One Piece: The Freedom Fighters

Chapter 18: Genu Engum; The Brilliant Brain of the Freedom Fighters

It's been two weeks since Rebound fled Techt Isle. The World Government has yet to assign a new Vice-Admiral to the island, probably too busy with matters on the Grand Line to worry about some island on the North Blue. Captain Hooker was found floating on the warehouse dock moments after Sukato had defeated him, and is currently resting up in the Navy medbay. According to the Navy Guardian Program (The protocol responsible for the World Government's iron grip on the Blues), if a Vice-Admiral is unable to carry on their duties while serving an island, their Captain is to take the lead. But since Hooker is out-of-commission, the soldiers aren't sure what to do. It's a new program, so there's some kinks to work out.) Tax rates have plummeted, and the Weapons Convention has been canceled.

Many were bummed by the suspension of the Convention, but even more were overjoyed by the drought of taxes! Rumors spread that a team of two pirates and a Navy engineer were responsible, and once the public inevitably deduced who the trio was, they were regarded as heroes! Ket had checked Genu and Sukato into the nearest hospital, where they spent their days recovering while Ket went out on the town to run errands. Due to their heroic actions, the doctors of the hospital had given the two patients their own room! Sukato and Genu's beds were perpendicular to each other, their bedside tables littered with gifts from the ever-grateful townsfolk and a green couch for Ket. The people had decided to keep hush-hush about their residence, and no Marines have come by the hospital yet. It was a little past noon when someone opened the door.

"Hey guys, I got lunch!" Ket announced, entering the room with a plastic to-go bag in one hand and a newspaper in the other. He decided to stop by the ramen place where they first met Genu, and the prices have dropped significantly!

"Oh, hey!" Genu smiled. His shoulder was bandaged and his broken nose had a cast on it. Sukato was sleeping, but Ket's intrusion woke him. He was faring a lot better than Genu, with only his stab wound bandaged up. He blinked a few times before stretching a little, giving a small smile as he saw that Ket had food.

Ket set the bag down on a table and administered two bowls of ramen, keeping the third for himself as he sat down on the couch and began to eat. "So good... Oh, Sukato!" Ket remembered, holding up the newspaper and throwing it over to him. "The receptionist was done with her paper and let me have it!" He smiled, Sukato catching the paper with his free hand and opening up, reading while eating. Talk about multitasking! Ket let a few minutes of eating pass by before speaking again. "So... Genu, I wanted to talk."

"Huh?" Genu asked, his stomach dropping when he realized what he probably wanted to speak about. "Oh..." He sighed. Right, the incident.... "W.. What's up?" He corrected, trying to play dumb.

"Well..." Ket started, putting his bowl down. "Remember when I said that Sukato and I were Freedom Fighters?" Ket asked. By this point, Genu had learned that his name wasn't Susan. "I guess I should explain what that is. We're kind of like that Revolutionary Army thing up in the Grand Line, though on a smaller scale." He explained. Ket had heard some things about the Revolutionary Army, mainly via propaganda while he was still a Marine. They were painted as heartless monsters who wanted anarchy to dominate the seas, but now Ket knows the truth... Probably. "Our goal is to drive the World Government out of the North Blue, and we're trying to get more members..."

Genu nodded in understanding. He remembered Ket's speel back at the Navy Base, how could he forget? "Right... But... Why?" Genu asked, sitting up in his bed. He was still a part of the Navy, after all! "I mean, sure we have people like Rebound... But without us... Well, so many bad things would happen!" He argued, still holding onto his perfect idea of the World Government that was drilled into his skull. "And I mean... Even if you do drive them out, what then? Are you going to set up your own government? Do you really think you could govern an entire ocean?" He added, starting to get quite passionate! "No offense, but you guys don't seem very... Bureaucratic."