The look on Kowalski's face was telling John that this man did not have good intentions. He knew who Kowalski was and his feats and accomplishments. But John also knew of the rumours surrounding this man of the methods he used to achieve what he did. He didn't want to be in Kowalski's presence. "What do you want to discuss, Kowalski? I'm a busy man. Now that the inspection has finished, I have a lot of work to do. Whatever it is you want to say, make it quick." John told the ageing man in an annoyed tone. He wanted the scientist gone and let Shoukaku know that it was safe for her, Zuikaku, and Tsubaki to begin returning back to the base. Kowalski could see John didn't want him here and could have a good guess why, "I know why Grey doesn't want me here. He wants his daughter back from wherever he has hidden her. I'm not going to let him know. I know she exists just yet. Let's see if Grey accepts my offer first. If not, then I'll use that information to force him to accept my help." Kowalski thought. He then spoke to John to explain what he wanted to talk about. "Commander Grey, I understand you are busy, but please hear me out. I have requested to be based here, and Admiral Nelson has approved; once, I finish completion of a weapon currently under development. I have come here to offer aid to your KANSEN. I know that they are fighting the Sirens, and with my expertise, I can help develop enhanced weaponry to fight them. That sounds like a good idea, correct?"
While John did find the idea of his Kansen being better equipped with the Sirens, he loathed the idea that someone like Kowalski would be responsible for providing such weaponry. John didn't want him here under any circumstances. He wanted to tell Kowalski that he wasn't needed. He would inform Admiral Nelson that he wanted to deny Kowalski's request to be based here, no matter how much trouble it landed him in. "Sorry Mr Kowalski, but I respectfully decline your generous offer. My shipgirls are more than capable of fighting the Sirens without your help. Now, if you excuse me, I have to get back to my job." John told the scientist. Kowalski expected this answer, but he hoped that John would have made this easy instead. "You leave me no choice, Commander Grey. I wish that it didn't have come to this, but so be it." The scientist knew what he had to do now to be based here, looking at John he then began to speak, "Such a shame, Commander Grey. I was hoping we could work together. And for your sake, i think it is best we do, unless you want the admiralty to know your dirty little secret." Kowalski said.
This confused John. He didn't like the way the scientist spoke to him, but he also didn't understand what Kowalski meant by that, "I don't know what you mean Kowalski. What dirty little secret are you going on about? You better not just be trying to idly threaten me just because you aren't getting your way." He told Kowalski. Kowalski, however, had a huge grin on his face now, John was starting to feel that this man did know something important. Kowalski then told John what he knew, "Come on commander Grey, there is no point in trying to hide it. Or should I say hide her?" John's eyes began to widen, "Don't tell me! Does he know about Zuikaku META?" is what John was thinking. However, the answer Kowalski gave is what truly shook him to his core, "Your daughter commander Grey, I know she exists. Don't try to hide it, I know her mother is a KANSEN. Your daughter is a KANSEN-human hybrid. How would the admiralty react if they knew you were hiding her from them. It wouldn't be very pleasant, I assure you. Just imagine what they would do, not just to you. But to her mother and herself as well. As much as the admiralty says they would destroy all KANSEN if they have to, I know they would gladly turn your daughter into a weapon. A weapon that they would control. And they would gladly use her mother and you to achieve that." Kowalski stated to John.
John wanted to deny everything that the scientist just said. However, as much as he loathed to admit it, Kowalski was right. Tsubaki would be used as a weapon. Both he and Shoukaku didn't want their daughter to experience war. They both wanted her to have a normal life as possible given her circumstances. John wanted to know how Kowalski found out about his daughters existence, but instinctively, he could tell that the scientist wouldn't disclose that information to him. Kowalski had him at a metaphorical gunpoint. If he refused his help, then the admiralty would know about Tsubaki. John looked at Kowalski and could see the smug grin now on his face. He so desperately wanted to remove it. All John could do, however, was sigh. He was at the scientist's mercy. "I guess we have come to an understanding commander Grey. I look forward to working with you and your fellow scientists in the next weeks. It shouldn't take long for the weapon to be complete. Until then, I bid you adieu." Kowalski said to John. He then left the office to return to Nelson and the rest of the admiralty. John was now left on his own, "Shoukaku needs to know about this." John realized. He then pulled out his phone and began messaging his wife.
Tsubaki had been in a sulk all day long, she wanted to be back at home with her father. Both her mother and aunt had tried to do everything in their power to cheer her up but nothing had worked. The two KANSEN were exhausted because of Tsubaki's foul mood. She had been running both of them through the small town all day. The cranes just wanted today to be over. Suddenly, a sound came from Shoukaku's phone, so she pulled it out of her pocket and looked at it.
The inspection is over; all is well, so you can come home.
Love John.
P.S. Shoukaku, we need to talk at home. This is serious.
Shoukaku was glad that the three of them could return, but the last bit of the message worried the white-crane: "If everything is okay, then why do we need to talk? Has something happened?" Shoukaku pondered. The KANSEN realised that she would only find out when she returned to the Azur Lane base. Shoukaku then informed Zuikaku and Tsubaki that they could head back, which improved the young girls' mood significantly. The three began heading to John's car, which Shoukaku had driven to the small town. Once they arrived at the car, Shoukaku started it up and the white-crane began driving back to the Azur Lane base.
Once the three arrived back home, they could notice ships leaving the base. "That must be the admiralty; good riddance! Now we can find John and find out what's going on." Shoukaku thought. Shoukaku, Zuikaku, and Tsubaki began walking towards the HQ building. The little girl was happy to be back home. Tsubaki ran off towards the HQ building with her mother and aunt following her. She still had a lot of energy, and the two KANSEN's could barely keep up with her. Zuikaku tried telling her to slow down, but the half-KANSEN didn't listen. She just wanted to see her father again. Once at the HQ, Tsubaki burst through the entrance doors and ran up the stairs to her father's office. Zuikaku and Shoukaku followed as best they could despite being exhausted. Once both of them reached John's office, they saw Tsubaki sitting in her father's lap with a big smile on her face.
"I missed you papa!" Tsubaki said to John. "I missed you too sweetheart, papa has been busy today. How was your day?" he asked his daughter. Tsubaki was about to answer but Shoukaku beat her to it, "She's been grumpy all day. She couldn't keep still and the two of us have been running after her all day." John turned in the direction of Shoukaku's voice and could see the exhaustion on both herself and her sister. John then turned back to his daughter, "Tsubaki, you know mama and auntie can't keep running after you like that. Both of them are really old you know." John said with a cheeky grin on his face. Tsubaki let out a small chuckle at his words, but the Two KANSEN weren't amused at his light-hearted quip about their age. "Who's really old! I'm still an innocent young maiden I'll have you know!" Shoukaku let out.This only caused father and daughter to burst out laughing.
Once the laughter stopped, the two sat down next to John and Tsubaki. The four then began talking about the day's events. John, Shoukaku, and Zuikaku left out the most important parts because they didn't want Tsubaki to hear what they needed to say. Eventually, it became late evening, so the three decided to head back home. The three of them left the office with Tsubaki asleep in her mothers arms. John locked up his office and told them he would go on ahead. He knew Zuikaku META was still at his home. Zuikaku also remembered this and said, "John, why don't I take the other me to the Sakura Empire building? You two can stay here for now. It is best we don't let her see Tsubaki. I will let you both know when its best to head home." John agreed and said he and Shoukaku would do as she suggested. Zuikaku left the HQ building to collect the META version of herself and take her to the Sakura Empire building.
Once at John and Shoukaku's home Zuikaku knocked the door and within seconds the META version of herself opened it. Zuikaku META stood there for a few seconds looking at her past self, "Is it finally over? Where are John and Shoukaku?" The META asked. Zuikaku replied, "They are still at HQ with Tsubaki, I've come to collect you and take you over to the Sakura Empire building." The META version of Zuikaku flinched when she heard her niece's name, she wanted to start looking for her own Tsubaki as soon as possible. She didn't want to head over to the Sakura Empire building, not just because she wanted to search for her niece, but she also did not want to see her old friends who were all dead in her timeline. "I appreciate the offer but I must decline, I need to find my niece. Tell John and Shoukaku that I won't be staying with the Sakura Empire. I'm going to begin looking for her tonight." The META said.
Zuikaku wanted to protest her decision but the META version of herself simply walked past her. She tried calling out, telling her to stop but was completely ignored. As soon as Zuikaku META reached the water she sped off into the night to begin her search for her niece, "Don't worry my past self, I will be back. You focus of keeping John, Shoukaku, and Tsubaki safe. Don't let what happened to my family happen to yours." The META thought as she set off to begin to look for information on her niece. Realising that her META version had gone Zuikaku called John and Shoukaku on her phone and told them to head over. Over twenty minutes later the two arrived with Tsubaki still asleep in the white-cranes arms, they asked where Zuikaku META was but Zuikaku told them she left to begin searching for her Tsubaki. Both were disappointed that she left without saying goodbye but they could understand her reasons, finding her niece was her priority.
All of them went inside the home, and Shoukaku immediately put her sleeping daughter to bed. The white-crane then came back down to the living room. John and Zuikaku were waiting for her; Shoukaku remembered that her husband needed to tell her something important. "Okay, John, what did you say was serious earlier? What did you need to talk about?" she asked. John sighed before replying, "Okay, what I'm about to tell you both stays between us. This is going to be a shock, so brace yourselves." Both cranes looked at him waiting for what he was going to say. Once he was confident enough, John began telling his wife and sister-in-law everything that happened with Kowalski earlier...
Once the man was finished both cranes were beside themselves, "How does he know about Tsubaki! I thought we were careful! And he is coming here? That can't be allowed to happen John! He could tell the admiralty anytime he wants! I don't care if he is helping us! He is not coming here! I don't want him here!" Shoukaku shouted. John also didn't want Kowalski at his base, he shared his wife's sentiment. Unfortunately with Kowalski knowing about his daughter he couldn't just tell him no, "Calm down Shoukaku. You will wake Tsubaki up. Believe me I don't want him anywhere near here. But I have no choice. If I deny him he will tell the admiralty what he knows. I have to do what he says. I don't like it but I have no other choice." John tried reasoning with Shoukaku. Shoukaku wanted to protest further but realised she couldn't, if they tried to stop him from coming here their family would be destroyed. Tsubaki would have no chance at a normal life, she would be nothing more than a possible weapon. The white-crane went outside to calm down, this was to much for her to take in. John followed her outside to also try to help Shoukaku to calm down.
Once they were both outside Zuikaku was left alone with her thoughts, "This is bad, that someone who works for the admiralty know about Tsubaki's existence. But if he wanted to simply help why did blackmail John with that information to get based here? He could help us in other ways. No, something isn't right. He doesn't want to help. He wants to come here for other reasons. I have to find out what they are. If he is a danger to Tsubaki I need to keep her safe, nobody is going to hurt her, I promised my future self that wouldn't happen." The crane thought. Whoever this man was if he was a threat to her niece or anyone else she would not tolerate it. But until she saw him the crane could not do anything. With this in mind Zuikaku promised herself that she would be patient and wait, it was all she could do for now.
Miles away on Admiral Nelson's ship, the scientist known as Borys Kowalski ordered his team of scientists to finish the weapon as soon as possible. He wanted his men to work around the clock to complete it, so they had been split into a day and night shift. Currently, the night shift was getting run ragged trying to get as much done as possible. Kowalski added an extra incentive for his fellow scientists to get the work complete; whoever did the most work to get the weapon completed as soon as possible would join him at the Azur Lane. Many of his scientists were fascinated by the KANSEN as much as he was, so they would gladly take orders if it meant they got to study the shipgirls.
Looking down at his men who were working, Kowalski wanted them to work faster, but he realized he couldn't push them too hard or mistakes would be made, which would delay his posting at the Azur Lane. He desperately wanted to find Commander Grey's daughter and begin studying her, he wanted to find out her potential as soon as possible. But for now he had to wait. "Soon, soon I will find out what your daughter is capable of, Commander Grey. No one, not even you, her mother, or anyone else, will stop me..." The man promised to himself. For now he carried on ordering his men about, desperate to finish this weapon so he could achieve his goal...