Finished another chapter. I think this wraps up the segment on Attu, but there is more of course. Im pretty satisfied with how the story is forming out. Hope you enjoy it.
With Love ~Dresner
Raiden sits peacefully on the tailgate of the KM450 as Karl sleeps next to her. The sun has risen over the ocean, illuminating the world around them to reveal the beauty of Attu. It is hard to believe a battle rages around his desolate yet beautiful island. She sighed and lay back, propping her arms under her to lie next to her sleeping Commander. Raiden can't help but lament everything as the realization hits her.
"Pointless…" She says aloud, shaking her head in disgust.
The sound of several swords unsheathing barely catches her attention as she loses herself in thought. When the sight of two blades held in the hands of Takao and Atago of this world, Raiden barely gives an expression past that of minor annoyance.
"Step away from my Darling," Atago says defensively.
"And do it slowly." The combined voices of Typhoon and Taihou say in unison from behind her.
"Unless you have a death wise." Akagi growls, slowly levitating to the ground between Atago and Takao with fire dancing on the tips of her nine fox tails.
"It's over, Lord Raiden," Falcon tells her, crouched on top of the KM450's cab.
The META heavy cruiser flips her hair and smirks, unphased by all the girls surrounding her. "I know. At least this phase is, but I surrender to my Darling Commander. I don't care to fight anymore."
She puts her hand on Karl's thigh, rubbing it gently with a heavy sigh.
Akagi and Taihou lung towards her, but the others hold them back to much of Raiden's enjoyment. "Easy… We've shared him before… In another world, at least." She remarks indifferently.
The remark pissed off the two fiery carriers and made the Takao class sister scowl. Junyou just shakes her head in disapproval.
"My Lord," she addresses Raiden. I don't believe it's wise to taunt them after what has happened."
"I'm stating fact, Junyou," Raiden replies tiredly.
Raiden lays back on the truck bed to look into the sky. With a heavy sigh, she sees the girls surrounding her. "We shared him in many ways… In love, mind, body, soul, and the day he died to us… We mourned him. I cried an ocean for him to be like this again."
She holds his hand close to her to the frustrated growls of everyone around her. "Kill me if you must, but let me die with him like I should have all those years ago."
Raiden looks to Akagi with melancholy sadness in her eyes, "You got the honor to spend your final moments with him on that day. If only you knew how lucky you were to spend your final hours of life with him, our final hours with him."
Her attention turned to Takao with a bitter smirk, "Dear sister, you were always the one to protect me. But damn it, you were jealous no matter what. I love him. I always did. Why not let me be happy?"
Takao stays stone-faced and upright. Atago showed some compassion in her gaze, but the same cold expression remained. The two Taihou and Akagi didn't budge, wanting only to beat Raiden to a pulp.
"That was then." Typhoon replies. "Look where we are now."
"Right…" Raiden giggles, looking back at her Darling as he sleeps. "I guess I better live in the now, no?"
With another giggle, she raises her hands and looks at the Takao sisters. "I'm a prisoner to Azur Lane and my Darling… Treat me well."
The arrogant smirk that appeared on Raiden's face made Atago angry. The usually calm and loving Onee-san lunged at Raiden with her free hand. She smacks Raiden across the face with one swift motion, sending the META girl down to the truck bed. The slap across the face was rather forceful, more of an open-palm punch than a smack, as Raiden could taste blood in her mouth. Atago's hair began to stand up, as did Raiden's, and the two began to eye each other aggressively.
"Enough." Karl yawns as he awakens with a groan. Still lying down on the cold metal of the truck bed, he lazily raises his head to look at the two Atagos. "Enough, you two. It's over. Raiden is my prisoner, and you will treat her according to the rules of war. If she abuses this right, I will handle her."
The girls said nothing, only giving a mixed response of hushed grumbles and disappointed expressions. Karl groans again as he sits upright before sliding out of the bed and to his feet. He sees his girls gather around him, anticipating their next order. Karl looks at him with a slight smile. "We did good here… Congrats, girls… Let's go home…." He says, looking to the META girls as they stand by the truck with Raiden. "All of us…"
Taihou and Akagi muscle themselves to the front, trying to race each other to get the Commander's attention first. But before they could speak, Karl grabbed them both in a hug to embrace them. The two girls wrap themselves tight around him aggressively and rub their scent on him. Atago breaks her glare with Raiden to hug him from behind. Raiden sighs with a sad smirk on her face.
"Good… Good…" She laments. She sighed heavily as Falcon and Typhoon flanked her on each side of the truck.
"What?" Typhoon asks aggressively.
"Nothing… Just being reminded of a different time." Raiden says bitterly as memories play in her mind.
After the embrace, The team moved down to the airfield where the freshly pulled-out Hips were being readied by the Kommandos. The pilots were actively aiding them, which Karl was surprised about, given that pilots usually kept away from actual work. He never liked fixed-wing pilots, especially…
As the Hips were being prepared, he put handcuffs on Raiden and took her sword.
"Don't trust me?" Raiden asks him playfully.
"They don't trust you," Karl replies, motioning towards the rest of the shipgirls as they aided the team.
"But do you?" She asks him.
"Do you trust me?" He responds.
The two say nothing, only sharing a fleeting glare as Karl puts his hand on her back to motion her forward. He escorts her to the back of one of the whips as two of the men begin mounting M3 GAU 21 machine guns on door mounts and loading their large ammo boxes mounted on the sides of the choppers. Karl recalled these mounts in the mountains and red and green tracers raining down on the enemy. Crawling through the back of the helicopter, he looks at two of the guys as they load the machine guns.
"What the mix?" Karl inquires as the men move the belts through the feed tracks.
"AP-I-T, SLAP-T, and AP-I." The Kommando replied with a smirk.
"Good." Karl nods.
"Worried about something?" Raiden asks him with a sneer. "Maybe the Eagle Union?"
Karl shakes his head, "I don't know what your sister has planned. I'd rather have some insurance."
Raiden shrugs, "I wouldn't worry about her. Maybe some stragglers, but nothing from her."
He sighs and shakes his head. The rhythmic tapping of rain against the cabin begins to catch his attention. Sitting Raiden down, Karl turns to return outside to check on the rest of the girls as the helicopters prepare to leave. More ammunition is being loaded up from the back of a KM450, and a couple of GM-94s are brought with them. His carriers and cruisers flocked to him for guidance.
"Next plan is getting out of here," Karl begins as the rain starts. "Regroup with Musashi and the Eagle Union, assist them with recovering their castaways, and then we'll pack up. We'll need to move quickly to get anyone we can. I'm sure the Eagle Union is doing its best, but I won't leave them here. Questions?"
"I'll escort you," Typhoon speaks up. Junyou steps forward, and Taihou raises her hand before anyone else can speak up. Akagi snarls, but Takao and Atago pull her back as the sound of Musashi on the radio catches their attention. Everyone breaks off to their duties, and Taihou approaches Karl and takes him to his side. Typhoon notices this and slowly hangs back as Karl and Taihou go to the helicopter that held Raiden. The two METAs follow, and they load up with Taihou and Typhoon taking their place at his flanks, to much of Raiden's delight.
Raiden sighs happily and lays back against the cold metal of the helicopter. Typhoon gives her a death glare while Junyou sits quietly beside Raiden as she watches Taihou cuddle against Karl.
The pilots signal Karl, and he returns it with a 'hang ten' hand gesture. The MI-8's engines fire up, and soon, they find themselves lifting off. The Hips come together into formation as they leave Attu. The back door to the Hip is open, with Hugin and Munin posted on each side of the ramp and held in by safety straps. Their machine guns are ready as the island slowly fades behind the fog of the mountains.
Karl sighs and looks out the windows as they approach a collection of Eagle Union ships. Over his coms, he can hear the girls working together to save men and women thrown overboard. There were some surviving Sirens, but the ripping sounds of the .50 door guns solved that issue rather quickly. The two brothers were also firing on the drones that survived. But they were calling their targets out before hitting them with ammo belts.
Raiden smirked as the young door gunners held the triggers on their Brownings longer than expected. "I wonder where they learned how to shoot like that, Karl?" She asks him, trying to get him to talk to her. But he ignores her as he continues to look out the window. The cruiser notices he tucks Taihou's head close to him, putting his rough hands over her ears to protect her. The old man's only free hand closed as he watched the door gunners lay into the sirens.
"Forever young in spirit…" Raiden remarks with a smirk.
The Hip banks left and flew over a couple of destroyers, rescuing men with the help of some of the Eagle Union girls. The brothers lift their guns up and hold fire until they find more targets, but the door gunners don't let up. Raiden can see the expression of ecstasy on Karl's face, wanting to see more destruction.
Commander Helena Maxis from the USS Montana watched the heavy helicopters fly with their machine guns firing on all Siren remains. From her high-power binoculars, she could see some Sirens were still moving and trying to muster up an attack. In the words of a well-regarded British unwell-regarded while in England, the operation was a dog breakfast from the start! The META ships did a number on her fleet, severely destroying or damaging several. Then the damned Sirens appeared! It was all a hellish battle, even for the shipgirls, but damn it, why did that damned Hillbilly have to come to the rescue!? Her anger was seething through her, But between the shipgirls and the helicopters, they were stopped by the siren counterattacks in their tracks. Helena knew these were Karl's; there wasn't a helicopter with enough range to get out here. Judging by their approach, they obviously came from Attu. Two helicopters dropped ladders to get men off their sinking ships or out of the water.
"That bastard…" Helena mutters, spitting out the shattered window of the command deck. "That damned bastard… Helena!"
She calls Helena META in a rage over the radio. "What do you have on that security system?! Anything I can use to end this man!?"
"No." Helena META says calmly. "Nothing at all."
"WHAT?!" Helena Maxis explodes. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN NOTHING?!"
The META shrugs, "Nothing at all."
The META watches one of the Hips intensely as it circled some fallen siren humanoid drones. The tracers rained on them with no mercy, yet the rest of the Hips saved the wounded and stranded.
"That one… He's there." Helena META mutters as the Hip banks away with its open rear facing them. Her vision was keen and sharper than others. She saw Karl looking towards them as he sat with Taihou and Typhoon at his flanks, Raiden facing him. "He's watching."
Commander Helena looked towards the Hip, too. She felt something odd as she looked into the distance at the helicopter as it lumbered through the air. The feeling was an intense rush of emotion and confusion, but she felt unnerved.
"He's watching us…" Commander Helena whispers.
From the viewpoint, something made Helena META gasp loudly. She saw Karl stand up suddenly and point towards the water as if warning them of impending danger. Helena META then looks at her radar as a damaged Siren ship appears on her screen and in her direct view of 400 meters. The vessel came alight suddenly and fired all its torpedoes and guns at the passing USS Montana! Helena META pushes the Commander away from the glass and teleports to destroy the ship. But all the torpedoes hit home, and the shells hit Montana, setting her alight.
"Shit!' Karl shouts, rushing to the cockpit. "Turn this tub around! That monster ship just got bushwacked!"
The pilots shifted left and faced the burning Montana. A fire broke out at the bow, and the number two turret exploded into a puff of smoke. It remained on its mount, but it was clear to everyone on board that the ship and the helicopter knew something worse would come if that fire reached the ammo if it didn't sink first.
"That turret just cooked off some rounds or something!" Karl shouted, pointing at the smoking number 2 turret. He makes a phone jester with his fingers to the pilot and points to the ship. She nods and hands him a headset after changing the radio channel.
"Montana, Karl, Radio check!" Karl shouts into the radio.
Helena coughs as smoke enters the bridge. Glass covers the floor, cutting her hands as she crawls to the radio. "I read you! What the hell hit me?!" Helena demanded.
"A siren ship hit you!" Karl informed her. "Your number 2 turret is smoking, and some fires are building around the front of your boat! You got to get off that thing before the ammo cooks off!"
The alarms rang, and sirens blared, disorienting her. She coughs again as the sight of a fire rising to the bridge pushes her back. "It's not a boat!" She shouts.
"The fuck ever!" Karl shouts, "Get the hell out of there! You need to get off that damn thing before it goes sky-high!"
"A true naval officer will never abandon her ship!" She replies defiantly, "OUT!"
"Montana! Montana!" Karl shouts into the radio. "HELENA! GOD DAMN IT!""
He punched the wall beside him as he looked at the stricken ship. Fire began to rise on the bow, and personnel began to abandon the vessel via lifeboats. He looked at the pilots and then pointed to the ship's stern, "You think you can land on the flat part?!"
The pilots looked at each other and nodded reluctantly. "We can hover over it! But landing would be reckless!"
"Get me close! Im saving that stupid bitch!" Karl shouts.
The shipgirls look at him oddly, "What the hell are you planning?!" Typhoon explodes.
"My Commander!" Taihou shouts as the chopper leans forward at speed towards the stricken ship.
The chopper banked hard left and whipped around to hover over the stern. Karl runs out to the sheer disbelief of the shipgirls and the crew. Raiden watches as he runs down the deck.
"That man… That damn man…" She chuckles in disbelief.
The world slowed down as he ran. Karl could feel every creek and pop in their knees, it seemed. But something told him it wasn't the adrenaline kicking in.
From the corner of his eye, he saw the ghostly figure of a shipgirl hovering in view. A petite shipgirl with long blue hair and bright red eyes looked at him suspiciously.
"I don't understand why you're doing this." Helena META says bluntly. "You could have left her, and I would have saved her. But here you are. Why?"
"I don't want any more collateral damage," Karl said shamefully. "The Order did enough here with this shit show, and I won't let that hard-headed schoolgirl meet her end here. I already lost one young girl to this war."
"Lucy, Yes?" Helena META asks him.
"So you know it all Helena was talking about, hm?" Karl responds.
"I'm asking the questions here." She scowls.
"I have a hard time answering the questions of an omnipotent being," Karl replies, his sarcastic attitude making Helena META scowl.
"I'm not omnipotent but can make your life a living hell beyond your understanding with the right codes." Helena META warns him.
"Not the first time I've had someone tell me they're going to send me to hell," Karl says coldly, receiving it as a minor annoyance rather than the promise it was. "If that's why you are here, then pencil me in for ten o'clock on the dot."
Helena META shakes her head, sneering, "Do you not understand that I'm in control here, and I can end you? This test site is under my control."
"Is that what you call the world?" Karl asks genuinely. "And here I thought you were gods and monsters like us meatbags, but I guess you're different?"
Helena META jumps directly to his ear and whispers, "I'm loyal to the Commander and always will. Where do you stand, Karl Erich Dael of the Order of St. Abaddon?"
"I stand ready to die on my feet," Karl says solemnly with no hesitation. "I'll fight because it's what I know what to do. I'm loyal to the end."
"Do you wish to die?" Helena META asks him, her eyes lighting up bright red.
"On my own terms," Karl tells her, his eyes turning to her with a cutting glare.
Helena META took this response with a wicked smile and moved to face him directly. "That sounds like a threat to me. Are you threatening me?"
"A promise," Karl responds with no hesitation.
The META ship faded into nothing, and the world returned to normal. His boots clicked against the deck as he ran towards a significant entrance into the superstructure. Signs along the way directed him towards the bridge, but the fires were starting to build up in the superstructure. Karl passes by crews who are rushing out of the ship. There were signs of a mad dash as some men lay lifeless on the floor, covered in dusty footprints. Some stayed by to try to save the ship, but there were shouts of how the bulkheads broke and let more water in. Others cursed how the vessel was rushed out of port before the final touches were complete. He catches some men as they are fighting fires, but an explosion engulfs them in flames, killing them brutally. Karl catches himself and stands back up to keep moving. As he gets up a flight of stairs, he reaches another corridor where men are fighting fires.
"Which way is the bridge, sailor!?" Karl commands.
"Past the fire!" One replies. "Who are you?!"
"Your ticket out of here!" Karl takes the fire extinguisher from them. "Commander Karl Dael! Now, get the hell out of here! That's an order!"
The man reluctantly left as he began extinguishing the fire with the extinguisher. Sirens blared, and alarms sounded off with the phrase 'Fire suppression error!'
Maybe those grumbles were right about this ship?
Karl ignored everything in his mind and kept moving towards the bridge. Fighting through the fires, he finally reached the bridge as the turret smoke overwhelmed it. Laying on the ground, he saw Helena lying on the floor in her dirty white naval uniform.
"Schoolgirl!" Karl shouts, kneeling down to shake her. The smoke was building, and the smell of rotten eggs from the propellent filled the air. "Helena! Are you with me?!"
Helena grunts, pushing him away, and mutters. Karl pushed her arms away, but the girl tried to fight back. She wasn't burned badly, but he wasn't sure what she looked like on the inside either. Karl threw his undershirt over his face to try and filter the smoke out, but he began to cough heavily. Blood was on the ground mixed in with glass, and he began to think the worst. But thankfully, it was just in her hands. He leans over and throws her over his shoulder.
Running out of the bridge, a thunderous explosion rocks the ship. Fire consumes the bridge and the forward half of the boat, sending the turret to fly off into the water. The Hip banks back to the Montana stern as they see Karl waving in the air for them. Its enormous body rips through the sky and precariously hovers over the stern as Karl hands Helena to Hugin and Munin before jumping on. Karl lays on the cargo door and watches as the final front turret explodes, shaking the helicopter as all the 16-inch ammunition explodes, ripping the monster of a ship into pieces.
Hugin and Munin moved Helena to lay her down near Raiden. He could hear them talking to Taihou and Typhoon about using the medical kit to help her as best they could. On the other hand, Karl stared at the ship as it began to sink under the waves. More of Helena's fleet were busy, along with his own, saving as many lives as they could. He lays back fully on the cold metal for a moment and tries to breathe, only to cough heavily with every deep breath.
"Fuck…."
It was the only thing he could say. Everything was finally over, he hoped, and all he could muster was a single word of profanity.
He felt pulled backward and was soon thrown onto the bench beside Raiden as the cargo door closed. The cruiser smiles at him for a moment before Taihou comes to rest his head on her thighs. With a heavy sigh, Karl finally goes to sleep. The two Taihou watched over him possessively as Junyou kept watch on Raiden. Raiden gives a sigh of relief and relaxes back against the helicopter's metal cargo hull. She lays her head against the metal as she watches Karl sleep. She could see the shipgirls around her, and the men were exhausted.
"It's over…" Raiden sighs. "It's over…"
Many hours later, they finally reached the transport network through the storms and returned to St. Elizabeth post haste. The choppers offloaded as many wounded and stranded as they could onto Enterprise and Essex to be transported to Midway or elsewhere for treatment. Still, the rest of the girls of the Eagle Union stayed with Karl's fleet as escorts for Commander Helena. When the choppers landed on the deck of Akagi's physical ship form, Karl was awakened by Taihou as they docked in port.
His watch showed it was noon, and the beating sun only confirmed it to him as he looked out the window of the MI-8. With a groan, he got up and motioned to the META girls, "Come along. I must put Raiden away, and you two meet me in the office." Karl ordered them, then turned to Taihou. "Sweetie, make sure Akagi and Atago come along as well. We have a lot of reports and work to do."
The two Taihou's take his flanks as Raiden stands up. Taking her by the chain of her handcuffs, Karl and his entourage walked out of the aircraft. Stepping into the sun, Karl squints to see but keeps a tight grip on Raiden restraints. Mac approaches him from the side, "K.D., what's the plan for us?"
"I'll get something set up," Karl assures him. "Give me an hour, and you'll have some marching orders. How much fuel do the Hips have?"
"More than enough," Mac responds. "We'll do some route recon and set up a TAA somewhere."
"Give me a grid, and I'll check up on you," Karl tells him, then looks at Commander Helena with a scowl. "I'll get her off this ship. Is there a stretcher here?"
"Maybe, but I'll have to look," Mac tells him.
"Get him loaded on a stretcher, then take her off the ship." Karl says, "I'll get a detail to take her to the hospital and get her treated."
"She looks pretty beat up, K.D.," Mac says gravely. "Not sure how much of that smoke she breathed in, but I'm sure she has some damage in her mind after it."
"You got Green stuff?" He asks.
"We got a few syringes." Mac replies, "Why?"
"Save a couple for the girl," Karl says, to Mac's surprise.
"Do what?" Mac exclaims. "What the fuck did that tricky bitch do for us?"
"Just trust me, Mac," Karl says shortly as they walk towards the stairs leading off the ship.
"This better pay off!" Mac replies reluctantly.
Stepping off the ship with the prisoner, They are joined by Akagi, Atago, and Takao. Walking together, they make their way to the headquarters. As they walked through the port, Several girls stared in awe at the entourage of powerful shipgirls and their META counterparts. Others commented on how ragged and beaten up the Commander appeared as he escorted the META. Even the girls around him saw how exhausted he seemed as he forced himself forward.
"Where are we going to, My Commander?" Taihou asks him innocently.
"I'm going to give Ms. Raiden here to someone who can properly contain her," Karl remarks, to much of Raiden's enjoyment.
"My Darling," She responds. "So bold to announce your intentions with me, especially to all these hungry girls."
Akagi pushes up to try and grab Raiden's hair, but Typhoon stops her. "Don't let her bait you," Typhoon tells her. Akagi growls as Raiden giggles happily.
"Fredrich will watch over you till I figure out what to do next," Karl says flatly.
"Ah… Your maternal figure…" Raiden teases.
They walk towards the Iron Blood dorms but stop at the entrance. "Meet me back at the office in an hour or so. Begin the paperwork; I have to get everything together in the meantime. Typhoon and Falcon stay with me; you've got to meet with her, too."
The two METAs remained stoic and only nodded. The other girls were reluctant but followed orders. Karl and the METAs entered the Iron Blood dorm…
Later…
The head maid drops her feather duster and rushes to her Master as he enters the building. Belfast was going through her duties as usual after returning from a political mission with the Queen. While cleaning the office, she was greeted by his staff, who appeared worn out and tired but determined to close out the mission's administrative duties. Atago told her what had happened over the mission and Karl's actions. Taihou and Akagi were more worried about competing on who would be done first with all the paperwork before the Commander returned. After hearing the events recounted to her, the maid sighed and returned to work after preparing tea and snacks for the girls on Karl's staff.
But once she heard a jeep pulling up to the building, she moved to the nearest window and saw him getting out.
Karl looked like hell…
A dark five o'clock shadow had overtaken his face, deep bags under his eyes, and his ragged clothes smelled of mechanical fluid, gunpowder, and body odor. But she didn't care. She didn't care that his harem of obsessive girls was in the office just upstairs. Belfast hugs him and kisses him deeply. The tight grip around the back of his neck and the soft tongue of the maid entering his mouth spoke for her longing for him. Breaking the kiss, Belfast rests her head on Karl's shoulder as she hugs him tightly. Nothing was said between the two, but Karl already knew what she wanted him to do. Sex wasn't on the menu; they both knew that. But Belfast knew he needed a bath, clean clothes, and sleep.
"Thank you…" Karl whispers to Belfast as they embrace each other. "Thank you for being here for me… All of you."
"Thank you for being here for us…" Belfast whispers back. "Thank you for being here for us…"
Letting go of him was hard, but Belfast had to. She didn't want her Master to be up longer than he had to. "The others informed me you arrived some time ago; why were you not with them?" She asks as they begin walking upstairs.
"I had to get Commander Helena to Vestal and explain the situation to the Eagle Union Cadre of hers," Karl explains, each step feeling like he had weights on his ankles. "Then I had to get my Kommando's set up on the other side of the base in some ruins; inform the rest of the girls of this, please…"
"My word," Belfast gasps, "You're exhausted! You will not leave this building until you've rested properly."
"Yes… Yes…" Karl agrees with a yawn and a groan. As they get to his room, Karl removes his clothes and gets in the shower. Belfast takes the destroyed clothes away while he washes himself. As he finishes the shower and steps out, he looks in the mirror momentarily at his stubble.
"Fuck it," Karl groans, "I'll shave when I wake up."
With that, he lumbers to bed after drying it off. Still nude, he throws the covers over himself and quickly falls asleep. He wasn't wholly asleep or alone as his bed covers began to move. A dark shadow appeared near him, soon lying next to him. The shadow becomes a pale figure with long black hair and yellow eyes.
"My dear child," Fredrich's soothing voice whispers to him. "You've done so much in so little time. I believe you've earned a reward."
Karl groans as Fredrich pulls him to her, laying his head on her generous breasts. The aroma of flowers and the maternal energy she gave calmed Karl down. Fredrich runs her hands through his hair as she hums gently to him. It didn't hit Karl till he was nearing sleep that Fredrich was completely naked as well. The heat of her lower region was overwhelming against his body, but Fredrich wasn't going to keep him up longer than needed. Once Karl begins to snooze, she wraps her arms around him to cuddle him tightly.
She kisses his forehead, "I'm proud of you."
The next morning…
Helena began to slowly awaken. The fluorescent light of hospital lights began to overwhelm her eyes.
Blinking several times and then covering her eyes till they finally adjusted to the light. To her surprise, she wore a white hospital gown and was hooked up to an IV. Around her were some machines and everything needed to treat someone in critical condition. Looking at her arms, she saw they were wrapped with some green wrapping, and a couple of used syringes were on a medical cart. The flapping of shoes against the tile floor caught her attention as the door to her room opened up, and Vestel appeared with a tray of food in her hands. Though to much of her annoyance, she saw Karl Dael asleep in a chair near her.
Oddly enough, he was wearing a strange dark green dress uniform. It was odd, considering she was usually seen in military fatigues. It reminded her of a British army officer's service dress but a dark green, almost Forrest green, with a matching undershirt and tie. Black paratrooper's boots were mirror-shined, a black belt with a silver buckle around his waist, and a shoulder strap drew her eyes to his awards over his heart. His shoulder boards were almost like those of Iron Blood, but they had two single oak leaves flanking a diamond imposed at the bottom of a black background piped in forest green. Silver skulls clutching a dagger in their teeth were centered in the middle of the shoulder board. His former black alpine cap was replaced with a matching green one with silver piping and buttons on the table beside him.
"Commander Helena and Commander Karl," Vestal says sweetly as she pushes the cart in, HMS Jervis behind her and Belfast following closely. "Breakfast is served. Ms. Belfast prepared a wonderful meal for the both of you."
Belfast gently rocked Karl side to side, waking him. With a deep breath and a heavy stretch, the old man awoke to the crowd and smiled. "Good morning, ladies… I hope I didn't miss anything."
Helena scoffs and sits up with a groan. Her hands are sore, and a pain fills them. Looking down, she sees they are bandaged up rather well. "Ugh… How did I get here? Where am I?" she asks, her voice still exhausted. Her throat is immensely sore, and it almost hurts to speak.
"St. Elizabeth," Vestal informs her. "Welcome back. Commander Karl brought you here."
Helena looks at them as if they insulted her, "Excuse me?"
"Your ship was hit by a wounded Siren cruiser," Karl says bluntly as Belfast puts his food beside him. "We saved you."
"Don't be modest, Master," Belfast interjects. "You went aboard and saved her. All the reports from our colleagues in the Eagle Union attest to this."
Karl smirked as he sipped his coffee. She wanted to knock the smirk off his face, but Helena could only cough heavily. Vestal approaches her and removes the green wrapping from her arms. "It seems those treatments your people recommended for her burns worked, Commander," Vestal says aloud.
He says nothing and eats the plate of eggs, hashbrowns, and toast. Belfast dots on him in the meantime by stroking his hair to much of Helena's annoyance. Jervis refills her IV and sets up her meal in bed. It was relatively simple and included a dish of pills as well.
"Thank you," Helena says to Jervis and Vestal.
"Yes, Thank you, girls," Karl adds. "Please check on the rest of the girls as well. I must privately chat with Commander Helena after you finish, Ms. Vestal."
"Yes, Commander." Vestal and Jervis agree. Jervis hands him some pills as well and slowly motions Belfast to leave them be. The head maid is reluctant as her hand lingers in the air before slowly turning away towards the door. Once the door closes behind him, Helena scowls at Karl as he drinks his coffee.
"Why." She demanded. She tried to face him, but her body locked up in pain. Wincing in agony, she tried to maintain a hate-filled expression.
Karl says nothing. He cuts the fried eggs on the plate with his fork and mixes them with some hashbrowns, the runny yolks of the eggs making Helena a bit sick.
"I asked you a question," Helena growled arrogantly. "Did you not hear me? Or must I speak slower for you?"
"I heard ya," Karl replies calmly in a flat tone as he eats. His southern drawl came out slowly, irking Helena.
"I hear you." Helena annunciates. "Where are you even from? Germanic name, but you sound like a hillbilly."
"Down south," Karl says shortly. Drinking his coffee with a sigh as he continues to eat.
"I'm aware," Helena snarls. "Where down south?"
"Does it matter?" Karl asks frankly, finishing his meal. He sits back in the chair to enjoy his coffee as he looks at Helena. His body language didn't change as his arms were away from his chest and legs open.
"I would like to know where I should send the letter to your family to inform them of your imprisonment," Helena says with a devilish smile.
"That would be challenging, to say the least," Karl replies calmly.
"Why? Can they not read?" Helena chuckles.
"Their ashes were spread many years ago," Karl sighs sadly, "as were my brother, sister, and all my relatives."
"Ah… I see…" Helena coughs, being entirely caught off guard. "Then I guess that makes it easier to put you away then."
Karl chuckles quietly and shakes his head. He takes another sip of coffee with another deep sigh as the smirk on his face lingered for longer than she would have liked.
"Do tell me why you didn't just leave me there?"
Her eyes were filled with anger, evident beyond her stoic expression. Karl simply sighs and shakes his head again. Helena persisted and continued to glare at him with disdain.
"You still haven't answered my question, Hillbilly," Helena says arrogantly. "Why didn't you just leave me there? A Captain worth her salt is supposed to go down with her ship, and I fully intend to make sure you rot in a cell."
Karl looks at her, puzzled, "Hard to believe the person I saved is angry that I saved her life."
"I have no reason to like you and every reason on earth to hate you." Helena scowls. "Just because you saved me doesn't mean you'll be forgiven for taking my port away. Everything I worked for is gone because of you."
He groans and rolls his jaw as he chooses his words carefully. Leaning back in his chair, he holds his jaw between his thumb and index finger.
"Come on then. What do you have to hold back?" Helena chastised him. The glare on her face was that of an arrogant child who thought better than him. She underestimated him and wanted to lash out. She wanted him to lash out even more.
His face turned stone, and his green eyes looked like spotlights cutting through her stoic veneer. Moving to the edge of the seat, he turned his body to face Helena but, for a moment, looked up to the ceiling while tapping on his closed lips with the index finger on his right hand.
"Would you rather go to the bottom of the Bering Sea in that tub, USS Montana?"
The question clearly hit a nerve, causing her to look away. It was so frank, so blunt, and forward. Helena couldn't detect any hate, malice, or even jest. Just a simple black-and-white question that made her chill. She answers in a cold, quiet voice. "No.."
"Are you sure?" Karl asks her, raising his brow. "A proud woman like you who took her position with the Kansen so dearly that she wanted to jail her replacement isn't naïve enough to take a stereotype like that seriously."
"I was expecting Helena META to be the one to save me," Helena admits. "I must have thought you were one of my officers. I was hoping she would take me to you to jail."
Karl smirks evilly, knowing he was right about her. "I figured. Then you must know the tale and moral of the story Moby Dick, Schoolgirl? Obsession and revenge lead to the same destination."
"Don't belittle me, hillbilly," She growls, "It's a miracle you even know what a book is."
Karl waves off the insult, "Ja Ja." He takes a sip of coffee, his eyes never leaving her. Then he reaches into his coat and draws a blued Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless pistol. He places it on the table beside him and leans back to the chair.
She looks down at the pistol, then back up to him, and hesitates momentarily. The pistol shined in the morning light, where she could almost make out their reflections in its slide. Glaring back at him, she still felt anger in her eyes as she spoke with venom. "I know the story, Yes. But I'm not hunting a whale to my doom. I'm hunting a man from an organization doing god knows what with that outfit of rogues…"
Helena leans forward from her bed, "I'm hunting a traitor… If you shoot me, you'll prove to the world I'm right. Maybe you should have let me drown, Hillbilly."
Karl's smirk remains, unnerving her greatly as his eyes never leave her. His hand rests on the pistol and slides it over to her. "How about you take a chance presented in front of you?"
Removing his hand off the pistol and placing it in his lap, he leans back in the chair again. Helena saw that if she did put a bullet in his head, it would more than likely hit the wall by the door and not go through. Karl looked forward as he took out a package of cigarettes from his uniform and lit one. Taking a long drag, he continued to look away from her. She looks down at the pistol and hesitates for a moment. A part of her wants to take the chance laid before her. It would be too easy…
"You can't be serious?" She whispers aloud, her reflection staring right back at her through the mirror bluing of the pistol.
"You said it yourself that I am an enemy of the state and a traitor apart of a rouge outfit," Karl explains, taking a long drag off his cigarette. "You brought a whole fleet to capture or kill me and nearly died. Your META friend knows her way around a database, and I'm sure she's found something about me and what I've done. If she can slow down time and space to threaten me on a crippled ship, I'm sure she can find out everything about me to include my intent. I could have left you there, but I didn't. Judging by how protective your META is of you, she wouldn't have let me get off that ship with you alive, would she?"
Karl points to the pistol, "There is no way in hell I'll go to prison here; you have no evidence. So if your intent is that it's failed. Now, here is your second option."
"What makes you so sure of that?" She asks him, sure of herself, that he is lying.
"The island facility was destroyed with any and all evidence being either moved out or destroyed in the explosions," Karl explains, taking a long drag off his cigarette and releasing the blue smoke through his nose. "And your META friend saw what 'Virus House' could do to all the information there. Not to mention, I have friends in high places, too… You'll do nothing more than spin your wheels in legal red tape."
That hillbilly bastard was right… That backward redneck was correct about the legal system, but was he telling the truth about the lack of evidence? He couldn't be!
"Impossible," Helena says in a low voice.
"Even if I was lying," Karl taunts her, "Have fun digging through all that ruble on that island. I think it's even snowing now. You'll have to wait months, maybe even a year, to get everything you need to prove anything. I might leave, get another promotion, or die in battle by then. Who knows?"
"No… I won't let that happen…"
Helena takes the pistol in her hands and looks at him. The anger was gone and only replaced by a calm hatred. She slowly points the gun at his shoulder and takes a breath.
"You're stupid to point this out, especially to the person who wants revenge." She tells him. "Are you that much of a fool to give me this?"
"Wir warden fur immer verflucht sein…" Karl whispers hauntingly.
"What? You are speaking German?" Helena exclaims, confused, pointing the pistol at him erratically. "English… Speak English…. Say it in ENGLISH!"
He takes another long drag off the cigarette and puts his cap on straight before facing her. "We will be cursed forever. We will be cursed forever, and I frankly have no hatred for you. So, if you hate me so much that you can taste it, shoot. This is your chance."
The cold look in the man's eyes faded, leaving only the gaze of a haunted man. The bags under his eyes were heavy and dark, faint scars under his well-groomed facial hair, the many awards on his chest, and the proud way he sat up against her as she pointed the pistol at his chest. Karl was old, way older than her, and even with his close faded hair, she could see some grey. Did he wear his dress uniform for this purpose? Was this his plan?
She hesitates, taking in what Karl said before and his well-maintained appearance. This was her one chance to get rid of the man who took her pride from her, and yet…
"Why?" Helena asks him. "If anyone would want you dead, it's me… I don't understand… Why?"
"Does it matter?" Karl asks her plainly. "You have your chance, Captain Ahab."
A thousand thoughts rush through her head as she still has the pistol pointed at his chest. On one hand, Karl took the best position she ever had from her. A position she worked for years to get through years of grueling work and political positioning. That was her passion project, which made her father proud of her… But on the other hand, this Hillbilly, regardless of how rude and brash he was, tried and later succeeded in saving her from death. He warned her of the impending attack, sent his fleet to save her girls, and ran onto a sinking ship to save her…
Helena lowers the gun and puts it back on the table. Karl leans back calmly in the fair, facing the wall with a hollow gaze as he crushes the cigarette in the ashtray. Removing his hat, he takes a drink of coffee to wash the ashy taste out of his mouth. Helena finally lets out a frustrated sigh, "Why?"
That cold and angry tone was gone, replaced with an exhausted voice. There was no hate in her eyes, only confusion as Karl took the pistol and put it back in his coat holster. "I didn't want to see anyone else die there… Too many young people left this earth before me once again… Too many."
She looked away and let out a long, weary sigh as she laid back on the bed. The smell of breakfast lingered amidst the smell of tobacco and coffee. "You had no reason to do any of that…"
She lets out a bitter laugh before turning her head towards him, "I was going to throw you in prison as soon as I could."
Karl smirks with the same bitter smile and shares in the laughter: "It doesn't matter…"
A long silence hangs in the air as she sits on the bed, trying to figure out the situation in her head. More bitter laughter escapes her as her mind drifts into a memory.
"You know... you remind me of a certain person..." Helena remarks, sitting up in bed properly.
"Who?" Karl asks.
Helena looks back down at her food momentarily, her mind still caught in that memory
"Yes... you remind me a lot like my dad..." She says quietly. She sits there in silence for a moment, her tired eyes lost in the memory. "You were the one who offered the chance to kill you, but I just couldn't... in that moment, I was just seeing my dad in you, the memories of that man rushing back..." She looks back at Karl with another bitter smirk before letting out a bitter sigh. "My arms are tired… Everything is tired."
"You need to eat," Karl points at the tray like a father talking to his young daughter at the table. It's a simple meal, but it's what we need."
She slowly sits up and reaches for the food, the anger from earlier gone. Helena tiredly takes a bite of the hash browns, savoring the well-done potatoes. She points towards your cup of coffee with her mouth full of food.
"May I have some of that?..." She asks quietly.
Karl hands her the cup, and she takes a drink of it. The coffee cup was significant, enough for eight cups of coffee. He wasn't a Navy man with an unhealthy amount of black coffee like that. The caffeine and taste of the coffee help bring her weary mind back to the present.
"Ah... how long have I been here anyway?..." She asks, putting the cup on the table as she gets a bite of eggs.
"About a day," Karl informs her. "The smoke from the powder nearly killed you, and you were burned a bit, But we managed to save you."
Karl pointed to the syringes on a cart, "You can thank my people for those."
Helena looked over at it and saw a half-empty syringe of a dark green fluid. "What on earth is that stuff?"
"We call it Green Stuff for short," Karl explains, sipping coffee. "It's used to increase the healing capabilities of the human body. It has some fancy Roman name that escapes me, but that's beside the point. Just know you'll be alright now but need some rest."
"Did that come from the Siren technology your people were hoarding?" Helena asks pointedly, mixing her food around in thought.
Karl sighs, "No, That was before all this nonsense here." A bitter expression takes his face as he stares off into space.
The frankness in his tone conveyed a sense of honesty to Helena, but it also filled her with more questions than she realized. "What do you mean, before all this? The Siren war or what?" she asked.
Karl just scowls and shakes his head, "Nothing personal, please do not take it that way, I just don't like remembering some things… Old men tend to get emotional about the past, after all. To be blunt, that green stuff existed before your time, even before these Kansen were made. I remember when we first used it, it gave me nightmares, terrible nightmares. But that is new production, and all the bugs have been worked out."
Helena huffs, "Good to know you didn't give me an experimental wonder drug then!"
Karl chuckles, "I wouldn't do that to you."
"Odd… I never heard of such a thing in the Eagle Union." Helena remarks. "Who made it?"
"No one, you know," Karl says flatly. "We made it for combat troops. Usually, it comes in a green plastic case like an AI-2 from the USSR… Northern Parliament, I mean, but it's green in smaller injectors."
"You said we… Do you mean 'We' as in your Kommandos or the people with that odd cross at Attu?" Helena inquires.
Karl just smirks.
"Cat got your tongue, Mr. Mystery?" Helena responded, annoyed.
"It's not polite to ask awkward questions," Karl says to her calmly. "But what I can say is this: We are neither friend nor foe, but I am not your enemy."
"You said that green stuff was used for combat troops, yes?" She asks, taking another bite from her plate.
"Yeah," Karl confirms.
"Any side effects I need to worry about?" Helena asks concerned. "I know our government tends to test experimental things on our troops. Is it the same for you?"
Karl chuckles, "I know of such things, but there are none. Though if it expires, it will kill you rather quickly, and if you use it too much, it will cause you to overdose."
"How much did they use on me?" Helena prods, wondering about this odd super serum.
"Enough." Karl replies, "We treated your burns and helped with other deals. But you will be alright."
She nods as she continues to eat her meal. Helena began to think about her situation and the man next to her. She takes a sip of coffee and looks over to him. "So what happens now? Are your friends going to take me away because I know about you, or are you giving me the same amnesty I gave to you just now?"
"They won't take you anywhere," Karl admits. "And I won't report it. We have people everywhere, but I'm high enough rank and authority to keep you safe. Just keep quiet about it all."
Helena nods and tries to relax. Yet her mind wanders off as she continues to eat her food. Memories of her dad and the current situation rush through her mind; she stays silent for a moment before speaking again
"So this drug... how long were you using it? You said this stuff was for 'combat troops,' and based on your personal reaction to it, I'm gonna assume you use it a lot..."
Karl grimaces, "Too long. I didn't get these scars of mine for no reason."
Her mind raced with the thought of your years of combat experience. She looks up and makes eye contact with you for the first time since the pistol incident, a question burning in the back of her mind.
"Just who the hell are you?"
"I'm just a man." Karl laments.
"Just a man?" Helena repeats angrily. "You know that doesn't answer my question, don't lie."
"What more do I have to say?" Karl asks her bluntly.
"Just tell me who you are, Karl Dael," Helena growls, narrowing her eyes at him. "Enough of the cryptic messages. It obvious to me you more than you lead on."
"Always the one to ask the awkward question, hm?" Karl replies coldly. "I wouldn't press this further. Just know I'm here and on your side. I don't want another young and brash girl to meet an untimely end; at least give me the courtesy to protect you."
"Protect me?" Helena says offended. "Young and brash? Who do you think you are, Old man?"
"Always the abrasive one, are you?" Karl asks, condescending.
"I'm not going to let you talk down to me, even if you think you're doing me a favor," Helena says defensively, crossing her arms.
Karl laughs, a genuine laugh that warms his heart: "I like your fire. You remind me of when I was young... and dangerous. But you need some refining."
Helena was taken aback by the shift, "Excuse me? Refining? Says the old man from the backwoods. Don't think I haven't picked up on your accent for a moment."
"Accent?" Karl asks her. "I haven't been told I have one in years. I thought it was gone by now."
"Please," Helena rolls her eyes. "Your tone is still there. You're from the deep south, maybe around Florida or Georgia. I used to be stationed at Pensacola NAS, I have you know."
"Says the Connecticut girl," Karl replies with a wink, stunning Helena.
"How?! How did you know?!" She exclaims.
"Accents," Karl responds knowingly.
"Then let me ask you: What is an American like you doing with this odd group? Why aren't you with the Eagle Union?" She asks him honestly.
"I used to," Karl reminisces. "Long ago. But that was a different time, and I was very young… A lot more lost and angry to… Cut my teeth in Iran as a G.I. Many years in the mountains only to later get fed up with it and went with these cutthroats."
He points at the skull on his shoulder boards, "Never looked back after that."
"You desert?" She asked bluntly.
"No," Karl replies cooly. "Six years with the Army and jumped over to these guys."
"Iran?" Helena asks afterward, thinking about his words. "When did we go there?"
A bitter expression fills his face as the old man rolls his jaw in thought. "Not here… Maybe not yet, but it was long ago when we were young. But I hope you never have to be a part of it, not any of you. None of you people deserve to see what I've seen on this earth. So, please… Let's not talk about that time in my life."
"Do you regret your life?" Helena asks suddenly.
"Wir warden fur immer verflucht sein…" Karl replies with a heavy breath. "I don't want you all to suffer the same curse as me; that goes for those shipgirls, too. But I don't regret what I can't control, not anymore. But I'm cursed forever with the weight of responsibility to ensure we don't have to see the darkness I've seen."
"You… You carry weight with you… On your heart." Helena says hauntingly. "Just like my father… You remind me so much of him."
"We all carry a weight…" Karl says, putting his hand on Helena's. "Even you. You have much to prove to him, but I'm sure your father is proud of you."
She wanted to recoil at his gesture, but a comforting feeling filled her as she saw the concern in Karl's eyes. "I hope he is... I worked so hard after he passed to live up to his name. I gave everything to the Navy because of him... He died during the last war…"
"My condolences," Karl replies as he feels Helena hold his hand. Karl moves closer to her as she begins to be lost in thought.
"Thank you…" She whispers.
The two sat in silence for a while, holding each other's hands. But eventually, Karl's phone began to vibrate and broke the exchange. It was from his staff—God love them—and he had to rush off.
"I've got to go," Karl informs Helena reluctantly. "But you know how it is."
"I'm aware…" Helena responds, her voice scratchy. "Go along then…"
Karl nods but pauses, "Helena." He says to her in a gentle voice.
She looks at him longingly, "Karl." She responds kindly.
"I forgive you," Karl tells her.
"I forgive you too," Helena replies, smirking at him in a friendly manner.
He stands up and takes his hat from the table. Putting it on his head, he looks back at Helena. "I'll visit you briefly to check on you."
"You're too kind, Hillbilly." Helena teases.
"And you are a tease, Schoolgirl." Karl returns.
The two share a laugh before Karl exits. The young girl's smile lingers on her face for longer than she likes.
After a long day of meetings and creating paperwork, Karl wanted to take some personal time at the workshop. He decided to take a quick nap and have some personal time to himself.
"Kommendant?" A familiar voice echoes around him. The sound of heels tapping against the cold concrete gets his attention. Moves this hat from his eyes to see Roon, of all people.
Karl yawns and fixes his hat, "Roon, How are you?"
His nonchalant voice, void of any perceived animosity or restraint, confuses Roon, but she doesn't telegraph it. The calm and collected Roon slowly breathes in and releases it slowly as she approaches the Commander. Karl stretches and yawns again as he gets out of the chair. Surprisingly, he smiles at her.
"You OK?" Karl asks her.
"Ja Herr Kommendant." Roon says directly. "Why were you sleeping here?"
"I needed to get out of the Office," Karl says honestly. "The paperwork is bothering me… Boring me if I'm being honest."
Karl walks to the table to get a smoke from his stash. A sudden pause makes Roon cock her head to the side as Karl looks down at a burned cigarette filter on the ground. It was less than a second pause before he stepped to a table to retrieve a smoke from his stash. Opening it up, Karl notes one of the cigarettes was missing. "Fuck…" Karl whispers as he takes another from the pack of menthols. Grabbing his lighter, he growls as he clicks it, only to be met with the bald-faced response that it is not working.
"Damn lighter," Karl grunts, throwing it to the ground and making it pop on the ground. The little pop makes him sigh, annoyed with an audible "Fuck."
He looks around, annoyed, at his workbench. Roon approaches with her armored gauntlets on. Karl turns, and Roon snaps her armored hands, making sparks that light the cigarette. Karl doesn't skip a beat and sucks in the smoke, the menthol cutting his lungs and giving him a pleasant high. Releasing it slowly, he eyes Roon with interest and judgment. "One of my staff sent you?"
"I felt compelled to see you again," Roon say cryptically, her eyes studying him. "Frau Fredrich encouraged me to follow my instincts as well. She told me that I should attempt to speak to you again… To…"
The bloodthirsty heavy cruiser, the harbinger of death, shrugs her shoulders with a confused expression as she says to him, "Ask for forgiveness?"
Karl looked at her questionably, noting how she asked instead of making a statement. Roon honestly looked awkward to him as she stood conservatively and reserved, hiding her arms under her ample breasts. With a raised brow, he also checked her out, taking in her beauty like a receiving a new rifle fresh from its crate. The curvy figure hiding under her black and red piped uniform, the armored gloves disappearing at will, revealing soft and flawlessly manicured hands and a cute face. Karl wished to handle and admire her. But unlike a new rifle, she wouldn't use her to the breaking point until she couldn't operate anymore.
"Odd to repent, isn't it?" Karl asks her. He turned his whole body towards her, exciting the heavy cruiser as she noted the predatory look in the Commander's eye.
"I didn't understand it until Frau Fredrich showed me…" Roon said quietly, her pride obviously wounded as she retracted herself. "She says that… You have seen things that were rather… Terrible."
He took a deep drag off the cigarette, the cherry illuminating his face under the cap's brim. Smoke escaped through his nostrils as they flared open. A jaded chuckle followed the smoke with a sardonic smile: "That's putting it lightly."
"I have as well…" Roon replies, trying to relate to him. "I see the beauty in what you have done, but Frau Fredrich tells me you see it differently. I feel that I understand you, and I wish to comfort you…"
"I came to terms with it all…" Karl remarks, crushing the cigarette with his boot. "It took a lot, but I finally made peace and found purpose again… I just wish it didn't have to be at such a cost."
Roon tightly embraces him. "I'm sorry I hurt you, Kommendant. Thank you for being you, for being merciful to me…"
Karl returns the hug, "It's okay. I forgive you. But you'll need to give me time for all this to heal."
The girl reminded me too much of himself when he was young and angry. Roon didn't understand before, but Fredrich helped her… 'She'd be a good mother, Fredrich. If she can make a firecracker like Roon heel, then maybe she'd be able to handle kids?' He thought to himself.
The firm grasp of Roon's hand on his ass stopped his train of thought, "Handsy, are we?" He asks her.
"I still have my feelings for you, My Kommendant…" Roon says innocently as her hands retreat to his sides. "I just hope you will accept me… I know I must work hard for you and let you heal… But I must let my feeling for you be known…"
She backs off briefly and opens her palm to show her the 9mm round he gave her. "I promise I won't let my feelings for you go out of control…"
Karl kisses her forehead, "Thank you." He smiles gently. "It will take a while for you to control them… You've seen a lot… But I'll be sure you have some help…"
"You are… To sweet…" Roon mutters, her eyes dreamy and smile hopeful.
He sighs, playing with her short hair as they hold each other. It was hard to forgive her for almost entirely forcing herself on him. But he knew she was just broken, whether she knew it or not. War does things to people; he'd had soldiers do the same thing. But he was less forgiving. Roon was too valuable to kill, but at the same time, Karl saw something in her that reminded him of himself. While Roon could be delightful and flirty, she could be a harbinger of death and destruction. It almost reminded him of when he was an angry young man on his first deployment to Iran, wanting to burn the earth, yet, at the same time, he could be jovial.
Somewhere in you is me… He thought to himself as he cuddled Roon. The heavy cruiser then takes her hands off his ass and holds one of his hands on her breasts.
"I long for you, My Kommendant," Roon whispers to him. "if you ever need to fulfill your beastly needs, whether in battle or bed, I will be by your side no matter what… loyalty and love…"
Her eyes were light brown with deep black pupils. Roon was beautiful for a short-haired blonde; Karl preferred long hair, and her figure was just his type. Those eyes were hungry for war and sex, just like his were long ago. The youthful and innocent gaze was a double-edged sword. Roon gazed deeply into Karl's eyes and saw more of what Fredrich showed her. She'd seen the war within him in her dreams. The heavy cruiser didn't wish to ask about the mountains, the cleansing, and the numerous hells he road into. The more she stared at him, the more defined his scars became to her. Karl's calloused hands showed scars from blades and punctures around the fingers and cuts on the knuckles. A heat filled Roon's body the longer she held his hand against her M-cup breasts.
Karl could see the hunger in her eyes, the firmness of her promise, and the softness of her breasts. Then he felt her cup his package through his slacks with tender care. A lustful moan escapes Roon's mouth as she slowly caresses his package. "I know they've all partaken in you… Atago, Akagi, Taihou, those META girls you brought here… Who else have you laid with besides me, Kommendant?"
Karl breaks Roon's grip on his right hand. From her breasts, it moves straight to her lips, silencing her as his index and middle fingers rest on her lips. "Shhh, Enough… Don't covet or allow your insecurities to trouble you. Behave, and you'll be rewarded, Understand?" Karl orders her in a gentle yet firm voice. His eyes were stern and severe; his expression was stoic, manhood erect, yet he was so sincere. Roon wanted to challenge him, but she knew he meant what he said. It was then she smelled Fredrich Der Grosse on his lips.
"Fredrich as well?" She moans. "Oh, Kommendant… You'll handle me well… I understand…"
She removes her hand from his manhood gently, "May I kiss you?"
Karl nods. Roon wraps her arms around behind his neck and pulls him towards her, giving him a deep kiss. Her tongue pushes past his lips aggressively to explore his mouth. Roon pushes against him to take the lead, almost putting him off balance until the table catches him by the lower back. However, the Commander doesn't roll over and let her take the lead. Karl's hand goes behind her head and gently, yet forcefully, pulls at her hair, making the heavy cruiser moan seductively. This brief moment allows him to push back against her and turn her against the table. Though Roon was crafty and slyly maneuvered herself on the table, she wrapped her legs around Karl's waist. Her short skirt rides up, revealing her wet, lacy see-through thong. She blushes as they kiss, but soon, her face turns grave and angry as tapping a foot against the ground gets their attention.
"You." Roon growls.
Karl turns to see Junyou META looking at them disappointed. "Lord Raiden wishes to speak with you, " she says, completely ignoring Roon.
"If it's about her accommodations," Karl begins annoyed. I'm not moving her out of a cell until I get my men out of this place."
"It's not that, Commander," She replies. "She wishes to speak with you about your plans in general about her."
Karl sighs heavily, "Of course she does."
"The Kommendant is busy," Roon says sharply.
"You'll have to wait your turn, Cow," Junyou replies calmly with a sneer.
Roon almost leaped off the table, but Karl held her back. "Enough Junyou." Karl scolds her. With a sigh, he looked at Roon and put his two fingers on her lips. "Give me some time to talk to my old friend, and I promise I'll come see you in your room, no interruptions. But you must be a good girl, Understand?"
The heavy cruiser groans and gives him her usually crazed look, but the old man holds his ground. She obeys and unlocks her legs. "Fine…"
Roon storms off after that, shoulder-checking Junyou META, who had to hold her back as he did with Roon. Once Roon left the room, Junyou grunts and punches the wall next to her, cracking the concrete. "I swear to the gods of the dead empire, I'll mount that cow on a fucking wall!"
"Calm down," Karl groans. "The last thing I want is you and her going at it again. What the hell is even your problem with her?"
"That cow and I, in the other time, were always at each other's throats." Junyou META snarls, shaking off her anger. "Whether it was with men, combat, or simply existing. As you once said, Some people don't like other people."
"I say a lot of things, Sweetheart," Karl replies, annoyed as he adjusts.
"You haven't changed." Junyou chuckles dryly. "Always thinking with your dick."
"Jealous much?" Karl jests, embarrassing her.
"Crude old man!" Junyou snaps.
"Ja, Ja," Karl replies, "Let's see our beloved Raiden."