Timeframe: Time Skip
Spoilers: Some for those who aren't past chapter 705 in the manga
Rating: T for Celestial Dragons and general unpleasantness
Summary: When a mission to rescue a group of escaped slaves doesn't go as planned, it's up to Robin and a young Revolutionary to set things right again.
"Congratulations on another successful mission."
Robin spared the Revolutionary a small smile as she boarded the ship destined for Baltigo. She had not had a restful night's sleep or a shower in longer than she cared to recall and was more than ready for both. Playing the part of a Revolutionary was dirty, thankless work, especially when her partner insisted on working undercover as a hobo.
"Is Mr. Sabo to accompany you?" the ship's captain asked.
"No, there is more work he would like to accomplish. But our part is finished; you can set sail as soon as you're ready," Robin said. "If you'll excuse me, I have business that needs attending to."
Robin descended into the ship's communication room. Finding a snail that was awake, Robin made a call to Revolutionary headquarters. Luckily Dragon was in, and he picked up after a few rings.
"The cage has been opened," Robin said.
"So the bird may fly free," Dragon replied, completing the second half of the code indicating it was safe for her to speak openly. "I take it things went well?"
"As much as can be expected. I should be back in a week with a full report."
"Actually, I have a task for you. It's dangerous, and I understand if you choose not to accept, but please hear me out before making a decision."
It was unlike Dragon to have volunteer missions, and Robin was instantly on guard. "I'm listening."
"There is a report out that ten slaves have managed to escape Mariejois. According to the information gathered by agents in the area there's a high chance that they're hiding on Prei Island."
Prei Island…that was a two day trip from her location. "You want me to find them?"
"And bring them to HQ if possible," Dragon said. "I'm sorry to spring this on you, but I need an answer now. There's another agent en route as we speak, but I would like her to have some backup. You're my best option."
Assisting slaves from Mariejois. If she were caught, Robin would face the wrath of the Celestial Dragons, who since the escape of Fisher Tiger eleven years previous thought about escapees the same way most did an invading army.
On the other hand, Robin had seen the slaves on the Saboady Archipelago and Tequila Wolf. Such disregard for life was sickening and barbaric, and she said that as someone who spent four years of her life working for Sir Crocodile. The Celestial Dragons represented everything she hated about the World Government, and Robin would take great pleasure in slighting them, even in such a small matter.
"I'll do it," Robin said. "Just tell me what I need to know."
"Very well. I don't have many details, but here's what you need to do meet your contact…"
Robin listened intently as Dragon laid out the plan. It seemed like she her shower would have to wait.
Prei was a summer island whose geography could be roughly separated into two parts. Most of the country consisted of fertile lowlands perfectly suited for agriculture. On the north and eastern coasts there was a small mountain range covered in untamed jungle. The port city of Meuong, where Robin docked a day and a half later thanks to favorable winds, stood as a sort of divider between the two.
Like Mock Town on Jaya, Meuong had the reputation of a lawless city. If the slaves managed to sneak in it would be the perfect place to lay low until their pursuers lost interest. The difficulty was managing to sneak in. Forty foot walls surrounded the city on all sides to protect against pirate attacks. To enter one had to have the correct papers, which legally or illegally obtained required money that escaped slaves were unlikely to possess.
It also posed a problem for Robin, who didn't want a paper trail in any way linking her to the city.
"What do you want to do?" the ship's captain asked.
Robin squinted at the sky. In a few hours the sun would set and the gates would close. At any moment the slaves might be caught and sent back to Mariejois, but she had to be patient. She would do no one any good if she managed to get herself arrested.
"We gather information," Robin said. "And we wait. Dragon said he had another agent already here, and we can only hope that she's good at her job."
After the sun set Robin changed into her darkest clothes, checked the contents of her backpack for the final time, and began walking around the walls of Meuong. Even without her Devil Fruit it would have been painfully easy to avoid patrols and watchmen, some of whom were already settling down for games of dice, even though it was only the first watch of the night.
Robin walked maybe a quarter of a mile when she saw two lit lanterns hanging out of one of the towers. She positioned herself directly below them and whistled four times. There was a moment of silence before she heard two short whistles in return, followed shortly thereafter by a rope ladder thrown down from above.
Robin grabbed the first rung and began the steep climb up the wall. Her sprouted eyes saw two people waiting in the tower, neither of which looked like they were planning on attacking her. Once she reached the window strong hands grabbed under her armpits and helped her inside.
"You made it," a petite woman said in a hushed tone as Robin dusted off her pants. Beside her a man in the blue uniform of a guardsman shifted from foot to foot uncomfortably.
"I done my part," he said. "Now give me what's mine and git gone, 'fore sommone sees."
"Of course," the woman said. She dug a small pouch out of a satchel slung across her shoulder and tossed it at the man. "Here's the other half, as promised." She turned to Robin and gave her a bright smile. Noticing Robin purse her lips at the guardsman, she said, "Don't worry about him. As long as there's bellies involved he's willing to lend a hand or two Revolution's way. You ready to go?"
Robin nodded and allowed the woman to lead them out of the tower. Once they were out of earshot of the guard, she asked, "You're Koala, I assume?"
"The one and only," she said, pressing her ear against the door on the ground floor.
"There are no guards, only a few civilians who won't pay us any attention," Robin said. When Koala raised an eyebrow, Robin offered a faint smile of her own. "Devil Fruit," she explained.
"Nice. I've got a place not too far from here where we can talk business." She opened the door and the pair slunk into the city.
They didn't dare speak out in the open, and Robin used the walk between the wall and Koala's hideout to assess her partner. Koala was not what she envisioned when Dragon said he had a senior agent in the area.
She was small and finely boned and looked oh-so-very young. Robin had come to trust Dragon's judgement in how he ran his Revolution, but this time she remained skeptical. It wasn't that a young woman couldn't be a high ranking Revolutionary, it was just…
Koala smiled at her again, and there was something about it that made Robin uncomfortable.
They skirted around the edge of the slums. Meuong had a thriving night market, and tonight business was booming. Robin's ears picked up the sound of venders hawking their wears, her eyes saw restaurants that hid secret gambling dens. There were men passed out from drink or worse and women with painted faces trying to make a belli or two. Places like Meuong danced to a different beat than the rest of the world, and any wrong step could result in a slit throat.
"We've got company," Robin murmured. Koala gave a barely perceptible nod of the head.
"Four guys in black and red coats?"
"I count five. One with a gun, two with knives, two unarmed."
Koala smirked. "That Devil Fruit of yours is handy."
"They're going to try and lure us somewhere more secluded," Robin said.
"For a nice meeting of the minds, no doubt," Koala agreed. "I don't want them following us all the way back, and we can't confront them out in the open like this."
Robin nodded. There were too many people around for her to make an open attack. "What do you propose?"
"I say we give them what they want. Matching coats probably means a gang. They might have info on our escapees."
As Koala spoke the man with a gun tucked in his waistband broke off from the rest of the group and approached them. There was swagger in his step and a predatory look in his eyes that made Robin's skin crawl. As he reached them he slung his arm around her shoulder, and it took a considerable amount of willpower not to break his spine.
"Ladies, ladies, ladies. How's it goin'? Beautiful night for a walk, don'cha think?" He wrapped his other arm around Koala's neck and placed a hand on her breast. The girl slapped his hand away as Robin slithered out of his hold.
"Who do you think you are?" Koala demanded.
"Ah, sorry. Musta forgot to introduce myself. Name's Zhen." He smirked. "The real question's who're you? Ain't never seen you in Black Dragon territory before, and I never forget a pretty face, let alone two."
Robin glanced at Koala as Zhen herded them away from the market and deeper into the slums. The other men—Black Dragons, she presumed—began to close in, cutting off possible escape routes. They moved with practiced efficiency, reminding Robin of a pack of wolves circling around its prey. Robin knew she could defeat them in an instant, but Koala was right: They needed information, and there was a chance that these thugs knew something about the escaped slaves.
"The truth is we're looking for someone," Robin said.
"Yeah? Maybe I can help you out. For a price." He shoved them both into an alleyway, and the other four Black Dragons fell in beside him, forming a line. "Whaddya think, boys? What's it gonna cost?" The others laughed.
"You know, I've never cared much for Dragons," Koala said. Her smile was nowhere to be seen. "Nor bullies who think they can take what they want by force."
"Watch your mouth, bitch" one snarled, drawing a knife from his belt. "Someone needs a lesson in respect."
"Oh, I agree, but it's not us," Robin said as she crossed her arms. "Sies Fleur: Twist."
The Black Dragon dropped his knife and screamed as his back was twisted in ways that it was never meant to. Robin quickly sprouted an arm to muffle the noise and another to throw the weapon where the others couldn't easily reach it.
"What the hell? What just happened?" Zhen yelled.
"You cornered a bitch strong enough to bite back," Koala said coldly. "One Hundred Tile Fist!"
All doubts of Koala's competency vanished as she struck with blinding speed, fist connecting with Zhen's gut before he could move. He fell to one knee and coughed up blood, but the young Revolutionary wasn't finished. Koala kicked Zhen into the alley wall, and he fell into a boneless heap.
Robin made quick work of the rest, killing each of them with a quick twist of the neck after making sure that Zhen was still breathing. When the last Black Dragon fell, Koala walked over and with one arm picked up Zhen by the collar of his coat.
"P-Please, I didn't mean nothin'!" he stammered. "Don't kill me!"
"That depends on what you can tell us," Robin said. She could feel herself slipping into her Miss All Sunday persona like one would an old coat, going to the darkness that had lain mostly dormant since the Enies Lobby incident a year before.
"I'll tell ya what ya want!"
"I'm sure you will," Robin said. After a few whispered words she held his gun against his knee. "I warn you, I have the same opinion of liars my associate does of bullies."
Koala shifted uncomfortably at the turn of events, but made no move to stop Robin's interrogation.
"Within the last week seven men and three women came into this city," Robin continued, keeping her voice low and polite, as if she were talking about the weather. "They were outsiders, desperate for a hiding place but without enough money to pay for one. Odds are they passed through the market and Black Dragon territory. Now, I understand that you never forget a pretty face, and those girls were very pretty." She pressed the gun into his knee for effect. "What happened to them?"
"I already told you people!" Zhen exclaimed. "What the hell, man?! Why's a bunch've gutter rats got everyone so worked up for?"
"Who else have you talked to?" Robin asked.
"The creepy bastard in the white suit. The guy came around yesterday askin' questions, and let me tell ya lady, he asked much nicer than you!"
"White suit?" Koala repeated. "What did he look like?"
"How the hell should I know? He wore a mask, didn't he? Came around offering ten thou' for dirt on some bums, and I—argh! What was that for?!" Zhen shouted as Koala dropped him without preamble.
The Revolutionary ignored him. Facing Robin, she said, "We need to go. Now."
"But what about…"
"We won't find them here, and he doesn't know anything else important," Koala interrupted. She began to walk out of the alleyway at a brisk pace.
Robin frowned slightly and glanced at Zhen. The gangster was leaning against the wall, utterly bewildered. His friends were dead, and with his injuries was no longer a threat. Maybe tonight would be a lesson to him.
On the other hand, he was a loose end, an enemy who had seen her power and her face.
Robin hurried after Koala, and once they were out of earshot called on her power. A second later Zhen was dead, with her companion none the wiser.
"We need to find the slaves as soon as possible," Koala said.
"What's wrong?" Robin asked.
"White suits and masks…that has to be CP0."
"'CP0'? Don't you mean CP9?" Robin said.
Koala came to an abrupt halt. "You don't know, do you?"
"Know what?"
Looking around to make sure no one was listening, Koala shared with Robin the secret of the Cipher Pol branch that served the Celestial Dragons, equal parts enforcer and boogeyman for the world nobles. Robin could hardly believe what she was hearing, and as she spoke a horrible realization came to mind.
"I saw them," Robin said.
"What? When?!"
"Earlier today. I was gathering information while I was waiting for it to get dark, and there was someone in a white suit outside the city walls. I thought it was strange, but had no idea…"
"Was anyone with him?" Koala asked, straining to keep her voice low.
"I don't think so. I would have noticed…" Robin shook her head. "I can't say for sure, but he was definitely leaving Meuong. I overheard him at the city gates saying he had no need for an overnight pass."
Koala was silent for a long moment. "Well," she began slowly, "I can think of two reasons why CP0 would leave the city. Either our info was wrong and the slaves aren't here, or…" she faltered, hands clenching into fists.
"Or our slaves are already back in Government custody," Robin finished for her. "Either way, there's no reason to stay here."
"Yeah, but it's going to be tough to get out of the city tonight. It was hard enough bribing our birdie getting you in…" Her voice trailed off, and she looked at Robin quizzically. "You're smiling. Why are you smiling?" Koala asked.
"The night's young enough to hold a few surprises yet, Miss Revolutionary. Let's go find our missing slaves."
"You know, I really like swimming, but if it meant getting a Devil Fruit like yours I might consider giving it up."
"It has its advantages," Robin said, looking up at the wall they just scaled. She didn't think anyone had seen, and her ears had not picked up anything suspicious, but away from the torch-lit streets it was difficult to be sure. "I think our best chance is the docks. If CP0 is still on the island, that's probably where their ship is anchored."
"That's a lot of ships," Koala said doubtfully.
"I should be able to scout them, especially once it gets light."
"I'm going to make contact with my partner anyway. He's watching my ship and might be able to get a head start on the search while we're moving," Koala said, digging a den-den mushi out of her bag.
"There's another Revolutionary here?" Robin said. "Why didn't he come with you?"
"You'll understand when you see him. Hello, Hack? Are you there?" she said to the snail. "Yes I'm fine, but listen, we've got a problem here…"
Robin tuned out the rest of the conversation and stared into the darkness. It was a clear night, with a half-moon giving off enough light to see by. She could still hear some of the late night crowd on the other side of the wall, but there was no one outside the city this late in the evening, not with the jungle so close and nocturnal predators on the prowl. Even the quietest of sounds carried far over the buzzing insects.
"…We should be able to meet you in half an hour at the Eastern Wind. See what you can find out before then, and we'll come up with a plan together…Yeah, yeah, you be careful too. Over and out." Koala hung up her den-den mushi. "Okay, let's go."
"I think I hear something," Robin murmured.
"Really? Because I don't…"
"Not here. By the gates."
Robin began walking around the edge of the wall, and Koala rushed to keep up, anxiety apparent even by the way she walked. "H-Hey, you're going the wrong way."
"I think I know where they are," Robin said, hoping with every fiber of her being that she was wrong. Maybe her ears had misinterpreted what they heard, what they continued to hear as Robin more accurately pinpointed where a low moan of pain sounded into the night.
But she wasn't wrong, and they were too late.
"Oh no."
It took Robin a moment to register that Koala had spoken. She was too transfixed by the horror that stared her in the face.
The escaped slaves had been crucified to the walls that surrounded the Meuong. Naked and beaten until nearly they were unrecognizable as human, the slaves had been stripped of every dignity and strung up to die like animals. Above their bodies someone had hung a plaque detailing their crimes, but Robin was too appalled to attempt to read it. Instead she forced herself to look at their faces, committing each one to memory so that someday she could share this history, so that she could tell the world of their courage and senseless death.
"There are only nine," Robin said to herself, eyebrows knitting together. "Why are there only nine?"
One let out a gurgling breath—the sound that had alerted Robin to their presence—and Koala stiffened. "He's still alive!"
"Not for long. The throes of death have overtaken him now. It won't be long till his sins are erased from the world entirely."
Robin spun around. Standing in the moonlight was a tall figure in a white suit, bowler hat casting a deep shadow over his mask. His voice was undeniably male—a light, pleasant sounding tenor devoid of emotion. Robin couldn't see any weapons, and he stood with his hands clasped behind his back even as Koala took a fighting stance.
"CP0," Koala hissed. "You did this."
The agent tilted his head in acknowledgement. "I did. Despite the so-called Revolution's best efforts, justice has been served."
"Not quite," Robin said, crossing her arms. "One is still missing."
"Congratulations on your ability to count, Demon Child, but the matter is well in hand. Examples must be set to detour future incidents. The tenth slave will return to Mariejois and be dealt with there." Robin could almost feel the smugness exuding off of him. "It was difficult deciding which to choose. I settled on one of the young women. She had the most innocent face, and I'm sure her final punishment will stick with the chattel the longest.
"Of course, it is my duty as protector of the Celestial Dragons and their divine right to rule to exterminate threats wherever I find them. I'll make sure you die with the rats you so desperately tried to save."
One of Robin's ears picked up a faint click from the city gate. "Get down!" she shouted, calling on arms to hit Koala behind the knees as she dove to the ground.
She wasn't quite quick enough, and a weighted net wrapped around her arm. Robin instantly felt herself weaken, and when she tried to attack the Cipher Pol agent found that her power was gone.
"Sea stone," Robin snarled, trying to shake the net off without actually touching it. A dozen guardsmen poured out of the gatehouse, half wielding net shooters.
It was impossible to think that the city of Meuong would be able to afford the costly experimental weapons. They had been set up.
"We need to get out of here," Robin told Koala. But Koala made no indication she heard. In fact, she seemed to have gone catatonic.
"Hmm," the man said. "It seems the little mouse doesn't do so well under pressure. No matter, it makes my job easier." He snapped his fingers, and the guardsmen aimed their weapons.
Finally the net slid off, and Robin felt her power return. Wasting no time she crossed her arms. "Cuerpo Fleur!"
A second consciousness sprang into existence, and Robin allowed herself to flow into the clone. As the guardsmen fired the net shooters, their target disappeared into a flurry of petals.
Several hours later Robin reached the Eastern Wind, hoping beyond hope that Koala's partner was still waiting for them. By the time she had shaken the guards and made her way back to the city gate both Koala and the Cipher Pol agent were gone. She could only assume that the sea stone nets had done their job and that the young Revolutionary was now in Government custody.
Off on the horizon the sky was beginning to lighten. Dawn was fast approaching, and if she wanted any chance of rescuing her young partner there was no time to waste.
"Nico Robin?" a low voice rumbled.
Robin jumped and looked for where the voice had come from. Not seeing anyone, she crossed her arms defensively. "Who's there? Show yourself."
"Look down. Where's Koala?"
Robin peered down into the sea. She was barely able to make out the shape of a humanoid head floating above the water. Blinking a few times, she crouched down for a better look.
"A fishman?"
"Yes, now answer my question, before I lose patience."
"And why should I trust you?" Robin asked.
"Because the largest waves begin only as a ripple."
Robin let out a sigh of relief. Of course, CP0 could have already extracted the code phrase from Koala, but it didn't seem likely. "You have no idea how good it is to see you. The Government has played us for fools. Have you found their ship?"
"Yes, but where is Koala?" Hack growled.
"I don't know, but if you would direct me to that ship, I promise you I will find out."
"Damn it! I shouldn't have let her go out by herself!" the fishman exclaimed.
"Now is not the time," Robin said curtly. "If there is any chance of salvaging this mission then we must act immediately."
For a moment Hack was silent. "You're right. Did you have a plan in mind?"
"Yes, although it will require a bit of improvisation along the way."
Hack huffed skeptically, but listened as Robin told laid out her plan. By the time she was finished she had caught his full attention, and he nodded thoughtfully.
"I'll do what you ask, but if Koala comes to any harm through this I'll make you regret the day you were born."
"Fair enough," Robin said, "but if it comes to that point I'll have been captured myself, because I have no intention of leaving Koala behind."
Cipher Pol was using a small, unmarked ship, no different than a dozen others anchored in harbor. Her eyes could not find the CP0 agent, but a few sailors were preparing for departure. Hidden away below deck she could see the silhouettes of two women bound in chains.
An explosion rocked through the harbor, and a large Government ship docked for repairs went up in flames. That was Robin's cue to move. As the sailors rushed to see what caused the commotion she crossed her arms.
"Viente fleur."
They dropped, and Robin used her power to board the ship. The man in white was nowhere to be seen, and Robin grew dozens of eyes and ears to scout ahead. There was still no sign of danger, and cautiously Robin opened the hatch to the brig.
Koala and had been chained, gagged, and blindfolded, but appeared to be unharmed. Robin rushed over and undid the cloth over her eyes. As soon as Robin touched her, Koala began to thrash as much as her constraints would allow.
"It's me," Robin whispered. Koala calmed with visible effort, and Robin to loosen her restraints.
"Where's the girl?" Koala asked as soon as Robin removed the gag. "Is she okay?"
"Let's get you free first," Robin said. A clone was checking on the slave girl, and Robin didn't like what she saw.
The girl couldn't have been older than sixteen, with soft, slender features that no doubt appealed to her master. Light brown hair tumbled over a blindfold and obscured most of her face. As the clone leaned closer for a better look she felt something brush against her leg. She bent down and held the leather gag up closer to the light.
"What in the world?" she murmured. It was torn by the buckle, a single jagged cut that ripped it in two.
Robin brushed the girl's hair out of her face and felt blood. There was a shallow cut on her cheek, but that wouldn't bleed so much…
"What is it?" Koala said, trying to see over Robin's shoulder. "What's wrong?"
The girl had bitten her tongue, preferring to die here rather than return to Mariejois. An exposed nail head was all that was needed to loosen the gag, but the shackles around her wrists were more secure. Robin's clone closed her eyes and tried to compose herself.
"We're going to get you out of here," the clone said, removing the girl's blindfold. She looked at Robin with an unfocused stare and her breathing quickened. A gurgling noise escaped from her throat, causing blood to bubble from her mouth.
"Shh, don't talk," the clone said. "I promise I won't leave you. My associate and I are with the Revolution, and we won't stop until you're free."
Tears welled up in the girl's eyes as Robin looked for a way to make good on her promise.
"I'm surprised at you, Demon Child."
Robin stiffened at the familiar voice and turned to see the man in white. Her eyes had seen him coming, but he managed to enter the captain's quarters soundlessly. It was impossible to tell what emotion, if any, there was behind that blank mask.
"Where you looking for this?" he asked, holding up a small key. "In addition to neutralizing Devil Fruit users, sea stone cuffs are quite durable, don't you agree?"
Robin didn't dignify him with an answer.
"I didn't expect you, the famous Demon of Ohara, to mount a rescue attempt," he continued serenely. "That was clever using the fishman as a distraction. He led me on quite the chase."
"And I didn't expect the trap at the gatehouse. I suppose that makes us even," Robin said. She took a small step to be in better position to use her ability. The agent noticed, and drew a pistol.
"Ah, ah, ah, no funny business, Demon Child, unless you want to see how a sea stone bullet to the shoulder affects a Devil Fruit user."
Robin froze, a cold beads of sweat forming on her forehead. "You're bluffing."
"Am I?" he asked. "I've been preparing for this moment ever since I saw you yesterday afternoon. You were gathering intelligence, weren't you? Looking for information on the slaves I had already apprehended. I expected you would have called the mission once you saw CP0 was involved, but you've proved to be quite the enigma." He cocked his gun. "And no one would have thought you would join the Revolution at this stage in the game. Was Dragon's connection to Monkey D. Luffy what enticed you? After the son perished, you sought the protection of the father?"
"Luffy isn't dead," Robin said.
"Then you know where he is," he said as Robin winced, knowing she had been baited. "I was going to kill you, but I think you're valuable to me alive."
"Dos fleur!"
Two arms sprouted at the agent's elbow just as a concussive bang rang through the captain's quarters. The extra weight was enough to throw off his aim, and the bullet grazed Robin's arm instead of piercing through her chest.
The agent snarled a curse and grabbed one of the phantom arms. They disappeared, but not before there was the sickening crack of bone, and white-hot pain lanced through Robin's left wrist.
Robin staggered backward and cradled her arm against her body. He was strong enough to break her wrist simply by squeezing it. She might just be out of her weight class.
"Enough of this foolishness," the agent said, his voice low and dangerous. "You should have run when you had the chance. There is no hope of freeing the Revolutionary or the slave. You are fighting for nothing!"
Robin smiled. "Am I?"
The ship tilted dangerously, pitching all the furniture that wasn't connected to the ground and nearly making Robin fall over.
"I noticed a design flaw in in your shackles, Agent," Robin said. "The cuffs are sea stone, but the chains are not. Iron isn't much of a constraint for a master of fishman karate. There was never any need for a key, only a distraction. Now it's time we end things. Mil fleur: Gigantesco mano." A thousand legs combined into one giant limb that could not be contained by the confines of the room. Pain transferred to Robin's real body as wood splintered and broke, but she didn't care.
The Cipher Pol agent shouted something, but it was too late. Robin crossed her arms and braced herself. This was going to hurt.
"Stomp."
The little ship didn't have a chance as the giant leg came crashing down. It was a move Robin had seen Luffy preform countless times, although generally speaking her captain was not on the vessel he was currently destroying.
Robin couldn't help but feel a rush of satisfaction as she fell into the ocean.
Robin came back to consciousness throwing up sea water. In her periphery she heard someone let out a sigh of relief as she coughed and gasped for air. Slowly her vision cleared and she realized she was on the deck of a boat.
No, that wasn't possible. Robin tried to roll over, hissing in pain as she put pressure on her wrist.
"Calm down," a familiar voice commanded. "You're on the Eastern Wind. We're getting the hell away from here."
Hack. That was who the voice belonged to. Robin struggled to sit up, and despite the burning in her throat asked, "The others?"
"Here and accounted for…although…" the fishman sighed. "It would be better if you saw it for yourself. Can you stand?"
It felt like her limbs were made out of overcooked noodles, but with the fishman's help she managed. Prei Island was still within sight, and Robin could see a black cloud of noxious smoke climbing into the sky.
"Nicely done," she rasped.
"Well, I needed to attract CP0's attention somehow. This way," he said, leading her towards the infirmary. "That was damn irresponsible what you did on the boat. You could have drowned."
"It was a calculated risk. With my eyes I knew you were still close, and even if the attack didn't kill the CP0 agent, he'll have a hard time justifying how he lost his boat and let a slave, a Revolutionary, and a wanted pirate escape from his grasp." Robin coughed weakly. "Not to mention two sets of sea stone handcuffs. Those can't be cheap."
They entered the infirmary. Koala was standing over the bed of the escaped slave. Long chains hung limply from both wrists and clanked softly as her shoulders shook in grief. Coming to an abrupt stop, Robin glanced up at Hack, silent question in her eyes.
"Blood loss," he said quietly. "Maybe if we had gotten to her sooner, or if we had a doctor…" His voice trailed off hopelessly.
Robin nodded and slowly approached the bed. The body had been cleaned, and no blood marred her pale skin. The girl's eyes were closed and a peaceful expression had settled over her face, and she looked all the world like she were only sleeping.
"I-I froze," Koala said, her voice cracking. "He s-started talking about punishments, and I froze."
"This isn't your fault," Robin said. "We knew from the beginning that it was a longshot…"
"Shut up! Ten people are dead, and all you can say was that it was a longshot!?"
Robin didn't argue. Instead she turned to Hack. "Could you bring my bag, please?"
"Of course," he rumbled. With a hesitant glance towards Koala, he left the infirmary.
Robin waited a moment, then put her hand on Koala's shoulder. "You can't blame yourself for this. Trust me, it doesn't do any good."
"But I messed up," Koala said, hanging her head. "I-I should've known."
"Should have known what?" Robin asked. "I walked us right into a trap. You were the one who broke the chains."
"Only because you pointed out that they were made of iron."
"You still had the strength to break it from its fastening. You got the girl back to the ship. You made sure she was free in her last moments."
Koala choked out a sob, and tears streaked down her nose. "I don't even know her name."
Hack reentered the infirmary and handed Robin her bag. She reached into a hidden pocket and pulled out her lock picks.
"Thank you," Robin said quietly. Ignoring the pain in her wrist, she began working on the cuffs that still bound the slave. After a few moments it clicked open, and the heavy chain fell to the ground. She repeated the process on the other side, and before long it was free as well.
For a moment Robin held the girl's cool hand in her own. She ran a thumb over an old scar that had been hidden by the sea stone cuffs. It was impossible to imagine how much courage it had taken to attempt to escape Mariejois. How long did they plan, knowing they could be discovered at any moment? How terrifying were those few short days of freedom knowing they would be running for the rest of their lives?
This young woman had tried anyway, despite the risk. She and the nine others who hung on the wall.
And Robin didn't even know her name. As gently as she could, Robin set the girl's arm down and pulled a sheet over her body. She could not cry, not after twenty-one years of staring face to face with the atrocities of life.
Sometimes the Revolution was victorious. Too often they were not. All they could do was keep fighting against the corruption of the world and look forward to a brighter tomorrow.
AN: I tried to look up whether or not it's actually possible to commit suicide via tongue bite, and my results were inconclusive. But it's an established method used in canon, so…yeah.
Important Note to my Readers: I've decided to make my next chapter of Life's Chapters the last chapter of Life's Chapters. Actually, I've had it in mind to stop at 50 for awhile, and I've had the chapter written for several months now. I should have it up in a couple of days.
I know a large part of my readers don't review, but I'd very much appreciate it if my silent supporters make an exception either this chapter or the next. Tell me what you liked, didn't like, could've been better, etc. I do like to reply to those who sign in for their reviews. My regulars will tell you I don't bite.
I'll also do a Q&A, so submit any questions you have about my writing process, Robin, the current manga, etc. and I'll answer to the best of my ability.
As always, thanks for reading.