Johnny and Yosaku stood proudly on the dock, watching the Going Merry prepare to sail once more.
"Brother Zoro," Johnny called with a wide grin, "it's been an honor!"
Yosaku added, "But the sea needs pirate hunters like us! We'll take down scum in your name!"
Zoro smirked. "Do as you like. Just don't die so easily."
The two shouting in unison: "Leave it to us!!" before waving furiously as the Merry sailed away from the harbor. Luffy laughed, waving back without a care. Nami and Nojiko smiled warmly, while Usopp leaned over the railing, trying to look dignified.
Jack stood near the helm, eyes narrowing slightly. With new crew members aboard, and personalities as chaotic as ever, there were… adjustments to be made.
That night, as the sea rocked the ship gently, Sanji carried a tray of food up to the women's quarters. But his true intention was obvious: he was trying to sneak a peek inside the bathroom.
Jack had already anticipated this. Earlier, he'd activated one of the Merry hidden features: room denial protocols. Certain areas of the ship could deny entry to specific people or punish them for trying.
Sanji pushed the sliding door open with a grin. "Just one little peek… my sweet Nami-swaaan, Nojiko-chaaaan—"
ZAP!
Blue-white enercy arced across his body, electrifying him from head to toe. His limbs stiffened, his eyes bulged, and with a scream he collapsed to the floor, smoke rising from his hair.
Nami, who had just stepped out after wearing her clothes, froze. For a moment, her face turned red with rage. "SANJIIIIII!"
WHACK! She slammed him with a broom handle, knocking him further into the hallway.
Nojiko covered her mouth, both amused and horrified.
Jack leaned on the wall nearby, arms crossed. "I forgot to tell you. The ship denies perverts. That's strike one."
Sanji coughed, still twitching. "Why... Please deactivate it…"
WHAM! Another hit from Nami.
"Thank you Jack," said Nami.
"It is ok, when I build this ship I prevent anyone from being pervert here," replied Jack.
By morning, the story had spread. Usopp laughed until tears rolled down his face. "Hahaha! Electrocuted AND beaten! Sanji, you're a hopeless case!"
Sanji glared at him with bloodshot eyes. "Shut it, long-nose!"
But it was Zoro's smirk that pushed him over the edge. "Tch… what a sorry cook. Can't even control himself around women."
Sanji immediately sparked with fury. "What was that, marimo-head!?"
"Pervert," Zoro said flatly.
The two locked eyes, and in seconds the deck shook with their brawl. Zoro's swords clashed against Sanji's furious kicks, sparks flying, curses exchanged.
"Shitty cook!"
"Stupid moss-ball!"
Luffy, sitting cross-legged on the figurehead, cheered happily. "Shishishishi! Fight! Fight!"
Jack only shook his head, watching them clash. "At least the ship systems work perfectly," he muttered, though he couldn't hide the faint smile on his lips.
The brawl between Zoro and Sanji had dragged on for nearly an hour before both collapsed on deck, panting heavily. Luffy had fallen asleep midway through the chaos, Usopp was still laughing, and Nami was furious enough to throw both idiots overboard, if not for Nojiko calm intervention.
Jack, however, wasn't laughing. He had been thinking. Ever since he awakened in this body, something fundamental was missing. The human urges he once knew, hunger, exhaustion, even sexual desire were gone. He can eat if he want but he didn't feel hungry, even if he look at woman, he didn't have any sexual urgess. Did his body really machine? He try to touch his flesh and he can feel flesh like feeling.
When he watched Sanji fawning over Nami with absurd desperation, part of him almost pitied the cook. That exaggerated lust, to Jack, was the behavior of a failed experiment, burning passion without control. Something his body could no longer feel, yet something he remembered from his past as a man.
But there was one thing he still could feel, responsibility.
"These kids," Jack whispered to himself, watching the stars, "are running headfirst into a world that will eat them alive. Maybe… I can give them an edge."
The next day, while the crew argued over breakfast, Jack suddenly stood and called for attention.
"I have a gift," he said, raising his hand. Golden geometric light spread across his palm, forming intricate patterns in the air. "Something to protect us, and make sure none of you end up dying too easily."
Luffy eyes sparkled instantly. "Ooooh! A gift!? What is it, Jack! Meat!?"
"No," Jack replied flatly.
Zoro arched a brow. "Tch, if it's more weird illusions, I'll pass."
But then, before their eyes, Jack began weaving golden threads of cosmic energy. The threads condensed, forming sleek black armor pieces that shimmered with faint blue circuits. A full suit emerged, shaped almost like the one worn by the legendary Black Panther, but modified for each of them.
One by one, the suits assembled themselves on deck.
"This… is a Combat Suit," Jack explained. "Forged from vibranium steel and powered by cosmic energy. Flexible like cloth, but stronger than steel."
Nami's jaw dropped. "Y-you're telling me this is made of… gold-turned-metal?"
Jack shook his head. "Something far beyond gold. Each suit has special functions. Sanji—" he tossed one to the cook, "—yours can absorb shock from impact, so even if you throw your strongest kick, your legs won't break."
Sanji blinked, holding the suit like it was a treasure. For once, he was silent.
Jack continued, "Zoro... your suit amplifies strength proportionally to your sword swings. It'll also track your muscle strain so you won't tear yourself apart when you push too far."
Zoro's smirk returned. "Heh. Sounds useful but as a swordsman I don't need it."
"Usopp... your suit has targeting assistance built in. Aim, and it will calculate wind, distance, and velocity for you."
Usopp immediately struck a pose. "Heh! With this, I'll be the deadliest sniper alive!"
Nami looked expectantly, tapping her foot. "And mine?"
Jack met her gaze. "Yours has a shield generator. It can project a barrier enough to deflect bullets or even cannon fire."
Nami froze, then slowly grinned. "...That's actually amazing."
Luffy bounced up and down like a child. "Jack! Jack! Mine! Mine! What about me!?"
Jack lifted the final suit. The golden light pulsed brighter, shaping itself into something reinforced, durable, with glowing patterns across the chest. "Yours, Luffy… strengthens elasticity. When you stretch, the suit stores kinetic energy. The longer you stretch, the stronger the release."
Luffy jaw dropped. "So… it makes me SUPER bouncy!? Awesome!!!"
Sanji finally broke his silence, frowning slightly. "Why are you doing this, Jack? This technology… it's beyond anything in this world. Why give it to us?"
Jack looked at them all, his eyes unreadable. "Because the grandline is dangerous, this is MK 1 suit later I will upgrade and give a new one to you. Oh I almost forgot about Nojiko."
"Thank you Jack," replied Nojiko.
"Yours is the same like Nami and it can protect you from bullet too, even if you forgot to erect a barrier, the suit will with stand the attack from enemy. It is better to wear it 24 hours," said Jack.
The deck fell quiet once more, everyone are wearing their new suit except Zoro who don't prefer the suit at all.
Jack actually wanted to make the suit same like Black Panther but has more function like Ironman suit.
"Zoro why you don't want to wear it?" asked Jack.
"I am swordsman, how can I become a strongest swordsman by relying on tech," smirked Zoro.
"Marimo is too proudfull," mocked Sanji.
"Marimo is Ronin," added Usopp
"Marimo is Marimo," commented Luffy.
Before they went all out brawl.
Author Notes - Are my grammar improving?