Chapter 10: Means To An End
The Crane sister that harbored a love for the white-haired Eagle Union tried to maintain her eyes open during the long night. Her irritation had flared a bit after the mad ramblings about an enemy being outside that sounded outlandish from the imitation of the woman of her heart.
Regardless of the mad ramblings, the injured woman had retreated to her bed where she rested on her side and away from the Sakura Empire woman.
Deeper into the night, Zuikaku started to drift off to dreamland, and the sudden groans of pain from the injured archer had brought her back. "W-What's wrong?!" She demanded.
The pseudo-Eagle Union didn't respond.
Realization quickly sat in for the swordswoman that her prisoner was in a deep sleep with her holding onto her injured arm in pain. Now and then, she would thrash around on the bed, further reinforcing an ensuing night terror.
"Hmm, it looks like the final amounts of pain medicine are wearing off… Enty." Her eyes lowered as she imagined Enterprise going through this pain in the Azur Lane base. If the doppelganger was experiencing these pains, then there was no doubt that Enterprise was too. Unable to do nothing for the injured archer, she forced herself to ignore the whimpers and hurtful sharp breaths. Maybe then, she could muster up some energy from her sleep.
(Enterprise)
Across the seas and toward the Azur Lane base, Enterprise was indeed going through the same pain. She was engrossed in a deep sleep that even with the pulsating and burning pain that her charred arm produced, she wasn't going to be waking up anytime soon.
She wasn't alone to face this horrible ordeal.
Belfast had remained by her side, and she appeared distraught at the fact that she was powerless to aid her friend. "Miss Enterprise… I can't even begin to imagine the scorching pain you're going through. If I could, I would take in all your pain without a moment's hesitation." The maid's hands trembled slightly, and she found herself climbing onto the bed. The part of her mind that argued with her that proclaimed that this action was illogical and confusing was overshadowed by the love that she chose to ignore up to this very point.
"Miss Enterprise… grip my hand as tight as you want. Let me be your comfort and hold nothing back." She leaned closer to the other woman until their bodies were side by side on the medical wing bed.
Enterprise inhaled and exhaled tiredly with sweat drenching her face. In some relieving way, the injured woman had subconsciously agreed to the words of the woman next to her. Her uninjured left hand enclosed around the delicate fingers of the maid, and she began to squeeze.
Belfast swallowed the pain her throat wanted to express, afraid that she might attract unwanted attention from outside, and make them think that something violent was happening. "That's it… Enterprise… squeeze. I will always be here for you." The maid recollected the strong words of her sister that had told her to fight alongside her heart instead of against it. If their friendship was indeed special and unbreakable, then perhaps embracing the warm feelings her heart was telling her was a good thing. Her kind act that she was doing for Enterprise was more suited for a lover rather than a friend, and she felt no shame in it.
The maid's heart skipped when the Eagle Union tilted her head to rest it on the side of the royal navy's head of hair. Belfast was stunned by the sudden intimate action from the sleeping carrier, and she made no effort to move her head away from the Eagle Union's action. To add to the tender moment, the Eagle Union had stopped her groans of pain and fell into a soothing rhythm of breathing. Belfast softly giggled at the triumphant scene before her. For the rest of the night, she stayed by Enterprise's side to be her comfort if she so needed.
(Zuikaku)
The flares of sunlight pierced the windows of the warehouse. It was now morning, and the active guard, also known as Zuikaku, had begun to flutter her eyes open. Her muscles ached from the position that she was in during the long night. Her vision focused to see that the white-haired carrier had taken a seating position in a corner of her cell.
She looked tired with bags under her eyes, and the standard glare she gave off to her reflection told a story of disappointment and unfocused concentration. Her eyes then found themselves looking at Zuikaku which soon started to last longer than a glance would be.
The Sakura Empire woman narrowed her eyes at the prisoner after finding out that the injured woman had continued to stare at her. "Do you have a problem?" She barked at her with half-asleep eyes and a groggy tone. The silence was already killing her, and she didn't like being stared at like some sideshow.
The injured archer pulled her gaze away and scoffed. "Your face looks ridiculous when you sleep."
Zuikaku's face turned bright red. "Then stop looking my way!"
E-2, which was her prisoner's name, stood up from the floor and walked toward the bed. "It's hard to ignore when you're making annoyingly soft sounds and a whole lot of mumbling."
Zuikaku turned a higher level of red from hearing that. No one else knew that she mumbled in her sleep aside from her sister. "T-this chair is uncomfortable, so pardon me if I disturbed your repeated grunts of pain last night," she spat back.
E-2 halted and held up her good arm to her injured one. The pain had subsided from last night, yet it showed a weak side to the enemy that made her feel ashamed.
Zuikaku folded her arms and observed the action of the white-haired woman. "You sounded in a lot of pain last night. I can only imagine the pain that Enty endured as well."
"Pfft, like I care," said E-2.
The comment thrown by E-2 didn't get lost with her. She felt her hand enclosed into a fist. "No, you don't. And that's what makes you different from her. You lack her compassion."
They stared at each other with a dead-still silence that expressed everything that they felt for each other. At that time, the door opened, and Takao walked in with a tray of food in her hands.
"Morning, everyone. So, how was the night? Did you both find something worth talking about?" She asked with a sunny personality to counter the gray mood.
"Pfft." Came the combined distaste from both women.
Takao sighed with a half-nod. "I figured as much."
"There's nothing to talk with her about. She isn't an ally to me in the slightest," angrily stated Zuikaku.
E-2 made her opinions known with a cold shoulder turned away from them.
"E-2, I brought you steamed rice, miso soup, and grilled fish," said the heavy cruiser.
The pseudo-Eagle Union acknowledged the food with a glare. "Isn't it a little early for food like that?"
"Huh? This is a complete meal that is packed with everything you need to tackle the day," replied Takao.
The injured woman mocked those words. "Typical of the Sakura Empire. I guess you don't have pancakes, eggs, cereal, or even bacon?" She oozed a sarcastic tone that did harbor genuine desires for those things.
"Hey, what do you think this place is—a five-star hotel!? Eat whatever we serve you and shut your mouth!" Yelled the Crane woman.
Takao extended a hand to calm the hysterical brown-haired woman. "It's alright. I've been shortsighted and didn't take into account that you are Eagle Union."
Something in E-2's eyes flared up from hearing that. "That has nothing to do with what I prefer to eat."
"Oh… really? Because that's how people's food preferences form; from their homeland after all," said Takao.
E-2 hesitated for an awful amount of time for someone that didn't care about a place that much. "The Eagle Union isn't... my home. That's hers alone."
"Very fascinating. You have a dissociation when it comes to talking about her even though you're another version of her," said Takao.
"Spare me the analysis, Sakura. I'm not her—and I believe I already stated that."
Takao gave her a nod toward her words. "Yes, you did. Then why don't you eat this food? Enterprise would have had the same reservations about eating this food as well. If you aren't her, then eat this food to prove it. Or would you rather I brew you some coffee to go with your bacon and eggs?" Mocked the black legging swordswoman.
The white-haired woman mulled over the question for a second. She then looked at Takao with an amused reluctant expression because deep down, she knew she had been played. "Impressive. Fine, give me that food… or don't."
Zuikaku stood gobsmacked at the way Takao had manipulated E-2's thought process. If she learned anything new from E-2, it was that she hated being compared to Enterprise.
(Enterprise)
Over in Azur Lane, the bed of one injured Eagle Union was overcrowded as two lay side by side.
Enterprise blinked her eyes open as she allowed herself to gather her bearings. The pain in her arm had subsided greatly for the time being, and whatever allowed her respite during the night had let her collect vital sleep.
She stretched and it was at that moment that she felt someone else on her bed. It only took her a brief head turn to see that Belfast was next to her on the bed, her angelic face pressed against her shoulder.
The white-haired carrier had a difficult time trying to process the situation she found herself in. Logically, she should have awoken her, but she allowed herself to keep silently observing the maid. It was the small subtle details that oddly mesmerized her with the way Belfast would cutely breathe from her mouth, a very unladylike trait, which would be something Belfast would agree with. Another detail was the fact that Belfast had a habit of mumbling in her sleep.
Enterprise felt overcome with a laugh that sat at the edge of her throat. The reveal of these traits from the maid did in no way diminish the image that the carrier had of the maid.
This peaceful observation from the white-haired carrier went on for a while until the maid started to stir.
Belfast slowly fluttered her eyes open, and the first image she saw was Enterprise staring at her as if she was the only thing in the world she found interesting. The redness on her cheeks grew along with her alertness. "M-miss… Enterprise?"
"Sorry for staring. You looked very… peaceful while sleeping," said Enterprise with a soft unknowing smile.
The maid quickly pulled her head away from the soft pillow and fixed her clothes. "By peaceful—you probably mean hilarious. Forgive me for rudely getting in bed with you," she said with her eyes unable to look at Enterprise and her face still red.
"Huh? Bel, nothing about you is hilarious. Only amazing. I'm… actually okay that you slept next to me. Your comforting presence made me get some needed rest, and I thank you for that."
"Well… you're very welcome. I only did what felt right." She let those words sink in and give her a warmth she did not expect from herself.
"Thank you, Bel. What say we go to the cafeteria to grab some breakfast?"
"Hold on, Enterprise. I can bring us the food here without delay. You should continue your rest."
Enterprise shook her head at that option. "That won't be necessary. I've rested enough during these days, and with my first treatment done, I don't have to worry about hurting my arm further unless I intentionally damage it."
"That may be true, but the pain isn't going to go away, especially when you're in the recovering phase. Last night was proof of that."
"I… I just want to stretch my legs for a bit, Belfast. Let everyone see for themselves that I'm still kicking, and it wouldn't be a bad thing for me to see the others."
"Very well, Enterprise. I'll get the wheelchair and we can—"
Enterprise cut her off with a finger wag. "No wheelchairs. My arm is the thing that's damaged—not my legs. I already humored Vestal and the others with that unnecessary thing. Walk with me like we usually do, Bel," she said softly.
The powerful nature of the carrier's words compelled her to merely nod in acceptance. That's all she could have done now, for this felt like a conversation that she couldn't win. And if she did, it would be like stripping something away from Enterprise that made her who she was. The two made their way to the cafeteria, just like they had been doing before the mirror sea incident.
(E-2)
The pseudo-Eagle Union lowered the empty miso soup cup back onto the tray.
The only other one in the warehouse area was Takao, who had been snacking on an apple with her back against the glass wall of the cell.
"I'm finished." Stated the injured woman.
"Oh, it looks like you are. Any comments to the chef?" Replied Takao.
"It doesn't matter. This is only a means to an end. All of this included," remarked the injured woman.
"Care to elaborate on that?" Asked Takao.
"No," came the resounding reply from E-2.
"Fine… that's just fine," blandly spoke the heavy cruiser.
"Where did that woman go?" Asked E-2.
"Hmm? She left before you started eating. Said something about getting some food and took off, but not before she told me of your interesting hysterical statements from last night."
E-2 remained quiet and looked away.
Takao frowned and leaned on the glass door. "She thinks you're crazy. I, on the other hand, don't like using that word. It feels too simple and there's always a deeper story, just waiting to be brought out. You can feel relaxed to talk to me about it if you'd like."
"You don't trust your ally? I've done nothing to earn trust from you," said the injured archer.
"Well, you haven't been the best conversationalist, but I won't flaw you for that. You're many things. Rude and vengeful are the ones that spring to mind… but crazy? Maybe damaged… inside and out." The heavy cruiser removed herself from the wall and crouched down near the door of the glass cell. She reached into the small doorway attached to the main door of the cell and pulled out the empty tray that waited for her. "Not even a single piece of food left, marvelous."
"Hold on," said the injured woman when the other had started to walk away.
"What is it?" Asked Takao gently.
"I know what I saw last night, and that wasn't the first time I saw her. When I arrived here, I spotted that mysterious woman near a wall at the docks. Her being outside that doorway marked the second encounter. For your best interest, I suggest you look into it."
"Your words almost sound full of concern for the people of the Sakura Empire," said Takao.
"Pfft, it's all a means to an end."
The heavy cruiser remained curious about the other woman's vague statement. "Means to an end, you say? I'll look into the surveillance from last night and see if there are any abnormalities."
"You do that," mocked E-2.
Takao laughed to herself as she walked away. "You're welcome, and I'll be right back to take you for a restroom break once I get these dishes cleaned."
(Enterprise)
The wonderful energy in the air was a much-needed welcome in the cafeteria of the Azur Lane Academy.
Belfast and Enterprise were enjoying their breakfast, just like old times.
"Here, allow me, Enterprise," spoke the maid with a fork that had a skewered piece of a cinnamon bun on it.
Enterprise reluctantly hesitated, yet she made no further attempts to decline it. Her mouth accepted the delicious glazed piece of bread.
Belfast's shock came as a greater one. She was purely going through the motions of her heart, and she had been ready to accept the rejection.
Enterprise swallowed and confusingly gazed at the maid. "Do I have something on my face?"
"N-no. It's nothing," she said quickly. She was not strong enough to tell her how captivating she was, even with a piece of glazed sugariness smeared across her cheek. If anything, an urge to lick it off her cheek was almost too inviting.
The white-haired carrier cluelessly smiled at her friend. "This is nice. Thank you for understanding me, and for letting me stretch my legs rather than being confined in a room."
"I admit, I was worried about the implications of this, but let's not fool ourselves; you're no caged bird. And the last thing I would do is keep you trapped somewhere alone."
"Would you like a hash brown?" Asked Enterprise.
"Oh, well… if you're offering… then I would be a fool to say no," remarked the maid. The look in her eyes was mesmerizing. She nervously wet her lips and inched slowly toward the golden hash brown. Both of their eyes met in that instant, filled with their own desires for that moment. Of course, Belfast could bet that her hidden desires were a lot more intense and intimate compared to her companion's internal thoughts.
Belfast bit hard on the golden hash brown, and part of it fell onto the table. "Oh, my! I'm so embarrassingly messy," she stated while she did not attempt to hide her greasy face that had potato bits on it.
Enterprise laughed genuinely and filled the maid with warmth. "Join the club. Not many can eat a hash brown without throwing their elegance out the window."
"Rather tasty, though," said the maid.
A sudden shift in atmosphere told them that they were no longer alone. From the corner of the maid's eye, she spotted five girls, merely waiting to be noticed with them only a foot away from the table. Belfast turned swiftly toward them, and the five girls turned out to be Z23, Laffey, Javelin, Ayanami, and Unicorn.
The maid gulped nervously with a red blush on her face. There was no wasted time, she grabbed the napkin next to her and cleaned her mouth to avoid the indecent look.
"S-sorry, Belfast. We didn't mean to disrupt… um… disrupt…" Javelin rubbed the back of her head as she was now the one to be incredibly embarrassed.
"…tender moment?" Blatantly asked Laffey with her tired voice.
The collective silent blushes from Enterprise, Belfast, and Javelin were enough to increase the heat of the surrounding table.
"N-no! Come on, Laffey— I'm sure that's not the correct word to describe the situation." Assured a flustered Javelin.
"I doubt that. It doesn't take a genius to read the yearning tension those two produce like chimney smoke," said Z23 with an aside remark to Ayanami who merely nodded, wishing that she wouldn't have to throw her two cents.
Enterprise raised an eyebrow. "Tender moment? What are you all on about?" She immediately winched from a pulsating pain that coursed through her injured arm like hot magma.
"Enterprise!" The worried voice of Belfast pierced through the carrier's pain, and she refocused back to everyone a few seconds later. Her face looked pale with an increase in her breath. "I'm fine… spasm of pain—that's all."
"A-are you sure?" Asked Javelin.
Belfast understood the heavy concern that Javelin had for Enterprise. If they weren't in a public area such as this, she would be tempted to tell her to hold her hand again like last night.
"No need for concern. My arm is on the right course in my healing progress. It's only natural that it would act up along the way," she said with a kind smile to everyone. Her eyes locked on a small card that the quiet long-haired purple girl had been holding close to her. "Unicorn, that's a very bold card you got there. All those colors could even put a rainbow to shame."
Unicorn stood alerted from the direct comment from the injured Eagle Union. "Y-yes, Miss Enterprise. T-this is a combined get-well card from all of us. Please accept." She handed her a lovely card. The picture itself had a drawing of a set of flowers in all types of colors with a sunset horizon in the background. Glitter lined up the edges and inside the flowers to make them stand out. A few poorly drawn bees circled the flowers with soft blue words that spelled "Get well soon."
Upon opening it, Enterprise tilted her head at a funny drawing of a gingerbread cookie that was holding onto a bow. On the backside of the cover side, it was sticker paradise as almost the whole side had a sticker on every inch. Back to the right side with the illustration, above it, words spelled out "You're a tough cookie." An unrestrained laugh came from the white-haired woman and her smile never diminished. "What an… odd expression of those words. I assume that this cookie is me?"
The one to speak was Unicorn. "Y-yes. I drew the cookie. D-do you not like it?"
"I love it more than I like it. It's unexpected yet very heartwarming. Thank you all for this."
Belfast soon found herself taking a backseat as all five of the girls had invaded the table. Eventually, they grew curious and asked about the mysterious doppelganger, but Enterprise dismissed the topic as unimportant and assured them that she was being dealt with.
(E-2)
Some time ago, her arm had painfully flared up with random pain. The pain made her drop a random book that she had been reading. She stood on the ground with a held breath, reinforcing her nerves for another wave of pain. However, no more pain had happened, and she sat on the edge of her bed, a look of uncertainty on her face.
No one else was in the warehouse with her. Takao had not returned after she shortly let her walk freely to then be escorted to the restroom before finding herself back in her cell. The day was reaching noon, and the wild-haired woman observed her bandaged arm with a newfound interest. A lingering dark thought entered her mind that involved hurting herself. It dawned on her that they, whether it was a sloppy mistake on their end or that they had an ulterior motive, had avoided keeping her in restraints like she was in Azure Lane. If she wanted, she could find a way to vent out some payback to her counterpart. The thought continued to linger over her head just like her good hand was lingering over her bandaged one.
The moment passed, and she removed her hand. She jolted upward from the metal doors opening, allowing sunlight to bathe her. Her eyes adjusted a few seconds later, and two figures walked closer to her.
The first one was Takao, and the second one was a silver-haired woman with a red streak of hair.
E-2's eyes turned narrow, as the obvious outfit that she donned appeared to be Iron Blood.
Takao approached first with a warm smile that she hoped, would reassure the prisoner. "You're being summoned. Take this time to stretch your legs again, and whatnot," she said. The glass cell door opened.
E-2 cautiously inched her way out of the cell perimeter, anticipating that trouble would be unavoidable. Maybe they were finally going to deal with the bonding issue and then dispose of her.
A seductive laugh rang through the room. "Come now, darling. We're not going to hurt you… unless you try it first." A hungry snap echoed throughout the room. The sound came from the Iron Blood's rigging that had mechanical twin shark heads.
Aside from that, the honey-filled voice of this new woman made E2's stomach twist into a knot with unease at the unknown intentions she perfectly masked.
They foregone with the wheelchair this time. Where they were going, that would be an unneeded requirement. The path they took was devoid of other residents as both Takao, and the Iron Blood woman knew the perfect path to take to avoid everyone else. It was similar to when she was let out to go to the bathroom with the whole process being unceremonious.
"Am I allowed to ask where you are taking me?" She asked calmly.
Takao didn't mind the question, and she would have responded if it wasn't for the Iron Blood woman signaling her to halt.
"You'll know soon enough. All you need to know is that we have no plans of hurting you." Stated the Iron Blood with a smirk. Her response earned her an insulting scoff from E-2 because of her weak and broad response.
They soon reached red steps that led to a higher gazebo-like platform.
"Miss Takao, you will have to wait here," said the Iron Blood.
The golden-eyed woman looked taken aback. "Prinz Eugen, I don't understand why you'll have me stay behind. I'm her guard and should follow her wherever she goes."
"Yes, yes, I understand your dedication, but this is a request from Akagi herself. I would recommend you take it up with her," she said playfully, overall enjoying the hesitant and confused nature that the swordswoman displayed.
After hearing that this was an order from Akagi, she reluctantly retracted her objections and politely rested her hands behind her back. "I shall wait here then."
"Hmph, you do that," stated Prinz Eugen, very monotonously. She then casually patted the back of the white-haired carrier to nudge her along. Of course, it also helped that her pet sharks encircled the injured woman from the sides with a wanting desire to devour her.
E-2, internally, was biting her lip at the unwanted situation that forced itself on her. Every fiber of her being wanted to put this Iron Blood in her place. However, she knew that she wouldn't be a match with the use of only one hand and a null rig that provided her with no benefits. Not only that, but if she moved her injured arm quickly in combat, it would only further damage her recovering arm.
In the end, they both silently went up the almost seemingly endless steps.
Prinz Eugen moved her eyes sideways to stare at the other woman. "You know, your hair smells of the ocean. Have they not bathed you yet?"
"They did. Didn't help one bit." She said coldly without even looking at her.
The Iron Blood couldn't help but softly chuckle at that. "How unfortunate. If you'll like, I can provide you with something stronger—Iron Blood made, obviously."
"Pfft, I want nothing from you," she replied sternly. This time, she gave the Iron Blood a murderous look.
"Such a harsh look, my dear. No worries, I have seen harsher ones during my time, and I have survived them all. Yours is a far cry from the Grey Ghost… which, I should probably stop calling her that, given the fact that we are allies now. Maybe you can be my new Grey Ghost," she said with a wink.
The wink only silently enraged E-2, and she funneled her thoughts out sternly. "She's a joke along with that name of hers. You should hold your tongue if you know what's good for you."
"Hmm, but that's always the finest when you know it's so bad that it's good."
"Then you don't value your life?" Asked the pseudo-Eagle Union.
"What a question, you ask me. Can I respond with 'an ongoing' option? I admit, there were gray times in my life that would have made me answer with no, but times have changed. I've come to understand and lean on the allies here, and without sounding too soft… I've been accepted. And right now, I do what I do to help an ally that's in need."
The wild-haired woman gazed at the eyes of the Iron Blood, and they did not lie. On initial glance, she could determine that the Iron Blood was shallow and heartless, yet what had caused her to reevaluate her life? She did talk big, that was certain but something else resided inside her.
They both reached the top of the red stairs, and the injured woman stood taken aback by what she saw. In front of her eyes, a short white-haired comatose woman lay on a mobile bed, and another woman sat next to her as her immovable companion.
The conscious one turned her head sideways to acknowledge the two that had entered. "The Siren that masquerades as the Eagle Union's strongest carrier. Welcome to the Sakura Empire, and I hope that you've been taken care of during your time here." Her words were hard to discern if she was being sarcastic or being sincere to all that she said.
"What is all this about? I don't care for your small talk, nor do I care about my attention in this place. I know the ultimate reason for my stay here, and that's for you all to find a way to unlink me with Enterprise. If you'll do succeed, then death would await me regardless."
"Wow, she's an optimist all right," mocked Prinz Eugen.
Akagi lifted herself from the chair without any signs of anger at what she heard. "I hope that's not what you ultimately think. The sisters had told me about your destructive mission to end the life of the woman that you share that face, and that you were born from the black mental cube thought lost. Who would have thought that the object that led me onto a dark road would be able to converge back to the path of light?" Whispered Akagi with a relaxed sigh.
"You don't make sense. I have no reason to help you, and you delude yourself if you think I bring a brighter road to you. Once this arm is fully healed, I will continue my goal of killing Enterprise, even if I have to carve it out."
"Why do you even hate her? Did she make fun of you or something? Is it the hair?" Replied Prinz Eugen with a humorful smirk.
Anger filled the injured archer at that remark. Of course, there was a meaning behind that question. A meaning that escaped her for why she wanted to kill the Eagle Union. "I just do. She is the source of all my struggles, and I know that I'll be free if I do kill her. I'll be free from my… purpose." The last word she produced came from an abyss inside her that she lacked understanding too. That word confused and terrified her to her very core, but she knew that word meant something grand from her past and the dreams she had been receiving.
"You don't even fully know the reason for your motivation aside from that half-baked response?"
"Eugen, let's not insult our guest here. We can understand where she's coming from, too. There was a time when we needed to snuff out Azur Lane so that the rest of us could be free from the fighting and find peace for our lands. You tried so hard to gain that peace, along with the things you lost that you failed to remind yourself that the group that you're working with doesn't have your best interest at heart. No, they use you and break you with sweet promises." She walked closer to the injured woman without any hint of emotion. "I won't help you kill Enterprise, that's me being perfectly clear. I owe her a debt for saving my life and doing all she could to retrieve my sister." She made a sideways glance at the sleeping woman that filled her face with hurt. "There is another thing I could offer you; a new purpose."
E-2 scoffed coldly at her whimsical words. "I'm a little oversaturated on purpose at the moment."
Prinz Eugen stepped forward to input her thoughts. "Are you sure, Grey Ghost? I might not be able to see what goes on in that head of yours, but I can see when someone wants to survive. Yes, you want to live. Live long enough to see that you get your ambition done, that is. But what confuses me is that you could complete your ambition whenever you wanted, since you're bonded with Enterprise. But you don't want to go for the coward's way out. No, you want to directly kill her with your very hands while you look into her eyes—how passionate. That's your drive for staying alive for the time being, and you won't hurt yourself until you have no other option."
"Your point?" She venomously replied. She didn't reject her observation and she was impressed by the Iron Blood coming to that conclusion. She hated to admit it, but she was on to something.
"My point? Well, if we can find you another reason to stay alive before you get around to offing Enterprise, then everyone wins, right?"
"What?! Why do you all care about my life?! This goes beyond my bond with her, so spit it out."
Akagi directed the conversation back to her. "You're right. What I want goes beyond the bond of life you share with Enterprise. While it's one of my goals, it is not my only one. You see the person lying in that bed behind me. That's my beloved sister Kaga. Before Enterprise and I could reach Observer Alpha during the Orochi assault, she trapped Kaga in a singularity inside my sister's mind. I thought that the death of Alpha would tear down the simulation, but she hasn't awoken since that day." A visible pained expression showed on the Omni-tailed woman.
E-2 silently observed the sleeping Sakura Empire with distant eyes. Somewhere in her heart, the pain of being trapped inside a simulated world that one had no say in being in, and being forced to experience horrible situations that diminished one over time until nothing but a complacent shell remained felt too cruel. Even she could feel deeply sorry for such a fate. A cold shiver washed over her when she further thought about the weird nightmares that had assaulted her in the past days. "I'm… sorry that she's going through that." As soon as she said those words, her eyes widened slowly at the realization. Her words didn't even register in her mind at first, rather, something within her had felt compassion for the sleeping woman.
"Oh, she can be sympathetic," teased Prinz Eugen with a finger toward her lips, suppressing her joyful laugh.
E-2 looked away, filled with more disgust for herself than towards the Iron Blood. "What of it? I don't see why you're telling me this. What can I possibly do?"
Akagi stared at her with hopeful eyes and a fear of rejection to her next set of words. "I want you to pull her out of the singularity. I'm aware that Sirens can access other Siren's conceptual constructs, and I urge you to dive into her mind and put an end to the singularity that's strangling her mind. Only then will she wake up!"
Instead of anger filling her from being called a Siren, sorrow took the role instead. "I can't. I'm not a Siren."
Akagi made a face that expressed anger and disgust. "Don't stand there and lie to me. You're a Siren!"
"They used me like a lab rat. I can't remember much, but I know that I'm not their ally. They're no different from Enterprise. So, don't call me by their title."
"Don't be blind! Aren't you curious about who you are and how you came to be? You were data that was collected by the black mental cube, and somehow, you were given life. Do you think for a second that this is what they intended for you to be?!"
Akagi's words were like arrows that perfectly landed their hits. It made E-2 feel weak and exposed. "That's right… I wasn't alive before… nor was this their plan for me. I at least made Purifier know that much." An intense throbbing pain suddenly pierced her mind ruthlessly. This one was different from the others, with a faint coherent image appearing in her mind rather than static and the proverbial headache from the others. The memory was short, and what she saw was Enterprise's face staring back at her from above. She was in a lavish royal-like office, with other people around her. However, everyone's faces were blurred, with the only exception being Enterprise.
The Grey Ghost's blank yet focused expression was solely directed to her.
In this brief memory, she could see a reflection inside the eyes of the woman she hated. What she saw was a faintly glowing black cube on a table. That… was her first memory. A memory that somehow felt dated before any other memory or nightmare.
The memory ended, and her world appeared sideways as her face pressed up against stone flooring.
"Hey, say something if you're still here with us." The voice came from the Iron Blood hanging over her with reserved intrigued rather than visible concern.
Akagi had come closer but remained with a tightly held tense breath over the situation. In her mind, she unknowingly still cared more about the injured woman only as a means to recover her sister's mind at that moment.
The only one that appeared genuinely concerned for the state of the counterpart of Enterprise, was Takao.
During her unconscious state, Takao had heard the commotion from above and leaped into action. She was now resting on the stone floor with her black-clad legs being used to lay the head of E-2. "Are you alright? I heard the commotion from below."
E-2 blinked at her with unfocused eyes. Her situation sank in from her earlier pain throbbing. Blood had also appeared out of her nose. "I… didn't ask for your assistance," she weakly and venomously shot back.
A soft smile appeared on the black ponytailed officer, while she pulled out a handkerchief to wipe away the blood. "At times, you don't need to. To ignore the need for obvious assistance would make us no better than the Sirens." She could tell that her words had canceled any more malice thoughts that the injured woman had.
"Takao, we were talking just a minute ago, and her face turned pained, causing her to fall to the ground," said Prinz Eugen.
"I see. She's been suffering from headaches recently but those had only been related to people close to Enterprise. This is the first time she's experienced this here in our homeland," replied Takao.
"Enough! Just take me back to my cell." Her stamina had not returned yet with clear paleness to her face, along with heavy eyes.
"Very well."
"Hold on, she needs to help my sister out!"
"Akagi! I understand the hardship you're going through because of your sister, but we have a mission with the Eagle Union that must be carried out. Do not make me go over your head to Lady Nagato about this," responded Takao with fiery eyes.
Prinz Eugen stepped between Akagi and Takao. "Enough. Take her to her cell if she's that drained from a little conversation. She can't even help us anyway due to her current state, Akagi."
"Agreed," said Takao.
Akagi's face looked desperate. She felt like she would lose everything if she didn't act now. "Wait… please… reconsider my plea for help. I know it in my heart that the only way to break this singularity is with another Siren. I'm about fresh out of Siren allies but you… you're different."
Only a passable grunt of protest came out of E-2's mouth. She and Takao then left the area.
"Are you sure that the little ghost is really a Siren?" Questioned the Iron Blood.
"I have to believe it. That's all I have left. Eventually, her past will catch up with her. I just hope when it does, she doesn't lose herself to whatever she might discover."
That's it for this one. I apologize for the slow upload with this story, but I don't want to rush or force these chapters out. I'll try to bring the next one up on a weekly time frame rather than a bi-weekly or even more waiting time than that. Thank you all for reading!