Authors note: Alright, now, now we begin to hit the fun. I also apologize for how long this took, moving is a huge time consumer and really tiring. But we are here now and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
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Aggy was not sure what was more concerning to her, waking up in a room she still did not recognize as her own that was far too fancy for her liking, or waking up to see a woman in a maid outfit staring down at her with the coldest expression she had ever seen.
"You awaken," The maid said as she looked down at her, expression unshifting and neutral, yet strangely conflicted.
"Yes," Aggy said as she stared at the maid for a moment before it clicked which one she was. "You are, Sheffield, correct?"
"That is correct. I am Light Cruiser of the Town class, Sheffield, of the Royal Navy Maid Corps."
"Okay. Why are you in my room and watching me like a stalker?"
"I have orders," Sheffield said as she took a step back from the bed, finally allowing Aggy to sit up.
"And they are?"
"I have orders to both protect you and watch over and assist you. Your presence is also requested at the R&D building where Lady Hood is awaiting your arrival."
"Great," Aggy grumbled as she kicked her legs out and threw the covers off of her, revealing to Sheffield that she was wearing quite literally nothing. "I'll get dressed, just give me a minute."
"Of course," Sheffield said as she walked around the bed and stood at the opposite side. "Do you require assistance?"
"I don't have tits the size of watermelons, I can dress myself perfectly fine," Aggy replied with a grumble as she pulled some pants and a shirt out of the wardrobe, as well as socks and began getting dressed.
"Understood. However should you not have undergarments upon your person?" Sheffield asked simply as she watched Aggy get dressed.
"Nope. I'm not wearing a skirt, so I don't care," Aggy state as she threw a sleeveless tank top on. "Not like I need anything for my nonexistent chest either. I can thank my m- . . . . my. . . . . Warspite, I can thank her for that,"
"I see. If that is your opinion then I have no right to state otherwise for a number of reasons," Sheffield stated simply as she noticed Aggy's shoes by the door and walked over, picking them up and bringing them over to the bed. "However I would suggest you not be so derisive of anyone else's bust size, as many Shipgirls are quiet proud of their sizes."
"I'm not going to harass people over it unless they get in my face about it, I'm not a bitch," Aggy said as she took the shows from Sheffield and then sat down, slipping them on and going at the laces. "Um, thanks, for my shoes."
"Of course. Shall we head out then? Do you wish to head to the R&D building, or perhaps get breakfast first?"
"I'll, probably get a hashbrown or something somewhere," Aggy said as she finished trying her laces and stood up. "I don't feel too hungry."
"Understood; then let us depart," Sheffield stated as she went to the door and opened it for the both of them.
As they moved through the building to leave however they came across a Shipgirl by the doorway who saw them approach. Her hair was purple, and she was actually a bit shorter than Aggy was, looking sort of like a school girl in height and dress. Though as soon as her expression shifted onto Aggy, she knew this was going to be a hassle.
"You are . . . the one who was rude to her Majesty, Aggy, was it?"
Aggy felt a small bit of relief from being called her name, though it did not last long. "That is my name yes. You are?"
"This is HMS Javelin, J-class Destroyer," Sheffield provided, causing Javelin to suddenly turn a bit meek and embarrassed.
"Yes, sorry, I forgot myself and should have properly introduced myself, thank you Miss Sheffield," Javelin said apologetically, more to Sheffield, before turning her gaze back to Aggy. "May I ask you a question perhaps?"
"You're going to whether I saw yes or not," Aggy responded with a noncommittal shrug. "Doesn't mean I will answer."
Javelin looked shocked by Aggy's words, but composed herself a bit before speaking. "Why, why have you been mean to her majesty?"
"Pardon?" Aggy asked, her tone becoming rough in that same instant.
"You, I heard that you both insulted and swore at her majesty for merely making suggestion to help and better all of the Royal Navy," Javelin continued. "I would like to know why you would be so mean to her when she is doing such a thing for all of us?
Sheffield watched as Aggy tensed, clearly becoming quite angry, and then slowly answered, though her tone was clearly indignant and on the verge of rage. "She wasn't making choices for all of you, she was trying to make choices about my life, without even considering my input on the matter, so I have more than enough reason to hate that tiny bitch!"
"Wha- how can you say such hurtful thing about her Majesty like that?" Javelin asked in shock. "And, why be so rude when I merely was asking a question?"
"Well maybe you should learn the whole story before you go and challenge someone about events you know nothing about!" Aggy said back before she turned away from Javelin and walked right to, and through, the main door out of the dormitories.
It was almost a full five minutes of walking later when Sheffield, who had been following Aggy nearly at her heels spoke up. "It is often rude to simply walk off when speaking to someone, especially when they requested to speak to you."
"It's also rude to make assumptions when you don't know anything about something and hear it second or third hand!" Aggy snapped as she stopped, looked around and then walked over to a bench that was nearby and nearly threw herself down onto it, hands sovereign her face. "Dammit what the fuck is wrong with me? All she wanted was some information, to know the whole situation, yet I . . . dammit!"
"You did not intend to answer as you did I take it?" Sheffield asked simply.
"No I, I did, but I didn't mean to be so, angry," Aggy said with a huff.
"Perhaps you are merely grouchy from hunger?" Sheffield suggested as a way to expedite breakfast.
"Maybe," Aggy said as she got up and began walking again, Sheffield following behind her. "I've never been, great with most people, but it's like my emotions are all over the place since coming here."
"May I ask if you believe there is a reason?"
" . . . . Vestal, believes it may have something to do with, with my pendant," Aggy said uncertainly as a hand reached up and gently held it, finding the blue stone to be cool and calming to the touch. "She thinks being around Shipgirls may be the cause as well. I just don't know," Aggy said as she ended up walking up to a tree and leaning her head against it underneath its shade. "I just hope these stupid tests can stop it."
"Azur Lane has a large number of very intelligent people here, I am sure if there is something wrong, they will find a way to assist you," Sheffield said as she stood a meter or so away. After a few minutes of sudden silence however she let out a slight, imperceptible sigh, and took a small step forward. "Nothing can be discovered without going to the R&D facilities however. Do you still wish for breakfast first?"
Aggy let out a long sigh and pulled away from the tree, now looking a bit under the weather somehow. "Let's just go to the building, I'm not hungry anymore."
Sheffield said nothing as she followed as Aggy began heading to the R&D buildings. It took a few minutes but they arrived at the building without issue. And as soon as they entered they found Hood awaiting their arrival inside.
"Ah, you are here earlier than I had expected," Hood said as she stood up from the chair she had been sitting in the buildings small, and rather pointless foyer. "Good morning, to both of you."
"Good morning to you, Lady Hood," Sheffield said with a respectful bow.
Whereas Aggy just murmured in reply as she ended up looking past Hood to the hall that led to where the tests the day before had occurred. She felt, odd. Like something was strange within the building. In fact, she was feeling downright anxious in a way that made her uncomfortable.
"Aggy. Is something wrong?" Hood questioned as she stepped closer.
"I . . . is, someone in the building?" Aggy asked, still not looking at Hood as she spoke.
Hood blinked a couple times before slightly muffling a giggle with a hand. "Yes, there are many people in the building doing work, including the ones who will be helping you. Are you, meaning someone specific?"
"No, I just . . . ." Aggy sighed and looked to Hood. "Does the building feel, strange to you?"
"I cannot say it does. It seems the same as it has always been," Hood answered simply before taking a step closer and placing a hand upon Aggy's forehead. "Hmm, you do not feel warm. Did you have an ill sleep perhaps?"
"No, I slept fine I just . . . . . no, I'm sorry, maybe I'm just, nervous or something."
"Perhaps it is hunger from deciding you did not require breakfast?" Sheffield suggested, making Hood shake her head.
"You did not have breakfast?"
"I met a Shipgirl who . . . her question made me no longer hungry."
Hood glanced at Sheffield, who merely made an expression and shifted her head slightly. It was all she needed to see to know what Sheffield wanted to say, so Hood merely nodded. "I see, well, once we are done here, would you like to accompany for a late lunch perhaps?"
"I, I guess," Aggy said before shaking her head. "Let's just get this over with."
Hood said nothing as she and Sheffield followed a bare step behind Aggy as they moved to, and then into, the R&D building. The path was the same as the previous day and took only a few minutes to reach. When they entered however Vestal was nowhere to be found, but a man in a lab coat, and a short woman, likely a Shipgirl, was standing to the side looking like an odd cross between a maid an a nurse.
"Ah, you are here," the man said with a smile. "A little bit earlier than I expected honestly, but that isn't Bad," he paused as he walked over to the doorway and stopped before Aggy, Hood and Sheffield before offering a hand to Aggy. "Doctor Arthur Tomes, I'm a conceptual Biomechanical biologist who specializes in Shipgirl Health and handling. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Um, you specialize in, Shipgirls?" Aggy said nervously as she shook the man's hand.
"That is correct. I am one of the few that is registered to administer drugs, medical work and other such things to help heal their bodies of ailments, often while their ships are damaged. Many human medicines do not work the same way for Shipgirls after all. Though I cannot say I am a true expert as I merely learned under the best, sadly she is not here as business has bought her elsewhere. Do not worry though; I have been informed of the full spectrum of the situation. Nothing that occurs within this room shall be heard by anyone outside it aside from Vestal herself, and the commander. This I swear to you.
As Arthur took a step back the maid nurse took a step forward and curtsied. "Greetings Miss Aggy, I am the J-class destroyer Jervis. I will be acting as Sir Tome's assistant while Miss Vestal is away. I am a mere nurse, but I hope you will not mind my presence."
"Uh, no, it's fine. You worked with Vestal then I take it?" Aggy asked as Jervis stepped up beside and took Aggy's hand, leading her in toward the machines in the rooms center that she had used the day before.
"That is correct, though my knowledge is but a mere fraction of Miss Vestals," Jervis response as they stopped by the machine. She then looked to Arthur. "What shall we start with sir?"
"Well, Vestal wanted us to do the same tests that she did before to compare the results from yesterday, then to merge the two chunks of . . .stone, yes I'll use stone as the term here," He said with a nod. "Then once they are merged, we shall do all of the tests again to compare the differences once more."
Aggy visibly slumped forward. The tests from the day before had not been short in the least, and she was going to need to do them twice? "Uh, can't we just. Fuse the shards and then do the tests?" she asked hopefully. "Otherwise we'll be here all day."
"You will not be here all day," Arthur promised with a friendly smile. "Vestal left a precise order in which tests to do first and in what order to make things as quick as possible. At worst you will be here to just before noon I would wager."
Aggy suddenly felt as if she now knew why she had felt apprehensive about entering the building, and when she looked over to see that Hood and Sheffield had taken seats on chairs to the side and had clearly made themselves comfortable, she knew she was going to die of boredom. "F-fine, let get this over with."
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"The operation is a go. We will be striking in five minutes."
"Understood."
"Additionally, you have a special job to undertake in the midst of the chaos."
"And, that is?"
"Capture the one you had found and told us of. They are of interest to our operations, and the future of all of us, and Azur Lane does not have the proper ability to utilize her or what she could mean for our kind."
"Understand. Is there, anything else?"
"Yes. Be sure she is whole when you capture her, though injury is fine. And make sure there are no witnesses if possible."
". . . Understood."
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"Alright, that completes the starting tests," Arthur said, making Aggy loudly groan in exasperation.
"I will die from boredom at this rate, what are half of these tests even for anyway?" she asked as she rubbed her throat a bit, finding the tests that made her speak, hum, or sing into microphone to be the worst ones.
"Most of these are for confirming a Wisdom cubes status in various ways," Arthur began with a nod as he glanced over at Hood. "Lady Hood, may I ask for your cooperation now?"
"Of course," Hood said as she got up from her seat and walked over, taking a small jewel case out of somewhere and placing it on the table in front of Aggy. "I know it feels odd to hear this for you, but it is time I return this to you."
"Uh, are you sure?" Aggy asked as she looked at the case, knowing what was in it. "M-m, Warspite, gave it to you, right?"
"She gave it to me for safekeeping and as a sign of trust to keep the secret of your birth. This shard is rightfully yours, and even without the commander's request, I believe it is only proper it be now returned to you," Hood explained softly.
Aggy nodded and gently touched the case, sliding it closer to her and then opening it to indeed find a blue gemstone shard inside of it. She then looked to Arthur. "So, I should just touch it to my pendant then, right?"
"According to Vestals notes, yes, that should suffice and be safest," Arthur said as he glanced at Jervis, who then appeared to take out a notepad.
Aggy sighed and fished the pendant out from inside her shirt and held it in one hand, while she then took the shard in the other. It felt cool to the touch, comforting in a way. Though that feeling disappeared as soon as she touched it to the gem in her pendant, the shard sinking into it as if the gem was mere water.
"Excellent, it is just as Vestal wrote," Arthur said as he stepped up to Aggy and knelt down, looking at the pendant in her hand. "Hmmm, it does bear some resemble to a wisdom cube in this state, but it also seems far too small. Tell me, does anything feel different to you now that another shard has rejoined it?"
"Um, no, nothing feels different really," Aggy answered.
Arthur seemed confused by this but simply smiled. "I see. Vestals notes say that there are only two shards remaining now, correct?"
"That, is what my m, m, Warspite, what Warspite told me."
Arthur and Jervis gave Aggy odd looks but said nothing for a moment before Arthur spoke up again. "Well, that is fine, not feeling any different could be a good sign. Now we need to do the test again however to note any changes, let us-"
Arthur was cut off as a loud knock came from the door to the room.
"Ah, Jervis, would you-"
"No, I shall get the door," Sheffield suddenly spoke up as she roe from her seat and silently strode over. She only opened it a crack and spoke quietly, but after a moment she opened the door and the Maid Belfast entered the room.
Followed by Queen Elizabeth.
"I apologize for my sudden interruption, but I would like to speak to your patient, sir," she said in a commanding, yet also respectful tone as she looked at Arthur. She then glanced at Jervis and Hood. "And, I would request that I be allowed to speak to her alone."
Everyone in the room was silent. Arthur seemed the most surprised, while Sheffield and Jervis seemed merely neutral. Hood spoke up a moment later. "Your majesty, such a thing, may not be the best to do at this time."
"I am aware of that Hood, but it must be done. And I can think of no better time than now," Queen Elizabeth said as she took a few steps into the room and looked at Hood. "Please, my friend. I must attempt to mend what I have broken.
Hood let out a sigh. "Very well your Majesty. Aggy, we leave you with her Majesty for a time. Please, both of you, deign to not raise your voices," Hood stated in a neutrally equal tone as she stood up and headed toward the door.
"Ah, wait; do I have no say in this?" Aggy asked in worry as Arthur and Jervis followed suit.
No one said anything as they all left the room and closed the door, leaving Aggy alone in the room with Queen Elizabeth. For a few moments they both were completely silent. Then Queen Elizabeth merely let out a small sigh and walked over to the table that Hood and Sheffield had been sitting at before and took a seat, gesturing to the chair across from her silently.
Aggy felt tense as she walked over, but instead of sitting her merely stood beside the table and chair, looking at Queen Elizabeth. "What do you want? Are you here to try to convince me to follow your commands or something?"
"No, nothing of the sort," Queen Elizabeth said in a tone that was stoic, yet also awkward as she shifted in her seat "Will you, sit?"
Aggy stared for a moment before very slowly sitting down. "What, do you, want?" she then said coldly, making her dislike of Queen Elizabeth's presence very obvious.
"I, Queen Elizabeth of the Royal Navy, would like to apologize for how I have acted in regards to your person in these past days. It was, rash of me to act in such a way without considering the circumstance of yourself and Warspite."
" . . . . Let me guess, the Commander ordered you to apologize and stop harassing me?" Aggy said after a few seconds of silence."
"My servant has asked nothing of the sort of me," Queen Elizabeth said as she looked at the table between them. "I, considered our meetings, the words said between us, as well as Warspite and my Servants words and realized that, perhaps, I was acting to rashly considering your, situation."
"That's laying it on rather thin," Aggy said with a scowl as she stood up, placing her hands on the table as she did. "You made demands and decisions about my future without even asking or thinking of my opinions or what I am. And if you think a simple apology will change what you said, or change my opinion of you, you are very wrong."
"I am not so naïve to believe that my prior actions would be forgiven so simply," Queen Elizabeth said simply as she took out a jewel case much the same as Hood had, and placed it upon the table. "I do not believe that my intentions are wrong either, merely the speed at which I acted, however, I know I am not wrong in returning this to you."
Aggy looked at the jewel box, knowing what was within, and moved her glare to Queen Elizabeth. "Why?"
"It is yours so-"
"No," Aggy interrupted as she sat back down. "Why are you doing this, all of this, anyway? Why try to control my life, and why try to apologize now!?"
Queen Elizabeth was silent for a moment, seemingly content on looking at her one hand that held a couple rings upon it before finally speaking. "I am the Queen of the Royal Navy; I hold all power in regards to it, so much that even the royal's True queen gave me command that only she or Azur Lane as a whole may overrule my words. I must always think of the Royal navy as a whole, as well as our lands and their protection from the Sirens. I must be sure that all in the royal navy are able to carry out their duties, but . . . I was not able to. When Warspite had you she was indisposed and could not deploy on all missions as was her duty. The entire situation around you complicated many things for a time, and, perhaps I believed that it had to be for something, it had to result in some boon or improvement for the Royal Navy as a whole. Especially considering what you, as her child, meant for all Shipgirls. I needed to make sure-"
Queen Elizabeth was cut off as the wailing of a Raid siren suddenly began echoing out of the buildings speakers.
"Wha- are we under attack?" Aggy exclaimed in shock as she looked around.
"Perhaps, take the case and get to-" Queen Elizabeth began to say until she suddenly tensed and took out her scepter.
Just in time for an air vent in the ceiling to suddenly break apart and clatter to the ground behind Aggy.
"Wha-"
"Get back!" Queen Elizabeth yelled as she dashed around the table faster than her small form looked capable of doing and moved beside Aggy just in time to bring her scepter up to block the edge of a huge blade being held by a person in a brown cloak. "You, who are you?"
The cloaked person said nothing but tilted their head, the hood shifting to look at Aggy, who was now on the floor with the jewel case beside her.
"Answer me!" Queen Elizabeth demanded as she pushed against her adversaries blade, pushing it back with her scepter and forcing them back a few feet.
"I have nothing to say to those who force our hand and who cause weakness to all of us. Surrender." The cloaked person, their voice marking them as a girl, said coldly.
"A Queen Can no easier surrender, than a fish cannot keep swimming," Queen Elizabeth stated regally as she spun her scepter in a hand and then slammed it into the floor beside her, making the very floor shake as it cracked. "Your accent, you are from the Sakura Empire."
The cloaked woman suddenly tensed and leapt at Queen Elizabeth, her massive slab of a sword swinging faster than Aggy could watch. The blade clashed and sparked against Queen Elizabeth's scepter. Once, twice, thrice. Aggy could barely see the sparked as she tried to crawl backwards as one hand snatched up the Jewel box.
Queen Elizabeth, had mentioned the Sakura Empire hadn't she? The girl, she did have an accent to. "You, were you the ones who attacked Helena?" Aggy found herself asking as she scooted back up against the wall.
". . . No." the girl said as she ducked under a swung of Queen Elizabeth's scepter and tried to swing her blade at her side, only for queen Elizabeth to simply hop over the blade.
"Aggy, leave, get Hood. I shall hold her here," Queen Elizabeth stated as she landed on the ground and took one hand off her scepter, grabbing a fallen over chair with her now free hand and jumping backwards, while throwing the chair at the cloaked girl in a vert sudden act that seemed to not suit her at all.
"What?"
"I said leave, escape, get out to safety!" Queen Elizabeth said as a loud crash made the whole building shake, making her, and her foe, stumble slightly. "The base is under attack, so get to safety while you can. I may not like you, or what you have done to my dear friend, but I will also not let her lose you. So git!" Queen Elizabeth declared her accent shifting slightly as she lunged forward and swung at her foe.
Her foe dodged to the side with a huff and knocked the scepter aside, but as she tried to bring her swarm back down Queen Elizabeth dodged to the side, the blade crashing into the floor. "Move damn you!"
"Ah, r-right!" Aggy said as she scampered up to her feet and turned to run, only for a knife to fly past her and lodge itself in the door and frame a few feet from her.
"No, you are not leaving, alone"
Aggy turned around to see Queen Elizabeth strike at her foe, only for the blade to block her scepter before then striking back, visible marks showing on the scepters shaft.
"What, you, you are after her then!?" Queen Elizabeth exclaimed in shock as she pressed against the blade and pushed it back before then moving so she was standing between her foe and Aggy.
The cloaked girl stood there for a second before a thin, pale hand lifted up and readjusted her cloak to hide her face. "I've said too much."
"You are only beginning to speak, fool," Queen Elizabeth declared as she held her scepter aloft, pointed at her foe. "Speak or I shall force the words from you. Why are you after her?"
"You know why," the cloaked girl said as the building shook alongside the sound of an explosion. And then she rushed forward and swung her sword at Queen Elizabeth again. Only this time, she did not swing the blade at her, but the wide side.
Not seeing this until a moment to late queen Elizabeth blocked the blow, only for the different weight of the strike to screw with her balance and make her take an unsteady step backwards. And in that instant the cloaked girl spun around like a top and brought the sword back around, this time by the edge, and crashed it into her, sending her flying across the room in to one of the machines.
After a few seconds she then tuned to look at Aggy. "Now, come along."
"Fuck you!" Aggy yelled as she ran at the door and shoulder checked it open, falling through into the hall way and quickly scrambling to her feet and down the hall. "AH!" only to scream as pain blossomed from her leg, causing her to fall to the ground.
Hard.
So hard in fact that she let go of the jewelry box, the blue shard bouncing out and hitting the wall, only to then slide across the floor and collide with her pendant, the two fusing as the other shard had done as well.
"Ah, why does it, hurt?" Aggy said as she curled up a bit and looked down at her leg, finding a sharp, almost ninja looking knife in her lower leg, gloom coming out from its edges.
"Do not worry. You will not die. I just can't have you running," the cloaked girl said as she walked through the doorway and into the hallway, looking at Aggy as she held her massive blade over one shoulder. She stopped over Aggy, looking down and sighing before speaking. "I need you alive to complete my mission, and it's the best for everyone. Just go to sleep."
"Why you-" Aggy tried to start saying, right before the girl suddenly dropped down to a knee beside her and swung her arm at her.
And everything went black.