"Naaaaaami…" Luffy groaned, kicking his feet against the dashboard, "how much longer?"

"I don't know," Nami replied, studying the fold-out road map they'd acquired a few hours back. "It's a four and a half hour drive usually," Nami sighed, "But with this insane traffic and all these roadblocks…"

"It's not traffic," Usopp griped, "It's just a bazillion abandoned cars."

"They're not letting anyone in," Zoro repeated for the hundredth time. "There's no way. It's too risky."

"All we can do is try."

"It's a good thing we left the semi at the zoo," Usopp explained, squeezing through the tight space between the rows of abandoned cars. "No way we could get through."

"Or afford the gas," Nami added. She tapped Zoro and Luffy pointedly, "and remember, we can't go around stealing shit with other people around. That's generally frowned upon."

"The only white person in this car is Nami," Usopp pointed out, "that means ya'll better be on your best behavior."

"Huh?" Luffy wrinkled his nose in confusion.

"Oh, you have amnesia," Usopp realized, "Well, bad news is zombies eat fucking everybody. Worse news, cops are notorious for shooting brown men before asking questions…"

"Well," Nami began, frowning, "You're not wrong but…"

"What's this?" Zoro asked, leaning forward in his seat.

There was another road blockade, several army Humvees lining the road. "Alright!" Usopp chimed, "We're in business." He pulled the car over, rolling down the window as one of the soldiers approached. "Hello, soldier, I'm Sgt King with the 29th ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh-hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh-hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Luffy unbuckled, reaching over and throwing the car into reverse. "Floor it, Usopp!"

Usopp slammed his foot down on the gas pedal and Luffy took the wheel, his head turned so he could see. Zoro unbuckled, kicking the zombie soldier's head with his boot. He kicked repeatedly until the zombie had fallen beneath the front tires.

Usopp slammed on the brakes, taking the wheel back from Luffy. He threw the car back into drive, crushing the zombie with all four tires. He drove several hundred yards before coasting to a stop, the radiator steaming and hissing. "Fuck!" Usopp shouted, rolling up his window.

"Were you bitten?" Nami whispered, her hands over her eyes.

"No," Usopp breathed out, rubbing his hands over his body. "I don't think so."

"Everyone out of the car," Luffy breathed, kicking open his door.

"Wait, wait, I don't think I've been bitten!" Usopp panicked.

"Out of the damn car!" Luffy ordered, running around to Usopp's door. He yanked the door open, pulling Usopp out. "Run!"

And then Usopp saw them. Dozens of infected soldiers were storming down the road toward them. And behind those soldiers were hundreds of zombies. "Holy shit!" Usopp screamed, grabbing Nami's hand. He shoved her in front of him before popping open the trunk. "Get your shit, y'all!"

Luffy handed Zoro his pack, slinging his own over his shoulders. He shoved Usopp's gear into his stomach. "Run!"

"There's nowhere…" Nami murmured, looking around in desperation, "where can we go?"

"Trees." Zoro replied, pointing to the trees on the other side of ditch, lining the road.

"Is that wise?" Usopp asked.

"We don't have a choice!" Luffy yelled, shoving the others until they began to run. "Just move. We can think of something on the way!"

"Are we climbing?" Usopp asked, reaching the trees first.

"No!" Luffy growled, running past, "there's too many zombies, those trees are too skinny…" he paused for breath, adding, "they'll topple them."

"Wait," Nami cried out plucking up the cattle prod she dropped before continuing, "I can't keep running like this…"

"It's okay," Zoro murmured, nodding ahead, "we won't have to."

"They're catching up!" Usopp shouted, tearing through the trees.

"Keep going straight," Zoro instructed, "and be careful… looks like a hell of a drop!"

"What?!" Usopp called out, but there wasn't time for an answer. Zoro pushed off from the ground, disappearing from view. "Zoro! Zoro?"

"Shit!" Nami squeaked before jumping, falling into the river below.

"Aw, fuck," Usopp groaned, looking toward Luffy, "make sure to push off so you don't hit the ground at the bottom…"

"But-!"Luffy panicked, watching Usopp drop into the water below. Luffy groaned loudly, scratching his head in irritation. He turned, watching the zombies incoming fast. He groaned again for good measure before jumping.

The river was calm, a perfect spot for swimming or canoeing. And as each person popped up to the surface they looked around, "Get to the other bank," Usopp instructed.

"Where's Luffy?" Zoro said loudly, looking in every direction.

"He jumped after I did," Usopp answered.

Zoro dived under the water, searching with his hands. Miraculously, Luffy was being swept right into his arms. He grabbed him tightly and launched them to the surface with a solid kick. He swam awkwardly, the weight of an additional person and two heavy packs, weighing him down.

"I got him," Usopp murmured, pulling Luffy out of the river by his arms.

"Can they cross?" Nami asked, watching the zombies assembled on the opposite bank.

"No idea," Usopp replied honestly.

"Hey, Luffy," Zoro inhaled heavily, water dripping off of his skin, hair, and clothes. He slapped his palm softly against Luffy's cheek, "Luffy…"

Luffy opened his eyes, river water bubbling out of his mouth. He blinked in confusion before whispering, "I still can't swim."

"You told me," Zoro breathed out, shaking his head, "I forgot."

Luffy waited for Zoro to move back before sitting up. He yanked his pack off and opened it, letting the water pour out of it, "Wasn't this shit water resistant?"

"I've lost my weapon," Nami admitted.

"We have to keep moving," Usopp said quietly, extending his hand to Luffy to help him off the ground. "It's only a matter of time before those zombies make it over."

Nami spun in a circle, her eyes narrowed, "Well, if memory serves me correctly, Welcome to Louisana, boys!"

"Everything's bigger in Texas," Usopp snickered, "even the zombie problem."

Nami and Zoro made a face, and Nami hissed, "Don't mess with Texas, Georgia boy."

"Yes, ma'am," Usopp drawled, leading the line into the woods.

"Is this private property or…?" Luffy asked nervously as the came upon a hunting stand.

"We'll find a road eventually," Nami assured him. "I don't particularly want to be out in the woods at night anyway."

"Louisana, huh?" Usopp murmured, "Like the black voodoo witch doctor part or the white people with guns part?"

"I'm not comfortable answering that," Nami decided, tossing her long hair over her shoulder.

"Do you know where we are?" Zoro said. "Do you know how to get to Shreveport?"

"If we get on the road, we'll have signs that tell us," Nami pointed out.

"Get us to the road and we'll have a car," Luffy added, "it'll only take me a minute."

"No!" Nami refused. "Remember? No stealing once we get around normal people."

"I don't wanna burst your bubble," Zoro replied, "but there's no way the infection hasn't spread here, to some extent."

"Ew!" Usopp whined, scrapping mud off the bottom of his boots. "What the hell?"

"This is the wetlands," Nami murmured, pushing past Usopp. "Aren't there swamps in Georgia?"

"Yes, Georgia is just peaches, a big swamp, and Atlanta," Usopp replied, "I'm from Atlanta!" Usopp chased after Nami, "And you're a city girl. Like Houston is the jungle or something, Nami!"

"I think we're going the wrong way," Zoro grunted, pulling his foot from the mud with great effort. "It's just getting wetter."

"Maybe zombies aren't coordinated enough to walk through swamps." Usopp reasoned.

"Neither are we!" Zoro insisted, shaking his head. "Don't we need a boat or something?"

"Stop." Luffy said firmly, his voice quiet and even.

"What?" Usopp asked, lifting his gun.

"Watch your step." Luffy said simply, kneeling in the mud. "Do you see it?"

"See what?!" Usopp snapped anxiously. "Is it a cottonmouth or something?"

"It's a big ol' gator," Luffy replied with a snicker, pointing with his baton.

Nami and Usopp both let out a little scream, nearly jumping on Zoro. Luffy laughed, resting his arm on his knee. "Don't scare it."

"Don't scare it? It? Really?" Usopp gasped, aiming his gun at the alligator. "I don't play. I did not survive this far to be eaten by a fucking alligator in the swamp!"

"Its eyes are so glowy," Luffy realized, studying the creature for a long moment before standing, "Alright, let's go."

"I'd like to leave the swamp now, please, Nami," Usopp announced, waiting for Zoro to take the lead. The murky water was getting deeper, just above their ankles. "We went the wrong way."

"You were leading the way!" Nami pointed out.

"I know!" Usopp whined. "That's why I'm letting Zoro take over."

"Don't put me in charge!" Zoro refused, stopping immediately, "I don't know where I'm going either."

"Just pick a direction and keep to it," Nami instructed, "we'll hit something eventually."

"Knees to chest," Usopp added, "It's gonna be dark soon."

"What time is it?"

"I don't know," Usopp admitted, shaking his wrist, "I lost my watch when that zombie summabitch was trying to eat my fucking head."

"Does anyone know how long we've been walking?" Zoro asked.

Everyone was quiet. And the silence was answer enough.

"What's that noise?" Luffy asked, tilting his head to the side in thought.

"I don't know," Usopp squeaked out fearfully, "what is it?"

"Sounds like a herd of dying cows," Zoro said with a shrug.

"Think it's zombies?" Usopp whispered.

"You guys are kidding right?" Nami replied, her eyes rolling.

"No…?" Usopp said unsurely, sharing a look with Zoro.

"It's music." Nami said, trekking off in the direction of the sound.

"That is not music!" Zoro maintained, pulling his feet from the mud, one after the other.

"It's music and it's coming from over here," Nami explained, slowing down to let Luffy walk in front of her.

"Why are we walking that way now?" Usopp asked, splashing through the water to catch up.

"Music equals people," Nami groaned, "Dumbass." The music became clearer the further they walked. The water was up to their knees before they realized. "Guys, we're gonna be eaten by alligators."

"What kinda music is that, Nami?" Luffy asked, climbing into a tree.

"That's zydeco," Nami answered, taking Usopp's hand as he helped her up out of the water and into the tree.

"It's close," Zoro realized, "I'll be back."

"Where're you going?" Usopp wondered.

"I'm gonna see how close we are." Zoro explained. "Someone's playing that music."

"Be careful," Luffy called out.

"Yeah," Zoro grumbled, taking a step forward and sliding into waist deep water, "Sure."

"Someone should go with him," Usopp commented, turning to see both Nami and Luffy staring at him pointedly. He whimpered and shook his head before dropping back to the ground, "Fine. I'm going."

"You can stay behind with the women and children," Zoro taunted, "if you need to."

"Really?" Usopp sighed in relief.

"NO! Not really!" Nami shouted, throwing a stick at Usopp's back. "Get going!"

"This water is deep," Zoro murmured, doing his best to move from tree to tree.

"I don't like this." Usopp complained.

"Me neither," Zoro agreed. He suddenly blurted out expletive after expletive.

Usopp gasped, "What is it? Snake? Gator? Are you hurt?"

"I lost my fucking boot." Zoro spat, clenching his teeth together in irritation.

"Hey," Usopp whispered, knocking his hand against Zoro's arm. "What's that?"

Zoro looked up in time to see something large slowly dive under the surface of the water.

"Oh sweet Jesus," Usopp began to pray, "I don't want to be crocodile death rolled."

"It's an alligator," Zoro corrected, looking around for an escape route.

"Jesus! I don't want to be eaten by fucking anything!" Usopp shouted, "Ah, excuse my language…"

"We're probably too big for it to eat," Zoro rationalized, moving forward, "They go after small animals, right?"

"Don't leave me…." Usopp cried out.

Zoro sighed, "Then hurry your ass up." He took another step and the water went to his chest. He panicked, gripping the trees for support, "Shit…"

"Soc Au' Lait?!" A man shouted, paddling his flat bottomed boat into view. "Did ya'll forget ya pirogue?"

"Ah! Help!" Usopp called out, "We're lost!"

"You've got the cocodril's attention." The man muttered, shaking his head in amusement. "Pauve ti bete."

"Where is the road?" Zoro called out. "Which direction?"

The man looked around the swamp and then busted into laughter. He paddled up to Zoro and Usopp, helping them both inside the boat. "Well, three things for sure; you're lost as hell and you ain't boogalees."

"I'm sorry," Usopp said, smiling apologetically, "I can't understand you."

"But you're also not none of dem zombies."

"Zombies?" Usopp sat up, leaning against the side of the boat. "Ya'll call 'em zombies too?"

"How'd you get in our little bayou?" the man asked.

"The road was blocked, we were chased by zombies so we crossed the river." Zoro said simply.

"All the way from dat Hi-rise," the man nodded in disbelief, "dat's a long way."

"There are two others with us," Usopp finally announced, deciding he could take the man easily if he needed to. "They're probably a mile back…"

"Lagniappe!" the man said, throwing out his arm in gesture, "Allons! We'll get 'em too."

"What the hell is he saying?" Usopp whispered to Zoro.

Zoro shook his head, "Does he look Japanese?"

"What? No…"

"Then how the hell should I know?"

"By the way," Zoro asked aloud, "where's that music coming from?"

"Oh!" the man said with a wide smile, "You like dat zydeco?"

"Yeah, yeah," Zoro said, nodding his head.

"Ҫa c'est bon!" the man cheered, paddling in the direction they'd left Luffy and Nami. "We'll get your friends and have ourselves a little fais-do-do."

It took less than five minutes to come back upon Luffy and Nami, waiting nervously in the tree. Usopp trudged through the water, leaning in closely to whisper as he helped Nami down, "Good news, we're back with a boat."

"The bad news?" Nami mouthed, her eyes wide.

"The guy with the boat barely speaks English and he might try to eat us." Usopp said.

"That's good. That's promising." Nami groaned.

"It'll be fine," Zoro said simply. "He seems cool for a guy who randomly breaks into song."

"Oh, let me help, cher," the man said, seeing Nami. He leaned forward, dipping the front of his canoe lower to the ground. "Hop on in."

"Cajun," Nami realized, smiling as the man helped her in the boat.

"Ah, weh, cher," the man confirmed with a nod. "Pure-blooded Acadian. Lache pas la patate!"

"Thank you for helping us," Luffy said, climbing into the boat.

"De rien!"

"You talk funny," Luffy blurted out, smiling contently. "I like it."

"Merci," the man said, smiling himself, "I like you too." He paddled through the swamp. "Where ya'll headed?"

"Shreveport." Nami answered.

The man shook his head, "Ya'll aint in Shreveport, cher."

"I figured as much," Nami sighed.

"Ooh, look out there. There's a cocodril," the man said, using his paddle to point out an alligator. "Your friend here says he likes zydeco," the man beamed, paddling faster. "So Imma take ya'll to the best zydeco place I know."

"Cool," Luffy said, nodding thoughtfully.

"And the best courtbouillon and etouffee in Louisiana…" the man continued. "No arguments allowed. C'est tout."

The music was raucous. And as the sun began to set, the blazing lights seemed they would be visible from space. The man paddled his canoe toward a floating steel barge. He waved in greeting and several men standing on the deck waved back.

"Hey," Usopp said, turning toward the man paddling. "Ya'll aren't crazy people right?"

"Usopp!" Nami scolded.

The man laughed, "We're Cajuns. Make up your own mind. Ҫa va!"

"Sorry to ask," Usopp murmured apologetically, "but we had a bad experience. And I'm not looking to repeat it."

"Laissez les bons temps rouler," the man insisted, "forget the bad stuff. You're here now."

One of the men on the barge dropped to the ground, dangling his legs over the side, "Catch some chevrette out there?" He smiled handsomely, extending his hand to Nami the moment the canoe reached the barge, "Ready, cher?"

"Thank you," Nami said, stumbling slightly as she stepped up and onto the barge.

"Careful now, cher," the man murmured, steadying her before helping Usopp from the canoe. "Welcome. Welcome."

"What smells so good?" Luffy demanded, inhaling deeply.

"Why, that's the roux, I was just about to start dinner." The man said as he stood, letting Zoro fend for himself from the canoe to the barge. He pulled a cigarette from the pack, lighting it.

"What is this place?" Usopp asked, examining the strings of Christmas lights adorning the rails.

"The best Acadian restaurant in any parish," the man from the canoe declared, tethering his craft, "The Baratie."

"Where y'at?" one of the other men asked, extending his hand politely.

Usopp looked the black man up and down before sighing in relief, shaking his hand warmly, "Alright, another brother."

"Awrite." The man answered, chuckling.

"Welcome," another man said, "pass a good time, cher."

"I'm sorry," Luffy interjected, "I think I just blacked out. Did you say this was a restaurant?"

"Weh, cher."

Luffy pressed his hands together, "Thank you…"

"Let me get started," the smoking man said, nodding to Luffy, "you're gonna love it."

"I will." Luffy agreed, nodding.

The man slapped his hand against the counter, gesturing for them to sit. It was a perfect view from the counter into the kitchen. The man extinguished his cigarette, putting it behind his ear for safekeeping. He tucked his blonde hair out of his face and smiled, "Ya need something hearty. You're all too skinny."

The music blasted loudly from the speakers. Most everyone on the barge was already in the kitchen, washing their hands and preparing for the dinner rush. And from the way they worked, Luffy thought they actually expected a rush.

"I can't make any promises, but I'll make some calls. See about some clean clothes and shoes." The man from the canoe offered, slapping Zoro on the back. "We'll get ya'll sorted."

"Thank you," Zoro sighed.

"Yes, thank you," Usopp added. "You saved us."

"I can't swim," Luffy explained, blinking at the man. "So yeah, you rock."

"Merci," the man chuckled. He slammed his hand against the counter, leaning down to look into the kitchen, "Sanji, cook 'em everything they could ask for."

"Weh, Père," Sanji called out, busying himself with his work. "More than they could ask for."

"Oh, well," Nami began awkwardly, "We don't have a lot of money."

"No, cher," the man from the canoe refused, "Don't worry about dat."

As the sun went down the pirogues, or canoes, came in. Dozens of people showed up with bags of clothes for Luffy and his friends. And even more people showed up with kegs and coolers of beer. Despite its seemingly isolated location, the Baratie was popular and the cooks were busy the entire night.

"Don't give me that bahbin," Sanji chastised, placing another plate in front of Luffy, "Here's another."

Luffy smiled from ear to ear, "Thank you."

"Quit feeding him," Zoro muttered, "He'll never stop. He's like a goldfish. He'll eat himself to death."

"I'll feed whoever's hungry," Sanji insisted, cutting his eyes, "peeschwank."

"What's that mean?" Zoro demanded, finishing his sixth beer.

"Huh? What?" Sanji murmured, busying himself with something in the kitchen.

"Never mind."

"So," Sanji said, "Where were ya'll headed?"

"Shreveport." Luffy answered around a mouthful of food.

"Why?" Sanji asked.

"It's a long story." Luffy said.

"I don't think you wanna go to Shreveport." Sanji murmured, scraping a pan.

"But I do." Luffy replied, snickering.

"No, I don't think you do, L.U.F," Sanji insisted, leaning across the counter. "Trust me."

Luffy dropped his fork, his eyes widening in shock, "Huh?"

"I can explain or I can try and de-activate you, which do you prefer?" Sanji breathed out, rinsing the dish in the sink mechanically.

"Who the hell are you?" Luffy asked.

Sanji shook his head, lowering his eyes, "I don't remember everything… yet…" Sanji pulled his cigarette out from behind his ear and lit it, "But I remember the contract. I remember you and that piece of shit."

"What are you talking about?" Luffy whispered, nudging Zoro to get his attention.

"Don't worry," Sanji whispered, gesturing around the barge, "these people are good people. They're not involved."

Zoro frowned deeply, his brows knit together, "What the fuck are you on about?"

Sanji bristled, turning toward Zoro with a scowl, "I'm talking about before the event. I'm talking about the Deadhouse Project."

"What the hell is the Deadhouse Project?" Zoro demanded.

Sanji sighed, chewing on his lip before replying, "It'll take too long for you to believe me. Let me show you."

The restaurant closed down. And finally the last of the drunkards had paddled home. Usopp and Nami had spent the last several hours dancing and joking with the locals, but Zoro and Luffy seemed stuck to the stools at the counter.

Finally, Sanji sat on the bench across from them, his legs crossed. The other workers seemed to sense that something was happening and they kept their distance, cleaning the tables and the floor.

"What's going on?" Usopp asked, sensing the tension as he walked up.

"I don't know," Zoro replied, "I'm waiting on this asshole to tell us."

"What's going on?" Nami asked Usopp as she walked up.

"We don't know," Usopp whispered, "Blondie's gonna tell us."

"What about these two?" Sanji asked, exhaling a curl of smoke, "How are they involved?"

"Huh?" Luffy looked around in confusion, "Nami and Usopp? No. We just ran into them and asked them to come along…"

"So you met them after the event?" Sanji pressed for clarification.

"Yep."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah," Luffy nodded, "why?"

"Because I'd hate to have to kill him," Sanji replied, gesturing slowly toward Usopp.

Usopp laughed until he didn't. And then he looked from Luffy to Zoro in confused horror, "Okay, what's going on?"

"He's getting to the point or he's getting a bath in the bayou," Zoro growled through clenched teeth, "His choice."

"I'm going to deactivate your Memoriae failsafe," Sanji began to explain, standing up.

"What's a memory-I failsafe?" Luffy asked.

"I deactivated mine on accident," Sanji continued, stepping into the kitchen. "But I know I can do it again. I know what did it… And like I said, I don't remember everything, but it's coming back…"

"What the hell is he on about?" Zoro breathed out.

"I'd say we may have found out what's in Shreveport," Nami murmured, sitting down on the bench.

"What do you mean?" Luffy questioned.

Nami gestured to Sanji, "I think he's like you, Luffy."

"Really?" Luffy narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. He began to squint, trying to imagine Sanji as the boy in his dream.

"Or he's a fucking lunatic and we're better off with the alligators and venomous snakes." Zoro spat.

"Zoro first," Sanji instructed, placing two long, fluorescent light bulbs on the table top, "Because it will take less time."

"What?" Zoro shook his head. "Why am I involved in this?"

Sanji's face changed, he looked from Zoro to Luffy slowly, thoughtfully, and then finally he finished his cigarette in complete silence, "How do ya'll know each other?"

"We all met-"

"No," Sanji interrupted, lighting another cigarette, "how do you and Zoro know each other?"

"We met at a bar," Luffy began again, "Zoro was working there and I came in-"

"Wrong," Sanji buzzed, shaking his head, "that's wrong."

Luffy and Zoro exchanged looks. Luffy shook his head, "But that's not wrong, that's how we met…"

"I need to deactivate you," Sanji repeated, grabbing the first fluorescent bulb, "and fast. We're probably all in danger."

"Hey, look, can we just borrow a canoe?" Usopp asked, turning to the other workers. "We've been enough trouble and we'd like to get a move on now…"

"Do it," Luffy said suddenly, "but start with me."

"No, Luffy," Zoro refused, "this guy is nuts."

"I'm not crazy," Sanji assured them, "and it only hurts the first few minutes."

"Where'd his accent go?" Nami whispered to Usopp.

Usopp shook his head slowly, his eyes wide, "I have no idea, but we're all gonna die…"

"Why don't I want to go to Shreveport?" Luffy demanded.

Sanji hesitated slightly before saying, "I don't know… for sure…"

"Why'd you tell me I didn't want to go to Shreveport then?"

"Because I know who was in Shreveport before the event." Sanji murmured, the cigarette in his hand shaking slightly.

"Who?"

"You won't understand anything I have to say until your Memoriae failsafe, or implant, is deactivated."

"What is a memoriae failsafe?" Luffy asked again.

"It's a limbic system inhibitor," Sanji explained quickly, "that is inserted through a narrow catheter into the hippocampus."

"Plain English," Zoro demanded.

"There's an artificial worm in your brains and it's eating your memories." Sanji said plainly. "Before we continue," Sanji placed the fluorescent tube back on the table. "We should make sure they don't have one. If they do, it's possible they're spies."

"Us?!" Usopp panicked.

"What? No way! My brain is fine!" Nami protested.

"Hey!" Luffy shouted, "I said you could start with me. So start with me."

"Lie down," Sanji instructed, gesturing to the table. "Roll on your left side," he murmured, pulling a small, flat-edged knife from his pocket. "Come see what I'm talking about…"

The others crowded around, curious to see a white scar curving along the length of Luffy's ear. "So he has a scar…" Zoro murmured unconvinced.

Sanji cut the flesh along the scar, a straight, thick line of blood pouring neatly from the wound. He pointed to something inside, it was shiny and small. "What's that?" Usopp wondered aloud.

"This is where they inserted the failsafe into the temporal lobe," Sanji explained, "and this is how we'll deactivate it."

"Wait! What are you-" But before Nami could finish her protest, Sanji had broken the light bulb against the table. He held the broken fluorescent over Luffy's head, dripping the fluid onto the strange shiny tag. "You're gonna kill him!"

"It won't kill him," Sanji insisted, "The radiation will destroy the Memoriae implant."

"There's enough radiation in a light to fry his brain?" Zoro asked dubiously.

"Nope," Sanji shook his head, "that's why there's a step two."

"This hurts," Luffy murmured. "Can I sit up now?"

"No, stay lying down," Sanji called out, walking back to the kitchen, "trust me. I was standing up for this and it wasn't fun."

"What are you doing?" Zoro demanded.

Sanji slammed a large microwave down on the counter and pressed a single button, turning it on. Sanji walked back onto the deck and shoved the picnic bench closer to the counter.

"What now?" Nami asked, barely above a whisper.

"Shouldn't take more than a minute or-"

Luffy's scream cut through Sanji's explanation. He gripped his head, writhing on the table in agony. And then it stopped just as suddenly as it had started. Sanji unplugged the microwave and approached Luffy, touching the shiny tag with his finger. "And now we can pull it out."

"If it's in his brain then we should probably not touch it…" Usopp argued.

"It's fried," Sanji said simply. "You can feel it Luffy, can't you? It's dead, right?"

Luffy was quiet. He waited until Sanji pulled the implant from his head to sit up.

"What the fuck is that?" Usopp gasped, studying the bloody tag Sanji had removed. It looked like a shiny, miniature credit card on top. And underneath were long wires with copper prongs. "That was in his head?"

"Through the skull and into his temporal lobe," Sanji confirmed, "Zoro has one too."

"Why the hell would I have one too?" Zoro demanded angrily.

Sanji brought his bloodstained hand up to his mouth, puffing on his cigarette. He watched Zoro thoughtfully before replying, "Because you worked for the Deadhouse Project too."