Sorry's Just a Word

Chapter one: Introductions

"Seth, let's go!" Brone yelled. "One minute!" Seth yelled back. "If you don't hurry up Thana and Sloan are going to kill you!" Nerezza yelled. "Okay, okay!" Seth yelled for the final time.

He ran into the room where Brone, Nerezza, Thana, and Sloan were standing. Seth looked at his watch as he stood panting. "Wait, I'm on time." Seth said. "On time is late" Brone said, then turned to the open window. "I have a mission. On planet 436. I'll be gone for a bit." He said as he looked at the rivers flowing through the city he loved. "That's the one with the ninjas right?" Seth asked. Brone rolled his eyes as the wind blew into the room, knocking his hood off his head. "Something like that." Percy answered.

The group took this moment to observe their old friend. His hair was still black but there was a dark purple streak along with a brown streak. He was still turned away but they knew that his eye color had changed to so dark a brown that it was almost black. They also knew that on the right side of his face, coming down from the temple and stopping at his jaw was a scar.

Percy pulled his hood up once again and turned to look at Thalia, "Sloan you're in charge of Seth while I'm gone. Chaos knows he needs a babysitter." Thalia nodded and turned to Luke. "Hear that Seth, I get to tell you what to do for a while." She said with a smile. He groaned. "I do not need a babysitter." He said. Percy ignored him and turned to the window once again. "Try not to blow up a planet while I'm gone. I'm getting sick of having to recreate planets." he said. Everyone nodded, not that he was looking at them.

"Commander Brone, we are ready for takeoff!" A voice shouted from outside the window. "Stay safe Brone '' Zoe said. He gave Thana a stiff nod, then jumped out the window. The group knew without looking that he had a perfect landing like always.

Nerezza sighed, "Bye to you too" He said quietly. "Nico, you know him, he's not the person for goodbyes." Thana said. "While Zoes right it still would have been nice." Luke said. "Well too late. He's gone. Now Luke, go grab me a pudding from the cafeteria." Sloan said. "Thaliaaaa" he whined. The group laughed and forgot the discomfort they felt with how Percy sometimes acted.

Brone landed on the ground after jumping out of the ship. He looked at the forest around him, scanning the trees for Aashni. Ninjas with varying powers but mostly powers like Thalias. Percy saw a couple in the tops of trees and could sense a couple hiding on the ground.

"Come out. I am not here to hurt you." A voice came from a tree to his left where an Aashni was hiding. "How do we know that? Who are you?" The Aashni asked. "I am Brone, leader of the alpha team, commander of the chaos army, crowned prince of the universe, and son of Chaos." Brone said. The Aashni scrambled down the trees they were hiding in and ran out from behind trees they were hiding behind to bow before him.

The aashni were not tall people; the tallest Brone had ever seen was as tall as his chest. When out of their city they wore all black. They looked like humans but none were clumsy, and when they walked you barely heard a sound. Especially if they didn't want you to hear them. They were an athletic people. They were all trained from birth to fight and protect themselves. At age 13 they were given the choice to either continue their training and become a member of their guard or they could find another occupation.

"I am sorry, my lord. It has been a while since you visited." Atala said. "I need to see my father." I told him. "Of course, My lord." He started walking away and Brone followed. The rest of the Aashni stayed behind to continue watching their planet.

Brone and Atala walked for a couple minutes in silence. Finally they walked through the invisible barrier and Brone could see the town. They maneuvered through the busy streets. The older aashni stopped and whispered as Brone passed by, obviously recognizing the prince of the universe. The younger aashni didn't throw a second glance at the stranger passing through their streets.