Happy Launch Day Helena! I split this part of the chapter off into a seperate part so I could put it out in time for our cinnamon bun's b-day.

Chapter 12

A pair of dull beams cut weakly into the near total darkness of a neglected warehouse just on the edge of a less trafficked area of the Joint Base, casting long shadows against rows and rows of dusty long forgotten aisles. Whose shelves, upon closer inspection, housed hundreds of boxes and crates of various sizes and colors. Two Shipgirls made their way carefully through the building, one a bit more cautiously as she trailed a few paces behind. Her steps are much slower and uncertain than her younger sister in the lead.

"H…Helena…" The crimson-haired twin tailed Light Cruiser shakily lifts her lantern ahead of her, illuminating her sister's back, "are…are you sure it's even in here?"

"I'm pretty sure…" Helena keeps her pace as she continues to scan each row of shelves, not realizing she was leaving her sister behind, "...I think…"

"Maybe we should've asked Akashi… or Shiranui?" The redheaded Cruiser stammers out as she tries to catch up.

"I did, Lulu," Helena turns back towards her sister, "but they said they haven't seen the box we're looking for."

Going deeper into thought, the youngest Brooklyn rubs at her chin, "which makes sense, since these supplies predate the arrival of the Sakura Empire reinforcements…"

"Then it's probably been blown up when they bombed us."

"No…" Helena shook her head, "I'm fairly certain I saw the box somewhere in the other warehouse."

"Then what are we doing here?!" Honolulu stomped her foot as she gestures to the decrepit warehouse they were standing in.

"I figured that since neither Akashi or Shiranui had seen it, it was probably moved here when they opened up shop and had to make room for their inventory."

"But there's so much stuff in here," The older Light Cruiser whined, "we'll never find it."

"Sorry…" Helena dipped her head, "if I still had my memories, we probably would've found it by now…"

Honolulu bit at her lip regretting her choice to complain. The last thing she wanted was to remind her sister how much she had forgotten. Clenching her free hand into a fist she renewed her motivation for the search, pushing on ahead with her lantern raised, "there's a lot to look through, c'mon slowpoke." Lulu said to her sister behind her, smiling reassuringly.

Though in her quick look behind herself, Honolulu failed to spot some debris that cluttered the floor.

"Wait! Honolulu watchout!" Helena jumped towards her sister.

"Hmm?" Honolulu wondered what had Helena so worked up, but all was answered when her foot collided with a collapsed beam. In an instant before she even realized, the top heavy Light Cruiser found herself falling forward. With the floor fast approaching she had little time to brace. Closing her eyes was all she could do as she waited for the pain of falling face first onto a filthy concrete floor, but it never came.

"Lulu! Are you hurt?!"

The redhead's eyes blinked open as she felt an arm around holding her up by her waist, "wha… what, no I'm fine."

"T…thanks," Honolulu lowers her gaze in embarrassment before catching sight of a bit of red dripping down from her sister's leg darkening the dark blue fabric of her stockings, "oh my god! Helena!"

"You're the one who got hurt!" Honolulu rights herself as she goes to inspect her sister's knee.

"I… it's fine," Helena lets out a little chuckle, "just a little scratch."

"Just a little scratch?!" The older Brooklyn yelled out incredulously, "this floor is filthy! What happens if it gets infected? We have to go to Vestal right now!"

"Lulu, I'm fine. Really." Helena tries to laugh it off as she dusts herself off, "I want to find those decorations first."

"They're not that important right now!" Honolulu couldn't keep her temper down knowing this current predicament was partly her own fault.

"But, they're for Brooklyn…"

Honolulu stopped herself from protesting further upon seeing Helena's conflicted expression.

"F…fine but we have to be quick."

Whipping her head around frantically, Helena could see that it wasn't possible to find it by normal means, given how big this warehouse truly was. Finding no other way the youngest Brooklyn closes her eyes tightly as presses her palms together in front of her face. Almost like a prayer she mutters, "S.G., guide me…"

The little radar dish, disguised as a cute hair ornament on the side of her head, whirred to life as it started to spin steadily. A light wind pressure seemed to form around Helena as her long blue and pink hair fluttered away from her body softly.

Honolulu has witnessed this scene a few times in the past but always chalked it up to a breeze blowing through at the right moment, but right now in the stagnated air of this run down warehouse this breeze seemed impossible.

Helena's eyes snap open, as she whips her head, seemingly, in the direction of her quarry.

"Lulu! Over there!" The youngest Brooklyn's face lit up as she hurriedly made her way deeper into the warehouse.

"H…Helena, wait up!" Lulu cried as she was left behind in the dark yet again.

"Hehe" Helena's triumphant giggle echoes back, "I knew it was here!"

Hoisting the dark blue crate into her arms, the blue haired Light Cruiser runs back towards her sister.

"Oh thank goodness, you found them," a look of relief plastered Honolulu's face, "now can we please get out of here~!"

"Yeah," Helena laughed, holding the crate of supplies to her chest, "I could get to work putting these up."

"I'm taking you to Vestal first!" Honolulu commanded sternly as she led the way out of the warehouse. Catching a side glance of her sister's saddening face she could feel a sharp pang in her chest, "I'll help you put them up tomorrow," Lulu said back in a softer tone, "and besides its getting pretty late, Louis is probably getting worried, we've been gone a while."

Helena quietly nods as she cradles the crate tighter keeping pace next to her sister.

"You're pretty hellbent on these decorations…" Honolulu tries to fill the quiet air that has come between them.

"I know I don't remember them," Helena's voice came out small, "but these were from the day Brooklyn came back with the news of successful Negotiations with the Red Axis."

Honolulu clenched her fist, as she held back on saying anything out loud. Of course Helena wouldn't remember, she wasn't there for that day. At that time Helena wasn't with us anymore.

"And I thought Brooklyn would appreciate them…" Helena's voice became smaller still, "though she probably won't, cause who would remember what streamers were hanging however many years ago for one day besides me… and I wasn't even there for that day I just remembered them from a photo…"

A knot formed in Honolulu's throat that she was finding difficult to swallow down.

"I'm sorry Lulu," Helena's steps slowed, "for dragging you out here, all for a bunch of old dusty banners."

Helena always had the habit of beating herself up over the smallest things, Honolulu remembers, and for some strange reason it was almost refreshing to her to know that even newly reborn, Helena would always be Helena. But just as back then her sister's self deprecation always leveled the same response.

With a quick turn of the heel, Honolulu stops to face Helena. The crate the youngest Brooklyn was holding was nearly knocked away from her arms as she bumps into her sister.

"Y… you better be sorry!" Honolulu quickly grabs hold of the crate, stabilizing it in Helena's hands, "you just gotta find a way to make it up to me." The redhead tried her best to look stern as she peeked down with one eye at her younger sister past her nose.

Helena could only look up at her older sister watching as Honolulu's cheeks slowly turned the same shade of red as her hair. In one swift motion the crate was snatched away from Helena's grasp as Honolulu held it just under her chest.

"And if Brooklyn doesn't appreciate these decorations," Honolulu said in a puff as she quickly turned back around, "then I'll just have to give what's coming to her."

A little laugh escaped Helena's lips as she caught sight of Honolulu's ears tipped in the same shade of red. Her older sister always had the habit of hiding how she truly felt behind seemingly harsh words and this time was no different.

"What did you have in mind for me to make it up to you?" Helena leaned into Honolulu's periphery.

"Umm…" Honolulu closed her eyes in thought as she didn't really think it through, "how about, those brownies of yours."

"Brownies? Oh, you mean the ones I baked for the Destroyers the other day?"

"Yeah!" The older Brooklyn nodded, "I snuck one-" Lulu admitted quietly.

"-and they were so~ good, but when I went to grab another, Laffey and Mutsu were reaching for the last one!"

"They ended up splitting it with each other so they would've shared it with you if you asked."

"Eh… someone as big as me taking sweets from a Destroyer just feels wrong." Lulu said with a sour face.

"Hehe, I get what you mean."

After a fairly long hike from where the old warehouse was, the two Brooklyn sisters finally made their way back to the main area of the Joint base.

"Phew!" Honolulu let out as she stopped to catch her breath, "we're back!"

"Thanks again for helping me." Helena smiled brightly at her sister.

"D…don't mention it," the redheaded Cruiser looks away as her cheeks darken, "now go to Vestal!" She commanded, "I'll take these back to the dor-"

Before Honolulu could finish a strong gust blew in from the bay, passing over the entire base. The thick layer of dust that had been sitting on top of the crate for the last five years was blown right into Honolulu's nose. The top heavy Light Cruiser's face scrunched up as she reeled back, "CHUU~!"

With a loud crash, the crate fell from Honolulu's grasp breaking open as it hit the floor. Various streamers and rolled up banners clattered across the ground leaving a colorful mess in their wake.

"Ah… ah… crap!" Lulu cursed as she went to grab the fallen decorations, "sorry Helena!"

"It's alright, I'll help you." The youngest Brooklyn began placing the items within her reach back in the crate.

Another Shipgirl had arrived at the scene, stopping when her foot collided with a small lockbox that had fallen further than the rest of the items from the supply crate. The old rusty latch that had kept the lockbox closed was broken open, as the object that was held inside rolled slowly out of it.

Bending over to pick up the familiar looking object, the Shipgirl didn't fully realize what was resting in her hands as Helena came over to greet her.

"Sis!"

"Louis?!" Honolulu looked a little surprised as she stopped cleaning up momentarily.

"I was wondering where you two went so I came looking," St. Louis stood back up, "and that's when I thought I heard Lulu swearing."

"Ah cra-" the twintailed Light Cruiser covered her mouth as she began to sweat a little from St. Louis' intimidating smile.

"Hmm~" the shorter blue haired Light Cruiser finished her silent reprimand as she turned her attention back to the clutter on the ground, "but I could see why."

Helena let out a guilty chuckle before catching sight of the object in her older sister's hand. Freaking out slightly, Helena grabbed at the side of her head making sure her SG hair ornament was still attached. The youngest Brooklyn breathed a sigh of relief as she confirmed its presence was still on her person. Though her relief only lasted for a second as with a quick scan she could clearly see St. Louis's SG Radar, which was by all means identical to her own, still firmly attached to her head. As her eyes became fixed on it, a weird sensation began ringing around her head, while uncomfortable, it wasn't entirely unpleasant as accompanying it was a strange familiar warmth that emanated from her chest.

This third one shouldn't exist, but there it was in St. Louis's hands. Sure, Helena thought, SG Radar was a fairly common modification to a Shipgirl's riggings, but the ones St. Louis and Helena possessed were wholly unique. A few details looked off as it appeared to be damaged. The metal was scuffed and the little radar dish looked warped and bent out of shape.

"Sis," Helena spoke up after a few seconds of silence, "w…where did you find that?"

"Oh this?" I picked it up off the floo-" St. Louis's characteristic smile disappeared for a split second as she stopped mid sentence to get a good look at what she was holding. Helena's older sister knew immediately what it was as she went to cover it with her other hand.

"Louis?" Helena looked towards her sister with concern in her brow, "what's the matter?"

"What is that thing?" Helena reaches out to grab her sisters hand, "Why does it look like my-"

St. Louis pulls her hand back, "oh, it's just a prop from a long time ago~" St. Louis' shakily forces an even bigger smile as she walks past her younger sister to place the object back in its lockbox.

"Oh, okay…" Helena slowly nodded her head. Even though she felt deep down something was off, she pushed that feeling down into herself as St. Louis never gave any reason to doubt her in the past. Her older sister always had the habit of hiding everything behind a smile, even when things became difficult and most would break down and scream, St. Louis's smile would always be there, almost like she was reassuring others that everything would turn out all right. But if there was one thing Helena was sure of, it was that her sisters were all terrible liars, St. Louis especially.

"Lulu dear," St. Louis called, putting the last of the mess back into the crate, "can you take Helena to see Vestal, we wouldn't want that wound to become infected now.

Hoisting the crate up to just below her chest, St. Louis turns around, the same characteristic smile on her face, "I'll take these back to the room so hurry up before Vestal goes to bed for the night."

"Ah cra- darn it" Honolulu stopped herself from swearing, "I didn't realize it was so late! C'mon Helena!"

Before turning to go after Honolulu, Helena takes one last look at her sister, "thanks sis."

All St. Louis could do was quietly smile back as if silently gesturing to her little sister to hurry up and get a move on. Standing by briefly, she watches as Helena disappears around the corner of the dorms.

With no one but a few Manjuu wandering around, St. Louis looks down at the crate of decorations she was carrying as a conflicted look comes across the Light Cruiser's brow. Times like these she wishes she had the same, almost spiritual, connection with her SG radar as her little sister, because she could definitely use some guidance right about now.

Closing her eyes, St. Louis does her best to imitate her little sister as she whispers, "SG…" a few moments later she playfully sticks out her tongue as she laughs to herself, "as if…"

"Ah… this sucks, why'd I have to get stuck looking for that thing in the middle of the night…" St. Louis could hear another Shipgirl behind her.

Turning around, she spots a silhouette rummaging through the bushes in the distance past a row of trees. Going over to see if she could lend a hand, the silhouette suddenly stands up groaning in frustration.

The dim yellow beam of a far off light post illuminated the Shipgirl's long pale, almost white, lavender hair. St. Louis stifled a laugh seeing bits of twigs and leaves sticking out of the poor girl's distinct hair buns.

Like a deer frozen in front of a pair of headlights, Le Malin stood there with her torso popping out of a large bush, staring blankly at the tall busty Eagle Union Light Cruiser.

"You need a hand over there~?' St. Louis called out from the walking path.

"Ah… th… this… this is official Vichy- no, wait… can I still call ourselves that? - Iris Orthodoxy business," the short, hardly convincing, Destroyer turned Light Cruiser stammered out between bouts of talking to herself, "please move along."

"Did you lose something~?" The second youngest Brooklyn asks in a cheerful tone, ignoring the Shipgirl's request completely, "I'm no Helena, but I could help you look~."

"No, really…" Le Malin waved her hands out in front of her. Clearing her throat, the former Vichy destroyer scrambled in her brain to pull off her best impression of the Commander, "the situation is under control," she says, though with half her body still inside the bush, it did little to convince the older Light Cruiser.

"What is it you're looking for?" St. Louis readjusts the load in her arms as she steps onto the grass.

"It's…" Le Malin paused, grumbling something to herself that St. Louis couldn't quite hear before she straightened herself up once again, "It's none of your concern."

Stepping even closer, St. Louis places the crate down onto the ground as she turns to face the former Vichy Destroyer, "I believe two pairs of eyes would be better than just one~" the busty Light Cruiser said with a wink.

Before Le Malin could open her mouth to protest, St. Louis spoke up again.

"Don't you wanna be back in your soft warm bed?"

Le Malin's ear instinctively perked up upon hearing those majestic words spoken so teasingly.

"The sooner you find it, the sooner you can just relax." St. Louis drew out the final word. Her teasing seemed to be working, much to her amusement, as the pale haired redesignated Light Cruiser appeared to be conflicted.

"So~ you going to tell me what it is you're looking for?"

"It's… it's a green feather…" Le Malin let out, defeated.

"A green… feather?" St. Louis cocked her head to the side in confusion. Was it some sort of holy artifact? Lord knows what the Iris girls are into, but it must be important if one of their most decorated knights were out in the middle of the night looking for it.

Quick footsteps on the grass approach the two from behind.

"I couldn't find it on my end…" the gruff voice of a frustrated Shipgirl came closer, "Le Malin, any luck over-" the voice stopped as its owner caught sight of St. Louis standing next to her comrade.

As the Shipgirl stepped into a lamppost's light, St. Louis immediately recognized the former Vichy Flagship as she stopped to give an icy glare in her direction.

"Who might you be?" Jean Bart asks, failing to hide her annoyance.

"St. Louis is the name," she said with a smile.

"Saint Louis?" The name appears to catch the Battleship by surprise, "...of the Eagle Union?"

"The one and only~"

"Forgive me," the former Vichy Flagship sighed as she scratched at the back of her neck, "you are Brooklyn's sister are you not?"

"Mhmm~" St. Louis nods, "your friend here looked to be in a bit of trouble when I found her." With the same unchanging smile she continues, "you guys are looking for some sort of green feather no?"

The Battleship immediately shoots a glare towards her compatriot.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to pry~" the Eagle Union Cruiser giggled to herself.

"It wasn't important…" Jean Bart turns on her heel, "Le Malin! We shall take our leave."

"Uh… uh… are you sure-"

"Let's go," the former Vichy Flagship commanded in a slightly harsher tone.

"Uh… r… right!" Le Malin struggled to break free from within the bush before clambering out to join up at Jean Bart's side.

Even now St. Louis could sense a bit of conflict as she watches the Battleship ball up her hands into a tightening fist scanning the area one last time. The smaller Light Cruiser looked up at her former leader with concern on her brow.

"C'mon," Jean Bart tucked her hands into her shorts pockets as she started to walk off with Le Malin in tow.

"If I find it!" St. Louis called out to the former Vichy Flagship's back, "I'll send it your way!"

The Battleship stopped for a second, waving her hand above her head in dismissal before continuing in the direction of the Iris dorms.

Watching another pair of Shipgirls go, St. Louis goes back to pick up the crate she had set down. Hoisting it back into her arms she resumes her walk back to the Eagle Union dorms.

Finally inside said dorms, she found it to be relatively quiet as most Shipgirls have probably gone to bed by now. The common spaces were empty aside from a few Manjuu resting about. Faint voices could be heard coming through the doors of some rooms belonging to the few, more nocturnal, Shipgirls. Rounding the corner ahead St. Louis finds herself stopping briefly at the entrance of the Cleveland class' side of the hallway as she looks towards one door in particular. A small sigh escapes the normally unflappable Light Cruiser's lips as she smiles warmly to herself.

Making it back inside the suite she shared with Helena, St. Louis sets the crate of decorations down at the foot of the couch in their living room. Judging by the quiet reception upon her entering, she quickly figured Helena wasn't back yet, but she didn't have to wait long as she heard voices just outside the door.

"Goodnight you two." St. Louis could faintly hear Cleveland through the door.

"Goodnight!" She heard Honolulu's voice say before the door to her room slammed shut.

It was quiet for a moment again until Helena could be heard breaking the brief silence, "g…goodnight,Clevie" , the youngest Brooklyn's tone a bit bashful.

"Y…yeah, you too… Helena," St. Louis's heart became full, overhearing the pair's youthful awkwardness, "goodnight."

The door finally swings open as Helena steps through only to turn back to wave at Cleveland who was making her way back to her room just at the beginning of the hall. Only until Cleveland waved back and disappeared into her own room did Helena finally close the door to theirs. Entering into the living room, Helena had trouble keeping a grin off her face.

"Cleveland walked you back again~?" St. Louis couldn't help but tease her younger sister a little.

"Louis~" the youngest Brooklyn pouts, as her cheeks flushed a bright shade of crimson.

"So what did Vestal say?"

"That you should be more careful," Helena did her best impression of the pink haired nun.

"To you or Honolulu?" St. Louis laughs.

"Hehe, probably to both of us," Helena chuckles before sitting down on the sofa and stretching out her limbs, letting out a long yawn in the process.

"Go get some sleep." St. Louis suggests before Helena gets back up to make her way to her room, "I'll help you set up the decorations tomorrow so sleep well tonight."

With a quiet nod Helena retreats into her room before closing the door leaving her older sister alone.

I hope you guys liked this small set up for what's waiting for Brooklyn and the gang when they finally arrive.

I did want to include Jean Bart's side of the chapter into this one but I ran out of time, next chapter though, I'll elaborate on it. Bonus points for guessing what the green feather is.

And in the middle of writing this chapter Helena finally gets her much deserved Oath skin! What a time to be a Helena fan.