Smoker silently closed the door behind him. Panacea seemed a bit weird, but definitely a good person. Everyone had to do their own duty to society. Smoker's duty was to catch pirates, and to protect the innocent no matter what.
The downside, Smoker was now indebted to these people. The lives of Smoker and his crew are now in their hands. Smoker was confident in his abilities, in Tashigi, and most of his men. The greenhorns, not so much.
"Nice muscles Mister." A light young voice said. The same blonde girl, Glory Girl, who chased Tashigi around the perimeter of the building after informing Smoker it was his turn to be checked by the healer, was floating in front of him with a smile on her face. Smoker stared at her impassively, before walking past her. He didn't like the aura emanating from her.
"Oi, I'm talking to you!" Glory Girl reached to grab Smoker's arm, only for her hand to go right through, a section of his arm turning to smoke. It reformed after she pulled her hand back. Smoker looked at her from the corner of his eye, Glory Girl was obviously confused before realization slapped her in the face.
"Your Mom must've been able to tell the future to be able to name you Smoker." Glory Girl immediately started laughing. Smoker sighed, her sister must have gotten all of the brains from their family. Well, maybe not. The two looked nothing like each other, so maybe adopted?
It was then that the door opened again, revealing Panacea. Yup, definitely not related by blood, or she got the looks of one parent and not the other.
"Vicky, stop bothering Captain Smoker." Panacea said. She seemed a bit tired, and overworked. Panacea really needed a cigar it seemed. Smoker needed one too, but that lady with the blue, white and red scarf said he wasn't allowed to smoke in the building.
"I'm not!" Glory Girl defended herself. They started to argue. Panacea quickly looked over at Smoker and pointed her head away.
Heh, her sacrifice would not be in vain. Quickly walking away, Smoker went out of the building. His crew had already formed a semi-circle as they stared in wonder at everything they saw. Armsmaster stood off to the side, talking with one of his helmeted underlings, while Tashigi talked with Miss Militia. Judging by the sword Tashigi had at her side, she went to retrieve it from the ship while Smoker was busy.
Pulling out two cigars and lighting them, Smoker took a few puffs of smoke before walking over. Tashigi quickly noticed him, and smiled while waving him over. She wasn't wearing her glasses anymore, another reason why Smoker was indebted to these people. Tashigi's eyesight often leads her to have accidents, or tripping over herself.
"Tashigi, Miss Militia." Smoker said simply. Smoker swore he saw Miss Militia scowl when she saw his cigars.
"How do you feel Captain?" Tashigi asked, her eyes filled with excitement. It wasn't everyday your eyesight was fixed.
"I feel fine. Status update."
Tashigi saluted.
"Everyone has accounted for and has been seen by Panacea." Tashigi said. Smoker grunted and turned to Miss Militia.
"When can I expect my ship to be repaired? We can pay for the repairs." Smoker said. He had managed to amass a small fortune of berries. Smoker usually used it to buy cigars whenever he found them. He put their supplies on the Marines tab.
"We are in the middle of arranging its repair with the local dock workers." Miss Militia said. Good, now to find accommodations and plan what to do. It's not like they had a way to go back home.
"Thank you." Smoker didn't like this.
Armsmaster walked up to Smoker shortly afterwards.
"Captain Smoker, Director Piggot would like to speak with you." Armsmaster said. Another thing Armsmaster explained to him while Smoker was waiting for his turn to be healed. Apparently the Protectorate was a group of government superhumans that worked with 'normals' in the PRT, the government agency that kept watch over them. Apparently, people can acquire powers without the need to eat a Devil fruit here.
"Very well." They most likely suspected that Smoker had powers of his own. Well, it's not like they asked him, and Smoker had just shown it earlier to that weird girl who tried to touch him.
"Transportation has been arranged for you and your men." Armsmaster continued. Hmm, Smoker would only be taking a few with him.
"Tashigi, Gunderson, Alby and myself will be the only ones going. The rest are going to stay here and guard the ship." Smoker said firmly. Smoker also needed to tell his men the truth. He would do that once he returned from this meeting. Tashigi moved off to the side.
"Your ship is in a relatively safe area and PRT agents will also be stationed here to keep outsiders away."
"My men will stay here." Smoker glared at Armsmaster. The armored 'hero' stood his ground. Miss Militia then moved in between the two of them.
"Captain Smoker is trying to decide what is best for his men. We should respect his wishes, Armsmaster." Miss Militia said, trying to cool their tempers.
"Very well." Armsmaster said cooly before walking away. Miss Militia quickly started to apologize.
"I'm sorry about him. It's not everyday when we get visitors from another Earth. He's just stressed."
Smoker kept silent so Tashigi quickly spoke up.
"Me and Captain Smoker understand. Captain Smoker just wants to make sure the crew is safe." Tashigi said with a casual smile. Miss Militia seemed to smile under her mask.
Their transportation arrived soon after. After ordering his men to guard the ship and stay safe, Smoker got into their weird metal carriages with Tashigi, Gunderson and Alby. Tashigj practically ran inside when she caught sight of Glory Girl and Panacea.
"Armsmaster usually travels by motorcycle. So I'll be with you in here." Miss Militia said as she sat next to Tashigi who was in between Miss Militia and a facess PRT agent. Smoker sat across from them with Gunderson and Alby, both who looked extremely nervous.
"Oh ok." That came from Tashigi. Smoker simply continued to take puffs from his cigar, which was starting to fill the back with smoke.
"Excuse me, but could you please not smoke while we are all in here? Some of us don't like the smell and future lung damage." Miss Militia said coldly as she glared at Armsmaster. Smoker stared at her for a few seconds before he caused the smoke from the cigar to disappear, leaving only what was left in the air. Gunderson and Alby's jaw practically attached itself to the floor. "Thank you."
Miss Militia turned to look at Tashigi.
"So how is Earth Blue? I mean, how different is it from here?" Miss Militia asked. Earth Blue? Ah, is that what they are calling home.
"Well, it's certainly more colorful, and there are so many amazing islands." Tashigi started explaining. Smoker tuned out their conversation and closed his eyes.
"Do people have powers back in your world?"
Smoker's eyes immediately opened. Tashigi paused, and looked at him from the corner of her eyes. Smoker nodded slightly.
"Yup. Back home we have Devil fruits." Tashigi said not missing a beat. Miss Militia looked at her confused. They were bound to find out anyway. Hopefully, Tashigi wouldn't mention his weakness to water.
"Devil fruits?" Miss Militia questioned. She was most likely ordered to figure out information.
"Yup. It's a mysterious and mythical fruit. Eating one can give you indescribable power, though it mostly depended on which fruit you ate."
"Ah, I see. Do you have any examples?" Miss Militia asked. The PRT agent on Tashigi's otherside became interested as well.
This time, Smoker spoke up.
"There was a pirate that was turned into a rubber man. He could stretch his body to impossible lengths, and was stronger than most men." Most men, but not Smoker. "The man said to be the strongest in the world was strong enough to create shockwaves by shattering the air like glass causing earthquakes and tsunamis. If he wanted, he could destroy everything." Miss Militia seemed...sullen after that.
"And another, had the ability to control smoke itself." Smoker said casually. Miss Militia's dark eyes widened, and the PRT agent froze like a statue.
The smoke disappeared.
A/N
Sorry! Something came up so this chapter was delayed.
Shoutout to DragonFang1917 on spacebattles for giving me advice and some great ideas!
If you would like to give me some advice/ideas, send me a dm.