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"you're here. you're really here"
ARIADNE WAS PREPARED FOR ANYTHING—EXCEPT AN EXPLODING STATUE.
Annabeth had paced the deck of their flying warship, the Argo II, checking and double-checking the ballistae to make sure they were locked down. The blonde had lashed out at everyone on the ship, and they had all retreated from helping her, all but Ariadne.
The brunette had calmed her best friend down, reassuring her nothing would go wrong, but they both had a guy feeling they were so desperate to ignore. Ariadne went ahead and confirmed that the white 'we come in peace' flag was flying from the mast. Both of them reviewed the plan with the rest of crew—and backup plan, and the backup plan for the backup plan.
Most important, Annabeth had pulled aside their war-crazed chaperone, Coach Gleeson Hedge, and encouraged him to take the morning off in his cabin and watch reruns of mixed martial arts championships. The last thing they needed as they flew a magical Greek trireme into a potentially hostile Roman camp was a middle aged satyr in gym clothes waving a club and yelling 'Die!'
Everything seemed to be in order. Even that mysterious chill Ariadne had been feeling since the ship launched had dissipated, at least for now.
The warship descended through the clouds, but Annabeth looked nervous. She bit her lip in a frustration.
Ariadne gave her a smile. "Annie, it'll be okay. We'll be fine."
"I know, I know," the blonde muttered, more to herself than anything. "But, what if the Romans panic at the sight of us? Or, what if they won't let us see Percy?"
Percy was close to Annabeth. They had been friends since their first quest. She had been helping him figure his feelings out for Ariadne since the very beginning, and pushing them toward each other.
The Argo II did not look friendly. Two hundred feet long, with a bronze-plated hull, mounted repeating crossbows fore and aft, a flaming metal dragon for a figurehead, and two rotating ballistae amidships that could fire explosive bolts powerful enough to blast through concrete...well, it wasn't the most appropriate ride for a meet-and-greet with the neighbors.
Ariadne had asked Leo to send one of his special inventions—a holographic scroll—to alert their friends inside the Roman camp, as a heads up. Hopefully the message had gotten through. Leo had wanted to paint a giant message on the bottom of the hull—WASSUP? with a smiley face—but Annabeth vetoed the idea. She wasn't sure the Romans had a sense of humor.
Too late to turn back now.
The clouds broke around their hull, revealing the gold and green carpet of the Oakland hills below them. Annabeth gripped one of the bronze shields that lined the starboard rail. Ariadne leaned against it, standing next to her, knowing she needed that comfort.
