Just a quickie before I head to work. I noticed I haven't been doing many adult POV's and figured we could use one more :)
I know it's short. Oh well!
I own nothing you recognize as canon.
XXXIII
FRANK
Frank snarled in the Telekhine's face, baring his tiger fangs.
"Mr. Zhang," Lacy whispered. "Release him."
Frank slowly lifted off of the tiny monster. It shivered before getting on its flippers and knees—did seals even have knees?
"Thank you, Lacy Jackson," it said with high-pitched relief. "You are most merciful!"
Lacy put her sword at its throat. "Who said I let him get off you to be merciful? Maybe I didn't want him to have the pleasure of killing you."
The monster yelped. "B-But…I swear! I really do come in peace! My master does not know I am here!"
"How do we know you weren't attacking the ship?" Piper asked.
It shook its Doberman head. "Alone? Never! Even a pack of Telekhines would never match up against this thing! The last group couldn't even handle Poseidon descendants!" He looked nervously at Lacy. "I mean that with utmost respect."
"Whatever," Lacy growled.
Frank turned back into a human and kicked the Telekhine slightly. "Then what were you doing in Icarus's mouth?"
The monster glanced over at the dragon figurehead, who looked a little ticked that he had lost his chew toy. "I had gotten the automaton's attention so I could talk with you. I had no idea he'd start eating me!"
"That must've been the lurch we felt," Frank said, turning slightly to Piper. "Icarus was lunging the whole ship at this thing."
Lacy nodded. "Okay," she said. "So what did you want to talk to us about?"
The Telekhine straightened up a little. "First and foremost: Hello, my name is Andy. And I'm…um…well, I was an intern working for Atlas."
"An intern?" Piper questioned.
They have those? Frank thought. "What was it for? A major in monstering?"
Andy bowed his head. "I'm trying to get a degree in Business Management and need so many hours on an internship as an assistant. Atlas said he was hiring, so I took the job as his first assistant."
"Didn't you read the fine print that Atlas is a jerk?" Lacy spat.
The Telekhine cowered. "I'm so sorry for all we've put you through! I honestly didn't think it was right, either! I was just doing my job!"
"Then why aren't you doing it now?"
Andy gulped. "Um…well…after Mr. Jackson was rescued and the ambush failed, I put in my resignation. I didn't want to stick around for Atlas's anger…"
"Are we going to circle back to why you're here?" Lacy asked, prodding the monster with her sword. "Because I'm getting really bored really fast."
Andy squeaked in alarm. "Sorry! Um…I came here because Atlas wouldn't find me here…and I suppose you need a way to find Calypso, yes?"
"We've got one," Frank growled.
"Well, I suppose Leo Valdez is one way, but that couldn't be very reliable…Just randomly going around until he has another heart attack can't be good for his health, can it?"
Lacy narrowed her eyes. "Go on."
"I can just tell you where Calypso is being held," the Telekhine said.
"And what would you want in return?" Frank asked.
"To not be killed?" the monster pleaded. "I swear on the River Styx that I am telling and will tell you the complete truth regarding this quest!"
Thunder boomed overhead.
Lacy nodded and sheathed her sword. "Okay," she said. "Then we won't kill you—as long as you keep your word."
Andy nodded. "I will, I promise!"
Frank glared at him. "Then you might want to start talking…"
A/N: Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it's off to work I go~!
