Mission 48: Saving Kaku

[nk]

"I killed all of the prisoners."

‘Well the man was through.’ Thought Leon as he watched tiredly a little bit away from the two.

"Oh, and Mr. No-name, would you like to introduce yourself?"

And apparently somewhat competent.

Leon stepped out from where he stood towards dark haired man as his eyes ran along the prisoners…or at least what remained of them. He’d heard the man’s question but chose not to answer it as he verified what he witnessed. Yeah. They were dead. Dead as dead could be. Most of them hadn’t even looked as though they could stand a chance.

Kind of sad really, thought Leon as his dull eyes stared at the remains for a few more seconds before he turned around and began walking back towards the room they’d ventured from.

He got a few feet from the two when he suddenly remembered the guy had asked him a question. He didn’t pause in his steady stride towards the room however as he merely answered in the semi deep voice that was his, “Not really.”

...

Well…

The guy had given him a choice didn't he?

[BEX]

(OOC: Please note that I brought most of the foremen with Paulie so if you guys ever want to rp one of them with your char feel free to take them with you…especially Tilestone he’s my least favorite)

It seemed everyone felt the weight of the task at hand for Impel Down’s keep had certainly made its impression upon the world not leaving much room for hope within its walls. Even knowing this the blond haired carpenter stepped onto the ‘Puffing Tom’ with a willful smile on his face as the rest of the Galley-La foremen followed shortly behind him ahead of everyone else; there wasn’t a hint of fear in their movements as they boarded the transport that would take them to their impending doom. Despite the rather brilliant display of bravery the now Vice-President of the Galley-La company bit into his cigar as his pressed suit seemed to weigh heavily upon his clothing; was this fear that he was feeling despite everything he’d said to convince himself otherwise?

Upon the seatrain he remembered the conversation that was had just before boarding with the red haired woman, whom made the rather perverted man blush a deep red in his cheeks at every glance in her direction and the ‘smooth guy’ as he’d been donned had decided to take an ‘inside’ job, whatever that meant. It seemed that everyone had a plan to make themselves useful except for the person that this mission meant the most to and that somewhat bothered the easily irritable Paulie. Just as the doors hissed shut he remembered suddenly that he’d walked off without paying for the brandy that he’d had from the bar that Kokoro had taken over. The thought of owing yet another debt to that frightful woman bolted the absent minded Vice-President from his seat into the doorway only to feel the cold metal of the door slapping the side of his cheek with rejection as he slid down its surface before hitting the ground. Another debt to be put on the tab of the company and Iceburg-san would surely let him have it should he come back from this little side trip.

“Che…” he muttered through the side of his mouth as he remained seated on the floor of the sea train with everyone around him in a rather somber mood given the circumstances.

Reaching up casually he discarded the burnt out cigar that had been in his mouth in a nearby bin before inserting a new one into his mouth before glancing up coolly to ask, “Does any of you sour faced grunts have a light for dead man walking?” he asked with defiant irony tinting his question.

It had occurred to him that he was actually hoping to survive this slight brush with death so that he could return home to receive Iceburg-san’s famous scoldings; it certainly wasn’t much to look forward to, but at least he had something to hope for.

[Farris (Kuro)]

Farris looked solemnly at the Sea train before entering, Paulie had brought the other foremen with him and the musician just hoped she wasn't escorting them to their deaths. Paulie seemed concerned about something and rushed for the door at the last minute but the Puffing Tom denied him his escape as it started to move at it's grand destination. Whatever it was that had bothered him it'd have to wait until they returned... if they returned. The blue haired woman pushed that thought out of her mind. They would come back and Kaku with them. She had to think positively.

Now that the galley-La were with them she spared a moment to let Paulie know the plan as she offered him a light. "Were splitting into two teams one to attack the outside of the prison as a decoy and the rest to sneak in during the confusion. We'll have to worry about getting out after we secured Kaku." Farris explained to him as he hadn't been there when she explained things to the other two. "She said she'd take care of the distraction but I want to give her another man or two for back up." Farris stated as she looked at the red head with the halberd and back at Paulie. The woman boasted that that she could handle it but this was Impel Down they were going to, not some where to be underestimated.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As his potential agents were dealing with a riot, Spandam had saw fit to relieving his frustrations on an unfortunate Kaku with some well placed kicks and punches. That was when his beating of the uncontentious giraffe was interrupted by the ringing of the Den Den Mushi. "Tch'!" He grunted before moving away to answer the Den Den Mushi. "Director Spandam." He answered firmly before hearing the reply from of not his CP5 agents but that of one of the new potential CP9. [pink]“Sir, this is Versin Ninstruck calling to tell you that the CP5 agents that you sent to rid of the girl failed to do so because they were beaten up by some guy.”[/pink] He told him, which in turn made his blood boil.

"WHAT!? Is it really that had to take care of some weak pirate wanna-be woman?!" He yelled in frustration at fact that things hadn't gone as planned. What's worse was it was just some guy? Who would have dared to attack his agents...? Oh no... It couldn't be... Instantly in Spandam's mind an image of a Shadowy and menacing Rob Lucci loomed in the shadows ready to strike at him. "Return here at once! I must be protected at all costs!-er, I mean we can't let the there be any chance that the prisoner will escape!" Spandams said not doing well to hide his panic. So Lucci was on his way to kill him was he? D*mn. He must have used Kaku and this girl as bait... and his new agents weren't ready yet... This was bad... but maybe he could use Kaku as a hostage to save his life? He had to plan quickly...

[BEX]

(OOC: Oh, geez…to quell any confusion I’ll post again so that the order is no longer a confusion. Honestly it’s a post whenever you’re on kind of thread, but if you want an order it’s Farris, me, Die, Versin, Juba, Leon, then Falk I guess. But again I’d rather you just post when you’re on. It will make more sense that way as long as you read what the person before wrote carefully.)

Clearly worry tinged Farris’ voice as she would give a half spirited explanation to everyone in the train as it would continue careening wildly on its path to the greatest prison in the world; not something too many people should be excited about seeing. With a flabbergasted sigh the rugged Vice President of Galley-La would dust himself off as the foremen would look in his direction for they would have already identified the festering signs of irritation in their Company’s leader, but they wouldn’t have any idea who the ire would be directed at. Tilestone especially would squirm uncomfortably in the small seat given to him upon the ‘Puffing Tom’ for he was usually on the receiving end of Paulie’s tirades. Just when it seemed that the oversized foremen would be on the brunt of yet another verbal lashing a hand would clutch around the collar of Farris’ coat and the owner of the hand would be none other than Paulie.

“Man, I really don’t understand women…” the man would grumble as he would place the unlit cigar in his lips before shooting a vile glare in the blue haired woman’s direction; there was something about her that simply drew out the most extreme passions within him and the showing she was giving currently was maddening,

“So…” he would begin lingering on the one syllable word with feeling, “…you think its okay for you to give orders so half-a*sed when it’s YOUR boyfriend on the line, eh?” he would accuse in a low voice though anyone in the train would be able to see that his anger was smoldering in its temperament and his grip would tighten around the collar to emphasis this point, “…don’t you think that we all know that this could possibly be the last thing we ever do? Huh?!” he would said with a little more volume added to this statement.

Pepe Lu would remain silent as the shades wearing man would simply rest his back against the comfortable seat on the train for he knew that this would be something that no one should interfere with. Meanwhile Paulie’s anger had finally bloomed to the forefront and his feelings were expressed to their truest nature, “CAN’T YOU SEE THAT YOU’RE THE ONLY PERSON THAT’S DOUBTING THIS MISSION?!” he would roar as once again his own guilt settled within his heart.

That guilt.

This would be his driving power and while it would make him a sort of outcast amongst the others he could hope that if anyone could understand it would be this woman. This woman whom he’d come to appreciate, this woman whom he’d begun to admire for her tenacity, this woman whom he’d…

No. That wasn’t important, but now she was behaving like a meek child and not the brash buccaneer he’d pegged her as. It left a sour taste in his mouth to see her like this and he would say as much to her as long as he head the breath, but now wasn’t the time for the train was almost at their targeted destination. In his nice Versace (XD) suit he’d release Farris and walk over to the foremen to rehash who was going follow whom in the initial assault, but he would feel compelled to mention one more thing,

“Whether Kaku is saved or not isn’t just on your head…” he would remind Farris without turning to her instead he would direct his gaze towards the strange man and the gorgeous woman with the halberd, “…whether we die or not ain’t just on your head either…” he’d continue, “…nah, of course not. Someone who acts as weak as you are could never should the burden alone so we’ll all take just a little bit of responsibility so that you don’t break down when you actually do find your man” he would say with a slight grin on his face.

He hoped at least she’d understand the meaning of that message just as the train slowed in front of their stopping, hissing along the way; they had finally made their arrival at Impel Down.

Let the siege begin.

[jubakilaque]

[/i]

Deciding that names weren't important for now anyways, Aureus made to speak again.

"Oi! No-name!"

He would have continued, but Spandam's panicked transmission cut him off.

"Return here at once! I must be protected at all costs!-er, I mean we can't let the there be any chance that the prisoner will escape!"

Aureus took this into consideration. Was Spandam really that much of a coward? He sighed, temporarily lamenting the fact that this guy was his boss, coward or not, and orders were orders. He wanted to explore, really he did...it just wasn't the time for going against Director Spandam, especially when he was being scouted for CP9.

"Of course, sir." he whispered back. To the maple leaf bounty hunter, he called,

"Wait up!"

[/ul]

[versin]

Versin watched as the other potential CP9 member named Aureus took care of all of the prisoners. Versin also saw that the potential CP9 member named Aureus was a zoan devil fruit user; He really did not like this because usually zoan devil fruit users are mostly very violent when they transform and from what Versin saw it would seem that the potential CP9 member Aureus lived up to that standard. After all that was done Versin got a response on his den den mushi from Director Spandam. "Return here at once! I must be protected at all costs!-er, I mean we can't let the there be any chance that the prisoner will escape!"

Versin then followed the potential CP9 member Aureus and the unknown man to where Director Spandam was. When they got to where Director Spandam was, Versin took it upon himself to take control of the situation. “Director Spandam if I may share my thoughts on the current situation. First I don’t think that the guy that beat up the CP5 agents was an ex-CP9 member simply because they came back alive. So the guy who beat up the CP5 agents could have been someone who just didn’t want the girl to die or he could have been someone who didn’t want the girl to die and wanted to save Kaku. That’s why I think we should send ships to scout the area for any none world government ships. Usually I would suggest that we would just take Kaku and leave but I think we would be safer if we stay here.”

[Die]

((...That's a lot of potential CP9 agents...))

Estelle smirked as Paulie confronted the blue-haired woman over her apparent mood. She smirked as he grabbed the woman's collar. This was quite a show, to her at least. "Chih. Let the poor sap be." smirked Estelle as the sea train began to slow down to a stop by the infamous prison. "I'll be going now. Try not to die." she laughed as she peered out one of the windows.

Ever since the break-in by Straw Hat Luffy, security had been beefed up a slight degree. Perhaps they were still reeling from the dishonor of having been successfully broken into and out of. Yet still, there was a circle of Marine battleships around the outer wall of the prison. This was going to be fun, especially since Estelle was now in an exceptionally bloodthirsty mood.

Estelle placed a hand on the wall of the car. With a sadistic giggle a superheated plume of air burst from her palm, punching a massive hole in the side of the train car. For a few seconds, the air inside the train car became unbearably hot as several sustained plumes of superheated air blew out from behind her. The quickly intensified, pushing the Bilkan girl out of the train car at extreme speeds, several more burst from her right side, pushing her to the left as she picked up more speed, rocketing towards the first battleship. She aimed a palm forward, using Repulse to blow a hole in the hull and fly through. She did this for the next two ships before gaining altitude and hovering high over Impel Down. With a grin, she shouted, "BOOM!" With that shout, massive plumes burst from both sides of each of the two ships on the outside of the group she flew through. The plumes smashed into the ship in the middle, causing it to burn, crack, splinter, and crumple in on itself, throwing pieces of it self everywhere along with the unfortunate Marines on board, or at least the ones that survived the intense heat. After which the plumes facing inward vanished, leaving the other plumes, which them pushed the two remaining ships in towards each other, sandwiching the wrecked middle ship and anyone unfortunate enough to be in the way. The plumes intensified until the remaining two ships she had flown through broke apart as well. She had certainly gotten their attention now.

[nk]

Leon heard Spandam’s orders both loud and clear as he continued to make his way back towards the room they were holding Kaku in. His thoughts however, weren’t on the orders he’d heard or the cries of his ‘teammates’ to hold up but rather on the incident they’d, or rather the Raptor guy, had dealt with. How exactly had they’d escaped? Convicts on the first floor, though ruthless, weren’t any more threatening to any experienced person, let alone elite Impel Down Guards, than any ordinary civilian.

Which brought up another question.

Where exactly were the guards?

Aside from the ones he’d seen when he’d first entered the prison; there wasn’t a soul in sight. Perhaps it was just his imagination. It wasn’t as though he knew exactly how things worked around here and maybe perhaps empty hallways with cells both filled and uninhabited was the norm in this place. But of course, all this was mere speculation as Leon had not one fact behind any of these thoughts and because he lacked facts, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy at the moment. He’d always disliked that feeling in particular but what he hated more was the lack of knowledge that always seemed to accompany it. Thinking back on it, he should’ve kept at least one of the escapees alive.

He sighed mentally as yet another troubling thought popped into his head.

Hadn’t the security of the prison been buffed after news got out of Monkey D. Luffy’s escape? He’d remember hearing about it and about how much rougher things had gotten in there. Before Monkey D. Luffy’s escape a lot of people used to think Impel Down was Hell on earth and that it couldn’t get much worst. Leave it to Marines to prove you wrong though. They boasted and bragged that they’d plugged all the small holes that plagued their system and that they were implementing other countermeasures to help keep the seas safe. Aside from the fabled escape that had taken place here, Leon personally hadn’t heard much about the specifics of the new ‘countermeasures’ the Marines had taken to improve security nor did he really care either. All he cared about was the fact that incidents like before shouldn’t have been happening. Yet apparently they were.

He doubted he was overthinking it but then again, if there was an intruder, they would’ve been the first ones to know. Well at least Spandam would. He made a mental note to inquire about the security with the Director before pulling his attention away from his thoughts and realizing he was practically back at the detaining room. Leon nonchalantly entered the room first, followed by the other two agents, and automatically found a wall, a little bit a ways from everyone, to lean against.

“Director Spandam if I may share my thoughts on the current situation.” Leon glanced tiredly over towards the white haired member of their trio before looking back towards Spandam. He had no qualms about waiting his turn if it was for something important. Course, once the man said he’d like to share ‘his thoughts’, Leon couldn’t help but feel that what was about to be said next would be of the least importance.

“First I don’t think that the guy that beat up the CP5 agents was an ex-CP9 member simply because they came back alive. So the guy who beat up the CP5 agents could have been someone who just didn’t want the girl to die or he could have been someone who didn’t want the girl to die and wanted to save Kaku. That’s why I think we should send ships to scout the area for any none world government ships. Usually I would suggest that we would just take Kaku and leave but I think we would be safer if we stay here.” Leon glanced back towards the white hair member of trio and chuckled slightly for a second before shaking his head softly and merely saying, “Baseless conjecture.”

His attention on his fellow agent lasted for no more than a few seconds before he glanced back at Spandam and asking, “Hey Spandam, isn’t the security in the place supposed to be top-notch? If we’re having riots on Level One, I’d hate to see what Floors Two through Five looks like.”

Was he making a joke?

Maybe.

Yet since he asked the question as he stared emotionlessly at Spandam, who knew?

[versin]

Versin was waiting for Director Spandam’s response to what he had said when Versin suddenly heard “Baseless conjecture” said by the unknown man. “What the hell, how is any of what I said baseless conjecture you ass.” shouted Versin very angrily. Versin then listened to the rest of what the unknown man had to say. “Hey Spandam, isn’t the security in the place supposed to be top-notch? If we’re having riots on Level One, I’d hate to see what Floors Two through Five looks like.”

Versin could not stand for this anymore. “Be quiet fool. You do not know what you are talking about. The Impel Down security is one of the best in the world. Also Floors Two through Five would be even safer because that’s where the stronger guards and beasts that serve Impel Down are. While Versin was arguing with the unknown man an Impel Down guard came to tell them the bad news. “Some of our battleships have been destroyed.”

Versin then got filled with rage. “Told you this would happen, so do you still think what I said was baseless conjecture.” yelled Versin pointing at the unknown man. He then looked at Director Spandam. “So what do you think we should do Director?”

[Farris (Kuro)]

Farris shot her own fiery gaze at Paulie that showed she hadn't lost her resolve. "Doubting?! Please, I'm trying to be a bit more strategic!" She snapped back at him for the accusation. Still She didn't pry off his tight grip on his collar. she could sense his own guilt but now was not the time to be placing blame. Not when they had work to do, and right now worry about who was at fault was the least of their worries.

Paulie finally released her to make sure everyone knew what role they were playing. He then added in a speech that made her want to smack him upside the head for calling her weak. Instead she crossed her arms over her chest. She understood he was trying to be supportive but he wasn't doing the best of jobs of it. "I get what your say, Let's move out and try to meet back here in three hours. That should give use all plenty of time to do what we need to do." She added as the Train docked and the doors opened to reveal the dreaded Impel Down Prison.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spandam showing the tactical side of his mind considered both the opinions and input from the two. "We can't be sure of that Versin. Lucci is a very dangerous and strategic man. Letting the girl live could simply be to throw us off our game and the fact that The CP5 were spared is a scare tactic." Spandam reasoned. His mind going back to the Den Den Mushi call from his former agent when Lucci told him he was coming after him. "Still It doesn't hurt to be cautio-" The Lavender haired man thought before the argument broke out between the bounty hunter and potential agent.

"Quiet! Both of you! Versin you will come with me down to Level 4, Leon and Aureus I want you to go out and investigate what that destroyed those battleship and take care of it quickly." He stated to the two. " Aureus your in charge until the disturbance is dealt with. Probably so repentant Sea king anyway. Meet us on level 4 once your done." He instructed and gestured for Versin to carry Kaku and follow him to the elevator lift.

[BEX]

(OOC: Not sure what do in this thread now…Farris, how do you wanna handle this? Seems a lot of people have faded away)

Paulie’s face remained cavalier as the cigar rested comfortably in his mouth though already his neck became slick with a foreboding sense of apprehension. Before anyone could take action the seductively dressed Bilkan girl promptly stepped out of the train and began audaciously laying siege to the unsuspecting front guards of Impel Down with what appeared to be astounding hot waves of air. Gawking with wide eyes, the rope that had slipped from underneath the carpenter’s sleeve drug limply on the floor as he observed the destruction the girl wrought quickly drew a fresh wave of stern faced soldiers.

It was the appearance of reserves that sent him moving as he jerked his head forward; the signal was for the foremen of Galley-La that had decided to follow Paulie in his attempt to help Farris save the man who’d betray him and his master in one of the most heinous displays of treason Water 7 had ever beheld. Cursing himself for allowing his mind to become distracted by that the suit wearing blond stepped out of the train closely followed by Tilestone, who as usual was roaring at the top of his impressive lungs.

“Che…idiot” an oddly relieved Paulie chuckled as the obscenely top heavy foremen leapt in front of him with his famous weapon hoisted onto his shoulder; the sight of the massive man was enough to stammer the impeding onslaught of men for only a brief moment.

Glancing back to the train only Farris was visible with the former assassin being nowhere to be seen. Uncertain whether to be worried by this detail or not Paulie furiously motioned for the rebellious woman to follow his lead; he’d fight her straight to where Kaku was being held captive…even if it meant that he would die. As if to test the valor of his sentiment a brown suited guard hacked at Paulie’s midsection with angry swipe, but a skillful Pepe Lu would repel the man’s attack with a power fist sending the guard careening backwards with a vacant expression on his face. Sometimes Paulie was baffled by how strong the reserved tan, man could be, “I didn’t need you’re help y’know…” he grumbled uncomfortably as turmoil spread onto the platform leading into Impel Down.

The only response he would receive would be a reverent in his direction before the foremen would run off with a stolid set to his normally lax face. That was a testament to just how strenuous this mission was emotionally at least for Pepe Lu, “D@mn that woman!” cursed Paulie as he shot another glance at the train, this time with more hostility than he’d meant to,

“…she’ll get us all killed at this rate!” he shouted indignantly, but his voice drifted amidst the stamping of encroaching feet in unison towards the brave group of rebels attempting to break Kaku out; they’d need a miracle to survive.

[Farris (Kuro)]

Two days earlier, on Silvers Island A reporter sends out a news paper of A certain nobles house being destroyed, his prize slave lost and his hired help missing. one of these issuing story would make it to a very hard to access Island in East blue. It would not take long for that and the paper the following day with information on a contest with a "returning member of the Galley La" partaking in an annual festival before seemingly vanishing along with other contestants, to piece together the events being connected. Nor would it take the occupants of One Palm Island long to realize the planning methods of a former "boss". Enies Lobby was far from ready to be used again, the most likely place to be used was that of Impel Down for capture and interrogation...

Back to the present, Farris stared up at the sky, something having caught her attention. Something dark that was too large to be a bird... It looked to be a man... but that couldn't be right, could it? Paulie called out to her and finally she snapped out of her trance enough to look at him then back up before running over to the Shipwright. "Am I loosing it or is that a man up there... hoping across the sky?" She asked him. Sure she had seen Kaku do some amazing things even something like that but much closer to the ground and no where near this level. On the other hand when she was him do as much, Kaku was injured... Was what she was seeing one of his allies then?

None the less as guard made their way towards them Farris withdrew her sword and readied for battle. Fighting carefully dodging and swiping and trying not to use up too much energy to get through, they needed to save there strength to save Kaku and avoid fighting when possible. At least that's was the plan but with Impel Down's boosted security it was looking like the Musician and the Galley La would need a helping hand, and right now Farris was hoping the figure she's seen wasn't just her imagination and was someone on their side.

[|The SHAKINATOR|]

Much to the surprise of Farris, there was in fact a figure bouncing around in the sky as if it were hopping from cloud to cloud. The figure was in actual fact a man, donned in a smart, black suit with matching black top hat to go along with it. This was no ordinary man, which was evident from what the feat he was performing. This was one of the most dangerous men in the world who was capable of wiping out entire villages of people, without a trace. Once a government, he was nothing more than a wanted criminal now much like his ally and long-time partner, Kaku.

It had been a while since Lucci had been so worked up. In fact the last time he had been this worked up was when Spandam had taken away his whole life away from him, just to retain his credibility, despite the fact he was just as much at fault for the escape of Nico Robin as the CP9 Agents had been. But having been the head of the Cipher Pol 9, he decided to abuse the powers of his position and turn the World Government against Rob Lucci, accusing him of aiding the Straw-Hats in escaping Enies Lobby.

He had gone too far now, with the capturing of Kaku. It didn't matter where they took him. Even if they hid him in the lowest levels of Impel Down, Lucci would take him out alive. Even Hell was afraid of this man. It was funny how he had returned to the very place the two of them were headed for, when escorting Nico Robin to face her fate but now he knew what was going through the mind of Luffy and the Straw-Hats when they came out against all-odds to rescue on of their team-mates. If Luffy had managed to get out of here alive then so could he. Lucci used the combined skills of 'Soru' and 'Geppou' to navigate his way through the hole Farris had spotted him through. His hawk-like eyes had managed to pin-point the exact location of the conflict and it was most likely the source that would lead him to his square-nosed friend. As if in an instance, the guards that were surrounding Paulie and Farris were disposed off with blood sprouting through holes that were punctured through their skin.

The figure suddenly appeared before Farris and Paulie, showing a familiar face to the Galley-La worker. Lucci recognised the man immediately and was pretty sure his former work-mate hadn't forgotten his face either. A pigeon suddenly flew down the same path Lucci had taken and landed on the shoulder of the former CP9 Agent. "Hey there Paulie. Didn't think I'd run into the likes of you here. Got caught shop-lifting or did Iceburg turn you in for being a lousy carpenter?" The pigeon spoke as if it were the thinking tank behind Lucci although in actual fact it was nothing but a mere dummy.

[BEX]

Instantly the guardsmen were obliterated, each one riddled with a hole in one place or another. Still clenching tightly to his trusty rope, the cavalier suited carpenter only heard the silent breeze that carried the thick smell of looming death and he immediately remembered the only other time he’d felt his heart racing so quickly. Biting the cigar clean through, his surprise, fear, and dismay shown on his face as the peevish bird voice behind him mockingly saluted him after the split a long time ago,

“Hey there Paulie. Didn't think I'd run into the likes of you here. Got caught shop-lifting or did Iceburg turn you in for being a lousy carpenter? chirped the albino white pigeon, but Paulie hardly saw the avian companion resting atop the dark suited man’s shoulder.

That iron stare penetrated through him and he swallowed as best he could try to salvage what little moisture remained in his throat. Turning completely toward Lucci, the former head of the assassination group that had nearly killed Iceburg and nearly imprisoned Mugiwara’s nakama, stood before him as real as day; it was like a nightmare, but this time Paulie wouldn’t allow things to go so easily for the man. Before uttering a word the stony faced carpenter had his rope lassoing the man’s sleek figure faster than a thought could have been formed and the bared teeth only made the flashing eyes seem all the more dangerous. Tugging firmly he would watch vengefully as the ropes would burrow into Lucci’s skin, the other foremen watched in disbelief, they hadn’t moved since the annihilation of the Impel Down dock. Pent up emotion lashed out at the gawking men of Water 7 while the Vice President of Galley-La held his nemesis in binds, “Oi! Get moving!” he barked.

Certain that they wouldn’t take him seriously without the cigar billowing smoke into the air as it normally did, he stepped forward more menacingly and in a hoarser voice this time demanded they leave, “I said get out of here! Take Farris and go!”

Pepe Lu, always a man of revered silence examined him a moment before nodding. Tilestone trembled indignantly before abruptly angling the gigantic cannon in Lucci’s direction only to receiving a thudding boot to the chiseled midsection he possessed; it seemed that only Pepe Lu understood the Vice’s feelings. Crazy eyed he gazed upon Farris…this woman who’s eyes made him swallow more uncomfortably than even that perverted Kalifa had ever made him swallow with her indecent skirts hiding less and less of those sinuous long legs…

A rivulet of blood slipped out judgmentally from his nose as Paulie screamed before quickly wiping away the evidence, “Dammit, I wasn’t thinking about that indecent woman! Get her outta here now!” he yelled and this time the men obeyed with slight smirks lightening their expressions.

This time he didn’t bother trying to convince them that they were wrong in their thinking, they’d need all the optimistism they could handle without him…he was already thinking himself dead. If that was so what was driving him to do this? Wasn’t Farris more important? Wasn’t this mission…

Tension on the rope returned as in one hand Paulie clenched it in his trained workman hands while the other removed a cigarette from a pack before sliding it into his mouth. The cool calmness slid over him without even having to light it, yea, this was the purpose of cigarettes, to wipe away life’s problems. Even ones that were superhuman oversized kittens, “So, just what the hell is your ugly mug doing here?” came the spiteful question that first bubbled into the dagger eyed second man to Iceburg-san himself.

[Farris (Kuro)]

The incoming guard all fell in a matter on minutes as they seemed to be punctured in some way. Farris had seen this before but not on this level. She had seen it from Kaku and she knew that this man was likely his leader, maybe even his teacher. He was handsome to be sure, but their was an aura about him that radiated fear and death to those around him. As she heard him speak and saw how Paulie reacted she realized that this man must have been "Lucci-San". The pigeon seemed to "talk" for him showing he knew ventriloquism, a nearly lot art but one Farris was familiar with. Paulie yelled at her to go as he dealt with this man.

The dark clad woman looked between the two and shook her head. "Paulie, let him go." She told him firmly before looking at the man with the top hat. "Your Lucci-san right? Kaku mentioned you." She stated but didn't wait for his answer. "I think we're all here for the same reason. Getting Kaku out of here. Whatever "business" You have with him Paulie let it wait until then." She added to both Lucci and Paulie in a sagely manner, though she was clearly talking more to Paulie at the moment. Their was no doubt that working with Lucci would be more helpful than letting Paulie waste time fighting this man. Also It was more likely that the Rokushiki master would kill him within a few minutes. She'd wait for Paulie to do as she told him then if their were questions, she'd answer as the walked. They didn't have time for this...