The Red Force threads the narrow current between the Pluton and the Dreadnought Thalassa, its crimson sails briefly kindled by the wan afternoon glow sifting through the clouds of the open sea. On either side, the dreadnoughts keep their silent vigil, ancient metal hulls darkly agleam.
Inside the Dreadnought Thalassa's docking bay, Galit, Charlie, Bepo, Jean Bart, Building Snake, and Yasopp wait in a loose semicircle. The bay's lights hum with steady amber warmth, casting long shadows across the deck plates.
The first mini-sub rises from the water with a soft hiss of pressure equalizing. Its hatch opens.
Shanks emerges first.
His boots strike the deck with a heavy thud. A distant shadow haunts his eyes, as though some darkness from the depths has followed him back into the light. His long black cloak clings to his shoulders, still damp with sea spray.
Beckman follows, pulling a cigarette from the pocket of his shirt, his expression unreadable.
Yasopp jerks his head in greeting. "Hey, Chief."
Shanks replies with a tense nod. His jaw is tight. His posture is stiff.
Building Snake and Yasopp exchange a concerned look. The kind of look that passes between men who have sailed together long enough to read each other's silences.
Building Snake mutters under his breath, "This doesn't look good."
Yasopp shakes his head in agreement. "I guess it wasn't a good trip."
Marya, Law, Luffy, Jannali, Eliane, and Aurélie file out after them. Their expressions range from grim (Marya) to confused (Luffy) to quietly observant (Aurélie).
Bepo calls out, his voice bright with relief, "CAPTAIN!"
Law nods, his spotted hat casting his face into shadow. The gesture is brief, but something in his posture relaxes—a tension he has been carrying since Bootleg Island finally releasing.
Luffy laughs, his voice echoing across the bay. "Look! Everyone is here!"
Jannali mutters, her accent thick with skepticism, "Bloody hell. That's dodgy."
Marya narrows her eyes at Galit and Charlie. They stand apart from the others, silence drawn taut between them, as if the words they carry have already begun to bend the shape of what comes next.
Yasopp steps forward, his voice quiet. "What's the plan, Chief?"
Beckman lights a cigarette. The flame from his lighter casts a brief, flickering glow across his weathered features. "We're going to Elegia."
Shanks orders, his voice flat. "Set a course."
Building Snake and Yasopp exchange another look. This one carries something heavier—something that speaks of the secrets they have uncovered in the absence of their Emperor.
Beckman catches it. His eye narrows. "What is it?"
Building Snake tells them, his voice steady, "The kids found some things out. You're going to want to hear."
Shanks and Beckman exchange a look. Then they turn—both of them—toward Galit and Charlie.
---
Eliane skips along the docking bay, her silver ponytail bouncing, her chef's jacket flapping. She waves—bright, enthusiastic, utterly Eliane.
"Hey! Did you miss us?"
Charlie clears his throat. The sound echoes through the bay. "We were quite busy in your absence."
Eliane's face falls. Her lower lip juts out. "You didn't miss us at all?"
Galit replies, his long neck coiled into a loose S-curve, his emerald eyes carrying a flicker of amusement. "I believe Sanza will be relieved by your return. Jelly and Ember kept him very busy—defending the kitchen."
Eliane freezes.
Her eyes go wide. Her breath catches.
"The Kitchen!"
Without another word, she runs.
Her boots pound against the deck plates, her silver ponytail streaming behind her like a comet's tail. She disappears through the bay's exit hatch, leaving only the echo of her footsteps.
Jannali steps up, watching the empty hatch. "Bloody hell. She shot through."
Galit shifts his weight, his neck uncoiling slightly. "I believe she felt a need to check her inventory."
Aurélie walks up, holding a small case. The case is dark—obsidian, perhaps, or something darker—and it carries the weight of something important.
Galit raises a questioning brow.
Aurélie replies, her voice flat. "Marya's compensation."
Her eye lands on Charlie. "Vaughn's Devil Fruit."
Charlie blinks. His expression shifts—surprise, then something softer. His shoulders drop. A small smile starts to form—the first genuine one he has worn in days.
"That is good to know."
Marya and Luffy join the group. Marya's eyes sweep across the assembled crew, cataloging, calculating.
Galit asks, "Were you able to...?"
Marya nods. "Set a course to Elegia."
Luffy punches his fist into an open palm. His grin spreads wide. "We are getting Uta back!"
Charlie clears his throat. "If I may."
Marya smirks. Luffy cocks his head. "Is there something wrong with your throat? Do you need a doctor?"
Charlie shakes his head. "No. I do need to share the information that we have learned in your absence."
Marya shifts her weight. "I assume it is..."
Charlie cuts her off. "Quite extensive. It appears there was quite a bit of information in the AI database of both the Pluton and Dreadnought Thalassa. I recommend gathering the crews in the conference room."
Shanks and Law both join the conversation. Their presence adds weight to the moment—the Emperor and the Surgeon of Death, standing shoulder to shoulder.
Charlie continues, "We can project the information onto the Pluton, and I believe Bianca has assembled some sort of apparatus that will allow the Red Force to monitor as well."
Marya looks to Law. Then to Shanks. "Shall we?"
Law and Shanks nod.
Marya looks to Charlie. "Lead the way."
Galit spins on his heel. "The rest of the crew is already waiting..."
---
The conference room of the Dreadnought Thalassa is a circular chamber carved from the same obsidian alloy as the rest of the ship. Holographic projectors line the walls, their lenses dark and waiting. A massive table dominates the center—a slab of polished black stone that reflects the amber lights like a dark mirror.
Sanza, Bō-Zak, Bianca, Vesta, and Atlas are already seated when the others file in.
Sanza is spinning in his chair. The motion is slow, rhythmic, the idle fidget of a child who has been waiting too long. When he sees Marya walk in, his face lights up.
"Big sis!"
Marya walks past him, ruffling his hair as she goes.
Sanza scoffs. "Hey!" He smooths his hair back down, his heavy eyebrows drawn together in indignation.
Atlas nods from his seat. Amber light burnishes his rust-red fur, while a private joke glints in his blue eyes. "Nice to have you back, boss. Noodle Neck was barking orders the whole time you were gone."
Marya smirks as she sits. "I bet you liked it."
Atlas scoffs. Then he glares. "You find what you were looking for?"
Marya nods. "Sounds like you found out more."
Bō-Zak blows out a plume of smoke from his pipe. The fragrant herb mingles with the recycled air. "Long time no see. You have fun on your little adventure?"
Aurélie sets the case on the table. It makes an audible thud.
Bō-Zak grins. "Aw. You shouldn't have."
Aurélie raises a brow. "I didn't."
She sits.
Luffy comments, his head swiveling as he takes in the room. "I haven't seen this room yet."
Jannali replies, her voice dry, "There's heaps of rooms you haven't even looked at yet."