Chapter 11: Finger Gun. Click Click.

Carter looked at the expression on Annabeth's face and knew he must have a similar looking expression on his face. They both had questions, and it was possible he had part of an answer. Percy, like often recently, had a blank face, nothing was readable, it was as changeable and mysterious as the sea. Unlike Sadie's very clear annoyed and impatient expression. "I told you guys about the Egyptian soul?"

"A little. Sadie explained the secret name, and we learnt a little otherwise. There was the Ba?" Annabeth asked.

"Right. There are five parts of the soul, not all are important right now. But there's the Ka the life force, the ba the personality, the ib the heart which is weighed for your deeds upon death, the ren your secret name or real identity, the sum of who and what you are and your life's experiences and last the Sheut the shadow, which is the mark, the imprint you leave on the world. It's your existence or meaning."

"Right, and we've learnt this is all important but what does it have to do with not eating?" Sadie snapped at him.

"My theory is even if your not Egyptian that your soul is made of these five parts, which makes sense. But I think the actual essence of Egyptian magic and power is a little more present in Percy."

"What are you talking about? Definiteley not Egyptian," Percy said eyes widening as Sadie looked at him eyebrows raised.

"No. My brothers onto something. We theorized you were taking Ba trips before, but Ba trips can also take you to the past. Though that had to do with the gods when I dreamt it," Sadie muttered.

"So we all take ba trips," Annabeth looked at Carter and Sadie for confirmation, "when we dream about our enemies or what's happening."

"Luckily for you not in chicken form," Sadie murmured.

"What? Like Carter's chicken warrior?" Percy asked her.

"Not important now. Yes, you all take Ba trips but not to the past which usually happens with some interference from the gods or something else," Carter explained.

"The fates," Percy offered. "This is all just a theory right?"

"Mostly. Though I'm pretty sure about the fact you are taking ba trips," Carter assured him.

"Great, my soul is leaving my body when I sleep."

"A fifth of it," Annabeth told him. "And it's part of demigod dreams. I guess those are just these ba trips."

"It doesn't solve everything. But theory's are starts to answers," Carter replied.

"I just need to eat. Whatever part of my soul is hungry wants to be fed," Percy told them.

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Fine. Let's go eat Seaweed Brain."

The four of them arrived as everyone else was finishing up. They grabbed some food piled it on plates, Percy and Annabeth made the necessary sacrifices to the gods as well, then headed back into the main room with everyone else.

They ran down the left tunnel for a hundred yards, straight with no twists turns or exits. It was a dead end. There was a huge boulder in the way. Steps echoed behind them, then heavy breathing. Percy asked Tyson if he could do something. Tyson yelled yes as he slammed his shoulder against the rock and everything shook with dust falling. Grover yelled for him to hurry but not bring the roof down. The boulder grinded and moved as they ran behind it. Annabeth yelled for them to close the entrance and everyone pushed. A wail of frustration came through the other side of the border. Percy breathed in relief as they said they trapped it. Grover said they could have trapped yourselves. They were in a twenty-foot square room and blocked with bars on the opposite walls.

"So you escape death to be put right into a cell?" Leo asked.

"Pretty much."

"Sounds about right," Leo murmured.

Annabeth tugged on the bars asking what in hades, they were in three stories of metal doors and catwalks. Percy commented it was a prison. He suggested Tyson could break the bars. Grover shushed him and told him to listen. There was some sobbing and a raspy voice muttering in a strange language. Percy looked at his friends asking what language it was. Tyson's eyes widened in fright as he said it couldn't be. Percy looked at him concerned asking what? Tyson bent two cell bars apart and slip through. Grover yelled for him to wait.

"What's down there that has you so upset?" Blitz asked Tyson.

"Something bad. Scary," Tyson said and gripped Ella's claw.

"But Tyson is a brave Cyclops," Ella informed everyone.

Tyson looked down. His big eye blinked sadly only Percy, Annabeth and Grover caught it as everyone else was engrossed by what was happening in front of them.

Annabeth said she knew where they were. In Alcatraz. Percy asked if she meant the island near San Francisco. She nodded saying she'd taken a field trip here with school, it was similar to a museum.

"How is it you kept ending up in Roman territory and none of us realized?" Jason turned to all of the Greeks there. They all turned to Percy, Annabeth, Grover and Thalia. There were a few seconds of confused silence.

"I guess you were to busy preparing for war with the Titans," Percy suggested eventually.

"We were watching Mount Tam. We were aware of it's existence and I believe I heard of everything happening at Alcatraz," Reyna said. "Yet I did not hear of what happened with either of your incidents in those places."

"But we did realize Alcatraz was abandoned and something had happened with Atlas." Jason looked to Reyna and then Frank and Hazel. "None of you heard about this? There were some conspiracy theories on all of it for a while."

"See? So you did hear about us," Percy smirked. "I was offended for a second there bro."

"I didn't mean to offend you," Jason said with wide eyes looking at Percy pleadingly. Percy opened his mouth but was interrupted.

Thalia rolled her eyes. "Lets move on before my brother and cousin continued with their disgusting bromance."

Grover looked at them and said to freeze. But Tyson kept going until Grover grabbed him back and told him to stop asking if he could see it. Percy and Annabeth turned to where Grover was pointing on the second floor balcoy across the courtyard. It was a monster, a woman's body from the waist up with hair made of snakes. Her bottom half was a scaly dragon's bottom with claws and a barbed tail. The legs sprouted snakes looking to bite much like her hair. And around her waist where the woman and dragon merged the skin bubbled every few second a new animal head snarling and growling.

Apollo shivered. "That's bad. Extremely bad."

"Why? What is that? Who is she?" Magnus asked looking to Annabeth and Percy.

"Nothing good. Looks even worse than facing a Jotun," Blitz murmured.

"It's something ancient. Before the time of men," Walt guessed. "It's shape. It's not formed. It's too ancient. Something from chaos."

"That's a lot of monsters. None of them are good." Calypso' voice quavered as she spoke.

"Just watch," Annabeth said finally after allowing a few moments of their contemplation.

Tyson's lip trembled as he whispered it was her. Grover yelped for them to get down. All four of them crouched down but the monster passed and hissed up on the second floor where the sobbing was. Percy asked what she was saying and what the language was. Tyson replied it was the tongue of the old times what Mother Earth spoke to her childrens, the titans and the others, all before the gods.

All the Greeks and Romans shivered or paled in some way at the mention of Gaea. And the implications of the language and who spoke it.

Percy asked if he could understand it and translate. Tyson closed his eyes and spoke in a raspy woman's voice. It said you will work for the master or suffer.

Several more people shuddered.

Annabeth said she hated when he did that. Tyson spoke in a deeper male voice who said he wouldn't serve. His voice switched back to the raspy womans who said she would then enjoy Briares pain. Tyson's voice broke on the name with a strangled gasp. Then he continued in the same voice saying that if Briares thought his first imprisonment was torture he was yet to fell true torment from anything. She told him to think about it until he returned. Upstairs the monster stomped away and spread her wings soaring across the courtyards.

"Whose Briares?" asked Sadie. "I mean if he's that monsters prisoner he can't be in for anything good."

"The name sounds familiar," Jason said suddenly looking at Percy. "I think you said something about it. Or you talked about it with someone."

"I did," Percy agreed.

"Briares is—" Tyson started but nothing else came out. He looked to Percy and Ella questioningly. "Why can't I talk?"

"It's the fates bro," Percy reminded him.

"We can't talk about what we will be watching in the future."

"At least they won't have to wait for more than a few seconds," Percy soothed after Tyson became upset at Ella's explanation.

Grover trembled saying it was horrible. He'd never smelled a monster that strong. Tyson murmured it was a Cyclopses' worst nightmare, Kampe.

"I've heard of her," Piper murmured. "At camp."

"She's part of a widely telled story now," Annabeth agreed. "So you might have."

Percy asked who. Tyson answered every Cyclops knew about her. They were told scary stories as children. She was their jailer during the bad years. Annabeth nodded saying she now remembered how when the Titans ruled they imprisoned Gaea and Ouranos's other children. THe cyclpes and the Hekatonkheires.

"At least they don't seem as evil as her other kids," Frank said thankfully. THe rest of the seven and roman and greeks murmured their agreement.

"What are the Heka.. the what ever it is you were just saying?" Jaz asked. In response Annabeth pointed to the scene playing in front of them.

Percy tried repeating the word questioningly. Annabeth translated it as the Hundred-Handed ones. They were called that because they had a hundred hands and were the elder brothers of the Cyclops.

"A hundred hands?" Zia raised an eyebrow skeptically. "I have seen many demons and monsters, but a hundred hands on one? Is this possible?"

"Yeah. Quite literally a hundred hands," Chris answered her.

Zia still looked skeptical. Percy turned to her. "Look, this quest might have been the one where I'd seen the strangest monsters. Ones with strange bodies, extra limbs and parts and a lot of other things. It doesn't really seem believable until you see it, no matter how many strange things you've seen before."

Zia fell silent and looked ahead as the scene picked up again.

Tyson started to talk animatedly about how powerful the hundred-handed ones were. He said they were wonderful. As tall as the sky and so strong they could break mountains. Percy grinned at his brother's excitement saying cool unless you were a mountain.

Eyerolls and snorts and other amused and exasperated expressions surrounded the room.

Tyson explained that Kampe was a jailer who worked for KRonos. She lockedup the Cyclops and Hundred-handed ones in Tartarus where she tortured them until Zeus came. He killed Kampe and freed them to help fight the titans. Percy finished the story by saying Kampe was back. Tyson summed up it was bad.

"Slight understatement," Nico said. "That monster was one of the worst I've ever been around."

Will looked down thinking about how many Kampe had killed, with her forces like his own brother at the battle of the Labyrinth.

Percy asked who was in the cell then. Tyson had said a name. Tyson smiled saying it was Briares, the hundred handed one who was as tall as the sky. Percy nodded finishing by saying they could break mountains. He looked skeptical though looking up at where the sobbing was coming from in the cell.

"How does someone as tall as the sky and who can break mountains stay stuck in a tiny cell like that?" Sam asked.

"Because he's scared," Percy answered. "But I was thinking the same thing then."

Annabeth said she guessed they could check it out before Kampe came back. They climbed up to the second story and the cell. Inside as the weeping got louder they could see the creature inside, a milky pale human sized thing with feet too big and dirty toenails, eight toes on each foot. He was covered with a loincloth and his bare chest had different arms in all directions tangled together like spaghetti. Several of the hands were coving his face.

"He really does have a hundred hands," Carter gaped.

"Surprisingly it's not all that disturbing," Piper agreed. Her boyfriend's lips were tight as he thought. Jason looked at Percy.

"I remember where I heard of him now. I guess though we don't think he's that disturbing she really did. I mean…"

"Yeah," Percy agreed. He frowned. "Why did I meet so many people with multiple body parts on this quest?"

"It's weird," Annabeth agreed. "We did."

"Like three at least," Grover nodded.

"I only count two," Thalia pointed out.

"It's at least three," Nico argued. Everyone looked at him questioningly and he glared them all down.

Percy turned to his friends and murmured the sky wasn't as tall as it used to be or it was short. Annabeth glared at him and Tyson fell to his knees apparently not hearing.

Hearth signed what was apparently a disapproving sentence as Alex laughed and gave Percy a thumbs up. Magnus just sighed and glared down at the pendant at his neck.

Tyson cried out Briares name. The sobbing stopped and briares looked up with a long sad face with a crooked nose and bad teeth. His eyes were completely brown. He looked at Tyson miserably saying to run while he could. He couldn't even help himself. Tyson insisted he was a hundred-handed one. He could do anything. With five or six hand Tyson wiped his nose as several others played with spare parts building and dissaembling toys as others played rock papers scissors, made shadow puppets or scratched at the ground.

"Is he even controlling his arms?" Frank asked.

"I don't think so. I think he was too sad, unfocused and terrified," Annabeth suggested.

Grover nodded miserably. "I could feel it. He was absolutely terrified. To scared to think about anything. Even getting out. He was fading."

"We got there just in time then," Percy murmured. "Tyson did."

Tyson was the only one to hear him beside Annabeth who was still leaning against his chest. Tyson brightened considerably with the thought he had helped save his hero.

He moaned he couldn't and that Kampe was back with the titans who would rise and throw them all into Tartarus.

Percy, Annabeth and Nico all shivered.

Tyson encouraged him to put on his brave face. His face morphed with the same brown eyes but now an upturned nose, a weird smile like he was trying to act brave contrasting with his arched eyebrows. Then it returned to the way that it was before. He said it was no good. His scared face just kept coming back.

"He has different faces too? I mean I wasn't paying much attention when—" Will was cut off. "I guess that would be a spoiler."

Percy asked how he did that. Annabeth elbowed him telling him not to be rude. Hundred-Handed ones had fifty different faces. Percy commented that had to make it hard to have a yearbook picture.

There were more laughs, smirks, snorts and eyerolls.

Tyson was still optimistically looking between his friends and Briares saying it would be okay. They'd help Briares. Then he asked for his autograph.

Every laughed then. Chris smiled at Tyson. "Maybe wait for that until after you help him."

"It is a sudden topic change," nodded Hazel.

Briares asked if he had a hundred pens sniffling.

More laughs. Quieter and less amused now.

Grover interrupted saying they needed to get out before Kampe got back. She would sense them sooner or later. Annabeth said to break the bars. Tyson cheered saying Briares could do it. He was strong. Stronger than a Cyclopes. Watch. Briares whimpered and hands started to play patty cake and none of them did anything.

"He might be strong enough, or his hands are. But I don't think he is right now," Jaz said sadly. "He's being imprisoned by the monster that tortutred him for years. He's paralyzed with his fear."

Percy asked if he was so strong why didn't he break out of jail.

A bunch of people looked at him. Percy put up his hands in defense. "I know. I know. I was rude, okay? But ADHD. I can't stop what I'm thinking sometimes."

Most of the demigods suddenly looked sympathetic.

Annabeth elbowed him again. She explained Briares was terrified. He'd been impriosend by Kampe in Tartarus for years. How would Percy feel? The hundred- handed one covered his face again. Tyson asked him what was wrong. He pleaded for him to show him their great strength. Annabeth turned to Tyson sadly saying slowly and gently she thought he should break the bars. Tyson's smile melted. He repeated that he would break the bars and tore the door of it's hinges.

Tyson was sniffling a little again. Ella held his claw and squawked and Percy moved closer to his brother. "You okay Tyson?"

"Briares was not strong."

"But you made him strong. Remember? What is he like now? In the forges?" Percy said gently urging Tyson to think this wasn't the present playing out in front of them.

"Briares is my friend. He is funny and he plays with the Cyclops and teaches us. He is strong and can use all his hands to build and forge."

"Right," Percy agreed. "He's not scared anymore. You know why?"

Tyson looked up, his big eye was less sad but still a little teary and red.

"Because you believed in him."

Tyson brightened and looked forward. Percy grinned slinging an arm around Tyson (not an easy task). The scene started again.

Annabeth coaxed Briares to come out telling him to come on so they could get him out of there. She held out her hand and Briares's face shifted to hopeful for a second as several arms reached out. Double the amount slapped them away. He said he could not. Kampe would punish him.

"His fear is still controlling him," Piper said sadly. "You might need to go or Kampe will return."

"She's right. He won't be leaving easily," Jaz nodded.

"Oh, I don't know. It was actually pretty easy," Percy smirked.

Grover bleated with laughter as Annabeth rolled her eyes in amused exasperation. Tyson clapped happily till Percy stopped him holding a finger to his mouth. Tyson's eye widened and he nodded putting his hands down.

Annabeth promised it was all right. Briares had fought the titans before and won. Briares face morphed into a furrowed brow and pouting mouth as he said he remembered the war. The lightning shook the earth and they threw many rocks. The titans and monsters almost won. Now they were getting strong again. Kampe told him. Percy urged him not to listen to her and come. But he didn't move.

"Go. Now," Reyna said sadly. "Grover was right. Kampe will return soon."

"Just wait a little. I couldn't give up on him. Not when it meant so much to Tyson."

"You couldn't have given up on him no matter what," Annabeth said. "That's just you Percy."

Percy shrugged. "Whatever."

"How did you even succeed in getting him to leave?" Juniper asked. "He doesn't seem like he'll move."

"Oh this was hilarious," Grover whispered to her as Percy pointed to the scene starting up again.

Percy blurted out that they'd play one game of rock paper scissors. If he won Briares would leave with them. If he lost they'd leave him in jail.

Everyone turned to stare at Percy with the same expressions. Something like are you stupid or how insane are you? Several people started yelling saying the same exact things. He just sat looking at them and shrugged. "Hey, we needed a plan."

"But he has a hundred hands," Hazel told him.

"He does."

Everyone just stared at Percy. Annabeth rolled her eyes again holding back more laughter. Thalia saw her. "Maybe we should just watch."

Annabeth looked at him like he was crazy. Briares face morphed to doubtful as he said he always won rock paper scissors. Percy said lets do it. He pounded his hand into his fist three time and Briares did the same with all a hundred hands which sounded like stomping feet. His hands morphed into dozens of rocks, scissors and mostly paper. He said sadly that he'd told percy he always.. he stopped his face becoming confused asking what Percy had made. Percy was holding out one finger with a thumb out pointed forward. He stayed serious as he said it was a gun. A gun that beat anything.

"That worked? Something that stupid and harebrained worked?" Clarisse said. "I mean, if it did that monster is even stupider than you."

"It's a good trick," Sadie grinned. She looked at Percy and Carter held back a groan. "I approve."

"It was awesome." Leo made two finger guns and clicked his tongue at Percy.

"First. Never do that again. Second, thanks. My stepfather showed it to me," Percy grinned back. "And yeah, it was stupid and risky but sometimes that's the best type of plan, especially when nothing else works."

"Which happens a lot around you," Nico pointed out. Percy huffed as everyone laughed and leaned back again waiting for the scene to finish.

Briares said that wasn't fair.

"You had a hundred hands, how else was he supposed to win?" Carter asked.

"That's true. It's life. Nothings fair. You need to learn to navigate it and get through it with what you have, a hundred hands or a finger gun. But I don't think Briares is really cheating. Not like me."

Percy said he didn't say anything about it being fair. Kampe wasn't going to be fair if they stayed. Briares was going to be blamed for them ripping off the bars. Percy finished by telling him to come on. Briares sniffled saying demigods are cheaters but got up and followed them out.

"Hey!"

"We're not cheaters!"

"At least it works."

Percy exchanged a laughing glance with Annabeth at some of the younger and newer demigods protests. She, himself, Chris, Clarisse, Grover, Juniper, Hearth, Blitz and Rachel had to be the oldest there. At least physically. Calypso, Thalia, Apollo, Nico and Hazel were older too. Though most of them were still children in the mental aspect, (especially the god.)

They started to run to take off but Tyson froze. On the ground floor below Kampe was snarling at them.

"I guess Grover was right," Rachel said. "You took to long."

"Grover's always right," Juniper insisted. "He's smart. He's not the one that leads them into monster traps."

Grover blushed stammering but didn't say anything. She was mostly right after all.

"Either way. This isn't good," Samira said frowning at the monster snarling in front of them in the scene.