Percy Jackson watched the light rain falling over the city of San Diego as he rested on a bench in an empty park. His life had never been peaceful, but ever since the day Annabeth betrayed him, he felt like something inside him had broken. The gods, his former family, now seemed distant. It was time to follow a new path a completely human one, far from Olympus and its dramas.
He clutched in his hand a pamphlet he had picked up at the Marine recruiting station. The motto "Honor, Courage, Commitment" seemed to echo in his mind like a call, a chance to find purpose and discipline away from the chaos of the past.
Two years had passed since Percy joined the Marines. He had stood out from day one, his strength, speed, and endurance obvious inheritances from Poseidon set him apart from the others. Still, he forced himself not to depend on these advantages. He trained relentlessly, becoming not only strong but also one of the most skilled in his unit.
It was during a particularly grueling physical exercise that Commander Roberts approached him.
"Jackson, can I talk to you?" the man asked, gesturing for Percy to follow him to the side of the field.
Percy wiped the sweat from his forehead and followed the commander.
"Yes, sir."
"Have you ever heard of BUD/S training?" Roberts looked at him, gauging Percy's reaction.
"Yes, sir. Basic Underwater Demolition Training, one of the toughest in the Navy, right?"
Roberts nodded.
"That's right. We've received a recommendation from you. Someone up the chain of command noticed your exceptional performance. You know what I think? I think you have what it takes to become a SEAL."
Percy was silent for a moment. He knew it would be a brutal challenge, but he also felt like it was exactly what he needed.
— I'm in, sir.
BUD/S training wasn't easy, even for someone like Percy. He quickly learned that physical strength wasn't everything. The biggest challenge was mental. Days and nights of no sleep, running with huge logs or swimming in freezing water. During Hell Week, Percy pushed himself to his limits like never before.
One night, as he and his group struggled to keep an inflatable raft above their heads for endless hours, one of the recruits, Miller, collapsed from exhaustion.
"Get up, Miller!" Percy shouted, grabbing his comrade's arm.
"I can't…" Miller whispered, his lips blue from the cold.
Percy knelt beside him, ignoring the instructors shouting around him.
"You can do it. Think about what brought us here. Think about your family, your reasons. I won't let you give up."
With one last effort, Miller stood up, and together they completed the exercise.
After months of sacrifice, Percy had finally earned his golden trident. He was now part of SEAL Team Three. His first deployment took him to the Middle East, where he quickly proved himself to be one of the best.
However, it was after a particularly dangerous mission in which Percy demonstrated unusual leadership skills that he was invited to try out for "Green Team," the selection group for DEVGRU, also known as SEAL Team Six.
Percy knew that Green Team was a gateway to something greater: the elite of the elite. He didn't hesitate to accept.
Green Team training was unlike anything Percy had ever experienced. While BUD/S tested physical and mental toughness, Green Team tested tactical skills, quick thinking, and the ability to operate under extreme pressure.
One day, during an urban combat exercise, Percy and his partner, Carter, were tasked with eliminating a "target" in a heavily fortified building.
"Jackson, there's a side entrance, but it looks like a trap," Carter whispered over the radio.
Percy quickly assessed the situation. He noticed a fire escape in the back.
— We'll take the ladder. We'll climb up silently, enter through the roof, and take the target by surprise.
Moving like shadows, the two climbed the ladder and entered through the roof. When they reached the floor where the target was, Percy led the attack with surgical precision.
"Target neutralized," Percy reported over the radio, while Carter confirmed that the area was clear.
After months of tests and challenges, Percy had been approved. He was now part of DEVGRU, specifically the Black Squadron, a unit specializing in intelligence and espionage.
In the Black Squadron, Percy found a new family. They were a small but highly efficient team. Working in espionage required more than strength and skill; it required patience, intelligence, and often the ability to blend in.
On one of his first missions, Percy and his team were sent to intercept a terrorist cell in a coastal city in Africa. The mission was to gather information about a possible planned attack on a U.S. consulate.
Disguised as a local fisherman, Percy spent days undercover, gaining the trust of one of the suspects. During a night at a bar, he finally got the confirmation he needed.
"So, the shipment is arriving tomorrow?" Percy asked casually, as he took a sip of cheap beer.
The man, a known smuggler, laughed.
"Yeah, and after that, boom. They won't even know what hit them."
Percy remained calm, but inside he knew he needed to act quickly. He discreetly signaled to his colleagues, who were waiting outside.
That night, Black Squadron intercepted the shipment and dismantled the terrorist plot before it could do any damage.
After the mission, Percy sat alone on the beach, staring at the horizon. He knew he was making a difference, but sometimes, the shadow of his past still haunted him.
That was when Carter, now his close friend, joined him.
"You know, you never talk much about your life before the Navy."
Percy shrugged, tossing a rock into the ocean. "Nothing worth remembering."
Carter laughed. "Right, Mr. Mystery. Well, whatever it was, it seems to have prepared you for being here."
Percy didn't answer, but deep down he knew Carter was right. His past, as complicated as it was, had prepared him to face any challenge. And he knew that while he was in Black Squadron, he had finally found a purpose a new home in the chaos of the world.
Support me if you like this stories
p@treon.com/SHADOWGHOST07
Just replace the @ with an a