p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Eugen/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"The moon shines through the windowsill as I open my eyes. My head hurts but… what is this feeling of relief? A white blanket covers my naked body as I observed the Commander's sleeping face being lit by the moonlight./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I don't think I'll ever forget this night./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I only meant to tease him but I must have gotten carried away. I never thought I'd have the guts to actually go through with it… but here I am, wrapped in the arms of the one I chose—no, of the one who chose me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Looking at him like this… I can remember the first day I met the Commander; the day I was reborn./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Three Years Ago/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Hey," an unknown voice called out to me in the darkness. "Are you alright? Please tell me you're alright…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Wie heißen sie?" I replied. Wait, I replied…? I can talk now? Wait, I can think? What are these attachments?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I began moving the attachments on the upper part of my body. Are these what those humans called "arms"? And what are… these? Ahh… these must be "legs". It seems I can understand humans and speak their language very fluently now…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I opened my eyes and the very first thing I saw was an adequately built man wearing what looks like a white Navy uniform. I cannot identify from which nation he is from by the uniform… it seems he is not from the Fatherland, though, that's for sure./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I am the Commander of this base," he cordially approached me and moved his own hands forward. Does he want me to shake that? "I take it you're Prinz Eugen of Iron Blood? I hope to work well with you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I stare at this man for a second and look around the room. I am standing on a platform in the middle of what looks like a shipyard. Beside me is my rigging, although much, much smaller than what they used to be./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"So, how will this man play with me, I wonder? Will he be like those Union boys? Or like the Iron Blood compatriots who survived the war with me? Hmm… this will be quite interesting, I believe./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I crossed my arms and sat on my rigging without shaking his hands and stared through him without flinching./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Hmm... so you're the Commander? How long can you keep me amused? I'm looking forward to it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Present day/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Soon, I came to learn about his behavior. He's a workaholic who takes every mission seriously. He took Z23 as his first secretary; that says a lot about his personality. He often sent me on sorties but that didn't interest me one bit. I have had my share of war in the previous era; destroying lifeless ships bring me no joy or fulfillment whatsoever. Instead, I took huge interest in this man's actions. I wondered how such a person, one who knows very little German, could speak ordinary English, and has no Japanese speaking skills could be put in charge of a base that caters to shipgirls who speak these languages. He was not the most brilliant tactician, either: he can't even beat Amagi in a game of shogi./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"And so, I began making trouble with other ships, hoping for him to take interest in me as well./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Until about just over a month ago…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Prinz Eugen, starting tomorrow, you're my secretary."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I finally have my answer… as to why this man was chosen to lead us. He hates losing but unlike others, he treats us shipgirls with respect. We, who are the closest thing to what might be synthetic human beings, were treated by this man as if we were equals. He truly cares about us, treating the Royal Navy as if they were real members of the nobility, treating the Sakura Empire girls and bending to their so-called traditions, and giving us, the Iron Blood ships, a chance to experience the biggest festival in the Fatherland. To him, we're more than just weapons: we are actual human beings with our own wishes and desires, worthy of respect and love…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"It's sad that I had to deceive you… in another world, could I have been anyone other than "Prinz Eugen", and still met you?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Eugen…" Was he awake all this time?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Aren't you tired?" He mumbled as he buried my face in his naked chest. "Go to sleep now… we have a lot of work tomorrow…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I have a much larger stamina than humans, Commander," I giggled. "Although… my head is aching a bit…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Wordlessly, he placed his fingers on the sides of my head and oh…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""W-What are you doing?" He's only touching my head and yet my headache seems to have eased a little…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Hmm, this?" He continued pressing on my forehead methodically as he moved his palm to the sides of my head. "This is what's called a 'massage'."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Ahh… so he was giving me a massage. How cute.../span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Hmm? How doting," I said, fully immersing myself in the comfort of his hands. I wrapped my arms around his waist as I placed my head on his chest. The Commander continued massaging my head. "Where did you learn to give such a good head massage, Commander?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""My grandfather used to give my grandmother massages," he explained. "I often watched him do it until he finally taught me how to give massages."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Interesting… so humans give massages to their loved ones as acts of endearment?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I see… I never asked you, Commander," I said as he looked at my face more intently, focusing on my scalp this time as he moved his fingers through my white hair. "Where exactly in the world do you come from? You don't look like a Union citizen and you're definitely not part of the Sakura Empire if you can't speak their language… you're not from where the Royals came from either and you don't seem to hail from the Iron Blood as well…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"He laughed out loud as he replied: "Now, where I come from is not really important, is it?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Of course, it's important!" I flabbergasted. "Hey, don't get too full of yourself just because you've done it with me, alright?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"He began laughing again. Why am I the one getting teased all of the sudden?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Well, it's a secret," he smugly smiled. "Are you… pouting Eugen?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Wait, am I?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Hmm? You seem to have learned how to tease me, Commander," I said. I really would have liked to know where he was born but I don't think he'll ever tell. He must have some sort of embarrassing experience in his hometown for him to be so secretive like this./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Say, Eugen," he called me. "I have to ask you something too…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I turned to him as he continued massaging my head./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""When I called you 'lucky', why did you get angry at me?" He asked. "I meant that as a compliment so it confuses me why you got so disappointed when I called you that…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I went silent for a bit before giving my answer:/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Have you heard of 'Operation Crossroads', Commander?" I asked him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"He shook his head. Of course, not many people would know about such an operation. This happened during the dark days after the World War, after all. Not many people take interest in what happened to the nations who lost the war, much less what happened to us ships who were no longer needed when the war was over./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Allow me to tell you a story, then."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"The Commander stopped massaging me as I sat up straight. My head feels a little light but it no longer throbs as much as it did a while ago. As I sit up, the blanket covering my body slipped off my torso, revealing my bare chest to the Commander who blushed as he stared at them intently./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Commander… we can do that later," I complained. He seems to be intently staring at one particular area… ah. My mole. I turned my bare back on him and faced the pale white moon./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I-I'm sorry…" He quickly apologized./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""It's okay," I replied. It's not his fault I'm so mesmerizing hehe~/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Operation Crossroads. The Operation that sunk many ships that the Union deemed unneeded for future use." I began. "Among these ships are some you already know: Saratoga, Nevada, Nagato, to name a few. Of course, I was one of those ships."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"He continued listening attentively, crossing his arms across his bare chest./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""It sounds intriguing, no?" I giggled. "But for us ships, it was literally hell on earth. Operation Crossroads was an operation designed to test two atomic bombs."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"His eyes widened. "Atomic bombs? Like the ones they dropped on the Sakura Empire mainland?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I nodded without turning. "Ja. Those bombs that were probably taught to every human child in their history class? They were dropped right next to us."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""We were enveloped in the same two explosions that killed thousands of people. For some, like Saratoga and Nagato, it was over after just a few hours or maybe a few days." I closed my eyes. "They sunk shortly after maybe just the first or second bomb. I, the so-called 'Lucky' German heavy cruiser, unfortunately survived both tests. I remained there… alone on that cursed beach, slowly sinking, slowly dying for years. Left to rot like a ghost ship to be forgotten."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I paused for a minute before continuing:/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I survived Operation Rheinübung, where my partner, Bismarck, fell valiantly facing countless Royals as I fled further south the Atlantic." I gulped. "I survived Cerberus, the Norweigan operations, and the Baltic. All the while my second elder sister, Blücher, sunk on an attempt to invade Norway while my eldest sister, Admiral Hipper, fell to Royal Navy bombers in Kiel while I wasn't there to protect her."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"The Commander moved closer and hugged me from behind. He raised his left hand and began giving me a head pat./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""There, there," he said in a gentle, soft voice. "You've been through a lot… you saw a lot of death, and you've been alone, unable to do anything for yourself or anyone."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"What is this warmth… this is much different from that light…?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I understand why you acted the way you did now," he continued. "Desensitized by seeing so much bloodshed… numbed by the years of isolation… and traumatized by being used and thrown away by us humans like some sort of toy…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"…please don't talk as if you understand… Maybe you do, maybe you don't. My eyes tear up as the Commander continued hugging me as tight as he can. Don't pity me…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""But Eugen," he continued. "I am here now. It's all over. You won't be alone anymore. You won't see your friends and family dying anymore."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I looked at his face as it reflected the gentle light of the moon./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""We—everyone here on this base, will protect each other. You can protect them now, Eugen and I'll be there all the way," he flashed his smile. That damned smile that melted me…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""And, most of all, I love you, Prinz Eugen."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"H-He's really teasing me too much today…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Commander," I turned to him as I was embedded in his arms. "Are you aware that the form you are hugging now, this… body of mine… is just a construct that was brought forth from mental cubes?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"He nodded and watched the moonlight with me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Before I was reborn, I was a pile of scrap metal on some beach, just waiting for the end of time… I had no thoughts, no feelings. I had no soul."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"The Commander remained silent as he listened to me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I am not really a human being… Are you… okay with someone like that?" I asked. "With someone like me?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"The Commander giggled. "You are a human being, Eugen."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""No, I'm not," I replied. "I'm a weapon… simply an embodiment of the ideals of the nation that built me—"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""The fact that you can think, you can feel, and you can love," he said. "That is proof enough that you are a human."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"He took my hand and raised it with his own, allowing the moonlight to illuminate our intertwined fingers./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Look, Eugen," he said. "What's the difference between your hand and mine? I am holding you now. Do you feel a different warmth from my hand? Does your heart beat differently from mine? Doesn't the same blood course through our veins?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I continued listening./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""And look at my face," he turned my face to his own. I see his face blushing. "Is it built any differently from yours?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I couldn't rebut his statements…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""But… I am a ship, Commander."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Yes, you are Prinz Eugen of Iron Blood, the lucky ship who survived countless battles, who survived two atomic blasts, and the ship humanity left to rot alone on some beach," he said. "But, tonight, you are Eugen, my secretary, my companion, and my beloved."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"This man… Hehe… he made me smile for real./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Commander… so is this what you say to all the ladies?" I smirk./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""N-No!" He stammered. "Hey, Eugen, I'll have you know that you had my first time—"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Ohh?" I giggled. "Then could it be that I popped your cherry, Commander~?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Suddenly, he shriveled into a tiny mess. Did I touch his pride… perhaps?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Hehe… well you're my first, too," I added. "If we're not counting Wales, of course."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""W-Wales?" He burned red in embarrassment. "So, you've been doing naughty stuff with Wales!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I pushed the Commander and pinned him on the bed as I loomed on top of him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Shall I demonstrate what I learned with Wales, Commander?" I smiled after noticing how the Commander's body responded… it feels very nice to be wanted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Oh? It seems you're still emvery /emenergetic and /spanemvery /emhappy to see me, Commander. Hehespan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"… I let you have your way with me before but… it's my turn to have a taste of you~"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"The night is still young. I think I'll have my fun with him~/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Bismarck/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Berlin hasn't changed much since the last time the Prime Minister called me here. U-556, Roon, and I just arrived here in Reichstag a few minutes ago. I approached the Prime Minister's office with my two companions. I need answers./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Herr Premierminister," I addressed the current ruling Prime Minister of our Fatherland. Roon and U-556 saluted the same way I did. In his office stood two other persons I do not recognize./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Bismarck," he addressed me. "So, what brings you back to the Fatherland?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"He saluted back and I approached him alone. Roon and U-556 remained standing in their positions./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Your Excellency," I addressed him. "Did you receive the transmissions containing…" I glanced at the two other persons in the room./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Containing? Speak up, Bismarck," he said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""The information you asked for," I continued./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Ja. Indeed, I have."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I straightened and continued: "It has come to my knowledge that the Sirens may have intercepted our intel, Your Excellency. There may be a spy among us."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"The Prime Minister began laughing. Mein gott./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""There IS no spy, Bismarck," he said, his eyes glowing bright yellow. No… it can't be. The Prime Minister's hair started growing and turning purple as tentacles flew out from behind the Prime Minister's chair. The two other persons in the room have visibly changed appearance as well: one of them laughed maniacally while a hammerhead-like structure formed behind her while the other one remained silent while growing a ray-like structure at her back./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I have been waiting for you, thank you for being as predictable as ever, my test subject."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Observer… Roon! U-556!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Roon and I began shooting./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"The moon shines through the windowsill as I open my eyes. My head hurts but… what is this feeling of relief? A white blanket covers my naked body as I observed the Commander's sleeping face being lit by the moonlight./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I don't think I'll ever forget this night./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I only meant to tease him but I must have gotten carried away. I never thought I'd have the guts to actually go through with it… but here I am, wrapped in the arms of the one I chose—no, of the one who chose me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Looking at him like this… I can remember the first day I met the Commander; the day I was reborn./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Three Years Ago/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Hey," an unknown voice called out to me in the darkness. "Are you alright? Please tell me you're alright…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Wie heißen sie?" I replied. Wait, I replied…? I can talk now? Wait, I can think? What are these attachments?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I began moving the attachments on the upper part of my body. Are these what those humans called "arms"? And what are… these? Ahh… these must be "legs". It seems I can understand humans and speak their language very fluently now…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I opened my eyes and the very first thing I saw was an adequately built man wearing what looks like a white Navy uniform. I cannot identify from which nation he is from by the uniform… it seems he is not from the Fatherland, though, that's for sure./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I am the Commander of this base," he cordially approached me and moved his own hands forward. Does he want me to shake that? "I take it you're Prinz Eugen of Iron Blood? I hope to work well with you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I stare at this man for a second and look around the room. I am standing on a platform in the middle of what looks like a shipyard. Beside me is my rigging, although much, much smaller than what they used to be./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"So, how will this man play with me, I wonder? Will he be like those Union boys? Or like the Iron Blood compatriots who survived the war with me? Hmm… this will be quite interesting, I believe./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I crossed my arms and sat on my rigging without shaking his hands and stared through him without flinching./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Hmm... so you're the Commander? How long can you keep me amused? I'm looking forward to it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Present day/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Soon, I came to learn about his behavior. He's a workaholic who takes every mission seriously. He took Z23 as his first secretary; that says a lot about his personality. He often sent me on sorties but that didn't interest me one bit. I have had my share of war in the previous era; destroying lifeless ships bring me no joy or fulfillment whatsoever. Instead, I took huge interest in this man's actions. I wondered how such a person, one who knows very little German, could speak ordinary English, and has no Japanese speaking skills could be put in charge of a base that caters to shipgirls who speak these languages. He was not the most brilliant tactician, either: he can't even beat Amagi in a game of shogi./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"And so, I began making trouble with other ships, hoping for him to take interest in me as well./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Until about just over a month ago…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Prinz Eugen, starting tomorrow, you're my secretary."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I finally have my answer… as to why this man was chosen to lead us. He hates losing but unlike others, he treats us shipgirls with respect. We, who are the closest thing to what might be synthetic human beings, were treated by this man as if we were equals. He truly cares about us, treating the Royal Navy as if they were real members of the nobility, treating the Sakura Empire girls and bending to their so-called traditions, and giving us, the Iron Blood ships, a chance to experience the biggest festival in the Fatherland. To him, we're more than just weapons: we are actual human beings with our own wishes and desires, worthy of respect and love…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"It's sad that I had to deceive you… in another world, could I have been anyone other than "Prinz Eugen", and still met you?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Eugen…" Was he awake all this time?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Aren't you tired?" He mumbled as he buried my face in his naked chest. "Go to sleep now… we have a lot of work tomorrow…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I have a much larger stamina than humans, Commander," I giggled. "Although… my head is aching a bit…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Wordlessly, he placed his fingers on the sides of my head and oh…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""W-What are you doing?" He's only touching my head and yet my headache seems to have eased a little…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Hmm, this?" He continued pressing on my forehead methodically as he moved his palm to the sides of my head. "This is what's called a 'massage'."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Ahh… so he was giving me a massage. How cute.../span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Hmm? How doting," I said, fully immersing myself in the comfort of his hands. I wrapped my arms around his waist as I placed my head on his chest. The Commander continued massaging my head. "Where did you learn to give such a good head massage, Commander?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""My grandfather used to give my grandmother massages," he explained. "I often watched him do it until he finally taught me how to give massages."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Interesting… so humans give massages to their loved ones as acts of endearment?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I see… I never asked you, Commander," I said as he looked at my face more intently, focusing on my scalp this time as he moved his fingers through my white hair. "Where exactly in the world do you come from? You don't look like a Union citizen and you're definitely not part of the Sakura Empire if you can't speak their language… you're not from where the Royals came from either and you don't seem to hail from the Iron Blood as well…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"He laughed out loud as he replied: "Now, where I come from is not really important, is it?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Of course, it's important!" I flabbergasted. "Hey, don't get too full of yourself just because you've done it with me, alright?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"He began laughing again. Why am I the one getting teased all of the sudden?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Well, it's a secret," he smugly smiled. "Are you… pouting Eugen?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Wait, am I?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Hmm? You seem to have learned how to tease me, Commander," I said. I really would have liked to know where he was born but I don't think he'll ever tell. He must have some sort of embarrassing experience in his hometown for him to be so secretive like this./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Say, Eugen," he called me. "I have to ask you something too…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I turned to him as he continued massaging my head./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""When I called you 'lucky', why did you get angry at me?" He asked. "I meant that as a compliment so it confuses me why you got so disappointed when I called you that…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I went silent for a bit before giving my answer:/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Have you heard of 'Operation Crossroads', Commander?" I asked him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"He shook his head. Of course, not many people would know about such an operation. This happened during the dark days after the World War, after all. Not many people take interest in what happened to the nations who lost the war, much less what happened to us ships who were no longer needed when the war was over./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Allow me to tell you a story, then."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"The Commander stopped massaging me as I sat up straight. My head feels a little light but it no longer throbs as much as it did a while ago. As I sit up, the blanket covering my body slipped off my torso, revealing my bare chest to the Commander who blushed as he stared at them intently./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Commander… we can do that later," I complained. He seems to be intently staring at one particular area… ah. My mole. I turned my bare back on him and faced the pale white moon./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I-I'm sorry…" He quickly apologized./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""It's okay," I replied. It's not his fault I'm so mesmerizing hehe~/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Operation Crossroads. The Operation that sunk many ships that the Union deemed unneeded for future use." I began. "Among these ships are some you already know: Saratoga, Nevada, Nagato, to name a few. Of course, I was one of those ships."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"He continued listening attentively, crossing his arms across his bare chest./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""It sounds intriguing, no?" I giggled. "But for us ships, it was literally hell on earth. Operation Crossroads was an operation designed to test two atomic bombs."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"His eyes widened. "Atomic bombs? Like the ones they dropped on the Sakura Empire mainland?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I nodded without turning. "Ja. Those bombs that were probably taught to every human child in their history class? They were dropped right next to us."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""We were enveloped in the same two explosions that killed thousands of people. For some, like Saratoga and Nagato, it was over after just a few hours or maybe a few days." I closed my eyes. "They sunk shortly after maybe just the first or second bomb. I, the so-called 'Lucky' German heavy cruiser, unfortunately survived both tests. I remained there… alone on that cursed beach, slowly sinking, slowly dying for years. Left to rot like a ghost ship to be forgotten."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I paused for a minute before continuing:/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I survived Operation Rheinübung, where my partner, Bismarck, fell valiantly facing countless Royals as I fled further south the Atlantic." I gulped. "I survived Cerberus, the Norweigan operations, and the Baltic. All the while my second elder sister, Blücher, sunk on an attempt to invade Norway while my eldest sister, Admiral Hipper, fell to Royal Navy bombers in Kiel while I wasn't there to protect her."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"The Commander moved closer and hugged me from behind. He raised his left hand and began giving me a head pat./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""There, there," he said in a gentle, soft voice. "You've been through a lot… you saw a lot of death, and you've been alone, unable to do anything for yourself or anyone."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"What is this warmth… this is much different from that light…?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I understand why you acted the way you did now," he continued. "Desensitized by seeing so much bloodshed… numbed by the years of isolation… and traumatized by being used and thrown away by us humans like some sort of toy…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"…please don't talk as if you understand… Maybe you do, maybe you don't. My eyes tear up as the Commander continued hugging me as tight as he can. Don't pity me…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""But Eugen," he continued. "I am here now. It's all over. You won't be alone anymore. You won't see your friends and family dying anymore."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I looked at his face as it reflected the gentle light of the moon./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""We—everyone here on this base, will protect each other. You can protect them now, Eugen and I'll be there all the way," he flashed his smile. That damned smile that melted me…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""And, most of all, I love you, Prinz Eugen."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"H-He's really teasing me too much today…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Commander," I turned to him as I was embedded in his arms. "Are you aware that the form you are hugging now, this… body of mine… is just a construct that was brought forth from mental cubes?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"He nodded and watched the moonlight with me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Before I was reborn, I was a pile of scrap metal on some beach, just waiting for the end of time… I had no thoughts, no feelings. I had no soul."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"The Commander remained silent as he listened to me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I am not really a human being… Are you… okay with someone like that?" I asked. "With someone like me?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"The Commander giggled. "You are a human being, Eugen."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""No, I'm not," I replied. "I'm a weapon… simply an embodiment of the ideals of the nation that built me—"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""The fact that you can think, you can feel, and you can love," he said. "That is proof enough that you are a human."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"He took my hand and raised it with his own, allowing the moonlight to illuminate our intertwined fingers./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Look, Eugen," he said. "What's the difference between your hand and mine? I am holding you now. Do you feel a different warmth from my hand? Does your heart beat differently from mine? Doesn't the same blood course through our veins?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I continued listening./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""And look at my face," he turned my face to his own. I see his face blushing. "Is it built any differently from yours?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I couldn't rebut his statements…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""But… I am a ship, Commander."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Yes, you are Prinz Eugen of Iron Blood, the lucky ship who survived countless battles, who survived two atomic blasts, and the ship humanity left to rot alone on some beach," he said. "But, tonight, you are Eugen, my secretary, my companion, and my beloved."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"This man… Hehe… he made me smile for real./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Commander… so is this what you say to all the ladies?" I smirk./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""N-No!" He stammered. "Hey, Eugen, I'll have you know that you had my first time—"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Ohh?" I giggled. "Then could it be that I popped your cherry, Commander~?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Suddenly, he shriveled into a tiny mess. Did I touch his pride… perhaps?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Hehe… well you're my first, too," I added. "If we're not counting Wales, of course."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""W-Wales?" He burned red in embarrassment. "So, you've been doing naughty stuff with Wales!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I pushed the Commander and pinned him on the bed as I loomed on top of him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Shall I demonstrate what I learned with Wales, Commander?" I smiled after noticing how the Commander's body responded… it feels very nice to be wanted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Oh? It seems you're still emvery /emenergetic and /spanemvery /emhappy to see me, Commander. Hehespan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"… I let you have your way with me before but… it's my turn to have a taste of you~"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"The night is still young. I think I'll have my fun with him~/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Bismarck/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Berlin hasn't changed much since the last time the Prime Minister called me here. U-556, Roon, and I just arrived here in Reichstag a few minutes ago. I approached the Prime Minister's office with my two companions. I need answers./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Herr Premierminister," I addressed the current ruling Prime Minister of our Fatherland. Roon and U-556 saluted the same way I did. In his office stood two other persons I do not recognize./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Bismarck," he addressed me. "So, what brings you back to the Fatherland?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"He saluted back and I approached him alone. Roon and U-556 remained standing in their positions./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Your Excellency," I addressed him. "Did you receive the transmissions containing…" I glanced at the two other persons in the room./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Containing? Speak up, Bismarck," he said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""The information you asked for," I continued./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Ja. Indeed, I have."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I straightened and continued: "It has come to my knowledge that the Sirens may have intercepted our intel, Your Excellency. There may be a spy among us."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"The Prime Minister began laughing. Mein gott./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""There IS no spy, Bismarck," he said, his eyes glowing bright yellow. No… it can't be. The Prime Minister's hair started growing and turning purple as tentacles flew out from behind the Prime Minister's chair. The two other persons in the room have visibly changed appearance as well: one of them laughed maniacally while a hammerhead-like structure formed behind her while the other one remained silent while growing a ray-like structure at her back./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I have been waiting for you, thank you for being as predictable as ever, my test subject."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Observer… Roon! U-556!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 156.6pt;"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Roon and I began shooting./span/p