Demigod: Chapter 4 (Patreon)

A/N: Finally getting back to this story! It's been struggling in the polls for a while, but A Song of Salt and Sand taking off has given it a boost.

The Fifth Master was supposed to update yesterday, but I wasn't sure what I wanted to put in the next chapter, so I turned the decision over to Double Shopping Bag members in a poll. They've voted now so I can start writing. Chapter will be up tomorrow, probably around the middle of the day.

Chapter 4

The Life Foundation

The first place Dr. Hernandez took them wasn’t an underground bunker. It wasn’t a metal box in the depths of the building that could withstand bullets. She didn’t even choose a room that was completely inside.

Instead, the Midtown students followed her up to the roof, into a dome made of glass with a three-sixty view of the surroundings.

You could have taken some killer photos of the city, with New Jersey on one side and Manhattan’s skyline on the other. None of the students were looking at the buildings.

Spider-Man jumped between drones that numbered in the hundreds. For every one that he took down, three more shot at his back. He hadn’t been hit yet. The only damage he’d taken was to his suit, which was ripped along his right bicep and left thigh. Every time an attack came from his blindspot, Peter reacted before it was launched, managing to slip out of the way. It was a trend with his fights that Percy had noticed before. Like Peter had some kind of danger alarm in his head, always ready to go off.

“This observatory was constructed from the same top-of-the-line bulletproof glass as our bridge,” Dr. Hernandez said. “Rest assured, no harm will befall you here.”

You mean the bridge that was blown to pieces? Percy thought. 

Someone else said it.

“You mean this bridge?” Michelle Jones asked, pointing out the window. Smoke was still curling off the place where the missiles had struck, debris decorating the Hudson underneath.

“It takes the highest grade of weapons to cause that kind of damage,” Dr. Hernandez said. “I don’t know where we have made such dangerous enemies, but the Life Foundation puts complete faith in our defenses. Drones such as these cannot harm us.”

Michelle crossed her arms, an unimpressed frown on her face. 

“Besides,” Dr. Hernandez said, “these intruders won’t be allowed to linger for long.”

Percy couldn’t see where she was getting her confidence. There were too many for Peter to handle quickly. He’d destroyed maybe a fifth. If the drones got one lucky shot in, the fight would take even longer. 

Percy looked around. He was at the back of the group. No one was paying attention to him. All it would take was clenching his fist. No more fight, no more drones. It would easy. 

No good would come out of getting involved. Percy had done his time as a hero and he wasn’t looking to serve another sentence. Still, this wasn’t getting involved, was it? No one would know. Not a soul.

The Hudson started to churn—

Five blurs joined Peter in the air. 

They came in as many colors as a bag of Skittles. One was purple, another was navy blue, one was completely black, and the last two were yellow, although one — clearly female from her shape — had just as much red on her body.

Something wasn’t right about their skin. The observatory had a good view, so Percy could see the way that it rippled and moved, shifting like it had a life of its own. His classmates weren’t paying attention to that. They only cared about the webs these five were slinging.

The off-brand Spider-Men and women hit the drones like an army. Peter had been making slow yet steady progress against the swarm. Adding five more individuals with the same superpowers turned the fight into a route. 

Drones were blowing up everywhere you looked. Students weren’t scared anymore, shoving their cheeks up to the glass to watch. Percy heard a dozen different loud conversations. His eyes were on Dr. Hernandez as she calmly fixed a microphone onto the collar of her lab coat. Her amplified voice broke through the clamor to be heard.

“Congratulations! You’re among the first to see the Life Foundation’s greatest creation yet. Meet the Guardians of the Future!”

The Guardians were slinging themselves off of drones with webs, punching holes in metal whenever they got close. The navy blue one, who was as built as a Hulk smashed two drones together with a third one in the middle, destroying all three one one go. The others weren’t moving any slower. Soon the last of the drones were going to be scrap metal.

“It’s like five Spider-Men,” Andrew said. For once, he wasn’t running at the mouth.

“The Life Foundation has the greatest respect for what Spider-Man has accomplished for the sake of our city,” Dr. Hernandez said. “However, you’re wrong. The Guardians are an updated model.”

The yellow-and-red one was in the midst of the fight. She had been the first to reach the drones and had destroyed the most since the fight began. A mane of flowing golden threads sat atop her head, extending all the way down past her feet. Now, these spread, each one becoming its own distinct wire. 

They shot in every direction, wrapping around the remaining drones in one go. The drones were slammed into each other, destroying the remaining ones all in a single go. 

The rippling skin that Percy had noticed morphed. From her back, two big and ugly wings formed. They looked like the wings of a bat made out of wet playdough. Not pretty to look at, sure, but they kept her in the air.

Peter and the others didn’t have that luxury. He used webs to pull himself onto the still-standing part of the bridge. The other four Future Guardians followed him. Instead of landing nearby, they landed around him. Two in front, two behind. The flying Guardian was looking in their direction.

Peter moved fast. To do what, it was impossible to say. Percy thought it looked like a dodge. That was all they got to see— the glass that gave such a good view was suddenly blacked out, showing students nothing but their reflected faces.

“Now that the show has finished, there’s no reason to delay the tour any longer! None of us counted on the day coming with extra excitement but I hope our labs can give you a different kind of thrill,” Dr. Hernandez said. “Since you’re already here, there’s no reason to rob you of the experience.”

Most of Percy’s classmates didn’t take that well. They didn’t cry about it, they had just been spoiled by the show. Compared to Spider-Man and five multicolored copies throwing down against an army of war drones, watching some scientists in a lab sounded as dull as reading from a textbook. 

The lack of enthusiasm didn’t last long. As soon as they saw the first lab, anyone’s idea of safety-goggled scientists meticulously pouring fluids into beakers and looking through microscopes were blown out of the water.

The first lab had mechanical arms built out of the ceiling. Each one was more than twenty feet long with tools built onto the end. Life Foundation employees wearing bulky metal gloves moved their hands in delicate patterns that the metal arms responded to, piercing and cutting and injecting lumps of what looked like flesh.

In the next room, conveyor belts carried soft biological compounds in a loop. Each time they went through a certain gate, lasers would form, cutting the compounds into little pieces. Somehow, they reknit themselves each time it happened, reverting to one whole object. Something about the way they moved sent tingles down Percy’s spine.

He wasn’t looking as closely as most people were, even though he was up at the front of the group right next to Dr. Hernandez. Percy was right behind Ned and MJ, who were both staying in the front row. 

Something still felt like it wasn’t right. He had nothing to go off of except a bunch of details that were all a little weird on their own. What were the odds that Midtown would win the lottery to get this visit? How likely was it that both of Peter’s friends were selected for the trip? The robots sacrificed themselves to make sure the bridge was destroyed. The guards drew their guns but never aimed at the drones. The Guardians of the Future was a fancy name for the Life Foundation’s newest project, and that slaughter against the drones had been the fanciest debut you could ask for. Almost like it had been drawn up ahead of time.

When the drones were dead, the Guardians surrounded Spider-Man. Peter had flinched.

Absently, Percy watched over Michelle’s shoulder as explosions were set off in another laboratory. An odd almost liquid material was forced into a mold around the blast point each time right before it was set off. The explosions were dulled, mostly contained by the substance, much to the amazement of those around him.

The little things gave him a bad feeling. It didn’t hurt to hang out close to Peter’s friends. That wasn’t getting involved. There was an eighty percent chance that he was worried about nothing. He’d just keep his eyes open for a few hours, eat the complimentary lunch until his stomach was bursting, then head home. Easy. 

Dr. Hernandez was talking as they headed to the next lab, saying something about isotopes and other words that were too big for Percy’s brain. Her voice got quieter as Ned and MJ walked slower than they had been, fading to the back of the group, and Percy followed.

They came to another big window looking into a lab. The scientists inside waved. That was the only thing Percy could see, because he was all the way at the back of the group now, Ned and MJ just one row in front of him.

He wasn’t expecting to have his foot stomped on.

MJ leaned back, grinding her heel down on his toes. It didn’t really hurt. It probably would have if he was normal, though.

“Ouch,” Percy said, to keep up appearances.

“Why are you following us?” MJ whispered.

“Following you?” Percy asked.

“You’ve been tailing us since the observatory. I wouldn’t miss that. I’ve got eyes like an eagle.”

She had her head turned to the side, giving Percy a look he’d describe as a half-glare. She was pretty, her skin tone similar to Zoe Nightshade’s, just with curly hair instead of straight. She was a lot skinnier, too. One look at her arms could tell you Michelle Jones hadn’t spent the last thousand years drawing a bow. Her personality would’ve fit in well with Artemis’s band, though.

“Isn’t the saying usually eyes like a hawk?” Percy asked.

“Eagles are better. Like me. So answer the question.”

“You didn’t say you were going to stomp on his foot!” Ned whispered. He looked at Percy, a little apologetic.

“It’s not like it’s bothering him,” MJ said. “And he’s not answering. I’m thinking about doing it again.”

“Do you two know Peter Parker?” Percy asked.

They both looked at him. Ned was openly confused. MJ was squinting.

“You asked me that in class one time,” Ned said. “Sorry, man, I’ve still never met that guy.”

“No,” MJ said.

“My bad, then. I thought we might know someone in common.” Percy held his hands up, offering peace. “I’m just not good at starting conversations. I guess I kind of creeped you out.”

“You’re good,” Ned said. “MJ!”

He tugged her off of Percy’s foot. MJ was still giving him a heavy look. Unless Percy was imagining things, she seemed a little disoriented. As if he’d asked her to picture a color she’d never seen.

They probably would’ve moved back into the crowd of students. They never got the chance to, because a woman in a suit appeared in front of them.

She came from the front of the group. She was good looking, with a gifted body in a personally tailored suit that was exactly her size. Bright ginger hair hung most of the way down her back, the fluffy kind that looked super soft to the touch. Percy wondered how much hairspray it took her to keep all that in such good condition.

“Michelle Jones and Ned Leeds?” she asked. Her voice was a little scratchy. Percy wondered if she smoked.

“Yeah?” MJ asked.

“My name is Donna Diego. You can refer to me as Ms. Diego. Or Donna, if you prefer. I don’t care.” The woman tapped her nail on a nametag pinned to her suit, showing that both names were represented. “I’m the head of security, here to escort you to your personal tour.”

“We never asked for a private tour,” MJ said.

“Yeah, I think there’s been a mistake,” Ned said.

“No mistake. Your teacher recommended you.” Donna sounded a bit bored. “Mr. Harrington shared that you’ll be attending MIT next year. The Life Foundation’s founder is an alumni of that institute. It was decided that you would appreciate some of our more complicated experiments that your classmates wouldn’t. Who knows? It could be the first step toward an internship.”

“Grandma would love that,” Ned mumbled.

“How long is this supposed to take?” Michelle asked.

“Not long. You’ll rejoin the main group during lunch.”

The other students were starting to be led away. Percy found Donna’s eyes on him. Her gaze sent his hand toward his pocket. He controlled the reflex quickly, looking flatly back at her.

“The invitation was for these two only,” Donna said. “You should follow them before you get lost. Wandering the Life Foundation unattended is not allowed.”

“Okay! I’m going,” Percy said. 

He ducked around MJ. She watched him go a little bit strangely. Even though he didn’t know her that well, Percy felt like she didn’t want him to leave. Maybe that feeling extended to all of her classmates, who by now had disappeared around the next corner. She didn’t want to be singled out with this woman for a tour she didn’t ask for. Maybe, like Percy, she had a feeling that something was wrong without having any hard evidence.

Percy stopped. He inhaled through his nose, standing right behind Donna.

“You smell good,” Percy said. 

The head of security sighed, looking back at him with an open glare. “I’m here to do my job. That does not include flirting with high schoolers or putting up with their own flirting. Rejoin the group, or I’ll have my men drag you back to your teacher.”

“I mean it, though,” Percy said. “You smell almost… brackish. Did you go swimming recently?”

It was more than a scent. It was a sense that normal people didn’t possess. Even though she’d dried herself off, Donna had traces of water on her, the remnants of wiped-down droplets. Percy wouldn’t miss something like that.

Her answer was a punch.

“What the fuck?” MJ screamed.

Not only had the head of security punched a student, the noise was like another missile had been fired. Donna’s punch was hard enough to pierce the hood of a car or demolish a brick wall in one go.

Percy caught the blow.

She hadn’t known he could do that. Percy could see the surprise in her eyes. She thought he might be able to stop her. There was still a chance in her mind that he was a regular kid. 

And she’d thrown the punch anyway.

Percy kicked her in the stomach. She flew down the hall, tumbling and rolling.

“Run,” Percy said. “Try to hide. Don’t join the main group. They’re after you.”

“Who?” Ned said. “Why?” He was on the verge of panic.

MJ grabbed his arm. “The Life Foundation,” she said. “I don’t know why and right now, I don’t care! Let’s go!”

She pulled him away. Percy stayed there, watching Donna lay on the ground. He knew she wasn’t finished.

“Come with us!” Ned said.

Percy shook his head.

“I’ve got something left to deal with. I’ll be alright.”

They’d have questions later. Of course they would. Normal kids couldn’t stop punches like that one or throw kicks that launched grown women. Speaking of Donna, the woman started to rise.

The way she did it was unnatural. She planted her feet on the ground while laying on her back. Her palms touched the ground next to her head. In one pushing motion, she launched herself to her feet. She would’ve gone straight over and fallen on her face if her hair didn’t catch her. 

The fiery red mane had turned golden. A second red-and-yellow skin formed over her body, sliding into position the way water flows through a stream. It wasn’t a solid or a liquid but something in between. Even her face was covered. A big mouth full of sharp teeth snarled at Percy, white patches covering Donna’s eyes.

“You… recognized us.” Her voice was as altered as her body. It sounded deep and rumbling, totally inhuman.

“You know, for someone called a Future Guardian, you aren’t making me feel all that safe,” Percy said. “Does the future include an army of evil high schoolers? Because that’s the only good reason I can think of to try and break one’s neck.”

He tried not to enjoy it— the feeling of an impending fight, the adrenaline of stepping in to save those in need, his mind racing as he faced down a monster and tried to find the way he would beat it. The quips were already flowing out of him. It was all a mistake. It wouldn’t end well. 

So why did his body just move, every time?

There was no time to ponder it. Donna was coming at him, and Percy charged to meet her. 

Her battle cry was more painful than the first punch had been.

It pinged off the walls, digging into Percy’s head through his ears. It was like a celestial bronze dagger being scraped across a chalkboard, magnified until it became a guaranteed headache. 

An awful, piercing scream.