The Backup Plan

The main laboratory.

The room covered half a football field. At its center, Vegapunk, with his enormous head, worked intently at a high-tech workstation. The walls kept out the clamor beyond them; not a sound reached him.

Behind the laboratory doors, Sentomaru stood with a giant axe over his shoulder, scanning his surroundings.

"Doctor, are you sure we don't need to evacuate?"

His voice was deep and gruff.

"No need."

Vegapunk did not look up.

"If the intruder gets past Borsalino, there's nowhere we could run that would help."

Sentomaru was about to reply when he heard the sound of blades sinking into flesh.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The sounds came one after another as spears formed from shadow pierced the laboratory's Surveillance Den Den Mushi.

"Enemy attack!"

Sentomaru roared and swept his giant axe across the room, coating its blade in Armament Haki.

But he was a step too slow.

A shadow spear coursing with Armament Haki burst from his own shadow on the floor and pierced his right shoulder blade.

It missed anything vital, but destroyed the nerves and muscles in his right arm.

Sentomaru grunted. His axe fell from his hand, and he staggered backward.

A second shadow spear and then a third pierced his legs.

Sentomaru collapsed onto the floor and lost consciousness. Blood quickly soaked through his clothes.

Stussy rose from the shadows, a sword made of shadow in her hand. She looked at Vegapunk with a complicated smile.

"It's been a long time, Doctor. I'm here to take you away."

Vegapunk finally looked up from his research and turned his enormous head toward Stussy. Confusion gave way to surprise, then to understanding.

"Come with me. The person I work for now can give you a better laboratory and let you pursue your research freely, without