Chapter 1: Sneak Peak Preview
Chapter Text
ALISON is jogging outside, listening to music in her wired headphones. She sings along as she jogs down her path. Her eyes widen as she sees an UNSEEN someone and she veers her path to the left. She keeps running as another pair of jogging feet can be heard trying to catch up to her. She stops and turns around.
ALISON (slightly shocked and panicked, though mostly commanding)
You stay right there!
She points at her UNSEEN pursuer. A hand belonging to the UNSEEN pursuer reaches to her outstretched arm. ALISON snatches it back, hugging it close to her chest.
ALISON (disgusted)
Don’t you dare touch me.
She begins to turn away when the pursuer speaks. The camera is still trained on ALISON.
UNSEEN PURSUER
Do you really think it wise to piss off a——
ALISON whips around and stomps up to her pursuer.
ALISON (glaring)
I’m not afraid of you, Hermes.
The camera zooms into HERMES’ face. He is smiling.
HERMES (playfully)
There’s the Alison I know.
ALISON (scoffing)
You don’t know me.
HERMES (sarcastic pouting)
So all those years at camp meant nothing?
ALISON rolls her eyes and turns around to continue her jog. She doesn’t get far before HERMES materializes in front of her, blocking her path.
ALISON (annoyed)
What?
HERMES
I need you to do something for me.
ALISON (smug and challenging)
And why would I do anything for an Olympian?
HERMES
That’s the thing. You wouldn’t. Which is why I’m asking for a favor.
ALISON (blunt)
No.
She turns back to where she just came from so that she can continue her run. She doesn’t get far before HERMES materializes in front of her yet again. ALISON begins to get very frustrated.
ALISON (exasperated)
What do you want, Hermes?!
HERMES
I’m not your father——
ALISON (sarcastically)
Shocker.
HERMES
But I often wish I was.
ALISON stills and softens just a bit, something delicate seeping through the cracks of her mask made of disdain. The moment passes quickly as she hardens her resolve once again.
ALISON
Spit it out, Hermes.
HERMES
Before I continue, I understand that I deserve every ounce of hate. All of us Olympians do. But outside of being the messenger god, I’m still a father.
ALISON (annoyed)
What is the point here?
HERMES has to take a breath as he is getting a bit emotional.
HERMES
Take care of Luke for me? Please? I know wishing him well is counterintuitive for my cause, but he’s still my son. I know you care for him almost as much as I do——
ALISON (interjecting)
I barely knew him at camp.
HERMES
There’s a lot more to life than just Camp Half Blood.
ALISON once again softens at HERMES’ words before remembering this is a man she hates.
HERMES (cont)
I just…there’s a lot I wish I could do for him. But I can’t. Not after that night.
HERMES looks pained as he reminisces on that fateful night. He then gains a resolve and fire behind his eyes that shows just how much he loves his son.
HERMES (cont)
There’s no guarantee of safety in impending war, but please, be there for him. Try to steer him to the right path. Be the support system I can’t be.
HERMES looks at ALISON expectantly. She looks back at him hesitantly.
HERMES (pleading)
My hands are tied when it comes to Luke, and I’m sorry that I can’t offer you the one thing you truly want. But you’re all I have to turn to right now. Please, Alison?
ALISON looks sadly at HERMES. She slowly turns away as she does not give him a verbal answer, yet he sees something in her eyes that has him sighing in relief. ALISON has completely turned around and is jogging into the distance. The camera ZOOMS INTO HERMES’ face before BLACK OUT and cut to title card.
Chapter 2: Prologue
Notes:
This is a third person, outsider look, a prologue before we learn about the events of Kronos' army from the perspectives of Luke and Alison. This is the same as the sneak peak original script I wrote, but in a novel format in order to kick start the fic.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
The early morning held a light blue sky and cool breeze, rays of sunlight fighting to peak out from behind the thick clouds warding off a bright morning. A girl jogged casually down the asphalt path, trees of bark and leaf surrounding her, concrete ones towering in the distance. Each slap of her shoe against the ground caused her cascade of braids to swish from side to side, the thick hair tie fighting to keep the mid-ponytail intact. She hummed along to the song playing in her white wired headphones, occasionally singing an out-of-breath lyric here and there, a sporadic “New York City” and “riptide” leaving her lips and joining the song of the birds inhabiting the trees.
The path was a familiar one, one she took nearly daily. She almost never strayed from it. She never had a reason to. Today aimed to change that. Her eyes widened at the sight of a person up ahead. She had no choice but to veer left, breaking her routine. She continued jogging, slightly picking up the pace, matching the increase in her heart rate at the sight she’d just witnessed. Soon, her footsteps were not the only rhythmic sound along the path. She was being pursued, and they were intent on catching up. She halted, whipping around.
“You stay right there!” She pointed at her pursuer, hoping her gesture would be enough to cement them in their place. Her pursuer reached out, aiming to clasp her outstretched arm. She snatched it back, hugging it close to her chest.
“Don’t you dare touch me.” Disgust dripped from every syllable she spat. She turned around, hoping to increase the distance between her and her pursuer as quickly as possible.
The sound of their voice filled the small space between them. “Do you really think it wise to piss off a—”
“I’m not afraid of you, Hermes .” She whipped around and stomped up to him, burning hatred in her words and expression.
Hermes’ lips pulled up into a playful smile. “There’s the Alison I know.”
Alison scoffed, disgusted. “You don’t know me.”
“So, all those years at camp meant nothing?” Hermes pouted sarcastically.
Alison rolled her eyes as she turned around to continue her jog. She was not going to let him get in the way of her morning run. Unfortunately, Hermes was equipped with powers she had no control over. He materialized in front of her, blocking her path.
“What?” Annoyance clipped the final consonant.
“I need you to do something for me,” Hermes said, the playfulness dropping away a bit.
“And why would I do anything for an Olympian?” she asked smugly. She was challenging him, and they both knew who would win that argument.
“That’s the thing, you wouldn’t. Which is why I’m asking for a favor.”
“No,” she bluntly responded. She turned back around, aiming to head back toward the path she usually took. She didn’t get far before Hermes materialized in front of her yet again. Frustration was very hard to keep at bay when Hermes was intent on pestering Alison.
“What do you want, Hermes?” She was exasperated, unable to find the patience to deal with the god’s antics any longer.
“I’m not your father—”
“Shocker,” she cut in sarcastically.
He continued as if she hadn’t said anything at all. “But I often wish I were.”
Alison stilled, softening if only just a bit. Something delicate and vulnerable seeped through the cracks of her mask of disdain. The moment passed as quickly as it came on, Alison hardening her resolve once again. She crossed her arms.
“Spit it out, Hermes.”
He sighed, readying himself. “Before I continue, I understand that I deserve every ounce of hate. All of us Olympians do. But outside of being the messenger god, I am still a father.”
Alison’s feeling of annoyance had reached its peak. “What is the point here?”
Hermes took a deep, shaky breath. “Take care of Luke for me? Please? I know wishing him well is what some would call…counterintuitive for my cause, but he’s still my son. I know you care for him almost as much as I do—”
“I barely knew him at camp,” she interjected.
“There’s a lot more to life than just Camp Half Blood,” Hermes said, his voice just above a whisper. Alison softened once again at his words before remembering this was a man that she not only hated, but loathed with every fiber of her being.
“I just…there’s a lot I wish I could do for him,” Hermes continued. “But I can’t. Not after that night.”
Pain painted the expression on Hermes’ face as he reminisced on that fateful night. His face shifted as he gained a resolve and fire behind his eyes that showed just how much he loved his son.
“There is no guarantee of safety in the impending war, but please, be there for him. Try to steer him to the right path. Be the support system I can’t be.” Hermes looked at Alison expectantly, pleadingly. She hesitated to meet his gaze, her indecision cutting Hermes to the core. “My hands are tied when it comes to Luke, and I’m sorry that I can’t offer you the one thing you truly want, but you’re all I have to turn to right now.” Most gods would think it beneath them to beg, but Hermes didn’t care. He couldn’t. “Please, Alison?”
Alison looked sadly at the messenger god. She slowly turned away, not giving him a verbal answer, and yet, he saw something in her eyes that caused him to sigh in relief, as if a large burden was lifted from his shoulders.
Alison turned her back to him for the last time, finally able to continue her jog. The path was not the one she intended to take when she set off on her workout that morning, but now, she was determined to see it to the end.
Notes:
I think it important to have the prologue in third person because we aren't learning about Alison quite yet, but reinforcing the love Hermes has for Luke and the position he is stuck in. All the future chapters will be in a first person POV, past tense, like the original series.
Chapter 3: Sea of Monsters 1 - Alison
Notes:
Each of these little chapters will be on the shorter side. We're starting with Alison since Luke is already well known. Hope you enjoy learning about Kronos' army from their side :)
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
I didn’t enjoy walking past hordes of mindless mortals on my way to grab a hamburger, but that’s what I signed up for by being on the Andromeda.
I slipped past a lady with the characteristic glossy look in her eyes that told me she was very much not a demigod. Carefully reaching around her, I secured a ceramic plate that could have done with another run through the dishwasher, but I couldn’t complain. Not about that at least. The food? Definitely. It was abysmal.
Demigods, mortals, and monsters didn’t mix, but Luke was intent on operating things in that way, so I was stuck grabbing gray pucks of what I hoped was hamburger meat, avoiding glossy-eyed mortals. They gave me the heebie-jeebies.
Sitting alone at a rickety brown table, I bit into my sad sandwich. There was a gaggle of mortals around the vegetables, so I was only able to snag mayo to complement my oddly cooked meat and thin burger buns. I was hardly halfway through my lunch of champions when a demigod— finally , a conscious person—came up to me.
“Alison?” I hadn’t seen this kid before. I quirked my left eyebrow up.
“That’s me.”
“We got that report back.” He wrung his hands nervously.
I sighed. “And you need me to take it to Luke, huh?” I tossed my sandwich aside, unnerved by the unfocused gaze of countless mortals suddenly being thrust upon me. For a bunch of people stuck in a trance-like stance, they sure seemed to go out of their way to make me uncomfortable.
“Yes, please,” he squeaked.
I rolled my eyes. “Sure, sure. Whatever.” His eyes lit up. “Now, get out of here before I change my mind.”
He scampered off, his steps a bit lighter as he wove between the mortals.
I rubbed my temples. This was shaping up to be a lot more work than I’d signed up for.
I secured my thick mass of black braids into a low ponytail using my favorite hair tie. I reserved it for battle, including whatever weird game of verbal ping pong Luke and I tended to partake in. Patting my thighs, I confirmed my two double-edged daggers were present and accounted for, the leather holsters holding the celestial bronze weapons snug against my legs.
Hair secured, daggers accounted for. It was time to see Luke.
I smacked my forehead, realization dawning on me. I definitely needed to hear that report first. I set off to find the kid, tracking him down almost immediately. His face fell when he saw me, but lit right back up when he realized that all I needed was the report. I didn’t get why all the other demigods seemed so afraid of me. Sure, I wasn’t at camp with them like Luke had been, but I certainly hadn’t done anything to instill fear. Well, I never truly cared about what most people thought about me, and I wasn’t going to start caring now.
I made my way across the pool deck, heading down a few flights of stairs before taking the familiar path to Luke’s office. I didn’t know where he found the time to scout out the biggest, most pretentious room on the ship, but he sure was quick with it. I rapped my knuckles against the door in a pattern only recognized by the two of us.
“Come in,” a muffled voice invited.
I opened the door to see the familiar dark hair and brown eyes of my superior and leader of Kronos’ army. He sat behind a mahogany desk, papers strewn across it, stacks of parchment lining the edges.
“Alison,” he said respectfully.
“Luke,” I replied. I remained at the doorway, standing at the entrance.
He snorted. “When I say come in, you know it means you can come into the room, right?”
I relaxed my posture, glad he wasn’t taking on an air of authority with me. “Naturally.”
He gathered the papers before him, tapped the short edge against the desk, then laid them flat in a perfect stack. “So, what brings you in?”
“Report,” I responded. I never quite knew when Luke was being Friend Luke or Boss Luke. Assuming subordinate status seemed the safest bet, though it always left a sour taste in my mouth.
Luke sat up straighter, eyes widening slightly. “Already? What information do you have for me?” He sounded eager, bordering on desperation. It was understandable, all things considered.
“Colchis bulls were a success. We’ve officially sunk our claws into Camp Half Blood. The…tree”—he winced at the word—“is as it was when we last checked. However, Chiron has officially been sacked, and Clarisse La Rue is now embarking on a quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece.”
He scrunched his eyebrows together, flexing his jaw. “And what about Percy Jackson?”
“At camp, sir.”
He cringed. “Don’t call me ‘sir.’ It’s weird.”
I gave a sharp nod. Those little moments always tripped me up. Just when I would think he was dropping his title and treating me as an equal, he would toss around some order. I preferred not to embarrass myself, so unless he was explicit in treating me as Alison, I was going to act as nothing more than a dutiful little soldier.
“Is that all?” He looked at me expectantly, hoping for news I couldn’t give him.
“Yes.”
His face crumpled. He pulled his features into a grim imitation of a smile. “You are dismissed.”
Aha. So he was Boss Luke all along.
I took a sharp about-face, gearing up to leave. I paused, taking in a breath.
“Hey, Luke?” I heard him give a soft grunt. I peered at him over my shoulder. “You alright?” He squinted his eyes at me. “I’m asking as your friend.” He kept glaring until eventually, he relented.
“I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
“Because you’re not fine.”
He took in a sharp breath, as if those four words pained him.
“You’re worried about her, aren’t you?” I said softly. “About Thalia?” Her name was barely a whisper.
He nodded reluctantly, jerkily and stiffly tilting his chin down and back up again.
I turned to face him. “She’ll be okay.”
“Will she?” His eyes seemed to scream in pain.
If there was one thing I hated more than anything in this world, it was lying, especially for the sake of making someone feel better. Disappointment hurt so much worse when false hope gave you a higher ledge to fall off of.
“I believe she can be.” It was true. Sure, her tree was worse for wear, but it was still there, still salvageable.
He dropped his head into his hands. “I don’t think I’m doing the right thing, poisoning her tree and all.”
I strode across the room, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. When he didn’t shy away, I slid my arm across his back to give him a side hug. He was always more inclined to share his worries when he felt physically secure.
“Though I won’t lie and say you did the right thing, I will say you did the best you could with what you have. Plus, you have a plan for that fleece, don’t you?”
Luke snorted. “Who said anything about the fleece?”
“You don’t have to say anything, Luke. I know you. I know you wouldn’t put innocent people in a tight spot without knowing how to get them back out again.”
He looked up at me, his tight-lipped, horizontal smile pulling his scar taut. “Thanks. What would I do without you?”
I dropped my arm to my side, leaning against the edge of the desk. “Probably keel over and die for the sheer lack of my presence.”
“Ah, yes. The demigod whose existence is greater sustenance than nectar and ambrosia.”
“Oh, I’m greater than the food and drink of the gods, am I?”
“Greater than the gods themselves.”
We laughed, slipping into the comfortable dynamic that was us. For all the stress an impending war had to offer, I found myself that much braver in the face of it when standing alongside Luke.
A sheet of paper slid off his desk when he slapped it, struggling to catch his breath. It landed delicately on the carpeted flooring. I hardly had the opportunity to pick it up for him before he was snatching it from my hands.
“Who are you corresponding with?” I asked casually. Luke had every right to be secretive with the contents of his letters, but he almost never withheld information on who he was sending them to.
“None of your business, soldier .”
Well, sit me on a horse and call me a centaur. Luke really was keen on keeping this thing under wraps.
“Oho, we’re going back to that, are we?” I shrugged noncommittally, the nonchalance a facade I’d long since practiced. “Well, if duty calls, you know where to find me.”
I pushed away from the desk, taking my leave. I hardly had my hand on the doorknob when Luke’s voice stopped me in my tracks.
“Hey, Ali?”
I turned over my shoulder to face him once more. “Mhm?”
“Thanks.” He smiled that real smile I seldom saw, the one that showed me a glimpse of the boy that existed before the heartbreak, loss, and betrayal. It was the kind of smile that reminded me of the kid filled with hope for a brighter tomorrow. It was a smile that broke my heart into a million pieces, mourning the burial of that boy underneath the heaps of duty, responsibility, and sacrifice.
I smiled back, equal in my genuineness, showing him a glimpse of the girl I wasn’t even sure existed anymore. “Anytime. I’ll always be here for you, Luke.”
“And I you. Until the promised day, and beyond.”
“When living is no longer a luxury.”
Our little phrase rang in my wake as I slipped through the door, silently shutting it behind me.
Notes:
I just wanted to touch on their little phrase really quickly. It talks about the day the Olympians are out of power and the life that demigods will be able to live after that. Living will no longer be a luxury for them when they have no constant threat due to their parentage. They're both holding out on the hope that the world Kronos brings about will mean freedom for all demigods.
Friendly reminder that the characters will look like their TV actors. I say this bc I def wrote Luke as a blonde hair blue eyed man before I remembered lmao. The chapters will be shorter since it is more journal entry vibes. Like they won't be written like journal entries, but it'll be little snippets of events throughout the PJO series. Also, considering the fact that I hardly have time to breathe, this will upload at a slower pace than my other work. So sorry :(
BenjaminCarter11 on Chapter 1 Mon 01 Sep 2025 08:40PM UTC
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