LW: So, we've lost 3 straw hats in 2 chapters, lets see if we can stem the flow ay guys?
Rubber King and Mirror Master - Pulling back the curtain: CP9 exposed
Kaos sighs as he keeps pace with Chopper, a pouting Artemis over his shoulder like a grumpy sack of potatoes. Sanji had some hair brained scheme whiring in his head so they were going to just leave him to it, the others needed to be informed of Robin's departure. Letting his senses lock onto any devil fruit users in the area, finding a few unfamiliar ones in the process, Luffy's rang out and he directed Chopper of their next turn. Despite the situation he chuckles as he begins to hear a few of their crewmates arguing, as would be expected
"This is all your fault Zoro!"
"The whole town is looking for us, I ain't taking the fucking blame"
"Maybe we should avoid fighting each other until we actually find some shelter"
"Found them, knew going in the direction of the noise would lead us to the Captain"
"Yes Val, for a change you managed to make our jobs deliberately easier"
"Hey look it's all out friends" Chopper cheers, happy to see people who wanted to be near him again
"And an angry mob" Artemis adds with a sigh "Nothing the whole crew can't beat right?"
Kaos chuckles "Of course. Hey guys, these cannon fodder really giving you this much trouble?" he shouts
"Look it's another one, get him"
BOOM
"As good a signal as any" Alvida laughs, smashing a mans face with her mace before sidestepping a saw blade
"We were trying to avoid as much conflict and commotion as possible" Vivi argues weakly, though still digs her gloves out of her pockets
"Which would be great, if the entire town wasn't out for blood" Artemis argues, hopping off Kaos' shoulder as he backhands a thug and trips another into the canal
"Yeah yeah yeah, now duck
Gum Gum Gatling
With everyone beaten Luffy lets out a sigh of relief, then gets slammed in the back of the head
"You could have done that the entire time?" Nami shouts with shark teeth
"No, I needed time and space. Not exactly easy to come by when running about"
"Luffy I need to tell you something" Chopper interrupts, looking a little twitchy
"Hm, Chopper are you ok?" Nami asks, distracted by their clearly distressed doctor
"Nico Robin has left the crew" Artemis announces, the tone as shocking to the crew as the statement and the words, they'd never heard Artemis call Robin anything but Mama...what the fuck happened while they'd been chased across the island?
"She also admitted to trying to kill Iceberg, something emo about a darkness lurking inside her and that we are basically going to be a distraction for her while she gets away" Kaos adds "She apologises for that by the way, we weren't meant to get involved apparently"
"Thanks, means precisely jack shit" Valentina grumbles
"We should have seen this coming you know" Zoro says flatly "She was Crocodile's dragon before joining the crew, and that was after the fighting ended, not convinced to switch sides like the V's" he adds, remembering Robin wasn't the only Ex-Baroque Works agent to join, assuring them he wasn't waiting for them to turn on him as well.
"That doesn't explain why Artemis is clearly pissed off" Alvida notes "Are you mad she didn't bring you with her, leaving her own kid…"
"I'm not her kid, I'm some stray she picked up for shits and giggles" Artemis grunts, then yelps in pain at the slap to the back of the head "Ow, papa"
"She didn't say that, you weren't even meant to hear her say that. Robin was trying to push buttons, which she clearly did for you sweetie, because I wasn't walking away when she told me to. And remember she says she did love you, so even just remember that"
Artemis huffs "Is that what you're going to tell yourself too? Robin loved me. She just had to dig the knife in extra deep on the way out?" she's picked up and held, the tears streaming from her face once more as Kaos kisses her forehead
"So what do we do now?" Vivi asks
"Robin's not going anywhere, there was a reason she attacked Icepops and it's not complete. We need to find her before the mob do, and get some real answers" Luffy decides "If Kaos is right, she's pushing us away for a reason, and just like last time, I don't feel like taking orders from people who think they don't need help" he gives a slightly feral smirk, Nami getting shiver up her spine as she knows exactly what he's talking about
"She said we'd never see her again, and that things were about to get worse. Does that mean…" Chopper asks
"That she's going to try again with whoever the other guy is. Yeah" Victor agrees with a frown "Robin's turned into Sunday again" the bomberman notes, getting a nod from his partner
"Correct, but the thing is, were we the job, or is Iceberg?"
"Considering how bad things have gone just attacking Iceberg, she's going to kill him this time, isn't she?" Vivi sighs bitterly, having just gotten used to seeing the archaeologist as a friend and ally rather than the woman who helped nearly destroy her country. She really hoped the woman had a good reason for this, or her wires were going to find their way around Robin's neck rather soon.
"Yes. The only good news is that means we know where she's going to be tonight, and intercept" Kaos nods
"You're forgetting something though" Nami pipes in "The masked man, the one Robin was seen with, and the statement Iceberg gave said he was there with Robin when she attacked the mayor. There's a chance he's the reason she's doing all this, he might be holding something over Robin so she's comply"
"Or he has something she needs or strongly desires, given what I've heard about her partnership with Crocodile"
"So if we beat the big guy up we can get Robin back?" Chopper asks
"That's the best case scenario" Zoro replies, clearly not putting too much stock in the option "But it might not be that simple"
"Either way, we're doing this tonight" Luffy decides, everyone agreeing with their captain "We're going to try capture her, as we won't get any answers to what's going on otherwise"
That evening
"There sure are a lot of people out there, and they're really loud" Chopper notes as he puts down the binoculars "Think Robin can actually do this?"
"Technically she just needs line of sight to kill him, it's the fact she clearly wants something that makes it difficult" Kaos answers, Artemis frowns as she rests her head on his shoulder "That fact means she has to somehow get into the building around the entire Galley La company without being spotted"
"Which even for someone like Sunday would be a big ask" Valentina adds "As a full team we could probably take this place, but a lone commando, yeah I don't like her chances"
Victor frowns "Except she's not, that mystery man in the mask is helping her, which is an unknown that makes guessing her chances… difficult"
"Ug, I hate all this waiting around, shouldn't we try get in to intercept her already?" Alvida asks, her right hand twitching on the grip of her mace
Luffy turns to Kaos and nods, the reflect human passes Artemis to Chopper and shimmers out of view
"What was that for?" Vivi asks
"If we make a commotion the guards will focus on us and Robin along with whoever she's working with will just sneak in during the commotion. We need to wait until she's already inside, then I rocket in and stop her. You guys need to be ready in case she tries to run"
Zoro settles down into his usual ready position "This is going to be a long night, but it's our only chance to get answers"
Turns out Robin had clearly spent too long around Luffy and the straw hats, as subtle clearly had been lost somewhere along the way… at least based on the huge ass explosion that was set off in the front of the office building
"I think she's here" Artemis says, clicking her tongue
"As distractions go, it's not a bad one" Victor comments "Draws everyone's attention to right there, meaning during both the panic and the firefighting routine she should be able to slip in with little issue. Val and I have done it a couple times, though our fruits are better suited to this plan than Robin's"
"True, you cause the distraction and I float over the wall to the target" the blond chuckles, then sobers up as they prepare to fight their friend
"Um guys, I see a caped figure and someone in a bear mask on running through the crowd, and some weirdo on the roof" Chopper calls alerting the others to the fact things were definitely underway.
"Well, score one for whoever said she was working with a team" Nami groans, knowing that made things more complicated "So, how much longer till we move Luffy? Luffy?" she turns and the captain wasn't there "HOW THE FUCK DO YOU PEOPLE LOSE THE LIVING RUBBERBANDBALL!" she screams, luckily there was enough going on she didn't draw attention to herself, what with the masked woman flying through the air, slicing up dockworkers with a thorn whip, a bull and skull faced man fisting their way through the inside of the building, Robin and bear mask were actually doing the least damage, besides the woman with a hornet mask shadowing Polly, the blond not even noticing she was there.
While the cloak he used may have obscured the duo's escape when they were cornered and essentially put before a firing squad of angry shipwrights, it was in clear view of an odd spiral carved into the roof partitions
'So that's how you do it' Kaos muses, now finally having a fruit to go with the feeling of the large man, now he just needed to meet the feral.
Meanwhile Robin and her partner had an easy walk now the rest of CP9 had either dealt with or were continuing to distract the workers "It's right here" Robin says, the man nods and stands against the wall
"Now just give me a push" he grunts, Robin sighing internally before doing so, the wall opening like a door…
Bang
...before slamming shut again, sending both to the ground, Robin pinned until she was able to roll the man off her
"What the Hell was that?" Iceberg asks in confusion, only then noticing the young man standing in the shadows
"Really good luck I guess" Kaos replies with a shrug "That could have ended badl…" he stops when bear mask simply opens another section of wall to step through, Robin following close behind "Helu, nice Devil fruit, want to exchange names?"
"That's how you got into my office last night" Iceberg gasps
"Correct. I ate the Doa Doa no mi, where most see a wall, and obstacle to remove, I see a path to my destination" door man replies "And I don't need you to tell me your fruit, we are already aware of it and it's properties, probably better than you are"
Kaos huffs "Use that air door of yours to go fuck yourself" then crossing his arms asks "So, is there a point to killing Iceberg or are you just tired of the growing list of people telling you no?" In response Door Man shoots Iceberg "Ok, lover's spat it is"
"It's not time yet, we still need him" Robin reminds the man, a small part of her thinking she may of swapped one idiot for another
"Relax, it's a non fatal wound, and it won't do anything to affect his ability to talk. In fact it gives you an easy way to make him talk" the man shrugs in his response
"So, this is how CP9 operates?" Iceberg wheezes
"You're not exactly doing anything, I expected to be dodging a punch, kick or some other attack by now" Door man notes, getting a disinterested shrug from Kaos
"I'm pretty sure you guys are the no witnesses kind of Government thugs, so I'm fine standing on the sidelines until you decide to kill me, then see how long I can last for" he smirks, silver eyes flashing, making Robin frown, though the Door Man's face was unreadable under his mask
"You're right, you're no threat to CP9, we can deal with you after the mission is over" he drones, turning his attention back to Iceberg
"Kid, you're an asshole" Iceberg grumbles, getting an honest nod from Kaos "But it seems I was wrong about you straw hats, you weren't part of this. Sorry about that"
"I'll pass on the message, I'm sure Vivi will send you a fruit basket… or is it she will expect a fruit basket, pirates don't get apologized to alot" he chuckles "Eh it's the princess' job to be polite, mine is to make sure we actually survive when shit like this happens" shimmering over to Iceberg to help him sit back on his bed
"At least with his blood on your hands the frame job will stick this time" Door man booms "Iceberg, you are alive for 2 reasons 1) to give the account of your failed assassination by a member of the straw hat crew, and 2) so we could feret out and now retreive a document we've been searching for, for a long time. Blueprints passed on from shipwright to chosen apprentice for generations. With your life in danger, we knew we could accelerate the process, get Pluton's schematics out in the open for the World Government's rightful acquisition"
Kaos laughs bitterly "It's always Pluton with you Robin, here's hoping he's checked you for water bottles before bringing you along Sesese"
Door man ignores the pirate "As I was saying, you made that transfer tonight, our associates are with your foreman Polly as we speak" Iceberg pales, luckily not from blood loss, though it was a momentary worry in both Robin and Kaos' mind, and grits his teeth in anger
"So all going according to plan then" Iceberg scoffs
"Actually yes" the was a tiny flicker of amusement in the masked man's tone then he turns to Robin "I leave you to finish the job, while I deal with the guards outside the door. When we have the blueprints in hand we'll give you the signal to eliminate Iceberg and plug the leak. After that the last casualty for justice will be Polly, and we already have an agent ready to deal with him" he then leaves, a commotion was heard outside, and given how quiet the bedroom had become, one word was heard from Door Man
Tekkai
Meanwhile
"Hey Luffy" the trapped straw hat turned his eyes to the voice"
"Vlntin" he slurs seeing the blond, her heels dug into the wall and hooks or grips on the fingerless gloves she was wearing "Wt R U do'n hr?"
"Same as you I recon, kyahaha" she laughs "This storm makes air travel 7 kinds of fucked, I thought I was in a bad spot but that rubber body has finally screwed you over in a way I would have managed to escape"
Luffy hums, clearly pissed off about his current predicament "Whr are te othrs?" he asks
"Causing mayhem. Did you see the idiot with the whips, Vic seems to be pissing her off with his bombs, and if she comes any closer Vivi's wires might actually be able to catch her. Nami and Chopper are panicking while Zoro and Alvida seem to have decided to just hit things until either you show up, or they run into Robin. Speaking off, want a hand?"
"Thanks" Luffy sighs, Valentina grabbing his hand and disengaging from the wall, increasing her weight to normal, but all it did was stretch Luffy's arm as she went down
"Crap, that didn't work" she groans, letting go and allowing Luffy's arm to snap back
"Yeah, wait a minute, don't all the buildings in this place have weird spiky things?" Luffy shouts, having managed to push his head forward enough to talk properly
"I think so, why?"
"I might be able to free myself, give me a moment"
The blond does as asked, smiling when she hears the 'signature' Yahoo of her captain "You good boss"
"Yeah, thanks for trying, now I better get back to catching Robin. See you later" Luffy calls down, shooting his arm out and grabbing the Galley La office roof
Gum Gum Rocket
Back with Robin
"You have a fan Robin, I feel like I've been replaced" Kaos purrs, giving a pout Robin now knew Artemis had learnt it from.
Robin rolls her eyes "So you have my picture on your wall, want me to sign it on the way out?" she asks sarcastically
"Oh you can sign it alright, in blood!" Iceberg shouts, pulling a pistol on Robin only for her to reveal 4: one in each hand, including 2 bloomed arms just below her own
"All this, just to kill me?" Robin asks in confusion
"Yes, to end you, before you destroy the world" Robin tenses "Why are you looking for the Poneglyphs? The world government has made their research illegal for as long as anyone can remember, so why do you want to know so badly about them?"
Robin scoffs "If they're so bad, why do you know about them?"
Iceberg chuckles, a little blood drips down his chin "Knowing about their existence isn't a crime, they're too large and unbreakable to hide, but deciypering them, that's a big deal, and you're the only person alive capable of that"
"Then you're going to need another gun, actually 2" Kaos interrupts "And while I don't think Artemis is bulletproof, it took the hand of God to scar me, you'll need to actually produce Pluton to kill me Iceberg" his grin is feral and sadistic
Iceberg freezes "You've been teaching people, do you know what the Government will do to them and you if they find out?"
"I didn't teach Kaos, I was as surprised as anyone when he was able to determine Pluton's last known location from Alabasta's poneglyph. Artemis though… She is my daughter, my only mark on this world, she saw mommy reading and writing with odd squiggles and wanted in on my 'secret code' bet she was shocked when she got her first glimpse of her papa's journal. I'll admit to improving his work though, he's almost as good as me, well in a couple years" the tone was almost teasing, but the room's tension was too high for it to matter.
"You can't be serious, you don't believe working with CP9 will actually bring you mercy, not after all these years just below Dragon and the Yonko on the World Government's shit list?" he sighs swaying from his seated position "Though I suppose it doesn't matter, least of all to a dead man walking like myself. If you translate those stones, reactivate the Ancient weapons, it won't matter who has them, they will bring nothing but destruction and death! We worked so hard to bury the past, so just let it lie"
Robin's shoulders slump slightly "We agree on certain parts, but that doesn't mean you can dictate to me what I chose to sacrifice my life for, nor what I decide is worthy of my time and research. I don't want the weapons, but people keep coming to me asking about them, last time I got a poneglyph out of the arrangement, and a hook to the gut" the lower hands take their fingers off the trigger "Besides, is it really fair to lecture me, when you had Pluton's blueprints and never once thought about burning them?"
"It was a precaution, in case the weapon ever fell into the wrong hands. Though I do agree it's now brought the hand of CP9 down on me, not that burning them would have helped me in this instance" Iceberg tries to argue, though does admit she has a point "Still, ending you would be the best option as you're the only person they know who can still read it, unless you told your new friends about the forbidden knowledge you've been shari...ah!" Iceberg yells as his arm is bent backwards, snapping the bone and causing him to drop the gun
"Thanks for the new info, I though crossing your arms was an activation stance" Kaos chuckles, picking up the gun and slipping it into his coat
"It's not, but it makes defending my core easier" Robin admits, putting away most of her guns and putting the last one to Iceberg's head "For the record, they didn't need me to steal the blueprints, I was just a useful addition" she admits "They probably have it right now"
Iceberg chuckles "Now it sounds like someone is calling the game prematurely. All you've done, is walk right into my trap" the 2 straw hats eye's widen, one in worry, the other intrigue.
Pura pura pura click
"We've hit a snag in the operation, reconvene at the bedroom, DON'T shoot Iceberg yet" came the voice on the other end of the baby Den Den Mushi
"Well, there goes your trap" Robin muses, but Iceberg still looked smug
"Why is he still alive?" asked the woman as CP9 enter the room together
"Bluno told me to eliminate all witnesses AFTER killing Iceberg, besides other than helping Iceberg back onto his bed he hasn't done anything" Robin replies, the hornet masked woman annoyed by the tensing of her body
"Pirates and your loopholes, you should have just ended him before leaving the room" she hisses to the Door Man who shrugs
"So this is CP9, go away I have nothing to say to you" Iceberg scowls, then freezes when Hattori lands on the Bull mask's shoulder
"Well, now the jig is up there's no point in these silly disguises" Lucci says removing his mask and replacing it with a top hat
"This wouldn't have happened if you had just given us the plans when we were still asking nicely" Kaku adds, removing the skull mask
"I was hoping we didn't have to resort to bloodshed but it's much too late for that" Califa sighs
"I'm not, personally I think we should have done this from the start" Sui Feng argues
"Stubborn as your old master, it's a shame that was what you learnt from him" Blueno sighs removing the bear mask
"We're really running out of time here old man, so tell me before anyone else dies, where did you hide the blueprints, for the Ancient Weapon Pluton?" Luci asks, her body tense like a spring
TBC
LW: Well, shit's happening and CP9 have shown up, plus one because I like randomly adding extra characters to spice things up. Sui, she's a bit like Lucci, only she doesn't hide her bloodlust as well as he does in a normal setting. I'd say it's because of her Devil Fruit, but Lucci's does the same to him so she's just more of a murder junkie I guess. IDK.
Also, to JustMe, the guest from chapter 66… I really would love to see that remade 5th opening. Link please? Or did I misunderstand?
R&R people, see you in 2 weeks
