[I]Marine.[/I] Simply saying it conjured up thoughts of the vast ocean, great naval battles with pirates, islands everywhere, protected by loyal men… and Justice, the driving force of every single one of those loyal men.
Even in his almost comatose state, Gold knew he wanted to be one of those loyal men.
On the seas, the land, and anywhere else they could reach, the Marines embodied the law as one of the Three Great Powers. They kept the balance with the four chaotic Pirate Emperors and the seven Region Warlords. The Marines were a massive, structured military force, using Justice and numbers as their biggest advantages.
However, Gold couldn't help but wonder what Silver alluded to in his escape. Every Marine followed their sense of Justice, but Silver had made it sound like Justice was evil. How could that be? Those who followed what was called 'Absolute Justice', where all crimes must be punished and punished equally, were known to have occasionally gone a bit far in their doings, but they weren't necessarily evil. What corruption could destroy Justice itself? Nothing, Gold thought- Silver must have been lying. You can't destroy an idea.
As Gold felt his body slowly recover, he eventually began to hear snatches of conversation near him. Mentions of who he could only guess to be Silver flew, quickly followed by curses and yelling. He occasionally heard Crystal's voice, and a man that he had never heard before.
The days passed, and Gold's healing underwent a miraculous overnight spurt once, making him come ever closer to recovery- and a good recovery at that. The scar would last, but Gold felt consciousness creep ever closer all the time.
He had decided. Silver had done this to him. And for what? Getting out of New Bark? Gold would find Silver, no matter what. And he would find out why he had done this.
Nakama… 'team', or 'crew'. Gold, Silver, and Crystal had been Nakama once. But no more.
When he awoke, Gold would find the Marines, and they would be his Nakama. One way or another, he would bring Justice to Silver, and show him the truth.
