𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐒 ! [percy jackson]¹

C H A P T E R ⟶ E I G H T

S T A R   W A R S

C H A P T E R   E I G H T

( a roman send off )

⟶⭑🌣⭑⟵

          THE SENATE HOUSE interior looked like a high school lecture hall. A semicircle of tiered seats faced a dais with a podium and two chairs. The chairs were empty, but one had a small velvet package on the seat.

Percy, Hazel, and Frank sat on the left side of the semicircle. The ten senators (plus Aurora, since she was the tenth senator) and Nico di Angelo occupied the rest of the front row. The upper rows were filled with several dozen ghosts and a few older veterans from the city, all in formal togas. Octavian stood in front with a knife and a Beanie Baby lion, just in case anyone needed to consult the god of cutesy collectibles. Reyna walked to the podium and raised her hand for attention.

"Right, this is an emergency meeting," She said. "We won't stand on formalities."

"I love formalities!" A ghost complained.

He shut up when Reyna shot him a cross look. "First of all," She said. "We're not here to vote on the quest itself. The quest has been issued by Mars Ultor, patron of Rome. We will obey his wishes. Nor are we here to debate the choice of Frank Zhang's companions."

"All four from the Fifth Cohort?" Called out Hank from the Third. "That's not fair."

"And not smart," Said Larry, who sat next to him. "We know the Fifth will mess up. They should take somebody good."

Dakota got up so fast that he spilled Kool-Aid from his flask. "We were pretty good last night when we whipped your podex, Larry! And might I remind you that one of Camp Jupiter's best swordmasters is going along with them!"

"Enough, Dakota," Reyna said. "Let's leave Larry's podex out of this. However, Dakota is right in claiming that Frank Zhang has chosen a skillful set of companions. I can say that having Aurora Jake with them will even the playing field when fending off monsters." Reyna sent Aurora a smile, the girl returning it with a bashful expression. "As quest leader, Frank has the right to choose his companions. He has chosen Percy Jackson, Hazel Levesque, and Aurora Jake."

A ghost from the second row yelled, "Absurdus! Frank Zhang isn't even a full member of the legion! He's on probatio. A quest must be led by someone of centurion rank or higher! Have Aurora Jake lead it! This is completely—"

"Cato," Reyna snapped. "We must obey the wishes of Mars Ultor. That means certain. . . adjustments."

Reyna clapped her hands, and Octavian came forward. He set down his knife and Beanie Baby and took the velvet package from the chair.