Chapter 7

"Twenty three years?" Nami's voice was a choking shriek that sent Chopper diving beneath the couch cushions. The redhead made as if to rise but her shaking legs refused to hold her and she dropped back into her seat like a marionette with its strings cut. Filled with a weakness born by terror, Nami stared at the old man pleadingly, silently begging him to take the words back.

"I'm afraid so, yes." Machinton confirmed gravely. Leaning forward, he rested his gnarled hands on his knees. Though his eyes were hidden behind his dark glasses, they could feel his gaze penetrate each one of them in turn. "And without the wood for maintenance, there is no way your ship would survive the level of deterioration that amount of time would cause; even if it were dry docked. Better to dismantle it now so as to use the materials for more important things."

Sanji sat, frowning and at a loss for words. Nami gnawed on a fingernail, her expression troubled. Chopper stuck his head out of the couch, his eyes wide with panic. Dismantle the Going Merry? The very idea was preposterous. But all knew the old man's words ran true. Without the Log Pose setting, trying to leave this island was like a death sentence. The very idea was so frightening that twenty-three years seemed less horrifying, if only slightly.

"What are we gonna do?" Chopper squeaked.

"It is your decision, of course." Machinton said kindly. "As welcome as the company might be, I would not hold you here against your will. Even if it was for your own benefit."

Chopper's gaze darted from Nami to Sanji and back again, waiting for some brilliant solution to this problem. The reindeer knew that there was no way he could spend years on this dreadful, lifeless island. He would go mad. The part of him that was still wild and undomesticated: that part shriveled at the very thought.

"We need to find Luffy and Zoro." Nami stated slowly, after a moment's thought.

"Bullshit!" Sanji jumped up and kicked his chair angrily, sending the heavy fixture squealing across the floor. Everyone stared at him, stunned.

Sanji jammed his hands in his pockets to hide his clenching fists. "Would you just forget about those two idiots for a minute?" he growled pleadingly. "They're not going anywhere. And neither are we, unless you can figure out a way to get us off this island."

"Me?" Nami shot back, her eyes flaring with anger. "Why don't you try thinking for yourself for once?"

"You're the navigator! You were the one who brought us here!"

Cringing, Chopper tried his best to bury himself beneath the cushions; but was unable to do more than muffle the sharp voices flying around like deadly bullets overhead. The reindeer cried out in alarm as a hand reached into his nest of relative safety and pulled him free.

"Why don't we give these two some privacy?" Machinton said gently as he sat the diminutive doctor on the floor. "It seems like this is something best worked out without an audience."

Chopper glanced at the angry faces of his friends and nodded. He let the professor shuffle him out the door, his face a picture of misery. He didn't know how to deal with these human emotions that burned in his companion's heart and struck out like a whip to hurt whoever stood closest. Sniffling, Chopper stumbled out of the room.

"I'm afraid I've given your friends quite a shock." Machinton said apologetically.

He and Chopper walked back down the corridor towards the tower's entrance. To the left and right dozen of doors sat. Behind each was an identical looking living quarter, with complete with beds, showers and kitchens. An army could live here comfortably; there were that many rooms. Chopper had only seen a small part of the building, but was already amazed by the sheer size of the place.

The overpowering stench of oil was muted indoors, giving the reindeer's nose a much needed break. But there was still something in the air that troubled Chopper. He couldn't pinpoint it, exactly. It was a faint, underlining odor that trailed behind the sharp tang of metal coming from the tower. It had just the faintest whiff of decay…

"Maybe I shouldn't have said anything." Machinton added. "But they would have had to learn the truth eventually." He tugged at his mustache braids, looking uncomfortable.

"No, no…it's alright, I promise!" Chopper hurried to reassure the old man. "We've been in tighter spots than this so I'm sure everything will turn out fine." The reindeer sounded fearfully hopeful.

Machinton stared down at him. "You are truly a unique individual, Doctor."

Chopper danced about, an arm behind his head and a smile stretching across his face. "Shut up! That doesn't make me happy! Asshole!"

The old man laughed.

"So, you've been on this island for a long time?" Chopper asked, after a moment's reflection.

Machinton hummed his assent. "Over forty years this spring."

Chopper's eyes widened. "That long?" Chopper's lower lip quivered with sympathy. "Have you been alone, all this time?"

"I had many comrades, in the beginning. Each one of these rooms you see was filled with life and laughter." Machinton continued to walk forward, his expression far away.

Curious and feeling somewhat guilty for it, Chopper pressed on, his short legs scrambling to keep up with the Professor's rolling stride.

"What happened to them?"

"Twenty-three years passed. The log pose set, and the ones that remained left aboard a makeshift ship, created in secret behind my back." Machinton grimaced, looking pained. "Even though our research was making such progress on this island! They took off without a word."

Chopper had been doing a lot of thinking about the island they had landed on and it's present state. "W-what—" Chopper began hesitantly, afraid of offending their host. "What was this island like? Before?"

Machinton looked down at the reindeer with a kind smile, though his sunglasses only reflected Chopper's distressed face back to him. "Not to worry, young Doctor. There was nothing living here."

Chopper found himself sighing in relief.

"The island was nothing but ice and snow," Machinton added as they continued down the corridor.

Eyes wide, Chopper jerked to a stop, feeling like he'd been kicked in the stomach. The feeling hit him so hard that, for a moment, he couldn't even breathe.

"Doctor?" Machinton shuffled to a stop and looked back questioningly.

The tortured scream of metal saved the reindeer from explanation. Chopper squeaked in shock and fright as the metal grate he stood on popped out of its moorings and flew into the air, taking the reindeer with it. Screaming wildly, Chopper tried to prepare to become reindeer filling in a sandwich between the heavy metal grate and the wall. But, though he braced himself, the impact never came. Instead the diminutive pirate found himself cradled gently in a set of arms that had sprouted directly from the stonework. The hands plucked him out of the way just as the grate slammed into the wall with a crash that vibrated down the corridor.

"At last!" A victory cry emerged from the hole the grating had once covered.

A slimy black figure hopped out with a relieved laugh, hands on his hips and straw hat sitting on his head in surprisingly pristine condition.

"You need to be more cautious, Captain." A second figure admonished as it climbed out of the opening. Somewhat less covered in grime, the figure stood, gracefully brushing her dark hair aside.

"You almost caused our Doctor to meet a most unfortunate end." Robin chided, releasing said doctor from her Devil's Fruit hold.

"Ehh?" Luffy glanced around, belatedly taking in his surroundings. "Chopper!" he cried and pounced on the furry creature.

"Lu-luffy! Robin!" Chopper fought his way out of the hug, popping free easily due to the oil that practically coated the hyper-active captain. "We were looking everywhere for you. I'm so glad you're both okay!" His eyes widened and he suddenly hopped around the two, sizing their conditions up critically. "You are okay, aren't you?" the doctor asked worriedly.

Luffy flexed his arm proudly. "Neehee, of course!"

"Are the others with you?" Robin asked as she bent down to smooth Chopper's smudged and dirty fur.

"Usopp stayed be behind to protect the ship."

Robin's lips twitched, but she made no comment.

"Sanji and Nami are in a room down the hall. They're…err…talking." Chopper winced at the memory and Robin raised a delicate eyebrow.

"What about Zoro?" Luffy cut in excitedly. "Where is he?"

Chopper looked from Robin to Luffy, confused. "I-I'm not sure…" he answered hesitantly. "I thought he was with you."

Luffy's grin deflated into something more stone-faced and harder to read. Robin's lips pursed and she watched their captain with sharp eyes as she unconsciously continued to pet the reindeer. Watching them, Chopper felt a lump rise up his throat.

"Is something wrong? Did…did something happen to Zoro?" he demanded in a squeaky voice.

Luffy stared down at him for a moment, causing the hackles to raise on the reindeer's neck. Suddenly the smile was back, Luffy's grin splitting his face as per usual.

"Nah! You know Zoro."

"We were separated." Robin clarified in a distant voice, still watching the rubber boy carefully.

Thinking of Zoro's lack of direction skills, Chopper could easily believe the explanation.

Noticing the professor, Luffy quickly changed the subject. "Who are you?" he asked bluntly.

All eyes turned to stare at the old man.

"Professor Machinton." he introduced himself curtly, looking as if he had just been ripped from thoughts far away.

"Denbis Machinton?" Robin sounded surprised.

"You know him?" Chopper asked in shock.

"Impossible…" The professor rumbled out.

"I know of him." Robin studied their host intently. "A powerful Marine general and one of the most famous scientists of Gol Roger's time. Among many things, he created the DenDen Mushi."

"This Walrus-guy?" Luffy jerked his thumb toward Machinton in disbelief.

"The very same." The professor muttered, a vein throbbing from the less than complementary nickname. "You certainly know your history, young woman." Machinton's voice was a combination of pride and grudging acknowledgement.

Robin smiled mysteriously. "It's my job."

The Professor harrumphed, though with a hint of a smile on his craggy face. "No use standing around in drafty corridors. Shall we rejoin your friends?"

Chopper remembered the looks on Nami and Sanji's faces. "Umm…maybe we should give them a few more minutes." Sweat trickled between the reindeer's eyes, and he could smell his own fear underneath all the oil-smell. "Can we go look at you machins instead, Professor?"

"Certainly." Machinton stroked one long mustache. "I always enjoy showing off my work. This way, please." he motioned, brushing past Luffy brusquely.

"What's a machin?" Luffy asked. "Is it food?"

"You'll see…" Machinton smirked.

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Nami had waited until the door closed behind Chopper and the Professor. Then she whirled on Sanji, her face flushed with fury.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" she demanded. "You've acted like a royal jerk ever since we landed on this island. What exactly is your problem?"

"My problem is that you don't seem to want to take a shit—" Sanji seemed to wince at his own crude words. "--without seeking the approval of the Wonder Twins. You smarter than those two dumb-asses put together, and you know it! You talk to me about thinking for yourself. I think you need to take your own advice."

A tense minute of silence passed.

"In case you've forgotten," Nami bit the words out slowly as she fought to keep herself under control. "Luffy is our captain. And he and Zoro are the strongest fighters we've got."

"Does this look like a battlefield?" Sanji spread his hand wide, gesturing to the disorderly but cozy study.

Nami clutched her head as if it pained her. "Didn't you hear what I told you? The words written about this island? There is something sinister here; I know you've felt it just as I have. It's dangerous to be separated like this. If Luffy and Zoro were here—"

"They could charge in and save the day as always, right?" Sanji shouted, a note of pain creeping into his voice.

Nami stared at Sanji as if seeing him for the first time. "You—you're jealous. Of them…."

Sanji turned away, unable to face her. "Did you ever think that maybe, I want you to look to me to save yo—us." He amended hastily, but Nami caught the slip all the same.

"Sanji…." Nami began in a tone that cut straight through Sanji's heart.

"Don't!" the blond cut her off harshly. "You've got your valiant knights. I know you'll never look at me the same as you do those two. I'll never be a hero in your eyes…I'm just a shitty love cook…."

Nami didn't know what to say. Sanji was far more than a mere cook-- she knew that. But right now no words would come to mind to make him believe her. Nami fell back into the sofa and stared at her clenched hands. Sanji continued to stand, staring unseeing at the shelf of junk in front of him. They remained that way, drowning in silence, until the door swung open once more.

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"So cool!"

Luffy watched the little machins intently, his eyes sparkling. Barely a meter tall and made completely of metal, Machinton's inventions resembled giant shiny crabs. They moved around on one wheel, able to change direction instantly with the assistance of six slender 'legs' that hovered out just above the ground. A large bucket rested on their backs, holding various tools, nuts and bolts. The machins each bore two claw-like appendages. The small seemed to be for tasks that required a certain amount of precision. The larger claw was obviously for the more laborious tasks. Just one machin could lift one of the heavy iron doors on its own, holding it upright with apparent ease as two other machins beat out the dents and reattached the door to the wall.

"I thought your doors were ruined after what Sanji did to them." Chopper stood next to the professor, the same sparkles as Luffy's surrounding him. "What a wonderful invention!"

"Indeed." Machinton stroked his mustache with pride. "Each one able to lift over 500 kilos yet their movements are so precise they can even thread a needle, should I need them to."

"What makes them move?" Luffy asked gleefully, sitting cross-legged atop the second door, which was currently being lifted by a fourth machin.

"Please don't get in the way young man."

With a stretch of his arms, Luffy grabbed at one of the support poles high overhead and lifted himself off the door to hang in the air, like some gangly-armed primate. Robin noticed that the Professor didn't seem the least bit shocked by the rubber-boy's inhumanly elastic feat. Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

"To answer your question, my machins run on a highly refined form of oil, which I produce here on this island."

"So that was what all the noise was…" Robin murmured, almost to herself. "This tower is actually a factory. And the tunnels below were from some sort of oil mine."

Machinton leveled her with a piercing look. "Very dangerous business down there. Among other things, it serves as a drain for the oil dregs left over from the refining process. You two could have been seriously injured, or worse. I should think that a smart woman such as yourself would have known better than to go gallivanting around someone's gutters without permission."

"My apologies…" Robin inclined her head slightly. "There was something else in the tunnels along with us. A form of toad with glowing eyes… I presume they are your work as well?"

"My, my, you are a sharp one." Machinton rumbled. "Those would be the DenDen Kari. One of my first experiments from when I arrived on this island. Like the DenDen Mushi, they run using living creatures as their base. As such, they are naturally inclined to the warmth and darkness of the tunnels."

"Walrus-guy made the mystery toads? You're cooler than I thought!" Luffy exclaimed laughingly as he whizzed by, Chopper flying past seconds behind.

Machinton's eyebrow twitched. "Young Lady, would you please ask your companions not to race on my machins?"

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"Now that I've satisfied your curiosity towards my inventions, let us return to my study to collect your other companions so I can show you to your quarters for the night."

The machins had finished the repairs to the doors and were now cleaning up, whizzing around with miniature mops and brooms, using their buckets as waste bins as they erased all traces of the Straw Hat's forced entry. DenDen Kari had to be bought out to light the work area, leaving everywhere else cast in shadow.

"We still have companions we need to contact." Robin explained.

"It's far to dark to do any of that now." Machinton protested. "You'll break your necks trying to travel those rocks at night. Your companions should be fine until morning."

"We need dinner…" Luffy moaned as he clenched his stomach. "Does Mr. Walrus have food?"

"What about Usopp and Zoro?" Chopper asked worriedly.

"Our dear Long-nose probably won't like having to spend the night on the ship alone." Robin reflected. "But he should be fine. As for Mr. Swordsman, I'm sure as long as he hasn't managed to somehow wander off the island, he should be able to handle anything foolish enough to come up against him."

"Off the island?" Luffy's eyes widened, thoughts of dinner forgotten. "He can't go off on an adventure without me!"

"I was jesting, Captain." Robin smiled. "Even our Swordsman's direction sense isn't that bad. Probably."

"But, but…" Luffy still looked distressed. "What if Zoro didn't go left?"

"Left?" Chopper looked confused.

"Left is the right way to go when you get lost." Luffy informed him sagely. "But, knowing Zoro, he might have went right instead of the right way. Which is left."

Chopper's eyes swirled. "Right is left?"

"No, no, no. Left is right. It's all very complicated." Luffy stated, he expression serious.

"Yes, well…" Machinton coughed into his hand. "shall we get going, then?"

Just then the newly repaired doors exploded inward, each sheared into four gleaming pieces. Luffy was knocked backwards when one of the iron triangles slammed into his middle and a second nearly took off Choppers head.

"What in the devil?" Machinton demanded, cowering on the floor as he stared into the dark hole that now opened directly to the outside.

Chopper whimpered in fright and clung to Robin's leg as a towering creature materialized, seeming a part of the darkness itself. It was black as night and had at least five arms, each brandishing sharpened steel that gleamed in the dull light of the DenDen Kari. The creature moved further into the tower, its movements fluid and catlike as it emitted bone-chillingly high-pitched noises.

Luffy pushed the heavy piece of door off of him and jumped to his feet. He stared at the creature with interest. He blinked and moved closer, not sure if his eyes were working as they should.

"Any scary monster should just stay back!" the creature howled. "To approach would result in no mercy from my deadly arsenal of stainless steel!"

Chopper pulled slowly away from Robin, who's shoulders were shaking strangely. "Usopp?"

The highest set of eyes on the 'creature' widened. "Chopper?" One of its heads swiveled to look around the room. "Robin! Luffy! Hey, we found them!" The first head addressed the one below it.

Usopp sighed in relieve and lowered Sanji's kitchen knives. "What did I tell you?" He asked proudly, earning a snort from the larger figure that he was currently riding piggyback on.

Luffy's face suddenly broke out in a blinding grin that took up fully half of his face.

"Zoro!"

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