A/N: Hello, my readers! I hope you're all doing well. I won't drag this author's note out so let the story continue!

Chapter 10

"Ow! Hey, watch where you're grabbing!" Remi complained as the bird that had captured him tightened its hold.

He had been in its grasp for a while and his body had already begun to ache. They were far enough from the island now that he could barely make out its outline and he had no idea where they were headed. As they traveled through the air, he could see the ocean below them, the waves glittering under the oncoming sunset. It was a beautiful sight, but he was unable to enjoy it due to his current predicament.

"Would you prefer falling to your death?" The bird asked with a hint of sarcasm in her tone.

"No, but a little bit of courtesy wouldn't kill you," Remi retorted while glaring up at her. "Where are we going?"

"You'll learn soon enough."

Remi opened his mouth to say something else but stopped when he saw a small mass of land in the distance. He knew from the maps he studied that there were a few deserted islands nearby, but he didn't realize that one of them would be their destination. The bird continued towards the island and Remi braced himself as they descended. He landed with a heavy thud as he was dropped onto the sand beneath them. He quickly jumped to his feet and turned his attention to his captor.

"Don't even think about running," She advised, her sharp eyes trained on him.

Remi held up his hands to signal that he would be compliant. He knew that even if he could escape her sight it would be pointless to run. After all, they were surrounded by water and he would have nowhere to go. She then began to transform, her colored feathers disappearing and her body changing shape. A tall woman now stood before him and her uniform identified her as a Marine captain.

"You're Captain Alicia Foxglove," Remi commented, recognizing her immediately. "I should have known."

"Come with me," Alicia instructed, not bothering to acknowledge his words. She began walking away in long strides, expecting him to follow suit. Remi observed his surroundings and noticed that there was a large ship docked further ahead. It was a Marine vessel and he couldn't believe that he hadn't noticed it until now.

"Are you coming?" Alicia questioned, looking at him over her shoulder.

Remi nodded and they traveled across the sand to venture deeper into the island. He was soon led to a large wooden building which he assumed served as a Marine drop-off point. A few soldiers were patrolling the area, but most of them were too preoccupied with their duties to glance his way. He was escorted inside and guided down a long hallway to an office.

Foxglove knocked on the door and opened it without waiting for a response. "Commodore, I found him."

"Good work, Alicia, " A feminine voice replied, "You're free to go."

Alicia stepped aside to allow Remi to enter. He was a bit apprehensive of course, but he knew that he was in no position to stall. As he walked inside the room, his eyes instantly fell on the person seated behind the desk and he froze in place.

"Hello, Remi."

The navigator felt a lump form in his throat, a sign that his nervousness was getting the better of him. "Shona…"

Laura, Akali, and Elsie were gathered on the main deck of the ship, sailing through the ocean in search of their navigator. They had left Simorea in a hurry although they had also lost sight of the bird that had carried Remi away. The girls were currently discussing the possibilities of his whereabouts with the newest member at the helm as she was the one with the most experience in piloting a vessel.

"Are you sure they went this way?" Laura questioned, looking up at the dusky sky.

"Positive," Elsie assured, her eyes glued to the horizon as she steered, "I have a great memory...for the most part."

"So, what do we know so far?" Akali asked, still trying to figure out the situation.

"Nothing, only that he was abducted by a giant bird," Laura answered, her voice laced with worry.

"Maybe the bird is a pet to someone," Akali suggested as she rested her back against the railing.

Laura considered what Akali said before responding, "I know we can't rule anything out, but that bird was huge. What if it's a Devil Fruit user?"

"You mean like that lizard guy we fought back in my village?" Akali asked, recalling Killian's abilities. "I hope that's not the case."

"Well, we know that whoever took him wanted him alive," Elsie commented in a hopeful tone. "Otherwise, they would have just killed him on the spot."

"We need to find out who took him and where they could be headed," Laura declared as she walked over to the stairs. "I'll check his cabin for clues."

She quickly headed below deck, determined to find any information that could lead them to Remi. As she approached his quarters, she tried to go over the events that had led up to his abduction. The bird was certainly unexpected, but she believed it wasn't a random attack. Upon entering his room, she began to rummage through his belongings, looking for anything that would provide some clarity.

"He's bound to have something here somewhere," She mumbled to herself as she searched through the various piles of documents on his desk. After a few minutes of investigating, she finally came across a parchment and unfolded it. To her delight, it was a map of some nearby islands and there were several markings and notes scribbled on it. Suddenly, a picture peeking out from the assortment of papers caught her eye. She carefully removed it from the pile and glanced at the image. It was a photo of a Marine Base that had been labeled '80th Branch, West Blue'.

I wonder why he has this, she thought as she stared at the picture.

She wasn't sure if the information would help her find Remi, but it was intriguing nevertheless. After realizing that there was nothing else in his room that could assist her, she put the photo back and headed up to the main deck.

"Did you find anything?" Akali questioned as she spotted Laura approaching.

"I think I may have found a lead," Laura answered while showing the other girls the map. "There are some islands in the east that Remi marked on here. He could have been taken there."

"It's worth a shot," Elsie stated as she looked over the map. "That bird is going to have to land eventually. We should be able to catch up to them if we make good time."

"Great, let's go then!" Laura exclaimed, her spirits lifting.

With their destination now set, the girls continued their journey across the sea.

"I hope your trip was comfortable."

"Hardly," Remi replied, his arms crossed over his chest. He examined the woman in front of him, noting that she hadn't changed much. Her posture was impeccable and her uniform was pristine as usual. She carried a smile on her face, but he was sure it wasn't due to happiness.

"You're free to take a seat," Shona offered, gesturing to the chair in front of the desk.

"I'll stand," Remi answered, not wanting to appear at ease.

"Suit yourself," Shona said, her expression neutral, "I just want to talk. There's no need for you to be defensive."

Remi wasn't sure of what he should say so he remained silent. He knew that he couldn't keep up the cold attitude forever, but he didn't want to be friendly either. He knew that Shona was trying to be polite, but he was still wary of her intentions.

"I'm assuming you collected me to keep your secret hidden, no?"

Shona's expression quickly changed into an irritated one, "Don't forget you deserted your duties, Deniz."

"Right, but we both know that's not why I have a bounty," Remi countered, his voice confident.

"And yet, you're still a fugitive. It's such a shame, too. You would have made an excellent lieutenant."

"It's in the past now," Remi stated as he glared at her. "And I don't regret my decision."

"Well, I can't say I'm surprised," Shona commented while she leaned back in her chair. "You can be quite stubborn. What happened to the boy who was so eager to sail as a Marine? The one that was passionate and determined to make a difference?"

Remi looked away, not able to answer her questions. The person she described was not the same person he was today. He had seen the darker side of the Marines and it had made him bitter.

"You were the finest navigator my fleet has ever seen," Shona praised, her voice sounding genuine, "It pains me to see you waste your talents as a criminal."

"And it pained me to see the truth!" Remi snapped, not liking where the conversation was headed, "I know everything, Shona! You made a bad call and then covered it up like a coward!"

"My actions were justified," Shona continued, her composure still intact, "and the lives of those civilians were inconsequential compared to the greater good."

"Do you honestly think that your actions were just and fair?" Remi asked, his voice seething with each word, "You're responsible for the destruction of an entire town and yet you blamed a mafia family. What exactly is fair about that? Tell me, do you sleep well at night?"

Shona narrowed her eyes, but Remi didn't falter. He knew he was treading on dangerous territory, but he didn't care. The more time he spent in her presence, the more he realized how much he despised her.

"I'm not here to discuss my choices," Shona finally replied, her tone cold and indifferent, "I'm here to discuss yours. Do you expect me to believe that you turned into a traitor just because you disagreed with my methods?"

"It's the principle. I refuse to be part of a corrupt system."

For the first time since his arrival, Remi's mind drifted to his companions. He wondered if they were searching for him or if they would even bother trying. They knew nothing of his past and now he was beginning to see why he should have been more forthcoming.

"Well, you can think about your principles in your holding cell," Shona retorted, not bothering to hide her annoyance, "We'll set sail in the morning to take you back to headquarters. Until then, you're not going anywhere."

A/N: Remember, comments are always appreciated!