Chapter 7
Darkest Intentions
He scribbled away on the page and leaned over close to watch the beakers. His eyes narrowed and with his free hand he grabbed something in another vial to drop a single drop into a beaker with something orange in it. The liquid turned green then and puffed up in smoke. He smiled and nodded as he made more notes. He was in a fantastic mood.
"Captain sir! There was a ship off the side sir, waving a pirates flag." A man rushed into the small room and waited just by the door. No one was allowed to go inside the room. Just inside the door.
"A ship you say? Well, I think we might have found what I Was looking for. Follow them then." He waved his head.
"Sir, they went right into a storm. If we follow we might be torn apart."
His head came up. "They did did they? And was the rain acting oddly?" He asked.
"Yes, it was as if it parted to let them in." The man gulped. He knew that look.
"Good, follow when the storm ends. I have found my little pet project." He stood up and walked out of his little lab room. Once on deck he looked out to the sea. "Soon my little pet, you will be mine again. You have evaded me for a very long time."
His portly belly stuck out from under the shirt one size too small. He wore a patchwork of clothing as if he did not spend anything on clothing but had it repaired instead. His dark gold hair hung stringy around his face and he had round red cheeks that made his nose seem small and his eyes shrink even more behind the large thick glasses he wore. He adjusted his belt which held a pistol and a sword and walked down the steps to the deck. His high healed shoes clicked against the wood loudly. He was an altogether repulsive man with terrible eating habits, bad manners and no compassion for human life.
vvVvv
"Sir, it seems the demon has taken refuge with the straw hat pirates, please advise." A Marine announced from across the room.
The man at the desk looked up. His white hair was slicked back until there was only a slight curl at his neck, but there was one escapee hair that fell down the side of his face. He was clean shaven and had very square like features that made him seem ruggedly handsome now and hinted at a heart breaker when he was younger. His blue eyes were tired as he regarded the young soldier.
"Find them. We may not be able to catch the straw hats but they wont know that. Offer them a trade, tell them they must give us the demon and we will let them go this once without a fight. Has their movement been mapped?"
"Yes Captain. They are headed to the Forbidden Island. Do we follow them?" He asked.
The man sighed. "Yes, it is time we finally catch this demon and use her as an example to all the other pirates. Let's go." He stood and looked out the window in his small cabin.
He had no liking for hunting down this girl. She had been running since she was a young girl. But the higher ups wanted her. And there was nothing he could do. His own daughter would be this woman's age now. If only he had gotten to her on time. Not for the first time did he wish he could have been there for his family when they died. He took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. He could feel the movement of the ship and it soothed his aching heart.
"No time for the past. Only moving to the future." He told himself. One day pirates would be obsolete. And then no one would die. One day.
vvVvv
"Forbidden Island." The pirate said. "They were spotted heading into a storm straight for that island.
"Good. Head for them. I want that woman's head mounded on my mast by the weeks end. She will pay for what she did to my brother. And I will be the one to make her regret it!" The captain slammed a tankard down on the table.
He was dirty, scraggly and drunk. His eyes dark and blood shot laughed in triumph. His black hair spiked and adorned with colorful beads. A bandanna wrapped around his head in black and white. He was a tall man, not thick with muscle but still strong. His beard was coarse and fell to this chest also threaded with beads. He grinned darkly and twirled a bead in his fingers.
"Soon you little bitch. You and I will cross blades. I will spill your innards upon the deck and rip out your still beating heart. For killing my brother you will pay." He relished the coming battle. He would avenge his brother.
vvVvv
"Hey, what island is that?" Luffy called from the figure head pointing ahead.
Nami and Mari looked up from the map they were talking about and looked to the distance.
"That is Forbidden Island. Many ships have landed there but they never go on shore." Mari told them.
"What happens if you go on land?" Usopp asked afraid.
"Well, the tales say that no one who enters the forests ever return. It's an island that has never been mapped." Mari told them.
"How long does it take the log pose to set?" Nami asked her, not sure she wanted to go on shore if no one ever returned.
"You don't need to go on shore. The pose will set in an hour. We should avoid going ashore." Mari told them.
"Let's go on shore." Luffy said.
Everyone looked to him. An island that has never been mapped? It could be a great accomplishment. Nami suddenly saw the benefits. She smiled. Zoro smiled, he could find new creatures to fight and a place to train. Sanji thought of all the new foods he could try with the new ingredients that had yet to be discovered. Robin wondered if there might be ruins there. Usopp was terrified of going on shore, his knees were shaking. Chopper planned to hunt down new things to use for healing people. Franky as excited to explore a new island. Mari watched them all as they set in with their own agendas. Her eyes softened, a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth and she ducked her head to the map before she smiled fully. Luffy watched her from his place and smiled slowly.
"To Forbidden Island!" He announced.
This is is a bit of a tease. XD Building the moment. Who will they end up meeting first!?
