All That Glitters (One Piece\Zolo) 133

Quick Recap: You had a memory about how you were asked to join CP9. When you woke up, you were about to be taken on the sea train to Enies Lobby, a prison from which no one escapes. You also learned Nik was actually a girl who has a thing for you, and met up w/Robin just as the train left Water Seven.
START THE QUIZ
You stared unseeingly out the window by your seat as the train rolled on. The car swayed gently as the waves from the raging Aqua Laguna beat against it. But to Tom's credit, the train stayed on the tracks. Everything was quiet in the car save for the sound of the wind and rain outside. Like you, Robin was also staring blankly out the window. She was doing her best to ignore you... or maybe she was simply too wrapped up in her own thoughts to pay you any attention.
You weren't sure how long you'd been traveling. There were no clocks, and it was completely dark outside, no moon or stars or nothing to tell you what time it was. You had no idea how far away Enies Lobby was from Water Seven, nor how long it'd take you to get there. Hopefully it was a long trip, so you'd have plenty of time to come up with an escape plan. So far, nothing had come to you. First of all, your arms and legs were still bound, so it wasn't like you could run away. Secondly, assuming you did find a way out, you were in the middle of the ocean in a raging storm. How were you supposed to get off the train? Sure, drowning in the sea was a better death than the one likely awaiting you at Impel Down, but you weren't exactly chomping at the bit to try it. And waiting until you got to Enies Lobby to escape wasn't any good either, because that place was crawling with Marines and government agents.
But in all honestly, you weren't so much thinking about how to get out of your situation as you were what the situation was to begin with. You still felt in the dark about the whole thing. And frankly, if someone was setting you up, you felt you had the right to know why. That was actually the reason you were being so quiet: you were trying to fit the pieces together. So you took things one at a time. `Nico said she betrayed us to achieve her goal. A goal that can't be achieved if she stays with us. It can't be her original dream to find the True History because the government wouldn't agree to let her do that.` You paused as you remembered Robin's conversation with Nik. `Nik said they'd agreed not to kill us. Did Nico give herself over to the government to keep them from killing us?` You suspected Nik's mention of the Buster Call was the key to understanding the situation. The Buster Call was a... a weapon, for lack of a better term. A specific operation used by the government for only the most extreme of extreme situations. In your mind, it was nothing but a monstrosity. Something that people who are supposed to stand for justice shouldn't use, and just one of the many reasons you no longer worked for the government. And more importantly, it was something that Robin had faced once before. Glancing at the woman, you thought, `If CP9 threatened to use the Buster Call against us, that would certainly be an effective threat to make Nico do what they wanted.`
But then you had to confront the question of what the government actually wanted from Robin. Why get her involved in CP9's mission? Sure, part of the reason was to pin the blame on you, but there had to be more. If they just wanted to arrest her, they would've already done it. `Nik already said she's a prisoner. And Nico wouldn't have told Sanji and Chopper that she'd never see us again unless she knew the fate that awaits her.` The only conceivable reason you could think of for the government to keep Robin alive was the poneglyphs. She was the only person who could read them. But then you had to question what they wanted from Iceberg that he didn't have. How did he connect with the poneglyphs? You suspected it had reason to do with how Iceberg already knew about Robin, but you drew a blank after that.
You let out a sigh, being annoyed by all the pieces not fitting together nicely. Looking back up at Robin, you thought, `Well, I did say that Nico was the only person who really knew what was going on. Might as well ask. What's the worst that can happen now?` Turning your body towards her, since it was hard to sit up without your arms, you spoke for the first time since you'd been dumped in this car. "Tell me the truth..." Robin didn't turn, but her eyes shifted to look at you through the reflection in the window. "Why are you doing this?" Robin frowned and looked about to tell you she didn't have to say, but you interrupted. "I already gather that you made an agreement with them to spare our lives, but what exactly do they want from you?" Robin's mouth tightened as she became increasingly agitated. Meeting her gaze evenly through the window, you added, "Humor me."
Robin sighed, suddenly looking and sounding extremely tired. "I suppose I won't get any peace until I answer your questions, will I?" Your stubborn expression confirmed it. "Very well." Robin turned to face you. "You're correct that I struck a bargain with CP9 for them not to kill you. In exchange, I would willing become their prisoner and help them revive the ancient weapons written about in the poneglyphs, starting with the blueprint of Pluton they believed Iceberg to have."
Your eyes slowly widened as the final piece fell into place, revealing the entire picture. `Pluton again? Why do people make such dangerous weapons and decide they're too dangerous so they hide them? Why not do everyone a favor and just not make them in the first place?` "So that's it, then. You agreed to help them revive Pluton in exchange for them not to use the Buster Call on us." Robin flinched when you mentioned the Buster Call, but nodded nonetheless. It would appear that her knowledge of the poneglyphs was both a blessing and a curse. A part of that dark shadow she spoke of, perhaps? "And even knowing that they will probably extract such information from you in the most brutal fashion and then execute you, you're handing over the key to awakening the most powerful weapon ever in existence, sacrificing yourself to save us." Robin looked down, but nodded again. Closing your eyes, you stated in your coldest voice, "You're a fool."
Robin's head snapped up. "What?"
Not opening your eyes, you rolled onto your back and answered her question with another question. "Why do you think the government wants Pluton?" When she didn't answer, you explained, "To tip the balance of power in their favor. Right now, the strength of the World Government, when combined with the Marines and Warlords, in approximately equal to that of the pirates. But with Pluton at their disposal, they would have the power to wipe out all pirates... and anyone else who opposes them. So by giving them the key, you've already doomed us. Your sacrifice will be completely in vain."
Robin turned to look back out of the window. The pitch blackness seemed to fit her mood. "It doesn't matter," she responded quietly. "As long as I can save you now, that's all I care about." Despite the two of you having differences, Robin was hoping she'd have enough pull to make them release you as well.
"So you're willing to give up everything for us?" you asked in almost a whisper, which sounded like a shout in the quiet room.
"Yes," Robin replied strongly. "You, Mr. Captain, and everyone else are more important to me than the fate of the world. You took me in even after everything I did, you made me feel like a part of you, you gave me a reason to go on living when I didn't think I had one. I would give anything to save you." Her voice wavered as she talked.
So that's why she did it
It would be a lie to say that you weren't touched by Robin's words and actions, but that didn't stop you from being angry. Not angry at what she was doing as much as the sheer stupidity of it. She was only dooming you in the long run, and then she'd be throwing her life away. That, you would not allow. You would not allow anyone else to die for you, especially to die meaninglessly. "I don't need someone to die for me," you began. "I can do that just fine on my own. If you really want to repay us, then do it by living and achieving your dream. Luffy didn't save you so you could throw your life away. Live." You'd told yourself the same thing when Vincent died saving you. Your life was precious because he fought to protect it.
Robin leaned her forehead against the cold pane of glass. Even with your eyes closed, you could feel the depression rolling off her. "How can I, when my very existence is a sin?"
Your eyes opened in concern at Robin's sudden moroseness. "What is this nonsense you're going on about?"
"I should've died that day... I don't deserve to live."
"I know you don't really believe what you're saying. If you wanted to die that badly, you'd have done it yourself a long time ago."
"You wouldn't understand..."
You felt your temper flare at Robin's attitude. You didn't know what it was about this woman, but she could anger you faster than almost anyone you'd ever met. "How dare you say that to me," you growled, rolling over onto your side again so you could look her squarely in the eye. At least Robin had the decency to look startled by your vehemence. "You think you're the only one who's ever experienced hardships in their life? You think I don't know what happened to Ohara all those years ago? You think just because I've stayed silent I don't know what you've been through? Well let me tell you something, Ms. Nico Robin, I understand better than you ever will! I know what it's like to have your home stripped away from you in a single, violently moment! I know what it's like to have someone steal the most important thing in the world from you for their own greedy ambitions! I know what it's like to be thrown out into a world you can't trust! I know what it's like to feel guilt over surviving when others didn't! I know what it's like to have days when you think the only way to ease your pain is just to end it all, but you don't because you cling to that one tiny promise to keep you going! I know the hope, the sorrows, the joys, the triumphs and the failures. But more importantly, I know what it's like to find that one place where you feel you truly belong and how you want to protect that with all your might!! And if you would bother to open up to the others, instead of wallowing in your self-pity, you'd see that they understand too!! So you can sit over there all you want and feel sorry for yourself... BUT DON'T YOU EVER, EVER, TELL ME THAT I WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND!!!"
Robin looked completely stunned by your sudden outburst. It wasn't often you yelled like that. Maybe... maybe you did understand. `But that doesn't change anything,` Robin reminded herself. She would not budge. You would not change her mind. You could see it clearly in her eyes that she remained fixed on her course.
Gentle rapping on the window beside Robin broke through the tense silence. Turning to see what it was, Robin's eyes widened in surprise. Leaning to the window, she exclaimed, "Long-nose!!?"
Usopp?
Your ears perked at that. "Usopp?" You tried to sit up to see out the window, but you couldn't.
Luckily, Robin opened the window to allow Usopp inside. The man who stepped inside, once you got a good look at him, was indeed Usopp... in a pitiful attempt at a disguise. Basically all he had on to "disguise" himself was a yellow mask from Water Seven with red embellishing and three wavy points sticking out of the side and top that reminded you of the sun. His long nose stuck through the front, wrapped in a bandage, and his goggles covered his eyes. He also wore a long red cloak over his shoulders and had his arms bandaged up. You had to admit, you were glad to see him, even if you had to sweatdrop at his poor attempt to disguise himself. I mean, seriously! The rest of his clothes were exactly the same, and the mask only covered the front of his face so you could easily see his bandana and curly hair.
Shaking some of the rain off, Usopp noticed you trying to sit up. He walked over to you and gave a polite bow. "Excuse me," he said before gripping your shoulders and pulling you up into a sitting position.
"What happened!?" Robin asked behind him. "Why are you here...!? How did you get here!?" Yes, those were all very good questions, and ones you were eager to hear the answer to. Usopp was certainly the last person you expected to find here. Though, thinking back, you could vaguely recall hearing someone shout your name before you boarded the train. Had that been Usopp? Had he been here the whole time?
Stepping away from you, Usopp turned so he was facing both you and Robin. "Nice to meet you," he greeted as if you'd never laid eyes on each other. "I am the Sogeki King, Sogeking for short. >>FYI: "sogeki" means sniper, so he's calling himself Sniper King< < As for why I'm here... to make a long story short, I'm here to save you!!"
"Long-nose...!!" Robin began.
But "Sogeking" didn't let her finish. "I'm not alone, though. There's a chef named Sanji and this hoodlum named Franky on the train. I snuck in here while they distracted the enemies."
You could almost kiss "Sogeking" (since he was going through all this trouble for the charade, you figured you'd play along for while) for bringing you this news. "Sanji's here!?" Perhaps things weren't as dismal as you originally thought. You might still have a chance. As for Franky, you really didn't know or care why he was here. Perhaps he was that important person Lucci kept talking about. You weren't sure why a ship dismantler would have the blueprints to Pluton, but stranger things had happened.
Sogeking nodded. "He snuck aboard the train shortly before it left." That must've been where Sanji disappeared to with Chopper. He must've anticipated Robin would leave on the sea train and waited. "Furthermore, the Straw Hats are also pursuing us on another sea train. And it's carrying quite a few people."
`Thank god they're alright,` you thought gratefully. You'd been very worried, since you knew they wouldn't have let CP9 go unless they weren't able to stop them. You should've known they wouldn't abandon you or let Robin throw her life away like this.
"I peeked in through the windows on my way here. The five people in that car behind us look really strong. We should get out of here before Sanji and the others have to confront them. But don't worry about a thing!! Now, escape with me and my friends!!" Sogeking pulled something out of his cloak. They looked like octopus suction cups. "These are your octoducts," he told Robin. "Please put these on your hands and feet, and then climb out through the window. You can attach yourself to the exterior of the car this way." Placing the octoducts on the seat next to Robin, Sogeking turned to you and said, "I'll have to break the locks on your chains before you can escape. But don't worry. I'm a master lockpick."
He knelt down in front of you and began to pick the lock on your legs first. You'd rather be able to walk than use your arms first. Despite his claim at being a master lockpick, Sogeking fumbled with the strong lock before it finally fell away. You let out a sigh of relief as the heavy chains fell from your legs. You stretched your legs to get the kinks out of them, enjoying the feeling of being free again.
Now undo my arms
Before he could get to work on your arms, though, Robin suddenly protested, "Wait!!" When Sogeking turned around, Robin demanded, "Why are you doing this...!? Didn't I clearly tell you that I'd quit the group!!? Don't make me tell you twice, I'm not one of you anymore!!!"
You gave Robin a tired, skeptical, sideways glance. Most people would be happy to hear they were being rescued. Sogeking stared at her for a moment in silence before saying, "They all know of your reasons!! It seems that Uncle Ice guy, from the shipyard, told them everything."
Robin looked surprised to hear this, and you were glad of it. Iceberg was a good man who didn't deserve that kind of fate. "... wha... he's safe...!?" Robin's resolve seemed to waver for just a moment. "... no! Even then, I still can't go back..."
"What are you babbling about?" Sogeking asked, repeated your question from earlier. Frankly, her answer still didn't make any sense to you. "Don't you get it!? You don't need to worry about protecting them!!! Before you made this stupid deal, you should've talked to them about it first!!!" You found this a little funny coming from Usopp, who'd also left the crew for stupid reasons, but you supposed his case was a little bit different. At least there was some sort of mutual agreement on the part of the crew to let him go, unlike with Robin, who was taking on a burden she didn't need to carry. Looking straight at Robin, Sogeking asked, "Do you actually believe that they'd willingly sacrifice a friend in order to survive!!? Now that they know why you quit the group, they'll find and chop up your enemies no matter where they hide!!!"
"You don't understand what you're saying!!!" Robin snapped, at the end of her patience. Yet even with all of you telling her the exact same thing, she still wouldn't listen. "I never wanted for you guys to save me!!! I won't let you have your way!!!!"
"What...!?" Sogeking gasped, taken aback by Robin's reluctance.
However, any further conversation on this matter was put on hold when you heard someone opening the door to the car. "What're you yelling about, Nico Robin?" Moving with a speed only found in life-or-death situations, you jumped back down onto your side to lie on the seat while Sogeking threw the chains over your legs before diving under Robin's long shawl. Barely a second after you got settled down, a government agent came in. You instantly recognized him as Corgi, that guy you saw yesterday who was harassing Iceberg. He grinned at Robin. "Are you crying about your future now? You know it's too late for that, don't you...?"
As he came around to Robin's side, his eyes widened as he saw Sogeking's arms sticking out from under Robin's shawl. While his hands waved Corgi away, Robin said calmly, "I'm fine..." Corgi didn't seem to believe it. He just stood there, gaping at her. Sogeking only made matters worse when he put his hands above Robin's head like someone would doing a pirouette in a ballet. Now Corgi really looked suspicious.
If you could, you'd have thrown something at Usopp for his stupidity. But you needed to get the man out, so you snapped in irritation, "We were in the middle of an argument, so get out."
Corgi whirled around to face you, apparently just noticing you for the first time. He glared at you and ordered, "Watch your tongue, woman." You met his glare with one of your own defiantly. Corgi started to raise his hand back, most likely to strike you, but thought better of it. CP9 wouldn't like it if he overstepped his bounds. So he cast one last suspicious look at Robin before slinking away like an angry cat.
REST OF QUIZ IN RESULTS
Far behind you, a prototype sea train followed your trail down the tracks. This train, called the Rocket Man, only consisted of a single car. It had been one of Tom's first trains, but he abandoned it because it was impossible to control its acceleration. Once it got going, it just went faster and faster, until it eventually crashed into something. And right now, that something was a giant tidal wave caused by the Aqua Laguna. Despite the efforts of the men standing outside on the train, they couldn't clear a path in the wall of water for the train to get through.
"We're going to crash into the wave!!! We're all going to die!! We're all dead!!!"
"Hey, just keep firing!!!"
The men looked down in surprise as Zolo and Luffy pulled themselves onto the roof. Despite their earlier fight, they were completely fine now. Chopper took care of their wounds, after rescuing Paulie and Iceberg from the fire. To make a long story short, Zolo and Luffy had barely made it to higher ground before the Aqua Laguna struck, flooding the lower levels. Once there, Nami told them what Iceberg had said about Robin's motives. Nami had tried earlier to make it to the train station to stop you and Robin from leaving, but she'd been a minute too late. After hearing Iceberg's story, the four determined to chase after you and Robin. In a stroke of luck, Kokoro had shown up and agreed to drive the Rocket Man after you. So here they were, facing a massive wave.
"Are you guys trying something!!?" Paulie asked, wondering what the two men could possibly do against such a giant wave. He'd snuck aboard the Rocket Man to get revenge on CP9 for what they did to Iceberg. The Franky Family had also joined Luffy and crew, wanting to save their big bro. Luffy had somehow managed to garner respect from the motley crew.
Looking completely undaunted, Luffy turned to face the wave and simply responded, "Mm-hmm."
"Keep firing," Zolo repeated, drawing all three of his swords.
"How much is two times 108?" Luffy asked.
Doing the math in his head, Zolo answered, "Two-hundred sixteen."
"What!? But that's so hard to pronounce," Luffy whined.
"Then just change it."
"Then 300," Luffy decided, winding his arms up for the attack. Three hundred sounded good.
Zolo couldn't really care less. "Fine." It may sound like an odd conversation to have, but not when you considered that Zolo had three different versions of the attack he was about to use. One-sword (36), two-sword (72), and three-sword (108). But combining his attack with Luffy, who was equal in strength to Zolo, it would be two times 108.
Anyways, with the math lesson out of the way, Luffy began the attack on the wave. "Gum-Gum..."
Raising two of his swords over his head, Zolo said, "Three-hundred Pound..."
When they were right up to the wave, the two men released their attacks. "... Siege Cannon!!!" The two attacks combined knocked a hole in the wall of water, creating a path for the sea train.
The others could hardly believe it when they came out the other side, still riding on the tracks. They'd never seen such power before. It was... insane. "We... we made it through!!!" Maybe, just maybe these guys stood a chance against CP9.
The men cheered for Zolo and Luffy. "That was awesome!!!"
Luffy waved his arms in pride while Zolo simply sheathed his swords. His thoughts were elsewhere at the moment. `No stupid wave is gonna stop me,` he thought. Peering out of the horizon, he thought, `I'm coming for you, Vaughn.`