Chapter 3
Strenght of material is a crucial problem of engineer thought. Between safe walkway and peacefully swaying seaweed two hundred feet below, there is always some unassuming number explaining just how much strain the project is willing to take before reuniting the user with his metaphorical, prehistoric cradle.
It is a number being a warning light to every constructor - no matter how detailed and well though-out the plan is, the limitations of its' components are what ground it in reality.
Franky was opening and closing his mouth, rooted in place.
"But wait, you just made another line! Puffing Ice was released like, four months ago?" Nami looked from Franky to Paulie.
"Yeah, it was." Whatever anger that Paulie felt seemed to leave him on the memory.
Instead, he looked tired. Defeated. "I've been trying to talk him out of this for weeks now. It's not like we have to move this island in a first place."
"Wait, so he does want to move it? Why?" asked Usopp. "Is it about that trade routes?"
"...I'm not even sure." Paulie sat back down heavily on his chair, elbows on his knees. "As far I've gathered, it's probably Trade Union's being a pain. See, most of the parts we use is just recovered from the scrap yard," he explained, seeing puzzled expressions. "But there are still things we need to get from Pucci or San Faldo... sometimes even the other islands. I'm not sure if you guys know-" he added, "but we owe our scrap yards to the Florian Triangle. Whatever ends up here, is usually washed up from that place. And whether this island will float or sail, scrap yard won't make it to the final cut."
"And this will make you dependant on outside supply," Sanji looked sideways, taking a drag of his own cigarette.
"Yeah."
"But isn't it Union's job to make trade easier for you?" Nami wasn't sure she understood the direction it all was going.
"Pretty much. The thing's, the other island's business wasn't doing that great ever since- since there's less Marines around."
Oh. Nami glanced at the others. She wished for their first meetin at least get without dragging old demons from under the carpet.
Destroying an island had to have some economic consequences, nevertheless.
"Was Enies Lobby supplied by your neighbours?" asked Usopp. "You were making ships and equipment for them..."
"There's still lots of other things to buy," said quietly Sanji. "Food and medical supplies... Enies Lobby was strictly Marine base."
"So no place for inland production," nodded Usopp.
"They used to buy two trains' worth of food and other supplies," said Paulie, sullen. "Both Pucci and San Paulo, that is. Now, our neighbours are more concerned with making sure they stay afloat than to watch out for common interests. I get it, I mean, you can't help noone when you yourself are down, do you?"
"I...I'll speak to him," said Franky.
That was the first time he spoke since Paulie's outburst. Nami was worried.
"I'll speak to him right now-" said Franky again, starting to get up, but was interrupted by a new voice.
"Mister Paulie, you have the visitors," Salisa's head popped out from the doors. Paulie almost dropped his cigar.
"Damn it, I forgot," he sighed. "Sorry guys, I gotta leave for now." He cast one, sorrowful look at Franky. "You might wanna sit this one meeting out, I was told that G8 inspector might be nosy."
"Huh?" Nami blinked. She wasn't the only one to startle at familiar name. "Hold on, you've got G8 coming here!?"
"Yeah. You know these guys?"
"Yes," said Nami weakly. It was dumb luck that got them out of that accursed fortress back then, she wasn't going to tempt the fate twice. "But wasn't G8 a stationed unit?"
"Well, they are pretty close. It makes sense for them to come here," said Zoro. "'specially with Enies Lobby down."
"Don't sound so relaxed, they almost got us last time!" snapped Usopp and Chopper in almost simultanous outburst.
"Stay here for the rest of the day, I'll send someone with food," said Paulie on his way to the doors. "We'll speak again... probably tomorrow."
"...Just wait here, alright?"
oOo
"Are you sure it's okay to leave now?" Nami was eyeing Franky with mixture of concern and sceptism. The cyborg was unusually quiet ever since Paulie left. It wasn't surprising, given the news - Nami knew how much Puffing Tom meant to him. Still, the identity of Marine inspector has put a shadow over their visit.
"We were lucky last time," said Usopp, in between one plate and the other being put on the table. Despite being temporarily cut off of his working space, Sanji insisted on taking charge of the meal ritual, with spot-appointed Usopp as helper.
Zoro grunted. Being well versed in nuances of his one-syllabous comments, Nami intervened before the argument developed. "It might be a good idea to wait here till morning," she said, eyeing absorbed by food Luffy. "Let's just hope whatever that Jonathan guy was sent here for, it will be over as quickly as possible."
"It's quite unusual for a stationed officer to be appointed as observator," said Robin. Unlike the others, the news didn't shook her - instead, she looked mildly amused.
"You think he knows we're here?"
Usopp shot a look at Robin. She was calmly enjoying her meal, letting the exchange happen without much of her contribution. Next to her, Chopper seemed to hesitate before continuing his supper.
"How would he?" mused Nami. "Paulie said he hasn't told anyone. Not even Iceburg knew we were coming."
Now she wasn't certain if that was a good thing to say, given the grim determination Franky was preparing for his leave with. The supper was almost finished now, but he hasn't eaten either.
"Listen, I know you... don't like the way the things here are going," she tried. "But we run into this guy before we met you and trust me, he's a pain to shake off once he catches a trail. Are you sure you're not going to wait till morning? The introduction will take place today for sure; tomorrow they should be busy enough to turn a blind eye on the streets. That'd be your chance."
But Franky shook his head. "'m not going to walk 'round the Galley-La," he said, fastening a plain coat over his waist. In the half-gloom of the hall, Nami thought she saw 'Tilestone' plaque on the front of the jacket. "I'm just seeing the guys at the bar and some old place of mine. I will be back before morning."
"Just be careful, okay?" sighed Nami. From the room behind her came a salve of laughter and Brook's violin.
She wasn't sure just how soundproof the quarter were, but anything was better than the original idea of Luffy accompaning Franky around the town.
"I know this place like a back of my hand," continued Franky. "I'll have no problem finding a hiding place if anyone recognises me."
"Well... Good luck, then."
She watched him leave through the rain-splattered window. His looming silhuette didn't stand out that much in the upcoming dusk. The streetlights casted many shadows that sprawled across the walkway. A quick glance down the court confirmed lack of potential witnesses.
She took one last glance at Franky's route, but he was already gone.
oOo
The city wasn't as much asleep after dark as metaphorically tossing around. Still, Franky remembered the streets even busier with drunken up-to-no-goods, idle workers and ocassional pirates that roamed the streets at nights of his childhood. It was difficult to believe that this was the same city known for its beautiful architecture and white walls during the day. Eye-hurting neons sizzled in rain as he passed sleepy cafe and an old pawnshop. A bunch of teenagers scattered out of his way as he rounded a corner to the main walkway. He passed a bridge. A balding and progressively rainsoaked man was eyeing him appraisingly from his Yagara Bull stationed in the canal. At daytime, such scrutiny might've alarmed him. Here, he knew the man was more interested in the prospect of hire than potential meet-up with ofiicers of justice.
Say what you want about pirates, but they always made significant part of Water 7 customers. One way or another.
The next street openend with mouldy stench and bulging gutters. Weather-beaten signs were swaying in the wind as Franky strode by the rows of dirty windows, partially obscured by rattling window shutters. Some of them were broken. None seemed occupied, though - demolition warnings were put all over the place. For a second, he thought he somehow got to the the edge of the city already - a streets like that were a common sight in the most flood-threathened areas.
But he wasn't there yet. As much time has passed, he knew the route by heart, always, in every conditions. Every step of it.
He turned anouther corner and walked down the road. The canal entrance was looming before him, a gentle, salty draught inviting like a scent of long-lost home. He entered it with no hesitation.
Yes, he remembered it well. Every corner, every brick.
The stairs were barely visible despite the flashlight. Underground moss was fighting for living space with accumulated mud in an overbearing stench of alges and mould.
"Took you a while, didn't it?" Iceburg was already there, seated by the table. The same table they used to dine with Mr Tom all those years back.
Franky shook off the droplets from his coat and took in the man before him.
A lot has changed since they last met like this, and yet he had never a problem to remember this was the same man he spent most of his childhood with.
Until now.
"Sort of difficult to find the old route," he said. Really, this felt nostalgic. He threw the coat onto the sofa, sitting heavily next to it, arms crossed. "What with all detours and the likes. You sure you have spare time for Government? This city falls apart. The Round Square looks just like Aqua Laguna went over it."
"This city lives, and what lives, changes." Iceburg seemed to ignore the rebuke. Whatever. It wasn't the subject that brought here Franky in a first place anyway. First things first.
"I heard you're going to take Puffing Tom apart."
"That's my intention." Iceburg looked at him levelly.
"Why?" Franky felt his hands clench into fists. He shifted in his seat, resisting the urge to stand up.
He thought about it the whole way here. He needed answers, not an ugly fight to regret later on.
"I think that since you know already about my plans, you must have heard my reasons too," said Iceburg.
Franky bristled. "So what if I know! That's not what my deal is!" Temper. Franky huffed. "It's not like you wanted to move this island elsewhere last time we spoke," he tried again. "What's so bad about this place anyway?"
A silence, then a sigh. "Don't tell you don't know, even you can't be that clueless." Iceburg reached for something at his side. Pushing away a sense of being offended, Franky noticed a bag with rolled pieces of paper stashed carefully in it. A maps?
He was watching begrudgingly a piece of paper unfold on the table between them. Yeah, it was a map of the region.
"Enies Lobby is gone," said Iceburg, pointing at the corresponding dot on the paper. "Galley-La is still entering contracts with the Navy, but without military base at our doorstep Pucci and San Faldo -a tourist and agricultural islands, as you of course remember - have their market halved." Another tap at the shapes on the table, like accusation.
"Don't tell me that's such a a big difference, now," said Franky, almost petulant. As if he didn't have enough troubles with that blasted place in past already. "Wasn't Enies Lobby military base only?"
"It was." said Iceburg forcefully. In this one sentence, Franky was reminded of the times where the rolls of paper were half rusted metal scraps and the prospect of new Battle Frankies were being argued. "And yes, they were dependant on their suppliers - but so were we!"
"We didn't wreck this island, you know," said Franky, feeling his fists clench.
"No, you didn't." Iceburg pinched the bridge of his nose. "But that's not my point here. You are forgetting the picture again, Franky. This city needs safer trading route, now more than ever."
"By taking Mister Tom's greatest work?!" exploded Franky. The outburst surprised even him, but it was too late for take backs. He huffed, trying to reign his temper. "This was his last gift to this city. And you'ra throwing away! How dare you?!"
"No." Iceburg was looking at him strangely. "It wasn't."
oOo
Nami frowned from above her crew accounts, hearing the wind struggling against the glass of the window on the other side of the room. The barest hint of draught teased at her ankles as she shifted in her chair, looking for a bookmark.
"What are you guys doing?" she called, belatedly noticing the unnatural silence that befallen their quarters. Come to think of it, this lack of ruckus was the thing that got her out of the summing up their books in a first place.
A silence stretched and she contemplated checking things up herself, but was stopped.
Brook, with a quill and a stash of paper held firm by his side emerged from the doorway.
"I believe we are left to tend to ourselves," he said, choosing a seat on the other side of a small, round table. She glanced at his possessions, catching a rows of notes the skeleton unfolded, carefully setting the quill and ink aside.
"They fell asleep?" Nami felt her brows rise at the mental image of comrades defeated by fatigue. Given the speed they had for this journey... Still...
"Not all of them." Brook caught her eyes and held his notes to her for inspection. "Our Swordsman is resting. Usopp is busy with some experiment he carries out with Captain's aid. Miss Robin decided to share some of her historical knowledge with Doctor Chopper and Mister Sanji accompanies them. I would've stayed to listen as well, but I have learnt long ago to follow inspiration when it comes." He nodded at the papers below.
"Are you composing?" Nami took carefully prooffered papers. Indeed, the sheet seemed incomplete - the rows of notes ended in the middle of third line, smudged blots adorning the place marking struggle of creation.
"Our journey here was truly inspiring."
Nami chose not to dwell on the reminder. For someone who has spent decades drifting in the fog, being reminded of that time wasn't something to dwell on. Still, that would explain Brook's tendency to hang out with them on their way here.
"I remember this island," said Brook.
Nami looked up.
"I didn't recognise it at first, though," Brook added as an afterthought. "So much has changed..."
"Did you pass it on your way to the New World with your friends?" asked Nami tentatively. She closed her book. Tab reconcilation time was over.
"Yes... But we didn't stay long." Brook looked through the window at the city beyond. "It was such a ravaged, hopeless place."
oOo
"It's about those plans, right? The ones I burnt?"
"Not quite, but I'm glad to see you are aware of the issue," Iceburg ran his hand over his face with a sigh. "The more so, in fact, that we didn't get to talk this over last time."
"I had to do this!" said Franky hotly. "To get them off our backs! Besides, it's not like it was needed anymore!"
oOo
"No wonder Mr Iceburg is so popular. He sure has been working hard over these last two years. Last time we were here this place was destroyed in a fire."
oOo
"Was it?"
oOo
"She's not the Devil World Government tries to make of her," ground out Franky.
"Your faith in your comrades is admirable, but don't expect me to share your opinion. She tried to kill me, Franky. I am no adventurer, I can't just dismiss it as said and done."
"She had no choice!" Franky threw his arms. This was insane. "What am I doing here?" he asked the world in general.
"This is the question that was bugging me as well," Iceburg was tidying up the map from the table. "Why are you here, Franky? You wanted to sail the world, so why are you back here?"
oOo
It was well after midnight that Nami heard the doors close. Eyes accustomed to the lamp light, she strained to see from her place into darkness of the hall. "Franky?"
Silence. She got up to check the newcomer herself, but was spared the problem. "Franky! What's that? Have you been at Sunny?"
Franky didn't answer, placing four tube-shaped containers on her table. She hurried to take her books away seeing small puddles of rainwater already dripping from the containers.
"I was nearby so decided to take some stuff while I'm there," he said at last. "I checked her safeguards as well."
"Not sure if there is a point of bringing these here. We're going back to Sunny first thing in the morning," Nami watched him inspect the markings on the tubes and put them in approved order. "Are you alright?" The lack of usual boisterusness was nibbling away at her. "How are the Twins? Are they still working now?"
It was one thing to try and not disturb his crew mates, but she knew it never stopped Franky's good spirit to show at even -or rather, especially- at night. Day-and-night split never applied to someone with a built in night light and the abudance of ideas.
"I didn't go to the bar after all." He took the containers and marched in the direction of now abandoned living room. "I'll be making some sketches now. Gimme a shout if anyone needs me."
oOo
The sun was breaking over the horizon when the navigator announced the near end of their journey. Seated in his office, Spandine listened shouts of recruits preparing to land, relishing the sound of evenly marching feet of troops gathering by railing. It was the sound of his people, reminder of his power. The voices carried over the deck and reached his study easily - the reason he specifically asked for this place to be his.
A good commander needed to know the status of operation at all times.
He walked torwards the window. Coming to Water 7 was costly and taxing given his now limited resources, but never, not even for a moment, he faltered. He's gotten through worse already, recruiting some hermit commander to his cause won't be a problem. His mission was worth it.
He felt his hand close around the locket in his pocket.
"I'll avenge you, my son."
The dawn was creeping over the city port before him.
