Lunar Phases II Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I don't own PJO or Naruto. All rights belong exclusively to the current owners, creators, editors, etc., and so forth.

Lunar Phases II: Manifesto

Problems of the Prophet

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"One of the most heinous acts that can be done by Man unto one another is that of an abduction. It is the act of the desperate, the furious, the drunk on hatred. It's been a cliche for the villainous for as long as stories needed conflict. It's been a trope for heroes to counter and prove their worth to the rich and powerful. A tool used to control and manipulate. A bargaining chip to 'balance' the scales, as it were. It is a strategy that even the 'wise' counsel promotes, when times call for the need to put enemies off of their feet. Abduction has existed for as long as there has been conflict among Man. The moral conflicts of abduction may be beneath the concerns of immortal participants, as seen in fantasy and myths of long dead civilizations, but it is an act that can haunt a mortal for the rest of their lives, be them either the abductor or the abductee."

—Excerpt from 'Crimes of Man Against Man: A Study of Violence', written by Prof. Minato Namikaze, during his go for a doctorate in Psychology. When asked by a student why he was entering a totally different field of study, the already established young mathematics professor looked confused. "Why would anyone want to stop learning and expanding their pool of knowledge? Our time is limited in this world, how else should it be used if not to understand it or others we share it with? If you have a better answer, please share."

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Striding the grand halls of Olympus, a certain goddess of wisdom and honorable warfare was on a mission – self-imposed, perhaps, but a mission all the same – and it was one Athena felt needed to be done with a personal touch. What issue was it she had taken upon herself to see through? The need to locate and speak with the only extraterrestrial on the planet known to her (now that she knew of one, she was open to the possibilities of others). Of course, she would not share this development with Zeus until after this conflict with their ancestral foe closed with Olympus' victory. The last thing she needed was to cause him even more distress than he was already in.

Regardless of how justifiably paranoid, perverted and powerful the King of Olympus was, at the end of the day he was her father. As any loyal child – and given her position as one of his most trusted advisors – she would rather spare him the problem and deal with it herself. It was one misplaced mortal, even if they had no hand in his origin, it shouldn't be hard to track him down.

That is what Athena thought originally. An assumption she made based on her understanding of mortal limitations. Alien or not, all known sentient life had the same limitations to keep them from overstepping even if some continued to try. Hubris of man aside, Athena was certain she could find and corner the intellectual life form known as Minato Namikaze.

She was certain. It would appear the things she thought she knew about this particular mortal were vastly outdated. And just added to her list of inquisitions to ask the mortal once she found him. Omnipresence was a challenging task for gods to perform, but here this mortal was, with four identical signatures running around!

Attending prestigious colleges just to see lectures for various doctrines of mortal sciences and mathematics. Advanced Physics and Cosmology is where his name popped up the most, often in praise by those particular teachers. One such physicist was even a demigod of Athena's, one who was happier with their mundane monster-free life after graduation from general education, and pursued teaching as a way to continue expanding his horizons.

Yes, Professor Gerald Sova Jr., who lectured for advanced theoretical physics at Columbia University on the side of his preferred high school teaching career, was quite surprised to receive an unexpected visit from his divine mother in his office. Understandable. It had been approximately thirty years since their last interaction, but most grown demigods distanced themselves from Olympus and Olympian perils. The 'graduates' of Camp Half-Blood often left such things for younger generations to handle, as the responsibilities of their adult lives demanded more of their attention and time. Respectable and understandable, even from a God's perspective, which is why The Olympians focused on quests and tasks for active Campers, and not those of advanced demigod ages.

Though, most of the reasoning behind that was also a result of the Treaty drawn up after World War II. Granted, it also terribly hurt the Olympians to engage with their aging mortal children, hence why so few did so. Weddings, Funerals, certain birthdays perhaps got a quick visit or acknowledgement from a divine parent, but for the most part, the older Demigods were left alone.

"Even so, we are always vigilant in the event one of you comes knocking," Prof. Sova said with a rueful chuckle, his withered seventy-six year old form creaked and groaned as he sat behind his desk. Wise grey eyes stared into the wisest silvers, and a small, pained smile stretched across his face. "Regardless, it is good to see you again, Mother."

"Gerry." Athena nodded cordially back. She folded her hands on her lap. "I was hoping I could ask for your help finding a certain individual."

"I hope you don't mean a prisoner of war? Or a missing spirit! Surely there's someone in the camps you could entrust this request to. I'm much too old to venture across the states to rescue wayward Nymphs or Satyrs." Prof. Sova sighed with a shake of his head. "At best, I could narrow a location down–"

"I need help finding an alien amongst the student body of Columbia." It was best to be blunt and honest with the grown demigod. Prof. Sova furrowed his thick brows at her as he stroked his wispy beard. Ah, skepticism, a rational reaction, even for a demigod. "This individual claims to be a multiversal lifeform, and given that he has displayed abilities beyond even our understanding, it is presumably not a falsehood."

"I see." Was all the aged demigod would say on the matter. "Is he dangerous?"

"Extremely." Limited form of omnipresence display notwithstanding, Artemis' Hunters and her Champion reported his ability to manipulate the energies within himself to create elements. Whether that was his own ability or something he had access to during his brief stint as a foreign god of war was yet undetermined. "Reliable sources claim he is supposedly not an active threat."

"Given the stage of the Neos Titanomachy, that's an understandable concern on your end, then." Prof. Sova hummed and then chuckled when her brows furrowed. "Yes, we are calling it that outside of the camps. Don't be so surprised, and before you ask, to my knowledge, we've all held to the neutrality agreement we signed upon 'Camp Graduation', but I'm not as close to others as I used to be."

"Then you understand the risk I'm taking coming to you with this." Athena took great strides to get the Neutrality Agreement written up for aged out campers. Originally, it was set for those at eighteen, but the age was raised to inspire the current legal drinking age, given the state of the Union when it was drafted.

"It is only a risk if this is an Olympian matter. So, it is prudent for me to ask, is this a personal request, Mother?" Prof. Sova asked, a small smirk on his face. Athena narrowed her eyes, just a fraction, but it was enough to get her son to lose his amusement. For the most part. He chuckled and raised a hand. "No need for intimidation, just a bit of fun. I need to have my own laugh now and then, in these times of war."

"I suppose I can let that be, for now." Athena mumbled. She inclined her head. "Gerald, will you help me find this alien?"

"I have papers to grade and spring break is on the horizon, but...I suppose it is the duty of a loyal son to aid his mother in her time of need."

"...Your wife has corrupted you." Athena grumbled, thinking of that daughter of Aphrodite that had besotted the boy in front of her before he was even close to being a man. The games she played with his heart in their youth tempered their relationship well into the ages they were at now.

"On the contrary, I like to think she helped me relax." Prof. Sova smiled at Athena. "Is there a name to identify this alien with or am I to hunt blindly for him? Knock on dormitory doors, and the like."

"Minato Namikaze."

"Oh...I was hoping he wouldn't be the focus of your investigation." Prof. Sova admitted with a sigh. "That explains the feeling I get around him. Like I'm once more staring down the Colchis Bull."

"You know where he resides?" That would make a lot of Athena's time less wasted. She could go right for the source of her new fixation and get the answers she wanted.

"No, but I could request he step in for an office visit. If you keep your schedule open, we could have him in here in a day or so. Availability depending."

"Very well." Athena frowned, pursed her lips, and stood. "I have other matters to attend to. Keep me posted, Gerry."

"Of course, Mother."

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The flying crocodile will be fine, it wasn't a major issue. It's fine to pretend that it wasn't as long as a fucking school bus, to ignore the bite radius that could easily swallow the average young child in a single snap, and to fantasize about it not being on the loose somewhere along the East Coast.

It's fine.

It's fine.

It's fine.

It's not fine. The Fox grumbled. Tell off this oaf for butting in where he isn't wanted. Then go find that oversized suitcase and skin it! I want to know what Crocodile tastes like.

"Uncle George," Naruto rubbed his face as he tried to ignore the input of his symbiotic companion. There was a faint growl that caused a minor headache, but he managed. "I understand that the abduction of one of your prophets is discouraging, but–"

"Honored Nephew, are you not listening?!" Uncle George interjected, eyes narrowed and a frown on his normally stoic face. Oh, terrific. He dropped the 'honored' title! This was a legit, godly request from his Uncle's Roman identity. Ugh, this sort of thing was supposed to be left to the Legionnaires! The Roman Sun God rapped a knuckle on his head. "Hello?! Has your head been emptied from all that time spent with barbarians?! It was not just one of my prophetic legacies that have been taken, it is the Legion's Augur!"

"…Okay. And?" Grimacing, Naruto rubbed the spot on his head his uncle had knocked on. "This sounds like an issue for the Legion to resolve. What do you want me to do about it?"

"If I am to leave it to the Legion, then they will likely find her corpse and the end of everything will befall us!" Uncle George snapped. He pointed at the confused Egyptian Sorcerer – this had to be something new for that poor kid; Naruto sympathized – and scowled. "I have no time to allow you to gallivant around, live-action role-playing with the sandcrawlers' wannabe magicians, Nephew."

"We are not–!" Naruto cut himself off and groaned into his hand. "Uncle George, in case you couldn't tell, I was in the middle of something."

"A swamp, yes. Nasty place. Be mindful of diseases–Can you still get natural diseases?" Uncle George asked, cupping his chin and squinting at him. "I'm extremely tempted to try to find out. Hm, but Diana would probably castrate me again if I whisked you off without asking. That's without bringing her barbaric side into the mix, and my idiot's side would get awfully pissed if he woke up without the jewels. Again."

"...Did he just say he'd be castrated again? As in, he's been castrated before?!" Kane asked. Uncle George scowled at him and Naruto closed his eyes. He groaned, again.

Selene, Helios, Cthulhu, Primus – there had to be some grand, older deity out there who would be able to cut him some slack, right? Right? Right?! ...Please?!

No. No one out there is going to cut you any slack, boy. The Fox grumbled. Oh, now it has something to add to the conversation?!

"Mind your manners when in the presence of a glorious god such as I, Magician." Uncle George sneered. "Unlike your parasitic tagalongs, I have no qualms of eradicating your ilk from this plane."

"Parasitic–?!"

"Okay! Uncle George!" Naruto slipped around the god to put himself between the deity and magician. The last thing he needed was for Khonsu to get on his case for letting some kid his pantheon favored get wrecked because his uncle's Roman Aspect had a shorter temper than Zeus on a cloudy day. The chosen son of Artemis looked up into his uncle's colder eyes. "Where is the last known location of your prophet?"

"Camp Jupiter, of course."

"Is that some kind of 'space camp'?" Kane asked. Probably not intentionally, given how it was mumbled. Uncle George's eyes blazed once more and Naruto glared at him.

"Kane, do us all a favor and try to find the lizard you just misplaced!" When the boy opened his mouth, Naruto narrowed his eyes. "That wasn't a request."

Wisely, Kane shut his mouth with a click and pulled a notebook from his pocket. Okay, fine. That's one potential hydrogen bomb disarmed.

For now. The Fox sneered. Naruto sent a mental glare its way, before he focused on his Uncle.

"Uncle George, I will look for your prophet as soon as I finish my task here. Is that acceptable?" He asked around a growl.

"I suppose it will have to do until you are properly enlisted." Uncle George grumbled. He leaned in and cupped a hand over his mouth. "Mind what you say around that boy, Nephew. The Enemy has resources everywhere."

"I understand." Naruto nodded, even when he didn't fully. Kane was a Boy, sure, but clearly talented in Egyptian magecraft. At least, judging by that wallop of a magic attack. What was that anyway? A manifested fist? Of magic? Didn't Egyptian magicians channel their God's power? What god was the god of fists?

Pfft, not impressed. We could do that. The Fox scoffed. If I felt so inclined to debase myself with helping your stupid ass.

Oh, and how would that work for us? Naruto thought snidely.

Well, with that kind of attitude, a cohesive unity between us would likely manifest as an acidic chakra shroud along with the enhancement of your already impressive vitality and physical power. The Fox chuffed. But like I said, it would be acidic and likely boil your flesh off.

Sounds like something Pollux talked to me about once. Some kind of power he used in a dragon infested dungeon, or something. Naruto thought and dismissed it with a shrug. He focused on his Uncle. "Alright, Uncle George, I will take care of your missing prophet, and get them back to Camp."

"Preferably do so before the end of the month. There's a council meeting then and her replacement is...not ready for the responsibilities she has undertaken." Uncle George nodded and then glared at Kane one more time. He glanced at Naruto. "If that sandcrawler worshipper gives you any trouble, Nephew–"

"I can handle myself, Uncle." Naruto huffed. The Fox snorted in disagreement and Uncle George crossed his arms as he arched a solitary brow in challenge. The mortal scowled. "I can handle myself. Both you and Momma made sure of it."

"True." Uncle George relented with a huff. He patted Naruto on the shoulder and gave him a cold smile. "Before the end of the month, Nephew. Lest something ill-fated should befall your dear concubine."

"...Do not threaten my girlfriend, Uncle. There is no need. I already agreed to help." Naruto scowled. Uncle George sighed.

"Just wanted to make sure you understand the importance of this request, Naruto. Be on your way, and beware the scorned smith." Uncle George warned before he was enveloped in a flash of light. He and his car were gone once Naruto could see clearly again.

And I thought your father's flashing trick was obnoxious. The Fox grumbled.

"Don't call it that." Naruto growled back as he rubbed his palms into his eyes. Even if it was an apt description of his father's space/time ninja technique...Gods, he just remembered he was technically an alien. He frowned, would he be an illegal alien–No, he was born on United States soil, so he's still technically a citizen of the country. Besides, Multiverse Theory was still just a theory and their origin in this world was still murky at best. He absently wondered if his father was making any grounds in discerning that further, and if he'd found his misplaced birth mother. Who had already died giving birth to him.

Huh, that's a situation that makes my head hurt. My life is so bizarre, I wonder if it's weird that I don't think that's weird? Naruto thought.

"What in the world just happened?! Who was that guy?!"

Ah, yes. There was an explanation to be given. Damn. Naruto had almost wanted to just tell the kid to buzz off but he had that look in his eye. The same 'I Want To Know' gleam that was often in Annabeth's eye–

"Oh, right. I have to call Tree Girl back." Naruto sighed and pulled his phone out. Being on the same service and plan as his mother and Uncle, he had a great signal. A quick redial and Naruto smiled when the phone was answered. "Hey, guess who wasn't abducted for once?"

"Hey, I'm proud of you, Whiskers! So, what did he want?"

"Same as they always do."

"A favor?"

"Yep."

"Ugh…Gods, just–Gods!"

"You're not saying that while you're still in camp are you?" Naruto asked, walking up towards the flabbergasted Egyptian mage. He stopped beside Kane and gestured with his head for the boy to follow him. The boy made a pinched face, but followed him regardless.

"Just piled into some horrifying death machine Cabin Five's thrown together for this assault plan of Annie's, so, yeah. I'm pretty sure I'm fine."

"'Pretty sure.' That's reassuring." Naruto frowned.

"Whiskers, we'll be fine. We're not just gonna barge through the gates of this outpost and charge like a bunch of lunatics without a plan."

"...Isn't that how you tried to win that Capture The Flag game?"

"No." Thalia huffed. "We had a plan, and Kelp Head spaced out during the planning stage or something and botched the whole game!"

"Hm, blaming it on the teenage boy, huh? That sounds familiar."

"The fact that he is one is inconsequential to the fact that he threw the game! And I don't want to hear you talking about that sort of thing, Whiskers. You're, like, a hundred times worse than I am about sexist stuff like that!"

"I'm not sexist." Naruto frowned, and pursed his lips. "Am I?"

Oh, definitely. The Fox snorted. Champion of female rights aside, any time you get irritated by stupidity, it's always due to the sex of an individual. Don't be too despondent over it, humans are like that regardless of the universe they were born in.

"You were raised by Artemis and The Hunt, Whiskers. Face facts, you're a little sexist."

"...So, how's that raid going?" He asked, rather than acknowledge that issue about his supposed personality flaw right now. He would eventually. Maybe. Just not now.

"Raid?!"

"Who was that?"

"Crap." Naruto sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "That was a work associate I just met."

"Whoa, wait, there's other people that work for the Sandmen? Why did the prick bother you then?"

"I don't know, Thalia. I'll ask him later." Naruto sighed. "Look, I might not make it to that assault quest, I'll keep you posted. I have to hunt down a giant crocodile–"

"Oh, come on! Are you–seriously?! I'd much rather go hunt down a giant croc than rescue a bunch of harpies."

"Harpies? Like, the literal kind or the ones that bother you kind?"

"Same diff. Wanna trade?"

"Wish I could, but your dad might eradicate me if we do."

"Don't bring logic into thi–Yeah, I'm on the phone with him, Annie. ..Ugh, fine! Annie wants to tell you that you shouldn't have let me get a tattoo–That's the only reason you want to talk to him! Yes it is! By the gods, Whiskers, I'll call you later. Annie is being stubborn."

"Gee, where could she have gotten that from?" Naruto snorted. Thalia returned with with a huff of laughter and he smiled a bit. "Love you, Tree Girl."

"Love you too, Whiskers. Be safe."

"Back at you." Naruto mumbled before the call ended and he looked at Kane. "I have some questions for you, Kane. I take it you want some answers of your own?"

"That's putting it mildly."

"Thought so. Let's walk and talk."