The halls only echoed with the sound of clicking chains along soft weeps and sobs; not that the girls could hear any of the disrupting sounds. Their bodies were being dragged to the last cell in a long linear hallway, whose stone walls and floors oozed with the smell of dried blood and urine.

Two guards hung them on the chain bracelets hanging from the short ceiling, one by the left side of the entrance, one by the right side of it. The only item in the small cell was a small, worn – out table decorated with a black, laced mask, which would cover the nose and eyes of the one wearing it, and now a log pose, golden bracelet and a cowboy hat; which were added moments before their bodies ended up swinging in the air on the cold metal handcuffs.

''Seems like you got new roommates, Walker. I hope they do as well as you do.'' One of the guards, with a body much larger than the one he spoke to, mocked the newcomers, while examining the items on the table, placed directly across the orange hair newcomer and on the left side of the third hanging body.

''Oh, I'm sure they'll bring nothing but pleasure to those who demand them.'' Throaty but grating voice departed from the third hanging body in the cell, equally in a mocking tone, competing with the guards. It wasn't his first ride with the prisoner in question; he knew full well her tone was just another way of her disobedience towards them, which now resulted in heavy footsteps towards her.

''Don't get witty with me, Walker, I'll make sure the Boss punishes you for it.'' The chains slowly clicked while his hand, wrapped in a black, metal glove, hugged her cheeks and gripped them hard, pulling her whole body towards his impressively big figure.

''Oh, I could never; I wouldn't want my handler get jealous. I know how much you enjoyed last night, Marky.''

Her tongue once again earned her a slap across the face, every wrinkle of his mesh glove leaving a red visible mark over her right cheek, pushing her body back swinging.

''It's officer Richards, for you, whore!''

The sound had awoken the girl on the left side of her. Luckily, the guards just found their way to the heavy metal door before she let her head rise.

''Good morning, beautiful. Welcome to hell.'' The middle figure spoke, this time a bit more lively.

The orange haired woman looked at her with wide eyes full of shock, while the other woman regained her conscious as well.

''Nami?''

''Are you okay, Robin?'' The orange hair quickly turned in the direction of her friend, before noticing she was in the same position and situation as the raven haired.

''Nico Robin. Cat burglar Nami. I'm sorry to meet you in a setting like this.''

Both of the females now poured their attention towards the central of the cell.

''How do you know who we are?'' Nami quickly questioned the woman.

''The news talks about you every so often. Wouldn't it be a bigger shock if I hadn't known who the Straw Hats were?''

Nami quickly withdrew, probably trying to figure out what happened before she lost consciousness, but Robin continued the interaction between the hanging figure and them.

''It's only polite to introduce yourself to us then.''

The woman swayed closer to the light, which was placed just a few inches from where the metal hook of her chains rested, allowing the females a better look at her figure. Her hair was long and brown; it framed soft facial features, full lips and thick black eyelashes that decorated medium oval brown eyes. Or what could be seen of her face, under a fair amount of blood the guard caused.

She seemed shorter than Robin, seeing her chains were pulled more over the metal hook, but still higher than Nami. Same as her height, her age seemed to fall somewhere in the realm between the ages of the Straw Hats women. Her body was covered in dry blood and a couple of bruises, which were all visible because she was practically naked.

Her wide hips were encompassed by black tight shorts, while her chest was lacking such restraint – the only thing covering her breasts was the remaining of a white tank top, which now resembled more a crop top. While the Straw Hat women were still fully dressed, this woman missed even footwear. Before she could answer, Robin already noticed the table behind the unknown woman, quickly inspecting and recognizing its contents. All of its contents.

''The mask.'' Robin's head slowly returned to the position before noticing the table, only now widen eyed did she stare at the woman.

''What is it, Robin?'' Nami expectedly wanted an explanation for this situation, which grew more mysterious by every moment.

''Shadow Walker.'' Quietly, Robin spoke out after a long pause. Robin's tone of voice sounded accusing and judging, making the woman clench her aching jaw and frown.

''No, please.'' Brown haired woman spoke hastily after the reveal of her identity. ''I'm Zaria. Only those who show no respect for balance should know me by the name such as Shadow Walker.''

''You're a serial killer and you speak of balance? Ironic.''

''I can understand your opinion. The news always leave out the most critical parts of the information they receive.''

''Wait, you're the one burning up the Navy ships and bases?'' Nami interrupted again, now connecting all of the dots. ''The paper said you've slaughtered more than a hundred officers in both of the facilities, making you responsible for deaths of more than two hundred men and women. Plus, all of the people on the ships. I agree with Robin, sounds pretty serial killer-y to me.''

''That's pretty narrow look on the things, but I guess it does sound like it. I guess I am fully guilty.'' Zaria paused, taking a deep breath, in a desperate attempt to push down her rage.

Rage of the misinformation going around the world, leaving it blind once again to actual problems, and the rage of actually being seen as a worse guy in the situation as such. She never expected to be perceived as something positive, taking into matter she was still doing something naturally wrong, but to conclude an opinion on the matter, despite not knowing all of the variables of the equation, did fill her insides with a certain amount of anger, as much as she wished to let it go. Her expectation of the world was far too great and she should've prepared herself for more explaining and far worse reactions to her persona.

Finally, she managed to persuade herself it wasn't the girls' fault they formed such an opinion, despite not having all of the facts, for it wasn't common for the criminal side of any kind of evens to give a press conference or an explanation behind their elaborate plans; so she settled on explaining it herself, even if it only were to Robin and Nami.

''I'll be the worst guy. Once you ignore the fact the facilities were used by corrupted Navy officers under the sponsorship of a couple of Celestial Dragons, mostly for the use of human trafficking and sex slaves.''

Both of her cellmates remained silent for a moment, which Zaria took to her advantage, immediately continuing.

''You think what you saw on that bloody island was bad? The World Government and the world know all about the happenings on the island of Sabaody Archipelago, while these monstrosities are in the dark even to the Navy HQ. I just wanted to shine some light on the currents events.'' Zaria's tongue carefully licked over the spot in the right corner of her mouth, absorbing its metal aroma, before she continued.

''They capture women in broad daylight, bring them to their bases and after months of what they call testing, decide to either sell them to third parties or keep using them till they can't stand anymore. They deny them food and hygiene for weeks. Most of them die for exactly that reason. Not to mention, sex slaves aren't only for sex. They're for everything. If they're feeling angry, they'll beat you. If they're horny, they'll screw you. If they're feeling generous, they'll share you with their friends, family or subordinates. If you end up pregnant, they kill you. What I'm doing is far less evil then their doings. Plus, it's quicker. And I'm almost done.''

Robin let out a soft puff, obviously fighting inside herself, giving Nami an opportunity to express her opinion.

''So, you would be a lesser evil, between the two?''

''No, I would just be someone fighting back. Someone trying to maintain balance. You don't have to understand my motives. Besides, there were six ships and three bases that operated, according to my information. I've taken care of the ships and two of the bases. The whole man hunt should be over soon enough, meaning I'll save your minds from the exposure to that form of news as soon as I get out of these chains.''

Zaria clacked her shackles which made the women look up to their own handcuffs, before glancing down to their feet, which barely touched the stone floor.

''A woman would think you'd be relieved by these facts.''

''Why would we feel easier knowing you future plans?'' Nami yelled in her direction, still not releasing the severity of their situation.

''Your handcuffs are made of Sea Prism Stone. Mine are made of something similar, with same effects to myself as the Sea Prism Stone is to Robin here. It's draining.''

''You're making the situation even worse.''

''I'm only informing you with the full length of our situation. No one knows where you are, you are unlikely to escape by yourself, so the only bet we have is for the idiots here to make a mistake so I can finish my plan and escape, along with the two of you.''

This only resulted with imaginary question marks over the heads of the women, followed by utter shock and disbelief.

''I'm sure you figured it out by now. We are locked in the cell of the third corrupted Navy base, with Celestial Dragons on their way to test the new merchandise.''

Zaria took a deep breath, before completing her sentence fully.

''You.''