The Argo II

by SaraMcLane

How can something so simple turn into a tragedy within seconds? Piper learns the hard way when she's stuck on the Argo II with horrors ahead. Leo screws up the map coordinates and forces the ship towards complete and utter disaster. With no help for miles away, the Argo II ends it's last adventure with horrendous ending, leaving Piper confused, scared, lost, and heartbroken.

1. Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I do not own PJO or HOO. Wish I did!
I sat on my bed, pulling my knees to my chest, crying. I was on the Argo II, waiting for dinner. It had been months since I'd seen Jason. Eleven months to be exact. I was silently crying, thinking about the day that I left Jason to go on this quest:

"Piper, you'll be okay." Jason said, comforting me. I had my face pressed against his broad chest. "I-I don't want to leave you, Jason." I sobbed. Jason was holding back tears. "Piper...I...you...you'll survive." He whispered, stroking my hair. I closed my eyes. "What if I don't?" I bawled. Jason sighed, letting a single tears stray from his eye. "Piper...you will. I know you will. And I'll be waiting for you. Don't worry." He smiled weakly. I wiped a tear away. I nodded slowly. Finally, Annabeth, from behind me, said, "C'mon, Pipes. It'll be okay." She had to pry me away from Jason. I remembered him waving, and the Argo II sailing off.

"Piper? Coach Hedge just finished dinner. Are you going to eat this time?" Annabeth's voice jolted me back to reality. She was standing in the doorway of my room. I looked up. I was starving since I hadn't eaten last time. "I guess." I mumbled, wiping the tears from my eyes. Annabeth noticed how I looked. "Thinking of Jason again?" She asked. I rubbed my face. "Yeah."

I followed Annabeth down the hall into the dining room. Everyone sat at the long oak table. Leo and Hazel sat at the end of the table. Nico, Conner, and Katie sat on the left side. Travis and Percy sat on the right, next to an empty seat. I sat by myself at the other end. Annabeth sat in the chair next to Percy. Coach Hedge started to pass around everyone's food.

I got a plate of roast lamb. I only ate half of it. After we all finished, Coach Hedge stopped us before we went to our rooms. "Um...can have all of your attention?" He started. I looked at Coach Hedge. "As you know, we've been traveling for about...eleven months." He said. A few of us groaned. "I'm glad to announce that we will be going back to Camp Half-Blood tonight." We all gasped. I screamed, "Wait! Tonight? Like, right now tonight? Oh my gods!" Everyone stared at me. I felt myself shrink back. "Um...I mean...yay?" I shrugged. Coach Hedge cleared his throat. "Before I was interrupted, I was going to say that, yes, we should be back home at ten o' clock." My whole spirit lifted, and I shot up from my chair. "I'm going to go get ready for tonight. I hopped away, literally hopped away.

When I got to my room, I started to pack up. I grabbed my dark blue suit case and tossed things in. Jeans, tops, blankets, pictures of me and Jason. As soon as I was done, I zipped it up and danced my way down the corridor.

As I walked, a sudden BANG! shook me. I slammed into the wall, and I felt the Argo II start to tip. I heard Annabeth screaming, "EVERYONE HOLD ONTO SOMETHING!" I clutched the railing that ran across the wall, and another BANG! jerked me around. Shouts and screams echoed through the whole boat. I saw Annabeth slide across the floor. She quickly got up and searched for something to hold. "Annabeth!" I yelled. Her head shot up and she ran towards me. A sound like something barreling through a wall, boomed through through my ears. Annabeth stumbled and tripped over her feet. I looked both ways, and I let go of railing. I grabbed her hand. "C'mon!" I shouted, and helped her to her feet. More booms blasted the Argo II. We both held onto the rail. "Annabeth, what's going on!" I cried. Annabeth looked terrified. "Leo steered us right above an erupting volcano! What was he thinking? That idiot!" She yelled. "Well, what's happening to the ship?" I screamed. Annabeth bit her lip. "I-I don't really know! I just saw a splash of lava and a few huge rocks heading towards the-" The ship doubled over and sent us sprawling on the floor. "Valdez! What's happening with the controls?" I shouted to Leo, who I could see at the other end of the corridor. "I don't really know, but-HOLD ON!" Leo suddenly grabbed at the helm and the ship lurched up. A huge BAM! hit the bottom of the Argo II. "What was-" Suddenly, the ship's bow dipped down, and a horrifying view of steam, lava, and rocks plunged towards us.