A/N: Welcome back~
A new antagonist, some lovely trauma and a few revelations; what a packed little chapter this'll be~
Enjoy~
Stardust
Chapter 6: Endless Ocean
Vestal was tired.
That in and of itself wasn't really a new thing. Being a doctor took a lot of work, and often required late nights, if not overnight hospital stays. Plenty of times in the past she had gone days without sleep, relying on quick power naps between patients in order to keep functioning. Hardly healthy, she knew, but it was necessary in order to treat patients in the most effective manner possible.
Enterprise, however, had a special way of making her feel tired. Physically, mentally and emotionally she felt drained by the woman. She worried over her, she wanted to smack her up the head for being so stupid and idiotic and so goddamn heroic to the point of it becoming a hindrance – and that had only gotten worse since her return from Siren captivity. With the most recent example being the best one.
''Haah...'' Vestal felt a migraine coming on just from remembering it.
She still remembered the surge of panic she felt when she got a call over the radio about it. Enterprise had been located – and had been hostile. Or at least, unwilling to surrender. This resulted in a fight primarily between her and Hornet, with Cleveland and Montpelier backing her up but mostly staying out of it. And contrary to everyone's expectations, Enterprise didn't go down easily. In fact, she didn't go down at all.
Despite being in such a terrible state, a state that many more sensible people would be left bedridden in, Enterprise had beaten Hornet. It wasn't a decisive or overwhelming victory, but from what she later heard from Cleveland, it was clear that Enterprise wasn't really trying. Or at least, she wasn't able to try her hardest – summoning only a scarce few planes and losing just one, despite the two cruisers infamous for their anti-air capabilities firing upon it. Additionally, despite Enterprise taking multiple hits, she suffered near-zero physical damage.
It gave her shivers. It honest-to-god made Vestal shiver.
She knew Enterprise was strong. She was their star carrier for a reason.
But to be in such a terribly wounded state, and beat Hornet – a very skilled carrier – whilst suffering minimal injuries? It was unfathomable. Akin to hearing how someone with two broken arms beat up a heavyweight boxer, it just didn't make sense.
It also left her with an ominous question. If this was how good Enterprise was in a wounded state...
...what would she be like when she was fully healed, and her rigging perfectly repaired?
'...perhaps the Sirens knew what a threat she'd become.' The thought struck Vestal.
'Or perhaps... they wanted to make her into one...?'
The thought was odd, but it stuck to her mind – until Vestal vigorously shook her head, dispelling the strange, ridiculous thought. Of course the Sirens wouldn't make Enterprise strong – why would they? They would have nothing to gain from it, and everything to lose. You didn't kidnap your mortal enemy and teach them how to kill you. Nonsense, it was. And probably a by-product of her lack of sleep.
Thought thoroughly dispelled Vestal continued her walk through the hospital, making her way for the storage room – mentally tallying the medications she needed. Hornet would be hospitalised for a few days due to her injuries, but would make it out alright. Perhaps the silliest part of it all was that, even after what she did, Hornet was willing to forgive Enterprise faster than her hat could drop. And admittedly, Vestal felt the same.
It was hard to begrudge Enterprise after what she had gone through. If what she did was malicious then yes, but it was more of a defensive reaction than an aggressive one.
Though that didn't stop Yorktown from giving Enterprise a good talking-to. Before smothering her in a worried hug, as one might expect.
Sighing Vestal was about to enter the storage room – when she was startled by the front doors of the hospital slamming open, the glass rattling in the frames.
''M-Miss Vestal!'' The familiar voice of Edinburgh cried out.
Alarmed Vestal jogged down the hall back to the entranceway where the maid stood, panting. ''Edinburgh?! What is it? Is someone-''
''One of the admirals is here!''
The out-of-breath, rushed sentence stopped Vestal dead, disbelief filling her. An admiral – one of the higher-ups that ran the entire Azur Lane organisation. More of a bureaucrat than a naval officer nowadays, but their authority carried weight.
While the Commander was the technical head of the organisation, leading the Ship-Girls, he was just one person and there was many bases out there. He couldn't always be around to do paper-pushing and sorting out missions, and for various reasons it was considered unwise to leave it purely up to the Ship-Girls. Thus the job fell to the admirals... and that also included things like investigations, reports, and punishments for infractions.
And one of them was at the base. The very next day after Enterprise and Hornet battled out on the ocean... well within range of the shore radars run by the navy.
'Shit.'
The curse was a rarely spoke one by Vestal, but one that felt so very apt for the emotions she felt in that moment.
''Which one?'' Vestal sharply asked, gathering her thoughts. It'd depend on which one, some were more amicable like Daniels, McCaunery, Weston-
''Admiral Henderson, I think.''
-or it could be him. The raging bull of the navy.
Vestal felt a fresh headache coming on. ''Great.''
Edinburgh looked worried. ''Um, should I send him away? I mean, I-I don't think-''
''You don't have the authority.'' Vestal grimly replied, crossing her arms. ''Without the Commander here, he's the highest ranking officer on the base. Just bring him here.''
Edinburgh looked worried but was wise enough to not argue further, hastily making her retreat. Seeing that Vestal took a deep breath, calming her pounding heart and wracking her brain on what to do. If he was here so soon, without any advanced notice, then there was no doubt in her mind he knew about the incident with Enterprise. More than likely he wanted to know why she did it, and would take advantage of the opportunity to grill her for information about her time with the Sirens.
Something she couldn't allow as a doctor.
With that in mind she steeled herself, patiently waiting by the doors of the hospital. She didn't have to wait long until the admiral in question arrived, his lean but imposing figure filling the doorway. The glass door swung inwards lightly but steadily, betraying the firm grip the man in question held on the handle – dark brown eyes hard and brow straightened. The crisply-cut black hair was hidden partially beneath a white cap, matching the rest of his ivory uniform, not a stain nor a smudge to be found on the fabric.
''Admiral Henderson.'' Vestal kept her back straight as she addressed the man – one who seemed so imposingly tall compared to her short frame. ''May I ask why you've suddenly visited us... sir?''
Formality wasn't her strong suit, but it seemed to satisfy the admiral enough; a gruff reply coming out of him. ''Enterprise. I want to see her.''
''I'm afraid Enterprise is currently recovering, sir. She's not been taking any visitors, and to ease her mental well-being she-''
''Is she conscious?''
Vestal blinked, caught flat-footed. ''Well, yes, she-''
Henderson didn't listen further. Without paying her any further heed he marched right past her, making his way down the hallway with gruff stubbornness. It took Vestal a good few seconds to snap out of her disbelief, and by the time she did she realised he was making his way straight for Enterprise's room – a worried look back at Edinburgh telling her that the maid must've let the room number slip.
The maid mouthed an apology but Vestal just shook her head, swiftly marching after the admiral – determined not to let Enterprise get interrogated like some prisoner.
X-x-X
Enterprise had been staring at the same spot on the wall for a good five minutes now. She was well aware of that, but she couldn't bring herself to tear her gaze away from it.
Memories of last night still echoed through her mind. Remorse flickered in her heart but she quashed it, but her stubborn heart still wavered, pangs of regret rising back up again as soon as she smothered them. She could still remember Hornet, how she glared at her with such fire in her eyes, all but bellowing that they were real. It felt real. It truly did.
But that only made her far more uneasy, rather than less. It meant the Sirens were getting better with their tricks.
She sighed inaudibly, tilting her head slightly to the side. The hospital room around her was similar to her previous one – they were all nearly identical anyway – but it was on the opposite end of the building, meaning the morning sunlight poured into the room and made it all stuffy. She wasn't a fan of that, but at the end of the day she tolerated it. A little stuffiness wouldn't kill her after all; she had bigger things to worry about. Like how Yorktown was going to chastise her again when she woke up.
Small mercies that her current seat by the window gave her a good view of the distant dormitories; made it easier to spot her if she marched her way over.
Suddenly she heard muted voices; coming from deeper within the hospital. She sat up slightly, hand falling from her chin and gaze drawn to the door, focusing. The voices were muted by the thick walls but she could make out Vestal's high-pitched voice as she raised her voice, nearly yelling at someone – and the inaudible deep voice that gruffly responded. It took her a good few seconds to realise who it might be.
And by the time she realised who it was, the door opened. Admiral Henderson. The imposing man looked every bit the admiral he was, his eyes dark but sharp, his hair neat and his uniform crisp. She had rarely interacted with him directly, and only then at more formal events and for a short period of time. She doubted he remembered much about her other than her infamy as one of the best carriers in the world.
Enterprise frowned ever-so-slightly. Now that she thought about it, she hadn't seen Henderson very much during any of the simulations. Was something different here? What angle were the Sirens going for?
''Enterprise.'' Henderson addressed her directly, snapping her out of her thoughts. ''I see that you've survived the Siren's captivity.''
''Mm.'' Enterprise merely hummed in reply.
He folded his arms behind his back, marching into her room. ''The navy technicians saw you out on a 'sortie' without prior authorisation over the shore radars, and got into a squabble with your sister Hornet. I want to know why.''
''Just a sisterly spar.'' Enterprise intoned, stoic.
Henderson narrowed his eyes. ''I'm not in the mood for games, Enterprise. You're far from exempt from punishment over attacking an ally.''
Enterprise remained unfazed. There was hardly anything he could 'punish' her with that was worse than her current situation. Henderson made to speak again when she didn't, but thankfully Vestal finally took the chance to cut in, sharply stepping into the room and crossing her arms, giving the admiral a reprimanding look.
''Admiral Henderson.'' The formality was clearly forced, and Henderson wasn't blind to that. ''Once again I must ask that you leave. You may leave your questions for Enterprise to answer when she feels well enough – interrogating one of my patients is outside of your authority whilst I am present!''
The firm edge her tone took didn't affect the admiral one bit; the man in question returning his gaze to Enterprise herself. ''The Sirens. Where did they keep you?''
''Sir, I-!'' Vestal tried to interject.
Enterprise cut her off; monotone voice filling the hospital room. ''Unknown. Usually dark rooms with little light and steel walls. Location unknown.''
''Surely you know more than that.''
''Nothing that would be helpful.''
''Try me.'' Henderson sharply retorted. ''Any information is useful. Their strengths. Their weaknesses. Location of bases. Weak points. Blind spots. Tactical strength versus their strategic capability. Production methods, limits and weaknesses.''
He leaned down more to her height, glaring into her eyes. ''I want every bit of information about them, no matter how 'helpful'.''
She remained silent, staring back unblinkingly.
Henderson eyed her closely. ''What about that scar on your face, then? How did you get that?''
Enterprise flinched.
Not a second later a flash of light emanated from behind Henderson, drawing the eyes of both the admiral in question and Enterprise – gazes locked onto Vestal. The Repair Ship had her rigging manifested around her, and whilst far from the most impressive rigging out there it looked distinctly large within the small hospital room, her anti-aircraft guns primed and ready despite the lack of use they often found.
''Admiral Henderson.'' No patience was left in the medic's tone now. ''You are overstepping your authority here. Enterprise is my patient, and it is up to me and me alone when she is well enough to take visitors and endure further stress. If you refuse to leave now I will be in my full right to make you leave.''
The threat hung in the air. Vestal may be a woman of short statue and meagre armament, but to a human she was more than capable of harming him without even earning a scratch.
Henderson seemed very aware of that, the veins in his neck becoming prominent as he turned a glare on her – his voice rising. ''I am the admiral here, Miss Vestal. Do not speak to me about authority!''
He turned fully towards her, back straight and heightening his imposing height over the medic. ''I fought the Sirens back when you were a mere concept on paper and a dream in a scientist's mind! When our greatest fleets were bombed into submission and our coasts were alight with oil fires stretching for miles!''
''I have been fighting this war longer than you have existed.'' Admiral Henderson icily added. ''If your 'authority' prevents me from getting vital information on the Sirens, then I'll take measures to remove that authority. The defeat of the Sirens comes before all else.''
Vestal was silent, but the offended glare she gave him told of her true feelings. He gave her one right back.
Until the sound of a chair squeaking across smooth floor filled the air.
Admiral Henderson turned, eyes flickering up slightly to meet the eyes of Enterprise. The silver-haired woman stood slightly taller than he himself, compounding the piercing look Enterprise gave him. It wasn't a glare but it may have well as been with how intense it was, her eyes locked onto him as if truly staring at him, and not just looking in his general direction.
''You shouldn't raise your voice in the hospital.'' Enterprise's words were quiet, but backed with a will of unwavering steel. ''Vestal is right. You should leave.''
Enterprise tilted her head, and narrowed her eyes. ''Sir.''
…
''Tch...'' Admiral Henderson clicked his tongue and looked aside, glaring at Enterprise from the corner of his eye. ''This isn't over.''
Then with a twist of his heel the admiral marched out of the room, the sharp clicking of his shoes echoing down the hallway – and soon the hospital front door clicked open, and then thumped shut. He was gone.
Only then did Enterprise allow herself to relax, shoulders going slack. She leaned back and sat down into her chair again, a vague wave of tiredness rising up within her before she pushed it down. Seeing Henderson talk to Vestal that way ignited something within her, an old fire of sorts. Not quite anger but just as intense. Protectiveness.
She hadn't felt it so intensely for a long while now.
''Are you alright?''
Enterprise glanced up, taking note of Vestal's concerned expression. ''I'm fine.''
Vestal bit her lip, hesitant. She looked Enterprise over, spotting the slight way her fingers curled into what might be a fist before she relaxed them, her shoulders slack. Her gaze had a clarity to it that hadn't been there before, and for once she didn't look so distant and out of it. She actually looked to be more... aware, if that was the word for it.
Seeing that, Vestal took a chance. ''What really happened with the Sirens?''
A look. It was a hard look, eyes piercing into her very soul, but Vestal didn't back down. She held Enterprise's stare, seconds ticking by in painful slowness, neither so much as blinking-
-until Enterprise shut her eyes. ''...it's painful to remember.''
Vestal's heart ached, but she pushed on – getting down on one knee and taking Enterprise's hands in hers. ''I can't help you if I don't know what's hurting you, Enterprise.''
Silence.
Remembering what Henderson said, Vestal quietly reached out – her fingertips grazing the discoloured scar across Enterprise's face. The carrier flinched back, but when Vestal reached out a second time she didn't pull back; tense as the medic ran her fingertips along the roughened skin. Few had so much as commented on the scar, but nobody could ignore it. Stretching across her face in a slightly-angled line, it was impossible to ignore.
''...how did you get it?'' Vestal inquired softly, tracing the edge with her thumb.
''...Observer Alpha.'' The name alone stopped her wandering thumb. ''I was being defiant. She didn't like that, so she laced her tentacle with some kind of acid and struck me. It'll never heal properly, according to her.''
Enterprise's left hand came up, touching part of the scar. ''...it serves as a reminder; that I'm not the same person when this whole mess started.''
Vestal grabbed that hand. ''You are.''
She squeezed the carrier's hand tight. ''You're still the same stupidly-stubborn Enterprise I know. And now you're free from them.''
Enterprise stared at her for a long second, then looked down into her lap. ''...I wonder about that.''
''What do you mean?'' Vestal worriedly looked up at her.
The carrier shut her eyes, inhaling a deep breath and exhaling it with equal slowness. Only then did she speak.
''The Sirens put me through simulations.'' Enterprise said quietly. ''They felt so very real. At first, I didn't even realise I was in one. I interacted with everyone, I fought the Sirens, I went to bed and woke up again... it was only when I did something they didn't want, that they ended the simulation to 'correct' it. New scenarios. New objectives.''
Enterprise squeezed her hand back tight. ''They wanted to test me. I was pitted against Siren enemies of greater strength until I fell, and then the whole simulation ended. They did it over and over again. Sometimes they'd... experiment. Force me into more dangerous situations. Against overwhelming odds. Impossible odds.''
Her breathing grew quick. ''I saw everyone sink. Again, and again. Blown apart. Ripped to shreds. Drowned. Broken into a heap. Incinerated, reaching out to me...''
A glazed look began to cross Enterprise's eyes, prompting Vestal to give her hand a harsh squeeze. The slight pain was enough to jolt Enterprise out of her unknown memories.
The carrier swallowed, took a breath, and continued. ''...so I escaped. But it was just a trap. It turned out to be another simulation, with another objective. A dozen times I've managed to break out. Each time it turned out I never did – the Sirens had wanted me to break out, to 'escape' into another simulation and believe I was free.''
Vestal's stomach sunk, her mind connecting the dots. ''...and you think this is another simulation too...''
Enterprise nodded quietly, eyes sorrowful. ''...I don't blame you for not realising. The other versions of yourself I've met didn't know either. You're all just code, recreated from the original...''
Vestal stood up. The suddenness of it took Enterprise off-guard, blinking in shock when Vestal held her shoulders in a tight grip.
''I'm real, Enterprise.'' The Repair Ship whispered, eyes sad as she looked the carrier in the eye. ''Is there any way I can prove it?''
''No.'' Enterprise's voice was sombre, but firm. ''You act just like all the other versions I've met. From how you talk to how you walk, how you act... even how you reacted when Admiral Henderson questioned your authority. It's identical.''
Vestal looked torn, near-physical pain on her gentle visage as she searched her mind for a way to prove her own existence... and she came up empty-handed. There was no way she could prove it. If the Sirens possessed the technology to perfectly clone them, or at least make convincing imitations, then nothing she would say would make a difference.
''What about secrets?'' Vestal weakly clung to that hope. ''Things the Sirens couldn't possibly know.''
''They do.'' Enterprise shot that down without fanfare. ''They know about that time you pretended to be busy to make Akagi wait longer, to punish her for being rude. They know about that phase you went through when you loved rabbit dolls. Or the time you tried to train the Manjuu to feed people and made a mess in your room. Or-''
''I-I get it...'' Vestal cut her off. ''Is... is there really no way?''
''No.'' Enterprise shook her head stiffly, startling Vestal when the carrier abruptly stood. ''I need air.''
The comment was sudden, but a closer inquiry revealed Enterprise's quickening breaths, not entirely unlike hyperventilation. Seeing that Vestal was about to suggest the roof, reasoning that the winds up there would be better than the window – when an idea occurred to her.
''Do you want to go for a walk?''
Enterprise seemed surprised by the sudden comment, prompting Vestal to hastily continue. ''O-Only if you want to. I was just thinking that we could get a start on fixing your rigging. I'd prefer to keep you in bed... but, well, you've shown you're more than capable of running about on your own.''
The carrier blinked in surprise, scratching her cheek in quiet thought. Vestal gave her the time, and was soon rewarded for her patience.
''Sure.'' Enterprise conceded, making her way for the door. ''Guess there's no harm. The Sirens would know about any change to my rigging anyway...''
The off-handed comment worried Vestal, but she hid it well and followed after her ever-so-stubborn friend.
X-x-X
It was a fairly short walk from the hospital to the docks.
At this time of day it was mercifully quiet, those that were needed on sorties already having left or were so busy trying to keep on schedule that they didn't spare Enterprise more than a wave or cheer, something that got either a quiet nod from the carrier or sometimes a smile; the latter usually reserved for the more exuberant greeters. Still, there were a fair few early-risers who recognised Enterprise, but few approached her and only gave a light wave.
Perhaps it was due to the air around the carrier, Vestal mused to herself. She hadn't originally noticed it, and in fact it was only now that she truly felt it. Beforehand Enterprise had been quiet, but almost appeared to be constantly lost in though. Now however she was the direct opposite; she felt focused, almost like she was on a mission and that anyone who approached her was distracting her from a mission.
Akin to seeing a secretary rushing towards their bosses' office, you didn't stop to chat with them, because you assumed they were busy with something important.
Likewise, Enterprise exuded that same air – the air of someone intently focused on a task... even though all she was actually doing was going to the docks.
Vestal gave her head a good shake, dispelling the thought – picking up into a light jog to catch up with Enterprise, who had wandered ahead of her. The carrier glanced back at her briefly before looking ahead, slowly descending the steps to the docks; her boots tapping along the water-worn concrete. An open space of water laid between the docks, forming spaces for the Manjuu to help repair the ships in question, with Vestal herself chipping in only when needed to fix more severe damage.
''Hah...'' Vestal spent a second to catch her breath before proceeding. ''Alright... if you'd summon your ship form, Enterprise, we can get to work.''
Enterprise looked at her from the corner of her eye. ''...are you sure?''
''Of course.'' Vestal put her hands on her hips. ''The sooner the better.''
Enterprise was quiet, expression unmoving and eyes piercing. Then she looked away, a soft exhale escaping her pale lips as she shut her eyes and raised her hand out into the open stretch of water. The air before her warped; light twisting and bending as dozens of miniature dark blue cubes manifested out of thin air. Red cracks lined the flat edges of the cubes, glowing a soft hue as they swirled around – until with a bright flash of light, Enterprise manifested her ship form.
A loud hiss flooded the air as water splashed, disturbed by the sudden weight crashing down onto it. Before Vestal's eyes a massive steel hulk came to rest amidst the lapping waves, plates of worn and rusted metal welded onto what was formerly a pristine hull form. Extensive cracks tore along the side of the hull and curved up onto the deck out of sight, whilst numerous impact holes dotted the length of it and a couple clearly-repaired torpedo holes near the waterline were easily visible.
''...this is your ship form?'' Vestal could only utter in stunned disbelief.
''Yeah.'' Enterprise tugged on her cap, staring at the ship from under the brim. ''I repair it when I can. Often had to do it out on the ocean; flight deck took priority for obvious reasons. Best I could do with the limited materials.''
Vestal nodded numbly, eyes tracing every miniscule crack in the hull. ''...what type of damage did you take?''
Enterprise shrugged slowly. ''Lost count. Torpedoes every now and again, but mostly bombs or shells. If I was unlucky it was a laser or some kind that tore through my hull. I've even nearly had my keel split in half once during a failed escape attempt; that was... a pain to repair.''
Vestal was silent, swallowing as she gazed down into the lapping waves. One thing about Ship-Girls that made them unique was their rigging. In its smaller, more compact form around them it provided them immense, but often not complete firepower. Battleships might have their main guns, but would lack most of their secondary guns and anti-air. Destroyers might only get access to one torpedo launcher and gun as opposed to two launchers and five guns. So on and so forth; their compacter forms made them harder to hit, but limited their firepower.
However, their ship form brought out that full firepower... at a cost. A rigging could be destroyed completely but repaired after just a week or so, sometimes less. But if a Ship-Girls' ship-form was completely destroyed, or broken at the keel... well, it was often a death sentence. There was limits to even a Repair Ship's ability, and having a keel broken was often too fatal to be fixed.
After all... what was a Ship-Girl, without a ship? Nothing, that's what.
And yet, Enterprise nearly had her keel broken and still stood right next to her.
'...you stubborn idiot...' Vestal thought with fond exasperation, eyeing Enterprise softly. 'Then again... you didn't get away unscathed, did you...?'
''Where are your Manjuu?'' Vestal inquired instead, running her eyes over the ship. The Manjuu, the souls of their sailors, should still be around to help her fix it-
''They're dead.''
-or not. ''What?''
''They all died at some point.'' Enterprise shrugged quietly, but not emotionlessly. ''In battle, on the sea... their souls still reside in me, but they don't bother taking a physical form any more. No point in it.''
The way she said it bothered Vestal, but the Repair Ship supposed it made sense on a purely logical level. No point in taking the form of an adorable chick when your 'host' was busy getting shelled at by a bunch of Sirens day and night.
''...so then how do you fix it?'' Vestal felt the need to inquire. Manjuu usually did the repair work, but if they were all dead, then...
''...like this.'' Enterprise stepped forth.
Whether by command or just because of the waves the massive aircraft carrier lolled itself towards Enterprise, allowing the silver-haired woman to touch it. Immediately upon doing so Vestal felt a change in the air, and not a second later she saw some of the shell-inflicted holes begin to mend themselves together. It wasn't quite regeneration, but rather stretching the surrounding metal like it was gel and closing up the hole. Making it thinner and ultimately weaker... but it was the best that could be done without more material to patch it up.
It was also an ability she had heard only a scarce few Ship-Girls had. It wasn't some secret technique or a lost methodology, but just a simple manner of explanation. Sure, you could say you just 'pulled' your hull together, but that didn't magically teach someone to weld their own hull shut. There was something more, something deeper and more intrinsicto the technique, and one that unfortunately didn't seem to be capable of being shared with words. And few were keen on getting their hulls shelled just to practice it, either.
'Ability to self-repair to an unknown extent, apparent immunity to damage, unknown method of launching planes...' Vestal frowned as she recalled all the details Hornet had told her.
The ability to self-repair, that could be brushed aside as a technique she picked up in a dangerous, life-threatening situation. But being able to endure a direct kamikaze-esque strike without taking any real damage aside from to her bow? That was suspicious. Adding onto it her strange way of using her planes and their own damaged states, and Vestal began to realise Enterprise might be hiding a lot more than she initially expected.
Shaking her head softly Vestal dismissed the worrying thought for now. It was still early days; she couldn't rush Enterprise for all the answers yet. Time was what they all needed. Time, and trust.
''Here.'' Vestal whispered, extending her hand out into the sea just beyond Enterprise's ship form.
With a bright flash Vestal's own, albeit much smaller ship form appeared. With nothing but a mental command it gently sailed up next to the massive aircraft carrier, cranes extending as they began to set to work in repairing Enterprise's hull properly. Unlike Enterprise, she kept a ready stock of metal plates and other materials needed to repair, alongside her innate abilities to properly restore machinery and other aspects of a ship.
''You need a more gentle touch.'' Vestal said quietly. ''If you keep being rough with it, then it'll just break apart from the slightest tap.''
Something almost like a chuckle escaped Enterprise. ''...yeah, I was never good at fixing it.''
''You did as well as you could.'' Vestal reassured. ''Just leave it to me now, alright?''
''Mm.'' Enterprise didn't even pose an argument, watching the process with a distant gaze.
Silence fell over them, the distant chatter of the base and the slow whining of cranes the only sounds to be heard.
Until Enterprise quietly spoke up. ''...one of the last Manjuu to die was one of the crew members you once gave me, back in our old lives.''
Vestal shut her eyes. She took some comfort in the knowledge that her little helper was by Enterprise's side until the end. ''...I see...''
The two lapsed back into silence, neither speaking despite the many, many questions ricocheting around Vestal's head. The slow whining of metal or clanking of steel was the only thing to fill the quiet, until soon they were accompanied by the sound of shoes jogging towards them.
''Oi~! Enterprise, Vestal~!''
''Hm?'' Enterprise glanced over, blinking slowly. ''Ah... Cleveland...''
Cleveland grinned broadly, slowing her jog down as she reached them. ''Surprised to see you up and about, thought you'd be stuck in bed after last night, Enterprise.''
''I heal fast.'' Enterprise remarked lightly, tilting her head. ''...sorry for destroying part of your rigging yesterday.''
''Heh, no worries~! Just try and miss me next time~'' Cleveland jokingly said, turning her eyes upon the massive aircraft carrier next to them and whistling. ''Looks like you took a pretty big beating though, huh.''
''...I suppose you could say that.'' Enterprise mused, also looking back up at her ship form.
Cleveland wasn't bothered by the subdued reply, putting her hands on her hips and swaying back-and-forth slightly. ''Also, if you don't mind me askin', but how'd you do that trick with the planes? Never saw 'em coming until just a few seconds beforehand; ain't no way you could hide that.''
Vestal was also curious about that, not-so-subtly listening in as she half-focused on repairing Enterprise's ship.
The carrier in question visibly mulled it over, eyes not leaving her ship form. She didn't speak for a solid few seconds, the silence beginning to drag to the point Cleveland began to look worried – when finally, Enterprise responded.
''They were already in the air when you arrived.'' Enterprise stated simply. ''I had them kill their engines and just glide so they made no sound.''
Cleveland blinked owlishly. ''Wait, really? Could've sworn I didn't detect anything in the air...''
Enterprise merely hummed, tilting her gaze down towards Vestal. ''I'm going for a walk.''
''O-Oh? Well, I'll come with to make sure-''
''It's fine.'' Enterprise cut her off, meandering past her. ''Just going down to the end of the pier. Nice talking to you, Cleveland.''
''Same to you, Enterprise.''
Dipping her head in a slight nod the carrier walked past the two, quietly strolling down the length of the docks. Vestal watched her go worriedly, half-tempted to chase after her to make sure she didn't collapse or something... but as she watched, she realised that Enterprise had no such problems. Even though it'd only been a matter of days since she'd been rescued, she was showing little problems with walking about – or fighting, for that matter.
'...another mystery to add to the pile.' Vestal told herself. Just how many secrets did Enterprise have?
Enterprise was never the most open person. She had secrets like everyone else, but she had a terrible habit of bottling things up. Bad experiences, emotions, trauma; if it was bad, she sealed it up tight and put it in a tiny box within her mind to be forgotten.
On its own it wasn't a problem... but at some point, that box would begin to overflow. There was only so much she could ignore and push out of her mind before it became inescapable.
By that point, she'd be drowning in it all.
And Vestal had a terrible feeling that she was already sinking.
[END]
A/N: And thus Enty reveals a little bit more to good ol' Vestal. Poor Enty though, going through all of that... plus all the stuff she hasn't dared mention~ And this won't be the last we see of Henderson either...
See you next time in Chapter 7: Haunting Familiarity~
Preview:
Until she got a strange feeling. Almost like she was being watched.
Tilting her head subtly Belfast peered over her shoulder. The length of the seawall and the docks laid behind her, and further back was the dormitories – only the uppermost floors visible due to the lower-down height of the docks. One dormitory in particular stood out due to its grand height; one belonging to the Sakura Empire, in fact.
And in one of the open windows was a speck of red and blue, before both disappeared into the shade of the room.
'Akagi, Kaga...' Belfast frowned.
Perhaps it was natural that they would come and at least peek at Enterprise's hull...
...yet, why did she get such a bad feeling about the mere thought?