A/N: I YET LIVE! So sorry about the absence, but like I said last chapter, the story isn't dead. That doesn't mean I can just prevent life from getting in the way of course, but I try.

Holy hell. Almost 65,000 reads? You guys are too much, honestly.
—/—\—

Her screws screamed and screamed, churning the water just as much as her legs would allow. Her flesh burned away under a weapon she'd never encountered in her first life as it reeked hell on her second. Her vision screamed white while it vision tinted red. She was bracketed by water with each shell that fell around, each one assembled at parts unknown only to be given to the monsters of the deep that had killed good men and women, ripped families apart, and watched as their cities burned to ash. They were monsters, only really dreamt of in the hearts of man and created with a pen and paper. But imagination was now reality and peace was merely a fabricated ideal.

Admiral Hipper, Heavy cruiser of the former Kriegsmarine, taken from the first war before she'd fully experienced her own moment of glory, screaming in rage as the waves of the Pacific joined their voices with hers. Her guns fired in fury as her lungs burned with wrath. The pain was immeasurable, but her body refused to relent. Refused to bow to those that took what they want, killed who they wished, and went where they sought. The German built Warship refused to lower her guns against a threat, that all of the sudden, was her entire reason for existence, her previous have being snuffed out by who were once enemies but now called themselves a friend.

Her belief in the country that had been there when she found her sleep had been concrete. But when she'd gone to stand atop those ideals, to stand in the shining rays of the Reich and her Furher, the concrete was revealed to be sand, so smoothly pulled over her eyes, she didn't notice the cracks or desperation of her own will to heavily believe in something she knew. Something she thought right. Somewhat that at the end of the day, was familiar to her. But it had all been shattered, shaking the cruiser's beliefs to their core as she as both ship and human struggled to find where her loyalties lay. Where she truly called home.

The Heavy cruiser was bracketed with the waters she sailed on, doing little to ease the burning pain that she was quickly coming to know. Turning hard to port, she began to swing her guns around again, already focusing in on another light cruiser, knowing full well that her guns no matter how much she might try was going to do anything to one of those battleship's armored belts. But that didn't stop her secondaries from trying their damndest whenever one would casually slip into range.

As she dodged another spread of torpedoes and was bracketed with yet another salvo of both armor piercing and high explosive shells, dusting her with another spray of salt water, Hipper's guns slammed new shells into their holdings. And only another second before her main batteries fired, ripping an Abyssal light cruiser to pieces in only a matter of seconds. The abomination let out a death scream that served as music to Hipper's ears as she watched the monster list to the side before pathetically flopping over fully as the water below her began to overtake it's form.

White and black smoke rose as one as Hipper's stacks belched new plumes as her engines kicked up to flank, the Heavy cruiser coming to her full speed. She leveled her guns at her next target, a not to distant Abyssal destroyer as she readied to fire, her one good eye watching the Abyssal unblinking with focus, adjusting to it's every move, making more of even the slightest of twitches of the monster's guns. Granted, it wasn't one of the battleships, but Hipper knew her guns would be far too ineffective for any real damage on those and she'd have to close range fast and get out fast to avoid them from having a no miss shot on her. The risks were already sky high just thinking about it and that didn't take into consideration of the carriers that were present at some far off point somewhere over the horizon. Hipper knew that much simply because of the occasional radar ping that didn't match up with the various Abysslas moving in on her.

She was no battleship or carrier. But she was a Heavy cruiser through and through and no carrier would dare approach her without hesitation. So as her Anti air batteries began to open up as the first Abyssal planes began to dip below the clouds, Hipper only steeled her resolve as she shifted her rudder, bringing herself hard to port as she began to push her turbines to full. She needed to start making her way back towards Yokosuka, back towards any avenue of aid or allies. And for a second, it looked like she was gonna be able to make her wish a reality.

Only for two spreads of torpedoes to emerge from the water below, throwing her off her course as she shifted her rudder rapidly as she attempted to miss the fish that had been thrown at her. And miss them she did, she watching as they sailed past her without issue, prompting some Abyssals as well to scramble out of the way of the fish. But that did present her current situation in clarity to her.

She had carriers, battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and subs all bearing down on her in an attempt to sink her. Swinging her bow around, her guns already in their mark, she fired in fury as she began to try and plot a new course that would take her back into the safety of friendly waters, at least to the point to where the JMSDF would take notice.

Ever so luckily evading a dive bomber as it crashed into the waves next to her, she continued to push her screws to their max as her navigator was already in the midst of trying to form a new path to freedom, but everytime she was just about ready to put it forwards, things changed, opposition moved, and the battlefield shifted. The German Heavy cruiser grit her teeth together as she continued to endure the white phosphorus burning away at her uniform and skin.

Once again bringing her guns to bare, she found that both her view and range finders were starting to faulter as the burning continued to claim her face despite her fairies best attempts. And as they did so, her fairies already began to put back up plans in place as her guns fired once more, taking another Abyssal destroyer to a watery grave. Admiral Hipper wasn't too sure of what she thought about visual firing alone, but the main thought was the hope that her crew was trained enough, or remembered enough to do so.

The German built cruiser had never had the flashy service or gleaming career that others on base sported. She was no Nagato. She paled in comparison to Missouri or Enterprise. With a commission span of only six years under her belt, she knew her experience lacked in that regard. But that did not mean Admiral Hipper was simply one to let things be or go with the flow. The German cruiser was fiercely prideful, fiercely decided on the things she knew. And what she knew is that she would not go down this day. But as a salvo from one of the many approaching battleships just creating the horizon bracketed her form with water spouts and spray of salt, that knowing wavered ever so slightly.

But only temporarily as Hipper took the briefest of glances at the approaching forms before turning her gaze away from them to focus on the more direct threats as she shifted her rudder once more, both avoiding torpedoes and throwing off firing solutions from all directions, shells whizzing past her in every which direction.

But as she attempted to get off what felt to be another salvo in desperation, pain racked her body as two armor piercing shells tore through her armor in just right the spot, explosions racking the cruiser's body as the Abyssal munitions made themselves known.

Close but not quite a killing blow, the shells left the cruiser hurting but certainly alive. With a new set of issues as the woman felt on her screws began to slow dramatically. Gritting her teeth, between the feeling of burning and blood running down her face, she attempted to bring her guns to bare on the battleship that she was certain was responsible for the crippling salvo, only to hear yet another battleship salvo go off in the distance, already spying the shells now set on ending her life in a quick fashion. Bracing as best she could, Hipper brought her arms up to cover her chest as she willed the salvo to somehow miss.

As the telltale whistle began to scream through the air, Hipper slammed her eyes shut as she listened to them grow ever closer. At this rate, Admiral Hipper knew that she wasn't walking away from this fight on her own power, that much she knew for sure.

But as they began to slam into the water around her, closer and closer, she could hear as they began to make contact with metal, either ricocheting into the water at speeds that were dangerous enough on her own or simply detonating on impact. But what Hipper found odd about it above all else is that the impacts were not on her. The shellfire that had been so focused on her up to a couple seconds ago had seemingly left her in the past, instead having selected a new target midflight. But who?

Hipper knew she was alone out here. She'd no allies anywhere near her, and if she had, she would have detected them by now either through radio call or line of sight. Ok, maybe not so much that second one, but the point still stood.

Hesitantly opening her eyes when she heard the shellfire stop, she found herself looking at the waters below her feet. And as she glanced up somewhat, she found herself confused. There was now no mistaking it. She could clearly see the figure of a person- scratch that, she could easily make out the forms of two people. And ship girls no less if their guns were anything to go by, their guns already ready and aimed at the opposing Abyssals. And from what Hipper could see, that readiness to fight did not go two ways. Cruisers and Abyssal battleships were trying to either slink around the two or put distance between themselves and the mystery duo.

But as Hipper stared up at them for a moment, she found herself in confusion. They had the guns of a battleship. They had the fairies up a shipgirl. Their outfits clearly pointed to being Japanese. But that was just it. Hipper didn't recognize them. The guns reminded her of watching the Ise sisters, but it was clear these two were not Ise and Hyuuga. They simply weren't. So the question to be had was who were they?

Hipper watched a moment until the one on the right turned around to face her. And immediately, Hipper's guns twitched in her direction as the Heavy cruiser took in the woman's features.

Peering back at her was a pair of eyes giving off such a vibrant red haze, it was almost hard for the Heavy cruiser to look at directly. And adding that against the woman's deathly pale complexion, Hipper knew no doubt that she was suddenly much closer to an Abyssal than she ever wanted to be. But something was off with this one, and the other she supposed, as she watched her. First, the Abyssal's guns were pointed anywhere they could that wasn't at Hipper. Secondly, the Abyssal's eyes, the haze aside, was watching her with more curiosity than danger. And third, the Abyssal's miniature crew was watching the Cruiser just as much as the woman was.

"You're clearly not a Japanese ship girl." The Abyssal finally spoke, her tone whispy and faltering as her eyes narrowed. Hipper's guns twitched somewhat at the veiled reluctance, in turn causing the second of the sudden appearances to turn their head, an eye cast not to Hipper but instead to her compatriot.

"Be kind. She's clearly wounded and doesn't need you putting her down further. Besides, her outfit speaks volumes of German. Who might I remind you, was an ally." She said as she fired her guns at two destroyers trying to sneak on the three, twelve guns in total speaking in rage and fury. "Do not mind my sister, for she can be a little hostile." She spoke as the smoke rose from her guns. Hipper blinked a moment, what was left of her face contorting in confusion.

"A-allies? Germany is no ally of you monsters!" Hipper insisted, the Heavy cruiser once more leveling her guns at the two. The one that had turned to face the cruiser rolled her eyes as she shrugged her shoulders as the second only offered a kind laugh in turn as she shook her head.

"Germany is no ally of the Abyssal's, but they were once Japan's strongest. The old war, the one that brought you into existence, we were your ally." She said as her ichor black guns began to once more rise to firing angles as she selected a battleship for her target, once more sending a salvo of twelve at the unfortunate target. Her Abyssalized shells screamed through the air at velocity's that Hipper's could only hope to match as they collided with the battleship, penning one of the Ru's armored towers, detonating the Abyssal battleship before she turned to face Hipper with a gentle smile despite her paled complexion and glowing eyes, she bowed to the German Heavy cruiser a moment.

The other of the two seemed to take disgust with that motion, crossing her arms as she once more rolled her eyes. "There's no need to bow to her. If anything, she should be the one bowing to us. We did save her after all."

"No one's saved anything yet." The second said as she righted herself once more as she glanced to Hipper before looking back to the horizon, where the opposing Abyssal's were starting to regroup and reorganize themselves for another attack. "Miss cruiser, if you wouldn't mind, start heading back towards friendlier waters. We'll screen." She stated. But something in the tone told Hipper that it wasn't so much a request more as it was an order. The heavy cruiser only hesitated a moment until coming to the slow but sure conclusion that if they were going to kill, there had been no reason to wait. They were battleships in brawling range, something she couldn't compete with. Pushing the many questions that were flooding the Cruiser's mind to the side, she cranked her speed to flank as she shifted her rudder hard, immediately bringing her bow to point at the direction of friendly waters.

Immediately, the two were moving behind her, close and zigzagging across her wake as the two kept their guns trained behind them beside two turrets each. And those four turrets immediately let loose at the same time, the eight shells slamming into destroyers just surfacing ahead, pushing them back under the surface of the Pacific as they exploded, keeping Hipper's path clear. As Hipper sailed over the fuel mixed waters, watching as the forms of the Abyssal destroyers sunk to the depths to dark for her to see, she stole a glance back at the two behind her.

Sailing backwards, the two continued their zigzag pattern, ripple firing their guns, one sending shells and the next following suit. The two weren't even watching the injured Heavy cruiser they were supposedly helping. Shaking her head, Hipper once more looked ahead, focusing her energy on fleeing the battle. But as she did so, two more figures began to poke above the water in front of her.

Hipper paled. From the briefing she and the new summons had received headed by Nagato and Arizona, the Abyssal's emerging in front of her were Re-classes. Notorious in nature and the reason the fleet had lost it's first two battleships long before Hipper had arrived, her guns immediately began to zero in.

The two Re-classes In question however only offered grins as they snickered to one another as they began to zig-zag as well in front of the Heavy cruiser as the second Abyssal looked back to Hipper.

"Gentle. They're friends." She said with warning. Hipper hesitated a moment before nodding, trying her best to ignore the grins the two Re-classes were shooting her from under the hoods of their Snow White jackets, their eyes glowing with a green haze. Sporting white tails to boot, the two battleships only watched Hipper like she was prey, Hipper doing her best to ignore the expression.

Once more, the sound of guns going off behind Hipper rocked the air as the battleships trailing after fired off another salvo against their apparent enemies. Their shared enemies. But Hipper had never heard anything about Abyssals supposedly friendly with humanity or the ship girls. She still had the sinking suspicion that this was all a trick to get her to lower her guard, only for the battleships in front of her to kill her on the spot. But meter by meter, yard by yard, they sailed on, the squad of five slowly but surely making their way back to the waters of Japan.

Hipper could feel her fairies enacting Damcom on her, trying to extinguish the white phosphorus that was still burning away at her and patching whatever superficial damage they could. But her fairies were reluctant to leave their stations so readily with four Abyssals supposedly protecting her.

It was only another noise that brought her from her nerves as she cast her gaze skyward, finding another strike of Abyssal drones streaming through the sky towards the five of them, payloads ready to go. Hipper readied herself to turn, only for her thoughts to be halted when she watched six Abyssal drones dressed in white to sling themslves from the waters ahead of the Two Re's, immediately tearing a portion of the enemy squadron out of the sky as if they were it's guardians.

Four more three man squadrons of the White Abyssal drones surged from the waters, immediately taking up altitude as they began to secure CAP. And immediately, the sky began to fill with lead as they began to hunt down what straggling Abyssal fighters and bombers there were to be had. Hipper watched as two Snow White drones filled an enemy with holes, The from crashing only a few feet from her. She didn't dare fire her AA guns, lest she accidentally pluck one of her supposed allies from the sky.

But just as things were starting to fully turn around, as Hipper began to have the slight hope that she just might survive this whole very odd encounter, Abyssal's began to emerge left and right destroyers close, torpedoes already raring to go as battleships and cruisers began to appear at distance, Re's and Ru's, Ta's And Ne's already lining up their guns with the five. Hipper's own guns began to take aim, but she knew there were far too many targets to try and take out for her and four battleships alone.

"Her safety takes priority. You two can be revived. She can't." The first Abyssal battleship called. Hipper briefly glanced back at the woman only for her attention to be called back to the two Re's in front of her, who had spun around and were now sailing in far closer proximity than the heavy cruiser would have preferred. But as their guns began to fire, the opposing Abyssal's fired as one, sending more shells than Hipper could count into the air. Immediately, the two Re classes, white hoodies and all practically threw themselves at the German Heavy cruiser as the shells began to crash down.

Hipper could feel the vibrations of the shells crashing against armor and metal. She could feel the spasms as the shells pierced flesh, as they tore away tendons and muscle. As they severed limbs and crushed bones. But not once did she feel pain herself. Not once did she find herself reeling from the pain or flinching from the impact.

When the shells had stopped flying and the peace once again swelled in, Hipper slowly but surely brought her vision back up to the two Re's that had thrown themselves at her. They were still practically clinging to her, their armor still blocking her own. As she continued on however, she found that they were unrelenting in their grip. Taking a quick glance at the opposing ships that were now dodging shells from the two battleships following after her, she looked back to the two Re's.

When they hadn't let go for another thirty seconds as they blocked more and more shells, sporadic and spread, she eventually brought a hand up to one of them, slowly and carefully placing in on the Re's head, pulling back her hood. And a breath slowly escaped her lips as she caught a sight of the battleship's eyes, glazed over, half lidded, and unmoving. The Re that had been so readily toying and smirking at her had given her life in but a moment's notice.

Why?

"Do not feel too bad for her. It may be a few weeks, but she will be up and around again once more. They both will." The second Abyssal said. That was great and all, but it still left a glaring issue in Hipper's eyes.

"What about us? How do we make it out of this?" Hipper asked, not looking back at the two she knew to be there. She only heard brief chuckles at that.

"We've already bought the time needed for survival. Now it simply rests on the shoulders of those that call themselves your allies." She said, prompting Hipper to furrow her brow in confusion, only for realization to snap onto her features a moment later as she realized the ships before her were no longer even firing shells at them. Their guns were not even pointed in their direction as their AA began to light up on all sides. And just as Hipper heard a noise that she could never forget.

The high pitch scream. That telltale high pitch scream. Produced from the miniature propellers that sat upon the front mounts of a Stuka's landing gear. But that would mean-

There, she spotted them, just coming below the clouds. Eighteen in total, the Stuka's were already mid dive and even if one or two were shot down, Hipper knew that it wouldn't be enough. But even then, it didn't stop as the heavy cruiser watched Corsairs, Avengers, Dauntlesses, Hurricanes, Zeroes, And 109's descend below the cloud cover, quickly numbering in at over ninety. Hipper could only guess which planes were from which carriers, but that the moment, she found she frankly couldn't care less.

She watched as the Stuka's dropped their payload first, followed by the Avengers and Dauntlesses, suddenly turning the tables on the Abyssal's in one fell swoop. As she did so, she soon found the two Abyssal's that had originally shown up for her removing the lifeless Re bodies from her person as the second looked to Hipper, her expression of kindness rapidly replaced with one of warning.

"Let it be known that this will not be a common occurrence. You come out here again underprepared or to simply let your anger subside, do not expect us to bail you out a second time. Friendly as we may be, we are still your enemy in this war. Do not forget that." She said before and the other, Re bodies in their grasps, began to sink beneath the waves, watching Hipper a moment longer before finally vanishing beneath the waves of the Pacific.

Watching the spot where they'd been moments before, Admiral Hipper shook her head as she turned her engines to full as her screws began to spin up more and more, propelling her in the direction of her fleet. Even though she didn't have radio contact with the fleet, she knew they were watching out for her as each supposed threat who came her way were either turned away or promptly eradicated by the now battalion of planes soaring overhead. She watched as a Hurricane and Zero served as a wingman to one another as they chased down an Abyssal drone.

It was another few minutes of traveling until Hipper finally caught sight of her actual allies, coming in the form of nineteen destroyers and three battleships, this being comprised of the Missouri, Arizona, And Nagato escorted by the entirety of the Shiratsuyu sisters and the Fletchers. Shigure and Hoel only traded uneasy glances with Hipper as they passed. And the heavy cruiser soon realized why when she looked back to the three battleships. Missouri for all her intent, looked pretty calm, probably more focused on assisting the destroyers in clean up. But Arizona And Nagato were already locked in on the Heavy cruiser, and neither of them looked to ecstatic.

Probably at the hassle of having to come out here and find her, Hipper reasoned. And it was a safe bet too as immediately, Arizona And Nagato Came to a stop in front of the woman.

"So... you mind telling us just what in the hell you were thinking? The point of this whole escapade?" Arizona asked, a hand on her hip as she looked over the woman. To Hipper's credit, she didn't miss a beat.

"Simply to think. To clear my head. I couldn't do that on a base so full of activity. There was too much noise." She replied.

"So coming out here and getting shot to hell? That was your brilliant plan to think? So that we had to come bail your ass out of the fire?" The battleship demanded, using a tone of voice that neither Nagato or Hipper had ever heard the normally calm battleship utilize.

"I mean, there may have been issues with the plan..." Hipper begrudgingly admitted. But when Arizona went to say something, Nagato held a hand.

"I believe Admiral Hipper has been through more than enough for one day. If you want to continue scolding her, perhaps while she's in the docks would be a better fit." Nagato suggested, though she didn't look too particularly pleased either. Arizona watched the woman before glancing back to Hipper once more, which eventually prompted her to give in, offering only a nod.

"You will speak to only the Admirals and Captains. You will report to the docks for preparation and repair. And you will not be allowed out on the water for an undetermined amount of time. Do I make myself clear?" Arizona asked, Nagato staying quiet as she apparently deemed this a suitable punishment. Hipper nodded without issue as her screws spun up, pushing her once more through the water back towards Tokyo Bay.

—/—\—

She'd fought a hard battle. She'd cursed and bled through and through for a victory, and in the end, they couldn't sink her. She wouldn't bend to them, taking salvo after salvo. She wouldn't kneel to them, to their murderous and barbaric ways. She did not relent to their onslaught, her resolve only having been strengthened by their assault. They'd wanted her to fall.

But she had not fallen.

The battle was over, the Abyssal's scoured. They'd been routed and run from their supposed fleets, scattered into the Atlantic. She'd watched them run, bleeding and beaten, but not defeated. They'd put hole after hole into her, tore her apart, but she'd not given in. She'd held out long enough for help to arrive, for the younger members of her navy to come to her support. As she leaned against the helm, she watched the one known as Alabama sail along with destroyers in tow, making sure the area was clear.

Constitution could see her, and not just the ship, but her. Alabama herself. And when the battleship noticed her gaze from atop her second turret, she offered a smile and a salute, her destroyers doing the same. Constitution only smiled in return, still heavily leaning against the helm, as she returned the salute. She watched them sail on, their guns still cooling from the Combat they'd endured. They'd shown up right before Constitution had been executed by the Abyssal's, thereby saving her life and so many others.

The old girl looked back to the city, where some buildings were smoking. But only some damage. The city had endured what few planes the Abyssal's had managed to get through, but largely lost most of them to the bay and the AA suites of what Navy ships had shown up. Largely attributed to Alabama, who now spotted an AA suite that would make even an Iowa blush.

Constitution took a moment to watch the clouds above as the breeze messed with her already messy hair. She watched as they flew by, once again giving the sight to the blue sky above, having been hidden away for far too long. But as she did so, she heard footsteps approach from behind.

"You did as you said you would. You fought to your last breath. You were ready to die so that they could yet live. You're a hero to not only your people but the world. To those who see your country as an ally. And even to those who see it as a threat, you are a symbol."

"I never asked to be a symbol." Constitution replied as she looked up at her one remaining mast, her sails blowing in the breeze.

"No one does."

"I should've died today." Constitution said as she looked back to the figure. Their image was foggy, even in the daylight. The figure nodded as their hands were held behind their back, as if they were waiting for someone to give them permission to leave.

"But you didn't. You lived. You still do. Where a miracle may have saved you, that changes little. You've taken a stand in an age that is not your own, and shown them the fight that still burns away within you. So long after your own prime came to an end." The figure spoke, broadly gesturing to Constitution. The woman only nodded at that, letting her fingers run over the helm of her own hull for a moment, memories flashing through her mind of years long past, before looking back to the apparition. That's when she noted boats coming out into the Bay to approach her, probably to bring her back to port, Connie assumed.

"So?" She asked. "My fight still burns just as strong as the first day I was laid down. What about it?"

"There are other ways to help your country. To help your people fight this war other than sitting around, watching the same horizon day after day, waiting for your moment of glory." The figure said. Constitution rolled her eyes at that as she looked back out to the horizon. She was no fool. She was not ignorant. She was not without her knowing. She'd heard the call before. She could still hear it. The waters she sailed on carried it to her, as if it was for her ears only.

"That's for the young blood." Constitution said as she looked back to the figure. "That's their fight. I have no place to stand next to them as if I am their equal. They are stronger, faster, and better than I. I can not defend our skies. I can not reach my enemies at range. I can not detect them over the horizon or out speed them. I am not a warrior. Not like them." She said as she watched the figure a moment.

"But you do inspire." The figure retorted, simply turning to look at the edges of Boston Harbor, which were still lined with the denizens of the city. "You show them that the fight can come from anywhere, anyone. You're a symbol of this land. True, you do not have the capabilities that some do, but they would be proud to stand next to you. Both in combat and out. You are their past, and for their future to arrive, you can never be forgotten. Plus, you do not know what kind of life awaits you there. There are so very many things simply waiting to be discovered by your hands and your hands alone." They replied.

Constitution held a moment, mulling over the thought a second before looking back to the figure.

"Would I be the only one?"

"No, but perhaps the oldest. There are many who wish to come back for and to their country. Normally, you're right, this wouldn't be considered. But you are someone that they can not simply look over. So I ask again, will you take the chance?" She asked.

"They?" Constitution asked.

"Not important. Your answer?" They asked.

Constitution only thought for a moment before she knew what her answer would be.

—/—\—

"Hipper's just returning to base now." Sofia said as she approached Anya and Saradia. The two women nodded at that as they could see the heavy cruiser silhouetted against the horizon, being flanked by Arizona And Nagato. Behind them Came Missouri and the destroyer flotilla they'd taken, along with the carrier force they'd brought along.

"Is she alright?" Saradia asked as she glanced at Sofia. The captain nodded.

"While she seems to be alright for the most part, both Arizona And Nagato confirm that she was doused in white phosphorus. Her fairies only just got it finally extinguished a few moments ago." The Captain Answered. "Neither of them are very pleased with her, but I think that has more to do with the fact that she managed to slip away unnoticed. Prinz and Blucher are trying to get what details they can from her, but Arizona And Nagato aren't having it. She's going straight to the docks with no stops for conversation anywhere." Sofia Answered as she crossed her arms.

"Are they expecting we punish her?" Saradia inquired. Sofia opened her mouth to answer only to close it a moment later.

"Arizona sounds like she wants us to... but I don't think she actually expects us too. I think she's just venting anger. I think Hipper slipped pissed her off more than even she realizes." Sofia Answered. Anya sighed at that as she brought a hand to her forehead.

"Please tell me I'm not about to have another battleship break down on me." Anya pleaded as she looked to Sofia. The Captain only chuckled as she crossed her arms at that, shaking her head as she watched Missouri go back to helping Louisiana, who still looked a bit out of her element and the destroyers settle back into tormenting one another.

"Hey, first off, you're Mary's special someone. Arizona has Haruna. And by extension, that means Kongou, Hiei, And Kirishima won't rest until she's happy as well. And too many destroyers to count. Arizona has a safety net to calm down with, and that now includes Pennsylvania. I don't think you'll have to worry about her. You might check in, but I don't think you'll need to intervene." Sofia said. Anya nodded at that as Saradia sighed.

"I apologize for Hipper. I don't think I broke it to her well..." She Answered. Anya shrugged at that.

"There's not really a good way to break that topic into conversation. I think you handled it fine and so does Ishigara. She's just new. Emotion will run high for a while. Just like every other new summon. I'm not so bothered by the fact she wanted to be alone more as the fact I'm bothered she didn't even tell anyone what she was doing. Not even her sisters. I know Hipper doesn't have the most stellar reputation right now, but we need to make her feel welcomed. To let her know that she can talk to us. Someone. At least just for a little bit." Anya said. Sofia And Saradia nodded at the statement, seeing it as sound advice.

"Well? Are we going to punish her for it though?" Saradia asked.

"I don't see a need to make her feel bad. Uncomfortable will work quite well." Anya Answered. Sofia arched a brow at that as did Saradia.

"What do you have planned?" Sofia asked. Anya only smiled at that.

"She's probably going to need some help getting into the docks. I've already asked that someone to be waiting at the docks for her. Akashi and Dionysus seem to think it's a good idea as well." Anya said.

"Who did you send to help her?" Sofia asked, a suspicion of knowing already creeping up in her mind.

"Someone with her own fair share of scars." Was the reply.

—/—\—

Arizona And Nagato walked silently behind the limping and sizzling Hipper. The heavy cruiser was clearly in pain, more so now that the adrenaline was dying down and her body was returning to a normal state of being. And normal meant feeling just how much of her skin had burned away as a result of the White phosphorus she'd found herself victim to. And her clothes rustling against the wound weren't helping anything in the slightest.

But as they continued to walk on, Hipper figured that her situation could've been a lot worse than it was. There was a small part of her dignity that was grateful that she could still walk on her own two feet. She didn't want to know what the feeling of being carried to a dock would feel like, and undressed even less. That being said, she could already feel that undressing herself would be a chore, if she even could. There was a good possibility that she was going into the dock in her uniform and she recognized that small fact of life as a minor inconvenience. After all, she yet lived.

She stayed quiet as they walked on, as she knew that even if she was particularly well liked right now, Arizona And Nagato still probably wouldn't take up a conversation with her. Not after what she'd done to the Admiral. She knew that even with Admiral Johnson's declaration to stop, that wouldn't stop the others from harboring ill will towards her. And she'd somewhat accepted that as her situation.

But for everything she knew about her hilariously short lived life so far, there was one thing she couldn't prepare for. And that made itself known rather quickly as she let the battleships behind her lead the way into the dock. But when she went to follow them in, she found herself and them stoop rather shortly at the sight before them. Or, to be exact, the person before them.

Dressed in shorts and a T-shirt with the sides missing, exposing her black bra, was the battleship Maryland, organizing a few things, apparently awaiting for them to arrive. But what's more than that was Arizona And Nagato almost didn't recognize the battleship given that her brown hair wasn't kept in it's usual ponytail. Instead, it was down, only the second time she'd worn it like that, the first being when she was initially summoned. It took Arizona a moment to process, especially when she was looking at Maryland's brown curls from the back. Her usual ponytail hid them away well.

"Mary..?" Arizona asked after a moment. Maryland at that straightened up, stretching her arms a moment, before nodding as she turned around. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be out on the water." Arizona told her.

"Admiral, Akashi, And Dio think I'm better suited here at the moment. So I'm taking them on it. If you want to ask them, be my guest, but they probably won't tell much. So, if you're all good, you can leave Hipper here with me." She said, pushing some of her hair out of the way of her eyes, tucking it behind an ear. When Arizona suddenly looked unsure, Maryland only chuckled. "Ari, I promise I'm not gonna deck her. Now go." She told the woman, nodding to both Arizona and Nagato. It took a moment, but eventually, Arizona seemed to nod in acceptance as she and Nagato backed past Hipper before leaving, leaving Maryland and Hipper in the locker room together. And based on the heavy cruiser's expression, she hadn't been expecting it either.

Maryland watched the two battleships go a moment longer before dropping her eyes to meet Hipper's, this being the first time Maryland had really looked at the woman since the day she'd laid the cruiser out in the snow. The silence settled swiftly between the two of them and Maryland simply turned back to what she'd been doing before the three had walked in on her, leaving the Germanic cruiser to stand there in one spot awkwardly, torn between confusion and her normal pride. Even in front of the person who had dented it severely.

The silence stayed, Maryland content on the silence as she worked and Hipper, wanting to say so very many things to the battleship. At first, she'd wanted to say something along the lines of sorry. But her pride bested that train of thought eventually.

"I suppose this amuses you, doesn't it? Seeing me like this?" Hipper asked icily as she held her arms up to her sides, wincing as she gestured to herself. Maryland only glanced back at the woman, eying her a moment longer before shaking her head.

"I already got at you with my own two hands, Hipper. I already laid you out in the snow with my own fury, my own anger. This doesn't amuse me. In my opinion, this wasn't warranted." Maryland Answered in an even tone before looking back to what she'd been doing when they came in. Hipper's response died in her throat as her arms kind of simply flopped down back to her sides at that. She'd expected the anger she'd been on the receiving end that night to swell to the surface. "I got what I wanted that night. I made you suffer with my own two hands. Asking for anything more than that is greedy."

Hipper opened her mouth to respond, only to close it a moment later, only to open it right again. "So then... why? Why are you here?"

"Physical pain and being uncomfortable are two different things. But the Admiral... my Admiral wants to patch things up. And I'm supposed to be a role model, being a battleship and all. So, that leaves things to me to fix this. Fix... us I guess." Maryland said as she finally turned around to face the cruiser, hands going to her hips, periwinkle eyes watching the woman lazily.

"Us? Last I recall, we are not in a relation-"

"Oh, yes. Trust me, I know that much. But I'm not talking about a romantic kind of way." She said as she looked at the cruiser. "There's still a lot of things you're gonna learn about being human, a lot I'm still learning to be honest. And one of those things is that every person you meet will have an opinion. You'll have some sort of tie with them. And sure, some can be afforded to let wither. But you and I? At the end of the day, we're in the same fleet. We're a team. That means that when we're out on the water, Im supposed to have your back and the reverse is true as well. That means whatever problem we have with one another needs to be worked out on land." Maryland said as she eased herself down onto one of the benches in the locker room. Hipper only nodded at that as she took a seat on the bench next to her for a moment, looking down at the floor a moment as she put her hands together for a moment before looking back at the battleship.

"I suppose.. I should apologize to both you and frau Johnson." She said after a moment. Mary arched a brow at that as she crossed her arms.

"Why both of us? She's the one you hit. Like I said, I already got my reckoning." Mary said. Hipper only nodded a moment.

"But... the Admiral is yours, is she not?" The German Cruiser asked, prompting the battleship to briefly go wide eyed before taking her stance back to normal as she glanced at Hipper.

"What are you talking-"

"I am unsure of where stand right now as you said in terms of one another, but please do not mistake my ignorance of this life as stupidity. You forget, I was on the receiving end of your fists. I am a better judge than anyone in that regard. And what you did to me. How you hurt me? That was not simply for laying a hand on your Admiral. It was because I laid a hand on something that doesn't belong to me." Hipper said. Maryland blinked, looking at the woman with a surprised expression before shaking her head.

"Okay, Fine. You're right. But Anya doesn't belong to me. She's not mine to own like she's some sort of property." Mary said. Hipper arched a brow as she leaned back somewhat at that.

"So the two of you are open with one another?" Hipper asked, glancing up in thought.

"No, not exactly. We're in a relationship with one another so-"

"So that means she is yours, does it not?" Hipper asked once more as she gazed at the battleship.

"I mean, I guess you could say she's mine-"

"That she belongs to you?"

"That she belongs to me, yes." Mary confirmed. Hipper offered a rare, triumphant smile at that, the first Mary had seen she realized. "You know, you should smile more. You'd make far more friends that way." The battleship said with a smirk. The heavy cruiser blinked a moment at that before only rolling her eyes, Maryland only laughing in return. "I'm serious. You've got a great smile. And I'm sure your sisters would be more than happy to know that their eldest is happy as well." She said. Hipper only shrugged as she went to roll her shoulder, only to wince somewhat. And at that, Maryland snapped right to business as she stood.

"Alright. Start stripping. We need to get you into the docks so that the repair ships can start their work." She said. Hipper blinked.

"You want me to strip? Right here? In front of you?" She asked disbelieving. Maryland rolled her eyes.

"Europeans." She muttered. "Yes, it's a group dockhouse. Which means that even if I don't see you naked here, chances are great that I will see you naked at some point in the near future. Might as well get it over with now, don't ya think?" She asked. Hipper held a moment, as if she was planning to say something in response to her statement, only to come to the realization that the battleship was probably right. Huffing, she winced as made to move her arm for her uniform. But when she slowed because of the pain, Maryland reached for the woman's buttons.

"With your permission." Mary hummed. When Hipper only nodded in silence, the battleship took it as her cue, going about undoing the woman's shirt, making sure not to disturb her burns too much.

It was only a few moments later when Hipper was wrapped in only a tail, Maryland hooked an arm under the cruiser's legs and behind her back as she went about carrying her into the docks to let Akashi and Dionysus begin their work.