Isaac sat on the now dark bridge of the Iowa. Some time had passed since he sent Iowa off to bed, taking up the helm of the mighty battleship to allow her some time to decompress.
"Temperance was here… on this bridge. Why?" Isaac whispered to himself before a yawn at the doorway caught his attention.
Isaac spun to see Iowa rubbing her eyes.
"Did you sleep well?" Isaac asked.
"Can't say that I did, Admiral. The feeling of her hand on my chest keeps me awake." Iowa replied as she walked over to the desk where Isaac had laid his cap. Isaac looked over from the Captain's wheel.
"We've managed to put distance between us and India. Benson has kept the formation close." Isaac assured her.
"Thanks…"
"Please have a seat. I wish to discuss what the hell happened." Isaac interrupted, sighing as if airing his concern relieved some noticeable amount of stress.
Iowa complied, more than happy to sit at her desk.
"What happened when I left the bridge? I heard some of it, but it was so quiet that I couldn't make out much." Isaac explained.
"Well… when you went to hide, she came in the door. She looked around and went to the desk. I asked her what she was here for, and if she was here… to kill us. But she said she could if we wanted, as if it wasn't her objective in the first place." Iowa started.
"Did she mention anything off?" Isaac asked.
"She assumed I fought under you, which is correct. She also made it known that despite her not seeing you, she knew exactly where you were on my hull and was fully capable of dragging you out. However… from what I remember, she did not seem to want to do so." Iowa continued.
"Odd. Anything else?" Isaac asked.
"Compiler contacted her via her rigging. They can track each other. Compiler was ready to escort her in when she left, but she told her off, saying she is better at keeping herself safe than Empress. Compiler said she'd wait for her in India's capital city." Iowa recalled.
"And you said the name of this siren was Temperance? One of the Arbiters given control over a vast expanse of South America?" Isaac asked.
"Yes sir. She seemed docile… but extremely confident in her abilities. She mentioned that should things progress a certain way, we may not have to fight her. She almost made it sound like she'd be willing to let us do our thing without her intervention. Maybe even ally herself with us. According to the disdain she held in her voice for Compiler… there may be a schism in the Siren ranks that we can exploit once more." Iowa suggested.
Isaac nodded.
"The less people like that we need to fight, the better." Isaac whispered as he felt the wheel of the ship get heavy.
"I'll take over from here, Admiral." Iowa spoke.
"Are you sure?" Isaac asked.
"I am, sir. Can't sleep, might as well keep truckin." Iowa said with a small smile.
"Understood. Keep your wits about you, Iowa." Isaac said as he turned for the corridor that lead to the captain's quarters.
Isaac opened the door to his room and turned to close it behind him. The sudden presence of a familiar force froze him solid.
"I knew there was a human on this vessel. And by the look of that armor… you are most certainly Apollyon." A voice spoke from the darkness.
Isaac reached for his handgun only for the voice to speak again.
"I would refrain from violence, Admiral. I could kill you before the barrel of that gun left it's holster. Something I have made very clear to the cartel's of South America." The voice spoke.
"Temperance." Isaac whispered.
"Correct."
"How long have you been there?" Isaac asked slowly as he latched the door.
"I never left. Something still bothered me with that battleship's response. So I figured I'd wait, and catch you instead." Temperance spoke slowly as a soft blue light was emitted into the room.
Isaac turned slowly, only to find the face of the Siren mere centimeters from his own.
"So what… you torture me for information and then kill me and my girls?" Isaac asked.
Temperance sighed.
"I could if you want me to. Bit pointless to raise such a fuss if you just want to die." Temperance said with a shrug.
"A fuss?" Isaac asked himself.
"Yes. The business you're doing in the south pacific. Quite annoying to hear Empress bitch about your progress. Honestly gives me a headache." Temperance explained.
Isaac stood frozen. The sheer power held by the woman in front of him is what kept her in control of the whole of South America. He knew that at any moment, she could kill him and he'd be powerless to stop her.
"Why have you come here?" Isaac asked, steeling his voice.
"To sate my curiosity about Observer Zero's cubes. The battleship said you used them to awaken her. This I believe since she bares quite the resemblance to my late friend." Temperance spoke.
Isaac's spine went cold.
"Revenge." Isaac thought to himself.
"I did in fact use Zero's cubes for the awakening of Iowa." Isaac admitted.
"I see. Why? Normal wisdom cubes would have done the trick." Temperance spoke, telling him what was common knowledge to humanity.
"We tried. But one of my subordinates suggested that Iowa had undergone something called an incomplete awakening. There wasn't enough energy in the single cube to awaken her as a kansen… they suggested a Siren's cubes." Isaac said, protecting Vengeance's identity.
"I see. An incomplete awakening would require more energy to force a completion. Your subordinate is well versed in our technology, Admiral." Temperance spoke coolly.
"That they are. They have helped quite a bit in helping me understand Sirens and their technology." Isaac spoke, keeping his hand close to his gun, something Temperance noticed.
"As stated, I would not reach for that firearm, Admiral. If I wanted to kill you, Like Empress and Strength do, I would have done so by now. I merely wanted to satisfy my curiosity." Temperance said.
Isaac watched Temperance intently as she walked over to the bed and sat there, facing him.
"I spoke with that battleship. It seems she spoke to you about our conversation… I assume you have questions. Ask. I will answer what I can as payment for you sating my curiosity." Temperance spoke.
"Payment? There's nothing we could do if you just left. Why act like we have leverage?" Isaac asked.
"You don't. You very much don't. But as I said to your battleship. I might not have to be your enemy… should things progress a certain way. Me being here is nothing more than information gathering." Temperance spoke.
"I see… and what do you mean by that?" Isaac asked.
"So eager to have me on your side? Not that I blame you. Even your main fleet would have trouble fighting me with the power I wield. But that said, there are certain aspects I disapprove of when it comes to Empress's plan. Deal with them, and I see no problem in helping you rid this world of her influence. After all, I much prefer knowing all that I can, rather than claiming dominion." Temperance said.
Isaac hid his surprise.
"The others… are they as strong as you are?" Isaac asked.
"Empress, yes. Strength is stronger. Hermit is admittedly the weaker of us four Arbiters." Temperance admitted.
Isaac nodded.
Temperance sighed.
"If there are no more questions, I shall see myself out. But before I go, I have one more thing to ask." Temperance spoke as she stood.
"You've been kind not to attack… so I will answer if I can." Isaac said, unwilling to break the fragile trust within the room.
"Why did you begin your crusade?" Temperance asked.
Isaac dropped his head.
"If Empress controls the Union… then it is safe to say that her orders are what killed my parents. She killed my Parents. And if she's the ringleader… she has also claimed dominion over my home. Or what used to be my home. That's why. That is why I vowed to eliminate the Sirens." Isaac spoke.
"I see. Then perhaps this will be your victory. Who is to say?" Temperance spoke as a purple orb formed behind her.
"Before I go… one more sign of good faith. Empress does not know you are here. But that is because she is currently attacking your main fleet through the Mirror Sea you used. Hopefully they can manage. I'd hate to see you fail here." Temperance spoke with a casual wave before stepping into her own Mirror sea.
The mirror sea closed and Isaac collapsed to the floor, his legs finally giving out.
"No… I need to contact the fleet." Isaac said as he forced himself to his feet, bolting from the room and towards the bridge.
Isaac rushed onto the bridge and went right for his helmet.
"Admiral?" Iowa asked.
"The fleet is under attack." Isaac spoke.
"How do you know?" Iowa asked skeptically.
"I'll tell you later!" Isaac said as he tapped his helmet.
"Norfolk. This is Isaac. I am giving you a direct order to contact me. I know you can hear me." Isaac spoke hoping he wasn't too late.