It was impossible to seem natural given the circumstances, but Usopp did his best, "Alright, be right there. Nami and I wanna see the zebras before they go…"

"You really should stay with the group," Robin said sternly, holding a stack of towels in her arms. "Things are crazy right now. I'd like to keep track of where everyone is in my zoo."

Usopp nodded, "Yes, ma'am," and then he strengthened his resolve, "But this could very well be the last chance we'll ever get. It won't take long."

"Fine," Robin nodded curtly. "But hurry."

Usopp let Nami take the lead, walking directly behind her. They walked fast, a little too fast to be natural, letting their nerves get the best of them.

Robin cleared her throat, "Sure. They're going to see the 'zebras'…"

Sanji shook his head, "That woman has questionable taste." He lit a cigarette, holding it between his teeth, "She must've been a chubby kid. Doesn't know how hot she is now."

Zoro laughed softly, "You're terrible."

Luffy looked from person to person, "I don't get it."

Robin paused at the doors of the education hall, gesturing the others inside, "Go on. Everyone else is already in here."

Zoro stepped forward but Luffy shoved him out of the way roughly. He ignored Zoro's protests and grabbed the door handle. He threw open the door and stepped inside the air conditioned room.

The zookeepers and their families were in a circle. Some of the younger, stronger men were bound. The others were simply sitting, motionless and terrified. And around the circle were men in black uniforms. They wore heavy bullet proof vests and they carried semi-automatic rifles. There was nearly one to every innocent person.

"FREEZE!"

Luffy froze, almost involuntarily. He raised his hands in the air, watching as one of the mercenaries grabbed a child. She was young, probably no older than five or six. She screamed and her mother screamed, a mortified murmur erupting from the circle.

"What's going on, Robin?" Luffy asked, turning his head slightly to the side.

"I'm sorry, Luffy," Robin murmured. Several more men were behind her, shoving her, Zoro, and Sanji inside the hall. "There was nothing I could do."

"Where are the other two?" one of the men asked.

Another soldier chuckled, "They went off to fuck somewhere. They'll be right back."

"On the ground," a soldier barked, heaving Zoro roughly to his knees. "Hands behind your head." He checked him for weapons, "He's clean."

"Zoro Roronoa?" another asked.

"Yeah."

"And Sanji Vin-V-Vinsmoke?" the man asked, suddenly releasing his vicious hold on Sanji's hair.

Sanji tilted his head back and smiled, "Yep."

He patted him down for weapons, more gently than before. "He's clean."

"Kill Roronoa," the first man said. "Don't leave anything permanent on Vinsmoke."

"Wait!" Luffy cried out, throwing his arms wide. "I thought you wanted me to cooperate."

The man smiled, "Negotiating only works if you have leverage."

"The chopper is still thirty minutes out," another called out.

"I brought them to you," Robin groaned, "Let us go now…"

"Sorry, beautiful," the man breathed, "Orders are orders and orders are-"

The glass window shattered behind them. Everyone had turned to look in stunned silence as the man speaking fell dead to the floor. There was a whizzing sound and another man fell to the ground. A window on the far side broke unexpectedly and another man fell.

"Sniper!"

"Luffy!" Zoro shouted over the mercenaries' gunfire, knocking the man holding him to the ground.

Luffy turned, unzipping his hoodie. He flung the twin pistols to Sanji and considered throwing the machete. He made a face before he walked it over. "Safety first."

"Well hurry it up!" Zoro groaned.

"How can you catch a machete? Think about it! You'll cut your fingers off…" Luffy protested.

A canister was tossed through the window. Gas spit out in every direction. A second canister was tossed in and soon the air was so dense they couldn't see more than a few feet in any direction. A thick blue tarp was dropped over the broken windows, trapping the gas inside.

"Get the door…" one of the soldiers gasped, crawling, choking, toward the doors.

Zoro headed him off, bringing his machete down on his trigger hand. He ignored the blood that splashed across his shoes and he slashed again, aiming for the throat. He put his strength into it, managing to cut clean through.

Sanji pulled up the wet towel he'd tucked under his collar. He held it over his nose and mouth with one hand and fired with the other. He shot quickly, without hesitation. And between him and Zoro, everyone standing was dead.

Luffy kicked open the doors, gasping for fresh air. "Okay, Nami! Air!"

The tarp was yanked up, smoke escaping through the broken glass.

The circle of zookeepers had remained in place, towels held over their faces. They coughed and choked, but they were mostly conscious. Robin stood, staggering slightly on her feet, "Did it work?"

"Is anyone shot? Or dead?" Luffy asked, looking around as the gas began to dissipate.

There was a murmur through the circle, "We're all alright."

"Where's Franky?" Zoro asked, lowering his mask to speak.

"He's dead," one of the zookeepers replied.

"We don't know that," Robin snapped.

"Ms. Nico, I'm sorry, but…"

"We don't know anything!" Robin shouted, "He's not someone who'd just… just…"

"Where is he?" Sanji asked. "I hate to see a woman cry. I'll help anyway I can."

"He's," she hesitated before turning to Zoro and Luffy, "He's with the feeders."

"With the zombies?!" Zoro asked, shaking his head.

"Was he bitten?" Luffy asked.

Robin shook her head, "He wasn't."

"That was four days ago, Ms. Nico. There's no way he's still alive…"

"We've got 21 minutes to get Franky and get the hell out of here," Luffy breathed out, his bangs lifting from the release of air. "I think the three of us should go alone," Luffy said, looking to Sanji and Zoro, "You should evacuate. More bad guys with guns are coming."

"Jim, you're in charge. Get everyone out," Robin instructed, "Plan C, I think would do best."

"But, Robin, you're coming with us, right?" Jim asked, waving his hand in front of his face, the gas stinging his eyes.

"I'm staying with Franky," Robin said simply, "Wherever he goes."

"Good luck," Jim breathed, placing his hand on her shoulder.

"Goodbye."

"Thank you!"

"Yes, you saved us!"

"Thank you!"

"You're heroes…"

"There's no time to be standing here," Luffy said turning and walking out. "Usopp! Nami! We're headed to the feeders."

"Nice shot, by the way," Sanji murmured appreciatively as Usopp walked up.

Usopp nodded, smiling proudly, "Thank you, Sir. Why, it's my specialty. Literally…"

"What kinda situation are we looking at here?" Zoro asked, jogging alongside Robin.

"If he's alive," Robin said simply, "I can't imagine it would take too long for strong men like you to save him…" She smiled charmingly, "I know you'll manage…"

Zoro shook his head. He wanted to tell her that he was going to help and didn't require flirtation or seduction, but he decided to leave it alone after saying, "We'll manage."

"How… can… you… run… so… god damn fast…?" Nami groaned, holding her arms over her chest. "My boobs are gonna rip off my body… and… punch me out…"

Robin laughed, "I paid good money for these. They stay where the doctor put them."

"Makes sense," Nami replied, nodding her head, holding her chest down. "Damn this sucks."

"Wanna piggyback?" Usopp offered.

Nami rolled her eyes, her lips pursing, but then, as she kept running, she changed her mind, "Actually yes. Carry me!"

"I could carry you, Nami, sweetheart," Sanji insisted.

"I've… I've got it…" Usopp said as Nami wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. He positioned his hands behind his back, using his clasped arms as a seat for her bottom.

"You're breaking my heart," Sanji teased, lighting another cigarette.

"That's probably just asthma," Usopp joked, "Where are you even getting cigarettes right now?"

Sanji shrugged, "The last time we stopped for candy bars." Sanji gestured to his backpack, "Did you think I had supplies in here? Don't be ridiculous. It's full of cigarettes and lighters."

"I'd believe it," Nami said, holding tightly to Usopp as he ran.

"How long until more D Foundation arrives?" Luffy called, way ahead of the pack.

"I don't know," Zoro admitted, looking at Sanji, "I lost track of time."

Luffy laughed loudly and forcefully, in a scolding way, "Thanks!"

"18 minutes," Robin answered, checking her delicate, silver wristwatch.

Luffy turned the corner and stopped. There were black stains all over the ground outside the gate. He touched the wooden fence; it wiggled back and forth, alarming the zombies inside. They began to moan loudly, scratching at the flimsy wood.

"I don't get it," Luffy breathed, shaking his head as Robin and the others approached, "Where is he?"

"That fence isn't gonna hold," Usopp realized, lowering Nami to the ground. He gestured to a nearby tree. "You should wait there."

"You should too," Zoro instructed, "Snipers are better off the ground."

"Keep an eye out for company," Sanji added.

Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji all looked to Robin. She looked toward them, a furious look in her eyes, and she snarled, "He's dangling over them."

They turned back toward the gate quickly, and sure enough, there was a rope hanging from one of the tree branches. It swung gently back and forth, the bottom disappearing behind the fence. Luffy turned toward Usopp, "Can you see him?"

Usopp turned in the tree, his face greying, "I see 'im."

"Is he alive?" Zoro asked.

Usopp shook his head, "I can't tell. I don't know…"

"FRANKY!" Robin screamed. "FRANKY!"

"Shhhhh…." Sanji breathed, holding her against him. He put his finger to her lips in gesture, "That fence isn't gonna hold. You don't wanna get bit, my dear. Screaming agitates them."

"Two options," Luffy decided, "One; We open the doors and kill everyone who comes out. We risk loud noises, death, and wasting time."

"And the second?" Zoro asked.

"I climb the tree, pull him up, bring him down." Luffy said, running up the trunk of the tree. He caught a branch and pulled himself up. He climbed quickly and easily.

"Wait, Luffy!" Zoro groaned. "That branch…"

"That branch is too weak," Sanji warned. "It can hardly hold his weight. It won't hold yours too."

"He'll fall in…" Zoro clarified. "You can't let him fall in."

"This isn't any faster," Robin breathed, pushing forward using Sanji's body. She typed in the passcode on the gate quickly. She looked toward Zoro and Sanji apologetically, "Manage." And she opened the gate.

There were more zombies than before. They were agitated and overexcited, worked into a frenzy by the scent of blood and the tease of a meal dangling overhead. The zombies were fast, aggressive, some tearing after the people on the ground and others running through the zoo to hunt for others.

Luffy jumped from the tree onto the thin edge of the fence. He walked across it, like a tight rope, to where Robin stood unarmed. He reached down, "Grab my hand."

"You'll fall," she refused.

"I won't," Luffy insisted. "You'll die down there."

"Is Franky dead?" Robin asked, pressing her back against the wall. Any moment now she'd be bit. It'd all be over.

Luffy shook his head, "Do you want to die, Robin?"

Robin shook her head, clamping her eyes shut. A bullet rang out and the zombie nearest to her dropped. She reached her hand blindly into the air and Luffy took it. She didn't expect that slender, reedy boy to lift her into the air. She never expected in a million years that he'd hoist her onto the fence beside him. He held onto her, steadying her.

"You…" she breathed, immediately closing her eyes again.

"I won't drop you," Luffy assured her.

She turned her head, slowly opening her eyes. She screamed when she saw Franky. And she collapsed, her full weight crushing down on the much smaller man. He held her in his arms, balancing them miraculously on top of the fence.

After the last zombie was put down Sanji and Zoro busied themselves with Franky. He was tied upside down by his ankles. He'd been shot, or stabbed, in the chest. The blood had dried days ago. His arm was, by far, the most grotesque detail. It was hanging from the bone, connected by tethered tissue. His hand was half eaten, whatever the zombies could reach had been consumed.

"He's been bit," Sanji whispered, finally lowering Franky to the ground.

Zoro shook his head, "Nah."

Sanji made a face, "What do you mean?"

"This arm is gone." And Zoro slashed through the remaining sinew with one swoop of his machete. "There's no blood exchange or flow or whatever…"

"Is he dead?" Usopp called from his sentry in the tree.

"No." Sanji answered.

Zoro added, "Not yet."

"What do we do?" Luffy asked, lowering Robin to the ground.

"Blood transfusion," Sanji sighed, "At the bare minimum."

"Will that work?"

"I don't know!" Sanji snapped, "I'm not a doctor!"

"I am," Crocus breathed, walking up with a tray of supplies.

"You should've left with the others," Robin said, dropping onto the ground beside Franky.

"I knew you'd need me," Crocus replied, "Besides, I had a few dragons with yellow fungus still in my office that needed peace."

"4 minutes," Usopp called, checking the skies.

"Do you have a car?" Zoro asked. "Cause we need to move."

"Yes," Robin and Crocus both answered.

"Mine's bigger," Robin added.

"Do you have what you need?" Sanji asked Crocus.

"I think so," he shook his head, "I don't have human blood…"

"You can take mine," Luffy said, gesturing to Zoro, "Carry him and let's move."

Zoro and Sanji carried Franky, moving as quickly as possible. Usopp and Nami walked behind them, Usopp's rifle raised. Robin, Crocus, and Luffy ran ahead, charging toward the employee parking lot.

"There!" Robin breathed, pointing toward the green Range Rover.

"Nah," Luffy shook his head. He pointed toward the massive, Monster truck. Its suspension was higher than Luffy's head, the wheels as big as a small person. "Let's take that."

"I don't have his keys," Robin breathed out, wringing her hands together.

"No problem," Luffy climbed up the running board and onto a higher foot rail. He went to work on the lock and then changed his mind, pulling the door handle. The door popped open and Luffy climbed inside. He tapped the starter and smiled, "He left his keys in the ignition. He was in a rush."

"Move over," Nami called out as she ran, "No way in hell I'm letting you drive this thing."

Sanji and Zoro groaned as they hoisted Franky above their heads. They slid him, with great difficulty, into the back of the truck. Crocus climbed awkwardly into the back, spreading his supplies across the tray.

They could hear the helicopters. They followed the sound and discovered sixteen VH-60N helicopters, full of D Foundation soldiers. Zoro slapped his hand on the tailgate as soon as everyone was inside, "Drive."

"Where am I going?" Nami asked, flooring it.

"Don't…" Sanji warned, sliding open the back window, "Slow down."

"What?!"

"Don't draw attention to us," Sanji explained, "Drive a few blocks, turn. Drive a few more blocks, park."

"Is that a good idea?" Nami asked.

"He's right," Usopp breathed. "Park as soon as possible." Usopp gestured to the abandoned city, "There ain't nobody else out here. We stand out."

"The museum," Robin instructed, pointing down the street. "Pull in the parking garage."

"Up there?" Nami asked, driving in circles around a roundabout.

"That way! Turn! Turn now!" Robin instructed.

"Got it," Nami breathed out, shaking her head. "I know where I am now."

"There's a hospital right there…" Usopp murmured, "Shouldn't we try there?"

"Hell no," Robin refused. "One look at him and they'll assume he's bitten and toss us out or worse…" She watched Crocus working in the bed of the truck. "If he can be saved, Crocus can do it."

Nami crashed through the arm of the parking garage gate. Robin began to protest but decided against it. Nami simply parked in the middle of the lane before turning around to watch, "How's it going?"

"He needs blood and fluids," Crocus explained as he readied a needle. "But I can't give the fluids until he has blood. His dehydration kept him from bleeding to death."

"Take this off," Zoro instructed, grabbing Luffy's hoodie.

Luffy made a face, "Okay, but don't lose it. I'm getting tired of shopping."

Crocus swabbed Luffy's inner elbow with an alcohol wipe. He rubbed his hand over the scarred tissue there, "Track marks?"

Sanji shook his head, "No."

Crocus shrugged, inserting the needle. He began to draw Luffy's blood. He inserted the end of the tube into another needle and inserted it into Franky's arm, taping it into place. "Set a timer," Crocus instructed, "Only fifteen minutes."

"Don't worry about it," Luffy insisted. "Take as much as you need."

"15 minutes," Crocus repeated to Robin.

"Really," Zoro breathed, "Don't worry about him."

Crocus cut Franky's shirt off. He closed his eyes and chewed on his lips for a long moment before resolving himself, "Zoro, tie this tightly around his elbow. Tight."

"Sure."

"Blondie, what's your name?"

Sanji smiled tightly, "Sanji."

"Sanji," Crocus continued, "I want you to spray this immediately onto his skin when I start cutting. Spray and don't stop until I tell you to."

Sanji nodded, "Got it."

"Oh, God," Usopp gagged, turning around as Crocus started cutting. "Lord, I'm sorry, please don't let me get my arm cut off. I don't think that's a part of your plan for me, good Lord." Usopp shook his head, "And also, ya know, uh, if you could save Franky… we'd all appreciate it. Thank you…"

"I think Crocus will save Franky," Zoro breathed, "Save your breath. God ain't listenin'."

"He doesn't mean it, God," Usopp continued, "Ignore him. He's a good guy. Don't smite him. Also, guide Crocus's hands…"

"Shut up, Usopp!" Nami snapped, "He's trying to focus."

Crocus worked on Franky for over two hours. He insisted several times to stop taking Luffy's blood, but Luffy refused. Sanji and Zoro assisted when needed. And Nami and Usopp both sat in the front seat, their heads down. Finally Crocus announced, "I've done all I can do, Robin."

"Is he gonna make it?" Luffy asked, watching Crocus removing the needle from his arm.

Crocus sighed heavily, "It's up to him now."

Robin opened the door of the truck. She climbed into the bed, sinking into the small space between the window and Franky's head. She stroked his hair softly, "You stupid man." She closed her eyes and combed her fingers through his bloodied hair, "You'd rather die than ask me to marry you?" She laughed as she cried, "So dramatic, Franky."

"Ah," Robin continued stroking Franky's cheek, his lips moving softly, "Who… woman… is… beautiful… see angel…"

Robin laughed, wiping her eyes, "That doesn't make any sense, Franky."

"Again…" Franky whispered, "You… beautiful… very much…"

Robin nodded, "I love you."

"I… love… me…" Franky murmured weakly. "Too."

And then he fell back into unconsciousness. Robin gave him a peck on the forehead, brushing his hair from his skin. Crocus checked his pulse, "He's sleeping."

"Probably for the best," Sanji said, looking down at his bloodied clothes. He fought the urge to complain about another set of ruined clothing.

Robin turned, her face pulled tight, she looked to Nami in amazement, "Did he just say he loved himself too?"