Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Story: Guardians of Light and Justice
Chapter 7: Night Commander
AN: Longest chapter so far enjoy.
Annabeth's POV
Thalia and I walked into the dining hall and we were suddenly bombarded by questions from Clarisse, Chris and Katie.
"Who were those guys with the wings?" Katie asked.
"What happened to the drakon?" Clarisse asked.
"Are you two OK, you look like you saw a ghost?" Chris asked. Thalia and I both laughed at that last question.
"Those guys with wings are the guardians and it turns out that we all know them." I said.
"Who are they?" Clarisse asked. I saw Percy and Nico walk in. Nico was dressed all in black and Percy had on blue jeans with a navy blue shirt. I still can't get over how little Percy had changed. In that one year he grew to be at least six foot two inches in height, but other than that and a lot more muscle he still looks like the sixteen year old boy that I remember. Although from our discussion and the way he carries himself he is extremely confident and grown up, he looks incredible.
"Jackson" Clarisse yelled as she charged Percy. The old Percy would have run away, but the new Percy just stood there as Clarisse charged at full speed. She reached Percy, but he moved out of the way and at the same time he grabbed her arm and flipped her completely into the air. She landed on the ground with a loud thud. Percy made sure that she fell on her butt and did not hit her head.
"Nice to see you too Clarisse." Percy said with a sly smirk on his face. I couldn't help but smile.
"Percy" Katie and Chris yelled as they ran to their old friend and gave him a huge hug. When they saw Nico they hugged him as well.
Percy extended his hand to Clarisse, she looked at it for a moment and then reluctantly grabbed it. She looked like she was trying to squeeze Percy's hand, but Percy just raised his arm up quickly lifting Clarisse off the ground and to her feet in a split second. Clarisse's eyes were as big as saucers with the strength that Percy showed at that moment. Percy and Nico walked over and joined us at the counselor's table. We all sat there with Mr. D and Chiron at the head of the table.
"Chiron how is the defense of the fleece?" I asked.
"I have cabin's alternating protection every three hours." Chiron said.
"We should expect the enemy to strike tonight. This spy thats in camp has done a good job of concealing themselves." Percy said.
"Where did you learn how to fight like that Percy?" Chiron asked. I knew he was interested in Percy's fighting skills.
"The first year after I left camp Blackjack and I flew around the eastern part of the world. I visited India, Tibet, Nepal and China as well. I studied many forms of martial arts such as kung fu and I learned sword fighting and archery skills in India. I also studied meditation techniques from the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. I studied their ancient gods and I met the reincarnated god Shiva." Percy said. When Percy said Shiva, Chiron spit out his drink.
"You met Shiva?" Chiron asked.
"Yes, you know how the Egyptians relied on magic and their magicians could join with the spirits of their gods such as Horus or Isis?" Percy asked.
"Yes, I understand, what does that have to do with Shiva?" Mr. D asked in return.
"In Hinduism their gods are reborn into the bodies of humans or avatars, they are reincarnated. I met the current reincarnation of Shiva the destroyer or transformer, one of the most powerful of their deities. I stopped a kidnapping attempt on Shiva from a renegade religious sect. In return Shiva gave me a blessing and blessed Riptide as well." Percy said, everyone was stunned around the table, except for Nico.
"What do these blessings entail?" Chiron asked.
"Let's just say that with the blessing Riptide is the most powerful sword in the world." Percy said. Before anyone could ask him about his blessing his watch buzzed. He touched his watch and answered. "Commander here."
"Commander incoming transmission from HQ." A female voice said. Whose that, I thought?
"GAIL, let them know I will be at the hovercraft in a few minutes, Jackson out." Percy said.
"Whose GAIL?" Thalia asked.
"It's our AI that controls the hovercraft." Nico said.
"Lieutenant when you're done here help Chiron setup defenses. It will be dark soon." Percy said as he nodded towards everyone. He walked out of the dining hall and I could see him stand in the light. His skin began to glow and his wings extended from his back. I heard gasps from the dining hall. With one flap of his wings he was in the air and heading toward the beach at an amazing speed.
Percy's POV
A minute later I landed in front of the hovercraft and powered down. I entered the craft and made my way to the control room.
"Commander, Athena is ready on screen one." GAIL said.
"Screen on." I ordered. The screen lit up and I could see the face of the goddess of wisdom in front of me.
"Commander, how are things at camp?" She asked sincerely, I could tell that she was bracing herself for an icy reception.
"Good, Nico is helping Chiron and the campers setup defenses." I said. I could tell she was relieved and a little taken aback by my tone.
"So you believe the fire drakon was just a test?" Athena asked. I knew she was just testing my strategy.
"Sure, the Hand wanted to know how many of us were there and to find out our strength level." I said. Athena smiled slyly.
"By your casual attitude commander I take it that you don't believe they fully gauged your strength?" Athena asked.
"Is that a question or an observation?" I asked in return. She just shook her head in response.
"I see that your strategy is as good as ever commander." Athena said.
"I had some good teachers." I said, I hoped she would see that as me trying to set aside any grudge toward her.
"You're welcome." She said with a smile. Good she figured it out like I knew she would.
"The Hand will attack at night of course. They will be overconfident and they will most likely attack at the main gate." I said. Athena looked at me thoughtfully.
"How will they get passed the boundary?" Athena asked.
"They definitely have a spy in camp based on the drakon and the bugs that we found in the big house. The fleece is under guard, but this spy is really good I think it is safe to assume they will find a way." I said.
"So you are basing your actions on an assumption?" Athena asked. I knew she questioned my use of instinct, but mine were always good.
"I know, I use instinct too much." I said.
"I know that your instinct is always right." Athena said.
"Since we know each other so well, then I'm positive we will be attacked tonight and the fleece will be stolen somehow." I said. Athena just smiled at my confidence.
"I assume that you plan to kick their asses." Athena said. I smiled at that.
"You know Nico and I all too well my lady." I said as I bowed to her. Athena just smiled and nodded her head in response.
"May the light and justice protect you." Athena said as the image faded. I walked out of the control and then I heard the explosion. I touched my watch and called Nico.
"Percy, the fleece is gone and the camps are under attack." Nico said.
"What in Hades name happened?" I asked.
"The Athena cabin was guarding the fleece and someone took it, they were invisible." Nico said. Invisible.
"Where's Annabeth?" I asked.
"She's right here with me. Perce, Malcolm is hurt bad he might not make it." Nico said.
"Not if I can help it." I said as I extended my wings, even though it was dark we could still use our wings, but the power of our armor and our physical abilities are reduced. I flew to Thalia's tree to see the remainder of the Athena cabin fighting a group of Empousa. Nico and Annabeth were guarding Malcolm's injured body. I swooped down and immediately cut the head off an Empousa with Riptide. I landed on the ground and retracted my wings. "Nico, go help the others it will be only a matter of time before they send in reinforcements."
"What about Malcolm?" Nico said.
"Annabeth and I will take care of him." I said. Nico nodded and extended his wings and flew off toward the battle that raged down by the cabins. I could see more empousa and hellhounds fighting campers and hunters.
"Percy, what can we do?" Annabeth said as she held the body of her little brother. The tears were pouring from her eyes and it broke my heart. I began to chant as I was taught in India and then I said the words Sankara Shiva, which roughly means Shiva the beneficent. I could feel the power within me. Annabeth gasped next to me as my eyes filled with blue flame. I reach out to the massive stab wound in Malcolm's chest. I placed my hands over the wound and continued to chant. My hand filled with blue flames and suddenly Malcolm's body was covered in blue flames. I continued to chant as I was taught and the wound closed up and after only a minute the wound was completely healed. I ended the ancient chant and my eyes returned to normal and the blue flames extinguished. Malcolm gasped loudly as he caught his breath and woke up.
"Take care of him, I must help the others." I said as I stood and extended my wings. I jumped into the air and flew down toward the cabins with Riptide in my hand. I landed next to Nico, I killed two hellhounds in a matter of seconds with two swipes of Riptide. Nico killed the last Empousa and we both stood there waiting for the next round. The campers cheered, but I raised my hand. They all quieted down immediately. "This was only round one, they will attack again. We need to find the fleece." The campers started to look around I nodded toward Nico and his eyes glowed with the fire of Hades. I watched as he looked around until he stopped. I followed his gaze toward the edge of the forest, I saw a small bush shake as if someone was kneeling beside it. I capped Riptide and extended a bow out of the side of my armor. Then I pulled out an arrow. Nico smiled next to me as I extended my bow and arrow, then I fired the arrow it hit the ground only a few yards from the bush, the arrow exploded sending a shockwave that knocked everything over including the bush. It also knocked the cap off the nine year old boy who was crouched next to the shrub with the fleece in his hands. Nico and I flew forward at full speed and grabbed the boy and then flew back toward Thalia's tree where Malcolm was now standing with Annabeth at his side. We landed and pulled the boy toward Malcolm and Annabeth. "Here's the traitor." Annabeth and Malcolm were both stunned.
"Alex" They both said.
"He's the youngest child of Athena currently. Alex, why did you do this?" Malcolm asked angrily. I tore the fleece from the boy's grasp and tossed it onto the tree. The border immediately powered back to life.
"Nico, where is Peleus?" I asked. Everyone shrugged their shoulders except for Alex. He began to laugh ominously and then I realized this boy was more than just a demigod. I mentally called upon the power of truth granted to all guardians by the god Pistis, my eyes glowed a bright green. I grabbed the shoulders of the boy and stared into his eyes, at first he just seemed surprised, but then I saw the fear and the doubt. "You within this child speak." The boys eyes turned black and everyone, but Nico backed away from him.
"You damn guardians." An evil female voice said.
"Who are you?" I demanded. I could feel the entity within the boy try to shake off my power, but she couldn't. "I am Nyx goddess of the night." My blood boiled with anger and hate, this was the mother of one of the demigods who killed my mortal family. The power of Pistis faded and then I began to chant to Shiva again and eventually said "Rudra Shiva" which is roughly translated as fierce Shiva or fierce god. Red and orange flames filled my eyes and I felt my strength, speed and stamina triple. I threw Alex/Nyx to the ground. I stared into the boys eyes. "Leave this child." The boy raised his head and screamed as he opened his mouth a black cloud poured our of his throat and landed on the ground. The black cloud formed into a woman of medium height with coal black hair and eyes blacker than the darkest pit. She stared at me for a moment and I could feel her fear.
"Who dares assault the goddess of night?" Nyx said. I walked toward her with Riptide in my hands.
"I, Perseus Jackson, commander of the guardians of light and justice. Surrender or feel my wrath." I said. Nyx just laughed.
"You may be immortal, but you face a god boy." Nyx said. I began to chant again as my eyes continued to glow with the fierce power of Shiva. I continued the ancient chant and then I said, "Hara Shiva" which translates roughly as Shiva the destroyer. Riptide immediately caught fire and burned brightly. Nyx looked at the flaming sword and I knew she could see her death within its flames. She lunged at me with her own black sword. Our blades struck together causing a massive shockwave that knocked people off their feet. All fighting had stopped; monsters and demigods alike looked on as the two of us fought. Nyx swung her sword wildly, I easily sidestepped her assault and kicked her in the back sending her to the ground hard. She turned and tried to swipe at me at an incredible speed, I dove below her strike and gave her a roundhouse kick in the stomach knocking the air out of her. She looked around me to see if she could use someone as a shield. I saw her look at the boy Alex and I knew she would go after him. She ran for him, but I moved at a speed I never new existed and at the same time I brought down Riptide. I cut through the goddess's arm and I could hear the hiss of the flames as they burned through her flesh and bone. I heard a small thud as her arm landed on the ground it was cutoff below the elbow with the sword still in her hand. She immediately screamed in pain and grabbed what was left of her arm. I held Riptide to her throat and motioned for Nico to join us.
"Nico, your shield." I said. Nico extended his shield from his watch and he began to chant in ancient Greek the prayer that Astraea taught all guardians. The scales of justice on the shield began to move up and down and then a light shot from the shield and enveloped the goddess Nyx. She screamed in terror as the light pulled her physical being into the shield and once her body and soul were in the shield the scales stopped moving and the shield shined brightly with an ethereal light. Everyone surrounding us was in complete shock. The monsters didn't move they just stared at Nico and I. "Attack" I yelled. Nico and I charged forward and the campers followed. The monsters never knew what hit them. I cut the head off a hellhound with one swipe of Riptide as I kicked an empousa to the ground. A group of five Laestrygonians attacked four young campers. I ran in front of the campers and extended Riptide in its flaming form. An arc of flame flew out and encircled the giants. I focused on the flames and they engulfed the giants burning them to ash. I turned and the four kids just stared at me in disbelief.
A loud roar could be heard from where the hunters were fighting. I ran to assist them, I saw three hunters fly through the air and I extended my wings and caught them before they hit the dining hall. I sat them on the ground and flew towards the minotaur. I noticed that Artemis was facing off against the monster. The minotaur wore his celestial bronze armor and held its large double bladed axe. He stood in front of Artemis who held her bow with an arrow drawn back. The minotaur walked toward her slowly breathing heavy, you could see the fire in it's eyes. Suddenly an arrow flew through the air it struck artemis in her right arm penetrating the skin and sending golden ichor into the air. I turned to see Medusa. She stared at two demigods turning them into stone. I pointed to her and Nico flew straight at her, but before she could look at him Nico closed his eyes and lowered his head he hit her full out with his armored helmet. They both flew into the air and landed hard on the ground. Nico stood up and I mentally sent him a strategy, use your helmet visor it was specially made by Hephaestus it allows you to see in bright sunlight by using reflections. I saw Nico nod that he understood.
I turned my attention to the minotaur, Artemis was on the ground holding her injured arm I saw Thalia running toward her right in the path of the axe. I focused all my power and I flew faster than ever before. I reached the minotaur just in time as he lowered his axe. I took the strike directly in my chest. The force of the strike knocked me back and into the ground. I stood up immediately, my armor and invulnerability preventing any damage. I watched Thalia help Artemis out of the path of the fight. I retracted my wings and stood before my old nemesis.
"Hey ugly." I said. The minotaur just huffed angrily. He raised his axe and struck down. I blocked his axe with the flaming form of Riptide. I could feel my strength start to wain because of the strain of using the power of Shiva. I knew I only had a few minutes to end this fight before I would pass out. As the minotaur pushed down on my sword with his axe I dropped to my knees and allowed his axe to slip over my head as the monster moved forward I pulled Riptide forward and slipped between his legs. I ended up behind the monster and stood up facing his back. I pointed Riptide at the monster and used the remaining amount of my power to send a blast of flame at the old bully. The flame engulfed the back of the minotaur, it roared in agony. I was on my knees too tired to even lift my sword. The minotaur was now engulfed in flames it turned to face me with its axe in its hand. It couldn't really hurt me, but it could try. It raised its axe and I braced myself for the strike that I knew would hurt like Hades, but wouldn't kill me. I watched as the axe raised into the air then I heard arrows flying. The minotaur stopped with its axe above its head. It fell forward and turned to golden dust as he fell on top of me. I saw Thalia and three other hunters with bows in their hands. I turned to look for Nico and I saw him with his sword covered in gold dust. I relaxed the power of Shiva had long subsided and I drove Riptide into the ground as I leaned forward on it.
The next thing that I knew I was being hugged furiously by a hunter and a blonde woman. I realized they were Thalia and Annabeth. I closed my eyes and fell backwards exhausted from the fighting. I awoke several hours later in the infirmary at camp. I noticed Nico asleep in the chair on the left of my bed and Annabeth asleep in the chair on my right. I blinked a few times and sat up, I felt a lot better. Thalia walked in with Artemis at her side with her arm bandaged and in a sling. They both smiled when they saw me.
"Commander, I see that you're looking much better." Artemis said.
"Much better Lady Artemis, how's your arm?" I asked.
"Better, you know that Thalia would most likely be dead and I would be in much worse shape if it hadn't been for you." Artemis said. Thalia nodded and smiled at me in agreement.
"Its my job my lady besides the minotaur is my archenemy after all." I said with a smile. A saw them both laugh at that.
"What about Nyx?" Artemis asked. I looked over at the sleeping form of Nico and the glowing watch on his wrist.
"She's not going anywhere, she's trapped in that watch until we return to Olympus." I said as I pointed toward Nico. I saw Thalia's eyes light up when she saw how peacefully Nico was sleeping. I moved to the edge of the bed and prepared to stand up.
"What do you think that you're doing seaweed brain?" Annabeth said. I didn't even notice that she had woke up. I stood up the rest of the way as Annabeth frowned at me. I was still wearing my armor and everything from the battle.
"I need some sun." I said. Artemis smiled, she knew what I was doing. I stood up and soon as I did, Alex the nine year old son of Athena ran over and hugged me. I was a little taken aback by that. Annabeth, Artemis and Thalia all laughed at my surprise. I smiled at the little boy. "Would you like a ride?" The boy didn't know what I meant, but he still nodded. I guided him outside with Annabeth, Artemis and Thalia walking behind us. I pulled the boy to the side and I powered up, my skin and armor glowed in the sunlight and then I extended my wings. The boys eyes grew as big as saucers. He stared in wonder then he raised his hands to me and I picked him up I carried him in my arms as I jumped into the air and flapped my wings. I exploded into the sky and flew at a comfortable speed allowing myself to take in as much sun as possible. I felt my body recharge. I brought the boy back to the ground and dropped him off next to Annabeth, who put her arm around him. Then I flew toward the lake with everyone on the ground running to follow me. I dove into the lake with a large and loud splash. I stayed at the bottom allowing the water to fully refresh me. I retracted my wings and powered down. I walked out of the water to see Annabeth, Thalia, Artemis and Alex staring at me.
"Feel better seaweed brain?" Annabeth asked. Better than she could ever know.
"Yes, wise girl, better than I've felt in a long time." I said as I smiled at all of them and followed them back into camp.
AN: I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. I also hope that this showed some of the weapons and powers that Percy and Nico have. Percy as you can tell has some special abilities, I guess he learned some things during his year in the east. Those of you who like my Fear the Night story I probably won't be able to update that one until the weekend, sorry. There is more to this story so don't worry, also if you think Percy is too powerful you haven't see what he's up against with the Hand of Kronos.