So instead Percy maintained a constant speed of 700 miles per hours, just below the speed of sound. So at this constant speed Percy crossed Pennsylvania in half an hour.
He travelled for around five straight hours. Three times he ran out of gas and was forced to stop at a Taco Bell or McDonalds to fill up his stamina. That was why it took so long to reach here in the first place.
Percy eventually stopped in Orinda, the area just before the Caldecott tunnel. He went into a nearby mall called the Orinda Theater Square. It was a pretty okay place, not really a mall per say, more like a place with a lot of streets and a movie theater which played only one movie. Percy went into one of the abandoned streets and quickly changed his clothes, switching his tights for a pair of jeans. He then quickly took Thalia out of the inventory and carefully put her down.
The daughter of Zeus looked around in amazement, "I still can't get used to this."
Percy nodded wiping away the sweat on his brow, "yeah, most can't."
"Are you okay?" Thalia asked looking him over, "you look exhausted."
Percy sighed as as he leaned on the street wall, "just ran for 5 hours across the country, of course I look tired."
"Holy shit," Thalia said in surprise, "I-I'm sorry Percy. I didn't know. Shit, what the hell was I thinking!"
Percy chuckled, "it's okay. Most people don't realise it. They think just because I can do I should do it. The pain isn't really a big deal, what really is a big deal is the boredom. Seriously five hours and all I had to do to keep myself busy was look at the countryside pass by."
Thalia bent down touching Percy's forehead, "you're warm Percy."
"Running for five hours under the hot sun will do that."
"We need get you something to cool yourself off right now."
Percy nodded, "right. Food. Good idea. Can I have ice cream?"
Thalia helped Percy up and took him into a small local deli. Percy and Thalia sat inside way in the back away from prying eyes. Percy lowered his goggles and sighed as he felt his legs throb. There wasn't any pain, just his legs spasming, it was like he was experiencing this form a third person's view.
A young teenager came to take their orders. Thalia ordered a cheeseburger while Percy asked for a steak and a three ice cream cups. The blonde waitress was surprised at the early desert oder but quickly went to get their order.
"So how are you feeling?" Thalia asked.
Percy sighed, "exhausted. But I think I'll get better once I have some food in me."
Thalia nodded as she quickly looked around at the people around them nervously. She looked fidgety, nervous.
"Relax Thalia," Percy assured her, "there's no need to get nervous."
Thalia nodded, "yeah I know. But... I'm going to see Jason again. It's been so long...I don't even know what to say."
Percy smiled, "how about, 'hello, I'm your sister,'?"
Thalia rolled her eyes, "ha, ha. Very funny, True, but seriously, it's been years. I died and came back Percy. Hell I don't even know whether he remembers me!."
Percy smiled, "so tell me about him. What did he look like?"
Thalia smiled, "he had, has, blonde hair, like our mom. But it was not curly like her, it was more straightened out, like mine. He has this scar, along his jaw. Haha, he got it when he tried to bite into a stapler. Idiot. And he has dad's eyes, except they were more...stormy and mine are more-"
"-Electric," Percy said with a smile. Thalia looked surprised, Percy just responded with, "I am very good at paying attention when it comes to things I like."
Thalia rolled her eyes, "so cheesy."
Percy chuckled, "yeah, but you liked it."
Thalia sighed, "so, what's the plan?"
Percy laid back and grumbled, "well after this I take you to Caldecott tunnel, which is just a few miles south west of here. Then ...well I don't know. Did Dionysus tell you something about the camp's entrance?"
Thalia nodded, "he did. He said that the entrance to the camp was on one side of the four lanes right on one end of the tunnel."
"Thats....vague and confusing," Percy sighed, "okay. After lunch we'll get a cab and go to the tunnel. And just to be safe we'll check all the possible entrance points."
Thalia nodded, "are you okay Percy? You still sound tired."
Percy nodded, "I'm fine. In all honesty I can actually run some more, but after 5 straight hours my brain is refusing to do something so boeing again."
Thalia raised an eyebrow, "running near the speed of sound is boring for you?"
Percy sighed, "it is when you realise that my brain is still need of stimulation when running at high speeds. Plus the faster I go the longer the trip seems, must be something to do with the fact that things get so boring so easily, but either way I don't want to be doing that again any time soon."
Thalia nodded, "right...so, ah, any idea how we are going to convince the Romans to trust us?"
"I was actually hoping you can help with that."
"Me? How can....Jason. Right."
Percy nodded, "yeah, plus your a daughter of Zeus, and considering that they named their camp, camp Jupiter, they must love your dad. So maybe you can help bridge the gap between the camps."
Thalia formed, "I get that...but it's not going to be that simple."
Percy sighed, "it's going to be difficult, but at least we know we can rely on them if nothing else. They are immensely loyal to the Gods, we can count on them helping out in the fight against Kronos if nothing else."
Thalia nodded, "enemy of my enemy and all that."
Percy nodded as he looked around. The place they were was very nice. The walls were daisy yellow and the wooden tables look locally made. All in all it was a very homely and family friendly place to eat in.
The people around them were mostly family members, most brought their kids along and they all looked so happy. Percy wanted this, the last time he ever had a meal with his parents was a year ago and since then.... Percy took a deep sigh, he should really spend more time with his mom.
"Feeling envious?" Thalia asked with a smile.
Percy smirked, "very. But I suppose not having normal family meals is part of the deal when it come to being a demigod."
Thalia smiled, "yeah. I know what you mean."
Percy then looked to the families around him and one in particular stood out to him. It was a family of three, two mothers and a son who looked like he had down syndrome. The two women sat on either side of him as they helped serve the boy food.
Percy felt pity in his head, but also guilt. He had the power to make that boy's life better. Down syndrome was an alignment right? Shouldn't his healing powers technically be able to heal that?
"Stop staring Percy," Thalia said gaining his attention. Percy blinked as he looked at his girlfriend, he didn't even realise he was staring until she pointed it out.
"Sorry, it's just....sigh, guilt I suppose."
"Why? It's not like you can help him."
"No, I can," Percy said surprising Thalia.
"What do you...your healing powers...are you saying you can heal him?"
Percy shrugged, "I think so."
"Then you have to at least try Percy," Thalia said looking at the boy and his adoptive mothers, "they deserve that."
Percy sighed, "you're right but how? I mean I can't jus go up to them, touch their kid and walk back can I?"
Thalia sighed, "you're right, the Mist would hide the golden glow your power gives off but not you. If only you could go invisible."
Percy blinked, "that's it!" Thalia looked surprised when Percy got up, "I'll be right back." Percy then walked away from his girlfriend walking to the men's bathroom. After making sure he was alone Percy took out the ring of invisibility he had gotten from Ares and slipped it on.
Percy then walked back outside and carefully went over to the kid with down syndrome. His mother's were looking away at the moment, currently looking at their menus. Percy knew there wouldn't be a more perfect time to do this.
Percy reached down and touched the boy's forehead activating his powers;
You are attempting to heal someone with several ailments! Please chose one to heal;
Genetic disorder— Down Syndrome
Poor motor skills
Sub par thinking process
Percy grinned as he selected the genetic disorder first healing the cause of all this. His hand flashed gold alerting Thalia to his process, but none of the mortals noticed it.
Two more flashes of gold and Percy was done. He went into the bathroom and put away the ring before walking back inside the restaurant.
Percy sat in his seat, "any improvement?"
Thalia smiled, "look for yourself."
Percy did and saw that the kid was now eating properly, much to the amazement of his mothers.
Percy grinned, it had worked. Sure they might not realise it now, but they would in a few days time. Maybe one day one of them would notice their kids better motor skills and ask a doctor about it. Then that medical profession would tell them about the miracle that he witnessed in their child.
"You know," Thalia said smiling at him, "you should probably open up a hospital or something. After all, there are plenty of people who could use your help."
Percy smiled but didn't say anything. Soon the couple were served their food. Percy did his best to maintain proper table eating habits, after all he was in front of his girlfriend, so he couldn't just stuff his face full of food like he wanted to.
Thalia on the other hand had no problem consuming her burger like she hadn't eaten in days. Percy finished the steak in record time, the meat was really tender, it fell apart in his mouth. Percy quickly finished the rest of his food and after giving a big tip to their server they were off.
Percy and Thalia hailed a cab and went down the highway towards Caldecott tunnel. They passed the first end of the tunnel without incident, they didn't notice any obvious signs that there was a secret door to a Roman camp hidden away somewhere.
When the cab opened up on the other side though Thalia immediately spotted a pair of guards standing outside guarding what looked like a maintenance hatch. Percy got the cab to pull over and after paying the man healthy for stopping on a highway the two teens got out of the cab and off of the road.
They approached the two guards, they were dressed like how one would expect a roman to dress like. They had a roman helmet with a red plume on top and chest piece over a purple shirt. They wore jeans and white sneakers and on their sides was a spear and a sheathed short sword, a Gladius if Percy remembered his Roman history properly. As they drew closer Percy could see their names and titles;
Reyna Ramirez-Arellano, Daughter of Bellona
Lv— 18
Donny Dewin, Son of Pomona
Lv— 13
As Percy and Thalia approached the two guards they took notice. The girl, Reyna, took notice of them first.
"Hault!" she said lowering her spear, "who are you and what do you want?" The girl had long glossy black which was tied back in a single braid with black eyes. Her skin was brown, not tanned like Percy's but naturally brown. On her arm was a tattoo that Percy couldn't quite make out, but over all she looked very imposing, well, as much as 12 year old can be.
Percy and Thalia raised their hands up and opened their plans. Percy took the lead, "my name is Percy, and this is Thalia, we mean you no harm. We just want to talk."
"Talk about what?"Reyna snarled.
"We are demigods," Thalia explained calmly, "and if we assume correctly this is the entrance to camp Jupiter, yes?"
Reyna was about to open her mouth when Donny stepped up. "Relax Rey," Donny said with a smile, "it's obvious these two are demigods, else they wouldn't be able to see through the Mist otherwise." The guy who spoke up had long straight blonde hair with blue eyes. He had that laid back tone Percy often associated with himself, except this guy didn't look like he had a serious bone in his body. And for some reason Percy immediately wanted to punch the guy in the face.
Reyna snarled, "don't call me Rey. And they don't look like the normal demigods Donny, look at them. Not a scratch or spot of mud on them, if they really came from the Wolf House then they should at least have muddy shoes or something!"
"Ah, are you even looking at my shoes?" Percy asked pointing to the worn out edge to his Fric shoes, "do they look brand new to you?"
Reyna wanted to argue some more but Donny stopped in, "relax newbie. Stop sneering at everything that moves, you children of Bellona are all the same, so paranoid. It's obvious that they made it this far unharmed because they are strong," Donny flashed a smile at Thalia, "and beautiful too."
Percy felt his left eyebrow twitch as his eyes turned red for a split second, 'calm down Percy. The last thing you need to become is this super obsessive boyfriend that become jealous the moment a guys hits on Thalia. She's a beautiful girl, she can handle herself....yeah.'
Thalia rolled her eyes, "okay since we have established that we are not the enemy can you please allow us inside? We would really like to talk to the one in charge, the-ah, the Praetor?"
Reyna lowered her spear, "fine," she glared, "but I'm going to be the one who-"
"Ah not so fast new blood," Donny stepped in, "I'll take them inside. You stay out here."
"But-"
"-Look Rey you're new here, okay? And I am your superior, so what does that mean?"
Reyna looked like she wanted to argue but kept silent, "it means I obey you sir."
Donny nodded, "right. So stay out here and I'll take our new friends and make sure their comfortable," he smiled at Thalia again.
'One more chance,' Percy told himself, 'I'll give him one more chance before I throw him into Hades. Yeah.... That sounds reasonable.'
Thalia was disgusted but she hide it well, "so...can we go?"
Donny opened the maintenance door he was just guarding, "after you my lady."
Thalia nodded at Reyna and walked in followed by Donny who closed the door behind him.
Percy grumbled and turned to Reyna, "is he always such a dick?"
Reyna grumbled as well, "yes. All the time. You would think that's impossible, but no, he's always a dick."
Percy nodded to the girl and threw open the door walking in and catching up to Thalia and Donny. Donny was explaining his position and rank in Camp Jupiter to Thalia in hopes that he could impress her. It seems he was a he was an officer in a high position in the 3rd Cohort. It seemed he had gotten caught pranking one of the Praetors and was punished with gaurd duty with the new blood officer, Reyna.
Donny kept boasting about himself and Thalia was forced to smile and nod along. Percy wanted to shut Donny up, but the more the man kept talking the more information he was giving them to use for later.
