Join the Argo II crew

Disclaimer: There are sections of conversations that are taken from The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan, all rights belong to him.

Drew shivered as a wave of cold passed through her, tapping her hands nervously on the railings of the Argo II as it sailed past the boundaries of Camp Jupiter. She glanced over to the rest of the crewmembers, or at least most of them, as the annoying satyr was below deck entertaining himself with videos of people fighting and Piper's sex doll if her moaning was any indication.

Well, it wasn't really Piper's sex doll, it was more like a sex doll linked to Piper's body courtesy of some Hectate campers. Anything done to the sex doll would be felt by Piper as long as she was within range. Another one was linked to Annabeth although it was currently unused as she wanted to get through the meeting with the Romans without any distractions. Drew had to agree with Annabeth, after all, her brains were rather useful in a pinch, even if she was kind of an uptight bitch about it.

Below them was the city of New Rome, Drew frowned as she glanced at the signs of battle still present. Some statues and fountains were pulverized and the roads were pitted with craters. Wrinkling her nose at the mass of people in togas gawking and pointing at the ship, Drew turned to Annabeth, "You don't think they'l-"

An explosion interrupted her, nearly sending her overboard.

“Unacceptable!” An armless statue of a buff man draped in a toga shrieked.

Drew glared at the statue that materialized on board the ship, preparing to open her mouth to give him a piece of her mind before quickly regretting that decision as she choked on the sulfurous yellow smoke that rolled off his shoulders.

The partially humanoid statue frowned at them, “I will not have weapons inside the Pomerian Line!” he announced in a fussy teacher voice. “I certainly will not have Greeks!”

Jason decided to step in to prevent the situation from escalating “Wait Terminus,” he said. “It’s me. Jason Grace.”

“Oh, don't think I forgot you, Jason!” Terminus grumbled. “and here I thought you would have better senses than to consort with the enemies of Rome!”

“But they’re not enemies—”

“That’s right,” Piper jumped in. “We just want to talk. If we could—”

“Ha!” snapped the statue. “Don’t try that charmspeak on me, young lady. And put down that dagger before I slap it out of your hands!”

Drew immediately turned her full attention to Terminus, suddenly aware of the weaknesses of charmspeak.

Piper glanced at her bronze dagger, which she’d apparently forgotten she was holding. “Uh… okay. But how are you going to slap it? You don’t have any arms.”

“Impertinence!” There was a sharp POP and a flash of yellow as Piper yelped and dropped the dagger, which was now smoking and sparking.

“You're lucky I’ve just been through a battle,” Terminus announced. “If I were at full strength, I would’ve blasted this flying monstrosity out of the sky- Is she alright?”

The statue gestured at Piper who clung onto Jason's arm for dear life, burying her face into his chest as her body spasmed. Her knife laid forgotten on the floor as Piper orgasmed from the linked sex doll.

“Hold up.” Leo interjected, drawing the attention back to him. He stepped forward threateningly while wagging his Wii controller, “Did you just call my ship a monstrosity? I know you didn’t do that.”

Annabeth interrupted the budding argument, “Let’s all just calm down.” She raised her hands to show she had no weapons. “I take it you’re Terminus, the god of boundaries. Jason told me you protect the city of New Rome, right? I’m Annabeth Chase, daughter of—”

“Oh, I know exactly who you are!” The statue glared at her with its blank white eyes. “A child of Athena, Minerva’s Greek form. Absolutely scandalous! You Greeks have no sense of decency. At least we Romans know where that goddess belongs.”

Drew watched Annabeth grit her teeth, “What exactly do you mean, that goddess? And what’s so scandalous about—”

“Anyways!” Jason interrupted. “Terminus, we’re here on a mission of peace. We’d love permission to land so we can—”

“Impossible!” the god squeaked. “Lay down your weapons and surrender! Leave my city immediately!”

“Which is it?” Leo asked. “Surrender, or leave?”

“Both!” Terminus said. “Surrender, then leave. I am slapping your face for asking such a stupid question, you ridiculous boy! Do you feel that?”

“Wow.” Leo studied Terminus with professional interest. “You’re wound up pretty tight. You got any gears in there that need loosening? I could take a look for you.”

“Stop that!” Terminus insisted. Another small explosion made Leo drop his screwdriver. “Weapons are not allowed on Roman soil inside the Pomerian Line.”

“The what?” Drew asked.

“City limits,” Jason translated.

“And this entire ship is a weapon!” Terminus said. “You cannot land!”

“Leo, stop the ship,” Annabeth ordered.

“Huh?”

“You heard me. Keep us right where we are.”

Leo pulled out his controller and yanked it upward. All ninety oars froze in place. The ship stopped sinking.

“Terminus,” Annabeth said, “there’s no rule against hovering over New Rome, is there?”

The statue frowned. “Well, no…”

“We can keep the ship aloft,” Annabeth said. “We’ll use a rope ladder to reach the forum. That way, the ship won’t be on Roman soil. Not technically.”

The statue paused, “I like technicalities,” he admitted. “Still…”

“All our weapons will stay aboard the ship,” Annabeth promised. “I assume the Romans—even those reinforcements marching toward us—will also have to honor your rules inside the Pomerian Line if you tell them to?”

“Of course!” Terminus said. “Do I look like I tolerate rule breakers?”

“Uh, Annabeth…” Leo said. “You sure this is a good idea?”

Annabeth shivered before answering, “It’ll be fine, no one will be armed. We can talk in peace. Terminus will make sure each side obeys the rules.” She looked at the marble statue. “Do we have an agreement?”

Terminus sniffed. “I suppose. For now. You may climb down your ladder to New Rome, daughter of Athena. Please try not to destroy my town.”