This morning was a bit embarrassing. Luckily my Master seemed to take my presence well...too well.
"Dido, you feeling alright?" Sirius appears in my view.
"O-oh, y-yes..." I focus on her, trying my best to not appear shakey.
"Okay, just let me or Black Prince or even Hermione know if something is wrong." She smiles faintly.
"H-Hermione?" I say. "Who's that?"
"Our other sister..." She looks at me with a bemused expression.
Suddenly, new knowledge floods my mind.
"Ah, that's right..." I ponder to myself.
"We don't have time to review it now, Dido..." Sirius walks over to the door. "We're departing on our mission soon."
"I-I know..." I proceed towards the open door. "Thank you."
Sirius closes the door behind her and takes the lead, with me close behind. This will be my first combat trial in this form. How will I do? I at least hop that I can prove to my Master that I am perfectly capable in battle.
"Dido! Sirius!" I hear his voice call.
I look up and there he is, along with the others that will participate in this strike.
"Honorable Master, we apologize for being late to assembly." She bows shallowly, causing me to do the same.
"Don't worry so much." He sniggers a little. "You're not late at all."
"Everyone else is already here..." Sirius doesn't look up.
"And..?" My Master pats her head. "They were just early."
"O-oh...I see..." Sirius straightens her self and I follow suit.
"Now, both of you have easy jobs." My Master pulls Sirius aside. "You'll be in the second wave of vanguards."
"Understood, Honorable Master." She comes back to me. "Dido, take care all right?"
"I will." I try my best to smile reassuringly.
She wanders off, likely to prepare.
"Dido, since this is your first time in combat, you'll be in the third and final wave of vanguards." My Master explains. "Your sister, Black Prince, will be in the same wave as you, if that's alright?"
"Y-yes, that is fine." I try to smile again.
"Good." My Master stands up straight. "I will leave you to ready yourself."
He does a small wave, and then turns his attention to the battleships that are lined up...I guess I'll need to find my wave...This is it...my first trial by fire. How will it go, I wonder.
"Dido." I hear a familiar voice call to me. "You're with me, right?"
Black Prince stares at me, awaiting response.
"Yes." I simply reply and join her in the line.
"You'd of wandered off if I hadn't noticed you." She smiles.
"I-I guess I was being a bit dozy..." I look at the ground.
"Anyway, we are leaving soon..." She turns to look over at my Master. "I hope you know how to work your rigging."
"I-I think I do..." I also look at my Master as he inspects others' riggings.
"Good." Black Prince raises her head a little. "Look, we're next. Summon your rigging."
I watch as she makes her weapons appear. I should do the same...Focus...
"Waaahh!" I let out as I almost fall over.
"Woah!" Black steadies me. "Easy, easy."
"T-thanks..." I can barely speak due to embarrassment.
I feel like everyone is looking at me now... I want to disappear...
"Okay, vanguard wave 3!" My Master's voice rings out from nearby. "Please, allow me to inspect your riggings."
Everyone puts their mechanical parts on display. I do my best to replicate them.
"Mmmm..." He scratches his chin as he looks over all the weapons in front of him. "Good good good..."
I brace myself for his review of my equipment.
"Dido?" He asks in a soft voice. "Are you feeling alright?"
"I-I am." I look at him. "Why?"
"You look a bit red in the face." He continues to gaze at me with a great deal of concern in his eyes.
"D-do I?" I feel my cheeks.
...They are a bit hot...
"N-no matter, Master." I reassure him.
"R-right, just let someone know if anything happens." He gives a small smile before stepping back to address us all.
"All riggings are looking good!" My Master has a very good morale-boosting voice. "So, unless anyone objects...Commence the Operation."
Everyone turns and the first waves drop into the water with each other.
"Dido, try to remain calm." Black Prince pats my shoulder. "This battle will hinge on everyone's composure."
"I will do my best." I breathe deeply to steady myself before the order is given to assert myself to the water.
The splashes are cold on my ankles...Ignore it, my Master's watching.
Take it as slow as possible...
[Later...]
"Halt!" My Master radios. "Straight ahead, hostile fleet. They are where they're supposed to be."
"What happens now?" Someone replies.
"Battleships, ready the cannons." My Master orchestrates. "First vanguard wave, be ready to start your approach once the battleships' guns fire."
"Roger!" Multiple voices say back.
"...Now!" My Master exclaims through the comms.
The tranquility of the sea is shattered by the sudden roar of artillery guns unloading into the air and raining fire on the Siren fleet.
"Are you ready for this, Dido?" Black Prince appears next to me, watching the burning ships in the distance.
"I-I guess so..." I lift my sword and inspect it.
"Good enough for me." She gets ready to move. "We're advancing soon."
My sword looks perfectly ready for battle, so I assume the same stance as my sister.
"...3rd vanguard wave, go go go!" I immediately obey my Master's command and crank up to full speed.
I'm in the lead...Good. That means my Master will see how truly capable I am. Somehow, using this sword comes naturally to me. The first few ships that I approached have been completely severed, by my hands.
"Dido! Look out!" A shout causes me to panic as I scan quickly for the incoming projectile.
There! I raise my sword again and manage to slice the shell in two before it explodes behind me...H-how...did I do that..?
"Dido, that was incredible!" Black Prince compliments me.
"Oh no, don't give me too much credit..." I brush her off.
"No, I'm serious." She smiles. "You're amazing."
I want to reply, but her expression stops me.
"Anyway, let's continue." She glides away.
I'm...amazing..? She can't really mean that...
"Uuuuggh..." I shake my thoughts out of my head and refocus on the battle.
These enemies are no problem at all...it's almost too easy.
"Keep..." My Master's voice trails off. "Shit, there is an elite Siren surfacing. Brace yourself!"
A bright light emits from the ocean before the surface breaks and something emerges from it.
"Subjects are performing better than expected." The figure says. "Proceeding to tame their progress."
"Tester!" Black Prince brandishes her sword in a defensive manner.
Is that her name? Tester?
"Everyone, engage that Siren!" My Master yells through the radio.
"Aye!"
I watch as this 'Tester' effortlessly blocks the countless shells that continue to bombard her. I can't even hope to defeat her.
Suddenly, her cannons fire back causing a few of my allies to swerve and stop shooting. She fires off a second shelling quickly, scoring direct hits.
I've had enough! My blade glimmers in the low sunlight, encouraging me to use it on this alien. I skate at full speed towards 'Tester', sword ready.
She eyes me up. "Subject acting too hostile. Irredeemable. Will dispose of said subject."
Her cannons train themselves on me as I grow closer. This is suicide...but if it's for my Master and my sisters...then...
"DIDO!" A screech is drowned out by the firing of a lazer on me.
It...burns...so...much...
I stumble while still taking the brunt of this onslaught of pain. I'm motionless on the surface of the water while the lazer continues to pound me.
I'm...sorry...everyone...I've...failed...
All..of a...sudden...I...feel less pain...and the sound has stopped.
My eyes slowly open to see 'Tester' has stopped firing...in fact she's being lifted.
She's impaled on one end of a bladed staff wielded by a woman in a white and gold ceremonial robe with a silver chain draped over her shoulders and looping around her neck. In the middle of this chain lies a crucifix.
This woman grabs her staff in a different way, then proceeds to swing it forward, sending 'Tester' flying so far that I can't see her anymore.
"Dido! Dido!" Black Prince and Sirius both rush to my aid. "You're going to be okay."
The woman in the robe glides over to us.
"Please, let me treat her." She speaks gently.
"Ehm...no disrespect." Sirius replies. "But who are you?"
"Ah, right..." She pulls down her hood to reveal silvery-blue hair that flows down after being released. "I am HMS Vindictive. Part heavy cruiser, part aircraft carrier. Just call me Vindictive and my classification as an aviation cruiser."
Her light green eyes look down at me with...pity?
"Don't worry, Maid." She smiles warmly. "Your wounds are not lethal."
She looks back at my sisters. "Who are you three?"
"I'm Black Prince." I here her retort.
"...I-I am Sirius." Even though I cannot see Sirius I know she was a bit sheepish with that introduction. "And she's Dido."
"Nice to meet you." Her voice is very soothing, like My Master's. "Now, you may be wondering why I assisted you, allies."
"Mhmm." I hear Black Prince shift a little.
"I will tell you, but first we need to get Dido to a stable environment." Thank you.
"Ah, you're right." I feel myself being lifted and taken away.
Might as well take this opportunity to catch up on sleep.
When I wake up, I want to be back...and safe...at port...
[Later...]
"...She will be fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Have I not earned your trust?"
"You haven't said anything about why you helping like you said you would."
I open my eyes to see Vindictive standing opposed to a disgruntled-looking Black Prince with folded arms. What happened while I was out?
"I simply could not stand by and watch allies get obliterated." Vindictive remains perfectly calm. "So, I disobeyed orders to assist you. Though, because of that, higher ups will not take kindly to my presence, so, if it's not too much trouble, could you convince your commanding officer to let me stay?"
"O-oh..." Black Prince drops her stature. "I apologize."
"No problem." Vindictive smiles. "It was a simple misunderstanding."
My Master bursts through the door to my ward.
"Is Dido alright?" He immediately asks, making my heart flutter.
"See for yourself..." Vindictive gestures at me. "Oh, and she's awake."
"Dido..." He looks forlorn. "You didn't have to do that..."
My once joyful heart now starts to shrivel.
"H-have I...disappointed you, Master?" I query.
"No, of course not." He tries to smile. "It's just...you worried me so much..."
He...really cares for me? I'm just a Maid.
"I..." He looks at me. "Nevermind."
His eyes prevented me from protesting his concern. They looked so depressed.
"Sorry to break the moment, but I have a question for you, Commander." Vindictive taps his shoulder.
"Yes?" My Master stands up straight and faces her.
"Since I went against higher ups back at home, can I stay here, with your fleet?" She inquires directly.
"P-permission granted." He hastily turns back to me.
"Thank you, Commander." Vindictive elegantly flairs her robe. "I'll leave you be now."
She leaves and now it's just me and my Master.
"Why do you care about me so much?" I give in to the constant nag on my mind to ask that question.
He sighs. "Because, you try so hard at everything, even if you know or think you're no good, you still try. I honestly admire that about you."
What..? How..?
"There's no way..." I trail off, having been praised higher than ever before, let alone by my Master.
"I'm being 100% truthful here." He caresses my arm. "You possess something I don't and so, I want to keep you around, to have someone to admire, since I believe being perfect would be boring."
Unsure of what to do, I let myself silently cry in joy.
"Dido..." He embraces me gently. "I don't want to upset you."
"...I-I know..." I slowly allow my hands to grip him. "It's just...nobody's ever...been this n-nice to me..."
A little bit of embarrassment pulls at my thoughts, but I suppress it in order to enjoy this event. My Master...thank you...
"Thank you..."