Betrayal

6

Percy slammed his hands against the desk in frustration. It'd been six months since he'd really started training the Romans. In that time he had acquired a sizable piece of land in Kansas, north of two military posts. He'd set the Vulcan and Hephaestus kids from the camps loose to create a bunker with some very specific requirements.

One, it had to have air conditioning and heating, a large sick bay, rooming area, and storage facilities for food both perishable and non-perishable. Then after those main areas were constructed, he'd laid out various other side projects he wanted done. A lab, rooms for growing crops and raising live stock, and various long term things they would need to survive.

Two, it had to have all of these, plus room to expand to fit more people. The first area was only rated for a thousand people. Roughly what New Rome and Camp Half-Blood had housed as it was. This was absolutely imperative. If they couldn't expand, they would eventually be wiped out by time or lack of being able save others.

And three, it needed a place to house and restore the God's power. This was a secret project and only given to three trusted and well trained children of the God of Smiths, and with them was Lou-Ellen, a trusted daughter of Hecate to help add the necessary magic to the room.

The problem? They couldn't keep to schedule. It wasn't entirely their fault. Percy had anticipated the raw materials, but not so much the time needed to fabricate the more advanced ones. They were an extremely talented bunch and given the all that they had accomplished so far, he couldn't be mad with them. He was more annoyed with himself for not considering acquiring some of the items it took so long to make.

Athena placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "Come, Perseus. You've done all you can. Agonizing over plans you have already created won't change the out come of the situation. We must get to the meeting YOU called for."

Sighing, Percy nodded and got up, his body dissolving into mist. As he took a step forward, he reformed in the Throne Room. Zeus looked at him. "Give us some privacy. It would be best that no one else knew about the conversation we will be having."

Zeus nodded and closed his eyes for a second. When he opened them again, he motioned for his nephew to continue. "Alright, as you know, the day they make their move is fast approaching. We have less than six months left. Now, we need to decide something crucial. Who among you will be captured and who is willing to possibly die in doing so?"

All eyes of the council were now definitely focused on him. Even Dionysus was attentive. "Why must we be captured?" Ares asked.

"We don't have a choice. A lot of minor gods will be captured or killed. Of course we know they will reform but when they do, they will be little more than slaves taken immediately. Also, it would be suspicious if all of you seemed to be anticipating the attack. Without a doubt, I need Artemis, Athena, Apollo, and at least one of the Big Three. Artemis we can get away with, as she is the Goddess of the Hunt. She may not be on Olympus when the attack comes. Apollo is no different, especially since he has foresight. Athena will have to make an escape, and one of the Big Three will have to come. Seeing as my dad and Uncle Hades are less likely to be on Olympus, it would make sense if it was one of them.

"I'm not going to make the decision for you. We only need up to three captured. Demeter could be visiting Hades and Persephone. Hera...you will have make an escape. Dionysus will be at camp. Once it's overrun, you will need to slip away. Lady Hestia. She will be on, Olympus. Aphrodite, Ares, and Hephaestus as well. I refuse to make this decision for you. I cannot afford to be biased at this point. Especially not anymore. Too much is quickly approaching. I will explain more after your decision."

Zeus sighed and looked around. "Ares, Hermes, and myself. We will be captured. We need more than one of the Big Three with you. Poseidon is your father and after this, Ancient Laws will be nigh on impossible to keep. Let us do away with the past. No more King and Queen. Every god and goddess on the Council is equal."

Percy's eyebrow arched dangerously high. This was an unexpected turn of events. "Well, if we are divulging craziness at the moment. I have two things to tell. One, I will soon lose all demigod powers. Well, minus breathing under water. I will always be a child of the sea. I don't know what or who takes them, but I lose them and gain a very disturbing personality and power change.

"Second. New Rome. I'm going to destroy it."

All the gods leaned back in their seats in surprise and fear that Percy was turning on them. "What do you mean by this?" Zeus asked.

"The plan for our new location is behind schedule. I need more hands. What better than an entire city full of people? Granted, not a large one, but a few hundred more hands will give Hephaestus' kids the hands they need to finish. We will be foregoing secrecy in return for efficiency and necessity. Sleeping quarters and food storage and growing areas are for the most part complete. This is what will allow this to happen."

Zeus looked around. "Any thoughts on this?"

Hephaestus spoke first. "It may very well be a good idea. I will make an appearance to speed things along."

Hades piped up, "I will spare some undead for workers and Daedelus. We need this to be secure and secret. He will be essential. We need Athena kids on this as well though, even if you are not partial to the idea, Perseus."

"I'm not, but I will survive. Athena, bring your daughter later. At least this way she can see the gods are backing me, as well as that I moved on."

Athena nodded and then asked, "What change in your powers are you referring to?"

Percy winced. "I'll become a monster. In almost every sense of the word. I will acquire powers by eating monsters. If I kill monsters, they die and their essence goes to reform, but their body is left behind. I can use it to craft various tools and weapons which will be extremely useful later on, as conventional weapons won't pierce the hides of a lot of the stronger monsters. Also, if I eat their flesh, I gain a random ability from them. I won't be able to change into them and I cannot stack same monster abilities, but it does come in handy.

"By stacking, I mean I can't eat five Cyclopes and have the strength of all five. But I can attain five different attributes from them. Most monsters won't give out more than two though. The only problem with this all, though, is that the boundary of Camp Half-Blood would recognize me as a monster. This is also part of the reason I wanted Terminus as another one. He would control the border and protect the Fleece. I truly want to stress the length of this war. It will last decades. The oldest I lived was nigh on fifty-five and we were still fighting."

The gods all nodded. "Well, we need to get this started then. Perseus, we will send the help we can. I'm sure Poseidon will send some Cyclopes as well as I will move the ten that make my bolts down there to help. We will make this a place that demigods and mortals can survive in, even if it costs us our freedom."

-/-

"Run little Romans. You think you can turn your back on and murder your Praetor, my Lover, and live? Be gone from this world!"

The Little Tiber lifted into the air and crashed down upon New Rome, quickly flooding the home of the Roman demigods.