-Alder-
Alder had no idea why he could sense the Umbra’s, but he could. He felt them the moment they arrived on the shore of the compound. It was like a flicker, five lights all near each other. With focus he could identify them, Emma stood out strongly to his sense, like a raging inferno that flashed. Cherry popped like a firecracker, sometimes small then suddenly a blaze. Jaquar wavered like a breeze blew on him, swaying like a wave. And Jericho was like an ember, almost invisible but there none the less. The fifth, it was trying so hard to be discrete, yet Alder could feel it. A hollow flame, vacant of heat and light.
Pulling out his transponder snail, Alder warned his team. “Aspen, you're in the Labyrinth with me right?”
“Right, I'm with Ryoto currently on patrol.” Aspen said.
“Gather the rest of CP6, I think they will be coming down this way.” Alder said. “Pine, Cedar, keep watch up top.”
“Roger.” They said in unison.
He wasn't sure why, but he could tell they would come this way.
Sometime later while Alder searched for the Umbra’s he felt it, Nale’s conquerors haki. It seemed to explode through the corridors like a beacon for him to follow. He turned himself into fire and shot thru the narrow halls in a ball of flames.
A wave.
Two were down here, near the vault, the other three were in the main house. He ground his teeth, could that last flame be Smiley Man? He was the one who caused the most damage, he was the one that Alder truly wished to catch. No, he had to focus on the rest two, Jaquar got his reputation for murder, Emma was a traitor. They all had reasons to be captured, and it was clear they were growing stronger.
But so was the Lumberjacks. They had spent the last month since their battle with the Umbra’s training with CP6. They were going to catch them this time.
“I dont need to beat you.” Aspen’s voice echoed, not through the halls but directly into Alder’s mind. “I just need to hold you off till Alder gets here.” The voice was weak, as if the person was barely conscious. It repeated over and over, each time more and more tired.
A flare of energy carried Alder. He rounded the corner to the vault, spotting Emma S Nash with wings of a crimson flame. She had a devil fruit. Aspen stood in his stance, shaking and with a trail of blood dripping from his lip. The flannel and shirt he wore was scored to the skin, small embers eating at the edges to devour the warm material of their brand.
Alder formed between Aspen and Emma, the latter looking at Alder in complete shock. Rage filled Alder, he felt his flames growing beyond his control, they begged for him to let loose, to destroy. He was willing to oblige.
That was, until Emma turned and bolted off in flight using the flaming wings. Alder began to step forward to give chase, but felt a presence to his side. He turned quickly to find the rubble of a wall, three others lying beyond it. Nale climbed out of it, panting tiredly.
“How.” Alder said, grinding his teeth in frustration. Nale was stronger than him, he had that Haki stuff, he had Rokushiki, how could he still be beaten by Emma!
“Nale.” Hana said, emerging from the rubble to the other side of Alder, he had missed it in his tunnel vision.
“Cherry got away, but there is something more.” Hana said. She looked fine, as did the rest of CP6.
“I knew you would make it.” Aspen said weakly.
Alder turned sharply as Aspen’s eyes fluttered shut, and he began to collapse. He caught the man in his arms and helped him to the ground. His breathing was steady, his Tekkai had kept him alive.
His rage was great, yet in this moment he could only feel pain. Aspen had come to meet Alder after what happened on his island, so many marines died. Cedar was the first to join Alder in his cause, yet Aspen was the one who held the strongest resolve. Over time Alder had come to realize that Aspen, Cedar, and Pine were far more than just compatriots hunting down a common enemy, they were friends. And now, his friend laid on the brink of death.
He could not hear CP6 talking around him, he just focused everything he could into Aspen, begging any deity that was listening to keep his friend alive. Then he remembered.
“The Umbras are up in the main house!” Alder shouted through tear stained eyes.
“We know.” Nale said, sheathing his two swords. “We just got a report, they fled.”
“We missed them again!” Alder yelled angrily, spittle coming from his mouth.
“We couldn't beat them.” Nale said, his face cold and emotionless. “Emma has a power, I believe it to be that of the phoenix based on the properties. We were unprepared, and reports said someone was helping them.”
“The String man, and the Smiley man.” Alder said.
Nale nodded. “We also know Kagu Lunis is a part of their crew as well, she has the powers of the Kagu-Kagu fruit. We must find what tools they have at their disposal before we can truly engage them.”
Alder turned back to Aspen. He felt worthless. “We will catch them.” He said angrily. “Take care of Aspen, the rest of us will catch their ship and sink them.”
-Zues-
Zeus stood in the rain on the roof of his home. They had gotten away. Jaquar ‘Red Fist’ and Jericho V Brau. No, a third had come as well, he stopped the two lumberjacks that CP6 had brought. How had they known the Umbras would show?
“How is the chin?” Zeus said to Posidean who sat on the edge of the building, the rain beginning to subside.
“Hurts like a bitch, but better than Apollo over there.” Poseidon said, pointing towards the now armless man who was still coming to terms with his situation.
“That strong?” Zeus said curiously.
“I'm not sure.” Poseidon said.
“I haven't seen one bring you to the ground in a long time.” Zeus said, scratching at his damp beard.
“True, and I haven't seen anyone stand to your direct Conquerors before, didn't they say the panda was susceptible to it?” Poseidon asked.
“I believe he was so focused that the pressure did not affect him.” Zeus said, putting his arms behind his back. “The other one felt nothing either.”
“Jericho V Brau, no one has much on him.” Poseidon said. “Damn, they really messed this place up.”
Suddenly a crash sounded, and a large figure emerged from the hole in the ceiling, landing on the roof with a similar crash that cracked the roof.
“I think he had something to do with it too.” Zeus said, turning towards Ares.
“Where are they!” Ares bellowed, searching around wildly.
“Gone, i'm surprised they beat you and apollo.” Zeus said casually. “Quite disappointing.”
Ares grit his teeth. “I'll hunt them down, and beat them to a pulp!”
“Looks like another will be joining that beating.” Poseidon said. “That music user you spoke of a month back? He made an appearance, I think they are a part of the Umbras.”
Ares veins began to pop out, face red hot. “I'll kill em!”
Zues turned to Apollo. He had been shocked by Zues’s Lightening beam, and he wasnt looking great. If he had managed to hit that Jericho guy he would have fried him.
“Apollo, I am sorry for you arm.” Zeus said. “I will do whatever I can to recover it.”
Apollo had stopped screeching not long ago, apparently he complained that they were smashing it on something.
“No worries.” A voice called out.
Zeus turned back out, spotting the man who stood in mid air. Hermes wore his odd school boy outfit that he was obsessed with, said it made him feel young. He was the youngest Pantheon member, though he was still an adult.
“I got it back.” Hermes said, his voice a shrill tone. He lifted a bent and broken arm up for the group to see.
“You got it from the Umbras?” Poseidon asked.
“Yep, took a lot of negotiating.” Hermes said.
“Where are they!” Ares yelled out.
“That was part of the deal.” Hermes said, throwing Apollo’s arm over to him. When it hit the roof he yelled in pain again. Apollo put the arm against the socket and it fit right in.
Zeus looked out into the distance. “Someone else was here, Apollo, you felt it right?”
“Yeah, several strong people showed up and vanished without a trace.” Apollo said, rolling his arm. “I couldn't get a good trace on them due to the fighting, but there was a strong presence in the labyrinth for only a faint moment.”
“You have the strongest Observation haki of us all, if you say that is how it is, then I believe it.” Zeus said.
Apollo had the ability to make a field around himself with his observation haki, nothing went unseen to him when he focused. Yet, they had snuck in and done this. Why were they even here?
“I think they came to rob the vault.” Hermes said. “The two up top were a distraction.”
“They planned to distract two of the great beasts with only two guys!” Apollo said sharply. “The balls on these guys!”
Zeus scratched his chin, they went to his study, why not cause a commotion up front and draw them there? Something wasnt making sense. He would have to investigate.
-Nale-
The call came abruptly.
“A promotion?” Nale asked, the rest of CP6 surrounding him.
“Potentially.” The head of Cipher Pol 6 said into the snail designed to not be intercepted. “You are eligible for promotion to CP0, your team was requested personally.”
“By who?” Nale asked.
“You will report to the location I am sending you, and all will be explained. Please abandon your current assignment, the Umbra pirates will be handled by the Marines.”
-Alder-
“I dont know.” Cedar said. He sat on his bed staring at the floor. The rest searched through their ransacked room to see what was missing. Aspen laid asleep a room away with CP6 and several nurses. “I just, I wonder what next?”
“We can figure that out after we take them down.” Alder said. His coin purse was missing, damnit.
“But how long will that take?” Cedar asked. “And, how many more people will end up like Aspen?”
“And how many more will be like Aspen if we dont stop them!” Alder yelled sharply.
“No No No.” Pine said in desperation.
“Pine what.” Alder asked quickly.
Pine turned to Alder, the large man’s face full of tears. “Its gone, the picture of Conie, its gone.”
Alder was to his feet, helping his friend search but coming up empty. “Where the hell did it go?”
“Maybe it's on the ship.” Cedar said, a calming tone to his voice.
“Maybe.” Pine said, furiously searching again.
Alder felt his nails dig into his palm. “We have to find them, I can sense them still.”
“But what about Aspen?” Cedar asked.
“We will come back, they aren't far, we can catch them with our ship.” Alder said. “Leave your things for now, send word to the crew.”
Pine nodded. “They are still close, lets go.”
Cedar hesitated but got up and nodded. “Right, let's go.”
With that, the trio left. Aspen’s breath ragged only a room away. The sound was deafening to Alder as he walked, a reminder of what he was fighting for.
Or was it? Did he just want to defeat the Umbras? Was that really what drove him to the sea? He was less sure of it everyday. The thought of bringing down the Umbras was on his mind, but more and more he found that he enjoyed the moments with his friend and those moments stood out far more than his hate. For now, he steeled his resolve to take on his enemies, the ones who hurt Aspen.
