New Jersey and Massachusetts sat slightly offset behind the Jean Bart, giving their rear firing turrets room to aim at the incoming enemy.
"Akashi, how's it look? Think you can make it?" New Jersey asked as she focused on her radar again. Something was off. The others' radar was working fine. Yet New Jersey found her own lagging behind.
"Nyaa… no. The enemy fleet is too thick to try to run through. Akashi is too slow." Akashi replied.
New Jersey grabbed a handful of her own hair and pulled it as the thought of a strategy.
"That matrix you have is real important to the Admiral. Turn around and make steam for the channel we came from. Wait by the mouth there but be ready to make a dash back through should we three not be enough… my radar is malfunctioning, and I don't know why." New Jersey ordered.
"Radar? Akashi can fix that, nyaa." Akashi said.
"Not while we're engaged!" New Jersey shot back.
"Akashi suggests testing your fire control radar as well. If New Jersey-san's surface detection system is malfunctioning, who knows what else is going on." Akashi said as New Jersey watched the repair ship defy orders and pull up behind the massive battleship.
"Akashi, it's too dangerous! I can aim once they get closer. Just like Texas and Penny." New Jersey tried.
"No. With all due respect, New Jersey-san, you need to keep them away. Akashi has a bad feeling about the lead element of the enemy formation, nyaa." Akashi said.
"What do you mean?" New Jersey asked as she watched the minty haired cat scamper across her deck and begin rapidly climbing the superstructure, faster than her attire should have allowed.
"Akashi feels weird. Like a ceiling has been placed above her head. If she hits it, Akashi feels like a lot of things will break." Akashi said. New Jersey took a moment to try and understand.
"So… you think the Sirens in this fleet are able to attack the systems of higher tech ships?" New Jersey asked, knowing it was a long shot.
"Akashi does not know. But considering Massachusetts-san and Jean Bart-san have not received any kind of equipment failure, they may be targeting the most dangerous ship first, nyaa." Akashi tried.
"So, you mean they're trying to spoof me, thinking that the other two aren't as dangerous?" New Jersey clarified.
"Once again… Akashi does not know… but now that Akashi is looking at your Radar array… Akashi believes this to be the case. New Jersey-san's Radar array is in perfect condition. All the wiring is sound, nyaa." Akashi said as New Jersey focused on her radar. The blips had stopped moving during their conversation.
New Jersey acted fast, switching to Jean Bart.
"Jean. What is the status of the enemy fleet?" New Jersey asked.
"40 nautical miles and closing. Why? Can't you see them?" Jean Bart accused.
"No. My radar is being jammed. Akashi said that my radar array is in perfect working order, which means there may be something in that fleet capable of defeating radar." New Jersey explained.
"Shit… that isn't good. If they can spoof your radar, Massa and I are pretty much screwed since we're at least a generation behind in terms of radar tech… if they are targeting you first… then it should be safe to assume that they won't target us until you've gone down." Jean hypothesized.
"Well… if I can't use my radar, it'll make it difficult to maintain long range accuracy." New Jersey lamented.
An audible gulp was heard on the channel as Akashi made her presence known.
"Akashi can help." Akashi said.
"No. It's too dangerous. I told you to retreat nearly ten minutes ago." New Jersey said.
"What needs done, cat?" Jean spoke.
"If Jean Bart-san can run a cable to Akashi… Akashi can run a cable to New Jersey-san so New Jersey-san can use Jean Bart-san's radar information." Akashi suggested.
"No. That'd require you to stay here while we fight. I cannot allow that." New Jersey said, only to be cut off by Jean Bart.
"Ha! I like where your head's at, Cat. Come on over. I just so happen to have cable in excess." Jean said as the Akashi lumbered its way between the two hulking behemoths.
"Enemy aircraft approaching." Massachusetts's soft voice permeated the radio channel.
Looking to the sky, New Jersey could see flecks of black streaking through the blue sky. Looking down at her radar, the information wasn't translating. With a sigh, New Jersey rolled up her sleeves.
"Akashi… get that radar up and running… until then… we're doing this the old-fashioned way." New Jersey said as her eyes shifted from a dull blue to a shining, brilliant yellow.
Outside, all of New Jersey and Massachusetts's five-inch guns elevated, aiming high into the sky as the rest of their smaller AA guns did the same.
Without warning or a rally call, New Jersey opened fire with every AA gun she could muster, blanketing the sky above them in an impenetrable cloud of flak and fire.
Massachusetts followed suit, setting her guns lower to blanket the area further out to keep the enemy planes from approaching.
Jean Bart looked out from her bow and saw the sky now thoroughly covered in black clouds.
"How the hell you two managed to fit so much AA on those hulls of yours… this is ridiculous. Jean murmured as her uniform was tugged by Akashi.
"Ah right. Let's go get that cable linked up. Enemy is closing fast.
"So… run that by me again. I'm having a bit of a hard time understanding." Bremerton spoke to the Ironblood heavy cruiser.
"The Kommandant ordered me to come here to receive help. My time before this fleet was spent being tortured and used by Observer Alpha to attack my own allies. And while the mind control is gone, and the pain that went with it… I still have the memories. I still hurt my friends. He told me that should my thoughts turn dark… I am to find you and talk about it." Eugen said softly.
"I see. And so you're having these dark thoughts now?" Bremerton asked.
Eugen nodded slowly.
"I am with friends… and someone I hold very dear. Thinking that I might lose him in all of this… makes me want to turn the sirens into Swiss cheese." Eugen said.
"Well that's normal for us, right?" Bremerton asked as she scratched her head.
Eugen shook her head.
"I want them to suffer as well. The pain. Torment. Agony. All of these memories I have of being used… I want to do the same to them…" Eugen explained.
Bremerton finally understood.
"Ah. And with the Admiral's past experience… he sent you to me so you don't make the same mistake as he did." Bremerton said.
"He mentioned something like that. But I don't know what he's talking about." Eugen admitted.
"He captured a Siren back in New Guinea. This siren had been the one to kill Nimi…"
"Wait. This is what he was talking about?" Eugen interrupted.
"Have you heard the story before?" Bremerton asked.
Eugen shook her head.
"No. But I remember Queen Elizabeth… our Elizabeth… reporting that Nimi had fallen in battle. There was no detail given, but I remember the news being broken to Bismarck. She flew Bermuda's flag at half mast all the way until she left." Eugen explained.
"I see. Well… the Siren that killed Nimi showed no remorse for killing Nimi. Isaac… couldn't handle his emotions at that point. Upon her capture, he had her tortured in every conceivable way. Blunt force, laceration, injection, crushing, oxygen deprivation, etcetera. And worse still, he stood by and watched it all go down. When it was all over… he used his own handgun to put a bullet through her head, killing her before having the bulins dissolve her cubes in acid." Bremerton explained. The look of horror on Eugen's face was to be expected.
"He… did all that?" Eugen asked. The image of an ever soft and happy Isaac she had held began to fall apart.
"He did… and every now and again… he can slip back into those memories and that mindset. The wives have taken it upon themselves to detect the change in his personality and tend to it directly instead of waiting for me. But every time, they bring him to me when they are done, just to make sure he is alright. Now… with all that said. He doesn't want you to go down that path. It's dark. Very dark. It leads to a lot of thoughts that aren't true, and are actually more harmful than good. It is not too far off to say that he has managed to hurt himself when he slips back into these memories. As if he is carrying a burden that he must repay." Bremerton explained.
Eugen sat quietly as she pondered what Bremerton was telling her.
"So… what do I do? How do I fix this?" Eugen asked.
Bremerton sighed.
"Unfortunately… there is no fix. But… you can control how you deal with these emotions. Find something you enjoy and cling to it. Use that as your rock to help keep you steady when these bad thoughts come. Do you have something like that?" Bremerton asked.
"I do… but if what you're saying is true… I need to bring him closer to me." Eugen said.
"Oh? Is it that Japanese captain?" Bremerton asked.
"He's German. He was conscripted to the Imperial Japanese navy as part of our alliance with Japan." Eugen corrected her.
"It sounds like you two have history." Bremerton remarked.
"We do… I used to take care of him when he was a teen back in the fatherland. His father would have meetings with Kriegsmarine high command. So he would get dropped off at the shipyard for us girls to look after." Eugen said as a smile crept onto her face.
"I find that fascinating." Bremerton said.
"How so?" Eugen asked.
"I mean, he was a teen when you last saw him. Now he's a grown man, but you haven't changed a bit. I find that fascinating." Bremerton said.
Eugen gave her typical koi smile.
"That just means he gets to experience the same body he lusted for back then." Eugen said with a giggle.
Bremerton gave a small sigh and followed it with a smile.
"So he is important to you. And someone you find comfort in. That's good. Not only for you, but for the fleet as a whole. Because if he is important to you, you'll fight harder to protect him." Bremerton noted.
Eugen nodded with the assessment.
"Well… if bringing him closer is what you want… marry him." Bremerton said.
Eugen blushed brightly.
"M-marry?!" Eugen cried.
"Yes. If you really hold him dear and feel like there is no way to bring him further into your life… marry the man. That would be the best course of action. You both have a good history and you trust one another. I see no downsides." Bremerton said.
Eugen turned her beet red face to the floor.
"I… I don't think I can." Eugen said.
"What? Why?" Bremerton asked.
"It… It's embarrassing to ask him. I've known him for so long. He knows almost everything about me." Eugen tried.
"Don't give me that, Eugen. We both know you can do it." Bremerton pressured before pulling out a small blue box.
"Go. Marry the man. Doc's orders." Bremerton teased, knowing full well that Eugen was already going to fumble her way through a proposal after their session ended.
Eugen shakily took the box and nodded.
"Thanks… Bremerton." Eugen said as she left the room.
"Such a mess under that mask you wear, Eugen. But I'm glad to see you exposing it. If you can expose it, you can accept it. And if you can accept it… you can cast aside that mask forever." Bremerton spoke to herself as she watched the door close.
"How'd it go?" Michael asked as Eugen walked onto the deck of the Bremerton.
"It… went well." Eugen said as she fumbled with the box in her pocket.
"I'm glad to hear it. Do you feel like it helped?" Michael asked.
"She gave me a few ideas on how to help myself… with her support of course." Eugen said as she mustered the courage to close her hand around the small box.
"Of course. Nobody expects you to do it on your own, Eugen. We're all here for you." Michael said.
"Are you?" Eugen asked softly.
"Hmm? Of course. You'll always have me in your corner." Michael replied.
"Is… is that a promise?" Eugen asked as the blush, that had momentarily faded, came back in full force.
"Yes. There is nothing in this world that would turn me against you." Michael said as he finally turned to see her bright red face.
"Did you have something to drink? Your face is beet red." Michael said as he got closer to her, attempting to catch a whiff of alcohol.
"No! The Kommandant barred me from drinking for the time being… I'm sober." Eugen confessed.
"Are you feeling alright?" Michael asked.
Eugen hesitated before speaking.
"Michael… Do you remember something you said back in Germany?" Eugen asked.
"It's been so long. But maybe you can refresh my memory?" Michael asked.
"You said… that if there was ever a girl you'd want to marry… It would be someone like me. Do you remember saying that?" Eugen asked.
"Now that you mention it… I do recall saying something similar." Michael said.
"Right. Well…while I can't offer someone like me… I can offer myself instead… is… that okay?" Eugen asked as she pulled the blue box from her pocket and handed it to Michael.
Michael was caught completely flat footed. He accepted the box with shaking hands but any words he wanted to say were caught in his throat.
Before him, the usually coy and playful Eugen had been reduced to a bashful mess of disheveled hair and rosy cheeks.
"Well… it's rude to keep a girl waiting… you know." Eugen said as she met his gaze.
"I… uh… wow." Michael managed before turning around so she couldn't see what he was doing.
With a hard thump, Michael pounded a fist into his chest, building his resolve. Not even a moment later, Michael did an about face, turning to see Eugen standing before him still.
"Prinz Eugen." Michael said.
"Y-yes?" Eugen stood at attention after being addressed so formally.
Michael knelt down on one knee.
"Will you do this man the utmost honor, and marry me?" Michael asked as he opened the box.
It took every ounce of courage that Eugen had to nod her head, as words were no longer an option in that moment.
Michael slipped the ring onto her finger and was immediately tackled to the ground as Eugen pressed herself to his chest, hugging him tightly and granting him the most sensual kiss they had shared to date.
She pulled away and laid her head on his chest.
"I'll hold you to that promise, you know… don't you dare leave me." Eugen whispered.
"I don't plan on it, Eugen." Michael said as he patted her head, fixing her disheveled hair.
"Please don't leave." Eugen whispered softer.
"I won't, Eugen. You'll never be alone again."