Original Characters © Eiichiro Oda. Cover Art & Creative Story © shipfiend.
"Bad Bad News" – Leon Bridges
Brook strummed the guitar in the darkness, the steady beep in the background holding a tempo. He lifted his foot to the beat, and his long thin legs hung off the leather couch. The young, much younger men did not give him any direction, but Brook was not the kind to be left behind. Besides, this was perhaps a bit beyond Nami. He remembered Nami's first interaction with him. He had just come back from a late/early set and in the tiredness moaned and cracked his back. Nami nearly jumped out of her skin the stairwell and they had shared a laugh after Brook assured he was not some undead being trying to kill her.
The record player hummed along as Brook sang out loud, "They tell me I was born to lose…But I made a good good thing out of bad bad news." Nami reminded him of this song as she defied everything around her. She reminded him a little bit of Laboon, a food hardy friend of his past. A child then. Laboon was heavily emotional and surprisingly understanding for a kid. Patient. Loyal. A good friend. Even though Nami tried her hardest to hide her fears and her tears, Brook heard it. The screams and shouts, but she was a prideful girl. Too stubborn to let anyone save her, believed she was not worth the saving.
If he could, what Brook could not do for Laboon, he would do for Nami. Something in the old man's bones told him to help the girl, and quite frankly, he was far too deep to get out. Besides, what would his little birdie think if he did not play his own part in this?
"Who the fuck is playing music?" came a shout.
"Shuuush! Zoro. I'm telling you this place may be actually haunted."
A whack was heard and then a moan. "You idiot. You're the one who told all those stupid stories. This is your stupid house, isn't it? Unless the lovely Nojiko has awoken then I'm pretty sure you've got an intruder."
"Let's go, Sanji. I could barely sleep anyone…might as well murder someone."
Sanji coughed. "You mean…stop, Zoro. Stop someone."
A pause. "Right. What did I say?"
"Murder," the other two men said in unison.
Their shadows finally came into the main room where Brook lounged with poor Nojiko. "Yohoho! You boys are quite restful sleepers."
Zoro was the first to straighten and scowl, "The fuck are you doing here, old man?"
Law finally walked in munching on what looked like grilled fish. "Oh, Usopp. Your uncle is here."
Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp stared at the tired looking doctor and then to the suited man with the afro. "What?"
Usopp pointed what looked like a back scrubber at Law, "You think that weirdo looks like my uncle? I don't have any uncles!"
Law looked between them and shrugged. "You share the same hair…kind of."
As Sanji helped Usopp attack the doctor, Zoro winced as he walked over to Brook. "How did you find us?"
"I have sources," said the tall man with a shimmer in his eyes behind his heart-shaped tinted glasses. "Besides, Miss Nami could use all the help she can get. And if you want to know about Water 7, I may have a lead on the more…useful person…at least for the information you're looking for."
"What do you know?"
Brook rose from his seat and towered over the wounded man before him. "Water 7…as beautiful and Venice-like it may seem…has a darkness in it. Good people go there for vacation…bad people…they go there to find safe avenues for anything and everything. It's a major port even though it is practically a floating island city.
Water 7 is slowly sinking…built on top of its remnants...constantly. Generations ago…a weapon of mass destruction was manufactured there. Pluton. Before it was shipped off to the Middle East…and then lost. The blueprints, however, remained in Water 7 for generations. Do you remember the name, Gol D. Roger?"
Law had tuned into the conversation as soon as Brook mentioned Pluton. "Roger? One of the most wanted men of all time…once the world government finally got him…they executed him, right?"
"Yes, and the man who helped Roger get away…who built his escape vehicles…was Tom."
"How do you know all this?" Usopp wondered out loud.
Brook laughed, "I've been around for quite some time…I'm practically dead compared to you youngsters."
"And what can you add to this team?" Sanji said as he stepped forward, but he stopped short as Brook swiftly unsheathed the thin blade from his cane and had it pointed to his jugular.
"You need a few more good bad men, no?" Brook said with a smile. "Miss Nami is caught up in something that I think is bigger than any of you understand…you need the judgment and wisdom of the older generation to lead you." He put the blade back, "And besides…I felt left out. And bored."
"So, you know where Tom is?"
Brook frowned. "Twenty-two years ago, the city was dying, gangs destroyed the trade ships that the populace depended on to survive. Tom was put on trial for building Roger's ship, but Tom made a deal that he wanted to build a Sea Train to save Water 7 from becoming a ghost town, repelling gangs and drugs. The judge liked the idea and gave him ten years to build it…and he did build it. But then…the government never keeps their promise, do they? Whatever they make a profit from…they would. Whether it be people…entire communities. And so, just like Roger…Tom was also executed."
Zoro grew exasperated, "What does this have to do with Nami?"
"Patience, boy, you keep running full speed and you'll have more to worry about than that wound." Brook pointed a bony finger at Zoro's bandaged chest.
"Doesn't concern you."
"Whatever you may think…I also considered Miss Nami a friend. I don't have many of those…and so consider it my geriatric sentiments, but I would like to help her if I can."
"How?" Usopp asked.
"I know Kokoro said to find Iceburg…but I heard from a good source that Tom had two apprentices. Iceburg…and Franky. He may be the one we need to get to. Whereas Iceburg is a mayor and little hard to get to, the Franky Family is infamous for their black-market trading."
"What source would that be?" Sanji said as he went to light his cigarette but upon looking at Nojiko, put the lighter away.
"A little birdie."
"Are we supposed to just take that as a sufficient answer? I mean, seriously?" Usopp asked the other men.
The silence took over as Brook's record ended as Zoro let out a shaky breath. "Look I don't care who told you…but if you trust them…then I think we need to investigate. I'm-"
Both Law and Sanji held Zoro back. "Like shit you're going anywhere," said Law.
Sanji nodded, "You're still weak as shit…so instead of jumping the gun…why not let Brook and Usopp investigate this lead. Whether the old hag or this old man is right…if it gets us closer to Nami, then we need to chase it."
Usopp nodded and then scratched his chin, as he mumbled to himself Brook walked up to him and smiled. "Ah, Sir Computer Genius. I had something I'd like you to run if you could…"
Usopp peered up, unsure of the ask but nodded. "What is it, Mr.?"
"Call me, Brook. All my friends do."
"And what would you like me to look into?"
"Ever heard of the Revolutionary Army?"
A/N: Guys, *on the floor face first in a shame* I'm sorry for taking so long. Truth be told, I "busted" out a chapter for MM in the meantime, and then, that got shat on. And for a second, I was a bit jaded. I really don't take criticism well, but then, as I read some GREAT Kaccako (BNHA) fanfics – it reminded me why I was writing these stories in the first place…for the fans. I do LOVE ZoNa, and as much as I needed to chant to myself, "You is smart, you is kind, you is important" as I reeled from negative commentary - I picked myself up and realized that this story…I see greatness in it and I want to honor that *holds a Zuko stare as she thinks about honor*. Also, I am going to try VERY hard to keep to a schedule. Also, *sighs and looks into the darkening sunset* would anyone want to be my beta? I am thinking…maybe I need to run things by a second pair of eyes. Cause if my last chapter upload for MM proved anything…it's that as much as I think something is *siren noises form my mouth* fire – it isn't always. So. I humbly request some help.
I also humbly request comments cause that ish does stoke my fire and I want to make this a fun journey for all my readers, *cries and wipes a single tear from eye* - ya'll are so precious and real that I would like to hug each and every one of you…but I can't, so take this story as my penance.
Love always, shipfiend