Percy Jackson and the Forgotten Heroes

21 - Pippa plays with Greek fire

Zephyr's P.O.V

My foot hit a metal pipe and I froze as the sound rang out into the tunnel. I glanced upwards. Annabeth had said I should keep going for another 4 minutes, but above me I could sense something that made my hairs stand on end. It was a skill I'd recently learnt I had - I could sense the potential mischief of objects, and this was something stronger than I'd ever sensed before. I knew that nothing would have potential mischief like access to all of the Avenger's security systems. Ignoring Annabeth's instructions, I stabbed my sword through the ceiling, cutting a circle into the building above and pulled myself up, praying to my dad that I wouldn't emerge in the middle of a room full of evil superheroes.

The room was, thankfully, empty. I didn't even want to imagine what that conversation would be like if I was caught. We were meant to be in and out without being caught or linked back to Camp Half-Blood.

The room was a workshop of some kind, with racks of tools and half-finished projects, including pieces of some mechanical armour. It reminded me of Bunker 9 at Camp, but a lot smaller and less chaotic. I suppose it would be as they don't have a Leo Valdez. There was a computer on one table, much higher tech than any I'd used before, and I slammed the memory stick Harley had given me into its side.

Theoretically, it should bypass any security the Avengers had and allow me full access to their system. I stood there for 5 agonising seconds before the computer unlocked and I was in. I felt an uncontrollable grin break its way onto my face at the amount of chaos I could cause, but I had a job to do.

I checked the security cameras. Austin, Lucas and Annabeth were at the front gate, buzzing the intercom to get their attention. Pippa was on standby waist-deep in the lake behind the main building, waiting for my signal. I turned all of the security systems off and wiped the cameras recordings. Now I just had to wait for the right moment.

Annabeth's P.O.V

I pressed myself against the wall, my heart thudding so loud I was sure they could hear it. I tried to make myself invisible, then I realised - I actually was invisible. With my Yankees cap on, it didn't matter if I hid myself or not, they still couldn't see me.

The gate opened and 4 of the Avengers were stood in the gap. Hawkeye had an arrow drawn and pointed straight at Lucas, Rhodes beside him had a hand blaster pointed at Austin. Falcon and Bucky were stood either side of them, their arms crossed.

Austin and Lucas raised their hands hesitantly.

"We've come to talk." Lucas began.

"You have our friend, Percy Jackson. We'd like him back."

Bucky started towards them "You're working with him?" But Falcon held him back.

"He's our friend. And I promise you, we mean no harm." Lucas remained calm. It was like he was born for this.

"We have a lot to talk about." Rhodes stood aside to let them in. From the way Bucky was glaring at them, he couldn't be worried that they'd try anything.

Lucas and Austin followed him into the Avengers complex, flanked by Falcon and Bucky, and I slipped into the gate behind them. They didn't even notice I was there.

Pippa's P.O.V

I crouched just below the edge of the building, waiting for the signal. When my head counselor, Austin, had asked me if I wanted to take part in a top secret rescue mission, I had expected there would be a bit more fighting and definitely a lot less standing in freezing cold water.

I was pulled out of my thoughts by a sudden darkness washing over me. The lights had turned off. That was Zephyr's signal.

I leapt into action. I pulled myself up onto the ledge so I was directly in front of the wall of windows and smashed it with the butt of my rifle. The glass shattered and I climbed through the gap into the Avenger's base.

I stuck the grenade on the wall, set it to explode, and ran as fast as I could, just like Harley, the Hephaestus kid who'd made it, had instructed. I heard the explosion and grinned. Causing chaos and blowing things up - it's what I'm best at. I reached into my pocket, pulling out one of my jars of Greek fire and smashed it onto the floor. The green flames errupted and engulfed the wall almost immediately. Then I reached for another one.

To an outsider, I must have looked like a maniac throwing around explosives in a superhero base. Which I guess I was.

I looked behind me and saw that the fire had travelled much faster than I'd expected. I hoped Annabeth's information was right and they did have Percy, otherwise we had an awful lot of apologising to do. And quite a lot of money to pay for the damage I caused.

Just as I threw the second jar, I heard shouts coming towards me and dodged into the nearest room. I watched as 2 people came running past me, then saw the flames and stopped in their tracks.

"The fire's green!" One exclaimed.

"Really? I hadn't noticed." The other retorted sarcastically.

They continued past the door and I creeped out of the room, hoping they wouldn't turn around and see me, and headed to the meeting point where I hoped Lucas and Austin would be, if one of the million possible things in our plan hadn't gone wrong.