NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC- This is only for people who signed up for the "King Kong-esque RP" see OOC thread to join.

IC- After month's at sea, the S.S. Cooper finally reached an island. Cpt. Jim Duffey looked at it. It was like no island he had ever seen. It was massive, with a large wall around it. Natives, he thought. A large mountain was also visable. It looked like a skull. "Bring us in." He ordered. Duffey was always ordering people. He rowed crew and then coached it, so he was used to it.

The Cooper pulled up on shore. Duffey got volunteers to come out and investgate the island with him. Only a few sailors did. What a joke ship, full of cowardly sailors and women. He randomly handed out weapons o the sailors. Some already had them.

"Alright, before we set out, I want names." A sailor immeadiltly answered. "Name's Brendan Edwards." "Excellent," Duffey said. More sailors gave their names, and Duffey waited for the others to say their names.

OOC- The sailors are cannon fodder. Post an intro for your character, and then we'll continue.

Thea stared at the island, all but mesmerized. The maps all said that this place should be nothing more than another stretch of empty ocean, just more sky and restless waves. But it wasn't, no the island was large enough that most assureedly it shuld be on the maps. And the huge wierdly shaped mountain. It does look just like a skull she thought as she leaned on the railing. "I have got to get pictures of this" she said softly, more to herself than any one who happened to over hear.

Turning back to her tiny cabin she changed into hiking boots, after sliding on a double pair of socks. Thea grabbed up her camera and other equipment quickly. Gun she thought as she turned back and grabbed up her pistol belt. Tightening it about her trim waist, Thea reached under her pillow, bringing out her Walther PP and slipping it into the holster. A pair of extra clips were tucked into her gear bag. That wall isn't natural, so some one built it, and those someone's might not be civilized. she thought as she paused a second longer to debate anything else she might need. With a nod she grabbed up a canteen and filled it from the pitcher on her washstand.

"Alright, before we set out, I want names."

"Captain I'm going with you and your men. We need pictures of this after all." It was no questioning to it as she spoke to Captain Duffey. Thea was not used to any one gainsaying her, certainly not the captain of a tramp steamer, though she kept her voice courteous. "And I'm the lady who's paid for your most spacious passenger accomodations -Thea Mainwarring." She knew he knew her name but she wanted to make sure he remembered who was paying a fair chunk of his salary so to speak.

Mick stepped up to the top deck, smelling the salty air. "Ahh...adventure calls," he said, smiling to himself. On one shoulder he carried a nice one-shot rifle. His lucky one at that. On the other, he carried "Tommy", his prized tommy-gun. On his hip, within arms reach, a pistol was holstered, loaded and ready for any quick action. Along with the three guns, he had a backpack slung on his back, with many clips of ammo for each weapon. A somewhat heavy and uncomfortable load, but Mick enjoyed a challenge...

"Greeting's Captain Duffey, I am Mickey Oakley. You probably have heard of me, being a war hero and film star," Mick told the Captain confidently, a handsome grin on his face.

"Al Mahan. Just to tell you Cpt. Duffey I can't shoot for shit. Pardon my French, Miss Mainwarring. When I was in the navy I never had to use a rifle. So I don't really any use for me, but Cpt I will go if you order me to go sir." Al waited to get orders. He had his Springfield with him and his canteen so he was ready to go.

You probably have heard of me, being a war hero and film star,"

Thea had to bite her lower lip hard before she could turn and look at the man who'd come up and interupted her speaking to Captain Duffey. War hero and film star she chortled inside yes and how many times has your name been above the films title? She wondered to herself, her mental tone definitely catty. She did not like people that were openly rude, and her inner giggles grew apace as she took in his armaments. What, are we looking for German hideout's on an uncharted south Pacific isle? He's armed enough to put down another bolshe revolution She bit her lip again, firmly quelling her thoughts. She's not paid too much attention to him before now, despite the small number of passengers to socialize with aboard the steamer.

She nodded regally at the crewman, Al, when he apologised for his blue language, and graced him with a gentle smile. Couldn't admit that she had heard worse around her parent's table. Children were supposed to be deaf as well as dumb, but that had never stopped her from listening in on anything that caught her attention. But it was most courteous of him to apologise.

Still smiling, he looked around, and noticed he was not the only one on deck. "Ah, I see I'm not the only one to notice our impending landing."

"Greetings, to both of you, I am the one and only, Mickey Oakley," He said, bowing slightly, and taking Thea's hand and kissing it lightly.

Thea had to struggle not to form her hand into a fist and plant him a facer, right in that hopefully glass but sadly, most likely not chin of his. Her estimation of Mr. Mickey Oakley dropped several more notches. The one and only? Well I can certainly hope so, one of you is more than enough her thoughts were scalding. No well bred gentleman presumed to take a lady's hand with our her having offered it. That's why he needs all those weapons, to keep angry, insulted women from taking you on sans the Marquis of Queensbury rules

"Pleased, I'm sure." She returned in a cool voice that invited no familiarity at all as she removed her hand quickly from his. Turning away she moved over to the rail and began inspecting the nearest portion of the island.

Duffey shook his head a little bit. A pompous eich woman, an ex war hero/ movie star, and a navyman who can't shoot. It's a good thing there is nothing dangerous on the isalnd. "Well, what are some other names here?"

He laughed as Thea walked off to examine the land. He decided to follow her. Nothing else for me to do... he thought, chuckling as he walked over.

"So, what is your name, miss?" he asked cooly, as he set one foot on the railing.

"So, what is your name, miss?"

"If you had bothered to listen to the conversation you interupted, you'd know." Thea snapped as the insufferable Mr. Oakley came up beside her. "I am Lady Theadora Mainwarring. You may call me Miss Mainwarring."

"Oh! Quite the snappy one, hmm?" Mick chuckled. "Pleasure to meet you, Miss Mainwarring. You may call me Mick."

"I'm quite sorry about interrupting. I did not know you were talking," He replied, still smirking.

Al went up to the man who was talking to Miss Mainwarring. "Helllo, I'm Al Mahan and who might you be?" Al put out his hand.

Mick smiled at Al. "Mickey Oakley, action star extraodinaire," he replied, shaking the man's hand, smiling broadly. "Pleasure to meet you, Al."

"Man what wrong with Miss Mainwarring or does she act this way all the time, Mick?" Al started to laugh.

Mick started to laugh at Al's jibe. "Miss Mainwarring may be getting seasick. It tends to make people slightly snappy," he chuckled, turning around so his back leaned against the railings, in a casual, care-free pose.

"The first time I got seasick was about seven years ago when i went aboard my first ship. I just joined the navy and we were shipping out. Getting out to sea for me makes me feel alive." Al replied.

"There is something about sailing that makes me feel...alive. It's a good feeling, right Miss Mainwarring?" He asked, watching the her closely.

"Are you crazy?"

The words resounded around Lucy Chambers head as she sat in the boat, looking out at the island as they need it, the huge wall and features of the place already being turned into the next paragraph of her article. She had not expected much on this trip, had joined only to do a piece on the life of a sailor. They travelled the seas, facing dangers from everything. Would they be capsized by a huge wave or sunk when they hit a rock during a savage storm?

Lucy looked up at the man before her, his dark hair speckled with grey, a large cigar somehow remaining in his mouth as he spoke. “You want to put yourself on a freighter, sailing to God knows where, because you think it will make a good story?”

“Mr Hartman,” Lucy began only to be cut off again.

“There is no way in Hell, and I mean Hell, that I’m going to pay you to disappear on a boat full of…sailors, who probably have not seen a woman for several months on end.” He was now standing in front of his chair, his hands resting on the desk. “Your father would roll over in his grave if I let you go.”

Lucy shook her head. “Mr Hartman, I know the promise you made to my father before he died, but I need to do this. I need to show the world that I have more inside me than articles on the latest fashion.” She too rose from her feet. “I’m a journalist, Mr Hartman, and if I don’t do something that marks me as different to all the others out there, then I might as well…”

“Quit and start a family?” Hartman finished for her.

Lucy’s eyes flashed with anger. She knew that her uncle was only quoting the same phrase that her father had used on her countless times from the moment she had mentioned her desire of becoming a journalist, following in the late Joseph Chambers footsteps.

“If you won’t help me, I’ll just do it on my own.”

Lucy blinked away the memory as the boat hit the shore, and the parted disembarked. She was surprised to see that so few had volunteered to come along. The island held a strange fascination, not only the strangeness of the wall, but the whole scenery around her. She was not well travelled, had barely gone further than her own backyard. The city was her life and there had been, until this trip, little else for her. Her father would not take her on his travels, even her mother had been forced to live without her husband for months on end.

“I’m Lucy Chambers, Captain Duffey, journalist.” She introduced herself again, a little surprised that the man did not remember either her or the other lady on board from sight. “Where are we?” She asked no one in particular as she turned around, once more investigating her surroundings with little more than a preliminary gaze.

* * * * *

Matt Hubbard looked around at those assembled and said a quick prayer, as was always the habit when he was feeling a little anxious. He had had a bad feeling about the trip from the moment the two women had stepped on board. All good sailors knew that women were nothing but bad luck on a boat, and as he stood with a giant wall in front of him that cut across the island, he had no doubt in his mind that this voyage was not going to turn out well.

If those around him could have read his mind, they would have called him a man of little faith, and for a while, that had been the case. He had started his life as a man of the cloth, devout in this life, never straying or betraying the oaths that he had taken. But other the years, and with all the hell and misery that had followed him, he had given into the devil and had lost himself in the bottom of a bottle.

He made his way over to the captain, his mind once more focused. “Captain, Matt Hubbard, ready and waiting for your orders.” His free hand slipped into his pocket, feeling the familiar coolness of the metal object inside.

OCC: Sorry for the late post

Dutch thought to himself as they stepped onto the shore 'What have I gotten myself into? I didn't sign up for this. Why do I need this machine gun?' he thought.
The wall was immense and he stared at it "I wonder why they neede a wall like this" he said aloud in a German accent. Duch didn't like any of this. Something didn't seem right. The heat was unbearable and he rolled up his sleeves and wiped the sweat from his brow.

Karl Goethe lit a cigarette and drew heavily on the tobacco. The German had picked up the habit barely two weeks into his time in the trenches in France. He shuddered. The pounding of the ships engines reminded him of the constant barrages of the British and French artillery during the war. At least on the ship, he was away from the mud, the rain, and the blood and death.

After joining the ship, Karl had tried to keep his past out of the light but word quickly spread that the German had been a soldier during the Great War, which had caused some slight unspoken tension with a few sailors. No violence had erupted between him and the Americans, only some distrusting glares and an occasional shoulder-bump.

Now, Karl stood on the bow of the ship and stared up at the island and the massive wall looming above him. He had spotted two women on board the ship, from what he had heard in rumors during his single leave during the War from some men in the Navy it was bad luck. Sitting aboard a massive battleship protected by several inches of thick armor was luck; sitting in a miserable hole up to your knees in water was bad luck.

Karl turned as he heard the captain call for names of volunteers. The German threw the remains of the cigarette overboard and walked back down into the ship to his small cabin and returned a few minutes later with an American Thompson, his old army bayonet, and a P-08 Luger he had removed from a dead officer during the war, along with ammunition for both firearms. As he inserted the drum magazine into the machine-pistol, he couldn’t help but feel a bit of longing for his old Mauser 98, though he disliked the war he loved the rifle for its accuracy. But with the surrender of Germany, he had piled it up along with hundreds of others, probably to be destroyed or some taken by souvenir hungry Americans.

“Karl Goethe Captain.” Karl said to Duffey. With that, he turned and collected a pack and made sure it was secure on his back. He dug around in his pants and removed another cigarette and lit it. Karl turned to the sound of another German accent and stared at the other man who seemed a bit uncertain.

“Where in Germany are you from my friend?”

"To keep people out," Mick replied to Dutch's question, as he walked from past the German, patting him on the back. He had noticed another woman walk up deck and introduce herself to the captain.

"Good day, miss. Mickey Oakley, film star and war hero," he said with a smile to Lucy.

"I was from Wolfsburg. I was young during the war and our family fled after it ended, yourself?" Dutch asked "By the way, my names Dutch Phinehart" he said. Dutch grasped his machine gun and looked still towards the wall and island.

"Why would they need a wall that large to keep people out? Perhaps they were trying to keep something else out" Ducth replied to Mick. Everything about this seemed bad.

Lucy turned, as Mickey’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. She greeted him with a smile, as she looked at his face, feeling a slight feeling of recognition. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr Oakley.” She presented her hand to shake, pausing for a moment as her brain tried to catch up with her. “So, what brings you on this trip? Are you working on a film or something?” She decided to make a mental note of his answer so that she could add it to her write up once they had made camp or returned to the boat, whichever the captain had planned.

Karl smiled and nodded. "Karl Goethe from Munich. I was actually in the war fighting in France from 1916 to the surrender of Germany. Worked passage to America a few years later."

Karl stared back at the monterous wall, it did not really effect the German spare for its emense size gave him some admiration for the people who built it. He turned back to Dutch.

"If you want scary, run sevearl hundred meters over muddy, crater filled, dead land while machine guns and cannons are tearing your friends apart. This...must be their version of cannons, barbed wire, and trenches. It sure would keep people out."

Mick laughed. "Please, just Mick," he chuckled as he shook her hand. "Ahh, not quite. I just came on for that little bit of adventure. You know, the salty air, the uncharted island, the danger, the suspense."

The damsel in distress... he thought to himself, chuckling slightly.

"So, why have you decided to come, miss..." Mick suddenly realized she hadn't given him her name.

"Well, we should start from the beginning. What might your name be, miss?" he asked, smiling broadly at her.

A sense of dread came over him. "I think that we may be getting ourselves into something far worse, Karl" Ducth replied "My older brother and a few cousins fought in the war. My brother, heinrich was killed"

Laughing Lucy, once more focused on Mickey’s face, trying to place what she had seen him in. “I’m Lucy, Lucy Chambers,” she began, as she brushed her hand through her hair, suddenly coming over a little star struck. “I am currently working, well, I’m writing an article about the struggles on the open sea, facing the dangers of the deep.” She paused, feeling a little silly about the way she was suddenly acting, like she was a silly schoolgirl with a crush. “I’m looking for a story, I’m hoping to become a serious journalist.”

Dutch looked over the the woman and the actor "It looks like pretty boy is making the moves on the lady, this should be interesting" he commented.

"Lucy Chambers, it is a pleasure to meet you," he replied. He looked into her eyes, noticing she was staring at his face. He chuckled slightly. "Your name sounds slightly familiar. Maybe I have read something that you wrote?"

Mick was actually just trying to be nice. He never really reads magazines often, and only the occasional movie reviews or breaking news. Yet, maybe he did read some article from the journalist. He looked towards the skull-like rock formation again.

"You're bound to have an amazing article from here...It's like a story from a movie or book. Some fantasy of a suspense writer, or a nightmare from a horror author," he replied, flashing his grin again as he turned back to Lucy.

Unable to stop herself, Lucy laughed again. “Oh, I would be mightily surprised if you had read anything that I had written, Mr Oak…Mick.” She smiled, feeling a little odd calling him by his first name. It seemed kind of too familiar. “Unless, of course, you like to keep yourself up-to-date with women’s fashion?” The smile disappeared to be replaced by a brief frown.

She turned to look at the surrounds as Mickey spoke of them, hoping more than anything that she could get something out of this trip that she could take back to her uncle to prove herself capable of more gritty stories. “This is definitely an intriguing island, there is something foreboding about a wall that big.” She turned from her inspection and looked back at the actor. “Let us hope there is not a good reason for it being there.”

"Oh, women's fashion...Definately. I always need a dress for Sunday," he chuckled.

"Judging by that skull shaped mountain...I'm guessing the Islanders celebrate Halloween every day," he replied as he stared back out into the island. Mick was actually quite worried about what he would find on the island. Luckily, he was well armed for any simple Islanders...

"Ja." Karl commented as he smoked his cigarette and stared at the woman and the actor. The former soldier didn't like the look of the actor as he attempted to work his charm on the woman. He scowled, from first impressions this was the kind of man who would get others killed.

Karl turned to Dutch and spoke low enough so only the other German could hear him. "Watch out for this American. From what I see so far I only see a sex crazed maniac. If he has a weapon, best stand behind him or you are libel to get shot in the ass."

“Am I allowed to put that in my article?” Lucy laughed.

She was grateful that Mr Oakley was joking with her, it made her feel calmer than she had since stepping foot on the island. The fact that half the crew had decided not to venture with them did not make her feel good about what was happening. But she had wanted a story, and one about a group of islanders who worshipped a giant carved skull would interest the readers back home, she was sure.

“Is this your first voyage, Mick?” Lucy enquired, not wanting to fall silent just yet. She could not help wonder if she was fooling herself into thinking she had what it was to become a journalist, yet there was something inside that made her want to push forward, to get to the bottom of the island’s mystery.

She felt a strange sensation, and turned to see two of the other members of the crew staring at her. Feeling uncomfortable, she turned the other way, hoping that they soon lost all interest.

Karl snorted at the woman turning her back to him. A slight smile twisted on his face and he called out to her. "Just because I'm German doesn't mean I am going to eat your baby and rape you."

His comment was a reaction to the countless French, British, and Dutch propaganda posters he had seen the old vetrans have as trophies depicting Germans raping innocent women and eating thier children. He had also seen some on the American Doughboys during his short captivity before he was allowed to return home.

"Fraulein, might be wise to have a soldier who knows how to use a firearm by your side than the pretty boy."

Mick laughed. "Oh please do. Maybe I'll start a new fad of men wearing dresses!"

"First voyage...well...Kind of. My first voyage out this far. Otherwise, I've sailed around the coastlines of the U.S...."

He noticed Lucy looking a bit uncomfortable. He looked up and noticed the two germans talking amongst themselves, while looking at both Lucy and Mick. He brought his face close to Lucy, still watching them. "Are they bothering you, Miss Chambers?"

Dutch smirked, he though Karl was an okay guy. "I'll take you advice in mind" he replied and took a few steps inland but ventured no farther. He took off his hat and wiped the sweat off.
"Do not worry, ma'am, we'll protect you incase there are any ghosts or monsters" Dutch joked.

Al came back to Mick after getting some ammo for his springfield. "Hey Mick!" Al stood right next to Mick. He saw the two germans. From some of the older men in the boat they talked about the Germans during WWI, but Al didn't mind. Al saw the lady. "Hey Mick who might this women your talking to? Oh sorry my names Al Mahan."

"Al, this young lady is Miss Chambers. She hopes to get a good story from this voyage. I'm sure she will," he smiled, winking at Lucy.

"I see you like Miss Chambers. She is beautiful." Al whispered in Mick's ear. "It's very nice to meet you Miss Chambers."

Thea had stayed silent as the movie star and his friend Al made jokes. She would not dignify their actions with a reply. She had been aboard ships more times than they probably had between them and she's never gotten seasick even in the roughest weather.

She snorted to herself as Mickey went over to the young, would be journaist, Lucy and smoozed up to her like he was the cats meow. Hopefully Lucy would be sharp enought to see through his glad handing act.

When the German crewman, Karl made his crude comment."Just because I'm German doesn't mean I am going to eat your baby and rape you."


Thea turned from her study of the immense wall and in flawless German spoke scathingly. "If you were in the habit of thinking before you spoke, and possessed of any culture, you would not make such statements. Your comment just adds fuel to any notions. Your comment just enforced the proppaganda. No gentleman says such things"

It was just not done in the thirties to say such things before any woman of good reputation, and generally refrained from in front of even fallen women.

Shaking her head slightly at the crewmans coarseness she turned back to the wall as she dug into her camera bag. "Miss Chambers, Mr. Oakley, Captain Duffey, why don't you let me get a set of photos of you all going ashore. The wall in the back ground will show it's immense size as perspective" She had her Leica II in one hand, a light meter in the other and quickly had three shots from different angles captured on film.

"Of course, Miss Mainwarring," replied Mick, as he got in place for the picture. He grinned dashingly and winked at Thea as he waited for the picture.

"Come now, you need a picture of yourself in here!" he laughed.

"Oh no Mr. Oakley, Like John Muir, I intend to shine behind a camera, not in front of it." She found herself smiling slightly at the handsome actor. His charm made it easy to over look his earlier overfamiliarity. 'I guess that's what makes him an actor. Grandfather would be in a towering rage if he saw me amid all of this, and Jeremy would have appoplexy. Her brother and grandfather were too much alike and spent most of their time being horrified by her modern ways. One would think I was living in a speakeasy and making bath tub gin.

She grinned inside as she sang a few bars from one of her favorite songs under her breath. "Come on babe, why don't we paint the town? And all that jazz.. I'm gonna rouge my knees, and roll my stockings down. And all that jazz. Start the car, I know a whoopee spot;where the gin is cold, but the piano's hot..."

She had a surprizingly good voice, and often hummed or sang as she set about composeing a shot without realizing it.

As Thea was composing her shot, Mick heard her singing.

"Miss Mainwarring, I never knew you sang well," he chuckled. "All this time, I was trying to find a good singer, and I never knew!"

After the shots were taken, Mick walked up to Thea and snatched up her hand. "Come on, Miss Mainwarring. I'm sure John Muir wasn't quite as pretty as you!" he chuckled as gently tugged her to where the others stood.

"Why not take a picture of me?" Dutch joked to the woman photographer "You'd just be wasting you film if you used it on other things" he laughed.

Al slinged the Springfield around his back. He still wondered if there was anything dangerous on this island. "Miss Mainwarring I was just wondering if you have anything to protect you or you just going to count on us for protection? Also your voice is very nice." Al decided to talked since they wouldn't be leaving too soon.

Karl turned to the woman who spoke to him in his native language. He grunted and slowly walked to her, one hand on the Thompson sling around his right shoulder. He stared at her and responded in German.

"I never claimed to be a gentleman Fraulein. I was a soldier in a dirty war when I was sixteen years old. Your pictures and newspapers can't even grasp what occured in those trenches. Five of my friends went insane in the first eight months....two commited suicide, one was taken back to the hospital, and the other two simply wandered out into No Man's Land. Seeing the effects of mustard and chlorine gas on a human being is a very sobering effect Frau Mainwarring. Your American movies and newspapers depict us as barbarians but didn't bother telling of what some British and French did to my comrades."

Karl stared at her for a few more seconds before turning back and wandering to the bow.

"Miss Mainwarring I was just wondering if you have anything to protect you or you just going to count on us for protection? Also your voice is very nice."

Thea patted the Walter PP at her waist with a smile. "Yes I have this, Mr.Mahan, and I am not a bad marksman, or so I have been told. Thank you for asking and the compliment to my singing."

Come on, Miss Mainwarring. I'm sure John Muir wasn't quite as pretty as you!"

"No, no pictures of me, really Mr. Oakley. And you still must look for a singer. I might do well enough for Sunday in church, but no Lilly Langtree am I." She smiled at Mickey to take the sting out of her refusal as she disengaged her hand from his grasp.

Waving at Dutch to join Mickey she suggested "Here let me get the two of you together, then the ladies will surely swoon when these get published."

Before she could get the Leica ready the German crewman replied to her comment earlier However before she could respond he had marched off heading toward the bow of the ship. Thea's reply was heard only by empty air. "Oh no sir, I lost friends too in that stupid aweful war. A war that never should have been." A war that ended not because any side won or lost but because there were too few men to prosecute it once the influenza epidemic struck Europe and spread around the world. And that deadliest of flu's took more than the war did by far.

"That is very good you have a gun because I have been around the world a couple times and heard stories from some of the other men. They never told stories about a place like this. So I know you wanted to come along to take picture but why us?" Al replied.

OOC-Sorry for not posting, had late practice last night.

Things really haven’t started too well, Lucy thought to herself as the German finished talking to her. She had not meant to insinuate that she thought he was going to do anything to her, she merely disliked being stared at, it always made her uncomfortable. Granted, it made her more so when she was stuck in the middle of an ocean on a boat surrounded by sailors, but she had not been thinking anything along the lines of what he had accused her of thinking.

She was grateful when the conversation moved away from her and turned back to the island. She smiled at Thea and watched as she coaxed the two sailors into posing for a picture. Half watching, she let her eyes drift around the scenery, coming to terms with the sights before her. Was the island really as dangerous as they all thought, or was this merely the natives’ tribute to some god that they worshipped? Stranger things that been report through the press.

Remaining a little way from the others, she made a note to apologise for the misunderstanding she had caused, though she decided to wait for a less public time, just in case the man flared up at her again.

* * * * *

Matt Hubbard stood a little way from the captain, his mind already accepting that all the bad things that were happening and were going to happen were down to the two ladies before him. It was unchristian of him to have such thoughts, but he had been a sailor for long enough to know that Poseidon and whatever other gods watched over sailors were not fond of the fairer sex. He could not help wonder if they were still paying women back for the actions of Eve in the Garden of Eden.

As he watched, he made decided to keep a watch of both, knowing that trouble was bound to be right around the corner, and Lady Mainwarring and Miss Chambers were likely to be standing right in the middle of it.

The butt of his tommy gun rested on his leg as Dutch stood there and smiled. Thea wasn't that bad, she was certainly tough. She took the picture and he said "Yes, the women will be swooning for me" then he thought 'If we leave this island'.

"The girls already swoon over me, Miss Mainwarring," Mick chuckled.

As the picture was taken, Mickey followed Lucy's gaze, turning around and studying the island.

Wilderness everywhere, the sounds of a rainforest quite evident in the distance. That and some unknown sounds...

Mick shivered slightly before turning his back to the wilderness.

"So, I suppose we stay on the ship until tomorrow then?" he asked no one in particular.

Walking back to Lucy, he smiled and said "Miss Chambers, enjoying the view? I'm quite anxious to see if the natives, if there are any, are somewhat modern, or can atleast grasp the english language."

The sun beat down on his browned brow, nearly matching the hue of his rifle stock. This was nothing like France, away from the mud and the death of the trenches, the chattering machine-guns, the death-wails and shells screaming from the sky. Little more than fond memories now...

Still, this place radiated death like light from a candle. And like a moth to a candle's radiating glow, Ben Stillwater was drawn to it. He'd served with the Devil-Dogs in the Great War, distinguishing himself as a ferocious opponent.
The bolt of his 1903 Springfield slid open easily, well-oiled and babied like an infant. With practiced precision he slid the eight-round stripper-clip into the internal magazine before slamming the bolt forward and rotating it down to lock into place. The scope's lense was flawlessly clean, hooded to keep the glare to a minimum. Besides the rifle, Stillwater kept a pair of 1911 Colts on his person, one on the right hip and the other under his left arm. He didn't shoot them at the same time, never had. It was simply quicker to get a new one than reload the first. The snub-nose thirty-eight in his waistband was an ever-reliable back-up, and his trench-knife a last resort. His fists were hard around the knuckles, handy when the knife's blade snapped.

Loose-fitting khaki pants and an old pair of sailor's boots did little to match the grimly brown t-shirt he currently wore, smeared with a combination of blood, sweat, grease, and gun oil. His Marine Corps tattoo was slightly visible under the left arm of his shirt, a black representation of the USMC logo on his left bicep. Sporting close-shaven brown hair and a three-day beard of comparable length, Stillwater cut a rather unkempt figure. Not that it mattered to him, anyway. He didn't sign on with a steamer to get laid.

Following the others down the gangplank, he remained silent and alert. The presence of women unnerved him, he'd heard from some of his Navy comrades that women on board a boat had always preceeded bad shit happening. The presence of two Germans didn't help matters either. This was the last place in the world he'd have thought to encounter old enemies.

One he'd overheard talking about his prior service, the other seemed to have been too young at the time to have served the Kiser. No matter, since the Treaty at Versailles, he'd quit hating the krauts. The outgoing movie-star was unknown to him, but that wasn't surprising to him since he hadn't been to a movie since the war ended.

Stillwater took a swing from his canteen, wiping his mouth of the excess warm water before capping it and letting it hang. His light pack contained a pair of k-rations, his belt held ammunition. He needed little else, preferring to travel light. His body was strong from his time served and the subsequent forays in the boxing and criminal careers, leaving him cut and agile, with more pronounced thickness around the chest, neck, and arms from the Corps' emphasis on push-ups.

Stillwater's green eyes narrowed against the harsh sunny glare, shading his view with a gloved hand. The leather mits had had their fingers removed, providing him with a steady gripping surface should he require it.

Rifle held low and ready, he waited patiently at the edge of the gathered party, ready to move when asked to...

OOC- My crew practices are going to get really late, so the thread may move slowly. Sorry in advance.

IC- Duffey had all the volunteers he needed. "Alright everyone, let's get going. Don't worry, we probably shouldn't need to use the guns."

Brendan Edwards walked foward, in the lead of the group. Edwards didn't like Duffey that much. He was to bossy. Oh well. He continued walking for a while, and finally he came to a small group of huts. Everyone looked around, but found no people. "I guess everyone's go..." Before Edwards could finish the sentance, he was hit hard in the head. All the other members of the party suffered the same fate.



When Edwards woke up, he was in a jungle. He looked around. All the party members were here. And all of their weapons. They were probably thrown down in a haste. He looked up to see the wall, with the natives that must have ambushed them looking at them. When they started getting impatient, they yelled angrily. "Everyone, the wall only seperates part of the island." said Duffey. "If we find the shorline, we can get back to the boat. Don't worry, we have guns, so no lions or tigers will hurt us." As Duffey said this, he began walking into the jungle, when he stepped into a ditch. Little did he realize the ditch was actually a three toed, massive footprint.

"What in god's name is that?!" Dutch asked. He looked at the foot print and was amazed and shocked "What could've made tha?"

Thea cam to her senses with a groan. Her head felt like it did the time she had been thrown badly from her brother's favorite mount. "Oh I should have known better than to try and get back on" she muttered to herself, then she remembered that the horse had long ago been sold. And that she had been afoot, with a mixed bag of intrepid adventurers oh but we aren't so intrepid are we? she thought as she sat up slowly and looked about at the others. All of them were in various stages of consciousness.

For a few moments her breakfast had not wanted to stay down but she refused to acknowledge her stomach's rebellion and shortly it stopped it's fussing. Though all the determination in the world wouldn't make her head stop pounding.

"My camera!" She exclaimed frantically as she sought something to think on other than her headache. To her utter relief it and the camera bag was piled with the groups weapons. With a sigh of relief Thera scooped up her Walther as well, and after a quick look over she returned it to it's holster. She was more concerned over her camera and that she gave a most careful examination. Pleased to find it undamaged she slung the camera bag cross wise over her shoulder and looked about.

The natives watching them from the walls disturbed her. To be hit over the head and dumped like so much refuse was simply intolerable. When they started yelling she made herself stand up and move about, trying to see if there were any injuries that had been hiding themselves. She was glad to note nothing complained other than her still pounding head.

"If we find the shoreline, we can get back to the boat. Don't worry, we have guns, so no lions or tigers will hurt us."

Thea watched the captain begin walking into the jungle. "Captain Duffey are you sure thats the way to the shore?" She looked around and couldn't tell in which direction they should be going, and she hadn't noted the captain checking a compass."

Al woke up he and first checked his gun. He knew this island was evil. Slowly getting up he looked around. He felt something somewhat wet on his head, Feeling on his head Al took down his hand. It was red. He could feel the blood slowly move threw down his head. A dizzy feeling started to come. Al flew over and landed on the ground. Now the blood oozed onto the ground.

The land was dead, the trees were nothing more than large splinters and the earth looked like a muddy lunar landscape. Though, all was not quiet. The constant sound of human made thunder rattled in the ear drums of the German soldiers in the trench as much and wood rained down upon them. Sixteen year old Karl grasped his Mauser and kept his head down as British and French artillery continued to pound their lines. Barely in the trenches for four months, he was already thinking of deserting.

Then, silence.

Karl looked up over the trench and placed his rifle up as a harsh whistle call cracked through his ears. Behind him men were running to their places, machine guns were loaded and more grenades were put out. The soldier placed his rifle firmly to his shoulder as he stared down the sight at the smoke. A soft rumbling came into his ringing ears and he squinted into the smoke as great, lumbering leviathan crawled towards him…

Karl was jolted away by the sounds of bird calls and shouts in a language he didn’t know. The German moaned, his head hurt and he groggily groped the ground for his Thompson. Feeling the reassuring weight of the weapon, he looked up at the wall, his vision was hazy and he shut his eyes tight and reopened them to see figures on the wall screaming at them. Karl checked himself over, his pack, Luger, and bayonet were still attached. Hefting the Thompson, he marched after Duffey before Dutch made his exclamation.

The German looked down and only saw dirt before his eyes began to pick out the lines on the ground.

“Gott im Himmel…”

Karl turned as one of the Americans fell on the ground. He moved over to him and knelt down as the blood oozed from the man’s head. “Herr Kaptain! One of the men is injured. Looks like a head wound."

Stillwater's hard head had absorbed most of the impact, leaving only a sticky smear of blood across his temple. His gear was mostly still intact, minus his rifle, which was heaped with the others. The scope seemed to be intact, however, and that was his main concern.

Hefting the weapon slowly, he brought it to his shoulder and sighted through the crosshairs. The scope rings he'd installed had been sighted expertly, then welded into place to prevent them from shifting during firing...

"What the f**k hit me?"

Stillwater's tone was a notch above fully pissed, not sure if he'd been ambushed or some jackass had assaulted him. If the latter were true, someone wasn't going to come back from this little jungle picnic. Looking around, however, it seemed that every member of the crew had suffered the same fate...

"Lions and Tigers don't crack people upside the head, disarm them, and leave them in a pile in the middle of the jungle. It ain't them we gotta worry about..."

"Lions and Tigers don't crack people upside the head, disarm them, and leave them in a pile in the middle of the jungle. It ain't them we gotta worry about..."

"You are quite right. You don't find such on South Pacific islands, no you find head hunters and pirates." Thea agreed as she dug about in her bag for a hankerchief. Finding it at last she strode over to where Mr. Mahan lay, the German ex-soldier beside him.

"Here, this can be used as a bandage. I don't have any first aide plasters with me I'm afraid." Thea offered the large square of fine thick cotton. "It's clean. I keep a lot with me for polishing my camera lenses"

She noticed the foot print that the Captain was standing in and her eyes went wide. "Lions, and tigers and bears oh my...I have never seen a foot print like that...no " She said slowly "I have, but not that large. Ostridges have a foot print like that, but certainly not that big."

Backing up a bit she pulled out her camera and quickly took several frames of the spoor, asking Captain Duffey to stay there so she'd have a measureing stick so to speak for later judgement of the sized of the imprint. Then she turned and took several more of the wall and the screaming natives.

Mickey awoke, slowly coming to his senses. "Wha-what happened?" he groaned as he got to his feet. He had a terrible headache.

After hearing the news of how he was knocked out, he noticed the pile of weapons stacked upon each other. He immediately ran through it, selecting his rifle, his tommygun, and his pistol, along with his backpack. Quickly tossing the tommygun over his shoulder, and placing his pistol in its holster, he looked around, loading up his rifle.

Suddenly, Al stumbled and fell, his head getting bloody. "Al!" Mickey hurridly walked to him, trying to figure out what was wrong with him. Blood was oozing out from his head...not a good sign.

As Al was getting patched up, Mickey wandered about. "Is everyone alright?"

He noticed someone missing...Lucy.

"Miss Chambers? Miss Chambers, where are you!?" he shouted. He looked towards the others, wondering if they would know.

Stillwater's mood dropped a notch, from pissed to extremely annoyed...

"She's fine, jackass... Everyone's here, and all parts thereof are accounted for. You keep yelling like that and we'll have those rock-chucking bastards on our asses again..."

He smiled internally, rarely showing any external emotion except rage...

'I wouldn't mind another crack at those f**kers, however. Fool me twice, shame on me...'

It would be nice to get back into the chaos of combat, the adrenaline rush of bullets screaming past his head like angry wasps. He doubted that the natives, or whatever the hell they were, had guns. Otherwise, he'd be lying in the surf with a portion of his skull missing or bleeding out on the jungle floor from a chest wound.

Thank god, or whoever, for small miracles...

Duffey looked at the photographer. "Well, this is an island, so we'll find shore eventually. The only direct way is behind that wall. Which, as you no, is not easy to access." Duffey stood and let her take the photo of the footprint, with him as the measuring rod. "Come on people, let's get moving."

As the group continued through the jungle, Duffey stopped. "Everyone, we're taking a quick break." He sat down and reste. Edwards relaxed against a tree. This day was insane. Suddenly, a noise crept through the forests. Trees were being parted. Finally, two trees opened up to reveal a giant gorilla. It was twenty five feet tall. It looked at the people curiously. Finally, it grabbed a fruit and ate it, knocking several other fruits from the tree. Almost instantly, tiny horses, the size of a cat, came and started eating the fruits. The gorilla left, and the horses continued to eat. However, they were not alone. A dinosaur erupted out of hiding and grabbed one of the horses in it's jaws. It was not much taller than a human, and nine feet loong. Duffey grabbed his rifle and shoot the beast. It roared, injured, and ran towards the group.

Karl carefully wrapped up the injured man with the hankerchief Thea had given him. He quietly thanked her in English and not much to his suprise Duffey had them moving again. Thompson in his right hand and with the help of several of the other sailors using a blanket, they were able to carry the injured man easier. He agreed with the cursing American getting back at the natives from their look of being dressed in grasses they knew nothing of modern technology. The group could probably scare them off with a few rounds over their rotten heads.

His arm was sore when they rested. Karl drank some water and wipped his sweaty brow with his cap. Passchendaele had been a human made hell, this was hell virtually untouched by human kind. He walked over to the American who apparently went by the name Stillwater.

"Stillwater, I am curious as to...mein Gott...."

The German stared at the great, black, hairy animal. In his life he had never seen one this huge and though his Thompson was in his hands, his was frozen solid in awe at the sight. His attention was broken by the sound of small animals, horses of all things as big as house cats. Karl gently slung his Thompson around his shoulder. Grabbing one and taking it back with him would make him famous, get enough money to support his family still in Germany.

Karl knelt down and picked up one of the fruits from the ground. He held it out to one of the creatures who stared at it and was walking over to him and just as his other arm reached out to nab it, the creature paused, smell the air and went running as something rushed from the trees and grabbed one of the other horses.

Karl jumped up, cursing in German and bringing his Thompson up at the animal just as a gunshot rang out. The carnivore had been interested in the horses, now it swung to the humans. The German had only used the Thompson on the range, now he would use it for real.

He pulled back on the trigger and the weapon barked, spewing out .45 slugs in a short controled burst. The dinosaur screeched and spasmed as the rounds tore into its face and neck, yet it kept running and Karl's Thompson was quickly joined by the other firearms of the group. Barely a meter from the German, the dinosaur, his body perferated with countless bulletholes collapsed, blood oozing from it appeared every orifice in his body.

Karl walked forward and fired the rest of his magizine into its skull, spreading the brain matter all across the jungle floor. He was panting as he switched the dry one for a fresh one.

"I think..." He paused while he took more water. "I think we should watch it. Where the is one...there is more. Like the fighter planes during the war, they should hunt in packs."

"Bloody Hell" Thea seldom swore aloud, it was uncivilized, rude, low, and unfeminine, but she had just been pushed past restraint.

Captain Duffey had completely ignored her most sensible question as to which way lay the shore. He just started off into the jungle without the slightest care that one of the group was injured to the point of being unable to walk. Any respect for the Captain she might have had vanished when he ignored the wounded.

She knew matters would come to a head the next time the captain proved himself to be incompetent.

The immense ape held still long enough for her to get a quick set of frames, and the tiny horses were darling....but what came out of the jungle overgrowth next was anything but!

She stumbled backwards, landing hard on her duff, as it charged the group - Captain Duffey hadn't even managed to kill it. It seemed terribly hard to kill, taking many rounds of machine gun fire before it finally toppled over all but at their feet.

Quickly she got to her feet and dusted her backside off. She looked around apprehensively for any more such monsters.

Al's head still hurt but he stopped bleeding. He kept with the group and rested. He moved over to Thea. "Thank you." Then sat back down. Al saw the gorilla and Captain Duffy started to shoot it. That was crazy. The guns they had couldn't kill that gorilla. Al started to run away. They were just pissing that thing off.

Mick's tommygun was smoking from the heat of his spray of bullets. The beast certainly took quite a lot. He had replaced his rifle with his tommygun as the giant ape creature came through.

Scanning the current area for any more strange creatures, he walked towards Thea. "Are you alright, Miss Mainwarring? It seemed like you had quite a fall," he chuckled, smiling brightly at her.

"Are you alright, Miss Mainwarring? It seemed like you had quite a fall,"

"I'm fine Mr. Oakley, thank you. But Captain Duffey may not be after this. It was simply stupid of him to start shooting at that thing." She glared at the Captain. "And do we even know if we are going in the right direction?"

She shook her head and looked about the group, trying to see if any one had really been injured. Her silly fall had injured nothing but her comfort.

"And we all really need to be careful with our ammunition. If there are more of those things we might run out if we just shoot indiscriminately."

"That we will..." muttered Mick. "Please, Miss Mainwarring, call me Mick," he said, flashing a smile her way again.

"As to where we are going, I do not have a compass. I nearly expected you to have one in your purse," he chuckled, shouldering his gun.

"Is everyone alright?" Duffey looked to see for an injuries. The dinosaur, now a bloody corpse, didn't get to anyone. "Everyone, now that we know what is on this island, we have to be extremely carefull. Don't fire your guns unless you clearly see what your shooting at. That way we conserve ammo, and don't make much noise. Any other suggestions? Comments? Criticisms?"

She hadn't noticed that Al had started to run off, her quick glance at the rest of the party just noted that they seemed to be all there. Frowning she turned to the ship's Captain.

"Captain Duffey, are you sure this is the way back to the ship?" Thea asked crossly, as she moved further away from the dead dinosaur. Yes it may have been dead, but it was obviously a carnivor, and she wanted to be no closer to it than necessary. "And maybe we shouldn't shoot at things unless they actually attack us. There could be a lot more of them than we have bullets for."

OOC: Funny, I didn't hear that fuse burning... Must be getting old...

Tanara does have a point, however. This thing is also starting to really sound like the movie, which I've seen and have no desire to play through again...

"Damn straight." Karl said in agreenace with the captain and Thea. He wasn't looking at them and instead was still staring at the dinosaur's corpse and poked it with his bayonet. The body was tough, probably thicked boned or something yet the throat seemed to be a weaker spot, but a more difficult place to shoot if one was being rushed.

The German wipped the blood from the blade onto the beast's side. "Well Fraulien it wouldn't hurt to take a picture of the damn thing. Make you famous and us sound less like madmen. The hid is tough though its throat seems a more vulnerable spot."

Karl quickly extracted a cigarette and lit it with slightly trembling hands. "Reminds me of the British land battleships. Just as long as we don't meet a lot we should be fine I think."

OOC- Alrigh everyone, you have a very good point. Your right, I am screwing up really bad. It's just that I like this thread an want it to succede. I tried something like this before, and it died because it didn't move fast enough. Also, I know I have said it before, bu I have practice for crew. I get home at 8:00 pm and have to eat, do homework, and go to bed at 10:00 pm. So I don't get much time to do this. I'll try to make up my posts now since it's the weekend.

Mick looked around high above the trees. "Dinosaurs, giant apes...I'm worried what we may find next. It would be a bad thing if larger dinosaurs erupted from these jungles...it would be even worse if that gorilla did so as well," he said as he examined the hole in the canopy the gorilla made.

"You know, it's almost like they've never seen humans before, or humans never hunted them" Thea said softly. "My father said that animals that had learned that humans hunted them acted differently. The ape and the little horses didn't act afraid of us, and the dinosaur didn't either. It didn't bother with us until the captian shot it. And any wounded carnivore will atack what hurt it."

She took another look at the dinosaur's corpse. "You are correct Karl, I should get a picture of you and Mickey with it."

When the pair moved to sand on either side she quickly took a couple of frames. 'There, for the history books. You know they are all supposed to be extinct. You will both be very famous."

"I pride myself on already being somewhat famous," he chuckled as he winked at Thea. "Did you happen to bring several rolls of film with you, Miss Mainwarring? I wouldn't want you to miss any future shots that would be grand in any book."

Duffey looked at his compass. It was smashed. He thought up a lie. "Yeah, we're going in the correct direction." He looked at the dinosaur. It was only a little bit bigger than a human. There had to be bigger ones. He motioned for Edwards. "Edwards," he whispered, "we need to find a way to the ship. Try to help me keep the people together." He looked at everyone. "Not to rush you, but larger carnivores will be here soon to eat this one. We should get moving as soon as possible."

Lucy’s head was in a whirl, or maybe it was just some kind of nightmare. She still hoped that she would wake up on the boat and find that this had all been some bad dream. First there had been the attack that had left them, or at least some, injured and in need of medical care. This had barely been put behind them when the real weird stuff happened. Giant gorillas, dinosaurs? That’s when Lucy was sure that she was dreaming, or she would have if it did not feel so damn real.

She took in a large gulping breath, trying to calm herself. She had wanted a good story, hadn’t she? Was not that what she was getting?

No one is going to believe this, she shook her head, trying to make a few notes while they had a little time. Her hand shook too much, as she put the pen to the paper, and her eyes would not draw away from the fallen beast before them. I wouldn’t believe it…I’m not sure I really do now.

Putting her notebook away, she sat down on an outcropping and tried to pull herself together. Her attention was grabbed by the captain’s insistence that they leave soon and she was in no mood to sit around and get eaten by mistake.

* * * * *

Matt said a silent prayer, in fact he said more than one. There was no doubt in his mind that they had managed to land in Hell. Giant beasts, huge walls blocking them in? What else let you in but did not let you again? This island was hell on earth and they were all going to suffer for trespassing where they did not belong. Once more he eyed the women suspiciously. Nothing but hell would come from putting women on a boat, and now they were there in person, paying for their folly.

As the captain spoke, Matt gathered together his belongings and got to his feet. Sitting amongst a feast was not something he relished, especially as he had no idea what other horrors lurked around them.


[ooc: Sorry for the delay in posting. I was unable to post for a couple of days and then I was unsure whether or not the thread was going to continue.]

Mick was still looking around as he reloaded his gun. He finally noticed Lucy, sitting down on a nearby outcropping.

"Are you alright, Miss Chambers?" he asked as he sat down next to her.

"I was surprised to see your notebook away," he continued, trying to comfort her. "This would certainly make a good story. You could probably even ask Miss Mainwarring for a copy of a photo. Or you two can work together. Heck, maybe we'll find something to bring home to show everyone and prove to the world that Miss Lucy Chambers never lies!"

Karl propped up the dead dinosaur's head with a stone and stood one one side proudly brandishing his Thompson while Mickey stood on the other side while Thea took some pictures. When it was done, Karl took some more water. As the group began to assemble themselves, he walked back to the blanket where he had left Al. He froze, the man wasn't there.

Karl turned and moved quickly back to the captain. "Mein Herr, der...sorry...Al, the wounded man is missing. He must have run off."

Edwards thought this whole situation was pointless. If there were bigger animals on this island, like the gorilla, then they would be srcewed. And he let everyone know taht. "You know, we're probably better off just going back to the wall and trying to fight the natives. At least their not huge with sharp teeth and hard skin."