A/N: Welcome back~ Time for a bit more insight into Enterprise... and some familiar faces~
Enjoy~
Stardust
Chapter 7: Haunting Familiarity
Enterprise wandered down the length of the pier in silence, the slow lapping of the tide the only sound to disturb the quiet.
The silver-haired carrier stared out across the ocean. She could still hear Vestal and Cleveland behind her, the two making idle chatter about repairs or her hull, but she didn't pay them much mind. The Sirens were very thorough in their attempts to 'analyse' her, so even if Vestal was to strip her hull down to its very foundations, there was nothing there the Sirens wouldn't already know of. Though it might give Vestal herself a bit of a surprise.
A flicker of a smile quirted at Enterprise's lips, but it was gone a second later; her face falling back into neutrality. The humour was short-lived, her mind invariably turning back towards her task at hand – the Sirens. She was still convinced that this world was not her own; even if it shared similarities, it was best to assume this was a simulation like all the others. There was no reason to think otherwise, after all.
'...hm...'
Enterprise swept her gaze over the horizon. There had to be some clue, somewhere. A hint of some kind; an indication of what objective the Sirens wanted her to achieve. Assaulting a Siren base, eliminating a fleet to cause a chain reaction that would in turn cause some political intrigue or chaos; there was always a reason, and she'd gotten good at guessing why. However with no hint to guide her, she was left with remarkably little to go on.
The world was a big place after all. Even narrowing it down to Siren territory didn't help matters much; there was only so much ocean she could feasibly cover before she had to double back on herself to make sure she didn't let the enemy pass by her.
Before her the dock finally came to an end, the waves lapping up against the squared edges. Slowly Enterprise lowered herself down, her legs sliding over the edge. The water sprayed up but failed to reach her boots, though the sea's chilly bite still reached her – helping keep her mind clear and focused. She ran through her options, quickly shooting down various options such as searching for the objective herself, given how the people at the base had reacted.
Lost in thought Enterprise didn't initially hear the slow but strong footsteps tapping her way. It was only when she heard a familiar whistling tune that she snapped out of her inner thoughts, lifting her head and peering over her shoulder.
Her eyes landed on a familiar head of silver hair, a cocky grin curled at the woman's lips and a hand soon coming to rest upon her hip, a sort of gung-ho air about her that was ever so familiar and reassuring.
Washington.
Memories flashed through her mind. A bloodied Battleship that shelled an enemy fleet. A broken Battleship that held a dark-skinned woman with one arm and flipped the middle finger at Observer Alpha with her other hand. A Battleship left in a coma and covered in ivory bandages, hiding the terrible burns that marred her flesh after being exposed to one of the Siren's superweapons. The phantom memories overlapped with the Washington standing right before her, nearly blurring them together.
''Yo.''
Enterprise jolted out of her memories. ''H-Huh...?''
Washington nodded down at the dock next to her. ''Mind if I take a seat?''
''Ah... sure.'' Enterprise nodded distractedly and shuffled to the side, quiet.
The Battleship didn't comment on her subdued reply, instead grunting as she sat down next to her, dangling her legs over the edge casually. She leaned back on her arms and also stared out onto the ocean, kicking her legs idly and letting the air lapse into a peaceful silence. Bit by bit Enterprise leaned into it, relaxing somewhat. It was hard to, but even in the numerous simulations she'd been through, Washington had always been the same. It helped keep her grounded.
Unlike with others, Washington didn't break. She didn't give into despair even when the fleet was surrounded and burning. She didn't lose sight of what she had to do and become a fragment of her former self. She didn't even keel over and die when getting half of her body incinerated.
In that latter case, she punched the Siren responsible for it, breaking one last nose before collapsing.
''Essex was hoping to see you today.'' Washington commented suddenly, dragging Enterprise out of her dark thoughts. ''Heard you were up and about too.''
Enterprise processed that information silently, a lump forming in her throat. ''...I'm not sure I can.''
''Hm? Why not?''
Enterprise didn't response – memories flashing through her mind before she quashed them, screwing her eyes shut and inhaling a deep breath. A roaring tide. A surge of water. A tentacled behemoth. Fingers, slipping from her grip. Bubbles foaming on the surface of the ocean... and then nothing. Nothing but the haughty, mockish laughter of a Siren that ricocheted around her skull like buckshot.
The carrier banished the haunting thoughts with a shudder, shaking her head slightly. Washington eyed her intently for a long few seconds before lifting a hand – earning a side glance from Enterprise – and then slowly bringing it down onto her shoulder, clapping it lightly. The Battleship's grip was as firm as ever. Stalwart and stubborn. Strong but not unkind. Reassuring, encouraging. Comforting.
''I'll tell her to be a bit more patient.'' Washington stated in a quiet, serious voice. ''Take as much time as ya need, Enterprise. Don't know what the hell those bastards did to ya... but I'll be here if ya need me.''
Enterprise inhaled a slow breath. ''I... I know. I know... thank you, Washington.''
''Heh.'' The Battleship smirked faintly. ''Ain't a problem. And if you ever wanna flex your muscles and do a good ol' fashioned spar, just gimme a call.''
''I might've surpassed you there. In melee combat.'' Enterprise replied, tilting her head. She swore she heard something.
Washington began to reply but Enterprise was distracted as light but quick footsteps rushed at her from behind – closing fast. Instinct took hold over her reactions and in a heartbeat her right arm jutted out behind her, touching the firm stomach of someone petite-
-before she grasped ahold of their light clothes and threw them right over her.
''Waah?!''
Enterprise blinked, watching as the petite pink-haired girl was thrown over her, flipping through the air – before finally landing atop the ocean, having summoned her rigging at the last second. A flustered exhale escaped the girl in question, her lips puffing out into a petulant pout and a hand coming to rest upon her slim hip.
''Geez, what was that for?!'' Saratoga complained, stomping her foot petulantly. ''Nearly threw me in the ocean if I didn't react fast enough!''
''Ah...'' Enterprise awkwardly lowered her still-raised hand. ''Sorry. Reflex.''
Saratoga's pout lasted all of a few more seconds before she gave up, sighing. ''Yeah. Guess that was my fault there.''
''No shit.'' Washington dryly remarked. ''Nice reflexes though. Didn't even hear her coming.''
Enterprise just smiled faintly, humming. She tried to avoid looking at Saratoga directly, gazing just over her shoulder, but the petite carrier must've noticed as she immediately readjusted her position. When Enterprise flickered her gaze slightly to the right, Saratoga moved nigh-instantly, pouting petulantly.
Enterprise fixed that by just staring at the sky instead. The glare of the sun was less painful.
''On another note-'' Washington carried on. ''-what the hell was an admiral doing on base? Something go wrong, or...?''
Saratoga perked up, obviously interested as well.
Enterprise however just shrugged. ''He wanted to ask some questions about the Sirens, since I was captured by them. Didn't have much to say that he didn't already know, though.''
''That so...?'' Washington hummed, scratching her cheek. ''Well... least he didn't stir up some shit.''
'Almost did.' Enterprise tactfully added in her mind.
Externally however she just hummed and nodded, and let the conversation drift onto more comfortable, meaningless subjects – ones that didn't bring back unpleasant memories.
X-x-X
Located a good distance away from the docks was the Sakura Empire dormitory; the building shaped like many of the buildings located in the eastern empire and in a more tiered, towering structure – in contrast to the simpler structures of the other nation's dorms.
''Hm... that's quite the odd hull...''
Akagi rested her folded arms against the railing of her bedroom window, leaning out slightly. A cool breeze tickled her cheek and ran through her hair, the bright sunlight failing to hide the large metal hull docked just past the seawall. It was impossible to miss it, not least because of its dark colouration, but it was the design of it that truly captured her attention. A Yorktown-class hull. And she had a feeling she knew very well who it belonged to.
Kaga stood next to her, frowning. ''...Enterprise has been missing for over a month, yet her hull remains? I would've thought she'd sink at the hands of the Sirens after so long.''
''Hmph. If it were so easy, I would've done it myself long ago.'' Akagi commented loftily, tucking some brown locks out of her face. ''I'm more curious about the state of it. Clearly she's welded whatever scrap she could get her hands on to keep it seaworthy, but surely the insides must be quite damaged too?''
The white-haired Kitsune looked over at her. ''What are you implying, nee-sama?''
''Nothing.'' Akagi smiled amicably. ''It's just that you have a carrier who refuses to die, stuck amidst some Sirens and with no access to repairs... where perhaps did she get the materials?''
''She could've scrapped metal off of less-necessary locations on her hull.'' Kaga pointed out. ''Or perhaps the Sirens fixed her themselves, for whatever reasons they may desire.''
''Perhaps.'' Akagi conceded. It was a logical conclusion after all. ''But do you think that's the most likely situation?''
Kaga was quiet. Akagi smiled broadly at that, a giggle escaping her as she turned away – her kimono swishing as she meandered back into the cool shade of her room. ''Come. I'll prepare us some tea.''
Kaga blinked, turning partway towards her. ''You don't wish to go down and see it up close?''
''Not now.'' Akagi merrily replied, a sly smirk on her face. ''Not whilst there's so much attention on it. That amount of damage will take Vestal days to heal; for once, time is in our favour, dear sister.''
Kaga hummed, peering back at the patchwork hull by the docks, before turning away and joining Akagi by the table.
X-x-X
Meanwhile down at the docks Belfast walked with purpose, strides long and face set into a determined frown.
The source was, unsurprisingly, the looming hull by the docks. She had caught sight of it from the Royal Navy dorms, and had almost immediately abandoned her current task of cleaning the windows to check it out. Part of her felt bad about foisting the task off onto Edinburgh, but her sister understood and gracefully accepted – allowing Belfast to investigate the mysterious hull that undoubtedly belonged to a certain carrier.
A prospect proven true when she neared the seawall, able to peer down onto the docks below. She quickly spotted Vestal chatting with Cleveland, the two looking between themselves or at the carrier, calm but with traces of worry in their expressions. Further down the docks was the familiar forms of Washington and Saratoga... and, between them, was Enterprise. Still dressed in her uniform from last night, she looked almost normal from a distance. She hoped she might look the same from up close, too.
Shaking off the thought Belfast approached the stairs, descending down onto the docks herself. The sharp click of her heels against the concrete soon drew the attention of Vestal, and then in turn Cleveland; both women looking back at her and gaining warm, cordial smiles.
''Good morning.'' Belfast greeted the duo pleasantly. ''I would take that you're both doing well?''
''As well as I can be.'' Vestal sighed exasperatedly. ''After last night I'm about ready to have an aneurysm, it feels like.''
Belfast gave the medic a sympathetic look. ''I can only imagine. I hope she's been getting better, though? I'm afraid I haven't been able to keep constant tabs on Miss Enterprise.''
''Mm, slow but steady progress.'' Vestal nodded, gesturing to the hull beside them. ''Though as you can see, there's a lot of damage to her hull that needs repairing too.''
Belfast hummed in agreement, gazing up at the hull before her. Few times had she ever laid witness to such a ruined hull that remained afloat; and even then it was usually the armoured carriers like Illustrious that could stay floating after sustaining so much damage. Even then Illustrious and her sisters didn't have to resort to welding parts of their own hull on their more damaged sections, as was evident with Enterprise's ship form.
Peering past Vestal the head maid caught sight of Enterprise herself. As if physically feeling her gaze the silver-haired carrier tilted her head slightly, peering back at her. Their eyes locked for what felt like a small eternity, the cap on Enterprise's head shading her eyes somewhat, making her intense gaze all the more piercing. Yet in her eyes was no hostility, but rather...
...confusion?
'Does she not recognise me?' Belfast wondered with some measure of worry. 'Or perhaps she can't make me out from such a distance...?'
She wasn't sure, and after a moment Enterprise looked away from her, gazing back out at the ocean. Neither Washington nor Saratoga made any indication they noticed, continuing to chat with the quiet fleet carrier. Belfast shook off the odd interaction and instead turned her attention onto Cleveland, engaging the upbeat cruiser in conversation and inquiring about how her recent escort mission went; making small idle talk as Vestal worked.
Of course their conversation invariably turned back to the carrier beside them. Cleveland admired and commented on it at length, musing aloud about what hole was caused by what and how badly things might be inside. The cruiser, for all her light-hearted tone, was no slouch when it came to repair-work so Belfast took her musings to heart, gaze tracing the numerous shell holes or scorch marks as she tried to connect the dots herself.
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?
''Hm? Something the matter, Belfast?'' Cleveland's curious voice snapped Belfast out of her thoughts.
''No, it's nothing.'' Belfast put on a smile. ''I was just wondering.''
''About what?''
Belfast drummed up an excuse on the spot. ''What her flight deck must be like. From what I know of carriers, the flight deck is amongst the most crucial parts to maintain, correct?''
''Huh. Guess so.'' Cleveland rubbed her chin, turning her gaze onto Vestal. ''What's it like up there?''
''I wouldn't know.'' The medic admitted. ''I haven't been working long enough to check; I'm focusing first on her hull to make sure she won't sink suddenly.''
''Eh, fair point. Hull integrity is important too I guess.''
Belfast was about to inquire about how well said integrity was, when movement caught her eye. A flutter of silver hair drew her eye first, before she followed it up to the tall woman silently appearing behind Vestal – approaching without so much as making a sound.
''Hm?'' Vestal felt more than saw the presence behind her, turning – and then promptly yelped as she realised how close Enterprise was. ''E-Enterprise! Don't scare me like that!''
The carrier blinked, a slight sheepish flush colouring her cheeks. ''...sorry. Habit.''
Vesta huffed, adjusting her dress, flustered.
''We can check out the deck if you want.'' Enterprise stated, drifting her gaze onto Belfast curiously.
Cleveland looked simultaneously bewildered and embarrassed. ''Ah, you overheard us?''
''I have good hearing.'' Enterprise replied – earning an understanding 'ahh' from Cleveland.
Belfast, however, wasn't convinced. Part of her reasoned it was entirely possible... yet as she gazed intently at Enterprise's impassive visage, she felt doubt. There was no reason she had to lie, yet it felt like she was. But why lie about something so innocent as overhearing a conversation?
'...you're hiding something, aren't you?' Belfast thought quietly even as she plastered a smile on her face. 'You're becoming quite the mystery, Enterprise.'
The carrier in question refocused her attention onto her. ''So... you want to...?''
Belfast hummed. ''If it's no trouble.''
Enterprise just shrugged, silently saying it wasn't. With little more than a mental command a bridge descended out of the carrier, allowing Enterprise to climb on and meander up into the carrier itself. After sharing a look with the others Belfast followed, Cleveland and Vestal following with Washington and Saratoga not-so-subtly inching closer. A look from Enterprise was all that was needed to give them permission too.
As Belfast suspected, the interior was about as damaged as the others had worried. Damaged pipes, exposed wiring, bent and twisted metal – it was a death trap in many senses of the word, to the point some of the narrow corridors had gaping holes in the floor dropping as far down as the ballasts. Enterprise however didn't seem even mildly perturbed by the interior of her own hull, almost-casually wandering down hallways at seeming random, leading them past dangerous obstacles and gaping pitfalls.
Of course, it wasn't smooth sailing everywhere. Several times Belfast found herself having to duck through a dented and warped bulkhead or tiptoe around a hole in the floor, due to there being no other way around it. The others all followed with varying degrees of difficulty, though Saratoga herself remained remarkably unburdened by the trials before her – perhaps owing to her nature as a carrier like Enterprise. Though the state of said carrier's interior drew a near-constant frown from the usually chipper idol.
Mercifully however they weren't trapped within the darkened hull for long, and soon they ascended up one more flight of roughened metal stairs – and then reached sunlight.
''...here we are.''
Enterprise ascended first, coming to a stop just to the side of the stairs. Belfast felt a spike of trepidation fill her and climbed after her comrade, the warm sunlight failing to ail the quiver of unease that wormed itself around her gut.
An unease that would prove itself not unfounded.
Laid before her was a flight deck. Or, she presumed it was. It looked closer to a small-town road filled with potholes. The entire deck had lost whatever coating it once had, and instead was peppered with shell-sized holes anywhere from the size of a tennis ball up to a metre or more in diameter, accompanied by upwards crowns of bent and burnt metal. At the far end of the flight deck several planes sat; Dauntless, she recognised. They were as patchwork as she remembered, the paint scratched off and faded from wear and tear. One was even missing a propeller wing.
How it flew was nothing short of a miracle. If it could at all.
''...how can you even use this?'' Belfast couldn't help herself, discarding her manners for the briefest of moments.
''Not easily.'' Enterprise just shrugged. ''I've learned to adapt to it, though.''
Belfast could only shake her head slowly in disbelief. Behind her Vestal also bore a look of borderline shock, glancing between the wrecked flight deck and Enterprise herself, worry rapidly surfacing. Cleveland eyed the deck in worry, not familiar with flight operations but having enough sense to know this was far from good. Washington was in the same boat, whereas Saratoga herself had a very pale look, eyes wide as she soaked in the detail.
Out of everyone present, she had the best expertise – perhaps even better than Enterprise despite it being her own hull. Thus when Saratoga spun on her heel and began marching her way down towards the idle Dauntless dive bombers, Enterprise didn't so much as bat an eye, her gaze focused out across the deck instead. Vestal herself began to resume work on fixing up said hull, a crane creaking over the ruined flight deck and starting to lower down some spare steel to use.
Belfast turned her gaze onto Enterprise, admiring the woman in a new light. To be able to fight, even if only barely, in such a condition was nothing short of impressive. Getting planes to take off would be hard enough, but to land them? She couldn't imagine it. It was impossible; it had to be.
'Unless she never had to land her planes.' A tiny voice in the back of her mind said.
The maid frowned at the thought. It sounded stupid... but as she thought back to the battle just the night prior, she realised at no point did anyone mention Enterprise launching a plane off of her deck – she had always launched them via her bow. Perhaps she never needed to use her flight deck for launching planes when she had her bow. But then that would pose the question of how her flight deck was so ruined in the first place, or why she even manifested her ship form at all.
''...what is it?''
''Hm?'' Belfast blinked, a bit of colour gracing her cheeks when she realised she'd been staring straight at Enterprise the entire time she was lost in thought. ''My apologies, I was lost in thought.''
Enterprise just hummed, shifting her gaze back onto her flight deck. Belfast mustered up the urge to inquire about it.
''The damage does seem quite severe.'' She said lightly, hands folded in front of herself. ''May I inquire as to what weapons exactly caused these damages?''
''...bombs. Lasers. Suicide planes.'' Enterprise listed off in a monotone. ''Mostly bombs, though.''
Belfast made a thoughtful sound, eyeing the various craters more intently, searching for any hidden details. She found none unfortunately, and she had enough grace to understand that Enterprise clearly didn't like talking about it – thus with a polite 'excuse me' she departed, following after Saratoga herself. It wasn't hard; the idol's bright pink outfit stood out with ease. Navigating the numerous potholes and craters was much more dangerous however; the head maid cautiously peering down into them, noting the scorched and warped metal beneath.
She managed however. She found Saratoga standing by one of the Dauntless dive bombers, inspecting the aircraft with a keen but troubled eye – running her fingertips delicately across the worn and faded paintwork. From up-close the damage was much more clear; the cockpit glass was shattered into pieces, the flaps were dented or chipped, the wings themselves had cracks or other signs of wear and tear, and at least one of the bombers was missing part of its tail entirely, severely hampering its ability to fly, let alone fight.
''What the hell happened to her?''
It was rare to hear Saratoga, the ever-chipper idol, swear, but she supposed the gravity of what had happened to Enterprise was finally setting in.
''I'm not entirely sure.'' Belfast softly replied. Part of her reasoned that she could inform her of what Vestal told her, that it was entirely likely Enterprise was tortured by the Sirens...
...but staring at Saratoga's haunted visage told her that, perhaps, the truth might be too much for the young woman. Some things are better off left to rest.
Saratoga laid a hand on the airframe of one of the Dauntless, expression stricken. She curled her fingers into a fist, held it, and then weakly banged it on the metal hull – earning a dull thunk from the stationary aircraft.
''...dammit.'' Saratoga just breathed, defeated.
Belfast's expression softened and she laid a hand on the petite carrier's shoulder. Saratoga said nothing, but the minute relaxation told her she appreciated the gesture. Whilst the carrier may be a dear friend to Enterprise, Belfast herself was quickly becoming sucked into the silver-haired carrier's orbit, whether thanks to her tragic situation or her innate charisma, she herself didn't know.
'...perhaps the Sirens themselves were also...?' Belfast frowned.
She shook off the foolish thought a second later. Out of all things the Sirens could want from Enterprise, her natural charisma had to be one of the last things they would desire...
...right?
Belfast didn't linger on the unsettling possibility, returning to Enterprise to suggest some afternoon tea, abandoning her uneasy thoughts as she did so.
[END]
A/N: Thus Akaga avoid a fight... or do they~? And what might be the reason Enty looks so confused, one must wonder~ So many little mysteries~
See you next time in Chapter 8: Refractions~
Preview:
Kaga's lips thinned silently in response. The uneasy feeling within her was growing, as if standing within Enterprise's hull was a feat worthy of a deity's curse. Yet she couldn't begin to comprehend why, her mind failing to come to any reasonable conclusion.
Neither could Akagi, clearly. ''Let's continue. I'll watch from behind; we'll move right until we find something.''
Nodding stiffly Kaga agreed, and once more the two continued on their trek. The faint whispers, so near yet ever so faint, didn't abate but Kaga ignored them this time, pushing any haunting words from her mind and focusing on her task. The long shadows that danced along the walls nearly left her flinching but she restrained the urge, focusing on her task – repeating the concept in her mind like a mantra, keeping her cool.
And soon it paid off, as they came across a bulkhead – one marked in particular. The citadel of the ship; specifically, the command room. Kaga looked back at her brunette sister, and with a building grin Akagi stepped past her and cracked open the heavy bulkhead door.
A soft red glow filled the corridor as a result, wiping the grin from Akagi's face.
''...what... is that...?''