Hey look! I updated again! How's life everyone? I had a wonderful snow day 'cause of the Snowpocalapse. Or Snowmageddon. Whichever you prefer. But seriously, they say three feet and we get what, ten inches? These weather people suck.
Anyway, enjoy!
Disclaimer: look, if I owned PJO, Percy wouldn't be so cocky in HoO and Nico would be mine. End of story. Oh, nor do I own Airplane!, Executive Decision, or Monty Python.
Chapter Nine: Leo!
During the takeoff of Argo II from CHB
Leo ran around the Argo II like a madman, checking everything to make sure they were in place. Especially the Greek fire. He didn't want to crash and burn. That would be so embarrassing. It would be like, look, it can fly! BOOM! Styx. I forgot to check the Greek fire. Sorry guys, I guess we can't go to Camp Jupiter for another six months. My bad. Jason would hate him forever. If they were still alive.
"How's everything going?" he called out to his fellow questers.
"Good," they replied.
"I think everyone is here. Role call!"
"Jason's here," a weary voice said.
"Leo, you just saw me," Piper called out from behind a sail.
"I'm here, Leo," Annabeth added.
"Good," Leo replied. Let's get this party rockin'!"
"Alright. I'm going to cut us loose from the ground. Are we ready?" Annabeth asked, taking out her knife and leaning over the side of the ship to cut the wire keeping the boat grounded. Leo nodded.
"WAIT! DON'T CUT THAT WIRE! Whatever you do, DON'T CUT THAT WIRE!" a voice thundered from below. The three demigods leaned over the side of the boat and groaned. They'd forgotten their chaperon, Coach Hedge. He scrambled up the ladder and leaped onto the wooden deck. "Now you can go, cupcakes."
Annabeth took a deep breath and cut the wire. Leo ran over to the helm and to begin their ascent.
"We're ready for takeoff!" Piper cried out to him.
"Roger!" Leo replied.
"What?"
"This needs to be careful, Leo," Annabeth warned.
"Roger!"
"What?" Piper asked again.
"We have clearance, Clarence!" Leo continued, unperturbed.
"You talking to me?" Coach Hedge grunted.
"What's our vector, Victor?"
Thankfully, Jason understood. "We're good."
"Roger!"
"What?" Piper exploded.
"Prepare for takeoff!" Leo directed the Argo II up into the sky, and they began their not-so-controlled ascent. At one point, the bow began to point down, and they lost a ton of altitude.
"We're going down!" Hedge shouted gleefully.
"We're dead!" Piper exclaimed.
"We're not dead yet!" Leo replied, wrenching on the joystick.
"We're almost dead," Jason said.
"No! We're getting better!"
"No! No! We're dropping! We are dead where we stand!" Annabeth added.
"No, seriously! Look! We're flying!" Leo began to hum the song you can fly from Peter Pan.
"Are you singing?" Annabeth asked suspiciously. Leo's eyes slid over to where she stood.
"Maybe."
"Guys, I think we should go over the plan."
Piper said, "Which plan?" while Leo said, "We have a plan?"
Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Honestly people. Yes, we have a plan. What do you mean, which plan? The real plan."
"Oh. I wasn't sure since we have a plan, a backup plan, and probably three backup plans after that. If, you know, Leo screws something up, which will probably happen," Piper replied.
"Hey!" Leo protested.
"What is that?" Hedge cried, pointing at monster in the distance.
"No!" Jason said quickly. "it will put you in grave peril. Again."
Leo snorted. "Grave peril? Seriously, Jason? I mean, I know you grew up with Romans, but isn't that a bit old fashioned?"
Hedge swung his club, making Jason and Annabeth duck to avoid being knocked out. "Then let me face this 'grave peril'!"
Annabeth and Jason had to restrain him from leaping off the side of the ship. "It's too perilous," Jason insisted.
"Nonsense!"
Annabeth sighed. This was going to be a long trip.
Okay, so maybe it's not my best chap ever. But hey, it's not too bad, right? If you guys didn't catch the references, Clearance Clarence is from Airplane!, We're Dead is from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, as well as It's too Perilous. Don't cut that wire is from Executive Decision.
Review please!
-Silver out.