Lost
Chapter Three
Keeping her eyes on the road, a buzzing noise reached Sarah Jane's and Percy's ears. With one hand on the wheel and the other in her pocket, Sarah Jane pulled out her mobile and handed it to Percy.
"Answer it please," Sarah Jane said.
Percy swiped the green icon and pressed the speaker button.
"Hello?" Percy asked.
"Percy! You're safe," a familiar voice said.
"Chiron, yeah, I'm with Sarah Jane Smith. She's been helping me," Percy said.
"You didn't tell me it would be this exciting," Sarah Jane exclaimed.
"I didn't think you would be involved," Chiron said.
"Well, I am. I'll do my best to get Percy back to you."
"Thank you," Chiron said.
Turning down a few more streets, Sarah Jane's eyes lit up when she spotted a familiar brown painted building came into view.
"We'll talk more later," Sarah Jane said.
Percy hanged up the mobile and looked behind him. Nothing was behind them or in front of them either, but Sarah Jane was still driving pretty fast. As they got closer to the building, she was eyeing. He could see a reading "Heph's Repairs" hanging out front. Parking on the side of the building, Sarah leaned back in her chair and took a deep breath.
"We should be safe here. Heph always has what I need in a crisis," Sarah Jane said as she opened the car door.
Percy opened his door as well, he tilting his head, noticing Sarah Jane was rummaging through the boxes beside the building. But it was the strange sensation he felt that took him by surprise. Looking around the side of the building, no one was around, but he knew his senses weren't tricking him. There was a God around.
"What are you looking for?" Percy asked.
"A charged barrier machine. It should be here somewhere," Sarah Jane said as she kept looking.
"The Baro-matic I got it in the back with me," a familiar male voice said.
Sarah Jane smiled when a man with brown hair, a scruffy beard with brown overalls and a cotton brown work apron stood at the open back door with a smile across his lips. Percy's eyes widen and mouth was a jar for he never thought he would ever see him here.
"Percy, this is Heph. He runs the repair shop filled with amazing gizmos, but right now we need a barrier," Sarah Jane said.
"Come on in the, it's back here. I was giving it some tweaks. Be nice to give it a test run," Heph said, stepping aside.
Sarah Jane walked in, with Percy right behind him. The back room was littered with bits of tech from old stereos, computers, tablets, mobiles, electric toys to wiring, nuts and bolts. There were even a few TVs as well, along with much more.
"You've kept yourself busy," Percy said, still looking around.
"Indeed, what can I say? I love fixing things. It's fun and, besides, Ms. Smith keeps things interesting," Heph said.
"She doesn't know who you are, does she?" Percy asked.
"Nope, and I'd like to keep it that way," Heph said.
Percy nodded. Soon the two of them turned to see Sarah Jane rolling a huge silver rectangular box like machine with a keyboard attached.
"What are you two up to saving the world?" Hephaestus asked.
"Something like that. Now excuse me, I need to get this in place," Sarah Jane said as she kept pushing the device.
Percy and Hephaestus went over to help. The three of them pushed the device out the front door, stopping at the edge of the sidewalk.
"Okay, thanks, guys. Now it's time to set this bad boy up," Sarah Jane said, flipping the switch and typing away on the keyboard.
"You don't have to rush. We have time," Percy said.
"Ah, you think just because the monsters are not around, then let me ask you a question don't you think it's a little too quiet?"
Thinking about his answer, Percy looked up and down the street. It was too quiet. There were no people walking up or down the sidewalk or any cars zooming by.
"The calm before the storm," Hephaestus said.
A loud screech broke through the sky. Percy looked at Sarah Jane as a transparent monitor flipped up as a blue light formed around the machine.
Percy and Hephaestus' eyes narrowed as minotaurs moved into view along with harpies and furies flying towards them. Pulling out two sonic lipsticks from her purse, Sarah Jane twisted them as she placed them on either side of the device.
"Heph, get Percy inside," Sarah Jane said.
"But I can help," Percy protested.
"True, but I can't risk them getting to you and the cube if this thing back fires," Sarah Jane replied.
Hephaestus pulled Percy back into his shop as Sarah Jane kept typing. As the creatures grew closer and closer, sweat dripped from Sarah's forehead as the charge meter read 50%. Dropping two more sonic lipsticks on either side of the device, she pressed the button. She sighed as the meter shot up to 100%. The device hummed as a huge blue electric fence formed around the shop and moved out, pushing the creature's back.
Roaring, the minotaurs banged and ram the barrier while the harpies screeched as they clawed at the barrier, but even they couldn't break though.
Breathing hard, Sarah Jane wiped away the sweat from her brow.
"Good job, even if you cut it a bit close."
Looking around, Sarah Jane tried to locate a face to the voice, but she couldn't find it. Stumbling a bit, she bumped in to Heph who helped her back into the shop.
Before she could protest, Sarah Jane was laying down in the back on a spare bed. Looking up at him, she found it hard to keep her eyes open.
"Rest, we got it from here," Hephaestus said.
Closing her eyes, Sarah Jane finally gave in and fell asleep.
Walking back to the front, Hephaestus pulled out two water bottles from the fridge. Setting one down in front of Percy, he sat down across from him. The two watched as the creatures continue to attack the barrier with no effect.
"Amazing, isn't she?" Hephaestus said.
"Yeah, Percy said taking popping the top of the water bottle and took a sip. Then he pulled out the golden cube from his pocket and placed it on the table.
"Hm all of this to stop them getting their hands on that. It must be powerful, Hephaestus said, looking at the cube. Before taking a gulp from his bottle.
"Sarah Jane said it has time space particles in it," Percy said, staring at the golden cube.
"Hm, that's right up her alley. She deals with stuff like that." Hephaestus said.
"And aliens too."
"Yup, she's brought a few this way."
"Uh, I wanted to ask, is she...?"
"A demigod yes, but no one has claimed her yet."
Percy took another swig from his bottle. "Why?"
"Well... we don't know whose child she is. I thought she was mines because of her love of tech and gizmos, but the way she can think on her feet and read the situation reminds me of a certain goddess," Hephaestus said, finishing his water bottle.
"Wow, even you're not sure."
"Yep, but I have to say life is more interesting when she is around."
Percy nodded, still staring at the cube for a while longer, then looked outside.
"Do you think the barrier is going to hold up?" Percy asked before finishing his water bottle.
"It should those monsters are dumb when it comes to tech."
Percy titled his head, noticing one minotaur running away and then another one left as well. Standing up and slipping the cube back into his pocket, Percy walked outside, with Hephaestus following him. The two looked toward where the two minotaurs ran to.
At first, they were standing there dragging their hooves across the ground, snorting as if they were about to charge. But a black robbed being appeared and stood beside them.
The minotaur looked at the robbed figure who laid its hand on the minotaur's shoulder. After a few moments, the figure walked over to the other minotaur and did the same thing to him. The figure then looked at both Percy and Hephaestus before disappearing back into the shadows.
The two minotaurs stood their shaking and dragging their hooves across the pavement. But this time a gray sliver color spread across their bodies until it covered them.
Roaring, the two minotaurs charged toward the barrier. Percy and Hephaestus took a step back, for when they made contact, it left a crack.
"Hephaestus..." Percy stammered.
The God of Blacksmiths and Fire folded his arms across his chest.
"Well, things have just gotten interesting."