A.n Hey everyone, Merry Christmas. I hope you all got lots of cool and fun stuff from your friends, family and Santa. Just so you are aware there will be no updates in January from the 10th on wards as I will be taking some time off and going on holiday with my family. I will be posting a reminder closer to the date but if all goes according to plan and I don't suffer from any writers block I should have the G-8 Arc finished before I leave.

Also after my break I will begin planning for the New World Arcs. It's early days I know but I like to have this stuff written down in advance. I have a few ideas in mind and I would very much like all my readers to assist me. So if you have any ideas, Characters or scenarios that you would like to see...even if its your own idea for a filler i would love to hear them.

By popular request I will be incorporating Shay Cormac and be bringing back Edward and Adewale. I really like Edward and Shay has been requested to appear in this story more times than any other assassins creed character. I just ask that you be patient as they will not make an appearance until the New World Arcs, this is because I only have 4-5 arcs left and of the Straw Hats Creed - Grand Line and it is too late to incorporate them in this story.

I know a lot of people want me to pair Connor up with someone or pair the other crew members up with each other but this is not a ship fic. I am however open to the idea of Connor having a somewhat first crush type situation on someone for comedic purposes. Keep in mind this will not be a serious relationship of any kind it is purely for teasing and joking material so if you have a suggestion regarding that please keep it light and funny.

As I said before I would love to see any and all suggestions that my readers may have, if your ideas make it into the story you will be credited for it. Please keep your ideas and reviews separate, this is to avoid any possibility of spoiler if the ideas make it into the story. If your idea dose get incorporated into the story i will contact you for further advice when writing it up; especially if it is a filler chapter or arc.

If you would like to send me your ideas PM me with the title New World Suggestion. If you are a guest user then please create an account so I know who to credit the idea to if you don't then you will not receive credit.

the deadline for this is the end of February, after that I will have finished the brainstorming phase begin writing plot notes and Arc summries. After midnight on the 1st of March I will not consider any more ideas or suggestions.

Anyway I hope to you all have a Merry Christmas and I look forward to reading any and all suggestions you may have.

As always Please Review


Jonathan was sitting at his desk staring at a very stiff and embarrassed Commander Drake, the lieutenant had come to give a report on his latest attempt to capture Luffy and his crew however his uniform was damaged and burnt.

Jonathan had listened to the report and he was very surprised at what he herd.

"So….let me get this straight. You had set a trap for the Straw Hat Luffy in the brig using his captured crew as bait," Jonathan started.

"That is correct," Drake responded.

"And Luffy and one other pirate came in…"

"Yes,"

"You had them surrounded on both sides,"

"Yes we were all set to strike,"

"And then they…blew up the brig," Jonathan finished.

"Yes…with a sea shell," Drake confirmed.

"How?" Jonathan asked.

"I'm not sure, the blond one pulled a shell out of the long nosed pirates pocket and then this foul smelling gas filled the brig and it ignited thanks to one of the lanterns on the wall," Drake explained.

"What was the gas?" Jonathan asked "Perhaps something sinister or a deadly poison,"

"Umm….one of the pirates farts," Drake claimed "They…they apparently stored it in the shell as a practical joke,"

"So they got away by lighting a fart on fire?" Jonathan asked in disbelief.

"Yes…although not all of them escaped, they left behind Condoriano," Drake claimed "we bound and gagged him and then moved him to another location to hold him,"

"Where exactly did you put him?" Jonathan asked.

"A broom closet," Drake answered casually "it's under guard now,"

"Well that is something I suppose," Jonathan sighed "where are you men now?"

"I had those that weren't hurt start making their way to the dock where we're holding the Pirates ship," Drake claimed "I believe that is where they will be heading next now that the whole base is on high alert,"

"Hmmm….a fair assumption," Jonathan agreed "But Drake, why didn't you position men outside the brig encase your first ambush didn't work or they tried to escape?"

"I did sir…it's just…." Drake trailed off.

"Just what?" Jonathan asked.

"Well…they never came out of the brig, the men I stationed there to wait for them…said that only we had come out," Drake claimed.

"Wait…they didn't leave the brig?" Jonathan answered.

"Not through the front entrance anyway,"

"But the only other way leads back into the centre of the base," Jonathan said "it would be suicide to go out that way as they would have to go round the whole of Navore again,"

"None the less that is what they did," Drake claimed.

"Hmm….Straw Hat Luffy must be smarter than we first thought," Jonathan thought.

"Sir?" Drake asked.

"Think about it, he goes to rescue his friends and instead of going out the way he came in he takes a different route, he must have suspected that we would have men waiting for him to come back out," Jonathan explained.

"I see…by going back through the base we would have a hard time finding him again," Drake claimed catching on to his commander's thoughts.

"Exactly, I recently learned that Straw Hat Luffy had an encounter with Altair and lived,"

"T….The Mentor of the Brotherhood?" Drake gasped.

"Indeed to survive an encounter with him is no small feat. We must be careful when dealing with The Straw Hats, it appears Luffy maybe more cunning and skilled than we first thought," Jonathan said seriously.

"I see…that would explain why he chose to run back through the base…he must've known there was a second ambush," Drake agreed.

"Indeed, clearly he and his crew have a plan…but until we figure it out I want you to be mindful about who we're dealing with," Jonathan claimed.

"I will sir, clearly Straw Hat Luffy is a master of strategy and planning," Drake agreed.


Luffy, Zoro, Sanji and Usopp were running through the base trying to escape any pursuers that may have followed them and so far they had been successful, however they had not yet found the way out…this was mainly due to Zoro being in front and leading the group.

The stood in front of a dead end. Zoro looked very irritated.

"This is the fifth dead end in the last five minutes," Sanji complained "why are letting Moss head lead us?"

"Shut up pervo cook," Zoro snapped back.

"I vote someone else leads from now on," Usopp said "I know where the Merry is, let's just get to it as soon as we can,"

"You know where the Merry is…WHY DIDN"T YOU SAY SOMETHING BEFORE!" Sanji yelled.

"I did, he kept saying he knew a short cut," Usopp said and pointed at Zoro.

Zoro's eyes twitched.

"And you believed him?" Sanji accused.

"Hell no, but there were marines chasing us, what was I supposed to do?" Usopp asked.

"We're in a marine base, marines are going to chase us no matter what," Sanji pointed out "At least Usopp have an idea on where we should be going,"

"Fine you lot want to run around in circles be my guest," Zoro said "I'll find the way out before any of you,"

Zoro then ran off and turned the right corner, the rest of the crew watched him go. A few seconds later he was back coming round the left corner, the swordsman seemed very surprised that he had come back but the rest of the crew weren't.

"What the…how did I get back here?" Zoro asked.

Sanji and Usopp sighed while Luffy just laughed.

"So where is the Merry?" Sanji asked ignoring Zoro.

"It's in one of the dock, it's off limits to everyone but the docks and shipwright staff," Usopp said.

"So it's likely to be unguarded then," Sanji said.

"Maybe, I can't be sure but it was unguarded when I was there last time," Usopp claimed.

"Right….lets head to the ship," Sanji agreed.

"Hey guys, lets head this way next," Luffy said and pointed down a ranodom hall way.

"Luffy were trying to get back to the Merry," Sanji sighed.

"But this way looks fun," Luffy whined.

"Well tough we're going to the ship," Usopp said.

"Okay…but Zoro just ran down this way," Luffy said.

Sanji and Usopp face's fell.

"AFTER HIM!" Sanji cried.

"DON'T LET HIM GET LOST AGAIN!" Usopp said and the two took off running after the swordsman.

Luffy followed laughing.

They ran down the hall after Zoro and they eventually caught up to the swordsman, unfortunately they were all now servilely lost so Luffy picked a random direction and headed that way, they kept running through different corridors and halls while avoiding marines and Luffy kept changing directions until they came outside.

They were standing on a cliff path overlooking the lake below and could see the outer ring of the island.

"Hey were out," Usopp said happily.

"See I told you I knew where we were going," Luffy said proudly.

"More like you kept guessing until you got it right," Sanji said.

He then turned to Usopp.

"Hey can you see the dock with the Merry from here?" Sanji asked.

Usopp looked over the lake and the shore on the other side; he didn't have his goggles so it was a bit hard to tell.

"Umm...let's see..." Usopp said as he looked for the dock.

"So your heading back to your ship are you?" a familiar voice asked from above them.

The crew looked up to the source of the voice and saw a balcony right above them and Jonathan was standing there watching them. Usopp instantly hid behind a large nearby rock and Zoro and Sanji got into battle stances.

"Hey it's meatball guy," Luffy said "Hi meatball guy,"

"Luffy that's the commander of the base," Usopp said fearfully "I bet he knew we were here so he came to capture us,"

"Not really, I just came out to get some air," Jonathan said casually "the fact that I'm out here at the same time as you is purely coincidental,"

"You expect us to believe that?" Sanji responded.

"Well...this is my office so this makes it my balcony...I didn't move it here just for you," Jonathan claimed.

"You have an office?" Luffy asked "is it a big one?"

"Oh yeah huge, tons of space," Jonathan said.

"Really? Can i see?" Luffy asked.

"NOOO!" Zoro, Sanji and Usopp yelled.

"If you want," Jonathan shrugged.

"Alright," Luffy said happily.

He stretched his arm out, grabbing onto the railing and pulling himself up onto the balcony. Jonathan stepped aside and Luffy ran past him and looked around the vice admirals office.

"LUFFY!" Zoro Sanji and Usopp yelled.

Jonathan watched the pirate carefully trying to determine what he was up too. Jonathan turned back to the crew.

"Did you want to look around too?" he asked.

"NO!" they yelled.

Jonathan shrugged and moved to the balcony door and leaned against the door frame watching Luffy explore his office.

"Woah...this place is huge," Luffy said exaltedly as he ran around the office looking at various things.

"Hey are all these medals yours?" Luffy asked and pointed to the awards on display.

"Yes, but I must ask why are you so interested in how big my office is?" Jonathan asked.

"Well my gramps always used to complain how he didn't have a big office to do his work...he said the marines were being stingy," Luffy claimed.

"Grandfather?" Jonathan asked "your grandfather was in the marines?"

"Yeah, he was always complaining how his office was too small and that he could not see the girls training yard or bathroom from his office...he called the maries stingy basterds for not moving him or giving him a bigger room," Luffy said.

"Huh...I don't recall any maries like that...do you know where he was stationed?" Jonathan asked.

"Uh...I think he told me once but I don't really remember it's been a long time since I've seen him. But he spent most of his time on ships and patrolling the seas," Luffy claimed.

"Oh...well perhaps he was calling the marines stingy for his small cabin size on his ship then," Jonathan reasoned "they are not all that big,"

"Maybe...he a fishing rod," Luffy said excitedly and completely forgetting what they had just been talking about. He ran up to the rod.

"Do like to fish?" Luffy asked.

"Yes it's my favourite hobby," Jonathan said.

"Really, i like fishing too...though we hardly catch anything," Luffy said.

"We would if you stopped eating all the bait," Usopp yelled.

Jonathan looked over to the other pirates and then back at Luffy.

"You eat the bait?" Jonathan asked.

"Yeah, i get hungry," Luffy smiled.

"What time do you normally go fishing?" Jonatan asked.

"In the middle of the day," Luffy answered.

"You know the fish are more active just before dawn and dusk," Jonathan said.

"Really...huh maybe that's why we never catch anything," Luffy said.

"What type of rod do you use?" Jonathan asked.

"Whatever we have on hand," Luffy shrugged.

"Oh no that will never do, you need a good sturdy rod, take mine for example it's light but strong and flexible," Jonathan started.

The vice admiral walked over and began to show off his fishing rods and reels as well as give Luffy advice on fishing. Luffy listened eagerly and both seemed to completely forget that they were supposed to be fighting.

"Now as important as the rod is the sting quality is the most important part of the rod, if you have a low quality sting it will snap and you will never catch anything. I personally like to use very thin wire, it's strong and less likely to break...pulls it's also hard for the fish to see in the water," Jonathan explained.

Below the rest of the crew were waiting for Luffy and they could hear every word that was being said.

"Are they having a conversation...about fishing?" Zoro asked.

"Yeah...sounds like the marine commander is really passionate about it too," Usopp observed.

"They do remember that were supposed to be enemies right?" Sanji asked.

Jonathan and Luffy continued to discuss fishing and various catches they had both made over the years for a while.

"So Straw hat, you said you would not leave until you were ready. I take it since you are heading to your ship that you are ready to leave then?" Johnathan asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah, I don't want to but I don't want to get caught either," Luffy said.

"Oh...why don't you want to leave?" Jonathan asked.

"This place is fun," Luffy said "I don't like leaving fun places,"

"Oh...well I am glad you have enjoyed my base. I must say that you surprised me, you are clearly a strategist than I had expected," Jonathan complimented.

"Huh...what are you talking about?" Luffy asked.

"The way you avoided my Marines and our ambushes...and how you escaped the brig," Jonathan clarified.

"Oh that...we just got lost," Luffy said.

Jonathan stared at Luffy in shock for a moment.

"You...got lost," Jonathan repeated.

"Yeah, but it was fun," Luffy smiled.

"Getting lost is fun?" Jonathan asked sceptically.

"Yeah I mean it's not about where you're going, it's how you get there right?" Luffy asked.

Jonathan stared at Luffy in surprise for a moment and then burst out laughing.

"I suppose it is, it's not often I meet someone like you," Jonathan said.

Before the conversation could continue Jonathan's office door opened and Drake walked in. the other two occupants turned and looked at him.

"Commander I'm here to report..." Drake started but trailed off once he saw Luffy.

"STRAW HAT!" Drake yelled.

He pulled out his pistol and opened fire at Luffy, Luffy dodged the gunfire and fled out of the office through the balcony. Jonathan sighed and walked back to the balcony to see the straw hat crew running down the cliff side path.

"Damn he got away," Drake cursed.

"Well that was rude," Jonathan said "we were having a wonderful conversation,"

"Oh did you get any information out if him?" Drake asked.

"Oh we weren't talking about that...we were talking about fishing," Jonathan smiled.

Anger flashed across Drakes face.

"Sir that was the very pirate that invaded our base...you are not supposed to talk about your hobbies with them!" Drake yelled.

"You really need to calm down Drake, too much stress and anger is bad for your blood pressure," Jonathan advised.

"Sir need I remind you that you are older than me," Drake pointed out.

"Well either way they're heading back to their ship," Jonathan said.

"Yes I came to report that I have several squads of marines standing ready for them. Those pirates won't escape this time," Drake said confidently.

"Hmm...we'll see," Jonathan said thoughtfully.

"You doubt our men's ability's?" Drake asked.

"Oh no nothing of the sort. I think I've just figured out why Straw Hat Luffy survived his encounter with Alter," Jonathan said.

"Sir?" Drake asked.

"Well...I think it's best if you figure it out on your own," Jonathan said "take charge of the ambush, use whatever methods and equipment that you deem necessary,"

"I will sir," Drake said.

"Oh and Drake...do not underestimate Straw Hat Luffy," Jonathan warned.

"I won't sir, I know exactly who I'm dealing with," Drake claimed.

He walked out of the office to go to the docks and take charge of the ambush he had set up, Drake was determined to no fail again. Jonathan watched him go and once he was gone the commander walked over to his Den-Den Mushi and diked a number.

"Officer Dufraine speaking," a Marine responded.

"This is Vice Admiral Jonathan; have the treasure recovered from the Pirate ship brought to my office,"

"All of it sir?" Dufraine asked.

"Yes all of it," Jonathan said.

"It'll take some time to move it all," the Dufraine claimed.

"That's fine, as long as it's done before tonight," Jonathan claimed.

"Why tonight sir?" the Dufraine asked.

"Because fish are more active at night," Jonathan smirked.


Luffy, Zoro and Sanji ran through the base, they were following Usopp this who was leading them towards the dock where the Merry was being kept. Sanji had pointed out that even if they found the ship and got it back they could not leave without Nami, Robin, Chopper and Connor; Luffy told him not to worry about it as he was sure that the others would meet up with them and that everything would work out.

Sanji should have known that Luffy would give him an answer like that.

"Oi Usopp, how much further?" Sanji asked.

"It's just around this next bend," Usopp claimed.

They ran round the corner and into one of the docks and just like Usopp had said the Merry was waiting for them on the other side. Unfortunately so was almost every marine in the base, the dock was filled with them and all of them had their weapons trained on the crew.

The straw hats froze when they saw the Marines blocking the way to their ship. Drake was standing in front of the marines with a large smirk on his face.

"I thought you said this place was unguarded," Zoro said to Usopp.

"It was, they must've set this up after our jail brake," Usopp claimed.

"Cannon Unit fire," Drake ordered.

A Marine with a bazooka on his shoulder fired but instead of a cannon ball a net came flying out, it wrapped around Luffy any and he was thrown back against the wall. Luffy instantly felt his strength drain, he struggled weakly against the net but could not break free of it.

"Oi Luffy quit messing around and get out of that thing," Sanji scolded.

"I can't get...I feel so weak," Luffy said.

"What?" Zoro asked.

"He can't escape," Drake said confidently "that net is made with Kairōseki,"

"Kairōseki...That's made out of Sea Stone?" Sanji gasped.

"It is, with the captain and only Devil Fruit user here out of the way the rest of you will be easy to take down," Drake claimed.

"I don't think so, you made a fatal mistake. Luffy is closer to us then you, I'll just cut the net off him," Zoro said and put his hand on his katana.

"Can you do that before he is killed?" Drake asked.

Zoro froze.

"I have five sniper units here with me, there up on the catwalk above us," Drake said and gestured to the marine filled catwalk and upper level "one unit has their sights trained solely on your captain, the other four units are focused on you three. If you do anything other than surrender my sniper will take their shot and your captain will be the first to die,"

"My orders don't specify whether I take you in dead or alive and since your pirates the higher ups won't care either way. The choice is yours, either give up or die," Drake smirked.

"Shit they've really got us," Sanji hissed.

"What do we do?" Usopp asked fearfully "It'll take a miracle to save us,"

However before the decision could be made something blunt slammed into Usopp from behind and sent him flying straight upwards. The pirates and the Marines were stared in shock as they saw what had hit Usopp. Nami was standing next to a purple hard woman wearing a doctors coat and glasses, they both had a tight grip on a wheeled hospital gurney which is what they had accidently crashed into Usopp.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!" Nami screamed when she noticed the Marines.

this brought Drake out of his shock.

"HEY YOU TWO...WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" Drake yelled.

"Uh...Well...you see...Uhh..." Nami studded trying to come up with an explanation.

Just then Usopp came back down and crashed on the floor.

"Huh...what was that noise?" Choppers voice came from under the sheet, the little reindeer poked his head out.

"USOPPP!" Chopper screamed when he saw Usopp on the ground. He instantly turned into his human form and picked up his friend.

"THESE WOUNDS ARE SEIEROUS...WHO DID THIS TO YOU?! WAS IT THE MARINES?!" Chopper demanded.

"No it was you," Zoro and Sanji said together.

Chopper stood up and flung Usopp over his shoulder.

"Another one...is his part of the pirates too?" Drake wondered.

He got his answer when the purple heired doctor let out a high pitch ear-piercing scream, it caused everyone in the room to cover their ears.

"HELP US WE'VE BEEN TAKEN HOSGTAGE!" the purple haired woman cried.

"H...Hostage?" Drake asked.

Nami looked at the woman next to her and quickly caught on.

"That's right he's one of the pirates that invaded, he said he would kill us if we didn't come with him," Nami cried "save us please,"

"Huh?!" Chopper asked dumbfounded "hey since when am i supposed to be a hostage taker?" Chopper asked.

Nami and the other doctor didn't answer, they just kept squealing in fear. Zoro and Sanji were equally confused as to what was going on.

"Hey what's going on...are we taking hostages now?" Zoro whispered to Sanji "and who's that other woman?"

"Beats me...do you think she's single?" Sanji whispered back.

"Why is that your first question?" Zoro asked irritably.

Zoro then turned and looked over at the marines who were all very tense and unwilling to act while the girls were at the pirate's side.

"Still...the marines have halted their attack," Zoro observed.

"Sir if this is a hostage situation we can't act rashly," a marine advised Drake.

"I know...damn this is why i hate pirates, taking hostages...a bunch of cowards," Drake hissed.

Chopper heard this and he turned around to face the marines pulling the sheet over his chest for dramatic affect.

"That's right these women are my hostages and if my demands are not met then I will kill them, but only after I have performed vast and un-imaginable experiments on them," Chopper declared "For i am the Straw Hats infamous mad Doctor,"

"They can't be buying this can they?" Zoro asked.

"Mad Doctor...the straw hats had some like that on their crew?" a marine asked.

"Sir we have to save those poor women," another Marine said.

"And here i thought Usopp was our resident liar," Sanji muttered.

Drake didn't respond, he stared at the pirates in front of him as he proceeded the situation.

"Hey Roannoa Zoro, is this true will he really do what he says?" Drake demanded.

"Oh yeah, he goes ballistic whenever one of us pisses him off," Zoro said with an evil smile "in fact even Luffy here has trouble keeping him in lime,"

"Come on now, a man who upholds justice wouldn't want anything to happen to these lovley ladies," Sanji said in a playful voice "after we pirates are not known for being gentle,"

Nami and the other doctor shook their heads.

"Please help us, do as they say," they begged.

"Grr...Fine, state your demands," Drake ordered.

"Throw down your weapons and move aside so we can leave," Chopper demanded "if any of you make a move or try to stop us then I will kill the girls in an instant,"

Drake didn't move, if he complied with the pirates demands then he would be letting them go. On the other hand if he didn't and the girls got hurt it would reflect badly on him and the marines as a whole.

"Hurry up, I am not known for my practice, if you don't do as i say the hostages will suffer my wrath," Chopper said more forcefully.

"All units throw down your weapons, snipers disarm your fire arms," Drake ordered "the rest of you make a path to the ship,"

"Are they…Are they actually doing this?" Sanji asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, let's hope so," Zoro said.

Zoro walked over to Luffy and cut him free; he bent down and pulled one of Luffy's arms over his shoulder so he could support the weakened captain. He pulled Luffy up and after a minute the marines had created a path leading straight to the Merry.

"There we've given you safe passage to your ship, now release the girls," Drake demanded.

"No, not until we've escaped," Chopper said "once were out at sea we will put them in a life boat until then they stay with us,"

"You fiend," Drake hissed.

"Chopper...this is dirty...I'm disappointed in you," Luffy said weakly.

"Shut up," Zoro hissed.

They started a walking towards the ship, Zoro and Luffy were in front, Chopper and the two girls in the middle and Sanji brought up the rear keeping an eye on the Marines behind them. Zoro was watching carefully for any sign of movement amongst the marines and so far it seemed that the Lieutenant was true to his word.

However something caught his eye.

"Luffy when I give the signal, stretch your arm out and get everyone on board the ship," Zoro said softly "can you do that?"

"Yeah…sure…"Luffy responded weakly.

When they were about three quarters of the way to the ship a Marine accidently dropped his rifle causing the pirates to stop and look at him, the marine apologised and while they were distracted a second marine appeared and grabbed the purple haired doctor taking her back into the crowd. Another married tried to grab Nami but she freaked out and punched him in the face.

"You idiot, he was trying to save you," Drake yelled out.

"I knew this was going too smoothly," Zoro said "Luffy now,"

Luffy stretched his arm back and Drake ordered his men to attack, since the straw hats were surrounded by all sides it would be impossible to avoid fighting and they would be at a sever disadvantage.

However at that moment the Merry began to creak and suddenly began to move back into the water. Everyone in the room stopped and turned to look at the ship which was somehow moving on its own despite the fact that it should have been anchored in place.

"Everyone where getting on!" Luffy cried.

He maneuverered his stretched out arm to hit the back of Sanji, Nami and Chopper whit such a force that they were thrown on the Merry, he then grabbed hold of the Merry's railing.

"Did they even survive that?" Zoro wondered.

"Zoro now us," Luffy said happily.

It was only now that Zoro realised he still had an one of Luffy's arms around his neck and a second later he and e swordsman's face placed and a second later he and Luffy were flying through the air heading straight for the ship; they slammed head first into the side of the ship before bouncing off and landing on board.

As the Merry was moving down the launch ramp Connor suddenly burst out from one of the upper level doors, he ran along the cat-walk and at the end leapt over the rail and landed on the top of the main sail.

"What the...is that a child?" Drake gasped.

Connor carefully made his way along the top sail releasing the ropes that held the main sail in place and the Merry's sail came free.

The merry shook as it splashed into the lake and it sailed off.

"Damn it...OPEN FIRE!" Drake commanded.

"Sir they still have a hostage," one marine pointed out.

"Then fire warning shots," Drake ordered.

The Marines did as they were told but their shots didn't hit the ship or the crew, and none of there shots hit the ship or the crew, Luffy just laughed it off. While he was laughing Nami and Sanji came over and Nami hit Luffy in the across the head with her climeit Tact and Sanji squashed his head with his boot.

"Every time...every freakin time...CAN'T YOU THINK OF OTHER WAYS TO SAVE US?!" Sanji yelled.

"Be gentler with normal people," Nami scolded.

"Sothiy(Sorry)," Luffy said.

"Right everyone set sail, Chopper man the helm," Nami ordered.

The rest of the crew did what they were told and Connor came down to help, Nami ordered the crew around and once they were out of range she had Chopper steer the ship close to the outer ring of the base,

"Hey Nami...why are we so close to those cannons?" Luffy asked.

"if we stay in the centre the marines could fire on

"Are they likely to fire on us?" Connor asked with a hint of fear in his voice.

"Maybe, hopefully they will think I'm still a hostage and won't," Nami said.

She knew how the boy reacted to cannon fire and they did not need Connor breaking down right now. After they had recruited Chopper Nami and the others had brought up what happened to Connor when cannons were fired at them and Chopper told them it could have been caused by a number of things but until he saw the affects in person he could not help.

After they had escaped from the maries chasing them right before they entered the rainbow mist Chopper had seen just how Connor reacted to cannon fire, he had sat down with Connor do discuss what happened and after talking with the boy he diagnosed it was a server case of PTSD(1)

Chopper had explained to the crew that it was caused because Connor had never dealt with his initial shock or trauma at seeing his village attacked and burnt down. Because of this and his following enslavement he had subconsciously suppressed it and the fear he felt back then. Now cannon balls triggered all that fear and suppressed causing those emotions to come out which caused him to break down. Chopper also claimed that the reason Connor feared and ran away from the crew during these episodes was because it triggered painful flash backs and his mind makes him believe he is back at the centre of his burning village and people were trying to take him away.

The straw hats had naturally been concerned and wanted to help but Chopper claimed that going near the boy during those episodes would make it worse and they just had to wait and leave him alone until he came out of it on his own and his mind re-suppressed the trauma.

Nami turned her attention back to the lake in front of her, she knew that they could not stay out in the open for very long as sooner or later the marines would realise that she wasn't a hostage at all and would fire on them.

"We need to get out now, but I don't know where to go...damn it, this is why I wanted to gather information," Nami muttered to herself.

"Hey where's Robin?" Connor asked.

"There she is," Luffy said, and pointed out towards the cliff.

Robin was swinging across the lake using several hands connected to a wall as a rope, she was holding a rolled up piece of paper. She landed on the deck.

"Hello everyone, you all caused quite a commotion," Robin smiled "I brought a map of the island,"

Robin held up the rolled up piece of paper and gave it to Nami. Nami looked at it and it not only showed the structure and inter of the base but also the currents in the lake as well.

"Robin you're a genius, this is perfect," Nami said happily as she threw herself on the archaeologist and gave her a massive hug "You're the only one I can trust and relay on,"

"Oh...um..." Robin started, she was loss for words and unsure how to react to this.

While Nami was looking over the map the crew talked amongst themselves and told each other what they had been doing since they had been forced to flee the ship. Usopp explained he and Zoro had gotten caught while Robin posed as an official Marine inspector. Sanji claimed he and Luffy disguised themselves as chefs in the kitchen...though only Sanji had done the actual cooking. Chopper claimed he and Nami had disguised themselves as medical staff and were in the infirmary and Chopper had to preform various surgeries on some injured Marines.

"So...kid what were you doing in the base?" Zoro asked.

"Me...I was hiding out in the dock near the merry," Connor claimed.

"How did you get there?" Sanji asked.

"Well after we all spit up I swam to what i thought was a cave in the cliff but it was an abandoned dock," Connor said.

"An abandoned dock?" Robin asked.

"Yeah I hid there, I could also see the Merry so when they moved it I climbed followed it through the base...turs out there are a lot of abandoned dock and there all connected to each other," Connor claimed.

"Interesting...what about when you got to occupied ones?" Robin asked.

"I crawled into the vents; I was small enough to get through. It didn't take me long till I came across the merry so I stayed put. When I saw you guys come in i went to the anchor that was blocking the merry and realised the ship," Connor finished.

"Huh...so it was you who did that...nice job," Sanji praised.

Connor smiled at the praise however before he could respond a cannon was fired and landed near the ship with a splash, Connor froze up and his eyes instantly went wide with fear as another cannon was fired.

"STRAW HAT! YOU WON'T GET AWAY," Drakes voice came from behind them.

Usopp looked over the railing and saw three ships chasing them with Drake on the one in front, the cannons on the inner wall of the base began firing on the Merry as well. Connor squatted down in the spot he had been standing and covered his ears with his hand and shut his eyes tightly as he began to cry.

"No…No…." He started to mutter.

'Crap he's started….we don't need this right now,' Nami thought angrily.

"I thought they weren't going to fire on us," Usopp claimed.

"They had to figure it out sooner or later," Nami hissed.

"Nami where's the exit?" Chopper asked from inside the kitchen.

"Not far, there's a Seagate coming up," Nami responded.

She then looked at Luffy Sanji and Zoro.

"Defend the ship until we get there," Nami ordered "Usopp get the cannon ready, if the gates closed we will need to blast our way through,"

The boys did what they were told and worked around Connor who was now oblivious to the situation around him. Luffy, Sanji and Zoro did their best at defending the merry and it was a good thing that they had sailed against the outer wall otherwise defending the ship would have been that much harder.

They approached the Seagate and like Nami predicted it was closed.

"There it is, once we blast thought we will be able to out run and manurer them at sea," Nami said happily.

Suddenly Usopp came out on the deck.

"What are you doing, get back to the cannon and blast that gate down," Nami ordered.

"I can't, we don't have any gunpowder or cannonballs on board," Usopp claimed.

"What?" Nami asked.

"The marines must have taken them when they seized the ship," Robin said.

"But how are we going to get out then?" Nami panicked "we can't turn around and even if we could there is nowhere for us to go…we'd be caught sooner or later,"

"Nami, keep heading to the gate," Luffy said.

"We'll crash," Nami claimed.

"We have everything we need to escape, don't worry I have an idea," Luffy said with a grin.

Nami got the feeling that Luffy was going to do something stupid but she didn't have any other ideas so she ordered Chopper to maintain there course.


Jonathans Office

Jonathan was out on his balcony with a pair of binoculars watching the straw hats attempt to escape, when drake had reported that he had been unable to re-capture the crew due to them taking one of the nurses' hostage Jonathan had ordered the nurses to get together and compared them to the bases staff roster.

None of them had been missing so Jonathan had ordered the defensives to open fire on the escaping pirate ship. He had then gone out onto the balcony to watch and had seen the ship head for the Seagate, the only way in or out of Navore.

He knew that the pirate ship had been stripped of all its gunpowder and cannon balls and it would not take long for the pirates to realise that either, yet it seemed that they still were headed to the Seagate.

Jonathan watched as the cannons surrounding the Seagate took aim, there was no way that straw hats tiny ship would be able to evade them.

"You played a weak game straw hat, now it's checkmate," Jonathan said disappointingly.

The cannons fired and Jonathan's jaw dropped as he saw Luffy puff up like a balloon and reflect the barge back at the sea gate.

There was a large flash and explosion that could be seen and herd though out the base. Jonathan's eyes widened as he realised what had happened.

"We stripped their ship of weapons…so they used our own defence's tactics against us," Jonathan stated in shock. The Vice Admiral waited until the smoke had cleared and when it had there was no sign of the straw hats ship.

Jonathan walked over to his snail phone and

"Drake report what happen?" Jonathan ordered.

"Sir the straw hats blew up our Seagate, we're just outside but there is no sign of their ship," Drake claimed "should we start a search?"

A smile then appeared on his face.

"No, come back. Have four ships guard and block the Seagate both inside and out," Drake claimed.

"But the pirates will escape," Drake argued.

"No they won't, they haven't' left yet," Jonathan claimed.

"What…how do you know?" Drake asked.

Jonathan glanced over to the massive pile of gold and tressure that was now sitting in the corner of his office; his men had finished moving it in about an hour ago.

"Just a hunch," Jonathan smirked "once the ships are in place see to any repairs that our defences need,"

"What about the Seagate?" Drake asked.

"Not much we can do about that…we'll need a new one made," Jonathan shrugged "come see me when you're done,"

Jonathan hung up and then walked over to his desk and sat down; he looked at the chess board in front of him.

"So they're using one of our abandoned docks to hide their ship…it would take too long to search all of them," Jonathan stated "and they will most likely not make a move with the base on high alert,"

A smile appeared on Jonathan's face.

"The game has gotten interesting," Jonathan claimed "Your move Straw Hat,"


1 - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder also known as Shell Shock