Percy woke up sore from yesterday’s ordeal. His daily routine more laborious than usual. Just getting dressed was a bit of a chore. Percy got ready and hopped into his SUV. A black four door four wheel drive SUV with an exposed truck bed and a canvas convertible top. He then drove to the local hospital for his monthly check up. Percy dislikes visiting the hospital, but these check-ups are required by his health insurance. Percy walked in, and up to the desk of the extremely starile building and let them know he was here for a scheduled check up. After waiting a bit he is escorted to a room to wait for a nurse. After a while a curvy redheaded nurse walked in. Neptuna recognized her from the photo Percy has. Though she is more curvy than in the photo, this was definitely Ginger.

Ginger smiled when she saw him and was the first to talk. “Well if it isn't my favorite accident prone person.” she pauses to look him over. “Just look at your arm. You really have to take better care of yourself.” She starts running the normal tests. Heart rate, blood pressure, weight, cholesterol. Then moves on to hearing and vision tests. They keep talking while she does this. “I’m glad it’s you doing this.” Percy responds. “I don’t have to explain my odd injuries. Or the extra tests. Also it’s good to see you as always. I’m always more comfortable with someone I know. It’s also an added bonus to have a beautiful nurse fondle me.” Ginger chuckles and punches Percy’s shoulder causing him to wince. “Stop it you. Oh, right, sorry about that. Anyway, you better behave mister, or else.”

With the first set of tests done they move to the last thing. An MRI. This add on was at the request of his insurance. They covered all of this one hundred percent so he didn't complain much. This was likely due to his mother's condition. Having a parent with Delirium increases your chances of developing it. No one has ever gotten solid scans of a brain in the first stage because people in stage one don’t know they have it. Percy was used to these tests by now. After the test is done the two get lunch in the employee break area and catch up a bit, chatting casually. After that Percy starts to make his way out of the hospital.

On his way out Percy was passing a patient’s room when he saw a bright white light coming from the windows. The way it beamed out of the room did not seem natural. Percy decided to check it out thinking it could be another person with an Armata, or maybe the guy he fought yesterday was already up and this was his room. Percy opens the door and walks in to see the light is coming from a privacy curtain. He can see a silhouette of what looks like a man standing over someone in the bed and that the man is generating the light. Thinking it might be someone attacking the person in the bed he rushes over and moves the curtain ready for this to get hectic. Before he could shout at whoever it was he froze. Percy stopped in shock as he immediately recognized the man who was standing above an unconscious old lady.

The man was a nurse here, he’d even done Percy’s physical a few times. The nurse, who’s name was Hector, was a darker skinned man. Based on his lightish skin and mostly subdued accent he was likely of a mix of Jamaican and Dominican descent who was third or fourth generation American. He was almost as tall as Percy and almost as scraggly. He had a curly puff of black hair on his head that was in a bit of a ball but too loose to be considered a natural afro. His eyes were a brilliant green. He was standing over an old lady with similar hair that was white and darker skin then his. He was standing at the old lady’s bedside basically pouring what looked like light into her.

Hector froze in place and almost lost his focus out of surprise. He stumbled into words, his accent making it harder to hear then just the stutter from the shock. “M-M-M-Mr. Yates?” it took him more by surprise when Mr. Yates spoke “What do you think you are doing? These rooms have cameras.” Percy had already figured out the two were related based on familial traits. Hector tilted his head. He had been doing this for the past three years, and had been working here for two of them. “I’ve never had a problem before.” he replied, still reeling from the fact that Mr. Perseus Yates not only walked in but was not even confused as to what exactly was going on. He now had to stop his little light show as he was drained and sat simply at the side of the woman’s bed.

Percy closed his eyes and focused, he could see the room in black with outlines, minus Hector who was filled with a flowing white color. “(He’s a healer? That light wasn't like the one Apollo used, it seemed more like a transfer of energy than a use of an element.)” “Hector…. You’re the bearer of Hermes?” Hector was taken aback in shock at the confirmation that Percy was also an Armatus user and was able to figure out who he was paired with so easily. Percy takes a seat next to Hector. Hector could not help but ask “How long have you been…. And who…. Uhhh….” Percy replied quickly and easily, trusting Hector not to do anything rash or be an enemy. “About a week or so, paired with Poseidon. And how long have you been paired with Hermes?” Hector felt no reason to not tell Percy “About three and a half years now.”

Percy sat in silence for a few seconds thinking over the fact that someone he has interacted with a number of times over the last two years had been paired for this long and he had no idea. Hell McGonagall was a known figure and as far as Percy could tell he had been paired up for five and not a single person could figure out how he produced so much stuff at such a high quality. Unless you knew about the Deus Armatus you would have no reason to even suspect something as outlandish as magic god stuff causing anything. He then gestures to the old lady. “So…. you mind explaining what exactly is going on here?”

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Hector rocked back and forth in his chair, thinking of how to start, of where to start. Eventually he spoke. “As you might have guessed this is me gran. She’s not been well for some long time now. About five years ago it get real bad. You see gran here…. Her organs are no good. Slowly failing many years now. Doctors say she has some sort of…. Uhh….” Percy looks at her chart “Basically all her organs are dieing on a cellular level and aren't repairing themselves like they should.” Hector nods. “When I realized I could use my powers to heal it became my one and only focus. I even got a job here to spend more time on her without question. I can heal her body, but not cure what is causing the failure. Only prolong her life. She should have passed over a year ago.” he puts his hand on the old lady’s “Gran was the one that raised me.” his head droops in sadness. “You have no idea what it’s like, to watch helplessly as you slowly lose someone you love.”

Percy stood up in anger at Hector’s presumption, but sat back down and calmed himself before speaking. “My mother…. She has Delirium. She’s in the third stage. Doctors say she’ll likely progress to stage four in a few months.” Hector froze after these words. He had read about Delirium but due to how rare the condition was had never encountered someone with personal experience. It was a degenerative brain disease that worked in five stages.

Stage one: the “Phantom” stage. This stage was the longest and was practically undetectable. The sufferer would start having mental slips. Forgetting simple details and/or spacing out. This would always be dismissed as just being forgetful or airhaded since it would not adversely affect them or others. These would slowly get worse over years. Eventually after ten to twenty or so years they would reach the second stage; the “Wailing Shadow” stage. The person starts seeing hallucinations. Starting as moving shadows they get worse over the years and start affecting other senses. It gets its name from the hallucinations and the fact that the person often panics and screams loudly because of them.

The third stage; “Mumbling Shade” the person starts losing bigger chunks of memory and basic function eventually becoming a vegetable unable to do anything but mumble incoherently as parts of the brain keep shutting off. Then comes the fourth and possibly worst stage; “The Black Mercy”. The sufferer experiences a moment of absolute clarity. Remembering everything they have ever been through with eidetic level detail. Lasting only a few weeks this stage gives the person and their family a chance to say goodby. Though for some it’s too hard to do so. Then the fifth and final stage; “Total Oblivion”. Everything in the brain shuts down in a matter of minutes. Even the parts that automatically regulate breathing and heart rate. The victim asphyxiates quickly as their lungs and heart pull a full stop.

Hector paused for some time, only able to barely work out a slow “I’m…. sorry”. Delirium is much slower and also much more cruel then what his Gran has. Though Hector did, in some dark way, envy “The Black Mercy”. He would almost kill to have a chance to say goodbye. But his power alone is not enough to push back his Gran’s damage enough for her to wake up. Percy put his hand on Hector’s shoulder. “There was no way you could have known.” Hector knew this was true, but to just assume Percy has no idea what it was like or to just say that without thinking… He of all people should have known better. He looks at his Gran and voices his wish. “I just… want a chance to say goodbye. You know?” Percy nodded. “I think…. If I pitch in we might be able to heal her just enough for your own Black Mercy.” Percy stated simply and without hesitation.

Hector was taken aback by this. “You know what you’re offering right? Assuming you can pitch in you’ll be too drained to fight for… some time. Who knows how long.” Percy nodded. “I don’t care. Anyone that wants this deserves this. Not everyone is strong enough to endure a Black Mercy.” Hector nodded and got ready to start healing again, Percy put his hand on Hector’s shoulders and did his best to concentrate. Any voicing of concern by Neptuna is practically ignored. Percy could feel his energy pouring out and into Hector as Hector produces a glowing wind to heal his Gran.

A great blue light came from Percy’s hand to accompany the white one from Hector as a powerful wind stirred and whipped papers around the room. After what looked like a storm raged in the room for several minutes Percy felt himself slipping and getting close to passing out but he continued to push himself to stay awake and keep going. Percy loses his footing and falls over, unable to move and barely able to stay awake long enough to see Hector finish up. Hector is really worn out but gets a sort of second wind when his Gran opens her eyes for the first time in years.

She smiles a kind smile and greets him softly. With tears running down his face Hector speaks. “Gran, it’s me. Hector. I got a job here to spend more time with you, to get this chance. To… To say goodbye.” his gran puts her hand on his face with a smile, her dull brown eyes barely able to see him. “I’m happy we got this chance too. Don’t worry too much about Gran. I’ll be just fine. I’ve lived a good life, I think I’m ready for what comes next. Live your life, for the both of us. Be happy. Find a nice woman and start a family. I’ll see you on the other side and you can tell me all about it. Goodbye, my Hector.” She then slips back into her slumber, no longer able to stay awake.

Percy struggles to work his way onto his feet and makes sure the woman is passed out before speaking. “You… never told her, did you?” Percy knew that some of the wishes of the old lady would not be met. He remembered the first time Hector got assigned to him for a check up he hit on Percy and was even bold enough to ask him out on a date. After learning Percy was single. Percy had always been a magnet for the attention of males who were into other males. Many people assumed, incorrectly, that he was a homo-sexual himself. Hector felt a tad embarrassed at this. “I wasn't sure Gran would understand. She’s from an older generation, and always preached the values of a traditional family.”

Percy puts his hand on Hector’s shoulder once more. “You must have had it rough, yet you can still smile and be kind. Probably one of the strongest and toughest men I’ve ever met.” Hector appreciated this. “You are also very strong and tough to go through what you have. This may seem odd to ask but… can we hang out sometime? I mean just to hang out. I could really use a friend.” Percy chuckled “Only as long as you promise not to make any passes at me.” Hector laughed “Man, you know I can’t do that. I’m far too big of a flirt.” The two shared a laugh before Percy started leading Hector out of the room. “Let's get something to eat. I’m absolutely drained after that.” Hector nods and agrees and the two head out. As the door shuts behind the two, the old lady lays in her bed with her eyes closed. Tears still running down her face, moved to the side by the smile that was still on it.