Chapter 3: Tax Returns
"-…175…182…189… Damn… Not this room either."
Lucy huffed as she closed yet another door. "How many fucking rooms can one building house any way…?" She asked, exasperated, before continuing on to the next.
She coughed into her fist. "Ugh-hum…196…203…210…217…22-"
*thump*
The ravenette stopped mid-count, and looked up, having thought she'd heard footsteps above her. "Maybe… they know where Zoro's swords are…?"
She didn't wait to question it. Running toward the end of the hallway she found the miraculously appearing stairwell. But unfortunately, the miraculous stairwell did not come with a miraculous key.
The heavy metal door atop the stairs, was dead bolted twice over.
Lucy tsked, and opened up her backpack, rummaging through layers of seeming useless knickknacks. "Fuck… out of lock picks."
Through the bars Lucy took a quick scan, searching for possible threats. Finding none, she aimed her right fist against the lock. "Might as well just try."
She took a deep breath. "Iron Body- Partial Technique…" Her fist shot into the lock, depressing the metal enough that she could pry the lock out of the door frame.
Lucy winced, taking a brief moment to assess her hand, and immediately frowned.
"…Shit…" She dismayed, pressing her left thumb over her cracked knuckles of the opposite hand. "I swear if it's not one thing, it's another… "
*thump*
"Speaking of 'another's'…" Lucy followed the sound into the next hallway after, to find two marines passed out on the floor. "… No one told me they were throwing a party…"
Lightly stepping around them, the young teen pressed her back up against the wall, and peeked through the small crack in the doorway. When she was sure no one was right there, she opened it up a little more, and snuck a small step inside.
She was blatantly surprised when she was met with a familiar orange-haired thief. Maybe a little too surprised.
"N-Nami?!" The ravenette stuttered in shock, causing the older girl to immediately jump, and instinctively snap together her wooden bo-staff. "I didn't peg you for the type to steal directly from a marine-!"
Lucy grinned from ear to ear and gave her a thumbs up. "Nice going! Now let's go swipe all their left socks and reverse all the bathroom signs!"
"Don't lump me in with you! I told you I only steal from pirates! And… this map that isn't here." Nami scolded, then remembered the second part. "… Besides! There's no way I'm laying a finger on their dirty laundry!"
"Nami, you're supposed to say, 'but Lucy, how do we tell the difference between their left and rights?'. And then I would reply, 'I have no clue!' But I hear that's what trolls like to do; a giant told me that."
"…" Nami let out a sigh and crushed the dingy paper in her hand and shoved it in her pocket. "Why should I care about your strange interest in a troll's socks?"
Lucy shook her head and face palmed. "The sock's don't belong to the trolls Nami. They stole them from humans who forgot where they put their socks. And hey! Did you know? Sometimes when you put a sock on your hand, they're able to talk. It's actually... well..."
She cupped the side of her mouth and leaned towards Nami and secretively whispered. "Just watch out for Lefty, he's a little on the crazy side… we try not to talk about it though- It set's him… off."
"…Oh… I ugh… see…" Nami's face twitched, and she pulled her shirt collar away from her body."…Well by!"
"Ah-! Wait a second!" Lucy called after the fleeing red-head. "Do you know where-!?"
Without paying attention, the ravenette tripped over an up-turned rug, and slammed right into Nami, sending the two of them tumbling down the hall, and into a cluster of marines.
The sound of a four loaded guns was all that kept the navigator from strangling her unsavory companion.
"State your name and business, or I'm afraid where going to have to arrest the both of you for trespassing onto government property."
Nami shoved the ravenette of her and waved her hands in front of her, trying to ease her way out of the situation. "I'm so sorry, sir! My name's Nami and I was here about the job opening you recently posted!" She clapped her hands together in apology. "No one was around, so I was going to leave, but then I saw this, clearly suspicious person sneaking in, so I tried to apprehend them, but…"
Sweat dripped down Lucy's temple as she listened to Nami's ploy, knowing she was about to be thrown under the bus, and tried to think her own way out of it. After all, she wasn't about to be shown up, and these marine's didn't look all that bright.
"But do to unsatisfactory elements, they got away…" Lucy started, the marine's switching their attention to her. "I'm afraid what this lass says is true. I also believe, I may be able to ascertain the identity of this heinous criminal as well…"
The marine chief petty officer looked at her quizzically, not quite sure where this was headed. "And you are…?"
Lucy stood at ease, her feet spread at shoulder width, and her hands clasped behind her back. "January. I bear allegiance to Cipher Pol Number 8, and am currently tracking a known fugitive by the name, "Cross-Stitch Lucy"; perhaps you've heard tale of her?"
The unnamed seamen exchanged fearful looks. "Cipher Pol…? What's a government agent doing out here?"
The stout officer shook his head. "No, I… I don't believe I have. Is she dangerous?"
"Highly. I advise against direct confrontation, and leave it to the professionals." Lucy smirked and readjusted her aviator sunglasses with the tip of her middle finger. "If you wouldn't mind dear, would you be so kind as to show me around? There is a major possibility that she yet remains in the base- just under our noses."
The chief petty officer stood at attention. "It'd be an honor to show you around, however I'm afraid I've been sent by the Lieutenant to execute –"
"-Need I report to command?" Lucy questioned authoritatively. "Protocol demands you follow the orders of any higher ranking official then oneself. When I speak, you will listen, and what I ask, you will do. Are we clear?"
The four marines cleared to either wall beside her, in acknowledgment. "Sir, yes sir!" They unanimously saluted.
Lucy devilishly grinned upon her decisive victory, leaving only Nami to wonder-
How the hell did they buy into it so quickly!?
"What?! Lucy stormed off into the base by herself!?"
The bounty hunter sighed in annoyance. "Isn't that what I just fucking finished telling you?"
Coby chuckled nervously, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "Y-yea..." He looked over his shoulder at the marine base, and took a deep breath. I'm gonna stand up for myself, and do what I think is right. He exhaled and walked over to Zoro and began fiddling with the bindings.
"Oi! What do you think you're doing kid! If you help me they're going to kill you too! Besides, that crazy girl's already helping me, and I don't want to owe someone else; so beat it!" Zoro spat angrily at him.
"This has nothing to do with that! You shouldn't have been wrongly arrested! Rika told me everything..." He shook his head, frustrated. "I can't stand the fact that the marines are acting this way! I'm going to become a marine who protects the innocent because it's the right thing to do, and for no other reason!" He proclaimed confidently, though his body shook.
His grip on the ropes tightened. "I think I can understand now, at least a little bit, why Lucy doesn't like the marines. She didn't say anything, and so I didn't either... but, when Helmeppo showed up, and started getting aggressive with the townspeople, and even at his own men, it hit me. Lucy, she… she must've been pushed around too; and it makes me wonder, just how many more people are being taken advantage of by the same people that are meant to protect them?" Coby bit the inside of his cheek. "Lucy told me to become a great marine, and that's exactly what I'm gonna do! And If I die protecting the justice that I believe in... Then that's fine!"
*BANG*
Ruby blood spurted out of Coby's left shoulder as his body fell backwards onto the barren gravel.
"I'm GONNA DIEE!" He dramatically shouted, his body sprawled out in all directions.
Zoro shifted his head towards the roof of the base, sweat dripping down his temple. "… You okay…?" He asked sympathetically, watching the pinkette have a minor panic attack just three feet away. "Just hurry up and get out of here, the marines are probably gonna come down here soon and finish the job."
"No…!" Coby cried, trying to catch his breath as he sat up, tightly holding his wounded shoulder. "I've… got to set you free as soon as possible…!"
"Look, there's no reason for you to worry about me. As long I can stand this for a month, they'll set me free. Just hurry up and lea-"
"THERE NOT GOING TO SET YOU FREE!" Coby screamed as he shakily made his way to his feet. "Because Helmeppo was just doing it to pass time, but… now that it's not, he's gonna have you killed tomorrow morning!"
Zoro stared at the younger boy in shock. "What…!? Damn it, that bastard promised he'd leave everyone alone!"
"He never intended to keep his promise! That's why…" Coby gripped his shoulder tightly. "Grr… I spent too much time around Lucy, and so I ended up breaking his nose…!" Gaaah! Why did I do that…? Stupid, stupid, stupid…!
"Y-you… did what…?!"
Lucy skidded to a halt in front of a door with a sign that read, "My Room".
"Well, this is the only room they didn't show me so..." With two kicks, she broke the door open. Running into the room, she saw weapons neatly lined up against the walls; sitting in the corner, clearly out of place, three katana. "Bingo."
She grabbed them quickly making a makeshift rope and strapped them to her back. "Alright, now I just…" The ravenette hurried over to the window and kicked it open, shards of glass falling from the fourth floor down to the first. "I hope Nami was able to finish up here, I don't know what's gonna happen next but it won't be pretty…" Lucy remarked as she saw both Zoro and Coby in the execution yard, about to be sprayed by bullet fire. "God damn it Coby, what did you do…?!"
*Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang*
"Shave-" In one quick motion, Lucy jumped in front of the bullets from the windowsill. "Iron Body!"
-"You...!?"
-"Lucy!"
The carefully aimed shots hit the young girl squarely in the abdomen. However, upon colliding with her hardened skin, they fell flat against the ground.
"Ghaaa… Yup… I felt that…" She doubled over slightly clutching her stomach. "Shoot, I'm gonna wake up black and blue tomorrow, I just know it…"
Coby, Zoro, and each of the thirty marines, stared at her in disbelief.
"You're… not dead!?" The pink haired boy shouted, happy, but in definite shock.
"Well… I'm not; but my capillaries? They're probably not as lucky…"
Said ravenette, twisted around to face them, rubbing the back of her head sheepishly. "Hehe… sorry I… ran into trouble. Who knew a circular building could have so many hallways?"
Coby fell to the ground, smiling and unconscious, as he clutched his shoulder. Blood splotched his white shirt.
Lucy silently eyed it, as she walked over towards them, removing the three katana from her back.
The marines whispered amongst themselves, wondering what happened to the bullets. Morgan's scowl deepened as realization began setting in.
"Anyway, here..." She held out the katana to him. "These are yours right? 'Cause I'm not making a second trip."
"Yea, those are all mine. Now hurry up."
The ravenette smiled, pulling the katana back to her.
"So~ what do you say next?"
"Just fucking cut me down already!"
"Hmph… with an attitude like that I'm not surprised they left you outside…." Regardless, Lucy pulled out a small pocket knife and flipped it open, cutting through the rope bindings with ease.
Zoro staggered a bit as he came the post, but quickly caught himself, and stood straight, snatching his katana from out of her possession. He placed them under the haramaki, keeping his hand on their hilts, and went to stand in-between the black-haired teen and their foes. "Heh… Thanks."
Lucy puffed out her flushed cheeks and looked away, not prepared for the unexpected 'thank you'. "…N-no problem…"
"Earlier you asked me what my ambition was... but I don't ever remember you revealing yours."
Lucy paused, and looked up at the sky. "I wouldn't call it an ambition… and I certainly wouldn't call it a dream either."
The ravenette tied her back into a ponytail, frowning. "There's a place I must return to, no matter what; but the way I am now…" She instinctively gripped her left bicep with a pained expression. "Well, even if I were to make it back, I know I'd feel nothing but shame."
Lucy bit her lip in frustration. "I… am sick of surviving, so fucking sick of it. I just want to start living again, even if it means I'll die."
Zoro glanced at her over his shoulder, watching her attitude take a 180 from where it had been just moments before. He then drew his swords, clamping the white one between his teeth.
"Unfinished business to attend to?" Morgan threw his coat off his body and raised his axed hand, ready to attack. "That's too bad, but none of that matters since nobody is making it off this island alive!" He charged at her, raising his ax above his head, and swung it down at the ravenette.
*Clang!*
Zoro stopped the ax with his swords, before it had a chance to even reach her. "Oi... watch where you swing that thing, someone might get hurt."
Morgan jumped back, holding it up near his face in a defensive position. "Hehe, Roronoa Zoro... I've heard a lot about you, it seems... not all the rumors about you are entirely wrong. Even half-dead, you still put up quite a fight!"
The green-haired man swung his sword down and turned to look at the girl behind him, ignoring the rant of the corrupt lieutenant.
"I said I'd go with you, and I'll hold true to my word... but while I'm traveling with you, keep in mind that the only thing I purely dedicate myself to, is my ambition of becoming the world's greatest swordsman." He tightened his grip on the katana, scowling. "It's my first priority, got it?"
Lucy nodded her head. "Deal."
"WHAT ARE YOU GUYS STANDING BACK THERE LIKE A SWARM OF IDIOTS?!" Axe-Hand Morgan scolded the panicking marines. "HURRY UP AND FINISH THOSE TWO OFF!"
The marines cast each other passing glances, wondering what to do. They gulped, readying their weapons, and then ran in for the attack as one.
"How long do you think it would take you to take these guys out?"
He slid one of his black katana back into its sheath. "I don't know… maybe twenty seconds?"
"Then I'll get the small fry just this once." She kicked the ground in ten rapid kicks. "Shave!" Moving faster than the normal eye could follow, Lucy weaved her way through the band of marines. "Now- Finger Pistol!"
The marines fell one by one to their knees, blood staining their white uniforms around the tiny, bullet shaped perforations left below their collar bones.
Lucy repapered behind them, flinging the excess blood of her pointer finger. "That's for hurting Coby you pricks…!" She yelled in spite.
"You…!" Morgan recomposed himself. "You're not normal, when you repelled those bullets, I had my doubts, but there's no denying it now- you must have eaten one those devil fruits!"
- "A- A devil fruit...?!"
- "You mean those things exist?!"
- "We can't fight someone like that! Zoro alone is handful enough! We don't need to fight another monster!"
A vein popped out of Lucy's forehead. "Like hell I ate a devil fruit! I like the idea of not having to worry about drowning thank you very much."
"Eh…? Oh, y-you're not?" One of the marine's sighed in relief. "I guess they really don't exist then…"
The ravenette rolled her eyes. No point in correcting him; it's probably for the best anyway. She watched them drop to the ground, as his knees buckled out from under him. Yup… it's for the best.
"This is my command… Whoever… just said that… Get a gun and kill yourself!" The lieutenant ordered as he made his way towards Lucy. "I don't need… useless soldiers! That's an order!"
The seamen shut their eyes, and shakily held their pistols to their heads.
"What the hell do these dumb marines think they're doing…?!" Zoro mumbled as he re-placed the white hilted sword between his teeth.
Lucy was already on the move before any damage could be done. "Oh please, please, please work this time…! Tempest Kick…!" She called, sending out a sharp, compressed air blade from her leg, and sent the marine lieutenant flying back into concrete fencing that surrounded the execution yard.
She breathed a sigh of relief. Thank you 32%, once more we escape defeat of the other 68%.
The ravenette cautiously slumped to her knees, sweat accumulating on her brow. "… Sorry, I leave the rest to you…" She bequeathed resignedly to Zoro.
The green haired man said nothing as he cracked his neck in response.
The seamen recruits dropped their weapons in shock, as they stared at the smoking debris that fell atop Morgan.
-"Wh-what just happened…?" One of the marines asked.
-"I don't know! Just hope for the best, man…" Another responded, covering his ears.
The rubble shifted, and soon, Axe-Hand Morgan reappeared as he shoved the concrete slabs off of him. He stood, an intense dark aura flamed around him.
"GAHH! HOW DARE YOU OPPOSE ME! YOU TITLELESS SCUM!" The crazed lieutenant charged at her, frantically swing his ax in anger.
"Sorry... but the only scum I see around here..." Zoro rushed in, slashing his swords across his abdomen, leaving behind a cross slash of blood. "Is you."
Morgan fell to the ground, his eyes rolled into his skull. Blood began seeping into the soiled ground.
Zoro flung the excess blood from the weapons and sheathed their blades. He turned to the freed marines. "Anyone else want to fight?"
The marines looked at one another before throwing their weapons in the air, screaming cries of victory.
The swordsman shrugged and walked back to Lucy, exhausted. The strain of malnourishment began to finally kick in; he fell to the ground next to her.
"...Hungry..." he mumbled into dirt.
Lucy sighed, and bent down, patting him on the back.
"Yea, yea... Don't worry, I'll get you food. So just hang tight for now, 'kay?"
He closed his eyes, immediately falling asleep.
She stood up and walked over to the unconscious body of Coby, and repeatedly nudged him with her foot.
"Oi... Oi... Coby, wake up." She looked down at him, frowning, and then stepped on his abdomen. "I said... wake up!"
The pink haired boy sprung up screaming. "Ah! Don't kill me! I'm sorry!" He yelled, raising his arms to cover his face. "OW...!" He looked at his bleeding shoulder. "Oh... yea, that's right, I got shot..."
Lucy smiled, and gave him her hand and helped him up. "Yeah, I can see that… Don't worry, I'm pretty handy when it comes to sutures; you'll be patched up in no time!"
Coby nodded as he grabbed her hand, standing up.
The ravenette stepped over to Zoro's side and lifted him onto her back.
"Let's head to Rika's place…" Coby presented, tiredly. "Oh, that's the little girl from earlier- I'm sure she could help us out."
"If you say so..." Lucy mumbled. She looked back a-ways, spying the sly, orange-haired thief sneak out the back of the base, toting a huge sack on her back. "Well, at least Nami managed just fine. One less person in need of stitches."
