CHAPTER 8: ESCAPE
The marine ship sailed across the vast sea for days. The Going Merry crew was not really well fed throughout the journey. Sanji felt the hunger he feared the most (bad memories of starving in the past) and would not give up even one small crumb of bread. Zoro refused to eat at all. He rather starve to death than be sentenced to death and be revived back again for all to see. It was Sanji who spent a whole of effort to persuade him to eat just a little bit. No one else, not even the quick-mouthed Usopp could talk him into it.
“Come on, Zoro, eat up before I take it away from you,” Sanji persuaded.
Zoro made no attempt to touch his food. Sanji sighed and went near his ear.
“Do it for Luffy. Remember that we have something important for him. If we ever get out of this joint, we will be able to give it to him some day.”
Zoro finally reached out for the plate and crammed the food into his mouth. He ate very little, but it’s better than none. Finally, after much travel, the boat reached Logue Island. Everyone got off the ship, including the Going Merry crew who was pretty tied up and walking in one single file. Again, they were taken into custody and locked into another prison, but not as dark as the dungeons in the Marine Force Centre and certainly not as damp and dark as the ship’s cabin.
Late that night, when everyone was pretty much asleep, the Going Merry crew gathered together in a circle for one last conversation.
“Well, mates, nervous about tomorrow?” Sanji started the conversation.
“Who wouldn’t?” Usopp hissed. “We are going to be executed in front of thousands upon thousands of people! I don’t see why I shouldn’t be nervous!”
“Yeah,” Chopper said sadly, “it’s actually our last day to live tonight.”
“Look on the bright side,” Sanji grinned, chewing his last piece of Gummy chewing gum, “at least we’ll be revived again and become a huge celebrity.”
“Not that it’s gonna make me feel any better! I cannot imagine myself become an exhibit item!” Usopp grumbled.
“No one likes to be stared at, even if you’re in a coma state,” Chopper folded his arms.
“Well, do you guys at least have any last wishes?” Nami asked, trying to act strong, as if this execution didn’t give her any emotional effect. “‘Coz I have. I don’t want to say it in front of everybody; it’ll mean nothing to me.”
“I have loads of last wishes!” Usopp stood up and exclaimed, then sat back on the floor and sighed, “But for now, I can only wish that Kaya will forgive me for my blind promise.”
“I wish that Nojiko will continue leading a happy life with her husband at Cocoyashi Village, and continue the lime business,” Nami said, struggling to hold back her tears which were beginning to well up in her eyes. “And I wish Bellemere will be proud of me.”
“Well, I wish that someday, when we are all revived and become exhibits, and are able to get out of this life-supporting cylinder ‘prison’, I will…” Sanji stopped abruptly, then shook his head.
“You’ll what?” Nami asked, brushing the tears off her eyes hastily.
“No. Nothing. I don’t think I have any last wishes.”
“You’re a worse liar than me!” Usopp grinned. “Come on, share with us! Don’t be embarrassed!”
“It’s not something you should know. Zoro and I have been keeping this secret ever since the beginning of this mission.”
“What? Zoro, you too? What is this big secret?” Chopper turned to Zoro, who was silent throughout the whole conversation. Sanji looked at Zoro with questioning eyes. Zoro noticed and considered for a while. Then he nodded reluctantly at Sanji, shifting his eyes to the wall beside him.
“Well…OK, since Zoro approved…after we get out of this joint, I wish that…” Sanji lowered his voice only for the Going Merry crew to hear. The crew was confused at first, but when Sanji whispered an explanation, the crew (except Zoro) toppled onto the floor like a deck of cards.
“No way! No way is this happening!” Nami exclaimed in disbelief.
“You’re a liar! You’re even worst than I am! You’re lying!!” Usopp practically howled the whole place down.
“There is no medical proof that this thing is possible!!” Chopper was in a state of denial.
“Say whatever you want,” Sanji said. “It’s true all the way. Do you think Luffy’s death is the only reason why I stopped smoking?”
Before the crew could question him any further, they heard someone coming in. They almost panicked. It’s not sunrise yet—the sky was still dark and the moon is still high up in the sky. Why did they arrive so early? Was it because the people couldn’t wait to see another great performance like the death sentence of Captain Roger? This wasn’t fair! They didn’t even have a chance to say kind words to each other!
The footsteps came closer and closer. There were two people walking into the prison area. They turned to look and saw that it was the tiny short Cobby and the tall thin Hermeppo. They widened their eyes in surprise.
“Shh! don’t say a word. It’s not easy for us to bribe the prison guard to let us in. We’re here to help,” Cobby whispered enough for the Going Merry crew to hear.
“Help us? Why would you want to help us?” Usopp hissed. “You knew all along that we’re coming here and you arrested us yourself. Why should we trust you?”
“Because Luffy is my friend. I owe him more than my life. She saved me from the clutches of Albida the Beautiful, and he gave me strength to stand on my own two feet. And…as unlikely as it may sound, I believe that…the One Piece should be truly his. I understand what you’re doing for him now. He is, I’m proud to admit, the true Pirate King.”
The crew was so touched that they were at lost of words. Zoro gave Cobby a sideways glance and smirked.
“Now I have a plan. Listen,” Cobby said, gesturing them to come closer. He whispered his scheme to the Going Merry crew before leaving them alone to play their part of the plan.
The dawn has come. The prison guard came in with Colonel Smoker and his marine soldiers and unlocked the cell. The marine soldiers dragged them out of their cell and shoved them out to the open. The Going Merry crew squinted their eyes as they tried to adjust with the morning light.
As they stepped out into the open, they could see almost the whole population of the Logue Island. They were all quite excited about this execution. Luffy really lived up to his name. The crew passed by Cobby and Hermeppo. They nodded at each other secretly. The crew went up slowly to the death sentence stand. Zoro looked around and thought, ‘So this is what the late Captain Roger, Luffy and Shanks saw from up here.’
The Going Merry crew was forced to kneel on the stand, their heads lowered in front of the 5 executioners. Colonel Smoker has just decided to sentence them all to death at the same time to increase the impact on the citizens. Colonel Smoker came up to the Going Merry crew and asked, “Any last words, my dear friends?”
The crew didn’t answer. They have made their last wishes last night, no point saying it out.
“Good. Then let’s get on with the execution,” Smoker said. He turned around to face the citizens and said out loud, “Behold citizens of Logue Island! Here before you are the accomplices of the late most wanted criminal of the entire sea, the would-be followers of the so-called Pirate King Monkey D. Luffy!”
The citizens whispered anxiously, pointing at the Going Merry crew in anxiety and disgust. Looks like Luffy really lived up to his name. Even his partners were an enemy of the people on land. Smoker continued, “These people are charged with multiple counterfeits, a number of injuries inflicted to the public and even murder in the past during their days of sailing with Monkey D. Luffy. They have disappeared for a while after the death of their captain, but nevertheless, we have apprehended them. Their verdict: Guilty! The sentence: Death!”
His announcement brought a cheer to the citizens of Logue Island. Usopp was about to swallow but was given a stern look from Sanji. He shook his head, warning him through eye-contact not to swallow. They waited for Smoker to announce the commencing of the sentence. Then, on Zoro’s signal, they lifted their heads and spit into the executioners’ eyes. They snarled in pain, holding their bleeding eyes as they backed away. The crew shook the stand a little, forcing the executioners to back away further until they actually fall off the stand and to the solid ground below.
The crew stood up quickly and, with a slight tug, broke the ropes that bind their hands. Colonel Smoker was surprised and was about to use his smoke hands to catch them when all of a sudden, Usopp took out a net that was hiding in his overall and threw it at Smoker, entangling him in it.
“What the…?! This net…!! Where did you…” Smoker was too shocked to be able to finish his words.
“That’s right, Smoker!” Usopp said proudly, impressed with his aim. “That’s the net you used to catch criminals that ate devil fruits! Now have a taste of your own medicine!”
“Come on, Usopp!” Zoro said as he ran quickly down the steps from the execution stand. “Stop dilly-dallying! We gotta save Luffy!”
All of Luffy’s crew rushed down to the marine building, fighting their way through as they went. They had to make do with things on the roadside, as their gadgets were confiscated by the marines: Zoro had to grab a butcher’s kitchen knives as substitute swords, Nami had to borrow a Y-pole from a lady who was hanging out the washing, and Usopp had to use eggs instead of bullets to throw it at the chasing marines. And he had to throw it with his own hands, not shoot them from catapults. Only Sanji and Chopper didn’t have to use any gadgets—Sanji had his feet and Chopper only had to morph.
They also had to fight their way into the marine building. It wasn’t easy because some of them were highly trained soldiers, but they managed to get through. Zoro grabbed one of the defeated ones by the collar and hissed, “Where is Monkey D. Luffy?”
“On-On the top floor! The room on the right! Please don’t kill me! I have a family to feed!”
They raced all the way to the top floor. Finally, after much climbing up the stairs, they’ve reached the room the soldier mentioned and burst in. There he was—Luffy—floating peacefully in the cylinder container waiting to be exhibited. They were relieved when they saw that their gadgets were also in the room. The One Piece wasn’t there but that wasn’t the main issue. They had to get out of there as soon as possible with Luffy.
“It’s no use!” Nami complained as she hit the glass of the cylinder over and over again. “This glass is like solid metal! We’ll never get him out of there!”
“Yeah! And do you notice that breathing mask over his face? What if that’s the only life-support he has? What’ll happen when we get him out into the open?” Usopp was worried.
“We’ll just have to risk it,” Sanji said as he raised his foot. “Step aside, guys. Chopper, you ready? On three. 1, 2, 3!”
Sanji concentrated all his energy on his foot and Chopper on his fists. They hit the glass as hard as their body could give it. The glass actually shattered into a hundred pieces, spilling the green fluid allover the crew and the floor. Zoro caught Luffy just in time before his face hits the shards of glass. Unfortunately though, it caused Sanji’s foot and Chopper’s fists some damage. Chopper’s fist bled quite seriously and blood seeped out of Sanji’s shoe. Sanji felt a little bit of pain in his stomach but he kept quiet about it.
“Are you alright?” Nami asked them worriedly.
“We can still hang on,” Chopper groaned. “Come on, let’s get out of here!”
Zoro was about to pick up Luffy and carry him in his arms when his stomachache acted up again. He fell on his knees and groaned in pain. Nami rushed to his aid and said, “Zoro, are you OK? Let me and Usopp carry Luffy instead.”
“It’s that cramp!” Chopper said. “The first few months…”
“Urusai, Chopper!” Zoro growled as he forced himself to stand up and take on Luffy’s weight in his arms. “Don’t remind me! I know! I can do this! Luffy is my husband and I’m responsible for him!”
“Hey, he’s my lover too,” Sanji said as he struggled to stand properly regardless of his bleeding foot. “I’m also responsible for him!”
“You can try by watching out if the coast is clear and get those bastards out of the way!!” Usopp exclaimed as he pointed at the mob of marine soldiers charging towards them. This time, the Going Merry crew was ready with their gadgets to fight. They fought their way through again, making way for Zoro, who was carrying Luffy painfully in his arms, so that he can run through without many obstacles. They didn’t want to leave so many injured—or possibly, dead—people behind, but this was the only way to make a clear path.
When they went out of the building and into the public, they saw all the citizens of Logue Island fast asleep on the ground, including Colonel Smoker and the soldiers who tried to free him from the net. Everyone was snoring peacefully, except Cobby and Hermeppo. The Going Merry crew was surprised.
“What’s going on? Why is everyone asleep?” Nami asked.
“That’ll be my doing,” a voice said from behind them. They turned around and saw that it was no other than the Michael Jackson wannabe, 3 2 1 Jango!
“What the…what the heck is he doing here?!” Usopp yelled and prepared his bullets to catapult him.
“Saving your butt, you baka!” Cobby said exasperatedly. “It’s a small price I have to pay. I had to let a criminal go in order to persuade him to hypnotize everyone and help you get you out of this joint as peacefully as possible.”
“Besides,” Jango said as he put out a moon-walking dance, “I have a liking for this Monkey D. Luffy. In a way, he did rescue me from the iron fists of Captain Crow. I somehow feel freer than before. Is he really…?”
“He’s still alive and kicking, thank you very much,” Zoro gave him a sideways glare.
“But he’s the accomplice of a very well-known pirate Captain Crow!” Usopp exclaimed, his eyes still showing a trace of distrust to Jango. “Smoker should be well aware about his abilities to prevent himself from being hypnotized by him!”
“He wasn’t hypnotized. He was whacked on the head by me and fainted,” Tashigi’s voice suddenly came from behind. The crew turned, their hearts shrinking at the sight of the colonel’s right-hand man (or woman). Tashigi adjusted her glasses, ignoring their horrified stares.
“Don’t worry, guys,” Cobby said reassuringly, “she’s with us.”
“I don’t know why I listened to you, Cobby. You’re asking me to break the biggest rule in the marine book and release a bunch of potential and deadly criminal of the sea.”
“Then why did you want to help us?” Sanji asked, grinning.
“Because I let my pathetic conscience take over me! I don’t want to admit it, but I noticed the…good side of Luffy when we had our last encounter. I…I even saw the whole thing when Shanks stabbed Luffy. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him…” Tashigi slapped her forehead and groaned, “What am I saying? I’m actually feeling sorry for the world’s greatest, most dangerous pirate in the whole sea!”
“Isn’t it why you feel sorry for him? Because you admire him as the greatest pirate and your greatest nemesis?” Zoro said, his arms carrying the slumping Luffy. Tashigi huffed and looked away.
“Don’t you even get me started!”
“You better hurry and leave now,” Cobby said, looking around the silent area. “The effects of the hypnotism won’t last very long. You too, Jango, get out of here.”
“With pleasure,” Jango grinned, then put out another Michael Jackson pose at the Going Merry crew. “Yo, guys. Mind if I take a ride on your ship? You can just drop me off at any faraway island.”
“We couldn’t get you back the Going Merry boat—we scouted the area as Miss Tashigi ordered and destroyed it. Sunimase. But we can give you Colonel Smoker’s personal ship. That’ll do OK, for now.” Cobby wished that Smoker would not kill him for this.
“Arigatogozaimasu, Cobby,” Zoro smirked, “but how are you going to explain this to Smoker?”
All of a sudden, Tashigi took out her sword and slashed her arms. She also did a few slashes on her legs and finally she stabbed her abdomen. Nowhere lethal, though, thank goodness. The crew was shocked at her sudden actions.
“You escaped and took the criminal Luffy with you,” Tashigi was struggling quite hard to stand properly with the stab wound on her. “Then you freed and ordered Jango to hypnotize everyone to sleep. One of you came from behind and attacked Smoker to knock him out cold. We were the only ones to prevent ourselves from being hypnotized.”
Cobby also used his dagger and slashed himself and Hermeppo (which surprised and pained him a lot) and smother some dirt on himself before saying, “We fought really hard but were unable to take you down. You escaped successfully. You have defeated us.”
“If Smoker was to ask about how you escaped from the ropes, I’ll say I gave him the wrong ropes to tie,” Hermeppo also joined in the excuse-making, after giving a hard, annoyed punch at Cobby’s face. He, too, smothered some dirt on himself.
“Now go! Before I change my mind!!” Tashigi yelled before falling down to the floor, gasping for breath. “GO!!”
“Arigato,” the crew said before rushing towards Colonel Smoker’s ship.
The Going Merry crew hid low out of sight until they were miles and miles away from Logue Island. After making sure that their ship was really in the middle of the vast sea, then they eased a little and tend to their problems. Chopper quickly nursed Sanji and himself of the wounds inflicted on them. After much bandaging and stuff, Sanji moved to the kitchen and made honey-milk for both Zoro and himself. Nami, Usopp and Chopper quickly moved Luffy to the bedroom in Colonel Smoker’s ship. Jango helped out a little by scouting the area to see if Smoker and his soldiers came after them.
So far, so good. No one’s chasing them at the moment.
“What a waste,” Sanji said as he sipped his honey-milk. “To think we broke our backs and risked our lives to come this far, yet we still couldn’t get our hands on the One Piece for Luffy as we vowed to.”
“At least we got back our Luffy,” Zoro said, smiling a little. “That’s enough for me for now. We can get the One Piece another day.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary!” Nami said cheerfully as she came from behind them and clapped their backs. “Come and take a look, guys!”
Sanji and Zoro followed her curiously. They were even curious when Chopper, Usopp and even Jango were in all smiles. Nami gestured them to enter the wine cellar under the boat.
At upon seeing the glittering gold, the crew and Jango cheered like mad.
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