Chapter 5: Assassins
Percy stared at the horizon, the sea and the blue cloudless sky seemed endless. After three years, he still didn't get tired of the salty sea air or the beautiful waters of the Atlantic. It was like he was he was flying when he gripped the ratlines at the very edge of the main deck. He did this every day on the Queen Anne's Revenge when they were sailing and he never grew jaded of it.
A refreshing wind blew into his face blowing his braid in his face. Percy gripped the braid. Even after so many years after he's seen Luke or the Queen Andromeda, he still keeps the braid and the bead that means to the crew of the Queen Andromeda that he served barely a year on the ship. Percy is still mad that Luke and Ethan left him to die at the hands of Blackbeard without even a second blink even if Percy didn't die. He couldn't wait to see Luke's face when they see each other again because Percy doesn't have anything nice to say to him. But first, Percy still needs to find a suitable crew and the biggest thing, a ship. But right now, Percy needed to find his father who apparently knew Percy was going to be a pirate since day one.
"Percy!" a familiar voice yelled. "Are you sure James Kidd didn't just send on a fox hunt?"
Percy twisted the rope so he was facing the ship instead of the sea and jumped down. Blackbeard volunteered to sail them to an island called Tulum that James Kidd, a good friend to Blackbeard and Hornigold, was a good hiding spot for any pirate to retire to. Hornigold said there was nothing there but ruins but Percy was willing to try anything. Hornigold and Blackbeard both did not know where their old mentor's whereabouts. He even tried to ask his mother about his father but he knew she would start to worry so he decided not to. Percy's also been to many taverns wherever the Queen Anne's Revenge docked and asked hundreds of pirates where the legendary captain may lie but none knew.
"It's not hurting anything to look." Percy said. He needed answers that only his father would know. Honestly, if Percy met him face to face for the first time in years he wouldn't know where to start. Questions buzzed in his mind and same with the anticipation of seeing his father again. If only Tyson was here to meet him too but Percy knew that would be impossible. He didn't want Tyson to be in danger all the time. Percy wouldn't forgive himself if he got Tyson in danger.
"I guess you're right. Blackbeard did tell me that he's not searching with us. He says it's a fool's errand." Grover told him which Percy expected. Blackbeard always told Percy ever since he started this quest to not get his hopes up or don't waste his whole life on something that might not want to be found. Percy guessed the only reason Blackbeard even agreed to sail them to Tulum was to show Percy that trying to find his father was a worthless endeavor. Sadly, Blackbeard might be right, a year of searching and Percy has nothing to show for it.
Percy slapped the shoulder of Grover "I appreciate your help, Grover."
Grover smiled "What are friends for, Perce. Hey, does that mean when you get a ship I'll be first mate?"
Percy laughed "So, you're already making plans for when I die." Percy found it hilarious. Usually first mates were there in case the captain dies then the mate will instantly become captain.
"What? No! I-I mean I'm your right-hand man—"
"Done. You'll be quartermaster of my ship." Percy decided. He trusted Grover more than anything; they've both been there for each other for three years now.
Grover nodded "Aye. I like the sound of it: Grover Underwood, quartermaster. Should the crew call me just Quartermaster or Mr. Underwood or maybe Sir Underwood?"
"How 'bout just Grover?" Percy asked.
"No! Percy, you're only allowed to call me by my first name. You see, when captaining a ship you need your crew to show respect."
"Grover, they're not going to be our slaves. I don't mind if they call me Percy or Captain Jackson. I used to call Backbiter Luke all the time when I was serving on his ship."
"And then he stabbed you in back and traded your life for his first mate." Grover summarized. "Which makes sense since Backbiter barely knew you and his best friend's life is probably more valuable to him then risking his life for a stranger—"
Percy rolled his eyes "That still didn't give him an excuse to abandon me. He could've easily used a surprise attack on Edward since it was dark. All he needed to do was—"
"Backbiter's been known to save his own hide on many occasions, you were no acceptation." Grover said.
Percy sighed. He vowed to himself never to be like Luke. He would never leave a man behind. It's the cruelest thing to do to a person because that person knows you won't be coming back and possibly going to die.
"Land ho!" The Helmsman shouted from the helm. Percy and Grover both knew it was time. They both looked at the rugged atmosphere of Tulum. Trees and vines covered what looked like ruins to an old Mayan city. It seemed to Percy that the once great city got devoured by the jungle it surrounds. It was quiet and the island looked abandoned but Percy soon figured out that was a lie.
Percy helped the crew anchor the ship and get a boat ready to explore Tulum. At first, some members of the crew offered to help Percy and Grover with their investigation of the city, probably in search for gold but Percy told them to stay on the ship. He told them his thanks for getting them here and boarded the boat with Grover.
"You two be careful now." Blackbeard told them. "And Percy, just remember, don't get your hopes up. Your father was a wonderful man and he wouldn't want you ruinin' your own in a constant search for 'im."
Percy smiled "Thanks Edward. I promise I won't. I think this might be my last attempt to look for him. If I don't find him, I know you'll always be looking out for me."
He clasped the shoulder of Percy "You are like a son to me Jackson. I've never been prouder for such a boy to become a pirate."
Percy shared a quick awkward hug with him "I know you'll always be looking out for me." He repeated.
"Aye, now get goin' boy!" The crew lowered the boat into the shallow water. Once the boat plopped into the water the boys began to row to the shore. Percy somehow got this feeling that he would somehow meet his father here. What are the possibilities of him meeting his father here? Barely a chance, but he knew somehow James Kidd pointed him in the right direction.
"I hate getting sand in my boot!" Grover complained as he wobbled next to Percy when they arrived to shore.
"At least you don't have to worry about sand getting to the other boot." Percy said and Grover gave him a glare "How did you lose your leg anyway?"
Grover shrugged "Lost it for a lady."
"What?" Percy raised an eyebrow.
"Some privateers cornered her and I tried to rescue her, it ended well, ah…"
"Did she thank you?" Percy was curious. If he risked his leg to save a girl he hoped that the girl would at least acknowledge him as his limb was lost for her.
Grover shook his head "My guess was that she was scared. After the privateers left after the shock of my leg actually disconnected to my body she stood there in fear. I guess she thought I was bad since I am a pirate."
"Women…" Percy rolled his eyes. He drew out a cutlass and started cutting through the tree limbs that blocked their path. He would have used his father's sword but apparently that sword didn't cut through anything. One time Percy was dueling with a fellow crewman and the sword literally went through his opponent, not fazing him at all. It was weird.
"She was pretty though. Curly blond hair, gray eyes, tan skin, and she had on the fanciest dress that I've e'er seen." Grover pointed out.
"But she ignored you." Percy remarked.
"Yeah, but wouldn't you be scared? I mean, my leg was missing!"
Percy looked back at him "I have a brother with a deformed eye and my mom tends to wounded people hurt by farming equipment."
Grover blinked "Oh, so you've seen a lot of wounded men before?"
"More then I like to think about." Percy continued on in the jungle. He knew there were Mayan ruins up ahead because he could see it from the ship. Percy could see a dirt path was starting to form and the less tree limbs Percy had to cut down. It was odd, it was like—
Grover tackled Percy to the ground "Someone's coming!" he hissed into Percy's ear. Percy nodded, his suspicions were correct. People did inhabit Tulum. Grover got off of Percy and they hid behind some random shrubs next to them.
"I don't like this Tabai." Someone's boots stopped right in front of the shrub the two friends hid behind. Percy covered Grover's mouth and his as well so they weren't making any noises. Percy didn't know these people and he had no clue if they were violent to outsiders. But Percy couldn't get over the fact the voice sounded familiar like he heard it years ago.
"We can't let Blackbeard know of us." Another voice responded.
"Tabai, Blackbeard's still on his ship and I don't think he has any intention of getting off it. He's mapping out something in his quarters." The first voice reported.
"He might have sent scouts. We can't let him know of the Assassins, Captain. We cannot afford for him to know—"
"Yeah, yeah I know." The first voice let out an annoyed sigh.
"What if he found us?" The second voice asked. This 'he' might be some pirate after them. Whoever it was, it couldn't be good.
The boots shuffled back a little, Percy's nose was only one inch away from hitting the boot. In response Grover actually pulled away from Percy's hand and put his own hand in its place. If the man stepped back any further, they might be spotted but they couldn't move anywhere and risk the noise.
"That is a possibility…" the first voice said. "He is definitely on Blackbeard's ship after all." His voice seemed somewhat hopeful. Who was this 'he'?
"You must teach him. He is your responsibility." The second voice warned.
To Percy's misfortune, the man's voice backed up one more inch. Percy quietly scooted back but his hand he used to pull him back was under the man's boot. He took no light step either. His foot stomped hand against Percy's hand. Percy held his hand close to his month and tried not to scream. Grover actually used his spare hand and covered Percy's mouth.
"My responsibility you say?" The hand-crusher inquired.
"Yes, although you probably already know where he is already, don't you?" The second voice queried. Where is 'he'?
The hand-crusher laughed and twisted his foot making tears form in Percy's eyes "Yes, I know exactly where he is."
Grover probably caught onto it faster than Percy. He grabbed Percy and tried to slide Percy's hand quietly and swiftly away from the hand-crusher's foot. But before Grover could even try both of their collars were grabbed by mysterious hands and Percy's hand was ripped from hand-crusher's boot, leaving a huge bruise and red mark there. Percy held it out of pain as the two friends were hoisted up to see the two men making conversation. The hand-crusher had black hair streaked with gray, a beard, sea-green eyes, and a navy blue naval uniform. He looked just like Percy and apparently the hand-crusher noticed that to, for he stared wide-eyed at Percy.
The man that was talking to the hand-crusher was a different story. He very tan skin that Percy guessed he was Spanish. His face was painted to make him look like an ancient warrior ready for war. He wore tan colored robes with a hood that exposed some long gray strands of hair. But what stood out most to Percy was he wore a bronze armor collar with a symbol engraved in it. (I don't know how to describe the Assassin Symbol , I wanted to put a picture here but Fanficition wouldn't let me. So imagine an image of the Assassin's crest) Somehow Percy was reminded of the symbol of the cross he saw engraved in the door that lead to Kronos's room.
"Perseus Jackson," The man said with a raspy voice that seemed somewhat wise and respectful. "Release them, Grog and Ridge." He nodded to the men holding Percy and Grover by the collar. They also wore hooded robes like the man but white.
"So after all these years…" the hand-crusher shook his head "How did you find Tulum?"
Percy decided he should be truthful about this "James Kidd showed me the location."
"Ah, do you know who I am? Do you know who we are, Percy?" The hand-crusher asked. Percy? How did the man and the hand-crusher know his name? Percy's eyes widened, he knew exactly who this man was.
"You're my father." Percy crossed his arms, hugging his crushed hand.
His father smirked "Aye, it's good to see you all grown up and lookin' like a captain." He pointed to the hooded man he was talking to "This is Ah Tabai, leader of the Assassins."
"Why did you leave us?" Percy demanded to know. He didn't care who the strange hooded men are, he can figure out later, but with his father, he didn't know how long he had until his father left him again.
"We'll leave so you two have your reunion." Tabai motioned his men to leave and they walked deeper into the jungle, to the ruins of the city probably, Percy guessed. Grover decided to stay silent and let them two have their talk.
"I had no choice, Percy." Poseidon explained.
"Oh, so you leave two little boys with their mother in some dump with a drunk for a husband while you are some famous pirate captain rolling around in riches and chatting about Assassins or whatever?" Percy glared. He should be overjoyed to see his father but truthfully, Percy wanted answers. Poseidon had a lot of explaining to do to gain Percy's trust back.
Poseidon sighed "I'm sorry Percy. I didn't want to put you in danger."
"From what?"
His father looked at Grover "Can your friend keep a secret?"
"Yes," Grover nodded with no hesitation.
Poseidon nodded back to Grover and took a deep breath "I am a god, Percy."
From all the explanations in the world, Percy didn't expect that "What?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Every culture has their own mythology and I am part of Greek mythology. Did Blackbeard tell you that I loved the sea?"
Percy remembered that first conversation where he thought he was a goner "Yes, why's that? Poseidon's god of the sea?"
He smirked "Yes, walk with me to the shore." He started walking where Percy and Grover entered. Grover shrugged and started following, same with Percy. "Ah Tabai, like I thought ye is the leader of the Assassins. The Assassins is a group trying to protect ancient secrets from those who seek to destroy it. Their enemies, the Templars. I am protected under them and also assist them any way I can. Their main cause is to ensure the survival of freedom, individuality, and new ideas while the Templars are different. They seek to control free will, in their argument, they are saving humanity."
"Is their symbol a cross?" Percy asked.
"Yes, how do you know?"
"I saw it before. Before Blackbeard found me, I was serving under Backbiter—"
"Your mother let you join a crew of such a murderer?" Poseidon glared. "Blackbeard was supposed to recruit—"
"Well, if you didn't leave, Mum and I wouldn't be in such a desperation for gold." Percy remarked. "We were starving and Smelly Gabe was spending all our money on rum and ladies."
Poseidon didn't look at Percy "Right."
"We're at the shoreline." Grover announced after many minutes of awkward silence. Percy regretted bringing Grover along. He had to silently sit through a bitter family reunion.
"Okay, let's get on that ridge over there so we are far away from the Queen Anne's Revenge sightline." Poseidon led them to the other side of the shore.
"Why don't you want Blackbeard knowing of your existence?" Percy asked. His father was mysterious and somewhat unreachable.
"I look the exact same way the day I met him, how would I explain to him I didn't age ten years? I cannot let him know I'm immortal."
"But you let Grover know." Percy pointed out.
Poseidon stopped walking and the two boys stopped as well, Poseidon turned around to face his son "Percy, I'm sorry for my actions in the past. I did it out of the benefit of you, Tyson, and your mother. I couldn't live with myself if I put you in danger before you were old enough to understand. But I'm here now, and trust me, I'm not going anywhere." He smiled.
Percy sighed, he guessed he was being too hard on his father "Why didn't you tell me? I'll stop snapping if you can answer that." Percy should just accept his father is here now and he should be thankful for that. Even though apparently he's an immortal god whom Percy still didn't quite grasp.
"Because Percy, you wouldn't understand if you were younger and I needed you to train with Blackbeard first. Now you're ready to be a suitable captain of a ship and you're ready for your next stage of training."
"What training?"
Poseidon smirked "You're both are going to become Assassins."
Grover and Percy looked at each other. They weren't excited for this at all. They barely even know who Assassins are to help.
"Um…" Percy said dumbly "The Assassins' goal seems admirable and all but—"
"I know, I know. You have exactly no idea who the Assassins are. But Percy, you need the protection of the Assassins."
"Why?"
"You're the son of Poseidon, you have unknown potential. The Templars would love to get their hands on you. Have you ever heard of someone named Kronos?"
Percy nodded "Lu—Backbiter wanted me to take me to him—"
Poseidon's eyes widened, he didn't expect his son would be discovered so quickly "Did you meet him?"
Percy shook his head "Blackbeard actually raided the room and took me captive and now here I am."
"It is very important Kronos does not know of you. Not yet, anyway. You need to be under the protection of the Assassins so he doesn't discover you and you too, Grover Underwood. Since you know of my existence and Percy's, you cannot fall into the wrong hands."
"How do you know my name?" Grover blinked.
"You're Percy's best friend. How could I not know of you?"
Percy surprisingly didn't find that weird from all of what happened today "So, since you're apparently god of the sea, can you control the sea?"
"Of course, Percy. And you can also since you're the demigod son of me." Poseidon turned to the sea. He lifted a hand and a huge wave started to form and it crashed at the Queen Anne's Revenge, rocking the ship back and forth.
"Demigod?" Percy asked the unknown term.
"Half human, half god." Poseidon said passively "Anyways, I need to get you on your Assassin training as soon as possible."
"And why would we train to be Assassins?"
Poseidon smiled "You'll get my ship."
"What?"
"I'll give you the Aquila if you train to be an Assassin." Poseidon said and Percy got a feeling he was telling the truth. Percy did need a ship. He agreed to his father's deal so Grover and Percy could finally start a crew on their own.