Souls of Beyond, Returned to Protect (Kantai Collection)

[Lady Darkhound]

Thalia Amara, Prince of Wales
Tokyo Bay, Yokosuka, Japan
Morning? Were the attacks at Pearl and Yoko at vastly different times? If so, how was the second place attacked caught by surprise? Is this even relevant? Am I drawing this out waaaaaay too much?
~~~~~~~~~~

"But Wales, I am Ark. I can prove it if you let me...." I say, slightly confused as to why Prince of Wales is acting so peculiarly. I mentally shrug, figuring that the recent combat must have messed with her head. "Hey wales, did you hit your head during the battle?"

Click to shrink...

"Thalia, that is Ark Royal. I don't know why she looks different from your perspective, but that is Ark."

...

How could Wales tell that this was Ark? I had seen her memories of the carrier, and she looked nothing like the excitable looking ginger in front of me. But at the same time, I had to trust Wales' judgement. If I couldn't trust the person who's soul I apparently aligned with, who could I trust? Not trusting her would be similar to not trusting myself, and I would never go down that road. Not after what happened to Kaidan. God, I missed Kaidan. She had always been a shining star in my otherwise dull and boring life. And then... and then...

I didn't notice the tears streaming down my face until I burst into sobbing.

"I- I'm sorry..." I managed to choke out to Ark before I just slumped down onto the seas.

 

[UbeOne]

Sara Tan, USS Saratoga
Medical Station, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Nighttime

---

Cypher, USS Cypher
Medical Station, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Nighttime

---

With a soft smirk as I notice Sara and her sister Lex arrive I greet them before answering Sara's question, "I was just about to go and find out for myself Sara would you care to join me in finding out? After all, she seemed to like you", as I await her reply my tail's mad swaying betrays my nervousness all the while hitting Alamo who had just exited the other area in her own change of clothes.

@UbeOne
46

Click to shrink...

I nod. "Sure, but I think she likes you more." After all, Cypher was the one who rescued her.

While I do want to see if Yvette is all right, it's also a distraction from having to... see myself, so to speak. I might as well take it, so I move to accompany the light cruiser.

Meanwhile, my patrolling flying boat sees nothing unusual so far, while the crew within me reports that using the materials provided by the food I ate, they were able to replace the planes I lost in battle. Somehow. I don't know how that works, but that's good news. Running out of aircraft isn't part of my plans. I mentally send the fairies my thanks.

@Zeroth Jupi, @Miho_Chan

 

[AlphaD]

USS Albacore
Open Sea, Pearl Harbour, Hawaii
Night

---

"Yes, I can read you. I'm just waiting for a response from Pearl Harbour to give me its location as I don't know.", I reply.

Click to shrink...

"Oooooh! New to Pearl Harbour too? Don't worry, that makes two of us!" Albacore chirped happily into her radio as she bobbed along with the waves. She was just glad that she wasn't alone in this situation.

"Hold on, the coordinates are..." The former-human-now-submarine-turned-human rattled off the coordinates given to her by Pearl Harbour. It appeared to be the rendezvous pier. Still in a painfully cheerful tone, Albacore continued to speak.

"If you're headed that way, I'll be able to see you soon~! Albacore, signing off!"

With that over and done with, USS Albacore silenced her radio set. Her diesel engines hummed to life as she oriented herself towards—

With that, I could hear the buzzing engines of one Catalina as it moves. From their perspective, I could also see the Goose taking off.

Click to shrink...

With my question asked I wait a few minutes setting my spruce goose which I jokingly named Oka Nieba, to go on patrol again

Click to shrink...

RADAR CONTACT, TWO PLANES, 10KM, BEARING NORTH AND EAST NORTHEAST.

Albacore froze as fear, cold and irrational took root in her mind. Planes?! When did they get so close?!

withplanescomesacarrierwithacarriercomesanescortwithanescortcomesdepthchargesdontwannasinknotagain

ALARM! ALARM! INITIATING CRASH DIVE!

The submarine immediately ducked down and her feet began to sink slowly beneath the surface of the water. Maybe too slowly. Her wide eyes scanned the sky while her radar continued to ping incessantly as the two contacts loomed closer and closer.

Angling bow planes to their maximum downward angle. Flooding the forward ballast tanks—

Wait, wait, wait! The process was halted abruptly by Albacore herself as she took a deep breath.

'Right girl, think about this logically. You're in friendly waters. The planes—' She ignored the spike of dread that came along with the word '—are coming from the direction of Pearl Harbour. You're safe. Saaaaffeeeee...'

When this was all over, she was going to find herself the fuzziest, warmest blanket around and turn into a burrito.

'Or maybe a tuna casserole. Ehehehehe...!'

Right, not appropriate right now.

Taking another deep breath and ignoring the deep-rooted instinctual fear cultivated from a healthy respect for air power, Albacore started to sail towards Pearl Harbour... while surfaced.

'I'm probably breaking so many rules right now...' She thought to herself with a light chuckle.

 

[CCBubba]

USS Princeton

Well, Princeton is apparently adamant on talking my ears off. I'm not entirely sure I believe her about doing something for me. Even being family means nothing to people, why would a stranger be any more helpful? But I digress. It'd be rude of me to bring that sort of talk up at this time, so I just smile and nod as Princeton chats away. At the very least, she seems like pleasant company. Shame we'll never be friends though.

Click to shrink...

Realizing that if i kept talking a mile a minute we'd probably stay here for forever I decide yo cut this short. "But anyway, what do you say we head on back to the others?" I ask smiling at her while offering my hand to her. I think we're going to be great friends!

USS Red Castle

"At this hour I expect the Commander is either asleep or exhausted but still awake. Either way I'd rather not bother them at this point. So its either meeting the rest of the Unit...or fleet, how do navies work again? Was a ground pounder before all this, so I have no idea how any of this crap works. But yeah, either meet the rest of the unit or go grab some grub, I'd be up for either."

Click to shrink...

Looking over at Princeton I see her making the offer to head on to meet the others. "Since Princeton seems interested on heading back why don't we do the same?" I ask to her. but something she said has me confused, and Princeton as well from the very slight change in her expression, what does she mean by ground pounder before this?

@always_confused

 

[Zeroth Jupi]

Cypher, USS Cypher
Medical station, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Nighttime

---

I nod. "Sure, but I think she likes you more." After all, Cypher was the one who rescued her.

Click to shrink...

With a nod and a quick "thank you" I lead Sara, Lex, and Alamo to the area I left Yvette in only to be directed to a room further back by the nurse receptionist who was now giving me a look of sympathy setting off my things are going wrong senses. Increasing my speed slightly I enter the designated room a doctor with a sullen expression turned to me and my entourage and spoke up, "are you the one who brought in this young girl?", dread growing that my suspicions were correct I nod my head slowly with the confirmation given he sadly turned to look at the fitfully sleeping Yvette before turning back once more to speak, "I will be completely honest here miss she will not be keeping that arm, its too far gone now to be saved", my fears confirmed I quietly and carefully pick up Yvette and then place myself against a wall and slump, my face hot and wet as tears formed and fell unabated as I whisper "I'm sorry" to the now less uncomfortable Yvette. Unseen by me Alamo had a sullen expression as she took in the news before she schooled it slightly and approached me with the intent of giving me and Yvette comfort.

@Saratoga @Lexington

47​

 

[UbeOne]

Sara Tan, USS Saratoga
Medical Station, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Nighttime

---

Taking another deep breath and ignoring the deep-rooted instinctual fear cultivated from a healthy respect for air power, Albacore started to sail towards Pearl Harbour... while surfaced.

Click to shrink...

My Catalina reports seeing two new radar contacts. From what Pearl tells the crew, they are a submarine, USS Albacore, and a battleship, HMS Vanguard, with the base already handling the matter. In my mind's eye, there are two dots on the minimap, corresponding to where they are, but from the eyes of my pilot, there's not much to see in the darkness, other than the outlines of two girls. What's a British ship doing so far from home, anyway? Could she be like Radiance?

Cypher, USS Cypher
Medical station, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Nighttime

---

With a nod and a quick "thank you" I lead Sara, Lex, and Alamo to the area I left Yvette in only to be directed to a room further back by the nurse receptionist who was now giving me a look of sympathy setting off my things are going wrong senses. Increasing my speed slightly I enter the designated room a doctor with a sullen expression turned to me and my entourage and spoke up, "are you the one who brought in this young girl?", dread growing that my suspicions were correct I nod my head slowly with the confirmation given he sadly turned to look at the fitfully sleeping Yvette before turning back once more to speak, "I will be completely honest here miss she will not be keeping that arm, its too far gone now to be saved", my fears confirmed I quietly and carefully pick up Yvette and then place myself against a wall and slump, my face hot and wet as tears formed and fell unabated.

@Saratoga @Lexington

47​

Click to shrink...

I follow Cypher as she goes to wherever Yvette is, and along the way, I see colored tags on people on occasion as I pass by. I read before that the triage system uses those to distinguish levels of priority for medical care (e.g. "will die without immediate attention" is different from "minor injury"), but I forget which color corresponds to which. Anyway, it's not a pleasant feeling, seeing those who are like Yvette, hurt from the attack.

The one behind the counter doesn't look nor sound reassuring. Is the child all right? Now I'm not so sure.

What the doctor says afterwards... at least he's honest about it, but...

I may have just met her, but her well-being has become my concern. I know the more important thing is that she's still alive, but losing a limb... I know I wouldn't feel good at all if it's my arm that has to go. Life wouldn't be the same without it. An image of Yang Xiao Long in that situation briefly comes to mind.

I... I need to sit down. I take a chair and just... stare forward, not focusing my gaze on anything.

"...What can we do...?" I softly ask my sister.

@Zeroth Jupi, @Miho_Chan

 

[Miho Chan]

"I- I'm sorry..." I managed to choke out to Ark before I just slumped down onto the seas.

Click to shrink...

Looking at Prince of Wales, crying, shocks me more than anything else that has happened tonight. I immediately rush to her side, and hug the poor dear. "It's okay Prince of Wales, it's okay...."

 

[Miho Chan]

"...What can we do...?" I softly ask my sister.

Click to shrink...

I smile sadly at my little sister. "There really isn't much we can do Sara. All we can do is be there for the little one."

 

[Sketchy Lurker]

USS Massachusetts
Yokosuka

I didn't realize how much doing that would take out of me. I'm thankful that Eskimo managed to catch me, but I must weigh a ton (well, 39,200 tons to be precise)!

"Thank you, girls, but I'm sure there are people that need the help more than I do."

I unsteadily get to my feet, wishing I was on land right now. This water certainly doesn't help one regain their balance. I look across the water to the now alone destroyer, and then to the battleship and carriers in the other direction.

"If you're feeling up for it maybe we should go talk to those carriers and the other battleship. To tell them they aren't alone if they're like us, or to explain it to them before they assume we're normal shipgirls.




"Or, uh, maybe we should go to that destroyer first." I say sheepishly, she'd completely slipped my mind and she seemed to be as confused as the rest of us.

...and we'd all kind of left her behind.

Click to shrink...

… right. We had, hadn't we. With how quiet she'd been, I almost forgot she was even there.


"Girls, let's meet up with our last destroyer, then head over to the battleship and those carriers. Sound good to everyone?"


(@matthew badger @TheFanficAddict @Tyrannops @Jhin Lemon )

 

[Zeroth Jupi]

USS Alamo
Medical Station, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Nighttime

---

As I watch Cypher and Sara take the news of Yvette's arm with a sadness that told how attached they had already become for the little one I contemplate what to do Cypher has backed herself against a wall holding the child while whispering something and Sara is in a seat appearing unresponsive. Determining a course of action I swiftly but gently pull Sara from her seat into a moving hug stopping once we reached Cypher, once at Cypher I pull her and Yvette into the hug in hopes that will comfort everyone.

@UbeOne

47​

 

[Lady Darkhound]

Thalia Amara, Prince of Wales
Tokyo Bay, Yokosuka, Japan
Some Particular Time
~~~~~~~~~~

Looking at Prince of Wales, crying, shocks me more than anything else that has happened tonight. I immediately rush to her side, and hug the poor dear. "It's okay Prince of Wales, it's okay...."

Click to shrink...

I don't know how long I sat there, weeping. I wasn't cognizant of time passing, nor the actions of those around me. At that moment in time, I wasn't even Thalia Amara, the dead girl who shared a body with the spirit of the HMS Prince of Wales. I was just Thalia Amara, a scared girl who had just lost her only friend in an unexpectedly brutal turn of events. I vividly remembered the shock of hearing the vice principal's bored monotone making the announcement that Kaidan had killed herself. I remembered the guilt of the sudden thought "This is your fault." I remembered the months I spent in a sort of ignorant state, blotting the absence of my best friend from memory.

But I also remembered coming to peace with the idea that she was dead. I remembered how I harnessed that fear, that sadness, and turning it into a drive to work. I remembered going to University, not because it was what I had wanted to do with my life, but because I knew it was what she would have wanted.

I don't know how long I sat there, weeping. But that time was not wasted. I remembered my only- my best friend. Her life, her death, and how she helped make me who I am now. So long as someone is remembered, they are not truly dead, and maybe she would even come back as I did.

So with a friend on my mind, I stopped crying. I wiped the lingering tears from my eyes, and smiled at Ark Royal. "Hey Ark. Sorry about that. I'm Thalia, it's nice to meet you."

@Miho_Chan

 

[CCBubba]

USS Princeton

Saying goodbye to Khatun and Taihu, I leave with Red Castle in tow towards the medical center we left the others at. Feeling a tap on my shoulder I turn and see Red offering her hand, and I take it feeling butterflies in my stomach.

A little while later we arrive at the medical center to see Cypher holding Yvette close while leaning against the wall. Sara and Alamo are also hugging her. Not wanting to get in the way of things, and also not knowing what's going on, Red and I stay off to the side and observe until something happens.

 

[UbeOne]

Sara Tan, USS Saratoga
Medical Station, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Nighttime

---

I smile sadly at my little sister. "There really isn't much we can do Sara. All we can do is be there for the little one."

Click to shrink...

A quiet "Yeah" is my only answer. She may be right, but...

It's the Abyssals' fault. They did this. They did all of this. There is one more thing we can do. We will find them, and we will sink them.

...

USS Alamo
Medical Station, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Nighttime

---

As I watch Cypher and Sara take the news of Yvette's arm with a sadness that told how attached they had already become for the little one I contemplate what to do Cypher has backed herself against a wall holding the child while whispering something and Sara is in a seat appearing unresponsive. Determining a course of action I swiftly but gently pull Sara from her seat into a moving hug stopping once we reached Cypher, once at Cypher I pull her and Yvette into the hug in hopes that will comfort everyone.

@UbeOne
47

Click to shrink...

Huh?

My thoughts are interrupted by a blonde battleship who suddenly engulfs me in an embrace. Eyes widened in surprise, I put up little resistance, letting her pull me along. Moments later, I see her bringing in the cruiser and the girl.

Oh, Alamo. Of course she would resort to this. It feels... warm, comforting, like we will be okay...

A little while later we arrive at the medical center to see Cypher holding Yvette close while leaning against the wall. Sara and Alamo are also hugging her. Not wanting to get in the way of things, and also not knowing what's going on, Red and I stay off to the side and observe until something happens.

Click to shrink...

Eventually, I'm released from the hug. Out of the corner of my vision, I notice a couple standing there, holding hands. From their distinctive appearance and getup, they could only be Princeton and Red. I wave and softly smile at them, finding it good to see them.

@Cypher, @Big Sis, @Red Prince

 

[Jhin Lemon]

Maria, NMS Regina Maria
Yokosuka
Daytime

---

USS Massachusetts
Yokosuka

I didn't realize how much doing that would take out of me. I'm thankful that Eskimo managed to catch me, but I must weigh a ton (well, 39,200 tons to be precise)!

"Thank you, girls, but I'm sure there are people that need the help more than I do."

I unsteadily get to my feet, wishing I was on land right now. This water certainly doesn't help one regain their balance. I look across the water to the now alone destroyer, and then to the battleship and carriers in the other direction.




… right. We had, hadn't we. With how quiet she'd been, I almost forgot she was even there.


"Girls, let's meet up with our last destroyer, then head over to the battleship and those carriers. Sound good to everyone?"


(@matthew badger @TheFanficAddict @Tyrannops @Jhin Lemon )

Click to shrink...

"Make sure to take care of yourself Mamie. We all need help, and when it comes to helping people who need it more we'll need you to be fine too."

After saying a quick bit of what I hope is wisdom I grab Fir's hand and drag her off towards where we left the USS Walker...or Ryan Chase. Being faster than the others we went ahead and got there first, even if only by a few seconds.

"Uh, hi," I say to the destroyer, "I'm the NMS Regina Maria, but you can just call me Maria."

"And I'm the NMS Regele Ferdinand, call me Fir," Fir adds helpfully.

"So, erm, first off, did you happen to die and kinda...pop into existence here?" I ask.

( @Tyrannops )

 

[Zeroth Jupi]

Cypher, USS Cypher
Medical station, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Nighttime

---

once at Cypher I pull her and Yvette into the hug in hopes that will comfort everyone

Click to shrink...

Moments later, I see her bringing in the cruiser and the girl.

Oh, Alamo. Of course she would resort to this. It feels... warm, comforting, like we will be okay...

Click to shrink...

As I continued my crying I missed Alamos actions as she pulled Sara into a hug and started approaching me and Yvette until she had pulled us into a hug, it was so nice like everything would be alright and that the world wasn't out to ruin people's days, "T-thank you, you two this means more than you realize right now", I finally manage to say a sad but genuine smile on my face.

After a few minutes more of reveling in the hug I reluctantly disengage to take Yvette to the changing area getting the attention of the others,"I'm going to get Yvette changed if anyone needs to get clothes please follow me".

@Saratoga @Red Prince@Lexington

48​

 

[CCBubba]

USS Princeton

Eventually, I'm released from the hug. Out of the corner of my vision, I notice a couple standing there, holding hands. From their distinctive appearance and getup, they could only be Princeton and Red. I wave and softly smile at them, finding it good to see them.

Click to shrink...

Noticing Sara smiling and waving at us. I wave and smile back as I walk towards her. "We're back, I see we missed something." I say sadly. "What happened?" I'm a little but worried, and I feel it has something to do with Yvette based on what I can tell.

After a few minutes more of reveling in the hug I reluctantly disengage to take Yvette to the changing area getting the attention of the others,"I'm going to get Yvette changed if anyone needs to get clothes please follow me".

Click to shrink...

While I'm very tired, and desire nothing more than to fall fast asleep, I would rather be with Cypher and Yvette right now. "Yeah, I'll be right there." I say, I know when I'm feeling down the last thing I want is to be alone.

@Saratoga
@Cypher

 

[UbeOne]

Sara Tan, USS Saratoga
Medical Station, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Nighttime

---

"T-thank you, you two this means more than you realize right now", I finally manage to say a sad but genuine smile on my face.

After a few minutes more of reveling in the hug I reluctantly disengage to take Yvette to the changing area getting the attention of the others,"I'm going to get Yvette changed if anyone needs to get clothes please follow me".

Click to shrink...

I give a supportive smile in response to the faunus's gratitude. "You're welcome, Cypher."

Later, I nod to her offer to accompany her. I do need to have more than just this dress...

Noticing Sara smiling and waving at us. I wave and smile back as I walk towards her. "We're back, I see we missed something." I say sadly. "What happened?" I'm a little but worried, and I feel it has something to do with Yvette based on what I can tell.

Click to shrink...

My smile vanishes as Princeton asks what happened. In as calm a voice as I could, I give an explanation. "The doctor said Yvette's arm could not be saved..."

@Princeton and Red, @Cypher and Alamo, @Lex

 

[Miho Chan]

"Hey Ark. Sorry about that. I'm Thalia, it's nice to meet you."

Click to shrink...

"Nice to meet you as well Thalia. Looks like your in the same situation I'm in." I say, looking at the (possible) SI that represents the spirit of prince of wales.

 

[Lady Darkhound]

Thalia Amara, Prince of Wales
Tokyo Bay, Yokosuka, Japan
I don't even know what time it is anymore...
~~~~~~~~~~

"Nice to meet you as well Thalia. Looks like your in the same situation I'm in." I say, looking at the (possible) SI that represents the spirit of prince of wales.

Click to shrink...

"Oh, so you're in the same boat as me?" Thalia took a moment to chuckle at her unintentional pun. Then she gestured to the carrier. "So who were you before all this? I'd rather not refer to you as Ark is you aren't Ark herself."

 

[Tyrannops]

"Uh, hi," I say to the destroyer, "I'm the NMS Regina Maria, but you can just call me Maria."

"And I'm the NMS Regele Ferdinand, call me Fir," Fir adds helpfully.

"So, erm, first off, did you happen to die and kinda...pop into existence here?" I ask.

Click to shrink...

With a startle from my thoughts, I looked at the two ship-girls.

"Y-Yeah. I-I.."

I was silent for a while. "I'm.. not even sure what to do anymore." He paused.

"I remember being pushed of my Yacht.. then.. a weird vision and now I-I'm here."

"Oh god, my family. What.."

Small tears trickled down my cheek.

 

[Jhin Lemon]

Maria, NMS Regina Maria
Yokosuka
Daytime

---

With a startle from my thoughts, I looked at the two ship-girls.

"Y-Yeah. I-I.."

I was silent for a while. "I'm.. not even sure what to do anymore." He paused.

"I remember being pushed of my Yacht.. then.. a weird vision and now I-I'm here."

"Oh god, my family. What.."

Small tears trickled down my cheek.

Click to shrink...

I don't think. I don't need to think. I move closer and embrace her.

"Shh," I whisper while hugging my fellow destroyer, "We can figure this out. We'll find a way back."

I hadn't really thought about my family. What would they be doing without me? We didn't have the greatest relationship though, and I honestly don't miss them, I wonder if they miss me...My own family issues aside I have a crying destroyer to help.

"I promise I'll help you find a way back to your family," I say softly, "but I need you to be strong so we can figure out what happened, okay?"

I feel a body press against my back. Turning my head I see Fir joined my hug. Being partially in her embrace caused a wave of comforting nostalgia to pass over me.

"I don't really know what's happening, but I'll be here to help you too," she says.

Fir brought something to the forefront of my mind though. Did I even want to go back? I didn't want to abandon Fir. She'd already almost lost a sister, I don't know if I'd be able to do that to her.

 

[Tyrannops]

I don't think. I don't need to think. I move closer and embrace her.

"Shh," I whisper while hugging my fellow destroyer, "We can figure this out. We'll find a way back."

I hadn't really thought about my family. What would they be doing without me? We didn't have the greatest relationship though, and I honestly don't miss them, I wonder if they miss me...My own family issues aside I have a crying destroyer to help.

"I promise I'll help you find a way back to your family," I say softly, "but I need you to be strong so we can figure out what happened, okay?"

Click to shrink...

There was a small sniffle as I started bawling. This.. this was nice.

"Y-Yeah I'll be strong." I swallowed.

(Typing on phone so posts'll be short.)

 

[Miho Chan]

"Oh, so you're in the same boat as me?" Thalia took a moment to chuckle at her unintentional pun. Then she gestured to the carrier. "So who were you before all this? I'd rather not refer to you as Ark is you aren't Ark herself."

Click to shrink...

"Call me Lillian. So Thalia, wanna go meet the other carriers? They seem friendly enough to me."

---

JS Kurama
Yokosuka, Japan
Early Morning

---

"So Shinano, what do you want to do now sis?" I say, looking at Shinano.
"You wanna go meet the other carrier?" Shinano asks, grinning at me.
"Sure!" I reply.

 

[Lady Darkhound]

Thalia Amara, Prince of Wales
Tokyo Bay, Yokosuka, Japan
A given time of day
~~~~~~~~~~

"Call me Lillian. So Thalia, wanna go meet the other carriers? They seem friendly enough to me."

Click to shrink...

I could feel Wales' panic at that suggestion. There was no way that Wales would be going near those carriers if she could help it. "Er... I'd rather not, actually." Thalia said quietly. She looked downwards and away from Lillian. A quick mental command had a lookout keep an eye on the two Japanese carriers so that she could disengage before they got too close.

 

[matthew badger]

USS Massachusetts
Yokosuka

I didn't realize how much doing that would take out of me. I'm thankful that Eskimo managed to catch me, but I must weigh a ton (well, 39,200 tons to be precise)!

"Thank you, girls, but I'm sure there are people that need the help more than I do."

I unsteadily get to my feet, wishing I was on land right now. This water certainly doesn't help one regain their balance. I look across the water to the now alone destroyer, and then to the battleship and carriers in the other direction.




… right. We had, hadn't we. With how quiet she'd been, I almost forgot she was even there.


"Girls, let's meet up with our last destroyer, then head over to the battleship and those carriers. Sound good to everyone?"


(@matthew badger @TheFanficAddict @Tyrannops @Jhin Lemon )

Click to shrink...

HMS Eskomo
Yokosuka, Japan
Morning

---

I nodded after she thanked me, my serious expression evaporating into one of relief.

I'd helped.

leaning back, I stood teetering at the very edge of my balance, my head listing upwards into the sky. I'd helped this ship girl, I'd saved her from heartache, somewhat. I'd done a good in this body, as this existence. My expression was one of distracted blankness, staring endlessly into nothing. My back was tilted so far as to almost look defiant of gravity, and I rocked back and forth, nearly falling before I stilled. Hey, I could see land and water behind me in this stance

Maria, NMS Regina Maria
Yokosuka
Daytime

---

I don't think. I don't need to think. I move closer and embrace her.

"Shh," I whisper while hugging my fellow destroyer, "We can figure this out. We'll find a way back."

I hadn't really thought about my family. What would they be doing without me? We didn't have the greatest relationship though, and I honestly don't miss them, I wonder if they miss me...My own family issues aside I have a crying destroyer to help.

"I promise I'll help you find a way back to your family," I say softly, "but I need you to be strong so we can figure out what happened, okay?"

I feel a body press against my back. Turning my head I see Fir joined my hug. Being partially in her embrace caused a wave of comforting nostalgia to pass over me.

"I don't really know what's happening, but I'll be here to help you too," she says.

Fir brought something to the forefront of my mind though. Did I even want to go back? I didn't want to abandon Fir. She'd already almost lost a sister, I don't know if I'd be able to do that to her.

Click to shrink...

Rotating my head, I swung it so that I could see the others upside down as they comforted another ship-girl. So many ship girls? Weird.

She was being seen to though, not In immediate risk of breaking down. Maria, wasn't It. She was the one comforting them. So nice of her...

I could remember, I'd been hiding my weakness. Why? What did It gain... Oh yeah, In case I was the only SI, wasn't It. Man, now that I wasn't...

I teeter again, this time more lazily and with a wider movement, almost spinning a full 180 degrees before stabilising upright. My thoughts were... absent, yes.

I was absent. My eyes blurred as they were want to do when I zoned out, and I couldn't be bothered to zone back in. The water was pretty when so fuzzy... I liked it, hmmm.

Smiling lazily at the ship girl I'd steadied, I fought against the pressure In my head, so similar to what i'd had before arriving here. I must be thirsty or something.. or hungry... or sleepy.

I yawned, unable to keep It In. Had she asked me a question?

Hadn't I wanted to test out my rigging, though?