keep it together anyway: a world without percy [PIPABETH SCENES!]

one: a hard bargain

Recap:

On the Argo II, a huge monster storm has hit and everyone is running around madly trying to keep the ship in one piece. Only Percy is having much luck, while everyone else just clings to the railing for dear life. He asks Jason to come with him underwater to help him find out what's causing the storm. They dive into the water and find out that it is Kymopoleia causing the storm- but as it turns out, she was just part of the bargain to get Percy's attention so Polybotes could kill him. Polybotes traps Percy in a cloud of poison as Jason bargains with Kym, trying to get her on the seven's side so she'll turn on Polybotes.

...

Percy raised his sword. He hurled himself at the giant, but Polybotes swept his hand through the water, leaving an arc of oily black poison. Percy charged straight into it faster than Jason could yell, "Dude, what are you thinking?"

Percy dropped Riptide. He gasped, clawing at his throat. The giant threw his weighted net and Percy collapsed to the ground, hopelessly entangled as the poison thickened around him.

"Let him go!" Jason's voice cracked with panic.

...

"Help me," Jason urged her. "Together, a goddess and a demigod can kill a giant."

"No!" Polybotes suddenly looked very nervous. "Gaea will be most displeased!"

"If Gaea wakes," said Jason. "The mighty Kymopoleia can help us make sure that never happens. Then all demigods will honor you big-time!"

"Will they cower?" Kym asked.

"Tons of cowering! Plus your name in the summer camp program. A custom-designed banner. A cabin at Camp Half-Blood. I'll even throw in a Kymopoleia action figure!"

"No!" Polybotes wailed. "Not merchandising rights!"

Kymopoleia turned on the giant. "I'm afraid that deal beats what Gaea has offered."

"Unacceptable!" the giant bellowed. "You cannot trust this vile Roman!"

"If I don't honor the bargain," Jason said, "Kym can always kill me. With Gaea, she has no guarantee at all."

"That," Kym said, "is difficult to argue with."

As Polybotes struggled to answer, Jason charged forward and stabbed his javelin in the giant's gut.

Kym lifted her bronze disk from its pedestal. "Say good-bye, Polybotes."

Kym spun the disk towards Polybotes' head. As Jason watched, time seemed to slow. Polybotes looked up, eyes widening with horror, and then narrowing with malicious amusement. Polybotes thrusta hand to his hair, drew a sword that looked like a toothpick between his fingers, and flicked it in Jason's direction. Jason jumped to the side, and the sword flew past him, leaving Jason confused at the evil grin on Polybotes' face. He had missed. He had no weapon in his hand. Then Polybotes clenched his palm into a fist, and the disc severed his head clean off his body. Kym dusted her hands off. "My aim is perfect, as always."

Jason sighed with relief. Then he turned, and his heart stopped. The black cloud of poison that had encased Percy was gone. So was the weighted net. Instead, he lay unmoving on the ground, a golden sword buried in his chest up to the hilt.

...