A/N: And thus, the final chapter has arrived (not including epilogue). Been a long time coming but it feels good to at last get it out, and it's shaped up to be quite the action-packed finisher, I do think~
Enjoy~
Stardust
Chapter 30: What Defines Us
The battle outside Base Upsilon was only growing more heated, rather than less, as the ensemble of Ship-Girls waged war against the heavily-fortified base.
Battleships lobbed shells, cruisers shot down planes and Destroyers combated multiple waves of Siren Submarines that tried to snipe several of their capital ships – all to limited success. Though many turrets were bombed to bits or shelled apart, there was simply too many – every wall panel on the base seeming to shift aside to reveal another gun turret. Whether they were being replaced by machinery within the base itself, or there was just so many it seemed like it, nobody knew.
However the base was not quiet. Siren fighter-bombers launched themselves from the roof, shot out of diagonal runways from a mechanized catapult and allowing the Sirens to put out an enormous about of aircraft, so much so that even with literal hundreds of Ship-Girls peppering the sky with flak and shells many still slipped past, dropping torpedoes that hissed through the water and blew up against hulls or slinging bombs down upon vulnerable targets, engulfing their decks in blazing fires or bursting them apart with deafening eruptions, setting the sea alight around them with the spilt oil.
Already they had taken a number of casualties. But that only made them all fight harder.
''Washington, incoming! Eleven o'clock low!''
''I see 'em!'' Washington barked back over the radio, eyes catching sight of the wing of Siren fighter-bombers diving straight for her.
She waited, arm raised to help her aim as she unloaded her anti-air guns, her ship form bobbing beneath her and the scent of cordite rich in the air – and the moment the wing of three dropped their torpedoes she shifted gears, her hull groaning underfoot as she made it turn a harsh left. The sharp angle made her ship form tilt precariously in the dangerous waves, the world tilting-
-before mercifully the three torpedoes missed her, hissing further through the water and out of her path. The moment her ship form balanced itself back out she took aim at the three Siren fighter-bombers, shooting them down with a unified blast of flak, satisfaction burning in her chest as she watched them fall from the sky. However torpedo bombers were the least of their problems; something she was reminded of as she heard frantic calls over the radio, cries of 'high, high!' coming in.
Washington snapped her gaze up, flickering about the murky skies – until she spotted where the highest concentration of black flak clouds was. A large air wing of dive bombers shrieked down at full speed towards a cluster near Princeton, the surrounding escorts feverishly firing into the sky. Pops of flame ignited several dive bombers, sending them corkscrewing out of line, but several others kept diving – way past bombing range. They kept soaring into the thickening flak clouds, the desperate cries over the radio rising to a chaotic pitch.
BOOM!
And then in a deafening conflagration, several Siren aircraft kamikazed Princeton, engulfing her deck in a billowing belch of flame.
''Shit!'' Washington swore under her breath, scowling something fierce as she took aim at the base and fired another salvo, watching her shell arc over the long distance before hitting one of the anti-aircraft batteries, taking it out of the fight and leaving it a sparking ruin.
Apparently the Sirens had realised that using dive-bombers was pointless given that any aircraft they sent wouldn't return to base before they were shot down. Thus, instead of dropping bombs, they became the bombs. Devastating ones at that.
The sound of a shell splashing into the water next to her made Washington grunt, scowling as she searched for the turret responsible and spotting it in the distance – one of the larger ones with a thick, long cannon. She couldn't even begin to guess how big it was but it was certainly far larger than her own guns, and in the interest of not being shot she took aim, waiting until she'd reloaded before unleashing a second salvo, mostly taking it out. A salvo from Nevada helped take it down for good.
A low, deafening roar however drew her attention, and a harsh curse fled her lips as she caught sight of a familiar black airframe looming through the skies, taking off from the other end of the base with more to follow – far out of range of her cannons. Siren heavy bombers. The infamous 'Flying Battleships' audibly strained their engines to their limit, climbing far faster than they were designed to tolerate and throwing their heavily-armoured frames around in a sharpish turn, lining up for the fleet.
''Eyes up, eyes up!''
''Twelve high, Brooklyn hit 'em!''
''Hornet get some more fighters in the air!''
Frantic call-outs and barked orders were aplenty over the radio as others took notice, and within moments bursts of flak and anti-air shells became to populate the air space around the Siren heavy bombers – however their anti-air was stretched thin enough as it was. Between the kamikaze strikes, torpedo bombers and enemy fighter-bombers they were struggling.
''Tch.'' Washington clicked her tongue, scowling as she aimed her own anti-air guns up. ''They're really throwing everything they have at us, huh?!''
The comment was aimed at nobody in particular, but she got a response all the same. ''Yep~!''
Washington stiffened, shock lancing up her spine – when her instincts flared. In a heartbeat she jerked her head to the side and evaded the fist that would've knocked her out cold, a snarl crossing her lips as she spun to face her attacker. Her left hand jerked up and batted aside the other fist that went for her face; her other arm coming in close to block the fist that came in an upper-cut for her jaw, grunting as she was sent stumbling back from the near-blow.
''You.'' Washington snapped, glaring.
''Me.'' Purifier grinned right back, golden eyes gleaming gleefully.
No talk was had. To the sound of flak and shellfire Purifier charged her, steel feet thundering across her bow deck before she cocked back a fist and threw it. With a scowl Washington tilted her way out of the attack, grabbing Purifier's extended arm – but without missing a beat the Siren took advantage of that, leaping up and wrapping her metallic legs around her collarbone, cackling as she threw her weight back and tossed Washington over her with her superhuman strength.
Washington hit the deck rolling, unsteady as she stumbled up to a foot – and grunted as a metal fist smashed across her cheek in a wild haymaker, jerking her head to the side. A second fist came in but she grabbed it, snarling and yanking Purifier close before smashing their foreheads together, the impact dazing Purifier momentarily and giving Washington the chance to return the favour, her fist smashing her face in with a satisfying warping-metal sound.
''Mnph!'' Purifier was sent stumbling back, a pout on her face as she held her nose. ''Hey, that hurt~''
Washington just glared murderously back, the kamikaze strike on Princeton fresh in her mind. Purifier seemed to realise that and her pout spread into a grin brimming with mocking glee – triggering Washington to charge at her with a snarl. Fists flew one after the other, powerful strikes missing by inches as Purifier mockingly back-stepped and dodged each swing, only to then suddenly go on the offensive right after the fifth swing; lunging inside Washington's guard and burying a fist into her gut.
An upper-cut followed, jerking Washington back – and with a cackle Purifier swung out with a roundhouse kick, smashing it into her ribs and nearly sending Washington overboard, a grunt escaping the brawling Battleship as she hit the railing. In a heartbeat Purifier was before her, fist flying for her head and missing only when Washington jerked her head to the right, then jerked her head to the left to avoid a second punch. Thinking fast Washington blindly fired her main guns, the deafening eruption coming from behind Purifier and eliciting a startled yelp from her; distracted for long enough that Washington could drive a knee into the Siren's gut and punch her in the throat. The impact made her gag and stumble back, giving Washington room to grab onto the Siren, and with a yell sock her right in the face.
''Just! Fuck! Off!'' With every word another fist struck Purifier. ''You-!''
The fourth fist never struck as Purifier caught it, grinning madly even as she shoved Washington back, both of them almost taking a breather for a second.
Until a loud eruption made Washington's head snap to the side on instinct. There, in the distance, the massive airframe of a Siren heavy bomber disappeared in a roaring pyroclasm as it kamikazed Nevada, the baleful belch of flame accompanied by the frantic cries over the radio, coming from all but Nevada herself.
Purifier took advantage of her shock – and faster than Washington thought possible the Siren crossed the distance and punched her in the shoulder, nearly breaking bone. The impact jolted Washington out of her shock, anger fast to replace it and pulling a snarl out of her as she retaliated, side-stepping the fist that came for her face and throwing a haymaker for Purifier. The Siren tilted out of the way and grinned, leg lifting off of the floor. The sight was enough of a warning for Washington and the Battleship backed up a step, dodging the roundhouse kick that once again tried to hit her ribs-
-only to be startled when Purifier kept twisting with her momentum, completing a full spin and then leaping up – cackling as she brought her heel down in a powerful axe-kick.
''Mn!'' Washington crossed her arms to take the blow, pain burning her arms from the jolting impact.
Hopping back Purifier took a second to gain her footing – and without mercy Washington attacked. She closed the distance and outright tackled the Siren to the floor, holding her by her top and roaring as she brought a fist down, only to swear as Purifier jerked her head to the side, causing Washington to punch her own deck. With glee lighting up her pale face Purifier retaliated with a knee to her stomach, forcing Washington off of her and allowing Purifier to straddle her instead, fist raised to strike.
Only for cannons to fire – and for a gout of smoke to engulf both Purifier and Washington as a shell went off in Purifier's face.
''Mn!'' Thinking fast Washington bucked her hips up, pushing the equally-startled Purifier off of her – coughing as she blindly back-pedalled away from the brawler Siren.
The smoke abated in the high winds, allowing her to spot the form of Purifier stumbling to her feet with a groan of annoyance, a slight frown on the chaotic Siren's face. A glance behind herself let Washington see her saviours; the worried form of Cassin, and the determined face of Downes.
''North Carolina sent us over.'' Cassin informed, gun pointed at Purifier. ''We'll give you a hand.''
''Heh. Thanks.'' Washington cracked her knuckles. ''Keep her fists away from my face, yeah?''
''Affirmative.''
''Heeh~'' Purifier drew the word out, annoyed. ''Three-on-one, is it? Sounds like a fair match now, hehehehe~!''
A shell from Downes silenced the Siren, and a fist from Washington sent Purifier slinging into the side of her superstructure; the battle resuming once more.
X-x-X
''Mn!''
An arrow tore through her side, forcing her to heal the wound over before she lost too much blood.
''Gh-!''
A laser skimmed past her ear, leaving it ringing and disorienting her momentarily.
''Hn-!''
And then the sharp end of a bow cut down her back, her attacker fended off with a quick trio of arrows that plunged into her attacker's arm.
Enterprise panted heavily, glaring back at Alterprise as her counterpart backed up, smashing the golden arrows with a swing of her bow, wincing. Ahead of her Observer Alpha smugly looked on, several cuts marring her flesh but otherwise only mildly harmed, not least because Enterprise had so few opportunities to attack between blocks and dodges.
The aforementioned carrier was doing much worse-off, in comparison. Fresh cuts marred her pale flesh, arrows and lasers having torn gashes or cauterised them shut – it was hard enough to fight Observer Alpha or Alterprise in a one-on-one, but to face them both down was a level above that. Coupled with their abilities to go invisible or practically teleport, and Enterprise had to keep one eye on her flanks constantly, costing her the ability to focus on either one of them fully. The only mercy was that, having moved the battle outside to the rear of the base, she had more room to move than the cramped hallways of the base.
''Hm...'' Observer Alpha then hummed. ''You appear to be nearing your limit. You've exceeded my expectations, I can tell you that for sure. Far beyond what your peers could've achieved.''
Enterprise gritted her teeth, pushing past the aching fatigue and raising her head, glaring at Alpha. ''Why?''
''Oh?'' Cocking her head to the side Alpha smiled. ''You'll have to be more specific with that type of question.''
''Expectations. You had- have expectations of me.'' Enterprise clarified through clenched teeth, anger rising. ''Why? Why, out of everyone in the fleet, was I chosen?!''
The question came out more as a shout; weeks, months, years of pent-up frustration leaking out in that one moment – but Alpha just answered it with the same smug smile as she always did. ''Why? That's easy. You have what the others lack, what made me deem you the most worthwhile test subject... potential.''
The Siren's smile grew as she stepped forth, unphased by the stormy tides underfoot. ''Where others would falter, you refuse to. Where others would cry and beg, you grit your teeth. Where others would fall behind and grow complacent, you press on – ever growing stronger in your pursuit to either escape our hold or to slay us. And grown you have. Day by day, week by week, month by month and year by year – every waking moment of your existence has led you to something greater, to growing more powerful. You learned new tricks, refined your techniques, honed your instincts.''
Alpha spread her arms out, grinning now. ''Few others have that potential. Many would simply break down when faced with what we showed you, what we threw at you. Thus, that is why I have such high expectations for you – you've not failed to disappoint. Because even when you do falter and fall, you do the one thing none else would.''
A clap of thunder overhead lit up Alpha's grinning visage, golden eyes gleaming. ''You pick yourself back up and march on.''
''And for what?'' Enterprise replied in a whisper, but her voice gained strength – gained force. ''Why do you want me to become strong?! What do you have to gain from that?!''
''Everything.'' Alpha smoothly replied, stepping closer. ''There are threats far greater than the Sirens out there, you know. We, as a collective, have many aims – but mine is to see that humanity grows, that it evolves beyond its current limitations, its current... fragility. As it stands humanity will crumble before us, the Sirens, so what hope would they have against a greater threat?''
''Of course, I don't expect mankind to face them. They never will. They are simply too weak; too slow to evolve. Nothing I do can change that. Not even Antiochus can.'' Observer Alpha remarked almost idly. ''But those of your ilk... they can. With enough modifications and selective evolution you can grow to fight them back – after all, look at you now. Seven years ago a mere carrier for the Eagle Union, albeit a skilled one, and now? You can heal your own wounds. You can manipulate extensions of yourself, your arrows, with your mind. With that device inside your soul you can freely transport yourself into pocket dimensions to evade attacks or cross large distances in a fraction of the time it would take normally.''
''In just seven years, I've transformed you from a simple carrier into a warrior in a league unmatched by any of your peers.'' Observer Alpha said with something almost approaching pride. ''All by my hand, no less. This enthralling feeling of creating something... it's in part what led me to develop dear Alterprise here, you know? To take part of you and make a superior version, one that could grow farther than even you... though, to my amazement, you've not only kept pace with her but in several cases, outmatched her. Why though, I have yet to find out~''
The way she crooned the latter words out made Enterprise click her tongue, glaring spitefully at the Siren. ''You talk about helping humanity evolve, yet you and your allies have done nothing but caused suffering! You bombed their homes, razed their cities, stole their coastlines for a time-!''
''-all in the name of forcing them to evolve.'' Observer Alpha calmly finished, smirking. ''The threat of destruction breeds progress. When you tell a man to climb a mountain, he will struggle – but tell a man to climb a mountain at the threat of death, and he'll push himself beyond his limits to achieve it. Suffering is what ultimately compelled mankind to create you Ship-Girls, what compelled them to think of ways to fight back. If we had simply approached mankind with grand offers of cooperation, they would fall prey to greed or xenophobia, taking out technology and unleashing it on their fellows over ideology and personal gain.''
Alpha swept a hand out, pointing a hand at Upsilon – but truthfully all knew she was pointing at the fleet on the other side of the base. ''Look at it. The Sakura Empire and the Eagle Union, once enemies, now working together in harmony and with such trust that they would sent four of their best carriers to aid in what, from the perspective of the humans, may well be a suicide mission. Yet they put their faith in their allies across the Pacific and joined forces against us – against me. Had it not been for the Sirens, this possibility never would've happened.''
Enterprise wanted to raise her voice, to yell – but a dark, traitorous part of her knew that Alpha was right. Had the Sirens really approached humanity and just given them the technology, she doubted they would have used it to prepare for this unseen threat. Internal politics and beliefs would divide nations on what to use the technology for, and all it would take is a single spark, a single risk to colonial hegemonies or national security, for war to break out and for untold weapons to be lobbed at each other, perhaps risking the total extinction of mankind.
''Akin to giving an infant a loaded gun, you cannot expect them to act sensibly with it.'' Observer Alpha read her mind and commented aloud. ''That, Enterprise, is why we never considered approaching mankind peacefully. Because only when their very way of life is at risk are they willing to band together and unite against a common foe, and grow stronger for it.''
Enterprise grimaced and looked past Alpha at Alterprise, locking eyes with her sirenic counterpart. She looked just as torn as she herself felt.
''...how much would it cost?''
''Hm?'' Alpha raised her head a little, curious. ''How much would what cost?''
''Human lives.'' Enterprise bit out. ''You talk about human suffering and forcing them to evolve, but how much will it take? How many people will have to die until they 'evolved' enough? How many families must be torn apart first? How many homes and neighbourhoods must be brought to ruin until the job is done?''
''How many friends must I see perish just so you can force the rest of us to grow stronger?!'' Enterprise raised her voice angrily – wrathfully, the stormy winds not silencing her. ''How many times more do I have to see my home buried in rubble and bombed to bits until you're satisfied?! When does this 'evolution' end, Alpha?!''
The Siren was silent for a long moment before speaking.
''I don't know.''
The simple admission pissed Enterprise off more than she thought possible. ''You don't know?! You put us all through this, push humanity to brink to make them evolve, and you don't even know how long it'll take until you stop?!''
''It is far from a simple process, Enterprise.'' The Siren countered with narrowing eyes. ''I stand leagues higher than most, but I am not omnipotent. I cannot say when mankind has evolved sufficiently, nor when your kin has either. It may be years, may be decades, centuries, even millennia-''
An arrow whizzed past Alpha's cheek. It cut a thin but noticeable gash across her artificial skin.
''No.'' Enterprise coldly said. ''If it takes that long, then no. This grand experiment of yours ends here.''
''Oh?'' Alpha cocked her head, displeased. ''Even after I've so kindly explained my reasoning, you simply believe you can discard all my work because you don't have the stomach for it?''
''There's has to be another way.'' Enterprise whispered it, but Alpha heard her clear as day. ''I don't care what you say. I refuse to let everyone I know and love suffer a day longer because you keep dragging this twisted experiment out!''
Just then a loud explosion churned up a cloud of smoke from Base Upsilon, the towering column spiralling up even with the high winds whipping about, earning a displeased gaze from Observer Alpha.
''Hmph. Colour me surprised, your allies have actually breached the perimeter in multiple places.'' Observer Alpha remarked. ''Whilst I predicted someone would go for the WMD stored inside, I'm afraid I cannot allow humanity to get ahold of other technology still within. You are not ready for it.''
Raising her slender hand Observer Alpha raised it high, a holographic circle manifesting around her wrist. Her palm pressed against a phantasmal button, causing the whole holographic construct to flash green – before the Siren then spoke.
''Commence self-destruct contingency.'' Observer Alpha clearly spoke, gazing straight into Enterprise's eyes as she did so. ''Dimension-wide collapse, commence.''
The holographic circle twisted to the right, then to the left – before with a beep it faded.
And then the whole world seemed to buckle. The very air shook and the seas seemed to lift up before falling back down all at once, as if the unseen seabed lurched itself up for a second. The storms clouds clapped with thunder and rain began to fall from them as they were forced lower down, the icy spits of rain hitting the stormy tides underfoot.
''You...'' Enterprise gripped her bow tighter. ''You're destroying this place?''
''Indeed.'' Alpha rather calmly remarked. ''It is merely a base, nothing more. I can always construct another one.''
Enterprise frowned, disbelieving. ''This is your home isn't it? You would let it be destroyed so easily, rather than just destroying the dangerous materials inside?''
''Hmph, 'home'?'' A slight smirk curled at Alpha's lips. ''An unnecessary emotional attachment. This is my 'home' only in name – the code that gives me life, that my entire existence is founded upon, could be said to closer to a home than a mere base. My own body is more comfortable than something as hopelessly physical as a hom- ghk!?''
A sharp, startled grunt escaped Alpha, her eyes widening in tandem with Enterprise's own... as a golden arrow protruded out of her chest from behind.
''I considered this my home.'' Alterprise's voice shook as she spoke, turbulent anger lacing every word. ''This was all I had ever known. This was where I was 'born' and 'raised'. This was where I learnt to fight and to think for myself! Where you beat knowledge into me and healed me back up! And you're destroying it?!''
''...ah, I hadn't considered that.'' Almost idly Alpha remarked, grasping the arrow in her chest and pulling it out with a grunt. A hole was left, but it didn't seem to inhibit her much. ''No, I should've expected it, considering you are truthfully more 'Human' than 'Siren'. You're too driven by emotion to see the dry logic beyond. Though I'm curious, is the destruction of Upsilon the only thing that led you to betray me?''
''Mostly.'' Alterprise curtly answered, gold eyes glaring into Alpha's own matching eyes. ''I've become disillusioned with the Sirens recently. I've found my purpose. And as it stands, I believe Enterprise... there has to be another way. One you couldn't see because you're so blinded by your cold-hearted logic!''
''...Hmph. Idealists. Foolish, foolish idealists, the both of you.'' Observer Alpha sighed, raising her tentacles. ''So be it. Though, do tell... what is this purpose of yours, do you think?''
Alterprise replied by raising her bow. ''Why don't you come find out?''
Alpha hummed, looking between the two of them.
Then in a heartbeat her cannons raised up and fired, twin shrieking beams firing at both Enterprise and Alterprise – before matching arrows came firing back at the Siren, their battle resuming.
X-x-X
Disarming a bomb wasn't something Belfast was particularly skilled at, but something she found herself doing all the same.
Grimacing the maid held onto one of the stabiliser fins of the missile, pinching one of the screws and carefully loosening it up, the screw soon dropping down onto the hard floor and joining the several others with it. The fin however wasn't just screwed on of course, but it succeeded in removing some of the thin plating over the fins, leaving less to hold it onto the main body; allowing her to just grab the fin, and with a groan of effort she pulled – yanking it off to the sound of tearing metal.
''Phew...'' Belfast sighed, gazing up at the projectile. Without one of its fins any flight should be unbalanced enough that it'd end up missing its intended target – and while she sorely wanted to just blow it up, she had enough sense to not mess with technology she had no ideas of the dangers it held.
Thus she moved to rip off another fin-
-when the whole world around her seemed to shudder; gravity itself squishing down on her for a momentary instant before flexing back outwards again.
''Mn...?!'' Belfast shot a startled look at the ceiling. ''What was that...?''
Instinct compelled her to tap into her radio, but better judgement stopped her – grimacing as she realised that any attempt would be fruitless given the thick walls of Base Upsilon, and would only serve to reveal her location to the Sirens, if they didn't know already. Thus she was left with a dilemma, some instinctual part of her realising that hanging around here could prove dangerous, and the last thing she desired was to get trapped inside the base. She'd already partially sabotaged the Siren super-weapon anyway.
Thus with a groan Belfast turned away from the device, her heels clicking loudly against the floor as she made a run for it. Keeping her wits about her the maid kept her rigging summoned, wrist-mounted cannons at the ready as she back-traced her route, nothing but the heavy silence to weigh on her shoulders – until soon she heard fighting up ahead. The fast-firing gunshots and loud sword clangs told her that it was undoubtedly Sheffield and Monarch still giving it their all, encouraging her steps to hasten.
Turning the corner she saw them. All three were in bad shape; Monarch had burns marring her flesh and her left arm hung limply by her side, contrasting Tester Beta who didn't have a right arm at all, the stub still sparking from where a blade undoubtedly sliced through. Sheffield was barely stumbling about but still shot, marching towards a Tester Beta as the Siren guarded with an arm-
-until with a bellowing shout Monarch charged in, her blade sweeping across and beheading the Siren.
Tester Beta made a sound almost like she was choking, her head rolling and still alive for several more seconds before the light visibly faded from her eyes, the bright gold hues fading to a old dandelion yellow. Her headless body collapsed on itself, sparking and puffing smoke as it laid motionlessly on the cold metal floor, almost guaranteeing that the Siren truly was deceased.
''Phew...'' Only then did Monarch hunch forth, breathing heavy. ''Belfast... you're back.''
''Yes. I'm sure you felt that tremor just now?'' Belfast confirmed, stride swift as she marched up to Sheffield and helped her fellow maid; taking some weight off of her feet.
''Mm. It does not bode well, given Tester Beta's sudden intensity during her final moments.'' Monarch noted, casting a scathing look down at the deceased Siren. ''I would recommend a retreat, if only a temporary one.''
''Mm. Lead the way if you would, I'll take care of Sheffield.''
''Belfast, it's fine...''
''Hush.''
Sheffield did so with a grimace, and as one the group of three made their way towards the exit, a foreboding air hanging over their heads.
X-x-X
The searing, scathing beam of a laser superheated the air next to Enterprise as she side-stepped the attack, face set into a determined grimace as she raised her bow and fired her nocked arrow, the three other arrows above her head flying with similar swiftness.
Observer Alpha saw them coming clearly. With a light scoff the Siren swept an arm out, causing all four arrows to embed themselves into the tentacle – but in doing so she lost visual of Enterprise. Something Alpha found herself paying for as two arrows suddenly shot down from above, passing her guarding tentacles and piercing into her collarbone. The Siren grunted harshly and grabbed the glowing arrows, yanking them out and breaking them apart in the process, her displeased frown becoming something almost like a scowl as she gazed up at the still-airborne Enterprise.
She never got the chance to retaliate. Danger flared behind her and in a heartbeat Alpha turned, scowl now firmly on her face as she took a step back, evading the sharp end of a bow that came for her spine. Undeterred Alterprise followed it up with an arrow, the projectile plunging from over her shoulder, but Alpha caught it mid-flight and snapped it with brute strength, her own tentacles converging in on Alterprise – only to end up striking air as the quasi-Siren disappeared out of thin air, hopping into a Mirror Sea.
''Tch.'' Observer Alpha's lips thinned in displeasure. ''How bothersome.''
Reacting fast Alpha disappeared into thin air – going invisible.
Enterprise scowled at the sight, gripping her bow tight as she waited – and the moment she saw the hint of golden light she leapt back. It proved to be a wise decision as not a second later a screaming laser tore through the ocean where she stood, the optical camouflage flaking off of Observer Alpha, the Siren stood just a couple dozen feet away. Without waiting for it to completely fade away Alpha rushed her, footsteps light and startlingly fast as she covered the distance in seconds, and in a surge several tentacles lunged towards her; spreading out only to converge in on her to crush her.
Rather than logically disappear into a Mirror Sea, however, Enterprise gave into instinct – charging her. The action caught Observer Alpha off-guard, surprise colouring the Siren face as they soon found themselves inches apart. Enterprise ruthlessly took advantage of the Siren's mental delay, an arrow forming in her hand before she grasped it and used it like a dagger, aimed for Alpha's throat-
-but at the last second Alpha recalibrated and jerked her head out of the way. The arrow tore a deep gash along the side of her jaw, scraping the harder 'bone' metal beneath, but failed to penetrate anything vital. With equal swiftness Alpha reached out with her left hand and grabbed Enterprise by the arm, pulling her close with one laser cannons aiming at her side, the barrel so very nearly touching her side as it heated up.
Rrr- khk!
And then a golden arrow flew from the side, penetrating the laser cannon and disabling it with a splutter of sparks.
''Hmph!'' Observer Alpha shoved Enterprise back, the petite Siren glaring over at Alterprise – one hand snapping up and batting aside the arrow that went for her face, earning a gash across the back of her hand but saving her face from any damage. ''Bothersome.''
Enterprise grimaced and backed up further, bow raised for the sky and launching an arrow. The projectile caught fire, roaring out into a wing of three Dauntless dive-bombers, joined by a trio from Alterprise herself before the carrier vanished into thin air. Alpha scowled and wasted no time in raising several of her smaller laser cannons, beams of bright gold peppering the sky and shooting down several of the dive-bombers before they could even begin to turn back down. Resolving that Enterprise launched another two arrows of her own, the projectiles intercepted by Alpha's tentacles but distracting the Siren momentarily, her accuracy waning for just a second.
A second was all they needed. With silent fury on her face Alterprise appeared behind Alpha and attempted to assassinate her with a shot to her head, but Alpha anticipated such an attack, one tentacle lashing out and smashing into Alterprise's side, sending her tumbling away. The dive-bombers above roared their engines as they began to dive down on her, attracting her attention and tempting her to shoot them down – but not before several dropped their bombs.
From such a low height however they didn't have the necessary speed and time to aim, causing all of the bombs to splash harmlessly into the water around Alpha. Harmlessly, but not pointlessly.
A fact Enterprise demonstrated as she burst through the falling water. Bow tilted horizontally Enterprise fired three arrows at once from close range, two embedding themselves into tentacles – and a third flew past them. Alpha raised a hand to block it but wasn't fast enough, the arrow scraping just past her slender thumb and flying off-course – before, in a shower of sparks, it struck her left eye and tore a deep gash across the side of her head.
''Mn!'' Alpha clutched at her eye in a heartbeat. ''You-!''
With something approaching anger Alpha retaliated, all tentacles surging in with monstrous speed – forcing Enterprise to pull herself into a Mirror Sea, evading the attack with less than a second to spare. Backing up Enterprise gave herself a scant few seconds to catch her breath-
-only to feel a chill in front of her.
''Mn!''
A tentacle burst out of thin air, optical camouflage fading from it before it smashed down on her right shoulder. The carrier gasped and stumbled back, raising her bow in time to block a second tentacle that tried to curl around and grab her and firing a golden arrow into it. The arrow glowed, and in a heartbeat it exploded as she transformed it into a Wildcat – kamikaze striking the tentacle and blowing it apart. Freed Enterprise leapt back out of the smoke cloud, grimacing as she raised her bow and blindly shot an arrow.
In retaliation a shrieking laser tore through the smoke towards her. She gasped as it seared across her ribs, and the moment Enterprise caught sight of a second laser building she tapped into the Mirror Sea device within her and blinked out, reappearing on the stormy seas of Base Upsilon. Alterprise caught sight of her and nodded, both of them, without even needing to communicate, summoning multiple arrows and firing them into the skies above, transforming them into wings of dive-bombers.
Not a moment too soon, as with naught but a chill to the air Observer Alpha reappeared – invisible with her optical camouflage.
Enterprise had learned from their prior skirmish mere moments ago however. Rather than try and escape she turned to face Alpha, aiming for where she felt the chill and launching an arrow – transforming it into a Wildcat mid-flight. It struck true, the half-formed plane combusting into a bellowing fireball. Within the flames the camouflaged Siren flickered back into existence, hair singed and a thoroughly-annoyed expression on her face as she raised her cannons; a shriek accompanying the blinding beams that tore through the flames and scorched holes through Enterprise's jacket as it fluttered behind the side-stepping carrier.
Alterprise didn't hesitate to intervene. With lethally-precise timing the quasi-Siren fired an arrow and then immediately launched another; manifesting them around her and launching them one after the other, forcing Alpha to tilt and jerk her tentacles to constantly block each arrow – a task made harder when she heard the sound of dive bombers overhead, the planes reaching their apex and now coming back down. She raised her anti-air lasers but Enterprise gave no quarter, two arrows bypassing her guarding tentacles and striking one of the smaller anti-air lasers she had.
''Persistent...'' Alpha's lip curled in disdain. ''One of your more double-edged aspects, I'll admit.''
Anything Enterprise wanted to snipe back in return was lost amidst the sound of dive bombers roaring down, and with a nigh-unified click they dropped their bombs. Splashes of water erupted around Alpha, bombs missing – until two struck true and engulfed the Siren in a loud explosion of heat and fire. The ensuing black smoke cloud was washed away with a swipe of her tentacle, a scowl marring Alpha's visage as she turned her irritated eyes onto Enterprise, but the carrier had already fled – disappearing into a Mirror Sea.
Incoming danger behind her made Alpha turn, raising two tentacles to block the arrows that went for her back and retaliating with a laser, scorching Alterprise's left arm with the beam but failing to dismember the gasping carrier. With efficient ruthlessness Alpha capitalised on her opponent's momentary weakness, kicking off the surface of the water and closing the distance, a tentacle whipping out to strike her.
Only for Alterprise to vanish before the attack could connect.
And then immediately reappear with barely a second of pause, catching Alpha off-guard and leaving her vulnerable to the arrow that flung itself from over Alterprise's shoulder, piercing into the Siren's shoulder.
''Mn...!'' Brow dipping in displeasure Alpha fell back, retreating and firing a chain of lasers at her opponents.
With haste Alterprise evaded; expression tight as she leapt to one side only to dodge again, feet barely resting atop any one spot for more than a split-second before she moved again, dodging the cacophony of shrieking beams. Mercifully she wasn't alone – something punctuated by an arrow that came from behind Alpha, scraping along the edge of her tentacle and striking her back. Failing to penetrate her thick skin, but still hurting the Siren all the same.
''Tch...'' Alpha glared over her shoulder. ''Fighting the both of you is becoming rather troubling, indeed.''
''Call it karma!'' Enterprise fired back, an arrow following her words.
Alpha turned and deflected it with the back of her hand. ''A foolish prospect. Karma, fate, none have any bearing on entities such as us. Should we have a need of it, we will merely engineer it. Just as I engineered you.''
The Siren twisted, lashing out with several tentacles and forcing Alterprise back from the quasi-Siren could attack her flank, several lasers fired at the same time to keep Enterprise on her toes. ''Do you have any idea how much of your life I've personally steered? From luring you to Bermuda to knocking out Pearl Harbour, to pitting you and Alterprise together to force you to evolve faster – all this, and yet you think there's 'another way' to help save mankind?''
Something almost like offence flashed in her eyes. ''Do not belittle me.''
An arrow from Enterprise cut the Siren's taunting words short, and the roar of aircraft engines put a stop to any further attempts at them – only they didn't belong to Enterprise herself, nor Alterprise. Something that drew the carrier's eyes above, Enterprise herself peeking past the brim of her cap and catching sight of several wings of Dauntless dive bombers, bearing the markings of Saratoga's, Yorktown's and Hornet's aircraft. Observer Alpha detected them just as they started their dive, the irritated expression on her face becoming more severe as she aimed her heavier laser cannons up, charging them up.
Without a word being shared both Enterprise and Alterprise attacked. Four arrows from each crossed the distance, embedding into or blowing chunks out of the damaged tentacles that moved to block them, but two arrows got through the mass – two that pierced one of the laser cannons, and caused it to detonate just as it was about to fire; engulfing Observer Alpha in a shrieking blast of yellow energy.
And allowing the large air wing to dive uninhibited – dropping a wave of bombs down on Observer Alpha. Three of nine bombs hit their mark.
BOOM!
Another air wing made a pass. Two bombs out of nine hit.
BOOM!
The third and final wing made its pass, four bombs striking true.
BOOM!
The chaotic eruption of smoke and fire belched outwards, the high wings swift to dissipate it but not fast enough for Enterprise's tastes. The carrier held her fire, bow drawn and with a total of four additional arrows manifested around her, held by sheer willpower as she waited for a sign of Alpha's status – not wanting to waste a shot.
Thus seconds ticked by in painful silence, until at last the smoke waned. From within its misty grey hues stood Observer Alpha, her silhouette revealed by a flash of thunder overhead. Stood slightly hunched she was immobile but still upright, the Siren then slowly straightening up, head tipping back slightly. Even with the smoke masking the damage her golden eyes still glowed brightly, gazing skywards for a long, ominous moment.
''...hah...'' The Siren twitched, lips becoming visible as they curled upwards. ''Hah... haha... ahaha... hihi... ahh, I see...''
Tentacles straightened up, curling and waving about slowly as the smoke faded. ''If this is it, then I will not allow this final test to go incomplete.''
Observer Alpha drew in a breath, part of her side and shoulder missing entirely, revealing the sparking wires within. Yet the Siren didn't even seem to notice, eyes growing wide and pupils dilating, her voice becoming almost rigid and stiff as she spoke. ''Recalibrating combat doctrine. Deleting system files. Reallocating memory.''
Metal shrieked lowly as her laser cannons shifted; the barrels extending further and more metal coming to surround them – making them weightier, more powerful, more lethal. ''Allocating all available processing power to offensive action. System-wipe authorised.''
A slight twitch spasmed through the diminutive Siren, yet in the pale light of the storm it only made her seem more ominous; her golden eyes snapping over to Enterprise herself, gazing at her with those dilating pupils of hers. The numerous tentacles behind Alpha began to lessen; metal tendrils disassembling themselves in moments in a macabre, almost time-reversing manner, as if their own construction was being undone – and instead growing a thick, metal-like plating across the five, now-armoured tentacles she had left.
''Reallocation complete.'' Observer Alpha then remarked, her tone gaining its familiar, almost condescending lilt to it. ''Hmph. I never expected I'd have to do this, you know. Deleting all unnecessary files to free up space to maximise my combat ability. Everything from experiments to my own origin... all of those have now been deleted from my memory. Everything not pertinent to this moment has been. Such a high honour for you, hm?''
Enterprise just glared at the sight, tired and tense as she waited for her to make the first move. Alpha saw that and looked over at Alterprise, smirked-
-and then in a heartbeat she vanished. Became invisible, teleported, neither knew until a chill behind Alterprise made the Siren spin and fire. Five arrows flew and only one struck the tentacle that swept out of thin air, optical camouflage flaking off to reveal the smirking form of Observer Alpha. Alterprise leapt back to evade the tentacle but Alpha was relentless, chasing her once-subordinate with far greater speed than before and lashing out with a second tentacle.
Enterprise came to her aid. Multiple arrows flew and transformed into five Wildcats, all of the aircraft becoming makeshift kamikazes as they slammed into Alpha's armoured tentacles, denting the armour and knocking the Siren off-course with a grunt. Alterprise didn't waste the opportunity presented to her and rushed in close, her bow raising and firing an arrow right at Alpha from inside her guard – only to grimace when the Siren deflected it to the side, smirking straight at her ex-subordinate.
And with a bright glow to her enhanced laser cannon Alpha fired; unleashing a torrent of golden light at Alterprise.
''Gh-!'' With a pained wince the quasi-Siren backed off, one hand flying to her side and clutching the cauterised hole burnt through her side – the seared-shut flesh even more painful to heal shut.
Alpha snapped her eyes over to Enterprise as the carrier drew another arrow. In a heartbeat Alpha turned and unleashed another laser, the blinding beam superheating the ocean it swept through as Enterprise leapt over it, a trio of arrows finding themselves intercepted by one of Alpha's armoured tentacles. Undeterred Enterprise peppered her opponent with a chain of arrows, the golden projectiles breaking into golden wisps as they shattered against Alpha's guarding tentacles, unable to pierce the layers of armour now mounted upon them.
But that didn't mean they were invincible. With a grimace Alterprise sailed around behind Alpha, two quick-fire arrows transforming into torpedo bombers that flew themselves full-force into Alpha's tentacles, detonating into plumes of fire. Even as the mangled air frames tumbled overhead the damage could be seen through the flames; the armour cracked in places and chipping, but not broken.
And they were not alone.
''Hey Enty, call for a quick bombing run~?!'' Hornet cheekily called out over the radio.
To the sound of roaring aircraft engines another wave of dive bombers came down – three wings of Dauntless dive bombers roaring down from near the clouds. Behind them circled four more wings of Sakura Empire dive bombers, their white frames distinct against the stormy sky above. Observer Alpha saw them and clicked her tongue, her cannons too heavy to raise effectively against the incoming aircraft – so she ignored them, instead curling her tentacles above her head like a dome shield and aiming her laser cannons towards Enterprise herself.
The twin beams of light missed, tearing through naught but ocean as Enterprise leapt aside. Undeterred Alpha swept her cannons to the side, narrowly missing taking off the carrier's head as she ducked, the beams singing her cap. Alterprise paid her back in full, several arrows flying across the distance and punching into Alpha's left arm, earning a sharp grunt from the Siren as she took the blows.
Yet she didn't dare move her tentacles to block – a wise move as the diving Dauntless banked up hard, and dropped their bombs atop her. A chaotic cacophony of explosions and splashing seawater erupted, three individual waves dropping nearly a dozen thousand-pound bombs atop Observer Alpha, but failed to destroy her guarding tentacles, only further crack the armour on them. It did however prevent her from using her tentacles to protect her main body.
''Mn-!''
Something Enterprise took advantage of herself, an arrow slipping past Alpha's guard and hitting her side. Yet the Siren paid little mind for defence; her eyes keenly tracking Enterprise before returning fire with a shrieking laser, scorching a a flesh-searing beam across the carrier's shoulder, smirking at the pained gasp it forced out of Enterprise, the carrier backing off to heal. Any satisfaction Alpha felt however was swift to become muted as several Sakura Empire torpedo bombers came flying in, her expression souring.
''Irritating interlopers...'' Observer Alpha sharply intoned, laser cannons raising.
Then with a loud shriek her remaining two laser cannons fired, sending shrieking beams up as high as they could fire, and tearing through the ranks of the incoming, low-flying aircraft. Yet they were spread out too much for her to take all of them down, forcing her to charge her cannons up a second time – and then immediately swap targets as Alterprise fired a trio of arrows at her side. She moved one tentacle down and blocked the incoming arrows, but the planes above saw and the looming Sakura Empire bombers dove in, engines roaring as they flew down at her.
''Keep up the pressure!'' Enterprise barked over her radio, grunting as she forced the wound on her shoulder shut. ''Don't give her any time to relax!''
''You got it~!'' Saratoga chirped.
''Gotcha!' Zuikaku came over the radio.
''Several squadrons coming to assist~'' Illustrious merrily added.
Alpha undoubtedly heard all of them over the frequency, twitching in visible irritation – visible anger. ''This isn't how this experiment is suppose to go. It is between the three of us alone.''
Enterprise glared back. ''And who said we had to play by your rules?''
The incoming Sakura torpedo bombers dropped their loads; torpedoes hissing through the stormy water as they sailed towards Alpha. The Siren glared at them and aimed her laser cannons on them – but once again had to change targets as Alterprise came in from her flank, firing a quick trio of arrows and forcing Alpha to move back to avoid them, throwing off her aim. Three of the four torpedoes dropped missed – but one hit, detonating in a towering spray of seawater in Alpha's face.
The beam of a laser cut through the falling seawater, sweeping out in a scathing line and forcing Alterprise to change course at the last second, lest she sail right into the beam's path. A second laser followed suit as Alpha focused on her; firing in short, controlled bursts in an effort to catch Alterprise out, simultaneously aiming at Enterprise with her other cannon and firing at her, keeping both elite carriers at bay.
A resounding click echoed over the ocean – and with a cacophony of explosions the Sakura Empire dive-bombers dropped their loads, detonating on and around Alpha, blinding her momentarily with the smoke and seawater until she adapted her vision to infrared.
The small window was enough for Enterprise; the short few seconds giving her time to summon an arrow, and then fire.
Alpha adjusted her eyesight just in time to see the projectile burst through the water – and then transform into a Wildcat right in her face.
BOOM!
The ensuing explosion sent Alpha stumbling back, bringing two tentacles down to block the slew of arrows the two carriers shot at her, further cracking and denting the armour on her tentacles – until one, at last, shattered. A shot from the two carriers embedded arrows into the crack in her armour, both arrows glowing before they transformed into identical Wildcats... who promptly combusted in a roaring eruption, blowing the tentacle apart.
''Mn...!'' Alpha raised one arm to stop the smoke getting in her eyes.
Peering past her arm she spotted her foes and returned fire, but was distracted by the sound of aircraft engines – right before another wave of Dauntless arrived, dropping their bombs on her. With only three tentacles guarding her head one of the bombs managed to slip past, hitting her raised arm and detonating in her face.
'How?' Alpha thought to herself, side-stepping an arrow that came for her only to find herself back-handing another aside. 'Even now, they're... pushing me back?'
''Because we have a purpose.'' The voice of Alterprise pierced into her mind, crystal-clear even as more bombs barraged her tentacles from above. ''Enterprise, myself... we share the same purpose, even if I didn't realise it until recently. To protect.''
A bomb slipped past and blew up against Alpha's side even as Alterprise continued ''Her home, her friends, her way of life... it's something I also want to protect.''
''So we'll stop at nothing to defeat you no matter what!''
The spray of sea-foam before her parted as Alterprise leapt through it, bow aimed for her face – and in a heartbeat Alpha brought her tentacles down, smashing them into Alterprise and sending her flying off to the side, gasping in agony.
Only to realise her mistake, as Enterprise revealed herself to be just a step behind her twin. Alpha felt a jolt of something in her artificial heart and tried to move her tentacles, her lasers, her physical arms – to intercept her once-experiment. She pushed herself to her limit, motors and processors spinning.
She wasn't fast enough.
And with the pull of a bowstring, the loosening of her fingers, Enterprise fired an arrow from barely four feet away – and pierced Alpha straight between the eyes.
''...ah...''
Alpha blinked, moving backwards unintentionally, her systems failing. Her eyesight flickered and wavered, soaking in the forms of Enterprise and Alterprise, their bows trained on her yet nocked arrows not firing. She tried to raise her laser cannons to fire...
...but they no longer obeyed her.
Pssh!
And with a splash, Observer Alpha fell back onto the stormy ocean. With her armoured tentacles weighing her down the Siren sunk, water passing her cheeks as she fell beneath the waves.
'Ah... I see...' In her waning moments clarity came to Alpha. 'So that... is how you survived... how you got so strong, how you persevered... how, merely wanting to protect... made you reach greater heights...'
A faint smile grew across Alpha's lips, eyes half-lidded as they gazed up at the increasingly-distant surface. 'How foolish of I to never realise... that something as simple and intrinsic to human nature, bonds... that they would be what propelled you to defy your own limitations... and too, what will propel mankind to beat those serpents Antiochus wishes to defeat so badly...'
It felt almost poetic that she would realise it in her final moments, the realisation bringing a soundless chuckle out of Alpha, bubbles passing her lips as she fell into the depths, the seabed far below churning as the dimension around her continued crushing in on itself. But she knew, without a doubt, that the Ship-Girls would survive. She could take solace in that – in that her experiment wasn't for naught. That, in the end, she'd accomplished exactly what she wanted to, in a roundabout way. The evolution of man, and the continued growth of the Ship-Girls.
'Hmph... bonds...' Alpha's eyes fluttered. 'I wonder, had the universe been different and my purpose less thankless...'
'...would I, understand what they felt like...?'
A question she would never have answered.
And thus with a smile Observer Alpha sunk into the abyss, life essence disappearing along with her body.
X-x-X
Up on the surface Enterprise and Alterprise stood side-by-side, gaze locked onto the thinning stream of bubbles that reached the surface of the water.
Until soon, after nearly a minute, they ceased. Alpha didn't resurface.
She was dead.
The mere thought lifted a weight from Enterprise's shoulders she didn't know she was carrying, but now wasn't the time to relish in it. Though forgotten during the heat of battle the continued destruction of the pocket dimension continued; the whole ocean around Upsilon seeming to shrink further and further, so the point that all that could be seen if you looked at the horizon was a churning mass of fog that moved ever-inwards, consuming oceans in a spray of seawater and sucking clouds into the ominous, dimension-consuming fog.
Enterprise snapped her gaze over to Alterprise as her counterpart grunted, stumbling down onto one knee as the toll of her own injuries hit – and without a second of hesitation Enterprise was by her side, grabbing onto her. They shared a single look, minds so similar that neither needed to share a word. They knew what they needed to do; they just needed to get there in time.
Enterprise put her free hand onto her ear, simultaneously slinging her arm around Alterprise and helping her upright. ''Saratoga! Gather everyone pronto, we're getting out of here!''
''Gotcha! Can you confirm the status of Observer Alpha?''
''Sunk.'' The sheer relief that laced the one word was more enough evidence for anyone listening in.
''Heh, good to hear. Washington just finished kickin' Purifier's butt and Monarch's confirmed Tester Beta's deceased too.'' Saratoga relayed. ''Alright everyone hearin' this, regroup on me~!''
A wide range of affirmatives came over the radio, and with haste Enterprise made her way towards the rest of the fleet. Not wanting to risk using the Mirror Sea with the dimension currently collapsing she and Alterprise hauled ass across the stormy water, the waves rising higher as the ocean was gradually consumed into the foggy void around Upsilon. As they sailed around the base they caught up with other Ship-Girls currently fleeing back towards Saratoga, all of them grouping together. Some cast wary looks at Alterprise, but few had the time or breath to comment.
And within just a few minutes they reached the main fleet – a few minutes that left them with dangerously little time left. The creeping void began to near their carriers, forcing everyone to remain with just their riggings lest part of their hulls be consumed by the churning fog. Without needing to be asked Enterprise manifested her own hull, a chorus of shouts and orders over the radio beckoning everyone on board, whether it be through jumping up onto it or coming through the elevators or even using planes as stepping stones for some; anything needed was done to get every last person on-board. Those unable to make the journey were carried by their allies – both of the injured, and of the deceased.
The fog rolled in closer though; part of Upsilon itself becoming invisible as the fog consumed it, forcing Enterprise to sail her hull closer to the front entrance just so her stern didn't touch the fog.
''Is everyone on-board?'' Enterprise shouted out, sending out radar pings so scan the water around them – fearful of dooming even a single friend to the abyss.
Yorktown answered her back over the radio from inside her hull. ''Everyone's accounted for – go go go!''
Enterprise complied. Stood atop her deck she focused, reaching out to where she felt the base was, to the familiar calm blue seas that she sought when she escaped Upsilon the first time. To the place her soul always craved to return to – home.
And with a mental pull, Enterprise yanked the fleet out of Base Upsilon and left it to collapse. The world warped, tilted on its axis and spun – before with a harsh splash and jerk, her battered hull landed atop the calm waters of the Atlantic ocean, the base easily within viewing distance. Even with that it took a long few moments for it to truly registered in her fatigued mind, gazing at the familiar, warm sight.
They had made it.
Then it started. Slow at first, but rapidly building as the reality of the situation dawned on everyone – slow whoops and cheers escalating into uproarious celebrations. It filled her deck and hangar, the halls, and probably reached such a pitch it could be heard all the way at the base. The mere sound brought a smile to Enterprise's face, one that grew to a grin as Hornet approached her and slapped her on the shoulder, laughing herself.
In a single attack, they'd knocked out one of the Siren's bases and effectively assassinated three of their major combatants all at once.
But perhaps most importantly to Enterprise herself, the hellhole that had one shackled her was no more, and its manipulative warden lost to the abyss.
She was free. Truly, finally free.
A hand squeezed her shoulder. Enterprise glanced over at her doppelgänger, chuckling rather pitifully as she wiped her eyes dry before anyone could see her crying.
''Let's head home.'' Alterprise said softly, almost tentatively.
''Mm.'' Enterprise agreed, her hull slowly sailing forth. ''Let's.''
And thus to the exuberant cheers of the fleet they sailed back to the base, the sun shining brightly overhead the whole way home.
[END]
A/N: Looks like Alterprise was wrong about one or both of them having to die, huh~? A rather fitting end for Alpha though, wouldn't you agree~?
That aside, on the topic of future story-based fics, I'll probably take a small break from them (having a schedule can be bothersome at times), but have a few solid ideas of what I want to do next. I have about seven story 'Projects' in my lists, with five of them being Azur Lane and ranging from a boxing AU focused around Enterprise and Washington romance to a fantasy AU to a Commander-focused story; quite a lot for me to do. To start, though, I'll probably either be working on one of two stories - one plot-based one featuring Comet, and another romcom featuring Dorsetshire. Easily forgotten characters that deserve a bit of the limelight, you see~?
That aside, it'll be a bit before then. I'll hopefully have them ready by January.
Either way, hope you enjoyed the chapter, and thanks for reading~