"¡Valentina, Levantarse de la cama!," a voice calls from the other side of the bedroom door, stirring her awake.
"You're gonna be late, darse prisa"
With the same grace as a beached whale she rolls over onto her back, her head dangling over the edge of the bed.
Her tired eyes slowly focusing on the red glowing numbers on her bedside clock. Squinting, it became quite clear, she was going to be late.
"Do you want me to make breakfast?" the voice calls from down the hall.
"No mom!" she yells back, "I gotta go now."
After a quick refresh in the bathroom, she quickly slips into her work clothes. Unfolding her glasses she put them on before scanning her bedside table looking for a small black box.
It was small yet weighted in her hand as she slowly cracked it open.
Brooklyn had returned her proposal with one of her own, and with it a matching ring to the one she had received.
Placing it on her finger she sets its box back down before making haste out of her room.
With a quick peck on her mother's cheek she makes a dash for the stairs, the elevator to slow for her liking.
Looking at her watch, Val had only 8 minutes to catch the earliest bus down to Bay Ridge.
Bursting out of her Park Slope apartment, her athletic legs carry her to the bus stop with two minutes to spare.
Her stomach rumbles as she wonders why she was in such a hurry in the first place when another glance at her watch tells her it's 10 minutes past the scheduled arrival time.
The bus finally arrives but it's packed tight with people, only standing room left.
Squeezing her way in, she maneuvers under and around people's arms as they hold tightly to the bars overhead.
Settling on a spot next to the rear doors she leans against the wall and watches as the buildings and storefronts pass her by.
Her own reflection on the door windows catches her eye as she pats her hair down trying to rid herself of her bedhead.
Val turns her head to her side, eying her scar that runs down and behind her right eye. It has faded a lot since the 13 years she first got it but it's still visible to anyone looking hard enough.
She brings her hand up to her face as she traces the scar with her fingers, a small bittersweet smile comes over her as the glint from the precious gem on her finger also comes into view.
To think their fates would be intertwined so closely, she thinks as thoughts of that day 13 years ago returns to her mind.
A loud boom and a blinding light was all she could remember before she came too, a crushing feeling came over her, a constant ringing was all she could hear.
Searing heat wafted all around her, dancing blurry orange flames slowly came into focus. Breathing became difficult as the collapsed debris weighed heavily on her back. Her right eye stung with her blood pouring down, pooling right below her face. Blood and dirt was all she could taste as she struggled to even scream for help.
Tears flowed from her eyes mixing with her blood, numbness overtaking her limbs as she tried to wriggle loose.
She could feel the ground shake violently every few seconds or so. Whatever was the cause of her current situation was drawing closer with every tremor.
Thoughts of her parents and her siblings came to her, there was so much she wanted to do with them, she wanted to see them again, she wanted to live.
Collecting all her remaining strength she waited for the next tremor.
A deafening explosion made the ground shake tremendously, using the opportunity, she pressed up on her arms with all of her might to slip from beneath the debris pinning her back.
Though she had gained back her ability to breathe she could not slip completely free, her leg was the one pinned against the ground.
She had to get free, she had to see her family again.
"H...Help" she let out weakly.
No one was going to hear her, no one was coming to her rescue.
'not like this' she thought 'no one will come if I'm still like this'
Clutching the dirt in her fingers she cries out with all her breath.
"HELP!"
Another tremor sent more debris falling on top of her. Each impact pinning her back down.
Her strength gone, no longer able to bear the weight pressing down on her she stops struggling, breathing once again near impossible.
Tears form in her eyes once more as she soundlessly curses her fate.
A streak of blue shown through the gaps in the rubble in stark contrast to the orange flames dancing all around.
"I'm picking up something... there's someone in here!" She can hear a girl's voice shout.
The sound of digging and rubble being tossed aside can be heard as more and more light began to shine through the ever increasing gaps.
"I see someone! She needs help!" she hears the girl call out again.
Even more light came into her from newly created gaps as what looked like a trio dug furiously trying to reach her.
One final piece of debri hiding her face was pulled away revealing to her the faces of her rescuers, though the tears that began to fall obscured them somewhat.
A head of blue and pink hair, the likes of which she had never seen, reached out her hand to grab her as the other one with hair that matched the fire around them hoisted, with all her might, the rubble pinning her to the ground.
With one quick synchronized action the blue haired girl pulled her free from the rubble.
Much needed air came into her lungs as she fell into the embrace of her savior.
"Brooklyn, she needs help, she's lost way too much blood!" the blue haired girl shouts to a blonde girl behind her.
"Helena, go with St. Louis and Honolulu and search for more survivors. I'll have Boise and Phoenix cover me as I take her to the shelter."
The blue haired girl hands her over to the blonde as she jumps down from what used to be her bedroom now nearly fully exposed to the night sky.
"Just hold on tight," the blonde spoke to her as Val weakly wrapped her arm around her. The blonde cradles her gently princess style, her grip firm enough to not let her slip as she leaps down from the fourth story.
Valentina held on as tightly as she could, her face buried in the blondes chest. Her stomach turns inside out and a gust of wind hits her as she feels them leap again.
"It's okay you're gonna be alright" the blonde soothed, feeling the girl clenching tight each time she lept.
Peaking upward she catches a glimpse of the blonde's sweat drenched and soot filled face. Her gaze fixed straight ahead as she braced for her landing, readying her next big leap.
A rush of wind stung Val's eyes as she tried to look around. The sky glowed orange from the flames, burning all that she could see.
It was from the flames below in the distance that she saw it, a small mass of tentacles leaping out of the fire behind them.
"Contact!" She heard the red head shout turning on the spot as she watched from over the blonde's shoulder.
Val could feel them coming to a skidding stop.
Peaking out once more she can see the mass of tentacles spreading out in front of them.
Glowing yellow orbs flash from the center of the parting tentacles, clutching the blondes collar tightly a chill runs down her spine as she watches something emerging from the wriggling mass.
A sickly pale girl slithers out from the center of the mass, the tentacles forming a sort of chair as the girl lays down on it, her hands tracing the outline of her body, slowly and sensually.
Laughter, a skin crawling laughter came forth from the figure.
The blonde lowers herself on one knee, as what appears to be a slew of guns swing out around her waist. Her gaze fixed on the girl laying on her throne of tentacles floating above the raging fires beneath her.
"Sorry," the blonde focusing, her gun barrels training on her target, "but this might get a bit loud"
A flash of light and a shockwave rocked Vals already battered body, the ringing in her ear returning in force. She couldn't quite see what was going on but she could feel themselves on the move once more.
"Go, Brooklyn!," A girl with long blue hair shouts out, the mask on her face muffling her voice slightly, "We'll hold it off!"
With not even the slightest hesitation the blonde made a dash down the street, a torrent of cannon fire booming behind them.
A blinding flash of several pink beams streak just inches away from where they were, the heat it gave off many times hotter than the fires raging around them.
The blonde holds on tighter to Val as she jumps out of the way from the second shot.
"Just leave me..." Val finds it harder to keep her eyes open as the corners of her vision start to narrow.
"Stay with me!" The blonde yelled shaking Val in her arms slightly, "we're almost there, just hold out for little bit longer"
"I know a girl, she'll patch you right up" the blonde continues talking, "so keep your eyes open and..."
The blonde's voice faded away as the ringing in her ears grew louder.
She could feel themselves moving even faster, the force from each leap becoming stronger.
An overwhelming tiredness comes over Val, each passing minute the weight of her eyelids became harder to bear.
The smell of the river grew stronger with each leap, the sound of the laughter and cannon fire well behind them.
Droplets of cold water splash against her soot-covered face, a cold mist keeping her consciousness from fading.
Val could feel themselves gliding along, no longer jumping and landing.
The light was dimmer where they were, the rumbles of the commotion behind them can barely be felt.
As she strained her neck to look around, she found themselves skimming along the surface of the water.
Weakly looking up at the girl carrying her, Val could swear she was an angel. No one in her mind was capable of this, only the Angels she heard about from church.
The way her blonde hair blew in the wind and the glow around her head from the fires raging on the skyline behind them gave her no doubt she had to be one.
Had God heard her cry and sent this beautiful Angel to save her or was it just her addled mind going delirious from the blood loss.
A warm reassuring smile was all the blonde could give when she noticed the girl looking up at her.
The booming of what Val thought to be more cannon fire could be felt in the direction they were traveling.
Fiery wrecks of ships came into view, dozens more were scattered about illuminating the dark waters around them.
One final leap up onto the docks had them running on land once more, trading the smoke filled night sky for the stark white of a tent ceiling.
The injured lay on stretchers, too numerous to count, as a team of nurses and medics tended to person after person and not a moment of respite in between.
Working frantically among them, a peculiarly dressed nun with long pink hair clears more room for those who have newly arrived.
The blonde places Val on one of the newly vacant stretchers. Weakly turning her head slightly to the side Val watches a young couple, each in the embrace of the other, their backs heaving heavily. The man's hand rubbing circles on the woman's back, what looked like tears streaking down his face.
Val's eyes trace the women's gaze, stopping at a figure laying on the stretcher next to hers. Still, like a doll, a young girl lay there, her face obscured by a blanket draped across it.
Val can only lay there watching as the nun and the blonde exchange words, a look of concern equally plastered on their faces as they turn to look down at her.
The concern transforms into panic as the tiredness starts to overtake her body, her eyelids too heavy to keep open.
She can feel a tight pressure around her hand that the blonde was holding as she drifts off to sleep.
A chime from the bus's speaker snaps Val out of her memories. Tucking in her stomach she let's a few passengers squeeze by her out the doors. Her destination was just a few more stops away.
As she continues to stare at her own reflection on the bus's window she clutches the ring on her finger tightly.
To think, over a decade later, their fates would collide so suddenly again. Smiling at herself Val wonders if those two even remember her from back then.
Jumping off the bus at the next stop she makes her way through the slight crowd of people and into a tight alley behind the cafe. Slamming open the back door she makes it to the time clock with just a minute to spare.
"Safe!" she yells to herself.
"Cutting it close Hermosa" her boss says, peeking around the corner from inside the kitchen tossing Val's apron at her.
Failing to catch it it lands on her head slowly draping across her face.
The morning rush came and went, several dozen coffees served, Val let out a tired sigh, enjoying the brief moment of respite.
Taking a peak at the shelf of Manjuu pastries behind herself, she closes her eyes for a second remembering when she came to that day 13 years ago.
She woke up, her body racked with pain. Surveying her surroundings, she finds she's still in the same tent from before. hundreds of injured lay all around her.
Some are surrounded by friends and family, most are alone. Looking around, the Nun and the blonde were gone, in their place the same team of nurses and doctors from before, walking the aisles of stretchers checking up on one patient after the next.
She is startled a bit by a blob of yellow walking past her. Rubbing her eyes she could swear it was a giant bird waddling around with a clipboard tucked under its little wing.
She jumps a bit as another stops in front of her. Getting a good long look at the peculiar creature in front of her, she was sure it was some kind of bird, beak, tiny eyes, and feathers.
"Oh you're awake," a nurse says from beside her changing the i.v. bag from its perch. "That's good, Vestal was particularly worried about you."
The nurse poked at Vals arms checking her vitals, the cold sting of a stethoscope touching her chest.
"They're called Manjuu," the nurse informs, noticing how Val's stare hasn't left the little yellow bird, "They're very handy to have around, and cute to boot."
Reaching out her hand, Val pats the Manjuu on its head, rubbing at its feathers earning a flustered expression from the yellow creature as it rapidly flaps its little wings.
The clock on the register reads half past 11, the morning crowd long gone replaced by a trickling stream of lunchtime patrons.
"One large mocha latte please," a customer asks, stepping up to the counter.
Looking up towards the customer Val notices a familiar blonde walking into the cafe, her blue bow adorning the right side of head unmistakable.
"and two of those Manjuu cakes," the customer asks, pointing at the red ones, "strawberry please."
Val tries to fight the smile bubbling up on her face as she watches Brooklyn queue up at the back of the small line, bringing her hand up in a tiny cute wave that sends Val's heart over the edge.
"One Strawberry Latte and mocha Manjuu cake coming right up." Val confirms, a stupid wide smile on her face.
"Wait, hold on," the customer shoots back, "I think you got it backwards."
Realizing her mistake, Val apologizes scrambling to fix the order on the register, her face red from embarrassment as she catches Brooklyn giggling at her from the back of the line.
The next few customer orders go by without a hitch as Brooklyn moves to the front of the line.
"Hey, can I get a mocha manjuu please," Brooklyn orders, stepping up to the register.
"Ha ha, very funny," Val, realizing it's not even on the menu.
"Just one Coffee, two sugars." Brooklyn rummaged through her coat pocket for the correct change.
Val turns on her heel grabbing at the coffee pot.
"I should be on break in about 15 minutes' ' Val says, pouring the coffee into the cup.
"Is the boss in?" Brooklyn asks, peering over the counter into the kitchen.
"Yeah, whats up?" She asks back dumping a few teaspoons of sugar into the coffee
"Oh~ just need to ask her a little favor."
"I'm guessing it has to do with the good news from last night." Val handing the cup over to her fiance.
Brooklyn gave no answer, just a little curt smile before walking off to a vacant seat on the window counter.
Stealing an occasional glance at the back of the blonde's head quietly sipping at her coffee, Val can't help but think about how well Brooklyn blends in with normal people. As she is now, one can't really tell she's actually a Shipgirl.
Most are easy to spot, their odd colored hair or stand out features like their eyes or manner of dress can help one spot them from a mile away. Even when some are in "plain clothes" their personalities are sometimes a huge giveaway.
But Brooklyn, she's different from the rest in that she's not so different from normal people.
When she first walked through the cafe door Val thought of her as just a normal person, an incredibly gorgeous one, but still a normal person. Only on humid days could one really tell her apart, as her hair would stay perfect, an envious trait that Shipgirls share.
Val couldn't keep her eyes off of her that first time, her jaw probably on the counter. She looked familiar but Val couldn't quite put a finger on it.
It wasn't until she got home a week later and turned on the news that Val recognized her as an assembly woman at a city hall press conference.
Brooklyn became a regular at the cafe after that first visit, stopping by alone most times, but occasionally joined with some peculiar but also drop dead gorgeous women.
Val wanted so badly to be the one sitting next to her, to share a laugh and a casual conversation.
She couldn't stand watching in envy. Everyday in which Brooklyn came through those doors Val brought up the nerve to strike up a little conversation.
What started off as small talk slowly became something more. Val couldn't imagine she would be getting on the knee nearly three years later.
A few more customers later, Val pulls off her apron clocking out for her lunch break.
"Hey boss!" Val calls out into the kitchen.
"What's up Hermosa?" She yells back, poking her head around the corner.
"Brooklyn stopped by,"
"Oh, planning on smooching in the back again?" The boss smirks, recalling when she first found out about their relationship.
"No! geez when will you stop bringing that up" Val blushing profusely. "She looked like she wanted to talk to you about something."
"Don't tell me they're raising our rent again" The boss disparages, scratching at the back of her head.
"I dont think it's anything like that" Val tries to clear up, "apparently it's good news from what she told me last night."
"If she told you last night it's probably good news for you, not me" The boss says scratching at the back of her head again.
"Aren't you on lunch? Why are you back here talking to me? Go grab some food and join her?"
"Ah, Sorry Boss"
"Don't say sorry to me, say it to her." The boss says pointing her spatula towards the dining room.
Hanging up her apron Val grabs a few Manjuu cakes and a plate of two sandwiches the Boss prepared for her and Brooklyn.
Opening the door to the dining room she spots Brooklyn already peaking her way from her seat by the window.
Setting the plates down Val takes her seat next to the light cruiser.
"Courtesy of The Boss" Val says, sliding the plate over to Brooklyn.
"Tell her I said thanks" she says, taking a bite out of the sandwich.
"So~" Val starts turning in her stool to face the light Cruiser, "what's this good news you were on about last night?"
"Well~" Brooklyn, setting her food down to face Val, "Remember that summit I had to go to in a few weeks?"
"Yeah, the one at the joint base or another."
Val's eyes light up, "Don't tell me, you don't have to go now?"
"No, not quite" Brooklyn tries to clarify. "Actually I'm going a few weeks earlier"
Val's shoulders drop slightly. "How exactly is that good news?" she says quietly to herself.
"I'm going to be leaving in a couple of days" Brooklyn adds leaning over to rest her hand on Val's knee.
Val wanted to complain but she knew how important Brooklyn's work was and she had no right to try to pull her away from it. She couldn't bring up the nerve to tell her she had something planned for their anniversary in a couple of days.
"And~" the light Cruiser reaching for her lovers hand, "I got permission to take you with me"
Feeling Brooklyn gently squeeze her hand washed away her anxiety she was feeling just a second ago, exhaling in relief.
"If you want to of course," Brooklyn says, caressing Val's palm with her thumb, "I know it's last minute, but it would mean a lot to me if you came."
"I..." Val tries to say something before she interrupted by The Boss walking up behind them
"What's this I hear about you taking my employee from me?" she says, throwing a dish rag over her shoulder.
"Ah, Boss" Brooklyn greets.
"Brooklyn was just asking me if I wanted to..." Val tries to explain.
"Take a last minute vacation..." The Boss finishes for her. "Before you say anything Hermosa,"
Val flinches slightly waiting to get yelled at.
"You better accept her offer" her tone softens slightly.
"B...but who's gonna cover my shifts?"
"That's for me to worry about Hermosa." The Boss slaps the back of Val's head lightly.
"I swear, what exactly do you see in this one?" She says ruffling her employee's hair.
A soft smile crosses Brooklyn's face as she looks into her fiance's eyes.
"Thanks Boss, I owe you one"
" You, owing me?" The boss says laughing. "It's the least I can do for the girl who saved New York."
The Boss rests her hands on Val's Shoulders slowly rocking her side to side in her stool.
"Since you're gonna be sailing to the other side of the world you better bring her back in one piece."
"I'll be fine Boss, you don't gotta worry about me." Val says trying to wriggle out of The Boss's grip
Tapping Val on her shoulders she turns back towards the kitchen.
"If you did wanna repay me somehow, you can get the city to lower my rent" She says laughing before disappearing through the kitchen doors.
"Can you actually do that?" Val asks, turning to whisper at the light Cruiser.
"Hmm..." Brooklyn contemplates for a moment, "I could try appealing to the..."
"Wait! Hold up!" Val shot her hand up to Brooklyn's face. "I'm pretty sure she was just kidding... I think."
"I see, it probably would've been an abuse of power anyway." Brooklyn rethinks.
"Me thinks you should take a break from work every now and again."
"But what if the Sirens attack?" Brooklyn shoots back.
"No, I don't mean that," Val clarifies, "I mean the city council stuff, and isn't it just volunteer work anyways?"
"Yeah, I enjoy it actually," Brooklyn tracing the rim of her styrofoam cup, "and besides that's the whole reason we're leaving for the joint base early, a vacation... of sorts."
"How're we getting there anyway?" Val asks, "It's not like we can take a plane over the ocean."
Brooklyn rotates on her stool to face Val. With her hands on her hips and a smug look on her face she proclaims,
"I'm taking you of course!"
"By turning into a boat?..."
"No!" the light cruiser exclaims, "well yes... and I'm not a boat!"
"I'm a ship!" Brooklyn materializes part of her rigging on her back.
"I forgot you've never seen my Ship before," Brooklyn leaning over to polish the top of her rigging armature, "I don't transform myself, but my rigging."
"So your rigging turns into a boat?"
"I'm a ship!" she says lightly flicking Val on her forehead.
"Ow '' she lets out rubbing her forehead.
"And yeah, I'm taking you on a cruise to the Pacific." Brooklyn back to her smug look.
Val's eyes light up slightly at the thought of a Cruise, as the industry has been pretty much wiped out since the Sirens arrived.
"Is it going to be safe?" Val's enthusiasm dulling slightly, as flashbacks of the Siren attacks 13 years ago come to her mind.
"Don't you worry," Brooklyn kept her smug look though the tone in her voice was reassuring.
"I'll be there and so will she." Brooklyn gestured out the window towards Massachusetts as she stopped in front of the couple on the other side of the window.
Val waves at the tall white haired Battleship as a somewhat familiar face with lavender twin tails presses up against the window glass trying to get a better look inside at them.
Val notices another somewhat familiar face pop up behind the Battleship, wearing glasses and framed in long straight grey hair.
Val watches as the trio make their way inside the cafe.
"Hey" Massachusetts greets softly, stopping just behind the couple.
"Sorry, when I told them I was going to be meeting up with you at the cafe they insisted on tagging along." The Battleship gestured to the pair behind her.
The twin-tailed Shipgirl narrowing her eyes scanning Val up and down as the other offered an apologetic smile next to her.
"Oh!" Brooklyn bringing her hands together, "I never did properly introduce you."
"Shangri-La, of the Essex class" the bespectacled one spoke, offering her hand.
Val taking her hand in her own, "Valentina, Val for short or Tina, whichever you prefer."
"It's a pleasure, Val" Shangri-La pokes at her sister's side as she is still staring at the couple.
"Ah," she jolts from the sudden jab "E...Essex the lead ship of the Essex class"
"Oh, so you're the older sister?" Val asks, trying to break the ice.
"Y...yeah, m...more importantly!" Essex stammers, "what exactly is your relation to Brooklyn here?"
The outburst earned the lead ship yet another poke at her side by her sister.
"Sorry about my sister, she just found out about you and Brooklyn last night and she's been stuck on it since." Shangri-La apologizes, forcing her sister to bow her head slightly.
"So anyway!" the bespectacled one grabbing at Val's hands, "Who asked first? How did you realize Brooklyn was the one for you?!"
Val, like a deer caught in a pair of headlights, or in this case the sheen of Shangri-La's glasses, struggled to come up with an answer.
"Ok you two," Massachusetts grabbing at the collars of the two Fleet Carriers, "If I'd known you'd be causing a scene I wouldn't have brought you along."
Effortlessly the Battleship dragged the two along.
"I'll wait for you outside," She says as she drags the both of them past the cafe doors.
Val can't help but laugh slightly though Brooklyn shakes her head.
"Sorry about that, they can be a bit"
"Intense?" Val finishes, the two sharing a laugh.
"I should get going, your lunch breaks almost up." Brooklyn says, taking one last sip of her coffee.
A small frown appeared on Val's face as she checked her watch.
"I'm going shopping with them after this," Brooklyn says looking towards the trio standing outside the window in front of them. "Want anything?"
"So that means you're coming by later when I get out?"
"I could help you start packing if you want," Brooklyn offers, "and I want to tell your mother too."
"That's right!" Val shouts, "Would she even let me? You know how overprotective she can be."
"Yeah, I was planning on getting her something,"
"You mean bribing her..."
"Well, when you put it like that..." Brooklyn chuckles, "just to get in her good graces."
"Good graces?" Val let's out laughing slightly, "she already adores you. Sometimes I think she loves you more than she loves me."
"Don't say that," Brooklyn chastises as she slaps Val on her knee, "and I really should get going."
Brooklyn slides off of her stool, leaning over to kiss Val on her cheek.
"I'll stop by in a bit," Brooklyn turned to make her exit.
"Wait," Val calls out, grabbing the light Cruiser's hand pulling her back around to give her a peck on her lips.
"I love you," Val says after her lips leave hers, "I'll see you later"
A light slamming noise on the window draws their attention to Essex pressed against the window once again, her face, down to her ears, bright red.
Shangri-La furiously scribbles something down in her notebook as Massachusetts shakes her head at the both of them.
"So meet you back here in a few hours?"
Brooklyn says, clearing her throat.
"Y... yeah" Val blushing slightly.
The light Cruiser makes her exit from the cafe convening with the trio outside.
With one final wave the shipgirls walk off, disappearing into the crowd of people.