Purity
After the girl fainted, Kaga was stumped on what to do. Part of her wished she would've put up a fight, but she had genuine fear in her eyes. And the fact that she looked like a child wasn't helping either. With no other choice than to wait for her to wake up, Kaga put the girl over her shoulders and took her to the infirmary. The walk there was... awkward to say the least. People gave her looks as she walked through the growing crowd, she knew it was from the girl. They probably couldn't tell who she was by the mess of lilac hair spilling and covering her face. With the most painful 20 minute walk of her life, she made it to the infirmary.
Vestal has just started preparing for the day when a knock from her office door stopped her from doing what she was doing.
"Ah, Kaga, what are you doing here so early in the morning?" Vestal asked.
"I'm not here for anything actually, just needed you to check someone." Kaga replied.
"Well, who might that be then?"
"She's right here," Kaga replied while picking up the girl that was laying against the wall.
Vestal became weary that Kaga brought a Siren with her, especially one that looked so much like Purifier since she is the most dangerous. She did note that her height is considerably shorter.
"Why did you bring a Siren here?" Vestal whispered out harshly though no one was around this early.
"I found her in the forest while training, it looks like she suffered some minor injuries as she fell from the sky."
"But why didn't you just get rid of her?" Vestal inquired, though it put a bitter taste in her mouth saying it. Being a practitioner of medicine, she is obligated to relieve suffering whether they're friend or foe.
"I gave her two choices, to live or die, she chose to live before fainting. And I wouldn't kill a child just because they are the enemy." Kaga stated.
"Just bring her inside and I'll check her injuries."
Kaga simply nodded and handed "Purifier" to the repair ship. Before she could leave, Vestal stopped her.
"Wait, you can stay here to watch over her in case she starts anything since I don't have any experience in combat."
Kaga looked at her for a few moments before nodding.
"I'll get a report sent to the Commander or Belfast as quickly as possible as well." Vestal thought.
With that, Vestal started treating the Siren while Kaga sat in a chair.
In the Commander's quarters...
The alarm rang at precisely 8 o'clock, waking the Commander from his sleep. He recently started to sleep in more as Siren activity slowly diminished over the past few weeks. Of course, that didn't mean the documents decreased, in fact, they increased. Due to the girls having more free time, they requested more shops, events, and renovations to the dorms. Assessing the budget and resources takes up more time of his day than actually looking over battle reports. Shaking the fatigue off from last night, he proceeded to the bathroom to brush his teeth, shower, and shave before putting on his uniform and cap, though his undershirt had gone missing again. Probably Akagi he thought in the back of his mind. Walking down to the kitchen, the signature smell of Belfast's cooking can be picked up from his half-awake mind.
"Morning Belfast." he yawned out.
"Good morning to you too Master, did you sleep late again?" she inquired.
"Yeah, the submarines wanted an indoor pool to be built in the gym for the winter. Akashi gave me the plans and going over the budget was just... ugh." he groaned.
"Well, I hope breakfast and a cup of tea or coffee will help."
"Coffee please, and this looks good Belfast, can't thank you enough."
"Please Master, it's very simple today and I'm sorry if it doesn't meet your standards."
"Food is food, I'll always eat your cooking willingly. So don't be so hard on yourself." he reassured her.
"Along with that, Vestal said you are also needed at the infirmary as soon as possible."
"jdijd shre shay wthy?" he asked with a mouthful of bacon and toast.
"Master, please watch your manners, and no she didn't." she replied.
He gave her a shrug and continued eating.
A while back at the infirmary...
After checking the girl's vitals, she went to write a report to the Commander. To make sure she doesn't attempt to run away when she wakes up, the girl was strapped down without any circulation problems and her rigging disabled. Vestal went back into her office, Kaga still there. Vestal decided to contact Akagi to inform her that Kaga's alright as she always came back from patrol before her and Amagi woke up.
"First Carrier Division dorm." Akagi's voice at the end of the line.
"Akagi, it's me, Vestal. I just want to let you know that Kaga's alright and is in the infirmary right now."
"Is my dear sister alright?" Akagi asked in a worried tone.
"Don't worry she's fine. Just came by to drop someone off she found injured on her patrol. You can come yourself to make sure she's alright though if that's fine with you and Amagi"
The phone was silent for a few seconds before Akagi spoke again.
"I'll be there in 15 minutes."
"See you in 15 minutes then, Amagi needs a checkup now probably too, don't forget." she hung up the phone.
The girl stirred as she heard Vestal talk on the phone.
"Ya' know, unstrapping me isn't gonna kill you right?" the girl stated.
"And why would we do that Siren?" Kaga asked while having her rigging on standby.
"I know that she disabled my rigging, and I can never win in a fight against you." She stated matter-of-factly.
Vestal was surprised by what the girl said. Most of the time when she disabled one of the girls rigging to tend to their injuries, they'd always freak out when they couldn't summon them again until she told them it was part of the procedure, with that, she would reactivate them again.
"How did you know I disabled them?" Vestal asked in a curious tone.
"I've had them since I was two or three, of course I would know if they were missing or not."
That also made Vestal surprised, as far as every ship girl knew, they didn't age nor did the Sirens. So that brings up the question of why this girl said she had them at a young age? While in her thoughts, Kaga spoke up.
"Who are you then? You resemble Purifier but you're too short and calm to be her." Kaga spoke up.
"My name is Purity, and I have no intentions of harming any of you as that isn't what I was sent here to do. Now can you please unstrap me? It's getting uncomfortable." she stated with no malice.
A quick tense moment passed while Kaga was rapidly analyzing the situation.
"She seems to be telling the truth, though words can have an underlying meaning. But she didn't attack and surrendered when we met in the forest. And she admitted to not being able to best me in a fight."
"Alright, but if you were lying or make any sudden move, you're as good as dead." Kaga said in a menacing tone, though this time it didn't phase the girl.
"I already told you I won't hurt anyone, pinkie promise." she held out her pinkie.
Vestal cautiously linked her digit to Purity's, expecting something... nothing.
"See?" she gave Vestal a smile, not crazed but genuine.
Kaga nodded her head and Vestal undid the straps.
"YES!" Purity yelled triumphantly as she hopped on the bed.
"I can finally move again!"
She calmed down sat on the bed before facing Vestal.
"So why are you here if you aren't with the Sirens?" Vestal asked.
"That's a secret, but I can tell you other things besides that." said Purity in a cheeky tone.
"Alright then, first of all, how old are you?" Vestal asked.
"Mm, around five or six."
Vestal took some time to think of her answer, Purity certainly looks to be five or six physically, but she's around the teen years in terms of mentality. Nonetheless, she asked more questions.
"What is your relation to the Siren Purifier as you resemble her but don't at the same time?"
Purity knew that they were going to ask that as she does resemble Purifier, though only in her hair and face. The rest like her personality, height, and eyes are different. But part of her purpose was to reveal that they are closer than simple class relations.
"...She's my mom..." Purity answered truthfully.
At her answer, both Vestal and Kaga were perplexed. Her mother? As far as Vestal knew, ship girl anatomy is similar to Siren anatomy, but the ability to have children? That wasn't a topic that was thoroughly explored because they are humans too. But Purity is a living fact that Sirens can reproduce.
"If Purifier is your mom, then who's your dad?"
"I can't answer that, though I have a feeling you know him already."
"I know her father... it can't be, right?" Vestal thought internally.
While Vestal was in thought, Kaga was also thinking. Purity said her mother was Purifier, hence the similarities in name, but the father? Kaga has a sneaking suspicion of who he might be and it makes her blood boil.
Knock* Knock*
"Vestal, it's me the commander, can you open the door?"
With Commander and Belfast after breakfast...
"You never cease to amaze me on how good your cooking is Belfast."
"Thank you for the compliment Master, though it is a maid's duty to satisfy their masters even on small things like cooking." Belfast replied.
"You know you don't have to wake up every morning to make breakfast for me, right? You also have to take care of yourself, I don't want you to fall over due to exhaustion. You might be a maid, but looking after oneself is also important." the Commander regarded Belfast with a smile.
At the smile, Belfast's cheek colored a little bit before she took control of it. It's not a big surprise that Belfast has a crush on the Commander, nearly every girl here does too. But she keeps it under control, unlike some others such as Atago, Akagi, Taihou, or Prinz Eugen who would flirt openly or tease the Commander relentlessly until he was a blushing mess. Belfast does have hope as she's been by his side longer than the rest, only 2nd to Z23 as his first secretary.
"Good morning, Shikikan-Sama.~" an all too familiar voice called out to the Commander.
"Akagi, what are you doing here at the infirmary, is Amagi sick again?" he asked Akagi as Amagi was with her as well.
"No, I'm fine Shikikan-Sama. Vestal informed us that Kaga was here, we wanted to make sure she is fine." Amagi answered.
"What're you doing here then Shikikan-Sama?" Amagi asked.
"Well Belfast got a report from Vestal saying I'm needed at the infirmary as quickly as possible, so here I am."
Amagi simply nodded and reached out to knock on the door before the Commander stopped her.
"I'll get it." he said, worried about Amagi's health. She simply gave him a nod of thanks.
*Knock *knock
"Vestal, it's me the Commander, can you open the door?"
Back inside the infirmary...
"I'll get it." Kaga said keeping her riling emotions in check.
She got up from her chair and proceeded to the door, opening to reveal the Commander and some other familiar faces. She stood there, blocking the office from view until Amagi spoke up.
"Kaga, are you alright? You were in the infirmary for an hour and Vestal called us to see if we can see anything wrong. I assume you aren't hurt?" Amagi asked calmly.
"Don't worry Amagi, I'm fine, you should worry about yourself though."
"So... Kaga, can you move out of the way? Vestal needed to see me."
"Of course, Shikikan-Sama."
Kaga moved aside, and the Commander was finally able to see what they were doing. On a bed sat a little girl that looks like Purifier swinging her legs over the edge while humming a tune.
"Vestal, who's this?"
"Well..."
Sensing that even Vestal didn't know what's happening, he walked towards the girl and crouched until they were at eye level.
"Hey little girl, what's your name and where are your parents?" the Commander asked.
"I'm Purity, and I'm your daughter from the future!"