Astrid had joined Cipher Pol number 9 at a very young age of 7. Her parents were approached by a higher Marine officer about the development of the new generation of Cipher Pol number 9 division, otherwise known as CP9. With the belief that Astrid would grow up to be the child that they had always wanted her to be, they immediately agreed to initiate her into the division. She had no say, and no choice as to what she did. All members of CP9 were taught discipline and to follow direct orders, they were taught to accept their orders and do as they were told in order to accomplish what they needed to get done. They were shown how to use a unique fighting technique that was very hard to master and unknown to most. It was one that was considered very dangerous and required a great amount of strength and mentality. This fighting style was referred to as Rokushiki, or better known as the Six Powers. The children were trained to be weapons, assassins readily available for the World Government to use them when needed. The eight children who were raised as CP9 were beings who were extremely dangerous in the line of duty. The division was a secret, only known to those who were involved. Very few Marines knew of their existence and those who did, were ones who are involved in transporting criminals and members of CP9. Most of their records were eradicated from public use of the Marines which prevented any other Marine officers from finding out who they were. To them, they were just average kids.

Day and night the children would train. They grew stronger and lethal the older they got. Some progressed faster than others, while others still had trouble following orders. They were just children at the time, but weapons. Eventually, they were given missions, some which were dangerous to any fully grown adult. At first, each child had a mission to themselves, to test how much their training paid off. Each child showed a tremendous amount of power and were able to get the job done quickly and easily. As powerful as they were, these children grew up together in seclusion. They were only allowed out on certain occasions. Astrid rarely saw her parents once they had brought her into the division. With the strength of growing up together the kids grew strong as a team. However, when not doing the will of the World Government, these children were just children.

At the age of twelve, Astrid had received her very first mission. She was sent to a small village where she was told to retrieve a small box. She didn't know what was inside, all she knew was that she needed it. When the ship sailed away from the docking bay, she was abandoned. Days went by before she actually knew were the box was or who even had it. As she posed as a helpless child traveling to find her way home, many took her in and took care of her for a night or two. Eventually, she had made her way into a bar.

"He kid, this is no place for a young girl like yourself. Beat it," the bartender would say each time she walked in.

One night, a large rowdy group of pirates were gathered in a bar. They were drunk and merrily enjoying the night. With the large crowd, Astrid had managed to make her way into the building without the bartender noticing. She sat up on a chair and kept to herself as the pirates drank and sang. It didn't take her long to notice a set of keys on one of the pirate's belt. She had a suspicion that this man was the key to unlocking the location of the chest. She ran up to the man with tears in her eyes.

"Please mister, you must help me!"

The bartender had noticed her this time, "Hey kid, get out. This is no place for you. I've told you this before!"

"Oh cut this girl some slack, can't you see she needs help!" the pirate cried, "Alright little girl, go ahead and tell me what is wrong."

"My kitty cat is stuck in a tree and I need someone as brave as you to climb up and get him!" she said tugging at his tunic.

"Alright men, you heard the little lady! Let's go rescue her kitty cat."

The pirate slammed some gold on the counter as all of the pirates walked out of the building. Astrid ran up the hill as all of the pirates were following behind her continuing to shout and cheer. At the top of the hill she had stopped at an old tree. Looking up there was no cat, just leaves. When the pirates showed up they all looked up together.

"Hey, I see no kitty cat!" one pirate yelled.

"Hey yeah, me neither!"

"What's the meaning of this!?"

"Alright little girl, what's going on?" asked the pirate with the key ring.

The pirates began to crowd around her as she stumbled into the tree. They had managed to corner her. She showed nothing but fear on her face, but inside her head she was waiting for the right time. As they got closer, she pulled up her hood to cover her face and began to chuckle.

"Shave," Astrid said as she disappeared in a flash and reappeared behind the group.

"Tempest Kick!" She yelled as a kick strike had managed to strike down a large number of the pirates.

"Finger Pistol," she called out, using her index finger to strike the chest of all of the pirates that were left standing.

With an incredible amount of speed and strength, Astrid was able to take down each pirate as if they were as light as flowers being torn away from their roots. As each man fell, Astrid stood there motionless. It wasn't sweat that that had dropped down on her face but the blood of the fallen men remained. The only person left remaining was the man with the keys. He screamed for help as he tried to get away. With one quick strike, he was down face first onto the ground. Astrid flipped him over and unhooked the key ring from his belt. She made her way back down to the village bar with blood stains on her body. As she walked through the front door the bartender stared at her in fear.

"What…what happened? Are you ok?" He asked dropping the dish he was cleaning to the floor.

"The pirates that were in here, did they mention which way their ship was docked?" She asked.

He nodded and pointed to the side down to the main shore.

"Thank you sir, I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening."

Astrid walked down the pathway removing the blood stained cloak and tossed it into the bushes. When she approached the ship she notice a few men still aboard. In silence, Astrid had jumped high up onto the main deck of the ship. She had landed very closely and quietly next to one of the men on watch. By quickly grabbing his sword and making one slice, the man was on the ground motionless. She quickly rummaged the ship and made sure that she wasn't seen by the two men who were in the barracks of the ship.

Eventually she came across a locked room. She went through the many keys on the ring and managed to get inside. The room appeared to be some sort of treasury room with all kinds of chest and pieces of gold lying around. However, it wasn't the gold that she was interested in, but what resided in one of the chests. She noticed a small chest on a table heavily chained. Assuming that this was the chest she was sent to grab, she quickly snatched it and made a run for it. As she was about to jump off the deck to run up to the village, one of the men had spotted her. She failed to realize that she was noticed and had managed to be shot in the side. The pain was nothing like she had ever felt before as she lost her footing. She fell to the ground and lost her grip on the chest. The men were shouting and shooting at her as she gathered up what strength she had. She got up, picked up the chest, and ran as fast as she could back to the village. She couldn't believe that she had managed to let her guard down. She feared that the others of CP9 will deem her as weak and incompetent now.

The next morning after tending to her wounds the night before, the lovely lady that had taken her in prepared a nice hearty breakfast for her. As Astrid sat down to eat, a sound could be heard from her bag that had the chest hidden in it. In the bag was a transponder snail, a device she used to communicate to those at Marine Headquarters. When she answered, all she said was "Done" and hung up. A few hours later, marine ships had docked to the shore. They ran through the village and smashed down the door of the house that the lovely lady owned. Two Marines grabbed a hold of Astrid's wrists, making it seem like she was a wanted fugitive. They grabbed the sack and were heading back to their base.

Once back at the base, a medical officer examined her wounds. Out of embarrassment, she kept herself away from all other members. She never believed that she would be as strong as the others would be and feared that she would be out casted. Once her bandages were removed, a large bullet scar remained. A scar that will forever remind her that carelessness will not be an option for her. On her own, she began to train harder and get stronger than she ever was before. It was the inspiration which had paid off as she grew older.

Years went by and the kids were now even more stubborn than ever. They had reached their teenage years. On a sunny afternoon, the eight CP9 members were out in the courtyard enjoying their time together. Kaku, a long nosed tall thin boy sat on a box next to Astrid. They sat together laughing and talking like any average person would. Rob Lucci, the boy with curlier black hair tied back and the harshest exterior, actually managed to enjoy a game of soccer with Jabra, a boy with thin facial hair. The beautiful blonde haired Kalifa enjoyed reading her book in the sun on the lawn chair trying to avoid the soccer ball each time it was kicked towards her. Fukuro, a large and oddly rounded green haired boy, sat along the wall playing chess with a boy who had long lushes pink hair named Kumadori. The last member Blueno, a boy with black hair in the shape of horns, sat by himself with a sandwich. Everyone was enjoying their day off from training, missions, and overall World Government interference.

"Astrid, are you sure you really want to go through with that?" asked Kaku.

"Of course I do, it's something different, right?" she replied tying her long blonde hair back.

"Just be careful this time."

"Well, you're coming with me and you have no say!" she said grabbing a hold of his arm.

"WAIT, I DIDN'T AGREE TO THIS!" He yelled as he was stumbling around from being pulled.

Astrid had dragged Kaku right into the middle of Lucci and Jabra's soccer game. Knowing that Lucci would be furious if they were to interfere during their match, Astrid went ahead and threw Kaku into the pathway of the ball. Still unable to catch himself, he fell face first onto the ground as the ball came barrelling down the yard into his face. Astrid couldn't help but to laugh as Lucci glared at her. Jabra had a good laugh and blew it off, however, Lucci was sick and tired of Astrid.

"You bothersome child!" he yelled.

"Who are you calling a child!? I am only four years younger than you!" she yelled back.

"Guys would you keep it down, I'm trying to read." Kalifa yelled back at them.

"If you want us to be quiet so badly then come over and make us be quiet," replied Jabra.

"That's sexual harassment," she said pushing her glasses up.

"Is nobody going to care that I was just smacked in the face by a ball?" Kaku asked as he was dusting himself.

As much as they annoyed each other, they still cared for each other. A few days had gone since the soccer game. Astrid sat by herself in her dorm room in complete silence. She sat at her desk drawing some scenic pictures. Pictures that she would see in her dreams. Some of the places were beautiful, others were full of fire. She had often wondered if these places from her dreams meant anything.

Surely, she thought that there would be some sort of deeper meaning as to why there was fire. The dreams were always the same and eventually all tied in together. She would be on a ship, sailing across one of the seas. She came across a lush green island that was isolated from the world. On that island there were sounds of all kinds of birds present. All was calm until a loud bang could be heard. Fire would begin to grow everywhere, and in that fire a phoenix would rise from the flames as the sky grows dark of the smoke. Lightning would strike the trees. Just before they would strike her she would wake up. There was no explanation, no reason as to why she would be having these dreams.

A light knock was at the door and Kalifa entered.

"Is everything ok?" Astrid asked.

"Fine, just worried."

"Why, everything is fine right?"

"I'm worried about, about why we are here. What does the government want?"

"Whoa, where is this coming from?"

"Do you remember long ago, when Lucci was sent out on his very first mission?"

"Of course, that was the day he came back as a different person."

"On that day he was injured. The scars on his back are now the very same mark of CP9."

"Well, he is the one that keeps us going. He is scary after all."

"But he always wasn't remember?"

"Look Kalifa, I think you are thinking too much into this. We are well trained assassins and the Government keeps us around because they know we can handle the jobs that no ordinary Marine could. We are the dark little secret of the World Government. The World Government believes in justice right? So relax, we aren't changing, we all will be fine. Look tomorrow is a new day and probably a new mission. Get some sleep and relax. Lucci, is just a hard bone to crack. Everyone changes eventually. He'll be fine."

She looked up at Astrid. In silence she stood up and walked out of the room. Confused, Astrid returned to her drawings.

The next day all eight members were summoned to their leader's office. Spandam, son of Spandine the original CP9 leader, was relaxing with his legs op on his desk and a cup of tea in his hands. His bronze brace, which covered most of his face, shone in what little light peered through the closed curtains.

"Now, you are probably wondering why you are all here," he said placing his tea on the desk. "Well let me tell you, I have come across the greatest creation known to man."

Spandam had grabbed a large chest from underneath his chair. He used one of his special keys to open it and inside were three colorful fruits.

"If some of you recall, these are the very items I have sent for you to capture long ago. Well here they are, the devil fruits that strike fear in any man!" he said with a cackle. "Now I need three of you who I believe is worthy enough to control their ultimate power."

"Devil fruits! Are you a mad man!?" Yelled Kaku, "Don't you know what they can do to a person if one were to eat it? You never know what kind of ability you may get and you lose all hope of ever being able to swim!"

"Well, I know who isn't getting one then," replied Spandam.

Lucci calmly approached the desk and stared down at the fruits.

"Hey, if he gets one then I get one!" yelled Jabra as he pushed passed Kaku and Fukuro.

"Very well, you each are worthy enough to get one I suppose. Are there any other takers?"

Fukuro, Kaku, Kalifa, Blueno, Astrid, and Kumadori all looked at each other. Kalifa and Astrid both backed away as Kaku turned his back. Blueno, Fukuro, and Kumadori all were left standing to be chosen.

"Well if none of you can decide amongst yourselves, then I will have to pick for you don't I. Blueno, come here." Spandam ordered.

Blueno approached the desk next to Jabra. Each of them picked out a devil fruit that was in front of them. They were each given a plate and a fork and instructed to sit at the couch. The three boys sat down on the couch preparing themselves for the worst to come. The others cautiously stood in front of them, getting ready to see what sort of men that this boys will become. They each took a bite into their fruit and began to eat it entirely.

"This is the nastiest thing that I have ever eaten!" yelled Jabra, nearly scaring Kaku and Kalifa.

Lucci had grabbed a hold of the armrest and squeezed onto it tightly scaring Astrid who was leaning on it. "You were right about the taste. Why didn't you warn us that they would be like this?" he asked.

"Well how was I supposed to know, I've never eaten a devil fruit before." Spandam replied.

The three boys completed eating their fruits and were now devil fruit users. This began the new age of the assassins and made CP9 even stronger than before. If Spandam was able to make all members of CP9 devil fruit users, there was no way of telling what sort of tactics the World Government would assign them. Their strength combined was already a tremendous amount of power, enough to over throw anything that was in their path. With devil fruit powers on top, it made them almost impossible to defeat. It was believed that there would be nobody alive who would take down CP9 and the World Government.