Heavensward. The most important Marine base in all the Blue Seas.
Everyone who served there knew it. Technically Marineford was the central HQ, but Heavensward served a vital purpose. It guarded, and basically consisted of, one of the four lifts that could carry ships over the Red Line. From this base, it was a day's sail to Reverse Mountain, and beyond there the untraversable Calm Belt.
The base itself was a great cluster of massive pagodas; shielded by thick walls and tall, navy-painted towers, each encrusted with ship-killing guns. Below lay the docks, lined with dozens of ships; Nimitz-class cruisers, Nelson-class frigates, and many more. Marines swarmed over the ships and docks, patrolled the walls, manned the guns, trained or worked within the towers or the pagodas; carrying out the thousand-and-one small tasks that kept a base this size in working order.
Thousands upon thousands of Marines; and their spouses, and their children or other dependents. Enough firepower to make the mightiest pirate think twice before attacking.
All to protect the lift up to the Godsroad; and beyond it, the Holy Land of Mariejois.
And he was its commander.
Vice Admiral John Giant strode along the corridor; his long coat billowing, his footfalls ringing like thunderclaps. Marine guards and passers-by snapped to attention as he passed. At the end of the corridor, doors the size of ships swung open, clearing his path to the command center. Floor after floor of work stations lined the walls; officers and clerks leaping to their feet and saluting as he strode on by. In the corners of his eyes, he could see their faces; the old sweats who had served under him for years or more, and the newcomers staring at him in fear and wonder.
A man like no other, who had served like no other; and was provided for like no other. Over his simple orange shirt and loose blue trousers, he wore an officer's coat in pale yellow, with crimson lapels and lining, and gold frogging; the chest emblazoned with medals and orders. Upon his head sat a crimson bicorne hat, lined in gold, with the Marine emblem proudly emblazoned on the front.
The entire base had been remodeled for his needs, every corridor and hall made tall and wide enough for him to move around comfortably in. The rock dug out and stone cut away would have built an entire city; while the cost of the work would have paid for it. The entire Kong class had been designed for him and others like him.
The doors of his office swung open, and John strode inside. Only when they had swung shut did he finally let out a rumbling sigh. It was hard work keeping up appearances, being the vice admiral his subordinates expected, needed to see.
Especially when he had so much on his mind.
"Good morning sir!" greeted Master Chief Petty Officer Melinda as he sat down at his desk. His secretary was standing to attention on her balcony nearby; leading to her office within the wall.
"Melinda," he rumbled, turning to her. The speed of justice would not be delayed with idle talk. "What news this morning?"
"On the Germa matter, sir," Melinda replied. "We have confirmed reports of at least thirty snail cruisers over the past twenty-four hours. All ships seen have been moving in small flotillas of two or three. More reports are coming in, and the staff are collating them now."
"Has the communications team been in contact with Judge about this?"
"We have sir. King Judge assures us that they're taking part in a military exercise; and that they're helping us by running down pirate crews."
John frowned, knowing full well that was almost certainly a lie.
"No arrests made?"
"No sir. All our ships ever found were flaming wrecks. No survivors."
John sat in silence, gripping the arms of his throne-like chair.
"Sir, with all due respect," Melinda cut in. "I can't believe that this is just an exercise."
"You're right," John rumbled back; the sound echoing around the office like a boulder falling in a cave. "It isn't."
It didn't make sense. Major fleet operations were a rarity in the Blues. The last time John had seen anything like it was at Ohara; when the Marines had purged that nest of devils and usurpers. Yet here was Vinsmoke Judge, sending his snail cruisers hither and thither over the North Blue, spreading himself paper-thin. And for what? To slaughter a few random pirates?
"What's got you in a tizzy, Judge?" John murmured to himself, then turned his eyes to Melinda.
"Send a scout ship to Kaisafjord," he ordered. "Have them observe Germa, and show the flag around the local islands. Let them know that the Marines stand ready to protect them. They are to give reports regarding Germa's movements every hour."
"Understood sir."
John nodded, and Melinda headed back into her office. He sat back in his chair, and looked out of his window; at the cold, dark waters of the North Blue.
Something was happening; he could feel it in his bones. What could make the strongest kingdom in this sea act so frantic now?
"One more thing Melinda."
"Yes sir?"
"Have my carrier prepped and ready to go on a moment's notice. The two Kongs too."
"Right away sir."
Constant vigilance. Zero tolerance. Extreme prejudice.
That was the way of Absolute Justice.
(X)
The sun was beginning to set.
Izuku flew on, over and through the clouds. Below him, islands and atolls lay spread out on the glittering ocean.
He was glad to see them. There were plenty of islands here in the North Blue; not like in the New World, where he was lucky to find an island a day. Here there would be plenty of rest stops and plenty of people to remind him this world wasn't just a massive endless ocean.
"How much further?" Yamato called out from atop his back.
"Not much longer now!" called Sora from under his chest. "You'll know when you see it!"
Izuku dropped down under the clouds for a better view. Yamato pulled out her binoculars, and began to look around.
"Let's see… an island shaped like a bird…" she murmured.
Below him, Sora was looking around too. She had named many of the islands for them already. Bushy Atoll, Peacoc Delta, Isla Sanitz, and many more. She certainly knew her way around the North Blue.
'Makes you wonder what sort of family business she's aiming to get away from' the Third mused.
'She's been nothing but nice and kind to us. I don't see the issue' retorted Nana .
'Yeah! Not everyday we get to carry two ladies!' Daigoro asserted with a smirk, earning him a whack from Nana.
'Something just feels off to me' groused the Third. 'I smell a rat.'
'Bruce… knock it off,'
the Second warned, and Izuku blinked.
"So that's his name…" Izuku muttered to himself.
"Hmm?" Sora turned her head to look at him.
"Oh uh, nothing. Just thinking to myself and-"
"I see it!" Yamato pointed, and Izuku looked to see. There, many miles away, towering high above the ocean, was a mountain in the shape of a bird; covered in trees in place of feathers.
"Did someone carve that?!" Izuku asked, eyes wide. There was no way it could be natural!
"Swallow Island was rumored to have been carved by giants centuries ago," Sora explained.
"Ohhh giants… They live in Elbaf, don't they?" Izuku asked. He had read about them in the Moby Dick's library. Even after growing up in a world where giant people were common enough, the thought of a whole society of such mighty beings amazed him.
It would have been a nice place to visit; if it wasn't Red Hair Shanks' base of operations.
"Yes, on Elbaf. Deep in the Grand Line." Sora pointed to her left, and Izuku could just make out an island, whose coast seems to extend far from the horizon, with many mountains. "Over there is the Perith Expanse. There's a lot of mining towns there. Ash from the volcanoes settles on the islands around here, enriching the soil."
"So that's why there's all those forests on the islands we flew over!" Yamato mused.
"Sora, is Swallow Island part of the World Government?" Izuku asked, changing the subject.
"Not really. There's not much there at all" surmised Sora. "Just a few small towns like Tailfeather Bay, but that's it. The people there have mostly been priced out of living in the kingdoms further south like Whitehall. Rubeck has a Marine Branch base, but there isn't much piracy around here. The major bases are around the southern coast of the Expanse."
"I see…" Izuku nodded. "You certainly know your way around this place."
"I've… been around, when I was with the family business." Sora adjusted her headphones, brushing her hair a little. "Map reading was easy to me, and it never hurt to know the lay of the land either."
"Well… is there any big time city around here we could maybe break at? We can spend the night at Tailfeather."
Izuku veered towards what he assumed was Tailfeather; a small town and bay right under the mountain's tail, with boats in the water nearby.
'We also need to drop her off for good too,' the Third, otherwise known as Bruce, added. 'We can't lose sight of our goal either; to wage war against the Germa 66.'
That was true. They had to find a place where Sora would be safe, and then find the Germa fleet. But where? And how?
"How big is Whitehall?" Izuku asked.
"It's one of the larger cities in North Blue, alongside Whiteland, Duel, and Lvneel," replied Sora. "Why do you ask?"
"Nothing much." Izuku shrugged. "Maybe look for supplies. I thought they might have a wider range."
"That's fair…" Sora mused. "They should have-"
She trailed off, as thunder rumbled around them. Izuku looked, half-expecting to see storm clouds nearby. But there were none.
"Down there!" Yamato pointed down towards Tailfeather Bay. "The harbor!"
Izuku looked, and saw gray smoke billowing over the bay; and black smoke rising from the town.
A battle! The town was under attack!
"Hang on!" Izuku tightened his Black Whip, and sped off towards the island. He banked hard and dove, angling down towards the mountain. He leveled off over the forest, flying just over the tree canopy, until he was around a hundred yards out.
The instant he touched down, Izuku released Yamato and Sora, ignoring the stiffness in his arms. He dropped off his backpack, and pulled up his hood; sliding his mask into place. Yamato dropped off her own bag, and pulled out her kanabo. Below, Izuku could see the town; a cluster of buildings surrounded by a fence, with an open square in the middle.
"Sora, stay here!" Izuku ordered as One For All pulsed through his body. "We'll handle this!"
He dashed down the hill, Yamato right behind him. They leapt the fence and slowed, creeping between the outer buildings. The gunfire had stopped, but Izuku could hear yelling and jeering coming from the town square. Unsettled, he slowed down; Yamato doing likewise. They crept between the buildings, and stopped as they reached the square, hidden behind crates and barrels. Izuku peered out, readying himself to move, to fight.
"What the…" En muttered inside Izuku's head. In the middle of the square was a long bench, upon which sat a row of human heads.
Izuku's stomach roiled. Were they too late!?
"Anyone else noticing something is off about this?" The Second spoke with confusion, making Izuku look a little closer at the heads. To his shock, there was no blood of any kind around the base of the neck, despite the cuts. More importantly…
"HEY! SOMEBODY HELP!"
"PLEASE, I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!"
The heads were all screaming….despite being well… just heads.
It was in that moment Izuku felt something in his brain snap as reality seemed to collapse all around him.
"That's…a row of heads. A row of TALKING heads…without bodies?" Hikage looked just as utterly baffled, nothing in his years of study offering any kind of answer.
"Huh, a row of useless talking heads, otherwise known as most modern governments." Bruce cackled a little at his own joke, only for Nana to get right in his face, looking utterly livid.
"HOW ARE YOU SO CALM ABOUT ALL THIS!?"
Bruce merely shrugged. "At this point, I've just come to accept anything can happen in this wacky world. And hey, cracking jokes is better than going crazy. Ask the brits."
"En!" Izuku, recovering from the odd sight and loud debate in his head, turned, and saw Sora hurrying up behind them. He looked around, half-expecting an attack. But nothing happened. Doubtless no one had heard her over all that yelling.
He peered out again. There were people in the square, forming a loose circle around the edge; while more looked out of windows and doors. They were shouting and waving their arms, their ire directed at a human body stumbling around the square in front of them. A human body dressed in the grungy attire of a pirate.
A human body…without a head.
"We're never gonna get used to this kind of shit are we?" The Second groaned, wishing he had a drink to cope with this madness.
"That's what you get for attacking our town!" shouted a woman.
"Yeah, that'll make you think twice!" roared a man. More of them added their voices, shaking their fists and making rude gestures; venting their rage at the helpless, wandering body as it staggered around the square.
"Is this really happening right now?" Izuku uttered, mind struggling to process what he was witnessing.
"Izuku" Yamato whispered in his ear, soft enough for Sora not to hear. "Devil Fruit power. Has to be."
Izuku nodded. A thump drew his attention back to the square, as the body walked right into a wall; and the crowd roared with laughter. Izuku felt sick at the sight of it.
"Best we stay out of sight," suggested En. "These folks don't look too friendly."
"Even ordinary people can become monsters when pushed the wrong way," commented Yoichi.
"I mean it's not all bad, the man isn't bleeding and doesn't appear to be in serious pain at least." Hikage said, trying to keep things optimistic, still reeling from something that defied all logic.
Izuku nodded, and looked around for somewhere else to hide. The buildings lining the square had back and side doors, and he crept up to one of them, trying the knob. It opened, and Izuku crept inside, followed by Yamato and Sora. It was full of bookshelves, and had a counter at the back. A library or bookstore, maybe.
"Sora!" Izuku whispered, as Yamato eased the door shut behind them.
"I can manage!" Sora whispered back. "Better to hide here than in the woods! What if there's more headless people!? Or whoever did that!?"
Izuku didn't like it, but he had to admit she was right. Best to stick together and under cover.
"You damn rats!" roared a voice from the square. Izuku crept up to one of the front windows, one with a cracked pane; Yamato and Sora following on.
"Don't you know who I am!?" the voice went. "I'm Slingkiller Weysel! Captain of the Slinger Pirates! I'll make you pay for…!"
"For what?"
Izuku peered through the window. The crowd fell silent as a young man came swaggering through, and stopped in front of the bench. He was tall and lean, wearing a black tank-top, yellow vest, and blue jeans with black spots. On his head was a furry white cap with black spots. Izuku could see tattoos on his arms, and earrings in his ears; and in one hand was a long-bladed nodachi, resting on his shoulder.
Most noticeable of all however, was the image of of a smiling skull of sorts with what looked like nails around it's outer layer emblazoned on the man's shirt…a Jolly Roger.
"Great more pirates. What're the odds these guys are friendly?" Daigoro moaned, already not liking their chances. Izuku however found his attention focused more on the symbol than the man wearing it.
There was something about that Jolly Roger. He had seen it somewhere before…but where?
"Just about got them all!" called another voice from across the square.
"Yep! Wrangling'em up's a blast an a half!" cheered yet another. The crowd parted again to make way for two men in jumpsuits. One wore a black cap with a yellow peak; the word PENGUIN emblazoned across the front. The other wore a big blue hat from which hung spiky brown hair; his eyes covered by dark glasses. The pair were leading a coffle of headless bodies, bound up in rope.
"You bastards! Give us our bodies back!" yelled the same voice from before. Only then did Izuku realize that the voice was coming from one of the heads on the bench.
They were still alive!?
"Come on Captain!" cried one of the other heads. "We gotta live to fight another day! I can't go another second looking at… me! Without a head!"
The other heads wept and wailed, wriggling helplessly on their necks. Izuku stared, being both stunned and appalled, as the lean man picked up one of the heads and began tossing it up and down as if it were a ball.
"Ahhhhh! Captaaaaaain! Save meeeeeee! I'm gonna be siiiiiiiick~!" wailed the head. The central head, apparently Weysel, glared and snarled; but he was as helpless as his crew.
"After what you tried to pull, attacking us like that!" barked one of the townsfolk. "We should tar and feather you!"
"And beat you all up! Like Pinatas!" added a child.
"Pi! Na! Ta! Pi! Na! Ta! Pi! Na! Ta!" chanted the townsfolk. All the heads but Weysel shivered in fear.
"Enough," declared the lean man, and the people calmed down in an instant. "They came, they saw, and they utterly failed to conquer. And besides, their wounded pride will hurt worse than anything you can do to them." He looked up at the street from which his two companions had come. "Bepo! Got the goods?"
"Aye aye sir!" Izuku looked on in amazement as a white bear mink in an orange jumpsuit came waddling into the square; a bulging sack over his shoulder. "Got all their valuables! Gem, guns, strongboxes, ya name it!"
"Damn you!" Weysel snarled. "We had fifty million berries in that vault!"
"Fifty million?" The lean man scoffed. "You can earn that back easily. Your lives, on the other hand…" He trailed off, tossing the sickly-looking head up and down some more. He paused, as one of the bodies doubled over, and held the head away from him as it barfed onto the ground.
Izuku found himself again baffled that such a thing could happen while his head wasn't connected to his body.
"I'm in a good mood at the moment though, so you should be counting your blessings." He tossed the head at the slumped body. Izuku starred as the head reconnected, and the restored pirate looked up. Bald, scarred, and with a face only a mother could love, he panted and heaved; then his eyes lit up.
"I'm back… I'm back to myseeeelf~!" he wailed with joy; clutching his freshly-reattached head.
"Now, I won't repeat this," ordered the lean man, glowering at the other heads. "Get on your ship, get off my island, and never come around here again. Got it?"
Weysel snarled, but looked down at the ground. "We'll go back to the ship."
"Good. Shachi, Penguin, take the bodies to the ship." The man turned, and strode over to the middle of the square, where what looked like a smashed fountain stood. He picked up a plank from the debris, drew back his arm, and threw it over the town. The townsfolk clapped and cheered as he threw more and more debris, until none remained.
"Aye aye sir!" The duo saluted, and dragged the headless bodies back the way they had come; Mr Puke following on. Their captain turned back to the heads, and pointed his forefingers at them. His face wore the cocky smirk of a man who knew exactly what he was doing.
"Now get lost. Shambles." He crossed his fingers, and the heads vanished; replaced, in an eyeblink, by the debris he had thrown earlier. He took a long breath, as the townsfolk whooped and cheered their approval.
"Huh. He seems nice," Yamato mused.
"And once again I stand by my statement this girl is a dumbass" Bruce mumbled, Izuku not necessarily agreeing with his observation, but still gave his companion a cross look.
"Remember the last time we encountered a Paramecia User Anna?" he said sternly. He didn't need to be reminded of that.
"I know, just… he protected those people! Look at them!" she pleaded. "I think he's a good guy."
"A good guy with a sadistic streak," Izuku murmured as Yamato put her mask back on.
"So like Bakugo then?"
Izuku mind came to screeching halt as he slowly turned to look at Yamato's masked face, the image of his former best friend slowly forming in the back of his mind.
"GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS YOU DAMN NERD AND GET MOVING OR I'LL KILL YOU!"
That familiar voice made Izuku chuckle a little, sounding exactly like as though the blonde bomber was still there.
"Yeah, I guess you've got a point. Can't judge a book by its cover I suppose. Thanks."
Again Yamato beamed at the praise and gave her friend another of her signature hugs, though this one was only for a moment.
"Ludeterin?" Sora inquired. "Also, whose Bakugo?"
Izuku returned Yamato's hug for a moment and let go, turning to look at Sora. "Bakugo, he is…was a good friend of mine from before I met Anna. A bit like that pirate over there actually."
"And Ludeterin was an island we stopped by." Yamato smiled behind her terrifying mask.
With his conflict somewhat resolved, Izuku looked again at the black-haired man as he strolled about; talking with the people. Despite how disturbing the scene should've been, they all seemed very happy, very glad to see him.
Almost as if he were a Pro Hero.
A cry rang out, and Danger Sense buzzed in his head.
(X)
It had been a good day for Trafalgar Law.
They'd spent a week sailing around Swallow, Rubeck, Minion, and up around the northern coast of the Penrith Expanse; hunting for pirates and Marine supply ships. With a hold full of loot they had headed home, making good time. Better yet, the latest edition of Sora the Sea Warrior had arrived; and he even found time to read it.
Coming home to find the Slinger Pirates raiding the place had been annoying. But nothing they couldn't handle.
"Law thank you!" declared Old Craft, eyes bright with gratitude.
"Yeah! When you tossed that head up and down was soooo gross and cool!" Young Ray exclaimed. "I wanna be just like you!"
"Ray behave yourself!" his mother admonished, holding her son's shoulders. "Thank you so much yet again Law."
"Don't mention it. This is my base after all." Law forced himself to smile as he felt the drain within him. He glanced at his hand.
Five minutes. That was the longest he had ever kept Room up.
"You think you can give my Dad a checkup?" asked Young Abigail. "He has a weird cough. You can do your Room Room thing and make him all better, right?"
"Just have him come by my clinic, I'll take care of him the usual way," Law assured her. Nearby, Bepo had opened up his sack of treasure, and with the help of Mayor Ash was handing it out to the townsfolk. "Hey Ash, you'll play fair with that, right?"
"Of course," Ash replied, smiling. His face was scarred, and an ear was missing, but Law knew he was a good man. "We need every Berry and gun we can get. You'll have to go out again before too long, right?"
"No worries," Law assured him. "I'm in no hurry."
"Law." Ash gave him a searching look. "Everyone knows how much going to the Grand Line means to you."
Law looked away. Penguin and Shachi were trying it on with some of the girls, while their boyfriends tried to scare them off. Bepo was being mobbed by children; asking if he was a bear or a Devil Fruit user.
He smiled. His Heart Pirates were heroes to these people. It felt…good, somehow.
But Ash had a point, He couldn't stay in Swallow forever, however much he might want to. Sooner or later, he would have to head out; to start on his adventure. He had given these people plenty of money; enough to get their feet firmly under them. And while he had raided Marine ships, he hadn't killed any of them.
Well…he had taken their heads…and their limbs. But he had given them back again afterwards!
Then again, Swallow had no doctor. And he had enjoyed helping these people. It was fulfilling.
No. Ash was right, he couldn't stay. His bounty was only seven million, but sooner or later Heavensward was going to get sick of him; enough to actually do something about him. His bounty would go up, and Heavensward would come down; with malice aforethought and guns double-shotted.
Or Doflamingo's inside man might get word to his master; and bring the Warlord here in person.
Best to go.
"TRAFALGAR LAW!" Law sighed, and glanced down the main street towards the harbor. There, making good speed for the open sea, was the Slinger pirates' ship. Weysel was standing on the stern, two brass cannons on his shoulders. "I'LL MAKE YOU PAY FOR ROBBING ME BLIND!"
"Run!" Law ordered, and the townsfolk scattered. This could get messy.
"Ya didn't push over the cannons Bepo?!" Penguin admonished the Polar Bear Mink.
"Captain told me to get valuables and firearms! Not Cannons! Plus his Room's on a timer!" Bepo wailed.
Law glared, holding his hand up as he unsheathed his long katana. "Room!"
The blue energy formed on his hand; sputtering like a candle flame in a breeze. Law gritted his teeth, willing the power to rise. He was at his limit!
"No one messes with Weysel the Slinger! AND LIIIIVES!" The cannons went off, gray smoke billowing over Weysel and his ship. Law could see the cannonballs coming, heard his crew cry out. This was gonna be…
Something green flashed in front of him. He heard a grunt, and a whoosh, and a gust of wind washed over him; making the window panes rattle. Up ahead, he saw the ship lurch as the cannonballs landed in the water to either side.
He blinked, bewildered. What the hell was that?
Then he saw. A short figure, hunched over, dressed in green and black; with a yellow scarf around his neck. There was a hood over his head, with…rabbit ears?
"You okay?" the green figure asked, turning to face him. The lower half of his face was covered by a metal mask; but Law could see green eyes and green hair under the hood.
He sounded …young?
"HUUUUUUUUUH~?!" came a roar from the fleeing ship. Weysel and his crew were crowded on the stern, staring with mouths agape.
"EEHHHHHHHH~?!" Shachi, Penguin, and Bepo had their arms raised high.
"WHAAAAAAAAA~?!" The townsfolk all gasped in shock.
"Cooooooooll!" Young Ray exclaimed, eyes sparkling.
Only Law stayed silent, staring in stunned disbelief at this whatever-it-was in front of him.
"Who-"
He heard a crash from the bay. He looked up to see the ship lurch, and lurch again. He could hear wood splintering and men screaming; and gaped as a pirate flew right off the deck and landed in the water.
"GET AWAY FROM! YOU GORILLAAAAAARGH!~!"
Weysel flew into the air, splashing into the water like a mortar shell. The green man raised his hand, and then a white-clad figure leapt off the ship, flying high through the air. More men started being battered left and right into the water too.
The green man flicked his hand, and a ball of rippling air leapt from it; slamming right into the ship, perforating it from stern to bow like a cannon shot.
No. Not a cannon shot. No cannon could do that.
It kept going, diving the waves as it traveled.
"Get to the boats! Row for your lives!" shrieked Weysel. The terrified pirates threw their boats off the deck and leapt in after them; scrambling aboard and rowing away as fast as they could. Behind them, the ship groaned and clunked as it settled into the bay.
And the white figure landed in front of them with a thud; making the whole town shake. It was a woman, and a very tall one at that; her face covered by a demonic mask with frizzy blue hair attached to it. She wore a brown jacket over a white tunic, with big wide red pants. He had seen clothes like those before, somewhere. On her shoulder was a club almost as long as he was tall.
"You okay?" the green man, no, boy, asked, offering his hand. His voice was gentle and friendly, his eyes suddenly soft.
"Who…" babbled Law, his mind racing like a hamster wheel. "Who…are you?"
So much for an easy day.
And there he is. The one you're all waiting for. A greenhorn rookie Law and his fledging small crew consisting of two dudes and a bear.
Big thanks to the team as always. Good ole Juubi-K , WildJoker000 , and IKnowNothing who turned this around fast and in a hurry. Well done my dudes.
So yeah, introduced the Marines in charge of North Blue and the Vice Admiral there? John Giant himself. Makes sense an Absolute Justice hardliner like him would be so stingy on piracy and guarding Heavensward, and with it being close to Reverse Mountain at that too. What happens next? Well, little downtime for now. We're getting to some of the good stuff in the arc bit by bit...
Hope you all enjoyed this! I'll see you all in the next one. Got to focus on FFESS(whenever LD1449 is ready to edit them of course...)