[Kancolle Bismarck]
I could hear the sound of a heartbeat monitor. As it turned out, it was mine. Opening my eyes, I saw the sterile white ceiling of a hospital room. I felt multiple parts of my body bandaged up, including my left eye and cheek. My arms and hands were completely wrapped as well as my legs and feet. Even most of my torso.
The tubes up my nose helped me breathe, but I couldn't help but reach up to pull them out, causing a medical shipgirl to prevent me from doing so by grabbing my hand.
"You should keep those in for now." The pink-haired monotone doctor ordered. "At least until we can make sure you're ready to move. Welcome back, Lady Bismarck."
My throat was so dry it almost prevented me speaking. I saw her name on her lanyard and I managed to ask, "Waßer… Bitte… Perseus…"
The doctor thankfully understood and nodded before putting the request in. She assured me, "Water's on the way. I've been told you're a different, human version of Bismarck. Judging by the severity of your injuries compared to how a Kansen would've taken a blast like that as well as x-rays showing you have fully human biology, I don't see any reason to doubt that. It seems Lady Eugen's shields saved your life."
Just then, a Kansen dressed as a maid with hair as white as Zeppelin's entered with a fancy tray carrying an ornate pitcher full of water and a fancy glass.
"Greetings, Madam Bismarck." The maid bowed slightly, but not so much the tray tipped over due to her… well-rounded chest. She set down the tray and poured me a glass of water and presented to me.
"D…Danke…" I tried to say as I slowly sipped on it, being careful as I didn't know exactly how bad I was at the time. Thankfully, my insides were fine. I soon gulped down the whole glass, feeling a lot of relief. "Wie heißen Sie?"
I accidentally slipped again and asked her for her name in German, but she seemed to understand me just fine, too. Probably because this base is home to both Royal Navy and Kriegsmarine ships so bilingualism would be beneficial to everyone here. She replied with a proper bow, "Head Maid Belfast, Town-class Light Cruiser of the Royal Navy, at your service, Madam."
"Is everyone aware that I'm not the Bismarck they know?" I asked.
"Not everyone just yet. We're preparing a briefing for everyone explaining what's going on, but there are still some ships on commissions. We will explain to everyone at once when they return, Madam." Belfast answered.
"Where is Eugen?" I demanded, attempting to stand up, only to be held back by Perseus.
"Madam Eugen has been notified that you're awake and she will be here soon, along with Madam Wales and Lady Hood." Belfast answered.
I was now sat up on the bed. I nodded and said, "Okay. Danke…" I replied before finishing the glass. "I feel better now. Where is your Kommandant? I would like to speak to him about the situation."
"The Kommandant is busy right now. He's unaware you're not our Bismarck." Eugen answered as she entered the room. In with her walked Hood, Wales and the other members of this world's Kriegsmarine, one as tall as myself dressed in all white like my Graf Zeppelin. "Although, I doubt he'd even care." Eugen added.
"Bismarck? Are you alright?" The platinum-haired white-clad Kansen asked. She took my hand and put both hers gently around it. "That verdammt Purifier will pay for what she's done to you, I swear it."
"I…" I could only mutter in the presence of all these girls, these strangers who all looked at me as if I've always known them.
Seeing me suddenly feeling nervous in front of them all, Eugen spoke for me, "Tirpitz, this is going to be hard to explain. You see, this is not the Bismarck we know."
"Was? What do you mean? She looks like her." Tirpitz asked. So that's her name. We don't have a Tirpitz back home, but I know she's the sister of the ship I inherited my power from. She approached me and looked me up and down. I felt like she was staring into my soul, "Hmm… you're like an exact copy of her… You're no Siren Pawn either, as you actually have something going on behind those eyes. I don't sense a Cube in you, however."
Not knowing what to say to the sister of my counterpart, I just smiled and replied, "It is good to meet you, Tirpitz. Rest assured I'm not here to replace your schwester. I would very much want to get back to my own world and help her get back to you."
Tirpitz then asked, "This is very strange… What will we tell the Kommandant?"
"Don't worry about him." Eugen assured us. "I doubt that senile old bastard would even notice, anyway. He certainly won't bother coming to the briefing."
How exactly did this Commander get his position?
"Make sure she is cared for, Eugen. I must begin research on what has happened immediately. I will be back with questions later. Iron Blood, I will temporarily be taking command. Return to your duties until further notice." Tirpitz decreed.
"Jawohl!" They all saluted before leaving. Eugen, Perseus and the Royals stayed with me.
U-556 looked at me a while longer. I smiled at her, but she just turned away and left. I made a metal note to speak to her when I could.
Remembering the battle, I asked, "So… what were those colours about?"
"Do you not have special skills?" Hood asked back.
"Nein… I… have a torpedo attack that I can only use once every battle, but it's not as effective as the things you did." I answered.
"Well, we Kansen have skills that give us an edge in a fight. We don't always have to use them, but for many of us, it's best to do so. Our Bismarck has one that allows her to get a critical hit on her first shot. Our skills are either red, blue or yellow, depending on their role. I used both attack and defence, so mine turned purple, a mix of the two." Eugen explained.
"I see, so Frau Hood, you used an attack skill?" I guessed.
"Yes, that's correct." The Battlecruiser nodded, seemingly pleased I was paying attention.
"Then why didn't you use any, Frau Wales?" I asked.
Wales answered, "Because my one and only skill is bloody annoying to use and wouldn't have helped any of you in that battle."
"Huh? Why not? What is your skill?" I asked again, confused. After all, a Battleship like her would surely be useful?
Wales sighed and explained, "My skill is to boost firepower and the speed of reloads and evasions of my teammates."
"But that sounds—" I tried.
"On Eagle Union Kansen. My only unique skill doesn't help my fellow Royal Navy Kansen, but the Commander always keeps me here." She added with a clearly agitated tone of voice.
"Oh… I see…" I nodded.
Eugen whispered into my ear, "That's why she's so bitchy all the time~"
"Care to repeat that, Prinz Eugen?" Wales demanded with a scarily calm tone.
Eugen shrugged overconfidently and brushed her off, "Oh, I know you heard me." As she shrugged and stared her down.
"I heard you alright. Care to repeat yourself anyway?"
"You'll have to make me~" Eugen taunted before walking out of the room.
"You little-" Wales hissed before briskly following her out.
"What will I do with them…?" Hood facepalmed.
Belfast suggested, "Perhaps it's better to just leave them to it, Lady Hood.
I looked at them and asked, "Frau Belfast, Frau Hood, is your Kommandant… incompetent?"
The two looked at each other and back to me. Hood responded, "That's… a rather harsh word, yet I must admit, it's not incorrect. He just sees our power levels and puts us all into fleets based on numbers. He never reads our skills and how to best use us. Wales may be a Royal Navy Knight, but she's best suited to sailing with our Eagle Union sisters." She explained. "She has made multiple transfer requests to the Pearl Harbour base to fight alongside them, but the Commander is rather… possessive of us here."
"… Possessive? How so?" I narrowed my eyes.
Belfast's eyes darkened beneath her hair as she looked down in shame.
Hood carefully explained, "When Bel was assigned to him… it didn't go well. One night he got drunk and… well, let's just say we refuse to assign him any more maids. We still have to send whoever he asks for, though."
"Oh… I'm so sorry, Frau Belfast." I tried.
"Don't be, Madam." The scarred Maid replied. "It was my own fault. For trusting him to behave like a decent human being."
"Have you… talked to anyone about it?" I asked.
"No… I mustn't allow anyone I know to be burdened with the knowledge of what he did to me." Belfast answered with a shaky voice.
Hood stood up and gently held her hands, "Belfast, take the rest of the day off. Go rest. That's an order." She said softly.
Belfast nodded and whispered. "Thank you, Madam…" before leaving.
Now with just Hood and an awkward silence accompanying me, I decided to switch topics to dispel the latter, "Frau Hood?"
"Please." She replied as she sat down in a chair close to my bed, "Just call me 'Hood'. What is it?"
"Could I ask you something about Azur Lane?"
"Only if it's not divulging top secret intel. Technically, you're not affiliated with us, so I'll answer what I can." She said professionally. What they say about her is true. Hood is the epitome of elegance and kindness, but don't mess with her.
I asked, "I understand the name Royal Navy, as it's the same where I'm from, but who are the Eagle Union?"
"Ah, I see they may have a different name in your world. They used to be the United States Navy before the Sirens attacked. After that, the entire world changed drastically. The Americans decided they need yet more bloody territories to better respond to threats and suddenly they had more than just their states, so they changed their name to the Eagle Union. As much as it… annoys us Royals, they now possess the most powerful naval force the world has ever seen, minus the Sirens, of course." She explained.
I nodded again, "Ja… I thought they sounded American. They're still the U.S. Navy back home. What became of Germany?"
"They… The Kriegsmarine has had a rough history with us, but currently we're united. They're known as 'Iron Blood' now. Your homeland here is still going strong, so don't worry." She smiled. "Iron Blood is the world leader in Kansen technology and Cube research."
"I see… from the looks of their riggings, I'd say that's a fitting name. But anyway, has nobody tried explaining to your Kommandant what you've just told me? About deploying you all more effectively?"
"Many of us have tried. He doesn't particularly like being told what to do by a woman." Hood spat.
"Oh." I frowned, "The more I hear of him, the more I'd really like to kick his arse."
"If only. How I'd love to really teach him a lesson. I'd personally make him beg for mercy as I—" She stopped herself and breathed in slowly and exhaled, regaining her aura of elegance. She went on, "What he did to dear Belfast… and god knows how many other ships he's called in alone. He threatens them not speak up as he hangs over our head the same old threat he always uses."
"Threat?" I asked, very concerned.
"The threat that if any of us take any sort of action against him, especially physical, he'll send High Command the order to terminate the Kansen Initiative and have us all scrapped. Belfast would have easily fought him off of her, but the threat to us all prevented her from defending herself."
My eyes went wide, "S…scrapped?"
"To execute us and salvage our riggings. We're just bloody weapons to him. Obedient little puppets at his beck and call. He doesn't even try to take care of us while he reaps the benefits of his position as the one man above most others in charge of a base full of women who are the last line of defence against the Sirens. Our riggings themselves are well-overdue for upgrades, as well. I can barely move my guns without them squeaking."
For a second, I could've sworn she started to sound Scottish before calming herself.
"I wonder if I'd be able to get through to him. I'll talk to as many shipgirls as I can and then confront him about it." I suggested.
"You've just arrived in a world you don't know and you're already trying to help us all?" Hood asked with a smile. "I appreciate it, but I wouldn't bother. He'd find something to use against you, as well. He doesn't take challenges to his command very well."
"I want to try, anyway. You all saved me from that crazy woman, so the least I could do is help you with this."
"You're a lot like her, you know. Our Bismarck."
"I am?"
"Yes." Hood looked down with a frown and added, "If only she could be more like you…"
"How so? What do I do better than her?" I asked.
"You actually let people help you."
[Azur Lane Bismarck]
After a long voyage to the Pacific, we set foot on the island known to the girls here as the Naval District. It's similar to the Scapa Flow base, but it's warmer here. Warmer than what I'm used to, but not overwhelmingly so. This is what the Pearl Harbour base must be like.
"Alright, Princess. You stay here for now. I don't want to give the wrong impression by bringing you with me." I told the little Abyssal still holding her plane.
"Can I see mama soon?"
"We'll see. If you're good, then maybe. Now stay and be a good girl, okay?" I answered.
The little one nodded and started playing with her new toy.
"Z1, Z3, stay and keep an eye on her. Don't let her leave my ship." I ordered. The two Subs saluted dutifully as the rest of us disembarked and walked through the crowd that had gathered around the port.
"Do you have children in your world?" Graf asked me rather unexpectedly.
"Nein. Why do you ask?"
"You seem rather good with them." She smiled.
Of all that compliments I've ever gotten, that's a new one. It actually made me feel something as I blushed and said, "I don't know what you're talking about."
The girls guided me to the Admiral's office. I thought it strange that an Admiral was in charge here instead of a Kommandant, but according to Prinz, this world's version of Nagato fills that role.
As I thought about how different the chain of command is here, I saw many more shipgirls looking at me with confusion. The recognised me as Bismarck, but they clearly saw something off about me. I felt like a spy in an enemy base. I decided it best not to speak to anyone yet.
Except for the redhead that approached me and smiled, "Good day, Bismarck. How was the mission?"
"We didn't sink. That's good enough." I responded rather more coldly than I had intended. "I must report to the Admiral. If you'll excuse me—"
"Now hold on a minute." She said, "What's gotten into you? And what's with the new outfit? Bismarck, explain yourself."
Prinz whispered in my ear rather helpfully, "She's our Ark Royal."
That made it easier, "Listen, Frau Ark, I promise I'll explain everything to you after I see Nagato and the Admiral."
"I'm coming with you then a security. Don't try anything and I won't be forced to damage you again—"
And the memories flashed again. Before I could stop myself, I pushed her against the wall and pinched the bricks right next to Ark's head, silencing her and making her go as white as her dress, surprising everyone around us. I stared viscously into her wide eyes and threatened, "If you ever bring that up around me again, I'll make sure you're never able to do so again. Understand?"
Blood leaked out of my fingers and onto her shoulder as she silently nodded.
"Bismarck!" Prinz grabbed my other arm, trying to stop me, "Don't hurt her! Bitte!"
I blinked and realised what I was doing. I slowly pulled my hand back and stepped away. Everyone looked at me, expecting my hand to be broken, but everyone was shocked to see I suffered only slight cuts on my fingers despite cracking the bricks. Ark stared at me and I could only say, "My apologies." I then continued towards the command centre.
What the hell is wrong with me? I almost killed someone within five minutes due to my goddamn trauma.
"Bismarck… what was that?" Prinz asked. Super. I've disappointed her now, as well…
"I'm so sorry, Prinz… it's just… something… dark within me breaks through whenever that event is forced into my mind. It's a side effect of when I was manipulated by the Sirens… a part of me that I've tried for years to lock away, but it keeps coming back. I'm often unable to control myself in unfamiliar places and when someone I don't know mentions it. I understand if you hate me for it."
"N-nein! Never! I'll be here for you if you need help!" She tried.
I smiled at her, "You're kind, Prinz. Far too kind for the world I was built for, but you mustn't have to waste your time and effort on a lost cause like me. I'll apologise to Ark later on. First, let's get the more important matters done with." Before walking faster.
"Okay… but you're not a- hey, wait!"
As we approached the building, Graf Zeppelin stated, "It looks like they successfully repelled the Abyssal attack on the base." Graf Zeppelin observed.
"Danke Gott. I'd hate to see anyone get hurt here." Prinz added. "Graf, I'll take Bismarck in to see the Admiral and Nagato. We'll see you later."
"Jawohl." Graf saluted along with Shinyou. Prinz then lead me into the biggest structure on the base.
Walking down the halls of the command centre, I was guided to a big double door to the Admiral's office. Prinz knocked and soon enough a shipgirl with snail-like riggings on her hazel-haired head acting as a headband answered it. Her outfit seemed rather revealing, exposing her midriff and her upper thighs, but I'm rather used to seeing that kind of attire back home.
"Frau Mutsu, can we speak to Secretary Ship Nagato and the Admiral, bitte?" Prinz asked.
Mutsu smiled and nodded, "Of course, dear. We've been waiting for your report," before letting us in. "Nee-san, the Kriegsmarine have returned~" as she hugged her from behind.
The other tall shipgirl, Nagato cringed with her arms crossed and hissed, "Mutsu-chan, please. This is a professional environment."
"Of course~" Mutsu squeezed her a little, "I'll behave, I promise." Causing Nagato to blush.
Their relationship reminded me of Takao and Atago back home.
After freeing herself from her… affectionate sister, the Secretary Ship regained her professional stance and looked at me, immediately deducing I'm not quite who I look like. Her crimson eyes bore into me as she asked, "You're not our Bismarck, are you?"
"Nein. I was hoping we can talk about that."
"I saw you assault Ark Royal. Give me a reason I shouldn't have everyone escort you off this base." She demanded.
Not one to back down, I immediately replied, "Your Bismarck is gone and I'm here because our worlds have collided and she is stuck in my world and vice versa. If you exile me you may lose all hope of getting her back." I have her an equally intense glare. "Also, I captured an Abyssal with hours of arriving here and fight enemies far worse on a regular basis, so I don't think this is a fight you'd want to take part in, Nagato."
Nagato's eyes widened. She looked down at the silent man in the Admiral's chair, who nodded to her. Some kind of secret order that she immediately understood. She looked to her sister and said, "Mutsu-chan, take over my duties until I'm back. Ooyodo-san, with me."
"Hai." Mutsu nodded without any nonsense, knowing to be serious at that point.
"You two, come with us. We must talk." Nagato requested. Prinz and I went with her.
Stepping into an open lounge area, Prinz became nervous seeing Nagato's dead serious face and instinctively hugged me for comfort. It made me realise how close she is to her own Bismarck.
Nagato sat down and offered to us the two opposite chairs. "Take a seat. Don't worry, Prinz Eugen. You're not in trouble."
"Oh… okay." She let go and sat along with me on the rather cozy sofa.
Nagato looked at me and began, "So… tell me everything you can. What happened with that anomaly?" While Ooyodo took out a pen and paper to take notes. That told me that the girls here may not be as technologically advanced as us even outside their shipgirl program.
I got comfortable and took off my hat. I began, "Back home, we had detected a strange weather phenomenon from a buoy in the Denmark Strait…" I trailed off at the end. I blinked and the wooden floor of the room turned into the wood of my deck. An explosion caught my attention and I saw one of my turrets fire that haunting shot at Hood, leading to her instant destruction.
Again!? Why am I like this!?
Prinz, Ooyodo and Nagato noticed me staring blankly at the floor and the former held my hand, bringing me back to reality. She asked, "Bismarck? Is it happening again?"
Looking around and seeing myself in the room again with the three girls giving me concerned looks, I blinked hard to wake myself up more and spoke, "Ah. My apologies. That place… it's hard for me to think about it. It's… why I lashed out at your Ark. I am sorry for that."
"It's alright." Nagato nodded, "Continue when you're ready."
"Danke… right… Myself, Prinz Eugen, U-556, Hood and Prince of Wales were sent to investigate." I went on. "Not your version of Prinz, mind you. My own. We reached the anomaly and saw it distorting space, like it had an immense gravity field. When I probed it to see what it was, it dragged me in and I came face to face with an alternate version of myself. Before I could question it or her, we were spat out of opposite ends. Since I ended up here, I can only imagine she is in the same situation as I, and that she was your Bismarck."
Nagato immediately asked, "Your allies wouldn't be hostile to her, would they?" Showing her concern for her fellow ship. She's already a better Kommandantin than that man back home.
"Wales has shown me open hostility before, but Hood and Eugen will keep her in line, and U-556 had sworn to protect me at all costs. I can only hope she shows the same devotion to protecting your Bismarck."
The Secretary Ship thinks for a moment, "Is this anomaly still there?"
"Nein. It closed up and vanished when I was sent here. Either it's gone or it's moved somewhere else. We don't even know what it is, so we can't afford to rule out the possibility that it's still around." I answered.
"I see. What's this about capturing an Abyssal?"
"We managed to fight off an ambush by them and I grabbed the Northern Princess. She's actually very docile and childlike. She's on my ship playing."
Nagato repeated, "The Northern Princess…?"
Ooyodo looked up from her notes and chimed in, "Your ship…?"
I had forgotten these girls cannot summon full vessels. "Come, I'll show you." I stood up and signalled them to follow me out of the building.
Nagato's face when I mentioned which Abyssal it was took on an expression I couldn't quite read…
