"Damn it," Sanji hissed, dropping into a squat. He held his ribs, rubbing in discomfort. "That hurt, LUF."

LUF smiled crookedly, shrugging, "Sorry, Sanji…"

"Keep your arms at your core, Sanji," Zoro instructed, pacing the mat. "Protect what's important to you…"

"Then shouldn't I be holding my groin?" Sanji mused, pushing himself to his feet.

"That's what cups are for," Zoro barked, clapping his hands together. "Remember, Luf," Zoro softened, "Grab your opponent's shirt with both hands, push out with your hip, bump it up and slam them over…"

"Stop giving him all the good tips," Sanji complained, slapping Luffy's hand in a friendly gesture.

"He weighs 90 lbs, Sanji," LAW groaned, rolling over onto his side to watch the match. "You have the advantage."

"He's immortal," Sanji protested, "I am not at an advantage."

"It's Jiu jitsu," Zoro murmured, shaking his head, "Not a death match. Relax."

"We're not immortal," TCH admitted, kicking the foosball table until the stuck ball wriggled free. "We die just like everybody else. In fact, usually once or twice more…"

"What does that mean?" Sanji asked, grappling with LUF.

"Well, I died in a knife fight when I was young," TCH explained, "And one day, when I'm not useful anymore. They'll kill me for good right here."

"Don't talk about it," LAW snapped, cutting his yellow eyes.

"They know how," TCH continued, licking his teeth. "They figured it out a few years back…"

"Shut up." Law hissed, his hands curling into fists.

"Calm down," Zoro instructed, pointing at TCH. "Stop agitating people."

"I'm just saying, there were more of us," TCH pressed onward, smiling gleefully. "Four of us."

"Leave it alone, Teach," LUF spat, throwing Sanji over his back and onto the mat. "Fucking stop it!"

Sanji was still scrambling to his feet when TCH and LUF were coming to blows. TCH was enormous in size compared to LUF, strong and sturdy, but LUF was fast and it didn't matter how many times he was hit, he'd get right back up.

"Knock it off," Zoro growled, pushing between the two fighting residents. He shoved as hard as he could, but both residents were too strong to budge.

The gym door flew open and Vander bolted inside. He placed his palm on the mat beside the door, "Decken, Vander. Deadhouse unit." A little slot in the wall opened and Vander pulled out a taser.

"Whoa!" Sanji shouted, putting up his hands and stepping in front of LUF. "We're handling it."

"That's not protocol," Vander rasped out, raising the Taser in his shaking hands. "You don't get in-between a resident fight. Move, Zoro."

"We've got it." Sanji insisted, turning around to help Zoro separate TCH and LUF.

"This Taser has over 100,000 volts." Vander warned. "Move or die."

"Damn it!" Sanji shouted, shoving LUF backward forcefully. LUF was thrown back against the treadmills. He collapsed and rolled, only stopping when he hit the glass wall.

TCH's expression changed. He backed down, stepping away and laughing to himself. Zoro looked at Sanji in surprise before turning to Vander, "Thank you for the assistance, but we had it under control…"

"You didn't and you don't," Vander insisted, pissed off. "They are not human, Zoro. They are not your buddies. They are dangerous… and they won't think twice about killing you both."

"You're strong," LAW murmured, suddenly standing behind Sanji.
Sanji jumped in surprise and then cursed himself in embarrassment. "Yeah, well, it's a job requirement."

"You threw Luffy," LAW continued, watching Sanji intently.

"Yeah, he's little." Sanji replied dismissively. "You said so yourself, I had the advantage."

"I was teasing." LAW admitted, whispering, "You didn't stand a chance… At least, I didn't think you did…"

"What are you asking, LAW?" Sanji asked, throwing his hands in the air.

LAW leaned in closely, close enough to make Sanji's skin prickle, "Are you medicated, Sanji?"

Vander and Zoro were bickering loudly, but all the Ds were listening intently. Sanji shook his head, "Not like you guys." Sanji groaned loudly before finally admitting, "My f-father runs Germa Six Six."

The Ds didn't say a word, but the way their eyes narrowed was enough. Sanji chewed on his lip, "I'm sorry. I had no idea what Deadhouse really was. And I… I guess…"

"You don't pick your parents," LUF said finally. And then he smiled, wide and happy, "But if you're that strong, I'm not taking it easy on you anymore…"

"Take it easy?" Sanji murmured in surprise.

"Yeah," LUF snickered, "I've been going easy so I didn't accidentally snap your spine or something…" LUF looked toward Zoro, "Is he Germa Six Six too?"

"No, he's a normal human," Sanji insisted, "Take it easy on him. Take it very easy on him…" Sanji shuddered at the thought of LUF paralyzing Zoro, "In fact, always let him win…"

"Huh?" LUF snickered in amusement, "No way…"

"And you, Mr. Vinsmoke," Vander groaned, "Why on Earth would you allow this idiot to teach them Jiu jitsu?"

Sanji shrugged, "It's been three weeks. No one's tried to eat me. They're bored. They are required to exercise for an hour, three days a week… It might as well be fun…"

"Fun?" Vander looked around in bewilderment. "Wow."

"I don't think it's fun either," LAW teased, "But they're trying."

"You're making a mistake," Vander snapped. "They're not here to play around with. They're dangerous."

"If I get eaten, I get eaten," Zoro barked. "It doesn't affect you."

"Sure it does," Vander spat. "I'll have to work overtime until you can be replaced."

"Shift change," Diez announced, stepping into the room with a smile. "You've lived another day… What's going on?"

"These two are trying to kill themselves." Vander hissed.

"Come on," Sanji sighed, gesturing for Zoro to follow. "See you tomorrow, guys."

"Bye." LUF replied, running up behind them. He paused obediently at the yellow line on the floor, the line that indicated he wasn't to go any further. He watched them leave, waving just before they disappeared from view.

"You first," Vander growled, grabbing LUF from behind. "Back in your cell."

Zoro and Sanji were too irritated to speak until after they'd showered. Zoro spoke first, eyeing Sanji thoughtfully, "That was a hell of a throw back there."

"Being pretty isn't my only skill," Sanji teased, redressing.

"I can't help but think you're not in as much danger as me," Zoro mused.

Sanji smiled, "Want the truth?"

"Always."

"The Judge works in genetic studies and their application." Sanji explained.

"In English?"

Sanji laughed softly, "He creates stronger, faster, smarter, better babies who grow into stronger, faster, smarter, better people."

"Ah," Zoro nodded. "I think I get it."

"He's found a way to use three to four sets of DNA to create life, thus eliminating undesirable genes from an embryo. Some people use it to have babies that are healthy. Others want blue eyes and blonde hair… And then you have the Judge. He wanted machines."

"This is like a movie," Zoro murmured. "How can any of this be real?"

"Money." Sanji replied, immediately lighting a new cigarette. "It makes the world go round."

"So if I shoot you in the head are you gonna get back up?" Zoro asked, eyeing Sanji.

Sanji closed his eyes tightly, "Yeah... That would kill me." Sanji blew out a lungful of smoke. "I'm still human. Completely mortal."

"What did TCH mean?" Zoro asked, following Sanji out of the room.

"I'm not sure." Sanji admitted, "It happened before I joined the team."

"I think it's a good idea to find out," Zoro pointed out.

"It should be in my files," Sanji realized. "I'll just have to look. Every fucking thing has a code name… So fucking annoying…"

"I'll grab some beers and dinner," Zoro suggested. "You get your laptop. We'll meet in the mess hall. And we can start looking."

"I think we need someplace quieter. With less people…" Sanji requested.

"What about my apartment?" Zoro recommended. "It's not far from here. It's in the Green hall, room 4."

Sanji nodded, "Yeah. That sounds good."

A half hour later, Zoro met Sanji at his door. Zoro balanced the food and drinks precariously, searching for his keys. Sanji pat his pocket, and upon hearing the jingle, plucked his keys out. Sanji unlocked the door and kicked it open. Zoro stepped inside, hitting the light switch with his elbow.

"It's so empty." Sanji realized, looking around at the generic, pre-furnished apartment.

"We can't leave the compound." Zoro explained, dumping their dinner onto his table. "It's not like I can go shopping."

"There are fifteen stores here," Sanji pointed out. "You have options."

"Yeah, I'll pass," Zoro grunted. "It's just more shit like I already have in here."

"Who knew you'd be picky…" Sanji murmured. "You don't look picky."

"What the hell does that mean?" Zoro demanded irritably.

"Never mind," Sanji replied dismissively, "Let's eat and then get to work."

"Why don't I look picky?" Zoro pressed. "And what does that mean?"

"It's nothing. Let's eat while it's warm…"

"I think I've been insulted…" Zoro continued.

"But you don't know?" Sanji asked, trying not to snicker.

Zoro thought for a moment before narrowing his eyes, "Shut up."

Sanji took a bite, murmuring around a mouthful of food, "Ooh… it's actually delicious…"

"You think so?" Zoro asked before biting into his own.

Sanji nodded, chewing blissfully, "Soooo good…"

"Strange," Zoro said, swallowing, "I would've pegged you as being picky."

Sanji's eyes widened, he swallowed thickly, "What's that mean?"

Zoro shrugged, "Nothing…"

"Don't be an asshole," Sanji snapped. "What do you mean?"

Zoro smirked, "I don't mean nothing…"

"Just eat," Sanji grunted. "No talking."

Several hours had passed and they had nothing to show for it. It was Sanji's turn to exclaim, "Fuck it! There isn't shit in here that's useful!"

And it was Zoro's turn to encourage him to continue, "It's only 11 years of data. We can do it."

"Only 11 years?" Sanji nearly hyperventilated. "That's only about four thousand fucking days to sort through…"

"We could always just ask Teach," Zoro suggested.

"Careful, we're not supposed to call them that," Sanji breathed out, looking around as if someone might hear them.

"Who are you afraid of?" Zoro questioned. "Vander said so himself, it's not like we can get fired…"

"It's something the Judge said," Sanji replied, lighting another cigarette. "He said to make sure not to get attached…"

"What's that mean?" Zoro made a face.

"I don't know…" Sanji admitted. "But the Judge is a very weird person. He doesn't speak unnecessarily… So the fact he told me, means something…"

"I see he couldn't replicate those genetics," Zoro teased. "You never shut up."

"I'm a failure." Sanji said so simply that Zoro laughed. Sanji shrugged, puffing on his cigarette. "I'm not kidding. He tells me all the time. He didn't want me to take this job. I think because he didn't want people to meet me in person. Then they'd know…"

"Know what?" Zoro demanded, his brows furrowed.

"How disappointing I am."

"What?" Zoro shook his head, "No…"

"You don't understand," Sanji took a long drag before continuing. "These people are cold and heartless. There are two kinds of scientists in the world. Those who respect nature and those who want to rule it. These people aren't… I don't know… Never mind…"

"I think I understand what you're saying," Zoro replied. "I've been here less than a month and I've already decided only psychopaths could experiment on Luf."

"L.U.F.," Sanji corrected.

"Law and Teach call him Luffy," Zoro pointed out, smiling at the face Sanji made.

"Zoro," Sanji began.

"You're the director of Deadhouse," Zoro said, "Do you care?"

"I don't, but-"

"I won't say it in front of anyone higher up than you," Zoro compromised. "The rest can kiss my ass."

Sanji smiled, nodding slowly, "Deal."

"Ready to keep looking?" Zoro asked.

Sanji groaned, dropping his head against the table, "I quit."

"You can't quit," Zoro refused, pulling the laptop over in front of him. "You're under contract for the next seven years…"

"You know," Sanji began slowly, watching Zoro scroll through files, "we won't remember each other either."

Zoro paused, watching Sanji out of the corner of his eye. He cleared his throat, scratching the back of his neck, "Didn't think about that. But I guess you're right."

"I could walk past you on the street and not know you." Sanji continued.

Zoro shrugged, "Guess if you have any deep, dark secrets you wanna tell anyone, I'd be a good person to talk to."

Sanji closed his eyes, moving his arm to block his face, "What is wrong with you?"

"What? Why?" Zoro was caught off guard. "I thought I was being optimistic."

"Well stop," Sanji snapped, sitting up. "It's not working."

"Don't be a baby," Zoro chastised, "Now sit up and fucking help me look, Ding Dong."

"Ding Dong?!" Sanji's mouthed gaped open. "Excuse me? I'm your boss!"

"If you don't like it," Zoro teased playfully, "Fire me."

"Oh, I won't fire you," Sanji breathed threateningly, "I'll just slather you with barbecue sauce and push you into the pit."

"I'm not big on barbecue sauce," Zoro debated, "How about teriyaki?"

"I don't think they'll care." Sanji replied. "They don't seem picky. They're, you know, like you…"

"When I figure out what that means," Zoro warned, "I'll kick your ass."

"You couldn't if you wanted to," Sanji spat.

Zoro laughed, scrolling through another row of files, "Whatever, Ding Dong."

"Call me that one more time," Sanji barked.

"And what?" Zoro taunted, opening a file. "What are you going to do, Ding Dong?"

Sanji smiled, twisting in his chair. He lunged toward Zoro, wrapping his slender hands around Zoro's throat. He pretended to throttle Zoro, squeezing him tightly, "Die, Shithead."

"I won't… do… you… the… fa-vor…" Zoro gasped as Sanji shook him back and forth.

"Fine," Sanji said, releasing Zoro, "I don't wanna have to replace you anyway. The position is hard to fill."

Sanji's cellular phone rang. He looked at it a moment before answering, "Bonjour?"

"Mr. Vinsmoke!"

"Please, I insist, just Sanji…"

"There's been an incident," Vander screamed. "Code Silver."

"What's a 'Code Silver'?" Zoro murmured.

Sanji ignored him, "Alright," Sanji breathed, standing up. He slammed his laptop closed and threw his jacket back on. "On my way."

"Bring back up!"

"What's a 'Code Silver'?" Zoro repeated, following after Sanji.

"It means there's been an injury to a member of the Deadhouse unit's team." Sanji replied, placing his phone against his ear, "Hello, Egana, it's a Code Silver. We need you to come in…"

"On our way…"

"I wonder what happened," Zoro murmured, hopping on the golf cart parked along the wall.

"We'll see in a minute," Sanji replied, reversing several hundred yards down the hallway until he had room to turn.

"Hey, Sanji," Vergo drawled, waiting outside the door to Deadhouse. "Need some assistance from my unit?"

Sanji rolled his eyes, slamming his hand against the pad on the wall, "Vinsmoke, Sanji. Deadhouse unit. And go to hell, Vergo."

"Don't be like that," Vergo sighed, "I have fifteen men ready and willing to assist you with anything your little Vinsmoke heart desires…"

"Roronoa, Zoro. Deadhouse unit," Zoro spit out before rushing through the door. He ran down the hall after Sanji, his heart pounding wildly. "Do you think we needed his help?"

Sanji clicked his tongue in irritation, throwing his hand on the next pad. "I'd rather fucking die than accept that dickhead's help."

"That might be an option," Bluejam said, waiting on the other side. "Do you know what's happening yet? Who is it?"

"I don't know anything," Sanji admitted, stripping off his jacket and tie.

Zoro shook his head, "Look, if someone's in trouble, I'm just going in. What the hell are my jeans gonna hurt?" And without another word, Zoro took off through the third door and down the hall.

"He's got a point," Bluejam agreed, following after him.

Zoro ran into the lab before skidding to a stop. Diez was on the floor, bleeding profusely. He was screaming, tears leaking from his eyes. The research team was all around him, tending to his grotesque wound.

Sanji appeared in the doorway, his button-up shirt half undone. He looked around in confusion before asking, "What happened?"

"Diez was retrieving TCH for an examination," Caesar explained, sitting down in his chair. "And there was an incident…"

"Clearly," Sanji exhaled, shaking his head. "TCH did this? Why? Is it serious? Where is he?"

"One question at a time," Caesar said with a laugh. "TCH is in his cell. Safe and sound. It was LAW that attacked Diez."

"Law?!" Zoro murmured, shaking his head in disbelief.

"L.A.W.," Caesar repeated, "had an episode. He attacked Diez when Diez was retrieving TCH. Diez was bitten six times in the neck and shoulder. Diez was able to slam the door shut to contain TCH and LUF, but LAW is loose in the facility."

"Diez," Sanji said, kneeling beside the injured man. He turned toward Caesar, "Is he going to be alright? What do you mean by an episode?"

"Questions can wait," Caesar decided, "You have a resident of Deadhouse roaming around freely. That's a serious issue. How are you going to handle it, little Vinsmoke?"

Sanji stood. He turned toward Bluejam and Egana, "Get yourself a Taser, set them low. Take the farthest two hallways. Walk them together. Vander wait at the cell. Everyone keep your radios on and loud. Keep in touch. Zoro and I will take the closest halls. And, Caesar, Diez had better be alive by the time I get back or I will have to make a call about your department's funding…"

"Of course," Caesar chuckled, "Tis mostly a flesh wound…"

"Be careful, Mr. Vinsmoke," Egana warned, "When he gets like that nothing can bring him back to his senses."

"You be careful too," Sanji replied, checking his pockets hopefully. He pulled his pack of cigarettes out and lit a new smoke. "We can't afford any other injuries."

"What do you think he did to him?" Zoro asked once they were alone.

Sanji sighed, "What do you mean?"

"Law? Law attacked somebody like that?" Zoro shook his head. "Seems provoked."

"Zoro," Sanji replied, "These people are dangerous. There's no question about it. I think you're underestimating them."

"What the hell is that?" Zoro asked, nodding toward a dark stain on the floor. It was blood. It was smeared down the hall like a stripe. Zoro realized what it was quickly, "This is the hall Diez took to get out."

"Which means Law should be around here somewhere… right?" Sanji reasoned.

There was a strange rumble around the corner. Zoro and Sanji paused. A deep, agonized moan floated through the air. Zoro and Sanji exchanged looks. "What is that?"

"I think it's Law," Zoro replied.

"Did you grab a Taser?" Sanji asked, patting his pockets in realization.

"No." Zoro answered. "Did you?"

Sanji puffed on his cigarette leisurely before replying, "Nope. I sure didn't."

"I think it's worse listening to it," Zoro realized, "Let's just turn the corner and get it over with. It's just Law, right?"

"Yeah," Sanji agreed. "We're psyching ourselves out. It's one guy. There are two of us."

There was a terrible screech and something flew around the corner. It was LAW enraged and hysterical. His eyes were wide and bloodshot. Blood-tinged drool oozed from his hanging mouth. His bronze skin was stained red with Diez's blood. He scratched wildly, his teeth snapping shut on thin air.

"Shit!" Sanji shouted, ducking under LAW.

"Law," Zoro called out, shoving him away from Sanji. "What is wrong with you?"

But LAW wasn't listening. He couldn't communicate. He was much more like LUF had been that first night than any version of LAW they'd seen. There was nothing cool and intelligent about him in that moment. He was slow and lumbering but persistent. No matter how many times Zoro tried to throw him to the ground, LAW was unfazed. And he'd simply stand up again.

"That's not working!" Sanji called out, backing up against the wall.

"No kidding, Ding Dong!" Zoro snapped.

"Well, then try something else, dipshit!" Sanji barked.

"If you're so smart, you do it!" Zoro growled, rolling LAW over his back and onto the floor at Sanji's feet.

Sanji rolled his eyes, "Fine. Sure. I'll do it."

"Show me then," Zoro insisted, waving his hand in gesture.

Sanji kicked LAW's legs out from under him. LAW landed hard against the tiled floor. Sanji smirked at Zoro before rolling LAW over onto his stomach. Sanji sat on LAW, pinning his hands behind his back. "My pleasure, Mr. Roronoa."

But suddenly LAW pushed himself onto his knees. He pushed off the floor with his head and threw himself into the wall, smashing Sanji into the thick concrete. LAW rolled back and forth crushing Sanji until he couldn't breathe. "Damn it…"

Zoro grabbed LAW firmly, twisting his shirt in his hands. He threw his entire weight into the throw but LAW wouldn't budge. LAW let out a furious hiss, his teeth closing around Zoro's shoulder. "Fuuuuuuuck!"

"Shit," Sanji gasped, "Are you okay?"

Sanji was pinned against the wall. Zoro was held in LAW's death grip, pinned in place by his terrible teeth. Neither of them could move. "I'll… try… to… push…" Sanji gasped, struggling to stay conscious.

"Save your breath," Zoro groaned, trying to pry LAW's mouth open.

And then suddenly Zoro was on the floor, blood spurting from his wound. It was painful and bleeding, but it wasn't as serious as it could be. Sanji slid down the wall onto the floor. He rolled onto his side, coughing and gasping for air.

LAW was screeching, clawing the ground. His nails broke in half, blood bursting from the fingertips. LUF was on top of him, his feet planted in LAW's back. He leaned over and stroked LAW's head, whispering, "It's okay… I'm sorry… I'm sorry, Law…"

"What are you doing here?" Zoro asked, looking LUF up and down in shock.

LUF didn't move. It was Sanji's turn to ask, "How did you get out of the cell?"

"You should call for backup," LUF said finally, sitting on top of LAW.

"No," Sanji refused, rubbing his sore parts.

LUF made a face, "Why not?"

"You've got him contained, just fine…" Sanji answered. He looked to Zoro unsurely, "Think we should move him?"

"Sooner the better," Zoro mumbled.

"You're not going to call the others?" LUF asked again.

Sanji confirmed with a nod. "Not if you can get him back to your room without them."

LUF nodded emphatically, "I can."

"Then let's go," Zoro encouraged, helping LUF lift LAW to his feet.

LAW lunged at Zoro again but LUF kept him out of range. LUF smiled at Zoro, "Don't get bit."

Zoro groaned loudly, wiping his face, "Just worry about yourself. Don't go crazy on us."

"Sanji," Vander wheezed through the radio. "I don't understand… I swear he was here, but…"

"We have them both," Sanji replied. "We're on our way back."

"How'd you get out?" Zoro asked, eyeing LUF curiously.

LUF smiled, "Not telling you."

"Well thank you." Sanji said. "It was perfect timing."

"I could hear you needed help." LUF answered. "And I know Law wouldn't want to hurt you two."

"What do you mean?" Zoro wondered. "You could hear us all the way over here?"

"And smell the blood." LUF confirmed.

"Impressive," Sanji murmured. "And what's more you were able to stop him."

"Of course," LUF sighed, pushing LAW forward, "I could've saved Diez and Porchemy and the others too." LUF smiled tightly, "If I'd wanted to."