GyoJin Pride

Chapter 54

Last Stand

The Imperious- It was over, that was obvious. The Gyojin had captured Lord Rumbarrel, Sabaody had fallen and the fleet was being torn to pieces by two enemy fleets and a school of Sea Kings. Captain Chapleau shook his head, he turned toward his crew. "Men, I've just received word . . . Sabaody," He sighed deeply, "Sabaody has fallen." The sound of explosions from a nearby ship drowned out the shocked murmuring. "What now, sir?" Chapleau turned toward the opposing fleet, "We have to options, surrender, or die fighting. I intend to die fighting." he clenched his fists, "Anyone who wants to live, I suggest you abandon ship now."

The Gyojin Flagship Vanguard- Baylog raised the eyeglass to a bulging eye and looked out over the billowing smoke at the Noble fleet. "Several ships are running the white flag, and most of their fleet is no longer sea-worthy." He coughed loudly, the smoke was irritating everyone's gills. "I suggest we lay out terms for surrender, I weary of this bloodshed." He turned toward a nearby seaman, "Tell the Howlers to call off the beasts." The Howlers controlled the Sea Kings, calling them to battle and directing their attacks. The sailor rushed to comply.

The Sabaody Archipelago- "There they are!" The soldiers rushed toward the docks and their captured leader, then, almost to a man, stopped dead, "What the hell!? More Gyojin! Retreat!" Arlong eyed the fleeing troops contemptuously as several marines struggled under the weight of Lord Rumbarrel. "Tashigi." Captain Smoker turned toward his right-hand woman, "I want you to take a detachment of men and accompany the Gyojin troops in securing the town." "Yes, sir." As Rumbarrel was deposited onto the small boat, Smoker turned to Oni and Arlong, "What will you do now?" Arlong laughed and threw an arm around Kurobi, "I don't know about the others, but I'm going back to Rumbarrel's palace, raiding his fridge and wine cellar, then sleeping it off in his bed." Rumbarrel, bound and gagged in the skiff, fought back a wave of nausea as he imagined a filthy Gyojin even touching his possessions.

The Going Merry- Chuu propped himself against a coil of rope. He was exhausted. Ace lay sprawled gracelessly on deck, snoring peacefully, Chopper stood diligently in the crow's nest, while Ussop hovered near the cannons. Luffy was perched on the masthead, grinning. He didn't see Nami, and the others were fighting aboard other ships. "It looks like it's over." Nami said from behind him, "Everything has started to calm down, but I still don't trust it." Chuu turned slightly and nodded, "I don't trust it either, chu. From what little I've heard of these guys, the nobles treat everyone beneath them as inferior. A lot of people can end up buying into that idea if they're pushed down enough, and will fight to the death without a thought for their 'betters.'" "What makes someone think that they are so superior to other people?" Chuu closed his eyes, "I don't know. I honestly thought we were superior, chu."

Gold's study, the Headquarters of the World Government- "That's good news." Gold said softly, "Contact the fleet and tell them to offer terms." "Yes, sir." The aide bowed then left the room, heading for communications. "What are you going to do to Rumbarrel, since he was captured alive?" Cona asked gently. "That doesn't matter right now. Sabaody is undoubtably in pretty bad shape, we'll have to send in humanitarian supplies, work crews, doctors, not to mention an peacekeeping force . . . Any trials will have to be done after the civilians are cared for." Cona wrapped her arms around him, "You did the right thing. There's no such thing as a clean war, but there are just wars."

The Fleet- "What the Devil is that fool doing?" Garp turned toward his first officer, "It appears that they've decided to go down fighting. I admire that." The Imperious sped headlong toward the combined Gyojin/marine fleets, a kamikaze run. The massive vessel sliced through a smaller marine cruiser, firing in all directions as it set an obvious collision course with the marine flagship.

To be continued...