(PG) for some violence.
Click Spoilers box for details on this bit!
******************************************
******************************************
JANUARY 19, XX23 - 1303
90 MILES OFF THE COAST OF CINNABAR ISLAND, ABOARD The Trinidad
Yoshito Yoshii yawned for the third time that minute. His day so far had been nothing more than a waste of time – the fish had all but disappeared since sunrise, and all there was left to do was look out into the calm sea, towards a seemingly endless – and grey – horizon.
Skimming at a slow pace over the metallic silver waves, the giant fishing boat The Trinidad had seen better days. Her hull was covered with small colonies of barnacle, her name was faded from the exposure of the salty sea, and her deck was beginning to rot. But just because she was aging some did not discourage her owner, Johns “Captain” McKaine, into retiring her.
McKaine had started up a small business in fishing some five years ago for easy profit. Since then, his business had grown, but not as substantially as he hoped. After so many years of financial turmoil, the crew – including McKaine himself – was beginning to reconsider their options in keeping the business open, and possibly put an end to their dying, yet semi-successful, career.
‘It’s a shame,’ Yoshito thought, staring blankly at a flock of seagull-like birds – Wingull – fly lazily overhead. ‘There’s been a lot of good guys supporting this program… but, if it’s for the best.’
Yoshito leaned against the ship’s cold railing, patiently watching and waiting for some kind of sign that the day would turn out. Even a run-in with the ocean’s most tyrannous Pokémon – long, serpentine-like fish with rows of huge blue scales called “Gyarados” – would have made his time worthwhile. However, each passing day had become progressively worse. In the more recent months, the crew of The Trinidad had just barely fulfilled their fishing quota. It was a lucky break, a lot of them said, but it seemed that their luck was just about worn out.
‘No matter,’ thought Yoshito optimistically. ‘There are plenty of other jobs out there… Perhaps it’s not too late to become a Pokémon Trainer…’ He chuckled to himself as he hauled up a rope leading from the edge of the deck into the water. After pulling in a few feet, a small net appeared, sloshing heavily over the water. It was empty. Yoshito sighed heavily and dropped the net back into the rushing water. There was a rush of wind, and Yoshito sneezed as the salty air tickled his nose.
The day had not been all that bad; the sun had been hidden behind dull, grey clouds, and the wind had been a rare breeze rather than predicted gusts in recent forecasts. There were some random showers throughout the course of the morning and early afternoon, but nothing of consequence. It was actually quite pleasant compared to what Yoshito had experienced in the past. He shivered as his mind skimmed over one particular incident…
One of the crewmembers, a quiet man named Adam Parris, had been on the deck when an unexpected wave swept him overboard. It was during a midnight storm, so the entire crew was blinded by the darkness and had not realized Adam had disappeared… except for one, the amazingly athletic Sky Izuto. Now, Sky had always had a peculiar limp on his left side, and, consequently, he was nicknamed “Crutches” by McKaine. That one night, though, was Sky’s shining moment, as he did everything in his power to rescue Adam, from tossing a life ring to leaping into the water after him. From there, the crew was able to rescue Adam and Sky without a hitch, and to this day Adam continues to work under McKaine… but that one night has been forever engraved into Yoshito’s memory.
Yoshito finds himself staring at the Captain’s overhang, located smack on the center of the deck, when there is some clanging from a stairwell below deck and one of the ship’s leading figures, Johns McKaine’s brash son Michael “Firstmate” McKaine, steps through a door leading from the “Crew’s Cabin,” a hold where the crewmembers hang out during breaks. His straight black hair bristles in the soft wind as he joins the lonesome Yoshito above board. His calm eyes glisten a soft blue.
“Yo, Yoshito,” Michael greets jokingly… his usual greeting towards Yoshito.
“Hey, Mike,” Yoshito says, flashing a quick, effortless smile.
“The guys done with their break yet?”
“Nah,” Michael replies, shrugging. “They figure there won’t be much left to catch today, so they’re staying put downstairs till ten after.”
Yoshito flexes out his arm and takes a quick look at his cheap, waterproof watch. It reads “13:07”. He drops his arm and sighs in exasperation.
Michael chuckles. “Bored, eh?”
“A little bit. Haven’t seen the ocean so empty since that one trip last month.”
“It’ll pick up,” Michael says, playfully nudging Yoshito with his fist. He turns and looks back at the lapping sea, and says: “Y’know, my dad says it’s almost time for this baby to retire.” He pats the rusting iron bars. A soft thung reverberates through the hull.
“The Captain? Retire The Trinidad?”
“Maybe. He’s been giving it some thought for only a few weeks now, but…” Michael pauses. “If we cannot meet our next few fishing quotas… Well…”
“Ah.”
“But, he says it’s all right with him. It’s been a good haul.”
“Yeh. It has.”
There is more clanking from the stairwell, and another man appears. It’s Sky.
Michael peers over his shoulder and smiles mischievously. “’ey, Crutches.”
“’ey, Firstmate,” Sky enthusiastically responds, giving a sarcastic salute, which Michael returns.
“Oy, Sky,” Yoshito starts, an amused smile on his face, “where’re the Captain and them?”
Sky takes his place beside Michael, leaning on the bars with both arms. “The Cap’n’s already back in his quarters, in the overhang.” He points with a thick thumb over to a small, cubed structure hanging just above the stairwell leading to the Crew’s Cabin. The structure is held up by large, iron beams. “And Parris?” Sky continues, a sly smile forming on his unshaven face. “Heh heh. He’s utilizing the latrine.”
“Figures,” Michael mutters. “He did say breakfast this morning tasted kinda funny.”
“I thought it was pretty good,” replies Sky, snickering. “Considering I’m the one who made it.”
Michael shakes his head.
“Don’t forget, Yoshii – it’s your turn to make it tomorrow.” Sky slaps Yoshito on the shoulder and limps off to the other side of the deck, chuckling.
Yoshito groans.
“C’mon, Yoshito, lighten up,” states Michael as he pats Yoshito on the back encouragingly. “Better than cleaning the poop deck, aye?”
“…Aye.”
“C’mon, let’s see if we have any—”
“Oy, Yoshii, Firstmate, check this out!” Sky suddenly yells as he yanks at one of the ropes dangling overboard. “I think we may have somethin’!”
Without another thought, Sky and Yoshito scamper across the moist deck and grab hold of the slippery rope. Yoshito tugs with all his might. Whatever was on the other end of the rope was sure giving one heck of a fight as all three men grunt and groan, using all their strength to pull up the net.
“Feels like a lucky catch this time,” Sky mutters.
“Wonder if we accidentally snagged a…gnugh… small Wailmer?” Michael spits out, struggling to get a firm grip on the rope.
Yoshito doesn’t reply, only pulling with every bit of pent-up strength he had.
Finally, the three men hear sounds of the net leaving the water, and whatever was caught recoils about, madly shaking the net. But despite its efforts, the thing is hauled onto the wet deck, and the three men drop the rope, gasping. The catch flops under thick strings, half-hidden under the netting.
“Doesn’t seem… like much, but it… sure put up a fight,” Sky stammers through gasps. His hands are rubbed raw and bleeding. He wipes his hands on his grimy white shirt, ignoring the stinging of the salt.
“Yeah,” Michael harshly replies, coughing.
“Well, might as well have a look… right?” Yoshito inquires, and the three men nod at one another. They all take in a deep breath of salty air, stand up straight, grab separate ends of the squirming net, and lift—
A thin, rounded fish with wide eyes and thick lips flops up and down helplessly on the deck. It stays flat on one side due to its thin frame and glares at each man with one eye, the other eye being flat against the deck.
Sky’s mouth drops open in disappointment. “Whaaa… It’s only a Magikarp, the most worthless fish of them all!” He sighs. “Its outer scales are as hard as bone, so there’s no way we could eat it… Even the birds ignore them when they’re stranded on beaches… C’mon guys, let’s throw this thing—”
“Wait,” Michael whispers gravely. “Take a good look at this one.”
“Eh?” Sky and Yoshito both glance at each other with puzzled looks, but shrug and inspect the calmed fish.
Sky squints, and then pulls away, his eyes narrowing. “Is it just me, or… are the scales on this thing… green?”
“Yes,” Michael replies, nodding.
“You’re right,” Yoshito exclaims quietly. “For a moment, I thought it was just some kind of seaweed, but…”
Sure enough, the large scales covering the fish are a pale, mint green – an unusual color, given Magikarp are usually a heavy color of orange. It’s pursed, tangerine-colored lips twitch, and its eye darts from one man to the next.
Yoshito shudders. “Look at its eye.”
“Unusual,” Michael murmurs. “It’s eye… The pupil is normally just a tiny black dot… This one’s got a white retina, a wider pupil, and a completely black socket.”
“Whoa,” Sky exclaims. “This is one freaky fish…”
The malevolent eye never wavers for very long; it continues its tireless motion of glaringly monitoring the people surrounding it. The Magikarp now lies perfectly still.
“Hey,” Yoshito suddenly cries out, pointing at the fish’s belly. “What’s that?”
The three men lean in closer, and simultaneously gasp. An elongated, spherical gem glistens on the fish’s scaled belly. It seems to glow an unearthly blue.
A smirk appears on Sky’s face. “Guys… This fish… It’s the answer to our prayers!”
Michael beams. “Think of how much we could make with this thing! We could fix up The Trinidad and save the business!”
“Forget the business, Firstmate,” Sky quickly responds. “We could fix up The Trinidad, retire, AND fish for our own leisure! We wouldn’t have to worry about quotas or fishless days… Just hanging out as fishermen.”
“We’ll see what my dad has to say on this,” Michael replies, trying his best to contain the giddiness in his fluttering stomach.
“I’m on it, Firstmate,” Sky declares, and he limps off as quickly as his legs can carry him to the overhang.
Yoshito looks over at Michael, excitement in his avid eyes. “Looks like we’ve finally done it, Mike.”
Michael nods. “Who would’ve guessed a Magikarp would save our hides?”
The two men laugh heartily.
“Now we just need to hear what my da—”
In their peripheral, there is a yelp and a sickening crack as something bumps off the deck and into the ocean. Yoshito and Michael stop grinning, their faces now filled with dread. They look to where Sky had just been.
He was gone.
* * *
“Whoo.”
Flushing the toilet and stepping out of the one-man bathroom (the only bathroom), Adam Parris scratches his head and walks sluggishly from the latrine into a small dining room. There, he stands in front of a sink, and casually washes his hands with the dish soap. The refrigerator nearby silently whirs. Beside that, there is a large cabinet, cluttered with dishes and cups; on the countertop beside the sink, there are coffee mugs, a coffee maker, some used plastic spoons and a small jar of sugar. A lone light dangles in a nearby room. Adam ignores these things as he dries his hands with a cloth beside the sink.
As he wanders into the “living room” of the Crew’s Cabin, where a large wooden table and a purple sofa reside, he sniffs and waves his hand in the air, coughing lightly. “Cap’n’s been smokin’ again,” he mumbles disapprovingly. He walks beside the table and peers into a small green trash bin. Sure enough, there are cigarette butts in the bin, as well as an empty lighter, some balled-up wrappers, and an empty packet of cigarettes.
“Yep, Cap’n’s started up again… I told Mike he’d better watch his dad or else…” Adam trails off as he makes his way back into the kitchen and open the refridge. A blast of cool air hits him, giving him goosebumps. He grabs a can of soda labeled “FiZ”, pops it open with ease, and takes a few sips before setting it on the counter. He holds his head, groaning.
“Ugh… Not feeling so hot today… Wonder if the guy’s’ll give me a break—”
From under the floorboards of the ship, there is an unmistakable thrum. Adam blinks, snapping out of his daze, and stands perfectly still. His eye twitches when the noise starts again.
Druuuaaa…
Druuuaaa…
The noise repeats several times before ceasing, but it was just enough to turn Adam ghost-pale. Adam had heard the ship make many strange noises before… but this…
This was coming from underneath the ship.
Now fully alert, Adam grabs his fresh can of FiZ, hurls it into the trash can, and bolts upstairs… just in time to reach the deck and see Sky “Crutches” Izuto fall overboard.
No.
Not fall overboard.
Adam witnesses Sky being dragged overboard… by a huge, orange tentacle.
* * *
This is his second pack this month, but Johns “Captain” McKaine is sure his son would understand the stress he has been enduring these past several months of declining quotas and vanishing fish. Johns stares out the window of his cramped quarters; to his left, there was his chair, his microphone, his communication with the world miles away; to his right, his other chair, his desk, and unfinished paperwork regarding the future of his ailing company, “McKaine’s Harbor,” and The Trinidad. He couldn’t afford the huge ship, but is confident that while he has tumbled into debt, a successful business would be just the thing to pay it off. But with less and less savings money coming in due to falling investments and record-low captures, the only option he now had left was to call bankrupt for his company… and sell his beloved ship.
The Captain sighs and rubs his tired eyes. He scratches his black, trimmed beard, pondering just what to do next. Either he gives up his business and his ship, or he encounters some strange stroke of luck… Or better yet, a miracle—
Johns’s undivided attention is brought to when he notices three of his crewmen – Sky, Yoshito and his son Michael – huddled over a catch. The three are exchanging quick, excited looks… or were Johns's eyes playing tricks on him?
The Captain brings his pair of binoculars dangling from around his neck up to eye level – and is left speechless when he sees a green-colored Magikarp caught in his net.
‘A rare Magikarp?’ he thinks, is mind beginning to spin despite his lack of information of what was going on below. A second later, he sees Sky disperse from the huddled group – and, not a moment after, something ripple in the ocean beside the hull.
Johns pulls away his binoculars and rubs his eyes again. Surely, he didn’t just see…?
As he looks back up, Sky is gone. And there is a spray of water jetting up from beside the ship. A cold stone drops in Johns’s unsettled stomach as his microphone crackles and goes dead… followed by a hollow thud from beneath the ship.
Something was beneath them.
“Michael,” Johns unconsciously mutters as he looks back on the deck. Yoshito and Michael are racing over to the opposite side of the ship, trying to find the whereabouts of Sky. Behind them, Adam Parris appears, quite shaken, and the three speak for a bit before Adam turns towards the overhang again.
Then he sees it.
Slithering up the side of the ship, making its way across the clear deck, was a thick, green tentacle. And just as soon as Adam noticed it, it lashed out at lightning speed, wrapped itself around Adam’s frail body, and slipped silently back into the ocean, up until Adam’s body broke the surface of the water with a huge splash.
At that moment, Johns “Captain” McKaine jolted from his post to save the remainder of his crew.
* * *
“Adam?!” Michael shrieks as he dashes to the other side of the ship, leaning over to gaze into the murky depths.
Nothing. Just like Sky.
“What’s going on?!” cries Yoshito from the opposite end.
“I-I don’t know!” Michael stammers. Never had he felt more confused – or afraid – in his life. His eyes dance all across the deck, until they focus on the unusual Magikarp. The Magikarp was still laying flat on the deck, its malicious eye staring. “’ey, Yoshii, do you think this is all happening because of the Magikarp?”
“Th…The Magikarp?”
“Yeah! Right after we catch it, Sky and Adam disappear! Do you really think that’s a coincidence?”
Yoshito is speechless. His mouth opens, but no words come out.
Just then, there is another hollow thud as something collides with the front end of the ship. The Trinidad shudders, nearly knocking Yoshito and Michael off their feet. Someone lets out a startled cry and tumbles down the overhang’s steel stairwell, catching both Yoshito and Michael by surprise.
It’s Johns. He lays face-first on the floor, unmoving.
“Dad!” Michael screams as he rushes to his unconscious father’s side. But just as soon as Yoshito goes to aid them, he hears a strange, low vibration come from deep within the water.
Druuuaaa…
Druuuaaa…
It starts off as a low frequency, but gradually grows in depth. It sounds like a muffled boom box, rumbling noisily underwater at timed intervals. And just when Yoshito thinks he’s going crazy, he sees a bright flash of light under the surface of the sea… Three huge orbs glow in unison, right beside the ship. To Yoshito’s horror, the giant orbs change course – until they are directly beneath the ship. And in one swift motion, they rise.
The giant ship is lifted right out of the water. A second later, there is an ear-splitting boom as The Trinidad snaps in two, one half exploding as fuel mixes with fuel. Yoshito holds on for dear life on the other half of the ship’s railing, frozen in fear. Johns, Michael, and the alien Magikarp have disappeared.
Yoshito’s world spins as the second half of the ship he hangs on to hits the water with sickening force, sending up a huge wave of mist, oil and debris. From under the sinking ship, three large tentacles emerge – two orange, one green. The same colors as the freak Magikarp.
One tentacle slams down on the remainder of the first half of The Trinidad, capsizing it instantly. The second tentacle grabs hold of the Captain’s overhang and, with a single tug, yanks the compartment right off its support beams. Nuts and bolts tumble down from under the box, and chucks of wood splinter into the ocean as the massive tentacle crumples the box like paper. The third tentacle, after wavering in the air for a moment, rushes down on a giant hanger used for hoisting up nets. The hanger bends in on itself like origami, snaps, and falls into the water. Oil spills out from the base of the hanger, and an explosion immediately ensues as chemicals mix with broken electrical wires.
This – and two giant gears gliding towards his face – would be the last thing Yoshito Yoshii would ever see.
* * *
A rescue team is dispatched to answer a low-frequency distress signal sent from the doomed ship. But by the time they reach the area, all of The Trinidad -- and her crew – is lost to the quiet, calm, grey ocean… sunk by an infected, unseen enemy of titanic proportions.
Click Spoilers box for details on this bit!
Hey there, just want to say a quick THANK YOU for passing by and checking this out -- whether out of interest, or plain curiosity. 
This is a bit of an older fanfic; I've cleaned it up especially for use on this site.
Despite the way it ends, this is the only chapter -- a "one shot" fanfic, if you will. It was heavily inspired by the work of deviantArtist Esepibe, specifically his INFECTED series. You can check out his amazing arts here:
http://esepibe.deviantart.com/
And... that's about it. An inspired, semi-dated, slightly updated fanfic that I felt like posting. I truly hope you enjoy, or at the very least get your imagination rolling.
Any comments at all are welcome on this piece.
This is a bit of an older fanfic; I've cleaned it up especially for use on this site.
Despite the way it ends, this is the only chapter -- a "one shot" fanfic, if you will. It was heavily inspired by the work of deviantArtist Esepibe, specifically his INFECTED series. You can check out his amazing arts here:
http://esepibe.deviantart.com/
And... that's about it. An inspired, semi-dated, slightly updated fanfic that I felt like posting. I truly hope you enjoy, or at the very least get your imagination rolling.
Any comments at all are welcome on this piece.
******************************************
******************************************
JANUARY 19, XX23 - 1303
90 MILES OFF THE COAST OF CINNABAR ISLAND, ABOARD The Trinidad
Yoshito Yoshii yawned for the third time that minute. His day so far had been nothing more than a waste of time – the fish had all but disappeared since sunrise, and all there was left to do was look out into the calm sea, towards a seemingly endless – and grey – horizon.
Skimming at a slow pace over the metallic silver waves, the giant fishing boat The Trinidad had seen better days. Her hull was covered with small colonies of barnacle, her name was faded from the exposure of the salty sea, and her deck was beginning to rot. But just because she was aging some did not discourage her owner, Johns “Captain” McKaine, into retiring her.
McKaine had started up a small business in fishing some five years ago for easy profit. Since then, his business had grown, but not as substantially as he hoped. After so many years of financial turmoil, the crew – including McKaine himself – was beginning to reconsider their options in keeping the business open, and possibly put an end to their dying, yet semi-successful, career.
‘It’s a shame,’ Yoshito thought, staring blankly at a flock of seagull-like birds – Wingull – fly lazily overhead. ‘There’s been a lot of good guys supporting this program… but, if it’s for the best.’
Yoshito leaned against the ship’s cold railing, patiently watching and waiting for some kind of sign that the day would turn out. Even a run-in with the ocean’s most tyrannous Pokémon – long, serpentine-like fish with rows of huge blue scales called “Gyarados” – would have made his time worthwhile. However, each passing day had become progressively worse. In the more recent months, the crew of The Trinidad had just barely fulfilled their fishing quota. It was a lucky break, a lot of them said, but it seemed that their luck was just about worn out.
‘No matter,’ thought Yoshito optimistically. ‘There are plenty of other jobs out there… Perhaps it’s not too late to become a Pokémon Trainer…’ He chuckled to himself as he hauled up a rope leading from the edge of the deck into the water. After pulling in a few feet, a small net appeared, sloshing heavily over the water. It was empty. Yoshito sighed heavily and dropped the net back into the rushing water. There was a rush of wind, and Yoshito sneezed as the salty air tickled his nose.
The day had not been all that bad; the sun had been hidden behind dull, grey clouds, and the wind had been a rare breeze rather than predicted gusts in recent forecasts. There were some random showers throughout the course of the morning and early afternoon, but nothing of consequence. It was actually quite pleasant compared to what Yoshito had experienced in the past. He shivered as his mind skimmed over one particular incident…
One of the crewmembers, a quiet man named Adam Parris, had been on the deck when an unexpected wave swept him overboard. It was during a midnight storm, so the entire crew was blinded by the darkness and had not realized Adam had disappeared… except for one, the amazingly athletic Sky Izuto. Now, Sky had always had a peculiar limp on his left side, and, consequently, he was nicknamed “Crutches” by McKaine. That one night, though, was Sky’s shining moment, as he did everything in his power to rescue Adam, from tossing a life ring to leaping into the water after him. From there, the crew was able to rescue Adam and Sky without a hitch, and to this day Adam continues to work under McKaine… but that one night has been forever engraved into Yoshito’s memory.
Yoshito finds himself staring at the Captain’s overhang, located smack on the center of the deck, when there is some clanging from a stairwell below deck and one of the ship’s leading figures, Johns McKaine’s brash son Michael “Firstmate” McKaine, steps through a door leading from the “Crew’s Cabin,” a hold where the crewmembers hang out during breaks. His straight black hair bristles in the soft wind as he joins the lonesome Yoshito above board. His calm eyes glisten a soft blue.
“Yo, Yoshito,” Michael greets jokingly… his usual greeting towards Yoshito.
“Hey, Mike,” Yoshito says, flashing a quick, effortless smile.
“The guys done with their break yet?”
“Nah,” Michael replies, shrugging. “They figure there won’t be much left to catch today, so they’re staying put downstairs till ten after.”
Yoshito flexes out his arm and takes a quick look at his cheap, waterproof watch. It reads “13:07”. He drops his arm and sighs in exasperation.
Michael chuckles. “Bored, eh?”
“A little bit. Haven’t seen the ocean so empty since that one trip last month.”
“It’ll pick up,” Michael says, playfully nudging Yoshito with his fist. He turns and looks back at the lapping sea, and says: “Y’know, my dad says it’s almost time for this baby to retire.” He pats the rusting iron bars. A soft thung reverberates through the hull.
“The Captain? Retire The Trinidad?”
“Maybe. He’s been giving it some thought for only a few weeks now, but…” Michael pauses. “If we cannot meet our next few fishing quotas… Well…”
“Ah.”
“But, he says it’s all right with him. It’s been a good haul.”
“Yeh. It has.”
There is more clanking from the stairwell, and another man appears. It’s Sky.
Michael peers over his shoulder and smiles mischievously. “’ey, Crutches.”
“’ey, Firstmate,” Sky enthusiastically responds, giving a sarcastic salute, which Michael returns.
“Oy, Sky,” Yoshito starts, an amused smile on his face, “where’re the Captain and them?”
Sky takes his place beside Michael, leaning on the bars with both arms. “The Cap’n’s already back in his quarters, in the overhang.” He points with a thick thumb over to a small, cubed structure hanging just above the stairwell leading to the Crew’s Cabin. The structure is held up by large, iron beams. “And Parris?” Sky continues, a sly smile forming on his unshaven face. “Heh heh. He’s utilizing the latrine.”
“Figures,” Michael mutters. “He did say breakfast this morning tasted kinda funny.”
“I thought it was pretty good,” replies Sky, snickering. “Considering I’m the one who made it.”
Michael shakes his head.
“Don’t forget, Yoshii – it’s your turn to make it tomorrow.” Sky slaps Yoshito on the shoulder and limps off to the other side of the deck, chuckling.
Yoshito groans.
“C’mon, Yoshito, lighten up,” states Michael as he pats Yoshito on the back encouragingly. “Better than cleaning the poop deck, aye?”
“…Aye.”
“C’mon, let’s see if we have any—”
“Oy, Yoshii, Firstmate, check this out!” Sky suddenly yells as he yanks at one of the ropes dangling overboard. “I think we may have somethin’!”
Without another thought, Sky and Yoshito scamper across the moist deck and grab hold of the slippery rope. Yoshito tugs with all his might. Whatever was on the other end of the rope was sure giving one heck of a fight as all three men grunt and groan, using all their strength to pull up the net.
“Feels like a lucky catch this time,” Sky mutters.
“Wonder if we accidentally snagged a…gnugh… small Wailmer?” Michael spits out, struggling to get a firm grip on the rope.
Yoshito doesn’t reply, only pulling with every bit of pent-up strength he had.
Finally, the three men hear sounds of the net leaving the water, and whatever was caught recoils about, madly shaking the net. But despite its efforts, the thing is hauled onto the wet deck, and the three men drop the rope, gasping. The catch flops under thick strings, half-hidden under the netting.
“Doesn’t seem… like much, but it… sure put up a fight,” Sky stammers through gasps. His hands are rubbed raw and bleeding. He wipes his hands on his grimy white shirt, ignoring the stinging of the salt.
“Yeah,” Michael harshly replies, coughing.
“Well, might as well have a look… right?” Yoshito inquires, and the three men nod at one another. They all take in a deep breath of salty air, stand up straight, grab separate ends of the squirming net, and lift—
A thin, rounded fish with wide eyes and thick lips flops up and down helplessly on the deck. It stays flat on one side due to its thin frame and glares at each man with one eye, the other eye being flat against the deck.
Sky’s mouth drops open in disappointment. “Whaaa… It’s only a Magikarp, the most worthless fish of them all!” He sighs. “Its outer scales are as hard as bone, so there’s no way we could eat it… Even the birds ignore them when they’re stranded on beaches… C’mon guys, let’s throw this thing—”
“Wait,” Michael whispers gravely. “Take a good look at this one.”
“Eh?” Sky and Yoshito both glance at each other with puzzled looks, but shrug and inspect the calmed fish.
Sky squints, and then pulls away, his eyes narrowing. “Is it just me, or… are the scales on this thing… green?”
“Yes,” Michael replies, nodding.
“You’re right,” Yoshito exclaims quietly. “For a moment, I thought it was just some kind of seaweed, but…”
Sure enough, the large scales covering the fish are a pale, mint green – an unusual color, given Magikarp are usually a heavy color of orange. It’s pursed, tangerine-colored lips twitch, and its eye darts from one man to the next.
Yoshito shudders. “Look at its eye.”
“Unusual,” Michael murmurs. “It’s eye… The pupil is normally just a tiny black dot… This one’s got a white retina, a wider pupil, and a completely black socket.”
“Whoa,” Sky exclaims. “This is one freaky fish…”
The malevolent eye never wavers for very long; it continues its tireless motion of glaringly monitoring the people surrounding it. The Magikarp now lies perfectly still.
“Hey,” Yoshito suddenly cries out, pointing at the fish’s belly. “What’s that?”
The three men lean in closer, and simultaneously gasp. An elongated, spherical gem glistens on the fish’s scaled belly. It seems to glow an unearthly blue.
A smirk appears on Sky’s face. “Guys… This fish… It’s the answer to our prayers!”
Michael beams. “Think of how much we could make with this thing! We could fix up The Trinidad and save the business!”
“Forget the business, Firstmate,” Sky quickly responds. “We could fix up The Trinidad, retire, AND fish for our own leisure! We wouldn’t have to worry about quotas or fishless days… Just hanging out as fishermen.”
“We’ll see what my dad has to say on this,” Michael replies, trying his best to contain the giddiness in his fluttering stomach.
“I’m on it, Firstmate,” Sky declares, and he limps off as quickly as his legs can carry him to the overhang.
Yoshito looks over at Michael, excitement in his avid eyes. “Looks like we’ve finally done it, Mike.”
Michael nods. “Who would’ve guessed a Magikarp would save our hides?”
The two men laugh heartily.
“Now we just need to hear what my da—”
In their peripheral, there is a yelp and a sickening crack as something bumps off the deck and into the ocean. Yoshito and Michael stop grinning, their faces now filled with dread. They look to where Sky had just been.
He was gone.
* * *
“Whoo.”
Flushing the toilet and stepping out of the one-man bathroom (the only bathroom), Adam Parris scratches his head and walks sluggishly from the latrine into a small dining room. There, he stands in front of a sink, and casually washes his hands with the dish soap. The refrigerator nearby silently whirs. Beside that, there is a large cabinet, cluttered with dishes and cups; on the countertop beside the sink, there are coffee mugs, a coffee maker, some used plastic spoons and a small jar of sugar. A lone light dangles in a nearby room. Adam ignores these things as he dries his hands with a cloth beside the sink.
As he wanders into the “living room” of the Crew’s Cabin, where a large wooden table and a purple sofa reside, he sniffs and waves his hand in the air, coughing lightly. “Cap’n’s been smokin’ again,” he mumbles disapprovingly. He walks beside the table and peers into a small green trash bin. Sure enough, there are cigarette butts in the bin, as well as an empty lighter, some balled-up wrappers, and an empty packet of cigarettes.
“Yep, Cap’n’s started up again… I told Mike he’d better watch his dad or else…” Adam trails off as he makes his way back into the kitchen and open the refridge. A blast of cool air hits him, giving him goosebumps. He grabs a can of soda labeled “FiZ”, pops it open with ease, and takes a few sips before setting it on the counter. He holds his head, groaning.
“Ugh… Not feeling so hot today… Wonder if the guy’s’ll give me a break—”
From under the floorboards of the ship, there is an unmistakable thrum. Adam blinks, snapping out of his daze, and stands perfectly still. His eye twitches when the noise starts again.
Druuuaaa…
Druuuaaa…
The noise repeats several times before ceasing, but it was just enough to turn Adam ghost-pale. Adam had heard the ship make many strange noises before… but this…
This was coming from underneath the ship.
Now fully alert, Adam grabs his fresh can of FiZ, hurls it into the trash can, and bolts upstairs… just in time to reach the deck and see Sky “Crutches” Izuto fall overboard.
No.
Not fall overboard.
Adam witnesses Sky being dragged overboard… by a huge, orange tentacle.
* * *
This is his second pack this month, but Johns “Captain” McKaine is sure his son would understand the stress he has been enduring these past several months of declining quotas and vanishing fish. Johns stares out the window of his cramped quarters; to his left, there was his chair, his microphone, his communication with the world miles away; to his right, his other chair, his desk, and unfinished paperwork regarding the future of his ailing company, “McKaine’s Harbor,” and The Trinidad. He couldn’t afford the huge ship, but is confident that while he has tumbled into debt, a successful business would be just the thing to pay it off. But with less and less savings money coming in due to falling investments and record-low captures, the only option he now had left was to call bankrupt for his company… and sell his beloved ship.
The Captain sighs and rubs his tired eyes. He scratches his black, trimmed beard, pondering just what to do next. Either he gives up his business and his ship, or he encounters some strange stroke of luck… Or better yet, a miracle—
Johns’s undivided attention is brought to when he notices three of his crewmen – Sky, Yoshito and his son Michael – huddled over a catch. The three are exchanging quick, excited looks… or were Johns's eyes playing tricks on him?
The Captain brings his pair of binoculars dangling from around his neck up to eye level – and is left speechless when he sees a green-colored Magikarp caught in his net.
‘A rare Magikarp?’ he thinks, is mind beginning to spin despite his lack of information of what was going on below. A second later, he sees Sky disperse from the huddled group – and, not a moment after, something ripple in the ocean beside the hull.
Johns pulls away his binoculars and rubs his eyes again. Surely, he didn’t just see…?
As he looks back up, Sky is gone. And there is a spray of water jetting up from beside the ship. A cold stone drops in Johns’s unsettled stomach as his microphone crackles and goes dead… followed by a hollow thud from beneath the ship.
Something was beneath them.
“Michael,” Johns unconsciously mutters as he looks back on the deck. Yoshito and Michael are racing over to the opposite side of the ship, trying to find the whereabouts of Sky. Behind them, Adam Parris appears, quite shaken, and the three speak for a bit before Adam turns towards the overhang again.
Then he sees it.
Slithering up the side of the ship, making its way across the clear deck, was a thick, green tentacle. And just as soon as Adam noticed it, it lashed out at lightning speed, wrapped itself around Adam’s frail body, and slipped silently back into the ocean, up until Adam’s body broke the surface of the water with a huge splash.
At that moment, Johns “Captain” McKaine jolted from his post to save the remainder of his crew.
* * *
“Adam?!” Michael shrieks as he dashes to the other side of the ship, leaning over to gaze into the murky depths.
Nothing. Just like Sky.
“What’s going on?!” cries Yoshito from the opposite end.
“I-I don’t know!” Michael stammers. Never had he felt more confused – or afraid – in his life. His eyes dance all across the deck, until they focus on the unusual Magikarp. The Magikarp was still laying flat on the deck, its malicious eye staring. “’ey, Yoshii, do you think this is all happening because of the Magikarp?”
“Th…The Magikarp?”
“Yeah! Right after we catch it, Sky and Adam disappear! Do you really think that’s a coincidence?”
Yoshito is speechless. His mouth opens, but no words come out.
Just then, there is another hollow thud as something collides with the front end of the ship. The Trinidad shudders, nearly knocking Yoshito and Michael off their feet. Someone lets out a startled cry and tumbles down the overhang’s steel stairwell, catching both Yoshito and Michael by surprise.
It’s Johns. He lays face-first on the floor, unmoving.
“Dad!” Michael screams as he rushes to his unconscious father’s side. But just as soon as Yoshito goes to aid them, he hears a strange, low vibration come from deep within the water.
Druuuaaa…
Druuuaaa…
It starts off as a low frequency, but gradually grows in depth. It sounds like a muffled boom box, rumbling noisily underwater at timed intervals. And just when Yoshito thinks he’s going crazy, he sees a bright flash of light under the surface of the sea… Three huge orbs glow in unison, right beside the ship. To Yoshito’s horror, the giant orbs change course – until they are directly beneath the ship. And in one swift motion, they rise.
The giant ship is lifted right out of the water. A second later, there is an ear-splitting boom as The Trinidad snaps in two, one half exploding as fuel mixes with fuel. Yoshito holds on for dear life on the other half of the ship’s railing, frozen in fear. Johns, Michael, and the alien Magikarp have disappeared.
Yoshito’s world spins as the second half of the ship he hangs on to hits the water with sickening force, sending up a huge wave of mist, oil and debris. From under the sinking ship, three large tentacles emerge – two orange, one green. The same colors as the freak Magikarp.
One tentacle slams down on the remainder of the first half of The Trinidad, capsizing it instantly. The second tentacle grabs hold of the Captain’s overhang and, with a single tug, yanks the compartment right off its support beams. Nuts and bolts tumble down from under the box, and chucks of wood splinter into the ocean as the massive tentacle crumples the box like paper. The third tentacle, after wavering in the air for a moment, rushes down on a giant hanger used for hoisting up nets. The hanger bends in on itself like origami, snaps, and falls into the water. Oil spills out from the base of the hanger, and an explosion immediately ensues as chemicals mix with broken electrical wires.
This – and two giant gears gliding towards his face – would be the last thing Yoshito Yoshii would ever see.
* * *
A rescue team is dispatched to answer a low-frequency distress signal sent from the doomed ship. But by the time they reach the area, all of The Trinidad -- and her crew – is lost to the quiet, calm, grey ocean… sunk by an infected, unseen enemy of titanic proportions.