Title: Storm
Pairing: NamiVivi
Warnings: Use of weapons.
Summary: Capturing Vivi was Nami's final mission as a bounty hunter. Her client would pay well, and the mission would ultimately save her village from the hands of Arlong. However, somewhere along the way, it seemed as if it was Nami who got captured by Vivi.
Author: Stopless [ladyquintessence Tumblr]
Beta: Atlanis Tumblr
Note: Written for the 2015 opbigbang.
"Miss All Sunday has informed me about your travel companion," the leader of Baroque Works said to Vivi.
Vivi said nothing. Earlier, when she had awoken from her slumber, dressed, and started to plan on how to gather more information, she was interrupted by the person known as Miss All Sunday. Miss All Sunday had a white overcoat and hat, while the rest of her attire was a deep purple.
Occupied with looking over the maps in order to plan her and Nami's next move, she had not considered the possibility of someone else other than Nami to arrive in the room. By the time Vivi realized the strangeness in Nami's silence, it was too late.
Miss All Sunday had a strange ability that allowed her to control a force not visible to the eyes. It felt like arms had encased her entire being. Vivi had struggled to breath due to what felt like arms around her neck; threatening to choke her to death. In the end, Vivi was forced to cooperate.
She had then been dropped off in the chamber of this very building. When she had been coming through, her consciousness still swimming, she had sensed the malicious presence of none other than the leader of Baroque Works.
Vivi no longer needed to find the very heart of Baroque Works, she had ironically been brought to it.
Vivi had then heard the doors of the chamber close shut, and even though her head had still been spinning, she had reached into her pocket and felt that her weapon was still there. She had felt so relieved. Miss Sunday may not be so bad after all.
Now, as she glared silently at the Baroque Works leader, she slowly brought her weapon out.
xxx
Meanwhile, Nami began to sneak her way into the building's hidden chamber. The two guards at the front doors did not take long to take out, however Nami knew that despite their simple defeat, there would be more guards to soon face.
Guards most likely had an electronic DenDen Mushi system. It was technology introduced by the the 'New Galaxy.' As a bounty hunter, however, Nami knew that however convenient, using electronic devices as a means of communication would seem, the communication would be inevitably be tracked.
A way for power-hungry governments to control beings by invading their privacy in the guise of safety.
Of course, not all new technology was built with the intent to contain and control. Advanced electronic weapons harnessed energy around one's environment in order to fuel an attack, for example. Nami's own Clima-Tact wasn't an electronic weapon, however it was perhaps what had inspired them. The old technique of harnessing energy through will or movements was slowly but surely trickling away. Many beings who had never held a weapon of older craftship didn't even believe in will or movement control and techniques.
Nami clutched her Clima-Tact tightly, grateful of her find yet again, and thankful for Usopp's ability to modify such a magnificent weapon. She wondered if she would be able to replace the Clima-Tact one day when it inevitably breaks out of so much use. She knew that she should take better care of her weapons, however she also knew that weapons were made for eithing fighting or protecting. To simply stuff the Clima-Tact away in a case or even a museum in exchange for Beli would be a tragedy.
Without hesitation, Nami deflected another double laser beam attack from a pair of guards approaching and shooting her from the right. Again, the guards were taken down by their very own attack. Nami then dashed to the corner of a wall, weapon still at ready. She listened to the shouts of a group of guards that had just discovered their fallen comrades.
Four… Five… Six… Seven.
She counted seven voices, and she learned that the guards of this building usually came in pairs, which meant -
Nami was barely able to avoid entirely of the single laser beam that was directed to her arm. She smelled a bit of her own singed flesh. It stung, but at least it didn't bleed. Laser weapons were designed in such a way. They were supposed to quickly get rid of someone without the mess. To Nami, it was a small mercy and a piece of valuable information.
The next laser beam targeted her arm again, and because of the sting from the first attack, Nami was just barely able to deflect it without trouble. However, she did hear the collapse of the guard that had fired it.
She looked to her left, then to her right. It was time to switch tactics. She needed to located the exact source of the attack. Nami began to spin her Clima-Tact in a circle, creating a deflecting shield.
While the shield was up, she snuck a glance around the corner. The guards were still inspecting the bodies of their fallen comrades. They were troubled about being taken down by their very own weapons.
Another single laser beam shot at her, and it was deflected by her shield. For a second, Nami felt triumphant. However, the victory drained away from her as the deflected laser beam hit a sprinkler attached to the ceiling.
The water alerted the other guards immediately.
Nami quickly moved away from the wall, doing her best to keep the Clima-Tact spinning to deflect the laser beams and the water that was blocking her vision.
Then, she saw it. A small camera droid attached to side of a wall. The eighth guard was present, however in another room controlling the droid in attempt to confuse and distract Nami.
As the rest of the guards approached her, their laser attacks relentless, deadly, and ultimately self-defeating, Nami slowly made her way to another part of the building. She needed to find the eighth guard now, and keep watch of any droids attached to the side of walls.
xxx
Vivi lashed out her weapon, arms crossing to aim at her target.
Her attack missed, the leader of Baroque Works seemed to easily avoid it as if he had morphed into a million grains of sand.
Vivi yanked at her weapon, freeing the jewel tips from the ground. She tried again, only to miss once more.
"What would happen, I wonder," the leader of Baroque Works began, chuckling. "If the princess of Alabasta returns… only to be dead. The people would turn to a new leader in that time of chaos. A time where the current king falls into despair and ruin."
"You are nothing like a king!"
Laughter echoed across the chamber. "Your father will be nothing like a king. Especially after he is seen to execute his own daughter in retaliation for failing her mission."
"He would never do that to me."
"Oh, but He doesn't have to do it. Someone who just looks like him could do the same job."
"You wouldn't dare."
The reply that Vivi received was only more laughter.
xxx
Nami ran down a long corridor, her sight set on the door at the end of it that read 'Security.'
Just as she was about to open the door, the guard who had been trying to attack her via controlling droids opened the door from the other side.
They were not a normal guard. Both of their hands shot out in preparation of hitting Nami with not one, but two laser beams.
Nami quickly separated her Clima-Tact into two staves and spin them to create a shield and a method of attack.
Unlike the new electronic weapons, the traditionally crafted Clima-Tact did not risk malfunction when exposed to the elements. She kept spinning her weapons despite of the slippery grip. Water gathered at the base of separated staves, as if being exposed to the natural element had awoken something within it.
With the flick of her wrists, Nami aimed the gathered water at the palms of the guard.
The result was immediate.
Sparks began to fly in protest of cool water on the heat. The guard screamed in agony as they panicked, hitting their hands at the wall in attempt to stop the burning. Then, thinking better of it, the guard turned to Nami.
Nami knew what was coming. The agonized guard wanted to catch her in their palms. They wanted her to go down with them. Nami continued to aim water at the exposed palms as quickly as she can, and, finally, the guard went down with one last agonized scream.
Nami was beyond grateful for her Clima-Tact.
She started to dash through another corridor, looking left and right for any approaching guards.