The Straw hats were heading back to their ship and stopped when they saw a large group of people next to the docks, yelling toward the Sunny. On the dock, Altros stood, while Robin, Chopper, and Usopp looked on from the ship.

"We've had enough of you, Altros! We know the truth you liar!"

"He's nothing but a common criminal!"

"I'll bet it was robbery!"

"No, after last night, it's gotta be murder that got him a bounty that big!"

The shouts all melded into one as Altros stood there, a slight frown on his face. He closed his eyes and sighed, and then looked up and started walking toward the mob. They all went silent and he stopped several feet from them.

"You want me to leave, because of a piece a paper you don't know the story behind?" He asked.

"We've had nothing but trouble around here since you showed up!"

"Yeah!"

"We've had enough of your lies!"

Altros looked down at the ground, "I don't have anywhere to go…"

"Away from here!"

Luffy started walking toward the group calmly, walking past the people until he came to a stop in front of Altros and looked up at the battered man. "Join my crew."

"What did he just say?" Nami asked.

Usopp had apparently heard and shouted, "H-hey, Luffy, maybe you shouldn't be so hasty, those people have to want him gone for a good reason, he could be dangerous!"

Luffy looked up at Altros, who stared back and then Luffy said, "I know, but he's our nakama now so it's ok."

"What?" Altros asked, his eye twitching.

"You're our nakama now," Luffy said.

"Kid, stay out of this," Altros said.

"No. You're our nakama, unless you're going to do to us what you did to those other pirates." Luffy said.

"Hey, Luffy-" Nami started before Sanji put a hand up in front of her.

"Wait, Nami-san."

One of the people in the mob shouted, "Yeah, if he stays around much longer, we could end up like those pirates!"

There was a chorus of agreement that made Altros clench his teeth and ball his hands into fists. He shook in place before finally stilling and unfurling his hands. "I'm not going to hurt these people…"

"Ok," Luffy said and then walked past him, "See you on the Sunny."

"What…what just happened?" Chopper asked.

Robin let a small chuckle escape her lips before turning to Chopper, "It would appear that we have a new crewmate."

Ten minutes later the Strawhats were on the Sunny making preparations to set off. Altros stood on the deck looking toward the island where the mob was still gathered, glaring at him. They would be there until the Straw Hats left.

"Ugh," Nami complained, "We didn't even get a chance to resupply."

"Actually, Nami, I sent Brooke to go get supplies a while ago, he should be back soon," Robin said.

As if on cue there was a loud 'Yohohohohoho' and then Brooke was falling out of the sky onto the deck, a giant sack in tow. "Ah, I'm back." He said.

"Brooke!" Usopp said, "Did you get everything on the list?"

The skeleton was silent for a moment, "Ah, that and more."

Sanji was digging through the bag looking for the food and commented, "Was all of this really necessary?"

Brooke turned to the cook, "Ah, sorry Sanji-san, I lost my head…..Skull joke! Yohohohohoho!"

"Yahooooo! Let's go!" Luffy shouted.

There was a simultaneous 'yosh' from almost everyone. Franky and Usopp ran inside to start the ship moving while Chopper disappeared into his room to make more medicine. Sanji walked into the kitchen followed by Brooke and Luffy who was shouting for food. Zoro had taken a spot on deck and was already asleep.

"Hey, Robin?" Nami said.

"Yes navigator-san?" Robin replied as she walked up next to the young woman.

"Do me a favor and keep an eye on our new 'nakama.' There's something off about him." Nami whispered.

Both women looked down to where Altros still stood, watching the island as the mob of people began dispersing and they moved away, a favorable wind pushing them along.

"Of course, navigator-san," Robin said before heading up to the upper deck and picking up a book from her chair. She sat down and began reading.

Nami stood watching Altros for a time while he stared off at the island that was growing smaller and smaller in the distance. Then she took one last glance before heading to the map room. She could have sworn she saw something drop over the railing as she turned away, but figured it was nothing.

Altros watched until the island was gone from sight before turning away. He sighed. Once again he'd had to leave the place he thought he could call home. That was the fifth time he'd been forced to leave after an islands inhabitants discovered that he was wanted. His thought turned to the boy, Luffy, captain of the Straw Hat pirates. Why had the kid invited, or rather, just made him join their crew? Altros had to admit, it was convenient, but the whole crew seemed a bit strange, and he'd only been able to blink when he'd seen Brooke for the first time. He didn't want to be a pirate, he wanted a normal life. He supposed he could always get off at the next inhabited island.