"The mind of the subject will desperately struggle to create memories where none exsist..." Lutece.


"Someones probably looking for her. We can't just ignore it pretend and they're not." A distant voice remarked, anxious and laced with worry.

"She was abandoned by those low life pirates! She's only a child, like hell I'll send her back to that!" A second voice intervened, the soft melody of the woman's voice turned harsh in anger.

"We should hand her to the marines then ... sort it out properly, legally. Even if they don't return her, they might find her a nice home..." The first voice returned, a hint of hesitance under his decisive attitude.

'Speaking... too... loud. So... sleepy...'

The woman spoke again, this time quieter voice cracking with emotion. "Aren't we good enough, too? If there is a god... what have we ever done so bad... to... to deserve... IS WANTING A FAMILY TOO MUCH TO ASK?!"

A scraping of chairs and a muffled sob followed. "No. But... some people just get dealt a hard card in life. Look, we have to know the full situation before we make any rash decisions. It might be wise to ask her when she wakes up before we make up our minds."

'Why is everything so noisy, and this bed so damn comfortable? I have something to do but I just can't remember... *rumble* ...and now I'm hungry too! But that's not it...'

"But those pirates, Trafalgar Law, if I ever even hear that name again, I swear!"

'Wait, Law, Law... That's so familiar. Ohh... fuck.'

The sudden epiphany made her bolt upright and shout out in annoyance, scaring the other inhabitants of the room. "Shitty Pirates! Where the hell are they?!"

The other two rushed over and began fussing; pocking and prodding her to check for any underlying injury. "Are you OK? Are you hurt anywhere? Your eyes... d-did those monsters do this to you?"

Squirming uncomfortably, she swatted away there hands. "I appreciate the sentiment but I don't tend to DO injuries anyway, they tend to disagree with me in principle. However, would you be so kind to direct me to the jackass and his posse? They're kinda necessary..."

The middle aged woman looked to the side uneasily before a grin stretched its way on to her face. "I heard that you were hungry, well actually your stomach was rumbling so loud the whole street knows... how about we get some food?"

Eagerly leaping up and grabbing the older woman's hand she animatedly nodded. "Yay! Let's go Onee-san! But first wheres Taffy-Chan? You know that bastard whose name sounds like those yummy sweets?"

Sighing and kneeling down to the same height she took the girl gently by the shoulders. "He's gone."

PREVIOUS DAY

"KAMPAI!"

Glasses clinked and clanked in a sound of celebration as their rosy cheeked owners cheered, too drunk to notice the copious amounts of alcohol lost baptising the table with their vigorous toasting. Chuckling gently as a certain customer plucked up the courage to declare his undying love through the art of song to the pubs watch dog; the woman lazily dragged the wash cloth back and forth against the bar surface, smiling wider as her husbands deep laugh rumbled throughout the room.

"These ferocious pirates, eh? Sheesh! Give them just a drop of booze in their bellies and they're as placid as a bunch of newborn kittens. Bwahaha!" Laughing boisterously he came to join his wife behind the bar; large moustache concealing most of his expression. But she could still hear the large grin he wore in his voice, just as her quirked lips mimicked his.

"The way you babble on, dear, anyone might think you want a little trouble! Or is that just the liqueur talking?" She bit back her laughter at his oncoming predictable response.

"Hey I haven't had anything! Uh, Well... apart from the odd shot of whiskey I have before opening... and that pint that Bill got me earlier, but it would have been rude to refuse. We can't be rude to the customers, right luv?" Bushy eyebrows scrunched up in deep thought.

"Of course. Taking one for the team, that's admirable." She rose on her tiptoes to give him a quick peck on the cheek, snickering slightly when she saw the rosy hue that matched the faces of most of the bars inhabitants.

Before an embarrassed reply could be retorted; a slurred voice interrupted the two, causing them to look at a young man swaying slightly on his feet."S'cuse me madam. Sir." politely tilting his hat at them respectively. "I would-"

"Don't call me Sir, I work for a living." The landlord replied before he could finish, all previous embarrassment gone.

"I would also like to request you refrain from calling me madam, sweetheart. Kinda makes me seem like a brothel worker, don't you agree?" His wife interrupted less bluntly, offering a polite smile and returning to her previous cleaning.

Blinking blankly from the odd declarations he slowly returned to what he originally meant to say. "But that's what I was err... enquiring about earlier. Where would me and my gentlemen friends seek the company of some woman, Mr and Mrs...?"

"Dewitt. Booker and Elizabeth Dewitt. And I'm afraid I cannot help you there."

"But didn't you say you worked in a whore house?" He blurted out, intoxication hindering his ability to carry on his eloquent, professional persona.

"THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT SHE DIDN'T SAY! Speak like that to my wife again, son, and I promise you won't wake up to feel that hangover in the morning!" Face red with rage as he leaned over the bar to grab the boy by his white overalls.

"Hey, calm down, calm down." She tiredly spoke whilst gently ushering the man twice her size back behind the bar and coaxing him to let go. The wasted pirate was promptly dropped on his ass causing his hat to fall down and the word 'penguin' to cover his eyes. "This island has had enough conflict to last us a lifetime, there's no sense on contributing even more to it."

"Is that why everyone left? We heard the island was in bad shape, but we didn't know that much about it. The government has been highly enigmatic about it all..." Another pirate asked as he easily lifted his friend off the floor by his overalls and onto wobbly feet, careful to not let go till he had regained some drunken stability. "Oi, Bart. I think I'm gonna hurl..."

"Hm, the young'ens all had to leave to find work to pay for the repairs. We've done well to get as far as we have, but the town is only a shadow of what it once was." Booker replied, tension having lifted and quiet murmuring returning to the room.

Elizabeth hummed in agreement, "To tell you the truth, we were more than surprised to have visitors; no ones been or gone since the marines finished their investigation." She stared up at the large ex-slave with a determined look, eyebrows arched in an almost accusing way. "So that begs the question, what does your Captain want with this lump of smouldering rock?"

With barley a pause and expression unchanged Jean Bart retaliated, "That's a question that should be directed at him. I'm only here to carry the fools back to the ship." He lifted a dazed penguin briefly for emphasis. "May I ask why?"

"Curiosity is all." The glare still evident in her eyes betrayed the polite smile she presented, however currently the heart pirates had bigger problems.

"PENGUINS BEEN SICK! AHH!"

A flurry of inebriated 'warriors of the sea' began to shout, scream and cry; either horribly disgusted by the sight and stench of their comrades regurgitated dinner or over-dramatically concerned about about his health. Alternatively Jean Bart was more perturbed by the mushy wet substance between his toes.

Closing his eyes in a failing attempt to quell his anger, the usually calm, level headed member of the Heart pirates regretted ever accepting the responsibility of babysitting the dirty bastards. 'Get out of Cooking' and 'Have some fresh air' they said. Right...

Noticing the confusion, an equally tipsy Shachi took the opportunity to demonstrate Newtons Law of gravity and crowd surf his panicking nakama. This well intentioned experiment ended in failure due to a miscalculation in projectile distance on his part, causing the unfortunate, budding scientist to slam painfully through the wall and onto the street outside.

Unsure of whether they should intervene or whether this was a product of some sort of hallucinogenic, the married owners of the establishment simply stared at the increasing size of the vain in Bart's head. Luckily for them and him, a sudden arrival would quickly see all of this to a swift end.

Footsteps echoed ominously throughout the room as silence fell heavily. "Hurry to the ship now. We're departing." He welcomed any sort of conflict or refusal. Actually implored it. He would very much enjoy taking his anger out on the nearest idiot. However, no one in the entire room was that stupid.

Law exited as hastily as he entered, a scramble for coins soon followed as the patrons of the bar deposited their payment and rapidly followed their captain.

Bart stood still for a few seconds, looking at the retreating figure of his captain and wondering what sequence of events could warrant such early withdrawal from the island.

Knowing that all would be made clear in a few hours, the ex-captain slung the passed out Penguin over his shoulder as he squelched his way back to the ship and after his newly appointed boss.

Still in a state of stupor, the landlord and lady continued to gape at the place where they left, until a soft snore ripped them away and back to reality.

"Did you just hear that?"

"It must be one of the pirates that got left behind. He'd better hurry or he'll be stuck on this here."

"But where's it coming from..." Booker held a finger to his lips in a shushing motion, both craning their necks and cupping their ears to in order to get a better indication.

"I-I think...it's coming from the back." Elizabeth said, as she walked over to the backdoor, reaching for the knob.

"Wait! Outside? Don't you think we should arm ourselves? He may be dangerous. You know... he could sneak attack us!" Booker exclaimed, face contorted with worry.

She simply looked at him with a deadpan expression. "Your more concerned with our safety now than when we were outnumbered in a confined space with them? My mama certainly said to not marry you for your rationale..."

"It was obviously my charisma and good looks." He said smiling fondly.

Elizabeth, however, snorted. "I personally though it was your funny facial expressions and easy access to alcohol. Now if your so scared would you rather me go out first?"

With a puff of his chest and shoulders pulled back he stood forward. "I'm the man of this house! Just stand back and wait for my signal."

"Fine." Pushing the door open and motioning outside. "After you, oh honourable husband."

Either he didn't hear the mocking tone of her voice or choose to ignore it; Booker marched forward into the back alley behind the pub. "I think its coming from in there." He whispered, pointing to the large garbage bin with loader, more obnoxious snores emanating from it.

His wife crept to join his side, looking over cautiously at the offending object. "Well, go on! Open it! He might be able to make it if we hurry!"

With a breath of courage he prised the lid open, both heads peering over the edge anxiously in case of any sudden movements. Although their trepidation was unfounded. As what they found slumbering peacefully in the mists of spoiled food and broken glass, was not something they feared, no. But something for which they longed. A child.

SHORTLY AFTER THE HEART PIRATES DEPARTURE

Sniggers and muffled remarks that were assumed to be undetectable were in fact, highly audible to Laws trained ears. He frowned and paused his spoon of soup before it reached his lips, appetite suddenly none existent. Standing up and heading out to his hastily refurbished room, he bid goodnight to his crew with a tip of his hat and a polite "gentlemen" and opened the door. However, not before muttering a quiet "tact" and replacing the table with some unsuspecting fools bed. Suddenly feeling a bit happier he strolled briskly through the corridor, euphoric in his petty, yet sweet, revenge; angry swears and frustrated groans only spurring his mood higher as they tried to salvage some of they're spilt food.

'I guess I'm not the only one whose going to miss sleeping in their regular bed tonight, but at least I've had some supper.' he deduced happily to himself. Apparently big fearsome pirates are not immune to childish impulses either, good thing too, it would a dull, dull time on enclosed submarine otherwise.

"Hey, what happened?" Bart nodded over to where owner of the submarine just exited, whilst addressing Isaac in the kitchen.

The calm cook leaned over the counter beckoning him closer. "From what I've gathered, some idiot left his whore in the captains bed. Furious he was! She's probably far away now though, poor lass, he doesn't toss people out the old fashion way, likes to use those strange powers of his instead. I thought you said you'd look after them, you know, stop this from happening."

The large mans brow creased slightly. "I did. The crew were with me the whole time, there was absolutely to opportunity to allow them to return without me knowing. It wasn't them."

The older comrade expression mimicked his friend. "You sure?" A nod was unhesitating given in response. "But... no one else was in the sub then, just me, Captain, Bepo and that dead kid in the morgue."

"Nope, she gone. And when Captain finds out, all my intestines will be gone too, then my gall bladder, liver, pancreas, heart-" The moody bear was cut of from his ramblings, looking up surprised from temporary sulking spot, surrounding area littered with food from his previous comfort eating phase.

Holding a hand up in disgust Isaac shook his head. "We get the picture lad."

"Maybe he'll preserve my brain?"

"Bepo..."

"Anyway you got it wrong." The second in command halted his depressing train of thought for something more pleasant: correcting his crew mates.

"No I didn't-"

"She's not dead but very much alive and really, really fast. Plus she's not a kid, well... she's not an adult either. She's like both but neither at the same time." Bepo scratched his head, evidently confused with his own logic.

"Wait..." Bart intervened already realising where this was going. "Does Law know?"

"I still have the use of my limbs."

"I take that as a no..."

"So Captains just thrown out the very medical experiment that he got so giddy over that he's risking pissing of the marines big time." The veteran pieced it together.

"With absolutely no way to retrieve it, yes." Bart confirmed with a sigh.

"Good luck with that Bepo."

"Maybe he'll be alright with it!" A now positive Polar Bear proclaimed with new found vigour.

Stage 3: denial.


Sorry about the lack of... Yeah I'm not even gonna try but updates are gonna be more consistent from now on! And hopefully a lot better quality...

Last Easter egg: Isaac Clarke from Dead Space

Can you spot the one in this chapter?

P.S: I'm posting this on my birthday! Hurray! So you can't be mean, ok? Only kidding...