More things, More words. Such writing. Such detail.
Its a slow burn. Some sex in this one. But its mostly about story here rather than just "I AM THE COMMANDER AND I LAY PIPE HARDER THAN A PLUMBER IN THESE GIRLS!"
Enjoy it. With Love ~Dresner
The couple detoured to Atago's apartment to grab some things for the hot springs. Towels, some refreshments, and a collection of snacks. The beautiful dog girl also secured things she put into a carry bag. From what Karl could see, they weren't anything lewd. But the expression on Atago's face made me question his judgment.
Takao arrived moments after they arrived and took time stretching in the common area. Karl assumed it was due to a hard training day, something he needed to do after days of not working out. The actual older sister, and namesake, of the Takao-class heavy cruiser, is the reverse of his loving bodyguard, Atago. Physical beauty is nearly the same, albeit with a slightly smaller bust, but she possesses a more brutal expression and is disciplined. Her combat abilities were almost mythical from the reports she was mentioned in.
He stepped into the room, his bare feet barely making a sound against the wood floor of the apartment.
"I feel your presence, Commander," Takao replies as she enters a butterfly stretch.
"At least you didn't hear me," Karl says, patting his own back for his silent steps. "Just get back from training?"
"I did," Takao says shortly.
"I figured," Karl said frankly. "If things weren't so 'Eventful,' I would have tried for a new personal record for legs today or went to the range myself."
"Even on missions, I find a way to stay strong," Takao replies, giving what Karl assumed to be an indirect jab.
"I'm aware," Karl says shortly. "I admire that."
Takao says nothing and changes her stretches, ignoring him. Karl surges and exits, "I'll be outside, Atago." He yells to Atago.
"OK! Don't run away!" Atago replies, giggling.
Takao rolls her eyes and listens intently for the Commander to leave the building. Once she felt his aura exit her area, Takao makes her way to Atago. Opening the sliding door, she was greeted by her sister adjusting herself and putting away her katana.
"Atago," Takao says gently, "What is the Commander doing here with you?"
"Oh hey, sis!" Atago chirps. "I'm taking him to the hot springs before he goes for a meeting."
"I see…" Takao replies, her expression hard as her mountain namesake. "Why are you doing that? It is late. You must rest for tomorrow's duty."
"The Commander has been through a lot, and I want to help him with his stress," Atago says innocently. "So I'm leaving my sword here; Onee-san must be in full view for him tonight."
"I know you are his bodyguard. Why are you making such a reckless decision?" Takao scolds Atago.
"It's just the hot springs!" Atago protests. "I can't make him carry it, and I don't want it lying around to get rusty."
"THE ASHES HAVE ATTACKED THE PORT TWO TIMES!" Takao interjects. "To abandon your weapon for fear of getting weathered is ridiculous!"
"Then I'll scream, and you'll come to save me," Atago replies nonchalantly. "Or the Commander will save me."
"And how do you know I'll do that, or he can even fight off a META ship?" Takao says pointedly.
"Because he's survived both attacks, and I know you'll protect me like I protect you," Atago replies confidently.
"How can you trust him?" Takao asks her quietly. "He's been with Akagi and, maybe, Taihou. Can't you smell them on him?"
"Because I do," Atago says boldly. "I know he's been with Akagi; I can smell her. Taihou is OK, but deep down in my heart, he only wants me. The look in his eyes says it all, dear sister."
"Your heart is going to hurt you one day," Takao replies, shaking her head. "He doesn't look like the other Commanders. The energy is completely off. Those reckless displays bluntly show why we should only look at him as a Commander and nothing more."
"What is your problem?" Atago snaps. "You haven't tried to speak to him since we returned from commission! How can you know any of this isn't just you being judgmental?"
"How am I being judgmental?" Takao counters. "I am just saying what I see. A naval officer doesn't wear splotchy clothes and go on reckless missions against the enemy!"
"He saved Lady Nagato and the Great Veteran!" Atago interjected. "You, of all people, the bravest shipgirl in the Empire, questioning that? Who are you?!"
"I don't trust him," Takao tells her. "I just have a bad feeling about him, and a warrior must trust their initiation. Any man who lays with more than one woman should not be trusted."
"I don't care who he slept with," Atago says firmly. "I've seen who he is beyond that weird uniform. You would like him if you gave him a chance."
"I can't give someone a chance who slept with a traitor," Takao replies quietly yet firmly. "Akagi's honor will only be restored once she's done enough for the Empire. I don't know why someone like the Commander would lay with such people! It makes me wonder about his honor as well."
"I know we don't trust Akagi." Atago relents. "But Amagi's return has changed her, and her loyalty to the Commander for saving our leader's lives says something about him. You should put those petty ideas aside."
Disappointed, Takao sighed and crossed her arms, "What are we without honor to the sacred Sakura and our ideals?"
"We are still loyal to those," Atago replies. "We must also welcome the new world championed by Lady Nagato and Lady Misaka. Musashi and Yamato are leading us with their ideas in mind. We must accept that what happened during the war was during a dark time. I'm not saying we forget what Akagi did, but we can try to forgive her."
Takao wanted to strike back with vigor, but a loud yawn escaped her. Atago smiles, forgiving her sister in an instant. She hugs Takao, "Are you cranky?"
"I'm worried!" Takao yawns again. "I'm worried about my sister and her- *Yawns*."
"I know you don't trust Akagi," Atago says sweetly. "But please try to trust the Commander, for me at least. Let me get you some coconut water to help you recover before bed."
"My spirit will-"Takao says, only to yawn louder.
"Please, my uptight sister," Atago teases Takao, "Go lay down, and I'll bring you something to drink."
Takao reluctantly agreed and exited Atago's room. Atago went to the kitchen while she walked to her room. But her exceptional hearing overheard the Commander speaking on a cell phone. The voice on the other line sounded like another woman, and Takao couldn't allow this to happen at their own home. "He better not be setting up another date!" Takao growls as she strides forward but halts as she hears the Ashes emerge in the conversation.
"Drone attack happened today," Karl says bluntly. "Took the form of a shipgirl to get closer to me. Fucking ashes or whatever they are called are getting sophisticated with their attacks now."
"Hmmm, Skinwalker model then." Claudia replies, intrigued, "We found plans for a shapeshifting drone class for clandestine operations at a site in the South Atlantic. Seemed to be nothing but a concept at the time we found it."
"Interesting naming convention for it," Karl says, recalling the cryptozoological Skinwalker from Native American folklore.
"What was the Skinwalker asking from you?" Claudia says sharply.
"If I remembered it," Karl explained. "It took the form of an older Atago, called me My Hunter. That is the second META encounter using my title from Niflheim. What's the deal with that?"
"That I am not sure," Claudia says. "META ships use the same singularity technology we have to move into this world. Nothing here shows their involvement, but I do have a lead."
"A lead?" Karl inquires. "Spookhouse?"
"Exactly," Claudia confirms. "An agent, Code name 'Coyote 6', is in your area."
"I know they are here," Karl said coldly. "I roughed up an agent spying on me. Took his shit too, A laptop, some Semtex, and a Sub-gun."
"I figured you were going to find them." Claudia sighs. "Nothing has come up from the Spookhouse lead here in Juno. Looks like Coyote team is keeping quiet."
"I found them out, but I haven't found them per se." Karl laments. "I did leave them a note telling them I'd call them. Hence why I called you besides an update on the situation here."
"Has Z called you?" Claudia asks.
"No," Karl said bluntly. "I want to keep it that way.
"Odd Coyote team hasn't reported," Claudia remarks, the computer typing sounds echoing in the background. "You haven't done anything questionable since you assault that agent, correct?"
"Like I said," Karl replies, annoyed. "I have no idea where they are. Do you have a location? I promise to be good."
"Sarcasm is not needed." Claudia scolds him. "I have no location. But I do have something."
"Send it," Karl said, the anxiety dripping off the short phrase.
"Skinwalker Drone is transmitting a signal," Claudia tells him. "You said you took a laptop? If you have the correct links and adapters, you can pull the location to which it is transmitting. That's assuming you haven't destroyed it."
"Hmmmm… I'm not sure where it might have gone." Karl replied, thinking about his office. "I don't recall any staff working in my office. I'll have to check it after I smooth things with one of the shipgirls."
"Did you break a girl's heart? Karl, you devil you." Claudia pokes in a demeaning childish voice.
"A KAN-SEN attacked me," Karl said in his best monotone. "Tried to rape me before a META shipgirl knocked her out. This same META girl tried to cut my throat after calling me 'The Black Hunter.' The KAN-SEN wants me to decide her fate."
"I feel regret in your voice," Claudia says to him. "Are you going to kill her?"
"No," Karl replies with a heavy heart. "She couldn't get me up to try, but the intent is there. I don't want to kill her. The girl doesn't know any better. But I don't want to give her a Dad talk either; the topic doesn't call for it."
"Do what you must," Claudia replies, making Karl roll his eyes. "After you meet with her, I'd recommend checking the drone for Coyote Team's location, if it has it. Maybe you might find your hunter's location?"
"You are so much help," Karl growls. "What's the status of my guys?"
"No change," Claudia tells him, relieving much of his anxiety. "Peacekeeping here is going well. Your boys of the 13th Grenadiers are enjoying light duty. Ideally, they'll be sent to a training center near Arkbird to keep their skills sharp... Some are trying to send letters to you. Would you like them sent to you?"
"Karl replies, smiling. "Please send the letters and give them my regards."
"I shall." Claudia says, "May the gods be with you."
"May they be with you too," Karl replied, hanging up. A heavy sigh escapes him, and he removes his hat to run his hands through his hair again. The anxiety returned as Karl began thinking of what he needed to do soon. While looking forward to relaxing with Atago at the hot springs and thinking positively about the conversation with Roon, he felt his mind gearing up for a fight with his comrades from Spookhouse. Internal conflicts were rare, but he had participated in at least two in the Order of St. Ababadon. It wasn't a foreign concept to him to have killed traitors or political advisories who served under the leviathan cross of the Order.
Weighting his options, The Commander leaned back to lie on the stairs while waiting for Atago. Takao leaned against the apartment doorway, looking at him momentarily before he caught her.
"Eavesdropping, eh?" Karl asked her as the sky cleared, revealing the stars above.
"Who was that?" Takao counters.
"My Commanding office and Ex-wife," Karl says reluctantly. "She's checking into the attacks for me. Is your hearing as good or better than Atago's?"
"My hearing is impeccable," Takao says coldly. "I could hear her speaking to you."
Takao yawns but still maintains her cold stare on the Commander. He sneers at her, then looks at the beautiful night sky. "Well… It seems you know some things then." Karl replies.
"What will you do with Roon?" Takao asks bluntly.
"I don't know," Karl replies frankly. "I'm still considering the actions I want to take. Though I won't kill her."
"And what was the rest of it about?" Takao continues. "Is there something you hiding?"
"Someone likes to ask awkward questions." Karl taunts her with a chuckle before returning to a blank expression. "I jest. To be transparent, I'm contacting friends at the Spec Ops Command about the META girls. Their intel is usually pretty accurate."
"I see," Takao replies, reading his body language. "Does this 'Spookhouse' answer to Azur Lane? I've never heard of them before."
"Depends," Karl replies vaguely. "Sometimes you can only answer to yourself. Such is the work of intel and counterintelligence. That is Spookhouse's trade: Information gathering and Counter Intel. They would give us Commando, as you call us, the info we need to work in the dark when you all are sleeping soundly."
"What is done in the dark will be brought to the light, SKK," Takao tells him ominously.
"I don't think you'd like to see how the sausage is made, Takao," Karl replies ominously. "Stick to fighting in the sun and leave the darkness to me. We should keep it that way."
Takao takes to her knees to gaze into his eyes, "I deliver swift death unto evil, SKK. Not even you can withstand my blade. If you hurt my friends or sister by the one million gods of the Sakura Empire, I will destroy you."
"You're protective of your sister, I see," Karl remarks. "I'm pretty hard to kill; you saw that in person."
"I am," Takao confirms. "You slept with the traitor. Even though you saved two of our honorable leaders, I don't trust you."
"You wound me, Takao." Karl sighs. "But I hope for that to change one day."
"Prove to me you are worth following," Takao told him. "Show me you're honorable."
Atago soon arrived to see the two conversating, "Awww, you two are bonding!"
Takao and Karl then smiled at Atago together, the animosity between the two being temporarily put on hold. Atago hands her sister coconut water and hugs her tightly, "Be nice!" Atago whispers to Takao before she returns to the apartment.
"I'm sorry about Takao," Atago apologizes as Karl approaches his feet. "She's very protective of me."
"Did I do something wrong?" He asks Atago. "I admitted I did have relations with Akagi, but I didn't know she was a traitor? When did that happen?"
"During the war," Atago began, wrapping her free arm with Karl's as they left the apartment. "Akagi and Kaga allied with the Sirens to bring the Sakura Empire to the forefront of the world and bring Amagi back."
"Back from what?" Karl asks.
"The dead," Atago replies gravely, shivering as she says. "I'm afraid of ghosts, especially when she came back."
"So they succeeded? She's among the living, and Sakura Empire isn't fighting with the rest of Azur Lane."
"They failed." Atago continues, surprising Karl. "Amagi returned to us after Fredrich did… Did something… Lady Shinino, Musashi, and Fredrich Der Grosse returned her."
"Brought her back…." Karl says, pondering what those three did to resurrect Amagi. Maybe Amagi knows?
"What did they try?" Karl asks, wondering what 1st carrier could have done to become so hated by someone like Takao.
"They attacked the Eagle Union and were destroyed in an ensuing battle. Betraying our allies for the Sirens." Atago explains. "Though they were rebuilt by Musashi and Yamato. The war then was a dark time for us all, but things changed after Operation Siren. We came together and then launched another large operation. Now things are getting better, and time is healing our wounds. I just wish some people would allow these wounds to heal for them."
Atago became noticeably quiet most of the walk to the hot springs. Karl was concerned but noticed that she had brought herself closer to him. A warm expression took over Atago's face that seemed to considerably affect him as Karl felt a warm sensation in his heart. As they approached the onsen, he could see the remains of a building in the distance on the more mountainous side of the island. Karl was sure this was the abandoned shrine Roon had destroyed just days ago. He wondered who might have been here when that event transpired.
His heavy cruiser bodyguard led them to a large wooden building constructed in a traditional Japanese manner with wood and decoration. River water rushing gives Karl a clue that they are not far from the lake by Amagi's; all rivers go somewhere, after all. Sliding the wood and paper door to the side revealed a small storage room with wicker baskets where the guests would place their things.
"The washing stations are outside. It's all-open air here." Atago informs him as she sits down on a small stone seat. "Your stuff is safe here. Please put your gun in a towel if you want to take it."
"Washing station? Why a washing station?" Karl asks.
"In the Sakura Empire, it's socially unacceptable to bring dirt or filth into an onsen," Atago explains, removing her shoes and stockings after setting the bag down. "You must wash before and after."
Karl gave an unsure expression but listened to what Atago told him. He removed his top and undershirt, making Atago coo as she looked over the scars and some tattoos. She knew tattoos were taboo on the home islands and mainly seen on criminals. She had only seen some Eagle Union officers occasionally at Port when Commander Helena was around.
"Commander?" Atago asked uncomfortably, a feeling odd for her, and made Karl note this as he untied his boots. "Why do you have tattoos?"
He looked over his arms at the two small ones on his chest, "Memories." Karl replied quietly.
"What do some of them mean?" Atago asks innocently.
Karl smirks as he removes his boots and socks, "Some were from where I went during my tours, Others are for the people I've lost, like the two over my heart for my first wife and my Father, and the last one is a reminder."
He pointed at another tattoo on his right forearm, a collection of odd writing Atago somewhat recognized from her time abroad during the war.
"Where did you get that one from?" She asked, unknowingly.
"A present from Korea." He replied vaguely. "A friend gave it to me after we left the country."
"Oh, that's so nice of them!" Atago smiles, "What does it remind you of?"
"To be unbreakable," Karl says to her.
"That's beautiful," Atago replies, removing her white uniform and revealing her curves. "Especially the two over your heart, the cross and antler. I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thank you," Karl says warmly, removing his pants and underwear.
"In our country," Atago begins, removing her panties. "Tattoos are only known as the mark of criminals. Seeing them on military personnel when we joined Azur Lane was odd."
Karl chuckles a little, "Military personnel usually have tattoos. The commandos are no exception, I assure you."
Atago giggles, "I like them. It's so naughty that you have them; I like the taboo of it."
She removes her bra, revealing her beautiful body to the Commander in all its glory. Atago grabs the bag and starts outside, with Karl following, but she stops him. "Let me set the scene. I'll call for you when I'm ready." Atago says seductively.
"Alright then," Karl smirks.
"Don't get a cold, please." Atago teases before exiting.
"Of course, Babygirl." Karl says with a warm tone and a smile. Atago blushes and gives a seductive wave with her fingers before disappearing behind the wood and paper sliding door.
Karl folds and adjusts his stored uniform, "Old habits die hard." He remarks as he fixes the folds and tucks in the boot laces. With his towel around his waist, Karl sits with a washcloth and the pistol.
Looking back at the Korean wording on his arm, Karl recalls the day he got it. It was a frigid night in the mountains of the Korean peninsula. Under candlelight, with a bobby pin and homemade ink, an aspiring artist edged the Chosŏn'gŭl script into his arm following their odyssey South. The people of the Orient were hard but possessed a kind heart under the hard exterior, even to a foreigner like himself.
This character may have been expressed in the hearts of the KAN-SEN?
Karl needed clarification. Takao's utter rejection of him due to his relations with Akagi countered this thought, as did Ayanami's standoffish reaction.
But how does that explain the warm reception from Amagi, Kaga, Akagi, and Taihou? Or the trust in parted to him from Shoukaku and Zuikaku?
Maybe he was overthinking everything? The Sakura Empire girls and everyone else had much going on. They seemed to be just like him and the rest of humanity. Even now, as he sat on a stone seat in nothing but a towel and a pistol as the living embodiment of a warship prepared some kind of nice night of relaxation for him, Karl couldn't help but laugh and shake his head in disbelief at the absurdity of it all.
"Com~man~der!" Atago calls to him, "You can come out now!"
The Commander takes a deep breath and releases it slowly to calm his nerves. Putting the pistol under his armpit, he slides the wood and paper door over to be greeted by the beauty of the onsen. The river ran parallel to the onsen, where a water wheel echoed in between the sound of the river and the wilderness beyond it. A wood or bamboo shoot poured white volcanic water into the onsen itself. This entire setup appeared naturally built, with wood plants blending beautifully with the rock formations.
Atago had set up candles and refreshments facing the river and mountains. The clouds stayed parted, allowing the moonlight to reflect beautifully off the milky white water giving it an alluring glow. Warm torch light lit the rest of the onsen filling the air with the aroma of citronella to keep the bugs away. A small bamboo railing separated the onsen from the river drop-off, leading his eyes towards more bamboo construction, where more bamboo shoots acted as shower heads for the cleaning station.
The enchanting sight of Atago's nude body took his attention as she smiled while holding soap and a washcloth. "Drop your things off and let big sister clean you!" She says excitedly.
"What was with these Sakura girls washing him?" Karl asked himself as he set his pistol by the refreshments. To his surprise, the refreshments were water, coconut water, and some fruit like bananas.
Setting his towel and pistol down, The Commander walks over to Atago, who already had set up her station. Motioning him down to sit, She turns on the lukewarm water and shampoos his hair. Atago's gentle hands massaged his scalp and temples as she cleaned his hair. Karl lets slip a relaxing moan as he moves around to his front.
"Do you mind if I wash your face?" Atago asks, washing off the shampoo.
"Sure," Karl replies, wiping the water from his eyes. "Go for it."
Atago smiles and lathers her hands with a bar of charcoal soap from the bag. "You don't have to do this, Atago," Karl tells her as she returns. Atago's body shined in the moonlight with a giant smile on her face.
"Oh, Commander," Atago giggles, straddling the Commander to clean his face. "I know I don't. But your big sister wants to pamper you. You've been working so hard for us, and I want to thank you."
Karl couldn't argue with Atago as she scrubbed his face with the charcoal soup. Her breasts pressed against his chest as she drew closer, and her warm nether region radiated neared Karl's crotch. But the two held their composure as Atago finished, looking back into his green eyes with a smile. "You are so cute when you're getting used to new things!" Atago says to him.
The Commander laughs, recalling Dr. Taihou's shower session. But Atago was more intimate, though the situation was completely different. His mind wasn't on the possibility of Roon murdering him in a bathroom, the META girls, or anything else but the woman on his lap with the golden eyes. With the wet washcloth, Atago scrubbed his neck and cleaned his ears. Unconsciously his hands wandered to Atago's back, and he held her close. Maybe it was to be sure she didn't fall off of him, or it was something more primal. Karl wasn't sure, and Atago's face blushed red.
"Everything OK, Commander?" Atago asks as she finishes scrubbing his neck.
"Just enjoying it all," Karl says, pulling her tighter.
Atago smiles and stands up to douse him in water. After cleaning him off, Atago began washing his body. "May I return the favor?" Karl asks as she passes his chest.
"I've already cleaned myself," Atago tells him. "Tonight is about you. No arguments."
Finishing her washing of the Commander, Atago washes him off again and takes them by the hand, leading him to the pool of pure white water. The steam radiated from the volcanic water and called the two into it. Atago stepped in first and guided him in, sinking themselves waste deep into the onsen. She ties her hair into a bun before beckoning Karl to sit at their spot.
The warm water felt terrific against Karl's skin as he sat down. Atago splashed his chest with the milky white water and rubbed it into his pours. "This will help you relax and ease your tense muscles," Atago explains as she leans on his shoulder.
Karl felt Atago wrap her legs around his own cutely as she rubbed his chest. "Let the warmth of the water and your Onee-san take you," Atago says softly as she lies on him.
He pulls Atago closer, returning the embrace, and sighs heavily as Karl begins to feel the tension slowly release from his body. Atago giggles sweetly and kisses his shoulder as she works her way up to Karl's face.
"You're relaxing!" Atago says excitedly that the onsen is working. "I feel it too."
"I've never felt like this before," Karl admits as he grabs Atago's rear.
She gives an approving moan and kisses Karl's neck, "I can rub your shoulder and back if you wish. I know you have several knots in your back."
"How did I find such a loving woman like you?" Karl asks, turning his head to Atago, only a few inches away. "Out of every woman in this world, I pick you."
Atago blushes. Between the heat of the onsen and her feelings, she feels her better judgment slowly melt away. Wrapping her arms behind his neck, The two look deep into each other's eyes until their lips lock. Atago breaks away and puts her finger on his lips, "Naughty boy." She says lustfully.
"You kissed me first." Karl jests, pulling her in to continue their kiss. Atago grew bolder and pressed her tongue through the Commander's lips. Their tongues rolled and danced until Karl's parried with hers. Atago then felt him seductively nibble on her bottom lip, pulling it back and letting go leaving her speechless. The heat of the onsen and her body was getting to Atago.
"If you keep this up, I might eat you up." Atago giggles playfully as she stands up to cool down. "Let me cool off and rub your shoulders."
"I don't think we need to be eating each other up in this onsen." Karl tells her, smirking, "Other
girls use this as well, I assume."
"We might pass out." Atago laughs. "Your kisses were making Onee-san woozy. Here, have some water."
Atago passes him water and sits on the flat slab of rock beside him with her legs open. The sexy cruiser was nearly hairless besides the small patch of hair over her neither region, concealing her pussy. She tapped her thighs, a sign for him to sit between her.
He moved between Atago's thighs, and soon, she rubbed his shoulder. "Enjoying your time with Onee-San?" Atago asks innocently.
"I don't ever want to leave this moment," Karl says happily with a dreamy smile as Atago removes the pain in his shoulders.
She sighs happily and pulls him closer to hug Karl, placing her breasts on his head. "I might need to join you up there. I feel like a crab in a boiling pot." Karl tells her. Atago lets him go, and the Commander sits next to her as the clouds clear out, ultimately revealing all the stars across the night sky even further.
"Let me get your back," Atago says to him. "After that, drink more water and have a banana. I know your back is pretty bad."
"Yeah…" Karl agrees, laughing happily as Atago lays out their towels to make them more comfortable for him.
Once they were laid out, Karl laid down on his stomach, and Atago got on top of him. Her magical hands went to work, removing the knots and pain. "When was the last time you got a massage?" Atago asks him as she removes two of the knots in his back.
"Never," Karl admits as more tension escapes his body.
"Amazingly, you keep going," Atago admits seriously as she moves lower down his back. "You needed your Onee-San."
An innocent chuckle escapes him, leaving Karl with a large uncontrollable smile. Atago sees this and leans in to kiss him. "You did! You can't even hide your happiness!" Atago teased him.
"Alright, alright." Karl concedes again, kissing her warmly. "I did need you; need this."
A heavy sigh escapes him again, and Atago continues massaging his back. "I never had something like this before," Karl says again, trying to get the concept of relaxation into his mind. "The relaxing, the tender treatment, and the care…. So strange to feel at rest…."
"Did you even have anything like this as a Commando?" Atago asks, her hands moving to his lats and lower back.
"No," Karl said bluntly. "The most rest we had was when we were relieved by other units. Sleeping, cleaning weapons, cleaning gear, and working out when possible. I remember passing out for a whole day after a week-long operation."
"You said you were married before," Atago begins, her voice treading lightly on the topic of his marriages. "Did your wives ever treat you like this?"
"Not at all," Karl says quietly. "My first wife and I met when we were young. We were on the road a lot, and she was a musician, an Idol. But she died from cancer. My second wife? Well, work killed our relationship. She's now one of my bosses. We keep things platonic, thank the gods. But no, I never got this kind of treatment. It's odd, if I'm being honest. I find it lovely, though."
"You deserve a lot more than you think, Commander," Atago says to him as she rubs the small of his back. "The girls talk a lot about you. Everything you've done to make things better around the Port is helping everyone. The Sakura Empire respects your wiliness to sacrifice yourself for our comrades, though big sister was distraught to hear about it!"
"I never said I was afraid of dying." Karl admitted, "But I guess my actions showed it. One day it will catch up to me, though. If I have you worrying about me, I can only imagine who else is worried. Belfast for sure, and I bet even Akagi and Taihou."
"Everyone is worried about you," Atago says seriously. "It's one of the reasons why I wanted to treat you to this tonight before you see Roon. Takao is a little uptight and rough, but she cares for you and me."
Karl scoffs, "What a way to show it, then."
"I heard the conversation," Atago replies. "She was a bit rude, but you were a bit rude as well."
"I'm sorry about that," Karl says honestly. "I didn't mean to come off wrong."
"Both of you were in the wrong," Atago said, keeping the neutral ground. "Takao is being protective of me; she's too proud to admit it. Commander Helena, as you saw, isn't fond of me. She doesn't take me seriously and always berates me in front of my sister."
Atago's nearly unfaltering confidence gave way for the second time, "Sometimes I wish I was as good as Takao. She's a true warrior…."
"Why compare you two?" Karl asks Atago pointedly. "I never understood why people would ask such things. I grew up with a stepmother like that, always comparing my siblings and me. To hell with that! It's impossible to be like anyone else, So trust yourself and be you."
"Because she's my sister." Atago sighs, "I wish it was that easy, though. It's sweet of you to say that, though. I sometimes wonder if I was more like her, would I be better? Could I be like Takao and be the best big sister imaginable in all ways. But I don't know; maybe Commander Helena was right about me being subpar…."
"I'm serious, though!" Karl exclaims. "I'm sure she's a good warrior, But so are you! You two are a team, and your better than that bitch Helena could imagine."
Atago giggles weakly and kisses his neck, "You're too sweet."
Atago lays down on him, hugging him as she kisses his neck. A loud vibration and musical ringtone echoed from the storage room. "That's my phone," Atago says, annoyed.
"Someone special?" Karl jokes.
"Might be Takao." Atago surmises. "But I'll let it ring. I want to enjoy my time with you."
Karl turns on his back, surprising Atago as she's put on her side. The two resumed kissing romantically and rubbing their bodies against each other. Atago grabs his cock and works it gently until he gets hard for her. She drops her control, and the lust overwhelms her completely, "I can't control it anymore!" Atago says to him, her eyes seeming to conjure hearts as she indulges in her deepest desires. "Be mine!"
The two lock lips, and soon they find themselves in a delightful display under the moonlight. It felt like hours in their minds, but to the outside observers, it was ten minutes of love at the onsen. Falcon and Raiden, who observed them under cover of optical camouflage, had mixed feelings regarding the matter. Falcon obverted her eyes and kept her back away from the affair. While Raiden watched on, sighing happily as he thrust into her younger self until climaxing on Atago's stomach.
"Young love…" Raiden sighs, holding her head in her hand. "So many memories of the past in such a precious moment."
"I'd rather not peep on you, regardless of version, my lord," Falcon replies, pulling rear guard.
"Fu fu." Raiden counters, catching Falcon off guard. "It's so sweet, though. Their cuddling too, He hasn't changed that much."
"That man has changed," Falcon interjects, "He forgot about us. Now he's here playing caretaker to these girls."
"I think you are just mad he isn't taking your younger self out on a romantic date." Raiden jests. "Their even feeding fruit to each other. How heartwarming?"
"By the one million gods," Falcon scoffs. "I haven't heard you like this since the Agarthan Sea."
Atago and the Commander finished feeding fruit to each other to only collapse in each other's arms. The two kissed lovingly, losing each other in the moment as instinct took over. That was until the sound of Atago's phone interrupted them once more.
"It has to be Takao," Karl said to her as he kissed Atago's breasts. "You might want to pick up. She might just come over here."
Atago pouts and lets out a childish sigh, "Can't big sister have her personal time!" She laments.
"I don't think it would be wise to ignore her." Karl continues. "More so since we just finished having our fun."
"Oh shit," Atago replies, looking at the cum on her stomach. "You're right. I'll call her and tell her we are about to wash off."
Atago sighs again and wipes the cum off with her towel before getting up, "I'll be back, darling." She says seductively with a wink.
"Now I'm 'Darling,' eh?" Karl smiles. "Now we both have pet names."
Atago giggles and walks to the storage room. Karl gets up and takes a drink of water to reenergize himself. As he puts the bottle down, he grabs another banana and begins eating it as a slight breeze comes through, pushing the steam from the onsen across his view. But as Karl enjoyed the fruity treat, noticing the smoke moving around an unseen object on the opposite side of the onsen. Casually he walks over to the pistol and reaches down to grab it but is stopped by an unseen force.
"Easy." The voice of Falcon says to him, her hand appearing over his wrist. "Please put something over yourself. It's making me uncomfortable."
"I see you don't want to fight a naked man." Karl jests, grabbing the towel and putting it over his lower body. "Do what do I owe this visit?"
Falcon says nothing and looks over to the other side of the onsen. "Who's there?" Karl asks her.
"We are not alone here," Falcon warns him. "We are here for answers. Comply, and you will leave this onsen intact. If you wish to fight, well, that would not be beneficial for you."
"I see," Karl says to her, withdrawing his hand. "I have a question of my own, then."
"Save them for last," Falcon orders him. "What do you remember about the Agarthen Sea?"
"It's beautiful during the summer and a maelstrom during the winter," Karl tells her sarcastically. "You can look that up on the internet. What about it?"
"Not that," Falcon growls. "What do you remember happening there? Does 'Operation Unthinkable' ring a bell?"
A piercing headache racked his mind making the Commander press his fingers against his temples. He bites down hard and grunts in a visceral matter, "I don't recognize the bodies in the water. I don't recognize the bodies in the water."
"Obvious signs of Cognitive suppression." A voice noted around him.
"Indeed." Falcon agrees. "It seems Mr. Z wants you to forget something."
The headache grows worse, but he remains cognitive enough to back away toward the shower. "The fuck are you talking about?" Karl growls, "I don't- I don't remember… I don't recognize the bodies in the water."
"That phase…. That's the suppression phrase used by the psychologists." The voice tells Falcon. "If they pulled him from Hadrian's blast, it must have caused enough trauma to force them to use some advanced cognitive suppression techniques."
"Are you sure they used that and not nanomachines?" Falcon counters. "The sirens used those on us before!"
"My scanners aren't showing anything mechanical causing this." The voice replies. "Mr. Z wouldn't infect him with such crude devices."
The voice grew louder until dropping the optical camouflage revealing Atago META's form in all its glory to Karl. His skull throbs in pain, and blood begins to roll down from his nose. "You! You're real!" He shouts.
"Yes, Darling," Atago META replies. "But you can call me Raiden for now."
The META girl takes a wash rag from the ground and wipes the blood from his nose. "At least until we find out what's happening in your pretty head. Maybe you need to ask Spookhouse? They might know something about the operation?"
"You know a lot for a shipgirl," Karl grunts as his back touches the shower wall. "Both of you do… Who the hell are you?!"
"You'll know if you think about it." Atago META replies vaguely, until closing in on him, putting her gloved hand on his chest. "Or you'll remember, darling, after this."
Karl felt frozen as the META shipgirl closed in until their noses touched. Her breath graced Karl's lips until they locked softly. The META shipgirl pulled him in and gently and passionately kissed him.
It was like lightning had struck him as a memory returned to him…
The deep blue of the Agarthen Sea appeared before him, as did the sights of large demonic structures scraping the skies with jagged edges into a blood-red sky. A dark mass appeared from a large tear in the sea, corroding everything around it into dust. Then it all disappeared as bright lights from the heavens descended from above… Then nothing…
"Hands off, my Commander!" Atago shouts, catching the attention of the two META girls. Her rigging appeared out of thin air, with the main battery trained on both.
"Fu-Fu," Raiden replies, disappointed, raising her hand and snapping her fingers. "Fair well, Darling."
Falcon followed suit, leaving Karl standing awkwardly against the shower in shock. Atago retracts her rigging and rushes over to him. "Commander! Did they hurt you?!" She shouts, worried.
"I'm alright," Karl replies as the headache goes away. "Those two must have been watching us for a while. Fucking optical camo."
"Do you think they saw us in the act?" Atago asks, trying to break the tension.
"Probably," Karl chuckled as he wiped the blood remains from his nose. "She must have been happy… That was your META counterpart… No question…"
"I have a META…." Atago gasps.
"Oh yeah… And she must have been impressed… Fucking hell…" Karl replies, taking a deep breath to calm down.
"Wha-What did I want? I mean, what did she want!?" Atago replies, fearful of the idea of her META variant.
"Asking about an operation we did…." Karl replies, breathing heavily to avoid the pain of the memory headaches. "Shit, I don't recall… But some people can help me remember. Fucking hell… This is getting too much…."
"Why, What's going on?!" Atago says franticly, tears beginning to form around her eyes.
Karl holds her tight against his chest, "Shhhhh, It's OK, babygirl. Its OK. It's a lot of shit from the other side of the house, just some internal politics. I'll handle it."
"No!" Atago replies, hitting him in the chest with her fist. "We will! I'm your babygirl! We'll do it together! But I need you to tell me what's going on!"
"I don't know… I don't know at all…." Karl admits, embarrassed that he couldn't find the answer. The frustration was entirely on his face, plain as day to Atago. "I just know we have to get to that drone after I deal with Roon. We'll have to start there, and it will help us find who we're looking for."
"The META girls?" Atago asks, trying to understand everything. "Will that drone get us to them?"
"Maybe," Karl replies, unsure. "Or it will get us to some people I know so we can find them."
"This is scary, darling…." Atago confesses, burying herself in Karl's chest. "They came out of nowhere… They watched us… I don't know how to feel about the other me…."
The Commander pulls Atago out of his chest and looks her in the eyes. To Atago, he looked determined yet lost at the same time. To Karl, her yellow eyes screamed for comfort, love, protection, and safety. He kisses her gently and hugs her tightly, "We'll figure it out…."
"We need to wash off, and I need to get home," Atago says sadly. "I was hoping this date would ease your nerves… Now here we are cuddled, fearing the Ashes…."
"It didn't seem like they wanted to fight." Karl countered. "Their posture was more of a questioning nature rather than combat…."
Atago leaves his grasp to pull the chain for the shower, douching them in water for a moment before returning, "I need to go home, Darling." Atago says quietly.
The two change into clothes and return to Atago's home without speaking. Atago made it a point not to let him go the whole way home until the Commander simply had to leave; even then, she was more than reluctant to let him go. Takao appeared to see who was at their door and caught the two holding each other closely. The samurai rushed forward to comfort her sister, to which Karl first kissed Atago on the forehead before handing her to Takao.
"Her META greeted me tonight," Karl tells Takao. "She wasn't hurt, just shaken up from seeing her doppelganger."
"Atago… META?" Takao questions him, only for Atago to confirm.
"Looks like in another world, you two became META," Karl observes.
"Did she hurt you?" Takao asks him, slightly worried.
"No," Karl says bluntly. "Just made me think a lot. Probably more dangerous than she did that."
"I see," Takao replies, turning Atago towards the door.
"Keep my babygirl safe," Karl tells Takao, making Atago look back at him sadly.
"Commander!" Takao calls to him.
Karl raises his brow at Takao's voice, "Call us if anything happens."
The Commander nods and turns away to make haste to the Iron Blood dorms to get Roon and Fredrich. He tried to shake off the encounter with Atago's doppelgänger, or META, or whatever it wanted to be called. "Raiden… God of thunder and lightning." He remarks to himself.
The memory Raiden unlocked in his mind felt like a bad dream, like the ones Fredrich manifested in his mind with the growing darkness. Karl didn't precisely recall anything like that, a black mass of unending darkness consuming the world around it. If it were more like the ugly Daemites, Eldritch terrors, Vampires, and now, Siren machine creatures, it would be more familiar to him. There wasn't much from his experience he could draw from to even attempt making a theory from scratch….
"Spookhouse…" Karl remarked to himself. "The fuckers know everything…."
The small pistol tapped against his ribs as Karl walked through the night. A rhythmic thud could be felt with every step, reminding him there were fifteen rounds of hollow point nine-millimeter cartridges at his beck and call. Though he wished there was something better for him to carry or cradle in his arms. An AK-103, T-91 AR, AUG, or even the humble M1 Carbine the Eagle Union guards would satisfy his lust for more firepower. But the seemingly puny Rami pistol had to do until he could leave the Port with his bag of tricks.
It wasn't much to stop Roon, But it was enough to make some noise to bring in whatever firepower was needed to stop her. That may be why Fredrich was there to mediate.
Exiting the Sakura Empire area, Karl entered the empty main Port. Once again, the usual night owls were up, as told by the windows in select rooms lit with the blue glow of a TV screen. He looked over at the anchor fountain where Raiden had appeared days before. The memory of the META shipgirl coming from the storm was seared into his mind. What was her point in attacking him like that? Was it to actually kill him, or was it just confirmation? Karl paused for a moment and pondered at the motives of his attacker, but his musings soon were interrupted by a Meowfficer pulling at his pant leg.
The meowfficer is a strange concept to Karl. A robotic cat that acted as an aid to shipgirls in combat? Odd. But it's what the girls were used to, he would sigh.
The meowfficer looked like a miniature cat-like version of Lord Bismarck, even carrying a wooden stick with little banners to mimic the battleship further. A nameplate on her chest said 'Sam,' a reference that made Karl smile more than when the little Bismarck performed a crisp salute to him, which he returned in kind.
"How may I assist you, Sam?" Karl asks formally. "Are you here as my escort to the Iron Blood dorm, or are you lost?"
The meowfficer then handed him a letter. The Commander took this letter from its little hands and read it himself.
"Dear Child," He read. "My loyal meowfficer will escort you to the Iron Blood Dorm and our meeting place. Please follow Sam closely; She has a tendency to move quickly. Bring your appetite and a strong spirit. With regards, Fredrich Der Grosse."
Karl folds the letter and places it in his pocket, "Well, Sam. It looks like you are going to be my guide tonight."
The little cat saluted again with a happy expression before making an about-face to lead him onward to the dorm. Shrugging his shoulders, The Commander followed behind as the little Bismarck-like meowfficer marched down the concrete path. He kept a polite distance behind the creature as it began twirling the stick like it was leading a marching band. Karl swore it was even humming the tune to the German Song "Erika" as well. The sight was indeed something hilarious to him. They walked for about twenty minutes until they passed by a section of trees that obscured the Iron Blood dorm.
The appearance of the dorm reminded Karl of the old gothic architecture of Niflheim, its German influence at the forefront of society. The large red multistory building sprawled into a fortress hybrid home with defined defensive towers and robust construction. Sam then took him to the front door and into the fortress. Too much to his surprise, it was beautiful yet humble in its design.
"My Child," Fredrich Der Grosse calls from the stairs as she walks toward him. "I see Sam has guided you as instructed. I will be your escort from here."
"It was a strange escort, to say the least," Karl remarks as the Super Battleship takes the lead under the balcony down a hallway. "We getting Roon from her dorm room, I assume?"
"Roon is at the Iron Blood private bar," FDG replies as she slowly walks. "It will just be the three of us."
"Who are you more worried about, Me or Roon?" Karl asks forwardly.
"Both of you, to be honest," FDG says with a degree of worry, tainting her calm voice.
"I can't call a giant crab monster at the snap of a finger," Karl replied with a chuckle. "I'm basically harmless."
"My dear child, I wouldn't call someone who crashed a plane into a siren and pulled a gun on a META Kansen harmless." FDG counters.
"I feel a bit of condescending in that 'Dear Child,'" Karl interjects, only to make Fredrich giggle.
"My dear child," Fredrich says again before putting her hands on her hips and turning towards him. The expression on her face was that of sarcasm and endearment. "How was that?"
"Better." Karl laughs.
Fredrich gives a knowing smile and opens a closet door, revealing a small flight of stairs. The battleship leads down the small steps section to a private tavern. Like something in a courtyard, the stone floor reminded him of a lodge his unit commandeered as their headquarters during the war. A fireplace flanked by two leather chairs and a couch was in the corner with a handful of pictures on its mantel. Then the long bar with a familiar face on a stool drew his attention.
At the bar was Roon sitting quietly with her hands on her thighs. The cruiser didn't bother to turn around and kept her back towards them as they entered. Fredrich looked at him knowingly and motioned him to go to her.
The memory of the rain gracing his bare skin and the predatory cruiser chasing him replayed in his mind as Karl gazed upon her. He swallows hard and nervously straightens his uniform, mainly to be sure Fredrich didn't pull a fast one on him to take his pistol. It wouldn't do anything but piss Roon off, but it would make enough noise to attract the entire Iron Blood dorm.
"Roon", Fredrich calls to her. "He is here."
Roon doesn't move and stays in her spot like a statue. Fredrich gives him a friendly push forward, and Karl walks over to her. Within a moment, he stood inches from Roon and slowly pulled out a stool to sit on directly beside her.
Taking his seat, The Commander adjusted himself and removed his uniform top. Roon looked over to see his arms covered in tattoos, the scars, and the shoulder rig holding his pistol. Placing his hat on the table, he taps the bar three times. "Barkeep, a double shot of vodka, please." He says.
Fredrich steps behind the bar and pours Karl the double shot. "Odd that you ask for this here." She remarks, expecting him to ask for a beer.
"Not right now," Karl says as she places the shot on the table. He removes the pistol from his holster and puts it beside the hat and vodka.
"Is that for me?" Roon asks innocently as she eyes the pistol.
Karl says nothing and traces the cracks on the bar top with a blank expression.
"I don't understand," Roon says, her voice shaking with anxiety. "I don't know why I did what I did to you."
Roon's attention turned to her own hands as they began to shake. She's never felt this before as a rush of feelings filled her mind and body.
"You're so… Different than the other Commanders… I feel like we've known each other our whole lives…."
He continues tracing the cracks. The green eyes of the Commander focused on his strange task.
"I just feel so…. So strong… Strong for you…." Roon says, trying to force her feelings into words. "I feel for you! I know you better…. Then ANYONE HERE!"
Karl moves his hand to his face, running it against his five o'clock shadow forming. He rests his chin on his hand as Roon continues.
"I'm…. A weapon…. I know nothing more than fighting…." Roon exasperated. "I go to fight and destroy those…. Sirens… I don't understand…."
She turned to him hesitantly as Karl sat calmly stroking his facial hair. Roon noticed his eyes staring blankly at the collection of wine and liquor on the wall.
"I don't understand why you don't accept yourself… Accept me… We're the same…." Roon begins to cry, her tears streaming down her face. "You know what life is about, and your body shows that to me better than any words you could say! You know the beauty of battle, the true expression of everything! Why won't you embrace it?! Embrace me…"
The cruisers ranting fell on deaf ears, and her sadness and anger mixed into a short cocktail of feelings Roon couldn't understand. Her frustration is personified in Roon's nails digging into the bar top. Each scratch shook the glass of vodka with every repetition.
"What do those whores offer you?!" Roon explodes, tears and anger filling the room. "Pampering? Cooking for you? Sex?! WHAT CAN THEY OFFER THAT ROON CAN NOT?!"
Fredrich walks over and sets a shot of schnapps in front of Roon. The H-Class battleship also poured herself one but did not drink it yet. Her posture changed with her arms spread wide on the bar top. The Monalisa smile Fredrich towards Roon made the cruiser back down slightly, making her recoil to her drink. Roon throws the shot back and looks around at the statue-like appearance of the Commander.
"I can offer you the world…." Roon says quietly. "Meals daily, a loyal secretary, a competent bodyguard, and all the love you could imagine… All you need is Roon…."
She takes a deep breath, releasing it slowly to form her words. "I love you… I love everything about you." Roon tells him passionately as more tears stream down her face.
Karl moved to the shot glass and threw it back into his mouth. The vodka burned his mouth and throat as he swallowed it whole. He grabbed the pistol, causing Fredrich and Roon to jump back slightly. To their surprise, Karl cycled the pistol spitting a bullet in front of Roon. It rolled to a stop with its hollow tip facing her.
"Keep that as a reminder of what could have been," Karl tells her ominously as he holsters the pistol. "I was right to say you didn't understand what you did."
Roon picks up the cartridge in her hand and examines it in detail. The silver case leads to a copper bullet with an open tip marked with six lead lines leading to a golden dot at its center.
"Keep it with you," Karl says quietly.
"Why?" Roon asks him, not understanding why she was given this bullet.
"To remind you of what I've given you." He tells her, turning in his chair to face her.
Roon held the bullet firmly in her hand, clutching it tightly until she felt her feelings were transferred into it. "I'm sorry, Herr Kommendant. My love for you is so strong it drove me to do such things to you. I shouldn't be here right now."
"Where I come from," Karl begins, pausing momentarily to collect his thoughts. "We would hang or shoot people who raped someone. I still remember the bodies swinging in the wind at a village called Eutaw, notes stapled to their chests explaining their crime. They'd be up for a few days until the vultures cut them down, and the body would be swarmed by those birds. Believe it or not, it would be gone in a few minutes."
An awkward silence took hold of the room. Only the cracking of the wood in the fire could be heard, and Roon's heavy breathing as she began to cry.
Karl reached for her, making Fredrich lean in reflexively. But to her surprise, Karl caressed Roon's hair and wiped away her tears. "I'm disappointed you would try to do something like that to me. But I forgive you because you did not know how to express your feelings. Because you did save me from the META girl, and I saved you from repaying you for that. That bullet is to remind you to express your feelings."
Roon sniffled as he paused, standing up until she was blocked between the bar and him. "Because if you don't and let your feeling rule over you… You won't see the bullet next time. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Herr Kommendant." Roon says, gulping as she wipes the rest of her tears away. "I promise I'll be good."
"I'm not making you promise to be good," Karl replies, grabbing his uniform top. "I want you to understand your actions have consequences. I want you to think; I want you to think about yourself. You aren't a weapon. You're just as human as I am. I want to help you. But first, you must help yourself."
"You…. Forgive me?" Roon asks.
"I forgave you long before this," Karl replies, his voice becoming hoarse and scratchy as he puts his cap on.
With those words, Karl let himself out without another word. He left Roon with Fredrich, a bottle of schnapps, and more questions than answers. Friedrich pours another shot for Roon with a knowing smile, "Well?" Fredrich asks.
Roon says nothing and rolls the cartridge in her hands.
"My dear child, Karl," Fredrich begins, corking the bottle and putting it back on the table. "Never wished to kill you."
"For a moment, I wish he did." Roon admitted, "I tried to force myself on him."
"I'm aware," Fredrich replies, throwing the shot down her throat without hesitation.
"I don't understand why he forgave me," Roon said, confused. "If someone tried to do that to me, I would have ripped them to pieces."
"You didn't exactly get far, now, did you?" Fredrich presses.
"What do you know, Fredrich?" Roon snaps.
"You only kissed and played with him," Fredrich interjects, her yellow eyes glowing. "After you harmed him, of course."
"I thought he was cheating on me with that whore." Roon replies, throwing down her drink. "He broke my heart, and I punished him. I'll apologize for forcing my needs on him. But I won't for punishing him. He forgave me for my attepts. But he deserved my fury."
Roon stopped as Fredrich picks her up by the throat. The heavy cruiser tried to resist, but the battleship was more substantial than she looked. "My child, Never try to justify anything to me. It is no better than lying. You attacked him because you didn't understand, assaulted him because you don't understand, and now here you are again. Do you not understand that he could have killed you?"
She tried to speak, but the cruiser felt the life slowly come out of her, with blackness swallowing her vision. "He forgave you because he knows you need to help understand your wrongdoing. But, unlike my dear child, I will be more direct with you because you don't understand anything else." Fredrich growls, shadows forming around them and turning the bar into a blackened hell.
"In the name of my dear child," Fredrich whispers to Roon. "I will show you what I believe should be your punishment."
Outside the Iron Blood dorm, Karl sat on a stone bench smoking a cigarette with Ulrich Von Hutton and Graf Zeppelin.
The three sat quietly, enjoying the night as the sounds of crickets and other bugs sang in the darkness. The cherry of their cigarettes illuminated their faces, except for Karl, who cupped over his with his hand.
"Why do you do that?" Ulrich asks him.
"Old habits," Karl replies.
"Afraid a siren will see you?" Graf ridicules him.
"I spent too much time being the bump in the night," Karl said vaguely. "It's one habit I picked up on and stayed with me."
A breeze blew past the trio, and soon their cigarettes were extinguished. Too much of Karl's annoyance, he looked to the shadows nearby and pointed. "I know that was you, Fredrich."
The matriarch of the Iron Blood appeared from the darkness, her yellow eyes glowing like a lighthouse in the distance. "Ah, you found me. My dear child is becoming more observant." She remarks.
"Spying on us, sister?" Ulrich remarks, annoyed.
"By no means," Fredrich deflects. "I've just returned from having a conversation with Roon. My dear child, I believe your conversation with Roon has… Opened her horizons, to say the least."
An evil smirk appeared on Fredrich's face that shook Karl. He rolls his shoulders in a nervous tick and replied, "Ah… Well then… Good."
Graf and Ulrich looked at Fredrich questionably, and both stood up. Karl assumed it was due to Fredrich's presence, confusing because Ulrich was her sister. But judging by Ulrich and Fredrich's expression, the other H-Class and the carrier were leaving Fredrich with him.
He tucked the half-burned cigarette behind his ear as Fredrich sat beside him. "A conversation, eh?" Karl asks, stretching out his arm behind her.
"A deep conversation," Fredrich says broodingly. "My child Roon is still young in mind. She just requires a firm hand."
"And what does that entail?" Karl inquires.
"It's not polite to ask the awkward question, My dear child," Fredrich admits with a blank expression.
"Understood." Karl agrees, not wanting to argue with what he still assumes is the devil.
"Though," Fredrich says, scooting closer to him until their bodies touch. "She did want me to pass something on to you."
"And what would that be?" Karl asks, only for Fredrich to kiss him on the lips.
With one hand clutching his face gently, Fredrich pulled away. "She wished to kiss you as a sign of her apology for harming you. But she is… indisposed at the moment at my will."
"Another awkward question, I assume," Karl whispers seductively.
Fredrich giggles, "You showed mercy today. But I do not show this to those who harm my dearest of children."
"I'm not sure what's worse," Karl begins, the H-class battleships present giving him the shivers. "Your actions or the idea of your actions."
"It is, indeed, not wise to ask awkward questions," Fredrich tells him, pulling him into her breasts for a hug.
Still, waters run deep, Karl thought as he laid on Fredrich's breasts. The mother's demeanor and her demonic appearance hid the true terror of Fredrich Der Grosse. He was just lucky he was on her good side.
"Did you enjoy your time with Atago?" Fredrich asks him innocently as she removes her gloves.
"I'm guessing you smell her on me?" Karl replies.
"The sulfur baths of the Sakura Empire are interesting to me," Fredrich tells him as she places her bare hand on his face. "Its aroma is rather soothing to me as well. Your spirit is also refreshed, along with your body. Though your mind is still troubled. I assume you met someone else tonight, no?"
"Raiden," Karl says to her. "The META girl who attacked me at the fountain and her friend, Falcon. They jumped me at the onsen. No fight, no damage. We just talked, and she kissed me. It made me remember things."
"Like what?" Fredrich asks inquisitively.
"I'm not sure…." Karl says in a ghostly tone. "It felt like final moments…."
Ulrich and Graf had let themselves inside the dorm and headed for the unique bar. The brooding carrier and the cold battleship poured themselves beer and headed for the comfort of the fire. Too much to their surprise, Roon laid on the couch in the fettle position muttering to herself.
"The birds….." Roon repeatedly whispered in a fearful tone. "The birds….. The terrible wake of vultures…."
"What the fuck did Fredrich do?" Ulrich growls. "Take care of her, Graf. I'm going to get Fredrich."
Karl sat up and readjusted himself, memories of the moments awakening in him replaying in his mind. Then he recalled the business he had with Spookhouse. Hopefully, he didn't have to bring anyone to their final moments tonight.
"Something wrong?" Fredrich asks him.
"I've got some business to take care of," Karl replies, concerned. "Might need to do something to people."
"And I thought you came here to rest, correct?" Fredrich asks.
"No rest for the wicked," Karl says with a sigh. "Those META girls and my contacts already set me on my target. I can't just wait on this one. I want to be with my girls but have bad things to do before sunrise."
"What is done in the dark will be brought to the light, my dear child." Fredrich remarks as Ulrich appears from the door. The two share an expression, and Fredrich stands up.
"You should visit me sometime." Fredrich remarks to him. "Till we meet again."
The two parted ways, leaving Karl questioning what Fredrich did to Roon. But that was a low-threat topic compared to the ordeal of his introduction to Raiden.
He made hast to the office and arrived just short of midnight. Entering his office past the yellow protective tape, Karl spotted his bag undisturbed and quickly moved to it. Retrieving the laptop and plugging it into the remains of the drone using specific cables and link-ups designed for the job.
Karl ran the program and started extracting data from the drone. While the program ran, he inspected the bag with the explosives and the Submachine gun. Semtex, Flashbangs, a basic low-profile chest rig in multicam black, and an MP5K PDW. The Submachine gun was particularly customized by Spookhouse with a short Omega 9K suppressor, B&T telescoping stock, tritium front sight post, and notched rear sight. Short guns like this were usually seen with special police forces and agencies, marking their special status among elite units. It would be the perfect piece for his 'House Call' and could fit perfectly under a jacket on a single-point sling.
Karl's mind felt sharper as he loaded magazines with subsonic hollow point ammunition, marked by green and red tape on the bottom of each magazine, into the chest rig. The smooth metal magazines felt like Karl was back into his element vs. the slow-paced life at Port before the META girls' intervention. The computer loaded up rather quickly, giving him the IP address to a computer and its transmission point. Tracing the IP address, he pulled the grid point to a building in town.
"Awesome," Karl says in a monotone as he closes the computer. Putting everything back into the bag, he heads for his room to change.
Opening the door to his room, he found a sight he wasn't sure about… Belfast is sleeping on his bed.