A/N: Quite the long chapter this time; just shy of 11k~ Lots of action this time too~

Thus, do enjoy and tell me what you thought~


Stardust

Chapter 17: These Shackles I Own

'...it feels so eerie...'

The quiet thought resonated through Yorktown's skull, her eyes drifting over the ruined brickwork and broken concrete walls that laid on either side of her. The long straight street was flooded deeply, allowing the carrier to sail atop it, the desolate frames of old factories on her left and right. Though it was hard to tell, as many had their tops blown apart or had their interiors flooded with debris. Sometimes she passed under some metal signs that told of the place's name, but many were rusted and worn by the stormy weather that frequently plagued the area.

She wasn't sure how long she'd been sailing for. It could be a couple minutes, it could be half-an-hour, for all she knew it could've been an hour already. Her sense of time was diluted and, knowing the Sirens, they could manipulate it to ruin her sense even further – thus Yorktown paid it little mind, focusing instead on finding the Mirror Sea generator, wherever it may be.

Kish-kish...

The sound of wet tiles shifting made her look up, stopping. Silence answered her, only the faint, winding howl of the wind slithering through the long streets. Uneasily Yorktown scanned the rooftops of the neighbouring buildings, the slanted roofs blown apart in places, but she couldn't see anything. It must've been the wind disturbing some tiles... yet she couldn't shake the feeling it wasn't.

She was being watched. She was sure of it; the sensation, the unease, the disturbingly frequent sounds from the rooftops or alleyways just out of sight... something was here with her. Something fast, yet something with a nimbleness that exceeded what past Sirens were capable of. The only mercy she'd had so far was that the mysterious being hadn't attacked her yet... assuming it existed in the first place, and she wasn't just psyching herself out.

''Hah...'' Shaking her head Yorktown turned away, sailing ahead once more.

With the slow hiss of water the carrier travelled down the street further, soon coming to a Y-shaped intersection, both streets nigh-identical. Frowning slightly Yorktown picked the right on a whim, sailing down that one. The buildings she passed were as barren and broken as the ones before it. They looked nearly the same as the ones before it; drawing a tight expression from Yorktown as she searched for anything that might be of use. Doorways were present in a row of houses and one of the red-bricked factories she passed had some easy-to-reach windows, but she stuck to the flooded street and kept sailing ahead...

...until she came to another Y-intersection. A nigh-identical as to the one before it.

Yorktown stopped at the intersection. 'They're looping it.'

She looked behind herself, cautious, but she saw nothing. She looked left, right... and then decided to take the right again.

One minute later, and she reached another right intersection.

A minute after that, another intersection.

Yorktown pursed her lips, the faintest edge of irritation filling her. She couldn't tell if it was looping around endlessly or if it was just deliberately confusing – or perhaps only the right path looped, and the left was fine. Her gut told her however that the left path would lead to the same result.

However, she wanted proof of her own assumptions. Thus with only a moment of hesitation she took off one of her arm-bands bearing a distinct star and ripped it, taking a third of it and wrapping it around a narrow piece of rebar at the intersection. Then she sailed down the right path once more – and when she reached another intersection she found no cloth around the identical piece of rebar. She tied another bit of cloth around it and went left this time; meeting the same result as she expected.

As she neared the next, almost inevitable Y-intersection however, a surprise came her way.

''...eh? Sis?''

Hornet. The blonde sailed meanderingly down the left street, a surprise expression quick to colour her visage as she laid eyes on her. Yorktown relaxed; overwhelming relief washing over her like a pleasant balm. ''Thank goodness, I was so worried! You're not hurt anywhere are you?''

''Nah. Got hit by some weird nausea though, then suddenly the whole fleet was gone.'' Hornet didn't resist the hug Yorktown enveloped her in, giving a one-armed hug back.

They broke apart after just a moment, given where they were. ''Have the streets been the same for you? The same thing over and over again?''

''Yes.'' Yorktown nodded, glancing behind herself. ''I've left some fabric attached to some metal at each intersection I've passed. Should we come across it, then we know it's not completely endless.''

''Good thinking.'' Hornet mused, slowly making her way towards the right path. ''I'd say go this way. My way loops a bunch too, and I've gone both left and right.''

Yorktown nodded an agreement, moving her lips – when she heard a sound.

Kkrk-klk

Glass crunching underfoot.

It came from the corner building on the intersection, just behind the old and worn post that gave street names. It was a cottage of sorts, two-storeys high and with pale yellow walls faded and worn by age. Glass windows were muddy and hazy, all of them broken in some way; the ones on the bottom floor partially in-tact whilst those on the upper floor were broken entirely, part of the roof collapsed onto the floor.

Hornet heard the sound too. She turned, rigging raised and a cautious look in her eyes. Silently the two shared a look, before with trepidation Hornet approached the half-broken windows on the ground floor, the raised water level easily putting her within reach of it. The blonde neared, peering past the half-broken glass – and found nothing but an empty, abandoned living room.

''Nothing here- gah!''

A hand shot out, grabbing her by the throat and pulling her towards the window. Hornet grabbed the window frame to stop that, gasping as she pushed back against the pale hand – only for her eyes to widen when the pulling motion stopped, and it became a push. The owner of the arm let Hornet inadvertently pull her out from her hiding place inside, grinning widely and with bright, glowing purple eyes that gleamed with an almost gleeful craze, her other hand grabbing Hornet by the shoulder. With skin as pale as bone and a lithe frame clad only in a pale dress, there was no mistaking what she was. A Siren.

''Hornet!'' Yorktown rushed to her sister's aid.

Hornet wheezed in response, one eyes screwed shut as she grabbed the Siren's hand, trying to pry her fingers off of her throat – but the Siren was terrifyingly strong. The moment the Siren got her legs out of the window she wrapped them around Hornet, tangling her free arm around her and clutching roughly onto her back, her fingers digging into her skin like she was trying to dig a handhold into her flesh.

Then the Siren began to swell. Before Hornet's frantic eyes she watched its stomach and chest enlarge, bubbling out like a balloon being filled. The Siren's purple eyes didn't lose their mad glow, face set into a terrifying, undying grin.

Until Yorktown came in and swung her rigging like a ram, striking the Siren's head – and with a shriek of metal, knocked the Siren's head clean off. It splashed as it hit the flooded street and the Siren's body convulsed, and with a gasp Hornet managed to pry its fingers from her throat – allowing Yorktown to yank the headless entity off.

Not a second too soon either.

BOOM!

Yorktown cried out in pain as the Siren detonated; a baleful heat singing her hair as she was knocked back into the ruined building behind her, the brickwork hard against her back. She slid down it, stumbling slightly before regaining her footing, rapidly blinking away the whiteness that clogged her vision. It faded fast but the high-pitched squeal in her ears took longer to abate, and when it did, she heard Hornet groaning in pain.

'Hornet!' Yorktown snapped out of it.

Hastily her eyes flickered about the street, spotting Hornet's locks of blonde hair against a pile of rubble. Unlike her, Hornet hadn't escaped the blast with just some singed hair and cloth. Half of her jacket had been outright burnt away, the remaining half unable to be worn properly and already sliding off of her groaning frame. Her entire right arm was burnt with third-degree burns, the flesh red and scorched. Her shoulder and part of her side had also been burned to a lesser degree, whilst the entire flight deck part of her rigging was ruined horribly; the metal blackened and warped by the blast. If she was to summon her ship form, it was entirely likely she'd start to take on water from the undoubtedly massive hole in her hull.

''Hornet!'' Yorktown repeated aloud, crouching down and grabbing onto Hornet's unburned arm. ''Speak to me!''

''O-Ow...'' Hornet obliged, groaning the words out – at least confirming she wasn't knocked senseless by the blast. ''T-The fuck was t-that...? S-Since when did... Mn, the Sirens use... suicide bombers...?''

''And why the h-hell... d-do you they look like Enterprise...?''

Yorktown paused, eyes widening as she realised that yes, the facial similarities with Enterprise was uncanny. The same cheek bones, the same brow; if it wasn't from the unholy grin and wide eyes and the Siren probably could've passed off as a purple-eyed Enterprise, albeit one with a slightly rounder face.

However now wasn't the time to debate such a possibility. ''Come on, get up. We need to get out of here.''

Hornet hissed in pain as Yorktown pulled her upright, stumbling and ultimately leaning against her.

Shifting tiles, however, made Yorktown flinch – head snapping back and eyes going skyward. Up towards the rooftops.

Towards the three identical Sirens perched atop the roof, grinning widely and with eyes set hungrily upon them.

''Go...'' Yorktown whispered, pushing Hornet. ''Go! Now!''

Hornet didn't argue, water kicking beneath their heels as they bolted down the flooded street – the splashing of water behind them foretelling of their eager, identical pursuers.

X-x-X

The strength of Sirens varied vastly.

From the weak pawn ships that could do little more than basic naval manoeuvres to the humanoid Sirens that led them, their strength changed greatly and was, to some extent, changeable at will – up to a limit. The Siren leaders – Observer Alpha, Tester Beta, so on – were exempt from these binding rules. Their strength was not adjustable, however it was much greater than what their lower-ranked counterparts could begin to bear, from larger guns to explosive strength to titanic durability.

Purifier was a master of melee combat, making up for her lacking intelligence with thunderously-fast reaction times and quick wit. Tester Beta could manipulate and control clones, swapping between bodies at will or even spreading her consciousness throughout all at once. Observer Alpha herself was armed with an array of laser cannons capable of punching through all but the strongest of metals, alongside an ensemble of tentacles with enough brute strength to smash through support structures and people alike.

All three were amongst the most deadly Sirens in existence, and the true extent of their strength – especially Alpha's – remained unknown. Enterprise, however, was a touch more familiar with their strength.

Skreee~!

''Mn!'' Enterprise pursed her lips and dodged to the side, avoiding the golden laser that shrieked past her.

Purifier came down from above, cackling wildly even as her heel came rushing down to cave in her skull. Reacting more on instinct than true thought Enterprise twisted, notching and firing a golden arrow up at Purifier, forcing the Siren to abandon her attack and twist to avoid it, still succeeding in bringing a fist to bear. That was much more manageable for Enterprise however; the carrier bashing it aside with her bow.

The maniacal Siren wasn't deterred however, and with a gleeful grin Purifier went in for melee. Lightning-quick punches thrust themselves out at Enterprise, forcing the silver-haired woman to nimbly dodge; tilting and jerking her shoulders out of the way of each and every punch, deflecting those she couldn't – until she saw an opening and ruthlessly took it, lunging in and driving the sharp edge of her bow into Purifier's gut.

''Guh-!'' Purifier stumbled back a little at the impact.

Enterprise took advantage, aiming an arrow – but never got the chance to fire it as Tester Beta intervened, rushing in low and reaching out to grab her. In an instant the arrow twisted on its axis and shot itself at Tester Beta with naught but a thought, clipping the Siren across her cheek but failing to truly slow her down; in turn forcing Enterprise to back off with a fierce scowl.

''Hmph.'' Tester Beta slowed a little, smirking. ''Your combat capacity has improved significantly. You're fighting harder than before.''

Enterprise glared, feeling genuine anger rise within her for the first time in ages. ''Shut up...!''

Tester Beta didn't. ''Perhaps there's something about this simulation that makes you want to defeat us all the more. I wonder what.''

''Shut up!'' Multiple golden arrows manifested around Enterprise, drawn by invisible bow strings guided by naught but her will – and all of which fired upon Tester Beta, transforming into Dauntless dive bombers mid-flight.

Beta dodged them with a suave smirk, a beam of yellow energy shrieking up from the distant from of Observer Alpha and shooting down all three planes before they could even begin to bank up for a bombing run. Gritting her teeth Enterprise turned and ran, kicking wakes beneath her heels as she sailed full speed away from the three Sirens. She couldn't beat them. Not out here in the open ocean.

Then as if a miracle, Enterprise saw a building in the distance. At first she was befuddled, as she knew there was no landmarks out in part of the Atlantic she was previously in – but as she saw numerous, familiar buildings begin to manifest, she realised she was at Bermuda. However the pattern was off; buildings of various shapes and sizes were placed haphazardly, like a designer who made a city by copy-and-pasting various buildings all over the place.

'They teleported you to Bermuda.' A tiny voice in her head said.

'But why?' She asked herself, frustration bubbling in her. 'What would they gain?'

The little voice didn't answer her naturally, leaving her able to only grasp at straws unable to fathom why. So she didn't think about it; pushing the confusion from her mind and refocusing on just surviving. The carrier didn't bother throwing a glance back and instead kept sailing until she passed several buildings partially sunk into the ocean, ducking behind them just in time to avoid a trio of lasers that shrieked past her, tearing holes through the brick buildings as they blazed through.

Around Enterprise the false city rapidly grew denser; forming streets that became uncomfortably narrow. She leapt off of the water and landed on one of the dry streets, her heels thudding loudly against the concrete as she ran between the ruins of two villas. She sensed a disturbance in the air behind her and reacted accordingly, dodging to the left and avoiding the scathing golden beam that tore through the concrete ahead of, soaring up and hitting what must've been an old gas pipe somewhere within the abandoned property ahead of her, causing a rupturing explosion at the end of the street.

''Mn!'' Enterprise winced as a harsh wind whipped past her.

Cackling far behind her told of who shot the laser, and with a glance around her Enterprise spotted a doorway – wasting no time in charging through it. Her shoulder took the brunt of the impact and she burst into an old garage, wasting not a second in bolting into the ruined remnants of a living room, her feet carrying her through the worn and mouldy house to the other side. A glassless window provided an exit, one she swiftly took.

Grunting under her breath the carrier landed in a garden, scanning her surroundings – when she felt the air above he shift. Two golden arrows manifested above her shoulders but she couldn't fire them in time before a heel came crashing down, only narrowly missing her and instead impacting the dirt just between her feet. The ground ruptured from the force of Purifier's axe-kick, upsetting her footing and ruining her aim.

And giving Purifier time to thrust her cocked-back fist, socking her right in the jaw.

''Gh-!'' Enterprise was thrown back by the force, crashing into and over a plastic toy slide, sending her into a tumble.

Shifting one hand down Enterprise steadied herself, digging her heels in and sliding to a stop just as she reached the wall of a cottage – but Purifier was upon her in a heartbeat. A wild roundhouse kick swung at her, missing as Enterprise ducked under it and causing the wall behind her to be blown inwards with a nigh-explosive blast of strength. Reacting swiftly Enterprise jammed the dagger-like edge of her bow up, piercing Purifier in her underarm; drawing sparks from the fresh wound.

''Ow!'' Purifier yelped and leapt back. ''Hey, that hurt!''

Enterprise wasn't in the mood for games however. Raising her bow she notched and launched an arrow with barely a second's delay, the projectile whizzing past Purifier as the Siren jerked her head to the side – causing the arrow to embed itself into the wall behind her. In retaliation Purifier's own rigging tilted itself down, the golden maw brightening before unleashing a thick, shrieking gold laser, one that tore through the dirt and mud and engraved a sizzling trench into the ground before it.

With swift feet Enterprise leapt back to avoid it, landing atop the slanted tile roof of the cottage – only to be ambushed by Tester Beta. The Siren came down with leg raised, mimicking Purifier's axe-kick but with less grace, allowing Enterprise to side-step it at the last moment. Manifesting a golden arrow Enterprise grasped the shaft between her fingers and plunged it out like a knife, aiming for Beta's neck.

The Siren grasped her wrist before the sharp, glowing tip could make contact, expression tight as they were locked into a momentary contest of physical strength.

Neither discovered the result however as the building beneath them began to shake, the combination of Beta's axe-kick and Purifier's maw-laser upsetting the building – and then finally with a roar the roof gave wall, collapsing inwards.

Enterprise leapt off the rooftop, landing down in a narrow street. She had barely a moment to breathe before Purifier bull-rushed through the collapsing building, a gleeful glow to her golden eyes as she lunged. Her fist missed its intended target and smashed into the brick wall behind Enterprise, only for Enterprise's counter-attack to be parried aside in turn by the metal edge of Purifier's arm.

With a rare anger flashing in her eyes Enterprise lunged, and with sparks flying the two engage in a ruthless melee. Enterprise's bow gave her reach but Purifier's hand-to-hand skill was infamous, allowing the crazed Siren to deflect and parry blows with cackle-inducing ease – though not without taking a few cuts and gashes here. The two were locked into a deadly dance, neither able to get one-up on the other. Not until the stalemate was broken by Beta, who fired all six of her cannons down at the pair.

Purifier was swift enough to dodge. Enterprise, not so much.

''Mn!'' The carrier was blasted into the building behind her by the shockwave, tumbling into a table and flipping over it.

She reacted swiftly, rising up to her feet and turning, bolting for it. The building – a dance studio? - was wide and empty, leaving little more than a few abandoned tables to get in her way as she crossed the room, barrelling through the half-broken window at the other end of the room. She let herself roll with her movement, one knee down and sliding across the grass as she twisted her body and levelled her bow, drawing an arrow as she simultaneously manifested two over each shoulder, mentally concentrating on manifesting all three arrows at once.

Then as one she fired all three just as Purifier ran into the building – transforming them into Wildcat fighters. Fighters that, in the enclosed space, detonated the moment their engines phased into the wooden ceiling.

BOOM!

The planes erupted into cascading fireballs, consuming the wooden interior in a baleful amber flame and outright collapsing the structure down on top of Purifier – giving Enterprise more time to run, bolting out of the overgrown garden and hopping back over into a street, running down muddy alleyways and leaping past upturns trash cans, using the taller buildings for cover. She didn't delude herself into thinking she lost them but she knew the Sirens weren't omnipotent; they could sense her with advanced radars, but her signature was muted greatly the more walls she put between them.

However, Sirens were beings of logic. Whether it be a grunt or Alpha herself, all of them were bound by that. It was what truly separated them from Ship-Girls and humans; whilst the latter could let their emotions tie them up, it also allowed them to think outside of the box, to act in unpredictable, irrational ways.

An irrationality that Enterprise indulged in; suddenly dashing into an apartment building and hiding in one of the rooms. She didn't try and get a good vantage point, she didn't try and pinpoint a good sniping spot, she didn't attempt to keep looking for Yorktown and Hornet – instead she picked a cramped, but not too-cramped spot in the middle row of rooms with a window that looked out into a bland alleyway. The least likely spot the Sirens would consider she would go to.

''Mn...'' Hunching down by the window Enterprise caught her breath, panting.

She needed to find Hornet and Yorktown. She wasn't confident she could beat the Sirens like this. Purifier? Quite possibly; they'd battled more than once during simulations. Against Tester Beta the outcome was more uncertain, as the Siren had never truly gone all-out, but she was sure she could overcome her, albeit with a narrower victory. But Observer Alpha? She didn't know. And she wasn't intent on finding out if she could beat the enigmatic Siren in a one-on-one, not even factoring in the other two humanoid Sirens.

Movement snapped Enterprise out of her thoughts and she held her breath, not daring to move lest it make the slightest of sound. She stared at nothing, straining her supernatural hearing to its limits, to try and hear the source of the movement... and hear the shifting of dust and debris on the neighbouring apartment building. They were on the roof of it.

''Where did she go?'' Tester Beta's voice was annoyed, but not really worried. Like this was just an exasperating task and no more.

''Unknown. She's most likely moving through the alleyways to mute her signature. How coy.'' Observer Alpha responded. ''Do you think Purifier will find her first, or she'll reveal herself?''

Carefully Enterprise stood up, approaching the empty window frame and climbing onto it – using Beta's reply to mute her the slight creaking of wood.

''I would presume Purifier will find her first. The look in Enterprise's eyes when she saw you was fear, you know? She will probably attempt to evade us. Perhaps the strain of past simulations are finally having their toll on her.''

Enterprise pursed her lips, one hand grasping her bow even as she bent her knees, tensing her legs.

''Hmph. Then perhaps-''

With a sharp crack of wood Enterprise leapt off of the window with her superhuman strength, leaping up the remaining two storeys and drawing an arrow mid-flight, notching it against her bow – and levelling it at the startled form of Tester Beta, the tall Siren turning towards her reflexively.

Then with a loud boom the arrow fired, soaring across the distance in a flash – and blowing Beta's right arm clean off.

''Gh-!'' The Siren clutched at her shoulder, grimacing. ''You-!''

Enterprise was already gone, however. Gravity reasserted its hold on her and plunged her back down into the alleyway below, her momentum slowed only when she stabbed her bow into the wall – sending brick and mortar scattering into the alley below as she carved a trench down the building. She leapt the remaining few feet down and broke out into a run, already notching an arrow on her bow.

Something that proved to be a wise move as she felt something lunge at her from behind. Twisting on her heel Enterprise turned and fired the arrow, piercing through a black tentacle and severing it, revealing the wires and mechanical components that laid beneath. The loss of the tentacle however failed to slow its owner down, proven when Observer Alpha dropped down into the alleyway, eyes aglow in the dark and a self-assured smile on her face, as if everything was going according to plan.

''And where do you think you're going?'' Observer Alpha asked mirthfully.

''Anywhere without you.'' Enterprise curtly fired back, an arrow manifesting over her shoulder and firing with a boom.

Observer Alpha tilted her body out of the way without losing her smile, raising a brow when it transformed into a trio of Dauntless dive bombers, the three planes manifesting just outside of the alleyway and soaring up into the sky. Dismissing them Observer Alpha then made her own move; her laser cannons tilting down and glowing brightly.

Enterprise ducked into a roll just in time to avoid the four baleful beams that passed overhead, cutting a swathe through the buildings behind her – causing them to collapse with a roar of dust and debris. The greyish cloud surged into the alleyway faster than Enterprise could blink, the dust stinging at her eyes. Eyes that swiftly widened as she found a lithe figure closing in from her right, dashing inside her guard with a wicked, mirthful smile.

''Mn-!''

Alpha's open-palmed strike hit her stomach with the force of a moving train, shooting Enterprise back into the apartment building. The feeble wall blew apart from her impact and sent the carrier tumbling into the first-floor apartment, gasping as she stumbled up to her feet – only for a tentacle to surge in and grab her left arm, squeezing it tight. Gritting her teeth Enterprise was about to summon an arrow but never got the chance to; her mental focus shattered as the tentacle pulled, and yanked her back out of the building.

Right into the apartment building across the alley. The carrier winced as she was smashed through brick, the tentacle uncurling from her arm and allowing her to stumble into the apartment building's hallway, gasping. She felt heat behind her and all but threw herself aside, dodging the searing laser that tore through the building and undoubtedly the next few over. However she pushed the thought from her mind, one hand on the wall and the other on her bow as her stumbling pace evolved into a run, rushing her down the hallway and towards the fire exit.

She bashed it off its hinges with her shoulder, stumbling out into a narrow side-alley that led out into a wider street. Dust clouded the air and debris littered the street from where the building Alpha struck had collapsed, but that was the last thing on her mind at the moment. Rather her attention was on the Siren herself.

A Siren who casually walked out of the alleyway, not once having lost her self-assured smirk.

''Are you afraid, Enterprise?'' Observer Alpha called out clearly. ''Do you fear me?''

Enterprise gripped her bow, glaring at the Siren,

Alpha just smiled wider. ''That's good. Use that fear. Use that anger. Propel yourself to greater heights. Otherwise...''

Several laser cannons aimed at the carrier. ''I'll put you down for good.''

Then with a shriek a trio of golden lasers carved sizzling trenches through the concrete. They missed their intended target as Enterprise leapt aside, a trio of golden arrows firing in return – two missing and one hitting true, though not at her target; embedding itself instead into one of Alpha's tentacles. The Siren just smirked, snapping the arrow in two by smashing the tentacle into the concrete.

Undeterred Enterprise followed it up with a barrage of many more arrows. Running along the street she fired one after the other, mixing the timing up constantly – two arrows there, one there, four there, one after the other there. Only a scarce few hit their mark, and when they did they were little more than glancing blows; cutting Observer Alpha's skin but failing to deal more than that. Alpha paid her back in full for the minor wounds with a sly tentacle that slithered past multiple arrows, and curled it around her ankle.

''Mn- haah!''

Enterprise's vision blurred as she was harshly swung, and pain struck like a bus as she was bodily thrown into a building. She wasn't fortunate enough to break through the concrete with her body, prompting Alpha to simply jerk her back by her ankle and throw her down the street.

Landing in a tumble Enterprise grunted, rolling several times over before coming to a stop, rising to her feet. She jerked her bow up in time to deflect a tentacle going for her torso, manifesting an arrow above her head and shooting it right behind her when said tentacle attempted to curl around and get her from behind. Acting more on instinct than reason Enterprise jerked aside to avoid the blistering beam of light that shrieked past, notching an arrow and aiming, holding it.

Click.

From overhead the three Dauntless bombers from before came down, dropping a trio of thousand-pound bombs. Alpha blew one up mid-air with a laser beam but the other two slipped past and striking true, erupting in a showering explosion of fire and debris. Enterprise acted upon the distraction, spotting the ambient glow of Alpha's eyes in the dust and launching her notched arrow with vigour.

It spun slightly mid-flight, twisting and spinning – before narrowly missing Alpha's head, cutting across her cheek in a deep gash instead.

The force behind the arrow blew a circular-shaped hole through the dust cloud, exposing both fighters to the other. Alpha took full advantage, closing the distance between them with rapid taps of her bare feet, side-stepping the arrows Enterprise sent her way. The carrier backed up but wasn't fast enough to make some distance, and to her surprise it wasn't a tentacle that came her way, but a lithe hand – one that grasped her wrist, stopping her from bringing her bow down to strike the Siren.

Alpha smirked, twisted – and then roundhouse kicked her with a force equal to Purifier's own kicks.

Grunting Enterprise was sent skidding across the rubble-laden street, sliding to a stop – only for Alpha to be upon her in a heartbeat, coming in low and thrusting a trio of tentacles up at her stomach, the black appendages knocking the wind out of Enterprise as she was shot up into the third floor of another apartment complex.

The carrier grunted as she stumbled, flipping over a couch and landing in a crouch. Tentacles embedded themselves into the walls and Alpha hauled herself up onto the floor, one hand snapping up and batting aside the arrow that went for her face, wasting no time in lunging at Enterprise. Swift as a viper Enterprise countered with her bow, batting aside Alpha's hands as the diminutive Siren threw deceptively-powerful punches and knife-hands. The ferocity behind the attacks was enough to drive Enterprise out into the hallway; right where Alpha wanted her.

Tentacles blew through the drywall behind Alpha, surging up and under Enterprise – before one got past her guard and barrelled into her stomach, shooting her up through the ceiling and bursting her out of the roof.

Alpha was there in a moment, eyes gleaming as she threw herself up with her tentacles – and then with a glimmering glow, fired all lasers.

Skree- BOOM!

The ear-piercing shriek echoed through the city alongside a blinding flash of golden light, accompanied by a explosion of dust as Enterprise was blown through the roof of the city's cathedral.

''Mn!'' Enterprise tumbled across the old and abandoned floor, crashing through several rotten wood pews, before finally coming to a stop just by the lectern at the end of the hall.

The carrier briefly tried to get up, only to give up with a groan of pain; a distinct soreness in her spine briefly immobilising her. Black scorch marks were seared upon her now-tattered white shirt, her skirt having a hole in it and her cap lost amidst the fray. Second-degree burns marred her flesh, the skin angry and red from the scorching lasers that had seared it. Had she not had the foresight to reinforce herself at the last second with her hull, and she had no doubt the lasers would've scorched a hole straight through her body.

''Hmph. Is that all?''

Enterprise glared up at the Siren that descended down into the cathedral's main floor, using her tentacles to stab into the walls to make for a graceful descent. Despite her own minor wounds Alpha was completely unphased, still bearing that infuriating smirk.

''Shut up...'' Was all Enterprise could muster in response, stumbling up to her knees with a groan.

In a heartbeat Alpha's hand was around her throat, squeezing. ''I see no reason to. It is only natural for the villain to monologue, yes? And in your eyes, I'm the villain. I am, in your story, the 'bad guy' so to speak. Humans do love their stories, and you are of no exception, isn't that right?''

Enterprise glared hatefully at the diminutive Siren, and without so much as a warning she mustered six arrows in the air around her, forcing them to exist with naught but her will – and then fired them all down upon Observer Alpha.

Six tentacles shot up, intercepting the arrows and letting them be harmlessly embedded into the tentacles.

Alpha moved her lips, forming words... only to fall silent as all the arrows glowed.

''Hmph.'' Amusement crinkled at her eyes. ''Impressive.''

Then with a half-dozen flashes, six Wildcat fighters manifested – and then instantly detonated into plumes of raging fire and shrapnel.

The heat of the explosion scorched the ground black and set minor fires to the surrounding wood, the dampness of the material slowing the fire and petering it out only moments after it began. The ashen cloud of dust took longer to fade however, gradually settling...

...and when it did, only Observer Alpha stood in the church; burns marring her false skin and some singe marks burning her hair. The most grievous wound was a small chunk missing from her side, revealing a strew of sparking wires, but otherwise she remained upright and fully functional.

''Hmph.'' Alpha stared at the spot where Enterprise had been moments before. ''How sly.''

Slowly the Siren began to walk ahead, gaze fixated on the little wood door at the far end of the room behind the lectern, tapping into a secure channel as she moved.

''Purifier. Tester. Continue to observation site 'omega'. I've gathered sufficient data now.''

''Eh? So what next?'' Purifier called back.

Alpha merely smiled. ''We regain the key.''

X-x-X

Enterprise traversed through the vast, and quite possibly transformed city of Bermuda with a limp, wincing as she put weight on her other leg.

'Perhaps throwing six planes at her with me in the vicinity wasn't the best of ideas...' The carrier thought to herself, grimacing.

Despite that thought she knew it was the only way she would've been able to break free from Alpha's hold while also giving herself enough time to flee. Thus she pushed down her grumbling thoughts and put up with the pain, half-jogging and half-limping down the desolate streets. They narrowed out significantly from the previously wider streets nearer the cathedral, houses becoming villas and quaint town-houses, some destroyed and other ruined but still standing.

Jogging down an alleyway Enterprise glanced down, noting a layer of water – one that got deeper by the time it reached the flooded street beyond. Not really paying it much attention she jumped a little and landed atop the water, kicking wakes beneath her heels as she sailed out into the flooded street. Flickering her gaze about she saw a Y-intersection to her left and a straight street to the right, and after a moment of thought took the Y-intersection route, going right purely on a whim.

And then came to a second Y-intersection. Narrowing her eyes Enterprise took the right again, and the moment she caught sight of another Y-intersection with the same, identical buildings as before she knew the Sirens had a hand in this. Looping buildings and cities wasn't as uncommon as one might think, when the Sirens were involved.

She was about to turn away and try the other route back the way she came – when she spotted a flutter of cloth at the intersection. Pristine and fresh it stood out against the mud and grime around it, reluctantly piquing Enterprise's interest and drawing her over to it.

'Wait, that...!' Enterprise's eyes widened and hope soared within her. 'That was part of Yorktown's uniform!'

A distant explosion made Enterprise snap her head up, just barely able to spot the distant cloud of debris from further down the right route.

Without hesitation Enterprise ran in the direction of it. Pain flared in her injured leg but the carrier ignored the pain with nothing but stubborn desperation, sailing as fast as she could down the narrow street. She tilted and turned to avoid scattered bits of debris, and just when she neared the next Y-shaped intersection she heard another distant explosion – this one accompanied by a yelp of pain. A familiar yelp.

''Hornet!'' Enterprise called out desperately, not even caring she was giving her position away to any possible listeners. ''Yorktown?!''

No answers came, in part thanks to another explosion going off and muting her voice somewhat. Undeterred Enterprise kept calling out, hope bubbling up within her as she sailed down another street and saw it lead out into a curve instead of another straight line. Enterprise followed it, drawing an arrow and notching it against her bow in preparation as the curved street straightened and widened out, revealing a large flooded area, the square plaza strewn with long-abandoned carts and market stalls tipped over onto their sides, some of which bobbed and drifted near a row of pillars on the large building to the left; a courthouse of some kind.

And floating at the other end of the plaza atop some tentacles, was Observer Alpha.

''Did you have a fun journey, Enterprise?'' The Siren smiled mockingly.

Enterprise glared back, growling. So she had just led her about in one big circle then?

However before Enterprise could voice her anger, Alpha spoke, her smile becoming chilling. ''I would hope so. Your sister-ships here had some fun of their own.''

On cue the water by the pillars splashed, and a muffled grunt came from behind them – and the colour drained from Enterprise's face as she watched Yorktown and Hornet shuffle out from behind the thick pillars. Terrible burns marred Hornet's body and Yorktown was missing part of her jacket, a wince on her face with every shuffling step she made, floating across the water more than she did sail. In part, thanks to the parasites clinging to the two carriers.

Avenger-classes. The lithe Sirens grinned brightly at her, the mockery of her own face twisted in a creepy, smiling rendition. They clung onto her sisters with iron grips, their terrifying strength surpassing even that of Purifier or any other Siren she'd had the misfortune to fight in battle. They lacked any form of rigging beyond rudder-heels to sail on the water and were of only bestial intelligence, but made up for it with their numbers, and their main ability. A self-destructive explosion capable of sinking any Ship-Girl on the planet, be it Fletcher or Shinano herself; no amount of armour could ever resist the small but tightly-contained cataclysm.

They were the human embodiment of a kamikaze attack.

And four of them were currently restraining Yorktown and Hornet.

Enterprise couldn't contain the tremors that coursed through her. Anger, terror, hatred – all of it bundled together in an ugly mess in her stomach, her mind unable to decipher which was which. Instead all she could do was tilt her head towards Observer Alpha, unable to miss the sheer smugness emanating from the Siren; her lips curved up into a victorious smirk.

She'd got her, and they both knew it.

''Finally. I was getting somewhat impatient waiting around.''

''Aw, c'mon! This makes for the perfect place to test my limits, y'know? Can we stay a little longer~?''

Tester Beta and Purifier leapt down from the rooftops, landing on either side of Observer Alpha; wide enough apart to dodge any surprise attacks but close enough to defend their 'leader' should such a thing ever come to be needed. Neither even attempted to block the exits... though not because they didn't expect her to run. Rather, because someone else already had that covered. Or someones, as it were.

They made little noise, only the scuttling of loose debris being the sign of their arrival. Not removing her gaze from Observer Alpha Enterprise tilted her head back slightly, enough to see the five looming Avenger-class Sirens lurking on the rooftop behind her. To her far right half a dozen more climbed out from various windows and holes in the foundation; one even bursting up from the water and clambering onto a bent lamppost like a cat, grinning like the mad abomination it was.

''I'm sure you know how this will play out if you resist.'' Observer Alpha commented amusedly, lowering herself onto the water's surface. ''So be an obedient test subject, and disarm yourself.''

Enterprise glared bloody murder at the Siren, seconds ticking by in tense silence. She could feel the eyes of Yorktown and Hornet on her, pleading – not to disarm herself, but to not. To not subjugate herself to their lofty demands. But she had no choice.

''...fine.'' Enterprise spat the word out with venom, her bow disappearing into tiny blue cubes and phasing out of reality. She could manifest it again at any time, but it'd take at least a solid second to do so. She still had her arrows to defend herself, but with her bow out of the equation it gave her one less weapon to use.

One less thing to defend against the creeping abominations lurking around her.

''Enterprise...'' Yorktown called out to her, voice soft and pained, face twisting shamefully.

Hornet on the other hand stayed silent, but the fury on her face told of her true feelings on the matter; glaring daggers at the three Sirens across the plaza. With a Siren on her back and with arms around her neck and another wrapped around both her legs she could do nothing but stand, enduring the pain her burns caused; not daring to move lest the things around her explode in retaliation.

Alpha ignored the two other carriers, eyes set solely on Enterprise. ''Now, it's about time we end this charade. Given your improved performance this time, I'll allow you to reside in your cell for some time before enacting the next test.''

The wording was careful, deceitful – yet spoken with a self-confidence that ignited a sense of doubt within Enterprise, unease crawling in her gut. She looked over at Hornet and Yorktown, remembering all that they had done since she had come to terms with things. This was reality. They were real...

...weren't they?

''Don't listen to them.'' Yorktown whispered to her. ''They're lying.''

''We have no need to lie.'' Tester Beta raised a brow, drawing Enterprise's gaze onto her. ''There's no data to be gained from it. Hence why we are ending things now, so that further tests can be conducted.''

Alpha cut in before Enterprise could even muster the words. ''Enough.''

A snap of her fingers, and a purple portal phased into existence a mere dozen feet ahead of Enterprise. Primarily used to transport the Siren's ships, it could also be used as a transport for individuals too... such as herself back to her jail.

''It's very simple. You return to your cell so that we may move onto the next experiment, or I have the Avengers detonate. You've grown quite attached to these versions of your sisters, haven't you?''

''Don't fucking listen to 'em Enterprise!'' Hornet's roaring bark cut through the air. ''They're tryin' ta mess with your head!''

'Were they?' Enterprise didn't know; her breathing quickening as Alpha's poisonous words seeped into her mind. Self-doubt became a treacherous chain of thoughts, wondering if only for a moment if what Alpha said was actually true, that she really had fallen for another one of their tricks.

Cruelly Alpha didn't give her time to make up her own mind on things; pressuring her. ''My patience is running thin, Enterprise. Make your choice.''

The carrier froze up. She stared, barely able to see Yorktown and Hornet in her peripherals. The portal hung in front of her, pulsating ominously as if trying to tempt her into it... and with a slow swallow, Enterprise walked towards it.

''Enterprise!'' Hornet shouted, grunting when the Avenger tightened its hold on her. ''Get the fuck off me- Enterprise! Don't!''

Enterprise couldn't hear her anymore, however. White noise plagued her ears and countless, thunderous thoughts pounded themselves into her mind. Each footstep physically hurt, her muscles tight and contracted as her whole being rebelled at the movement, her heartbeat loud and her blood rushing in her ears. She couldn't take her eyes off the pulsing purple portal ahead of her, one step after another carrying her towards it.

And then stopped a few feet in front of it. She urged her body to move, to keep going, but she couldn't. Thoughts of Yorktown and Hornet filled her mind, reminding her of what they might suffer – what her beloved sisters would suffer if she didn't comply... yet, she couldn't take another step. Her legs were numb and her breathing felt so shallow she was light-headed, gaze locked onto the anomaly ahead of her.

It struck her then why. She was scared. Scared of returning to the haunted cell that she was tied up in, alone and in the dark. Scared of being forced to fight haunting mockeries of her friends and foes. Scared of being unable to tell what was reality and what was a twisted delusion. Scared of becoming the monster Akagi hinted that she almost became.

Scared of being alone again.

''Go on then.'' Alpha's voice crooned through her very soul, downright toxic in its smugness. ''You have to the count of ten.''

''One.''

Her hands curled into fists.

''Two.''

She trembled, breathing quickening with panic.

''Three.''

A desperate idea came to mind.

''Four.''

She reached inside herself; inside her soul. To the foreign presence still within it.

''Five.''

She had only done it once before, but never in this manner...

''Six.''

''Enterprise, don't do it!'' Yorktown cried out to her.

''Seven.''

It was her only chance.

''Eight.''

Enterprise shut her eyes, focusing on only Yorktown and Hornet, praying it would work.

''Nine.''

And then pulled.

''Te-''

Alpha's voice was cut off suddenly and abruptly, warping briefly before buzzing out of hearing, not unlike a radio transmission cutting off without warning. Even with her eyes screwed shut Enterprise felt the world distort, space itself seeming to bend diagonally and twist her body with it, spinning her around like she was caught between two crashing waves.

And then it all steadied out, her stumbling feet touching open water.

''W-What the hell?!''

''Mn?!''

Enterprise snapped her eyes open. Open ocean greeted her, a thick fog blanketing the whole area – a Mirror Seas. The ocean was flat and lacked even the slightest of waves, ripples spreading out when her feet shifted across its still, lifeless surface. More ripples passed her by, drawing her gaze along to the source... and overwhelming relief flooded her as she found a startled Hornet and befuddled Yorktown standing naught but a dozen feet away, no sign of the Avengers to be found.

''Enterprise? What is- oof!''

Enterprise refused to admit the sound she made was a sob as she threw an arm around both of her sisters, pulling them into a desperate hug. Hornet squawked and struggled, startled, but Yorktown didn't even hesitate to throw her arms back around her in a hug, and after a moment so too did Hornet; the three sisters holding onto each other for dear life. And given the situation, it very much had been a life-death situation.

''What was that?'' Yorktown was the first to break away from the hug, albeit reluctantly.

''The device in my hull.'' Enterprise half-choked the words out, coughing as she composed herself. ''I did the same thing I did when I first escaped the Sirens. Only this time I pulled you along with me.''

''You can do that?'' Awe coloured Hornet's tone, warming Enterprise's cheeks.

''I... guess I can. I wasn't sure if it would've worked, but...''

Yorktown cut her off. ''Let's be glad it did then. However, we have more pressing matters to deal with at the moment, don't we?''

The reminder hardened Enterprise's expression, any trace of tenderness fading fast as battle-hardened experience took control. ''Right. Let's go; the space in here should translate to the outside, so if we sail far enough we should pop outside Bermuda's Mirror Seas.''

Her two sisters nodded firmly, and together they all began sailing in a straight line, none sure of which direction it would take them. The water rippled beneath their heels and small waves were created by their movement, the ripples passing them by as they traversed the flat, infinite pocket dimension.

Until Enterprise felt a shift; the sensation comparable only to the wind suddenly changing direction and dropping in temperature. The feeling preluded a loud tearing sound, one that shrieked through the air – and a glance thrown over her shoulder revealed Observer Alpha entering the pocket dimension through a black void.

''Hold on!'' Enterprise barked, focusing on the Siren device within her.

Around her the world warped and folded in on itself, nausea briefly overcoming her – before with a brief, blinding flash of pale colours, the world reshaped itself right before her eyes and she found herself nearly running head-first into a living room wall.

Enterprise stopped herself before that, though Hornet wasn't so lucky and banged her head into it, spouting out a fierce curse. There was no time to sit and take amusement in it however; anxiety crawling up Enterprise's throat as she grabbed both her sisters by the wrist and hauled them towards the door of what was once a cottage, kicking the door off its hinges. A flooded street revealed itself and she pulled them out onto it; the street stretching left and right.

No words needed to be said. In unison all three carriers turned and took the right-handed path, sailing as fast as their feet would allow them to. The ruined buildings that flanked both sides of the street seemed to go on for ever – yet Enterprise took note of the fact they weren't duplicating; there was similar buildings, but they were in different patterns, different angles. This wasn't a street looping endlessly.

''Think it's worth firing a plane up to scout ahead?'' Hornet suggested, grunting as she stumbled lightly; her bad burns taking their toll.

Yorktown helped hold her up as Enterprise responded. ''No point. Visibility will be too poor to see much, not to mention it'd give our position away. Better to hold them in reserve in case we need them.''

Hornet grunted in acknowledgement, lifting herself more upright and keeping pace with her two sisters. Enterprise smiled back at her-

-when she saw a flicker of white hair in one of the windows they passed.

''Duck!''

Hornet obeyed without hesitation, aided by Yorktown as she pulled her down – dodging the golden arrow Enterprise shot through the brick wall next to them. It struck something on the other side, eliciting a wretched screech from the unearthly being as it was pinned to the interior of the building.

''They're catching up.'' Enterprise hissed out. ''Come on! Don't stop unless I say!''

''Right!'' Yorktown agreed, wrapping an arm around Hornet's. ''Come on Hornet.''

''I am, I am!''

Skittering on the rooftops made Enterprise shoot two arrows up there, blowing through naught but old tiles – but succeeding in chasing off the Avenger-class that was lurking up there. However it only then dawned on Enterprise how many of them there were, her lavender eyes widening as she spotted at least seven on the rooftops and hearing at least three pairs of footsteps in the neighbouring buildings. They were too fast to be outrun, and too nimble to lose in the buildings.

Enterprise gripped her bow tight, eyes flickering left and right – and her bow snapped up the moment one of the abominations lunged over the slanted rooftop. An arrow embedded itself between the Avenger's eyes and pinned it to the wall, killing it in an instant. Another Avenger burst out through a door with arms outstretched towards Yorktown, only to find an arrow shot through its torso; the sheer force behind the arrow sending it stumbling back inside and stalling it until the three carriers passed it.

Twin explosions behind them told of their self-destruction, even when they weren't within range. The reason why became obvious as Enterprise heard multiple pairs of footsteps rush on either side of them.

'They used the sound as cover.' A chill lanced up her spine. The Avengers didn't used tactics before.

Were they... getting smarter?

Enterprise had no chance to ponder the frightening possibility. An Avenger threw itself out of a second-storey window just as another dropped down in the path right ahead of them. Startled by the two-pronged attack Enterprise only managed to hit the falling one, but her next arrow only clipped the one standing in the street, carving a groove across its artificial flesh but no more – and giving the beast several precious seconds to lunge towards Hornet and Yorktown, both of whom had instinctively slowed down lest they run directly into it.

'Damn it!' Enterprise hastily caught up with them.

She passed by Yorktown just as the Avenger drew near, grinning widely – right up until she swung her bow, putting her full strength into the blow. The Siren was outright blown through the adjacent wall, its swelling torso carving a bigger hole; before with an uproarious eruption it detonated in the garden behind the building, kicking up a fierce shockwave that left Enterprise stumbling. A temporary weakness, but a dangerous one.

One that the Avenger-classes took advantage of. She sensed more than she saw one coming towards her and retaliated on instinct, beheading the mockery with a lightning-fast slash of her bow, the sharp edge cleaving through its armoured skin. She kicked the headless body into the building next to her and threw herself aside, wincing as another powerful shockwave blew past them. Yorktown sailed past her with Hornet, the latter managing to raise a finger-gun and snipe one of the Avengers with an arrow, cleanly killing it between the eyes.

However in doing so she overexerted herself, grunting as she stumbled and slipped out of Yorktown's loose grip.

Enterprise saw the Avenger going for Hornet. She saw its clones go for Yorktown. Even as she summoned arrows around herself, guiding them with a frantic will, she knew she couldn't shoot all of them. She couldn't focus on two places at once. However, indecisiveness did not grip her. She let herself fall into instinct, into muscle memory. Into stubborn, unyielding fervour.

Three arrows pinged through the air. One pierced an Avenger dead through the eyes, a second embedded itself into another's chest and a third struck that same Avenger in the side of its head; causing two Avengers to lifelessly splash into the water behind Yorktown's hastily-retreating frame, detonating harmlessly.

At the same time Enterprise pushed herself in front of Hornet, one arm wrapping around her startled, blonde sister. She held her close and stared into the crazed eyes of the Avenger falling down on them, time ticking in slow motion as the Avenger's chest ballooned, swelling up into a bulging, obscene mass, the skin just starting to split – and only when she saw a flicker of light within the cracked skin did Enterprise shut her eyes, and summoned her hull; shielding herself.

BOOM!

Fire, heat, pain. It blew her eardrums out and seared her skin with blistering burns, shrapnel pinging and piercing into her. The sheer potency knocked her off her feet and sent her and Hornet into the adjacent wall. It stunned her, left her disoriented and dizzy and with a agonising ring in her ears, her hearing taking its time to return. Even when Hornet struggled out of her grip and grabbed ahold of her, hauling her up with a pained expression and shouting something, all she could hear was insufferable ringing. Her vision blurred and she could feel herself bleeding but her nerves were numbed by the shock of it.

Perhaps putting herself in the path of a walking suicide bomb wasn't the wisest of ideas.

Disorientation gradually faded as her awareness returned, her vision losing its blur and the ring in her ears waning, though still persisting in the form of an irritating whine. Shaking her head slightly Enterprise grasped onto Hornet with her free hand, getting some power under herself and sailing the two of them ahead, catching up with Yorktown. Spotting another Avenger going for her Enterprise raised her bow and fired an arrow with one hand, resting the arrow against her bow to steady her aim and controlling it with her will, letting the string spring itself; killing the Avenger in a single clean shot.

''...come on...!'' Hornet's voice rung into clarity as her hearing fixed itself. ''We're almost out!''

Enterprise felt hope flare in her chest at that, spotting the wide open ocean spreading out ahead of them, only a scarce few buildings dotting about. Catching up with Yorktown the three carriers burst out into the open, and without hesitation Yorktown launched a wing of Dauntless bombers, bringing them around to cover their retreat.

She needn't have had to. As the three carriers turned, prepared to fight off their pursuers... they found all the Avenger-class Sirens staying within the city. Atop buildings, inside them, poking out from alleyways and streets; their numbers were terrifying in its own right, yet they made no attempt to pursue them further.

Perhaps in part due to the three presences that emerged from a portal above the carriers.

''Mm?!'' Enterprise was the first to notice, jerking her head up – her eyes widening at the sight of Observer Alpha, Tester Beta and Purifier; before her eyes then swiftly narrowed and she gripped her bow tightly.

''Ah shit...'' Hornet held onto her tighter, both leaning on each other.

''Colour me impressed, Enterprise.'' Observer Alpha's sickly-sweet voice resounded through the still air. ''I hadn't predicted you'd think to use the Mirror Seas to your advantage. Quite ingenious thinking.''

Enterprise glared venomously back. ''Don't patronise me.''

Alpha just smirked, her hollow gold eyes locked onto her unyieldingly. ''You even managed to escape the Avenger-classes I sent after you... though, not without injuries. Still, better than some of your earlier performances.''

''Indeed.'' Beta agreed lightly. ''Perhaps there is still some data to be observed in this simulation.''

There it was again. The subtle, poisonous hint that set Enterprise's nerves on fire, anxiety crawling up her spine.

''Shut up...'' Enterprise held onto Hornet tighter. ''Stop trying to mess with my head!''

''Hmph. In what way?'' Tester Beta loftily commented. ''You're surely used to this routine by now.''

Observer Alpha tilted her head. ''Surely so.''

Hornet held onto her tighter. ''Don't listen to them.''

Enterprise nodded, swallowing back the emotion that threatened to bubble up. ''You know... you know full well what you're trying to do! To make me doubt, to- to make me fall for your lies!''

Her shouting voice, rare and raw as it was, echoed across the still sea.

''...pfft...''

Lithe shoulders shook.

''Tff...'' Observer Alpha's lips trembled-

''Hahaha~!''

-until she threw her head back with a laugh.

Enterprise stared, frozen. The haunting laughter echoed around her. It wasn't a giggle, a snort; it was full-blown laughter, like Alpha had just been told the funniest joke in the world. Except that Alpha never laughed. Not once, either in simulations or on record. She was sly, she was cunning, she was the ever-patient lord over the Siren's forces. She giggled and sneered and smirked her way through conversations, but not once released such a uproarious, utterly cruel laugh.

''You... you really think that?'' Alpha's laughter slowly quelled, but a few errant giggles still slipped free from her smiling lips, mirth shining in her eyes. ''You truly believe we just let you steal one of our most potent technologies and escape? That we 'forgot' to guard your cell? That you just 'happened' to avoid all the security systems we had in place? That you, after all the information we gathered on you, managed to escape us?''

Utter malice gleamed in Alpha glowing, golden eyes. ''Don't make me laugh.''

Enterprise said nothing; lips limply moving but generating no sound. She tried to muster a defence, but Observer Alpha spoke again, giving her no time to gather her thoughts.

''Though I suppose we can allow this simulation to continue running. You've exceeded expectations and provided much-needed information.'' Observer Alpha remarked, leaning back into her tentacles. ''Though it would be cruel of me to leave you without a hint to motivate you, wouldn't it?''

Lifting her right hand Alpha manifested an object within it, and then tossed it. It splashed down onto the still water and bobbed back up to the surface, floating towards the three carriers but not quite making it before its momentum dried up, leaving it just drifting slightly. The object in question was a rather unremarkable silver orb, no bigger than a tennis ball and with a glossy shine to it, reflecting the pale light that shone upon it.

''I'm sure you'll know what it means, sooner or later.'' Observer Alpha commented amusedly, giggling. ''For now though, we take our leave~''

''For now.'' Tester Beta amusedly added.

''Heh, see ya~!'' Purifier gave a cheerful, yet oddly sinister wave.

And with a simple retreat into the purple portal behind them, the three Sirens disappeared; the portal vanishing without a trace a second later.

Silenced reigned in the wake of their departure, and it was only the gradual clearing of the mist around them that stirred the three carriers out of their collective daze. The maze-like city of Bermuda vanished with it, fading back to a simple island with ruined, abandoned streets.

And with a sharp crackle of a radio, all three of them heard the frantic, startled conversations from various Ship-Girls who had previously been lost in the Mirror Sea; relieved voices posting their coordinates and others promising to group up. A quick roll-call revealed no causalities nor injuries, many wondering what the point even was of the Sirens trapping them.

They were all free from the Mirror Sea.

Yet strangely, Enterprise still felt like a prisoner of it.

[END]


A/N: And thus Hornet and Yorktown survive, albeit with a bit of bruising in the process~ Enterprise though... what will she make of it all, one has to wonder~ And what might this 'hint' Alpha mentioned be~?

Either way, see you next time in Chapter 18: The Consequences I bear~

Sneak peek:
Kaga knelt down before the large bed, head dipped down with utmost respect. ''Forgive me for awakening you, Lady Shinano.''

''Mm...'' Fluffy tails shifted as their owner stirred from their groggy state. ''Kaga, of the first carrier division... raise your head and tell me... what does one such as yourself, have a need of me...?''

Kaga raised her head, gazing up at the fox-woman. ''I require insight... regarding Enterprise.''