Authors note: This is chapter 100! Woo! There is more to come, but This is something that I have thought about for the last couple weeks. There are some strong subjects implied in this chapter, so please, read at your own risk. Other than that, please enjoy.
Isaac and Eagle both stood on the deck of the Norfolk as they scanned the night sky. The salt from the sea permeated the air as the wind blew about. For the first time since they began their assault, Isaac couldn't hear any of the sounds of war coming from the city outside.
"Texas? Anyone, come in." Isaac said as he placed his helmet on his head. After he had seen Friedrich collect Oceana, he had disconnected his helmet from the ship, allowing him and Eagle to go outside.
"I'm here, Commander." Texas said.
"What's the status of the occupation?" Isaac asked.
"From what it sounds like, any resistance has been dealt with and the city is now under our control." Texas said.
"Prisoners?" Isaac asked.
"25. The rest managed to limp away." Texas said.
"Excellent. Bring them back here, we can keep them under guard." Isaac said.
"Understood." Texas said as Isaac heard the engines of the Catalina coming closer.
Arizona came running as soon as the engines were heard.
"Let's go welcome them back." Isaac said as Eagle nodded. They walked towards the gangway and down to the docks as the Catalina landed in the water. Eagle took his arm to her chest and walked with him.
Isaac and Eagle stood on the docks and waited for the plane to come to a stop.
"Welcome back, Dawson." Isaac said as he surveyed the damaged craft.
"Glad to be back. I thought my days of flying like that were over." Dawson said as he shook his head.
"I guess not. What happened out there?" Isaac asked.
"Those Explorer things are more effective than any AA I've come across. I'm honestly surprised that we made it back." Dawson said as the girls disembarked the plane.
"Welcome back girls." Isaac said as the girls all skated to shore.
"The cubes are with Laffey." North Carolina said as she and the others stood in front of him.
"Baltimore, Atago, North Carolina, you three are dismissed. Go grab some chow and get some rest." Isaac said as he pointed to the mess tent.
"Thank you, Sir." The three girls said as they walked away.
"13... I have to say, I'm disappointed. You know better." Isaac said as Arizona appeared at his side.
"I accept any punishment. I was wrong to go out alone." 13 said.
"Arizona... don't be too hard on her." Isaac said as Arizona nodded as she walked forward to collect 13.
As Arizona took 13 away, Isaac turned his attention to Laffey.
Isaac knelt down to get eye level with the lapin destroyer.
"Why did you guys run off?" Isaac asked.
"Laffey heard Commander get angry at General. Commander said cubes were left behind. Laffey thought about how sad she would be if someone left Laffey's friends behind. So Laffey was going to go by herself. But then Laffey was caught by 13." Laffey said.
"How did you get 13 to go with you without her telling anyone?" Isaac asked, more surprised than angry.
"13 agreed with Laffey. She felt really bad that something bad happened to Commander because of the cubes. 13 said that she could help make sure we weren't caught." Laffey said.
"You two went AWOL in enemy territory and threw this base into chaos. Do you realize how bad you could have been hurt?" Isaac asked.
"Laffey understands. Laffey is sorry." Laffey said softly.
"You will be confined to the base. No booze. And if you need to do something in the city, you will be escorted by one of the other Kansens. 13 will not be one of those Kansens." Isaac said.
"Laffey understands." Laffey said as Isaac nodded.
"The cubes, and the booze that you're hiding under that coat." Isaac said as he held out his hand.
Laffey mumbled a bit but relinquished the cubes and booze in a timely fashion.
"Now run along." Isaac said as he handed the cubes to Eagle.
"Let's keep those onboard the Norfolk." Isaac said. Eagle nodded as she took the cubes and ran them back to the Norfolk.
Isaac stood in the mostly empty port and looked at the sky.
"One more group to return." Isaac said as Eagle returned.
"Something wrong, dear?" Eagle asked.
"Cute. No, I'm just waiting for our other group to return. Contrary to what everyone thinks, I care about everyone." Isaac said.
"I know you do, Kommandant." Odin said as she and Dawson came up to him.
"You got the plane stowed away?" Isaac asked.
"I left it by the transport ship. Some of those bulins swarmed it the moment I got there and began patching the old girl back together." Dawson said.
"That sounds just like them. Quite the rambunctious little repair team." Isaac said.
"Are there any more orders, Sir?" Dawson asked.
"No. You are dismissed. Go get some chow and get some rest. You'll be transferred back to MacArthur in the morning." Isaac said.
"Thank you sir." Dawson said as he walked away.
"What about me, si..." Odin said as Isaac walked forward and hugged her.
"Kommandant?" Odin asked.
"I'm glad you came back safely." Isaac said softly.
"Kommandant... you're overreacting." Odin said as she began to blush as she remembered what Atago had said earlier before their mission.
"You're right... I'm sorry." Isaac said as he went to let go, but was held fast by Odin.
"No... don't go." Odin said softly.
Eagle slowly smiled and made herself scarce, returning to the deck of the Norfolk to watch this all unfold.
"Odin?" Isaac asked.
"I lied to you earlier, Kommandant." Odin said softly.
"What do you mean?" Isaac asked.
"I didn't kiss you for luck..." Odin said, digging deep to find her courage.
"What?" Isaac asked.
"I kissed you... because... I didn't know if I was going to survive this mission... and I wanted you to know... that despite my position as Vice Commander... I still managed to find myself falling in love with you." Odin said, much to Isaac's surprise.
"Odin... you too?" Isaac asked.
Odin nodded softly.
"This campaign made me realize that any of us can go down at any point... And I don't want to go to my grave knowing that there were things I wanted to say." Odin said.
Isaac smiled softly as he reached into his clothes pocket. He had made a habit of keeping a ring on him after Odin had kissed him on the battlefield the first time.
"Odin?" Isaac asked.
"Yes, Kommandant?" Odin asked as she looked up at him, her face flushed red.
"Is this you asking for my love in return?" Isaac asked. Odin looked down at her feet and took a deep breath. She looked back up at him and nodded slowly. Much to her surprise, Isaac knelt down on his knee and produced the ring from his pocket.
"Then you shall have it." Isaac said as he slipped the ring onto her finger, causing tears to flow forth from her eyes.
"Can I?" Odin asked softly. Isaac nodded as she tackled him to the ground in a hug that she had been dying to give.
"I love you, Kommandant." Odin said as she laid a kiss on his lips. He returned the favor until he heard a catcall whistle from the Norfolk.
"Damn, Commander! You do it like that, even I might get jealous." Eagle said as Odin blushed heavily.
"Come on, Odin. Why don't we hang out for a bit while we wait for the assault group." Isaac said as he picked up Odin and carried her to the Norfolk.
"Kommandant..." Odin said.
"Isaac." Isaac corrected her.
"Isaac." Odin said softly.
"Yes?" Isaac asked.
"I can walk, you know... you don't have to carry me." Odin said.
"Oh well. Did you want me to put you down then?" Isaac asked, willing to put her down on the deck.
Odin shook her head and held onto his neck.
"Then there are no problems." Isaac said as Eagle followed them onto the bridge.
"Finally, the Vice Commander was honest with herself." Eagle said as she brought a hand to her hip.
"Shut it..." Odin said as she hid her face.
"You Ironbloods are so similar. You all have a hard shell, but one it's cracked, you melt straight away." Eagle said.
"Shut it! Or I will have you doing air drills for a week!" Odin cried.
"Alright ladies. That's enough. We are all on the same side here." Isaac said as he set Odin on the floor of the bridge.
"It's alright, Commander. I'm just poking at her. After all, she is the newest ringbearer." Eagle said.
"True as that may be, we don't haze anyone." Isaac said.
"Oh alright." Eagle said as she stepped forward and hugged Odin.
"Sorry about that. I guess i got a bit carried away." Eagle said.
"It...it's okay." Odin said softly.
"It's too bad we won't have time to seal the deal right now." Isaac said as he looked to the entrance of the port.
"Why is that? Isn't that how you usually do things, Commander?" Eagle teased.
"Because... it is time to get down to brass tacks." Isaac said as the three of them watched an armed procession enter the port with Friedrich and her rigging at the helm.
"We are here to support you, Commander." Eagle said as she and Odin nodded.
"Let's go." Isaac said sternly as he put the helmet on his head.
"Keep moving you siren whore." Gangut said as she jammed her gun barrel into Oceana's exposed back. Her rigging was long gone, the only remains were sharp barbs sticking from her skin.
Oceana remained silent, hoping her silence would grant her a swift death or leniency.
Friedrich stopped fast, wobbling a bit as Isaac approached.
"Kommandant on deck." Friedrich spoke loudly.
"Step aside. Let me look at what you all dragged back." Isaac said as Friedrich stood to the side, allowing Isaac to come face to face with Oceana.
"Well. Well. Well." Isaac said as he looked down at Oceana through his helmet.
"Kill me and get it done and over with." Oceana said.
"Oh no. You caused way too many problems to even be considered for a quick execution. We are going to make you spill every drop of information you have locked in that little head of yours." Isaac said.
"Petty revenge for your stupid destroyer?" Oceana said. Isaac's fist came immediately after the words left her mouth, knocking her head to the side and causing black liquid to drip from her mouth and nose.
"See, it may seem like I am weak when you have one of my own in your hands. And you may think I'm weak because I'm beating on a half dead siren. But if you would have fought me on my level... you'd have died in that building." Isaac said as she smiled.
"I still took out one of your own. That is still a victory for me." Oceana said as Isaac chuckled.
"Even your victories are fake." Isaac said as Vengeance made her way over from Z-23.
"Ah. So this is the Oceana class they sent. Mk2." Vengeance said.
"Who the hell are you?" Oceana spat.
"Smasher Class battleship. But I go by Vengeance now." Vengeance said.
"Traitor!" Oceana yelled.
"More like betrayed. But you wouldn't be able to comprehend that you one trick knock-off. You were created for one purpose, and then once your purpose was served, you'd be disposed of. That's how Protocol 14-2 works, you stupid half wit." Vengeance said.
"14-2?" Isaac asked.
"Purpose built versions of us that have one aspect ramped up to 11. Oceana here is just a knock-off of Navigator with her intelligence boosted, making her a supposedly perfect tactician. Looks like her intelligence was wasted." Vengeance said.
"So they have one of you?" Isaac asked.
"They do. Peace Breaker is an exact copy of me with her damage and overall aggression boosted. Thankfully, from what I know, they only have those in the Union currently." Vengeance said.
"You are so quick to spill our secrets. You're a disgrace." Oceana said as Isaac's boot connected with her jaw, dislocating it in a single strike.
"Really? Because from where I'm standing... being beaten by a human makes you the disgrace." Vengeance said.
"You will never beat us. Take your victories with gratitude, you'll be dead before too long." Oceana said.
"Funny. I was about to say the same thing." Isaac said as he turned to the bulins that had gathered.
"Take her to The Pond." Isaac said as the bulins looked at each other and smiled.
"Okay!" They all said excitedly as Friedrich followed behind them.
"The Pond, sir?" Vengeance asked.
"The bulin's workshop. Knowing them... this is gonna get ugly." Isaac said as he looked at everyone in the fleet.
"Alright everyone. Get back to work. We should be expecting Prisoners from Texas's group any minute now, so set up something for them." Isaac said as the port jumped back into action.
"You two... let's go and see if we can get our captured canary to sing." Isaac said as he, Eagle and Odin walked towards the Norfolk. Vengeance took her leave and returned to Z-23.
"Norfolk?" Nimi asked as she looked at the bed. In the bed was the physical form of Norfolk that had yet to awake. Upon hearing Nimi's voice, Norfolk's facial muscles twitched and contorted into a look of pain.
"Please don't yell. It hurts." Norfolk spoke as she slowly relaxed.
"Sorry... but I wasn't yelling." Nimi whispered.
"You weren't? Wow..." Norfolk said as she attempted to open her eyes, but immediately shut them due to the mass influx of light.
"Turn those off! They burn!" Norfolk cried.
"The lights?" Nimi asked as she flipped off the lights, allowing Norfolk to open her eyes.
Norfolk gasped as she looked around.
"Woah! Everything is so... vibrant." Norfolk said as she looked around.
"Yeah... I guess it would be if you haven't had a body before." Nimi wondered aloud.
"Let's go! I want to see more!" Norfolk said as she continued looking around the room, not noticing that she wasn't dressed.
"Uh... before we decide to go anywhere, You need to get dressed." Nimi said as she handed Norfolk one of her own outfits, which she quickly figured out how to put on.
"It's a bit tight around the chest..." Norfolk said as she looked at Nimi, who was looking down at her own chest with a sad look on her face.
"What's wrong" Norfolk asked.
"IT"S NOTHING!" Nimi cried as she hid her chest.
"Ow... still sensitive in the ears, Nimi." Norfolk said.
"Sorry." Nimi said as her mechanical fish appeared in her hands.
"What's that?" Norfolk asked.
"It looks like it's part of my new rigging. My new outfit looks nice too." Nimi said as she looked at it and spun, showing Norfolk. It was a two piece outfit consisting of a black and white crop top with a red bow and a miniskirt in the same colors with two long red and black tails ending with crosses. The whole outfit was rounded out with a little black and red top hat.
"That doesn't exactly look war practical, Nimi..." Norfolk said.
"It is what I woke up in. And I kinda like it. I wonder if Liebling will too." Nimi wondered as a blush crossed her face.
"Ooo? Nimi looks like she is thinking something naughty." Norfolk said as she corralled Nimi to the wall.
"Spill it, girly." Norfolk said.
Nimi shook her head.
"No. I can't... it's embarrassing." Nimi said softly.
"I wonder what it could be~~~" Norfolk said as Vengeance walked in.
"Looks like you two are up and awake now. How does it feel?" Vengeance asked.
"I feel normal. Like nothing even happened." Nimi said as she ducked under Norfolk's arm and over to the bed.
"I don't feel bad... but my ears are super sensitive so it hurts when people talk." Norfolk said as Vengeance nodded.
"It's gonna be like that for a little bit. After all, this is a body that was just willed into existence. So everything dealing with your nerves will be sensitive." Vengeance said.
"Everything?" Norfolk asked.
"Yes... everything." Vengeance said.
Norfolk looked at Nimi as she gently extended her hand towards her face.
"What are you doing?" Nimi asked as Norfolk's hand gently touched her cheek.
"Wow... that... that's even better than when you were a projection with me. It feels so... soft." Norfolk said as she slowly drew Nimi into a hug.
Nimi flinched at first but slowly relaxed into Norfolk's arms.
"That's... nice." Nimi whispered as Vengeance cleared her throat.
"Well, as much as you two would love to stay here, Isaac has Oceana in custody and is currently preparing to extract information from her." Vengeance said.
"So I guess he want's us there?" Norfolk asked as Nimi visibly shook.
"I... I don't think I can go." Nimi said.
Vengeance looked at Nimi.
"Don't worry. She cant hurt you anymore. In fact, you showing up would break her more." Vengeance said.
"Don't worry Nimi. I'll come with you and protect you." Norfolk said as she finally produced her rigging. On each hip, was the corresponding half of her hull, blistering with her DP guns in their double configuration. Her hands shimmered as metal gauntlets took their place and a targeting reticle appeared over her right eye.
"Woah." Nimi said softly as she ran her hand over the slick new rigging before her. The rigging was black and smooth as opposed to sharp and abrasive like most of the other Kansens.
"Looks like our tech changed the properties of your new rigging. It can be adjusted if you don't like it." Vengeance said.
"I like it. I feel... strong. Like I can finally fight alongside my friends among this fleet." Norfolk said.
"Good. Strength is something we all should strive for." Vengeance said.
"Let's go, Nimi. I think the fleet should become aware that you are back with us." Norfolk said.
"You're gonna come with me?" Nimi whispered as Norfolk gently grasped Nimi's hand.
"I'll be right here." Norfolk said as she gently began to pull, forcing Nimi to follow.
"Oh... okay." Nimi said as she began to walk slowly behind Norfolk.
Most of the fleet stopped what they were doing the moment Norfolk and Nimi stepped onto the deck of Z-23. From all across the port, whistles and applause rose, celebrating the rebirth of Nimi.
"What is all this?" Nimi asked as she hid herself behind Norfolk.
"They all watched the Commander bring you home. He didn't make a subtle show of it. I think that was the most pain I've ever seen him in, and he was too high on adrenaline to feel his injuries. Losing you almost killed him." Norfolk said.
"So they all knew?" Nimi asked.
"Everyone knew you had passed. So it was only a matter of time before you got a standing ovation for returning to the land of the living." Norfolk said.
"Can we just hurry over to where Liebling is? I don't feel comfortable being around this many people..." Nimi whispered.
"Of course. Let's go." Norfolk said as she stood between Nimi and the rapidly approaching crowd.
Norfolk kept her rigging active as she guarded Nimi.
"Please stay back. Nimi is still very fragile and is not able to be around too many people yet." Norfolk said as she escorted Nimi through the crowd.
"Welcome back!"
"We knew you wouldn't stay down!"
"Hail Azur Lane, Strong enough to challenge death itself!"
"Isaac will be so happy."
A bunch of motivational and positive words came forth as the crowd showed their support for the newly revived Nimi.
"Thank you all for the kind words, but please step back. Nimi still needs her space." Norfolk said as the guns on her rigging swiveled a bit, making some room for them to move.
The crowd stayed behind as Nimi and Norfolk rose up the gangway onto the deck of the Norfolk.
Nimi breathed heavily a few times before locking her eyes with Norfolk, calming herself.
"Let's go inside and see your husband. I'm sure he would love to see you." Norfolk said as they went inside.
Isaac walked into The Pond, the workshop of his bulins. The bulins had rapidly gathered instruments that would be used to extract information from Oceana. Isaac looked over several small tables lined with said instruments.
Pliers, wrenches, syringes with every color liquid under the sun, a small coal forge with a steel rod sticking out of it, also making the room very hot. Isaac also spotted a blowtorch, rubber tubing, and a scalpel set that was obviously stolen from the med bay.
"Do I want to know where you got all this?" Isaac asked the Head Bulin.
The head bulin smiled blankly at him, sending a chill down his spine.
"Well, I'll let you girls get to work then." Isaac said as the bulins all nodded to each other before descending on Oceana with the implements of her demise.
"I can help them too, Isaac." Odin said softly.
"Oh? How so?" Isaac asked.
"My designer enjoyed stories of the Norse and the Vikings. Some of that knowledge was imparted onto me through my blueprint. If all else fails, I can use what I know." Odin said.
"If it is what I think it is... you have permission, but make it the last thing if she doesn't talk." Isaac said as Odin nodded.
"I understand." Odin said as there came a knock at the door.
Isaac went and opened it, allowing Oceana to see who was behind it.
Isaac knelt down and hugged Nimi, who was standing on the other side of the door.
"How?! I killed you! I snapped your neck!" Oceana cried as she struggled at her restraints, earning her a wrench to the face, knocking loose a tooth.
"Quiet, siren." One of the bulins said as they all grabbed their instrument of choice.
"And Norfolk as well." Isaac said as he stood and led them out of the room.
"So? How do I look, Commander?" Norfolk asked.
"You look good. How do you feel?" Isaac asked.
"I feel a bit weird, but I can still control my vessel." Norfolk said as Isaac ruffled her hair, sending a shiver down her spine.
"Hey! That feels weird!" Norfolk said as she laughed a bit.
"Noted." Isaac said with a smile.
"Can you do something for me, Norfolk?" Isaac asked.
"It involves what I just saw, doesn't it?" Norfolk asked.
"It does." Isaac said.
"I won't be happy about it, but i will do it." Norfolk said.
"Just have the projector in that room record the events. I want to send a message to the Sirens... and this is the way to do it." Isaac said.
"Oh... that should be alright then. Should I start recording it now?" Norfolk asked.
"Please do." Isaac said as the screaming began on the other side of the door.
"What is this?" Observer Zero asked as she joined the other sirens on the screen in front of her.
"Someone didn't kill that little insect, and now he has had our own weapon send us this." The Empress said angrily as the recording began to play.
"What are those little white haired things?" Strength asked as they watched intently. All of them flinched the moment the screaming started.
"Oh my god!" Observer Alpha said as she put her hands over her mouth.
They all watched for several hours as various methods of torture were implemented in increasingly horrific ways.
"That nurse looking one, who the hell is she?!" Temperance asked.
"She's the one that Strategist said escaped from Pearl Harbor. Apparently she goes by Vestal. A Union Repair ship." The Empress said.
"Why is she doing that?! It's only prolonging the pain!" Strength said as they watched one of the bulins whack Oceana across the head with a wrench.
"That's what he wants. He wants us to see what happens when he catches anyone that dares to hurt him or his fleet." The Empress said.
"I had no idea that Oceana class was so sturdy... that amount of pain and torture... I don't think even I could stand up to that." Compiler said softly.
"Wait... what is that German girl doing?" Alpha asked as they all watched in horror as Oceana seemingly sprouted wings, accompanied by the snapping of bone and a voiceless scream.
"Do I have your attention now?" Isaac asked behind his helmet as he stood in front of Oceana, making it appear that her 'wings' were actually his.
"You." The Empress growled.
"I can only assume that you're growling and snarling at me for what I have ordered my girls to do to your little pet. But rest assured. She got off easy. You see, I allowed Vestal to give her a small amount of painkiller to keep her from passing out. If I get my hands on any of you... well... you won't be so lucky." Isaac said as he turned around and withdrew a knife from his belt. After a few seconds, and a lot of squirming from Oceana, Isaac turned around, his armor and helmet splattered with pitch black liquid.
"What did he do!" Hermit asked as their question was immediately answered.
"This cube... black and soulless. It has no flair. It has no purpose anymore. And as a human, I get rid of things that don't have any purpose." Isaac said as one of the bulins walked over with a glass beaker filled with a clear liquid. Isaac dropped the cube in and almost immediately, it began to dissolve.
"He's a monster..." Zero said softly.
Isaac could then be seen pulling his handgun from his holster and putting the barrel to Oceana's head.
"Anything left to say? Any snide remarks?" Isaac asked as Oceana slowly managed to look up at the projector.
"Isaac... is... no... Insect..." Oceana said as Isaac pulled the trigger, killing Oceana with his own hand.
The sirens on screen all flinched at the gunshot, recoiling at being able to see everything that had been done to Oceana.
"Odin, dispose of this if you would." Isaac said as he stood in front of the projector again. He looked down at his wrist and then back at the projector. The time had just struck Midnight.
"Do you hear that..." Isaac began as Odin doused Oceana's body in gas and lit it. "... Do you hear the bells on the horizon? Your pyre has been lit, and the masses call for your death. This marks the beginning of the end for all of you. This is the end. Your time has come. The bells you hear, toll only for you and those who worship you. No matter how you run. No matter where you hide. No matter what weapons or instruments you bring to bear. It all is meaningless. Justice will come. Your damnation... will come. I know your names. I know your faces. I know everything there is to know about every single one of you watching. Protocol 14-2 has been cracked. Protocol 14-3 has been cracked. Protocol Absolution... will not come to pass. You have all dug your graves... and Apollyon is coming to put you in them." Isaac said as the feed cut off.
"Apollyon." The Empress said.
"Apollyon." The others repeated as they all looked at each other on the screen.
"I... I think we may have made a mistake here." Alpha said.
"Agreed. We left him live, thinking he wasn't a threat, and now we have spread our forces so thin that we can't spare any at the moment to slow him down." The Empress said.
"We have awakened a slumbering beast, one unlike any we have seen in prior timelines." Zero said.
"So it would seem." The Empress said as the sirens disappeared one by one until the screens were empty.
"I'm going to die." Zero whispered to herself as she hugged her knees to her chest.
"Did they get it?" Isaac asked as he looked at Norfolk, who was looking at him with a blank expression.
"They did. I can't gauge their reactions, but their power levels have dipped dangerously low. It seems that this had the effect that you desired." Norfolk said.
"Good. Now they know that we are coming for them. And knowing how high and mighty they tend to be, according to you, this will cause them to psyche themselves out and give us a fighting chance." Isaac said.
"And you got your vengeance." Norfolk said as Isaac turned to look at Nimi, who smiles softly at him.
"Yes. Yes I did." Isaac said as he went over to Nimi and took off his helmet, laying it on the ground. He also removed his armor plates, leaving only his body suit.
"I'm sorry you had to see that." Isaac said as he hugged Nimi gently.
"I... I think I needed to see it as well. It.. feels good knowing that I don't have to watch my back when I go to sleep." Nimi said as she returned his hug.
"Alright. The Bulins can clean this up, if they haven't already. Let's go up to the bridge and plan out next move." Isaac said as he picked up Nimi and carried her through the corridors, up to the bridge.