Oh my God, it have taken longer than I thought it would for me to write this chapter. I am so, so, so sorry for that! School and the book have taken so much time, and I have really struggle with this chapter. I have re-written it so many times. This is the best I could do, but I am so sorry that it isn't better because of the time it have taken. And I feel like Bepo, apologising all the time.

Anyway you will see more off the CP9.

And I feel like that if Aokiji can freeze a whole ocean and things, Smoker should be able to affect people with his DF. I mean if I had his fruit, that's how I would use it!

Even if I struggled with the chapter and that I am not happy with everything I loved the doctor scen and those around it.

You will also learn more about the Revos, I just gave you some.

However I am not sure if you will get much more flashbacks of Vegapunk's time as a prison. You will know what he created but besides that not much happens, so hope you will live with what you got.

Also loved the end, and I will do more with it!

Think it's all you need to know.

I am not done with the marines but the next chapter will be a mixed chapter with stories around town, before more marine things, and then into the next part. I am really looking forward to that!

As always, thank you for reading and reviewing, enjoy!

"Is that Jabra?" Aokiji whispered to him and he looked down from the beams they were hiding on. Smoker studied the long haired man, he had ages but despite that he recognised him.
"It is. Hoped that bastard would have died" he was far from pleased seeing him. Jabra had worked for Akainu back in the days as a hired killer. He was brutal and their formed commander often sent him to kill anyone that didn't agreed with him.
"Seems like only the good people dies in this town" Smoker agreed with Aokiji, for some reason the worst people survived, maybe because they were the worst and were willing to do things others weren't.
"You recognise anyone else?" Smoker asked Aokiji as they studied the people under them, preparing for the auction.
"No, not really, I don't know about the one under the mask, but the rest are unfamiliar for me" Smoker almost sighed, he had hoped that his friend would have recognised them, since he didn't. But seeing that Jabra was a part of the group he doubted that they were nothing but ruthless killers. It wasn't surprising, but few were on Jabra's level and Smoker could only hope that the others weren't as bad, but with his fucking luck they would be, or worse.

"Hurry up! This should have been done already! The buyers will be coming soon" a man said, walking in, a man both of them knew.
"Spandam" Smoker muttered. The man wasn't really a problem, unless he had evolved since he was fired from the army. Garp had forced him to leave after he breaking more rules that should be possible. From his words it was clear that he was their leader, but Smoker couldn't see how that was possible. The man was good for nothing, so how on earth did he manage to become leader of anything? He guessed he offered them something but he couldn't really see what. The people under him turned towards the purple haired man, in what clearly was irritation but they didn't answer him, only continuing preparing the room.
"So what's the plan?" Aokiji turned towards him and Smoker almost shrugged his shoulders, still not really having one. "You want to search for Vegapunk? Or take him from the ones that buy him?"

Smoker had thought of both alternative, but he wasn't pleased with any of them. If they searched for Vegapunk and found him, that would be great, but if they didn't, they miss him. The house was large and they had no indication on where he was, so the risk of missing him was to large. Taking him from the one who bought him, well it was a better plan, but also risky since they didn't know who would buy him, and what they could do. If some of the leaders showed up in person, very unlikely but possible, they would struggle with beating them, especially if they had men with them. Smoker looked around the room, if they could eliminate everyone in it, and then escape with Vegapunk, that would be the best option. If would have had snipers with him they could have killed them all, but if they started taking them off one by one, people would notice them. Jumping down and just starting to fight everyone wasn't a good idea either, no they needed a sneak attack that wouldn't get them killed. He bit his lip, seeing maybe a possible way and he turned towards Aokiji.
"Can you freeze the whole room so no air sips out, without anyone knowing it?" Aokiji gave him a puzzled look, clearly not following. "I am thinking of filling the room with smoke, but if the room is drafty, it will not be effective enough"
"It may kill everyone in the room" Aokiji pointed out and Smoker gave him almost an cold look.
"Gang members" he muttered "The city will be better off without them"
Aokiji still looked at him, having a hard time believing that he just said that and Smoker sighed.
"Back in the days I would have tried to arrest them and given them a trial, time changes. I have no prison anymore, no soldiers to guard them, no jury that would evict them, nothing. They would kill us without a thought!"
"It's logical, I am just surprised hearing you say that you doesn't have a problem killing a whole room. I just realised how long I have been gone and how much you have changed. It's not a bad change, I have no problem seeing them all dead, just thought your code was against this"
Smoker understood what he meant, this wasn't something he normally would do, not at all. He didn't straight up killed people, but having a room filled with gang members and letting them live, or trying to arrest them wouldn't work.
"I guess I have changed more than I thought I had" he almost sounded disappointed in himself when Aokiji placed an hand on his shoulder.
"You do what you can to protect the city, and as I said, it's not a bad change"
"Just feels like something Akainu could have done" Smoker admitted and the other one shook his head.
"He would have tortured them, and not caring if they were innocent or not. At this point it's hard to say that the gangs are innocent anymore" Smoker nodded, it was true Akainu killed people without a trial, something he could have given them, he tortured them without reason. Smoker just wished to get rid of them before they hurt someone else, yet Aokiji's words made him think over his plan and that he didn't even reacted over it. "Stop doubting yourself, it's a good plan, it will hinder them from hurting others, and I can cover the room with ice, without anyone seeing it"
Smoker were silent for a while before nodding.
"Then let's do it"

Smoker looked at the people under him, wishing to make sure that none of them were innocent, that they were all gang members, and they were. If anyone of them had been a civilian, he would have needed a new plan. But as it was now, he hoped that he could get rid of everyone. He studied the members seeing that they belonged to Big Mom, Black Beard, Kaido. He was surprised that White Beard hadn't sent anyone, he doubted that the man didn't knew about it, so it had to be a reason, one he didn't know off. There were a few people from the Casino district, belonging to Moriah and he wondered what that man wanted with Vegapunk, maybe selling him off? He saw neither anyone from Luffy's gang or Law's, not surprising. He guessed that Luffy would never trade with humans, and he guessed that Law didn't cared about Vegapunk for some reason. There were also some lowlife criminals, not belonging to any gangs, most likely bidding for someone else, who didn't wish to show themselves. Aokiji had managed to cover the room, and even if Smoker knew that there was ice there, he couldn't see it. Now the needed to wait for Vegapunk.

Spandam stepped out on the stage followed by some of his men, pushing a cage containing Vegapunk. The man was sitting down, not even looking at the people in the room. He was thin, looking more like a shell than a living human. Smoker only recognised him because he knew him so well, but it was difficult. He looked at Aokiji who seemed like he wished to jump down and kill them all right now, and Smoker felt him, hating to see his friend like that. But if he jumped down before he filled the room with smoke, they would need to fight, and there was no guarantee that they would reach Vegapunk before they took him away. Spandam was going through the rules of the auction when his men closed the door and Smoker slowly started filling the room with smoke, avoiding the area around Vegapunk, not wishing to kill his friend. The action started and no one seemed to pay attention to the smoke, especially since he started at the ceiling, knowing that he needed to fill the whole room. He had asked Aokiji to keep an eye on it all, warning him if needed while he concentrated on the smoke.

They had reached millions when the people started coughing, noticing the smoke, screaming something about a fire. Spandam demanded to be taken away at once, not surprising seeing he had always been a coward. Aokiji froze the door when people started rushing there while Smoker concentrated on hindering the smoke from reaching them and Vegapunk who actually had moved. The man didn't look scared as he would have done when they were younger, he just seemed to accept that he would die, and Smoker got angry once more. What the fuck had they done to him?
"Up there" Jabra pointed and Smoker sighed, he had hoped they could go unseen, but he knew that was just too much to hope for, the man turned into a wolf, just as a few of the other members activated their fruits as well, one of them became a fucking giraffe. Smoker didn't even look at Aokiji before he pulled his weapon jumping down, before someone made him fall down, injuring himself. Aokiji stood by his side when he landed calm as ever, and seeing him made Jabra a bit unsure.
"That's Aokiji" he warned the others.
"I can see that, and our dear admiral" a voice said coming from a man turned to a leopard.
"What a lovely surprise, haven't seen you in years. I like what you have done to them, almost as good as Akainu, he would of course be a bit more violent. Want me to teach you?" Jabra smirked and Smoker wished to punch him in the face, but instead he just sent smoke in his way.
"You are so troublesome, now we need to find new buyers and all" the leopard said "After killing you of course"

Smoker was prepared for the attack and defended himself while Aokiji had his back. Most of the gang members were dead, but not all and some of them tried to attack them, luckily they were weakened by the smoke. Smoker was pleased that something went their way, knowing that they would be in trouble if all of them were alive now. The CP9 wasn't as affected, but he could tell that the smoke was getting to them, mostly because they coughed. Yet they attacked with speed and aimed to kill, telling Smoker that they knew what they were doing and not playing around. This almost made him miss some of the enemies that would play around, they were often more unpredictable, doing crazy things, but they didn't go for the killing blow at once, meaning that one mistake wouldn't lead to their death.

"Kalifa is unconscious" Jabra informed the other man who only nodded.
"Did Spandam get out?"
"Yes" the giraffe answered.
"Then let's take Vegapunk and go" Smoker defended against his claws as he glanced at the cage Vegapunk was sitting in.
"Aokiji" he only shouted and his friend nodded sending ice towards the cage, freezing it to the ground before turning towards his opponents, freezing them as well. Smoker made the smoke around Vegapunk's cage more intense, making it harder for the men to walk through.
"What do you want to do?" Jabra asked before getting sent back by Aokiji, just as the leopard attacked Smoker, managing to hit his shoulder, giving it a deep gash with the use of Haki and he gasped, before hitting the other one with a blow to his head, with his jitte.
"Leave him, I am not dying for this mission" the man said.
"He is not going to be pleased by this" Jabra stated earning a growl from the other man.
"I don't fucking care about that, if this mattered this much to him, he could have been here"
"Spandam is going to be even more pissed not getting any money" Jabra said but he smirked as he was pleased by it, and since the other man laughed he seemed to be too, and Smoker wondered once again how Spandam made them work for him.

Smoker placed his hand against his wound, knowing that it needed to be treated but it was a later problem. He threw an eye in the direction of Aokiji, seeing that he could handle the members still standing while he walked up to Vegapunk's cage. The man was sitting down once more, not even looking at him, not even when he broke the lock.
"Vegapunk?" Smoker said opening the door to the cage, kneeling down so he could look the man in the eyes. The dark haired man turned towards him but he seemed to see right through him rather than seeing him. "Vegapunk?"
The other one didn't answer and Smoker wondered if the other one was anything more than a shell, maybe whoever had him had destroyed whoever the man used to be. Vegapunk used to be shy and awkward, but full of life, the opposite of what he was now.
"It's me" he carefully placed a hand on the man's arm, not wishing to scare him or hurt him.
"Smoker?" the voice was hoarse as he hadn't used it in a long time.
"Yes" Smoker gave him a friendly smile.
"Are you real?"
"I am, we are here to saved you"
"We?"
"Me and Aokiji, like we always does"
"You are?" Smoker just hugged the other one when he started crying, not wishing to think about what he had gone through. "I thought Aokiji was dead, feared you would be soon too"
"I thought he was dead too, but we can talk about that later, and I am not dead yet" He could tell that Vegapunk had so many questions, so much he wished to say and he understood him but they knew that this wasn't the place. "Can you walk?"
"Barely"
"It's okay we will take it slowly" Smoker helped him to his feet, ignoring the pain he felt in the shoulder, the wound had coloured his jacket red but Vegapunk was more important than him.
"You are hurt" Vegapunk gave him a horrid look.
"I remembered you making sharper observations than that" he tried to joke, something the other man didn't responded to and once again he wondered what they had done to him, to make him like this. "It's alright, nothing to worry about. Aokiji!"

The other man finished off the last men before turning, smiling as he saw Vegapunk.
"Fitting that we are saving you the first time we are seeing you in ages" he joked but when Vegapunk gave him no response he got the same worry in his eyes that Smoker had. "Let's get out of here"
Aokiji blew the door open, prepared in case more men was waiting outside, while Smoker helped Vegapunk to walk, slowly out of the building. He cursed himself for not thinking about this, that the scientist would be to injured to move faster, because he knew that they would be an easy target walking like this, but there was nothing he could do about that now.

"Smoker" Vegapunk almost whispered and he turned towards the man next to him. "Can we rest a bit"
He wanted to say no, knowing what a bad idea that was, but he saw how out of it the other one was and nodded, slowly placing him on the stairs to an abounded house.
"Are you alright?" he asked throwing an eye at Aokiji who still seemed worried but kept his focus on the area around them.
"Tired, haven't walked much lately" the anger made itself reminded once again, wishing he could have killed the one who hurt his friend so.
"It's alright, we will get you to a doctor and you will feel better soon" that was at least what Smoker hoped, having no idea what the other one had been through or what his injuries was.
"We can always take him to Law" Aokiji suggested.
"You don't think he has been through enough?"
"But Law is the best"
"Who is Law?" Vegapunk asked making Smoker turn his attention to him once more.
"The surgeon of death" despite being away for such a long time it was clear that Vegapunk knew that name "A lot has happened since you left. But don't worry I will not take you to that shitty bastard, there are other doctors in town"
"Not as good"
"Maybe not, but not as hostile and with such a taste for killing"
"Rosinante may be able to convince him"
"Rosinante is alive?"
"We have a lot to talk about, but yes he is alive. Don't be too happy he is staying with the Surgeon, being his dad" Vegapunk looked confused and Smoker couldn't blame him, the man had missed a lot. Even if Aokiji had been missing he had kept himself up to speed, Vegapunk hadn't had that opportunity. "Do you feel ready to continue?"
"Mm" it was clear that the other one rather rest a bit more and Smoker hated to push him like this, but he needed to get him to the base.

"Smoker?" He almost cursed when someone called for his attention and he turned towards the brat.
"Yeah" was all he answered helping Vegapunk to his feet and the taller man was leaning against him.
"So that's why you wanted to contact Aokiji" Ace looked at Vegapunk then back at Smoker "You could have asked and I would have helped you"
"Not without turning him over to him" Smoker glanced back at Whitebeard who appeared in the company of Marco and some others and he cursed, perfect just what he needed. Whitebeard studied the situation before laughing.
"This is not who I thought I would meet" he said in a dark voice but not hostile, not that it changed anything. "I planned on saving him from whoever bought him, but looking at you two, I doubt that you bought him"
Smoker chose not to answer, trying to come up with a way for them to flee.
"We were a bit short of cash" Aokiji joked making the gang leader laugh again.
"So instead you took him from?"
"Oh no one bought him, we simply killed them all before they could" Aokiji said simply, like they were talking about something else and Whitebeard laughed again, while Ace gave Smoker a worried look.
"What a luck that I didn't sent my men there" the large man looked at his sons with warm in his eyes, pleased that they had avoided whatever the two marines did.

The silent took over and the men stared at each other, unsure of how to proceed. Smoker know that if Whitebeard wanted he could easily kill them and take Vegapunk, yet the other man seemed hesitate about it.
"Smoker you are hurt" Ace finally said and took a step closer, only to have Smoker aim his weapon at him.
"One step closer and I will kick your as brat" for a second sorrow was shown in the youngers eyes before he glanced at Vegapunk who Smoker had stepped in front, understanding. If it had been one of his friends he would have reacted the same way. Smoker had barely said anything about Vegapunk, but it was clear that he cared about him, enough to fight Ace if he tried to take him. Seeing that the admiral was hurt it wouldn't be a long fight, but Ace hoped to avoid one at all, and he turned towards Pop's.

Smoker looked at the glances the brat and the old man exchanged, without words. He couldn't tell what they meant so he prepared for the worst when Whitebeard laughed again.
"I had planned on saving him, but seeing you two I don't think he needs saving" he leaned a bit closer, looking down at them and Smoker met his eyes with a calm almost daring look, making the old man laugh again. "That look reminds me of Garp"
"I have told him that he resembles Garp the whole day" Aokiji laughed as well and Smoker sighed feeling that the situation wasn't a laughing matter, but he stayed silent.
"So seeing we have no interest in taking this one, I think my youngest here want to tend to your wound before you collapses Smoker" Ace blushed but Whitebeard just gave him a friendly push towards the marine. He respected Smoker, he was a good man and unless he chose to hurt Ace or any of his other children he had no problem seeing the brat dating the marine. He knew that a few of his children were worried about it, but he wasn't, maybe the fact that he could invade the base and kill them all if Smoker tried anything was a reason not to worry. But Smoker had fought along his sons when they went to the Vinsmokes and the man had done nothing towards them, even fought side by side with Ace, so so far he accepted it, pleased to see his youngest happy. For a second he glanced at his oldest seeing how he seemed to be a bit happier as well, and he guessed that was due to Sanji. He could almost laugh over who the two had taken a liking to, seeing that they had chosen people who were their enemies, yet he allowed it. It reminded him of the old days when there were no gangs and no enemies, maybe his two sons actions proved that the city was moving towards a new area a better one, resembling the old one, he could only hope.

Ace stepped closer to Smoker who had lower his weapon.
"No thank you kid, I still have the scars since you tried to heal me the last time, you are the fucking worst on stitching" he commented making Marco and Thatch laugh as they knew that it was all too well and Ace turned towards them.
"I managed to save your lives at least, who fucking cares if it looks good or not"
"You just insulted every doctor out there, thinking it doesn't matters" Thatch smiled and Ace answered by sticking out his tongue before turning towards Smoker.
"You are lucky that it was just us, what would you have done otherwise.
"He is here" he pointed at Aokiji who just smiled "And I have been worse off, not the first time we saves Vegapunk"
"No, I have lost count on how many times we saved him. The first time we did, we broke into the royal palace. Garp was furious" Aokiji stated making Whitebeard laugh.
"I guess Sengoku wasn't?"
"Not at all" Smoker had never thought of how well Whitebeard had known the two men, but from the sound of it they had been friends or at least familiar with each other.
"You still need treatment" Ace stated, ignoring the older men as he turned towards the admiral who had got a smile on his lips hearing how childish Ace sounded.
"I have a doctor at the base"
"You trust him?" Aokiji suddenly asked and for a second Smoker felt like they all were against him.
"More than I trust Law, that you suggested that we would go to"
"Why on fucking earth would go want to go to that psycho?" Ace got upset at once and Smoker smiled again, seeing that the brat shared his opinion.
"I trust him and Rosinante more than I trust any marine" Aokiji simply said and Smoker understood his logic. He wasn't sure if he could trust his doctor, but he had very few options.
"I may have a solution" Smoker turned towards Whitebeard prepared to answer him that there was no chance in hell that he would meet whoever he had as a doctor. "He is a neutral party these days, and if you can live with meeting one of Roger's old members we may have a solution"
"Anyone from Roger's old gang can't be worse than every fucking gang members I meet this days" Smoker answered making Whitebeard laugh again as he started showing the way to Crocus house.

"Whitebeard?" Crocus was more than surprised when he opened the door especially when he saw who the man arrived with.
"I apologise for disturbing you but we needed a neutral party with doctor's skills" Crocus looked at the marine and his followers.
"Well I have people brining far worse here so come in" Crocus opened the door and let them all in before turning towards Smoker "So admiral what happened"
"Leopard claws" he answered while he lit his cigars and the others gave him a questioning look but he didn't answered them. "Look at him first"
Smoker pointed at Vegapunk when Crocus was about to ask him to sit down.
"You are bleeding!" Ace protested "You are aware that you can die if you lose too much blood, right?"
"I am aware, however my life isn't as important as his"
"Stupid old man" Ace muttered sitting down next to him, clearly angry at him, but he respected his decision, something that pleased him, not having the energy to argue with Ace.
"Well come here then boy" Crocus turned towards Vegapunk who obeyed without hesitation, he didn't even seemed to know who gave the order or why.

Smoker kept an eye on Vegapunk more than any of the others, knowing that Aokiji would have his back and it wouldn't really matter knowing that they would die anyway if they attacked. Vegapunk's eyes were empty as he kept staring into the distance. Crocus worked under silence, only humming to himself from time to time making smoker a bit worried. Besides the obvious things he had noticed earlier, he had no idea what could be wrong with Vegapunk. He turned towards Ace when he felt how we suddenly leaned against him, to see that he had fallen asleep due to his narcolepsy. Marco walked towards them prepared to move Ace but Smoker just shook his head, not minding that the brat rested against him, resulting in a smile from both Aokiji and Whitebeard, but neither men said anything.

"Hm" Crocus turned towards them "He has been badly treated and he is malnourished, without an x-Ray I can't say how he looks inside, but he doesn't react when I press over the organs, and he would have been worse if they were damaged. I would say whatever is done to him, it's the psychologically that's the worse"
Smoker wasn't surprised hearing that, seeing how different his friend was, and he wasn't sure if he should feel relieved or not. His friend was till in bad shape and he knew that people may never come back from somethings, at least he didn't have life threatening wounds, because Smoker knew that if that was the case he could be forced to visit the surgeon and ask him to help Vegapunk, at least he didn't need to do that. Wow, one fucking thing that went his way.
"I will give him some medicine that will help him with the weight, wish I could do more but I don't have the recourses I once had" Smoker was glad for what he could get, and to be honest he didn't have much at the base either, few doctors had anything left, unless they charged more than most could afford or made their own medicine. "So let me look at you before you bleed out"

Crocus moved closer to him and tried to move Ace when the kid snuck his arms around Smoker and refused to let go.
"Brat" he sighed and carefully took the kids arms and placed his head in his lap instead something the younger one didn't protest to. Crocus seemed to accept that and Smoker removed his jacket, showing his damage shoulder and his scared torso.
"Who had thought that Ace liked to snuggle" Thatch teased and Smoker looked at them almost surprisingly, the brat was a cocky bastard but he had soon learnt that he liked to snuggle, especially after sex. None of them had ever slept with Ace, but how on earth could they live together without knowing that the brat liked to cuddle.
"Don't give us that look Smoker, these days he barely hugs us any more" Marco answered.
"I think he thinks we are embarrassing" Thatch grinned and Smoker almost answered something sarcastic but bit his tongue not to do so.
"So seeing him cuddle up against someone is surprising, guess he really likes you"
"He resembles his father, he also liked to cuddle up against the one he liked" Crocus said with a voice filled with warmth for his old friend.
"Almost surprising that Rouge didn't punched him more often" Whitebeard laughed.
"Or Rayleigh" Crocus added "But I guess he understood how destroyed Roger was after Rouge died"
"He was never the same after that" Smoker almost founded it strange hearing someone speak about the former gang leader like this. Roger was admired around town, despite being dead for so many years, but few knew who he really was. Smoker had never met the man, not really. He had seen him after Akainu brought him to the base but not more. He didn't really think about him or who he had been, even less that the brat was his son. Maybe because it didn't really matter to him, he just saw Ace as Ace.
"This is going to hurt a bit" Crocus informed him before he started stitching him up. Even if he had given him some anaesthesia he could still feel it, yet the pain was bearable, he had feel far worse, the last time he had to be treated by his own doctor, he didn't have any anaesthesia.

Ace woke up almost when Crocus was done and Smoker could tell that he wondered where he was for a few seconds before turning towards him with a smile.
"Feeling better?"
"I am not bleeding anymore, that all, it's not like anything magical happened" Smoker glared at him.
"You will at least not die"
"I am not home yet brat"
"We can escort you, can't we?" Ace turned towards Whitebeard slowly sitting up and looking at him like a kid begging for something.
"No, my men will shoot you as soon as they see you, and maybe me as well" Smoker interrupted before they could answer.
"I thought the marines were bad, but aiming bad enough to shoot their own admiral must be a new level" Vista commented.
"Or shot good enough to kill me" Smoker muttered "And before you all say something, I am already aware of how corrupt the marines are, give me their names and I will kill them! But as it is now, I can't kill all of my men just to get rid of a few bad ones"
The irritation he felt from everyone informing him of how corrupt and bad the marines where without giving him a solution made itself reminded. It was so easy for everyone to comment on it, without doing anything. None of the others had an answer to provide and to his delight they didn't comment something stupid.
"Anything else, or can we go?" he turned towards Crocus who nodded.
"My job here is done" Smoker paid him "This is too much"
"No! If anyone would ask, you never saw him" he pointed at Vegapunk and Crocus smiled.
"I never talk about my patients" Smoker walked over to Vegapunk to help him stand and supported him as they left the house.

"Are you sure that you will be alright?" Ace asked looking at the men.
"You can't be sure about anything in this town" Smoker simply said and Ace bit his lip knowing that, still not pleased by letting them go on their own.
"Call when you get home?" Ace finally said, knowing he could do nothing to stop the other one from leaving.
"I will call when I can" Ace took what he could get as he leaned forward when Smoker gave him a look.
"We aren't alone" Ace turned towards his brother and father with a cocky smile.
"So?" Smoker sighed, knowing as much as the brat could make him feel alive, he could also make him feel old.
"So the point is that we aren't alone!"
"Oh come one don't be shy now, you weren't shy when we did it on the playground" those words made Aokiji and Vegapunk chuckle in surprise before they laughed, while Ace brother and father just sighed, clearly used to Ace's ways.
"I am leaving" Smoker turned around and started walking away with his friends by his side, still laughing and he heard how Ace brothers started scolding him.

"Who would have thought that you would ever have sex in public, he really brings out the rebel in you" Aokiji gave him a big smile one he ignored together with the comment.
"Who is he?"
"Roger's son and Whitebeards second in command" Aokiji told Vegapunk who nodded.
"He seems nice" the scientist said, trying to be polite.
"He is a handful and way to cocky" Smoker muttered as they approached the base and Aokiji stopped.
"This is as far as I am going"
"Why?" Vegapunk wondered thinking that his friend lived at the base with Smoker now when he had returned.
"I am not trusting the marines" for a second Smoker thought he saw understanding in Vegapunk's eyes. "Are you sure you can trust them, walking in there with Vegapunk?"
"And where do you think I should take him? Should I run after Whitebeard and hand him over?" He felt how Vegapunk became tense by his side and he turned towards the man "Don't worry, that won't happen"
"Maybe he can stay with me?"
"And when Robin comes around?"
"She's alive?" Vegapunk asked, he had always liked her since she was kind to him and wasn't bothered by his talk about science.
"She is, and she doesn't come around. We meet in neutral places at the moment" Aokiji simply stated and Smoker thought about it. Vegapunk would be safer with Aokiji than at the base and if Robin didn't visit it was a much better option.
"Fine. Show the way"

Smoker looked around the base and he had to admit that it was cosy. It was large and it was clear that it was meant for more than one person when it was built and most rooms was closed off, but the ones that wasn't were decorated with personal belongings, books, maps, files and other things that made it feel cosy.
"So you have been living here for the past ten years?" Smoker asked. He had often passed by the door but not reflecting over it, thinking it was just another building with another door, and when they had walked in it was. Aokiji had taken them through a few secret doors to get to the base, and seeing that made him understand how the Revos could have stayed hidden, even when Akainu searched for them.
"More or less yes. I have visited a few of the other bases when needed but this was where they brought me when they saved me"

He was breathing heavy as he tried to run as well as he could with the injuries he had. He had thought he had more time. Time to move against Akainu, time to prepare for when this day would come, but everything had happened faster than he predicted. He had been careful making him wonder how they found out, had Robin told them? Maybe he shouldn't have told her? But he doubted that, she had confessed to what she had done and there was no meaning informing him of Crocodile's involvement only to betray him again, to Akainu this time. She had no reason to confess the first time, seeing he wasn't onto her, she did it out of free will, so to do that only to betray him once more felt unrealistic. She also hated Akainu. No it was someone else. He thought about the few who knew but he couldn't see any of them wanting to betray him, wishing to get rid of Akainu more than anything else, so either they were the best actors out there or it was something else. Something he couldn't see, but that didn't matter at the moment, all that mattered was that he got away before dying, and so that no one else got hurt. He could hear the men searching for him which wasn't too much of a struggle following the trail of blood. He had tried to hinder them with as much ice as he could but he knew that it wouldn't stop them forever. The blood loss made him weaker and if they found him now he would die, so he continued forcing himself to do so.

Aokiji didn't knew where he was when he woke up, but the pain was gone and the bleeding had stopped. He was lying in an unfamiliar room, he looked around but all he saw was bare cold stone walls, making him think of a prison cell and he wondered if Akainu had caught him, but feeling the comfort of the bed and that he was well tucked in made him doubt that.
"Oh you are awake" Aokiji turned towards the sound to see a person he knew, or rather knew off. Ivankov's face was well known among the marines and seeing him now made Aokiji understood that he was with the Revos, to his surprise.
"I am" he answered slowly sitting up "How long have I been out?"
"Besides waking only to mumble things, two weeks" the man gave him a smile.
"Has anyone died?"
Ivankov seemed to be a bit taken by his question and worry.
"None of your friends has died"
"Robin?"
"Not the young lady either" Aokiji felt relief to hear that, but at the same time he was suspicious that they knew about Robin. Maybe he shouldn't be since the rumours said that the Revos knew everything about everyone, something he wasn't too pleased with, but couldn't do much about. "How are you feeling?"
"I am feeling…fine" was all he chose to answer and Ivankov seemed to understand that he didn't wished to share to much with them and wasn't offended by it. "Why am I here?"
"Inazuma found you and brought you here, we didn't wish to see you die so we took care of you"
"Why?"
"Because for everyone that Akainu kills is a victory for him, something we wish to prevent" Aokiji understood the other one but he was unsure if he believed him. His information about the Revos were limited, everything was rumours and it was hard to tell what was true or not. "Try to sleep some more, you still need a lot of rest. You were badly hurt"
Aokiji knew that, he knew how close he had been to death.
"Thank you" he answered politely, no matter what their reason had been, they had saved him.
"Of course" Ivankov left the room closing the door after him.

Aokiji had stayed in the room for two more weeks, Ivankov hadn't told him to do so, but he didn't felt ready to leave it. The other man visited him a few times a day, often bringing food and asking how he was doing, nothing more than that.
"Sorry about the scars" Ivankov said when he entered, seeing Aokiji look himself over.
"I am alive to have scars so it doesn't really matter" he simply stated almost baffled that he was alive, seeing how large the wound had been.
"Tell me that you at least got a few hits on Akainu?"
"A few, but not as many as I had hoped" he bitterly admitted but the other one smiled.
"I am sure that they pains him at least" Aokiji just shrugged his shoulders. It didn't seem like the fleet admiral got affected by pain anymore, all he knew was that he would take it out on the ones left. "He will get what's coming to him, in time"
"How many lives will he have destroyed by then?" Aokiji turned towards the other one who gave him a look full of sorrow.
"More than he should" the had a shared moment in silence before Ivankov smiled "Hungry?"

It took him another month before he left the room unsure of what to find. The base had been empty so far, yet he could tell that he was being watched, nothing he hadn't expected.
"Oh so you left your room" Ivankov looked up from some nots as he entered the room. Aokiji saw no reason to answer something so obvious so he looked at the people around the makeup wearing man, he knew some of them, Kuma and Inazuma was well known as well, the others were unknown to him. "Dragon said he wanted to meet you when you left your room, do you feel ready for that?"
For a second he wondered what would happen if he said no. All he could to then was to go back to his room and then what, stay there for who know how long? And it wasn't like he knew how to leave the base so he simply nodded.
"Don't worry, he is a kind man" Ivankov said with a laugh that Aokiji didn't know what to think about as he followed him.

Aokiji meets the eye of the most wanted man in town who hadn't taking his eyes of him either.
"So this is the man my father used to speak about" he finally said making Aokiji raise his eyebrows, having no idea of what he talked about, realising that made Dragon smile. "He always said that you took after Sengoku to much"
"You are Garp's son" he said still surprised when he sat down.
"I am, it's not something we spoke openly about" Aokiji could understand why, especially when Dragon was wanted and Garp was a marine.
"He was always more pleased with Smoker" Aokiji commented and Dragon nodded.
"He often said so"

"So why did you want to see me?" Aokiji asked after a few minutes of silence.
"Wondering what your plans was now?"
"Since I thought I would be dead, not much" he hadn't thought to far, unsure of what he would do.
"Everyone thinks you are dead, so you could be just that" Dragon looked at him with a look that he couldn't read.
"I couldn't do that to Robin or my friends"
"And returning would do what? Put them in danger, result in their death, and yours" he sounded just like Garp when he bluntly said things, always the truth, yet so bluntly.
"And staying 'dead' would cause them sorrow"
"But they would be alive" Aokiji was aware of that it was true, but all he could think off was the sorrow he would cause them, and how he would abounded them. He had promised to help Robin escape Crocodile and he had planned on taking down Akainu with Smoker and Vegapunk. He knew that none of them would manage on their own, he couldn't hide and not help them.
"They need my help"
"I agree with you, but there is other ways than facing the problem head on. I tried to tell my father that but he refused to listen, to loyal to the marines, something that didn't do him anything good" Aokiji could more than guess where this conversation where heading.
"So what do you suggest"
"I suggest nothing, I am only sharing my opinion, enlightening you that there is other options"
"Like?"
"That's for you to decide" Aokiji met the other man's gaze for a few seconds before he stood up and left the room to return to the one he had been given.

He had given it a week thinking it all over, knowing what he risked before he had returned to Dragon.
"So if I like to join you what would that mean?"
"Depends on what your goals are"
"To free the city from Akainu"
"And then?"
"Marry Robin" that was his main goal and it made Dragon smile.
"Not to take over the army?"
"No. To be honest it wasn't something I thought I would. I always thought that Rosinante would take over, but he just disappeared after Sengoku died" Dragon nodded, seeing to know as little about the man as Aokiji did, which almost surprised him. "Only reason I planned to take over after Akainu was because everyone asked me"
"Hm" Dragon simply stated before becoming silent, deep in thoughts.

"The marines are needed to protect the people and that's it. They shouldn't be there to control anyone" Aokiji nodded being of the same opinion, the marines weren't created to rule, they were created to serve and protect. "Is there anyone in the Marines who could take over and lead them on the right path?"
"Smoker" he answered without hesitation knowing his friend would turn the marines back to what it had been when Sengoku and Garp lead them.
"Is there a risk that he will become just like Akainu?" Aokiji almost gave the other one a cold look for asking such a question.
"He would put a bullet in his head if he ever became the slightest like him" that made Dragon laugh.
"Knowing what my father said about him, that may be true and he seems to be the best option. Let's see what we can do to help him"
"Never let him know that you helped him. He would arrest you without hesitation if he got the chance" Dragon laughed again.
"Maybe there is a bit too much of my father in him"

"Aokiji! Aokiji" Koala come rushing towards him, almost rushing into him. "We know who betrayed you"
Aokiji blinked a few times, unsure if he wished to hear it, fearing it may be one of his friends but he slowly nodded.
"It was Vergo" Koala handed over the file and Aokiji looked at the other man's picture. He and Vergo wasn't friends, not that they were enemies either. He simply had very little contact with the man but he had seem to be a good man and a good soldier, Aokiji never thought of him as someone who would follow Akainu gladly.
"Why and how did he knew that I planned to take down Akainu, I never spoke to him about it"
"He didn't know that, he did it because he wanted to get rid of you. All he had to do was to tell Akainu that you wanted him gone, Vergo didn't knew that it was true. No he did it because he is working for Doflamingo"
"Doflamingo has been gone for ages, his whole family has"
"They have, but Doflamingo never disappeared, he just changed name to Joker" that took Aokiji off guard, he had never thought that Doflamingo could be Joker.
"And Vergo works for him?"
"He has for years"
"How long have you known about this?" he could hear the anger in his voice and the girl took a step back.
"A few months. We have always known that Joker had someone on the inside, Garp told me, but we wasn't sure who" Dragon said as he appeared from behind and Aokiji turned towards him.
"No, not without revealing ourselves or putting people in danger" Dragon informed him in a calm manner and Aokiji nodded.
"What about now?"
"Possibly but not knowing if Doflamingo has others in the army, we can't say what it can lead to"
"You don't know if he has anyone else?" Aokiji almost sounded disappointed.
"We know that he has four officers under him, Vergo is one of them, one of them was Corazon has disappeared for reasons we don't know. The others are Pica, Trebol and Diamante, none of them are with the army. Every officer has men under him, none which are with the army. What we know is that he has other contacts, people who aren't officers but still high up, those are the ones we can't be sure about"
"How do you know all this?"
"Garp informed me, he never said were the information came from, but when he felt like things was taking a turn for the worst, he informed me"
"So why did Vergo wish to get rid of me?"
"Most likely Doflamingo's doing. However, his motives are up to question as they always are" Dragon sounded a bit irritated by that something Aokiji understood. Knowing now that Joker was Doflamingo and that he was real, didn't help him in understanding what he was doing.
"So how do we get rid of Vergo?"

It had taken almost a year for them to find a way to get rid of Akainu and even if they had anticipated the effects it could have on the city, it became much worse than they had thought. The gangs moved before the Marines could react making their territory and power smaller. The streets became more violent and the life for the civilianize became hell, especially during the short time Kizaru took over. The man had no interest in leading only doing it for personal reasons. But as soon as they killed Vergo he fled, together with some other men. Aokiji kept an eye on the marines taking out the ones he knew would be a problem for Smoker before they became one, helping his friend as much as he could from the shadows.

"Dragon died six months after Vergo was killed. I am not sure how but we all suspected that Doflamingo was involved. The others soon disappeared after that. I never found any trace of them they just vanished leaving me here" Aokiji looked at his two friends and they could hear the sorrow in his voice. It was clear that the other one had gotten close to the Revos, they had become his friends. "I continued helping you as well as I could Smoker but it became more and more difficult without the others"
"You got really close?" Smoker placed himself next to the other one who nodded. Smoker hadn't really thought about how difficult it must have been for Aokiji.
"Me and Dragon often laughed over how disappointed Garp would be in us, he also said that he was sure that his son would have been as bad, so it was good that he had you Smoker"
"His son? Dragon had a son"
"Yeah, he Garp had him when he was younger, around three. But he lost him"
"Lost him?" that surprised Smoker, knowing how responsible Garp was.
"All I know is what Dragon told me. He said that the kid disappeared when he was three, around fifteen years. Some other kid stole him right under the nose of the marines" those words made Smoker sigh.
"Of course it's him" he muttered looking at Aokiji "I know who Dragon's son is"
"How?"
"Because the kid that stole him is Ace, meaning that the kid that's Dragon's son is Luffy" that made Aokiji laugh.
"It's not surprising, they have the same charisma. Hard to believe that they are related to Garp" Smoker only hummed in response, knowing that it Luffy was Dragon's son and that got known to the public it could turn things upside down. "Well it really is lucky that he had you, someone who actually managed to become a good marine"

Smoker only hummed in return feeling bad for Garp, having Dragon as his son and Luffy as his grandchild, but he decided not to say anything seeing that it wouldn't contribute to anything. Instead he turned towards Vegapunk who was very silent.
"Are you okay?" he asked his friend who met his eyes.
"Um yes? No? Um…"
"How kind of you to give me options to choose from" Smoker joked, but once again without reaction from the other one. "Care to tell us what happened?"
Smoker wasn't sure if the other one wished to speak about it, but he had to ask.
"Um…I walked in on Caesar having a meeting with Gladius"

Vegapunk was smiling as he walked into his lab, he had just spoken with Smoker and having his friend as the head of the marines was a relief, not only because he was a good man, but also because he could speak with him. He could never really speak with Akainu, at least not without being scared during their talk or after it. He never knew what the man would do to him, but with Smoker he would never need to worry about something like that, because Smoker was his friend and he would never hurt him. Everything in the town was still chaotic and far from good but he was sure it would get better now when Smoker was in charge. Vegapunk was a bit sadden that Aokiji couldn't be here and see how well their friend was doing, but he knew that he would be as proud as he was.

Vegapunk walked into his office but stopped when he saw Caesar speaking to a man in a mask and light blue hair, this was a man Vegapunk didn't knew but he knew he wasn't a marine.
"What are you doing in my office? Who is this man?" Vegapunk stared at the other man, a man who he really disliked. He had started disliking him more and more over the years. He was always trying to make changes to his nots, he was always trying to cut corners and he always tried to create things that would make it worse for the citizens, not helping them. He had tried to get him fired when Akainu was in charge but never managed, the other man stated that we needed Caesar. Vegapunk guessed that was because the other man created horrid things that their formed leader could use on people, however, now when Smoker was in charge, maybe he could get rid of him.
"Hello Vegapunk" Caesar said as cocky as normally but there was something different in his smile. "I thought you would be gone a bit longer"
"Who is the man?" Vegapunk demanded to know.
"He is a friend"
"You are selling something to him!" Vegapunk looked at the papers behind Caesar and his eyes got filled with horror. "You are going to give him artificial devil fruits, they aren't safe and you know what they are doing to people!"
"You were never going to find out about this, this is a bit troublesome" Caesar didn't seem to mean it as he stepped forward and Vegapunk screamed for the guards. Two marines rushed in only to walk into the bullets fired by the man. Vegapunk could only stare at the dead bodies lying by his feet, not reacting when more men rushed.
"Take him and go, I will kill the rest" Caesar said, the man nodded and walked towards Vegapunk who searched for a weapon but it was in vain seeing how the man soon made him unconscious.

His head hurt as he came around soon realising that he was in an unfamiliar location, but a cell. A cold, wet cell without almost any light. It took him a few minutes to remember the man and Caesar, and how they had brought him somewhere, but he didn't know where or why? If they wanted to hinder him from telling Smoker there was more efficient ways, he could think of at least five, compared to holding someone prison which took both time and effort. He guessed he would know the reason in a few hours, maybe they would demand things from Smoker. He really hoped that his friend wouldn't give in, he needed to think about the people not about him. Vegapunk placed himself on what he guessed would be a bed, laying as comfortable he could, waiting for someone to come.

It had taken days when someone came, but it wasn't the men he thought it would be, no it was another stranger. A tall blonde man with a pink coat. If he hadn't been so weak from being out food, he may have had a thought about him, especially when he leaned closer and gave him a cold smile.
"So you are the genius" neither sounding impressed or judging, speaking as he picked up a new book. "Need you to create a few things for me"
Vegapunk didn't knew the man but he knew that whatever he wanted him to create wasn't anything good.
"I refuse"
"Oh I hoped you would say that" the smile got wider and it sent a chill down Vegapunk's spine as the door closed behind him.

He didn't know what was worst, the beating, rape, starving, experiment or the moments Doflamingo, as he now knew was the name of the man, was nice to him. Everything scared him since he never knew what the other one would do, all depending on which mood he was. Vegapunk didn't know how to act or react, sometimes it seemed like Doflamingo preferred when he didn't react at all, other times it made him angry. All he knew was that he wished that Smoker would save him as in the old days, but in the months that had passed he hadn't. He wasn't even sure if his friend knew that he was alive or where he was, or maybe he simply didn't care, no he refused to believe that, Smoker cared about him, no matter what Doflamingo said. However, the tall man had moments when he told him that people cared about him. Everything the other one did and said really made him more confused and he guessed that was a part of his plan. Vegapunk had never tortured anyone, but he knew how to do it, yet what Doflamingo did was on a whole other level, more crazy and unpredictable than he ever thought was impossible, he also knew what to do to inflict as much pain as possible, without killing him. Vegapunk just wondered how much more he could take before he broke.

"Yes" was all he answered when Doflamingo asked him to create something, he hadn't heard what it was just answered it.
"Good boy" he placed an arm around his shoulders and started to guide him somewhere. He hadn't been outside the cell for almost a year but he barely looked at the surroundings, only walked next to the tall man and the soon reached a laboratory.
"Hello Vegapunk" Caesar said but he didn't react "Wow you have really done a good job on him"
"As I always does" Doflamingo smirked placing Vegapunk in front of a desk. "Whatever you need you will get"
"What am I creating again?" he couldn't even remember and for a second he thought that Doflamingo would be angry but he only gave him a list of different things.
"This" Vegapunk tried to read it taking him several tries before he was able.
"Okay" he said and took some paper and started writing. "Here"
"This will never work" Caesar looked at the numbers and Vegapunk just blinked, it should work.
"I think he needs some time to get his brain working again" Doflamingo looked at the numbers but he couldn't read them as Caesar could. "Keep an eye on him"
"Of course, but I may not be able to do that all the time"
"No need, I bought some cuffs from the Vinsmoke's, he will die if he tries to flee"
"That seems a bit extreme"
"I have learnt how to keep people here" Doflamingo simply said before walking off and Caesar understood that he talked about the incident with his brother and nephew who managed to escape. Caesar glanced at Vegapunk who had started writing again, before walking back to his own desk.

"It took me almost five years to complete the list" Vegapunk whispered into Smoker's shoulder. The marine had taken him into his arms when he started shaking. "I still don't know what I created, not fully, besides weapons"
"So Doflamingo was behind this as well"
"I think Caesar acted on his own, but he was grateful"
"You are free from him now so it doesn't matter" Vegapunk only shook his head.
"I will never be free from him, he will search for me"
"Easy, easy" Aokiji started smiling calmly towards the younger one "You are safe here, he won't find you here"
"You don't understand, he has people everywhere"
"We understand, and it's becoming clear that he has men everywhere, but no one in the marines know about you, the only ones that does are we, Whitebeards men and even if Doflamingo has someone in there I doubt that it's one of his closest men, meaning that no one will know about you there either. Besides that, it's only the Blue Gentleman but seeing he was the one that informed me about you, telling me to save you, I doubt that he works for Doflamingo" Smoker said, hoping that was true. The biggest risk was Whitebeard's men, but he couldn't do anything about that. "And if he tries anything, we will go after him and kill him. Do you know where he is?"
"No, I never saw the outside"
"Is there anyone who may know?" Aokiji asked and Vegapunk tried to think.
"Maybe Corazon, but I don't know who that is, or where he is"

"Do you think Corazan can be Cora-San?" Aokiji wondered, looking at Smoker.
"Rosinante?" he was more than doubtful but his friend nodded "You think that Sengoku's son, the clumsiest man on the world was a part of Doflamingo's gang?"
"He was always away, we thought it was because he was a bad soldier, but maybe there was a reason for it"
"You think he worked undercover?"
"Possible. He told us that he warned Garp that the Marines wasn't safe anymore. Maybe he knew that Doflamingo had men on the inside, but not who. Dragon said that Garp got the information from Corazan"
Smoker thought about it, wondering if it could be true. He felt like there should be records if Rosinante was working undercover, that his file would state that, but it didn't, he knew. He had seen his file when he took over as fleet admiral, and all it had said was decide. He knew that was a lie, but even so, undercover agents should be reported.
"Did you ever hear Rosinante's name?" he looked at Vegapunk.
"No, I only heard them mentioning Corazan a few time, Doflamingo got furies every time they did"
"Do you really think Rosinante could be Corazan?" he turned his attention to Aokiji.
"I don't know, it's possible, we would never now without asking" that made Smoker laugh.
"Law would never allow us to walk in and questioning Rosinante, I think he would kill us as soon as we entered" Smoker answered making Aokiji laugh as well.
"You may be right, but at the moment it's not important. Vegapunk will be safe here, and going up against Doflamingo, well that would need more than a location" Smoker nodded in agreement, he didn't have what was needed to take down Doflamingo even if he knew where he was, so unless Doflamingo went after Vegapunk, he wouldn't try.
"Let's get something to eat before sleeping" Aokiji looked at them, like he was their parent.
"When did you become this responsible?" Smoker frowned.
"I am the oldest"
"Then act like it more often" was all he answered before they walked towards the kitchen.