Hey Guys!
Hope you enjoy this one, I've been working on it for a while but I'm not to sure about it yet... Reviews are always welcome! Characters may seem kinda OC in this one.
Disclamer: I don't own One Piece
An old street lamp flickered somewhere along the desolate street before finally dying, leaving only the ebbing glow of the final few lights to illuminate the street. Many of the houses and buildings had been reduced to rubble or were scarcely standing upright on their own on this dark night.
Although... nothing about this sight was considered unusual anymore; nearly all towns and cities had been destroyed during the great wars and only very few remained. However, what was unusual was to see anything remotely human tracking through the rubble of these Ghost Towns. The human population had all but died out. The few million that survived had taken refuge in the handful of thriving cities around the globe that had survived the destruction. The people now lived only for themselves and those closest to them.
In the ruins of this small town, the only sounds to be heard through the darkness was the shifting of wreckage under the duo's feet as they walked and the clatter of the buildings crumbling down around them. Many years had passed since the time of peace began, but the battle fields still reeked; the stench of death and suffering still hung in the air. Between the two humanoid shadows, no conversation was attempted; both knew of the dangers that still lurked in the darkness around them and knew better than to be distracted.
Stoping underneath one of the dim light's lining the street, a Surviving Nations Alliance soldier gazed through the wreckage with scrutinizing eyes, the three golden earrings dangling from his left ear glinting in the light. Seemingly satisfied, the soldier tracked across the rubble, pulling a metallic bar out of the pouch on his hip, towards the entrance of an old bomb shelter hidden under several tonnes of sandbags. Motioning for his charge for wait at the entrance, he disappeared into the shadows of the shelter.
The second figure turned his back to the shelter, pulling one of the hand guns out of the holster on his thigh and holding it at the ready by his side. His charcoal black eyes swept unfazed over the wreckage, alert and ready for any attack. A straw hat held his wild black hair out of his eyes and face while the wind battered around the leather coat hanging from his shoulders.
Everything else about this figure pointed to him either being a Wonderer or a Mercenary, both being the kind of people who were willing to do anything given the right pay. This specific man, or more accurately; teen, was a Mercenary known as Straw Hat Luffy; also known to be the sole survivor of the Bombing of Los Angelis.
Finally, the soldier emerged from the bomb shelter, a hand resting on the white sheath of the Japanese sword handing from his hip. "Oi, we're leaving." He said before turning back into the shelter. Raising a sceptical eyebrow at moss-green haired man, Luffy slipped the gun he was holding back into its holster and eyed the wreckage once more before following the soldier into the abandoned shelter.
Hundreds of miles away, the Surviving Nations Alliance Headquarters in Seattle, the fifth city, had received a guest. On the street outside the building, the two figures appeared in a short flash of light. Luffy shook his head, gently mumbling to himself as he hurried after the soldier who seemed unaffected by the journey and walked up the stairs into the large building standing before them. Once both were inside, they walked down one of the bright hallways towards a giant archway and Luffy's frown deepened. Out of all places in the world he never wanted to go, this building had always been at the top of the list.
The hall suddenly opened up into a small domed room and Luffy stopped in his tracks. Gently tilting his head backwards he lay a hand on top of his Straw Hat, gazing in awe up at the stained glass ceiling. The ocean had always mesmerised him, and this one was no different. The glass above his head was made of thousands of different shades of greens and blues and it seemed to sway gently in the gentle glow of the moon.
The man ahead of him cleared his throat causing Luffy to drop his train of thought. "Have you finished day dreaming?" he sneered. Luffy grunted and walked over to the giant doorway. Reaching for the door handle, the soldier grabbed his wrist. "Not yet." He said gruffly, frowning again. "You enter when called." He said dropping Luffy's wrist. "Rule one: only speak when you're spoken to. Rule two: do not threaten anyone." He stressed by sending Luffy a glare. "You will be killed before you even have time to take your next breath." The soldier lay a hand on his Katana showing that it was no joke.
Suddenly the man made a grab for his hat, "Plus no hats are allowed inside: it's called common courtesy." Luffy slapped the hand away and before the soldier could blink a gun was being held to his forehead, I didn't even see him move... "Don't ever touch what isn't yours to touch." Hissed Luffy before smirking and lowering his gun, "It's called common courtesy."
A soft knock from the inside echoed through the door and the man frowned before straitening his uniform, "You're now wanted inside. From this point you go alone; remember what I told you." He stressed letting the hat slide for now.
Luffy nodded before pushing open one of the giant doors. The scent of strong cigars threw itself at him making him crinkle his nose in disgust while he walked into the centre of the large room. Tables were situated on platforms that went up a step with each row back and signs along with flags were posted on each one. The platforms created nearly a full circle around the centre of the room, only leaving a gap for door. From where he was standing he could see that each table had two people stationed at it; the Ambassador and their personal guard.
He snorted; typical Aristocrats. A deep chuckle broke out from the crowd and Luffy glanced at the man whose flag showed he was from Belgium. "So, dis is de great Strvor 'at Looffy we 'ave 'eard so mooch about. Ha... mite 'ave vell asked a child if ve vanted somevone so short." He snickered in his own thick accent. Luffy frowned slightly and turned to leave. "You were the ones who called me here: I didn't and still don't want to be here. So either get on with it or I'm leaving." He muttered, tilting down the front of his hat so it covered most of his eyes. "No, please wait!" said a woman quickly. Luffy smirked under his hat and turned around, "So you do need me then." He muttered. The woman who had spoken was from England and had stood up out of her seat. "Please, we are in need of your assistance." she pleaded.
"Obviously of you wouldn't have brought me here." Luffy scoffed before sitting himself down cross-legged on the floor and leaning his elbow onto his knee to rest his chin in his palm. "Fine, what's the job and how much do I get payed?" he asked. The woman nodded thankfully, "For years now we have been trying to locate something of great value to us. An ancient weapon named 'One Piece'." She began calmly. "After years of searching we have finally located it. All we need now if for someone to retrieve it for us." She said gently folding her arms onto the table.
Luffy stared at her blankly. "And why can't you do that on your own because...?" He me mumbled, before quickly holding up a hand, cutting off the ambassador before she had a chance to talk, "Plus, why hire some lowlife mercenary instead of using your own personnel? Why even bother finding me; I've been under your radar for the past five years and there are plenty of others mercenaries who are way more willing to work for the Alliance than I am, so why bother with me?" he muttered glairing up at the stands.
'Listen to me Luffy. The alliance is never to be trusted. The only thing you can trust is the fact that they will never keep their word.' Shanks was right; the Alliance couldn't be trusted. "Out of all candidates, you were the only one who has never failed an assignment. This job cannot end in failure; if so, the world will fall deeper into darkness and eventually be engulfed once again by war."
Luffy couldn't help but scoff; wasn't the world already neck deep in shit? "What's the pay?" he asked tilting his head, "I don't come cheap." The lady nodded, "So I've heard. We are willing to pay up to Three thousand. Is that sufficient?" she asked. Luffy almost lost his calm composure and blinked. Three Thousand... usually the average job payed only 500bucks at the most!
Clicking his tongue Luffy nodded, "Sounds ok to me." He said standing up. "Before I agree though, I want to know all the details. For example, where the hell is this weapon of yours located?" The ambassador frowned, "No doubt a place you're familiar with: We have tracked down the weapons location and we know for sure that it is in *******."
Luffy's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. Looking down at his hands, he saw they had begun to shake. What was this feeling... This was something he hadn't felt in a very long time; this chill creeping up his spine... the knots in his stomach.
Luffy clenched his fists. This feeling was Fear. After a few moments of silence an unearthly chuckle slipped from his lips, causing some of the ambassadors to lean back in their chairs thinking that he had gone crazy. "Yeah I'm 'familiar with it', to use your words." He leered. "Heh... No wonder your paying me so much." He said shaking his head, "Entering Deaths Playground is bad enough, but to top it all off you want me to go to Hells Gateway?" he chuckled again.
"Those names aren't just for show. I got two words for you; Suicide... Mission." He said holding up two fingers, "The south-west has turned into a nuclear wasteland. Even if this One Piece, as you called it, used to be in South Carolina... I can guaranty that now there will be nothing left but dust." The Pom shook her head, "The weapon still exists; we have confirmed reports from the SIU that the building that housed One Piece is still somewhat intact and that the room it was contained in is still well and truly sealed."
Luffy sighed and tilted his Straw Hat to shadow his eyes. He gently ran his thumb over his lips as he thought. Luffy sighed showing he had come to a decision. "Fine, I'll do it. This thing better be as important as you say it is." He warned readjusting the bag that had slipped off his shoulder.
Shooting glares up at the separate Governments, he frowned; they were still holding something back from him. No matter... he would find out soon enough. Sighing, Luffy turned back to the Pom. By the looks of things she was the one with the most authority in the room, and England was at the head of the Alliance... "I'll leave in the morning. I won't be back anytime soon; I take my time with this kind of shit." He said sniffing once. Damn cigars; they were messing up his nose. The English Woman nodded once. "That is fine. Now; your escort will be informed and..." The woman was instantly cut off by Luffy.
"What! Who said anything about needing an escort!" he yelled glaring up at the Woman. She gazed back down defiantly, "We have arranged for you to bring along one of our own soldiers. I'm sure you are more than capable, but this is to insure that even if something may happen to you, the weapon still returns here safely." She said raising her chin. "You have already met Zoro I believe," she said motioning to the door. The Soldier who had been able to track him down stood in the doorway, arms neatly tucked behind his back.
Luffy scrutinized Zoro for a while and stared him directly in the eyes causing Zoro to shift slightly. Finally he sighed and frowned deeply. "Fine," He sneered, "It's not my problem if he dies; I won't give a shit." He muttered darkly. The Woman nodded, "Of course, he already understood this before he agreed to this mission. Now as I was saying; you will both be departing tomorrow morning as soon as you are prepared." she said folding her arms again. Luffy grunted, "Fine, can I go now?" he muttered blankly rolling his eyes at the Pom's arrogance. The Woman glanced around the room, "Does anyone have anything they might like to add?" he asked.
A woman who's flag showed she was from France stood. "I 'ave a request to make..." she said, her accent was well covered but one could still hear her slur over the words. "I mean this in no bad vay, but you are still so young and I vould feel simply orrid if I didn't send Sanji here along vith you." she said motioning to the personal guard she had standing behind her. He bowed his head in respect, "As always you are so thoughtful over the young Madam." He said with a smile playing over his lips.
A loud thud echoed through the room and as few ambassadors gasped as Luffy threw his bag to the ground, "Do you idiots think this is a fucking game!" he seethed.
"Have you even seen what has happened out there!" he yelled pointing to the direction of the door. "I'll bet that for all your lives you haven't set one foot outside the city refuge. None of you would last a day in the Wastes! I am not bringing an inexperienced, pompous ass who thinks he has what it takes to be a body guard, with me!" he seethed. Sanji snarled, "What did you say you Shitty Bastard!"
"You heard me Blondie!" yelled Luffy, his hand inching towards one of his guns. "I don't need a fucking Babysitter! I have looked after myself for as long as I can remember and that's what I will always to do!" The French woman nodded sympathetically, "I understand, but try to see it this vay; he vill be nothing more than a companion for the journey, someone to talk to is you vish. I must insist that you bring him." she pressed. Luffy took in a deep breath and breathed out through his nose trying to calm down; he could already see Zoro, as he was apparently called, sliding his Katana slowly out of its sheath ready to strike him down if he lost his temper again.
"If he's coming... then you're going to have to pay me." Might as well take more money if she's going to press it...
"Two Fifty in advance then that once more when we get back." He said a smirk spreading across his face. The woman sighed, "If that is what it takes, then that is vhat I shall do. Sanji vill bring an envelope vith him tomorrow carrying the payment."
TADAAAA!
Hope you enjoyed it!
A few Notes:
-Any Questions about Seattle being the 5th city will be explained in later chapters...
-The south east of America is called Deaths Playground because no one there survives the A-Bomb raid seven years ago. Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina were all destroyed but South Carolina was worst affected so it is called Hells Gateway
(Flashing= Instant Inter-continental Travel used only by Alliance Members)
(SIU- Satellite Intelligents Unit)
