~Third~

"Well what do we do now guys?"Usopp asked as the Strawhat crew was gathered in the Merry's cabin "If you ask me we should head back to the gate and make a brake for it while we still can"Zoro said "You got a point there the marines mean business it's too bad we have to leave the gold behind but our lives are more important"Usopp said.

"You're the captain Luffy what do you think?"Chopper asked "We need to get our gold but i need something to eat first"Luffy said "I heard ya give me a sec and i'll whip something up"Sanji said checking the fridge "Uhm the store rooms look kinda empty"Usopp said "There's gotta be something left to eat here"Sanji said.

"Just so i understand correctly you guys are okay leaving this place without our gold?"Nami asked, the others nodded "Well that's too bad cause you know pirate treasure is always divided up even after splitting up the loot we'd all have more gold then we knew what to do with think of all the stuff we could have bought"Nami said.

"I could finally get a new swords"Nicole muttered "I wanna go buy some stuff"Usopp said "Like what?"Nami asked "Oh i'll tell you what i wanna buy a big gold statue"Luffy said, which is kinda redundant spending gold to buy gold "Oh Nami over here i wanna buy a bunch of new medical books ones that'll teach me all about the latest medical procedures and operations"Chopper said.

"New pots, frying pans, silverware giant mouse trap wow even after all that there'd still be a lot left over"Sanji said doing calculations with an abacus "I could buy lots of booze"Zoro grinned, Nicole sweatdropped at him "Right"Nami said and everyone nodded "But first i take an extra cut eighty percent"she said "Are you nuts?!"the others yelled at her "It's not for me"Nami said.

"Oh yeah then who? And why should they receive a bigger share then the rest of us huh?" Usopp asked "It's set aside for a special lady we're going to set it aside for the repairs we need to make" Nami winked "A lady? Oh wait you mean the Merry?"Luffy asked "That's right isn't it about time we paid her back for all she's done for us?"Nami asked.

"Well come to think of it the Going Merry has carried us for a long time hasn't she? Ever since i joined up and left my village in the East Blue"Usopp said recalling what happened so long ago "We've had so many adventures lots of good times and made so many memories"Nami said recalling when she left her island.

"Hey don't forget the Going Merry was also with us when we crossed that crazy Reverse Mountain and made it into the Grand Line"Zoro said recalling that "Don't forget sky island"Sanji said recalling the knock up stream, Nicole didn't particularly say anything but recalled all the times she and Zoro had napped leaning on the Merry, she's definitely been a bit of a matchmaker.

"Yeah i even risked my life to save it when it was carried to upper yard"Chopper said recalling that time "Yeah then that mysterious someone fixed the ship  for us"Usopp said recalling what he saw one misty night, the others were still sceptical about it "I saw somebody i swear"Usopp said "When you think about it this ships gone through a lot for us"Luffy said recalling their fall from sky island.

"And that's exactly why we need to give her some tender love and care"Nami said "Good idea the Going Merry's great repair"Usopp said "Let's do it"Luffy said "It's settled then and since we don't know how much the repairs will be we'll hold off dividing the treasure until we do"Nami said "Those goons took all the food from the store room but lucky for us they didn't touch the fridge, here dig in"Sanji said serving a plate of food.

Everyone grabbed some food "I've been wondering how much longer Usopp's half assed repairs are gonna last"Zoro said munching on his food "Hey i'm a sniper not a shipwright but yeah the old repair guy said the same thing it needs a professionals touch"Usopp said "Yeah right it's time we took the merry to a real ship yard and get honest to good shipwrights for the repairs she needs"Sanji said.

"So there are people who can fix ships better the Usopp?"Chopper asked "Yup sometimes when you need a job done right you gotta go see a professional"Usopp said "That's it! We gotta get a shipwright for our crew!"Luffy suddenly announced "Our journey's far from over right? We really need someone with those skills and the Merry isn't just our ship she's our home too so let's go find us a shipwright who can keep the Merry safe"he said.

"Well i'm impressed"Sanji said "Whoa he got to the point that's pretty rare"Zoro said "And here i thought he'd suggest we get a musician like he always does"Nicole said "That sounds really good to me Luffy let's go do it"Usopp said "Uh that's what i just said"Luffy said "I just hope we get somebody good"Usopp said "We should get a musician too"Luffy said.

"And there it is"Nicole said "The shipwrights a great idea but haven't you all forgotten something"Nami said "What's that?"The others asked "We have to get our gold back first"Nami said "Oh yeah right"Luffy said "Well do we have any idea where they might have taken it?"Zoro said "Don't ask me, it's so noisy with all the marines around and it could be locked behind a vault or something"Nicole said.

"The problem is we have no clue where that vault may be"Sanji said "I'd say here"Robin said pointing over at something on the map, it's just a guess of course but if i were to hide gold inside Navarone this multi lock storage vault seems like it would be the ideal place"Robin said "You're right that does seem like the most obvious place"Nami said 'Which means the commander will probably move the gold at some point, probably to his office to reel us in' Nicole thought calmly sipping tea.

"Alright guys let's bust into that vault and get our gold back"Nami said "But what do we do about the Merry we can't just leave her here she's sure to get spotted eventually"Usopp said "Hide a tree in a forest and hide a big ship among big ships"Luffy said "You're just full of wisdom aren't you?"Nicole muttered as the others sweatdropped.

"I don't know if it'll help or not but we are in a dock where ships used to be constructed and repaired when we sailed in just now i couldn't help but notice an abundance of abandoned materials on the ground"Robin said "You don't say well that gives me a great idea"Usopp said and whispered his plan "Well?"he asked "Yeah!"the others cheered.

~skip~

"Well what do you think guys? Not bad if i do say so myself, at least we don't have to worry about the Merry getting stolen again right?"Usopp asked once he had finished a disguise for the Merry, the ship now had a sort of shell around it painted to look like a marine ship "Gluing paper around the ship to disguise it what a great idea"Zoro said with obvious sarcasm.

"I don't know it could work"Nicole shrugged "I don't know guys it looks like a three year old did it you think that's gonna fool anyone for very long?"Sanji asked "Yeah of course it will it looks just like one of the marines warships no doubt about it"Luffy said "It sure does"Chopper said "You're nuts"Zoro said.

"Great now all we have to do is get our treasure back operation gold recovery commences at midnight got it?"Nami asked "Got it!"the crew replied "Uhm why don't we go right now?" Chopper asked "Well cause super secret missions are always better at midnight"Luffy said.

~skip~

"Alright guys enough waiting let's go get our gold back"Nami said "Yeah"the crew said and started to move out "Hey wait a minute"Usopp said "What's wrong Usopp?"Luffy asked looking back to the sniper "We can't just rush off like this shouldn't we come up with some sort of plan first?"Usopp asked "Well what kind of plan are you suggesting?"Nicole asked.

"Well don't you think those marines will notice eight people sneaking around their fortress?" Usopp asked "You got a point there"Zoro said "I'm still worried about the Merry too even though we did disguise her pretty well"Usopp said "It won't fool them for long though"Sanji said "Wait you don't think so? Why not?"Chopper asked "Yeah don't worry it looks real"Luffy said.

"That hunk of junk? Please"Zoro said "Don't you dare call it junk and besides that's not the issue here! Honestly am i the only member of this crew that thinks about the important things? Like for instance coming up with a plan to recover what's rightfully ours? That reminds me, Nami what happened to the waver?"Usopp asked.

"Oh crap i hid it in some tall grass i forgot"Nami said "Do you see what i mean?"Usopp asked "Uh sorry"Nami said "Nami you're so cute when you forget"Sanji said with heart eyes "Well all stupidity aside i think it's about time i explain my plan to all you guys okay listen up"Usopp said spreading the map open on the floor.

"Alright here's the scoop people, we're gonna have to split up into two teams first is the gold recovery team it consist of Luffy, Zoro, Nicole, Robin and captain Usopp team two will be waver recovery team it consist of Nami and Sanji"Usopp said "What an incredible plan Usopp"Sanji said with heart eyes and went over to Nami "Can't wait to work with you partner"he said "Can't wait"Nami smiled at him.

"What a dumbass"Zoro said "You jerk"Sanji said coming over while Chopper climbed up to Zoro's shoulder "So Usopp you're just gonna leave me alone with the ship again?"Chopper asked crying "Hey don't worry the Merry's disguised so well i'm pretty sure you won't be discovered"Usopp said.

"Pretty sure?"Chopper asked with a sweatdrop "And what will happen if we get hurt we need you here to tend to our injuries super doctor"Usopp smirked "Hey! You're just trying to suck up to me it won't work jerk!"Chopper said while dancing around "Alright guys this dial represent where we are now"Usopp said pointing over to it.

"The gold recovery team will need to avoid the heavily guarded routes and take the shortest path along the coast to the storage vault"Usopp said pointing out the route "Now Nami do you happen to remember the spot where you hid the waver?"Usopp asked "Yes on the eastern side of the island along this bay here just at the bade of these cliffs"Nami said pointing it out.

"Almost opposite of us, it'll take you guys too long to get there if you go by land, ah yes that should do it, Nami that boat should get you and Sanji across the bay in a jiffy alright team let's go complete our missions and then we'll meet back here at the merry got it?"Usopp asked "Yeah!"the crew said.

~skip~

"I don't see the point of why you insist on using those barrels as cover, you know i can sense any marines approaching, if anything a bunch of barrels shifting place is more suspicious"Nicole said walking beside the barrels the rest of the group had hid in "Besides the coast is clear"she added "Why didn't you say so sooner?!"Usopp yelled popping out of his barrel.

~skip~

The group was now on the run, Nicole was ignoring whatever the others were saying keeping her eyes and ears open, they reached a cliff "Is this really the place?"Usopp asked "Behind that door?"Zoro asked "If the maps correct yes"Robin said "And the vaults pretty close huh?"Usopp asked "Yes so braking in through that spot should be the shortest route"Robin said "I'm hearing a lot of people in there, this definitely seems like the right place"Nicole said.

The group used a rope to slide over to the bases opening and broke through the doors "We're in luck not a marine in sight"Usopp said peaking through the opening the others ran in, the group continued to run, Nicole could sense marines around them but not see any, this had to be a trap.

The group arrived at the front of a massive vault door "Wow that things awesome!"Usopp said "Some serious security"Robin said looking at the complex lock system "Right now to just cut it down"Nicole said walking forward "You honestly think you can cut that massive thing?"Zoro asked "Well i won't know until i try"she shrugged and took a stance ready to cut the massive door down when spotlights came on.

"That's far enough!"a voice yelled as doors to the hall they came in from closed the way back, the group was stuck with a ton of marines pointing guns at them "So they were waiting for us"Zoro said "I knew it, this was a trap"Nicole said "It would seems so"Robin said "Just give up you're trapped like rats, there's no chance of escape surrender and!"the officer was cut off as Usopp shot at him.

"What? And just give up our gold? No way we'll take on each and every one of you, okay take it from here guys"Usopp said hiding way in the back, the marines started firing at them but of course the crew fought back while Usopp was opening the vault door, eventually Usopp got the vault door to open which fell down but the vault was empty, except for the diagram of a fish.

"Looks like they pulled one over on us guys"Zoro said "I just knew it! That commander is a crafty one"Nicole said "You have to had it to them"Robin said "I wish i could eat a fish that big right now"Luffy said "How can you think about food at a time like this? We almost got killed opening this thing up"Usopp said.

"Commander Jonathan knew you'd come here once he realized you had stolen the map, there's no where to run give up"the officer said "What now?"Nicole asked "We need to get out of here"Robin said.

"Yeah if our gold's not here we just need to go look for it some place else"Luffy said "That's easier said then done, in case you haven't noticed those doors are the only way out of here and we have to fight those guys to get to them"Usopp said "So what's the problem?"Zoro smirked "Come on you guys we're getting out of here"Luffy said with a grin.

"Not if the men of Navarone have anything to say about it"the officer said as the marines aimed at them, the crew got ready to fight when the doors opened "End of the line pirate scum"the person who walked through them said "Who's this clown?"Nicole muttered she had sensed their approach but this guy was a joke, he was even weaker then the average rookie private.

"You came to the vault just i predicted you would"the clown said walking forward "And just who the hell are you?! And who gave you permission to open those doors?!"the officer asked "Who am i? I'm a special inspector from HQ the name's Major Shepard, your commander gave me and my unit permission to open those doors, we'll take it from here, you and your men aren't needed anymore"the clown said walking over.

"Hey wait don't i know you? Oh you were the guy locked up with Usopp, what are you doing bossing these guys around?"Luffy asked "I can't tell you how much i've been looked forward to this, thanks to you i've dealt with humiliation, incarcerations and being called Condoriano, you'll rue the day you crossed me you're all going to pay!"the clown said.

"Major Shepard"the officer said "What can you see i'm talking here?"the clown asked "You're going to need more men trust me i say this from experience just don't underestimate them major"the officer said "Shut up! We're elite forces not G-8 nincompoops like you who let pirates run circles around them, i'm going to take down the Strawhats so unless you want a court marshal stand down understood?"the clown asked "Yes sir"the officer said.

"Are you done yet?"Luffy asked "Yes just like your pathetic lives are about to be, you bring my new toy"the clown said and one of the men handed something to him "Say hello to the latest state of the art bazooka the eagle launcher it's as deadly as its name sake i assure you plus it packs as much of a punch as a warships main cannon"the clown said.

"What?!"Usopp said hiding away again "Is that supposed to impress me or something?"Zoro asked "I'm not scared bring it"Luffy said "You asked for it Strawhat die!"the clown yelled firing the bazooka except he had it backwards then Robin used her powers to twist the clown around firing shots everywhere.

"He and his special unit weren't very impressive"Usopp said "Well then shall we go?"Robin asked "Yeah let's find our gold!"Luffy said and the crew ran off "Where do you think our gold is?" Luffy asked "How should i know?"Zoro asked.

The crew made it outside the vault "We need to find some place safe to hold up and rethink our plan"Robin said "Is there even such a thing as a safe place here?"Usopp asked "Yeah that kitchen where me and Sanji were at"Luffy said "You just wanna go eat"Nicole said with a sweatdrop.