Chapter 27: Secrets and Welcome to Hell

I do not own One Piece! That will always belong to Eiichiro Oda! I only own my OC's.

Blade was keeping an eye out for Marcus, Nami, and Zanfar's return when he was joined by Ryder who was supposed to resting. "Aren't ye supposed to be resting?" the sawtooth asked his old shipmate who slowly limped up.

"How can I rest after hearing that bellow?" the black tiger shark said. Ryder looked at the old sawtooth looking uncomfortable for some reason. "Blade, I just saw the young tiger shark that came with the others."

"Kaiuleale?" Blade said as he looked at him. "What of him?"

"Has he told you or Longtooth anything?"

"Only that brother of yers killed his father," the old pirate looked at Ryder oddly. "Why would it matter to ye?"

Ryder was silent as he closed his eyes. "Because he is my son," he said.

"Yer son?!" Blade was wide-eyed in shock and surprise. "How do ye even know that? Ye only said ye just saw the lad now."

"I know he is," Ryder said. "His mother was my brother's wife and it wasn't loved I can tell when it came to her. Stryker kidnapped her when she still a child and do not ask why because even I do not know the answer. He made her his wife when she became a proper age."

"Hold old?" Blade looked at him.

"She was only fourteen when Stryker...took her," Ryder looked like he was going to be sick.

"That damn bastard," Blade said. "That brother of yers is lower than sea scum."

"I know he is," Ryder said nodding sadly. "I'm sorry for everything that happened to you and the rest of our crew. If I could go back and stop what happened-,"

Blade rested on hand on Ryder's shoulder. "I know ye would if ye could. Ye was nothing like yer brothers and yet ye followed them."

"I know I did, and I wish deep down I hadn't."

"So, what made you finally open your eyes then?"

Both shark men looked to see Longtooth coming up to them and before Ryder could answer, they received a surprise visitor. Kaiuleale having followed Longtooth went right up to Ryder and staring the other tiger right in the eyes.

"Your brother murdered my father," the young tiger shark said. "A father I know nothing about! What did my father do to lose his life at that crazy bastard's hand?! Tell me!"

"Is that what your mother told you? Is that the story she told you?" Ryder asked looking at Kaiuleale with such sadness.

"Are you accusing her of lying to me?" Kaiuleale was clearly growing upset at the thought of his own mother lying to him. "Why would she ever do that?! What reason would she have to even do that?!"

"To protect you from the truth boy," Ryder said.

"What truth would that be?" Longtooth asked looking at Ryder long and hard. "What are you not telling any of us, Ryder?"

"Mate, there be no reason for ye to question Ryder like that," Blade said feeling the need to come to Ryder's aid. "Right now, ye should be more concerned for the safety of our captain."

Longtooth glared at Blade. "Of course, I'm concerned for the captain," the mako said. "I'm worried to death that something awful has happened to him! I don't want a repeat of that night!"

"Of course, ye don't," Blade said. "Neither does Ryder or even me be wanting that to be happening."

"Kaiuleale, let's go somewhere quiet and I will-," Ryder said feeling the need to find a place that was quiet.

Kaiuleale shook his head, "Longtooth asked you a question and you should answer it."

Never had Ryder felt so trap as he did at that moment and he had wished to speak to Kaiuleale in private, but that was not going to happen. Not now. "You want the truth, Longtooth? Fine. I will tell you." The black tiger gave a sigh. "The boy's mother was the wife of my brother."

"What?!" Longtooth was shocked.

For Kaiuleale it was far worse as he backed up, shaking his head. "No," he said. "You're lying! My mother was not a wife to that monster! She never would have-,"

"It is true," Ryder said. "What would convince you of the truth? He names? What she looked like or the pendant she always uses to wear?" He saw Kaiuleale's stiffen at the mention of the pendant. "Yes, I know of the pendant she always wore. It was tear-shaped and it was aquamarine birthstone was it not?

"It was," Kaiuleale said in a very sharky voice as his eyes welled of in tears. "Then you're not lying?"

"I am not."

"Ryder is saying that Kaiuleale is...the son of your brother?" Longtooth asked as he looked at the young tiger.

"He is not," Ryder said. "He is my son."

"What?!" Longtooth and Kaiuleale both looked at him.

Before Ryder could explain further, they heard the loud ringing neigh as Zanfar came charging back in with Marcus, Nami, and Skie on his back. Saw in her true form had followed and the guardian did not look well.

"Quick," Marcus said. "We need Riptide's Kiribachi!"

"I'll get it," Kaiuleale said as he took off running.

"Where's the captain?" Longtooth asked.

"We arrived too late," Marcus said bitterly. "Stryker took him."

"What?" Blade was wide-eyed at the news. "Ye saying that mad devil has the captain?"

"Afraid so," Zanafar said remaining in his demon horse form.

Kaiuleale had returned with the kiribachi to which Marcus took. "Here Saw," the longfin mako spoke gently to the guardian. "You rest and regain your strength."

Thank you Hiijiji. Saw said to Marcus as she returned to the marked blade.

"The guardian did not look well," Ryder said. "What happened?"

"Stryker drugged her and Riptide," Skei said. She looked at Longtooth knowing what she was about to say was going to hurt the mako, but she had to tell him. "Longtooth, Overbite is dead."

"Dead?" Longtooth blinked at the news of his son's death. "How?"

"He decided to attack Riptide when he unconscious and Saw...she killed him," the female sawtooth said.

"The damn fool," Blade said. "He should have known better than to be doing that."

Longtooth said nothing. My only child dead. Where did I go wrong as a father? He thought sadly. Where did I fail with him?

Marcus saw the look on his face, and he knew what he was thinking. "Longtooth, don't go blaming yourself for what has happened," he said. "If you do that then you be having that very guilt eat away at your soul."

"How do you even know what I'm feeling right now, Marcus?" the older mako said with a hint of anger.

"I know what it feels like to fail as a father," Marcus said. "I failed to be a father to a son I abandon when he was only a child. So, I know what it is like to be failing as a father and I don't know if I can ever fix things between Arlong and me."

"Dad, are you serious about that?"

Marcus and the others turned as Tarlong, Garth, Chizzara, Neeta, Gaff, and Trapper came up to them. Seeing Skie was enough to tell them that the rescue had failed, and they all looked at Marcus. "We arrived a few moments too late," he said bitterly.

"You mean," Trapper said. "That he is dead?"

Zanfar gave a startled snort of flame. "Gods no! Riptide is not dead!"

"If he is not dead," Gaff said. "Then, where is he?"

"A damn prisoner no doubt," Ryder said.

"Then I say we go and get him back," Tarlong said.

Marcus shook his head. "Damn it to hell, Tarl," he said. "Don't be going off halfcocked with some suicidal idea. Nami and I already had this discussion and we agreed it was best not to do it."

"WHAT?!" Longtooth was glaring at Marcus. "You would easier abandon your own grandson? I always thought you were a damn coward, and this proves it."

"What did you just say?!" Marcus had a look of rage on his face.

"You heard me, your spineless coward," Longtooth snapped back.

"THAT'S IT!" Marcus roared. "I HAD IT WITH YOU AND YOUR INSULTS!"

Tarlong and Garth grabbed their father as Blade and Ryder grabbed Longtooth, all of them struggling to keep the two from killing each other. Nami had enough and taking her Sorcery Clima-Tact she hit both Longtooth and Marcus across their faces. Hard. Silence followed as everyone looked at Nami who now keep her head down and her whole body began to tremble. Marcus spat some broken teeth as he looked at the Straw-Hat navigator. Longtooth himself spat some teeth and a little bit of blood as he too looked at the woman.

"How the hell can you two fight when we should be focusing on saving Riptide!" She looked up at them as tears streamed down her face feeling so angry and hurt at the same time. "The two of you rather argue over something so petty instead of thinking about what we can do to get him back! You both should be ashamed of yourselves!"

Marcus hung his head as he silently agreed with her. He was ashamed of himself and Nami did speak the truth. They needed to focus on getting Riptide back instead of headbutting over something stupid. "You're right, Nami," he said. "I'm sorry for being a damn stubborn ass."

"Well at least I know where Arlong got it from," Nami said.

"So, like father like son, eh?" Longtooth said with a snort. "Not surprised there."

Marcus gave him a glare but keep his mouth shut. Nami faced the older mako looking more than ready to give him a very painful beating. Blade smacked his friend alongside the head, "How about ye be apologizing for being a damn ass, ye ass?"

"Apologize?" Longtooth said. "For what?"

"Calling Marcus, a coward was not one of ye best ideas," Blade argued. "So just ye apologize before the mother of our captain gets anymore pissed off."

Before Longtooth could say anything, a rainbow-colored messenger bird arrived landing of Zanfar's back and looked around until the bird saw Nami. "Nami," the bird said imitating Jimbei's voice perfectly. "You need to hurry back. Destiny and Shen have left, and we have no idea where they went."

"Can things get any worse for us?" Gaff said.

"Long has also fallen ill and is crying for you," the bird said.

"Nice going Gaff," Neeta said.

"How is my fault?" the Kuda-shark hybrid asked as he looked at Neeta.

"Nami," Marcus said worriedly. "We need to get back to the temple. I can't risk losing my other grandson."

Nami nodded in agreeance and she was afraid for Long since he did have some health problems when he was little. Also, the thought of Destiny leaving with Shen added to her worry. What reason would her daughter have for doing something that was not only reckless but stupid as well?

"I'll make sure there are Protectors here to guard the town," Longtooth said.

"I will remain behind as well," Ryder said.

"Why should you be doing that?" Longtooth asked him. "Besides you're in no condition to fight if there should be trouble."

"He won't be alone," Kaiuleale said. "I'll remain behind as well."

"If ye two be assisting on remaining behind then I'll stay with ye." Blade said before looking at his old friend. "That way we know there be no trouble without Protectors who might be wanting to kill Ryder."

"Fine," Longtooth said. "Masta, you don't mind remaining and making sure Ryder doesn't reopen any wounds?"

The ancient healer shook his head, "I don't mind at all."

"Good," Marcus said with a nod. "Let's hurry back to the temple and find out why that granddaughter of mine decided to up and leave with her best friend."

~~.~~.~~

"How you are holding up, mate?"

Riptide groaned as he struggled to sit up, his head spinning and felt sick to his stomach. "Like I want to vomit my guts up", he answered.

Ten weeks had passed since Riptide had been locked up with Jones and the two became friends. During that time, the hybrid learned much about his friend. David B. Jones was the descendant of Davy Jones of the Davy Back fights and was at one time been a marine captain, till the incident.

-Flashback-

"Ever heard of an Island called Kinmotsu?" Janes asked.

Riptide shook his head. "No. Why?"

Jones was staring at his right hand for the longest time before he spoke. "It's an island in the Grand Line and is notable for the crescent moon shaped mountain," he said looking at the hybrid. "The World Government was doing experiments there at one time."

"What kind of experiments?"

"Those fools want to end racism and the Fishman race is quite famous for that," Jones said.

"Funny that coming from another Fishman," Riptide replied.

"You think I'm like you!?" snarled his cellmate. "Well, I'm not! I was a man! A human!"

Riptide looked at him, stunned by his words. "Jones, what are you talking about?" he asked. "Are you telling me that you were once a human?"

"Aye, that I was mate. I served in the marines and was a captain. My life was a good one, wife and children, but unfortunately, my past caught up with me and I lost everything," Jones gave a small laugh. "I never thought being a damn descendant of a pirate would cost me everything I had. Somehow those fools in the World Government found out and they arrested me."

"Because your descendant was a pirate?!"

The octopus man nodded. "Instead of sending me to off to some damn prison, they decided to make me part of a unique experiment. You know they once thought they could take a Fish man and make him human."

Riptide looked sick.

Jones nodded. "Scares you doesn't it? Well, that failed after some pirates came and freed those, they imprisoned, and one prisoner was Fish man of that crew. So, after that, they thought some more and decided to do the opposite this time. Take a human and try to make them into a Fishman." He looked at Riptide. "Didn't do a bloody good job, did they?"

"They turned you into-," Riptide never felt such sorrow as he did for the poor soul that shared a cell with him.

"A freak, a monster?" Jones said as his beard of tentacles twisted this way and that way. "That is all I am now. I have no place in this world, no friends nor family."

Riptide shook his head. "You are wrong. You have a least one friend Jones."

The octopus man looked at him in curiosity. "You would call me a friend? Why?"

The hybrid looked at him in the eyes. "I know what it feels like to be a freak. I'm a hybrid of a Fish man and a human mix."

For the first time, Jones smile as he held out his hand. "Well then mate, I'm glad to call you a friend."

-End Flashback-

Riptide continued still to cause of hell for Stryker which pissed the tiger shark off. As punishment, he had ordered that Riptide be kept drugged. Riptide was so drugged that he fell ill. Jones took up the fight and he was worse than Riptide. The guards assigned were so scared of the two they would not set a foot near the cell giving Riptide time to fully recover.

~~.~~.~~

The sound of keys rattling is what caught Riptide's attention at first, but it was the shouting and screaming that filled the corridor that really made him stand up. He went to cage door as the guards roughly herded a group of ten or so Fish men in the cell across from him and Jones or they were trying to. Riptide's eyes widen when he saw they were of the sawtooth species and each was from a different species of Sawtooth. He also noted they were all decorated with tribal tattoos along with colorful beads or small shells necklaces and some of them had strands of their hair braided with beads, brightly colored feathers or both. The guards were treating one the shark men, the eldest one very roughly. The elder sawtooth was shoved hard slamming into the cage door of Riptide and Jones' cell.

"Stop it!" Riptide yelled. "You'll hurt him!"

"Keep your mouth shut," snapped the guard before he shifted his attention to the elder. "Get up you old fool!"

The guard kicked the older sawtooth again which set off the others who came with him. The biggest sawtooth was of the tropical species. His skin was a pale brown with some yellow hew with blue-green hair that had beads and feathers that were braided throughout his long hair. He charged forward only to be met by spears and he snarled with rage.

"Leave Choro alone," he roared.

Riptide and Jones watched he once more tried to come to the aid of the older sawtooth and It was clear he was willing to die to save him.

"Bruton!"

The sawtooth jerked his head to the direction of the voice as did Riptide. The one referred to as Choro lifted his head his eyes meeting the eyes of the one, he called Bruton. "Do not be a reckless fool," he said before the nearest guard kicked him in the ribs.

"You were told to get up," the guard said. "Get your worthless hide up or I will gut you right here and now."

The fuck you will! Riptide thought as he got a strong, powerful grip on the bars and there was a high screeching of metal as the hybrid tore the door from its hinges stepping into the corridor.

The guards realized too late their mistake let alone the very danger they were now in. It became a mad panic as they turned to run just as Riptide hurled the destroyed door at them. Screams were cut short as the heavy door landed on them and those that were lucky quickened their pace.

"The white one is not drugged!" screamed one of the guards.

The cry was enough to alarm every guard within the hearing range and they were quick to spread the very word until it reached Stryker. The black tiger shark flew into a rage. Once more Riptide found a way to deny and insult him something he planned to stop here and now.

"Where is that damn scientist and his bitch of a daughter?" he demanded as he stomped toward the lower depths of the temple and beyond that.

"He is in what he refers to as his lab, milord," answered one of his elite ninjas.

"Go and tell the fool that I will be being him a gift soon," snarled Stryker. "I will see this bastard hybrid damn dead in that lab of his!"

While in the dungeon…

Riptide was causing the worse hell as possible with the aid of the other saw shark men as they met the oncoming rush of guards who died to the very fury of Fishmen and one enraged hybrid. Jones has found the keys to the cells were in the process of freeing the other prisoners, some even joined the battle against their tormentors. At the foot to the stone steps and going up some as well as an impressive force of armed guards and more of Stryker's ninja.

"You're becoming a damn nuisance," Stryker said as he came down the steps and his followers opened a path for him. "I hate such things."

Riptide glared at the very sight of him. "I'm not done yet you fuck bastard," the hybrid spat. "I'm still going to take you down and end your tyranny."

Stryker's eyes narrowed. "For a hybrid, you do a lot of empty promises and I have yet to see you even fulfill one."

"I will fulfill the one I made when I swore to kill you!"

Stryker laughed before he snarled at the hybrid. "Here's your chance," he said. "Come at me, Son of Arlong! Let us see if your father's blood and Fishman strength will prove you the victor this day!"

It was enough of a taunt to have Riptide rush toward him as Stryker secretly smiled evilly inside. The young fool played into his hand just a weighted metal net dropped from above followed by another fell onto the white sawtooth. Those that followed the hybrid barely had time to think as they darted from all sides by ninja that were hidden within secret passaged. Seeing his fellow prisoners all drugged sent Riptide into a rage that surpassed Arlong and even the legendary Fisher Tiger and once more he surprised his enemy as he literally tore the nets apart.

"Impossible!" Stryker said. "How can his Hidden Fury give him the strength to do even that?!"

There was the sound of hissing and Riptide glanced down at the tranquilizer dart that had struck him in the chest. He shook his head fighting the effect of the drug as he staggered forward before, he was hit by two more. His eyes went from Stryker to the figure that was becoming blurred as it moved down the steps. He reached a hand for the black tiger shark before he succumbed to the drugs.

"Took your damn drugs long enough," Stryker said as he barely glanced at the man who walked past him to kneel next to Riptide.

The man was up in age with thinning grey hair and he adjusted his glasses on his nose before he did a quick once over on the drugged hybrid. "You say he is a hybrid?" he asked.

"He is and a damn annoying little bastard as well."

The man continued to check and study Riptide. "He shows no visible appearance of that at all," he murmured. "All the appearance of a normal Fishman of the sawtooth species. Remarkably interesting."

"Do you want the little troublemaker for your experiments?" Stryker asked in irritation.

"Yes," the man said. "Have him brought to my laboratory."

~~.~~.~~

Riptide groaned as he slowly regained consciousness and he tried to move but found he could not. He opened his eyes and found to his shock that he was chained down in a kneeling position. He could not move a single muscle.

"Ah, you're awake."

The hybrid looked up as the man now wearing a lab coat entered the room that Riptide was in. "Who the hell are you and where am I?"

"Let's not worry over names until later, my fine hybrid," he said as he checked over the chains and the locks before he nodded. "Good, good. All nice a secure."

"Secure?" Riptide was looked at him wide-eyed. "W-what are you going to do with me?"

The man smiled in such a way that Riptide felt a sudden wave of fear growing in his heart. "I'm going to find out how your abilities as a hybrid differ from those of the Fishman race," he said giving Riptide an affectionate par on the head. "Now let's get started."

This is not looking good for Riptide at all. Who is this man and what does he have in mind for Riptide? My old friend, Kilnorc and I had once talked about the World Government having this idea of humans being turned fish people and how we both thought it sounded cool. Remember to Read and Review.