Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Chapter 2: The Pearl
Two weeks later - Laurentian Abyssal
Third Person POV
The dark waters of the deep ocean are a quiet and lonely place, but on this day a weapon of man disturbs the silence of the deep sea. A submarine slipped through the deep water of the Laurentian Abyssal in search of the lair of a deceased Titan.
"Captain, we are on course as directed. We should be at the target location in approximately twenty minutes." The navigator said.
The captain of the mystery submarine looked at the controls and then to the navigator. "Good, keep me informed of any unexpected contacts. We need to make sure that the sea god and his minions do not spot us." The captain said.
"Aye, aye sir." The navigator acknowledged. The control room of the submarine was dark and the crew silent as the boat slipped quietly through the dark waters of the abyssal. The Captain quietly walked to his quarters and waited for the call from the control room. The captain's quarters were fairly small with gun metal gray walls. A small bed extended from one wall and a desk from the opposite one. A small metal table was securely fastened to the floor in the middle of the room. The captain sat on one of the chairs arranged around the table. He reached out and held a rolled up parchment in his hands. He unrolled the parchment to reveal an ancient map written in ancient Greek. The title on the map read Lair of Oceanus, but the captain did not stop at the title, he looked over the map until he placed a finger on a specific location on the map. The specific spot on the map was identified by a silver and black pearl. Under the image of the pearl written also in ancient Greek was the name Pearl of Thalassa. The captain was clearly interested in this location. A bell rang in the captain's cabin he grabbed the phone off the wall.
"Go ahead." Captain said.
"We have arrived, sir." The navigator said.
"Good, I'll be right up. Prepare the ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle)." Captain ordered.
"Aye sir." The navigator acknowledged. The captain left his cabin and approached the control room. The captain walked to the ROV control station and sat down behind the controls. The display screen sparked to life and the screen showed two displays. On the left was a video display that transmitted video from the ROV and the right side showed a schematic of the ROV with displays for power, speed, pitch, video and the robotic arm. The video display showed the ROV gliding through the water until the machine floated in front of a cave entrance. The cave was very dark, the captain hit a control and flood lights illuminated in front of the ROV and about thirty feet into the interior of the cave. The captain guided the ROV into the cave and maneuvered it through the passageway until the cave opened up into a very large room. The room was huge with a height that was at least fifty feet with stalactites hanging from the ceiling. The walls were made from a dark and rough rock. At the far end of the room was a very small and dimly illuminated alcove. The ROV carefully approached the alcove and stopped about five feet from it. The camera focused and zoomed into the dimly lit area. A small shelf protruded from the rock face at the back of the alcove. Sitting in an indented piece of marble was a beautiful gray and silver pearl. The pearl shined with light and even through the video camera you could feel the power emanating from it. The captain carefully maneuvered the robotic arm until the padded hand at it's end covered the pearl. The hand carefully closed until the pearl was encased in the grip. The captain retracted the arm until it had been stowed away inside of the ROV. The captain carefully maneuvered the ROV out of the cave and back to the submarine. The ROV approached an opening in the submarine and entered. A sliding door closed behind the ROV. The captain lowered the ROV until it rested on the surface of the submarine. The captain gave a visible sigh of relief as he turned off the controls.
"Navigator set course for the surface and proceed toward our support vessel." Captain ordered.
"Aye sir." The navigator confirmed. The submarine proceeded at full speed toward the support vessel waiting on the surface.
Mount Olympus
Annabeth's POV
I was sitting in my office on Olympus reviewing plans for a new amphitheater on the western edge of the city. I had taken my last final of the semester yesterday afternoon. Today was my day to catch up on work for Olympus. It can be hard sometimes to find time for school and planning for Olympus, but as a good daughter of Athena I always seemed to get the work done. I finished reviewing the plan and set it aside for delivery to Zeus and my mom for their approval. I rolled up the plans and as I placed it in a carrier I was interrupted by a knock on my door.
"Come in." I said. I wonder who that can be, it better not be Aphrodite with an idea for yet another statue of herself. She was definitely worse than Ares. The door opened to reveal a certain dark haired son of Poseidon. Percy was dressed in his everyday school uniform that consisted of a khaki shirt and pants with black work shoes. He had a cadet insignia over the shirt pocket with a name tag that said Jackson. I still hadn't gotten use to his short hair. As a cadet he was required to keep his hair no longer than one half inch. He looked great, but I missed his longer and messy jet-black hair that always seemed to be uncontrollable with a mind of it's own. With the short hair Percy looked strikingly like his twin brother Theseus only younger of course. The only good part was that Percy looked sexy in his uniform. On the other hand his black dress uniform was incredible, although he barely every wore it.
"What's up seaweed brain?" I asked with a wry smile. Percy just laughed a little at his nickname and smiled that crooked smile that always made me weak in the knees, gods I sound like a daughter of Aphrodite.
"Nothing I just talked to Theseus about the cruise and he his ok with everything. I just wanted to stop by and see if you were here before I headed back to school. I have a swim meet in an hour." Percy said. Percy was on the school swim team with Chris. They were the two best swimmers in school, another thing the two had in common. If I didn't know better I would have thought they were brothers, but Chris did not have dyslexia or ADHD, besides he was incredible in English and Math two subjects that always gave Percy fits. I stood up and walked to the door and gave Percy a big hug as we separated I reached up and kissed him passionately. I felt his knees buckle, but he caught himself before he tumbled to the floor. I guess I surprised him. We separated a few minutes later for air.
"That's for good luck." I said. I smiled to myself at the effect I had on him.
"You almost made me fall down, I wasn't expecting that." Percy said awkwardly. I found it funny that he can still be so shy around me sometimes, but other times he was more passionate than ever. It was certainly a little intimidating by how unpredictable he still was. Secretly I loved his unpredictability, it always made life interesting.
"Well it's good to know that I can still make you weak in the knees." I said matter-of-factly.
"Well I've got to go wise girl, are you still going to see us off in two weeks?" Percy asked curiously. In two weeks Percy, Chris and Terra would be leaving on the research cruise. They would be gone for six weeks I would miss all of them, but Percy more of course.
"Yes, I'll be there of course. I couldn't let you leave without an appropriate send off." I said sincerely. Percy smiled and walked towards me staring directly into my eyes. I froze as I got lost in his beautiful sea green eyes. I forgot all about work, school and almost who I was. His stare was so hypnotic and intense. He reached down and kissed me. I lost my balance and fell back into my desk chair.
"Are you alright?" Percy asked with concern in his voice. Damn those eyes of his, they always seemed to make me feel weak and they were the only things in the world that could make me lose my focus and control.
"I'm fine you just surprised me." I said, damn I hate admitting that, but as long as it was Percy I felt better about it.
"Sorry, I just couldn't help myself you looked more beautiful than ever." Percy said. I felt my cheeks warm at his compliment.
"You better go you don't want to be late for the swim meet." I said. Percy smiled and walked back to the door.
"I love you wise girl." Percy said as he turned to look at me one more time.
"I love you seaweed brain." I said. Percy smiled then he turned and walked out the door. I sighed to myself and regained my focus. I felt energized and ready to finish my work. That was always the great side effect of Percy's kisses they always gave me a surge of adrenaline and made my worries melt away. I will miss that so much when he's on the cruise, but this is Percy's opportunity and I would always support him in his work just as he always supported me.
Whose submarine is that? Thalassa's pearl what does it do? Why do they need it? Why am I asking so many questions? All good questions, I guess I will have to answer those in the next few chapters, except maybe that last one.