A Deep Blue Story

by Hack Interrupted

Nearly 3 years have passed since Sanji last saw Sher.

4. Chapter 4

Troubled Waters

1.

As promised, Sher made Zack pay for his disobedience. He spent the entire first week at sea doing every crummy job imaginable aboard the ship. Tarring, scraping, painting, all the shit work. Sher seemed to calm down as the days went by, Zack thought she might be getting back to normal, but he waited a little longer. They all had chow together and by their tenth dinner together Sher and Zack were joking around with each other again just like old times.

Zack waited a few more days before he started in on Sher. One night after dinner he went to see her in the captain's lounge with a mug of ale in either hand. "Peace offering captain?" he said coming in with the ale.

Sher was at her desk she looked up at Zack and nodded. She guessed she could stop being a bitch to him now, he had learned his lesson. "Alright sailor." Zack came over and handed her a mug. He sat on the corner of her desk smiling down at her.

Zack was smiling at Sher. "Yer a real hard ass captain. I think I've done every shit job on this ship."

"That's what ya get for not following an order Z." She sipped at her ale and closed her log book. She was done for the night.

"Yeah," Zack sighed and sipped his ale. "I sure am gonna miss ya when ya go Sher. You'll be leaving the Rose Red to me right?" he favored her with an innocent smile.

"What?" Sher was genuinely surprised to hear Zack saying these things at a time like this. They would be hitting the Arizona in a few more days. "What the hell are you talking about Z?"

Zack feigned embarrassment. "I just thought you'd leave Rose Red to me. I'll buy her from ya if that's what you want." He took another drink, a bigger one. It looked like Sher was getting mad again. That's right Sher, protect your ship.

"This is my ship Z. What the hell makes you think I'd let you have her?" Nobody was pushing Sher out of her captain's chair. Not Evan, not Sanji, not Luffy and sure as hell not Zack.

"Sorry, I thought that…" but Zack didn't finish. Sher took a huge gulp of ale. She was getting mad alright.

"You thought what?" Sher already knew. It was like everyone thought she had gone all soft on Sanji.

Zack knew this conversation might put him in the dog house again, but it was worth it. He had to make Sher want to stay with the Rose Red. He took another drink for courage. "Ya know, you and Sanji and Evan. Yer all gonna settle down someplace together right?" he wanted to watch her reaction, but he hated the words falling from his lips. He stared into his half empty mug.

Sher was getting angrier every time Zack opened his mouth. "Is that what you think? Is that what you all think huh?" Sher got to her feet and glared at Zack. He looked up at her timidly. Gods damn it! "Get it through yer head number one. This is my ship and I aint leavin, you hear me!"

Zack lifted his free hand in surrender. He had done what he set out to do tonight. "Okay captain, ya don't need to take my head off. Sanji said…"

Sher grunted annoyed and slugged her ale. "Sanji said huh? Well I don't take orders from Sanji. I'm the one given the orders around here."

Mission accomplished. Zack smiled at Sher. "You bet captain," he said cheerfully and finished his ale.

2.

Zack spent the next couple of days stroking his captain's ego. It wasn't hard to do with a raid coming up. Zack made sure she was puffed full of captain's pride before the Arizona came into sight. He spent two consecutive evenings with Sher drinking and talking. He kept the conversations light and pleasant; always about Rose Red, her crew and their plans for the future. Zack was sure that more then anything else in the world, Sher loved being captain the best. He wanted to keep it that way.

It was late afternoon when they spotted the Arizona on the horizon. Mimi and Evan went below deck to strap in. Sher took the helm and Zack and Duke pulled the sails into attack mode. Charlie and Nails minded the cannons. Nails blew the Arizona's escort ship out of the water before the Rose Red even came up alongside the Arizona. The guns on the Rose Red crippled the Arizona before they even had a chance to return fire.

Sher boarded the Arizona first, shooting anyone that got in her way. Duke was right behind her throwing stars at the crew that was trying to defend their ship. After half of the crew lay dead on the deck at Sher's feet, the Arizona surrendered. Zack and Charlie tied what was left of the Arizona's crew up and the Bloody Thorn's helped themselves to the treasure in the hold.

They had hit the jackpot. Over 7 million beri. Rose Red speed away from the scene of the crime while her crew stowed the loot below deck. All had gone according to plan, hell even better then planned. The treasure of the Arizona was in their hands and the cannons on the Rose Red had crippled her and sunk her partner. Sher was ready to celebrate, but before she could she saw a ship ahead on the horizon. She watched it for a few minutes, watching it move in on a course to intercept.

"All hands look alive!" Sher commanded running from the bow to amidships. "We got company!" Her crew didn't need to be told twice. Mimi grabbed Evan and disappeared below deck again. The others manned their battle stations. Sher turned them so that they would have a better chance of outrunning this new ship. It was closing fast, alarmingly so. The firefight began as soon as the two ships were close enough to try and damage each other.

"Captain!" Nails yelled. "It's the marines!"

"Keep firing!" Sher turned the wheel hard to starboard and the ship canted a little. Sher heard an explosion on deck and a second later Zack was screaming. "What the hell is going on over there?"

"He's hit!" Nails screamed again. "Zack's hit! Our aft mast is coming down!"

Sher felt the wheel jerk in her hand. She looked aft and saw the damage. The marines had split the top of the mast; it was ready to collapse on the deck. Below the mast Zack lay on deck in a spreading pool of blood. He was waving Nails away to get back to his cannon. Fuck, we're in trouble. She wouldn't be able to just plug the attacking ship full of holes and run. She had to run now, to get as far way from the marine ship as possible before the aft mast came crashing down and they lost the speed of two sails. "Son of a bitch!" she screamed yanking the wheel hard to port.

Cannonballs exploded off the starboard side of the ship as the Rose Red yawed in the water again. The marines pursued still firing, but the aft mast was holding for now and the Rose Red was quickly pulling away. She stayed at the helm until the marines cannon fire sounded distant. "Charlie! Come take the helm now!"

Charlie arrived quickly and Sher ran to Zack. Nails was sitting beside him, Duke had run to the stairs and was yelling for Mimi. Zack was trying to sit up in a pool of his own blood. His right leg looked shattered beneath his pant leg; he seemed to bleeding from everywhere. Oh gods! Z! Sher dropped to her knees beside Zack and took his face in her hands. "Hey Z! Hey! Look at me!" Zack looked a little out of it but he tried to focus on her. "Yer gonna be alright Z. It's gonna be okay. Doc Mimi is coming."

Zack's body was screaming at him. He felt like he was on fire. Sher was there, talking to him. "Sher?"

"Its okay Z," She could see Mimi running up the stairs. "Mimi, morphine now!"

Mimi ran over and dropped to her knees beside the captain. "Gimmie his arm," she said reaching into her bag. She quickly readied a syringe of morphine and Sher held Zack still while Mimi gave him the injection. With that done she reached for her scissors to cut Zack out of his blood soaked clothes. She needed to see what kind of wounds he had and where.

The fire seemed to subside some as Zack stared up at Sher. She had eased him down onto the deck and was hovering over him. Zack reached up with a bloody hand and stroked Sher's cheek. "You okay Sher?" She looked at him and smiled. Sher said something, but Zack couldn't hear anything anymore. Sher came a little closer and kissed him. Zack thought he kissed her back right before everything went dark.

3.

The Merry Go pulled into Jones Town in the early afternoon. Sanji took a fat chunk of his savings into town with them. The Luffy pirates walked up the pier together. Sanji shuffled up behind Nami. She was mad at him again. He ruined another one of her shirts in the laundry. "Uh, hey Nami. I was wonderin if you would do me a little favor."

Nami frowned at Sanji. "Before or after you buy me a new cashmere sweater?" she growled. She slowed down a step so that Sanji could catch up to her. She was curious what he wanted too. It wasn't like him to ask her for favors, especially if she was pissed.

"After a course," Sanji conceded.

Nami smiled satisfied. "Okay Sanji, what do you want?"

Sanji lit a cigarette and puffed at it nervously. "Well, yer a lady wid great taste. I thought dat maybe you could help me pick out something nice fer Sher."

Nami laughed a little. "I aint pickin out sexy underwear with you Sanji."

Sanji frowned at Nami. "Who said anything about underwear? I swear Nami, you been hangin out wid dat slut Zoro too long." Nami giggled and Sanji took a fat drag off his cigarette. Sanji slowed his pace just a little giving the others time to get out of earshot. "I was thinkin it's about time I got Sher a real pretty ring."

Nami almost stopped walking. She looked at Sanji with wide eyes. "You're going to propose to Sher?" She was surprised to see Sanji so serious, so determined.

"I can try right?" he smiled crookedly at Nami. Sher might tell him to blow it out his asshole when Sanji presented her with a diamond ring, but she might not. Engaged would be better then nothing. Engaged would be one step closer to what Sanji wanted.

Nami smiled back at Sanji wondering how much longer he would be cook on the Merry Go. Not long. He loves his family. "I'll help ya find something real nice Sanji."

"Thanks Nami." The two strolled off together to do some shopping.

4.

They had moved Zack below deck to the infirmary. Mimi tied him down to the bed and sedated him. He needed about a hundred stitches just about everywhere and his right leg was as chewed up as his arm had been after the shark attack. Zack was in rough shape, but he was strong. He would live through this; he wouldn't lose a fight for his life. Mimi kicked her nervous mates and the captain out of the infirmary. They went topside to deal with the damage to the ship.

The aft mast was holding, but barely. Ropes had come loose from all directions and the sail was floundering in the wind. Sher was hoping she had put enough time and distance between her and the marine ship, because when that sail came down the Rose Red would be down to five sails. Five was a hell of a lot slower then seven. Charlie had the helm, Sher and Nails carefully climbed up the aft mast to try and secure the sail and the ropes before the whole mess could just smash into the deck.

They were trying to figure out a way to jury rig the sail when the marine ship appeared on the horizon. It came sailing out of the sunset, hiding in the light until they were close enough to catch up. "Son of a bitch!" Sher swore again. "Nails, Duke mind yer cannons now! Charlie! Hard to port! Put us full in the wind now!"

The ship lurched and steered into the wind as Nails scrambled down the mast to his cannon. Duke was doing the same. "All set on deck captain!" Nails shouted up ready to start firing on Sher's command.

They needed to get out of here now. "Go like a son of a bitch Charlie and don't you stop for nothin you hear me!" Sher thought she heard aye aye. She focused on the floundering sail again. It wasn't too late to outrun the marines. Persistent bastards aren't they? She shimmied up a little further on the broken mast reaching for a dangling rope. Come on… get in my hand already damnit! The marines started firing, but they were still too far away to hit the Rose Red. If Sher could just stabilize the sail, they could get the hell out of here. She reached again leaning too much weight on the already splintering spreader.

There was a loud creaking noise as the aft mast gave way. As the top split off Sher instinctively grabbed for something. Of all things she caught the rope that she had been reaching for to begin with. The top twelve feet of mast canted drunkenly over the starboard side of the ship. Sher went with it holding on to the rope for dear life as she swung out over the sea racing by beneath them.

"Captain!" Nails screamed jumping to his feet.

It was too late now and Sher knew it. "Keep this ship moving you son of a bitch! Get Evan and Z out of here! That's an order!"

The mast gave way and toppled into the ocean taking Sher with it. She pushed herself away from the sail and ropes before they could grab her and drag her down to Davey Jones locker with them. She struggled to the surface for a breath of air. Sher looked up and saw the Rose Red sailing away fast. Duke had jumped in after her and was swimming toward her. "Duke!" she called treading water.

Duke swam over to Sher. "Captain, the marines!" he shouted looking over her shoulder.

Sher did a quick 180 in the water and saw the marines coming up on them quick. "Shit." They were caught. "Play it cool Duke, we'll find a way to escape."

Duke tread water beside his captain. There was no way he was leaving her to deal with the marines by herself. He reminded himself his friend Zack would have done the same had he been there to do it. "I'm sure you'll think of something captain." Duke prayed that she would.

5.

The marines had to give up their pursuit of the pirate ship to bring Sher and Duke aboard. Six of them surrounded Duke right away pointing guns at him, another half dozen surrounded Sher. Sher raised her hands in mock surrender. "Hey take it easy fellas. That's no way to treat a lady."

"Shut up bitch!" one sailor yelled.

"Filthy pirates!" another hollered.

The door to the formal bridge opened and a huge man stepped out, Captain Alphonse Dark, the captain of this ship. He looked at Duke first, then Sher. He walked closer to the soggy female on his deck. "Woman pirate," he growled getting closer.

Sher turned her attention to the big guy. "Captain?" he was huge, every bit as big as Duke, maybe bigger. She saw his hand drop to his waist in a blur. A second later Sher couldn't breath.

Dark had snapped his whip and wrapped it around the woman pirate's throat. He gave the whip a quick tug and she flew across the deck to him. She crashed at his feet on her knees gasping for air as the whip slackened. "Woman pirate," he repeated glaring down at her. She looked up at him coughing and holding her throat. "Sher Cerces. Bloody Sher, leader of the Bloody Thorn pirates and captain of the pirate ship the Rose Red."

Sher swallowed hard. Her throat was burning. "Wait a minute buddy, ya got it all wrong," she tried Sanji's fast talk. Most of the time it worked.

Dark reached down and grabbed Sher by the front of her shirt. He hauled her up to eye level, her feet left the ground. "Yer guilty of murdering over a hundred men you bitch. Don't you dare open your mouth to me again." He brought a fist back and piston it forward hard into Sher's stomach. He knocked the wind out of her and slammed her down onto the deck head first. She tried to get up. "Still moving bitch?" he kicked her hard in the side sending her skidding across the deck into a cluster of his frightened looking subordinates.

"Captain!" Duke yelled. He couldn't help it. Sher was taking a beating. "Hey asshole! Why don't ya try pickin on somebody yer own size ya chicken shit!"

Dark flicked his eyes up to Duke. "I think I will."

He looked back to his men standing over Bloody Sher. "Get that piece of shit off my deck and throw her in the brig. Tell the helm to turn around. We're taking these two back to base." He looked at Duke again. "You and your captain are under arrest for murder, robbery, destruction of private property and piracy. I'm taking you back to Central Star where you will be tried for your crimes and executed." He took a threatening step toward Duke rolling up one sleeve. "Now, about that beating."

6.

Zack was in and out of it for two days. Late the third morning he finally woke up with a clear head. He was in a lot of pain; his leg was wrapped up in bandages. He could feel fresh stitches everywhere. He tried sitting up, his body screamed in protest, but he did it. He was still trying to get used to the pain when Nails came into the infirmary.

Nails saw Zack sitting up. "Thank the stars!" he hurried to Zack's bedside. "Z! You're okay!" he looked his mate over. Zack looked like shit, but he was very much alive.

"What happened Nails? Where's the captain?" his first waking thoughts were of the ship and his captain. "Is everything okay? How bad was the aft mast hit?"

Nails felt a cold chill run up his spine. "We got trouble Zack. The captain and Duke got shanghaied by the marines. The aft mast is gone. We've been running."

"Captain…" the shock of Nails briefing hurt more then his stitches or his leg. He reached for Nails and grabbed him by the shirt. "You let the marines take Sher and Duke! What the fuck happened?"

"The marines caught up to us again. The captain ordered us to get you and Evan to safety. She fell overboard… Duke went in after her. The marines picked em up."

"Son of a bitch!" Zack used Sher's favorite curse. Zack tried to slide out of bed on the one good leg he had. "Help me damn you!" he barked at Nails. With Sher off the ship, Zack was in command. "Get me the hell topside so I can command this tub!"

Nails hooked an arm around Zack and got him up out of bed. "What are we gonna do Z?" Zack was clearly in pain, but he was too furious right now to let it bother him.

Zack needed to see the damage to the ship first. After that, "We're getting Mimi and Evan off of this ship. Then we're going after Sher and Duke. You gotta problem with that Nails?"

Nails didn't. "Not at all Z."

"Good, then let's do it."

7.

Sher sat in a tiny cell across from Duke. The ship had stopped; they were in port somewhere she assumed. It would be a few more days before they got near Central Star headquarters. "You okay big guy?" Sher directed at Duke. Sher hadn't received half the ass kicking that Duke had from captain Dark.

Duke nodded. His face was pretty bruised up, but for the most part he was alright. "I'm hangin in there captain. You figured a way outta this one yet?"

Sher went to stand at the bars of her cage. There were armed guards just outside of the door to the brig. Even if she could get them out of their cells, they would still be screwed. "Probably best if we wait for them to transfer us off of this ship, if they're gonna."

"And if not?"

Sher's smile slipped loose again. "Then I guess we'll be the first pirates to escape from Central Star eh mate?"

Duke chuckled at his captain's confidence. He knew this was a one way ticket to Deadsville when he jumped in the sea after her, but he would be damned if he was going to let his captain be executed alone. "You bet captain," he agreed to keep her happy.

Sher leaned against the bars. Gods I hate these fuckin things. She wondered if Evan missed her yet. She wondered how Zack was doing, maybe he'd be up and around by now. She wondered if he'd turn fool on her and try a rescue in her busted ass ship. She sighed wondering last of all about Sanji. Guess what Sanji, I'm locked up again. Don't suppose you would mind coming to save me this time? She turned away from Duke. She didn't want him to see her cry.

8.

A day after the marines holding Sher and Duke pulled out of Port Draven, the Merry Go pulled in. Luffy went ashore with Sanji and Zoro to find a good place to eat. The town was buzzing with excitement. "I wonder what's going on here?" Luffy asked as he moved up the street with his mates. He snagged a guy walking by with one rubber arm. "Hey buddy, what's up with this town? Did I miss something?"

The guy didn't seem to mind being stopped to enlighten the strangers. "Haven't you heard yet? They caught Bloody Sher! One of her crew too!"

The cigarette fell out of Sanji's mouth. "What did you say? What about Bloody Sher?"

The guy smiled up at Sanji. "Captain Dark finally caught that bitch. I heard the Bloody Thorns raided the Arizona. Seven million beri! She'll hang for that for sure!"

Luffy had heard of the marine captain Dark before. He was a pretty tough guy in these waters. Sanji made a move to get closer to Luffy's informant, but Luffy stayed between them. Right now he just wanted Sanji to stay silent. "So what are they gonna do with her?" he asked casually. "Where did they take her?"

"Back to Central Star so she can be tried and executed of course."

Luffy laughed a little and let the guy go. "Of course."

The guy chuckled at Luffy and went on his way. "Luffy!" Sanji choked from behind him. Sanji felt like he was on the verge of a heart attack. Sher captured? What about Evan and the Rose Red?

"I know Sanji; we gotta go get Sher and her mate."

"The fuckin marines!" Sanji started to spaz. "I warned her about da godamn marines!"

Zoro dropped a hand on Sanji's shoulder. "Calm down Sanji. Don't make a bad situation worse."

Sanji faced Zoro with his mouth hanging open. "The marines got Sher! What about Evan? Where da hell is da Rose Red?"

Zoro pointed to a bar up the street with the hilt of his sword. He addressed Luffy because he was still under control. "Let's have a drink and hear the gossip."

Luffy nodded at Zoro. "Yep, and then we'll get Nami to plot us a course." He turned to his panicked chef. "Don't worry Sanji. We'll make sure your boy is safe and we'll get Sher back too."

Sanji tried to catch his breath. He knew his mates were right, they needed some information before they went charging blindly after Sher or the Rose Red or both. "Yeah okay Luffy, but be quick. Real quick."

Luffy was. Two hours later the Merry Go left Port Draven. They had heard all about the battles the Rose Red had been in just days ago. The ship was damaged and on the run now. Sher and Duke had been taken by the marines. They were on a ship headed back to headquarters right now. For the first time in a long time, Luffy felt like he needed to hurry, so he did.

9.

Charlie had a hard time finding an island with a port small enough that they would go unnoticed. He led them to an island not terribly far from Central Star. Zack provided Mimi with a king's ransom in gold and put her and Evan off the ship in a sleepy little fishing village with the simple name of August. They would be safe there, forever if need be. They left August before anyone could notice that their aft mast was gone.

Nails had tightened up all the rigging to compensate for the two missing sails, but the Rose Red just wasn't as fast as she could be with seven sheets. At this rate it would be a week before they could reach the captain and Duke. By then they would be sitting in the middle of a big 'ol pile of marines.

Zack sat at Sher's desk in the captain's lounge looking at sea charts of the area around Central Star. There just had to be a way to rescue Sher, had to! Zack was lost in his own damning thoughts when Nails opened the door. Zack looked up at him. Nails look like he had just seen a ghost. "What is it?" Zack said reaching for his crutches to get up.

Nails frowned sorryly at Zack. "It's the Merry Go. She's coming up behind us. Permission to slow down and dock with her captain." Nails knew that seeing Sanji was the last thing Zack probably wanted right now but, "We can use their help Z. You know those guys are amazing and two ships attacking a marine base is a hell of a lot better then one. It's suicide to go after Sher and Duke alone. Let them help."

Zack settled his weight on his crutches and hobbled around the desk. He godamn didn't want to say it, but he knew he had to. For Sher. "Permission granted. Dock with them. I wanna talk to Luffy."

The Rose Red slowed to a stop and the Merry Go weighed anchor beside them. Luffy hurried over followed by Zoro and Sanji. Luffy was looking at the damaged aft mast while Zack hobbled over to them on crutches. "Luffy!" Zack called getting his attention.

Sanji fixed his eyes on Zack. He could see that the guy was all fucked up, but that didn't do much to quiet Sanji's anger. "Where is he? Where's my son! Where's Evan?"

Nails was closest to the Luffy pirates so he answered. "Z put Mimi and Evan off the ship in August. They're both fine. Evan is safe."

Sanji was glad to hear that Evan was finally someplace safe and off of this ship. He turned away from Nails as Zack hobbled over. Sanji glared at him. "You stupid bastard!" Sanji did something then that he hardly ever did. His right hand curled up into a tight little ball and he swung his fist at Zack's face. He hit him hard in the jaw and Zack fell over on his ass wincing in pain. "Dat's for letting da fuckin marines get a hold of Sher!"

Zoro stepped quickly between Sanji and Zack. He could hardly believe that Sanji had hit Zack when he was all beat up like this, let alone punch him. "That's enough Sanji." He supposed Sanji was entitled. Zoro would likely do the same thing in Sanji's shoes.

Nails and Luffy we're helping Zack back up. Nails growled at Sanji, "It wasn't Z's fault the captain fell overboard. He was already sedated because of his wounds when it happened!"

"It's alright Nails," Zack said letting them help him back up on to his crutches. He stood facing Sanji trying to hide his pain.

Sanji was fuming behind Zoro. He let what Nails said sink in. "You guys engaged in ship to ship battle wid Evan on board."

Luffy stepped in to calm Sanji down. He frowned at his cook. "There's no time for this shit now Sanji. You can be mad all you want later, but for now we need to come up with a plan to get Sher and Duke away from the marines before they end up dead!" Luffy's hand was clenched into a fist. The situation was worse then he had imagined. The Rose Red was still slightly faster then the Merry Go, but not by much with her aft mast and sails at the bottom of the sea. "Call me stupid, but by my calculations Sher and Duke will be arriving at Central Star tomorrow morning. It's going to take us a hell of a lot longer then a day to get there and the more time we stand here fighting the worse things are going to get for those two! Now do you want to keep fighting each other or do you wanna save them?" Six days. If we start out tonight and sail day and night we can be there in six days. The question was, would the marines let them live that long. Luffy thought so. Even the marines weren't stupid enough to piss away seven million beri. They would want to know what happened to their gold.

Zack broke the silence that Luffy's scolding brought on. "I've got some charts of the region." He looked into Luffy's eyes. It was the first time he ever saw the other man look angry, anxious. "You and Nami come on up to the captain's lounge. I'll get Charlie. Let's figure out a way to save the captain and Duke, okay Luffy?"

Luffy fixed his eyes on Zack. "Damn right!" he turned to Sanji. "Go get Nami, tell her I need her right now!" the impatience hadn't left his tone of voice. Sanji turned tail and hurried back to the Merry Go.

10.

Sher felt the ship come to a stop in the early morning. There was a great deal of shouting and commotion above decks. Shit, we're here. Soon enough some marines came into the brig. They put Duke and Sher in irons and led them topside and off the ship. Sher stared at the crowd that greeted them quietly horrified. Hundreds of marines lined the dock and the shore, all the way up into main headquarters building. Son of a bitch. She cut her eyes over to Duke, he was frowning.

The crowd shouted at them as they made their way toward the base. Mostly it was kill the pirates! and we got you now you murdering bitch! They threw stones, food and garbage at her and Duke as they shouted at them. Sher kept her head held high, she owed Duke that much. She would be brave until the very end.

Dark was leading the procession. The door to the base swung open with a heavy sigh. Commander Brett Drella came out to meet them. Dark saluted immediately. His men brought the prisoners up behind him. "Commander Drella, I bring you Bloody Sher and one of her crew." He spoke respectfully to his commanding officer, mostly out of fear. Drella was even bigger then Dark and twice as mean.

Drella stepped up to Bloody Sher. He took her face in his hand and looked the woman over. She stared at him hatefully, unblinking. "You're done for missy, you and your mate both. I don't want you thinking that I plan to execute you right away either, not until you tell me where your ship is. Where my gold is."

"Your gold?" Sher was genuinely surprised that the commander made such a bold statement. She knew they had heisted the marines' payroll, but that didn't make the treasure solely the property of the big bastard in front of her.

Drella slid his hand from Sher's face down around her throat. He squeezed a little. "Did I give you permission to speak yet filthy pirate?" he squeezed a little harder and shook her back and forth by her neck. "You wanna run your fuckin mouth bitch? Then tell me where you've taken the treasure! Seven million beri sea whore, where is it?"

The world started to go dark around the edges as Sher was throttled by Drella. She couldn't breathe and was having a hard time staying on her feet as she swayed back and forth in the giant man's hand. "…fuck…you…" she managed to squeeze out.

Drella let go of Sher's throat and punched her in the face. She hit the ground with blood streaming from her split lip. "You better watch what you say to me little girly," he growled down at her from above. "There are a lot of things that can happen to you and your friend here that are worse then death." Bloody Sher scowled up at him and Drella smiled. Good, yes very good. It will take some work to break this one. That's just how I like it. Drella licked his lips savoring the moment. He looked back up at Dark. "Put the big guy in a cell. Take the sea whore out to the yard and lash her to the cross."

Duke suppressed a shudder. He saluted again. "Yes Commander!"

Drella looked down at Sher once more. She was struggling to get to her feet. He smiled at her. "I'll get what I want out of you, one way or another." Drella turned and went back inside. A moment later Dark followed with the prisoners.

11.

They led Duke one way and Sher another. She could taste the blood in her mouth as she sucked on her split lip. The marines led her through the base, following Dark to the courtyard. They stepped back out into the sunlight and Sher saw 'the cross'. It wasn't really a cross at all; it was a big anchor that had been slammed into the crusty sand to make a cross. Shit, this looks bad.

"The commander put that here himself," Dark informed Bloody Sher with an evil grin. "Slammed it right into the ground with one hand. Consider yourself lucky he used some restraint when he hit you." Dark stepped back to let his men tie the woman pirate to the cross. Her feet barely touched the ground when her wrists were tied to the horizontal bar of the anchor. He walked away from her grinning. He would deal with her big mate first. Bloody Sher was a treat best left to the commander.

Sher kept her hateful stare on Dark's back as two ensigns tightened the ropes holding her arms to the cross. She almost had to stand on tip toe to stay balanced. She thought about what kind of strength it would take to slam an anchor of this size into the ground like this with one hand! Sher spit blood. Things looked pretty bad, but there had to be a way off of this atoll. There has to be a way out of this!

12.

The Merry Go and the Rose Red ran side by side beneath the moon. Luffy sat on the deck of his ship wishing he could make them go faster. He tried to remember what he had heard about the marines in this area. Dark was some big wig captain. A dangerous man by all counts. He served a vicious commander by the name of Drella. The commander had a nickname amongst his sailors. They called him The Torturer. He was supposed to be excellent at extracting information from unwilling prisoners, one way or another.

Sanji came out on deck and lit a cigarette. Luffy had been acting weird all day. Sanji was certain it had something to do with Sher. He seemed in a big hurry to get to her. Sanji went to Luffy and sat on the step beside him. "Hey Luffy."

"Hey Sanji."

Sanji took a drag off of his cigarette and studied Luffy in the moonlight. "What is it Luffy? What's got you so worked up?"

Luffy didn't face Sanji. He didn't want the cook to see the look in his eyes. "I just wanna get Sher back safe is all. Duke too." He let the silence fall between him and Sanji.

Sanji watched Luffy as he smoked. He didn't think that was all. Luffy was hiding something from him, Sanji was sure of it. "Don't jerk my chain Luffy. What's going on in dat head a yers?"

Luffy sighed quietly and hung his head a little. "Drella," he said quietly hiding his eyes with his hat.

"Who da hell is dat? He a marine?"

Luffy nodded. "Mmm hmm. They call him the Torturer."

Sanji exhaled smoke feeling his heart pick up the pace. "You sayin dat guy has got Sher?" Sanji didn't like the sound of that at all. He scanned his memory for any information he had heard about the marine. Sanji drew a blank. "Luffy?"

"We've got to hurry up and get Sher out of there." Sher was tough, could be downright brutal herself when she wanted to be Luffy was sure, but that guy… Luffy was sure that the Torturer would take advantage of Sher's feminine form sooner or later. Sher might still be alive when Luffy got to her, but she could be damaged in more ways then one.

"Yer scared Luffy," Sanji was sweating himself. Sher in the hands of some marine called the Torturer scared the hell out of Sanji too. She's tough, strong. She'll be okay…

Luffy lifted his head still hiding his eyes beneath his hat. "I'm not scared of the marines. I will take Sher back. Don't worry about that Sanji."

"What should I worry about then huh Luffy?" the cigarette was doing less then nothing to calm Sanji's nerves. Seeing Luffy all quiet and serious was scaring Sanji more. "Some guy pullin out Sher's fingernails?" Sanji got to his feet and moved in front of Luffy. "What Luffy? What da hell are you…" Luffy brought his eyes up to Sanji's and Sanji fell silent. No. No way! Don't say it, don't even think it!

"She's a woman." Luffy thought that said it all. He could tell by the way the color was draining from Sanji's face that the cook understood what Luffy meant.

Sanji shook his head at Luffy. "No. No!" he yelled at his captain. "Sher would never let them…!" he didn't say it. He didn't even want to think it. Sanji had heard more then one bastardly marine gloat about raping a woman and now Sher was in the hands of scum like them. No…Sher!

Luffy hid his eyes again. He wouldn't let Sanji see how angry he was. "We will sail day and night, both ships. We'll be to Central Star by the end of the week."

The end of the week? "Luffy…" Luffy had said it would take six days to get to Central Star. Six days suddenly seemed like an eternity.

Luffy stood up and rested a hand on Sanji's shoulder still not showing the other man his eyes. "Don't you worry about it Sanji. We'll get her back." And if any of those fuckers so much as lay a finger on her, I will kill them. "I'm sure they won't resort to such drastic measures right away," Luffy lied trying to ease Sanji. "We'll get there in time, no problem."

13.

They kept Duke locked in a small cell for three days. He hadn't seen the captain, but some of the guards had gloated about what had become of her. Apparently she was being crucified out in the training yard. Sher had been lashed to the infamous cross and put on display. Duke was still getting food and water, Sher was not. A guard boasted about smashing cake into her face "Sweets for the sweet!" and throwing stones at her from a safe distance after she kicked him in the balls. Keep fighting captain. It aint over yet.

A guard approached Duke's cell carrying shackles with him. "Put your hand through the bars big guy," the guard ordered.

Duke stepped over to the bars and frowned at the guard. Reluctantly he stuck his hands out of his cage and the guard slapped the irons around his wrists. "What's this all about?" Duke grumbled to the guard. The guard didn't answer. He turned and walked out. A minute later, Commander Drella came into the jail followed closely by that bastard Dark. Duke watched the two big men come his way. So it begins huh? Then have at me ya fucks! You'll get nothing out of me!

Drella stood in front of Duke's cell with Dark right behind him. "You're name is Duke right? You're that wench's chef. Seeing as how you're a little too tied up to cook for your dear captain, she hasn't had a bite to eat since she's been here. I bet she's hungry."

Duke frowned up at Drella. "Her ass was getting fat anyway. I'm sure she'll be thankful for the crash diet," he shot back at the commander.

Drella reached forward and grabbed the small finger on Duke's left hand. He snapped it backwards breaking it with ease. The pirate grunted in pain and Drella smiled. "No food, no water. Your captain is going to die out in my yard and stink up the place." Drella moved on to the next finger, snapping it in his grasp. Duke struggled to pull back, but his hands were helplessly exposed. "Such suffering isn't really necessary big guy." The next finger snapped back out of joint and broke.

There were tears of pain running down Duke's face, but he refused to cry out. My hands the chef mourned. "Then throw her in jail with me!" he winced as the last finger on his left hand was broken and Drella grabbed his thumb.

Drella was enjoying himself, too bad he was running out of fingers. He crushed Duke's thumb in his fist. "I'm afraid I can't do that pirate. Bloody Sher is far too entertaining where she is. The boys have made a bit of a sport out of your captain." He moved on to the pirate's right hand. "It's a bit dangerous to get in front of her you know." He started with the pinky again, snapping it back and breaking it. "The men all test their bravery with her around." He broke Duke's right ring finger. "Who can get close enough to her to rub food into her face or cop a feel before they get kicked in the balls." Drella passed over the middle finger and went to the index finger. He broke it smiling at the furious pirate. "She's still quite feisty, but give her a few days. Her strength is fading a little more each day. She can't live on rain water forever." He closed his hand around Duke's thumb and squeezed until there was blood running from his fist.

"You bastard!" Duke bellowed in pain as his thumb was mutilated.

"Where is your ship? Tell me where to find the Rose Red and I'll give you a quick death. Its better this way, you know that."

"I don't know where the hell the ship is! Even if I did, I would never tell you!"

Drella stepped back and shook Duke's blood from his hand. "That's too bad for you pirate. Perhaps some time alone with your broken hands will jog your memory." He turned and went out still smiling. Dark followed.

Duke waited until the marines were long gone before he broke into real tears. "Sons of bitches," he sobbed quietly. "My hands… my hands. Oh captain, stay strong."

14.

The fourth day it was Sher's turn to have a chat with the commander. She felt weak and thirsty as hell. She glared at Drella and Dark as they came up to her in the late afternoon. Dark was carrying a bag. What ya got in the sack ya big chicken shit asshole. She noticed the way the men in the yard were watching their superiors; frightened of them but in love with their cruelty at the same time. They should all burn in hell.

Drella stopped a safe distance from Sher with Dark right beside him. He smiled sadistically at Bloody Sher. "You stink pirate, you know that?" he waved a hand in front of his face. "The smell coming from you is terrible."

"Your men threw garbage at me," Sher growled back Drella. She would die before she showed that bastard an ounce of fear.

Drella laughed heartily and Dark chuckled beside him. "Did they?" Drella teased. "I thought the smell might be coming from your cunt. You are the pirates cum bucket are you not?" Sher struggled against her binds trying to kick at Drella.

"You bastard!" he was just out of reach. "Come a little closer and say that!"

Drella eyed her coldly. He was glad she still had some fight left in her. "Certainly. Dark?"

Dark and Drella advanced on Sher. Dark reached into his bag and handed a knife to his commander. He tossed the bag by Sher's feet and moved in to hold her legs. "Get offa me you fuck!" Sher struggled against Dark as Drella stepped up to her with the knife. She stared at it as he pointed it at her chest.

"Be still," Drella said in a calm voice. "You wouldn't want me to cut you by accident now would you?" The furious pirate woman stilled herself glaring up at him with eyes that burned. Oh yes, that's it my beauty. Get angry. Get so angry. Drella laid the tip of the knife against the top button of Bloody Sher's shirt. He flicked his wrist and sent the button flying. "Oops," he said grinning moving the knife to the next button. "Hold still."

Sher wouldn't. This fucker was going to cut her right out of her shirt in front of all of these leering marines. "Get off!" Sher squirmed again. She felt the point of the knife dig into her skin. A second later she felt the blood oozing from the fresh wound.

Drella brought the knife up to his lips and licked the blood off. "I told you to be still."

"You sick fuck!" Sher screamed. She would rather die then let this whacko torture her.

Drella dropped the knife beside Dark and smiled twistedly at Sher. "You just have to be difficult don't you bitch." He brought his hand across Sher's face hard. Before she could even recoil from his first slap, he knocked her head back the other way. He struck her in the face another five times, once for every million beri she had cost him.

Sher was struggling to stay conscious. Her lip had split open again. Her nose was bleeding. She could feel blood weeping from cuts on her cheeks. Her left eye was already swelling shut. Sher spit blood into the dirt and tried to focus on Drella. He was watching her with a sort of lunatic pleasure in his eyes. "That all you got?"

"Hardly you bitch." Drella returned and punched the pirate in the gut. She gagged up blood as the air went whooshing out of her. Drella stood patiently waiting to see if she could regain herself and face him again. To his delight she did. "Now then, let's do something about that stink of yours you dirty pirate bitch. He grabbed the front of her shirt and pulled hard tearing it right off her back.

Sher felt the burn of fabric moving over her body much too quickly. She blinked and saw her shirt was a tattered rag in Drella's hand. She frowned at him, still refusing to show any fear. The commander reached right up between her boobs and grabbed her bra. It hurt being pulled off but she bit her tongue to keep from crying out. There were gonna be some nasty welts on her shoulders in the morning. If I live that long.

Behind Drella one of his subordinates let out a cat call and another whistled at Bloody Sher. Drella grabbed hold of the woman's stretchy shorts and tore those off too. He grabbed at her crotch through her panties. "Dirty sea whore," he breathed in her face and ripped her panties off.

Sher bit her tongue again to keep the tears of humiliation out of her eyes. "You pig," She hissed at Drella still giving him her best death glare.

"You had better be nice to me," Drella warned. "I'll leave you out here naked as the day you crawled outta your mothers filthy twat and let my men have at you. A lot of these guys haven't had pussy in months bitch, I'm sure some of them wouldn't mind wetting their dick in a pirate."

With every fiber of her being Sher wanted to bite Drella's face off. She clenched her teeth and dropped her eyes. Being tough was one thing, antagonizing the bastard into leaving her naked and mostly defenseless in a pit of horny sailors was another.

Drella smiled. "I thought so." He patted Dark on the shoulder and Dark pulled a clean dress out of the bag. It was one of those numbers that tied around the neck, easy to slip on and off. Dark was mindful of the woman pirate's feet as he slid the dress up her legs to cover her body. She stood still facing the ground as Dark dressed her. Dark finished and stepped back picking up the knife as he moved.

Sher looked down at the clean dress. She could see the blood from her wound already staining the thin white fabric. Her head was fuzzy from being slapped around and her smile broke loose. "Sacrificial virgin huh?" she said what came to mind aloud.

"You're no virgin, whore," Drella growled at the pirate. Behind him, the men were still making cat calls at the woman. It brought the smile back to his lips. "I'll give you a day, two if I'm feeling generous. I'm pretty sure you aren't going to drop dead on me just yet." Drella brought a hand up and stroked his five o'clock shadow thoughtfully. "Oh what the hell, I'll be Mr. Nice Guy and give ya two whole days."

Her eye was purpling quickly. "You gonna kill me?" finally!

Drella stepped closer so that the woman pirate could feel his hot breath in her face. "I'll give you two days to tell me where your ship is."

"And if I don't?" Sher was feeling defiant again now that her nakedness was covered, not that the dress did much for her. It was pretty sheer. Guess he couldn't find a slip.

Drella leaned in and smelled the blood weeping from the wounds he had inflicted on the woman pirate's face. "Then I'll let every swinging dick in this joint tear off a piece of ass sea whore. I can arrange it so that somebody is fuckin that filthy pirate cunt of yours every minute of every day for the rest of your short life. One way or another, you will be useful to me. Understand?"

Just bite his fucking face off already! Her mind screamed at her. Sher narrowed her eyes at Drella. She would either have to escape, or get her ass killed before her two days was up. "Yeah, I understand." She fought the urge to add a dozen or so colorful phrases to her answer, perhaps something about him having male inadequacies, but she kept her mouth shut. That was best for now.

Drella stepped back nodding at the woman pirate. "Good, very good. Now you think it over Bloody Sher." Drella favored the pirate with one more sadistic smile and walked away. Dark followed him out of the courtyard silently.

Sher watched the captain follow the commander away. She turned back to the sailors that had been making cat calls at her and glared at them. Drella was probably right. She was fairly certain he could round up a rape committee in no time, these guys were a bunch of slobs. Sher swallowed her blood. By the gods she was thirsty! I've got to get the hell out of here. She eyed the ropes holding her wrists tightly to the anchor/cross for the nine hundredth time. She couldn't even reach them to chew through ropes. Son of a bitch.

15.

Much later that night, Sher heard someone approaching from behind. She lifted her head and shook off her light sleep. "Who's there?"

A sailor with a canteen in his hand stepped out from behind and stood in front of Sher. "Take it easy," he said nervously. He looked left and right again as he unscrewed the canteen. He smiled a little at Sher as he raised it to her lips. "Water. Go on, drink."

Sher couldn't help herself. She was literally dieing of thirst. She let the sailor pour the water into her mouth guzzling as much of it as she could. It ran down her chin and splattered on the horrid dress. After a few seconds the sailor stepped back. Sher caught her breath to thank him, but he spoke before she could.

The sailor steeped back further and looked all around again. Satisfied that they were alone he turned back to the pirate. "Don't die on me yet Bloody Sher. I want my turn too. I can't wait to tell all my buddies back home that fucked Bloody Sher!" he giggled excitedly and turned away. The sailor ran off in the direction of the main building.

Sher watched the sailor slink off regretting every swallow of water she took. She wouldn't be dieing of dehydration before her time was up and Drella let his underlings at her. Shit. She was mad at herself for letting her thirst overpower her will to die. Sher looked at the setting moon. Her time was almost up. Sanji… take care of Evan for me.

She watched the moon quietly fighting the urge to cry. Sher didn't think she had tears anymore anyway. She hung her head tiredly still racking her brain to come up with an escape plan. She was helpless tied so tightly to the cross and she knew it. Sher took a deep breath and let it out slowly. All wasn't lost yet, she still had her life. It dawned on her suddenly that there was still hope. "Luffy," she whispered to the moon. "Help me."

16.

Chopper went over to the Rose Red and stayed there to tend to Zack's injuries. Mimi had done an outstanding job sewing the young man back together, but there was extensive tissue damage to his right leg. The bandages needed to be changed frequently and Zack had to follow a strict regimene of antibiotics. Chopper was pleased with how well stocked the infirmary was aboard the Rose Red. The bed was comfortable too.

Ussop practiced using the cannons aboard the Rose Red. He and Nails adjusted the sites for accuracy. A lot of Luffy's daring rescue plan was riding on Ussop and the Rose Red's big guns. Ussop wasn't too worried. He knew he could hit anything. The gun torrents of Central Star would feel the wrath of the great captain Ussop and his mighty cannon.

Nails paled around with Ussop. He had already begun preliminary sketches and notes for a leg for Zack. He was pretty sure he could make him a leg as good as the arm he made for his mate a year ago, but Z's swimming days would be over. With two metal limbs, his buoyancy would be gone.

Zack spent most of his time in the captain's lounge. Occasionally when no one was watching him, he would go down to Sher's room and lay down on her bed for a while. Chopper gave him something for pain a couple of times a day, sometimes it made Zack drosey. He would bury his face in Sher's pillow and breathe deep the smell of her shampoo and perfume. His heart ached for her.

Zack wasn't the only one with an aching heart, Sanji was a mess on the inside himself. He had taken over the duties of cooking for both crews, at least that kept him busy. Charlie had assured him that Evan and Mimi were safe. Zack had left her with enough money to finish the job of raising Evan if they never made it back to August. Sanji was glad that his son was finally off of the pirate ship, but he missed him terribly. He missed Sher too, was worried sick over her. He tried not to think about what might be happening to his woman in the hands of the marines. He did okay by day, but nightmares haunted Sanji. He would wake up from the horrible dreams in a cold sweat with the name of his love on his lips. He kept the diamond ring he bought her under his pillow. When he woke from the nightmares he would hold the small box in his hand until he calmed down again.

Luffy was unusually quiet this journey. The Rose Red was still mostly supplied, but the Merry Go would need fresh water sometime soon after they rescued Sher and Duke. He put Nami to work finding a place for the two ships to hide out for a while after the rescue. The night before they attacked Central Star she had found something. A deserted island with a lagoon deep enough to pull the Rose Red close to shore. They could hide there while the Rose Red was repaired and the Merry Go could find fresh water. It would take them a few days running day and night to get there, but Luffy didn't seem to care. He would go without sleep if he had to.

After Luffy finished talking to Nami, he went out on deck for some air. He saw Zack at the bow of the Rose Red and used his rubber arm to get himself over to the other ship. Zack saw him coming and hobbled toward Luffy. Luffy met him amidships. "Nami found us a good place to lay low for a while when this is all over," Luffy informed the temporary captain. "We'll all pitch in and get the aft mast fixed up."

Zack nodded. He thought Luffy's plan was slightly suicidal, but there really was no other way. "That would be great Luffy." Zack leaned tiredly on his crutches. His leg was throbbing again. It was almost time for another shot of pain killer.

Luffy stood watching Zack try to hide the pain he was in. Chopper had told him how bad Zack's leg was. He knew Nails was working on how to make a new one for his mate too. Luffy could see more then pain in Zack's eyes. The guy was miserable. "After we grab Sher and Duke, we're going to have to run like hell."

Zack nodded affirmitevely again. "We'll plug every ship at the base so full of holes they wont be able to chase us." The Rose Red would do more then just take out the turrents, Zack meant to sink any marine ships in the harbor too. They would need time to run from the marines, that meant slowing them down as much as possible.

Luffy stood quietly. He knew that there was something more Zack wanted to say so Luffy waited. He relaxed against the rail watching Zack.

"Luffy…" Zack didn't want to grovel, he didn't want to sound weak. They were alone, no one was around to hear Zack's plea so he spit the words out. "I know you can do it Luffy. If anyone can save Sher, it's you." He looked up into the captains cool stare. "Help her Luffy. Save my captain." With the words finally out, Zack dropped his eyes.

Luffy was still for a minute then reached over and dropped a hand on Zack's shoulder. "It's alright Z. I'll get her back." Luffy moved his hand away from Zack and let it fall to his side. He made a fist. "I will destroy anyone or anything that stands between me and Sher. I promise."

17.

D day had arrived. The marines in the yard seemed to leer a little harder at Sher this morning. She was thirsty again, her empty stomach had quit complaing for the time being though. Her hands and arms were mostly numb from being tied in place for so long. She knew they wouldn't be much good to her if she got the chance to fight. She wasn't sure how strong her kicks would be either. She had weakened considerabally tied to the cross out here in the yard beneath the beating sun. She kept her eyes on the main building all morning waiting for Dark or Drella to come and hand down her sentence.

There were about twenty or so sailors finishing their lunch in the yard when Drella came out of the main building. Dark was behind him and a squad of marines was following him with Duke in their midsts. Drella led the procession over to the pirate tied to the cross. Drella didn't address the woman first though, he turned to her big chef. "I left you with one good finger pirate. Salute your captain with it."

Duke was bound in irons hand and foot. His hands were mangled, purple and disfigured. He saw his captain grimace at his hands. "I'll do no such thing," he growled. Duke looked up at Sher. "Hangin in there captain?"

Sher was horrified by what they had done to Duke's hands. She clenched her teeth, determine to die fighting. "Never give up," she snarled.

Dark reached over and grabbed Duke's last unbroken finger. "You're not very smart pirate." He crushed Duke's finger and the pirate grunted.

"Leave him alone you coward!" Sher screamed enraged. "Yer a real big man torturing prisoners that can't defend themselves! Whatsa matter Dark buddy, trying to compensate for that teeny weenie ya got hangin between yer legs!"

Dark let go of Duke and turned to face Bloody Sher. "Tell the commander where your ship is filthy pirate or I'll shove my weenie right up your ass."

The smart thing to do would have been to lay off of Dark, but Sher was too furious too stop now. They had tortured her mate, right in front of her too. "I aint telling you shit needle dick! Bug fucker!" Sher tried to kick at him, but he and Drella were out of reach. "You're all a bunch of bug fuckers! There aint a real man on this whole damn base!"

Drella stepped forward and caught one of Sher's flailing legs by the ankle. "I guess I'll just have to show you."

This is it…this is the end. Sher let Drella think she was still and waited for him to take a step closer. With the last of her strength she brought her other leg up and kicked Drella in the face as hard as she could. "Never!"

Drella stepped back, letting the woman pirate go. He smiled at her and wiped away the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. Her kick had hurt him, but just a little. Drella was thrilled to see she still had so much fight left in her. "Stupid bitch, real stupid." He lunged forward and punched her in the stomach seven times, once for each million. The pirate coughed up fresh gouts of blood as Drella stepped back. She was having a hard time catching her breath. Drella figured it might have something to do with the ribs he just broke.

"You bastard!" Duke yelled struggeling against his bonds. "Leave her alone."

Dark turned around smoothly and punched Duke in the face. This time there was no holding back. He launched the big guy half was across the yard. "Duke no!" Sher screamed in alarm. "Duke!" Duke wasn't moving.

"Last chance," Drella offered the feisty pirate. "Tell me where your ship is or he dies now. My men will shoot him where he lays and then I'll turn them on you." He stepped forward and grabbed Bloody Sher by the throat. "Tell me where the ship is and I'll give you both a clean death."

Angry tears stood in Sher's eyes. She tried to fight them, but it was damn hard seeing Duke laid out like that. He had always been ready to serve his captain a mug of ale or tell her a funny story when she was feeling a little down. He had been a good mate, a good friend. Duke… I'm sorry. I can't let them find Evan. "Burn in hell you bastard!" she screamed in Drella's face.

Drella grinned at her again. "You first pirate." He cut his eyes over to Dark. "Get that fat shit up. I want him to watch what I'm about to do to his captain." Dark nodded and motioned for his men to drag the pirate chef back over. They obeyed immediately. Drella looked back at Bloody Sher's hatefull glare as he dropped his free hand to his belt buckle. "As commander, I get to go first. Dark is next and the line forms behind him." Drella heard some of the sailors cheering him on as he unbuckled his belt.

Sher's fury was sliding into panic. "Stay the hell away from me you piece of shit!" She tried kicking at him again as he undid his pants, but her kicks didn't stop him.

Drella let go of her throat and hooked his arm in the crook of the woman's knee bringing her leg up. He bumped his crotch against her. "You better spread em wide pirate cuz I'm hung like a bear."

Sher screamed and something exploded. Everything seemed to stop for a minute, all eyes moving back toward the building. There was another explosion, then another. Drella let go of Sher and stepped back frowning. A sailor came running from the shadows of the base as more explosions were heard. "We're under attack!" the sailor screamed. "Commander! Two pirate ships are taking out our torrents and blowing holes in the docked ships!"

"What!" Drella snarled furious.

Sher found that she had hope after all. "Luffy!" She could think of no one else crazy or strong enough to save them. A smile stretched her bruised, split lip. "Luffy!"

"Man every gun we've got! Blow the bastards out of the water!" Drella barked as sailors began to scramble all around him. He glared at Bloody Sher again. "Luffy huh? The straw hat pirate has come for his cum bucket I see. You should have told me you were in cahoots with the Luffy pirates bitch. Now I'll make you watch as they die." Drella buckled his pants angrily. The pirates would pay for this interruption.

Sher laughed at Drella. She couldn't help it. Her mind was about to snap. "Luffy! Luffy! Luffy is gonna kill you fucker! You're all dead now!" Luffy! And Sanji! I'm here!

18.

From his place aboard the Rose Red Ussop took out one gun torrent after another. For a marksmen like him, they were easy pickin's even from their relatively safe distance. At the cannon to either side of Ussop, Nails and Charlie were fireing on the two marine ships docked at the base. Crippling them so they wouldn't be able to sail and give chase. The Merry Go raced toward the base firing her own main cannon. One of the marine ships was floundering already, it would soon sink. Ussop had picked off the cannon turrents so there was no return fire. Hoards of marines poured from the base drawing their swords and readying their rifels.

The Merry Go rolled into port. Luffy stood on deck looking down at the sailors trying to shoot him. "Gum gum whip!" his right leg kicked out and stretched. Luffy swept the pirates in front doing the shooting away with his whip leg. He leapt off the ship and landed in front of the marines. Those with swords in their hands charged at him. Luffy stood where he was unmindfull of them looking for the entrance to the base.

Zoro and Sanji stepped in before the marines could reach their captain. Zoro sliced and diced them a clear path to the door on the left while Sanji took care of the marines to Luffy's right. Luffy walked right in and through the base out to the courtyard. He had seen Sher and Duke out there through Nami's spy glass just moments ago. Luffy stepped out into the sunlight while his mates slaughtered marines behind him.

Sher saw Luffy step out into the yard. She thought her heart was going to burst with joy. "Luffy!" she screamed for him.

Luffy saw Sher and headed her way. There were close to three dozen marines scrambeling to get in his way. One big man was standing over Duke glaring at Luffy. Luffy knew at once that he had to be captain Dark. Behind him and closer to Sher was an even bigger man. Commander Drella Luffy assumed. "Hey Sher," he addressed his smiling friend still moving closer.

Dark pulled out his side arm and laid the barrel against Duke's head. Behind the straw hat a swordsman and a guy in a suite smoking a cigarette came hurrying into the yard. "Stop right there!" Dark stayed focused on Luffy.

Sanji made quick work of the marines that had tried to stop him from getting to the yard. His eyes found Sher tied to some weird anchor looking thing in the middle of the yard. It looked to Sanji like Sher had been beaten. "Sher!" he yelled enraged.

Dark pulled back the hammer and cut his eyes over to the smoking blonde. "I said stop."

Sanji cut his eyes down to Duke. His hands! Sanji stared at Duke's mangled hands his fury growing. "How dare you fuck up a chef's hands!"

Luffy looked at Sanji sidelong. "You want that one Sanji?"

Sanji pitched his cigarette staring Dark down. "You bet I do Luffy."

Luffy looked back at Dark. "I'll get rid of the gun then for you." He brought his arm back. "Gum gum pistol!"

Dark watched in surprise as the straw hat's arm did its trick. Luffy's fist knocked the gun out of Dark's hand and snapped back to the pirate. Straw hat was grinning darkly at him. A second later the blonde on his right was running at Dark. Dark stepped forward to meet him in the yard. It didn't matter to him which pirate he killed first.

"Kill them!" Drella ordered his men in the yard. He was mad as hell now. The pirates had worked their way all the way out here. That was far enough.

The sailors charged at the pirates and Zoro jumped in the way. "I don't think so," he said deflecting their swords with ease.

Sher wiggled in place on the cross. Sanji had reached Dark and was trying to kick him. The big guy was fast, but Sanji was connecting. "Get him Sanji! Kill that fuck!" she cheered. She watched Zoro take down six marines in one turn. "Give em hell!" she screamed. She grinned crazed at Luffy. He was walking towards her again.

Drella was furious. The swordsman was taking out his marines like they were toddlers with pointy sticks rather then men with swords. Dark had his hands full with the kicking pirate. The blonde's heel connected with Dark's chin and the huge captain went flying back off of his feet and across the courtyard. The pirate pursued him. The rubber freak in the straw hat kept advancing. Drella narrowed his eyes at captain Monkey D. Luffy. "Come for your whore eh pirate?" he snarled.

Luffy stopped in his tracks and pointed to himself. "Are you talking to me?"

Drella chuckled. He reached over and grabbed the iron of the anchor Bloody Sher was tied to. "You ate the devils fruit. You can't swim can you?" he moved his arm just a little but the whole anchor shook in the ground.

Luffy took a threatening step toward Drella. He saw the way the anchor moved easily in the commander's single hand. The guy was obviously strong. "That shit don't matter. I'm here to kick your ass!" Luffy brought an arm back ready to hit the commander in the face.

Drella could see the rubber man was getting ready to try that punch of his again. He flexed his muscle a little and the anchor shook violently. Bloody Sher cried out in alarm as Drella ripped the anchor right out of the ground. "You're too late straw hat!" Drella hefted the anchor and gave it a toss. All eyes fixed on the anchor sailing over the wall and into the ocean behind them.

"Sher!" Sanji screamed.

"Gum gum pistol!" Luffy shot his arm out and grabbed the anchor as it plummeted into the sea. He was dragged forward toward the low outer wall. Luffy tried to dig his heels into the crusty sand, but he couldn't stop. He slammed into the wall and grabbed hold. He could feel the anchor in his hand with Sher tied to it sinking to the bottom of the ocean. "Zoro! Sanji!"

Luffy didn't need to yell twice. Zoro ran for the wall. Sanji slammed Dark down with a final kick and tore off after the swordsman. They scrambled over the wall and dove into the sea after Sher. She was sinking fast, Zoro and Sanji had to swim hard to get to her. They reached Sher and Zoro drew a sword to cut the ropes.

Drella took advantage of the situation and started toward Luffy. The rubber bastard couldn't fight with one hand in the sea and the rest of his limbs clinging to the wall for dear life. "It's over pirate. You can kill all the grunts you want, but you can't defete me."

Zoro cut through the ropes. Sanji grabbed Sher and pointed them back toward the surface. She was struggling to hold her breath. Trying to swim with useless arms and weak legs. Zoro gave Luffy's arm a tug to let him know it was all clear and he made for the surface himself.

Luffy turned his head and faced Drella with his teeth barred. "The only thing over around here is you."

Sanji, Sher and Zoro broke the surface of the water gasping for air. Sanji dragged Sher to shore, she was on the verge of passing out. Zoro flanked them looking at the wall. A second later he left Sanji and Sher on the shore and scaled the wall to see what was happening. Sanji peeled off his wet jacket and put it around Sher's shoulders.

Drella smiled at the murderous look the Luffy pirate was giving him. "You're a fool pirate and your whore is dead. This is the end." Drella stepped across the courtyard in the bright sunlight cracking his knuckles.

Luffy had enough of this fuckin guy. He gnashed his teeth together. "A whore is what you woulda liked to make her," he growled. "Sher is not my whore, she's my hana! Gum gum pistol!" Luffy called back the arm still holding the anchor. The anchor burst from the sea in Luffy's hand.

All eyes watched the anchor fly from the sea and over their heads. It came down just as fast as it had gone up. Drella realized too late that he should move. Luffy guided the anchor bringing it down on the surprised commander. The anchor did more then crush him, it splattered him. Luffy let the anchor go trying to catch his breath as his body snapped back into place.

Zoro looked from the dead commander, to Luffy and then back over the wall at Sanji. "You guys okay?"

Sanji figured it was over when he felt the ground shake from the anchor's crash. He was kneeling beside Sher. She was on her hands and knees still retching up sea water. "Sher? You alright?"

Sher spit once more and looked up at Sanji. She had never been happier to see him in all her life. "Sanji…" happy tears started to flow. Sanji pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. Sher wanted to hug him back, but her arms were still pretty useless. "Sanji!"

Sanji held his wet woman against him. "It's okay now Sher. I got you. Yer safe now."

Sher buried her face against Sanji's neck and cried. "Sanji, you came for me."

"I'll always come for you Sher. I wont never leave you again."

Zoro spoke up from the wall. "I hate to interrupt, but we better get the hell out of here before reinforcements arrive." Zoro was certain someone on the base had called for help while they were under attack.

Sanji helped Sher to her feet and handed her off to Zoro. Zoro pulled Sher up and over the wall with him, Sanji came down right behind them "Duke!" Sher yelled running to her chef. He was pretty beat up, but he was alive. Sher collapsed beside him on her knees in the rough sand.

"I'm alright captain," he looked up at the three Luffy pirates coming up behind his captain. "Thanks to them."

Sher turned and looked up at Luffy as he made his way over to them. "Luffy…"

Luffy smiled at Sher. "What's say we get outta here captain?" Zoro and Luffy each took one side of Duke, Sanji picked Sher up and they carried them back to the Merry Go.

On the deck of the Rose Red Zack watched the Merry Go backing away from the base. "They did it!" he cried triumphantly to his crew. Zack grabbed the helm. "Hang on ya swabs, we're heading into the wind!"

The Rose Red and the Merry Go were long gone before reinforcements arrived at Central Star.

19.

As the ships raced away from Central Star with the Rose Red slightly ahead, Sanji sat Sher down on the step. Sher was staring at her cook's mangled hands. "Is Evan alright?" she asked Sanji quietly. Robin and Nami were hurrying to Duke.

Sanji unbuttoned his collar and loosened his tie. He was looking at Duke too. "Evan is okay. Zack put him and Mimi off the ship in August before the crazy bastard headed out to go save yer ass."

Sher wasn't happy that her son was not waiting for her on her ship, but she understood why Zack had done such a thing. He meant to take her ship and remaining crew on a possible suicide run to regain her and Duke. She inhaled slowly, two broken ribs screaming in protest. "Sanji… can't you help Duke?"

Sanji pulled his tie off. "Yeah, lets do something about those hands." He stepped away from Sher over to Duke and his female crewmates. "Lets get those hands a yers into some ice water big guy. Get the swelling down so Chopper can get a good look at ya." The four started into the kitchen. "Hey Nami, do ya think ya could hook Sher up with some dry clothes?" Sher was still sitting in the wet dress covered by Sanji's soggy jacket. Nami nodded and took off ahead of them. Sanji and Robin led Duke inside to see to his hands. Sanji was furious and disgusted over the way the chef had been tortured. He wanted to help the big guy that had become his new friend.

Sher watched Sanji and the others lead Duke inside to see to his hands. She forced herself to stand as her eyes went to her ship. She went to the rail and leaned against it watching the Rose Red with the wind in her sails. It's okay now. Everything is okay. The world was fuzzy around the edges, exhaustion and pain was getting to her but she tried to fight it. Luffy came up and stood next to her. Sher looked at Luffy and tried to smile. "Luffy… thank you."

Luffy was watching Sher, from somewhere behind him Zoro was too. "No problem Sher." Sher didn't look so good. She was on the verge of collapse.

Sher looked at her ship again. She was about ready to keel over herself, but she tried to fight it. She wanted a glimpse of her crew. It was a fight that Sher was going to lose. "I never saw her like this, with the wind in her sails." Her perifferial vision went black. "So beautiful." Her eyes rolled back in her head and Sher fainted.

Luffy caught her as she started to fall backward. He eased down to his knees on the deck with Sher in his lap. Zoro was coming up behind them. "It's okay," Luffy directed at the swordsman without taking his eyes off of the woman captain. "She just fainted." Luffy looked Sher over. She has a black eye and the left side of her bottom lip was bruised and split. Luffy counted six cuts on her cheeks. He brought a hand up and felt along Sher's rib cage. Even unconscious she flinched when he touched her broken ribs. "They beat her," he said quietly.

"Maybe we should get her below deck. Get her into bed." Zoro stood over Luffy looking down at Sher. It looked like she and her big cook had spent a week in hell.

Luffy let out a long quiet sigh. "Yeah," he scooped Sher into his arms and stood up with her. Sher was lighter then she had been just a few weeks ago. Her cheeks had a sunken look. They starved her. Probably didn't even give her water. "Get the door for me would ya?" Luffy asked hiding his eyes from Zoro beneath the brim of his hat.

Zoro had the feeling that his captain was rippin' pissed, but trying to hide it. He stepped in front of Luffy; Luffy followed carrying Sher. Zoro played doorman as the two brought Sher down to the guy's room. Luffy laid Sher down gently on Sanji's bed. He stood looking down at her with his eyes still hidden. Zoro knew that curiousity killed the cat, but, "Something wrong Luffy?"

Luffy shook his head negatively. "I should probably go over to the Rose Red and tell Chopper what's going on. He'll need to see to Sher and Duke." Luffy took one last look at his battered flower and turned to go out.

Zoro watched Luffy go. His captain was defiantly pissed. Luffy will get over it. We got the assholes that did this. He splattered that one guy. Zoro looked back down at Sher. It made Zoro mad too to see what they had done to his sweet cheeks and her poor cook. Zoro was all too familiar with the cruel way marines had of torturing their prisoners. Luffy had rescued Zoro from a cross once himself. "Bastards," he grumbled.

Zoro moved over to his bunk and set his swords down on it. He peeled off his wet shirt and dropped it to the floor. With sweet cheeks passed out, it was okay to change into some dry clothes, so he did.

20.

Luffy used his rubber arm to bounce himself over to the Rose Red. Zack passed the helm off to Charlie and hurried out to Luffy on the deck. "Luffy!" Zack called moving toward the captain on his crutches. "How is she? Is Sher alright? What about Duke?"

Luffy met Zack amidships. "They're gonna be okay," Luffy tried to soothe. Zack was excited and nervous. "I need Chopper."

Zack felt like he had been hit in the gut. If Sher and Duke were alright, then why did Luffy need his doctor? "Luffy!"

Luffy adjusted his hat sighing quietly again. "They broke his hands. It's bad. I think Sher is suffering from dehydration and exposure too. Chopper can help them."

"I want to see her!" Zack started to panic.

Luffy shook his head. "When we stop. I'm not taking you over to the Merry Go. I could hurt your leg moving you. Besides, you have a ship to run." He fixed Zack with a stern look, the look of a true captain and the other man relented.

Zack frowned a little, but he could see that Luffy wasn't going to budge. He had come for Chopper, not him. "Yeah okay Luffy," he conceded. "Just tell them to hang in there for me okay? Tell Sher… tell her…"

Luffy started for the stairs. He needed to get Chopper back aboard the Merry Go. "I'll let them know you want them to get well soon. Anything else you've got to say to your captain can wait." With his point made, Luffy went to find Chopper.

Zack swallowed hard watching Luffy disappear below deck. It sounded to Zack like the captain had given him a scolding. Zack looked up and over to the Merry Go. Sher, I just want you to be okay. I want you to come home to us. Come back to me soon. Zack turned and hobbled back toward the helm.

21.

Sher slowly opened her eyes. Sanji was there, sitting beside her knees on his bed. "Sanji?" she croaked. Her throat was dry.

Sanji looked down at Sher, smiling at her a little. "Hey beautiful." He grabbed the glass of juice he had brought down for her from off of the nightstand. "How bout a drink? Can you sit up?"

Sher was still feeling light headed and sleepy, but she was terribly thirsty so she tried. Sanji hooked his free arm around her and helped her sit up. She leaned against him and let him bring the glass to her lips. Her hands were still feeling numb. She drank the juice slowly, it felt heavy in her empty shrunken stomach. As she drank, Sher noticed that she had been changed into dry clothes, Nami's, and she could feel that her ribs had been taped up. She swallowed and caught her breath. "How long have I been out?"

Sanji was looking at Sher's battered face. He dropped his eyes to the rope burn around her wrists. Bastards. How could they do this to a lady! "A couple of hours," he said bringing his eyes back up to hers. "How ya feelin Sher."

Sher smiled weakly at Sanji. "Five pounds of shit in a one pound bag," she tried to make light of her condition.

Sanji set the glass down and wrapped Sher into his arms. He kissed her forehead. "It's okay Sher. Chopper says you'll be alright. He's workin on Duke right now too. He'll get da big guy fixed up."

"Duke…" she could still see him laying in a heap in the courtyard in her minds eye.

"It's a crime what they did to his hands. A chef aint nothin without his hands." Sanji was still quite appauled. He pulled away from Sher enough to look down into her eyes. "I got some soup on when yer ready. Duke told me… he told me they didn't feed ya."

Sher dropped her eyes and looked at the raised red skin of her wrists. "Yeah, well…"

"Sher…" Sanji was afraid to ask. He saw what she had been wearing when they rescued her. "They didn't…. I mean you're…"

Sher knew what he was getting at. "No Sanji, they didn't rape me." But they were gonna… "You guys got there before things got ugly."

Sanji thought things already were ugly. The chef's hands were crushed and Sher had been beaten, probably repeatedly. It was hard to keep the frown off his face, but Sanji tried. "They hurt you."

Sher looked back up at Sanji. She could see the fury in his eyes. "I'm okay Sanji." Sher didn't feel okay though. She was sore, tired.

"I aint never gonna let anyone hurt you again Sher, I promise." His words seemed to melt her tough facad some and Sher softened.

"I'm glad you came for me Sanji," Sher could feel the sad tears that wanted to flow. She didn't think she had the tears to cry or the strength to cry them.

Sanji felt his heart twist in his chest. At least this time he had gone to find her, gone to get her out of jail. "I aint never leavin you again Sher," he said staring into her sad eyes. "I'll protect you from now on. You and Evan." He kissed her lips softly being careful not to push against her bruised mouth too hard. Sher tried to hug him, but her arms were still too stiff and weak from being tied to the anchor. They had her out there in da yard like that fer almost a week da bastards! Angry tears stung Sanji's eyes. He wanted to squeeze her tightly against him, but he couldn't. She had two busted ribs and a squeeze would hurt her. They starved her, beat her, even cut her!

Sanji kissed her gently and eased Sher against him. She wanted to hold him too, but her damn arms wouldn't cooperate. She nestled her face against his chest. "Oh Sanji." To her surprise Sher found that she could cry, so she did. She leaned against Sanji and wept quietly as the Merry Go rocked gently around them.

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