Positive Science/Scientists

seiryu

This will probably be my shortest theory ever...but it should be kinda "duh". However, there are potentially endless combinations Oda can run with. By context, anyone with modern technology is part of the group of scientists that were researching DNA together ("lineage factor" if we want to keep with One Piece terminology). Through manga magic, they have futuristic technology based on what they specialize in. We have the initial presentation of Vegapunk and Caesar (specialize with DNA primarily but Caesar has a secondary specialty, that he is not as skilled at, of gases). Next, we had Germa 66/Judge who also works with primarily DNA. However, Queen entered the picture and we have a specialty with chemical warfare. There was an earlier scientist shown: Haredas in Weatheria. Everything fits. Futuristic technology and modern levels of research/science. The fun part is that Oda seemingly implied the group of "rebel scientists" was small (we only had a few silhouettes), but the number of researchers on Weatheria could immediately reverse this. Oda could easily make it a massive worldwide contribution and we have modern/futuristic scientists of EVERY field in the world of One Piece. Weaponization of science is and always will continue to occur (unless some sort of paradigm shift like what Luffy does at the end of the series occurs). Plus, with the manga magic of creating futuristic science, even something like astrology could be weaponized to have radiation weapons. The biggest aspect for me is the "positive scientist" potentially becoming the majority. Vegapunk was outnumbered, but if all of the displayed Weatheria old men are scientists, the ally scientists are now the majority. And every field of science could have its own country since they all have to be in hiding from the World Government. This could ASTRONOMICALLY close the gap for the final war (Luffy and his allies vs. the 200+ countries of the Government).

Yuuzume

Tha's a fun idea. I'd be in favor of all those scientists siding with Luffy. I'm just not sure if there are any "evil" scientists on the world government's side. It seems like the "good" scientists would join Luffy but all the "evil" ones, like Caesar or Judge, seem to put themselves and their factions as their top priority so I don't think they'd go out of their way to join the world government. Plus in one way or another, both Caesar and Judge kind of helped Luffy in the end : By the way, is Vegapunk actually "evil"? I think it was implied he was a prisoner of the world government. I think he seems like the type who'd side with the Marines but not the world government. So I'm not really sure who he'd join in the end, if he join anyone.

seiryu

> Tha's a fun idea. I'd be in favor of all those scientists siding with Luffy. I'm just not sure if there are any "evil" scientists on the world government's side. It seems like the "good" scientists would join Luffy but all the "evil" ones, like Caesar or Judge, seem to put themselves and their factions as their top priority so I don't think they'd go out of their way to join the world government. Plus in one way or another, both Caesar and Judge kind of helped Luffy in the end There is always a ton of work that goes into a big project. For example, the two medical Minks (doctor and nurse) had to do quite a bit of prep work for Chopper's explosive vaccine. So I semi expect the evil ones to have gone to the Government of their own volition (vs. Vegapunk doing so to save the freedom of the fellow good scientists). I would 100% agree that people like Caesar or Judge would only side with what is beneficial for their interests, so I'm curious as to how Oda handles them since especially Germa 66 is an entire "country". > By the way, is Vegapunk actually "evil"? I think it was implied he was a prisoner of the world government. I think he seems like the type who'd side with the Marines but not the world government. So I'm not really sure who he'd join in the end, if he join anyone. I was surprised at the people implying Vegapunk was evil. We have the clear enough proof with how Vegapunk interacts with Caesar in the latter's flashbacks. From this, we have concrete context that he is pure goody-goody. Even the Marines would not be where he allies. I've always been biased to say there will be a "save Vegapunk arc". Assuming Oda doesn't run with the B.S. of having Nami depending on Big Mom's fruit ability/power, Vegapunk contextually should be the easy answer to power up everyone outside of the Mugiwara powerhouses. With the goody-goody aspect, it should be 100% that he joins Luffy.

Yuuzume

> There is always a ton of work that goes into a big project. For example, the two medical Minks (doctor and nurse) had to do quite a bit of prep work for Chopper's explosive vaccine. So I semi expect the evil ones to have gone to the Government of their own volition (vs. Vegapunk doing so to save the freedom of the fellow good scientists). I would 100% agree that people like Caesar or Judge would only side with what is beneficial for their interests, so I'm curious as to how Oda handles them since especially Germa 66 is an entire "country". I agree. So technically any help the evil scientists would provide the world government would be whatever work they left for them before bailing to save their hides. Or the world government could entice them with rewards while showing them that they'll win the fight but then they'd end up bailing when the odds leaned towards Luffy's favor. > I was surprised at the people implying Vegapunk was evil. We have the clear enough proof with how Vegapunk interacts with Caesar in the latter's flashbacks. From this, we have concrete context that he is pure goody-goody. Even the Marines would not be where he allies. I've always been biased to say there will be a "save Vegapunk arc". Assuming Oda doesn't run with the B.S. of having Nami depending on Big Mom's fruit ability/power, Vegapunk contextually should be the easy answer to power up everyone outside of the Mugiwara powerhouses. With the goody-goody aspect, it should be 100% that he joins Luffy. I definitely agree with this. I think Usopp (and consequently Nami through him) will get a power up but Vegapunk's arc will be Franky's (and consequently Thousand Sunny's). He will shine there and hopefully also upgrade the ship further.

seiryu

> I agree. So technically any help the evil scientists would provide the world government would be whatever work they left for them before bailing to save their hides. Or the world government could entice them with rewards while showing them that they'll win the fight but then they'd end up bailing when the odds leaned towards Luffy's favor. I mean this is 100% wide open, and all of the evil scientists being independent would explain the slow progress (Vegapunk literally has to do everything himself). But part of me thinks this is just Vegapunk trying to minimize his help to the evil Government. Hmmm...I wonder if all the scientists eventually "turn". It does fit that Luffy's liberation fully gives them freedom to research what they want. > There is always a ton of work that goes into a big project. For example, the two medical Minks (doctor and nurse) had to do quite a bit of prep work for Chopper's explosive vaccine. So I semi expect the evil ones to have gone to the Government of their own volition (vs. Vegapunk doing so to save the freedom of the fellow good scientists). I would 100% agree that people like Caesar or Judge would only side with what is beneficial for their interests, so I'm curious as to how Oda handles them since especially Germa 66 is an entire "country". I agree. So technically any help the evil scientists would provide the world government would be whatever work they left for them before bailing to save their hides. Or the world government could entice them with rewards while showing them that they'll win the fight but then they'd end up bailing when the odds leaned towards Luffy's favor. > I was surprised at the people implying Vegapunk was evil. We have the clear enough proof with how Vegapunk interacts with Caesar in the latter's flashbacks. From this, we have concrete context that he is pure goody-goody. Even the Marines would not be where he allies. I've always been biased to say there will be a "save Vegapunk arc". Assuming Oda doesn't run with the B.S. of having Nami depending on Big Mom's fruit ability/power, Vegapunk contextually should be the easy answer to power up everyone outside of the Mugiwara powerhouses. With the goody-goody aspect, it should be 100% that he joins Luffy. I definitely agree with this. I think Usopp (and consequently Nami through him) will get a power up but Vegapunk's arc will be Franky's (and consequently Thousand Sunny's). He will shine there and hopefully also upgrade the ship further. Oh, not only this, it is everyone. Robin gets to further hax her overpowered fruit ability. Chopper and Brook can get legitimacy to their fruit abilities (they are barely using much). If Oda wanted to, he could make Vegapunk give all of them awakenings.

Yuuzume

> I mean this is 100% wide open, and all of the evil scientists being independent would explain the slow progress (Vegapunk literally has to do everything himself). But part of me thinks this is just Vegapunk trying to minimize his help to the evil Government. Hmmm...I wonder if all the scientists eventually "turn". It does fit that Luffy's liberation fully gives them freedom to research what they want. I agree with this. But to add just one more thing, Vegapunk seems like one of those types who wants to prevent helping the evil world government, like you say, but in the end makes decent strides either for the good marines or to purely advance science. He does seem really "pure" after all. > Oh, not only this, it is everyone. Robin gets to further hax her overpowered fruit ability. Chopper and Brook can get legitimacy to their fruit abilities (they are barely using much). If Oda wanted to, he could make Vegapunk give all of them awakenings. I do agree with this but boy will that be a colorful arc will all those awakenings. Maybe Vegapunk will just give them the means and not all will awaken their fruits at the same time.

seiryu

> I agree with this. But to add just one more thing, Vegapunk seems like one of those types who wants to prevent helping the evil world government, like you say, but in the end makes decent strides either for the good marines or to purely advance science. He does seem really "pure" after all. Yup. We don't know who confronted who, but if it came from Vegapunk's side then he is great at reading people (pretty easy from Kuma's side). Either way, I'm very interested in the sort of backstory Oda has planned for Vegapunk since he is "pure" as a protagonist and in his love of science.> I mean this is 100% wide open, and all of the evil scientists being independent would explain the slow progress (Vegapunk literally has to do everything himself). But part of me thinks this is just Vegapunk trying to minimize his help to the evil Government. Hmmm...I wonder if all the scientists eventually "turn". It does fit that Luffy's liberation fully gives them freedom to research what they want. I agree with this. But to add just one more thing, Vegapunk seems like one of those types who wants to prevent helping the evil world government, like you say, but in the end makes decent strides either for the good marines or to purely advance science. He does seem really "pure" after all. > Oh, not only this, it is everyone. Robin gets to further hax her overpowered fruit ability. Chopper and Brook can get legitimacy to their fruit abilities (they are barely using much). If Oda wanted to, he could make Vegapunk give all of them awakenings. I do agree with this but boy will that be a colorful arc will all those awakenings. Maybe Vegapunk will just give them the means and not all will awaken their fruits at the same time. We'll see how much of it actually goes through but Vegapunk discovering the "requirements" of an awakening is the trigger point for Wano Kuni, which is also why I have such hiiiiiiiiigggggggggghhhhhhhh expectations for the "Save Dr. Vegapunk" arc. Vegapunk's discovery MASSIVELY jumps the Marine/Government power because potentially the vast majority of long time fruit users gain a dramatic power up. This is how Lucci upgraded and moved up to CP0. I can skip over the next steps since we already talked about that. But it is already clear that pretty much the entire crew (my bias is only Luffy, Zoro, and Jinbei don't need help, but per your bias it is only Luffy and Zoro) needs MASSIVE help from Vegapunk. With his level of technology, it is the easiest and most logical means of the final major power up for everyone that doesn't need it. Sanji gets major upgrades to both his Raid Suit and genetic enhancements (even if he taps into them prior to saving Vegapunk, Vegapunk knows genetics on a whole different level than all of Germa 66 so a jump is easily achieved). With the Marines and Government on a whole new level (this is the "less exciting" theory of the Government's new power to me and this isn't all that "new" per my bias but maybe Oda is making it just recently developed), the Mugiwara crew has to match. Even the middle tier fighters cannot keep up with their peers in other crews. Everyone is outmatched in most if not all categories of combat capabilities. It is a necessity...and especially if we get more B.S. out of Wano Kuni.

Yuuzume

> But it is already clear that pretty much the entire crew (my bias is only Luffy, Zoro, and Jinbei don't need help, but per your bias it is only Luffy and Zoro) needs MASSIVE help from Vegapunk. Nah, I actually completely agree with adding Jimbe. Like I've said in another reply, Jimbe is the most complete fighter of the crew right now. He's the one who needs the least help. Zoro comes in second on the "don't need help" list. And Luffy would come in third because of hsi shared trait with Zoro, to power up with every opponent. With everyone else, it's like that they encounter something new in every arc (like Usopp with the dials and Nami with the clima tact) and they develop a power up to defeat their enemies. Whereas in Zoro and Luffy's case, it's like their enemies themselves are what lead to their power ups.