A week later Freddie and I were back at Camp Jupiter. Our trip back was surprisingly quiet, even considering the superstition that quests needed three.

Carmen met us at the entrance, bouncing up and down. "I want to hear all about it!"

Freddie hopped out of the car and swept her up, kissing her deeply. I rolled my eyes, smiling, and stepped away.

Someone cleared their throat behind me and I turned around.

"Oh... hello Reyna."

"That is not the car you left in."

"No... but I did pay for it with my own money and I would like to donate it to the camp in place of the one that I took, which was totaled." I smiled angelically.

Apparently it didn't fool Reyna, because she crossed her arms and glared at me. "What happened."

I sighed and thought back. "I believe it was a drunk driver, came up the ramp and hit us head on. Totaled the car, apparently we were lucky to be alive."

"Where's Cooper?"

"He was claimed by a Greek goddess so we left him there."

Reyna sighed heavily and rubbed her forehead. "You need to give us a proper report of what happened. Usually I don't ask for them but with what you've come back with I want it in forty-eight hours."

"Yes Praetor."

She nodded and turned, walking away.

"You done yet?" I turned back to Freddie and Carmen to find them still making out.

Carmen waved me away.

I fiddled with the device in my pocket as I walked off. Leo had given me a couple prototypes he wanted to be tested, telling me he'd be out to Camp Jupiter in a month or two to see how it all worked out.

There was one I was dying to test out, but I wasn't sure when I'd have the opportunity, so I was more focused on the other.

I pulled it out of my pocket. A little brick phone, looking vaguely like an iPhone that had been shrunk and then re-stretched to be thicker. Leo had said not to turn it on until I got to Camp Jupiter, and that there was a number added to it.

I pressed the on button and chuckled at the little flame image that popped onto the screen.

"Leo Valdez, you cheeky genius."

A fully functional phone for demigods, equipped with disguising scents. I tapped the contacts app and grinned as I saw the name there on the screen. Without hesitation I hit the call button.

"Hi Comet! What do you think of Leo's work?"

"It's amazing! How have you been?"

Rachel laughed. "It's been three days. I miss you, but not that much."

"You're wounding me, Rach."

"Whatever." I heard noise in the background and she snickered. "Leo's demanding that I ask if you tried the other one yet."

"Tell him no and I don't think I'll be able to for a couple days. I've got classes to re-assess, Reyna's going to kill me if I don't brief her on what happened on my way there and back, and I need to look into something in New Rome."

"Secrets, Jackson." Rachel teased, giggling.

"Secrets, yes. I promise you'll find out pretty quick." I shoved a hand in my pocket and began to wander along one of the streets.

"I'd better."

"You will!" 

I faintly heard someone shouting Rachel's name, and she sighed. "I gotta go, Comet, I love you."

"I love you too. Have a good day."

"You too."

I hung up and pocketed the phone, smiling softly.

The streets of New Rome were pretty quiet, but there was nothing to complain about there. I made my way through the city, heading for one of the older buildings.

Finally I came upon the house. Freddie had talked about it on the way back, mentioning the kooky old man who lived there. I had a feeling he could help me with the idea that had been bouncing around in my brain since just before I left Camp Half-Blood.

I walked up and knocked on the front door. It creaked open after a few moments and I saw half of a pale face peeking out.

"What do you want?"

"Are you Professor Hidgens? I'm Haley Jackson, I was thinking you might be able to help me."

The door opened a little more and I spotted the small revolver in the man's hand. He eyed me warily. 

"I need to look into something related to spinal cords and nerve endings, would you be able to give me some information?"

[A/N yep it's Hidgens from TGWDLM. I'm obsessed with the show (with all Starkid shows if I'm honest) so enjoy]