Sanji
"Strawhat Pirates!"
Sanji looked up from dealing with the mess known-according to his ever-knowledgeable Robin-chwan- as the 9 o'clock net, to see Commander Jonathan standing on the deck of his office, speaking into a transponder snail broadcasting over the entire base.
"Where is your acting captain and first mate?"
His brave, sweet Captain Nami clenched her fists and stomped to the prow. With a push from Usopp, Sanji followed her.
"You've got your acting captain and first mate right here, Commander," Nami spoke into Usopp's megaphone.
Sanji cringed. Like he'd ever want to replace Moss for Brains as first mate. Though nobody had ever said it out loud, they all knew it was Zoro. Zoro had been with Luffy the longest, and though Sanji was loathe to admit it, Zoro was just a little bit stronger than he was. The directionless idiot kept Luffy and the rest of the crew on the right path; therefore, he was the first mate.
The blaring noise of the broadcast brought Sanji back to reality.
"I see Strawhat Luffy and Roronoa Zoro are no longer in charge. I offer you and your friends my deepest apologies. Had I known the type of treatment they were receiving while under arrest, I can assure you, I would have put a stop to it immediately."
Rage that Sanji thought he'd dealt with in the brig overtook him once more. Not because the dumbass Commander was apologizing-though that was infuriating enough-but because Luffy and Zoro had staggered out the infirmary door and, while leaning heavily on the railing and each other, were watching the scene before them and looking forcibly stoic.
"I-,"
For the first, and hopefully the last time in his life, Sanji gently pushed Nami aside to stand at the prow.
"Listen here, you shitfaced commander," Sanji said calmly through the megaphone. "I have a message for you from our Captain Monkey D. Luffy and his First Mate Roronoa Zoro."
"Which is?"
"Go to hell," Sanji answered without a second thought. "And to the heartless bastard who ever thought we would escape on our own and leave our friends here to be shipped off to Impel Down?"
Sanji held the megaphone up for Nami, Usopp, Chopper and Robin to join him in a hearty "SCREW YOU!"
Their cries echoed around the silent base, filling the bowl of a fortress up with their loyalty and friendship.
Sanji tossed the megaphone aside. "Now where were we on Operation Get the Hell Out of Here?"
"The Impact Dial," Usopp prompted him, "The one I have in my pocket can get us out of here."
"Ridiculous," Nami scoffed, "The Merry would shatter as soon as she hit the water."
"If only we still had the Octopus," said Chopper, "He could help us out of here."
Everyone's agreement was quickly stifled by a soft thud from the quarterdeck.
Zoro sank to the ground, supporting a clearly unconscious Luffy.
"Luffy's got the octopus," Zoro croaked. Sanji squirmed as Zoro reached down the front of Luffy's faded blue shorts and pulled out a very disgruntled looking, pink and purple octopus.
"Why the hell does HE have the octopus?" Usopp demanded.
Sanji leapt into the air and landed lightly next to his rival, "Does it really matter?" Sanji replied, "I'll take that now, Moss Head."
Sanji knew Zoro had a veritable myriad of retorts ready for him. Alas, he seemed to be too focused on forcing air back into his lungs to use any of them.
"Chopper," Sanji warned the doctor, "Maybe you should…"
Sanji didn't need to finish. With a low, guttural moan, Zoro sank to his knees, clutching his chest with one arm. The other shot out and grabbed a fistful of Sanji's shirt.
"Zoro!"
For hopefully the last time in his life, Sanji ignored his beloved orange-haired goddess in favor of kneeling down to Zoro's level.
"S-Sanji," Zoro wheezed, "L-Luffy, n-no I-Impel-."
Zoro broke off into a fit of coughing. Blood gurgled forth from his mouth like a spring with each, racking cough.
"Chopper, Robin, now!" Sanji shouted.
Without another word, Chopper scooped Zoro into his arms and rushed back into the infirmary. A second later, an army of hands lifted Luffy off the ground and marched him into the infirmary.
"We'll leave this mess to you three," Robin told Sanji, Nami and Usopp as she disappeared into the infirmary after Chopper.
The door swung shut behind her, leaving Sanji, Nami and Usopp alone outside with the Marines.
