"Hi! Do you mind if I hitch a ride?"

The rain was coming down in great torrents, the wind whipping across the deck. Going Merry heaved and tossed, the sea beneath her turbulent and unforgiving.

The pirates stared at the stranger on their ship. Every sense on high alert, every muscle already working beyond normal capacity, various thoughts running rampant in their heads. Was he a friend? Or an enemy? With no other ships in sight, how did he turn up here? What kind of monster was he?

Waves of rain hit the wooden deck like the steady tap of a drum.

One second, Luffy attacked. Faster than anyone could react, his stretched-out arms latched onto the inner railing and he catapulted himself straight into the man, sending both of them into the mikan groove.

Two seconds, Zoro drew his new swords. Sanji's teeth clamped down on his soggy cigarette. Nami assembled her Bo staff. Usopp grabbed his slingshot and rummaged around his bag for suitable ammo.