ic From Beneath You It Devours: Age of the Aquarian

[Brown Dynamite]

Water between Townsville and Magnetic Island.

Queensland, Australia 2017

Thursday, February 2nd, 2017

9:00 AM

 

It was a brisk and cool morning, and four Claremont Alumni found themselves leaving Magnetic Island back towards Townsville, Australia.  Specifically to the Australian institute of marine science.  Having spent the weekend near the vicinity of the Cockle Bay Reef, for Giang Trang's studies.  Aside from surfers, fishers, and those preparing for tours the morning was relatively calm.  All in all, it was a good start to the day.

 

In the distance,  Kimo Keli'i was steadying himself on his surfboard. Freedom College wasn't swimming in money, it took an entire semester of fund raising just for the surf club to save up for this three day trip to Australia.  As such no one was looking to waste the opportunity as a swell began to form.  Unfortunately, one of the less experienced members of the club fell off his board in between waves and began frantically splashing around worriedly. 

[Thevshi]

Tsunami 

Giang Trang stood up on the upper deck of the catamaran ferry that was taking her and her friends back from Magnetic Island to Townsville.  While she and Kat both could have provided a means of getting back and forth, the young Asian woman had to keep up appearances considering her research project on the Great Barrier Reef would have her out here for several months. 

Giang was wearing a pair of cuffed jeans short and a white tank top, over which she had a red lightweight windbreaker with the Del Mar Lifeguard logo on the front.  She wore the windbreaker more out of habit than actually feeling the cool ocean breeze that made the morning air seem cooler than it normally would feel.  Cold had not bothered the young woman for some time, after all she was able to be perfectly comfortable at the very depths of the ocean.  

Looking out over the clear waters of the bay as the ferry made its way back toward Townsville, Giang's gaze fell onto the surfers gathered a short distance away, waiting for the swells to begin to form.  Since her move to San Diego to attend UC San Diego, the Asian had taken up surfing after some of her fellow lifeguards in Del Mar had offered to teach her.  Looking back over at her three friends, she gave a small smile.  "If you all are interested, once we are back in town and get our things back to my place, we could see about renting some surfboards and getting back out here ourselves."

[Curious Key]

Could they truly? Kat's eyes dipped downward to touch the silver band around her left arm. Was it waterproof? She couldn't really afford to short-circuit it now. Kat pulled out her phone, clicked once, twice, scrolled through something . . . Relaxed. "That sounds like it could be fun!" She hadn't been looking before, but Kat wandered over next to Giang and peered over the edge by her side, wearing a pair of red short shorts and a gray off-shoulder tee layered over a white tank.. She saw one of the surfers lose their balance and tumble into the water. "Just don't expect me to be any good at it."

 

After everything, it was just nice to take a few days to unwind. Relax. Freedom City and all its weird was half the world away. While she was often hesitant to do too much too obviously, she was grateful for how easy her powers made traveling. Opening a way was as easy as wanting to. (Then again, she wouldn't need a break if she didn't have her powers. Bad thought.) While it was important to stay discrete here, where superpowers were ubiquitous and every sighting seemed to warrant its own investigation, it didn't really feel like she was wasting much time with how long it took to get from place to place. There was plenty to look at and it had been a while since she visited Australia. 

[Thunder King]

Mali chuckled. "I'm not sure I'd be any good at surfing, but I could give it a shot." She took a deep breath and let herself relax a bit. She was grateful that Kat brought her along, and glad to get a chance to see Giang again. Getting a break from the brutally cold east coast of the US was a good feeling. She was wearing a pair of denim shorts and a black t-shirt that could do little to hide the strength under it. Her hair was stylishly messy and short.  

Edited February 14, 2017 by Thunder King

[angrydurf]

"Hey brah you good?"  KImo called out over the surf as he dropped down the back of the wave and pulled himself toward the thrashing surfer with sure strong strokes.  Sitting up on his board as he coasted in towards the less experienced surfer he braced himself and reached down to help pull the panicking surfer to the surface, "Yo chill, you good bruddah."  he offered as he peered down to see what had spooked them.  A small flex of his hydrokinetic power calmed a small region around them to ease aiding the fallen student onto his board without causing to obvious an unnatural calming of the swells.  Not that the pocket wouldn't be a red flag for any with deeper knowledge of the workings of wave and currents.

[Raveled]

Tona leaned back in the motorboat, reveling in the feeling of water and sun on her bare skin. She was adapting to living in the Pacific Northwest, and truth be told the rain and cold made her feel more at home than any other place on this Earth did; but it was nice to be under the sun with her friends. She was wearing a very simple triangle top and shorts, in a hue that almost blended into the tropical sea, and it exposed many more muscles and piercings and scars than the designers had probably intended. She didn't care, though, and simply enjoyed the heat and the cool of the salt spray on her skin; she curled bare toes in hedonistic enjoyment of the moment.

 

"I've never tried surfing before," she said, raising her voice to overpower the sound of the motor. She turned her head and watched broad-chest, muscular men and lithe, toned women toiling away at the water. She caught eyes with one near their boat and smiled at him, wondering distantly what his workout routine was. "I'd love to give it a try, though."

[Thevshi]

Tsunami 

"Well, I am confident all of you will be quick studies.  You all have excellent balance, which is a big head start."  Giang replied to her friends as they all indicated a willingness to give surfing a try.  "Although do not be discouraged if the first attempts feel less than successful.  It can take a number of attempts to really feel as if you are accomplishing much, even when the waves are good." 

As she said that, the Asian young woman sensed a slight change in the currents not far from the ferry.  Looking back out toward one of the groups of surfers, Giang noted an unusually calm area around two suffers, one whom appeared to be helping the other.  It was nothing that would be visible to someone just looking out at the water, but she was able to sense the very flow and currents of the water around them, and knew that was not a natural occurrence.  Indeed, she had used her abilities to calm currents in a similar fashion in her work as a lifeguard in Del Mar. 

She could not immediately detect who or what might have created the pocket of calm water, but given that it seemed that whomever it may have been was doing so to help the surfer that had fallen off his board, she did not feel a need to try to pinpoint the source.

[Brown Dynamite]

GM

 

"Sharks!  Man.  There were sharks"  The young man cried out.  But, as Kimo looked below the ocean water appeared clear.  And above all devoid of sharks.  Actually, it looked devoid of sea life in general.  It was odd, but not improbable.  Much like the unexpected cold front that had been passing through, which wasn't freezing or the like just out of character for the season.  The inexperienced surfer took Kimo's arm and returned to his board, quite exasperated.  

 

Meanwhile the ship carrying the four heroines suddenly felt a slight jolt as if something had bumped into it.  A quick inspection over the side of the craft found nothing waiting below.  Giang didn't sense any unusual manipulation of the water this time.  Which separated the sensation from when the Polynesian surfer helped his fellow compatriot in need. 

[Curious Key]

"Oh I sure hope so," Kat said, an impish expression crawling across her face. "Watching that might be my favorite pa—" THUMP. "Uh." Subconsciously, Kat spread her stance to get some better balance. She went to the edge and peered over into the water, making sure to keep a tight hold on the railing. Nothing. "Did we just hit something? That felt like we hit something."

Edited February 14, 2017 by Curious Key

[Thunder King]

Mali gulped and grabbed the sides of the boat. "That...that's not supposed to happen." She said, glancing around. She didn't peek over the side, but she did glance around the ship. She took a deep breath to steady herself. She was used to sudden, dangerous situations, but being on a ship made her feel less helpful. She couldn't exactly punch the water or confront rocks or large sea animals. It was a rare sensation, and she didn't like it.

[angrydurf]

Kimo took another look into the clear depths but didn't look alarmed by the proclamation, "Hey, it's good luck on you then."  he said with a comforting smile, "They more 'fraid you den you them yea?"  he assured the less experienced surfer and did a quick head count just to be sure.  Sharks around the islands were generally not much to be afraid of but out here chances of running into the rare dangerous ones was higher.  "Jus bop em on da nose they run off fo sumthin easier ta grind on."  

 

Looking toward the boat with sudden activity he frowned slightly.  Sharks were not much of a worry even out here, but there were worse things in the ocean, and less predictable.

[Thevshi]

Tsunami 

Giang's attention was drawn away from the unusual change to the currents near some of the surfers and back to the water near the boat after it felt as if the boat had bumped something.  "Sometimes a boat can hit a wave in a way to cause a jolt such as that."  She stated in reply to Kat and Mali as she began to focus on the water near and behind them with her extraordinary senses, looking for any signs of something large moving thorough the water.  "But that certainly felt as if we bumped into something."  

[Raveled]

Tona grabbed at the edges of the boat as it shuddered. Once there was a semblance of stability, she joined the other girls in looking overboard. Her forest-trained eyes didn't see anything unusual under the waves, but she was still uneasy. "We should stop the boat and see what that was," she said to no one in particular. She moved towards the front of the vessel, looking for someone wearing some kind of uniform or fancy hat. It didn't take her long; the vessel wasn't that big. Once she had someone she backed them against the wall. "You need to stop the boat," she said. "We need to see what that was."

Edited February 18, 2017 by Raveled

[Brown Dynamite]

GM

 

The captain was a rather portly man, not exactly pleased with being manhandled with ease in front of his employees he decided to openly dismiss what he assumed was an overreaction.  "Now listen here girlie, no need to come all agro.  We ain't about to have a blue just so you can look for a Bunyip or some other rubbish.  Can you believe this seppo, Jeff?  We don't stop the boat for nothing."  The person named Jeff in question didn't answer the ship's captain.  Keeping his hand on the lever, and remaining indifferent to what was going on.

 

The captain's attempt to dismiss Tona's concern was met with a loud explosion like noise.  Everyone could feel tremors from the ocean.  But, there was no visible explosion.  Showing that it was a least a few kilometers into shore.   "Err.  Stop the boat Jeff.  "

 

"Too right, sir."  Jeff responded.

 

The surfer's eyes widened at the idea of bopping a tiger shark on the nose.  But, he nodded affirmatively, albeit obviously nervously.  He opened his mouth to say something as Kimo looked out at the boat.  But before sound could escape from his lips suddenly a tentacle whipped out from below.  Dragging the surfer down in an instant.  Kimo's only warning, the sudden disappearance of his cohort from the corner of his eye.

[Raveled]

Tona pressed her lips into a thin line, trying to avoid lashing out physically at the captain. At the same time, he was stopping the boat, which is what she wanted, so she just moved to the rail and watched. Watched as the ferry slowly came to a halt, watched as the sea life bubbled to activity all around them, watched as a man disappeared below in an eyeblink. Tona didn't hesitate, didn't stop to think if there was a better option. The obvious solution was in front of her, so she took it; in a heartbeat she jumped onto the railing and then overboard, cutting into the water with a minimum of splash.

[Brown Dynamite]

GM

 

Underneath the waves, Tona did not find the man who was dragged beneath.  Instead, she made contact with a very angry Tiger Shark that was quickly punched in the nose for its trouble.  The rest of the Tiger Sharks lined up facing the starboard side of the ship.  Five angry fins sticking out from beneath the water as the sharks sped together.  Slamming their bodies against the side of the boat in unison.  The ferry shook violently.  But, held steady all the same.  One of the tiger sharks sent backward for all its trouble.

 

The bull sharks quickly dispersed.  Making their way towards the rest of the surfers with a single-minded pursuit.  It was clear that soon more people would be dragged underwater if the sharks were left undeterred.  Passengers aboard the ferry and surfers one and all began screaming in fright.  Their panic leading many to flail around without reason.  This had the unintended benefit of drawing attention away from anything the heroes were doing.  Even Tona diving underneath the water conveniently became a distant memory as the passengers were too focused on the surfer who got dragged underwater.

[Thevshi]

Giang swept her gaze over the scene taking place in the water as the boat shook once again from sharks slamming into it.  Nothing about the behavior of the sharks made any normal sense, so she could only assume something was agitating or outright controlling them. 

But the immediate concern was the diver who had been dragged underwater and the surfers who were in the most immediate danger. 

"Kat, you need to get those surfers about the ferry."  The Asian young woman stated as she spotted the suffer down below the waves.  "Mali, see if you can help Tona in discouraging the sharks attacking the ferry.  I am going to help the surfer dragged below the waves."

With that, Giang dove over the side of the railing, disappearing into the water without even a splash.  Once in the water she quickly surrounded herself with a flowing sheen of water that served to protect her from harm.  A few quick strokes and she was soon down below the waves toward where the suffer was being dragged under.

[angrydurf]

Kimo's eyes widened as his fellow surfer was snatched and drug below the waves.  Before he could even react two forms had leapt from the boat after the vanished surfer.  At least one was moving faster than any diver had right to and there were too many still bobbing vulnerable on the surface.  He could only hope they got to the man in time.  Letting out a piercing whistle he motioned toward the boat, "Get on da boat."he bellowed as he dove off his board in a smooth motion the ripples of his body hitting the choppy surf growing outward and carrying the surfers toward the hopeful safety of the rocking boat.  

 

Diving beneath the waves as the stubby fins of hte bull sharks sliced toward his charges he shot forward with powerful strokes on an intercept course, "Bad shark!" he scolded as he grabbed the first by the tail swinging it like a club to clear the others out of the surfers path bludgeoning the predators with the rubbery hide of one of their own.

[Brown Dynamite]

GM

 

A miniature whirlpool formed at the centrifugal force being generated from Kanunu sending the four bull sharks flying.  In the midst of this turbulent shift in water a great white shark rushed for Kanunu.  Attempting to bite the man in the abdomen, the shark found itself outmaneuvered as the aquatic hero descended below.  Another great white would try and brush up against Tsunami as a warning to catch her off guard.  But, the undersea predator couldn't move quick enough to keep the pace with her.  

 

A third shark attempted pin Tsunami with its massive jaw.  Only to find increased water resistance courtesy of the hydrokinetic hero actually redirecting the path the shark was swimming sending it harmlessly reeling into the shark which had attempted to brush against her earlier.  The surfers tried their luck for paddling to the boat as per Kanunu's instruction.  A boat which was currently surrounded by sharks.  But, the sight of three others being clubbed by a single shark gave them a measure of courage.  

 

"Uh!  I think we're going to need a bigger boat!"  One of the surfers called out the group stopping in their tracks.  And for good reason, as the last great white shark rose up from the depths of the water its mighty jaws tearing into the side of the ferry.  Completely tearing through the material with ease and allowing water to begin and flood the bottom.  The group of tiger sharks down below eagerly awaiting from below as the ferry risked sinking.

[Curious Key]

Things went south real fast, and all the other girls were on the ball about it. Tona was  off, leaping into the water, and then Giang, followed and zipping off at astounding speed after something Kat couldn't see, so deep into the water her eyes could not catch it. In the distance, she thought she saw a surfer who looked like he was staying out pretty intentionally, and that the other surfers paddling toward the ferry were doing it WAY too fast. The world had gone mad in a few seconds. But she could do this. The distance wasn't huge. Maybe she could open up a portal to the boat for the surfer to jump in. Wasn't perfect, but at least then they would b—

 

There was a sound of screaming metal and the ferry started to list ominously to the side. So much for that! If the ferry didn't work, they needed something different. Kat clapped her hands, took a deep breath and mustered her power, red-black 'sparks' cascading from her hands and feet into the ferry floor as she turned so she could see everyone in the ferry and all the runaway surfers who had rushed for safety in the rapidly sinking boat.

 

Her typical warping was so routine to her that Kat didn't have to think about it anymore. But she was used to transporting herself, and people right next to her. There were so many, and so far away, that it took a while to get her thoughts in order. Distance was optional. Destroy the difference between two spaces and two become one. Kat locked the faces and bodies of the surfers and the passengers in her mind and held an image of the nearby shore, far away. Two spaces...

 

Kat clapped her hands together. Her power expanded out from beneath her feet and rushed over the boat and through the water, latching onto the passengers and surfers in a wave, seeming to dissolve as they appeared on a beach almost a mile away. ...Become one. Kat sighed, falling back and panting against the wall of the still-sinking ferry. 

Edited January 18, 2018 by Curious Key