Back from Orthys [for Percy]

[lightningthief]

I bolt upright, gasping for breath. The last thing I can remember was being in Mount Orthys. I was alone and counting down the hours and minutes of my life before it was time for Kronos to take me as his vessel and sunder the world. I'd nearly retched at the thought of going through with this. But now?! I don't understand why I'm in a bed. Did I pass out? Has it already happened?

My hand touches my face, my neck, my chest. I don't feel any different...

This isn't right. Something's gone wrong.

I turn my head and see a large sword close by. I immediately grip the hilt. It's not Backbiter, but within a moment, I've got a feel for the weight of it. This is a good sword. That's at least a good sign.

Getting out of the bed, I stand up and realize that I'm dressed differently. Odd. Then I realize I've got some light shorts on, but also an orange Camp Half-Blood T-shirt. My expression darkens. Not funny. If this is some accursed attempt by Olympus to save their asses, they've got another thing coming! Luke Castellan does not go quietly. If I go down, I'm making it count for all it's worth whether I personally get to crush Olympus before I go or not. Those heartless gods may have found some way to kidnap me, but Ethan can take my place. We've always, always got a backup plan.

My backup plan, for now, consists of using this sword to get some answers, and maybe as much vengeance as I can get. Who knows? With the protection the Curse of Achilles, I might defeat everyone here and still make it back in time. Why keep the Fates waiting?

With sword in hand, I stealthily creep forward and open the door and move into the next room. A son of the god of thieves knows how to be quiet when he needs to be. I'm in some type of hut, and I can see a glimpse of outside. I'm somewhere in the tropics. There's a computer, game system, and some stuff in here like modern people live here. Hmm, exits. I see a front door out and another door to the side. I need to see if they've got Ethan too. I open it, and to my deep fury, I see Percy Jackson. My dark look darkens further to outright menacing. Percy always ruins EVERYTHING!

Not. This. Time.

"Percy Jackson," I declare with spite. I lower my blade slightly with a subtle, threatening gesture. "Don't move, hero."

Comments

[percy_jackson]

I've been training since coming to the Island. I've been exercising, keeping fit, and testing and changing my fighting style. Even so, I can't help but wonder if, spending so long in this place, whether my battle senses are still being honed, or are atrophying.

When Luke comes into my room, however, I'm asleep, but I soon get my answer. Something makes me wake up instantly and stay very, very still. My conscious mind hasn't figured out what day it is, but my subconscious is ringing alarm bells. Something is wrong.

And Luke is standing over my bed, with a sword, with a familiar, yet nearly forgotten, glint in his eye.

"Luke," I said, keeping my voice level. "What are you doing?"

[lightningthief]

"Taking command of the situation," I state. This, like everything, has to be Percy's fault.

"Where are we, and how did you manage to get me here?"

I'm not telling him exactly where I was if he didn't know already. I think he does know. I think Annabeth must have pieced together our plan, and told Percy. I brandish my sword a bit to make sure Percy understands I expect a really good answer.

[percy_jackson]

Luke looks different, and yet very disturbingly familiar. And, remember, I've seen Zell forget the last three years of his life, and Jessica get big gaping holes in her memory. Luke's question sets alarm bells ringing in my mind.

My subconscious has already worked out the implications. My muscles tense in a clear fight or flight response.

"Luke," I said, my voice desperately calm. "This is important. What is the last thing you remember?"

[lightningthief]

"Hmm, I think the last thing I remember is asking question and not getting an answer."

I have, oh, about zero interest in giving Percy Jackson any information. I move my blade to point directly at Percy. No subtlety here. It's a direct threat.

"I'll even ask it again. Where are we, and how did you manage to get me here?"

[percy_jackson]

Oh, dear.

Luke's answer isn't the direct one I wanted, but it told me enough. He didn't remember a thing about the Island. And he had a sword. Shit. Fuck. Damn. Crap.

I took a deep breath. "Well, you see, Luke--"

Then I launched myself out of bed, flinging my covers over Luke's head and shoving him into the wall. I lunge out of the bedroom and cross the common area. I don't expect I've delayed Luke for long. I expect he's right behind me. But what I need is right here...

I rolled, and grabbed the two swords where they've been stashed in their stand beside the front door. I haul them up, one in each end, and face my pursuer, points ready.

"Luke, you really need to listen to me," I said, catching my breath.

[lightningthief]

"Rrrragh!" I yell out as I untangle myself from Percy's blankets and charge in after him. He won't get away from me!

Percy's just raising his swords as I swing into them hard with a loud clang.

At his pathetic plea, I snarl back at him, "What? You think I'd be grateful? I want it!" Yes, if I can't have anything else, I want to crush Olympus before I die.

I swing my sword again. Normally, I'm more crafty of a fighter, but I'm enraged. I want to slam him hard and put a lot of force behind it.

[percy_jackson]

"I don't want to fight you, Luke," I said. Then I grunted. His blow sent shockwaves up my arm. But I met his strike and parried it. Then I brought the but of my other sword hard against his wrist. Then I ducked under his reach, rolled, and jumped to my feet behind him, both swords ready. "I will defend myself. But, Luke, we're not supposed to fight. This is a truce, do you hear me? A truce!"

[lightningthief]

I move quick to counter his move against my wrist, and the butt of his weapon collides into the hilt of my sword, but now the position of my blade allows Percy to duck and move into better space. It makes no difference, though.

"Oh, a truce," I say with mock admiration. "Great. Then you won't be needing this."

With an expert flick, I manage to disarm Percy's right hand and I grab the blade from the air with my left. I don't remember Percy ever fighting two-weapon style, but I really couldn't care for all the good it's done him.

I think I'll relieve him of his other weapon, too. And, oh, sorry, I guess I'm currently blocking the door out too. Shucks.

[percy_jackson]

Damn, he's good. Indeed, I don't remember him being quite this single minded the first time he came here. I might have to check the decoration of his room once he got his memories back. In case this happens again, we should paint the walls soothing colours. Yup, definitely.

That, of course, assumes that I live long enough to consider decorating tips.

I'm disarmed, but I'm not without other weapons. I grab a nearby wooden chair. "Okay, Luke," I said. "I'm talking here. Just give me a chance to get the words out."

[lightningthief]

Percy's second weapon clangs to the floor at my feet. And now I've got my mortal enemy cornered and unarmed. His answer?

A chair.

What Percy doesn't know or forgot is that I've received the Curse of Achilles by bathing in the River Styx. There is no way a chair can strike my closely guarded weak point. He'll just hurt himself, and then he's mine.

This is going to be good.

I smirk as Percy rears back the chair, and say smugly, "You can't possibly..."

[percy_jackson]

As easily as Luke may have disarmed me, my instincts are still with me. And even though I'm working up to try and explain the Island in under thirty seconds (really, they should set up a competition; could hone our skills for when we need it), a part of me knows, just knows, that it isn't going to help. Luke has a sword, and I have a chair, and Luke is in no mood to listen to what I'm about to tell him if I'm just holding a chair.

So I swing the chair, hard.

[lightningthief]

Midsentence, a thick, hard chair collides with my forehead, and I see stars.

My body collapses to the ground, and I drop Percy's off-weapon. I've had rough training sessions, and rougher fights before, so I'm already struggling to snap out of it and figure out just what was going on...

[percy_jackson]

I leapt over Luke and grabbed up my two swords. I planted myself by the front door, looking back.

Luke's not willing to listen, I can tell, but I have to try. He could hurt a lot of people in this state, and he too could get hurt.

"Listen to me," I said. "Wherever you thought you were, you're a long way from home, now, and a long time. You're not immortal, you're not fighting for Kronos anymore. You're a prisoner, like me, with 400 people on an Island that takes your magical abilities away from you. I know. I've known you here, Luke, for two years. You've been here for two years, Luke, and the Island has just wiped those memories away."

"I know that sounds crazy," I added, "But think about it. You're not immortal anymore, even though you bathed in the River Stix. And look at me. How much older am I now than when you last saw me? And when would I have learned to fight two-handed?"

Well, that was the essentials, and under thirty seconds too. Not bad. But in case it didn't work; in case Luke charged, I braced myself to run.

[lightningthief]

I'm dazed. My vision re-focuses, and I see Percy and hear him trying to explain something to me. I get the main jist or whatever: let's all be friends.

"Why can't you just die, instead?"

I think I knocked down a bowl of fruit or something when I fell, because when I get up to charge him, I slip on something. Banging the back of my head this time, I close my eyes for a moment as I lie on the floor. This does not feel good. I'm going to make sure this is nothing compared to what Percy's going to get.

[percy_jackson]

I back up hastily, stepping out of the front door and onto the porch. Luke looks pretty darn mad.

Then I heard a rustle and a sniff from the doghouse beside our own. Mrs. O'Leary looked up, her glowing eyes clouded with confusion. She sniffed at me. "WOOF?"

On the one hand, I thought, Mrs. O'Leary could take care of Luke once and for all. On the other hand, Mrs. O'Leary could take care of Luke once and for all. He didn't deserve that. Not now. Definitely not.

What I needed to do was get help, but I suspected that Luke was going to be on me like peanut butter on bread. I'd barely have time to warn anybody before things got pretty nasty pretty quickly. But perhaps Mrs. O'Leary could help.

"Mrs. O'Leary!" I shouted. I pointed behind her. "Go! GO!! Get help!"

Mrs. O'Leary sniffed at me, sniffed at our house and then scrabbled out of her doghouse and bounded into the jungle.

I breathed a sigh of relief. That was one worry taken care of. As for the other...

I looked at Luke. I took more steps back. Off the porch and onto the clearing, making a backwards beeline to the trees.

"Luke!" I called, a test.

[lightningthief]

[OOC: Continued here]

[percy_jackson]

On second thought, best not to wait around. I ran into the forest as fast as my legs could carry me.