Chapter 14, part 5: Not enough


The room was dark, only to be contrasted by the light shining from the projector Den Den mushi's eyeballs. Its teeth chattered as its gears rolled the display from the prototype Pacifistas. It was a meeting meant to show the scientists how worthless they were and to belittle their work as the amicable adjudicators the officers believed they were. They laughed, they cried, and for once a group of stuffy old marine officers high on the ladder of authority were cheering on a scene they never thought possible. Most turned to Tamaki who was busy dancing along side the officers cheering on the robots tearing up the revolutionary strong hold. "Was that really me"? The red head quivered before heading out the door while talks of promotion and celebration were being made.


Her friend and pretend future royal servant was already outside, disinterested in the project now that it proved to be a success. He was leaned up against the railing when he saw her leave the room as well. The two met eachother's gazes, but neither could speak. They were locked in a standstill which seemed to last an eternity, but in reality it was a just a few moments. Double 004 went to speak, but she felt a sinking feeling in her gut as she went to talk. Tears already coursing down her cheek and holding onto her chest, the girl started to walk off. That is, until Jaegar caught her arm and tugged on it forcefully. "You were already doing bad things. Why the sudden breakdown"?

The girl tugged her arm away and trembled at the question. She averted her gaze and fought back the stinging pain in gut. "The Askrs told me I'd be getting a second chance. I didn't want that chance to be used for making my people suffer even more than they had already.", she send with a tremor in her voice.  She caught her breath and made balled up fists before saying, "My father's name was dragged through the mud because of my experiments and the worst part, is he suffered because of me".

Jaegar shook his head and turned back to the rising smoke stacks in the distance. " And so what did think was going to happen when you were brought in by the marines? Weren't you lucky not to get locked up in a dungeon"? The girl glared back at him, but knew he was right. " I selfishly wanted to live. To not die or lose my freedom completely, but not at the further cost to my people...". The girl trailed off and started to walk toward the edge toward the end of her statement. The man in the lab coat rushed toward her and barred her path, keeping her from moving forward. " No you have to proceed forward, or it will be all for naught. You will destroy many countries and take many lives indirectly,but if you stop now it will be for nothing. Use this opportunity to do something good with your position. Don't give up, fight"!

"Your chance may not come today or tomorrow, but one day your requiem will come. And it will not be in the form of cowardice...forgotten princess", he said with an emphatic cry, hands nestled firmly on her shoulders. She looked back up to him, before averting her gaze once more. "The name's Elizabeth"...

---At the battleground---


Lina and the old man were neck and neck, with Reinhardt just barely edging her out overall. With each forceful clash, the unstable building began to rock at its very core. Standing 5 meters high and spanning 30 meters wide, it was just a side building for holding goods mean to be shipped out within a day or two before chaos overtook the island. Samantha would receive a call from the boy she assigned to relay messages to giant,but she was not expecting him to send one to her. Though mostly because the giant had a quiet demeanor which didn't not scream socialite to her. His mannerisms had initially perplexed the commodore,but she happily had him aboard. Thus far he was proving to be great support and now him actually working with her made the woman smile. A light in a dark world beset by death and tragedy. She pressed the receiver button on her shoulder den den and said, " Copy that".  The woman peered forth, waiting for another shot as the two swordsman did their bloody dance of death. However, what she found was yet another surprise, a mink who blocked her way just as the arrow which had been meant as the distraction fell through the roof.

Lina and the former Rear admiral looked up simultaneously with as roof came crashing down upon them. In the dust and debris, coupled with the mink, Samantha was not able to get shot initially, but she understood what was going on.


Lina's eyes bulged when she saw the arrow come crashing forth like a hot knife to butter. She grit her teeth and dash backwards toward the warehouse offices. There Reinhardt came dashing forth from the falling debris and growing dust cloud like a rocket. She had no time to react as he wrenched her fingers around her neck and shoved her through to concrete wall and on onto the other side as easily as the Kool aid man would have. Lina's blade flourished with speed and strength he thought she didn't have, leaving a mark on his cheek. The old man grimaced after throwing the girl into a clearing flanked by more of the bipedal behemoths made of steel.

The sound of whistles could be heard in the distance, reinforcements from the mainbase were descending upon the battlefield. Before Lina could react, a bullet struck her bad leg once more. She winced in pain as Samantha grinned, thinking back to the opportunity. Lina stared down to see the shot was in the exact place as it had initially struck her the first time. The girl fell to one knee, unable to stand properly at the moment. Her body was mangled, covered in both visible and invisible injuries which made her feel like she was on fire. She placed once fist on the ground and used her blade stuck into the dirt to prop herself up as she stared at Reinhardt with a look of frustration. " You were a worthy opponent youngling, but now it's time to come with us".

Spoiler:

Chapter 14, part 6: The Thoughts of Henry Madison and David's True Nature Finally Shows


Henry clamped down his hands on the bounty papers in his hands as David released his arrow beside him, the wind of which almost tore the headphones off his head and papers out of his hands. David was an alright guy Henry had to admit. Henry hadn't worked with David before Commodore Reinhardt had assigned him to be the one to call out targets for the big guy. David was a quiet guy, more so then anyone else Henry had met before. It was weird, considering most other marines were respectful of their superiors and then joked and messed around with their fellows. However David wasn't like that. He was pretty much always respectful, no matter your rank, race, background, or status. And it wasn't like David was doing it on purpose, it was more like he did it with everyone unconsciously. It made talking with the bastard a pain in the ass considering the fact that every time you talked to him it was like you were a superior officer talking to an underling. It was just stupid to Henry. And all of that wasn't even mentioning how long the fucker took to respond to even the simplest question! It took him nearly five damn minutes for David to respond when Henry introduced himself and asked for his name!

Henry outwardly sighed and flexed his fingers that held the bounties. Henry was a hot head, something he very much detested, and swore when he joined the marines that he would change for the better. Yet here he was almost slipping into his old habits... Henry guessed it didn't help that he was here in a war zone in the damn city he grew up in! Henry had enlisted only a month ago, after the Third Prince's death. Henry sword then he would defend Alabasta from these FUC- from those who would threaten it. And damn if he didn't have a bone to pick with Bazil "The Red Devil". Henry thought to himself as he stared at the bounty poster of said man which was in his left hand at the moment. Henry stared at it for a few moments before doing another calming inhale and exhale. After doing that Henry returned his mind to something calm, and continued going through the bounty papers he held. They were the latest from HQ, so in his hands Henry knew every pirate and Revolutionary that needed to be dealt with. Henry just stood there as he continued to sort through them, giving David targets when Commodore Reinhardt called them out. Its all he could do.


David watched his arrow fly and impact with the roof of the warehouse, which he had hoped would impact and either kill or incapacitate Lina Askr so they could end this all without David having to see the girl he had killed. And be one step closer to ending this terrible terrible tragedy that was happening on Sandy Island. However his hope wasn't completely answered, as David watched Lina Askr get thrown out of the wall and into the clearing beside the building. With a sigh of exhaustion that befitted his age, David with a grunt of effort raised his bow once more, ready to lower his bow for the final time this day...Or ready to end the life of the girl known as Lina Askr

OOC:

Chapter 14, part 6: Drums of the Revolution


Lina lifted her hand from the ground and began to prop herself up, with glowing eyes with a faint blue glow. Reinhardt's fists started to clench tighter as Lina's mind traveled through the ground, forming a 30m circles in her mind in three different directions. One under Castle and Reinhart, one under the pacifistas, and the last underneath herself. " To the weird elephant man", she said looking toward them. As the ground began to shake, she grinned at how different their auras were. Reinhardt's was crimson while the mink's was a light soothing blue hue. " Be wary of those you would show mercy to. You're always casting a die on the person you let live". She pointed to the sky, tearing the land asunder with her fruit. It was uneven this time, causing the pacifistas to fall over to the right while Reinhardt fell backwards. He tried to climb to mound, but it kept rotating and moving toward him in an ever changing manor. Try as he might to slash through the forming boulder, he would just be faced with a new one. The boulder under him and castle would affect Reinhardt first, literally shoving him backward with tons of earth. While the robots and marine reinforcements fell into a ditch which was 30m deep, before the boulder came crashing down upon them once more.

As Reinhardt escaped the landslide she rolled onto him, he tried to pursue her using geppo. Samantha at the same time fired another shot, but this time the moment it came within range of Lina's kenbusho haki, she deflected the bullet with her blade. Lina gave him the peace sign as its blood vessels were popping out due to her recent attack, but was met instead with her giant earthen boulder which was send careening toward him. By the time he cleared it from his path, she was already flying off into the distance. Toward the inner city which was ablaze, contrasting with the darkness of the night.

Reinhardt on the other hand was forced to stop at the call of his den den mushi. He saw the distinctive cap of the current commodore star. puru puru puru puru Reinhardt begrudgingly answered the call to be greeted by a frantic radio operator's room. " Sir Rear admiral sir, we have a situation here"! Reinhardt began to descend at this point, just using a thrust or two to keep himself from hitting the earth at full force. " We're of the same rank Comodore.
What's the situation over there"? There was a pause, before screams of terror streamed through the receiver once more. The sound of an explosion was the last thing he heard before the line went dead. He changed the channel and directly connected to @David and Samantha. Samantha would answer for sure, but as for David that was something yet to be seen. " Listen up, we're heading back to base. Gather whatever is left of our forces here and head to base. We don't want the others initiating a panic buster call". Samantha solemnly acknowledged the order and began to contact the other captains in the area. While Reinhardt began to make blanket calls for a regrouping at the Western end of the harbor.

Lina had traveled across the sky for a good hour into the darkness of night. Her mind was blank and full of questions she couldn't answer. The only thing she knew, was she needed to get fixed up. She crashed down into the revolutionary base's head office, where she had original left. She hopped on one leg and pulled open the medical supplies. A few of the lone officers left there didn't say anything, but the girl couldn't tell what they were thinking. Though her kenbusho haki didn't express ill intent, their faces were shrouded by shadow. The girl went to work on her leg by pulling the bullet from her though, while patching it up. As she tended to her battered body and burnt skin(3rd degree burns), others started to slowly stream in.


Kitihara was at the doorway in no time, though he said nothing. Lina didn't acknowledge him at first, but as the pain medication kicked in and her mind wasn't racing with a million thoughts. She looked up to him, still dawning that mask. "Though you may be a burden girl, your actions didn't go unnoticed. The city is ablaze with passion over what was supposed to be a crippling defeat for the revolutionaries. ". He gestured toward the door and beckoned to her. "Come see what your flashy fighting has done to the people of Alabasta". Even if Lina had her kenbusho haki on, she wouldn't have been able to fathom what was standing outside of the window. In the hours since she started fighting, the revolutionaries were using pictures of her as propoganda. Putting a face to the person causing the factory district to rumble with such incredible force. The citizens who were on the fence now stood behind her 100 percent, or rather much of them did now. The sounds of cheering and calling her name filled the air.

" What is the meaning of this, Kitihara"? The revolutionary captain chuckled and said, " Turning a loss into a net positive".

Spoiler:

Chapter 14, part 6: Retreat of the Marines

David looked upon the scene of Lina facing off with Read Admiral Reinhardt with a mix of trepidation and eagerness, the latter to his horror. When David had accepted Kimberly's formal invitation to the marines, something had come over him to accept a feeling he wasn't sure where it had come from, he had been expecting the ideals that Kimberly had preached to him. The story of how marines fought against injustice and those who wished to do the world wrong. However what David was witnessing now was anything but justice. For what justice allowed the slaughter of those who were simply in the wrong place in the wrong time? It disgusted him to no end. Perhaps there were enough marines in the system to counteract all of this, or perhaps those who followed this path of justice outnumbered those who actually wanted to do good in this world. David could only hope that true justice would prevail in the end for this country, a country he had unknown ties with but still cared for.

David watched as Lina Askr pointed to the sky making all the earth in her area go in the same direction as where she had pointed. Directly up. David's first reaction was to fire an arrow at Lina Askr and attempt to end it then and there, however David's body did not loose the arrow which was aimed at Lina Askr. David internally was at an impasse, between his not wanting to take a life and the overwhelming hatred for Lina Askr he was feeling inside. Lina Askr, a seemingly young girl in the youth of her life, with who knows how many years ahead of her... It was such a shame.

However before David could release his arrow, the side of the building he was standing on exploded and started to shake. David's footing no longer stable shifted to the right where the explosion had struck making him drop the arrow he had strung onto the area in front of the building as he tried to regain his footing. Henry Madison had already fallen over and was struggling to not slide down the roof where the entire right side was missing. Soon a second explosion rocked the side of the building which started the buildings complete collapse as it could not hold David's weight with what had remained.

Henry started sliding down completely, unable to stop himself while at the same time David's back foot lost its hold due to the collapsing building. Looking down at Henry, David grabbed him with his right hand before purposefully falling back wards. Holding Henry close to his chest, David would let go of his bow and twist his body so his left side was perpendicular to the ground. Raising his left hand, David caught himself with said hand, allowing him to not fall over completely and hurt himself. The building David fell from was only waste high to him, but still falling from it could of been painful to him, deadly for someone like Henry.

With his hand holding him up, David would set Henry down who was still in his right hand, slightly terrified as when he was down on the ground he started throwing up, and proceeded to adjust his body so he could disengage from the building without causing more damage then it had already received. Around David and Henry Gun fire could be heard, around the building the marines were firing from impromptu barriers while Revolutionaries, distinguishable by a purple armband and how they have cloths covering their nose and mouths, were firing at the marines in turn. The revolutionaries were here to stop David from continuing his firing upon their fellows down bellow, something that could decimate their forces if David had the orders to do so.

David placed his right forearm in between Henry and the slowly advancing Revolutionary forces to protect him from any stray bullets that may come their way. For one reason or another, the Revolutionaries were not firing upon him, rather only firing at the marines. Something did take notice of but had no time to question as he finally got his feet under him. "Hold on and don't let go." David would say, as he grabbed Madison with his left hand and placed him on his left shoulder. Garbing a hold of David's Helmet.


Grabbing the snail from his shoulder, Madison got ready to call the Rear Admiral to give them their situation when the Snail actually rang for him. Picking up the transceiver, Madison would start to speak only to be cut off by the Rear Admiral giving his order of falling back. Madison would reply in kind to give the Rear Admiral their situation. "This is Ensign Madison acknowledging. We have a problem of our own. While the main force was engaging the revolutionaries down below, a splinter team seemed to have made it past our lines and assaulted our position with explosives. Currently David and the marines are-" Madison words would be cut off as David caught the blast of a cannonball striking his right shoulder, the explosion able to be heard through the Transponder Snail.


David himself during the time Madison spoke retrieved his bow and was preparing to start his own assault on the revolutionaries that had attacked them when the cannon ball struck him. It didn't make it past his armor, but he still grunted in pain as he was forced to take a step back due to the force of the attack. Madison had to grab onto the giant's shoulder even more, less he be thrown off as he cried out in worry for David's well being. Madison called out to those below passing on the Rear Admiral's orders, realizing that with the enemy's numbers unknown they couldn't win this. "Fall back! This is a direct order from Rear Admiral Reinhardt, fall back to the rendezvous point!" David acknowledging start his retreat, holding his arms protectively in front of him as he stepped back, avoiding the marines who were also falling back and firing. The force that had accompanied David would lose several several marines but they would make it to the predetermined point worse for ware.


As the marine retreated, Captain Kitihara would look out from his position in an alley that was used to fire cannon shots at the Giant and the building it perched on. Captain Kitihara Would only look at the retreating giant before he would give the command to regroup back at base to his men before making calls to tell them to do the same. Kitihara had business with Lina Askr that needed to be dealt with. He was still unsure whether she would join them, but no matter if she did or not, by this time tomorrow, Alabasta would see the Revolutionaries as their saviors, and the world government as its dictator. That much was certain.

OOC:

Chapter 14, part 7: Chaos


Lina froze up for a moment when she heard what Kitihara was saying. However the impact didn't necessarily hit her immediately. Her eyes stared out at the crowd looming in the distance. Her ears were transfixed on the cheering of her name, by a multitude of voices which would drive anyone mad should they try to comprehend the amount of people actually wanting their attention. Her eyes transfixed on the flashes of light in the distances. The smoke stacks rising into the night air and looming fires in the near the harbor. The city was being torn apart at its seams and she couldn't wrap her mind around it. Only one phrase stood out to her, Turning a loss into a net positive.


Her gaze was transfixed outward, but she still addressed the revolutionary. " What does that mean", she asked. Kitihara scratched his head, but he took a step closer out to see the crowd and basked in the moment. " Well well, what indeed? Those civilians we fed and sheltered during the chaos were human shields, their presence was exchanged for food. If I'm being perfectly honest, the drastic measures taken by the government were frightening". He'd paused before turning back to her, as if to imprint this message onto her. "We lost a lot of good soldiers today and a lot of civilians, but in exchange we had the kindling for a real powder keg". Lina grasped his collar and slammed him into the wall to his left. There was a loud audible crack which made everyone in the room flinch.

Though the captain hand't moved, so neither did his subordinates. " How can you talk of them as if they were some sort of sacrifice? human shields"?! Her voice boomed and it caused everyone to take a step back, but Kitihara, calm or not didn't flinch. He merely grabbed her wrist and had her let go of him. A subtle message of his confidence if push came to shove. " It's easy for a rouge acting alone to preach about what's right and wrong. You slaughter many and escape by virtue of how small your actual presence in the world is.", he'd say with a surprising shove which made her lose ground. "It's easy for you to play the hero if you're not there after you take action, drifting from one place to another reacting to injustice without direction. You're nothing more than a vigilante, a selfish insect of a human being acting alone"!

Lina went to respond when he stamped his foot down, sending a wave of power which was akin to tut. It was a warning, for it didn't make her submit as his had. The ground beneath them trembled and the building around them shook with rage. " What say you, Lina Askr. Will you lead these people regardless of your moral compass? Or will you waver at---"? The girl grinned and approached the window, taking a speaker den den with her. Using her devil fruit powers she jumped out of the window to the dismay of the crowd, only to kick off as the air like it was water and gain more height than when she started. Many people in the crowd whispered amount themselves, others gawked and exclaimed at what was going on. No one had ever seen such a feat with their own eyes. A devil fruit user who defied the rules of the world, was before them. A person whose power could change their lives. The papers weren't for show, they were real and Lina Askr floating above them with a hardened expression, was proof of that reality.

She pulled the transceiver off the den den and spoke in a booming voice, " Citizens of Alubarna...tomorrow will be their reckoning. We will send the clear message to our oppressors, those who would herd us like cattle, that we will not stand for it any longer. It will be one small step for Alabasta, but one giant step for Sandy ISLE"!

There was a slight pause, before the people cheered loud enough to be heard anywhere on the island. Some say anywhere on the grandline. The cries of a people desperate to be freed of their shackles, who had been decimated by their protectors, expressed their frustrations in an unparalleled battle cry. The likes of which couldn't have been achieved if not for the revolutationaries' manipulation of their heart strings, and the unnatural sight that was the floating petite Swordswoman.

Spoiler:

War, War never changes

Having been drawn by the sights and sounds of war, Bazil had made his way towards the heart of Alaburna, his cultist army in tow. The sound of gunfire and clanging metal echoed through the air, marines and revolutionaries were locked in the heat of battle. The revolution of Alabasta was well under way, with the pirate Lina Askr leading the charge. Opposing her, the marines rolled out the big guns, literally, as a giant bumbled through the carnage, making his way with the rest of the now retreating marines to their rendezvous point. Doing his best to protect those around him from adding to the death total that continued to rise at a steady pace.

“Seems like we are a little late to the party.” The pirate smirked as he turned towards Ezekiel, “Let’s get somewhere we can really stand out.” Bazil finished, making his way into a nearby three story building, the prophet and his followers following suit, they split up into two groups, while Bazil and Ezekiel went into the home, the blood soaked raiders that were the Followers of Styx began to ready for their holy purge of an assault. As he made his way up the stairs, the Red Devil could feel his blood starting to boil in excitement, the thought of going wild amping him up more and more. As they reached the roof the pair noticed a small girl floating in the air, den den mushi in hand she began to yell into mic, every word ringing true with the citizens that listened, baited breathe and wide eyed they looked at the small flying woman and confused her for an angel, she became their symbol of hope, their savior. Lina Askr was now painted as the face of a revolution and hailed as a hero of the people, the kind who fights for those that can’t. After she finished the hidden onlookers and revolutionaries shouted in unison, their booming voices carrying across the island and beyond, this was the power that hope provided. At this point, the remnants of marine forces that hadn’t fallen back were still locked in mortal combat with those who were fighting tooth and nail with the revolutionary forces, though they couldn’t help but pause for a moment as they were all captivated by the words of Alabasta’s savior.

Lina, floating above the war scene, looked down at the cheering masses, proudly relishing in the moment, only to have the short moment of bliss broken by a unnerving, yet familiar voice, “Ayo Tits!” Bazill called out, “Lookin alittle worse for ware there, huh?” The Red Devil mocked the battered young girl who floated in the air across from him. Turning his attention down the the battle field he took in a feep breath before making his own announcement, “Your king has arrived!” His arms shot out as the pirate stood on the edge of the building, the previous king’s purple spotted duck cloak whipping about in the wind, the Alabastan Royal crown resting lopsided on the young man’s head. “And as my first official act as king, I say we slaughter all these marine fucks!” He laughed maliciously as a sea of one hundred cultist swarmed out from behind the rubble, the blood soaked and nude templars charging into the already worn down battle like termites. Though they wore nothing but red cloaks and the blood their enemies, the cultist wore a much stronger ‘armor’, that being the notion that in death they will receive the greatest blessing from their ‘god’. They swung their swords and fired their guns, some even using their teeth to tear away at the marine’s flesh, the sight was akin to watching a horde of feral animals descending upon a single carcass. While the cultists began their purge, the revolutionaries watched in horror as their new reinforcements savagely cut down the enemy and consumed the fallen, bathing in their blood.

Chapter 14, part 8: The Marines Regroup


The marine retreat overall went well, the majority of forces being able to disengage from Revolutionaries and people who picked up make shift weapons and attempted to attack the marines. Though the people were more then likely cut down or shot by reluctant marines who didn't wish to attack innocents. There were however a few marines who were not able to retreat as ably as the others, as those who had been on the front lines got cut off by Basil's army of devout followers. Those men's commander was currently speaking with the main strategist of the marines, the one who had been responsible for hashing out the plans Commodore Riley Patrick Callahan. Of everyone that was sent with the fleet to Alabasta, Commodore Riley was more then likely the one with the best political and strategical maneuvering.


Commodore Riley stood at the head of a large table that was located inside a white tent, the top of the tent going ten feet above the occupant's heads. The inside of the tend was sparsely decorated outside of the single table, there was however a few rugs on the floor to provide some sort of floor for the occupants from the dirt ground under said rugs. Around the table were several officers, none of whom were equal to rank to Commodore Riley, most being a captain or the rare Ensign who's captain allowed them to join them. They were all looking down at the table which had an entire map of Alabasta spread out over it, with markers showing where the Revolutionary forces were as well as where the marine forces were in parallel.

With Rear Admiral Reinhardt giving the command to retreat after his 'Test' with the pacifista's took a turn for the worst, something Riley said would happen, the marines were currently doing a collapsing defense. A collapsing defense being where the marines slowly gave ground yet still gave resistance instead of a full on retreat where the risked to get shot in the back. The Marines were going to cause Causalities as they fell back, better then simply losing all of their men in a full on route. The first back would be the giant that Rear Admiral Reinhardt had taken a liking to, something Riley had to at least admit David was useful at long range artillery, as if they lost that giant then they would most certainly be at a big disadvantage to the Revolutionary and People army.

As Commodore Riley spoke to a transponder snail of the ensign who was currently attempting to pull back from the attacking force of Bazil 'The Red Devil', his face was set in a neutral mask showing no emotion to the news he was receiving. To him it was just another variable to account for on the board of powers at play at Alubarna. With not a bit of concern on his face or in his movements, Commodore Riley simply placed a red chess piece of a rook on the position Bazil was reported to be. The man on the other side of the Transponder snail's voice was cut off mid sentence as a bullet ripped through his head, the clatter of the transponder snail falling was audible to all in the tent. Hanging the Transponder snail up, Riley put his left hand on the table and his left started rubbing his chin as he thought his next move.


David and his escort arrived successfully at the Rendezvous point where the marines had already set up a command base of sorts and was busy reinforcing the ways to reach the camp. At this point the entirety of the upper portion of Alubarna was in control of the marines, most of which they could control, especially with the marines and pacifista's that made it back to them reinforcing their numbers. David and the men who remained, the majority as it happened, were sent first to get their wounds checked, while those who were lucky to not have any were sent to reinforce a portion of the parameter. Upon Henry's pestering, David went to have the area he took a cannon shot inspected by a medic, though David had to be the one to help the medic most of the time. The area was looked at and no real lasting damage would stay, except for a bit of soreness... At least that was what a medic unversed in how to treat a giant said in any case.

With no new orders, and Madison being sent off to reinforce a parameter, David had nothing to do except do what he normally does. Carve wood. However the distinct lack of wood around them was something that did hamper that idea, so instead Simply turned his attention upward to the clouds where his mind took its place. David wasn't normally one to sit around doing nothing except think, however this was only ever really applicable when he did have wood in his hands and his carving knife. As it was however, he had no wood he could use that wasn't being used by those who needed it for the barricades. So instead he just sat there and thought about what had transpired.

 

However it wasn't long till David was prodded on his leg by a marine in a simply low ranking uniform. Looking down at the man, David spoke as he normally did, nodding his head in acknowledgement of the man. "Hello young man. How may I help you." With his low tone of voice that still carried, the marine would jump a bit as he had never worked with a giant before, yet he still spoke back to David. "You are to report to the command tent for your new orders as soon as possible by direct order of Commodore Riley." The marine spoke fast and to the point with just a hint of nervousness about David. Yet he saluted and walked away. David would look after the man for a few moments before humming to himself. 'It would seem as if they had use for him now.' And with that thought David stood and began walking the short distance to the command tent.

OOC:

Chapter 15: At Dawn



Lina peered down at the red haired freak, then back at the crowd was left on Pins & needles at the sight before them. " Don't mind the red haired freak, he has fought against the marines as well", she said with a hint of trepidation in her chest. She clung to the heart shaped pendant she kept tucked under her shirt at all times. She did so while hoping the fact that they were on the same side would quell the crowd's concerns about the red devil. " We strike while the iron is hot. 1 hour after dawn, WE DRIVE THE MARINE MENACE FROM OUR SHORE! I ask WHAT SAY YOU"? The crowd looked to one another, before looking toward the lone girl once more. She felt a sinking feeling in her heart at the discomfort in the air and the overall sense of dread coming from them. That is, until Captain Kitihara showed up upon the roof overlooking Lina.


"Do not fret fellow alabastians, reports coming from the front lines are all green. We've taken back the city, now all that's left is the harbor. I hope you will all support us in the final push to take back this great land". The crowd looked up upon the masked man,but saw his purple attire. The thought of fighting with a fellow Alabastian really pulled at their heart strings and gave them the confidence they needed to cheer once more. Lina hung her head in defeat and tossed the snail transponder away. The crowd watched as she solemnly flew over them with just a small kick on her legs. The crowd cheered a warcry and began to leave the area to spread the word, 10,000 plus citizens spread the news. The whole city became a buzz once more with families saying their good byes and ordinary citizens ransacking the city in search of anything they could use to win the upcoming fight. A combination of the pirates and revolution presence, who now overlooked the crowd like their guardians.

"What the hell happened to the fervor they had a moment ago?", asked the revolutionary captain. A woman interjected and said, " It was the red devil sir. Miss askr seemed to have panicked when she saw him". The revolutionary captain nodded and began to walk off from the dispersing crowd. "Are the preparations for tomorrow complete"? The woman tapped her clip board a few times and said, " yes for the most part, 8 out of 10 maintenance moles have reported planting their explosives successfully on the warships. ". Kitihard interjected quickly, " and the status of the main fleet, well fleets. Ours and theirs"? The woman's expression soured, but she continued and said, "There will be no revolutionary reinforcements, nor are we to support miss Askr anymore. Her alignment with the red devil has sparked controversy among our generals.. ".

Kitihara froze, turning back to the woman slowly. She stammered, but continued, " and the marine fleet? It's headed here. estimated time of arrival is 1 day".

Little did everyone know, Lina had actually been listening in on Kitihara's conversations with a baby den den she snatched from him. With the revelation that it was all for nought, the little swordsman left the scene and left it up to fate.

-exit-
"Thank you miss Nana chan, you're dismissed".

Spoiler:

David's approach to the command tent took him less time then would a normal human as each of his steps covered almost a quarter of the distance with ease. So the walk to the command tent took David less then a minute from him retrieving the notification to go to said tent, and actually making it there. Looking down at the fortifications around the area, which mainly consisted of sand bags or wooden barricades or the occasional bits of rubble rolled over to help with a section. All of these fortifications were stacked at the top of the stairs that lead to the upper distracts of Alubarna where the richer tend to live. The fortifications while makeshift, were still very strong in how their positioning and how they were constructed, perhaps it was because of Commodore Riley's motto of work smarter not harder. Either way, behind the barricades were four cannons that the marines had unloaded from the warships to help in a situation where they may or may not come in handy.


David's approach to the command tent did not go unnoticed, as when David did arrive Commodore Riley was standing outside going through his papers with a neutral look on his face. Like the entire situation was not breaking out into a mini civil war inside the city. David would stop walking about five meters away from the officer before sitting down and leaning forward, his head being closer to the Commodore who was still shuffling through the papers with the neutral expression on his face. Looking up at David Riley would start the briefing in a very matter of the fact voice.


"Your job will be to target the enemies officers who should be at least some what distinguishable from the the rabble that will no doubt surround them. After you beleive to have shot those officers you could see you are to continue your fire into the army to lower their moral, preferably where they are bunched up due to their lines no doubt being a complete mess." Commodore Riley was a very type of strategist. One who took account of everything and then attacked the situation with nothing but absolute efficiency in mind, with a full arm inside the politics that would come from the strategies. It was a very good reason he was allowed to come to Alabasta with the fleet, as no one on the fleet could compare with his expertise in both Stratagem and politics. However the man didn't tend to account for the people he worked with.


David slammed his fist down beside Commodore Riley, the appendage angrily bulging from David's attempt of restraining himself from attacking the officer. With the Commodore no longer speaking as the officer regarded David's arm with the same neutral expression he would turn his attention back to his papers as David spoke. "You would have me attack innocent Civil-" "They are no longer civilians nor innocent. They have taken up arms to attack the marines making them enemies." Riley interrupted David as he went through the papers in his hands before handing one of the papers to a trembling marine behind him "Take that to Captain Rogers." he said before turning his attention up at David "If you cannot accept that fact then turn in your resignation or accept the orders of your superiors." Riley said before turning his back to David and started walking back into the command tent.


David looked at the Commodore's back exasperated as everything the man had said registered. However David was not going to at least try to avoid all of the bloody battles that would come from this. "What if I stopped them." David spoke with desperation in his voice at this point, as his hands rested on his knees from his cross legged position clutched in fists. "What if I could convince them to lay down their arms... Would that allow you to let them live...?" David spoke, grasping at straws by this point. Commodore Riley simply stood there in the tent flap of the command tent still looking down at his papers before speaking. "If you can convince then by dawn then no one shall fire at them if that is what you're asking. That is of course that they still don't attempt to attack us." Riley said, not sparing David even a glance over his shoulder before entering the tent leaving David sitting out in front of the tent.


David's shoulders shook as he exhaled a large breathe he didn't know he was holding it in, relief flooding his body as he now knew he had a chance to end this peacefully. Standing from where he was sitting, David clutched the bow that was currently going across his chest in self measurement before moving to leave the marine position, going down the long steps that lead to the lower section of the city. Upon reaching the bottom David left to go to where the mass of people were, only hoping to be able to finally end this bloody conflict.

OOC:

The trek through the city was something David used to reflect upon his actions since he joined the marines. The chief among them being the reason he had accepted, something he questions. Why had he done such a thing? He hadn't felt particularly inclined to do so after declining his liberator's offer, someone he could of honestly followed with little regret. Perhaps David had agreed with what Commodore Kimberly had said? While that may of influenced him some, it surely wasn't enough to actually convince him to join her... Could it? David could look back at it and say that while he indeed felt empathetic to the marine, being empathetic and actually wishing to help were two completely different things. Before that moment, David had been a simple giant with no knowledge about the world and simply followed orders for no better reason then having no other goal in his life. So why would he all of a sudden wish to go and join some crusade to which he had no knowledge about if their word was good or not? In fact this day showed that they were in fact not very loyal to their own creed with how they shot civilian and foe alike...

David gave an exasperated sigh and rubbed the side of his helmet. What had the world come to now a days. People who spout pretty words like 'justice' and 'helping the populace' starving and killing those they were supposed to be protecting. Revolutionaries attempting to take over an island who's people simply wish to be left alone in peace yet are still being slaughtered in the streets. And in the middle of it all is an old man who simply wants it all to stop. All this blood shed going on across this island is a waste of life. A waste of people's future. A waste of time, all of it. At least that was what David saw. A waste of time for everyone that simply wastes things people COULD be doing. People could be helping each other support their families, yet they fight tooth and claw to take from others. People could be stopping the blockade around the island, yet it was still there making people starve to death in the streets due to the lack of supplies. It certainly made David wonder if the Marines and Revolutionaries were worth the air they breathed...No, of course they were. While some marines are no doubt wanting to help 'save' people, it was the people in power that were actually doing bad things. Same with the Revolutionaries who no doubt truly wished to stop the oppression of the marines, yet are taken advantage of by those running it for that person's personal gains. A cycle of those with good intention being taken advantage of by those who can manipulate.

Taken from his musing, David looks up to see the large mass of people who were preparing their selves for a battle if the way they were pointing weapons towards him was any indications. David's body was taller then the buildings that had been around him for more then a few miles so it shouldn't of surprised him that they would of noticed him making his way there. His thoughtfulness was always getting him into trouble it had seemed. David didn't know why they hadn't attacked him yet, considering the fact that David was less then 50 meters away from the large gathering of citizens. That changed when David shrugged his shoulders to adjust his bow that all of the citizen's eyes widened and they moved back a bit in a panic. David then realized, simply, he was a giant. Most giants had a reputations to be blood thirsty monsters of war, so seeing one must of scared theses people enough that they didn't wish to try his luck.

With a slow motion, David would take his bow and quiver off in one smooth motion before placing them on the ground in front of him before gently pushing it over towards them, act of pushing it tearing up a bit of the road. Taking a step back from them, David would sit down with his leg's crossed and his hands palm up on his knees. "People of Alubarna" David started saying, loud enough to carry out over the general area of where he rested allowing those who weren't there to hear him. "I have come to tell you to call of your attack on the marines." David continued, to the shock and anger of those arranged before him in the large plaza in front of a quite large warehouse. "I know the marine have mistreated you and yours. You have clearly suffered at the hands of the leaders of this country. At the hands of the marines who claim to 'Protect' and to 'Defend' those who are weaker and yet they had attacked indiscreetly when attacking the Revolutionaries and cause many to die to their walking machines of war. They bar Alubarna from receiving supplies with their fleet. Truly the Marine are the paragon's of all hypocrites around the world." David continued to speak, watching the faces of those in front of him look at him with confusion at where he was going, while at the same time ready to throw themselves at him should he do something, something he has not done as he has done nothing except sit their and speak.

"However. Just because they lie, kill, and steal to your faces does not mean you can face them. The marines are an organization spaning the entirety of the known seas, drawing recruits from all of them while we are but one lonely island. Even as we speak another marine fleet is on their way to Alubarna as we speak, ready to reinforce the marines barricaded with supplies and ammunition along with more man power. Should you attack you will no doubt be slaughtered before you can wrest the harbor from their control." David said with a sympathy laced in his voice, meaning to come off as a sympathetic individual to those before him. However all he managed to do was make the people in front of him mad. A man stood forward, in cloths that at one point may of been something a worker might wear, now nothing more then dirty rags to cover his body. "And what would you have us do giant!" The man spoke, waving a cutlass in the air, more likely to actually cut himself then use it correctly. "We have nothing left! Our children and elderly die in the streets! We cannot even afford to leave the city less we die from the sun, desert, or beasts!" The man yelled, many other people raising their voice in agreeance with his words.

"I know not what you can do. But I do know that your loved ones will not wish for you to throw your lives away." David said, Lowering his head respectfully. "Should you die, then you condemn your children and elderly to death just the same as if you would live. But with your death they may not have anyone to teach them how to live. You forcefully take away their way of life by dying. At least should you live, they may die with their family to warm their hearts knowing that you were there, where as should you die come morning they will die alone, and cold." David said, to the growing anger of the crowd who's frustrations were tarting to boil over as they gripped their weapons harder and stepped forward seemingly ready to charge and attack him.

"So are you telling us to just roll over and die, you fucking bastard!?" The man yelled at David, looking ready to lead the charge himself. "No!" David yelled, making those before him flinch back in fear at the sudden roar in volume, as they suddenly remembered what they were speaking to. "I instead ask you to give in the marines demands! Should you successfully take over the docks what then?! More marines will simply arrive and attack you! There is no worth in attacking the marines!" David said, The looks of anger on the faces turned from pure anger at David's words to a mix of frustration and anger. "And what if we have the revolutionaries?! We have them at our backs! They'll help us!" The man continued to argue, though noticeably less enthusiastic as he was. "Yes they may help you." David replied "Yes, but where are they now? When you prepare to assault the marines at the docks they do nothing, not even show their faces. They riled you up and pointed you in a direction of their enemies. Should people who preach 'Liberty' and 'Freedom' not help those they wish to bestow such words upon?" David asked the group before him. The result of David's words had some people looking around looking for their so called saviors to no avail, but before they could look any longer, David would speak.

"I have asked you to not attack the marines so your friends and family may not have to bury you. Should you still wish to attack the marines in their fortified position with their reinforcements on the way, I will not stop you, nor fight you at the docks. As of this moment I no longer answer to those who call themselves 'Marines'. I have seen first hand how they spit upon the name of 'Justice'. Instead, I shall take up residence at the Palace. Any who wishes for the protection of a giant is welcome. May you live long and fulfilling lives, and may you find good fortune in your future." David said with not a single glance at the people who were undecided, slowly grabbing his bow and quiver before standing and turning towards the way he came. Whatever happened after this would be of little consequence to David, despite how much it made his old heart ache with sadness at the loss of life. He only wished the people of this fair city took his words to heart.

With a heavy heart and heavy consious, David goes to the highest point in the city. The Palace of the late Nefertari family.

-------------------------------

After David's speech dawn soon came with many people wondering if they should attack. In the end the majority of the populace just gave in to the marines instead of attacked. Spending whatever time they had left with their families, while those who had nothing to lose or those who had the fire of rebellion lit in their hearts attacked hte marines when their ships were blown apart by explosions from the inside. While the fighting was fierce, the marines held the Harbor with some effort. The marine fleet David had warned the populace about arrived less then half an hour after dawn, bringing a close to the rebellion that sprouted.

The marines, after receiving what they demanded from the people, shipped in fresh food and medical supplies for the people of Alubarna as well as establishing it. David indeed stayed in the old palace, only allowing those who wish protection to enter with whatever belongings they had. While David and the marines have gotten into a heated discussion about it, blows have not fallen...Yet. The tension between David and the marines was tense at best, but none have pressed the issue as the Palace was not need for their plans and they allowed David and those under his care to receive supplies in thanks for the lives he saved due to his talking down of the populace, even giving him the arrows that were originally his that were being shipped with the new fleet. However that was as far as the Marines allow in terms of leeway.

So David and his small village worth of people reside in the Palace, attempting to carve out something that might last.

[EXIT]