Sons of Beasts Part 2

When everyone got up for breakfast, they noticed the commanders were nowhere to be found. None were in the galley, not even the captain. Ace and Luffy were also absent. Usually, they were some of the first to go to breakfast. Did something happen?

They waited while Thatch's sou-chefs worked on breakfast, doing it automatically even if Thatch wasn't there to direct them. They were still cooks, and worked with Thatch, so they could handle making the meal themselves.

The pirates talked and speculated about what had happened. It was an hour after everyone started eating that Whitebeard and Marco entered the room. The other commanders were still searching on the island, but had had no luck so far. It was a big island and Teach could be anywhere.

"Men, I want all of you to line up. We're doing a headcount, and we will explain afterwards," Whitebeard instructed. No one protested, and all lined up in their divisions. The second division was under Marco until they found a good commander for it.

When everyone was counted, only one person was missing, which was a relief to the captain and the first mate. Teach was missing. Was he the one to betray? He had been there for a long time, and he'd thrown away his family for a devil fruit?!

"Marco, go tell the other commanders," Whitebeard commanded, eyes shadowed. Marco left to go relay to all of the baby transponder snails who they were now looking for, fuming. How could Teach do this?

"Pops, what happened?" Darren asked, one of Teach's friends. "Where are the commanders and Ace and Luffy?"

Whitebeard told them all to sit down, and then explained what had happened while they were all asleep. Many of the crew looked devastated with the fact that they were betrayed by someone they considered family. Many, who had been close friends with the traitor, felt personally betrayed. That he cared so little that he attempted to kill Thatch, who could still die.

It was extremely lucky that Marco was awake and had advanced haki. Finding Thatch any later would have no doubt resulted in his death. Permanently. Gone forever. Many were angry that Ace was framed. Well, almost framed. If the commanders knew him a little less, they would not have doubted he did it. Well, that still wouldn't have explained Luffy's absence.

"Ace is in the infirmary with Thatch. No one is to enter the infirmary without permission from a commander or nurse. Not while the medication is not in proper order. Would anyone like to help search for Teach?" Many hands rose up, all of them looking angry. "Division two members are not to help. Just in case someone wants to help him," the captain said seriously. Some of the second division members deflated angrily, wanting to find that traitor that pretended to be their friend, brother. But they understood why that decision was made. And no one protested it. Whitebeard knew what was best.

The search lasted the rest of the day, while those who had not left to search cleaned up the blood. Hours passed and Teach was still not found. But, no one gave up. Anger and hurt fueled them. Plus, they felt bad for Luffy, though that was behind their personal feelings on the matter.

Ace spent the whole day in the infirmary, under the blankets despite not being cold, trying to hide his tears. He'd been informed as to who the traitor was, and he had Luffy. They might already be gone from the island. No one was finding him after all. His baby brother... his baby was gone and so afraid. And Ace still couldn't reach him by the telepathy the two shared.

Whitebeard said the devil fruit was the power of darkness. Luffy wasn't like Ace. He couldn't light his surroundings. What if Luffy was trapped in the dark? He had always hated the dark, though not terrified of it, probably only because he was never alone in it. And now he was.