[Author's Note: Looking back, I realize there are a lot of changes I could have made to get to this point a lot faster, but I'm still getting to know Karmen myself. For those of you who didn't judge the series by the pilot (and the chapters of prequel) , I thank you. This is the birth of the Scarlet Secretary. That being said, this is FICTION. DO NOT try this at home. Poison is DEADLY and should not be experimented with. Karmen does so under close supervision of licensed doctors.]

Why are You Here?

When he has the chance, Usopp guides Karmen to a side hall where they can talk privately. Laboon calls softly, making the floors reverberate. "What is it, Usopp?" she asks.

"When we smashed the barrel, everyone stated a dream that they had, but you didn't say anything about what you wanted," he states. "In fact, I've never heard you say anything about what you want to do or why you came along."

Karmen hugs herself and looks down the long hall. "King of the Pirates, the world's greatest swordsman, charting the world, the All Blue, and being a brave warrior of the sea... They're all beautiful dreams that may be achieved some day. But me? I've never let myself believe in anything greater that what was in front of my eyes." She shifts her gaze to her feet. "There are places I'd like to go, but I never had anything really planned for myself. Being here on this crew, I've started to realize that anything is possible. Maybe, after we've traveled a little farther, I can find a dream of my own."

Usopp smiles at her. "We have seen a lot since leaving the island, huh?"

"You've seen more than I have," Karmen laughs. "I've stayed on the ship for most of it."

"Yeah, but you don't fight, so that's understandable," Usopp says, pointing a thumb at his nose. "My goal is to be a brave warrior of the sea, so I have to fight lots of dangerous enemies. I'll fight off five hundred, no, a thousand men so you don't have to!"

Karmen smiles at him. "With talk like that, I don't doubt your dreams at all. But if I can get the information I need, maybe I can start fighting for myself." She turns and waves to him over her shoulder. "I'm going to go talk to the old man."

Karmen finds Crocus sitting next to the big syringe used to sedate Laboon. "Can I ask you something, sir?"

"You can ask," he says. "Can't say I'll answer."

"What do you know about poisons and building immunities?"

Apothecary Secretary

"What's all the fuss about? We've just left Reverse Mountain," Luffy complains. "I want to watch for Whiskey Peak." The captain leans over the table and pouts. The rest of the crew looks up at Karmen, confused as well.

"If you sit quietly, then it won't take too long." Karmen passes out tea and sits down at the head of the table. Taking a deep sip, she holds up a porcelain teacup with a red feather painted on it. "From this point on, this cup is mine. Anyone who drinks from it without me present is liable to die."

"I know you like your tea, but isn't that taking it a little far?" Zoro asks.

Karmen gives a sly smile and sets two small bottles on the table. "I've been thinking about how I can be more useful to the crew from a combative standpoint. I've been thinking on it for a while now, and with Crocus' help, I've finally been able to set my plan in motion." Luffy lifts his head. "I'm going to store and become immune to poisons that we come across on our journey."

"What?!" Usopp stands up and slams his hands on the table, expressing the shock of the crew. "I refuse to let you do this!" Expecting this reaction, she sips her tea and lets them speak.

"We don't even have a doctor yet!" Nami cries. Sanji grits his teeth and Zoro sets his jaw.

"That's so cool!" Luffy grins.

"I'm sorry, Usopp, but I've already begun." Karmen takes a long sip of her tea from the red-feathered cup.

Zoro narrows his eyes. "You can't mean…"

"Yes. The tea that I've been drinking during this conversation has trace amounts of poison in it. Relax. I'm starting small. With the type and amount, the worst effects it should give me is vomiting, but in higher doses it could kill someone. The cup is liable to keep small amounts of poison on it, even after it's washed, which is why I said that anyone who drinks from this cup could die."

"Why didn't you talk to me about this before?" Usopp yells.

Karmen sips her tea again. "Because you would have stopped me."

"And how does drinking poison give you any advantage in combat?" Sanji asks in a tone calmer than his face conveys.

Karmen meets his eye steadily. "If I can identify poisons that the crew may be exposed to, then I can make an antidote for it; say for example, we go into a forest and Luffy eats a poisonous fruit. I still may not do much fighting, but being able to immobilize an enemy can make up for my lack of strength. I'm tired of sitting around and watching you guys nearly kill yourselves in battle while I sip tea and write about it."

"Do you know how to use a weapon?" Nami asks.

"No." Karmen drains her cup and sets it on the table carefully. "But that's the point of training, isn't it?"

Usopp's hands ball into fists. "You said that Crocus gave you the poison to start off with?"

"That's right. The other bottle is the antidote." He reaches into his bag and pulls out his slingshot, moving around the table to reach the door. Karmen quickly produces a sharp quill pen and throws it inches in front of his face. The pen buries itself in the wall and quivers for a moment. "Don't go beating up old men, Usopp. He only did what I asked of him. He gave me careful instructions so that I could do this safely."

"I thought you said you can't use weapons," Zoro says, loosening his grip on his sword as Usopp falls to his knees in shock.

Karmen produces another pen. "I don't consider these weapons. Not yet anyway. I got bored last month when I couldn't sleep so I decided to try using them as darts. I've gotten pretty good at it, but it's still pretty useless in a fight. I've been thinking about getting some that are all metal and dosing them with a paralytic, if I can find one."

"What happens in fifteen minutes when the poison makes its way into your system? If you've drunk too much and pass out, what do we do?" Sanji asks, lighting a cigarette.

"Pick a bottle and hope it's the antidote." Karmen rubs a finger over the rim of her cup. "In smaller doses, some poisons can have medicinal qualities that could come in handy later as well."

"Immune to poison, huh?" Luffy grins. "That's awesome! I want to try." He reaches a hand across the table for the cup. Karmen stabs the pen in her hand into the table between his fingers before he can reach it.

"I'm sorry, Luffy. This is my decision and mine alone. If something goes wrong, I'm the only one who can take the blame. Do you understand?"

"Awww. You aren't going to give me any?" He pouts but pulls his hand back.

"I think it's for the best, Luffy," Nami breathes. She watches Karmen pull the pen out of the table and smooth the splinters. "Just promise us you won't get careless, ok?"

"Don't worry," Karmen says. "I promise I won't test any poison without having an antidote on standby."

"I don't like it, but I guess you've shown us we can't stop you," Sanji says, taking a deep drag. He sighs out smoke. "If you limit the doses to once a day you should be able to build immunities without killing yourself."

Luffy sits back and crosses his arms, grinning widely. "I accept." The crew stares at him, shocked. "The King of the Pirates could use a poison's expert."

Zoro sighs as well. "If it's what you want to do, I won't stop you."

Usopp stashes his slingshot back in his bag and stands, refusing to look at her. "Is that it then? Your dream is to become immune to poisons?"

"No," she replies softly. "But I think it can help get me there."

"Do what you want." Usopp walks outside.

Karmen lets out a breath. "That's all I wanted to discuss. Captain Luffy, thank you for your consent."

Zoro stays put as everyone stands and leaves the cabin with a few parting words. Karmen lays her head down on the table and rubs the splinters she made. "Do you think he'll get over it?"

"Usopp's upset because he cares about you. It's a natural reaction after an announcement like this." Zoro picks up a bottle and twists it in his hand. "What kind of poison did he give you anyway?"

"Crystallized bloodroot extract. I only used a fourth of a crystal in my tea."

He examines her depressed state. "It's not affecting you already, is it?" He returned the bottle.

"No," she says. "I was just hoping Usopp would understand."

Zoro stands and pulls her pen out of the wall. Handing it back to her he says, "If this is the best way you can think to defend yourself, then I say go for it. Usopp will get over it when he sees how useful it can be in a battle."

"That's going to be a while," she sighs. "I've only got the one poison and I'm not immune to anything yet."

"You'll get there." He stands in the doorway and watches Nami interact with Miss Wednesday and Mr. 9. "What do you make of those two?"

Karmen stands, stashing the two bottles in her pocket, and joins him in his observations. "They're odd, that's for sure, but they don't seem to be a problem at the moment. If they do cause trouble, I'll just make sure to give them the wrong tea."

"We need to come up with a signal if you're going to start pulling stunts like that."

Karmen rests the feathers of her pens against her chin. "How about I hold the cup with two fingers, indicating which cups are dosed?" He nods his approval. "You know it's funny. When I planned that meeting, I never thought you'd be the one to approve of my training."

"I wouldn't exactly say I approve, but I can understand it," he says. "Poison can come in handy in a pinch. I don't use the stuff, but I've met plenty of swordsmen who did. You just have to be careful with it, that's all."

"It's not that I want to kill people, and if I do it right, I won't," she explains. "It's just that I'm not crazy strong like you guys are. Even Usopp has something that he can do, and Nami has that collapsible staff of hers. I don't want to be the link that sinks the ship."

Zoro watches Karmen wrap her cup in a towel and carefully place it in her bag. "If you want, I can try talking to Usopp for you."

"No," she sighs. "It would be best if I do it. Like you said, he's only upset because I've made him worry."

After examining the deck and not finding him, Karmen climbs up to the crow's nest and sits beside her angry friend. He exhales but doesn't move away, which she reads as a good sign. "I don't suppose I can change anything, can I?" he asks.

"I'm sorry, Usopp. I know it's dangerous, but this is something I want to do. I'm also sorry that I threw a pen at you." She places a hand on his armband. "I want to be able to fight too. I'm being really careful, so don't worry about me, ok?"

"You idiot. Of course I'm going to worry," he says. "I actually like that you want to fight with us. That pen thing is really scary. It would be great in battle. I think I'm more upset by how brave you're being to do it. I don't think I could ever have the courage to do something like that."

Karmen smiles at him. "What are you talking about? You're way braver than I am. I could never defeat a fishman all by myself or stand up to a whole crew of pirates. I think it's manly that you would admit that, though."

"I guess I am pretty great, huh?" He gives a shaky laugh.

"You are," she agrees happily, "which is why I'm entrusting this to you." She places the liquid filled bottle in his hand. "That's half of the antidote to the poison I have now. If I mess up, put five drops of that under my tongue, ok?"

"What?! Why are you giving this to me?!"

"Because you're my friend, Usopp. I trust you with my life."

When he's over his shock, he grips the bottle firmly and stands. "Then it's decided." He grins. "We'll be brave warriors of the sea together."

She laughs with him. "The apothecary of the sea."

"So does this mean you're the one who put all those scratches in the storeroom boxes?"

"Yeah. They make good targets. I didn't want to miss and hit Merry by mistake. I feel bad for splintering the wall in the kitchen."

"You splintered the table too."

She nods, accepting the blame. He helps her to her feet. "If we're ok now, I think I'm going to get down. Crocus said the bloodroot could make me feel weak for a while."

"Then what are you doing up here? Get down on deck!"

Research Log 1: Bloodroot.

Name of Poison: Sanguinarine.

Amount Ingested: ¼ crystal

Possible symptoms: Severe nausea, muscle weakness, clammy skin, asphyxiation, heart attack.

Time since dose: 30 minutes

No symptoms yet.

1 Hour:

I feel a little weak. Nothing major.

2 Hours:

Weakness gone. Nauseous. Everyone keeps glancing in my direction to make sure I haven't kicked the bucket.

3 Hours:

Still nauseous. Haven't puked. I kind of wish I would.

4 Hours:

I feel a little better.

5 Hours:

Am I really doing that again tomorrow?

6 Hours:

I feel tingly, but nothing else. Nami says my pupils are a little dilated, but agrees that the worst is over. I may sit down next to Zoro and take a nap.