Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Chapter 7: The Pain
AN: Based on reader comments, Atlas is not one of the original 12 titans, he is the child of two titans, he is a second generation titan. So I revised the previous chapters. Titan wants revenge for the deaths of his uncles (Hyperion and Oceanus).
Somewhere in the North Atlantic Ocean – Near Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Percy's POV
The searing pain shot through my chest like a flaming sword. I tried to stand, but I couldn't I stumbled and fell through the moon pool into the ocean. I held my breath before I fell in, if the pearl could negate my powers it would most likely prevent me from breathing underwater. The weight of my armor allowed me to descend quicker into the depths. My only hope was that my powers would return before I drowned or bled to death. It felt like an eternity, but after what was more like two minutes I finally felt my control over the water return and I took several breaths. Thank the gods I could breathe underwater now. I couldn't swim, the healing abilities of the water only stopped the bleeding, but I was in terrible pain. I did the only thing that I could I used my mental powers to try to communicate with any creatures of the deep, I needed help and quick. Eventually I saw a creature approach it was pulsating wildly with light and I recognized it. It was a Giant Squid the last thing I remember was asking it for help before I blacked out from the pain.
Camp Half Blood
Annabeth's POV
"Percy!" I screamed. I jumped up out of bed and the first person to reach me was my brother Malcolm.
"Annabeth, what's wrong?" Malcolm said concern evident in his voice.
"It's Percy he's in trouble we have to see Chiron, now." I said. Malcolm and I both through our clothes on and ran out of our cabin toward the big house. As we ran I saw Thalia out of the corner of my eye, her eyes grew wide as she saw us running. She ran along side us.
"What's wrong Annie?" Thalia said out of breath from our full out run to the big house.
"Percy … trouble!" Was all I could say as we continued to run toward the big house. We reached the house and ran inside. Chiron was in the kitchen reading the daily newspaper that Argus would pick up in the morning. His eyes widened as he saw the three of us run into the house out of breath. He saw the worried look on my face and immediately I could tell he knew something was up.
"Percy's in trouble." He said it like he knew by the expression on my face that was the only thing that could be wrong.
"Yes, I had a nightmare Percy's ship was hijacked by pirates. The crew and the teachers were murdered and the students held prisoner. The worst part is that these were not ordinary pirates they were led by Atlas. Atlas wanted Percy to find three nuclear bombs so that he could use them against Atlantis, Olympus and the camp." I said still trying to catch my breath.
"That's crazy the gods magic would prevent the bombs from hurting anyone there." Thalia said matter-of-factly.
"Atlas has a secret weapon of some type that he says will negate the magic. He said that this weapon would destroy all of us and kill the gods." I stated carefully.
I could see the shock and surprise in the faces of everyone assembled. "What about Poseidon, they're in his domain?" Malcolm asked.
"They have something called the Pearl of Thalassa that negates the sea god's powers and they have crystals named after our mother that helps to project the affect of the pearl to the rest of their ships." I said. I noticed that Chiron's eyes grew wide when I mentioned the pearl. "You know about the pearl?"
"Yes, I'm afraid that the pearl does negate the sea god's powers and the Crystals of Athena could be used to project its power." Chiron said.
"What about the secret weapon? Could there be such a thing?" Thalia asked curiously.
I could see Chiron consider that question before he answered, "Anything is possible and why would Atlas lie, but Annabeth you said that Atlas 'wanted' Percy to find the bombs, what happened to him?" I started to cry and Thalia put her arm around me.
"My dear we need to know please try." Chiron said. He spoke to me in a way that reminded me of all those times that he filled in as my father and not just my mentor.
"Percy tried to fight them, he had his armor on and he took out one pirate, but another one fired what Atlas called the 'special weapon.' The gun fired at Percy and the bullet penetrated his armor in the back and I saw the bullet come out Percy's chest. He stumbled and then fell into the sea through the ships moon pool." I said as I fought back my tears. I could see the sadness on everyone's face including Chiron's.
"He fell in the water Annie, he's probably fine." Thalia asked. I thought about that then I remembered the sight of the bullet passing through his body. I had a terrible feeling about that when I remembered back on the nightmare.
"I don't know it seemed so terrible at the time." That was all I could say. The image kept replaying my mind, I thought I would black out from the pain, but suddenly a bright golden light appeared in front of me, when the light dissolved standing in front of me was my mom with a very concerned look on her face. "Mom, it was so terrible." I ran to her and she engulfed me into a hug. Chiron explained to her what I had just told them. I could feel my mother's body tense up when Chiron mentioned the pearl and the crystals. When Chiron talked about Percy being shot I felt my mom hug me tighter and then I could feel her tears falling on my shoulder.
"I'm so sorry my dear." Athena said the tears still running down her cheeks.
"We have to do something, Atlas has this plan and we cannot allow him to use nuclear weapons against us. The weapons may not penetrate the magic barrier, but the fall out will irradiate the land around the camp. We will be trapped in a prison surrounded by radioactivity." Malcolm said logically. My mom pulled me out of the hug, but kept an arm around my waist.
"My son is right, that Titan cannot be allowed to carryout his plan." Athena said. Suddenly the door to the big house was thrown open and in ran Will Solace.
"Calm down Will what happened?" Chiron asked.
"Theseus, Poseidon and Apollo are in the infirmary. They have Percy, he's been shot, come quick." Will said between breaths as he continued to breathe heavy from his sprint to the big house. Chiron galloped out of the big house, but my mom touched Thalia, Malcolm and I, we dissolved into a golden light and then reappeared within the waiting room of the infirmary a moment later. Theseus and Poseidon were in the waiting room pacing impatiently. Athena told them about everything in my dream I sat in a chair with Malcolm and Thalia sitting on either side of me. They both had hand on my shoulder. After my mom talked to Theseus and Poseidon, they left to go speak in private in the next room. I knew they were talking about Atlas and his plan. We waited for hours until the door to the intensive care unit opened and a very tired looking Apollo walked out. He walked over and found Poseidon and Theseus. Thalia, Malcolm and I ran to join them.
"How is he Apollo?" Theseus asked worriedly. Apollo just looked at all of us he wore an expression that I never saw on his face. He was lost for words, definitely something that's uncommon for Apollo.
"The bleeding has stopped, but not because of my efforts. We turned a water therapy tank into a water healing tank. If Percy didn't have his abilities to heal in water, he would be dead right now. One problem, the water only stops the bleeding it doesn't heal the wound. The wound is extensive and I have no idea why it doesn't heal. It's like there is some type of energy in the wound that prevents it from healing. I haven't a clue what it is." Apollo said. Everyone just stared at him with worry in their eyes.
"Could this have anything to do with the secret weapon Atlas talked about in my nightmare?" I asked. Everyone looked at me and I could tell that no one new that answer.
"My daughter is right it could have something to do with Atlas's boast of a secret weapon." Athena added. The door to the intensive care unit opened and in walked Austin carrying Percy's belongings. He approach our group and gave everything to Theseus. Theseus looked at me and then he started to hand me Percy's belongings. He handed me Riptide in pen form, then the wrist band that housed the gauntlet and trident, and lastly Percy's shield, for whatever reason the shield had not converted back to a bracelet. I looked at the shield and then I noticed something lodged in the inside, it was the bullet.
"Look!" I said. I grabbed the bullet and instantly it burned my skin. I dropped it on the ground as I shook the pain and heat from my fingers. Apollo bent down and grabbed a pair of tweezers from his pocket and picked up the bullet. Austin held out a metal pan and Apollo dropped the bullet into it.
"What kind of bullet is that?" Athena asked curiously.
"I don't know sis, but I will need your help figuring it out." Apollo said. Athena gave her brother a reassuring look and the two of them ran into the nearest lab.
"Austin, can we see Percy?" I asked impatiently. By the look on the faces of Poseidon and Theseus I knew they wanted to see him as well.
"He's in a coma, but you can see him. I will warn you he's in the water tank and the bullet wound is bad. He's in the first room as you enter the intensive care unit." Austin said as he went into the lab to join his father and my mom. Poseidon, Theseus and I walked into the intensive care unit and entered Percy's room. We all stopped completely stunned at the scene before us. The water tank was a large cylinder that was four feet in diameter and ten feet in height. The tank was completely clear. You could hear the filters running that were continuously cleaning the water as well as adding oxygen. Normally seeing Percy in just his swim trunks would make me blush, but he was floating in the tank with his eyes closed the wound in his chest was terrible it was at least two inches in diameter. The worst part was that wound was a hole that extended from his chest to his back. You could see through his body. The wound glowed with some type of energy and you could almost see the battle between the water trying to heal the wound and the energy causing the wound to open up again. I felt sick to my stomach I ran out of the room and into the bathroom. I puked my guts out. I walked back out into the waiting room. Thalia ran over to me and I know she saw the sickened look on my face. She engulfed me in a hug and I cried on her shoulder. I broke down, I was completely distraught. I prayed to all the gods that Percy would live, but my mind told me that he might not.
AN: What is the secret weapon? Does it relate to Percy's injury? What can the gods and the demigods do to stop Atlas and his pirates?