I don't own One Piece, that's Eiichiro Oda, but the way the words go together, that's all mine.

Chapter 3 – Marshalling Forces

The next morning…

Some of the merchants of Runess had been rudely awakened this morning. Their homes were invaded, they were drug out of bed in various stages of undress, then frog-marched through the cobblestone streets of their city and up onto the deck of a Marine battleship. Then the outraged shopkeepers had found themselves flung at the feet of a very stern looking young woman. A few protested their outrageous manhandling, but they shut their mouths upon hearing the four most melodious words in all of the world.

Money. Is. No. Object.

The young woman wanted the biggest, she wanted the best, and she wanted it yesterday. The merchants had left the ship, almost skipping down the gangplank, to grant her every wish.

Tashigi sighed and watched the merchants go. Then she looked over her shoulder at Smoker, who was enjoying a cigar at the rail. "Sir? Are you sure?"

"We have to do Headquarters' proud. That means no expense spared."

Tashigi had a sinking suspicion that Smoker wasn't doing this for the glory of Headquarters. "And we kidnapped innocent businesspersons because…"

"Marines Don't Shop."

Tashigi considered the thought of her and Smoker comparison-shopping for a tux or dress. "Absolutely understood, sir."

But the clock was ticking...


At a summer manor outside of the port of Runess…

"Chrissiania, is it true?"

Chrissiania, the eldest daughter of Lord Fop, Mayor of Runess, let the delicate china teacup hover at her rosy lips. "Is what, Anna?"

Her friend, the second daughter of the Baron of Brightwith, Miss Annalinalou, raised her well groomed eyebrow. "Just by that look, darling, I know it's true."

"I must not be following you." Chrissiania glanced at her reflection in the polished silver tea set. She looked as exquisite as a china doll. It had only taken her two hours to apply the makeup; that was a new record.

Annalinalou sighed, wanting confirmation more than the upper hand. "Is it true that a Marine captain is attending tonight's cotillion?"

"Hmm, darling, I don't know. Father deals with trivial details like that," Chrissiania answered. "But one of the servants told me that a Marine ship arrived early this morning."

This is what Annalinalou wanted; gossip, fresh and raw. "Really? How interesting," she murmured.

They continued to talk.


"Where is that intelligence report?" Tashigi cried.

"Here, Sergeant Major!" A Marine sprinted up the gangplank, waving a piece of paper like a flag. Tashigi snatched it from his hand and skimmed it, searching for the detail she needed. "Right. Tailor!"

It was about time, the man thought, as he jumped to his feet. He had been waiting for the woman to make her decision for hours and now he would have only a short time to make her dress. He had his assistants on standby at his shop – but it would be a close thing.

"Show me those colors," she commanded.

He held out his arm, swathed in fabric colors ranging from pink champagne to Merlot. She examined the swatches and found a burgundy satin; from the intelligence report it was the exact same shade of the wine being served tonight. She wasn't taking any chances with spills.

"I want that fabric made into this dress." The dress in the picture was simple – no extraneous decorations to get ripped off, no train to trip over, and no sleeves to end up in the gravy. Tashigi had dubbed it her 'safety' dress.

The tailor gave a simpering smile. "Miss, the fashion - "

"Sergeant Major," she corrected. "And I didn't ask your opinions about the fashions, did I?"

"No, mi-Sergeant Major," he amended hastily. "And will there be anything for the gentleman?"

"Captain," Tashigi said imperiously. "The captain will need a dress shirt and that is all."

"I should just go as I am," Smoker said. "They'd probably send me packing as soon as I stepped in the door."

Tashigi repressed a sigh. Smoker's idea had a logic of sorts; a man's logic though. The two of them, alone, unarmed, were entering a hostile territory where wolves dressed in silk and satin and he wanted to stand out?

"Shirts are usually required at these events, sir," she said diplomatically.

"Ties too?" He hated ties.

"You won't have to wear a tie if you take out your formal uniform, sir," Tashigi suggested. Smoker's face clearly showed what he thought of that idea. "You'd look very dignified, sir."

He hadn't worn it since his promotion ceremony. It was better than wearing a tie, he supposed.

The tailor stepped forward and held up a measuring tape. "If I may, Captain?"

As Smoker endured the indignity of being measured, he once again found himself thinking of what he would do if he got his hands on Brandnew.


Somewhere else…

The stupidity of people amazed him. Of course, if people weren't stupid, his job would be much more difficult.

His partner had been hired as a maid months again. Her mousy looks and servile demeanor helped gain the trust of her employers. Her quick eyes had marked each worthwhile piece in the mansion and had discarded the trash passed off as antiques. Then she had found out about the annual cotillion, which meant more than one hundred rich victims in one place. It was too good a chance to pass up.

He didn't completely trust his partner though. She was young and that meant incompetent, so he had scouted the situation for himself. Since the Mayor's penchant for fancy weapons was well known, he gained access to the estate by pretending to be a weapons merchant. The lord had little taste, preferring ostentatious jeweled pommels and fancy scabbards to real quality craftsmanship. While the lord had mused over the swords, his 'assistants' had been familiarizing themselves with the layout of the mansion, finding easy points for entry and escape.

Tonight's work would be a piece of cake. The nobles and merchants would be taken by surprise and then relieved of all their cumbersome jewelry, money, and expensive baubles. He, his partner, and their gang would circle through the mountains and return to the ship they had moored on the other side of the island. He had no fear of pursuit; the aristocrats might get their clothes dirty after all.

This assignment would go like clockwork and his boss would be pleased. It would further their goals for the glory of the new utopia…


Tashigi's hair hung in her face, obscuring her view. She felt the anger rise from her abdomen to her chest and her lips trembled as she spoke.

"I haven't forgotten our last meeting. You made a fool of me then," she said. "But it won't happen this time!"

She raised her eyes and shouted, "I will not be defeated!"

"Tashigi!" Smoker shouted from the hall.

She threw another withering look at her opponent then went to door and opened it a crack. Smoker was scowling at her. "You weren't rehearsing that speech for Roronoa again, were you?"

"No, sir."

"It's time."

"Yes, sir." She shut the door and grabbed the villainous burgundy heels from their box. She shook them once before putting them on and said, "Did you hear me? You aren't going to beat me."

Tashigi stepped out into the small hallway and squinted a bit. Smoker could pass for a Marine Captain from Headquarters; she hardly recognized him.

Smoker was thinking along the same lines. He was used to seeing Tashigi in printed shirts so loud that they would wake the dead. She didn't look like a Marine in a dress and he didn't like it. "That's what you're wearing?"

Tashigi didn't understand what he meant. Did he think it wasn't respectable enough? He'd seen the picture of the dress this morning. Why hadn't he said something then? "I could get a shawl…," she said uncertainly.

"No. We've wasted enough time. Let's go," he said gruffly.

The walk down the gangplank loomed in her mind. "Are they all out there?"

"Who?" Smoker asked impatiently.

Tashigi cringed. "Them, sir."

Smoker was already on edge and his junior officer's bashfulness only irritated him more. "Tashigi! Move it!"

He pushed her out the door and onto the deck. She stumbled, caught her balance, and waited for the laughing to begin.

It never did. The rest of the Marines were in formation, respectfully waiting for final orders from their commanding officers.

"Be prepared to set sail as soon as we step onto the deck this evening," Smoker told the sergeant that was being left in charge. The Marine saluted. Smoker headed down the gangplank while Tashigi followed behind him – very carefully.

A carriage, rented from a company in town, was waiting for them. A Marine private had been pulled from duty to be the groomsman, since Smoker didn't trust any of the people of Runess. They were probably all in on this cotillion – trying to trap unsuspecting Marines with debutantes.

Smoker looked at the horses with skepticism. He didn't trust the beasts. "I still think my 'bike would be – "

Tashigi had visions of herself hanging on for dear life as Smoker tested the limits of his favorite toy on the open country roads out of Runess. "It's not appropriate for the occasion, sir," she said quickly.

"Do you know where we're going?" Smoker asked the private.

The Marine nodded and opened the door for Tashigi. "Yes, sir. Pretty far out of town, but easy to find. Is this all I need to do tonight, sir?"

"Occupy yourself however you want, but be ready to leave at a moment's notice."

"They don't let 'servants' into the estate," the Marine said, giving the sergeant major his hand. Tashigi carefully stepped inside. "Guess I'll be stuck in the stables playing cards with the other drivers. Oh well."

"Ten thousand berii if you go in my place," Smoker said suddenly.

"Sir!" Tashigi cried angrily from inside the carriage.

"And I'll promote you to First Lieutenant," the captain offered.

"But, sir, that's impersonating an officer! I could go to –" the Marine stopped protesting and laughed. "Ah, you're a card, sir! 'Trading places'? Who wouldn't want to go to an all you can eat and drink party that requires you to dance with lots of young pretty women?"

"Yeah, who wouldn't." Smoker looked back up at the ship. The men were all lined up along the rail, ready to see their commanding officers off.

"Think it's safe?" someone whispered.

"Wait until he has one foot in the door," the sergeant suggested. They watched their captain and then...

On cue, the Marines erupted into enthusiastic cheers.

"Looking spiffy, sir!"

Someone wolf-whistled. "Hubba hubba, Sergeant Major!"

"Knock 'em dead, Captain Smoker!"

Smoker slammed the door of the carriage shut, deadening the roar coming from his ship.

"I'll knock them dead," he muttered and settled into his seat.

Tashigi looked out the window to hide her smile. That had brightened her day considerably.