A/N: This is my first story in a long time. To be honest, most of my files for my other stories were corrupted when my computer died some months back. Anyway, I'm starting off this story with my own filler and Trafalgar Law will make an appearance in a few short chapters. From there I'm planning to cover Sabaody Archipelago and some small stuff before Punk Hazard. Ultimately, Punk Hazard and from there on will be the main focus for the story. I just wanted to set up her background is all.
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece. I only own my OC and anything/anyone not seen in the series.
Her hand clutched the receiver as the Transponder Snail mimicked the relaxed expression of her superior.
She listened, though begrudgingly, as Captain Read continued to list off the responsibilities that she was tasked with. Rogiko Ginger never once complained about the list of duties that were given to her because she took her role as Ensign seriously. However, she knew that the woman was avoiding her question. She said it perfectly clear and she knew Read heard it because the snail conveyed as much, but when she began listing off the duties of what was expected from her, her mood changed.
"Captain," she saw that the snail's painted pink lips fell into a thin line, "you didn't answer my question."
Her expression couldn't be hidden so she knew that Read saw it. Yet she made no hint that she did. She merely sighed through the receiver as the snail's eyes closed for a moment. When they opened again she found the eyes lazily staring at her.
"Ginger-chan, we've been over this already. You always ask about her and you're never satisfied with the answer I always give you." Her tone sounded unmistakably exasperated but she wasn't surprised.
Ginger frowned, watching as the snail's eyes perked up. "You never give me an answer, granny. You dance around the subject like everything else. Just tell me what I want to know."
The snail gave another dramatic sigh. "She was a pirate captain and was executed, shashasha. You know-"
"What was she executed for?"
There was a pause on the other end before Read said, "I'll tell you the rest once you arrest that outlaw." Her hand gripped the receiver tightly not mistaking the slight crack she heard as the device crunching from her grip. "Now, you need to do your duty, Ginger-chan. I didn't raise you to get things half-finished. Come back to headquarters as soon as you've captured him."
"Read-san-"
The snail made a sound and with much more force than necessary Ginger hung up the receiver. She gritted her teeth upset by the outcome of the conversation. For years Captain Read avoided the subject of Rogiko Greta's capture and execution not once slipping and divulging a single detail to her. All she ever said was that the former Captain of the Rogiko Pirates had surrendered her life, and her daughter, to the Marines. So it came to be that Rogiko Ginger was raised by Captain Marigold Read after her mother's execution.
Ginger had tried so many times to find any files kept on her mother but was disappointed to find that nothing was revealed. No records or anything. The best thing she had come close to finding was her old wanted poster which displayed her name, a picture of her smiling confidently, and below her 95,000,000 bounty.
The thought of not knowing everything about her mother made her uneasy. She knew there was something important she needed to know, but at the moment that eluded her.
Footsteps came inside the communication room just as she pulled on her brown gloves. "Ensign Rogiko!" When she didn't respond right away the Marine gave a bow to apologize for the sudden intrusion. "We've arrived at Sage's Island! There's no sign of him just yet, what are your orders?"
Honey eyes fell upon the wanted poster of Berserker Jax Rackham as she turned back to him. "I want five squads of four going in from different areas. The island isn't that big so he can't escape. I'll lead one team."
The Marine gave a firm salute before walking out of the room, leaving her alone with her thoughts once again. Being twenty-three and a Marine wasn't exactly what she pictured herself doing when she was a child. Her most vivid memory had been when she was five, and even then her dream seemed so close to reality. As a little girl she wanted to travel the world and experience what a young adult her age should before settling down. Though she blocked the rest of her childhood after her mother's surrender, she could distinctively recall her voice in the back of her mind, encouraging her younger self to partake in these adventures when she grew older.
"I'm not that person anymore." It came out as a whisper as her hand clenched.
She wouldn't go down that path, she wouldn't risk her life to live as a pirate. The way Ginger saw it pirates caused nothing but havoc, however, she was also aware that everyone fell into the grey area. Pirates and Marines were alike in that regard when it came to one's morals.
In this world, there was no black and white.