Chapter 14
Skywalker_T-65
Writer with too many ideas.
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- Plural/They/He/Her
Chapter 14:
"What?"
"You heard me, Sara."
"No, I heard you Admiral. But...Little E? I thought it was..."
James sighed, holding up a hand wearily, "Utah, yeah. She's always been the closest, but E hadn't even tried before now, really. Sure, she'd talked around Halsey, but this?"
"It is interesting," Sara rubbed a lock of blue hair between her fingers, a thoughtful expression on her face. "I wonder why it was her...I hate to say this, but Little E isn't anything special, not yet."
"I know that, you know that, Yorktown knows that..." Thompson smiled, though it was more of a grimace. "I'm sure E knows that herself. There is something here, and we're missing what. Something that lets Enterprise get so close to Halsey, while Utah has to struggle."
And on that note, he wasn't looking forward to telling Utah about this. The woman- calling her a girl just didn't fit -wasn't one he would call jealous. Or easily annoyed. Utah was...Utah. She was a personality all her own, for sure. And it was a personality that James would normally not worry about. But this situation was far from normal. The battleship had been the first to try connecting with her crew. And the one who had been leading that effort, ever since the possibility occurred to her. Utah had done more than anyone, actually, in regards to making contact.
So...
To hell with it.
"Sara, I know it's risky right now, but get Utah on the line."
"Admiral?"
Thompson sighed again, "We need to talk to her, as soon as possible. No matter how risky it is."
"I'll call her then." Sara nodded, though confusion was still clear in her green eyes. "Why, though?"
"Because we need to coordinate. If we can figure out why E is so close, it might be what Utah needs to get through."
And then watch the fireworks. Damn, I can't believe I'm getting behind this.
It still struck him, sometimes, how risky what he was doing was. Halsey seemed unusually accepting of the situation, but James was not foolish enough to think everyone would be. And the other Admiral may not even be accepting once he knew what was really happening. It was quite a different situation between a 'haunted' ship, and a ship that had a soul. Understandably so, in fact. James could still remember when ship girls were first coming to the field. After all, he had lived through it...been assigned to work with them, right from the start. So he knew just how much of an adjustment that had been.
This situation?
Well, it was hardly wrong to say it was going to be infinitely worse. After all, this was a different time, with different morals. Barring a minuscule amount of people, most would be unable to cope at first, to the idea ships had souls. Not that it was much better, in the future. Moreover, Thompson knew that it would quickly come down on him once the truth got out. He could hardly lie to Admiral Halsey, and...well. He was going to be a very busy person, when the time came. And that was without telling anyone about his other secret.
One step at a time...
"Admiral?"
At least Utah was quick.
"Good to hear from you again, Utah. Any more progress?"
"Not as of yet, no. I'm almost there, I can feel that much. But there is something I'm missing. Why?" Utah's voice shifted towards the 'annoyed mother' tone that James was so familiar with at the end.
The Admiral couldn't quite hold back a soft snort at that. As much as things changed...
"Something came up."
"It should be something important, sir. We are taking a risk talking like this, when it is getting harder and harder to hide the use of the radio from my crew."
Thompson could only sigh, "Well. Enterprise has almost managed to get through that Admiral Halsey. He can hear her, if not the exact words."
There was silence over the radio, as the Admiral looked over at his carrier. His best friend, who just shook her head. It wasn't an issue in the connection...this was Utah stunned silent. Or deep in thought. One of the two, at any rate, and James wasn't sure which was worse.
"I see..." Utah finally spoke back up, her voice subdued. "Do we know how? I thought she had only learned of this..."
"Just now, yeah." James frowned.
The answer to that question eluded even him. Not to say he didn't have theories. But they were just that, nothing more than vague assumptions. James could say he was the closest thing to an expert they had on the subject, but he didn't know everything. Hell, he didn't know everything about how ship girls worked. This whole 'still around on their hull' thing was totally new to him, leave alone anyone else.
To say he didn't understand the mechanics of it all, would be an understatement of colossal proportions.
"I have an idea."
But then, he didn't have to rely entirely on himself, did he? Thompson turned to Sara, the carrier sending him a confident smile. One that he had grown to miss, as he adjusted to this...much less confident Sara.
"Yes?"
Sara just continued to smile, as she pointed at the Admiral, and then at herself, "Sir, what is different about you compared to anyone else?"
"That I'm from the future?" Thompson deadpanned.
That managed to get a soft giggle from the carrier, which the older man considered a victory. Still, there was a time to joke and this wasn't it. Sara sobered up quickly, as she shook her head at her Admiral.
"Yes, there is that. But what I meant, Admiral, was something else." Sara got to her feet, and walked over to James. The moment she reached the time-traveling man, the aircraft carrier placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing lightly. "You're attached to us all. You want us to be alive."
"Well, of course. I already know you were..."
"But that's my point, sir."
Turning away, Sara sat back down, tapping her head once to make sure Utah was still listening in. Satisfied, she looked back at James with a light flush to her face.
"You care about us, deeply. More than any man ever would for his ship...save, perhaps..."
Thompson's eyes widened, "Bull Halsey. He loved Enterprise more than any man ever cared for their flagship. Well, other than Mitscher and Hornet maybe..."
At the blank look he received, the Admiral shook his head. Wasn't important...assuming Mitscher even ended up with Hornet again.
"Anyway, I think I see your point. You hear that Utah?"
There was silence again, save for the sound of a finger tapping against metal. That was clearly Utah thinking deeply about what she had heard. If she was thinking what he was thinking though, James knew what they might have been missing. And damn it, in hindsight it was almost obvious. Why hadn't he thought of it before?
Well, I know why.
The answer there was just as obvious, wasn't it? It hadn't occurred to him, because all his focus was on keeping the girls alive. Them communicating was always a secondary goal to him. Utah had been the one pushing, and he had just not hindered her. Utah, Ari...they were the ones focusing on talking, he was the one focusing on planning. And that made him miss things he might otherwise have seen.
Then again, Thompson would be the first to admit he didn't know everything and probably would have missed this anyway.
"I believe I know the issue now." Utah finally spoke up, her voice thoughtful in tone. "I have been trying to connect with someone who has no particular connection to me. Not one of my commanders, save my current one, has looked at me as anything but another posting. I am old, and tired. Why bother getting attached?"
"Utah..."
"But Enterprise...even I know how attached Admiral Halsey is to Enterprise. Perhaps, that is the key. Being attached to your ship, and willing to hear her." The old battleship sighed heavily, and James could just see her shoulders slump. "Maybe I never will be able to break through, then."
Thompson shook his head, even though he knew Utah couldn't see him. Sitting next to Sara, who sent him a worried look, James wished he had a radio he could take. In lieu of that, he just sat as close as he could to the carrier without outright leaning on her.
"Utah, don't think that way. You've gotten closer than anyone, regardless of anything else. You're the best expert we have on this, and I don't want you to give up."
"Ah, I thought you believed this too risky, Admiral?"
"Well...I did, yes. But at this point, it's going to happen anyway. I would rather it be on our terms." The Admiral leaned back, looking up at the steel ceiling above him, as Sara placed a hand on his shoulder. "So don't give up, that's an order."
Utah laughed softly, "You aren't in command of me, sir."
"Tough luck."
The line was quiet, before another soft sigh came from the old battleship turned target. "Thank you, Admiral. I suppose, if we are correct, that the fact I have made as much progress as I have is a good sign. Do you truly, honestly, believe I can get through?"
James nodded again, "Yes, I do. You wouldn't have gotten this close if it wasn't possible. I'll see if I can make up an excuse to come by...maybe that will help. Until then..."
"I'll keep trying. You should let Arizona know as well."
And with that, the line was cut. Sara leaned back, shaking her head slightly. For his part, Thompson could only fall back on his bed, energy bleeding out of him. They had a possible answer...but it wasn't one he liked. Utah...he could hear the strain in her. The old girl had devoted all her time and energy to this, and it may not even work for her. All that time. All that work. And what it if was all for nothing? What if her commander never could hear her? What if Utah would forever be stuck at just a little more?
The Admiral could hear that worry in her voice. And it had him worried as well. It was all fine and dandy if they could get through to Halsey. Having that man on his side in this was very good. But on the other hand, it would just be two men. Admirals or no...just two men. They had to figure out a way to make it more prolific. Beyond just the Captains and Admirals even. Much as he may have resisted the idea months ago, now...now James knew. They had to get a way to break the barrier, and get the girls visible.
Not just to Halsey. Not just to Utah's Commander, or Admiral Willson on Ari. To everyone.
"Oh Admiral, you put too much on your shoulders..." Sara whispered softly, as James shut his eyes, mind consumed by the possibilities.
"That's why I have you, to reign me in when I go too far."
"Of course, sir."
And he would need that help. When, not if, they figured out how to make the girls visible? His life was going to be turned upside down. Hell, the world was going to be turned upside down.
He almost longed for the days where it had just been as 'simple' as figuring out how to limit the damage on December 7th.
Things were far from simple for USS Enterprise either. The blonde carrier paced in her Admiral's office, as the man looked over Admiral Thompson's latest reports on the 'mysterious' radio traffic. Halsey's brows were furrowed tightly, as his gruff features looked over the paper. Sharp eyes scanned every little detail, an equally sharp mind committing it to memory. Sometimes, Little E wondered what she had done to get such a smart man as her Admiral. Then she just smiled, and set about watching him do his work.
Now?
Well, now she was pacing instead of watching. Admiral Halsey was different. More tense, less relaxed. Granted, the man was a ball of energy at the best of times. Always pushing his crew to do better and better. But the tenseness in him now was new. And she was the cause. It was enough to make her frown, as she stopped pacing, staring at the man who was the closest thing she had to a father.
I'm worried about him...this is because of me. I want to talk to him though!
It wasn't just to help Admiral Thompson now, either. She was the first one to get this close, and...it was the first time she was special. Yorktown was jealous, which was a novel experience for the young carrier. And Enterprise liked that feeling.
"I wonder what I have to do to make you hear me properly, Admiral." The carrier sighed softly, as Halsey twitched ever so slightly. "I know you can hear me. I just want to talk to you! There is so much we could talk about!."
"If you're going to talk to me, at least wait until I'm done working." Halsey just grunted, eyes not looking up from his papers. "Damn it woman."
And only Admiral Bull Halsey would be so...nonchalant...about things.
"Admiral, you are handling this better than I thought you would."
"Damn ghosts."
The Admiral reached up to massage his forehead, as he looked directly at where Enterprise stood. Or, through where she stood, as the case may be.
"If James didn't have the same thing happening, I'd think I'm going insane." Halsey scowled, the expression quite deep on his face. "Now, what I want to know is why this is happening now. And to me."
Now, Little E had heard from Sara. They thought it was because of how close her Admiral was to her, that he could hear her like he did. So...
"Because you care about me sir! You're like my father, actually. I want you to be able to hear that, someday."
Halsey didn't act like he heard the specific words, as he returned to his work, "For a ghost, you sound damn fond of me."
"I am!"
To say Enterprise was fond of her Admiral, would be understating things drastically. She cared about Admiral Halsey quite a lot actually...she didn't lie, when she thought of the man like a father. He cared for her, in a way none of her other commanders had. In a way that no other Admiral, save Thompson, did for any ship. It would have been far more surprising if she wasn't fond of Halsey, in the long run. After all, any ship cared for her Admiral. That Enterprise had one that cared for her in return, just deepened those feelings.
It was why she walked up to the Admiral, red eyes looking down on him.
I want you to hear me! I want to talk to you, so much Admiral. We have so much we could do, to work better together if we could just talk!
"We will talk, eventually, Admiral. I know what I have to do, I think. And it will work!"
"Work."
Enterprise felt her heart stop, her body hardly breathing. Halsey looked up, sharp eyes focused on where she was. She knew he couldn't see her...even Bull Halsey would have reacted to seeing a woman in his office. But...had he...?
"I heard work. Either I am going insane from all this work James has come up with, or I heard a word." Halsey frowned now, the expression quite fierce for someone who wasn't Enterprise. "Damn it, I need a drink."
"You heard me..."
"Two drinks."
Regardless of the man's reaction, Little E took that as a victory. He was hearing her more and more with every sentence. If she could just get trough enough to make him understand her better...there had to be something. And as her Admiral busied himself, Enterprise stepped back. Perhaps...
Well, she had some limited control of her hull. There might be something she could use there, to speed the process along...but what...?
