Chapter 10: Operation Titan

Helmeppo gently laid down the mercenary after having hit him in the face and stripped him bare-naked.

-Okay, now we need to find Malveen!

-Wait, are you sure that we can pass as these guys? Jango and Helmeppo looked at the six-feet tall mercenaries, whose gigantic muscles looked like diamonds glistening romantically in the evening light-

-You have a point, but…

Using Observation Haki Helmeppo scanned the upper deck; the crew was hard at work preparing to invade Bon Lisse. On a balcony at the back of the ship, looking out over his mercenaries was Malveen Kreutz.

-We can use your mind tricks to get him on our side! We just need to make it through this crowd unnoticed!

Exiting the lower deck they were noticed. An absolutely jacked woman hoisted them into the air by the collar.

-I do not recognize you two! What are you doing here?

Having the eyes of a hostile crew on him as his windpipe was dangerously close to being crushed, Helmeppo kept his cool. Jango promptly burst into tears.

-Madame, if you would take us to the side we can explain the situation and supply you with some valuable information.

Taken off guard by Helmeppos words, the woman pushed them both into a corner as the rest of the crew watched. A single aggressive glance made them start working for their lives.

-Explain yourself! Without even a hint of hesitation, Helmeppo started lying.

-The reason you don't recognize us…Doreen, Helmeppo said, recognizing her from Hina's file.

-Yes, the reason you don't recognize us is because we are spies hired by Malveen to scout Bon Lisse for the upcoming invasion! Sadly we lost our… spy badges on our way here, so we couldn't prove that we actually were on your side! Jango eagerly nodded. Doreen scanned the two of them up and down.

-I am Malveen's right hand woman. Why wouldn't he tell me anything about this? The clockworks inside Doreen's head started turning. Helmeppo jabbed his elbow into Jango.

-W-well, the reason for that is right here! Doreen turned to look straight into Jango's pendulum. Like a moth to a flame, she was transfixed.

-If this isn't proof enough you would have to be pretty…dumb.

Helmeppo saw the aura emanating from Doreen's head die down.

-Okay, I'll take you to Malveen.

As they walked behind her, Helmeppo and Jango silently high-fived.

-How were you so cool in front of her? Jango whispered.

-I am dangerously close to peeing my pants ten times a day; you learn to manage, Helmeppo responded.

Doreen slammed open the door to Malveen's office. Surprised, he knocked ink all over his papers.

-Doreen, how many times do I have to tell you to not do that!?

-I'm sorry, honey, Doreen sheepishly responded.

-It's fine, it's fine, you know I can't stay mad at you, sweetheart. Could you be so kind and close the door? Helmeppo and Jango awkwardly sat down.

-Now, who are you two? Malveen grunted.

-Well, the answer to that question is right here! Jango pulled out his pendulum.

-Isn't that one of those things you get at carnivals? Malveen raised an eyebrow. A single tear ran out from under Jango's sunglasses.

-If you could just give us a second, Helmeppo and Jango turned around and started whispering to each other like a sports team making up a game plan.

-Why didn't it work?

-It has to be by surprise! Otherwise it doesn't work! Jango fought to keep his voice down.

-Hey, Doreen! What's the deal with these guys!? Doreen stood silent, staring into the distance.

-Oh, oh no, Helmeppo peeked over his shoulder to see Malveen reaching for a weapon.

-Well, I hope things are at least going well for Drake.

A massive hand smashed Drake into the sand; black dots danced in front of his eyes and he struggled to breathe. After struggling to stand up, he lunged forward once again. Met by the same results, he realized that he lacked both speed and power in full Allosaurus-form.

-What is he doing? Drake could hear his men whispering as he shrunk into a hybrid. Dashing forward and slashing Bino across his ankles, Drake momentarily silenced the voices, only for them to become louder when Bino didn't react.

-According to the file, he's the youngest and weakest member of the family. If any of the others reach town… Distracted by thought, Drake was almost crushed by Bino's finger.

-No! I can't afford to get distracted! I just need to outsmart him! Drake launched himself towards Bino's throat, claws outstretched. Like he was swatting a fly, Bino smashed Drake into the ground.

Slowly he pushed himself out of the sand, a throbbing pain engulfing his skull. His vision was blurry; all he could see was a shadow looming over him; the adrenaline in his body screamed at him to dodge.

-No, not today!

The men of the G-5 shouted with joy as Drake burst into full dinosaur form, grabbing Bino's hand and pushing forward. It took all his willpower for his wounded body to not crumble under the pressure of Bino's weight.

-You won't hurt Bino like that dotted cat did! Die, lizard freak!

Drake stared at Bino, his thin eyes inflamed with determination.

-I refuse!

Thirteen years ago, Minion Island, North Blue…

A thick layer of snow covers an old ghost town, overlooked by a run-down mansion on the top of a hill. In the depths of that mansion, in the corner of an old library, X Drake is hiding while trying to open his luggage.

-Come on! He grunts as he pushes up against the old chest. With one last exertion the lid slams open, scattering pieces of ice out over the room.

Hidden under layers upon layers of his other clothes lies Drake's marine cap; given to him by his father and completely unworn since he became a pirate. Tenderly he puts it on his head, where it still fits like a glove.

-Drake! What are you doing here? Diez Barrels voice rumbles throughout the library.

As he fumbles to hide his hat, Drake is discovered.

-What…the hell…are you wearing!? Disgusted Barrels rips the cap of his son's head, crumples it up and chucks it away.

-I'm sorry, dad, I just…

-Oh, I don't care about your sorry excuses! I'll abandon you if you so much as mention the Navy again! Barrels slaps his son across the face with all his force, leaving a burning red handprint.

-Now run down into the cellar and fetch the rum! As his father walked away, Drake thought about how the man had changed since his navy days. He had been a proud, respected officer making his way up the ranks, until one night he abandoned all of it and left to become a pirate.

Was it perhaps greed that had motivated the change? Power? Freedom? Maybe there was a deeper reason that Drake could never understand. Sighing, he placed a crate of rum in front of his father's crew.

-Gahahaha! Dory, go out to the storage room and get the rest of it! When I sell this fruit we'll drink it until the end of time! Drake heard the crew cackle as he exited the mansion. Outside the temperature was dangerously low, the dirty rags he wore as clothes not helping.

Not wanting to freeze to death Drake ran to the shack where Barrels kept the finest alcohol. Standing there, fumbling with the lock a warmth crept up behind him. Turning around, he discovered the mansion ablaze! The flames were dead silent, the only sound being gunshots and his father screaming.

After that, his memory turned foggy. He ran like had never run before through the decrepit ruins of the town. Recovering his breath by a tree, he saw in real-time as metallic strings descended from the sky. One of his father's men approached him from the other side of that wall, but once again he rushed away. The weight of betraying his father weighing on his mind.

Around midnight Drake stumbled into a port, hungry, freezing, tired.

-Hey! What are you doing here, kid? An elderly woman approached him.

As she came closer Drake could see with his blurry vision that she was wearing a Navy uniform. Memories of his father's greatness overwhelmed him; helping a citizen in need, talking to his subordinates, being praised for his good deeds. Inspired, a single thought came to Drake's mind.

-Take…me…with you! As he uttered the last word, the word turned dark.

Many years later he stood in Sengoku's office, a full-fledged rear admiral.

-I cannot, Drake declared.

-Why not? If you become a pirate, you can go through with operations that the Navy cannot! I'll personally make sure you never end up in trouble unless you attack civilians, you can spy on other pirates for me, there's…

-It's not because it's a bad idea, sir. It's in fact an excellent one. But my father once did the same thing, defecting from the navy to become a pirate, and when he did, he became a greedy, cruel man. If I were to do the same, with the power I wield…

-Boy, Sengoku and Drake stared at each other.

-I once took in a boy named Rocinante. I trained him, cared for him like a child, until one day he decided to do the same thing that I am asking you to do now; he pretended to defect from the Navy and infiltrated the Doflamingo family. Had I not trusted him with my life I would have stopped him.

Sengoku took a deep breath.

-For you see, Rocinante was a Celestial Dragon.

Drake gasped.

-His father had given up godhood for his family and he was killed by Rocinantes brother. Given the chance to join such a powerful crew, it would've been fully understandable for Rocinante to once again chase power. But he refused, sacrificing it all for another and was killed in action.

-Why are you telling me this? Drake asked.

-Have you not been listening? I understand your hesitation; you do not want to become your father. You fear that you have been permanently shaped by your upbringing. But you should know that all people have! Both marines and pirates, evil and good! True strength is becoming more than that! And you have true strength!

With those words burning in his mind, Drake pushed away Bino to the awe of the G-5. Quickly returning to full human form, he gave a quick series of hand signals to them, which they followed without hesitation. As Bino prepared to attack Drake again, he was repeatedly hit in the back of the head.

-Get over here, idiot! The men shouted.

-You…you meanies! Relapsing into blind rage, Bino turned around and approached the men, leaving his back wide open. Drake pulled out the ax hanging by his waist-

-X-ecution!

Launching himself off the ground with incredible power, he sliced Bino over the neck. For a moment the giant stood still before collapsing to the ground; Drake landed elegantly on top. For the third time in a week, Drake passed out from his wounds, but before he hit the ground he was saved by one of his men.

-...While Bino was a weakling compared to his family members, I hope you can see his defeat as a reason to go along with our plan to take down the rest of his family! It will require the help of every man, woman and child as well as the Navy, but if it works, Bon Lisse will never be plagued by mafioso again! Drake tipped his hat to the cheering crowd of citizens.

-Now it's all on Helmeppo...

Okay, I'm not sure how this happened, but even before editing, this is my favorite chapter yet. If I can reach this level somewhat regularly, SWORD is going to be fucking magnificent. Also yes I did forget that Drake owns an ax and a sword and only discovered it upon reading through his entire wiki page, but to be fair he only used them like one time.