Chapter 97: The Hardest Decision, Goodbye Merry!
Usopp was watching the sunset from the helms deck of the Merry, in his hand was a transponder snail; through which he had been talking to Kaya. The sniper was both frustrated and angry at luffy, to Usopp the captain should be making more noise about saving the Merry; given that it was a gift from luffy's friend and then modified by his girlfriend Kaya's servant. Now however, ever since the shipwright Kaku left them after finalising repair talks with Vivi, Luffy and Zoro, the decision was now clear that the Merry was fatally damaged and beyond repair. Something that Usopp continued to refuse to accept, and lashed out at his fellow crew mates who spoke on him about letting go. Nami, Suki and Chopper all agreed with Vivi's decision to buy a new ship from Galley-La, Sanji went along with the idea; given it was Vivi's idea. Zoro and Luffy were more reluctant but Usopp could see their discontent yet at the same time resolve too. Resolve to continue the adventure across the seas. Gripping the railings so tight, that his knuckles went white, the sniper growled under his breath "traitors!"
Luffy was solemn. His usual smile, and happy go lucky self, was dampened by Kaku's bleak outlook about the Merry. He'd talked with the rest of the crew for their opinions and approaches, and had sort of known what to expect but the anger and resentment from Usopp made him feel terrible, loosing the Merry was bad enough but loosing his friendship over it was worse. And he desperately wanted to prevent that from happening, yet what would happen would tear a scar into his heart. "Traitors!" Luffy's ears perked up at hearing the growl of resentment from the sniper, so turning towards his best friend luffy began to move up the steps to the helms deck. "Usopp..." he began but he was suddenly struck in the chest by the butt of the sniper rifle, "how can you turn your back on your ship? Helmeppo gave it to you! And now you're abandoning it without even trying to repair it, your no captain of mine anymore!" Usopp grappled with his rucksack and rifle; before shoving luffy out of the way, descending the steps and then storming off of the Merry down the gangplank and into the distance of Water Seven. Leaving the other state hats shocked, and devastated.
The mood was dwindling on the verge of utter misery, everyone had thought that the bond of friendship between captain and sniper was so solid that nothing could break it. Yet, apparently Usopp had decided that the end of the Merry was also his end point for continued membership of the crew. Nami and Vivi both looked towards Luffy, on his knees and staring out at the figure getting more and more smaller into the distance, tears in his eyes. Sanji went into the kitchen with the newly bought supplies muttering, "selfish, ungrateful..." Chopper went below deck to his hospital preparing new medicines, and to continue reading the medical books given to him by Doctor Kureha. The last thing the little reindeer heard was Nami and Vivi comforting the captain and Zoro getting back into another series of imposing weight lifting setups. Robin and Suki remained on deck, the younger girl asleep in Robin's lap, as the archeologist emptied out her shopping; new clothes, navigation scrolls for Nami and a perch for the south bird, Pabu. As she stretched her arms behind her back, and feeling the crack of her joints, a small piece of paper fell from the empty bag next to her. With a look of deep suspicion upon her face, whilst gently shifting the asleep Suki, Robin reached towards the paper and picked it up. Her eyes widened in fear and recognition of the emblem that adorned the folded part; the World Government. Unfolding the paper she read the words awaiting her:
'We meet again, Nico Robin. Come to the abandoned post office tonight. Do so and your friends will be left alone'
- Cipher Pol 9
Robin froze in terror at the words written before her. 'CP9...' she mused fearfully, "why is it every time I find happiness something always takes it away from me". Tremors ran up her spine, friends lost and friends found again would always; at some point, be at the mercy of the World Government. Except this time she had a provisor from them promising luffy and the others safe passage for her surrender. It killed her to be forced into such a decision. The straw hat pirates were her friends, and a home she had made for herself. Tears prickled in her eyes as she slowly moved Suki off her lap and onto the deck, with a blanket around her and her jacket as a pillow. 'I have to do this...even if I don't want to leave, they have to live on', she silently cried. And so into the dusk and shadow of Water Seven, Nico Robin left the Merry; heading acceptingly towards a miserable end.
Meanwhile, shadowy figures in long flowing robes and wearing masks over their faces, were meeting in a back room bar discussing a plot to overthrow Mayor Iceberg and recover the 'plans'. Plans that would grant Mariejois the ability to actually push back against the World Republic. "Are the preparations complete?" A tired voice drawled quietly, sounding bored. The members of Cipher Pol 9 stood in a semi circle around a transponder snail with curly black hair and a vacant expression on its face. Underneath his disguise, Rob Lucci nodded absentmindedly, as he thumbed through the documents in his hands, as he spoke into Transponder Snail's receiver. "Yes sir, all members present and accounted for. Iceberg is unaware of anything untoward happening tonight and Nico Robin is to meet us here," Lucci replied simply. "Then proceed, use whatever force you deem appropriate. From this point onwards neither the Government nor the Marines will have any involvement. This has to look like a civilian uprising: leave no witnesses, no evidence, no trace of your previous existence behind". The snail responded, all trace of a relaxed demeanour had vanished replaced by cold resolve. "If they come to her aid, eliminate them. I have given your commander a Golden Transponder Snail, do you know what that means?" There was a collective chorus of "yes sir" from all members of CP9, but for one member in particular the potential usage of a Buster Call made them shiver. Yet, what else could he do but 'grin and bare it', the mantra of a dog. Bound to the honour and servitude towards the Five Elders. So unlike his epithet, 'Spring Wind', oh how he truly desired to be free.
"Absolutely, sir," Lucci said dryly. "No traces. We shall wipe clean the slate of Water Seven's electoral system; ready for government aligned dignitaries to arrive". The transponder snail was silent for a moment, as the admiral on the other end thought. Aokiji Kuzan was a man that, despite his laziness, did have his own sense of morality. Lucci, on the other hand, worked by a very different set of rules, all Cipher Pol units worked under the orders of the Five Elders. This time however, the admiral may be the one to give the order, but it was still Lucci and CP9 that would carried out the plan. "Very well, I leave judgement calls, within Water Seven, to you". Aokiji explained. "However, when you reach Enies Lobby, you report to Chief Commander Spandam".
"Oh joy," Lucci muttered, barely audibly, rolling his eyes, an action that was shared by his colleagues. Then exclaiming, he said slowly. "Sir, I have a question." Aokiji 's voice replied, "then speak it". "Why have you waited so long to bring Nico Robin in?" Lucci asked curiously. "If you wanted to give her to the government to unlock the Ancient Weapons, you could have brought her in at any time. Why now?" There was a pregnant pause as the admiral audibly sighed. "The government expressed a wish for her to remain free for a time being...so she could further understand the ancient language. The Five Elders need the ancient weapons to counteract the power of the Ten Wizard Saints. Just do your job. Bring Robin in alive and unharmed". Lucci's fingers twitched, restlessly He had never been out of the loop before; trusted and admired for his power, indifference to bloodshed and utter obedience to orders, Rob Lucci was a rising power amongst Cipher Pol agents. "Yes, sir. We promise that'll work to the best of our abilities to ensure that no unnecessary torment comes to Nico Robin," he lied coolly, hanging up the transponder snail. "The pirates, and shipwrights, on the other hand, are a different matter entirely".