Vestal appeared in the Brig a few minutes later with a large medical bag.
Upon seeing her patient, she hesitated until the piercing gaze of her Commander forced her to move.
"What happened to her?" Vestal asked as she opened the bag.
"From what I gather, Vengeance experimented with the procedure that she is currently performing on Bremerton. But from what Zero has told me, the process was excruciating due to lack of anesthetic or morphine to numb the pain. And then Vengeance threw her in here like this." Isaac said.
"Such savage creatures... I don't know why you allowed them harbor in your fleet." Vestal sneered.
"Because they are willing to fight their comrades for one reason or another. And knowing our enemy gives us an advantage considering that the enemy doesn't even know my name, much less anything important." Isaac said.
"Still. You should have seen this coming. Vengeance has harbored hatred for Zero ever since she got here. She wouldn't shut up about it when the Bulins and I repaired her missing arm." Vestal said.
"I really should have... I know I told her to not kill her, but I made the mistake of telling her that she was free to do whatever she desired so long as we could still get information from her." Isaac said.
"You learn quickly, but your common sense is lacking." Vestal jabbed.
"Look, I get it. Let's just get her stable for transfer. You and I are going to have to keep her stable until Vengeance gets done with Bremerton." Isaac said.
"I will keep her stable. You have more important things to do." Vestal said as she disinfected the wound on Zero's face, wrapping it tightly with sterile bandages.
"I feel like I owe it to her. I put her in this situation despite her help in the last battle. I will see to it that her safety is secured until her cubes are harvested." Isaac said.
"Harvested?" Vestal asked.
"Vengeance has been ordered to do to Zero what Oceana did to Nimi. If we can turn Zero's consciousness into a projection, we can use her cubes to bring forth a powerful new ally." Isaac said.
"So you're going to kill her?" Vestal asked, forcing Zero to look at Isaac.
"No. If my theory is correct, it will feel like a small nap before her consciousness reawakens on the Norfolk, using the projectors that Norfolk once did." Isaac said.
"So you're just going to take away her physical form?" Vestal asked.
"Look. It's the best thing I can think of, that way Vengeance can't hurt her anymore, and I wouldn't be outright killing her." Isaac said.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Commander." Vestal said with a sigh.
"Y-you're not going to... kill me?" Zero asked, shocking both Isaac and Vestal.
"No. I am going to have your consciousness removed and make you a projection aboard the Norfolk. The black cubes that make up your body will be harvested to bring forth Iowa's Kansen form. Allowing my fleet to have an autonomous Iowa class Battleship. You won't feel any pain, as I will ensure that you are sufficiently anesthetized." Isaac said as more tears flowed from Zero's eye.
"Apollyon... maybe you're not... as bad as I thought." Zero said as Isaac's shock further expressed itself when she cracked a small smile.
"Commander..." Vestal asked.
"I don't know, Vestal. I don't know." Isaac said as Vestal placed a small needle in Zero's arm, injecting the first dose of Morphine into the Siren's body.
"Ooo... what... is that?" Zero asked, breathing a sigh of relief as her pain seemed to melt away.
"Morphine. A medic's best friend. It helps dull, if not eliminate, any pain you are having." Isaac said.
"I can see that. Apollyon... I have... one last request before I lose the ability to touch." Zero said softly.
Isaac scratched his neck.
"I... I guess. What do you want from me?" Isaac asked.
"Can... I touch you?" Zero asked as Isaac realized Zero hadn't moved her arms since he had gotten there, noting the rope binding her wrists.
Isaac looked at Vestal, who gave him a shrug.
"Alright... but no funny business." Isaac said as he saw Vestal reach her hand into the large duffel bag. Isaac peeked in and caught a glimpse of Vestal's rifle stock.
"I am trapped inside a vessel of Siren make and Human construction. There is nowhere for me to run... I don't even have my rigging anymore. Vengeance made sure of that." Zero spoke, her pained breathing no longer interfering with her ability to speak.
Isaac reached down into his boot and pulled out a knife with a name engraved on the blade.
"Howard Garner?" Zero asked as she quickly read the name.
"My father." Isaac said shortly as he cut the ropes binding Zero.
"Is he... did he survive?" Zero asked.
"No. One of the Explorers killed him and my mother during my escape from the Union back in August." Isaac said, a small tinge of anger present in his voice.
"Oh... that... explains a lot, actually." Zero said.
"What does?" Isaac asked.
"Your fight? The video you sent us? Your anger. The loss of a loved one has proven time and time again to be a powerful driving force." Zero said.
"Yes. It is. And it is the reason that if your colleagues don't surrender... they will be terminated." Isaac said.
"I hope they don't. They think themselves untouchable... And my surrender proved how flimsy the bonds of solidarity among us sirens are." Zero explained as she brought her arms around and rubbed her wrists.
"How so?" Isaac asked, sitting on the floor of the cell, clearly intrigued by his inside look at the Siren Hierarchy.
"Well... The moment I even suggested not wishing to fight you, they threatened me with death. Alphy was the only one who tried to stick up for me, but in the end... she was the one who made the possibility of death tangible." Zero explained.
"Tangible?" Isaac inquired.
"She assumed command over my Explorers and ordered them to terminate me in Japan. My rigging is the only reason I'm sitting here." Zero explained.
"So the moment you broke the mold, they turned on you?" Isaac asked.
"Yes. To put it very simply." Zero said as she reached her hand up and barely touched Isaac's coat.
Isaac sat still, allowing Zero to touch his coat, sending a look of content across her face. Her hand closed until only her index finger was extended and she touched Isaac's wrist, prompting Vestal to reach further into her bag until Isaac held up a hand.
"You really are just a human... aren't you?" Zero asked as her hand retreated to her side.
"Of course I am, what else would I be?" Isaac asked.
"Looks like I win." Zero said with a small chuckle.
"Win?" Isaac asked.
"Alphy and I had a bet going to see if this Apollyon was actually human or not. She believed you to be a secret Kansen of the Union." Zero said.
"And you assumed I was human?" Isaac asked.
"Yes. Although, I never expected what I saw the day I surrendered to your fleet." Zero explained.
"And that is?" Isaac asked.
"A minority of the Union, built like a mountain with a face sharp enough to rend steel to shreds. The commanding presence of the Empress while also having the respect earned through months, if not years of battle." Zero said.
"That's quite the description." Isaac said with a small chuckle.
Zero shrugged with a small smile.
"Are you still experiencing any pain?" Vestal asked as her hand retreated from her bag holding another syringe.
"No. I guess now is when you transfer me to the Norfolk?" Zero asked.
"Yes. We have landed in New Guinea, so it is time to get you ready for the procedure." Isaac said.
"I know it sounds odd to you... but I think I prefer this to the alternative." Zero said as she struggled to stand, forcing Isaac to extend his hand.
She grabbed it and pulled herself to her feet.
"You had an alternative?" Isaac asked.
"I could have let Empress kill me." Zero said with a shrug.
"When this is done, and you have had time to adjust... you and I will be having a long talk." Isaac said.
"Will I get to learn your real name? Or will I be forced to call you Apollyon for eternity?" Zero asked.
"Isaac. My name is Isaac Garner. Admiral of Azur Lane." Isaac said.
"Isaac. I-saac. Is-aac. Isaac." Zero repeated the name over and over as she learned and memorized it.
"Do you think that was honestly the wisest thing to do, Commander?" Vestal asked.
"She has no rigging. And I am sure that she no longer wishes to be in contact with the remaining Sirens." Isaac said, earning a supporting nod from Zero herself.
"Well... it's not like they can do anything to hurt you if they know your name." Vestal reasoned.
"Yeah. It's not like they can leverage my family anymore." Isaac said, the searing edge on his words caused Zero to tremble a bit.
Isaac, Zero and Vestal made their way to the top deck of the Vengeance, where Eagle and Bismarck were waiting.
"Kommandant. We have arrived." Bismarck spoke curtly.
"Very good. Hey, while you're here, could you assist in transporting Zero? She no longer has access to her rigging so she can't carry herself." Isaac said.
"Of course. Where are we taking her?" Bismarck asked.
"The Norfolk. She will be held there." Isaac said.
"And what happened to her face?" Bismarck asked.
"A mistake on my part." Isaac said.
"I see. Well, hop on. I shall get you over there quickly." Bismarck said as Isaac and Zero climbed aboard Bismarck's rigging.
"Eagle. Thank you for all your help. Go and prepare your vessel for the upcoming battle. I am certain that we will be facing opposition the moment we head north." Isaac said.
"Of course, Darling." Eagle said as she skated off across the waves.
"I have a ship on radar." Spee said over the radio.
"I can see it. It's the Missouri, a Union Battleship." Illustrious said.
"The Missouri? Wasn't that vessel with the Kommandant?" Spee asked.
"Yes." Tirpitz replied.
"Ah, Lady Tirpitz. Is everything between you and Eugen alright now?" Spee asked.
"We're working on it. But we both know where we stand. Enough about that. Illustrious, hail that battleship." Tirpitz ordered.
"On it." Illustrious said as she opened a channel.
"Admiral, we are receiving a request from one of the ships ahead of us." The radioman on the bridge spoke.
"Put it through." Nimitz said.
"Hello?" Illustrious's voice came over the radio.
"This is Admiral Nimitz of the Union Navy, who is this?" Nimitz asked.
"This is aircraft carrier Illustrious of the Royal Navy." Illustrious said.
"What is the Royal Navy doing out here?" Nimitz asked.
"We are under orders from Admiral Isaac Garner to join him and reinforce the fleet." Illustrious spoke.
"Ah. So you are going to replace us then?" Nimitz asked.
"So it seems." Illustrious said.
"You mentioned others. Who else is traveling with you?" Nimitz asked.
"Tirpitz, Admiral Graf Spee, and Prinz Eugen of the Ironblood Navy." Illustrious spoke.
"Looks like the Admiral's taste continues to reign supreme." Nimitz joked.
"Oh?" Illustrious asked.
"He has a special eye for the Ironblood girls. Already married three of them." Nimitz said.
"Oh wow. Such a lecherous Admiral." Illustrious tittered.
Nimitz laughed as lights lit up on the radar.
"Admiral! We have additional contacts to the north!" The radar operator spoke.
"Are they friendly?" Nimitz asked as the Missouri was hit with a glancing blow from a battleship shell.
"Well that answers that. Illustrious, can you and your fleet assist?" Nimitz asked.
"Yes, sir. we are only a few miles out." Illustrious said.
"I await your backup, we will hold out as long as we can." Nimitz said as he cut the line. He ran to a red button on the wall of the bridge and slammed his hand against it. Sirens began to wail onboard the Missouri.
Nimitz picked up the receiver on the bridge.
"All Hands, Man Your Battlestations. Enemy Detected Due North And Closing. We Must Hold Them Off Until We Get Reinforcements." Nimitz ordered, sending the Missouri into battle mode once more.
"Tirpitz! The Missouri has come under attack!" Illustrious spoke frantically.
"Everyone, ahead full. We will move to assist and provide fire support. Illustrious, get fighters and torpedo bombers in the air, we need eyes on the enemy. We are will within Strength's territory, so we may be facing her defense fleet." Tirpitz ordered as she saw Spitfires and Swordfish come to life on the carrier's flight deck.