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Chapter Text

                This was wrong. 

                The setting sun made the scene all the more terrible.  With the aid of the dimming light, the orange sky and smoky clouds turned the overhead scenery into a near mirror image of the one that had taken over the once clear blue waves of the ocean.  An ocean that was now littered with the hulks of sinking vessels, oil spilling out from shattered hulls, splashes of which had been set alight.  Thick, choking clouds rose from one plane and towards the other as if seeking to connect the two into one awful hellscape.  

                She saw and felt it all: the heat of the flames that were in stark contrast to the cold waters that lapped at her legs, the black smoke that was so filthy that mere tendrils were enough to defile the back of her throat with a slick, oily sensation that did the same to her nostrils while burning her eyes.  Most distressing was the heavy weight of her sister in her arms.  

                And yet this was all wrong. 

                “Why do you look so sad, Enterprise?”  

                Yorktown stared up at her as best she could with weak, half-lidded eyes that were further shrouded by strands of filthy white clinging to her pale face.  The arms that held her up could barely keep her above water and, even then, not for long.  The weight of her already heavy, broken body was growing moreso, the flooding that was occurring within her destroyed rig ensuring that it was only a matter of time – a measurement that could only be less than mere minutes – before she would sink, lost to the grave that she had always stood above proudly, but was now opening up to accept her wholeheartedly.  

                Nonetheless, Yorktown still found it in her to smile and claim, “We accomplished a glorious victory.”  

                  This did not feel like a victory.  Shortly before they had both witnessed the same fate of Hammann.  Yorktown had held her hand, regretful but thankful as the already dead destroyer sunk to the depths after her failed attempt to save her.  How frighteningly quick it had been to see her silhouette go under, first out of reach of the carrier, and then entirely out of sight.  To think that for those who had traversed and fought resolutely upon the seas could just disappear so easily within its grasp, with no trace left behind.  

                The exact same thing was about to happen to her sister, and it was why Enterprise whispered, “I can’t agree with this.”  

                It was not just Hammann or her other comrades of Azur Lane who had fallen today, but the members of the Sakura Empire as well.  Even Hiryuu, who was responsible for this fatal blow upon Yorktown, was not exempt from Enterprise’s sorrow.  

                Why?  Why had it come to this?  She could recall the events, knew of the arguments that had been splitting the factions apart, and yet they seemed completely inadequate to explain how they had gotten to this point, sinking and killing each other.  How could this be, when shortly before they had fought together against a common and very dangerous foe that was still very much present?  

                “This is what we were born for,” Yorktown answered her silent questions. “The ideals of humanity made manifest into our forms.” She paused to take a shaky breath, her chest rising and falling slowly. “This will all work to end the war.  It will be over soon, leaving the oceans to be explored once more, and the names of you and those I’ve been so proud to see grow will be remembered throughout the world.”  

                Enterprise did not voice it out of respect for her dying sister, but she still thought it: how she didn’t care about any of that.  She just wanted Yorktown to live and for this to have never happened.  She even looked away, unwilling to betray the bitter denial that she knew was on her face.  

                “It’s almost time to part.” Her sinking had steadily continued to the point where her neck had submerged, leaving only her head above water and, even then, the salty water splashed against her cheeks.  She struggled to lift her one good arm up along with the companion that was perched upon it. “Take him.  He’s yours now.”  

                There was a brief flapping of wings and launching of stray feathers before the weight fell upon Enterprise’s shoulder – that of the bird and the responsibility that Yorktown was placing upon her.  Talons shifted, getting a proper grip on her shoulder, and the white head of the eagle swiveled to its now former mistress, releasing a plaintive shriek.  

                “Pass on our will, sister.  I believe in you.”  

                Enterprise looked back just in time to see her sister taken.  By then the weight was too much, Yorktown slipping out of her arms, and her eyes had closed right before she went under, seemingly accepting of her fate.  Enterprise was not, instinctively reaching down to get another grip, and was again shocked by how quickly the sea was taking one of her own as her initial attempt was merely rewarded with the ends of her Yorktown’s hair brushing and then fluttering away from the tips of her fingers.  She tried again, reaching deeper, but that surety of reclaiming her sister was proven wrong a second time when she touched nothing at all, the distorting waters playing with her senses of how she was so deceptively close but, in actuality, dropping so far from her reach.  

                Down, down, and down.  She could still see Yorktown sinking, even with the distracting surroundings.  As the seconds went on, Enterprise even fooled herself into thinking that she could still bring her back as she could still see her form.  

               Until, after one errant blink to clear her eyes of the tears that were blurring her vision, Yorktown was suddenly gone.  

                Everything had felt so real, including the breaking of her heart that occurred in that moment.  Enterprise hunched over, warm tears gushing from her lids that she closed and, when they kept falling, pressing her hands over her face.  Her shoulders heaved, her grief seeking release but what she smothered even as her throat was crushed with emotion, her chest struggling to contain the raw passion that wanted to break free.  

                She fought to remain strong even while she herself drowned.  She wanted to follow her sister’s final wishes to remain strong even as every fiber of her being wanted to scream in denial of how none of this was real.  

                But this wasn’t real.  

                Because it didn’t happen! 

--- 

                Enterprise woke up, eyes snapping wide open.  The first thing the rushing return of her consciousness noted was how wet her cheeks were, leading her to the immediate conclusion that her vision was not blurry with sleep but with tears that she had been shedding.  It was an impulse that had her raising a hand and wiping her face even as her mind was busy trying to pick up details of her surroundings.  For the second time in such short order, her attention was fixed on another strange detail that it somehow regarded as important: how the tears she wiped had made it so far as to wet the material of the pillow that she rested on at either side of her head. 

                Eventually she got the answers to what she was more concerned with, that being her location.  It was not that phantom battlefield of fictitious events.  Rather than tainted skies and seas, a very solid ceiling greeted her cleared vision and a quick turn of her head confirmed that she was in a room, resting on a bed with blankets half-on, half-off her form.  The lights were off, but Enterprise knew where she was now: within her homeland of Eagle Union. 

                To be precise, she was in the home of her crippled but very much alive sister, Yorktown. 

                She didn’t get up just yet, having a need to donate some time to confirm these facts for herself to dispel the haunted sensation that the horrible dream had left her with.  Yes, Yorktown was alive.  In fact, she should be sleeping two rooms over where Enterprise had left her upon retiring to bed.  She was on temporary leave, granted to her shortly after the ceasefire between Azur Lane and the Sakura Empire had been brokered.  Though, truthfully, it was leave that was all but demanded for her to take. 

                And that nightmare of a battle was just that – a nightmare.  What she saw had never happened. 

                It was still nighttime.  How dark her room was confirmed it, but the lack of any hint of daylight coming through the curtains of the nearby window better supported it.  There was no going back to sleep though, not after that, so Enterprise slowly rose, swinging her legs around so that they hung over the side of her bed, bare feet touching the wooden floor of the room.  Her elbows set themselves upon her knees and her face dropped into her hands. 

                What was that? she asked herself.  She breathed into her palms, fingers rubbing against her eyes which inevitably touched the tracts that marred her cheeks. 

                Nightmares were not unknown to her.  She’s had them, the most prominent having started shortly after Yorktown had lost her legs and, with them, a very real chance of not being able to ever return to the seas with her sister ships.  They were a byproduct of the brutal lesson of what this war with the Sirens meant and what terrible costs could be inflicted upon even the combined might of Azur Lane and the bonds that supported its members, sisterly or not.  But what she just experienced did not fit the label of such a typical thing.  Not that… fabrication . 

                Fabrication or not, it felt real.  She was awake now, but Enterprise could still vividly recall the sensations: the heat of the flames, the chilling touch of the open ocean, the heavy weight of her sinking sister, the despair…  That did not fit with any ordinary dream.  The closest thing that she felt to that was- 

                The Sakura Empire.  

                Her stomach churned sickeningly at those too-recent memories.  Was that it, then?  Visions of some dark fate?  A future of what she could’ve been?  What she could still be? 

                That didn’t seem right.  Rather than a potential future, what she saw instead was more like an altered past.  Yorktown – her Yorktown – had been severely wounded during one of their major operations into Siren territory to break their hold on the sea lanes.  This other, fictional Yorktown had perished against the Sakura Empire.  Similarly, Hammann was alive and had been one of the members to see Enterprise off from their main base.  Hiryuu, too, was still a living member of the Sakura Empire which they were currently in talks with. 

                Another Siren trick, then?  The visions had never really stopped, even after thwarting their latest schemes with the aid of certain members of the Sakura Empire.  They had lowered in intensity, mere flashes compared to what they used to be, but they still haunted her to this day.  Were they taking on a new turn?  She had no answer to that and doubted she ever would when it came to the machinations of humanity’s most hated enemy. 

                Enterprise thought about lying down and going back to sleep but didn’t find the plan particularly attractive.  One, because she worried about going through a repeat.  Two, the lingering, too-real touch of smoke at the back of her throat had made her thirsty.  This better course of action had her sliding the rest of the way off her bed and standing on her feet.  

                The idea came and went about checking on Yorktown when Enterprise exited her room and entered the hall, mindful of how close she was and she, understandably, now possessing a niggling worry that wanted proof that she was here.  She ended up refusing, a mix of stubbornness to not let that impossible nightmare influence her and care to avoid any possibility of waking up Yorktown.  It was why Enterprise avoided flicking on the hallway light.  She had visited enough that she could navigate her way to the kitchen in the dark and the beachside retreat was nothing like the naval bases she was more accustomed to anyway. 

                She knew the cupboard that held the glasses and was perfectly fine with the tap water from the sink, paying little mind to the odd taste that accompanied each sip she took.  The desire to return to bed did not come to her, however, and she instead found herself standing in front of the sink, holding a half-full glass, with no particular thought to ponder.  Her mind was just…adrift. 

                The interior of the residence was so silent, so peaceful, that noise from the exterior could easily penetrate it.  It was a trait that Yorktown came to admire about her choice of early retirement and Enterprise knew why that was when she was able to pick up the sound of crashing waves.  A minute passed of her remaining immobile until she dumped and set her glass in the sink. 

                She did not return to her room.  Instead, she found herself going to the door at the rear of the kitchen, leading to the outside.  She took care to open it quietly, yet the cold air that slipped through the widening gap was powerful and immediate, causing Enterprise to switch tactics and hasten her crossing so as not to contaminate the warmth of Yorktown’s home, closing the door behind her. 

                There was a small porch but, beyond that, there was nothing but the sand of the beach and the shifting tides of the ocean.  It was high tide now, the waters that traversed the sand coming worryingly close before retreating.  It was another of the ‘perks’ that Yorktown loved, the view that she was granted from her window leaving very little distance between her and the sea that she could no longer venture in.  Enterprise had her own reservations about such close proximity, but she had respectfully kept them to herself. 

               With only a few meager steps she traded the solid wood of the porch for the gritty sand that sank beneath her feet.  It was cold, the sun-neglected particles rising past her heels, slipping between her toes, and dusting the tops with their frigidness during the short time it took her to take a spot that was just shy of the water, leaving the ocean wide open before her. 

                The location was far enough from any ports that it was rare for there to be any disruptions to Yorktown’s treasured view.  Day, night, dawn, twilight – she was able to observe every phase, every facet of the oceanic sights to her heart’s content and a vast portion of Enterprise’s visits involved watching Yorktown gaze upon the endless horizon, never tiring of its beauty. 

                But she was the only one who did so. 

                To Enterprise, night was when the seas were at their most terrifying. 

                It wasn’t a starless sky.  They were shining brightly tonight, with the addition of a full moon.  The reflected light gave what would’ve been a black mass better form, white twinkling upon the waters that rose and fell, stretching far and wide, deceiving watchers with the facade of the ocean being a sort of living creature full of mysterious wonder. 

                Enterprise knew of those mysteries, and that was why she was afraid of it. 

                Daytime, at least, had the advantage of warmth, brightness, and clear sightlines.  You could see what you wanted with little hidden, the warmth setting you at ease, and the bright skies and sun influencing your own mood to be the same.  That light was a source of trust and reassurance, even in the most intense of battles. 

                Night, however, was a time for the abyss that was hidden below their feet to rise and touch the surface.  Dark, cold, and with the dangers you never thought about during the day suddenly feeling sinisterly close simply because of how much harder it was to see anything.  And Enterprise had experienced them.  First was the Sirens, then the deep and silent graves that would swallow the fallen whole, embracing and delivering them into total oblivion with not a single trace of them left behind to be remembered no matter how bright their spirits had been. 

                Enterprise had seen it happen to others, making her wary of it, but the terror had never truly set until she herself had fallen.  Beneath an otherworldly sky with a malevolent orb of crimson, she fell into those dark waters that transitioned into a bottomless chasm that would have her sinking forever.  Cold becoming freezing, what little light becoming perpetual darkness, the pressure that became crushing, and the whispers that slinked into her mind, the visions clawing at her brain- 

                Icy water suddenly engulfed her bare feet and Enterprise reeled back in a panic, kicking up seawater and nearly falling backwards with how violently she retreated.  Even when she touched dry sand again she took several more steps for good measure.  By then the unexpectedly far-reaching wave was already withdrawing to the twinkling mass of black from whence it came, its quarry left behind gasping with a heart thudding mightily against her chest. 

                Enterprise kept a cautious eye on them, watching as the waves came grasping back and coming up short at a distance that she was sure they wouldn’t be able to cross.  But her guard didn’t lower completely, neither did her nerves.  Nor her dread. 

                What am I so afraid of? she suddenly asked, the thought surprising her with how much genuine mockery was laced upon it.  She was a warship.  To face the seas and all its dangers was exactly what her entire existence was about.  There should be no fear.  No doubt. 

                But that was something that the most recent of trials had enlightened her to. Other than solidifying her fear of the ocean, it was the emptiness that was her own life.  And the only reason she became aware of that was due to her failure of her duty. 

                It had been simple before.  She had known right at the moment of her birth the duty that she and her fellow shipgirls were to uphold: the annihilation of the Sirens, the preservation of humanity, and the freedom that they were to restore to the seas and the world.  There was one sole enemy, and though the nationalities and backgrounds of the factions that came together to form Azur Lane were wide and vast, they were united in their goals. 

                Then there came the first battles and the first losses.  She, Yorktown, and Hornet had been the tip of the spear of the opening counterattack against the Sirens.  They had power, sisterhood, and the deep sense of duty and responsibility that was the core tenants of the Eagle Union.  When she lost Yorktown, Enterprise compensated for the damage by relying more on her own power and focusing on the duties that she retained and those she was now shouldering in Yorktown’s place.  What they lost, she would ensure it would not be in vain through the victories she would bring and those she would protect by defeating their enemies. 

                But the battles went on and on, and over time the enemies were no longer as clear.  Or at least they shouldn’t have been.  Iron Blood, Sakura Empire – comrades that they once fought with and were now fighting against.  That fact hadn’t stopped her, the uneasiness that she felt thinking about it now having been non-existent when she turned her planes on them.  To use and rely on the technology of their mortal enemies as a means for their own goals, that made them little different from the Sirens themselves.  More foes she had to vanquish to uphold her duty. 

                It was that heartless logic that nearly had her betraying her duty.  Not just to the Eagle Union, but that of her own humanity, with the currency that would’ve been used to pay for that betrayal being her soul. 

                Nonetheless, while she avoided that fate with the help of her comrades, it was only by witnessing their efforts and own resilient spirits that she realized how empty her entire life had become.  And she didn’t have the slightest clue as to how she should fix that. 

                A sea breeze took that moment to pass on by and it was habit that coerced Enterprise to turn her face away from the growing sting while reaching to pull down the brim of her cap for protection, a similar action being performed for her overcoat – if she had been wearing them, that is.  Bereft of their protection, she settled with folding her arms over her chest while dipping her chin low.  It was a poor substitute, doing little to ease the lowering of her body temperature.  Her feet were beginning to grow numb. 

                I wonder what Belfast would say if she were here.   Thinking about the Royal Navy’s head maid seemed natural given how much of their relationship involved the cruiser fussing over her health and habits.  Enterprise could imagine a few choice lines that Belfast would probably utter in her strictly disciplined manner. 

                What didn’t seem natural was how deeply Enterprise wished that Belfast was here to say those lines to her in person. 

                “Enterprise?” a voice questioned. 

                It wasn’t Belfast, but Enterprise was happy to hear the speaker even if it cajoled a bit of guilt.  She had been aware of the house’s interior illuminating, had heard the back door opening and closing, but it was upon hearing her voice that Enterprise turned around.  As she expected, the sight that greeted her was of her dear sister Yorktown, confined to a wheelchair, and the eagle Grim sticking close to his former mistress from his position on one of the chair’s arms. 

                Given her state, ‘delicate’ was not an unjust impression that anyone would have once they saw Yorktown.  Enterprise would think of her as such, knowing best as to how she once was in her prime.  Other than the stumps of her legs and the ends of her white sleepwear that hung over them, Yorktown had always seemed the most elegant of the three sisters.  Her features were smooth and beautiful with pristine ivory hair akin to that of a pure maiden unlike the rougher unkemptness of Enterprise and the wilder Hornet. 

                But never had Enterprise considered her as weak.  Yorktown retained the dignity of an Eagle Union carrier, and that alone was able to fill out the black overcoat that hung from her shoulders in a way that her physical appearance couldn’t.  

                She also had another source of strength which Enterprise had recently recognized.  It was that peace that she would regularly direct upon the seas.  The contentment that she could exhibit in spite of the crippling stroke that she had been felled with.  She had managed to find and accept her station in life, cruel as it had been to her. 

                Enterprise was envious of that strength and sorely desired it.  It drew her in, coaxing her to turn her back to the ocean and approach Yorktown. 

                “Are you okay?” Yorktown asked, concern heavy on those smooth features. 

                Enterprise stopped in front of her, arms still folded around herself, slightly hunched and shivering with the cold.   Against her sister’s look, she had no chance. “I feel lost, Yorktown,” she admitted, ashamed. “I don’t know what to do anymore.” 

                Yorktown’s eyes widened at the admission.  They scanned over Enterprise and she suddenly reached up, surprising Grim who adjusted his perch when she grabbed and pulled off her overcoat to hand it up to Enterprise. “Take this, you’re freezing!” 

                The act alone was proof enough for what Enterprise was thinking.  She grabbed the warm coat but didn’t take possession of it just yet. “It should’ve been you,” she continued, her voice quiet. “You would’ve known what to do.  You always did.  It shouldn’t be me.” 

                “What are you saying?” Her concern growing, Yorktown took ahold of Enterprise’s wrists and tugged, guiding her to her knees so that Yorktown could wrap the coat around her. 

                The relief was immediate, warmth enveloping her and halting her shivering.  It was doing nothing for her inner turmoil.  That she tried to sooth by taking a gentle grip of the cloth over Yorktown’s thighs. 

                “I feel like I’ve been making a mistake this whole time,” Enterprise explained. “I was so certain of what I needed to do to carry out our duties.  The battlefields were always clear, the enemies I had to sink obvious.  I was never swayed, even when they took on the forms of our own sisters.  I thought that to be my strength that would see me through to ending the war but now…” 

                She couldn’t finish, and really had no need to.  As always, her sister knew, and Yorktown’s hands had fallen over her own, squeezing supportively. 

                “I am so sorry, Enterprise.” 

                Enterprise jerked her head up, surprised, to witness the hidden pain and regret that dwelled behind Yorktown’s serenity. 

                “I have placed a tremendous burden on you,” Yorktown said. “Between you and Hornet, you were always the one I was concerned about the most.  I’ve followed your exploits, but while you’ve collected your stars, I’ve wondered when you’ve had the time to find an identity beyond the one that was created by them.” 

                “That is not your fault.” 

                The regret became more deeply etched on Yorktown’s face. “You haven’t, then.” 

                Enterprise opened her mouth to reply but closed it a moment later.  She wanted to say anything that would erase the sadness she saw but knew that she couldn’t. “I…never thought about it at all.  We were never taught that.” A memory flickered to life. “And when it was suggested to me, it was too late.” 

                “As long as you’re alive, it’s never too late.” 

                Enterprise shook her head. “I had nearly lost everything, and the battles that I’ve fought to end have multiplied.  I will be called to fight again, and I cannot ignore them.  You know I can’t.” 

                “…I do.” 

                Silence fell between them, the sounds of the ocean behind Enterprise filling the void.  Beckoning for her, and she inwardly recoiled. 

                Yorktown released her hands and took her into her arms.  She pulled her close, her hair falling like a protective curtain around Enterprise as she held her tight against her.  Enterprise welcomed it, her head nestled against her sister’s middle, and was content to stay like this for however long it would last – a tiny refuge from the storm that she knew awaited her. 

                “I cannot follow you,” Yorktown murmured in her ear. “This is all I can do for you.  So, remember this.  Remember this feeling and be sure to look for it again.  Find something or someone who will be able give you peace, for even the mightiest of eagles need a calm nest to lay in, Enterprise.” 

                The Grim Reaper himself flapped his wings once in agreement, having rarely left Yorktown’s side since arriving with the confused and battle-weary Enterprise. 

                While indulging in the embrace, Enterprise was caught off guard by the release of the tension in her body and the calming of her turbulent thoughts.  This was…familiar.  It wasn’t to this extent, but she was sure she had found something like this.  Or, rather, it had found her.  A beacon that had managed to guide her and keep her intact when the raging madness of the seas had nearly wiped her out. 

                But a beacon was a beacon.  Fixed to one location and unable to accompany you once your duty took you elsewhere.  Just like Yorktown who couldn’t follow her, there was another name and face that Enterprise perceived but could not take solace in.  They would part soon, the nature of their separate duties making it quite clear to Enterprise, and when they did she would once again be left to sail ahead, hoping that the next tempest would not send her off course to the destination that her nightmares advertised. 

------ 

                Elegance was the core of the Royal Navy.  How they fought, how they governed themselves, how they lived – it was always with a mind for elegance.  It was an ideal that each and every member inherited in some capacity, based on the will and wishes of humanity that they embodied. 

                War was no exception.  If anything, war was where elegance was most needed.  Without it, no matter if they ended in victory or defeat, battles became sorrowful, miserable existences.  To that end, their humanity was a blessing that should never be forsaken, and the proudest and most dignified of the Royal Navy girls tended to be the ones who venerated it the most. 

                No greater example could be found with Queen Elizabeth and her Council that paid such tribute to the monarchies of their home nation.  Holy, sacred, and meant to be conducted with absolute elegance while keeping one’s respected station in mind. 

                And Warspite, the Queen’s Knight, narrowed her gaze at one who she believed was going beyond her station. “Don’t you think you’ve been quite selfish as of late, Belfast?” 

                The diminutive knight carried a vast presence, and the sword of state that she wielded was only a small part of it.  Out of all the ships in the Royal Navy, she had amassed the most battle honours since the culmination of the desires that birthed her existence and wore them proudly; from the buttons that displayed the sign of the Crown in their pristine glory to the embroidery of her uniform’s shoulders and insignias at the ends of her scarf.  The collection she cherished as proof of her worthiness to be at the queen’s side. 

               It was the reason why Belfast bowed her head so low in deference and not to make up for Warspite’s stature. “Yes, I am aware that my recent requests are rather unfitting for one of my position.” 

                Her display did little to appease her, Belfast able to vividly perceive how Warspite was looking so far down at her.  Such was the difference in their status.  As head maid, Belfast’s post should be to the side of the gathered members, serving tea and other luxuries when signaled.  She should not be using this section of the wooden gazebo as a platform to address the queen and her advisors here in the gardens of the Royal Navy dormitory. 

                A hand tapped against Warspite’s shoulder. “It's fine, it’s fine!  I for one like this selfish Bel!” 

                Warspite directed a perplexed stare at the speaker but the aggression in her stance lessened immediately, turning into a bow. “Your Majesty.” With no further question she resumed her seat, setting her blade so that it was leaning at her side, ready to be presented at a moment’s notice. 

                “Raise your head, my servant!” 

                 Belfast did as ordered, lifting her chin to better meet the bright countenance of Queen Elizabeth while keeping her hands dutifully clasped at her front. “I thank you, Your Majesty.” 

                The smile of the queen marginally widened, and Belfast silently congratulated herself on the extra sugar that was in Elizabeth’s cup.  Not that that would be enough to manipulate the Royal Navy’s leading monarch in any significant way.  Her appearance, actions, and overly grandiose presentations befitting a child belied the intelligence and wisdom better associated with her namesake.  If Warspite was her knight who instilled the discipline and honor of the Royal Navy, it was Queen Elizabeth who cultivated and inspired the beauty of their shared humanity.  She was doing it right now by giving Belfast this chance and it was the reason why the head maid and her other subjects respected her so. 

                Still, a little flattery could be beneficial if applied graciously. 

                “Warspite’s allegations aren’t without merit.” To the right of the queen was the refined femininity of Hood.  Modestly dressed with her pleasant blues compared to most of her surrounding compatriots, she was nonetheless a figure of virtue and nobility.  Her teacup was half-raised, leaving her enough room to stick Belfast with a critical stare. “This supply run was supposed to include the refit of two of our cruisers, namely Sheffield and Edinburgh, that would be taking place in London.  Once the supplies and blueprints have been delivered to our base, the refit would be extended to the rest.  However, during our last meeting you personally requested to take Edinburgh’s place – a request that we granted with Edinburgh’s consent.” 

                Belfast met Hood’s stare unflinchingly. “This is true, and I remain grateful for your graciousness along with Edinburgh’s.” Edinburgh, after all, had been deemed as more needing of the refit along with Sheffield given their recent actions.  Out of all the other light cruisers, Belfast was the lowest in priority due to her already modified nature. 

                Hood’s brow raised, her cup remaining perfectly still. “And you show it with this latest, far more extravagant request?” 

                “It is extravagant,” Belfast again admitted, “but I believe this is necessary to help address troubling issues that have come to our attention during our recent conflicts and may become a problem in the future.” 

                It was a hook that wasn’t meant for Hood.  Instead, the bait had been selected for the military-dressed Prince of Wales who leaned forward. “Please elaborate, Belfast.” 

                Belfast predicted that Wales would be one of her strongest supporters in this meeting.  There was another, but she was retaining her silence. “Of course.” 

                Hood glanced between Wales and Belfast but did nothing except take that delayed sip of her tea. 

                Belfast prepared herself for the lengthy discussion that was about to follow. “Our current strifes are rooted in the divisions that are splitting Azur Lane apart.  First it had been Sakura Empire and Iron Blood.  While the former is no longer an active threat and we are preparing to shift our focus towards Iron Blood, we cannot ignore the possibility of other factions choosing this moment of chaos to join the Axis or go off on their own independently.  The Sardegna Empire have made their intentions all but plain…” 

                Belfast expected and wasn’t disappointed in the reactions she saw: Hood rolling her eyes, Elizabeth slapping a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing, Warspite trying and failing to hide her own smirk, and Wales looking exasperated. 

                “…But we also have our suspicions concerning Northern Parliament.” With the atmosphere a bit more solemn when it came to their more ambiguous member nation, she went on, “I believe that an elegant display of unity would be an appropriate measure to take.” 

                “Which is why you’re requesting Enterprise to join the supply run,” Wales deduced. 

                “Yes.  I believe none of us are in doubt about her strength and how it can be used in ways other than brute force.  During this time of division, we should do well to compensate however we can.” 

                “Fighting is not the only way to win battles,” mused Elizabeth. 

                Warspite nodded dutifully. “Or to prevent them.” 

                Wales leaned back in her chair, a hand coming to her chin as she became deep in thought. “It does have merits.” 

                Hood was not so easily swayed. “The problem is whether her superiors at Eagle Union will allow it and I find that doubtful.  The union of Iron Blood and the Sakura Empire had proven to be a significant enough threat that they were willing to send powerful aircraft carriers like Hornet and Enterprise to this base in honor of our alliance.  That threat has been cut in half, and while they have every intention of continuing to provide support against Iron Blood, their priorities are steadily switching to their own borders where the Sirens retain spheres of influence.” 

                Wales tilted her head in acknowledgement. “Eagle Union had fared the worst against the Sirens, and their efforts to reclaim their territories are steep, even to this day.” 

                Which is the reason for Enterprise’s harsh living to begin with, Belfast silently bemoaned but didn’t say out loud. 

                Though one of the strongest – if not the strongest – of the factions of Azur Lane in terms of pure military might, Eagle Union had to be in order to compensate for the list of disadvantages that it had immediately felt with the introduction of the Sirens.  It was a large nation, surrounded by the seas, and the inadequacies of the soulless ships that humanity relied upon in the past led to the worst of losses and destruction that occurred within its borders.  Worst of all, it was a nation that was cut off from its European allies, left alone to fend for itself when the entire human race was being put on the back foot. 

                With the introduction of the Wisdom Cubes, shipgirls, and the military establishment of the Maple Monarchy to the north, Eagle Union was able to fight back, but it’s been a long, hard road ever since between balancing the reclamation of their lost territories and the protection of the ones they did have. This could lead to an equally tough existence for the shipgirls who were aligned with them – the most powerful of them typically making up the vanguard of the latest push and then manning the lines to weather the answering counterattack from the Sirens. 

                “They would see their contribution of Enterprise, among others, as generous,” said Hood, “and we wouldn’t be able to blame them for thinking so.” 

                “Even if that contribution was the obvious strategical decision to make?” Wales asked, frowning. “They knew that Sakura Empire’s carrier divisions would be the biggest threat, and the faction’s borders were the closest to their own.  They had a lot to benefit from it.” 

                “The strategic nature and benefits of the conflict will matter little in the long run, especially if they cite just how vital their carriers had been to these engagements - which they were.  I suspect the reason they’re allowing Enterprise to remain at this base is to ensure the elimination of the Sirens that could drift into their waters along with confirming that whatever dealings Sakura had with them is no more.  Once they see their ace carrier assigned to a supply run, they will see no reason for her to remain here.” 

                “They would probably demand another ship to take her place and have her return immediately.” 

                Belfast had expected this, the debate that the two were having something that she had tried to hash out in her mind numerous times.  Points, counterpoints – looking at it from the logical standpoint and knowing how one view would lose out to the other.  And, right now, the one she desired was the one that was losing. 

               Hood was bringing the logical reality to the situation, but she didn’t appear pleased with the role either, especially when making her closing statement. “As significant as this rebellion was, there is much that Eagle Union must deal with close to home that they were distracted from.  They’re going to want Enterprise back as soon as possible.” 

                Yes, of course they would.  We should consider ourselves lucky that Enterprise’s leave didn’t become a full recall to Eagle Union.   Beneath Belfast’s composure, anger flared.  The hands that she had folded together tightened, gripping a section of her skirt.  The anger cooled a second later and Belfast forced her grip to loosen.  She didn’t trust herself to speak immediately and instead made a show of preparing for the next portion of her argument, closing her eyes and taking a breath. 

                When she opened them to regard the assembled body, she declared, “And I, for one, consider that to be a grave mistake.” 

                The forceful declaration got everyone’s attention, raising brows all around.  Warspite bit back what would’ve been a sharp rebuke and looked to Queen Elizabeth instead. 

                Belfast was doing the same. “Your Majesty, you once told me to see what kind of ship Enterprise is.  I had dedicated my service to her during our time against the Sakura Empire, but everyone here has seen it for themselves.  She is strong, driven by duty, and is everything that her reputation had made her out to be.  She proved to be a powerful ally, and instrumental in our triumph against the Sakura Empire and the Sirens.” 

                Elizabeth, to her relief, appeared intriguingly thoughtful rather than offended.  Boosted by this, Belfast swiveled to address the rest. 

                “However, we also saw that she was not invincible.” Unconsciously, the tight grip returned, the cruiser pressing on. “We were barely able to handle the new weapons and powers that the Sakura Empire and the Sirens unleashed on us, and Enterprise became a target for them.  They tried to bend her to their whims.  Break her.  Turn her into their puppet.  And-“ 

                She was overdoing it.  She thought she had sufficiently prepared herself, but this swell of emotion was something she seriously underestimated.  The growing thunder in her chest, the tenseness in her jaw and pressure in her neck that wanted to relay to them the tortured spirit she saw in her precious charge – how swiftly it all came and wanted to take over. 

                This was unbecoming of a maid. 

                “…And they almost succeeded.” Belfast didn’t think she could make her tone any graver.  She used it to her advantage to cool the hot emotions, but the remorse that descended didn’t feel much better. “Which is why I think it’s a mistake to send her back against them so soon as we suspect the Eagle Union plans to do.  We may be of different factions, but as members of Azur Lane and a fellow comrade, I believe it is our duty to assist her if we can.  She needs time and assistance to find herself and recover from the experience.” 

                “You believe you can help her do that in London?” the previously silent member of their number asked. 

                Belfast was relieved when she heard her.  Looking at the kind and gentle face of Illustrious, the carrier’s compassionate aura set her at ease enough to produce a confident smile. “Yes.  If there is something that I believe that Enterprise needs, it is elegance in her heart.  And what better place is there for it?” 

                “Hear, hear!” Queen Elizabeth cheered, surprising everyone.  The small leader had taken to standing on her chair to stand above them with chin held high and tiny chest jutting proudly. “Indeed, there’s no other place that could possibly be more worthy for Eagle Union’s mightiest carrier!  We certainly can’t waste this once in a lifetime opportunity to wow her with the finest that the Royal Navy has to offer!” She pointed her scepter towards her knight. “Warspite, let’s put in the request immediately!” 

                With no hesitation Warspite leapt from her seat to kneel in her queen’s shadow. “As you wish, Your Majesty.” 

                “This still isn’t our decision,” Hood interrupted, raising her voice enough to draw attention to her concerns. “I am not against this course of action, but our biggest obstacle is whether Eagle Union will agree to this or not.” 

                “It remains unlikely that they will.” Wales was stroking her chin, thinking hard the entire time. “But…” She was on the verge of something, the tablecloth she focused on a chart that she was using to plan her next move. “Maybe we can appeal to their sense of theatrics.”          

----- 

                There was little left to the meeting after Wales unveiled her potential strategy and Belfast had returned to her proper duties.  She refilled the teacups that had been drained when she made her appeal while doing the same to the empty plates.  When the meeting officially adjourned with Warspite hurrying off to fulfill her queen’s order of sending the proposal to the Eagle Union while the other members returned to their appropriate stations around the base, Belfast was left to collect the dishes that she would deliver and clean in the kitchens. 

                I am being selfish.  

                The thought hadn’t occurred to her when she got the idea.  It had been a long shot anyway, when the need for a supply run to coincide with planned refits for the Royal Navy’s cruisers was brought up.  She had no way of knowing if things would turn out this way when she requested to take Edinburgh’s place.  The rest of the plan came together later once the date of the run and Enterprise’s return from leave coincided almost perfectly. 

                It was a sloppy, hastily thrown together scheme and Belfast wondered what she would’ve done if the timing was not to her liking.  Make another selfish request?  Now that she was able to take a step back and examine it properly, she couldn’t help but be ashamed of her conduct.  Her actions did not fit with those of a Royal Navy maid, nonetheless the head of the entire Maid Corps. 

                More like someone from Eagle Union.  It definitely seemed to be more in line with something that Enterprise would’ve done despite how ‘selfish’ would be a preposterous label to use on her.  She was the most powerful, most selfless carrier after all – the champion of Eagle Union, triumphing in battle after battle to wrench control away from the Sirens with her comrades. 

                In a single day with her, Belfast knew how selfish and soft-hearted Enterprise really was.  Something, she also knew, could only be a terrible combination with the way she was living. 

                She had taken an interest in her, she had said, and it was the truth.  Beneath the solid plating of the exterior Enterprise presented was a noble spirit at her core, no different from any other girl of the Eagle Union, Royal Navy, and so on.  But that armor was as brittle as it was hard, and it had encased that spirit so thoroughly that it had smothered and weakened it over time.  Even then, Belfast saw the terrible tragedy that would occur if that armor was ever broken. 

                She saw it and wanted to prevent it at all cost, dedicating her services to Enterprise to stimulate that noble spirit and bring the elegance that the carrier was lacking into her life.  As a proud head maid of the Royal Navy, it was something she couldn’t let go on unattended. 

                To her professional pride and relief, it had been working.  Under her care the emotionless mask of Enterprise cracked with surprise and skepticism, which then broke completely with her first smiles while true life kindled in her eyes. 

                Then the Sirens… 

                “Enterprise.”  

                Enterprise stopped short of boarding her docked ship when Belfast spoke her name and did nothing when the maid turned her around.  The adjustments that Belfast began making to her overcoat and shirt collar were an excuse for the cruiser to try and get a look at her face.  

                There was little of the life in her eyes, something that caused an unpleasant twist in Belfast’s chest which contorted further when those dull lavenders lacked the strength to look at her.  They were not the solid, opaque windows of burdensome responsibility that drove her previously either.  They were just…empty.  

                Belfast wanted to bring some kind of life back into them.  Hope.  So she said the first thing that came to mind. “I will be here when you get back.”  

                She witnessed something being roused by those words, and Enterprise grasped the hands that were still fiddling with her coat. “…Will you?”  

                Belfast was shocked.  The weak desperation in Enterprise’s grip, the quiet plea in her voice….  

                Enterprise stepped out of reach before she could recover and boarded her ship, disappearing from sight.  Belfast looked but during the whole time it took the aircraft carrier to pull away from the dock and sail out from the base, not once was she able to make out Enterprise’s silhouette.  She had stood at the end of the dock, watching as the massive vessel disappeared.  Even after that, she had stood there a bit longer.  

               She was standing in the middle of the royal garden as she did on those docks, occupied with thoughts of Enterprise, the dish-ladened trolley she had been pushing forgotten.  She thought about the meeting that had just occurred and how Enterprise’s name had been spoken of as a resource being tossed around, all the while she saw that same lost woman boarding her ship and sailing off into parts unknown. 

               She couldn’t go back.  That was the thought that remained paramount in Belfast’s mind.  She would be returning to this joint base, but how long would that last with the diminished threat of the Sakura Empire and the Sirens being cleared out?  Eagle Union would be calling her back to return her to the life that she was no longer equipped to handle and Belfast’s own duties to the Royal Navy would keep her from following.  Hence her hasty actions that she couldn’t be sure would pull through. 

               “It seems you got what you wanted.  Congratulations.” 

               Belfast did her best to shore up a smile.  It was a good, well-trained skill and she was confident there was nothing amiss to betray her troubles. “It’s too soon to tell, Illustrious.” 

               The heavenly white presence of the armored aircraft carrier was much at home within the royal garden, bringing to mind the may bells that grew here: sweet and dainty, but also poisonous.  Sirens and other enemies who managed to become the target of Illustrious’s ire very rarely stayed afloat for long, her planes capable of such retribution that was at odds with the angelic face that would send them off to the depths.  

                To her sisters in the Royal Navy, she was every bit the compassionate icon of the fleet.  Her hands folding together in a gesture of prayer, her smile was enhanced by her shining sapphires when she said, “No, the holy light is with you in this endeavor.” 

                The smile was no longer forced, and Belfast was moved to properly address and convey her respect to Illustrious with her answering bow. “I am honored by such a blessing, but I do not consider myself worthy of it.  My actions are, after all, selfish, and I have besmirched my station with them.” 

                “Nonsense!  Your actions are in response to the suffering of another and a desire to heal her.  There is nothing purer nor truer to the human spirit that gives our lives meaning.” 

                Her words were difficult to resist, overflowing with motherly tenderness as they were, but Belfast shook her head. “It is unbecoming of a maid to let my personal feelings affect my duties to this extent.  It is not proper conduct.” 

                Illustrious made a half-hearted attempt to mask her mirth. “And yet you already have.  Nothing to be done about it now, is there?  Unless you wish for me to tell Her Majesty that you want to rescind the proposal?” 

                Belfast didn’t say a word and she was sure her face betrayed nothing, but she felt the brush of trepidation come and go at the suggestion. 

                Those lustrous eyes were watching her very closely. “You have become very fond of Enterprise, haven’t you?” 

                “Would you permit me to ask a question, Illustrious?” 

                She nodded, unperturbed by the sudden shift. “Of course.” 

               “Have you ever felt something that you couldn’t explain?  An emotion or surety about something or someone that should not be yet it feels like it had always been ingrained into you?” 

               Illustrious pondered the question until she answered, “Yes, and I am not the first to experience such a thing.  I wager that you know this as well.” 

               Belfast did.  Maybe it was because of the Royal Navy’s emphasis on their human spirits, but she knew of a couple shipgirls who admitted to undergoing such a mysterious sensation within their faction.  It was something that went deeper than the ideals that they inherited such as the importance of honor and elegance because those were things that were imprinted directly from their human creators. 

              “Although it is likely to be of no surprise, it has to do with Unicorn,” Illustrious explained. “It happened as soon as I met her and, though I never asked, I believe she may’ve felt something as well.” There was clear adoration as she thought about the smaller carrier. “She would always rely on me, never able to go far, and though our relationship appeared defined, I have always felt an underlying sense of gratefulness to her.  It’s like there was another time, another place, in which I was the one who relied on her .” 

              “Yes, this is similar to what I’ve heard of,” Belfast said. “In my case, instead of gratefulness, it is relief.” 

              “For Enterprise?” 

               Belfast hesitated. “Yes, but not in the way you would think.” She focused on herself – on that feeling that she was speaking of, deep within her. “I feel there was a time and a place long ago and far away that I missed her.  I knew of her reputation, knew of the many battles she had undergone, and there was a point where I had an opportunity to meet and support her except it never happened.  I felt this shortly after I put myself in her service and it has only grown during our trials with the Sakura Empire.  Now, it’s incessant to the point where I want to do everything that I can to make sure I can stay and help her in any way I can.” 

              She had her theory on the source, and it was shared by others.  The Wisdom Cubes that were the reason for their existence held many mysteries to this day.  They granted them power, sentience, but even after the decades since their discovery and use by humanity, there was much they didn’t know about their nature.  The Sirens had proven that in an atrocious manner recently with their Black Cubes. Looking past those horrible uses, Belfast wondered just what else each and every Wisdom Cube carried and contributed to a shipgirl’s spirit. 

            Illustrious quietly digested this revelation. “I see.  And you believe this to be the reason for the feelings you have for Enterprise?” 

           “It’s difficult to deny.” 

           “Is it the entire reason?” 

           An answer did not come, but it had nothing to do with confusion or a misunderstanding of the question.  In fact, it was because Belfast knew exactly what Illustrious was getting at that she resorted to giving a bow and the excuse of, “I have neglected my duties long enough.  Thank you for your time, Illustrious.” 

           “Ah, it was no trouble at all, Bel.” Illustrious gave her a small wave, donating a minute to watch the maid’s retreating back.  Then, under her breath, she whispered, “May the holy light guide the both of you.” 

Chapter Text

                This should work.   By her will alone, the turbine engines of her carrier body stopped and then reversed, bringing the entire mass of over two dozen thousand tons to a full stop in the middle of the open ocean.  That efficiency and response time alone, a feat only accomplished by the linking of a soul directly to such a war machine, was leagues above anything that a human crew would ever be able to achieve. 

                Enterprise had chosen to come to a halt at the halfway point to reaching Azur Lane’s main base and no matter where she looked from the deck of her ship, there was nothing in sight save for the still blue of the ocean.  Even the mighty presence of an aircraft carrier seemed insignificant in comparison to this display that was what constituted most of the planet. 

                For good measure, her radar pulsed and detected nothing, but this was all to her expectations.  This specific sea lane had been deemed secure for quite some time – practically ever since the Eagle Union and its European allies were able to break the hold of the Sirens that blocked them from one another and reestablish the secure paths of travel they shared in the past whether it be for military or commercial purposes.  Enterprise had taken this specific route twice, void of trouble. 

                But one couldn’t be too careful, especially with the reality-warping capabilities of Sirens.  Double when considering the recent actions with the Sakura Empire.  Despite how vast the waters around Enterprise were, there was no telling just what circumstances could line up so perfectly to have enemies crossing paths, even way out here. 

                Satisfied, she turned and wandered more openly across the signature flattop of her vessel. 

                Insignificant a carrier may be to the world she sailed upon, within the more contained battles she participated in she was a dominating presence.  Long ago, the evolution and construction of warships relied heavily on the escalating principles of guns and armor: a better gun would inspire better armor to defend against it which would then inspire an even better gun to bypass it.  Flimsy wood became tougher metal, and the round cannonballs became penetrating shells.  

                The battleship and its variants epitomized this; from the faster battlecruisers to the bristling dreadnoughts.  All were shaped by the struggle of gun versus armor, and it was the image of battle lines of these fearsome warships accompanied by smaller vessels to support their monstrous volleys of fire that humanity relied upon.  That thinking persisted with the development of Wisdom Cubes.  The strongest picture of defending, fighting back, and triumphing for the human race was linked deeply to those ships that became the basis of the tremendous capabilities that were passed on to the shipgirls who had been selected to carry their arms and armor. 

                But then there were carriers, their smooth flattop decks at odds with the gun platforms of battleships.  Humanity instinctively fell back on the more open display of might concerning battleships and, to a lesser extent, cruisers and destroyers, but there was a deeper wish that formed the core of carriers.  A longing for what had been stolen from them by the Sirens: freedom to navigate and explore the wide oceans that linked them all together.  Carriers symbolized that will and bore it as securely as the fighters and bombers that would fly out to restore and project the peace and stability in a way that no other ship could. 

               If battleships were the strength of the human spirit, carriers were mankind’s yearning heart. 

                That was what Yorktown always believed in anyway. 

                Enterprise stopped, her feet balancing perfectly on the line between the emblazoned E and N of her name painted at the fore of her deck, and then spun to face the other end eight hundred feet away. 

                Rather than cannons, her power came from the tightly neat rows of aircraft that encompassed the rear section of the flight deck.  The fix-winged Dauntless dive bombers were her main means of damage against enemy vessels and emplacements, with bombs currently fitted in the racking beneath the fuselage and the wings.  Each plane could carry over a thousand pounds of explosive power and Enterprise couldn’t even begin to remember just how many Siren ships had been broken in the countless bombing runs her squadrons conducted over the decades. 

                Nor could she do the same for the aircraft that had been felled by the machine guns of the other half of her complement: the Wildcats.  The distinctive squat design of her interceptors with wings folded up were far from the picture of grace that some of the other fighters of Azur Lane possessed or the more sinister nature of Siren ones.  Nonetheless, the resilience of both the Dauntless and Wildcat, buoyed by the experience and command of Enterprise, made them fiercer and far more dangerous than any would expect until they saw firsthand how the two craft could gain air superiority. 

                One Wildcat was rolling forward now, the wings unfolding once it cleared the rest and locking into position.  The engine chugged to life and the propeller began spinning which transformed into the telltale buzzing that started sending it speeding across the deck.  Enterprise flexed her fingers as the Wildcat sped past her, her coat billowing around her with the close passing.  It flew over the edge, dipped, and then stabilized while the landing gear tucked into the fuselage. 

                Stiff.  Enterprise could detect it – the heavy rudder and elevator, the aileron and flaps.  The plane was not operating as smooth as it usually would.  Two more Wildcats took off, one after the other, but the results were the same. 

                She was stiff. 

                Brilliant blue light burst from the interior of the carrier.  Like thin, sharp blades, they cut through the flight deck, the island, her remaining planes – her entire body being divided into tiny, numerous sections to the point that the entire hulk of the ship was being illuminated before it burst apart into hundreds of cubes.  They did not scatter into the ocean, instead hovering in the air as they shifted and folded upon themselves, becoming smaller.  In short order, the reformatting cubes came streaking towards Enterprise to form her rigging. 

                Her flight deck, now many times smaller, reformed at her side, connecting to the armored harness that latched firmly to her back.  The island of her deck remained firmly in place, the carrier having no need for the bow that she would’ve usually armed herself with.  The transformation complete, she fell back towards the ocean. 

                Heavy.  

                Her feet sank.  They dipped beneath the surface, the red stabilizing fins at her ankles briefly submerging before they bounced back up, her heels only then properly bracing atop the water as footing was established.  Enterprise directed a frown down at them before continuing with the rest of her self-examination.  She rolled and stretched out her arms, raising the left one enough so that she could stretch her flight deck out beneath it in a motion that she had practiced and carried out whenever she had to send out additional aircraft. 

                Her movements and the weight of her rig all felt heavy. 

                Enterprise directed her attention upwards where her three Wildcats were climbing high up in formation towards the targets that she had released earlier: over a dozen large balloons that would act as the main objective of this training exercise.  Her planes had caught up and then overtook them swiftly, rising above them, and though Enterprise was blinded by the sun, she knew how her planes dropped into a dive and came screaming down at the balloons with it at their backs. 

                Striking at such high altitude was a maneuver they excelled at to ambush and break enemy formations.  Mere balloons were no match, seven of them popping when her planes opened up with their machine guns, tracer rounds ripping them to shreds.  The attack lasted seconds but half the targets had been shot down with one pass.  The Wildcats separated and began looping around for another run, one pulling up while the other two went hard to port and starboard respectively. 

                 But the impression that Enterprise had before remained unchanged.  As successful as the opening assault had been, she could discern the hesitation in her aircraft before they began looping and the maneuvers themselves were not as tight as they normally would be.  Something was weighing them down. 

                She was weighing them down.  A carrier’s performance of her aircraft was reliant on the carrier herself.  Interceptors and bombers alike depended heavily on her guidance.  Much like the torpedoes and cannons of other warships, her aircraft could only fly and shoot steadily as long as she was the same.  

              To not be so...the results said enough.  When Enterprise’s Wildcats came around, they were too close.  Their maneuvers had taken too long and the time they had to center their shots too little.  Two of them fired, barely catching the edges of their chosen balloons that had them sinking slowly, bleeding air rather than the outright dropping of the previous victims.  The third one missed. 

                Calm down.   Enterprise directed the order at herself.  Relax. 

                Tension had been creeping through her entire being.  It had started at her back, stiffening her spine and shoulders, and it was progressing further.  Where it touched, her muscles were being wound tight like the strings of an instrument.  This carried over to the actions of her planes, and being able to perceive it all so clearly was making it worse when one Wildcat missed with its next burst of machinegun fire while the other two had to break off, unable to get even the hint of a proper shot off. 

                Enterprise breathed deeply, trying to imbue it with calm control to assert itself over her mind and body.  Clear the mind, she thought, thinking that the mental order would get her to accomplish it.  Inhale.  Hold.  Exhale.  

                Her body began to loosen with the small amount of tension that left with her breath.  Similarly, the trio of aircraft above added a little more distance before performing steadier loops around to come again at the balloons. 

                Fighting should be as natural as breathing.  They were both something that she instinctively knew how to do ever since her birth.  She was an aircraft carrier of the Eagle Union, fighting almost nonstop against the Sirens.  She should not be hesitating or finding any sort of difficulty here.  She was- 

                “Grey Ghost.”  

                Her body seized up. 

                “Entertain me, phantom!”  

                “There you are, Grey Ghost!”  

                Don’t think about that.   The sudden anxiety and the weight that was pressing down on her nearly petrified body bordered on painful.  The calm rhythm that Enterprise had established with her breath moments ago was broken and the next ones she took strained with effort.  Don’t think about that name.  

                Moreso, she didn’t want to imagine the faces that said that name.  Not the shipgirls who had said it with eagerness, anger, hatred, and pure fanaticism.  Enemies, but shipgirls all the same. 

                “This isn’t over, Grey Ghost!”  

                “Rest in peace, grey phantom.”  

                “Grey Ghost!”  

                Her shoulders had become bunched together, painfully tense, which put Enterprise in a slight bow.  She was staring down at the bottomless deep blue beneath her feet and the ability to breathe slipped from her mind as she was sucked into the nothingness that was below, so close, with her lungs beginning to burn- 

                Look away!  The rational thought snapped sense back to her, Enterprise taking a rejuvenating gasp.  Suddenly remembering her planes, she looked back up to the sky and her eyes went wide.  Wait!  

                One Wildcat collided into another.  It had been pulling out of a dive, inadvertently putting it on a direct path to the other that had been unknowingly turning towards it.  The results were catastrophic, the entire nose of one craft shattering through the canopy of the other and disappearing into the cockpit, bulging and then breaking through the belly.  The fuselages of both planes twisted together from the impact, the pair spiraling down in a warped embrace, flinging debris everywhere. 

                Enterprise had been staring with wide-eyed shock at the sight and it almost didn’t register that the reason that the destroyed planes were mysteriously getting closer to her was because they were falling towards her. 

                She reversed, her heels splitting the ocean’s surface and sending out scattered waves with how fast she moved.  It almost wasn’t enough, and the combined mass of the Wildcats sent out a giant geyser of seawater that had Enterprise lifting an arm to shield her from the makeshift downpour that soaked her and her clothing.  When she lowered it, it was to see the ball of wreckage that had been her formidable craft floating before her, on the verge of sinking.  They finally dispersed before that could happen, disintegrating into the same cubes that, soon after, broke down into mere dust that scattered into the wind. 

                Enterprise nearly slumped with weariness and her rigging becoming many times heavier wasn’t helping.  She forced herself to stand regardless, staring at the ripples that were the only sign left behind by her Wildcats until they eventually settled. 

                However, the same couldn’t be said for the hand that was shaking at her side. 

------------------ 

                What was a carrier who had lost her fighting spirit? 

                When Enterprise resummoned and reboarded her ship – and, coincidentally, when her shaking hands stilled upon touching the safety of the deck -, that was the question she was forced to ponder over during the rest of her voyage. 

                She still didn’t have an answer when she sighted Azur Lane’s joint base.  Woefully, the sight of the cliffs that acted as the perfect natural barrier exacerbated the problem.  Rather than return to the flight deck, Enterprise had wandered off to the side towards the catwalk, letting her legs hang over the edge while her arms were wrapped loosely around the safety rail, allowing her to lean against it.  Seeing the island had her left hand unconsciously sliding over and rubbing along the back of her right. 

                She wasn’t unaware of the problem beforehand.  Since returning to Eagle Union, she recognized a powerful reluctance of returning to the battlefront.  First when she saw the warship-filled ports of the naval base, and then every time she would gaze out at the waterscape of Yorktown’s home.  It did not surprise her considering what had happened to her, but she had assumed that time away from the front would prove to be the cure to bringing her back to her proper mindset. 

                Instead, the events with the Sakura Empire and the Sirens had deposited a seed that had used her insecurities as the perfect fertilizer to sprout.  During her leave, the roots had grown to embed and entangle themselves around her and by the time she had to return to duty, they had spread so far that each constriction in response to the thought of battle was near total.  At least that was what she just confirmed. 

                In particular, the name Grey Ghost was quite the potent irritant. 

                How can I fight like that? Enterprise wondered. 

                She had expressed the inevitability of it to Yorktown.  She was a carrier, born to fight, and there was nothing else to it.  She fought not only for humanity, but for the comrades who fought with her.  Her battles were to protect them against an enemy that she always knew to be mercilessly vicious, but only recently understood how foul they really were when it came to their gleeful manipulations of the human race and their shipgirls. 

                In the process, she had made a name for herself.  Or, to be more precise, it was a name that others had created for her and one that she was indifferent to – never accepting it, but not rejecting it either.  There were the expectations that the name carried as well but, though she understood that fact, they were all part of the duty that she was already following to begin with. 

                So why was it that she had come to reject it so strongly to the point of it hampering her ability to fight? 

                That was something else she noticed too.  The name Grey Ghost would slip into her thoughts during her leave and she had been surprised to discover the dislike she felt towards it whenever it did.  She couldn’t explain why, but when she had been within the safety of her home nation, she had thought of it as something else she would learn to bear with while fighting. 

                No matter what her feelings may be, she intended to go out and fight again.  That was her purpose.  This reluctance should not be holding her back.  However, rather than her duty that she should be upholding, what would flash to her mind were the names and faces of the members of the Sakura Empire and Iron Blood who would speak that name of hers so, the taunting visages of the otherworldly Sirens, and the visions of the miserable existence of a carrier who had become consumed by war. 

                Enterprise thumped her foot against her carrier body to throw off her train of thought.  Right now she shouldn’t think about it, especially not out here.  Dock at the base, disembark, and…figure out where to go from there.  Maybe a day or two of reintegrating herself with the help of the daily going-ons of the base would better restore her. 

                There was an opening within the impassable barriers of the island that Enterprise was able to make out: a wide mouth that shrunk into the inlet leading to the protected base.  It was large enough to let a battle group pass through it with space to spare, but any large armadas that would be needed to carry out any successful assaults on the base would be restricted and put at a disadvantage – a perfect impediment for their main enemy, the Sirens, and their mass-produced ships.  That is, as long as the defenders didn’t let their security become lax as was the occasion when members of Azur Lane were flooding in in response to the Sakura Empire’s threatening movements.  During that instance, war hadn’t been formally declared yet with the Sakura Empire, and the significant presence of Eagle Union and Royal Navy should’ve been enough to deter any plans for a direct assault.  Any large fleet movements between the Iron Blood and Sakura Empire necessary for a combined assault would’ve been detected beforehand, and though Sirens had their own means of travel that could have them appearing in waters where they should have little to no presence on occasion, their threat was deemed as the most negligible. 

                The possibility of a combined Sakura Empire-Siren assault had never crossed anyone’s mind. 

                Lessons had been learned, and the patrol that was leaving the inlet and entering the open sea was one.  Shipgirls with rigs deployed so Enterprise couldn’t identify the types at range, but she could make out six of them.  Clearly the lessening of hostilities wasn’t doing the same to Azur Lane’s caution. 

                Their paths were going to run parallel with each other and they weren’t going to miss Enterprise’s carrier body.  With that in mind, Enterprise rose to her feet at the same time one girl broke off from the patrol on a direct approach towards her, a hand already coming up to wave. 

                “Hey, Enterprise!” 

                Enterprise lifted her own hand in greeting but held her tongue for the time she needed to rummage through her memory.  Ah. “Columbia.” 

                The light cruiser lifted her shades to show off her proud expression at being recognized – and the slight bulge in her cheek that had to be some gum tucked away.   Coming alongside the carrier, she rapped her knuckles against the hull. “Glad to see you’re back!  Cleveland’s been excited for your return!  Make sure to pay her a visit, okay?” 

                Enterprise settled with a nod which satisfied the girl.  After another wave, Columbia pulled away to rejoin her patrol group. 

                At the head of the group was the imposing Nevada who passed on a casual two-fingered salute that Enterprise answered with another nod and the only other one that she could recall from memory was the smaller Long Island who was content with being hidden in the battleship’s shadow.  The other three were Royal Navy girls, none of whom Enterprise could attach names to but guessed one to be another cruiser while the remaining two were destroyers. 

                Joint patrols between factions were a common practice amongst Azur Lane members who were to be stationed together for a lengthy period of time and one that had been taken up by those in this base.  Enterprise watched them go, waiting until they pulled out of sight before redirecting her gaze ahead. 

                By then, she had entered the inlet and beyond that was the full expanse of the massive Pacific Joint Base. Every single inch of the surrounding shore had been put to use, forming an entire ring of docks and port facilities that stretched for miles.  The island within the middle of the harbor was the home of the Azur Lane Academy/Base Command and accompanying dormitories, the three bridges that extended from it connecting to the hearts of the various sections of the base. 

                Enterprise wasn’t immune to how impressive the base was in size and scope, able to rival any of Eagle Union’s own naval bases save for New York.  It could easily accommodate the fleets that had gathered here already and have room to house a couple more.  Its numerous facilities certainly had the capacity to provide for that number and they had been vital for repairing and resupplying their many casualties undertaken during the entire length of the war with the Sakura Empire to peak condition in time for the next engagement. 

                Remarkable as the base was, relief was eluding Enterprise.  Seeing the rows of docked warships served to remind her of the troubles that were out there in the world, and the question of when it would be her that would be heading the next patrol out at sea to look for the next engagement or to subjugate the one that was found encouraged that uncharacteristic distress to rise up.  What was becoming a disturbing occurrence, she flexed the fingers of her one hand to break the petrifying spell that was coming over it. 

                She hailed the main headquarters and was directed to an open berth to the northern section.  While her ship moved to comply, there was nothing for Enterprise to really do except satisfy some mild curiosity in scanning the ships nearby.  Most carried the insignia of the Eagle Union and Royal Navy, but she caught the rare emblem belonging to a member of another faction that either took refuge or had some business here.  Though she was keeping an eye out for two specific light cruisers of the Dragon Empery, a white-and-blue color scheme attracted her to an Iris Libre destroyer and a couple berths over- she did a double take. 

                A Sakura Empire aircraft carrier. 

                 At first she thought she was mistaken, but before she eventually saw the insignia that proved it, she took note of the wide, wooden flight deck and the port side island.  It was a Shoukaku­-class carrier of the Fifth Carrier Division although Enterprise couldn’t identify which one it was.  What was it doing here? 

                It weighed on her mind, heavier than the anchor her ship released upon aligning with the docks.  The boarding ramp swung down and though Enterprise was aware of traveling down it, her attention was stuck on the ominous shape of the ship she saw, so much so that by the time she reached the bottom she stayed in place.  Her hand lingered on the rail, unwilling to part, and its grip gradually began to grow tight. 

                “Welcome back, Enterprise.” 

                The gloom was swept up in one stroke.  Disciplined at its core but spirited with unabashed mirth for the elegance in life – not only with her own and those she served, but for what seemed to be the world.  It was a tone that Enterprise was unused to and had thrown her off quite often, but for this moment it did well to stave off the atmosphere that had been descending on her. 

                When Enterprise beheld her, she was already exiting her bow to brandish a smile that matched her tone.  The morning light was not here, not like when she made her first proper introduction, but the white hair did not require it – far more vibrant than the carrier’s own duller shade.  Enterprise was not sure why, but the bangs that were pulled off to the one side of her face, done up in the braid that circled behind her head, always had the enchanting effect of coaxing her to look directly into those blue eyes that openly welcomed her each time in a way that she was not used to. 

                They were welcoming her now and Enterprise was put off by the authentic earnestness she felt of someone who was happy to see her.  What’s more, the bright smile changed, turning coy, and the carrier was sure that she could read the words they were silently conveying: I’m here, just like I said I would.  

                And Enterprise felt herself relax, the promise that had been made and now kept surprisingly relieving.   The curve of her lips was made entirely on their own. “Yeah, I’m back, Belfast.” 

                “I’m glad.” The cruiser lifted a gloved hand, hiding and suppressing a noise of pleasure which was replaced by the jingle of the chain hanging from her collar. “My work has become a tad dull without our lessons.” 

                Enterprise lifted a brow, encouraged to play along. “Is that a fact?” 

                “Quite.” Belfast lowered her hand, but instead of maintaining her lively presentation it was subdued with a measure of regret. “Sadly, I cannot welcome you with one right now.  Prince of Wales has requested that you meet with her as soon as you are able to.” 

                Enterprise wished that the pleasant mood could’ve lasted longer, the news alone unsettling it as did the possibilities of what Wales would need to speak with her about so soon after her arrival. “Has something happened?” 

                “Oh, do not worry,” Belfast reassured her. “Nothing so distressing.  Wales would just like to brief you about the current situation with the Sakura Empire and the direction that future operations will be taking.” She lifted her skirt and dropped into a curtsy with her chin dipping. “I have a car waiting to take you to her.” 

                There was the temptation to refuse or, at least, delay the meeting.  Excuses came and went, but all they did was leave Enterprise with a sense of shame for even bothering to consider them.  How far was she going to let this cowardice get to her?  She mustered up a smile, hoping her expression appeared more exasperated than tired. “I guess there’s no getting around it.” 

                “Please do not worry, Enterprise.  I promise you that there will be plenty of time to resume our lessons after we’re done.” 

                Enterprise stuck Belfast with a quizzical look as the maid straightened her posture.  The statement was lacking her cheerful teasing, instead layered with something that felt off to the carrier.  But Belfast was smiling like normal, and even gestured for Enterprise to take the lead.  With little else to go on, Eagle Union’s ace chose to move along as directed. 

                She expected this upcoming meeting to become a prime concern for her to start worrying over and she did distinguish it hovering just out of reach, but that was where it remained.  Instead, what became more noticeable to Enterprise was the presence that was sticking to her side, the second pair of footfalls matching her own, and the ends of a maid skirt that seemed close enough that at any moment she expected it to accidentally brush her ankle except it never did. 

                This was something that had become part of her daily life at the base, but even so she was struck by how natural it seemed to be having Belfast at her side again, her time away not having affected it in the least.  When they got to the open top car, she anticipated and wasn’t disappointed when the cruiser lengthened her stride enough so that she got to the passenger door in time to open it for Enterprise who slid into the seat as if it was the most ordinary thing to do with nary a word or look exchanged. 

                She blamed the lengthy voyage for what she felt when Belfast took her place in the driver's seat.  After traveling across the open sea alone, her mind on navigation and her own problems, the ability to just sink into the upholstery and let someone else take the wheel was relaxing.  Enterprise glimpsed over at Belfast and blinked when she saw the maid looking back at her.  She was treated with another endearing smile before the cruiser directed her attention forward and started the car. 

                Even after the vehicle began moving, Enterprise lingered on Belfast before, eventually, she shifted to look off to the side.  The stiff set of her shoulders loosened a bit more. 

                The sights were more accommodating as well, the barren horizon replaced with the hangars, warehouses, and repair facilities that were close to the docks.   The military nature of the structures transformed into the additional living facilities and went further into the multiple shops and bazaars that had managed to thrive here to sell goods whether it be clothing, staple foods of the differing nations, or other trinkets.  The base was more akin to a city in Enterprise’s eye, complete with the young girls who wandered the streets.  Whether alone, in pairs, or groups, some were moving with a clear purpose while others seemed to have no direction in mind and were wandering for the joy of it, going by the smiles she saw. 

                Surrounded by this, one could forget about the bellicose nature of the docks.  It was a feat that was difficult to achieve at the Eagle Union base she had been attached to during her leave and Enterprise was appreciating it, her mood lightening enough that when a few girls waved at the passing car, Enterprise deigned it to be enough to lift her hand in response. 

                “I’m glad that you appear to be feeling better, Enterprise.” 

                Enterprise glanced over.  Belfast’s focus was directed up front but she was sure that the head maid’s smile had grown larger. “Its…nice to be back here,” she admitted. “Nicer than I expected it to be.” 

                The curve of Belfast’s mouth reversed. “Was your leave unsatisfactory?” 

                Her response was a tad quick. “No. No, it wasn’t.  It was just…” She trailed off, then came back with, “There was just a lot to deal with.” 

                “Yes, I suppose there was…” 

                She sounded sad, and Enterprise felt a strong urge to give her some assurance of having been able to sort out some of it when she had been in Eagle Union, but any effort was quickly dismantled by the truth of how she hadn’t been able to accomplish that at all.  The best she had gotten was to forget about it, much like what she was doing now, and praying that she would be able to have it sort itself out on its own. 

                Rather than lie and risk Belfast seeing through it, she chose silence. 

                Their destination involved taking one of the bridges, the urban environment transitioning to the surrounding waters and docks again.  This time though, Enterprise didn’t mind, and fulfilled an urge to remove her hat and set it on her lap with the excuse that she didn’t want it flying away when that had never been a danger before.  She leaned her head further back, closing her eyes, and focused on the air caressing her face and hair. 

                She just needed to relax.  Clear her mind and concentrate on the pleasantries of her surroundings.  Just…forget. 

                Belfast proved considerate, the silence holding between them when the Academy came into view.  As the Azur Lane base had been a joint construction, a lot of structures in the Royal Navy-centric districts were heavily influenced by the combination of architectural styles that had been introduced throughout their homeland’s history.  The Academy was one such development, from the arches of the first floor windows and doorway to the marble pillars that supported the overhanging roof, crowned with a short tower.  Stone pathways of the courtyard circled the water fountain that bore the signature anchor of Azur Lane. 

                Another display of Royal Navy elegance, Enterprise wryly commented.  Honestly, she was used to it at this point.  However, her lids just happened to close over her eyes again and stay long enough for her to miss the sight of the sakura tree branches hanging over the road. 

                Yes, this was an Azur Lane base with the aesthetics borrowed from all the allied nations.  Present and past. 

               Belfast parked the car at the base of the stairs and Enterprise didn’t wait for her to open the passenger seat for her, getting out herself.  Her pride would never allow that.  She put her cap back on, unconsciously centering it so that the Eagle Union emblem lined up perfectly with her nose, and by the time she was done Belfast had retaken her place on her right for them to make the trek up the stairs together. 

                Enterprise had frequented the Academy during her time here so, again, she was used to the decorated interiors of what should be a military school and command center for living warships.  The carpets that shared the red coloring of the hanging banners with their gold trimming, wall-mounted lights and chandeliers with their fake candles and flame-shaped bulbs, and the epidemic of mantles and pedestals in the halls that were devoted to the artistic obsessions of the Royal Navy - from the rose-filled vases to other decorative artwork.  This was in direct defiance to the nearby Eagle Union-styled dormitory that possessed walls of duller blue and brown, nearly barren of decorations. 

               The stairs that would bring them to the third floor were flanked by a pair of brass replicas of the crowned lion.  Enterprise looked back at them over her shoulder while ascending, was feeling good enough at this point that she was inspired to make a comment about it to Belfast but was interrupted when she nearly bumped into someone upon reaching the top. 

                “Sorry,” she was already apologizing before properly addressing her. 

                The other girl was already peeking around her shoulder. “No, no nee-“ 

                They both froze.  

                The girl she nearly bumped into wasn’t Royal Navy or Eagle Union.  The garments she wore mainly consisted of a white kimono, undone, which fully exposed the short, one-piece dress of crimson that accentuated her long legs and cleavage although there was never a sensual air about her as she had always carried herself like it was simply the most fitting attire to wear in battle.  Her long brown hair was done up with a red bow that hung it off to the side, short red and white streamers hanging from the flowery ornament at the center.  She matched Enterprise in height so she saw how orbs of amber had become wide with disbelief. 

                She was the second ship of the Shoukaku-class of aircraft carriers: Zuikaku of Sakura Empire’s Fifth Carrier Division. 

                “My oh my.” Shoukaku leaned into view, mirroring her sister’s surprise but the hand she had over her mouth seemed so exaggerated to the point of being comical. “I didn’t think we’d be meeting you here.  We were led to believe that you were currently off base.” 

                Belfast came forward, her expression impeccably cordial. “Enterprise had only recently returned and we’re currently on our way to an appointment with Wales.” 

                Shoukaku clapped her hands together. “What a coincidence!  We’ve just finished some discussions with Wales as well.  Aren’t we lucky for this encounter, Zuikaku?” 

                During the exchange, Enterprise had witnessed Zuikaku, still in her state of shock, reach down and blindly grab for something at her hip only to come up empty.  Doubtlessly, the sword that would usually be there had been left behind with her ship.  The action did restore her senses and she locked her arms to her sides, fists clenched, with the only weapon she could bare at Enterprise being a wordless but intense glare. 

                   Shoukaku slipped her arm around Zuikaku’s and shared a pleasant smile. “Well, we wouldn’t want to keep you for too long.  We have our own report to make, after all.” 

                “I pray that everything had proven to be productive.” Belfast set her palm over her heart. “It’s with utmost sincerity that I say that I would love nothing more than to see the bonds between Azur Lane and Sakura Empire forged anew.  If negotiations continue to be fruitful, perhaps we can schedule an afternoon for tea the next time you and your sister are around.” 

                “I will keep that generous offer in mind.  Until next time, Belfast.  Enterprise.” 

                Enterprise hadn’t moved, not even to Zuikaku’s hostile gesture.  When Shoukaku guided Zuikaku to the stairs with Belfast moving aside to let them pass, Enterprise was left staring at the empty space where the younger sister had been standing. 

                Their shoulders nearly touched upon passing, and in that moment Zuikaku leaned over and hissed, “Grey Ghost .” 

                The hostility behind the name was injected harshly and spread swiftly, Enterprise smothering a gasp at the intensity that locked up her muscles while the vital organ beneath her breast skipped several beats and couldn’t return to the steady rhythm that it was meant to follow, the resultant palpitations uncomfortable.  Enterprise killed the impulse of wanting to touch and settle the area, but in exchange the appendage that she denied action from began to tremble.  That she closed into a fist and tucked it within the folds of her overcoat. 

                Her awareness must’ve closed off significantly because the touch that came at her arm snapped her back to reality, the red and gold of the Academy hallway rematerializing.  A warmth pulsed from the familiar hand – gloved, with the thin sheet of metal that curled around the palm -, and Enterprise felt her arm relax.  Quick enough, she hoped, so that Belfast hadn’t noticed the trembling. 

                When she was able to look at the maid, it was to see the concern on her face. “Enterprise, are you okay?” 

                How she said her name hinted to how she must’ve spoken it once, maybe twice, before and had gone unanswered.  Enterprise acted on a sudden suspicion to look towards the stairs and saw Zuikaku and Shoukaku nowhere in sight – not just at the stairs but in the building. 

                “Enterprise?” 

                “Sorry,” Enterprise apologized as she rounded back. “I was surprised.” She had regained enough control to expect Belfast’s doubt and preemptively maneuver around it with, “What were they doing here?” 

                She wasn’t completely successful, but it was enough.  That, and she did want to know why two of Sakura Empire’s most formidable warships were here. 

                Belfast, thankfully, obliged her, although her worry remained visible. “Shoukaku and Zuikaku are acting as representatives for the Sakura Empire.” 

                Enterprise blinked, confused. “Representatives?” 

                “Yes.  You must’ve known about the ceasefire before you left.” 

                Enterprise nodded slowly.  She had known about the ceasefire and the reopening of communications.  It had been one of the few needed breaks that came after the previous madness along with the order for her to return home for some leave. 

                “Well,” Belfast went on, “not long after, it was decided by both Azur Lane and Sakura Empire that direct dialogue could be exchanged.  It’s still too early to tell, but we’re hoping that this may be the steppingstone to peace.  In the very best-case scenario, they may rejoin Azur Lane.” 

                Enterprise heard them but was having problems digesting them.  Peace?  Rejoin?  They bounced off her and fell flat. 

               Belfast’s brows knitted together with worry. “Wales has been speaking with them and deliberating with the others.  If you want, she can tell you more…” 

                Right, Wales.  Whether she really intended to ask or not, Enterprise forced herself to focus on the meeting that she hadn’t been looking forward to previously.  She stiffly marched down the hall. 

                Behind her there was a period of silence before she heard the click of Belfast’s heels following after her. 

                Wales’s office wasn’t far off from the stairs, and it was decorated much like the rest of the Academy.  The difference was how the administrator of the Academy and overall commander of the base had managed to – in Enterprise’s point of view – cramp up her office with the numerous tables, couches, and chairs that had been set with the express purpose of turning a meeting into an impromptu tea party when needed.  ‘When needed’ typically being all the time and the immaculate cleanliness it always kept with each visit despite them spoke a great deal about the prowess of the Maid Corps.  This was on top of the wide desk that dominated one side of the office with the line of bookshelves that went along the entire wall.  The dazzling gold embroidery had dissuaded Enterprise from taking a closer look at the titles, but she assumed that the pages contained within the thick binders covered subjects ranging from classical literature and poetry to military histories and autobiographies of war heroes and rulers of the Royal Navy’s past. 

                Prince of Wales was someone who was taken straight out of the pages, her uniform alone resembling, Enterprise guessed, the royal guards of that past although she wasn’t educated enough to know a specific source.  But the cape connected to her red uniform with the golden chain and the saber alone – currently in its scabbard, mounted on a wall – transmitted royal and marshal status in equally resounding volumes. 

                Their interactions didn’t extend much further than their briefings and shared battles, but Enterprise felt she could relate a lot to Wales.  As grand as her appearance was, she felt an instinctive respect towards the uniform and appreciated how dutiful and serious Wales always conducted herself on and off the battlefield.  When she mentioned such an opinion to Belfast, the head maid had coyly alluded to there being a hidden side of Wales that some shipgirls – in and out of the Royal Navy – had gotten informally familiar with but Enterprise had never seen it and wondered why Belfast had put that bit of emphasis on informally.  

                Whatever the case, her opinion remained of Wales being a highly competent commander worthy of her station.  She had been standing in front of a window that framed a respectable view of the courtyard and the docks beyond when the two entered, and the smooth about-face that she performed to accept them didn’t break her steel-spined posture or ruffle her short blonde hair in the least.  If she saluted, Enterprise suspected she would’ve responded without a second thought, but instead she presented a benign quirk of her lips. 

                “Enterprise, Belfast,” she greeted each in order. “Glad you could make it.” She focused on the former. “Especially you, Enterprise.  I do apologize for requesting you so soon after you arrived.” 

                “Unnecessary,” Enterprise instinctively responded, Wales’s demeanor stoking her own instilled obedience. “But appreciated.” 

                Wales’s smile marginally lengthened before she gestured towards one of the assembled chairs. “Please, take a seat.” 

                While Belfast broke away from her side, Enterprise took a seat and was already prepared for the cushion to sink beneath her weight.  She didn’t understand the vintage style, the chair too short that she had to shift her legs in a tilt to get comfortable and the back being too far back that she had no choice but to sit with a spine as straight as Wales as any other position would seem too slovenly.  

              Wales never seemed to have a problem, seating herself with legs crossed. “Could I interest you in anything?  Tea?  Coffee?” 

                Enterprise was about to refuse but a strong aroma wafting to her nose heralded the cup of coffee that was positioned in front of her face.  She followed the arm that held it up until she met eyes with Belfast who had a smile with a particular quirk that Enterprise recognized as having been prevalent during the beginning of their relationship.  It was a smile that wasn’t going to take no for an answer. 

                She wisely took the cup and knew to take a sip otherwise Belfast would keep that smile leveled at her until she did.  While the maid took her proper position standing at her side, Enterprise inwardly decided that coffee was what she needed after all. 

                “I do have a blend of green tea for today if you want something different,” Wales said. “A unique addition for some guests I entertained earlier.” 

                Enterprise hid a grimace behind her cup. 

                “Yes, we met,” Belfast took over with her unwavering tone and smile. “Zuikaku and Shoukaku, correct?” 

                Minute hesitance stilled Wales’s countenance and Enterprise picked up the swift glance that followed between her and Belfast. “Yes.  I had been expecting them earlier in the day…” 

                Enterprise detected the apology being woven in. “It's fine,” she lied. 

                “A short exchange of words,” Belfast clarified. “And prospects of a friendly arrangement in the future if the talks are going well.” 

                “I see.” Wales was good, but not that good to completely mask the uncertainty of how she should translate the situation.  In the end, she braved through it with some enthusiasm. “They’ve only recently begun but I do consider the appointment of those two as representatives to be a very promising start.  They’re still relatively young and I suspect that was why they were chosen.  Spirited, but unlike their elders they haven’t become entrenched in their own ideologies which leads them being more open, particularly Shoukaku.” 

                All that the talk was doing was reminding Enterprise of the combative exchange with Zuikaku and, privately, she wished for Wales to move on.  To her hidden relief, she did. 

                “But they’re not why I asked you here.” There was a multi-tiered serving tray on the table with a selection of small cakes and other sweets.  Rather than them, Wales aimed for some vegetables that were a tier lower – specifically, the sliced cucumbers that already had a healthy portion consumed previously. “At least not just them as I would like to inform you about the Sakura Empire ceasefire.” 

                The signs were pretty obvious, but Enterprise wanted to be sure. “It’s holding?” 

                “Yes.  As you saw, representatives have been sent for dialogue.  Although there is some discord within certain circles of the Sakura Empire, none have acted out against Nagato’s declaration.  Most of their forces had been called back to the home port.  We are still sending out active patrols just in case but there hasn’t been a single skirmish between Azur Lane and the Sakura Empire since the ceasefire began.” 

                That did ease some of Enterprise’s worries, enough for her to get a little enjoyment from her second sip of coffee.  However, there was the brush of anxiety when she thought of their second most concerning threat. “What about the Sirens?” 

                “The threat level has been lowered significantly, too,” Wales answered. “Small exchanges of fire but those encountered so far have been against small groups of mass-production ships with a couple sightings of humanoid types – none of them of high rank.  One theory is that they may be drawn to the scattered remnants that had been in the thrall of the Sakura Empire and encountering our patrols in the process.” She shrugged. “But none of us can really know what Sirens think, even after all this time.” 

                No, we certainly can’t.    

                Wales spent the following pause to munch on her favored snack before proceeding to the next part of the briefing. “With all things being taken into account, it’s expected that Azur Lane will be shifting its focus away from this theater.  The brass of our respective factions are still deliberating on how best to proceed, but preparations are being made in advance.” She meshed her fingers together, her gaze narrowing upon Enterprise. “And that’s where I would like to discuss about your next assignment.” 

                Enterprise set her coffee down, using it to give her time to settle the unease that bubbled before looking at Wales.  To the Eagle Union carrier, there was very little variance to the types of assignments that were placed upon her.  Most if not all involved her at the front or in a position to be pushing the next offensive.  She never wavered, never hesitated, and always answered no matter how many battles she’s participated in during the years since this war began. 

                But as I am now…?  She wouldn’t refuse, not a chance, but that wasn’t going to magically fix whatever was wrong with her.  And if she was being sent to fight the Sirens in another theater or perhaps make a move on Iron Blood- 

                A horrifying realization hit her.  She was overlooking something.  A new assignment?  A new theater?  All that implied that she would be leaving here. 

                No, don’t jump to conclusions, she thought, having a need to reassure herself with how the possibility was becoming far more distressing than she expected, and so quickly. If I was being sent back to Eagle Union, why did they let me return here?  And Wales is speaking as if I’ll still be under her watch so…  

                “Our base has taken a bit of strain during our conflict with the Sakura Empire,” Wales said, reclaiming Enterprise’s attention. “Between the attacks that it had weathered, supplying and maintaining the fleets that had been stationed here, and sheltering the members of other nations, our supplies have been drained.  Not in any sort of dangerous amount, mind you, but definitely to an extent that will make it hard to recover from on its self-sufficiency alone.  That’s why we intend to conduct a supply run to London.  Your next assignment is to assist in escorting it.”     

                Enterprise stared at Wales, unsure if she heard right. “A supply run?” 

                There was a ghost of a grin on the battleship. “Yes.  To London.” 

                That didn’t break the incredulity that had taken over Enterprise. “Escort duty?” 

                Wales lifted a hand. “This isn’t solely a supply run.  Along with supplying the base, we are using this to redeploy and prepare a portion of our forces for the near future.  Some of our ships, like Illustrious and Unicorn, will be returning to their previous posts closer to the Atlantic where Iron Blood remains a threat.  Others, like our cruisers, will be undergoing refits to better equip them against Iron Blood.  Sheffield and Belfast will be the first, and the blueprints that will be delivered here will be used to refit the rest.” 

                Enterprise turned at that to see Belfast watching her out of the corner of her eye.  The maid performed a slight tilting of her head, a short grin blossoming. 

                So she wasn’t going back to the front yet.  More time for Enterprise to fix what was wrong with her, which she was happy about.  And knowing that this included Belfast being with her for a bit longer was an added reprieve that she was equally happy for. 

                Maybe even happier, going by the pleasant lifting sensation she felt within her chest. 

                Still…  She switched back to Wales. “While I won’t refuse, isn’t my participation a bit much?” 

                If she was honest with herself, she’d rather accept the assignment and carry it out.  But her habit of thinking of the bigger picture – of when and where her power could be best served – wasn’t letting her accept this so easily.  With their struggle with the Sirens and now the Crimson Axis, there was always another battle that needed to be undertaken.  Another victory that needed to be won.  It was something Enterprise always considered and, no matter how much of a burden it may become, she would always go out for the sake of humanity and her fellow shipgirls. 

                No matter her state, she would never forgive herself if she missed a battle she could’ve intervened in, with casualties she could’ve prevented. 

                Wales’s features smoothed, back to business. “Actually, I think your participation would go a long way.” She forestalled the inquiry that she must’ve seen coming. “Let me explain.  There is a third objective to this run: an open show of force and unity against not only Iron Blood but other potential foes.” 

                Enterprise frowned. “What do you mean?” 

                “Exactly as I meant it.  The division of Azur Lane has sent ripples across the globe, and we can’t be sure if it’ll stop with Iron Blood and Sakura Empire.  Whether they’re being turned more to their own ideologies, or they only saw Azur Lane as an alliance of convenience, there are factions that may see this rebellion as an opportunity for their own gains.  Sardegna Empire had been more vocal about this, but we have other concerns with North Parliament being a prime one.” 

                It was a situation that Enterprise was aware of but didn’t want to dwell on previously due to the distressing nature of more infighting even when the Sirens remained a threat to all of them.  She knew of the Sardegna Empire and of their obvious intentions to align with the Crimson Axis, but even within the Eagle Union that particular faction was hardly ever perceived as a threat.  Really, more of a joke and she had gotten the same impression from the Royal Navy girls who expressed either humor or outright pity whenever Sardegna was brought up given their closer proximity to it. 

                Not so much in the case of Northern Parliament where the threat was more credible, and the tone of the Royal Navy was markedly different.  While it was supplied in accordance with its official status as a member of Azur Lane, its cooperation was surprisingly limited.  Northern Parliament kept to itself, practically shunning any other aid.  Even Enterprise, with her lengthy career and battle record, couldn’t recall ever having the opportunity to work with the shipgirls who hailed from it. 

                But betrayal?  The thought influenced the dark emotions that had become present since the formation of the Crimson Axis and Enterprise didn’t want to believe that more of their numbers were seriously considering it. “Would they really turn on us, too?” 

                To her credit, Wales appeared just as disturbed. “Nothing concrete, at least not for Northern Parliament, but there are voices in the Royal Navy that believe it to be more than a possibility.” 

                Enterprise couldn’t prevent the slump of her shoulders.  Why?  The Sirens, a common and dangerous threat, was right in front of them and yet the guns of allies were turning on each other.  Couldn’t they see the folly in it?  Especially with what happened with the Sakura Empire…  A chill ran down her back. 

                That familiar hand returned, falling on and squeezing her shoulder gently.  This time, when Enterprise looked up, it was to find Belfast’s more somber but encouraging smile. 

                “This is why we’re doing this,” she said. “To provide a proud and noble example for those who may be losing their way in these troubling times.  Reminding them of the elegance that we had and what we can have again.” 

                It was a line that Enterprise remembered her speaking once before.  Back then, she hadn’t been sure on how to take it.  This time, she admitted to feeling heartened by it. 

                “Rightly said,” Wales complimented, appreciating the wisdom as well. “This is a good opportunity.  The Sakura Empire has come to know firsthand what it means in working with Sirens and their technology.  Maybe Iron Blood will take that lesson to heart as well.” Unfortunately, Wales didn’t seem to believe in that opinion much. “That’s likely too optimistic if I know some of them like Prinz Eugen well enough, but if it gets others thinking then that’s a start.  Right now, after all that has happened, our allies and those with wavering confidence could use this display to show that Azur Lane remains strong and our principles to be righteous in the face of the Sirens.” 

                Put in that light, it was difficult for Enterprise to have any reservations about her participation in a supply run if it could mean so much.  A part of her was still skeptical to the point of considering it a bit naïve for a supply run to be able to do as much as Wales was hoping, but she was choosing to have faith in it. 

                “When is it scheduled?” she asked. 

                The pleased look that Wales had made it clear that she was choosing to take the question as her acceptance. “Even with the time to select other Eagle Union ships, it could be as early as tomorrow.  However, during my meeting with Zuikaku and Shoukaku, I extended them an invitation to contribute with a small show of Sakura Empire cooperation.” 

                Enterprise snapped her head up. “What?” 

                Wales didn’t seem to catch on to the reversal of her mood. “Nothing considerable - a couple destroyers that came with them and would be watched over by Ayanami.  They assured me that they would pass on the invitation to Nagato and see what she said.” 

                “Is that wise?” The words were out there before Enterprise could stop herself.  She saw Wales blink and knew that Belfast had to be looking at her. 

                “What do you mean?” Wales asked. 

                Enterprise needed a moment as she wasn’t quite sure what she meant either.  She carefully chose her next words. “I heard there’s hope for Sakura Empire to rejoin Azur Lane.” 

                Wales studied her, unsure of what to think about the change that she was catching on to. “That is a goal I would like to achieve, but we’re speaking long-term.  Short-term, I would at least like to establish a more lasting peace between our factions.  Maybe restore trade.  The Sakura Empire had always been more dependent on it in the past and could become a good building block for a proper pact between us.” 

                Enterprise frowned, a mixture of emotions she was having trouble identifying stirring within her.  The Sakura Empire rejoining Azur Lane? 

                She had been relieved when the ceasefire had been brokered between Azur Lane and Sakura Empire and had been glad to hear the hostilities winding further down.  Reviewing the discussion up to this point, it occurred to Enterprise that Wales and Belfast had been speaking with the underlying prospect to one day reunite with Sakura Empire and, at some point in time, Iron Blood. 

                “Iron Blood and Sakura Empire.  But no longer.”  

                She had said those exact words to Belfast when it came to members of Azur Lane supporting each other.  Sakura Empire and Iron Blood had become exempt as soon as they made their declarations of war and attacked them with weapons and motives influenced by the Sirens.  Enterprise was glad that they were no longer fighting the Sakura Empire, but to entertain the idea of them being allowed to rejoin the comrades they betrayed… 

                She placed her hands on her lap and found her nails beginning to dig into her thighs. “Is that the right thing to do?” 

                Again Wales gave her a long, unblinking stare. “I’m not sure what you mean, or what you’re suggesting.” 

                Enterprise did not elaborate, zoning out with her own deliberations.  Vaguely she took note of Wales looking to Belfast for something, but Enterprise couldn’t see what the cruiser was giving her in return.  Eventually, Wales refaced her. 

                “If this is about Zuikaku and Shoukaku, they’ve been nothing but cooperative,” she assured her. “Considering what I’ve learned so far, those two were suspicious and outright opposed to the plans of the First Carrier Division.  They’ve become the strongest voices against the Sakura Empire ever using Siren tech again.” 

                Would they stop, though?  The rebellion of Crimson Axis was all about their belief in Siren technology being the key to victory to the point of attacking their former allies.  More and more the rigs of Iron Blood’s shipgirls were taking on the shape of the monstrous rigs of the Sirens and the Sakura Empire had recently been content to have their ships sailing side-by-side with those of the mass-production ships rather than the comrades they once fought together with. 

                They had also placed their hopes on that abomination of a warship, the mere thought of it turning Enterprise’s blood cold. 

                There had been Ayanami and Akashi; members who had been aghast at the actions of their seniors.  There were probably others, too.  Maybe Wales was right about the Shoukaku sisters.  But she also mentioned there being discord amongst the ranks, and when it came down to it, it was the Sakura Empire as a whole that had chosen to follow the whims of the First Carrier Division. 

                Enterprise said as much, looking at and through Wales. “They were the ones that broke from the alliance.  They attacked us.” 

                Now it was the caped battleship who appeared to be taking care in selecting her next words. “It was an action primarily influenced by Akagi and Kaga.  An action that Nagato deeply regrets in being persuaded into taking.” 

                That didn’t make her feel any better.  In fact, it did the opposite, offence roiling as she saw Wales’s explanation as an excuse for something that was inexcusable. “But they did it all the same.  They turned their guns on us.  They were working with the Sirens.” 

                “Akagi and Kaga were the ones working directly with the Sirens,” Wales specified steadily. “According to the early reports between Akashi, Ayanami, and our agents in the Maid Corps which was then later substantiated with Nagato and many other members of Sakura Empire, it could be concluded that those two were the only ones who were working directly with the Sirens.  Had they known, they never would’ve undertaken Orochi in the first place.” 

                That name had a similarly powerful effect on Enterprise.  Dread froze the pit of her stomach, the picture of the green eyes of the hideous head of that vessel windows of the true terrors that made up its will motivating an icy claw to extend and scrape further within her insides. 

                She tried to force that feeling down, fighting against it, and at the same time forced herself to fight against Wales’s excuses. “They still used that thing.” 

                “No, Enterprise.” Wales had lifted her hands in a placating manner, her strict poise cracking with increasing distress. “That was Kaga’s doing.  Nagato had ordered the project to be stopped and they pursued it, too.  You were there-“ She jumped when Enterprise slammed her fist into the table separating them. 

                “They built that thing!” Enterprise snarled out those words, probably would’ve screamed them outright if it wasn’t for the struggle that was occurring within her between the paralyzing terror of that floating evil and the rage that she felt at the gross rationalization of how that thing came to be.  The struggle extended to her current position: leaning over the table, bent over with both hands scratching into the wood. “Iron Blood and Sakura Empire both want to use Siren tech!  That’s the reason for this split and why they attacked their own!  Are we just going to assume they’ll stop after seeing what they were willing to do?  That they won’t build more of that…that…!” 

                “Enterprise!” Hands grabbed her shoulders from behind and pulled her back. 

                The intervention had the back of the carrier’s legs hitting the edge of her chair and falling into it, the front legs tipping and nearly falling over, but they slammed back down a moment later.  The grip that held her shifted accordingly, restraining but also steadying her. 

                It was the first time ever that Enterprise saw Belfast appear frightened.  The sight she beheld was of her infallible composure stripped away, hanging over her with blue eyes wide and the grip she had on her tight.  She was not afraid of Enterprise or what she may do.  No, she was afraid for her. 

                Energy drained away from Enterprise instantly.  Her body slackened, nearly limp, and all she could do was stare, transfixed, at Belfast.  She noted Wales at her peripheral, able to see enough of how astonished she was past the knocked over coffee cup and serving plate on the table. 

                Shame enveloped her.  Enterprise turned away, unwilling to look at either of them. 

               “I’m…sorry,” she spoke quietly.  Her breathing was labored and a throbbing headache had her pressing a hand against the side of her head, tipping up her cap unevenly in the process as she winced.  She hadn’t struck anything, the pounding resonating beneath her skull “I just…” 

                She just wanted to forget. 

                Belfast’s grip loosened and then fell away entirely before she straightened.  She remained standing over Enterprise, her position and frightened look lessening to worry, implying she was ready to help again whenever, but it was doing little to ease this immense sense of shame. 

                “Enterprise, could you wait in the hall?” 

                Wales’s request was gentle, not sharp with any criticism that she would’ve had the right to use, but like Belfast it didn’t make Enterprise feel any better.  It made her feel worse.  She obeyed regardless, standing up and lowering her hand despite her weakened knees, choosing to brave the throbbing that was now a dull ache.  She tried but was unable to meet the eye of either Belfast or Wales, choosing to just give a nod before turning and walking out the door. 

 ------- 

                “Had Enterprise ever mentioned anything about Orochi to you?” 

                Belfast pulled her gaze away from the closed door and directed it towards Wales to see the battleship’s chin resting atop laced fingers, pondering.  In front of her, the coffee that Enterprise had inadvertently spilled along with the assortment of confections was dripping from the table and staining the rug.  Neither of the Royal Navy girls were paying attention to it. 

                “No,” Belfast answered, hiding how the name of that ship unnerved her. “We still only have ideas of what the Sirens wished to pursue with it, but if you’re asking what Enterprise had experienced when they attempted to merge her with it, she never said a word.” 

                Not that there had been the chance.  Everyone had been sent reeling after the battle; Azur Lane, Sakura Empire, and who knew what Prinz Eugen was regaling to the command hierarchy of Iron Blood about the events.  But there was no possible way that anyone else had become more seriously affected than Enterprise. 

                There had been debriefs, tests, and Belfast had been at her side throughout them all.  And throughout that entire process, Enterprise had stared off into nowhere.  She ate when food was put in her hand, drank when given a cup, and she answered questions with short, emotionless responses, but it was clear that her mind had gone off somewhere with no one knowing where, least of all Belfast. 

                Diagnostics performed on her had come up clear of Siren influence – a result that had matched the previous ones made before, even when it later became obvious as to how long Orochi had been communicating with her. 

                The only treatment that they could come up with was to send her back to Eagle Union.  Get her away from the Sakura Empire, the Sirens – everything.  It was hoped that surrounding her with the familiar comforts of her home nation and her retired sister would work to restore her.  By then, Enterprise had shown signs of recovery to the point of being deemed as stable enough to make the voyage home accompanied by a destroyer escort that ‘coincidentally’ happened to have their rotation date coming up. 

                “She almost seemed normal,” Wales said. “Diminished, maybe, but nothing like the shadow she was when I last saw her.  I was surprised.” 

                Belfast thought back to when Enterprise had disembarked onto the docks and gave her that weak but present smile. “So was I.” 

                Wales studied her curiously. “Did everything really go fine between her and our representatives?” 

                Belfast was all too aware of how much her frown pulled at her cheeks. “Shoukaku kept it civil, but Zuikaku had made a remark that unnerved her.” 

                “I wasn’t lying before; the meeting was supposed to have been done earlier.” 

                “I know.  I’m not blaming you, Wales.” That serious personality of Wales, Belfast knew, went well with her line of work, but she had a nasty habit of letting failures – including the most minor of blunders – affect her more than they should whether they had been within her control or not.  The Royal Navy’s head maid was one of the very few people who were allowed to see it. 

                Wales did seem to take a bit of solace in that before trouble clouded her face. “Do you think she hates the Sakura Empire?” 

                Belfast paused, thinking, but eventually shook her head. “I don’t think so, but it’s clear that on some level she has linked them as a factor to her trauma.” This time, her tone was laced with accusation. “Justified, of course.  No matter the circumstances or who was truly to blame, they hold a share of responsibility for Orochi.” 

                The cruiser did not like to think about that travesty of a warship.  As blessedly short as its existence was, it had nonetheless established itself as the antithesis of the elegance that she upheld and, thus, it was the only thing that Belfast could say that she absolutely despised. 

                And never had she been more infuriated in her life than whenever she thought about how that thing had wanted to claim Enterprise as its key to its own perverted destiny. 

                “I shouldn’t have mentioned the arrangement to Enterprise.” Wales was rubbing her temples. “I probably shouldn’t have offered the invitation to Zuikaku and Shoukaku in the first place, but the two seem genuinely receptive and I figured with Ayanami taking part-“ 

                “Don’t try to make up for my lack of blame with your own,” Belfast chided her genially. “To seek the beauty amidst the adversity is a worthy endeavor, and I believe that you are on the right path to that.” She sighed. “I hope to accomplish the same with Enterprise.” 

                “If I wasn’t already on board, I am now.” Wales sat up and gestured Belfast towards the door. “I want to talk to her again, but I think it’s best to leave that for tomorrow.  Go.  I’ll summon someone else to take care of the mess here.  Make sure she gets proper food and rest.” Her brows lifted in sudden remembrance. “Oh, one more thing.” 

                Belfast stopped with her hand shy of touching the door’s handle. “Yes?” 

                Wales smiled awkwardly. “Just a word of warning: George may have caught wind of what’s going on during my last exchange of messages with the home port.  I don’t know how much she knows but…well, you know my sister.” 

                That Belfast did and she considered whether the possibility of one of the Royal Navy’s most charismatic leaders becoming involved was a good or bad thing.  The answer, she decided, would not reveal itself until they were in London.  With nothing else left to discuss, she left the room to rejoin Enterprise. 

                She felt guilty, especially now, with Enterprise having been left outside while she and Wales were discussing her.  It was with the best of intentions, but Belfast could not escape the slight feeling of how she was going behind Enterprise’s back.  That was until she saw the carrier again. 

                Enterprise had her back leaning against the wall nearby, arms crossed and staring ahead, zoned out.   When she did not register Belfast when she closed the door behind her, the cruiser made her steps louder than normal to catch her attention while approaching her. 

                Diminished did not fully describe what she saw.  Enterprise had her arms tighter than what should be normal, her head lower than usual.  It made her coat appear larger, as if half a size too big for her, and her cap fell further over her eyes. 

                Her armor had been shattered.  Belfast had known this after Orochi and she was seeing for herself how Enterprise’s time in recovery had been little else than her trying to pick up what fragments she could and pressing them together over her vulnerable interior.  The desperate grip she had on those pieces was inadequate to the welding that once held them together, the gaps too many and the serrated edges cutting as much into her as they would to those who got too close. 

                It was such poor protection, as dangerous to herself as it was to others, and Belfast saw the results of it when Enterprise did deign to look at her.  The pain, shame, and vulnerability that were plain to see, now that the façade that Belfast witnessed at the docks was gone. 

                “Wales would like to speak with you again tomorrow,” Belfast told her. “After you had some food and sleep.” 

                She may as well have wounded Enterprise by mentioning the battleship’s name and reminding her about her outburst – something she desperately wanted to forget along with so many other memories.  She pushed herself off the wall, putting a shoulder between her and Belfast. 

                “I was getting hungry, anyway,” Enterprise said and walked away. 

                Belfast waited for some space to be made between them before following her. 

                This was for the best.  The outcome that Belfast had feared had come to pass, but it was not the tragedy that it could’ve been.  Enterprise was damaged but alive.  She believed herself weak, but Belfast would support her.  She would strengthen her spirit, help her find value in herself and in life again, until the day finally came when Enterprise would be able to let go of those bloody pieces she clung to. 

                And in the process, Belfast believed that she would witness something truly beautiful. 

Chapter Text

                The Sakura Empire was burning to the ground.  

                Hours earlier, with the sun at its peak, the home port was a proud, faithful realization of the name Sakura.  Decades before, it had been a mountainous island of gray stone, barren of life.  

                Legends and religious lore had been spun in regards to who planted the Sacred Sakura Tree, for what reasons, how it brought life to the lifeless, and what it stood as to the people who have come to put their faith in it.  The only thing that can be known for a fact is that, at some point during humanity’s discovery and experimentation on the newly-discovered technology of Wisdom Cubes and the construction of shipgirls, the Sacred Sakura had managed to find – or possibly – create the fertile ground needed for it to grow.  It broke through the stone, grinding and eroding away at the rock that, when mixed together with the underground springs it tapped into and brought to the surface, became the perfect bedding for the colossal tree that would mark the rebirth of an island nation beset by the same threat of annihilation as the rest of humanity.  

                When it bloomed, so too did the island.  Within the crevices, beneath the shadows, or upon the peaks themselves – everywhere that should not be able to provide for life, life found a way to spring up regardless.  Though not as magnificent as their mother, the smaller sakura trees possessed the same vitality and life-giving qualities.  While the pink and white of cherry blossoms bloomed on their branches, their roots further shaped the land to spread the life-giving waters of the springs and create the soil necessary for the greens of grass and bamboo to sprout.  

                Such creation thriving on the sterile stone of a nondescript slab at sea became a center of reverence, as did the shipgirls who were, as the beliefs go, similarly touched by the Sacred Sakura for how else could life be brought to the inert steel of warships?  Souls being granted to the soulless?  The human forms that were further blessed with the ears, tails, and horns of what should be myth?  The girls who, when they fell, would return to the flowery embrace of this magnificent life giver rather than the abyss of the sea?  

                For a nation that had come to worship life so, how did it come to be that they would be the ones to be misled onto the path of destruction?  

                How did it come to be that they would become the architects of their own death?  

                Even after the island became the home port of the Sakura Empire, great care was taken.  Following the example of the Sacred Sakura, the shrines and monuments built did not infringe upon the environment that had been established upon the island.  The wood and bamboo of the land was used in the construction of structures that did not seek to eclipse the sakura trees but stand alongside them.  The paths and ascending stairways that were used to navigate through nature were carefully shaped from the already existing stone and dirt.  The result was a harmonious blending of the smooth peaks of once desolate mountains, the floral beauty of the cherry blossoms, and the humble temples.  The warships that were berthed here, too, were like natural denizens of this miracle with a select number possessing wooden decks.  

                That was until the first shells exploded upon the island.  Then came the incendiaries.  

                And the Sakura Empire burned. 

                The resultant firestorm was devouring everything in its path until the entire island had become a funeral pyre.  The flames swept through the wooden construction of the buildings – the initial targets – and effortlessly leapt to the surrounding sakura trees.  Bamboo snapped and popped, the wood weakened and collapsed, and the cherry blossoms were loosed from their branches, their petals charred and burning until they came apart as ash and polluted the springs.  

                It would be days before the flames settled, even longer before the ash and smoke dissolved.  But when it did end, the only survivors expected to be standing would be the gray stones that had originally attested to the inhospitableness of the island and would now become the soot-stained grave markers of the life that was being snuffed out.  

                Them and the charred remains of the Sacred Sakura.  As the source of life, it was the one that was burning the hottest and brightest in such dire fashion, the landscape beneath a simmer compared to the conflagration that produced smoke in such excess that it was turning the light of the day into the sorrowful night with how it rose into the sky and blanketed the sun as its umbrella of branches and blossoms had once done for those who prospered beneath it.  

                Rather than an end of an empire, it was more like the end of the world.  

                No, Enterprise thought.  The end of the war. 

                A flight of Dauntless dive bombers flew overhead, dropping their payloads, but the echoes of the detonating bombs and the fireballs that were made upon the island were so pitiful compared to the ongoing blaze.  

                But Enterprise did not register the full scope of the tragedy she was witnessing.  After all, why should she?  It was a sight that she had gotten used to during this entire campaign: the fires, the acrid smoke, the death.  

                Yes, death was something she had become quite familiar with.  All around her were the latest casualties of this tremendous battle, floating half-submerged amongst the wreckage and debris.  Most were Sakura Empire, the remains of their final defensive line making their last stand on this spot even as the island had already been burning behind them.  Even when the last of their shells had been spent, the bombs and ammunition of their planes running empty, they had fought to the point of being reduced to melee and kamikaze attacks whether by ramming their planes into the opposition or using the dreaded bomb ships.  

                They were methods that were effective.  There were bodies marked with the insignia of Eagle Union mixed in here, including those of the Royal Navy’s Pacific Fleet that had been contributed for the sake of removing the Sakura Empire out of the war and turning the tide heavily in the favor of Azur Lane.  As time elapsed, another body would disappear, flooded riggings eventually pulling them down.  

                Meters away was another scene that Enterprise knew very well: a sister ship departing from another.  

                They both wore white kimonos with large flowing sleeves, the tips painted black to represent the wings of some kind of bird.  What majesty they would’ve had been soiled by the ashy rain that fell on them.  Appropriate, given how one girl knelt mournfully over the still body of her sister, taking her limp hands and folding the fingers over the broken pieces of a flute so that they were resting upon her chest.  She stroked a pale cheek, the tarnished locks of silver, and that was all the time she had left before the body of her sibling sunk beneath the surface of the waters and vanished.  

                Enterprise watched but could not feel anything no matter how much it mirrored her own experience.  Especially not for the ones who had sunk Hornet.  

                Zuikaku stared at what had to be the fading silhouette of Shoukaku before turning her gaze up towards the torch that was the Sacred Sakura. “How did it come to this?”  

                Enterprise felt something this time.  Anger, hot and vivid, took over and she took a step towards Zuikaku’s back, bow gripped tightly. “How?  How?” She gestured towards the devastation. “Does this not remind you of anything?  Was this not what you had wrought upon Eagle Union?  Do you not remember the ones you and your carriers sank when you attacked us ?  When you had chosen to harness the technology of the Sirens and use it to declare war on us?”  

                Zuikaku didn’t answer and Enterprise grit her teeth at the possibility that the carrier was ignoring her.  

                “My seniors in the First Carrier Division…” There was a weak, broken chuckle. “I don’t even know what they were after.  They got us into this and died right after, taking the Second with them.  Shoukaku-“ There was a sudden hitch and Zuikaku wiped at her face with the back of her soot-encrusted sleeve. “Shoukaku always complained and hated them for that.” Bitterness strengthened her next sentence. “And you know what?  I hope the Sacred Sakura had rejected them and cast their souls into the abyss.”  

                “Don’t center the blame on them!” Enterprise snapped. “The Sakura Empire as a whole chose to go to war!  Nagato was the one who agreed and you personally took part in the attack!  All the ships you sunk were done by your hand and your hand alone!  My sisters are dead because of the likes of you!  My sisters who I fought alongside against the Sirens, only for you to be the ones to kill them!”  

                “And you’ve killed mine.” Zuikaku shook her head. “I never even cared about what we sought to gain by taking the Sirens’ strength.  I only wanted to be strong through my own merits, with Shoukaku at my side.  When the First and Second were sunk, we were the only elites left.  How could we abandon everyone who was looking up to us?”  

                “You should’ve.”  

                “Would that have done anything?  Would your Eagle Union have been settled with a surrender even if we had taken it?  I hated my seniors, but there were still many within the Sakura Empire who believed as they did.  They believed they were in the right.”  

                “And now they’re dead, too,” Enterprise said, letting the flames and the smoky fog emphasize the finality of it before she declared, “It’s over.”  

                The bodies had been sinking one-by-one until there wasn’t a single corpse left.  When Zuikaku rose to her feet, the surrounding waters were empty save for bits of flotsam.  

                “No.” Her sword had found its way into her hand, the long blade held out to her side before she faced Enterprise and pointed the tip towards her. “Not between us.”  

                Enterprise narrowed her eyes at the bereaved Zuikaku.  Her features were blackened with ash, particularly the one large swathe across her face from where she had wiped with her sleeve.  It made the glistening of her eyes stand out, the trails that her tears had cut through the grime obvious, but she stared at Eagle Union’s ace with defiance.  

                “I have nothing left,” she said. “All I have is this sword and the life I lived by it.  With this and your bow, let us put an end to this conflict between us.  This is how it should be.” She flipped her katana around and slowly sheathed it, bending her knees into a stance.  When the guard met the sheath, she removed her hand from the hilt and held it out, her other keeping the sheath positioned for the draw that would mark the beginning of the end. “Allow me this honor, Grey Ghost.”  

                Enterprise’s expression became unreadable, but her bow did come up.  The string was pulled back, golden energy flowing out from her fingers that lengthened and thinned into the arrow that poked through the rest, a definitive tip being aimed at Zuikaku.  Eyeing down the length of her conjured projectile, Enterprise witnessed the thin smile creep upon the other carrier’s face as she tensed.  

                Honor? 

                Enterprise lowered her bow, the arrow dissolving while she relaxed her grip on the string.  

                Zuikaku’s smile disappeared, replaced with confusion.  Confusion then became wide-eyed realization when she heard the buzzing overhead.  By the time she looked up, the Dauntless was already dropping its bombs down on her.   

                Enterprise’s expression didn’t so much as twitch when they splashed into the water and detonated a second later, Zuikaku vanishing amongst the explosions that blasted columns of water and fire into the air.  Her bow remained partially raised as she waited for the spectacle to pass and only let her weapon come to a loose rest at her side when she saw the aftermath.  

                Zuikaku was lying face down on top of the water like a mangled bird, her kimono shredded and rigging in pieces.  Where her sword went Enterprise didn’t know but could no longer see it in her possession. Likewise, with Zuikaku’s long hair having come loose and draped limply over her form, she couldn’t see if the carrier still had that stricken look of betrayal on her face that she bore in the moment of her death.  

                That was the only honor that Enterprise knew of when it came to the Sakura Empire.  

                Once more, she was the only one left standing while the last remnants of yet another horrible battle were either being swept beneath the ocean or purged by fire.  The names of the shipgirls she could remember having perished went through her mind, but she knew that the full casualty report would only add too many more to the already lengthy list that had grown throughout this entire rebellion.  

                Arizona, Yorktown, Hammann, Lexington, Laffey, Helena, Juneau, Hornet – the list went on and on.  Shipgirls who hadn’t been sunk by their true enemy, the Sirens, but to the cannons and torpedoes of the ones who betrayed them.  

                But it’s over.  Enterprise did not feel any joy or satisfaction as she viewed the devastated home port.  Never had she felt such a thing since this rebellion began and Eagle Union struck back, pushing the Sakura Empire further and further off their island garrisons until only the home port remained.  A demand for unconditional surrender was made, it was ignored, and the events afterwards spoke for themselves.  

                This was war.  Not like the conflict against the Sirens that involved an otherworldly enemy separate from them, seeking their annihilation, but a war amongst different ideologies belonging to ones of the same existence.  A war that was as ingrained into human beings and shipgirls as all their valiant hopes and dreams.  

                Maybe that was why it was so easy for them to fall back into it despite the presence of the Sirens.  Maybe that was why Enterprise was able to carry it out so easily and got better at it the more she lost.  Maybe that was why it had gotten to the point where she had shut out all those excuses and naïve talk about honor and faith and duty until all that was left were the obvious actions and consequences of war: to be attacked, betrayed, and to lose so much with the only answer to respond in the same manner until the enemy had paid the price that they had thought that they were going to be immune to with their mistaken ideas.  

                And only then would the madness stop.  

                The Sakura Empire was finished, and Iron Blood was next.  Maybe they would surrender, maybe they won’t.  But the Royal Navy was pressing forward last she heard and, surely, there was a visible end now.  Just a little more.  Just a little more and everything could start making sense again.  

                “Enterprise!”  

                Enterprise looked over her shoulder to see South Dakota gliding her way forward.  The battleship had seen better days, her right shield whole if dented, but the same couldn’t be said to her left side with the shield there having fallen apart while the triple barrels of one of her sixteen-inch gun turrets had become warped to the point of being unusable.  Her arm was in a hastily made sling and an untreated gash on her forehead painted one side of her face with still-wet blood that kept her eye closed.  

                “Message from the Royal Navy!”  

                Her breathless tone alone could only mean one thing and Enterprise stared at her with a face that had gone numb, unable to do anything except stare while her entire being rebelled at all that South Dakota was about to say with the knowledge that it could only be bad news.   

               “They’re asking for immediate assistance,” the battleship gasped, gulping what air she could while rushing to finish. “Their main fleet had been ambushed by vessels that traveled along the Arctic to surprise them while assaulting Iron Blood.  They’ve fallen back towards the home port and are anticipating an all-out assault.  Eagle Union, Iris Libre, Dragon Empery – they’re asking anyone from Azur Lane to send any ships to spare as soon as possible.”  

                “Who?” Enterprise found it in her to ask. “Who attacked?” She worked frantically, trying to figure out who could possibly have chosen to assist Iron Blood, but the culprit was already coming to mind before South Dakota answered.  

                “Northern Parliament.”  

                The goal that had been visible a minute ago rushed out of sight and, with it, all the promises of sanity along with it.  It struck Enterprise dumb, the carrier no longer looking at South Dakota but at the dark waters beneath her feet.  

                “We’re already being diverted, but SG radar is detecting Siren signals nearby.  They’re cutting us off, like they know…”  

                Enterprise tuned out South Dakota, her words turning into incoherent noise that was unable to compete with the ringing she was hearing.  It blocked out the battleship, and yet Enterprise experienced an odd, selective hyperawareness that had the sloshing waters of the sea become nearly as deafening as the ringing.  At the corners of her vision, the light of the flaming island grew more intense, Enterprise swearing that she could feel the heat at her back and every movement from each individual lick of the thousands of fiery tendrils as if they were right behind her.  

                And for the first time in her life, she could see the bottom of the ocean.  She was drawn into the depths, her vision magnifying, and she could see everything .    

                She saw Yorktown.  She saw Hornet.  She saw them and every single other girl of the Eagle Union who had fallen.  She saw Royal Navy – from the white and black clothing of members of the Maid Corps to the decorative brass, capes, and signets of the higher nobility.  She even saw members of the Sakura Empire, the mere glimpses of those she hadn’t personally taken out now in great detail, including Shoukaku and Zuikaku.  Sirens, too; the humanoid variants that she had encountered and sunk mixed in with those of the shipgirls.  

                They were not resting in sand.  Ruptured hulls and turrets of battleships, demolished flight decks of carriers, crumpled torpedoes and launchers of destroyers, dismantled anti-air of cruisers, and the bent cranes of repair ships.  An underlayment of broken iron at the bottom of the sea.  A massive graveyard of flesh and metal.  

                There was already so much, and now there was going to be more.  More Sirens, more traitors, more comrades, more battles.  More, more, more with no visible end.  

                Enterprise felt her eyes begin to water but she did not cry.  Her lips were twitching with hysteria, but she did not break down into laughter.  Rage had her hands curling into fists, but she did not scream.  Her knees weakened with despair, but she did not collapse.  She was lost, mind and body being battered by the tides of emotions and sensations she was experiencing, feeling like she was being viciously pulled this way and that, and yet stuck with indecision of what she should give in to.  

                And then something within her was cut loose.  Whatever it was, she would never know, but it was like a sacrificial block that had been released, taking with it all that had been assailing her so that she could remain functional.  Functional, but not necessarily intact.  

                It was quieter now.  She could hear again, and she registered South Dakota asking her something, but now she was unusually distant.  She moved to face her, and while she felt unusually light, she also felt that she had looser control over her own body.  She could think again, but now there was a sharp, rigid focus for her thoughts.  

                “Where am I going next?” Her voice was a murmur to her, but South Dakota apparently heard it fine.  Much like her sense of hearing, her sight was off as the other shipgirl seemed farther than she should be.  But she still saw how South Dakota jerked back, apparently seeing something that the carrier couldn’t when she asked, “Who do I have to sink next?”  

                Only South Dakota was able to see how the lavender of her eyes had become glowing orbs of menacing gold.  

----------- 

                “Now listen here,” Shigure growled with fangs bared, her tail raised and bristled with hostility. “You may’ve tricked Ayanami, but you won’t do the same to us!  Not only am I strong, but I’m blessed with good fortune!  That’s what makes me the great Shigure!” 

                “Yeah!” Yuudachi piped up in agreement. “We’re only here to take back our Demon!” 

                “Guys…” It was amazing how Ayanami could maintain her blank expression given her current predicament: Shigure glaring out from around her back, gripping her shirt possessively as she growled at their ‘adversaries’ while Yuudachi had her legs wrapped around her waist and a hold on her horns to stay latched onto Ayanami, forcing the destroyer’s head to bend this way and that as she tried to balance herself against these two opposing forces.  The only hint to her distress was the barest of decibel changes in her voice. “These are my friends.” 

                Shigure whipped her head towards her, eyes wide. “Are you saying they replaced us!?” 

                Ayanami was waving her hands in an objectively slow manner with little change to her facial features. “No, I want us to- “ 

                “It’s just like we thought!” Yuudachi cried, pointing a finger forward in accusation. “We can’t trust them!” 

                There was a very similar picture going on right across from them save for there only being one girl – the tiny Unicorn – taking cover behind Javelin, clutching her Yuni protectively against her chest while she watched the Sakura destroyers fearfully.  And, like Ayanami, Javelin had her own hands up in a futile sign of peace. 

                “It’s not like that at all,” Javelin was trying to explain with an awkward smile. “We all just want to be friends with everyone here.” 

                Shigure immediately resumed her fang-bearing posture. “Your tricks are worthless!  I can see right through-gah!” She suddenly stumbled, an immense weight being placed upon her back. 

                “Hello,” yawned a certain sleepy destroyer, resting upon Shigure with arms slung over her shoulders, eyes closed. “I’m Laffey.” 

                “Sneak attack!” Shigure sputtered, arms waving around frantically as she tried to shake off her ‘attacker’. “Sneak attack!  Yuudachi!” 

                “What are you doing to my sister!?” Yuudachi leapt off Ayanami who nearly fell over as a result.  Landing next to the struggle, she glared at Laffey, fingers poised with the intent of putting the sharp nails there to use. “Unhand her!” 

                Laffey lazily turned to look at Yuudachi, managing to open her eyes from closed to mostly closed.  She presented a sleepy smile before reaching over and patting Yuudachi on the head, right between her dog-like ears. “There, there,” she mumbled tiredly. 

                The effect was immediate, Yuudachi’s threatening stance crumbling as her lids drooped with contentment and her claws lowered. “Mmmm…” 

                “Yuudachi!” 

                Yuudachi jumped. “Ack!” She slapped Laffey’s hand away. “Don’t touch me!  I’m not some dog that can be tamed so easily!” 

                Laffey was fishing for something in the pocket of her hoodie, eventually taking out a wooden skewer that had finely seasoned chunks of some kind of meat.  Much like before, she easily reached over and stuck it between Yuudachi’s lips. 

                The destroyer’s eyes bulged, her nose rapidly taking in the scent of the seasonings while her canines seized the juicy skewer. “Mmph!?” She immediately began nibbling, issuing noises of pure bliss. 

                Shigure reached out beseechingly towards her sister. “Yuudachi?” Her body started to buckle beneath the weight of Laffey as she was ignored. “Yuudaccchhhiiii!” She collapsed. 

                “Oi, Laffey!” Javelin exclaimed as she and Ayanami immediately rushed over to assist. 

                It was only a small scene taking place in the middle of the large crowd that had gathered on the shores of the command island of the Azur Lane joint base.  Word had gotten out about the supply run but attention would’ve been attracted all the same to the large number of ships that were now occupying the docks in preparation for their departure: three aircraft carriers and a light carrier, two battlecruisers, four battleships, and over a dozen destroyers and cruisers.  As had been intended, the factions they belonged to were a mixture of Eagle Union, Royal Navy, and Sakura Empire. 

                Half of the gathered fleet was not coming back, many of the Royal Navy ships to be redeployed to the Atlantic theater along with a portion of Eagle Union as dictated by their alliance.  Other than the shipgirls who were taking this opportunity to make profits with the shops they had set up the night before, there were many more who arrived to say their goodbyes. 

                Enterprise had been wandering along the edge of the shore nearer to the docks, keeping a distance from the crowd but having stopped to watch the scene with Laffey and the rest.  Javelin and Ayanami had hoisted both Laffey and Shigure to their feet, the latter retaking her position of hiding behind Ayanami and inching further away from the former who was attempting to reapproach her somehow with her sleepwalk-like swaying.  Javelin had a grip on Laffey’s hoodie, making sure she couldn’t get too close while apologizing profusely to Shigure. 

                Yuudachi had taken a seat on the ground, engrossed in the meat skewer with tail wagging behind her to express her happiness.  Miraculously, Unicorn had been observing the destroyer with less and less fear until she was brave enough to approach and hesitantly reach out to begin patting her head.  Enterprise didn’t hear the noise of approval but saw Yuudachi tilt a degree in Unicorn’s direction, upping the speed of her fluffy white tail, which encouraged the small carrier to smile and continue with her headpats.  

                “I must say, that is awfully adorable.  Wouldn’t you agree?” 

                Enterprise sighed out her reluctance. “Yeah, I…I guess it is.” 

                Belfast peered at her from her usual place at her side. “I’m quite certain that I’m right but I want you to make it clear to me: you don’t hate the Sakura Empire, do you?” 

                Enterprise grimaced, the memory of her outburst still a bit raw although Belfast hadn’t brought it up since her last meeting with Wales.  The carrier had assumed that she would be thankful for it, but over the past two days while trying to immerse herself in the normalcy of the Azur Lane base, it had hung over her shoulder like a specter.  Although Belfast would wake her up in the mornings with a smile, serve her meals, and engage in pleasant conversation while accompanying her like usual, Enterprise always felt like the question was always hiding there somewhere but was being held back out of consideration for her. 

                She was a little glad to have it out in the open to give her a chance to explain with her thoughts sorted out. “What happened with Wales…I didn’t mean it the way that it sounded.” 

              “No, I didn’t think so.  I’m not Illustrious, but I do credit myself with being a somewhat accurate judge of character.” 

                “And yet here you are with me.” When Belfast didn’t respond, Enterprise looked over to see her regarding her with raised brows. “…That was a joke,” she added lamely. 

                The head maid brightened. “I thought so.” She patted her arm. “I’m proud to hear you making one after so long.” 

                Enterprise found it hard to look at Belfast, her gaze drifting away while noticing a minor rise in temperature at her cheeks. “I’m trying.” 

                She was trying.  Her current distance from the rest of the populace aside, she had been making an effort to not avoid her comrades, as uncomfortable as it was at the start.  There was no ignoring the state she had been in ahead of her leave and, before that, when she had lost control during the battle at what had been dubbed as the Mirror Sea.  There had been a wariness amongst her fellow shipgirls when they came near her.  Not fear, per se, but definitely an impression of them skirting around something that they perceived as delicate; not wishing to overstep invisible boundaries that now existed or make an errant syllable that could somehow break her.  Disheartening, considering that she was supposed to be the unbeatable champion of Eagle Union. 

                She did have some help there with girls like Cleveland and her sisters, Vestal, Langley, and some of the more innocent destroyers of Eagle Union who were still dazzled by her reputation to approach her and hold a conversation.  A select number of Royal Navy girls had done the same; Edinburgh who had again thanked her for saving her while Sheffield had donated a short smile and bow to convey the same.  Unicorn and Illustrious had passed on their happiness to see her back and well wishes. 

                Then there was that bizarre duet that Saratago and San Diego had attempted to perform outside the Eagle Union dormitory when Enterprise had been returning one evening but…she had a feeling that the rest of the residents didn’t appreciate it as much as she did. 

                Though, of course, her most constant and steadiest of support had to be Belfast who smiled and said, “I know.  I can tell.” 

                Enterprise wanted to believe that she was getting better and maybe she was, little by little.  Did she consider herself functional ?  Her relief of being exempt from patrols, the stroke of anxiety she would experience when she thought of her nickname, and her strong preference of not seeing Sakura Empire’s Crane Sisters again said it all.  This supply run, too, produced its own misgivings about being out at sea again, especially with others around who she would have to keep herself together for. 

                All she could do was keep putting work into it.  It was the reason why she steered herself to the original topic. “I don’t hate the Sakura Empire,” she repeated. “But that doesn’t mean I forgive them.” 

                “Forgiveness is a bit premature at this current juncture,” Belfast replied. “We are attempting to mend ties.  Whether there can be forgiveness and trust during the process, that’s quite a ways off.” 

                Enterprise nodded. “I know.  Wales said the same thing.” The follow-up briefing she had with Wales had gone without incident.  The base commander first apologized if she made it seem like they weren’t taking the negotiations with the Sakura Empire with any caution or their very recent deeds in mind before laying out the situation, benefits, and opportunities of the process they were undertaking. “I still think things are going a bit fast with their attendance in this supply run.” 

                “It’s only a small presence; two destroyers, with Ayanami watching over them.  She’s proven to be trustworthy, and Iron Blood would undoubtedly be considering what implications there may or may not be if they take note of this meager force.” 

                Wales had addressed that as well.  Not only, she theorized, would Iron Blood be taking greater care about making any moves in the near future against Azur Lane, the same could be said for any ideas of striking at the weakened Sakura Empire.  Would Azur Lane defend them?  If so, and it turns out that Sakura Empire had no plans to sail against them, they could potentially be making a very grave mistake by multiplying the forces arrayed against them with a strike that could have them losing more than whatever they would gain. 

                Will they?  Won’t they?  Attack?  Wait?  There were many instances in humanity’s history where such guessing games with the unknown and the decisions made after lengthy deliberations or spur of the moment calls had transformed warfronts and allegiances overnight.  Iron Blood happened to be the one being put in the more precarious position in this instance – or so they all wanted to believe. 

                This was also assuming that they didn’t have their own Siren-based secret weapons that they think would let them come out on top, no matter the number of opponents. 

                “We’re giving them too much,” Enterprise nonetheless argued with a frown. 

                “What do you think should be done?” 

                Belfast’s tone implied that she already knew what the answer would be, but Enterprise gave it anyway. “Occupying the home port, disarming a portion if not most of their forces, outlawing Siren technology with regularly thorough checks to make sure they comply, and replacing Nagato with a new leader.  Just a few ideas.” 

                The cruiser chuckled. “Yes, that is the Eagle Union way, and some of those measures had been insisted on.” 

                Enterprise didn’t find the sensibility of the measures to be amusing. “Why aren’t they being considered?” 

                “Because the Sakura Empire would refuse.” Belfast stated it like a fact. “They are weakened but have plenty of strength left to employ if their way of life is infringed upon, which is essentially what Eagle Union would want.  Furthermore, you speak of disarmament as if weapons can be so casually thrown away.  They cannot.  Save for the more practical reasons of being disarmed while a war and a rebellion are being waged around them, there is also another important element to be considered.  We may be more than our weapons, but that doesn’t mean they are any less the extension of ourselves as we are the extension of humanity’s wishes.  Would you give up yours so easily?” 

               The question had Enterprise scanning the docks, over the array of warships until she found her carrier body.  It was, she realized immediately, exactly that: her body .  The one she had been given and linked to along with her human one.  The armored hull was her skin and beneath that was all the piping, boilers, turbines, and control systems that acted in the same way as her blood vessels, organs, and brain.  When she would fire one of her arrows or launch a plane, her will did not end there but remained to properly guide them. 

                That was how she had used it since she was born.  It was more than a weapon but her purpose – her being .  Even with her weariness of fighting – crippling internal strife included -, a flight deck stripped of her fighters, bombers, and anti-air weaponry was a thought in line with cutting off her own arm.  Maybe even worse than that. 

                Still, she couldn’t let the issue go. “They should be forced to some kind of concessions,” she insisted.  Offence like what she had experienced in Wales’ office but nowhere near at such magnitude stirred within her. “They betrayed us, Belfast, in more ways than one.  They attacked us, used technology of our sworn enemy, including making that…” She found it hard to continue, the past couple days at the base not having made that issue any easier to address. 

                “That thing was an abomination that should’ve never seen the light of day.” It had to be the most condemning statement that Enterprise had ever heard from the likes of Belfast, but when she looked at the maid it was not to see a visual display of such an emotion, but rather a face of empathy – for her, she knew, but also for the Sakura Empire as she would learn soon. “Please forgive me for saying so, but do not allow its existence to distort your view of the Sakura Empire.” 

                Enterprise nearly snapped at her with an urge to protest how, yes, it should be more than enough to judge the Sakura Empire.  Not only for what that thing had stood for but what it had almost done to her, them, and the entire world.  But the bite that she wanted behind her words was stifled by Belfast’s imploring features. “What do you want me to view them as, then?” she asked instead. 

                “As any other nation whose people had made a mistake and wish to make amends.  They were there as well, Enterprise.  They saw what it was that they nearly unleashed but it was due to the trust they had in their own and a desire to see the Siren War end.  Though we are making grounds against the Sirens, you of all people must know that we are still far from truly defeating them and, worse yet, we are equally far from understanding just what the Sirens are capable of.  Our recent experiences imply that there is far more going on than we realize and our current state of affairs may merely be due to the Sirens allowing it.  I’d rather not fragment our strength any further whether it be because it would weaken us or it may in fact be what they want.” 

                Enterprise made a noise of grudging compromise. “But I still think they should be appropriately punished.” 

                “And I think compassion is far more important given how easily it can be overshadowed by a want for reprisal.  I would rather have an ally who has learned from their mistakes rather than one who will remember being forced into submission by us.  Besides, wouldn’t you agree that the two most responsible had received their just punishment?” 

                Enterprise thought of two specific fox sisters and, this time, chose not to say anything at all. 

                Not that that stopped Belfast from knowing. “We cannot view our world and our conflicts as plainly as they were in the past, where weapons did not think and feel as we do now.  To insist on it will only end in tragedy.” Her voice grew distant, eyes misting over with an old pain. “Much like the one that occurred within the Vichya Dominion.” 

                Enterprise was put off by the sorrow she witnessed, the closest she’d ever come to seeing the cruiser look vulnerable. “I know of it.” 

                She couldn’t think of a soul not knowing about the subjugation of the Vichya Dominion.  Similar to what the Sakura Empire had done, Iron Blood had pinned their declaration of war on a swift, brutal attack that became focused on the Vichya Dominion.  And like the Sakura Empire, no one had seen it coming.  No one knew how deep the divisions in Azur Lane were running, or what measures those who would become the Crimson Axis were willing to take.  Not until Iron Blood made the first move. 

                Other than showing how serious Iron Blood was with their views, it gave everyone a picture of what kind of terrible strength they had tapped into with the Siren-enhanced riggings that armed their shipgirls.  They attacked the unprepared Vichya Dominion and its government, the Iris Orthodoxy, declared defeat in a startling fast manner, the leaders who hadn’t successfully escaped having been forced into a so-called armistice that put its European holdings under Iron Blood control. 

                The event would also be marked with one of the first Royal Navy-Eagle Union joint operations against former allies.  Enterprise hadn’t been involved, engrossed in her skirmishes with the Sirens, but knew Massachusetts had been the head of the allied fleet that had been assembled with other girls such as Cleveland and Ranger providing support.  Between the joint task force and the rise of Iris Libre that drew many of the Vichya forces and their African holdings under its banner, the Vichya Dominion had effectively been broken in two. 

                It had been hoped that such retribution would unravel the rest of Vichya and Iron Blood would follow…but the attacks against them seemed to drive the conquered and conqueror closer together.  Then came the whole mess with the Sakura Empire who were undoubtedly inspired to pursue their own agendas with Siren technology. 

               Belfast blinked, the window of weakness gone, but her usual smile remained tinged with sadness. “I’m sure you do, but I doubt you’re aware of a certain operation that the Royal Navy performed shortly after the Vichya Dominion’s surrender to Iron Blood.” 

                The look that Enterprise gave stated she didn’t. 

                “It was originally unprecedented,” Belfast described. “The Royal Navy didn’t know how to respond to these events and there were suspicions of how the Orthodoxy’s swift surrender may have been evidence of prior collusion between them and Iron Blood.  Regrettably, the Admiralty chose to fall back on old traditions and an example made in Trafalgar a hundred years ago before our existence: to send a task force to the Vichya Dominion and preemptively remove the threat of a combined Vichya-Iron Blood force so close to our borders.  The Vichya shipgirls stationed at Mers-el-Kébir would have to choose to be disarmed, to enlist in the Royal Navy and fight against their nation, or – if they refuse – to be sunk.” 

                Enterprise was able to connect the dots but didn’t like what they made. “They refused.” 

                Belfast looked back at the assembled shipgirls and gestured in a specific direction. “Hood was the flagship of the task force, and she was the one who fired the opening shots that would lead to the sinking of the Vichya fleet.  Our former allies.” 

                Enterprise followed the gesture and did manage to locate Hood with her blue coat and capelet, holding what would be her last conversation with Wales and Elizabeth – Warspite was at the latter’s side, the ever-watchful sentinel – for a while as she was one of the battlecruisers who would be redeploying elsewhere.  It appeared pleasant, all three of them smiling with Hood giggling in that polite way that Royal Navy girls did at something one of the others had to have said. 

                “It’s her most painful memory and deepest regret,” Belfast revealed, watching her. “For the Royal Navy, it’s our greatest shame.  No sooner had the last shell been fired did Richelieu make her broadcast to establish Iris Libre and call for any and all Vichya forces to rally under its banner.  But the damage was done.  Hood confided to me how not a day goes by without her thinking of the Vichya girls who would still be alive today; not only the ones she killed directly, but those who later chose to sink themselves or solidify their ties to Iron Blood rather than join Iris and serve in an alliance that had betrayed them in such a manner.  Events, she believes, which could’ve been avoided had she not chosen to be used and directed as the weapon the shipgirls were seen as that day.” 

                The chord that was struck reverberated deep within Enterprise, each vibration drawing out the many times she had referred to herself as such and, with it, the mistakes she almost made because of it.  She thought of when she ruthlessly struck down Akagi and Kaga in the Mirror Sea, Ayanami taking out her dive bomber seconds before it would’ve sunk Zuikaku and Shoukaku- 

                - except that memory became distorted, bombs dropping right on the unknowing Zuikaku who had been expecting a final duel only to be betrayed at the end while her home port burned behind her, her sister already dead - 

                A powerful throb of pain at her head broke her off, Enterprise flinching as if taking a physical blow. 

                “There is friction that remains between members of Iris Libre and Royal Navy because of it,” Belfast said, too slow to look back at Enterprise and see what happened, only worrying about the lesson she was trying to teach. “And there’s no telling how the message that our allies may’ve interpreted from our conduct had contributed to our current political troubles.  It did assist in pushing reforms that were already in progress in the Royal Navy, shipgirls being granted greater autonomy over direct command decisions, but the price wasn’t worth it.  All we can do is learn from our lessons and strive to be worthy of more than just the weapons that were entrusted to us.” 

                Her heartfelt proclamation succeeded in alleviating the pain, replacing it with admiration that Enterprise knew that Belfast always deserved but was now understanding in this moment as to why she was the head of the Maid Corps. “You remind me of Yorktown,” she couldn’t help but say. 

                Belfast stared, not expecting that and apparently not knowing how to take it. 

                Enterprise rubbed the back of her neck, caught in another instance of finding it hard to look at her.  Had it been the wrong thing to say? “She always managed to see the beauty in things like you.  Or, I guess, elegance in this case.” 

                The maid stared at her a bit longer…and then came that coy grin of hers. “Oh?” She drifted closer, head leaning forward. “Unfortunately, I never had the pleasure of making her acquaintance.” 

                “I…think you two would’ve gotten along.” When Belfast tilted her head in a way that oddly unsettled Enterprise with her so close, the carrier leaned back to get some space. “She always insisted that we look for the beauty of...everything, I guess.  In our existences, our battles, how we should see the world and our place in it.  She always loved the ocean, even if it was where she was crippled, saying that its beauty is something that is engraved into all of us, and she’ll never forget it.  She told me how, one day, that I’ll remember what wishes were placed on my name.” 

                Her hand stilled, forgetting her embarrassment as Enterprise looked out past the docks, past the warships, and out through the inlet where the sea lay beyond that. “I admire her, and I miss her every day when she isn’t out here with us, and I’ve felt increasingly lost without her guidance.  With the mistakes I’ve nearly made…I’ve wondered if I’ll be able to understand what she wants me to remember.” 

                “Well,” Belfast said, her tone less teasing but light, “I hope she won’t mind my assistance.” 

                “I’m sure she would be happy for it.” The next set of words came to her so naturally that she grew suspicious of them, wondering if she should say them.  She decided to do so. “I’m happy that you’re here with me.  I admire you, too.” 

                Silence.  It was a peculiar kind, Enterprise wondering if she had made an error and yet not wanting to see if she had in fact done so.  All she was aware of was how, after what she thought to be too much time, the uncomfortably close presence of Belfast pulled away and settled at a more appropriate distance. 

                Finally, a polite giggle. “What do you know; appreciation for all my hard work at last.  And a bonus: you’ve learned how to compliment a lady.” 

                The embarrassment hadn’t gone away entirely and even spiked when she did confront Belfast’s amused expression, but Enterprise was able to return to a state of ease.  Eventually, she was drawn back to where she last saw the multi-faction gathering of destroyers from before. 

                At some point Yuudachi had been gifted a couple more skewers that she had in each hand.  The culprit more likely than not had to be Unicorn who had dropped to a spot next to her and pulled a sketchbook out, drawing something which Yuudachi was viewing curiously.  Things were still going rough on the other side, Laffey trying to present her own peace offering with a bottle of oxy-cola which Shigure was rejecting with a stuck-out tongue, still hiding behind Ayanami who was attempting to covertly move out from between them despite her continued lack of expression.  Javelin’s exasperation was far more noticeable but did turn more joyful when she checked on Unicorn and Yuudachi. 

                Enterprise tried to supplement what she was seeing with what she knew of with Ayanami in particular: a Sakura destroyer who had infiltrated this very joint base and participated in the attack, then the ambush of Hornet’s fleet, and a few more engagements with Azur Lane afterwards.  One such engagement nearly had her perishing indirectly by Enterprise’s hand.  It would’ve been impossible for the carrier to think she’d be here as a friend with members of Eagle Union and Royal Navy along with trying to convince her own Sakura Empire comrades to be the same.  But it was happening and, along with Akashi’s contributions, bit by bit Azur Lane was benefiting from it. 

                “I’ve been fighting Sirens this whole time,” Enterprise spoke.  “I admit that doing so has affected my judgment when it comes to the Crimson Axis.  The Sirens were easier, and I tried to rationalize fighting the Crimson Axis as if I were fighting them to keep everything clear to me.  That was a mistake that nearly led me to worse ones.  If nothing else, I guess speaking with more of Sakura Empire’s members could better help me understand them.” 

                “Worth a try,” Belfast agreed. “Those three appear a tad occupied though.  Why not try Zuikaku and Shoukaku?” 

                Enterprise scoffed. “Now you’re joking.” 

                “Whether you believe I am or not, here they come.” 

                The carrier spun on Belfast, saw her looking towards one end of the crowd, and went the rest of the way to see the attention-grabbing white of Sakura’s representatives.  As Belfast surmised, the two were on an obvious path towards them.  Shoukaku was smiling, waving kindly, in sharp contrast to Zuikaku who was stiffly marching towards them with a sour look. 

                The younger sister had her sword in this instance.  A hand was at the hilt, but the katana remained sheathed, the appendage there to make sure it wouldn’t swing around hazardously behind her rather than to draw it. 

                It didn’t make the tension that locked up Enterprise ease any.  The solace that she could take was how the stiffening that overtook her limbs may at least give off the illusion that she was ready for whatever Zuikaku may be looking for, with shoulders risen and legs tense.  In reality, it was the opposite, and Enterprise was dismayed when she saw the lifting of Zuikaku’s shoulders as if the opposing carrier was seeking to match her. 

                “Good day, Miss Shoukaku, Miss Zuikaku,” Belfast spoke, the greeting temporarily placing her at the front. “Here to see off your comrades?” 

                “Yes, and having some trouble of it,” Shoukaku replied good-naturedly.  She stopped and scanned the nearby mass of shipgirls. “I did not expect it to be quite so crowded.” 

                “It is a special occasion.  Many of the girls here won’t be returning and are exchanging farewells.” Belfast partially bowed and directed Shoukaku to Ayanami and the rest. “Fortunately, I believe the ones you’re looking for are right over there.” 

               Shoukaku peered over, using her hand as a visor to keep the sun’s glare out of her vision that narrowed searchingly. “Mmmm…ah!  Yes, there they are.” 

                It was a repeat of before.  As Belfast and Shoukaku conversed, Zuikaku and Enterprise focused on each other.  With an excessively straight-back posture and clenched jaw, Zuikaku leveled herself against Enterprise, the Eagle Union ace swearing she could see a dangerous glint in her eye.  Her hand remained resting atop her katana, not folding over the hilt, although Enterprise wondered how long that would last. 

                To her own credit, Enterprise believed she was maintaining a deceptive front of being impassive to her aggression, the Sakura carrier having no way of knowing that the Ayanami-style mask she had was, much like her form, the happenstance of being stuck that way. 

                “They seem to be enjoying themselves,” Shoukaku commented, her smile having grown larger at what she was seeing.  So large that, when she turned to them, Enterprise wondered if there was something hidden behind it when she aimed it at her. “I would absolutely hate to interrupt them, but that’s okay.  There’s something we would like to say to you, Enterprise.” 

                Being the center of attention of both girls had Enterprise wanting to make sure that Belfast was beside her but couldn’t even muster up the effort to glance over.  All she could do was face them while scenarios sped through her mind of what she should do if a fight broke out. 

                Shoukaku reached over and patted her sister’s back. “Go on, Zuikaku.” 

                Zuikaku clenched jaw had become accompanied with grinding teeth. “Gre-“ 

                Enterprise’s breath stilled. 

                “…Enterprise,” she ground out instead.  She shook with something she was barely containing and as her palm slid down to establish a proper grip on her hilt, Enterprise reminded herself how her carrier body was close enough that all she needed to do was issue the command that could have it form her rigging.  The thought came with the snag that Zuikaku could draw her blade before it happened, Enterprise going to need to defend against at least one strike- 

                Zuikaku suddenly lurched, Enterprise taking a step back as the command came to her mind- 

                “I’m entrusting them to you!” 

                The loud shout stopped her and the dumbfounded look that she knew she was directing down at Zuikaku was legitimate because the swordswoman’s upper body had been thrown forward into a very strict and very low bow that had her head lowered to Enterprise’s waist. 

                “…Huh?” Enterprise got out, having no clue as to what she should be thinking or what Zuikaku was even doing. 

                “I’m entrusting my charges to you!” Zuikaku repeated, unnecessarily loud. “They are precious members of the Sakura Empire, and I am leaving them in your care!” She thrust her hand forward without breaking from her bow. “Please treat them well!” 

              “See, Zuikaku?” Quietly laughing, Shoukaku leaned over to playfully swat at Zuikaku’s ponytail. “That wasn’t so bad.” 

                “Nee-san, stop!” was the hissing response. 

                Enterprise could only remain where she was, flabbergasted, until there came a nudge at her side. 

                “You’re being impolite, Enterprise,” Belfast scolded with greater than normal amusement. 

                “As my dear sister says, those destroyers of ours were assigned directly to our care before this arrangement was made,” Shoukaku explained brightly.  The bow she made was more modest; a dip of her chin that tapped her forehead against the hands she brought up in a supplicating manner, palms together. “It would be quite awful if something were to happen to them.  I dread to think of how we would look to our seniors in the Second after they were passed on the honor of being our faction’s representatives!” Somehow, there seemed to be something unflattering mixed in with the good cheer that that particular sentence was delivered with. “So we would greatly appreciate it if you made sure they return, safe and sound.” 

                Enterprise took the explanation in but remained stumped.  The whole time, Zuikaku remained stuck in her bow with her hand out, refusing to move an inch.  The fingers of Enterprise’s one hand twitched, flexed, and, finally, crossed the space needed to clasp Zuikaku’s. 

                “I’ll…take care of them,” she said.  She jerked back when she found her hand being taken into both of Zuikaku’s who shot up from her bow and held it tight between them. 

                “I-I also want a match!” Zuikaku stumbled.  There was a tinge of redness on her cheeks, the girl, to Enterprise’s amazement, struggling with embarrassment to make her request. “A proper match!    You and me!  Not now, obviously, but when you get back and if I’m still here and-“ 

                “Yes, yes, yes.” Shoukaku seized the back of her sister’s collar and started pulling her away. “Come on, Zuikaku.” 

                “I want to settle things once and for all!” Zuikaku was still shouting when she was pulled far enough away to have to release Enterprise, the older sibling showing a surprising amount of strength that wasn’t budging against the younger’s wild movements. “Don’t think you can run from me!” 

                Enterprise watched them go but she was having a very hard time catching up to what had just happened. 

                “Wales was right about them,” Belfast commented. “Young and spirited.  I can see why she has such expectations for them.” 

                Enterprise didn’t reply.  Her gaze went down to her outstretched hand, turning it up and closing it before opening it again. “I…” She became fixed on a point in the center of her palm, remembering how it had been held so intensely. “I thought she hated me.” 

                Belfast exhaled audibly. “Of course you would.” 

                Enterprise passed her a look of bewilderment. 

                “Think of her position,” Belfast said. “She and Shoukaku were recent additions to the Sakura Empire as the Fifth Carrier Division.  Some combat experience gained with the Sirens, surely, but they were practically children shortly before our hostilities began.” She shrugged with a burgeoning grin. “Although I suppose they still are.  Shoukaku is much more reserved, but they both wish to establish their own credibility and remove themselves from the shadows of their senior carriers.  Zuikaku happens to be the more impatient and headstrong one – a warrior to her core.  How can she resist the prospect of defeating the most powerful carrier of Azur Lane?” 

                “Defeat me?” Enterprise echoed. 

                “I see that fighting the Sirens nonstop really has left you lacking in knowledge of manners, even when it comes to combat.  Yes, defeat you.  Not destroy or sink.  Zuikaku wishes to engage you in one-on-one combat to prove her strength.  In her own view when it comes to honor, she admires you as a worthy opponent to be bested in a match whether it be in war or peace.  She respects you and your strength.” 

                It was all proving to be something else that Enterprise couldn’t fathom.  She set aside the concept of honor for another time and settled on one she believed she had a possibility of grasping: that Zuikaku admired and respected her. 

                “But…before…” Enterprise started again, thinking back to their meeting at the Academy. 

                “Yes, poor girl.” That earned her another look and Belfast continued, “I suspect that she had been resentful at not being able to declare a match with you right there.  She had her duties as a representative that she had to fulfill, and she had been under the impression that you weren’t around to begin with.  It must’ve frustrated her to no end to see you but being unable to pursue her agenda these past few days.” 

                Have I been misreading her the entire time? Enterprise wondered.  But Zuikaku had despised her, didn’t she?  Even before bumping into her again at the Academy and going back to when they were still enemies, wasn’t she, naturally, someone who hated her and desired to sink her?  She was always eager to battle her… 

                Like now.  Except, as she really thought hard about it, was there a true difference between how Zuikaku expressed it then and now?  The only other shipgirl that Enterprise could compare Zuikaku’s want to fight her was...Kaga. 

                And there was no doubt in Enterprise’s mind that Kaga had hated her. 

                But Zuikaku was…different? 

                What was becoming far too common, Belfast was able to plainly see what she was thinking about, examine it, and come to her own puzzling conclusions. “You know, I believe those two can really help you and your views of the Sakura Empire in the future.” 

                The two members of the Fifth Carrier Division had managed to integrate themselves quite well into the multi-faction dialogue going on.  Shoukaku had crouched low to observe a sketch that Yuudachi was excitedly showing off to her while pointing to an embarrassed Unicorn.  Shoukaku took the sketchbook to better look at it, flipping through a couple more drawings, and said something to Unicorn that had the much smaller carrier hiding a face that had gone beet red into the soft sanctuary of her sentient plushie. Shoukaku laughed agreeably. 

                Zuikaku had resumed performing enthusiastic gesticulations to an audience made up of Javelin, Laffey, Ayanami, and Shigure.  Such motions swept over Laffey and Javelin and Enterprise believed she had an idea of what story Zuikaku was retelling when she added in Ayanami and clasped her hands together.  Shigure, still distrustful, looked between the two destroyers and her Demon before finally stepping out into the open.  She muttered something which made Javelin ecstatic and encouraged Laffey to adopt a sleepy smile before making another attempt with her peace offering.  This time, Shigure reluctantly took the bottle and unscrewed the cap. 

                Another thing that was becoming all too common: Enterprise believing that Belfast may not be wrong with her assumptions. 

                “Gah!” Shigure cried, coughing and sputtering while dropping the bottle of cola. “Poison!  Poison!” 

------- 

                As the departure time drew closer, some of the shipgirls were excusing themselves to attend to their vessels before shipping out.  This included Belfast who gave her charge a curtsy. “Please excuse me, Enterprise.  There are those who I wish to speak with before we depart such as my subordinates in the Maid Corps.” 

                There remained things in this relationship of theirs that Enterprise would rather do without, such as Belfast seeking permission from her whenever she wanted to do something on her own.  With all that the cruiser had done and was doing for her, the sense of ownership in this maid/mistress union that inevitably sprung up in these instances never sat well with Enterprise. 

                Then again, Belfast had turned that same union on its head a few times in the past, one specific memory having Enterprise be more mindful of tucking in her tie. 

                Nonetheless, Enterprise would be influenced to protest it in her words or actions such as now. “You don’t need my permission.  Go ahead.” 

                She got a grin in return that broadcasted how Belfast registered it, appreciated it, but would keep doing it regardless.  Not just because she was a maid, but how Enterprise was suspiciously sure that she took her own enjoyment of putting her even slightly off. “I thank you for your understanding.” 

                Enterprise frowned but Belfast had already spun on her heel and retreated, leaving her alone on the beach to stare after that veil of white hair. 

                An unexpected knot formed in her chest and Enterprise’s lips parted with the cruiser’s name about to slip through.  It didn’t, and she was left to wonder why she almost did.  Belfast was only going to speak with her fellow maids.  It wouldn’t take long, not with the departure time nearing, so Belfast, true to her maidly duties, would more than likely return to her soon. 

                Then why had she suddenly wished to call out to her right then?  It was only moments ago that she said Belfast didn’t need her permission to do what she needed, and she had been thinking how she didn’t like the idea that she had any kind of ownership over her. 

                Did it have something to do with the void that Enterprise keenly felt at her side with Belfast’s absence? 

                The ace carrier did her best to shake it off but was soon beset by the awkwardness she felt at standing here, alone, with the mass of socializing shipgirls that was gradually beginning to disperse right in front of her.  She decided to take an example from a few and start the journey to her carrier body for pre-voyage checks.  Belfast would be able to find her easily after she was done. 

                Enterprise suddenly felt annoyed with herself, feeling like this dependence – for surely that’s what this had to be - was an affront to her and the head maid.  She appreciated everything that Belfast had done for her, would admit that she had enjoyed her company, and would go as far as to say that her presence had been an essential pillar in maintaining and restoring her humanity after what happened with the Sakura Empire.  That didn’t mean she had any claim to monopolize her.  After all, this partnership wasn’t going to last- 

                It would be annoying at this point if they weren’t so poignant, these sudden attacks that originated from her human body.  For this one, it drove the breath from her lungs when Enterprise thought of the inevitability of a parting between two shipgirls of differing factions with differing concerns of their differing borders.  That same inevitability and sense behind it was proving ineffective as the opposition – images and memories of Belfast with her formidable array of smiles and coy grins, her light laughter, and the ease that Enterprise felt with each one – was outrageously powerful. 

                Enterprise chose a different tactic: appeasement.  There was this supply run, a process that would take many days if not more and Belfast had already said that she would not be staying in London when they made the return trip to the base.  They would not be leaving one another so soon.  They had time. 

                Time, Enterprise hoped, that would restore her fighting strength and fortitude for when she had to go to another battlefield and when they did have to say goodbye. 

                The shift in strategy did prove to be more effective, this latest affliction lessening but not dispersing.  It was just being packaged and deposited in another space within her internal storage that was already struggling with what it had piling up. 

                Among the girls who were traversing the shores to get to their ships, Hood was one who happened to cross her path.  The Royal Navy battlecruiser was in no rush, her content features suggesting that she was savoring the healthy sunlight and sea air alongside the company of her comrades.  Her blue eyes – currently soft, but with the capability to harden into steel during an engagement – flicked over to Enterprise when the Eagle girl stopped to let her pass and she tipped her off-centered hat in thanks. “Amiable weather we’re having, Enterprise.  I pray that it keeps up for the length of our voyage.” 

                If there was in fact turmoil exuding from a sin that had tarnished her soul, Enterprise couldn’t make it out.  She touched the brim of her cap and returned, “I pray for the same.” 

                Hood inclined her head, the corners of her lips rising higher, and that was that with her facing forward again, unknowing of the gaze that lingered on her until Enterprise chose to proceed to her ship. 

                As it turned out, there was going to be one last impediment between her and her destination.  After passing a heavy cruiser and the shipgirl who was intending to board it, Enterprise reached where her carrier body was berthed and saw two individuals standing in the path of her boarding ramp.  She recognized them immediately.  Uh oh.  

                She knew she was in trouble.  The girl at the front was making her intentions far clearer than Zuikaku with balled fists, the agitated swishing of a white tail, and Enterprise could imagine the matching set of cat ears that had to be curled in a similar display of anger. 

                Enterprise didn’t feel threatened.  Not in the way that she might’ve been if it was a member of the Sakura Empire waiting for her like that.  The cat girl did not hail from it, and though she wore the black and white ensemble that resembled those worn by the Maid Corps, she was not Royal Navy either.  Hanging from her neck like a flag was a tie that displayed the red and white stripes, blue background, and stars of the country that had been succeeded by Eagle Union. 

                Her ears, as expected, were bent forward and twitching furiously when Enterprise got close enough to make them out.  She opened her mouth to head off the tirade she knew was coming but was too slow. 

                “You’re leaving already!?” the shipgirl exploded with a high-pitched squeak that had to have traveled across the entirety of the island right then. “We’ve been worried sick about you the entire time you’ve been away, had to investigate Siren sightings which turned into one big nothing on the day you were coming back, and when we finally got the chance to actually see you, here you are about to leave us!?” 

                “Ah…” Enterprise could only say initially and then awkwardly added, “Hello, Hammann.” 

                “And goodbye, apparently!” she huffed in return. 

                Enterprise glanced behind Hammann where Hornet was but any assistance she was hoping to find there was denied when her sister smirked and lowered the wide brim of her black cattleman’s hat to communicate how she was on her own.  Resigning herself to this solo mission, Enterprise tried to be diplomatic. “This wasn’t something I had planned on doing.  Wales had offered the assignment as soon as I arrived.” 

                The destroyer pouted. “You could’ve refused!” She looked around at the assembled ships and grumbled, “Not like they don’t have enough ships as it is.” 

                “Wales had insisted that my participation would have valuable merit.  After she explained it to me, I agreed.” 

                “Grrr…Wales…” Hammann stomped her foot. “She could’ve at least given you some more time!  What’s the big idea, springing up this whole thing on you like that?” 

                This conversation was more like something that Enterprise should be having with Vestal. “It’s only a supply run.  She considered it to be a proper assignment to better reintegrate me into Azur Lane affairs.” 

                Hammann was a shipgirl who could never mask her emotions and her temper was a terrible cloak, so overused and always lacking true animosity that anyone who spent any amount of time with her would realize that there was something else hiding behind it every time she used it.  They would never have to wait long, and it was no different here, when her tail halted its swishing and dipped low.  She chewed on her lower lip. 

                “How are you feeling?” she asked, the angry veil pushed aside to expose worry that was flattening her ears against the top of her head. 

                Fortunately, Enterprise was more experienced and saw this coming.  She was also better at making her half-lie sincere. “Better.  The time away helped.” The muscles at the corner of her mouth contracted enough to form something with the appearance of assurance. “Yorktown mentioned how she would like to see you again someday.” 

                The jolting up of her feline appendages transmitted plenty about Hammann’s attachment to Yorktown – the same attachment that had driven her to tow her out from the middle of the battle that had taken the carrier’s legs.  It had been a huge risk on Hammann’s part, placing herself in a very vulnerable position that could’ve easily led to both their sinkings, but she had managed to bring Yorktown to the Eagle Union lines and save her life. 

                Yes, they both survived, Enterprise mentally added, fulfilling an impulse to confirm reality that wasn’t satisfied with Hammann standing in front of her. 

                That event had led to a quiet acceptance of the destroyer into the Yorktown family and Hammann had no qualms of referring to them as her sisters when she became aware of that. 

                “I’ve been meaning to send her a letter,” Hammann said, her many features continuing to betray her enthusiasm which she then tried to fruitlessly conceal with a scowl that lacked a shred of enmity. “With you taking off so soon again, I guess I have time for it.” 

                Enterprise retained her short smile. “I’m sure she’ll be delighted.” 

                There was a badly suppressed skip in Hammann’s step when she started on her way to complete that task.  She paused when she was about to pass by Enterprise. “Hey, take care of yourself, okay?  Next time, I really would like it if I we could talk for more than five minutes.” 

                Enterprise nodded. “Next time.  I promise.” 

                She wondered when the last time was that she promised something like that to someone else.  It must’ve been a while, given how Hammann was momentarily put off by it.  But then she produced a joyful grin. “A promise, then!” There was no attempt to suppress the happiness in her follow-up bounce that had her leaving. 

                It must’ve been even longer since the last time Enterprise felt anything remotely appropriate to her status as an elder sister to the point where she wondered if that was really what she was feeling at seeing Hammann so happy over something she said. 

                “So…London, huh?” 

                The explanation for that, sadly, became evident with the awkward air that descended between her and her actual younger sister when she addressed Hornet. “That’s the destination,” Enterprise replied. “Supply acquisition for the base, refits for cruisers, and redeployment of our forces.” 

                Had it always been so instinctive for her to fall back on this mission speech of hers when she didn’t know any other way to respond? 

                Across from her, Hornet was balancing on the balls of her feet with hands folded behind her head, nodding in a manner that could be taken as a disregard for Enterprise’s more professional demeanor.  There was no insult meant and Enterprise knew that.  It was all part of Hornet’s personality; the untamed opposite of Enterprise’s.  It had never affected their cooperation in battle, the loss of Yorktown having hardly dented their ability to fight efficiently during the increasingly rare instances of when they’d sortie together. 

                It was, however, a factor in the rift that had grown between them after the loss of their eldest sister. 

                By the same token, it was that personality that would have Hornet stubbornly reach across it. “Never been,” she said. “Did pick up some tourist tips from the Royal girls here.  They say the Docklands are something that any shipgirl should see at least once in their life.” 

                “It’s…” Enterprise struggled to frame her response so it would not sound like the callous rebuke that it would’ve been. “It’s not going to be that kind of trip.” She didn’t deem it as much of a success. “We’ll probably be stationed at one of the naval bases the whole time.” 

                Hornet casually threw up her hands with a smirk. “Well, it’s not like you’re going to be trapped there.  Just saying if you get an opportunity to travel around off base, there’s some nice things to see.  Take advantage of it.  Who knows when you’ll get an opportunity like this.  Savor it.” 

                “I’ll keep it in mind.” 

                “Guess that’s the best I’m going to get.” 

                It was, but Enterprise wanted to give her better.  Anything to try to regain what they had before their shared loss had them drifting in separate directions.  Enterprise knew she was the most at fault, devoting herself to her duty and being unable to come to terms with Yorktown’s condition that had her neglecting Hornet who had been just as hurt by it.  It was why Hornet had chosen to cope in her own way whether it be the increased reliance on her easygoing personality to feign being unbothered by Enterprise’s reputation or taking Hammann under her wing to make her efforts of living up to the names of both her and Yorktown more bearable with someone for her to watch over.  In case anything happened, Enterprise at least wanted her to know… 

                “I’m sorry, Enterprise,” Northhampton whispered, tears in her eyes as she held out the ruined black hat. “I tried, I tried, but Hornet…”  

                “Where’s Grim at?” Hornet was examining Enterprise’s carrier body. “I don’t see him in his usual spots.” 

                “I left him with Yorktown,” Enterprise replied. “I thought it was better that way for now.” 

                Hornet eyed her, a frown twisting into existence. “You know, feeling better and being okay are two different things.  That whole thing with…you know.  That was some nasty stuff, even by Siren standards.  How much better can you get after something like that?” 

                Enterprise couldn’t allay her concerns as easily as she did with Hammann.  The destroyer hadn’t seen a lot of what Hornet had. “I am better,” she insisted. “But I’ll admit that I’m not as okay as I would like to be.  It’s partly why I agreed to this supply run.  I need a bit more time.” 

                Hornet arched a brow, not anticipating the honesty from her nigh-invincible sister.  Getting it, and understanding what it meant, had her visibly softening. “Hey…” She scratched the back of her head, at a loss at what to say. “Look…” She sighed, walked over, and thumped a palm against Enterprise’s shoulder. “I’m not Yorktown but we’re still sisters, ya know?” 

                Enterprise shook her head, feeling worse. “Hornet, you never had to be like Yorktown and I’m sorry if I ever gave you the impression that alluded to it.” She decided to use this chance to unpack one of those issues she had stored up and get it out in the open. “There’s a lot that I want to think about and sort out.  Not just with what happened with the Sirens and the Sakura Empire but us too.” 

                Hornet waggled an index finger back and forth between the two of them. “Well, that issue is a two-way street that we can tackle later, so use this chance to have fun for once in your life.” She grinned and gave Enterprise another thump. “Or pretend to and actually have some by mistake.  Whatever works.  I think they still want a couple carriers here just in case the Sakura Empire gets uppity again so when you get back, I’ll hopefully be here so we can talk.” 

                “I would like that.  It’s been too long.  And I guess I did promise Hammann.” 

                “That you did.” Hornet presented a parting thumbs-up and stepped around her. “See you when you get back, sis.” 

                Not a bad start, Enterprise decided, feeling like a couple of the locks that had been affixed to her had been loosened.  Not totally undone, but she was feeling better than when she had woken up this morning, another terrible vision dispersing. 

                But the shudder that shook her upon remembering it and a need to rub at eyes that had grown tired told her that she still had a long, long way to go. 

----------- 

                It was quite the flotilla that set sail from the base when the time came, the warships tucked in together in a line as they progressed through the inlet before setting themselves in proper circular formation: the carriers forming the center with battleships alongside them followed by the protective ring of destroyers and cruisers.  With so many keels cutting through the sea, lengthy tails of displacing waves were left in their wake to disrupt a sizable patch of ocean. 

                With her place in the middle of the formation, Enterprise could see what Wales was getting at with this presentation.  To her right and left were the other fleet carriers – Ark Royal and Illustrious with Unicorn settled in between them – and ahead of them was Hood taking point with Massachusetts and Nevada.  Oklahoma, Repulse, and Pennsylvania covered the rear and beyond the collection of the big guns were the smaller ships with their screen of radar, AA, torpedoes, and smokescreens.  Though outnumbered by their counterparts, the three Sakura Empire destroyers were strategically placed so that an observer would be able to see one of them in the Eagle Union-Royal Navy mixture no matter which direction they looked. 

                It was a formidable show of force, but this must’ve been what had been a more common sight not that long ago, when Azur Lane was whole, and the display was meant to remind the world of what it could be again.  The absence of an Iron Blood presence, rather than a testament to the sad division it once was with the Sakura Empire as the Crimson Axis, could instead be interpreted as a lapse in judgment that had a chance to be rectified with they, too, eventually returning to the fold.  Enterprise was tempted to entertain how such a prospect wasn’t as naïve as she initially thought it was when Wales brought it up despite how Iron Blood had its lengthier list of deeds to answer for such as their invasion of Vichya. 

                That was what she was trying to see the sights around her as, anyway.  Doing that helped in suppressing the apprehension that came with being in the middle of a fleet action again.  It was far from being anything overwhelming, but it had been getting worse and worse when the joint base had vanished over the horizon.  The sense of security that any sensible shipgirl should’ve acquired at being surrounded by so many comrades had, for Enterprise, been eroding with thoughts of what she would do if something happened and she was forced to act. 

                It didn’t help when she remembered what happened the last couple times she had been part of such an armada. 

                She tried to shift her concentration elsewhere, taking a look at the decks of the others.  It was common for shipgirls traveling together to visit the decks of others to socialize when it wasn’t their shift to stand watch.  It helped break the monotony of long voyages such as this.  While their ship bodies remained connected to their wills and would keep moving ahead in formation, they were free to do as they wished to pass the time.  They could even sleep if they desired, some portion of their consciousness setting to a sort of autopilot for their ship bodies that maintained current course and speed. 

                To Enterprise’s lack of surprise, she found Unicorn on Illustrious’s flight deck.  What did catch her a little off guard was the presence of Yuudachi.  The two must’ve forged a fast friendship to the point where the Sakura Empire shipgirl was enjoying Royal Navy hospitality of tea and pastries supplied by the benevolent Illustrious who had to be proud of Unicorn’s growing list of friends. 

                Ark Royal, on the other hand, was alone.  She was at the starboard side of her deck, looking out with a set of opera-style binoculars.  Enterprise assumed she was perhaps on watch but found it quite odd that she seemed to be focusing on the defensive ring of cruisers and destroyers.  She would occasionally lean forward, standing on her toes as if having discovered something very interesting, but would settle back down and resume looking elsewhere where the process repeated. 

                Enterprise didn’t know why but there was something about the other carrier that did not sit well with her.  It influenced her to keep a watchful eye on her but when a few minutes passed with nothing happening, she moved on. 

                The view was essentially the same wherever else she looked – shipgirls either finding company or choosing the solace of their own privacy.  Movement occasionally drew Enterprise’s gaze to the water where a shipgirl with her rigging deployed was gliding between the massive bodies of ships for the apparent fun of it.  One just happened to be Cleveland racing with Montpelier, the two self-proclaimed knights struggling to catch up to Neptune who was throwing smug satisfaction over her shoulder at them. 

                At an earlier point in time, Enterprise would’ve found the scene inappropriate when they were in the middle of an operation.  Instead, she found it peculiarly entertaining. 

                Her shirt collar buzzed. “Permission to come aboard, Enterprise?” 

                Enterprise tugged at it and spoke into the tiny radio that was fastened there. “Permission granted, Belfast.” 

                Barely a second later and Belfast was leaping onto her deck, donned in her rigging.  Upon boarding her equipped cannons and torpedo launchers flashed brilliantly before dismantling into the glowing cubes that flew off and reformed into the full-sized Edinburgh-subclass cruiser, filling the previously empty space that was her assigned position.  What remained for Belfast to carry was the folded table and chair tucked under one arm and a bag in the other. 

                That time already? Enterprise questioned though soon remembered that tea was currently being served over at Illustrious’s deck.  The fleet had left the base a little before noon and the sun had since dipped over the course of several hours, the horizon illuminating with its closer proximity while the blue skies began darkening.  It was drifting into evening and night would arrive soon after. 

                Enterprise made sure to angle away from Belfast to hide how she rubbed at her eyes.  The fatigue, naturally, had built up but she didn’t want to entertain the idea of sleeping.  Yes, she had to sleep eventually but…not now. 

                When it came to Belfast, a task like setting a table was performed with an exceeding amount of gracefulness that Enterprise would never have thought was possible with something so menial.  The chair and table were unfolded without putting up any kind of mechanical fuss, their placement devoid of any unintentional sliding and shaking when the head maid set them down, and the tablecloth she pulled out from the bag and tossed over the table spilled out on the surface exactly as it was meant to in that single motion.  Belfast gave one corner the most miniscule of tugs but was otherwise confident to start extracting the dishes. 

                During the process, she radiated utter gratification at being able to serve at such capacity.  From the visible smile of contentment that adorned her features to the spark in her eyes as she set each plate at a position that she had gotten down to the exact millimeter of spacing. 

                It really did remind Enterprise of Yorktown and how she regarded the seas with a very similar look. 

                The carrier discovered that Belfast was humming to herself when she came over.  A soothing melody that added extra weight to her lids and made her thoughts muddled.  Enterprise rapidly blinked her eyes, trying to overcome the enchantment through that and willpower alone so she didn’t draw unwanted attention to her exhaustion.  It was difficult and Enterprise seriously wondered how she would last until the maid ceased humming so she could pull out the chair for her. 

                “Please enjoy, Enterprise,” Belfast said, waiting until the carrier was seated before she proceeded to the next part of her choreography: setting the cup of warm tea and plate of food in front of her. 

                The meal was lighter than usual – thin slices of ham with sides of carrots and broccoli - which Enterprise appreciated, not feeling particularly hungry. She chose to start off with the tea and the sip she took was not what she expected.  She stared down at the teacup and the dark golden liquid within. 

                “Chamomile tea,” Belfast answered her unspoken question. “Herbal.  You must be careful with steeping – wait too long and it can become bitter, but I have become quite adept at it if I do say so myself.  I picked them from the gardens in the Royal Navy dormitory.” 

                “It doesn’t taste bitter at all.” It was very light and sweet, rich in taste and aroma.  When Enterprise took a longer sip, she appreciated how it warmed her as it went down. 

                Belfast was pleased. “I also added lavender.  That combination is very efficient in helping you relax.  It’ll assist you in getting a good night’s sleep.” 

                Enterprise halted as she was about to take her third sip.  As nonchalantly as she could, she set the cup aside and traded it for the silverware to eat. 

                It was, she had decided, very difficult to go back to her rations after being exposed to Belfast’s cooking.  Before then, she had seen food strictly as a source of fuel that she, a shipgirl, required.  If she got hungry, she ate to satisfy her hunger.  Her rations were the easiest way to accomplish that and became necessary with her frequent and lengthy deployments.  Add in coffee and she had all that she needed to keep her going.  The time and preparation that went into proper meals she considered a waste of time when the end result could be achieved by one rip of a wrapper. 

                With enough time to eat proper cooking though, the bland texture and taste of her ration bars had become more pronounced.  The last time she had tried to eat one of her canned meals, they were not as agreeable as she remembered them being.  During her leave, more than once the memories of dishes like the one she was currently enjoying would sneak up on her. 

                Although she had just thought that she wasn’t that hungry, she was mildly shocked when her fork tapped against an empty plate.  She pushed it away to show that she was done. “Thank you, Belfast.” 

                The maid leaned over to secure it and pointedly glanced at her teacup. “You still have some tea left.  Was it actually unpleasant?” 

                “No, not at all.” Between the warm dinner and tea, the drowsiness had returned with a vengeance.  Enterprise squeezed her eyes shut, hard, but that strategy nearly backfired with how difficult it was to open them up again. “I think I’m more in the mood for coffee if you have any.” 

                “My apologies, but I do not.” 

                Enterprise stuck her with narrowed suspicion, but Belfast happened to be depositing the tableware into her bag at that moment.  She thought it hard to believe that the ever-prepared maid wouldn’t have a thermos on hand for such an occasion considering she had possessed such foresight in the past. “Then if you could please prepare some…” 

                Belfast demonstrated that she remained unafraid to take Eagle Union’s champion head-on.  Reestablishing her posture of the dutiful servant, she smiled innocently at Enterprise before replying, “I think not.  I suggest that you consider sleeping.” 

                Enterprise had yet to figure out how to get around this seemingly impenetrable obstacle whenever it came slamming down in her path.  Breaking through she knew wasn’t - and likely never going to be - an option, so all she had was to try navigating around it. “I was intending to stay awake tonight.” 

                “Do you intend to remain awake until we arrive at our destination?  If so, I will have to protest.  We are not expected to arrive for another two days.” 

                That was what Enterprise had planned.  She had been able to stay awake for multiple days when she took part in the most intense of actions against the Sirens.  If she had been traveling alone, she could’ve shaved off a large percentage of time by going at her own speed rather than what the fleet was keeping pace with.  Obviously, that wasn’t a method she could employ here, and she was doubting her ability to get through one night without rest. 

                All the same, she didn’t want to sleep.  Not out at sea, at night, surrounded by her comrades.  It was that stubbornness in mind that had her preparing to get up and make her own coffee. 

                That was until Belfast stepped to her side to continue with her act as an impassable barrier. “You haven’t been sleeping well lately, have you, Enterprise?” 

                The maid had abandoned any semblance of subtlety and Enterprise, in turn, knew when to give up.  She rubbed at her eyes, signaling her defeat. “How did you know?” 

                “I’m rather amazed that you believe you possess any kind of capability for deceit,” Belfast admonished her. “On the off chance you ever do accept my offer to become a maid, that is one skill that I would have to discipline you severely on.” 

                “Good to know,” Enterprise returned sarcastically. 

                Ignoring it, Belfast pointed out, “Other than the bags you’ve been carrying under your eyes, I know that you’ve been awake whenever I came to retrieve you in the morning.  Sleeping posture, breathing – they’re different from what I’ve established as your norm.  Like someone pretending to be asleep.” Her mouth twitched with a smothered grin. “I’ve been particularly disappointed in not catching you talking in your sleep.” 

                Enterprise turned very slowly to glare at her. 

                “Don’t give me that.  I can’t possibly consider myself as head of the Maid Corps if I can’t familiarize myself with those details.” Belfast met her glare with disapproval. “Such as how you’ve been eating those atrocious ration bars again.” 

                “What, you go through my trash?” 

                “Don’t change the subject.  You’ve been compensating for lack of sleep with calories.  With all that in mind, what other conclusion could I make?” Belfast’s tone lowered with concern. “What’s wrong, Enterprise?” 

                If Enterprise had been finding it more difficult to lie to Belfast as of late, the cruiser bombarding her with those careful – and intrusive , in the carrier’s opinion – observations went to show her how futile it was.  Casting her gaze aside so that she was looking at the rest of the fleet, Enterprise came clean. “I’ve been having nightmares.” 

                Belfast tensed beside her. “Is it…?” 

                “No!” Enterprise knew what she was thinking and harshly denied it.  She didn’t want to contemplate the chance of that thing retaining any kind of continued existence.  It was destroyed.  She had taken its core and shattered it herself.  It was gone .  Quieter, she said, “Nothing like that.  It hasn’t spoken to me since then.” 

                She tapped a finger against her temple. “But I’ve still been getting…visions, I guess, from where it came from.  They had grown weak after we destroyed it, but they’ve become more intense recently.” Weary, she resisted the urge to drop her head on the table and instead planted her elbows on it so that she could put her face in her hands.  She breathed deeply. “I’m assuming that they’ll pass in time; just a leftover byproduct from when it tried to…” She shuddered. “…you know.  I just don’t want to fall asleep out here in case something happens.” 

                The waves slunk in during the quiet.  She could hear them and could feel the barest sensation of them lapping at her carrier body.  There was very little noise from the other shipgirls with the darkness coming in and even less lighting being turned on to combat it so as to avoid broadcasting the fleet’s presence to whatever possible threat that could be out there.  Fear picked at her resistance along with fatigue. 

                Someone touched her back. “Please sleep, Enterprise,” she heard Belfast say. “I will remain here to assist you in whatever capacity I can, just as I always have.” 

                There was a prickling of indignation against this treatment but it, along with the tension at her back, was broken when the hand there commenced a gentle rub.  

                And then Belfast started humming again. 

                All thought of protest, too, died before it could gather steam.  The soothing notes of the melody and the fingertips that applied delicate pressure upon selected points of her shoulder blades lulled Enterprise.  Her arms weakened, her head slipped out of her hands, and while her eyes snapped open once and then twice when her lids fell over them, they couldn’t repeat it for a third time. 

                She fell asleep. 

------- 

                Belfast’s hand stilled but she did not remove it when Enterprise sank onto the table.  She kept it there, confirming that the deep inhales and exhales that she felt beneath her palm were for sleep.  Then she pulled away. 

                She had to internally criticize the carrier’s posture, her head having fallen so that a cheek was lying atop one folded arm, the other splayed out.  For this night, Belfast would let it be in favor of Enterprise getting the sleep that she sorely needed.  Instead, she extracted a blanket from her bag.  Enterprise had her coat as always but the skin of her shoulders that were left bare more than usual when it slipped had Belfast making sure to tuck the added cloth around them so that they were covered. 

                But she wasn’t settled with that.  She stepped back with the intention of fulfilling the role she promised but was soon distracted by another blemish that she needed to correct. 

                That cap of hers had tipped half-off her head.  It would’ve fallen off entirely had a section of it not become pinned beneath her head and the arm it rested on.  Belfast quietly debated, came to a conclusion, and angled herself over Enterprise’s sleeping form. 

                A very careful tug proved that it was not going to come free so easily and Belfast didn’t want to simply pull and risk waking Enterprise if her head was dropped from its perch along with it.  Somehow exerting even greater care, she enlisted the assistance of her other hand to oh so gently creep beneath one side of Enterprise’s head, lift it by the smallest of margins, and give her enough room to free the cap. 

                With her face exposed, Belfast saw how Enterprise hadn’t even stirred.   Retreating with her prize, she spent several moments staring at the unguarded features, calmed with sleep, and free of the burden that had been weighing heavier than any head covering had the right to be. 

                Belfast did switch to that, bringing it up so she could examine it.   It wasn’t the first time she had the chance to hold it, and her impression of it hadn’t changed.  It always looked larger than it should be on Enterprise, and seeing and feeling it for herself had her wondering just how she was able to always have it on.  The white material partly explained it, thick and dense to fill in some of the space so that it could be fitted securely.  She ran her finger along the band, clicking her tongue at how tight it felt, before running along the edge of the brim and, finally, tracing the eagle badge. 

                An unhappy memory arrived involving a discussion she had with Hood.  The designated Pride of the Royal Navy, with all the burden that that title came with.  To always serve with honor, etiquette, and free of distraction in order to represent the glory of the Royal Navy. 

                Days after Hood had performed the act that disgraced those virtues, a moment of weakness had her referring to it as her crown of thorns. 

                She was sailing ahead of them in her rightful position of to be viewed and admired, but all Belfast saw when she tried to find her was the lonely rear of her ship, the girl stuck to the front, unseen, and no one able to know what was locked away behind her grandeur. 

                Belfast felt a vibration beneath her feet.  Out at sea, such a sensation had become attributed to danger such as radar pinging off an unknown contact or something mechanically wrong with the ship body if they weren’t in battle.  On guard, she whipped her head around, but couldn’t see any sign of a threat being picked up by the fleet.  No warning was being broadcasted.  It was after a second vibration that Belfast went to Enterprise. 

                Trouble had broken her tranquil features.  Her brow was furrowed with discontent, the hand of her outstretched arm clenching in a feeble fist.  She twitched, stirred, but didn’t awaken. 

                “Enterprise?” Alarmed, Belfast knelt next to her, setting the cap down on the deck. 

                She didn’t respond, lost in whatever nightmare was assailing her. 

                Belfast reached but stopped short of grasping her shoulder.  Refraining from shaking her awake, she drifted towards her face, cupping her cheek.  A thumb touched her brow, the material of her glove collecting moisture from the beads of sweat she discovered there. 

               The longer it went on, the more pain Enterprise seemed to be in. Her breathing had become anguished gasps, the previous twitching escalating into small shakes of her head as if she was refusing something that Belfast couldn't possibly see. 

                “Enterprise,” she whispered again, the sight disturbing her.  Hair had slipped over Enterprise’s features and Belfast gingerly swept them back, the motion transitioning into a caress that she willed to placate her. 

                Little was changing and she was on the verge of administering a violent shake to pull her out of it when, at the last moment, the shakes began subsiding.  Belfast waited to be sure and was rewarded when they stopped, Enterprise’s features smoothing over shortly after.  Digits uncurled out from the weak fist. 

                The deep rhythm of her breathing was restored moments later but Belfast didn’t break from her side.  Her gaze remained fastened on her features where her hands laid against her cheek and hair.  Seconds evolved into minutes but still she didn’t separate. 

                The cruiser gradually perceived there being a different motive for her maintaining this position.  It was the same one that had her wondering at what she was seeing beneath lowered defenses and inspiring her to trace the defined line of Enterprise’s cheekbone. 

                This isn’t proper. The mental rebuke brought her back and Belfast pulled away, guiltily letting her fingers perform one more skim along smooth skin and through lengthy strands. 

                She remembered to retrieve the discarded cap when she rose and held it against her front.  She looked down at it and decided that a crown of thorns was a fitting description for it.  Her grip tightening over it expressed how, for now and after they reached London, she would be sure to hold onto it for Enterprise. 

------------ 

                Far out of range of the traveling fleet, a pair of eyes, immune to the debilitating darkness, watched them.  They were shaped as if belonging to a human or shipgirl, with golden yellow irises and pure white pupils, but one look at those infinite whites – on par with the boundless amusement they expressed – would warn anyone that they were peering into something that was quite unnatural but nonetheless ancient. 

                The nuances and distinctness of her existence were more apparent with her human-like form.  Arms and legs, feet and hands, and all the digits they were supposed to come with.  Yet her skin was gray, with a faint layer of a slippery shine that was more appropriate for that of a marine animal.  There were muscles beneath, the scraps of cloth she wore leaving abdominals naked, but stretches and strains made against them could put on a disturbing show of their capabilities to swell or compress abnormally, uncaring of the solid definitions that rational views dictated they should have.  In contrast, the structure of her bones was definably sturdy but any motion that could prove it to be more befitting to some creature rather than a human being were proven minimal with how she rested on her throne.  

                A throne of black tentacles winding around alien cannons, illuminated with the same sinister glow that was shared with her eyes.  It hovered meters above the ocean’s surface with unknown propulsion, supplying her with the view that she enjoyed with a palm against her rubbery cheek. 

                “How amusing,” she spoke, syllables echoing with high notes before dipping into a low bass during that short sentence.  A conversion that would befuddle any ears that heard it. 

                How many times has she witnessed something like this during her observations?  Billions of times?  Trillions?  The exact figures were lost, even to her, but she knew those opening guesses likely didn’t come close. 

                With all the countless simulations and altered timelines that were conducted on the worlds that they had constructed, she had dissected, recorded, categorized, and assimilated every bit of information that there was to gain.  In detail that could be only fathomed by her and the very few like her, she could explain exactly what it was that humans derived by such esteemed vistas. 

                And rather than boredom, she acquired what she stated this one example to be: amusement.  It was because of how her knowledge was refined with such immeasurable clarity that she was practically destined to be forever amused by how hopeless humanity was. 

                After all, their work and experimentation were meant to obtain progress out of that hopelessness. 

                Such was the purpose of this world.  The construction of a new world was the only time where she’d come the closest to being excited.  A new world meant a new environment to explore the latest theories and possibilities borne out of the ones that had come before it.  Based on the extensive research and established profiles, their shaping of the billions of subjects that would be responding to the carefully calibrated factors of identical situations of previous experimentations meant to stimulate them into unexplored outcomes with differing variables introduced was a joy . 

                This world in particular had been designed to be a bit more…exhilarating in terms of ambition.  She might even go as far as to call it daring when it came to the resources that had been assigned to it. 

                For this one, they had chosen to limit the presence of humanity lower than average.  Contain them in their shattered territories and place greater emphasis on their shipgirls.  These ones would be based on profiles of previous subjects that were deemed the most evolved when it came to their human characteristics.  Increase their roles and responsibilities through altered events, mature them through more extended combat with their major enemy, but maintain sufficient intervals to let them collect the needed ‘inspiration’ from humanity. 

                For most of them, anyway.  The Key would be one of the exceptions. 

                There was no absolute guarantee that the subject known as Enterprise would turn out to be The Key in this world, but the margin of error was deemed negligible so they proceeded accordingly.  To create the behaviorism most compliant for the merging, they introduced a sufficient number of stress factors to shape, but not break, their Key based on the extensive information of her previous iterations. 

                One factor that was decided to be a requirement was the early removal of subject Yorktown through the means of a Siren.  A Purifier unit was assigned explicitly for that purpose and achieved its objective before being subsequently destroyed.  The effects that the event had on Enterprise were as predicted, with the superior results obtained by setting Purifier’s mission parameters to disable Yorktown rather than destroy if possible. 

                It would’ve been quite unfortunate if Enterprise wasn’t The Key.  Fortunately, confirmation came right as Project Orochi was ready to be implemented.  Orochi, of course, being a name selected to appeal to the faith of this world’s Sakura Empire.  Nevertheless, it was appropriate, given what it had been intended for. 

                That was where their ambition – and resources – lay.  The wills that shaped the core of Orochi were, in actuality, gathered from a previous world.  The profiles and evolutionary path that they had chosen for their subjects was the complete opposite and led to only one outcome: total war, death, and despair with that iteration of The Key purposely shattered.  They harvested the final products and sought to transfer them over.  The Sakura Empire was the perfect staging ground with the influence of the Sacred Sakura to anchor the souls to this plane and was also where two subjects who had proven over and over again to be the most useful of tools were located: Akagi and Kaga. 

                The Black Cubes would be the catalyst, gathering the combat data of the shipgirls of this world and the few that did perish before inserting them into Orochi to complete the integration of the souls of another world into this one.  When fully operational, the Orochi had been meant to seek out The Key, merge with it, and then devour the rest of the subjects. 

                The result was theorized to be a perfect fusion of humanity’s dual nature: life and death, hope and despair.  The intact souls of these shipgirls that expressed the best of humanity would be combined with their counterparts who had been destroyed by the worst of it.  The Keys would’ve acted as the medium. 

                What would’ve been created was a true ark, able to traverse planes previously unreachable. 

                A true enterprise. 

                …That was what had been theorized, anyway, if things had gone as planned. 

                “So what do we do now, I wonder?” she mused, languidly tossing something in the air and catching it. 

                There was no such thing as failure or success for her.  True success was the evolutionary goal that they had strived for many, many years to achieve but have yet to do so.  How far they were from it remained inconclusive and the results of their experiments were merely learning experiences to come even an inch closer.  This instance was no different.  Even if things had gone as planned, there was no telling what the final results of Orochi would’ve led despite their best predictions. 

                There were still things to learn here in the midst of this aftermath, but she just didn’t think there was much that could be gained, and the resources lost were a rather large amount.  This world, though designed perfectly for the Orochi, had the extreme risk of stagnating any other research that could be acquired here as the shipgirls had been spared from the great conflict that had terminated their counterparts.  With fewer in number having expired, and their profiles having been manipulated to accentuate the moral quality of humanity, the most reliable method of data collecting - war and conflict - were predicted to become very restricted.  Resetting this world won’t restore the resources expended as the souls from Orochi had come from elsewhere.  Preserving it would waste resources and, more importantly, her time that could be more valuable elsewhere. 

                Erase it, then? 

                She was still tossing the small item up and down, catching it each time despite how her focus remained steady on the fleet.  After another toss and another catch, she regarded the item.  It was a triangular-shaped piece of glass or crystal, with three smooth sides.  However, the jagged base below implied how this little piece was a fragment of a larger item. 

                Like the broken corner of a cube. 

               She stared at it, then the fleet, then back to the fragment.  Finally, she shrugged.  Whatever she decided in the end, there were still opportunities for more data.  Every little bit counted and would improve the chances of their later experiments, no matter how miniscule the percentage may be. “All the time in all the worlds.” 

                The fragment began floating an inch above her palm which she held out in the direction of the fleet.  Sinister colors of black and violet filled the insides and began seeping out, creating a malevolent aura. 

                The Key, she suspected, had been damaged by the failed merging.  Damaged, but not broken.  Such a shame as her shaping, she decided, was truly like a work of art as humans love to describe any perfectly crafted piece.  She could see how the fractures that had formed on such a specimen could be considered as ‘sad’ even if she didn’t genuinely feel such an emotion. 

                But she might as well keep on turning her.  See just how much stress The Key could continue to endure.  Valuable data could still be had by testing to see what amount of integrity this iteration possessed. 

                And if she did end up breaking...well...there was something to be gained from that, too. 

                As soon as she finished the thought, the fragment fell back into her palm. 

                For once her amusement faltered when she looked to it in time to catch the last bit of abyssal color fading from it.  Confused, she pinched it between her thumb and index finger, lifting it up high so that she could examine it. 

                It failed?  But she had tested it beforehand.  Knew it had worked previously.  Why not now? 

                When she couldn’t find an answer within the cleared fragment, she once more regarded the fleet.  She uttered a thoughtful hum, her amusement resurfacing. “Seems there’s room for further observation.”    

Chapter Text

                If there was anything that Enterprise could come close to being considered as a home, she supposed it would be New York.  Not the city itself, but the harbor that had transformed into the largest naval base in Eagle Union and the world.  It was where she had been born along with her sisters, and it was there where she was stationed for most of her life – from the initial operations that cleared and established the safety of the east coast to the advances further out to reconnect with the other half of the globe.  However, even after that connection was reestablished, she remained close to the home port rather than many of the Eagle Union shipgirls who would go on to assist the other factions that would eventually form together to create Azur Lane.  

                Naturally, she had extensive knowledge of it concerning its importance and defenses.  During the worst of the Siren War, when the Eagle Union’s previous incarnation, the United States, had been forced to consolidate its forces so as to have any kind of chance, New York and the east coast was deemed as the most strategic with many of its bases and shipyards concentrated there.  It was made as their final stand and held on long enough to crack the mystery of the newly discovered technology of Wisdom Cubes.  

                Much like how the US was born after besting an empire for independence in a revolution that took place within its original colonies, it would be when it bested annihilation and gained salvation in that same region that it would be reborn as Eagle Union.  Such a feat would lead to New York becoming a headquarters for the worldwide alliance of Azur Lane with the world’s largest harbor being expanded and augmented to fulfill the role as the command center for all future Atlantic operations against the Sirens.  

                There was hardly anything that Enterprise didn’t know about her port, having seen firsthand the fortifications and reinforcements made over the decades since then.  She could cite the minimum number of ships – a mixture of shipgirls and production models – that was maintained within the coastal defense fleet, the estimated number that could be pulled from other nearby bases and fleets to bolster their forces in case of an emergency, had memorized the paths of safety through the minefields that she occasionally escorted merchant and trade ships through when not on assault or recon missions, and could do the same with the location and number of AA batteries and shore artillery guns that formed the Long Island Defense Line.  

                “So what do you enjoy about New York?”  

                And yet she was at a total loss on how to answer the question that Belfast asked when they were journeying through the English Channel.  

                It had started when the fleet had been entering the western mouth, the British Isles to the north and the larger landmass of greater Europe to the south.  At Belfast’s insistence, she had made sure that she and Enterprise were standing at the edge of the carrier’s flight deck to get the best view of the area.  They still had to contend with the surrounding ship bodies of their fellow shipgirls, but that didn’t seem to bother the maid in the slightest.  

                The beginning offerings in terms of view weren’t much anyway; sand and rocky shores that rose into cliffs although Enterprise was reminded of the natural barriers of the Azur Lane joint base and wondered just how effective these had been in warding off invaders, past and present.  There was vegetation along the walls, and at the top she could make out the more solid plane of greens that had to belong to a more expansive countryside.  

                Soon enough though, they came across the first port city which Belfast pointed out for her. “It will be difficult to see from this distance, but see the bay coming up? Towards the back is the port city of Plymouth.  Behind Breakwater Fort.”  

                What Enterprise saw first were the artillery batteries situated high on the cliffs that guarded the mouth of the bay.  Long-barreled defense guns that had a commanding view over the section of the Channel that could rain devastating shells on whatever enemy fleet would dare to enter the bay and attack the city protected within.  Logically, there had to be AA emplacements to protect them from air attacks.  

                “Be hard for the Sirens to get through that,” Enterprise complimented, impressed with how the placement of the guns would negate many of the advantages that came with Siren numbers and beam weaponry.  Between the high ground of the guns and the narrow pathway of the English Channel, any Siren ship looking to fire a shot at those emplacements would have to suffer a barrage that would be difficult to survive against.  

                There was a slap against her shoulder. “Stop looking at the guns.  Look at the city.”  

                What Enterprise looked at first was Belfast while she reflexively rubbed where she got hit.  The slap hadn’t hurt – she just hadn’t expected it.  For that matter, the uncharacteristic urgency that was coming from the cruiser was a new one too.  Not in any excessive amount, but there actually being an amount that she could detect was a surprise.  It did get her to look towards the bay.  

                She had expected whatever distance that would prevent her from getting a decent view to be made up for by what she had come to expect from humanity: the shores and cliffs enveloped in concrete and metal with a lumpy congregation of facilities in a similar setup to Azur Lane’s base, while the heart – being a human city – would rise up into skyscrapers and colossal towers reminiscent of New York City.  Not getting that had her squinting.  

                There were warships guarding the interior of the bay, their silhouettes unmistakable to her.  A couple were anchored at what had to be Breakwater Fort that, true to its name, must’ve started off as an artificial stone structure meant for coastal management before the threat of the Sirens had forced the Royal Navy to add the same defensive emplacements that marked the cliffs, a couple berths for ships, and what she guessed was a barracks.  The aged lighthouse on the western tip stood out because of how out of place it seemed to be.  

                Behind it was what had to be a city, but it wasn’t the metropolis Enterprise expected.  There were unmolested greens and browns of cliffs that rolled into hills, and the shores themselves were not as enveloped either.  Going further beyond, there appeared to be an urban sprawl that was closer to what she was expecting but, even then, it was not something that could be compared to New York.  There was not enough time for her to get a better picture though as by then they were passing it and all Enterprise saw next were more cliffs and more artillery guns.  

                “It was hard to see,” Enterprise was forced to say, mindful of another possible slap.  

                Belfast closed her eyes and nodded in a way that spoke of how she forgave her. “I expected as much, and it will be similar the rest of the way through here unfortunately.  The Isles provide many defensible inlets and bays where the Royal Navy had concentrated its bases and cities.”  

                “It reminds me a lot of the Pacific Joint Base,” Enterprise observed.  

                “Its layout was based on our facilities, with Plymouth as a notable reference,” Belfast explained.  She was looking back at the bay entrance of the city. “This includes Drake’s Island that houses its own Academy for shipgirls assigned there.  Back in the day, Plymouth was a trading post and the home port of Sir Francis Drake during his actions against Spain.  Today, it has become one our most important shipping ports and home to one of our larger naval bases: Devonport.  It’s responsible for much of the defense of the southwest and keeping the Channel impassable to the Sirens.” She switched over to Enterprise with an expectant eye. “Did you know that Plymouth was also where the Mayflower launched with your celebrated Pilgrims to depart on their journey to the New World?”  

                “I didn’t,” Enterprise replied and didn’t expect to be as intrigued by the history lesson as she ended up being.  It may’ve had something to do with voyaging out here with their fleet of modern warships and imagining how, out of the same bay they had just passed, a ship of wooden rigging and sails had departed out with its passengers for a trek that, at the time, was long and treacherous with plenty of the unknowns still waiting to be explored and mapped.  As a shipgirl, it touched into something deep.  

               Belfast smiled, quite satisfied with Enterprise’s tone in reaction to such a fact before she swiveled back towards the cliff.  

                There was something…different about Belfast.  The air about her, normally unrelenting in expressing her fulfillment of life in general, had shifted as soon as she saw the main island belonging to her nation.  Her posture was as collected as always, but Enterprise got the distinct impression that she was holding herself higher than usual to the point where she half-expected Belfast to be lifting her heels from the deck all so that she could get a better view of what scenes the island could provide her.  That or, came another observation, to be able to catch and indulge in anything that was being carried off from the edge of those cliffs and down into the Channel below.  Whatever it really was that Belfast was gaining, it was rejuvenating her.  

                Rather than search and see what it was that was affecting her so, Enterprise instead chose to take advantage of this latest glimpse of a more personal facet of the cruiser.  That was until a horn suddenly blared that had her snapping to the source, suddenly on edge.  

                It wasn’t a threat.  Past the bridge of Nevada and a cruiser-destroyer pair, Enterprise could make out a vessel that was sailing past them.  It was larger than a destroyer, on par with one of their heavier cruisers, but it was nothing like any of the ships in the Azur Lane fleet as it was devoid of a single piece of naval armaments.  What could be found on the fat deck of the ship were a pair of cranes but the sole purpose that they were meant for involved the rectangular containers that it bore.  And standing between those containers, waving towards the fleet, were humans.  

                A container ship , Enterprise identified.  A larger specimen than most when it came to merchant ships, but it was harmless.  Here and there, she could make out shipgirls who were waving back.  

                “The Channel had once been the busiest shipping lane in the world,” Belfast said, her attention having also switched to the freighter. “And the Royal Navy had once been a much larger empire, with territories all across the globe.” She glanced at Enterprise. “This included Canada.”  

               “I knew that,” Enterprise responded with a flash of pride at being able to match Belfast when it came to this bit of knowledge. “It formally declared its total independence and reformation as the Maple Monarchy shortly after the United States became Eagle Union.”  

                The carrier gained another small amount of that same pride when Belfast nodded, openly pleased at her knowledge. “So did a few others over the course of the Siren War when the British Empire of that past had no choice but to concentrate its power in protecting the Isles.  Rather than reclaim them, the Royal Navy chose to honor their sovereignty and extend hands of friendship that were readily accepted when they reconnected with their old colonies.  When the lanes reopened, this Channel became filled with the traffic of friends old and new for the commonwealth.” True to her nature, she spoke of that moment of history – of how easily humanity could reunite no matter the circumstances - with fondness.  

                “It had declined again with the loss of Iron Blood and Vichya,” Belfast went on, but that reality did not diminish her hopes when they were immediately revitalized with the present. “But it is rising once more with Iris reclaiming Vichya territory and the ongoing lull with Iron Blood.”  

                To give credit to her words, the number of vessels increased in frequency.  The next ones to pass were not as big as the container ship, but they shared its traits: unarmed and decks carrying what had to be an assortment of goods while the human crewmembers who were aboard came out to admire and wave to the passing shipgirls.  Enterprise wondered if these merchant ships intended to travel together in a group or were going to go their own separate ways once they reached the Atlantic.  

                Not all the ships they passed were cargo ships.  Enterprise nearly missed a fishing boat due to its smaller size.  

                It encouraged Belfast to continue with her new role as a tour guide. “We’ve already passed Plymouth, so I suspect that one may’ve come from Southampton or even further up at Portsmouth.  Its size is too big for any of the coastal towns that are here.  The North Sea remains designated as a dangerous area, sadly, but the fish population has risen during humanity’s long absence from the seas.  Good catches can be found anywhere right now.”  

                She was animated today.  Maybe not the exact word to use, but there was no questioning at this point that the maid who would usually be at Enterprise’s side waiting dutifully to provide a service or – more often than not – interfere with her lifestyle was more energized than usual.  As they kept voyaging along the English Channel, Belfast would point out something else that would become visible along the cliffs or tucked within another inlet or passage: a lighthouse that signaled an outpost or small village, a coastal town whose populace were braving the potential dangers of Sirens or other threats with its existence, and even ruins of old stone walls or forts that had been left behind and persisted in surviving as landmarks to this day.  There were more cities but, like Plymouth, they were difficult to see.  

                Enterprise would glance over when directed but would spare a few seconds to show she was following Belfast’s direction before her gaze eventually came back to the cruiser.  She did have some interest in what Belfast was trying to show her, but what was appealing to her was the fire she saw in blue eyes, the lively inflection of Belfast’s voice and movements, and the other nuances that, for once, the carrier was able to read like an open book.  

                Her weakness when it came to discretion would out her when Belfast turned her head, arm lifting to single out something, but paused when their eyes met, and Enterprise could make out the exact instant it clicked for Belfast of where her charge’s attention was.  

                “What is it?” she asked, unconsciously reverting to her ‘appropriate’ stance.  

                Oddly, Enterprise felt disappointed rather than embarrassed. “I didn’t mean to be rude.  I was surprised with how happy you are to be here.”  

                The maid’s brows rose slightly and then swiftly settled.  Maybe Enterprise was starting to get some grasp of how to read Belfast as it would nag at her later with how her answering smile and words were not as perfectly composed as they would typically be.  

                “Why wouldn’t I be?” she asked, making it sound like her prior enthusiasm was one hundred percent natural save for a slight deviation that could, perhaps, be meant to deflect something. “There is much history and beauty to be found and admired here, especially when we reach London.  It’s where I spent most of my life serving Her Majesty and the Royal Navy.  It’s my home.  Did you not feel the same when you returned to New York?”  

                There were several beats too many in the ensuing quiet and the ever-perceptive Belfast must’ve known something to be amiss before Enterprise’s lips curved downwards into a frown.  

                “I didn’t,” the carrier soon responded.  

                Belfast blinked. “New York is your home port, isn’t it?  That was my expectation, but was I wrong?”  

                “No, you’re right.  It’s the home port where I’ve spent most of my life.  But my home ?” Enterprise shook her head. “I never considered it as such.”  

                It was a conclusion that she came to after Yorktown had pressed her to find her own nest – her own home.  The first and obvious candidate that she considered had been New York Harbor and it was that same place that she came to understand immediately that didn’t fit.  Despite all her time there and all that she had been a part of during Eagle Union’s rise to its current position, she couldn’t muster up feelings of attachment to it.  

                When she tried, thinking of her postings that had her bouncing between the southern and western coasts of Eagle Union with occasional forays into the north with the Maple Monarchy that could see her away from New York for as long as months, she couldn’t generate anything remotely alike to what she had just witnessed with Belfast.  When she eventually did return to her quarters in New York, all she felt was the same disconnect that was shared with all those other bases that made them nothing more than temporary stops between her frequent assignments.  

                “You must have someplace that you consider home,” Belfast insisted, speaking of how incredulous it would be if Enterprise didn’t. “Anywhere that inspires a sense of longing to return to when you’re out at sea.  Isn’t there anywhere that revitalizes you in some way when you return to it?”  

                The added motivation to appease Belfast was doing little for Enterprise to provide a suitable answer.  Without New York, the only other place that came to her was Yorktown’s house on the beach.  There, at least, she could register a sort of personal connection to it but, much like New York, Yorktown’s home wasn’t her home.  It was the place for her to turn to whenever she felt lost as had been the most recent case, but she never felt anything like being revitalized.  Every time she visited, she felt like she was trying to grasp at two things that were lost to her: the past she couldn’t return to and the future that was proving more and more elusive.  

                It was in that lost past that Enterprise found the sole answer that she could give. “Home for me wasn’t a place.  Home was wherever my sisters and I were.  After I lost that…” She waved a hand helplessly. “I never found anything to replace it.  There was nothing but my duty that took precedence afterwards.”  

                Belfast gave her a familiar sigh.  A long, exasperated sigh of discovering yet another revelation with her charge that, rather than be a surprise, was actually quite typical. “This I believe.”  

                There was little that Enterprise could do in response to the sting she experienced other than to turn her attention back to the traffic of the English Channel that had maintained its growing consistency to the point that she was starting to be concerned about room.  She had a mind to ask Belfast if this was the norm or if the ongoing hostilities with Iron Blood in the North Sea was responsible for diverting so many commercial ships through here but chose not to.  

                “So what do you enjoy about New York?” Belfast asked unexpectedly.  

                The question thus leading to the current situation: Enterprise staring at her, at a loss, and only able to say an unhelpful, “Huh?”  

                “Surely you can answer that question at least.” Belfast was giving Enterprise that look.  It was of suspicion, but one that was on the verge of being positive about the outcome – one she wasn’t going to like - and she was giving Enterprise a chance to prove her wrong about it. “There is much that I would like to see if I ever have the pleasure to visit: national parks, Ellis Island, Broadway.  You must be able to tell me about them, given how long you’ve been stationed there.”  

                The examples the cruiser listed effectively cut off any of that military nature of New York Harbor that Enterprise was so knowledgeable about, leading the carrier to internally flail about for a satisfactory answer she didn’t have.  

                “I even heard that your Harbor provides a resort for its personnel,” Belfast interrogated further, merciless.  

                “It does,” Enterprise responded slowly, awkwardly trying to buy time for some figment of an opinion to fall into her lap or fruitless scrambling of what she may’ve happened to overhear from other Eagle Union shipgirls to come to her that she could use. “But I’ve never been.”  

                “To the resort or any of the locations I’ve mentioned?”  

                The carrier ace could feel the impending judgment. “The resort, no.  It was a recent addition that I never had the chance to indulge in what with the Crimson Axis.” A half-truth; Enterprise had never entertained the idea of staying there when she had her duty to consider but it hadn’t been as recent as she was weakly trying to make it out to be. “I may’ve visited those other places with my sisters once but…that was a long time ago.”  

                It was not disappointment that dominated Belfast’s features although Enterprise wondered if she would’ve preferred that over the sad acceptance of what her attendant had expected and knew with little doubt would be proven right.  She closed her eyes and appeared about to shake her head but didn’t as that would be denying the reality that she had already seen coming. “Oh dear, this is worse than I thought.”  

               Enterprise waited, expecting more of a lecture, but what she got instead after Belfast opened her eyes was a smile. “Well, all the better that you’ve been assigned to this mission.”  

                It was strange to the carrier right then how a facial expression that was meant to be reassuring instead felt so very ominous.  The feeling didn’t pass, even when Belfast turned away to see the progress of their journey. “Oh, here we are: the Strait of Dover.”  

                Up ahead was the narrowest part of the Channel, where those standing on the coastlines of Royal Navy or Vichya territory could see the opposite with the naked eye.  Each had their own landmarks, their chalky white cliffs visible to the passing fleet: the Cliffs of Dover for the former and Cap Blanc-Nez for the latter.  

                “London’s right around the corner,” Belfast said, bits of that previous energy returning to her. “But as you can see, the strait is dangerously narrow.”  

                “Right.” Enterprise knew what was coming as they had all been briefed when it came to how to proceed on the final leg of their journey.  Starting at the front, there came flashes of light as the ship bodies of the vanguard dispersed and then reformed into smaller riggings.  It acted as a signal, a lightshow encompassing the entirety of the fleet as shipgirls converted their vessels into gear that would have them traversing through the strait.  

                Enterprise flexed the fingers of her right hand, trying to chase away the adverse effects that the display incited.  It didn’t help that she had a time limit that would have her comrades take notice if she took too long. Sail like I always have and don’t look down. “You ready, Belfast?”  

                The illumination that flared at her side was the answer that the cruiser then gave verbally. “Right beside you.”  

                The affirmation did provide confidence.  Enough for Enterprise to activate her rigging so that she wasn’t the last to do so.  When her deck vanished, she and Belfast fell together into the sea.  The maid landed elegantly, Enterprise not so much when her right foot sank deeper than her left into the water, but she considered her prevention of the stumble that nearly resulted to be an adequate success that got her to propel forward with little hesitation.  

                Though they no longer had the intimidation provided by the larger mass of their ship bodies, the sight of over two dozen gun-toting shipgirls gliding over the waters was impressive in its own right.  They sped through the strait, maintaining a formation, although the room they had to maneuver through now was massive and what ships they passed had the crewmembers looking down at them rather than up.  It also brought everyone in much closer proximity, conversation being passed around easily.  

                “I-is it usually so crowded here?” came the timid words of Juneau, the Atlanta­ -class cruiser frightfully looking at a distant cargo ship but flinching as if it was much closer than that.  

                “After the great reunification, we had as many as three hundred traveling through here a day!” Amazon explained, eager to impart the lesson. “These days?  A little less than half that, maybe.”  

                “Y-you mean there was m-more!?”  

                “Surrounded by destroyers…the best…”  

                “Ark Royal, your nose…” Sheffield handed the carrier a handkerchief.  

                “Hey, hey, Uni-chan!” Yuudachi barked excitedly alongside Unicorn, stars in her eyes. “We’re going to have the cottage pie when we get there, right?”  

                “Yuudachi!” came an annoyed call from the other side of the formation.  

                “Shigure, you’ll try it too, right!?  It’s a pie!  With meat!”  

                “We have those, too!”  

                “Nooo, you don’t understand!  Not like this!  Tell her, Uni-chan!”  

                “W-well…”  

                Up front, Hood glanced over her shoulder towards the conversation, her nose wrinkling. “We’re reaching afternoon tea, aren’t we?  Too early for cottage pie.”  

                “She has a voracious appetite,” Illustrious chimed in.  

                Enterprise found the background noise a comforting distraction, letting built-in instinct control her movements with little conscious effort.  It helped that she felt rested, having been able to sleep during the long journey here.  She wasn’t sure if this was a sign that the nightmares were over as, though the last couple nights had been dreamless, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she would wake up to something having been attempting to trespass on her slumber.  If they could remain at bay during her time here, she would consider that as a definite plus.  

                “Looks like a proper London welcome.”  

                If not for their proximity, Enterprise would’ve missed what Massachusetts uttered.  The battleship was staring up at the sky and following her line of sight had Enterprise seeing a gathering of dark clouds in the distance that were steadily moving in their direction of travel.  

                “You’ve been to London before, Massachusetts?” Enterprise asked.  

                The normally quiet battleship must not have expected to be overheard going by her visible surprise when she turned to Enterprise.  Out of an entire fleet made up of shipgirls of different nations with their unique appearances, Massachusetts arguably stood out the most.  She was tall, tan-skinned, and the thick jacket she dubiously wore almost totally unzipped better exposed her figure and the lines painted on it.  She had long platinum hair which could attract anyone’s attention as is, but there were colorful blue-turquoise feathers worn behind her right ear that complemented her leather choker and its dangling gemstones.  

                Massachusetts nodded when she recovered. “Once, during the Vichya campaign.”  

                “How would you describe it?”  

                She took her time to answer as she stared off ahead, deep in thought. “…Cramped.”  

                That wasn’t something that Enterprise was expecting, and she had to check that she heard right. “Cramped?”  

                “It’s difficult to describe.” She said that, although the impression she gave off when trying to find the right words seemed like she was also trying to find the least amount of words to use. “Try and compare it to New York.  Big city with big buildings but plenty of room.  Large islands and districts, each with their own space and defined boundaries.  Separated, especially military and civilian.  Right?”  

                Enterprise couldn’t say much for the city, but she thought of the harbor and the space that allowed for clear lanes dedicated to commercial shipping and military traffic, the ports for each separate. “I believe I follow.”  

                “London’s not like that.  Very closed in. Roads are narrow and it feels like buildings were built on top of buildings.  Military ports and structures seem mixed in with civilian ones.  So, cramped.”  

                Enterprise did try to picture it in her head but knew she probably wouldn’t be able to get it until she saw it for herself. “That doesn’t sound very flattering.”  

                “Flattering?  I guess not.  But…” Massachusetts tapped her chin. “Not bad either.  Takes some time to get used to.  After that you feel…close to everything.  Uh, no, a better word…”  

                “Intimate?” Belfast supplied, almost getting Enterprise to jump as she hadn’t known she was paying attention.  

                “Intimate, yeah,” Massachusetts agreed, grateful for the assistance. “You feel more intimate with the people, the locations – the entire city.”  

                “Well, I consider that a flattering compliment of which I thank you for, Miss Massachusetts.”  

                The battleship inclined her head with a smile. “You’re welcome.”  

                “She’s not wrong,” Belfast spoke to Enterprise when the battleship drifted out of earshot. “Though crude in her description, she’s essentially right.  London is a city that was built upon history, dating back to the Roman Empire.  That was thousands of years ago but its influence remains to this very day.”  

                That fire that Enterprise had seen before was reigniting and she had to admit that she was a bit envious of it. “You really are happy to be home.”  

                “Of course.” Belfast fixed her with the biggest smile she would ever see without exposing her teeth. “And though it isn’t yours, I’ll be more than happy to share as much of my home with you as I possibly can.”  

---------  

                Enterprise began to get an idea of what Massachusetts had been saying about London upon entering the River Thames where Belfast informed her a bit about the history of her home port.  The Port of London consisted of miles of wharves, enclosed docks, and terminals that lined the river.  They had started closer to the heart of the city, but the evolution of ship designs and trade needs required further expansion downriver to the deeper waters.  

                In another time, the port may’ve centered entirely on trade.  Shipbuilding and repair, a major industry in London, had been suffering a decline due to the same factors of changing designs and the British Empire’s need to handle shipping with its far-reaching territories.  It was even predicted that those industries may no longer have a future in London.  However, the arrival of the Sirens changed all that and the docks had suffered the most against the raids that had been launched upon the city.  During the aftermath of repair and recovery, dockyards and military installations fought for development room as new channels were dredged up and expansion began in the deeper waters.  

                A direct result of that was a large swathe of the northern bank of Thames thirty miles from central London that had been converted into a magnificent port.  One half of it was the familiar spectacle that came from a naval base: clustered docks with the staggered groups of warships that were berthed there.  Nearly a stone’s throw away though was a container terminal whose berths were meant to contend with transport ships, including the recent introduction of container shipping.  Ship-to-shore cranes lined the edge of the terminal in one unbroken line, their job meant to efficiently load and unload stacks of containers either from the container ships already docked there or the field behind them.  Beyond the field was a logistics park of warehouses and distribution centers, complete with a rail terminal to transfer cargo throughout London.  

                Rather than having two separate designations, the logistics and naval port had been thrown together as the Gateway of London.  

                “Was the Royal Navy that conflicted about what they wanted and just threw both together?” Enterprise questioned Belfast.  

                “Truer than you know,” Belfast responded with a humored grin. “There was much fuss about what they wanted this development committed to.  Between the Sirens and Iron Blood, the Royal Navy wanted a more substantial base in London to house a defense fleet to protect the city and trade ships.  At the same time, they wanted a more modern facility to contend with the latest logistic and shipping practices that have come with containerization.  This area was perfect for either, but they didn’t want to divide the dredging to a separate bank.  In the end, they went with both.”  

                Enterprise immediately found the concept difficult to grapple with. “I can’t imagine what potential issues could be involved there.”  

                “Wasn’t the most elegant solution, I admit, but it is a theme that you’ll be seeing more of.”  

                “I’ll take your word for it.”  

                “We’re being hailed,” Hood announced, a hand to her ear. “You’ll all have your assigned berths by the time we get there.  Check in afterwards for your dorm assignments.”  

                “Before the rain, please,” Nevada put in. With those black clouds beginning to hang over Gateway, there wasn’t anyone who hadn’t seen them.  

                “I’ve got my favorite napping spot…” groaned Acasta, a Royal Navy destroyer who could rival Laffey in fatigue when she took a moment to yawn. “…in case we don’t.”  

                Laffey perked up in her direction which, in turn, got Javelin to glance warily at the Eagle Union girl.  

                The formation of shipgirls broke apart moments later just as they reached the docks, each of them angling towards their assigned berths.  Enterprise focused, not wanting to make a mistake right at the end.  She came in at the docks, tensed, and then jumped, trading the water for solid concrete.  This landing proved much smoother, and it was only when she stood up that she dismissed her rigging so that her carrier body could form behind her.  Throughout the docks, the sight repeated itself a dozen times over as warships sprung up almost like magic, instantly filling it up and initiating a flurry of activity as ramps and anchors dropped, mooring lines being thrown out and secured, and dockworkers that had come out in preparation immediately went to attend them; humans, male and female in uniforms, with manjuus hopping around their legs to perform checks and begin whatever maintenance or refueling that would be needed.  

                It must’ve been the arrival of such a large fleet that was spurring the activity.  That and the increasing likelihood of rain that was about to come down.  After spending so long at the Pacific Joint Base where maintenance and other labor tasks went to manjuus overseen by shipgirls with more serious damage relegated to repair ships, she was unused to this large congregation of humans.  One woman came up to her, an electronic clipboard in hand.  

                “Enterprise?”  

                Enterprise instinctively straightened. “Yes, ma’am.”  

                The dockworker smiled in a way that said she found Enterprise’s reaction funny. “Yep, Eagle Union alright.  A real rigid one, too.” She brought up the clipboard. “Smooth journey?  Nothing you wish to have logged for us to take a look at?”  

                “No, ma’am.  Everything was optimal.”  

                “Optimal, huh?” The woman tapped at her clipboard with the stylus before making a note. “Well, we’ll see what we can do about that.  The manjuu would’ve brought up anything serious but sometimes they can’t fix everything, you know?  Nice to have a human touch once in a while.”  

                Enterprise didn’t know but went with it. “Yes, ma’am.”  

                The woman snorted. “Yeah, you definitely could use more of that.” She made another note, making Enterprise wonder if she was seriously writing that down, but before the carrier could ask the woman reached over and shook her by one arm as if to break her out of her stiff posture. “Says here that you lot are going to be here for a while so get comfortable!  The right tools for you girls aren’t just the ones we got on hand.  Enjoy your stay!”  

                That was definitely not what Enterprise was expecting for a greeting as she watched the dockworker stroll off to the next shipgirl.  She checked her cap, making sure it was still straight.  

                During that moment, Belfast reappeared next to her. “All set?”  

                Enterprise made a microscopic adjustment and ran her finger down the badge to be certain. “Yeah.”  

                “Excellent.  If you would follow me…”  

                Belfast was very much her guide here, so Enterprise fell in step with her.  

                Her greeting hadn’t been an isolated incident.  As they crossed through the docks, Enterprise noticed shipgirls who were greeted by and then were ensnared in conversation with the personnel.  Most were Royal Navy, and Enterprise found few differences between how they were speaking with the dockworkers and how they spoke with each other.  Repulse in particular was excitedly chatting with a couple, but Enterprise didn’t find that surprising.  

                Eagle Union girls weren’t immune either, including Massachusetts.  She actually happened to be speaking to the same dockworker that had greeted Enterprise, and the battleship’s own quietness must be incurring the same treatment as the dockworker soon shook her in the same manner as she did Enterprise, earning a wide-eyed look from Massachusetts.  However, the shipgirl relaxed and her lips moved with the beginnings of a conversation.  

                “Are the personnel here usually this friendly?” Enterprise asked.  

                Belfast tossed her a grin. “You don’t exchange pleasantries in Eagle Union?”  

                “No, we do, but not like this.” Enterprise wouldn’t call it strict, but the more stringent nature of Eagle Union wasn’t exclusive to military officers.  If the same thing had occurred at an Eagle Union base, the dockworker would’ve asked for any concerns that she would have, would log her response, and they would go their separate ways.  They certainly wouldn’t have found her respectful addressing to be funny or make additional comments that seemed unnecessary.  

                And when confirming her identification, they would’ve gone by her name and her hull number: CV-6.  

                “Do you think that’s the fault of how things are run in your Eagle Union?” Belfast asked. “Or do you think you may’ve contributed to it in your own way?”  

                “What do you mean by that?”  

                “You do possess such an engaging personality, after all…”  

                Enterprise made a noise of irritation and witnessed Belfast’s small tremble of restrained mirth.  The comment stuck though, Enterprise noticing how she and Belfast were a very small number of shipgirls already making their way out of the docks and she wondered if this was another of her shortcomings that she was becoming mindful of.  

                The activity of the docks continued around them.  From one open warehouse full of crates and barrels, there was a pair of forklifts retrieving oil and other materials that would be meant to refuel and resupply the joint fleet.  Dollies were loaded with some already, ready to be pulled out by the dockworkers with the chick-like manjuus hopping about to assist in the process.  

                Enterprise’s postings may’ve mostly involved Eagle Union bases, but she didn’t expect this Royal Navy one to be much different, so she felt a bit off in the direction that she and Belfast were traveling, heading deeper into the center of the base. “Is this the direction of the dormitories?” she was urged to ask.  

                “I have to stop at the headquarters before we get to our lodgings,” Belfast explained. “There are documents that I have to retrieve.”  

                Enterprise assumed that it had to be an errand for Wales or something along that line, so she didn’t say anything further when they made it to the headquarters: a two-story brick building.  As it wasn’t trying to fulfill the role of an academy, it lacked flair, and it was plainer for a command center, but Enterprise thought it may be too plain for something to the caliber of this base.  

               Enterprise made it a point to be the one to step forward and open the door for Belfast in this instance – a sort of habit to pay back the politeness that the maid would ceaselessly show her even if the scales were tipped heavily against Enterprise in who owed who.  She was sure she caught a twinkle in the cruiser’s eye when she stepped through, turning right and heading down a corridor with Enterprise catching up.  

                They came to an outer office with a desk and a girl seated behind it.  She wasn’t human, Enterprise able to instinctively perceive the power contained within her body that magnified her presence to something that any shipgirl could identify when encountering one another even if they weren’t as extravagantly – or scantily – dressed.  She had light brown hair which had the darker blues of her eyes standing out, and she was dressed in whites, browns, and reds that were very familiar to Enterprise, particularly the woolen caplet that was around her shoulders.  

                She was sure she had seen her somewhere before, or at least someone who looked a lot like her, but she couldn’t pin it down when the girl noticed them and beamed up at them when they approached.  

                “Belfast!” she greeted brightly.  

                “Miss Dorsetshire,” Belfast returned her greeting. “On secretary duty?”  

                The brightness of Dorsetshire dimmed. “Yeah, but not by choice.”  

                Enterprise could see why, it being the same reason as to why the shipgirl hadn’t stood up when they approached.  She rolled her chair back a bit further to better reveal the cast that was around her left leg.  

                “Iron Blood submarine,” Dorsetshire told them. “Wandered too far from my recon group and took a pair of torps.” She bopped the side of her own head. “Got too eager for my own good.”  

                Enterprise lingered on the crippled leg. “I thought there was a lull going on.”  

                “Oh, there is, but we’re still testing our waters so to speak.  A sneaky sub here, a cruiser or destroyer there, couple shells and torpedoes tossing around, but that’s about it.” When Enterprise kept staring, Dorsetshire rolled forward to obscure the sight of her leg with the desk. “This is nothing – you should see my ship.  Until the repairs are done, the base commander assigned me as his secretary for the time being.”  

                Belfast smiled. “Yes, that is something he would do.”  

                Enterprise caught something that had her drawn to Belfast.  Anything that could slip through the maid’s usual composure became obvious, but Enterprise suspected that maybe it was because she really was getting familiar enough to catch them now.  Whichever the case, the lower note in her voice and the softening of her features and her smile told Enterprise that there was something about the base commander that was encouraging fondness from her.  

               Meanwhile, Dorsetshire was looking between them, back towards where they came from. “Hey, Norfolk isn’t here, right?”  

                Norfolk?   Enterprise looked at Dorsetshire again, this time in a different light.  Her hair and eye color were the same and while her outfit was without the hood, Enterprise could clearly see the resemblance now.  

                “No, she’s remaining at the joint base for the current period,” Belfast said.  

                The girl expressed relief. “Thank goodness.” She then jumped in her seat. “Oh, don’t get me wrong, it’s got nothing to do with me not wanting to see her!  I would love nothing more than to see my adorable sister again!  I just don’t want her to see me like this because of my foolish blunder!”  

                “Norfolk’s your little sister?” Enterprise asked.  

                Dorsetshire’s eyes became exceptionally large. “Surely you jest!  No, no, no, Norfolk’s my big sister!  My role model!  She never would’ve made the same mistake I made!  She would’ve gathered all the intelligence we would’ve needed had she been in my place!”  

                “I…see.” Enterprise did remember Norfolk – a shipgirl who was half the size of Dorsetshire.  Suffice to say, hearing that she was the big sister threw her off no matter how aware she was as to how a shipgirl’s appearance could turn out to be, even amongst sister ships.  

                Dorsetshire became fixed on Enterprise. “You must’ve served with her, right?  If you know her, you must’ve seen how dependable and adorable she is!  I suspect that her help had been nothing but crucial out there against the Sakura Empire!”  

                All that Enterprise’s recollection had to provide was of that same girl trying not to fall over from the weight of her own rigging and a tendency to withdraw into the red hood of hers.  “She’s…very determined,” she managed to compliment. “And brave.”  

                She was glad that that was enough, the pride that radiated from Dorsetshire in the wake of the compliments nearly blinding. “As I thought!  A guiding light of inspiration!  A gift that I don’t deserve and- “  

                “Pardon me for the interruption,” Belfast respectfully interceded, “but I believe the base commander is expecting us.”  

                It cut off what would’ve been a lengthy rambling, leaving Dorsetshire sheepish. “Sorry.” She cleared her throat and shifted through paperwork on her desk, mumbling under her breath, “I have to do my best here so I don’t embarrass her.” She donated another second to the task, although Enterprise really wondered if it was necessary as Dorsetshire forgot about it when she addressed them again. “Yes, the base commander said he was expecting you as soon as you arrived.  You may go in.”  

                Belfast bowed politely. “Thank you very much.  May your recovery be swift, Miss Dorsetshire.”  

                Enterprise shared a parting nod with the secretary ship, it occurring to her then that Dorsetshire hadn’t asked her for her name and possibly didn’t know it when she and Belfast left her and entered the base commander’s office.  

                It was nowhere near as extravagant as Wales’s office.  A large desk with a monitor and keyboard, two seats placed in front for visitors, and a filing cabinet in one corner with a liquor cabinet at the other.  The last gave Enterprise pause before viewing the decorations: the red of a Royal Navy flag was pinned to one wall with the British Union Jack next to it, and on the other side were framed pictures.  A couple black-and-whites of an unknown dock featuring uniformed sailors and what had to be an old production model cruiser in the background followed by more current ones, including one of a modern cruiser with a shipgirl posed on its deck, all in color.  The difference of the times was striking.  

                Rising behind the desk was an older man with white predominating his hair but tinged with a shade of its previous red.  Light green eyes regarded the shipgirls warmly, but Enterprise was distracted by the rank insignia on his uniform that swept away all doubt in her mind that they were currently in the presence of the base commander.  

                “I was delighted to hear that you would be gracing my office.”  

                The words were meant for Belfast as were the offered hands that the maid took when she crossed over to meet him, giving them a squeeze. “I would’ve made sure to stop by even if business didn’t require it, Jacob.”  

                Enterprise was aware of her jaw dropping.  The familiarity that a high-ranked officer and a shipgirl showed - utter disregard of status, first name basis, and the affection in the shared smiles - blew her away, leaving her to remain near the door.  This was in no way something that would’ve occurred at an Eagle Union base.  

                “Yes, the matter that Wales spoke about,” the commander said.  Though he and Belfast seemed plenty comfortable with hands clasped and gazes locked, it was he who broke free first by looking past her and towards Enterprise.  A jolt went through the carrier and her jaw clicked shut, but the older man became more concerned with bending down behind his desk to pull out a drawer and extract something from it. “I have everything that you should need right here.”  

                A manila folder was placed on top of his desk which he slid to Belfast’s side.  The cruiser opened it, and Enterprise could hear the sound of paper rustling as she flipped through the contents.  With her back blocking Enterprise’s view, she couldn’t see what they were for but when Belfast closed the folder and took it in her possession, she sounded satisfied. “This will do quite nicely.  You have my sincerest thanks for obliging us with this request.”  

                “Quite unnecessary, my dear; I was more than happy to do it.  Oh, one more thing.” A hand disappeared into a pocket of his uniform, reappearing with an envelope in his grasp. “This came in earlier.  It’s addressed to you specifically.”  

                When he held it out, Belfast didn’t take possession of it right away, giving Enterprise a moment to see its red color, gold embroidery, and the wax seal that kept it secured.  Unlike the folder and its documents, the decorative envelope didn’t appear to be something that Belfast was expecting.  She did end up taking it, but her bowed head and subtle movements hinted to how she was spending a few seconds to look it over.  Perhaps to confirm that her name really was on it.  

                Meanwhile, the base commander – Enterprise couldn’t even think to refer to him by his first name – had his gaze straying back to her.  Much like before, the tingle of electricity went through her, stronger this time as her ingrained discipline was desperate to make up for the lack thereof that had gone on in this office.  She tightened her stance, raised her chin, and her features purged the rest of the uncertainty from them.  

                The commander didn’t react to her efforts.  There was undisguised intrigue as he viewed her before tapping Belfast’s elbow. “This is her?”  

                The maid was pulled from the envelope to look between the both of them.  She pocketed it but kept the manila folder in her grasp when she stepped aside. “Allow me to make the proper introductions.  Jacob Riley, this is Enterprise of Eagle Union.”  

                “The champion herself,” the commander mused, still with that intrigue. “I’ve heard much about her and her exploits.”  

                “Only a small number of which I can vouch for.”  

                Enterprise was growing uncomfortable from the commentary but couldn’t think of doing anything else other than remain where she was.  At least with the introductions, she was able to use the name Riley for the base commander who came around his desk and approached her.  

                “If you would allow me this honor,” Riley requested and extended his hand.  

                When it came to humans, Enterprise tended to see them in two ways.  One, as superiors who she was meant to serve under.  When presented with a rank such as the one adorned by Riley, she instinctively deferred to it and the orders that would be issued from those who had it.  It was the straightforward relationship of a weapon following the commands of its users that Enterprise relied on for so long.  

                The other way she saw the members of the human race were those who needed to be protected, including those same officers who she submitted to.  She may have her human form, and without her rigging boosting her capabilities she did possess a human’s physical limits, but her years of experience, the number of battles she participated in, and the power she was capable of wielding made them fragile to her.  Much like how her existence was meant to fight as a weapon of war, she was also meant to protect the ones who had summoned her to save them.  

                So it was a very alien feeling that came to her when she shook the proffered hand.  Unsatisfied with the one, Riley’s other hand came so that he could engulf her appendage with both of his.  He didn’t exactly clasp it, the strength he applied very little, and the way he shook her hand was reminiscent of treating something with delicacy.  

                The man was old, his hands rough and wrinkled in stark contrast to her smooth one, and the skin of his face sharing those weathered characteristics created the surety that he must be older than her.  Up close though, she can see an intensity in his eyes assembled from his own harsh experiences that age did little to wear down but was tempered by that soft warmth that he had shown to Belfast.  

                Being the recipient of it now and with the few inches that Riley had over her, Enterprise felt like she was the one who should be taken care of rather than the other way around.  

                “Long have I waited for the chance of you visiting our port and meeting you like this,” he claimed, peering down at her.  

                Enterprise didn’t know how to respond and felt put off with how, even after the handshake, her hand remained in his tender possession. “Sir?”  

                The dockworker found her formality humorous.  Here, the base commander was slightly troubled by it although Enterprise didn’t know why.  However, he patted the back of her hand and let it go free. “I know Belfast here will make certain of it, but please do savor all you can of London.  It has much to offer that I believe will benefit you.”  

                 At least for this Enterprise had something to go on but that didn’t put her that much less off kilter. “I will.” ‘Sir’ wanted to follow it up, but the carrier had a mind to clamp down on it.  

                Riley nodded, gave her a parting smile, and switched to Belfast. “A car should’ve already been summoned by now.  It’ll take you where you need to go.”  

                Though burdened with the folder, Belfast performed her curtsy as elegantly as ever. “I thank you once more, Jacob.”  

                All told, the meeting couldn’t have been much more than five minutes from when they entered the office to exiting it, but Enterprise felt like it had left quite an impact on her for something that had been so short.  When she and Belfast found themselves re-navigating through the corridor of the headquarters, the carrier was busy going through the meeting in her head.  

                “Does he know about…?” Enterprise began.  

                Belfast shook her head negatively. “No. There are still details that we’ve decided to hold onto regarding what happened in the Pacific for the time being.  The story that’s been given so far to our respective governments is that the Sakura Empire had attempted to build and construct a warship based on Siren technology to control their mass production ships that went out of control before we destroyed it with their assistance.  Wales had decided to leave it at that, saying that we’re still undergoing an investigation and will inform them about any breakthroughs.”  

                The relief that Enterprise felt was to such an extent that she wanted to ridicule herself for it.  She let it slide since that hadn’t explained what was bugging her. “So that attitude is normal?”  

                “Surprised you, did it?”  

                “I consider that more than just friendly, especially with you.”  

                “Oh?” Belfast looked over at Enterprise, tilting her head with a grin. “Were you perhaps jealous?”  

                “No.” The denial that flew out without thought surprised Enterprise, almost as much as the unidentifiable emotion that had spurred it.  

                Something flickered behind Belfast’s expression but nothing that was able to manipulate it into giving hints of what it was, her grin remaining in place. “It’s nothing like that.  Jacob has a meaningful history when it comes to us.”  

                “Us?”  

                “Shipgirls,” Belfast elaborated. “When the Siren War began, he had been an ensign on an old Edgar- class protected cruiser when they were still in service.  He survived multiple engagements against the Sirens until it was sunk.  Out of a crew numbering six hundred, he was one out of twenty-two survivors who were recovered.” She paused for dramatic effect. “The one responsible for saving their lives was a shipgirl – one of the first.  Hawke was her name.”  

                The pictures in Riley’s office resurfaced, Enterprise wondering if they were connected to the cruiser the base commander had served on and Hawke.  She regretted not getting a better look. “I’m not familiar with her.”  

                “And you never will,” Belfast revealed sadly. “She was also one of the first girls to perish against the Sirens.  At that time, Jacob had transferred to another production model ship that would provide support for the shipgirls during battle which included the one that ended Hawke’s life.  He would transfer onto other ships, eventually claiming a captaincy when officers were coming in shorter supply, but when the number of shipgirls increased and it was discovered that the newer production model warships could be slaved to their will, human crewmembers were removed from the naval field.”  

                Enterprise knew that much and could even recollect the few instances when she had sortied with human-crewed warships, but that had been a long time ago.  Though shipgirls were the result of humanity’s wishes combined with the power of the Wisdom Cubes, the basic principles of their creation could be applied to production model warships.  Forged by human hands with blood, sweat, and the emotions that were imprinted within each layer of armored plating installed to fight back, shipgirls could tap into those impressions left behind from their makers and control the vessels similar to how they controlled their personal ship bodies.  Sirens had to possess a similar setup with their mass-production models and one that the Sakura Empire had been able to hijack.  

                Since that discovery, the hundreds of human crewmembers necessary to run a warship were considered obsolete.  In the Eagle Union – and, Enterprise assumed, the other factions -, it was very rare for humans to take to the seas in warships to participate in engagements.  Presently, they stuck to positions within their home ports and naval bases, managing affairs there.  The top brass that oversaw the numerous theaters and were responsible for assigning shipgirls to them had seats occupied by humans, but when it came to direct management of operations from bases far from the homeland – such as the Pacific Joint Base -, those positions had been overtaken by shipgirls such as Wales.  

                These days, humans crewed merchant, fishing, and other commercial vessels.  Not warships.  Instead of fighting at sea, their role was to use it to rebuild and provide for the territories and populations that had been ravaged by the Sirens.  

                “Jacob had temporarily held a teaching position at one of the academies,” Belfast continued explaining, “and eventually found his way as a commander of this base.  The errands I’ve carried out for Queen Elizabeth and her attendants had me frequently visiting his office and I happened to become well acquainted with him.  He is a very kind-hearted man who desires to look after us in whatever capacity he can.”  

                “That’s strange,” Enterprise commented.  

                “What is?”  

                “What you just said: ‘looking out for us’.  That’s strange.  We’re the ones that were created to protect them and have been for decades.” Again, there was that weird sensation when Enterprise thought back to those warm green eyes.  That sensation of a human who wanted to protect her. “Why would a human feel a need to watch over us like that?”  

                In this instance, Belfast’s grin did fall. “I have to explain that to you of all people?”  

                Enterprise was taken aback by that. “What do you mean?”  

                Belfast glared but there was no heat in it. “The ace carrier who always has to respond to every battle and distress call even if her rigging is ready to fall apart at a moment’s notice?  You can’t relate to someone who wants to protect others?”  

                “I know what you’re saying,” Enterprise retorted, defensive, “but this is different.  We’re talking about a human wanting to protect shipgirls.  That’s absurd.”  

                Belfast released a breath but didn’t say anything.  They were at the door to the headquarters and when they exited there was a car as was promised.  A limousine, about the size of the vehicles used in the transportation service provided by the Royal Navy back at the joint base but nothing like the classic splendor that the carriage-like vehicles had.  It possessed the partition that separated the passenger and driver compartment, with their driver out and holding the door open for them.  

                The rain that had been predicted was beginning to fall, cold droplets splashing upon Enterprise’s bare shoulders in a light drizzle that promised to intensify so she didn’t give it much consideration as to why a limo was being provided to bring them to the dorms.  She decided to appreciate the cover it provided when she and Belfast ducked inside, the driver closing the door as soon as they did.  

                  “What would you do if you couldn’t fight anymore?” Belfast asked, waiting until the engine came on. “Whether due to injury or because there was someone that could perform better than you?”  

                The question stung Enterprise, but she knew right away that Belfast hadn’t asked out of ill will towards her own troubles.  The next thing she felt was how illogical the question was, given her capabilities, but for the sake of the argument she took it seriously, thinking of Yorktown, and wondered if that relaxing life that her sister had chosen would be for her.  When she tried to imagine herself in her position by that windowsill, Enterprise rejected it.  She envied Yorktown’s peace that she made with her situation, but it didn’t mean that she would be satisfied with it if their positions were reversed.  

                Enterprise thought of Langley, her fellow aircraft carrier whose combat capabilities were considered inadequate when compared to the likes of her and the others when it came to battle.  She had chosen to take her fight to the lecture hall, teaching and imparting her wisdom to the shipgirls who entered it.  Would that be enough for Enterprise if she could no longer fight?  Her impulse was to say no, but if she truly had no way of rejoining the fight any other way, wouldn’t that be the logical thing to do?  To use her gathered experience to train the next generation who, in some way or another, would manage to surpass her in efficiency?  

                Would she be fine with a position of a secretary like Dorsetshire, except permanent?  

                The difficulty of coming to a satisfactory conclusion had Enterprise giving up on the question for now, as did the other factors that made it impossible for her: her title as the strongest carrier, the decades she had spent fighting already, her inability to age, and the war that continued to this day with other conflicts spawning from it.  

                “It’s not about what I would do if I couldn’t fight,” Enterprise said, trying not to make it sound like she was avoiding the question. “It’s about how a human thinks they could protect a shipgirl.”  

                “Well, I believe my question does have relevance,” Belfast accused. “But I’ll go along with it.  I doubt the answer I’m going to provide will make sense to you though.”  

                Enterprise took it as a challenge. “Try me.”  

                The corner of the maid’s mouth twitched. “Very well.  Before the Siren War, sailors such as Jacob were the ones meant to protect their country and their citizens.  They did the fighting so that others could be at peace.  It grants them experience that few others can relate to and, thus, it establishes an image that they are meant to be strong and relied upon.  If a battle ensues, they are the ones to participate in it.  Them and no one else.”  

                “But they used their warships,” Enterprise pointed out.  

                “Warships that only they have the knowledge, skill, and experience to operate effectively.”  

                “But they rely on them as a means to conduct their battles.  They steer them, aim and fire their cannons, but the might of those vessels isn’t truly theirs.  They’re tools that they shouldn’t feel anything special for.”  

                “Some of those sailors would disagree but go on.”  

                “We are those warships.  The disconnect should be the same.”  

                Belfast shook her head. “It’s not.  We speak, feel, and live just as they do.  Our forms and our personalities are human.”  

                “Imitations created in their image.”  

                “You remain certain about that, I see.  Yet when someone like Jacob looks at you or Dorsetshire, all they see is a young woman fighting a brutal war - one that he wishes that he was fighting and protecting you from in your stead as he once did.  His experience also makes him aware of the harm that can come to us and, though he cannot fight as we do, he wants to at least make attempts to ease our burdens as much as possible.”  

                Enterprise sat there, contemplating, as she tried to take that in. At one point she felt the limo slow, leading her to wonder if they arrived at the dorms and she could delay an answer, but it accelerated again and closed off that avenue. “Belfast, you were right,” she said.  

                “It doesn’t make sense to you.”  

                “It doesn’t make sense to me.”  

                Belfast grinned but there was no victory to be found in its short length. “I did say so.”  

                Enterprise placed her elbow against the door, resting a cheek against her fist when there was no continuation to be found.  She peered through the divider that separated them from their driver, making him out behind the glass.  

                He was human.  It went beyond his appearance and his gender as there was a type of instinct that Enterprise possessed that confirmed it for her.  It was the same for the dockworker, the base commander, and every other human that she would make contact with.  Whenever she would register them, her intuition would make out a separation between her and them.  She didn’t know whether to describe it as an aura or some kind of emanation that told her one important fact: her existence – and those of her fellow shipgirls - was not the same as theirs.   

                They were weaker, and she didn’t mean that arrogantly, but their presence was solid and stable.  She, on the other hand, felt like she dwarfed them with an existence that was divided between her human and ship body with a conscience that could not differentiate which of the two were truly her because they were both her – from the fingers and toes of one, to the Wildcats and 20mm Oerlikons of the other.  She could consume human food, but there were materials that she needed to ingest to operate efficiently between combat.  On top of all that was the connection that was not of someone belonging to their race but one that was a product of theirs.  

                She had thoughts and feelings, yes, and she learned that actions taken without them could lead to disaster that could destroy the humanity she possessed, but did that make her human ?  Belfast kept trying to convince her otherwise, but her words and the examples of ‘elegance’ that she had tried to impart in her were a weak contender for what she had confirmed for most of her life.  Her superiors in Eagle Union had never imparted such a thing, and the feats that she was capable of performing when following their orders were beyond the scope of feasibility for them, hence her necessity and their designation of her as a ship.  

                Her recent trials most of all were not something that could be comprehended by a human.  

                A shiver went down her spine, traveled back up, and jabbed sharply into the back of her skull, agitating the efforts of her psyche that was repressing the memories buried deep beneath the swelling of the trauma that had been inflicted upon her.  She couldn’t remember what happened, not in any detail, but what would occasionally seep out told her that being ‘overwhelmed’ was a gross understatement of what would’ve happened if a lesser being had undergone the same thing.  

                It also made her quite sure that she didn’t want to remember.  Again she repeated her instructions for steering clear and forgetting about them.  Focus her thoughts elsewhere and pray that the memories would one day be lost forever, never to trouble her again.  Much like the ship that had been responsible for them.  

                The rain had been increasing in volume, the drizzle becoming a storm that was thudding loudly upon the roof of the limo.  It was hard to see out the window, Enterprise barely able to make out anything beyond the limits of the road and the green of grass, the shapes in the distance barely resembling trees.  

                Wait a minute.  

                It dawned on Enterprise but she needed to stare out for moments longer to confirm it despite the obvious.  When she did, the carrier snapped up in her seat, then swung around to look out the rear window.  

                They weren’t at the base.  She could barely even see the base – a wavy, distorted silhouette that was becoming increasingly distant. “Belfast!”  

                “Yes, Enterprise?” The tone alone was of someone who knew exactly what was going on.  

                The anger wasn’t coming yet, Enterprise too disoriented and grasping for an explanation as to how she didn’t notice sooner.  Confusion and a need for an answer reigned supreme. “What’s the meaning of this?”  

                To Belfast’s credit, the maid appeared to be taking the matter more seriously than normal.  She regarded her steadily, her face straight and barren of her cheerier facial expressions.  Enterprise entertained the possibility that she had a sensible explanation to give her as to why they had left the premises of the base.  

                She was wrong. “We’re on our way to central London.”  

                Enterprise was still half-turned towards the rear window where she stared at her dubiously. “Why?”  

                “Because we’re not staying at the base,” she revealed. “There’s a hotel with rooms reserved that we will be staying in for the duration of the refit and supply acquisition.”  

                The carrier glanced down at the manila folder in Belfast’s lap that she had thought nothing of.  When Wales had been mentioned, she assumed it was part of some kind of errand that Belfast had to be running in her stead.  

                It was , Enterprise miraculously able to piece together the evidence and get an idea of what was going on.  Now the anger was creeping up on her when she rotated around and dropped into her seat, her target back to being Belfast. “You and Wales planned this.”  

                “If you wish to blame someone,” Belfast said, unfazed, “blame me.  Everything was my plan from the beginning.  I asked Wales to provide aid and she gave me it.”  

                “Everything?” Enterprise asked, not believing it.  

                “More or less.  The supply run was already happening, and I requested to be a part of it and the refit.  When it was granted, I appealed to assign you to it once you returned from leave with the reasoning that it would be a show of unified force.  Wales contributed by turning it into a mixed participation of Eagle Union, Royal Navy, and Sakura Empire.  I then directly asked her if she could provide proper lodgings for the two of us that would be located off base and closer to the heart of London.  She did, with the arrangements made when we left.”  

                Her face remained straight throughout the reveal, but it didn’t lessen the staggering hit that Enterprise took from it.  The past week flashed by in seconds, snapshots being taken of the relevant moments.  The assignment that was dropped on her in Wales’s office, her relief and too easy acceptance of it, and the days before and after their departure with every word that Belfast had dropped that had a hint of her true intentions to this scheme that had been made without her knowledge.  

                Suffice to say, Enterprise didn’t like it one bit. “Why did you do all that?”  

                “To help you, Enterprise.”  

                It was new for Enterprise to be angry at Belfast’s ‘help’.  She had been annoyed, agitated even, when a strange shipgirl dressed like a maid started intruding upon her life, but it had never gone any further than that during those disruptive days.  That intrusion had never been the outright manipulation that she was experiencing right now, and it was difficult for her to tamp down on the rise of anger.  

                “I don’t need help,” she spoke, her voice tight while she glared at Belfast.  

                She met it evenly. “Yes, you do.”  

                “Not like this!” she snapped, regretted the loss of control instantly, and tried to reclaim it.  She jerked her chin at their driver. “Tell him to turn around.  Go back.”  

                “No.”  

                “Fine.” Enterprise brought her fist up to the glass that separated them, her intention clear. “I’ll tell him.”  

                “…Grey Ghost.”  

                The driver did turn around at the sound of a hand smacking against glass, but it wasn’t the divider that Enterprise hit.  Her hand shot to the side, going way off target so that the back of it struck the passenger window.  Not enough to break it, but it was enough to get her hand bursting with pain.  

                The shock paled in comparison to the one that had Enterprise staring forward, wide-eyed, her anger and everything else momentarily forgotten.  When her senses returned to her and she could move again, what she directed at Belfast wasn’t anger but something different: betrayal and hurt.  The second had nothing to do with how her hand ached.  

                She saw that same hurt on Belfast’s face, the maid hating what she had just done. “It’s not just the nightmares, is it?”  

               Enterprise wanted to be outraged but couldn’t marshal the required energy to bring the intensity beyond a simmer.  Maybe it was the exposure of another of her weaknesses, maybe it was the sincerity of Belfast’s visible regret, maybe it was something else entirely.  Whatever the reason was, she became more interested in her hand rather than shouting at Belfast, nursing the appendage.  

                “I won’t say that name again,” Belfast swore to her, her voice soft and remaining tinged with regret. “Nor will I say the name of that ship that you detest so or ask what happened.  I can see how much it pains you, but that’s exactly why you need help.”  

                Enterprise rubbed the back of her hand, unwilling to look at Belfast. “I don’t want special treatment.”  

                She loathed the thought of it.  She had her reputation, but that was all that was.  She still fought like usual, the same as any other shipgirl.  She did have more experience which granted her more power and skill than most, but her duty was the same as theirs.  She didn’t want to be treated any differently from them.  

                Belfast disagreed. “This is a special case that will require special treatment.  I don’t know what happened to you, Enterprise, but it’s clear to all of us that it’s something that we can’t possibly fathom even if we did.”  

                Enterprise grimaced at the word ‘we’, thinking of Wales and Belfast who masterminded this, then Hornet and Yorktown who she confided in, but the number multiplied until it came to an amount that could cover everyone who had spoken to her or looked at her with an air of caution or sympathy.  

                “By all rights, I assume it’s a miracle that you’re alive right now, nonetheless able to function at your current capacity.”  

                “I get it,” Enterprise interrupted, a headache starting to set in.  

                “Then you also get that it’s something that can’t be fixed by a few nights of sleep at sea or how you spent your leave.”  

                “And it’s something that can’t be done from a dorm at the base?” Enterprise had been planning on making those trips into London as many had suggested, but she had been thinking of it with a dorm in mind that she would return to after getting a frequent dose of the sights.  

                “It could,” Belfast granted, “but would that have truly been wise when the mere utterance of that name of yours can undo so much?  Your reputation is well known, even amongst the Royal Navy.  That name especially.  Shipgirls and the personnel who do not know what happened would use it freely, and those who do would be respectful even if that could also generate a measure of discomfort.”  

                Again Enterprise was reminded of the days at the joint base and played a scenario in her head of a stay at Gateway that would involve someone using her name or, worse yet, the shipgirls she traveled with spreading the warning to their comrades of how she should be treated with care.  Yes, they would do so with the best of intentions, but the atmosphere that would be created and the thought of more looking at her as if she was a defective ship, including the humans she was meant to protect...  

                “But if something were to happen…,” she started, thinking of the recovering Dorsetshire.  

                “Answer me honestly,” Belfast instructed. “Do you think you can fight effectively the way you are now?”  

                Enterprise forced herself to look at the intense gaze that Belfast was aiming at her, intending to answer that she would no matter what.  Too quickly though, the response she wanted to make withered and died on her tongue.   

              She always possessed the surety of fighting, but days spent at the joint base and the fleet’s voyage dreading that something would happen and fearing how she would perform if she did eroded it.  She discovered that there was in fact one thing she hated the idea of more than missing out on an engagement she could’ve participated in and protected her fellow shipgirls, and that was if she became a liability to them.  That concern having become paramount was the counter that was making it impossible for her to answer Belfast with what she knew to be a lie.  

                “Enterprise, you are strong,” Belfast told her when the imaginary time limit passed, conviction giving weight to her next words. “You have proven that time and time again that you are so very strong.  It is not a weakness to need time to recover and fix what had happened to you after having endured so much.”  

                “And you believe that you know a way to fix me?” The question was sprinkled with doubt.  

                “Maybe not, but I believe I know the right path to a proper recovery that can lead to what you want.”  

                The confidence she spoke with about a solution that Enterprise had been striving for with little success got her attention. “You do?”  

                Belfast smiled but it wasn’t up to her usual standards. “It’s the one we’ve been traveling already: to bring elegance into your life.  However, this has gone beyond sleeping and eating properly or acquiring a hobby.  You’ve made me quite sure of that.”  

                “I have?”  

                “I had always been under the assumption that you lacked elegance, but now I see how you’ve been entirely devoid of it for far too long.” Belfast leaned over to tap a finger against the badge of Enterprise’s cap. “Responsibility, duty, self-control, self-composure…” She made a tap for each word until Enterprise angled the badge away from her. “You have been so tightly wound in managing your life based on these things that you’ve deprived it of something vital.  And then…”  

                Her fingers pinched the brim of her cap, were about to lift it off her head, but Enterprise reflexively snapped up her palm to lay it flat on top of it, keeping it in place.  

                Belfast’s smile weakened further. “And then, once you lost them, you had nothing else.  All you can do is what you’ve already been doing: to reassert that strict management over your life.” She let go of the cap and returned to her previous position. “It’s a self-defeating, self-destructive cycle with you currently having no alternative.”  

                The assertion bounced around a hollow space in Enterprise chest.  She slowly lowered her own hand from her cap, but not before once again checking to make sure it was straight.  The unconscious action was just another confirmation of what she knew. “I don’t have an identity of my own beyond that.”  

                Belfast nodded. “That’s right.  Whether you want to believe yourself to be human or not, you possess a spirit that is grounded in the humanity that we’ve all been granted alongside our forms and you’ve neglected it.  You can’t tell me what you enjoy about your homeland, but you can tell me that you don’t have anything that you consider a home.  It has left you empty and closed off.”  

                “So you want me to…act like a human?”  

                Knowing Belfast, Enterprise expected her to insist that it wouldn’t be an act because she was human, but the cruiser was choosing to ignore that consistent disagreement of theirs. “I don’t know what it is that has made you come to reject your name, but I believe it is linked to that dreadful Siren ship.  There is no chance for recovery there, so you should focus on your humanity to establish a better identity of yourself to separate from them so that you can recover.  Can you plot a better course on how to get there?”  

                Enterprise couldn’t, not when it had been so blatantly proven that the one she had been following had been grossly inadequate.  

              “In the process, I truly believe that you will come to understand much that has confounded you for so long,” Belfast pressed, “and live a noble life that you can be proud of.” She leaned against the seat and motioned to the driver compartment. “But if you believe me to be wrong, we can go back.  I will not stop you.  I’ve made my case as best as I could and if you remain unconvinced, then it is my failure.”  

                Enterprise felt the pull against her hand that wanted it connecting with the divider but she resisted it, considering what would happen if she went through with it.  They would turn around, go back, and she could settle in an assigned dorm within the walls of the naval base.  It would be familiar surroundings, but she would be plagued with the pressure of maintaining a façade that had extraordinary weaknesses in an environment that could tear it down in an instant.  If she messed up, and a repeat of what occurred at Wales’s office happened…it would be all over.  

                Thinking of the other option, following Belfast’s lead, Enterprise would be in unfamiliar territory, but the dangers would be severely limited.  The only one who would truly know what was wrong with her was Belfast and when Enterprise asked herself if she trusted her, the answer was obvious: she did, with very little doubt.  

                As soon as she came to that conclusion, it made any potential dispute invalid.  Never had Belfast given her a reason not to trust her – not a single one.  Although Enterprise was upset with how it felt that this situation had been forced upon her, Belfast was giving her the choice to get out of it if she couldn’t see what she saw as valuable merits of this plan.  A plan that centered on her wellbeing – of making her better.  That was something that Belfast always claimed as her reason to be with her.  

                The methods that she had used so far with getting Enterprise to adopt a healthier lifestyle had been working.  Since the start of the Siren War and her loss of Yorktown, followed by the madness of the Crimson Axis rebellion, it was Belfast’s guidance that had her experiencing those forgotten moments of peace.  

                And somewhere within the repressed portions of those tumultuous memories, there was a sense of certainty that it was Belfast and her efforts that had played a part in why Enterprise was sitting here right now, alive.  

                “Find something or someone who will be able to give you peace.”  

                Enterprise’s arm came up, her elbow setting down against her passenger-side door, and her cheek regained its position against her knuckles.  She stared outwards, letting that and her silence be the answer to how they would proceed.  

                She heard nothing else from Belfast save for the slightest give of the leather seat on her side, but Enterprise was sure that if she turned around in that moment, she would’ve witnessed the maid relaxed with gratified relief.  

-------  

                The rainstorm wasn’t letting up when they arrived at the heart of central London, so it was impossible for Enterprise to get a proper view of the city with the oppressive rainfall debilitating her vision.  The widest look she got was when they were crossing a bridge over Thames and although she was barely able to make out silhouettes, they were enough for her to confirm one thing: London was not New York.  

                New York City had a love for high-rises, skyscrapers, and other immensely tall buildings that would stab so prominently up that even an aircraft carrier such as herself would be intimidated by them.  Though they were constructed much more sparingly in the naval base of the Harbor, their clustered extravagance could be clearly seen from the distance between it and the city itself.  What memories Enterprise had of the streets in between them were too few and made too long ago that she couldn’t trust herself to give an accurate description of them.  

                She could see a tower or a high-rise, but they were surprisingly few and far between – from a sole contender to a closer-knit array of three or four that still had plenty of space between them.  They stood out in such stark contrast to the short and stout lower rises that the metropolis was mostly made up of from what she could see at a distance.  She had to rely on establishing an opinion based on what she saw up close and Massachusetts’s ended up being truer than Enterprise expected: it was cramped.  

                She was seated to the right of the limo, meaning that she was positioned closer to the passing traffic of the other lane.  Their transportation driving on the left side of the road was something that didn’t bother her as she had gotten used to it between Belfast’s driving and the Royal Navy’s traffic preferences having prevailed in being implemented at the Azur Lane base.  What did bother her was how the roads in London tended to be much narrower with her failing to stop her head from drifting away from the window when a passing car or bus got uncomfortably close.  

                It became clear just how close they could go when traffic began to slow, and Enterprise was able to remain unmoving.  If she opened the window right now, she was sure she could reach over and tap the other one next to her.  

                “It is cramped,” she couldn’t help but comment.  It was the first thing she had said in a long while, she and Belfast having not spoken to each other since she decided to cooperate with the cruiser’s plan.  She remained unhappy about it, but her animosity wasn’t enough for her to pass over this excuse to reconstruct dialogue with the one who was supposed to be her companion.  

                Belfast didn’t miss a beat, like she had been anticipating it. “London used to be a settlement of the Roman Empire and the first roads built were based on their military system for troop and supply movement.  Later ones were modeled after it with many of those ancient roads being repurposed and maintained to this very day.”  

                “They didn’t think about widening them at any point?” Enterprise was curious, given the current danger they presented, but was cajoled to get Belfast to keep speaking.  She reasoned that the long, silent ride had been more uncomfortable than she expected.  

                “There was an opportunity to do so after the Great Fire of London, but remodeling plans that were presented were abandoned so they chose to reuse the old system.”  

                Enterprise injected a bit of her incredulity. “Why would they do that?”  

                “It was in 1666.” The carrier could detect the mirthful grin that the maid had to have. “The worst they had to consider were carriages.  There were also more complicated issues of land ownership involved but the details would bore you.” There was a break, with Enterprise wondering what she should say next, but Belfast supplied with, “Some areas that were damaged by Siren raids were expanded on.”  

                Enterprise hesitated. “Oh.”  

                “Something troubling you?”  

                “It’s just odd when I think about it, talking about a time before Sirens.”  

                It was Belfast’s turn to be slow. “I suppose it can be, but I believe that’s what will make this trip beneficial.  There is plenty to see, or at least there will be once the rain stops and we can explore ourselves.  We should be arriving very soon.”  

                Enterprise settled with what sights she could gain.  There were humans traveling along the sidewalks using umbrellas to shield them from the rain, but not many.  Beyond them, she could inspect the buildings closer and saw the characteristics in their architecture that she had become familiar with: the arched windows with hood mouldings, sturdy pillars, brick and terraced styles with smooth concrete of these structures that struggled to push past five stories.  Seeing them combined in this urban sprawl though, and not being a recent construction, she detected what she thought to be a more tangible influence of human history.  It tickled at what she guessed was a sense of wonder and she had to admit that it wasn’t unpleasant.  

                “We’re here,” Belfast declared the second their limo’s crawl became a full stop.  Their driver got out with an umbrella, coming over to the cruiser’s side to open the door for her and making sure she was covered when she slid out before relinquishing possession of it to her. “Thank you.”  

                Guess I’m really doing this.  Enterprise’s consent to go along with this hadn’t really set in until she extracted herself out of the limo and was brought under the shield that Belfast shifted to protect them both from the elements.  She let herself be ushered through a pair of wide glass doors that automatically parted for them.  She missed out on getting a look at the exterior of where they were going to be staying, but she doubted it would’ve measured up to the interior anyway.  

                The lobby was actually quite reminiscent of the Academy’s main hall.  Wider and more open, but there were the decorative rugs over white marble tile, the lights embedded in the columns that were shaped like ornate torches, and the vases of plants, paintings, gem-encrusted statutes, and plaques of gold and brown for whatever they were meant to commemorate with their letterings that acted as decorations.  Enterprise didn’t think she would be comforted by such splendor, yet she was.  

                Belfast shook and then closed the umbrella, tucking it away for safekeeping.  She approached the front desk, attracting the attention of the employee behind it. “There should be a reservation,” she informed her and opened the manila folder on the desk. “The paperwork is right here.”  

                The young woman barely scanned it when she came upon the crowned lion of the Royal Navy marked at the top corner of the page.  It had her gaze jumping up from the paperwork and to Belfast, the human adjusting her glasses as she took a long look at her attire and her armored forearms.  When the maid smiled, her attention went to Enterprise and the carrier could see the realization that flashed behind those lenses.  

                “If you would give me a moment.” If not for those looks she had given the pair of shipgirls, her return to the paperwork might have been natural. “Yes, everything seems to be in order: two connecting rooms on the eighth floor.  I’ll retrieve your keys.”  

                While she did that, Enterprise caught a few humans that could be found in the large lobby: a pair by an indoor fountain and a gentleman seated on cushioned chair.  The ones at the fountain were staring and immediately looked elsewhere when they were noticed, but when she moved on to the gentleman she was surprised when he touched his brow with two fingers in a casual imitation of a salute.  There was nothing mocking about it, and she was compelled to dip her chin to return it even if she wasn’t quite sure how to feel about it.  

                “Enjoy your stay,” the employee said to Belfast and gave her a pair of keycards. “If you require anything more, call and we will be sure to provide the best we can.”  

                “Thank you, we will be sure to do so.” Belfast left the desk, catching Enterprise’s eye on her way to the bank of elevators.  She pressed the call button to summon one and got lucky when a door immediately slid open.  

                Enterprise had rejoined her by then and entered with her.  There was no one else, the space inside was all for them.  Belfast pressed the button for the eighth floor and the elevator door slid closed to seal them together.  

                “Do shipgirls tend to stay here?” Enterprise asked when the elevator started ascending.  

                “I’ve been informed that this is a preference for some.  I haven’t stayed here myself.”  

                “But you have stayed in a place like this?”  

                “You mean an establishment that employs and services humans?  Yes.” Belfast raised one of her arms and rolled it around, the overhead lighting reflecting off the metal protection she wore. “They tend to be surprised, but more often than you would think they don’t make the connection even if our existence is well known.  They can’t differentiate between humans and shipgirls as well as we can.” She smirked at a funny memory. “With my appearance, I have been mistaken for staff or someone who is, shall we say, of a suggestive nature.”  

                “Suggestive?”  

                The ding of the elevator masked the poorly repressed titter that Belfast made. “Never you mind.”  

                She exited the elevator, but Enterprise was slow to leave, mulling over what Belfast meant.  She chose to abandon it and step out of the elevator, the ends of her coat nearly getting caught in the closing door.  

                She had a mind to ask if this specific hotel was chosen due to its décor or if it was a normal thing.  The hallway was tall enough to hang an occasional chandelier, wide enough for short tables and chairs for whoever wanted to sit for whatever reason, and a well-maintained carpet went down the entire length that looked as new as when it was first installed.  Yet again there were the decorative lights and paintings on the wall.  This really did seem like something from the Royal Navy buildings of the joint base.  

                Belfast was swiping one of the keycards at what had to be one of the rooms rented to them.  The reader beeped in recognition, the lock disengaged, and she opened the door, going halfway in before she waited for Enterprise to rejoin her and went the rest of the way in.  

                The room was a different matter for Enterprise to take in. It was big, but for Enterprise it was gigantic; far more than what any one person should need.  Tables and chairs, couches, cabinets, other furnishings, ornate lamps, and the room itself was divided into the living area they entered – complete with a kitchen – extending to what had to be a bedroom where Enterprise caught sight of a too-large bed.  

                Belfast was unperturbed, walking deeper and then disappearing behind a closed door that Enterprise didn’t know what it led to, leaving the carrier to look around, perplexed.  This whole thing was supposed to be for one of them?  Even with her experience with Yorktown’s home, her Eagle Union-styled quarters that provided the bare essentials when it came to space and furnishings were her norm.  

                The square footage of the bedroom alone had to exceed those same quarters, a large portion of which taken up by the bed that was twice the size of any cot she slept in.  The heavy pillows and thick blankets gave off the threat of smothering Enterprise if she lied down within them.  A closet was off to the side, big enough for the carrier to walk in, a curtain-veiled glass door on the other that led to a balcony, and next to that was another door.  With no idea what the last was for, Enterprise opened it to reveal a short corridor that led to another door.  

                “A connecting hallway,” came Belfast’s voice. “Your room is connected to mine.”  

                Enterprise drew away to shut it. “Easier to barge in whenever you please?”  

                Belfast smirked. “Precisely.”  

                The maid was near the door that she had gone through earlier.  Light spilled out of the open doorway and Enterprise heard the sound of running water.  A bathroom?  

                “I took the liberty to draw you a bath,” Belfast told her.  

                Enterprise frowned for reasons other than the bath.  Belfast had been taking a lot of liberties lately, in her opinion. “I prefer showers.”  

                “You’ve been out at sea for three days straight.” Belfast made a show of wrinkling her nose. “A bath will not only cleanse you but help relieve the stress of all this traveling.  It’s the least you can do considering how you had never taken advantage of the bathhouse that Her Majesty had generously overseen the construction of.  See it as a proper start to your recovery.”  

                The frown increased in weight.  That unhappy part of her was annoyingly prodded by Belfast’s labeling of this excessive treatment as meant for her and her recovery.  Being assaulted by all this richness had it ready to escalate into defiance.  

                But it was only a small part, easily overcome by the pragmatic thought that, even if she didn’t like it, she had accepted and come this far.  What was a bath at this point?  

                “Ah.” Belfast pinched the sleeve of Enterprise’s coat when the carrier was about to walk by, stopping her. “If I may?”  

                It took a second, but Enterprise remembered another of the maid’s procedures.  She pulled her arm from one sleeve of her coat, signaling Belfast that it was alright to pull on the one she had to remove the article and take it in her possession, hugging it loosely against her.  Enterprise reached up, hesitated, then pulled off her cap which she handed off to Belfast as well.  

                 “Please enjoy, Enterprise,” Belfast said when the carrier went through the bathroom door and sealed it between them.  

                The claw-foot tub was a bit more than half full, so Enterprise left it running while she stripped off the rest of her clothes.  She tossed her shirt and tie, skirt and undergarments onto the nearby vanity while kicking over her boots so that they rested on the floor.  By then she judged the tub filled, the rising foam nearly reaching the porcelain rim, so she shut off the water and dipped a hand in to test the temperature.  Hot but not scalding which would suit her fine.  

                With little else to delay her, the shipgirl entered the tub, submerging one leg and getting used to the hot water enveloping it before swinging the other over to join it.  She sank down until it was up to her shoulders, the tub large enough that she could comfortably recline against one end of it while the water lifted her enough to keep her from pressing too firmly against the bottom.  

                For a while she just drifted there, letting the quiet hang around and using it to go over just where she was.  

                …This is weird, she decided.  She was in a different country half a world away from her own, and she wasn’t stationed at a base.  She was in a hotel, away from the contested seas, away from her ship, but surrounded by however many humans that were also staying here with the many more that were in this city that she was in the middle of.  With only Belfast in the other room, Enterprise felt alienated.  

                It’s not…bad, though.   The hot water was soothing the muscles in her body, washing across her skin when it enticed her to slump deeper into the tub.  It was different from a shower, the spray that she would usually be under soothing in its own way but not like the liquid swaddling of warmth and suds that she could rest in.  She had taken baths before, but she had forgotten the sensations when showers had been suitable to her lifestyle; to go in, let the hot stream blast the filth and soap from her body, the rushing water also rushing her back to where she needed to be most.  All too similar to how she would down her rations on the fly rather than prepare and savor warm meals.  

                She wasn’t being hurried anywhere, and though the room was strange to her, it did not possess any of the reminders of fighting and what she should be doing.  The quiet, having started as being uncomfortable, was currently lulling her into a phase of contentment that had her forgetting everything.  She cupped some of the soapy water in her hands, letting most of the foam slide off, and then splashed and rubbed it along her face, the tight skin and muscles of her cheeks loosening.  

                Enterprise could give a bit of credit to Belfast’s claims of how this could benefit her now.  

                And understand much that has confounded me for so long, she mentally repeated the cruiser’s words.  She had known immediately as to what she meant: her views of humans and the disconnection that she believed existed, keeping her separated from them and incapable of understanding some of what Belfast tried to teach her today.  One thing at a time.  

                She would focus on her humanity that Belfast was convincing her to attend to.  Whether that will go into more on that divisive subject would be something she would handle if it ever came.  

                Enterprise took in a breath and dunked her head beneath the water, dipping as far as she could go to pull as much of her long hair with her to soak it.  Here, the soothing embrace was complete as she floated there, eyes closed, basking in the bliss that the total envelopment provided.  It made her reluctant to resurface and she reminded herself that she could hold her breath for a while.  She tried to enjoy it as much as she could.  

                Until she experienced a tingle and the temperature of the water started to inexplicably lower.  The tingle turned into a chill that crept along her skin, splitting and dividing into fingers that scraped against her, seeking purchase to pull against her, whispers entering her mind.  Muted at first, and then growing louder as they came together, violent and threatening, coinciding with the pinpricks of pain from the icy nails that began clawing into her flesh-  

                The desperate need for air broke Enterprise free, the carrier pushing off the solid bottom of the tub so that she could make a break to the surface, sending sprinkles of water flying when she reemerged and breathed deeply.  Upon settling back down, Enterprise had a sudden need to keep her head higher above the water.  Her form shook, chilled, but the returning warmth of the bath counteracted it.  Nonetheless, one of her submerged hands refused to be calmed.  It trembled, and remained so as did the dull thudding of pain against her head.  

                “Don’t get too enthusiastic.”  

                Small waves were sent out over the rim of the tub and had water splashing to the floor in response to Enterprise’s quick movements that put the intruder in her view.  

                “I didn’t mean to startle you.” Belfast was apologetic where she stood in the open doorway, maintaining a hold on the knob. “I was calling to you earlier to ask if things were to your liking and you didn’t answer.  I was concerned.”  

                Enterprise was glad that she kept her hands underwater so that Belfast couldn’t see them.  Something that she couldn’t say the same for her negligence of making sure the door was locked. “Sorry about that,” she managed to say and support it with a half-shrug. “I guess it has been too long since I enjoyed a bath.”  

                Enterprise perceived what she thought to be an extra second too many before Belfast’s apologetic look became pleased. “I’m glad to hear it.”  

                Enterprise waited for Belfast to leave, and she seemed about to do so until her examination of the puddles that had wet the tile floor led her to the carrier’s sloppily placed boots.  She gave an exaggerated sigh and walked over to the vanity, about to pick up the boots until she then noticed the same mess of Enterprise’s clothes and switched to them.  She started with the shirt, holding it up and giving it a shake before she started folding it neatly.  

                Enterprise hadn’t expected that but could settle with it if it kept Belfast distracted.  She retook her previous position in the tub and beneath the concealment of the foam she performed what had become her usual solution: stretching out her fingers, curling them, and repeating the process.  To her relief, it remained a reliable one as her hand steadied.  

                If she had needed proof that whatever ailed her remained a problem that could flare up, this was it.  The solace she could take from it was that it was a minor episode and one that she was able to pass off easily.  Would it have been different had it occurred at the base?  She had no way of knowing for sure, but the risks would’ve been greater.  

                Guess I have to admit that this may’ve been a good idea, after all.  

                Belfast took care of her clothes in short order, leaving them in an organized pile on the vanity.  She bent down and took her boots, likely to store them with her jacket and cap. Mid-turn to make her leave, she halted, and Enterprise witnessed her quietly deliberating with herself.  When she resumed her turn, it was not the door she faced but Enterprise.  

                “Would you permit me to tend to your hair, Enterprise?” she asked.  

                The carrier blinked dubiously at the request. “That’s something a maid typically does when someone’s taking a bath?”  

                “Typically, no. A maid’s duty does involve maintaining the appearance of those they serve, but the extent is somewhat open to interpretation.  Nevertheless, my wish isn’t solely to instill the merits of proper grooming into you as I want to also do so as an apology.”  

                Enterprise decided to ignore that first part. “An apology?”  

                Belfast nodded, appearing contrite. “Although you agreed to my proposal and my methods were made with the best of intentions that I pray that you believe in, I admit that they came off as domineering.” She bit her bottom lip, something that Enterprise had never seen her do. “Using that name is something that I cannot forgive myself for doing, even if it was to make a point.”  

                Enterprise had felt the same, but seeing Belfast like this was making her feel bad about the nugget of bitterness that she carried from it.  It made her request hard to refuse. “Very well.”  

                The features of the maid lit up and she swiftly bowed. “I will not disappoint.” She returned to the vanity to grab one of the bottles of shampoo that were there.  

                It did not bother Enterprise at all to the position she was in: she naked in a tub with nothing but soap suds to cover her in Belfast’s presence.  She had showered alongside many of her comrades, the concept of individual privacy a foreign concept when it came to Eagle Union showers.  She knew this to be the same with the Royal Navy, the public bathhouse she never visited clear evidence of that.  So when Belfast took a position behind her, she didn’t feel the least bit uncomfortable and suspected the same when the maid gathered up her long hair.  

                Belfast had removed her gloves and armor plating, something Enterprise knew when she felt the strong but delicate fingers working the shampoo that dripped into her hair.  Unsurprisingly, it smelt like the roses that the Royal Navy was so fond of, Enterprise getting a proper whiff when Belfast massaged her scalp, the foam mixing with the grayish white tresses.  

                “Is the temperature still to your liking, Enterprise?” Belfast asked while she worked.  

                “It’s fine.”  

                “Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”  

                There wasn’t much that Enterprise believed she needed to do.  Between laying in the still hot water and the touch that was washing her hair, occasionally dipping to massage her head or the base of her neck, Enterprise was returned to a state of relaxation, the episode that had occurred minutes ago being put on the wayside.  

                “I accept your apology by the way,” she said. “Not just the wash, in case that wasn’t clear.”  

                “I am relieved to hear that.”  

                “And…I was angry.”  

                “You had every right to be,” Belfast assured with no hesitation between her words and her fingers that ran through the lengths. “In the end, I had done those things behind your back, and I had purposely placed you in a position that would give me all the advantages to convince you to my line of thinking.”  

                “When you put it like that, it sounds a lot more deceptive than what I thought it to be.”  

                “I’m the head of the Maid Corps, Enterprise.”  

                The carrier sighed. “Right, cloak and dagger.  I remember.”  

                “That doesn’t mean that I was willing to disregard your feelings.  I meant what I said: I hated myself when I used that name.”  

                “It was to make a point,” Enterprise pointed out.  She held herself back for a moment, then, “And…maybe a good one.  I’m not sure if we would still be here or not if you hadn’t.  It’s too early to tell but I think you may have been right about this.”  

                “Then I will make sure that you get everything that I promised from this trip with all my power.”  

                There was the utmost commitment behind that statement, the kind where even Enterprise could detect the accumulated emotions that Belfast was placing in it.  She had skill in deception, was proficient in maintaining composure, but when it came to conveying her heartfelt feelings, the ace carrier found her the most adept at it.  

                She didn’t want to leave them unanswered. “What really convinced me to go,” she said, “was that I trust you, Belfast.   Even when I was angry, I told myself that I could trust you when you said you wanted to help.”  

                The fingers that had been going so methodically through her hair went still, staying exactly where they were.  

                Enterprise partially turned her head but couldn’t bring the maid into view, her hair remaining caught. “Belfast?”  

                  The hands slipped away from her hair, coming down to lie on her shoulders.  The increasing weight told Enterprise what was happening, but she was unprepared when Belfast leaned down so that her lips were brought near her ear.  

                “And I swear that I will always strive to remain worthy of that trust.”  

                It was delivered in a near whisper, but its effect was far more powerful.  The breath that carried it tickled her ear, and the heat that swept from there and went across Enterprise’s cheeks was somehow hotter than the water she was immersed in.  It paralyzed her, the carrier unable to move, and she was afraid that another episode was occurring.  She wasn’t blanking out though, instead very aware of how close Belfast was and her nudity that she previously paid little attention to became more paramount in her mind though she couldn’t explain why.  Her heart was somersaulting within her chest, uncomfortable, but not…in pain.  

                There was the sound of sloshing water and Belfast pulled away. “Close your eyes, Enterprise.”  

                 A waterfall fell over Enterprise’s head, courtesy of the wash basin that Belfast had filled.  

                “I’ll get a towel to dry your hair,” Belfast said, standing up and going to where they were hanging from a hook at a nearby wall. “After that, I’ll see what I can do about dinner while you get dressed.”  

                Enterprise sat there, water dripping from her bangs that she brushed away to clear her vision.  She looked over her shoulder, watching Belfast when she reapproached her with the promised towel.  She wanted to ask what it was that just happened but became instantly lost as to how to ask or if this is something that she should be asking Belfast about.  

                When Belfast retook her position and started drying her hair, back to her usual self, Enterprise decided to do the same.  Unlike her hand though, her heart took longer to settle.  

-------  

                After the nightly ritual of dinner and Enterprise’s retirement to bed, Belfast took to her own room and partook in a bath that involved her and her alone.  When she exited it, she was donned in a provided robe, toweling off her own white lengths.  

                She wandered into the bedroom, taking a glance out the window, and saw that it was still raining.  A light rain, nothing like the storm it was previously, but Belfast felt a bit slighted by it.  Not for disrupting anything – which it didn’t -, but potentially giving credence to the myth that London was such a rainy city to the new arrivals.  She had heard Massachusetts.  

                It’s good to be home, she thought anyway.  She did love her homeland and though she hadn’t really been gone that long, she was happy to be back.  

                Back with Enterprise.  

                She paused in her efforts, cocking her head towards the wall that separated their rooms.  She couldn’t hear anything – nothing that could get through the barrier between them, anyway.  It was her hope that if anything did happen, like Enterprise being beset by an intense nightmare, she would be able to listen for it and be at her side as quickly as possible.  She was sure that the Eagle Union girl was sleeping now.  

                For this night at least, things were going well, although Belfast wondered if the explanation that Enterprise had given her was truly the reason as to why she hadn’t answered when she knocked on her door during her bath.  

                She shouldn’t dwell on it.  There had been nothing substantial to point to the opposite and her charge had enjoyed it, of that she was certain.  She would remain vigilant, but she should take whatever positive signs she could get with the trust that she was putting in this plan.  

                Trust…  

                Belfast cast her gaze down as if to hide the smile stretching across the full length of her face, the towel she used growing taut against her head with how she pulled it downwards.  There was no one here, not a soul to see how someone of her distinguished station had their composure delightfully taken apart by such a virtuous proclamation that had moved her so, so she couldn’t resist.  

                If only she had been able to see for herself if her riposte had been as effective…  

                You learn fast, Enterprise.  Or maybe you have hidden talents that you aren’t even aware that you possess.  Very dangerous, very charming talents.  

                No, Belfast hadn’t expected that at all.  Certainly not after what she had pulled.  That killed her smile and she set the towel down.  

                That had been difficult.  She had rehearsed it a thousand times during the three-day voyage and it had still been so very difficult.  To pretend everything was ordinary when she had picked up the reservations and ushered Enterprise into the limo, looking at her with a straight face as she explained all that she had done…  

                And then she said that name.  

                Belfast dropped onto her bed, lying on her back as she stared up at the ceiling. “Grey Ghost.”  

                No matter if she passed it through her mind or tested it with her tongue, the impression that she got from it was the same.  It was a sad, lonely name, and when she met the shipgirl who had been given it she saw for herself how tragically fitting it was for her.  

                She knew the origin of the name.  The Eagle Union aircraft carrier thrice thought sunk when she would disappear during the most intense of engagements against the Sirens, only to return to port days later.  Reckless, even all the way back then, wasn’t she?  

                Belfast couldn’t quite pin down the reason for the name though.  A testimony to her achievements of returning from a believed death, certainly, but she couldn’t see how it benefited Enterprise in any way.  Had her superiors wished to create a specter for the Sirens to fear, given how they had always feared the Sirens?  A fruitless endeavor in her opinion, and the detriments that she could see having been created instead made it damaging.  It was also, as recent events espoused, woefully ironic.  

                Grey Ghost, Belfast thought this time.  Yes, she could see how such a name hanging over Enterprise’s head could incentivize her, no matter how little, to become the machine she saw herself as to the point of neglecting her humanity.  A true ghost.  

                She had some ideas of why it had come to be that it would be the names Grey Ghost and Orochi that would be linked together and how they would both terrify Enterprise.  Nothing concrete, as there were details that only Enterprise knew and what Belfast would never pry her for that could make her sure about it, so all she had was suspicions.  

                But that didn’t stop me from saying it.  Her heart contorted at the look that Enterprise had given her – the betrayal she saw there.  Belfast didn’t believe there would ever come a time where she would forgive herself for having done that to her.  Enterprise claiming that she trusted her regardless was the most beautiful and dismal thing for her.  

                Could she have done it differently?  She had planned it out, sure that she knew Enterprise well enough that her stubbornness would be unyielding if she didn't get her to an isolated spot that was already moving such as a limo so that she could use what tools she had necessary to conquer it.  Yes, she could’ve done things differently, but during the dozens of repeats that went on in her head, thinking of how she could’ve done so, one reality stood above it all: that the way she had chosen had worked .  

                It was done, she was here, and all Belfast could do was make sure she kept her promise that she would get her to overcome her trauma and then some.  

                “Speaking of which…” Her maid uniform was nearby, laid out on one side of the bed.  Belfast rolled over enough so that she could reach and search within a specific pocket.  She produced the red envelope and flipped it around so that she could see the wax seal that was marked with the Crown.  

                Wales did warn her.  

                Belfast broke the seal, opening the envelope and pulling out a folded sheet of paper as embroidered as the envelope was.  She unfolded it, spent some time reading the golden lettering, and when she was done she let it fall and land on her chest.  

                At least she had expected something like that.  

Chapter Text

                “…Belfast?” Enterprise asked wearily.  

                “Yes, Enterprise?” Belfast returned playfully while filling her teacup.  

                “Can you sit down?”  

                “You know I have my duties- “  

                “Yes, I know.” Enterprise hid her eyes beneath a palm while waving towards the chair across from her with the other. “And I know it hasn’t stopped you before.  So could you please…?”  

                “Since you’re asking politely, I suppose I will.”  

                Enterprise knew that most of the blame was hers.  Last night, Belfast had gone through the trouble of going out and acquiring the dinner she ordered while Enterprise had been finishing up her bath.  The carrier always being unable to accept some of the lengths that Belfast would go to with her duties had left her feeling bad about it.  When the maid mentioned that the hotel provided a breakfast, Enterprise had accepted going down and eating as a sort of penance.  

                It didn’t help that, despite the surroundings, this morning felt normal.  The normal it has become, that is, with Enterprise sleeping soundly – dreamless, thankfully, though she had kicked a lot of the thick covers to the foot of the bed until she was down to the thinnest sheet and discarded all but one of the pillows – before she was awoken by the stream of daylight that Belfast would let in upon opening the curtains.  With all the traveling to locations of differing time zones and the infrequent days of full, uninterrupted sleep, her body’s internal clock had yet to properly set itself to get her up in the mornings without Belfast’s assistance.  It was most likely the reason for Enterprise not knowing where she was during the few seconds of disorientation until it passed and she was able to remember.  

                She took a morning shower – Belfast didn’t fight her on it -, dressed, and when the maid was handing her her coat and cap, she got fooled into thinking the trip to breakfast would be much like going down to the mess at the joint base.  

                She was wrong.  So very wrong.  

                The dining room wasn’t crowded, but it was populated, and Enterprise realized her biggest mistake when she entered with Belfast in tow: it was humans who would be dining here, with her and Belfast being the only shipgirls.  And Enterprise knew right away that a maid and her mistress who had all the markings of Eagle Union would stand out.  The stares that they got and the additional ones that Enterprise knew they were acquiring during their trek for an open table said it all.  She didn’t have to look – she was avoiding staring back -, she could sense it all.  

                She delegated Belfast to get breakfast from the provided selections, leaving her at their chosen table to stare at a barren corner of the room with chin in hand to give off the appearance that she was pondering something instead of actively avoiding the looks that were getting passed her way.  Here, now, the difference between her existence and that of humans were plain to her – from her uniformed appearance to her vaster presence and power that overshadowed them.  

                As per usual, Belfast didn’t take any notice of it, and her cheery tone gave the impression that she was enjoying the situation when she set a plate down in front of Enterprise. “Here you are.  A full English breakfast to commemorate your first morning in London.”  

                She was speaking like normal, but Enterprise wished she would talk quieter anyway.  What ended up bothering her the most was when, after filling her provided teacup with the pot that the cruiser had decided to bring back with her, Belfast chose to remain standing dutifully aside her table, ready to provide for whatever Enterprise may request like always.  

                What Enterprise requested was for her to sit down.  

                “You don’t even know how they’re looking at you,” Belfast noted when she took the seat, lips curved upwards.  

                “Does it matter?” Enterprise asked, not ready to break her staring competition with the empty corner just yet. “It’s pretty obvious that they know I’m different from them.”  

                “Do you really think so?”  

                Enterprise faced Belfast at the same time that the Royal Navy girl chose to look back at the other diners.  She saw her smile grow before she lifted a hand and waved her fingers towards someone who Enterprise couldn’t see and didn’t really want to see.  

                The carrier shifted her attention to her breakfast and nearly balked at the amount of food that was on it.  Fried eggs and tomatoes, toast and slices of bacon, hash browns, sausages, and a small container of baked beans on the side.  The plan of finishing up quickly and leaving was foiled the moment she thought it up.  

                “I can’t eat all this myself,” she protested.  

                “It’ll be a busy day today,” Belfast replied. “You’ll want plenty of strength.  There are sights that I’d like for you to see.  On the side, I would also like to shop for groceries to cover our stay here.”  

                “That doesn’t change how I’m not going to finish this.”  

                Belfast ‘hmm’d’, glancing down at the plate and feigning how she was only now entertaining the likelihood that she may have given her too much. “Would you like assistance, then?”  

                “Please,” Enterprise returned grumpily.  

                The carrier saw the humor that was sparkling in Belfast’s eyes when she flipped over the plate that had been preset for their table, Enterprise spearing and transferring one of her eggs to it with a fork which returned to repeat the process until they had an equal share of food.  The division, she knew, wasn’t going to make their meal go any faster as she suspected Belfast was going to take her time.  

                “It isn’t bad,” Belfast commented, sighing through her nose when she combined a bit of fluffy egg with the crunch of tomato.  

                Enterprise silently agreed, currently enjoying the crispy exterior and soft interior of a hash brown.  Taking a cue from Belfast, she folded a bit of egg over another piece before stabbing her fork through the pairing and the bacon that was laid out beneath them.  Her reawakened taste buds appreciated the blend of taste and texture with the unhealthy grease and salt of pork.  

                “I prefer your cooking,” she said honestly after she swallowed.  

                That won her a smile of appreciation. “The finest compliment I could receive.” Belfast’s fork clinked against her plate. “Though I don’t consider this a worthy foe, if I’m allowed to be presumptuous.”  

                Enterprise had to agree with that as well, considering that she had this full English course before and how it happened to be the very first dish that Belfast had ever served her – though, again, not in such excess.  While good, there was no real equilibrium between that taste and texture of the hotel food.  She could assume it was an inevitable drawback of quantity over quality to provide for guests, but the food – the meats in particular – did not feel as evenly cooked with the charred bits she encountered and she could perceive how those taste buds of her, while initially tricked by the stimulation, were a bit unsettled by what they now found to be a slight overabundance of the grease and salt once the first bite began settling.  

                Then again, maybe it was a bit premature for her to be in a position to critique food, given her own rediscovery of it with Belfast’s dishes.  Although even the dinner that she had last night – prepared by someone else – did not measure up either.  Maybe she had been spoiled?  

                “Better incentive to get those groceries,” Enterprise pointed out.  

                “And so you don’t have to expose yourself as much to the public, isn’t that right?”  

                Enterprise really tried not to let her dismay show at how her efforts to ignore the sideway glances she knew were still being made had been undermined.  

                Belfast pointed at her accusingly with her fork. “You know, I do remember how reluctant you were to eat and socialize at the mess.”  

                “That was different,” Enterprise argued, resuming her attack on her breakfast.  

                “Because in the end they were shipgirls, just like you.”  

                Enterprise hadn’t wanted to word it like that but nodded anyway.  

                “These humans are just like you, too, you know.”  

                “Back to that, huh?”  

                “Isn’t it the same, though?” Belfast rested her chin on the back of her hand, getting comfortable as she stared at her. “You didn’t know how to approach your fellow shipgirls and you were uncertain on how to react when they approached you.  Not on a social level, not even with the girls in your own faction.”  

                Enterprise tossed her head to the rest of the dining room. “They’re human, Belfast.  I’m not.”  

                “Which just means that you’ve placed them further away from you.  The ones you wish to protect are the ones that you pull away from.  Protecting humans being the reason you were created adds up to a distance greater than that of shipgirls.  The gap is tremendous, but you’ll be able to overcome it in time.  I’m sure of it.”  

                “At the moment I’d just like to stand out less.”  

                Belfast performed a short and smooth roll of her eyes – a performance that miraculously kept the gesture ladylike - but her expression remained amused. “That sounds like you don’t know how to do so when our next destination will accomplish precisely that.”  

                Enterprise arched a brow. “It will?”  

                The maid leaned back into a proper seating position and redirected her fork towards her plate. “Let’s finish our breakfast.  After that, try not to be too hard on yourself when you realize the obvious.”  

                That brow stayed high, delaying Enterprise from returning to her breakfast.  Those instincts of hers, the ones that have been branching out to situations outside of fighting, were sending signals to her.  Instead of attuning her to a potential threat, what they were saying was that something very odd was going happen with whatever Belfast was planning.  She didn’t know what but even as she told herself that all she could do was brace for what was to come, those instincts were warning her that it wasn’t going to be enough.  

                But what else could she do other than continue on this course that she was entrusting her to lead her through?  They finished in what peace they could have, Belfast collecting their dishes and going directly to the kitchen to return them as if she had every right to be there.  No one apparently challenged her, she returning moments later.  

                Enterprise kept her focus directly on the door to the dining room when it was time to leave, refusing to let it stray to the other diners.  There was a third of the distance left when something happened that she didn’t expect.  

                A diner in her path was making an exaggerated turn in his seat that may’ve been meant to draw attention, but Enterprise ignored it.  That was until he called out to her.  

                “Excuse me.  You’re from Eagle Union?”  

                Blank surprise was what Enterprise reacted with, but she was getting better at recovering from it. “I am.” It almost came out as a question.  

                The diner stood up from his seat to introduce himself. “Arthur Bailey.” She was also getting more accustomed to shaking hands, something she did when he held out his. “I served with some of yours at Casablanca.”  

               Served with?   She didn’t need to make any kind of check, the man obviously not a shipgirl.  He was shorter than her, brown-haired, and was dressed plainly, but she felt the strength in his grip and saw the hardiness in his face. “Enterprise.”  

                “Casablanca,” Belfast mused. “You were part of the landing forces.”  

                Casablanca.  The information passed through Enterprise’s mind.  North Africa.  Former territory of the Vichya Dominion where a strategic naval port had been captured by the joint Eagle Union-Royal Navy task force sent there.  

                “I was with the Eleventh Brigade of the Seventy-Eighth,” Arthur clarified.  He smiled and dipped his head respectfully towards Belfast. “And I believe I recognize you, milady.” Back to Enterprise, he said, “We were part of the opening wave of the landing force when we got hit by the shore defenses.  One of your girls, Cleveland, covered us from aerials while Ranger suppressed the guns.  A lot of my mates and I owe them our lives.”  

                  Enterprise wasn’t sure how to proceed and grasped at the straw she could reach. “Ranger is at Eagle Union, but Cleveland is currently stationed at Gateway.”  

                Arthur appeared delighted at the news. “I heard the propaganda but didn’t know if she was a part of that.  If you happen to see her, tell her- “ He stopped and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “Ah, no, I suppose I can’t treat her to a pint – not in good conscience.  Well, if you do see her, let her know that she has my thanks for then and her continued service.  That goes for you as well, Enterprise.”  

                The carrier became aware that her face had been blank throughout most of the conversation.  Even with that understanding, she couldn’t break from it.  What she did do was give him a nod. “Thank you.  I will let her know if I see her.”  

                “I appreciate it.”  

                He politely removed himself from their path that Enterprise followed the rest of the way out of the dining hall.  Before she left, she found her once restricted gaze wandering, catching some of those looks that she had ignored.  In truth, she hadn’t known what she would find in them, but while she thought that the odd, searching ones – looks that said they hadn’t known and still didn’t know how to come to terms with her nature behind her appearance – were what she considered normal, the respect and gratefulness that were transmitted from a larger number surprised her.  

                She really didn’t know what to think about those.  

                 They didn’t stop either, when the shipgirls left the hotel and took to the streets.  Enterprise had suggested the idea of taking a taxi or some mode of public transportation rather than walking, but Belfast shot her down.  

                “It’ll take longer to go by car than walking,” she explained, and Enterprise had to defer to the logic.  If she had thought traffic to have been slow at the tail end of their ride to the hotel yesterday, the morning traffic managed to be worse when she got her look at the packed streets as soon as they went outside, an almost unbroken line of vehicles that they were passing.  

                The foot traffic was hardly any better.  The sidewalks - pavements as Belfast informed her as to how they were referred to here - were as narrow as the streets, the current stretch that they traveled on wide enough that four people standing abreast would have to be squeezed together in order to fit, and that would be leaving absolutely no room for anyone to get through them.  As a result, Enterprise fell back behind Belfast’s shoulder.  

                She became grateful for the positioning, the maid acting as a buffer to the glances, stares, and respectful nods and hat tipping that were made in their direction.  Being at the forefront, Belfast attracted most of the attention, but some of the eyes she drew would inevitably transition from her to the Eagle Union carrier.  

                “Still behind me?” Belfast questioned without turning around, sparing Enterprise from one of the grins she had to be wearing.  

                “Still behind you,” Enterprise confirmed, battling with an urge to lower the brim of her cap.  

                “Bear with it a little longer.  One of the conveniences of a city is that anything that you need is a short walk away.”  

                “You know, I have been able to take care of myself before you came around.”  

                She received a very long, very deliberate pause. “I believe we’ve already established that your views and mine concerning how you’ve taken care of yourself are very different.”  

                Enterprise puffed out a breath. “I mean that I can handle a little walk.  A lot more crowded than what I’m used to is all.”  

                “Feeling out of your element?”  

                Enterprise debated about asking the question that had propped up since the dining hall and decided that this might as well be an opportunity to ask. “How are shipgirls viewed here?”  

                “By regular humans, you mean?  We’re their protectors.  It’s been a long time since London has been assaulted but one generation still remembers the Siren raids well while the other has been raised with those views in mind.  Our existence – fantastical at the time – is a normal part of their life now.”  

                “ Normal ?” Enterprise repeated with a bit of skepticism.  

                Belfast shrugged. “There are inherent issues of perception where so few have ever seen us face-to-face.  In the world, shipgirls number a few thousand with the Royal Navy currently making up a few hundred of that.  The majority of humans rely on propaganda and other heavily publicized displays to get a glimpse of us which can embellish details as they tend to do.  But once that is overcome, they see us as normal as them.”  

                “That hasn’t been the experience so far.”  

                Belfast stopped and turned to a specific building. “I think it will be soon.”  

                Enterprise examined their destination and, as it turned out, the cruiser was right: it was obvious of what they should do to blend in better.  

                “Come along, Enterprise~” Belfast nearly sang, opening and holding the door out for her, a bell chiming overhead.  

                Enterprise looked at the display windows to the right and left of the entrance, at the mannequins and the wares that they were meant to show off.  With a slump of her shoulders and a shake of her head, she entered the clothing boutique.  

                It was reminiscent of a supply warehouse, but rather than rows of boxed and barreled materials stacked together and atop of one another, there were winding and straight racks of clothes hanging tightly packed along with shelves holding folded items and other accessories.  Blouses, skirts and pants, jackets and scarves – a colorful array that were organized with the tags that labeled their sizes and the displays that promoted the designers.  

                “Welcome!” From amongst the rows, a finely dressed clerk appeared.  There was the barest of pauses once she saw the latest customers, but her features kept to her welcoming image as she addressed them. “Is there anything in particular you require today?”  

                “Nothing in particular,” Belfast returned, just as friendly. “Browsing at the moment.”  

                “I see.  Well, if you find anything to your liking, the dressing rooms are over there.” She pointed in a direction that, when Enterprise followed, led to her seeing more rows of more clothes instead of the mentioned rooms. “And I will be nearby if you need any help or information.”  

                She disappeared just as eerily as she appeared, making a move to the right and vanishing completely within the sea of clothing.  Enterprise had only seen attack submarines perform such a feat with the waves they prowled in.  

               “Well?” As entertained as ever, Belfast motioned Enterprise towards the massive selection. “It’s all up to you now.”  

                Such words had been spoken to her when she was acting as a flagship for the latest incursion into Siren territory.  The task that was being given to her here, she suspected, would prove just as daunting as she had no idea where to start.   

                Belfast lightly laughed. “Did I ever tell you how enjoyable it is to watch your expressions during times like these?”  

                Enterprise shot her a dirty look. “I’m glad you’re having fun.”  

                The cruiser sought to mask her enjoyment, but it was apparently one of those things that could effortlessly usurp her poise. “They’re just clothes, although they’ll serve to help in freeing you from more than just attention.  Find something you like.  Expand on your woefully absent wardrobe.”  

                “I like what I have on now.”  

                “Which will be inefficient in getting you to blend in, same in getting your mind away from fighting.” Belfast poked at her cheek. “Don’t pout.”  

                “I’m not pouting,” Enterprise objected, even as she knew the look she sought to remove from her face unmistakably felt like one.  

                “You’ll feel better with new clothes, trust me.  I doubt Hornet goes out in public the same way she does on base.”  

                Enterprise wisely chose not to address that because she honestly wasn’t sure if she did or not. “Guess I’ll give it a shot.”  

                “I’ll be nearby if you would like an opinion,” Belfast said and went off on her own.  

               With no idea of where she should start, Enterprise wandered over to the nearest rack and began her search.  

               It wasn’t that clothing boutiques were an unknown thing to her, she just never had a reason to visit one in the past.  The clothes she was wearing were, much like her ship and rigging, something that came into being based on her nature formed from the collective wills of the humans of Eagle Union who created her.  Her shirt and tie, coat and cap – they were as much a uniform as they were another form of expression of her personality that revolved around her adherence to duty.  Her armor.  

                It was the same with any shipgirl such as Hornet’s looser and carefree style of mind and dress and Yorktown’s calming heart and responsibility as the eldest who had held her younger ones together despite their diversity – as diverse as the humans of the unified states of North America.  Belfast’s was the image of the servitude dedicated to the wellbeing of those she watched over, whoever they may be, while Wales’s personified military order and civility, all of which were core tenants of the Royal Navy.  The shipgirls of the Sakura Empire were based on their faith, those of Iron Blood their uniformity and strength, Iris Libre/Vichya Dominion with their knightly and religious zeal, the harsh endurance of Northern Parliament, and so on.  

                Like her relentless and uncompromising dedication to her duty, Enterprise had rarely found it in her to discard her uniform.  When awake, when asleep, on duty, off duty – she always wore it, ready to respond to any order to action or call of distress no matter where or when it may come.  Even during her occasional award ceremonies it counted as a suitable dress uniform, although that wasn’t to say that Eagle Union even had an official dress uniform given the wide diversity of their shipgirls having made such attempts to establish one frivolous.  

                So, naturally, being presented with such a once in a lifetime opportunity to lay it to rest had her entirely lost on how to do that, the metallic sliding of the hangers against the racking a steady tune her fingers were conducting as she searched through the selections.  She had no plan of action on how to make her choices.  The sheer number of articles made her deem the idea of spending more than a few seconds examining each one impossible if she wanted to get through all of them in a timely manner.  Currently, she was trying to see if any would ‘click’ with her, much like how it would click when she knew when her bombers had reached the right height and angle to drop their payloads with the utmost accuracy on the target areas for maximum damage.  

                It was nowhere near as simple, and her task was made more difficult with the added variables: that she needed many pieces for an ensemble, making sure those pieces matched, whether or not they were of an appropriate fashion without sacrificing comfort, etc.  Suddenly her mission here was flirting dangerously close to being labeled as a suicide mission.  

                Enterprise glanced over at Belfast to acquire some insight on what kind of process she should be using and saw her holding up a brown sweater.  She had one sleeve with a ribbed cuff pinched, extending it out to get a better look at the sweater while testing the material with undisguised interest.  

                Deciding to mimic her, Enterprise retrieved a light grey, long-sleeved shirt with the reasoning that an in-depth look would better help frame an idea of what she wanted.  She liked the color, but the material she found too thin and the way the sleeve stretched gave her a lot of questions of how it may impact the size she had to select.  She returned it to the rack and moved on.  

                It wasn’t helping as much as she hoped, even as she established limits such as the colors she wanted – white and black or shades of those two colors – and a preference for no graphics or lettering.  She wondered if the limits may in fact be turning this into a hopeless situation if none of the hundreds of styles here could match what she had in mind.  She tried to find Belfast again but, in this instance, she had disappeared somewhere in the maze.  

                “Is everything alr- oh, sorry!  Didn’t mean to startle you!”  

                Enterprise wondered if the clerk was a submarine, given how she had snuck up on her and caught her so unaware. “No, I apologize,” she responded, settling her nerves. “I was too focused on the mission at hand.”  

                The clerk appeared unsure about her choice of wording, but soon smiled. “Having trouble?”  

                “…Yes,” Enterprise admitted. “I haven’t really visited a place like this before.  I’m at a bit of a loss.”  

                “Nothing to be ashamed about; you wouldn’t be the first.”  

                Enterprise blinked. “Other shipgirls have come here?”  

                “I meant in general,” the clerk clarified easily. “Although I’ve had at least two occasions of shipgirls shopping here.  Rare occurrences but, who knows, I may’ve helped another and not known about it.  Makes no difference to me if you’re one or not; everyone who shops here is the same to me.”  

                The same?   “Oh.”  

                The clerk regarded the racks of clothing behind the carrier. “Do you have anything in mind of what you’d like?”  

                Enterprise didn’t respond right away, feeling uncertain about asking for assistance.  She was an employee though, and a London native, so why shouldn’t she ask for the expertise that would be better suited than hers? “A little,” she replied, feeling awkward regardless.  

                “Color preferences?” the clerk asked. “Style?”  

                “White and black.” Style?  Did she mean shirts or dresses?  Or some fashion terminology that she may not know? “Style…uh…” Helpless, she referred to her current state. “Something similar to this, I guess?  Plainer?”  

                She felt ashamed of her uncertainty, thinking that it and the information she was supplying would be unhelpful.  Instead, the clerk was taking it seriously as she looked her over, something being silently worked over behind the hazel greens of her eyes.  

                “I do have a couple ideas if you don’t mind me suggesting them,” she said shortly after.  

                “I don’t.”  

                “One moment, please.” She didn’t gravitate to the racks, turning around and going to a shelf towards the back.  She remained in view, selecting choices of different colors with a purpose that Enterprise had been bereft of and had her returning in shorter order than Enterprise expected. “How do you find this?”  

                It was a black one-piece dress with long sleeves that the clerk gave her to try.  Holding it against her, Enterprise found that it would go to her mid-thighs and had a high collar.  The fabric felt comfortable to her – not thin, but not thick either.  

                “I think that’ll suit her fine!” Belfast came unexpectedly, suddenly at the clerk’s side to show approval for the choice.  She tugged on the collar, examining the tag within. “Although she may need a larger size.”  

                “That shouldn’t be a problem,” the clerk replied, going along with Belfast’s intrusion.  She regarded Enterprise. “What size would you prefer?”  

                “Uh…” The carrier couldn’t answer.  

                “I’ll take care of that,” Belfast took over, along with the dress.  She retraced the clerk’s steps, disappearing and coming back with another dress and handing it over to Enterprise. “This should be adequate.”  

                Enterprise took it and held it against herself again, unsure of what else she should do.  

                “I think a cardigan may go well with that,” the clerk suggested.  

                Belfast looked over Enterprise studiously. “We could try it.”  

                “There’s one right here!” The clerk leaned over, Enterprise moving to the left so that she could reach into the racking behind her and extract a cream-colored cardigan that she brought to the forefront.  

                Belfast had a hand to her chin. “We could find a better color, I think, but…” She met Enterprise’s eye. “What do you think?”  

                “Um…” Enterprise tried again.  

                “Would you prefer some kind of coat instead?”  

                “…Yes?” Well, at least she provided a better answer this time, albeit one heavy with uncertainty.  

                “We can take this opportunity to get you one that fits right!” Belfast claimed, suddenly motivated as she rounded back towards the selections. “Where would some belts be?”  

                The clerk pointed. “Accessories over there.  Shoes, too.”  

                “No outfit would be complete without them.”  

                “A woman of culture!”  

                “Naturally!”  

                ...What’s happening?  Enterprise had no idea at what had been started when they broke apart, human and shipgirl uniting in a quest that they enthusiastically embarked on that had them scouring throughout the boutique.  They would return, armed with clothes that they compared with one another with Enterprise getting the sense that her presence was being forgotten until her shoulders would jump in response to the intensity that came her way when they held up their choices against her.  

                Clothes would be placed in her arms, then taken away, and sometimes returned, with no opinion being asked from her.  As Enterprise was thinking that her fate was to end up as one of the mannequins here, she was pulled to the section with the dressing rooms.  

                “Give those a try, Enterprise,” Belfast insisted, putting an encouraging nudge against the carrier’s back to an unoccupied room. “I’m sure you’ll like them.”  

                Enterprise rotated on her heel with the idea that she should make some kind of statement but gave it a second thought when she saw the two expectant faces that she was up against.  Retaining her silence, she obediently went into the stall and slid the curtain into place.  

--------  

                “I do hope she likes them,” the clerk said to her co-conspirator.  

                “I suspect she will,” Belfast replied confidently.  The clothes, she was sure, would be enough to suit Enterprise’s simple needs and they had the advantage of her desire to want a speedy conclusion to their business here.  She would take them, and Belfast prayed that her fashion sense would be another thing to be expanded on in the process.  

                “She’ll probably be a while and I have some returns to take care of.  Make sure you let me have a look when she comes out.”  

                “I’ll be sure to do so in light of your assistance.  Thank you very much.”  

                “It’s what I do.”  

                They parted, Belfast spending a moment in believing she found a kindred spirit.  Then she picked up a bundle of clothing that she had gathered and set aside earlier before entering another stall and closing the curtain behind her.  

-----  

                The black dress that had initiated the whole endeavor had survived the selection process and it was what Enterprise tried on first.  She slipped it over herself, pushing her arms through the long sleeves to seize the end and tug it down so that she could get her head through the collar.  After pulling her hair out and committing efforts to smooth and straighten it out along with the dress, she used the mirror to look at herself.  

                It felt uncomfortable but it had nothing to do with it being the wrong size or anything like that as Belfast did apparently have the insight of knowing what would fit her.  It was just new , she figured, the skin of her arms unused to being sheathed up to the wrists in the conforming fabric the same way that the collar did around her throat, something that she tugged on to get rid of a distracting itch.  Moving in it was a new experience with the entire thing stretching and bunching, not separate like her shirt and skirt.  Remembering the belt, Enterprise tried that on next, stretching the dress down as far as it would go before winding and buckling the belt tight around her waist.  It was an improvement.  

                For all the effort and excitement that Belfast and the clerk showed, there wasn’t really much else to the rest of the outfit that they had created for her.  She threw on a white coat, shorter than her own with it coming down to her knees and the sleeves didn’t match the length of the dress’s.  It covered her shoulders, and she had the option to button it up but did without it.  The one other addition was a hat; a white beret that possessed a third of the weight and expanse of her naval cap.  Her scalp also itched when she placed it on top of her head, finding something wrong with a covering that didn’t have a band pressing tight against it.  

                The exposure of her legs and feet reminded her that there were still the black high heels she had to put on to complete the ensemble.  They were something else that were new to her with the lifting of her heels over her toes, but for a shipgirl who would balance on the fuselages of her speeding aircraft into battle, she was able to triumph over them easily with a bit of compensation.  

                Done, she conducted a full check in the mirror, spinning around to get a front and back view.  It was, in a very general sense, a match to her usual outfit and she could appreciate that.  Additionally, it was, as she requested, plainer, but there was more to it.  She felt...lighter, in a way that wasn’t referring to the physical weight.  

                Whatever the case, she was sure that she would be standing out far less now.  Satisfied, she decided she best get to facing the two judges who were waiting for her, bracing herself when she swept the curtain aside and being left to stare dubiously when confronted with the empty space that she remembered them being last.  Getting fully out of the stall, Enterprise took a better look and, nope, neither of them were around. “Belfast?”  

                “Almost done, Enterprise!”  

                That came from further down the stalls, the closed curtain pointing out precisely which one.  It left Enterprise confused, as that would mean that Belfast was changing clothes too.  No sooner had she made the connection did the maid reveal herself.  

                Except she wasn’t dressed as a maid anymore.  The light brown sweater with ribbed cuffs that Enterprise vaguely recalled her looking at previously had replaced the bodice, and the long, flowing skirt had transformed into a much tighter black one that was of a similar mid-thigh length.  Black stockings clung to Belfast’s exposed legs, matching the black heels.  

                She had donned additional accessories.  Gold loops of earrings hung from her lobes, and the choker and chain had been replaced with a thinner black one with a grey stripe running through the middle that had what Enterprise guessed was a replica of a flower with four thin petals.  The same flower that was in the bow that was affixed to where Belfast kept her hair braided.  The braid itself was gone, the bangs it had once held free to descend and nearly brush her cheek.  She had her own beret, red and much larger than the one that had been selected for Enterprise, leaving it to partially sag under the weight of the heavy wool.  The decorative scarf was of the same red, although rather than her neck the long fabric was wound around one arm and was guided across her back where it wound around the other limb.  

                “Well?” Proud of her work, the cruiser slowly twirled in place, showing that her long hair had been gathered behind her and tied at the ends with a cloth binding.  

                Enterprise was distracted by a very noticeable feature of the knit sweater: the off-the-shoulder neckline that bared much of her upper arms and large chest.  The bodice of her maid uniform had a design somewhat like that, but between the frills and the long strands of hair that Belfast had kept artfully tucked in front, there had been a measure of concealment to make up for it.  With both gone, there was a vaster expanse of exposed skin and Enterprise had an unexplainable need to swallow when the twirl the maid(?) performed unveiled a comparably bared upper back beneath the fluttering of the bound hair and above where the scarf dipped.  

                Something else happened that made Enterprise unable to recall Belfast finishing her revolution.  At a point where she had been able to make out the cruiser’s shoulder blades, seconds of her consciousness went missing and by the time it came back she found herself the target of a face anticipating compliments.  

                The carrier’s tongue was tied with the indecisiveness of selecting from a list of words that lined up for her.  It didn’t help that her vocabulary wasn’t particularly suitable for situations like this, samples like cute and pretty inadequate while beautiful and gorgeous felt excessive in an oddly embarrassing way.  She couldn’t find a good middle ground – wanting to give Belfast a worthy compliment but not wanting to overdo it because…why?  

                “You look…” A breakthrough suddenly occurred. “…very elegant.”  

                She considered the last-second save a victory when Belfast quietly giggled. “Why thank you.” She wandered over, performing her own head-to-toe scan. “You’re quite charming yourself.”  

                Enterprise cast her gaze down and tugged at the hem of her dress. “I’m satisfied with it.” She was, but seeing Belfast made it feel…inferior? “I didn’t know you were going to change, too.”  

                “I thought it would’ve been a given,” Belfast replied. “Not much point in having you change if I’m going to lure in attention.”  

                “That does make sense,” Enterprise agreed awkwardly.  

                “Let me see this for a second.” Belfast came up to her and began fiddling with her coat, making sure it was fitted around her shoulders. “You actually have a coat you can wear right.”  

                It was an action that had become familiar at this point, particularly in the mornings, with Belfast tidying up her appearance with her own trained eye.  However, it was different in this case.  As she had been staring down at herself, Enterprise had to instantly look sideways when she got a close-up view of that bountiful chest and its added exposure.  

                Fingertips touched her cheeks and turned her head to the front.  Without the gloves, the skin-on-skin contact was like static and left behind a tingling sensation for Enterprise when Belfast removed them. “Hold here, please.” They were the same height, but Belfast lifted her chin to get a better view of how her beret was set and adjust it accordingly.  

                Enterprise did her best to fulfill the request but discovered it to be hard to do so at first, still experiencing that same compulsion to look away.  But when she forced herself to stare ahead to obey Belfast’s direction, there was a reversal, and the carrier couldn’t find it in her to look at anything but Belfast.  There wasn’t even a frown of concentration, the cruiser armed with the same persistent, gentle curve of her lips but her blue eyes were narrowed and the way they shifted along with the angling of her neck became a point of interest as was the observation of whether it always appeared as slender as it did now.   

                Was this really all because of a simple change of clothes?  

                “There we go,” Belfast finished, retreating a step.  

                 Enterprise hastily established eye contact in a way meant to hide something.  She wasn’t quite sure what it was she was trying to hide, but the awkward movements of her hands that had her reaching but not quite touching her beret and coat were actions made to draw Belfast away from…she still didn’t know.  She eventually thanked her, but it didn’t seem to be enough, Enterprise remaining nervous with how proud she appeared.  

                “I guess we should go see how well this’ll work,” she then awkwardly suggested, strategizing that the best way out was to leave.  

                Belfast grinned. “Oh, we’re not done yet.”  

                Enterprise jerked up in surprise. “What?”  

                “We need to get you something suitable to sleep in,” Belfast said, returning to the racks of clothing. “You’re not going to sleep in those clothes, and I refuse to let you wear your other set like you have been doing.  Fresh nightwear will make it easier for you to get comfortable.  Actually, while we’re at it…”  

                She paused at some displays of a different nature.  Selecting a hanger adorned with a bra-pantie combo, Belfast held it up for Enterprise to see. “Why not try some lace?”  

                Enterprise blankly regarded the white underwear of such fancy and delicate material, her nervousness being replaced with firm resolve. “Absolutely not.”  

                “At least give it a chance.”  

                “Belfast, no .”  

--------  

                They spent upwards of over an hour or so at the boutique, a span of time that Enterprise hadn’t expected to dedicate to the task.  Though accepting of her new clothes, Enterprise had been emboldened to apply her own opinions to later selections, including an oversized shirt and pajama shorts for her nightwear despite Belfast trying to press her for a gown or something more feminine.  When all was said and done, they brought their haul to the counter, the clerk from before complimenting and admiring their choices.  

                Belfast took care of the purchases and the directions of sending them to the hotel they were staying at.  Any attempt from Enterprise to contribute payment – shipgirls were paid, after all – was rebuffed by Belfast who had already dealt with it.  How she said it and the face she made while doing so kept Enterprise from inquiring about it, certain that there were more strings being manipulated behind the scenes that she wouldn’t like if confirmed.  Instead, she kept quiet so as not to ruin the mood that had been established.  

                And it was a good mood.  With the feel of new clothes that she was getting used to and Belfast guiding her when they took to the racks again, Enterprise didn’t feel as disoriented as she did during the initial foray.  She may’ve even established somewhat of a preference when it came to clothing, her attention being drawn to a dress similar to the one she was wearing or some loose shirt or pants.  

                They had to return to society eventually and Enterprise did feel anxious upon stepping out to the pavement again with Belfast.  Like before, the cruiser didn’t verbalize a destination, instead choosing a direction with Enterprise following.  

                The instinct came to lower the brim of her cap, but she realized immediately that even if she wanted to the beret would not offer the same protection.  She attempted to fall back to the position that she had taken earlier behind Belfast, but a different kind of obstruction came into play: that being the arm that looped around one of hers and pulled her close.  

                “B-Belfast!?” she exclaimed.  

                Strangely, she still hadn’t become acclimated to Belfast’s new look and the unexpected closeness took her aback.  It was hard enough not seeing her adorned with her white frills – her maid outfit as constant as the carrier’s uniform had been since they met -, and it was almost like Enterprise was with a different person.  Someone who had shoulders slimmer than she expected, the blue of her eyes fuller than she remembered which made the light of mischief in them all the more noticeable, and her features smoother and softer than what Enterprise had become familiar with with their time in battle.  The sternness behind her well-mannered guidance over the carrier’s habits was markedly absent, too.  

                It was such a divergence, but Enterprise couldn’t label it as bizarre or unnatural.  The comfy wool of her sweater and beret was in harmony with this new Belfast, much like her sharper and more formal maid uniform had done the same with the Belfast she did know.  Instead, the cruiser appeared absolutely normal , as outrageous as that did sound to her.  

                The coy smirk was the same, but there was a supplemental gentleness to it. “Relax,” she said, patting the arm that she had captured in an effort to ease the tension that was in it. “You’re not going to get any kind of appreciation out of London if you’re going to hang back like that.”  

                “And this is better?”  

                “There’s nothing out of the ordinary here.” The limb that entrapped Enterprise’s squeezed lightly. “We’re two friends out enjoying the sights.  Sticking close means that you won’t have to worry about losing me and we won’t be taking up as much room for people to pass.”  

                “That…makes sense,” Enterprise gradually relented which assisted in getting her arm to relax.  

                …Did it?  

                Oddly, it wasn’t that she ended up really scrutinizing, instead it being something else that Belfast said. “We’re friends?”  

                She considered that Belfast was referring to such a thing as part of the act that they were playing out, but the way the cruiser looked at her with slightly widened eyes told her that she was wrong in doing so. “Are we not?”  

                “I…” Enterprise started and then stopped, needing to think about it and coming to an immediate conclusion of how the word ‘friend’ was something else she was as unaccustomed to as everything else that had been occurring with this trip.  

                She had family: Yorktown and Hornet, Hammann, and Vestal’s position as a caretaker who watched over them made her included in that circle.  But instead of friends, she had comrades; shipgirls she fought alongside with and protected.  She would speak to them, and had done so more often lately, but she hadn’t really felt a closeness with any of them that could align with friendship.  

                She previously understood that Belfast was different.  She refused to accept their relationship as merely a servant serving her lady but referring to her as another comrade did not seem enough either.  She had said that she trusted and admired her, but it went further than on the battlefield.  They’ve spent a lot of time together, conversed often, and the way they had done so with topics that had unveiled their personalities and views to one another that would clash or be agreeable to each other made them satisfying to think about.  Their most recent battles had Enterprise display greater concern in Belfast’s wellbeing during engagements and she knew it to be the same the other way around.  

                Or was it? “To be honest,” Enterprise managed to get out, “I didn’t know you considered us as such.”  

                “Because of me being your maid?”  

                There it was again, another sentence implying the ownership that Enterprise disliked but was forced to go along with it for this purpose. “More or less.”  

                “Well, I can see your concern.  Yes, our acquaintanceship began with Her Majesty’s order for me to investigate and care for your wellbeing as I have done with her and the rest of the Royal Family, but our roles have always allowed room for personal connections.  I am as much a friend as I am a maid to them, and though our time is not as long as theirs, I would like to believe that what we’ve gone through and what we’ve come to know about each other has led to at least a tentative bond.” She repeated her inquiring look. “Or am I wrong?”  

                “No,” replied Enterprise. “I feel the same.  I think of you as a…friend.” The act of speaking the word felt unusual, but there was a sweetness to it that made the carrier certain that she was right to use it.   

                Belfast remained close to her at her best and at her worst, supporting her in ways that went above the call of servitude and camaraderie which made their relationship more personal as was just confirmed.  Personal enough that Enterprise would remain constantly bothered at the idea that they would have to go their separate ways sooner or later, much unlike the comrades that she would sortie with with the acceptance - or expectation - that they would be reassigned elsewhere wherever their duty would take them next once the current mission concluded.  

                She had known this all along, but hearing Belfast put a designation to it better cemented it.  

                “Besides.” Stepping as far as she could without breaking their physical connection, Belfast extended her one arm and bent her knees in a loose imitation of her usual curtsies. “I don’t look like a maid right now, do I?”  

                With her open for examination, Enterprise felt less guilty about conducting one. “Obviously not.” A suspicion occurred. “So everything you did to get me here…?”  

                Belfast smiled. “While I do pride myself in applying nothing but the utmost effort for my duty, for this it is less about being a maid serving in the best interests of her lady but a friend wanting to help a friend.”  

                “Oh.” Enterprise turned her gaze off to the side, the clarification and the more enchanting than normal smile giving her a sudden need to hide the warmth that she was feeling at her cheeks. “Thank you.”  

                So she’s a friend, then, she decided.  It made sense and had to explain a lot about the unfamiliar sensations that she was undergoing such as her interest in Belfast’s appearance, how flustered she was from it and the cruiser’s close proximity, and yet there being an underlying sense of yearning of how she wanted her to remain for as long as possible.  

                It was all due to a friendship that she was unused to.  Right.  She felt like it didn’t explain everything, but she was more at ease with this epiphany that better clarified how she saw Belfast.  She remained distracted by the weight on her arm and what it was doing to her though: her heart beating faster, an extra ounce of effort for her to breathe, and an ongoing skirmish between a force that wanted her to turn and admire Belfast and another that didn’t for fear of being caught in the act.  

                She did experience another new thing though.  Belfast was not leaving herself on display wholly for Enterprise, and the carrier suddenly became aware of how open the cruiser was on the crowded pavement.  A couple passing heads turned towards her, and while what she saw in the glances were not of the awe or respect that she had seen previously, the kinds that she did see incited a sudden surge of protection with how… exposed Belfast was.  Before Enterprise knew it, she sidled up close to Belfast, purposely positioning herself to block any more stares – something that had been the other way around shortly before.  

                She felt Belfast stiffen, caught unaware by her action, but quickly enough she felt her tuck closer to her side and refortified her hold on her arm.  Instead of a sense of accomplishment, the ace’s facial temperature upped some more, embarrassed with what she had done, and she hastily had them go on their way ‘less she leave this opportunity for Belfast to tease her.  

                But that had been natural, hadn’t it?  Just a friend looking out for a friend, right?  She didn’t fully understand what it was she felt like she needed to protect Belfast from but…she just went and did it.  

                I’m supposed to be taking in the sights, Enterprise reminded herself, distracting her from that line of questioning.  

                It was a cool day with little humidity, the current climate of the city and the clouds that remained partially obstructing the sky preventing some of the unpleasant aftereffects that could come after a night of rain.  The surroundings remained visibly damp with occasional puddles in the streets, but Enterprise didn’t mind it.  

                Their new camouflage patterns were paying off, Enterprise noticing that the glances and heads of passers-by coming their way were less frequent now with them going along with the foot traffic.  They were still occurring, Enterprise reasoning that their white and ivory hair remained a rarity among humans, but it was much easier for her to ignore them as they blended in better.  That and the closeness of Belfast’s presence was proving to come with an advantage of reassurance once her embarrassment from before wore off.  Or, at the very least, lessened to a manageable level.  

                She tried to establish a calming sense of simplicity in their walk but immediately ran into difficulties.  The activity and noise of the city still made her uneasy, and the crowds, cars, and buildings remained oppressive.  Even with a smoother integration with their change of attire, there was little that could be done about how uncomfortable she remained.  

                “It’s different, isn’t it?” Belfast asked her after a while. “The cityscape of the joint base attempted to mimic it, but you can see it, too, can’t you?”  

                “Yes,” Enterprise replied, nodding, “I can.”  

                Enterprise had known that the likeness of the Azur Lane base to a human city wasn’t a perfect match, but here she could see to what degree the disparity really was.  It was more than the population being human or how much larger it and the city was because, when it came right down to it, the joint base was a base; a military installation first and foremost.  It had its own city equipped with diversions, but the docks being an integral part of it and its residents – shipgirls – whose existences were meant for battle belonged to its true nature.  

                In that regard, London was the exact opposite.  The humans they passed were not combat vessels and the responsibilities that concerned them were meant to maintain their civilization.  Where they were going, whether for work or entertainment, was all that concerned them and when their day ended, they would retire to their homes.  There was no prevalence for battle, not against the Sirens or the Crimson Axis, and bases like Gateway were not part of that norm.  

                It should be peaceful, but instead it added to how London just wasn’t right to her.  Though a harsh comparison no matter how loosely she was making it, the disconcerting atmosphere felt like an attenuated version of how she felt out in the ocean near or in the midst of a naval engagement.  Whether a large city or an open sea, she felt confined in unfamiliar conditions.  The buildings of London and battle lines – marked with imaginary lines or landmasses – restricting her movements, the congestion of people and cars reminiscent of the fleets of shipgirls and Siren ships she had to guide and maneuver through, and all the noise involved keeping her on edge.  

                This was nothing like how she felt last night.  The hotel room was strange, but it had been empty and peaceful.  The greater city was the opposite, and she just couldn’t get to a comfortable position within it.  

                “You’re tense.” Other than how Belfast had looped an arm around Enterprise’s, the cruiser had laid the palm of the other against that same limb; a position that could be an added securement to Enterprise, but now a potential tool of measurement to gauge the ace’s fretfulness.  

                “It’s still a lot to take in,” Enterprise replied, keeping her internal comparison internal.   

                “Well, turn here,” Belfast suddenly said, the excitement in her tone and the tug she made against Enterprise’s arm leading the carrier into a street.  

                Enterprise made a correction, the ‘street’ being a cobblestone lane that was free of automotive traffic with how narrow it was, the crowds reduced to the few who were choosing to navigate through here.  Yet the absence of cars was one step that had been taken to separate this lane from the modern times, the three-story buildings that lined both sides of it made of brown and red bricks, their flat faces possessing square windows and shudders.  The styles emanated historical age.  

                “Eighteenth century townhouses,” Belfast identified for her. “Georgian style.  Some of the best examples you’ll find here.”  

                Enterprise understood enough to conclude that these were very old despite the clean outward appearances, and she was surprised when she caught glimpses of people inside through the windows. “People live here?”  

                “Yes, they do.  They’re expensive though, being listed buildings.”  

                Enterprise didn’t recognize the term. “Listed buildings?”  

                “They’re protected due to their historical and architectural significance.  This is just one of many streets that can be found in London, with buildings that have survived and been in use since the seventeen hundreds.”  

                “So Roman roads and Georgian townhouses?” Enterprise found it in her to question with a bit of airiness.  The change in environment was getting her a little more comfortable.  

                “Yes.” Pride illuminated Belfast’s features. “The British have taken great care in safeguarding their heritage all across England.  Many of them we won’t be able to get to, but in London alone there’s surviving fragments of the London Wall from the third century, the Wellington Arch for the First Duke of Wellington and his victories in the Napoleonic Wars, the Church of St Andrew of the fifteenth century, Trinity House, or streets like these.  Keep a lookout for blue plaques – commemorations of where men and women of history had lived or made their notable achievements.  They started setting them before the Siren War and have continued to do so.”  

                Enterprise couldn’t prevent the smile that crept up on her. “I think I see how you know so many things now.”  

                There was the ghost of movement that could’ve been Belfast on the verge of glancing away, but she – and her merry expression – remained steadfast. “As part of the Royal Navy, it’s my history, too.  And yours.  The United States inherited much from the great empires that had held colonies in America – Spain, France, and Britain.  I know those influences have survived in Eagle Union and part of my mission is to give you an appreciation for them.  Starting here.”  

                She performed a vague wave around them “Feel.  Sense.  As culminations of humanity’s will and the memories passed down to us, we are receptive to the impressions that persist here.”  

                The carrier had been feeling something as soon as they entered.  The architecture around them was emanating sensations that she could pick up with her awareness, made easier with less distractions.  Like with her own ship or production model warships, she can sense the impressions that Belfast was referring to.  They were weaker here, not as strong as the emotions and efforts that went into constructing hulls for conflict, empowered by a fighting spirit for the battles in the here and now.  

                But being weaker did not mean they weren’t prominent in their own way.  Within that age was a collection of a past that couldn’t be found in products of the present.  As they walked, Enterprise could perceive apparitions; the lingering presence of humans who had been amassed here to set the stones beneath her feet and assemble the materials of the townhouses to her right and left.  She was close enough to one that her free hand came up, palm brushing along the smooth finish of the brick while fingers dipped into the joints to get a feel for the mortar.  

                It was faint but she felt other hands joining with her own, setting and layering the material in the rows that created the solid face which returned to repair and restore it when it began to deteriorate.  From within, she could detect the lives that had been and are currently housed here.  

                There was warmth.  Comfort.  The emotions of then and now within these homes pleasantly tickled deep into what made up her existence.  

                That was before something stabbed into her hand.  

                It happened suddenly, as if the smooth brick had sprouted needles that pricked into her palm and fingertips.  It was not overly painful, enough for Enterprise’s hand to flinch away from them to break contact but didn’t jerk it back in a greater show that would’ve attracted unwanted concern, particularly from Belfast.  

                The connection she made was cut off from the townhouse, but a moment later she realized that the impressions that she had been picking up from the entire street had become thick.  Muddled.  She could still make them out, but rather than the clear vapors that had been able to pass around and through her easily with the sensations they transmitted, they had become a heavy, incomprehensible fog.  

                An impulse to try and probe through was met with hesitation from her and one that Enterprise couldn’t overcome.  The attempt she made lacked any real effort, with the only thing she managed to pick up being a stiffness that came to her spine and shoulders.  A force within her that was holding her back.  

                The same kind of force she had encountered during her failed training run that had led to two of her planes crashing into each other.  

                It’s going this far? she asked herself, bothered by it.  Even when I’m not fighting?  

                “Enterprise?”  

                She had come to a stop and been standing in front of the townhouse with her hand outstretched, something that she understood when Belfast said her name.  She let her arm drop back to her side, but she stared at the brick for a couple more seconds before addressing Belfast. “I feel out of place here.”  

                “We’ve hardly begun our little expedition,” Belfast pointed out. “Don’t you think it’s a bit early to make such claims?”  

                “I just…”  

                “What?” Belfast asked with a touch of concern.  

                 Enterprise shifted her gaze from the townhouses to beyond where the modern metropolis of London awaited.  

                With the sampling of modern civilization and the products of the past within it, she could perceive the peace here.  One was hardly affected by the ongoing wars, its people’s concerns and efforts exclusive to that peace, while the other, a product of the ideas and wants of humanity just like her, had been constructed to supplement that living which was much unlike hers.  

                It made her wonder if her now cloudy awareness was really due to her defect, or because she was trying to link with an environment that was unsuitable to her.  

                “I can’t see where a shipgirl like me fits into this,” she said.  

                “Enterprise,” Belfast said again in a way that strongly suggested that the carrier should look at her.  

                Enterprise did and what awaited her was a flick on the forehead.  She flinched again, touching where she experienced the sudden bite of pain. “Ow."  

                Belfast lowered her hand, the cruiser possessing an ounce of the severity that Enterprise was more used to whenever she had to be more insistent to get through to her. “As I said, it’s far too early for your tendency of being thoughtless.  So for the time being, I implore that you abandon it until we finish with what I wish to show you for today.  Or…” She made another flicking motion, the threat behind it plain.  

                Feeling oddly intimidated by that measly gesture, Enterprise submitted to it. “Yes, ma’am.”  

                “Very good.” Like a switch being flipped, Belfast reverted to her gentle pleasantry. “Let us set aside such prospects of being able to fit in as a human or settle in a human civilization because that is not why we are here.  We are here to revitalize your spirit with these locations and their views.” She loosened her arm but didn’t free Enterprise, dropping and taking her wrist instead to pull her along. “This actually wasn’t where I wanted to start us off, but the proximity warranted it.  Let’s move on.”  

                For yet another instance, Enterprise looked at Belfast’s smiling face and how she stood with her weight at her heels, leaning back with the hold she had on Enterprise being the one thing keeping her from falling back.  

                This was…normal.  This picture was the furthest that Enterprise had when it came to what she had become accustomed to with Belfast’s mannerisms but still she couldn’t deem it as something abnormal.  And being unable to find anything wrong with it, there was little reason for her to not let herself continue to be led along.  

                “Where are we going?”  

                Belfast’s smile grew. “Oh, just to take a little walk in the park.  That’s all.”  

--------  

                The park wasn’t so little.  

                The city remained loyal to its conveniences that Belfast had attested to, the pair of shipgirls not needing to travel far to reach the winding path that led them to a terrain of rain-slicked grass and copses of trees.  Although this was yet another facet that the Azur Lane joint base had attempted to imitate, the sheer scale of a genuine city made it befuddling as to how the urbanization could give way to nature that, as it turned out, stretched into acres upon acres of land.  

                Soon, any attempt to look back at the city they left behind were blocked off by groves of trees.  Along the paths, hedges and other shrubbery had been meticulously trimmed and pruned into uniformed guards that were stationed in perimeters around gardens of colorful lilies, roses, and daisies.  

                Here, Enterprise was able to acquire a state of calm simplicity in their walk that she hadn’t been able to do within the city.  Belfast was no longer hanging from her arm, instead walking alongside her, and although she was conflicted about how she should feel about the comforting/disorienting presence that she had earlier provided, the freedom did let her take in the peace and quiet of the park.  It went so far that a tautness that had been laid upon her like a mantle ever since this morning had grown looser.  

                As always, there was a history behind the park that Belfast was more than willing to inform her about, where they were traveling through only making up a portion of the thousands of acres of land of multiple sites that had been devoted to such greenery.  Amassing such did not come about in one fell swoop, instead having been acquired individually overtime by the generations of monarchs of the Royal Family.  

                “Henry VIII was responsible for seizing much of these lands and converted them into hunting grounds to satisfy his needs to hunt deer,” Belfast said.  In an ongoing break from her maidly persona, she had her hands clasped behind her back, her spine casually bent as she admired a large pond, water jetting out from a fountain hidden beneath the surface. “They were all made private and full public access was granted after his reign.”  

                Such an enormous area being devoted for such a singular purpose was not something that Enterprise could understand.  Not in the past, and not so much the present either. “All this space and none of its being considered for anything more practical?”  

                “Practical, huh?” Belfast repeated, bemused. “Are such places of leisure not practical in their own right?”  

                Thinking that she may’ve been too blunt, Enterprise tried a different avenue with the congested buildings, streets, and people in mind. “The city is cramped as it is, and you said yourself how development room is its own struggle.  Historical monuments and streets are one thing, but why so much land devoted to this?”  

                “Why was a section of the Azur Lane base devoted to its own park?” Belfast asked, countering with her own question.  She extended her arms out as if to take in everything in its entirety. “True, when it comes to its parklands, London holds a great percentage, but take a look around.  Do you not see how valuable all this is?”  

                There was the dip of a hill to their left, enhancing the fantasy of the two shipgirls being in some part of the countryside rather than a sort of yard of the city with how it rose and rolled into others like it.  Upon the tops and sides, there were humans taking languid positions on benches, folding chairs that they brought with them, or blankets that had been laid out so that they could relax whether it be with the assistance of a book or a fixing they prepared for a quick meal.  The cloudy weather did not seem to dissuade any of them from coming out here, the cool breezes suitable for the few kites that were being flown.  Smaller humans – children – were running and sometimes flinging themselves down the hills, the damp grass adding to the enjoyment.  

                It was something that she had seen at the joint base with juvenile destroyers making their own fun with the games they learned from their makers, same with their seniors and the hobbies they acquired in the same manner.  The difference was that she didn’t see any shipgirls here, the attendees exclusively human in a park that had been meant for them since its conception, in a city that was also meant for them.  

                Or so she thought.  Enterprise was letting her feet move her ahead despite her sight being diverted until she detected a subtle but tangible ‘ping’ originating from nearby – her awareness alerting her to a presence of another vessel close enough to alert her.  But while she turned to address the presence, the shipgirl she found was not as inclined, the book she had on her lap engrossing.  

                She had bright but not golden blonde hair, locks of which she happened to be tucking behind her ear so that it would not get in the way of her reading.  Light green eyes flicked along the lines of her book, not straying once from the pages.  Given her petite size and presence that was not as solidly built as battleships but not as small as destroyers, Enterprise could only assume her to be the likes of a cruiser.  

                “That’s Aurora,” Belfast said, her voice a measure lower so as not to disturb the sitting shipgirl. “I had heard that she had been assigned to the Dragon Empery, but it appears that she had returned.  She often comes here, typically with one of her latest romance novels.  She’s not the only one either.”  

                She wasn’t.  The discovery of Aurora became a full unveiling of others who were here, Enterprise having either missed them entirely or had been too slow to pick them up beforehand.  One small group of what she thought to be human children were playing an improvised game of badminton, three of them swatting a shuttlecock between them that was sought to be caught by others in the middle.  The distance had made them difficult to pick up, but by fixating on them Enterprise could make out how three of the children – two of the swatters, one of the catchers – were standing out more prominently than the rest.  Shipgirls, likely destroyers.  

                Further up that same hill overlooking the playing field as if in supervisory role were another pair of shipgirls, Enterprise drawn to the light pink hair of one that gave her a hint to her and her companion’s true identities as their attire did not possess any obvious fashion indications that would be out of the ordinary.  Their partaking of some tea would not have been unordinary either.  

                Enterprise couldn’t locate any more, and the ones she did identify were but a fraction of the total parkgoers, but they were here.  

                “We all share appreciation for nature,” Belfast lectured, drifting nearer to Enterprise to be heard, her voice remaining low. “Humans and shipgirls greatly benefit from the unspoiled nature of the world, away from the fighting.  And for you, the seas.  See.  Breathe.  This is a place of healing, with a natural purity that even some of the grandest cities cannot provide.”  

                Enterprise dutifully followed the instruction, taking in the environment.  She concentrated on the colors of vitality: the green blades of grass and shrubs, brown healthy barks of trees, the clear blues of the pond, and the rainbow of flower petals that were pleasing to her sight.  Having traveled so deep where there was nothing but this, where the sounds and sights of the greater metropolis of London were obstructed, Enterprise could focus on the nature around her.  

                She breathed deeply, inhaling air that had a freshness that she was not used to.  No trace of the copper of blood or burning of oil, the sulfur of gunpowder or the polluting smoke – nauseating scents that traveled with her everywhere whether it be in battle, at a naval base, or clinging to her form and what she was all too familiar with.  Neither was there the salt of the sea, once pleasant when left alone, but had become tainted with it so closely associated with the conflict that was her everyday life.  All she could smell was flowers and water and air so clean that she swore she could taste both.  

                She didn’t expect what occurred when she exhaled; a loosening of a strain at a microscopic level, deep within her bones.  The shift was of such an atomic nature that it was only when it happened that she understood that it had been a burden on par with her uniform and her rigging.  And, like them, she had donned it the moment she came into being, prompted by the memories of warfare and the drive to participate in the one that had sent her across the seas in a struggle that had yet to end.  

                All of which made it her normal.  

                Seeing and breathing in this break in that normal, it was the first time that Enterprise understood that she was somewhere that did not carry a threat whether immediate or nearby, any docks or military bases far from here and her mind.  For once, she had a better idea of what Yorktown gained from her own personal vista and how she was able to cope with her diminished state.  

                And, as she learned from when they last spoke, how her sister was able to keep from being overcome by the regret of having placed so much on her siblings, with Enterprise most of all.  

                The colors were more vibrant now.  During a moment, the carrier had become unfocused, and when it passed the scenery had become increasingly distinct.  The shades of greens and browns were more intense, the touch of the pristine air corporeal to the point of how she could easily trace it when it filled her lungs and when she expelled it back out.  All that she heard was the breeze, the vegetation that danced and sung to its manipulations, and of those who were welcomed and added to it.  

                To Enterprise, it was surreal.  

                Because none of this is real.  

                The claim slithered out from a dark recess of her mind, coiling around once to transmit its message before returning to its cavern, leaving Enterprise with little chance to give chase and figure out where it had originated from.  All that she was left with was a slippery chill that coursed through her, disrupting the gains that she had been taking from the park.  That vibrancy had wavered, almost as if the peacefulness of the park was a mirage, and when it settled, she was left distracted.  

                Belfast had no way of knowing about it, the cruiser having only seen how Enterprise had been content to absorb what the park offered her.  Happy with that, she retook the ace’s hand with Enterprise relieved with how her touch and her smile chased away the discouragement brought on by that unknown voice.  

                “We’ve still got plenty more to go.”  

                Enterprise tried to put the disturbing moment out of her mind and found that she didn’t need to apply too much effort.  The tranquil park and its visitors – human and shipgirl – continued the further they went.  Enterprise was startled when the path they were on became obstructed by gray-feathered bodies of pigeons who were very nonplussed about their presence.  She reasoned that they must’ve been so invested in the breadcrumbs and seeds that were being tossed out by some humans sitting on a bench, but drifting so close to the edge of the birds when she and Belfast circled around them had her staring into the orange beady eyes with feathers not once being ruffled.  

                That was when they passed another pair of shipgirls; a cruiser that was trailing behind an excitable red-headed destroyer who was carrying a piece of bread with obvious intentions.  The single-mindedness rush of the latter had Belfast and Enterprise exchanging brief greetings with the cruiser.  

                It was the last time they would encounter one of their kind when they reached the end of their path, but Enterprise was a little astonished as to how many they did see.  

                 “I may have been cheating just a little,” Belfast admitted.  

                “May have?” Enterprise repeated suspiciously.  

                Although they left the park, it wasn’t the crowded streets and mid-rises that they returned to.  With the green of the park remaining close to their backs, they strolled along a wide, paved path.  The trailing reach of the park left patches of grass to their one side but there were short, modest buildings that were providing humble attractions of recreation; a pub, eatery, small shops, and even a sandy playground.  On the other side, the metal rails created a barrier that would keep any pedestrians from falling into the depths of the River Thames that ran alongside them.  

                Enterprise appreciated the minor rise of escalation of return to the city, maintaining the peace and ease that she had gotten from the walk that they were still taking but came to a pause when Belfast moved to the safety rails and pointed across the river.  When Enterprise came to her side and looked over, she saw what the cruiser wanted her to see.  

               Across the calm and fresh blue of Thames, the modern metropolis appeared ready to resume save for one building.  A rectangular block of stone, out of which had been carved the pillars and pilasters that lined the base, the façade decorated with the arches and columns that Enterprise knew well, and a domed tower with its clockface topping it.  

                Though the pillars and arches were more excessive, and the stone masonry making it look archaic, Enterprise believed she could identify the nature of the structure with the slight resemblance she found and the secondary building next to it that was without a dome but retained the rectangle shape. “An academy?”  

                “Yes,” Belfast confirmed. “Based on the previous Royal Naval College.” Solemnly, she said, “Regrettably, that cherished site had not survived the Siren raids.  As an academy that trained human officers, it must’ve been a priority military target that had the Sirens obliterating it.  A lot of history was lost - how a royal palace and a hospital became devoted to the training naval officers while housing a beautiful work of art; the Painted Hall.  I have only seen pictures of it and lament how I can’t view it in person.”  

                With her continued appreciation for history, she took the loss as the tragedy she was making it out to be, pain flickering into being. “Nonetheless, I and other shipgirls consider it an honor to have attended classes in these buildings that had been devoted to recreating some of that lost treasure which then became a center of our learning as the humans before us.  I suspect Amazon will be returning to teach the latest strategies and tactics developed in our battles out in the Pacific if she hasn’t already.  This is where the majority of shipgirls of the Royal Navy new and old attend.”  

                “Meaning there was a higher likelihood of us running into them,” Enterprise remarked lightly, being persuaded to sway Belfast away from the loss in whatever way she could.  

                “And demonstrating how shipgirls are able to coexist with humans,” Belfast added for her.  She began walking again. “Enjoying the same things as they do and interacting with them so effortlessly.  Wouldn’t you agree that had been the case with that soldier and the clerk who had been so helpful?”  

                Enterprise tried to resist and counter with some form of rebuttal but any that she could come up with were weak, her stubbornness an insufficient weapon to fight back when it wasn’t sharpened with the examples that could counter the ones that she had witnessed.  The only argument she could devise was that the location that encouraged higher probabilities of shipgirl/human interaction made both parties comfortable and aware of each other but wouldn’t be the case if it had been a more distant city.  

                And as much as she didn’t want to, she had to be the one to shoot it down.  Would it really be that different if they had tried somewhere else, where such encounters were rare?  It didn’t change how much time had gone by since the first shipgirl had been created, the only difference being just how many of their numbers had grown since then.  The navies of humankind consisted nearly entirely of shipgirls and the production model warships that they could control.  That was a truth that had become a normal of this world.  

                As a result, the denizens of this world – human beings - who had summoned and came to rely so much on shipgirls naturally accepted them as that new normal overtime despite the steep technological evolutionary shift that turned what had once been soulless hulls and batteries managed by the combined expertise of hundreds of humans into sentient beings that solely wielded such destructive force with their own bodies.  Even if there was someone with limited to no experience of meeting with such an existence, it could be easily remedied because that was simply the normal that they knew of but had yet to experience it face-to-face.  

                Enterprise only had to look at herself as an example.  Save for the human officers she followed the orders of, her involvement with the general public had been non-existent.  She knew of the civilians she protected, but had never intermingled with them.  That made her an exception, with Belfast and the shipgirls she had witnessed today being the norm that she hadn’t experienced for herself.  

                She was not comfortable with it, but with just these initial efforts supported by Belfast’s guidance, she could see how she might be able to.  

                She couldn’t admit it verbally, at least not now after only one day.  Thankfully, Belfast didn’t make any additional effort to get a response out of her – not that Enterprise was pretending that not answering wasn’t an answer of its own – and had become interested in a building that they had been about to pass.  However, Enterprise couldn’t think of what would catch Belfast’s attention save for the bright flashes of lights and noises coming from within that consisted of loud chimes and bleeping, sirens, clinking of coins, and others that Enterprise was not familiar with.  

                “I can’t imagine that you’ve ever been to one of these,” Belfast said.  

                Enterprise tilted her body left and right, trying to see what she could within the doorway that had been braced open.  Inside, the lights had been purposely dimmed but there were humans clustered around boxy machinery, the purpose of which she couldn’t understand with their big screens, sticks, and buttons that were being manipulated and smashed on so enthusiastically.  

                “What is it?” she eventually asked.  

                A smirk pulled itself into a corner of Belfast’s face. “I didn’t think so.” Without warning, she took Enterprise’s hand and practically dragged her through the doors.  

                The sudden motion had Enterprise almost tripping and she reflexively reached up when her beret nearly slipped off her head, it not being as secure as her cap.  It put her at a disadvantageous position that the cruiser used to the fullest, getting her inside with Enterprise quickly being assaulted by the barrage of sounds and lights that disoriented her.  They didn’t venture in far, something that the Eagle girl considered as a blessing when the hold on her hand was released, leaving her to somehow deal with the unrelenting attack on her senses enough so that she could see what Belfast had dragged her into this time.  

                Before her were a row of what she assumed to be some kind of machines but not like the ones that she had seen.  Rather than tall, boxy shapes, these were best described as long, inclined lanes that had a hump at the end.  Past that, a steeper incline that had holes lined one after the other with rings around them that had numbers painted on them.  

                “Alright,” Enterprise said once she was sure her beret was back in place.  She had to raise her voice for the smirking Belfast to hear her. “What is this ?”  

                “It’s a game,” Belfast answered.  

                Enterprise gave the lanes a wary look. “Okay…”  

                “This is a place for games.” Belfast produced a bill from her person, sticking it in yet another machine that was nearby.  It sucked the bill in and there came that noise of clinking coins again when it spat out tokens that Belfast collected. “You’re going to play.”  

                Enterprise’s brows disappeared within her bangs. “I am?”  

                “Yes, you are.” Taking one of the tokens, she stuck it inside the machine.  A loud click resounded, and several wooden balls rolled into an open slot that Enterprise had noticed but hadn’t understood the purpose of.  Belfast acquired one and held it out towards Enterprise. “You have seen plenty, so let's get you actively participating in some fun for the sake of it.”  

                The carrier took it, stared at it, and looked at Belfast again.  

                “The concept is quite simple,” Belfast started explaining and grabbed another ball. “It’s called skee-ball.  You take one of these balls, roll it down the lane, and try to sink it in one of the holes to score points.  I considered that you may take a liking to it because…” She finished her words with action, rolling the ball down the lane and towards the hump that launched it up towards the ringed holes, sinking into one that had the number thirty over it.  

                Enterprise saw what Belfast was getting at, the rolling and launching of the ball reminding her of how her Wildcats would fly from her flight deck.  A scoreboard on top lit up, a bright thirty flashing into existence.  

                “You try to get as many points as you can with the number of balls it gives you,” Belfast ended and moved off to the side. “Give it a go.”  

                Enterprise gave her and her persistent smirk another stare before sighing.  Centering herself within the lane, Enterprise gave it another once-over.  The five holes were numbered from ten to fifty, but then there were two others on the uppermost corners that had a very attractive hundred.  Once she spotted them, the lesser numbers disappeared from her thoughts, her mindset always being to go for maximum results.  

                Enterprise cocked her arm back for the underhand, trying to judge what angle and force would be needed, and then swung her arm forward when she judged that she had it, loosing the ball.  

                It rolled, hopped, and with a loud smack it struck ones of the bars that held the protective netting above the holes.  The express purpose had to be the prevention of wild balls, something it accomplished swimmingly when the ball bounced back, sped down the lane, and Enterprise hastily bent down to catch it.  Her hand missed it, but her knee didn’t which got her to hiss between her teeth.  

                There was a short-lived laugh that was interrupted with a slap and when Enterprise turned to glare at the source, she saw Belfast with her hand clasped tightly over her mouth.  

                “Sorry,” she apologized when she loosened her fingers but kept her palm in place, undoubtedly to keep Enterprise from feeling any more humiliated by exposing the wide grin hiding behind it.  

                Enterprise thought of just stopping right there but she didn’t want to end it like that.  So, squashing those negative feelings, she reclaimed the runaway ball and set herself for another attempt.  Ignoring the ache at her knee, she pulled her arm back, held it, and applied less force in the next roll.  

                The ball launched up and Enterprise stiffened when it struck the ring lining the thirty hole, the sound making her afraid that the ball was about to come back to take her other knee, but instead it dropped, got caught in the larger ring around the ten pointer, and dropped in to turn her thirty score into a mere forty.  

                She got points that time, but it was the lowest she could acquire.  Remembering how effortlessly Belfast managed to score the thirty on her first try, Enterprise grabbed another ball with the intent of at least matching the achievement.  Tensing her arm and making another adjustment to what she thought she needed, she let it go and was left in dismay when it missed the forty, dropped, and gave her another ten points.  

                Determined, she retrieved yet another ball, showing a minor improvement when she sank it into the twenty.  Any good feelings she hoped to get were beaten down when her thirty-point attempt turned into yet another ten.  Harder than I thought it’d be.  

                She reached for another but stopped when she heard a click and the wooden rolling of balls being set to her left.  Glancing over, she saw Belfast already having retrieved a sphere to throw down her own lane.  The cruiser met her glance and made a show of spinning the ball on her index finger before snatching it, cocking it back, and rolling it down the lane.  

                She scored forty points on her first hit.  

                Belfast hummed and grasped another ball. “I seem to be having a good start.”  

                Enterprise knew provocation when she saw it but still she fell for it much too easily.  She seized her next ball in a tight grip and rolled.  

                Several balls later, the two stood there, one looking on in dismay while the other had a case of twitching lips at the sight of how one score was quadruple the amount of the other.  

                “Care to go again now that you’re used to it?” Belfast questioned.  

                “Being generous there, aren’t you?” Enterprise returned sourly, the results making it clear that she was far from ‘used to it’.  

                Now Belfast decided to apply some good-hearted damage control. “It is your first time.  Her Majesty has quite a liking to this and has insisted on dueling me on occasion.”  

                “Elizabeth does?” Enterprise could actually see the child-like queen playing this…probably because of said child-like appearance.  

                “This and other such games.  Skee-ball, golf…polo.”  

                “What’s polo?”  

                Belfast’s hand on her chin was the perfect picture of the great care that she was taking in the future prospect that she was considering. “Mmm…something that I don’t think we’ll be acclimating you to for your safety and that of your self-esteem.  If you ever fancy a viewing of the sport once you learn about it, I’m sure we can schedule something.”  

                Enterprise decided to take the hinted dangers to heart. “I’ll stick with skee-ball.”  

                “Oh?” Belfast held up a token. “Again, then?”  

                Enterprise inwardly cursed, too late in seeing the opportunity that she had created and what Belfast had seized.  Looking at the shiny face of the token and knowing that Belfast had more, she rationalized that she couldn’t very well let them go to waste, even if the score difference remained illuminated to hint at how well a future match so soon would turn out.  She took it and was ready to insert it into the slot of the machine until she noticed another shipgirl within their vicinity.  

                Except Enterprise knew the one who was feeding a bill in the token dispenser behind Belfast.  Like every other shipgirl thus far, she was wearing what should be getting her to blend into the crowd more, but the insignia of a flag with the stars and stripes of the United States at the shoulder of her white jacket instantly grabbed Enterprise’s attention.  They had their back turned, but with the long dirty blonde hair and how a few strands had been tied into a sidetail behind her white visor cap, there was only one girl who came with the Eagle Union entourage that Enterprise could recall to fit with who she was seeing.  

                “Cleveland?” It had become natural for her to raise her voice to be heard with their loud surroundings and she succeeded in catching the girl’s attention.  

                Eagle Union’s knightly cruiser turned at her name, the reddened oak of her searching eyes unmistakable.  They didn’t need to search long but they did squint towards Enterprise’s face with Cleveland leaning in in order to be positive that the one who called her name was the one who she thought it was.  

                “E-Enterprise!?” she then exclaimed, shocked. “And…Belfast!?” She went back and forth between them, her mouth hanging open.  Enterprise thought her surprise to be exaggerated until Cleveland asked, “Where have you two been!?”  

                Oh...   Enterprise remembered now.  After all that had happened, she hadn’t given any thought as to how it must’ve appeared when Belfast had whisked her away: arriving at Gateway, meeting the base commander, and then immediately being sent off in a limo to the city without a word exchanged to the others.  Apparently, no one else had informed the rest of the fleet about what happened.  

                Either Belfast had thought about it and planned for it, or she naturally knew what to say and, really, both possibilities could work when it came to her. “The fault is mine, Miss Cleveland,” she said, bowing in supplication - reverting to her formality that didn’t fit quite right without her maid uniform. “I had made previous arrangements that had been unknown to everyone, including Enterprise, about setting up a lodging off base.  It was an oversight of mine to not ensure that you and the rest were aware of it after we were transported.  Please forgive me.”  

                Cleveland was slow to take it all in, features turning quizzical at Belfast’s confession.  It was only when she switched back to Enterprise did the smaller girl understand not only the explanation but the purpose behind it, the timely lighting of a blinking signal of a winner at some other arcade machine exposing the bout of sympathy that the carrier couldn’t help but turn away from.  It had been one of those things that she had wanted to avoid seeing on another shipgirl.  

                “There’s nothing to forgive!” Cleveland stated, the loud proclamation and wide smile exaggerated but the cruiser gifted with such enthusiasm that made the entire show very convincing. “Especially with how good you’re looking, Enterprise!  Your handiwork, Belfast?”  

                “I may’ve contributed a little.” Belfast’s downplaying of what really happened was enough to draw Enterprise back to the group with the purpose of shooting Belfast with silent accusation.  

                “Well, it looks good!” Cleveland gave Enterprise a thumbs-up. “I definitely approve!”  

                That abundant enthusiasm accomplished in overriding the discomfort of her condolences, Enterprise becoming self-conscious for a different reason. “Thank you.” It occurred to her that while Cleveland had learned of how they got here, the same couldn’t be said the other way around. “What are you doing here?”  

                “You mean how I got here from the base?  You saw the railway, right?  A bunch of us were able to catch a ride on the trains that come and go between the logistics center and the city.  Montpelier and I wanted to check out the Royal Academy and we happened to notice the arcade here.”  

                “Montpelier is here?”  

                “Yeah!  Oh, hold on!” Rounding back towards the crowded center of the arcade, Cleveland unsuccessfully tried to locate her sister ship.  Going for a different approach, she cupped her hands over her mouth and yelled, “Montpelier!” She lowered her hands, spotted something, and sent a signal wave.  

                Enterprise caught Montpelier breaking through to join them.  Like Cleveland and Columbia, she had inherited the same earthly red eyes, Denver being the sister Enterprise knew of who broke from the mold with her sky blues.  She and Denver did share the gray-blonde hair, albeit Montpelier’s being much longer, down to her calves, and having a couple shaped tufts that could be mistaken for low-placed cat ears.   

                What was exclusively hers was her deficiency in energy, flirting with the line of complete disinterest, for anything that wasn’t Cleveland. “I was waiting for you,” she said with a voice that would’ve been unenthusiastic if not for how perturbed she was referring to the period of absence.  

                “Sorry, sorry!” Cleveland apologized, rubbing the back of her head. “But look, I found Enterprise and Belfast!”  

                Montpelier swept her gaze over the pair, again nearly expressing total indifference until she halted at Enterprise.  She fixed her with her blank look for a few slow seconds until a very subtle, almost undetectable, downward drag of her mouth occurred. “Sis was worried about you.”  

                The allegation of wrongdoing being directed at the ace carrier was nearly as faint, but Enterprise identified it and her burgeoning guilt was enhanced by it. “I’m sorry.”  

                “Belfast explained everything,” Cleveland interjected. “So it’s all good!” Registering the machines that they had been playing with, the lead knight sister gravitated to them. “Oh hey, were you playing some skee-ball?  That actually sounds like the perfect game to end everything on!  We’ll probably get all the tickets we need from here!”  

                “Tickets?” Enterprise questioned.  

                “What, you don’t know?  That’s half the fun of coming to arcades!” Dipping her hands in her pockets, Cleveland pulled out a fistful of folded lines of tickets. “Play games, collect tickets, and turn them in for prizes!”  

                Montpelier dug into her own pocket of her jacket that matched Cleveland’s, unveiling her own collection of tickets.  

                “Yeah, see?” Cleveland crouched down and pointed. “These are yours, right?”  

                Three tickets were protruding from a slot of the machine that Enterprise had been using.  At Belfast’s, there was a line that was as many times longer as their score difference, delivering a dull blow to Enterprise.  

                “You sound like you come to these a lot,” Enterprise noted.  

                “Tons!  Whenever we have time off and can get away from the base, I go with my sisters.  We hit a bunch of the machines for tickets to see how much we can collect together, but there are games that we play for the fun of it!  There’s even a game about us!”  

                Enterprise wasn’t sure she heard right. “What?”  

                “There’s one over there right now!  To the right of the gun game there!”  

                Enterprise looked where directed, finding what she believed to be the game that had her staring at a distant screen in disbelief when she saw cartoonish versions of shipgirls armed with their riggings darting around an ocean, dodging and firing bright colored dots that had to be projectiles while additional caricatures of planes and production ships passed by, many going down in explosive fashion.  She was seeing it for herself but couldn’t believe it.  

                “Weird, right?” Cleveland described. “They put in a lot of characters, including you and me.  It doesn’t have all my sisters though…”  

                 “You’re the one most deserving anyway,” Montpelier attested.  A rare grin was tugged to the forefront. “Clevebro.”  

                “Aaaaah!” Cleveland pulled the visor of her cap over her reddening face. “Don’t say that!”  

                Enterprise was quite sure she didn’t want to ask for details.  Frankly, she found the idea of pretending that she had never been made aware of a game like that to be immensely attractive. “You were saying something about skee-ball?”  

                Cleveland was as relieved as Enterprise at the change in subject. “Yeah, skee-ball!  We should play that!  I wanted to get gifts for Columbia and Denver since they’re taking care of my bonsai tree for me.  You in, Enterprise?  Belfast?”  

                “I will regrettably decline,” Belfast responded. “But I’m sure Enterprise will gladly participate.”  

                Enterprise gave her a surprised look, but Cleveland spoke up before she could question Belfast’s decision. “How about it, Enterprise?”  

                The carrier still had the token that Belfast had given her and had been about to feed into the machine earlier for another game.  The Royal Navy cruiser not participating threw her off but any tactic of her refusing in the same manner was met with an obstacle: that being Cleveland’s giving her a look of such anticipation that she couldn’t say no.  

                “One or two, I guess…” Enterprise caved.  

                Cleveland pumped her fist. “Yes!” She immediately selected a lane, fishing for her own tokens.  

                “Your lane not working?” Enterprise asked Belfast, using the time that Cleveland needed to prepare.  

                “I believe it still is,” Belfast replied. “Why?  Is something wrong with yours?  Would you like to use it?”  

                Enterprise narrowed her eyes at Belfast, trying to figure out what her plans were behind her grin. “Why aren’t you playing, then?”  

                “I didn’t get that many tokens,” Belfast tried to explain away, holding the small handful that she still had. “Besides, it seems pretty clear that Cleveland would like to play with you specifically.”  

                “She does?”  

                “Did you not see how worried she was before?  How excited she is now?  I do not wish to get in the way of that, not when we’ll be spending so much time together.”  

                Enterprise didn’t know what Belfast would be getting in the way of, not seeing why Cleveland would mind her participation. “What will you be doing, then?”  

                “Providing morale support,” she answered.  She leaned over, lowering her voice while pointing vaguely down the lane. “You may be getting some competition.”  

                Enterprise followed it, finding Cleveland first who had inserted her token and readied her line of balls.  She looked over and Enterprise found herself the target of a wide smile and another thumbs-up.  

                She does look happy , Enterprise thought, a little caught off guard as to how much enthusiasm was being transmitted from her fellow Eagle comrade.  She was persuaded to offer her own tiny smile which, somehow, got Cleveland to look even happier.  

                Then came Montpelier, the other cruiser having chosen a lane between Enterprise and Cleveland but was using this moment to step directly between them.  She partially obstructed Cleveland from view, which let Enterprise see that the usually aloof sibling was sporting a pair of puffed cheeks. Rather than face Enterprise, she peered down at the carrier’s low number of tickets and produced a humored ‘hmph’ that was meant only for the ace to hear.  Enterprise was startled and waited for an explanation, but it never came when the girl slotted her token to begin a game, effectively avoiding her.  Eventually Enterprise did the same, deciding to forget whatever that had just been.  

                This was not a scenario that Enterprise had ever entertained the possibility of.  She was side-by-side with fellow shipgirls, but rather than conducting a sortie with the mission’s success relying on the annihilation of deadly foes, it was a set number of slips of paper that they had to acquire in order to accomplish their goal.  Instead of gun batteries and planes, it was the wooden balls that they were firing off into the holes that were their targets, the most desired placement of their munitions being the ones that would contribute the most to their scoreboards.  

                There being no foes wouldn’t be an accurate statement though, Enterprise finding something adversarial in the line of scoreboards that were aside her own.  Their first game, as she predicted, did not go well for her, her trial run having been inadequate training to prepare her for this.  To make matters worse, Cleveland and Montpelier quickly proved to possess the same prowess as Belfast when it came to skee-ball, leading to an end result of scores from the two of them tripling what Enterprise had.  

                Then there was Montpelier in particular.  It was after the opening game that Enterprise took note of how the shipgirl would delay starting another set, waiting for the carrier to finish hers so that she could see the total of their scores side-by-side.  Enterprise couldn’t read anything from her, but after the second and third game with the same thing occurring, she was able to pick up something from the typically uncaring cruiser: satisfaction.  

                Belfast hadn’t moved since the games began, only doing so to hand Enterprise another token when she needed one.  It was during the handing of one that Enterprise couldn’t help but ask, “Any idea what’s up with Montpelier?”  

                “You can’t guess?” Belfast questioned.  

                “No.” Enterprise couldn’t think of anything that could explain the antagonistic impressions she was getting from the girl.  She had been introduced to the Cleveland -class sister ships beforehand and got familiar enough to remember their names and be envious of how much they cared for each other.  During their battles, the ‘knights of the seas’ did justice to their titles, their fighting capabilities a proud example of Eagle Union valiance, especially when they fought together in defense of the fleets they accompanied.   

                Enterprise respected them, and playing alongside the two of them stoked an old longing of how she had been so close to her own sisters.  Hence her puzzlement when it came to Montpelier’s adversity.  

                “Hm, I wonder what it could be then,” Belfast wondered in a tone that said she had no problem figuring out what it was.  Enterprise wanted clarification but was cut off.  

                “Out of tokens?” Montpelier suddenly spoke up.  

                Enterprise curled her fingers around her acquired token.  The query sounded like Montpelier wasn’t terribly interested, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d rather that Enterprise was out of tries.  An unusual prickling that Enterprise couldn’t explain occurred.  

                “Not yet,” she responded with an edge, slotting in her token.  

                In this instance, Montpelier did linger on her before she refaced her lane, her lips in a thinner line.  

                Enterprise was getting more involved in the games, but that had been entirely on a compulsion to reach an acceptable level of adequacy.  As someone used to performing at her best in everything she did – ‘everything’ being fighting -, playing a game of skee-ball so poorly was gnawing at her, inspiring to do better.  That, and maybe she was getting some relief at being able to carry out this task, menial as it was, when she had been continuously proven as to how impaired her combat capabilities had become.  

                Though she still didn’t know what was going on with Montpelier, she was starting to see her as an opponent – one that she wanted to beat at least once.  So, focusing on the game, her arm began moving with more precise surety, her balls rolling, leaping, and sinking with growing ease and accuracy that a consecutive scoring of higher points got Montpelier to pause when she saw it.  

                But as the next game showed, Enterprise had failed to match her.  However, she was getting better.  

                “Neck and neck again, Montpelier!” Cleveland called, the line of tickets that the two sisters had nearly even.  

                “You always come out on top, big sis,” Montpelier replied, the claim stated as an impenetrable truth instead of with any modesty.  

                “And Enterprise…you’re learning!”  

                “So I am,” Enterprise returned, feeling encouraged by her comrade’s recognition of her efforts.  

                “Unfortunately,” Belfast said, handing her another token, “this is the last one.”  

                Enterprise took the news with alarm, the coin weighing heavier as a result.  The last one?  Right when she was feeling confident?  

                “Guess the Lucky E isn’t so lucky,” Montpelier remarked  

                Enterprise snapped her head towards Montpelier but once more she was prioritizing her game rather than the ace for her attention.  That didn’t stop Enterprise from seeing the glint in her red eye.  

                One nickname could paralyze her and leave her shaking.  Her other nickname, spoken in such a way, had an entirely opposite effect.  Enterprise claimed her next ball, fixated on her mission to make this last chance count.  

                Picking up on the responsibility that Enterprise was putting to the cause, Belfast did her part as morale support. “Good luck.”  

                Enterprise stared down at the area that was the center of her operations: the line of holes of ten to fifty, with the one hundreds at either corner.  She rolled the ball in her hand, accustomed to the smooth feel and weight of the wooden sphere at this point and took her time lining up her shot.  She slowly pulled her arm back, her muscles tensing with the right amount of force that she was calculating what she needed.  She made a tiny shift of her feet to get the right angle and when she believed herself to be ready, she launched the ball.  

                It rolled, speeding down the lane like one of her Wildcats, the line it followed straight, the takeoff smooth, and the drop into the target area perfect: right into the fifty hole.  

                Like that .  Enterprise locked onto the trajectory, willing her body to memorize and maintain it.  She only made the movements necessary to reach over and grab a ball and, after another minor shift, she rolled again to create a repeat, her ball disappearing into the fifty for the second time in a row.  Then a third time.  The scoring and catching Montpelier’s attention made Enterprise more daring, wondering if she could…  

                She applied another shift, made an adjustment in power, and went for the biggest prize.  That attempt was met with failure, her ball bouncing off the protective ring of the hundred pointer, but much like her planes she prepared for another run while making corrections.  When she fired off another ball, she obtained the coveted hundred points.  She controlled the rise of success, knowing how much of a folly it was to let overconfidence influence her, and instead maintained the steady moves that saw her obtaining another hundred points.  

                The same couldn’t be said for Montpelier and her failing battle with the rashness that hastened her rolls.  Striving to achieve Enterprise’s growing success, she rolled for and failed her shot at the hundred points.  The loss and the pressure to make up for it with another shot that subsequently failed, Enterprise knew, was a slope that could lead to only one result.  

                “Woah!” Cleveland exclaimed when all was said and done, impressed at the score that dominated Enterprise’s board, breaking the thousand-point mark easily. “Nice going, Enterprise!  That must be the best score of all!”  

                The praise added to the flush of success the carrier felt, she unexpecting this amount over a game but enjoying it nonetheless.   She didn’t let that overcome her though. “It was only the one game,” she deflected with logic. “I don’t have anywhere near the number of tickets you and Montpelier have.”  

                “Yeah, but imagine if you had been this good at the start!  Or played some more like this!”  

                Enterprise showed her empty hands. “I’m out of tokens.” Recognizing an opening that Belfast could capitalize on, she added, “And I think I’ve had enough.”  

                Belfast, thankfully, decided to help her out despite the knowing look she possessed. “We do have some other plans made.”