Chapter 49: Renewed Hope (Part 8)

"TB, are they alright?"

[While I lack the ability to perform a more thorough scan Amagi is merely suffering from light head trauma and Shinano acute exhaustion, a trait I imagine Amagi also shares. They are in no immediate danger should we bring them to medical facilities within a generous time frame.]

Breathing a sigh of relief at the news Alexander couldn't help but briefly gaze at the pair of shipgirls with a frown, grimly musing, "What the hell did they do to the two of you?" before carefully tucking them beneath his arms, ignoring the ache and mechanical whine of his damaged armor.

"Think we're ever going to leave a mission with a halfway functioning suit?"

[While the sample size of scenarios is admittedly small current estimates suggest no.]

"Wonderful."

Rising to his feet Alexander gazed around the terrain, completely absent its mirror sea properties the moment he'd destroyed the Siren machine, Amagi and Shinano's vessels retaining their damaged state but resting in an underground body of water that looked like it ran to a series of large elevators, ideally leading to the ocean.

"Well at least we don't need to leave them down here. That's pretty useful hardware, to say the least."

Never mind all the aircraft that had fallen from the sky the moment Shinano had been freed from the machine's control, now floating or sinking beneath the quietly lapping waves as Purifier and Zero approached his position, the former missing an arm while the latter had a rather sizable chunk of her side missing where a high-caliber round had punched straight through, neither of them seeming all that bothered by the damage. Hell, Purifier was smiling from ear to ear.

"Wow, now that was fun~! I think fighting our forefathers is something I can get used to…"

"Cool that's great no one cares. Zero? You take crazy and search around the inside of this place, see if we missed anything. If either of you feel like you're about to collapse call it a day, we can always head back."

"Pfft, this is nothing! But the bookworm over here might be another story entirely, heh heh~!"

Ignoring Purifier's ribbing Zero merely nodded, replying, "We shall be thorough with our search. And these wounds are merely inconvenient, not debilitating."

Giving the hole in the woman's side an arched look but electing not to comment on it he just settled for responding, "TB and I will be topside, letting everyone else know what happened and getting these two a lift to the fleet."

Zero merely nodded while Purifier skipped onto the waters as if she didn't have a care in the world, empty and charred sleeve flapping in the air as Alexander shook his head, hefting the unconscious duo before trying to figure out what his next move would be.

[What?! Lady Amagi and Lady Shinano both live?!]

Nagato's uncharacteristic shout of utter disbelief left Alexander wincing away from the transport's radio, glancing towards where the pair of foxes were resting on improvised cots of the gelatinous material that made up TB's rigging as he wryly said, "Volume, Nagato. And yeah, they were under the same control that I'm assuming Algérie and Richelieu are. Some kind of metal collar or similar device that was keeping them enslaved. While they don't look like they're in any immediate danger I'm having TB fly them back to the fleet while Zero, Purifier and I make sure this base doesn't have any other surprises in stock for us."

[We would be honored to receive our sisters! Yet again the Sakura owe you a debt of gratitude, Alexander. For returning what was once thought lost to us.]

Feeling a slight bit embarrassed at the genuine praise the Aloadae covered it up by going on the offensive, stating, "Hey, I can think of a few ways to pay off that debt."

The insinuation preceded a nearly inaudible thwap noise, Alexander perfectly able to imagine Nagato's ears twitching madly as Elizabeth sharply stated, [This channel is open to other ears, you shameless flirts!]

"Bummer, it was just getting good, too."

A variety of interesting noises and comments came across the radio channel as he smirked at the chaos, intervening with, "ETA to the fleet is thirty minutes once they're in the air. Enterprise, Essex, you have escorts available?"

A dull roar echoed overhead as the mechanically minded carrier replied, [Already a step ahead of you, fighters on patrol.]

"Alright, they'll be taking off in three minutes. I'll check back in if we find anything else worth mentioning."

Shutting off the radio the Aloadae made one final check on the shipgirls - satisfied that they were secured and safe in their makeshift beds - before departing the transport, returning to the depths of the base with a pained roll of his neck, trying to ignore the hissing and groaning of his battered armor as he did so.

"Jesus, Akashi is going to kill me if I keep this up. Assuming I don't one day get a kinetic kill round right into the face."

Shrugging to himself he delved back into the darkness of the abandoned facility, praying that the day's excitement was well and truly over.

"Ugh, so glad that's over and done with…for once and hopefully the last time in my life I think I understand how you feel, Purifier."

"Tell me about it! Search without any destroy is such a lame time!"

"That you two are beginning to reach any measure of consensus does not bode well for the future of this time line."

"I don't disagree in the slightest."

Marching out of the research facility with little to show for the subsequent hours of searching aside from a few records of dubious use on crafting new and improved engines - seeing as how they were several decades out of date with the Bakunawa's own technological advancements - the trio marched onto the transport, having finished it's task of delivering Shinano and Amagi to the fleet.

"Hmm…maybe I should have run to the harbor, it sounds like they were having all sorts of fun down there~!"

"You had your goddamn fun, stop complaining already."

Heavily leaning against the side of the aircraft - his armor made sitting a bit of an issue, especially as damaged as it was - Alexander mentally ordered, "TB, take us back to the fleet. I think we're done here."

[Understood, master.]

The transport briefly rumbled as its engines kicked on before rising into the sky, plotting a course back to the rest of their comrades as the male let his eyes drift closed slightly, happy for the moment of respite. While his body may not need much in the way of sleep his mind could definitely feel the old human exhaustion and today had been a combination of sheer, overwhelming adrenaline and tense boredom that did quite the number.

Or maybe it was just getting stabbed that made him sleepy.

"Wake me up if we get shot out of the sky or something."

"Don't threaten me with a good time."

Forcing back his instinctive retort to Purifier's usual insanity the man simply closed his eyes, almost immediately drifting off into a deep slumber.

"You…you're the Dragon."

"What? What the fuck?"

Instantly on guard as Alexander found himself becoming all too familiar with weird vistas and out of body experiences the man leapt to his feet, hands raised and ready for a fight-

-and blinked a couple times in quick succession.

"Uhh…that's a new one."

No starry vistas, no ocean waves and no killer machines with glowing eyes and pale skin. Just a simple room of Sakura design with one of its sliding doors open, revealing an admittedly beautiful view that had him relaxing on instinct. Blue skies, warm sunlight, bright flowers, vibrant grasses and in the distance a colossal Sakura tree that he realized was the famed organism that had given rise to the Empire that shared its name, so domineering in presence and size that the Bakunawa would have looked small next to it.

"I will freely admit that seeing the expression on those who lay their eyes on the Sacred Sakura…never does quite lose its appeal…"

Finally remembering the soft and sleepy words that had been the first things he'd heard Alexander glanced to the side, raising an eyebrow as it was none other than Shinano herself seated atop a sprawl of cushions, gazing out the veranda with a far off expression.

"You know there had always been rumors and stories of how you were some gifted seer or prophet the likes the world had never seen. Communicating through dreams, though? I think people were underselling your talents."

A small smile graced delicate lips, the Sakura's nine tails swaying lightly as she replied, "This is not my doing. I genuinely do not know…how this has occurred."

The Aloadae had to resist the urge to sigh, having a sinking feeling that this weird mental bridge or whatever was his fault.

"Well, in either case, are you feeling alright?"

He immediately winced at how blunt that question had been.

"Sorry, that was just about the worst way I could have asked that."

A low, elegant laugh left the mesmerizing fox as the Aloadae found himself drawn by how the sunlight caught her silver hair, snapping out of the trance as amusement was promptly replaced with apprehension and even trace amounts of fright.

"No. I am not alright. I keep expecting to wake up to that…machine asking me questions, my body…not my own. Dear Amagi…no doubt feels the same."

Her gaze suddenly landed straight on Alexander's, the man instinctively straightening his spine as she all but whispered, "But here, in this strange dream…I know we are free."

Unsure of how to respond to that - aside from genuine fury that they had been so badly tortured that reality itself was questioned - he instead replied, "Well if nothing else you're going to wake up to some of your sisters extremely excited to see you in one piece, that should be a relief of some kind, right?"

A small, fragile smile was his only response as Shinano replied, "Yes, seeing them again…would be nice. But…"

Her ears flattened somewhat, imperial shame clear to see.

"Will you be present as well? It would be easier…to accept things if that were the case."

Hiding his grimace at the shipgirl's clear unease and hoping that time would do away with the present trauma he replied, "I'm on my way back to the fleet right now. No idea how this works or if you can control when you wake up but it shouldn't be more than an hour."

Relief caused the silver fox to sag with visible effect, bowing low a moment later as her forehead brushed the floor, tone resolute and full of borderline worship.

"Words cannot describe the debt…that the Sakura owe you, Dragon. My life and servitude…are forever yours."

Before he could tell the shipgirl how massively not okay he was any of what she just said there was an odd sound that was barely audible-

[Master? We're touching down in just a minute, you may wish to be properly awake moving forward.]

Snapping to full awareness the Aloadae immediately asked, "Did you notice anything strange about my rest, TB?"

[While your brain displayed the usual REM signs indicative of rest it was unusually focused, rather than the haphazard activity usually associated with the act. Why?]

"I'll tell you later, it's just more complicated crap like usual."

The aircraft finished touching down on Akashi's ship, its vertical take off engines allowing for the maneuver as he stated, "Zero, Purifier? Get yourselves to a repair bay out of sight and mind for the moment, would you?"

"If that is your command."

"Aww, I guess the fun is over for now…"

Without further comment Alexander walked out the back of the plane, raising an eyebrow as none other than Belfast awaited him, the maid smiling demurely although one elegant eyebrow rose at the state of his gear.

"Goodness me. I do believe Akashi is going to be quite upset with your repeated insistence of damaging the machines she tends to, master Alexander."

"Well this one I made on my own, so maybe she'll go easy on me. How's the assault going?"

He removed his helmet with a grateful sigh, fresh ocean breeze and the slight tang of smoke a welcome change from the stale air of his armor's recyclers.

"Assuming there's anything left to assault, of course."

His words were punctuated by Warspite's cannons shaking the air as they fired at some far off target, the remnants of the Siren base mostly burning remnants of depots or docks while their vessels laid capsized or snapped in half.

"Jesus they work fast. We weren't gone that long. Guess that's what happens when you have veterans of more than a decade of naval engagements take the field with a tech advantage."

"We are currently engaged in mop up operations, as you can see. No losses and aside from superficial damage on Essex and Enterprise the Sirens had no opportunity to launch a counterattack of any real strength. Currently our Sakura sisters are below decks, awaiting Lady Amagi and Shinano's return to us while everyone else is patrolling the area."

"Well it's about time we got a lucky break. Had it in my head that we were forever cursed to be drawing the short end of the stick. And let me tell you, there's more stuff going on in here then I will ever be comfortable with."

The maid cocked her head, pointedly ignoring Zero and Purifier as they strode past her before asking, "You were able to telepathically communicate with lady Shinano?"

"Yeah, turns out that-wait what the fuck? How did you figure that out?"

The maid just offered a fancy curtsy and playful wink, stating, "A maid is entitled to some of her secrets, master Alexander."

"No. To hell with that. You just guessed and I confirmed it for you, didn't I? Please tell me that's it."

"That's it, master Alexander."

The man simply stared at the falsely innocent smile directed his way before sighing to himself, grumbling, "I'm going to ditch the armor and then go see how Amagi and Shinano are doing."

"Allow me to accompany you, master Alexander. I laid out refreshments near the storage room as I imagined you would be in need of them."

Feeling a cold ball of disbelief settle in his gut the Aloadae made his way to aforementioned part of the ship…where a tray of cookies, tea and other delights were ready and waiting. All still warm and steaming.

"I kind of joked about this before, but it's actually getting kind of scary how good you are at this, Belfast. You must have Enterprise wrapped around your finger."

"You might just be surprised. After all, the eagle does not lightly let go of its prey once caught…"

Alexander couldn't help but snort at the slightest tinges of pink that adorned the maid's cheeks, instead lining his body up with one of the Bakunawa's 'workbenches' they'd brought along for the trip as it began unsealing and storing the armor for later repair…the damaged sections squealing and groaning like the dead the whole while.

He also really should have expected the frown Belfast sent his way as she saw the state of his body, covered with lacerations, bruises and a particularly nasty cut where one of Shinano's blades had bit deep.

"They're already sealed up and mending, no need to get all worried, Belfast."

"My apologies, but even by shipgirl standards those are rather heavy injuries."

"It's a good thing I have some pretty powerful glue on hand then, isn't it?"

Huffing out a resigned breath the maid was rather adamant in placing a tray of biscuits in his hand, eyes closing and lips curling upwards in a dangerous type of smile as she intoned, "Indeed it is, master Alexander. And you will have to eat something in order to keep your strength up, now won't you?"

Recognizing that he was approaching danger levels of annoyance on the Belfast scale he promptly accepted the treats and ate them with gusto. After all, they were quite delicious.

"I shall take my leave now, master Alexander."

"So basically the super maid just showed up on Akashi's ship to make sure I was alright, drinks and desserts in hand, only to vanish into the night when her job was done with impeccable timing? That's honestly kind of wild."

The cruiser merely favored him with another one of her 'who me' smiles as he shook his head, more genuinely stating, "Thanks, Belfast. I appreciate it."

"It was my pleasure to serve, master Alexander. Do try to take care of yourself."

"I don't intentionally get into trouble, you know."

"Debatable."

With a final bow of her head and playful wink the maid departed, Alexander rolling his eyes before ducking through the door that lead to Akashi's repair bays, now serving as an impromptu clinic as all of the Sakura shipgirls were clustered around the sleeping forms of Shinano and Amagi, Kawakaze spotting him first before rising to her feet and striding over to meet him.

"Still nothing?"

"Just calm rest."

The destroyer briefly bowed her head, quietly stating, "Thank you for rescuing them. Lady Nagato may be the voice and image of the Sakura but Lady Shinano and Amagi were always our souls, the guiding light and peacemakers of our people."

"As much as I would like to say I knew what I was doing and had a plan that whole mess was spur of the moment and fly by the seat of my pants."

"...You were the one who aided them though, yes?"

Raising his hands in resignation at Kawakaze's confused words he replied, "Alright, I can see where this is going and I'm just going to nod and say thank you."

Kawakaze gained a small smile at his attempt at modesty before motioning with her head for him to join them, Nagato offering him a radiant smile as he sat next to her while I-13, I-25, I-26 and Akashi looked to be beside themselves with anticipation, staring at the two sleeping Sakura with near unblinking gazes as if the force of the stares would rouse them from their slumber.

"Words cannot begin to describe the thanks my people owe you for all that you have done, Alexander."

"We're really going to do this, huh? Can't just be doing the right thing but the hero's thing?"

Nagato offered him a pointed look, calmly explaining, "You are perhaps underestimating the value of a hero in this trying time. We have already begun retaking a home that was thought lost to us, the sacred tree now once again under our care. And additionally you bequeath unto us the soul of the Sakura-"

He ignored Kawakaze's slow tail wag and idle stare.

"-so that we may rebuild our empire to the height that it once reached."

A brilliant smile lit up the woman's features.

"You have already entered the public eye as something of an interesting figure that has performed various deeds. Why not further exemplify all that humanity would wish to achieve as a warrior constantly beating back the enemy, bringing hope to all?"

"Would you like me to put on a clown suit while I'm on it?"

He grimaced as the empress sent him an unimpressed look, I-26 quickly adding, "Well why not? I mean you've already made it to the front pages of the news, Akashi showed us all those pictures of you and Lady Nagato during that summit!"

I-25 fervently nodded in agreement with her fellow sub, ears flopping wildly as she added, "Yes, wouldn't more hope for the world be a better thing for everyone?"

I-13 was the finishing blow, crossing her arms while proudly announcing, "You keep being all humble and everything but you've been doing a really good job despite being put in a crazy situation. You've got the spirit of a true carrier, Alexander~!"

Finding himself increasingly outnumbered and uncomfortable with the various praise and advice the shipgirls were piling on him Akashi didn't help matters one bit, proudly nodding as she said, "And you really did the play the part of a gallant knight, nya~! My machines and other things really helped sell the image!"

Now well and truly at a loss of what to say or do - and more than a little horrified at the prospect of him being some kind of figure people all over the world looked up to - he was saved by the hitching breath of both Shinano and Amagi, the foxes waking from their slumber as he quickly said, "Oh look, activity. Pay attention to it."

Not that he needed to in the first place, everyone having quickly surrounded their more busty sisters with anxious expressions as they shifted and stirred, silver and violet eyes immediately flying open in unison as ragged breaths escaped both foxes, wild panic in their eyes as the mood of hope and eagerness was quickly replaced by alarm, I-26 actually flopping onto the deck in shock as one of Amagi's tails smacked her aside, both Sakura twisting to and fro as if searching for something.

Which naturally turned out to be him, the pair instantly sagging in relief as he dumbly stood off to the side. An awkward state of affairs which only got worse as despite the clear ache and pain it caused them both Amagi and Shinano rose to their knees and bowed low, foreheads touching the ground as the silver fox intoned, "Dragon-sama…we await direction…at your pleasure."

Everyone within the room turned to face Alexander, the Aloadae's mouth hanging open in dismay.

"Oh. Right. Didn't tell them about my little dream conversation with Shinano."

He released a defeated sigh.

"Vampire and Eugen would be having a field day with this if they were here right now. Why can't my life be normal?"