Ten minutes prior.

Nine minutes and 53 seconds till 10:00. Nine minutes and 49 seconds till 10:00. Nine minutes and 45 seconds until 10:00.

This prison can drive people to a wide variety of behavioral patterns.

One example I saw was scratching doodles into the stone floor with their shackles and finger nails. Another man had a nasty habit of creating songs and singing them to his inmates. Another spent his time shouting and making one-sided conversations with the guard that was posted near him, despite the fact they never respond.

That man was removed from his cell block on the twelfth of this month, at exactly 2:15 p.m. The cell door slammed on the third second of the 15.

I would know.

You see my prison habit is that I keep the time. There is coincidently a large clock installed on the wall opposite of my cage, and so I took it amongst myself to count every second of the day.

My name…Mathew. Or Mat "Big Gun" Murphy as I was called. I was sentenced in this prison for life, for the heinous crime of killing the second son of the President of the Republic of Stanton, one of the major political giants of the West Blue.

To me, and to Janet, it was just another job. Another job, but with a generous pay.

Me and Janet were given the description to kill a high ranking official by a shady organization: one which contacted us by gull-carrier. Not many people nowadays use gulls to transport parchment.

We went in, Janet killed a few guards, I broke some necks, and she fired a bullet right into the prince's heart.

Unfortunately the exit plan wasn't as smooth. I was a mercenary, not an assassin.

We were caught and…I lost Janet.

Janet. Just thinking of her long and…slender body in my hands…

She was the most precious thing I had, and they took her away from me. I thought I would loose my mind being trapped in here without her.

And so, now I keep the time.

30 seconds till 10:00. 26 seconds till 10:00. 20 seconds till 10:00.

Ten minutes prior. Shift in perspective.

"YAH! Ease up on the goods you creeps!"

Between the hot sauna entrance and these heavy chains on my wrists…do they expect me to carry these things all the time?

Not like it matters, I'll be out of here in no time.

The guards unlocked the gates to a cramped little cell block, and just shoved me inside without a word.

I gave them a puppy-dog face and pleaded, "Oh please let me go! I knew what I did was wrong! Please…"

"Melissa "Succubus" Heartstone." The guard so rudely cut me off. "Current bounty 220 Million berri. Special orders are to isolate you from any male contact."

Oh shit! It's a couple of those walking tin cans. Won't be getting any special treatment from them.

Then the two emotionless guards just marched off, completely ignoring me.

I frowned and laid on the stone floor.

I mean I've done worse in the past, but I was getting used to the special treatment from the boys…

Beauty and brains are hard to come by after all.

But…I admit where I was wrong.

I had a master plan, a plan that would catapult me out of the life of piracy and into royalty!

I had spent months trying to seduce that old fool who ran one of the last remaining kingdoms in the Grand Line.

What was his name again? Oh right, Harru-Chu.

Big softy, real tan, was great with a paint brush but lousy in bed…

But, for the sake of my future, I had to manage.

The problem was he already had a frigid bitch of a wife that was an obstacle I had to overcome.

But I knew she wasn't giving him much loving, you can just tell by the look of some women.

And so I batted my eye, said a few lines, showed him some skin, and I was in business.

It was all going greatly, a little slow I admit but he wanted to be sure I was the one.

I mean what's so difficult about divorcing your wife?

But she found out about us, found out about my true background, and despite how much I fought I was caught.

I should have seen it. You see there were servants that would assist Harru and would see me be with him, and I didn't secure their silence.

And now I'm stuck behind bars…

FUCK! And usually I'm so thorough…

"How long do I have to be in this pit?"

Back to present. Shift to Samuel.

I ran through hallway after hallway, most of the convicts were passed out like those two guards.

All I had now was a ring of keys in my hand and a rifle I took from one of the guards slung around my shoulder.

The exit…the exit was to the very far left of my current position. That big huge elevator I was led through before. That was my ticket out of here.

No one was awake.

How can I make allies if everyone's passed out God damn it!

-BANG-

A gunshot ripped a hole on the side of my jumpsuit.

One guard was firing at me.

"I thought you were all asleep!"

"Detain the prisoner!" He shouted.

I took a hard left down a corridor.

Then I waited, holding the rifle like a club.

As soon as I heard his foot steps, I swung the gun as hard as I could.

-BAM-

I hit him right in the face.

He fell to the ground in shock.

That was way to hard to be flesh and bone. It was like hitting raw steel.

He's an android.

I quickly ran down the corridor, trying to find cover.

All that was there was a dead end.

The guard stood up and picked up his rifle.

He aimed right at me.

"SHIT!"

I pulled up my rifle and aimed it at him.

-BANG-

-BANG-

My bullet missed him completely.

His however, knocked the gun out of my hand and sent it flying to the side.

Crap.

The guard was reloading a clip into his gun.

I looked around.

With luck I spotted a prisoner in a cage, looking at me with confusion.

I scrambled with the keys and hastily said, "Look, I-may-not-know-you-and-you-may-be-some-psychopathic-murderer, it's just that, well, I'm busting out of here and I really need help so I can survive so can you please get rid of him please?"

I held up my keys and unlocked his door, then stepped back cautiously.

He was a South Blue man, very dark in completion and had a small head of black hair.

He was a big guy, I suppose, older and stronger than me no doubt.

I ran over quickly and unlocked his cuffs then darted back quickly.

The chains fell on the ground and he rubbed his wrists.

The guard was done reloading his gun.

"Uh, I don't want to rush you, but I'm…ok that's it!"

I picked up my rifle and got ready to swing it.

-BOOM-

The man appeared above me, his one hand completely hauled my two handed swing.

This guy…I can't even budge it.

"Is that any way to treat…a lady?" His deep voice boomed.

"What?"

He pulled the rifle effortlessly from my hand and inspected it.

"Standard military grade patrol rifle. .308 Caliber, hasn't been used much if not at all."

The guard fired his gun.

-BANG-

I ducked in fear.

-TINK-

I looked up.

The man held his gun up like…he was defending himself with it.

"You…used the gun to deflect the bullet?" I asked cautiously.

He stepped forward and twirled the rifle over his head.

"Let us fight together, my darling." He called.

He better not be talking about me…

The guard held up his rifle in defense.

-BAM- -BOOM-

With several calculated blows, he used the rifle as a melee weapon. A rifle butt to the stomach, the barrel used to break his arm. Then, he pushed the muzzle into the guard's chest and fired.

-BANG-

The guard fell to the ground.

Then in a flash, he twirled back and aimed the gun at me.

I froze in terror.

Imagonnadiegonnadiegonnadie…

-BANG-

The bullet whizzed past me and…

-CRASH-

It shattered a giant clock behind me.

Didn't really notice there was a clock in this place.

"I am a timekeeper, no more." He said in relief.

He held the rifle in his hands and sighed.

"You will have to suffice." He spoke to it.

I looked at him, then back at his cage.

I picked the keys up out of the cuffs.

I looked at him.

"I need you're help." I said.

He seemed to realize my existence.

"I…I don't want to sit in this prison until I'm put to death. So I'm busting out of here. I need all the help I can get."

He stared at me coldly.

"You seem very strong. You'd make a powerful ally."

His face didn't change.

"Will you help me?"

"What is your plan?" He asked.

"Getting out of here." I said.

"Do you know how?" He asked.

"Yes. Go up that elevator." I said, pointing to it.

"The elevator is only accessible in the warden's office and unless he activates it, you have to go by stairs which will lead you though the five levels of hell. Are you prepared for such a thing?"

"I won't know till I get there."

"And what about when you do finally reach the top? How will you leave the prison? And where will you go?"

I paused.

"Well, since I came this far, I guess I'll...steal one of their ships! I know a thing or too about sailing. And we can go to the Outer Ring, in Marineford."

"Why, after breaking out of Impel Down, would you go to the Marine capital of the Grand Line?"

…

"Because I…I need to take care of some things there."

We both stared at each other.

"Will you help me or not?"

He looked around, accessing his situation.

"I do admit, I owe you a bit of gratitude for giving me the feeling of battle once more. Haven't felt this since my old merc days. So…I am obligated to assist you."

He walked towards me, and held out his hand.

"I am Mathew Murphy, and will gladly follow you."

I smiled and shook his hand. "Samuel Cheshire. Glad to have you."

I felt so accomplished with myself! I made my first ally!

"HEEEEEY! OVER HERE!"

A woman's voice shouted at us.

I looked back and saw at the end of the corridor a shackled had was waving at us.

I rushed over, eager to gain a new ally.

At least that was what my mind was convincing my brain was the truth. There were still all those other variables like the prisoners, and ethics, and the fact that this was all crazy.

But, I had to do what I had to do.

I looked in the cage and…-GULP-

On the floor, a…beautiful woman was lying on the stone floor.

She had long, purple hair, tan skin, and red lips. And her body…oh her body was just all sorts of right.

Huge breasts, a slim waist, she was such a babe!

"Please…sir…" she gasped.

"Are…are you alright Miss?" I asked.

"Please, I need to get out of here…it's…so hard to breath."

She tugged on her prison outfit, trying to…show off the shape of her...lovely chest.

I paused.

Something occurred to me.

"I'm sorry, I would love to help, but I…I just can't work with fat cows like you…"

"WHAT?"

She tried to pounce on me, but forgot there was a set of bars in her way.

-BAM-

She growled at me, with fiery red eyes and a evil look of hate.

I knew she was full of shit the moment she screamed HEEEEEY!

I'm no fool. I've been played by too many a girl to be a fool anymore.

"Just kidding. But nice to show your true colors."

She growled at me. "Now listen here you little prick! I need to get out of here!"

"Then why didn't you just ask?" I said causally. "I was already freeing people trying to bust out of here."

"You think I want to waist my time fighting wave after wave of guards for your sorry ass?" She said. "I wanted you to get closer so I could snake the keys off you and get out on my own!"

"If you want out of here, then you have to cooperate!"

"Cooperate with you? I'd rather stay here." She puffed.

"Fine. Do it." I said.

She snarled some more, then rolled her eyes.

"OK! Fine, I'll help you. Figures you need my help after all. You obviously recognized me and knew you needed Melissa Heartstone."

I cocked my head to the side. "Who?"

That made her even madder.

I turned to face Matthew. "HEY MATTHEW! I found another person!"

I turned back around to open the lock, but the keys had disappeared.

The girl was already unlocking her cuffs with my set of keys.

"Oh I'm sorry," She said sarcastically, "I just had to help myself to your set of keys."

That sounds like she's implying something.

After he chains fell to the ground, things got a little…weird.

To unlock the cage, a long rope like thing wrapped around the door key. It was slender and purple, with a little pointed thing at the end.

Then I realized…it was her tail!

SHE HAD A TAIL!

-CHINK-

The door unlocked, and she stepped out swaying her hips side to side.

Her…tail dropped the keys into my hand, and then closed my gapping mouth.

Okay…that's just weird.

She walked past me, he tail still perked up in the air.

How does that even work? I thought while looking at her backside. Animals with tails don't have an ass. And she…definitely has an ass.

Seriously though, appearance wise, she had everything. Long flowing hair, stunningly beautiful eyes, perfect complexion, huge round breasts, an hourglass figure, wide hips and a nice round ass!

Not to sound perverted but…she was gorgeous!

Shame her personality and...the fact she was a high level criminal had to ruin the package.

The only weird part was the tail that seemed to grow out of the end of her spine.

She looked at Matt for a bit and raised an eyebrow at him.

"And what are you supposed to be?" She queried.

He looked unaffected by her. "I am Matthew Murphy. I was freed just like yourself."

"Ok ok people! We can talk later!"

They both looked at me smiling at them.

"We've got a long way to go before we're out of here."

By my calculations, our time was almost up. If what the old man said was right, we had about two minutes before whatever he did would wear off.

I pointed my gang forward. "This way! We have to hurry!"

I grabbed the keys, and in a few short moments, unlocked every cell on the row.

"What are you doing?" Melissa complained. "They're all passed out!"

"But when they do wake," Mathew deducted, "it will be very problematic for the jailors to clean up."

"Exactly, now hurry upward! We have to make it to the stairs!"

And so we took off.

I led the party, quickly navigating the corridors and focusing on the giant column where the elevator was.

-WHOOOOOOOOO-

Just as we reached the stairway, loud sirens went off.

I had to cover my ears to stop them from hurting.

"Looks like it wore off!" I shouted. "HURRY! Up the stairs!"

Mathew quickly ran upwards, and Melissa followed behind.

The sirens started to die down a bit, and I looked back to where we started.

"What are you doing?" She shouted. "Hurry up!"

I held up my hand.

Before I knew it, a huge mob of dazed, confused and scary looking convicts gathered near the bottom of the stairs. They were of various sizes and backgrounds, all of them looked powerful and really scary.

They looked at me, and I held my keys up high.

"LISTEN!" I shouted. "It was I who freed you! I have given you all a second chance at life! And all I ask in return is for you to escape with me! After we all escape, you can go wherever you want! There will be ships we can steal!"

They looked at my small demeanor, and some jeered and rolled their eyes.

"LOOK! I'm not asking you to follow me!" I shouted some more, over the sirens. "All I'm asking is for you to do what you want! Get pay back on those lousy Marine bastards that locked you up in the first place!"

"He's right!" One of them said and stepped forward.

He was a short, very wide man with an incredibly wide mouth and wild red hair.

"I'm glad to be out of here! And you all should owe this boy your lives!"

I had no clue who this guy was, but I liked him for sticking up for me.

"He freed you, and all he wants is for us all to be free! No longer will you be trapped behind bars, like myself, for the remainder of your lives. Once we are freed, we will form a bond, a crew, under the proud leadership of the one who brought us to this point!"

Yeah…maybe he's…

"Now Pirates! Murderers! Brothers in Crime! Let's show these pussy foot Marine's just who they messed with! WHO'S WITH ME?"

All the men were cheering loudly by this point.

Yeah! Wait…with him?

They raised their arms high and charged up the stairs.

They knocked me, and Melissa and Mathew, out of the way.

Then the short wide man walked mast me, with a huge grin on his wide face.

"I thank you lad. Me and the rest of the lot will cause a muck up in Level 5." He said, resting a hand on my shoulder. "You're welcome to follow me if you like."

"You should be following me! I'm the guy who freed you!" I complained.

He laughed his head off as he walked past me. "Ohohoho no my boy. You've got it all backwards. You'll learn in time."

And with that, he slowly stepped up the steps, with his hands folded behind his back.

I stood up and looked behind me at the other two.

"You two will stick with me right?" I asked.

Mathew nodded his head, then looked at Melissa.

She grit her teeth. "Let's get one thing straight here. I'm here for me. I don't like the idea of following anyone! Not you or that creepy little troll. But…you've been more useful than him so…I'll follow you until we get out of here. But after that, we're done. Deal?"

I scratched my head. "Deal? You make it sound like it was an option to begin with."