North Blue
The night was cold, and the sea was colder.
On the quarterdeck of the Liberal Hind, Rear Admiral X Drake glared out over the dark waters. In the near distance, he could make out the lights of the Wendig Kingdom. Past the stern, a pirate ship smoldered as it slipped beneath the waves. Another fledgling pirate crew, another band of anklebiters who dreamed of being Emperors; consigned to the deep where they belonged.
The fourth he and his crew had encountered in the past 36 hours.
Two days had passed since the World Economic Times had revealed the destruction of Germa and the Heavensward Fleet. Since then, the North Blue had been in chaos. The remaining Marine ships were run ragged trying to hold them back; with a half-dozen pirate ships slipping through for every one they stopped.
And that wasn't all. Deul and Whiteland had already announced that they had amassed armies; not just the usual police or militias, but honest-to-goodness armies.
The other kingdoms were complaining, demanding to know what the Marines, or the World Government, intended to do about it. Marineford had sent out Vice Admiral Tsuru to try and calm things down, but she would have her work cut out for her.
His lip curled, and his teeth gritted. This was where he and his crew belonged; out here, running the pirates down. But Marineford had given him a new mission; to find the Heart Pirates, and relay their position to Admiral Kizaru; who was en-route to relieve Kaisafjord with the SSG flotilla.
Bad enough that it pulled him off patrol. It was delaying his real mission; the plan he and SWORD had been cooking up for years. Sail to an island near Reverse Mountain - it didn't much matter which one - then give the crew their combat bonuses and send them out on leave. While they were boozing it up, he and his fellow officers - SWORD members one and all - would take the ship and head for the New World. Once there, they would travel the Grand Line, reach the second half and join an Emperor's crew to send back information.
It was an important mission; no, a critical mission. The Four Emperors were getting stronger all the time, strong enough that they might, one day, challenge the World Government. Whitebeard and his vast fleet. Kaido and his armed machines of war in Wano. Big Mom and her many islands. Red Hair making Warland Elbaf his base.
And now The fiasco at Kaisafjord, with sixty warships lost, made the situation all the more critical; critical enough for SWORD to activate this plan. Marine HQ needed all the intel it could get.
So he would go. He would defect from the Marines, betray his oath, throw away what little honor he had. Just like his father before him; and his old commander, Spytand Malice.
How had it come to this? Why did every year seem worse than the last? Why did it feel like the world was descending, slowly, into darkness?
"Sir! Ship hailing!"
Drake looked up, to see Reynolds, his Flag Captain, standing there with an eyeglass. Drake took it, and looked where he was pointing.
There was indeed a ship, running with its lights on. It was a twin of his own ship, a Sengoku-class destroyer; looking to a layman's eye like a Kong-class battleship scaled down.
But then he saw its color scheme, and the Five Orb Cross banner flying from the mast; and the words WORLD GOV'T emblazoned across its sails.
This wasn't a Sengoku-class destroyer; rather its cousin, the Antoinette class, reserved for the World Government's own forces.
"Come about!" he ordered, snapping the glass shut and handing it back to Reynolds. "Bring us alongside!"
Then he froze, as he saw a tiny white shape detach itself from the ship and leap into the air. He watched, amazed, as it descended from the sky, and landed on the quarterdeck in front of him.
"Good evening, Rear Admiral," it said, straightening up. It was a man in a white suit, with a matching white coat over his shoulders in the Marine style. An over-large white bowler hat sat on his head; shadowing a face covered in white paint.
His men were nervous. And they were right to be. Even Drake felt a sliver of fear wash over him.
"Agent Guernica, I presume?" Drake asked, though only out of politeness.
"Indeed." His voice was mild, unsettlingly so. "I was just passing, and I thought we might coordinate. Perhaps over tea? These seas have been quite rough."
"By all means, Agent." Drake doffed his hat, then led the way down the stairs, through the hatch into the stern cabin; where his office and quarters were located.
He knew full well a request from Cipher Pol Aegis Zero could NOT be rejected.
"I must say, I'm surprised to see a Rear Admiral to be taking part in this assignment," mused Guernica, as he took the chair opposite Drake's own. "Sengoku must be short-handed these days."
"I was in the area, and the Fleet Admiral asked for my help." Drake set a cup of tea on the desk before him, then sat down in his own chair. "I grew up in these parts and am more than happy to lend a hand to those in need."
"Hmm, ever the diligent servant. The Marines could use more men like you, Rear Admiral. How goes the hunt?"
"No sign of the Hearts yet, unfortunately," admitted Drake. "We've been searching for two days now; around Lvneel and Osloan, and now Wendig."
"My my, such speed. Then again, Wendig and Osloan are neighbors, and good ones too. Pity that most kingdoms aren't so…cordial."
"Even as Member Nations, old grudges are hard to bury. Are you here to talk sense into them?" Drake asked, slightly praying that was the case so he'd leave faster.
"In part. Kizaru and I are here as a deterrent, to ensure the Member Nations don't do anything…hasty. Hopefully news of my presence will calm them down…or else."
"Hungry?" Drake suggested quickly, hoping to change the subject and more importantly, get him off the ship quicker.
"No thank you, I'm not hungry at the moment."
Guernica took a sip of his tea.
"So, did you just arrive from Heavensward?" Drake asked.
"Indeed. I am coordinating with Admiral Kizaru on the hunt for Law. Showing the flag is a fringe benefit, but capturing the Heart Pirates is paramount."
What did the Holy Land want with Trafalgar Law? He was a million-berry anklebiter, a nobody!
Or was it the three demons that really interested them?
"I'll keep that in mind. I'll call in Admiral Kizaru as soon as I see them."
"Call me too. As you just saw, I can manage long distances quickly; and I'll be only too happy to help you capture Law. He may have been small-fry up to now, but he's managed to throw the North Blue into chaos."
Drake shivered. Law had done something every son and daughter in the North Blue had dreamed of. He had destroyed the Germa 66; just like Sora in the comics. Yet he had been a mere stripling until that very moment. It must have been those monsters of his.
The monsters…
"If I may…I think Law may be taking his cue from…Sora, Warrior of the Sea."
"Oh?" Gurneica put down his tea cup, gaze firmly on Drake, who felt considerably smaller under his eyes.
"The Black Beast is similar to Black Beast Parl; superficially at least. Sora's popular in these parts, so I suppose it's no surprise."
"You mean to say Law attacked Germa out of comic book fanaticism?" Guernica's face was expressionless. "Fascinating."
"Just an opinion, sir. The comic is quite popular amongst young men, and Germa was the inspiration for the comic after all." Drake spoke rather confidently, even he had read the comics once or twice.
"I'll take it into consideration, all the same." Guernica took a sip of tea. "In the meantime, there is another matter. Your mission with SWORD."
Drake felt his pulse practically stop.
He knew. Of course he knew; he was with CP0, the apex of the WG's myriad intelligence agencies. He would've been surprised if they didn't know.
"My priority is the capture of Law, until I hear otherwise from the Fleet Admiral," he replied firmly. "And I have no intention of deviating from that order, regardless of my standing within SWORD."
"All the same…to join up with one of the Four Emperors," Guernica mused. "To earn an Emperor's confidence…and attack from within, deeper than Cipher Pol ever dreamed of. A daunting task indeed." He sipped his tea again. "Can you do it?"
"I must." Drake spoke without hesitation.
"Why?"
"Because it's the only way to bring about change." Drake cleared his throat. "The Emperors are too strong to attack directly; and nothing else is working. If I can find crucial intel on the inside, we can hit them where it hurts."
"Even if it disrupts the balance of the Three Great Powers?" Geurnica mused. "Surely you must be aware that even if you succeed and an Emperor is felled, the fallout would be incalculable. The current state of the North Blue is a perfect example of such an action, albeit far smaller in scale."
"Are you asking because you disagree with SWORD's purpose?"
"I'm only curious." The white suited man replied, face like stone. "It's rare to see any Marine go so far, take so many risks. Your…dedication is admirable, I'm merely wondering where you draw it from."
He was digging. But for what?
"In my opinion, that balance cannot hold much longer. Better to flip it under circumstances of our choosing, and gain the upper hand."
Guernica paused, and looked at him for a few moments. Drake tried to read his intent, but his eyes were as expressionless as his face. He had not gotten his high post for nothing, it was clear.
"All the same, you are making a considerable personal sacrifice," The spy went on. "You've risen surprisingly far and surprisingly quickly, considering your background. Besides your father, and your time with him, I understand you served under Spytand Malice before his…departure."
Drake sat there, his blood running cold, as Guernica took a very long, slow sip.
"People are losing faith in the Marines," He continued. "The debacle in Doyle has been largely resolved, but the new auditing system is hampering Marine operations, not to mention airing a lot of dirty laundry. Why, Commodore Bilic was recently arrested for corruption in the Index Duchy. My point is that you are the World Government's face…but a face can only take so many blows before it is… unrecognizable."
"Trying to talk me out of this, sir?"
"Not really. You fascinate me, that's all." Though his face didn't change, nor his tone, Drake swore the man was mocking him.
Was this really just a game to him? Was it all just intellectual amusement? Is that how people in the Holy Land really thought?
Is that what had driven Vice Admiral Malice insane?
"Let them slander me, sir," he said, and meant it. "I do this to protect innocent people; not to burnish my image. If I die, it means I failed; but someone will take my place. Until then, I'll do the best I can."
It was what Sengoku, or Garp, or Aokiji would do.
It was what a good Marine was supposed to do.
"It's what Sora of the Sea, a hero, would do."
Guernica gave him a long, strange look.
"You talk more like some storybook protagonist than a Marine," he commented mildly. "Perhaps those comics were more influential than I believed."
"I am well read. And I am a son of the North."
Guernica finished his tea.
"Well, keep that enthusiasm about you Rear Admiral. You'll need it when you're being hunted down as a traitor."
"I know. But I won't stop until I join one of the Emperors, and subvert them from within."
"Even if it means killing your former comrades?"
Drake stared hard at the fact painted man, who might as well be a statue.
"I'll do my best to avoid it. I can avoid Marine bases and patrol routes. If I'm captured by Marines, then I'll have failed and I'll be confined to a desk job. If I'm captured by pirates, I'll be disavowed; and they'll do with me as they please. That's the end for most SWORD Marines; but I'm in no rush to die."
"Still, there will be those who won't like the apple cart being…" Geurnica stared back with those empty white eyes. "upset."
"As I said, the apple cart is getting upset regardless." Drake glared back lightly. "We might as well upset it in our favor. So that everyone, like the people of Wendig and even the Holy Land can rest easy."
The agent's face twisted into what might have been a smirk, and he finished his tea.
"Thank you for the tea, now I must be going." He stood up, and Drake escorted him out to the deck. "Good day, Rear Admiral…and good luck."
He leapt, flying through the night air back to his ship.
"May I ask what that was about, sir?" hazarded Reynolds.
"You can ask, but I can't answer," replied Drake. "You can never tell with these Cipher Pol types, and it's better not to try."
"Yes sir."
"Ship hailing! From the east!"
Drake looked up, and saw one of the lookouts pointing over the gunwale. He looked, and saw another ship approaching; lit up against the darkness. Drake took the eyeglass again, and took a closer look.
"It's the Speedwell," he said aloud. "Vice Admiral Vergo is joining us."
Law was going to have a hard time escaping from this.
(X)
A black shape winged through the skies above.
King flew fast, his flames kept down. Below, he could see the lights of three ships; one in World Government colors, the other two in Marine colors. One of them he recognized as the Speedwell, belonging to Joker's inside man.
He would watch that one; but he had been flying hard, and he needed a break.
He transformed, shifting into his Pteranodon form. He spread his wings wide, letting the cold wind carry him; banking to ensure he didn't pass between the Moon and the ships below. He didn't want them seeing him, even if the night sky helped render him all but invisible.
The World Government ship heaved away, heading off on its own; while the two Marine ships formed up together. King flew on, straining his Observation Haki, looking desperately for even the smallest sign.
"Where are you… Deku…!"
And he head off into the night, looking for an isolated island to rest.
And this one was written up by Juubi-K . Thanks buddy. And thanks to IKnowNothing and WildJoker000 as well.
With this, we finish up the world reactions, and next chapter we will check in on our heroes.
Hope you all enjoyed this. Not much to mention here. Next chapte rmay not come until December given I need to work on FFESS and finish that.
See ya next time.