The world looked so peaceful...
From the warm sunshine that sparkled on the sea to the soothing crashes of the waves hitting the islands rocky shore, he allowed himself to relax a bit and enjoy his surroundings.
He would have preferred to stay here for a bit more but his haki told him that wont be possible.
Tilting his head to the left he could see the blond man making his way over where he was laying on the rocks.
„I though I will find you here" commented Helmeppo as he reached his captain „you shouldn't wander alone like this without notifying anyone."
„I know, but I needed some time alone" responded Coby as he shifted his haze back towards the sea „I simply wanted some peace and quiet.."
Helmeppo shook his head but joined his friend in watching the sea „You know that the higher-ups fill throw a fit if you leave like that..." and that was an understatement, paranoia was running rampant through the ranks, even going so far as to have random blood screenings.
„It's so different..." mused Coby
„What is different? The sea?"
„Before the attack we were all confident in our strength and the cohesive power of the Marines...and now..." he sighed „did you hear about Naoki?"
The blond grimaced at that „What a mess that was."
Coby nodded „Apparently there were a few in captain Hina's crew also."
Helmeppo didn't respond to that, since the Hunter's attack on the Headqurters the trust that once bound the Marines evaporated over night. The ever-present fear that the Hunter is still amongst them made many a marine distrustful towards his comrades, even hesitating or down right ignoring people who need help out of fear...and that's the majority, the minority developed the trigger happy syndrome for anything.
There were already multiple cases of a soldier panicking when he was startled (a rather easy thing to do when fear and insomnia took their toll on a person's body and mind), so far those incidents claimed the lives of seventeen people.
Many survivors of that night were diagnosed with severe cases of PTSD, especially those that survived an assault by the beast's the hunter released. Some like Naoki couldn't handle the survivor syndrome and decided to end the torment.
Coby's eyes drifted to his now healed leg, though the doctors managed to fix the injury a scar will remain as a reminder...
Helmeppo didn't miss the look „Are you alright? Perhaps you could take some time off" his captain was always a bit soft, the possibility of him following in Naoki's footsteps wasn't that hard to imagine.
Coby sighed „I'm...afraid..."
„Well that's natural, anyone reacting differently when facing death or mutation by the Hunter would be highly abnormal."
Coby shook his head „I'm not talking about being killed or mutated by him..."
Helmeppo raised an eyebrow „Then what?"
„We will certainly fight against the Hunter again, and he will probably change more of us into those beasts...I...I don't think I can muster the courage to kill a creature that was a person I fought side by side, shared meals and mirth together."
„I see...but remember what the Fleet-Admiral said, they are mindless monsters and you would be doing them a favor by releasing them from that curse."
„So if the Hunter turned me into a beast you would kill me?" asked Coby without any accusation „because of our roles were reversed, I don't think I could do that."
Helmeppo grimaced, he assumed it will be some no name guy he didn't know that well...why doesn't the guy always fish out the worst damned scenario...
The blond sighted „..if...if by some chance I end up as such a creature, I would never forgive you if you didn't finish me off, and I don't care how much angst and anguish it causes you. Besides if you don't kill me, I probably wont return the favor."
Coby somberly nodded, it's the same conclusion he always got stuck with...his brooding was brought to an end when Helmeppo punched him in the shoulder and smiled „This talk is annoying, how about we go back to the base? I believe they are serving pudding today...if we are going to die, best if we do it after a good meal."
His captain smiled and got up, he wasn't really over it but he didn't want to worry his friend „A very good suggestion, no use of over thinking things."
„That's the spirit!" shouted the blond as he jumped on his feet „now if we could get us some girlfriends it would be even better...I always thought that woman fancied men in uniforms, so how come we are still single?"
That actually is a valid question though Coby...from his knowledge Marines with families weren't that common, and higher up's even less.
„Though I can understand why Aokiji was single...probably gave everyone the cold shoulder."
„Haha very funny" snorted Coby as he continued walking towards the base.
„Nobody apreciates my humor" pouted the blond „then how about this one...a pirate a revolutionary and a marine enter a bar.."
Coby could only shake his head This will be bad...
And it was, Helmeppo told one bad joke after another all the way back to the base. Coby tried to listen to them...but soon found himself lost in thoughts.
That changed when he spotted a familiar figure coming out of a grocery store.
Coby smiled „Vice-Admiral! Good day!" he said happily, Helmeppo saluted to their former mentor and commander. The old man greeted them back casually as always, he never was one for all that military posturing anyway.
Coby frowned when he saw the large bandage on Garp's shoulder, another reminder that the Hunter was on the loose. Even more than the wound was the guilt he felt because it's an injury that the Vice Admiral sustained while protecting him from the enemy.
„Your shoulder still hasn't healed?" asked Helmeppo with a frown.
„Nah, its fine" responded the man.
„Then why the bandages?" asked the blond.
Garp glanced around, checking if someone could overhear him. When he saw nobody but them was there he bend down to the duo „Sengoku ate all my crackers, so I'm making sure he doesn't get his hands on these" he said and patted his bandaged arm, resulting in crunching sounds.
The duo smiled at the eccentric behavior of their mentor, the man was good-hearted and all but it was undeniable that he was also a little bit nuts.
Suddenly Helmeppo found himself on the floor, a Marine having ran into him from around the corner.
The blond rubbed his head as he stood back up, when he saw that the soldier was about to run away without an apology he grabbed the man by the collar of his shirt and dragged him back „How about an apology? And why the hell are you running? Are you a shop lifter?" inquired Helmeppo as he looked if his wallet was still in his pocket. Marine or not, there were shady people everywhere.
„He didn't come from the store" added Garp, who unlike the duo was facing the other way from them.
Helmeppo nodded and released the man „Sorry about that, seems I got the wrong idea."
The communications officer nodded „No harm done, and I'm sorry for running into you I was-" the man was about to say, but then he panicked when he remembered why he was rushing in the first place.
„AHHH! I HAVE TO TELL THE FLEET ADMIRAL THAT THE HUNTER IS ATTACKING IMPEL DOWN!"
The trio watched as the soldier rushed towards the central building, the administrative heart of the entire organization.
There was a shocked second before their minds processed the information.
Coby clenched his fist, he knew that something like this will happen sooner or later...
Garp glanced at his two former subordinates, he saw that they didn't really want to face the man again.
Not that he could blame them, they were sane. The people who could be called fearless were always a bit insane, God knows that deep down, he wanted a rematch against the Hunter...win or lose, to feel the adrenalin of fighting for ones very own life...
It was a selfish feeling, but all the death and destruction his enemy caused didn't move him as much as the thrill of combat did...to fight like in the old day's against Roger, Shiki and many others...
The only thing that the Hunter could do to infuriate him was if he harmed Luffy.
He wasn't even conscious when his feet started to move, his walk turning into a run...he was only an instructor now, but the Navy never could restrain him in doing what he wanted.
Sakazuki won't be able to ignore such an attack on one of the governments most important locations. Losing Impel Down like they lost Enies Lobby would be catastrophic, the only thing worse would be losing the Holy Land Mariejois.
Akainu will respond like he usually does...with overwhelming military force...and I will be there!
Coby watched as Garp ran off, no doubt because of the information he just heard. He closed his eyes and exhaled „Helmeppo, go to the ship and gather the soldiers for departure."
The blond raise an eyebrow, but seeing the determination on his friends face he sighted and shrugged „Ay, ay captain" Its better like this anyway, at least the suspense wont be eating away his nerves.
„The news about Doflamingo was a mistake? What are you saying Saka-san...? That the Marine Headquarters were fooled by a false report as well?" came the voice from a den den mushi.
„Yeah, it's really aggravating. I'll have to bring it to the Gorosei at Mariejoa now...I'm sorry but that's it! I need you to keep going ahead to Trafalgar Law and Dofamingo's randevuz point" said the Fleet-Admiral.
„Roger that" and with that the connection was cut.
„Issho doesn't seem too be bothered by the newssss" added Borsalino in his usual fashion.
Sakazuki only glanced at the Admiral seated on his left, a cup of tea held in his hands.
„I think he is rather disappointed that he wont be getting Doflamingo today, but is still happy that he will take Law in" came Akainu's reply „I have no doubt that Fujitora will easily accomplish such a task..." as he sat down he took up the documents he was reading before the newspaper fiasco was brought to his attention a few minutes ago.
A frown was a constant on Akainu's face as he continued to read through the files send to him. „Is this accurate?" he asked the Marine without looking from the document.
„It is" confirmed Captain Gorilla.
The Fleet-Admiral finished reading and placed the papers on his desk. „This is problematic" he said as he shifted his gaze from the documents to Gorilla.
„Yes sir" answered the Captain as he went through his booklet „now that he has acquired another powerful Devil Fruit, beating him look's even harder than it would be under normal circumstances" came his response.
„Indeed" said Akainu as he stood up and walked to the large window, and gazed on the harbor and the endless sea below „we will have to increase our seastone production, one in ten soldiers having anti Devil Fruit equipment has become a rather low ratio."
Gorilla was inclined to agree „Because of Marco's specific Devil Fruit power haki alone will be insufficient to take him now down."
The Fleet-Admiral nodded impassively at the evaluation „It seems that Blackbeard is quickening his pace now that the Hunter has appeared on stage...the Gorosai have overestimated Marco's group when they though he can defeat the Yonko."
„Hmmmm it would be rather critical that we eliminate at least one of them before they clash, it would be scary if one of them took all the powers of the other oneeee..." added Kizaru.
Before Akainu could respond the door slammed open, a Marine gasping for air „F-fleet A-Admira-l, It's the Hunter! The Hunter has attacked Impel Down!"
Well...when it rains, it pours... thought Captain Gorilla as he heard the Marine, Kizaru apparently didn't show much of a reaction nor did Akainu, but from what he knew of the Fleet-Admiral his expression could be called cold-fury.
Seeing as how he had the undivided attention of the people in the room, the soldier took one last deep breath and straightened his back „Sir! Twelve minutes ago we received a call from Warden Hannyabal in Impel Down, he is requesting assistance in dealing with the threat. My superior officer commanded the Warden to keep the Hunter in the prison as long as possible."
Akainu nodded and grabbed a paper from one of the drawers in his desk. He handed the document over to the soldier „Bring this to the communications central quickly, time is of the essence."
The soldier saluted and stormed out of the office.
„Ohhh look's like Blackbeard isn't the only one with a busy schedule..." drawled Kizaru as he shifted his gaze from the door to Sakazuki „so what are we going to doooo?"
Akainu made the finger pyramid of evil contemplation as he addressed the two marines „We have limited options in dealing with this incident. We can't allow the Hunter to destroy the prison, it would be a devastating blow against the reputation of the Marines and the World Government. We have no other choice but to gather our forces and engage the criminal at Impel Down."
Kizaru tilted his head „Why not just use a Buster Call on it? Would save time and liveeesss?"
„That wont guaranty success" interjected Captain Gorilla „we have seen at Enies Lobby that such heavy-handed methods are not ideal against targets such as the Hunter. Both at Ohara and the Judicial Island the Navy has failed to eliminate key figures, notably Nico Robin and the Strawhat pirates."
Akainu nodded „Correct. I already anticipated that we will find ourselves facing against the criminal again. Because of that in the last few week's I made some changes in the patrols. Marines that are the best suited to fight the Hunter and his abominations were placed along patrol lines closest to the Gates of Justice. Thanks to that we can get all the forces we need for the battle in less than three hours."
Gorilla nodded as he listened to the explanation To shift patrol duties between the green and experienced units was wise, though not in the long run...the sea's that the elite crew's were patrolling are too dangerous to be left to inexperienced troop's for an extended period of time. But what really worried him was the choice of the attack in the first place „With all do respect Fleet-Admiral, but this look's like a trap to me."
Akainu nodded again „Yes, most likely it is" he said in his leveled voice „The Hunter has more than a few options to infiltrate Impel Down without getting discovered and quickly retreating if found out, no this was intentional, it knows that we can't ignore such an incident and will have to send our best to fight him...on the open sea."
Kizaru's eye's widened at the implication „Ohhh he plans to lure us where we are the most vulnerable...the main targets were never the prisons criminals but usss."
Akainu nodded „The only way the Navy can win is if the Admiral's and/or the Fleet Admiral joins the battle. While we are powerful on land, when standing on a flimsy boat surrounded by nothing but the sea...lets just say we would have a severe terrain disadvantage."
That's putting it mildly...Kizaru tilted his head „But if we know it is a trapppp, then why are we still going?"
Sakazuki allowed himself a grim smile „Because trap's can also be turned back on their creator" was his cryptic answer that left Borsalino none the wiser.
„I take it that you consider the prisons inmates as lost or mutated?" inquired Gorilla.
The Fleet-Admiral shifted his sight on the captain „There are close to ten thousand prisoners in Impel Down, we have to assume that we will face them as beasts. Because of that the number of ships coming with us will be 160 with additional Pacifista troops on them." Akainu glanced at the clock The Tarai Current will be bringing ships quickly when they get the message, we should be going also.
Gorilla wrote a few thought in his booklet „Too bad Admiral Fujitora isn't here...his powers will be sorely missed on the battlefields."
„Or Ryokugyu for that matter" added Kizaru.
Sakazuki stood up from his desk and proceeded to get his coat „We will manage without them, justice will prevail, there is no other option."
Both Kizaru and Gorilla nodded as they turned to leave and get their ships ready for departure, but before Borsalino opened the door he glanced at the Fleet-Admirals desk, or rather a document put aside when the news about Blackbeard taking Marco's power came „Soooo what will you tell Dr. Asul? Sengoku would probably turn her down..."
Akainu glanced at the document „I will allow the experiments, a few hundred won't be missed."