Years later. When Alex was 16.
"Out of the Way! Out of the Way! Hahaha!" He looked- different. His hair was much longer. And he wore bits of makeup on his face that he'd learned to apply himself from. It was also very helpful to this new appearance to have a certain few injections, and a surgery.
Alexander was no longer a He. But a She
"CALLIOPE!!" Winslow screamed far from behind as Calliope just grinned a huge ear to ear smile and snapped her fingers, igniting the thruster on the back of the skateboard, causing her to rocket through the air! In mid air, she flared her fingers, causing the Skateboard to scatter apart and reappear into a hang glider for her to soar through the air back down to the lower level.
She disassembled the Glider and focused them into the bag on her hip "Hey Calliope!" Spoke one of the newer members of the Gang. They'd originally been called 'The Flywheel Kids." but Calliope, as of 6 months ago was the new leader. And decided to change the name to "Hightide" but then she just got rid of that. And eventually just settled with 'The Orphans'
"You're gonna get chewed out tonight, you know that, Cali?" Asked Myron, a Tall lanky boy who loved to play basketball. It seemed like day by day more and more showed up. Kids in a rebellious streak, kids left behind by pirates, those that wash ashore. There were far more now under Cali as their leader and some of those more advanced that served as loose advisors, than there ever had been with Malle.
After all, the Gang was formed in the First Place by Malle and some of the Kids that were left in dismay after the fires supposedly set by her father.
Then there was the Devil Fruit, that strange metallic looking fruit like it was made of the surface of bolts and screws. It had been in a ship that had been left at the scrap yard. One of the 'Rules' was that the gang was allowed to stick around at the Scrap Islands but they had to take care of it and anything that was left there. Which they were allowed to keep.
Of course, Winslow made sure there was nothing dangerous in them. But from time to there was things that slipped through.
From explosives to entire rotten food stores
"Calliope!" The Voice of Winslow echoed as the Pink haired girl was sitting on a swivel chair, using a welding torch for one of her inventions. While she did possess the power of Magnetism, She enjoyed the hands-on approach from time to time. "Ugh. He's early."
A Woman with a Mohawk, Mooney. Spoke to tell Calliope who was here. "Uh, Cali- Winslo-"
"I know he's here!" She tossed off her welding goggles and let them clatter to the ground. She let out an Angsty sigh as she pushed the pay door open and walked out. The Scrap Yard was cleared in the middle while there were complex houses made of scrap around. They look far and away from anything that one could consider 'Shacks' when making buildings from Scrap.
"What Winslow?" She put her hands on her hips and leaned on one leg. "C'mon. Let's go work on the Trains while we talk." He tossed a wrench to her, which zipped to her hand.
They walked through the northern section of Water 9. The buildings a bit more complex than the ones before. Many still under construction even this far after the Fires before. Winslow had made a declaration that everyone shall be given housing on the top layer, and the second layer would be turned into a form of Nationalized Commerce. Each District with a different look to them. From the Small Few story buildings in the Northern part, to the larger complex buildings with multiple stores in one at the West, to the temporary markets of the East where also Entertainment was, and then in the South where all Business related to Ships and Shipwrights sat.
Winslow then dissolved the Guild. But made it the into the Nuff Wrights Company, and made sure the Guild Members from before had a spot amongst the members. And made sure that there were proper screenings to prevent what happened before, but gave transparency to all actions of the Mayorship and The Nuff Wrights Company.
The Train was much less than what the Red Sashes had seen before. It was that one side project you always worked on when you were stressed. There were pieces of Winslow and Cali in it.
"You know, you don't have to steal. Right? Half the people in the Town would willingly give it to you, they have sympathy for those in the Gang." Winslow said from underneath the train screwing pieces into piece for the engine as Cali worked on the Jet Turbines that they connected to.
"Yeah. I know. But where's the fun in just asking! I want excitement! It's too boring here. But you won't let me leave." Cali wanted to explore, she wanted to have excitement! And the only way she had that was by the pranks she pulled, those moments of trouble making. "Besides, I'm to young for the Entertainment district in the East."
"Wahaha! Thats the Gambling Houses, and Red Light. There's the Rollercoasters that Thompson Brought in from Sabaody! Or the Minigolf, or the-"
"I know. I've been there. You took me!" Cali snapped back, a bit sullen but a smile nonetheless. She remembered how Winslow took her to the day after her Surgery. How they got Ice Cream and sat and watched a play, a comedy. Winslow and Cali just couldn't stop laughing.
"I care about you Cali. I do. You're dad trusted me me to take care of you, and I don't wanna be overbearing. You're free to do as you please…I just. Want you to stay safe. The worlds a big scary place." He sighed, setting the tool in hand on his belly
"And thats why I want to Build the Greatest Ship in the World! One that can survive even the most Dangerous of Places! Just…Don't got anyone to sail one with…"
Winslow sat on the Crate as the sound of the Train whistled in the Distance. His hand came up to his forehead and rubbed at the spot where the bullet had been embedded. "Maybe these are the ones you were looking to sail with, Cali…"
The Train sped down the Tracks at over 200 kilometers per hour! Malle's short hair whipping in the wind as he looked out of the side door. "Alright! The Citadel Is about an Hour away, but we should be able to catch up to Streamliner 2 if we use the Thrusters!"
"Thrusters! Fireaway!" Kirk and Dezzi screamed in unison, Leroys demeanor having shifted now that they were properly well under way. "Oh god…" Kirk grimaced as he held onto his seat.
"3! 2! 1! Fire!" Malle slammed his fist down on a large red button! Energy Surged through the Car and funneled fuel, a potent mixture of explosives, into the Thrusters! Large cones of White Hot fire coming out of the back! Accelerating the car to 300, 400, 500! Quicker and quicker before a loud crack filled the air as the Train reached Transonic Speed!
They'd Catch up to the Train in No time! The other train was over 20 miles away!