Taka Investigation Begins!

"What! You can't be the new Vice Admiral!" shouted Alexander from his place on the ground.

"Oh, really, and why not?" asked the girl as she loomed over him.

"Well, because…because…" thought Alexander trying to figure out a way to put this delicately.

"Just shut up before you do any more collateral damage," said Rina in a quiet voice.

"Aha!" said Alexander figuring out what to say, "because you are a girl."

"A very pretty girl!" shouted Veri Fresh jumping in between them again, "too pretty to be the Vice Admiral! Just too pretty!" He bent down and picked up Alexander and quickly dragged him outside. Once safely out of earshot Veri Fresh bent down and looked Alexander in the eye, "listen whenever a woman is mad at you always call her pretty, okay? Women love to be called pretty and they won't try to kill you."

Veri Fresh's parrot chimed in from his shoulder, "kill you."

"Really?"

"Yes!" said Veri Fresh, "trust me. I've dealt with my daughter for as long as she's been alive. Calling her pretty is one of the few ways to defuse. Also another thing about women is that they love being told that they are right, even if they are not! Okay, so all women are pretty and right."

"Cool!" said Alexander as he stood up, patted himself off and walked back into the room.

Veri Fresh stayed out in the hallway for a couple more seconds, "I should've just told him to shut up and not say a word." He trudged slowly back into the room with his head hung low.

The Vice Admiral was glaring at Alexander. Her hatred towards him bubbling up. "So, what is that you are going to say?"

"You are pretty," said Alexander.

"ARE YOU TRYING TO WHOO A SUPERIOR OFFICER!" shouted the Vice Admiral as she took long strides till she was right up close to Alexander, glaring down at him. She reached back behind her and pulled out a large pure iron mallet. "I THINK THAT YOU ARE JUST TRYING TO WHOO ME WHERE I WILL PROMOTE YOU IS THAT THE CASE?"

"You are right!" shouted Alexander giving her a thumbs-up.

Veri Fresh's head fell right into his hand. Rina's mouth was wide open in total surprise and shock along with a bit of fear for Alexander.

A large tick appeared on the Vice Admiral forehead. "I WOULD NEVER GO OUT WITH YOU IN A MILLION YEARS!" She brought the large mallet around and straight into Alexander's face sending him spiraling backwards and back into the hall. "GUARDS CLOSE THE DOOR AND DO NOT LET THAT PATHETIC, WOMAN-HATING, SELF-SERVING SWINE BACK IN HERE AT ALL!"

The guards quickly bowed their heads and pulled their doors closed. Alexander looked back at the door. "I should've known better then to take advice from that purple onion. Anyone with a hairdo like that can't be very smart."

(-in the room with Rina-)

Rina was shaking in her shoes. After seeing the Vice Admiral's strength and heartlessness when she simply tossed Alexander out of the room, wasn't a huge boost of confidence to her. As good as she was with people Alexander just did way too much damage. She'd consider herself lucky if they weren't hung for treason…or more accurately in this case, stupidity.

"Lieutenant Chiran," shouted the Vice Admiral in a near boasting tone. "I'm sure you have already heard my name as mere whispers throughout the Marine Base, but just in case you haven't, I am Vice Admiral Mary. However, I ask that you call me simply by Mary."

"O-o-o-okay," said Rina as she stumbled over her own words, "y-you can c-call me R-Rina." When she was done she quickly tacked on, "if that's okay with you!"

"It suits me just fine," said Mary as she retook her seat. "So, Rina…may I have your full report on the incidents that occurred during your last mission."

"Umm…" said Rina at a lost of what to say, "we, me and Alexander…I guess, me, Alexander, and Hayate…"

"Who?" asked Mary as she adjusted in her seat.

"My pet dog," added Rina as she fidgeted uncomfortably, "I guess Mark from Ghorl should be included as well. So, me, Alexander, Hayate, and Mark were t-traveling from here to Ghorl. It was smooth sailing there, but when we got there we encountered some problems…"

"Yes, yes, about this Taka organization," said Mary as she relaxed and leaned backwards, "we have had trouble with them before, but nothing on this scale."

"Yes," said Rina, "um…first was Emyre who was recently found dead, then Pura Pupuran who we captured and subdued, then there was…"

"Pura Pupuran denies any involvement with Taka," said Mary as she leaned backwards, "she said Boyd paid her large amounts of money for her to kill the illegitimate prince."

"What happened to him?" asked Rina, "Sam, the prince?"

Mary distracted her gaze for a second before staring Rina in the eyes, "he died. I will give you a week's leave if you want to attend his funeral."

Rina looked down, "thanks, but I have other things I need to attend to."

"Continue with the debriefing," said Mary.

"Then there was Tessa," said Rina, "he is believed to be the mastermind behind this attack and the only one who managed to escape alive."

"Of course," said Mary as she leaned backwards, "the important ones always escape. Anything you wish to add."

Rina looked down for a second and took a deep breath, "I wish to be transferred to the Marine Base in the New World!"

A look of pure shock crossed Mary's face as she leaned forward. Veri Fresh jumped up from the shocking news, with an astounded look on his face. "Are you insane?" asked Veri Fresh, "not only have you failed your first mission with your new captain, but you also do not meet the physical requirements for the transfer. Do you honestly expect us to transfer you?"

Rina distracted her gaze downwards unsure of how to reply. "I think I deserve a chance at the very least. Maybe just for a week as a test for me something."

"Lieutenant Chiran you must…" began Veri Fresh, but he was quickly cut off by Mary who raised her hand as a signal for silence.

"I'm the commanding officer in this base," said Mary, "I have the final say on all transfers to and from this base."

"Are you even considering sending her out there?" asked Veri Fresh, "she's a great navigator and she's been loyal to us ever since we found her on that abandoned ship, but the New World! Even I would have troubles in the New World and I'm several ranks above her."

Mary shook her hand, "I'm not saying we send her up there. The materials required for the transfer amount to a colossal sum not to mention acquiring a ship and a big enough crew to allow easy sailing through the Grand Line. There are too many problems involved for a simple transfer."

"I'm not worried about the supplies," said Veri Fresh, "I'm more worried about her. She lacks a lot of power that our normal New World recruits possess."

"Like I said I don't think we should send her up there, yet," said Mary as she began thumbing through a stack of papers on her desk. She began to slowly split the stack of papers into two smaller stacks. "But…as one of the two Marines who actually managed to hold off the mercenary group known as Taka, she may just deserve chance."

Rina smiled brightly. "Thank you."

"I say she heads the Taka organization investigation," said Mary.

"But the Execution Squad has already been sent off to investigate one of the leads," added Veri Fresh. "I'm not sure sending both teams off to head the same investigation would be so smart."

Mary sighed. "Listen, now. Rina and…and…and that boar outside have already encountered them once. Not to mention they actually won their first fights with them. I say it's a worthy shot."

Rina looked down. If Pura Pupuran left Kano to join up with Taka, maybe another one did. One of them might even possess one of the twelve gems of the zodiac. Maybe going after the rest of the organization would help her find them and in the end find Kano, "I'll do it," said Rina.

"That's great!" shouted Mary, "I knew you'd agree. I'll set you up with a crew and have you immediately ship out and investigate the lead."

Rina smiled briefly. Despite her earlier mission ending in a fail, the Vice Admiral really trusted her. On top of that, she was getting a whole new crew. She'd no longer be stuck with Alexander and only Alexander on a big ship for several days at a time. She'd be free.

"If that's the case, I suggest Alexander," said Veri Fresh with a smile as he reclined in his seat.

"Who?" asked Mary as she turned around to face him.

"That boar outside," said Veri Fresh.

"What? Why?" asked Mary, "I don't think he's the best choice for this mission."

"He's faced the enemy organization and won against their fighters," said Veri Fresh, "on top of that he's already well acquainted with Rina. I think it's a win-win situation."

Mary looked at Veri Fresh and then back at Rina, finally she rested her eyes on the door. "Fine. Bring him in, but note this…its only because you asked."

Rina let out the breath she's been holding. She didn't particularly want to be paired up with Alexander again and all of his…quirks. She'd deal with it, he wasn't a bad guy, but he certainly could drive her insane in a couple of days. Maybe she'd get someone who would delude him.

The two guards at the door were pulling the heavy iron doors apart to open the office up to the hallway. The fresh and white hallway was revealed to everyone in the room. The smell from the mess hall immediately washed into the room, along with the nearly silent breathing of a sleeping Alexander.

Mary quickly became agitated. She picked up her small iron mallet and wandered over to Alexander. Mary took up a careful swing, aiming it right at Alexander's head. Rina rushed out to join her, but she covered her eyes, wishing that she could avoid seeing this, but she couldn't help but take a peek.

Mary unwound and sent her hammer sailing a few feet forward directly smashing into Alexander's head sending him flying backwards. Alexander quickly scrambled back up, completely confused at what just happened. "I was just dreaming I was being chased around by this ugly female dinosaur claiming to be the new Vice Admiral."

"Alexander," said Rina quietly, "shut up. Forever."

"Why?" said Alexander holding head, "why should I shut up?…and why does my head hurt so badly?" Alexander looked around the room finally resting his eyes on the Vice Admiral. "Holy crap! It's the dinosaur from my dreams!"

"That's why," said Rina with quiet trepidation.

Mary's eyes flashed momentarily with rage. She let out a long breath, calming herself down as she approached Alexander. An idea suddenly flashed through her mind. "Listen Alexander, there is this really small job that's coming up. Its nothing befitting of a captain of your level…"

"Of my level?" thought Alexander out loud, "is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

Mary smiled and continued on, "like I was saying nothing worthy of a captain of your level, but I'm inclined to ask you…do you want to go around and chase after some silly organization or do you want a job befitting of you?"

"What's something befitting of me?" asked Alexander.

"Something big!" said Mary, "something as big as this Marine Base." "Maybe something like cleaning it," thought Mary.

"Well, I guess if you think I should…"

"Yes, definitely," said Mary hastily trying to con Alexander into the deal.

"I'll take the small job of chasing down some weird organization," said Alexander giving her a thumbs-up.

"Great, I'll…you want to hunt down some weird organization instead of doing some big job befitting your…abilities?"

"Yeah," said Alexander, "its apparent that you think its best that I'm on this job and you are always right. So who are gonna be my crewmates?"

"The devil and the lizard beast," said Veri Fresh with a smile on his face.

"Anybody else?" asked Alexander, hoping for someone to delude some of Rina and Hayate.

"Here is a stack of eligible Marines," said Mary as she dropped off a large stack of papers into his hands. "Any one of these can join you if they desire and their current commanding officer is fine with it. Now get out of my Marine Base."

"Oh, what about my debriefing?" asked Alexander.

"Get out," said Mary in a low tone.

"What about supplies?"

"Get out."

"What about…"

"LISTEN TO THE WOMAN!" shouted Veri Fresh as he pushed Alexander closer to the door.

"Oh, wait!" shouted Alexander as he spun around and went past Veri Fresh and Rina and back to Mary. "I just want to apologize for what I said in your office. Truth is Veri Fresh told me to say those things."

"You mean my father told you to hit on me?" asked Mary putting her hands on her hips, annoyed.

"Ye…your father," said Alexander as he looked back at Veri Fresh then back to her. "She's your daughter?" Veri Fresh nodded. "And he's your dad?" Mary nodded. "How is that possible? I mean, Veri Fresh is so nice and you are so…I'm going to get out." Alexander quickly turned around and hurriedly walked out of there.

Rina followed behind him her head bowed, too embarrassed to say anything. She was quickly outside of the door following quietly behind Alexander. Hayate at her heels.

"I just need to be quiet, don't I?" asked Alexander.

Bad news first. I just started college/work so expect slower updates from me. I will still try to get one up...once every two weeks. But who knows...it might only be once a month. I PROMISE IT WILL NOT GO LONGER THEN THAT!

Alexander you should just be quiet, especially around women, but hey! That's why the reviewers love ya is because you can't just shut up and say nothing you always got to say the wrong thing! Especially to females...but who knows maybe that'll help you out one of these days. I am planning on giving them a crew member this arc so keep your eyes peeled.