The flight proceed for a long time in total darkness, the only visible lights were the ones of the flight units themselves, as they followed the leading one of their Scanner, as she used the radar with the coordinates she, White and 9S, now Clover, spent many many days calibrating an perfecting.
Without even their own Bunker to act as a middle point, they had no nothing of reference besides the sun and the moon.
It passed hours, maybe even a day, until something came into view…
Big and blue.
Robin's planet.
Complete with the Red Line mountain chain in good view.
They must have been close to the Reversal Mountain somehow, hoping they weren't close to any Marine base.
And of course all of the planet's many islands.
But only once they managed to descend into the actual atmosphere of the planet they could restore communications between each other. Admittedly not being able to use radio communication in space had been quite the issue, because they couldn't tell each other if something went wrong, they were stuck just thinking about it.
Hoping it wouldn't.
And it seemed that way.
Scanners truly knew what they were doing.
Well she had seemed confident in her skill at least, but it was hard to tell the truth from someone that hid her feelings often, not that Robin should judge her.
"Seems everything went smoothly." the first person to speak had been Jackass, from the capsule on Robin's unit.
"We'll be entirely clear once we will find somewhere to land." Number 21, Cattleya interjected. They weren't safe until they were truly safe.
"You're too serious…"
No, Cattleya was just careful, unlike what Jackass said. Robin gave her that.
"We've got to find an island with some kind of cover where we can hide the flight units." she told them, because the last thing they needed was to be spotted by some person, or worse.
Anyone could be a cause of alarm.
Up from the sky they could see many islands before them, but it would probably be best to just land on the closest one, again hoping there were no Marines, or at least a small portion. On the island there seemed to be some rock formations on part of it, as they hovered high in the sky above it hiding in the clouds, observing.
The sun was still below the horizon, which meant that it was still early in the morning, painting the sea in its red light.
"This island might have a cave of some kind." hopefully with no one inside. "I think that may be our best bet, I don't know if the units can handle flying much longer without recharging."
Meaning that they had to stop here for the time being, they couldn't have the chance to look for another place.
Hopefully since it was early people would be still asleep, or at least part of them, and hope they wouldn't venture in the part of the island they would land on.
Robin was the first to descend, scouting for a cave, luckily, the sea had created an opening where they could enter with the units and land on the ground portion of it. It was nothing big or fancy, but it would do.
It didn't seem there were humans in sight either.
Good.
"We should be relatively safe for now." Robin said as she finally could get out from her flight unit.
Or rather stumbled down from it.
She watched as Cattleya and White had a similar issue.
"What's wrong?" Anemone asked as she rushed over to hold the redhead as the woman held her right leg.
"Nothing, our joints are just stiff from being in the same position without moving for so long." the Scanner explained, as she slowly sat down, massaging her stiff legs. "We'll be fine, we just got to recover a bit."
"In the capsules you two could move around a bit, but we had to sit in place for the entire trip." White said as she rolled her shoulders and back. "Our bodies fell asleep as if they were in rest mode."
"I would suggest that you two stretched some too, Anemone and Jackass." Cattleya suggested as she took care of her own legs, even checking for further issues through her screens, scanning herself and the others too.
Thankfully there was nothing else but stiffness.
"Take it easy, we have time." Robin motioned with head outside the cave.
Where the sun was rising over the horizon, painting the sea in its orange and red light, as the water shone with its reflection. The smell of the salt and the gentle lapping of the waves at their feet told Robin that she was home again.
"You've never seen a sunrise, have you?"
It was a sight she missed dearly, along with sunsets, and mostly the dark of the night.
For that they only had to wait a bunch of hours.
As she said so, Cattleya slowly walked over where the cave opened, at the edge of the sea, the water making small splashes on her shoes and pants. As she looked on, her eyes seemed to shine.
"It is quite the sight."
As she said so, she felt a bit like when they descended the first time, hearing Number 2 comment on how vast the ocean was. Her response had been quite cynical, now that she thought about it.
She could see why Freesia was so amazed by it.
No simulation can compare to a real thing, she'd been too worried with the mission to realize it before.
"Would have been better if the others could see it too." Robin replied, with a hint of sadness in her voice.
"But that's why we are here, no? So they can see this too one day." Anemone replied.
"Does this mean we'll see the night too, later today?" Jackass asked, totally unable to keep the curiosity out of her question, not that anyone blamed her.
200 years and none of them had ever seen things that Robin had taken for granted for her whole life. Until she was taken on Earth that was.
She knew and discovered things beyond human comprehension and imagination.
And yet, here she was, back home.
And this time not alone.
She had given up on the thought that this would ever happen.
She smiled at the thought that Saul had been right all along, she had lived following his words, and in the end she didn't regret it.
She'd never.
"Yes, there will be night later on. I hope we'll see stars." so they could see them from down here, and how beautiful the night sky was.
"Must be good to be back home." Jackass came to place a hand on her shoulder, with a grin.
"It is." she nodded.
Soon, it'll be everyone's home.
On the topic.
"Pod, can you see if you can contact 042 and 153? We should let the others know we've arrived safely, I'm sure they are worried." and surely they were.
They couldn't even communicate with each other for the longest time. It was hard not to hear the other's voices for so many hours, imagine trying to reach out to those who were left on Earth before they landed?
"Affirmative. Attempting to communicate…"
Pod 007 didn't say anything for various minutes, and neither did the girls. Besides Robin, the others were too busy admiring the sunrise still.
They looked like kids that experienced things for the first time, even though some of them had over 200. Many more years than normal humans could even aspire to have.
But it was adorable to see.
Even two people as serious as Cattleya and White appeared serene and relaxed at the sight.
White had been unfortunate enough that the only time she came on this planet it had been daytime, she'd never seen anything either before. Besides the stars surrounding the Bunker.
How she wished that Freesia could see this too…
"Attention. Attempt to communicate with Pod 042 and Pod 153 successful, opening communication channel."
"You're the best, Pod." Robin smiled at it, gently patting his head as he opened two screens, one for each of his similars.
Immediately as the channel opened, they could see the others pretty much pile up on each other, with Freesia having Amaryllis and Lycoris laying on her shoulders, Luna must have left 042 with her sister, since she answered so early.
Her suspicions were confirmed as she appeared from 153's screen alongside Clover, with bothe Olivia and Sunny beside them.
Between the screens Rose and the members of the Resistance were trying to make space for all of them, as some could be seen just peeking through. But the excitement was almost tangible.
"Have you arrived?"
"Are you all right?"
It was all they asked, Robin chuckled at their affectionate worry.
"Yes, we have arrived safely." she replied, motioning for her Pod to follow her, as she went to sit next to where Cattleya was, with Anemone next to her with a hand on her waist, White and Jackass standing a little bit afar from them.
Besides White, they all waved at the others on the other side of the screens.
"We are a little tired and sore from the long flight, but I checked all of us, and besides that there are no issues, we're okay." Cattleya gave her evaluation, as professional as ever.
Also she wanted to ease their worries entirely.
"We're resting a bit at the moment, but we will be looking for a place to stay and to find out where we are exactly." Robin informed them. "We'll be calling you when we know a bit more, just please don't contact us, we'll be opening the channel to communicate when we know we are safe."
Just in case.
Being too safe never hurt anyone.
That was why she had Pod 007 hide in a bag, because it could be a cause of curious eyes they didn't need.
"Just be patient, okay?"
She knew it'd be hard, but they couldn't risk anything, especially not so early when they just arrived here.
"We understand." came Rose's voice. "Please be careful, and keep us updated."
"We will." Robin nodded, looking again at the sun rising. "Pod, in the meantime leave them some pictures of this sunrise, will you?"
"Affirmative."
So at least somehow they could see it too.
Even if for now not in person.
But soon…
"What do you suggest we do now?" White asked, it sounded like Robin had some form of plan already.
Which was good.
It was good to be prepared.
But if she had known her well enough these three years, being prepared for most things was something she did well.
And this was her world, there was no one that knew it better than her.
"Well, like I said we need to find where we are, so I suggest we find a town, a village, anything there is on this island with people, and hopefully find a tavern or something similar, where people usually meet and there are a lot of rumors." she explained.
"The gist should be easy enough, we sit in a corner, mind our business, and listen to people talking, and if we need we can ask questions, but I'd prefer to keep this last point to a minimum." to avoid exposing herself and them too much.
"The less these people see our faces up close the better. If I am still wanted, I'd rather avoid your faces to be associated with mine as much as possible."
Before the Marine had the brilliant idea to put bounties on them too.
That would be problematic.
As if having one wasn't already an issue itself.
"I see where you are coming from. Regardless if your bounty is still active or not, if you get recognized, then the Marine will know you're still alive, and look for you, and you wouldn't want them to put bounties on us too." Cattleya explained the problem.
At least to avoid it as long as possible.
Because regardless of how safe they were, the Scanner had the feeling it would happen sooner or later, as long as they were close to each other.
Robin was a YoRHa, her problems concerned them all, and vice versa.
But that was okay.
Her bounty wasn't her fault, these Marines were just too cruel to an eight years old child.
She expected them to act no differently towards them, just for the fact that they were associated with, apparently for them, such a big problematic person.
Someone that just wanted to exist.
"Well then, shall we go?" Jackass already began to walk off, risking slipping on the rocks, because of her carelessness.
White caught her arm. "Be careful."
Robin chuckled at her antics. "Yes we are going."
It didn't take long to leave the cave, and following the shore eventually they arrived at a small town, as they crossed its pier they could see a lot of people, fishermen bringing fish they caught on their boats. And entering the town, they could see it coming to life and people crossing the streets.
Time passed as they were talking in the cave, and it was now early morning, the sun was now up in the sky, towards the daytime they all knew how it looked.
They crossed a street that looked like a market directly connected to the pier, where people could sell food and all types of general goods. A typical rural town, as far as Robin could see.
Though the big and looming white villa in the distance wasn't looking promising.
That looked like a place that smelled of richness.
And rich people were often associated with the Marine…
Just their luck…
Robin lowered her hood further and approached an old woman at a stall selling fruit.
"Excuse me."
That caught the woman's attention.
"My, aren't you looking rough." she commented, looking on to Robin and her group, and the pirate nodded.
"Yes, my friends and I went through a long voyage, we are looking for a place we can stay. Would there be a tavern somewhere on the island?"
"There is one right at the end of the market, in the middle plaza, you are in luck." as she talked, they could see her putting something in a bag, and then she handed it to Robin.
"What is this for?"
"You look hungry, I put some fresh apples in the bag, right out of my garden."
That was… surprising.
Either these people were too nice, or their aspect was truly as ragged as Robin had wanted them to appear as. At the mention of food, Jackass rushed over and leaned on Robin's shoulder, eyeing the bag like a hungry dog.
"Are these for us?" at least she was believable.
"Jackass…" Anemone lightly elbowed her stomach, whispering her name in a harsh growl as the other woman whined from the hit.
Hearing them, Cattleya and White walked over too. "How much do we owe you?" the blonde asked.
They all had bags with supplies in them, except Robin who had Pod 007, and in White's case she'd been put in charge of handling money. Cattleya had medical supplies, while the two Resistance women had utility stuff, like extra clothing for the most part.
Of course most was stored in the Pod's inventory, the bags were meant to be a facade.
The old woman shook her head.
"Nothing. It's a gift, please take it." again she handed them the bag. "It's a pleasure to help those in need."
Robin eventually took it. "Thank you." she said, bowing a little.
Cattleya, White and Anemone did the same and moved to leave, while Jackass followed reluctantly, still eyeing the food, until her fellow Resistance android dragged her away by force.
As they left, with the corner of her eye, Robin could see her husband talking to the old woman, and he didn't seem serene. Tending her ears she listened, and she didn't like what she heard.
But she refrained from saying anything until they got to the tavern.
She wanted to confirm that, and if there was a problem on this island hearing more people first.
Better not waste the woman's act of kindness though, as she handed the others an apple each. It had been long since she ever actually ate anything.
For her companions, they actually never even did.
Jackass didn't take long to figure out what to do, as she bit into her own fruit like a rabid animal, they could guess that this may have been something she'd been waiting to do for a long time even.
This curious thing.
Robin bit into her own one, wordlessly telling the others to do the same, as there was no risk of anything. They had no blood, so they didn't risk poison either.
Unlike how she could have when she was human.
Also, acts of kindness were rare, especially towards her, she didn't want to waste it.
"It's sweet." it was Cattleya's almost surprised comment, she knew about food, being a Scanner, but she ever actually tasted anything before, so it was still new.
New for them all.
"It's soft too." Anemone added. "I don't hate it."
"Sometimes I forget you all have never tried this." Robin didn't specify eating to not seem weird in case someone was listening. She had the tendency to forget that things that were so normal and natural for her, they never were for her companions.
So much they acted like humans.
Well they may as well start to do actual human things too, at times.
Like eating.
"So this is what Daisy always talked about then." Anemone mused, as the whole eating thing. "She was a competitive eater, but none of us ever figured out what it meant." she explained hinting at the false memories they had.
She would be so jealous if she were to tell her.
"One day she'll get to eat as much as she wants."
Rest assured, as they walked by, they finally got to the main plaza, and like the old woman said, there was a tall wooden building, there it was their tavern.
Robin could feel the eyes of the people inside as they entered, but she ignored them, and quietly whispered for the others to do the same thing, as she could see Jackass getting easily irritated from the stares.
Quietly she made her way to the counter, where a man with white hair sat.
"Good day sir. My friends and I have had a long trip, we were looking for a place to rest, would you happen to have a room for us?"
"You ladies are in luck, not many people visit our island anymore, so I have a room free for all of you." Robin refrained from asking why people didn't visit much, but she assumed it might have something to do with Marines here.
Something smelled, and not in a good way.
As always when they were involved.
"Though I'd suggest you take a single room for all five of you, for your own safety it'd be best you won't separate."
Yes, definitely something was up.
The worried tone told Robin that this man wasn't worried just because they were girls traveling together, without a single man.
"Thank you for your concern, one room for five then." she'd take the suggestion, also because she did not want them to separate, it wouldn't be ideal if they needed to talk for something.
Also one single room cost less.
"If you wish to stay for lunch, I have some nice fish soup cooking in the kitchen as well."
Robin nodded. "It'd be perfect, thank you again."
As she said so, White moved in to pay for what they asked for, thankfully the man didn't question why they didn't have actual money, and accepted the gold coins for the amount that he wanted.
It was the only way they had a use for these coins anyways.
Money didn't mean much for androids.
Once the matter was solved they went to sit at the table that was the furthest away from everything and everyone, to not be bothered.
"You didn't say we'd get the chance to try food before." Jackass said but Robin ignored her, a much more serious look on her face.
"There's something wrong on this island."
"How wrong?" Cattleya asked. "Where are we even?" Anemone added.
"Hokaku island, Grand Line. There's a map on the wall near the counter." she motioned at it with her eyes.
"So we are in the big and dangerous sea." Robin nodded at White.
She had already explained the whole seas concept to them, the four blues and the Grand Line. But it wasn't the sea the worry, though the Grand Line meant more Marines.
"I heard the husband of that kind woman of before tell her something, it sounded like they could get in trouble for their little gesture, and the worry over this man's face here at the counter is further proof that there's something not right."
"You heard them?" Cattleya frowned. "I listen to the people around me all the time. It's how I survived for so long."
"Tend your ears and listen, you'll hear all kinds of things." as Robin said so, the Scanner did just that, closing her eyes for emphasis.
The human was right, she could hear the conversations people made, and also the suspicions were confirmed as someone spoke of something along the lines to not anger a certain someone.
As if they shouldn't speak the name of this person, or didn't want to.
"You're right." Robin nodded at her.
And Cattleya thought that if she wanted to be a good observer as Scanner, she should pick up this habit too.
"There is something or someone bothering these people, and no one can tell me that the villa we've seen isn't owned by some kind of rich Marine until I hear otherwise."
But something told Robin that she was correct.
It might have been years, but she remembered this world and how it worked just as it was yesterday. Things never changed even if she'd been away.
"I assume that you want to get to the end of this." not that White did, as the others did too.
"For our safety I want to know whatever danger there can be here, and that we could be potentially facing." always be prepared. "But for now let's limit ourselves to listen, and not draw suspicions on us."
On the topic, it seemed it was time for lunch, as they saw the man of before bring their plates of steaming soup to them.
"It's so good." Jackass beamed as she put a spoonful in her mouth, the broth dripping from her lips.
"Would you have some manners already?"
"I don't know how you can be so calm at the prospect of having actual food, Anemone." since it was something none of them ever had besides Robin. "Well, all of you actually."
"Unlike you we have some grace to ourselves." it was White who answered.
At her side Cattleya took her own spoonful of soup, and after blowing on it she put it in her mouth, without making a show of it like Jackass did.
The soup was warm and full of flavors she never tasted before, it felt pleasant.
"Now I understand why humans say that eating is one of the biggest pleasures." she mused. She had read things about it long ago before deployment.
Perhaps it'd be worth learning something more about it.
"Good food helps raise someone's mood." Robin stated. Not that she had many of these pleasures, since a lot of those she met that ever cooked for her mostly tried to poison her.
Not always, but often.
So being here enjoying something so simple with her companions was its own little joy by itself.
She too had so many things she had yet to experience.
Like these peaceful moments.
That unfortunately didn't last too long, a loud crash was heard, the man that welcomed them sat on the ground, with a bleeding hand, the plates broken and all the soup he prepared spilled on him and the floor.
In front of him, there was someone that Robin did not want to see the face of.
The typical long white coat and the filthy grin on the person's face gave no doubts.
A Marine.
And most likely the one that these people were worried about.
Him and a couple of soldiers at his sides.
Just their luck…
"Clumsy as ever eh? Old man." even his voice sounded as slimy as a snake.
The tavern owner didn't move, trembling with fear he didn't even dare to look the Marine in the eyes.
"I saw the scene, he shoved him." Anemone whispered quietly to the others.
Even worse then.
Since it had been intentional.
"You already took away my daughter and her son… what else do you want, Rokubo?" he had the courage to ask, but he was kicked at his sides.
"It's Lieutenant Rokubokusu for you." the Marine snarled.
At least they knew who he was, and as expected, he was not nice in the slightest. On the contrary, he appeared to be abusing these people even.
Even the people present didn't seem to be trying to help the poor man, paralyzed with fear they were.
With the corner of her eye, Robin could see Cattleya's hands tightly clenched in fists, and on her face the darkest look she ever saw her make.
Even she was mad.
They all looked like they wanted, and tried their hardest to hold back, to jump at the Marine's throat.
And possibly cut it open.
"Anyways, I heard rumors there are some foreigners around. A group of poor women." they did not like the grin he made.
No one dared to speak, but it was obvious that it was them.
"Would it be those pretty faces over there?" as it was obvious he would spot them, even with their faces covered as well as they could.
But they were all turned to see the scene now so he could see them.
"Let's see… we have three pretty ravens, a blondie and a redhead." and the snarky comment wondering if she was all natural.
Of course this would have led to something sexual…
How disgusting…
The Scanner could have vomited if she'd been able to.
In his face, possibly.
"The fuck do you want?" it was Jackass that snarled back at him.
"Oh, this one has a sharp tongue on her, and terrible manners." she just rolled her eyes at the comment, and blew her hair away from her face, unbothered, even if the guy and his little soldiers laughed at her.
"I apologize but right now I don't have the means to give you a proper welcome."
The Lieutenant turned to leave. "Rest assured we'll come back for you, don't leave so soon."
They could still hear his laughter for a while even after he left, so loud and annoying he sounded.
When they were sure he was totally gone, Cattleya was the first to rush to the man, taking a roll of gauze from her bag, she gently wrapped his bleeding arm with it, as Anemone collected the broken pieces of the bowls he broke to throw them away.
"You girls should leave as soon as you can, he'll come back to hurt you too." one person told them as Robin passed by. "He'll be even more tempted since you're all women…" another whispered quietly.
All the hints seemed to point in the direction of a potential rapist.
Robin hated to be right, again.
But…
"What exactly is happening on this island?" she asked instead, not wanting to pretend anymore.
"That man… he arrived with his fleet a few months ago… since then it's been hell…"
"Never have I ever wanted to slit someone's throat as much as I do with him." Jackass snarled. And they didn't even know the full story yet.
The need was so damn bad…
The hate burned as bright as the one they used to have for machines.
"This island is part of a small archipelago, one day he showed up and he and his soldiers started abducting people and destroying towns… this island it's all there's left…"
That hit Robin right where she didn't want to be hit, right in her heart.
Too much similar to Ohara…
"We don't know why but… that villa you saw it's nothing more than a prison for those people…" the tavern owner kept talking, eyes welling up with tears. "A few days ago he took away my daughter and killed her husband… their little child is not even one…"
Even the child?
Hearing that, Cattleya hit the ground with a punch, making a dent in it.
She didn't need to say anything, because just a look shared between them was enough to make a decision.
Safety be damned.
Robin couldn't care less about it now.
If the Marines had been happy she'd been gone because they were afraid, she'd show them she'd come back even stronger.
She'll show them fear now.
"You should leave the island." the man repeated.
Perhaps, this whole ordeal was why the people here were so kind to foreigners, because they knew the potential dangers there were for them on the island, perhaps some were caught too.
"No need to worry." it was White who answered. "We are not afraid of such a person."
They were much stronger than they looked.
And as androids made to serve and aid mankind, they'd solve this problem for them.
To help the weak with their strength was the objective YoRHa and the Resistance wanted to have when they established here.
Might as well start spreading the voice right away.
Because they were here to stay.
