Azure Lane: A Brooklyn's Tale
Chapter One
The waters of the Hudson River are quite calm on this rather uneventful night as a lone shipgirl rests against a railing overlooking the river staring longingly at a new ring that now sits on her finger. A quiet content sigh escapes her lips as she smiles to herself wondering if a shipgirl like her is truly deserving of what this ring symbolizes.
"How should I tell my sisters about this?" The ship girl pondered to herself still mesmerized by the precocious gem sitting atop her finger, not so much the gem itself but perhaps its meaning.
"Hey, Brooklyn" a quiet aloof voice called out from behind.
The blonde shipgirl turned her head slightly to meet the familiar voice with a side-glance. To find yet another Eagle Union Shipgirl who can't seem to wear her coat properly.
"You're starting to look like me." The other shipgirl commented.
With a quiet chuckle Brooklyn straightens her posture and turns to acknowledge the other shipgirl.
Her distinct red forehead tattoo, and her long white hair adorned with three bright green feathers could only belong to Massachusetts.
"The Commander asked me to find you."
"I assume it's about my request?" Brooklyn inferred, walking past the battleship.
"Wait," the battleship called, "I have… a little favor…"
The battleship looked uncharacteristically bashful as she tried to find her words.
"If… he approves your request," Massachusetts tugging on the bottom of her jacket "...Can… you take me with you… as an escort?"
Brooklyn's eyes grew wide in surprise; it was rare for the battleship to ask for a favor and with Brooklyn probably already knowing the reason why, shoots her a knowing smile.
"Sure" the light cruiser says as she turns on her heel making her way toward the park entrance.
With the light cruiser gone from view, Massachusetts rests her arms and head on the same railing Brooklyn was using, seemingly lost in thought as the lights from the city across the river reflected on her eyes.
With a wave of her hand a taxi pulls in front of Brooklyn.
"To the Naval Yard please," she requests as she settles in her seat, closing the door.
"Aye aye miss." The cab driver nods looking through the rearview mirror.
Resting her cheek on the palm of her hand, Brooklyn's quiet gaze settles on the warm glow of the streetlights whizzing by.
It's been nearly 13 years since the Sirens first attacked and just four years since the war with the Red Axis came to a close.
The sadistic laughter from the first Sirens that came through those portals that fateful day still weigh heavy on her mind. Brooklyn could remember the fires raging along this very road she was traveling on so vividly. The blaze and carnage that took over the skyline, forever ingrained in her memory.
Just how many died that day, and how many more since? She thought to herself.
Forcibly shutting her eyes, she squashes that train of thought, trying instead to focus on just how much the city has healed from that calamity, quickly coming to be one of the few strongholds from where humanity and their new Shipgirl weapons fought back against their would be oppressors.
While the Siren threat hasn't been completely eradicated it seems, for a few years now at least, they haven't posed too great of a threat, as a major attack hasn't happened since the end of the war with the Red Axis. Ironically ending that conflict.
The familiar scenery of the bay snapping the Light Cruiser out of her thoughts, signaling her ride would be over shortly.
-Brooklyn Naval Yard-
Walking past the gate guards Brooklyn flashes them a smile, the ID badge she holds up just a formality. She hurriedly makes her way towards the Commander's office noticing the side-glances from the other shipgirls on base.
"I guess words got out," the light cruiser sighs to herself, not really worried too much about it.
Just as she was about to knock on the Commander's door it swung open.
"Oh Brooklyn," a gentle white haired shipgirl says slightly startled
At the doorway stood Yorktown, relegated to secretary duty as she's nearly fully recovered from her injuries she sustained during the war with the Red Axis that left her unable to walk for what most thought would be forever.
"Just the girl the Commander wanted to see, please come on in." Yorktown welcomed her with an overwhelming mother-like aura as she ushered the Light Cruiser into the room.
Yorktown waves a few folders in the air, "I'll be back in a bit, just got to deliver these build orders to the dry docks", she says as she makes her way out the door.
"Careful now, don't push yourself too hard!" Brooklyn shouted at the back of Yorktown who already disappeared down the stairs.
"You shouldn't be working her so hard Commander," the light cruiser chastises as she turns her attention to the man sitting at his desk.
"She's still just recovered y'know"
"I know," the man says from behind his desk as he motions for Brooklyn to sit down.
"This was all Yorktown's idea, she couldn't just sit around anymore after being stuck on that bed for so long, besides, when I asked you to be my secretary you said a diplomat shouldn't play the role of secretary and doesn't have time for such things."
With a light chuckle Brooklyn takes a seat in an armchair across the Commander's desk
"Well you are the Commander," she says in a professional yet disapproving tone "you could have denied her, and you're forgetting just who secured funding for nearly this whole operation of ours."
The commander adjusts his cap and sits up in his chair knowing full well winning an argument with this particular light cruiser won't be easy, instead trying to come up with an excuse.
"Saying no to someone like Yorktown," he says, his eyes shut and his chin up in the air as if recollecting a memory.
"Especially when she got that look in her eyes, and I haven't forgotten all that you've done." He says looking into the Cruiser's eyes trying to appeal to her ego
"Working tirelessly to foster and maintain good relations with us normal humans especially after the war, for that I and everyone in Azur Lane, and maybe the Red Axis too, greatly appreciate your work."
Brooklyn crosses her legs the other way, nodding in acceptance as she approves of the commander's acknowledgement.
"You could learn to say no more often, it would make my job a little easier," Brooklyn adds, unable to stop herself from taking one last jab at the Commander.
"Do you have any idea how hard it is, to listen to concerned citizen complaints about there being potential attacks, because you keep letting New Jersey test her guns so close to base and need I remind you the time you let the Fletchers loose to race around the East River and Hudson."
"That was quite the hilarious spectacle wasn't it..." The commander laughs seemingly pleased with himself for that last one, earning him an icy glare from the irate Light Cruiser across from him
"City officials didn't seem to think so..." Brooklyn retorts with her arms crossed under her chest.
"Relax, in the end it all worked out" The commander's poor attempts of appeasement not too effective, "You managed to get a racing league started, and its become such a treasured annual event for everyone and the little Fletchers aren't so restless anymore"
"Fletcher herself still can't look me in the eye without saying sorry because of that." Brooklyn states feeling a little responsible for Fletcher's own guilt in not being able to control her sisters and letting her deal with the fallout of the situation.
"Okay… okay, I get it I'll try to be a little harder on the girls from now on"
"Good... It's fi…"
"That being said," the commander interrupts "It looks like I cant accept your request after all"
The commander braces himself, waiting for the Light Cruiser to call his bluff and to continue chastising him like usual, but instead he is met with a stammering seemingly heartbroken expression as the Light Cruiser can't seem to find her words.
"I… uh…" Brooklyn tries to fight the lump in her throat as she clutches the ring on her finger.
The commander mentally kicks himself; he let his teasing go too far and now Brooklyn of all people looks like she wants to cry.
"On Second thought…" the commander clears his throat quickly trying to backpedal
"In light of everything you've done for me and Azur Lane," The commander moving and shuffling papers on his desk as he continues to speak, "I'll formally approve your request to leave two weeks early to the Joint Base ahead of the Summit" with a quick dip of his quill in ink he signs off on the documents in front of him.
The corners of the light cruiser's frowning lips began to rise as she tried to suppress her growing elation, failing miserably as the commander handed her the stapled copy.
"Thank you commander!"
A heart melting smile showed on Brooklyn's face as she held the documents close to her chest.
The commander adjusts his hat to hide the red that had crept up his face. The ring on the Light Cruisers finger that he had been oblivious to for nearly a month became sorely obvious.
He should've known better than to tease a girl on matters as personal as this.
"You'll have a civilian under your care for the duration of this trip, and maybe beyond, so see to it that no harm shall be done to her, now or forever" The commander spoke regaining his composure
Brooklyn now standing at attention and saluting, "Of course commander, I'll gladly lay down my life for her."
"Hopefully it won't have to come to that"
The commander outwardly chuckles slightly at her response as he motions for her to be at ease. He takes a good long look at the rather beautiful cruiser standing in front of him remembering all the hardships that they've been through together. He had been there, behind Brooklyn and her sisters, throughout most of the major conflicts in the fight against the Sirens.
Even in the numerous humanitarian aid missions they were sent on together he could tell just how much love this Light Cruiser in front of him has for this world, for every life that she's saved, for every person that she's helped, for every child she has comforted, for every hand that she's extended, Brooklyn has filled this bleak world with her love and compassion for humanity.
But even her love of humanity couldn't hold a candle to the love she felt for her sisters and everyone else in the Eagle Union. Even though she had some troubles outwardly showing it at first, they all felt it through her actions, which made the War with the Red Axis and her fellow Shipgirls all the more harder for her.
To be made to hopelessly repeat history she was forced to say goodbye to her own sister and friends for a second time, probably not being there for most of it took a massive toll on her mind as she was off fighting a political battle trying to bring an end to the war in her own way.
Being given a second chance on life and being forced to repeat their same mistakes, Brooklyn and every other shipgirl from both sides choose to stand against fate and break what ended up being just a game that the Sirens had chosen for us.
With the help of the few remaining scientists that first birthed the Shipgirl program, Akashi from the Sakura Empire, and even Bismarck from Iron Blood we were able to recover the Wisdom Cubes from the shipgirls who had fallen in the war.
The commander walks over to his liquor cabinet and pours two shots of Vodka gifted to him by a certain Battleship and leader of the Northern Parliament as his thoughts move to that day.
The day in which sisters were reunited and Shipgirl "families" were whole again. All but one was recovered fully, having the memories of her time as a shipgirl seemingly completely wiped, Helena, the youngest sister of the Brooklyn class looked upon the people in the room like she had just met them in their shipgirl forms for the first time.
The commander took a swig of the Vodka in his hands as he motions for Brooklyn to partake in the second.
"How's your sister doing?" He asks handing the second glass to Brooklyn
He remembers the weird heavy atmosphere in the room as everyone in it was happy to see their dear sister once again but also not being able to shake the feeling something was wrong when she was looking back at them with wary and uncertain eyes.
Brooklyn's shoulders dropped slightly as took the cup into her hands.
"I hear from St. Louis she's doing well" she states low as she down the glass in one gulp.
"That's good to hear," the commander says, pouring himself a second helping. "I'd like to see her myself, but…"
"...She probably won't remember you…" Brooklyn finishes the commander's thought as she holds up her glass for a refill.
"Anyway…" the commander says, trying to steer the conversation away as he pours her another glass.
"Vichya and Iron Blood's Flagships will be there for the Summit, oh and Sardegna too."
"I'm well aware" Brooklyn states, taking a smaller sip from her glass.
"You're forgetting who you're talking to, it's my job to know such things after all."
Brooklyn takes another sip when she remembers the favor Massachusetts asked of her.
"Actually, there is one more thing I'd like to ask from you, if you don't mind."
The commander about to take another sip from his glass stops curiosity taking hold.
"I'm all ears."
"I know I was supposed to get a couple of escorts since I can't really transform my rigging with a human on board, but can I take Massachusetts with me?" Brooklyn asks.
"With her escorting me you won't have to send two girls to do it" She tries to reason.
"Losing you for a whole month is one thing, but Massachusetts…." The commander states scratching his head earning him a slightly offended look from the light cruiser.
"What if the Sirens attack the port?" He tries to reason
"You still have New Jersey and Essex, besides, Massachusetts really wants to go she even asked me to try to convince you"
"Why would Massachusetts even want to tag along anyway, she'll probably be bored at… the… Summit…" The Commander trails off slapping his forehead finally realizing what the reason might be as an image of a certain blonde hot headed Battleship flashed in his mind.
"I swear, you girls are too much sometimes, fine you'll take her," he states finishing his glass once again.
"I see you finally get it," Brooklyn says laughing slightly.
"You know," we says wagging his finger with the cup still in his hand, "you're going to be the one making my life harder once you finally go through with this"
With her fingers hiding her lips she giggles, "And with that, my… I should really get going I've to tell both of them the good news"
"You're Dismissed" the commander salutes as she does the same before making her way towards the door.
"Ah wait…" he called just as she was about to leave. "I never did get to tell you," With his hand to his heart and a slight bow of his head, "Congratulations."
The gesture earned him yet another warm smile from the Light Cruiser.
"Thanks, Commander."
As she disappears through the doors, they open soon after as Yorktown makes her way back into the office.
"Yorktown, I thought you were at the docks?" the Commander asks, a little puzzled.
"I was making my way down the stairs when I was nearly rolled over by Essex. She offered to take them for me as an apology so I came back, but I didn't want to interrupt your conversation so I waited outside" Yorktown explained as she made her way over to the commander's side.
"Ah I see…" the commander's words cut short by a light slap to the back of the head.
"What was that for?" the commander asks rubbing the back of his head
"That was for bringing up her sister," The Carrier chastises "I probably would've hit you harder if you brought me up like that in front of Enterprise, they've got a lot on their plate and the last thing they need on their minds is worry."
The Commander hangs his head apologetically.
"Yeah that was stupid of me, she's supposed to be having the happiest time of her life right now and I had to bring Helena up."
"I don't blame you for being worried for Helena, but she is a strong girl, stronger than she looks, you of all people should know seeing as you fought alongside her against the Sirens all those years ago. She doesn't need the guilt of people like us worrying about her all the time." Yorktown says she places her hand on the commander's shoulder.
"Besides, she's got St. Louis and Honolulu by her side, if anyone can help her get through hardships it's them." Yorktown says as she remembers the brief times she spent with those buxom Light Cruisers fondly.
"And she even has Cleveland and her sisters too" she also adds.
"Ah yes, Cleveland…" he remarks, reaching for the now empty glass disappointment on his face.
"To think it'll claim yet another" he says reaching for the bottle
"What are you talking about?" the carrier asks, puzzled as she whisks the bottle away from his grasp walking it back to its place in the cabinet.
"What else but a virus" the commander leaps out of his chair dramatically.
"It's already taken root in countless shipgirls, but it's evolving."
Yorktown picking up the two glasses from the table, she cleans up a little listening to the commanders rambling.
"It's already claimed Brooklyn and now it has its eyes set on poor Massachusetts..." the commander began to sound like a madman, Yorktown giggling at the absurdity.
"Lord knows what will happen once those two make landfall at the Joint Base. The virus will sweep over the land like a tsunami, engulfing anyone in its path."
With waving motions of his hands he mimics a tsunami before finally calming down and sitting back in his chair.
"Are you alright Commander?" she asks standing next to him with her hand on his shoulder yet again.
"No, I'm not alright" he states as he grabs at Yorktown's posterior earning him a startled squeak from the flustered Carrier.
"I too have been infected with this virus known as love", he says as he pulls Yorktown down on his lap.
The Carrier face has turned completely red as she struggles to look the commander in the eyes.
"Y…You're drunk…" she stammers as she can smell the alcohol on his breath.
"I've always been a lightweight," he replies as he bring his lips down on her neck earning him the delicious sound of Yorktown's voice
"Wa…wait I didn't lock the door…" her words fall on deaf ears as she can feel his hands roaming up her long skirt. Unable to fight the warmth in her body she indulges in his touch as she locks her lips against his.
A faint peculiar noise drifted into Essex's ears as she made her way up the stairs towards the Commander's office.
"That… kinda sounds like Yorktown…" she thinks to herself holding the stamped documents she was meant to return close to her chest as she crept her way closer to the door.
Pressing her ear up against the door the mighty twin tailed lavender haired Eagle Union Carrier trembled at the sounds she was hearing.
Yorktown's angelic voice ringing octaves higher than she would ever think she would hear.
All the blood in Essex's body found its way towards her face as her hands clutching the documents shook tremendously.
She had to deliver these, all she had to do was slip it through the mail slot, but her shaking hands made it difficult.
With accidentally too much force she pushes the door open slightly witnessing Yorktown's glistening bare back with the commander furiously grunting at her front.
Shangri-La stands waiting for her older sister at the bottom of the stairs when a streak of lavender twintails runs past her at Flak speed.
"Essex wait, Where are you going?!" she shouts, "What about those build orders?!"
"Don't go up stairs!" The twin tailed carrier trails back as her voice disappears down the halls.
Peaking her curiosity, Shangri-La peaks her head around the corner of the stairs straining her senses when Yorktown's voice makes its way into her ear.
It was Shangri-La's turn to turn red as she shakily makes her way down the hall but not before cordoning off the way to the commander's office at the start of the hall, placing a Do Not Disturb and Wet Floor signs in front of the entrance, and telling a Manjuu on duty to keep guard.
With a salute of its tiny little wing she pats it on the head before turning around and shakily follows after her sister.
Sorry for the terribleness, It's my first ever attempt at writing a fanfic.
I've had this idea in my head for a while and was wondering if there were any other fics out there depicting the Brooklyn sisters in a familial manner.
To those who have read this far, thank you, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Update: Just a quick grammar update as I' usually write on mobile and spellcheck doesn't always work to well.