The two grills face each other across the makeshift camp, their fires casting dancing shadows across the gathered crews. The aroma of grilled sea king meat mingles with the salt air and the ever-present metallic tang of Metis Island. Empty skewers pile up beside each group as the feast continues.
Penguin chews enthusiastically, his words muffled by a mouthful of meat. "This is so good. Where did you—"
Eliane beams, her silver hair catching the firelight. "At our last island. Mr. Kaburo killed it, but I skinned it myself." She puffs out her chest with pride.
Shachi nods, licking sauce from his fingers. "This sauce is—"
Law puts down his empty skewer with a deliberate clink. "Enough already. We need to get off this island."
Jannali leans toward Marya, her voice barely above a whisper. "He's a cranky bugger, isn't he?"
Marya chuckles, shrugging. "It's his love language."
Charlie clears his throat with a theatrical ahem. Everyone turns to look at him as he sets down his own skewer, raising a finger in the air. "If I may. I would like to go over my conclusions with everyone."
Marya slides a piece of meat off her skewer, chewing as she nods. "Go ahead." Her voice is slightly muffled by the food.
Charlie straightens his pith helmet, his eyes gleaming with academic excitement. "While traversing the island, we learned its origins. This is no island at all, but a failed prototype. It was a ship meant to be an ancient weapon, lost at sea and consumed by a volcano."
Bepo's ears flatten against his skull. "Scary..."
Charlie nods vigorously. "Yes, indeed! Like our ship, it has a damaged AI system attempting to complete its final order."
Vesta swallows, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Final order? Like it's trying to buy stuff?"
Jelly bounces, momentarily distracted. "More stuff!" He spots an abandoned plate of food and begins to lock in on it, his gelatinous body quivering with anticipation.
Atlas chuckles, shaking his head. "No, song bird. It's trying to finish its last command. It's stuck on a loop."
Vesta tilts her head, her rainbow hair cascading to one side. "I don't get it."
Bianca cuts in, pointing toward Jelly. "Like, don't worry about it. But you're, like, about to lose your lunch."
Jelly launches himself into the air, and Vesta's head whips around. She jumps from her seat, scooping up her plate just in time. "Not so fast, Jelly Man!"
Jelly lands, turns, and grins. "You snooze, you lose."
Vesta points a skewer at him. "You lost this time!"
---
Galit interrupts, his long neck curving to address the group. "So, this isn't an island, it's a ship?"
Charlie points a finger in the air. "Precisely! We just need to—"
Galit cuts him off. "Good. That means it has an engine."
Charlie tries again. "If I may—"
Bianca steamrolls over him. "So like, if there's an engine, then we can like break it."
Marya adds, her voice thoughtful. "Or blow it up."
Ember, full and content, points her skewer to the sky. "BOOM! BOOM!"
The group pauses. Shachi points an accusing empty skewer at Marya's crew, his eyes narrowing. "Wait a second. I just realized something. WHO ARE ALL YOU PEOPLE?"
Marya chuckles, wiping her fingers on her jeans. "Oh right. I guess we should introduce everyone."
Eliane bounces on the balls of her feet, her hand shooting up. "I'll go first!" She steps into the center of the group, beaming. "I am Eliane. I'm the cook."
Law's eyes narrow. "You're a Lunarian."
Eliane nods, unbothered. "Yup."
Jannali's voice carries a protective edge. "Is there a problem?"
Law shakes his head. "No. Just an observation."
Eliane rushes to Jannali's side, grabbing her arm. "This is Jannali!"
Law's brow raises. "Three eye—"
Jannali nods, her headscarf shifting slightly. "Yeah, mate."
Jelly bounces forward. "I'm Jelly!"
Vesta strikes a dramatic chord on Mikasi. "I'm Vesta!"
Bianca waves a grease-stained hand. "Bianca. Like, the engineer."
Charlie clears his throat again. "I am Charlie. Archaeologist and linguist."
Sanza puts his plate down, pointing a thumb at his chest. "I am Sanza Figarland. Future—"
Law cuts him off sharply. "Figarland?"
Sanza nods, his small chest puffing. "Yes. I am going to be—"
Ember interrupts with a manic cackle. "Boom Boom Ember!"
Galit clears his throat. "Galit. Ship's navigator."
Aurélie inclines her head, her hand resting on Anathema. "Aurélie. Co-pilot."
Bō-Zak blows out a lazy plume of smoke. "Bō-Zak."
Kaburo nods once, his hand never straying far from Kalamaru. "Kaburo."
Law's eyes narrow as they land on Kaburo. "You were a Beast Pirate."
Kaburo's voice is flat. "Was. I am not anymore."
Atlas waves a skewer, his Electro crackling faintly. "Atlas."
Bepo's voice carries a note of concern. "Everyone was worried when you disappeared like that."
Atlas shrugs, his blue eyes indifferent. "They'll get over it."
Bepo scoffs. "Yeah, but—"
Law cuts him off. "Bepo."
Bepo stands, his white fur shifting in the firelight. "I'm Bepo. Ship's navigator." He gestures to his crewmates. "These are Penguin, Shachi, Jean Bart, Ikkaku, Uni, Clione, Hakugan." Each person nods in acknowledgment as their name is called.
Bepo places a paw on Law's shoulder. "And this is our captain. Trafalgar Law."
Bianca nods. "Like, cool. I have a question." She glances at Pluton, her eyes appraising. "Your sub looks like it might be like ours. It's like ancient tech too."
Ikkaku nods. "Yeah. It's Pluton. One of the ancient weapons."
Bianca's brow raises. "Like, it looks pretty beat up."
Ikkaku looks over her shoulder at the damaged vessel. "She's been through a lot."
Charlie's eyes go wide, stars practically forming in his pupils. "Did you say ancient weapon?" He blinks rapidly at Ikkaku, making her shift uncomfortably.
"Yeah..."
Charlie starts gravitating toward her. "I have to see it."
Bianca grabs him by the collar, yanking him back. "Like, down boy! It's, like, just as busted up as ours is. There's, like, nothing to look at."
Charlie whines, his arms reaching toward Pluton. "But Bianca—"
---
Marya looks at Law, her brow raised. "Ancient weapon."
Law grins, unable to hide his pride. "Yeah. Really long story."
Marya smirks. "I look forward to hearing it."
---
Bianca cuts in, steering the conversation back. "Like, anyway. We were, like, on our way to a maintenance facility to get repairs and stuff."
Ikkaku perks up, her eyes lighting up. "Really? A maintenance facility!"
Bianca nods. "Like, yeah. You should, like, come too. We can, like, share notes and stuff and, like, get these beasts humming like new."
Ikkaku's eyes go starry. "Oh yeah. We gotta."
Penguin's voice carries a note of warning. "Oh no. Ikkaku made a new friend."
Ikkaku whirls on him. "What you talking about? This thing needs a makeover like yesterday." She turns to Law, her expression pleading. "Captain, we gotta."
Law groans, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Yeah, fine. We can go."
The Heart Pirates cheer.
Law whips around, his voice sharp. "BUT WE GOTTA GET OFF THIS ROCK FIRST!"
The crew quiets down instantly. Hakugan's voice is small. "Oh right. How are we going to do that?"
Law snaps again. "That is what we are trying to figure out!"
Marya chuckles, watching the exchange with amusement. "So we know each other's names now. We know this is a ship with an engine. And both ships need repairs."
Law nods, his composure returning. "Right. We need to break into teams."
Marya continues the thought. "We need some to stay back with the ships."
Law picks up the rhythm. "One team to blow the engine."
Marya finishes. "And one to deal with the AI."
Bō-Zak interjects, his voice dry. "Aw, look. They finish each other's sentences."
No one responds.
Marya continues, her voice taking on a commanding edge. "We need to make sure everyone can get back on the subs once the engines blow."
Law nods in agreement. "Exactly."
Vesta's brow furrows. "What do you mean?"
Galit explains, his tone patient. "Whatever technology is disabling the subs—once it's destroyed, the subs will be freed. When that happens, they need to take to the sea immediately. They can't wait for the people on the island."
Vesta nods, still looking confused. "Okay..."
Atlas translates. "They need to be able to find their own way off the island and back onto the subs."
Law finishes the thought. "Then we blow this island up."
Marya nods. "Agreed."
---
Law announces, his voice decisive. "I know where the bridge and AI controls are located."
Marya counters. "I know where the engine room is."
Aurélie's brow furrows. "And how—"
Marya cuts her off. "The Reapers found it."
Law nods, already planning. "Good. I'll lead the team to the bridge controls and attempt to disable the AI."
Marya matches his energy. "I'll lead the team to the engine room."
Galit rises, his long neck straightening. "I'll prep the Dreadnought Thalassa for departure."
Jean Bart nods. "I'll do the same for the Pluton."
Law's eyes move across his crew. "Bepo and Penguin, with me."
Atlas cracks his knuckles, Electro sparking across his fur. "I'm coming too."
Aurélie steps forward. "As am I."
Law nods in approval.
Marya stands, her hand falling to Nisshoku's hilt. "Bō-Zak, Ember, Jannali. You're with me."
Shachi and Uni step forward. "We're coming too."
Marya nods. "Good."
Galit pulls out a transponder snail, holding it up. "Everyone has these. Keep in touch. We won't be able to wait for you."
Marya's voice is firm. "Understood."
Law stands, his hand finding his hat. "Right. Let's get this done."
---
The two crews split, their shadows stretching in the firelight. The feast is over. The war has begun.
Behind them, the grills sputter and die, their fires fading into embers.
Ahead, the island's dark interior waits, hungry and patient.
And somewhere deep within its heart, Athene stirs.
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