The Recruits

Previously...

"Well Percy, I am going to tell you something even my children aren't aware of. You see, when people say I was the first primordial. Well, that's not exactly true. I had a father. His name was... Void; the Darkness."

***

"Void?" asked Percy. "Cool name."

Chaos didn't say anything but just looked on.

"Well," said Percy trying to lighten up the mood as Chaos looked very serious when he was talking about his father. "I bet you have a sibling as well named 'Order,' as in the opposite of 'Chaos'."

"I do," said Chaos.

"Whaaaaat? Seriously?" Percy sounded very surprised but at the same time felt a sense of accomplishment. He immediately put a 'I already knew that' face on with pride as his random guess (due to ADHD) hit the jackpot.

"Forget about that for now," Chaos changed the topic. "I said that I need you to lead my Chaos army but it wouldn't be any fun if the Chaos army is a one man army would it?"

"Yeah, you are right," Percy felt the same. He definitely wouldn't have been able to accomplish what he had done in the past without the help of his friends.

"But then again, you wouldn't want too many people either. In my opinion you should recruit only a few, but they better be elites"

"When did you say I can recruit again?" asked Percy.

"Whenever you are ready" was the reply.

"And do they have to be dead?"

"Not necessarily, but I wouldn't pick people of the current generation who are the backbone of the Roman and Greek demigods if I were you," advised Chaos. "But then again, if you do, that's gonna create some huge Chaos, just what I like, haha!"

Percy took a few minutes to think. He couldn't bring Jason, Hazel, Leo, Piper or Frank because they were part of The Seven in the prophecy meaning both camps need them to lead. But Percy felt like he needed a Child of the Sky and a Child of the Underworld in the army. Well, so the obvious choice was Nico and Thalia. Percy was sure that it was okay to recruit Nico if he wanted to join because he rarely stayed at either camp anyway. However, he wasn't quite sure about Thalia; after all, she is the lieutenant of Artemis' hunt. But since the war was over, Artemis usually stayed with the hunt, she should be able to handle the hunt by herself.

Those were the only people that were alive that he could think of to ask if they wanted to join his time. But then he suddenly remembered his promise, his oath, to Calypso in her island. He swore that he would find a way to release her from the island's restrictions. Well then, she shall be the third person in my team.

He obviously felt that three people were not enough and of course, they were not. Hence it was time to bring some of his dead friends back. Luke: even though, Luke betrayed the clan initially, it wall because of kronos's mind control thingy. And he died a hero aswell. People called Percy a hero for ending the war against the titans no matter how many times he tried to tell them that it was all because of Luke that they overcame the calamity. They of course, acknowledged Luke as hero but according to the prophecy it was Percy's decision that saved the world.

Arguing about who actually save the world just keep going on forever; there was no point. However, in Percy's heart he always felt gratitude towards Luke and he always will. It was something that would never waver. And it wasn't just for Luke. There were many others, namely Beckendorf. He had sacrificed himself to allow Percy to escape aswell as blowing up Kronos' ship at the same time.

Eventually, Percy decided the people that he was going to bring. They were...

"Nico DiAngelo

Thalia Grace

Luke Castellan

Charles Beckendorf

Silena Beauregard

Calypso

Zoë Nightshade

Bianca DiAngelo"

As soon as he said those names, Chaos frowned. When Percy said Annabeth's name earlier his expression was a bit similar but he hid it well from Percy.

"Bianca, Beckendorf and Silena," muttered Chaos. Then with a regretful look, he said to Percy, "I can't bring them."

If it was few years ago, Percy would have thought the reason was the same reason as to why he cannot bring Annabeth back to life. But he knew that wasn't the case. Being with Annabeth all these had made him a lot smarter. He was almost certain at the same time that the reason Chaos gave for not being able to bring Annabeth was a lie too.

Obviously, he was going to ask Chaos about when he received a look from Chaos which said, 'you don't need to worry about the reasons'

Percy knew that it was pointless to keep persisting and so gave up asking about it- for now at least. Even though, he was certain that the reason for not being able to bring Bianca, Silena and Beckendof was not the same as Annabeth's and it was possible that what he said about Annabeth may have been true, Percy did not dare to lose that tiny bit of hope.

***

Planet Earth, Camp Half-Blood, Approx. 6 hours ago...

"Travis, Connor," called Chiron. "Can you call all the Cabin Counsellors for a meeting with in 15 minutes?"

"Really Chiron," asked both of them, sounding really lazy.

"Yes, really," said Chiron. "And it's important."

"Alright," said Travis, the older brother. " Brother how about this: let's see who manages to inform more counsellors first."

Connor's eyes immediately gleamed and added, "and whoever gets less need prank the Ares Cabin again, haha!"

The two brothers immediately took off and vanished off into the distance. Chiron watched them go and sighed, "Do they ever do things normally? Ugh.. I guess not, being children of Hermes and all"

People often mistook the Stoll brothers for twins, but in fact Travis was a year older but they acted and looked very much as if they were identical twins.

The first Counsellor Travis encountered was Leo.

"LEO! LEOOOO!!!" Yelled Travis at the top of his lungs.

"Wow bro, chill," said Leo. "You need act like all the people in 'Team Leo' and be like LLEEEEOOOOOOO!"

Typical Leo, son of Hephaestus, one of The Seven in the Prophecy.

"Leo, I need you to do a favour for me?" Travis almost begged. He really didn't want to prank the Ares Cabin.

Without even asking what favour, Leo asked, "What's in it for me?"

"Didn't you ask me to steal a design from the Athena Cabin a week ago? I will get it for you"

"Deal," Leo shook hands. "Now, what was that favour?"

"It's simple really, get as Percy, and Piper and tell them there is a head counsellors' meeting in 10 minutes. Oh and tell them that 'Travis said it'. Be quick about it aswell."

"Okay... Dude what's the big deal?" called Leo to Travis who already started to turn around and run towards another direction.

Travis stopped; rather than telling Leo what was up, he said, "Is Jason in Camp Half-Blood or Camp Jupiter? If he is here, tell him as well please. And don't forget, If you don't tell them before my brother gets to them, I won't steal that design for you."

Then he was off. Leo stood there looking at the spot where Travis had been for good twenty seconds before he sprang into action and went to look for Piper.

Thirty seconds later, Leo managed to find Piper. The speed at which he ran to find her perhaps exceed that of the Argo II itself.

"Piper," he said, panting.

Piper was facing another daughter of Aphrodite, when Leo came up behind her and said that.

"Agh," exclaimed Piper because of Leo's sudden appearance. "You scared me there. What's up?"

"Travis said that there's a counsellor's meeting in about 10 minutes. If anyone asks, it was Travis who told you and not Connor okay?"

"Okay..?"

"Oh, is Jason in Camp Half-Blood?"

"No, he just left to Camp Jupiter"

"Phew..." said Leo. He didn't have to chase after Jason aswell. He only had to find Percy now.

"Hey, Piper, do you mind helping me out with something quickly?" enquired Leo.

"With what?" asked Piper.

"Finding Percy!" At this point, Leo still had not completely caught his breath.

"Finding Dory?"

"N- No, Per-cy, Perccyyy!"

"Oh okay, sure"

"You're the best, Piper"

Just like that, Piper and Leo went in 2 different directions to try and find Percy.

2 minutes later, Piper and Leo found each other near Hypnos Cabin.

"Couldn't find him anywhere," informed Piper.

"Same here... Dammit, Percy, where are you?"

As Leo was cursing at Percy, not very quietly, someone called out something.

"I saw him head to the Woods and I think he had a packed bag with him"

It was Nico. He was dressed in his usual dark clothes as he walked out of the Hades Cabin. Just at that moment, Connor popped out of nowhere.

"Haha, three birds in one stone," Connor sounded excited. "All three of you, there's a counsellor's meeting in about 5 minutes."

"Piper and I have been told already," Leo butted in, which instantly caused Connor to frown.

"Dammit, brother! Well at least I told Nico."

And then Connor was off again.

"I wonder what that was about," Nico thought out loud.

"See you there, Nico." Leo and Piper said, heading towards the woods.

Leo was worried. Not because he thought he wouldn't get to Percy on time, but at the fact that he had a packed bag. Percy was going through a tough time. Whilst most people were rejoicing about the war, for some people, like Percy, it was exactly the opposite. Leo knew exactly how he felt as he watched his own mother get killed by Gaia right in front of him. Everyone had tried to console Percy and now Leo felt that it wasn't nearly enough.

But just then, the earth began to shake and both Leo and piper fell to the ground. Their eyes widened with shock.

"That feels like... Gaia. Oh no! We need to find Percy quickly."

Leo and Piper proceeded quickly. Less than a minute later, they came to a stop; their pupils constricted.

What they saw was Percy surrounded by Gaia and two others who looked equally as powerful.

Without thinking, Leo charged at them from where he was standing 30 metres away.

"PERCY!!!!"

But it was all too late. Before Leo had even ran 5 metres, Gaia and her two companions vanished, taking Percy with them.

Percy just got... KIDNAPPED!!!