Chapter 1: Transmutation

Greetings to whoever chose to read this. The plot bunny I mentioned in my other story Backup Plan has finally come to fruition.

I browsed through the Percy Jackson/AVP crossover section and noticed: there is nothing in there like this story. So, without further ado, the first chapter in my new story. Also, this story will feature elements from Maximum Ride.

I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do writing it.

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A hospital…somewhere in Manhattan

August 18, 1993

12 A.M.

Sally Jackson lied asleep in her hospital bed.

She had just given birth to her son, Perseus Jackson. An unusual name, but, considering who his father is, perhaps one that makes sense. She met Percy's father on Montauk Beach. Tall, nice tan, black hair, well-muscled, and captivating sea-green eyes. They made small talk, agreed to meet each other more often, and after a few months…boom, a broken oath and a new Sea Prince. Of course, after that wild night, Poseidon revealed that he was much more than a handsome man with the name of a Greek god…he was the god himself.

Sally accepted that with so little hesitance, Poseidon thought she was still delirious from last night. Her argument was that 'no man has that much stamina.'

…Anyway, after the not-so-big reveal, they got serious. Poseidon told her about the Big Three Pact between him and his brothers, Zeus and Hades. He told her about the life a demigod faced, and how Percy's was going to be especially dangerous…and tragic. He told her about the Great Prophecy, how the child was supposed to die at the climax…and that Percy's birth signaled its heralding. He left out the fact that Thalia Grace had been born and subsequently turned into a tree at fourteen years old because Hades was angry at Zeus.

That wouldn't help the situation any better than the next part.

Because he was an Olympic God, he couldn't stay with Sally. His absence was already raising questions, mainly from his wife, Amphitrite. She was always very intuitive. He had a feeling that she knew what was really going on.

With the realization that she would have to raise a Big Three demigod, who may or may not be the Child of Prophecy, by herself, Sally broke into tears. Why was her life so difficult!?

Poseidon had consoled his sobbing lover. After she had cried all of her tears, Poseidon held her close to him, his warmth bringing comfort to her distraught form. After she had calmed down, Poseidon bade her fare well.

Over the next nine months, Poseidon visited Sally, checking up on her and his unborn son. They talked, caught up with each other, and made plans for every scenario they could come up with. Then, the fateful day arrived.

Poseidon had waited in the…waiting…room. Obviously. He wasn't allowed in to be there for the birthing. Not that he wanted to, really. Who wants to see their wife cut open to reveal the innards of the human body? He didn't, that's for sure.

The birthing had gone off without a hitch. They used a C-section, went in, brought him out, and sewed her back up.

The doctor showed the 'happy couple' their new baby boy. A near perfect replica of his father, the boy had tufts of raven hair, tan-ish skin, had his father's eyes. After giving him the name 'Perseus', in the hope that his life would end happily, they gave Sally a sedative, and Poseidon returned to Atlantis a happy man. It was the last time they would ever see each other.

The doctors took the newborn to a nursery to perform routine tests to determine health.

Now then, after all of that lovely backstory, it's time for the story to begin. You see, because Percy is the child of a mortal and a god, only half of his genetic code is written.

The mortal half.

The other half, the godly half, appeared as gold nitrogenous bases. It's this gold DNA that gives a demigod their power. It's also the reason that Percy's life is about to embark on a scientific roller coaster straight to Hell.

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Jeb Batchelder was beside himself in silent joy. He had found another one! Another child with one-half of typical DNA and one-half gold. A perfect candidate for his employers' more…unsavory experiments.

He turned to the 'doctors' behind him, "Prepare this one for transport," pointing to the baby. Then the room's light reflected off his lenses, hiding his eyes from view, "And take care of the woman." The doctors' unnatural good looks and wolfish grins told Jeb what these beings really were.

Erasers.

A female Eraser outfitted in a standard nurse's uniform walked into Sally's room, syringe in hand. The new mother had woken up sometime prior and asked what happened to her son. "Everything is perfectly fine. He's a healthy baby boy with a strong set of lungs."

At the beautiful woman's smile, Sally felt overwhelmingly reassured, "Oh, thank Heaven. Wait, what are you doing?" Her voice became panicked when she saw the nurse inject a syringe into her IV.

"Everything is perfectly fine." The nurse's smile turned sinister as she injected the syringe's contents.

Sally's eyes began to dim as the poison did its job. Fear gripped her heart. What were they going to do to her son!? Then sadness ripped through her like a knife. She would never take care of her son. She would never see him grow up. She would never change his diapers, never get to potty train him, nor console him when he had an accident. She would never send him off to school, never prepare him for his first date, nor see him graduate. She would never help him choose a college, never help him pick a job, nor see his success. She would never meet his long-time girlfriend, never see him married…nor would she ever have grandchildren. She would never get to be a mother.

As her life left her body, Sally saw him. The last vestiges of hope surged through her body. Poseidon had returned to save her and their child! But…something was wrong. Since when did Poseidon have wings?

'Poseidon…' Sally's last thoughts were of the god that treated her like a goddess.

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Atlantis was in celebration. A new child of the sea had been born.

Poseidon sat in his underwater throne, a proud smile on his face as his numerous subjects came to congratulate him. Of course not everyone shared in the joy. Poseidon's wife, Amphitrite, and his son, Triton, were…less than thrilled.

They weren't mad, but they weren't happy, they were more…neutrally curious. Compared to most gods, Poseidon's loyalty to his wife and child were through the roof. He rarely sired any children, the last one was more than fifty years ago. So for a woman, a mortal woman, to catch his attention…it was worth looking into. It still hurt that he had a child with another woman, though.

'Poseidon…' His eyes widened when the saddened voice of Sally reached his mind. He concentrated on her prayer, the world around him fading to black. Then her thoughts and emotions flooded his being.

He fell from his throne, landing on a knee with his trident tightly grasped in his hand. His breathing was labored, the shock of Sally's feelings still present in his system.

"Poseidon!"

"Father!"

Amphitrite and Triton leaped from their thrones to the side of the Earthshaker. They began to ask too many question for the god to process as he was still deciphering Sally's intense emotions. "Quiet!" he roared. They complied immediately.

With the new-found silence, he reopened the connection…only to find none. He began to panic… where was Sally!? He widened his search, his consciousness stretching far across the Earth. He gaped in horror when he couldn't find her soul. That could only mean one thing…

'No, it can't be! It's impossible!' He shook his head of those thoughts-he just didn't search hard enough. Yeah, that was it-he didn't search hard enough-all he had to was expand his search and look harder and use more power and-and-and-

"Poseidon!"

His wife's desperate voice sliced through his mental tirade. "What is it?" Amphitrite looked at him with concern, "You're crying."

Poseidon touched his cheek…sure enough, tears were streaming down his face…underwater…whatever.

Triton chose to speak up, "Father, what has you so upset?" His father's broken voice made even him sad, "Sally, my lover," Amphitrite's face became stone, "She's dead." Then it cracked.

Son and Wife embraced their father and husband. His sadness was their sadness. Despite cheating on them, they could not fault him for his distress. This woman was more than enough to catch Poseidon's interest, she was enough for him to bed her. That spoke volumes of this woman's appearance, personality, and heart.

Triton did his best to comfort his father, "It will be alright, Father. She is without a doubt in Elysium." Amphitrite reinforced her child's statement, "Yes, husband, listen to your son." Not the best thing to say…at all.

'Son…Percy!' Poseidon exploded from his family's embrace, knocking them to the ground. He stalked forward to the door, the denizens of Atlantis scrambling out of his way. Triton and Amphitrite stared with mouths agape at Poseidon's retreating form. The Wife of Poseidon looked at her son, "What did I say?"

Triton pondered for a moment, before his eyes widened in shock and answered his mother's question with one of his own, "If the mother is dead…what happened to the son?"

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Poseidon appeared in the hospital room where his lover gave birth to their son. He looked around and noticed that Sally wasn't there. He grit his teeth in anger and whirled around, blowing the door off its hinges.

The staff in the hallway jumped in shock when a door exploded. They began to scream when a man decked out in body armor armed with an M249 SAW walked out of it.

Poseidon marched over to one of the cowering doctors, and hoisted him into the air by his lab-coat, "The woman that gave birth in that room, where is she?" His voice sounded like grinding rocks. "T-t-t-there was n-no woman that gave b-b-birth in th-e-e-ere." The poor man stuttered. Poseidon was not convinced, "Liar…" He promptly stabbed the man with his trident. He pulled his symbol of power out of the corpse, and stalked down the hallway, looking for another doctor to give him the answers he sought, the others having since ran away.

"Freeze!"

Poseidon turned around and stared at the SWAT squad behind him.

"Drop the weapon! On your knees with your hands in the air!"

"I don't have time for you," was the god's response. He raised his trident-"Fire!"-Bullets soared through the air at the 'terrorist.' They passed through him like he was made of air. Mortal weapons have no effect on Greek Deity. Or any deity really.

The SWAT officers gaped in shock when their bullets simple bounced off the terrorist's body armor. "Fools," he said. He raised his gun and opened fire. None of them survived.

Poseidon stared at the puddles of sea-water without emotion. He promptly spun on his heel to continue his search. That's when he felt the presence of a goddess behind him. So he turned around…again…and glared down at the twelve-year-old Goddess of the Hunt. "What do you want, Artemis?"

The silver-eyed goddess stared at her enraged uncle, "He's not here."

She was sent flying through the air, then through the wall…and another…aaaaaaaand one more. Artemis looked up at the Sea God standing above her, and froze. His eyes were glowing orbs of sea-green. A green aura-smoke like in appearance-surrounded him. Power was rolling off of him in a constant stream. It felt like she was drowning.

Twelve flashes of light appeared behind them. Twelve overwhelming auras flooded the corridor. Twelve beings stood behind the two.

Zeus, Hera, Demeter, Athena, Ares, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Hermes, Dionysus, Hades, and Hestia stood behind Poseidon and Artemis.

"Poseidon," Zeus' voice held a deadly calm, "What are you doing?"

The Stormbringer tore his gaze away from Artemis and looked at his younger brother, his power still flaring, and in a grim voice that held a massive undertone of warning said, "I'm looking for my son."

The reactions of the Olympians were as you would expect. Some gasped, some dropped their jaws, and others were more vocal in response. Hades cocked a brow and Artemis kept up her poker face.

Zeus looked like he was about to explode, but managed to respond in an even tone, if a little bit growly, "We'll continue this discussion on Olympus." In a flash of light and crack of thunder, the King of the Gods disappeared, the other gods following suit.

Poseidon growled (somewhere on the planet a tremor ripped through the land) how dare that brat just assume that he would just cancel his search for his newborn, so they could have a debate on Olympus!? Absurd!

Thunder exploded across New York, the soundwave rocking the hospital structure, knocking out the power, and power stations all over the state. It only served to further anger Poseidon.

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In a blinding sea-green flash, Poseidon appeared on his seat of power, absolutely livid. "You had best have a good reason for calling me here, little brother."

Zeus, inwardly shocked, kept up his superior look and asked, "What did you mean by 'son'?"

Poseidon's anger left his body, weariness taking its place. Staring at the floor, the God of the Sea told his family the events of the past nine months. "And so, when I was unable to feel either Sally's or Percy's energies, I flashed to the hospital to look for them, without success."

"Yeah," Ares piped up, "And you killed a few people along the way. Nice job. It's been awhile since we gods have been on a good rampage. We should do it more often!" The God of War broke out into fit of laughter. It abruptly came to a halt when he was dowsed in sea-water. As he sat spluttering, Poseidon stared at him in distaste.

"Anyway," He turned his gaze to his niece, "How did you know he wasn't there?" Then he thought of something else, "How did you even know he was born?"

Artemis chuckled amusedly, "Did you forget, Uncle? I'm also the Goddess of Childbirth. I can feel when every demigod child is born," she said with a pointed look at the gods across from her. Some had the dignity to look sheepish.

"Hades," the god in question looked at Poseidon, "is Sally truly dead?"

The God of the Underworld's eyes softened ever so slightly. This wasn't going to be easy for him say, but it needed to be done, "Yes, Poseidon, she is dead."

(Naruto OST: Saika) (Roll with me guys, I'm trying to set the mood)

Poseidon's trident hit the floor with a clang, the throne room going silent. The only sound was Poseidon's heart-breaking sobs. The Olympians could only stare in pity and sadness.

Hades looked at his brother. He could understand Poseidon's pain. After all, he felt the same way when…Maria…was killed. Gods, it still hurt to even think of her name. Then his thoughts turned to the being responsible for her death. He grit his teeth at the thought of Zeus.

Speaking of Zeus, the God of the Sky was having an internal debate whether or not to console his sobbing sibling. Thoughts of Beryl floated into his mind. Steeling himself, he stood from his throne and walked over to Poseidon, and placed his hand on his brother's shoulder. Hades watched this and decided to do the same.

The Olympians watched in varying amounts of shock. The Big Three, not trying to rip each other apart, not threatening war…but standing together offering support to one of their own? That was unheard of since the Ancient Times.

After Poseidon's tear ducts had emptied, Zeus and Hades offered one more consoling touch before returning to their thrones.

(End Song) (Let me know what you guys thought in the review section)

"Now that we've all calmed down," Everyone turned their gaze to Athena, "We need to discuss what we're going to do. Poseidon's lover, Sally Jackson has been murdered by unknown people by unknown means-

"She was poisoned," Hades clarified.

Poseidon had picked up his trident and was now trying to strangle it.

"Right," Athena continued, slowly, "Sally Jackson was poisoned by unknown people. In addition, her's and Poseidon's child, Perseus, has also been taken by unknown people, however, the reason for that may be tied into his genetic code." At her family's confused looks she elaborated, "A demigod's genetic code is unique from a regular human's. Humans have four nitrogenous bases consisting of adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine. Thymine will connect to adenine, and guanine will connect to cytosine, forming the double-helix strand of what people call: DNA." Ares, Dionysus, Aphrodite, and Apollo still looked lost. Athena sighed, "Look it up when you get the chance.

"Anyway. Demigods do not have the typical double helix strand. As they are born from the gametes of a human and the power of a god, their double helix appears as one-half normal…one-half gold."

The gods nodded their heads in understanding, so Athena continued, "If he was taken by mortals, there's no telling what could happen. If they took him because of his DNA, they will no doubt be checking for more DNA of the same type, putting all of our children at risk." At the gods' terrified looks, "I propose we enforce the Mist around our world, and use Artemis' authority over child-birth to send satyrs to watch over the birthing of newborn demigods."

Zeus and Artemis agreed with their daughter/sister. "All in favor: Say 'I'." A chorus of I's greeted his ears. "All opposed?" Resounding silence. Zeus raised his bolt into the air, lighting erupting from the tip. "We shall summon Hecate later to iron out the details of this arrangement."

"What about my son?"

Zeus answered immediately, "We shall scour the globe. All of us," Zeus gazed at the Olympians, his electric blue eyes daring any to challenge his command, "Nothing shall be overlooked, no location unexplored until every square inch has been discovered." He stood from his throne, authority oozing from his form. The Olympians rose in tandem with each other, following their King's example. "Now go forth, search for our missing family member! Do not return until you've found something to follow!"

The gods all flashed out of the throne room, hell-bent on finding their nephew/cousin. Poseidon remained in the throne room with his brothers, however.

"Zeus," spoke Poseidon, "Why?" His brother only smiled in return, "It's time we stopped fighting amongst ourselves, and start becoming a family."

"Hmph."

Zeus and Poseidon turned to look at their oldest brother, "You speak of acting like family, yet you would destroy any love we feel towards a mortal. I will look for your son, Poseidon, but only because you've never tried to kill my children." With that, Hades gave one last look of contempt at Zeus, then he vanished in a shadow.

Zeus looked slightly downtrodden, so Poseidon offered words of comfort, "Give it time, Zeus. He always could hold a grudge, Old Death Breath." Zeus cracked a smile at the nickname for their brother, "Thank you, Brother. Now come, let us look for your son."

Poseidon's eyes hardened into steel, "Yes, let's."

In a flash of sea-green and electric blue, the two gods vanished.

The Olympian Gods succeeded in strengthening the Mist and having satyrs present for demigod birth, but they were never able to find Percy. For twelve years they searched. Twelve years he was hidden from their sight. Twelve years he felt nothing but pain.

This is his story…

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6 years later

Death Valley

Eight miles due North of the Badwater Basin

Darkness. It was all he ever saw, yet never recognized.

Pain. It was all he ever felt, yet he never processed.

Medicine. It was all he ever smelled, yet never used.

Screams. It was all he ever heard, yet never listened to.

Death. It was all he ever tasted, yet never fully took a bite out of.

This was the life of six-year-old Percy Jackson, a.k.a. 'Subject 3,' inside of 'The School,' as the scientists, a.k.a. 'white-coats,' called it.

S-3, his nickname, never knew anything else besides this place. It was his home ever since he could remember, this floor his bed. He was born here. He ate here. He went to the bathroom here. He learned here. He was…experimented on here. He hated it HERE!

He wanted to escape this place, to run free in the outdoors. He wanted to see the world, immerse himself in all its wonders. But most of all…he wanted to see…the ocean!

He could never explain it, but he wanted to swim in the ocean so bad it hurt! He wanted to swim in the water, to interact with the fish, to-

SLAM!

His eyes flicked over to his thrown-open door. Light flooded into the dark room, illuminating his prison. A room easily 20 feet wide, 20 feet long, and 8 feet tall; the only things in the room were a toilet directly opposite the door…and a lone occupant sitting in the corner opposite the toilet.

He looked at the Eraser that barged into his 'room.' Tall, light-skinned, shirtless, god-like physique, and blood-thirsty grin. Why couldn't these idiots open the door like normal people? Why did they have to throw their inferior strength around?

"Time for your tests, brat." Generic-Eraser walked over to him and stood, waiting. When S-3 failed to move, the Eraser's patience went from 100-0 real quick. Growling, the lupine-human hybrid stalked closer to forcefully extract the uncooperative insect. The last mistake he would ever make.

Reaching out to grab the boy, he was unprepared for S-3 to move.

S-3 latched on to the outstretched hand and twisted. He gave a silent smirk at the satisfying snap that accompanied the action. Then he ducked when the Eraser tried to back-hand him with his unbroken right. With his left hand hanging uselessly at his side, and his right arm fully extended to the side, the Eraser's mid-section was left wide-open.

Slamming both of his fists into the Eraser's stomach, the expendable soldier doubled over S-3's back, blood and wind flying from his mouth. S-3's smirk widened slightly as he lifted the Eraser. Then he slammed the mutt head-first into the concrete floor. A crunching sound was all that was heard.

S-3 promptly dropped the corpse and walked out of his crate. The whit-coats would pick it up later. He squinted as he walked into the hallway, his sea-green eyes adjusting to the light. He only wore black compression shorts, exposing the numerous surgical scars on his body.

"I see the augmentations are proving useful." S-3 looked at the white-coat standing just outside the door.

The 'augmentations' the scientist was talking about were a series of surgeries and specialized steroid and amino acid injections. They made him taller, stronger, faster, smarter, and better than he child his age, even better than most adults. It was why he could take down Erasers with practiced ease. They were also extremely painful.

The forced growth his body endured was nothing short of excruciating. In exchange for his enhanced abilities, his body ripped itself apart and healed near instantly afterward. It was why he was so durable. When muscle ripped or bone broke, they would regenerate, stronger, in an effort to not be injured again. It was the body's way of adapting.

The augmentations also included DNA splicing. Apparently, only half of his genetic code was written…the white-coats made it their personal mission to fill in the other half. Luckily though, he only had a little bit of cuttlefish DNA in his body, helping with his growth rate.

S-3 only looked at the white-coat blankly before walking down the hallway, "Just make sure you clean up that mess. I don't want my room to smell like a corpse…again."

Jeb Batchelder only chuckled in response.

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The two walked into a large gym. It had full-size running track lining the wall. Inside of the track was as an assortment of weight-lifting machines and a boxing ring. The gym was empty except for the group of white-coated scientists equipped with clip-boards and a few Erasers armed with m4's.

S-3 looked at the only white-coat he could interact with, "More physical testing? We did this yesterday." Jeb looked at the boy, "We want to see how you perform after having a short amount of rest." S-3 scoffed.

They approached the gathering together. "Subject 3," spoke Generic-Whitecoat #1, "We're going to start first with squat, then bench-press, then power-clean, and finally military-press. Afterward, we will move on to cardiac testing."

S-3 approached the customized weight rack, built specifically for his 4'6 stature. Aligning his ring fingers with the bar's smooth grooves, and placing the bar square on his shoulders, he stood up…with 225 extra pounds. Unheard of for anyone his age.

He began squatting up and down with ease, barely registering the weight on his back. After squatting ten times, he racked the weight, the Erasers acting like a NASCAR pit crew, adding two more 45's, and making the weight 315 pounds. He burned through the set of eight with no problem what-so-ever. He next did 405 for six reps. He ended his squat lift with 495 pounds for four reps. He didn't break a sweat.

So it went like this for the next exercises. He ended bench-press with 350 pounds. He ended power-clean with 245 pounds. He ended military-press with 185. At the end…he was bored.

The white-coats all scribbled stuff onto their clip-boards, the Erasers standing silently off to the side. They knew better than to say anything at this moment. After all, the white-coats had the authority to have them 'decommissioned.'

"Now then, on to the next tests," Jeb spoke.

The group of scientists and experiments walked over to the start of the track. "First, your 100 meter, then your 200 meter, then your 300 meter, and finally your 400 meter. After that…we'll test your mile time."

S-3 kneeled down at the starting line, the Erasers standing behind him, guns at the ready; all of the white-coats stood at the end of the hundred meter stretch.

"Go!"

S-3 exploded from his position, his muscles generating near-superhuman force. He blitzed passed by the white-coats, his tailwind making their lab coats flutter. Jeb looked at his timer, his glasses almost falling off. '4.8 seconds!?' He looked at S-3, 'He's not even winded.'

"Line up for the 200." S-3 finished with a time of 9.2 seconds. He ran the 300 in 22.5 seconds. His 400 hundred time was nothing less than astounding: 35 seconds flat. All the while, his breathing level never changed. His body handling the stress of so much movement unnaturally well.

"Alright, S-3. Seeing as how this is no challenge for you, we're going to up the ante, so-to-speak. We're skipping the mile run for today in exchange for…combat analysis." Said boy only looked at the white-coat.

"Head to the boxing ring and await further instructions."

S-3 entered the ring and cocked a brow when the four Erasers entered right behind him. "Your objective is to kill these four." The Erasers looked back at the white-coat in shock, S-3 only stared forward, his sea-green orbs tuning into jade steel. "Only one group will come out of that ring alive. Who will it be?"

The Erasers growled at S-3, each of them moving to occupy a corner, surrounding the augmented boy. S-3's eyes moved back and forth, assessing the threat. Eraser 1 in front-left. Eraser 2 in front-right. Eraser 3 in back-left, Eraser 4 in back-right.

Eraser 3 gave a battle cry and charged. S-3 crouched low, letting the expendable experiment fly over him into Eraser 2. Eraser 1 took this opportunity to leap into the air, his fist cocked back to shatter S-3's skull. The boy rolled to the side, the Eraser crashing into the mat. The lupine-hybrid roared in pain when his ribs were shattered. He began to choke on his own blood when his lungs were pierced by rib fragments.

'One down, three to go.' Subject 3 looked around. Erasers 2 and 3 had untangled themselves and were preparing for a double team. Eraser 4 was still hanging back. The former two roared and charged at the boy. 'They never learn.'

S-3 stood and waited, then leapt over the Erasers. He twisted his body and landed facing them. The Erasers spun around ready to fight…only to fall to their knees when their testicles were crushed by enhanced fists.

The child then gripped their heads, the Erasers in too much pain to offer any resistance, and slammed their skulls together. The shock waves knocked their brains loose and death was instant. S-3 looked around the ring. Eraser 1 had drowned to death, blood dripping from his mouth. Erasers 2 and 3 lay in a deceased heap behind him, and where was Eraser 4? Oh, he was running for the door. Lovely.

S-3 Looked at the white-coats, a silent question in his eyes. The head white-coat repeated his earlier statement, "Only one group will come out of that ring alive." The Subject scoffed at the indirect order…and gave chase.

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Maximum Ride and her still growing Flock were having a day. Not a good day-how could anyone have a good day in this place?-but not a bad one either-they had to participate in any 'experiments.'

Max looked around the room, her superior night-vision identifying several other experiments in dog-crates, just like her's. This was her world. A dog-crate inhabited by her, Fang, Iggy, and Nudge, in a room with other kids just like her.

Well, they weren't human-avian hybrids, but they were hybrids of other animals.

Max sighed, when were they going to come get them for today's experiments? They were long overdue for more torture.

Her attention, as well as everybody's in the room, was drawn to the door when it burst open. 'Aw, great. Speak of the devil.' She just had to question the role of the universe, didn't she?

Then everyone became confused when they saw the terrified expression on the Eraser's face. Erasers were top dog here in the School, what reason did they have to be afraid? They were the ones to instill fear, to experience it! What the hell was going on here!?

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The Eraser closed the door behind him, the only light in the room coming from the square window on the door. He backed away slowly, sweat dripping down his fear-filled face. He was well aware of the freaks that were looking at him in confusion. Typically, he would be snarling and threatening them, asserting his dominance over the freaks, but right now? He was far more worried about the monster that was chasing him. He had more than a fifty meter head start, but when he looked behind him, the monster was gaining…and fast.

He started turning corners, weaving his way through the halls, doing everything he could to escape. When he thought he lost the monster, he barged into the first room he saw, hoping to hide. It looked like he was safe now. Now he just had to figure out a way out of here before-

CREEEEEEEEAK

The door slowly opened…the monster had found him.

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Subject 3 was eager to finish this game of cat and mouse. Catching the mutt had been child's play. He was such a loud brute, tearing through the hallways. S-3 let up on the gas to give Eraser 4 a false sense of security. As predicted the Eraser entered the nearby experiment holding cell.

Now to finish the job.

He opened the door slowly-who said he couldn't have a little fun-to instill more fear in the waste-of-his-time. It was successful. The Eraser was shaking like a leaf. Then he took note of the other kids in the room.

"Would you look at that? An audience."

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Max was staring with rapt attention. So was everyone else in the room. Even Nudge had turned off her motor-mouth to watch this spectacle. Whoever this boy was, he was strong. He had to be, for who could terrify an Eraser this much.

"Would you look at that? An audience," the boy spoke. He was toying with the Eraser! Who was this kid!?

The Eraser gulped, then his eyes hardened, "I won't let you kill me like you did the others!" Others? This kid, who couldn't be any older than she was, killed multiple Erasers?

"The others held back, they never transformed, but me? I'll rip you apart!" Then the Eraser took his true form, the visage that instilled nightmarish-fear into all of their hearts: His nails became claws. His body bulked up even more than it already was. Fur sprouted from arms, back, and chest, covering his form. Then came the final transformation. His jaw lengthened, fang-like teeth sprouting inside of his maw. His hair erupted outward forming a mane.

Standing before them all, was what could very well be considered…a werewolf.

Max was sure that whatever the boy did in the past, it was all over now. The Erasers were scary in their human forms, but as he was now, they were terror incarnate."

"Is that all?"

Everyone's eyes widened in shock at the boy's question. Did he not see this Eraser as a threat?

Said hybrid growled at the boy, rage clear in his eyes. With a roar, he charged. He ran, claws forward, mouth open, ready to kill the boy.

The boy stood there, looking on at the angry Eraser with a calm expression on his face. Fear gripped Max's heart. This kid was going to die all because of his overconfidence.

But who was he to her? He was just some kid that showed up at their door…after chasing down a terrified Eraser. Maybe this Kid could help her and her Flock escape! And then they can get Jeb! A-a-and then the Flock and Jeb could be an actual family! But that wouldn't happen if this boy was eaten.

So, with all her might she screamed, "Move!"

The boy's eyes flicked over to her for just a microsecond, then he reacted. The Eraser balked when the boy ran at him. The boy slid underneath the charging Eraser and grabbed his feet, making him fall flat on his snout. With the Eraser dazed, the stood up slowly, turned around, and raised his foot. Then he violently brought it down on the Eraser's spine.

A sickening crack was the only sound in the room.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Subject 3 looked on without emotion, without pity, as the Eraser reverted back to normal. The mutt whimpered when S-3 flipped him on to his back. The Eraser 4 held a defeated look on his face.

"What are you waiting for? Finish it," even his voice had no more fight in it. "Very well then." S-3 placed one hand on the Eraser's chin, and the other on the back of his head…then twisted. Eraser 4's life ended in a snap.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Max gaped in shock and horror. The boy just took down-just killed-an Eraser! With no problem!

The boy stood up and stared forward, his back to everyone in the room. He took a step forward, "Wait!"

Max had no idea why she called out to him-oh wait. It was on the hope that he would help her and her Flock. But with what she just witnessed, she felt like she was out of her mind. Fang and Nudge seemed to agree with her subconscious based on the looks they were giving her.

Regardless, they boy stopped and turned around to look at her. "Can you…can you help us?" The boy cocked a brow, "And what would you want me to do? Break your locks and lead you out of here? Sorry, despite these beasts'," he nudged the dead Eraser, "inferiority, they are still proficient with fully automatic weapons. I'm not sure if you have an invulnerability to bullets, but I know I don't." Before turning back around, he added, "Besides, even if we all did escape, where we would we go? I don't know anything besides these walls, and I highly doubt any of you have any idea where exactly we are."

Max and the rest of the room's occupants gained downtrodden looks. The boy looked around the room and threw one last comment over his shoulder as he left, "Don't lose hope. If you ever find yourself giving up, find something to fight for. It's what keeps me going."

Throughout the rest of Maximum Ride's life, those words would define her being.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Subject 3 was walking through the hallway back to the gym when he encountered the white-coats. "Were you successful?" S-3 only stared at the white-coat. The scientist smirked, "Of course you were. Come, we have an experiment for today."

"What kind of experiment?" S-3 asked.

The white-coat turned around and stared into Subject 3's sea-green eyes, then he smirked, "We're going to screw up your eyes, kid. If this works, you're going to be able see in infrared."

Subject 3 cocked his head to the side, "Infrared? Whatever."

The white-coat only chuckled in response to the kid's indifference. After a short walk to a fully-prepped laboratory filled with at-the-ready surgeons, Subject 3 would be lying if he said he wasn't on edge.

"Hop on the table and relax." He followed the orders of the female surgeon, apparently the one in charge. As he lay on the operating table, he looked at the one-way mirror adjacent his position. He wondered who was in there.

As they put the mask over his face to give him anesthesia, he had one last thought before he went under, 'I'm tasting death again. I wonder if I'll get a full meal this time.'

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Jeb Batchelder looked on beyond the glass as the surgeons went to work on Subject 3's eyes. Thoughts swirled through his head about the boy. He was able to take on every experiment without fail. He took the cuttlefish DNA splice with only a small fever. He took the physical augmentation surgeries with nothing more than a little soreness. He was able to handle extreme amounts of weight with no difficulty. He could move at speeds that shattered world records for humans. Beyond that, he always seemed…unnatural.

His fighting capabilities shattered expectations. With the augmentations, they expected him to barely fight on par with an Eraser. On the first combat test, he beat the Eraser like a red-headed step-child, at four years-old. And he only improved. Today's kills were proof of that.

"What are you thinking about, Jeb?" The man in question turned his head and looked at his boss. Marian Janssen was a beautiful woman with blonde hair and brown eyes. She was slim in her build with glasses on the bridge of her nose. She was also the most dangerous female on the face of the planet. And if what she claimed was true, she was spliced the DNA of a Galapagos Tortoise…and was over 100 hundred years old. Whatever.

"I'm thinking about how adaptive Subject 3's body is…and why exactly you're having him go through this eye experiment."

The Director chuckled, "This isn't an experiment just to give him special eyes…it's an experiment to see just how adaptive he is. Like you said, Jeb, His body's been unnaturally responsive to our tests. If his mind can handle switching between the typical enhanced vision most of our experiments have and that of infrared, we will begin testing to see if his body can handle it."

Jeb's eyes widened behind his glasses, "You mean you've been able to synthesize it?"

"Yes, Jeb, after all these years, the creature's acidic DNA has been synthesized so we can perform all the tests we want with it. Seeing as how Subject 3's genetic code is only half-written, he is the perfect candidate for the experiment."

Despite his best efforts, Jeb couldn't stop the grin that spread on his face.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Three days later

Subject 3's cell

S-3 looked around his room in wonder. Despite there being absolutely no light, he could see just fine. Granted, everything in his field of vision was colored blue. He raised his hand to his face, the appendage glowing yellow and red.

The infrared experiment had been successful.

His eyes hurt for a few hours after the experiment, bandages covering his face after they were done. When he took them off and opened his eyes for the first time, his brain seared with pain. It wasn't every day the human mind had to process infrared vision. But like eyes adjusted to the darkness, his brain adjusted to the new light waves.

When tested by the white-coats, he felt like he was flexing a muscle when switching between vision modes. A brief buzzing sound filled his ears every time he changed visions. When he was in infrared mode, he heard a low humming sound. He asked the white-coats if anything happened to his eyes when he changed visons; they said his pupils turned a flaming-red color.

He was broken out of his thoughts when his door was opened normally. That immediately put him on guard. Typically, an Eraser would throw it open and subsequently be killed, but now it was slid open like a door should be opened.

A glowing figure with varying amounts of red, orange, and yellow all over their body entered his cell. Based on the body structure and heat distribution, it was a female. He deactivated his infrared and confirmed his assumption. A woman, blonde, brown eyes, reasonable height, athletic build, and glasses. Decked out in typical white-coat attire.

"Can I help you?"

"Yes, Subject 3, you can." The experiments eyes narrowed, "And what exactly can I help you with? I haven't seen your face before, and I've seen almost everyone here." The woman chuckled in response, "Indeed you haven't seen my face before. After all, I am the Director of this facility."

S-3's eyes widened marginally before a predatory glint appeared in his orbs, "You're pretty ballsy, lady, coming into here." The woman's guard went up, but superiority radiated from her eyes. She believed she had the upper-hand, but was smart enough to be cautious around him. Good for her. "What's to stop me from capturing you and forcing my way out of here using you as a shield? What's to stop me from crushing your skull like a grape?"

"Only the fact that you would be slaughtered at the end of both scenarios, and your body would be used for science. As for what you can help me with…we've recently come into possession of some new stuff and we want you to test it out." S-3 was smirked when she offered her counter statement, but frowned at that last bit. So he responded with his opinion of what was really going on, "You've been undergoing highly unsuccessful experiments, so you're going to give it a shot with the one person in your database with only half of their genetic code, and has survived every experiment you put him through."

The Director kept her smile, "Actually, you are the first to undergo this experiment." At his disbelieving look, she elaborated, "Like you said, you've survived everything done to you. The augmentations, the cuttlefish DNA, and the infrared vision have all been successful. So why waste resources when we can go straight to the one with the perfect track record?"

S-3 scoffed, "'Resources'? Glad you think so highly of me. But, whatever, not like I have a choice in this matter, do I?"

The Director's visage turned demonically gleeful, "Glad you could see it my way. Let's go."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The lab room was exceedingly empty compared to his 'eye exam.' One female white-coat will multiple syringes. One operating table with clamps. One heart-rate monitor. One massive overhead light. One observation window that was one-way. And one test subject. Perfect.

The Director had dropped him off at the door to the lab, then she left. She was more than likely in the observation room above. Following procedure, he hopped on the operating table, letting the white-coat strap him down, metal cuffs on his legs, wrists, and midsection. She put the heart monitors in the appropriate places, a steady beep…beep…beep resounding throughout the room lab.

"We're ready, ma'am." S-3 assumed the white-coat was speaking to the Director. Her voice came over a hidden speaker, confirming his suspicions, "Begin procedure at once."

"Try to relax," Subject 3 looked at the white-coat, "We've prepared a number of pain killers and sedatives, but we don't know what this serum will do to you." S-3 raised an eyebrow, "And here I thought all of you were heartless bastards hell-bent on mass murdering people in the name of science." His eyes softened ever so slightly, "Thanks for your concern. It's…a nice change of pace."

The white-coat smiled before her face returned to normal, "Beginning procedure." She grabbed the first syringe, "Applying precautionary pain killers." S-3 felt a weird sensation travel throughout his body. Then a thought occurred to him, "Why not use anesthesia, like always?" The woman looked at him, the sadness in her eyes telling the boy all he needed to know, "I see. The Director is one heartless bitch, ain't she?"

"Continue with procedure, please."

The white-coat sighed, "Yes ma'am." She grabbed a syringe filled with black liquid, positioned the needle at his neck, and inserted. S-3 grimaced at the sensation. "In know that hurt," the Subject heard, "But what comes next…more so." She pressed the plunger…the liquid entering his body.

Subject 3's eyes shot open, pupils dilating to the size of pin-heads. Pain ripped through his body like a knife, his body pushing against the restraints. He screamed in absolute agony as black veins spread across his form, their origin being the needles entry point. It felt like acid was running through his veins!

The heart monitor was off the charts, his heart beating erratically in response to the liquid in his body. He screaming got even louder, and he broke the restraints. His arms came flying off the table, followed by his torso, the motion ripping of the monitors off his chest and brining the machine to the floor.

Erasers burst in through the door, tranquilizer guns in hand. The white-coat had backed off the moment the boy started screaming. Despite the inside of his body feeling like it was on fire, S-3 ripped the remaining restraints off his legs and jumped at the Erasers, his mind far from thinking clearly. He wanted the pain to stop!

The Erasers opened fire, multiple darts piercing his body, concentrated sedative entering his bloodstream. S-3 stumbled and fell at the feet of the mutts. He glared at them despite the mind-numbing agony. Fighting through the messages his nerve receptors were sending to his brain, Subject 3 struggled to stand back up…only for a combat boot to come crashing into his skull. His head crashed into the ground and all adrenaline left his system. Then the Director walked in to the lab.

"Pick him up and take him back to his room. Be extra careful, the fact he hasn't died yet gives credit to his resilience, but I don't want to take any chances." There was a chorus of 'yes ma'am' as the Erasers set about doing there given task.

"What's going to happen to him?" the Director turned to look at the white-coat who performed the operation, "He's going to be taken back to his room and monitored for any changes in his body. If he dies," she paused to think, "Well, if he dies, we're going to do an autopsy to discover what killed him and how we can prevent that outcome with another subject." The white-coat was still concerned, "And what happens if he lives?"

The Director walked out the lab, the light of the hallway reflecting off her glasses, hiding her eyes.

"That, Valencia Martinez, is none of your concern."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Subject 3 sat in the middle of his room, curled into a ball. He had screamed his throat raw, the only sound coming out of his mouth was a pitiful hiss-like noise. Then his body began rippling.

SQUELCH

S-3 trembled as he turned his head, his face adopting an expression of horror. Sticking out of his back…was a midnight-black tendril reaching all the way to the ceiling. He gasped as more tendrils erupted from his back, each one reaching out to the space behind him, connecting to the walls or the ceiling. The tendrils then began to…pull. He sat there helpless as the tendrils pulled him off the floor. Confusion and fear filled his being. 'What the hell…is happening to me?'

His attention was drawn to his left arm as it began to twitch. Of its own accord, it shot straight out, parallel to the floor. His eyes widened when it began to bubble. True his thought, bubble like protrusions were traveling down his arm, ending in his fingertips. Then…more tendrils erupted from his fingers, connecting to the adjacent wall. Even more tendrils exploded from the back of his arm, connecting to the tendrils coming out of his back. His head snapped to his right arm as it repeated the same process.

Now he was suspended in the air. Black tendrils connected to all parts of the room behind him. Tendrils coming out of his arms and fingers, locking out his arms. If someone walked in, they would think he crucified in a giant, black, spider-web.

Feeling an overwhelming sense of exhaustion, his body moved on its own. His legs curled up to his chest, his arms came across his shins, holding them in place, the tendrils stretching in response. Then, the fleshy mass of the tendrils began to cover him. The mass on his back spread over his chest, then over his head. The mass on his arms spread over his legs, covering his feet, then it began to reach down to the floor.

When it was all over, Perseus Jackson, demigod son of Poseidon, God of the Sea, and the mortal, Sally Jackson, was encased in a chrysalis made of a resin-like material.

Within the chrysalis…a union between two species was being created.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

There we go, the first chapter in a new story that I hope you all enjoy. I've wanted to do a story like this for a long time and I finally got around to doing it.

The next chapter with detail what's happening inside the chrysalis, and what happens after the transformation. And I gotta say…I think y'all are going to like it.

Now then, leave a review about what you thought, give me some feedback on the chapter, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!