Authors note: Gods it takes longer to proof now with the different processor but it done!
This chapter has an image embedded in the Ao3 crosspost.
Enjoy!
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Experiment testing log – day 1
Saliva tests prove Vestal's tests and show markers within it. These markers after the first tests dissipated after thirty minutes.
Skin samples show no similar effect, while blood samples show markers similar to Ship girl biological markers, as Vestal had confirmed before.
Samples from Admiral Hipper and Duke of York showed no issues with their samples and Annabelle added her own samples into the pool as a control.
Annabelle and I have also planned out how we will advance the testing over the next few days.
Experiment Testing log – Day 2
Starting saliva and blood tests in earnest has proven enlightening. Both Duke of York and Admiral Hipper allowed a small portion of each to touch their lips and then were tested by the machinery we have under Annabelle's purview. Both showed higher than normal energy levels according to the machine. The small test sample of saliva gave a boost lasting about thirty minutes, and was fully purged from their bodies after an hour. Blood gave a lesser boost that took longer to manifest, but lasted almost three hours.
No other issues were reported by either of them and excess time was used assisting in taking apart the lightning gun with others.
They were unnerved by my presence.
Experiment Testing Log – Day 3
Today's test was the same as yesterdays, though with a fifty percent larger dose of saliva and blood.
Unexpectedly, the effects was almost twice as great but lasted a shorter time for each. Annabelle believes it may be due to increased potency. Further testing will be require it seems,
Annabelle is also suggesting we broaden the range of tests so that Admiral hipper and Duke of York do not become, in her words, bored out of their minds.
Experiment Testing Log – Day 4
Further increase has resulted in differing results. Increased saliva led to instant boost of energy, however Duke of York reported having feeling of nonsensical rage and a desire to commit violence. Blood testing will be postponed for tomorrow.
The lightning gun group is making progress in ways I wouldn't have considered and some of the ones working on it are talking about how they believe it could be effective as a militia defence weapon or turreted emplacement.
Others are vocally saying otherwise while they work on other, unrelated projects.
Experiment testing Log – Day 5
Testing the next amount of blood has, almost, led to problems. The blood amount this time made Admiral hipper extremely energetic for the day, though she herself did not seem to notice it. On the other hand when Duke of York tested, she became extremely irate and angry, so much so that she almost could not listen to other peoples words and almost attacked in anger.
Annabelle believes that any more tests in this manner will reach a point of no return, so we have decided to take a break tomorrow and the day after we will come up with new test while we make plans to have an area secured for more of this prior vein of testing.
Request for such preparations has been sent to the Commander.
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"So, they've reached a plateau huh?" the commander said as he looked at the report in front of him open on his desk.
"To achieve that much in a mere five days is respectable," Belfast commented as she placed a cup of tea on the commanders desk, turning it so that he could easily reach its handle.
"Well, Mister Grey likely wants answers as well," the Commander said as he looked over another report and smirked. "Seems like some of the others are making headway with mister Grey's Lightning gun as well."
"That is certainly good news. Many naval militia would very much enjoy having a way to properly combat Landforms," Belfast stated just before the phone on the commanders desk began to ring.
He picked it up before it even rang a second time. "This is the Commander of Azur Lane. . . .. . . . . .you are sure? . . . . I See, then I'll have a fleet sent immediately," the Commander said as he hung up the phone and looked to Belfast grimly. "Have the second fleet gather at the docks in five minutes, along with one of the support ships and a full contingent of human medical personnel and marines."
"There has been an attack?" Belfast asked curiously.
"Yes. Apparently a naval bombardment came from beyond the horizon and has struck all along the San-Francisco naval base."
"Naval shells, or siren weapons?"
"Normal explosive shells," the commander clarified. "The local marine commander who was on the phone believes that it is likely the sirens trying to stir up animosity among the factions."
"That does seem possible," Belfast agreed with a nod. "Shall we also send the third fleet to-"
"No," the commander said abruptly cutting Belfast off, his tone cold and grim sounding.
Belfast looked at the commander for a moment before her own expressions soured. "I understand. I will have the second fleet meet you at the docks, and then begin informing the faction leaders."
"Please do," the commander said as he got up from his chair and plucked his jacket from over its backside, sliding it on with practised ease. "I will inform the base security personnel to move to Readiness level 3."
"Not merely 4?"
"I hope I am wrong, but I have a bad feeling in my gut," the Commander said as he clicked the cuffs of his jacket tight, and then opened a drawer of his desk and pulled out a pistol in a dark leather holster.
Belfast looked at the pistol, recognizing it well, before looking back up at the Commander. "You believe you will need that?"
"It feels right to bring it."
"It will not hurt a Siren Sir."
"It may not be a Siren it is used against."
"Then perhaps I should go with you to-"
"No, if my gut feeling is right, then I won't be the one in danger," the Commander said as he patted the holster. "This old friend of mine is simply insurance."
Belfast looked conflicted for a moment before speaking. "Sir, if you are worried that the base will come under attack, why leave when you could request another from one of the factions to go in your stead?"
"Because, our answer is already here, and if I am right, my presence would only tip off our enemies that I know what they are planning," the Commander said as he turned to the window to look out at the base and the early morning light falling over it. "And if I am wrong, it will merely show that perhaps I am getting to old for this life."
"Mistakes happen, and few here would accept another to lead them, sir."
"Perhaps, but any position watched by numerous nations and factions can little allow themselves mistakes that endanger others. That will be a possible problem for later, however. Right now, we must prepare to head out and save lives."
"As you wish, sir," Belfast said as she gently opened the door, allowing the commander to walk straight out with her following behind her. "If I may ask a question?"
"About?"
"What you said. You believe there is one here who is the answer to your current worry, yes?"
"Yes."
"Might I ask who it-"
"Who do you think?"
" . . . . I understand, commander. Let us hope that things go as you hope they will."
"Yes, let us hope."
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Max let out a noise that was somewhere between a sigh and a groan as he opened his eyes and stared up at the ceiling of his room. Light was seeping in through his curtains and illuminating the grey concrete walls as well as the fridge, and a quick tilt of his head made him scowl.
8:53
"I'm. . . . not falling back asleep," Max mumbled as simply laid in his bed for a moment. "The fact he still had his own room that wasn't being obviously monitored was a godsend and a surprise, and on days like today it was even better because he could simply sleep in for a bit.
Knock knock*
Max let out a sigh as he pushed the covers off of him and kicked his legs over the edge of the bed. "Who is it?"
"Uh, A-Admiral Hipper. I, I was wondering if you were up and, um, if we could talk," Came the somewhat muted reply from outside the door.
"Ah, alright, give me a minute then," Max said as he stood up and walked over to his wardrobe, only to stop for a second and look toward the door. Having replaced it himself he had opted for a reinforced door and frame bolted right into the concrete walls. If anyone tried to break it down again they would take part of the wall with it and be in even more trouble. "Is the weather fine outside right now?"
"Uh, yes?" Admiral hipper answered, sounding confused by the question.
"Alright, just give me a minute and I'll be out," Max said again as he pulled out some clothes and got himself changed for the day in his usual style.
Opening the door to leave Max found Admiral Hipper leaning against the opposite railing garbed in a pair of light tan pants and a brown t-shirt, looking very casual. Honestly if he didn't know she was a Ship girl, he wouldn't have guessed it with how she currently looked.
"Oh, are you not working today?" Hipper asked upon seeing Max without his long coat.
"I am this afternoon, but I'll just come back for it later," Max said as he stepped out of his apartment and closed the door behind him. "I know you said you wanted to talk, but i just woke up. Would you be fine with us talking over breakfast or brunch?"
Admiral Hipper seemed taken aback for a second before glancing down at the ground for a second before looking back up at Max, a slight bit of colour tinting her cheeks. "Well, I guess that's fine."
"Alright, you want to hit that cafe again or-"
"I know a place," Hipper suddenly spoke up, stepping ahead of Max. "The Ironblood Cafeteria Has a good brunch menu to accommodate groups doing night patrols."
"Huh, well I'm up for trying some Ironblood brunch then. Is the cafeteria connected to the main building?"
"Sort of, its a bit hard to find if you don't know where it is, I'll lead the way," Admiral Hipper said as she began walking with Max following behind her.
The base seemed to have returned to the state it was in before duke of York went on her rampage and the Siren calling itself empress had made herself known. The roads and paths were filled of people either enjoying their days off or hurrying to head to their jobs. Max could see numerous groups of Ship girls milling about as well, some seeming to just be hanging with each other, while others were running small booths and stalls or hurrying about to do work themselves.
There was even a group that seemed to be getting talked to by a couple marines who made their intentions clear by the way their eyes stared down into the girls plunging necklines.
"Sakuran clothing really does leave little to the imagination," Admiral Hipper said in a grumpy and annoyed tone as she shook her head.
"You know them?" Max asked, earning another shake of Admiral Hipper's head.
"No, but I see it a lot. People can't help but ogle those useless lumps of fat, and Sakuran clothes seem to make it easy intentionally."
"Do you think it is intentionally, or merely cultural?"
"I don't know," Admiral Hipper admitted with a huff. "The Union is the same way too. Always flaunting those lumps pointlessly."
"Much of the Union is warm coastal territory, so it might be cultural to stave off heat," Max suggested with his own shrug. "Honestly, it doesn't hurt anyone if they are fine with it."
"You think showing off skin like that is fine?"
"Within reason, though I do agree that some of the Sakuran Clothing does seem designed specifically for such a thing in a strange way that is different from union or Royal clothing."
"YES! Finally someone else gets it!" Admiral Hipper exclaimed as if she had just found buried treasure.
Max smirked. "But, as i recall, doesn't every faction have some ship girls that seem intent on weaponizing their body shape?" Admiral hipper shot Max a glare that could melt ice, prompting him to raise a hand defensively. "All I'm saying is that maybe commenting on everyone bodies is a bit far, no? If they don't make a problem of it-"
"Yeah sure, that's a great idea in theory, up until everyone makes fun of me for not having fat hanging off my chest like my sister does!" Admiral Hipper snapped back in annoyance.
"I, take it this has been a problem for a while?"
"If it wasn't a problem I wouldn't hate it," Admiral Hipper relied before letting out a defeated sigh. "Just, forget about it. It isn't important right now."
Max could tell that Hipper thought it was important, but decided it was best to not press. "As you wish. . . So, what can I expect from an authentic Ironblood Brunch?"
"Oh that's easy, it's sort of like a buffet of simple hearty individual plates," Admiral Hipper responded, her tone becoming calm as she began listing off items. "Cheeses in cubes or slices, crackers and breads, slices of various meats both dried and smoked and cooked, toast and jams, eggs, it's a whole set of whatever you want so you can really fill yourself up and prepare for the day!"
"Sounds like a good meal," Max agreed as they came up to the Ironblood facilities where Admiral hipper simply threw the door open and walked in, Max having to hurry through so the large and very thick looking door would not slam into him.
They went down the halls, a different way than Max's prior repairs had taken him, and eventually went though a pair of dark black and red double doors that entered into what could only be the cafeteria.
And it was drastically different than the halls that led to it.
Wood panelling lined the walls of the hall and the ceiling that, along with the wood columns that rose from the floor to the ceiling every few meters made the whole place have a squashed yet rustic feeling to it. The tables set around were made of wood as well, yet had what appeared to be brass or iron edging and accenting to them, with a singular lamp over each table that, while illuminating, were not extensively bright. One wall had a counter covered in giant kegs with a stack of mug beside them, while adjacent to it was an actual counter area that led back into a kitchen. On the counter itself were dozens of massive silver trays of foods just like Admiral Hipper had described. Crackers of many kinds sitting beside small slices of bread, while plates of cheeses, sliced meats and even sliced up vegetables and eggs. The counter was piled high, and max could barely see a place that wasn't covered in a plate of something as Admiral Hipper led him up to the counter.
"I see what you meant, this is a big spread," Max said as he looked it over. "Anything you would suggest?"
"If you don';t know what something is of if you'll like it, just take one of it," Admiral Hipper said as she began plucking things off trays and placing them onto a plate. "If your eyes are bigger than your stomach we'll just feed the excess to someone's rigging."
"So, they can eat food too then?" Max asked as he followed Admiral Hippers example and began grabbing whatever looked good or interesting.
"Anything we can eat and more," Admiral Hipper said as she shuffled down the counter, her plate almost completely full. "Many of them like chewing on Siren's when given the chance, though some are so tame you'll almost never see them act autonomously."
"Oh . . so, wait, are they allowed in here?" Max said as he cautiously glanced over his shoulder at the rest of the cafeteria area. There were a number of Ironblood ship girls at some tables and behind them by the counter, as well as a pair of Ironblood marines who seemed to be talking to a pair of shipgirls, but nowhere did he see any of the Ironblood riggings.
"No, rigging inst allowed in the cafeteria," Admiral Hipper said with a light sigh. "You don't need to worry though, everyone's rigging is tame as a puppy unless they want it to be otherwise."
"They defend their master, huh?"
"More like they can sense our emotions and intention. When we want them to be weapons, they are. Otherwise they sit dormant as our ships, or can move about as part of our riggings," Admiral Hipper explained as she, seeing that max';s plate was basically full, led him away from the counter and toward a table near the back wall.
"I see," Max simply said as he sat down across from Admiral Hipper.
"Yeah its a bit complicated," Admiral hipper said with a shrug as she moved to sit, only to stop and get up. "I'll get us some Beer, you have a preference?"
"I'm not to familiar with Ironblood beers, but something light if possible."
"Alright, be back in a second," Admiral Hipper said before walking off to the drink counter, making Max suddenly feel very alone and very vulnerable.
He looked at the food on his large and tasted one of the pieces of meat, hoping to ignore the feeling of being watched, and smiled a bit as the meat was quiet good. Unfortunately that was the moment that one of the pairs of eyes that were upon him decided it was time to strike.
"And what are you doing here, rat?"
Max looked up to to find a strange looking Ironblood ship girl standing by Admiral Hippers empty seat and glaring down at him. She was not particularly tall, but her long pink hair, and the abhorrently large horns that seemed to come out of the sides of her head horizontally wider than her shoulders before aiming up to the ceiling made her very visible and obvious. She was wearing a black one piece dress that showed off her shoulders and had sleeves that went down far past her hands, covering them from view completely. Her purple eyes were also quiet hard, making it difficult for Max to respond for a second.
"Having brunch with Hipper,"
"Do you think you are being funny?"
"No."
"Then answer my question you rat!"
"I did."
"Why you insolent-"
"Hey, Max is my guest," Admiral Hipper stated as she walked up to the table and slammed down a pair of mugs upon it, almost spilling them and creating quite a loud cracking noise.
The pink haired woman looked to Admiral Hipper with a scowl. "He's a freak, should he be imprisoned in some lab under the base by this point?"
"He is not a freak, he's a researcher and maintenance worker, Rupprecht," Admiral Hipper said seriously as she stepped up to her.
"So, what is your point? He's not a human, so he shouldn't be here even if you're having to watch over him to make sure he doesn't go ballistic."
"I'm not watching over him, I'm part of the same project he is doing research for, and we're just here for brunch," Admiral Hipper said, her tone nearly a growl.
"So go research whatever crap elsewhere and leave us to have our breakfasts without having a lab rat in our midst!"
"He's not hurting you Rupprecht, just get lost."
"Or what? You'll fight me? The woman said with a smirk. "If it was your sister I'd be worried, but you wouldn't stand a chance against me on your own. Always second after all!"
"Why you-"
"Is there a problem here, my children?"
Both women turned to see Friedrich der Große walking toward the table, the faint ghost of a smile visible on her lips.
"No, just making it clear this lab rat is not-"
"Prinz Rupprecht," Friedrich der Große Suddenly spoke up, her tone cold and commanding. "Mister Grey here is a part of the orchestra I am leading, as is Admiral Hipper. Unless you wish to join the orchestra, I would suggest leaving them alone and not intruding upon them. Unless you would like me to inform Lady Bismark that you wish to join a travelling band?"
Prinz Rupprecht took a wary step back from Friedrich, worry covering her face. "N-no, that wont be necessary."
"Ah, then I wonder why you are trying to-" Friedrich began to say, only for Prinz Rupprecht to already be walking away from her. She then glanced around the cafeteria, resulting in many then turning their attentions back to what they had been doing before. "It is always so sad to have someone walk off stage before they have finished, wouldn't you agree?" shew then asked as she looked to Hipper, and then Max.
"Thank you, i guess i should expect such things," Max said with a sigh.
"Tis of no consequence, my child," Friedrich said with a smile as Admiral Hipper sat down. "I merely quieted the audience."
"Not much of an audience when she acts like that," Admiral Hipper commented with an annoyed sigh.
"And, she is a . . . ." Max let his sentence hang, hoping for an answer.
"Prinz Rupprecht is a Pr Battle Cruiser," Friedrich offered with a smile. "Powerful and self assured, she joined the grand orchestra near the end of the show, and each was a perfect showing."
"So. . . she never lost and is arrogant about her power?" Max asked carefully as he tried to understand Friedrichs words.
"Basically, yeah," Admiral Hipper said as she tossed a small square of cheese into her mouth. "She thinks that her word is law towards a lot of people just because she has never been beat in combat."
"It is also worth noting that Lady Bismark is aware of this, and is planning to have her join the soonest excursion to challenge a Siren choir when the opportunity presents itself," Friedrich stated as she plucked a piece of meat off of Admiral Hippers plate, making her scowl.
Luckily Friedrich seems to notice Hippers glare as she reached for another piece, instead simply pushing the plate more to the centre of the table. "Well, as I have sheets to write after my own meal, I shall leave you for now and speak to you both tomorrow about how your own music proceeds."
Admiral Hipper and Max watched ad Friedrich walked away from their table.
"Well, hopefully that makes no one else interrupt us," Max commented as he went back to eating, finding the cheeses very nice, and the meat equally tasty.
"Y-yes, being interrupted would be . . . ."
"Something wrong?"
"No, I just um,-"
Max let out a light sigh as he chewed and swallowed before crossing his arms on the table before his plate and looking at Admiral hipper. "It's clear something is wrong, even to me. Is it related to whatever it is you said you wanted to talk about?"
Admiral Hipper tensed up at Max's words. "Well,. Uh, I was, um. . . what i mean is- . . ugh!" Admiral Hipper let out a groan of annoyance as she hung her head down in exasperation. "I'm no good at this sort of thing."
"That being?"
"Being socially competent," Hipper grumbled before tossing another piece of cheese into her mouth.
"Uhmm," Max said uncertainly, not sure where this was going.
"I just . . . . . . what are we?" Admiral Hipper asked as she looked at Max with a very conflicted expression. "I mean, a Shipgirl and a not quiet human but, but we are supposedly going out and have gone out once on a single half a meal date, and our days seem to be made up on doing tests on each other basically before you go to maintenance and I go do patrols or have time off, and because of the project we can't even do some things that those in a relationship would, and we don't talk outside of work and, and we-"
Admiral Hipper was quieted when Max suddenly leaned across the table and placed a finger on the tip of her nose. She simply blinked for a second, seemingly uncertain as to what was going on, before she then looked angry and swung her hand at Max's finger, though he moved it just fast enough to not get hit. "What the hell?!"
"You were becoming frantic,"
"So you poke my nose?"
"Its something i saw a neighbour do for years that seemed to work," Max explained with a shrug before he shifted his posture to be a bit forward, as if leaning over to table toward Admiral Hipper. "I get it."
"What?"
"How you are feeling. At least, I think I do," Max said lightly. "I've been trying to keep the Overwatch work on it's own, but knowing that it limits things has been, odd. With my working in the afternoons as well, and neither of us considering about sharing our schedules much during the lab work it's been . . . awkward to think about. And since I've never been in a relationship before, I wasn't sure if i should say something, if it was taboo, or if i was doing something wrong," Max said before leaning back in his char a bit, looking disgusted. "I, have also been trying to wrap my head around what could happen, and if it would be better to just, call it all off."
"What?!" Admiral Hipper exclaimed as she shot up in her seat, only a second later realizing how loud she had been and whispered and apology as she sat down at looked at Max as if demanding answers.
"Look, as cliche as it might sound, it's not you, but me. We've basically proven that I can, at the minimum, induce energy or drastic mood swings in ship girls with diluted saliva, our tests so far have proven that, and if what Annabelle is suggesting proves true, any further tests could go over an unintended edge. If, if as a pair we went, further in any extent, even a kiss could have unintended consequences that we don't know what the consequences could be."
Admiral Hipper looked at Max, the anger she had felt when he first made the suggestion diossapearing as quickly as it had come. "You're worried about what that Siren said," she whispered. "About making a ship girl into your slave."
Max nodded. "Before I thought it nothing but Siren arrogance, but the tests effects on Duke of York are, concerning."
"Okay, but all I get is a feeling of energy, that's hardly dangerous," Admiral Hipper suggested. "Maybe York is just a, what is it called? Odd one out?"
"It is possible, but we would only be able to prove such a thing with more expanded testing, and until Vestal comes to join, I feel that may be unlikely be allowed."
"So you want to-" Admiral hipper began to say, only to be cut off by the lights in the Cafeteria turning an aggressive red, right before a heavy klaxon began to blare. "Oh Scheiße."
"I take it this is a bad alarm?" Max asked as he and Admiral Hipper stood up from their chairs.
"The red alarm, the base may be under attack I need to-" Admiral Hipper began to say as she stepped away from the table, only to see Freidrich approaching them both with speed.
"My child, take mister Grey to the Overwatch facilities and stay there to defend it," Friedrich commanded quickly, though her tone was much more of a request.
"But the base-"
"Has more than enough children to defend it," Friedrich interrupted. "However, some areas must be protected, and Overwatch needs to be kept safe from prying eyes. The other that are part of it are being sent the same message presently."
Admiral hipper looked like she wanted to argue, but instead shallowly nodded.
"Do not worry, we shall deal with whatever issues is at hand that aims to interrupt our orchestra," Friedrich said in a tone that was probably supposed to be reassuring as she turned and followed other ship girls out of the cafeteria.
"We, really have no luck with being interrupted, do we?" Max asked after a few seconds of silence.
"No, we don't," Admiral Hipper grumbled, as she motioned with her hand. "C'mon, I'll escort you to the Overwatch labs."
"Alright, would be better than getting hit by a landform again," Max said in agreement as he began following Admiral hipper out of the cafeteria and down the halls.
"Unlikely to happen again," Admiral Hipper said as she pushed open a door to the outside and took a cautionary glance around. The sirens could be heard across the whole base as marines moved to their posts while ship girls headed to the docks. "I don't see or hear any aircraft."
"Maybe it was an attack detected at range?" Max suggested hopefully.
"Maybe, but stay close just in case, come on," Admiral Hipper said as she moved out into the roadways with Max trailing behind her a bit even as she tried to keep her pace to one a human could match.
"Hey . . .about what we were talking about . ."
"I don't think now is the best time to talk about it," Max said simply as he ran, his ears picking up an odd ringing noise that was, strange. Not like tinnitus at all, and more like the sound of a bell being rung alongside the sound of fire. "Did you hear that?"
Admiral Hipper slowed and stopped by the corner of a building and listened for a second. "I don't hear anything."
"It sounded like-"
"No, that's worse," Admiral Hipper said as she looked around in worry. "I don't hear any fighting, and where did the alert siren go?"
Max blinked before realizing the blaring klaxons were dead silent. "You're right, I don't hear anything now."
"What had you thought you heard?"
"Uh, a bell, and flames i think?"
"Scheiße, stay close," Admiral hipper said as she stepped right in front of Max and began looking around. "We've figured our your trick, show yourself Siren!"
"Hmph, intelligent for a fool," Came a woman's voice, one with a distinctly rough and Ironblood accent.
Admiral Hipper turned to the voice on a nearby rooftop, her eyes going wide at the woman she saw. Long white hair, an eyepatch, an Ironblood uniform that seemed far too dark.
"Scharnhorst?" Admiral Hipper said before scowling. "No, you are not her."
"Amazing, the whining little girl can use her brain," the dark Scharnhorst said in a mocking tone as her rigging shifted and pointed toward Admiral Hipper and Max, making a strange grinding sound the whole while. "Now let us see if the raving lunatics understand what is going on here."
"You, are part of those META, aren't you?" Admiral Hipper asked cautiously.
"Yes. And I am here to make sure this timeline has at least the tiniest of chances," Scharnhorst said as her rigging snapped and thrust forward, pointing its guns at them. "Step aside."
"So you can kill a human?"
"No, so i can kill a weapon," Scharnhorst said with a shake of her head. "A shame, I had hoped this timeline had potential but it seems that-"
"Oh, now i get it, haha!" Max suddenly said with a loud chuckle, making Scharnhorst stop her words and stare at him. "Now it makes sense, this was the plan in the first place."
"What are you talking about weapon?"
"This, you being here," Max said with a gesturing wave. "That bitch knew her presence would be detected here, so when I refused to cooperate, she figured you'd come to kill me, and I'd fall into the palm of her hands to try to survive."
"You speak of the Siren that aims to claim dominion of this place. Tell me which one it is and I shall make your death painless, tool."
"He's no tool, He told Empress off, so you don't need to-" Admiral Hipper began to say in defence, only for Scharnhorst's rigging to let out a horrendous screeching noise.
"The Empress huh. If she was here, then there is no hope. Stand aside Hipper, lest my shells kill you as well as the weapon."
"He's not a weapon!" Admiral Hipper yelled as her hands clenched into fists. "He is not a villain, and you are not killing him!"
Scharnhorst simply stood there for a moment, glaring down at them before sighing. "Whining shitheads, the whole lot of you. Here we are trying to help you, but you refuse to believe us. Fine, I'm done with this bullshit, I'll just kill you both!"
"Run!" Admiral Hipper yelled as she moved to grab Max, only for the sound of a cannon, and an explosion, to rip the ground at her feet apart and send her flying into Max instead.
The two of them tumbled to the ground, a ringing the only thing they could hear, and when they both opened their eyes, they found Max on the ground with Admiral hipper over top of him.
And one of her arms missing while her clothes were shredded and her back covered in gashes that bled down her sides.
"Hipper you-"
"If this works, we're having a big conversation about the future," Hipper interrupted Max, before leaning down in an instant and kissing him right on the lips. Instantly the both of them were covered and surrounded by a blazing white light, forcing Scharnhorst to shield her eye. And when the light finally died down she could only stare in shock as Admiral hipper stood before her looking a bit different, but not like she expected.
He expected Admiral Hipper to turn into a Siren. White hair, yellow eyes, black clothes and a distinct and obvious insanity permeating her being. Maybe even horns and a tail and her rigging turning even more violent looking.
Instead the opposite seemed to be the case. Her hair did not change in colour, but what did were her clothes. Gone were the dull grey and red Ironblood colours, and in their place was an outfit of the same style, but in an almost blindingly bright white outfit with a sparse amount of black edging, and many bright green accents. Her socks were black and green, and her hair clips now appeared made of green metal as well. If that was it Scharnhorst would not have been concerned, but surrounding Admiral Hipper was almost an aura of faintly green static, and Scharnhorst could feel the hair on the back of her neck standing up.
Admiral hipper let out a held breath, sounding like she was filled with relief, before she opened her eyes, electric green as if glowing, and smiled at Scharnhorst. "I hope you are ready to attacked yourself, unless you only attack people without their rigging?"
"Bullshit," Scharnhorst stated coldly. "You may have been healed, but you have no weapons to-"
Admiral Hipper leapt off from the ground, right toward Scharnhorst in am impressive show of physicality and, much to Scharnhorst surprise, Swung her clenched first right into the side of her face, the force of the blow sending Scharnhorst down onto the roof she was standing upon. Admiral hipper then looked across the base toward the docks where she could see a glowing green light and smirked. "It's on it's way. Better learn to fight someone who will actually defend themselves."
Scharnhorst pushed herself up to her feet and wiped her face as she glared at Admiral Hipper. "Arrogant Hündin."
"Why, because I refuse to let you think you are better than me?"
"I am better than you!" Scharnhorst yelled as her rigging charged at Admiral Hipper, trying to bite her in half. "I survived while all of you died, I survived and continue while you only ever complain about yours and other peoples bodies and then die like a dog while everyone is fighting for their lives!"
"Haaa? What are you even talking about?" Admiral Hipper demanded as she dodged a number of attempted bites before kicking a leg up and striking the rigging in its chin, sending it reeling back as Scharnhorst herself stepped forward and swung a dark coloured cane of all things at Admiral Hipper.
"I saw you die!" Scharnhorst screamed as Admiral Hipper dodged the first couple cane strikes. "I watched you break apart into a worthless wreck and get obliterated, unable to take the idea of losing, unable to continue on without your sister! I've seen you die so many times it is all too clear how pathetic you are!"
"Haaaah? So you are just assuming I'm weak, because you say other versions of me died?" Admiral Hipper responded in an insulted tone as she continued to avoid swipes of the cane for a few seconds before she caught it and snapped the end of it off with a quick strike of her free hand. "Did you ever think that maybe you and your dimension just sucked?"
"You Wichser!" Scharnhorst yelled as her rigging lunged forward at Admiral hipper and slammed into the roof as Admiral hipper jumped off the side and landed back on the road by Max.
"We don't have mothers you Depp," Admiral Hipper said as she smirked toward the sky. "Alright, lets see how my rigging looks when I'm feeling this good!"
"What?" Scharnhorst asked angrily before glancing up, her expressions shifting to shock as she could see a trail of blue wisdom cubers with a particularly green tint to them soaring through the air towards Hipper. "NO!"
The trail of cubes slammed down around Hipper, each one creating a white, green and blue flash that made it difficult to see for a short second with each one. When they finally stopped, Admiral hipper had her rigging, and her clothing looked little different at all.
Her lack of semi-sentient rigging however was a surprise. What was in its place was a huge mass of mechanical steel in the shape of a block with an opening like a barrel on its front, while its side was covered in lines. It had a large handle for her to grab on its inside, and to her left floated a slab of metal that looked more obviously like a weapon, though not like one normally from a warship. A curves and smooth metal top, with a bottom of angled slides and an opening between them that glowed faintly green. It was clearly some kind of energy weapon, but it was hard to tell what kind without seeing it used.
With her rigging formed, Admiral hipper than raised her hand toward Scharnhorst, the floating cannon following her arm perfectly as her hand seemed to crackle with green electricity and stared at her. "Leave."
"I never Retreat you-"
Admiral hipper Clenched her hand into a fist, and in that moment the floating cannon sparked to life and fired, sending a half meter wide searing beam of crackling green energy toward Scharnhorst.
She barely had time to move, her one side, and her rigging, getting caught in the beam and making her scream in pain as she fell to the rooftop, her skin looking like it had just been burned horrifically, skin peeling and smoking as her rigging flailed about in pain, parts of it looking on the verge of melting.
Max stared at Scharnhorst's state, and the state of the buildings rooftop where concrete looked like it had been both melted and burned all at once, and could not help but gape. "Holy shit you, you just-"
The sound of a clatter of metal pulled max's attention back down to find Admiral Hipper now lying on the ground, eyes closed as arcs of green electricity jumped across her body. He took a step forward to check her over, but found his gaze turning to his side as a black shape suddenly made itself known.
A woman in a long black tattered coat, one of her pants legs torn off and an angular almost pirate like hat on her head. A mass of black iron, shaped not unlike a cannon sat on her back, but it was the bright blazing orange eyes, and the massively oversized pair of scissors in her hands that caught Max's attention.
Especially since the scissors were open, their edges pointing towards Max as she glared at him with contempt.
"Die."
Max didn't say a word as he tried to throw himself away from the scissors, but he could easily tell he wouldn't get out of the way. They were about to slice closed right onto his torso, and judging by the size, the way the woman was holding them, and the way the edge gleamed, it was probably going to result in a lot more than just a flesh wound.
So he closed his eyes and hooped it would dull the pain just a bit.
Except pain didn't come, and the only sound was that of something crunching rock and metal striking metal.
Max opened his eyes to find a sword, ornate and sharp, impaled into the stone beside him right against the middle of the scissors blades, making it impossible for then to close on him. The woman holding the scissors looked surprised as well before leaping backwards, her expression cold. "York."
A second later Duke of York landed on the pavement beside Max, far lighter sounding than one would expect, and stepped up to her blade and ripped it from the concrete before flicking its tip toward the woman. "Hunter. How sad thou would point your blades against one who is not the enemy. I am ashamed for thee."
"That is a Siren Weapon," the now named Hunter said as she stepped back, her eyes glancing toward Scharnhorst, who still writhed on the rooftop in abject and seemingly continuous pain.
"Mister grey is no more a weapon, than thou, merely one afflicted by the world we live in," Duke of York said as she took a step to be more in front of Max. "I care not what horrors you have lived through to think so little of life, but as a royal, I shall give thou a chance to depart this place wholly in one piece. Unless thou thinkest that thou could defeat mine blade?"
Hunter looked ready to strike for a moment before closing her scissors and shifting them to the side. "I am not so foolish as to hunt prey that is beyond me, but my Queen will be abhorred that you of all people would defend such a being."
"Tis quaint that thou think that I would be swayed by the words of one who aims to commit murder most unjust. Your majesty must have her mind lacking in hope and elegance.
Hunter tensed at Duke of York's words, but did not act forwardly as she shifted her shoulder up and pressed it against her ear. "This is Hunter. Mission is a failure. Scharnhorst is down, and the target is highly defended. Our purpose is discovered."
"Whom is leading this foolish endeavour?" Duke of York asked, shifting her own blade a bit to the side, though still at the ready.
" . . . . Ark Royal."
"Then Tell her this. It is pathetic for one of the Royal, one of the Queens own, to aim their blades at those who cannot fight themselves. She hath forgotten herself in her sorrow and rage."
"You don't know us," Hunter said, her voice tinged with anger. "You do not know what we have all gone through. You do not get to-"
"And thou should not make assumptions upon knowing best simply because thou have experienced loss," Duke of York interrupted her with a cold glare. "If thou wished to help, a mere meeting, a sharing of minds and histories would be a way to begin. Not, proclaiming the self greater than others, and skulking about in the shadows no different than the Sirens themselves."
Hunter looked angry and hurt and insulted all at the same time, her muscles tensing to act. Instead though, she took another step back and pressed her shoulder to her ear again. "Understood."
"Your Ark Royal hath understood restraint perhaps?"
"Yes. We are leaving,"
"Then go and take your wayward ally, lest thee begin to understand that mercy has its limits," Duke of York stated as she gestured toward Scharnhorst.
Hunter leapt up onto the rooftop and picked up a moaning Scharnhorst and slung her over a shoulder with some noticeable difficulty as a great shimmering red portal appeared beside her. She took a step toward it and stopped, looking down at Duke of York and Max. "Thank you, Lady Duke of York. And you, weapon. Do not think this has ended it. You are paramount to the Sirens plans for this timeline. Your fate will be challenged."
"How nice to be targeted by more arrogant ass holes that think everything they do is right," Max said, earning a glare before Hunter stepped into the portal and it disappeared, leaving the molten rooftop and Admiral Hippers clothing change as the only proof of what had occurred.
"So . . .what hast occurred here?" Duke of York said after a few seconds of awkward silence as she looked to Admiral Hippers form.
"We, were heading to the Overwatch facilities due to the alarm, then that shipgirl appeared and Admiral Hipper took a hit for me, and then kissed me."
"And changed thus?" Duke of York asked nervously.
"Yes."
Duke of York looked worried. "Did she . . ."
"She didn't act like a murderous Siren, no," Max said, figuring he knew where this was heading. "She acted like herself, maybe a bit more serious, and only attacked that other ship girl that attacked us."
"Curious, this makes myself quite happy that the tests have yet not going further."
"We stopped because it was obvious something was up," Max said as he looked at Admiral Hipper, lying on the ground with a big dumb, and seemingly out of place, smile on her face. "And this . . . is going to take some explaining to the commander."
"Our Adonis is absent at current, headed off to the mainland due to an emergency there, and is due to return tomorrow."
Max stared at Duke of York. "So I'll have to explain this to Friedrich, Bismark,. And likely the other Faction leaders?"
"It is likely."
" . . . crap."