Part IV: Memoriae

"I've heard it stings like a bitch," the technician warned, wiping his tools with an alcohol swab.

Zoro nodded, unconcerned, "I'll be sure to let you know."

"Just one more thing before we roll, Mr. Roronoa," one of the lawyers interjected, "We have a retirement form for Mr. Vinsmoke, but yours isn't filled out."

"Ah, yeah, I've been waiting until I knew what I wanted to ask for," Zoro murmured, taking the pen offered to him.

"Here are all the belongings you've chosen to take with you, Mr. Vinsmoke," one of the security guards said, sliding a cardboard box with his name scrawled across it toward him, "It's been thoroughly checked. There's no breach of confidentiality."

"Thanks," Sanji murmured, holding an ash tray in his lap.

"And this is yours, Mr. Roronoa," the guard said, handing Zoro his wallet, passport, and a DVD-RW disc in a hard plastic case.

"What's on the disc?" A lawyer asked, pointing.

The security guard shook his head, "About six hours of workout videos," He chuckled softly, "I watched it myself. He's just working out."

"Done," Zoro said, clicking his pen closed. He handed the lawyer the pen and his form.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Roronoa," The lawyer read it and then reread it before gasping, "You can't be serious!"

Sanji laughed low, smoke pushing out from his nose and mouth, he nodded, "Oh, he's serious."

"You don't want the money?!"

Zoro shook his head as he stood. He sat in the chair across from the Memoriae technician and gestured for the man to begin, "I'm serious. I don't want your fucking blood money."

"This is…" the lawyer shook his head, "Very unusual. Mr. Vinsmoke, how should we proceed?"

Sanji lit another cigarette off his dying one, he puffed a few times before answering, "Ask the new director. I'm off the clock."

"But as a Germa Six Six representative…" the lawyer pressed.

"It is our utmost goal to respect and honor the wishes of our employees as indicated on their retirement forms," Sanji recited.

"But where should we send you? What do you want to do?" the lawyer drudged on.

"I want to go back to where I came from and go back to what I was doing," Zoro said simply. "I'm ready for this fucking brain worm. Go ahead."

"Goodbye, Zoro," Sanji murmured, the corner of his mouth twisting upward.

"Bye, Sanji," Zoro replied, "I'll let you know if it hurts."

The technician shaved an inch width of hair behind Zoro's ear. He swabbed the sensitive skin with alcohol. He smiled at Zoro apologetically, "Alright. Try not to move. I'm working with your brain here…" and he pressed a small, gun-like object against his head. There was a loud hiss of pressurized air and a small metal mechanism pierced through Zoro's skin.

At first, Zoro thought the sound was the worst of it. It was an ugly sound that made a person jump no matter how many times they'd heard it. But then the pain hit. It was definitely a sting. Zoro reached up, touching the rippled flesh behind his ear, "Fuck that burns."

"I'll have to stitch it," the technician murmured, "The gun works so fast it just snaps the skin right there."

But Zoro didn't really hear the technician. It was intense. His entire head throbbed. He thought his teeth might crack out of his head. He grabbed the arms of the chair, squeezing tightly, "It's not so bad…"

Suddenly a thought came to Zoro, a memory. It was from the night before. They were in Zoro's apartment, sharing their last meal in Deadhouse. Sanji was intoxicated. He'd already smoked two packs. He was crying. It wasn't ugly, snotty crying; somehow he managed to still look beautiful. And then they kissed. The memory flashed like a succession of lights. Sanji's clothes, Sanji's skin, Sanji's taste. And then there was nothing. He couldn't remember what he'd been thinking about.

It happened over and over with different memories and it felt exactly like death, "I need to lie down."

"It's working," the technician said, wiping the gun with an alcohol swab. "He should be out for the entire flight home."

"My turn," Sanji chimed, hopping off the desk he'd been sitting on.

Zoro blinked, his vision blurring, "Wait… wait a second…"

Zoro woke up at home. He was lying in bed, staring at his white, textured ceiling. The lawn crew was already working on the grounds. He rolled over and stared at his clock; 7:30 A.M. He groaned and covered his head with his pillow.

The next time he woke up, it was past 2 P.M.. The lawn crew had left but now it was kids making all the damn noise. They ran and played outside his window, shouting and laughing.

He checked his phone; there was an email from the D Foundation. "Huh, wonder if I got the job," Zoro breathed, closing one eye to focus on the screen better. He opened the email and read it quickly.

Mister Roronoa,

Congratulations on completing your assignment with the D Foundation. Your service to science and to the world is appreciated. Thank you for your contribution to our research. You may have helped us discover the cure for AIDS, or perhaps even cancer!

You have just completed two years' worth of invaluable medical research. For your safety, you have been fitted with a Memoriae™ implant. The Memoriae™ is completely safe for short term memory management. I'm sure you have questions right now. We've included a link to a live chat with one of our Memoriae™ technicians. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Many D Foundation aides feel a sense of uncertainty at this time. We want to assure you that the D Foundation is fully committed to your reentry into society. We have taken care of your housing expenses for the next six months. If you are unable to find reliable employment by that time please call the Reentry Help Line at 1-800-555-9099.

Thank you again for your selfless contribution to science and medical advancement. The future is brighter because of people like you.

Sincerely,

Doflamingo Donquixote

D Foundation Founder

"What the hell?!" Zoro sat up and looked around.

It was his apartment. Just as he'd left it. He stood up and walked into the bathroom. Immediately he ran his finger over the stitched wound above his ear. He repeated, "What the hell?!"

He ran into the living room. There was a large gift basket on the coffee table. It was full of meats, cheeses, and wines. He ripped open the card, "Zoro, thank you for being a part of the team, Porchemy."

He sat on his couch and flipped on his television. He switched to the news. He stared at the date in absolute shock. He rubbed his eyes and looked again, "Holy shit." There was a disc on the coffee table, placed neatly beside his passport and wallet. He grabbed his passport, running his hands over the Brazilian stamp. "Holy fucking shit."

He opened his wallet and his stomach actually twisted into knots. He counted the hundreds, shaking his head the entire time. "Wow… this is… Wow…"

Finally he picked up the disc. He opened his Blu-Ray and switched HDMI. He sat quietly, watching himself on screen. "I know me," the Zoro on the television said, "And you probably doubt reality right now. You did go to Brazil. You did work for the D Foundation. You can trust you, right?"

Zoro groaned, "I'm so lame."

On the television, Zoro began to exercise. Zoro sat there for a few minutes before grabbing the remote. He fast forwarded, watching himself workout at the increased pace. "How long is this?"

He pushed play and grabbed the gift basket. He cut into the sausage and cheese, spreading mustard on some crackers. He snacked happily, already planning how he was going to spend the obscene amount of money in his wallet.

"Zoro," the Zoro on screen panted, still doing pushups. "I hope you get this message."

"I had to hide it. Hopefully I managed. Hopefully you made it this far into the video wondering what the hell you were thinking…"

"You were in Brazil for two years working for the D Foundation and a company called Germa Six Six. They implanted a device to wipe your memory. They didn't do it for your safety. They did it to cover their asses," the Zoro on screen switched to jumping jacks. He was silent for a long time.

He moved to chin ups, his back facing the camera, "They're testing on humans. Your job was to help them do it. You were a bad guy, Zoro. And you're gonna have to make up for it."

"You can't forget about them. Now that I'm back home, you have to find a way. You have to make sure we remember them. If you have to watch this every fucking day, you do it."

Zoro dropped from the pull up bar. He moved to sit ups, his body angled away from the camera, "L.U.F., Luffy, L.A.W, Law, T.C.H, Teach. And Sanji Vinsmoke… He was with you there. He was the director. He was a good guy. You like him… I guess."

"Most importantly," Zoro panted, "The D Foundation and Germa Six Six are not curing cancer. They're building a weapon. And the humans in Deadhouse are being tortured for it."

"I don't think I have to tell you what kind of danger you're in."

"I don't know what I want you to do. I don't have a plan. We're not really the plan type. I don't even have internet here. I just don't want to forget. We can't forget."

"Maybe try to find Sanji Vinsmoke…"

Zoro sat there for six hours watching the DVD. The message repeated, very similarly, three times sporadically throughout the video. It was well concealed. No one wanted to sit through a six hour video of someone else working out and breathing heavy.

Zoro finally moved. He grabbed his laptop and turned it on. He signed in and logged onto Facebook. He searched 'Sanji Vinsmoke'. There was a Yonji Vinsmoke and a Reiju Vinsmoke, but no Sanji. There were several related pages and posts, his name highlighted in random texts.

Zoro moved to Google. He searched 'Sanji Vinsmoke'; 1,310,000 results in half a second. Apparently he was a bit of a celebrity. He was an heir, rich and good looking. Zoro stared at the picture long and hard but there was nothing. No recognition.

"Huh," Zoro murmured scrolling through headlines. It seemed that Sanji Vinsmoke hadn't been seen or mentioned for nearly two years.

"I think… I think I need to lie down…" Zoro decided, standing up. He went to his bedroom and collapsed face down on his bed.

Zoro woke up at home. He was lying in bed, face down in the comforter. The lawn crew was already working on the grounds. He rolled over and stared at his clock; 7:30 A.M. He groaned and covered his head with his pillow.

A sense of deja vú came over him and he sat up. He walked into the living room and nodded, "That's right. I'm back."

He walked to the fridge and opened it. He inspected the food inside, wondering when it had been bought. He checked the date on the milk before ripping open the box and drinking from the carton.

He grabbed some cheese and sat on the couch. He turned on the T.V.. He went to switch the HDMI when he realized there was a CD case on the coffee table. He turned on his Blu-Ray and pushed play.

"What the fuck?!" Zoro groaned around a mouthful of cheese. "So lame…"

"Zoro, I hope you get this message…"

Zoro woke up at home. He was lying in bed, the covers tangled on the floor. The lawn crew was already working on the grounds. He rolled over and stared at his clock; 7:30 A.M. He groaned and covered his head with his pillow.

There was a loud crinkle. Zoro turned his pillow over to discover a note had been taped to it. It was in his writing but it still left him confused, he read it aloud. "Find Sanji Vinsmoke. D Foundation planning evil plot. Remember the Deadhouse victims. P.S. Watch that stupid video in the Blu-Ray player."

"How fucking wasted was I last night?" Zoro wondered, blinking before going back to sleep.

Zoro woke up at home. He was lying in bed, staring at what should have been his white, textured ceiling. Instead there was a message scrawled in heavy black paint. He read it aloud, a chill in his bones, "You forget every time you go to sleep. D Foundation is planning an attack. Remember Deadhouse. Find Sanji Vinsmoke. Make a plan. Save Luffy, Law, and Teach."

Zoro was awake-awake. He got up and got dressed. He sat in the chair in his living room, his knees against his chest. He looked around his house, eyeing everything suspiciously. Finally he saw a note taped to the remote, 'Play'.

He pushed play.

"You're probably freaking out," Zoro said on the screen. "It's okay. Just listen. You went to Brazil and worked with the D Foundation. They implanted the Memoriae device. It wiped your memories. Every day you watch this video. And every time you go to sleep, you forget everything all over again."

Zoro quickly realized that this video had been filmed in this apartment. He nodded slowly, clearing his head.

"Today is June 5, 20XX," Zoro explained, holding up a newspaper. "You got back from Brazil on April 23rd. I recorded this video to replace the first video, the one you filmed in Brazil…"

Zoro looked at the calendar and wheezed a bit.

"We've had bad days. And you'll have more bad days in the future, but please, keep remembering. Luffy, Law, and Teach are being tortured. And they need our help."

"You're looking for your partner, Sanji Vinsmoke. He worked with you in Deadhouse. Deadhouse is a human experimentation project. They're using them to make a weapon. I don't know the details. It wasn't in the first video and that's not something I can find out."

"The last known whereabouts of Sanji Vinsmoke were two years ago, at the Vinsmoke Mansion in Shreveport, Louisiana," Zoro sighed heavily onscreen, "But there's a problem with that. Germa Six Six Headquarters is still located in Louisiana. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT let Germa Six Six or the D Foundation know you remember anything. They cannot know about the existence of this video. You will be killed."

"All of our research is on the laptop and in the file folder in the backpack by the door. In case of emergency, take the pack and go. There's food, water, cash, and information in the bag. There's also another copy of this video."

"I understand some days we don't feel like doing shit to help," the Zoro on video chastised. "And that's fine. You'll be a better you tomorrow. I just ask a favor. Even if you don't want to help, mark a tally on the wall. I like to know how many times I've done the same thing. Thanks. Oh and, don't be late to work. You keep getting fired, dipshit."

There was a cut in the image. Suddenly Zoro reappeared on screen, wearing a different shirt, "Update: January 5, 20XX, Anti-Foundation militia broke into Deadhouse. Luffy and Teach are safe. Law is still held. Deadhouse left Brazil. Location currently unknown."

Zoro's cell phone rang. He grabbed it and stared at the I.D.; unknown caller. He answered slowly, unsurely, "Hello?"

"Hello, this is your daily courtesy call. Did you remember to watch the video, Mr. Zor-o?"

"Who the hell is this?"

There was a snicker on the other end, "It's Luffy."

"Luffy?" Zoro said the name unsurely, but it felt natural.

"Did you watch the video?" Luffy asked again.

Zoro nodded before actually answering, "Yeah. I just finished." He took a deep breath, "What's going on?"

"Nothing today," Luffy sighed, "Go to work."

"Work?" Zoro shook his head. "How can I go to work?"

"Take the bus," Luffy said simply, "Oh and don't forget to mark a tally on the wall."

Zoro looked around his apartment. In the dining room, all over the wall was a display of tally marks. Zoro swallowed, "I'm gonna have to let you go."

"Awww," Luffy whined. "Paranoid Zoro makes me sad."

Zoro woke up at home. He was lying in bed reading the writing on the ceiling when there was a knock on the door. He ignored it. They were persistent. He climbed out of bed, catching several notes taped to the walls.

He opened the door, squinting in the sunlight, "Can I help you?"

"Hello, Sir, how are you today?" Zoro just stared at the two young men. "I'm Elder Johnston and this is Elder Cox. We're missionaries from the…"

"Ah, gomen na sai," Zoro exclaimed in Japanese, "Watashi wa sukoshi eigo o hanashi masu!" And he shut the door.

He remembered he had work, the early shift this week. And he remembered he had to take a shower first. And he vaguely remembered that he had asked off that night. But he couldn't remember what for. And he certainly didn't remember why there was a backpack full and ready to go at the door. He opened it and looked inside. He touched something cold and metal and pulled out a machete.

"Makes sense," Zoro said, nodding, "Makes perfect sense."

He walked down the hallway and stopped dead in his tracks. There was a photo on the corkboard. It was of Zoro and some gangly looking kid. The kid had a huge grin on his face and, though he couldn't remember taking the photo, Zoro knew he'd been amused. He leaned in closely, peering at the photo, "Jesus, Zoro. Time to cut back on the drinking."

He saw the notes and the tallies and he sat down on the couch. He turned on the television and obediently pushed play. He watched the video, understanding deep down that everything was true. He picked up his phone on the first ring, "Who is it?"

"Good morning." The man said on the other end, "Sounds like a good day."

"Is this Luffy?" Zoro asked, standing up. He marked a tally on the wall.

"Yes. Awwww, I'm excited. You're so fast today," Luffy snickered.

"What's happening today?" Zoro asked, grabbing a protein pack from his fridge.

"I'm in town," Luffy breathed out. "We're meeting tonight. When you get off work."

"Where?" Zoro asked, grabbing a pad of paper.

"A motel."

"Address?" Zoro pressed.

"I'll call you," Luffy decided. "Keep your phone charged."

"Okay," Zoro nodded, by habit.

"Don't be late to work again," Luffy warned.

"I won't," Zoro snapped. "I'll worry about that."

Luffy snickered, "Okay, Zor-o…"

"Are you the kid in the picture?" Zoro asked, inspecting it with interest.

"I'm not a kid," Luffy denied.

"Are you the skinny, little thing with big puppy dog eyes?" Zoro reworded, snorting.

"Yeah," Luffy sighed, "That's probably me…"

"Now I know who I'm looking for," Zoro replied.

Luffy made a small, throaty noise, "I'll call you."

Luffy called just after Zoro had sorted the shift's tips. Zoro took a cab from downtown to the westside, meeting Luffy at a run of the mill motel. Zoro knocked and the door opened.

"Hi, Zoro," Luffy said, smacking Zoro's shoulder.

Zoro wasn't one hundred percent sure he like or disliked that so he simply smiled, "Hey."

"It's happening tomorrow."

"What is?" Zoro asked, sitting down on the double bed.

Luffy closed his eyes and inhaled, "My bad. Let me explain…" Luffy shook his head, "Actually it'll be fine, just listen. The D Foundation is planning an attack. And it's happening tomorrow." Luffy pulled a ticket from his wallet, "You need to catch this bus."

Zoro took the bus ticket and looked it over, "Why Shreveport? I thought I told myself not to go to Shreveport?"

"Sanji is in Louisiana," Luffy said. "It's been confirmed by someone helping us in the Memoriae department. I don't know if he's in Shreveport, but the rest of the Vinsmokes are."

"And what does that mean?" Zoro asked, shaking his head in confusion.

Luffy smiled, "It's safe in Louisiana. They won't be attacking there."

"You're already packed, right?" Luffy pointed out, "You have to go. I'll contact you there as soon as I can. Keep your phone charged."

"Alright," Zoro agreed, "But isn't there something else I could be doing? I feel like running away is a cowardly thing to do…"

"It's only cowardly if it only saves yourself," Luffy reasoned, "You have to find Sanji. We have to find Law. We have to find a way to reverse the Memoriae."

"The guy on the inside doesn't know?" Zoro wondered, shaking his head.

Luffy shrugged, "I guess he works in wish fulfillment."

"What sort of attack is it?" Zoro asked, narrowing his eyes. "Shouldn't you be coming with me?"

Luffy shrugged, "I'll be fine. I'm kinda the source of the attack. It won't hurt me."

"Okay," Zoro nodded.

Luffy considered his next words before saying, "Just, please don't die."

Zoro laughed, "I'll try, but honestly, this is a lot to absorb."

"You're immune to the infection," Luffy explained, "But you can still get eaten or die from blood loss or get shot or get stabbed or drown or-"

"Hey! It's okay," Zoro insisted, patting Luffy on the back. "I may not remember a minute of those two years in Deadhouse, but I specifically recall being a badass at every other point in my life."

Luffy snickered, "Yeahhhh, be careful."

"Hey, what's that mean?!" Zoro demanded, playfully shaking Luffy.

"Shhhh…" Luffy breathed, holding up a finger to his lips.

Zoro heard it too. He pulled a knife from his waistband.

The door was torn off the hinges. The window shattered. A smoke canister was tossed through the broken window, hissing and spitting out its contents. Luffy and Zoro dropped to the floor, choking. Luffy threw the comforter over the smoke bomb but it was too late, he couldn't breathe.

One man walked in, tall and thin and dressed in a black trench coat. He wore a gas mask that he pulled off once the smoke cleared. He walked over to Zoro, kicking the knife from his hand. He rolled him over and clicked his tongue, "I don't hate you. Don't make me kill you."

Zoro looked up at the man, meeting his yellow eyes, "Who are you?"

Law's face twitched, he nodded, and picked up the radio, "The Memoriae is still in place. Clean the apartment and drop him. He won't remember a thing."

"The order was to-"

"If D Foundation employees are so unimportant how can you feel comfortable being one?" Law asked into the radio. "We don't kill our own. That's bad manners."

"Take him now," Law ordered. "Unharmed. Go."

A group of soldiers grabbed Zoro, carrying him kicking and thrashing to the trunk of a black car. They closed it with a thud and drove away.

"Law, Law, I found you!" Luffy cried out, sitting up. "Or you found me…"

Law pulled a gun, firing into the side of Luffy's head. Luffy's body tensed and his hand flew to his ear. "What? What did you do?"

"I couldn't catch him," Law breathed out, stroking Luffy's cheek, "He killed the team and escaped."

"What?" Luffy asked, his speech slowing.

"It's the Memoriae implant," Law explained.

"Why?"

"Everyone's looking for you," Law murmured, "They want to use you. Everyone. Trust no one. Not even your father and his army."

"But… Zoro and Sanji…"

"They'll be fine," Law said simply. "They won't remember anything. They'll live normal lives… You can be normal too. Find someone to take you in. You're cute. Find a granny."

"But tomorrow… the attack…"

Law's eyes widened, "What attack?!"

"The attack… The D Found-ation a-ttack…" Luffy began to slur.

"Luffy, what are you talking about? The Revolutionary Army destroyed the Bellum compound. They stole the weapon months ago," Law explained quickly, shaking Luffy. "It will take years to replenish the supply."

"Nah, tomorrow," Luffy wheezed, "Millions of people are going to die."

Law picked Luffy up off the floor and laid him on the bed. He turned to the soldier beside him, "I was going to kill you so Luffy could escape, but that's no longer an option."

The soldier stammered and began to beg. Law shook his head, "Luffy escaped."

The soldier nodded, "Luffy escaped."

"L.U.F. escaped," Law clarified.

"Yes," the soldier said, "LUF escaped."

"Good," Law breathed, stepping outside of the room.

"Where are you going?" Another soldier demanded, following after Law.

Law gestured to the explosive, metal ring around his neck, "Nowhere far. I'm calling Doflamingo Donquixote. Is that alright?"

"What do I do with the escaped person?" The first solider called out, leaning against the stair railing.

"Get him another room," Law instructed, pulling out his phone. It was programmed to dial only two numbers; Doflamingo Donquixote and Judge Vinsmoke. "Preferably one with a locking door."

"What's wrong?" the soldier pressed, "Are you going to turn?"

Law started to shake, "Yes, but wait a moment. I need to speak to Doflamingo Donquixote." Law's eyes started to roll. He stumbled and fell. He licked his lips before biting down on his hand, trying to control himself.

"I'll call him," the solider breathed, "Just come with me. We need to lock you in the car…"

Law nodded, "Tell him… Tell him I think the Revolutionary Army is planning a terrorist attack."