A/N: Hehe~ Henceforth is when things start to get really interesting~
Please do enjoy~
Stardust
Chapter 4: The Second Hand Ticks
Darkness lingered like a haze over her vision, clouding it at the edges and constantly creeping inwards, forcing her to blink it away with some effort.
What little light that flowed into the abyss was provided by an overhead light, rounded in shape and high above. By the time the rays of soulless grey light poured down across the frigid metal floor it didn't even reach the walls of the cubic room, let alone the corners; leaving looming shadows crawling across the floor.
Enterprise laid unevenly against one such wall, wrists bound to the wall as her mind returned to her. ''What...?''
A distortion in the air warped space in front of her, twisting the very fabric of space like a haze. Soon a writhing cavalcade of black tentacles slithered out, a haunting giggle ricocheting off the cruel metal walls and bouncing around in her skull.
''Hehehe...'what'? Is that all you have to say~?'' A high-pitched voice crooned, the mocking lilt undeniable.
From the distortion came a pale figure, petite in form and clad only in a loose black top and panties. She was feminine in nature but there was something distinctly inhuman in the way she moved, her limbs weaving through the air like a tentacle, rather than an arm or leg would move. Toxic gold eyes were piercing in the darkness, glowing faintly and helping illuminate the curled lips that morphed her ambivalent visage, twisting it into an amused smirk.
Observer Alpha.
Enterprise gazed at her for a second and no more, lolling her head to the side with some effort. Her face stung at the memory of the Siren, but beyond that she felt nothing. Hollow. Empty.
''...I failed again, didn't I...?''
''Hehe, who knows~? This might just be a dream. You might be free right now, unable to wake up. Who knows what we did to you? Did you forget? Or maybe it never happened in the first place, and this is all one big bad nightmare~''
The words were cooed out in a sickeningly-sweet voice, making Enterprise's gut churn on reflex. ''...shut up...''
''Hmph, that's it? Come on, you can do better than that.''
…
A tentacle curled around her throat, deceptively gentle, but the suction cups dragged along her flesh dangerously.
''Look at me.''
Enterprise did, glaring weakly. Observer Alpha smirked broadly even as her form began to waver and flicker like a hologram.
''Yes... that's it...''
The tentacle curled tighter.
''Don't you realise now?''
Tighter.
''Your continued attempts at escape, how fruitless they are?''
Air became non-existent, the world melting away aside from the toxic gold eyes gleefully staring into her soul.
''That you'll never get away from us?''
''Haah?!''
Enterprise snapped her eyes open with a gasp, jerking upright.
Her right hand was moving, grasping at the air in front of her neck whilst her left hand raised itself up. With a flash her rigging bow manifested, the arrow drawing by itself and aiming at the glowing eyes-
-only to find nothing.
Enterprise stared, panting heavily and with sweat uncomfortably running down her back, her bow trembling in her hand as she aimed at the opposing wall. The wall of her hospital room. It was illuminated by some moonlight that spilled in through a gap in her curtains, the weighty silence broken by her quick, gulping breaths.
Her arm began to tremble, and with a shaky sigh Enterprise de-summoned her bow. It had been just a dream. Or a nightmare – or was that a memory? She forgot. It was hard to tell. Perhaps Alpha had said that to her at one point, maybe it was just her mind tricking her... or perhaps that was a gift left by Alpha. One more deception to finally break her.
''No, no... I...'' Enterprise shook her head, her vision swaying from the movement – forcing her to clutch at her head with a groan.
She needed air. She needed it now.
With an unsteady exhale Enterprise pushed, the warm hospital blanket sliding off her leg and thumping down onto the hospital floor. She had the mind to grab onto the bedside table as she climbed off the bed, stumbling as her legs nearly turned to putty beneath her. She pushed past it, her chest tightening as pain flared in her stomach; a wound of some kind, she guessed. The thought prompted her to wrap her free arm around herself, taking the pressure off her wound slightly as she hobbled towards the door, using anything she could as leverage.
It took just over half a minute to reach the door, the handle clicking down when she pushed it. Unlocked. She felt a modicum of surprise at that but brushed it off in the next second, head on a swivel as she looked around.
'...I could've just used the window...' Enterprise realised at the back of her mind, panting as she leaned against the wall. Walking felt so hard when she couldn't breathe right. '...no, too late to go back. Have to... move forward... always forward...'
Grunting the carrier put a hand on the wall, and continued her journey – making her way for the stairwell. Vestal always left the roof exit unlocked and without an alarm; she could get some air there.
Just a few minutes of clean air, that was all she needed.
And perhaps a cold shower to wash away the golden eyes stabbing into her mind.
X-x-X
It was a fairly quiet morning at the hospital.
Vestal personally liked it that way; less work was always good. Aside from Enterprise being hospitalised, she only had a small handful of other Ship-Girls staying overnight; just a couple cruisers and a Destroyer who got roughed up during an escort mission by some Sirens. Nothing major, but she wanted to keep them in overnight just in case. It was a lot easier to treat some bleeding or some such if they were already at the hospital; it made less of a mess that way too.
Humming to herself Vestal carried on her journey down the long hallways of the hospital, passing by numerous empty rooms. It was late morning by this point and Enterprise had already had her morning porridge, though spoke very little when spoken to. It concerned Vestal a bit; the continued quietness. Enterprise was no stranger to stoicism and her social skills weren't exactly top-notch, but her silence weighed heavier than any declaration.
''Haah...'' Vestal sighed, shaking her head. ''That girl...''
She was interrupted from her melodrama however as soft footfalls drew her eye, drawing her gaze towards one of the room as she neared – revealing the familiar shy form of Juneau. The mousy blonde held onto the edge of the door frame as she shuffle-stepped out into the hallway, still wearing the light blue standard hospital pyjamas. Unlike those who were staying overnight due to injuries, Juneau herself was here because of some food poisoning. A rather amusing contrast to those who had been shot at, yes, but Ship-Girls weren't immune to poison. Held resistance to it, yes, but far from immune.
''Um, Miss Vestal...'' Juneau shyly spoke up.
''Yes, Juneau?'' The medic responded in a gentle tone of voice, all too familiar with the cruiser's crippling shyness.
The blonde fidgeted, leaning against the door-frame for support. ''Um... y-you weren't here during the night, were you?''
Vestal blinked in surprise. ''No, I wasn't. Why? Did you need something?''
''N-No, I just... I heard somebody walking about.'' Juneau admitted, looking away embarrassedly. ''I-It might've just been the wind though...''
The medic hummed, processing that. Nobody but herself had the keys to the hospital, and she kept them in her drawers when she went back to the dorms. Nobody else could've come in; sure, the roof access was there, but it was no easy feat for even a Ship-Girl to jump that high, and very little in the hospital itself to be raided; and from her checks earlier in the morning everything was in order. More likely it was a patient taking a walk about during the night, but everyone was fully rested, and Enterprise didn't say anything about taking a walk either.
Still, it was something worth looking into, if only for Juneau's peace of mind. ''I'll look into it. You just continue resting, Juneau.''
''Ah, yes... thank you...''
With a soft patter of feet the blonde returned to her bed, picking up the book she had been reading. Smiling faintly at that Vestal continued her meandering pace down the hall, her smile slowly fading as she pondered how to fix it. The hospital had cameras, but only in the supply rooms, so that was unlikely to be of any use. If it was indeed one of her patients then it might be a sign of insomnia; there wasn't any other reason to be wandering the hospital at night, especially in the dark.
Yet that led her to question who. Enterprise was the most likely culprit, but why would she wander about at night? She'd been placid ever since her return, even after Yorktown and Hornet had spoken with her. It just didn't add up. One of the other patients was more likely, especially considering how active the likes of Kinu or Baltimore were.
'Yes.' Vestal nodded to herself. 'It was probably one of them; pride won't let them admit it, undoubtedly. Those girls...'
She was interrupted however as a familiar chipper voice graced her ears.
''Yo, Vestal~!''
''Hornet?'' Vestal blinked lightly, turning around-
-and her surprised expression became a deadpan one as she found the grinning blonde holding a small bag of fries. The same spicy fries she got Enterprise to eat the prior night.
''Hornet.'' Vestal repeated with much more flatness. ''What did I tell you about giving Enterprise solids so soon?''
''That it was okay as long as it was just a few?''
''That's not what I said and you know it.''
''She seemed to like them yesterday though?''
Vestal opened her mouth, shut it, and then just sighed and rubbed her head. Arguing with Hornet wouldn't get her anywhere; she knew – from experience – that trying to stop the blonde carrier would just result in said carrier going behind her back and doing it. And it wasn't like she was entirely wrong; Enterprise had taken to solids fairly easily and mostly eaten the softer fries, so it wasn't too dangerous for her. Enterprise had been healing at an extraordinary rate too, faster than most patients, so it could be safely assumed she was okay to take some solids as well.
''...fine.'' Vestal breathed out with an exasperation that came with dealing with stubborn-headed idiots on a daily basis. ''Just not too much. If she starts being sick, you're cleaning it up and working as a cleaner here for the next month.''
''Easy there~'' Hornet held up her free hand, chuckling sheepishly. ''I won't overdo it, I promise. Enterprise probably won't eat them all anyway; just wanted to give her something more than gruel to eat.''
''It was porridge.''
''Meh, it's sloppy all the same.''
Vestal just sighed, but a small smile twitched at her lips. Hornet had a way of saying stupid things that made you smile; a trait she was apparently proud of. ''Anyway. Remember what I said; I'll be just down the hall if anything happens.''
''Will do.'' Hornet bobbed her head, taking a few steps in the direction of Enterprise's room – before pausing. ''Also, Vestal?''
''Yes?'' The medic patiently replied.
''You kinda seemed... bothered?'' Hornet seemed to struggle for the word, a frown crossing her face. ''Something the matter?''
Vestal was about to shrug and say it was nothing, but their prior conversation came to mind. ''Actually... yes.''
Hornet said nothing, but turned back towards her, curiously tipping her cowboy hat up a bit.
''Juneau just told me that she thought somebody was walking around the hospital last night.'' Vestal confessed. ''None of my patients said they took a walk, and while I'll be going around and asking a second time during lunch, I have a feeling nobody will admit to it even if asked.''
Hornet nodded. ''You thinkin' it might be trouble?''
''Unlikely. Probably just someone with insomnia.'' Vestal admitted.
The blonde carrier hummed in acknowledgement. ''Want me to play night-guard? Don't have anything really going on for the next few days, so it isn't a problem.''
''You don't have to-'' Vestal tried to wave off, but Hornet just flashed her a familiar cocky grin.
''Nah, it's fine. Just give me a pair of cuffs and a sheriff's badge and I'll catch 'em, heh.''
''You'll have to do with a medical badge, I'm afraid. And some zip-ties.''
''Good enough for me~''
X-x-X
One thing that was rarely said about the hospital, was that it was scary.
Of course, that was because very few people saw it when it was dark. Without the overhead strip lights buzzing away and the warm sunlight pouring in through the windows, the hospital looked downright creepy. Long hallways, countless doors that could have anything behind them, long shadows and the occasional medical device that could be misidentified as some unknown monster; it was genuinely unsettling.
Not that Hornet would admit it. Sure, it made her nerves more tense than she'd prefer – especially given her task – but it was one she'd resigned to getting used to. Admittedly she hadn't thought through the logistics of doing guard duty at night, alone, but she wasn't going to back out now. Not when it might mean leaving Enterprise alone with a possible intruder, ghost... or more likely just someone looking for the bathroom.
'...I'm getting worked up for nothing, aren't I?' Hornet lamely thought, sighing. At least it wasn't all rainy and thundery outside; she could do without the distant claps of dramatic thunder, thank you very much.
Shaking her head Hornet took a right turn, wandering aimlessly down another long hallway. The hospital was built into a rough H-shape with two long wings on either side, meaning that many hallways intersected and crossed over. Good for dealing with a sudden influx of patients, such as during or after a battle, but a pain for navigating during peacetime even with the signs directing you. The standard white-themed design of the hospital only made everything look the same; small mercies there were signs in the first place.
Sudden movement caught her eye, halting her train of thought. When she jolted to a stop the hospital became utterly silent, yet she knew her eyes hadn't deceived her – surprise flooding her as she caught a mane of silver hair disappearing around a corner.
'Enterprise?'
For a moment she stood still, unconsciously straining her superhuman hearing... but she heard nothing. Not the trudging of a boot, the tapping of a bare foot; just utter, smothering silence. Then she slapped herself out of it, her own boots swiftly tapping away on the hard flooring as she rushed after her wandering sister-ship.
It took just a matter of seconds to turn the corner, but by the time she did Enterprise was nowhere to be seen. The only evidence of her presence was the stairwell door swinging ever-so-slightly, the faint creak of the hinge sounding almost unsettling in the quiet. Perhaps because of that Hornet picked up the pace, half-jogging and half-running to catch up with her sister, soon bursting into the stairwell itself.
''...ah...''
Enterprise was halfway up the narrow set of stairs, leaning against the wall with her shoulder, her body twisted to face her. She looked tired, her haggard face partially illuminated by the moonlight that fell into the room through the sole rectangular window in the stairwell. Yet there was an stiff alertness to her form, her back rigid and her left arm extended down towards her, fingers curled inwards, almost like-
'...she was gonna summon her bow?' Hornet realised with some measure of disbelief. Just how on-edge was Enterprise that she'd do that?
Then again, given how creepy the hospital was at night, maybe it was nerves.
Somehow Hornet doubted that prospect.
''...Hornet.'' Enterprise finally spoke, her voice barely a murmur as she lowered her arm.
''Hey.'' Hornet responded in a soft tone. ''So you were the one wandering about last night, huh?''
Silence.
''You got Vestal all worried, y'know.'' Hornet added, climbing the steps. ''I'd say it's 'cause you're being a stubborn dumbass again...''
The blonde grinned. ''But I hate being a hypocrite.''
Enterprise's lips twitched faintly, almost seeming to curl up at the corners before she looked away, gazing at the edge of the wall with vacant eyes. Hornet took that as a win though, grinning cheekily and carefully looping an arm around her sister, doing it slowly as to not startle her.
''So.'' Hornet said cheerfully. ''What'cha over here for? Nothin' up on the roof of interest, and I hope you're not gonna try jumping off. You might be tough, but Vestal won't like havin' to fix a broken arm, haha...''
''...air...''
''Air?'' Hornet paused at that, surprised. ''Oh... like, to clear your head?''
A quiet nod. In response Hornet hummed, tightening her hold on Enterprise. She didn't say anything but a gentle tug was all that was needed, encouraging Enterprise to continue trudging up the stairs – leaning against the blonde for support instead of the wall. With Hornet's aid they ascended the stairs much faster, the slow taps of Hornet's boots contrasting Enterprise's nigh-silent bare feet, each footstep purposeful and almost ghostly silent.
Within the minute they reached the top of the stairwell, a simple push opening the rooftop access. The metal door made a rusted whine but swung open with minimal resistance, allowing Hornet to guide Enterprise out into the cold air. Not a moment after she did so she saw an immediate change in the silver-haired carrier, watching as Enterprise inhaling a slow, deep breath, some of the tension in her shoulders seeming to disappear a little.
'Someone doesn't like being cooped up.' Hornet thought with some amusement.
Smiling lightly the blonde guided Enterprise over to the edge of the stairwell entrance, the little cube forming some minor shelter from the cold breeze and granting both of them a pretty view of the dark ocean; moonlight wavering across the surface. Up on the rooftop there was no lights, only the natural rays of the moon to light up their world and with the stars glistening overhead. Even the few lights on in the base couldn't reach them, leaving it feeling distinctly... peaceful.
Maybe that was why Enterprise came up here.
''...you're lucky Yorktown isn't here.'' Hornet commented idly. ''She's probably whack us both for staying up so late.''
''...and complain about me getting a cold...''
''Hah.'' Hornet grinned, not taking her eyes off the stars. ''You bet. By the way, did Saratoga come visit you yet? She said she wanted to tell you about the concert she did when you were gone – something about raising morale and all that, but I think it was just to lighten everyone's mood...''
Enterprise remained quiet even as Hornet kept talking, blathering on endlessly about a myriad of topics and what had happened in the carrier's absence. Rarely did she interject or speak, and when she did her voice was quiet and monotone, but that didn't deter Hornet one bit – if anything the tiny bits of conversation she coaxed out of her sister encouraged her to go on.
In the back of her mind, she would realise that it was the most she'd heard Enterprise speak in one sitting since her return.
But she wouldn't comment on it. She wouldn't ask why Enterprise needed some fresh air, or why she was hobbling about late in the night. She wouldn't ask anything.
Instead, she gladly distracted her from whatever was bothering her.
And though Enterprise didn't say anything about it, the way she held her gaze for a little longer before returning to her room conveyed all that needed to be said.
Hornet would call that a win.
X-x-X
If there was one thing Enterprise despised, it was a lack of air.
It was a torturous feeling. She had once prided herself on her power, on her ability to protect others and humanity as a whole. Yet the inability to breathe cruelly reminded her of how mortal she truly was, that all it would take is one lucky shell to end it all, to render her grand strength as little more than a footnote in a history book. The Sirens were very intent on exploiting that fact.
Even now, she could still remember the feeling. The hands that held her up, the fingers that dug into her neck, the thumb that pushed down into her throat until the skin punctured – it was enough to make her stomach twist uncomfortably. Perhaps in that regard, Observer Alpha was more merciful than her comrades. Alpha's tentacles at least didn't break the skin and force her to feel a thumb digging down into her skin, choking her on her own blood as she gargled-
Enterprise jerked, gripping at her arm and digging her nails in. The pain was enough to snap her out of it, the memories of mottled darkness and arrogant laughter fading from her mind.
''Haah...'' The carrier exhaled, releasing her arm slowly. Blood began to seep out of the spots where her nails had dug in, but it was just some small trickles, so she ignored it.
The hospital room around her was dark, the clock by her bedside reading two in the morning. The faintest slivers of moonlight spilled in from the gap in the curtains, revealing the starry night sky beyond, the ocean just barely visible from her sitting position on her bed. Thanks to her enhanced hearing she could also detect Hornet ambling about the hospital idly; still doing her patrol duty.
Her stomach twisted at the thought of her sister. 'No... I can't think of 'that'... it wasn't real... it...'
She shook her head, pushing herself off the bed. Her legs wobbled lightly but she held firm, not needing to lean on anything for support. She was regaining her strength quickly now that she had access to proper food and rest; it was almost refreshing. Dare she say it, she found it almost relaxing... which is what left her on edge more than anything. The mere risk of becoming comfortable was enough to make her spine crawl, an ugly feeling of anxiety curling in her stomach.
Who knows what the Sirens had planned next?
The thought was enough to keep her moving, silent as a ghost as she drifted over to the window. It was locked, a small but thick electronic latch keeping it closed. A Ship-Girl could break it fairly easily, but in doing so they would trigger the alarm and alert Vestal – who would no doubt come running and whack some sense into whoever was stupid enough to try and sneak out at night. Many had faced such a talking-to before, and even the mighty Queen Elizabeth was quailed into submission before the medic's intimidating presence.
However, Enterprise had experience that others lacked.
In a flash of light her metal bow manifested into her left hand. Slowly she raised it, summoning a golden arrow into her other hand and notching it. The silence of the white-tiled room was nearly deafening as she carefully took aim, slowing her breathing down. Between her fingers the golden arrow shrunk, becoming smaller and smaller until it was barely bigger than a rifle bullet.
And then without a word, she loosened her hold on it.
Pting~!
With a sharp ping the projectile pierced into the lock exactly seven millimetres, but no further.
Falling shy of just two millimetres from striking the alarm trigger.
'...I was off by a millimetre.' Enterprise noted to herself. Hardly a bad thing, but she'd thought she'd get it right this time.
Shaking her head the carrier made her bullet-sized arrow disappear, watching it fade away into motes of gold light. That done she grasped the handle of the window and pushed it open without any resistance, the part of the lock attached to it coming away with nary more than a rough clank. She'd effectively neutered the thing; destroying the part locking the window, but missing the alarm section beneath it.
Cold air distracted Enterprise from her inner thoughts. She laid one hand on the edge of the window frame like so many times before, swinging one leg out as she rested herself on the windowsill. Her other leg followed, and with little more than a soft exhale she pushed herself off, sending herself falling the short few feet down onto the concrete path below. The stray stones and pebbles dug into the soles of her feet but she paid them no mind, her gaze drawn to the stars as she just basked in the fresh air.
However, she had a job to do. Every moment wasted risked the Sirens pulling some stunt.
Thus, she walked. She passed the hospital and weaved down the stone path, careful to stay out of any lights so she reduced the risk of being seen – knowing from experience who liked to stay up late or who liked to see the stars. She passed by the elegant white Royal Navy dorms, she sneaked past the imposing Ironblood dormitory, and soon she reached her destination – the Eagle Union dorms.
Without making a sound she approached, slipping in through the front doors that were unlocked as usual. The entranceway was silent and unlit, looming shadows crawling across the walls as she passed the windows over to the stairs. The floorboards failed to creak under her weight as she ascended them, one hand ghosting over the railing but not gripping it, just using it to help guide her all the way up to the third floor. From there it was all memory; her legs carrying her the rest of the way, tracing the steps she had taken hundreds, if not thousands of time before.
Until she soon came to a stop outside one door in particular. One with the metal plaque on it that read 'Yorktown-class'.
Click. The door was unlocked. As per usual, given Yorktown liked it unlocked so that Hammann could come in if needed. She was motherly like that.
It also allowed Enterprise to slip in unnoticed, eyes sweeping over the room. Three beds laid out in a row could be found at the opposing wall, various other pieces of furniture located around the room – ranging from a dresser to a wardrobe to everything else three women would need to furnish a bedroom. It had been their 'home' for longer than Enterprise could remember; memories flashing through her mind of times long gone.
Of the time Yorktown went on a commission, and came back to Hornet's underwear and dirty clothes all over the place, left abandoned since Enterprise herself was too busy going on sorties to tidy it up. Both ended up getting chewed out by their elder sister before being made to clean up, treated like children.
Or the time when they all cleaned up their schedules, pulled a bunch of their friends in and had a big movie night, regardless of how cramped the room ended up being. Somehow it ended up with Saratoga drunk and gagged, probably due to an impromptu-karaoke session, and Hornet with a raging hangover that rendered her incapable of work the next day.
So many more memories flashed through her mind, each more detailed than the last and worsening the clench in her heart – until finally Enterprise screwed her eyes shut and banished the memories, only a tight exhale escaping her parted lips. When she opened her eyes again she was more grounded, the memories fading from her mind.
'...haah...' Enterprise drew in a slow breath, and then took a step forth.
Yorktown was laid asleep in the middle bed, the bluish covers pulled up to her shoulder, a lilac nightgown barely visible under it. Enterprise kept a careful eye on her eldest sister, quietly approaching and just staring at her for a long few moments. She looked so peaceful like this. So... serene. Unburdened. Free.
Alive.
Enterprise shook her head. No, she couldn't think like that.
Redirecting her thoughts onto her task the carrier silently drifted over to her own bed, the sheets neatly made. It was intimately obvious that her two sisters had put a lot of care into maintaining it, the sheets still fresh and the pillows fluffed up, ready for her to rest her head upon them. However her goal wasn't her bed, but the drawers next to them – the quiet hiss of wood-on-wood fluttering through the otherwise silent bedroom as she took out a fresh uniform from it.
She didn't want to be running around in nothing but a hospital gown, after all.
With that in mind Enterprise redressed, her gown falling to the floor and letting the moonlight wash over her form. The ruffling of fabric was the only sound present, and even then she made sure to keep her movements slow enough to minimise any noise. Despite being a mere few feet away from the slumbering Yorktown her elder sister didn't so much as stir, lost in a deep sleep. Just like so many times before.
'...it's always the same.' Enterprise thought quietly to herself, the faintest edges of emotion prickling at her mind.
She wasn't sure what emotion it was. Anger, fury, agony, sorrow, despair – it all blended together over time.
The carrier shook it off, popping the collar of her white shirt and finishing her tie. The movements were practically automatic, her body so used to the motion that she didn't even have to consciously think, only peripherally aware of her own movements. She didn't like that; it gave her too much time to think, and in the silence of the room her mind felt painfully abuzz – conjuring up battle plans, preparing countermeasures to possible Siren attacks, how she should react if she ran into a specific Siren, and so on.
Mercifully she was finished dressing herself soon. Her long black coat felt nice and familiar, the barest scent of detergent still lingering in the fabric. The same type that Yorktown always used; the thought drawing Enterprise over to her sister's bed.
'...Yorktown...'
She laid her hand on her sister's face, cupping it gently. Yorktown shifted slightly in her sleep, but didn't wake.
'...I promise, one day... I'll see you again. For real.'
For a moment she savoured her sister's presence – but for only a moment.
Then she was moving, her coat fluttering behind herself as she departed, the door clicking shut behind her.
Not a sound was made by her boots as she ghosted through the dormitory building, only the faint click of the front doors audible as she stepped out into the frigid night air. Footsteps filled with renewed purpose carried her forth, cutting across grass and pavement until she neared the seawall, erosion visible on the nearby rocks poking out of the water.
'The next objective.. is probably out there, somewhere...' Enterprise thought with narrowed eyes, scanning the horizon. 'I should move.'
Thus with a graceful flutter of her coat, Enterprise landed atop the ocean's waves, and sailed forth into the night, none any the wiser.
[END]
A/N: Aaand Enterprise is gone again. How troublesome, that girl is~
See you all next time in Chapter 5: Continuum~
Juicy sneak peek:
A beat of weighty, shiver-inducing silence.
''...this is a good time to tell me you're joking, Enterprise.''
Enterprise said nothing. Instead she held out her right hand, and in a flash of light her oversized black bow manifested into her hand. Then with ominous slowness she raised it, a golden arrow manifesting into her hand as she notched it – and pointed it straight at Hornet.
The lapping waves seemed to fall silent in the ensuing stare-off.
''...I won't fall for your tricks again.'' Enterprise said softly. ''You may have her face, but you're not the real Hornet.''