Marcus was in a pair of loose fitting pants and an oversized shirt, seated at a table with a large pile of food in front of him as he ate. Across from him was Vegapunk, who was watching him as stuffed food into his mouth. Marcus repeatedly ate his fill before he used life return to help heal his body faster.
After he finished off another plate of food he asked, "So let me get this straight, I was basically kept in that tank because I was considered dead? If that's the case, why even keep me around?"
"You were basically a candle flickering in the wind when Garp brought you here. The marine doctors did their best to keep you alive, but you were brain dead when you arrived." Vegapunk said as he shook his head slightly before he added, "I told him you were basically dead and there was no point in trying to keep you alive…"
Vegapunk frowned slightly as he said, "Garp insisted you would get better and wake up eventually, so at his insistence I placed you inside that tank so your body wouldn't degrade. But I never expected anything to come from it, much less you somehow coming back to life."
Marcus grabbed another piece of meat and took a large bite before he shrugged and asked, "I just needed a good nap, how long was I in there for anyways?"
"Just over a year…" Vegapunk said in a calm voice as he studied Marcus for a reaction.
Marcus paused mid bite before he slowly removed the piece of meat from his mouth and asked, "Can you repeat that, I think I misheard you…"
"Not including your treatment before the stasis tank, you were here for just over a year. But if you include the treatment to stabilize your body then you've been here for just over a year and a half."
"That explains why I felt so weak…" Marcus said with a slight frown as his mind raced, a lot of people were gonna be wondering about him. Well, maybe not if they talked to Garp…
Marcus shook off those thoughts before he took another bite of food and then asked, "Did my grandpa leave my sword with me when he dropped me off?"
Vegapunk nodded as he said, "It's here. Garp asked me to keep it safe, so it's currently locked up in my office."
Marcus nodded slightly before he asked, "Why did you help me… My grandpa out so much with my situation?"
"I've known your grandfather for decades… And I also know your father, so I was just doing them a little favor."
Marcus nodded slightly in understanding before he said, "Thanks, I appreciate the help Dr. Vegapunk."
Vegapunk chuckled as he said, "It's fine, like I said it was just a little favor."
Marcus went back to eating for a few minutes before he asked, "Do you have a den den mushi I can use? I really need to call some people and let them know I'm alive."
Vegapunk waved to the table as he said, "Finish eating and then I'll take you to my office."
Marcus nodded before he dug back into his food and within half an hour he cleared the table. About ten minutes later Marcus stepped into the middle of the research base, inside Vegapunk's personal laboratory. As they walked through it he noticed the still broken tank he was in less than a day ago before Vegapunk led him into another room. Inside was a partly messy office with notes, marker boards and chalkboards filled with random information Marcus couldn't understand at all.
Vegapunk led Marcus over towards one wall before he pushed his hand against it a moment later it opened up. Inside was a storage space filled with random things, but two things caught Marcus's eye as he looked inside. The first one was his sword Eternal Rest, which leaned against the wall in its sheath. The second thing that caught his attention was the five devil fruits lined up on one of the shelves.
Marcus only glanced at them before he stepped past Vegapunk and reached for his sword. His sword hilt almost jumped into his hand when it was close enough. When his hand wrapped around the hilt, his sword shook with joy and he felt relieved to feel it in his hand again. He tenderly brushed the sheath before he held it tightly and drew his sword free to inspect it. Besides the blade being a little darker then he remembered, his sword was in perfect shape.
After sheathing his sword Marcus glanced back at the devil fruit as he asked, "What's up with the devil fruit collection?"
Vegapunk glanced at them before he waved them off and said, "Just part of one of my experiments. I've been trying to clone devil fruits but so far all the experiments have ended in failures."
"Aren't devil fruits tied to a person's desires or something and that's how they're formed?"
Vegapunk's eyes lit up as he asked in a surprised tone, "How do you know that?"
Marcus shrugged as he said, "Something I heard randomly. I thought it was more folklore than anything else, but it kinda makes sense… At least when it comes to the crazy powers it can give people."
Vegapunk nodded excitedly, his big head making it look really weird as he said, "Well it's true as far as my research has shown... I've also figured out certain things that go into how they're created, but I haven't successfully created an exact copy."
Vegapunk closed up the hidden wall panel before he said, "Follow me and I'll show you the closest I've come to success on the subject."
Vegapunk quickly led Marcus over to a special container that held a blue colored apple with weird double ring patterns that were colored different shades of green. Vegapunk gestured towards the fruit as he said, "This is the best result I've had to cloning a devil fruit completely, unfortunately it's a failure."
"Why is it a failure?"
"After testing, I found the user would be pink instead of the original blue when they used the fruit." Vegapunk said in a sad tone as he shook his head.
"That's it?"
Vegapunk nodded his head before Marcus asked, "What about the power difference between the fruits? Was there something wrong with this one?"
"No, all testing points to the user having the same power as the original."
Marcus frowned as he said, "If the user being pink is the only issue, then it shouldn't be a failure. If anything it should be a pretty resounding success if you ask me, especially if it's a powerful devil fruit."
"The goal was to clone the fruit exactly, so it's a failure."
Marcus studied the fruit for a few moments before he asked, "How hard is it to clone a fruit? Does it take a long time?"
"Maybe a month now that I've completed the research, but that's because it takes a few attempts to make a clone on this level." Vegapunk punk gestured towards the blue colored apple in the chamber.
"Would it be possible to do it with any devil fruit or is it only certain types that you can clone?"
"A devil fruit is a devil fruit, it doesn't matter the type… Why are you so interested in this subject?" Vegapunk asked as he studied Marcus a little more closely.
"I might happen to know where the Mera Mera no Mi is and wouldn't mind making a copy of it even if it makes the flames pink or something." Marcus said as he tenderly brushed his thumb along the hilt of his sword.
Vegapunk frowned slightly as he watched Marcus for a few moments before he asked, "Most people would jump at the chance to have a fruit like that… If you knew about it, why didn't you eat it?"
"Because having a devil fruit isn't what makes someone truly strong in this world." Marcus said as he flared his conqueror's haki for a brief moment.
Vegapunk felt the suppression for a fraction of a second before it disappeared and he wiped a little bit of sweat from the bottom of his forehead as he said, "I see you follow in your grandfather's footsteps in more than one way."
Vegapunk glanced at the failed devil fruit before he asked, "Why would you want a copy of a devil fruit if you don't plan to use it yourself?"
Marcus held up his sword as he asked, "That depends, I've heard of weapons that have devil fruit abilities… Would it be possible for my sword to use the Mera Mera no Mi or a clone of its powers?"
Vegapunk shook his head as he said, "I've only infused Zoan type devil fruits because they turn the weapon into an animal and can give it minor intelligence… A Logia wouldn't have the same effect and the user would be harmed by its powers."
"And if my sword already has its own intelligence or even its own spirit?"
Vegapunk's eyes widened as he took another look at the sword and started to study it with a critical eye as he asked, "Are you sure?"
"It's always done little things since I've had it… It would shake when I practiced until I moved into the proper position for a sword move or it would jerk my arms to show me the proper way to swing." Marcus said as his hand gently rubbed the sheath before he added, "It also shook around certain people and I could feel it overwhelmed with bloodlust towards them."
Vegapunk rubbed his chin as he said, "That does sound like it already has some type of intelligence, but it might not be enough…"
"When Doflamingo tried to kill me, my sword jumped out of my hand and I saw the ghostly outline of a woman as it defended me."
Vegapunk's eyes lit up as studied the sword more intently and asked in an excited tone, "Fascinating! Truly fascinating! A sword that produced something similar to a ship's Klabautermann?!? Can I run some tests on your sword?!?"
"Will you clone that devil fruit for me?"
Vegapunk nodded as he said, "If it passes the tests then we can try it… And if it works and doesn't harm you, I want to record some data from you using it."
Marcus nodded before he paused and asked, "These tests won't harm my sword right?"
"It's nothing invasive, I just need to hook it up to certain machines and take readings from it."
Marcus nodded again before he said, "Alright, lead the way… And can I use a den den mushi while you test my sword?"
Vegapunk punk lead him to a different spot in the lab and pointed towards a white den den mushi attached to a normal den den mushi as he said, "You can use that while I start testing your sword."
Marcus handed his sword over to Vegapunk before he stepped in front of the snail and debated on who to call first. After a few moments he decided to call himself and see if J or possibly someone else had his snail. The line rang six times and right as Marcus figured no one would pick up. He heard a click as the call connected and an unfamiliar voice asked, "Hello?"
"Hey, this is Marcus… Who are you?"
"Marcus?!?" The voice asked in a surprised tone before two very familiar girl voices yelled, "Marcus!"
"Marcus, where are you?!? We'll come to find you right away!" Uta said in a concerned tone.
"Yes, where are you dear? Are you okay? Grandpa said you were injured and needed time to recover." Baby 5 said in a concerned tone.
Marcus chuckled slightly before he said, "Sorry for making you two worry, but I'm fine now. Also you can't come to me, I'm on a special island and can't leave just yet."
"What?!? Why not? What island is so special we can't come to it?" Uta asked in a pouty tone.
"A special research facility run by the world government. Don't worry, I just need a little while to recover and then I can come find you two. Where are you two at, anyways?"
"In the New World. We are going to visit my dad, he just lost his arm."
"Shanks lost his arm?!? How did that happen?" Marcus asked in a confused tone.
"I don't know, he didn't tell me anything."
"Alright, well find out and tell me next time I call." Marcus said before Uta asked in an upset tone, "What? You're going to hang up already?!?"
"I just woke up today and need to let everyone else know I've recovered. I'll call you back in an hour or two, once I'm done."
"You better!" Uta said before Baby 5 added, "I look forward to your call dear."
Marcus shook his head slightly as he said, "I'll talk to you both later… Bye."