*This is ported by Wattpad, feel free to come by as I've focused on making stories there rather here.*
The 'XZJQ Project' Presents...
...13 hours ago...
|Location: Azur Lane Base|
|Time: 0630|
"Wake up, Master..." A soft voice caused Xavier to wake up, as he opens his eyes as he stirs up from his sleep. He then sees Belfast smiling as she bows, "You are awakened for an announcement."
"An announcement?" Xavier asked.
Later, he leaves the bedroom and is already dressed up, and is sitting on his office desk. There is Jonathan, and girls such as Enterprise, Hornet, Yorktown, Hammann, Langley, Northampton, and Laffey, which is rare to see her alone without her friends. And notably, Bismarck is here.
"So, orders from the mainland?" Xavier questioned.
"Indeed." Jonathan replied, "As orders from dear Admiral, we needed to return back, something the Admiral keeps a secret, such as him being like this." He chuckled.
"I wonder how you girls are needed as well. Something special for you all?" Xavier asked.
"Well..." Hornet said, as Jonathan speak up.
"Along that, you'll be meeting the mother of all of them. Doctor Anzeel." Jonathan stated as the girls became quiet when mentioned her...
"Anzeel?" Xavier perked when that name is mentioned, he can't help but sense some familiarity with her...
"I'm sure, you know her, in fact, she's been dire to meet you for the first time." Jonathan noted. "I'm sure the rest of you will also be excited to see her for a while." He remarked to the girls. Reactions are slightly mixed but nothing felt negative around them.
"Yeah, it's been a while..." Hornet smiled as Enterprise nodded.
"...Alright, let's not wait." Xavier stated.
At the harbor, the girls are excited as they are gathered there where the Commander, Jonathan, and the chosen girls are preparing to leave. As Xavier makes an announcement to Azur Lane.
"As you all here, we have gained orders from the mainland to return along meeting none other the Adrimal, but Doctor Anzee herself." His words caused them to be intrigued even gossiping with each other as Xavier continues. "For a few days, we'll be off, and I hope you all are capable of maintaining the island. That is all."
And with that, they turned as the girls waved goodbye to those who are leaving, notably Javelin hugging Laffey before she heads off.
|Location: Pearl Harbor - Mainland Base|
|Time: 0830|
The next morning, after the sleep, Xavier has already woken up and is standing on the top deck of Enterprise's vessel, with Enterprise herself. He glanced at the side where others have their ships shown as they sail through a long journey of the ocean.
"We are here, Commander." Enterprise spoke as Xavier sees it...
Massive techno advanced wall, on top he could notice large cannons mounted on top, railguns ready to fire. Even sees many cannons on the face of the wall, their white metallic look and blue glowing colors stand out, then the walls slide open leaving an opening to a massive harbor that is beyond the designs of their island. It makes their base look like an outpost in comparison.
The ships pass through the gates and Xavier sees other humans there watching them enter, others are continuing to work their maintenance every time within the walls. And those who aren't are armed guards holding what seems to be advanced guns, not Siren-like tho.
He noticed there are also navy warships notably a lot of unknown-class Battleships, obviously guarding inside, then he sees a man on one of the decks, waving his hands as he is gesturing them at the empty dock space. Enterprise sees this and nodded as the ships headed there.
They are here, what used to be remnant destruction is now one of the highly advanced bases of the world...
"Wow!..." Hornet gazes around the place as others are at the platform walking, "It looks nice!" She beamed. "It really changed since we last saw it."
"Times have changed, since the attack." Bismarck noted as she gazes at the massive wall barrier.
"Impressive works, tho it felt like Siren-made however..." Langely remarked.
"Not really." Enterprise concluded her statement.
Xavier notices and joins the gaze, "To have such capabilities... Wonder who made this..." He wondered.
"Indeed..." Yorktown smiled. "This will be new land for us, try not to get lost. Hammann, remember to stay close to us."
"Huh? I never get lost!" Hammann puffed her cheeks as she crossed her arms. Northampton goes with her as Jonathan guides them as everyone follows him. After they passed the docks, there is Admiral himself standing with a smile as the guards are with him.
"John!" Admiral calls out, and he sees Xavier, "And Commander Xavier..." He beamed, "I wanted to thank you again for arriving." He said.
"No worries." Xavier shook his head, "It seems this place has changed by their words." He noted to the girls.
"Ah, yes upgrades happened, and it will happen to them." Admiral stated gesturing at the girls.
"Eh?" Nearly all the girls heard what he said.
"Does he mean..." Hammann asked.
"An upgrade?" Hornet finished.
"Yes. Tho not you Enterprise, however, you are still needed." Admiral mentioned Enterprise as she nodded. "Follow me, we'll be meeting her." He turns and walks, and they followed him.
There is a large truck parked on the road, Admiral and Jonathan open and sat in the second row. Xavier opens to see there are only eight seats... One more is missing...
"Um, the back is missing a seat." Xavier calls out. Admiral and Jonathan turned to see and then looked at each other and smirked... A short time passed and Xavier sat in the first back row with Laffey sitting on his lap.
Enterprise and Bismarck who are next to him stare at him and his position. Behind the seat is Hornet smiling and silently giggling at this moment while Yorktown smiles, Hammann glares at him, and Langley and Northampton remain normal. Xavier already felt awkward already and worse Laffey spoke.
"Comfortable..." Laffey muttered as she began to fall asleep, snuggling close, this led Enterprise and Bismarck to stare at him even much more...
Xavier sweatdropped, he knows Enterprise is understandably uncomfortable ever since his hospital bed, but Bismarck!? Her!? He doesn't recall anything with her, it's like some world entity forced him to be in this situation. He turns to see Hornet whose lightly blushing as she smiles and gives a thumbs up.
What is that thumbs up for!?
"Pervert." Hammann muttered but it is heard from him. He sees Admiral and Jonathan nod before turning to the front as the trunk move, he swears these two are wanting him to be in situations like this...
The truck goes on, and as it reaches the city, it looked advanced... Imagine as a city has been modernized, they see civilians doing their daily lives, despite they are in the middle of the invasion war, however, it is nice to see things that are settled. Fill with shops, restaurants, apartments, service stations, and so much in a large human settlement, that can't keep up as it passes by,
Some people see the vehicle and even gain some small talk from the distance others couldn't hear from afar. Hornet admires the sight, as others stare but deep inside they are liking this city...
Just then truck stopped by a red traffic light as pedestrians cross the road, Xavier is quiet even more throughout the entire time.
"OH MY GOD!" A scream nearly made him exclaim, the girls along with the Admiral and Jonathan turn to see a group of girls who are close, seeing through the window. "THAT'S HIM! THAT'S THE COMMANDER!" One of them exclaimed.
They continue to squeal as Xavier waves nervously, "Um... Hi." He calls out.
"I love you!" One of the girls yelled.
"Uh, thank you... You seemed to be a nice person..." Xavier replied, later on, the traffic light goes green as the girls are still talking they just saw the actual Commander.
"Yeah, everyone here knows what you've done." Admiral explained before Xavier can ask.
Hammann is muttering to herself, as Xavier raised concern, "They know?..." He asked.
"You're famous, not only do the girls here get the fanboys, the girls are taking a liking to you." Admiral stated. "I'm sure you know a term called: body pillows."
Xavier blushed... "W-wait, does that mean... The Girls... And I..." He stuttered.
"Yeah..." Hornet laughed nervously, "As we've gotten famous..." She paused as she blushes deeply.
Yorktown helpfully reveals the rest of the sentence, "It is yet another way how funding for the base works." She concluded.
"Wait there's more?" Xavier asked, worryingly.
Yorktown nods.
He sees how the girls are uncomfortable. "Bunch of degenerates..." Hammann muttered again. Langely sighed deeply when it was explained.
"Oh man..." Xavier whispered, he's not only a celebrity but also a goddamn merchandise.
The trip continues on...
They have arrived... At the building, which is some university, Xavier watched the destination. The truck has parked, and Admiral and Jonathan open the door from each side, along with the girls.
Xavier then shooks Laffey to wake her up, "Come on Laffey, we're here." He whispers softly to her, but loud enough causing her to stir up as she looks at him.
"No..." Laffey muttered as she closed her eyes, "Lemme sleep more." She fell asleep again.
"Uh... Laffey?" Xavier slightly shook her, but she remains stone cold...
Outside, Xavier is carrying Laffey in a father-and-daughter style. To which Hammann says nothing with Yorktown commenting how adorable it looks much to Xavier's constant embarrassment.
They reached the front door, and as Admiral opens it, they enter seeing the hallway. It looks clean, and bright due to the white colors, there are some people there, they look like some kind of students.
"This way." Admiral guided them.
Somewhere in the empty lecture hall, two women are at the desk, both in their chairs. They are merely chatting about something while having their teacups. One of them has messy brown hair with a white streak, and her lab clothes are unorganized as her jacket isn't properly dressed, her brown eyes show some tiredness but she remains her smile. The second one has darker brown hair, with better looks, she wears a casual dress, however.
Just then, a door opens and the two notice them. Admiral announces, "Commander Xavier, I like to meet Doctor Anzeel, the creator of the Wisdom Cubes. And..." He noticed the second person.
"Oh, I am just Archer's wife." She replied.
"Jonathan?" Xavier asked as she nodded. He glanced at Anzeel, "And you must be Doctor Anzeel." He stated.
Dr. Anzeel walks up to Xavier and she smiled, "Well, great to see you, Xavier." She holds out her hand, Xavier complied as the two shook hands... For a while. To the point others are confused. The two stare at each other, can't help the fact they felt like they meet each other before...
"Ahem?" Admiral clears his throat. The two snapped back and stare at him, "You two okay?" He asked.
"Uh, yeah..." Anzeel replied.
"What happened?" Jonathan's wife wondered.
"Sorry, I felt like, I met her before..." Xavier admitted vaguely.
I was about to say that... Anzeel thoughted, just then she continues as she noticed... Laffey sleeping but still carried by Xavier along with the other girls. "Oh! And there they are! How are you all doing?" She asked, acting like a true mother figure to them.
"We're doing great!" Hornet smiles along with others smiling meeting her for a while. Anzeel sees both Bismarck and Enterprise before they just now put up their smiles.
Anzeel pouted as she walks up to both of them pinching the side of their cheeks, "You both need to stop doing your stony faces, I had of that already during work." She said with annoyance.
"Sorry..." Both Bismarck and Enterprise muttered.
All that seriousness is gone... Xavier is surprised to see that. Just then Jonathan's wife came up to him which surprised him.
"Sorry about that." She apologizes.
"I-it's fine." Xavier slightly stuttered before he regains his composure.
"Of course, my name is Mary." She introduced herself, "You are quite different from the last Commander..."
"Your husband has told me he has been an 'obstacle' through your marriage." Xavier replied.
"Of course." Mary sighed, recalling the past times. "He tried to be a nuisance on purpose... However, he is still a kind man who should not die this early..." She sorrowing mentioned.
"Yeah, he is so interesting... Wish I get to know him more." Anzeel replied.
"Of course, you two would be a couple." Admiral joked. "So how is Aoste going?" He asked.
"Aoste?" Xavier asked.
"Oh, he is a Researcher like me, and he's planning to make something called Antiochus. He hasn't told me what it's exactly like that, but enough of that, I think I should answer why you all are here." Anzeel stated. "I have made an update for you specific girls, to improve your status ever than before."
"And what of Enterprise?" Xavier wondered why she is here, as Laffey is still snuggling.
"Oh, it's because she may want to see this. After all, I couldn't forget much about what happened to her before, since when the first Commander took over." She explained.
"..." Enterprise remains silent.
Anzeel then speaks up, "Well, let's get this over with. Come with me, everyone." She gestured as she leaves through the door, and everyone follows.
In a secret lab, Xavier is now not carrying Laffey she is easily convinced by Anzeel to join others, as Enterprise, Jonathan, Mary, and the Admiral are waiting by outside skirts of another lab area.
It's been a few hours but felt like minutes, Xavier still thinks of something and flashes back to Anzeel, that feeling...
"Commander?" Enterprise's voice snap him back again, "You seemed to doze off." He said.
"Huh? Oh, sorry." Xavier replied.
"It seems, you've been like this ever since you met Anzeel." He informed Xavier as of course, he has to be analytical due to being a Doctor... "Don't tell me out of all of them..."
"Please, don't bring that conclusion Doc..." Xavier muttered.
"Oh? You must be a very true gentleman..." Mary smiled as she joins in.
"Why...?" Xaveir whimpers, can't this get any worse?
"Okay! It's done!" Anzeel calls out, as everyone stares, and much to their surprise except the Admiral, the girls... They've changed... They all have entirely different rigging, and their clothes have been refined.
"Commander..." Laffey muttered, "How do I look?..." She asked in a sleepy tone. Guess despite the changes, something has never changed.
"...I... All of you have..." Xavier stuttered trying to remark at them.
"Yeah, I felt better!" 'Upgraded" Hornet admired her new matured look, "What do you think, sis? Now we can fight better!" She smiled at Enterprise.
"Hornet..." Enterprise simply spoke out a single word. She stares at her older sister Yorktown.
Yorktown nodded, "Don't worry Enterprise." She gives out a warm smile, "I felt like my better self." She giggles. "I'm also sure everyone else feels great as well... Feels odd that I am now an Essex-Class."
"An Essex-Class?" Enterprise is surprised to hear that as Hornet nodded.
Bismarck looks at her riggings which is in the form of a bloody Dragon, who seemed to be calm. "It is, truly remarkable of this upgrade..." The Dragon stares at others, and Hammann took a step back away from it.
"Indeed..." Northampton remarked. "I can't wait to test these new armaments."
"Yeah, time to do better!" Hammann stated as Yorktown smiled how determined she is now.
"Enterprise, our upgrades have also changed our classes..." Langely replied. "I am Independence-Class, Hornet is also Essex, Bismarck is Bismarck Zwei, meanwhile Laffey Alien M. Summer, Hammann Edsall, and Northampton are Oregon City."
"But that doesn't mean we've changed, internally." Hornet assures, "You're still our sister to this day!"
"But how?" Xavier asked Anzeel as she smiles wanting to explain this.
"As you can see, this is the Type II upgrade, I designated the same different ship class and they gain new equipment and abilities but still retain their body and memories." Anzeel explained.
"So like ship transfer?" Xavier assumed.
"Nice to understand!" Anzeel smiles, "Tho I can only do some and require other ships. Which is why I am trying to work on that Retrofit project." She added.
"Retrofit?" Xavier mentioned. "You are attempting to modernize them?"
"Gosh you know a lot, then again you are a computer expert..." Anzeel nodded. "So... You played some games?" She asked.
"What?" Xavier replied.
"Anzeel." Admiral speaks up.
"Oh, sorry." Anzeel shook her hand, "Anyways, we should head into something else since the Admiral has something else to show." She added.
"Admiral?" Xavier turned to him as he smiles.
"Yeah, with the help of Anzeel, we developed a new brand of ships..." Admiral stated, "And you and Anzeel will be returning to base with them to at least interact with the others."
Xavier nodded until he hears this one crucial part... "Wait, Anzeel and I?" He exclaimed.
"I know right?" Anzeel gleams, "I can't wait to see how the girls are doing... Also don't worry about myself and my position, as I am granted a permanent Vacation, a worker's dream, except the fact I'll still be working out closer in your place..." She paused as she talked further, "Plus, I can easily work on that Retrofit Project I have." She added.
"Correct, plus we are concerned for the dear state of our fellow Researcher as she will be crucial to the Azur Lane, plus with Aoste providing us the Antiochus, thus we have our own defense force. The more the merrier right?" He asked with a friendly smile.
"I-I guess that makes sense..." Xavier admits.
"Alright!" Hornet claps her hands with a bright smile. "I can't wait to show everyone what we've been through and who we bringing along with us!" She said.
"Of course but first..." Admiral checks his watch, "Oh! Right on time! The ships I talked about are entering this lab." Just then a door opens revealing someone... "Commander, meet the Priority and Decisive ships!" He announces 27 of the new girls.
The girls are impressed to see these newcomers as Anzeel and Admiral grin, Jonathan and Mary are surprised but Xavier... Why does Xavier get the feeling a few of them might lead to worse things...
Chapter 19 Completed... Commence The Next Chapter...