Percy Jackson: Courage & Strength

The General

As the ship docked at the military port, Percy's heart raced with anticipation and dread. The salt-laden air, usually a comfort, now felt heavy with the weight of his uncertain future. Soldiers bustled about the dock, their crisp uniforms a stark contrast to the casual attire he was accustomed to at Camp Half-Blood.

A tall, imposing figure stood out among the crowd – a woman with piercing grey eyes that seemed to analyze everything around her. Her silver-streaked hair was pulled back into a tight bun, and her uniform bore more medals and insignias than Percy could count. This, he realized, must be General Glaucopis.

As Percy approached, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something familiar about her. The way she carried herself, the calculating look in her eyes – it reminded him of someone, but he couldn't quite place it.

The General's eyes locked onto Percy as he disembarked. She strode towards him with purpose, her gait confident and measured.

"Percy Jackson," she said, her voice stern yet not unkind. "Welcome to Fort Olympus."

Percy's eyes widened at the name. Could it be a coincidence?

"Thank you, General," he replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "I'm ready to serve."

A ghost of a smile flickered across the General's face. "We'll see about that, young man. Follow me."

As they walked through the bustling base, Percy's mind raced. The name 'Fort Olympus' couldn't be an accident. And there was something about the General that nagged at him, like a half-forgotten dream.

Giving up on figuring it his eyes scan the camp half expecting Ares to pop out of nowhere and grind him to dust before a war even happened.

“Relax, young demigod the one you seek will not bother you so long as I am with you.” She assures him.

Percy gazed up at the general surprised..

“How did you..” he stammers

She cracked a knowing smile “don’t worry about the details just be assured that I know who and what you are..how I know is at the moment of no concern to you.”

Percy wanted to ask questions wanted to ask why she felt so familiar..even her energy felt like he’d encountered it before.

If she knew who he was then was she a fellow demigod? Maybe that was it. Maybe she was one of his girlfriend Annabeth’s siblings..or..even one of Clarisse siblings..he considered shivering at the thought of taking orders from a child of Ares at such a time as this.

But she had said Ares wouldnt bother him here..but why was that?

She gave him another knowing look.. “hes definately a threat, he wants very much to kill you..and will happily stage an accident to make it happen..but for now hes overseeing the oppostions camp.” She says pointing her index finger out to the horizon where he can see a very feint column of smoke rising in the distance.

Percy shivered at being so close.

“So now that I’m here what do I do now?”

“Cangson!” She calls out.

A man walks up “yes General.”

“Take Young Private Jackson to the bareks to get settled, get him his uniform,  then escort him to the mess hall for dinner.” She orders.

“Yes General.” 

Percy follows the man to the barraks where his head gets shaved, and a uniform handed to him.

Picking up a gun the man looks him in the eye.

“This is your weapon, this is your life, and your fellow teammates lives..it is your responsibility to keep it clean, and ready for action at all times do you understand?”

“Yes Sir.” Percy responds

Taking him to a work bench the man proceeds to show Percy how to take apart his gun and properly clean it and put it bacj together and makes Percy do it multiple times until he was sure Percy had it down pact.

Only then did he finally lead Percy to the mess hall where a greasy heavy set looking bald dude gives him a bowl of chili and some biscuits, a canteen of water on the side.

Sitting down percy crushed the dry buscuits into the chili and tries a bite making a face.

The chili was so badly bland it was awful. A far cry from the nice meals he was accoustomed to at Camp Halfblood. 

Despite how bad it is he forced himself to eat it anyway’ moving as fast as he could to get it down faster. This was a war zone after all..not like he had the option to be picky like at Camp Halfblood.

After dinner he waited in a line of other soldiers to get a shower, and finally head to bed for the night.

He lay staring up at the ceiling wondering what Annabeth was doing, wondering what his mom was doing now. He hadnt barely been here a full day yet and already he missed home, he missed Annabeth and Grover. Would their special connection still work this far apart? He hoped so. And who was this General? Why was she so familiar? How long would it be before the fighting would start? How long before Ares decided to try and use the battlefield to destroy him? It was one thing to fight gods and monsters when you had powers..but could he survive a war with mortals involved? Could he survive Ares and find his way back to Annabeth? All the plans he’d made for the summer were now ruined. He was finally going to ask Annabeth to enter an engagement with him..and marry him when they reached eighteen next year. He was going to start hunting for the future home he wanted to buy one day and live in with Annabeth. But now the draft was ruining everything. Reaching in his pocket he pulled out the picture of him’ Annabeth and Grover he had put there, and falls asleep with her face as the last thing he sees as tge darkness of sleep greets him.