A/N: I realize it's been an awfully a long time, since I've even looked at this fic, so apologies, but I've been on and off with my muse and the idea for the plot of this fic was murky. I had few ways as to how to write it, but I wasn't satisfied with any of them. Now I have the ending already planned, half-written, but I still need to tweak my ideas for the plot development. I'm slow and an awful procrastinator, but it's a part of my charm, (a tease~) lol.
Back to the reason as to why I decided to get back to the plot, reconstruct it, revive it and hopefully be on the good way to finish it soon, (yeah, right, lol). So I managed to finish it before the midnight—yay— and can happily wish a Happy Birthday to my dear friend fuxefuxe (3rd February). You've been supporting me all this time and touched my heart with your words many, many times. Te adoro, meiga~! *squishes with love*
… Places: USA/Canadian boarder and Marine Headquarters.
Soldiers wearing heavy riot armors walked through the street in a perfect line, pushing farther and farther the last remains of an angry crowd. What started as a non-violent demonstration to encourage continued economic reform and liberalization soon turned into nothing more but a bloody massacre.
The moment the frustration in the crowd reached its peak, the spark of protest ignited into a full blown fire against the government and the present army troops. Following Admiral Kizaru's orders, the soldiers were given the permission to use freely a tear gas, rubber bullets, electric tasers, and water cannons. When hours later the crowd still didn't want to disperse willingly lethal weapons were utilized, spreading death and panic.
The streets were mostly empty now, full of litter, the dead or moaning in pain still living people who were being taken under the custody subsequently.
Patrol cars which have been retrofitted with polycarbonate shields over the windows and kevlar armor panels over the doors were put on a stand by. Ready to take action if necessary. But it was merely a show of power now. The most courageous among the crowd who were the heart and soul of this demonstration were either killed, arrested, or fearing for their lives run away along with the rest.
Spineless cowards.
"Mah. How anticlimactic. They never learn, do they?" sighed Admiral Kizaru while sipping on his cup of jasmine scented tea. He put the den den mushi down after hearing the report of yet another successfully executed operation. "Why do I always have get the most boring and predictable jobs, Sengoku? It's been already a fifth riot I had to squash."
"It's unsightly to whine like a little kid, Kizaru. And mind telling me why the hell haven't you gone to the place yourself?" Sengoku asked. His voice laced with exasperation. Looks like it wasn't the first time it happened.
"No need to get irritated, my friend. I sent my Vice." The Admiral waved off-handedly. "After I crushed the revolution in Shabondy, there is no longer a need for me to personally see small fries being showed where exactly their place is."
"You're just lazy, Kizaru." The other Admiral present growled.
"Then what about your latest mission. How is the chase going, Akainu? Seeing you're still here I don't see you've made any progress, huh?" Kizaru smirked.
"Who told you to meddle in my business? Until I give orders not even a mouse is going to escape. The same can be said about those transgenic freaks. When I find them—and believe me I will— I'll be sure to kill the shit-for-brains' myself!" The table gave a creak of protest as Akainu's fist hit it.
"Oh, scary." Kizaru drawled, lifting only an eyebrow at the outburst of his equal. Akainu always took things too seriously. Kizaru could almost see the smoke coming out of Akainu's mouth, as if he was a breathing fire dragon. The Admiral reached for his tea and frowned realizing it has gone cold already. Kizaru loved drinking it almost scalding hot but hated when it turned lukewarm.
Oh well, he could order plenty more some time later. The thing holding his interest at the moment was laying on the table—a blurry satellite picture of run away test subjects along with a list of numbers.
Code-names.
He didn't overlook seeing there was also a No.056 chimera, written in a bold red letter. Surely spelling the level of danger and priority Admiral Akainu had for the particular transgenic creature.
It's not fair; he always gets the most exciting missions. Kizaru pouted, and next thing he did was to start munching on a piece of a cookie. Obviously Sengoku's favorite, since the man growled at Kizaru's boldness. He didn't care, though. It was just one cookie. And he heard chocolate was good at lifting spirits up.
There could always be a next time, he mused, eating the cookie deliberately noisily.
…Place: Akainu's private mansion.
Akainu was not impressed. The target was too smart. Like a slimy snake, he always managed to slip through his fingers, at the very last second.
It was slowly driving him mad.
Everyone new a furious Admiral wasn't a pleasant sight to behold. His anger was just like ticking bomb or even more appropriate to call it would be like an active volcano. Ready to erupt at any moment. Spreading only destruction in its wake.
And people died when his temper rose.
"Report." He growled to the receiver.
"Yes, sir. We confirmed the No.056 position from the satellite at 5 P.M. Then he entered a very foggy, full of mountains and small rivers part of land, making us unable to follow."
"And the dogs?"
"They are still on the trail. But it's very faint; they often get confused. The weather keeps getting worse, too. A week ago it started raining where west troop had been searching. Now even ours dogs have started running in circles, sir."
"Shit. We almost got the sonuvabitch, and again something happens to prevent it. Fuck! We can't let him take any more advantage, or we'd reach a dead end. Get this message to all of the teams. This isn't a pursuit anymore, this is a hunt. Run with the fucking dogs before you loose him completely. The moment you spot him—execute at sight."
"Sir, with all due respect, but heavily equipped soldiers can't run in the mount—"
"Do you question my orders, boy?"
"N—no sir! Sir, yes sir, I'm going to repeat your orders right away!"
Akainu put down the receiver after ending the connection with one of his underlings. The frown and somber look on his face seemed to be permanently etched onto his face since the moment he took up this particular case. Part of him despised the fact he needed to clean up the mess from one of the Vegapunk's insane experiments—once again.
He was sick of it.
It was like a festering and diseased wound that didn't want to heal. But he also new the sacrifices were needed to be taken for the sake of science and greater cause, and so with a larger part of his being he welcomed the break in his military routine.
The Admiral stood up from his leather armchair and walked up to the liquor cabinet. He pulled out one from many different bottles of whiskey and poured himself a glass of amber colored Jack Daniels. The ice cubes sloshed inside as he downed his first drink.
Technically he was off duty, but still his incompetent fools or simply goddamn retarded troops couldn't find a single, wounded and exhausted man.
He frowned as if he smelled something foul. It didn't sit well with him calling the chimera he was looking for—a man. It was no human. It was just one of the many lab rats that managed to escape accidentally and needed to be dealt with.
Nothing more.
He swirled the glass in his hand, enjoying the pleasant sound of ice-cubes as they were knocking into each other. Akainu took a whole bottle of whiskey with him and sat behind his mahogany desk once again. He glanced at the paperwork scattered before him and then back again to his liquor. He sipped his drink, enjoying the burning in his throat it provoked and indulged in his thoughts.
You won't be able to run away from me forever, No.056. I'll find you. Just like I did with all the others. Now it's only a matter of time before they'll burn along with the rest of the diseased Gray Terminal. You've been so bravely determined to survive through all those months; I'll be generous and leave you on a dessert, though. Operation "Rat Extermination" begins now.
… Place: Skirts of Mount Colbo.
Deep night surrounded all.
The quiet of the nighttime was suddenly interrupted by the repetitive and slow steps. They were careful but firm, indicating the vast knowledge of the territory and a good dose of wariness and caution.
A stream of colorful curses followed the moment the figure cloaked by the darkness stumbled under the heavy weight and almost fell to the ground. Just as soon as it happened the first rays of moonshine illuminated the scene. Two people were the cause of the unsettlement in the wild and sensitive part of the forest's fauna. The small animals hid or run away the moment they sensed them and larger, more dangerous kinds, kept their distance, instinctively knowing there was something off and lethal about the humanoid creatures.
The atmosphere became thick and unbearable on a different level the moment the thunder rumbled in a distant horizon. The clouds were moving faster now through the sky, just an hour ago a cloud-free and sprinkled with beautiful stars. The chilly breeze penetrated the thick foliage of the woods and ruffled fur of the animals. They nestled more deeply into their little 'homes', seeking safety. They knew—it was time to find a shelter and wait for the storm to pass.
Rain started to pour in little droplets, at first. But the person trying to reach the nearby river's shore knew it was only a beginning. The moment the sky opens up and cries it won't be a pleasant summer rain, but a chilly, and frigid one of the late autumn. When that was going to happen it was better to be in a warm bed than in the middle of ragging waves on the river.
Only few meters separated them to the stream and with every scuff of the feet they were getting closer. With the limited amount of light it wasn't obvious on the first sight, but without the obstruction of the mass of tree branches now it could be clearly seen that one of them reminded more of a huge, gorilla-like person, covered in fur from head to toe. As for the other—he was thrown over the furry-man's shoulder like a rag doll, unmoving and lifeless.
It was one bizarre sight. The creature carefully put the unconscious man down into the boat and pushed it off of the shore into the river. He followed it into the water few meters and when he could feel the stream's current working against them, he jumped into the boat and started vigorously paddling up, against the river current.
He had been looking for some healing herbs he was short on, and would have never thought he'd find someone trapped into one of the trapping pits he dug with his savior and friend. He couldn't leave the man to bleed out and die down there, especially since he felt partially guilty for being responsible of the predicament the tanned and muscular man found himself in. He needed to get the other treated as soon as possible and additional hypothermia didn't sound good when the other started to become unhealthily pale, probably because of his wounds and extreme loss of blood.
He looked down with his big, brown eyes at the shivering human, not stopping rowing even if for a moment. "Don't worry, I'm a doctor. Do~ctor Chopper," he giggled to himself awfully pleased he was able to use this name without fearing for his life and safety from judgmental humans. "You'll be fine. I won't let you die. ...I just hope Sanji won't be too pissed about brining you to our chalet." Chopper mumbled to himself. "I really don't want to become the main entrée on the table. Emergency food—my ass. I'm still a doctor and can't leave a patient without care. He'll understand, I'm sure. …M—m—maybe? ….I—I think… I mean—I hope so, 'cause I'm too young to be eaten, goddammit!" He cried and started paddling like a madman, or as if he was imagining Sanji has been already running after him, armed with knife and fork—ready to skin him alive.
"Doctorine!" His wail echoed pitifully through the nearby area.
To distract himself—he simply rowed faster.
…