Sorry! Work had me running around like a chicken. Finally home!
Also I noticed a huge mistake on my part! I got the color of Smoker's eyes mixed up with Zephyr's. I can't believe I freaking did that! I will go back and correct after some time. I'm still juggling release times with work. I feel really horrible for missing scheduled updates.
Another thing, wanted to say THANK YOU for all the support. It means a lot, especially after long days like I had over this weekend. If I could, I'd hug you all.
Once the small group left, Sengoku ordered Borsalino to disappear. He didn't want anyone near him for the time being. His shoulders and chest felt heavy. The man's heart ached painfully. Sharp stabbing sensations ripped through his lungs with every breath. Moist tears stung his eyes.
After a short bit of finally being alone, his anger boiled to the point he couldn't contain it any longer. The massive decorative officer's desk was sent sailing through the room and broke through a few walls until the wooden furniture was a mere splinter of itself. For anyone who knew the commanding executive, would understand he rarely lost his temper.
The fleet-admiral had enough. He was done with this charade. Thick fingers pinched the bridge of his nose before another wave of anger hit. An immense fist broke through another portion of a wall. The marine managed to bury his arm up to his deltoid before pulling it out.
As expected, Aokiji had come to inform him all arrangements have been made. The exceedingly tall marine officer stepped through the hole the desk had made. His sharp dark eyes wondered about slowly. Curious to see if the man was just seething or if something had happened.
"This is unlike you", he was quick to point out. His voice had been sterile but still graced with an air of kindness.
"Is everything ready", the fleet-admiral asked while ignoring his subordinate. Strong fingers wiped his eyes dry.
"Hai", the admiral answered quickly. "I managed to summon everyone that could come on such short notice. I also have some important questions for later."
Sengoku nodded and followed the man out of the room after brushing off bits of plaster and wood from his shoulder. Swiftly the two made their way into the headquarters official conference room. There were soft murmurs but generally everyone remained quiet.
Inside the elongated room sat Tsuru, Stainless, Bastille, Jonathan from G-8, and Zephyr. Next in rank, Bogard sat quietly next to the soon to be rear-admiral R. Then lastly Smoker. Everyone could see the wounds the captain carried were quite fresh. Many of the bruises on his cheeks were still in the process of turning colors.
At the end of the room was Aokiji whose mind was scattered. He immediately was exasperated to hear Katie had been under attack along with her friend, Tashigi, and his captain Smoker. Unfortunately, he had already been tangled up in a weave of complications retrieving medical records. He couldn't rush to them as he wanted.
Shortly after the incident the usually casual man discovered how idiotically the little female had escaped the hospital. For that, the admiral was anxiously waiting to thump that stubborn woman on the head again. Her reckless nature was going to get her hurt and he would have rather been right later, than sooner.
When a marine seamen ran up and informed him that Katie had been escorted by Borsalino, Kuzan grew suspicious and rushed to see what was going on. It was Zephyr who met him in the hospital's east wing, essentially blocking his path. The vice-admiral made him aware of what happened. Since Smoker was under the admiral's care it was only appropriate that he handle the case from afar. The World Government was involved and any slip up could leave the snowy haired officer deep in consequences.
Coincidentally, Vergo had been turning in his bi-weekly report. Once the two ranking officials reached his office, the admiral asked the G-5 officer if he didn't mind taking on another assignment. The black haired vice-admiral didn't even hesitate and immediately the superior officer had orders sent to Sengoku via Zephyr. It was the only way the curly haired gentleman could show his little brunette friend he was doing his best to look after her.
To be honest it killed him inside. It seemed whenever the World Government was involved, a little piece of his soul just shriveled up. He didn't want to lose Katie but as the violet haired officer pointed out, this was already premeditated. The brunette in the hospital was just merely a convenience for them.
The admiral switched off his thoughts to listen to what Sengoku had to say. It was a small private meeting to protect both marines and citizens on Marineford. If Katie were to be pushed too far, things would go south quickly as he discovered in her records. It was evident from the fleet-admiral's words that Kong had released the case which took place nine years ago but only on a need to know basis.
Garp was dismissed due to his personal involvement with the young woman. Everyone, including his close friend, understood if he got wind of what kind of danger his granddaughter was in the man might react violently. They didn't have the manpower to hold him and Katelyn back, apparently.
The fleet admiral explained, "Katie is what very few have been called, a subconscious genius. The process that goes on in the mind is completely different from someone who merely blacks out and just wildly swings. Katelyn's body will react to its environment and enemies. Her mind unfolds scenarios rapidly as if she were awake but to a much faster degree."
Aokiji could see the painful twist starting to develop in the man's facial expression as he fought hard not to show his personal feelings. It was apparent this was utterly hard on the older man but he was clinging to his dignity with gritted teeth and doing well. Not a single soul in here would blame him if the grandfather had a moment of weakness. This was his precious granddaughter they were discussing.
The man continued. "For example, she'll even stand relaxed with her limbs dropped at her sides, just staring at the sky. If you ever see it, it's a harrowing experience but I digress. What she's really doing is listening for heart beats, injuries to the opponents' bodies such as groaning and fatigue; the sound of blood dripping from open wounds. How strong is the smell? Which side has the heavier step? How many are approaching beyond what is already there?"
The way Sengoku framed Katie made it sound like she was a monster but Kuzan knew it was the furthest thing from the truth. They were marines, sure the brunette wasn't your everyday criminal but no pirate that the admiral had met, really was. What would make it so bad that a peaceful twenty-three year old would need an entire group of elites to stop her?
The shoji slid open causing a loud thud and forcing all eyes to look up and over. To everyone's surprise Garp stood in the large frame. "You fools are talking about something you don't know anything about", he barked. The marine walked in wearing his normal white and blue attire with a scowl in his normal happy expression. "Holding a meeting about my granddaughter and I'm not even invited", he pointed out.
"Garp! You're not supposed to be here", Sengoku snapped. "Eh", the vice-admiral answered back with a pinky digging into his ear. "Pretty sure no one told me I wasn't invited to this party", the man idiotically pointed out. Tsuru turned her head to clear her throat. They were old friends who have known each other for some time, the woman couldn't believe Sengoku would forget something so obvious.
"Stop acting like she's made of glass. My Katie won't retaliate or lose to herself. That girl promised me she wouldn't and that's that. Now I wonder who turned her over in the first place?" Garp eyed a rice cracker he pulled from a bag which he had retrieved from his inner breast pocket of his white suit.
"Garp! Do you know what kind of predicament she's in", the fleet-admiral groused. "I didn't have a choice and now I'm worried if things go too far…", the officer snapped. "This is serious!"
"She'll be fine", the vice-admiral assured in a dry tone. "She's been through worse. Besides nothing hurts more than my fists of love! Stop taking her resolve so damn lightly! Katie's done nothing wrong but work her ass off to accomplish her dreams. So, I don't see what your damn problem is."
The marine popped another cracker into his mouth as he left Sengoku speechless. The fleet-admiral knew he hadn't over reacted but in his moment of anger he had definitely forgotten something very important. Katie wasn't someone whose will would simply crack under pressure. It did take six months of constant abuse with no one there to listen to her, to break his little girl. He guessed Garp was right, at least this once, though the higher ranking officer would never tell his friend.
The admiral couldn't help but smirk. The two really were different in their views of Katelyn but they both had her well-being in mind. He did have to ask Garp about his fists of love, Kuzan thought. That sounded oddly like what he had to go through during his training with the man and he wouldn't want to wish that on his worst enemy.
"Oh-ho, Jonathan! Good to see you buddy", the mousy greying vice-admiral waved.
The red headed officer smiled and waved back. "Good to see you as well my friend! I see I was summoned because your granddaughter landed herself in some hot water. In my visit, I was hoping to try her coffee. I heard it tastes better than my wife's but I was informed I'm going to have to sit on that." The warmhearted expression supported Garp's words. It even lightened the heavy air in the room.
"Is this the same Katelyn I found riding up my anchor's chain about seven years ago?" The vice-admiral in a pale-yellow pinstripe suit asked. He adjusted his orange tie before crossing his arms over his broad chest.
"The very same one", Garp proudly announced before taking his own seat.
"She was a good kid back then. Smart too. I saw that genius in action but not in the way you're describing it", Stainless smoothed out his mustache as he spoke.
"She hitched a ride on the chain to elude a sea king that had been stalking her. I honestly didn't believe it until I looked over the railing and saw an eye under the surface of the water peeking upward. It took me by surprise and I was ready to strike until she stopped me. The thing then turned and that was that. That kid said it was young and was curious to see if she were food or not. If I had struck, I might have garnered the wrath of a much larger one."
"Then I see we've all had personal experiences with her", Zephyr pointed out. He let out a heavy sigh. "If my take on this is correct, she's going to need people she can trust. I heard about what happened at the hospital", dark grey eyes moved around the room. "Worst case, she'll strike back. The woman hasn't killed any of her opponents. I don't think she ever will. Her style is more to incapacitate her enemy and move on as quickly as she can."
Garp was ready to bite back until Zephyr raised a hand. The vice-admiral with lavender hair and a matching purple suit continued. "I do, however, believe Garp is right. Honestly both of you are. Think about it. She's in a cell with those bastards from the World Government. I know they were already here before the incident at the hospital which leads me to believe this was premeditated. I also understand this may have something to do with her attack. This Kane gentleman didn't show up until after she was hospitalized. Why? If you ask me, he knows who the culprit is and is covering it up."
Smoker's dark eyes snapped in the vice-admiral's direction. "Oye", he chimed in. "She said something about that", the captain spoke sharply. "Katelyn mentioned Kane was a coward. He was too afraid of Kong to go against the court's ruling. She pointed out he would have never engaged and to her it all seemed weird. I thought it was suspicious that he immediately tried to strike us after confronting that idiot woman in the cafeteria."
"Kane is related to a member in a noble family. Through connections he gained work in the World Government office after his ejection from the Marines", Sengoku added.
"What do we do now", Bastille asked.
"We wait", the fleet-admiral answered.
"You can", Garp suggested as he stood back to his feet.
"Where are you going", Sengoku demanded to know.
"To check on my granddaughter. She's alone right now and we did make a promise as men to be there for her when she needed us. So, you can wait here or come along. Matters no difference to me", the old vice-admiral waved off.
Bogard's usual scowl turned up at the corner of his lip under the brim of his hat. No one knew how upset he was over the whole ordeal. He had always seen R and her as his own after taking in the boy. When the death of their mother arrives, it would fall to him to see after them. The commodore knew better than anyone it would take a miracle to stop Garp from visiting Katie, especially after blaming himself after what had happened to her. Honestly he'd feel better if the old man could join her side. He didn't know much of what was going on but one thing was certain, Sengoku had other plans than putting together an elite group to stop a twenty-three year old woman. This group was particularly good at keeping secrets as Garp was too honest in nature to do so. It might have been the real reason he was left out. He'd have to stick around to find out.