CHAPTER 33
Ali to the Rescue! Pheonix's Kidnapping!
"Owowowowoow," Luffy whines as the scuttle slams down on his arm.
"Damn it, Luffy!" Nami says. Everyone in the group grabs Luffy and yanks him in an effort to free him. Zoro realizes that they're wasting their time, so he takes out his swords and cuts the hinges. He goes to lift the scuttle, but it's stuck on the chains that Vice Admiral Momonga had secured to the hatch itself and the scuttle doesn't budge an inch. Zoro slices through the chains just as easily, but when Luffy is freed with the rest of the crew still pulling on him, Luffy flings back like a rubber band. This results in the whole group flying back into the bulkhead, leaving a sizable dent.
Usopp groans, "is there anything chance we can back out now that he's free?"
Just then an announcement booms over the Snail 1MC, "SECURITY ALERT SECURITY ALERT. INTRUDERS LOCATED NEAR COMPARTMENT 6-128-0-L. SECURITY FORCES RESPOND TO THE HIGH SECURITY HOLDING CELL. ALL HANDS NOT INVOLVED STAND FAST IN THE PRESENCE OF SECURITY FORCES."
"Guess not," Usopp says, defeated.
"No turning back now," Zoro says, a smile hitching up on one side of his mouth.
Ari nods and after the group detangles themselves from Luffy's rubber bands, she leads the group down the scuttle. They don't even bother muffling their battle cries.
The marine guard hurriedly leads Vice Admiral Momonga, Pheonix and Ali down the p-way to their new hiding location. The other two guards remain behind to buy them some time, but based on their wails of pain Momonga knows the Strawhats have already broken through that line of defense. At this rate, the Strawhats will catch up to us before we can even make it to the next down-ladder. He clenches his jaw. I have only two options at this point. Either go up and follow the Celestial Dragon's plan or buy them some time. He sighs gruffly as he makes his decision and orders the guard, "Make sure they make it to the next deck. Don't let him take her under any circumstances." He tosses Pheonix's cuffs to the marine and turns around to fight the pirates.
"Where's he going?" Ali asks.
"He's going to buy us time to get to the next deck," the marine answers.
Ali and Pheonix share a look and nod. They keep running until Vice Admiral Momonga is no longer in sight and Ali, using his slight of hand, takes a syringe out of his coat pocket. He plunges the sedative into the marine's neck, catching his fall with his forearm before plopping him onto the deck. Ali pats him down, looking for the key to Pheonix's cuffs. He finds it in the marine's breast pocket, takes it, and grabs Pheonix's cuffs to keep up appearances. Before they start walking again, Pheonix pulls him to her using her cuffs and kisses him roughly on the lips. "I'm so sorry," she breathes as she pulls away.
He nods in understanding and they continue running through the p-way until they reach the next up-ladder. The pair climb up ladderwell after ladderwell until they reach the main deck. Once they burst through the doors to the weather deck up top, a group of marines take notice and move into a semi-circle formation to block their path.
Ali doesn't pause in his hurry, but is quick to explain, "Vice Admiral Momonga is holding off the Strawhats. We decided that this pirate would take passage on my ship to the execution site. The Strawhats are notorious for their rescue plans, after all. So if she is what they're looking for, they won't find her here."
His charm and story easily fools the marines and they clear a path for him to walk through. Ali rushes through the marines with Pheonix and no one questions them as they board Ali's ship and the bridge connecting the two vessels is removed. They're moving so fast, that Pheonix scrambles to come up with a plan on the spot of where to go from here to get to Ari. Ali whispers something to his commander, who then barks the order to depart. As the ship takes off, Ali leads Pheonix down to his cabin. All the way down, Pheonix looks this way and that, trying to find the best way to get out of there. Even as they approach his cabin, answers fail her. He ushers her inside and she plops down on the bed. He shuts the door and opens the fridge in his cabin, pulling out a glass of pre-poured water.
"Here," he says, handing her the glass.
She takes it, resting the glass in her lap as she swirls around its contents. Ali takes a seat next to her. Suddenly a thought occurs to her that maybe she doesn't have to figure out a master plan of escape. She looks into his deep, brown eyes and ponders if maybe he would understand if she just told him that she needed to go. I decided that I would tell him everything, so I should at least start with the truth now…
"Ali… I," she starts, looking up at him. "I can't begin to thank you for rescuing me. Again." She laughs at that last part. She lowers her head again and focuses on the glass of water, trapped in her clasped hands, still cuffed. I did say that I would be honest with him and tell him everything… I wonder if he would understand that I had to leave. She looks to him and ultimately decides honestly is the best policy. She goes over a few different scenarios on how to broach the subject before it becomes too much and she decides a blunt approach is best. "I have to leave, Ali."
Several emotions play over Ali's face, but finally he settles on anger. "What do you mean you have to leave?" he scoffs. "Why do I even bother?! I've rescued you twice now and this is what I get in return? Victoria, I've had it with this! Every time I think I have you, you run away. Why is that?"
Pheonix gulps and the tears start again. "My friend… she's—" Pheonix stops mid-sentence and the glass from her hands crashes to the floor. He mumbles something to himself, but slides off the bed to pick up the pieces. He gathers them up in his hands and travels across the room to dispose of them. Victoria… I swore I just heard him call me that just now. I never told him my real name so how does he… She glances across the room to his back. He throws the rest of the glass pieces in the trash, wipes his hands and turns to face her. She neutralizes any expression left in her face and changes the direction of the conversation, testing him by requesting, "Can we at least talk about this when I'm not in cuffs? You got the key from the guard right?" She stands and extends her wrists.
He flicks his eyes down to his jacket pocket and pats it, acknowledging that, yes, he does in fact have the key. With his head still lowered to his pocket, he nibbles on his lower lip and squints his eyes, in a debate of sorts, it seems. Finally, his eyes flit back to her and she stiffens at his expression. All anger or love has drained from his face and is replaced with a look of cold calculation.
She gulps and cautiously repeats herself, "Ali, get me out of the cuffs."
Using his forefinger and thumb, he delicately plucks the key from his pocket, holding it only by his fingertips. He strolls to the window, pops it open and drops the key into the depths of the ocean. Pheonix rushes to the window in a futile attempt to grab it. She turns around to look at him and he slowly backs her up until she's forced to fall back onto the bed.
"A-Ali," she stutters, "what's going on?" Even though she asks the question, in her heart she already knows the answer.
He laughs coldly, "Well, I didn't mean for it to get out, but I might as well let you in on my little secret now I guess." He leans down to her, his face inches from hers. He toys with a strand of her brown hair. "When daddy came to call on my services, I couldn't deny him. Especially considering the amount he offered. He must value his little girl so much to go to such lengths." He chuckles darkly.
Pheonix cringes.
Ali delicately drags a finger along her chin. "You must know your little stunt last time at Impel Down cost me quite a bit of repute with dear old dad. I still don't know how you managed to survive your swim down in the ocean." He cocks his head, curious at this.
Pheonix's mouth forms a fine line as she clenches her teeth, willing herself not to cry. She tries her best to keep her face neutral, but she is sure that he can feel her fear. She chastises herself for not seeing this sooner.
"No matter," he continues and stands, leaving her on the bed. He turns his back to her and walks to the door. He opens the door and says, "This time you won't be going anywhere. Not with those cuffs on you." He smirks and looks over his shoulder at her. "Just hang tight, love. You'll be back with daddy soon." He blows a comical kiss her way, shutting and locking the door behind him.
As soon as he leaves, she lets the tears come. How did I not see this? Could I be any blinder? She sniffles. Looks like that escape plan will have to be hatched after all. She hastily wipes the tears from her eyes. At least I didn't need to fight back on the marine ship which means he's still in the dark about my true powers. He's clearly comfortable leaving me here, not even in the brig. She smiles through her reddened eyes and prepares herself for what's about to come. I'm getting out of here. Just hang in there, Ari, I'm on my way.