Zone D -- The Foam

[Enel]

I manage to find a large, slightly curved panel of wood, about as large in diameter as I am tall. It looks like it was once the side of a boat. I’m pretty sure it’ll hold, but … I’m not happy about this. One slip, and I’ll drown. My life is in Batman’s hands.

Worst case scenario, though … I do have that. Hehehe. Batman doesn’t know about that. In that case, the water would be his demise.

Besides, I’m fairly certain that with strength of will, I could exert my powers through the sea despite being submerged. It’s not impossible. Just … difficult. If he were to let me drown, I’d make sure he died of a thousand volts.

While I mutter to myself, busily using a pocket knife reclaimed from one of the nearby shacks to cut off the jutting parts of the wooden ‘raft’, Batman emerges from one of the nearby tourist traps.

Oh, hell no.

“I’m not wearing that,” I say.

He brandishes the rubber ring at me. “It’s for safety. This way, if you fall off, you won’t go under.”

I grit my teeth. Then I snatch the rubber ring from him, and step into it, pulling it up to my waist. I feel thoroughly ridiculous. But Batman, to his credit, doesn’t laugh or even raise so much as a smile. This is one of those situations where I appreciate his dour temperament.

Batman takes a fibre rope and ties it around one part of the raft, dumps his bag into it, then pulls it behind him into the water. I watch him sink down to chest level. I shudder. Then he turns and looks at me.

No, God damn it. A God fears nothing. Not Jhen Mohran, not Omni … and not fucking water! I step into the hollow raft. “Go slow.”

“I will.”

“It might have holes in it. That’s all.”

He grunts and drags the raft forward, slowly, into the water. I feel it dip and then sink in, and for a moment I panic, as the water splashes me. It’s rocking from side to side, and I clutch onto the wood. If I die here, I’ll never live it down.

But I stay steady. Batman looks at me. “You alright?”

“Yes I’m alright!” I snap. “Now pull! We’re going to get that item drop, even if it kills me!”

Batman begins to wade through the water, stepping inbetween rocks and coral reef. The place is littered. It worst comes to worst, I’ll be able to jump across the various outcroppings, but one slip and I’m a goner.

It takes us almost an hour to reach a large, flattish rock that functions as a small island out here in the mess of stone, coral and flotsam. I jump up, being extremely careful not to slip as I daintily land on the rough but wet surface. I reach down and give Batman a hand up. He’s breathing heavy, and lays back next to me on the rock once he’s ashore. That heavy suit he’s wearing probably doesn’t help. For a mortal, he’s fit as fuck.

We sit in silence and watch the night sky, surrounded by the sound of ocean. I’ve never been so close to the blue ocean before. It’s not like the white ocean I live on, far above the clouds. It’s darker, scarier. I wonder what lurks beneath those ocean depths. It’s still close to midnight, and every wave makes me wonder what’s out there. I’ve never felt so vulnerable. And yet … I trust this man. We’ve come this far, and I don’t believe he would ever betray me. With him at my side, I feel … safer.

It’s a shame he’ll have to die before this is all over.

Batnel D5 to D9. Awaiting item drop.