Azur Heroes
Chapter 22
Okay time to clear up some things. Also, if you don't like the OC, who is partially based on my own personality, maybe don't say you want me to die. Especially if you want the story to continue. Anyway, time to answer a few questions pertaining to Melissa and the factors with the PR ships. And maybe set up for the next arc. On with the show.
(No POV)
"Okay hold up. What do you mean by reach out for them?" Melissa asked each of the commanders while gingerly moving on her new limbs. After spending two weeks in a tube with her limbs replaced by machines, she wasn't overly steady. She couldn't even use a balance bar well because of her arms being mechanical as well.
Izuku and Kotov shared a look before the latter gestured with his head. The teen sighed before saying, "okay so we all could connect with our ships by reaching out to them emotionally. And the cubes helped them manifest that way. Does that make sense?"
Rassmussen and Miller concurred on the matter. "Both of our families have history here. His ancestor deserved a lot more respect than he got but still. We used that to call to Enterprise or to Arizona." Rassmussen explained before giving a thumbs up to his fellow commander.
Melissa though couldn't fully follow what they meant, no matter how many times it was explained. She even tried to call to them using just a few of the cubes a number of times. Or ten cubes at once. But each time, the cubes wouldn't really glow. A flicker here, a glimmer, and then nothing.
Not like things were much better for the commanders though. "Wait. She uses what in her design? And how does that translate into her coming into being?" Kotov asked with each finger on a cube at once. Melissa sighed before saying, "Anchorage's hull is of an exceptional build and she has the firepower to compete with a battleship. Though she's a little childish. Oh and she can deploy smokescreens and boost her evasion while using torpedoes."
"Yeah, I'm with him. I'm not following how that helps us connect with them." Izuku said with a raise of his hand. He was trying to summon the carrier Hakuryuu. Hoping to get some airpower to match what the rouge shipgirls and Sirens had.
But what Melissa gave him were statistics and data from what she remembered after being hooked up to the Siren simulation machine. And while she did have some personal data, it wasn't enough to let them connect. "I'm not exactly sure how a minor note about her feeling naked without her katana or nodachi is supposed to help me summon her," he said in some frustration.
And this was a factor that all of the commanders were dealing with. Not one of them had any luck in summoning a ship that Melissa and the Sirens designated as Priority or PR ships. After 20 failures on both sides, John decided to clear his head by patrolling the island.
"Uh the girls are already out there. So, you're better off doing a ground patrol. Commander Brawl." Miller said before chuckling as he saw the military hero slump a little. He cursed before asking Izuku to come with him. "Wait why me?"
"Because you need a break too kid. And I think we should hash out a few things." Izuku looked between the others in the room before shrugging and jogging a little to catch up to the hero. So they went into the city of Honolulu to make sure nothing was happening.
Though that was something of a moot point. "I think I read somewhere that Hawaii was one of the safest states in America. Along with Kansas, Idaho and….. one of the Dakotas I think." Izuku said while walking through the town. Kotov sighed before saying, "yeah limited population helps with those. That and not a lot of worth stealing or wrecking. Here, maybe it's just the vibe of the islands. Makes you feel like you don't want to do anything."
Izuku snorted at that before asking his mentor if he needed an umbrella drink and a beach to lie on. The older commander gave him a flat look before cracking and laughing with the green teen.
Once they'd had their laugh though, Kotov smiled before asking if Izuku was doing okay. "Yeah why?" he responded with some confusion. "Let's not forget how we technically first met. You'd just had your arm cut off, your base was wrecked, and half of your ships were beaten down. But you seem…. Better. Especially after the panic that was that last mission." Kotov summarized before going to a vending machine to buy some drinks.
After accepting the can from John, Izuku thought a little more about the matter. "I guess…. I got some of what I'd always dreamed of. I think I've mentioned it before. How I wanted to be a hero, but I didn't have a quirk. So for the longest time, I never believed I could follow my dream."
The teen continued by noting that his time as a commander of shipgirls was somewhat fulfilling. But. "It was never quite enough. I didn't really feel like I was saving anyone or helping people. Sure I was protecting them, but only through my girls. And like with Eri, the most I could do was hide her away and try to give her a happy life. I couldn't be a hero like you or All Might."
Kotov nodded before saying, "it's not quite as glamorous as you might have been thinking though. Given how many want to challenge you or just looking to cause chaos. But I think I understand. Even if I don't really like it, having me around as the big hero of southern California with Star made people feel safe. There was a lot of gratitude for us. And directly for us."
"Yeah and now, with this new arm and figuring out that I'm not quite human anymore, I just….. I think I really can be a hero now. Though it's a bit late to join a hero school. Especially when I do have a license. I just haven't used it." Izuku continued before testing out some of the features of his arm.
Kotov was about ready to advise against trying to be a more involved hero (not to mention not going to look for trouble or a fight), when suddenly a few screams were heard. The pair turned and saw a pair of villains roaring and suddenly fighting among themselves near the Kaka'ako Waterfront Park. One seemed to be made of stone with each portion of his body independently controlled. And the other looked to be four-armed magma man.
"So, it's gonna be one of those days. Izuku you should and he's gone." Kotov started before seeing Izuku sprint off towards the battling villains. The magma man roared before firing a barrage of lava rocks toward his stone opponent. But not all of them were aimed well.
Six shots were headed towards a group of people and they were about to be incinerated. Until Izuku stepped in and created a large barrier to intercept the attacks. "I don't think so! You're not hurting anyone today! Because I'm here! And I'll put a stop to you!" he shouts before shifting his arm into a destroyer cannon. And firing off a quick barrage of shots at the magma beast.
As he was about to be snuck up on by the rock man, Kotov appeared with the air bursting around him and seemed to shatter the villain into pieces. "Okay wasn't trying to do that! You kind of jumped the gun here Izuku!" he said before hurrying over to pick up and save a number of bystanders. While Izuku focused on defense and keeping the villain's attention on him.
Izuku snarled a little before asking, "What? Did you expect me to just wait and let you handle everything?!" Kotov tripped a little at that before shouting, "NO! But you could have waited until we knew everything of what we're up against. I mean yeah it seems straightforward on what we're dealing with and….. the rock guy is right behind me isn't he?"
Just as Kotov was saying that, he was struck in the side by the reformed rock villain. He cursed before trying to punch out the foe again. Even using a lightweight explosive to break apart some of the rocks. But the villain kept reforming.
And Izuku wasn't having much better luck against the magma man. Most of his shots were just going in and not doing much damage and even with the increased durability and no pain receptors in his prosthetic, it was still causing damage to the limb.
"Not exactly a good pair of foes for us to face, is it? At least not in a purely physical fight." Kotov noted after firing another shot and then using his wind blade attack to knock the rock man back. Izuku grunted in annoyance before agreeing. "How do we take them out? Or knock them out?" he thought aloud before side flipping to avoid a duo of punches directed his way.
Kotov looks like he's trying to come up with an idea when he gets hit by a spare piece from the rock villain's leg. And then trapped in a burning bear hug by the magma villain. While he is screaming, Izuku starts to panic.
In that moment of panic, the world seems to slow down. He takes aim with his cannons again, fully intending to unload on his foes. But that is when his rational side takes over. 'I've been going about this all wrong. I've been trying to beat them with brute force and that doesn't work. They'll just reform their bodies. So…'
Izuku takes aim at a nearby fire hydrant. Shooting the side to where it blasts water onto the magma villain, causing him pain and cooling his body. While also hardening it to allow Kotov to break free. "Shit. Gonna have some new things to treat when we get back. And I think I've had enough of this."
He pulls out one of his extra high calorie bars and quickly eats it. Feeling his quirk fully recharge, as he has enough power to use his sharp wind hurricane attack on the rock man. Causing all of his pieces to bounce around and rattle the villain's detachable head.
As the pieces fall and the police arrive, Izuku takes more stock of what just happened. "Some of what you were worried about was me losing sight of things, wasn't it? Like just now. I wanted to be the big hero like All Might. I made that speech and just started blasting away at the magma guy. But it didn't work, and I just kept going. And then you got hurt."
"Well, the me getting burned wasn't exactly what I was worried about. But I did think you might accidentally blast something while trying to get a job done. You kept it to lower power rounds but still. Ow!" Kotov said while the paramedics were putting compresses on his burns.
He grunted a few times before reminding Izuku that they were both heroes second. "First and foremost, we're commanders. Hell, you were a commander longer than I was. Only for a week but still. Our job is to direct our girls to save the world from the Sirens. Sure, that may mean we fight them or have to deal with them. But we have to put our faith in them, and trust that our strategies will carry us through."
Izuku looked down before thinking back to the very first battle that he really took part in. He wasn't on the frontlines; he wasn't directly fighting the Sirens. He planned things out with the admirals and captains as well as the ships he summoned.
"I taught you how to defend yourself and others if the fight came to you. But that doesn't mean you go looking for trouble and a fight. Sometimes, it just means that you have to step back and let someone else handle the matter. And you'll hate that at times, but it's better than recklessly rushing and accidentally causing more damage."
Kotov said this while putting a hand on Izuku's shoulder. While also wincing from the cold patches on his shoulders. Izuku looked down before sighing and seeing what the man meant. "Given you have some experience. That whole first fight you got into caused massive amounts of damage. Let alone how rushing in got so many heroes killed early in the war."
The man groaned and agreed before both started making their way back to Pearl Harbor. And both of their most loyal ships checking them over closely. Yorktown agreeing to help treat John's burns later, while Kii and Kawakaze were checking over Izuku. The latter more fervently before asking why he didn't take her with him.
"I'm alright Kawakaze. Don't worry. Look I just…" as Izuku was saying this, Kawakaze got really close to his face. He could see the tears in her eyes while she gripped his arm a bit tighter. She tried to cover it up, but the boy had seen enough and knew how scared she really was.
He put a gentle hand on her shoulder before saying, "sorry. I just….. started running without thinking. But we did save a lot of people today. And…. hey what's that?" Before any more talks and thoughts could be constructed, those close to ship spirits and the spirits themselves sensed something.
In the rehab area, Melissa had been fiddling with the Wisdom Cubes. Eventually trying out a possibility. 'The reason they can't connect with them, is because they never really existed beyond thoughts. Most of the others summoned had been laid down and were in further development plans. But these girls…. They didn't get to that point! They were just possibilities from other worlds. And only I have the details and information about them in my head. So maybe…'
As she was thinking this, Melissa put her hands on ten cubes. Focusing on a strong ally who would give her some air support against the Sirens and traitor ships. Feeling the hot-headed attitude, with a need for a security blanket. A rather special blanket. As well as the planes needed to fill the skies.
In a large flash of light, before the girl stood the large and proud theoretical Japanese aircraft carrier. The white dragon herself, Hakuryuu. Aside from the confident smirk and massive nodachi she was wielding (as well as the cannons that were right in front of Melissa's face), the carrier's rigging was quite large as well. Damaging a fair amount of the room they were in, while showing off the few planes she had around her.
"I am Hakuryuu, aircraft carrier of the Sakura Empire. Let any who dares question my might face me head-on. I shall teach them the meaning of overwhelming power. So you're the one who summoned me eh? Looks like you've been through plenty." Hakuryuu said while eyeing Melissa and her prostheses.
Melissa's glasses went a little askew before thinking, 'whoops. Looks like I summoned quite the…. Intense personality. But I think I know how to deal with her.' Hakuryuu looked down in slight annoyance at her summoner.
"Eh?! You got a problem little brat? Maybe I should find someone with a bit more backbone and ah! Hey! Give that back!" Right as Hakuryuu was trying to push Melissa around and gesturing at her with her sword, the girl used a little trick she learned her limbs could do. Namely, detach themselves and be controlled remotely.
She launched her hand and used it to snatch the nodachi away and then hold it up out of Hakuryuu's reach. It eventually gets to where she starts crying a little as Melissa keeps the weapon out of her reach. "Please! Just please give me back my sword!" Hakuryuu says with some tears peeking out of her eyes.
Melissa's eyes widened a little before bringing her limb down and reattaching it. She sighs before saying, "look I won't make a big deal about it. But it is thanks to me that you're even here to begin with. So how about a little respect? And I don't take this away again." Melissa thought she sounded like a bit of a bully while doing this, but it should work with a stubborn personality like her.
"Okay fine. I'll follow your lead 'commander'." Hakuryuu said with a sniffle while wiping her nose. Melissa sighed because she noted the sarcastic way her new ship said commander. 'But that might be the best I'll get for now,' she thought before handing back the sword.
"Melissa?! Is everything…. Okay?" Izuku asked upon running into the room. And spying the very large woman kneeling before Melissa. "Uh hey Izuku. So um. Meet my newest ship. Hakuryuu."
Izuku and his other's ships jaws were dropped upon seeing the carrier. Kotov and the other commanders were equally surprised but glad that Melissa had figured out how to summon more allies. And that was increased when Melissa summoned her next ship with another ten cubes.
"It is an honor to meet you at last - my prophet, my leader. I am Saint Louis, brought to your side by God's will. As long as it is justice that guides your hand, then this humble spear shall be yours to wield."
Another silver haired ship with a large weapon stood before Melissa and pledged her service. Though much more amicably compared to prior. "Well, I guess that answers that. Looks like we don't get the Siren killer types. Just you miss. Now comes the big question: where do we send you?" Rassmussen said before looking to his fellow commanders.
All of them seemed to have their own opinions but those were stopped by the heavy slamming of St. Loius's spear. "Perhaps you should ask my lady yourselves. Rather than deciding for her," she said with a slight flash of her red eyes.
Melissa blushed at the terminology but thanked her ship for the consideration on the matter. She looked down before saying she would like to go to Japan. "Currently, there are only two commanders in the country, yes? That still leaves much of Asia at the mercy of the Sirens. America has enough firepower right now. So, I think I should aid our ally."
Kotov blinked before shrugging and agreeing. "Izuku had to deal with a lot of shit as is before I got there. And then I had to deal with some of it while helping out. Maybe with her around, there'll be less pressure on him to protect Japan."
"Well I'm not complaining. Though we might have to go through some back channels to get her approved." Izuku said before stepping forward and offering a hand to shake for the newest commander in the Siren War.
While all of this had been going down, new trouble had struck Moncal base. The very thing Overhaul had been waiting for had happened. A major attack by the Sirens left the base drained of shipgirls. Even Nagara had been sent out to deal with the invasion of aliens.
"I won't let you take her!" Inko shouted before using her quirk to try and pull a large object to strike Overhaul. It did work and he was knocked forward. But as she was running with Eri, her escape route was cut off by blue flames. "Nothing personal ma'am. But the boss said he needs the girl," the villain Dabi said while looking a little bored.
Before Inko could try to get away again, the ground rose up and surrounded her and Eri. "Looks like you didn't get far. And as much as I want to kill you, I can't as long as you have Eri that close. So, you're coming with us." Overhaul snarled while in the background multiple sections of the base burned.
Okay. That was a bit more of dramatic cliffhanger than I wanted to leave off on. But it has to be done for the next arc. Which in this case is Izuku's shot at doing more of a direct hero matter in his home country. While yes I had it set up with him being reprimanded for rushing into a fight, in this case it was a blind rush that led to injuries that could have been avoided. If he had focused on defense only anyway.
On the other hand, where this will go is having Izuku bring all of his girls down on Overhaul. Strategically. Not just a blind rush to get the girl or to beat the villains. But using more brains than brawn for the fight. Also it might be a bit before this gets updated again, sorry. Currently, I'm in a rut and the only thing I can come up with some ideas and story beads for is JASTY2. Heck I've even got the outline for Year 3 started. Anyway, please review.