Chapter 2
"Hi there sleepy head," a brown haired tomboyish looking girl said as Ryuujou slowly opened her eyes.
"Where am I?" Ryuujou asked.
"Our room," a black haired girl relied.
"Who are you," Ryuujou asked.
"The biggest bad ass to roam the oceans and the dreams of boys, and ship girls everywhere...," the brown haired girl boasted before the black haired one smacked her on the back of her head.
"The idiots name is Yorktown," the black haired girl said.
"Horny that hurt," Yorktown shot back.
"Says the girl that heals almost as fast as the abyssals can damage her," Hornet dead panned. "And my name is Hornet, not Horny."
"The Yorktown," Ryuujou gasped.
"The one and only original, and not that copycat of an Essex class," Yorktown beamed with pride.
Ryuujou shot up ramrod straight, before bowing at the waist her head almost to her knees. "It's a pleasure to meet you Ms. Yorktown, Ms. Hornet and thank you taking care of me," Ryuujou blurted out before making a beeline for the door.
"And just where do you think you're going," Yorktown said snagging her arm.
"I um, was..." Ryuujou stammered.
"Don't worry Big E told us everything, and you are going to be staying with us from now on," Hornet said hugging the smaller girl.
"But I'm just...," Ryuujou stammered.
"A light carrier," Yorktown said.
"Yeah," Ryuujou said.
"A light carrier that single handedly opened the Bering Sea, and befriended an abyssal princess," Hornet said.
"Yes, but," Ryuujou said.
"The light carrier that saved our sister," Yorktown said putting air quotes around light.
"I was just trying to help," Ryuujou said.
"And help you have, Ryuujou. Only we don't see a light carrier," Hornet said as Ryuujou's head dropped.
"We see a fleet carrier, one of the strongest, a fellow member of the Yorktown class, and our dear little sister," Yorktown and Hornet said.
"And anyone who doesn't like it will answer to me," Enterprise said.
"So it wasn't a dream I have sisters now," Ryuujou said tears of joy threatening to leak from her eyes.
"Yes," Enterprise said.
"Thank you," Ryuujou exclaimed latching onto enterprise tears of joy soaking through the blond carrier's shirt.
"You're welcome, and as a Yorktown sister, you need a proper escort, and I know just the group." Enterprise said.
Section break
"Hey…. Listen up midgets," the battleship New Jersey called out over the din of the mess hall. "Essex, Herman, Hoel, Johnston, your with me," Jersey bellowed.
"But we just got here," the taffies wined.
"Don't care Enterprise's orders," New Jersey barked. "Now move it."
"What's the big deal skipper," Johnston asked.
"The latest arrival for the ISE program arrived today," New Jersey said.
"We promise not to cause any trouble," Hoel said.
"I know you won't," New Jersey said giving them each an affectionate pat on the head.
"Then why are we here," Herman asked.
"Yeah and who is the new girl," Hoel asked.
"JSDF light carrier Ryuujou," New Jersey sighed.
"Yes, Ryuujou, we like her," Johnston cheered.
"Yeah she can do all these cool paper tricks and junk," Hoel added.
"It's called Origami," Herman sighed.
"Yeah that," Johnston said. "We need to get her autograph for Fanshaw Bay, St. Lo, White Plains, and Kalinin Bay. They are big time fans."
"What's wrong New Jersey," Essex said.
"Look there is no easy way to say this, but she was hurt when she arrived here earlier today," New Jersey sighed.
"The abyssals are so dead," the taffy trio growled.
"It wasn't the abyssals was it?" Essex asked.
"No it was one of our own," New Jersey said softly.
"Who did it, they are so dead, when I get my hands on them," the destroyer trio growled.
"You will do nothing," New Jersey hissed glaring at the girls.
"But skipper," Johnston protested.
"Enterprise and Pennsylvania are handling it," New Jersey replied.
"But," Hoel said.
"They are handling it," New Jersey hissed. "Your job is to protect Ryuujou. You are her destroyer screen for the duration of her time here. You got that," New Jersey said. "And just so you know enterprise considers her a little sister and fellow member of the Yorktown class."
"You got it skipper," the group boasted.
"Good, now you know that really good Japanese place," New Jersey said.
"The one with the authentic sushi," Hoel said.
"The one we aren't allowed to go to," Johnston said.
"Yes, I want you to take Ryuujou there for dinner, and make sure she doesn't come home hungry," New Jersey said handing over her credit card.
"Are you sure," Heerman stammered.
"Yes, and you nuggets better be on your best behavior or I will be the least of your problems," New Jersey said her eyes boring into the craziest little midgets on the base short of Willie and Sammy.
"We promise, but it's really expensive skipper," Johnston said.
"Don't worry about it," New Jersey said.
"They do have a point, Jersey," Essex added.
"Those Hollywood idiots are willing to pay anything to see me in a dress and it's not like I need the money," New Jersey chuckled. "Now get going."
"Aye, aye, sir," the three said before racing off.
"There is more isn't there," Essex said.
"Yes," Jersey replied. "I'm not going to sugar coat it for you. Physically Ryuujou might be fine, but mentally and emotionally she is a wreck due to constant bullying and abuse. Thankfully enterprise caught her before she scuttled herself."
"Tell me everything," Essex demanded.
"Ryuujou is a good girl who works her tail off for her country protecting the commercial shipping and fishing fleets, but receives no acknowledgement for her work from the public or her fellow ship girls. Even after befriending Hoppo she was told a real carrier would have sunk the lonely abyssal girl," New Jersey said.
"Who, tell me who said it and I'm going to give them a Sunday punch to the face allies or not," Essex growled.
"She didn't say, but it gets worse," New Jersey said.
"How?" Essex asked.
"She is on the receiving end of almost near constant verbal abuse due to a lack of feminine assets. She was overjoyed with the thought of leaving this behind for a few months while working with us, but upon arrival several of our fellow ship girls," New Jersey spat.
"Made similar comments," Essex said.
"And questioned her light carrier designation the one bit of pride she had left," Jersey said.
"I want their names," Essex growled.
"Listen I want to shove my 16 inchers so far up their asses they taste silk for a month, but this isn't want she needs right now," New Jersey said. "She is very fragile right now, her self-confidence, and self-worth have been shot. We need to build her back up and show her just how strong she really is."
"But we can't just tell her, she needs to realize it for herself, and she's smart enough to know if we're playing with the kids gloves," Essex said.
"Yes, that's why we can't use Lexington or Saratoga," New Jersey said. "Enterprise knows this is asking a lot, but we need to do this."
"And we shall," Essex stated.
Section break
"Hey RJ," Johnston called out as the destroyer walked into the crowded cafeteria.
"Um hi," Ryuujou waved back stunned by the sheer mass of ship girls in the large room. Fleet carriers, light carriers, escort carriers, battleships, fast battleships, heavy cruisers, light cruisers, destroyers, destroyer escorts, submarines, repair ships, and many other support ships. There were even a few she hadn't seen before. Now most ship girls, were simply drop dead gorgeous, irresistibly cute, or some combination of the two, even Tatsuta when she did her scary thing. Not that it worked on her anymore, Ryuujou smirked at that one. Now these new girls she'd never seen before were a bit homely, and decidedly more average looking, also they appeared a bit sickly even if their spirits were as robust and strong as their ship girl sisters. Perhaps the strangest thing was that their outfits were covered in a multitude of pockets and they seemed to be everywhere.
"We're your escorts for the duration of your stay here," a young girl with short blond hair chimed.
"Yup, only the best for the indestructible Ryuujou," an almost carbon copy of the first girl with longer black hair added.
"Origami master race," the last girl with mid length brown hair in a ponytail giggled.
"Taffies," Ryuujou stammered.
"Hehehehehe," she remembered the blond haired girl said.
"How could I not Hoel, you guys are insane. What kind of an idiot stuffs a torpedo down an abyssal demons throat," Ryuujou ranted.
"Hey it worked didn't it," the brown haired girl added.
"You're insane Johnston," Ryuujou sighed.
"But you're the one who jumped in front of the battleships," Hoel retorted.
"That's because I had a plan," Ryuujou shot back.
"Yeah that glowy pink shield thingy," the brown haired girl said.
"Teach us, Ryuujou sensei," the trio beamed. "Oh and we need your autograph for White and the others."
"Why should I teach you nut bars anything? Who is white and why does she want my autograph?" Ryuujou asked.
"Because it might just keep sisters from doing more dumb stuff, or at least keep them from getting hurt when they do dumb stuff," Heerman dead panned as she fixed her long black hair from Johnston's attempts to fix it again. "And white is White Plains, one of the jeep carriers of the original Taffy three."
"Or it is going to make them do more crazy stuff," Ryuujou huffed before a loud rumble cut across the dining hall.
"Oh that reminds me you're eating good food tonight," Johnston said grabbing Ryuujou's arm.
"I am," a confused Ryuujou said as the trio pulled her along. "But the cafeteria's that way."
"Yeah, but we have something better," Hoel said.
"Um where are we going," Ryuujou said as a trio of destroyers pulled her along.
"Dinner," Johnston exclaimed.
"Please tell me you didn't cook," Ryuujou pleaded.
"Nope we're having Japanese," Johnston exclaimed as they left the base.
"Sushi," Heerman added. "Wait what's sushi?"
"Only the best thing ever," Ryuujou sighed.
"But what is it," Hoel asked.
"Freshly cut raw fish served on formed rice, with a little bit of sushi and wasabi. Oh so good," Ryuujou sighed.
"Raw fish," Heerman said.
"Is that a problem because we can go somewhere else," Ryuujou said softly.
"Nope, we're the badass taffy 3, we do raw for breakfast," Johnston boasted.
"If Ryuujou likes it then it must be good," Hoel added.
"It's going to be expensive though," Ryuujou said.
"Not a problem," Johnston giggled holding up a gold credit card.
"Where did you get that from Johnston," Ryuujou said giving the destroyer her best glare.
"New Jersey, and she said that you're not supposed to leave hungry," Johnston replied.
"New Jersey…" Ryuujou said.
"She hates wearing a dress and she makes the modeling companies pay out the ass for it," Hoel said.
"She's a model," Ryuujou replied.
"Yep, the rough and tumble New Jersey in a dress," Johnston giggled.
"She looks gorgeous," Heerman said. "Like a real lady."
"In a dress," Hoel continued to giggle.
"I see you're still as immature as ever," Ryuujou said. I wonder if I could ever look that elegant. A real lady like Akatski loves to proclaim.
"Yeah, yeah, who needs maturity when we're bad asses," Johnston scoffed. "Now let's go. We're finally allowed to go, and I'm dying to tryout the food, the rest of the Iowa's and Essex's rave about."
"Now you listen to me you little midgets," Ryuujou said rounding on the trio before they could enter.
"Yes Miss Ryuujou," the girls said.
"I still remember the last time we went out to eat at the barbecue place in Japan and we will not have a repeat of that do you understand me," Ryuujou growled her hands taking on a faint pink glow. "We are going to sit down and have a nice quite dinner and actually taste our food or else."
"Yes ma'am," the taffies said quickly falling in line for once.
Oh hell she's doing the glowing thing again.
Don't break my keel.
My sisters are idiots…
"Good," Ryuujou said leading them into the restaurant.
"Konichiwa," Ryuujou said as the destroyers followed suit. "A table for 4 please."
"Right this way," A waitress said leading to a private chefs table where they could observe all his work.
"Um, I don't think we can afford this," Ryuujou stammered knowing just how much this kind of service normally costs.
"Don't worry about it, Jersey is paying," Johnston said holding up the gold credit card.
"And she said you're not supposed to go home hungry," Hoel added.
"So sit back and stuff yourself silly big sister," Herman said.
"But, this is going to be really expensive" Ryuujou said while salivating over the food.
"Jersey's credit rating is really high," Johnston giggled.
"Yeah Missouri borrowed it once to take Musashi, Yamato, Kaga, and Akagi out for burgers and they didn't even hit the limit," Hoel added.
"And Musashi likes burgers," Johnston said.
"Iowa was jealous because it's like six figures or something," Heerman added.
"Ok," Ryuujou said. Well if they couldn't put a dent in it then it must be ok.
"Oh man so much for getting sushi tonight a Japanese carrier is here," a pair of British destroyer girls said walking in to the eatery.
"Yeah and Warspite was really looking forward to trying some," the second girl said.
"Hey it's that washboard carrier so maybe we're in luck since it's not like she has any fuel tanks," the first one said causing Ryuujou to hunch.
"Hey," Johnston growled as Ryuujou grabbed her arm.
"Don't," Ryuujou said. "I'm not worth it."
"Yes you are worth it, and I promise not to make a scene," Hoel said walking over to the pair.
"You want something," the first British girl said.
"Listen normally I would just punch you in the face, and be done with it but I promised to be good tonight. Now I would ask you to apologize, but I don't think you will so would you please leave, before you hurt my friends feelings any more than you already have, due to the lack of normally impeccable British tact," hoel explained.
"And if we don't," the pair boasted.
"What taffy 3 will do to you will pale in comparison to my rage," Warspite said looming over the pair.
"My apologies Dame Ryuujou, it seems my subordinates need a lesson in manners," Warspite said bowing towards Ryuujou.
"A lesson I am more than happy to deliver," Hood added. "Go enjoy the evening. I know you've been meaning to catch up with her for a while now," Hood said pushing her forward.
"But," Warspite stammered.
"Don't worry about a thing. I've got you covered," Hood said.
"Thanks," Warpsite replied.
"Now then are you two going to come with me," Hood said dragging the protesting destroyers out of the restaurant. "I've always wanted to try this since Bismark told me about how well it works on controlling Prince Eugen."
"Oh crap," were the last words of the destroyers before they vanished.
"You're a Dame," Heerman gushed.
"Of course she is a lady you dingbat," Hoel remarked.
"Yeah she got the same….." Johnston said before Warspite clamped her mouth shut.
"A Dame the female equivalent of knighthood. Now I trust that you will behave, or should I call for Hood," Warpsite explained.
"I'll be good," Johnston mumbled rapidly shaking her head, angry battleships are scary.
"You're a knight," a wide eyed Hoel said looking at Ryuujou.
"I'm not," Ryuujou replied.
"But…." Heerman said looking toward Warspite.
"She is, or at least will be once she returns to England for the ceremony and pick out her estate," Warpsite said.
"But why," Ryuujou asked. "I'm…."
"Someone special, someone very special," Warspite said.
"I just…." Ryuujou said softly.
"Wanted to help, did what needed to be done, or as the Americans would say, save my sorry ass," Warpsite said.
"Story time," the Taffies cheered as the first course arrived.
"Yes story time," Warpsite chuckled.
Section Break
For whatever reason, and none of the scientists or mystics could figure it out, but the only ship girls could be summoned had to have served in some capacity during World War 2. This meant that a large number of countries were severely limited in their ability to protect their coastlines and merchant marine fleets from the abyssal menace. In the spirit of international cooperation the Japanese, sent Ryuujou, and Tenryuu with her kindergarten to escort a large commercial fleet to Europe.
"I wonder who is going to come out and meet us," Inazuma asked.
"I hope it's someone elegant like Bismark," Akatski said.
"But she doesn't wear…." Ikazuchi stammered.
"She is an elegant lady," Akatski replied as Hibiki just rolled her eyes.
"I believe it is the British ships girls that we going to be meeting up with," Ryuujou said.
"Yes, we are to rendezvous with Warspite, Archer, Douglas, Bedouin, Cossack, and Eskimo," Tenryuu explained as a series of blobs appeared on the horizon.
"Ah crap," Ryuujou muttered readying her planes.
"Task force H this is JMSDF light cruiser Tenryuu, please respond," Tenyruu called.
"Tenryuu this is task force leader Warspite," Warspite replied.
"Warspite, sit rep," Tenryuu asked as Ryuujou's planes soared into the sky.
"Currently under attack from a combined abyssal assault force headed towards the convoy," Warspite replied.
"Roger, Ryuujou's CAP is already on the way," Tenryuu replied.
"Negative Tenryuu, reroute to Gibraltar and hopefully the land based artillery can drive them off," Warspite replied as several explosions went off in the background. "Douglas take the destroyers and get Archer out of here."
"Destroyer leader Douglas this is Ryuujou, pull back towards Gibraltar and rendezvous with our forces," Ryuujou said.
"Negative Ryuujou the path is blocked," Douglass replied.
"My planes are currently clearing a path," Ryuujou said just before the ocean literally exploded. "Now get moving."
"Roger," Douglass replied.
"Ryuujou what the hell do you think you are doing," Tenyruu growled.
"My job," Ryuujou shot back.
"I know that you want to…." Tenyruu said.
"Doesn't matter. I refuse to let the abyssals take any more of our comrades," Ryuujou hissed pulling out a second scroll.
"Didn't you already launch all of your planes," Akatski asked.
"Yeah, you can only carry fifty planes at best," Ikazuchi said.
"I've been practicing," Ryuujou said as another fifty planes streamed into the sky.
"I don't know what you plan to do, but stay safe. Ashigara would never forgive me," Tenryuu said.
"What about Tatsuta," Ryuujou said as she sailed off.
"Ashigara is worse," Tenyruu shuddered.
Section Break
"Oh come on," Warpsite groaned as her third gun turret exploded as the abyssals closed in.
"Warspite, break hard right," Ryuujou ordered.
"What," Warpsite gasped.
"Just do it," Ryuujou hissed as the lumbering battleship cut hard to the right as abyssals tried to surround her. A full spread of torpedoes cut through the wake slamming into the nightmares given humanoid form. A series of planes hidden behind Warpsites lumbering bulk delivered their own one, two punch of bombs delivered right down their gaping maws.
"Ryuujou what bloody hell do you think you're doing," Warpsite said as the diminutive carrier slid under the taller battleships shoulder.
"Saving you," Ryuujou grunted. "Wow you're lighter than the Kongo sisters."
"You know it's not polite to talk about a ladies weight," Warspite said.
"But I thought it was good to say a woman weighted less," Ryuujou replied as her fighters cleared the skies.
"I'm a battleship, the heavier the better," Warspite replied.
"That's nice but who is going to save you," a bruised and batter abyssal battleship hissed shrugging off the bullets from Ryuujou's fighters.
"Run," Warspite yelled pushing Ryuujou away as the demon opened fire.
"I'd like to see you try and survive," the demon laughed. "Impossible the demon hissed at the smoke cleared revealing a fully intact battleship and aircraft carrier.
"Round shield," Ryuujou panted holding up a hand behind the glowing pink barrier floating in the air between her and the abyssal.
"You're shield won't hold forever," the abyssal growled unloaded her full firepower against it.
"Doesn't have to," Ryuujou panted as a blue glow engulfed her right hand.
"You think a light show is going to…." The demon began to say.
"Divine buster," Ryuujou exclaimed thrusting her fist forward a blue bullet launching from her hand. While slower than any naval artillery shell it was none the less effective as it blew head off the abyssal battleship.
"What the hell was that," Warspite gasped.
"Um… ship girl magic….." Ryuujou stammered pressing her index fingers together. "You don't think it's weird do you."
"Weird no, bloody powerful yes. How in the hell did you learn to do that," Warspite replied.
Section Break
"And that is why Ryuujou will be knighted by the queen the minute she returns to Britan," Warspite explained.
"Teach me," the taffies chimed in unison.
"And why should I do that," Ryuujou huffed. "You'll either make fun of me or use it to do something stupid."
"If you mean make fun of, say how awesome you are…. Then yes," Johnston said.
"And by do something stupid, you mean punch abyssals in the face then hell yes," Hoel cheered.
"You're are carrier and nobody hurts our carrier," Heerman said.
"Got that right, Johnston cheered. You're the best carrier ever."
"It seems you are in good hands with Taffy 3," Warspite said. "And you never did tell me how you came up with those magical moves of yours."
"You promise not to laugh," Ryuujou said softly.
"Queen's honor," Warspite replied.
"Scouts honor," the Taffies added stifling a yawn.
"That's a story for another time, as I think it's time somebody went to bed." Ryuujou stated.
"We're not tired," a droopy eyed Johnston protested.
"You might not be, but I am," Ryuujou replied motioning for the bill.
"Dang it," Hoel hissed.
"Yeah I wanted to hear the story," Heerman said.
"You will, but not today," Ryuujou replied. "Sorry Warspite."
"It's quite alright, I have a pair of destroyers that also need some looking after as well," Warpsite replied.
