Outsider Chronicles: Mythology Science

Getting reborn as a Hero destined to save the world can put a real crimp in your existence. I expected to end up facing down Monsters and Gods before I was old enough to drink, but I wasn't expecting to meet a splatter-happy girl and her crazy, overeager commander. This is gonna be a weird summer...

So we're back. Nothing to say other than, enjoy!

Chapter 2

A short while after Tokiko had destroyed Silverstone and we had moved the still unconscious Rachel to the infirmary where I checked her over to make sure she wasn't hurt and Tokiko began her explanation with the help of a dictionary.

"Alchemy, the medieval forerunner of chemistry, concerned with the transmutation of matter, in particular with attempts to convert base metals into gold or find a universal elixir."

"Yes, I know," I said, "I read the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, Fullmetal Alchemist and my history course has a module on it. But I was under the impression it was a myth."

"Well, that will make the explanations easier," said Tokiko, "While most people believe that Alchemy was a complete failure, that is only what is known to the general public. However, in reality there were two successes. The Homunculi, created from research into artificial life, and the Kakugane, created from munitions research. However, both were deemed to be too dangerous for the general public and so sealed away from the general public and left in the hands of those who truly understand the power of Alchemy."

She stepped up to the window and opened the curtains.

"However, there are still those that would abuse that power who dwell in the shadows, feeding off Humans," she said.

"So then the Haunted factory is…?"

"Their hideout," confirmed the Warrior as she pulled out her Kakugane, "I must destroy them all. Buso Renkin, Valkyrie Skirt!"

I hesitated for a moment, before letting out a sigh.

"I'll come with you," I said, getting to my feet, "You'll need...OW!"

I stumbled back as Tokiko poked me with the sharp ends of her scythes.

"No, this is not your fight," she said, "I didn't give you the Kakugane or tell you the truth so you could fight, but rather to prepare you, just in case they come after you in the future, and because I believed your life was worth saving."

She smiled at me.

"Don't worry, its just a small nest. It won't take me long and then you can go back to your normal life."

"But…"

I shut up when she threatened me with her blades again.

"Think about your friend," said Tokiko, "When she wakes up from her nightmare alone in the nurse's office at night, how is she going to feel?"

I hesitated. As tough as she acted half the time, Rachel was still a normal 12 year old girl. Waking up like that would be horrible for her.

"Tonight you will have to make a choice," said Tokiko, "You can remain here and return to your old life, or you can come after me and enter a world of battle. I don't think I have to tell you which you belong in, do I?"

She glared at me for a moment, before turning and opening the window.

"I have no intention of dragging you further into my world," she said, "Go home with your friends."

She jumped out of the window.

"Which world I belong in eh?" I muttered as I leant back against the desk, "Sorry Tokiko, but I'm gonna end up fighting monsters one way or another."

The only question was, do I want to go tonight? I had basically resigned myself to being the Fates bitch when it comes to being a Demigod, but here I had a choice. If I wanted, I could just walk away...oh, who am I kidding? Whether it was my nature as a Demigod or just a decent Human being, I couldn't just leave Tokiko to face Papillon and his minions alone. If I did, she would probably die tonight. I sighed and pushed off the desk. There was really nothing wrong with Rachel's, other than shock and a banged head, so I'd be fine carrying her home. I was just about to pick her up, when she stirred and her eyes flickered open. For a moment, we stared at each other, before…

THWACK!

"OW! WHAT WAS THAT FOR!?" I yelled as I pinched my newly bleeding nose shut.

"Not sure, I just feel like something happened to me that was your fault," she said, "Where am I?"

She looked around and raised an eyebrow.

"Why am I in the nurse's office?"

"You tripped and hit your head," I said.

"Oh, OK," she said, "So, shall we go home?"

She walked past me, leaving me blinking.

"Wait, what?" I asked.

"What? I'm fine and I wanna go home," said Rachel.

I found I honestly couldn't argue with that. Well, except for one slight issue.

"Actually, I need to do one more thing," I said, "I'll catch up."

Rachel gave me a flat look.

"You're going to do something dangerous, aren't you?"

"Yep, I'm going to go fight a monster in the haunted factory with a weapon formed from the mystical object currently replacing my heart," I said.

"Fine, don't tell me," said Rachel, "But Percy...be careful, OK? Its been really dangerous around here lately."

I smiled.

"Don't worry Red, I'll be fine," I said, "Let the guys know I'll be back soon."

"Will do!"

We headed out of the school and immediately separated, Rachel heading back to the dorms and me heading in the direction of the Haunted Factory. I was in pretty good shape and I'm pretty sure that my Godly blood gave me some sort of enhanced stamina, although it could have been the Kakugane, so it didn't take me long to reach the Factory. I paused outside the doors to catch my breath. I could hear a lot of crashes and shouting coming from inside, so Tokiko was probably still kicking. I took a deep breath and placed a hand over my chest, feeling the metal underneath the surface head up as my heart rate spiked.

"Right, lets go," I muttered, "Buso Renkin!"

My sword appeared in a flash of light as I kicked the door in and charged into the abandoned building. Thanks to my last life, I had never really had that much of a problem with the ADHD all Demigods had and my Dyslexia was taken care of by the fact I actually had it in my last life and knew exactly how to deal with it. However, in that moment, I realized that Chiron hadn't been kidding when he said that they were battlefield reflexes. It took me all of an instant to take in the situation, with Tokiko being held down by the enemy's she'd already taken down and the massive Ape Homunculus that was bearing down on her, and before I knew it, I was charging in, the tip of my sword leading the way.

"What? Another bug to annoy me?" growled the Homunculus, "Just try it, you'll never beat my strength!"

He caught the tip of my sword in his fist and stopped my charge cold. I gritted my teeth and pushed forwards, inwardly cursing that I didn't have the Sunlight Heart. At least I'd know what that thing could do! I didn't even know where to begin with this thing. I needed that special property if I was gonna win this damn it!

At that thought, I felt my Buso Renkin shudder as the hexagon that acted as the guard clicked open and released a cloud of steam. An instant later, the Homunculus let out a roar of pain and released the blade.

"What the fuck?" he said, holding up his hand as his fingers began to blacken and frost over, "What the fuck have you done to me?!"

"Ice?" I muttered, "The Special Property of my Buso Renkin is ice?"

I narrowed my eyes.

"No, thats not it," I muttered, "Its something else…"

I shrugged.

"Whatever, not important right now. Time for you to die monkeyboy!"

"FUCK YOU!" roared the Homunculus, spit flying everywhere as he drew back his fist to crush me.

I took a quick step to the side, evading the fist by inches, and rammed the blade of my sword into the fist. The Homunculus roared in pain as ice and frostbite began to spread over its fist. A solid punch shattered the frozen limb into a thousand pieces. The Homunculus fell to his knees, clutching at the stump of his wrist, panting for breath. He looked up as I stepped up in front of him and aimed my sword at the Emblem mark on his head.

"N-no, d-don't…!"

"Freeze and die Monster," I said and swung my sword.

I turned away as the newly frozen corpse as it began to dissolve to face a gobsmacked Tokiko.

"Well, that was fun," I said.

SMACK!

"OW! What is it with girls hitting me today?" I said, rubbing my newly reddened cheek.

"You idiot, I told you not to come!" snapped Tokiko, "What about your friend?"

"Who, Red?" I asked, "Don't worry about her, shes fine."

Tokiko sighed.

"Take a look at your feet," she said.

I looked down and, sure enough, the floor was covered in Human skeletons.

"I told you that Homunculi feed on Humans," said the Warrior, "I thought this was their main hideout, but I was wrong. There are more hidden somewhere in the City and I need to find them. You on the other hand need to stay out of the way."

I let out a huff.

"Sorry Reaper Girl, but you're not scaring me off that easily," I said.

Tokiko looked surprised

"Knowing that there are more man eating monsters in the area is just going to make me even more eager to fight," I said, "Don't forget that with them here, my friends are in danger."

"But…"

Tokiko cut herself off as the tip of my sword appeared between her eyes.

"Trust me, I can handle myself," I said, "I have an...instinct for combat."

I smiled and dismissed my sword.

"Trust me. I can help."

Tokiko stared at me for a moment, before she let out a groan and palmed her face.

"Damn it, I'm not going to get you to stop, am I?" she groaned.

I grinned.

"Not a chance," I said.

I flinched as Tokiko fixed me with a glare that would make Medusa jealous.

"Fine, but you had better follow my orders," she said, "You've already died once due to being reckless, I don't need your death on my conscious a second time."

"Got it boss!" I yelped, "Oh, but you still havnt told me your name."

Tokiko blinked and her cheeks pinked slightly.

"Oh, how rude of me," she said, "My name is Tokiko. Tokiko Tsumura."

I blinked.

"Your Japanese?"

Her eyes gleamed and the blades of the Valkyrie Skirt twitched towards me.

"Is that a problem?"

"N-no, not at all!" I yelped, "A-anyway, I'm Percy Jackson. Its nice to meet you."

And done. So, Rachel's punched Percy, Tokiko smacked him and he's destroyed his first Homunculus. Plus, we get a glimpse of just what his Buso Renkin can do. Can you lot guess what its Special Property is? Its not as simple as it first appears.

I actually have nothing else to say, so I'm gonna sign off. Until next time!