Chapter 4: The Lost Ancient Laboratory Part 2
Fairy Tail has assembled three teams to explore the mysterious ancient island. They decided to explore the island in the meantime. However, something mysterious is lurking on the island and Carla has a vision of facing the android army.
Team A was Ace and joining him will be Hinata, Elfman, Miyaka, Mirajane, Gajeel, Lily, and Sapphire.
Team B was led by Erza and alongside her were Leone, Chelsea, Aquapad, Natsu, Happy, Lucy, Chelia, Gray, Juvia, Wendy, and Carla.
Team C Usagi and with him will be Temukai, Tigress, Pango, Cana, and Kosaka.
The three teams entered a small nearby town that was by the docking bay. "It's quite deserted." Elfman pointed out.
"Yeah, the buildings that we're passing look so old and ancient," Lily agreed.
Gajeel didn't know why but the quietness in the town was eerie. "No joke, it's clear that something happened here."
Usagi had his thoughts to share. "Yes, but, what is most mysterious is why hasn't the navy found this island."
That was a good question. "Agreed, not only that look at this," Erza was crouching down feeling the ground. "It feels wet... wet like it rained here or if a big wave washed on the island."
Usagi was looking through the broken window in a building. "Yes, the windows and inside of the buildings looked drenched."
"What I want to know what kind of battle went on here," Miyaka was pointing at the center where old skeletons still had some soldier uniforms on them and there were some that had scientist uniforms on too.
"Oh god, she's right," Chelsea muttered. "From the looks of things, this battle must've been a fierce one. However, what was the battle for, that's the question."
Erza had one conlusion. "It's possible whoever lived on this island and whatever they had must've gotten unwanted attention which resulted in war and ended in this state."
"This is so creepy," Lucy shivered slightly.
Natsu looked displeased. "Who could cause such a destruction like this?"
Cana was taking a sip of her sake. "Gulp...gulp...no joke. I get the feeling that there's more to this island than I think."
"Enough gawking, let's proceed on,"
"Help...help...we need help..." Natsu, Wendy, Sapphire, Ace, and Gajeel stopped abruptly upon hearing this and their sudden halt caused some of their friends to notice.
Lily was the first to speak. "Hey Gajeel, what's wrong?"
"Wendy..." Carla began to say noticing her partner's reaction.
"Hey Natsu, what'd you hear?" Happy asked.
"Sapphire..." Fujika spoke.
"Ace..." Hinata said a little concerned.
"Need...help...please...help us..." The voice cried in mercy. "Defeat the enemy at...at...help us..."
The four dragon slayers and the ancient dragon girl shivered a little at the cries for help.
"Did you guys hear that?" Gajeel asked the other dragon slayers.
"No joke, it sounded like a girl crying for help and her friends," Natsu said on edge.
"Hey, it sounded so scary and sad," Wendy whimpered a little scared herself.
"Yeah...whoever is crying for help, we can hear the voice in our heads." Sapphire informed.
"Some kind of telepathy magic," Erza theorized.
"This place is getting weirder and weirder," Ace commented until a certain realization hit him. "Wait, how am I able to hear this, I'm not a Dragon slayer or have the high sense of hearing."
After explaining the voice to the others, they were left speechless for a while.
"Something tells me this voice and the destruction has a connection to the enemy that is lurking on this island," Erza theorized.
Usagi was thinking the same thing. "Agreed, the only problem is, where is this enemy lurking now?"
"Guys over here," Pango was looking at a sign that was old but still readable. "It directions to three certain areas outside the town."
"Let me see," Lucy stood in front of the sign. "It's old alright, but, the written is smeared a little, but, it's still readable, but, just in case..." She took out her Gale-Force Reading Glasses and began to use her magic to decipher the writing on the sign.
After a few minutes.
"First the direction goes to the old marshalling yard where a train bring supplies and other kinds of equipment below."
"A train on the island..." Natsu choked almost feeling sick at the word of it.
"That's nuts..." Gray added almost shocked.
"The second direction leads to an old giant lake where the islanders go to take break and relax. Lastly, the last path is to the island laboratory's headquarters...the base." Lucy concluded.
"So, do we have to take a look at these locations one by one," Carla questioned.
"That would take too long," Natsu groaned.
"For once the Pyro is right," Gray agreed.
"In that case, we should split up," Erza stated as the others looked at her. "Team C will go to the old lake, Team B will go to the Marshalling yard." Hearing that made Natsu and Wendy almost sick.
"And my team will go to this laboratory's headquarters base, do you all understand?" Ace proclaimed.
"Yes, captain!" They all saluted minus Natsu and Wendy.
They exited the town and came to a certain trail that led down three paths. "Alright, one more thing..." Ace spoke. "Each group is carrying a transponder snail that'll communicate with the groups, but, the communication lacrima will be connected to the main ship. If anything happens like if one of our team members is badly injured, alert the main team on the ship and Mest can use his magic to teleport them back."
Erza nodded her head. "Good idea, we don't know what enemies we'll encounter or what they're capable of."
"Yes," Usagi agreed.
Back at the Water Fairy
The Main Team.
Inside the diner area
Merraid was having a cup of tea made by Lisanna. "Slurp..." She let out a tasteful sound. "Not bad."
Gilderada was cleaning some of the dust off. "Got to clean to dusty while the others get the action."
"C'mon, we'll get some actions, just be patient," Lisanna commented calmly.
Merraid was smitten by the calmness. "Aw, you look so cute when you're calm."
"Don't even think about it," Lisana sweatdropped.
Mao was preparing some juice. "Lady Merraid, I got some juice for you and Gilberda~!"
"Where are the others?" Lisanna asked looking around the room.
"Arista is checking out the engines below the deck. Angela, Rena, and Thorn went to take a swim to check around the surroundings in the water." Merraid answered taking a sip of her tea. "Joan is back at the Crow's nest to keep an eye out for any incoming danger and Mest is just guarding the deck."
Lisanna nodded and looked at the ceiling pondering on something. "I don't know why, but, I get the feeling the enemies lurking on the island know we're here."
In the water from beneath the Water Fairy.
Rena was swimming in the water with Thorn and Angela deep in the water.
"Looks about clear," Angela stated.
"I suppose, but we better take one more look around," Rena suggested.
Deep further in the water was an underwater tunnel.
"Guys look at this giant hole!" Thorn pointed out.
"Yeah, looks more like an underwater tunnel," Angela commented in amazement. "It looks like a submarine could be riding through the tunnel."
"Yeah, but, what I know where this tunnel leads to." Jula wondered.
Deep in the island was a mountain a secret lab base.
Inside the lab base.
Each of the rooms and hallways had surveillance cameras and each one was activated.
One room was the main computer room where a strange artificial AI-like face popped on the screen. "Heheheh...company is coming...let's make this welcome more entertaining." It spoke in a female voice.
Somewhere deep inside the rocky mountains that were by the secret lab base had its only tunnels that led down to the inside dock that headwater that led to an underwater tunnel.
"It's time my emperor..." A robotic figure resembling an Angler fish was seen just as tall as Jimbei wielding a golden-like trident that looked high-tech. He took out a communication device. "Come in, the screen has detected some enemies outside the island, give them a warm welcome, if they resist kill them.
Angler
General of the Machais Android Fish Squad.
Race: Machias Android Fish
In the ocean was a robotic dinosaur resembling a plesiosaur and behind it were strange fishmen that resembled angler fish wielding lances, swords, and underwater harpoon.
In the area was a warehouse and a garage where old vehicles looked ancient.
Deep in the underground was a hidden cargo hold.
Something walking toward the cargo hold and it was a robotic chimpanzee, but it was walking on two feet.
"Hoohoo...the time has come our moment after so many years of slumber...the Machias Ape Empire shall take their place and replace those lowly humans,"
Caesar
General of the Machias Ape Empire Army
Race: Machinas Android Chimp
He wore an advanced general outfit with a ray gun hanging on his belt. Steel shoulder armor blades on his shoulders. Further in the cargo hold was a giant silhouette sitting with chains attached to the arms and legs. "It'll be time to wake up and eliminate the enemies."
On Punk Hazard.
Luffy and his crew explore the fire island, encounter a fire-breathing dragon, and defeat it but finding a pair of living walking legs.
Luffy encounters a man that has the body of a leopard almost resembling a centaur. Later, someone on the ice island is keeping an eye on the icy areas in an old lab base.
Luffy and his group take a boat across to the ice area only to be confronted by Brownbeard and a squad of centaur-like creatures.
Franky, Nami, Sanji, and Chopper are locked up by strangely suited men and kept in a room where they meet a talking head who claims to be a samurai named Kinemon. They agree to help him look for his son who was captured too. They soon encounter some strange giant children who all plead them to take them home. At first they reluctant to do so until Nami was convinced otherwise.
Smoker is patrolling the island with his crew and Tashigi however they encounter the Straw Hats and the children, Law reunites with the Strawhats and fights against Smoker and Tashigi thus defeating them by cutting them in half and he uses his Devil Fruit to switch the bodies of Smoker and Tashigi, not before doing the same thing to some of the Straw Hats.
B
Team B was walking through a forest that had dead trees with black dirt and smoke marks on the ground.
"Damn, looks like this place took out a beaten," Leone commented noticing the destruction.
"Beaten is an understatement." Gray corrected.
"Looks like a battle happened around this place," Chelsea summarized observing the ground. "This battle must've happened centuries ago, if it happened just now smoke would be around and the ground would still be warm."
"Wendy, Natsu, can your nose smell anything unusual?" Chelia asked.
Wendy was already ahead taking a few whiffs. "Nothing...the smells faint...I mean the trees smell old and dead. The ground hasn't much of a scent considering the damage not to mention this island seemed to have risen from the ocean."
"Same with me...the area almost seems as dead as the town itself," Natsu added.
Carla was observing the trees feeling them. "Hmm...the trees feel so old and..." She saw trees that were tumbled over and some looked split in half. "Whatever battle happened must've been intense and violent."
Aquapad was looking around at an old lamp post. "That's a lamp post..." He noticed something odd about it. "Wait...that lamp post doesn't look right..." He squinted his eyes to get a good look.
"Guys...look at this..." Happily picked up an old journal.
"A journel..." Natsu held it in his hand and opened it. "Hmmm...hmm...damn it, the writing is so unreadable."
"Considering you're reading skills are poor." Gray thought almost forgetting that his rival's reading skills were beyond poor, at least back during childhood.
"He means the writing is smug and a little wet," Chelsea said taking the book and flipping the pages. "I think I can figure it out."
"Wish Levy was with us," Lucy thought.
Suddenly Chelsea turned into Levy. "Levy Mcgarden has arrived."
"Well, that problem is solved," Gray commented with a deadpan.
"Good thing, she let me borrow these." Chelsea took out the Gale-Force glasses. "Let me see..." She began to use the glasses to decipher the pages.
"This is a Diary written by a famous scientist...Professor Vermillion..."
Erza and some of the other Fairy Tail wizards narrowed their eyes in realization. "Vermillion..."
"The professor wrote this...Today, I'm close to creating the first AI program that'll surely make things searching on networks easy and able to make searching on sites easy to help work speed up in case of emergencies. My team is working non-stop to create an AI that'll show amazing knowledge and smartness."
"What is an AI?" Natsu asked scratching his head.
"I believe it's some type of program that was used on computer technology. At least that's how see it. Perhaps the people from Academy City would know to consider their technology." Chelsea theorized. "Technology isn't my thing, but, I could presume that's what this page says so far."
"What else does the diary say?" Erza asked.
Chelsea went back to reading. "July 8th...the project on the AI is processing smoothly, my team is on the verge of creating the intelligence for it'll have. So far, the Tech and those from Academy City are sharing knowledge to create life better. With my AI, we'll be able to create something that'll bring magicians and scientists together."
"To bring magicians and scientists together...sounds cool," Wendy said with admiration.
"You said," Chelia agreed with a cheerful look.
"Not to be questionable, but, does creating an AI going to bring both sides together?" Gray asked suspiciously.
Juvia had to agree. "Yeah, it almost sounds too good to be true, not that Juvia doesn't like the idea of both sides to live in peace."
"I'll read more..." Levy(Chelsea)looked back at the journal. "Four months later, the AI has been created and has the voice of a young woman. It's like a computer angel from the heavens. We named her, A.D.I."
"This is getting good," Aquapad commented intrigued.
"November 5th, AI helped us search for any lost ancient items and metal that ensured us to find all kinds of ancient lost weapons and machines that resembled earlier robots we were able to wake them using the Grimore and Academy's early technology to give them life and restore them to once they were."
"Wow, talk about amazing finds," Leone commented astonished.
"So far the early robots we were able to bring were those that ancient lost early species of the Tech and introduced them to our team..." Chelsea continued to read. "For repaying for their return, they decided to help us in more research and we became a team that was on the verge of creating more things with our magic and tech which ensure bringing peace."
"This is getting interesting," Gray commented a little interested.
"Most of my time my friend the A.D.I would talk with me which resulted in a conversation like she was learning to speak with other people like a normal human being. It was quite a memorial and something out of a story. She even giggled once which surprised me the most and capable of singing."
"That's unusual..." Aquapad said putting his finger to his chin.
"An AI that can talk and sing...that sounds interesting," Erza chuckled a bit.
"A little weird but cool," Lucy commented a little intrigued herself.
"She must be a better singer than Gajeel," Natsu joked.
Gajeel felt something tickle his nose. "Ah-ah...choo...I don't know, but I feel like kicking a fire brat's butt."
"Huh?" Lily wondered with a bewildered look.
B
"Still, this professor had the last name as our first guild master Mavis, is it just a coincidence that she has the last name, or is possible that..." Gray thought taking in the last name of the professor.
"There's more..." Chelsea flipped a few pages. "Next following year, January 15th, after the success of gathering more ancient relics and machinery, we managed to uncover some old machines that said to be helpful for power outages or blackouts. Thanks to the Ancient Tech we brought back and the Tech that was gathered from Academy City they were able to reactivate the old machines using the power lacrimas our people the Tech created."
"Wow, that's incredible," Wendy beamed.
"You bet, sounds like the Tech, scientists, and the magicians were working together peacefully," Chelia agreed with a cute smile.
Chelsea flipped over to a new page and a look of distress was on her face. "Uh oh..." The others overheard her words realizing something bad was going to happen.
"One day February 17th, one of my team members named Ritter came to me and revealed on a virus he developed that could help other scientist lose their data and get their data for ourselves. This virus wouldn't be able to be stopped but he admit he had a way to stop it."
"A computer virus...that sounds dangerous..." Erza thought a little concerned.
"I told Ritter that I disapproved of the idea, we should be able to share our knowledge and findings with the world. I mentioned Academy City would enjoy the findings and things we created together to bring peace to magicians and scientists." Chelsea flipped over to another page and a look of concern at what she saw on the page.
"The following day...something terrible happened...the virus that Ritter spoke of was somehow inserted into the A.D.I reprogramming her and the somehow gained the control of the ancient Tech we revived!"
Natsu was pissed off. "So, this Ritter betrayed his friends..."
"The Ancient Tech and A.D.I started causing havoc and our machine and computer went haywire. Each Tech member tried to find a way to stop the virus from spreading through our computer systems but it was no avail...Ritter did something else that I didn't see coming...he hacked into my profile and stole the data of mine and revealed his use it for his twisted purposes. However, the virus did something to the A.D.I, not only did it take over the A.D.I but it also turned against me and everyone on the island. Soon, everything went to hell, the weapons, and other old android and Tech corpses that were created turned against everyone on the island. I tried to get rid of the virus that plagued my dear AI but nothing I did worked. Seeing my only choice was the shut down the work I did completely, but Ritter confronted me and attempted to stop me by any means necessary. He took out one of the weapons he created...a laser ray gun and shot me."
There was tension in the air, each of them was pissed that such a thing could happen.
"I was shot down but still alive...but something unexpected happened, the virus didn't just take over the AI I created. It developed a mind of its own due to the information that it has gathered...that's what I thought but my AI somehow evolved to learn and show emotions even without a face. But since the virus took over the A.D.I, her personality changed and became twisted eventually turning against Ritter. I eventually fled informing the entire island of the incident and I mentioned the machines and androids that were created were taken over which resulted in all the wizards and scientists in a war not to mention new organization known was the the World Government would catch wind of our work."
"That's right, the World Government was created 800 years ago," Erza thought remembering the information about the Celestial Dragon's ancestors. "So, this might be close to the year when dragons still were around including when Annabelle was still around."
I gathered some of my team to evacuate the island which they successfully did but there were so many casualties...bodies littering the ground, and towns and forests were destroyed due to the intense battles."
"Sounds like the battle was more intense than we thought," Lucy commented.
"I managed to get my husband and child on the ship to be evacuated along with some citizens and surviving team members," Chelsea continued reading. "However, the virus didn't want anyone to escape so it activated the island's barrier shield to prevent escape. But, being the genius I am, I decided to return to the lab and deactivate the shield using my skills, but, doing so, I had to stay behind convincing my husband and child to leave they protested but I insisted they go with my team and the other civilians. Eventually, they escaped and I returned to the base where the main super computer where the AI has total control and managed to shut down the barrier's system but I also activated the self-destruct system to sink the work I did into the ocean...but...then something unexpected happened...and-"
"What else does it say?" Natsu asked eagerly.
"I'm afraid it ends right there," Chelsea reverted to her original form. "In other words, it seems this Vermillion woman must've been confronted by another enemy or got killed in the process."
"So, we might not know the entire story," Erza summarized but had additional thought. "However, what happened to Vermillion's family and her old team, did they survive and come to Earthland. Also, what happened to this Ritter guy, did he get killed or is possible..." She clearly understanding what fate could've befallen Mavis' possible ancestor. "Perhaps, the rest of the story lies within the island somehow."
"Anyway, let's proceed toward the Marshalling Yard," She stated as the others nodded though Natsu and Wendy felt uneasy.
B
Team C arrived at the lake.
The lake was bigger than any other lake they had ever seen before. The tree nearby almost made a sight to see, but, the downside is that the trees were dead and the water was murky.
Usagi was observing the sight. "Such a tragic scene..."
Kosaka crossed his arms. "If you're talking about the dead trees and the murky water, then I call it spooky and eerie."
"Yes, whatever happened here must've been a crazy battle, and from the look of the trees and ground, it must've been one hell of a battle," Cana said taking a sip of sake.
Temukai knelt and touched the ground with his hand. "Hm, the ground feels strange almost dead here. Like what weapons that were during the battle here must've affected the grass too."
"Guys over there!" Pango pointed to an old big cabin. "A cabin, let's check it out!"
Shortly they arrived there and opened and the door fell over to the hinges being old.
"Well, that works..." Cana joked.
"Let's look inside..." Usagi walked inside with the others following.
They went inside and saw the entire place was old with broken glass shards at the bottom of a few windows that were by the kitchen and living room.
There was an old couch in the living room that was torn apart leaving cotton on the floor.
"Crap, doesn't anyone know to clean?" Kosaka said sarcastically.
"This is just as messy as the inside of Natsu's house," Cana commented.
"Not to mention dusty..." Temukai said looking at a lamp desk that had a lot of dust.
Pango approached the fridge and opened it and nothing was inside. "Aw, man no food." He pouted.
"Seriously?" Tigress asked with a sweat drop.
Usagi saw some red stains on the wooden floor. "Looks like the battle that was here must've reached this location." He wiped his finger on the blood stain. "It's dry..." He noticed a hallway and walked toward it. On the right side was a stairway and got to the top floor and saw three bedrooms and a bathroom. All two bedrooms were destroyed, the beds were split in half and dirt littered the carpet. He noticed a drawer that was broken but he caught a glimpse of the open drawer and noticed something inside it. He reached inside and took out a tape recorder. "What is this doing here?" He tapped the on button and it began to play a recording voice. "Hello...this is Professor Vermillion...this is the cabin that some of my team including myself use for a break time. Even the lost Machias that was revived by our tech and magic would hang out with us. It was great time, the fun we would have whenever we had the chance like a big family. Of course, I got a husband and a child being expected in a few weeks. However, I wonder if the new organization the World Goverment will find out what we are and what we're researching. I could hope they could want to make peace with our people and create a better life with our tech. Anyway, I can hardly wait for my baby to be born into this world. Perhaps, the baby will carry on our legacy, not sure...either way, my child will surely change the world."
The tape recorder's audio record ended. "So, this place was visited by this Professor Vermillion and her team." He took the tape recorder in his new Japanese kimono's pocket. "Wonder if she's somehow related to the first guild master Mavis Vermillion or is its just coincidence. This child, who was the child?"
At the icy mountain.
Team A was walking through the snowy valley.
"To think this island has snow," Hinata said looking around the area.
"Yes, but, it feels odd..." Lily said picking up the snow.
"I agree, I mean I'm not a scientist but, this snow smells strange," Gajeel said sniffing the snow in his hand. "It doesn't smell like ordinary snow."
"Same here, it's almost like man-made," Ace commented feeling the snow in his hand. "This feels nothing like the snow I traveled when I met Red-Haired Shanks."
"I think we can confirm more with this," Hinata took out her whistle. "Hound of the Beasts...Bronx the Black Wolf of the Night!" She blew the whistle and a magic golden circle appeared from the ground and a black wolf appeared howling. "I'm at your service, my lady."
"Yes, can you sniff out the area to see if this snow is real or not," Hinata commanded.
"At once..." Bronx began to sniff the snow for a while. "Sniff...sniff...strange the snow here doesn't smell like actual snow, it smells off like it was made yet cold like real snow."
Mirajane had other thoughts seeing the trees. "Those trees look like actual trees, but, they aren't showing any life. Not to mention there's any lack of birds or other animals here."
There was a small parakeet that was watching from far away on a tree branch and flew away quietly. Sapphire's high sense of hearing caused her to move her head. "Huh?" She was able to faint a glimpse of the bird flying away. "What was that bird?"
"Well, we should continue," Ace suggested as he continued to walk ahead with the others following. Hinata kept her wolf out for a while.
B
Team B finally arrived at the old marshalling yard.
"This place is big..." Wendy said amazed at the size of the base.
"Wow, to think there would be some of kind train here," Chelia added. "But, I think perhaps, this is something that Anti-Skill would use."
"Over there, looks like the train tracks lead to that forest," Happy pointed. "There's a tunnel lead to the tunnel over there, only thing its sealed by pile of rubble."
"Perhaps they gets supplies from one place to another including that tunnel," Juvia theorized.
Leone chuckled a bit. "Wow, the scientists that worked here must've been pretty smart to create equipment and machines like these."
"Perhaps, but, the scientists would engineers to run these kind of trains," Chelsea said. "The question is, where do those tracks lead all the way to." She had a bad feeling about this but couldn't put her finger on it.
"Over there, looks like the station's office." Erza pointed. "Let's split up, Natsu, Wendy, Happy, Chelia, Carla, you guys were guarding the outside, look around for anything."
"Aw, why do we have to stay and play guard duty?" Natsu pouted.
"You got a problem with that?" Erza roared in a demonic tone startling Natsu. "No ma'am!" the fire dragon slayer whimpered comically.
"She knows how to keep Natsu in line," Chelia whispered in Wendy's ear. "Y-yeah, that's for sure."
Erza recollected herself and looked at the others. "Anyway, Leone, Lucy, Chelsea, you guys are with me." The three women nodded their heads. "As you Gray, you will take Juvia and Aquapad, check out that station's office while my group and I search in the delivery louges."
"Yes ma'am!" The others saluted instantly without hesitating.
Erza and her small group were inside delivery lounge area.
"Look at this place," Lucy said a little grossed out. "I bet this where they use vehicles to deliver the equipment here and put them in those trunks."
Chelsea put her finger to her chin. "Quite intriguing. It seems they also use something else to power up something to attach these large trunks to get them moving to another place."
"So it would seem." Erza commented as she gazed at the railroad tracks. "We can assume they use the trains to deliver other cargo too. Where those other tracks lead goes to somewhere else on the island."
In small office on the corner, they went to see was a mess, broken wood was on the floor even trash from wrappings. There were old file cabinets that were falling apart and badly bent.
"Lucy, Chelsea, check out those cabinets while I look at the front desk, Leone, guard the doorway," Erza then checked out the front desk area for anything.
Lucy was drawing to open some of the cabinet's drawings, but, they were a bit hard to pull out due to their bent state. "Wow, whatever got these cabinets in this condition must've been strong."
"Yes, it's quite troublesome..." Chelsea unexpectedly managed to open one. "Well, this one opened..." She looked inside and found an old photo in a frame. "What's this?" She wiped the dust off and noticed a young girl and a man inside. "Wow, a couple...this looks nice." She then looked closely at the female's facial features and her eyes widened. "No...it can't..."
Lucy glanced at the former assassin noticing her trembling hand. "Chelsea...what is it?" She then walked to the other girl and saw Chelsea showing the photo which the blonde noticed the couple in the picture. "Ah...is that...no couldn't be..."
Erza was searching the front desk. "This place is quite the dirty work station, but, then again this place has been in the ocean for over 800 years ago. I wonder if this professor Vermillion came here once and a while."
In the station's office was long and big.
Gray, Juvia, and Aquapad opened the front door. They entered the front desk area. "This must be some kind of front desk where they have chat with co-workers or anyone that wants to meet with the boss of this building."
"Look at this," Aquapad was looking at a map of the building. "According to this map, it has two floors, this the first floor and the second is above us."
"In that case, Aquapad, you go ahead to the second floor, Juvia and I will stay down her to check things out for a while then later we'll catch up." Gray suggested. Being alone with Gray made Juvia's heart skip a beat.
"Alright, I'll be going...and leaving you two lovebirds alone," Aquapad joked with a sly grin.
"Shut up!" Gray barked as Aquapad dashed away while chuckling.
Short time later.
Gray and Juvia walked in the hallway, seeing the passing rooms, but, nothing was working and most of the rooms were a mess. "Doesn't look at the machines are working here." Gray spoke.
"Seems like a dead end here," Juvia added but then she saw a picture frame lying on a desk in one of the rooms. "What is this?" She picked up the frame and wiped the dust off getting a clear view of the picture within in the frame. "Ah...Juvia is shocked..."
"What'd you mean?" Gray looked over the water mage's shoulder and saw what she was looking at. "What the heck...this woman looks like Mavis, though, she's an adult."
"Look at these people...Juvia sees the names of four people she's with." Juvia pointing at the names. "Jeremy Melton...Drake Malfon...Mark Ritter...and John..." She noticed a heart shape drawn to the name "John". "Oh, this John guy must be Vermillion's boyfriend."
"Yes, but, this Ritter person sounds familiar..." Gray thought.
On the second floor
Aquapad was walking through the hallway. "Those stairs were so old but still able to walk on." He passed by a monitor room. "Damn, look at these screens, about several of them. Guess, they take security seriously." He pressed a few buttons but nothing happened. "Guess, the power here isn't working."
Aquapad saw a monitor control panel and each button was labeled. "Looks like the screens are labeled to where to look in case trouble emerges." He noticed a switch that read "Freight Elevator" He gave a puzzled look. "What's a Freight elevator?" He began to wonder if there was a secret underground rail way somewhere.
Hanging in the corner of the office was a surveillance camera that was operating which was seen in the underground computer main room. "Looks like the humans have arrived in the Marshalling yard." A computer voice said. "Time to attack Caesar..." Beneath the center of the base was underground cargo as the robotic Machias chimp's eyes glowed white. "Yes...master..." The robot chimp went to a control panel that was nearby and began to press a few buttons.
B
Team A soon came to a laboratory base that looked so high-tech. There were turret guns that were so big and highly advanced too. "Wow, look at those turret guns," Hinata said. "It's like something out of a science fiction movie."
"Movie..." Sapphire questioned with a puzzled look.
"Its time a thing that was used for entertainment and news," Gajeel summarized. "I should know after we went to the world of science and magic, we learned a few things."
"Indeed, but, this base looks ancient," Lily commented, another thought was on his mind. "But, this place seems eerie for some reason. I get the feeling that someone is watching us."
"Look over there," Miyaka was pointing to a tunnel entrance. "Looks like some kind of entrance to the inside of the base."
"Yeah, but, how are we going to get inside?" Mirajane questioned.
Just then the doors opened unexpectedly.
"Guess that solves it," Ace answered but he was a guard. "But, this seems too easy."
Hinata was on edge too as her wolf. "Lady Hinata, this place is giving me a bad vibe."
"I agree, it's almost like someone is luring us inside which is unmanly," Elfman commented motioning his eyes around the area cautiously.
"In that case, let's leave a few here. Miyaka, Elfman, Sapphire, Mirajane, you four stay here to guard the area while I take the others to explore within."
"Sure thing," Miyaka saluted.
Ace and his small group began to walk inside following the lights on the ceiling. "This place is still operational even after being in the ocean for 800 years or so."
"Yeah, I get the feeling that whoever is still on this island is watching us," Gajeel added.
Lily nodded his head in agreement. "But, the main question, is who is watching and what are their intentions."
Back at the docking bay
Thorn, Rena, Jula, Angela returned to the ship and informed the others on the deck of what they found in the water.
Merraid was the first to speak putting her finger to her chin. "So, there's an underwater tunnel, quite intriguing."
"Yes, it does seem a bit strange," Joan said.
"From what you described, it must be big enough to for a submarine, a mini sub." Arista presumed.
"What is this tunnel for, any ideas?" Gilberda wondered.
Lisanna had one theory. "Perhaps, the islanders on this island used this underwater tunnel to get other big supplies through the tunnel or maybe it leads to a secret way into the island."
Mest thought otherwise. "Or, they just used to explore the tunnel for other pressing matters, but, either way, guessing doesn't seem to clue us in what happened on this island."
"The tunnel must be dark," Mao whispered a little creeped out.
"The only question is, where does the tunnel lead to?" Fujika questioned putting her finger to her chin.
Arista chuckled a little. "Well, I suppose we should take a look."
Levy looked at the mermaid coating shipwright. "I presume you got an idea,"
Arista just smirked. "I'll show you guys, come with me inside the ship."
A short time later.
Inside the ship's docking baby lays a mini submarine that resembles a shark.
"Behold, Tom's creation. The Shark Sub... has the power to fire magic beams by amplifying the rider's magic power and is capable of firing missiles. Also, wizards like you could use your magic on the lacrimas to increase the sub's speed." Arista proclaimed.
Merraid chuckled with a seductive smile. "Well, such a creation...and the way you explained it was hot."
Gilberda giggled with a smirk. "I'd expect nothing less from the granddaughter of a famous shipwright!"
Arista didn't say a word but a sweat drop was on her head. "Uh...thanks, I guess."
"I have to admit it looks impressive," Mest praised.
"I doubt, Natsu, Wendy, and Gajeel would find it cool considering their motion sickness." Joan thought with an awkward smile. "Then again, with the sick pills I'm sure they could enjoy the ride."
"Anyway, who shall take this sub for a spin?" Thorn asked.
"Well, I suppose I can take three guys with me while the others guard the ship," Arista replied. "So, Rena, Angela, and Thorn will be with me while the rest you guys guard the ship, Merraid, you'll be in charge considering your leadership skills."
Merraid cupped her cheeks blushing red. "Aw, you're flattering me!"
"Alright, I'll inform the others to be sure to know where you are," Levy said as the shipwright mermaid nodded. "Also, I'll keep the transponder with me and Arista, once you get inside the tunnel so I can know what's going on."
Arista nodded in agreement. "Good, let's submerge now!" The shark sub began to dive into the water and they went down to the tunnel and went inside.
The three teams scouted three different paths discovering some things about the island's history learning a scientist woman who has the last name of the first Fairy Tail's guild master, could this Vermillion woman be a relative of Mavis or is it just conidence?
More importantly, what is the new enemy plotting to do next and could the island have more history to it, find out next time.
End of chapter.