Was able to update a bit earlier than last time thankfully! Just such a pain at work when the person they were supposed to transfer into your department is getting delayed by the store that they're coming from... ugh! Add to that even more responsibility and it's been a draining week. But hey... get to do taxes soon and money is good. Right?

Thanks to all my favoriters, followers and reviewers. Every bit of feedback is precious to me :)
+ the dark emporer - trying to get a bit faster lol
+ Soul D. Phoenix - I totally understand and I'm trying to get a bit more writing fit into my schedule X_X

I do not own One Piece - that is property of Eiichiro Oda

Chapter 25: Sengoku

Ace said nothing as he watched out the room he had been placed in, strategically overlooking where the execution platform was being set up. Rather curious how much work they are putting into this farce. Unless they really aren't even telling the underlings anything. Ultimate deceit indeed.

"Food," a stoic recruit muttered as they slid a plate with some bread and cheese into the room before swiftly closing the door.

Ace did not blame the security as, with difficulty, he started to eat the bread. This took a bit of effort when one was handcuffed and those very cuffs being made of a material that sapped the wearer's strength made him have to eat the food off the ground as if he was a mongrel. Sengoku was one of the best strategists in the world and it would not be fitting to be defeated by a last ditch effort from a disabled pirate. "Heh... this ain't half bad," Ace muttered quietly as he carefully chewed the bread. His teeth felt like protesting at the rough meal but his sore, empty stomach was voicing no complaints as it soon was sated.

Meal time normally was something that brought Ace peace but instead, made his already present anxiety sky rocket as he turned back toward the window and heard a serious voice clear their throat. "I hope you realize that it doesn't have to end with your death."

"But what is a life if I can't be proud of it anymore?" Ace scowled as he spat at the man's feet quickly. Sengoku merely raised an eyebrow before cuffing the young man quickly on the chin, causing him to slump against the wall. "Fuck you and your mercy."

"And you're just a worthless waste of life if you die as a pirate. If you die as the 2nd Division Commander of Whitebeard's pirates, what does that ultimately do for the world? A big fat load of nothing." Ace struggled to get up to face the marine but he was effortlessly pinned with a single hand to the wall. Even more of his strength drained as he could feel the slight bits of Seastone in the wall. "If you had considered the Government's generous offer, you wouldn't be here. You wouldn't be a stain in the goodness that is mankind."

"Give up my freedom, break my word to my men and my family, and chain myself to something I can't give two shits about? Most tempting offer in the world," the logia attempted to sneer but he could barely even hear himself over his the pain he was experiencing in his jaw and back.

Quickly he was flung into a chair and Sengoku snapped his fingers, causing a couple of female marines to flood in. "Fix him up. If he's going to be served up to the public, he needs to look the part."

"Get off of me," he tried to protest as he was assaulted with wash cloths and bandages. What should have been a soothing treatment stung as he yet again, felt even more Seastone. The hands were soft and gentle but still, he winced on contact with the open wounds on his skin and tender jaw that the tried to coo over. "Why are you doing this?" he finally asked weakly as they began rubbing ointment onto the wounds to reduce the swelling.

"You know very well why so stop with that expression. You know this is for the best. Pirates never were meant to be the dominant force in this world."

"Then what do you call the Shichibukai system?" Ace fired back before the women taking care of him grabbed his jaw to set it quickly.

Sengoku turned away and left before the pirate could notice the sigh he held in at the question. This loophole... This protection we have to purchase from the scum of this world disappoints me so, but what else can we do? Good alone cannot prevail so we need the gray. We need the neutral.

"You look exhausted. Sure you'll be okay?" Sengoku turned to see his friend, Monkey D. Garp, look at him with some concern before he rubbed the back of his gray hair. "It'd be a shame if the pirates upstaged you after all."

"Worry about yourself and if you'll be able to go through with your duty to the marines," Sengoku retaliated with an eye roll. "Everything in place?"

"Admirals are prepared. All the ranks are down there and awaiting the time. Even the lowest recruit is in anticipation of what will happen. Even if they have no idea."

"Excellent," Sengoku nodded finally, relaxing a bit more. "Now we must observe the subject on the Surveillance Den Den Mushi."

Heading over to a line of snails carefully arranged on a desk next to some monitors, the fleet admiral flipped a switch and smirked slightly. Damn it, Luffy. Couldn't have made this any easier for ole Senny if you bent over and admitted defeat.

Sure enough, both the veteran marines saw the Straw Hat captain stretching almost as if in anticipation. "Are we there yet?"

"No!" Buggy yelled at the fellow East Blue pirate before a glare from everyone else silenced him with a yelp.

"Ve must be ready. This vill be how we must proceed," Ivankov began but Luffy shook his head and placed a rubbery hand over the map of Marineford they were looking over.

"We're overthinking this. We go in, get Ace then get the hell out. If we were able to escape this prison, their headquarters will be no problem."

Those words made Garp sigh and rub at his forehead while Sengoku shook his head. This is who is wanted as a Shichibukai?

"Straw Hat, surely in that thick rubbery skull of yours, you realized that the prison was already empty?"

"Yeah. They obviously went to Marineford," Luffy pointed out as he scratched the back of his head. "They knew it was a lost cause defending Impel Down so why get more of their people hurt over us? The rest of the prisoners are still stuck there. Isn't it like strategic for them to go where they are most needed? Robin and Nami and maybe even Sanji would have thought of it like that."

Garp's eyes bugged out slightly as he began to chortle. "I wonder what happened to make my grandson get some tactical know how."

"Common sense," Sengoku sighed as he began to massage his temples. "Doesn't look like they're too far off so we need to finalize preparations. Cut the connection."

The fleet admiral did not even wait to see the result before turning immediately to check back on their prisoner. Without even knocking, he burst into the room and glanced over the drooling logia. The nurses around him saluted the fleet admiral. "We just administered the sedative, sir. His aggressive actions from earlier will be akin to a dozing puppy now and his strength is sapped thanks to the Seastone solution created by Dr. Vegapunk."

"Very good. Dismissed," the man muttered as he approached the now docile flame fruit user. Tilting up the man's chin, he felt pity stir at him for a second. The amount of drugs he must have been exposed to since his capture was rather astounding and the fact that all of them contained Seastone or various strains of it made things a bit more amazing in a darker sense, he still saw that behind the glazed look in Ace's eyes and the unfocused pupil a slight spark that almost made him want to smirk. Quickly he dropped the youth's chin as the amount of drool he suspected the pirate was letting out became intentional and rather disgusting. "It is time."

"Wanna go home," Ace sluggishly said as he collapsed without Sengoku's support.

The fleet admiral paid no heed as he connected the Seastone cuffs the logia was wearing to a chain before tossing the chain itself to Garp. "Anything happen before you finally cut the call?"

"It appears the fishman onboard is using a method to make the ship go faster. As expected, it is that former Shichibukai Jinbe. Time will be shorter than expected." He examined his honorary grandson and felt worry bite at him. You look like a tranquilized Seaking...

"Time to give everyone what they want then. Onto the platform," Sengoku ordered Garp and his friend nodded his head quickly as he dragged his grandson out of the fleet admiral's sight. His sharp ears heard a lack of dragging sounds as Garp likely began to carry the pirate out of pity. Reaching for a Den Den Mushi, the fleet admiral quickly was connected to the admirals. "Start the defense formation. We will eliminate the Whitebeard Pirates and secure the Straw Hat for the World Government."

"Yes sir," three voices sounded in tandem.