"Captain, there's a ship coming toward us." A crew member tells Law. "Whose ship?" Law asks. "I'm not sure. But they're pretty close already since the the submarine blocked our view." He replies. Law turns his attention back to me. "Join my crew. Join or die." He says eloquently. No one can accuse him of being around the bush. Do I join the insane and cruel pirate or die? Dying is honestly more appealing, but in my heart I know that I'm going to become part of his crew.

"I'll join." I say. "Good," He replies. He puts me back together. I can't stop the shudder that automatically comes over me when I'm whole. Some things will never be normal. I observe the my new crew raiding the ship for supplies. I try to lend a hand, but the crew gives me the cold shoulder. They take the boxes out of my hands claiming, "We got this girl. Don't need you to break your back lifting some of this heavy stuff." "I can do it. I put this stuff on here. This is only seventy pounds." I tell them angrily. I'm ignored. I want to make a good impression on the crew. I won't get any respect if I'm the girl who can't work. I go outside to get out of their way and to hide my embarrassment.

There's a fight on the deck. One of the merchant's must have been hidden somewhere until they were found by one of Law's men. I recognize the cabin boy, Jack. Jack is way out of his league. Penguin forces him to kneel before Law. "What do we have here? Miss, please come here." Law says gesturing to me. I walk over to Jack and Law. Law becomes deathly serious when he tells me, "Kill him." I'm stunned. I've never killed anyone in cold blood. When people are trying to kill me, I don't care what happens to them, but I can't just kill Jack.

I have an internal struggle about whether I value my life above Jack's. I look at him. Jack is no longer plotting how he's going to get away. He's staring through my eyes and into my soul. He wants me to figure out how to save us both. I'll try. "Get up." I tell Jack almost stuttering. I grab a sword from a victim nearby and hand it to him. My muscles are burning intensely from the effort of lifting up a sword.

This won't last long. I wait for Jack to make the first move. He doesn't. He only looks at me. There's an awkward pause where we neither of us is willing to initiate the battle. "If you don't kill him, then he will suffer agonizing pain by my hand. Boy, do you want a quick and almost painless death, or do you want what I have in store for you?" Law asks. Jack recognizes that Law has some gruesome trick up his sleeve.

Law's words were the impetus needed to initiate the fight. Jack took a wild swing at me with his sword. I may be tired, but another rush of adrenaline kept me on my feet. I avoid his attack easily. Jack starts to flail around chaotically. My conscience wouldn't allow me to strike a child. I pity this trapped eleven year old kid. "Now or never." Law says.

I grip my knife trying to do the right thing. My hand shakes uncontrollably when I raise it up. I can't overcome the wall in my head. I'm not a murderer. He cannot force me to do this.

I put my knife away. There are no words for what I feel now. I feel rage, passion, regret, triumph, and exhilaration pulsing through me. These emotions seem like they would contradict each other, but curiously they compliment each other. I look Law in the eye and say, "No."

"You're part of my crew now. I give orders. You follow them." He informs me. "I won't do it." I state fearfully. "Do you know what happens to those who defy their captains?" Law asks. I take that as a rhetorical question. "Shachi, finish the kid off." Law commands. I stand between Shachi and Jack. I'm a hero. I'm a tragic, stupid, and illogical hero that's about to die for a kid I barely know. We will both die. My sacrifice will be for nothing. Shachi draws near to me and I unsheathe my weapon. My movements are fluid and certain now. I am not going down without a fight. Shachi leaps at me trying to put me out of action. I take a hit, but Shachi's foot is bleeding profusely from a ten inch stab wound. I scramble to reach Jack before anyone else does.

"What's going on here?" Calls a strange voice. The ship that was spotted earlier pulled up next to the merchant ship. Law's crew must have been more focused on my fight than the approaching ship. I ignore him and continue to limp towards Jack. He's rushing over to me, but he doesn't make it. A strange person has picked him up. "Now tell me kid, whose ship is this?" The strange man asks. The stranger towers over Jack like a skyscraper. His arms are incredibly long. I am shocked by the piano key teeth. I realize that it's Apoo.

"My father used to own it." Jack answers. "Used to? Who owns it now?" Apoo asks. Jack is clueless. "I don't know. Rose, I guess." He answers. No! Why did he have to mention me! "Excuse me, but I'm the owner of this vessel now. I suggest that you leave." Law tells Apoo. "Take me with you!" I plead. "You're part of my crew. You cannot back out of our agreement Miss Rose." Law says. No, Law you're bloodthirsty. I'd have to be insane to stay.

"Please take me with you. Anything! I will do anything." I plead earnestly. Law frowns at me. "You're staying Rose. The boy can go with Apoo, but you will not leave." Law orders. "Why do you want to leave?" Apo asks me. "He's a creep!" I exclaim. Apoo laughs at my answer and puts Jack down. Jack runs to me. I protectively put my arms around him. "Are you siblings?" Apoo asks. "No." I say. Apoo gives me an odd look. That was not what he was expecting. I don't care.

Law's crew has surrounded the deck like animals getting ready for the kill. "Leave." Law says. Apoo examines the situation. "As you wish." Apoo tells Law sarcastically. Apoo motions to Jack and I as he begins to walk away. I walk as fast as I can to follow the pirate captain and future supernova. Law blocks our exit. "Miss Rose stays." He tells Apoo. "Why is she so important? Let her choose who she wants to work for." Apoo replies. "She made a promise to join my crew. She did choose." Law rebuts. "The choice was to join or die." I inform Apoo. This could end in a fight between to notorious pirates. It could also end with me keeping my promise. I am repulsed by the latter thought.

"Why does he want you to stay so badly? Why doesn't he care about the other kid? Now this is intriguing." Apoo asks. I don't want to give away my secret. "I have a useful power." I respond hesitantly. "Which would be?" Apoo questions. "Enough. Apoo leave now or I will be force to kill you myself." Law raises his voice at Apoo. This situation is getting heated now. One wrong step or word could spark another battle on this ship.

Apoo turns to face me and says, "Joining a pirate crew is serious business. The only way out is if you or your captain dies. I'll drop this kid off at the next island, because for some reason I'm feeling considerate today." I fall to my knees when I realize that I'm stuck with Law. I feel like all the air in my body has been sucked out of my body. Apoo leaves with Jack. Apoo is only taking Jack, because he wants to pick his mind for useful information. I'm not bothered by that. I was so close. Law's crew, I mean, my crew resumes gutting the ship of anything of importance. I forlornly watch as Apoo's ship sails out of view.

Law nonchalantly makes his way over to me. He extends his hand to me. I resign myself to the present situation. I accept his help. "Grab your stuff." He tells me.

I find my bag and return to Law. I am resentful, but not infuriated by the recent turn of events. My hands sweat as I imagine the future. I want to go outside and lay in the sun. I haven't seen artificial light in half a year. I already hate the submarine. I'll be confined and imprisoned. It hasn't been a problem so far, but I'm somewhat claustrophobic. I reach Law as the crew takes the last of the supplies down to the submarine. "Miss Rose, I expect that there will be complete loyalty to me from now on. Where do you want your tattoo?" Law says.

"What tattoo?" I query. My marine tattoo is on my left arm. I twitch nervously. Pirates and marines are bitter enemies. "The tattoo of my Jolly Roger." Law answers. "Oh, um...right arm, I guess." I manage to spew out. He raises an eyebrow at me. I am clearly hiding something. My acting skills have gone down the toilet after being ignored for many months.

"Let's go." Law says. I trail behind Law and enter my new home. "Miss Rose, come with me to the infirmary." Law orders. No, I don't want to go. I associate infirmaries with the nightmare about Tam. My brain urges me to follow Law. I force myself to deal with the pain as I walk along. Shachi's last kick hurt more than any blow I've ever had to deal with. I hurt my crew mate Injuring an ally is taboo. I smell the room before I see it. It reeks of chemicals.

We enter the room to find Shachi already waiting for Law. Shachi glares daggers at me. He hates my guts. Law fixes up Shachi and then me. "Welcome aboard Miss Rose. Pull up your sleeve." Law tells me. I show him my right arm. Law examines my arm to decide where to place the permanent ink engraving of my loyalty. "Let me see the other arm." He orders. I comply. "So, Miss Rose, you were once a marine. What made you leave?" He asks calmly. Wow, I assumed that he would flip out once he discovered my previous occupation.

"It's a complicated story." I divulge.