Deadly Sands [PT/CLOSED]

[Acobardar Xtar]

The Sizzling rays of sunshine beamed down on the sandy desert of Summer Island. Vulture circling what looked like a body laying in the sand. Who ever it was didn't move an inch for quite a while seeing that she's kinda buried in sand. Finally one of the Vulture had the guts to land on the ground next to him. Hoping over to the body. Right when it was about to peck at his eye, it opened. Then his hand came out of the sand quickly and grabbed the bird by the neck. The bird eyes full of surprise and struggling to get out of the mans grip. "I'm not dead yet you filthy pheasant." He said with a grummble as he sat up and threw the bird away from him. It hit the sand pretty hard it was a bit flustered and wasn't injured which is quite shocking. But not impossible since this man has been in the sun for to long. Speaking of this man. He hasn't been introduced yet. This grumpy dried up man is Acobardar Xtar a Marine and Vice-Admiral. One that can't seem to remember how he even got here.

Aco took a long look around himself, figuring out what to do. His cloths torn up with blood stains. Surpisingly enough he was wearing a white suite with a pink/yellow flower pattern tie. He felt a bit weirded out about his clothes. It didn't make any sense at all. He would never wear white, it gets dirty to quickly. Well there was one thing he knew. He was definately in a fight because this blood all over his suite wasn't his own. Maybe some of it was. He did have a few dried up wounds on himself. He looked up at the sky for a moment, really feeling the heat now. He felt like there was a count down on his life. He has no water or food to survive out in the desert. He couldn't see any town in sight and he didn't have a Snail to call for directions. So he bolted, running as fast as he could in search for water. Jumping over bolders diving into sand every time he saw a mirage. It was like the Yakety Sax song by Boots Randolph was playing as he ran for his life. While running he saw another mirage so he ignored it but when he looked back it was still there. He stopped then turned around looking at it for a few seconds. Obviously he didn't have much of a choice so he ran over to it and it was real. Though as he ran with excitement he tripped over something and slammed into the sand. Of course it burned like hell.

"FUUUUUUCK!" He yelled loudly as he rolled onto his back. Wiping the sand off of his face. He sat up onto his knees, placing his hand on some strangely shaped rock. He looked around seeing that there wasn't any water. He looked down at his hand for a moment seeing that what the strange rock was some dirty odd looking fruit. He picked it up and looked at it. When he did a Giant Scorpion came out of the sand. Normally Aco would kill this creature right away. But he had other things to do. So he ran ran ran as fast as he can. Finally reaching a town which wasn't just a town, it was Alabasta. He ran threw the streets toward a bar. Of course that Scorpion couldn't have just given up on wanting to kill then eat him. So it was like a stampede heading into town. Aco dived threw the doors and rolled to his feet. Obviously causing a commotion. He sprinted to the Bar in seconds and yelled. "WATER NOW!" He put the fruit he was looking at earlier onto the counter. Sand falling off of it and making a mess a little mess. Aco waited impatiently for that water. Staring down the door hoping he gets his water before the Scorpion gets here.


[OOC: PT means Past Thread, in order for Aco to have the Suna suna no mi]

[Emma T. Baskerville]

Red tried to stifle a yawn as he scratched a scraggly little thing that was trying to become a beard. The heat was getting to him. Or maybe a lack of coffee, it was hard to say. Professional, the marine reminded himself as he put one foot in front of another. You need to act professional.

Arrrgh. So hot.

It was easy to remain professional on board a boat. On a boat you had chores, duties, regimented routine and good people watching your back. Also, there was the beautiful wind and, of course, the sea.

Red loved the sea, he really did.

Wandering around on a scorching hot summer island looking for a superior officer that may or may not exist? That was, well, that was a lot less interesting. And a lot less fun. It was amazing how easy it was to lose track of how much water you were consuming and then be forced to hack apart cacti. It was even more amazing how you could lose track of someone that was supposedly seven feet tall, had crazy hair that pointed in every direction (and may or may not have had bells on the end) and was wearing an eyepatch.

Red was curious about that eyepatch. He'd always thought there should have been... more people with eyepatches, for some reason. But that was a different story entirely and ahem, an unprofessional, rather trivial curiosity. No, he was here to pick up his superior, usher him towards the docks and get him back on his ship. Then he could go back to his own post and hopefully forget that he had ever had so much as a mutinous second thinking that he could leave his crazy marine superior out here in this godforsaken wasteland. Alabasta was just up ahead, he could ask for some directions, put out some feelers... that sort of thing. It was supposed to be the capital of the country, right?

But honestly? He just wanted a bath. This much sand could not be healthy for anyone. He had sand everywhere! Up his nose, in his ears, in his clothes, in his bloody scabbard, even.

And other places too. Ahem.

Right, professional. He had to remain professional.

"FUUUUUUUCK."

Cocking his head, Red narrowed his eyes. What was that sound?

Hmm. Almost as if someone was swearing from very far away.

Squinting, Red peered into the horizon. From very far off he could make out an outline of a... person?

Now normally, Red would have noticed that said person was almost (give or take half a foot) seven feet tall, had hair pointing out in all sorts of interesting directions and was, indeed, wearing an eyepatch. He missed all this, unfortunately, because there was, behind this person a scorpion the size of several small houses. Stacked one on top of each other. And maybe seven, eight times as long. Eyes trying to pop out of their sockets, Red nearly did the smart thing (which was run) but realized that he was the only thing standing between that... thing... and a town full of innocent, crazy sand-dwelling civilians.

Taking a deep breath he nearly got his swords out before the person that he had missed slammed right through him in his haste and sent him flipping several times in the air before he somehow managed to land on his feet, swords extended, waiting for the oncoming behemoth.

It was only when the scorpion was nearly upon him (and quite literally at that) that Red realized that the citizens of the country probably had means of defending themselves against such marauding pests. Like the sheer walls. And all those soldiers manning them. And-

Oh gods, he was going to die an idiot.

[Acobardar Xtar]

The Scorpion ripped threw the sands chasing Acobardar as he swore all the way to the bar. Now being in the bar and waiting for water he dripped with sweat. That scorpion will cause deaths if he doesn't get some water. He needs to be refreshed so he can kick ass. Everyone has there own fuel. Well for the heat, water is needed to survive. And Aco is running low on it. Then bar keep wobbled along trying to carry a big ass jug of water. He must of thought that a normal size one would do nothing. It made Aco chuckle a bit. Though there was no time to waste so he grabbed it from the man and chugged the water down. It was like Pop-Eye eating vegetables. A large grin carved across his face. And out the door he went. The jug of water and some money left behind.

Aco ripping across the sands unsheathing his katana. The Vice-Admiral rolled to the side as the Scorpions giant poisonous tail shooting down at him. Passing the kid he past before again. He heard the sound of a sword as he past. the young lad must be also interested in this kind of fight. Well that just made Aco burn with excitement. It was now a contest. Well to Aco it is indeed a contest. One that he shall win. Going for a slash at the beast he was whacked away by its giant claw. Aco went flying across the ground of course. He used his free hand to push off the ground and flip into a slowing down stance. He didn't need to be shot across town for a little hit like that. He wiped his mouth and spat at the ground. Twirling his blade once then gripping it tight. "HEY KID, YOU GONNA FIGHT OR ARE YOU GONNA GOCK AT IT ALL DAY?" He yelled at the young Marine he had seen earlier. This was defiantly gonna be a great battle and Aco really hopped that kid would get fighting already and not get in his way.

ooc: the amv that fueled my muse for this post www.youtube.com/watch?v=afPipM5fqdo&feature=channel_video_title

[Emma T. Baskerville]

TT____TT Lost my original post. On the other hand, your awesome link is awesome.

At a certain point in the future, Red would look upon the marauding animal with something akin to relief. There was a good death to be had protecting innocents no matter how unutterably stupid it might be. Indeed, he might make the argument that there would never be anything stupid about protecting innocents. In that future he would bare his swords, raise them high and dance once more that lovely, subtle dance that was death. His, its - it didn't matter.

That point wasn't here yet, though. The Red that looked upon the giant scorpion bearing down upon him was a little annoyed, a little dehydrated and quite, quite put out.

For the death that the young dream about - if they do dream about it at all - is one that would be magnificent. Overwhelming bravery in the face of danger, nerve that was never lost, nobility that could not be shattered and a sense of purpose that would never waver. They did not dream of the sand sticking to their underpants, the vague sense of 'wait, wait, wait, wait gimme a second', the other, vague sense of 'my sister is going to laugh so hard if I die here-'

Well, the young do not know, cannot know how ignoble, how sudden death can be. Not without having seen it, experienced it, dealt it, received it.

All this to say, it wasn't precisely with relief that Red noticed Acobardar's entrance but-

Well.

He wasn't exactly disappointed either, we might say. His swords flashed out and mouth that was parched found itself enough energy to manage a shaky:

"Commodore Xtar, sir? My orders are-"

He was somewhat inconvenienced by a giant foot aiming for his head. And torso. Well - it was big enough to smush him flat so let's just go with, it was aiming for everything. Rolling around, he automatically jabbed both his cutlasses into the area between the armored exoskeleton that existed between the joints, but even at this weak spot didn't manage to draw blood.

Looking at it his lack of effectiveness with disbelief, Red muttered a quiet: "Oh goddamn fudge-" (he was raised not to swear, so this was actually something of accomplishment) and scurried underneath the gigantic scorpion, seeking shelter from its stabbing pincers and tail.

[Acobardar Xtar]

The scorpion stabbed toward Aco with its right pincer. As it did he leaped onto its pincer and ran up it. It used its other pincer to try an grab Aco but it missed as Aco had already reached it back. Aco laughed a victorious laugh as he held the hilt of his blade with both hands and pointing it down toward the creatures neck. As he thrust the blade down toward the crack between neck and head the tail of the scorpion slammed into his gut. Sort of winding him a bit. Though not enough to whip him off of the tail. He gripped it tight and let another laugh rip as he turned the weight of the scorpion against him flipping him on his back. His feet now on the ground and the scorpion on its back he held it as long as he could and waited for the other marine to launch an attack on the soft spot of the scorpion.

"NOW KID, WOUND IT" Aco yelled as he wrestled to keep the scorpion on its back. Obviously his own sword isn't in hand. He had to drop it to keep a better grip on the scorpions tail. He kept his head low so the scorpions pincers can't reach his head as it struggles to get free. Loosing his head wouldn't be a good thing. He kinda needs that to live. And if this kid didn't hurry and kill the damn beast. Well things are about to get ugly in more ways than one. Which means either someone is gonna get hurt or a lot of somebody's. That and a pissed off VA is gonna kill the beast himself and smack the little Marine.

ooc: sorry this is so short. XD

[Emma T. Baskerville]

Red's mouth was hanging open. Not the vacant, 'you're letting the flies in'-type open, oh-no, Red's mouth was doing a silent mime of DID I JUST SEE THAT, SURELY THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE?! In other words, the usual reaction of a mere mook being exposed to a tier of physical strength that they usually (if they were at all lucky) never had to see.

His thought process somewhat resembled the following:

Did the Vice-Admiral... did the vice-admiral just suplex a fifty ton behemoth?

Holy shit he did.

...

Did the Vice-Admiral just suplex-

Yes, it was a little repetitive. Not to mention boring and predictable. Although there might have been other, wiser, more smartass folks who could have idly pointed out that the behemoth was closer to a hundred tons than to fifty and other such niggling details Red wasn't exactly in the best of mental shape to appreciate that. The VA! Had just! Supplexed! That! Creature!

Surely it wasn't possible!

But regardless of the bonds of credulity (or incredulity as it turned out) that would have otherwise occupied him, the VA's orders cut through the fog enveloping Red's brain, hitting the appropriate command-obey reflex that was so ingrained into any marine and his feet immediately shot forwards, almost independently of his mind, scaling the damn thing from its behind, avoiding the ridiculously huge, twitching segments as he went for the neck.

If he had been in any shape to think he might have wondered whether or not a pinprick from him could possibly harm the creature, or perhaps something along the lines of whether the neck was indeed a weak point (having to sever all its segmented pieces would be - no doubt - an immense and significant pain in more ways than one). Instead though, he was mostly focused on how IMPOSSIBLE his superior's actions were and thus was somewhat more usefully preoccupied in nothing terribly important and made it to the creature's neck without incident.

And then he did stab, both cutlasses gouging at the neck.

Would it work...?

[Acobardar Xtar]

It seemed forever since Aco told the young marine to kill the Scorpion. What was this kid doing? Aco couldn't understand what was taking so long. Its not like he can hold the damn Scorpion for the rest of his life. Its impossible to keep this up. Though Aco did do the impossible by suplexing the Scorpion. He actually didn't think he'd be able to accomplish something at that magnitude. He'd expected the Scorpion to whip its tail into a building to get Aco off of it. Aco laughed at this creatures stupidity. It should of took him down then not allow its self to get suplexed and pined to the ground. Though not for long, the Scorpion is bound to get its self out of this hold at some point.

Though maybe not as the young Marine finally launched an attack on the Scorpion. The young Marine stabbed the creature and it shrieked and made a finally movement to escape Aco's hold. It demonstrated great strength in which by stabbing its pincers into the ground and kind of flipping over while dragging Aco with it so right about now. Aco was face to face with this animal sorta hanging off its tail. With a kind of shocked look on his face. Soon changing to a innocent smile. The only thing he could think of in his mind was the word crap being repeated over and over in his mind. Then as he was taking to long to react to this funny situation the left pincer of the scorpion came toward his torso from the side as well as the right pincer coming toward the other side of his torso. The scorpion had the idea of trying to snip Aco in half.

To bad for it that he's still holding on its tail. So he just used its tail like a bungee cord. Climbing up its tail the scorpion tries to cut him as he climbed soon not being able to reach. The scorpion was like a bucking bronco trying to throw Aco off of its tail. Of course now Aco was having a fun time. It was the killing part that would be needed to be done but this creature seems pretty damn tough. Aco wondered if he should tell the young marine to throw up his sword. He wondered if the kid could even throw it at him with all this hustle and bustle. Aco but his knee against the tail and used on hand to hold on, reaching his other hand out. "KID, THROW MY KATANA TO ME!"

[Emma T. Baskerville]

Trying to kill a giant scorpion the size of several houses was to not put too fine a point on the experience - kind of pant-pissing frightening. Which was probably why Red was laughing his head off as he dug his cutlasses into the neck of the creature and discovered - much to his horror - that he might as well have been tickling it with tweezers for all the good he was doing. In fact, given its spasmodic jerks Red was actually pretty sure he was doing nothing more but tickling it. Like his attack at its weak point at its legs, this one was... rather less than effective.

See, if he didn't laugh, he'd cry. And marines didn't cry.

When it started shaking in earnest, Red flew twenty, thirty feet his expression probably comical but at the time more a propos honest terror. Landing hard in the sand, he tumbled through the dirt before nearly smashing into a few nearby cacti that wanted to make friends with him. Fortunately, he managed to stop himself just before it actually happened.

And then the superior officer he'd been looking for started yelling about katanas and so on and Red-

Found it. Quite conveniently too.

Huh. Weeeeeird.

Grabbing the blade he lifted the damn thing with both arms and ran back towards the vice-admiral.

[Acobardar Xtar]

Riding this Scorpion was just like a giant horse but riding on its tail. It began to swing Aco all over the place. Trying its hardest to get free on Aco. The poor creature just wanted to leave. But it can't because these to barbarians won't let the poor guy go. He didn't mean to run toward a city. He doesn't have gps. How was he suppose to know that there was a city where he was running to. The creature was startled by Aco and thats why it ran in the same direction. It panicked and ran where ever. So in truth it was Aco's fault and which means he's hurting an innocent creature. Humans are to stupid to realize that scary creatures aren't evil or actually trying to kill you.

As the creature panicked, still in pain from the cut on its neck. It turned suddenly seeing the young man coming toward it again. It shot its tail right at it, still with Aco attached to it. Which helped him and sealed the Scorpions fate. As Aco was flying toward Red and his sword. He reached out for the sword and took it from Red. Obviously at this moment Red would probably be dodging or whatever. Luckly for Aco he's got long arms. Obviously the creature would miss. As the tall thrusted backward. Aco used it to launch himself into the air. He spun himself in the air like a giant buzz saw and darted down toward the creatures body like a lighting bolt striking. The ground broke and a large blade mark carved across the ground. Blood splattered and poured out of the creature as it is now dead. Cut in half the poor Scorpion had lost to the Vice-Admiral.

Standing in the middle of this bloody mess was Aco. Soaked in blood, he whipped blood away from his eye and spat blood like a baseball player with that tar like gunk they usually spit out. "Yuuuuuuuuck... I think I swallowed Scorpion blood." He spat the blood out some more, as if it tasted horrible. "HEY SOMEONE CLEAN THIS UP, I'm gonna go have a shower, Good Bye." And so a Bloody murdering day has ended. Though solving the reason why he was here has not been figured out. Until next time! ON THE GREAT ADVENTURES OF VICE-ADMIRAL ACOBARDAR XTAR!!