It was like had just heard a joke, Spandam spread his hands and gestured to the crowd.
Laughter rippled through the onlookers.
"How is this possible?"
"What is Tom's apprentice spouting? Why would the government's CP5 attack a judicial ship?"
"Utter lies. That can't be true."
"Hahaha!"
As the jeers grew louder, a mocking grin spread across Spandam's face. "I attacked a judicial ship? What a ridiculous joke. Those vessels were investigated. They were built by your company."
Franky shut his eyes, unwilling to face it. "A ship that could do something like that… that thing is no longer my ship!!!"
The instant the words tore from his throat, the chains on Tom's massive arms snapped under sheer force.
Crack!
The fish-man's face darkened as he rose, then his fist smashed into Franky.
Boom!
The boy was sent flying, tumbling through crates and barrels that shattered around him.
The soldiers immediately tensed. An officer roared, "Raise your guns!"
Numerous rifles aimed at Tom, but he ignored them, glaring at Franky. "Not your ship? How can you say something like that?!"
Franky shouted back in anguish, "So what if I said it! I regret building such a weapon! If those ships hadn't existed, no one would've been hurt! You wouldn't have been—"
Tom's gaze burned into him, as if to give him one last lesson. "No matter the ship, it carries no good or evil when it's made. Whatever you build in the future doesn't matter. But… even if a ship harms others, even if it destroys the world, its maker must never deny it. The one who built it must love it. No one else has that right. You must never blame the ship. A man must stand tall before the vessel he creates!"
Everyone around them were stunned at Tom's overwhelming spirit.
Franky's face flushed red. He could find no words.
At last, Tom's voice steadied. "Iceburg, Franky. Do not interfere in what comes next. No matter what happens."
'This is where it ends…'
He turned toward CP5.
'It hurts, doesn't it, Franky? Seeing a ship born innocent used for evil…'
With a stomp of his foot, he lunged straight at Spandam.
The terrified agent barely had time to react before a furious fist smashed into his face, sending him flying.
A sickening crack of bone followed.
Tom moved again, as if to vent Franky's anger too, and charged after Spandam.
The man staggered up, clutching his face and shrieking, "Fire! Fire! Damn fish-man! Capture them!"
Bang, bang, bang…
A hail of bullets poured into Tom, his body going numb. His strength faded. Tranquilizer rounds.
Spandam broke into manic laughter. "Serves you right! What are you waiting for? Arrest them! Drag every last one of Tom's brutal apprentices back to Enies Lobby!"
As the drug coursed through his veins, Tom lifted his head. "Judge. I accept the charge of attacking a judicial ship. But I have one request."
Spandam sneered. "Don't spout nonsense, you idiot fish-man. Who would honor a criminal's request?"
"Silence, CP5!" the chief judge barked.
Spandam snapped his mouth shut, glaring at him.
The judge turned to Tom. "What is your request?"
The shipwright slumped to the ground. "If building the Sea Train could erase one sin, then let it erase today's crime."
The judge frowned. "Even if I agreed, it would only bring things back to where they started. You built the Pirate King's ship. That alone warrants death."
Tom laughed. "Then pass judgment. To have contributed to a man like Roger… I am proud beyond measure!"
The crowd, many scarred by pirates, erupted in disgust.
"How barbaric!"
"He's proud to have helped the Pirate King?"
"Traitor!"
"Savage fish-man!"
Franky stared in shock. "Tom-san, why would you—"
Tom shook his head, interrupting him. "This is enough, Franky. Stop blaming yourself from now on. I never imagined the government would go mad over those blueprints. Roger's case brought me trouble too."
"But you didn't need to accept it all!" Franky cried.
Tom looked past him toward the buildings of Water 7, his eyes soft. "It's fine. Look around."
The whole city was alive, faces brimming with hope.
A faint smile touched his lips. "Even if my sins are pushed back to fourteen years ago, this island is no longer the same. It's full of life. No matter what happens to me, I gave something to this city. My dream… has finally set sail."
From far away, the whistle of the Sea Train echoed.
Thud.
Tom collapsed. 'Iceburg, Franky. The blueprints are yours now. Kokoro, Yokozuna… thank you for everything.'
The tranquilizers drowned out the last of his consciousness, and darkness swallowed him.
Spandam roared with laughter. "Wahaha! The tranquilizers worked at last! Bring back all three criminals who attacked the judicial ship!"
The soldiers were about to move when the judge's voice cut in. "Wait. The charges have changed. I hereby sentence shipwright Tom, for building the Pirate King's vessel… to be executed. He alone will be taken to the Judicial Island. That is all."
The judge rose and walked away in calm silence.
Spandam clicked his tongue. 'Damn old man, letting sentiment sway him. No matter. Taking the apprentices won't help anyway.'
He looked at Tom. "Men! Take him away!"
Franky, watching Tom dragged off, broke free from Iceburg and Kokoro. He snatched a gun, hurled himself at Spandam, and yelled, "Give Tom-san back to me!!!"
The rifle butt slammed into Spandam's face.
Crack!
The sound of bone shattering echoed.
* * *
Hoooooot!
Steam roared as the sea train tore across the ocean toward Enies Lobby.
Inside the carriage, Spandam sat swathed in bandages, face twisted in rage. "Damn it! That brat escaped! He's the real criminal! He ruined my face! When this is over, I'll come back and strangle him! Damn brat!!!"
A shaken soldier pushed the door open. "Sir… the boy caught up."
Spandam shot upright. "What?!"
"He's on the tracks," the soldier stammered. "Armed, waiting for us."
* * *
Two heads leaned from the train's window: Spandam and his subordinate.
They stared at Franky, standing on the tracks with a weapon.
"Is he an idiot?" Spandam muttered.
The soldier hesitated. "Should we… stop the train?"
Spandam seized him by the collar. "Stupid! Better to run him down! Kill the little brat!"
* * *
On the rails, Franky lifted a cannon and told Yokozuna to stay back.
He aimed at the Sea Train. "Stop, Puffing Tom! Where are you taking your father?!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Shells rained, but not a scratch marred Puffing Tom. A decade of genius and effort had made it indestructible. Even with every shell spent, the train pressed on.
Franky tossed the cannon aside and spread his arms wide. "I won't let you pass! Give Tom-san back to me!!!"
The train's whistle screamed, demanding he move.
The distance shrank, and then…
Crack!
Steel slammed into flesh. Bones shattered through half his body, yet the iron monster didn't falter.
"Stop! Stop, Sea Train!!!"
The whistle wailed as Puffing Tom thundered by. In the air, a pair of blue sunglasses drifted down. Franky's broken body was gone.
'I don't want to build ships anymore… Come back, Tom-san… I still want you to teach me…'
**
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