"Fire!" Screaming as if their lives were on the line as cannon fire resounded across the ocean as marines and civilians scrambled to keep the ship at bay from docking.
As the target of their attack continued to sail towards the port. With the firing never stopping as they attempted to hit the target only for the cannonballs to land in the surrounding waters or exploding before striking the ship.
"Sir I can see the flag it's coming into view-!" Yelling from the side to be louder than the constant cannon fire. But as he was looking through the telescope he realized what he's looking at. Not bothering to relay the information as he dropped his weapons and sprinted towards the town. Ignoring everyone around him as if his life would end if he stayed for one more second.
As the marine in charge picks up the telescope ignoring the cadet who couldn't handle the stress. Taking a look at the ship as he focused on the flag as fear begin to grip his heart at the sight. Calming himself to assess the whole situation as he aim down towards the helm of the ship.
As a sigh of relief escaped his lips as his gaze landed on the woman who was casually smoking her cigarette. Before shifting her gaze directly at the marine and blowing a smoke filled kissed in his direction.
"Stand down! Everyone stand down before we attract that man's attention here. It's the Rock pirates! All civilians go back home and lock your homes and marines go back to the base." Walking towards an unopened box as he pulled out a cigarette. Ignoring the chaos that's taking place as everyone scrambled to get away from the evilest group on the seas to date.
In favor of watching the ship that sailed into port before docking without any issues as the captain of the vessel stepped off the ship as she gazed around at the once overcrowded dock.
"So the marines still have some smart people working for them. What's your name?" Blowing out a cloud of smoke before shifting her gaze to the seated marine.
"Commander John of the local base. As long as you stay true to your reputation Shakky then you can resupply or do whatever you need to do. I'll keep the local marines under base lockdown and the town people under martial law." Casting his gaze at the pirate crew who were still on the ship. As the madness could be seen in their eyes.
"This isn't my ship or crew to command. You'll need to take that up with the captain of the vessel." Nodding her head towards the marines direction as he turned to look only to stop as he realized there's a bird sitting on his shoulder.
A golden bird that resembled a crow quietly sat there. Ignoring the marine's presence as he looked around the dock.
"Where's old ker? That's the only reason we're here." Hearing the childish voice coming out of the crow as he asked a question that gave the marine a heart attack.
"He died during a pirate raid. Reinforcements were late but old Ker took command of the marine's using his former vice admiral authority to take command. Sadly he succumbed to his wounds after fending off that pirate fleet." Answering as honestly as possible. Knowing the caliber of the people connected to that senile old man wasn't something to ignore.
"I see. He did love this town more than anything else. Did you bury him with his family?" Receiving a nod of approval from the marine before the crow took flight deeper into town. Ignoring the pirates who had a look of expectation on their faces.
"Good job John. Your island gets to last for one more day. Take me to the closest bar. I need something strong to drink after these past months. Also boys go ahead and restock the ship. If Crow hears anything about damages to the city then I shouldn't have to tell you the outcome." Blowing out a cloud of smoke as she begin to walk off leaving the pirates to their own duties while the Commander guided her.
"John you're also very familiar. I wonder why such a familiar face would be in the weakest sea. Did you piss off the wrong person?" Questioning him as he guided her towards a nearby bar.
"I got sent to the holy land after being in the new world under your captains favorite marine." Grimacing as he mentioned the holy land causing Shakky to nod her head in understanding.
"Well you choose an easy going place to retire to. No one deserves to see the evils committed there." Stepping into a bar as John walked behind the counter as he grabbed the strongest whiskey in the bar and two glasses.
"Sometimes I wonder who are we truly protecting. The innocent civilians we are ordered to drag to the celestial dragons to become their slaves and playthings or the cowards who would order us to fight unwinnable battles with men like Rocks or Rogers because they disrupt a so called balance of the world." Handing Shakky her glass as he downed his in one go before refilling it.
"Even that brat you came with. Is a result of the celestial dragons putting their hands in places they shouldn't. If not Rocks then it'll be him challenging their authority when he grows up." Downing the next glass after he spoke while Shakky quietly enjoyed her drink.
"If I wasn't aware of your existence then I would've assumed you were another nameless marine upholding the false justice that marines preach. A man like yourself doesn't end up in the east blue just because. Why are you really out here?" Smirking as she spoke more openly to a fellow victim of the government.
"Old Ker and Crow aren't names just anyone can speak frankly about around here. Since the boy is with you then it means my message successfully reached Rocks before they could turn that boy into a monster.
The horrors I saw in that place shattered any loyalties I've held to the government. As long as my hometown is safe then I'm content with being forgotten by the grand stage. My only regret is not taking actions myself against that place. How many made it out alive?" Down his third shot before looking up at Shakky with a look of resignation in his eyes.
Shaking her head before locking eyes with John.
"Crow said he managed to get the other kids out while fighting was taking place between the guards and Tsuru's men who were raiding the building. As for their current status it'll be better to contact Tsuru for an update. She took care of the clean up while I escaped with Crow who managed to escape into the burning forest while drawing the remaining guards away from the kids." Finishing her statement before clearing her glass as John poured another round for both of them.
"Rocks gave me permission to give you a flag while you aid those kids in relocating into different seas. Don't look at me like that. It'll do you more good to hide the kids among islands that aren't connected to the Goverment and using a marine flag will only bring in more trouble if you sail into those seas without protection or a reputation." Nodding his head with an ugly look on his face before sighing in exhaustion at the way things took place.
"Tell Crow that since Ker didn't have any living relatives to inherit his property and titles that the town has given it to him in honor of Ker raising the boy briefly. For now I'll head out and overwatch the reapplying of goods on your ship." Finishing his fourth glass before grabbing his saber off the counter and leaving the bar to Shakky.
"Tsuru, we need to find that boy! These are orders from the elders directly. If you find him either capture him unharmed or kill him before he can cause us any damages." Listening the a snail speak before the line cut off as a hand hung up the snail.
"Rear admiral Tsuru, We've received reports of Shakky being sighted at a small island less the five days from here. Should I order the crew to depart for that island?" Standing at the door of the room as she questioned another woman seated behind a desk. Both of them wearing marine uniforms as the one at the door saluted the higher ranking officer. As Tsuru the marine rubbed her eyes while seated at the desk.
"No for now finish up cleaning out the laboratories here. When everyone is done then I want you to level the whole island before we leave. The actions taken here need to be buried further than anyone could investigate. How are the kids doing?" Softening her tone as she spoke about the kids that they rescued from this hellhole.
"Besides cuts and bruises we'll have to wait till we get to a base with good enough doctors to throughly check them. There's no telling what kind of experiments they conducted there. We weren't able to find any logs or reports about their actions. I'm suspecting that the missing kid is responsible for missing logs. Only amber reported seeing him taking a book with him." Acknowledging that they would ignore the orders from the elders as they spoke about the situation.
"Amber is our only connection to finding that boy. If we don't find him before the elders then he'll be going down with a lot of secrets he doesn't understand he has. Helena once we get out of here. I want you to focus on building up her obersavtion Haki to help us track him down. She's a talent worth raising up and with the connection we'll have an easier time handling Rocks." Nodding her head while thinking about the future options having the girl named ambers opens up for them is unthinkable.
"Should I send a report to Vice admiral Garp? After all this sea is under his direct control."
"No, he's aware of my presence here and why. If you send him a report then the elders will get a copy. After all they are trying their best to find a method to control him. This boy is the key to that and that'll be a bad thing for the future of the marines if they manage to keep Garp on a leash." Taking a sip of her tea after speaking as Helena nods her head in agreement.
"Also once you're finish here. Pick out five of the most trusted aids to go relocated the kids with the aid of a retired new world officer. Anything that happens while you're working with him will be for your eyes only. I don't want to hear anything else concerning the children besides Amber and Crow." Closing her eyes to signal that this statement was one directed at the wind as Helena offered a salute before leaving the room.
"Moments like this makes me hate working under those evil bastards. If only she was still in control of the holy land." Shaking her head to rid of the thoughts plaguing her.
"Galaxy Impact!"
"Lion's slash!"
Echoing through the chaos of a battlefield. Two voices rung out as a sword met a black fist, but they never connected as a shockwave blasted everything around them into dust. Any unlucky individuals caught within the radius unaware were also victims to the clash between titans.
"Kong Gun!" In the next battlefield a pair of fist reached out as they struck the air while a gaint of a man with horns coming out his head was launched back into a mountain.
"I'm gonna turn you into dust! You old bastard!" Dashing out of the crumbling mountain as he swung his giant mace bigger then his target only to be struck in the stomach by the same man he's targeting. Causing the giant to be sent rolling again.
"Bogart!!! I swear I'm gonna turn you into-" Being struck across the face as if his parent was punishing a naughty kid as he held his mouth while staring at the man wearing a feadora with his tattered suit.
"I have to say Kaido, you're the most annoying kid I've had the displeasure of dealing with. Even that red brat is more manageable than your thick skin." Grimacing as he rubbed his bruised fist that lost it black hue to it.
"Garp, I swear I will murder you one day!" Landing next to a downed kaido who had his bell rung repeatedly by the smaller Bogart who was sporting bruises that were peeking out from his ruined suit. Who's now being backed by Garp who was smirking at the fact they've won this skirmish.
"You alright bogart?" Side eying his second in command as he watched shiki for any attacks. As bogarts only waves his hand dismissively.
"The main question is did we sell this show good enough for everyone to see." Speaking off handley as he eyed both pirates waiting for Garp to decide the next action.
"We're retreating. We've lost enough marines today and had good fight with shiki so let's call it quits before this escalates into a full blown attack." Picking his nose as he turned to leave as pirates opened a path for him to leave. Fear written over their faces after witnessing the two titans clash that resulted in this island being destroyed to the point it could collapse at any moment.
With the marines pulling their dead and injured back onto the ship as Garp took a seat on the railing over looking the retreating pirate ships that ignored the dead bodies of their fellow pirates.
"Now all that's left is Tsuru's side. As long as can take care of that end then I'll be able to fight to my hearts content." Grinning as he opened a bag of rice crackers while bogart handled the clean up. Even burying the dead pirates to give them a respectable end to their stories.
"Vice-admiral it's Kong." Walking up to Garp while carrying a snail phone as the features resembled the blue haired fleet admiral.
"GARP! Who gave you the orders to engage with Shiki. You were suppose to wait for back up so we can take down two of Rock's biggest players. Now you've screwed it up!" Yelling across the snailphone as Garp nonchalantly continued eating his rice crackers.
"They were to slow. First come first served. If Sengoku or Zeff wanted some of the actions then should've ran here instead of sailing. Oh yea give Bogart a promotion. He held down Kaido by himself so you can stop worrying about that brat going a rampage during big battles. I gave you another Vice admiral figure as a bonus after you took my last guy." Waving for the marine to step closer who only shook his head "no" knowing what Garp was planning and not trying add his name to the fleet admirals shit list.
"GARP! That's not the point. Whatever you don't leave from that spot until Sengoku gets there. You two have a new mission. The elders want the two of you to lock down the entrance to the grand line." Hanging up from his end with clear anger written on the snails face as Garp laughed in response.
"So it was a good show Bogart. We should do more shows like this. I told you. You can handle that brat and you did an excellent job of disciplining that rowdy brat." Laughing at Bogart's embrassed face at the praise as fellow marines poked fun at their vice commander who normally is as stone cold as rock.