Chapter 7

Taking a sip from a fresh cup of tea, the Commander watches over the Naval Yard from the window in his office. A few Shipgirls shuffle out of the mess hall presumably filled with their share of dinner and dessert.

Behind him, an empty tray of food sat between the huge piles of paperwork, all of which stood done and completed.

Turning back to face his office, the Commander releases a drawn out breath, as he eyes the Iron Blood document he set near the center of his desk.

All for the sake of finding the Siren's origins? The Commander knew Bismarck well enough to know there's more to this but he couldn't quite put his finger on whatever it was.

Carefully sliding a stack of paperwork aside he pulls forth an old brass phone.

Rotating the old fashioned dial a few times he brings the handset to his ear. The line rang clearly as he waited for his call to be answered.

"Joint Base Kommandantin's office, to whom do I owe ze pleasure" the German voice over the phone was not what the Commander had expected.

"Eugen?"

"OoOo~ it's Kommandant," the Iron Blood Light Cruiser coos.

"The Commander?" Says a voice in the background, " Eugen…"

The sound of shuffling came over the handset.

"Eugen… give me-"

"I vant to talk to- '' Eugen trails off.

"Hello…" the Commander spoke but only got more rustling as a response, "...Wales?"

"Hello, Commander?" An out of breath Wales comes on the line. "Sorry about that, a pest just flew into my office."

"Hey…"

"I hope I wasn't interrupting anything…" the Commander says, laughing through his nose.

"N...no, not at all Commander."

"Hmmm…. Ve vere just getting to ze good part~" Eugen's voice awfully close.

"Eugen…" Wales sounded a little more stern.

"I see you two are getting along."

"..." The Royal Navy Battleship sighs, "I doubt you're calling just to catch up."

"As much as I'd love to," the Commander scratched at the back of his head, " I just want to know if you're aware of a certain Iron Blood document that you may or may not be familiar with."

Another sigh comes over the phone.

"Iron Blood Document?" Eugen says in the background, clearly eavesdropping.

"Ah, ja," The Heavy Cruiser sounding even clearer than before, "Kommandant Bismarck has something special in store~"

"Eugen!"

"So I'm correct in assuming she has something more planned for that Black Wisdom Cube than what she let on in that letter of hers." The Commander pieces together.

"..." yet another sigh, "Yes, from what she told me…" Wales explains.

"Brooklyn is arriving soon to the Joint Base, right?" She asks after a slight pause.

"Brooklyn? What does she have to do with-, but yeah… she's leaving port with Massachusetts and a civilian in a few hours."

"Mhm…. I was hoping you could talk to her for me."

"What did you need to talk to her about?"

"About the Black Wisdom Cube… and about Helena…"

"He...Helena? Is she alright?"

"She's doing great actually, but-"

"Kommandant Bismarck has a fixation on zat girl…" Eugen speaks directly into the handset.

"She's apparently found a way to get that girl's memories back." Wales, apprehension clear in her voice.

"...using the Black Wisdom Cube…" the Commander clenched his fist, "you guys saw first hand what it did to Enterprise!"

"I know, and I've expressed my concern about that with Bismarck, but she's convinced it will work."

"From what Bismarck told me," Eugen speaks into the handset again, "Enterprise saw memories and interacted with another version of herself when under the influence of the Black Wisdom Cube."

"I'm aware, I saw those reports and Enterprise told me directly about what happened."

"Then you'll know how the two almost became one…"

"So, she's counting on that to happen with Helena…"

"If ze girl agrees of course."

"Like I said Commander," Wales comes back on the line, "Helena is doing just fine from what I can tell, and may not even need all this."

The Commander felt conflicted, Helena being one of the first few Shipgirls he became friends with along with Brooklyn, made the idea that she could remember those early days together with not just himself, but with everyone, too enticing to pass up.

Thinking of Brooklyn, the Commander felt wrong to spring this up on her, now of all times.

"I'm sorry Wales, but can I leave the decision to tell them to you?"

"I was afraid you'd say that," she chuckled, "but you don't have to worry, I'll consult with Brooklyn once she arrives."

"Ah… about that…"

Walking through the halls with her roll along luggage case next to her, Val looks behind herself to watch the train of several Manjuu following closely behind her, carrying the rest of her luggage over their heads.

"I feel like a mother duck."

Bataan laughs at the thought as she leads Val towards the direction of the docks.

"Brooklyn's already at the docks?" Val asks at the back of the Light Carrier, "she wasn't in bed when I woke up."

"Yeah, she got up bright and early, leading a ton of Manjuu too."

"I wonder what for?"

Bataan giggles, "you must be important to her…"

Val could only stammer, as she was caught off guard by the statement. "I… uhhh… "

"I haven't seen her whip the Manjuu up into this big of a frenzy since she hosted the peace treaty signing on her ship with the President and all the Prime Ministers."

Vals cheeks warmed at the thought, as a small smile cracked on her face.

"I guess she's important to you too?" Bataan giggles again, "don't worry I won't tell anyone."

"Actually, I'm really happy for her, and you too of course." The Light Carrier reveals.

"It's nice to see her happy again," Bataan's tone dropped to a somber one, "especially after Helena died and-"

Val halted, as the Manjuu following close behind, bumped into each other from the sudden stop.

Brooklyn only ever told Val that memories were all that was lost from Helena, not her life.

"W...wait, she died?"

Bataan turned around, wide eyed and pale, realizing she just said something she wasn't supposed to.

"I… uhhh… I'm sorry, if Brooklyn hasn't told you then I shouldn't-"

Val took quick steps towards the stammering Light Carrier.

"Please, If you don't mind, can you tell me what happened," Val's voice sounded more frantic than intended, as she placed her hand on Bataan's arm, "I just want to know why she avoids talking about it."

Bataan held her little Wildcat tightly to her chest as she hung her head, "what happened… was very difficult for her."

"What did happen?" Val said softly as she let go of the Carrier's arm, "to Helena?"

"I wasn't there when it happened…" Bataan's shoulders dropped as she began to recall that day, "I… was there… when they brought her back."

Bataan could barely see, as tears blocked her view of the girl laying on the ground motionless, her vibrant blue and pink hair soaked in sea water and laid out like a blanket behind her.

Vestal hung her head low clutching at her skirt as her tears stained the fabric of her dress.

'She's cold'…. Honolulu thinks as she held tightly to her sister's unresponsive hand, sobbing into the wet fabric of her chest.

"I'm sorry!" Juneau cried as she collapsed next to her body, "it was supposed to be me!"

"I...I wasn't fast enough…" San Francisco struggles to hold back her tears as she falls to her knees.

"It's okay…" St. Louis kneeling slowly between the two tired and battered Cruisers draping her arms around their necks, bringing them into her chest.

Her gentle smile never fades as she holds Juneau and San Francisco close to her stroking their hair letting them cry into her chest.

"It's alright…" St. Louis whispered into their ears, "it's… it's alright..."

Her voice wavered only for a moment, never letting her comforting smile leave her face as she looked into Juneau's tear filled eyes.

"It's not your fault…" She places a kiss atop the blonde's forehead before doing the same to San Francisco still quietly sobbing into her chest.

"You gave it your all…"

Their cries intensified as she hugged them tighter.

"Helena… she dove and took several torpedoes meant for Juneau…" Bataan explains, "and San Francisco had to carry her on her back, but... she ended up passing before they could make it back."

"I see…" Val's heart felt heavy, she couldn't imagine what it would feel like if one of her siblings died right in front of her.

"But!" Bataan exclaims, attempting to brighten the darkened mood. "I don't know the exact details, but they somehow found a way to bring back the girls who died during the war!"

"And Helena was one of them!" She claps her hands together trying to cheer up Val.

"But she somehow lost her memories when they brought her back…" Val pieces together.

"...yeah…" Bataan's voice went low again.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring the mood down." Val forces a laugh, "she's alive now right? I say that's good enough."

With her thoughts turning back to Brooklyn, she really did have a lot to talk to her about and spending a week together on a boat, Val had plenty of time to make her talk.

"I can't wait to meet her…" Val traced the scar behind her eye.

"If it wasn't for her…" she chuckles, "let's just say, I owe her a lot."

Bataan tilted her head slightly before turning back around, leading the way to the docks again.

Stepping into the dark early morning mist, Val takes in a deep breath. Her eyes wander onto the blonde in front of her, more specifically the thing she keeps cradled by her chest.

"That's an airplane you're holding right?"

"Mhm!" Bataan turns around smiling, holding the little plane out in front of her. "It's a Hellcat."

Val could clearly see it wriggling around like it was alive.

"Can I pet it?"

"Sure!"

Bataan raises the little Hellcat up closer to Val's face.

It was cold to the touch Val noted as her fingers trace along the glass of the canopy.

A subtle vibration could be felt near its nose as its propeller began to spin slowly.

"Aww… he really likes you."

'Oh, it's a boy,' Val thinks to herself , '"How could you tell?"

"It's purring." Bataan giggles

'So it really is a cat.'

The little Hellcat began to squirm even more like it was trying to break free.

"Looks like he wants to spread his wings a little." Bataan tossed the little plane like a dove at a wedding and off it went as its little radial engine roared to life.

It flew in tight circles around the two's heads before shooting off down the path.

A pair of joggers turn the corner into the path suddenly, ducking to avoid the sentient Wildcat.

"Sorry!" waves at Baltimore and Bremerton as they jog by on their early morning run.

"Have a safe voyage!" They yell back, disappearing as they round the next corner.

Val follows the little Hellcat as it soars up into the sky. It does loops and spins before diving straight down towards the ground.

Val held her breath as the little plane came closer to the ground, only releasing it when the Hellcat pulled up just inches from the concrete. Going straight back into the vertical the sound of its little engine cuts off as it goes into a stall. The little Hellcat began to flap its stubby wings to slow its descent before landing back into Bataan's arms.

"The little one's a bit of a daredevil." Bataan laughs as she cradles it close to her.

A gust of wind blew in from the docks, hitting Val with the strong scent of the river.

Dozens of Manjuu carrying containers scurried back and forth along the docks loading them into a ship. A ship Val had recognized through her brief internet searches. Three distinct turrets sat atop her bow and as they came around to the stern, Brooklyn, clearly written on its back.

At the edge of the pier stood the Commander and Brooklyn in her default Shipgirl uniform, one which Val hadn't seen enough of in her time knowing her.

"Hey, Bataan?" Val calls out in a hushed voice.

"Hmm? What's up?"

"Are your uniforms usually that risque?" She whispers in the Light Carrier's ear.

Blushing, Bataan chuckles, "apparently it was St. Louis that came up with the designs for their uniforms."

'I've got to thank her then' Val smirks to herself, taking in the sight of Brooklyn's skirt flapping up in the breeze.

The Light Cruiser had not sensed their presence as she stood there with a clipboard in hand shouting, pointing, and directing the army of Manjuu to where they needed to go.

The Commander looked like he was saying something to Brooklyn before tussling with her hair. A move which earned him an annoyed look before she wrapped her arms around his waist.

A pang in Val's heart caused her to stop, making the Manjuu following closely behind her bump into one another yet again.

Shaking her head, Val immediately crushed any feelings of jealousy, thinking just how ridiculous she was being.

"You've got everything?" Yorktown startles Val as she snaps back to reality.

Patting herself down and looking behind her at the Manjuu carrying her stuff, she nods, "seems like."

"Excited?" Yorktown asks as she watches the Commander and Brooklyn break off their hug.

"A little nervous actually," Val admits.

"It's going to be your first voyage right?"

"At sea at least, I've been riding the Ferry all my life."

Yorktown chuckles, "the ocean is very different from this little river of ours."

Val catches a distant look coming across the Fleet Carrier's eyes, seemingly looking past where the Light Cruiser was docked and onto where the sun was just beginning to rise over the mouth of the Hudson.

"Empty, yet full of life with a vast ocean of stars above you, it truly is such a wonderful place."

Yorktown tousled Bataan's hair when she noticed her looking up at her with sad eyes.

"You're going to be escorting them partway right?" She smiles down at the Light Carrier.

Nodding, Bataan rubs at her eyes with the sleeves at her wrist.

"Hey…" A half awake Massachusetts yawns. "...Morning."

"All ready to go?" Val asks the drowsy Battleship.

"Yup."

"How come they're not loading anything on your ship?"

"I'll need to transform my riggings, in case anything happens."

"You won't have to worry about anything once she gets serious." Bataan smiles at Val. "And I'll get you guys down to Panama at least, so you'll have me too!"

"You'll be okay by yourself on the way back?" Massachusetts asks the blonde Carrier.

"I'll be fine, it's been a while since I've got to stretch my legs out like this, and I've got to do some shakedown runs with my new Hellcats on the way back." Bataan holds up the one she's carrying, "this guy has got a lot to teach the other little ones."

Yorktown smiles at the smaller Carrier as she tousles her hair yet again. "If you keep that up you'll surpass me in no time."

Bataan's smile was a small one as she went in to hug the taller Fleet Carrier. "I'm sure you'll be able to get out to sea with us soon."

"Aren't you going a bit overboard?" The Commander asks the Light Cruiser next to him as he watches her direct several dozen Manjuu at once. "Val's only one person."

"Am I really?" Shirking back a little, Brooklyn lowers her arm making the Manjuu skid to a halt.

"I dunno, all the candles and a couple tons of food?" The Commander laughs, "and we've already inspected your ship, there's nothing wrong with it, you're perfectly sea worthy."

"I know that… it's just I want everything to be-"

"Perfect?" The Commander finishes for her, "you know not everything has to be perfect all the time."

"Val already told me something along those lines."

"Then she's already got a pretty good handle on you I say." He laughs again.

Raising her arms once more, the Majuu scurry back and forth along Brooklyn's deck, taking supplies to where they need to be.

It's been a while since the Commander last saw her in her Shipgirl guise acting like a Shipgirl. Old memories of being deployed together come back to the forefront of his mind as he places his hand atop her head.

He always felt as if Brooklyn was drifting further and further apart from the Shipgirl part of herself, but seeing her now, as she is, made him feel like she was back to her old self, if only a little.

"Hey Commander?" Brooklyn calls softly.

Turning to face her, the commander is caught off guard when the Light Cruiser suddenly engulfs him in a hug.

"Thanks," he barely hears her say over the gentle waves licking against the pier, "for everything."

Returning her embrace, he wraps his arms around the smaller Cruiser. "I should be the one saying that."

Remembering his conversation with Eugen and Wales last night he opened his mouth to tell her, but no words would come out.

Breaking off the hug the Commander hears some commotion behind them.

"Aww, he's so cute." He hears Bremerton say

Hiding behind an older woman was a teenage boy trying to no avail to avoid the gaze of the Shipgirls gathered around.

"Ah!" The commander turns to greet his guests, "it's Mrs. Hermosa."

"You must be the Commander." She walks up to him with her arm outstretched, leaving the boy behind.

"You're here to see us off?" Brooklyn asks.

"Of course I'd see my two precious daughters off on their grand voyage." Mama Hermosa pulled Brooklyn into a small hug placing a kiss on her cheek.

"Is your son going to be alright?" The Commander looked a little concerned for the teenager who caught the attention of a few Shipgirls.

"So you're Val's little brother?" Essex leans in getting a better look.

"I do see the resemblance" Shangri-La says, pushing up on her glasses.

"Isn't he adorable?" Bremerton leans in close next to Essex. Her sweat drenched tank top was nearly transparent from her jog.

Blushing from ear to ear Jules eyes dart around not knowing where to look.

"You guys are smothering him." Says Baltimore as she pulls him away towards herself.

Steam practically billowed out from the teenager's ears as he felt two soft mounds press against his back.

"Looks like someone's having fun." Val calls from behind the group, her sister Maria next to her.

"Val!", breaking from Baltimore's light grasp, Jules runs over to where his sisters were.

"Told you he'd freak out." Maria snickers at her brother still with a flushed face.

"You must be the youngest sister." Shangri-La greets.

"Aww~" Bremerton leaning in close yet again. "She's way too cute too."

It was Maria's turn to be flustered as her mouth hung open, struggling to introduce herself to the beautiful women surrounding her.

"I… it… it it's nice… to me…. meet you." Looking up at Val, Maria mouths, 'holy shit, they're huge!' Before taking her sister's arm.

Laughing at her two siblings hiding behind her, Val introduces them to her new Shipgirl friends.

"That's so sweet, you're gonna see your sister off." Bremerton claps her hands together.

"You guys haven't seen where my mom went, have you?" Val asks, looking around.

"Oh I think I saw her talking to the Commander and Brooklyn." Yorktown points towards the end of the dock. "C'mon, let's get your stuff loaded, and Brooklyn might give you guys a tour of her ship before you depart."

Val looked out over the other end of the pier taking in a deep breath of the cool early morning air. She smiles to herself taking comfort in the warm people surrounding her as they march over to where her mother, Brooklyn, and the Commander stood.

"Brooklyn!" Maria yells as she lunges for the Light Cruiser wrapping her arms around her waist.

"You're here too?" Brooklyn returns her hug stroking at the back of her head.

"You guys know each other?" Baltimore asks.

"She's dati-." Maria tries to answer but Brooklyn's hand prevents her.

"I come over for dinner alot." Brooklyn smiles, talking over a muffled Maria. "I just really love Mama Hermosa's cooking."

"Wow, didn't realize you guys were that close." Baltimore still thinking about it.

"Uh…" Brooklyn didn't know how to respond.

Breaking free from Brooklyn's hold, Maria follows a couple of Manjuu up the boarding ramp,

"Can you show us around your ship?" She shouts back.

"Go ahead, you guys aren't scheduled to leave for another hour anyway," the Commander says smiling.

Stepping aside to let Jules and Mama Hermosa up the ramp, Brooklyn takes Val's hand leading her up to her ship.

A larger than usual wave crashed against the side of the Cruiser, rocking the boarding ramp. Nearly falling sideways, Brooklyn catches Val wrapping her arm around her waist and bringing her close to herself.

"Careful." Brooklyn whispers into Val's ear.

"Thanks" Val whispers back, staying in her embrace for a few seconds longer than normal. Blushing at their closeness in front of the others she pulls away quickly before running up the remainder of the ramp.

"My~ and those two haven't even left port yet," Yorktown giggles to herself.

Staring in awe of Brooklyn's innermost bow gun turret, Jules and Maria ran their hands across the cold steel of her gunbarrels.

Brooklyn stood next to the two siblings flipping her hair behind herself as she puffed her chest out.

"I'm not one to brag, but I had one of the fastest firing 6" guns out there during the old great war."

Val smiled to herself watching Brooklyn show off in front of her siblings.

"That's so cool!" Jules exclaims.

"Uh huh, and my sister Helena…"

Val notices a quick pause as Brooklyn's proud stance falters slightly.

"You should see what she could do with them." Brooklyn regains her composure, "she's a veritable genius."

Sliding in next to Val Bataan keeps her voice low.

"I don't know how I didn't notice it before, but I see what you mean."

"Maybe it's cause she doesn't usually bring her up in the first place." Massachusetts startled them both as they didn't realize the Battleship was standing directly behind them. "Or at least she tries not to."

"Hmm" Val grumbles as she walks over to Brooklyn.

"Hey Brook, where should I drop off my stuff?!" She yells on her way over. "You have a Captain's quarters anywhere?"

"Captain's quarters?" Parrots Maria, "I wanna see."

"C...captain's quarters… I… uhh… sure." The Light Cruiser's voice turned a pitch higher than usual.

Brooklyn guides the way, maintaining a decent lead all the way to her room.

"I… uhh…. Just give me a sec." She says with her back against the door before opening it up slightly to stick her head in.

Bringing her hand quickly across her neck repeatedly, Brooklyn quietly shouts for the Manjuu sprinkling rose petals and flowers around the room to stop and clean up.

Going back to leaning her back against her door, Brooklyn gives everyone a nervous smile.

A small knock from the other side gave Brooklyn the signal to let several Manjuu drag a few white trash bags out with them.

'Great, she didn't have a messy room here either did she?' Val thought until a small tear in one of the bags left a trail of red petals behind them.

Opening the door fully she let's her guest into her room.

Maria was the first one followed by Jules. Stepping in, Val leaves her suitcase by one of the vibrant blue couches.

Vibrant blue looked to be the theme of the room as Val noted the entire carpet and various trimmings were covered in it. This place was definitely more furnished than Brooklyn's own room back on base.

Old dark mahogany cabinets lined one wall of the room and in the middle near the entrance to the room sat a long table that could comfortably seat several people.

The bed was in the far corner of the room with a small bookshelf partition and desk on the other side.

Plopping herself on the edge of the bed, Val couldn't help but notice how the Manjuu must have missed a spot as she eyed a few scattered rose petals near the side of the bed.

Val couldn't help but smile as she locked her eyes on her fiance dressed up in her Shipgirl uniform. The same uniform she wore when Brooklyn had first saved her life 13 years ago.

Val still hasn't asked if Brooklyn remembered her from back then and at this point wondered if it even mattered now.

"Can I see inside your turrets?" Jules asks sheepishly.

"I'll show them around if you want to stay here." Brooklyn looks to Val who had already laid herself on the bed.

"Ok," Val raises a thumbs up from her position lying down.

"Listen to Brooklyn!" She shouts at her siblings who were already out the door, "be careful."

The sound of their voices and laughter faded down the hall leaving Val to herself in the very blue room.

Running her hands across the bed, she feels the soft fabric through her fingers. ' This is a part of her.' Val thought as she stared up at the white painted ceiling.

Exposed pipes crisscrossed along the girders. ' That's also a part of her'

'Everything I'm seeing and feeling is her'

The silence was broken by a small pitter patter creeping closer.

Poking her head up, Val spots a lone Manjuu sneaking into the room. It starts to shake upon being noticed.

"What's wrong little guy?" Val asks the little yellow bird.

Raising its tiny little wing it points at the ottoman at the foot of the bed more specifically a small clipboard the little Manjuu must have forgotten in its hurry out of the room.

Reaching for the small clipboard, Val offers it to the Manjuu who had stepped closer to retrieve it.

Before handing it to him she pets it on its little head, ruffling its feathers in the process. They were soft and warm, just like she remembered from the time she first touched one many years ago in that medical tent after the Sirens first attacked.

Noticing the distressed expression on the little bird Val apologizes as she pats down the ruffled feathers. Handing him its clipboard, the Manjuu scurries towards the door before stopping to turn around.

Waving the yellow bird goodbye it does the same before disappearing into the hall.

The silence didn't last very long as her siblings' voices echoed from down the hall.

"When we get back I'll give you a tour of my ship too." Massachusetts offers as she steps back into the room with Val's family in tow.

"She enjoys giving them," Brooklyn adds, "she used to be a museum ship so I guess it's ingrained in her."

"Thank you, Brooklyn," Mama Hermosa hugs the Light Cruiser giving her a kiss on her forehead. "And you too Massachusetts."

"You have my word ma'am," the Battleship stands at attention with her fist to her chest, "I'll get them back safely."

Bidding her family farewell, Val sees them down the boarding ramp.

"Take care out there." The Commander says to Val as he follows her family down.

"I'll get going now."

"Me too."

Massachusetts and Bataan waved as they leapt off Brooklyn's starboard side. Their respective ships in the harbor glowed white before dissolving into a stream of floating cubes.

Their riggings took shape behind them as they gracefully skated across the surface of the water.

A fair amount of personnel and other Shipgirls gathered around the edge of the docks waving at the departing girls.

The Manjuu threw the ropes mooring her to the docks as the sound of her anchors raising rattle through the air.

"You ready?" Brooklyn steps next to Val at the edge of her deck, waving at everyone at the docks.

Brooklyn's horn blares as the ship begins to move.

"A bit nervous, but excited." Val waves down at her family. "I've got you here so I'm not worried."

Closing the distance between herself and Brooklyn, Val snuggles up to her side.

A warm sensation of lips peck at her cheek making her blush at the suddenness.

Turning her head, Brooklyn catches a playful smirk on Val's face just a few inches apart, their lips meet for a quick moment.

The collective gasps could be heard from all the girls standing by the docks. Most stood with their hands covering their mouths chatting to the ones standing next to them.

"Oh Crap," Val blushes with an apologetic look.

"They were going to find out anyway." Brooklyn leans into Val as she snuggles into her shoulder.

"You saw that right Baltimore?!" Bremerton shakes her wide eyed blushing sister.

"Heh" Essex snickers at the Heavy Cruiser's reaction.

"You made a similar face a few days ago." Shangri-La adds as she sketches out the scene she just witnessed in her notebook.

Adjusting his cap the Commander shook his head as his eyes met with Yorktown's.

"Looks like that wave you were on about is really making a splash." Yorktown smiles as the chatter of the Shipgirls goes on in the background.

Really sorry for the late update, things have been really crazy over the holidays. But the Voyage to the joint base is finally beginning so thank you for whoever's reading this far.

And again any feedback would be appreciated.