding other conflicts."

"This could be the last conflict that matters," Percy argued.

Oceanus shook his head, "Perhaps for you. When you are as old as I am-"

"I am sick," Percy interrupted, standing as a rush of anger began to fuel him, "of people telling me how old and wise they are because they've lived thousands of years. Thousands of years of sitting on your ass watching the clock tick by as you waste away at the bottom of the ocean doesn't make you wise. You were willing to throw your lot in with your brother, even when he has been proven to lose time and time again. That doesn't sound very wise to me. How about instead of betting on your brother, you bet on the guy that beat him. I've been beating the odds since I was old enough to start fighting against them."

Oceanus' eyes flashed, "You would have me fight for the son of the man who usurped me?"

"No," Percy argued, "I wouldn't have you fight for me, I'd have you fight alongside me, as allies."

"Percy!" Triton scowled, raising from his chair, "You are asking for help from a Titan!"

"So what?" Percy countered, "I have friends who are Titans. Calypso, Bob-"

"Wiping my brother's memory and turning him into your slave isn't what I would call a friend," Oceanus growled.

Now it was Percy's turn for his eyes to flash, as they pulsed ice blue in the water. "Don't talk about things you don't understand," Percy snarled, "Bob saved my life, and I would do the same for him."

"That's why he's in Tartarus then," Oceanus shot back, "While you're sitting here. Because you're such a good friend."

And to that, Percy didn't have an answer. Instead he shut his mouth and sat back down in his chair, his cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and shame. It was true, how could he claim that he was Bob's friend when he had left him down there in Tartarus? Come to think of it, he hadn't even been the one to save Calypso. Sure he had told the gods to free her, but they hadn't followed through with his wish. Instead Leo had been the one to go and save her. If he couldn't protect his friends, who was he supposed to protect the world from what was coming? He sunk deeper into his chair and turned his attention back to what had devolved into a shouting match between Oceanus and Triton.

"-here and be scolded by you for something that happened over twenty years ago. We fought, you won, now be the bigger person and move on!" Oceanus growled in frustration.

"I just find it ironic that you were more than willing to throw men in the line of fire when you had the opportunity to take back control of the oceans, but when the fate of the entire world is on the line you are more than content to sit back and do diddly squat," Triton fired back as a retort.

"I came here at your fathers request to provide you with what information I had. I have done that, I never promised to fight, and your father never asked me to because he knew what my response would be."

"You're a coward," Triton growled, "And what's worse-"

"Leave him, Triton," Poseidon finally intervened, "Thank you for your help Oceanus. It has been much appreciated."

The Titan nodded to the god of the seas and then turned on his heel (fin?) and swiftly swam out the same way he had entered, leaving the Lord of the Seas and his two sons in silence around the table.

"That was a waste of time," Triton spat.

"Not completely," Percy noted, "Now at least we have a more complete picture of the whole story."

"You think we can trust him?" the godling asked.

"We have no reason not to," Poseidon sighed, "And as much as he might say the opposite, he does have something to gain in our victory. I am sure even he is aware that the Annunaki will have the capacity to find him."

"So he is as stupid as he is cowardly," Triton huffed. The sea prince looked over at Percy and his gaze softened, "Don't take what he said to heart. He doesn't know what he's talking about."

"He's not wrong though," Percy lamented, "I did leave Bob in Tartarus after he saved my life. I wasn't strong enough to save Tyson. And no offence dad but I'm fighting to save an institution that has done nothing to help me, despite everything I've done for it."

Poseidon closed his eyes and contemplated what he said, mulling it over in his head. After a few moments he opened his eyes, and locked them firmly on his sons. "I don't blame you for losing faith in Olympus Percy. What hurts me is it seems you are losing faith in yourself. I would never hold it against you to not fight for me. I haven't been the best father. I claimed you when I needed you, and forced upon you a prophecy of unimaginable consequence. You have exceeded what I could have expected. You have proven yourself a hero, shoulders above any who could claim to be your peer. But I see now you doubt yourself."

Percy shook his head, "I didn't stand a chance against Ishtar. She was playing on a completely different level. If I can't compete with her, how am I supposed to compete against Enlil?"

A silence settled over the table once more. Poseidon leant back, stroking his beard as he once more contemplated his son's response. Triton quietly sat down, his face a mask. He knew as well as Percy how formidable Ishtar was. If Enlil was as powerful as all the signs seemed to point to, how were they supposed to beat him?

"I can't tell you how to beat this enemy, son. But I can tell you that if Enlil seeks to wipe out humanity, your friends, your family, your mother, then you will find a way to beat him. Your tenacity, your courage, and ability to rise to the challenge is unparalleled. If you need to grow stronger to beat him then you will. And when you are ready, the power of the sea will stand behind you."

Percy looked around the table, and despite the perilous odds, the looks of support and determination in his father and half-brother gave him a small semblance of self-belief that he had lost after losing Tyson.

"Okay," Percy said, nodding, "I have to get stronger. But first…we need to prepare for war."

A smile broke out across his fathers face as he gestured towards the map, "Why do you think I busted out this old thing?"

"We have to figure out what their next move is," Triton said, finally getting involved in the conversation.

"If I were Ishtar, what would be my next move?" Percy muttered.

Poseidon tapped his finger against his temple, "What is the goal of any actor in anyone involved in conflict? Strengthen one's own position, gather powerful allies, and when one has the advantage, press it for all its worth."

"They strengthen their position by bringing back Enlil and bringing back the other Annunaki," Percy said, "We don't know which ones are back, but there's at least one trapped in Antarctica."

"We also don't have any good information on how many of them there are in the first place," Poseidon added.

"Ishtar is with the dragon, Nammu is off the coast of Kenya, Hadad is off the coast of Greenland, an unknown Annunaki is in Antarctica, Enlil is offworld, and Marduk is dead." Triton listed off, "Who are we missing that we know about?"

"Ninlil and Enki," Percy answered, recalling the names from his dreams.

"So eight total, with one dead?" Triton asked.

Poseidon shrugged, "Could be seven if the one in Antarctica is Ninlil or Enki. Were you able to see any engravings?"

Percy shook his head, "No, I didn't get a good look at the prison before I buried it under the ice, but breaking them open is difficult. They needed a daughter of Hecate to open it, and before that they wanted to use Piper's charmspeak."

"The daughter of Aphrodite?" Poseidon asked, and Percy nodded, "Hmmm, it would appear these prisons are well protected. You mentioned an intense sensation pressing against your ears when you were in Hadad's tomb right?"

"And again at the prison in Antarctica," Percy added.

Poseidon frowned, "Did you experience this against Ishtar?"

Percy and Triton glanced at each other, shaking their heads. "Maybe she doesn't have the power?" Percy offered.

"Or maybe it is a feature of the prisons themselves rather than the Annunaki," Poseidon mused.

"That would certainly make it a little easier to fight them," Percy agreed.

"Okay so we need to check the tombs," Triton asserted, "Father, if you are checking Nammu's tomb in the Indian Ocean, I will handle Hadads in the Arctic."

Poseidon nodded, "I will also send Delphin to our forces in the south. We may not be able to learn more about the tomb in the Antarctic, but we can certainly try and protect it from Annunaki efforts to free them. In the meantime, we need more allies."

Percy nodded, "I already sent a questing party to Boston to try and rally the Norse to our side. My efforts in Egypt were…less successful."

Poseidon sighed, "I have a feeling we may need more than that. I will use storms to slow down the invasion fleet from wherever it is heading, and I will ask my brother if he will help us track the dragon. What will you do now Percy?"

Percy scratched his chin as he watched the red ship sail further away from them, "I made a promise to help a friend. I couldn't protect Tyson, but I might be able to save them. But for that, I need a favour."

Poseidon opened his arms, "Name your price."

Percy grinned, "I need a ride to San Francisco… a fast one."

The sea god chuckled, "I think I can manage that. One other thing, before we part."

Percy raised an eyebrow as Poseidon rose and drifted over towards a small door behind him. He opened it and out swam a familiar looking lizard.

"Zip?" Percy asked incredulously as the lizard, despite being miles underwater, seemed just as happy churning through the water as he would have been on land.

"It seems you have found yourself quite the pet," Poseidon noted, "He refused to leave your side, and began following us even after we went underwater."

Zip saddled over to Percy and climbed up his face, settling happily on top of Percy's head.

"He seems quite fond of you," Poseidon noted with a smile.

Percy smiled, scratching the top of Zip's head, "Just me and my lizard, out to stop the apocalypse," Percy looked back over at his father, "Now about that ride…"

Annabeth

The late afternoon sun streamed through the large windows of the lecture hall, casting a warm light across the rows of students seated attentively. The room was fairly large, designed with classical architecture that would have perhaps been more fitting in Athens or Thebes. It served as a fitting backdrop for Professor Chase, who stood at the front, concluding her lecture.

Students often argued that Professor Chase was the most attractive professor on campus. In her late thirties now, her long, blond hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail, and her intelligent grey eyes scanned the room. Some rowdier students in the back quickly quieted down as her eyes passed over them. Most of the class were regulars but there were a few less familiar faces in the back. She thought she caught movement by the door, but as she focused her attention on it she didn't see anything.

"Remember," she said, her voice clear but with a slight edge as she returned her focus to the class, "Architecture isn't just about designing buildings. It's about creating spaces that tell stories, that interact with people, and that stand the test of time. Your final projects should reflect that, so make sure to think about how your designs will impact the lives of those who use them."

There was a murmur of understanding from the students, some already scribbling down notes, while others nodded thoughtfully. Annabeth allowed herself a small smile, pleased with their enthusiasm, it was one of the perks of teaching at a school with such a robust focus on academia.

"As always, my office hours are open if you need to discuss your projects further. Don't hesitate to drop by," she added, closing her laptop and gathering her notes.

With a final nod to her students, she dismissed the class. The room buzzed with the sound of students packing up, and Annabeth waited patiently as a few lingered to ask quick questions. She answered each one with the same patience and precision she was known for, always encouraging and never dismissive.

Finally, the last student left, and Annabeth took a deep breath, savouring the quiet that settled over the now-empty room. Teaching had become one of the great joys of her life, a purpose she had initially struggled to find after a youth filled with such high stakes and adventure.

She slipped her laptop into her bag and slung it over her shoulder, her mind already shifting gears to the work waiting for her in her office. The hallways of the architecture building were familiar and comforting, lined with student projects and architectural models. She nodded in greeting to a few colleagues as she made her way down the corridor.

Reaching her office, Annabeth pushed open the door to reveal a space that seemed to be in a state of absolute chaos, but to Annabeth everything was meticulously organised. Architectural sketches and blueprints adorned the walls, while books on everything from ancient Greek temples to modern skyscrapers filled the shelves. Her desk, cluttered with papers and design models, had a certain order to it. Everything in its place, just as she liked it.

She set her bag down and moved to settle into her chair before she saw something out of the corner of her eye. With speed that hinted at her combat-ridden history she slipped her knife out of its hidden sheath and whirled on the figure lurking in her office. She had struck with force, but the figure simply caught the knife by the blade mid-swing in their hand.

"Cursed," A familiar voice said, "But not magical thankfully."

Annabeth's eyes widened as recognition dawned on her face, "Percy?"

Percy grinned as he fully stepped out of the shadows, "Hey Wise Girl. I need some help. I know you're busy, but think you can fit saving the world into your schedule?"

Authors Note: Hello all, sorry this chapter isn't as action-filled as the past couple, but I needed a transition chapter for the next arc and also a bit of a recap on the overall plot line since a lot of teasers have been dropped throughout 30+ chapters and I wanted a bit of a consolidation while still leaving some things a mystery.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter and as always REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW. Some really nice reviews were left on the last chapter and they were a big motivator to get off my ass and get the chapter written. I love hearing from you guys, whether it's about what you want to see, what you've enjoyed, what you haven't enjoyed. It's the best way to get feedback and since I don't get paid for writing this, reviews are essentially my payment. So spare a few seconds and write a quick review, it means a lot to me.

See you next chapter!