A few days later Luffy woke up on the floor. He began to startle before he realized Zoro was sleeping against the wall. He slid across the tile and stared at the older man. He was sleeping heavily, his breathing thick and a little noisy.

Luffy checked himself over. His clothes were in absolute tatters. He was dirty and grimy and stained black in certain places. But, most importantly, he wasn't in pain. He looked himself over once more before nudging Zoro with his foot, "Hey! Zoro!"

Zoro opened one eye at a time before he woke up. He turned to Luffy and smiled, "You're back."

"What happened?" Luffy asked, walking around the examination room curiously.

"You were injected with T serum."

Luffy's face tightened, "Are we captured?"

Zoro shook his head quickly, "No."

"Where are we?" Luffy asked, opening up the cupboards.

"A clinic," Zoro answered, climbing to his feet. "We all made it, but some of us are in better condition than others." Zoro hesitated, "And there's something we need to talk about first…"

"How long has it been?" Luffy asked, scratching his stomach.

"A few days," Zoro answered, "but, Luffy, there's…"

"Let's eat," Luffy insisted, twisting the door knob. He jiggled the door until he realized it was locked. He unlocked it and smiled at Zoro, "Think there's food out there?"

"Luffy," Zoro snapped, kicking the door shut. "Wait a minute…"

"What?" Luffy asked, wide eyed and expectant.

"It's not just us," Zoro explained quickly. "The Revolutionary Army people, some of them are here…"

"My dad?" Luffy asked, his eyes narrowed.

Zoro shook his head, "No." Luffy went to open the door again and Zoro kicked it shut once more. He licked his lips before speaking, "It's an intense situation out there…"

Luffy nodded, "What do they want?"

"To talk to you."

Luffy shrugged, "How long have they been here?"

"A few days."

"How long have they been watching us?"

"A little longer."

Luffy nodded, "'Kay."

Luffy opened the door and walked through it. He walked down the hall and into the waiting room. He looked around at the familiar faces and smiled, waving lazily, "Hey, guys."

"You're up! Back? Whatever!" Usopp cheered.

Luffy nodded, "Yeah."

"Are you up to speed?" Sanji asked, standing.

Luffy nodded again, "Think so."

"Follow me," Sanji instructed walking through the door and leading him back down the hallway. He walked to the end room, the doctor's personal office. Sanji knocked softly before opening the door. "Luffy's awake."

"Ah, Luffy," the blonde man said, straightening up in his chair. He stood and reached forward, clasping Luffy's shoulder gently. "It's good to see you again."

"Who are you?" Luffy asked, scrunching up his face in confusion.

"I thought you might not remember," the young man sighed, "They told me about the Memoriae implant."

"Convenient for you, if you're lying," Zoro barked, appearing suddenly in the doorway.

The woman in the second chair smiled, "And very inconvenient since we're telling the truth…"

"We met in Brazil," the man continued. "I was your liaison with the Army once Shanks and Beckman went off the grid…" he gestured to the woman beside him, "And this is Koala, she's my partner."

Luffy shook his head, "I don't remember you guys at all."

Zoro stepped forward, "Franky does."

Luffy turned to face Zoro curiously, "What?"

The young man frowned, adjusting his clothes. He perched against the cluttered desk and removed his hat. He was handsome but heavily scarred. He licked his lips before finally replying, "It seems I encountered one of your companions during the event."

"Trench coat, gas mask man," Zoro explained quickly.

"I'm too hungry to follow any of this," Luffy decided, turning around. "I'm gonna find something to eat first." He turned halfway around, "If you can walk and talk, that'd be best. I don't like this place…"

"My name is Sabo," the man clarified, following after Luffy. He kept his distance, noting how Sanji and Zoro flanked the smaller man. "I work directly under your father…"

"What father?" Luffy asked, opening the fridge. It was very evidently used for medicine and biological samples until recently. He grabbed some deli meat and ripped open the package. "I don't think we really had much of a connection anymore."

Sabo shrugged, "Understandable, but you and I have spent nearly a year corresponding." Sabo reconsidered his strategy, "I located Zoro for you."

Luffy nodded, "Really?"

Sabo smiled, "You were looking for Law, Sanji, and Zoro. We located Sanji easily. He was under almost unheard of surveillance. We knew that Law was moving with the D Foundation's president… And when we found Zoro, you asked to come here immediately."

"Sounds like me," Luffy decided, finishing the meat. "Why are you here now?"

"Well, you weren't supposed to be in Texas," Sabo continued. "We thought you were headed to the rendezvous point and that Zoro was headed to safety in Shreveport."

"I got held up," Luffy murmured, searching for more food.

"You never showed up," Sabo said, handing Luffy a bag of cookies. "It didn't take long to track the D Foundation movement. When they found you, we found you."

"Thanks," Luffy mumbled, popping open the package of cookies.

"We didn't plan on interfering with you," Sabo admitted, "But the D Foundation is too big of a threat. You were lucky to escape at the zoo and at strip center."

"So what do you want? Me to come back with you? What?" Luffy asked, chewing.

Sabo and Koala exchanged looks, "Well," she began. "We were hoping you'd come back with us. It's safer if you do."

"But we know you're looking for Law," Sabo reasoned. "And you're probably hesitant to leave if you think he's here."

"Is he?" Luffy asked, his brow arched.

Sabo hesitated, "Well…"

"Never mind that, I'll find him myself," Luffy muttered, "I do wanna know though, why'd you do it?"

"The D Foundation and Germa Six Six are evil," Sabo began. "But the government that funded them is even worse. People like you and Law and Teach and Chopper were created in an effort to hurt people. Other people." Sabo was serious as he spoke, passionate. "And otherness kills humanity."

"But the tens of millions of people dying all over…? What are they?" Sanji asked.

Sabo met his gaze, "Complicit."

"How so?" Sanji asked, gritting his teeth.

"Fear buys votes. Lobbyists buy politicians. Taxes buy weapons. Weapons kill others."

"And every old man or woman or child killed is guilty?" Sanji shook his head, "No. It's the people with the money and power who are guilty. Attack them if you've got to attack anyone…"

"Right or wrong, it's done." Luffy interjected suddenly. "Tell me what you want me to do. Why are you here? You know I won't come with you…"

"I'm here to offer assistance," Sabo said, pulling a bag from his jacket. "I have immunizations for everyone in your party. And I have something for you."

"What?" Luffy asked, watching as Sabo opened the bag. He pulled out a small vial, filled with two silver capsules. He took the proffered vial and studied it curiously. "What is this?"

"It's an end."

Zoro looked at Sabo in shock, "What?!"

"Keep it on you at all times," Sabo instructed. "You can swallow the whole vial if you're captured and take it later. To avoid torture, break one capsule between your teeth. It's fast. And permanent."

"For me? It's permanent for me?" Luffy asked, studying it in awe.

"It's permanent for you."

"Why's there two?" Luffy questioned quietly.

Sabo licked his lips before replying, "For Law, when you find him."

"How do you know it's permanent?" Zoro demanded.

"Because that's what was used to 'euthanize' the other people in Deadhouse," Koala explained. "We found all the information in the files. It took 7 years to develop. It's extremely lethal to everything and everyone…"

"You assume I'll be captured again," Luffy realized, clasping his fingers around the vial.

"The likelihood is incredibly high. You're looking for Law who's with the D Foundation. You're moving in predictable patterns." Sabo sighed heavily, "I don't want you to be captured, but you're not making it hard for them."

Luffy's face drew downward into a pout, "I don't think so…"

"Luffy," Sabo pressed. "I'm standing here talking to you. You aren't hard to find."

"I can't leave Law," Luffy argued. "I already did… I can't just… If you guys would've just…" Luffy shook his head, "I won't blame anyone else. This is something I have to do. I have to save Law."

"I understand," Sabo admitted. "I just wish you'd reconsider."

"We'll leave you with the coordinates for the rendezvous point," Koala breathed, writing down information on a pad of paper, "If you change your mind."

"Or when I save Law and am ready to leave," Luffy suggested.

Sabo smiled and nodded, "Exactly. Hurry up and rescue him and get the hell out of here."

"What about Usopp and Nami and Robin and Franky?" Sanji asked. "Are they welcome to evacuate to safety?"

Sabo smiled at Sanji, "Things can be arranged for friends of Luffy."

"Why's my pattern predictable?" Luffy asked suddenly.

"You're in the same city. You travel along the interstate. You pick large retailers with loads of supplies. You stick mainly to the 'ground zero' area. And most noticeably, you attract the horde to you and it's simple to follow their migration patterns," Koala rattled off. "Plus you've assembled a bit of an entourage."

Luffy made a guilty face, "Oh."

"Yeah."

"Is Teach safe?" Luffy asked suddenly.

Sabo and Koala looked at each other before Koala replied, "He's out of the country. We've made zero contact with him."

Luffy nodded, "He's an old goat bastard, but he's my old goat bastard."

"So beside suicide, what do you recommend?" Zoro snapped.

"Find an area heavily concentrated with zombies. Settle down and formulate a plan. Keep the electricity usage and visibility low. Keep your heads down. Find Law and get out."

"And how do we find Law without looking around?" Luffy demanded.

Sabo smiled, "Luffy, you're very special but intelligence gathering isn't your specialty." Sabo chuckled, "You've assembled a unique crew of people. Use their talents." Sabo shook his head, "If the car mechanic can build an EMP, you're in good shape."

"It's time to think smart," Koala insisted. "Not to just run around in panic mode. Come up with an actual plan."

"Ohhhh…" Luffy drawled, "I see… so…yeah… mysterious…"

Sanji clicked his tongue, "They're telling you to hunker down and come up with an actual plan. There's nothing mysterious involved here, Luf."

Luffy looked over at Sanji and winked before turning to Sabo. "Okay. So you came here to drop off poison for Law and me. And then you told me to hide from the D Foundation. But why are you here, ya know, telling me these things? What do you get from this?"

"Shouldn't you be plotting the destruction of the rest of the United States or something?" Luffy asked, finishing the bag of cookies. Zoro handed him a bag of jerky and he teared it open, his eyes locked on Sabo. "Why'd you take the time out of your busy doomsday schedule?"

"You have very unique and inreplicable talents, Luffy," Sabo explained. "The D Foundation and Germa Six Six want you back. The United States government want you dead and disposed of. Other foreign governments would literally kill to get their hands on your physiology…" Sabo shrugged, "The Revolutionary Army believes in freedom above all else. We could just kill you. Make sure you don't end up an experiment in another lab in another country… but we don't want to do that…"

"That's why we've given you those pills," Koala interjected. "So, if you must, you can make the right choice."

"The choice to kill himself?!" Sanji snapped. "You can just fuck off."

"The right to choose," Sabo clarified. "The choice of freedom from pain and agony and fear…"

"Pills aside," Luffy murmured, pressing his hand against Sanji's chest in a calming gesture. "I need you to do me a favor."

"What?" Sabo asked, shaking his head.

"Thanks for getting me out," Luffy said, "but don't ever use me again."

"We," Koala began.

"You used us to start this whole thing," Luffy cut through. He turned toward her, his eyes narrowed in anger, "You didn't ask me. I didn't have a choice. Law didn't have a choice…" Luffy turned back to Sabo, "So tell your leader that. Tell him I said thank you but he's a hypocritical bastard…"

Sabo nodded, "I'll tell him."

"Thanks," Luffy replied with an easy smile, "Now get the fuck out."

"You heard him," Zoro murmured, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Yes, Sir," Sabo said, nodding politely. "Take care of yourself, Luffy."

"You too," Luffy replied, chewing on a strip of jerky.

"I'll see them out," Zoro replied, following after Koala and Sabo.

Luffy turned, looking Sanji up and down, "You look kinda terrible."

"Thanks," Sanji groaned, leaning against the counter.

Luffy snickered, "Sorry. How're your fingers? They got smashed pretty badly, didn't they?"

Sanji nodded, lifting his bandaged hands, "They're fine."

"Fine?" Luffy looked at the mess of gauze skeptically, "Yeah?"

"Uh huh," Sanji repeated, "They've been treated by the world's greatest zoologist and a flight school drop out."

"How's Franky doing?" Luffy asked between swallowing.

"Well, he'd been healing up pretty well until Sabo showed up. He went into traction."

Luffy snickered, "Huh?"

"He recognized Sabo, ya know, as the dude who killed all his friends and turned them into zombies…" Sanji explained. "And so Robin has been trying to keep him less homicidal in the records room."

Luffy nodded, "I see."

"I haven't wanted to mention anything to anyone else, but I think…" Sanji hesitated.

"What?"

Sanji sighed heavily before replying, "I think your blood transfusion did something…"

"Like what?"

"I could swear he was shot in the head back in that cell phone store."

"But he's fine…"

"Yeah."

Luffy nodded slowly, "Yeah, that does sound pretty interesting."

"I could be wrong."

"You could be, I guess."

"But I don't think I am."

"Me neither."

Sanji licked his lips, "I wonder… when his blood replenishes and all of yours is replaced. I wonder if his luck will 'run out'…"

"I don't plan on letting anyone else get hurt."

"I know, but…"

Luffy shook his head, "There're only three people in the world like me. Do you understand what that feels like? It feels terrible. And it makes me angry. I'm like this for a reason. I have to be. And that reason should be good. If I can't protect my friends, why am I even here?" Luffy closed his eyes. "I'm not just a weapon. I've got to be more than that."

"You're already more than that."

Luffy looked at Sanji for a long time before speaking again, "We need to leave this place."

Sanji nodded, "Yeah. It kinda blows here."

Luffy laughed softly, "Yeah. I've only been awake an hour and I'm bored as hell."

"I'm gonna go let Franky know he can quit growling," Sanji decided, tucking his bandaged hands into his pockets.

Luffy wandered down the hall and into the waiting room. He waved a strip of dried meat at Usopp and Nami and sat down on the couch. "What's up?"

Zoro grunted, tossing a rolled up magazine back onto the stack. Nami shrugged. She sat on the floor between Usopp's legs. He was twisting her hair into intricate braids. Luffy didn't have to ask to know that Usopp pulled hard, Nami's face was nearly in a permanent grimace.

"Nothing much," Usopp murmured, holding a bit of Nami's sectioned hair in his mouth.

"Cool!" Luffy murmured, scooting along the couch to get a closer look. "Can you do my hair too?"

"Your hair's a little short," Usopp said simply.

"Aww…" Luffy pouted. He pulled on his shaggy black hair. "I think I'd look stupid if I grew it out any longer."

"Yeah, don't…" Nami insisted, grimacing slightly as Usopp continued to braid. "You know, you'd look killer with a hot undercut."

"What's that?" Luffy asked, tugging on his hair.

"Ya know, I should just give everyone make overs!" Nami decided, smiling as Robin, Franky, Chopper, and Sanji walked in. "Wanna do makeovers, Robin?"

"Does it include proper deodorant application?" Robin asked.

Nami smiled and nodded, "Absolutely."

"How long until you're finished?" Luffy asked, watching Usopp.

"Not long. Why?" Usopp replied.

Luffy tossed the empty bag onto the stack of magazines, "Cause we're headed out."

"Alright," Usopp mumbled, braiding even faster. "Almost done."

"I'm glad you're back to normal," Chopper said, sitting on the couch beside Luffy. "We were worried about you."

"I think we were more worried about Zoro, but yeah, glad you're awake," Franky murmured.

"I told you he wouldn't eat me," Zoro snapped, leaning back in his chair. He closed his eyes and rested his head against the wall.

"To be fair, he considered it but decided not to," Chopper murmured.

"No he didn't!" Zoro barked in offense.

"Oh sure," Chopper groaned, "I can understand him and everything, but just ignore me…"

Luffy snickered, "I would never eat Zoro." He looked at Zoro and smiled, "Even if he was the last meat on Earth."

"And done!" Usopp declared, rubbing his hands together with finality. "How's it look?"

"Like she's a single mother that's gonna pay you in couponing," Franky replied.

"Never speak again," Robin gasped, smacking Franky's arm roughly.

Nami's mouth dropped open, she curled her hands into fists and looked to Robin. "Robin, honey?"

"Of course, Nami, dear, of course," Robin murmured, grabbing a handful of Franky's privates. She squeezed viciously, twisting his genitals in her hand. "Francis…"

"Ahhhhhh! I'm sorry. I'm sorry…. Robbie… Robin… I'm sorry…"

"Apologize to Nami."

"Agh. I'm sorry, girlie… Ah. I'm sorry, Nami…"

"And now to Usopp."

"Why Usopp? Ahhhhh! I'm sorry, Usopp."

"And now to single mothers and couponers everywhere."

"Rob-in…"

"Francis."

"I'm sorry to all the mothers and ladies who use coupons."

"I used coupons," Zoro murmured, folding his legs beneath him in the chair. "It's not just a lady thing…"

"Robbbbbbiiiiiiinnnnnn…. Please…. I'm sorry. I'm sorry to Nami and Usopp and all the women and children harmed by my joke…"

"Would this sort of violence be acceptable and amusing if it were the other way around?" Franky demanded, rubbing himself as Robin let go.

"Absolutely not," Sanji gasped.

"Nope," Usopp shook his head.

"Oh, Franky, I'm sorry," Robin sighed. "Did I actually hurt you?"

Franky made a face, still grabbing hold of himself, "Yeah, woman. You did."

"I wasn't even grabbing that hard. I didn't even use my nails," Robin breathed, tugging gently on Franky's earlobe.

"Yeah, well, my juevos are special. And they like a gentle touch…"

"A gentle touch?" Robin murmured softly, her hand sliding down Franky's chest.

"Uh, yeah," Franky exhaled, watching Robin.

"Ahem," Zoro coughed loudly. "We were leaving…"

"Ah, yeah, that's right…" Franky said with a nod. "We were leaving."

"Does my hair really look bad?" Nami asked, turning to Usopp.

Usopp shook his head, "Nah. It's fine. I promise. You look great. Better than great."

"It's good," Zoro said, nodding his head.

"You are a vision, Nami, lovely, Nami…" Sanji cooed.

"I like it," Robin added, "My best friend in high school had hair just like that."

"I think it's cool," Luffy insisted, stretching wide. "Like one of those really cute dogs that chase after sheep."

"Undo it," Nami shrieked, sitting down in a huff. "Undo it now!"