Excursion into Rapture [for Percy]
Jul. 12th, 2011 02:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Rapture is dying. I am sure of that as I explore this place. This is no civilization. It's even more corrupt and twisted as Western Civilization back home. I'm glad I came, though. This gives me something to do besides mope around. I haven't really recovered from the shock of Annabeth's disappearance, so this is a great distraction. I've taken out a few Splicers here and there. There were even a couple that were walking on the walls. I finally have a use for Backbiter other than practice. So far, every one of my challengers has been left dead in the streets.
The names of the Olympian gods are all over this place. It's mostly the Roman forms, but they are more or less the same old gods. That's the biggest reason I'm not surprised at all that this place is falling apart. Even in other worlds, the gods I was born to are having their influence. Seifer told me he heard about a place called Mercury Suites. It's supposed to be a high class place where the rich and powerful gather. It's also named after my own unbeloved father. So, I've taken it upon myself to go check it out. Plus, there's the chance that there's some nice stuff out there that's in need of a new owner.
But for a while now, I've had the feeling of being watched. I backtracked a few times, but didn't find anyone. But now I've decided I won't go any further without figuring out what's going on. I have the feeling the area ahead could be even more dangerous, and I'd rather deal with who or whatever may be following me. I make a sharp turn around a corner, then take a step and crouch down in the shadows. Then I wait quietly.
The names of the Olympian gods are all over this place. It's mostly the Roman forms, but they are more or less the same old gods. That's the biggest reason I'm not surprised at all that this place is falling apart. Even in other worlds, the gods I was born to are having their influence. Seifer told me he heard about a place called Mercury Suites. It's supposed to be a high class place where the rich and powerful gather. It's also named after my own unbeloved father. So, I've taken it upon myself to go check it out. Plus, there's the chance that there's some nice stuff out there that's in need of a new owner.
But for a while now, I've had the feeling of being watched. I backtracked a few times, but didn't find anyone. But now I've decided I won't go any further without figuring out what's going on. I have the feeling the area ahead could be even more dangerous, and I'd rather deal with who or whatever may be following me. I make a sharp turn around a corner, then take a step and crouch down in the shadows. Then I wait quietly.
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Date: 2011-07-17 09:59 pm (UTC)But then I heard the stories about a new world underground, and I was intrigued. And then I saw Luke heading to the entrance with purpose -- watched him talk his way down -- and suddenly I had a new purpose. He was up to something, and I was going to find out.
I figured that the ITF guards wouldn't just let me down there, even I was well over sixteen. Certainly, they wouldn't let me down with Riptide. So I took the smaller sword instead, and volunteered to carry some supplies down. Which I did. But after I'd dropped the boxes, I quietly slipped away.
Luke had gone off to do his own thing by then, and I thought I was in for some searching. However, I lucked out when I saw him board one of those transport devices. I followed, and boarded the next one.
The transport let me out at an abandoned corridor that looked like it had belonged to the gods in the past. The amount of decay drove home to me that bad things had happened to this place, not long ago. Annabeth's voice spoke up in my head again. "Don't be stupid, Seaweed Brain. You're going in without a plan. You're going to get yourself killed."
"I know, Wise Girl," I muttered. I drew my sword. "But, right now, I have to say I don't particularly care."
I marched forward, keeping my eyes open. There weren't many places Luke could have gone.
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Date: 2011-07-17 10:11 pm (UTC)"Percy Jackson."
I have Backbiter at the ready, but I'm not raising it.
"You always have to show up when you're not wanted, don't you?"
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Date: 2011-07-18 03:06 pm (UTC)"Oh, yeah?" I said, surly. "I could ask you the same question. You wanted down here? Or do you want something? And what could you possibly want in a godsforsaken place like this?"
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Date: 2011-07-18 10:24 pm (UTC)Probably not. Percy's all about diving in headfirst without thinking. I make a sweeping gesture with my hand as if I'm revealing a game-show prize.
"This is Apollo Square, and I'm on my way to a place called Mercury Suites. It isn't some evil plan for you to bust up."
I'm annoyed that after all this time, he still proclaims himself defender from all things related to me. Sure, I plan to loot and pillage a bit, but this place is full of insane freaks. I'd be doing this place a favor by keeping good stuff away from lunatics. My main reason for being here, however, is that there's a place named after my dad. Granted, my dad is Hermes, not Mercury, but he's pretty much the same jerk with a different name.
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Date: 2011-07-19 03:08 pm (UTC)It was also a silly reason. Was every apartment complex named Mercury doomed to be tagged by this man? I couldn't help but wonder if there was something more.
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Date: 2011-07-20 12:14 am (UTC)"Spraycan, huh? That's actually.."
But something I spot from the corner of my eye makes me stop mid-sentence, step back and whirl Backbiter into the body that was hurtling towards me. I've got good reflexes. Otherwise it'd be me lying dead instead of this Splicer that dove at me from somewhere above.
As the thing twitches and bleeds on the ground, I assume a battle posture and scan the area. There are more of them. Time to fight.
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Date: 2011-07-20 01:00 am (UTC)Then I drew my sword, wishing it was Riptide. Now that I thought of it, there was some mention of strange creatures in this place. It was my own fault to have gone here, ignoring the warnings. But, really, they could have perhaps emphasized this particular warning a little bit harder.
I hear a pitter patter of feet behind and above me, and I swing around, bringing my sword up in a slice. The blade cuts through the monster's neck and I jump back as it lands on the ground with a thud, shuddering.
"Ye, gods," I breathed. Then I tensed. I was hearing more pitter-patters. "These aren't your guys."
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Date: 2011-07-21 02:36 am (UTC)"Less talking, more fighting."
I put more of my focus towards this Splicer. I slice, he blocks. I thrust, and he counterattacks! I dodge, but I'm surprised! This guy's fighting much better than the others. Could it be...plasmids? Or tonics? Seifer told me a bit...
My thoughts are interrupted by the Splicer jumping over my head to the other side of me. I have to duck and roll as it swings its wrench in midair at where my head just was. After a few more exchanges, it leaps again, but this time at Percy. I look, and there's another one too. Two Splicers are high in the air coming down towards Percy, and he's already fighting yet another one.
I have a split second to make a critical choice.
If I attack Percy now, there's no way he can survive. Plus, nobody from the island could ever prove I did it. Kronos would demand I take this hand-wrapped gift and be rid of our number one enemy once and for all. It'd be so easy.
I run forward and swing Backbiter with all my strength. I've deflected one attack and wounded it. The second one is coming in too fast, so I raise my arm.
Crack!
"Ahhh!"
I deflected the wrench blow, but my arm suffered greatly for it. I already know it's been broken, but it's not my sword arm.
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Date: 2011-07-21 02:48 am (UTC)Except that... he's in pain. He's fighting off monsters that are behind me, and he's taken a blow on my behalf.
He... what?! He did what?!
"Luke!" I shouted. I needed to see if he was all right. Monsters were coming fast, and I needed someone to watch my back.
Gods, that someone was Luke!
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Date: 2011-07-21 11:14 am (UTC)With a yell I press forward against the Spider Slicers. Having my left arm neutralized is not such a big deal. I compensate. In fact, my pain and anger gives me enough of a boost to finish one off. But then I see more coming.
"Hold them off," I tell Percy as I step back.
I kneel and set Backbiter on the ground for a short moment. I have to decide, and healing can wait. I have a syringe, and I jab it into my shoulder. I'm using one of these plasmid things. A ghost appears and starts luring the new Spider Splicers away. Nice decoy. I see things scuttling along the sides of buildings towards it, and I send the ghost away from us.
I grab my sword and rejoin the combat.
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Date: 2011-07-23 03:53 am (UTC)Oh, ho. So there was magic down here after all.
I jerked back as a monster demanded my attention. I rewarded his interest with a swipe of my sword.
"Neat trick," I muttered, as Luke came up beside me.
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Date: 2011-07-23 04:21 am (UTC)One of the freaks nearly whacks my left arm a second time, but I turn and step alongside him. He can't lift his wrench quick enough to stop me from stabbing right into his back. I use my foot to push the body off my sword before I go help Percy finish the last one off.
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Date: 2011-07-23 05:41 am (UTC)Speaking of... I looked over at him. "You okay?"
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Date: 2011-07-23 05:56 am (UTC)"I'm fine. Let's get out of here."
I point the way with my sword, and we're off. Except I'm not leading us back. I will see this cursed hotel my dad has on another world. I focus, and the decoy comes back without the Splicers. I send it out in front of us so we can jog forward without springing any traps.
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Date: 2011-07-23 05:31 pm (UTC)And, strangely enough, I was following Luke now to make sure he didn't hurt himself over whatever it was this was.
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Date: 2011-07-23 06:12 pm (UTC)It's a pain fumbling around with it one-handed, but I'm not about to ask for or accept help from Percy. Like Seifer told me, these kits weren't normal medical supplies. This stuff goes right into me and fixes me up in no time. I close my eyes and my mouth opens as my bone is pulled back together. That hurt more, but I've got enough sense not to cry out.
Grabbing Backbiter again, I turn and see Percy looking at me funny.
"What?"
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Date: 2011-07-23 06:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-23 07:06 pm (UTC)I motion for the decoy to get a move on as I start walking myself.
"Come on, Percy. Since you're determined to see what I'm up to, you're my new armed escort."
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Date: 2011-07-26 07:27 pm (UTC)So why was I following him, and keeping a lookout for more monsters?
"So, what are you up to?" I asked, mostly to kill the silence. "Did you forget the spray paint?"
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Date: 2011-07-26 10:06 pm (UTC)"Did it ever occur to you that I might not be up to something, Percy? Have I done anything in the past however many months?"
For a moment, I stop scanning the area for trouble and turn to look at him. Then I go back to looking around.
"The island is boring for half-bloods. I'm tired of just sitting around doing nothing. How could I not explore this place when our parents' names are all over it?"
Suddenly, I motion with my hand for Percy to stop. A small group of Splicers suddenly charges my decoy. I have it flee away from them. Looking ahead, I see a couple Little Sisters standing around. Next to a Big Daddy. A plan is formed.
I tell Percy softly, "Just stay there and stay quiet. I'll take care of this."
This is when the decoy starts veering off straight at the Little Sisters.
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Date: 2011-07-27 08:07 pm (UTC)When Luke spotted trouble up ahead, I tensed. I could tell he was up to something. He was leading those monsters over to that creepy girl (creepy, yes, but still: a girl!) and the very large, very intimidating looking man in the diver suit. My hand went to my sword. "Luke, what are you doing--"
That was all I got to say before all hell broke loose.
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Date: 2011-07-27 10:14 pm (UTC)And, apparently, they do it very well.
"It's called letting others do your work for you, Percy. You never really caught on to that one over the years, did you?"
Percy may be the son of Poseidon, but I've led him around just like this plenty of times. People are so easily tricked into doing what you want them to do.
"Let's go. I think I just ran out of Decoy power."
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Date: 2011-07-29 07:13 am (UTC)There was no way out but forward, now. And I followed him.
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Date: 2011-07-30 02:24 am (UTC)I'm progressing much more carefully now as I lead Percy along. It's odd counting him being around as a good thing. It's also a strange feeling that he's just coming along with me after all that's happened between us. I can easily imagine him just changing his mind and striking out with his sword, but I know Percy won't do that. It's just his personality. Maybe Percy's constant good luck is helping, because as we go along, we don't encounter any more danger.
We turn a corner, and I see it. Mercury Suites. It's grand, luxurious, an opulent display of power and indifference.
"There it is, Percy. Mercury Suites. It's just like I imagined it."
All the grinning from before is long gone. That old, familiar deep rage of mine is seething upwards through me. There was a time before I betrayed Percy at Camp Half-Blood that I kept those feelings quiet and under control, but that was long ago. I just stand there glaring at this place, and I'm getting angrier, and angrier.
"Look at it, Percy. This is a place, just like Olympus, where the rich and powerful can kick back, sip cocktails, and have a good laugh while everything around them is crumbling. Let's shove worms into our children. It'll give us lots of power. It's... this world is even worse than back home, and it's got our parents' names plastered all over it."
The Olympian gods aren't just at home and in Rapture. They're in Gabrielle's world. They're in Cassie's comic book world, and didn't claim her, just like they never do. They're in Falco's world. My voice rises to a near shout.
"How many worlds are they controlling?!"
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Date: 2011-07-30 02:23 pm (UTC)Mercury Suites is worse than that, however. It's abandoned and decrepit. Water is seeping in and I can see rust stains on the walls and floors. Slowly but surely, the mask is slipping off, and the rot is coming to the surface. There are no gods here.
"Well," I said, quietly to Luke's shout, "Given that Aphrodite is here. Given that Cupid came and went. Given that we're here, and given that Annabeth is gone... not enough."
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Date: 2011-07-30 03:54 pm (UTC)"You always have to defend the gods, don't you, Percy?"
It's an accusation. I glare at him for a few moments in the quiet of the streets. Let him say whatever he wants. He's at least right about Kronos not being any better. Percy's not really the focus of my anger. I'm still not going to fight him. Breaking my gaze, I fish out a few things from my pocket. I hold out a plasmid and a tonic. Both are fire-related. I speak again, but my voice has gotten strangely quieter.
"I swiped more stuff than you knew from those Splicer bodies. This is an Incenerate plasmid, and this is a Natural Camoflage tonic. People say if you take both at the same time, they're stronger than each taken alone."
I wonder what would happen if I took them both? I'm becoming mesmerized by a new plan. A plan on a much greater scale than spray paint. I don't care about the risk, the destruction, or even who or whatever may be inside there. I don't care.
"You keep thinking I'm up to something. Maybe I should be. Bet if I took these, I could burn that whole thing down to the ground."
Percy should encourage me.
I might not make it out. It wouldn't be his fault.
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Date: 2011-07-30 11:40 pm (UTC)And in that moment, I realized that I didn't want to see that happen. It was more than just not wanting to be around for my own safety. I didn't want Luke to end it like this.
"Have you given any thought to what the side-effect of those things are?" I asked. I nodded at the drugs in Luke's hands, and then I nodded over my shoulder, down the corridor, at the monsters we'd fought.
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Date: 2011-07-31 05:09 am (UTC)"Side-effects, Percy?"
A tense laugh comes out of me. Then I let the sacrasm out.
"Oh, no. The horror. It may take years and years off of my life. What would I do then?"
Does this kid know anything? I'm not even looking at him anymore. I'm staring off to Mercury Suites and imagining a roaring inferno. I should do it. And why limit it to my dad's place? I'm bound to find more ADAM as I torch everything. I'll take down as much of Apollo Square as I can, in fact. This whole quadrant needs to go down. Hear that Hermes? I will dish it out to you in as many worlds as I can!!!
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Date: 2011-07-31 10:04 am (UTC)I stepped forward carefully. Luke looks like he's on the edge of something. And when he's on the edge of something, people get hurt. "That stuff's not a toy. You have no idea what it could do to you."
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Date: 2011-08-01 01:32 am (UTC)"So what, Percy? I know it's not a toy, and I'm not playing!"
Maybe losing myself to insanity would be a great relief. Mom and I would get along great, then, wouldn't we? I give Percy a really annoyed look to convey how much I want him to just buzz off now.
"Look, I don't even know why I showed this to you instead of just doing it. I'm your enemy, Percy. Enemy. Quit pretending you give a damn what happens to me."
Because if Annabeth gave up on me, there's nobody. I push thoughts of Gabrielle and Coraline away. They don't count. They only know me from the island.
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Date: 2011-08-01 02:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-01 02:24 am (UTC)..mostly because he's right.
Annabeth wouldn't want me to do this. Now she's gone. She's gone back to fight me.
As I turn away from Percy, I feel the grip of my hand on the plasmid and tonic loosen. I let them drop. They clatter onto the ground.
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Date: 2011-08-03 02:35 pm (UTC)"Maybe we should go topside," I said.
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Date: 2011-08-04 01:10 am (UTC)I sure as Hades can't just stand here in front of this place now. All my plans of looting the place are long gone. I can't just be here and feel right. My grip on my sword tightens, and I move it into a ready position.
"Let's go."
I lead the way. I don't trust Percy to lead. I'm much more cunning than him, and better at noticing enemies and traps. Plus, maybe if there are any more enemies on our way back, I'll feel better if I get to unload some of my anger.
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Date: 2011-08-04 04:08 am (UTC)But as I walked behind him, I looked around at the corridors, at the obvious signs of opulence that had rotted to something evil. Or, possibly, rotted so as to show its true face. What kind of madman would build some place like this? What kind of madness would lead people to make themselves into monsters?
I came at this feeling from an opposite direction as Luke, but I could see why he hated this place.
Finally, I came upon a statue -- clearly of the Great Leader, judging by the heroic pose. And obviously heroically fake. What he really needed was a monocle to go with that moustache.
And, looking at the brick-a-brac that surrounded the statue, what did I see but a marker.
I chuckled. "Heh." And I took the marker, stepped up on the pedestal, and started to draw a circle around the statue's eye.
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Date: 2011-08-04 11:27 am (UTC)..what in Hades is Percy..?
My initial reaction is that the kid is nuts. This place is a death field. Not too long ago, I was really close to dishing out a complete inferno. And now....a monocle?
As a surprise to myself, I smile and let out a light huff of a laugh. It's funny. It reminds me of the short time we called each other friends when my service to Kronos was still a secret.
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Date: 2011-08-04 03:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-05 01:12 am (UTC)"You've got to be kidding.."
I look up at the statue.
"Clearly, you haven't been hanging out nearly enough with Travis and Conner Stoll."
I get up onto the statue myself now and draw a bit.
"That's not anywhere near good enough. This calls for freckles, a wagging tongue, and bushy Groucho Marx eyebrows."
I hop down, take an appraising look, then nod. This is amazing. Out of the blue, Percy and I are having some kind of fun moment together. This is so wrong, but whatever.