The Goggles Do Nothing

Disclaimer: Percy belongs to Rick Riordan

Massive meant of abnormally large size. This bronze monster was as high my apartment building. Alex had turned completely white. He had two sets of goggles in his pocket for some reason. Then it hit me. There was also some lotions and bottles and potions. Ever since learning he was a half-blood, Alex had been stocking up on things to help him survive. The goggles were supposed to let you see through heat waves and smoke. But what good would that do? My question was answered in the most dramatic and expensive way possible. Talos fired a column of flame at us.

"Jump!" I yelled and went sideways. Alex dodged the flame but the street didn't. The tar was melting.

"What is that?" yelled a man who was staring. At the road. The mist was distorting their view and screwing mine up. One minute Talos looked like a bronze man, the next he looked like...a bronze building? Man the mist was not helping. People were confused. It's not every day a giant bronze building starts firing bolts of flame. Occasionally, I could see some sort of cannon on the building that changed back into Talos's sword. I took out Timmy and Riptide. I saw Alex readying his own sword. Only Alex looked like he was readying a M16. I had one choice. Running at full speed I slashed Talos through the ankles. Deep cuts formed and healed. Regeneration and fire blasting abilities. Add that to about fifty feet of bronze muscle. What did Napoleon and Patton tell me about Talos?

Percy, there are several monsters against which there are no defence. The monsters from the darkest corners of Tartarus. And of course there is Talos. Talos is the greatest automation ever crafted. He was made by Heaphsteus to carry out the will of the blacksmith god. Talos is not a monster. He can be remade but does not go to Tartarus. Only one hero has ever succeeded in defeating him, and that was through sheer dumb luck. To destroy Talos you must remove the single screw at the back of his neck. The screw controls the flow of his life blood...

Now the sheer luck part made sense. To get up there would be near impossible. I don't know if I would've thought up a strategy on my own because the next moment Talos sword connected with me. Luckily it was the blunt part , unluckily the sheer force flung me into a fruit stall , which had been long abbondend. I felt like I was about to black out , but something kept me from doing that. A force like Hades's gripped my heart and wouldn't let go. I was forced to watch my friend die horribly.

It was perfectly logical to assume that Alex would be destroyed by Talos, but Alex clearly wasn't thinking logically. He was standing right in front of Talos, the melting tar burning him and smiling at the massive monster as if was all beneath a minute. The tar was burning him but I could see no sign of pain. Talos had noticed too. He swung his sword down hard. I wanted to scream, just to get Alex to snap out of it and run. But he just calmly drew out a different sword than the one he usually uses. A sword radiating black light. The swords struck and sprang apart. Alex's goggles were melting slowly , doing nothing other that proving Alex was somehow fire resistant. "I have a gift for you!" he yelled and lifted up his right hand. Flames sprouted from his hands and started melting Talos. He was trying to swing his sword but couldn't. Alex smile grew manical. "Eat flaming death!" Alex yelled and proceded to jump over fifty feet in the air and slash through Talos's neck. The small screw as smashed and Talos was undone. But what the hell was Alex? The force released me and I plunged back into the welcoming darkness.

An hour later, I came to in my mom's apartment. She was going nuts and Alex was sitting on the chair grinning lazily at me. Of course. He didn't know that I saw him.

"Hey Man," I said coughing slightly. Alex grinned even more.

"Never thought we were getting out of that one," he said, laughing.

"How did we get out of that one?" I asked.

"Got lucky," he explained. "Threw my sword after dancing around on the tar a bit. Clipped the smarmy bastard of a gaint bronze man right on the life preserving screw. The mist made it difficult though." Of course the mist would have affected the way Alex took down Talos.

"Percy!" yelled my mom and pulled me into a hug. She seemed to be muttering to herself. "It's for the best...for the best"

"Mom,what are you talking about?" I asked.

"Percy, get in the car I'll explain as we go."

"Percy, if Zeus is sending monsters after you then it will be for the best if you go to Camp Half-Blood." My mom was definitly not in her happy spot. Alex was looking nauseated.

"Does your mom know there is such a thing as speeding laws?" asked Alex.

"Percy, I don't want to but I have to." I understood perfectly. My mom always hated the day I left her. We reached Camp Half-Blood in incredible time.

"I gotta go do something," said Alex as he left. He was clutching his stomach and heading for a couple of trees. My mom grabbed my hands as I began to walk away.

"Percy, promise me you won't go another one of your reckless adventures," she said.

"Mom, I won't go unless there is a very good reason or if I'm extremmely bored," I said. My mom started straightening my shirt.

"I understand Percy. You are truly like your dad. He just wouldn't stand still." She looked deep into my eyes. "Read your father's history Percy. Poseidon watches and he cares about you, but will stop at nothing to get what he wants." My mom looked like she wanted to say more but she turned and left.

"Bye, Mom," I whispered faintly.

Me and Alex started walking towards the big house. Alex was taking everything and didn't seem quite able to open his mouth. We heard voices when we approached the big house.

"Chiron, you are to watch my camp and ensure no one has more than the nessecary amount of fun," commanded Mr D. He was walking around in what I could only assume was his good clothes. A tight white skirt and a sparkiling blue shirt with the tradional sandals.

"Mr. D, were are you heading?" asked Chiron putting away his playing cards.

"Due to my oustanding performance of convincing Heaphsteus to send Talos after Peter."

"Percy," interjected Chiron.

"Whatever. Any case I have been given one night to date wood nymphs and drink wine once more. It will be glorious. However..." his gaze turned to scary god mode and Chiron took a step back. "If I come back and the camp is in good condition I will rape you for confining me to this place. If the camp is in bad condition I will rape you for not correctly gaurding my precious camp. So either way you are going to get."

Chiron suddenly saw me. "Percy!" he said happily.

"Peter!" said Mr. D with distaste.

"Perseus!" yells a deep voice in the corner. It was some sort of sentry that flew away.

Mr. D started to boil with rage. "You survived! How could you! You're killing me over here!" yelled Mr. D

"Thank every deity known and unknown!" said Chiron with feeling. "You saved me from a terrible fate, boy."

"Dammit!" yelled Mr. D. "I never get to have any fun! Why didn't you die, you stupid mortal?"

Chiron had already started to lead both me and Alex out of the room. He gave both me and Alex a once over. He was trying to figure out if we were okay. "How did you survive the encounter with Talos?" he asked.

"We, uh, got lucky," I said smiling.

Alex was looking at Chiron with a look beyond hatred. I had no idea why, seeing as he never met Chrion before. "Did you know you die on Age of Mythology?" asked Alex.

Chiron smiled. "A most amusing game that. But yes, I would gladly sacrifice myself to ensure my father does not return to power."

Alex's look of rage met Chiron's sad look.

"Percy, I'm afraid I have some bad news for you." Oh crap.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Thalia and Annabeth have been kidnapped," said Chiron.