Akira had learned long ago that dreams were a pointless thing and wishful thinking a lost cause. The goal of her life had been determined for her by others. To serve and to obey. Long ago she'd given up on the idea of freedom, of ever having the pow...
"I'm... Uh... Sorry about that. I wasn't looking." Akira rushed out the words, quickly rising to her feet as she was more than ready to keep going on her way. Guy with green hair, she easily made the connection to Ren's explanation for the bar brawl. Meaning, he wasn't a Marine, and as such he should spare no thought to her running around the base like a headless chicken. Or at least she thought he wouldn't.
"Clearly." The man took her in with what could best be described as a confused look in his eyes, and as they scanned over her, he suddenly zeroed in on one thing in particular. Akira noticed it too, his dark eyes focusing down on her left hand. "But it happens when you're doing something you shouldn't."
While it wasn't the standard of a bomb collar, the bracelet around her wrist was still easily recognized, and he knew it too. "Takes one to know one." Still, she did her best not to panic. They had no reason to waste each other's time, surely. "Considering you landed four Marines in the infirmary, I doubt you're allowed to freely roam around their base."
"I'm not. But the half a dozen I passed down that hall didn't even see me, so I think I'm good." He pointed out, hand pointing over his shoulder as he spoke of the Marines he'd snuck by. His words weren't meant as a depiction of his skill, but rather a signal to her that this little escape plan might not be as smooth as she'd hoped.
It could be nothing. The Marines could be among those who remained oblivious. Those she could easily walk by and simply explain that Jahra had gotten busy with Captain Morgan while she had other patients to tend to. But if there was even one among them who knew that she shouldn't be allowed to freely walk out of the base unsupervised, for whatever reason, she'd be right back where she started. If not worse.
"I could get you out." The sound of his voice reaching her ears once more had Akira pausing her looking around as she tried to think of a different route which she could take. Now, they snapped back over to him, a suspicious look in them as she knew there had to be more.
"In exchange for?" People didn't help others simply out of the goodness of their heart. He thought she could do something for him, she was sure of it.
"You seem to know this place." He pointed out, not leaving much room for her to confirm or deny the statement before he continued. "Any chance you know where Morgan's brat would be?"
"Helmeppo. He's supposed to be training which means he's most likely asleep." Akira said in a knowing tone. She'd had enough interactions not only with the idiot herself, but also the other Marines who enjoyed badmouthing him behind his back. Not that she blamed them. "But as much as I want out of here, I don't want to do it by branding myself an accomplice to murder." She added on rather quickly.
"I just want what he took from me." Green-hair deadpanned, rolling his eyes at her dramatics, and making Akira glare right back at him. For a moment, she weighed her options. He could be lying; people most often were.
But was she willing to take the chance if it meant getting out of here. She doubted she'd ever get a chance like this again. And he was right, her chances of getting out alone without being caught or worse were rather slim. Glancing down at her wrist she debated it for one moment more before looking up at him again with a newfound determination in her eyes, speaking even as his mouth opened to say something of his own.
"You help me get out, and then get this off, and you have yourself a deal." She announced. She could get it off herself, sure, but something told her he'd have an easier time stealing a knife or dagger than she would.
"Lead the way."
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Walking through the door of Helmeppo's room had Akira quickly exiting it once more. Because that certainly wasn't the sight she was expecting, and it wasn't one she ever wished to see. Alas, she doubted she'd ever be able to remove it from her brain as it would haunt her nightmares.
Still, despite not having a view, she could still overhear the conversation going on inside of the room. "Are you going to kill me?" Helmeppo's voice quivered with fear and panic. Akira had to admit, it would certainly be an interesting way to find the dead body of a Marine Captain.
"Oh no." She heard the voice of her partner in crime and couldn't help but breathe a small sigh of relief. He hadn't been lying, that was good to know. Hopefully it continues that way with the rest of their deal. "I've got something much worse in mind."
A part of Akira wanted to step back in at those words, especially when she heard Helmeppo's pleading and begging. Or at least until she heard what he was pleading and begging about. "Please not the hair!"
"Are you..." She couldn't help but groan out in disbelief. This idiot was crying over his haircut... Which could grow back... When the alternative was getting killed...
She didn't have much time to ponder how absolutely unbelievable it was. Not when the sound of the warning alarm began to buzz through the entire base. "Damn it." She hissed out more to herself than to anyone else, but soon after began to slam her hand on the doorway to Helmeppo's room. "Haircut's as good as it's gonna get! Time to go!"
Yes, he could probably hear the alarms too, but she didn't know this man, she didn't know how dedicated he was to this idea of tormenting Helmeppo. Luckily, it seemed not too much as it was only seconds later that Greeny exited once more, leaving the crying baby in their wake as he motioned for her to follow him.
For a moment, Akira glanced down at the three swords grasped in his hands. For one second, she concluded getting her bracelet off would be easier than she thought, but the next she was already wondering what exactly someone needs three swords for. However, in that moment, she didn't ask. Instead, the two began walking through the halls at a brisk pace, the sound of Marine calls to action echoing all around them.
"You know, I doubt they'll let us just get out of the front exit without issue." She pointed out, believing that the warning alarm had sounded because of one of them, or perhaps even both. But Akira didn't know everything that was going on inside of the base in that moment.
"They will." He announced confidently and soon enough supported his confidence with an actual explanation. "They'll be too busy with the pirates sneaking around." His statement had Akira's eyes widening in surprise, wondering when the hell that happened. But also, she was happy to know there'd be a distraction covering their escape.
Without any more questions, the two continued on their way in silence, the sounds of a fight drawing nearer as they approached the exit into the courtyard. One which would also lead them out of the base and into the streets of Shells Town. Akira knew that after that she'd be on her own, but she'd figure it out. She could hide and find a way to board a ship without anyone seeing her. All she needed was to get away from this island. That was the first step.
And for a short moment, she thought it was a possible one as she followed Greeny through the courtyard. Not a single Marine paid them any mind, all too focused on their fight with an orange haired girl and someone in a straw hat which obscured much of their face from Akira's eyes. Not that she'd paid much attention anyways. At least not until her own companion slowed down to a stop.
For a moment, she didn't even notice that he stopped as she herself continued to move towards the exit clearly in their sights. But soon enough, she did. And for some reason, one that she couldn't quite explain, she too came to a stop so she could turn to look at him. "What are you..." However, she didn't need to finish the question of what he was doing to realize the answer on her own. "I'm not a fighter. I won't be much help."
"You can go." Greeny said in a determined voice, pulling two swords from their sheaths as he began to walk backwards a few steps before fully turning to the fight as he rushed straight into it.
Akira watched him go, eyes shifting between the trio fighting against the Marines and the doors which would mean her escape. She pondered her decision and wondered why she was even doing so. She could simply run through the door and continue on her way. She didn't owe him anything. She'd held up her end of the deal. And yet, she didn't just go. She couldn't make up her mind. Until it was made up for her.
"Where do you think you're going?" The voice was familiar, and it soon followed with a stinging pain of electric shock spreading from her wrist and though her body making Akira yelp out in pain as she felt it. As she realized Jahra had caught up with her and her chance was gone.
