Post by etarip on Mar 18, 2014 16:55:39 GMT -5
As the tinnitus-inducing roars and cheers came to their conclusions, Joseph observed two somber-looking men in thick white overcoats and surgical masks sauntering towards him. As most doctors, the men possessed an aura of professionalism. Calmly they asked him to join them to the grand hospital-tent, offering their shoulders as support. He refused politely, and began wobbling towards the promise of rest of peace that awaited. The doctors made insignificant small talk as they proceeded, the topics ranging from classics like the weather or recent travels, to more unusual subjects of conversation, such as the reproductive history of the domesticated Juno Penguin of B-2. The topics were of little interest to the injured archeologist, who suddenly realized that he had forgotten something important. “Wait a second...what happened to the young Marine who was supposed to wait for us by the penguin?” he mumbled to himself, producing worried glances from the two doctors. Ignoring his pains and injuries, Joseph turned and began sprinting towards shore. Behind him, he could hear the loud objections of the medical officers. He would have to apologize later.
Joseph fell to his knees, panting heavily and sweating rivers, as he arrived his location. Several bluish veins were popping up in his already red forehead. Before him stood the scar-faced Vice Admiral Mozambia, his expression filled with puzzlement. Two mammoth bodyguards had unsheathed their swords as they saw Joseph approaching, but the Vice Admiral simply waved them away with nonchalant self-composure. “What is wrong, Warrant Officer?” Still panting, Joseph imagined that his speech must have been incoherent and obscure. If he had trouble understanding Joseph’s question, the tall Vice Admiral showed no sign of it. He responded promptly:
“Unfortunately, no seaman recruit fitting your description has arrived the docks. There is only one way leading down from B-2, so you should have passed him on your journey down. From what you tell me of his demeanor, I might venture a guess and say that he was too ashamed to return to us. And perhaps rightly so.” The Vice Admiral seemed to blank out for a second, a shade of discomfort coloring his face. The warrant officer gasped. Not only because these were troubling news, but also because his stitches had opened up and blood was trickling in a minor, yet constant, stream upon the white snow, coloring it pink. “Doctor!” The loud exclamation from the Vice Admiral was the final thing Joseph heard before he passed out.
Somewhere near the northern shores of Viktas…
Sweeping his clothes with his left hand in rigorous motions, the young Marine attempted to remove at least some of the dirt that had accrued during his stay in the dusty ruins of B-2. For just the second time in his career, he was about to meet the man he both respected and admired the most in this bleak world. And he intended to look representable. The man was a star amongst an eternity of darkness. While others had stayed silent, this man had voiced his concerns. While others had done nothing, the man had prepared for war. Suddenly becoming conscious of the importance of the item he was carrying, the seaman recruit tightened his grip on the light brown manila envelope. He had handled the item with extreme and uncompromising care, but felt an immense metaphorical pressure emanate from the envelope. ‘Phew! I can’t wait to hand this over,’ he thought as the icy northern coast of Viktas came into view. Anchored on the shores was a single Marine vessel of medium size. It was the kind of ship that was used for transport of sensitive items. Every Marine knew this. Should one encounter such a vessel, protocol stated that there should be no contact between the ships, unless there was an emergency, of course. This made the ship perfect for their purposes. Stealth was key for the kind of operations their group conducted.
In the howling wind, the ship seemed abandoned and unwelcoming. There was, however, a ladder put out, which could be used to embark the ship. The young lad climbed the ladder with ease, and jumped onto deck with a loud thump. As he raised his eyes from the ground, a man came into view. Though his face was hidden beneath the hood of his cape, and his other features were mostly concealed by the layers of clothing that was necessary to keep the cold at bay, one could but admire his broad shoulders. Remembering his manners, the seaman recruit jumped into a straight position and saluted. ‘Sir! I managed to obtain the envelope! My acting skills turned out to be useful after all.’ Since the Captain’s face was covered by shadows, the young recruit had no idea how he had reacted. He hoped nevertheless that the hood concealed a warm smile. A deep, rumbling voice emerged from the shadows: “Well done, friend. Your efforts have made a big difference. It was unfortunate that Ensign Dawdry had to be used in such a manner, but I promise you this: after our task is done, no more sacrifices will have to be made ever again.” The Captain picked up the envelope from his trembling hands. “Now let us begin our journey back to the Grand Line.”
The Captain looked expressionless as he opened the envelope with an anchor-formed letter opener. With meticulous care, he picked up the white paper between his thumb and index finger. On the paper was a long list of names.
To be continued.
Joseph fell to his knees, panting heavily and sweating rivers, as he arrived his location. Several bluish veins were popping up in his already red forehead. Before him stood the scar-faced Vice Admiral Mozambia, his expression filled with puzzlement. Two mammoth bodyguards had unsheathed their swords as they saw Joseph approaching, but the Vice Admiral simply waved them away with nonchalant self-composure. “What is wrong, Warrant Officer?” Still panting, Joseph imagined that his speech must have been incoherent and obscure. If he had trouble understanding Joseph’s question, the tall Vice Admiral showed no sign of it. He responded promptly:
“Unfortunately, no seaman recruit fitting your description has arrived the docks. There is only one way leading down from B-2, so you should have passed him on your journey down. From what you tell me of his demeanor, I might venture a guess and say that he was too ashamed to return to us. And perhaps rightly so.” The Vice Admiral seemed to blank out for a second, a shade of discomfort coloring his face. The warrant officer gasped. Not only because these were troubling news, but also because his stitches had opened up and blood was trickling in a minor, yet constant, stream upon the white snow, coloring it pink. “Doctor!” The loud exclamation from the Vice Admiral was the final thing Joseph heard before he passed out.
Somewhere near the northern shores of Viktas…
Sweeping his clothes with his left hand in rigorous motions, the young Marine attempted to remove at least some of the dirt that had accrued during his stay in the dusty ruins of B-2. For just the second time in his career, he was about to meet the man he both respected and admired the most in this bleak world. And he intended to look representable. The man was a star amongst an eternity of darkness. While others had stayed silent, this man had voiced his concerns. While others had done nothing, the man had prepared for war. Suddenly becoming conscious of the importance of the item he was carrying, the seaman recruit tightened his grip on the light brown manila envelope. He had handled the item with extreme and uncompromising care, but felt an immense metaphorical pressure emanate from the envelope. ‘Phew! I can’t wait to hand this over,’ he thought as the icy northern coast of Viktas came into view. Anchored on the shores was a single Marine vessel of medium size. It was the kind of ship that was used for transport of sensitive items. Every Marine knew this. Should one encounter such a vessel, protocol stated that there should be no contact between the ships, unless there was an emergency, of course. This made the ship perfect for their purposes. Stealth was key for the kind of operations their group conducted.
In the howling wind, the ship seemed abandoned and unwelcoming. There was, however, a ladder put out, which could be used to embark the ship. The young lad climbed the ladder with ease, and jumped onto deck with a loud thump. As he raised his eyes from the ground, a man came into view. Though his face was hidden beneath the hood of his cape, and his other features were mostly concealed by the layers of clothing that was necessary to keep the cold at bay, one could but admire his broad shoulders. Remembering his manners, the seaman recruit jumped into a straight position and saluted. ‘Sir! I managed to obtain the envelope! My acting skills turned out to be useful after all.’ Since the Captain’s face was covered by shadows, the young recruit had no idea how he had reacted. He hoped nevertheless that the hood concealed a warm smile. A deep, rumbling voice emerged from the shadows: “Well done, friend. Your efforts have made a big difference. It was unfortunate that Ensign Dawdry had to be used in such a manner, but I promise you this: after our task is done, no more sacrifices will have to be made ever again.” The Captain picked up the envelope from his trembling hands. “Now let us begin our journey back to the Grand Line.”
The Captain looked expressionless as he opened the envelope with an anchor-formed letter opener. With meticulous care, he picked up the white paper between his thumb and index finger. On the paper was a long list of names.
To be continued.