Okay. We have a clffhanger here! Who's in that chariot? Is it… Amphitrite? Noooo…
Is it...Percy's daughter taken from the future and brought to the past….. no. Is it… Clarisse? If it was, Percy might just leave her there! Nooo… this is someone important to EVERYBODY. VERY IMPORTANT.
And I do NOT mean Mr D…
This being said, heeeeere we go! And I STILL don't own any characters of any PJHOO/PJO, the Kane's, Magnus Chse, or yaddy yadda yadda...
Conversations With My Father, the Sea God chapter 11
MOM? WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT TITAN?
Percy stayed put, held his position. He could see everything in front of him, laid out like one of Annabeth's dad's battle models, the dioramas so very complete in all aspects. Frederic Chase was a war historian, and a world renowned expert on ancient warfare. But even more than that: he had participated in the demigods' assault on Mt Othrys, during the Artemis Quest. He'd flown his fully restored... and fully armed Sopwith Camel, a biplane well known for it's incredible maneuverability and speeds approaching 180 mph.
Chase had put paid to the Titan Atlas' monster assault force as they attempted to scale the far face of Mt Tam, which underpinned the home of the Titans in the same way that Olympus was supported by the Empire State Building. He had used about three thousand rounds of celestial bronze bullets in .303 Calibre (that he'd made himself, both casting and loading every round by hand), from his two Vickers machine guns, both of which spat death incarnate at over one thousand assorted monsters, and so very quickly that to any clear sighted onlookers, it would have appeared that Chase had taken a huge rag to the face of the mountain and just wiped every living thing right off. Athena had watched him with incredible pride, as had her father Zeus. The two great Olympian gods were left absolutely stunned.
The Camel, an absolutely and perfectly faithful rebuid of the Camel 2.1 model was a perfect representation of the kind of accuracy and care to every detail that Chase put into everything he did. And Percy had really paid attention when Annabeth and her father talked him through the Siege of Troy, the Battle of the Hydaspes, the D-Day assaults on Normandy, Patton's rush up the spine of Sicily… all of them.
And this troop placement began to look really familiar… Phillipi. The Battle of Phillipi. Augustus Ceasar Octavianus and General Marc Antony had finally caught up to Gaius Julius Caesar's two last remaining assassins there. And the two great allies (at that moment anyway) had slaughtered them and their legions, almost to the last man. Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus, the two last scions of two Noble Roman houses and two of the driving forces behind the incredible perfdy of the now-historic assassination, lay dead in the sandy dust of Greece at the end of that day. It had been Cassius' birthday. Some birthday present!
And this troop placement of Oceanus looked just like Cassius and Brutus' troops. Percy, now a full Immortal and able to use ALL of the powers his father passed to him at birth, and those Poseidon had given him as well... and could use them very expertly… saw his opening. He turned to Hrillfarrr and gave him rapid fire instructions; Hrillfarrr was to take the bulk of his almost four hundred Lemurians and advance in a large wedge formation. The Lemurians' Captain grinned, his sharp teeth a grim smile filled with the promise of death. He looked right at Percy and said "It will be exactly as you say, NngHyeeraugh!"
Percy looked quizzically at the proud and leader of these incredibly vicious fighters. Percy didn't quite understand the term used to address him. It didn't quite translate. The term resounded in his mind as "Enng-Hy-eer-owwauhh". And it seemed to mean something incredibly vicious, in a very respectful way.
"Lord Perseus, it is what we call you. It means most very nearly 'God Killer' and at the same time,'Kicker of Ares' Ass'. We decided to use your Lemurian name as our battle cry. And I think that it will really help focus the men, as well as honor you before our enemies." Hrillfarrr looked at Percy quizzically. "Great Warrior God-Son, do you not approve?"
Percy smiled, his face turning into a mask of delight and not a little blood-lust. "It's just perfect, Captain. Perfect!" And Percy really meant it. Here was a term for him that commemorated his second and greater victory, greater than the first of his victories in battle over the Minotaur. The duel with Ares really was a "sacred" duel. Percy had drawn first blood over the Olympian god of war in a fight that Percy had forced over his anger at Ares' continued contempt for Percy as well as both of his two companions, Annabeth and the G-Man.
Taking place on the beaches of Los Angeles, Percy had got underneath Ares' defence and cut him, but good! Using an unbeatable combination of his demi-godly powers, Percy suckered Ares into a trap on the Santa Monica Beach, swamped him with a wave, and cut him right on his ankle, drawing ichor from a very bad wound. The demi-god, a 12 year old child and son of the hated (by Ares, anyway) sea god had bested the god of war, a supposed 'expert' in all weapons.
An expert. Hmmph! It was no wonder Athena usually kicked his ass in their spars.
Percy remembered all this in an instant, and he was hit with a momentous revelation: his godly father had empowered him, and given him the almost instinctive knowledge and absolute mastery of his own element back when he challenged Ares.
Pecy looked toward the immense figure of his father, who looked back at him. And he heard his father 'speak to him', and all those around him also "tuned in":
"My son, today you have been made a Prince of all my realms, all of my domains. And to control this much of my domains, I gave taken the step of making you immortal. Long ago I gave you the knowledge to control our domains properly. And you have used them well, always showing me your loyalty. And I trust you completely.
"Use your powers, my son! Use them to defeat our enemy, whoever they may be!
"Today You Are PERSEUS, My Lieutenant, Second to Triton, and I Make You Now A GOD!"
Percy felt himself change; a great and blinding light enveloped him, surrounding him, infusing him; changing him completely. For a brief moment in endless time, Percy WAS the seas, the Oceans; he saw it all! Knew it all! WAS it all! And then…
He came back into human form, his Lemurian Cohort on their knees, bowing before their NngHyeeraugh, their new god, and Hero. They were bowing to him, in this moment! In their hearts, they were his alone to command, the indomitable warrior, the NngHyeeraugh. He knew their awe, their hearts, and knew their love of him. In their hearts, they gave themselves to him as one. They were now HIS OWN WARRIORS.
And they had their faces in the ocean's bottom, down low on their knees in worship. And Perseus their god, felt them all. Every one of them. He said to them all, "Rise, sons of the seas! Get up and look me in my face! See you, yourselves in me! And let us FIGHT FOR US ALL AND EACH OTHER THIS DAY!"
The Cohort answered with a cry of Percy's new name, "NngHyeerauuuuughhh!" And they became absolutely unstoppable.
The charge was massive. The entire host descended on the rear of Oceanus' right flank, right at his anchor point. It was weakest and would allow the Lemurian Cohorts to clear out his right side from his rear. Right by the city gates, and closest to Poseidon's throne.
A moment or two after that, a massive wave of force, generated by Tyson and his Legions of Cyclopes began their charge with an inhuman cry of "For Poseidon, his sons, and for PEANUT BUTTERRRRRRR"!
The Oceans would never be the same again. An Chunky pbj's at that!
Poseidon and Triton turned to face their Legions, and Triton said, "Comander, broadcast to all, my father's voice.
A loud telepathic broadcast began; only a few seconds in length, it stirred all who heard it and it told of Poseidon's being alive and well, and how his three sons were with him. The True Ruler of the Oceans and Waters of the Earth had returned, to cut down all who opposed him. "Thrown down your weapons to my forces, and turn upon Oceanus! Throw down the thief who cannot take from me that which can never be his! And deliver him up to me! THE OCEANS WILL CRUSH HIM AS ONE!"
THE Atlantean legions under Triton began their frontal envelopment, crushing all before them that were being pushed forward from their own rear due to the attacks on their flanks, like toothpaste from a tube. From above, a complete cloud of deep sea denizens descended; Delphin's forces had arrived, and he marshalled everything into an all-encompassing "aerial" attack. Frederic Chase would've loved it!
From the planning area, Athena and Annabeth could see the battle. Athena stood straight, proud and terrible, very erect. She glowed a bright and silvery gray, and sent a kind of beam of that light outward, toward the objects of her choice; Perseus and, surprisingly Tyson. She would give her wisdom and gift of battle strategy to Poseidon's two sons. Triton already had it.
Canbabeth as in awe of what had happened with Percy; she had witnessed an apotheosis! The first demigod to have been made god in millennia was her SeaWeed Brain! And she was there to see it!
Percy's forces had hit their objectives, and the combat spilled inward toward the warships that were anchored at the rear of Oceanus' forces. Tyson's forces had hit their objective broadside, sending everything tumbling through the waters, which were running red with the ocean's blood. Just as the two brothers drew near enough to see each other, Poseidon's very amplified voice called out.
The commanders of the very weakened Atlantean and Lemurian forces under Oceanus' command turned in surprise to the old Titan, former and now newly-proclaimed ruler of the seas. They could all see many soldiers, indeed many formations surrendering to the juggernauts coming toward them.
Oceanus looked down at them all from his chariot. His "guest" was struggling at the bottom of the huge conveyance. The Titan said, "So? You all heard your queen, and now my princess Amphitrite recognize me as your rightful ruler. You all took an oath to support me. Do any of you deny this?"
One old warrior, Antatum stood up and said, "No, great Lord! We do not! We are not children. That could have been recorded long ago! We will fight for you against these rebels!"
"Very good, general, very good!" The massive being smiled down at the force commanders and said, " Now go! Take command of this and end the battle!"
Some of the Atlanteans had doubtful looks on their faces, and one of them held two others back. "Are we fools, to allow an oath to this liar and schemer to bind us? Truly?! That was the voice of our King, our god! What then, will happen to us if we continue to fight an unwinnable battle?"
The second leader, Kangast replied, "I agree, Mortoahn. But how exactly do we surrender, and from within the middle of troops loyal to Oceanus? Oceanus has the support of our queen, and right now, it is she who holds the thrones physically!"
The third, silent up till now said, "Well, you both know my mind; I was all for getting out of here when the others left. But that was not to be, it seems. And now, Lord Perseus is back, and he is now a god! Only our Lord and Master can do that here! Certainly this one", giving a jerk of his head at Oceanus, now a quarter mile away, "could not confer godhood on a sea urchin! And you have all sparred with Perseus during a number of his visits. Have any of us ever defeated him? He defeated Ares when he was just a child, 12 years old! How can we hope to stand against all of this?"
Some vigorous shakes of their heads to the negative, larger than a surface dweller's head, and far more muscular as was the rest of their bodies, all confirmed a complete lack of success in this area, as well as a lack of will to fight for the wrong 'lord'.
"When Perseus reaches us, and that won't be too long, he and Tyson will crush us completely. And if Oceanus thinks that he could ever stop them all with whoever that is in the bottom of his chariot… well, I just don't think so! So brothers, are we together in depriving Hades of our souls as well as those of our men today?"
"Yes".
"Aye, we are".
"Good. Then we are agreed. When they are almost upon us, a white flag goes up and we will surrender, giving allegiance to Poseidon and his sons. Do not permit your men to physically oppose any of them, and especially not the Lemurians. They support Lord Perseus directly. They will react very viciously." The other two nodded. That telepathy really carried! And bad news always travels fastest.
Kangast added, "I will get word to as many commanders as I can, drum up as much support as can be found for us. And I will send a runner to the other side with word of our plan. Pray to our King and god that my runner, Lorcas makes it there alive". And they all joined hands and did pray, just for a quick moment.
And far away, a golden aura grew just a bit brighter. Their prayers had been heard! And then they heard the answer:
"Faithful sons of my people, you shall be saved. We are coming to help you all. My sons will be there soon. Declare to them your allegiance and they will do the rest".
And they smiled. No need to send Lorcas out now, was there? And three more auras grew golden with the news. Atlantis would fall, and soon! The Sons of Poseidon had all heard.
And they were coming!
Athena looked at her dughter; "This battle is no longer plannable my child. It is too fluid and far too fast".
"I agree mother. But something is bothering me. There is something very familiar at the center of Oceanus' formation, but I cannot put my finger on it. He's got some huge ace in the hole. And I'm worried". Annabeth looked her mother right in the eye when she said this. The two women understood that Annabeth thought the weak spot here was Percy. That loyalty of his again. Hmm... Athena frowned for just a brief moment, and then it passed.
"Come, my daughter; we will inform Poseidon about this". The two armor clad beauties took off, leaving word with their staff where they were going. They could see the Center forces already on the move, and Poseidon was right in front along with Triton.
Catching up, Poseidon saw them coming; Athena called out to him. He paused and directed his son to bid their commanders to continue on their way.
Annabeth got right to the point and told the Ocean god her analysis. Poseidon got a far away look in his eyes, and then his head snapped to his son, and said, " Did you check in on Sally Jackson before coming back to camp, as I asked?"
The two-tailed younger god replied, " Yes father, I did. And she was still there".
"Hmm, then that cannot be it. But why does this feel so...?"
Athena asked, "Lord Poseidon, what are you thinking right now? Please tell us so we may help you".
"My Lady, I will go check on Sally Jackson. She and her new husband are the only two possible hostages or diversions Oceanus could use who would stop us all, and at once. Please all excuse me for a moment".
The tall god got a far-away look in his eyes and stood stock still. He stood like that for only a moment and was suddenly "back" again. And he had an extremely troubled look in his eyes.
"She's gone".
Miles away, Perseus was slashing, feinting and rolling against whole squads of Mermen. His Lemurians were behind him, protecting his rear, and herding several hundred captives into their rear. Some two hundred Lemurians were fanned out alongside their new commander, with Captain Hrillfarrr right behind Percy, both supporting and seconding him, and occasionally barking orders to his men. They were constantly gaining ground, with almost no injuries to their fighting force.
The Atlantean commander of the units in that section came forward, his rifle suddenly discarded, his sword out and in his hands like an offering. He took a knee in front of this new young god, and said, "Great Lord, please stop! Many here are sympathetic to you, and we would all willingly surrender and place ourselves under your command! Please accept my surrender and that of these four companies under my command". Percy raised his hand to his Lemurians, and they all halted in place.
The four companies' standard bearers all stood forth and knelt, dipping their flags to Percy. He stood over them all, and suddenly grew to a godly height of about 10 feet. Percy surveyed them all, and all of these amazingly capable and vicious fighters dropped their weapons in front of themselves. They looked at Percy in shock at the height he had suddenly grown to. They all knelt like their commander, who then asked, "My Lord, will you please spare us? We all thought all of you dead, except for Lord Triton. And we understood Lord Triton to be under his mother's command".
Percy looked at them all and asked, "Do you all, ALL swear allegiance to my father, Poseidon, even if it means your own deaths?"
The men all answered "We so swear". Percy smiled and said, "Okay then! Up you go, pick up your weapons, follow me and let's finish this up!" And the men did just that.
About a half mile away, Tyson had just accepted the surrender of the general commanding Oceanus' entire left flank, Kangast. True to his word, he surrendered to Poseidon's youngest son and the Cyclopes General.
He said, "Lord and General, there are at least two more of my brother generals along the sides of battle who would be willing to lay down their arms to you or any of your brothers right away. We can stop this fighting almost immediately, if you allow me to call on them. Other commanders might also put down their weapons".
Tyson, already at 15 feet in height surveyed the scenario, and observed at least 4 more white flags. He looked down at Kangast and grinned. His smile was a truly happy one. He could see a parade of Atlantean commanders coming toward his position, all with standard bearers and white flags flying. Making a decision, and suddenly somehow seeing a battle plan unfold before his eyes, he said,"Commander, take your troops and begin to roll up this side of Oeanus' troops. Accept the surrender of all who will and tie up every leader who won't join us". Kangast agreed and then turned to his sub-commanders and started giving orders.
Oceanus' scream of invectives carried a real distance as he saw his army crumbling around him.
At the Gates of the City:
The Atlantean Reserve Guard, the city's ready garrison force was sending out a small escort. A high ranking officer, an elderly looking gentleman in an impeccable dress uniform, accompanied by 10 other guardsmen and all themselves in dress uniforms came out in formation, the flag of Atlantis flying along with the Atlantean battle flag, and another banner Percy did not recognize. There was a fourth bearer, but his flag was rolled up.
They came to a halt and waited, standing just about fifty feet from where Percy and Hrillfarrr were. Percy was now quite curious. With the sounds of battle still reaching his ears, he swam over and spoke to the leader.
"Sorry sir, but we need to make this quick. I have my men to attend to". Hrillfarrr said quietly, "Great Lord, all of your combined forces are now operating well and under the command of my underofficers. You have nearly four thousand fighters and they are rapidly advancing and gaining new forces as they go". Hrillfarrr had his comlink earpiece in, and was getting battle updates momentarily. Percy grinned; neat!
"Great Lord Perseus, I am the commander of the city Watch Force, Inspector General Radkomm. Will you please accept my surrender to you of the city of Atlantis?" He gave a nod to the fourth standard bearer, who then unfurled a white flag of surrender.
"Inspector General, I would be honored to do so. But whose flag is this one", he asked, pointing to the ornate one he hadn't recognized.
"Great Lord, your father, Lord Poseidon had this made for you! It was to be formally presented to you at your accession ceremony, as you were to be crowned our second prince, and made Lord of the Outer Reaches. We seek to declare the city for your father, and to you. Our newest god and Lord".
The elderly man knelt to Perseus, all the flags dipping in respect, save the flag of Atlantis. Percy was truly touched. He bent down and drew up this quite elderly, but very proud old man.
"I will never forget this very singular honor that you've given me, Lord Commander".
The elderly man looked quizzically at Percy and asked, " 'Lord' Commander? But my Lord Perseus, no one has held that rank in at least two hundred years!"
The youngest and newest god and Prince looked at the old man and said, " You just earned a battlefield promotion for heroically risking your lives, all of you," he said, his arm sweeping over the entire deputation. "And for that, please advance everyone here one grade in rank. Now my Lord Commander, I got me a battle to win!"
And he raced off, attended by his captain, who grinned at the honor guard, and he gave a salute as he left. And as he left, Hrillfarrr made himself a promise to adopt the new flag of Perseus, the flag of the NngHyeeraugh for his unit's very own. He swore that flag would fly over Lemuria one day, and that day would be soon!
Back at Poseidon's command Post:
Poseidon looked at Athena and Triton. Annabeth saw the worry, knew she had hit the nail on the head, and then said, "My lords and lady, please excuse me, but I truly believe that Oceanus may have Sally Jackson in that chariot. I know it makes no sense, given that she is mortal, and could never live at these depths, but I do believe it is her". Annabeth had grown to love Sally, and felt nothing but love for Percy's mom. She was worried sick about this, and how it would affect her SeaWeed Brain. Annabeth could literally feel Sally's presence and knew she was nearby. She had always been able to feel Sally.
"Annabeth, are you positive about this?", asked Triton. Her mother also looked quizzically at her. Annabeth frowned at the problem of how to make Poseidon see how to pinpoint Sally's location. And then it hit her; Poseidon still loved Sally. She and Sally both knew it.
"Poseidon, what does your heart tell you about her?"
He paused for a moment and closed his eyes. He sent out his consciousness, his very heart, his immense love for her, looking, seeking… feeling for this mortal woman who he had loved and made a son with.
His eyes snapped open, and began to grow angry. The Earth underneath them all began to shake, and he summoned his massive War Trident, a godly weapon of power not usually seen by anyone. He blasted one thought. A crippling and primal scream of "Oceanus! You bastard! I am coming to kill you, destroy you, and I will send your soul to the Void for this!"
He took off like a guided missile, and immediately hit an almost supersonic speed! It would knock everything within several miles flat if his sons hadn't sensed what was happening and acted to spare the city and their troops, as well as the ones trying to surrender to them. They all sent out waves of power to guard their troops and the city from any harm.
Oceanus looked about to explode, as angry as he was, and he sent a bolt of power from his own Trident toward his fast-approaching son-in-law. The bolt missed as Poseidon turned a little to his right and he kept right on coming.
Bolt after bolt kept spinning toward Poseidon, who dodged and weaved, and then shot a bolt as clean and precise as any he'd ever seen, let alone cast. Oceanus had to duck also, but the bolt hit his left ear, slicing a chunk of it right off. Oceanus felt the thing hit and burn through him, and put his hand to where his ear had been. He realized he'd suffered a bad hit and screamed just as Poseidon barrelled into him like an atomic bomb.
The two beings of immense power collided together, and began to grapple, Poseidon growing to a size nearly that of his queen's father. The chariot was thrown over, and the figure in the bottom, bound up like a bird for the roast spilled out from it, and hit the ocean's floor.
She was enclosed in a force field of golden energy, and when Poseidon whacked Oceanus with his war trident, the force field almost went out. Triton, Athena and Annabeth all saw this and as one they raced to the spot. Triton got there first and scooped up the struggling figure. He told her telepathically, "Sally? Sally Jackson? If that is you there, please do not struggle. I am Triton, Poseidon's son and heir. I will protect you, and I will get you someplace safe".
The figure, a woman stopped struggling, but still strained against the bindings. Triton put all his energy into seeking out the source of the bindings' power. It all came from Oceanus, of course but were the gold cords tying her really a part of the spell that kept her alive down this deep?
He sensed that it might be something like that, and she was covered by a huge white canvas-like sheet. That also proved to be part of the spell. So seeing these problems, Triton eased away from the immense struggle before him and he began to swim toward the city very quickly, casting his own great powers into preserving this surface dweller from a certain death.
Sally had stopped straining, although she really was cramped beyond belief! She tried staying still, but she could "hear" everyone around her now. She'd been kept deaf, dumb and virtually blind by the bastard who'd snuck into her home and kidnapped her, leaving Paul alone, and just silently taking her away. Thank the gods for small favors!
Triton called out to his brothers and told them what had happened. Percy was next to him like a shot, a Lemurian officer with him.
"Triton! Is that really my mother!?" Percy nearly screamed mentally.
"I'm almost positive it is, my brother. Please go and help father fight Oceanus and I will attend to your mother. You have my word she will be safe. We have an oxygen only facility here, for air breathing guests, and medical emergencies. I won't leave her alone! GO!"
"NOOO! THAT'S MY MOM THERE! Triton , I have to stay with her!"
Triton stopped in his tracks and looked at the very distraught young man in front of him. He knew that Percy was really needed at the head of his troops, and that his Lemurians might not fight as well without him. It could conceivably tip the battle against their father.
"Percy, my brother, listen closely; my mother is still an issue here, and she is queen of the oceans, still. She WILL KILL YOU BOTH, if she sees you together. And you do not know your way around the palace here. I am sworn to uphold our father, and that oath is even more binding than if just upon the Styx! I now swear to you, my brother and fellow Prince of the Seas and Oceans that I will defend your mother's life, shielding her from all harm even at the cost of my own. And that I will kill anyone… ANYONE who dares harm her. I swear it upon the River Styx, and before Chaos".
The seas and the Earth quaked and shook and thundered, and for just a flicker of time, the world went dark. Such an oath was inescapable, and permanent. Triton had just sworn to be Sally's eternal guardian, no matter the obstacle. Percy was awed. And he looked at his brother, the millennias old messenger god of the seas and said, "Oh. Okay then. Where's dad?"
Triton, aware of his younger brother's great prowess in turning a phrase said simply, "Follow the sounds of the gods butting heads!", and grinned and swam off at high speed, grabbing guards as he went, to watch his back in case his mother saw them. He knew he could NOT trust his own mother in this. Especially not where Sally Jackson was concerned.
Percy turned to Hrillfarrr and told him, "You lead the rest of the troops and help my brother Tyson finish rolling up any stragglers. Imprison and bind the highest ranking officers for me until I return with my father and with Oceanus' dying carcass".
Percy got a gleam in his eye like he had the day he bested the war god. Hrillfarrr knew there would be death dealt today, and the prospect of watching his god and lord, and Percy"s father fight the most ancient Titan of the Oceans, son of the protogenoi Gaea and Ouranos was all too much to ask for!
Hrillfarr swore to compose a song about the god NngHyeeraugh. And it would resound throughout history!
Percy took off like a high speed cruise missile, on an indestructible rampaging track for a certain dirtbag, scumsucking, mother kidnapping, low-down, stinking Titan of a grandfather. He called out to Tyson before he hit, and said, "Work with my Lemurian Captain, okay Little Brother? I got me a Titan's ass ta whup!"
"Ok, Big Brother. You be careful now", came back the answer, so filled with love and pride for Percy and his mother. She had always been warm and kind to Tyson, making him very special peanut butter- chocolate chip cookies. And only ever for Tyson! It was their secret, together. And, of course both Percy and Annabeth knew!
And she always rubbed his back and held his head while Tyson slept at the Blofis' house. He was in human size then. Still tall, but human. Sally was the closest thing he'd ever had to a mother, and he would give his life for her. Tyson loved Sally too, at least as much as heoved Daddy and both his Big Brothers, but especially Percy. And Tyson swore silently to help Triton right after helping Daddy beat these guys. And then his Big Brother must have hit the bad guy, because all of a sudden, everything got knocked on its' collective butt.
The World Shook….