Chapter 3: The Crane's Dream

Zuikaku was alone again.

Her sister was gone, Takao was gone, the rest of the Sakura fleet was gone.

All alone against the onslaught of the Eagle Union she gripped her sword as one by one she watched her planes fall from the sky.

"Dammit, I won't go down without a fight!" she declared launching her last wave of fighters.

Soon they too were shot down and Zuikaku felt the impact of machine guns and bombs impacting her flight deck.

Wounds opened and she dropped to her knees still clutching her sword.

"No, I won't die like this!" she said looking up and seeing a strange aircraft bearing down on her.

It had no propeller and made a loud and thunderous roar as it approached.

She then felt several torpedoes impact her stern and she dropped down even further coughing up blood and dropping her sword.

She looked around seeing the strange craft bearing down on her plus the Helldivers screaming down to deliver her death blow.

Feeling the tears of defeat falling from her eyes she withdrew her only item of comfort left, a worn picture of herself and her sister Shoukaku before the war.

"I'm sorry Shoukaku-nee, but there were just too many. I tried to hold on, but I failed again….." she said through sobs as her eyes locked with the pilot of the strange fighter.

Strangely though as her eyes met his she felt as if he cared that she was alone and that he felt sorrow for her.

These thoughts however vanished as soon as the plane roared by with the sound of thunder and the of the smell of kerosene from its exhaust.

The last thing she saw before it all went black was a hail of bombs descending towards her…

"NO!" Zuiakaku screamed as she bolted upright.

"Zuikaku-nee? What's wrong?!" Shoukaku said rushing to her sister's side.

Zuikaku was breathing heavy and sweating from the dream and Shoukaku began to worry.

"Zuikaku are you alright? Do you need to go to the docks!?" she asked worried.

"N-No I'm ok." She said collecting herself.

Zuikaku had been having the same dream for weeks now, and it alarmed her every time. However, tonight had been different.

The addition of the strange aircraft, and the look in its pilot's eyes was alarming and baffling to the Crane girl.

"Zuikaku, if it's the same dream again, we really should talk to Nagato about it. Something is definitely up and I'm worried you could get hurt because of it." Shoukaku said whilst cupping her sister's cheeks.

Zuikaku smiled gratefully, and replied, "I'm alright, I promise Shoukaku-nee."

Although she was only partially telling the truth she was still baffled by the aircraft and the eyes of the pilot she had seen.

Shoukaku then smiled and said, "Well don't you ever worry, your Big Sis will always be here for you, no matter what!"

Zuikaku again smiled.

" Once you get washed up come and have some breakfast alright?" Shoukaku said before heading into the kitchen.

Zuikaku again smiled at her sister's kindness, but still worried for her and the dream.

It had haunted her constantly since she was sunk during the War.

She recalled the memories as a ship how it felt to be the last of the Kido Butai, alone and without her sister, and every last one of her planes shot down before finally being sunk herself.

"That Grey Ghost…..I will beat her and redeem my honor!" she thought.

She rose and went to her bathroom to wash her face and change for the day.

After dressing and washing up Zuikaku met Shoukaku for breakfast before being briefed by Nagato on the operation that was scheduled for the day.

"We will attack Azure Lane using the newly acquired technology from the Sirens to test its effectiveness. The Flagship for the operation will be Akagi and the 1st Carrier Division supported by the 2nd and 5th Dvisions." Nagato informed the host of Empire Empire Kansen.

All present nodded and Akagi grinned evilly.

"Now I can show the world the true extent of my love. One that surpasses time and defies gods. I will set the world alight, and it will never stop burning!" she said before activating a black mental cube.

Several Hours later…

Zuikaku and Shoukaku had sortied with the rest of the Sakura fleet and had taken a routine patrol by surprise.

The Azur Lane had quickly responded however, and upon the Gray Ghost's arrival Zuikaku promptly engaged.

Shoukaku tried to assist but it was no use as the two were locked in battle and Shoukaku eventually found herself with problems of her own from the other Eagle Union forces.

"Gray Ghost! This is the end for you!" Zuikaku screamed as she swung her blade at Enterprise.

The Eagle Union carrier however proved to be more than a match for the girl and after a long winded exchange of blows, Enterprise finally secured a solid blow by landing an arrow on Zuikaku's left thigh.

As she cried out and doubled over in pain, Enterprise took the opportunity to finish her opponent by unleashing her dive bombers and raining a hail of bombs down on Zuikaku.

Some of the bombs made contact with the carrier but most detonated further away sending Zuikaku flying towards an uninhabited island.

She was heavily injured from both the deep gash from Enterprise's arrow and many shrapnel wounds from the dive bomber's bombs.

She hit the water close to the island, and as she sank to the bottom she eventually lost consciousness.

"I'm sorry Shoukaku-nee…..I failed again….and this time I left you alone…." Were her final thoughts before finally blacking out.

It was during Zuikaku's state of darkness that she began to dream again or hallucinate.

Whichever it was she didn't know but she was certain she was dead.

However, her surroundings were quite foreign to her.

She was standing on what appeared to be an abandoned airfield with no sort of aircraft in sight….except one.

Off in the distance on the far side of the tarmac sat the same fighter that she had seen in her dream.

It had its canopy raised and appeared fueled and ready to launch.

Curiously she walked towards it albeit cautiously.

As she approached, she noticed a man dressed in a flight suit looking over the plane.

Her hand immediately went for her sword only to find it missing, but as the man noticed her, her gave a friendly smile.

"Who are you?" she demanded.

"A friend." The man replied before offering her his hand.

She was tempted to take his hand but before she could she began to hear a voice that was disembodied.

"OUTLAW 25 transmitting on Guard does anyone read?"

She looked back to the man.

His smile and hand remained.

Again the disembodied voice.

"OUTLAW 25 on Guard is anyone out there?"

The world around her began to fade and she realized she was regaining consciousness.

"Perhaps I will have another chance…" she thought.

Zuikaku slowly opened her eyes to an unfamiliar scene and environment.

Looking around she saw a campfire in the center of a makeshift camp, and the same man from her dream!

She was initially suspicious of him being from Azur Lane, and her fears were confirmed when she saw the Eagle Union flag on his flight suit.

She immediately attempted to bolt but was met with grueling pain when she attempted to move.

"Hey, take it easy!" David said.

She eyed him.

"You're injured pretty badly, and you were nearly dead when I found you. Try not to move too much alright?" he said before producing a canteen and offering it to her.

She eyed the canteen cautiously and then looked back at him with anger.

"It's just water I promise. Look, if I wanted to kill you, I would have just put one in your head when I found you on the beach." He said tapping his pistol.

She saw his point and relented to accept the water.

She drank several gulps and immediately felt better as she had been parched.

She handed the canteen back to David who then spoke again.

"So, do you speak English at all?"

This was a concern of his as he knew it would be a major problem if they couldn't communicate verbally.

"Yes, a little bit." Zuikaku replied albeit with a thick accent.

David breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well that's good news at least. I was worried I wouldn't be able to communicate with you when you woke up."

Zuikaku then got right to the point.

"Why did you save me? I'm your enemy, aren't I? Why didn't you kill me when you found me?" she asked flatly.

David scowled.

"Are you trying to tell me you're disappointed that I saved you?" he asked.

Zuikaku furrowed her brow.

"That's not the damn point! You could have easily left me for dead! Why on earth would you save your enemy that will only use up your resources! Or are you only keeping me alive for something dreadful…." Zuikaku said starting to wrap her arms around herself.

David's brow furrowed as well as he shot back, "Absolutely not! What the fuck kinda sicko do you take me for!? I just saved your life! Isn't there something more positive you'd like to say to me!?"

"Like what?" Zuikaku spat.

"Like maybe a thank you? Or would you rather me just toss you back into the ocean and let the sharks eat you?" David said.

Zuikaku again furrowed her brow and said, "And what if I said yes? Would you actually do it?"

David said flatly, "No."

"No!? Why should I believe that!?" she said.

"Because why would I kill you when I'm just trying to help you?" he replied.

Zuikaku was flabbergasted.

She simply couldn't believe this pilot had saved her life.

She felt her eyes darting from place to place as she tried to collect her thoughts.

"I….I suppose you're right. But you still didn't answer my question! Why did you choose to save me, your enemy?" she asked again.

David sighed.

"I saved you because it was the right thing to do." He said.

Zuikaku still felt as if he wasn't being entirely truthful, but she sensed no malice in his words.

"I still don't believe you, but I suppose that answer will have to do for now." She said.

"I suppose you must live by some kind of chivalry code in order to save a dying enemy…" she added.

David chuckled a bit.

"Maybe, but were both stuck in this same predicament together now. The fact is that if we wanna make it out of this we're gonna have to work together." David said.

Zuikaku nodded solemnly.

"I suppose you are correct. With that knowledge I'm sure you'll want to know exactly who you're working with. I am Zuikaku, of the Fifth Carrier Division, Sakura Empire. And you are?" she asked.

"Lieutenant David Parsons, Eagle Union Naval Aviator." David replied.

She nodded in response.

"Well I suppose it is good to make your acquaintance Lieutenant. Though I wish the circumstances were different." Zuikaku said.

"As do I." David agreed.

"Well, in either case I think we should forget our differences at least for the time being until we can figure out a way off this island. So, truce?" David asked offering her his hand.

Zuikaku blinked recalling her most recent dream.

Normally she would have declined, but recalling his words from the dream, "A friend," she somehow felt as though he was trustworthy.

Eagle Union though he was, she realized quickly that he was her only chance at reuniting with her sister and ever seeing the Sakura Empire again.

With some hesitation she extended her hand and took his.

"Truce." She said.

Sakura Empire Headquarters: Several hours after engagement

Shoukaku sat crumpled in a corner sobbing uncontrollably.

"Zuikaku-nee…." She repeated over and over.

The First and Second division carriers all sat nearby discussing the recent battle.

"It's obvious the Siren technology is powerful, but still not enough to best the Gray Ghost." Soryuu stated flatly.

"Nor enough to prevent us from losing one of our own….." Hiryu agreed while looking solemnly over at Shoukaku.

"It matters not at this point. We gathered the needed data, and with this data our project can continue." Akagi said smugly as she fingered a black wisdom cube she held in her hands.

At that point, Shoukaku finally stood and shouted at her seniors in a fit of rage.

"Enough of this project nonsense! Your insistence on working with the Sirens and reliance on their technology has just lost my sister! I'll never forgive you for what you have done! Not now and not for back then either!" she said whilst referring to the previous days' mission as well as their history as warships.

"How dare you question my dear sister Akagi! You'll not speak ill of her in my presence!" Kaga threatened while summoning a blue flame in her hands.

Shoukaku placed her hand on her sword hilt, but Akagi stepped in between the two.

"Now, now, little ones. We are all on the same side here." She said while smiling evilly.

"If something were to happen to you dear sister, I know I'd feel the same as Shoukaku." Akagi said while cupping Kaga's cheek.

"Sister…" Kaga replied.

"And as for you Shoukaku…." The fox girl said approaching the eldest Crane sister.

"I have a bit of a proposition for you." She said as she bent to whisper in her ear.

"One that will allow you to regain your sister and bring vengeance upon those who took her from you." She finished whilst smiling with a twisted and evil grin.

Shoukaku shuddered.

"I-If it means I can see Zuikaku again…." She began.

"Excellent." Akagi said as she led Kaga away into the night.

Once they were out of earshot of the other carriers Kaga spoke.

"Sister, is this really the best way to approach this?"

"It is the most opportune time Kaga. We have everything we need now. The data, a brewing conflict….and a willing sacrifice." She said smiling at the black mental cube.

"Orochi will live, and soon the Sakura Empire will reign supreme in all the seas!" she giggled maniacally.

Azur Lane Naval Base: Several hours after conflict

Caveman, Gooney, Hornet, Chicago, Brooklyn, and a host of other pilots and kansen all had gathered in the Outlaw's pilot's club.

Caveman, as David's wingman, made his way to the front and lit a candle before pouring two shots of whiskey.

One he kept for himself but the other he placed next to the candle and a picture of David. He then turned to the gathered group.

"This candle will stay lit until we find Dusty. We'll bring him home somehow. Till then though, here's to one of our own, OUTLAWS!" he bellowed.

"OUTLAWS!" came the collective response as everyone downed a similar shot.

Caveman walked toward the group of friends where he saw Gooney's downtrodden expression as well as Hornet with tears in her eyes.

"He's a tough SOB guys, he'll make it back I know." He said trying to lift their spirits, even though he still felt guilty for making it back to base without David.

"I know he will man, it's still just tough ya know?" Gooney said in response.

"I certainly can't ever get used to things like this….." Brooklyn added her eyes downcast.

"All we can do is hold on to the hope we have." Said Enterprise as she approached.

Hornet upon seeing her older sister immediately leapt into her arms and began to cry.

"Hornet…"Enterprise said with genuine concern before holding her younger sister close.

All present looked down.

Most knew of Hornet's affection for David, yet he himself hadn't even recognized her feelings yet.

"Dave, you gotta come back. You can't just leave a girl with unanswered feelings…." Hornet thought to herself as she continued to sob.

The night wore on and all present continued to hope and pray for their comrade's safe return.