Ben smiled and muttered to himself, "She is something."
He thought about his other girls and calling them to see what they were up to. He had not spoken to Sumi since Partia.
He picked up the radio and called the Gold Island lab. "Sumi, Emma are you there?" Ben asked.
The screen was blurry at first however it cleared up and he could see both Sumi and Emma sitting down next to each other on a chair.
"Work husband, can you hear us?" Sumi asked.
"Yes I can," Ben replied.
"That's good, me and Emma have been waiting for your call," Sumi said.
"Miss Sumi insisted we wait," Emma said.
"Good to see you both. I will call Amelia, Isla and Zara a bit later. I have acquired another A.S.S blueprint as well as an upgrade for their eyes," Ben explained.
"That's good to hear the A.S.S Models have some secret behind them. They are connected to something bigger. The girls have been looking into it however they are missing data. However the more A.S.S Models we have the more data and we can get closer," Sumi explained.
"That's interesting," Ben replied. He knew the A.S.S were interesting. He has HQ and BM, both modelled after people. However there was no connection between them other than the system. The next one was A.S.S Model N.T. He thought that given that they just defeated Crocodile it could be Nefertari Titi, Vivi`s mother. If this was the case, he hoped it would be when she was a teen. She was the spitting image of Vivi and having two Vivi`s on his crew, will be the dream. Ben smiled at the thought.
Emma looked at Ben. "Miss Sumi, he had a weird smile on his face," Emma commented. Emma always thought Ben was strange. She could not figure out what was strange about him.
"My work husband, maybe thinking of something naughty," Sumi teased.
Emma knew all the girls folked to him. "Miss Sumi, should we not discuss the tank core testing," Emma said.
"Yes, good point," Sumi replied.
"Work husband, HQ has sent an analysis of the core in Lexie. Her gun uses a special power source which is unique to Lexie and Lexie only. We had tried to replicate and extract that power for the A.S.S Models to use for their hand laser weapon functionality however were not successful," Sumi explained.
"I am sorry," Sumi said.
"I am sorry as well. I am a failure," Emma said.
"Shut it both of you," Ben commanded.
The girls looked at Ben in shock. "I know you have tried your best and worked tirelessly to help me and the girls out. I don't want to hear your apologies for this. We were successful so what, there will be countless ones. I don't want to hear you saying sorry for each one," Ben said.
He added, "I am proud of you both actually for trying. I will always support you two."
"You always know the sweetest things to say work husband," Sumi said. Her stomach had butterflies.
"I can't wait to see you next," Sumi added.
Emma had their heart skip again when Ben praised her. She thought that was strange. When anyone praised her in the past she did not have this reaction.
"We will try our best," Emma said.
"I know you will," Ben replied.
"I also wanted to tell you about that, we have defeated Crocodile," Ben said.
"That is amazing work husband, you have saved a country from evil. You are keeping your promise to help people," Sumi said. She was enslaved on Clockwork Island by Bear King who forced her to make weapons. She saw her ex-husband killed by a tyrant. She worried about another tyrant taking control and murdering civilians. However her love, her work husband, Ben stopped it. She smiled.
Emma was impressed as well. She knew Crocodile was a warlord of the sea, so he was strong and Ben defeated him. "Congratulations Ben," Emma said.
"Thank you both but it was a team effort, I needed all the girls for it. They are my everything without them I am nothing including you too," Ben said.
Sumi and Emma`s heartbeat skipped again. Sumi was also getting a bit flustered hearing praises from Ben. Emma was increasingly getting confused why she liked hearing this man praise her.
"When we defeated Crocodile, the mission had been completed and long story. We had another lab in Alabasta below the Tomb of Kings," Ben said.
Sumi and Emma listened up. They had recently heard of the Partia lab and now there was another one.
"What's this lab about?" Sumi asked.
"The lab is particularly important, from what my Sweetie System told me it creates a special octagonal shield which can protect their user from damage," Ben explained.
He added, "Those shields will be important to protect the girls. The journey is dangerous and we are training continuously, however I want to protect them as much as possible."
"I understand. This is important. Protecting the girls is top priority," Sumi said.
"I understand the sentiment of Miss Sumi and Ben. However, we are already stretched here. We have the Parita lab as well," Emma raised.
"You are right. I am looking to recruit more lab girls to help out," Ben said.
"Only females work husband and I can take a look as well," Sumi said.
"Okay," Ben replied. The only female part was interesting but he was not going to argue against that.
"Miss Sumi, are we sure of only females?" Emma asked.
"Yes," Sumi stated.
"But what about the scientist who could create robots," Emma said.
"Only females end of discussions," Sumi said.
"You should listen to the boss lady," Ben said.
Emma nodded. She did not want to argue with Miss Sumi. Emma looked up to Sumi. She must have a reason for this, Emma thought, one she has not understood yet.
"Speaking of Partia lab, HQ acquired two more blood vials of logia users so in total we have three," Ben said.
"Excellent news," Sumi said.
A loud beeping noise could be heard in the background. "Miss Sumi, it is happening again," Emma said.
"That one is a pain," Sumi said.
"Got to work husband bye," Sumi said as she waved and left her chair.
"Bye Ben," Emma said as she turned off the monitor.
Ben wondered what was going on there.
*Grandline*
On the vast ocean, a ship sailed across. The ship was a pirate ship. The pirate ship had a sleek, blackened hull. It was adorned with carvings and a menacing figurehead of a snarling sea serpent. The ship's mast towered into the sky, supporting billowing, tattered sails that displayed the Jolly Roger, the iconic skull and crossbones, a warning of impending danger to any ship that dared cross its path. There were cannons lined the sides of the ship, their menacing black mouths peeking out from gunports. Coiled ropes and barrels of supplies cluttered the deck. At the helm, a large, ornate wheel guided the ship's course.
On the deck stood several men. "So how did you get promoted to Captain again?" said Pin Joker. He touched the hilt of his sword.
"I paid some top officials off," Morgan said as he rubbed the axe on his hand with his other hand.
"Why are you asking how he got promoted?" Kuro asked, touching his glasses.
"You said you had fooled some Marines and he got promoted for killing him," Pin Joker.
"So you thought I would get fooled by him," Morgan said looking angry.
"I could have fooled you easily," Kuro said. Morgan looked at Kuro. Kuro looked at Morgan.
Morgan ran up and swung his axe. Kuro took out his cat claws and clashed with Morgan. They both looked at each other.
"You better watch your mouth," Morgan said.
"Or," Kuro replied. Pin Joker was watching the events fold. He sighed.
"You woke up my time with gold," Eldoraggo shouted. He touched his face.
Morgan and Kuro backed off. "We should not be wasting time fighting each other," Kuro said.
He touched his glasses and walked away. "He always does that to you," Pin Joker said. Pin Joker would often see that Kuro would provoke Morgan and Morgan would fall for it all the time.
"So when will we get to them?" Eldoraggo asked.
"We don't know where they even are right now," Pin Joker said.
"This Log Pose will take us to different islands. If we keep following this we will get to them," Kuro said. He touched his glasses and added, "Knowing them, they will not be quiet and do something big. They will be in the news and we can get closer."
"Ben…" Morgan said and added, "I will end you."
"We all want him dead," Pin Joker said. He remembered losing his Captain and that traitor Honey Queen joined him.
Kuro walked to the side of the ship. He rested on the railing of the ship. He thought about how they stole money from a grey purple man wearing busted gold armour and used it to buy this ship.
He looked and saw a floating raft with two figures on them. The man on the raft smiled. He had dark-blonde hair that was neatly combed to the sides. Next to him was a pale complexion man with an X tattoo on his face. The pale complexion man grabbed the other man and he jumped. He flew through the air and landed on the deck of the ship.
"Finally we can get out of here," Gasparde said. Pin Joker, Morgan and Eldoraggo looked at the two men.
"Yes," Needles replied.
"Get off the ship or die," Kuro said. He showed his cat claws off. Needles showed his hooked claws off.
Pin Joker took his sword out.
"We don't have time to deal with you, we are after him," Morgan said. He did not want to fight pointless people. He ran up and swung his axe and cut him. Gasparde's body got cut. However he smiled. There was green syrup leaking.
"A devil fruit," Pin Joker said. Gasparde smiled and jumped back. The wound healed.
Needles ran up to attack Morgan. Kuro got in the way and clashed. "We don't have time as well, we are after that demon," Gasparde said.
Kuro and Needles jumped back. "Demon? You mean Ben," Kuro said.
"Ben," Morgan said in anger.
"How do you know him?" Gasparde said.
"We are out to kill him, he stole my gold," Eldoraggo said.
"Yes, he took my Captain down," Pin Joker said, holding his sword.
Gasparde smiled. "It looks like we have a common enemy," Gasparde said.
Kuro smiled. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend," Kuro said.
They both laughed. "We are the Hate Pirates and our only goal is to destroy the Love Pirates," Kuro said.
"Then we are at the right place," Gasparde said.