Chapter 39: Plan of Escape
A slow laugh caught Luffy's attention. "Kuhahahaha." Luffy's eyes widened when he saw the slick dark haired man with a wide chest, broad shoulders, muscular arms and legs, and a thick neck. His hair was messy with strands falling in front of his face. This was Crocodile whom he had fought back in Alabasta. "Mugiwara", he greeted with a wide grin. "we've been waiting for you; Hatchling."
Luffy cocked his head to the side in confusion. "Hatchling?" Luffy asked as he looked towards Iva. "He's acting weird." He stated as he pointed at the former Desert King.
Crocodile looked at the Queen the Queers nervously. "We need to talk after this." He told the man with a growl, eyes glowing with anger.
"Oh don't bring that attitude here Croco-boy." He looked over at Luffy. "Not unless you want your little secret of the past revealed." Truthfully the Queer Queen was a bit afraid of Crocodile but he wasn't going let that person know that.
Crocodile looked at the man before him angrily. "Think I care!?" He growled out. "Dragon lied that day!" His eyes looked towards Luffy before he looked away, hurt in his eyes. "Release me and I'll help you escape. I'll blow a fucking hole into the ceiling." He looked at Luffy once more. "I hear you are gathering people to fight for your brother. I've never met the kid, but his Pops and I have a thing or two to settle. You help me escape and I'll help your brother survive to see another day. I can't promise you will, but I can help him."
"Screw you!" Luffy screamed at the man. "You left Vivi's kingdom in ruins. It'll take a decade; if not more, for them to get their country back to its former glory!"
"Well if it's any consolation I have no interest in that country any longer." He smiled cunningly. "I have something else that I find far more interesting standing in front of me that's more important."
Luffy took a step back from the man. Iva stepped forward. "However you may feel about this man, Strawboy, we still need his assistance. If we have an opportunity to escape from here we are obliged to take it." He looked at Crocodile. "You behave." He said pointedly.
"No promises." Crocodile stated with a shrug.
"Very well." They heard Jinbe state. "I will help you help your brother survive. I have known your brother since he joined the Whitebeard crew. He was such a hothead back then." He smirked. "I told you he owes me a good fight."
"Alright!" Luffy cheered as he thrust his hands into the air.
"Plus you'll need someone who can keep that one," He nodded towards Crocodile. "in line."
Crocodile growled lightly. "What can a fish man do without water?" He jabbed at the older pirate.
"I could say the same thing about you." Jinbe piped back.
Luffy grinned. He liked these two already, even if he didn't trust Crocodile, he felt that he could trust Jinbe. "Inazuma, please release them both."
"Are you certain?" Inazuma asked sounding uncertain about that decision.
"Yep." Luffy stated with a grin.
"US TOO!" Yelled another prisoner. "We like Ace!"
"I'd die for the guy!" Another prisoner yelled after the first.
"You lot," Ivankov growled. "ARE ABOUT TO EARN YOURSELVES A DEATH WINK!"The group of prisoners screamed in terror at the Queer Queen.
"Shishishi." Luffy laughed lightly at Iva's actions as Inazuma activated his devil fruits and began to pick the locks of the cells holding the two powerful men. As their chains were cut from them, the two exited their cells.
"If you think you'll stop the war between the Whitebeards and the Marines, you're crazier than me." Crocodile stated as he stepped forward. "I don't give a damn but I will repay you for this. I don't like owing debts."
"Then it's settled." Iva stated with a wide grin. "With a team this formidable, even Impel Down can't hold us! HEEHAW!"
Luffy smirked. I'm coming Ace! He thought. "Oh! Inazuma, please release everyone else as we leave. The more chaos, the better; right?"
"Eh?" Iva asked.
"WHAT!?" Both the Queer Queen and Inazuma yelled in terror.
He's nuts. Crocodile thought before a pride filled grin crossed his visage. Crazy little Hatchling of mine. He gave a laugh before activating his devil fruit and began to bend the stone and sand on the floor until a spiral staircase appeared before them leading towards the next level up, level 5.
Just then the alarms began to go off on the level.
In the control tower alarms on every level of the prison were going off. "Prisoner escape on levels 6, 5, 3 and 2!" A guard yelled out as he activated the traps on the levels, dispatched special forces to regain control of the prison.
"We have devil fruit users, Ivankov, Inazuma, Strawhat, Crocodile, Bon Clay, Mr. 3 and Buggy the Jester all on the loose along with over four hundred non-users!" Another guard yelled out over the loudspeakers. "Prepare the prison specialty bullets and be on the watch for devil fruit powers!"
An explosion on level 6 allowed the guards special forces to pass onto the level. As they passed the cells holding the prisoners a man inside one of the cells growled out. "Pathetic."
One of the guards froze. "Shiryu." He gasped. Isn't he supposed to be dead?
"You all are like rats chasing their tails." He growled out. "While you've had your heads up your own asses, the prisoners have escaped up those spirals steps thanks to Crocodile." He grinned. "Pass a message to Magellan, tell him I'll help him if he wants for a price."
"N-No! It's alright!" The guard stuttered.
"Humph." Shiryu leaned back against the cell wall. "We shall see."
The guards quickly raced up the staircase, as they did so one began to call back to control to see what they were to do other than chase these criminals around. One thing was for sure neither Hannibal or Warden Magellan were going to be happy with this new problem.
Crocodile inhaled the smoke from the cigar in his hand. Upon returning to level 5.5 they had been met with Ivankov's people. The former warlord looked towards the man on the floor, it was one of his former companions; Bon Clay. The man couldn't move but was quite awake and alive. Good for him. The ex-warlord thought as Inazuma walked towards him with a pile of clothes in his arms. It was odd that they had clothes similar to what he was use to wearing but he really shouldn't be so surprised. Iva was anything if nothing but prepared.
Iva stared down at Bon Clay, "Are you certain that you are ready? Emperio Energy Hormones will only let you be recovered for today; afterwards it could be three to ten days before a full recovery."
"I'm certain!" The cross dresser yelled. "I mean what choice do I have? I can't even get off of the floor. Otherwise I'm completely useless!"
"Of course I could always carry you, but for the record; I don't want to." Ivankov stated as he held a hand up. "EMPERIO ENERGY HORMONE!" He stabbed Bon Clay into the side as he activated his devil fruit.
Luffy walked over to Crocodile with Jinbe behind him. "Are you ready?"
"Aren't you forgetting the Queers?" Crocodile asked.
Luffy shook his head. "They'll come along after we've already dealt with Magellan and his people. I still haven't seen what Buggy called their Special Forces and All Star fighters; which means they're waiting for us."
"Hmm." Jinbe thought out loud. "So you plan to take them out before the main forces can be harmed."
Luffy looked up at the fish man. "I need them fresh for the big fight against the marines."
"Understood." Jinbe nodded.
"So we're your fists for the warden and they're your bullets for the marines." Crocodile surmised. Hatchling is smart. Good. He's learning to use his brain better. He rubbed his hand on his hook. "Does it matter if we kill or not?" Remembering how the boy and his crew had not killed a single member of his crew.
Luffy sighed, his shoulders drooping a bit. "I myself have not taken any lives, but I'm not so stupid to think that won't happen. If it's unavailable, strike them down quickly, do not play with them like I know you like to do." He answered looking directly at Crocodile.
"That's acceptable." Crocodile responded. "So when do we leave?"
"Now, since everyone is distracted." Luffy answered as they quickly snuck out of the hideout and made their way across the frozen plains to the level 5 exit/entrance.
M-Angel: Sorry everyone, I've been sick most of the week and yesterday was the first time my head didn't feel like it was going to explode. With that said I finally updated and yay, the escape is underway!