Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Chapter 20: Surprises
Somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean
Triton's POV
The three of us spread out to attack the subs I took the center while Thalassa attacked from the left and Pontus from the right. I focused on my control of the sea and began to twirl the trident in my hands until a vortex of water began to spin in front of me. I focused on the water and the currents behind me. I forced the water behind me to compress and contract until a huge spring of water was behind me pressing against my back. I continued with the vortex of water in front of me and suddenly I released the spring of water behind me and I shot through the water like a super fast torpedo. I aimed for the center of the submarine fleet and continued to expand my vortex of water. I sailed through the middle of the enemy fleet, submarines were knocked off course by the vortex and rammed into their neighboring boats. By the time my momentum slowed the entire center of the enemy fleet was in chaos at least eight submarines were damaged severely and were sinking to the depths below.
I felt a sudden change in the ocean and I realized that three torpedoes were headed straight toward me. I aimed my trident and destroyed the first torpedo and then I had an idea. I swam straight toward the two remaining torpedoes and swam between them before they could react to my change in direction. I felt the two torpedoes change direction to follow me. I swam as fast as I could toward the two closest submarines the first torpedo was the closest and hit the side of the sub nearest me. Then I swam to the second submarine, I waited, the second torpedo was within just a few yards when I swam straight up toward the surface. The torpedo struck the side of the submarine and exploded sending a shock wave straight toward me that pushed me closer to the surface.
I felt another torpedo head my way I changed direction and swam for the sea floor. As I approached the ocean floor I saw an enemy submarine heading away from the others. I never saw this submarine before, then something clicked inside my brain, this had to be the submarine with the bomb. I swam straight toward the sub I could feel the last torpedo on my tail. I approached the submarine and it began to move erratically trying to lose me. I concentrated on the sub and swam as fast as I could. I reached the hull of the sub and held on to the dive plane. The torpedo closed within just a few yards it was going to hit me when I let go of the submarine, the torpedo hit just a few seconds later. The sub broke apart and I was thrown hard into the sea floor by the shock wave. The last thing I heard was the sound of distant explosions as I lost consciousness.
Twenty miles from New York Harbor
Theseus's POV
Thirty submarines were headed our way and one of them a missile sub was armed with two nuclear missiles. My father and I met the submarine fleet roughly twenty miles from New York harbor. My father, Poseidon roared into battle the ocean itself at his command. We decided before the battle that my father would charge into battle and attack while I covered any escape routes and looked for the missile sub. One problem, I could see all the submarines, but I could not find the missile sub. I suddenly had a terrible thought maybe this attack was a diversion while the missile sub attacked from another direction. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks, the sub was headed not to New York harbor, but to Long Island.
Father, this is a diversion the real attack is from Long Island. I sent that message using the mental communication that I shared with my father and brothers.
Go, I'll handle this. My father ordered, I disappeared into a golden light and then reappeared in the ocean off the east coast of Long Island. I stretched my senses throughout the ocean in front of me until I sensed a change in the water pressure. I realized that it was the submarine. I swam toward the sub at full speed with my club in my hands I reached the sub and was about to swing my club when a missile flew out of the submarine toward the surface. I swung my club and a huge hole broke open into the side of the sub. I swung again and the submarine broke in two pieces and sunk toward the sea floor below.
I concentrated on my power and the slight remnant of power that I had from Oranos and I flew out of the water. I had kept this ability a secret as I still wasn't sure I could fly, but I could. I flew into the air and I spotted the missile rocketing toward space. I knew this had to be the missile that was headed for Olympus. I concentrated all my strength into flying and I soared through the air at incredible speed until I was within a few feet of the missile. I grabbed the missile, the heat from the rocket engine was incredible and I could feel my skin blistering under the heightened temperature. Even for a god this heat was incredible. All I needed to do was nudge the rocket and lock the directional controls. I used one hand to lock the control fins and the other at the last moment to push the missile straight up into space. The missile entered space and exploded a few seconds later sending a blast of energy toward the atmosphere. I was flying back toward earth when the force of the explosion hit me. Thank goodness I was too far away for the radiation to hurt me, but the blast knocked the wind out of me and I plummeted toward the ocean. I corrected my flight just enough to keep me from smacking directly into the ocean. Instead I skipped across the ocean surface until my momentum slowed and I settled into the water. I was bruised, burned and battered, but the missile and sub were destroyed. I swam back to New York harbor as fast as I could, I was too tired to transport there.
Onboard the TS Empire State VI – Somewhere in the North Atlantic Ocean
Scott's POV
I directed all communications down to the lower decks of the ship. I needed to stay down here and supervise my team as they tried to disarm the two bombs. My team was split in half with Gareth and Allen working on the hatch of the second cargo room while Ben and Alex worked on the first one. Gareth would disarm the bomb while Allen coordinated by radio and provided tools. On the other hatch Ben would disarm the bomb while Alex worked the radio and provided tools. The two teams started work about ten minutes ago. So far the two teams had coordinated the drilling of a hole within the tube that mixed the two chemicals. Now the teams were filling the tube with an epoxy that would harden into a cement like substance.
"Finished." Ben said.
"Finished as well" Allen said over the radio.
"Now cut the wires." Alex stated over the radio. Ben cut the two wires on his hatch.
"Wires cut" Alex confirmed over the radio.
"Finished here too." Allen stated over the radio. I saw the timer start to count down on the top of the bomb. The timer was only set for thirty seconds. Once the timer elapsed. The two chemicals filled into the mixing tube but did not enter the bottom tube that was connected to another timer and the detonator.
"We're good on this side." Alex said over the radio.
"Good here too." Allen said. I sighed in relief.
"Cut the lock off the hatch." Alex said over the radio. Ben lit his blow torch and began the arduous process of cutting the hatch lock away from the metal hatch. After an hour the lock fell off and was caught by Alex before it could hit the ground.
"Cut complete." Alex confirmed over the radio.
"We're good as well." Allen said. Ben opened the hatch and I was relieved to see about sixty scared young people on the other side.
"My name is Captain Scott Erickson of the United Stated Navy we're here to rescue you." I said. The students looked relieved after I spoke to them. "Alex take them on deck." Alex led the students on deck. I grabbed the radio.
"Gareth, everything o.k.?" I asked over the radio.
"Yes, sir the students are o.k. Allen is taking them on deck." Gareth informed me.
"Good job." I said.
"Captain here now." Ben yelled excitedly. I ran to where Ben was located looking at the bomb we just detached from the hatch.
"What is it Lieutenant?" I ordered.
"The second timer counted down." Ben said.
"So?" I asked.
"Look at this." Ben said as he pointed to the back of the second timer. There wasn't a detonator attached there was a signal device.
"What is that?" I asked already dreading the response.
"This was a fake, the real bomb is somewhere else." Ben said in complete shock.
"Where?" I asked nervously.
"Sir, I found something." Gareth yelled over the radio.
"Gareth, where?" I yelled.
"Engine room, get down here now its a bomb." Gareth confirmed over the radio. Ben and I ran to the engine room where Gareth was huddled over the main engine and fuel tank. He was looking at a large mass of gray clay that I knew was plastic explosive. Attached to it was a timer and detonator. The timer said ten minutes and was counting down.
"Can you disarm it?" I asked. Ben and Gareth both shook their heads no.
"Can it be detached?" I yelled. Ben grabbed the mass of explosives and pulled it clear of the engine and fuel tank assembly. A sudden idea came to mind, I grabbed the bomb and ran for the moon pool I heard Gareth and Ben behind me, they were about to yell something, but I jumped into the moon pool and into the ocean below. I swam as deep as I could as I watched the count down on the timer. Once the bomb reached one minute I threw the bomb towards the sea floor. I swam back towards the ship I reached within a hundred yards of the ship when the bomb exploded sending a shockwave that drove me directly into the hull of the ship. The last thing I remember was the force of the collission and the the color red as I lost consciousness.
Gough Island
Annabeth's POV
I walked around the base of the volcano looking for some type of entrance into the submarine base. The island was a very lush green, but you could tell by the weathered trees and landscape that this island could be pretty inhospitable during certain times of the year. I reached an old dirt road that looked to be from world war two. I decided to follow this road toward the opposite side of the volcano. As I approached the end of the road I heard a vehicle. I stood on the side of the road waiting for the vehicle to arrive. A jeep came into view with two men dressed in the same uniform that I saw in the forge on Mount McKinley. They stopped the jeep at the base of the volcano. I ran and quietly climbed onto the back of the jeep. The pirate in the passenger seat touched a control that looked like a garage door opener and suddenly the side of the volcano opened. The opening was about twelve feet tall by thirty feet wide. The jeep lurched forward and drove into the volcano.
Once inside the headlights of the jeep came on and I could see a long dark tunnel ahead of us. We drove for a good ten minutes before I saw a group of lights ahead in the tunnel. As we approached the lights the tunnel opened up into a large cave. The cave was at least one thousand feet in diameter and around sixty feet high. A three story structure stood in the middle of the cave. The building was made out of the same granite as the walls of the cave and tunnel. The jeep drove around to the opposite side of the building and I noticed a second tunnel. The vehicle parked in a spot near a door in the building wall. I jumped off the jeep and walked down the second tunnel. After walking for about ten minutes the tunnel opened into a cave that was roughly the size of the first. There were sets of lights that illuminated a long concrete deck and then I noticed the water on the opposite side of the cave. I walked to the edge of the concrete platform and looked down its length. I spotted a dark silhouette. I walked further down the platform and I came face to face with a submarine. It looked to be about eighty feet long. The markings on the side of the submarine looked like Russian. Then I remembered, this had to be the sub that Percy saw when he swam into the underwater cave. I didn't see anyone around the sub, actually the only people I had seen were the two pirates that had driven in with the jeep. I walked back up the tunnel until I saw the jeep next to the building. I walked around the building until I saw a window that was slightly open. I stood by the window and angled my head to be able to get the best view in while still being able to hear any conversations.
As I looked in through the window I saw the two pirates standing in front of a large wooden desk with their backs to the window, but then I saw a very large man sitting behind the desk. One pirate moved slightly and I saw the face of Atlas, the man behind the desk was the titan the one responsible for all this death and destruction. I suddenly flashed back to my time holding up the sky, the fight between Artermis and Atlas, and how Zoe had sacrificed her life to save Artemis. I cleared my mind of those memories as I heard the evil voice of the titan.
"Good, no one else is on the island, then?" Atlas said questioningly.
"Yes, sir we finished off the two weather researchers, it will be weeks before anyone comes to look for them." The tall pirate said.
"Nice job, I will see to it that both of you are rewarded handsomely when my brother arrives." Atlas said, his brother my gods he means Prometheus, but he's in Tartarus. "Has the entrance to the underworld been located?" Entrance? Underworld? What in Hades name?
"Yes my lord, we have created a celestial bronze gate over the entrance so no unexpected visitors. We placed a cyclops to guard the entrance as well. He will inform us when your brother arrives. I have one question sir, how is Prometheus going to escape from Hades?" The short pirate said.
"We have a spy who will help him, she has been our go between for the past several months. She will be freed from the underworld and rewarded greatly when my brother is free. How are our prisoners?" Atlas asked.
"The three children are locked in the storage room in the basement of this building. Your special prisoner is locked in the office on the third floor." The tall pirate said. I wonder who the special prisoner is.
"Good, we might need them as leverage in case we have unwanted visitors." Atlas said.
"What happens if we have unwanted visitors and they are not swayed by our prisoners my lord?" The tall pirate asked.
I saw a glimpse of Atlas's face and I could see the evil smirk form on his lips. "Then we will blow the volcano and this island will be no more along with those who were foolish enough to defy us." Atlas said as he began to laugh ominously. I had enough of this I walked back up toward the exit and waited until I heard the jeep. I noticed as the jeep passed me that only one of the pirates was onboard. I waited until he opened the cave entrance and I snuck out as the jeep drove off. I made my way back around the volcano until I saw the group of rocks where I had left Percy and the others. As I reached our hiding place I saw a tired and weary Percy sitting and looking out behind a large boulder. I took off my cap and ran toward him. A look of relief washed over his face when he saw me and I engulfed him in an enormous hug.
"I'm so glad you're back safe." Percy said. It felt so good to hold him, but I was brought out of my reverie as I saw Thalia and the others smirking at us.
"Get a room you two." Thalia quipped. Percy and I broke apart reluctantly.
"Annabeth, what did you find?" Malcolm asked expectantly.
"On the other side of the volcano there is a secret entrance. I snuck aboard a jeep with two pirates they used some type of remote to open the side of a cave that led to two caverns. One had a large building that was some type of base and the other was the cavern that Percy saw that houses a dock for submarines." I said still a little out of breath from my long walk.
"Do you know how many pirates there are?" Clarisse asked.
"I only saw the two, but I doubt there are many more because I over heard the pirates talking to Atlas. They would have mentioned other pirates and they didn't. It looks like most of the pirates were in the fleets headed for New York and Atlantis." I said.
"You saw and heard them talk to Atlas, what did they say?" Percy asked anxiously.
"Chris and the others are being held in the basement of the base. They also mentioned a special guest that was housed on the third floor. They didn't hint at who it was, but they did say that this person would deter attacks along with Chris and the others. Atlas also said that he had the volcano rigged to blow if he needed to as a last resort." I said. I could see the others trying to think who this special guest or prisoner could be, but none of us had a clue.
"What else did Atlas say, I know he said more he's such a blow hard?" Nico asked. I saw Percy smile at the description of our enemy.
"Well he talked at length about Prometheus, it appears that they do have a spy in the underworld who's helping Prometheus. It appears this spy or she as they called them is planning to rescue Prometheus and the volcano houses a secret entrance to the underworld. One of the pirates said that it was guarded by a cyclops." I said. I saw the surprised look on Nico's face.
"Perce, can you make a mist for me, I need to speak to my dad?" Nico asked. Percy formed a mist out of the water vapor in the air and Nico tossed in a gold drachma and then asked to see his father. An image of the library within the palace of Hades in the underworld showed in front of us. Hades was sitting in his chair overlooking a fire place with the souls of the evil being tormented in front of him, he was oblivious to the suffering in front of him as he was reading Dante's Inferno. An appropriate book for the the lord of the underworld I guess.
"Dad, excuse me." Nico said. Hades turned from his book and looked up at the image. Hades eyes burned with recognition as he looked at Nico.
"Nico, what's going on my boy?" Hades asked. He sounded actually concerned for once maybe he is softening up a bit.
"Dad, we are on a mission, Atlas is on Gough Island, I'm here with Percy, Annabeth, Thalia, Malcolm and Clarisse. We are trying to free some hostages. Annabeth overheard Atlas state that the volcano on this island has a secret entrance to the underworld." Nico said. I could see Hades interest peak at the news of a secret entrance. "Atlas states that he has a spy in the underworld and this person will try to free Prometheus and they plan to escape through this secret entrance. Do you know anything about this?" I could see the concern on Hades face.
"I didn't know about the secret entrance, but I knew about the spy. I have offered to restore the life to a fallen hero if he catches this spy and stops whatever plans they have." Hades said.
"Which hero?" Nico asked. Hades smiled at this question fiendishly.
"I cannot tell my son, but this hero is uniquely suited to fighting and out smarting a titan even one as brilliant as Prometheus." Hades said. We all looked at Hades in total shock, who could this fallen hero be. "Don't worry about Prometheus or this spy. Kick Atlas's ass for me o.k.?" We all smiled at that statement.
"Uncle you have my word that Atlas will be heading to Tartarus very soon." Percy stated confidently. Hades smiled at Percy.
"Good my nephew, take care Nico and good luck to all of you." Hades said as he swiped his hand through the mist.
"Nico you know all the fallen heroes in Tartarus, who could he be talking about?" Annabeth asked. I could see Nico puzzling over this question by the furrows in his brow.
"My head hurts I can't think anymore." Nico said as he rubbed his eyes. Thalia punched him in the shoulder.
"Who said you could ever think in the first place dead boy." Thalia said.
"You know you're a real comedian today pine cone do you know that." Nico said as he kissed her on the cheek. Thalia started to blush, which sent the rest of us in a fit of laughter. I stopped laughing and went quiet as a thought came to me. but I shook it off.
"What's wrong wise girl?" Percy asked.
"It's nothing, we need to plan our next move." I said. The six of us sat around our make shift camp and planned our rescue attempt.
AN: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. It looks like for the most part all the missions were successful except for the fourth one, more to come. Hopefully the next chapter will tie up some loose ends so we can concentrate on the adventure on Gough Island.