Azur Lane Base, Hospital Ward 2323 hours.
Zuikaku was tossing in her bed, thanks to a nightmare she was having.
In it, she saw her sister being led back into the Sanctuary by the First Division elders where she saw a large ship of unknown origin.
She then saw her sister being lifted into the air by an unknown force and crying out in pain, before being tossed into a holding cell.
The last thing Zuikaku witnessed was a sacrificial ceremony of sorts where her sister was being offered up to a Siren, and she watched in horror as a wisdom cube was expelled from her sister's chest before the light left Shoukaku's eyes and she slumped over dead.
SHOUKAKU-NEE!" Zuikaku screamed as she sat bolt upright in her bed panting and sweating from the dream she had just had.
She looked around quickly to see she was still in her room in the Azur Lane hospital ward.
Horrified by what she had just seen, she knew something was wrong with her sister, and she was obviously trying to reach her.
Impulsively, she threw her covers off and jumped out of her bed ignoring the slight pain in her left leg.
As she ran down the hallway, ignoring the surprised look of some of the hospital workers, she made a beeline for the exit.
Once she had made it out of the ward she tried to summon her rigging, but nothing happened.
Gritting her teeth as she looked down to her wrist, she remembered the device which had been placed there before she had awoken that prevented her from summoning her rigging.
Cursing her official status as a POW, she thought of the only person who might be willing to help her: David.
Looking around the darkened district she spotted several signs that pointed to the airbase and associated living quarters for the Eagle Union Navy and Marine pilots assigned to the base.
Sprinting as fast as she could, she finally found the dorm rooms and upon entering, received quite a few stunned looks from the two young Marines assigned to the front desk.
Noticing names written on placards next to the doors, she resumed her sprint down the hall until she finally found David's name near one of the doors.
"David-san! David-san! Wake up!" she shouted whilst banging on his door.
Others began to groggily peer out of their rooms to see what was all the fuss, only to see to their surprise a very distraught Sakura Empire Kansen in a hospital gown banging on Lieutenant David Parson's door.
At that moment however, several armed Marines and Navy Shore Patrolmen caught up to the carrier and trained their weapons on her.
"Don't move and keep your hands where I can see them!" said the Marine Sergeant in charge of the security detail for the dorm.
Zuikaku, realizing she was completely defenseless without her rigging, reluctantly raised her hands.
At that moment, the door behind her was thrown open, and she turned to see David in his issued Navy PT uniform looking quite surprised to see her surrounded by the security detail.
"Zuikaku!? What's going on here!?" David asked perplexed.
The Marine Sergeant was moving to handcuff Zuikaku, but the girl in question launched herself at David before blabbering in her native tongue, tears beginning to fall from her eyes.
David noticed the security detail moving to detain her but put up his hand to stop them before turning back to Zuikaku.
"Z slow down! Tell me what's wrong, and I'll help." He said realizing that something was obviously very wrong for her to have busted out of the hospital ward and ran all the way down to his dorm.
Zuikaku sobbed before finally managing to say, "It's my sister! They're going to kill her!"
"What?! Z what are you talking about?" David asked.
Zuikaku was about to explain before she heard another voice.
"Who exactly is going to kill whom?" came the voice of the base commander, Admiral Travis Brubaker.
Every Eagle Union sailor and Marine snapped to attention upon the admiral's entrance with his secretary ship Prince of Wales.
"Sir, I can explain, Zuikaku was trying to tell me-" David began but was cut off by Admiral Brubaker.
"You will both explain yourselves in my office. Come" he stated flatly.
Obediently David and Zuikaku followed the Admiral out of the dorms and to his office.
Several minutes later, Admiral's office. 0010 hours.
David and Zuikaku were seated on one of the couches in Admiral Brubaker's office surrounded by other high ranking Kansen such as Cleveland, Hornet, Queen Elizabeth, Warspite, Hood, Enterprise, and Belfast who was preparing tea for the group.
All present, save for Belfast, Prince of Wales, and the Admiral, were all in various states of sleep attire and not particularly happy about being awoken at that hour.
"Admiral, would you kindly explain once more why my presence was required here at this hour? My beauty rest is taking quite a toll from this!" said Queen Elizabeth.
"We are here, primarily, because our 'guest' Zuikaku saw fit to run through the base unescorted to seek out Lieutenant Parsons." The Admiral began.
"More importantly however, because what Zuikaku has suggested could be very disturbing if it is true." He finished his sentence while looking at the pilot and Crane girl.
"Zuikaku, could you please enlighten us as to why you sought out Lieutenant Parsons first?" Brubaker asked.
Zuikaku stood and replied, "He was the only one I thought would help."
"And if you would now please explain the circumstances that led up to this escapade." The Admiral asked.
Zuikaku then proceeded to tell the group of the dream she had, the mental connection between her and her sister, and what she knew of the "special project" her First Division elders had been trying to keep under wraps.
"If I'm seeing something like this, then it's no coincidence. Shoukaku-nee is in trouble and I have to help her!" Zuikaku said.
All pondered on the Crane girl's explanation.
"It would make sense given the Red Axis's reliance on Siren technology. But to willingly sacrifice one of their own? That's barbaric…." Wales said whilst sipping a cup of tea that Belfast had prepared.
"Admiral, given the intelligence gathered from the maid corps supplemented by what Zuikaku has just told us, I believe this could be a real threat. If this Project is anything like what it's claimed to be, it could very well cost us the war." Wales said.
Admiral Brubaker contemplated a moment before turning his attention back to David.
"Lieutenant Parsons, I believe you and the Outlaws had a recon mission scheduled this week bound for the Sanctuary that Zuikaku had mentioned correct?" he asked.
"Yes sir, that's correct." David replied.
"Well that mission has just changed to search and rescue. If the Sakura Empire activates whatever this thing is, we may have a real problem on our hands. Zuikaku?" the admiral said turning to her.
"Yes?" she asked. "I'm going to need your full cooperation if we're going to attempt this. Your sister's life is at stake you understand, so I'm going to need you to help our forces in navigating this Sanctuary as well as getting out of there once the operation is complete. I understand this puts you in a difficult position with having to fight your countrymen, but I can assure you that if you cooperate, we can save your sister and offer you both asylum for the remainder of the war." Brubaker finished.
Zuikaku winced as she thought about the possibility of having to fight her own countrymen, but the thought of losing her sister was much, much worse.
"I will cooperate. I value my sister's life more than anything, so I will do what is necessary to save her." Zuikaku said.
"Excellent. Parsons?" Brubaker said turning his attention back to David.
"Yes sir?" he answered.
"You and Zuikaku along with the other pilots assigned to the recon mission will meet me in the RD hangar tomorrow morning at 0800. We have a lot to talk about, and a lot to do to prepare for this op. For now, everyone is dismissed." The Admiral said.
As everyone filed out of the office stifling yawns and headed for their respective dorms, David felt his sleeve being tugged by Zuikaku.
"It's gonna be ok Z. We'll get her out of there, I promise." David said reassuringly.
Zuikaku smiled weakly but still felt worried.
"Thank you Dave….I'm sorry to have woken you like this but….you were the only one I could turn to….." Zuikaku said.
"Well you were right to. I for one can't believe that your elders would do something like that!" David said.
Zuikaku shook her head.
"You'll find that we in the Sakura Empire are not quite as united as you'd think." She said as they resumed walking back towards the hospital.
"What do you mean?" David asked.
"Akagi-senpai has always insisted on using the Siren technology, almost detrimentally so. Shoukaku-nee always objected, but always seemed to be silenced before she could object. Nagato-san seemed swayed by Akagi's proposals at first, but I feel she's now torn on whether it should be used or not…." Zuikaku trailed off.
That stopped David.
"Then…do you think if Nagato could be convinced that this technology is bad idea, or better yet could be shown what the First Division is about to do to your sister, that she'd advocate for joining the Azur Lane?" David said.
Zuikaku thought for a moment, but realized David had a point.
If Nagato knew what was truly going on, perhaps she and other Kansen would seek to diverge from using the Siren technology and focus instead on the real threat, the Sirens themselves.
"I think it's a real possibility. If we succeed that is…" Zuikaku said.
David then squeezed her hand and looked her in the eyes as he said, "We will."
Zuikaku's eyes were wide.
"David-san…"she said feeling her cheeks get hot.
"Why do you always do things like this? You saved me, a dying enemy on a deserted island, ensured I was getting proper treatment as a POW, and now you want to help me save my sister who might be killed by my own countrymen. What's your motivation in any of this?" Zuikaku asked perplexed.
David closed his eyes a moment, but when he answered, Zuikaku's heart felt as though it would flutter right out of her chest.
"It's because if I do nothing else in this lousy war, if I buy the farm on this op, I can at least go to my grave knowing I did something worthwhile for someone. That I prevented a family from being torn apart, and that others have a chance to live because of something I did." David answered.
Zuikaku felt tears beginning to well in her eyes.
Could this pilot really be that good hearted of a person?
Did someone like that really exist?
Or had she never believed that they could exist?
She was unsure at the time, but what she knew for certain is that she owed a great deal to David.
Wiping her eyes, Zuikaku replied, "I don't know what to say other than I'll owe you a tremendous debt when this is all over. But I swear on my honor, that I will repay you Dave. You can count on that!" Zuikaku said.
David smiled back at the girl and jokingly said, "Well I do like beer ya know?"
Both burst out laughing.
The two then bid each other goodnight before retiring.
Both of their thoughts however now wandered to what the Admiral had in mind for saving the life of Shoukaku and putting a foil into the First Divison's plans…
Next Morning: RD Hangar, Eagle Union side of Azur Lane Base. 0800hrs.
As David accompanied by Zuikaku, Caveman, and Gooney entered the hangar, they were surprised to see Admiral Brubaker speaking with a small cat-like girl with green hair.
All knew her to be Kansen, but it was Zuikaku who was the most alarmed.
"Akashi!? What are you doing here!?" she asked perplexed.
"Oh! Zuikaku! Good to see nya!" the cat-girl replied.
"We thought you had been captured by the Azur Lane after those two maids infiltrated the base! What's happened since then?" Zuikaku asked.
"Well, I stumbled upon Akagi and Kaga-nya in this cave or something, and I found this big ship. Well, on that ship was a Siren, and that Siren would have eaten Akashi if those two maids hadn't been there. I just hung on for dear life to one of them, and I escaped with them. Been doing business with the Admiral here ever since nya!" Akashi replied.
"…..And charging insane amounts for materials…."Brubaker grumbled before turning his attention back to the group that had assembled.
"Some of Akashi's additional duties have been research and development and what I've brought you all here today to discuss is the use of one of her inventions in rescuing Zuikaku's sister." Brubaker said before pulling a tarp off of what looked like a centerline external fuel tank in appearance mostly, but one could tell it was much, much more.
"Akashi calls this, the Kansen Deployment Pod or KDP!" the cat girl said proudly.
"Its intention was for rapid deployment of Kansen. Essentially, an airborne delivery system for insertion of Kansen into battle." Brubaker explained.
"It fits onto an external pylon just like a fuel tank would, but once the pilot releases it, the pod free falls to a certain height before the Kansen inside pulls a release handle to open the pod and start kicking Siren butt!" Akashi explained as well.
"Obviously something like this is intended for quick reaction forces, but this situation has called for something a bit like it. We believe the fast moving F-18's will cause enough distraction that a jettisoned fuel tank won't draw much attention. However, what's inside that "fuel tank" will be Zuikaku who will infiltrate the Sanctuary, retrieve her sister, and then escape under cover fire from both the F-18's as well as a Kansen strike package that will be on station for extraction." Brubaker spoke once again.
David admitted he was impressed.
The idea seemed great, but he knew nothing was that simple.
"Sir, if I may, what kind of safety features are inside the pod for the Kansen?" he asked.
"The pod has its own oxygen and environmental system, and also a manual release so that the Kansen can release herself should the mother plane become disabled nya." Akashi said.
That made both David and Zuikaku breathe a sigh of relief.
"With that in mind, the procedure for this op will be to have the other fighters creating a distraction so that the fighter carrying the pod can insert into the Sanctuary." Brubaker said looking at Zuikaku who now redressed in her normal red dress and white overcoat which had been repaired for her.
"As you'll already have guessed Zuikaku, this will be a very dangerous mission, and the KDP is still experimental. Many things could go wrong, but are you willing to ride in the pod and take a chance at saving your sister?" he asked.
"Of course I am! My sister's life is more important to me than anything! I'd rather die trying to save her than remain here and know that she'll be killed!" she said confidently.
"Very well then. The trip will be very strenuous on your body and if you've never been subjected to high G's before I suggest you gain some experience. Parsons?" he said turning to David.
"Yes sir?" David replied.
"Take Zuikaku up in one of the Super Hornets this afternoon, and make sure she can survive the trip. It won't do anyone any good if she can't fight once she arrives." Brubaker said.
David smiled eagerly at Zuikaku and she did the same.
She had always been curious about the jet driven fighters, and this was her chance to see them first hand.
"That concludes this briefing. I'll be briefing the strike package this afternoon and the whole group this evening. The op will take place the day after tomorrow. Dismissed!" the admiral said.
As the group all filed out of the hangar, David and Zuikaku began speaking of their upcoming flight.
"So do you have any experience flying?" David asked.
Zuikaku nodded.
"Most carrier Kansen can fly any of their planes, but I've personally never flown something like your F-18 before. This should prove interesting!" she replied excitedly.
David smiled and said, "Well, I'm thinking you'll find it quite a rush! I always do, and it never gets old!"
The two then made it to the Outlaw's ops building where David and Zuikaku parted ways so that she could get fitted for a flight suit and her survival equipment like G-suits, helmet, and oxygen masks.
David had donned his own gear and was headed to the flight line to begin pre-flighting the Super Hornet.
He pondered his thoughts and feelings on what was to come as he checked everything over ensuring the fighter was ready for flight.
"I wonder…..if there might be something between us…." He thought with his dreams returning to his memory.
No sooner did he allow these thoughts to surface when he spotted Zuikaku walking towards the fighter.
Now dressed in her flight gear and toting a helmet and oxygen mask under her arm, she looked hardly any different than any other Navy pilot on the field other than the fact that her long brown ponytail kept tame by her red hair ornament obviously gave away the fact she was Kansen.
David couldn't help but stare as the flight suit complimented her curves nicely, and she looked absolutely stunning even in said flight gear.
"Etto…David-san?" Zuikaku said snapping him out of his trance.
"Oh! Sorry Z, I just uhhhh…..thought that whole look suited you!" he said speaking his mind.
That caused Zuikaku to blush, but she smiled slightly as she said "A-Arigatou….so shall we take to the sky?"
David smiled and replied, "You bet! Time to show you what a jet can do!"
As the Navy crew chiefs helped the two get strapped in, David began his pre start checks and Zuikaku eyed all of the equipment in the rear seat.
She noted things like radar and weapon displays, navigational displays, and other important data.
Somehow though, despite all the technology that was foreign to her, she felt right at home.
"APU running, No. 1 engine clear, cleared to start 1 sir!" came the voice of the crew chief through both David and Zuikaku headsets.
"Ready to start back there Zuikaku?" David asked.
"Hai! I'm excited!" she replied.
"Roger that! Starting 1!" David said as he flipped the start switch for the Hornet's No. 1 engine.
It started with a low whine which gradually accelerated and became a high pitched scream as the engine came up to speed.
David repeated the process with the other engine, and once everything was up and running he gave the signal to pull chalks.
He then taxied the F-18 out of its parking spot under the guidance of his crew chief's marshalling signals and then returned a sharp salute as the maintainer snapped off a sharp one of his own.
"What does that salute mean David-san?" Zuikaku asked.
"Kind of an ole tradition amongst pilots and maintainers. Our way of saying thanks for taking care of the plane, and his way of saying bring the jet back without breaking it!" David replied.
Zuikaku chuckled a bit before recalling vague memories of her time as a ship when similar gestures were given between her deck maintainers and her pilots.
A smile of nostalgia crossed her lips as she knew those moments were not so different from what she had just experienced.
"Tower, OUTLAW 25 holding short of 36 Left, ready for takeoff." She heard David call the control tower for takeoff clearance.
"OUTLAW 25 Cleared takeoff 36 Left, unrestricted climb Flight Level 240, contact departure." The tower replied.
"Cleared takeoff 36L, unrestricted to 240, OUTLAW 25." David repeated the instructions as he lined the F-18 up on the runway centerline.
"You ready back there Z? We're doing an unrestricted climb, so you'll get the full effect of what this thing can do!" David said.
"Mhmm! I'm looking forward to it!" she replied. David nodded.
"Alright, burners are hot!" David replied before running his engines up to power and plugging in the afterburners before releasing the brakes.
The fighter surged forward gaining speed rapidly.
Zuikaku felt the fighter lift off gently before David raised the landing gear, but they still had barely climbed more than five feet above the runway.
David waited till his speed was just right, and then he gave Zuikaku a fair warning, "Alright Z, squeeze your abdomen and other muscles like I showed you! Here come the G's!"
With that David pulled up hard and pointed the nose of the F-18 up almost ninety degrees.
Zuikaku felt herself pushed sharply back in her seat as the world seemed to grow smaller almost instantly, and she noticed the altimeter spiraling upward rapidly, almost 1,000 feet per second!
"SUGOI!" She marveled as she looked back over her shoulder.
"I never could have imagined something could climb this quickly! My Zeroes could never climb at this rate!" she said amazed.
They then rolled inverted before leveling off and rolling right side up once again.
"This is amazing Dave! I-I don't know what to say!" Zuikaku said in amazement.
"Well, don't get too comfy because there's more where that came from!" David said.
They then went through some additional high G turns, several aileron rolls, loops, Cuban 8's and other various dogfighting maneuvers to ensure Zuikaku could handle the G forces normally.
Finally at the conclusion, Zuikaku found herself smiling widely under her oxygen mask and finally beginning to feel normal again.
She admitted to herself that somehow sitting in the back of the fighter felt right at home to her as long as she was with David.
The dream she had seen before she woke up finally made sense to her, and she had a revelation: she was in love with David.
She felt herself blush as she admitted this to herself, but then finally spoke up.
"Dave-san…a-arigatou…for everything. You not only saved my life, but now you're trying to help me save the life of my sister as well. I swear on my honor I will repay you a thousand times over once this is finished….and I-" Zuikaku's sentence was cut short when she noticed a bleeping on the radar display in front of her.
Although she had never operated a Super Hornet's equipment before, she somehow knew what it meant.
"David, I think we have an enemy aircraft!" she said suddenly.
David for his part somehow knew as well as he picked out a similar blip on his repeater screen in front.
"OUTLAW 25, this is SEA LORD. We have reports of a lone bandit in your area, can you confirm?" David heard the voice of an E-2 Hawkeye pilot through his headset.
"SEA LORD, OUTLAW, we confirm. Tracking a target approximately twenty miles Northwest of our position." David replied.
"Roger OUTLAW, say munitions status." The Hawkeye queried.
Looking at his stores, David counted only two Sidewinders, and 800 rounds of cannon ammo.
He had been lightly loaded since it was to be a training op, but due to it being wartime, every fighter went up armed every time.
"SEA LORD, OUTLAW 25 has two AIM-9's and full load of 20 Mike-Mike." David replied.
Zuikaku for her part continued to watch the radar screen as the blip drew closer.
Then David and Zuikaku both spotted what looked like a black speck on the horizon, and both identified it as a Siren fighter.
"SEA LORD, OUTLAW, tally Bandit!" David exclaimed.
"OUTLAW, engage!" came the reply.
The fighter passed by David and Zuikaku before breaking left to try to come around on their tail.
David rolled and pulled hard left forcing the Super Hornet into a tight and high G turn to prevent the fighter from gaining a firing angle.
Zuikaku craned her neck to keep an eye on the fighter.
She noticed a distinct lack of missiles and guessed the Sirens were running reconnaissance just like everyone else.
"I lost visual Z, do you see it?" David asked Zuikaku.
"Hai! I see it! Almost at our four o' clock! Roll twenty degrees more bank and pull!" Zuikaku commanded.
Almost intuitively David knew this to be the right move as he rolled and pulled on his stick.
Somehow each time David lost visual with the Siren, Zuikaku knew the exact location of it and always had the right amount of instruction to give David to bring the fighter around to face the enemy.
"Tally bandit! 12 low!" David said as he gained visual on the Siren plane.
Zuikaku watched the weapon display as a growling noise became evident in her helmets headset.
She also saw David flip a switch up front and then the growling became even louder before David exclaimed, "FOX 2!"
One of the two Sidewinder missiles then shot forward off the left hand pylon and streaked toward the Siren fighter.
The Siren tried to evade, but it was too late.
The missile impacted the center fuselage and sliced the fighter cleanly in two before it fell to its doom into the ocean below.
David and Zuikaku then noticed they were both breathing heavily and breathed sighs of relief.
"SEA LORD, OUTLAW 25, Splash 1." David radioed the Hawkeye.
He then returned his attention back to Zuikaku.
"You ok back there Z? That was a bit more than you bargained for I'm sure!" he said.
Zuikaku for her part simply chuckled and replied, "I'm fine! That was actually quite a thrill ride!"
David smiled.
"Well either way, you handled yourself really well there! I don't know if it's just the fact that you're a carrier Kansen, or just an extremely talented warrior, but most WSO's couldn't have talked me onto the bandit half as well as you did. I'm genuinely glad you were here Z…" David said.
He felt himself get a little red after realizing what he had said, and Zuikaku noticed herself doing the same.
"A-Ah, thank you Dave! Well, seeing as we were both kind of in danger, I just did what I had to keep us both out of harms way! I guess this is really the least I can do for you saving my neck so much now!" Zuikaku replied.
Both laughed before David spoke again, "Well I think we've had enough fun for one day. Lets RTB!"
With that he banked the plane back towards the base whilst smiling under his oxygen mask.
"No doubt about it, I…I really do have feelings for her…." He realized.
Zuikaku felt herself doing the same and realized now why she had been feeling nervous around David now.
It was obvious by how well they worked together that there was something more between them, and if the dreams they had both been having meant anything, it was sure to lead to something even greater…..
Upon touching down, David taxied the Super Hornet back into its respective parking space and shut down the engines.
After raising the canopy and unlatching his oxygen mask, he stepped down the ladder and helped Zuikaku down as well.
He then briefed the crew chief on the status of the plane and thanked him for a well maintained aircraft that had just downed a Siren fighter.
He then shook hands with the man and returned his attention to Zuikaku.
"I'll have to debrief with ops about that Siren so I'll be a bit. Feel free to go get out of that flight gear and grab a shower while you wait on me. Hopefully shouldn't be overly long." David said.
"Arigatou Dave-san. I'll meet you in front of the building then." She replied.
As the two parted ways, Zuikaku then felt a smile creep across her lips once more.
"I've never felt this way before…..but I hope that….maybe this will be the start of something good…." Zuikaku thought to herself.
Just as she was about to enter the Ops building she noticed a blonde haired girl with twin tails and a cowboy hat standing outside the building and looking right at her.
"Hey Crane girl" the blonde said to her.
Zuikaku stopped and raised an eyebrow.
"Come here. I wanna talk to you." Hornet said gesturing her over.
Zuikaku approached cautiously and once they were close enough to talk, Hornet spoke again.
"I'm not sure what kind of relationship you have with Dave, but I want to make somethin' real clear: I'm in love with him." Hornet stated flatly.
Zuikaku felt her cheeks get red.
"N-Nani!?" she replied in her native tongue.
"You heard me. I love him. He may not have answered my feelings yet, but I intend to make them known. Right now though, you seem to have his attention, and I want to know what kind of relationship you have with him." Hornet asked again.
Zuikaku thought a moment before replying.
She recalled all that they had been through together, and felt slightly jealous that another girl had feelings for him.
But she had her pride as a warrior, and she wouldn't back down.
"I feel the same way about him. He saved my life, and he's willing to try to save my sister's as well for my sake. I don't know what kind of man does that, but it's why I feel that way about him." Zuikaku replied.
Hornet lowered the brim of her hat and scoffed.
"Well don't think I'm backing down just because you said that. I've known Dave way longer than you have, and I sure as hell ain't gonna let you take him from me without a fight!" Hornet said through clenched teeth.
Zuikaku was taken aback at how forward this girl was.
She then spoke again, "He's had dreams about you ya know….dreams of flying over your ship in his plane…..."
Zuikaku's eyes went wide at her statement.
"W-What did you say!?" she said recalling her own dreams.
Hornet frowned.
"Forget it. Just let me make one thing clear: If David gets hurt because of you on this op…..just know I won't forgive you….." Hornet said before walking off.
Zuikaku was still wide eyed, not from Hornet's threat, but from the revelation that David could have had similar dreams to her own.
She shook her head before heading inside to remove her flight gear and shower.
She undressed and let down her ponytail and turned the knob to start the waterflow.
As she stepped in and let the hot water run down her she contemplated what she had just learned and how she should proceed.
"Dave-san….what does this all mean?" she thought.
Later that day, Outlaw Ops Building.
David had finally finished his debrief with his intel officer and gotten a quick shower of his own.
He rubbed his eyes and continued to contemplate on what the operation would bring as well as his now realized feelings for Zuikaku.
He thought hard about how to talk to her about them, but also knew that maybe now wouldn't be the best time due to the operation.
"We've both gotta stay focused on the task at hand here…..but once this is over, I've gotta come clean. That, and I've got to finally tell her about the dreams…." David thought to himself as he exited the Ops building.
Once he was outside, he found Zuikaku waiting for him near a bench speaking with two destroyers that he recognized as Laffey and Javelin, and he once again was reminded of how beautiful she was.
The sun was nearing sunset casting rays of its fading light on her face which also made her brown hair shimmer.
David was fully aware of how fierce a fighter she was, but it was times like these that he was reminded of how serene and kind she could be as she smiled and easily answered the pair's questions.
As David neared, he heard Javelin asking, "So Leftenant Parsons really carried you all of the way up that peak!?"
Zuikaku smiled with a slight blush and replied, "Yes, I was losing strength rapidly and I'd already lost my footing once. I tried to stand myself, but before I could say anything, he just lifted me onto his back, and carried me the rest of the way. He just kept telling me that we'd make it, and that we'd get off that island somehow….."
These last words Zuikaku spoke with a smile growing larger as she recalled those memories.
"Sounds like you like him." Laffey stated flatly as she stifled a yawn.
"EHHHH!?" Zuikaku exclaimed now getting red.
"Laffey! That was rude!" Javelin chided the Eagle Union destroyer.
"Just stating the facts…" Laffey said half asleep.
David finally approached and upon noticing him the trio of girls gave mixed greetings.
"Ah! Leftenant Parsons! We were just talking about you!" Javelin exclaimed.
"Hey Dave…" Laffey said sleepily.
"D-Dave-san! Ah-How did the debrief go?" Zuikaku said stumbling over her words and blushing.
David blushed slightly as well and replied , "It went well thanks! And good to see you both Javelin, Laffey." He said greeting the two destroyers.
"We've been keeping Zuikaku company while you were in debrief, so I guess we'll be going now. Have a good day and we'll see you tomorrow!" Javelin said.
"We're part of the strike group, so we'll make sure you both get out alright." Laffey said as she walked off with Javelin.
Turning back to Zuikaku, David noticed Zuikaku still slightly flustered.
"I guess they pumped you for all the info on our great escape huh?" David asked jokingly.
Zuikaku smiled and laughed lightly.
"Hai! I told them all about it and everything you did for me. They were really impressed!" she replied.
David smiled in return and said, "Well I've said it before, I just did what I felt was right at the time. And I'm glad were both able to sit here and talk like this…" David said slightly trailing off.
"M-Me too…." Zuikaku said whilst looking into David's eyes.
Both searched each other for a sign that the other felt the same way they did about each other, and both began to feel something awaken that had been planted even before they had laid eyes on each other.
"Z?" David asked.
"Hai, David-san?" Zuikaku asked.
"After…..after this op is over and we have your sister safe and sound….would you mind sitting down and talking some more? I've got a lot of things I've wanted to ask you since I met you but never knew how to. Is that overstepping boundaries?" David asked.
"I-I'd really like that. I've actually got some things I'd like to talk with you about as well Dave. I have for a while as well, but I want us to focus on this mission first. My sister's life is on the line and I'll feel better once she's safe." Zuikaku responded.
David nodded knowingly in agreeance and was just about to speak again when he heard his friends approaching.
"Heya hero! Heard you bagged another today!" Caveman said as he approached with Gooney, Chicago and Brooklyn in tow.
David smiled and replied, "Yeah but I had help!" he said gesturing to Zuikaku.
"Sounds like we may have a new WSO joining the squadron then!" Gooney said in response.
"It sounded like quite an experience I'm sure, but I'd still like to know how the Siren got through our picket line!" Brooklyn said, ever the diligent one.
"Calm down Brooklyn, I'd say our flyboys handled it just fine….or should I say flyboy and flygirl!" Chicago joked referring to both David and Zuikaku.
"Well we were all headed to the chow hall for dinner. Thought you two might wanna come with?" Caveman asked.
"Sure! I know I'm definitely hungry! How bout you Z?" David asked Zuikaku.
"Hai! I could certainly eat!" she responded.
As the group all made their way through the chow line David noticed Zuikaku getting several unpleasant stares, but most were just due to them being leery of a Sakura Empire Kansen walking around freely.
Zuikaku admitted as she sat down that she still felt a bit uncomfortable, but she noticed no hostility from any of the pilots or the other two Kansen that she was in the company of.
She had to admit, this was unlike the Sakura Empire where most humans and Kansen lived separately, but here both lived together and seemed like real family.
"I know it's not what you're used to Z, but I promise its pretty good." David said whilst nudging Zuikaku.
The Crane girl looked down at her food which consisted of what the pilots called "sliders" which was just a fancy name for an Eagle Union cheeseburger.
She cautiously took a bite, and when the flavors hit her tongue, she was ecstatic.
"Oishi!" Zuikaku proclaimed.
"This is amazing! I've never had anything like this!" she said looking like she had stars in her eyes.
The group all laughed at the girl's reaction before all agreeing with her sentiment.
The rest of the group's dinner was spent chatting about various topics from the kinds of things Zuikaku had seen in the Sakura Empire, how the Eagle Union differed, and even all of the different kinds of food the Americans thought Zuikaku should try during her stay.
Eventually they all parted ways with David walking with Zuikaku back to her dorm that she'd been assigned after her release from the base hospital.
"I have to admit, its nice that all in your squadron and the kansen on base get along so well. It's almost like you're one big family." Zuikaku remarked.
"That's exactly how we like to think of it." David smiled as he replied.
"Some in the higher command levels see you girls as only warships, or tools of war, but to us, you girls are no different than we are." He added.
"Your sentiment is very touching Dave-san. I too have seen that kind of treatment first hand, and it hurts if I'm perfectly honest…." Zuikaku replied.
"Well believe me when I say that we all, and by all I mean human and Kansen here, just want to see this war over and go home to our families. And to do that, we've gotta take care of each other and be good to one another. That's what I've always thought at least." David said.
"Dave-san,…..maybe you should be a Shikikan some day." Zuikaku said.
"A what?" David asked.
"Shikikan." Zuikaku repeated.
"It's Japanese for Commander in your tongue I believe." Zuikaku explained.
David chuckled in response.
"I don't know about that one Z! I'm not so sure I'm command level material. Flying is what I do best, so that's what I stick to!" he said.
Both laughed, but Zuikaku persisted.
"I think you'd do well Dave. You genuinely care about your comrades, and even your adversaries. There's much honor in that, and I think that people would follow you because of that….I know I would…." Zuikaku remarked before realizing what she had said.
"E-EHH!? C-CHIGAO-YO! I SAID TOO MUCH DAVE-SAN, JUST FORGET I SAID ANYTHING!" Zuikaku said whilst flailing her arms in embarrassment.
David was flabbergasted a moment, but then had to laugh in spite of the Crane girl's antics.
He had to admit, she was damn cute when she was embarrassed, and it only reinforced the way he secretly felt about her.
"Well, thanks Z. That really does mean a lot coming from you. Hey, tell you what, if I ever become a commander, I want you to be my flagship!" David said smiling.
"A-Arigato Dave, it's a deal!" she replied albeit blushing.
Finally the two reached Zuikaku's quarters and they bid each other goodnight with David assuring that the mission would be a success.
Zuikaku, for her part, felt her heart flutter as she watched David leave.
"Dave-san….I'll tell you everything once Shoukaku-nee is safe….." Zuikaku said to herself as a smile crept across her face.
As David walked back to his own quarters, he was surprised to find Hornet standing outside.
"Hey Hornet, what's up?" David asked.
Hornet for her part, simply walked over to David and wrapped her arms around him.
"H-Hornet!?" David said surprised.
"I'm tired of pretending that I don't feel a certain way Dave. I need to tell you….I need to tell you now because I feel like if I don't…. you'll go away again…." The blonde twin tailed girl said through a sob.
David's heart sank.
He had been suspicious of Hornet's feelings since his return from the island, and this only confirmed them.
He admitted when they first met that he had a slight crush on the girl, but he later realized it was only due to her cheerful personality and showy attire that he had been attracted to her.
It wasn't real love…..not like what he recently realized he was feeling for Zuikaku.
"Hornet, what do mean?" David finally asked.
"I….." Hornet said before taking a deep breath.
"You see Dave, I'm not as troublesome as my older sisters. The girl you see before you will say she likes something if she likes it. So…I'll say this directly: Dave, I'm in love with you!" Hornet exclaimed before reaching up to David's face and planting a kiss on his lips.
David's eyes went wide in surprise at Hornet's sudden confession and realized that he was now between a rock and a hard place.
He had feelings for Zuikaku who was a former enemy of the Eagle Union and who had helped lead to Hornet's sinking in her past life as a warship.
Now he knew without a doubt of Hornet's affections that he couldn't return, but he didn't want to hurt one of his closest friends.
As Hornet released her grip, she placed a finger to David's lips.
"I don't want an answer right this second Dave. You have an op to worry about tomorrow and I want you focused so you don't get hurt. But when it's over…..I want my answer dammit….." she said before disappearing into the night.
Once David entered his quarters, he slumped down behind his door and rubbed his head.
"Fuck my life….." he thought out loud.
And the triangle has been formed! I was planning on waiting a bit longer to update but I've been enjoying this so much that I decided to go ahead and post another chapter. Coming up next will be the rescue operation for Shoukaku and what will become of David and Zuikaku's relationship. That and the answer to all their dreams will finally be unveiled so stay tuned!
InfantryGrunt94