Chapter 3 - Echo of the Past
The sun was setting over Camp Half-Blood, casting orange and gold hues over the familiar landscape. The central campfire burned less brightly tonight, reflecting the somber mood of a group of veteran demigods gathered there. Annabeth Chase stood among them, silent. Her gray eyes stared into the fire, but her mind was elsewhere.
Beside her, Grover tilted his head back, sighing.
"It's been years… Have you guys ever wondered where Percy is? What he's been up to?"
Annabeth pressed her lips together, guilt flashing across her face.
"Always."
"Me too." Nico di Angelo spoke softly, but his words cut through the silence like a blade. He sat down next to Will Solace, who placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Percy was like a big brother. Even after everything we've been through… I miss him."
The others nodded, each lost in their own memories. Percy had been the anchor of so many battles, so many friendships. His absence was a void that had never been filled.
"Do you think he's forgotten us?" Clarisse La Rue asked, breaking the silence.
Annabeth shook her head.
"No. He would never forget. Percy was always loyal, even when…" Her voice trailed off, and she looked away.
Before anyone could answer, the sky above the camp began to glow brightly. A beam of golden light descended, and the imposing figure of Hermes appeared.
"Well, well, what a sentimental scene!" he said, smiling disdainfully, but his eyes showed something more serious. "Olympus has been following your thoughts. The gods think it's time to answer these questions."
"Answer? What do you mean?" Annabeth stood up, her eyes fixed on Hermes.
"You'll come with us to Olympus." We will show you where Percy is... and what he has become."
The group was transported in the blink of an eye, finding themselves in the great hall of Olympus. The twelve thrones of the gods were occupied, each of them watching the demigods with varying expressions. Zeus, in the center, looked more imposing than ever.
"Welcome. You have been thinking about Percy Jackson, the son of Poseidon. For years, he has been away from our world. Today, we will allow you to see how he has chosen to live his mortal life," Zeus announced, his voice echoing through the hall.
"Is he okay?" Annabeth asked, stepping forward.
Poseidon, sitting on the throne to Zeus's right, answered before the lord of the gods could speak.
"He is more than okay. My son has found his own path, away from the divine battles. He chose to be human. And he is a remarkable human."
Annabeth felt a tightness in her chest. Part of her feared seeing what Percy had become. Was he still the same boy she had known, or had time and distance erased everything they had meant to each other?
"Show us," Grover said, breaking the tension.
Hephaestus gestured, and a magical screen appeared in the center of the room. It glowed and began to display scenes from Percy's life since he had left the divine world.
The first images showed Percy joining the Navy. His youth was still evident, but his expression already showed a determination that the demigods recognized immediately.
"He joined the mortal military?" Clarisse asked in surprise.
"He found a new kind of warfare," Ares replied, smiling approvingly. "The boy is a natural warrior, after all."
The scenes moved quickly, showing Percy during training. He stood out among the recruits, his strength and skills making him a natural leader. When he completed BUD/S training, the demigods watched in silence as Percy received the SEALs' golden trident.
"This is… amazing," Nico muttered.
Annabeth stood quietly, watching Percy's every move on the screen. He seemed so focused, so different from the boy she had known, but at the same time, she still saw traces of the old Percy his courage, his leadership.
The scenes shifted to Percy in Black Squadron. He led his team on high-risk missions, infiltrating enemy territory, rescuing hostages, and dismantling terrorist networks.
In one scene, he silently led his team through a dark building. When gunshots began to ring out, Percy remained calm, giving precise orders that saved lives.
"He really is a natural leader," said Chiron, who was also present on Olympus.
"He always was," Annabeth replied, barely above a whisper.
Poseidon spoke again, his voice thick with pride.
"He has found his purpose. Even far from Olympus, he carries the strength and honor of a hero."
The scenes finally shifted to the present. Percy, now six feet tall, muscular, and bearded, was leading his team on another mission. The demigods were impressed by his transformation. He seemed more confident, more experienced, but also more emotionally distant.
In one scene, Percy was alone in his quarters, holding an old beaded necklace. Annabeth held her breath when she saw the black bead, the same one that marked the year he left the divine world.
"He still thinks about you," Aphrodite said, smiling softly. "Even if he never shows it, he never forgot what he experienced here."
The scenes ended, leaving the demigods in silence. The hall seemed colder, emptier.
"Then he's fine," Grover said, finally breaking the silence.
"He's more than fine," Poseidon repeated proudly. "But the life he chose is not easy. He carries burdens that no human should carry, but he does so with honor."
Annabeth stepped forward, facing Poseidon.
"Can we see him?"
The sea god hesitated, looking at Zeus.
"That's not up to me."
Zeus leaned forward, his expression serious.
"Percy Jackson has made his choice. He lives among mortals, as a mortal. If you wish to find him, you must be prepared for the fact that he may not be the Percy you remember."
Annabeth clenched her fists, but nodded.
"I need to see him."
The other demigods nodded, one by one.
"Then so be it," Zeus said with a nod. "You will go to him. But remember: he is a man from another world now. Respect the life he has chosen."
The demigods were transported back to camp, but now with a new mission: to find Percy Jackson and reconnect with the hero they had never forgotten.
Annabeth looked at the horizon, her heart torn between anxiety and hope. She knew the Percy they would find would not be the same, but still, she needed to see him again. After all, he was more than a leader or a hero to her. He was the part of herself she had always missed.
Chapter 4 - Searching for the Man Who Was
In Cabin 11, the common room was unusually quiet as Annabeth, Nico, Grover, Clarisse, and a few other demigods gathered around a laptop. Ever since the gods had blessed them with the ability to use the internet without attracting monsters, technology had become a powerful new tool for the demigods.
"Okay, guys, let's recap," Annabeth began, adjusting her glasses as she typed quickly on the keyboard. "The gods said Percy is part of something called the Black Squadron. We need to find out what that means."
"Sounds like something out of a spy movie," Grover said, biting into a piece of lettuce as he leaned over the screen.
"Maybe that's exactly it," Nico replied, with the dark tone that always accompanied him. "Percy always had a way of getting himself into dangerous things."
Clarisse huffed, crossing her arms.
— If he's in it, it's probably because it's the kind of job where he can beat someone up.
Annabeth gave Clarisse a sharp look before turning her attention back to the screen.
"Let's see… 'Black Squadron'…" she muttered, typing the words into the search engine.
The first page of results wasn't very helpful. Lots of conspiracy theories, obscure forums, and a few mentions of something called "DEVGRU."
"DEVGRU? What's that?" Nico asked, leaning forward.
"SEAL Team Six, by the alternative names here," Annabeth explained, clicking on a trustworthy link.
The page loaded quickly, revealing information about SEAL Team Six, officially known as DEVGRU (Naval Special Warfare Development Group).
"'DEVGRU is an elite special operations unit of the United States Navy, specializing in counterterrorism, rescue, and intelligence operations," Annabeth read, her gray eyes shining with interest.
"So Percy is part of this?" Grover asked, looking impressed.
"What about this Black Squadron?" Clarisse persisted.
Annabeth continued to search, finally finding an article detailing the squadrons within DEVGRU.
"Here it is! Black Squadron. It's a squadron that specializes in intelligence and espionage. They're the ones who gather information to plan missions… or carry out covert operations on their own."
The group was silent for a moment, absorbing the information.
"So Percy is basically living as a spy?" Nico said, breaking the silence.
"Spy and soldier," Annabeth corrected, with a mix of admiration and concern.
"That explains why he's so good at it. Remember how he led the missions against the Titans? He always had a plan, even when it seemed like he was improvising," Grover commented, smiling nostalgically.
Clarisse grumbled.
"That's very impressive, but also very stupid." He could be here, with us, instead of risking himself for… mortal humans.
Annabeth frowned, but she kept her focus.
"He made his choice, Clarisse. It's not our place to judge him."
She went back to her research, trying to find out more about Black Squadron's location.
After a few more searches, Annabeth found a reference to DEVGRU's base of operations.
"Here it is! Their main base is in Dam Neck, Virginia."
Grover leaned in, reading over her shoulder.
"It looks like it's a pretty well-guarded place. We can't just show up and ask to see Percy."
"Of course not, but it's a start. Now we know where he is," Annabeth said, her eyes shining with determination.
Nico looked at her hesitantly.
"What now? Let's go there?"
"Come on. No matter how hard it is, we need to see him," Annabeth said, her voice firm.
"That's crazy," Clarisse said, but there was a small smile on her lips. "But I'm in."
The group began to discuss how they could travel to Virginia without attracting attention.
"We can use the gifts of the gods to move quickly and undetected," Nico suggested. "I can use the shadows to get us as close as possible."
"And then what? Just show up there like we're lost visitors?" Clarisse asked, arching an eyebrow.
Annabeth thought for a moment before answering.
"No. First, we need to scout the place. Figure out how to get to Percy without causing trouble."
Grover nodded, looking relieved.
"That sounds safer."
Nico snorted.
"None of this is safe. We're talking about entering one of the most heavily guarded bases in the United States."
"That's exactly why we need to plan well," Annabeth replied firmly.
Later that night, while the others were asleep or otherwise distracted, Annabeth sat in Cabin 6, reviewing what they had discovered.
Will Solace appeared in the doorway, leaning against the frame.
"Still awake?"
"I can't stop thinking about it. It's Percy, Will. He's out there, in a world we don't know."
Will crossed his arms, watching her.
"Do you think he's happy?"
Annabeth paused, considering the question. "I don't know. But I want to find out."
Will smiled softly. "Then let's get him back. Or at least show him we still care."
Annabeth smiled back, feeling a twinge of hope. "That's what I'm going to do."
And with that resolution, she went back to planning, determined to find Percy and remind him that he was never alone.
Chapter 5 - Reunion at Dam Neck
The morning was clear and cool as Annabeth, Nico, Grover, Clarisse, and Will arrived at the entrance to the naval base at Dam Neck, Virginia. They had traveled carefully, using the blessings of the gods and Nico's shadow travel to avoid drawing attention. Despite her nervousness, Annabeth led the group with firm steps, determined to see Percy again.
The base gate was imposing, surrounded by high fences and guarded by two armed soldiers. The group of demigods stopped as they approached, exchanging quick glances.
"Let me do the talking," Annabeth said, trying to sound confident.
She approached the lead guard, who immediately held up his hand for them to stop.
"Can I help you?" the soldier asked, looking suspicious.
"Yes, we're here to visit Percy Jackson," Annabeth said, trying to keep her voice steady. "We're old friends of his." The guard frowned, looking at them more closely.
"Percy Jackson? Are you talking about Commander Jackson?"
Annabeth hesitated for a moment, surprised by the title, but soon nodded.
"Yes, that's right."
The guard still looked skeptical, but he took a radio from his waistband and began to speak.
"Control, this is the main station. I have a group here saying they are friends of Commander Jackson. Authorization for internal contact?"
The response on the radio was quick, but incomprehensible to the group. The guard glanced at them again before pressing a button.
"One moment."
The silence that followed seemed to last an eternity. Nico fidgeted, fidgeting with his fingers, while Grover tried to look as harmless as possible. Clarisse crossed her arms, clearly impatient.
Finally, the guard's radio beeped again, and he listened carefully before answering.
"Roger, control."
He turned off the radio and looked at Annabeth.
"Commander Jackson has authorized your entry. Go ahead."
The group let out a collective sigh of relief.
"Thank you," Annabeth said quickly, leading the group as they headed into the base.
An officer met them right at the entrance and led them into the compound. The base was bustling with activity, with soldiers milling about, vehicles moving, and Navy flags flying in the wind.
"I didn't know Percy was so important," Clarisse said, looking around.
"He's always been important, just in a different way now," Nico replied thoughtfully.
Annabeth kept her focus ahead, her emotions mixed. Part of her was eager to see Percy, while another part feared what he might have become after so many years away from them.
"The commander is in the operations building," the officer accompanying them said. "He asked you to wait in the lounge until he could see you."
They arrived at a modest-looking but clearly reinforced building. The officer led them to a comfortable waiting room and left.
The door opened a few minutes later, and Percy Jackson walked in.
He was unrecognizable to some, but Annabeth knew immediately that it was him. Percy was taller, about six feet four inches, with broad shoulders and defined muscles. His tanned skin contrasted with the neatly trimmed beard that covered part of his face. His light green eyes, however, were unmistakable.
He wore the blue uniform of a Navy officer, with insignia on the chest that indicated his rank as commander. He stopped in the doorway, looking at the group with an expression of surprise and something else maybe a touch of vulnerability.
"Annabeth? Grover? Clarisse? Nico?" He said the names slowly, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Annabeth took a step forward, her voice shaking.
— Percy...
He smiled, a little hesitantly at first, but soon took a few long steps towards them, hugging Annabeth first.
— I can't believe it! You're here!
She felt the familiarity of his hug, but she also noticed the strength he exuded, both physical and emotional.
— It's so good to see you, Percy — she said, her voice breaking.
After that, Percy hugged Grover, who almost cried with emotion, and gave Nico a light, friendly pat on the shoulder.
— Clarisse, still complaining about everything? — he joked, hugging her quickly.
— And you still disappear without saying anything, Seaweed Brain — she replied, but her tone was lighter than usual.
The group settled into the room, while Percy sat in a chair next to them, clearly curious and excited about the unexpected visit.
— So, how did you find me? — he asked, looking especially at Annabeth.
"The gods showed us your life. They thought it was time to reconnect with you," Annabeth explained.
Percy laughed, shaking his head.
"So even the gods can't leave me alone."
"And you can't stay out of trouble either, apparently. Commander Jackson, huh?" Clarisse, , pointing to his uniform.
"Something like that." Percy smiled, but his gaze grew serious. "I needed something to challenge me. Something to give me a purpose."
"And you found this here?" Nico asked curiously.
Percy nodded.
"It's different from what we did as demigods, but it's still about protecting people. It's something I'm good at, and… it's where I feel like I belong now."
Annabeth looked at him, studying him.
"And are you happy?"
Percy hesitated before answering.
"It's not an easy life. There are times when I think about the past, about what I left behind. But… yeah, I guess I'm happy."
The group spent hours talking, reminiscing about moments from Camp Half-Blood and updating Percy on what had happened since he left.
"What about you? Are you still the know-it-all at Camp?" — Percy asked Annabeth, smirking.
She laughed.
"Someone has to keep things organized without you there to improvise everything."
"I guess I missed that," Percy admitted, his smile softening into something softer.
As the sun began to set, Percy received a message that he needed to return to work. He stood up, adjusting his uniform.
"I want to continue this conversation, but... duty calls."
Annabeth stood up with the others, a little reluctantly.
"Of course. But we won't let you out of our sight again, Percy."
He smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in his eyes.
"I've never stopped thinking about you."
Grover stepped forward, extending his hand.
"We're your family, Percy. We always will be."
Percy squeezed Grover's hand, looking at each of them with gratitude.
"Thank you for not forgetting me."
As Percy left the room, Annabeth stared at him for a moment before speaking softly,
"We would never forget."
And with that, the group left the base, knowing that this encounter was just the beginning of a new connection with Percy. A connection they vowed to never lose again.
Support me if you like this stories
p@treon.com/SHADOWGHOST07
Just replace the @ with an a