Chapter 20: Calm Before the Storm

Riptide and his crew had all stepped outside just as Chizzara returned with Marcus. Before anyone had a chance to speak Masta came out looking very concerned. "I didn't think Longtooth's injury was bad, but it appears I am wrong," he said.

"What are ye talking about?" Blade asked. "Are ye saying it is a lot worse?"

"Very much so," the crab Fishman shook his head. "We have no choice but to take him to the temple where he can get the proper medical treatment."

Marcus made a slight choking sound. "The temple? That temple?" he said. "All of us are going with you to that place?!"

Masta looked at him, "Marcus, I know how you feel, but-,"

"How I feel?!" The mako was clearly upset. Very, very upset. "You can take everyone else there but I will not! Not after what those bastards and their so-called beliefs did to her. They denied her the one thing she wanted and I can never forgive that!"

Before anyone could say anything, Marcus turned, storming off. It was clear that he was hurting. "Masta, what was my sofo talking about?" Riptide asked.

The old healer sighed as he turned an eyestalk to him. "The death of someone he held very dear."

"Lilly," Chizzara said and everyone looked at her. "She is buried in a small cemetery that not far from here. That's where I found Marcus. He said she died of cancer."

"What was she denied that got the old man upset?" Tarlong inquired.

"She wished to spend her final days there and sadly, she was denied by some of the elders," Masta said.

"How heartless can someone be to do that?" Kaiuleale said. "We all saw where she did die and the temple would have been a far better place."

Skie was nearly in tears, "She just wanted a place of peace and she sent a place that was so dark and cold...poor Marcus."

"You guys saw where she died?" Riptide said.

"Yeah," Gaff said. "It was not a good place and it was part of the Protectors shittin base. Hell from what Trap told us, people that could have been easily helped were all sent there and they all died there. Damn Rip, those poor souls died slow painful deaths."

"Wait," Blade looked clearly rattled. "The death room is under the base?"

"Death room," Thor almost laughed. "Try cells meant for prisoners. It seems the almighty Protectors have some very dark secrets. It makes me wonder if we can even trust you and Longtooth."

Blade glared at the hammerhead, "Are ye accusing me of something?"

"Yeah, maybe I am," he replied. "You and Longtooth were the damn leaders and you're saying that you two knew nothing about what was going on? Come on. How the hell do you not see people bring brought in? People who were sick wanting treatment and were all denied?"

"Because those poor souls were taken in another way," Masta said.

'What?" Blade turned his attention to him. "Ye knew?! Ye knew all about this and ye stayed silent?" Poor Masta noded. "Why ye lying two faced-," The sawtooth slugged him hard and he landed on his back a good distance away. Blade walked over to him, teeth bared and fists clenched tightly. "Ye telling us that the temple thought this was a good idea? One of yer spiritual callings or whatever bullshit ye be calling it?"

"Why do you think I'm not there," Masta said as he slowly got to his feet. "How do you think I felt once I discovered that horrible dark truth? I left. I couldn't stand being there, looking at the faces of those there wondering if I could trust any of them."

"And the mere thought of taking Longtooth there has you upset, doesn't it?' Riptide asked.

"Of course it does," he said hugging himself. "I'm limited in my healing abilities, but there are those there that can help him. So we have no real choice in this matter."

Riptide looked in the direction that Marcus had gone. "We'll do what Masta says needs to be done," he said finally. "Once Longtooth is ready, I want you all to go."

"Ye not coming?" Blade said surprised.

Riptide shook his head. "I'm going to remain behind," he said. "I can not leave sofu alone not when I know he is hurting."

"No," Tarlong said. "If anyone should be staying behind it should be me and Garth. His father whether I like it or not. You're the captain and you need to be with everyone else."

"Sorry, uncle but I made my choice and those were orders I gave. I expect them to be followed."

"As you say...captain," Tarlong said with a slight huff. He looked at the others. "You all heard the captain. Get your asses moving or we'll be burning more daylight."

Skie approached Riptide as everyone went off. "Permission to remain," she said.

"Skie, you have no reason to stay behind," he said. "I want you to go with the crew."

She shook her head moving closer to him. Riptide took notice that she was only a few inches shorter now that she stood by him and he felt his heart racing. "I have a reason to remain," she said.

"What reason would that be?" He couldn't help but stare into her eyes.

"You," she said.

"Skie, that is not a-," Riptide didn't finish because Skie kissed him. He felt weak in the knees the moment she broke the kiss. "Is that your idea of persuasion?"

"If it is, captain?"

"Damn good one," he muttered slipping an arm around her. "What is the real reason, Skie?"

She looked at him. "I can not go knowing you may need me here."

"I may need you?" he looked her at questioningly. "What do you mean?"

"I have some training as a healer," Skie said. "And you can not say that you fully recovered from this poison. I would feel better if I was here if something should happen to you."

Riptide looked away understanding her concern over him and he stepped away causing some alarm from her. "Rip, I didn't mean-,"

"You best speak to Masta and make sure that what you may need is here."

He walked away from her and decided to look for his grandfather. Recalling that Chizzara said there was a cemetery, he decided to check there. He found Marcus sitting in front of the grave and cautiously approached him. "Sofu?"

Marcus looked up. "What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you," Riptide said as he took a seat by him. "What was she like?"

Marcus swallowed as he struggled not to break down. It was never easy to speak about the woman he loved so dearly. "She was a beautiful young woman with a soul to match," he said. "She was around fifteen when I brought here and I probably would have died if it weren't for her."

"You almost died?" Riptide looked at his grandfather.

"I can't remember how I was injured but I was found by some of the islanders when they went out fishing for that day," Marcus said. "Lilly told me that when I brought to the temple, I was so near death that every healer swore I would be dead that night. They left me alone in a room to die. Lilly was learning how to be a healer and was present when I brought to them."

"Was she part of this temple you don't like?"

"No, she was part of a small group that lived in a town and was visiting. She was told that I was beyond all help and yet she refused to give up on me." He closed his eyes, taking a moment to collect himself before he continued. "She stayed in that room all night talking to me not wanting me to give up. You can imagine how surprised the healers were when they discovered that I was still among the living."

"So she became your nurse in a way," Riptide said.

"Yes," Marcus said. "It took a long time for me to recover and never once did she leave my side. We were friends and by the time she turned eighteen, we more than that."

"So you married her?"

"I never had a chance to ask her when she became ill. We didn't know it was cancer it was too late." Marcus was starting to struggle as he fought back his tears.

Seeing his grandfather close to tears Riptide sat up on knees and wrapped his arms around him. That simple action caused Marcus to break down crying uncontrollably. Unknown to Marcus or Riptide, Tarlong had come to check on them and he wasn't alone. His brother along with Destiny and Long had come with him and they stood not far. Seeing their brother comforting Marcus, Destiny and Long joined their brother.

Garth looked at his brother and saw he was affected as well. Tarlong was fighting back his own tears that threatened to fall. The last time Tarlong had cried, was the day they found the remains of their human parents. Now he was struggling not to cry after hearing their father talk about the woman he loved very much only to lose her to disease. Garth rested a hand on his brother's shoulder and Tarlong shifted his attention to him. The young Swordblade nodded toward their father it was clear what he was saying. They were Marcus' sons and right now their father needed their support and comfort.

"Alright you win, Garth." The brothers quietly joined their family.

For Marcus, having his sons, sons he never knew about at his side was beyond words. They had no reason to do it and yet they did. "I'm sorry," he sobbed.

"Sofu, you have no reason to-,"

"I do," Marcus said. "I failed so many ways as a father-,"

"Dad, it's time to let it go."

Marcus' eyes widened at Tarlong's words. His son called him dad something he never thought he would ever hear especially when he expressed no love for him. What brought the change within Tarlong? At the moment he did not care. All he cared about was that both his sons were there as was his grandchildren. Lilly, you were right when you told me I still had reasons to go on. Did you somehow know before you died that I still a family? A family that would day need me?

"Pardon the interruption but we're ready to leave."

Marcus and his family all looked up to see Masta standing close by. The old healer kept his head bowed some as they walked past him before he followed. Longtooth was resting on a stretcher with Blade and Trapper standing nearby. The mako did not look as Riptide knelt next to him.

"Don't you go dying on me," he said.

Longtooth managed a rough laugh. "Not likely," he said raising a hand up which Riptide grasped with his own. "Not when you'll be needing me and Blade together."

"Hey," his friend grumbled. "Ye make it sound we're lovers or something."

"You're too damn ugly for that," Longtooth joked.

"Ah shut up ye smart ass," Blade said.

"You guys best get going," Riptide said. "Just be careful and keep your eyes peeled for trouble."

"Don't ye worry yerself captain," Blade said. "We'll be careful. Ye make sure that ye be joining us when ye can."

"I promise to do so, Blade."

Riptide watched those he cared for head off and prayed nothing would happen to them. He turned expecting to see Skie and his grandfather, but he was surprised to see Tarlong had managed to remain behind. "I thought-,"

"I heard ya but that doesn't mean I will listen," Tarlong said. "Besides if there's trouble, it's best that I am around."

Riptide started to speak but Marcus stopped him. "He has a point and besides we need someone to be on watch while you're training. If there's trouble best he is here."

A few days later...

"To have some control you need to be at peace with yourself," Marcus said. "Once you have total control you can easily tap into your Hidden Fury."

Riptide looked at him a little worried. "How will I know when I have control at all?"

"That strange feeling you have been feeling will feel more like a tingle."

"You make it sound so simple," Tarlong said as he leaned against a tree watching.

Marcus gave a snort. "Not really. A mere mistake can very costly."

"Sounds like you had experience there, Sofu."

"I did," he glanced down at the back of his right hand. "I had no one to help me and I literally had to learn it myself. How to control everything from my breathing to the beating of my heart before I mastered it."

"You taught yourself?" Skie looked at the longfin mako in awe. "Was it here that you learned how to do it?"

"'Fraid not, little beauty. It was..." Marcus paused before he continued. "A couple of years after I left Shyarly in Arlong's care that I finally learned about my ability. The hard way."

"What do you mean?" Tarlong asked.

"My memories are not the greatest at times and some things are difficult to remember that I do not know if they are real or not." he held up his right hand. "If I told you that I broke every bone in this hand, would you believe me?"

"What?! That's impossible! Sofu, that can not be true!"

He wasn't surprised by their reaction. Hell even he had a hard time believing that he had done it. "It's true. Funny I can still remember the whole damn incident. What started out as a friendly card game turn into hell for me."

~~Flashback~~

"You in or out?"

Marcus eyed the cards in his hand before he tossed a thousand beli onto the growing pile in the middle of the table. Back then he dressed differently. He wore a dark brown mantle cloak over a grey v-neck shirt. His trousers were black and he wore a dark brown leather cowboy western Aussie style hat with a tan braided hatband that was tugged over his face some giving him a mysterious and dangerous appearance. "You are all hoping I'll fold," he said with a wry chuckle. "Sorry boys this shark isn't leaving the game yet."

The other players, human and Fishmen alike grumbled as they each studied their cards before some folded while others threw theirs down in disgust leaving Marcus, a goliath tigerfish and a human male who not only in need of new clothes but also a very much-needed bath to finish the game.

"You should have backed out when you had the chance," sneered the tigerfish.

The human swallowed nervously as he laid an ivory handed revolver on top of the betting pile. "It is all I have," he said.

The tigerfish picked it up, removing the gun from its holster. "Worthless," he growled after inspecting it. "Have you nothing better, man?"

"Let me see it," Marcus said holding his hand out. The tigerfish handed it to him and after a long careful inspection, he shrugged. "There is nothing wrong with it and if he wants to use it for a bet let him."

"Fine." The tigerfish tossed a good amount of beli onto the pile. With a nasty grin, he laid out his cards. "I win."

"I fold," the poor man said as he placed his cards face down.

Marcus looked at the tigerfish with a bored expression before he laid his hand out. Eyes went wild as everyone looked at the mako's winning hand; a Five of a Kind. "If I stand correct. My hand beats yours."

He had no sooner reached for his winnings when the tigerfish let out a roar, flipping the damn table over. "YOU CHEATED!" He seized Marcus by the front clasp of his cloak and hurried him across the room.

The impact cracked the plaster as well as the wall which fell onto Marcus. A rage like nothing he felt before filled his entire being as he got to his feet. He moved so fast that he was in the face of the other Fishman who didn't even have time to react let alone even realize what was happening. Marcus delivered a right hook that not only sent the other backward and through the far wall but shattered every bone in his hand. Everyone presented stared at the longfin mako who was now hugging his severely broken hand to his middle his face twisted in unbelievable agony.

~~End of Flashback~~

"That was when you realized you had Hidden Fury?" Tarlong asked.

"Yeah and it was one very painful lesson," Marcus said.

He stared at his once injured hand just as Skie who was curious as hell to how his hand showed no signs of injury had started to reach out when he shifted his attention to her. She backed away clearly scared. "You can look," Marcus said with a gentle tone.

The female took a hold of his hand turning over, studying looking for any signs that Marcus had ever shattered the bones. She found none. "There is nothing," she said. "No scars. No signs that you ever did injury to this hand."

Yeah," he said. "Oceanus was one hell of damn gifted healer if I could call him that."

Hearing the name, Tarlong became very alert. It couldn't have been the same the Oceanus he and Garth once meet that one time. "Oceanus? Not the same one who was the wielder of the Bite of the Shark?"

Marcus' own eyes widen and Tarlong knew he had his answer. "You have met him?"

"Yeah, but it was very long ago," Tarlong answered. He lowered his head some. "Garth and I met him before he died."

"Oh," Marcus' heart was heavy with sadness at the thought of the old catfish having passed. "Wait. What of the Bite of the Shark? Surely he found someone to be its guardian?"

"Don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised if our Lil sis might have it," Tarlong said.

"I have another aunt?" Riptide asked. Even Marcus seemed surprised at the news from his son.

"Adopted into the family," the bounty hunter said. "I met her way back in the East Blue on a job. It was the same time we all meet Oceanus and it was he who told us about adopting her through blood bonding."

Marcus chuckled. "So does my other daughter have a name?"

Tarlong was surprised how well his old man was handling the thought of a human adopted into the family. "Niri," he said. "You're taking this better than most would."

"The way I have lived my life...you get used to certain things," The mako gave both his son and grandson a very amused look. "Though I never thought I would have two other sons let alone grandchildren."

"It is good that you have an open mind." said a voice.

All four sharks jumped to their feet and Riptide and Tarlong had their weapons ready. Marcus took up a stance his shield in front of him stood in front of his family. A stingray fish-man with paste colored skin stepped out from the trees and he was ancient like Masta. He wore a black hooded kimo that was untied and open and black harem pants, his snow-white hair was pulled into a long braided ponytail. He was armed with a Sanjiegun - three-section staff.

"Who are you?" Marcus said. "Friend or foe?"

"A friend," he said. "Word was sent to me that the enemy has shown their face and that you and your crewmates were going to train."

"How did you know such information," Riptide asked.

The ancient stingray smiled as he gave a whistle, one long followed by a short one. Soon a brightly colored bird that size of a hawk swooped down, landing on his shoulder. "Repeat the message, old friend."

"The enemy has shown their face," the bird said mimicking Masta's voice perfectly. "I have met a crew of pirates who are willing to fight for our home. Hoji, one in the group will need your aid so please help him."

"So I, the great Hoji am here," the stingray said with a slight bow. "I am a master in ancient fish-man karate."

"Ancient fish-man karate," Skie said. "What is that?"

"Ah," Hoji said. "Ancient Fish-man karate is that mastery of using one's natural ability, tapping into their hidden strength. You could say one's spiritual energy if you want."

"Wait. Like tapping into Hidden Fury?" Riptide asked.

Hoji was very surprised and he looked at the four sharks. "Hidden Fury," he said. "Masta spoke nothing of it."

"Of course the ass wouldn't," Marcus growled. "He thinks I unable to train my own grandson in how to control his ability."

The stingray looked to Marcus, "You are born with this gift as well as your grandson?"

"Yeah except I had to teach myself how to control it."

"Then you haven't truly mastered it," Hoji said.

"What do you mean?"

"If you permit me, I can teach both of you...wait? What is that odor?"

"Odor?" Tarlong sniffed the air. "Smells like-,"

"Sulfur," Marcus said.

Suddenly the silence was broken by a loud neighing that echoed throughout the woods. Everyone was alert as they heard the sound of pounding hooves that grew louder as whatever it was coming closer. From what direction they couldn't tell.

"Where is it," muttered Marcus.

"Look out!" Riptide yelled pushing Skie down as black form exploded forth from the forest.

"What the hell," Tarlong stared at the intruder.

It was a black horse, but it was far from ordinary. It was huge with a muscular body with a mane and tail of flame. Even its huge hooves were afire. Its face looked like it was wearing a metal mask as the eyes were glowing red beacons of light. It snorted forth a burst of flame as it pawed the ground. Throwing its head, it screamed.

"Oh shit," Riptide groaned as he got back to his feet. "We got trouble now."

"What are you-," Marcus said just as its companion emerged from the woods. "You gotta be kidding."

What stood there was a demon shark that stood slightly hunched. The thing had a sleek muscle built body with powerful legs and long muscular arms. Its hands had long fingers ending with curved claws and its head was short, but it was still a damn shark no matter what. It was the eyes that made the difference. They looked almost human. Both creatures looked at one another before turning to Riptide and others.

"Prepare to die!" screamed the horse as it reared up.

Aw, man! Riptide and the others have one hell of a challenge now. Who or what are these challengers?