On a mysterious night, on a deserted island littered with corpses, many of them had severed limbs, some were decapitated, and others were riddled with holes. In some cases, the extent of the damage was even more gruesome, with guts and organs scattered everywhere. The island was practically drenched in blood, as a river of crimson flowed through its midst.
In the center, a figure stood shrouded in darkness, drenched in blood. One of his hands held a strange gun, while the other gripped a glass-like orb. Notably, one of his hands appeared to be metallic, resembling a robotic limb. As he turned, a black eyepatch was revealed over one of his eyes.
Beside him stood a blood-covered hound, gripping an axe that was equally stained with the blood of the fallen. His eyes emitted a fiery glow, resembling that of a predator prepared to pursue its prey. Who were these individuals? Had they been responsible for the deaths of everyone around? And if so, what was their motivation? A multitude of questions hung in the air, devoid of any answers. How could a lone person manage to take the lives of so many? The quest for understanding remained elusive.
Out of nowhere, the figure, concealed in darkness, lifted his metallic arm and pointed his strange gun toward me. "H-Hold on, let's t-talk..."
*Bang*
The sound of a gunshot reverberated across the empty island. In an instant, a chilling sensation gripped my stomach. Instinctively, I reached out and realized my hand was wet – wet with blood, my blood. My gaze dropped, confirming the source. I had been shot even before I could finish my sentence. A glance at my abdomen revealed a profuse bleed, and I crumpled to the ground on my knees. Emerging from the shadows, the enigmatic figure advanced, holding his unusual gun in a metallic hand. His blood-soaked hound trailed behind him.
He approached me closely, his face obscured in shadow, yet strangely, his emotions were discernible. His remaining eye emanated a frigid and vacant stare, resembling that of a lifeless fish. Once more, he lifted his metallic arm, aiming his peculiar gun directly before my face.
"Please, just wait—"
*Bang*
…..
*Thud*
"Ha... what a weird dream." I thought to myself as I woke up and found that I had fallen from the bed during my sleep. Looking around, I noticed I was in the captain's quarters on the NS Scorpion.
Woof
I turned my head towards the sound; it was Rex, my dog. "Good morning, Rex," I said in greeting. It seemed he had woken up because of my fall. I got up from the floor, quickly got ready, and headed outside.
"Good morning," a lovely voice greeted me. It was Lara, the beautiful woman I had met on Mermaid's Veil, the island of the cannibals, along with the other survivors.
"Morning," I replied warmly, exchanging greetings with her, and turned my attention to the activities of the other survivors. Lucas and two other women were busy preparing breakfast, while one woman monitored the radar.
I glanced around and noticed the absence of the young girl's mother. It seemed she still hadn't fully recovered from her ordeal.
On that day, after we had dealt with the final cannibals and given a respectful farewell to the remains of those who had ventured into this world alongside us but tragically fell prey to the cannibals, a collective decision took root within us. It was unanimous – we were setting our sights on the Port City of Aurora.
It's been three days since then, and over this time, I've been dedicating myself to training the other survivors on how to operate the NS Scorpion. Given that the submarine is designed for teamwork, I'm grateful for any assistance I can get.
Luckily, we still have a supply of food from the ship I salvaged before I left Mermen Island. Plus, we've also got preserved rations for any potential emergencies.
Lucas has been particularly impressive in his ability to learn. I've been teaching him a range of skills – from steering the submarine to managing the reactor room and even loading torpedoes. He's absorbed all this information surprisingly quickly.
Lucas has even joined me as a co-helmsman for the NS Scorpion. Operating a submarine effectively usually requires two individuals, and this arrangement holds true again now. The time I managed to escape from the mermen was an exception – I was alone there, without anyone else.
Lucas has even joined me as a co-helmsman for the NS Scorpion. Operating a submarine effectively usually requires two individuals, and this arrangement holds true again now. The time I managed to escape from the mermen was an exception – I was alone there, without anyone else.
With the assistance of Lucas and others, we've successfully reloaded all the torpedoes, ensuring our readiness for any unforeseen emergencies. So the torpedo bay was once again locked and loaded. Some of the survivors inquired about the peculiar 3D printer-like machine I had mentioned earlier. I warned them against touching it, explaining that I had no idea what it was for and that it could potentially be extremely dangerous.
As for the mother of the young girl, she's been deeply affected by the trauma she endured. Neither I nor the other survivors blame her, and we've chosen to give her space and time to recover at her own pace.
"It smells wonderful. What's being prepared?" I inquired from the individuals busy cooking breakfast.
"We're making Kedgeree using fish from the fishing boat, along with rice and spices you provided," one of the women responded.
"Got it. I'll let you handle it then. No need to rush – take your time," I assured them. To be honest, I wasn't familiar with what Kedgeree was. I'm no chef, but I can manage some basic cooking. It's odd, though – whenever I cook, it seems nobody else eats it, and I always end up finishing it myself.
On the first day after our experiences on Mermaid's Veil, the island of cannibals, everyone seemed to be avoiding me. Hoping to bridge the gap, I decided to cook a delicious meal. I made fried rice, using the same recipe from Mermen's Island.
After taking the first spoonful, Lucas abruptly dashed to the bathroom for some reason, followed by two other women. Lara firmly advised me to never step foot in the kitchen again. Left with no other choice, I ended up devouring the entire meal. I even overheard some women joking about how my cooking could be used as a torture device. I couldn't quite figure out what they meant by that.
"Everyone, breakfast is ready," a voice echoed throughout the NS Scorpion. It was Lucas who had spoken. I suppose his experience as a resort attendant equipped him with various skills, including cooking. Could that be the reason he picked up everything I taught him so quickly?
Afterward, each of us had a serving of this Kedgeree dish. It included rice, smoked fish, boiled eggs, and an array of spices like curry powder. The taste was delightful, carrying a smoky flavor from the fish and a distinct blend of spices. I could even detect a subtle hint of butter, or perhaps cream. I found myself wondering where they managed to find these ingredients.
*Woof Woof*
The source of the sound was Rex, gazing at everyone with those longing eyes of his.
"Hahaha… how could I forget about you, Rex? Here you go," Lucas chuckled as he spoke and offered Rex a portion of plain rice along with some cooked meat, bones removed, and a boiled egg. Rex devoured it with utmost delight, evident from the rapid wagging of his tail. It was wagging so fast that it seemed like it might break the sound barrier.
After a satisfying breakfast, one of the women brought some food to the mother of the little girl. Soon after, the rest of us gathered to discuss our upcoming plans. Based on my calculations, we were looking at another four days of travel before reaching Port Aurora.
We could potentially travel faster, but we're cautious about journeying at night. Our team is limited in numbers, and more importantly, we're in an unfamiliar world where we have no idea about the sea's potential dangers. Therefore, we try to avoid any accidental encounters with unknown underwater creatures.
"Shall we start moving forward today?" I asked the group, and they all seemed to agree. With their consensus, I took the initiative to start up the NS Scorpion and set us in motion. While some of the women monitored the radar, others attended to various tasks like checking water pressure to prevent us from getting crushed by its force.
"Why don't you take a break?" Lucas approached me and suggested, "We'll handle things here. Unlike the rest of us, you're dealing with significant injuries."
Hmm… what he's saying is true. I did lose my left arm, my right leg, and even my right eye, though I can still see through it. However, it's become quite sensitive to light, so I tend to avoid using it, even at night.
"Alright, thank you. I'll take you up on that offer," I told Lucas before heading back to the captain's quarters. It's actually quite pleasant being around others. While no one can replace Rex, there's something nice about having human companions to share stories and laughter with.
Hmm… I did say I would rest, but I find myself feeling a bit restless. What to do? Ah, the old Diary of Captain Francis caught my eye. Perhaps I can read it to pass the time and maybe gain insights into the continent of TerraNova and Port Aurora. I opened the diary and began reading.