While waiting for work and opportunities, Kaito spent the next couple of days in a similar manner. He hung around the seedy dives, waiting for word back from his new criminal friends, ducked out of the way of marine tails, and fought at least twice a night in the ring.
No one interesting sadly, just regular muscle heads. He at least dragged the fights out, making a show of it this time. He wanted a shot at the champion after all, or Duel, he'd love to fight her too. The downside of pissing everyone off was that no one was willing to talk to him about said champion. And he knew better than to ask any more questions about Duel.
The only pieces of information he had been able to gather up, was that the champion was a male, and that he had won over 300 bouts over the last two years. Apparently he'd visit the island in spells, dominating the competition and then disappearing again. It made Kaito excited, dreaming up the possibilities of how strong he might be.
Perhaps even recruitment worthy…
Finally on day five, with his patience starting to run low, the time had come. He was to face the champion. He was half sure they only arranged it because the emcee really wanted to see him get his face smashed in. Whatever the reason - it worked. Being annoying had once again worked out for him.
Either way it placed him where he was now, just seconds away from entering the ring again. The music and jeering of the crowd almost deafening.
"YOU HATE HIM! YOU WANT TO SEE HIM BROKEN AND CRYING…. THEEEE MYSTERIOOOOUS STRAAAANGER!" The emcee called out, and Kaito ran into the octagon, waving his arms cheerfully to the jeers and boos raining down from the crowd.
He turned expectantly to the entrance, eager to get a look at this champion. See if they could possibly measure up as a potential crew mate. As far as he was aware, this one was not part of the criminal organization. So no dibs had been called.
Heavier bass started playing as the emcee stood on his desk, gripping his microphone tightly with his right hand while making a sweeping motion with his left hand. Practically vibrating in excitement.
"ALL THE WAY FROM THE GRANDLINE! UNDEFEATED! OVER 300 WINS! IT'S YOUR CHAMPION! BASTIEN AAARCHEEER!"
"Now that's more like it!" Kaito cheered, as the champion arrived. 7 feet tall, a bald head covered in red tribal tattoos flowing down his neck and face. A long jagged burn scar going down from his jawline, down his throat and ending somewhere hidden under his plain black tunic. Not as muscular as Kaito was, the guy having more of a wiry build, but he still looked dangerous. Certainly not like the chaff he had been beating up so far. Older too, he'd guess at the very least thirty.
The difference between him and the riffraff he had been beating up was confirmed when he entered the octagon, and immediately took a stance that exposed he was a martial artist of some sort. Probably actually properly trained too, not a brawler like he himself was.
"Strong silent type, eh?" Kaito asked, jumping in place, eager to get started.
Archer scoffed, spitting to the side. "You want a chat, prove you're worth a damn first, scrub." He rumbled, with a very deep bass voice.
Kaito didn't wait for the emcee to start the match, springing forward at almost full speed. Testing out the reaction speed of a hopefully worthy opponent.
Archer's eyes widened as it seemed he could barely catch the blur, but his training, or just instinct kicked in and he automatically brought his arms forward. One sweeping aside Kaitos' strike aimed at his face, Archer's body seamlessly flowing into striking him in the chest with a palm strike with his other arm, sending him flying into the side of the octagon.
Ignoring the electrocution as a minor annoyance, Kaito rolled away from the wall of electrified fencing just in time to avoid a follow up strike. The champion moved quickly after him, flowing like water, his feet seemingly gliding along as he continued to harass Kaito relentlessly.
Grinning widely as he avoided strike after strike, Kaito countered by grabbing Archer's right fist just as he struck and in a feat of strength redirected it to punch the ground. He used the leverage of holding onto the arm to toss himself over the martial artist, his legs scissoring around his neck. Kaito landed in a handstand on the ground behind him, bringing Archer down with him in a roll and with his leg strength slamming him down into the ground.
Before the dust settled, Kaito felt a hand on his left leg. Before he could try to get loose, or even curse at his misfortune, he's whipped into the ground to Archer's left at dizzying speed, then to his right, then to his left again, slamming into the ground. The champion showing off his own strength. Kaito's finally able to kick the martial artist's arm hard enough to be released on the last slam, and he quickly rolled away.
"Ugh, Hulk smash isn't as great on the other end." He groaned, wiping a spot of blood from his lips. He grinned after a second, "This is finally fun!" His blood was pumping now!
He then had to roll away, do a quick handstand and flip himself into the air, to throw himself away from Archer's determined string of strikes. His big fists slamming into the ground, kicking up dust and pieces of the floor as it began to crack.
"Oh it's so on!" He cheered, disappearing in a blur of speed, meeting the now grinning martial artist head on. Slamming their fists against each other at full speed, a torrent of wind exploding from their position. Both ignoring the awed exclamations from the crowd. He tried to stomp down on Archer's foot, but the martial artist somehow slid his foot away, like it's not even touching the ground. There is something funky there, he thought excitedly.
They both go on the offensive with no thought to defence, both striking each other several times in the span of seconds. Kaito having more speed and strength, barely. And Archer, having better training and experience, they both jump away shortly after, leaving several bruises on each other, but no real damage.
"Water style: whirlpool fist" Archer called out reverently, moving his hands in a circle in front of him, before tensing his legs and exploding forward. Kaito met him half-way attempting to redirect a fist to leave him open again for a counter, just to take a fist right to the solar plexus instead. He blinked, stunned, and quickly tried to parry the follow up strike. Just to see it somehow slip through his guard, moving unnaturally and snap his head back, spittle and blood flying into the air. A hand grabbed the front of his shirt before he could toss himself away. "Oh shi-" A massive haymaker slammed him down into the ground, cratering it.
Before a follow up could push him further down, Kaito exploded out from under Archer, having kicked the ground hard enough to create another crater, managing to escape to the other side of the ring. He wiped the blood off his forehead, chuckling. "Man, I haven't had this much fun in like, ever! Whatever style that is…" He grinned widely. "I like it!"
"You're good, kid, better than what I've fought here before." Archer admitted, a bloodthirsty grin on his face, "You're still barely touching me," He taunted.
"Guess I better pick it up a notch then." Kaito stated, cracking his knuckles. Then exploding forward, finally letting loose. He had a feeling this guy could take it pretty well. And he had never really been able to fully fight someone.
Kaito slipped under a fist, eyes tracking the weird way it seemed to flow in the air, slamming away the other arm flowing down to protect his vitals, and struck Archer several times at full power, in the kidneys. Slipping behind him before he managed to retaliate and slamming a kick into the back of his right knee. The action forcing the martial artist down on the injured knee. Still smarting from the kidney strikes, he doesn't react quick enough to stop the kick to the face that seemed to almost indent his face. Sending him flying in a massive shockwave, completely ripping apart the octagon fencing, and slamming him into the underground cave wall, shaking dust and small rocks down onto the spectators.
The crowd roared as the emcee reminded everyone that ring out wasn't a thing in this arena, and that the fight was still on. The dust settled, and Archer stepped forward, laughing. He ripped his shirt off, showing an equally heavily tattooed chest, rippling with muscles. Blood running from his nose, but nothing but happiness in his eyes. "That's what I'm talking about, show me more of that!" He roared, slamming his chest with one meaty fist.
"Water style: Tidal flow" Archer took one step, then two, then he seemingly slid on air shooting forward, much faster than before. Again Kaito could almost see something around his limbs, something allowing him to change direction on a dime. And glide in the fucking air, how fucking cool was that?
Kaito roared in eager challenge and met him in the air, slamming into him and disrupting his momentum, kneeing him in the chin, pirouetting around to stomp him straight in the chest. The action sending him rocketing down into the ground, slamming straight through down into the rock, the explosion of impact making the octagon fold in on itself and the whole cavern shake. Kaito speedily got out of the way. Archer laughed as it fell down towards him, laying on his back, coughing up some blood.
"Giving up?" Kaito teased loudly, as the emcee screamed in horror at the damage and the crowd was scrambling over each other to run away. It seemed going full speed was proving a bit much for the champion.
"Fuck no!" Archer continued to laugh, one fist flowing forward, smashing the falling fencing away, sending it flying all the way to the other end of the cavern.
"Water style: Masquerade." The tattooed fighter rumbled, before disappearing from sight for a moment. Kaito's eyes could still catch him however, just barely, among the many afterimages spreading across the ring. And ducked under the strike, striking to retaliate, just to hit another afterimage. "Fu-" then there was pain.
Kaito felt the force of the shockwave, erupting from behind him, hitting straight to the kidneys, sending him rocketing into the cave wall, leaving an indentation, cracks spreading across the cavern wall. "I guess someone didn't appreciate my earlier friendly nudges to the kidneys." He laughed, head spinning, he quickly ran back into the fight however, to not get caught against the wall. The other man's masquerade was still up. Kaito was still seeing the real one, he thought anyway… Wondering how exactly the man pulled off the disappearing act earlier.
He flittered back and forth, taking one step and then disappearing in a blur, attacking the after images, trying to limit them and see if he can figure out how the man pulled his little trick.
Three times he barely avoided running straight into Archer's fists, before he figured out how he was doing it. The tricky bastard was purposefully making an afterimage strong enough to appear to be him, while he hid behind another afterimage, moving much more slowly to not draw attention to himself.
Seeing the trick Kaito intentionally let himself get caught next time around, already prepared for where the strike would come from.
Even when caught, the weird way the other man could twist out of the way of strikes when he shouldn't be able to, stopped his first couple of hits. Eventually, with a roar Kaito succeeded in slamming both fists into the other man's stomach, bending him over, before he launched him away, his somersaulting form slamming through one of the stands as shrieking spectators tossed themself out of the way.
Archer stood up casually after a few moments, getting out of the hole in the stands, ready to get back into it, then blinked. "Ah, that might be a problem."
Kaito looked to see what he meant and yeah, that could be a small issue. An underground cavern should not have sunlight.
"Well shit, I was finally having fun." He sighed as more rocks crumbled down, exposing the air above, parts of a building falling down with an almighty crash. Archer slapped away rocks and pieces of building without any care as he made his way out of the fall zone.
"Rematch later." He grunted, as he vaulted over a large piece of rock, making his way out of the cavern after the fleeing panicky citizens. Luckily whoever made these caverns were smart enough to have an emergency tunnel out for quick escapes.
"Hey! Join my-" Kaito tried to call out, before another voice interrupted.
"Mr. Akai… Why am I not surprised to see you down there." There was a loud voice calling from above him.
Kaito looked up, and sure enough staring down into the cavern from the freshly made building sized hole in the town, officer Monroe was peering down at him. Ah, he lost his tail in the docks before coming down to fight, so the marines must have been nearby searching when everything started shaking. That's what he gets for not making the tail have a 'slip' today.
"Would you believe I slipped and fell down here?" He taunted cheekily.
It was hard to see facial expressions from so far away but Kaito had a small feeling the good officer was not amused.
"You are under arrest. Do not move, do not resist." Monroe called down at him. Apparently serious. Marines…
Kaito deadpanned, "You're kidding, right?" He yelled back.
"We will fire, if you resist arrest." Monroe yelled down, indicating the marines with rifles standing by his side.
"If you can hit me from there, with basic marine training and basic marine equipment, I totally deserve to die and will just lie here and take it." Kaito called back, shaking his head and starting to make his way out of the cavern. By the time they'd get enough rope and felt the ground was secure enough to come down after him, he'd be long gone.
"Fire!"
"Well give them props for trying, I guess." Kaito muttered to himself as he ignored the sound of bullets pinging, none coming terribly close. He gave a jaunty wave behind him as he made his way out of the cavern. "Bastards ruined my pitch for a crewmate too, now I gotta track him down."
He started laughing to himself, "At least things are interesting, I'm sure there will be plenty of fun now that I'm a wanted man." He disappeared into one of the emergency escape tunnels, following behind the route everyone ran away in. Ignoring the shouting from the marines above as inconsequential.
＊＊＊
Surprisingly, being a wanted man cleared all the hurdles that had so far prevented him from meeting whatever passed for leadership of the criminal underworld on the island. If he had known it was that easy he would have just gone nuts on the first day.
He already had a prospective crew member so he didn't really need to meet with them anymore, he went to the meeting anyway hoping to get a lead on Archer. And maybe whatever job they did have could allow him the opportunity to recruit the others.
To his pleasant surprise when he entered the backroom of another seedy little bar, and god did this island ever have a lot of those, he was surprised to find Archer sitting at the table. Drinking ale straight from the keg, ignoring the way the woman sitting with him wrinkled her nose at him. Kaito immediately knew this woman was high up in the leadership of the criminal underworld just by how incredibly bland and plain she was. So forgettable no one would ever remember seeing her. Way too boring to be on the lower rung, he also didn't see a tattoo.
"You! Join my crew!" He shouted at Archer, completely ignoring the woman who had just opened her mouth to speak. She wasn't nearly as interesting as everyone else he'd met so far.
Archer raised an eyebrow, holding a finger up as he kept chugging until he finished the whole keg. "Crew? Are you some kind of pirate?"
"I will be once you join my crew." Kaito said confidently, sliding into a chair opposite the woman they're both now ignoring, to her obvious annoyance.
"I would never follow someone weaker then me." Archer leered challengingly. "Besides I got stuff I got to take care of..."
"Alright, first of all. You seem to be following these guys just fine, and they're weak as hell!" Kaito pointed at the offended bland woman and then talked over her as she tried to use the opportunity to talk again. "Secondly I am stronger then you, i'll prove it anytime!"
Archer snorted, "In your dreams brat, and I have an arrangement with these people, I don't work for them."
"Can we-" Blandy tried to interject. "If you're so sure, then fight me, the winner gets to be the Captain." Kaito slammed his hands down on the table, staring Archer down grinning madly.
"What the hell…Why not… You're fucking on brat, don't whine when you lose!" The grin Archer sent back is bloodthirsty. He then blinked. "Ah, first I got to take care of some stuff though." He brought up again, unhelpfully not sharing what exactly he needed to do.
"Will you two shut up and listen!" Blandy yelled, both men stopped grinning and blinked, seemingly surprised there's anyone else in the room.
"Oh yeah, that's why I'm here, my bad…. What's your name again?" Archer said slowly.
"Blandy" Kaito suggested to Archer's quiet chuckle and the woman's gritted teeth.
"Archer, you were hired to do a job… And you Kaito, have been looking for work and need the marines taken care of now that they're after you, which fits into the job we have." Blandy got out with gritted teeth, staring them both down.
"I don't care anymore, I just want to fight him and make him join my crew." Kaito said with a smirk, leaning back in his chair. Too early to try and haggle about stealing a few members of their organization.
"He can't fight you until he's completed the job." Blandy hissed angrily. Looking thoroughly fed up. Kaito had a feeling she's not usually the one dealing with these kinds of things. She's way too uptight.
Kaito looked at Archer who nodded and then looked back at Blandy. "Why are you wasting so much time? Don't you know we have a job to do? Hurry up and explain what it is already!"
Blandy let out an inarticulate noise like a dying cat, she turned away for a second and stabbed a pen in her leg. She turned back around abruptly, face perfectly calm, like she didn't just stab herself like a crazy person. Definitely not used to these things…
"The syndicate's boss, Alejandro, is in the brig inside the marine base, they've been holding him indefinitely, despite taking the bribes that should mean they'd release him and let us go about normal business. We don't know if the new commander is holding out for more cash or what, he hasn't been very clear in our communication. We can't risk waiting any longer," Blandy explained.
"Jailbreak, how exciting." Kaito rubbed his hands together. "Why hasn't Archer just done this, he's strong enough? And why the fuck is your boss not called Stabby or Bullet and shit?"
"I'm right here, you can ask me, you know?" Archer grumbled. He sideyes Blandy though, waiting for her answer.
Blandy grimaced, "He's the muscle, we need this to be done with a minimal amount of ruckus and casualties. As for the tattoos, the leadership lead civilian life's on the side and do not have tattoos."
Kaito frowned, "Hey I'm the muscle too?" And it was kinda shitty the leaders hid behind a regular civilian life, not sharing in the risks of those like Wire, doing the hard work. Cowardly really, it didn't sit well with him. If you're going to be a criminal at least have the guts to go all the way.
That would be like that coward Don Krieg waving a white flag or merchant flag to get close before revealing his Jolly Roger. Pathetic. If they can't even stand up for their convictions how could he trust them at all?
"You've shown the ability to sneak around and be somewhat discreet… When you choose to be." Blandy explained, starting to look pained, whether from the pen inserted in her leg or the conversation, Kaito wasn't sure, he hoped it was because of him. He liked annoying people. It truly was a passion. If this was a game - he would have specced in smartass.
In the end there wasn't much choice anyway. Kaito wanted Archer on his crew, so he'd do the job, get his fight with Archer, win, and then sail away as a duo… Or waste the pussies at the top of this shit to make Wire and the rest join him too. That sounded way better actually…
They'd lay low until night time, then meet up and stake out the base and make a proper plan. Kaito looked at Archer, then thought about himself, the plan part might be a problem…
He wasn't really that good with controlling his impulses…
＊＊＊
"This is boring." Kaito complained to his jailbreak comrade, sitting on the rooftop of one of the tallest buildings in town, with a good view of the marine base.
"Aye, but necessary." Rumbled the tattooed martial artist. Leaning back with his eyes closed. Somehow pulling off peacefulness, while looking like he did. Berserker would be Kaito's first guess, just seeing him walk down the street.
"You're not even watching!" Kaito complained, pointing at him. "And you still haven't fucking told me what 'stuff' you gotta do before you can join me!"
Without even opening his eyes Archer reached forward and broke the finger, "it's rude to point." He stated calmly.
Kaito snapped his finger back into place, shaking his hand slightly, chuckling to himself. "Fair enough." Notably he still didn't fucking answer either. Asshole!
"So what's your deal anyway?"
One eye lazily opened, Kaito hadn't really paid attention before, but they were the exact colour of the sea on a calm day. "You'll have to be more specific." Archer replied dryly, in that deep rumbling voice that reminded Kaito of James Earl Jones. Which again how cool was that. Like reason number gazillion on why he needed him on his crew.
"Like I know I saw something weird when we were fighting, it was like you were gliding on air, and you were able to make corrections to your hits when you were already committed somehow."
Archer chuckled. "You want me to explain how I fight, you'll have to beat me first." He grinned savagely all of a sudden. "Now that you've awoken the bloodlust in me, you better not disappoint… Or I will really kill you."
"I really want to fight you instead of doing this pointless watching, we already know the base is full of ordinary boring marines. We could sleepwalk through it." Kaito complained, trying to ignore how Archer's answer had his adrenaline pumping, and how he wanted to do nothing more than get into it right then and there.
"I'm used to it, having to hide my urges, contain my battle lust. It's how society is. " Archer scoffed.
Kaito glanced at him, "You know if you were a pirate you could do pretty much whatever you wanted, and sate that battle lust constantly."
Archer smirked so wide, Kaito could see that his canines were razor sharp. How interesting. "Maybe so, you'd have to beat me first either way and I don't think that's happening. I never had any particular wish to be a pirate."
Kaito hummed thoughtfully, eyeing the marine base. "Hey, do you see that?" He asked slyly.
Archer sighed and stood up, moving over and watching the marine base. "What am I supposed to be seeing?"
Kaito, concentrating hard, put his entire focus and willpower into it, and saw a flicker of black at the end of his fist - which made it so that he immediately slammed his fist into Archer's back, sending him flying like a meteor into the marine base, the outer wall crumbling. A loud siren going off a second later and like ants in an upturned anthill - little marines rushed about. "I see an opportunity to have a really kickass fight." He chuckled, jumping in the air to follow Archer's trajectory.
＊＊＊
When he'd started training he concentrated on more than just the physical, he might not remember everyone's name, places, and enemies from the show and minor details. Feats of strength however had stuck with him. Specifically the six powers and haki.
When he concentrated on his legs in the morning training sessions, he knew that for shave, tempest kick and moonwalk he'd need incredibly strong leg muscles. Half the fight was simply knowing it could be done. Yes it would take years before kicking in the air would achieve moonwalk, or to make ten steps in one quick enough to shave. To slash the wind so hard with a kick he'd send a blade of wind forward in a tempest kick. He had a decade and a half to train it, if he didn't achieve at least the six powers to some extent, he'd fail at life.
For his arms and hands and core, the training was not only to help with the eventual chance at finger gun, paper arts and iron body. He had an eye towards one day achieving armament haki. If willpower was the only thing needed half the world would have achieved it, so no, he knew that absolutely he would need to reach a certain level of fitness and power to be able to sharpen his willpower enough. Even so, he didn't expect to be able to really achieve much by the time he set sail. He became pleasantly surprised when he achieved the ability to harden about two fingers worth for a couple seconds. Enough to barely coat enough of a hand for a good punch - not long before he set our sailing.
＊＊＊
He stepped down from his moonwalk in a crouch - at the edge of a giant hole going through several of the inner walls of the marine base. Both dead and unconscious marines littered the space. He idly picked up a rock and flicked it into the forehead of an annoying marine crying over a missing arm, knocking him out. Pussy, he thought uncharitably.
It was hard to see the marines as people considering the evils perpetuated by so many of them. Pirates on average were scum, no argument there, but they didn't torture people on a systematic basis for lifetimes or enslave entire populations - wiping out entire cultures - that was the marines doing the dirty work of their masters.
Hence it was really hard to see the marines as people, and not just faceless stormtroopers following along with genocide while marching in lockstep.
"YOU BRAT!" A roar came from further into the base and like a barreling bull Archer came rushing out, ignoring any piddling obstacles - like furniture, or bodies. "WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM!?"
"I decided that since we'd be leaving as pirates after this jailbreak anyway - no matter which one of us wins. Although it will be me, just saying. We don't really care if this job is messy or quiet… So we might as well have our fight here." He spread his arm with a smirk, "We'll fight inside this marine base, with marines interrupting and getting in the way, whoever gets to the brig first and gets this dude out of his cell has won the fight, and we'll be fighting the entire way there. What do you think?"
Archer snorted smoke like a bull, veins popping on his forehead, eyes seemingly changed colours to a more stormy sea colour. "And you couldn't have just suggested that instead of launching me at the base!? Fuck! Whatever, Imma gonna punch you in the face now!"
It said something that even with that warning Kaito still didn't move out of the way quick enough to avoid the haymaker that smashed him through the floor.
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His head ringing slightly, Kaito eyed the squad of marines in the hallway in front of him. "So… Nice weather tonight, am I right?"
"It's a bit cloudy…" Came the weak reply from one of the marines.
As they cocked their rifles at him, Kaito tilted his head questioningly. "Hang on… Why don't I have a 7 feet tall martial artist punching me in the face right now?"
With a groan the entire floor above them crashed down crushing the marine squad as Kaito yelped, shaving out of the way, slapping away any pieces he couldn't get out of the way in time.
He ended up crashing right into Archer, both of them tumbling down while savagely tearing into each other, breaking off once they hit steady ground again. The base around them coming off for the worse.
Determined to win and earn himself a crew mate, Kaito didn't only rely on his physicality anymore and sent two quick tempest kicks Archer's way, shaving behind the blades of wind. Knowing at this level the blades wouldn't damage someone of Archer's strength.
As Archer broke up the first blade of wind through sheer force and narrowly dodged the second, he's seemingly unprepared for Kaito striking, except somehow, while standing still - he again slid around the attack, leaving Kaito over extended.
"Iron body." Kaito grit out as he took the full force of Archer's strength, as two fists slammed into his chest. Even with the protection of an iron body, he was still flung away through three walls.
He ended up in the mess hall, and dozens of marines advanced on him. He tsks in annoyance. A sword coming down to slash him from head to groin, he slid away via paper arts and broke the marines arm, pushing him into another marine, sending them both to the floor. Two marines rushed him from each side so he grabbed their arms and side step, pushing their sword arms forward, leading to them stabbing each other. Then he dropped to the floor as one of the mess hall tables flew through the space, bowling over the rest of the marines close to him, as Archer entered the fray. He took a second look, oh, it flew so fast it literally crushed them. Nasty. Also, very good quality tables - he'd need to ask them who their carpenter was after…
He felt a bit of disquiet over the blood everywhere - even if he didn't think much of marines in general, it was nasty business.
Whoever survived this day was going to need all the mops!
A quick application of shave and moonwalk and he's in the air behind Archer, and credit where it's due, even with him appearing in the air as fast as he did - the martial artist was still in the process of turning around. Trying to defend himself - when Kaito kicked him ten times in one step and sent him careening away through the rest of the marines still standing. And a couple of walls. "The building was very shoddily built." Kaito admonishes the one shaking marine still standing. Who promptly passed out. Kaito quickly shaved after Archer, not wanting to give the man too much time.
The room is filled with marines, he'd sent Archer into the barracks. And oh there's a fist! He barely ducked away as Archer came after him fast, rolling away next to a marine who brought up his rifle, just as Kaito grabbed him by the arm and flung him with all his might against Archer.
The marines very manly yelp is cut off as Archer slams him aside, crushing his rib cage with a loud snap. Kaito backtracked, finding several scrambling marines behind him. He ducked a sword strike, picking up the marine and again throwing him against Archer, sidestepping another marines strike, picking him up by his arm and using him as a club swinging him against the incoming fist. He's left holding only an arm and tsks. "These marines are like paper people."
He probably should feel bad. But odds are every man here would just salute and go about their business if an order came down to buster call an island nearby - or a world noble asked to enslave the civilians on the island. So it's hard to really care about them as people.
The remaining marines fire their guns to no effect as both Kaito and Archer continue to dance around the room, Kaito grabbing any marine in reach and flinging them after the relentlessly pursuing martial artist.
"Oh, I'm out of marines." Kaito frowned, as he looked around after a few minutes. The pause cost him, as Archer finally connected, sending him flying through the wall, blood flying from his broken nose.
He landed and quickly snapped the nose back in place, grinning a blood stained grin. Shaving back, going on the offensive and paying Archer back by slamming into him full force and sending him careening through the roof. Kicking him through a wall once he fell back down again, the martial artist was not as maneuverable in the air once Kaito put all his speed into it.
This continued throughout the base. Both giving as good as they got, but Kaito's skills slowly but surely gave him the upper hand, even over Archer's experience and amazing fighting style.
Neither noticed as they entered the brig area, having destroyed most of the base. Both too busy slamming into each other with wild grins on their faces.
"ARCHER!?" a woman's voice called out in surprise and shock.
Archer's head swivels, "Oh, so this is where you've be-" He would have said more if he hadn't just been launched into another cell at top speed - completely destroying it. A girly shriek suddenly cut off from within.
"Ah, my bad, I didn't notice you were distracted until I was committed." Kaito chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. Exhilarating in the adrenaline pumping through his body, the blood running down his face.
"Ugh, now I have human all over me." Archer grumbled walking out of the dust cloud, covered in gore.
"What the hell is going on Archer!?" The woman screamed at him from another cell.
Kaito did a double take. It's not because she was a bombshell, because well she was, long purple hair in a ponytail, mocha skin, heart shaped face, full lips, stormy golden eyes and a body to die for. It's because firstly she is a dead ringer for Yoruichi from the bleach manga, secondly she is wearing a marine officers uniform, albeit a very dirty one, like she had been stuck in it for awhile. And thirdly, well she was in a cell. In the marine base. And again a dead ringer for Yourichi. Like what? Hot so bonus, worries about a crossover going on, very bad.
Bleach and One piece is a horrendous mismatch.
"I should be asking you that, stupid woman!" He grumbled still, swiping people parts off his shirt. "You stop answering my calls, and when I show up here, no one can say where the hell you went. Why are you in the brig you stupid woman?"
"Does not compute!" Kaito asked, confused, a hand in the air. "How do you know a marine? You're obviously not a law abiding citizen, I mean how does that even happen?" Although he supposed he now knows what stuff the other man needed to get done before thinking about sailing anywhere.
"She wasn't always a damn marine." Archer said darkly. "And obviously someone was right to advise her to not join!" He stared at her pointedly.
"How was I to know not being corrupt would end up with me being falsely accused and put in a cell awaiting execution!" Said woman protested with a small blush.
Kaito laughed a deep full belly laugh. He stopped as he noticed the woman's stare. He scratched his cheek, "Oh sorry I thought that was a joke." He looked over to Archer."So did she decide to join without ever having met a marine or what?" Kaito asked the martial artist dryly.
"Pretty much." The martial artist answered back just as dryly. "Ah, well what exactly are you being executed for anyway?"
She bit her lip angrily, "Piracy, apparently I have secretly been coordinating all the pirate movements around the islands here in my capacity of captain."
"What a coincidence I happen to be a pirate captain, and your friend here is on my crew…. Need I say more? Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge!" Kaito exclaimed grandly. Like, navy bad, captain equals pretty strong though, and well…. Need he say it again? Hot.
"What?" She replied deadpan, staring at Archer. "Did he just say the wink and nudge part?"
Archer frowned, "Hey that's not been decided yet!" Ignoring Yoruichi for the more pertinent point.
Kaito wagged a finger in his face, "Ah, but it has! See not only was I the first to reach the brig. I also scored the last hit, and sent you to bring that alrj- whatever his name was we were supposed to be fetching. So I win!"
"When did you send me to fetch Alejandro? I don't recall any such thing." Archer complained, but to Kaito's delight doesn't really protest.
"Why I kicked you into the only cell with another person in it, granted I hadn't expected him to be so weak as to pop like a ripe tomato. It's the thought that counts!" Although he had totally seen the other person and counted on him being weak enough to die from the impact at least. Is what he told himself. It was all planned… obviously …
He could totally plan!
"Ugh, is there a reason I am still in this cell?" The imprisoned marine captain complained.
Archer shrugged with a smile, "Well, apparently he's my captain now, so he gives the orders and he hasn't told me to let you out." Someone was feeling a bit catty. Heh, catty, Yoruichi. Cats.
She turned expectant eyes on Kaito who was basking in the feeling of accomplishment in recruiting his first crew mate. Eventually she had to clear her throat awkwardly to gain his attention.
"Yes, silly marine lady?" Kaito responded with a saccharine smile. At least she didn't have the bleach personality, so thankfully he was likely not in some shinigami/one piece world. Cause no way the actual Yoruichi would act like her in this situation.
She'd find a way to be super smug even while imprisoned.
There's a twitch of an eyebrow and gritting of teeth, but she eventually manages a halfway polite. "Let me out of here!"
"Only if you join my crew." Kaito said cheerfully, he might not know her yet, but if she made it to captain she would be decently strong, and as an old friend of Archer's she wasn't completely hopeless. And again it can't be said enough. Hot.
Also obviously Archer would toss his cookies if they left her behind so you know…
"That's blackmail." She growled.
"Pi~ra~te" Kaito sang as Archer chuckled. The guy seemed to enjoy this, probably a bit salty still for her going missing on him.
"Fine, if you can beat up Archer, you're strong enough I suppose - and it's not like I can continue as a marine anyway." She said, tossing her hair, annoyed. "I'm already classified as a pirate…"
Archer reached forward and with a grunt pulled the bars and half the cell wall with it out when Kaito nodded at him.
Kaito wasn't into dudes, but damn if he was that would have been hot. Like just rip the wall off, rawr.
They all stand there for a minute. "So should we be going then?" Archer suggested.
"You think I'm still standing here because of the ambience you big lug? You know I could have ripped those bars out as easily as you did." She gestured down, and the two men peered down to see a chain from the wall leading to a bracelet around her ankle.
"Seastone? So you're a devil fruit user?" Kaito asked curiously. Okay now he's really wondering if an admiral or something is going to drop by on vacation soon - because this is getting insanely lucky.
Archer grumbled,"Damn hammers, I'll go search for a key, we ain't getting that sea stone off any other way " he walked off with a noticeable pep in his step.
"It's impressive you're able to stand up and act fairly normally while chained to sea stone." Kaito said, examining the metal. "We're definitely taking this with us when we leave, for east blue, this stuff is rarer than anything."
"I've been here for a while, and it takes all my energy to remain simply standing." She admitted. "I suppose if you're my captain now I should probably introduce myself."
"Probably Yoruichi right?" Kaito said, smirking.
She paused and looked at him with a curious raise of an eyebrow. "How did you know that? Archer wouldn't talk about me, I know he wouldn't!"
Kaito winks, "Secret captain powers, can't tell you sorry. Very important pirate rule."
"Your bullshit powers are strong at least." She fired back snarkily. Although Kaito noticed it's with a bit of a shaky voice and her hands were trembling slightly. She probably hasn't spent this much time standing and talking while chained, and the effects are starting to take over. Thankfully before he could figure out a way to convince her to sit down that wouldn't hurt her pride, Archer returned with a set of keys.
"Let me guess your devil fruit powers is some sort of cat zoan?" Kaito asked, as he accepted the keys from Archer and started trying them on the ankle bracelet. He noted with a small smile that Archer, without a word, stood so that Yoruichi could lean against him without showing weakness.
"Okay, now that's bullshit. How the fuck do you know that? ARCHER! I swear to god if you were telling stories about me!?"
Archer held his hands up defensively, "Hey, I didn't mention you at all, he didn't even know the only reason I took the job to get in here was to find you."
"So… Jaguar? Panther?" Kaito asked, before there's a click, and the ankle bracelet comes loose. He attached the seastone shackle to his belt immediately and put the key in his pockets. He doesn't want to forget to bring it with them.
Yoruichi took a long deep breath, sagging into Archer's chest, the tall man patting her on the head and ruffling her hair fondly.
"Not the hair!!" She elbowed him in the gut, he barely noticed and she ended up just letting it go…. For now. "And yes, for however you know this shit… I'm a Panther Zoan." She addressed her new captain.
Kaito grinned, jumping to his feet, feeling full of energy. "Awesome! I get 2 for 1 and one's an ex marine and a zoan to boot. Man the marines are going to haaaate me!"
She snorted, "Well this is east blue, us three alone would be enough to take down most islands here if you're strong enough to beat Archer."
Archer cocked his head, "Anyone else find it odd that we've destroyed a marine base and then chatted in the basement for half an hour and not a peep has been heard?"
Yoruichi outright cackled, "Ohhh, the asshole commander that arrested me to get himself a promotion doesn't stay on base, he has a nice mansion in the town, no doubt whatever marines are left are waiting outside for us. I need to pay my… Respects on the way out."
"We can take care of the baby marines, leave you the commander, I'd like to say are you sure you can handle it, but I don't want my eyes clawed out." Kaito chuckled, practically vibrating in excitement and just good feelings in general. This was just awesome!
"We have a quick learner as a captain." Yoruichi said with a wry twist of her lips, testing her strength, clenching her hands. No one made any mention about the tightness around her eyes, or how her eyes kept looking around for threats, her shoulders slightly hunched over.
Kaito pursed his lips slightly. He had a feeling he doesn't want to know how her captivity has been. One should expect better from marines, but then he'd seen the show, seen how many marines were willing to to go disgusting lengths.
Archer stayed next to her as they started walking, not helping her, but close enough to lean on if she needed it. Kaito couldn't help but notice her eyes were suspiciously shiny as she refused to lean on him in any way and walked on her own power. Those two have a close bond. He's kinda jealous. He didn't have anyone in his village that could even begin to be at that level with him. Although he's quite curious how they met - as she can't be older than twenty and he's clearly in at least his thirties. With all the tattoos and everything, and the bald head, it's hard to give an exact guess to his age.
They encounter no more marines on their way through the base, well none alive anyway. Bodies are here and there, quite a few despite the fact neither combatant had at all concentrated at attacking them, mostly getting them out of their way to attack each other.
As soon as they step outside though they're faced by a firing line of several dozen marines. Considering he's pretty sure they've gone through at least 100 inside the base during the fight, he's kind of impressed they still have that many.
Kaito waved cheerily to lieutenant Monroe, standing next to what he assumes is the asshole that framed Yoruichi to get a promotion. He's wearing an official looking enough coat to be the guy. Also looks kinda like a weasel. So yeah, he's the guy.
"Stand down, or we will open fire!" Monroe yelled sharply. Showing no sign of fear, it's not something that is shared among his men, nor his commander. Here and there is the shaking of a rifle not able to hold quite steady, the sound of whispered prayers.
"Yoruichi, there's no coming back from this!" The commander yelled, red faced, standing half a step behind Lieutenant Monroe.
Yourichi bared her teeth in a savage grin, "Oh fucking trust me, Barton, I'll gladly take whatever punishment the world has for the worst of it's pirates for the chance to get my hands on you!"
Kaito looked at Archer and mouthed, savage, Archer looking back to him with a raised eyebrow before snorting and mouthing back, you haven't seen anything yet.
Yoruichi flicked one golden eye his way, a smile a little bit too sharp to be called such, "I can feel you talking behind my back… Captain!"
"Needless to say we don't surrender." Kaito grinned, taking a step forward, laughing out loud as several marines fell on their ass. "One moment, then we'll play with you little darlings." A quick mutter of "shave" and he has a screaming weasel in an officer's coat tossed behind them. "Hey Yoruichi, don't do anything I wouldn't do, we'll cover you with the small fries until you're done."
Her grin is pure savagery, as she transforms into a hybrid zoan form, dark fur, purple in shade, growing across her body, her limbs especially. Fangs growing, peeking out from her lips, claws appearing instead of fingernails. "I have a feeling that leaves some leeway, captain!" She snarled.
"She knows me so well already!" Kaito stage whispered to Archer who's chuckling darkly. Not sure what exactly happened to his friend in her captivity but hoping she makes it… Hurt.
They both slowly start ambling forward with dark grins, somehow scaring the marines worse then if they were charging. Even with Monroe yelling for them to hold steady there's still a couple deserters that simply run away rather then face them.
With Yoruichi and Barton.
"Please Yoruichi, you were a marine, a soldier for justice, have some mercy!" Barton shrieked, as he furiously scrabbled backwards from the stalking Panther hybrid.
She laughed cruelly, her golden eyes sharp and glinting in her animalistic face. The angles were sharper in this form - making her seem more vicious. It suited her this time perfectly. "I can handle your betrayal Barton, as much as I'd still kill you for it, fabricating proof to take me down just so you could be promoted quicker. Despicable. But I could make it quick for that." She stalked forward, snarling, "The things you did… When you had me weak and under the effects of sea stone. You absolute rancid waste of flesh, I will rip you asunder for!"
With Archer.
He had simply been swatting the soldiers down, not overly concerned of their threat level, keeping an ear and eye on Yoruichi. When he heard what she said to that pile of shit he accidentally ripped the marine he was holding in half. The squad facing him blanched as Archer turned to them enraged. Screw the kid gloves, he was ripping them all apart. With a roar he slid forward. Nothing alive or recognizable as people was left in his wake. His battle lust turned into something darker, almost berserk state due to his anger and hatred.
With Kaito and Monroe.
Kaito, similarly to Archer, had been sandbagging it a bit, mostly making jokes at Monroe's expense, making marines trip over themselves and generally being a pest. His visage darkened as he heard Yoruichi's snarled accusation followed by the scream of those justly punished.
"Did you know?" He asked slowly, dangerously slowly. Each syllable was drawn out.
Monroe gulped taking a step back, sweat appearing on his forehead. "I-i-i he is my superior officer." He finished weakly. And for the first time - the good officer was showing fear.
Kaitos lips pulled back in such an aggressive sneer his canines were visible, as he snarled. "I thought you were a decent - by the book marine, Monroe!"
"You're obviously a-a-a pir-r-ate, you have no l-leg to stand on!"
Kaito snarled, the ground cracking beneath his feet. "SOME THINGS YOU JUST DON'T DO, PIRATE, MARINE, CIVILIAN, THERE IS NO EXCUSE!"
The only noise that can be heard is the gurgles and screams of the marine commander and the savage snarls and cries of someone bleeding out all their hurt and pain.
"You could have called HQ and reported it if you were too much of a coward to do something yourself. To not even have enough spine to make a snail call… You're despicable Monroe!"
"Archer…" He snarled.
"Yes captain?" Came the cool reply, the martial artist long finished with those that had dared to stand in front of him wearing that uniform.
"There were runners… No one walks away from this. See to it." That was his crew mate that had suffered, and yet even if she had turned him down, he'd probably still give the order. Some things were just not done. He didn't care, pirate or marine, celestial dragon or god. Anyone like that, he was going to rip apart. There was no room in this world for rapists if he had any way in the matter.
"Gladly" Archer growled, hesitating slightly with a glance back.
"I will watch over her, we'll leave as soon as you've taken down the runners." Kaito promised.
Monroe managed the courage to speak, drawing Kaitos attention again. "You have no honor, you pirate scum, they're not even trying to fight anymore."
Kaito chuckled darkly, he'd say this, the marine had impressive courage, too bad his by the book outlook had been twisted, following commanders even when they were reprehensible, instead of reporting or stopping it. "You speak of honour, yeah I probably have less then you'd like, I'll murder people…I don't stand for the things you've allowed though, and you can't say your better then me for it…" Tired of wasting his breath on this disappointment of a marine he speeds forward. "At least I had the decency to make it quick..." He said, coming out of a shave, fingers bloody from where they'd punctured the lieutenant's chest.
Monroe stared in shock as blood spurted out, slowly falling to first his knees and then forward onto his face. His vision darkened, he didn't even notice Kaito kneeling down next to him.
The last thing he heard before slipping into darkness was two whispered sentences. "What you allowed is just savagery, your no different than those you hunt."
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It was dawn by the time Archer returned, he found Kaito sitting on the ground, a tired Yourichi leaning against him, her face drawn and introspective.
"It's been dealt with Captain."
"Good work, let's go, I've had enough of this island for a lifetime." Kaito scowled, staring back at the strips of meat that had once been commander Barton.
To make matters worse the guy had been ripe for Hawkeye jokes, named as he was - and had been too much of a scumbag for him to even try - the guy was even worse in his book, for making him miss pulling any avengers jokes.
"Just tell me where your ship is and we'll get going." Archer said, agreeing fully, fists clenched at the drawn face of his friend.
"Oh I knew I was forgetting something!" Kaito laughed, rubbing the back of his head. "I don't actually have a ship."
"What kind of idiot are you!" Archer and Yoruichi screamed, with shark teeth coming out, slapping him over the head as he continued laughing.
"Besides… I want to visit a certain bar first…"
＊＊＊
It had been easy enough to get what he wanted. That brat Blackjack had been at the bar and covered in blood as they were, he very respectfully ran away as fast as he could to go get Wire, Dice and Tears for him.
The few people that had been in the bar had all slipped out the back door. Even old Miguel had looked them over, looking like he was sucking on a lemon, before slowly shambling out.
Kaito almost felt bad about that one. He however did not feel bad at all about grabbing booze from behind the bar and partaking with Archer and Yoruichi while they were waiting. Pirate after all. So you know, being mean to an old man felt kinda mean, stealing his booze however was very on brand.
He had to represent!
When the three men arrived - they entered much more wary than they had been the last time he had seen them. Understandable, since he had kind of totally wasted one of the biggest marine bases in east blue.
Without putting any real effort in.
"Sit, gentlemen, no need to worry! We're all friends here!"
They sat down at the same table they had played poker on, still cracked. Kaito smiled at them which somehow made them look even more wary. "So you might have heard I had a very… Enthusiastic walk around the base."
"Somehow we noticed." Wire answered carefully. "Are you going to… Enthusiastically walk… Anywhere else?"
Kaito smirked, "Onto a marine ship, and sail out of here as pirates… And you all are coming along as crew members!"
They looked at each other for a minute, before Wire spoke up again, obviously the spokesperson of the group. "And if we say no thank you?" He asked slowly, with a sheen of sweat on his face.
"Why would you though?" Kaito said, leaning forward. "You know by now I'm fucking strong." He waved at Archer and Yoruichi. "I have your champion and ex marine captain as crew! You'll never get a better chance to set sail!"
"Our home's here." Wire responded, although to Kaitos delight all three look more thoughtful than wary now.
"To put things in perspective for you…I totally destroyed the marine base responsible for over a dozen islands." Kaito said plainly. "You might not have had a hand in it, but your fighting ring has been discovered, and the marines will surely crack down on this island, no matter what criminal activity, after such an event as this." He shook his head slowly, "Your leaders can disappear into the civilian world, but you all will hang, your easily identifiable for fucks sake!"
"He has a point." Dice said reluctantly, eyeing his two friends.
"I know." Wire answered tersely.
"With 400 marines out on patrol in 8 separate ships across a dozen islands… They still had another 200 or so here. That's almost half a base of personnel just gone. They'll send someone with no mercy." Tears said, staring at his clenched hands.
"So we should join him when it's his damn fault?" Wire snapped.
"Our bosses sent him in there in the first place." Dice reminded him.
Wire grabbed his Mohawk in frustration, "I fucking know, just fuck man, I had no plans to become a pirate!"
Kaito stayed silent, not wanting to interject when they're working their way to a solution that is to his benefit. Archer and Yoruichi watching in silent interest.
Tears sighed, "Mate, it's the only way we all make it outta here. And at least he's a decent guy for such a monster."
Kaito cocked his head, not sure if that was meant as a compliment or not.
Wire took a deep breath before staring Kaito straight in the eyes. "If you're going to be my captain… I ain't leaving anyone behind. It's all of us or none!"
Kaito grinned, clapping his hands together. "Wire that is exactly what I wanted to hear!"
"So we're doing this?" Dice asked.
Wire looks at both his companions before nodding. "Fuck, I guess we are."
"Get everyone together then, we'll go pick out a marine ship to steal, so just send anyone that's coming down to the docks. Bring anything you need, we won't be coming back."
Wire nodded, turning to his friends. "Dice, go find Blackjack and have him go inform all the right people, you know which ones we'd want, keep it to the tattooed members. Then go warn Duel and help her with her shit. She'll fucking murder us all if we don't give her enough time to pack up her workshop!"
Dice quickly got up, he squeezed Wires shoulder once, and then disappeared out the door.
Wire looked over at an expectant looking Tears. "Find Cloud and get that fucker working on supplies, what we don't got, have him grab a few boys and steal it. We're not sailing away from here missing anything essential, you hear? Stay with him and help him out in case there's issues." He rubbed his forehead tiredly. "And get a hold of Saber, most of us don't sail for shit - he'll know what an actual ship needs."
Tears nodded, slipping out the door with a few muttered words in Wires ear.
"Your competence is making me hard." Kaito said, staring at him seriously.
Yoruichi spat out the wine she had been drinking, laughing uproariously at the just completely done look that passed over Wires face. Archer didn't have much of a reaction probably due to suddenly being soaked in wine.
"Can you not make this creepy?" Wire sneered.
"It's not creepy! I mean I already knew I wanted you guys, as smugglers and thieves you might not be the strongest, but that can be trained. Your intelligence, subtlety and sneakiness is a valuable commodity that's not as easily achieved any other way."
Yourichi snorted, "Subtlety?" She managed to get out, staring at the Mohawk and the wire tattoos.
"It takes a lot of work to work a smuggling operation for a dozen islands while looking so obviously criminal and never being brought down for it." Kaito defended.
Wire sighed, "Stop buttering me up, I'm already coming along… Captain..."
Kaito shuddered, "Oh yeah, call me captain again, baby!"
"I take it all back." Wire grounded out, a vein pulsing in his forehead.
"Can we take it back too?" Archer asked, patting Yoruichi's back, the zoan laughing hysterically.
"I'm only teasing, mostly. Anything else that needs doing before we go pick out a nice ship?"
Wire grimaced, "Well, we do have a place in town that's holding most of the organization's liquid cash reserve. None of mine guard that though, so can't just walk in."
"Archer, go with Wire and take care of the guards, I'll take miss ex navy captain with me to choose the best ship." Kaito ordered.
Archer looked a bit reluctant to leave Yoruichi's side but she pushed him away, rolling her eyes. So he left a minute later with Wire.
"You look like a kid in a candy shop." Yoruichi pointed out a few minutes later as they walked down the docks, looking at a couple of marine vessels that were left at the island, most being in use on the sea at the moment.
"I can't help it! Not only do I get you two awesome people, but Wire and the guys and all their subordinates. And Duel. Can't forget her." Kaito almost skipped along; he is so elated that the journey is starting this amazingly.
"You realize all these people are loyal to Wire…Not you." She pointed out, hands in her pockets as she strolled along.
Kaito shrugged,"I'll win their loyalty in time, it's no different then you and Archer being loyal to each other above all else right now."
"Fair enough, long as you're aware." She answered, stopping as they get up close to one of the marine ships. "Unless a lot of things have changed during my captivity, this baby here should be the best ship in the fleet. It's the one I used."
"I'll follow your recommendation, Yoruichi, I wouldn't be able to tell which one of these ships is superior to the rest."
She smirked at him, "So what is it you actually do as captain then?"
"Kick ass and annoy people." Kaito answered easily.
"Well at least you're good at that." She responded sarcastically, but Kaito spotted the twitching of her lips.
They jump on the ship and wait in companionable silence. It doesn't take long for tattooed men and a few women to start trickling in all carrying weapons and supplies with them. Thankfully Blackjack seems to be the only one obviously underage.
"Shit, if I'm not careful we'll be called the tattoo pirates. You and I are the only ones without any." Kaito realized out loud.
Yoruichi chuckled, "Sorry Captain, I've got one too!" She teased.
Kaito gave her a once over, "Where?" He asked with a leer.
Yourichi blushed and punched him in the shoulder. "Not telling you that." Before walking away quickly, obviously not really thinking it through before sharing.
"Is it a cute little kitten!?" Kaito yelled after her.
He took her absolute non answer and quick steps away as her tattoo totally being a kitten. He had a feeling that asking Archer if he knows where it is might lead to broken limbs, so he'll have to contain his curiosity for now.
He busied himself helping his new crew members bring supplies aboard and getting it settled while introducing himself and learning their names.
He was going to have so much fun with this..
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