Mission #5; Lost on Lost Island

[The Shimmering Banana]

Log Entry #18


Alone again…
How are we supposed to be a crew if we can barely stay together for more than a micro moment.
It was bad enough the Aimee and I had lost contact with our captain Gorrum..
Now I’ve lost Aimee and have no idea where to go next. What could be worse I just arrived on an island somewhere in the east blue said to be the weakest sea but all fishpeople know that the sea is dangerous no matter where she is.
So I’m always on my guard but that's besides the point. I'm going to try to find some life on this rock and maybe a serving job for a while until I can figure out my next move.
Well I'll talk to you again when I figure out where I am…
Shimmer Out

You know that feeling when you have nowhere to go and all the time in the world to get there? Oh you don't… Well let me explain it to you. Shimmer had been swimming aimlessly for almost two weeks now. A tremendous feet even for a Fish-Woman it was the equivalent of a human walking for two weeks without stopping. There was no need to stop the marines were surly on her tail from her last adventure and her friends were either caught or dead by now. If she was to ever see them again she would explain everything that had happened to her. How she was caught and sold off, of her new found hatred for the government and her eventual escape that lead her here. The island was of average size in the East Blue with a decent amount of foliage near its shore also common for an isle in this area of the world. Seagulls squawked overhead as they searched for there early morning food along the beach a hermit crab or a washed up fish perhaps. Shimmer flip flops imprinted the sand as she walked along the beach hoping to see a shipyard or a boardwalk a clear sign of sophisticated life. Grains of sand getting caught between her toes as she shimmies along with not a person in sight. She was still alone, tired, hungry and emotionally drained from this whole ordeal but Shimmer knew she had to keep going. If for no other reason than for the slight chance that her nakama was out there looking for her. She assumed the chances they were searching for her were slim she was a Fish-Person after all and her recent experience clearly showed her how humans truly feel towards her kind. All she could think was that they must be different. Gorrum and Aimee took her in as family they traveled the seas together and ran from the law together. Surely they didn't feel the same way…


Shimmer continues her march her stomach growling as she makes her way further inland looking around for any edible plants or fruits. She was in luck within the forest were scattered berry bushes, blackberries, blueberries and strawberries were just a few to say the least. She picked up the pace as she approached a perfectly purple berry bush mostly a blackberry bush that was a bit before peak season making for an extra sour snack. She picks a few off the bush and pops them in her mouth her teeth squishing the sour juice all through her mouth. The young Octo-Womans mouth tightens and her eyes begin to squint as the berries guts were too much for the girt to handle. Shimmer hatted sour things… her face was stuck in this position as the juice stayed puddled on her tongue her body refusing to swallow. He cheek twitched as she stood stuck forcing the sour down her throat.


*YUCK*

“I hate sour!” yells out the disgusted girl as she moves on towards another patch of bushes this time a dozens of dark blue pebble sized berries covered it. Shimmer only plucks one off this time making sure not to try before she buys so to speak. Not much flavor here, a very bland taste coming from the fruit. She pops another and another and another until it ends up being a hand full. They were doing their job nourishing the young woman so that she would survive but with no taste eating this was not living. And she never wanted to just survive again Shimmer wanted to live! She was just surviving as a slave a life she never wanted to live again. She scooped another handful of blueberries into her mouth and decides to find a sweeter bush for added flavor. In the distance a bright red bush catches her her the girl picking up her pace once more until she reached the bush. Yet something was different about this one the berries were seemed glossier than the other bushes and didn't seem to move naturally. As if the bush was stuck in place Oh well thought Shimmer as she shrugged her shoulders and reached for her sure to be tasty treat.She yanks at it, the berry staying perfectly attached to the bush, Shimmer then twisting it assuming it was just a thick stem. Just then the girl heard a *CLANK* as the ground beneath her feet gave out sending the girl sliding down an iron spiral slide.

“AHHHHHHHH!!!” screamed out Shimmer as she zipped downwards Why do these things always happen to me? she thinks as she disappears into the darkness.

[Cryo Through the Looking Glass]

Washed up on a beach in the middle of nowhere was certainly not where a certain young teen wanted to be. From the looks of things it's abandoned, but as Zen trudges through the leafy green foliage, he notes a trail of crushed up berries and spat out nuts. What a waste of food, he thinks. Gosh, Zen was exhausted. After walking for what seems like hours, he comes to a stop in front of a hole. Murky and black, it was exactly like the one he had just escaped on Ohara, albeit smaller. Great, more holes, he thinks.

Hearing the shriek of a woman, Zen skitters to a halt. That's strange, he muses as he turns back on himself and retraces the trail of crushed leaves distinctly marked into the ground. The hole. The chasm. The ravine. Whatever you wanted to call it, there was someone down there. The hole seemed intentional though, as it was a perfect square, almost exactly like a trapdoor. It must have been activated by whoever's down there.

Zen dropped down the trapdoor, the groan of metal clearly heard, the slide seeming to be worse for wear. Friction was causing the seam of his pants to heat up, and the multiple curves in the rickety structure didn't help his cause. He grunted, dusting himself off as he arrived at a stop in a concrete chamber. Zen tasted the musk of tropical fruits, almost perfume like. Pulling out his glow worm lantern from his pack, illuminating the cavern with a unearthly green light, Zen saw the outline of a busty woman, with, were those tentacles? A fishman all the way out here? he thought. 'Hello?' he called apprehensively, walking over to the woman. The first species other than human he had seen. Zen couldn't help but be curious. He had so many questions for the underwater living creature. But first, he should probably introduce himself. 'I'm Zenith Rauner, but my friends call me Zen. I'm the first mate of the Cainhurst Pirates. Zen felt the words spilling out uncontrollably, and although he was in new territory, he couldn't help but probe further. Sorry for asking, but what exactly are fishmen? And do you have gills and lungs? After letting out the burst of questions, Zen managed to shut himself up before he asked any more. How could she have got here? he thought.

[The Shimmering Banana]

Its funny how something that was once so calming could now be so traumatizing, Shimmer used to love the darkness. It had a feeling of zen to her nothing escaping its infinite reach not even sound. Yet now she hated it Shimmer felt trapped, alone and just wanted to get out of this horrible place whatever or wherever it was.

*SHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!*
The sound of metal sliding down the very slide she just slid down soon followed her worried thought. What or who is that? she thought quick to grab her slingshot and a handful of marbles. Whatever it was she was not going to let it get the best of her. With a loud thun the thing landed on the ground just feet in front of her seeming just as startled as she was when first dropping down. Making it obvious that it wasn't someone coming to check on their own trap. That didn't mean that they wouldn't be hostile either most people or things didn't like being dropped from elevated plains to unknown places. She squints trying to make out the figure in this dark pit “Definitely a humanoid.” she says as she sees the shape of the young man right before he illuminated the area. The room light up with a vibrant green light making everything seem like Shimmer was wearing night vision glasses.

The light made it visible to see the now obvious boy of no more than 16. His features not as distinguishable as she'd like due to the green tint The boy calling out to her greeting her as if he came in peace. But how could she be so sure what his intentions were with her. His onslaught of questions not making him seem more trustworthy. Why did he want to know so much information about fish people? Was he thinking of going into the slaver's business? It wasn't unheard of, in fact it was almost common practice to snatch up a fish person when you could especially one as voluptuous as Shimmer. She was sure to fetch a pretty penny in fact she had already cost someone a few million in the last. Yet Shimmer didn't get that mencial scene from his questions more of a general sense of willingness to learn and understand. “ Hi… I.. I'm Shimmer, and to be honest I didn't pay too much attention in biology class so I couldn't tell you. All I know is that I breath water like you breath air and air like I breath water.” she responded letting out a slight smirk attempting to not seem startled by the boy. She then walked over and extended her hand to shake with his and asked “So where are we?”

*Pooooooop*

As she asked the young man where they were a loud noise came from every direction overhead. “It's not where are you, it's why are you? As in why are you here?” calls out a mysterious voice. “This place is mine and mine alone and you're trespassing” it continued as Shimmer placed her top set of hands over her ears shielding it from the loud intercom system. “No matter you won't be around long enough to tell anyone else…..”. The loud voice stopped the intercom letting out an elongated
*Poooooooooopp…*
“Wait what was that last part?” questioned the girl to her new companion as she shook her head as her ears readjusted. Shimmer then looked around the way out was clear a narrow stone path behind her light up by the green glow. “I'm not sticking around here to find out what he's talking about.” she said hoping the boy would get the hint and tag along. The Fish-Girl turned around placing her hands along the cold stone walls as she walked down the path. The light was bright in their holding area but not bright enough to light the entire path in front of her. Sliding my hands along the walls will at least let me know when there's a turn she thinks as she looks back at the boy making sure to keep an eye in him. One couldn't be too cautious around new people.

“So your name is Zenith?” she says attempting to make light of their horrible situation. “You sure had a lot of questions for me have you never seen a beautiful woman with 6 arms before?” she jokingly continued.

[Cryo Through the Looking Glass]

Zen took in the new information from the fish woman, walking with her down the path. 'Shimmer? Nice name.' The boy replied to her comment. Down in the chamber, although lit up by Zen's glowworm lantern, it was still as dark as midnight, making it hard to get a clear view of anything. The smell of the woman's perfume still filled the air with its fruity scent, but in mixed with it was a sterile smell, almost like a test lab. Upon making this observation, he then noticed the walls were smooth as concrete. 

A voice, ringing out from the corners of the chamber, calls to the pair. Shimmer motions towards the exit, and Zen follows, all while being watched suspiciously by the fishwoman. 
'Zen. Yeah that's right.' at her next comment the teen blushed, glad that the light prevented her from seeing it. 'No... It's more the fishwoman bit. I've never spoken to one, let alone seen one! ' After responding to her comments, Zen voiced his opinion on the pit. 'I think this is some kind of lab or secret marine base. There's an intercom, smooth walls. It can't be natural.

Exploring the cavern, Zen wandered in front of Shimmer. 'That guy mentioned something about us not being around long enough to tell anyone. I don't know about you, but that sounded like a threat. Suddenly, strobe lights flickered on, casting a bright white glow on the corridor. Zen's head swam with the sudden change in brightness, the light searing the inside of his eyes. 'I jinxed us didn't I.'

Those were Zen's last words before thick sheets of metal shot up from the ground, giving them only a few meters space to move. 'Incineration in T-Minus 20 seconds.' That didn't sound good. A way out was needed, and fast. 'Got any explosives? he called to Shimmer. Although Zen's concoctions had a kick to them, they would need some extra oomph to get through the walls. Incineration in T-Minus 18 seconds. 'Hurry! he hissed urgently. 'Or this will be both of our graves!'

[The Shimmering Banana]

It was like being a caged mouse that got transferred into a cheese maze. Except the cheese at the end of the maze for the two travelers was their freedom and the scientist were unknown. After unwillingly falling in this place the pair was now once again in danger as the two metallic slabs popped up blocking the rear and their front. Nowhere to go and an even larger threat as the same intercom system called out a time till INCINERATION! Shimmer quickly responded to Zen’s command although she found it strange that he assumed she had explosives with her. She flips her bag over her shoulder reaching in taking out her most powerful explosive a bomb she called “Dreams”. With two left Shimmer knew that it would most likely require both of them to get them out of this trap. If she had the time she could whip up a new casing for the powder and mix it together giving it a much more stable and even explosion. This would be dangerous to say the least not only was their time running out but it wasn't certain that this level of explosion was going to destroy the wall. I didn't even get a second to test the wall for weak point she thinks as she cuts the fuses short then twist them together. The Octo-Woman places it in the corner against the metal and stone wall and sparks the fuse “This is such a NIGHTMARE” she says as she backs up to the opposite end of their small tomb.


*T Minus 12 Seconds*

The timer continues as the short fuse ends and the tiny explosive blows

*Boooom!*

The bomb explodes creating a plume of dust and debris sending tiny rock flying feet away just missing the hidden pair. “It worked!” she called out. Although it did not break through the metal wall it did blow a hole in the stone wall. Shimmer knew that she couldn't be certain the the metal wall would blow but she did know there was enough pop in the nightmare to blow a hole in a stone wall. That was their way out and perhaps even a way away from the preset trap giving the two a chance to strike back. “Hurry” calls out Shimmer as she crawls to fit through the three foot hole in the wall.

*3...2….1….*


The room lite up as flames covered the small space from top to bottom and eventually escaping the same hole the pair had just left. Having barely made it out alive Shimmer quickly stands to her feet and dust herself off letting out a few coughs. “Excuse me” she says “So I'm gonna have to say definitely some kind of mad scientist. Who else could rig up an incinerating room?” as the dust settles around them. “No matter who they are one thing is for certain we'll need to work together to get out out this mess, How about it Zenith?” she asks.

(OOC: Dreams can only be used twice a thread and Shimmer has combined both uses into one during this post.)

[Cryo Through the Looking Glass]

Zen watches, bewildered, as he didn't actually think such an innocent looking woman would be carrying around enough explosive to blow through a foot thick steel wall. But, of course she doesn't, and the teen is wrong. She instead props it in a corner, twisting the fuses so whatever volatile chemicals were stored in its chamber, mixes to create the loud bang that shocks the golden haired boy out of his thoughts.

Hitting the ground hurriedly, in a commando style position, Zen begins to crawl through the small smoking gap in the rock wall. The granite like rock had been soft enough to break through, but the Rauner is surprised that it broke through enough of it to get them out. 

Whilst they crawl, Zen's clothes and satchel catch on a spike in the tunnel, and a ripping of fabric is heard as the boy dives out, intense heat searing his backside. 'Uhhhh.... That's gonna leave a mark.' He stands up inside a dimly lit cave, the light's source multiple fluorescent lanterns akin to the ones used in mines. An exit looms over them to their right, and as Shimmer points out her observations about a mad scientist, what Zen sees through the doorway confirms that. A mess of rag tag bandits, numbering in the thirties, all of them looking like they hadn't eaten in a week and were hungry for more than just food. But what really hit the hammer on the head was the vials they were holding, their eyes hungry and bloodshot, heads twitching like a birds.

'Shimmer? Look over there.

Oh god these people were being drugged. That much was obvious. But why? And on such a deserted island? 'We've got to get them out of there!
((OOC: I am really really sorry for the late post.))

[The Shimmering Banana]

Cave I'd say drug den was more like it Zen’s observation was correct it did seem like these people were being drugged. For what purpose? And what with? Not questions that Shimmer wanted to stick around a find out the answer to but Zen was right. They had to help these people be they pirates, marines or kidnapped townsfolk these people needed their help. Shimmer understanding how it felt to be held against your will. “You're right” she replies to Zen as she walks towards a much older gentleman laying on the ground dying of malnutrition. She places two of her right arms behind the man slightly elevating the man's torso as he shivered in her arms. The elderly man's eyes crying out for help to the young fish woman.

Letting a few tears fall from her eyes Shimmer stands with the old man in her arms as she addresses the den of dead men walking. “We've got to save them all” she says to Zen as she hands over the elderly man and walks over to a wooden milk crate that had been turned upside down. Shimmer stands atop of it looking over the fallen men in despair, “Get up!” she yells out. With no response from them she yells louder “Get up! Are you just gonna lay her dying?” this time a few of the men turning towards her direction. This might be exactly what they need “I don't know who you people are but you can't go on living like this. Rotting in some pit until the reaper comes for you.” her words beginning to resegnate within the men. A few of them even begin to rise to their feet. It seemed as if her speech was working, “Well I… WE won't stay here! We are getting out of here!”

By the end of her speech it hadn't worked as well as she liked Shimmer looked out to the group as only the same few men stood to join with Zen and herself. “Oh boy” she says letting out a disappointing sigh but looking back at the only capable person helping her Zenith. In her uproar she didn't even realize how she had begun to let the newcomer into her life a feeling she thought she would never feel again TRUST. After all she's been through Shimmer never thought she would be referring to someone, other than her estranged crew, as a trustworthy person. Especially someone that she had recently just met 'for all I know he's in on all this. He did just drop down right after me. Maybe he was following me the whole time.' she thinks as she peeks back at her companion. 'No I can't think like that all the time. Not everyone is out to get me' she continues as she looks back at the raggedy bunch of test subjects. “Ok this will have to do.” she says to Zen as the same noise pierced their ears.

*Poooop*

“I knew it!” called out the voice from the intercom system. “You're here to stop my experiments. Trying to free my subjects? Well you won't escape just as none of them have ever escaped. If the traps don't destroy you my guard and I surely will. Gwahahahaha!”

*Pooooop*

[Cryo Through the Looking Glass]

Zen watched the fishwoman as she walked over to the captives gently. Zen wanted to yell out to her to be careful, but he thought the statement would be lost on Shimmer, her mind focussed on the poor souls captured by the scientist.

Zen ran over, his wide brown eyes clearly shocked. Then a voice on the intercom rang out, telling them they were in danger of destruction. 'Shimmer? I hate to say it, but how are we going to fight off this guy and save these people?' The comment made his insides twist, it was against his moral code to leave these people here.

Why were they here? The captors invited so many questions and the only way they were going to get answers was out of that scumbag who had drugged the captors. 'You stay here. I'm going to beat answers out of this monster.' Zen's voice was seething with rage, and he stormed off through the crowd in a fury.

Releasing his glove, as if issuing a challenge, Zen made the gauntlet which had consumed the devil fruit transform into a full form sabretooth, and it charged, Zen following in a sprint. Before coming to an abrupt stop about 20 meters from where he had started. A tick iron door in front of him. This guy's security system was tough. He thought for a second. He had to find a different way.

Then the doors opened, sliding to the side to let through a few people dressed in world government uniform. One was a sandyhaired short man, and the other was a blonde tall woman.
'So I said to him, noooo, it was you who let it rip!' Zen was confused at that comment. What?! Then they both burst out laughing, before coming round the corner and seeing Zen and his deadly feline. Their faces dropped faster than you could say hello, looking in awe at the creature. Then it pounced, the magnificent beast's haunches arched and his jaw salivating. Pushing the man to the ground before he could react, Zen drew a dagger and advanced on the other.

Proceeding to flick it round dangerously, the Rauner using his non existent knife skills to... drop the knife!? It clattered to the metal hallway's floor with a clang. Looking sheepish, the boy gave up on trying to be impressive and yelled a war cry, holding his fist like a sword, before thudding it into the female marine.

Smell ya later! he exclaimed before dashing past the crumpled bodies, sprinting again down the identical corridor. Every door was the same, with labels not appearing. This was going nowhere. What the boy didn't know was that he had been put into a trap, albeit a simple one. Slight drugs reducing his ability to think, and a conveyor belt on the floor made the boy infinitely running. He didn't realise till much later....

[The Shimmering Banana]

“Me stay here yeah right…” before Shimmer could finish her sentence the boy was off tossing some kind of gauntlet into the air. “Wait a second I'm the one who got everyone together” she began to say before seeing the impossible right before her eyes. As the young man's gauntlet glide through the air a devilish change occurred. Although it was nothing more than a cheap weapon at best it transformed into a prehistoric beast. And an agile one at that the now sabertooth landing on its feet before clearing the way for its master. ‘Now I know we've been drugged’ she thinks as the pair make their way down the corridor. “What is that thing?” she asks making sure to stay close to Zen best to stay near a beast tamer.

Before he could answer the pair came to a mechanical steel door blocking their path. It sliding open letting two employees of the madman into the hall. Their faces stuck with fear as the long toothed beast pounced on the man leaving the woman for Zen to deal with. His knife skills leaving her less than impressed before he sent a cheap shot into her guts. ‘Gotta do what you gotta do I guess’ she thought realizing that sometimes on dry land you had to do what you had to do. They made it away from the pair and that's all that was important. Shimmer looked ahead as Zen continued his relentless pursuit down the hall of doors.

There were so many doors to choose from but which one will be the one they pick. Shimmer began to catch up to Zen despite his running when she realized that it seemed like he was running in place. He in fact was but just in a small area that lead down another hall. The floor was routed to a certain location but for what purpose? The obvious answer being that it was part of the trap and it would lead them to more death. The other answer could be that it was some kind of makeshift yellow brick road. For their sake let's hope it was the yellow brick road and they were lead to freedom. “Hey stop running for a sec.” she says to the boy as he seemed to realize that he was running in place.

“It looks like some kind of conveyor belt” she says watching him move. “Call me crazy but I think we should follow it. The rest of the group should catch up soon but those guys won't be much help. If we can figure this out they won't have to fight just show up and scare them with sheer numbers.” she continues taking a step towards the moving walkway. “Worst case maybe they'll end up freeing us who knows…” she finishes her speech stepping onto the belt.

[Cryo Through the Looking Glass]

What's this? Oh it's a glove. Well, a glove that has a Zoan class Devil Fruit. Don't suppose you know what that is.'
Zen said, distracted. Shimmer tapped him and said something. Wait a minute! How is she staying still, and keeping up with him? 'Wha....' he stopped running, and flew backwards in a heap, the conveyer belt adjusting to his 'movement'. The air was driven out of him as he dropped to the ground. As he got up again he dusted himself off. 'Hahaha! That was the funniest thing I've ever seen! I didn't expect the trap to work, but I guess you really are a dunce!' The intercom voice was back with a vengeance. A vengeance about teenagers who didn't bother to look down.

Shimmer stepped on, and it was then that Zen realised she had discovered a better use for it. Going the right way. 'That makes so much more sense...' He stepped back on too, transporting them the other way and supposedly towards Mr Intercom. They travelled in silence, Zen expecting more vile traps to pop out of nowhere. At one point a metallic screech was heard, and when Zen looked down, his sabretooth was scraping his claws against the ground. He could swear the animal had a cheeky grin on his face as Zen ruffled it's fur affectionately, giving it a quiet shush.

Then events happened again! The sabretooth leaped forward and off the conveyer belt with a snarl, its long canines bared and its haunches raised, ready to pounce. The opposition was a large robot, positioned into the ground, a rotating sentry with nasty looking blades that glimmered a teal blue. Sea stone. The sabretooth winced, whining as it got closer. Zen beckoned it's return. It wouldn't affect Zen or Shimmer he assumed, at least not from its aura of the ocean. He'd have to deal with this with his wits and chemicals. Pulling a rubber ball filled with ethylene, the Rauner ignited it with his spark-thrower, shooting a stream of minuature stars that danced onto the flammable object, which he tossed. 'You're not the only one with explosions Shimmer!' he said jokingly as the ball exploded, to little effect, the fire blowing over the steel sentry and leaving it unharmed. 'Plan B, plan B!'

[The Shimmering Banana]

“Plan B…. AH! I have a plan B!” called out the girl drowning out the annoying voice still rambling on over head. I can't stand tables evil genius types alway having to explain every aspect of their life to explain their turmoil. Continuously complaining how the world turned them into the monster they were today. Shimmer kneels down as she reached into her bag getting out a simple glass marble. “Some times” she starts placing the small sphere into the double reinforced rubber straps of her sling shot. “You don't have to destroy your target..” she continued as she yanked back the straps closing one eye her left cheek slightly raising. “You just have to disable it.” she finishes off releasing the marble sending hurtling toward the bladed machine sticking right into a gear on its side. The blade slum another full rotation before the marble completely chromed up the gear causing the moving trap to stop spinning.

“See piece of cake” she proclaimed as the Fish-Woman rose to her feet. Winking at her new friend and sticking out her tongue. Just as she began to mock the young man several other bots came out from every and I mean every direction. Trap door slid open overhead as it was revealed that they were spider like robots. Equipped with the same blade mechanism, on their back, as the one from earlier yet these could walk upon any surface. Shimmer looks behind her as more appeared from whence they came. Only to turn ahead and see even more approaching. They were surrounded to say the least and it would certainly not be a piece of cake getting out of this one.

“Ok..ok..” she stutter taking a step back bumping into Zen with her step. “Plan C.” she says reaching into her bag pulling out a hand full of marbles. “And sometime you just have to make it rain. Or HAIL! in our case. She loads up the hand full of glass marbles and aims overhead. The marbles smashing into the small spider bots coming from the ceiling. The bots loosing their footing as the spheres smashed into the small metal legs sending them crashing to the ground. Some of their bladed bodies falling atop their metal trap mates. Yet they were just a few of the swarm of bugs left to deal with. Jumping back and forth to avoid falling dabri Shimmer called out to Zen “So do you have a plan E?” reaching into her bag pulling out more marbles aiming at a group heading towards their feet.