"Our timing has to be impeccable. There is no room for error."

The group huddled around the table, papers strewn about, riddled with information, plans, details, everything they needed, and yet it still wasn't enough. Variables and unknowns were the biggest obstacle ahead of them, and there was nothing they could do to stand against them. Only the hope that their endeavors were shined on favorably from some higher power would stand between them and the haunting potential of chaos. Surrounding the wooden construct were five separate souls, all with the same goal but varying contributions to this hair brained scheme wrapped in layers of righteousness and moral superiority. A just cause if there ever was one.

Comprising the group was Taola, the mastermind behind the endeavor and Judan's adoptive mother. Her underworld contacts alerted her to a newly captured shipment of Three-Eyed Tribesmen that were scheduled to be sold at the Auction House later that day, a buyer from Garrolt Taylor's 8th District would handle the purchasing and procurement of the slaves. This intel was of the utmost importance to Taola, it would allow her to damage the Revolutionary Army's enemies on multiple fronts. Potentially recruit more Three-Eyes to the revolution was a huge opportunity, and throwing a wrench in Sabaody's slave trade would prove to be a personal accomplishment for both her and Judan.

There was also the added benefit of disrupting the growing black market that plagued the streets of Baltigo, the current base of the very cause she chose to serve. Having to share their homeland with many people who participated in acts that went directly against what they stood for made them appear to be nothing more than a joke, something Taola had trouble stomaching. Having the marines do part of the dirty work would also prove to be entertaining, if everything went as planned, they would swoop in just in time to catch not only Taylor's goons but the auctioneers in the act as well, right as their group slipped right underneath their up turned noses. It was a lot of enemies they could piss off over this gambit, but the risk itself was only trumped by the reward.

The other three involved were some overzealous upstarts hoping to make a name for themselves with the Revolutionaries, while they agreed with the act being the right thing to do, they were much more invested in some form of payout, whether it be money, power, respect or all of these above, over simply being on the right side of any ethical code. But in the end, their motives and their usefulness existed in two different realms. One of them was an impressive marksman with incredible accuracy at long range, a key part in the scheme Taola had cooked up. The other two were a pair of brothers, small time thieves but they knew the archipelago well and were well versed in disguises, another necessity.

And then there was Judan, the wild card. He and Taola would both find themselves right in the line of fire when everything occurred, he was simply there to provide support, his abilities made him the best candidate to toss himself into the fray. It hadn't been long since he ingested the Wani Wani no Mi, his body and mind still attuning to the newfound abilities it bestowed upon him. Even with his nubile state in his Zoan form, he was still capable enough to use his enhance senses to keep track of the vicinity while everyone made their moves. "Let's go over the plan one more time, just to be safe." A calm tone in his voice utilized to hide the fear that lingered deep in the recesses of his mind.

Honestly doubt existed in all their hearts, the danger of what they were about to partake in was not lost on any of them. Either through bravery or stupidity, they would find the resolve to press forward beyond it. Or maybe the dead just had nothing to fear, only time would tell. A reassuring smile would spread across Taola's face, searching through the mountain of papers to pull up a map, riddled with scribbles and symbols. Each symbol represented a position, a moment, a target, the detail was immaculate, it was the perfect plan, but only if things actually went according to it.

"Judan's right, we're gonna cover this once more before we head to our positions." Her finger starting to dance across the large caricature as she named out positions and goals. With every passing moment, their preparedness growing, but how can you prepare for what you can't foresee?

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"Is everyone in position?" The mouth on the baby den-den mushi mimicking the speech patterns of Taola as she quietly spoke into the receiver, using the utmost care to ensure she wasn't speaking loud enough for anyone unintended to hear her inquiry. Alongside her would be Judan, both dressed in hooded garb to hide their appearance, taking refuge in a wooded area near their intended position. Monitoring the route of the incoming slave merchandise was their current objective. The route had been studied time and again by both Taola and Judan, the timing of their movements, the size of the caravan, how many guards would be stationed on it, everything they could find out about slave caravan, they did. This would be the final radio check before the operation officially entered its critical stages, everyone had to relay themselves successfully reaching their predetermined locations.

A brief moment of silence would pass before the replies would phone in over the device secured to her wrist. Anxiousness slowly building with each pacing second as the his hearts pace slowly began to elevate.

"Diaz here, in position." A brief reprieve from worry washing over Judan as the lips on the baby den-den mushi danced with good news. Everyone involved utilized code names across their communications on the off chance anyone could hear them. They also made it a key point to not reveal any actual details across the baby den-den mushi, simply utilized for confirmations, call outs and, on the off chance, emergency alerts. Diaz was the code name used by the marksmen, the only one of the quintet not in the immediately vicinity of the auction house. Armed with a marine issued rifle capable of firing across long distances, his eyes would train themselves between the iron cross hairs as he inspected the point of interest, the auction house. While preparing he would also account for important factors like wind direction, wind speed, trajectory and more. Though his direct involvement in the plan wouldn't take effect until much later it was arguable that his job was the most important. Until that time came he would serve as a story of eye in the sky, keeping track of everything and everyone coming in and going out of the auction house.

Another short silence would occur after Diaz's response to Taola, though this one much shorter than the last, the final touches seeming to come together. "Gambi here, had to finish the clean up, ready to go." Gambi was the older of the two brothers, a very level headed and adaptable person, he was perfect for his role. After securing the actual auctioneer in restraints off sight, Gambi would take his closes and assume his identity. His role would be to survey the inside of the auction house and locate the Three-Eyed slaves once inside, not only to verify their authenticity but safety. He would also control the flow and pace of the auction and confirm the targeted parties are present during the operation. He'd also be the only one able to relay pertinent information to Taola and Judan while inside, making him a sort of safety net for them for their portion of the mission. The risk he ran of doing this was no small one however, not only was his life in jeopardy much like Taola's and Judan's but if any suspicion of him not being the true auctioneer were to arise, it could derail the entire plan.

And last but not least, the final piece of the puzzle would fall into place. "Opus here, in place and ready to rock." The baby den den mushi speaking with a sort of excited fervor, no doubt mirroring the expressions of the one speaking into it. He would enter the auction house shortly after his statement on the baby den-den mushi, taking on the role of a buyer that would blend in and mingle with the other spenders in attendance today. Tasked with placing the tip to the marines once all the targets were confirmed to be present, he would also serve a secondary purpose of driving up the bids on the Three-Eyed slaves, though he was well aware of knowing not to end up as the highest bidder. His vibrant personality would be perfect for mixing in with the other bidders ad creating somewhat of a stir during the auction. The winning bid would actually be taken with them along with the slaves, some of it split between the five while the rest would be put towards further funding the revolutionaries and also getting the slaves to safety.

Once all the confirmations were made and the bid was driven up to a desired amount, Opus would exit the auction house, bowing out from the auction and placing an anonymous tip to the nearest marine base. Once done, he would change disguises to that of one of Garrolt Taylor's men, blending in with them once they began to exit the auction house.

The various parts of the well oiled machine were firing on all cylinders, Judan and Taola sharing a look of confidence as the only thing left for them to do was their parts. Underneath their shrouded garb were tattered clothes, stained and ripped much like that of the slaves they were intending to save. On cue, they would notice the caravan nearing their position, only a single guard defending it from the side, just as the intel foretold. It seemed as though favor was shining on them brighter than they could've imagined, proper execution was the only thing left of them to provide.

Of course luck was also the best luxury to have, and today was as lucky as any other.

INFO:

Disposing of the guard was their first objective, removing him would not only allow them to continue with the next phase of their plan but also to further conceal their presences from any possible obstacles. The take down had to be done quietly as possible as to not potentially alert any others in the area but also to prevent startling the slaves, they still had to remain oblivious to their ploy in order for it to be orchestrated as they initially planned it. The arrogance of the auction house would prove beneficial to the duo, their security measures were much stronger off the island rather than on it, never thinking anyone would be bold or dumb enough to attack them so close to home. The lone guard was much less a challenge and more so a nuisance, though they would never fool themselves to believe the rest of their enemies would fall to the same failings.

"When the caravan reaches us, I'll jump out and distract the guard. I'll pretend to be a slave escaping from the auction house to steal his focus. While he tries to capture me, you sneak up behind him, knock him out and hide him far enough away to where he can't be found. Make sure he's restrained as well, we can't afford him waking up and coming back to interfere with the rest of the mission."

A nod would be all the response he'd give, her orders were precise, to the point and just an all around damn good idea, but that's was something Taola always had a knack for. Their collective gaze would be affixed to the rolling cart bee lining towards their  shared destination. As she promised, Taola would separate herself from Judan, trekking a ways up the path at break neck speeds to reinforce the idea of her newly enacted escape. Once reaching a suitable distance, she would discard her shroud in the foliage nearby, making sure it wouldn't be something that could simply be stumbled upon. Her hand would sneak into the soil beneath her, rubbing small globs of it into her face to further sell her previous captivity. She would emerge from the greenery that accented the beaten path, assuming a distressed look on her face as she began to fain the idea of trying to find a safe place to escape to.
 
Her dramatic steps would obviously carry her back towards Judan and the oncoming caravan. As she neared both, the lone guard would take notice of the strange anomaly that crossed his path. "Hey, you there! Stop where you are!" The authoritative tone not truly belying his relative lack of power or status among the people he was working for. Still, it was uncommon for most around these parts to think of themselves on equal footing with a mere slave. His pace would hasten towards the unknown woman, his inquisition far from over as he entered her reach, the level of his . "How did you escape the the auction house?" His eyes giving her a once over as he spoke, his eyes starting to linger on her shapely frame and soft features. "Hmmm, you're prettier than the average slave. Maybe I shouldn't report you, I could keep you to myself. I'm sure you'd enjoy that ..." An unsettling laugh escaping the folds of his lips as he looked at his assumed prize.

As his unsavory thoughts started to saturate his mind, imagining the many -- opportunities, that had presented himself, he would be entirely unaware of the presence slowly creeping up behind him. The predator was closing in on his prey with an enhanced fury, something was slowly overcoming him as he encroached on the grunt that the slave auctioneers had unknowingly thrown to the beasts. The fiery fuel radiating from his inner rage betrayed the new found cold blooded nature that pumped through Judan's veins. It was honestly a strange occurrence, it wasn't as if he hadn't heard others hit on Taola before, and it wasn't as if they didn't express the same lack of cuth that this nobody so brazenly shared. No, this was much different, it was as if he could somewhat feel the distasteful energy that flowed off his being with every passing moment he had to fantasize about the woman.

The radiant filth made Judan feel more unclean than the very disguise he donned in regards to the assault. He couldn't tell if it was his heightened sense from the Wani Wani no Mi feeding him new sensory information previously unknown to him or if it was something more. Either way, he had to dispatch the guard not only for Taola and the slave's sake but his own as well, lest he was allowed to further taint the air they shared, shifting him from a capture to a kill. A single appendage would stretch from beneath the tattered cloak, it's appearance far from that of human. The outstretched arm would have a black appearance too it, a hardened nature seemingly to wrap around it, if any had the opportunity to inspect it they would notice it's scaly features. The hardened exterior would provide a little extra oomph to the blunt strike that would collide with the back of the guard's skull.

A mild thud would blossom from the grunt's body as it's impact upon the ground brought a certain pleasure to Judan, the strange reception of depravity ceasing alongside the guard's consciousness. A smirk would be shared between he pair as they hovered over the body, both enjoying the results of Judan's not so hard work. His arm would return to normal as it reached down to grabbed the collar of the unconscious pervert, dragging him deep enough into the forest for him to be a non-factor, also laying his shroud upon him before returning to Taola and the moving caravan. The first phase of their infiltration had seemed to go off without a hitch, the next step was to follow along aside the cart in their slave garb until they reached the auction house, at which point Gambi would pretend to inspect all the slaves before bringing them inside for the bidding.

"Why don't we just ride in the cart with the other slaves? I mean wasn't that the point in dressing like them and removing the guard?" While he hung on Taola's every word when the plan was being discussed, this specific part was never given much detail, causing Judan to inquire as they stealthily moved amidst the fauna. "You're not wrong, you're just missing one thing though." Her eyes shifting to the slave shuttle. "We don't want them to know were not a part of their group, not only would it raise questions but it could startle them, and their already in a very vulnerable and terrifying position."

Taola knew all too well how emotional one is under the circumstances, a large part of her planning was done to not only free the slaves but respect the position they were in. "Now, lets hurry up and get in there. I don't trust Opus on his own for too long."

INFO:

It wouldn't take long for them to reach the rear entrance to the auction house where they loaded and inspected the slaves. When the caravan same to a halt, both Taola and Judan would sneak towards he rear entrance to blend end with the rest of the slaves being offloaded. Gambi would be at the entrance to process them all, further selling the facade. "Remember, when were inside, we can't act no matter what happens, it could blow our cover and ruin the entire operation." The brief reminder occurring before they reached processing. Judan could only nod in acknowledgement, not entirely sure why Taola felt the need to reiterate that specific point, she had made that a clear part of the plan numerous times before, yet this time it felt different. Judan had never actually seen any of the auctions, he had only heard tales of them from others, while they all sounded horrific and frustrating he never truly experienced the terrors of the spectacle. Was he truly prepared for what awaited them beyond this point? 

Only time would tell as the next phase of their plan would begin. Discarding their baby den-den mushi in the nearby bushes, they'd fall in line with the slaves as they departed from the mobile storage that had carried them to this point. On cue, Gambi would be at the back, handling the processing of the slaves as he inspected each of them before sending them inside. He had to verify that the slaves being brought in were in fact of the Three-Eyed tribe that Taola had been alerted to by her informant. With each passing captive Gambi would confirm their lineage, saving Judan and Taola for last, giving the chance to relay his finds to them in passing. "All the slaves are confirmed. Taylor's men haven't arrived yet. Diaz is still keeping an eye on things from on high." His tone hushed and brief, not wanting any possible suspicions to arise as he hurried them inside to the handlers. "They're all accounted for, do your best to not damage the merchandise anymore than they already are! We have big spenders coming today, I'm sure they are gonna want them in good condition."

Though he knew it was an act, Gambi's word sent a certain chill down Judan's spine. The air around him had noticeably changed. The fear and depression would drip from the very essence of the slaves they were there to free, unaware of the plan in the works to free them, they truly felt as though they were facing despair in the eye. The air thickened with the growing sense of futility, it grabbed at his neck stronger than any hand ever could, feeling as though he was being choked, he would return to a similar emotional state to the one that consumed him earlier before he dealt with the guard. His heartbeat would begin to race, faster and faster, its pacing seeming as though it's intention was to escape from his very chest and end both of their existences. Distress visible on his face, the feeling of control was slowly slipping away from him, his fate began to mirror that of the prisoners that he had aligned himself with.

And right on time, as if she could see the very future itself, Taola's hand would move to grip Judan's, the calming intent present as she did her best to reassure him during the no doubt jarring experience. She knew first hand what the auction felt like for those in captivity. She wouldn't speak a word, simply giving him a look of confidence to instill in him the fact that everything would go according to plan. It would take a few moments for her intent to battle through the suffocating sense of defeat that had began to engulf her adopted son, cutting through the darkness like the most brilliant of lights. His mouth would contort in response, though no words would escape his lips, they would reveal the makings of the ever grateful phrase "Thank you".

On a separate front, Diaz would be glued to his rifle. He would continue to scout the area, adjusting the rifle and compensating for the constant changing in variables that often plagued a sniper. Up until now things had been rather uneventful, bidders had been entering the auction house in droves but none of Garrolt Taylor's men had arrived yet. He had been routinely updating Gambi and Opus on what he saw while Judan and Taola infiltrated the processing area. His eagle like gaze would constantly shift, covering the surrounding area of the structure to keep track of everyone and everything in the vicinity. "Diaz checking in, still nothing to re --" He would abruptly stop as if the words had been stripped from his mouth. In truth his focus had shifted to something of greater importance.

To his east he would catch wind of a brewing commotion, adjusting the aim of the iron sights, he'd further inspect what was coming. Concerned about the abrupt silence, Opus would covertly speak into the baby den-den mushi on his wrist, hoping to ascertain more information on what was occurring outside. "What's going on Diaz, is everything still a go?"

A smirk would creep across the face of Diaz before he spoke, one eye still clinched tight as the other focused in on what he was watching. His wrist would rise to his mouth as his other continued to hold the rifle steady. "More than a go, Garrolt Taylor himself has graced us with his presence." Visible shock would appear on both Opus's and Gambi's face as the news spread across the den-den mushis, an incredible opportunity had presented itself, as well as an entirely new obstacle.

INFO:

Opus would remain seated as he watched Taylor and his entourage enter the auction house. His reception would be positive, an ovation being given upon his entrance from the other patrons in the establishment. It was rare for Taylor to venture outside his home base on Baltigo and many here knew his reputation well, some had even done business with him before behind the scenes, his human trafficking endeavors no secret in the esteemed circle of slave connoisseurs. As the festive welcome ran its course Opus and Gambi would lock eyes for a brief moment, both knowing what was to come next as Gambi began the festivities. "And without further adieu, I welcome you all to today's Slave Auction! We're lucky enough to have some special guests attending so I'm sure this event will be a spectacular one!"

As Gambi worked his magic on the mic, Judan and Taola remained in the back with the other slaves, waiting to be brought on stage and bid on like property. They could hear every word he said as he warmed the buyers up, much to the dismay of the prisoners. The slaves all varied in size, age, gender, race, truly it was something for everyone, as sad as that fact was. The bids would go by as expected, once a slave was brought on stage and displayed in front of the bidders, they'd raise their paddles to acknowledge their purchasing desire, the highest bidder would win and the slave would return to the processing area until the last slave had been sold and they were to be shipped off to their new homes.

It wouldn't be long before it was Judan's turn to be placed on the bidding block, the handlers grabbing him and bringing him to the reception hall where the spenders awaited. He had no real idea what to expect, being thrust through a curtain that exposed him to the crowd that stared at him in interest. They gauged and analyzed everything about him, his shape, his youth, his vitality. He definitely peaked the interest of a few spenders, the paddles rising one after another as Gambi called out the beli amounts. With each raising of the paddle a bit of Judan's humanity felt as though it was being snatched away. He could feel their fervor, their excitement over the idea of adding him to some sort of collection they had amassed through their nefarious dealings.

The ordeal couldn't finish fast enough for him, the final bid surprising coming from Garrolt Taylor himself. He would shuffle back to the processing area, a clear shift in his mental as Taola looked on with a concerned look before she too was brought forth to be purchased. As the bidding reached the last of the Three-Eyed tribe, Opus would finish his task of driving up the bids, all together bringing the total amount to 170,000,000 Beli, a hefty haul. As planned, he would excuse himself and send an anonymous tip to the marines, changing from the leisure suit that covered his frame to a similar attire as the subordinates of Taylor, adorning a facial disguise to he wouldn't be potentially recognized upon his return.

As the auction began to wrap the slaves would be assigned to the transports of their new respective owners, all of them grouped together. Judan and Taola, by some stroke of luck, were purchased alongside majority of the Three-Eyes by Garrolt Taylor. The buyers had already begun to file out of the auction house as they awaited their slaves to be loaded. Taylor's group would be the last to leave, unfortunately for them. As they exited they would encounter three units of armed marines, a a grin resting upon their commanders face, seeing this as a major opportunity for himself. "Well, well, well, what do we have here, Garrolt Taylor on Sabaody? It must be my lucky day bwagagaga!" His engorged laughter would symbolized the sense of victory that washed over him, all the while Garrolt simply smirked in response to the man's hubris.

BANG!!!

A random shot fired, but from where? From who? Smoke would bellow from the rifle that had been clutched between Diaz's hands during the entire auction. His skill had been brought on board solely for this specific moment. The target of the shot, Garrolt Taylor. Though not a part of the original plan, it was a smart improvisation, removing him would prove beneficial to their current plans and the power structure of Baltigo. As the bullet tore though the air with a vicious ferocity, Diaz would, for the first time, remove his eyes from the iron sights. The look on his face however, was anything but triumphant. A terrified fright gripped his countenance, his body stammering much like his words.

"I-i-impossible! One of his men -- they caught the bullet! Taylor is not down!" Diaz's shock would be shared with Opus as he show what occurred first hand. Standing before him would be a single man, arm outstretched in front of the face of Taylor, his hand clad in some hardened black substance. Taylor never even flinched. The same could not be said for the marines however. "Who fired that shot?! This is a capture mission, we aren't here to kill him!" The marine commander with yell at his men with a thunderous fury as they all displayed similar confusion and innocence towards the shot. The plan had hit its first snag, and it was one of the worst mishaps that could happen. The intent was for Taylor to be killed and to incite a battle between his men and the marines while they others escaped amidst the chaos.

Opus knew this all too well, and he knew that if something didn't happen soon the operation would be ruined. In a bold move, he would absorb the risk that the five all shared entirely onto himself. He would quickly remove a pistol from his waistband, firing into the crowd of marines, hitting one in the chest. He had painted a target on his back, though his goals were achieved, the marines assuming battle positions as they began to retaliate against the group, many specifically targeted Opus, firing upon him from numerous angles, tearing through him like paper.

All of this would occur in front of Gambi's eyes, rushing to the front entrance of the auction house upon the sound of the second shot. The massacre of his brother tore away at every sense of composure he possessed, joining the fray as he attacked both the marines and Taylor's men. All the while Taylor had escaped from the area. In remarkable fashion, he had appeared at Diaz's location, seeming to somehow know exactly where he was even from the distance of the auction house. Before Diaz could even alert the others of the unbelievable sight, he was struck down by a single blow from Taylor, the assault as effortless as his arrival. The smirk he donned in front of the commander never left his face as he removed the baby den-den mushi from Diaz's arm before further removing himself from the debacle occurring at the auction house.

Meanwhile, in the back of the auction house, before the second shot was even fired, Judan could feel a terrify grip of fear wash over him. Unable to pinpoint exactly what was causing it, the only things he could ascertain were that it was coming from nearby and that something had gone horribly wrong. As the commotion grew louder and louder talk among the handlers would begin to spread, the news of the battle occurring in the front had finally reached the back. Some of the handlers would head towards the front to try and do something about the violent melee while the rest tried to speed up the loading process.

INFO:

Judan would spring to action as the handlers began to thin out. Using his Primal Hunt, he would strike down the two handlers that remained, using his speed and power gifted by the Wani Wani no Mi to deliver powerful slashes at the throats of both. Their bodies hit the ground before the blood spraying from their throats could. He would turn back to Taola and the other slaves, exasperated looks on their faces, not only did they have no idea what was going on out front but a huge man crocodile hybrid stood before them with blood oozing from the tips of his claws. "Taola, you have to get them out of here! I'm going to head towards the front and see if I can help Gambi and Opus!" The conviction in his voice potent and firm, a stark contrast from the fear and uneasiness that had gripped him earlier.

Taola knew she was in no position to argue with him, neither of them were safe and the mission still wasn't over. "Take this before you go, and Judan, you make it back to me in one piece!" Throwing him the baby den-den mushi he had abandoned before they infiltrated the auction house as she tied her own to her wrist. One last look being shared between the mother and son before she turned back to the slaves, gathering them and directing them to follow her lead as she guaranteed them freedom. Smiling from ear to ear, Judan would set off in the opposite direction, heading towards the brawl that was still ongoing out front.

His goal was to find Gambi and Opus and escape with both far from the auction house and Sabaody altogether. He figured Gambi would have the beli secured to his person already. As he searched the innards of the auction house he would see no sign of Gambi, dispatching with the sparse handlers that would cross his path here and there. Soon Judan would have covered the entire auction house and still find no sign of Gambi nor Opus. He resigned himself to the fact that they might be entangled in the brawl outside, a massive risk for all of them, but he couldn't bring himself to leave them,.

He would steel himself before he would step out of the front entrance, seeing first hand the carnage that laid before him. Body after body littered the grounds of the area, casualties stemming from both sides as neither seemed eager to back down. As his eyes danced between the bodies a a horrible fear would become reality. Gambi and Opus's lifeless corpses laid atop one another, blood spilling out of them from the bullet holes that riddled their bodies. HE was too late. Things had started going to shit quicker than they could react and they were paying the ultimate price for it.

His time to grieve would be non-existent however, the war still occurring before him. He had to find a means to escape and reach Taola but he couldn't risk running now and being followed straight to them. The area was swarming with anger, the emotion seeming to pulsate with every second like a heart beat, the pattern resonating with his own. His only option left was to fight his way out, doing his part to thin the numbers out until orders to retreat were made by either side.   

Only a single question remained: was he capable?

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