002

— programmed for pleasure —

SHE FEEL COULD HER HEART THUMP IN HER EARS, THE ADRENALINE STILL PUMPING THROUGH HER VEINS BUT SHE PUSHED IT ALL ASIDE. Visenya picked up the metal bolts, rolling them in her palm as she rushed to the shattered window, looking down at the cloud of red dust. Nami and Luffy were on their feet, their attention focussed on the Marines that had started to surround the,

"Hey, you silver bitch!" Axe Hand yelled, his face peering through the crack in the door. Visenya threw her hand toward the man, the bolts flying from her hands faster than bullets. They tore through the wood of the door making the marines on the other side jump or flinch away.

Visenya pulled her hood up and stepped up onto the windowsill, careful of the grass as she looked down below her. Jump, Visenya thought. She looked down, the ground beneath her seemingly getting further away the more she stared. "Not now," Visenya huffed. The door kicked inwards and Visenya stepped through the window swinging herself around the window and dropped onto the ledge below.

"Hey!" Axe hand Morgan yelled, banging his fist against the wall as he reached out to grab her. Visenya winked at him and dropped a level lower. She kicked the window in and jumped through it and out into the hallway. She turned to the staff door and pushed it open, rushing down the stairs.

She stopped halfway down the stairs and listened to the sound of rubber boots hitting the ground, the sound filling her ears. Visenya grabbed the small dagger from her belt and pressed herself flatter against the wall. She waited until the Marines were just steps away when she sprung out. Her first slash cut through the Marines throat, sending him to the floor.

Before the two Marine's behind him could even shout in surprise, Visenya threw the dead Marine at them, sending the trio tumbling down the rocky stairs. Visenya was on top of one of the Marine's seconds later, stabbing the dagger deep into the man's chest. The third was up trying to pull his gun from his belt holster but Visenya simply let the dagger race from her hand and stabbed the man in the chest.

He stumbled but didn't fall, he just swayed on his feet, one hand trying to grab the handle of the knife. Visenya stood and walked the Marine, pulling the dagger from the man as he whined in displeasure. Visenya acted quickly and stabbed him again, the blow hitting him hard, and it sent him to the floor.

Visenya raced half a dozen steps into the sand courtyard where the straw-hat boy and Nami fought against the Marines. Even the green-haired pirate hunter Zoro had started to fight alongside them, slashing at the Marines, two of which had turned to Visenya. Visenya took the knife from her side and flung it out stabbing the first Marine through his chest, and she kicked the second one down as he came too close. Visenya summoned her knife to her hand and stabbed the Marine through his throat.

Visenya stood tall and looked over the yard, staring at the straw-hat boy staring at The Axe Hand Morgan crumbled to the floor. "Gum Gum. . ." Luffy shouted and kicked his leg back, stretching impossibly far. "Whip!" Luffy's leg whipped fast at the captain, his foot hitting Axe Hand Morgan square in the face. The captain skidded across the floor, rolling across sand and rocks stopping just metres from Visenya.

Luffy cheered, raising his arms high in the air as he screeched in excitement. Zoro sheathed his swords and stared at Luffy. "Gum Gum Whip?" Zoro repeated, raising his eyebrows.

"Yeah!" Luffy yelled. "All the great fighters call out their finishing moves."

Zoro shook his head. "No, they don't."

Axe Hand Morgan stirred and pushed himself to his feet, his groans catching Luffy and Zoro's attention. They stood ready to fight, but Visenya was faster, pulling the sword handle from her belt and flicking a small switch. Morgan laughed, "You think that will stop me—?!" Visenya spun her sword and sliced through his arm, just below his axe hand, with a bright red laser.

Morgan stilled and turned to Visenya, staring at the laser sword in her hand that burned red hot and crimson red. "What—?" Visenya slashed across Morgan's chest, blood spilling over his clothes. She stumbled for a moment longer before falling back against the sand.

The others stared at Visenya, all with wide eyes but Luffy seemed to smile. Visenya turned the laser off, the laser making an almost metallic sound as it retracted into the sword and hooked the handle back onto her hip. "You! Hi!" Luffy waved at Visenya, raising his arm higher than ever. Visenya cocked her head at him, hiding her amusement with confusion.

Visenya walked over to the trio, nodding at Luffy, "Hello to you too." She reached into the small pouch on her belt and picked out a decent handful of Berri. She tossed at Luffy, and he fumbled to grab it before it fell down his chest. Once he noticed what it was, his bright smile twisted into confusion. "For the food," She clarified.

Visenya stepped past them, Zoro turning aside so she could pass by them. Nami's eyes shot back and forth between Luffy and Visenya. "Who are you?" Nami called after her.

"You are an interesting collection," Visenya called, stopping for a moment to look at them. "So, take this word of advice, do not die. I'd like to see you again."

"Wait!" Luffy called after her. Visenya stopped but she didn't turn back to him. "Where are you going?"

Visenya shook her head and pulled her hood over her head, "Have a good day Monkey D. Luffy." Visenya walked until she was out of sight, but she kept close. Luffy had made an impact, to be frank. A pirate that had eaten a devil fruit and now had the map to the grand line but wasn't like any pirate she had seen. He was kind and hopeful, a kid who didn't know what he was doing but he wanted to help.

Visenya stood just behind the stone pillars, peaking over her shoulder, watching the trio of mismatched pirates, if they even were pirates. Zoro grabbed the large black and gold safe and lifted it over his head, resting the edge of the safe on his shoulder and Nami followed him out of the courtyard. Luffy looked around the courtyard once more, spotting Visenya behind the stone wall. He waved at her before running after Nami and Zoro.

Visenya strolled through the streets of town, tailing Luffy through the back streets of Shell's Town out towards the docks. She kept quiet, keeping to the shadows as she watched Zoro stash the safe on a small sailing boat with red and white sails. She looked over the boat once more before, slipping further down the dock to where she had tied up her small dingy.

She waited, watching Luffy push the boat out to sea, the red and white sails catching the wind. Visenya stepped into the small boat she called hers, flicking her hand, unlocking the lock she had secured around the rope. As she sat and pulled the rope in, she pushed off the dock, drifting into the water. She tied the metal piece onto the rope and threw her hand out, the rope rushing along the top of the water and impaling the thick wood of Luffy's sailing boat.

It dragged Visenya on; she didn't exactly know what she was doing, but she didn't have anywhere else to go and at least she knew these people's names. But she wasn't just going to throw herself into whatever mess Luffy, Nami or Zoro may be in.

As her small boat started to drag along with Luffy's, Visenya looked back over Shell's Town, noticing a familiar pink haired boy standing at the edge of the docks. Koby pushed his glasses up and waved at her, smiling all while.

Visenya nodded, giving him a small salute.

THE BASEMENT WAS DARK LIKE A CAVE OR A PRISON. Grey stone walls with shadows clinging to the peeling paint, the small gas lanterns giving little light to the cramped chamber. But she wouldn't let anything distract her, not the sound of rats or dripping water, and not her friend's pained cries. In the centre, hunched over at the small rickety wooden table sat a 12-year-old Visenya. Her hands moved quickly and smoothly, bending and melting pieces of scrap metal to fit the project in front of her.

Niles stood at the old door, leaning on the frame at the bottom on the stairs, silently watching Visenya. Her hands moved quickly but never stumbled as she pieced the parts together, shaping and twisting the metals, copper, everything around the red crystal stone. Her eyes flickered up every few moments, watching his dark looming figure, but she never stopped, continuing to work as if he weren't there at all.

Visenya set the switch in place, at the centre of the handle and she straightened. She set the handle on the wooden table and placed her hands, palms down on either side. Visenya looked up at Niles, his eyes catching the light as he stepped closer, walking to stand on the other side of the table.

He looked down at the handle, his finger tracing over the black rivets and buttons along the side. While he was looking over her work, Visenya spared a glance at Orion. His hands were chained together and high above his, his shoulders twisted awkwardly so he could still sit on the ground. He looked terrible, covered in dirt and buries, his black shaggy hair dripping with sweat. He tried to keep his pained wheezes and cries soft, but sometimes it was just too much.

"What is it?"

Visenya looked up at Niles, her eyes widening but she quickly hid it as she looked at the handle. "It's a sword handle, sir," Visenya explained, her eyes lifting back toward his dark stare.

Niles chuckled, "I thought you were creating something impressive, Visenya. You don't want to disappoint me, do you?" Niles look at Orion this time, his eyes narrowing at the small boy and Orion shuffled further into himself.

"May I demonstrate, sir?" Visenya asked, moving her hand out to grab the sword handle, but stopped to hover over it instead. Niles moved his attention away from Orion and he nodded once. Visenya flexed her hand, and the handle raised into her palm, the metal cool against her skin. She stood, moving the stool further back as she turned to face the table. Visenya flicked the switch, a small buzzing coming from the handle as a red light slowly built up. The crimson light burst from the end of the sword like a blade, stopping just in front of Niles.

Visenya flipped the sword on her hand and slammed it down through the table, the end of the wood igniting with small sparks as the laser burnt through it. Niles jumped back in shock, gasping as the two halves of the table fell onto each other and onto the floor. She stared at the red laser, watching the heat twist the red light like magic. Visenya quickly shook herself from her thoughts and flicked the switch, the laser shutting off with hum.

Visenya looked up at Niles and crossed her hands behind her back, still clutching the sword handle. He was looking at mess below him, dipping his brim hat to cover his eyes. "I have already started assembling a new table, sir," Visenya assured, unsure if he were going snap at her. Destroying his things was distinctly against the rules. 

Niles tipped his head up, looking at Visenya with the same soulless eyes, his expression hidden behind the gruff of his beard. He motioned Visenya over and she stepped around the broken table, ignoring how Orion had turned his head to watch Visenya. She stopped in front of Niles, keeping her eyes down, staring at the floor. Then Niles placed a hand on her cheek and lifted her eyes to look up at him. "Brilliant Visenya," Visenya's eyes widened in shock, but she didn't dare smile.

"I have to visit the Moaniers later this week, settle a disagreement," Niles revealed. "Orion, boy, can you copy our dearest Visenya's work?"

Orion lifted his head, nodding softly while he fought to speak with a tight dry throat. "Yes sir."

Niles nodded. "You begin at sunrise, pull yourself together boy. Visenya, we must speak with Sari once again," Niles said. "Cut the boy loose and meet me in the living room in ten minutes."

Visenya nodded, "Yes sir."

VISENYA WOUND THE ROPE AROUND THE POST TIGHTLY, ENSURING HER ONLY ATTACHMENT TO LIFE IN THE EMPTY OCEAN WAS SECURE. She had no idea how many hours had passed since she'd set sail after the group that stole the safe, but the sun had long disappeared, and bright white stars had taken over the dark blue sky.

The sea was quiet, the only real sound being the small waves that splashed against the sides of her boat. The small spray of water hit her face. She pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders, blocking her from the chill of the winds. She had always loved the sea, it was wild, it was dangerous, it was beautiful, it was something Visenya would be cursed to never truly experience.

When she had eaten that Devil Fruit, it had saved her life, curing the hunger that had been burning in her stomach, but it ended whatever dreams she had of the sea. The adventures the sea brought with it, disappeared the day she found the Devil Fruit, and the freedom the racing waves could bring died the day Niles had found her.

Visenya settled down on a crate, looking over the blue water at the small ship. Visenya let her head hang back, looking back up at the gold and silver stars. She sometimes wondered what her life would have been like had she not taken the fruit and charged onto a ship demanding passage and a place aboard. However she was 6, she doubted any boat would have taken her at all.

She stared up at the stars, they had never fascinated her like the sea but she did spot something interesting. A red light cut across the stars, flying towards the ship in front of her. Visenya watched it fly over the Straw Hats ship before it exploded with a loud bang. It lit up the sky in bright red lights in a large cloud, remnants of something the cloud had been laced with floating down to consume Luffy's sailing ship.

Visenya scrambled to her feet and looked back, hoping to find wherever the smoke cloud had come from, and she did. A boat easily 5 times the size of her tiny dingy was racing through the water towards her, flying a striped flag with bones across it, decorated like a clown. A second bang cut through the air as a second smoke bomb was laughed at the sailing ship, exploding the same as the first.

They can't see me, Visenya thought the boat is too small.

Visneyna scrambled to pull the rope back, unhooking herself from the boat. She pulled it in as fast as she could, but it wasn't quite fast enough. The ship barreled past her, the waves knocking Visenya's boat over. She fell into the water, her hands scrambling to grip onto the wood of her tiny dingy. The water was freezing, her already heavy body seemingly heavier under the cold water.

Her fingers just managed to grab the wood.

She pulled herself from the freezing water, saving herself just before her body could grow any heavier and sink into the endless water below. She shivered and shook as she coughed up the water that had slipped into her lungs. She didn't waste any more time, she checked the rope was still wound tight around her arm and stood on the slowly sinking dinghy.

Visenya leapt for the clown boat, catching herself on one of the round windows. She fixed her grip before dropping herself down slightly to punch a hole through the side of the boat. She grabbed onto the wood inside, making sure she didn't fall.

Her muscles strained to keep her upright, as she let go with her left hand, reaching out to the window and pulling the screws and bolts out of place, the metal racing into her palm. She melded and bent the bolts into an eyelet with a screw, and quickly screwed it into the wood. Visenya's feet slipped on the wet wood, leaving her to hang by the very tips of her fingers on the broken wood. She pulled herself up, straining again, but she pushed past it, slipping the rope off her arm.

She looped the rope through the buckles of her belt and back through the eyelet, securining it with a knot and a firm tug. She tugged it again, ensuring it was secure and could hold her in place, then she let go, her arms hanging limp at her sides, the rope holding her up. The strain, the burn in her arms finally faded and she caught her breath, the wind chilling her cold skin, but thankfully, had started to dry her clothes.

As the ship started to slow, closing in on Luffy's small sailing boat, Visenya pulled herself back up, pulling her coat tight around her and reflecting the light making her essentially invisible to anyone sparring her at a glance.

Visenya sighed and dropped her head against the side of the boat, her muscles hoping the ship would dock sooner than later.

◈

THE SHIP ROCKED AS IT DOCKED, SHAKING VISENYA AND FORCING HER TIRED EYES TO OPEN PROPERLY. They were on land; hopefully. She could hear the pirates laughing and roaring with glee as they jumped around, thankfully ignoring Visenya. She peaked out from under her hood, watching the clown pirates jump from the boat and onto the docks, running cheerily to the Straw Hat's sailing boat.

They manhandled Luffy, Nami and Zoro off of the boat, carrying them off somewhere. Visenya didn't want to risk peeking out any further from her hood to see exactly were. But she did manage to catch the pirates moving the sailing boat off of the clown ship and around the dock and tying it in place.

She waited until the clown pirates cleared off of the docks, and then waited longer. Finally Visneya unclipped herself from the rope, disregarding it on the wood and she climbed along the windows of the ship, slowly making her way across until she could throw herself onto the dock. Her legs gave out as soon as she was on the ground, and she didn't fight it lying there until her legs had regained most of their feeling.

Visenya finally pushed herself onto her elbows and then onto her knees. Her eyes took a moment to adjust to the bright sun, and when they did she, her eyes widened. The town the ship was docked at had been destroyed. The buildings had been torn apart, broken and splintered, smoke still rising from some of the houses that had been scorched and the trees had been sliced through, pushed over alongside carts and stalls.

In the centre of the grey destruction, was a lively fun house, the red and white striped tent standing proudly.

"Oh God," Visenya said with what little breath was left in her lungs.

Visenya sprinted for the clown tent, her feet banging against the ground. She kicked up sand and dirt as she skidded to a stop at the front entrance, crouching by the draw curtains. She inched the curtains open, the music from inside growing louder each second. She stepped inside hiding behind a support beam before the pirates could spot her.

She took another moment to look around the tent and her stomach dropped. Hundreds of people were chained by their wrists and ankles to the bleachers, holding them in place. Some cried, some had grown stoned faces to afraid to make the wrong face. Some were barely 10 and others older than 80, and all in between.

Visneya carefully walked around the edge of the tent, watching the large box put on display in the centre of all the fantastical circus acts. A few loud bangs came from the inside of the box making Visneya freeze. She crouched, watching a trapeze dancer descend from the roof and grab the handles on top of the box. As she was lifted up, the top of the box. Cheers erupted from the audience at once before the contents of the box were even unveiled.

A handful of circus performers ran out, spinning ropes and hoops as an array of colourful lights danced across the tent. Another pair of dancers dropped from the ceiling on aerial ropes and took the side of the box away. But the walls that were still left up kept the content hidden. She could guess Nami, Luffy and Zoro were inside, but in what condition? Hopefully still alive.

More performers ran in through the side entrances, flipping, dancing, spinning, contorting their body's in strange shapes all while some had begun breathing fire. As they passed the large wooden crate, they took away the sides of the box, rolling them off of the stage. Three men in striped suits and fake fake heads of different animals stood around the tent, holding up signs for the audience's cheers and laughter, but their eyes were distant. Their eyes were filled with fear and pain.

The box had been entirely removed, Luffy, Nami and Zoro standing in the centre of the tent. They didn't seem to be hurt, more confused than anything. Visenya felt herself take a deep breath, the tension in her shoulders loosening.

"No! No, no, no, no," A man shouted, strolling through the darkness of the farthest entrance. "Stop clapping! No, stop! It's all wrong!" The tent fell into an eerie silence as the pirate stepped onto stage, the overhead lights following him. He was a clown freak like all the rest, but he had very prominent blue pigtails and a bright red nose, a match for the flag on the pirate ship.

The clown stood to the side of the stage, staring up at whatever poor soul was controlling the lighting. "The spotlight was late! You completely missed my entrance." The clown motioned between the man in the lion's head and himself, the spotlight squeaking as it shifted off of the lion and onto the red nosed clown. The bright spotlight followed him closely as he stepped closer to the lion, watching him shrink in on himself. "And where, oh, where was the dancing. . . Lion?"

Luffy took a step forward and brought it upon himself to call out to the clown pirate, "Hey I know you." The clown turned at that, his eyes moving to Luffy. "I saw your wanted poster in Shells Town. You're the clown guy. Um, uh. . . Binky, right?"

"Buggy," The clown corrected. He jumped off the raised platform that surrounded the performance floor and raised his arms with a wide smile. "Buggy the Clown." 

— lethal lust —