Island CP3 Base

[Lamby]

The Return - CP3 Base #15
@Hiei​

Gerald's power shook the island, his haki resonating extreme hostility as his enhanced bullets ripped and tore through his enemies. Subsequently the island shook, the shore line and coast felt the extreme reverb of this and inevitably the bought felt it as well. The quake wasn't too powerful as to completely over turn the ship but the sudden increase in the "droop" of the ship's usual bob shook the wounded Mark.

"Huh?!" He briefly exclaimed, sweat beads dripping from his forehead. Although exceedingly difficult he managed to do it thanks to his understanding of Life Return, closing his wound through precise manipulation of his muscles' striations. "Was that- Agh, a quake?!" He curiously questioned. His eyes darted across the room and to his cabin door, curious to what Gerald had done.

"When he said he didnt want me to see this side of him, was he talking about his natural sense of manslaughter?!"

"Aha- Ow, I'm joking about the manslaughter thing but really though. What could he have utilized to cause that much racket?"

At the base of it all, amidst the chaos, amidst the broken men and fallen soldiers. Government dogs and agents who had dedicated themselves to "justice" mercilessly killed and left for dead by the hands of one Pirate. The battlefield was worn and torn, the base building itself singed with bullet wounds and smoke escaped from the building.

"It seems that Ive started a fire." Cockily spoke Gerald, having looked upon the upper floors of the base. He had fired with great precision but it seems a chain reaction had occurrd eventually building up to an explosion and fire spreading.

Walking through the destruction absorbing his work, his forearms and gun remained hardened and his observation haki remained strong, bodies all over slumped over and shredded broken walls and bullet holes all through the concrete floor and a ravaged terraign torn asunder by the power of his guns?! He sensed a strong presence, Yamanami. The agent he had previously wounded using his newly engineered Ion Blaster.

"Look at all that I've done," he proudly showcased calling to Yamanami as though he could see him clearly, he lifted his arms and held them diagonally adjacent to his body. "This is what you get for messing with my son, although I wanted to conquer this place in a much different way. Training him to be much more than his previous self was one of my biggest goals when coming here."

"No one has to tell me but I am a hypocrite. I claimed the mantle of a prophet for the sake of title and thus showed myself on favor of God, take this as my confession, I am a liar for trying to be something I clearly am not. This is now my Territory, the land of Gerald Q. Yopenheimer. Although I've kept myself anonymous you guys already know my name, so there's no point. I will make leave shortly, so don't worry but if you cry to your owners about my conquest I'll put a few bullets in your skulls."

He calmly threatened, using his extreme speed he leapt back 10 meters, giving himself a much greater view of the base building. He pointed his guns and unleashed yet another maelstorm, haki enhanced bullets, guided by his newly found expertise he demolished what remained of the building bringing it down to the ground, thus marking the start of a new era!

 

[Lamby]

The Aftermath #1​

Gerald's first Territory
Gerald had done it, Conquering the might of Cipher Pol with his own strength in the name of his son. "An agent survived, my words might've gotten to him. I can sense his presence clearly yet he did not make any attempts to fight, I'll take it as though they've submitted to me, to my will."

"How wonderful," he exclaimed, feeling proud of what he had accomplished. He put away his twin Kris-Vectors, mounting them on his lower back hidden away under his cape. He turned about and retreated back to his ship.

The chaos and destruction, bullet holes filling the concrete infrastructure all around the environment. The bloodshed, the lifeless bodies and the countless souls released from this earth and collected by the graceful hand of God. Yamanami, after confirming the departure of Gerald Yopenheimer, crawling his way to peep-out and seeing no sign of the guilded monster, released a long and well-deserved sigh of relief.

He exhaled, drooping his shoulders and lowering his head as the tension seeped away from him. His wounded leg stung but atleast the confrontation was over, "Oh, Commander Kondo, where ever you are. I'm glad you hadn't been here to lead us, else you'd suffer so much backlash. Commander Nagakura was too patient, I feel as though we'd have better options attacking all at once instead of guaging their abilities. The very second that Purple Ninja contested with Tani and Soji, we should have taken precautionary measures just in case either one had fallen but for both to be defeated?! In a relatively quick span of time is beyond imagination. We were weak, well we weren't weak by choice, they were just much stronger than what we'd usually face."

He gripped his poorly treated leg, bandaged and cleaned to await proper medical care when and if more marine ships headed their call.

"I beg you, the great one who watches over all our souls. To bring order to the disorderly and love to meek and vulnerable. Slayer of hatred and death and giver of eternal life, I beg you. Let not this be the end of us-- let not this be the end of me." He whispered, his soul bellowing in agony and pain. Cipher Pol wasn't an organization that would usually accept religion however dotted about, the people in secret would still cling unto their beliefs. Take it as a form of comfort, the evil and hurt that circulates through this world is vast and abundant in it's reaches.

Albeit Yamanami's hurt and grief, the Agents succeeded in their mission. Their core objective, that was to safe guard the Royalty that had lived on Kurigane Island. Ichimura one of the more healthy-surviving agents managed to reach them in time, escorting them to the docks on the other side of the island completely opposite to where Gerald had originally landed, he gathered the King, his Queen and three heirs; two princesses and one prince, and had them quickly escorted down the pathway to prepare to leave however after Gerald's violent island shaking attack, the pier was torn asunder thus marooning them until Marine HQ heeded their last minute transmission.

So now they sat, panicked and stressed with Ichimura still pondering what it is they should do. "Mr. Ichimura, what's our next move?"

"My family can't die on this island, we don't have any command of any armies, neither do we usually ask for more than what you guys had to offer. The heightened security after Sir Marigold's initial attack those few years ago, now lays in ruins. Tell me you have another plan." He pleaded, stoic but riddled with responsibility and fear for his family's life.

"I can't say for sure, that last attack that shook the island was probably our sign that something devastating had happened. Sadly from this end of the island there's no clear view of the base, you're secluded remember."

"The pier is destroyed and I don't think we have the technical expertise nor the supplies to make an impromptu escape, I'll have to investigate the damages. So sire, take your wife and children and head back inside the castle," replied Ichimura. He was unsure of this decision, there was the possibility that Gerald had expanded his reaches after killing his subordinates and so had he happened upon the castle he could still be in there. However, if he leaves now to survey the damages and keeps them outside, they may as well be considered sitting ducks, atleast inside the castle they can try their best to hide and will have access to their luxuries to keep them comfortable. He had to take a gamble with either option, and so he wagered all their lives on his next move.

"We can't just go after you evacuated us from our home." Replied the King growing a bit frustrated.

"I know, I'll be escorting you back in. I don't want to leave you out here, afraid and vulnerable, I have to go and see what had happened to properly gauge what it is we can do. Please be patient with me sire, your lives are much more important to the world government than my own and so your safety is always the top priority." He replied.

"Young man, your skin is still soft and your eyes are still brimming with life. Don't be a martyr just for our sakes, it pains me to see life thrown away so carelessly." Expressed the queen, compassionate and kind. Her heart was sensitive, much more sensitive than her husband's. It was the perfect example she wanted to set for her children.

"It's okay, I was trained in this way. Let me lay down my life, it is my decision and will to do so. So that you can live yet another day." Replied Ichimura. Reaching to his waist and grabbing the scabbard of his katana. Carefully, Ichimura escorted the royals back to the castle, safe guarding the entrance as they made it inside. Each burdened with an intense few as they slowly trekked through the halls of their lavish palace. Ichimura retreated to the outside, scaling the building to reach its highest tower. He looked over the island and absorbed the chaos in it's full glory.

Spelling Errors and gramatical errors

 

[Lamby]

The Aftermath #2​

Ichimura saw and took it in, and it grieved him in his heart that he had left his brothers behind to take care of the King.

Back at the shoreline, completely opposite the sea port the royals had attempted to use to escape, on the other side of the island where the threat had come from. The Yopenheimers lay somewhat dormant and in a stat of panic as per Mark's condition.

After the 2 years of running about and hiding, he sought refuge on an unnamed island. Although he sought refuge and built himself in secret, there were conquests in which he went to gather materials. Gerald is an exceptionally intuitive mind, he collected books along the way and stored them so that he could draw inspiration from the works for any new invention he wanted to make. As with Dr. Vegapunk, one of the greatest intuitive minds out there, he too wished to delve in many areas. The first was medicine--

"I don't trust in your medicinal practices, not one bit!" Exclaimed Mark!

"I'm only doing what is best for you, and the wound you got yourself into!" Blared his father. A pandemonium erupted at sea, contrary to the thickness of grief, sorrow and anxiety befalling the inhabitants and the protectors of Kurigane Island, the Yopenheimers were up to their shenanigans.

Gerald had only recently started studying Medicine and garnered a plethora of books, perosnal entries and novels that span a variety of medicinal media and so, out of concern for his son he wanted to treat his wounds. Unfortunately, Mark experienced the first hand of Gerald, whether it be from his wrestling based punishments or to defeat from his ruthlessness with the Kuri-Kuri no mi. Saying all this to say that Mark Golben did not trust his own father, not with such a sensitive wound. He was far too brutish and so-- He fought Gerald. Waving his arms and legs making it very difficult for him to be treated, atleast he waved the limbs the best he could.

"Stop resisting! I'm not going to apply anything too technical, you got cut straight down to the bone, let me disinfect and wrap the wound!" Yelled Gerald, as the boot teetered from their struggle.

"No! Never! This isn't even about vengeance for being abandoned, you're not gentle enough to be practicing medicine!" Mark fearfully answered. Violently fraying his arms, utilizing Total Concentration Breathing to enhance his physical strength and to violently clench his muscles aroudn the slash wound to keep it shut. "I won't be able to keep this up for long, he just came back from his slaughter not too long ago but unlike me he's still ready to go." He anxiously thought.

It was quite a struggle but Total Concentration Breathing was not an technique to execute, it excites the muscles to perform at extreme levels much greater than the regular function and therefore he was bound to tire out and Gerald knew this.

So inveitably Gerald did treat him, the whole process wasn't as bad as he had initially thought.

Although Gerald may possess an imposing figure, he was surprisingly gentle when handling his son. For his first time as a "doctor" he did well.

So Mark laid in bed pouting, he removed his chest piece and was unmasked, the wound spanned a great distance and inevitably he had to adorn himself with just some shorts leaving him exposed. "That wasn't so bad, now as it?"

"If you were on the receiving end of everything you put me through you'd kind of have an understanding as to why I'm so protective of my person. Especially around you." Mark replied.

"I think you're overexaggerating some aspects of my personality, I love you. My son, I love you becaue I love you, I will deal with you with care. When were back on Floridia the way we punished you was necessary for your conditioning, had you not then you'd have never passed your indoctrination. Sadly our genes didn't quite pass into you as much as we hoped it would--" He paused. Gerald knelt down and slowly removed his helmet revealing his sheep-like appearance. His locs scruffled, but then straightened by his hand, he cleared his overhung hair from his face and wiped away the sweat that had accumulated underneath on his forehead.

Mark was intrgued.

"I won't go back to groveling at your feet, begging for forgiveness after abandoning all of you. Not again, I can only show my love for you now that we are reuinited as much as you would allow me to. I don't think you've known how gently I held you when you were born, because of my size I'm not always gonna be able to guage my strength everything smaller than myself but I have to try anyway. Really, I am sixteen feet tall-- You know how much force I can produce? Regardless, if I am not careful I could hurt you."

"I'm glad I was able to heal you, my first patient however I won't be bringing you into anymore missions from here onwards. Atleast not without your consent," he added.

"So you could tell that I was upset?" Asked Mark, widening his eyes in intrigue.

"About bringing you to help me conquer an island? Not initially, you were angsty and I assumed that was because you're a teenager. Well-- you are growing out of your teen years, the problem arose when you'd suffered that injury. I was upset and therefore finished the job on my own the very second I got you to safety. We trained together before coming here, so I had full confidence in your abilities. In theory there wasn't any way for you to lose," He paused to scratch his head, "I'm only guessing it was because of what I had you do that frustrated you."

"You're not too far off, surprisingly. You're violating Kata code just by making claims to this island, although you are the 'Gas-Station-Hot-Dogs' afterall," replied Mark. "Don't have me conflict our heritage and your personal goals, I'm not the little boy who awed over his goat-father anymore. Don't take it a wrong way, I very much admire who you are however it's time for me to set out on my own. I can't always be nestled under either you or mom."

"I see," Gerald was a bit hurt but that was the truth. The reality he had forgotten to acknowledge since he had spent his time far away, the room fell into a tense silence. Gerald's reply subtly conveyed an almost somber feeling, his ears drooped and he reached for his helmet. "You're right. You are old enough and responsible enough to make your own decisions and choices in life, I think we have a bit more things to cover here before we leave. I doubt I'd want to venture off too soon, make yourself comfortable. I'm going to scout the island a bit more, before I return if you can, please activate Sub-Station 1 and have the reactor core build itself. I'm going to need my lab." He added. He arose and had left.

"I hope I didn't upset him," Mark whispered to himself. He shfited himself, coming to the edge of his bed ready to get up or atleast try to. His wound was treated and bandaged however for it to heal the slash must stay closed. Any misplaced steps or added pressure could re-open his injury and lead to him being treated once again. He wasn't too happy about that but he had a bit of trust in his father and his skills, afterall his scientific inventory was magnificent.

Gerald was on the move once again, leaving the halls of the boat and resurfacing on the deck. He lept back unto the main land and ventured back to ruined Cipher Pol Base. What else could there be, on this island, for him to take? He had already claimed the souls of his enemies, atleast a majority of them.

 

[Lamby]

The Aftermath #3​

Ichimura secured the royals. He had long returned from his peering point, like a hawk he scoured the landscape but only grief and sorrow filled his spirit. Filled with anxiety the royals remained on the inside of the palace, assured of their safety he left for the main base. Now sprinting through the thick forest, gripping his katana with a heavy burden on his shoulders, he can only ponder what might or might not come to be. Whether it be the eradication of the royal family or the complete destruction of the entire island, Gerald Yopenheimer's potential threat was great.

"The risks we take for security and certainty are always the most split. My task is to secure the royals, my objective also includes the swift disposal of pirate threats and the maintenance of the rule imposed by the world government." Thought Ichimura. He subtly ground his teeth one another, clamping his jaws shut as he pondered the situation, worrying whether or not this decison was the right call.

"All of his on my shoulders and the training I had received, yet I can't shake off my fear. I honed my ways through rigorous training however my strength does not amount to much in the eyes of what I had felt on the after math of the battle. The island shook didn't it? The island quaked and the base was brought to the ground, with it's walls scattered abroad who knows what else I might find."

He sped through the forest, at supersonic speeds he went about exceptionally quickly leaving only a minimal residue of sound as he passed.

Out of the thick flora, he burst unto the cipher pol complex and halted taking it all in. The ash of fire, the residue of gunpowder and the strong scent of blood. "It's much worse than I thought--," he whispered in horror. His heart sank and a chill ran up his spine, slowly he walked to the front of the base and took it all in.

Bodies left to rot, concrete boulders sent flying, stray fires in the base, bullet holes penetrating deep not into the concrete debris but also the ground. He took yet another step, however the earth and concrete underneathe his sandal felt exceptionally unstable. As though displaced for some strange reason. As he walked deeper into the base he began recognizing the faces of his brothers, killed by bullets and left to die. Not too long would he happen upon Agent Yamanami, not dead but resting the best he could. His face faced the sky and the look of lament was over him, "Yamanami--" he uttered in a moment of disbelief.

The wounded man groaned, a rude reply but given leeway considering the circumstances. Groggily he tilted his body, leaning his head towards the source of the voice invoking his name, he barely opened his eyes. He squinted, his eyes were heavy and his vision was blurred and unreliable.

"The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,

Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision." [-- Psalms 2:2-4]
He said in weakness and full confidence. He widened his eyes forcing them to take in more light, so that he may see. The blurred images he had seen, came together, they converged and he remembered where he was and he saw a familiar face.

He was shocked, his face conveyed this well. His expression softened into a smile, "It's so lovely to see that you survived, Ichimura."

He greeted his comrade with open arms. Ichimura was broken, he stepped closer to Yamamani.

"I-it was that bad?" He asked eager to hear an explanation.

"Yes, he was a force to be reckoned with. This wasn't the same man who had attacked us those many months ago, no mechanical giant just his own raw talents and surprising genius. He shot me down with a laser and then leveled the entire building with 2 foreign firearms."

"He laid waste to all our men and then, well this is what is left. Though Im glad you weren't there to suffer through it, Okita sadly suffered a terrible fate. Being the first of us to die, I am not upset about it. Although I may die if I am not properly treated for my wounds, I accept this death. Every minute I sit here I send my prayers and woes unto the Lord God. Gerald's wickedness shall not go unpunished."

"You weren't taught first aid, and so I don't expect much help in this situation. All the supplies that we nay have was most definitely erased in the collapsed building, why not just sit with me Ichimura?"

Ichimura was at a loss for words, internally distressed and shaken.

He quietly sat down, and gazed upon his brother.

And so they sat in each other's comforts, a tense melancholy painted an auroma around them. It was palpable and distressing, though unexpectedly an untimely meeting was inbound.

The sounds of a heavy boot, footsteps with extreme weight behind them; armor rattling and clanging as the person's body shifted, his arms ever so slightly swung whilst he strode, his fur coat gracefully and yet quitely flew behind of him. The wind wasn't strong, all that could be felt is a the gentle breeze of a subtle shifts of air and Ichimura was one of the remaining few to see him, Gerald Q Yopenheimer had come once again.

Ichimura's jaw dropped his eyes gazed upon his stature, he was flabbergasted! He reached for his blade preparing to strike however Gerald did not flinch nor did he even flicker to adorn himself in the same way, "Do not draw your sword." He calmly commanded.

Yamanami's body reacted, tilting his ear to the source of that foreign voice as he sat.

Ichimura's shock turned into lethal malice, "Who are you to make such commands?!" He angrily replied. Fortifying his stance, he reeled back; his form extremely reminiscent of Iajutsu, he was prepared to perform a sword drawing attack.

"Who am I? You're standing in the aftermath of my assault on this base, I came to reclaim my lost pride and inevitably ending up finishing things the very second my son's life was endangered. What makes you think taking an offensive after witnessing such a gruesome aftermath, would achieve? What honor would it bring you if you'd fallen in a single shot just like your brothers?" Gerald replied, a cold venom laced his words.

"Either way, you're not fast enough to challenge me. I have already recompensed you for your sin, I have no need to eliminate you."

"Bastard!" Exclaimed Ichimura. Gerald's cold nonchalance struck deep and it shook his own confidence, his hands trembled and his stance crumbled. "You're such a self-righteous hypocrite!"

Both Gerald and Yamanami were taken aback.

"You're so self absorbed you haven't even began to realize the true extent of what you've done. I was there when you had first attacked, when Commander Kondo was still with us. You were just a nobody pirate trying to make a name for yourself just like the many others."

"The very second you were given a taste of new power you had returned, you slaughtered us yet claim it as recompense for harming your son? We know of no such person!"

Yamanami listened intently, he too believed that Gerald spoke folley. Blinded by his own wisdom, but there had to be some truth to his words.

 

[Lamby]

The Aftermath #4​

"His son? I have no recollection of any such targets. We never left the island for any selective killing, so who could possibly fill that category?" Pondered Yamanami, although he did not turn to see the confrontation. The tension between the two, and the figure of Gerald after his long awaited return, he still attentively listened.

It was then, he was filled with the holy ghost, wisdom imparted unto him thanks to his faith, "The Ninja! The swordsman adorned in purple, there's no other possible answers. His son was not with him on our initial confrontation. It was only afterwards, it was this day."

"You're delusional!" Exclaimed Ichimura, although he hesitated, his hands trembling at Gerald's overbearing stature, he remained strong, although he may be walking within the shadow of death; close to snuffing out the light of the goodness in his heart, the goodness that wails out of grief, he feared nothing. He feared not the evil that stood before him.

"Ichimura." Calmly interjected Yamanami, grabbing his colleagues attention and subsequently Gerald's as well. He spoke, in a gentleness, with God within him and his spirit, by faith he spoke, "Gerald Q. Yopenheimer."

"I do not wish to face either of you, not whilst the spirit of rage still swells within my soul. By the Lord's name I was allowed to persist and by his judgement I was truck down, one thing remains constant and that his goodness never fails."

"Gerald Q. Yopenheimer, you shot me in my leg. Buried me in rubble, killed my comrades and brought down a base atop my head. You intimidated Ichimura and justified yourself and your own actions through the title of recompense, recompense for harming your son. Yet did you stop to realize what had led to that confrontation?"

"That ninja, you had brought him to this island. You stationed him to confront us and he ended up shedding innocent blood of not just one man but two, Okita and Tani lost their lives because you had ordered him to kill, unfortunately he did not complete the task flawlessly. He suffered injury, and by that you took it upon yourself, placing yourself in the shoes of the Lord-- you decided that all of us whether pure or impure, deserved to perish." He proclaimed.

"At death's door I earnestly prayed to the Lord my God, I spoke to him for comfort. For solace in the fact, that my life leading up to this point was one that pleased him and his will. Realistically, devoting myself to him entails that I reject the world and it's traditions, the corruption of killing and it's facade of battle. I won't curse you, I won't berate you, no matter how much my spirit is pushed to vexation what I feel towards you is pity. Pity that the Lord did not open your eyes sooner, pity that, blinded by your own wisdom you came and sinned, and you led your son to sin as well."

"Let the blind lead the blind, as Christ Jesus spoke and both will fall into a ditch. Look at where you've left your son, look at where you've led yourself. Let my wisdom and understanding not rest upon deaf ears, you have eyes and so let them see. You have ears, Mr. Yopenheimer, so let them hear. You are a hypocrite and I urge you to repent for your sins lest you be damned."

Gerald was at a loss for words, his carefully constructed perception. His idea of priesthood faded from him, and even more so after he had left his son. They hadn't properly reconciled, and he wasn't particularly proud of what he had done and so he left the boat on the shoreline and returned to the broken base under the influence of something much greater. He stood absolutely shaken, his pride broken and his hardened heart softened. Humility shun through his spirit and God began to grace him with the holy ghost.

"I thought you lot weren't of the faith." He uttered, slowly spilling the truth behind his actions. "I thought that it would have been my calling and duty to conquer the heathenous lands for the sake of his name because I was now holy through sanctification. After you had last scene of me, many things had occurred and the way I acted only solidified my understanding to anyone but myself."

"I wasn't aware, I thought that I was doing the Lord plenty but it seems I was not." He replied.

"What? Your faith has nothing to do with this, and to have be used as a core of your actions is even more disgraceful. It's disgusting, the God of Yamanami is one to not be trifled with, worse of all, you had the gal to return to theland at which you ravaged. In hopes of probable conquest of the Royal Family and their estate."

"Ichimura--" Briefly interjected Yamanami.

"What Royal family? What estate?! I am an inventor, I can create raw natural materials from nothing or even from dirt. An act only achievable through the miraculous grace of God, what purpose do I have with estate I never cared nor known about." Rudely interrupted Gerald. With his pride damaged he tried to fill in his wounds with confidence.

"Ichimura, don't let your wrath blind you as well." Interjected Yamanami.

"What wrath?!" Thought Ichimura, "Is Yamanami defending Gerald's actions? Further more how can we simply stand here and argue. He's a pirate!" Ichimura's anger waxed hot against Gerald however deep down he knew that there wasn't much he was capable of. "I'm not letting anything blind me from anything!" He shouted, replying to Yamanami.

"Yes, yes you are. Gerald's intentions were clear from the very beginning, I'm not going to pretend as though I knew everything step by step but I feel at peace now. Even faced with the temptation of blind rage and the looming presence of death, I feel at peace. Christ Jesus asked us to forgive forty-nine by seven times, not to do so blindly but as a means to achieve peace."

"Mr. Yopenheimer, please sit. Let's spend these moments talking, you are misguided not by the faith but by your lack of understanding." Declared Yamanami, he picked himself up. Letting off a long groan from the pain in his leg, he shifted and faced Gerald.

"I can't. I can't stand before you knowing that I've killed so many and severely wounded, yet you wish to teach me." Said Gerald. Like a child he felt bad, this was the subtlety and uniqueness of forgiveness. This was God's love, this was his turing point.

Gerald did not have any thoughts, instead all he felt was a heavy burden. A guilt of his actions, his chest burned, that small area surrounding his heart burned like no other; he had felt the presence of the Lord.

Ichimura was not as forgiving as Yamanami, he still viewed the situation through an exceptionally carnal lens. He did not see nor feel the Holy ghosts' presence.

"You don't need to stand before me, you just need to stand by me. I am not your judge nor executioner, I am your messenger. You act as though you were a Pharisee, blinded by the past and the Law of Moses when the covenant of the future lays in Christ Jesus." Yamanami began.

"Ichimura, sit. Let me speak to you as well, let me tell you about faith and love. Let me tell you how great the Lord our God is."

It was only then, Ichimura felt the presence of the Holy Ghost. An ethereal inclination that had soothed his anger and stilled his vexation. Gerald lamemted in secret and offered no reply, thoughts darted all through his mind trying to connect dots that he had yet to even discover thus leaving him in deep confusion. Inevitably they both sat, and Yamanami began to preach.

Spelling Errors

 

[Lamby]

The Aftermath #5​

Yamanami's faith and his strong resolve, where does it come from? Its strange that out of nine agents 1 was left to survive and thus garnered such a powerful connection to the Faith. God works in mysterious ways, his foolishness is much wiser than any wisdom brought into fruition by man, and that is what makes him miraculous and great.

During the brief two years of Gerald's inactivity as a pirate. After the events of Water Seven, the whole world changed, a dramatic shift in direction unique to each soul that had a journey to embark on. For CP3 Base it was it's reconstruction, it was the inclination of more armed forces beyond the Agents. They had also upgraded their facilities, but alot of the agents themselves had undergone mental revaluation. Some of which even received the Holy Ghost, this was Yamanami. As the second in command he took on a brunt of the burdens after Kondo's defeat and the kidnapping of two other of their agents diminishing their forces.

"Commander Kondo, you were formiddable but Gerald Yopenheimer-- he was tenacious. There was nothing that could have possibly prepared us for the distinct possibility that this pirate, this sole pirate possessed technology that we haven't prepared to take down. We've done our best but thats all it amounted to." Yamanami lamented in his quarters. For the first four months of his time recuperating he lamented, his mental health searched for refuge; the defeat, the pressure and the guidance to move forward was never there. It took an obvious toll on him, granting him sleepless nights. Not many but enough to spark an issue in a swordsman's sharpness.

So, the faithful fifth month of that first year, preparations for the rebuilding and reburbishing of CP3; after suffering punishment for his failure they had family come to a comfortable halt. Yamanami had undertaken reading as a hobby, it helped him cope with the stress and passed the time during his sleepless nights, so far he had gotten through 15 books all with interesting tales and stories, documentaries and horrors written by magnificent authors however one stood out amongst his menagerie and that was the Holy Bible.

He had opened it, starting from Genesis and he read. Initially, he was confused; what purpose was this? Genesis alone provided a very interesting perception of what the book had to offer and so he sought wisdom through other means, finding broadcasts on transponder snails and little snippets in the newspaper that wrote about "Christianity".

It was miraculous, almost as though twelve windows had opened up for him, they all served as outlets that he took and understanding of. Many had taken a religious approach to Christianity but occasionally some sources would mention that; it was a faith built upon a relationship with an almighty God. An all loving God that knew faith, that created all things and all things to come, guided by an mysterious wisdom that we his creations had no way to understand and so Yamanami was intrigued. He wanted to figure out the intricacies of this mysteries wisdom, to find the root of this book before him and by the 11th month of the second year, he had firmly believed.

Believed in what? The message of Christianity. Just like Jesus, he combed himself to embody widom; to know and love the scripture as a means of getting to know the inner workings of God and the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven. Though this faith became difficult in practice, because he was a sanctioned killer. A government pawn groomed to kill through instruction and without mercy, every night Yamanami prayed that he would find an escape out of it. He prayed that, one day, albeit his discontent in the present he'd be granted a window to climb out of so that he can enjoy his God without the constraints of his occupation.

After the time skip, here came Gerald.

The Shepherd, The Lamb and his Blade​

"The Lord works in mysterious ways and I thank him for the opportunity to meet someone else of the faith. I will always welcome the opportunity to spread his word, to spread the truth and preach the Gospel. Mr. Yopenheimer, you said you wished to please the Lord and so I must ask of you, how far in the bible have you gotten?" Began Yamanami.

Gerald hesitated to answer, although, with a small inhale and a brief exhale he girded himself enough to slip out a reply, "I have read Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy and Joshua."

"That's good, atleast you have a basic understanding. The idea of conqueroring lands was familiar, after Moses and Aaron delivered Isreal out of Egypt past the Red Sea and into the wilderness, they were entreated into Law by which Moses had wrote to distinguish them from the people of the world. To transform them into a nation of priests that would dericate themselves to purity and holiness to honor the name of God. God promised Isreal that they would be lead into the land of milk and honey, a holy land that was their rightful inheritance from Abraham the father of Isreal. To reclaim the inheritance it was by God's guidance that the nation of Isreal was outfitted, throughout the twelve tribes, for war. A war with the enemy of the Isrealites, the Canaanites and thats when the concept of the conquest began, you are foolish for trying to grant yourself a conquest when God never needed us to." Replied Yamanami, adding a bit of scolding to his rendition and summation of some of those every books Gerald listed.

"This world is corrupt and it's slowly passing away along with it's desires, only by the day of reckoning; the second coming of Christ Jesus will we be granted eternal life and peace amongst the people."

"Who is Christ Jesus?" Asked Gerald, out of curiousity. Ichimura too felt the same way. Yamanami enjoyed their childlike interest, and eagerness to learn but much lik a father tending to a disobedient child he had yet to teach Gerald about what he had done, and what he had yet to do.

"Christ Jesus, he is the last messianic king born from the line of king David. He is the redeemer; the way, the truth and the life as well as the lamb of God. I love your eagerness to learn but Gerald, you have yet to acknowledge your God. You have yet to pray, to reconcile and be cleaned of your sin. Your white robes have been dirtied and now you must be cleaned." He said, pointing at Gerald. His eyes well lit with a flame of passion but his body trembling as he felt weaker.

"I haven't exactly told you everything that you ought to know, especially when you want to serve the Lord with understanding. I outlined why what you did was wrong but not really truth behind it all," he paused. Gripping is injured leg, in agony he grit his teeth and raised his head to the sky.

"Forgive me, I know that I am the object of opposition but I am a medicinal practicioner. I can treat your wound and ease the pain, take it as my recompense to you. My first act of reconciliation, let me help you with your permission of course." Gerald insisted, he got on his two knees and bowed his head so quickly his helmet smacked the ground.

"You are knowledgeable, although I calculated that none were worthy of the grace of God you showed me the way. I sense that in my spirit, you will be the guide I need to go forward. If it's permissable by even young Ichimura, let me take you back to my ship so that you may be treated then you can continue of your doctrine."

Ichimura stared his spirit caught inbetween the storms of change, he wondered whether or not he was to forgive Gerald. He did not offer any reply, Yamanami taken aback by his gesture smiled.

"The grace of God is infinite and his love is ever great, my wound had reopened. Not only that but there was a chunk torn out of my leg, I'm skeptical as to how he will heal me but I'll accept his offer." He thought.

"You may, please treat me. I give you my consent." He gracefully spoke.

Gerald lifted his head, and arose reaching close to the man he grabbed him and craddled him like a baby. "I do not mean any disrespect by doing this, I was perceptive enough to pick up on where exactly, the source of your pain had come. Craddling you is the easiest way to carry you as I run, would you like to be carried as well, Ichimura?" Gerald offered.

"I don't want to move too swiftly and leave you behind, I do not mind giving you a helping hand as well, by the grace of your heart."

Ichimura looked at him, blankly and coldly. He blinked, his eyes scanned his figure and armor and fell upon a surprisingly comfortable yet embarrassed Yamanami. A smile plastered all over his face amidst the dirt. Ichimura sighed, "Please do. I don't know how much faster you are but it seems paramount that we treat Yamanami immediately."

"Wonderful!" Exclaimed Gerald, with his remaining arm he picked up Ichimura. The young man surprised at his height, he gripped Gerald's bicep as his feet were held in his palm. "If my running is too brutish, feel free to gesture me to stop. I well break past the speed of sound and so anything spoken between us will be quite delayed." He warned, the agents conformed and so Gerald ran off. Back to the shores, back to his boat, back to where his son was.

The Blade's Testimony​

After Gerald left, Mark remained in his quarters. He had tried to activate Sub-Station 1 on his own but it had gotten a bit, complicated and so he awaited his father's return. He adorned himself with his Ninja attire, mask and jump suit but neglected his silver boots. He stared at the ground with his fingers woven amongst one another, he was spacing out; deep in thought.

"What am I going to do now? Father's back, well he seems to be doing just fine. He's no different than the man who'd raised me back on Floridia, what is his secret? Where did all his responsibilities go, doesn't he know that they're forcing it all unto me?"

"No, it's unfair to ponder under the assumption that everything he had done was in accordance to shafting me. To leaving his duties and expectations to his son, the Kata won't accept that if I report that he's alive. It's been two long years since I had checked in, I'm late and due fore one. Else Mom will set-out to come after me, she's definitely worried sick. Ive spent the last four years acting in accordance to the rules and regulations, to stay secret; to hide. To adventure and expand our devices, I hate it. I hate it all, I hate the grueling training I endured. I hate not being able to be me without the ostracized gazes from my superiors, only mom. Only mom had ever helped me develop into someone, I became a ninja to mask my feelings. To represent stealth and surprise because I am smaller than most other Kata."

"Why must the smallest be given such a large burden, are they afraid of the potential Gerald had, or the possibility of what might be lost?" Pondered Mark, he drowned out his surroundings. He was deep in thought.

This was what he was upset about. The truth of why he was off island, and the deathly reason as to why they will face yet another obstacle again.

 

[Lamby]

The Aftermath #6​

Floridia was an enigmatic, lush island, lost to the world and hidden from the outreaches of the world government. Their society heavily relied on brutish and barbaric practices that would often leave certain branches closed off to them, in terms of development and therefore kudos to the Yopenheimers when the Kata Clan announced the genius gilded boy inventor to the entire island.

This intrigued the king and enticed his desires for power and change, but when the genius abandoned ship he sought recompense through his kin.

Mark's burden, he was expected to live up to the mantle Gerald was to be molded into. The next Head of research and development, achieved not only through ingenuity and invension but the progressional culling of previous Heads who still hold their seats on the council. Mark was not enticed by the idea, to fight for success seemed so useless, so meaningless but he was still being reared to fill in that role. He was only given leeway as the Kata deligated as a collective, to allow the boy to venture the world and expand his horizons considering he was still too young and inexperienced. Mark was called to move tectonic plates and flatten mountains whereas his will crumbled over a lacking of self development, and the blot his father left the second he was abandoned.

Two years roaming the seas with that lost relative does not heal wounds but rather provides insight of what was going on-- "I trained with him, I watched him tinker and witnessed countless miracles being performed before my eyes. Sub-station 1 si the greatest example, it can build itself; it is self-sustaining, powerful a myriad of resources that are infinite and much-much more. He was doing just fine without us, so what was the problem? He was willing to put it all behind of him and the very second I knocked on his door, he took me in and cried begging for a second chance. Where was the line being drawn?" He pondered, continuing to ruminate on his life thus far.

"Gerald recently developed an infatuation with Christianity, I don't get it. He says he isn't that deep but already he had chose such an extremity, a commitment where he was risking Kata code just to act in whatever way he saw fit. I knew he was delusional, about this; conqueroring this island, he was deluded. He's eccentric and passionate and strong willed and I love my father but this doesn't make sense."

"He's not sharing everything about the Island we once lived on. Why did he leave us, why didn't he come back? Had he already accepted things as they are? I honestly don't know, and Im tired of trying to figure out why." He finished, a tear welling and then being shed. It ran down his cheek, he closed his eyes and let off a long sigh.

"I just want to be free, is that too much to ask?" He softly spoke, his voice weak and etched in agony. He drooped his head as another tear, birthed from frustration ran down his face.

A loud THUD echoed from the deck of the ship, the boat teetered. Heavy metal boots could be heard as they ventured into the hull of the vessel, Gerald had returned and he had brought company. He let down Ichimura, and held Yamanami in his clutches and spoke, "Strange. I vaguely recall asking my son to setup Sub-station 1, maybe his injury prevented him from getting too far and so he's still resting."

"Sub-station 1?" Pondered Ichimura and Yamanami.

"No matter, Ill kick start the Ion core. Firstly, let's get you treated so that you may rest in the mean time. Ichimura, I won't ask you to follow me but since you are aboard my ship I kindly ask this of you, Do not entertain any curiousity. Stay on the deck." Continued Gerald, issuing a command to the remaining agent right as he ventured off to the Hull. The ship didn't exactly possess a Sick Bay and so Gerald had to put something together.

Ichimura was left alone. Bobbing in the ocean aboard a pirate's ship, for the sake of their temporary alliance he had to obey the commands of Gerald for he held Yamanami's safety neatly wrappd about his finger. "I wonder if this faith, the faith both Gerald and Yamanami shared; if by this faith I will inherit such a goodness as well." He openly commented.

A door creaked aboard the ship, slinging ajar amidst his pause.

Ichimura turned and faced the sea, "God. Does he exist? Was everything Yamanami told Gerald true, the words he had used and the way they had been used. I knew that he read the bible, I know of his faith but I was never intrigued in it myself. I am a young man, so never once had I considered delving into something so deep."

"From the way Yamanami acted, it was rich. I've read books before, I know what a good story sounds like; is something like that so influencial that even Gerald, our enemy, could be swayed to treating us like allies? Could something else be a foot, he could very well be crazy or a 'go-with-the-flow' kind of person. His intelligence surely is of a great standard, I know thats for sure, the way he speaks and carries himself. He isn't just a strong pirate."

Another creak, a wooden board tensing under the pressure. Silent as a mouse, Mark slips an upperhand against the lone agent. He held Sabito to Ichimura's neck, holding him hostage from his blind spot. "You talk to yourself way too much." He whispered.

Ichimura looked down at the blade at his throat, he held a bit of composure albeit the situation and the threat to his life. "I'm assuming you're an ally of Gerald Yopenheimer, to take such an oppressive approach means you're protecting something of value, no?"

"My brothers were already killed, I was brought here by Gerald."

Mark hesitated to answer, as he too hesitated to slice the boy's throat. "--how can I know whether or not you're telling the truth?"

"For starters, I haven't tried to fight back. You have the upperhand and I am not begging for my life, I don't have a mission. I am completely at your mercy but nothing can shake this weird feeling I have, a feeling that I can only assume that you are the son he spoke so fondly of." Replied Ichimura.

"Your father took my ally down into the hull of te boat to treat him, m6 subordinate; Yamanami, confronted him on a spiritual level. That's what I believe happened atleast, they're both Christians aren't they?"

"You're being truthful." Mark replied. He lowered his blade and limped away from Ichimura's flank, the agent turned around and the two met eye-to-eye. He saw the purple ninja.

"What a way to welcome your new guests." He sarcastically remarked.

"Save me your folley, if you were left alone on a ship for so long, wouldn't the first thing you'd do the very second you heard footsteps is be skeptical? Besides, I only acted on an intuitive speculation. Only Gerald's boots are that heavy but to be met with another person entirely would honestly spring some concern, especially when this island is the home of hostiles and not allies." Replied Mark.

"You make a fair point, you're nothing like him. Like Gerald, although you almost slit my throat, you're not as brash. You have that edge over him." Ichimura acclaimed.

Mark raised his blade once more, pointing it's tip at the agent as he bares his fangs once more. "Don't judge him. Don't you dare sully him in presence ever." He hissed at the agent.

"Seems I may have struck a nerve," he said with an almost sarcastic tone. He raises his hands at his side. "Why are you so aggressive, I am not here for anything nefarious." He complained.

The New way Forward​

Gerald returned from the hull of the boat, his loud and heavy boots sounding prominently acting as a premonition to his inevitable return. He bore witness to the two swordsmen confronting one another, "I see you've gotten aquainted." He teased, as he walked over to his son.

"Yamanami has something to talk to us all about." He declared. Ichimura was curious, Mark was intrigued as well. Although both Ichimura and Mark were getting off on the wrong foot prior to his intervention, the two young men shared a bizarre common ground, and so they all returned to the hull of the boat and Yamanami told them the gospel, he spoke to them of the miracles of God until nightfall.

It was a hearty gathering, with shared interests, questions and a strange familiarity. This led to a weird spark being kindled between the four, that very night everyone was given a room to rest within and Gerald stayed up, there was something he needed to do. He arose to the deck, he removed his helmet and knelt near the rails of his ship. The waves swishing and thrashing in his background provided a comforting noise as Gerald prayed for the very first time.

"Dear Lord, Heavenly father, this is the very first time I have ever thought of doing this. Considering how much I've considered myself in accordance to the righteousness I attempted to persue, Yamanami opened my eyes and I'd like to start somewhere," the zeal and fire for the world was wild within his heart.

"Yesterday, I came to Kurigane island and was poised to claim the land for territory. I undertaken faith in you and proclaimed myself a priest to provide a solid background to my motives. The truth was that, I wanted to give up my Floridian heritage, I had already run away, I had already thrown away the life I built and started running around trying to piece together new assets to put together a Gerald that felt natural. Nothing could ever shake my intuitive mind, nor could it shake my hands and stop me from tinkering so much. I ran away from taking the entire kingdom under my wing, under supervision of the King. I threw away my title as Ambassador and threw away the status that came with it, I forced it unto my son and now I am facing the consequences of my actions."

"Dear Lord I pray, please allow me to see my wife again. I love her, I miss her. Please grant me the opportunity to reconcile with my past, allow my son to grow and be unbound by the shackles I forced unto him."

"Forgive me for spilling innocent blood, forgive me for shooting so many men, forgive me for wasting your gift of life and spoiling your holy name. Forgive me choosing violence as a medium, as an excuse, to cope with my anger and to hide my weakness, to shield my pride. I pray that you use me as your tool, clean my heart of my empty desires. Wash me of my sins, so that I may honor you in all I do. In all that is to come, I pray this in your name and by the sacrifice of Christ Jesus; who allowed me this privilege to come to you. In all things, the power and the glory, in your glorious name, Amen."

And then he cried.

The following morning was stiff, Gerald was on the move and the others were confused as to why he was so active. He built Sub-station 1 and began tinkering to rebuild CP3, creating helpers and guardians as he chose to create a church and sanctuary upon the ashes and blood from the ruin. It was ambitious and Yamanami and Ichimura were hesitant as they had yet to bury their dead brothers, and so it wasn't until days later that it would start.

He stayed for three weeks and basic reconstruction had started with the help of his robots, however it was time for him to depart. The Holy Spirit was leading him elsewhere, Yamanami urged Ichimura to follow Gerald as he needed the experience and the love of the Lord Gerald had to give.

"Your youth is a gift, something that I do not have. Unfortunately, Gerald might return to amputate my leg, however that's alright. I will protect everything until that day."

A heartwarming last sentence as preparations continued, the land being reinvented into a utopia of science and God. Sub-station 1 became the foundation of this new Haven, and so Gerald was forced to build a new laboratory, however not immediately as God's work still had to be done. Ichimura followed them with the Holy Spirit in his heart and so they embarked to their next destination.