Chapter 26- Clash Of Metal
One Piece © Eiichiro Oda
Fixit, G-13 Base, William Henley, Beau-Père, Seventy, Scorcher, and the Sideshow Pirates © HatOnFire/Me
In the courtyard of the G-13 Base, the marines have been unable to hold their footing on their base, despite outnumbering the Straw Hats and preparing to surround the base. Even so, they refuse to give up, fighting until one side loses.
"Oni Giri!"
"Gavotte Bond en Avant!"
Zoro and Brook shot forward with their blades, unfortunately missing their foe, who leaped above them with a somersault.
"Extend!" When Fixit landed, his twin tonfa suddenly grew in length, becoming longer than his arms. He proceeded to swing them at the swordsman, driving him on the defense.
Zoro blocked the weapons from colliding with his neck, pushing them apart. However, that left a window of opportunity, as his front was exposed.
"Screw Driver!" Fixit reeled his tonfa back and jabbed the ends in Zoro's stomach, making him grimace. Just then, he reverted one of his weapons to their original state and slipped them back into a holster, pulling out a black monkey wrench in succession.
"Smooth Jaws!" With his guard dropped, Zoro had little time to brace for the wrench colliding with his face. He stumbled back
"Polka Remise!" Brook came from the side, repeatedly thrusting his weapon at Fixit to stab him, but they would all be countered by the wrench.
"Open Hood!" An uppercut with the tonfa in Fixit's left hand sent the musician flying, and he followed up by extending the end once more and swiping to Brook's side, making him drop.
"Bar Break!" Fixit quickly switched his wrench with the second tonfa, extended it, and leaped high, raising his hands up as he did so. He planned on using the momentum to bring his blunt weapons down on his lighter adversary.
As Brook saw what was going to happen, he grabbed Soul Solid and held it in a reverse grip, standing firm as possible. He resisted the strike, and Fixit had to land in front of him.
The two combatants swung at each other back and forth, evenly matched. Brook's sword could only scrape against the tonfa as Fixit was unable to land a blow on him.
Then, the mechanic backflipped a few times, throwing one of his tonfa like a boomerang.
"Flying Ratchet!" The tonfa curved into Brook's path, though he was able to deflect it back to the sender, who began running toward him.
"Liar Cutter!" Fixit crossed the ends of his weapons together and slammed them into the front of Brook's skull, causing a few cracks to form around where his nose was.
"AGH!" He cried out, collapsing to the dirt again.
"Hmph," Fixit smirked, "It appears that even with your speed, you can still be knocked down."
"What kind of attack was that?" Brook seethed from the damage done to him, "It doesn't even cut through objects as the name implies..."
"Don't criticize me on how I name my attacks," The green marine took a little offense from the criticism, "Besides, there's a pun in there if you swap a word from that."
"It's not even clever..."
"Why am I trying to explain myself?" Fixit raised one of his batons, "Say your prayers, pirate..."
'I can't fail here!' Brook thought, 'Luffy depends on all of us to save him! I can't die!'
"Hey, smartass!" Zoro called out, getting Fixit's attention.
"Smartass?" He questioned, seeing the swordsman charge at him. "Me?"
"Bull Needles!" Zoro held his swords as though they were the horns of a bull, dashing and intending to strike multiple times.
"Blunt Ratchet!" However, as Fixit ran backward, he twirled his twin tonfa, keeping the blades from piercing his body.
"Tiger Trap!" Zoro placed the two swords in his hand over the one held by his jaw, then lunged to cut the tall marine.
"Extend!" Fixit's tonfa grew longer, enabling him to guard against the blades. He pushed his enemy back and got some distance between them.
"Well," Zoro wondered, "Are you actually going to get a little more serious?"
"I don't have a choice," Fixit mused, grabbing the goggles on his forehead and readjusting them to his eyes. "Besides, I hate to lose."
As the two clashed their weapons of choice once more...
"I can't believe I have to root for Moss-head again..." Sanji scoffed, keeping himself from biting into his lit cigarette. He was standing next to the drawbridge area anxiously, ready to run to the detention center if unable to wait further.
"It's either him or the marines," Franky stated, "And I think we both know who's worse."
"Well," Usopp whispered, keeping an eye out for marines. "The marines aren't all that bad. They're just doing what they think is right, that's all. Seventy, I think that's his name, gave us a little tip about this place, meaning we can't use the moat."
"Yeah..." Franky nodded, continuing to watch the battle. "And that hotheaded guy I fought was crazy, but he was a good man. His name's Scorcher, I'm guessing. The little guy did tell us their names."
"And that leaves the man facing Zoro and Brook... Fixit. Just like that little guy said."
"Three Sword Style..." Zoro steeled himself, prepared to launch another familiar attack. "108 Caliber Phoenix!"
On the other side of the field, Fixit pulled out a black wrench in place of a tonfa.
"Wrench Pressure!" With it, he sent out a blast of air, countering Zoro's own. Soon after, the attacks dissipated upon contact with a gust of wind scraping up the dust on the ground, and the two of them ran to hit the other man.
"HAAAAAAAAA!" The swordsman swiftly moved to slash at Fixit with all his might, swiping horizontally with Shusui and Kitetsu III.
On the other hand, the marine defended himself with an extended baton, blocking the katana and jabbing his wrench forward at point-blank range.
"Wrench Pressure!"
"GRAAAAAAAAGHHHH!"
Zoro flew back again, this time with the wind striking him in his chest. He felt a few stitches tear apart, reopening some of his wounds.
"Mr. Zoro!" Brook shouted, running to his side and ready to step in. He saw the main fighter of the Straw Hats gritting his teeth and pressing a hand to his midsection.
"That doesn't sound good!" Usopp winced, seeing the amount of pain Zoro is in.
'It's those wounds...' Sanji quietly thought to himself, 'The wounds Kuma gave him...'
The cook remembered the Thriller Bark incident when Bartholomew Kuma arrived after Moria was defeated, attempting to take away an unconscious Luffy. What followed was a difficult battle until Zoro accepted an ultimatum set by Kuma. Sanji tried to intervene, but Zoro knocked him out. When he woke up, he saw the swordsman standing above a pool of his own blood, claiming that nothing happened.
'That idiot! He's going to get himself killed just trying to move!'
"How the hell can I fight if this keeps happening...?!" Zoro grunted, trying to keep his wounds closed.
"Mr. Zoro, please stay back!" Brook stood in front of him, "You are in no condition to fight now!"
"Brook, you're not strong enough to beat him! He's not some average marine..!"
"I know," The musician understood, looking back. "He's used a wrench and some tonfa to get the better of us, and he still hasn't used his swords."
"This guy," Zoro explained, "He's a different brand of a fighter... He's able to swap weapons and change fighting styles at the drop of a hat!"
'Just like that redheaded runt,' He realized as his mind went back to Henley's battle with the crew. Throughout the battle, Henley utilized some techniques that the CP9 assassins mainly use, along with some of his Chemistro Grenades and his ability to turn water into small offensive weapons.
"Mr. Henley did tell us about these men, and it looks like he was on the level."
"Don't credit that little bastard after what he did to Luffy..."
"Mr. Zoro, with your condition, you can't expect to win against this man. I'll handle this."
"Are you going to switch opponents?" Fixit asked, "It's fine if you do. It won't change how this will go down."
"We shall see..." Brook set his sights on the marine and shot out a burst of wind with the tip of his cane, and Fixit retorted with his own, albeit with his wrench.
"Aubade Coup Droit!"
"Wrench Pressure!"
As with Zoro, the attacks canceled each other out with a fair-sized gale. Not to be deterred, both of them tried the same attacks thrice, but with the same effect.
"Well then," Brook muttered to himself before making a beeline for Fixit, intent on thrusting his needle-like blade into him.
"Gavotte Bond en Avant!"
Unfortunately for him, the mechanic dodged by leaping backward, placing his right wrist into the wrench's strap, and it grew in length, allowing him to swing it like a flail.
"Black Flail!" Fixit sent the wrench all around his general radius, managing to hit the skeleton's left arm.
"GUH!" Brook grunted, hearing a faint crack in the arm's bone. He ignored it to plan for a bold tactic to get a hit on his foe.
"Open Hood!" Fixit ran to uppercut Brook with the tonfa in his left hand, but he sidestepped to Fixit's left.
He guarded against the wrench and tonfa's strikes, weaving to the side every chance he got. All of a sudden, the skeleton crumpled beneath Fixit, barely missing another wrench swipe.
"Such an unfortunate turn of events," Brook noticed his situation as he rolled along the side and picked himself up. "Oh well."
"What was that?" The marine couldn't help but ponder, "Is he even taking this seriously?"
The thing that confused him more was Brook humming, walking past Fixit, twirling his sword for a few seconds, stopping in his tracks, then sheathing it back into his cane. The fight wasn't over until someone falls, or at least tries to leave. This was too good to be true.
"Three-Verse Humming: Arrow Notch Slash!"
It was.
Fixit guessed what the ploy was, but was half a second too late to dodge it, assuming there was a chance to. He gained a diagonal slash mark on his torso, a few small cuts to his arms and sides, and one horizontal cut on his stomach. He dropped his weapons in pain, noticing his tonfa holster fell off as well.
"D-Damn...!" He cursed, coughing trickles of blood. He felt the cuts on his body, almost shivering.
'What is this numbness...?' He clutched one of his wounds with his right hand, unable to make a difference. He could actually see small layers of ice form around the cuts, even close them up! 'This attack... It feels... cold. I've been cut before, but not like this... It's almost as if there's a freezing point in this person's soul...'
Brook unsheathed his weapon, breathing hard.
'I put half of my strength into that attack alone,' He thought, 'But did I actually cause ice to freeze the cuts on his body? How did I do that?'
He shook his head, focusing on something else.
'Questions for later. Even with that, this man won't fall down. I'm in trouble if he is anything like Mr. Zoro in strength and tenacity. I'll have to wear him down before I can finish this battle.'
Fixit grabbed his wrench and stuffed it into his jumpsuit before pulling out the two dao swords on his back.
"Underestimating you..." Fixit hissed, still feeling the sting of the cold. "Will be the last mistake I'll make."
"It will be difficult for you to duel me with your new injuries," Brook stated, "Your body may not be able to take it. I would suggest retreating or surrendering."
"Suggestion noted but denied. I have my orders, and I'll see them through to the end."
"Death is not how this fight has to go. You should be smart about this."
"I won't listen to you, pirate. Your potential for lying is a standard I hold very highly, you see. If I do either, it would be a violation of my orders, but also a chance for you to end my life with my weapons dropped."
"I give you my word I won't-"
"I don't want your word," Fixit growled, still monotone. "I'll kill you in a duel, then the swordsman, and I'll do what my partners couldn't do on their end myself. That's all."
"This is just about following orders, I assume?"
"Enough words. Let's see if you still bleed, pirate."
The mechanic and the skeleton ran at the same time, swords clanging and creating sparks from scraping the edges of the blades together. Then, the clash escalated as Fixit went on the offense, swinging his swords diagonally, vertically, and horizontally, making Brook dodge left and right, blocking strike after strike.
Brook stepped further back, avoiding a heavy swipe.
'I have to be patient,' He thought, 'He might slip up somewhere.'
However, Fixit showed little to no signs of error in his attacks. In fact, the pain from Brook's technique no longer registered at all in his mind. The only things he cared about were a direct hit and the killing stroke.
The musician attempted to counter, but he had to pull back his right arm, lest it gets severed from his body. When he could, he turned around and ran away as quickly as possible, getting distance.
"How is this possible?!" He exclaimed, moving back to gaze at his opponent. "No one can tolerate such glaring gashes on the body! How are you doing this?!"
"The momentary seeping blood," Fixit quietly told the taller skeleton man, "The sting of slightly torn flesh, and the low temperature that appeared on the wounds soon afterward... They are nothing to me. Even a lost limb and a failed mission can't compare to that. It's nothing..."
Brook could barely see Fixit's eyes, concealed by the green lens of his goggles. However, he could feel the uncomfortable chill in his usual voice when he finished his sentence.
"NOTHING COMPARED TO LOSING YOUR FRIENDS OR HUNDREDS OF FELLOW MEN... TO SAVAGE PIRATES."
This weighted hostility was familiar to Brook, thinking back to the days prior to now.
'Just like when Mr. Henley became angry...' He pieced together, 'But this... This is different from the dislike I usually see or hear of from other people about pirates. But even Mr. Henley doesn't have this much contempt...!'
"Don't bother reading into me. You're just another pirate to put down."
Fixit leaped into the air with both of his swords, bringing them down vertically.
"Back Saw!"
Brook guarded well against the attack, but Fixit didn't stop when he landed on the ground.
"Hand Saw!" He now swung horizontally, forcing Brook to avoid it with his speed.
'He's moving incredibly fast!' Brook actually started to sweat, 'I won't win if I can't counter, but he's not giving me an opportunity to-!'
Brook couldn't even finish what he was thinking when Fixit interrupted him with another furious strike. It barely missed when he hopped further backward.
"Flying Monkey!" Throwing a sword up in the air for a moment, Fixit pulled out the black wrench and launched it at the musician's face, which succeeded in breaking a few teeth and pushing him away. The wrench twirled back to his right hand and he put his wrist in the strap, all the while catching the sword he flung upward.
"Bone...!" Taking advantage of Brook's disorientation, Fixit crossed his arms and held the swords so they would be parallel to each other. Focusing on where to strike, he swung them at once, creating a jagged horizontal slash that went right at Brook!
"Cutter!" The attack connected, tearing apart the midsection of Brook's whitish-gold vest and his navy blue coat. It even managed to break open the center of his ribcage and crack some of the ribs.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" Brook stumbled back screaming, flailing to the ground.
"BROOK!" Usopp yelled, concerned for his friend's safety. "Sanji, do something!"
"If I try to fight him, I'll waste my energy!" Sanji grit his teeth, "And I won't be able to get Nami and Luffy out of the complex if something did go wrong!"
"Well, I can't fight him!" The sniper argued, "I'll get crushed by him!"
"Damn it...!" Franky cursed, barely restraining himself from running in to fight. "I want to help, but I have to be back here...! I'm the only chance at getting an exit!"
"Wait..." Sanji looked to the right of where Zoro originally laid down, seeing he wasn't there anymore. "Where did Moss-head go?"
Fixit stood upright, watching Brook try to pick himself up.
"I know who you are, 'Humming' Brook," He called, "It's surprising, learning a veteran pirate of fifty years past lived for so long. However, you are a relic, forgotten to time."
"I-I am no such thing...!" The musician faltered, crawling along the ground with his hands and legs. "I am still alive...! I won't die...! It's not my time!"
"Time is up, pirate. The cogs of the clock were just too worn for it to tell you."
"One Sword Style..." A blur ran past Fixit, catching it with the corner of his eye. Before his head could turn behind him, another cut was added to his front, making him bleed a little more. He coughed blood as he continued to stand, realizing that the swordsman got back up.
"Sword Draw: Lion's Song!" Zoro stood up and pulled out Wado from its sheath, placing the handle in his mouth and grabbing his other swords.
"Get away from him," His eyebrows furrowed underneath his black bandana, "Your battle is with me."
"Roronoa Zoro," Fixit peered back, "I was wondering when you would wake up."
"Here I am, marine," The swordsman darkly smirked, "A few measly flesh wounds won't do me in easily."
"Would a slice to your neck suffice?"
Brook inched away, struggling to move even a few inches with his injuries.
"Brook, are you alright?" Usopp got down on a knee, easily acting as support for the musician to lift himself up.
"My pride and will are bruised," He murmured, "But unlike my ribs, not broken. I just need some milk and I'll be fine. But Zoro..."
"Hey, greenie!" Usopp decided to shout, getting the attention of the two combatants.
"He must be talking about you," Zoro stated so obviously.
"What does he even want from me?" Fixit asked himself, looking to the sniper.
"How about you quit while you're ahead?! We'll beat you, no matter what!"
"Me, quit?" The mechanic shook his head, "Please. I won't stop when I still have the advantage."
"How are you even standing with those wounds?"
"I just focus on what's more important. That's all there is to it."
"You tune out the pain subconsciously so you can power through your enemies with your skills?" Zoro pondered, "No wonder you haven't given up. Even a life-threatening injury won't stop you."
"Of course not," Fixit actually touched one of his cuts without so much as a flinch, "I trained myself to tolerate any level of pain."
"Well, now I know I'm in for a challenge. Especially with my own wounds."
(BGM: No Escape, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End)
"Do you even know what will happen when you lose? Has the idea of a failure resonated in your mind?"
"I won't lose. Not here, not now, not ever. But if you want to talk what-ifs, then go ahead."
"I'll flat out say it, 'cause we learned it from the other guys we faced," Usopp decided to fill in the blank, "If we lose, Luffy will be publicly executed at Marine Headquarters."
"Executed?!" Brook gasped, despite it hurt him to gasp. "He'll be executed?!"
"That's correct," Fixit confirmed, "And I'll make sure you all join him before his time comes."
"If you said it before Usopp, would you have made this an attempt to make me angry enough, I'll let my guard down?" Zoro questioned, supposedly not surprised by the news. "It still won't work out for you."
"I know it wouldn't work," Fixit flatly responded, "If you were actually foolish, I would've done that earlier."
"Hearing that is only going to strengthen my abilities," The swordsman growled, sweating for a minute. "And your pain as well."
"But if you believe this will make us fight harder, then why bother telling us?" Brook wondered, getting over his shock.
"Because there's no point in it," Fixit answered, "Fighting, I mean. It won't change the end result."
Zoro stifled a chuckle, finding his foe's declaration funny.
"Really?" He laughed again as the sword he held in his mouth gleamed, "And what makes you think you can kill us all?"
"You've seen the skills I possess," The mechanic's glowered, "You've seen my tolerance of pain. And despite my figure, I possess amazing strength."
"Well, either you're strong, or you're not me."
"Big words, coming from a killer. But can you fight as well as you boast?"
"How about we see if you have what it takes to kill me?"
"Alright, fine," Fixit scoffed, dashing to Zoro and engaging in a clash with him. "Let's see who the better fighter is!"
With a grunt, the swordsman pushed Fixit back, spinning his body around once and creating a tornado with his blades.
"Tatsu Maki!"
Fixit leaped away from the twister, switching from a sword to a wrench on his right hand.
"Smooth Jaws!" His effort to swipe at Zoro across his face with the wrench was denied due to Kitetsu intercepting it.
"Back Saw!" The marine raised his left sword and tried to cleave Zoro, but he blocked that as well.
"Two Gorilla Cut!" Flexing his biceps, Zoro motioned for all three of his katana to strike Fixit, but he dodged in time.
"Wrench Pressure!" He proceeded to use his wrench to push a blast of air into Zoro, only for him to sidestep it and follow up with...
"Tiger Trap!" The strike was blocked by Fixit again, and he shoved the three blades away from him.
"I can't get back in there..." Brook tried to gather the strength to move in vain, "But I wish I could..."
"Save it, man," Usopp held the taller man close, "It's out of your hands now. If Zoro loses, we're next."
"Don't you lose to him, Moss-head," Sanji anxiously lit another cigarette after throwing the previous one aside, "Don't you dare..."
"Hand Saw!" Fixit's horizontal cut did nothing but make a tear in Zoro's shirt, centimeters away from grazing his skin.
"108 Caliber Phoenix!" At close range, the bandana man launched a phoenix-shaped wind blast with his swords, which Fixit narrowly escaped, though a piece of his jumpsuit did not.
"Black Flail!" Extending the strap, the mechanic gyrated his wrench around him clockwise a few times before switching to counter-clockwise, hitting Zoro in his side.
"Grrrrrrrr...!" He growled, beginning to charge at his foe full force with a suped-up signature move.
"Charming Demon Sleepless Night..." Zoro crossed his arms, contorting his swords for added effect, and took off like a shot.
"One Giri!"
Fixit leaped over him, turning to punch him with his left fist while holding his sword. The jab connected with his nose, and he quickly delivered a kick to the swordsman in his stomach, making him cough some blood.
"Back Saw!" He cut open Zoro's shirt in a perfectly symmetrical fashion before thrusting his wrench into a torn open wound, then headbutting him in succession.
"GAH!" Zoro's attempts to take them on the chin were failing fast, and he engaged in another clash with the lean man, struggling to overpower him.
'I'm losing ground quickly...!' He thought, seething from his straining stitches. 'He can tolerate his own wounds while fighting me, but he's also striking me in mine to keep me from winning!'
"As a boastful man once said," Fixit repeated the words of his foe, "'Either you're strong, or you're not me.'"
"You know," Zoro lightly chuckled, "That's probably the most damaging thing you've done to me since this fight."
"Then allow me to do better..." Fixit purposely eased his strength and twirled to the side, letting Zoro push past him. He smacked the back of Zoro's head with his dao's blunt side, further sending him away.
The swordsman swatted behind him but missed as the mechanic used his wrench to knock Wado out of his jaws' grasp. He was kicked by Fixit again, this time with so much force, another wound reopened.
"GAH!"
His opponent got out his other sword and swung it at Kitetsu III with Zoro's grip on it loosened, making him drop it.
Zoro held onto Shusui and blocked at least two more sword strikes from Fixit before scratching blades with him again. The mechanic quickly disarmed Zoro after stomping on an ankle and kicking him back.
"Bone Cutter!" Fixit crossed his swords and released a jagged slash with a swift motion, and Zoro was struck by it, almost flying for a moment until he collapsed, a geyser of blood spewing from his midsection while his mouth had red all over.
"ZORO!" Usopp and Brook cried, unable to believe what they saw.
"No...!" Franky watched as a horrified expression plastered his face.
"Son of a bitch...!" Sanji seethed, getting into position for a running start. "If only he didn't take Luffy's pain...!"
"HACK!" Zoro coughed some red droplets, doing his best to move. However, the slight hint of effort gave him more agony for his mind to tell him to quit.
'Shit, I lost...' He cursed mentally, laying on his back. 'I got careless, and I couldn't focus... Why...?'
"Shi-Shi-Shi-Shi-Shi!" Luffy's laughter echoed for Zoro's ears as he looked to the dark sky, forlorn.
'I was more worried about him than myself. That's it. But besides that...'
He shut his eyes and bared his teeth, writhing from his injuries.
'I failed him. I failed Luffy. Ever since I did what I did...'
"I must admit, you are very strong," Fixit stood above Zoro as he clutched his swords, holding his life in his hands. "But still, a pirate proud of spilling blood is someone who shouldn't be allowed to exist. Hearing about you, I have decided to end your life here and now. You can't be allowed to live."
"Is that why...?" Zoro rasped, "Why you fight? Do you really believe that crap about pirates?"
"The ones I've met enjoy killing. The pirates that get off on the destruction and misery they leave in their wake are the most contemptible. Pirates... Like yourself."
"I don't... *COUGH!* ...Enjoy killing that much. It's not a game. It's life or death."
"It is indeed. And in your case, it's death for you."
Fixit then decided to raise his swords above Zoro's face, attempting to slice his skull into three pieces.
"No...!" Sanji ran at Fixit, hoping to kick him before he could kill the swordsman.
"True Liar Cutter!"
"We'll be out of here in no time!" Henley shouted, landing on the ground with his spider legs. With his arrival, Fixit took notice and held off on finishing it. "I took care of the battleships! No one can stop us now!"
"Henley," Fixit blinked under his green goggle lens, getting off of his enemy. Zoro took the time to grab his katana and back away from him. Sanji stood on guard, watching his every move. "So, you've joined them..."
"Hey, Fixit," The redheaded hybrid sheepishly smiled, "This... looks bad, huh?" His expression changed when he saw Zoro's many wounds. "Oh my god. That's... You need help with that?"
"I wouldn't want any from you," Zoro growled, removing his bright red shirt.
"Well, you're getting some anyway."
Henley quickly created cobwebs from his wrists, wrapping them around Zoro's body as fast as possible. They stopped the bleeding and appeared to have no effect on Zoro's mobility even though it stung to move a little.
"Just keep that on you until you can get stitched up."
"This doesn't change what I think about you..." Zoro coldly remarked.
"I get it, I get it."
"The fact that you have a bounty..." The mechanic muttered, clenching the blade in his right hand tightly. "And now, you're using what the commander taught you against us..."
"Wait, Fixit!" Henley pleaded, "It's not like that! I just don't want the captain of these guys to die! This is happening because of me!"
"You joined them because you drove the captain into this? I thought you turned on us..."
"I said, 'It's not like that!' How many times do I have to say it?"
"You've been wanted since my commander and my partners knew you. I don't understand how this could happen, but it can't be my concern right now."
"Listen, I never asked to be labeled as a criminal in the first place! You have to understand, I never wanted my life to turn out this way! I-"
"Quiet!" Fixit shouted, "I told you I don't want to hear it! My judgment is compromised because of you and Straw Hat Luffy!"
"Oh, come on!" Henley rolled his eyes, "How did I affect your judgment anyway?!
"My belief that criminals should be punished, regardless of what drove them to that life, has always stayed true! Then the commander doubts himself on what is right because of the pirate, and for the record, I get it, but orders are orders! And now, I learn from him that you are wanted by the marines!"
"Just don't compare me to the pirates you don't like! I'm not a murderer!"
"I believe you," Fixit calmed down, "But you shouldn't be here allying yourself with these other pirates."
"This is a temporary alliance," Henley stated, close to having a migraine and an aneurysm. "This is so I can atone for what happened to the captain."
"I don't care what you call it," Zoro scoffed, placing Wado in its sheath for a moment. "You're garbage and you won't ever be forgiven. Not by me or anyone-"
"I KNOW, RORONOA ZORO!" Henley bellowed, "YOU DON'T HAVE TO KEEP SAYING THAT, GODDAMMIT!"
"Franky!" Chopper came running out of the base in Heavy Point, carrying a large fridge. "There's some cola in here, along with some milk!"
"Super timing, Reindeer-Gorilla!" Franky cheered, moving to him so he could lighten the load.
"Milk?" Brook looked up, attempting to move to where the shipwright is running to. "I would like some..."
"Hey, Chopper!" Usopp trudged slowly with the musician, "Brook needs some milk!"
'Those pirates can't defend themselves,' The marine realized, looking at the two who are walking together, 'Attacking someone who can't fight is honorless, but shouldn't I thin the number of pirates I'll have to deal with...?'
"What the hell do you think you're doing...?" The man with three swords glared hard, seeing Fixit eye his crewmates.
"All pirates, regardless of history, must be punished," Fixit silently responded, "That's the rule I have always followed since my enlistment, my end of a normal life. I have always carried that out... And my beliefs are violated."
"Fixit..." Henley watched as he spoke to himself, "I knew you hated pirates, but not enough to kill them, I hope..."
"However, I still have some integrity, and I won't attack those who choose not to fight."
"You better not," Zoro hissed, "To attack someone with their back turned is shameful..."
"Zoro..." Usopp whispered, carrying Brook with him to Franky and Chopper.
"Brook!" Chopper went back to Brain Point, running to him and the sniper. "What happened to your chest?!"
"It got broken..." He muttered, "Can you give me some milk?"
"I gotcha, buddy," Franky took a swig of cola as he grabbed a carton from the fridge, passing it to him. "Here."
"Well," Sanji peered at the intense stare down between Zoro and Fixit, "I can't say he doesn't have standards after that. Doesn't mean I want to give him any credit, though."
"My showing up did keep him from getting killed by Fixit," Henley crossed his arms, closing his eyes sadly. "But that's another friendship between me and someone ruined."
"Ah," Brook sighed, feeling his bones reform and reconnect. "Thank you for that, Chopper. This crew would've had half of a dead musician if you didn't show up."
"That won't make me happy, Brook!" The doctor couldn't help but do his usual dance, "Quit complimenting me!"
"Franky!" Robin called out, keeping her arms crossed as sprouted arms carried weapons across the field. Behind her was a large pile of guns, swords, polearms, broken pieces of wood, and even rocks. "Is this enough supplies for a bridge to be made?"
"It just might be, Nico Robin!" Franky posed, slamming his forearms together. "Your work was SUPER~!"
"By the way," She motioned for a pile of bazookas and small pistols, "You can use this pile for ammunition."
"You're so thoughtful!" The cyborg gave her a thumbs-up with his eyes almost twinkling.
"This plan would've failed, though," The cook looked over Henley's shoulder, "And I think we know who's at fault here."
"Who, me?" The hybrid pointed at himself, "...Well, then again..."
"Mr. Henley, if you don't mind my saying so," The musician proceeded to point out, "Your plan seems to be all over the place."
"I know, it's not as great as I wish it was," He agreed, nodding. "But I'm a scientist, not a strategist. My plans are more focused on getting results, even if it means taking complicated measures."
"Is that why you thought attacking Luffy the first minute you met him was a good idea?" Usopp made a snarky comment, raising an eyebrow.
"Or giving him a chemical liquid that threw him into a depression?" Chopper chimed in, crossing his small arms.
"Or trying to fight us all at once?" Franky planted a thumb under the middle cleft of his chin.
"W-Well..." Henley felt disheartened, "If I didn't lose the last few years of my memories... Who am I kidding? That's not even a good excuse..."
"You're helping us," Brook reassured, "And you know what you did was wrong when you realized it. You have my respect."
"Thank you, sir," The redheaded hybrid felt a little better after hearing that, "I should go now. Commander Beau-Père is in that detention center, and Nami's likely in a tough fight."
"I've been waiting around too long," Sanji stomped his cigarette into the ground, "It's time for us to go, now!"
"Franky," Robin spoke up, "We need the bridge."
"Alright!" The shipwright ran to where the drawbridge once was, "I'll make the greatest bridge known to man!"
"Without any additional features, please."
"Aw, what?!" Franky's mood went sour, comedically collapsing to the dirt. "But I wanted to make something super..."
"Time matters now, more than ever!" Henley proceeded to inform as the shipwright got back up and headed off, "I heard that the marines are looking for your pirate ship, as we speak! Besides that, a large wave of them will surround this base and try to keep us from leaving!"
"And you didn't think to tell us the bad news first?!" Sanji exclaimed.
"All right, that's my bad. But don't forget what's important here! I'll get in the detention center and-"
"Oh no, you don't!" Sanji raised his leg up, almost willing to kick the hybrid. "What makes you think we'll let you do as you please?!"
"I could've left you all to die or get captured by these guys, but I still chose to stay and make amends. Also, you don't know Beau-Père as I do. A straight fight-"
"I know! But I'm not going to fight him, I'm going to save Luffy and Nami!"
"But what about the marines?!" Usopp queried, "What about the Sunny?!"
"Some of us have to run to the ship as quickly as possible to defend it from the marines," The archeologist concluded, "While the rest of us safeguard Luffy's escape from this base."
"I leave this in your hands," Henley spawned four spider legs from his back, moving to Usopp and handing him a few of his grenades. "You'll need this more than me."
"Uhh, thanks?" The liar didn't know that to think of that but accepted them anyway.
"Don't worry. Everything will soon be fine."
Leaving the pirates with some assurance, Henley leaped for the detention center.
"Like hell I'm trusting you to handle this!" The cook roared, rushing after the hybrid.
"Sanji!" Chopper cried out, "Come back!"
"Forget him, Chopper," Usopp watched as Franky used the large pile of weapons and debris to create materials for a bridge platform.
"He's right," Robin agreed, "You and Usopp need to go back to the Sunny. We can't leave it unguarded."
"Yeah, but we might need Brook to go with us," The sniper thought aloud, "I'm almost out of my ammunition, and Chopper can't keep up with fighting after he uses his second Rumble Ball."
"I can't leave without Luffy!" The skeleton objected, "Besides, I've restored my energy to fight! Zoro can't hold his own for long with his wounds!"
*CLANG!* *CLANG!*
Zoro and Fixit continued their duel, countering one attack after another, hoping to get an advantage over the other man.
"You're still fighting, even with such injuries?" The marine questioned, blocking a left strike. "Putting you down will be a challenge."
"When I'm through," Zoro intensely concentrated, "You'll wish you killed me when you had the chance."
"Mr. Zoro!" Brook exclaimed, "Let me help you out!"
"This is my fight now, Brook," Zoro pushed Fixit away from him, for a few meters. "I won't lose my concentration again."
'I lost my focus worrying too much about Luffy,' He mentally mused, 'That gave this guy time to attack my wounds. Even so, I can win. I just have to put away my doubts and forget about the pain...'
"I can't leave you to fend for yourself alone! Your wounds...!"
"I've lived through worse...! I'll be fine! If you're needed to go, then go!"
"The bridge is complete!" Franky shouted, having completed the platform of metal and wood. "Usopp, Chopper, get outta here now! Robin and I can handle things here!"
After a pause that felt like an eternity, Brook conceded.
"Don't let your guard down again," He said to the swordsman, "Pain can be mentally blocked out, but a single strike can make a difference."
"Thanks, Brook," Zoro nodded, giving him a rare smile of appreciation. He removed Wado from its place and held it in his mouth.
The musician ran over to the new bridge, seeing Usopp and Chopper leave the stronghold. Outside the walls, they could see around a few hundred marines march up the trail, armed to the teeth.
"We can't fight every one of these guys," The sniper took of a grenade's pin and put the object into the sling of his Kabuto, "So we'll go around them."
"Will this even work?" Chopper wondered, transforming to Walk Point.
"No better time to find out," Brook watched as Usopp fired the grenade, landing in front of a group of marines and detonating a sound blast. The result was some of them dropping their weapons to cover their ears.
"Wow..." Chopper stared in awe, "I didn't know that guy's grenades could do that!"
"Admire later," Usopp straddled the reindeer, "We gotta get back to our ship!"
"Let's go!" Brook shouted, and the three rocketed around the moat posthaste, hoping the marines didn't capture the Sunny.
"I'll take on every man that dares to come in here!" Franky bellowed, just about stocked up on ammo.
"I'm counting on you both," Robin stated.
"That man talks with confidence," Fixit noted, having heard the cyborg's claim. "But he won't be able to handle me after fighting Scorcher. When I'm through with you, that is."
"He won't have to," The swordsman held firm, "I just take you down, and that'll be the end of it."
"But I'm not actually done yet," Fixit mumbled, "I still have a few tricks up my... No, that wouldn't be a good metaphor, considering this trick is my arm."
Placing the dao swords behind his back, he began to remove the glove on his left hand. He rolled the sleeve of his jumpsuit up, revealing a metal arm underneath. Steam shot from the wrist as his mechanical hand was exposed, ejecting more hot air.
"A metal arm?" Zoro questioned, looking at the mechanic. "You're a cyborg?"
"A few years ago," Fixit disclosed, "My commander took me and the men I trained with on a mission to reclaim a stolen vessel. The short version, I lost my left arm to some savage pirates after losing a fight. Now, I've replaced the arm I've lost with this."
"If I had to guess, this was where you got your hatred for pirates."
"Indeed. My enmity for pirates stems from the ones who robbed me of my arm and stole the lives of my fellow officers... The Sideshow Pirates."
"The Sideshow Pirates?" Zoro wondered curiously, even though the battle had nothing to do with that.
"They murdered all the marines aboard the ship we needed to reclaim, along with our own group. Me, the commander, Seventy, and Scorcher were the only ones who survived and fled. We had no choice but to do so, as we were outnumbered and weak."
"And because of that, you hate pirates."
"Don't try to downplay or mock my motives, Roronoa," Fixit's left hand ejaculated some more steam, "You haven't seen what I've seen. The stench of death, the pile of men and women, all gone, and the tormenting laughter of those monsters... Freaks!"
"You look at my crew, and you decide we're no different from them?" Zoro shook his head, "If you guys were sent to capture Luffy, you should've done your homework better."
"I don't care about the lives you pirates used to live. I don't care if you actually did good things for others. That won't change my orders or my perception of good and evil."
"It really shouldn't, but you could still feel enlightened by what you learn."
"Lectured by a man who relishes the spill of blood..." Fixit's left arm opened up, causing hot steam to shoot out the open gaps. "I won't hear any more of it. Not from you."
Rising from the split hand that sank into the mechanical arm was a long, cone-shaped drill that began to turn, letting out a whirring sound.
"What the hell...?" Zoro quirked an eyebrow, eying the spinning drill.
"My Drill Arm Attachment," Fixit slowly drudged toward Zoro, "This is my secret weapon, used for tearing into walls and buildings. You're lucky, mainly because I have never used this on an enemy before."
"You're going to kill me in a gruesome way? I thought you hated the idea of people dying in ways like that."
"I do, just as much as I hate pirates. But this is for pragmatic reasons. To kill you, it must be in a way where no one could survive."
"And you're singling me out because...?"
"I've read up on your background. Before you joined the Straw Hat Pirates, you have killed some people before. And with your bounty as the second highest in the crew, it would be better to kill you than take you alive."
"So this isn't because you're callous and want me, a dangerous pirate dead?"
"Rotary Thrust!" Fixit propelled straight for Zoro, who rolled on his back to escape the drill.
"Well, that nerve's touched," The swordsman lifted himself up, moving back when Fixit attempted to swat him with the drill.
"Don't insinuate that I enjoy this!" Fixit growled, "I don't! I hate fighting! But I chose to be a marine to protect people! Protect them from the pirates kill and slaughter for the satisfaction! And in my opinion, you fit the bill!"
"I've killed some people in the past, but not for the reasons you think!" Zoro took a fighting stance, ready to counter if needed. "If anyone tried to kill me, I'd do them in first. That's how I've always acted. But let me tell you the difference between me and the pirates you hate."
"Whatever you say, it won't change what I'll do to you," The mechanic held himself back, allowing Zoro to speak his peace.
"I don't attack civilians."
"...Really?" Fixit flatly questioned, appearing unconvinced.
"Really," Zoro replied through Wado, "My crew doesn't like to hurt people when they don't deserve it, whether good or bad. Think of it as you wish. I just want you to know that not all pirates are like the ones that you hate."
Fixit paused, considering what the Pirate Hunter told him. He could remember his interactions with Commander Beau-Père back in the afternoon, who expressed his moral dilemma to him.
"From what the commander believes," The marine spoke up, holding the monkey wrench in his right hand. "Your captain didn't deserve to be arrested. I won't explain the details, but he perceived the young pirate to be good."
"He did?" Zoro blinked once, "And what then?"
"I told him regardless of what we believe, we still have a job. As someone who broke the law, he had to be brought in. I never thought he was needed to be executed, but here we are."
"You have your sense of loyalty, and I have mine. We both don't want to go back on it because of what's going on with our situation. The winner of this fight is whoever has the greater devotion for their flag."
(BGM: Zoro's Nine Blades ~I don't have time for your acrobatics!~, One Piece Movie 10: Strong World)
"Remember, I will still bring you down because of how dangerous you are. I can't hold back at this point in the battle."
"I'd be a little disappointed if you didn't try to," Zoro commented, exuding a strong, almost demonic aura that could make a normal person cower at the sight.
Fixit nodded his head, feeling great intensity from his enemy.
'He's easily standing up,' He thought, 'It looks like the physical wounds weren't the only thing holding him back.'
'This is for you, Luffy,' Zoro steeled himself, 'Whether you forgive me or not, I will never do anything to disrespect you again.'
A few seconds passed, and the swordsman and the mechanic charged at each other. Katana had met the cold wrench and twirling stone cutter.
"Smooth Jaws!" Fixit intended to hit Zoro in his face, but he easily blocked it without trouble.
Just then, Fixit tried to swing his drill into Zoro's side, but it was blocked as well. He had crossed Kitetsu III and Shusui together and lifted the drill above him, sparks flying off of it.
'My drill can't break the blades?!' Fixit shouted in his head, 'How?!'
Zoro pushed the drill away from him, taking the chance to slice Fixit's wrench in half.
Noticing himself to be down a weapon, the marine grabbed one of his dao swords, swiping but missing twice.
"You can't beat me with weak attacks like that!" Zoro mocked, his aura growing heavier and stronger than before.
"Then how about this?!" Jumping backward, Fixit quickly tapped a button on his drill arm and pointed it at Zoro. "Dodge if you can, Roronoa Zoro!"
"Rotary Cyclone!" What followed was a gust of wind jettisoning like a funnel, with the front of it morphing into a twirling drill. It was too massive for Zoro to block, so he had to try and dodge it. However, small slashes ejected from the cyclone, leaving cut marks on his shoulders, arms, legs, even his front.
The blast went on until it collided with part of the barricade, breaking the inner and outer walls. Only then did it dissipate, blowing away dust from where it struck.
The swordsman darted past Fixit, cutting one of his swords when the two clanged together.
'What the hell?!' Fixit saw his dao broken, flabbergasted by his opponent's newfound strength. The probability of his defeat increased, but he didn't want to admit it.
"Demon Aura..." Feeling something click in him, Zoro began to project four extra arms and two heads on both sides of his body, each holding blades in their hands and jaws.
"Nine Sword Style: Asura!"
"Rotary Cyclone!" The mechanic tried his powerful blast again, hoping Zoro would actually attempt to stand his ground. To his surprise, he was doing so.
Slashing once with six of his swords, Zoro countered the compressed gale and forced it to disperse completely.
"ROTARY THRUST~!" Fixit took off his goggles, and with it, some form of rationality, rushing at Zoro with his active drill.
"ASURA PIERCING DRILL~!" Zoro responded in kind, swinging all of his swords in a motion similar to spinning.
With their attacks, the two stopped with their backs turned on each other, meters away from where they clashed for the final time. Even the air halted breath, anticipating the outcome.
Franky and Robin saw the scene, the former anxious for who the winner would be, while the latter hid her expressions with a poker face.
After a few eerie seconds of silence...
"UGH!" Fixit gasped as blood poured from his mouth and seeped from the nine cuts on his body, overlapping the previous ones he gained from the battle. He looked to see his drill arm break apart into segments, landing on the ground. It would be the last thing he saw before losing sight of the world around him.
'This...' He thought as he collapsed, 'Power... So... strong...'
"Go try..." Zoro panted, sheathing his swords one by one. "And fix yourself up now... You son of a bitch...!"
"You did it, Zoro..." Robin quietly sighed, "You got him."
The swordsman was close to passing out, but he still kept standing, taking heavy breaths of air. He pressed his hands against his left side, noticing a large gash that wasn't there before.
"Huh..." He murmured, "He came close to getting me there..."
"You're bleeding out!" Franky rushed over, "We'll take you back to the ship and Chopper can-"
"No," The swordsman shook his head, taking a few steps. But with such large wounds, he began to bleed out more. "I'll be fine. Luffy needs us now."
"Zoro," Robin addressed, "Nami is handling it. Even if she is in trouble, Sanji and Henley are there to-!"
"What are you saying...?!" Zoro seethed with reddened teeth, "We can't trust that little shit with Luffy's life...! Besides that, the witch has failed. If she isn't here by now, then where does that leave us...?!"
"Look," Franky tried to reassure him, "We've had some problems when we fought these marines, but we got through them! Nami's trying her best to save Luffy-!"
"Well, if she was trying, we would've heard from her by now, wouldn't we...?! You should've known better than to let her, of all people, try to help Luffy! Letting a weak, useless-!"
"Enough, Zoro!" Robin scolded with a soul-piercing glare, pulling him to her by his shoulder.
"Oh shit," The shipwright whispered, stepping back.
"I have had enough of you and your comments to the navigator of our ship!" She shouted, "I don't know what Luffy saw in you when he selected you to be in his crew!"
The air went cold and the three remaining Straw Hats were quiet.
"I-I'll watch for the other marines..." Franky wisely backed away, taking another cola bottle and drinking it.
"R-Robin," Zoro tried to talk, only for the knowledgeable woman to put a finger on his lips.
"Don't say another word," She commanded with tranquil fury, "You have done nothing but piss me off to no end with your kind of talk. When this is over, you better apologize to Nami."
"A-Apologize?"
"What did I just say?" The archeologist's face darkened, her patience driven at the end.
This was Zoro's hint to keep quiet, and he forced himself to do so.
"Now then, I understand you two get along as well as cats and dogs, but you have blamed her for the flag incident for the last time. That is on all of us."
Zoro raised a finger, indicating he wants to state something else. Sighing, Robin let him.
"This isn't just about that incident," He added, "It's also about the last few days. About the incident with Shiki, about that runt and his role in Luffy's predicament, about the respect he should've gotten when we each joined him."
"And yet," Robin scoffed, "You chose to blame Nami for everything, even your own faults."
"I..." Zoro tried to retort that statement, but he couldn't.
"You acknowledge your disrespect to Luffy, but you still find reasons to belittle Nami for everything she does wrong."
"She betrayed us one time. If you were there..."
"What would I do, Zoro?" Robin released her hold on him and crossed her arms, "Did you forget I worked for Crocodile?"
"No, I didn't! My opinion on you changed when it turned out you weren't as bad as the world made you out to be. Nami, on the other hand-"
"Has had a similar experience, from what I can tell."
"Similar?!" The swordsman exclaimed, "She cheats, steals, manipulates everyone into siding with her-!"
"She did no such thing when you put the light on her, Zoro," Robin calmly reminded him, "She admitted her guilt and wanted to atone by rescuing Luffy, even though she was initially worried about making him worse. This was her decision."
"Where are you going with this?!"
"I'm only saying, if you were as loyal to Luffy as you made yourself out to be, you could have run into the detention center yourself. You even could have disregarded the plan entirely, all for his sake."
"So?!"
"You went along with this plan, placing your trust in Henley, even though you hated him."
"W-Well, I just didn't want to trust the witch with-"
"Trust her with what?" Robin queried, "The planning, or with rescuing Luffy herself?"
"Okay, wait a minute!" Zoro slightly raised his voice, holding his side. "I never trusted her when she joined, I never trusted her when this plan was made by the runt! I never said I had faith in her saving Luffy at all!"
"But you see, Zoro," Robin shook her head, slightly smiling. "You are leaving your trust in her. By accepting your role, you're hoping for her to convince Luffy to come back."
"I'm not doing shit!"
"You fought with one of the biggest obstacles of this plan, and you came out on top. With this done, Luffy's escape is guaranteed."
"But there's also the commander of this place! She can't fight him!"
"No one said she had to, either. If she's stuck, all she needs to do is free Luffy, and he'll take care of everything else. Plus, there's also Sanji and Henley, who went inside that place."
Zoro went silent, taking off the bandana on his head and seeing the detention center with his own two eyes.
"If Luffy does escape," He spoke up, "It might be only because he has unfinished business with us, not because he wants to stay. Chances are he won't want to stick around after what he did."
"I won't blame him for that," Robin nodded, "But I'd rather him be alive than dead."
"Yeah..." The swordsman agreed, shifting a little, and not because of his injuries.
"You should at least apologize to Nami afterward," Robin looked to him, "Even if you dislike her as much as Sanji, just remember she wasn't the root cause."
Zoro sighed, taking a few steps away from the archeologist.
"I can't apologize to her, Robin," He answered her, "Because I meant it when I told her she was useless and always will be, despite being the crew's navigator. I can't take back what I said easily. But..."
Zoro turned his head to his side, stoically looking behind him.
"I'll be a little less hard on her. She is trying, after all."
"That's all I'll get, I suppose," Robin sighed, partly unsatisfied with what she received.
"HEY~!" Franky called out to Zoro and Robin, firing a cannonball from his left arm. "These marines are coming in! Let's push 'em back!"
"Well, shall we go?" Robin raised an eyebrow, running to the drawbridge area.
"If my body can't cooperate, I'll make it!" Zoro unsheathed his swords, prepared to fight once more.
'Don't die after everything we've done, Nami,' He thought, looking at the detention center for a final time before running off. 'Luffy, please don't give up on everything.'
The marines of the G-13 Base were almost defeated. Fixit is now beaten, along with Scorcher and Seventy, making the escape of Monkey D. Luffy that much easier. However, what the Straw Hat Pirates don't know, is that the plan is threatened, and not by Commander Beau-Père himself...
TO BE CONTINUED...