Author's Note: Chapter 20! A pretty big chapter with explanations on Zone and Daverio's abilities, and we finally go back to Haven and Nine Wolf! Thanks for reading!
Inside of Zone's Volcano (4 hours 56 minutes since the Brave Luck Pirates arrived)
"…..Your going to start it so soon?….but….we still have work to do here…." Captain Daverio was surprised at Zone's haste. They had agreed to put off the project for quite some time. He raised his arms up in hopeless frustration. His cane was dangling in his hand.
"Believe me, I've wanted to work here for a little while longer, but things have a way of….changing, fufufufu…" Zone seemed to find all this funny. Daverio frowned. All the time they had invested on their studies on this island, all the fear they had instilled into the islanders for the sake of those studies, all that was left undone…and Zone just laughed about it.
"Give me a real answer! Why are you doing this? Your going to just start Project Zone? That would mean we would have to evacuate too right? And I can't have you attacking all those people! They're currently affected by my hypnotism! I'm trying to study the effects of pro-" Daverio said as Zone held up a hand to cut him off.
"Your research means nothing. You are using only one group as the basis for your study. You have a long way to go before you are even close to calling yourself a scientist." Daverio clenched his fist and tightened his hold on his cane. Zone looked at his change in body language and decided to lighten up a bit. "I do appreciate all the work your crew has done to advance my ambition, but the deal was you would help me and I would help you, until I was ready to move on. But I didn't exactly say that I was going to move on did I? I'm moving to phase two."
While Daverio felt insulted, he also felt a wave of curiosity. 'Phase two?' he thought to himself. "What do you mean by phase two? I thought you were simply here to test the stress of humans when put in a threatening situation, while simultaneously investigating the tectonic plates and terrain of this island?" Zone laughed at Daverio's ignorance.
"Your ability to alter the perception of humans helped me to keep the islanders here for quite some time under several misconceptions…..do you seriously believe I had you do that merely so I could do a test on human stress? No, there's a real reason why I did this," Zone said.
Daverio furrowed an eyebrow. "Real reason?"
"Come on your smart. The real reason is a mix of the excuses I gave you. Studying human stress. I'm actually studying humans, but not exactly the stress in them. And tectonic plates-or should I say the materials more so. Come one Daverio, even your subordinate gets it."
Daverio turned to Galvin. Galvin was completely lost. Daverio felt like an idiot for not guessing what Zone was getting at. He finally exploded after silently thinking for a couple more minutes. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? HOW CAN THOSE TWO THINGS EVEN RELATE! WHAT WAS THE REAL REASON!"
Zone smirked. 'This Daverio man isn't as smart as I thought he was.' Zone spoke. "Do you remember when we took this island hostage?"
"It had to have been…..exactly 2 months ago. Some of the islanders believe it's been days, or weeks, or even years longer."
"Not true. The people of this island have managed to make contact with one another since I let up on the shifts and switched to the new pattern. After doing several physicals, the doctors of this island believe it's been a year and a half. I learned this information when I disguised myself and visited Freedom's Landing."
"How would they come to that conclusion? It HAS actually been only 2 months!"
"That leads me to my first point. I'm studying humans," Zone said. "I've managed to alter how the human body ages through the use of an element. I slightly sped up the aging process on all the humans on this island. Just as I thought, the doctors think they have an approximation on the time, when they truly have no clue."
Daverio blinked as his jaw dropped. "Sped up aging? I thought you only had the ability to manipulate the time and position of terrain! Is this age acceleration a chemical agent you've released or something?"
"I'm lost. Chemical agent? Aging? Time of terrain? I'm confused," said Galvin as he frowned. He was completely lost from the entire conversation. Daverio hated to admit it, but he sympathized with Saint Galvin for once.
"I'll explain once for the both of you. Everything. Pay attention," said Zone. Daverio and Galvin stood straight and looked to him. "My devil fruit, tec tec no mi, allows me to alter tectonic plates, and the materials that exist in and around them. I can rapidly age the plates in a sense, and when I do this, they naturally shift, as though years of change actually happened. This island, Larrigo, is ideal for my ability, since this island has, for the past millennia, been stuck in the same place. It will rotate, rather than separate. That is how I move entire areas to and fro. I thought you and your crew would've figured this out after I shared some of my power with you. Are you with me so far?"
Galvin and Daverio nodded. They thought that they could just move things wherever they wanted. This full explanation was better.
"This power is not limited to terrain. Anything that possesses material from the lithosphere can also be affected…." Zone looked toward Daverio.
"Ah!" Daverio exclaimed. He finally understood.
"…Eh?" Galvin was wondering what the realization was.
"Saint Galvin it's quite simple," said Daverio. who was back to his confident condescending self. "He uses elements in the lithosphere to influence the artificial aging. Some of those elements exist in other things, such as human beings or den den mush's. That's how he used his power to eliminate communication and age the people on this island. But I'm guessing his power is somewhat limited." Daverio turned to Zone to explain further.
"Fufufufufu, exactly, Captain Daverio! The main element I alter is magnesium. It's an element that is necessary in the human body. It can manipulate human DNA, and I exploit this to influence aging in living things. And correct again Captain, there is a limit to my power. I cannot age living things as quickly as I can the terrain. In 2 months time, I only managed to age the islanders under my 24/7 influence around a year and 183 days."
'So that's what he meant by a mixture of both. Studying humans, and tectonic plates…..but wait?' Daverio thought with his head down. He looked toward Zone and spoke. "Wait. So your not studying human stress, and your not studying tectonic plates correct? But rather your studying the aging process at an accelerated speed? Well right back at you Mr. Scientist, your as close minded as I am. YOUR only using one group as the basis for your study!"
"Fufufufu…not true, Captain Daverio. I have two groups, a control, and several other factors."
Two groups caught Daverio's attention. "Two groups? I don't get it you….." realization finally dawned on him.
"Yes my boy. I'm doing a comparison. You used that ability of yours two months ago right? What do you propose is different from then? Or should I say who?
Daverio knew already. "Nine Wolf was present two months ago. Your powers affected him too, but he left the island. He must be one of the people that came here today. Unlike group 1, which would be all the islanders, he was not here the entire length of time. He left your influence and explored for a bit. Your trying to see the range and duration of your powers out of your proximity."
"FUFUFUFU!…..you pick up quickly Captain….but that's not the only reason. There's more to him…and I need his body to learn further. Thus, the hastening with Project Zone. But did you just say ONE of the people that came back? I sensed Nine Wolf's presence of course."
"Three others arrived with him, but they were separated. Two of them are resistant to the effects of devil fruit because of large amounts of sea water in them and they are currently in this Volcano, and one other is steadily fighting the effect somehow."
"Two of them are resistant? And in the Volcano?" Zone was upset as he spoke.
"Well, we lured them in because we didn't want them causing an inconsistency with the hypnosis and break it…we've taken steps to eliminate them. In addition, one other individual is in the Volcano. This individual is from the Blood Contact Pirates and is subject to our control, since he was here when we started two months ago," Daverio said.
Zone sighed. "Well we can't miss a golden opportunity like this. We'll eliminate the three trespassers at our leisure. ID them based on any names you've heard and pictures. This would have been a hold up, but instead we'll use their presence to create a particularly nasty experiment on the entire populace. This has given me a great idea….." Zone smiled in a cheshire grin.
"What nasty experiment?" Galvin asked. Daverio was also curious.
"Why, a test on human stress. Raise the hidden monitor in Freedom's landing and ready the PA system. We have an announcement….and a choice to offer…fufufufufufu!"
Freedom's Landing Council Hall (5 hours 10 minutes since the Brave Luck Pirates arrived)
"I've been gone for a year and a half!" Nine Wolf exclaimed loudly to everyone seated at or near the table in the small conference room.
Haven looked at Nine Wolf's rapid expression and stifled a laugh. This was the first time she laughed since they sat in the room. Everyone around her was talking weird. Like they were in slow motion or something. It felt like an hour passed to her, but the way they talked it seemed like they thought only 5 or so minutes passed. Something was strange.
Yvette sighed. This was going to be a lot for her brother to take in. "Yes, our doctors have found that anyone on this island at the time Zone took over became subject to his power. We were hoping you wouldn't have been affected but you were since you believe you've been gone for two months."
Nine Wolf sat back in his chair. 'These people have been subject to this madman for over a year now…? Where was I! What the hell was I doing up until now!' Nine Wolf thought as he slammed his fist onto the table. Yvette could see that her brother was crushed by the fact that he didn't help them in this time.
"It's fine Se-Nine Wolf. You couldn't have possibly known. You were affected as well." Yvette tried to soothe her brother.
"Am I weird too now?" Haven asked. Aloe flashed her eyes over Haven as she spoke and became slightly aroused at Haven's innocent (yet dumb) question.
"Weird? You mean affected? Well yes, I believe you would be. No ships have come to this island in a while, so we don't know what happens to people that just appeared, but it's likely you are now afflicted." Yvette answered Haven.
"No ships have come? But this is an island based on trade! A ship from Gretty comes here once a year, and it's our biggest import! How did it not get here?" Nine Wolf asked Yvette.
"Zone must have done something. We've definitely been here a year and a half, so it came, but somehow didn't make it." Yvette silently prayed that the ship and it's crew were alright.
Haven made a face. "I don't think I'm weird at all. I think everyone else is weird! You guys talk every 5 minutes and it feels like forever to me!"
Nine Wolf scowled at Haven. "Be polite Haven girl! Just because things aren't exactly moving at the pace you want, doesn't mean you can just insult people! We've been here a total of like 2 or 3 hours and you keep complaining!"
Haven frowned at Nine Wolf. "I think it's been longer. I think I've been here forever," she said as she crossed her arms angry. Aloe liked the passion behind her movements.
Yvette turned to Haven and asked, "wait, what do you mean? How are you perceiving things exactly?"
"Well, we've been in this room for like an hour, but when you guys speak its really slowly and kinda weird so I don't know if someone will talk back to someone saying something about some-" she paused thoughtfully as she slightly confused herself.
"Could it be th-" Yvette began before a blaring sound rung through the air. Everyone in the council room covered their ears as the sound continued and a voice boomed over a mic somewhere.
"ATTENTION! AN ISLAND WIDE ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE VIA VIDEO AND AUDIO! ALL THOSE IN FREEDOM'S LANDING PLEASE STAND OUTSIDE TO RECEIVE AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR ZONE!"
"ATTENTION! AN ISLAND WIDE ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE VIA VIDEO AND AUDIO! ALL THOSE IN FREEDOM'S LANDING PLEASE STAND OUTSIDE TO RECEIVE AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR ZONE!"
"What in the world, Nine Wolf began as he rushed outside. The others in the council room soon followed him. They all stood on the balcony of the council building looking around outside as the message continued to blare. After 20 more seconds, a double sided large screen slowly emerged from the ground. It lit up, and several people gasped as a face emerged onto the screen.
Island-wide announcement (5 hours 20 minutes since the Brave Luck Pirates arrived)
"Fufufufu. Is this thing on? Testing one-two….three? So the main screen is up in the city and the mics for the surrounding towns? ….Ah it is on. If you idiots hadn't skewered that Clovey guy he could've done this. Ahem. This is Zone and I have a urgent announcement to make. Before I make the said announcement, I would like to thank the fine people of Freedom's Landing for forwarding my decision on the fate of this island, in particular Yvette Bastion! She's the one who organized the foolish Anti-Zone coalition, so who better to thank? In addition I have to say a thanks to the pirate Nine Wolf for his return to this island! He also had a hand in the research I've been conducting, and his physical body is of value to me, since I need to study the changes that have likely occurred since the planting in his body! Which reminds me of the real reason why I've waited to tell you about the announcement!"
The voice pauses.
"…..I am undergoing Project Zone, set to begin immediately. This was supposed to be a covert, yet mass assignment that would eliminate all life on the island, but due to a certain circumstance that's come up, I have to hold up on it. Fortunately for you, this hold up can become permanent if two conditions are met. Nine Wolf the Pirate is to be brought to me, alive more or less, and he MUST be in a stable condition. If there is too much damage to his person, I will refuse and continue with Project Zone. In other words, Nine Wolf will have to come to me willingly. I am not a man that would break his word, so when I have Nine Wolf, preferably caught in sea stone, in my control, I will move onward and release the island. If not, I will use my abilities to cause catastrophic damage to Larrigo and annihilate it's inhabitants. If you think I'm bluffing, then by all means, don't bring Nine Wolf. Since Yvette thinks it such a great time to strike, I'll agree with her. In two days time, Rurok forest will be shifted to a close proximity to Freedom's Landing. You have until then…..fufufufu….fufufufu"
The voice continues to giggle maniacally until a loud laugh explodes from the den den mushi mics planted throughout Larrigo.
"FUFUFUFUFUFUFUFUFUFUFUFUFU!…But would I be fair to give you such an impossible task…? No, I've decided to give you an ultimatum. Three individuals are running amok on the island:
Realize of the Blood Contact Pirates
Eagle Eye Bucket of the Nine Wolf Pirates
Timothy Sickland the Wanderer. Also of the Nine Wolf Pirates.
The capture of these three individuals will grant a pardon from death to the captor, and 200 select comrades. So by capturing these 3 persons, 600 can be saved! Capturing Nine Wolf will save all 600 as well. It's your choice. Send your hero to die to save yourselves? Unite with him to bring down the three heretics in time? Or attempt your vain coup? This will be amusing to watch! FUFUFUFUFUFU!
Inside of Zone's Volcano (5 hours 25 minutes since the Brave Luck Pirates arrived)
Captain Daverio frowned at Zone as he finished the announcement. "You know those guys you said are wanted are all here in the Volcano right? Why would you tell those people to search in vain when they don't have a chance at finding them?"
"Simple. Throw things into chaos. The islanders would rather search for the 3 convicts rather than submit Nine Wolf. When they find this to be quite impossible, I wonder how they will turn on him? In addition, some of those pirates are in his crew correct? I wonder how the captain will view the manhunt...this is a test of survival at it's most natural level. And I look forward to seeing it...fufufufu!"
Author's Notes: Yes, a manhunt. Layers of complexity in this chapter. If you couldn't follow because I seem unorganzied, drop a review and help me help you! As always, read and critique!