Chapter 20
The Eve of Battle
With Captain T-Bone of the Marines far behind them, Maxwell, Zoro, Chopper, and Luffy all went back to the train car. Zambai, Lulu, Tilestone, and the Square Sisters all followed them inside. There was nothing else on the track, so they had no more reason to be out in the rain.
"So, how do you suppose two train cars got left in the middle of the ocean?" Maxwell asked, whipping his head back and forth to get the water out of his beard.
"Who cares," said Zoro, "Wake me when we reach Enies Lobby." Zoro sat on a barrel and leaned back against the wall.
"YOU'RE TAKING A NAP!?" Zambai yells at him incredulously. He had literally seen Zoro cut through two train cars and a marine captain, and he didn't even care!? What was with these pirates!?
Nami waves him off, "Let him be. All of this must've been Sanji's work!" He never did like giving the chef credit where it was due.
"So we're almost there!?" Luffy gets excited. Chopper was smiling right along with him.
Maxwell smiles appreciatively, "Well, I wouldn't say we're—Luffy! Where are you going!?" the mage yells after Luffy as he swings out the window again. He sticks his head out to see Luffy moving towards the headlight.
"Okay! Charge Rocket Man! Our enemy is close! I'm going to send that pigeon guy flying! WOO~HOO—! OH CRAP! KAERU!"
"…Is that the name of some some sort of sea monster?" Maxwell raised an eyebrow at his captain. He never heard that word before.
Nami stuck her head out another window, "WHAT!? BUT WE'VE COME SO FAR!" She seemed to understand it.
"WHY DO WE HAVE TO TURN BACK NOW, STRAW-HAT!" The Water 7 natives all yelled out the other side of the train car. They seemed to get it too.
"That's not what I meant!" Luffy yelled back, "On the tracks! That frog appears out of nowhere!"
Maxwell looked ahead, where the Rocket Man was going, "OH SHIT!" It wasn't just some some sea monster, though it might as well have been.
It was Yokozuna, the front-stroking sumo frog, sitting on the tracks. Maxwell still remembered the last time they saw that amphibian. They had just spotted that frog in the middle of the ocean and Luffy had the bright idea to go after it. There they came across the train station Kokoro and Chimney watched over and beached on the train tracks. That's how they became acquainted with the Puffing Tom, and Yokozuna had tried to derail it. Now it was about to do the same thing to them!
"LOOK OUT!" Luffy yelled at the giant frog, "GET OUT OF THE WAY FROGGY! WE'RE GOING TO HIT—!"
Maxwell immediately tucked his head back inside, "BRACE FOR IMPACT!"
*BOOSH!*
O O O
Maxwell cast another bolt of fire into the furnace as the Rocket Man kept chugging. He felt he needed to do something while on they tried to find their way to Enies Lobby, "WAAAARGH! YOU STUPID FROG!" —as well as keep an eye on Luffy.
*GERO!* "YOU 'GERO' AGAIN, AND I'LL EAT YOU!" *Ribbit.*
Luffy was arguing with Yokozuna on the nose of the Rocket Man. "WE HAD ALMOST CAUGHT UP TO SANJI! THEN YOU SMACKED US OFF THE TRACK!" It was amazing that frog was even alive. Even as Yokozuna had derailed them, he barely missed being turned into ground meat, being caught in the train's cow catcher.
Yokozuna's interference had also dislodged the Franky Family's caboose from their train car. The only people aboard the Rocket Man was the Straw-Hat crew, Kokoro, Chimney and Gonbe, Galley-La, Zambai, and the Square Sisters. They had lost the rest of their people back on the tracks. The Franky Family was likely still on the railroad, being pulled by those two King Bulls. Their harpoon bar was still lodged in their back end though. The chains had likely snapped off when Rocket Man suddenly veered off track.
Maxwell braced as another wave rocked the train. He could here some of the others yelling from the car.
"Hey! What happened!?" "We've strayed from the rail by quite a bit!" "Kokoro! Can we still get to Enies Lobby!?"
"Hush up!" Kokoro yelled into the intercom, "I'm trying but the current is too strong!" The old lady was in the pilot box with him. Kokoro was controlling the helm, periodically sticking her head out the window to see where she was going. This train may still be sea worthy, but it was still out in the middle of the ocean, during a storm.
Nami then burst into the cockpit, "Kokoro, do we know the direction towards the island!?"
"We sure do!" Kokoro smirked and pulled out a suitcase, still focused on driving, "We have an eternal pose to every station onboard!"
Nami opened a window, "Then that's fine! I'll observe the currents. Just follow my directions!" When Kokoro was about to question it, Nami turned around, "I'm a navigator!"
"Best there is!" Maxwell cast in another flame.
Kokoro smile widened at the prospect, "Then that's marvellous! Nagagagaga!" Kokoro then decided to do something a little different, sticking her head outside, "Hey! Yokozuna~! Come here a moment!"
*Gero!?* Both Yokozuna and Luffy stopped wrestling, looking back at the old woman. Maxwell thought Luffy might've tried to make good on his promise to eat him. He did not want to know if Luffy actually ate live frogs as a kid. Yokozuna smiled, then like a mighty frog he was, he jumped over Luffy and landed on top of the coal car. Kokoro ran out the cockpit, and the frog greeted her with a few excited rabbits.
"Good to see you in one piece!" *Gero gero geroro!* "No no! They didn't kidnap me!" *Gero!?*
…Huh. So Kokoro can apparently speak to frogs? And she knew Yokozuna? Maybe Luffy's nickname for her was more accurate than he thought.
Monster Granny kept talking to the amphibian, "8 years ago, you saw Tom get taken away… Since then, you've been challenging the sea train, hoping to get stronger, haven't you?"
*Gero!*
"You don't want your friends to be taken away again. You want to protect people you like, right?"
*GERO!* The frog roared.
Kokoro smiled, putting a hand on her hip, "Well! How's the time to see if your training's been a success! Your favourite person, Franky, has been taken away. Just like how Tom was! Right now, we're chasing after them! Do you want to come with us!?"
*GE~RO~!* the frog roared raising it's head and he arms aloft.
Kokoro yell back at Luffy, "Straw-Hat, we've got one more comrade!"
"You can understand him!? Granny, are you a frog monster?" Luffy yelled back.
"NAGAGAGA! Sure, whatever you want to call me."
"Max! Grandma Kokoro," Nami stuck her head back in, "I've spotted a strong current at 8 o'clock!"
"Okay! Let's charge towards it then!" Kokoro ran back to the helm, "Ready, big boy!?"
"Got it!" Maxwell channeled more mana into the fire. The furnace burned even brighter.
"Hey Sister Nami!" Zambai yelled from the train car, "Before we get to the island, pick up my dismantler brothers! They'll definitely be able to help out!"
"Got it!" "Let's do that." "Already the plan!"
Maxwell then heard Luffy yell again, "LET'S GO! WE'RE ALMOST THERE! CHARGE!"
*GERO~!* And Yokozuna was yelling right along side him.
Nami directed Maxwell and Kokoro where to go, and how to best use the waves. Maxwell alternated between shovelling coal and controlling the temperature of the flame. He had to listen to Kokoro about regulating the temperature, even she found it too hot at times.
Maxwell stuck his head out, "Luffy! Any sign yet!"
"I see 'em! The huge yagara bulls! HEY~!"
"Look! Over there!" The Franky Family car was still on the tracks, and they had spotted them as well.
"LUFFY!" Tow familiar voices sounded from the drawn carriage.
"AH! SANJI~!" Luffy called back. But then he didn't recognize the other face, "And—Eh!? Who's that?"
"CAPTAIN STRAW-HAT!" the rest of the Franky Family cheered.
Nami looked outside, "They all look so energetic! Ready to storm the front door of the World Government!" Maxwell had also tucked his head back in. "So, first-mate, want to do the roll call?" Nami had the intercom microphone in her hands.
"Thank you Nami," Maxwell took the transceiver and clicked the button. He spoke into the device, "This is Maxwell Trevelyan speaking. We have found the Franky Family train car, and are on route to reunite. But that's not the only piece of news…" Maxwell had seen the unusual brightness on the horizon, "Enies Lobby is in sight! ALL CREWS, PREPARE FOR BATTLE! We'll reconvene in the passenger car, in a few minutes!" Maxwell put back the intercom, "Sound good?"
"Yep!" "No problem here!"
"Good," Maxwell nodded his head, walking back to the train car, "Now, to find out how Usopp got caught up in this mess…"
O O O
O, the wind carries my name~ from Sniper Island far away~ When I take aim, it's straight and true~ Lu lu la la lu~
Whether~ you're a man or mouse, 100 shots—Lock-on! I will have your heart in my sights—! Hit a hundred hits—! LOCK ON~!
No one knows what secrets hide, behind this mask and cape~ Lu lu lu lu la la! There's no escape~! SO~GE~KING~ aims~ true~!
Sogeking makes his grand appearance! "Greetings. I am the Sogeking of Sniper Island. I have come to offer my assistance in your time of need."
…
…
…
It's Usopp. In a mask and a cape.
"The Sogeking of Sniper Island!?" Both Luffy and Chopper stare amazed.
"…That's me. Your friend, Usopp, sent for me. And I have come per his request."
Usopp…
"A he-hero! I knew he was a hero when I saw his cape! So cool! This is my first time seeing a hero!" "Oh! So wearing a cape means he's a hero…!? So cool~!"
"Yes! A cape equals a hero!" Sogeking interrupts the remaining Kiddy Trio.
"Really!?" Both Chopper and Luffy look at him starry-eyed.
"Okay! We're counting on you!" Luffy offers his hand to shake.
"Great!" Uso—I mean Sogeking takes the handshake.
"Can I get your autograph!?" Chopper offer him a board and paper to write on.
…
…
…
It's still just Usopp… In a mask. And a cape!
Maxwell had long since facepalmed at this tomfoolery… Now the hand was just massaging his face. The things that go on sometimes…
Usopp really was just hiding in plain sight. No one, besides Luffy and Chopper, really believe he was some far hero from a distant land. Still… He could understand Usopp's shame at showing his face at this time. The tinkerer wanted to help, even if he didn't belong to the crew anymore.
Usopp's mask was a sun's face with painted lips and a moustache. Although, Maxwell could tell he modified it a bit. The forth sun spoke and mask with it had been cut off, exposing his chin. The nose piece was cut off so his long nose could fit through, and there were two slits for Usopp's googles to go over the eyes. And there wasn't much to Usopp's cape, either than it being a red cloak. It was still Usopp, even if he did still have his bandages on.
"So where did Usopp go?" asked Luffy, obvious to his friend's trickery.
"He's safe, don't worry about him," Sogeking signed his autograph, "He told me that saving Robin is my top priority, and then he left."
"Oh… I see!" Luffy accepted the explanation.
"OH! OH!" Chopper jumped up and down trying to grab Sogeking's attention, "Where is Sniper Island!?"
Usopp stopped writing.
"It's… in your heart…" Sogeking then started humming his theme song as he handed Chopper his autograph. Both Chopper and Luffy looked at him amazed and in we of his revelation.
Nami just deadpanned, "Idiots."
"Nami…"
The navigator looked behind her, "What is it Sanji?" They had had also reunited with their 5 star chef, after his adventure on the Puffing Tom.
Sanji let out a puff of cigarette smoke, "Hey, the rest of you idiots. You listen too. Before we go in and rescue Robin, you all need to know this."
Most of the people not familiar with Sanji grumbled, but they still gathered around. Maxwell sat down on on a barrel, "Alright Sanji, tell us what you found out."
"…Robin is dead set on making sure we survive. She even attacked U—Sogeking when we were close to escaping with her… She's scared, and not thinking clearly. The reason why Robin had a bounty at such a young age, was because she survived an event called the Buster Call."
Max, Nami, and Zoro immediately look at each other at that revelation. Those words seem to keep turning up lately.
"I didn't hear why the navy did it, beyond it being in the name of Justice, but it razed her home to the ground. Apparently she watched everyone she knew die on that day, and was scared for life. The Government… They don't see her as anyone more than a resource. One that'll eventually be put down. Of course I couldn't abide by that and fought the CP9 guys myself. I'll admit, they were tough. Franky tried to sacrifice himself so we could all get away. We had detached a car, but that bull-guy had a Devil Fruit."
"He made a portal in the middle of your train car didn't he?" asked Maxwell, still remembering his encounter with Blueno.
"Yeah… He stabbed us with his freaking finger so we couldn't follow after him. After that, we ran into the Franky's and they picked us up. But give me another round with them, and I promise to run them into the ground!"
Maxwell pursed his lips, "…Sanji, the bull-guy, you didn't happen to get anything off him did you?"
"…Not really. Why?"
"Not even a strand of hair or something caught on your leg?" Maxwell tried to hope that might have something, but it was for not.
Sanji look at his shoe and pants, "…Nope. Sorry Max."
"Dammit… Well, so much for that idea." It looks like he was going to have to fight the old fashioned way, "Did anything else happen while you were on the train?"
"Besides fight a disgrace of a chef, that's the whole story. Robin has some horrific past that CP9 is using to blackmail her. This doesn't excuse me of my failure… But I wanted to point out that Robin may not willingly leave with us once we get to her."
"I DON'T CARE! I WON'T FORGIVE THEM!" Luffy shouted to the heavens, Chopper acting right along side him. "Robin, that stupid—!"
"Will you shut up!" Nami bonked him on the back of his head.
"Well, it's true!" Luffy yelled back at her, "We tried to rescue her, but she refused to go!"
"That's because she's worried about our safety!" Nami rebuked.
"She should worry about her own safety!" Luffy argued, "If we don't do anything, Robin might die! She doesn't want to die, so we have to save her!"
"That's true, but—!"
"Forget it," Zoro interrupted their argument, "We are going to rescue her anyways. We all decided that already." Nami looked like she was going to argue, but kept silent. She wanted to rescue Robin too!
Luffy stomped off, "I don't care who they are, I'm going to send them flying! I have a new attack I wanna try too!" However, before Luffy could leave, Paulie drew they're attention.
"Hey, guys, have a look at this," Paulie had sat down, laying out a map on the ground, "I drew this based on what I could remember, but this is what Enies Lobby looks like. I've been here once before, for railroad maintenance…"
Luffy, Nami and Maxwell all sat down to look at the map, "The Gates of Justice is right behind the island, and the only path to it is through the Judicial Tower." Paulie had drawn an approximation of where everything was. The Gates of Justice were at the edge of the map. The main island was made up of three segments: the Main Gate, the central island—with a Front Gate and Court House, and then the Judicial Tower. The entire island was surrounded by fencing, presumably connected to the Gates of Justice.
"What's that black stuff?" asked Luffy, looking at the black donuts beneath the land masses. It was like a circle and separated the Judicial Tower from the rest of the island.
"The black stuff is the waterfall—you'll see it when you get past the gate." Maxwell frowned at that explanation. There was a waterfall? Maxwell didn't see any mountains or cliffs when he last looked at the horizon.
Paulie kept explaining the battle plan, "Anyhow, it's a straight path from the main gate to the Gates of Justice. If we can't get Robin and Franky before they reach the end of that path, we fail! Even if we all charge into the island, the only ones that'll have a chance against the CP9 are you guys! I've seen how strong you guys are on the way here. You guys should wait for at least 5 minutes at the beach, then charge in with Rocket Man, right through the gates and into the island itself!"
"Before that," Zambai added on to the battle plan, "The rest of us will go in there, open up the Main Gate and the Front Gate to make way for Rocket Man! No matter how many of us die, don't stop. Just charge right through!"
"There are only 60 of us," Paulie pointed out, "But there may be 2,000 to 3,000 enemies on that island. Straw-Hats! You should avoid ant unnecessary fights, and just focus on the CP9!"
Maxwell stroked his beard in thought. The plan made sense. Both sides had a powerful group of fighters in their corners. For Enies Lobby, that was the CP9 agents. For their alliance, it was the Straw-Hat Pirates. Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji were their biggest hitters. Maxwell considered himself to be more of an artillery personnel than a one-on-one fighter. But then again, he had been training for such an occasion. Time to see if that training had paid off. The Rocket Man would shoot like a poisoned arrow delivering it's payload to the heart of the island. Though they didn't account for the gap, Paulie was right. They couldn't afford to get swamped down by marines, and they were going to be all over the place.
"Yeah! I got it!" said Luffy… Yet somehow Maxwell doubted he would go through with it.
"[Hey guys,]" Kokomo's voice came over the speakers, "[Come take a look at the sky behind Enies Lobby!]" They we're making a pass in front of the island.
"…By the Maker…!" "That's the Gate of Justice…!" "WHAT!?" "IT'S SO BIG!"
The Gates of Justice… This world certainly didn't do everything by half measures. The Gates might as well have been a mountain. A solid grey piece of metal you could mistake as the sky. It even reached into the clouds, with the World Government flag proudly etched into it's doors. Although Maxwell noticed it was unusually bright out, as if it were broad daylight out. Maxwell was pretty sure they hadn't been travelling for that long. It should have been like 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning, not high noon.
"[That gate never completely opens. It only opens a little bit to let criminals through. On the other side of the gate, there's a windless area, like the Calm Belts on the two sides of the Grand Line. Giant Seakings live there. It's impossible to sail past it with a normal ship… I don't know how they do it, but only the Marines know how to pass it. In other words, it's just as the pirate girl said… If you want to rescue the folks who've been arrested, you got to do it before they pass through the gate! There's no time for chitchat!]"
"Sir Trevelyan," Sogeking threw something to Maxwell, "…A gift from a mutual friend of ours. He's sorry he couldn't give it himself."
Maxwell looked down at the rod he had caught, and his eyes widened. It looked like a club, but it was the staff Maxwell had asked Usopp to make. He wasn't sure how Usopp had smuggled it in, but it was in Maxwell's hand.
It was similar to a First Enchanter's staff. A four edged club with a a central core at he head. It felt weighty, there was a couple of rivets down the shaft. However, it was too short to be considered a staff. It was more like a mace, complete with a disk pommel… But then he noticed the button.
Maxwell pressed it and the mace extended to a staff's length. It shot out at either end, the top being engraved brass, complete with a diamond patern, while the lower third was a smooth iron cylinder. Usopp must have implemented a Breath Dial for it to shoot out like it did. The staff was impossibly well balanced, even as he spun it. He was amazed!
"…Sogeking. If we survive this, tell Usopp this is his finest work yet."
The sniper stiffened up, understanding the comment, "…Right!"
Now, it was time to battle!