"Ready," Annabeth said while Clarisse just nodded.
"Good," Percy turned and noticed Grover, "Grover? Are you coming with us? I thought you wanted this to be a three man team Chiron?" Percy asked his wheelchair bound teacher.
"No Grover is not going to be traveling with you three," Chiron replied, "he is starting his own quest."
Percy turned to Grover who explained, "I've told you about my dream right? About finding Pan?"
Percy nodded, "yeah....but you have also told me people die in the process of doing so."
Grover shrugged, "yeah, but it doesn't matter. Pan is our god Percy, it's the same with you for your mom, how far did you go to save her?"
Percy nodded, he understood where Grover was coming from, but he still didn't like it, "yeah, okay. Just...be careful alright?"
Grover smiled, "yeah, I will."
"So...where are you going first?" Percy asked.
"Honestly I'm not sure. Tradition dictates that I go to a large forest first and then travel wherever my instincts tell me to."
"That is so specific," Percy mumbles causing Grover to chuckle.
"Yeah it is," Grover said as he extended a fist to Percy, "until next time Percy."
Percy bumped his fist, "until next time Grover."
The Satyr smiled and turned to Chiron, "I'll be going now sir."
Chiron nodded, "take care brave Satyr, and don't forget our plan."
Grover nodded and waved to Annabeth and Clarisse as he walked away from the group into the surrounding forest disappearing from sight in a few seconds.
"I already miss that goat," Percy said as he turned to the rest of his quest mates.
"Yeah," Annabeth mumbled, "alright time to get down to business."
"Right," Percy said as they all picked up their respective bags, "basically the plan is this, we go to Boston find out all we can from my contact, grab a slice of pizza or something and get back here in time for the next capture the flag. Any questions?"
"Nope," Clarisse and Annabeth said as the three then turned to Chiron.
"Alright then questers I wish you the very best of luck," Chiron said as he began rolling away, "and remember to call if anything bad happens."
The demigods all node and watched Chiron roll back to camp. Percy turned to the others, "ah why was he in his wheelchair again?"
Annabeth shrugged, "not sure. Something about a date later this evening and him wanting to get used to being in a wheelchair again."
Percy looked at Annabeth funny before he sighed, "we have a fucked up family."
"Yup," Annabeth said before turning to Percy, "ah Percy, why do you have a red hand shaped mark on your check?"
Percy's eyes widened as he quickly turned away from Annabeth and began to run for the main road, "let's go you guys! Time's a wastin!"
"Percy Jackson get back here and answer my questions!" Annabeth cried out chasing after him.
"What's that Annabeth we have lovely weather today? Well you can't be more right! Come on let's make the most of it!"
Annabeth chased him all the way to the main road where Argus was waiting for them with his white van, something which increasingly creeped Percy out due to it's kidnapper look, which has been previously stated several time by many demigods.
The three got in and soon they were all being taken to New York city. Annabeth had dropped her line of questioning and had began talking to Clarisse about plans to create something akin to a war machine, by the sounds of which was going to be big, loud and awesome!
Percy smiled at this and remained mostly silent as the van drove onwards. Soon the questers reached the train station and promptly got off waving Argus goodbye, who didn't wave back, asshole.
Percy turned to his friends, "okay then you guys wait here and I'll get tickets for the train ride."
"Didn't you guys take the bus last time?" Clarisse asked, "why aren't we going on a bus?"
"One because the last time we were on a bus we got attacked by Furies and two because it's faster this way. I wanted something in the outskirts of Boston last time I went there and the bus would take us there before heading into town, I really didn't want to travel back and forth from the city to the forest, to much of a waste of money."
Annabeth blinked, "wow. Your reasoning was pretty well thought out."
"Yeah, but you're still a miser," Clarisse stated grinning.
"Hey I'm not a miser! I just don't like wasting money that's all!"
"Sure," Clarisse said rolling her eyes.
"Hey! I saw that!"
"Just go get the tickets Percy," Annabeth said pushing Percy into the station and breaking up the fight that was just about to break out. Percy mumbled under his breath but walked away, Annabeth sighed, "why do you always have to piss him off?"
"It's funny," Clarisse replied with a smirk.
Percy got the tickets and the three campers were on the train in five minutes, luckily they hadn't missed it. Percy sat in front of Annabeth and Clarisse as the train slowly began its journey.
"So we have three hours to kill, any ideas?" Percy asked his two friends.
"Well I do have these," Clarisse said taking out a deck of cards, "you up for a game of poker?"
"Oh gods Clarisse give it a rest" Annabeth said taking out a thick book on Architecture, "there is no way anyone can beat you, you're the reigning champion of poker in your cabin."
"Seriously?" Percy asked blinking, "I didn't take Clarice for the gambling type."
"We don't gamble with money," Clarisse spoke up, "we gamble with chores. The loser has to do the winners chores, and if there are more that one loser the work gets spread out among them."
"I see," Percy said scratching his chin. He knew about poker but didn't really know how to play, "so what are the rules?"
"Well..." Clarisse explained the rule of poker to Percy with a hidden smirk.
After one explanation;
"So basically it's a game that involves having lot's of luck," 'my luck's level is 50' "the ability to lie," 'my lie level is 9' "and maintaining your cool all the time?" 'thank you gamer's mind!' Percy asked.
"Yup."
Percy then grinned a vicious smile that sent a chill down Clarisse's spin, "game on war girl."
Clarisse gulped as she started shuffling her deck. For some reason the look Percy had on his face scared the shit out of her but she refused to give up, after all she was the queen of poker.
She gave Percy his two cards and the game began. The moment Percy looked at his cards all emotions melted off his face. He became like a doll, not one muscle moved. He opened his mouth, "I raise two day's worth of chores."
Clarisse began to sweat.
A few moment's later;
"Hahahaha!" Percy cackled out throwing his head up in victory, "I did it! Enjoy the two years worth of chores Clarisse old girl!"
The demigoddess in question had her head down on the ground as she cried tears of regret and lose.
"There there Clarisse, I'm sure some of your siblings can help you with them," Annabeth tried to assure the girl patting her on her back. She turned to Percy, "be a little more considerate Percy, she is feeling bad enough as it is."
"I don't care! HAHAHA! No chores for me!" Percy said holding his stomach as he laughed louder attracting the attention of every person on the train pissing them off.
"Shut up kid!" a rough male voice called out causing Percy to blush and close his mouth.
"Sorry," the son of poseidon replied. He then turned to Clarisse who was still crying, "hey it's okay Clarisse, you don't have to do them all."
Clarisse looked up with hope in her eyes, "really?"
"Nope!" Percy shout back as he laughed loudly.
"Shut up kid!" the same passenger as last time called out.
"Okay okay sheesh!" Percy said finally quieting down.
"I don't get it how come you're so good at this?" Annabeth asked as a slowly recovering Clarisse looked on with interest.
Percy shrugged, "beginner's luck I guess."
Lie failed!
Percy looked at the two questers in front of him and expected them to keep pushing him for more answers, but surprisingly they didn't. They simply nodded their heads and kept quite.
Percy was kind of surprised, they knew he was lying but didn't push for an answer... girls were so nice. If it was Luke or Grover they would have hounded Percy until he gave them the truth. Girls on the other hand it seemed understood personal space and secrets.
Percy didn't actually like lying to his friends, though he did have a high level in lying. He wanted to tell them the truth, but he his trust was broken before, Luke was an example to him that every your closest friends can and will betray you.
Eventually Annabeth bulleid Percy into taking back a year of chores from Clarisse's debt to him while the demigoddess in question swore that she would one day beat Percy and make him do a year's worth of chores, something Percy highly doubted.
The three hours passed by fairly quickly with Annabeth engrossed in her book and Clarisse and Percy having an 'I spy' contest. The three got off at Haymarket station near the North End of Boston and the three got into a cab that lead them to Downtown.
"So where are we meeting your contact?" Annabeth asked.
"A cafe called the Rabbit," Percy explained as the cab took a left entering afternoon traffic.
"A cafe?" Clarisse asked, "we are going to enter this super secret society through a freaking cafe?"
"Hey don't look at me i didn't pick the place," Percy replied putting his hands up.
"Anything we should know before we go in?" Annabeth asked.
"Biggy, the guy we are meeting in there is an informant, he is kind of like me and can scene people's powers. He knew I was a son of Poseidon the moment we met."
Annabeth's eyes widened almost comically, "are you serious?! And here I was thinking your powers were unique."
"Nope," Percy lied;
Lie success!
"So he can sense us, big deal," Clarisse said, "is he any good in a fight?"
"I don't' think so, but reminds me, don't piss anyone off war girl," Percy said turning to Clarisse.
"Why are you looking at me?!" Clarisse cried out in protest.
"Because out of the three of us, you are the most likely to get us kicked out of there," Percy replied with Annabeth nodding her head.
"You two are crazy," Clarisse said crossing her hands, "and frankly I am kind of insulted. What do you take me for a mindless idiot filled with anger always looking for a fight?"
Percy and Annabeth shared a look before turning to Clarisse and nodding their head. The demigoddess through her hands up, "oh come on!"
The cab dropped them off at the cafe as the three got ready to step inside. "Remember, don't piss them off. Everyone in there is trained and dangerous," Percy repeated as Clarisse and Annabeth nodded. They were all business now and their complete focus was given to the task ahead.
Percy stepped inside and looked around. Everyone in there was levels 20 to 30, with one rare case of a level 40 being tucked in the back away from view. This person must be trying to maintain a low profile and Percy for one didn't want to disturb someone so powerful.
He walked to the barista girl and ordered three cappuccinos. He then lead Annabeth and Clarisse to the back where, sure enough, was Biggy, the informant of Abyss Boston edition. The man was the same as before with his huge ass bald spot and tacky gold accessories. He wore a bright blue tracksuit this time and as soon as Percy was in range he looked up and smiled.
"Well well well if it isn't Percy Jackson son of Poseidon. Looks like you managed to defeat the big bad demon after all," Biggy said folding the newspaper he was reading, "what can I do you for?"
Percy smiled, "hello Biggy it's been a while."
"Indeed it has," Biggy replied taking a sip of his coffee, "please sit down. Your friends as well. Let's see here, a daughter of Ares and a daughter of Athena, very very very impressive."
Annabeth and Clarisse stiffened but didn't say anything or looked surprised. It was a good thing Percy told them about Biggy's powers before hand or this would have shocked them stiff.
"So Percy has told you two about my powers huh?" Biggy said taking another sip out of his cup, "well no matter," he turned to Percy, "I really I surprised you managed to kill the demon, I assume that you took the chains?"
"Yup, it wasn't easy but I managed to kill it. Even got a sweet jacket out of the deal," Percy said pointing at his black leather with a trident on the back.
"I see, so where are the chains right now?"
Percy smiled, "I gave them to a friend. She is currently using them to....teach her husband the error of his ways."
Biggy visually shivered, "great. the most powerful chains in Greek mythology and they are now being used to play slave and master."
Annabeth looked surprised and hell as she looked at Percy with a look that said, 'we are so going to talk about this.'
Percy nodded at her and turned to Biggy. Percy pushed Gamer's mind to it's limits, Biggie had an Int of 53 and a Wis of 20, definitely not your average joe, "I need information, on Luke."
"Luke? The son of Hermes that came with you last time? What about him?"
"I want to know what he asked you," Percy said crossing his arms.
"What do you mean what he asked me? Last time I saw him he was with you and the Satyr."
Lie detected!
Percy narrowed his eyes, "don't even try to lie Biggy I know he came to you, he was far too interested in the assassins for hire in the Abyss. He wanted to hire them, and his only contact to the Abyss, is you."
Biggy smiled, "you're pretty smart kid. But I'm not running a charity here. Last time I gave you information as a favour for Eddie, this time you're going to have to pay."
"How much?"
Biggy waved the question away with a hand, "I don't need money kid. What I want, is information."
"Okay then, what do you want to know?"
"Tell me what happened at your geeky camp. Luke told me you were attacked, but he didn't give any details."
"What do you want to know?"
"Everything."
Percy sighed and began narrating the story out for Biggy. He told him how he managed to rally up the campers and fight back against the invading monsters and how he managed to destroy them all. He then told of how Hyperion decided to come crashing in spewing fire arrows out everywhere. And finally about how Percy cut a deal with the gods letting him bring the dead campers back to life.
"So it's all out war huh?" Biggy asked as Percy and the others received their coffee from the barista lady.
"Basically," Percy replied taking a sip of his coffee, "it's us against the Titans."
"A second Titan war," Biggy declared and after while of deep thinking spoke up, "before I tell you what you want to know understand that I am neutral in all of this. I am just an informant, bring me into your war and I promise you I will make you regret it."
