Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Chapter 15: Stealth, Snipers and Seals

Somewhere in the North Atlantic Ocean

Nico's POV

I was sitting on the beach looking out over the ocean. The night was beautiful the water gently hit the shore of the island and the moon was barely a sliver in the sky. I heard someone behind me, I turned around to see Scott. He put a hand on my shoulder and sat down next to me.

"We're going to be heading out in thirty minutes Nico, are you ready?" Scott asked.

I looked up at him, I couldn't read any emotion in his face, he acted like this was just another day. "Aren't you nervous about what might happen?" I asked.

Scott just looked at me and then smiled. "Kid, I've been doing this sort of thing for so long it's second nature to me. Stick with us, do what we say and you'll most likely live to see your daddy in the underworld." Scott stated sarcastically.

"Do you have a problem with my dad?" I asked suspiciously.

Scott laughed. "No kid, your dad wasn't happy when we bathed in the Styx and then burnt a path of destruction and exited the underworld. I guess if we keep you breathing we might be able to call it even, but I don't really care." Scott said.

"You don't care if I keep breathing?" I asked sarcastically.

"I don't care if Hades agrees to ignore my previous visit. You're part of our team now so we'll look out for you, but you're not invulnerable, so I'd be very careful." Scott said.

"I can take care of myself, I'm the ghost king after all." I said proudly.

"I'd listen to the man dead boy!" A voice said from behind us. Scott and I turned around and standing before us was an image. It was the image of a young man, he wore jeans and a blue shirt, then I looked closely and I realized it was Percy. He was there floating in front of us and I could see through him like he was a ghost, but I would know if he was dead, I would feel it.

"Percy, is that you?" I asked hesitantly. Percy stared at me with those glowing green eyes of his and then he smiled that crooked smile that I knew women loved, but guys just thought of as cocky.

"Who else would it be Nico?" Percy asked incredulously. He's a smart ass even when he is see through, I mused.

"You're Percy, how are you here, aren't you in a coma back at camp?" Scott asked with a look of surprise on his face.

Percy smiled at us knowingly. "I get that question a lot lately. My body is still at camp, but I'm in a magical coma courtesy of Apollo. Apollo told me that it would enhance my innate mental powers and would allow me to do things that would normally take years of training to achieve." Percy stated.

"Why are you here then?" Scott continued.

"I'm here to warn you about some changes that you will face over on the research ship. The students are locked up in two large cargo holds on the lower level of the ship. There are at least thirty pirates on the vessel and I know Atlas has at least ten monsters. I saw a couple hell hounds, two cyclopes, the chimera and the hydra over there, so be careful. The last problem is that Atlas has changed the power of the pearl, it now negates the powers of all divine entities and their children. There is a bit of good news, Atlas has placed the pearl on the research ship. He keeps it up on the bridge. The problem is that it is the most heavily guarded area of the ship." Percy said.

"How can you use your powers then?" I asked curiously.

"My mental powers are not from my father, they are my own thanks to last years training. I have to leave now, please be careful. Chris and one other student are being used to retrieve the bombs. They have already recovered two bombs. The submersible is out currently retrieving the third bomb. Good luck and may the gods go with you." Percy said as he disappeared into thin air.

"Well, that was certainly weird." I said. Scott started to laugh. "What's so funny?"

"You said that was weird and you talk to the dead, you have a strange sense of what's weird. Let's get going." Scott said as he stood up and offered his hand. I took it gladly and he pulled me to my feet effortlessly. Scott walked back to the others. I followed him and we joined the rest of our team. We climbed onto the waiting Hippocampi. As we approached the enemy ships and the research vessel Scott motioned for us to gather around.

"Allen and Ben, make your way to the top of the superstructure of the ship. I want both of you to setup sniper positions. Make sure you cover every inch of the decks below." Scott said.

"Aye, sir." Allen and Ben confirmed at the same time. They left us and approached the research ship. They would stealthily make their way and setup sniper positions.

"Alex and Gareth, you are going to cause all kinds of Hades on the main deck. I want all the monsters and hopefully most of the pirates to come up on deck. That should make the bridge much easier to access." Scott ordered.

"You got it boss." Alex and Gareth said at the same time. They left with their Hippocampi. Most likely to board the ship and do what ever mischief they could do, which was probably a lot when you pair a son of Hermes with a son of Ares.

"What are we going to do?" I asked anxiously. Scott crossed his arms and smiled fiendishly.

"We're going to wait for all Hades to break loose and then we're going to find that pearl and destroy it." Scott said confidently. "Then we're going to free those hostages."

I smiled and said, "I'm ready." Scott looked at me ominously.

"You better be kid because this is serious business." Scott added. "Remember your powers won't work with that pearl still intact, so you won't be transporting any of us by shadow until its destroyed." I nodded my head and put on my best determined look, but I was feeling less than confident. Scott and I waited two hours and then we heard explosions and gunfire on board the research vessel, we noticed that most of the submarines had left, all but one. That seemed like a bad sign and I could tell by the concerned look on Scott's face that he thought so as well. The large enemy vessel was still there and it appeared that reinforcements were going over to the research ship that was until two explosions erupted from the research vessel, I looked and I could tell that they were RPGs (Rocket Propelled Grenades), the grenades hit the two boats that were loaded with reinforcements and exploded killing the men aboard. I noticed that the large enemy ship and the small submarine moved further away from the research vessel after the explosions.

"It's our turn kid." Scott said as his Hippcampus charged forward, I followed right behind him. We reached the research ship and I could see and hear the battle raging on the decks above us. We climbed a rope that was clearly left by our other team members. It took us a few minutes to climb to the main deck, but once we reached the deck we both froze at the sight before us. I could see Alex and Gareth surrounded by and hiding behind large metal drums they were shooting in all directions as hell hounds and pirates attacked them. The Hydra appeared out of nowhere, but was hit with several large celestial bronze rounds that opened wholes in the beast that were as big as grapefruits. The monster dissolved instantly into golden dust. Scott motioned for me to go forward and to stay behind him, we dodged bullets and ran up the stairs toward the bridge of the ship. As we approached the top three pirates jumped out in front of us, the first one was about to shoot us when his head exploded covering the pirates next to him in gore. That gave Scott the distraction that he needed he pulled out a large survival knife that was double edged once side with steel and the other celestial bronze. He first knocked both pirates guns out of their hands with a quick roundhouse kick. The pirates spun to deliver a round house kick of their own, but Scott was already out of the way the pirates turned to find Scott, but all I saw was a flash of metal and then blood erupted all over the bulkhead wall behind the two pirates. The two guards slumped to the floor and then I noticed Scott standing on the other side of them with his knife in his hand covered in blood. I looked down at the two pirates, their throats had been cut in one slicing motion of the knife. Scott motioned for me to follow him. We ran quietly until we reached the hatch to the bridge. Scott carefully opened the hatch and we walked in. The room was dark except for the red emergency lights that flashed on the far wall. Suddenly, Scott turned around and I turned as well. Standing in front of us at least twelve feet in height holding a large gun in one hand and a large crystal in the other was Atlas.

"Son of Hades, I wondered when you would arrive." Atlas said ominously.

AN: Hope you enjoyed this short chapter. What happened to all the submarines I wonder? We'll find out next chapter as we have double the action and double the fun.