Orion stood in the center of the treasury, locked in a standoff with the marines. No one moved a muscle, but all tense and ready to attack if any sudden moves were made.
"So, what're you doing here criminal?" A voice finally cut through the silence. The speaker, clearly the leader, wore a long marine coat draped over his shoulders and an olive-green suit beneath.
Orion simply sneered, unmoved by the words.
Provoked, the marine stepped forward. "Don't want to answer? Fine. Its obvious what you're here for."
Orion sighed, his tone relaxed and smug. "Oh yeah? I'm not the only here with....less than good intentions."
A vein bulged on the marine's forehead at the implication. "And what's that supposed to mean....?" He growled.
"Ha! Come on, just look at you. You have people guarding the door–not from me, but from something outside. They're not even facing—"
"Shut your mouth!" A sharp, feminine voice cut in.
A young woman stepped forward. She wore a standard marine uniform, her long black hair cascading down her back. Perched on the top of her head was a hat...complete with a pair of mouse ears.
"You're just a dirty thief! How dare you speak to Vice-Admiral Dalmatian tha—"
A low growl rumbled, cutting her off.
"Watch yourself, Gesshirui." The man now known as Dalmatian reprimanded her calmly. "Your shouting could give us away..."
Finally deciding that it was time to go, Orion made his move. Without warning, he tossed the crate he was holding into the air. The unforeseen action caused Dalmatian to lunge forward, driving his fist straight for Orion–but he had preemptively ducked down. Orion then quickly launched himself upward into a brutal uppercut. His hardened fist slammed into Dalmatian's jaw.
Orion looked up–only to see Dalmatian staring back at him, completely unfazed.
Suddenly, his 'Spores' screamed.
Danger. From above.
Moving too fast for him to dodge. Orion too slow to block.
In a split-second decision, Orion liquified. Dalmatian's clasped fists crashed through his head, splattering it like ink and knocking his fox mask off.
Midair, Orion quickly reformed and pumped an open palm forward.
"Burst!" He shouted.
A small hole opened in his palm. Dalmatian looked upward only to be caught off guard as he was hit by a raging torrent of green mist. Using this smokescreen, Orion landed cleanly, caught the crate, and bolted. The barrel of gold still clung to his back.
The marines panicked. "Where'd he go!" One man shouted. "I-I can't see!" Another man pleaded. One man blindly swung his rifle around until he pistol whipped someone. "Guys! I think I found him!" He shouted. "You didn't, idiot! You hit me!" A woman shouted.
Dalmatian rubbed his temple amid the chaos. "I was caught off guard....activated my Observation Haki too late" He sighed, raising his hands. A single thunderous clap echoed through the room. The shockwave silenced his men and instantly blew away the fog.
On the ground lay the only trace of Orion: a discarded, frowning fox mask.
"Vice Admiral—!" Gesshirui stepped forward, rubbing her bruised cheek and began to speak. "T-that man. I saw his face. It's him! The one that killed my father–Orion 'The Hunter'!"
Dalmatian's eyes narrowed. The veins in his forehead bulged as his anger boiled. "So it was him. He has an unidentified Logia-type Devil Fruit." Dalmatian flared his haki, people were running to their location.
"Gesshirui! Take the men and follow him! The guards noticed us!" She saluted instantly and sprinted off in pursuit.
The corridor ahead of Orion flooded with guards, rifles raised. "Stop right there!" One barked.
But with the marines behind him stopping wasn't an option.
"We said to stop!" The guard shouted once more. But Orion pressed forward. The guards tensed. "Fine then! Open fi—!"
*BOOM!*
The guard was cut off as a cloud of green fog burst outward from Orion as he shot skyward.
Orion darted through alleyways until the town's edge came into view.
"I hope the guys made it back already." He sighed.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, he finally reached the ship. Zoro was lounging on the deck, fast asleep next to several bulging sacks. Orion made his way into the cabin, as he entered he was greeted by sight of Luffy sitting next to an unfamiliar old man.
"You're back!" Luffy shouted.
"Yeah...I got what I wanted." He was relieved to finally drop the crate and barrel he was holding.
"So, who's this?" He asked, nodding toward the old man. His short spiky hair faded from indigo at the roots to a vivid strawberry red at the tips.
"Oh! This is old man Soma!" Luffy mused. "He helped me earlier, so now he's our new cook!"
Soma turned his head. "I never said I'd join. I agreed to take you to a place where you could find a cook."
Luffy nodded. "See! Our new cook!"
Before Soma could once again object—
"Guys, get out here! We've got company!" Zoro shouted.
The crew rushed outside.
Orion's eyes widened at the sight of a familiar face. "You again!?" He shouted.
Standing alone on the shoreline was Vice Admiral Dalmatian.
"I finally found you!" Dalmatian roared. "You won't get away this time!" He then vanished from his position.
Orion's spores screamed at a danger from behind... Too late.
*CRASH!*
Dalmatian's fist collided with Orion's back, launching him off of the ship and deep into the island's forest. Orion crashed through several trees before finally stopping.
Orion's eyes snapped open as he sat against a tree. 'I passed out?' He questioned in his mind. He tried to stand, but pain flooded his nerves and dropped him back down. "Ugh....how hard did he hit me." Orion groaned. He clutched his aching ribs, and slowly began to catch his breath.
In the distance, he caught wind of the sound of battle. Orion quickly stood, pushing through the pain and quickly rushed back to the shore.
To Be Continued.....