Chapter 28

The Buster Call

"[TRIGGERING BUSTER CALL INITIATIVE!]" Loud speakers sounds from among the warships.

The marines opened fire on Enies Lobby. They were surrounding the island, being as thorough as possible. At least seven ships had lined up alongside the bridge, firing on Enies Lobby.

"[TARGET: STRAW-HAT LUFFY AND THE STRAW-HAT PIRATES. APPROXIMATE COUNT: 60. HOWEVER, UNDER DIRECTIVE OF ADMIRAL AOKIJI, THE CRIMINAL NICO ROBIN WILL BE EXCLUDED FROM THESE TARGETS. CURRENT LOCATION, THE BRIDGE OF HESITATION. ALL OTHER DETAILS ARE UNIMPORTANT. DESTROY THE JUDICIAL ISLAND—ENIES LOBBY!]"

Artillery batteries rained hellfire explosions onto the island. It was both mesmerizing and terrifying at the same time. Fire and smoke rose from the ashes of stone and mortar. Buildings were catching on fire and crumbling down around them. Explosions shook the bedrock. Maxwell wondered if the island would actually sink. It was successive bombardment of indiscriminate destruction, "Maker preserve us…!"

Maxwell suddenly understood why the Qun used gaatlok so sparingly back home. If the Qun had abandoned their philosophies and started using the powder like this, it would be chaos. Weapons of this scale would have destroyed all of Thedas, not just the Imperium and the south.

"What a horrible scene…" Franky looked upon the distant island.

Both men then heard something drop behind them, "Robin!" and Maxwell immediately went to his crewmate's side. She had fallen to her knees, hugging herself and shivering.

"I… can't stop trembling…!"

Now it was Maxwell's turn to hold her hand. There wasn't much he could do to comfort her, but he tried his best, "It's going to be alright, Robin. It's going to be alright…"

Still, an aching thought throbbed in the back of his head. Maxwell was worried about Usopp and the others. Mordred had been escorting them on the island until Maxwell summoned the fear demon. But by doing so, Maxwell had no idea if the crew was in the tunnel or not. He was starting to regret that decision… And where was Salem!? Maxwell has had no premonition of the pride demon since Salem talked to him in the water!

Then the bridge suddenly shook. A giant fist and forearm had punched itself through the towers where they had entered the Bridge of Hesitation. Luffy's fight was getting serious! He was using that Third Gear technique again.

The fist suddenly deflated, then Luffy flew out of the giant hole he had made. The captain was puffed up on air, storing it all in his chest. Maxwell looked around, trying to see where Lucci had went. If their battle was extending beyond the bridge chambers, there was a chance Lucci would go after them instead.

Luffy was heading for one of the warships. Marines tried to intercept, firing their rifles at the pirate captain. However, bullets never did work on Luffy, and in his inflated form they just bounced right off him. Maxwell then saw Luffy kick up his foot, extending it. He was going to attack! All the air in Luffy's torso transferred to his foot and then he brought it down. Maxwell could barely hear the name over the sounds of cannon fire, "Gomu-Gomu no GIANT AXE!"

Luffy's enlarged foot kicked down onto the marine warship. The ship crumpled under the extreme impact. Both ends rose out out of the water, but the ship didn't sink. Luffy moved as if to dodge midair, but a leopard suddenly pounced on the rubber-man. The big cat had sunk its jaws into Luffy's shoulder. That must have been Lucci!

Luffy's leg deflated and shrunk as he moved the air again. He made it go into his torso and dislodge the leopard's jaws. Luffy then flung off the carnivorous Zoan off. Maxwell noticed Luffy was considerably slow using this technique.

The leopard then turned into a man, Lucci, landing on the mast yard. Luffy inflated his leg again and kicked at Lucci, "Giant Whip!" only to end up destroying the mast… Well, all the masts on that warship, actually. Lucci had used Geppo, to escape.

Then the agent suddenly appeared over Luffy in his hybrid leopard form. Lucci kicked Luffy into the ship, then flung a Rankyaku wind blade down at the rubber-man. Maxwell had no idea whether Luffy got hit by it, all he saw was the the ship being cut. The attack didn't sink ship, but it sure chopped through at least half of the warship's bulk. It was amazing how much collateral damage their fight was having.

Then the marines fired on their own ship.

*BOOM!*

"WHAT THE HELL!?" Maxwell had seen something shoot of the wreckage, back into the bridge chamber. It was probably Luffy. He was going to be fine—but still! Why would the marines fire on their own—!? Oh… Robin was serious about them attacking without humanity wasn't she?

"Wahahahahahahaha! Hey! Did you see that!? Straw-Hat went berserk on that ship and got himself blown to pieces! Wahaha! Take that pirates! Your captain is dead!"

…Right. Maxwell had forgotten Spandam was still on the bridge with them.

"Hey, hey…" Franky turned around to look at Spandam. "They fired on a warship, with their own marines on it…!" He was increasingly being outraged over the atrocity. Possibly more by Spandam's mocking callousness.

"This is the power of the Buster Call I triggered!" Spandam yelled at the Water 7 native, "This is Justice Cutty Flam! Now! Hand over Nico Robin!"

Maxwell immediately stood in front of his traumatized crewmate. Rearmed with his staff, Mordred and Mineive also formed up behind him, encircling Robin. None of them were going to let Spandam or the marines take her away! Besides, wasn't the director of CP9 about to run and cower a few moments ago? Spandam's own men seemed more justifiably terrified than him.

"If you hand her over now, then maybe I can pardon you for your crime!" Spandam was talking directly to Franky now, "Besides, for what reason do you have to protect that woman!? Your not a pirate! One of her own crew is already here! Would you really trust a dangerous woman from Ohara over the World Government that protects you night and day? If you defy us, you'll end up just like Tom and—BWAUH!"

"CHIEF!" Spandam's platoon called out in concern. Franky had literally fired his own fist at the director's face, making Spandam fly across the bridge again. The fist was even retractable, with a chain coming out of Franky's arm. Maxwell was even more surprised. What in the Maker's name had Franky done to his body!?

Spandam was somehow able to land on his feet, though his face was somehow even more swollen than before. "FAPS IT! FAKE—! Ohbo…!" Spandam had reached for his saber, but then he remembered he had left Funkfreed to fight the pirate down in the stairwell. He was defenceless!

Franky smirked, "Hey Nico Robin. The rest of the Straw-Hats will come here, right?"

Robin snapped out of her torment, realizing what he was asking, "…Everyone… For sure!"

Franky then looked Maxwell and his two pet demons. Though calling them pets was a far understatement. "Think they'll make it?"

"…Absolutely." "Of course." "Never a doubt!"

Franky then looked back at director, "I thought I told you, I placed my bets on them, Spanda!"

"WHAT!?" Spandam spluttered with rage and indignation.

"I never thought that that this day would come. If only I had the power that day… I wanted to get Tom back no matter what!" Franky shook his head remembering darker times.

Still, Franky continued, "But… Despite knowing Enies Lobby's reputation. Despite knowing the remarkable power of the World Government, the Straw-Hats still abandoned their senses and marched straight ahead! They won't hesitate to make the world their enemy just for one of their nakama! It's such a refreshing feeling…! Now what do I use to pulverize him with…?"

Maxwell rose an eyebrow at the spandex wearing cyborg. Stress was probably catching up with all of them now. Maxwell had literally stormed an entire island. Robin and Franky had been stuck with this guy untill they had been rescued, and Franky definitely had some beef with this guy.

Maxwell then had an idea, "…Hey Franky. Would this work?"

The mage then conjured a chunk of stone from his Stonefist spell. Usually Maxwell would fire the rock like a cannon, but he held back the energy from firing out of his hand. Mordred and Mineive then added their own energies to the spell. Fire and ice streamed out of their hands into the Fade summoned stone. The three of them made it grow, churning, spluttering, hissing, until it was the size of boulder. A smouldering mass of ice and magma, contained in a glowing green shell.

Franky smiled at Maxwell, "…Perfect!" Then took the elemental mass into his own hands. He could feel the energies ripple beneath it's surface. Then Franky started walking towards Spandam, and slowly started running, "…I've never forgotten Tom's death till today. Every time that official idiot's face crosses my mind, I always wished that I could crush him—!"

Spandam could barely move, paralyzed by fear, "No~! Nonono wait—! DON'T DO IT!"

"JUST LIKE THIS!" Franky then jumped up and dunked the elemental sphere onto Spandam. Spandam was crushed by the sphere. However the impact also made the boulder unstable, *BOOM!* and exploded on top of the director. The explosion threw back any marines that tried to interfere, and Spandam was left a shivering charred mess… He still alive though, if not unconscious.

"…Thanks to them, my wish has come true!" Franky started walking back to Maxwell and Robin, but then suddenly spun around, "WEAPONS LEFT!" and fired a cannonball at the marines.

"I've been dead once," Franky spoke, his arm still smoking, "If the Straw-Hats can get out of here alive, I wouldn't mind sacrificing my life again! Surrender your ship! I'll make a way for them to escape!"

"I'll help, too!"

Maxwell looked back to see Robin finally standing up, "Robin…"

"I think I'm fine now…" Robin reassured her crewmate, "It's different now. Different from that time in Ohara. I have nothing to fear, because I'm not alone anymore!"

Maxwell's eyes widened in surprise. Such words shouldn't have been a revelation, but it was still… refreshing to hear. The mage then looked at Mordred and Mineive who were smiling down upon them. He couldn't help but smile and let out a small chuckle, "Right… We have people who believe in us now."

Luffy had been there for him, ever since he fell out of that rift. Even when Luffy didn't need too. Maxwell had stuck with him, despite using all common sense. He had every opportunity to leave. Yet he didn't. And he was all the happier for it. Others then started to join them. Zoro, Sanji, Nami, Usopp, Chopper, even Robin. Everyone was there for him. Maxwell was there for them. And everyone was there for each other. They were a crew…

They were a family.

The mage then looked at the marines, "…Mordred. Mineive. Sick'em!"

A guttural hiss was their assent. Bloodthirsty smiles snarled from the demons' lips as they charged against the marines. Maxwell, Franky, and Robin followed their lead. They all knew the plan.

Get the ship, wait for the others, and get the hell out!

O O O

They had stormed the bridge. Both the actual bridge, and the ship. Without any officer of significant rank to lead them, the marines were easy to dispatch. Most were flung off into the ocean. The warships beside them had payed little mind. They were on their own, and Maxwell, Franky, and Robin had taken them down.

Franky looked down into the water, "Sorry, marines! We'll be using this ship for our escape!" Though, Franky wasn't the least bit apologetic. Maxwell couldn't help but let out a small snort. Franky might be a weirdo, but he starts to grow on you.

The cyborg then looked around the ship, "Now that we're done spring cleaning, this convoy can now be escape ship!"

"Yes," Robin agreed, "Maxwell, you think you can steer the ship?"

Maxwell stamped his staff on the deck, sending out a magical pulse throughout the ship. "…Possibly. There are a few more sails on here than the Merry, but it should be doable. Just need to get familiar with it."

"Eh, let me worry about that," Franky waved him off. "All we have to do now is wait for the Straw-Hats!"

Suddenly there was a bubbling sound coming from the water. The sound was coming from right beside the ship. Maxwell and Franky decided to look over the rails, seeing a cauldron of white wash and a voice coming from the water.

"…Do~n't…" For some reason it sounded familiar.

"DIE~!" Then Kokoro sprang out of the water like a jumping whale! "NAGAGAGAGA!"

Time seemed to slow down for Maxwell… Kokoro was jumping out of the water… She was naked, minus the seashell bikini top… A necklace of pearls hung around her neck… And from her hips downwards, Kokoro's legs were replaced with a pink fishtail. Granny Kokoro was a mermaid.

…

…

…

GRANNY KOKORO WAS A MERMAID!?

SWEET MERCIFUL MAKER, WHY!?

Maxwell couldn't help but drop his jaw and stare in horror. There was no way he could un-see that! The dreams of multiple sailors—of long flowing locks and gentle smooth skin—dashed in an instant!

…AND SHE HAD BEEN HITTING ON HIM! OH SWEET MERCIFUL MAKER, WHY~!?

Kokoro landed on the ship, her fish-like tail suddenly in two. And she wasn't alone. Her jacket had been used as a hammock to carry her passengers out of the ocean. It was Zoro, Sanji, Nami, Chopper, Sogeking, Chimney, and Gonbe. They seemed to be unconscious with shocked expressions on their faces.

"…I'll wake them up." Mineive walked up to their fallen comrades. She didn't seemed shocked at Kokoro's appearance. Maybe it was because of her female form? Maybe because she was a spirit…? Nope, nope. Mordred looked just as shocked and horrified as Maxwell was. And that was coming from a fear demon!

Mineive conjured her staff, an archon staff. All of the demons had one, they just weren't usually around to show them off. She then summoned a circle surrounding all of them. Mineive's eyes glowed a luminous gold as she channeled the mana around her. The circle then began to morph. Glyphs, runes, and formula started to appear inside the circle, and three other arrays began to manifest inside the spell.

With a final cry, Mineive swung her arms down, "RESURGENCE!"

Water spouted out of her waterlogged patients. They were starting to breath again. The green aura surrounded them had mended their scuffs and cuts. Any wounds on their person was healed. The same effects also applied to Maxwell, Robin, Franky, and Kokoro. Maxwell could feel the burns and exhaustion start to leave his body.

"Wh—? Ho~!" Franky flexed his fingers, "I feel like I just stocked up on another cooler of cola! What was that spell!?"

"That, my friend, was the—Ugh…!" Mineive suddenly fell to her knees, leaning on her staff. Her form started to flicker, glowing green as if ready to disperse.

"Mineive!" Maxwell went over to his demon companion.

"Damn it…!" the demon cursed. "I thought I had more energy than that…"

"You used to much energy with that spell, Mineive. You have to return to the Fade!" Mordred scolded his fellow spirit. Resurgence usually employed the services of multiple benign spirits in order to restore their subjects. As Mineive was only spirit performing the spell, she had to supply the energy of at least 11 people.

Maxwell immediately drew the hilt that usually housed the familiar, "Are you able to cross over?"

"Ugh… The focus… will help." Her breathing seemed laboured. Or perhaps she was acting laboured, reflecting her state of being, "Besides… We knocked out that Blueno fellow after he opened the door for us… I doubt he'll be opening it again any time soon."

3 vs. 1? Seemed fair to Maxwell.

"Touch the hilt," Maxwell told the demon. He started to channel mana through it, trying to call Mineive back.

It worked. Mineive touched the hilt and seemed to dissolve into a cloud of golden smoke. The sword reabsorbed her essence, housing it, providing a safe haven. Maxwell could still feel Mineive in his mind. She was tired, needed to rest, but she'll continue to exist.

"Well… If that wasn't a miracle, I won't know what is," Franky crossed his arms. He had watched as the magic man recalled his pet demon and now they were one fighter down.

"Still…" Franky looked as Chinmey and the others started to come too, "I bet they experienced some sort of severe shock somewhere. They didn't seem to have swallowed that much seawater."

"Nagaga! Good for them," Kokoro chuckled, "…I wonder what caused them to be so shocked?"

Franky pointed at the granny, "It was you!" And though Maxwell didn't strictly express it, he agreed with Franky. You don't normally think of wrinkly old women and mermaids at the same time!

Kokoro then looked at Robin who seemed more surprised than anything, "So you're her, right? The nakama that Pirate King brat came to rescue… I remember you. I met you at the shift station. I didn't imagine that you would cause something like this—"

"GET DRESS ALREADY, YOU OLD HAG!" Franky yelled at the mermaid.

Kokoro of course ignored the cyborg, "—at all! Nagaga! …I laughed at his idea of becoming the Pirate King. But… maybe it'll come true after all. Nagagagaga!"

Robin only smiled appreciating Kokoro's good nature. Dreams seemed more realistic for her after everything today.

"And as for you, big boy!" Thank the Maker, Kokoro was putting on her trousers. No, wait—! "Why didn't you tell me you had a broad on the side! Those horns on her nearly gave me a heart attack!"

"…Uh… That's… not exactly out relationship…" Maxwell wasn't quite sure how to react to that.

Usopp, Zoro, and Sanji were the first ones up. They seemed confused as to their state of being.

"…What the—!" "I feel fine…!" "Is Nami alright!?"

"You sure took your sweet time…" Franky sweat-dropped at the Straw-Hat men. They seemed tough, but they took entirely too long to get up.

"I'm glad you're alive," Kokomo smiled at the three.

Sogeking's eyes popped out of his googles and yelled in horror, "GYAH~! IT'S TRUE! MERMAIDS REALLY DON'T EXIST!"

Even Zoro looked visibly shocked, "The legends about dugongs being mistaken for mermaids was true after all!"

"Idiots!" Sanji yelled back at Zoro, "She hasn't said she's a mermaid yet! Don't ruin my dream!"

"Actually I'm an Icefish-mermaid to be specific."

"NOOOOOO~!" Sanji cried out in despair. He started sobbing, hammering his fist on the deck, "OBJECTION! MERMAIDS ARE… AND LIKE… MERMAIDS ARE… NO~!"

"But—I never heard of a mermaid with legs!" Sogeking looked at Kokoro in horrific amazement.

Kokoro put her conductor hat back on, "When mermaids get to be around 30 years old, their tail fins split into two limbs. Thus, we are able to live a life on land. We're a mystical tribe. You'll see it yourself if you reach Fisman island one day."

"Oh~ I get it! I've heard the tail of a 100 year old cat with split and the cat will turn into a monster!" Sogeking explained.

"Ah! You mean the goblin cat?" Sanji asked him.

"WE'RE NOT THE SAME!" Kokoro yelled at the two idiots, "WHY DON'T YOU EXPRESS YOUR GRATITUDE A LITTLE, HM!?"

The three of them blinked, then bowed to Kokoro, "Thank you very much, Granny Kokoro."

"Nagagagaga! No worries!"

Sanji then looked at where Robin was. She was here. On the ship. "ROBIN~! MY LOVE~!" Sanji jumped to hug her.

However, Robin was clotheslined by Nami and Chopper, "ROBIN!" This left Sanji to conk heads with the mast.

"I'm glad we made it! Robin! You're safe!" "BOB~BIN!"

Both Nami and Chopper were overjoyed at seeing Robin again. Chopper was crying and snorting out a river, and even Nami had a few tears in her eyes.

"…Yes," Robin couldn't help but smile at them, "Thanks to you…!"

"It's going to be alright now~!" Nami cried. The two couldn't help but keep hugging her.

"Whoa, Grandma! You're a mermaid!?" Chimney was awake too and talking to her grandmother, "That's amazing! I thought you were a little different because of the scales and fins and all."

*Nyaa nyaa!*

"YOU SHOULD HAVE NOTICED, GRAND-BRAT!" Franky scolded the girl. He technically knew Kokoro was a mermaid since he was little. So why didn't she know!?

Chopper then fell onto the ground, no longer able to hug his friends, "Huh…? I… I can't move…!"

"What?" Maxwell kelt down beside the little doctor. He summoned his healing hands and checked out his vitals, "…Sweet merciful Maker and Andraste! Chopper, what did you do to your body!?" The Resurgence should have restored Chopper back to full health! Instead, Maxwell felt multiple muscles spasming under his touch, and Chopper had an utter low in the human-reindeer's aura. It's like his psyche had been stretched beyond it's natural limit!

Zoro glanced down at the two healers, "…Understandable. I'll tell you both what happened when all this ends." Maxwell didn't understand why he didn't do so now, but Zoro already went up to the bridge.

Sogeking, Franky, and Sanji went up to the bridge too. They were watching the destruction of Enies Lobby and talking. Maxwell couldn't hear them, but he could guess what they were talking about.

The Buster Call was finishing up it's attack on Enies Lobby. Once they were done there, they would turn their sights on the Bridge of Hesitation. The marines still wanted Robin taken alive, so they'll throw down troops to try and capture her on the bridge.

Then there was Luffy and Lucci's fight. They were still in the bridge chambers. The two of them were a whirlwind of destruction, and anyone caught up in their fight was liable to die as soon as they entered. Luffy may try to avoid casualties, but Lucci won't. That Lucci was a cold-blooded killer and he wouldn't care who got in his way. They had to wait for Luffy to finish his fight.

Or else they were all going to die.