During his meticulous yet creative escape route through the barracks, Rocket encountered many a Marine Grunts. Dispatching them all with a single kick, he believed this break out to be a piece of cake. Two problems, though. One, he still had handcuffs on. He needed the keys. Two, he had to somehow catch up with Shunji in order to thank him. First on the list, keys.
“The keys have to be somewhere… Maybe that Captain dude kept ‘em in his office. “ Ricocheting through the air using his own version of Geppo, Rocket slammed his feet into the ceiling of the Marine Base, breaking through it to another floor. He assumed the Captain’s quarters was somewhere on a higher floor, why would it not be? That’s when he second nightmare came true. Vice Admiral Smacker was announced to be on his way to the island.
“Smacker?! I thought I killed that guy back in Lvneel…! Gngh… Shit, I gotta make this fast. “As he traversed the littered halls (Littered with defeated Marine Grunts that is,) a shot fired behind him. The bullet grazed his right ear, literally bouncing off one of his metal ear rings. The young Shipwright spun on his heels to face his newfound adversary. The man was fairly tall, and muscular for that matter. With the way he dressed, it seemed as if he had just hopped out of bed. He held a flintlock pistol, smoke rising from the recently fire ammunition, in his right hand, and a katana in his left. He seemed to be shivering from head to toe.
"I-I-I… I am a M-Marine Commander! Marine Commander J-J-Jones! D-D-Don’t think I am just gonna l-l-l-let you walk! “ Rocket couldn’t help but chuckle a bit. His stutter was absolutely hilarious.
“Chh… Ch-Chh… Bwehehehe.. Really? You’re gonna fight me? Just lemme go man! Save yourself the beating..” Marine Commander Jones trembled, and with a feeble screech, charged Rocket. He swung his katana downwards in an abnormally swift chop, slice part of the wall in half. Luckily, Rocket was able to duck, and roll towards The Captain’s door, boosting himself into the air with a well calculated hop, and sliced his right foot towards Jones’ head. Despite his cowardice-like-manner, Jones found something within him to allow him to move his head slightly to the side, avoiding the kick. He gave his katana a clean back-handed slash, allowing the blade to connect with Rocket’s right foot.
“Bwehehehehe! You’re not half bad! “ Jones looked truly terrified despite fighting on near equal terms with Rocket.
“S-S-Surrender!”Rocket used the force of the Marine Commander’s swing, bouncing off of his sword. The impact from Rocket using the blade as a semi-platform caused Jones to lose his grip, sending his sword flying straight outside the nearest window. In one quick movement, Rocket landed, shifted in his spot, and connected his right foot with the Marine Commander’s cheek.
The strike prompted Jones to spit out blood, and suffer the same fate as his katana.
“Bweehehehehe! Buh-bye! “ Rocket proceeded to the Captain’s door, only to find it made of pure 8-inch steel.
“Good lord! He really keeps this thing sealed tight doesn’t he.. Oh wweelll.. Bwehehehehehe! “ Just as before, Rocket unleashed a torrent of kicks towards the wall directly to the side of the door. With much effort, he was able to smash it in, allowing himself entry to the room he has been searching for.
Without even paying attention to the ‘prize’ lying on Captain Kenny’s desk, Rocket jumped straight towards keys which were hoisted upon a key rack. He bit down on the only one up there, yanking it down with significant force. Enough strength to tear the rack right out of the wall.
“Freedom is close! “ As dumb as Rocket was, he knew exactly what to do. He crouched down, forming a loop with his cuffed arms, back pedaling through his arm loop so that he was no longer handcuffed behind his back, now in front. He retrieved the key from his mouth, using it to successfully unlock his cuffs.
Despite finally being free, Rocket wasn’t done yet. The silver locked Shipwright tore his shirt to pieces, usings bits and scraps of his prison uniform to cover his neck and left hand.
“Ahh, all better no-......” Rocket’s eyes bulged out of his sockets. The sight before him was.. miraculous. Everything he’d been wanting since his encounter with Vice Admiral Smacker, everything he needed to help him finally get on his way to joining a Pirate Crew and becoming their Shipwright. His goal. His dream. All his wants and wishes… right there, not only three feet in front of him… A Logia Devil Fruit.
How did he know? He has been studying Logia Devil Fruit’s day in and day out. He knows exactly what each and every single type of Logia Fruit known to mankind looks like, what they’re capable of, and how he could use them. Knowing right off the bat that it was a Logia Devil Fruit, he threw aside the fact that it was the Moku Moku no Mi, or the more important matter of finding his pipe. He dove in, headfirst, slamming his jaws around the fruit. Deliberately swallowing the entire thing in one bite, he cringed, nearly puking. The juice from the fruit leaked out of the corners of his mouth. The veins in his eyes and forehead burst with intense anger and disapproval, prompting his lips to smack together violently. Just as he was on the verge of spitting it out, he reminded himself.
“It’s worth it, it’s worth it, it’s worth it! “ He slammed his fists against his hips, looking upwards at the ceiling.
“I DIIIIIDDD IIIIITTTT!”