A/N: Hey, hey! Welcome to another multi-character chapter. This one's got the squad from the Eagle Union that went through Pearl Harbor firsthand. So yes, it will be more serious than usual, though I'll make sure to keep the endings happy, heh. I put some of my own emotions into this one, not gonna lie, so if you find that it gets a bit rambly at some point, well...that's why. I've also changed ratings to M for safety and options for future chapters. (Read: No-no words, mature themes, etc.) As always, thanks for reading! Enjoy!

1207 hours. The mess hall was bustling with activity as people filed in for lunch hour. The place is actually built out enough to accommodate basically everyone at the installation, but it wasn't very common to have every kansen on base in the hall at the same time. Some of them preferred to go back to their respective dormitory complexes and whip up their own food with other companions. I also usually opted to stay in the office and make something for myself. They were surprised when they first heard, but I do know how to cook, thank you very much.

Today though was a rather awkward situation. I forgot to restock my ingredients. The commander isn't generally expected to cook for himself so having raw ingredients in my office's fridge is an uncommon sight. The rest of the kitchen is equipped well enough with a stove, an oven, a toaster, everything one might expect in your usual kitchen. Except for the raw ingredients.

Unfortunately, my forgetful ass didn't ask Belfast to set some of the Royal Navy's inventory aside like always. I blame the commission reports. Screw those. By the time I went to the fridge to prepare and saw the distinct emptiness of it, the maids had already gone through most of their stock. Belfast being Belfast, she promised that I'd be able to replenish my own supply tomorrow morning, first thing. Which was good. For now, though, I had to get in line like everyone else.

Why didn't I join the kansen that preferred staying on their own? Because it'd be disrespectful, the way I see it. Plus, they probably wouldn't like me just waltzing in on their lunch break.

"Sir?" Baltimore apprehensively tapped me on the shoulder, jolting me out of my thoughts.

"Agh! S-sorry, what?" I reply, turning around a little shaken.

She snickered. "Oh, it's fine, sir. You're just uhh…holding up the line."

Now I noticed the other visibly frustrated customers drilling holes into me with their gaze. Bollocks. "Ah, shit. My bad. Sorry guys!" I call the rest of them. Hipper yelled back, "Get a move on already!"

I held my hands up, turned around, and walked to the business end of the counter. King George V, wearing a standard-issue apron, was there to greet me. Well that, and of course take a jab. "Well hello there, commander. Rare to see you around here. Did you forget how lines work, mayhaps?"

I couldn't help but smile tightly at the subtle shot. Giving her a sarcastic haha!, I retort, "Funny. Just hit me with tray 4 and we're good."

Her crimson eyes glinted as she giggled. "Right away, sir." Promptly, she went to go get me the requested meal.

"Is that how you two talk to each other?" Baltimore asked from behind me.

"Yep", I answer, the honesty catching her off a little. "I get it, she gets it, s'long as we're cool by the end of it, it's…cool."

"Huh."

"Yeah. Runs with a lot of the Royals, actually. It's fun, you should try it."

Baltimore just laughed awkwardly. "I don't think I will."

"Your loss", I shrugged.

George returned with my meal tray. Two fried chicken legs, gravy, some fruit veg, a little rice, and topping it off with a cup of water and some chocolate milk in a carton on the side. "Solid", I say, picking up my prize.

"Sure thing, commander. Enjoy~."

Proceeding forward, the way clear of lines, I pause and survey my surroundings. Just like a school mess, huh? There were a few tables that looked good for sitting over at the far edges of the room. Their distinct advantage? Peace and quiet. Suddenly, a voice that I recognized to be Javelin's floated up from the crowd. "Hey, commander!"

Some of the noise died down as people took notice of me, seemingly for the first time. They looked like they just saw a ghost. Javelin's head pops up as she continues, "Wanna sit with us, sir? It's been so long since you last ate here at the cafetorium!"

"Whoa, whoa", Akagi replies. "If anyone, he's sitting with us!"

"Nuh-uh!" Javelin begins. "He's with-"

A deep and loud voice rings out as Bismarck clears her throat. "Ahem! As the leader of the Kriegsmarine, the Kommandant will be sitting with me- Ahh! Us! For today! Us!" Her cheeks reddened a little when she realized her slip. That got a light snicker out of me.

"Oh, yeah? How about this", Enterprise chimes in out of nowhere. "Sir, some of us haven't heard your playlists yet! I could use some good music right now!"

Ooh. That sounds nice. Lunchtime jam session with Enty?

"You're right! Shikikan, grace us with your fantastic tastes in music! We'd love to hear some of-" Akagi's words were promptly drowned out by a throng of everyone else trying to coax me into sitting at their table.

Rolling my eyes, I about-faced towards the counter and walked up to its side, reconsidering my options. Could I eat this food on a bench outside? To my left, I heard George giggle. She was leaned over the counter, head resting on her palm, the position emphasizing her…apparent…chest.

…

Dammit, man, really? Crosshair at head level, eyes at head level. Keep 'em up, keep 'em there!

Endeavoring to lock and maintain eye contact like a targeting computer, I quip at her, "Don't you have customers to serve?" She gave me a look before a mischievous little smirk folded itself on her face. Moving around in truly unholy ways, she explained, "Oh, my shift at the counter just ended for now. Dunkerque's got it." At her explanation, I looked and saw the French battlecruiser now taking up the task of serving the food.

My eyes snapped back to look at George, but, damn me, they landed exactly where I wanted them not to. I realized my mistake too late as my cheeks heated up slightly and the blonde giggled knowingly. Lucky for me, she decided to gloss over it. "Still haven't decided where to sit?"

Choosing to simply play along, I answered bluntly, "Yup."

"Hmm. You might like taking a gander at Oklahoma's circle over there." George suggested, pointing at the specified table. Turning my gaze towards the designated location, I saw Oklahoma and a few others swiftly go from looking at me to back down at their plates awkwardly. What? What was that? As if reading my mind, George explained, "I hear they wanted you to give them some advice about...you know...what happened."

Thinking for a moment, I tried to piece together what she was hinting at, inadvertently staring at my tray of food. What happened? Oklahoma, Arizona, West Virginia, Helena, Maryland… All of them at that table had near-spotless disciplinary records.

…

Hang on. That list of names sounds familiar. On cue, again seeming to read my thoughts, George whispered, "The words of the day rhyme with Earl Arbor."

I looked back up and around at the battleship who was now having a good laugh with herself as it connected in my brain. "Oh! They've decided to continue discussing it with each other?" After having taken a few moments to collect herself, George replied, "Yes! They also had a couple of consultation sessions with ahh…who was it? Bremerton? Or so I'm told. You should probably go have a chat with them, sir. Maybe give them a good word or two~."

Nodding at her, I reply, "Alright then. Thanks for the assist." I gesture at the gratitude with a half-sarcastic bow, one that got George laughing. "Always, commander. Now, go on." Smiling, I shook my head and made my way over to the table she'd pointed me to. King George V was a fun one to spend time with. She was snarky, but I liked that. It meant I could take shots without having to worry about offending someone. And she could take shots back at me. Which made it even more fun. Great stuff. We can save the friendly jibes for later, though. If what she's told me is accurate, I'm about to revisit something I prayed I'd never have to. Though, thinking that now, it felt like simply delaying the inevitable.

As I approached, Oklahoma looked up from their chatter and eyed me with surprise. "Oh! Commander? Are you sitting with us?"

"Yup!" I smiled at all of them. "Figured shaking things around for a change wouldn't be too harmful." They exchanged looks and nodded at me with smiles of their own. Walking up, I noticed there wasn't actually any free space on the bench. Hmm. "Sorry, can I just put this thing down real quick?" I asked Arizona. "Mhm! Yeah, no worries." I gave her my thanks as I set the tray on the table. Looking up, I panned my gaze around for an extra chair.

Conveniently, who else but King George V slid in and plopped a monobloc in front of me. Feigning nonchalance, she said, "I don't know who'll need this, but I suppose I could just leave it out…" She shot me a fleeting wink before leaving once again for the back room.

What else could I do? Might as well play it off as a gag. Looking towards the girls, I palm a hand on my forehead. "Oh, wow! Is a random chair just sitting here? Don't mind if I do, then!" And I mosey on over to retrieve it and place it next to Arizona, who was seated at the corner of the table. To my relief, they all chuckled lightly as I finally settled myself down and began to dig in. Even with the little stunt, there was an air that everyone knew where the road might lead. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach as a result, even as I poured the sauce over the meat and scooped a little chunk in.

"So why are you sitting with us, commander?" Nevada asked.

"Hm? Oh. Well yeah, it was because I just wanted to shake things up."

Oklahoma chimed in, "Mhmm. And-?"

I look around at all of them, as all of them look squarely back at me. "Well, if you're hinting at that, then I think you guys already know," I answered with full honesty while taking another scoop of food into my mouth. Oklahoma nodded, the table now well-aware of where the conversation would inevitably end up. West Virginia decided to just spring it. "Did you ever see action, commander?" She inquired.

Swallowing my food, I answer, "Yeah."

Maryland tilted her head, curiosity piqued. "Oh? Where, sir?"

I take a deep breath before answering. "8th Artillery Platoon. 22nd Squadron Leader."

Everyone's eyes went a little wide at the reply. "The 8th? You were there, at Norway, when-" Shrugging it off, I took another scoop into my mouth.

"-The Siren staged their first breakout, yes."

Again, everyone exchanged looks. This time, the surprise is apparent. I'd made it clear to everyone when I first introduced myself that my story wasn't something cinematic or romantic. And it wasn't. Either of the two. Though that didn't mean I didn't get myself in some deep shit. I'd just moved forward and only wanted to really bring it to light if necessary. Experience outranks everything in my book. Helena piped up, "W-what was it like, sir?"

Still chewing, I waited until I could swallow to reply. "Well, before the attack happened, I don't think any of us were really scared, you know? I mean, everyone who signs up for a job like this, you accept that, at some point, down the line, you might end up cutting yours short. Yeah, there were murmurings of being killed. A lieutenant, if I recall, actually ended up breaking down into hysterics while waiting for the klaxons."

Everyone at the table said nothing, listening to my account. "But the real fear", I went on, "Was more at the notion of being captured by those things. Remember, this happened some seven, eight years ago? We didn't know what the hell they'd do to POWs. Me being the squad leader, I had to go up and down our lines, making sure everyone's morale was still sharp and their wits about them. Then, it happened.

Klaxons sounded, alarms went off, all that fun stuff. We mobilized, batteries started blasting out shell after shell, searchlights powered up, you could see the frontline of troopers start moving forward. Our squadron's job, simply put, was to hold our line. It didn't take long for bodies to start pounding the deck.

One after another, right? Like what you might've read in the stories. Eventually, when the first strike group was routed back and ordered to fall behind us, we needed to start packing it and booking it. While the boys got loaded up, it was on our squad to keep the Siren busy.

So, we did. I had friends along with me. The sight of their skulls being punctured by…whatever the Siren launched at us…I could never forget that. Damn it all, how could forget that?" I took a shaky breath to steady myself. "They were just wrapping up and we were about ready to get moving when one of my squad members, young, must've been in his early 20's… I… he…" I took in a sharp breath and did my best to blink some mist forming up in my eyes. I keep my breathing at a constant pace to keep composure.

Finally, I continue. "…He took one straight in his right leg. Bastard was paralyzed from his abdomen down to said right leg. He fell to the ground, clutching at it and cursing like a…heh…like a sailor." My speech slowed, became more deliberate. It had to. It didn't feel right if not.

"The gear we had could stand a good pounding. Of course, the Siren pack more punch than just a good pounding. Another one hit him this time in the stomach regions. I remember freezing. It was fucking horrifying. Some of his guts were spilling out… Anyway, I'd thought for sure he was down. No fucking way you take a blow like that and live. Right?"

The girls could only look at me sympathetically. Desperately trying to inject even just a little bit of humor into it, I joke half-heartedly, "Yeah, you guys called it. He lived." I paused and took another sharp breath. "He lived and had to feel the pain. I obviously can't tell you how it must've felt. Looked like it hurt really fucking bad, though." Deep breaths, man, deep breaths.

"So he's there. On the ground. Leg's bleeding out, guts spilling out. Screams for me to…put him out of it." I slam my utensils down and put my hand over my mouth. Dammit man, stay calm!

Another sharp, deep inhalation. "All I could think was, what the fuck do I do?" I start laughing incredulously, not at all because the story I was relaying was in any way funny, but because of the weight of it. My mind was reliving some memories I told myself I was passed. I'm sorry, man. Just one more time. Trying to take it off of things before I imploded, I decided to ask them a question. In a shaky voice, I say, "What would you guys have done?"

Silence hung in the air for several seconds, the hustle-bustle of the mess hall now having been muffled, as if behind a thick concrete wall. For now, it was just me, and the five of them. After a few more moments, Oklahoma answered, her voice soft. "I…We don't know, sir."

I nodded shakily. "Yeah. I sure as hell didn't. But he was there. Begging for...release. So, I did what he was telling me… No, screaming, pleading at me to do." Shit, shit, shit. Breath. In, out. In, out. Come on. "Still remember it. Still seared into my mind. Three shots. The only three I'll ever regret."

Unfortunately, despite my most concerted efforts, a tear started streaking from my eye. I felt a hand that registered as Arizona's slowly run up and down my back. I could only sit there and prop my elbows on the table and bury my face in my hands. Come on. Come on. They're all behind you. Finish it. Get to your point and finish it. Get it off your chest and finish it.

"Well", I finally croaked out. "When that happened, me being the stupid, novice, first-time commanding officer I was, when we got the order to fall, I… I advised that we'd hold instead." Alright, and then?

"Got something like twenty more killed from the platoon. Because they all followed my damn orders. When my dumbass finally realized what the fuck I was doing, I called the fallback, but I was already way too late. Afterward, I got a serious dressing-down for it. Demoted back to rank and file. Left to either stew in my failure for the rest of my career.

Or redeem myself. Somehow." Okay. The good part starts now, right? You know it does. Carry it over.

"Won't lie, I seriously considered the first option for a decent while. Blamed myself over and over. Failed them as a CO. As a strategist. They trusted me to keep my head level, to be objective when it mattered. And when it did? It all went straight to hell for me." Clearly not the best maneuver.

"Next stage, I tried to just forget. Stamp it out. Live life like it never happened. But, engagement after deployment after engagement obviously doesn't like that." Option C.

"That was when I made a promise to myself. Even if the most fucked shit happens to me on the field, I can have my emotions. Emotions are part of human nature. But! I won't let them fuck up my decisions. Especially if a wrong one can get someone killed on my watch. Because above anything else that can go shove it? Fuck that." There we go. Now, wrap it up.

One more deep breath preceded my penultimate message. "Here's my point for you girls. If you only took away one thing from my rambling, let it be this." Everyone leaned in slightly so they could get my words in.

"We've all seen some shit. Right? Some of us have seen some pretty messed up shit. Right?" Everyone nodded. "Don't suppress it. For the love of all that's good and right, don't bottle it up in there. Talk to someone about it, take your grievances, mistakes, doubts, sins, and get them out of you. Take the experience with you like something to jump off of. Something to learn from."

Their eyes bore into me, their focus apparent. "I can't speak for what you went through at Pearl. It must've been fucking terrible. So, I won't meddle in business that doesn't concern me too much. But please, remember to let it go with people who you know you can confide in and trust. It's a great way to recover from something like that. If from anyone, take it from me."

They nodded slowly, acknowledging that my little speech was at an end. I hoped I got my point across. That load of shit was something I didn't talk about with anyone else here on this base. Oklahoma chipped in after a few contemplative seconds. "Thank you, sir. It means a lot to all of us that you were willing to put that out there." I smiled a little weakly and nodded. "No worries there. I know I can trust you all."

Silence took hold, the mess hall's hustle-bustle having died down over the course of my little storytelling session. Some people had left, some were still in for idle small talk before they went back out for their errands. "Excuse me", I said. I stood up and walked briskly to the restroom. Once inside, I went straight for the sinks. Taking my gloves off and pocketing them while turning the faucet on, I cup my hands and splash my face with the cool tap water. Deep breaths. I stood there, looking at my reflection and wiping my face up. "Listen, man", I began, talking to myself, really. "That's the first time we've had to talk about it like that in...what, three years? You did what you could and tried to help them out. That's enough." I nodded, deep breaths to steady myself taken, and gloves back on. After three years of waiting for a chance, someone who'd listen...it was finally out of me.

I returned to the group and Oklahoma greeted me back in. Looking around at the table, some looked like they were deep in thought. Others, Nevada for instance, looked like they were staying silent simply because they didn't want to stick out like a sore thumb. Alright, move beyond. I chuckle aloud to make sure I was heard. "Look guys, we got past the dark and dreary shit", I began, making sure that as genuine a smile as I could muster was displayed on my face. "We can lighten up now, it's fine. Really." Maryland wasn't quite so convinced yet, though. "You sure, sir? Anything else you might wanna let out?" I shook my head and looked at her warmly. "No. Thank you, though."

They all nodded, still hesitating slightly, but also visibly loosening up. I decided to finish off what was left of my lunch. I excused myself as I got up to deposit the tray back at the counter. Once again, George was there to take it. "How did it go?" She asked. Taking a few seconds to size the Royal battleship up, I reply, "Rather well, I'd say. I think I got through to them."

"Oh! Good work! I knew you still had some of it in you." That made me pause a little. "You knew? About what I used to-?" George only giggled at my confusion. "Maybe, maybe not. Call it an intuition. You had something bagging you down. I could feel it." I chuckled as she took the tray off my hands. Before I could make my way back to the table, George still had something else to say. "Why don't you cap it off with one of those songs of yours? I'm sure they'd love it."

Narrowing my eyes, I inspected her face for any hints at strange, ulterior motives. She'd been awfully helpful today. I mean, when was she not? But today felt a little different. There was something about her, a pep in her step that wasn't usually there. Even still, I shrugged it off. She wouldn't do something stupid. "I'll take that suggestion too, actually", I reply. "Oh, and…" pausing for effect, to observe how she'd react. George leaned in over the counter, making sure she could hear me on her first try. "Why don't you meet me outside my office later tonight? I found a place I think you'll be into."

She stood up straight and stepped back slightly. "Oh? Are you trying to take me on a date?" Ha! Hook, line, and sinker! Biach! Smirking, I quip, "No, just a friendly treat. Did you want it to be?" Making sure that last bit sounded more than just a little suggestive. It had the intended effect. The blonde's eyes widened as she tilted her head in surprise. Problem. I didn't plan far enough ahead for her comeback. Luckily, Dunkerque swooped in. "I'm sorry, George? You said you'd help us with the dishes?" The battlecruiser took notice of me, smiled, and waved. "Oh, commandant! I didn't see you there. Did you have something to eat already?"

I returned her expression. "Oh, I did! Don't you worry." Swiftly switching to George, I chide, "Get a move on! Don't leave Dunkerque hanging now." I shoot Dunkerque a quick wink, which she giggled at. George sighed, a little frustratedly before her crimson eyes once again twinkled. Slowly, she nodded. Uh-oh. She found a workaround. Brace! "Alright, alright. Outside your office for our date tonight?" That emphasis was intentional. My mouth swung open ever so slightly. Not jaw-on-the-floor, but definitely shocked. You bloody- "I'll take that as a yes!" She said before I could conjure up a response. "Come on, Dunkerque. Tally-ho!"

George walked back to the kitchen. Curiously, Dunkerque didn't follow. She had a rather exaggerated scandalized look on her face, putting her palm over her hand and looking in the direction George had gone before looking back at me, eyes wide like dinner plates. I pointed at the kitchen door, trying to downplay whatever the hell just happened. "Her idea! She brought that up! Not me, no sir!" I turned around hastily and made my way to the table. I heard Dunkerque titter before she walked to the kitchens to help George.

When I was seated back at the table, I was delighted to hear that the girls were back at their usual banter and chatter. Initially opting to simply sit back and listen, occasionally chipping in with a joke here and there, I was brought formally back into the conversation loop when Maryland asked, "Do you have suggestions, sir? For, quote, letting it go?" Good question.

"Well", I begin. "You can do what I did. And I think you guys already thought of it? Getting a therapist really helps. So, keep at it with Bremerton, I'm sure she's good at what she does." They all hummed their assent. "Also, yeah, keep talking about it with one another. On your own time, if not talking, then listening to music also helped me heaps. Heaps." I offer. Oklahoma chuckled at the final offer. "There it is!" I laughed at the comment. "Come on, I love music! Why are you ribbing me for it?"

The battleship held her hands up. "Oh, no sir, we don't mean anything ill! It's just that we all kinda picked up on how often you make us listen to whatever! Don't take it as a bad thing, though. We just never knew we had such a music lover at the helm." I tilted my head, caught off-guard by her statement. Oh. Well, would you look at that? "Wow. Thanks, I guess-? If you guys want some recommendations, I can leave you with a song from my library that you can listen to. Obviously not going to be as on-the-nose as a counseling session or even just outright talking to someone about it, but music is always nice regardless of how much it helps."

"By all means, commander", Helena encouraged. "Cool!" I take my player out and pop in the adapter. Snapping my extra USB off my belt, yes, I keep a USB on me at all times, you never know when it might come in handy, don't call me a nerd because of it, I plug it into the adapter and transfer the one track that I'm looking for. Watching the progress bar fill to 100 percent, I pull it back out and hold it up for them to see. Everyone's eyes fall on the drive. "Here. You can either listen to this on your own or as a group if you feel like it. Just meet back with each other in your dorms later tonight and pop it into whoever's computer. It should work."

"Alrighty sir", Oklahoma said, taking the USB from my hand. "My quarters?" She asked the rest of the group. They all agreed. Then, I realized something. "Oh! What about Cassin and Downes, and…"

"Ah, right", Arizona said. Helena suggested that they be invited for the night's meetup, which was again agreed upon. After a few more minutes of petty chatter, my sense of time once again came back. 1316 hours?! Ack, I told Nimi that I'd help her with the rest of the papers today. "Alright, it's been fun you guys, seriously. This was exactly what I needed. But duty calls, so…"

"Right! Shit!" West Virginia suddenly yelps. We all look at her in thinly veiled surprise. "Mary, we have exercises in five minutes!" The addressee of her reminder comes to the realization, eyes widening to dinner plates. "Oh!" I chuckled at the two battleships' plight. "Well, it looks like we've all got places to be! Just return the USB to me tomorrow. And tell me what you think!" I say. They nodded their assent and we go – no, actually, run – our separate ways.

2200 hours. The group, including the girls who weren't at the mess earlier, all met up at Oklahoma's quarters to give the commander's suggestion a shot. "Alright, are we all here?" Oklahoma asked to confirm attendance. "Yup, that's everyone", West Virginia replied.

Oklahoma acknowledged and walked over to her desk, the computer already on. She crouched down to access the PC's USB port. Everyone else made themselves comfortable, some in pyjamas, others simply wearing comfortable house clothes that they also had on as sleepwear. Pennsylvania and Arizona had opted for reasonably modest nightgowns. When the drive was read, the file finally downloaded, and the speakers hooked up, Oklahoma declared everything ready. "Alright, we're set! Is everyone good to go?" Pennsylvania set her glass of water down, everyone else smoothed themselves out. A collective thumbs-up was the go signal.

"Cool! Apparently, the song's called Every Teardrop is a Waterfall? So… Take that how you will." Everyone nodded and Oklahoma started the playback before plopping herself on a beanbag chair next to Arizona.

The music started with simple synth hits, evoking the sugar-sweet sounds of modern pop. The chord progression was something that sounded somewhat dreamlike, positive, and hopeful, but maybe a little uncertain. Vocals came in and started the track in earnest.

I turn the music up, I got my records on

I shut the world outside until the lights come on

Maybe the streets alight, maybe the trees are gone

I feel my heart start beating to my favorite song

And all the kids they dance, all the kids all night

Until Monday morning feels another life

I turn the music up, I'm on a roll this time

And heaven is in sight

What followed was a bright, bubbly, and downright infectious guitar line that supplanted the song's message through its tone. A background acoustic guitar hit in time with the synthesizers from earlier, said synths now being relegated to the sides as other instrumentation filled the audio space. Drums finally came into the mix, punctuating each measure with a four-on-the-floor rhythm.

I turn the music up, I got my records on

From underneath the rubble, sing a rebel song

Don't wanna see another generation drop

I'd rather be a comma than a full stop

Maybe I'm in the black, maybe I'm on my knees

Maybe I'm in the gap between the two trapezes

But my heart is beating and my pulses start

Cathedrals in my heart

The listeners all exchanged looks of approval, liking what they were hearing and nodding to its measured beat.

As we saw, oh, this light

I swear you, emerge blinking into

To tell me, it's alright

As we soar walls

Every siren is a symphony

And every tear's a waterfall

Is a waterfall

The guitar from earlier came sparkling back as the chorus dropped for the first time. Now, it was accompanied by more atmospheric sonics that was just barely picked up by the speakers.

"I kinda get it", Downes remarked. Everyone else in the room looked at the destroyer, though they were all still very much engrossed in the music. "I get how this coulda got to someone like the commander. It's pretty nice!" Arizona had to agree. "Yeah. I'd probably throw this on whenever I feel down." Pennsylvania chuckled, noticing the parallelism there. "That's kind of what he was telling you guys to do." Her younger sister thought about it for a moment. "Oh, yeah. Guess you're right."

While they conversed, the song lapsed into its bridge, bringing everyone's attention back to it.

So you can hurt, hurt me bad

But still, I'll raise the flag

Quickly doing away with the downtime, the lively chorus started up again, more energetic than the first two repetitions. This time, the kick was backed up by a crash hit in time with it, with the snare being struck every other beat. The guitar was still very much in the picture and very much the staple of the track as a whole.

Oh, it was a wa-wa-wa-wa-waterfall

A wa-wa-wa-wa-waterfall

Now the track hit its stride, the high hat left to ring out freely as it was struck at double the pace. The kick kept the four on the floor nature, measuring the beat and controlling the rhythm. Where the guitar was once the biggest source of the song's bounce, a double snare hit pattern developed that spiced it up with even more pep. It could only be described as intoxicatingly positive.

With the song's beat repeating, the vocals shifted to reflect its nature, becoming more of a chant. A very singable chant, and on a second listen, one would be hard-pressed not to sing along.

Every tear, every tear

Every teardrop is a waterfall

Every tear, every tear

Every teardrop is a waterfall

Every tear, every tear

Every teardrop is a waterfall

West Virginia chipped in with a thought. "What do you think it means?" Maryland looked at her with a little confusion on her face. "Hm?" The former gestured towards the speaker, explaining, "The phrase. I don't know if we can interpret the whole song, but what does the title mean? I'm quite curious." Everyone else quickly found themselves likewise interested in the query. What did it mean? Oklahoma suggested something. "Okay, how about this? When the song ends, we discuss our thoughts about what it means. Yeah?" They collectively agreed.

The chant ceased, along with much of the sonics from earlier. Now, the drumbeat of a fast, open high hat rang out, pattern emulating somewhat a marching band of sorts. A few more measures of the same beat played out before, at last, the song closed, and they were free to discuss and let out their ruminations. "That was good," Cassin remarked. Hums of assent rose before silence fell once again while they gathered their thoughts.

...

"So uhh", Pennsylvania chuckles. "Who's goin' first?" Arizona timidly raised her hand. "Alright, Ari. Floor's yours."

Arizona nodded before taking a quick breath to still herself. "Okay", she began, "A teardrop is something small, right? It's tiny." Everyone nodded. "But a waterfall is this gush of water. It's huge." Once more, everyone agreed. It wasn't like someone was about to argue a teardrop was bigger than a waterfall. Literally, anyway. "So", Arizona continued, "I think it tells us that behind even the smallest of teardrops, a mountain, a waterfall of feeling and emotion could've invoked it."

Nevada seconded the notion. "I like that", she said. "I think we can add to that further, though." Everyone's gaze now on her, she offered her thoughts and feelings about it. "A teardrop is supposed to be something sad, yeah? But a waterfall is objectively beautiful. A force of nature. So, I think it also says, yeah, tears are sad. But behind the sadness can be something beautiful. Like a glint of hope in the bleakness of your circumstance." Oklahoma's face lit up at the interpretation.

"Ooh! That's a good one. That might tie back to what the commander said earlier, too!" Maryland looked at her, slightly puzzled. "What's it tie back to? He said a lot earlier." Oklahoma explained, "How we can use our experiences as a jumping-off point. To learn from and grow past them instead of being defined by them." Collective agreements were voiced at the sentiment.

Helena chipped in with her opinions, too. "How about those lines at the start? I turn the music up, I'm on a roll this time, and heaven is in sight? That could also be interesting to discuss."

They went on to spend the rest of the night disassembling the song's lyrics verse by verse, line by line, replaying the track to double-check, and writing down their compiled thoughts in a notebook. They decided to let Bremerton know what they were doing and actually made meetups like this regular. Maybe, at some point, the commander himself could join them in discussing the music they would listen to.

It was still a way to go before they fully reconciled with what happened even all those decades ago. But now, the light is in sight.

A/N: This chapter is part me letting out my thoughts and emotions over the past year and half, and just wanting to resurface a gem of a song. Maybe Teardrop wouldn't be the exact tune, but I'm sure we've all had stories of music helping us through the best and worst of times. As I said, this chapter would take a serious turn, but it would give our heroes a win. I hope I made good on that promise!

Thanks to the ones who read these, the ones that followed and gave it a heart. A quick mention for user Manuel01 who found new music to enjoy through my little imaginings. As someone who loves it when others find music they can enjoy, that is just plain awesome to hear!

Plans for the next chapter? I might or might notn'tnot delve into the commander's side of this evening. He did have a "date" with King George V, right? Who knows, who knows...

'Till next time! Cheers, Jarvis.

Tracklist

Coldplay - "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall"