Marine HQ was a grand white tower coated with withering blue moss covering its walls from years of the oceanic tide crashing at its base. Commander Portgas Ace looked up, pride in his eyes, as he admired the home base of all Marines.

Today he was setting a new bar among his fellow crewmen. Two days ago after his latest pirate arrest, his grandfather had come to him with the best news he had received all year; Commander Portgas Ace, the youngest commander of any current marine vessel, was about to be promoted to Captain Ace, youngest marine in history to get his own crew and ship.

Ace grinned as he sauntered down to Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office to receive his long-awaited congratulations from the man himself.

Ever since Ace had to join Marines two years ago after his grandfather's constant hassling, he had been the fastest rookie to climb his way up the ranks. It was just last year that he became a commander; his quick climb in promotions was unheard of in the Marines, even from soldiers with high ranking relatives. More than anything, Ace prided himself on his strength and ability to fight better than any marine around him could.

Years training in the Goa kingdom forests had given him the foundations and basics of combat only few could relate to. It would only take a couple more years until being an admiral was within reach and another step closer to finally becoming a someone with enough power to make real changes in the world.

But for now, he could command his own crew, hunt down more pirates, and sail the Grand Line with his expertly trained navigation skills.

If his calculations were correct, he would be heading to this same room to receive his promotion to Commodore or Rear Admiral next year-if he did a good enough job! He had already made a name for himself and saved countless islands in his run as a marine.

Along the way to Sengoku's office, Ace could feel the stares of wash boys gawking at him in awe. Ace approached the giant wooden door, opening it up and spotted Garp sitting in the corner, munching loudly on a bag of 'Cookie Cakes' while he filled out a crossword puzzle his daily work routine usually had him do. Ace's neutral face almost cracked a grin seeing his grandfather sitting ways away. Retirement suited the old geezer.

"Portgas Ace, come in," Sengoku ordered as he took a good minute to study the young man in front of him carefully. Ace snapped his gaze back the Fleet Admiral, sitting diligently at his massive work desk.

Ace carefully stepped into the office, standing at attention right before the Fleet Admiral.

"Today I am happy to extend to you the responsibility of becoming a marine captain. Under the careful decision of the marine council, from this day on you shall be promoted to a higher rank with the privileges of running your own ship and crew and taking over the watch of an island sector."

Ace felt his stomach flip. Have his own crew to watch over? Have maybe eleven or twelve islands to guard, and still take down any pirates who came his way? He was ready for this. The tedious days of being held back by menial tasks were finally over.

"Well, congratulations on your achievement…I can't say I'm not tremendously impressed by the job you've done so far, boy," said Sengoku. The Marine fleet admiral gave Ace a small smile in an attempt to lighten the mood.

Garp stood up from his seat, came and patted Ace on the shoulder proudly.

"You should be impressed Sengoku. He was strong when he joined and with my awesome training, he can take down any lousy pirate you send to him in a heartbeat!" Garp bellowed proudly while he spilled 'Cookie Cake' crumbs all over the floor.

Ace had a small moment of terror as he remembered the inhuman training his grandfather threw upon him as a young marine cabin boy. Not that it hasn't paid off; every battle and fight he won was a proud result of his lifetime training against the harsh forest of Mt. Colubo and the years of endless laps around the East Blue Marine base.

"Furthermore," Sengoku growled out, peeved by Garp's loud interruption, "It is my honor as the head of marine HQ to appoint you to Captain Portgas Ace of the marines. In all my years I can't say I've met such a prodigy both in good leadership and responsibility. Just the fact that you can use both forms of haki already makes you a package deal for an organization like us. Now all that's left is picking devil fruit. Have you given any thought to the fruits we have in storage?"

Ace shook his head. "I looked at a few but they were all a bunch of paramecia that weren't really worth it."

Not that he had any problem in paramecia. Luffy had certainly found a way to make being rubber work after all. However, in most marine history, Admirals were typically Loginas or strong Zoans. Strange Paramecia like Luffy's would take more years to hone and perfect than other kinds would.

Sengoku nodded and opened a drawer next to him with a key and brought out a plastic bag. "Well I won't tell you that's not what is usually preferred at this stage for some marines, but you've seemed to manage just fine. If I happen to find a strong one soon, I'll keep you in mind as a candidate if it doesn't go to the research labs."

The Fleet Admiral handed Ace the bag that contained plastic-wrapped clothes and a file. At the very bottom was also a tiny Den Den Mushi styled lightly to his appearance; spade on the shell and an orange color slug inside.

"In here you will find your new uniforms, crew names, ship, and a route around the grand line," the Admiral declared.

"In three days, you will go out and begin your new position. Work hard out there, care for your crew, protect the citizens on every island, and last and most importantly NEVER EVER let any infraction of justice go unpunished!" Sengoku emphasized forcefully.

Ace could spot his obnoxious grandfather trying not to laugh in the background.

"Well, now that this has been taken care of…I'm going to go organize the fleets. Too much chaos going on. Garp, meet me down there when you're done spilling crumbs on my floor. Good day, Captain."

Ace saluted as Sengoku gathered his things and strolled out of his office, his pet goat trailing behind him excitedly.

Just as Ace readied to leave himself, an old familiar hand touched his shoulder, breaking him out of his thought. Just as the moment in the room had once been happy, a paranoid feeling struck Ace at the familiarity of the expression his grandfather held when he turned to face him.

The old man's face was grave as he stared at Ace.

So…. they were researching him again.

Garp and Ace stood in front of each other silently. Ace could feel the dread that had long been buried beneath his success as a marine crop up again. His father, dead before Ace was born but a man whose legacy haunted him even now after secretly changing his name. Ace knew he couldn't have any resemblance to Roger when he became a marine, yet even after leaving the D out of his paperwork, Ace still found himself under the watch of a few covert members of the World Government.

It had started four years ago after Ace had famously captured long time pirate bandit "Roland Biller" at the impressive age of sixteen. Some officials in the world government had taken a keen interest in such a young powerful lad and they had researched where he came from to see if he offered any value.

A couple months later Ace nearly found himself on the brink of serving life in Imperial Down or public execution at the death place of Gol D. Roger himself due to the theories some of the operatives cooked up around his birth. A few unnervingly close to the truth.

Ace felt a bitter taste rise in his mouth from the horrid memories of being asked questions in a windowless room, surrounded by soundless barriers. He had been sealed in, questioned by men who could slaughter him without a second thought and told if he ever gave the marines reason to believe he was connected to Roger, him and his loved ones wouldn't live to see another day.

Having those memories made him resent his heritage even more than before, and how his worthless father had died leaving some poor woman to carry a death sentence with her for the remainder of her life. Ace never knew his mother, and while he gained some satisfaction knowing his life as a marine would stick it to Rogers legacy, Ace hoped his mother in heaven wouldn't feel bitter about her sons dream to be an admiral.

There was a point when Ace hadn't wanted this life though. Ace remembered the burning hate in his heart at the beginning marine years. Those days when he wanted to quit and become a pirate had been agony. He has been confused. Convinced that piracy would offer him answers to the void that had existed in his heart. Being a marine was a forced choice he had been eager to escape.

The hell Ace lived in for the entire first year as a marine soldier, starting on his sixteenth birthday when he was age appropriate to join, grilled him hard as a young teen. However, it had been the crisis three years ago that finally changed Ace's outlook on his life's path.

Luffy had set out to become a pirate. Just three years shy of today, his troublesome little bro had gotten himself into the biggest fight his with grandfather over being a pirate. Luffy had just turned fifteen and was a year away from being whisked into the Marines like Ace. The two hadn't talked in a while, Luffy being heartbroken over Ace not setting out for sea and instead going to the marine base. But then the idiot had made his own attempt to escape early and start his journey. That day had finally set the pace for Ace's career.

Luffy had made it out of Foosha village unscathed by any obstacles and sailed off beyond the reach of his grandfather. Ace had never felt prouder and more worried about his precious little bro. However, things had only gotten worse from there when Garp had vowed solemnly to hunt him down and make his life so hellish he would rather be killed by pirates than become one.

At that point, Ace had done the only thing he could do. His life began to revolve around perusing his career as a high ranking Marine when he realized it diverted attention away from Luffy and gave his grandfather a project to work on for his time. Ace figured from that point if he dedicated his life to serving justice, maybe a suspicion of the higher ups would wear away for good and Garp would forgive Luffy if Ace stayed. After all, if he was an asset to the Marines, why would they want to know where he came from anyway. Garp should be enough to give him a pass.

So far, his plan worked perfectly.

Ever since Luffy's first bounty came out, Ace had risen like a rocket through Marine ranks, living each day so his little bro could live freely. Luffy would fulfill his dream and Ace would serve his life to become a man powerful enough to help all the small folk Marines typically overlooked. The irony in his heritage would remain as the only caveat but only if he was discovered.

As time went by, Ace found did like being a Marine. In fact, the life suited him. The structure, stability and discipline kept his mind off of old demons.

He also had many friends within the system and plenty of connections to help him if he was in a situation. Sure, none of them could ever get close. Ace wouldn't let them. Ace would always have to keep them at a arms distance lest they find out the truth about him, but at least he had people to share a dink with. More than what he could have hoped for before.

Ace snapped out of his reverie and met his grandfather's eyes. He could no longer resent his Garp, not after the old man still looked out for him despite their past hostility in their relationship. Ace knew his grandfather hadn't wanted to help Roger, knew the duty had been forced on him. But Garp never gave up on him, even if it caused Ace to resent him for the remainder of his teen years.

"Keep the antics to a minimum," warned Garp.

Ace nodded.

Garp simply stared at him with forewarning before he exited the room, leaving the new captain alone.

Garp looked with disdain at the paper in front of him. His day had started off far too generously with Ace's promotion and his tea date with Tsuru, but now karma was coming to even out the playing field if the reports on his desk where any indication.

Aokiji was on a personal mission all the way on the paradise side of the Grand Line when the higher ups needed him on the White Beard patrol path more than ever. Garp put two fingers to his forehead, trying to keep his headache at bay.

Just two days ago, Whitebeard, the most powerful pirate on the sea, had sent his last four divisions to claim another island around the entry part of the Red Line. This was not a good balance outcome for the Marines. It interfered with a path of cargo ships and had predictably set the nobles ablaze.

Against all possibility, the old man was still a force to reckon with and according to their intelligence reports, was doing much better health wise than the last report mentioned.

Just their luck. Newgate could flourish in old age but Garp was still trying to figure out how to get the cramp out of his side in the morning. Sengoku had also gone into a serious mood for the day meaning the entire mood at the base had considerably dampened.

Garp poked at the Den-Den Mushi in front of him, not sure what to do. Aokiji had insisted that his mission was very important, and that citizen's safety came before pirate politics, not that Garp had an argument for that.

He could send Kizaru to watch over the domain, but it was unlikely the flighty man wasn't already preoccupied with other matters.

Sakazuki was a out of the question; the goal was ultimately to pacify, not launch a full-scale war with the crew. Knowing Sakazuki, he would end up killing one of Whitebeard's men regardless of the Gorosei orders. The first rule of WB territory; DO NOT KILL HIS MEN, just arrest them and hope Newgate doesn't come to kill you himself. Lord knows the whole world would just fall apart if the Yonko had a pressing excuse to come attack the Marines.

That left Garp sore out of options. He wasn't sending anyone who wasn't a high ranked admiral to go stand watch in Newgate's territory. He himself couldn't go; he was too busy keeping 'Red Hair' on his toes. It was the least he could do since the monster had turned his Luffy into a pirate. He had to make Shanks regret ever meeting his grandson.

Garp eyed the strategy map draped across his office desk. There was no obvious answer to this problem. They would just have to watch, wait, and hope Whitebeard doesn't notice the short absence of the marine units that patrol his waters.

In some sort of strange sense, he almost wished that Whitebeard would do something. It had been far too quiet in his sector. The tension was killing everybody. Kaido and Big Mom where good about routinely bickering and keeping the flames hot between their hatred for one another, but Newgate was a trickier beast.

Newgate made allies, not enemies. His crew was built on familial loyalty, not tyrannical fear. All those things and more kept him on top…and currently unbeatable against any marine fleet.

*knock* *knock*

"Admiral Garp?" came a trembling voice from his doorway.

Garp recognized the voice of the new delivery boy at once. "HQ is awaiting your orders to fill in the patrol unit surrounding Admiral Aokiji's post…um sir?"

Garp took a breath of patience and walked with the boy back to strategy sector rooms. He was already annoyed enough and now he had to go listen to a room of silly youngsters arguing over something that couldn't really be fixed.

'These higher-ups call themselves Marines, but they don't even act like it. I'm four times their rank and importance, but they won't even salute you or address you correctly,' Garp thought bitterly.

Two days had passed in his new position.

Ace stood in front of a mirror currently in the corner of his barracks. He looked at himself in a soft pool of self-contentment. He was trying on his new captain's uniform and seeing how it fit him. Luckily, he looked great it and even a little grown up too. It wasn't too heavy or restricting either; its buttons where spread apart enough for him to get some air through to his chest, and he even had three added hidden pockets for weapons…..or in his case food~

He carefully folded the clothes after he changed, careful not to wrinkle or stretch it one bit. He wanted to keep it as new as possible before the eventual pirate ripped it all up.

He pressed it neatly like he did with all his clothes nowadays and put on his casual clothing consisting of his sand colored shirt and black shorts. Silently, he exited his room and walked his way down to the mess hall.

Tomorrow was his first day on the job. He had gone through his list of thirty crew members and the islands he would be stopping at; apparently, his station was right along the red line.

His islands: Sabaody Archipelago, Water seven, Namakura, Banaro Island, and Little Wing.

He could figure out his route numbering later though, right now he just wanted to meet his new crew.

Outside at the ship docking, Ace came up and surveyed his new vessel. It was a typical marine patrol ship but with more ammunition than the regular East Blue ones; probably because more devil fruit users existed on the grand line. Which brought up Sengoku's point; Ace didn't want to lose his ability to swim but having some major power to give him the leg up wouldn't hurt either. He wasn't that good at swimming anyway so if the time ever came, the choice should be easy to make.