Chapter 145: Lab Under the Desert

They waited in the lift and got to the bottom. Nami and Zala were flabbergasted. Robin looked calm. Alvida and Mikita had gotten closer to Ben and leaned their heads on his shoulder. They each took one side.

"You two are relaxed," Zala said.

"You will get used to it," Mikita said.

"My love keeps things interesting," Alvida said. 

The lift stopped and the door opened. They saw a circular passage. The entrance to the lab had blue and purple rays across this circular passage. 

"Wow, pretty," Nami said.

"Certainly looks like the inside of a monster mouth that will devour people," Robin said.

Nami looked horrified.

Ben laughed. "She is just joking," Ben said. 

"This must be a rare monster to have colours like this." Mikita said.

"We have been inside a monster's mouth," Alvida said. 

They walked through the passage and reached a room. It was a large room filled with an array of high-tech equipment and holographic displays. There were several computers with displays going around the room. The lab's walls were lined with monitors displaying schematics, mathematical equations, and live simulations. A large round table was in the centre. 

"This is amazing," Nami said.

"I don't recall seeing or hearing anything like this in Alabasta," Robin said. 

"It is advance," Ben said.

"Sumi and the girls will be able to help my love," Alvida said. 

"They are already stretched as it is, we may need more help," Ben said.

"Yes, we should be expanding the harem more my love," Alvida replied. 

"How did you interpret that?" Nami asked.

"Don't ask," Mikita said. 

They saw a door on the left and walked towards it. The room had a colossal, transparent containment chamber. Within the chamber, intricate patterns of light danced across the surface. There seems to be a small octagonal object being held by several wires. Surrounding the containment chamber were workstations equipped with holographic interfaces. Giant supercomputers, hummed in the background. 

"I wonder what that is?" Zala asked.

"It looks valuable," Robin added.

"Valuable," Nami said. 

(Sweetie do you know?)

[It's an energy shield which can protect against attacks until a certain threshold.]

(Sounds good.)

[It's one component of the Raid Suits.]

(Raid Suits?)

[Keep looking for more labs.]

(Thank you Sweetie.)

"These are energy shields which can protect against attacks, part of a raid suit," Ben explained. 

"Interesting," Robin said.

"That could help us my love," Alvida said and added, "It can protect the girls from damage. It's going to get tougher from here."

"You are right there, the Grand Line is dangerous," Mikita added.

Ben saw in the one corner of the lab, a robotic arm. They walked to it and could see it connected to the chamber. Next to the robotic arm was a cabinet. 

"This looks like the final product," Mikita said.

"Indeed," Ben said. 

He approached the cabinet and saw there were three octagonal badges. They were about the size of his hand. Ben picked one up. He saw there was a clip on them. 

"So it looks like without the Raid Suit, you can attach it onto your clothes," Ben noted.

"They can still be used," Zala noted.

"There are only three her my love," Alvida said.

"Nami, take one," Ben said.

"Are you sure, I mean of course," Nami said.

"You are Nojiko`s sister, anything that happens to you will make her sad," Ben said.

"Also you a harem member," Alvida teased. 

"So, Ben, will you take the other two?" Robin asked.

"It's for the other girls like Marianne who does not have a devil fruit, it can be useful. Most of us have zoans or logia so it has given us protection," Ben noted.

"Generous," Zala said.

Ben took the other two energy shields and headed back to the main room. He saw a bunch of computers. 

"If we had either BM or HQ, we could have connected the lab back to the Miss Love Duck and let Sumi know about this," Ben said.

"We can always come back later," Mikita said. 

"It's not ideal," Alvida added.

[I have connected this lab to the Miss Love Duck.]

(Thank you Sweetie, you are the best.)

[But you cannot talk to Sumi from here, the lab has some damage which needs repair.]

(Thank you Sweetie, that is fine.)

Ben thought as long as it is connected to the Miss Love Duck, if anyone comes here they can communicate. 

Ben explained the situation. 

"That is great new my love," Alvida said.

"Small steps," Zala said.

"I think we can head out now," Ben said. 

The girls nodded. Nami was looking at her new accessory. She had put it on her shirt where her shoulder was. 

"Looking good girl," Mikita said.

"Thank you," Nami said.

"Don't you want to sell it for money?" Robin asked. 

"No, it's too precious," Nami said.

"Or that my love has given it to you," Alvida teased.

"No," Nami said as she lightly punched Ben. 

Ben thought Nami was dangerous. "Hey," Ben said.

The girls giggled. "Okay, let's head out," Ben said. They all headed to the lift and exited the lab. They took it back to the Poneglyph Chamber and headed up the stairs back to the surface. 

"Sunlight," Zala said.

"Yes, I was missing it down there," Mikita said. 

"So what's the plan now, my love?" Alvida said.

"I think we can start heading off to our next island," Ben said.

"The girls can still rest while we start making preparations," Ben added.

"That sounds like a plan," Mikita said.

"We should head downtown to shop," Ben said.

The girls nodded and they started to make their way back to the Royal Palace.