:P Sorry, entrance exams and crap.
Chapter 35: The Trial
It was official.
Annabeth was never going to get her memory back.
No matter how hard Percy dreamed of the moment, no matter how hard he wished and hoped, it just wasn't going to happen.
She would be wondering about her childhood until the day she died. Cast into a void that didn't include Percy. Shot into a world where she could be herself without restraints.
What a blissful thought.
And how did Percy come about to make such a conclusion? To abandon all hope and lose himself in the streets of Washington, trying to get away from the reality of it all?
The computers.
The ones in the lab. Unrestricted on any information you seeked.
Annabeth's memory had been wiped with the same tech they used at S.I.G.H.T.
And nobody could recover from that.
But why her memory was wiped wasn't because of Chiron. It wasn't even about Percy.
It was something much deeper than that. Layered thickly, like a cyst under tender skin.
Something Percy wished he could unread. Unsee. Erase from his own mind in fact.
Because that something finalized the barrier between him and Annabeth.
Set it in stone and tugged him harshly away like an impatient mother.
You see, Annabeth wasn't ever written into having her memory erased.
All there was, was a blank use. A file saying that a machine was used ten years ago but its protective protocols were overridden and the subjects intel was never properly logged into the computer.
The machine located in the isolated campus in Siberia. So far away, but so conveniently broken into. Like a thief in the night.
A.K.A, ten years ago, somebody's memory was erased and nobody anything about it. Nobody knew who used the machine, or the subject who went through with the procedure.
But Percy did.
Percy connected everything into an intricate labyrinth. A plan concocted by one of the most brilliant minds in the world.
And it all pointed to Annabeth.
Desperately, he tried to find some lead that would tell him otherwise. That would point him in a new direction and ease his mind. But it was as if it were a compass, and Annabeth was north.
Nothing else surfaced.
So, agitated and thoughtful, he grabbed his worn sneakers and stormed into the mid afternoon rush of washington. Gnawing away at these thoughts contemptuously with his hands buried in his pockets. Brows set hard as he glared at the ground.
It was hours before he left the pedestrian heavy streets.
When his nerves had finally seemed to settle. When he was perched on top his comfort spot. When his shoulders lost the aching tenseness knotting them up.
That was when everything seemed to solidify for him. That he was finally accepting the fate drawn out for him.
I knew I wouldn't be able to see Annabeth again anyways. He sighed to himself. Why is this affecting me so much?
A modern chime suddenly beat the air in a soft light sound. Reverberating over the blank field and into the busy streets.
As usual, Percy crouched lower against the edge of the flat roof he was on. Waiting for the doors to open and for the daycare kids to flee to the waiting parents in their cars so far below. Kids in their last days of preschool, would rush onto the large metal play structure and bound into the small patchy turfed soccer field.
When the doors did open, Percy's eyes latched onto the flow of little kids in colorful worn clothes.
Some tripped and scuffed their knees from pushing each other while others walked holding hands in their simple ways of friendship. Chattering, screaming and giggling as they nearly tumbled out in their eagerness to escape
Finally, Percy's sharp eagle eyes picked him out.
A little boy with a neatly combed top of thick brown hair, nervously clutching the straps of his car themed backpack while anxiously scanning the parking lot with his big soft brown eyes. Bouncing away from the other kids like a shy fawn and never looking anybody in the eye. Again he looked to the parking lot filling with cars hopefully.
Not yet Buddy. Percy thought quietly with a pinch in his heart. She's not here yet.
The little boy seemed to realize this and cautiously made his way around the other kids. Staring at the ground and curving around the play structure, before finding a little nook in the building walls and settling down with a toy car clutched tightly in his little hands.
This part, Percy was anticipating.
Before the boy could, Percy ducked down and out of view. Knowing that his big brown eyes would be looking up at the sky. Scanning, looking for something.
What he was looking for, Percy didn't know.
But every daycare day was the same when Percy was watching.
The boy would come out of the building holding some type of model car. Look for his mom and if she was there he was smile brightly and run into her open arms.
If she wasn't, he'd hide in that corner and wait. Hiding from the two bigger kids that loved to trash his precious cars. Throwing them against the wall as the little boy watched with tears streaming down his cheeks.
The two bigger kids that made Percy want to go down there and make his presence adamantly and firmly known. And yet that was something that would never happen.
Tyson. That was his name. Tyson Blofis. Shy, but creative and bright eyed.
Carefully, Percy edged himself back over to the ledge and took a peek. Tysons head was rested against the rough grey brick of the building while he ran his car over the wall gingerly. Occasionally he would make a sputtering noise with his lips to mimic an engine, or the toy car fisted in his hand would take a flying leap over to the ground and make a few wheelies.
The other kids shrieked and yelled as they jumped and slid on the play structure, but Tyson didn't pay them a bit of attention. Seemingly caught up in his own little world.
And in that way, Percy could relate to him, understand him even. Knowing what it was like to be a kid with no friends. Lonely and shy in the big world.
Suddenly, Tyson's head shot up and Percy followed his gaze knowingly.
And there she was.
Brown but grey streaked hair tied loosely into a bun, aging jeans and a crisp printed blouse. Radiantly, Sally smiled at her little boy just across the playground. Holding up her arms to him lovingly.
Somehow, Sally Jackson had found herself back in Washington.
Even though she had been dropped off clueless in Wisconsin, she had followed her instincts home. Wandering around the entire state until she settled down with an english teacher named Paul and tried to start a family.
And she did eventually. The little brown haired boy was living evidence. Evidence of the happy life she was now leading.
Even though she doesn't even remember I exist...
Tyson finally struggled to his feet and took off towards his mom. Backpack bouncing as his short legs carried him as fast as he could.
As usual, they embraced, she kissed the top of his head and then headed off to their car, their arms swinging between them.
Percy felt the usual hole worming around in his heart. The feeling of all that he missed out on.
The gentle hugs, and the comforting murmurs that only mothers could offer. The family life and the normalcy that he never received.
Intent, he crept along the building, following their slow moving pace as Sally asked her boy how his day was. Feeling the hollowness in his chest deepen.
Watching with wonder and weariness, he saw them get into the dark blue dodge. Sally strapping Tyson into his car seat lovingly.
With a little swing, Sally plopped into the driver seat and said something inaudible to the teenage boy sitting to her right.
Mark.
Her adopted son.
The same age as Percy with Sandy blonde hair, a lean figure and a love for band shirts.
Mark just nodded while he scrolled through things on his phone, his bright green earphones sloppily stuck in the sides of his head.
To Percy's knowledge, Mark was nine when Sally found the little runaway and immediately took him under her wing. It was only a matter of time until the adoptive papers were signed.
Then there was the girl.
In the back seat, around ten with dark brown hair and was chattering animatedly away with Tyson. Always so happy, so caring towards her little brother.
Louise Blofis. Her hispanic eyes and nose added to her chirpy attitude.
Her pigtails swung as she switched her attention from Sally back to Tyson. Her love of horses infected her clothes and choice of toys as most ten year olds do. Practically begging Santa in letters for a pony, over and over again.
She was also adopted. Plucked out of a foster home to fit in Sally's big heart.
Percy craned his neck to try and look deeper in the vehicle.
Looking for the last kid of the group.
Rubin.
Less than two years old and not even part of the family yet.
Well at least not officially.
The little foster boy with the biggest bluest eyes would probably be a member of the Blofis family by christmas.
He's probably at home. Percy noted the absence of the little kid.
Way below, Sally straightened the rearview mirror and said something that made Tyson and Lou cheer.
Probably ice-cream. Or a water park. Or some family summer outing.
Only if...
"Thought I might find you here." Thalia's unmistakable voice didn't surprise Percy in the least.
She knew he snuck off here, and even though it was against the rules, she didn't snitch.
Percy's eyes lingered on the vehicle as it pulled out of the emptying parking lot.
Heavily he sighed and looked up at the spiky haired girl.
"Still watchin em eh?"
He nodded with his lips pursed. A little shamed that he had been caught moping over something he couldn't have again.
"You should introduce yourself one of these days."
Percy gaped up at his friend in shock. "Are you crazy?!"
Thalia shrugged like it was no big deal. "Just take one of S.I.G.H.T's fake identities for a day and pretend to sell stuff door to door. At least you'd get to talk to your mom. Even if she ends up slamming the door in your face, it'd be worth it."
Percy shook his head in protest. "No. Never. Do you have any idea what the council will do if they found out I even came here?"
Thalia just crossed her arms. "You're just scared."
"Sure. Whatever you say." Percy didn't feel like arguing. Grimacing at the world from this small daycare rooftop, he sighed heavily again.
The breezeless day let the heat of the summer beat down on Percy unrelentingly. Behind him, Thalia shifted uncomfortably.
"We should be going." she commented lightly.
"Where are we going?" he responded perplexed.
"That girls trial starts in like, an hour."
"What girl?"
"The one you brought back with you. The psycho papa one."
"Calypso?!"
"Ya her."
Percy hissed in surprise. "I completely forgot!"
"Then let's go, Kelp head."
-(.oOo.)-
"Please rise for his honor, Judge Sander." the announcer pronounced loudly across the spacious courtroom.
So loudly that his deep bass voice seemed to echo back in a ghostly reply.
Percy, with everyone else present, stood up and waited for the fit grey haired man to step pleasantly up to the bench and straighten the piled papers on his raised desk.
"This court is now in session." he gruffly proclaimed while giving a solid hit to the gavel.
All Percy had to do was testify.
That was it.
So he sat waiting. Watching as others stepped forward with background information and evidence.
He watched and waited like he was trained to do. Listening to papers being shuffled, the occasional cough, and the anonymous sound of someone tapping their foot.
And then just like that his turn was over. He stepped forward, said what happened, answered a few brisk questions then seated himself again on his hard wooden chair. Of course he left out the part that six friends of his happened to show up but those details were agreed to be be swept under the rug.
Meanwhile, Calypso sat front and slightly to the right. Looking blank and a bit dead inside.
Her shackled arms had rims of red around her wrists while the dark circles under her eyes added more to the story at how her stay at S.I.G.H.T was going.
When Percy passed the second time to sit down, she offered him a half-smile that looked a little forced.
While Percy gave a supportive grin in return.
As expected the court ruled Calypso not guilty. Since she was a minor being influenced and blackmailed by a blood relation made her case possible.
But what to do with her afterwards would be troublesome.
"All in favor of the subject choosing which fate?" the Judge called out while scanning across the room seriously.
Heads bobbed, people raised their hands but most of the agreeing party just muttered 'I'.
"Then it's decided." Judge Sander laced his hands together and looked down at Calypso demeaningly.
"Now." he spoke authoritatively. "You may either have your memory wiped and put in the place of your choosing. Or you may keep your memory and live in seclusion on our property in Siberia."
Percy winced.
Anyone ruled innocent in these courts were always given these options. Always.
Because they had seen S.I.G.H.T, even just known of it's existence, they either had to be kept under close watch or get their memory wiped.
Calypso looked distraught. Facing two terrible options cornered her like a cat being chased by a wolf.
"If you please," she started politely. "Is there any way for me to be dropped back in San Francisco with my memory intact?"
Judge Sanders just shook his head sullenly. "There is no way, no way at all, that that could be done."
"But what about my friends?" Calypso asked desperately.
For a moment Percy's heart rate went up. Thinking that Calypso would be reckless enough to let the cat out of the bag. To tell them what really happened.
But those were the only words out of her mouth.
"They're just going to have to live without you. Our cover agents will give some sort of reasonable explanation for your disappearance." he spoke so mechanically. Lying down the same line he did for every suspect deemed innocent.
Percy's eyes wandered over the wooden lacquered walls of the courtroom. The intricate golden fixtures hanging from the ceiling and the polished wooden benches laid out in perfect rows.
There was one man he was waiting to speak up. One man who was sitting directly beside one of the elegant venetian windows spilling sunshine into the room.
Right on cue, the prim and straight fellow stood and adjusted his large reading glasses.
"Permission to declare a proposal, your Honor?" he spoke in a curt serious voice that rang pleasantly over the room.
People shifted to look around and see the man, dressed properly in a suit and tie with his full head of hair combed to the side.
"Permission granted." Sanders nodded with a faint touch of curiousness on his normally emotionless features.
The man cleared his throat and clasped his large hands behind his back. Strutting forward towards the front of the courtroom. Putting on a good show and automatically becoming the most engaging person in the room.
"My name, is Edmund Waters." he introduced. But Percy already knew that. Percy already knew what the proposal was. Because Percy had induced it.
"I received a tip the other day. A handwritten note stating that the outcome of this particular case might end up in the way it has." he paused dramatically. Then twisted around to shoot Calypso an interested look. "And that the suspect of this case would probably not be eager to take on either option." Edmund Waters turned on his heels again and strolled confidently towards the judge. His perfectly polished midnight shoes, shining and knocking gently against the floor. "Now since the case has turned in this direction, I have a new proposition for the girl's fate."
The Judge leaned back in his chair, an eyebrow quirking. "Go on."
"Well, I come from the science and discovery department of S.I.G.H.T. and we are currently conducting a very interesting experiment." Edmund paused again to glance at Calypso who was on the edge of her seat. Eyes wide and eyes open. "A way to erase only a selective few memories."
Murmurs erupted from the few onlookers while the jury gave each other unsure glances. Such technology had never been used before! Not even to have been hoped to have existed!
"How successful has this experiment been in the past?" Judge Sanders questioned skeptically. Eyebrows slanting while he folded his heavy hands on the raised desk.
"Marvelous." Edmund replied confidently, breaking into a shining smile. "Why, our own Dr. Losaque was able to erase an unpleasant childhood memory from himself without erasing the rest of his life with it. Now if this experiment could be accomplished on a larger section of memory termination, this technology could become a very useful part of S.I.G.H.T. All I need is Miss Calypso's permission and if the procedure goes successfully than I can promise her back in San Francisco with her friends and no memory of S.I.G.H.T. or the incident."
"But will I remember my friends?" she asked quietly. Shyly. Almost as if she was only daring to believe that it could really happen.
Mr. Waters smiled kindly. "Of course. You just wouldn't remember anything to do with S.I.G.H.T."
Judge Sanders rubbed his chin thoughtfully for a second. Mulling over what had just come to light.
Then with another tight hand clasp, he looked down on and Calypso. "Now your options of fate have broadened to three choices. That is, if will sign a few documents claiming that he will educate you on every possible outcome and takes full responsibility for the procedure and rehabilitation."
"I will." he affirmed.
Calypso stood up strongly. Her face serious and calm while her hand fidgeted. "I'll take it. Mr. Water's offer that is."
Percy smirked. Knowing that she would. Knowing the entire outcome of this court.
Now if only the procedure would work. Than everything would be perfect. Calypso could live that normal life.
At least she would. That was all that matters.
The Judge nodded satisfied with the decision.
"Court adjourned." the sharp sound of the gavel pierced the air sharply.
Last Chapters Trivia Answer: Polyphemus
This Chapters Trivia: What was Mellie's original job? (Bonus: How long did she have that job for?)