Chapter 9: Old Man's War

"Alright, son...let's hear it."

Raising an eyebrow at the Commander's brusque tone Alexander warily asked, "So I take it initial negotiations with the rest of the world went acceptably?"

Elizabeth snorted, regally motioning with her hand as she sat upon a stuffed chair, remarking, "As acceptably as possible. The landbound governments have given us permission to proceed as we wish for now, details of what your vessel is capable of have satiated their desire for control and instead substituted it for a desire for power."

Nagato took a more diplomatic stance, stating, "We conveyed that we are currently performing research and need a few days time to properly assess what is capable with the bounty of your ship. They were most...eager to hear of those results."

Tirpitz crossed her legs from where she sat astride the other two shipgirls, quietly stating, "Ideally we will now be able to formulate a working plan based on what you can tell us of the Siren's plans, Alexander. And perhaps avoid the oversight of the rest of the world's governments."

The male frowned, Warspite taking up position behind her queen as he slowly asked, "It sounds as if there's friction between the outside world and Azure Lane."

The Commander huffed out a brief scoff, remarking, "The world governments have never liked the fact that we've essentially acted unilaterally...or that we have to act unilaterally and have been successful doing so for upwards of a decade, the one fighting force that's seen any kind of real, consistent success against the Sirens. If a constant retreat with the occasional raid can be considered 'success', granted. Regardless they would love the opportunity to bring us to an even keel, if only because they hate not being in control."

"Politics...great."

Her sharp blue eyes surveying the scene Elizabeth abruptly asked, "Where is Belfast, if I may inquire so? She was under orders to attend to you, yes?"

Hesitating briefly Alexander responded, "She's currently resting, your majesty. She was...well to put it bluntly she was dangerously exhausted."

Elizabeth merely turned to Warspite, the battleship confirming his words with a nod as the Royal Navy queen returned her gaze to the towering male, offering a grateful smile.

"Then I thank you for your concern. While her loyalty and tenacity is to be admired that foolish subject of mine has a rather unfortunate tendency to overwork."

Tactfully clearing his throat the Commander brought the discussion back on track, stating, "While your concern for the shipgirls is appreciated, son...why don't we get back to the matter at hand?"

"Right...all right, might as well get straight into it."

Running a hand through his hair the shipgirls and Commander instantly lost whatever playfulness or relaxation they had carried, instead focusing with every scrap of attention they held onto the young man.

"Is this everyone who needs to hear this, at least for now?"

"It is. Elizabeth, Nagato, Tirpitz and I will impart the details to the rest of humanity and the shipgirls at a later date, if it becomes needed."

"Okay...well, approximately 103 years into the future humanity is invaded by an alien species known as the Sirens."

That got their attention right off the bat.

"While they certainly held a technological advantage the Sirens weren't overwhelmingly powerful, humanity had some tricks of their own that managed to keep them at least on some level of parity...in fact given their numbers and adaptability humanity would have likely been victorious...if it wasn't for one particular detail."

The young man took a deep breath, knowing that this would be the kicker.

"The Sirens possessed a completely unique and unbeatable technology that allowed them to partition bits and pieces of local reality to their liking...to put it more simply, the Sirens could pick a battlefield, apply this ability to it and manipulate or experience the battle near infinite times until they found a path in which they were victorious."

Nagato lightly gasped, stammering, "Is...is that not a completely unbeatable power, though?"

"It is. And that's how the Sirens were advancing, winning each and every major conflict easily as they would simply pick and choose whatever future they desired."

The Commander seemed to pick up on something, asking, "You said every major conflict. What about the little ones?"

Mouth quirking slightly Alexander continued with, "Well, that's the kicker. Humanity quickly realized this ability required a great deal of power to initiate. Using it on anything other than important, crucial battles was wasteful, if not untenable. On the downside the war had gone so far south at that point that little could be done to take advantage of it...but a few people had other ideas."

Straightening his back Alexander distantly recounted, "A human the Sirens only refer to as 'The Creator' managed to capture and study a few of them, trying to reverse-engineer their abilities of time and causality manipulation to work for humanity, not against it."

The Commander narrowed his eyes.

"...If you're here speaking to us of this very subject then I assume it worked?"

"In...a manner of speaking."

Heaving out a sigh the young man went on.

"The Creator never could figure out all the nuances and specifics of his ultimate plan. In the end, with humanity rapidly failing in their ability to fight back and time running out they went with the longshot plan. The Creator constructed a series of human-like Sirens who's goal would be to prepare humanity for the future, to battle against their otherworldly kin before hitting the proverbial big red button."

The young man's features twisted into a sort of grimace.

"Using every last iota of available power belonging both to humanity and the Sirens - who were unaware of the plan - the Creator surrounded the entire planet in a domain of this reality-altering power, the ones in charge of it the Sirens you've been fighting against all this time...and in the process more or less destroying the world as they knew it, removing themselves from existence while his creations carried out their duty."

Utterly expressionless stares were sent the towering male's way.

"These Siren's goal is simple. Prepare humanity for the future, a future where we aren't wiped out by the original Sirens...through whatever means necessary. A means that has lead to the extermination of humanity thousands upon thousands of times over."

Elizabeth blinked rapidly, Nagato whispering, "This is not the first time a war has destroyed this world and those that live upon it?"

"Not even close. The Sirens working to our 'benefit' have a clear set of criteria they follow when ascertaining whether humanity is prepared to face the future and fight for our lives. Simply put, we have to defeat them at their strongest with nothing held back...and if we don't they kill every last man, woman and child before resetting the world and starting over."

A tender silence filled the room, the Commander narrowing his eyes before asking, "These previous attempts...what occurred in them? And is there a limit to this ability?"

"Well to answer the first it'd be easier to answer the second. And there is. To keep such a massive area of altered space the size of a planet running requires a colossal amount of energy...energy that's running out and these Sirens only have so many times they can rewind events before the entire system collapses, leaving them stuck with no real way to fulfill their programming, whatever reality they ended on being what they're stuck with. And that brings us to this series of events."

Alexander took a deep breath, preparing himself for the bevy of explanations this would be.

"Nothing about this time loop is 'typical'. While the shipgirls and Azur Lane have existed across many of these iterations there has never been an attempt to create a new Siren, as it technically goes against their programming. The only reason I slipped through the cracks was because time is running out and I was intended to help humanity, not destroy it. More to the point, as you've seen with Warspite…"

Alexander shifted uneasily on his feet, wincing briefly before taking a deep breath and heading into the roughest part of the conversation.

"They gave me the ability - by planting shards of the Wisdom Cubes that were employed during my transformation into a willing vessel's body - to turn shipgirls into their true forms...Sirens."

All eyes naturally gravitated towards the wide-eyed Warspite, the battleship in question looking as if her worst fears had been concerned as she opened her mouth-

"Y-you mean my skin will turn pasty and eyes yellow?!"

-and Alexander smacked his forehead with an open palm, grumbling, "That's what you're concerned about right now?"

"W-well no, obviously! But...I very much enjoy the way I am now as a warrior of her majesty, that's all! Appearing in the same skin as the enemy would be...unnatural."

"Agreed, Warspite. Your current attire and skin tones are most pleasing to the eye. Oh hoh hoh~!"

Shaking his head at the abrupt dispersion of tension as Elizabeth caused her retainer to blush Alexander wearily asked, "This is serious...or do you want to end up like me?"

Nagato raised an elegant brow, inquiring, "As in a tremendous asset and ally to those who reside within Azure Lane?"

"That's not what I meant and I'm fairly certain you know it."

The Sakura leader gracefully dipped her head, responding, "Your meaning is understood, Alexander...but if I may ask, what did you mean by us having a true form as Sirens? If that is indeed the case then you are merely returning us as to what we were originally meant to be, not degrading or debasing us."

"Not entirely sure the rest of the world will see it that way…"

Setting aside his grumbles for the moment the young man instead responded, "I'm honestly not entirely certain myself. So much of this scenario is new to even the Sirens. All I can tell you is that the Wisdom Cubes contain the sum total knowledge of humanity and Siren-alike and that you were born from it just as the Sirens were...my best guess is that by implanting the shards of a Cube onto Warspite she is able to access a greater portion of the power and know-how contained within."

He shifted uneasily, gesturing to his back as the metallic coverings slid aside briefly, revealing the ethereal glow of the many Cubes dotting his spine.

"Judging by our connection during the operation where we rescued Elizabeth, Nagato and the others...that knowledge originates directly from my body and mind, since I have so damn many of the things implanted within."

The room fell silent for a time, eventually being broken by Tirpitz abruptly asking, "Warspite, when you were experiencing this 'connection' did you feel any adverse effects? And what about the last few days, after you were...altered?"

Put on the spot the battleship's gaze snapped towards Elizabeth, the shipgirl offering a brief nod of confirmation as the battleship took a deep breath.

"Since I was repaired and restored I've noticed that I feel...stronger. And whereas the Siren weapons and tools attached to my vessel used to be foreign and unwieldy now they feel just as natural as my old rigging did. As for when I shared a mental connection with Alexander, well…"

No one missed the shy averting of her eyes or the brief tinge of pink that colored her cheeks, the shipgirls looking on in great interest while the Commander tried not to sigh in open exasperation.

"...S-suffice to say there were no negative effects whatsoever. None at all!"

Letting the almost pleading words of Warspite pass by without further comment the room was yet again silent, each lost in their own thoughts until Tirpitz raised her head.

"Commander, may I propose a plan?"

"You're going to suggest that we have all of you undergo these alterations, aren't you?"

"Within reason. Volunteers only at first, just to ensure that Warspite is not a special case in acclimating well to these adjustments. After that we can-"

"Wait, what?! You want to end up like, like this?!"

Alexander broadly gestured to herself, Elizabeth smirking as she playfully stated, "Tall, muscular, quite fetching? I am already quite beautiful, I would hate to imagine what I would appear as, were I to become even more alluring."

Alexander faced Elizabeth head on, glaring down at her as he snarled, "This isn't some joke. Let's face reality and the facts, I'm never going to fit into human society ever again looking as I do. People have lost too much to the Sirens to ever feel comfortable with something like myself wandering around, why would you run the risk of the same thing happening to you? You've already sacrificed so much for humankind, why go even further?!"

The queen instantly lost her affability, leaping to her feet - not that it made much difference - as she coldly stated, "And why do you think I have not already considered such facts? Do you think me a simpleton unaware of such nuances?"

Alexander held his ground, looming over the diminutive shipgirl as he growled, "Then why do this? Why run the risk of earning the ire of the species you risked everything to save? I have no idea if what happened with Warspite remaining largely the same is the norm or simply a fluke...and who's to say she won't change further down the line? Don't put yourselves through this, I'm already the star of the circus and can-"

"You're out of line, son."

The Commander's calm and clinical voice cut through the mounting tension, eyes hard as he stared the disbelieving young man down.

"First of all, Queen Elizabeth has a vastly more comprehensive understanding of acceptable risk and the potential consequences of said risks. Second, who are you to tell Azur Lane personnel what they can or cannot do?"

"Peace, Alexander Curtis."

Turning a visibly frustrated expression Nagato's way the young man immediately winced at the tiny shipgirl's calm and understanding gaze, her tone comforting as she further explained, "Your desire to spare us further harm or grief is appreciated and admirable...but ultimately unwanted. We have never considered nor wished to become mere victims of destiny or fate."

Tirpitz added, "One of my lives was consigned to merely watch and observe my sisters as they fell one-by-one, unable to help...none of us would wish to see others further sacrifice themselves for us when we could have otherwise offered aid."

Alexander flinched as in a gesture of surprising familiarity and comfort Elizabeth placed a hand on his forearm, features containing naught but steel as she responded, "Regardless of whether you wish to protect us out of a desire to repay a debt or you view us as fragile dolls is irrelevant...we have lost much to this war, Alexander. We would be willing to do far more than maybe undergo damning physical changes if it meant we could allow our fallen sisters to rest in peace."

…

The young man sighed, eyes closing as he felt like a chastised child at their reassuring words.

"Was I wrong for trying to keep them from doing this? For trying to ensure the heroes of humanity could actually return to it once this was all said and done?"

"Of course you were. The tests and trials approaching cannot be dealt with by yourself...you will need these 'shipgirls' as your loyal army. And need I remind you that they would naturally seek to prostrate themselves before you, as is only natural to the hierarchy of Sirens?"

Alexander resisted the urge to jump as, for the first time in days, Observer Zero randomly appeared before him.

He also didn't miss the way Warspite briefly glanced towards the incorporeal Siren, brow furrowed as if she could see the woman before shrugging it off.

Resigning himself to a tired sigh the young man glanced around the room, stating, "My apologies. To all of you. I didn't mean to imply you weren't fit to fight or anything along those lines. It's just...inbewteen Laffey saving me and everything else you've all been through I was hoping you could maybe sit this one out."

Elizabeth retook her seat, smiling beautifically as she announced, "And it is for that reason that no lasting offense will be taken. Now, I believe we should allow two of our number from each faction to serve as further proof of concepts, upon their volunteering. Is this acceptable?"

All nodded, the Commander adding, "The machines and such aboard your ship have been hard at work going back and forth across the ocean, son. Anything in particular they've been doing?"

Happy to move on to a more manageable and safe topic Alexander replied, "Yeah, my ship has a number of repair and construction bays aboard it, alongside the changes to their physical bodies I can also upgrade their combat riggings and other things. The drones are working on hauling the wreckage of Siren ships and vessels that have been destroyed to the storage areas both aboard my vessel and Azur Lane."

The Commander blinked, mumbling, "I don't remember authorizing that...don't tell me, let me guess. Essex and Akashi worked out a deal with you, didn't they?"

The young man shrugged sheepishly.

"The self-proclaimed 'minty kitty' can be pretty persuasive...and it was for a good cause regardless, with all of the raw material and salvage gained Azur Lane can outfit both its shipgirls and coastal bases with a fair amount of Siren tech."

He paused.

"We'll likely need it. While the Sirens gifted me with this body and their knowledge as well as free reign to do with it what we want...they're going to start 'testing' me soon. We'll need to be prepared."

The Commander nodded, already swiftly jotting down notes before stating, "We'll start the 'alterations' tomorrow morning. In the meantime make any preparations for said alterations you need to, son. Also give me an idea of what kind of material tonnage we're working with here, as well as the average scrap needed to create a variety of weapons or other gimmicks."

"Can do...also, one last thing."

All eyes turned to him as he smiled somewhat sheepishly.

"Kawakaze gave me a name for my ship that I like. It's called the Bakunawa."

Enterprise strode through the halls of the Siren ship, trying to conceal her worry over Alexander's brief but concerning message regarding Belfast's health as her hand clenched and unclenched with nervous energy.

Yes, the strange young man that had suddenly become a major part of their lives and future had thus far proven himself to be enormously trustworthy and well-intentioned...but there was still so much about him that was a mystery, or at the very least shrouded in uncertainty. Look no further than what occurred with Warspite, even if the pale-haired carrier did believe there was no ill-intent behind the change...mistakes could kill just as efficiently as directed lethality.

…

[Belfast isn't feeling well and is recovering in room 18, this drone will guide you there. Keep an eye on her for me, will you?]

Nothing ominous or worrying about such a statement, true...but her friend and confidant was nothing if not a diligent and borderline obsessive worker. For her to not be carrying out her duty due to the need for recovery was enough to have Enterprise feeling anxious and terrified in equal measure.

A cheerful beep from the machine coincided with it leaving to perform some other manner of task as the Eagle Union carrier carefully pulled open the door, noting the dimmed light and still atmosphere.

...And the less than comforting presence of the enormous, lightly glowing rigging that always followed Alexander around, secluding itself in a corner while seemingly ignoring her presence.

Enterprise wasn't sure which she found more distasteful, the thought of a Siren construct watching over the Royal Navy maid unattended or the man having left her on her own to begin with.

Quietly entering and shutting the door behind her Enterprise took a few careful steps inside...and found herself blinking at the sight of two additional forms also resting right alongside Belfast's, closer inspection revealing it to be Prinz Eugen and Kawakaze, both resting atop of strange bedding with thin quilts adorning their bodies as they quietly breathed.

"Did...did he make all of them take time to rest?"

Bewildered by the surprising turn of events - she had unfortunate experience in regards to not taking care of herself and had seen many of her sisters also begin to display similar symptoms - Enterprise found Belfast asleep in a corner of the room...and not quit as at ease as the other two, lightly tossing and turning with uneven breaths.

Kicking off her boots the pale-haired shipgirl rapidly knelt by her friend and ally's side, gently gathering her hand in her own...and had to bite her lip as a single tear leaked from the maid's immaculate eyelash, her breath catching-

-and bright blue eyes stared into Enterprise's own steely gray, the light cruiser's fingers squeezing the carrier's with desperate strength.

"...Enterprise?"

Quickly placing her pointer finger against the maid's lips she placed her forehead against the other woman's, mentally stating, "Telepathy, Belfast...the others are still sleeping."

A few tense seconds passed as the woman's eyes danced around in a frenzy, seemingly searching for something that wasn't there-

-and she finally collapsed, eyes drifting closed as her voice came across their link far weaker than it usually did.

"Apologies, Enterprise. Allow me a moment and I shall prepare us some tea. Or coffee, if you insist on drinking that unhealthy concoction."

The Royal Navy shipgirl made to rise-

-and found that she couldn't, Enterprise keeping her pinned as steely eyes bore into sky blue.

"Why were you crying, Belfast?"

The maid froze for a moment before calmly responding, "That must have merely been sleep gunk, I'm quite alright, Enterprise. Where has Master Alexander gone off to?"

Allowing the deflection to stand for the moment the carrier merely explained, "He had a meeting with the Commander but didn't want to wake you or the others, so he called me to watch over you."

A brief expression of bitterness colored the maid's features.

"Even my calling of serving others has begun to falter as of late...how pitiful."

"Why were you crying?"

Yet again blandly meeting Enterprise's unwavering expression Belfast diverted the question with, "I am quite certain that it was merely the vestiges of sleep-"

"Please, Bel...don't shut me out."

The insanely rare use of her nickname caused the maid to waver...and she broke as her bloodshot eyes averted themselves from the carrier's, words distraught as she whispered, "I saw them. The other maids, all leaving or disappearing until it is only myself and Sheffield. And then she too is gone, leaving only one, lonely maid to serve an empty manor with no master or friends-"

Belfast cut her stream of words off with a surprised grasp as Enterprise gathered her into a fierce hug, the Eagle Union shipgirl fiercely whispering with actual words, "You'll never be alone, Bel. Not while I'm here."

The tender, cautiously hopeful look the light cruiser sported made Enteprise's heart ache, that the normally so composed and collected woman who had helped her when she needed it most was now in desperate need of someone to return the favor.

"You hear me? You don't have to worry about it...not while we both still draw breath."

Gazing into Belfast's eyes Enterprise felt a sudden rush of warmth, affection and boldness as she set aside her fears and anxieties, leaned forward-

-and sealed the white-haired shipgirl's lips with her own.

Heart hammering in her chest at the softness and heat that emanated from Belfast's lips and body, of the smell of various herbs and slight seabreeze, of the shocked widening of lovely orbs as they gazed deeply into her own Enterprise held the kiss, trying to convey every last bit of emotion and care she could into the gesture...and prayed that it wouldn't damage their relationship.

They pulled apart after what seemed like an instantaneous eternity, neither of the shipgirls daring to so much as breathe...and Enteprise had to wonder why she'd even worried as the maid grabbed her shoulders, pulling them close together as she went in for a second, much deeper kiss that left the carrier blushing up a storm.

Not that she had much time to focus on that particular interaction as Belfast pushed her to the bed below, flipping her legs around so that she was straddling Enterprise, the Eagle Union shipgirl abruptly remembering that her friend (girlfriend, now?) liked to wear tights and garters, a seductive look that she could feel pressed against her thighs.

"B-Belfast?"

Not immediately replying the maid simply placed a brief but friendly kiss on the other woman's lips, smiling down at her as she whispered, "I had always hoped you felt that way, Enterprise...you were always the composed and withdrawn one and it was not proper for a maid to burden their master with unreturned affections but you always shined so bright…"

Feeling her eyes widen the carrier babbled, "W-wait, you...liked me that way all this time?"

"For years now. But conflicting loyalties and events had always taken precedence and I had no intention of making you uncomfortable should my affections be misplaced or unwanted…"

Enterprise couldn't help but feel a small smile grace her features, cupping the maid's cheek as she responded, "What a strange coincidence...I had always felt the same way."

The pair gazed deeply into the other's eyes, years and years of exhaustion dropping from their features as they luxuriated in newfound closeness, Belfast laying herself atop of Enterprise as both pale-haired shipgirls enjoyed the warmth of the other, the Royal Navy cruiser smiling in a mildly sheepish manner as she admitted, "What an unfaithful maid I have been...less than a few hours after informing Alexander of my servitude to him I have clandestinely entered into a relationship behind his back. A truly outrageous scandal, this."

Enterprise immediately felt her eyes narrow, grumbling, "And you informed him of his 'privileges' as your master, correct?"

The frosty carrier felt herself melt as Belfast placed another peck on her lips, teasingly whispering, "You are not jealous, are you?"

"Of course the Grey Ghost is envious. Curtis is nothing if not a hunk...but come now, sister. Does our dear schnuckiputzi really seem the type to force an unwilling maiden to bed with him?"

Both shipgirls jumped at Prinz Eugen's sudden comment, Enterprise hissing, "How long have you been awake?!"

The Ironblodd's smirk was supreme in its smugness as she enigmatically replied, "Long enough, Grey Ghost. And thank you, you just won me three hundred euros by finally confessing to our dearest maid, sister...your vow was truly heartfelt and about a decade overdue."

Enterprise soundlessly worked her jaw, mortified at Eugen's teasing words...and resigned herself to silence as Belfast didn't seem bothered in the slightest, resting herself atop of her partner in an even more intimate manner as Kawakaze suddenly grumbled, "Sisters...is silence too much to ask for? Rest cannot be achieved by-hmm?!"

Eugen suddenly reached over and pulled the Sakura destroyer into a hug, the shipgirl's ears and tail briefly standing straight before she once more wore apathy like a set of clothes, the Ironblood stating, "Come now, Wölfin...I too desire a partner."

Coming to the realization that it would be easier to accept than it would be to resist Kawakaze let herself be wrapped up in a hug...although the sudden roll towards Enterprise and Belfast had the embraced pair giving the Ironblood a strange look as she came to a rest a few centimeters away from their own resting pad.

"...Eugen?"

Head turned away from them the heavy cruiser's tone was oddly subdued as she quietly asked, "When was the last time that we were able to do this? Just...rest? Together, without worry?"

Understanding the exhaustion that was present within the Ironblood's cadence Enterprise swallowed her perpetual annoyance at her fellow's words and instead gently laced her fingers through Eugen's, softly responding, "Too long...but perhaps that will change."

"...Yes. Perhaps."

Conversation ran dry after that and the four once more drifted off into the slumber, each luxuriating in the warmth and comfort of each other's presence...even if some of them could never bring themselves to admit it.

Okay, might as well drop an AN this chapter because technically I'm ignoring a lot of the Azur lane 'canon' going down.

Then again, considering how much the game's story seems intent on only providing hints of stuff rather than anything concrete I didn't have much choice. It's like reading thirty introduction paragraphs but no body.

Like, apparently there's alternate versions of shipgirls going out and about, there's some kind of war being fought in the future still, the actual motivations of the Sirens and the Creator as well as how Empress comes into play are still kinda hazy...yeah, I just went with my own things which is basically-

1: The Sirens were originally an alien race that invaded earth, using reality altering technology to win.

2: The creator made his own version of Sirens (Observer, Empress, Purifier etc) and hijacked the OG Sirens tech to give humanity a future (wiping out his own timeline in the process, no future war going on)

3: Technology has a limit to how long it can last, no infinite realities and that's why Observer Zero was playing with the rules a bit.

4: Sirens are attempting to get humanity to be as strong as possible so that they can win against the coming invasion and drop the reality alterations.

5: Belfast and Enterprise are adorable and that's a hill I'd probably be willing to die on.