This is my own version of Rick Riordan's The Son of Neptune. The characters are the exclusive property of their author and in no way belong to me. This is not my Chapter 1 but my Prologue. I hope you enjoy reading it.

THE SON OF NEPTUNE

Prologue

Three days…three days! Our Praetor has been missing for three days now, and here I am leading the morning march. How could Consul Lupa still refuse to order a search for Jason? The training marches and exercises are important, especially since the "The Titan War" ended this past summer. With all the new recruits, Lupa's insistence that she needed all the veteran troops to remain in camp and see to the newbies' training made sense. However, the Legion could surely spare the Alae and one Century for a search.

Reyna berated herself. "Stop, you're the Prefect it's not your place to question orders." After all questioning was the reason Lupa ordered her to lead the new recruits on their morning march. But still this was Jason they were talking about. How she could be expected to just follow orders like everything was normal, was beyond her.

"You okay?" came a voice from just over her shoulder.

Bobby, son of Mars stood staring at her with a look of both concern and annoyance. Bobby the Legion's Primus Pilus (First Spear), was a young man taller than average with broad shoulders, black hair, and brown red tinted eyes.

"Fine, it's just…"

"You're worried. So am I, but it's Jason. He's probably just off performing a task for Juno, you know how she is."

True, Juno always had something for Jason, but still he always told her or at least Lupa. And Lupa always made it a point to inform the Legion, especially after Jason became Praetor (Commander) of the First Legion.

No something was different this time. It couldn't be that Juno gave him a quest to perform. After all no one has had contact with the gods in almost a month. Jason was missing it had to be related.

"Look I told you already that Gwen, Hazel, Dakota, and I are ready, whenever you are, to go and search. But you're the one who insisted that we follow orders, and train the recruits. Remember?"

"Of course I do, but…"

"No, stop worrying and follow orders, like you insist we do, or admit that you want to go find Jason orders or no orders. In the meantime Ma'am, I suggest you focus on leading this march so we can return to the camp quickly, and then decide on our next course of action."

What was she doing…after all they were all worried about Jason. Not only that, they were ready to accept whatever punishment the Consul had in store for them if they decided to violate orders. And the only thing stopping them was her insisting that they should do as Lupa said. Bobby was right she was being selfish.

She sighed, "Thank you First Spear, I will do just that."

"Of course Ma'am, after all what else are we centurions good for," Bobby said with a faint smile.

Fortunately the march would be a short one as far as marches went. With it being December and the hours of daylight limited they would only be out drilling for an hour and a half before returning to camp. Once they got back she would try, one last time, to convince Lupa to order a full scale search for Jason, or she and the others would go off to search for him themselves. Where and how they would begin searching she didn't know, but they would and that was all that mattered. Who knew maybe Gwen would have a vision while they searched, and then they would know where to go. But first things first, this morning's march needed to be completed quickly.

"First Spear," Reyna said over her shoulder.

"Yes, Ma'am?" Bobby replied.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but these recruits have yet to experience a forced march?"

"No Ma'am they haven't."

Smiling Reyna said "Well I think it is about time they do, don't you?"

Returning the grin, Bobby said, "Yes Ma'am, I believe it's time they do."

"Right, signal double time First Spear."

"Yes Ma'am."

"Gwen, hey Gwen, are you alright?"

"What…yeah, yeah I'm okay. Just a little dizzy, it will pass in a few minutes."

"Did you have a vision?" asked Hazel, with a note of concern.

"Really I'm alright and it wasn't a vision. Just one of my impressions I get them every now and then." said Gwen, trying to hide the discomfort that always accompanied even the faintest of insights the gift of prophecy imposed upon her.

It would do no good to let Hazel see her distressed. After all she was a daughter of Ceres and naturally couldn't help but be a mother hen. She would worry over the smallest things where others, especially her friends, were concerned. And when the short, sandy haired, green eyed daughter of Ceres got to worrying about her friends she quickly transformed into a vicious mother grizzly. Complete with a maul first ask questions later attitude.

"So what was this impression of yours?"

"Someone is coming…someone very important. Nothing specific but it was so strong it was almost like having a vision. The weird thing about this one though is its lack of any additional insight."

Concern creasing Hazel's brow, "Lack of insight…what does that mean? How can it be as strong as a vision but have no detail?"

"I'm not sure…it feels like there should be more, but the rest was erased or something. I've never experienced anything like it before."

"Could this someone be Jason?" the hope evident in Hazel's voice, "Maybe he's coming back from where ever he disappeared too, and the reason you can't see much is because it was some secret Juno quest."

"Maybe, but I just don't know. All I can say is this person, whoever he or she is, will be important."

Hazel could be right. It would be great if it was Jason. Then nobody would have to get into trouble for going against orders and searching for him. Dakota would be a little mad after having spent all day yesterday getting supplies together. He even went so far as to break into the restricted areas of the Principia (Command Building) to see if Consul Lupa had any undisclosed information about Jason's whereabouts.

All the pleasant thoughts aside, she still didn't believe that this person was going to be Jason. Gwen's guess, Jason's disappearance was most likely tied to the events of the past few months. All the new demigods suddenly being claimed, the gods mysteriously going silent, and even the increased monster activity; they had to be related. It was just too much of a coincidence for them not to be. No, this wasn't Jason but someone else…she just knew it.

"Gwen, earth to Gwen can you hear me?"

"Oh, sorry Hazel, I didn't mean to space-out like that."

"It's fine, we're all worried about him, but for the moment we should try to keep an eye on the recruits. Archery practice can be dangerous business and if we don't pay attention someone might just lose her eye." said Hazel giggling.

Smiling Gwen said, "True, but we both know while I'm a daughter of Apollo, you're still the best archer in the Legion. So it's ok if I space-out every now and then."

Just then Dakota swooped down on his pegasus scattering the recruits and sending half a dozen shafts flying in all directions. This is usually where the slender dark haired son of Mercury would break into his nonchalant laugh, but this time the look on his face was all business.

"Dakota what is it!" Gwen and Hazel blurted out in unison.

"How many times have we told you…" began Hazel.

Dakota interrupted, "While I was out on patrol I spotted Reyna, Bobby, and their century of recruits. Bobby signaled me to land immediately. When I reached them and asked what was so urgent…they told me that they found some unconscious guy near the beach while they were marching. Reyna ordered me to fly ahead, and get you to the infirmary quickly. That way, you can be ready to treat him once they arrived."

"Understood, how long until they arrive?" Gwen asked.

"If their pace remains steady, I'd say fifteen minutes. But that century is still new, and it looks like the Prefect and First Spear have been pushing them pretty hard this morning. Most likely they won't be here for another twenty-five or thirty minutes."

"Alright, Hazel can you handle the newbies without me?" Gwen asked sarcastically.

Amusement returning Hazel replied, "Of course, after all, I am the best archer in the Legion."

Pausing and now sounding disappointed, Hazel added, "It looks like your impression wasn't about Jason after all."

Gwen said, "Yeah, I guess not."

Restless Dakota said, "Impression? Well as interesting as all that sounds…we have our orders, Gwen let's go."

Reaching down Dakota grasped Gwen's hand and helped to pull her up onto the pegasus. And with that Gwen and Dakota took to the air, speeding toward the camp, and the unknown person who was about to arrive.