"Augh…." Zeke walked out of the bedroom and down to the main bar and sitting room. His eyes filled with sleep while he attempted to wipe his eyes. He continued to groan. Catching the attention of Dahlia, who sat with a look of anxiety on her face. A radio next to her. The subtle glow of the tubes within illuminating the front of the box.
"Fuckin' hell Zeke…" She breathed a relief "You've been asleep for 32 Hours! You're missing it!" She gestured to the Radio "To think I tried to wake you up a dozen times already and you still slept through it…."
"Bars closed for the day…Crowds too big." She added on
Suddenly. In the midst of his Hangover. Zeke sensed the oddity of the island he stood on. Even from Dozens of kilometers away. He sensed the mass accumulation of crowds on the swales and stands of Desmare. Given the positions. He could tell they surrounded where Broadcasts typically were.
"Whats being broadcast?" He asked. His senses focusing.
"Fire Brand's Execution is happened. Redbeards shown up with his entire fleet. And total war has broken out on Marineford. And…" She breathed
"Not only has Azar been outed as Rogers Son…But also that Red Sash is The Revolutionary Tiger's Son as well. Red Sash himself only having just arrived…" She pinched her brow. Showing the near nonexistent crows feet of her age at the edges of her lids
"I see…" Zekes shoulders huffed in worry. "I'm leaving." He said gripping his jacket from the coat hanger "If I leave now I should be able to make it there before the Execution. If I swim that is. And at full speed…It should only take-"
"And then what?" Dahlia asked. She did not want to dissuade him. Just wanted him not to be Brash in his decision making. He could prone to do. Especially when it revolved around Roger…He'd known about Azar since before his birth. And allowed him to be his own man. But in an ironic way. Because he was Rogers son…He wanted to help him-
But he had no connection to him. He didn't even know him…And unlike Leroy who had proven his strength of will, convincing zeke to want to help him after all of this was done if he survived…It was simply his relation to Roger that Zeke wanted to help…
And he knew that if that was the reason he was saved…An honestly selfish reason. Not because of himself…But-
He knew that Azar wouldn't accept such a thing if he was anything like his father. He was being executed because of his blood. He knew that now after being told his lineage had been revealed…
He was resolved now in the choice he made when he first heard about his execution…
He would not interfere
"And then…Even if I had the stamina left…I'm far past my prime. I could end up just another Casualty…" He let go of the Jacket. Letting it crumple on the floor.
"Roger…" Tears welled in Zekes eyes as he thought back to his Partner. A man who he could've even called a Soulmate.
'Don't save him because of Roger…Don't do it…Because of that same reason. I know if you were here to give advice even for a movement. Overcoming Death to whisper in my ear…That you'd agree. Don't save him just because he was his. It'd be different if I had a relationship and connection to him…Connections right? That was always what you said…'
'Everything in this world is in Motion! Everything has a reason for doing something! Even it's contradictions! We should do something because of those connections. Because we understand them and our place in them!' Were the exact words Roger had said. Decades ago
Zeke breathed a sigh. Wiped his eyes. And walked over to Dahlia and sat down
"Turn it up will ya?"
Elsewhere. In The New World Branch of The Militia Movement known as Che. On the island called Coa Bana. Leroy's father, Falcon D. Tigre. The Revolutionary Tiger, Sat in his office, a large wooden room with wide grained paneling. There was shelves of books around, statues and art as well. Many of which had been gifted to him as personal thanks by those that the Militia had helped.
The Desk itself was dark, wide, and had a communication device on the corner, a cup of writing utensils, and a lamp. With drawers and small cupboards that were filled with various needs and the like, from extra paper, to binders and folders for filled out files for his own personal use. The drawers; his personal journal, wax seals, inkwells, penknives, letter openers, unopened letters.
His large but defined and narrow face, covered in stubble with thicker hair at his jaw line and above as below his lips, was screwed into a look of focus as he looked to the Television set in the corner of the room.
Between his scarred fingers, was a cigar. Hand rolled. With the tobacco grown and collectively owned by another island under the jurisdiction of the Militia Army.
The Militia Uniform, the dual breasted pocket tunic jacket, the deep pale olive color left open to show the floral button up underneath, which too was left open with the final layer of a simple tank top; crumbled and creased as he leaned forward. Hand against his head slicking back the multiple foot long mane of dark brownish black hair, same as his son save for the more abundant curls present in the fathers.
"Leroy…" Tigre whispered to himself as he watched the destruction and war of Marine HQ. His hand coming up to drag the cigar before bellowing and immense cloud of anxious smoke
"Should I go? Should I leave for Marine Ford now?" He bounced his leg as he tapped off the ember ashes of the Perfecto Sized cigar. "It'd be good to make a move…!" He whispered again
"The entire things on display right now…But for what? For Redbeard? Azar? To show that it is no sin to be born in a specific Bloodline? Rather that be D, or Roger or Even my own Family in the Case of Leroy…" His yes shot the ceiling where the carved square accents lined the surface
"Whats to be gained for the Revolution? The Emancipation of the Workers? Yes that includes Marines but all Marines present are Ensign and above. I'd already decided that this was a conflict the Militia would not get involved in…Until…My Son…" Tigre loved Leroy. And Diva was there too! And seeing him in this scenario…Knowing the benefits it could be for both of them! His own dad coming to help him and the Militia showing the world of the strength of bond no matter what the government said…But…
He had to think about this. Was it worth going into a War, putting the Lives of Militia on the line. For Diva and Leroy? When he hadn't even attempted to break Diva out of Imperious Styx…
No he couldn't…He would meet his son another time. He had faith in his blood. In Diva. Even if there was no politics and writing to back up their actions. What was happening here, was a declaration against the status quo…
Tigre himself was no Theorist himself. That went to the Lawyer who himself had successfully lead a revolution on the Island of Nova. Tigre was a Tactician. A Practitioner of of the things and mechanics that make the world work and how to use and break them to benefit the Peoples. Even if he had written the notorious book 'Why' or the Little Brown Book. The Manifesto of the Militia. All of that was just a guide book and why and how.
Nothing as Radical and philosophizing on The Forms of Creation, The Channels of Assembly, The Methods of Yield, or more commonly collected into the single phrase 'The Means of Labor'.
How things worked, how things were made. What value those things had from the amount of work and labor put into it, how they traveled, trade in not just economy but in the very idea of connections between people socially and literally. How Stock exchanged hand. Stock, Money, Machines, Forces, Capital, Land, tools. But above all else. This was just a step. Not the end
The end was using all of this for total Liberation of those forced to toil with these Mechanics to the benefit of others above them that owned it.
That was what Tigre was focused on above all else. How to implement, fight, and liberate. His mind may not be as sharp as others. But his fire burned brighter and louder.
That was how the militia was able to not only Form the Militia Movement, The Army, but also foster political footholds in Electoral institutions as 'The Peoples Group for Freedom' [TPG] for non-physical based action like negotiations, political talks or the like. Even if it wasn't very effective with how most Islands worked…
"Leroy…" Tigre steeled himself. Strong brow narrowing as he noticed, it wasn't just Diva and Leroy with escapees on the island. But it was Leroys actions that now allowed for-
The Ferry Unions appearance! When had they appeared? Had some been on the ship with Leroy? No…These were Militia Members from Styx that were now at the HQ laying their lives down because they new what their appearance meant. But also because they knew that could change the tides even a little, with out the main forces of the Militia, they would!
Just like Refuse Armies that were left behind on islands to continue fighting in environments ripe with turmoil while the Militia needed to be else where!
"Leroy…Thank you…"
"Red Sash!" Rowdy Row called out to Leroy. As he locked onto the Pirate "When the Hell did you get here?!" Row hadn't noticed the mans entrance into the war prior
"No time! Go!" Leroy shouted as pointed towards the ruined stair cases. Already the other three had began to ascend! Leroy sprinting forward in a blur! No longer trying to keep pace but leaping ahead! Jumping ahead of Rowdy and onto the stair case!
Before the others could even reach the top of the Second City, the Layer filled with the Fancy and Expensive homes of the High paid marines and ranked officers, he was the first to step foot into it!
"Azar!" Leroy shouted!
From behind. Felix Andreas had finished his fight against and entire platoon of Giants who had distracted and stopped him from breaking through to the second layer of Marineford!
Metal, Scrap, Crumbled stone, and other miscellaneous materials all shot toward him! Raising him off the ground with each step! Wrapping around him and shifting and molding into robotic parts of harsh angular edges and geometric shapes! Until the moment that Leroy finished his shout!
A giant mecha almost entirely formed behind Leroy! Hands slammed into the Ultra Strong Concrete of the island! Looming behind Leroy and the Rest of The Redbeard Pirates as they rushed ahead!
But…Another obstacle was already waiting for them! Because in front of them all!
Was every single Vice Admiral!