Chapter 13
Marine Base G-8
Saga looks up as he hears sirens begin to blare around the marine base.
"Hey! What's going on?" one of the inmates asks in their cell.
Taking a chance, Saga immediately starts to wriggle his cuffs bellow his waist and around his legs. He had to rock onto his back to get the first leg through his arms, but Saga was able to get his hands in front of him.
The swordsman then stood and rammed his knee into the wooden cuffs. It didn't break immediately but his idea was working. The wood creaked inside the steel frame. Saga did this a few more times, then, using a particularly jutting edge of his prison cell—using all his strength, he thrust his cuffs into it!
"HI—YA!" The cuffs snapped in two! And the hinged part fell off his wrist. Saga then pried the loose cuff from his other hand. He was unbound, but still had to get out of this cell!
And that moment almost came too soon!
"This way! We have to get to the—GRK!" This marine had made the mistake of running too close to his cell. Saga had thrust his arm out, clotheslining the marine, and wrapping his arm around the soldier's neck! The soldier who just so happened to have the keys!
O O O
"[ATTENTION APPROACHING SAILING VESSEL! YOU ARE IN VIOLATION ON CODE 39 OF THE WORLD GOVERNMENT ACCORDS! TURN AROUND IMMEDIATELY!]"
"You sure this is going to work?" Schneider asked as he looked from behind the Rokuron Dokuron. Maxwell, Buzz, and himself were now in the lifeboat, being dragged by a rope behind the ship. This was part of their plan, even if Schneider questioned the validity of it.
Buzz, earlier, had flown the rope around and under the ship's protrusions so it wouldn't get caught. It was a spare coil of rigging cord had been tied to the secondary mast. That, was then tied to the lifeboat they were occupying. When they landed in the water, they then let the pirate ship tug them along, straight towards the marine base. And with Maxwell using magic, the Rokuron wouldn't veer off course!
"The ship is big enough to be a shield from cannon fire." Maxwell assured him. Though, that didn't stop the mage from casting a Barrier on them all. "It'll provide us cover while we get close to the shipyards. Even if they manage to sink the ship, we can still sail in if we put the sail up."
Their lifeboat honestly reminded Maxwell of that little dinghy he and Luffy used to sail around in when they first met in the East Blue. They sailed for days without a breeze, or rowed the oars till they finally got somewhere. It made Maxwell feel nostalgic.
Plus he could conjure up a Blizzard catch their sail if they needed to move quickly. Which WAS the plan! Get close, make the marines think they succeeded, then sucker punch them heading in with a magical speedboat!
It was foolproof!
"[ATTENTION APPROACHING SAILING VESSEL! YOU ARE IN VIOLATION ON CODE 39 OF THE WORLD GOVERNMENT ACCORDS! TURN AROUND IMMEDIATELY!]"
"You sure you want to be part of this?" Maxwell asked his companion. "Last chance!"
"Ha! You're not getting rid of me that easy, laddie!" Schneider then flexed his arm, slapping his bicep. "Bring it on!"
"[APPROACHING SAILING VESSEL! YOU ARE IN VIOLATION ON CODE 39 OF THE WORLD GOVERNMENT ACCORDS! TURN AROUND OR YOU WILL BE FIRED UPON! LAST WARNING!]"
"Here we go." Maxwell sent out a silent prayer.
…
…
…
*BOOM!* … *SPLASH!*
G-8 fired their cannons at the Rokuron Dokuron.
Buzz immediately began to whine and hide under the plank seat. The steady beats of artillery followed by the shrill streaking of the cannonballs would be enough to unnerve most people.
Maxwell and Schneider held firm though, keeping an eye on the approaching mountain. The waves rocked their boat. Ripples from the water disturbed by the cannons.
*BOOM!* … *CRASH!*
As they got closer though, the marine's aim became better and better. Cannonballs were actually starting to penetrate the Rukuron. A few shooting into the hull, while others hit the deck.
They were getting closer now…
"Bet'cha they're mighty confused that there's no one aboard."
"Heh, no bet." Maxwell smirked.
*BOOM! SNAP!*
"Shit!" Maxwell felt it happen before he saw it happen. One of the cannonballs had hit the main mast! The yards came timbering backwards, falling onto the cabin. A cacophony of broken pottery and snapping wood echoed from the ship, signalling the end to their safe propulsion. The secondary mast wouldn't be able to sustain their speed.
Maxwell summoned a Spirit Blade around his fake arm and slashed the tethering rope. "Schneider, help me set up the sail!"
They had to be quick! The marines were going to sink that ship now that it was a sitting duck! Maxwell had been hoping they would be closer to the doors before that happened. But then again, not every plan survives first contact with the enemy.
*BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, CRACK, SPLASH!*
Maxwell erected the sail while Schneider tied the tethers. The Rokuron Dokuron was sinking fast! White foam spluttered and gushed from the ship's wounds! The marines watched as the the two prows rose skyward, signaling and end to the pirate ship.
Then a jet of white escaped its confines.
Maxwell stood holding onto the mast, his prosthetic tied around it. Mineive's hilt was in his dominant hand, holding it aloft as a sigil hung behind the sail. Cold, harsh winds blew from it as rain and snow splattered against him, creating a crystalline armor around his body.
"Take flight Buzz! Things are about to get a little dicey!" Schneider sat at the back, hands firmly on the rudder. Buzz nodded and jumped as he transformed into a giant eagle! His wings caught the wind then righted himself to fly higher! If Maxwell was their motor, then Schneider was their driver! He leaned with the motions, steering the rudder towards G-8!
It was clear they had caught the marines off guard! They hadn't expected anything so fast to come out of that wreckage. That momentary pause though had allowed them to come close. And there, Schneider really began to drive!
He swerved in the water, like a surfer challenging a wave. Maxwell felt their tilt as they jetted across the sea, whitewash splashing into their faces!
Cannonballs pelted the ocean, following in their wake. Artillery was powerful, but it wasn't very maneuverable! Maxwell and Schneider zigzaged across the bay, trying not to be too predictable, and surely closer to Marine Base G-8!
O O O
"Commander Dreak! Commander Dreak!" *Hold. Hold. Hold. Hold.*
"Mm?" Dreak looked behind him as the men battened down the ship. It was another subordinate holding one of the ship's transponder snail. But those were usually kept in the war room.
"Commander, sir! It's the emergency snail connected to base! Please answer!" He held out the tray holding the snail. The way the snail was singing the transmission was set on hold. Dreak was supposed to be at a meeting with King Cello today, and he recognized the den-den mushi as the one that usually connects to base. What could be so important?
He picks up the transceiver, letting the snail speak, "Hold—Ka-cha! [Commander? Commander!? This Seaman First-Class Karl reporting from G-8! Commander Dreak! are you there!?]"
"This is Lieutenant-Commander Dreak. What's the problem, marine?"
"[Oh thank goodness!]" the snail snagged mimicking relief. "[Commander, it's the Black Talon and the Magister! They're trying to enter G-8!]"
"WHAT!?" Dreak shouted taken off-guard. "HOW!?"
"[They came in on the Hang-man crew's ship, sir! But the pirate was just a rouse! They're currently avoiding our cannons with a sail boat, and we can't hit them! What do we do!?]"
"A sailboat!?" No sailing vessel could be so fast to avoid cannon fire! There was barely a breeze out today! …But they were dealing with a magician for Pete's sake! "Keep firing at them! Should the enter the harbour, lock down the base and blockade every cardinal corridor! We'll come to reinforce you!"
"[Understood, sir! We'll begin immediately!] Ka-cha." The marine hang up on him.
"God dammit!" He spun around addressing the deck, "MARINES! HOIST THE SAILS! WE NEED TO DEPART, NOW! OUR BASE IS BEING INVADED! MOVE MOVE MOVE!"
O O O
"Almost there!" Maxwell yelled exuberantly as they neared the spire. They had played with the marines long enough! Only a few cannons could even fire at them anymore. The rest were too far up to aim accurately. "Turn us in, Scheider!"
"Aye aye!" Schneider pulled on the lever again, now aiming for the hanger. Excitement began to fill Maxwell as they dashed through! They had left the marine gunners outmatched and were now inside the base!
The hanger was an enormous cavern carved into the mountain. Cement walls were raised into the harbour landings, with two ramps on either side. If Maxwell had to guess, these were mooring ramps when marine ships needed repairs. The harbour was empty though. No people were roaming the platforms, and there was only one ship docked in the harbour.
Maxwell dispelled the magic as he began to feel a headache. Blizzard was a mana-intensive spell, and the glyph for it was best used in small bursts. He hadn't tried sustaining it for long-term sailing before. Especially when he had to make sure he had to keep it near the sail.
Thankfully Schneider took up the oars, "Feeling alright there, Maxwell?"
"[ALL MARINE PERSONNEL! THIS IS A CODE RED! PIRATES HAVE INFILTRATED G-8! PREPARE FOR BATTLE!]"
"…I'll be fine," Maxwell massaged his head. "Just head up to that ramp."
They rowed up to one of the ramps and Maxwell jumped out to drag the boat onto it. Beaching their boat here was their only way to keep the boat close. They'll launch it later when they escape.
"Alright! Time to find our wayward swordsman!" Schneider jumped out of the boat and drew his pistol. "Let's show those Marines what for!"
Maxwell laughed lightly and followed Schneider up the ramp, wand in hand. With the way that siren was blaring, they were fully expecting to be swarms as soon as they reached the top!
However, "STOP RIGHT THERE!" there was only one man here.
He was old like Schneider, wearing orange overalls and holding a mallet. His hair was white and wild with a pair of oversized sideburns covering his ears. The only reason his hair didn't cover his grizzled face was because of a pair of red sunglasses.
"I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU CAME HERE, PIRATE SCUM! BUT I'll—! …Wait, is that you Schneider?" The old mechanic looked at Schneider.
"Mekao!" Schneider laughed as he put away his gun. Mekao also laughed and the two embraced each other like long-lost friends! "My god, it's good to see you!"
"I should say, heheheh! What's it been, five years? You've been taking care of the Roc's Feather, right?"
"Er…" Schneider rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. The Roc's Feather was the name of the ship Schneider sailed to rediscover his homeland. Mekao had been the one that built it for him. "I had to leave her in another port. I was sick for a while, and Buzz chose to fly us here—BUT she's still in great shape!"
"Idiot!" Mekao scolded his friend. "What kind of pirate just leaves his ship to be stolen later!? You sure you haven't gone senile, you old prune?"
"Oh, and I'm sure your hands don't shake either, you dried up sea-monkey!" Schneider bantered back. "—But in all seriousness, what are you doing here, Mekao?"
The shipwright shrugged, "The Marines needed a new mechanic leading around G-8 and decided to hire someone local. What can I say? Pay's good, and I get to bully some fresh new recruits from time to time." Then he smiled, "Plus, it keeps me close to my daughter. She a doctor, you know!"
Schneider raised an eyebrow, "Little Koba? Congratulations! She making it big here?"
"Meh, I think the other doctors are holding her back. Paediatrician, peh! More like veterinarian since they brought that buzzard inside," Mekao spat.
"Buzzard?" Schneider raised an eyebrow, "Don't they have enough—?"
"Schneider," Maxwell interrupted, "I know you're catching up with an old friend, but remember why we're here?" The mage waved around his sword hilt.
"Oh—! Oh, right, sorry. Heheh!" Schneider then turned to Mekao, "I don't suppose you can look the other way while we're here, eh Mekao?"
"Oh yes~! Look the other way~! Back at my marine bosses, in a marine base—WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M GOING TO DO!?" Mekao yelled at the pirates!
…Then he smiled, "'Course I'm going to help!"
"What?" "Really!?" Maxwell had been blindsided by Mekao's bipolar response while Schneider had sparkles in his eyes.
"Just where do ya need to go?"
Maxwell stepped forward, "We're looking for a prisoner held by the marines here. Does the title "Seventh Star, Saga," mean anything to you?
"WAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" *Splash!*
Maxwell, Schneider, and Mekao all look behind realizing someone else had fallen into the water. It was a marine, floating in the lagoon. Further ahead, a man walked out of the tunnel with slashes all over his red robes.
"Is that the guy you're searching for?" "SAGA!"
Saga's head snapped towards their direction as Maxwell and Schneider called out his name. "Maxwell! Schneider!" The three criminals ran around the platform to reunite. Mekao decided to follow the pirates he was with, realizing the situation.
"You're alright! Thank Andraste!" Maxwell smiled as he embraced the swordsman, relieved that Saga was alright!
"Get off!" Saga pried the arms off him, not used to showing affection. "Anyways, what happened? Did you manage to get Helsing? I assume you're here for the evidence."
"Evidence?" Maxwell and Schneider looked between each other. "What evidence?"
"What do you mean, 'what evidence?'" Saga talked back to him. "The evidence that proves Solona is being wrongfully hunted! The one where a noble is bribing a marine officer—! That evidence!"
"Um…" Schneider pursed his lips while Maxwell's eyes stared, not understanding.
…
…
…
"WERE EITHER OF YOU PAYING ATTENTION TO THE CONVERSATION I WAS HAVING WITH HELSING!?" Saga yelled at the duo, referring to his conversation at the bar.
"Er, I only caught the flirty parts," Maxwell admitted, rubbing his neck. "The waitress at the club wasn't leaving me alone…!" Though he probably should have reviewed the transcript.
"And I found my long-lost wife in an alley not far from my post, defending a little girl."
Saga scoffed, "Oh please, Schneider. Come up with something more believable!"
"Actually, that part's true," Maxwell pointed out.
"Wait—really?" Saga's eyes widened at that fact. "Bah! Whatever! I'll fill you in as we raid the base! I need my sword anyway."
"Mekao?" Schneider asked, making sure he was okay with this.
The mechanic waved his arm, "Follow me!" and started heading towards the other side of the harbour. Maxwell, Schneider, and Saga chased after Mekao while he explained, "Everything here is kinda divided into 10 different floors, spiralling up the mountain! The tunnel your friend came from was the lowest one, our prison-slash-basement."
"I did find it odd that you would keep the prison so close to the harbour," Saga mentioned as they ran.
"Eh. Well, the harbour is normally crawling with marines. Plus, if you didn't notice, we have a flushing system that floods the prison with sea water, in case of emergencies!" Mekao smiled. "Speaking of which, how did you get out?"
"Broke my cuffs and grabbed the keys from a guard. I was not gentle about it!"
Mekao laughed, "Fair enough!"
"Speaking of gentle, Saga what DID you learn about Helsing?" Maxwell asked the swordsman.
"You want the long version or the short one?"
"Long one," Schneider called out, "We got the time!"
"Alright," Saga paused as they briefly hid to let a platoon of marines pass in front of them. "So, Solona Helsing is a bit like the rumours say. She's a rebel, a wanderer, and probably a troublemaker, but Solona wasn't responsible for her parents deaths. What nobody want to talk about was how during that time, Creamy Mist was playing host to a Celestial Dragon."
"What!? There was a World Noble that visited Creamy Mist!?" Mekao asked, shocked at the idea.
"You want to know, or not!" Saga scolded the shipwright. He didn't want to repeat this twice.
"Anyways, she was young, playing in the streets as she accompanied her parents. But she wasn't paying attention and accidentally ran in front of the Celestial Dragon's procession. Now from what Solona could tell me, this noble was old! Like shriveled old prune old!—He could be dead by now for all we know! But instead of the usual arrogant divine-privilege they spew, he publicly forgave her; acting like a kind old man."
"Except that wasn't the case, was it?" Schneider scowled.
"It was a rouse," Saga affirmed. "After he got their names, he secretly ordered the Cipher Pol agents to determine their address, kill everyone inside, and burn their house to the ground. Helsing only survived because she had snuck out to explore the tide pools. By the time she saw the fire, it was too late."
"Damn," Maxwell shook his head at the tragedy. "But what does this have to do with her trying to kill her uncle?"
"Because after the fire, her reputation was permanently tarnished. Since they couldn't find the arsonist, they blamed Helsing for her parents deaths. As for how the king didn't think of this before; I don't know. Growing up, only her love and relation to King Cello kept her in the loop. However, one of the nobles had been making moves recently. Slandering her name and trying to push her out of the succession. Count Battler!"
"Battler?" Mekao looks at the swordsman as they reach the armory. "That arrogant windbag? He's barely been a noble for a year here! How is he supposed to take the throne?"
"Who knows. Once a fool gets an idea in their head, they normally don't stop." Saga looked around as they entered the armoury. There were rows and rows of rifles, swords, and gunpowder in the room. "All Solona knew was that he's been gaining traction with the council, and blaming her for every discrepancy Battler can cook up."
"There you are," He then saw the Shichiseiken on a swords rack, mounted on the wall. It was still wrapped in burlap cloth, but the wrapping was loose enough for him to see his sword.
Saga took it off the wall but paused when he took the cloth off it. He realized the hilt and scabbard were in better shape then they were before. It was still tarnished, but the handle wrap had been rewound. The sheathe was no longer cracked, and the hilt no longer looked corroded.
He didn't mention this to Maxwell though.
"So, what?" Schneider asked, "She thought if she could raise an army and over throw her uncle, that he would suddenly listen?"
"Essentially," Saga slung the sheath over his shoulder. "I told her it wasn't a good idea either, but she couldn't sway any of the nobles. I couldn't get any info about the cult though." Then they exited the armory. "Now, what happened to Helsing after we separated?"
"…The Children got her," Maxwell winced admitting his failure.
Mekao almost came to complete stop, "Hold on, you meant the Children of Nightmare!?"
"We're here to stop them Mek!" Schneider told his friend.
Maxwell elected to ignore him, "Two blood-thralls intervened while I was interrogating her and took her away. I can can confirm that they were allies at one point, but since the assassination attempt, that alliance has broken down... I don't know if she's alive or dead yet, but at the time, they wanted her alive. Or else they would have just killed her in the street!"
"…Well, our job became a lot more complicated!" Saga scoffed, realizing just how much this mission became a fairytale. They had to prove the princess was innocent, and save her from a group of maniacal zealots trying to raise a demon! He hated feeling this way, as Saga saw Helsing as a capable woman. Calling her a damsel in distress would be an insult.
"However! I did find out some more information!" Maxwell pointed out. "After… 'capturing,' one of the thralls, I was found by someone also after the Children of Nightmare. She, and her compatriots, were previously betrayed by the high priest and are looking for revenge! —One moment!"
"Freeze, pirate scum! You are under arrest for—EEEEEEEE!" Maxwell froze the line of marine gunners trying to bar their way through the corridor. He had conjured two Ice Mines beneath their feet, making them all look like snow covered sculptures with icicles hanging off them.
Mekao looked at the marines and whistled as they passed. "Damn!" They were frozen stiff, but still alive. Schneider had a gun pointed at him, to keep up appearances.
"Their leader goes by the name, Sliep," Maxwell continued. "He's a fully competent mage that wants to summon the Nightmare out of the Fade and into the Grand Line. As for how, he has someone named 'Rachet' building him a machine to help him do this. Oh, and his base happens to be a hidden temple on the Creamy Mist volcano!" Not to mention it was likely and ancient elven temple too boot!
"…What did you say…?"
Maxwell blinks and looks back, realizing Schneider had stopped in his tracks.
"Huh? Schneider?" The mage looks at the old pirate, realizing he was shaking.
"Who did you say was making that machine, again…?" Schneider repeated.
"Hey old man, this isn't the time to—" "Ratchet."
Upon hearing that name, Schneider suddenly raced up and grabbed Maxwell by his shirt, "YOU—!" Schneider's arms shook as barely concealed rage contorted his face! "YOU—!"
"What!? Hey, Schneider!" Mekao looked at his friend, seemingly shocked by his behaviour!
…But as fast as it came, the old man's rage subsided. "You didn't know…" Schneider let go of Maxwell's shirt as he hung his head.
"What!? Schneider? Schneider!? Hey! What's going on!?" Maxwell grabbed Schneider's arms, trying to understand what was happening.
Schneider laughed weakly, "…You know, with all that was going on, I thought there were too many coincidences going on to be just chance… But Ratchet…!" Schneider's hand curled into a fist as he began to shake again.
Then he looked into the mage's eyes.
"Maxwell… My son's name is Ratchet."