Chapter 1: Kilauea Pu'u 'O'o Volcano, Big Island Hawaii.
"What are we doing out here? You had better have a really good answer!" Detective Williams stated, a scowl on his face, as he looked around at the barrenness of the land around him and followed his partner farther into the nothingness.
Danny had always hated the idea of living on a rock in the middle of the ocean. He missed the city, the sounds, the people, and even the crimes, but he was stuck on an island for the sake of his daughter, and he loved her too much to let her go. Hawaii wasn't all it was cracked up to be. The permanent vacation that people promised, envied him for, was not what had greeted him with his transfer to the HPD. The Island life was nothing like the city life that he had known, and the more he saw of the island, heard about their creation and lived in the sweltering heat, the more he missed New Jersey. As much as he hated the islands, he hated the idea of risking his life out in the lava fields even more, and now, here he was walking across the barren landscape, feeling the tremors of the constant earth quakes, and listening with all his might for that one crack, or pop, that would claim his life.
"This had better not take long; I have to be back in Honolulu by 5pm. I've got Grace tonight. Why couldn't you brief me on this back at HQ, and don't say that it's for adventure sake cause this is not my idea of an adventure GI Joe." Danny stated, still following Steve, hoping that his comments would get a rise out of his partner who seemed to be enjoying Danny's displeasure far too much.
"A volcanologist found the body out here this morning." McGarrett stated as he stepped lightly over the smooth, black, surface of the cool lava flow. "It's been sent to the lab for analysis; you'll be following the body back to Oahu."
"Then why are we out here?" Danny asked. "If the body's back at the lab, our lab back in Honolulu, to our scientists and specialists, then why, using your human reasoning not your crazy navy reasoning, would you drag me out here to risk my life when you knew I would hate you forever for doing it?" he shouted as he flowed Steve. "Every time you take me out into places I don't want to go, I hate this state more and more. Do you get that? Not to mention you decide to island jump on this case, which is overly excessive and a waste of money, in my opinion, but do you have to drag me along too?"
"Do you ever stop complaining?" Steve asked.
"Do you ever think before you put me into situation that you think will be funny but really just piss me off?" Danny asked.
"I was hoping that one of these outings would inspire your to change your mind." Steve laughed. "I mean look at this place, it's spectacular. We are standing on the world's most active volcano. The Hawaiian people believe this place to be sacred. You have to see some merit in this natural wonder. You would never find this in New Jersey!"
"It's a mound of black rock that was once so hot that it bubbled up from the belly of the earth and spewed out over this land destroying everything in its path. That is not spectacular, it's insane! Furthermore, the farther we go, the closer we get to the active volcano, active being the key word. I was thankful to not be in danger of life threatening eruptions and earth quakes in Jersey. I'd like to live to see my Grace graduate; if you don't mind."
"Watch your step," McGarrett stated as they came to an area that was blocked off by yellow tape.
"Funny," Danny stated sarcastically.
"Aloha, boys," Kono smiled as her commanding officer stepped into the area that was blocked off by police tape.
"He dragged you out here too?" Danny asked watching the young woman carefully.
"I was out here on a personal trip, the surf is spectacular this time of year," Kono stated, "so I was able to be one of the first response."
"Can we stop using that word to describe this place?" Danny asked annoyed with the situation. "What did you fine?"
"Dano's afraid of the volcano," Steve stated as Kono watched Danny questioningly.
"I'm not afraid of it!" Danny stated with an exacerbated sigh. "I have great respect for acts of God and natural wonders. I admire them from afar. This is way too close."
"We can take you up to the observation station to see Kilauea erupting, it truly is spectacular." Kono stated knowing that Danny was on his last threads.
"I have to get back to Oahu, but thank you." Danny stated. "So can we please just get this over with?" he asked. "What did you find?"
"Typical body dump," Kono stated as she motioned around the area. "There is some trace here that I've collected but really nothing else, which is rather odd, no tire treads or foot prints, nothing but a random body."
"What was the condition of the body?" McGarrett asked.
"It was mangled," Kono stated.
"Mangled?" Danny asked.
"Yeah," Kono nodded, "part of the body was… well… it looked like it was blown up."
"Blown up?" Danny asked raising an eyebrow.
"Are you thinking mob related?" Steve asked.
"Not really, the mob is more apt to put you in cement shoes," Danny stated, "blowing up a body is new. Is there trace of explosives here?" he asked looking at Kono now.
"No, like I said, it's a body dump for sure. This is not our primary crime scene, and from what the coroner's assistant stated, the victim has been dead for several days, but hasn't been out here long. They couldn't get a liver temp because the liver was…well…blown up and the rest of the body was still frozen."
"Frozen?" Danny asked.
"Yes," Kono nodded.
"Interesting," Steve stated turning to Danny, "what do you think?"
"I have no clue," Danny sighed, "this is all new to me."
"Do we have any ID or anything on the Vic?" Steve asked.
"Nothing, but her fingers and teeth are fully intact; we should be able to get an ID from that." Kono stated.
"So what, the abdomen is blown up but the rest of the body is fine?" Danny asked sarcastically. "Preserved even?"
"Yes," Kono stated.
"Wow, someone's working with some mad skill," Danny stated.
"These guys are sending us a message," Steve stated as he stepped out of the police tape and made his way back across the lava flow. "They wanted us to find this body, they want us to know who she is, and they want us to go after them."
"Or they were just praying to the volcano god to cover up their dirty deeds!" Danny stated as the ground shook beneath his feet again.
"They should have put the body closer to the crater then," Steve stated, "this section has been inactive for years."
"Doesn't mean its going to stay that way," Danny stated and picked up his pace to get off the volcano.