Chapter 24
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September 17th, 2023 - Afternoon
After the training simulation drill, on the way back to the observation room.
"-tis-oneechan! Hey, Metis-oneechan! Can you hear Natsuha? Hello...?"
"...Eh? Miss Natsuha? What, what is it? Um, did you need something?"
"I think she's just worried because you look so distracted," Hibari said.
Natsuha nodded. "Mm! Yeah, that's it! Metis-oneechan looks... um, out of it! Is everything okay?"
Metis, without realizing it herself, blushed. "Sorry. I, I just have a lot on my mind..."
"Oh? About what to ask the Commander I take it?" Hibari asked.
"..." Instead of answering, Metis simply looked away, her already lightly pink cheeks turning just a touch darker instead.
"Hehe! Metis-oneechan looks really cute right now!" Natsuha teased, unable to help herself.
"...So? Do you at least know what it is you want to ask him?" Hibari asked, genuinely curious herself.
...
"...I, do. I do but..."
"Well, either way, it's too late to stress over it now, look," Hibari said, pointing at the door to the observation room in front of them. "We're here."
- In the observation room -
While everyone was waiting for Metis and the others to show up.
"So, how are preparations coming along for our upcoming trip to the Sakura Empire? Do you think we'll be ready in time?" Clemenceau asked while Liam was going over the results of the drill and the Dolls' combat performance and teamwork with a very comfortable Tashkent still lying blissfully in his lap.
"I can't say really. For now, all I can do is set our wisdom cubes in place, sync up the Construction system and let it do its thing so I can't do much else until the shipgirls wake up. Oh, but Saratoga gave me a good lead in securing us a possible supply chain, or at least some work opportunities by way of escort jobs and such though. But honestly, I've been running all over the place so much lately that I haven't had the time to think about anything other than what's right in front of me. If we have to take some extra time to get ready, then so be it. We're already moving as fast as we can as is, which is all the more reason to not lock us in to any schedules so we don't make any mistakes along the way. Besides, if we can stay relatively on track like we have been, and assuming nothing goes wrong between now and when we leave, then we should still be all good to go even if we do end up a little late getting there."
"I see," Clemenceau said with a nod. "That lines up with everything the others have discussed over the network about it and I just wanted to confirm it with you to make sure we were on the same page."
Liam smiled. "It's fine. Like I said, I've been so busy running around that I'm seriously glad you shipgirls have that nifty telepathy skill of yours. If anything, it's why I can focus on running around like this without stressing out so much, haha."
"Well, if nothing else, we do try to make sure to help you de-stress and relax when we can though, right?"
"Heh, yeah."
"... Hm? Ah. It looks like the last team's finally arrived, heehee~" Clemenceau said, watching as Metis and the others walked in. "And, now that they're here, time to pass out the rest of their promised rewards, non?"
"Huh? Oh, rigth."
"Shikikan-sama~! We're back! Didja miss us? Didja, didja~?" Natsuha cheerfully said as she ran into the room and glomped Liam from behind.
"...Oof!"
"Oops. Sorry about that~! Just got a little carried away there."
"No worries. Anyway, glad to have you here. Natsuha, everyone," Liam said with a smile.
"...Ugh, so noisy!" Tashkent whined, wiping her eyes after suddenly being jolted awake from her sweet, well earned lap pillow. "Give me back my nap time and dear Comrade's lap...!"
"Hm? Miss Metis?" Joffre asked, noticing the odd, almost apprehensive look on the usually cool and collected doll's face. "Is everything alright?"
But, before she or anyone else could say anything, a certain (scheming) someone suddenly cut in, drawing everyone's attention to the back of the room.
"Ah, everyone?"
"Hm? What is it?" Tashkent asked, looking over at Clemenceau after getting up and joining the other shipgirls.
"I hate to be a bother, but do you all mind if Miss Metis asks for her reward first?"
"I don't really mind, but..," Hibari began before stealing a glance at a very nervous and slightly fidgeting Metis and understood Clemenceau's intent. "Actually, nevermind. You're up, Metis-oneechan!"
"Oh? You really don't mind?" Clemenceau asked.
Everyone shook their heads.
"Not really, no," Hibari replied. 'Still, I wonder what it is that Metis-oneechan will ask for though.'
"All good by me too!" Fuu said.
"I don't mind either," Azuma said.
"Natsuha's all good~! Mmhm~!"
"Well, then. There you have it~! Now then, please step on up and claim your very well earned prize, my dear Miss Metis~!"
...
"...Eh!?"
Suddenly, all eyes were on a very visibly flustered Metis.
'Wait. I don't think I've ever seen Metis look flustered before... and is she blushing? ...Wow.' Liam, for his part, couldn't believe what he was seeing. 'Huh. Is this because she has a physical body now?'
"Well, go on," Clemenceau gently prodded like the devil on the shoulder that she was. "Tell our dear Commander what it is you want from him~ Or, better yet... why not show him what it is you want to do with with him~"
"...!"
"Wait, 'show me'?"
"..Mi, Miss Clemenceau!?"
"What? I'm just giving you the little push you clearly need, that's all~ Like this, heehee~!"
With the gentlest of shoves, the digital fairy soon found herself stumbling wide eyed towards an equally surprised Liam. It was in that split second that they locked gazes that something deep inside Metis just snapped and she simply let her desires take over instead.
'Oh whatever, screw it! If it's gonna happen, then let it happen...!'
As for everyone else? It was like the world came to a screeching halt as they watched everything unfold.
...
"...!?"
Before Liam knew what was even happening, Metis was already on top of him and kissing him as deeply and as passionately as she could.
"...Mmmm~ "
Right now to Metis, absolutely nothing else mattered but capturing Liam's lips with her own.
'...What is this? My, my body feels so... good! But, it's not just feeling pleasant or tingly sensations either though... everything feels so warm too! But it's strange... I'm not overheating...? I, I don't understand... I don't understand, but... I don't really care either! No, right now I just want to keep feeling good!'
Without noticing, and still straddling Liam, Metis found herself gently grinding her hips against him in an attempt to gain even more pleasure as the heat steadily but quickly built up inside her.
"...Nnn~ *kiss, kiss~ * Ahh~! *suck, suck~!"
Meanwhile, for the other shipgirls and dolls enjoying the free show...
"...Wow," was all Fuu could say, her own cheeks dusted a healthy shade of pink.
"Arara. Who knew little Metis-chan had it in her~" Azuma noted, hand to her cheek and smiling her warm, supportive and sisterly smile before throwing a meaningful glance at the ever smirking Clemenceau. "I take it that everything's going just as you planned, Clemenceau-san?"
"Hmm? Well, more or less, oui. Still, even I didn't expect her to act this enthusiastically though, heehee~"
Clemenceau wasn't even trying to deny being at fault at this point.
"That looks really fun~! Natsuha wants to do that with Big Brother too!"
"..." Hibari simply looked away, index fingers pressed together and blushing furiously.
"...Wow...!" On one hand, Tashkent really wanted Metis to hurry up already so she could finally get her lap pillow back, but on the other, she wanted to keep watching and see just how far their normally stoic, calm and collected big sister would go. Unfortunately for her, the longer she watched, the more of an effect wit was having on her too. 'Dammit! I'm starting to get really wet hearing her moan and watching her grind her hips on dear Comrade like that... Agh, screw the lap pillow! I want to do that too!'
"...She's really going at it nya...!"
"...Wait, what is she.. Oh, oh my!"
With the heat and her passions quickly building up to their absolute limit, and with not even an iota of care or thought spared for anyone else in the room, Metis suddenly parted her lips from Liam's and started to remove her clothes in an effort to cool off. "...Well now, Commander. I'm glad that you find my enthusiasm to your liking, if the erection I'm feeling poking against my lower half is any indication, anyway. Truly though, I'm flattered~ "
"...!" 'Oh, fuck me! Fuck, fuck, fuck! Ah, but I can't think straight! And she feels so soft and... how the hell does an android smell so... alive and good!? And why is no one else doing any... actually, nevermind. Doesn't matter... Shit, I think I'm seriously starting to blank out here!'
"...I, I think we should apply some of what I've observed and learned from watching the others and move on to 'deepen our bonds'. That's alright, yes? Surely you won't object, right~?" Metis practically purred in a surprisingly husky and seductive voice that was so unlike her usual self that poor Liam had no clue how to respond.
'...I, I know should say something to try and stop this, but... Ah, dammit! ...I, I don't want to..!'
Poor Liam was simply too entranced by the pale digital fairy's needy and passion filled gaze that seemed to literally glow with the all consuming desire to take the plunge and do what she'd seen the other shipgirls do so many times before now with only one real thought left in her hazy mind..
'This time, it'll be my turn and nobody will get in my wa-'
*ZZZZZAAAAPPPPP!*
"... Eh!?"
However, mere seconds before Metis was about to finally claim her prize, the locked (courtesy of Clemenceau) door to the observation room flew open after a certain little zapper's sudden (cock blocking) entrance, shocking almost everyone back to reality in the process as if a bucket of ice cold water was dumped on their heads. Unfortunately for them, the little zapper wasn't their only guest though...
"Ara, ara~ Whatever do we have going on here, hm~?"
Eldridge was scary enough, but... it was Taihou's terrifyingly calm and sweet voice that sent alarm bells ringing in everyone's heads as she slowly entered the room from behind the now demonic blonde zapper.
"...Clemenceau-san?"
"Hm? Oui? What is it, my dear Miss Azuma?"
"...Is this your fault too?"
"...Um. Oops?"
"... 'Oops' she says...," Fuu quietly muttered while she, Natsuha and Akashi smartly hid behind the big sisterly Azuma. Luckily(?) for them, only two of the three most... passionate of Liam's shipgirls were currently present. Unluckily, however, was who 'was' present...
"... Ara, I do hope someone can explain the meaning of this... most interesting scene, hm? Someone like Metis-chan, perhaps?"
"..."
Meanwhile, contrary to the sweet, dulcet tones coming from the outwardly calm and friendly tall and buxom crimson clad shipgirl next to her; Eldridge's fierce azure sparks were all that needed to be 'said' to let the world know of her immense displeasure. So, to say that things were quite tense right now would be quite the understatement indeed.
...
"...Hm? Oh. Miss Eldridge, Miss Taihou... Is there something I can help you with?" asked a (still topless) hazy eyed, lust and heat filled Metis straddled comfortably atop a now very confused and still aroused Liam.
"...Why are you, on top of Liam... with your bare breasts out?" Eldridge calmly but irritably asked as sparks continued rolling off her body.
"Hm? Well, I was kissing the Commander as my reward and... I became very hot, so I did something about it... Um, is that all? Or can I go back to kissing the Commander then?"
Meanwhile, while this strangely tense but civil exchange was going on, Clemenceau and the others were watching the scene play out with bizarre fascination... like bystanders eagerly waiting for a disaster to happen despite knowing they'd be caught up in it too if they stayed any longer.
"...Wow. Metis-oneechan's really, really out of it, huh?" Natsuha quietly remarked, genuinely impressed and proud of her being able to stand up to those two other very scary big sisters.
"... That's putting it mildly," Hibari commented.
"It's true nya. Metis-chan's always been as cool as a cucumber. But, whatever Clemenceau-san did really messed her up nya."
"...Miss Clemenceau?" Joffre asked, a touch more serious than usual. "...What, exactly, did you do to her to have her turn out like that?"
...
"...Well?"
"... Are you really going to make a shipgirl kiss and tell?"
"Wait, when you said 'demonstrate'... did you mean... Really?" a blushing Fuu began, her active imagination going into overdrive at the though.
Naturally, a smirk was Fuu's only answer.
"...No way...! Are, are you serious...!?"
"That said, I only wanted to help our dear fellow sister better improve her relationship with everyone, especially our dear Commander, that's all~"
"...By making out with her!?" asked now deeply blushing, wide eyed Hibari.
"Nothing beats firsthand experience, non?"
"...I mean, I guess...?" Hibari really had no idea how to react or respond here.
"I wouldn't suggest thinking any harder about it," Azuma said. "She may act and speak in vague and misleading ways most of the time but, I think it's safe to take her at her word in this case, if Metis' current state is anything to go by."
"...Um, Natsuha doesn't get it... Like, Natsuha hasn't done it with Onii-chan herself yet, but everything in her database says that kissing the person you love should feel really good, right?" innocently asked the twintailed blonde, not really understanding what the big deal was and completely forgetting about the terror that was Eldridge and Taihou's tranquil fury.
"...That, that may be so but..," a still very flustered Hibari began. "I don't think that's really the issue here. Anyway, look. I think something's happening with them." The lavender eyed bluenette then pointed over at the a now covered up Metis facing off against the still little zapper and phoenix in front of her.
...
"...So, am I to understand that the only reason you both are actually angry at my kissing the Commander... is because you both wanted to kiss him too and/or didn't want to be left out? Is that correct?"
"... Yes!" was Eldridge simple yet honest answer, punctuated by countless little heart shaped sparks being emitted off of her petite body.
'Huh. I didn't know she could make shapes with them. Talk about expert control...,' Metis idly thought before turning her attention to the taller, and arguably much scarier, crimson clad shipgirl next to her. "And was that also the case for you, Miss Taihou?"
Taihou's slender eyebrow quirked in slight amusement at Metis' unfazed, even brazen, attitude towards her. "Well, if we're being honest, I suppose you could say that I simply let my emotions and passion for our dear Shikikan-sama get the best of mean when a 'certain someone' shared with us what you were doing..."
All eyes, once again, were focused squarely on a smiling Clemenceau who, as shameless as ever, showed absolutely zero guilt in her little prank.
"Hm? All I did was show you dear Miss Metis's reward, that's all. No harm in that, oui?"
"... Evil schemer tease!" Eldridge said, her trademark azure sparks reflecting how irritated she was while Taihou just scoffed before turning back to Metis.
"Well, how was it? Your first kiss with our dear Shikikan-sama?"
...
"...Wonderful...~ "
"Oh I don't doubt it. Now then, dear Shikikan-sama?"
"Uh, ye, yeah? What's up Taihou?"
"I know this might be a little sudden, but considering how much we need to get ready for our trip to the Sakura Islands, I was hoping you would permit Eldridge-chan and I to have a practice bout before dinner... with Clemenceau-san and whoever would volunteer to be her partner."
"Huh? I mean, I don't really mind but..," Liam began before looking Clemenceau's way. "Are you alright with that, Clemenceau?"
In truth, Liam knew he couldn't really say no and that Clemenceau herself would, without a doubt, agree to Taihou's request. Even so, as their Commander, he still felt he had to ask. 'Still, it's crazy how often they try to solve things with fights... Then again, it's true that Clemenceau might have went a little too far egging them on like she did... Oh well. Whatever happens, happens I guess.'
"...Uh, do one of us really need to join in too? Like, isn't this whole mess all Clemenceau-oneechan's fault? I don't see why any of us gotta get dragged into it!" Fuu protested, wanting absolutely no part in the 'sparring' match that was about to happen. "Either way, leave me and Natsuha-chan out please and thank you!"
...
"Hey, wait! You mean it's fine for me to get picked then!?" Hibari asked, honestly a bit shocked at how easily she and the others were thrown under the bus.
"Oh, come now. I only want to make sure that everything stays fair and even, that's all~"
"... How very odd. You say that, but your eyes tell a very different story," Flandre observed in a rare flash of intuition and her danger senses going off. "Well, at any rate, I don't particularly mind being her partner if nobody else 'volunteers'.But, just to be clear, that's only if no one else volunteers."
"So, any volunteers then?" Clemenceau asked as if she weren't at all condemning them to join her in willingly walking into hell against Taihou and Eldridge. Meanwhile, and apart from Fuu, Natsuha, and Akashi, the remaining shipgirls and doll just stared at each other, their eyes all silently saying the same thing... 'Well, what are you waiting for? You go!'.
...
"Hey, Akashi?"
"Nya? What is it, Shikikan?"
"... Can you call Belfast and let her know we're probably gonna be running late for dinner?"
"Ah," Akashi, knowing what Liam was getting at nodded. "Hai, leave it to me nya! And don't look to down about it! Just think of this as a bonus data collection round!"
"...Right."
- Meanwhile -
Shipgirls dorms, third floor.
":So, how are you all getting used to life here on the island?" Saratoga asked after setting down the dray of drinks she'd brought with her. "I know it hasn't been very long since you both woke up, but even so.I hope everything's going well."
Kiev, the demure, crimson eyed twintailed silverette nodded with a small and gentle smile.
"Da, everyone has been very nice. Especially, my dear Commander...!"
Murmansk nodded. "Mmhm~ Big Sis Kiev's been showing me around too~"
Kiev, in all her shy glory, simply blushed and looked away.
"...I, I didn't really do all that much th, though... I mean, I just showed you around the places my dear Commander showed me when I first woke up, that's all."
"Sure, but that was still super nice of you, y'know...~"
Cue another round of blushing.
"... Spa, spasibo...!"
"Man, you two are just so adorable~!" Saratoga cooed, completely taken with the shy and demure Kiev to her right and the sweet and slightly airy Murmansk to her left.
"Aaww~ You're so sweet~ But, like, you're all small and cute too, y'know~ And, like super reliable too~!"
"Damn right I am! After all, Sister Sara is your big sister too!"
"Mmhm~"
"Um, by the way...," Kiev began.
"Hm? What's up?" Saratoga asked, her full attention on the shy silverette.
"Was it, was it alright to let little Eldridge and Miss Taihou go like that?"
"Eh? Oh, right. Well, to be honest, those two, along with a few others, are just too hard to handle when they get riled up you see, so it's best to let the Commander deal with them instead," said the pinkette, not at all worried and more than happy to let Liam deal with her more troublesome fleet sisters. "Besides, if Akagi thought it wasn't worth going all crazy over, then it's fine." '... Probably...'
"Is, is that so? Well, okay then," Kiev said.
"Like, is Miss Akagi really that scary though...?" Murmansk asked, not seeing what the problem was. "I mean, she seemed like a nice enough big sister to me."
Saratoga chuckled while Kiev trembled ever so slightly.
"Well, setting aside how scary or not Akagi is for now, are you two looking forward to our upcoming trip to the Sakura Empire?" Saratoga asked, excitement shining in her big purple eyes. "I know I am!"
Both Kiev and Murmansk nodded.
"Defnitely~!"
"Da but, I'm a little nervous about it too..," Kiev admitted. "I mean, there's going to be a lot of humans there, right? And there's also that fleet of other shipgirls."
"Well, after having fought alongside them, I can say that they aren't too bad so I don't think you'll need to worry too much abut the shipgirls at least," Saratoga reassured.
"Oh, right. You and the others fought against a big Siren fleet with that other Commander's fleet, right?" Kiev said, recalling the stories she'd heard of her big sisters' first sortie. "I haven't had a chance to look over the combat footage saved on the network yet, but everyone who was there says that it was pretty intense."
Saratoga nodded. "It really was, but somethng really crazy happened at the end."
"Hm? Something crazy?" Murmansk repeated.
"Well you see, at the end of the battle and just as our joint fleet was about to give chase to the heavily damaged Siren Elites... someone, or something, struck them from the sky right above them!" Saratoga explained, complete with wild hand gestures for emphasis. "A giant and sudden bolt of red lightning too!"
"... Oh! I think I remember some of the other big sisters talking about that over the network," Murmansk said.
"Yeah, but in the end, we couldn't come up with an answers about it. Eugen seemed to think that her blue haired counterpart's fleet might have known something, y'know since they've been active for a lot longer than us but, that didn't really work out either so I don't think we'll get any answers for awhile."
"So many mysteries~! Like, for real~" said the carefree Murmansk "But, I'm sure our Comrade will figure it out~"
"Well, it's definitely something the Commander wants to look into while we're in the Sakura Empire anyway," Saratoga agreed. "Speaking of our visit the Sakura Empire, what do you both want to see or do while we're there? Y'know, assuming we get any free time to explore, that is."
"Oh, um... I, I really don't know," Kiev admitted. "I've just been so nervous about the whole trip that I just... I dunno."
"Oh, oh~! I know what I wanna do!" Murmansk chirped up, eyes sparkling with excitement. "I want to eat all sorts of tasty food with our dear Comrade~! And maybe find a shop or two to get materials to let me make some more tails~!"
"Ah, and speaking of which; thanks so much for making some for the submarines!" Saratoga said, fondly recalling the sight of the I series submarine triplets jumping for joy at getting their own big and fluffy tail accessories. "Still, I didn't think they'd be able to move on their own!"
"Hehe~! Magic, y'know? Magic~!"
Saratoga giggled. "I see."
"Da. Magic and fluffy tails are great~!"
"Indeed they are, and I hope you'll make Sister Sara one too! Anyway, I think we should go and check in on the Commander and the others," the pinkette suggested after looking at the time displayed on her tablet. "You know, to make sure Taihou and Eldridge didn't go overboard with, whatever they ended up doing..." 'Though, knowing who it was that started this whole mess...'
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A/N:
...And, that's another chapter down!
Sorry for the delay but I've been pretty busy lately but, to make up for it, I do plan to relase another chapter/update later this month.
Preparations are well on their way for the Liam and the girls' trip to the Sakura Empire!
Well, I hope you enjoyed and I'll see you next update!