Amazing enough, Chiru managed the constructions on the colossus in time. And thus, two days after Tsunas visit in her workshop, the colossal statue was standing at the entrance of the harbor oh Rhodes, its two copper legs standing on each side of the canal through which the ships were entering the main harbor itself.
Nearly all of the citizens of Rhodes were assembled at the harbor, cheering as the queen and the chief engineer were entering the statue through a small door at its base.
After climbing up a few stairs and ladders, they entered the control room inside of the statue's head. Tsuna took a look at the controls and smiled. "You really did well, Chiru. You can be proud of yourself."
The inventor sighed. "Still, my main concern is the lack of material. With only ten tons of copper, the colossus is somewhat... frail."
"Ah, the pirates won't come close enough to realize that," the queen confidently said.
"I hope they'll come soon," Usa said excitedly. "I can't wait to see how the colossus works."
"Um, let's just wait and see," Tsuna said nervously.
----
Usa's wish should come true very soon, as the same day, a big ship with colorful sails and a skull-and-crossbones flag was approaching the island.
"Land!" the man standing in the crow's nest shouted. "I see land!"
"Finally, the island of Rhodes," one of the four female captains smirked, her red hair waving in the ocean's breeze. Vesta was known as one of the most ruthless pirates throughout the Aegean Sea.
"The queen is supposed to own infinite riches," her pink-haired fellow captain Celes gushed.
"Although I'm wishing our ship wouldn't quite stand out like that," Juno, the green-haired member of the Quartet frowned. "Hey, Pallas! Did you have to choose such colorful sails?"
"Pallas is sorry," the ditzy, blue-haired pirate giggled. "But it looks just so pretty, doesn't it?"
Juno sighed. "Whatever..."
Suddenly, they could see a massive shape towering over the harbor of Rhodes.
"Huh?" Celes wondered. "What's that?"
"Dunno," Vesta muttered. "Looks like they put up some sort of scarecrow at the harbor."
"Don't be silly, that's a beacon," Juno said. "Don't you see the torch it is holding?"
Pallas smiled. "How nice of them to light our way."
"Yeah," Vesta chuckled evilly. "We should thank them cordially..." And she slowly drew her curved cutlass.
To their surprise, not even a single war ship was awaiting them. Although they knew that Rhodes had to suffer from Spartas last attack, they expected at least some resistance.
Well, they weren't going to look a gift horse in the mouth, so they steered their ship towards the harbor.
"Attack!" Vesta yelled. "Plunder everything! Show no mercy!"
Juno scratched her head. "Hey, Vesta... is it just me or did that statue just move?"
Is wasn't just her. Indeed, the Colossus of Rhodes started leaning down a bit, and while he couldn't leave his position, his arms and legs were completely mobile and controllable through the 'cockpit' within its head.
The pirates stared in awe when suddenly, the statue lowered its right arm, the one with the torch, until it was aimed directly at the ship.
And then... a massive plume of fire came shooting out of the torch. The Amazon Quartet yelped in fear, and they dove down on their ship's deck, while their men were running around in a panic.
Luckily, the flame only singed the top of their mast. But they could see that the colossus was already preparing to fire anew.
"Turn around the ship!" Vesta screamed. "Let's get out of here!"
"Yeah, the climate of Rhodes seems a bit too hot this time of the year," Celes agreed.
Taru looked out of a small hatch in the statue's right eye and cheered. "They are retreating, hooray!"
"Look at them running!" Usa smirked, as she looked out of the other eye.
"Actually, they are sailing," Taru pointed out. "You couldn't run very well on water, you know?"
"Well, whatever..." Usa grumbled.
"Let's not celebrate just now," Chiru warned them. "They might still come back."
"Well, we'll be prepared for it," Tsuna exclaimed. "The statue is big enough, we will stay here for the night. But we'll need to put up a night watchman... or woman." Her gaze wandered over to her loyal messenger, who had also assisted in 'piloting' the colossus.
Ruka sighed. "I understand, my queen."
----
Meanwhile, the pirates had reached their secret hideout on a small, deserted island.
"Well, that was a washout," one of the men complained.
"Yeah, you never told us Rhodes would have a secret weapon like that," another one grumbled. "That's too dangerous for my tastes. I'm outta here!"
"Yeah, me too," several other chorused.
"SHUT UP!!" Vesta bellowed, making the crew cower in fear. "I am the captain, understood? And I'm saying we'll try it again!"
"Easier said than done," Juno pointed out. "Or how do you plan on going past that colossus?"
"Yeah, I suppose Tsuna wouldn't have saved any costs when she built that thing," Celes nodded.
That made the four pirate captains blink and think about it. They were talking about Queen Tsuna of Rhodes here, who was infamous because of her stinginess.
Vesta smirked. "Well, but what if she had saved costs? Wouldn't that be too bad?"
"You have an idea?" Pallas asked curiously.
Vesta nodded. "Listen up, we'll do this..."
----
In the silent of the night, a smaller pirate boat approached the island once again. This time, it was a more inconspicuous vessel, with plain sails and no pirate flag. Only the Amazon Quartet and a small crew of assembled pirates were aboard.
"Careful now," Vesta whispered. "We don't want them to get suspicious."
"Yes, we're just a peaceful, little fishing boat," Pallas grinned as she cast her fishing rod.
They were in luck. No one was paying attention to their small boat, as it landed at the harbor. The four captains left the ship and told their men to wait for their signal.
Then they quietly approached the massive foot of the colossus that was standing in front of them.
----
It has been a quiet night. So quiet that Ruka didn't manage to stay awake. When Queen Tsuna decided to check on her servant, she got angry when she saw how the blonde, short-haired woman was snoozing peacefully.
"WAKE UP!" she shouted. Ruka gasped as she was awake at once. In confusion, she looked around. "Wh-what? What's going on?"
"You fell asleep, that's what's going on," her queen grumbled. "You lazy bum! What if the pirates suddenly return and you wouldn't notice because you were asleep?"
"Oh, don't worry," Ruka yawned. "It's such a quiet night, I don't believe they'll come. See, everything is peaceful and quiet..."
Tsuna just frowned.
----
Unnoticed to the queen and her servant, the four pirate girls had climbed up the statue in the meantime. Coming from a circus family, that was not such a big feat. And on Vestas command, they all pulled out small, hand-operated drills and started to perforate the statue's hull.
"I was right," Vesta grinned. "Tsuna DID save some costs. The statue isn't massive, it is hollow. And we can easily make many little holes, until it looks like a swiss cheese."
"Strange idea," Pallas murmured. "Cheese with holes?"
See other episodes by Shritistrang
(Posted Tue, 03 Apr 2007 11:51)
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