Chapter 30: Darkness and Melding Truth
(Flashback)
During the early morning, a certain silver-haired carrier had felt an odd pounding in her heart. It had been too great that she doubled over on the floor and frantically struggled to breathe properly. An event like that had only lasted for a few minutes and when she finally returned to normal, she had created a pool of sweat on the ground.
That was not normal, and she should have gone to see Vestal, but she labeled it as a random panic attack since today, the stakes were high. Everyone depended on her, and she wasn't about to be sidelined.
It was still dark out, and the sea was eerily calm. Once she put on her coat, and her hat, and fixed her tie, she left a note on her desk, conveying her wishes and hope to the one that would read it.
Her eyes were focused on the day that stood before her, and she walked out of her room without a word.
(Alt)
The doppelganger charged at the support Siren that held the sister of her partner hostage. While she was busy keeping the less aggressive Siren on her toes, her partner was dealing with Launcher and her partner had placed her faith in the battle-worn carrier to retrieve her sister from the vile snare of the enemy before them.
Their fight was a suppressed one as Alt refused to use her arrows, and Loader's tactics were geared toward stalling and evading her enemy.
"Come on, sister. I thought we were supposed to be superior beings afraid of nothing. Yet, you hide behind an unconscious Sakura girl like the coward that you all are!" Alt's words were sharp, and they cut across the metal skin of Loader, making the Siren frown.
In response, she deployed more seeker mines at her combatant. "You are not my sister," she noted with a fire to her words.
Alt grinned that then turned into a joyful sneer as she pulled out her bow, seeing the cluster of mines approaching her. "On that, we agree!" She released her arrows, connecting with the robotic creatures, and creating a cloud of dark smoke.
Loader was expecting the enemy to emerge from the smoke, yet she was caught off guard when Alt took a long way and went around the smoke. The tactic made the Siren hesitate, just enough time for Alt to fire an arrow into the water near her enemy. The blast created a geyser of water, wetting both the Siren and her slumbering captive.
Not knowing where she would strike from, Loader decided to choose and guard her sides from where the explosion had been created. A wise and wrong choice, ultimately, as Alt emerged through the smoke and droplets falling from the sky.
The white-haired Siren widened her teal eyes and instantly rotated Shoukaku between herself and the enemy.
This was what Alt had been waiting for. Fooling her that she was going to use her bow as a blunt instrument, she stretched her other arm out and grabbed the crane by her white coat.
Loader then expressed a joyous smile. "You just willingly stepped into my pull. The other was smart to retreat before receiving the same fate as this one. This gravitational pull renders everything inside it to fall into an endless slumber," she boasted manically.
Alt smiled faintly, yet it was enough to elicit a pissed-off and confused set of emotions from the Siren. "Anything that isn't a Siren… have you forgotten that much in the heat of your own delusional victory?" Alt's words resounded, and her yellow eyes stared at Loader intently and analytically. Her yellow eyes rendered her unaffected by the soporific effect created by the Siren.
Loader paused, frustration and anger shown now on her face. "The data wasn't a lie then. You're indeed like us!"
Disliking the provocative claim, Alt pulled Shoukaku closer and moved her other hand aggressively toward the neck of the other Siren carrier. "Like hell! Unlike you, I cut my strings a long time ago."
A plan of action formed in her mind, and she recoiled hiddenly at its level of brutality, but she knew it was her only solid plan of action. While she had been immune to the effects of the gravity around her, Alt could feel the strength of the magnetic field it emitted was still strong enough to hold her. She was stuck with the Siren unless she cut off the source.
Her conviction was firm, and the way out was clear before her. Once she had Shoukaku safely close to her, she mentally ordered her fighter planes in the air to dive toward them and morph into arrows.
The Siren, struggling to break free of Alt's grasp, gazed with wide eyes at the arrows raining down like a beam of light toward them. "You are… acting illogical!" Fear was apparent on her face, calculating that the enemy before her was showing signs of instability.
Alt, suddenly oozing a colder and savage tone, pulled the Siren closer. "Why should I care about something like logic, dear sister?" She lifted her from the water and loomed her over herself and Shoukaku. Her mind wandered off into one of the numerous fights in her dark sea that had sparked the sudden idea of her plan, and she refused to find pride in how creative and tormented her mind was when surviving was her only goal.
The arrows came down with no explosive firepower and more piercing ability. The only explosion that rained down on the crane and doppelganger was the destroyed enemy planes that feebly tried to stop the piercing arrows from hitting their mark. Only the sturdiness of another carrier would stop them and that was the plan all along.
The sea grew deathly calm, and all the others pause to see a hail of concentrated light rain down into a narrow formation.
Zuikaku, being the closest to the fight, held her breath while Launcher did the same. Takao and Atago grew silent, and Chaser and Breaker glanced at the bright collective light that touched close to the surface of the water.
Launcher was motionless, her hand gripped tightly as she could already tell the outcome of the struggle and it was too late for her to do anything. The only ones that didn't have the luxury to pause were Wales and Hipper as the four destroyers were keeping them on a death dance as explosions rained all around them.
The smoke from the destroyed fighter planes that rained down toward Alt and the Siren began to clear.
The first thing Zuikaku noticed was that her sister was protectively underneath Alt. The second thing that quickly assaulted and horrified her vision was that Loader's now spasming body that was suspended above Alt was now riddled with yellow arrows.
"She… used her as a shield…" whispered Takao with an uneasy and disapproving frown.
"Yeah, against her own planes, sister. This feels more like her using her as an umbrella rather than a sound strategy for survival," said Atago.
Everyone's gazes were drenched in horror, finding no joy in the victory over the Siren carrier.
"No!" It was Launcher that screamed, causing Breaker and Chaser to recommence their assault on the Sakura ships.
"Damn…!" Takao parried the attack from Chaser and Atago was there to keep Breaker away from her sister.
If there could have been a match against Breaker in a one-on-one fight, then the go-to ship for the job would be Atago. Her strength of sisterly love was the perfect counter that rivaled the brute strength of the Siren. She comedically thrashed Breaker around and kept her on the defensive even when she supercharged her gauntlets as she had done with Hipper. Of course, brute strength such as that was only effective if it was able to hit its target.
Back to where Alt was, Loader was still functional. Well, functional was heavily downplaying it.
The Siren's body spasmed above Alt as the odd liquid, similar to when Breaker had been damaged by Wales, poured out of the puncture wounds created by the arrows. She appeared to want to speak but one of the various arrows had punctured her throat as well, emitting raspy and gurgling sounds in the place of words.
The sickening part to all this was that Alt's arrows were designed to explode upon contact like missiles unless she focused on tempering their energy and keeping them in shape. This was the way the doppelganger chose to kill the Siren, in this brutal and sickening way that made her feel no different than her slowly fading mechanical sister.
Alt's face remained angered and focused, even when some of the liquid poured onto her cheeks. The gravity traction around her completely died out, along with slumping shoulders from the now terminated Loader.
"I'll kill you!"
A scream like a banshee perked Alt's ears and her violet eyes darted behind her to see Launcher, her teal eyes vengefully flaring, and her mouth contorted into a snarl.
"You'll have to get through me first," declared the crane, her sword raised and ready to fight. It was then, that a dive bomber emerged from the blind spot where the sun shined above and dropped a payload on an unsuspecting Launcher that had been blinded by pure hot rage and failed to keep her surroundings in check.
Zuikaku gazed in horror and confusion as the damaged carrier slowed her advancement to a crawl and smoke poured out of her rekt body.
Chaser darted her eyes away from Takao when she saw another of her companions gravely damaged. Her eyes scanned the area around them, trying to find the source of the unknown plane that struck Launcher. However, it was too late when she did spot the new threat.
A new carrier ship emerged from the distance, and it wasn't any regular carrier. With no time to think and only act, Chaser dashed past Takao and ran toward her Siren sister, knowing that the new carrier enemy had her sights on her first. "Breaker!"
Her sister glanced behind her to see Chaser rapidly moving toward her as fast as she could. Unfortunately, her fastest was no longer viable. Once she had used her materials to repair her sister's arm, her fate had been sealed.
It happened in slow motion, Chaser was only a few feet away from her sister. So close yet painfully far enough to make it not matter. Her desire was not to save herself but save Breaker. The plan was to push her out of the radius of the attack they both found themselves in. With one final exchange of sight, multiple arrows rained down on both.
Two arrows hit both legs of Chaser, making her immobile and flying to an ultimate plummet to the water.
Breaker expressed stun realization and stretched her hand out and a flash of yellow light collided with her face and arm.
The explosions engulfed them, causing the shipgirls and the remaining backup destroyer Sirens to pause their conflict.
The smoke cleared instantly from a glowing red aura that came from Breaker. The arrows had done little damage to her overall body, and she remained standing, now looking visibly bothered and enraged. However, tears followed that rage. Like a slipstream, pain, and sadness were all she felt when she fully realized the exploded remains of her Siren sister in her arms. Only Chaser's upper body and head remained with the light in her eyes completely extinguished.
Toward the emotionally distraught Siren heavy cruiser, another light fired without pause to her human-like emotions. Like a shooting star, this next light was another arrow, yet this arrow was a different caliber of arrow compared to the successive arrows fired.
The unknown culprit that fired those arrows understood and acknowledged the strength of her enemy by throwing an arrow truly worthy to be fired.
The arrow punctured through the emotionally distraught Siren, creating a hole in her chest. It was an unsung death as the blue-haired Siren's teal eyes dimmed and she fell backward into the water.
Takao placed a hand to her mouth and whimpered to the side at the sheer brutality.
Atago remained steadfast and gazed at the allied carrier into the distance. "It's Enterprise. She was the one who fired…"
Across the distance of the water, Enterprise's ship loomed on the horizon. The Eagle Union's strongest lowered her bow, her serious face now shown to all the others under her captain's hat.
Alt made a face and unkindly dumped the broken body into the water, letting the cruel heartless sea devour the remains. "Khh, show off," she bitterly stated while slinging the arm of the older crane over her shoulder.
The Sakura Empire heavy cruiser that had been going against Chaser witnessed the disrupted pools from the sunken Sirens dissipate against the vastness of the sea, and with it, the potential of something that exhilarated her was gone. Nothing but denial and confusion was left in her heart.
"It's backup!" Happily uttered Wales while hanging on to a half-tired Hipper.
A wave of newly fresh mass-produced ships sailed past Enterprise's carrier vessel followed by Washington, Cleveland, Helena, and Hornet also. Enterprise's stern eyes never left the sight of her reflected tormentor.
The blonde Cleveland-class light cruiser zeroed in on the last remaining humanoid Siren ships. "Hey, you four look like what Helena described the attackers of my sisters to be like. I guess this means it's your unlucky day. Get ready for battle!" Cleveland's serious gaze told how ready she was for this battle, and the four enemies before her were going to feel the full might of the knight of the sea.
"Cool it, Cleve, or else you'll get taken by surprise," reminded Washington who was right behind her.
Hornet fixed her cowboy hat and set forth in launching her fighter planes. "Time to shake down these Sirens and avenge those that got their clocks cleaned!"
"Cleveland, I got your back, so don't worry about getting blindsided," said Helena.
Wales and Hipper were then assisted by the new fleet, giving Wales the chance to catch her breath with Hipper. They had been holding their ground against double the force in the form of the scourge and Siren opposition.
Amidst the heat of the new battle, the only Siren still active and not fighting was Launcher. Her body had been damaged so badly by the devastating direct hit that she had to use all her energy to keep herself afloat. Her neck stiffly moved upward when seeing a blade tuck itself under her chin.
"Don't move or I swear that you'll be joining your fallen Siren friends at the bottom of this now underwater scrapyard," commented Zuikaku, her face stern and tempered.
The cracks in the Siren's damaged face began to grow and showed a displeased look of animosity. "Those friends… were my sisters…"
"You'll get no sympathy from me after taking MY sister!" Shouted the younger crane.
Alt moved up closer to Zuikaku while holding the other crane in her arms. "Enough, she's beat. Either finish her or step aside."
Anger flared from her, darting her eyes toward the battle-worn carrier that swiftly wanted to terminate the Siren. "Screw you. Unlike you, I won't lower myself to their actions. The enemy is neutralized, and she will be a prisoner."
"Hmph, Sirens as prisoners don't make the most complacent of inmates."
Zuikaku made a face, almost wanting to laugh that Alt had stated something amusing. Maybe it was born out of general spite to disprove the carrier, but she loosely let a set of words out that came out casual in tone. "Yeah…? Our last one seems to be growing on us."
"Huh!? Responded Alt.
Zuikaku immediately shut her mouth. An embarrassed blush shone across her face for letting herself be so relaxed around the woman that she had every right to hate. Yet, in those few seconds that her mind raced for a counter, she thought back to the carrier's actions and how she had just saved her sister. "You! Don't think hard about what I just said! That was just some throwaway comment."
Looking unsurprised that the Sakura carrier had managed to find a way to be rude to her, she presented the sleeping woman to her, wanting her to take her so she could be done with her promise.
Looking stunned, Zuikaku quickly said nothing and held onto her sister firmly. "You did well… in keeping your promise." Her words were directed to the other carrier once she turned away from her. She refused to thank her properly and on some level, her impression of Alt had changed.
Alt had many things to say about the level of indifference from the crane, such as being inconsiderate and a brat. Of course, she would argue if she even cared what the brunette swordswoman thought.
Zuikaku placed a sisterly hand across her older sister's cheek and rubbed it tenderly. "Sister…"
Shoukaku began to stir once she heard the familiar voice and soft pokes that Zuikaku had shifted to.
The silver-haired woman's eyes fluttered open, and she gazed out into space until her vision refocused on the brown-haired crane that stood before her.
"Shoukaku, it's me. I'm here!" Elation spread throughout her face, hugging her now awakened sister.
Alt looked around at her surroundings. An odd omen was clawing at the back of her senses, yet the ominous fortress remained silent when she inspected it. They were still in enemy territory, and she had grown too lax on that front.
Her eyes then gazed at the damaged Siren that stood quiet and seething with human emotions. "Zuikaku, look after your sister. I have a few questions for this Siren," she moved closer to the damaged and immobile Launcher, causing the Siren to flinch like someone looking at their executioner.
The only sounds in the air were the fighting going on from the impromptu Eagle Union support that left the carrier with many questions that she desired not to entertain at the moment. Her main goal was squeezing information from this Siren before she shut down or self-destructed.
"Hey, I need to ask you something. That plane that did her in…. was that one of yours?" Zuikaku chimed in and killed Alt's concentration, making her gaze at her with a heavy sigh.
"No…" was all she gave her.
Zuikaku's eyes softened, knowing the answer before her carrier ally had even responded. Enterprise had saved her, and she didn't know how she felt about that. Her heart felt like two factions had formed and were battling it out for dominance. On one side, was the hard logic that she should stop loving her as she had ignored her vulnerable pleas for love for a whole month like some cold machine. The other side, pleaded with her, saying that had been too much for the archer to process and that her indifference was indecisiveness to what she felt in her heart.
Alt grabbed the Siren by her black-clad shoulders and aggressively pulled her closer to her face. "Tell me where you keep the plant material. How many Sirens are in that fortress? What kind of defense constructs do you have in that place?"
The Siren merely stared at her, uncaring about how violently she was being shaken. She didn't do this in the overall service of the Siren hierarchy, but for her fallen sisters that had been destroyed. Death was something of an oddity for a Siren, but recently that changed when the new bosses actively altered everything. Death had become something more tangible to the series that she and her sisters had been a part of.
"That won't be necessary." An unknown voice pierced the sky, silencing every other sound in the ocean, and both Alt and Launcher widened their eyes in familiarity with that voice.
The crane sisters and Enterprise, who had been with the others, reacted to the echo-induced malevolent and sickly twisted voice that joyously resounded throughout the sky.
A roar of jet engines ignited and a black alien fighter plane tore across the sky, blasting Enterprise's planes in its wake and single-mindedly racing toward both Launcher and Alt.
The battle-worn archer winced and immediately released the shocked Launcher. "Move!" Both crane sisters in a state of confusion and looking into the sky were grabbed by the back of their crane hoods by Alt.
The wild-haired woman did not hold back and used her whole force to impressively throw them out of the radius of the incoming destruction. There was no time for her as the shadow of the enemy plane blocked the sun and a payload was dropped, but not at her.
The epicenter of the blast was dedicated to Launcher who before dying, expressed abject horror, betrayal, and despair.
Alt held her arms out, shielding herself from the blast while propelling backward. A wave of water and heat drenched her, yet it helped to avoid the full force of the heat from the explosive blast.
Of course. When it came to a Siren attack, a sinister hidden attack was never out of the question. That blast that reached her also contained a green smoke version of the Scourge that drenched her and seeped into her pores and mouth. She coughed and staggered uncontrollably, losing her footing, and smacking the water a few times before she was able to take a knee and stop herself fully. She found her balance again, but a new issue arose as an overall pain invaded her body, causing her to hug herself reactively due to the searing pain.
Both crane sisters watched her struggle with worry on their faces, yet Zuikaku hesitantly remained in place. Shoukaku felt confused at the overall events and remained next to her sister, only moving if she did. The brunette swordswoman held her breath, unable to process any of what happened, and the only thing she could understand was that alt had been hit with the scourge.
Hidden from their field of view, Alt's eyes glowed yellow and her body glowed green. She suddenly felt her body remove all pain and discomfort, causing her to freshly inhale.
With bewildered looks, the crane sisters watched the archer get up slowly and inspect herself with equal confusion.
The silver-haired sister held a shy hand close to her mouth. "She saved us?" She whispered with a level of astonishment and gratitude.
Zuikaku narrowed her eyes, unable to believe she did it out of a benevolent heart, but the truth was right in front of her. "Yeah... She did. Grrr, where did that voice come from?" Asked Zuikaku, more frustrated at the fact that she and her sister had been saved once again.
Alt stood motionless, witnessing the location where Launcher had last been and who was now sinking to join her sisters. It was illogical for her but just like that day she spared Tester, she couldn't help but empathize with the cruel feeling of sinking.
"Don't pity that failure and her weak sisters." The voice resounded across the waves and Alt stared at the fortress, her yellow eyes tearing through the illusion and seeing the Siren Purifier standing on top of the structure with a sickly grin of evil.
"So, you did survive after all," said Alt venomously at the thin air that the others were seeing.
Purifier scoffed amusingly and the veil of illusion disappeared from around her. "Of course, I would survive, I'm me after all." She stood up and posed victoriously before the battle-worn carrier.
"Yeah, an annoying cockroach," dryly stated the glaring archer.
The Siren's voice continued to echo from the distance between them. "Ahh, you're one to talk about being a cockroach. It's a shame you're immune to the scourge just like us. I could have sworn you weren't like that before. Just shows how much you relate to us—how alike you and I are. You can't escape it for I know the true you that hides behind that human skin you wear."
The archer frowned hiddenly and looked to see the cranes who had regrouped with her.
"Spare us the speech already. You're both Sirens but at least she's bearable than you." Said Zuikaku, unaware of the deeper meaning Purifier had stated. That sudden kind comment had uplifted Alt and her frown returned to her neutral expression.
The Siren dressed in a sailor suit creepily rubbed a hand across her face with the evilest of grins. "Hehe, your little friend is acting all adorable defending you. Could there be something there?"
"You have a sick sense of humor!" Both Alt and Zuikaku shouted in stereo.
"Ha, human filth indeed." She snapped her fingers and a wave of mass-produced Siren ships emerged from the opening of a massive portal that split reality. A massive fleet of carriers, heavy cruisers, and destroyers stood between the fortress and the shipgirls. To make the situation dire, another fleet surrounded the reinforcements of the Eagle Union, including Enterprise who took a battle stance against the aggression.
Purifier sneered proudly at herself. "Here I thought lesser Sirens forced to evolve into priority Sirens could have been a fruitful venture, but it seems that it's a waste of resources to make reliable pawns. Unfortunately, the wrong kind of emotions riddled their systems. Best to keep them from thinking too much and expressing that dreadful human concern for their sisters. Looks like mass production is the way to go!"
A cry of pain forced them to turn, and they noticed the battle behind them involving the Eagle Union and the rest of Scourge Breaker growing intense against the imposing fleet.
The four unnamed destroyers that were similar to Breaker, Chaser, Launcher, and Loader were still active and were the ones actively ordering the reinforcement fleet, making their tactics and aggression formidable. Purifier smiling evilly snapped her fingers and another massive fleet poured out of the fortress, furthering the grim odds.
In defiance of the seemingly unchallengeable board that Purifier constructed, a blinding arrow soared past her. Purifier widened her eyes in enlightenment, reminiscing of the day when she suffered her loss, and she reactively dodged the arrow. It wasn't over yet, and without looking, she raised her arm behind her, and her alien rigging fired a bolt of energy at the arrow that had transformed into a pesky fighter plane. "Not this time Enterprise," she said with a sadistic sneer and playful finger wag.
From a vast distance, Enterprise gritted her teeth and turned her attention to a carrier that was about to take Hornet by surprise. She was able to dispatch it with her sister, but three more carriers surrounded them along with more Siren mass-produced ships. It was too much. While Enterprise could hold her own against these subpar combatants, the fact that they had four capable leaders and an overwhelmingly large number of bodies meant that she could only do so much.
The Sirens had taken out all the mass-produced ships on the Eagle Union's side and Enterprise could do nothing even with her fighter planes combating different fights since the enemy had carriers of their own.
Takao, Atago, Cleveland, Helena, and Washington were rounded up in one spot. That spot was where Hornet and Enterprise were as the fights, they were having were merely a means to move them to a strategic position by the enemy.
"Enterprise..." Purifier's nonchalant tone and her finding more interest in the dirt under her nails glanced casually at the ace carrier. "Your two allies over there have suffered the Siren infection that's decimating your ranks. It's admirable for them to be fighting under that pain. Would you like to further that pain?" She said happily.
Enterprise and the others horrifyingly darted their eyes at another crowd of Siren ships surrounding Wales and Hipper.
Three of the four destroyers from earlier were holding Wales and Hipper upright while the third one had her cannons aimed at them.
Wales had an utterly sorrowful expression while Hipper was struggling to stay conscious and looked worse than she did before. Her eyes looked foggy and not all that there, and her face looked paler.
The Siren ships around the rest of the Shipgirls mechanically moved their barrels into firing positions, making Enterprise feel utterly useless to save them.
"Go on, do your heroics but are you fast enough to save them before they hit the water?" Smirked Purifier.
"Damn you..." Cursed the Eagle Union carrier. The Siren had sealed her fate, and when the next chance would arise, she was going to make sure she fired an arrow into her throat before shooting another into her eye. She paused to reflect on the barbaric savagery that poured into her mind so fluidly like water, and it scared her.
Back where Alt was, she and the crane sisters were surrounded by a frustratingly impressive amount of Siren ships.
The older crane sister looked mortified, and she tugged on the back coat of her younger sister. "Zuikaku, I don't think I'm able to fight. They stripped me of my rigging."
"I know…" Despair and a sense of helplessness washed over the younger crane. "Just stay behind me, I'll protect you." Ridding herself of her despair, she focused on the chance of escape and refused to get shaky knees after how far they have all come.
Purifier crossed her arms and dropped her body to sit on the top structure of the fortress without a care in the world. Her voice then targeted the area where Alt and the cranes were, and her sneering lips mouthed a name before the rest of her sentence resonated throughout the sea. "Observer… do us all a favor and surrender. I don't frankly care about these pests as in the end, it's all going to play out the same. Hehe, seeing you willingly surrender will be the cherry on an already perfect week."
Alt painfully made a face yet remained silent. As much as she wanted to shout and curse her for using that name, she needed to calm her mind and find a means out of this dire situation. This level of temperance was what she needed now more than the flared anger that would get her nowhere.
The older crane choked on her words when she finally registered the out-of-place name that came out of the enemy. "Did she just say...?"
"Observer..." Zuikaku narrowed her eyes, an unseen wave of confusion and dread hidden behind her eyes. That Siren name sounded familiar to her, it was the one that had put Kaga in her deep sleep. Her mind raced and she was surprised that she felt betrayed considering that they were never close and merely partner carriers. Yet, she did feel betrayed, and what pissed her off more was that she couldn't do anything about it right now as the more immediate threat loomed over them. All she could understand was that Alt wasn't on their side. At least, she hoped there weren't more levels to this betrayal, or else she would seriously start to question her reality.
Alt defeatedly frowned, hearing the exchange of words from the cranes. "I..." That was the last thing she needed, to have her allies question her on the already shaky ground she had with them.
Purifier agitatedly shot up from her lax position. "Come on, at least grant them the chance to see their beloved friends and loved ones one more time!" Yelled the Siren.
A flutter of brown hair moved across Alt's eyes and the younger crane stood in front of her, facing the wicked Siren above. "Forget it! To hell with you and hell with her, but we're not stupid enough to hand over someone that the Sirens eagerly want. Besides, I would rather sink than return home with my tail behind my legs!"
A supportive yell fired from Takao who heard what her ally had said. "She's right! There's no future for us if we give up now. All of them... they are waiting for our return with baited breaths."
"Enterprise! You get the plant ingredient on the island of that fortress and deliver some to my sister! If you don't, I'll haunt your ass for the rest of your life!" Screamed Hipper before coughing blood and being covered by the hand of one of the destroyers.
"She's right... the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Achieve our glorious victory and save everyone," shouted Wales.
There was no iron resolve from the eagle ace. Her eyes were as fragile and unready to hear the wishes of her friends. She couldn't close her heart to fulfill such a selfless request.
Her counterpart held similar internal reservations. "For all the injured and foul-mouthed shipgirls or save those that I grew a connection with..." Those were her two opposing factors, and she couldn't respond to either of them. Not to Zuikaku and Takao nor Wales and Hipper."
Purifier grew bored and agitated. "Ugh, kill them all except the lost sister!"
From Alt's right, something metal plummeted into the surface of the water. Then another one landed next to Zuikaku. This continued over to where Enterprise and the others were being held in restriction, and it provided a distraction from all the enemies on sight.
Simultaneously, the metal shapes that revealed themselves as canisters emitted smoke, shadowing the shipgirls and blanketing the enemy's eyesight.
"What the hell?! There's another ship out here! Kill them now!" Her orders were futile, and the Siren ships began to fire blindly into the large smoke.
Like kindred spirits, both Alt and Enterprise used this moment of confusion and panic from the enemy and fired a simultaneous arrow that pierced the heads of the two Siren destroyers holding Wales and Hipper.
Wales gasped in disbelief at the surprisingly coordinated attack that had been expertly fired from such vastness, yet immediately grabbed Hipper and evaded into the smoke.
Alt didn't know the fate of the others, but that didn't stop her as every second was crucial. She then fired a full fleet of planes to run support to her wondering teammates in the smokey fog. She sailed without direction for a few seconds, until in the corner of her eye, she spotted another fleet soaring into the sky that was Enterprises.
Explosions rang throughout the sea, and it was madness for her sense of hearing. She didn't know whether to curse this double edge sword of a smoke screen or be thankful for it. She ultimately decided on thanking it, giving the person credit for deploying an insane amount that could cover a city block, and for forcing the eyes of the enemy to move away from her to make that shot with her counterpart.
The sounds of bullets and explosions drew her eyes above and through the obscure smoke, she could make out the planes of Zuikaku roaring above her. "So, she made it..." She smiled in relief despite all the bad blood they had between them. Regardless, she was her flagship and needed the crane to make it through this mission. She then grew worried at the realization that Takao, Hornet, and even Wales were out there in the smoke, trying to fend off the threat.
The sounds of explosions and a now inactive Siren ship floated past her, covered in fire. She had been captivated by the eerie sight that hit close to home with her as this wasn't the first time she used a burning floating ship as a landmark. Turning her body back to keep gazing at the floating wreckage, she then hit something from behind her, and she immediately pulled her bow out.
What stood before her, made her blood boil with envy and anger. It was none other than Enterprise herself who she had made first contact with and was now being aimed upon by the bow of the Eagle Union's strongest.
They stood aimed at each other without neither moving a muscle. They seemed to still be processing the situation that fate mockingly forced them in. Not even the concerning explosions around them that could be either from their allies or their enemies affected them.
Alt narrowed her violet eyes, seeing how simple it would be to release her arrow and fulfill her original goal. If only it was still that simple.
Enterprise, who had a gaze that said she was yearning for a fight, grew perplexed when her twin scoffed and lowered her weapon.
"This is not the time for this," said the battle-worn twin of hers.
Enterprise faltered and started to slowly lower her weapon, but not enough to cancel her aim. "What's the matter, getting cold feet now?!" Her face contorted with anger fueled by their last heated exchange of words and blows when they had been in the Sakura Empire.
Alt smiled weirdly. "That face of yours... to think that's for me and me alone. Nonetheless, our fight is not here because killing you now would... interrupt me in my promise."
"Promise?" Confusingly said Enterprise, hating how cryptic her twin sounded.
The smoke around them quickly cleared as if it had a mind of its own and reality warped, alerting them of their current threat level.
"The smoke is being sucked away?" Said Alt with bewilderment. The smoke swirled and dissipated around them, revealing only darkness in its wake.
"This smoke... Belfast." Elation in the Eagle Union carrier sore to new heights and she gained new strength to make it out of this predicament that she found herself with her twin.
Alt's eyes glowed and Enterprise grew more cautious of her twin on initial look. "This place… this pocket space—it's a singularity! We've fallen into her insidious trap."
The smoke completely vanished, inviting them to see that they did indeed teleported into some kind of mirror sea. Enterprise noticed that under her feet, something akin to blue sand yet wet to the touch greeted them, along with the darkness. Upon further gazing, the imposing darkness ebbed slightly, and stars appeared above them. These stars formed a massive cluster, painting a mosaic of a glittering galaxy off in the empty darkness of space.
"She wanted to get us alone if she used up this much power," said Alt. She ran a hand through the liquid blue sand and an odd familiarity reached her mind even though she had no recollection.
A voice rang throughout the starry sky, its sweetly vindictive voice making it clear who she was. "Do you feel at home here, dear sister? I hope you do because this place is worth it for the two of you."
The same voice rang out again, yet for some reason, it sounded detached from the first. "Well, well, well. How lucky to cross the two that set me on my course to freedom." The sinister voice echoed around them throughout the dark star-filled sky.
On impulse, they joined back-to-back and began to scan the area. None said a word but if they did, they would understand that they had the same thoughts coursing through their mind. Their breath grew in synch and their eyes reflected the same caution. Like twins sharing telepathy, they did not acknowledge each other when they began to fire at the odd blue sand, creating sources of stronger light around them as their arrows held their shape.
One of the two voices in the sky rang out with laughter at their futile action. "Did you hear what she said, Enterprise? Did she say a promise... to the Sakura Empire? Is that why she is out here on this mission you think, Enterprise?" The fake concerning voice that sounded like a friend did not fool the Eagle Union carrier, even though she already had questions for the Sakura Empire.
The same voice within the darkness egged the same tone along. "To think you trusted them in helping you but instead they betrayed you, Enterprise. Maybe you should remind them to never double-cross you again." The voice laughed and Enterprise gritted her teeth.
"Shut up! Show yourself, you coward." Declared the Eagle Union archer.
From the darkness of the night sky, Purifier descended from the sky and moved forward until she was better visible by the light of their combined arrows.
Alt and Enterprise, who were still back-to-back, glanced at the Siren dressed like a sailor.
Purifier smiled, her evil accentuated by the light of their arrows. "Isn't this nice that we stand here with our equals that resulted from the other's struggles?" She ran her hand through the sand marveling at it like someone picking wildflowers.
"Did Enterprise's arrow rattle something in that brain of yours?" Mocked Alt with her bow drawn. She didn't quite understand what she meant about their equals.
A second enemy voice then resounded from the opposite side. "Shouldn't you be saying that to me?"
Enterprise and Alt widened, hearing Purifier's voice but on the side of Enterprise this time.
From out of the darkness and into the light of the arrows, a massive shadow grew into a massive rigging wielded by a heavy robotic aesthetic version of Purifier.
Her one yellow eye glowed radiantly while her other contained a black eye patch with a red orb in place of an eye. Her body had also gone through some alterations with her left arm being a crude design of jagged metal and pistons. Her chest contained something akin to an armor chest plate that appeared to be infused with her overall body. On her legs, black armor surrounded them and tall black heels that looked like they could stab through the toughest of armor were shown.
The rigging, which was red and black, and taking on the visage of wings from a bat revealed blades at the endpoints and massive cannons that made the twin carriers tense.
The sight of the nightmarish black and red rigging caused the battle-worn carrier to widen her eyes in more than fright.
The heavy machine version of Purifier smiled softly, containing a sinisterness. "Hey, long time no see, Observer and Enterprise."
"Observer!?" Enterprise's eyes grew murderous and confused at the twin behind her similar to how Zuikaku had expressed. It was bad enough to have a demented twin hellbent on killing her but if she had some relation to Observer then that was just the cherry on top of an already messed up situation.
Alt could feel the jagged stare of mistrust and sigh angrily. "I guess you didn't hear that bit earlier. But now's not the time. Focus dammit!" Of all the people she needed to explain her origin to, Enterprise was not on that radar.
Enterprise gritted her teeth and raised her bow at the machine nightmare that faced her.
The battle-worn archer was just as enraged as her counterpart, and the Siren in front of her was the perfect outlet. "What the hell is going on here?! And shove it with that name you're so fond of. My name is Alt, and before you die, I'll make sure you get that."
The robotic Siren cackled. "Oh, so wonderful. I always wanted to see you get your just desserts and now here you are, proclaiming such filthy human desires. The only thing that could make this even sweeter is if your original you could see this side of herself that pathetically lost to the Enterprise within her."
If looks could kill, then Enterprise would have already done away with this version of Purifier.
Alt was no different and despite her uneasiness with the nightmarish rigging, her anger overshadowed that emotion. "Shut up!" She signaled to Enterprise who could see a fierce desire to swap their positions. In the heat of the moment, she responded to her twin's desires and swapped positions with a quick rotation.
"Oh, so you want to change dance partners, now?" Said the nightmarish Siren.
The regular purifier made a mocking sound of surprise. "Go for it, other me. I have a history with Enterprise from my timeline, and I have no compunctions in killing another version that isn't mine. This will be the closest I'm allowed now I guess."
"Hehe, don't say that. When we're done here, the future is ours to reshape the way we like it, other me." The machine nightmare version of Purifier moved her right massive cannon toward Alt, making the battle-worn carrier subconsciously flinch slightly.
The twin of Enterprise tensed as flashbacks of her past began to assault her. The style of the cannon and the energy it was emitting reminded her of the titanic ship that haunted and brutalized her past. "You merged with it, didn't you?" She speculated with a soft and unease tone of voice.
The purifier adorned in black metal smiled wickedly. "You finally noticed. I did more than just merged with the digitized version of Orochi. I am the successor of Orochi just like you are the successor to Observer when she was permanently deleted. Funny enough, I genuinely do owe my freedom to you—to the both of you."
"What did we do?" Questioned Enterprise.
"You did everything I ever wanted yet didn't know. Let's just say that the mirrored sea that resonated with your black mental cube that day had another world behind the cracks."
Alt froze, getting an ominous sense invading her mind. "You mean..."
The machine Purifier smiled, feigning cluelessness. "Who knows? I only know that the black mental cube's energy manifested a world connected to the cube behind the cracks, kinda like a frequency. It wasn't a vast dark sea, at least... not all the time. There was also another side to it. This landscape of blue sand that endlessly stretches like the ocean itself was another. As I wandered, damaged and falling into pieces, at the highest mountain of sand, that's where I found the remains of Orochi's shadow."
Both Alt and Ent reactively took the same stance without even looking at each other. Once again, without communication, they activated their arrows to explode, bringing the talking to a halt and commencing the fight.
The wave of heat and fire didn't surprise the two Purifiers and they looked more annoyed than anything for being interrupted.
Purifier in the sailor suit grinned and immediately fired blindly at Enterprise from above.
The Eagle Union carrier dodged repeated blasts that propelled liquid sand toward her. She didn't give it much thought as she grabbed her twin and made a B-line for a clearer area. The sand itself was unknown yet it still acted like water allowing them to move unrestricted.
"That's cute," mockingly stated the Orochi Purifier with a raise of her cannons, seeing them try to gain distance. The fight ramped up from the side of the two Purifiers, laying down more energized heated shots and picking up more blue sand that went all over the place in their attempt to immobilize the carriers.
Alt finally let it sink in that their hands were touching, and she forcibly detached herself from her twin.
Enterprise hardly looked bothered by this, and they at least kept the same speed until they were finally able to outpace the attacks. Once that happened, they immediately launched their planes simultaneously and set up another perimeter of shining arrows.
"To your right!" Shouted Alt with urgency in her voice as a dark shadow descended from the darkness where their arrows' light met.
The regular Purifier came down from above and was quickly blocked by Enterprise's bow. With all her strength, she launched Purifier back into the darkness.
The Siren laughed as if she was having fun and raised her hand into the night sky, materializing a fleet of alien fighter planes to counter her foe's aggressive planes that zeroed in on her revealed location.
Their fight went back and forth as Purifier fired volley after volley of blasts and Enterprise quickly evaded them or blocked them while dishing out her own strikes from her bow.
Over where Alt was, the machine Purifier emerged from the ground level of the darkness and collided with the bow of the doppelganger, and Siren sister. Blue sand kicked up and swirled around them as they exchanged vicious focused looks at each other.
"I wasn't lying when I said I merged with Orochi. You and I, we're connected on a deeper level now. The memories of making you my plaything before killing you time and time again are intoxicating. Please, let me feel that feeling one more time, sister." Her voice was perverse and primal, and there was a psychotic glint to her yellow eye.
The battle-worn archer denied her with a resentful gaze. "I'm not your sister you sick freak..."
"Good, it was always an insult coming from her," stated Orochi Purifier. She resented that Observer thought she was better than all of them and that stoked the fires of her hate even more.
Alt unleashed a fleet of planes into the night sky, using them to force her enemy to respond to their aggression.
Orochi Purifier forced Alt back, using her massive black rigging to fire a succession of pinpoint shots at the aircraft carrier.
As Alt was falling backward, she pulled her bowstring back and unleashed a radiating blast of light that rivaled the force that obliterated Breaker.
Smoke filled the area where her shot connected, and only the offending jubilant laughs from her enemy resounded. "I'm not that flimsy compared to Breaker. But I don't need to tell you that." A portion of smoke swirled within the area and Alt staggered, knowing that her enemy had phased out of reality just like in her nightmares.
Orochi Purifier instantly reappeared with her knee raised toward Alt's stomach sending her propelling into the sky.
Enterprise yelled in pain, too, while holding herself, which left an opening for Purifier to strike her with a direct payload that sent her flying across the blue sand as she connected with her counterpart who had landed on top of her.
"Tear down one and the other follows in line, such beautiful symmetry they have, chaotically cheered the sailor version of Purifier.
A double glare from both of the archers defiantly shot at them and they both uttered simultaneously. "Up!"
"Huh?!" The regular purifier darted her gaze upward and a storm of fighter planes tore through the sky, dropping a hailstorm of payloads. She then heard the whooshing of various arrows that had landed around her yet had not been close enough to alert her awareness initially. "Haha! Trying to trap me? Why you little..." Her crazed and vindictive smile did not fade even when pressed with these odds, feeling that sure of herself. She looked up and summoned her barrier, confidently seeming to challenge the hailstorm approaching with her full-on cocky smile.
"No, you fool!" Orochi Purifier warped toward her other self and phased out of the area.
The double barrage of payloads decimated the barrier as if it was thin paper and imploded the surrounding area.
"Damn..." Both archers grunted while struggling to get up from the blue sand.
Orochi Purifier and her counterpart reappeared a distance away from the other twins.
"What a troublesome duo," said Orochi Purifier, visible frustration on her face.
A joyful gaze bled through the yellow eyes of Purifier. "Oh, so they both used their skill for that double airstrike!" Purifier smiled excitedly, her eyes saying that she underestimated the attack just now but was overly happy in a sickening way.
"Please calm your enthusiasm, me. It's unavoidable that they can silently work together just like us. They are cut from the same cloth after all," said Orochi Purifier.
A sickly sneer persisted from the crazed Purifier. "That just makes things more fun."
While Orochi Purifier agreed, she did have more experience data compared to her counterpart and thus spoke with a wiser tone. "Other me. You don't need me to tell you that it's a waste if you cease to function. You and I are the only ones left after the system wiped every possible version of us from all branches. I chose you because you embodied the version of myself unaltered and was the closest version of me that I could trust."
Purifier quelled her smiling and sighed acceptingly. "Yeah... I forget I have a superior processor in that form you're in."
"That's not it. You're still treating them as your Enterprise in your timeline despite the battle data you received from me. Know that these two are fighting for someone, and not fighting because they are told to."
They nodded to each other silently and watchfully gazed at the archers struggling to get up.
"Let's watch this play out. We've already assured our victory and no need to end it unfulfilled," said Orochi Purifier.
Where the two carriers rested, Alt was the first to get up on one knee. "Hey, get up."
Enterprise focused her eyes and gave her twin an uncooperative glare. But she still stood up regardless. "I don't take orders from you... especially now that I see who you really are."
Alt glanced to her side, unable to argue with that logic. She was this Observer that they spoke of, yet she had nothing to remind herself of that version of her. "You got the wrong impression of me, but I couldn't care less how you see me. But frustratingly enough, if we want to get out of this trap they have us in, we need to work as they do."
The declaration of teamwork was more like an insult or slap to the face to Enterprise. It was all so rich coming from the one that tried to kill her during their initial encounter. "How can I trust you...? I don't trust you! You deluded Hornet and the Sakura Empire into thinking you're something you're not."
Alt used all the restraint she had to keep herself from hitting the stubborn Eagle Union. "You're wrong! They see me as someone they can trust and depend on. I'm my own person, and I'm not you if I have anything to say about it. Still, I can't deny that our... thoughts intersect just like now. Just this once, I'll stomach my hate for you if you lend me your strength."
"Why?" Asked Enterprise, a hint of confusion laced in her words.
Alt stood up and thought of all the wounded shipgirls depending on her even if they didn't know or cared for her. She thought back to Nagato, Kaga, Akagi, Takao, and to some extent, even Zuikaku. "Like I said. I would hate to be interrupted if you died on me. Or was the punch to the gut not enough to make you see things my way?" Her implication to her question was followed by a readied fist that wasn't shy in gut-punching the carrier if the situation came to that.
Enterprise bitterly swallowed her dark and angry thoughts. "Enough... I'll do it. I have someone waiting for me. Someone I need to get my feelings across." She stood up, determination painted across her face.
"You..." The unwavering look in her twin's eyes spoke that she had someone that meant more to her than a friend. There was envy in her born out of Enterprise's resolve yet she cast it aside for the threat before them.
They both stood side by side, no longer as two forces but as a single unit.
"Hmm, looks like the gloves come off beyond this point. Their gazes are so sharp that they could end up slicing the fabric of reality," said Orochi Purifier with an evil sneer.
"That won't do, only we can do that!" Crazily laughed Purifier.
"Me, you're saying too much." The robotic Siren's tone was playful and hardly stern.
Alt locked eyes with her counterpart. "Enterprise, we do this together... Got it?"
The Eagle carrier paused, soaking in hearing her name coming out of her twin's mouth. "Y-Yes, but stop calling me by name... we're not chummy of any sort."
"And here I thought the beating of the century you gave me was because you wanted to be friends," sarcastically spoke the battle-worn carrier.
"What are they planning?" Humorously mocked Purifier. Her counterpart was on the opposite spectrum of that mood as she knew that underestimating them right now with the variable of their teamwork being such an unknown could lead to the ruin of all their efforts.
"We should end this fight now before we live to regret it later," said Orochi Purifier.
"Ugh, no fun. Guess I'll play with their corpses then," casually stated Purifier.
Both of the Purifiers floated into the air. Energy began to swirl around them brought upon by the stars in the sky that shined brighter and lit the sky like a Christmas tree.
"Enterprise and Observer, we are about to show you how unchallengeable we really are. Take a look at each star in this artificial sky. Each one represents a life that has been extinguished and considering that this singularity was once connected to the sad woman over there, take a guess who lives these are!"
Enterprise watched her twin suddenly look ill with wavering eyes that spelled a whirlwind of trauma.
"All the dead..." Spoke the battle-worn archer. "... the discarded data of all of the shipgirls that had a hand in molding me into who I am... this is where they ended up?"
Regular Purifier mockingly clapped her hands happily. "Yes, ten points for you, little broken Eagle. Of course, some of our own pawns have joined the ranks of this starry graveyard to help further along with this work of entropy!"
"This is also where you and I ended up," said Orochi Purifier.
A cold feeling rushed throughout Alt's body like icy shards. "This place...?"
"Yes, when Enterprise destroyed the physical vessel of Orochi, the connection it had to the black mental cube was severed, meaning it could no longer play with you like it richly graved. The cycle had been broken without its will and all data within became inert, washed adrift from an endless ocean to a now endless shore behind the world you only knew. This place was and will be your graveyard once again, my dear Observer," evilly smiled Orochi Purifier.
Purifier happily agreed and circled her other counterpart. "Indeed, but on the bright side at least you'll have someone else to die with you so don't feel too sad. You both are the same; destined to sink into the fires of war like good little ships. It's a pity that Enterprise there didn't bloom into the destroyer we expected her to become."
The carriers' anger came out in stereo. "Enough talking! We are going to show you how unsinkable we truly are."
They hadn't planned anything, yet in that second, their bodies resonated with a deep connection of clarity that truly made them feel like one.
A surge of energy flowed through Enterprise, manifested from her desire to see her friends, sister, and the one she needed to see again.
Alt's surge of energy was similar to her twin's. It was brought upon her desire to see her sister, those who accepted her, and to heal the Sakura Empire girls that were tormented by the scourge.
"Yes, be defiant to the end!" Shouted Purifier. Her rigging glowed dangerously and her counterpart's rigging matched the same intensity. The stars around the Siren twins began to move behind the two and with it, a haunting glow emanated from their entire being.
Sand from all over the field effortlessly floated toward the sinister duo as a result of a ball of dark energy that began to form above their joined hands.
"Do you feel that!?" Asked Enterprise with shock and anger.
Alt made a voice and witnessed the ball of mass being formed behind them. She wished she never had to see that thing again, but here it was again. "Yeah, they're using something called a logic bomb. All the properties of this singularity are being disassembled to feed that destruction," sternly said Alt with vicious and focused eyes.
"Haha, get ready to repay all those you hurt as the data of all those lives will surely drown you!" Said Orochi Purifier.
"I don't need to repay anything to them. I'm flesh and blood now, and the ones I must repay are those that live in the world I'm in now!" Boldly declared the battle-worn carrier.
Enterprise was taken aback by her twins declaration and she hesitated in her hate for her.
They both looked at each other, no longer ignoring what their instincts were naturally trying to convey to them. They lined up their arms together, their bows reforming their shape to appear as one-half of massive metal that could hardly be called a bow now. Their other hand produced one radiating arrow respectfully, and they lined it up together into their joined weapon.
"Hey, are you good to fire with your left hand?" Asked Enterprise while glancing at her counterpart.
Alt glanced at her with a visible growl on her face. "Isn't that rhetorical? You know the answer to that already, Enterprise."
Rage reflected on the archer's face and she sighed with resentment. "... It's still too weird hearing you say that!" She verbally fired off quickly at the same time she used that anger to pull back her bowstring.
Aggression and a boastful tone surfaced from Alt's throat. "If it pisses you off, then I'll gladly keep saying it!" She immediately pulled back her bowstring and they locked their eyes on the logic bomb above.
Their feet picked up from the sand due to the pull of the logic bomb but that didn't kill their unwavering focus. Their energies melded together and their hearts grew to beat at the same pace. This feeling of union was unknown to them, yet all they knew was that it allowed them the ability to go further beyond what they were capable of alone.
In a second that stretched for what seemed like an eternity, they both were granted a wave of foreign feelings that came from the other in the form of images.
Enterprise saw a dark sea that she had seen before. Only this time, she witnessed the atrocities her twin committed to stay alive. All the death and rebirth wore her down until she soon started to lose the feeling of her emotions. The empathy she felt could not be pushed aside, as this nightmare world was the destination where her life had been destructively hurdling closer to each and every day if it wasn't for the intervention of an amazing woman.
For Alt, she fully came to understand that beyond the anger Enterprise felt for her, there was fear. Fear so great that her anger was only a drop in comparison. That fear was born out of not wanting to become like her. She too could empathize with that but the feeling of being discarded was hard to push away, making her feel conflicted about hating her.
After those feelings of union disappeared, they drank in the overwhelming projection of an iridescent arrow that contained their two arrows within. Even their bows were glowing with the heat of an eternal flame. Such a new and imposing attack needed a name, and they, as if in a trance, came to the same endpoint.
"Alt Ent Delete!" They unleashed the burst stream of yellow light that tore through the sky like a golden road to victory.
The shot of energy collided with the logic bomb into a clash of epic proportions.
Purifier gazed at them, wide eyes and with an unparallel level of hate. "Hey, other me! Isn't the logic bomb supposed to absorb their attack?" Worry oozed from her voice and the massive ball of energy started to make ominous sounds.
Orochi Purifier analyzed the integrity of their energy ball with her red orb eye. "It's corroding the bomb? No, it's deleting it as if its existence is a cosmic error!?"
The logic bomb whined under the intense pressure of the countering force and collapsed on itself, creating a mini black hole that swallowed the two attacks just before stabilizing and knocking all of them back down toward the blue sand.
Orochi Purifier looked deadly serious and her seething anger could be felt from across the way.
Both Enterprise and Alt gathered their balance and aimed for another combined assault, but at that moment, they were bombarded by a blast from behind them sending them forward.
Orochi Purifier floated to a standing position and bitterly looked at the newcomer that had saved them from another attack from their combined power. "Took you long enough," she said with a sigh.
Alt and Ent turned their gazes at the new threat with delirious eyes. They too had summoned the strength to stand back up.
"There was an interruption from outside. Your fleet is a loss, and the Kansan are advancing on the fortress," spoke the new Siren in a monotone voice.
"T-Tester?" Alt gasped in bewilderment once her head stopped rattling.
"Oh, she doesn't go by that name anymore. Call her Crash Test Dummy!" Laughed Purifier.
"What—?!" She inspected the eyes of the new Siren that had interrupted their fight and could see a docile and tamed nature in her eyes that was not her own. "You brainwashed her?!"
"More like updated her command module to follow our every word! She's so much more fun this way and isn't a downer anymore. She'll do anything for her number one sisters, won't you?" Teased Purifier.
"Yes..." Tester spoke heavily and slowly.
They were lying. Alt could see it clear as day. While Tester's body was in their control, her mind was still fighting against it. Just by looking at her, Tester was sending fluctuations of light from her eyes like Morse code to Alt.
The battle-worn carrier gritted her teeth, disturbingly refusing to even entertain the idea of helping her Siren sister. In fact, she could almost vomit from the insulting and laughable pleas flicking from Tester's eyes. And yet, something tugged at her heart.
"Do you have the key fragment to the towers?" Asked Orochi Purifier.
"Yes..." Sternly spoke Tester. In her hands, she handed her a blue digital key fragment that Orochi Purifier took happily.
"Hmm, the system was a fool for entrusting such a coveted secret to a lap dog. Hehe, oh well. Those towers are ripe for abuse and with the others disconnected from this world, they can't intervene at all."
"Yes, your erasure of this world to reassemble its properties to form a utopia front to begin overthrowing the system will be an effortless transition."
Orochi Purifier flared up in anger and brought down a heavy hand across the face of Tester, causing the mind-shackled Siren to drop to one knee.
"Did she really just spill the beans!?" Roared Purifier.
"Yes, me. She did indeed give it all away. You think you're clever for hiding your betrayal behind words of praise?" She kicked Tester onto her butt and stabbed her with her metal heel, resulting in the Siren silently squirming underneath her. "Know your place, dummy! You have nowhere else to go and you belong to us."
"I... understand. Forgive me, sisters." She spoke defeatedly without any expression on her neutral face.
"Pathetic. Get up, already. In hindsight, it doesn't matter since nothing can stop us." Orochi Purifier held the blue fragment above her to see it shine faintly from its own light. Looking past the fragment, she could see the air around them start to warp and fade. "Gr… this singularity is decaying after losing so much of its components. I doubt it can ever be recreated again to its full glory. Hmph, Observer and Enterprise. Looks like the fun ends here. We could kill you now, but we decided we want you to see the fruits of our labor when the time comes."
"Yeah! Your despair as you watch everyone and everything you ever loved fade before you will be the sweetest thing since dummy over her kneeled before us!"
Tester lowered her eyes and her head nodded obediently.
Orochi Purifier smirked and made the fragment vanish within her body. "We are still unchallengeable despite that surprise attack you both concocted. When you gaze at our true might, not even the two of you will be enough to stop it. So go, live your pathetic lives as you want until the end."
"Permission to kill them?" Spoke Tester quietly in an attempt to redeem herself.
"Hmm? Didn't you hear what I just said?! Well, you were never one to use your head much. With this key, you have already outgrown your usefulness."
"Pfft, as if she could kill both of them," mocked Purifier.
The mechanical Purifier trained her eyes watchfully on Tester, seeing how much of her was still fighting within. "Sadly, no. I will not send you on a suicide mission. You still haven't suffered enough as our puppet."
"Oh, wonder twins! Next time we'll settle the real score with you both!" Excitedly cheered Purifier.
All three vanished leaving Alt and Ent alone in the blue sand-riddled world.
"Tester..." Alt didn't know how to feel. Her internal tug of war felt much more intense than ever and two voices in her mind argued back.
One spoke this: "She deserves every ounce of humiliation for what she did to our sister! She's a Siren who wouldn't think twice about killing us if she had another alternative. She sat there and mocked us—did nothing as her allies continued their murder simulation on us!"
That voice was vindictive and true. A harsh but fair mindset that stemmed from the Enterprise within her.
The second voice, more ephemeral and void-like, spoke this: "She's loyal to us and knows where our best interest lies. Can't you see that she went against the system for us? We have a right to break our sister from her imprisonment."
She grabbed the sides of her head and held herself, taking deep breaths at how inviting and soothing the logic of the second voice sounded. Her eyes grew hazy and for a second, she saw two dark outlines. One resembled Enterprise and the other looked to be based on a small and fragile form. The two outlines then merged into one, and the person that appeared before her was herself, dressed in the battle-worn clothes that she had been born with.
This version of her held no glare and sorrowfully kept her gaze on Alt. "You know that this is wrong... it doesn't matter what she did, no one deserves a fate like that. If you won't listen, then end her humiliation quickly. We owe her that much."
Alt paused in a trance. This version of her spoke from the kindness of Enterprise and from a somber sisterly duty that needed to be carried out, stemming from another source. She then felt a hand reach out to her and turn her around.
"Hey! You're mumbling to yourself..." Enterprise's concern and serious expression pulled Alt out of her inner fight.
"I was...?" Said Alt weakly, her worn eyes still vacant from the spell that descended on her
Enterprise shook her head in disbelief at seeing her counterpart's weak side. "Yeah, are you having feelings of sympathy for Tester?"
"What?! What's it to you!?" She blurted out viciously.
Enterprise's stern face didn't change and she turned around with indifference on her face. Then when the next second rolled by, her shoulders relaxed and her aura felt calmer. "It's not right for someone to be a prisoner in their own mind. This just proves how cruel they can be to their own allies—to their own kind. You having sympathy for them... is more human and far more than they deserve, remember that."
Alt couldn't help it and she took a step back. What was she playing at to suddenly come out with such a leveled response? "I wasn't looking for teacherly advice," said Alt while she stubbornly turned away to hide her weak side.
Enterprise said nothing, finding herself at a loss as to how she saw this twin of hers. This day was an odd one and if someone had said that she would be fighting alongside her twin, she would probably punch them in the face. From that realization, Enterprise felt disgusted with herself.
The space around them began to grow more unstable. A haziness found during a heat wave started to show itself to them. The reality was melting before them including the blue sand and night sky that hung over them. From this transition, a distant voice pierced the space around them.
That distant voice soon grew into several that were all calling out to them. With the pocket-dimension space around them disintegrating, there was an overlap between the two realities and like a mirage in the distance, Hornet, Takao, Cleveland, and all the others were approaching them with water from their world bleeding through into this world.
Hornet came rushing toward them as the final overlapping of realities died off and only the blue ocean and bright sky remained.
Both twins grunted in surprise when the blonde carrier jumped between them and hooked a respective arm around each of them.
Stunned and without words, the archers awkwardly glanced away from the other's field of view.
"Hornet, this is highly uncalled for," mumbled Enterprise.
"Please, let go. It's agonizing being close to her for another second," mumbled Alt.
Hornet pouted beyond their field of vision and hugged them tighter out of spite.
In the end, neither could truly make the aggressive move of pushing the blonde away, especially Enterprise who vowed never to do that again as she was reminded of the day she brutally assaulted her twin on the shores of the Sakura Empire.
When the blonde carrier had her fill, she detached away from them, smiling infectiously.
Both twin carriers were finally able to see massive amounts of burning ships off in the background and the other shipgirls looking tired and stained with soot from the chaos of battle. Even Hornet had stains on her cheeks and arms now that they were able to notice it better.
Worryingly, they glanced around until they spotted Cleveland and Helena supporting Hipper who still looked in a lot of pain yet grew stable from getting a repair aid from Cleveland.
Wales was right by her side and smiled at both archers, conveying how happy she was.
Zuikaku was next to Washington, Takao, and Atago. Her older sister lay safely in her arms and held above water by Zuikaku's rigging.
Enterprise was happy that everyone was accounted for and it was then that she noticed another figure idling in the corner of her eye. Turning anticipatingly to the right, the sight of Belfast greeted her.
The maid acknowledged her with a small smile, expressing relief that showed how worried she had been.
Enterprise could tell that the maid was restraining herself from showing her true feelings, and she knew that she needed to set the record straight.
"Ent, it was dicey back there but we wouldn't have been able to pull through as a group if it weren't for Belfast," said the younger Yorktown sister.
Belfast closed her eyes and gave a small courteous bow. "I was merely performing my duties as a maid and friend. Thank you, Miss Enterprise. You leaving a detailed letter of today's mission briefing was all the info I needed to arrive here."
Enterprise frowned, not liking the formal nature of the maid. However, this was Belfast's way of overshadowing her valid emotions which were unbecoming of a maid.
The carrier moved forward, eliciting a pained and dejected gaze from Zuikaku who hated that the carrier hadn't even felt the urge to talk to her. It was Alt that noticed the mournful turning away from the interaction between the two women.
Enterprise stood before Belfast, who smiled at the maid. The royal light cruiser remained silent for a second before determinedly acknowledging her. "Stellar job in toppling the Siren singularity—"
"—I've missed you." Enterprise's response was swift and left nothing hidden from her feelings.
The maid closed her mouth and swallowed hard, not expecting the brash and forward declaration that hid nothing. "Miss Enterprise..." She gripped her apron out of habit and drew all her strength to compose herself once again. "We should talk about this later... away from so many eyes." Her eyes pleaded to the carrier, along with so many other emotions like regret, anger, sadness, and yearning.
Enterprise somberly nodded, feeling sad that she didn't at least say she missed her. Belfast was most definitely disgruntled and the carrier had a long game of catching up before they could be back in a friendly place.
In Enterprise's face, a distortion of orange and yellow light obscured her cheeks and hair for a shutter of a second.
It was enough for the maid to bewilderedly widened her eyes in abject horror at the anomaly she just watched.
"Bel... what's wrong...?" As soon as she said that, her body vibrated and a hollow feeling resonated throughout. What followed was a head-splitting headache and a ringing in her ear that accelerated her heartbeat
She wasn't the only one going through this. As Enterprise screamed in pain, her twin had gone through the same symptoms as her and began to emit yellow and orange pixelated-like distortions across her body.
"Miss Enterprise!" Belfast held onto the carrier who trembled in her arms, while Takao gripped onto her friend.
The pony-tailed heavy cruiser urgently shifted her eyes to her sister, needing no words to tell her to come and help her.
The twins suddenly jerked hard and a propelling force tore them away from the hands of their allies. At the center between them, they collided with both of their hands tightly gripping against each other to keep their distance. To anyone seeing this, they looked as if they were trying to overpower the other.
"W-What are you doing!?" Shouted Enterprise through her pain while her body began to meld into a light show of yellow and orange.
"This isn't me!" Shouted Alt at the top of her lungs.
Their eyes widened when their hands began to meld and distort in a whirlpool of yellow and orange. Their bodies sank into each other like quicksand. It was then that they felt arms wrapped around their waist.
Enterprise glanced back and saw Belfast, Cleveland, Helena, and Washington each holding the other by the waist as they pulled against the force.
Alt glanced back and saw Zuikaku, Hornet, Takao, and Atago emulating the same teamwork.
The only ones that did not participate were Wales, who was holding onto Shoukaku after being entrusted to keep her afloat, and Hipper, who lacked the strength to help due to her current state. She too was also being supported by Wales.
The two archers locked eyes with each other and a funnel of melded memories and emotions began to pour in. They were becoming one. The horrible realization was a by-product of this frightening fusion.
"Damn it, you're not allowed to leave!" Shouted Zuikaku at the top of her lungs.
"Enterprise! I'm here now—I won't leave you ever again!" Shouted Belfast frantically.
They began to slowly move away from each other, instilling hope in the others. They planted a firm foothole and pull with all their might.
The distortions of light began to fade and their hands returned to their solid shape. Completely back in their whole form, the orange and yellow light canceled and they were immediately shot backward into their allies, causing them all to hit the water in victory.
"Oh, my god... is everyone okay!?" Said Washington, completely spent and drenched.
"Ah... my arms were about to break," moaned Cleveland as she spat water out of her mouth.
"I still can't believe what I just saw," said Helena.
"Miss Enterprise, I got you..." Softly said the maid to the gasping carrier in her arms.
"Oh... my hair is ruined," moaned Atago.
"Sister... could you be more worried about what just happened?" Sternly said Takao, sighing and then looking onward to her friend.
"We did it! We showed that freaky light whose boss!" Deliriously said Hornet as she shakily picked up her hat.
Alt lay gasping and when she finally settled her breathing, she noticed the arms still wrapped around her. "Zuikaku..."
The crane behind her had her hair wet. The expression she exhibited spoke volumes that she was greatly worried that quickly turned to embarrassment when she noticed those worn violet eyes looking at her. "Khh! We're even now," she said just as quickly as she released her from her hold.
Alt nodded silently and moved her wet hair away from the crane's face. Her eyes landed on Enterprise and they both expressed a look of worried urgency, knowing that nothing good could come from this.
This chapter took forever to write and for the life of me, I couldn't find a way to structure this properly so I apologize if this is all over the place. In honesty, I like writing fight scenes but Azur Lane's ship battles have a level and style all of their own. And I find myself struggling to properly convey them. All in all, I'm satisfied with this chapter and things are moving along, so can't be mad about that lol!