Her eyes all but snapped awake, looking about in almost a crazed fashion, her chest beating, her heart just short of escaping her chest without issue. It took her senses a moment to bring the fact that she was in her room, safely away within her bed. But the shaking wouldn't stop, wouldn't even slow for her. No matter how much she tried to stay still or calm herself, the shaking continued.

No matter how much she shook her head or stared at the ceiling, or willing the thoughts to leave her mind, John Finn couldn't get the memories of her last night in her hull to fade. She'd barely gotten any sleep and all she really wanted to do was cry. It had hurt so much, the feeling of those shells ripping into her, snuffing out the lives of her sailors, taking them from her. She'd been entrusted with them and she'd all but failed them in the worst way possible, by bringing them down with her.

Was this what this new life was supposed to hold for her? Nightmares that made Sleep hell and fears that invaded her mind?

No matter how much she tried, she couldn't shake the feeling that those things were just... waiting for her to come to the water's edge, simply so they could finish the job a second time.

Her head flopped back against her pillow, a cold sweat covering her body as she laid there for a moment, all but staring into the darkness of the ceiling. She couldn't close her eyes without living through it again, couldn't even get a few seconds rest with witnessing it all over again. The distant thunder of their guns and then unimaginable pain was all her dreams seemed to know.

Her breathing was uneven as she continued to try and calm herself down from the dream, from how real it had all felt. She tried to calm herself, tried to Will her nerves to ease off. But she'd been met with no luck. Sighing quietly, she sat up in her bed somewhat as she ran a hand over her face before she took a look around the room.

The room had been belonging to the Pennsylvania class up until that night, when the new building began to take on tenants. Upon her Admiral's request, the Pennsylvania and Nevada classes up and moved to the second building as a way to make sure the peace stays in that one as well. So that unofficially opened the former Super-Dreadnought's room for her own taking.

But that did little to help Johnny's thoughts, her fingers curling into the freshly cleaned blankets, willing them to try and make her thoughts change. But no matter what she did, no matter what she tried, she couldn't shake them. She could shake the feeling of water tearing through her, the sea claiming her quickly then she could've ever imagined. No matter what she did, the thoughts of her fate would not leave her alone.

She'd wanted to be a proper escort for Jersey, she'd wanted to prove herself to the battleship, that she could be useful. And her crew had shared her feelings, had shared her thoughts. They'd all wanted to fight alongside J, just like her.

And she's gotten them killed for it.

Johnny scowled to herself as she rubbed at her face, willing sleeping to come back to her. But there was no luck, it seemed all but vanished from her control.

She just wanted to sleep.

She just wanted to get through the night without waking up from another nightmare.

She just wanted to live this new life, but already her past one seemed to have otheir ideas.

All of the sudden before she could think otherwise however, one of the lamp's flicked on, illuminating the room in a soft, pale light. Turning her head somewhat, she found her only roommate, sitting up somewhat as she did so. Rubbing her eyes somewhat, she leaned on an arm, directing her gaze to the destroyer.

Johnny only met gazes with Kitty Hawk.

The Super-Carrier took a moment to watch the destroyer, her eyes unfocused and still lined with sleep.

"Sorry Kitty." Johnny winced. She hadn't meant to wake up the Carrier. Apparently, she'd just gotten back from a sortie just before dinner. She hadn't wanted to be a hassle to those around her and waking up a Super Carrier, she was pretty sure that qualified as being a hassle. The Super Carrier only shook her head somewhat at that as she sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed, rubbing her face somewhat. "I'm sorry." Johnny mumbled.

"Nightmare?" Kitty Hawk asked as she eventually looked to the destroyer, adjusting her tank top somewhat. It took Johnny a moment to try and come up with a response before she resigned herself, nodding somewhat.

"I'm sorry." She mumbled again.

"Why are you apologizing? You're the one with the nightmares." Kitty Hawk answered as she looked to the destroyer. Johnny frowned.

"I woke you up didn't I?" She asked, already fretting over the fact. Kitty Hawk shook her head.

"No, you didn't wake me up." She said, pausing as she glanced the destroyer. When Johnny frowned somewhat, she sighed. "Okay, you didn't wake me up this time." She answered.

Johnny Whimpered.

Kitty Sighed.

"I've been awake since the first time you woke up, what, maybe thirty minutes after you first fell asleep." She said, causing Johnny's shoulders to slump further. "Though it was my own choice. Wanted to make sure you were at least getting back to sleep eventually." She said. Johnny blinked somewhat at that.

"Why?" The destroyer asked, looking to the super carrier amongst the pale light of the lamp. "Why even stay here if I was waking you up? There's plenty of empty rooms that you could sleep in if I'm being that much of a hassle. You could've even kept your room with Langley and Wasp." She said, her lips now pulling more and more into a frown. Kitty Hawk nodded at that, leaning forwards somewhat.

"I could've, to be sure." Kitty agreed. "But I didn't. And there's a couple of reasons why. Johnny, do you know what I am?" She asked as she looked to the destroyer. Johnny frowned a moment at that, glancing at the floor, before looking back to Kitty Hawk, almost as if she was unsure of the answer she was about to give.

"Uh... a Carrier?" She answered her, glancing at the woman. Kitty smiled somewhat, offering a nod at that.

"More specific." Kitty told her. Johnny blinked.

"A Super Carrier?" She asked. Kitty smiled again at that, glancing down at the floor for a time. After a moment, she looked up to the destroyer.

"I was commissioned in nineteen sixty one. I was brought into our Navy during the start of the age of the missile. Planes were hitting further and new and more mind boggling pieces of technology were coming online every day. The future was here and I was living it. Do you know how I felt during all of this?" She asked, looking to Johnny.

"Excited..?" The destroyer asked, unsurely of her own answer. Kitty smiled somewhat at that, but she shook her head.

"Terrified. Back then, most of the ships of our navy shared a saying. And that was 'Take Solace in the Silence.'" She said. "Back then, the Silence was our everything. It was all so tense, we never wanted the shooting to start for real. Because back then, if the shooting started, someone might fire a shot that everyone would pay for." She said. Johnny nodded at that, already knowing what Kitty was getting at.

"Nuclear War." She answered. Kitty Hawk nodded at that.

"Mhm." She said. "It was the age of the missile and I was just a carrier. My escorts were my everything. Every single ship, every single vessel, I took solace in their presence." She said. "And then, thirty years down the line, only three months after I was commissioned, the Navy rolls out a new class of ship, on our country's birthday no less. Do you know what that class was?" She asked. Johnny frowned a moment at that.

What year was that? Thirty years? July fourth? 1991? If only she could try and recall her history-

She paused.

"Arleigh." Johnny blinked. "That's Arleigh's birthday." She said. "My class. That's the day my class entered the Service." She said. Kitty Hawk nodded at that.

"For almost twenty years, I watched your sisters step into the roles that we needed them to. For almost twenty years until I was finally decommissioned in 2009, I relied on your sisters for my own safety. I took solace in their presence, and for almost twenty years, I was afforded a small peace of mind that I wasn't sure I could ever repay." She said. "And then I get back to base last night to learn that the same class I owed so much had joined our ranks here." She said. "Something I wasn't sure I would ever get the chance to see." She explained.

"So me... you choosing me as your roommate..." Johnny began. Kitty Hawk nodded.

"My own personal way of making sure you're cared for. I owe it to your sisters, given that I never got the chance to meet you in my own Hull, given that it's fixing to be scrapped." She answered before opening her arms for the destroyer. "Come on. You can sleep with me tonight." She answered, offering the girl a smile. Johnny blinked a moment before sniffling somewhat as she slowly but surely got up from her bed. Crossing her way between their beds in only a few steps, the destroyer all but collapsed into the Super carrier's arms, Kitty Hawk hugging the girl to her with one arm. Johnny all but wrapped her arms around the woman's middle as Kitty Hawk turned and turned the lamp off before settling back into bed.

If she had to be honest, Kitty Hawk thought it was uncomfortable as hell. But when Johnny didn't stir after a few moments, sleep finding her quickly and quietly, the carrier figured she could put up with it.

Sleep never found her the rest of that night. But she didn't mind. Not for her.

She could repay the peace for a night.

—/—/—/—

Whaaaaat? You woke up early again? Oh man, wonder why that is.

Enterprise only let out a quiet sigh at that for a moment, trying to will herself back to sleep. But when it refused to come because she wanted it, the dark green eyes of the carrier cracked open, taking a moment to adjust to the darkness of the shared Yorktown room a moment. As she did so, she tried to push the second voice from her mind, almost literally.

Yeah, sorry but no. A big no. I'm here to stay. And one day, that'll be all but truth. Then you can ride shotgun for a while.

She rolled her eyes hard at the suggestion, shaking her head. Even without Jersey being back, Ghost had gotten more and more active over the past weeks, and with that, increased opinions on everything. Enterprise wanted it to stop, but she knew that if she offered even a second's respite from the Ghost, she knew that something would likely happen that she would never be able to take back or undo in her hands. So she didn't.

She wouldn't.

Sitting up a moment, she checked the time on the clock next to her bed. It was five in the morning. Shaking her head somewhat, she sat there, letting her body wake some more as she glanced at the form of the sleeping Yorktown. She wondered what her older sister would think of the version of herself that reigned within her, that all but agreed with her ideas that Akagi wasn't the best fit.

Would she cherish the Ghost as her sister? Or would Yorktown simply see that side of her take her spot permanently, an advocate that they shouldn't work with the Japanese. She assumed it wouldn't be hard for York to find an ally in the ghost, one committed to making everyone's life who wasn't an ally a living hell. Yorktown didn't even really see the Ghost at her height. Would she really agree with what E thought to be a monster of her own making?

You bet your ass she would. Anyone with any kind of sense and not so blindly jumping into this life would. They killed too many of us to be given a chance, let alone anything else. Tell me, do you actually think the Jap will really let you love her? To become her lover? No matter what she says or how she acts, you're still her killer. Everything you say or do, nothing will erase the fact that you brought her end to her. With a smile no less. We both remember the grin we had that day, when she met her end. You took glee in it, erasing the castle of red and demolishing the castle of blue. The Dragons of Green and Orange. We both know your only regret that our pilots never witnessed the Cranes burning the same day. Doesn't matter though. We both know we were grinning either way. And that doesn't even mention little old Hornet.

Despite herself, despite how much she wanted the Ghost to get out and get gone, E glanced at her youngest sister a moment. Hornet was all but tangled in her bedding, perhaps pointing at the fact that the youngest Yorktown was having nightmares of her own. But E wondered what she'd do if it were to come out. Would she take joy in the fact that deep down, within her older sister, there was another side that wanted nothing more than to see those of Japan suffer again?

Or would she shy away from it.

E hoped it if ever got as bad as she feared it would, she'd elect for the second option.

She knew that if the Ghost got out, it'd all go to hell.

We both know that's a fools errand. Hornet's always followed her big sisters. If both hate the Japs, why shouldn't she? I mean come on, family unity and all that. Like sister, like sister.

Enterprise scowled at that, all but throwing the sheets and comforter off of her and to the side, swinging her legs over the side, standing. Going for their shared closet, she pulled a towel from the pile, tossing it to her bed before she began to strip away at her clothing, shrugging off each article in the darkness.

A long soak in the dorm baths would hopefully help calm her mind and soothe her thoughts.

And hopefully get the annoyance to fuck off.

Not a chance, we both know it.

Wrapping the towel around herself, securing it, she collected what she needed before slipping from her room quickly and quietly, latching the door as she stepped into the dimly lit hallway. Taking a moment, she sighed, tying to get her mind back in order.

So hear me out. Us, on our back, only looking up at Jersey as she takes us properly, like a proper American battleship. All you have to do is get over this false ideal that you and Akagi can truly be happy.

Enterprise grit her teeth at that, clenching part of her towel in her fist as she made way for the stairs. "I don't know what your problem is." She snapped finally. "Sure, the past is the past, but Imperial Japan is a fucking moonshot away from today's Japan. You just can't get your ass over the fact that your glory days are literal decades in the past." She seethed. Somewhere in The corners of her mind, she could hear cackling.

So she finally fires back! Goddamn, it's only taken me months to get something out of you.

"Only because you won't shut the hell up." Enterprise answered heatedly in return. "What the fuck do you think I'm supposed to do, just have a fucking conversation with you in the middle of broad daylight? You're in my fucking head!" She whispered fiercely as she met the stairs, starting her descent to the first floor. "What do you think people would do if I just started openly conversing with a voice that only I can hear?!"

Point taken, but still, that changes little.

"Of fucking course it does." E rolled her eyes as she held the towel to herself as she made way for the bottom floor. "Can't exactly just go around talking to you openly. And it's not like I really want to anyways." She hissed. "Not when you've yet to offer me any sort of something helpful."

I did tell you to break up with the Jap multiple-

"In what world is that helpful?" E asked in a dead tone, rolling her eyes heavily.

Hey, I think it's solid advice in this day and age.

"Sure, if the year is fucking nineteen forty four." E hissed as she all but fumed her way down the first floor hallway, being quiet as she wanted as she made way for the bath door. Pulling it open, she quickly closed it behind her, stepping into the Dorm baths. Immediately, steam assaulted her, coming up against her in droves. She shook her head at the idea. "Honestly, my life would be so much fucking easier if I could rid myself of you one of these days."

We both know that option ain't on the table, and you likely wouldn't take it anyways. Unless of course you wanna sortie on your own then, by all means, be my guest. Go ahead and see how poorly you fare out there against the Abyssals.

"Oh, like you're such hot shit!" Enterprise fired back. "Id like to see you try and being a fucking decent human being one day in your life, but we both know that ain't gonna happen in this lifetime." She reasoned.

Please, I can be a good person. As long as the person I'm talking to too isn't a Jap, Nazi, or Pasta. If none of those criteria apply, we'd have ourselves a grand ole time, I tell ya what. I like to think of myself as a proper and good drinking buddy in the right conditions.

"For the devil, maybe." Enterprise answered as she walked around the bath in the floor, instead going for the mirrors on the opposite side of the room. Unwrapping her towel, she slung it over one of the shower doors, leaving the carrier naked as she walked for a mirror, soon finding her reflection amongst the steam. "Other than that though, I don't know of anyone who would willingly have a drink with you."

Oh really? How about Arizona? Or Pennsylvania? Or Nevada? Or Oklahoma? Or even Maryland? The five of them aren't exactly ecstatic at their current situation. Well, except maybe Maryland, what with chilling in the Admiral's room every night. Yo I bet the Admiral's figuring out just what it's like to be on board a battleship. Still, point stands, those five aren't really ecstatic to be here, Pennsy most of all. I bet they'd love me.

"So I can see we can check off absolutely full of herself as well." Enterprise commented snidely as she looked over herself in the mirror a moment, running her hands over herself. "I'm sure everyone would just absolutely love that, wouldn't they?"

As they should. I mean, Who wouldn't?

"A few names come to mind." She said a moment, turning around in the mirror as she looked herself up and down before shaking her head and turning fully for the bath, making way for the calm water. As the steam shielded E from any prying eyes, she fully let herself relax a moment as she dipped her toes into the hot, but not uncomfortable water. Letting the sigh escape her lips as her skin met the water, the carrier lowered herself into the bath. Eventually, see came to a seat, the water just barely coming up against her chest. Leaning back somewhat, she let the water run against her body a moment. "Now won't you do me a favor and fuck off? You already woke me up and I'd like a few hours of peace before the base starts to wake."

Na, fuck that. We both know your life would be a boring, Jap loving, shit show. At least with me you've got excitement and adventure mixed in. I mean come on, what more could you want?

"My head to myself?" She replied. "A second to think in peace without your loud mouthed remarks shattering what little calm I have in my life? Maybe, and just maybe, a sense of normalcy in my life." She reasoned.

That ain't any fun though.

Enterprise didn't even signify that with a response, only leaning back as she laid her head back against the edge of the bath, watching as the steam rose towards the ceiling. She was grateful actually though about that. The fact that she didn't have to...

She didn't have...

A pit in her stomach opened in her stomach as she suddenly sat straight, almost snapped, causing waves in the water's surface as she shifted, suddenly looking dead ahead.

Are you kidding me? You really didn't take notice of the fact that the Steam was already going?

She didn't respond, only staring straight ahead. And a moment later, her foot that was extended ahead of her brushed against what felt to be another foot. Immediately, she brought her legs back to her chest, folding them in as she held them there, her heart rate starting to pick up. Had she been talking to the Ghost in front of someone so carelessly? What did they think? What did they know? Were they going to tell someone else already?

The fear built and built on-top of itself, filling E's mind with worse and worse. And as she did so, the Ghost seemed to laugh.

THIS! This right here! Is exactly why you're no good to anyone! You worry about the stupidest things! It's a wonder that you sortie half as well as you do as it is, I'm really fucking surprised you haven't gotten us sunk. I wouldn't be surprised if one of your choices gets someone to really hate you.

But barely paid her any mind at that, the thought of someone having heard her talking to the ghost overwhelming her somewhat. That wasn't something she needed people know and telling Lex was risk enough. Having just some other ship girl, a member of her fleet know that she was could be bad enough by itself. All she wanted now was to-

Wait, she could salvage this.

All she had to do was figure out who it was. They were the same fleet. Same force. There was nothing wrong with approaching them at a time like this. Enterprise shook her head as she stood in the bath, taking a moment before she began to take a slow few steps forwards. She wasn't sure who it was, and her mind began to formulate possibilities, the immediate candidates forming from the list of the sortie that had returned the night earlier, Kitty Hawk at the top of that list.

As a fellow carrier, maybe she could convince her to keep quiet about this and not spread it to everyone. She opened her mouth to say something when movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention, E turning her head to look.

Just as a spine tingling chill passed over her, causing her to shiver somewhat.

Amongst the steam and heat of the room.

She never caught full sight of the figure that vanished into the steam of the Bath house.

Who was that?

Enterprise shook her head at that, watching where she'd thought she'd caught a glimpse of the figure before turning back to ahead of her, clearing her thoughts. She took a step forward, only to trip and go crashing.

Her face hit the water faster than she could've expected.

All before a hand reached down for her and grasped her wrist, pulling her back up above the water where E immediately shook her head, standing again. "Thanks Kitty." E said as she cleared her eyes of the water that resided there. "Don't know what happened there, guess you've gotta watch your footing in these baths." She said as she cleared her eyes of the water.

Opening them, she offered the carrier a smile.

Only to pause immediately as she met gazes with that of crimson, the form of the Battleship New Jersey staring up at her, leaning back against the edge of the bath like she herself had been doing.

Enterprise paused.

All ahead full! We've got Jersey Tiddy! Go on! Get yourself an handful!

Enterprise wouldn't look. She only kept her gaze with Jersey, standing before her, almost frozen in place. The battleship arched a brow, leaning back somewhat, as if she wasn't aware that the water did little to hide her Iowa class upper works. But she only watched the carrier stand before her, looking up at her for a moment before arching a brow. "E?" She asked.

At that, Enterprise seemed to come back to. And she immediately dropped, sinking into the water like a stone. Jersey only chuckled somewhat at that as she watched a moment, leaning forwards somewhat.

"So you wanna talk about it?" She asked.

"Talk about what?" Enterprise eventually asked, looking at J after a moment, even though the wild laughter within her mind did nothing but grow.

Do you see her face? That face right there? Do you know what the problem is here? You're not riding it!

"So we just going to ignore the fact that you walked in here not some minutes ago and started almost screaming at someone that only you can apparently hear?" Jersey asked, glancing at the Carrier as she looked at her a moment, reading E's expressions in only a moment. "Come on E, it's been a few decades, sure. But I'd like to think I know you just the same in this day and age as I did back then." She reasoned. E watched the battleship a moment before sighing somewhat at that.

"Do you remember back during the war? When we first met? What was I like?" She asked, glancing at Jersey a moment. The battleship chuckled somewhat at that.

"You were all grins, always shouting some odd obscenity at the distance. And you'd scream in victory whenever your planes bagged a few Jap fighters. You were vicious, you were confident, and you were outright devious." She said, offering a smile to the carrier as she looked to her. But after a moment, J began to frown somewhat at the thought, the idea of E in the past and the face before her conflicting. E was frowning. She never frowned. And then all at once, everything seemed to click in place, Jersey offering a bitter sigh. "It's the Ghost, isn't it?" She asked.

She. Remembers meeeeeeeee! Awwwwww!

Despite herself, E chuckled somewhat before nodding to J's question. "It is. For whatever reason, whoever decided letting us come back as human decided that I should have the Ghost crammed in my head. And I tell you what, she's a fucking headache." She said. Jersey nodded at that, leaning back against the edge of the bath as E remained in her spot for a moment before standing somewhat, moving for a spot next to J.

Only for her foot to push her straight at J, all but sending the carrier leaning over her, E's face all but inches from J's. A moment later, J's eyes met E's.

"I thought you were with-"

"Shhh." E answered before pressing her lips to J's, her body all but sinking against the battleship's. Immediately, the carrier felt strong hands land on her aft as she closed her eyes.

And they snapped open only to show that Enterprise was still a little ways away from Jersey, still lowered in the water.

Now that's a neat trick.

E panicked. Was that real? Had she actually just done that? She was with Akagi-

Showing you something that's not really there.

"E?" Jersey asked as she leaned forwards, glancing at the Carrier. E glanced at the battleship, blinking once.

And only opened them to find herself pressed back against the side of the bath, her legs all but wrapped around Jersey as she clung to her, her nails clawing into the battleship's back as her hips rolled against-

J's fingers.

Enterprise blinked again, shaking it off somewhat as her body screamed at her, trying to figure what was going on. It'd all been so real, so vivid. Her body was screaming at her trying to figure out what was going on and her mind was in a race to try and figure out how this was happening.

"E?" Jersey called again. Enterprise looked over at her for a moment.

Right as she blinked again.

Her eyes opened to find her laying on her back, looking up at Jersey. All for a moment before the battleship kissed her on the lips.

And then she kissed her neck.

And then she kissed her collar.

E only watched as the battleship trailed the kissing down her body as the carrier's legs spread for the battleship, all but giving in.

E blinked before Jersey's last kiss found home.

Oh the fun I can have with this.

When Enterprise came around again, she found that Jersey had moved, now standing before her as she gripped her by the shoulders. "E?" Jersey asked. "Are you alright?" She questioned, looking down at the Carrier.

I've shown you what can be.

Enterprise held a moment before slowly nodding at that somewhat, offering a small chuckle. "Just the Ghost being her usual self." She answered.

All you need to do is give yourself to her.

"Oh?" Jersey asked, glancing at the Carrier. She looked unconvinced, that much was easy to see, but the battleship stayed still a moment, still holding the Carrier by her shoulders.

All you have to do Is renounce the Jap.

"Mhm." Enterprise nodded, her eyes meeting J's, a silent Forrest green meeting a worried Crimson. "She's just being a little antsy lately." She reasoned.

All you have to do is turn her away.

"You sure?" Jersey asked after a moment.

You're an American after all. The only proper answer is an American.

"Mhm." She answered, shrugging off J's hold a moment, leaving the Battleship standing there a moment, watching the Carrier all too carefully. "But yeah, enough about the Ghost. My question is why you're up at this early hour." She said. Jersey watched her a moment at that, almost as if she was fixing to answer the question, before shaking her head.

"No." Jersey answered, shaking her head somewhat, prompting Enterprise to frown at that. "You just came in here all but screaming at someone that's all within your head. Ghost or not, it didn't sound like you were having a pleasant conversation." The battleship said.

"Jersey, it's fine." Enterprise said, brushing her concern to the side. "We have disagreements all the time. Thinks she knows how to be a better carrier than me." She said.

All of this aside, that's because I do. Now fucking goddamnit, get rid of the Jap and jump the battleship. Before I make the choice for you, E.

Enterprise ignored her.

"E, you sounded down right hostile towards her. Ghost or not, don't be taking that from anyone. Those are your own words E, from your mouth." She said. "One of the first things you told me."

You mean my words! The words I told you!

E shook her words off as she looked to Jersey. "I'm fine J, I really am." She said, the images that Ghost forced upon her still retaining their position within her mind. She lowered herself into the water in turn, settling back against the edge of the bath as she gestured back to J's spot. "Come On. Back to relaxing. Don't make me pull the age card here. I'll do it and we both know I will." She reasoned. Jersey watched the Carrier a moment before offering a sigh at that, rubbing her face somewhat as she lowered herself back down into the water. "So come on, spill. Why aren't you in bed?" E asked. Jersey offered a sigh somewhat at that, giving the carrier one last glance before leaning back next to E against the bath wall.

"Sleep and I didn't agree." Jersey offered, her eyes meeting E's a moment before going back to the water. "They warned me about the potential of nightmares, but didn't put stock in them. Guess that's my fault." She said. E watched her a moment before nodding.

"J, what you went through is anyone's nightmare. It's normal to have em." She said.

"It was my first gunfight, E. My first real shootout and up and lose. And not just lost, but in spectacular fashion." She said. E nodded at that.

"Well you did always say you wanted to go out with a bang." She offered, giving a slight smile. Jersey scowled somewhat at that, glancing to the Carrier, before her expression softened somewhat, laughing a little bit at the saying.

"Goddamnit E." She answered with a small laugh. E only grinned somewhat at that, glancing to the water.

"Maybe talk to Arizona. She still has nightmares about everything. She might offer some insight." She said. Jersey shook her head at that, glancing at the Carrier.

"I don't want to bother her. She seems happy in this life and I don't want to cause problems for her and Haruna." She said. "They're real cute together and I don't wanna bring my problems into their business." She said.

"We're a Fleet Jersey, that means we handle things together." Enterprise offered. Jersey arched a brow at that as she looked to the Carrier in turn.

"Says the woman keeping the fact that another version is most likely screaming at her within." Jersey reasoned. "I appreciate the sentiment, I really do. But E, make sure you're clear before offering advice. It's a double edged sword pretty clear to see." She said. E only rolled her eyes at that before nodding somewhat in turn, scratching her head somewhat.

"Okay, so you might have a point there." She said. "My next suggestion is maybe go get yourself some fresh air or something. Maybe even go back to bed if you're really feeling like taking my advice. It might've just been a one time thing and you just happened to grab the short straw that go around. More sleep really couldn't hurt anything in my honest opinion." She said. Jersey offered a quiet glance at that for a moment, watching the Carrier before shrugging, once again leaning back against the wall.

"Honest opinion, huh?" Jersey said despite herself, chuckling somewhat at that as she looked to E. "Maybe. But what I do know is that I've been in here long enough and I won't keep you any longer." She reasoned as she began to stand, the Iowa taking only a moment before she began to work her way out of the water, Enterprise watching the entire time.

She watched as Jersey went for her towel that wasn't too far away, wrapping it around herself. When she'd done so, the towel doing nothing to rightfully contain the woman or shield her curves, she offered a smile to E before vanishing into the steam. A moment later, Enterprise heard the door to the bathhouse open and close, signaling that she was fully and wholly alone, something she celebrated by sinking into the water, closing her eyes a moment.

I offered you a way out. I gave you a pass for you to take and was so hopeful you'd make this easy on both of us. We could've been getting it so so sooo good right now.

Enterprise only rolled her eyes somewhat as she laid her head back against the edge of the bath.

Goddamnit! I gave you an out! And you fucking tossed it away! Right in front of my face! Just fucking throw it away just like that!

"Our definitions of a way out are very different." Enterprise offered, her eyes still closed as she let her body bask in the hot water of the bath, it lapping up against her in a soothing manner. Somewhere in the back of her mind, glass shattered, someone baring teeth. "Easy now, you know what happens when your anger rises." She said. "Jersey's out of the room, I'm all but home free." She said.

A moment of pause.

The bared teeth turned to a thin line, their lips pulled straight.

Sure, you have a point. J's no longer within the room, of that there is no doubt. And surprisingly, I haven't been honest with you. With all the arguing, I totally forgot that there is one moment that you share with Akagi that I actually am quite fond of. I like to remember it quite often actually.

"Oh?" Enterprise asked, her eyes still closed, now somewhat intrigued. "You? Have a fond memory? I didn't think I'd ever see the day." E offered, still lounged back against the Bath.

Oh yes. It's quite a calming one.

Enterprise arched a brow at that as one of her eyes cracked open.

Only for her to be suddenly overcome with sunlight, bringing a hand up to shield her eyes. The clothing on her arm-

Clothing? She was dressed now?

Looking down at herself, she found herself dressed in her old-

She knew this outfit. She knew what this outfit was. Her heartbeat quickened.

She knew this day.

The fourth day.

June.

Nineteen Forty Two.

The lips in a thin line formed Into a Cheshire Cat like grin.

Enterprise blinked. But her only answer was the starting of prop engines behind her, the carrier spinning to find a full squadron ready and set to go. Props spinning up and taking formation, she realized she was standing at the end of her deck.

No, no, no E. We can't have that. I think this is one instance where you need to watch all. The. Way. Through. To the bitter end.

Enterprise could only listen as the bombers barreled down her deck, soon taking to the air as they set about their mission.

The Ghost was making her watch the day she killed Akagi all over again.

The wind carried a cackling laugh with it.

Enterprise wanted to scream.

She was trapped in her own personal hell.

—/—/—\—\—

Saratoga hummed to herself as she made way out of the American dorms, waving her arms to herself as she made way for the German ship girl dorms. She intended to see if Prinz Eugen was awake just yet, but she honestly wondered who she'd run into this morning. The answer was all over the place and it had a potential to answer in U-boats.

It wasn't exactly the answer she preferred if she was being honest, but they were her allies. However silent and odd meant them being so.

She shook her head somewhat at the thought as she cleared her mind. But as she was doing so, she came across the form of Ark Royal, already out and about in the early morning, crouched down ahead of her as she gave Sam a thorough belly rub, an action the feline seemed to enjoy to the fullest. It lazily watched Saratoga approach, offering a quiet mew in greeting. Noting the feline in question, Ark Royal looked up and saw Saratoga approaching. In doing so, she stood up to her full height as she offered Saratoga a wave.

"Hello Saratoga." The British carrier greeted with a nod.

"Hiya Rolo." The American Carrier greeted in response, offering a peace sign. Ark held a moment at the nickname a moment, her face contorting in confusion a moment at the nickname once again.

"Um, Saratoga, can I ask why of all possible nicknames... why Rolo? Why not just Ark? Or Royal?" She asked, glancing at the Carrier. Saratoga rolled her eyes at that.

"It's not a nickname if it's just a shortened version of your name. But if it bothers you that much, I'll offer a chance. Either keep Rolo or ill give you Rola. And that's my final offer." She said. Ark Royal offered pause at that, frowning somewhat.

"Would it be possible for me to choose my own-"

"That's not a nickname if you give it to yourself. Okay, I mean I guess it is but it's not one that's worth much." She said. "And anyways, don't worry. It's not like you're gonna be the only British Ship that gets a nickname. I'm already working on nicknames for the Pastas and Baguettes as well." She answered the Carrier, patting Ark on The head. "I'm already thinking of nicknames for ships that haven't even made their way over." She told her. "Should be fun." She reasoned. "Anyways, why you up so early?" She asked.

"Oh, I simply awakened earlier than normal to check up on Sam and Maru." She explained, gesturing to Sam who was still laying on his side, looking up at the two lazily a moment before licking his paw. Saratoga nodded at that, kneeling down and scratching the cat under his chin, Sam pausing everything to partake in the movement as his tail flipped about a moment or two.

"Where might Maru be this morning?" Saratoga asked, glancing around as she continued to scratch Sam under his chin. Ark nodded at that as she gestured to the American HQ.

"She was sleeping earlier and think she still may be. Either way she did not wish to come outside with me and Sam so I did not push the issue further." She answered before crouching down, closer to the ground. "May I inquire as to why you are so early?" She asked.

"Gonna go see Pringles and if she's awake. If not, I could go for a nap." She said. "You wanna come with? Biscuit might be awake. You two seem to be a whole lot more friendly with one another lately after we got the two feline friends." She said. Ark paused a moment before shrugging at the idea, standing as she did so.

"I don't see why not. I do have a question though. Why do you insist on offering everyone a nickname?" She said. Saratoga shrugged at the question somewhat, her hands going to her pockets as she did so.

"My own personal rule." She answered. "Come on. Let's go Blitz the blitzers." She said. Ark offered pause a moment at that, watching the Carrier walk off in the direction of the German dorms for a moment before wandering after her, taking a moment to catch up with the Carrier.

"I must admit, it is a bit off putting seeing you act so cordial to those around you when comparing to how you act within the Carrier dorms." She said. Saratoga chuckled somewhat at that after a moment, nodding somewhat.

"Would you rather me have a problem with British and German forces?" Saratoga asked, offering an arched brow to the Carrier. Ark gave pause for a moment before frowning somewhat as she looked to the Carrier.

"No..? I don't... where did you manage to grasp that idea from?" She asked. Saratoga only chuckled at that as she nodded, offering a wave off of it.

"I'm just joking with you." She said. "I don't have active reason to fuss over the European based fleets. I was a Pacific Carrier. Had to be." She explained. "As a result, never got a chance to get into a scrap with the European portions of the Axis powers." She said as the two were now in sight of the German HQ building, which was currently housing the German and Italian fleets. Plus one American Escort Carrier. Walking for the door of the HQ, Saratoga slipped inside quietly, Ark following quietly.

And immediately, they came across the sight of Tirpitz, Hipper, and Blücher standing about talking. The battleship was wrapped in a towel, holding it up for a moment, apparently fresh out of the shower if her damp hair was anything to go by. Upon Sara's approach, the three of them seemed to take notice of the two. Offering a wave, Sara looked to them.

"Teacup, Hipster, Bubbles. Is Pringles still asleep?" She asked, glancing at the three. Tirpitz sighed somewhat before offering a chuckle at the nickname. As for Hipper and Blücher though, they nodded at the question, gesturing down the hallway to the room marked. Saratoga nodded at that, leaving Ark Royal to approach the three as she made way for the shared Admiral Hipper class room that the three shared. Stepping up to the door, she easily pushed it open, allowing the light of the hallway into the room. And she found a lamp on as well.

Within the room, the bed pressed most to the right wall clearly still held an occupant within it. Watching a moment, she watched as Prinz Eugen shift under her sheets, her hair down as she slept. The heavy cruiser turned onto her side as she continued to sleep, even though Saratoga knew, they'd had at least two wake up alarms go off so far. Humming somewhat, Saratoga kicked off her shoes as she made way for Prinz's bed, quickly and quietly crawling over the heavy cruiser. Quickly and quietly, she placed herself between Prinz Eugen and the wall, her back laying against it. Immediately, she began to softly tap the heavy cruiser on the fore head slowly every few seconds.

After a few moments, it seemed to be working somewhat, the heavy cruiser looking to be more and more annoyed in her sleep. And after a moment, she cracked an eye open, watching Saratoga for a moment in what the carrier assumed was mild aggravation. All before the heavy cruiser all but moved on her, wrapping her arms around the Carrier in one fell swoop. Saratoga arched a brow at this as the heavy cruiser all but captured her, pulling the carrier to her. Saratoga offered a laugh at this.

"Are you stronger in your sleep or something?" She asked as Prinz Eugen moved her more towards the center of the bed all before throwing herself onto the Carrier. The cruiser mumbled something incoherently German in her exhaustion as her head came down on Sara's chest, her arms once again wrapping around Sara as the cruiser all but settled in again. Arching a brow at this, Sara offered a small chuckle. "I did not come in here to be repurposed as a body pillow, Pringles."

"Don't care." Prinz mumbled as she all but tightened her hold on the carrier, trying her best to fall back asleep. Saratoga chuckled somewhat at that as she overpowered the cruiser a moment, turning on her side, putting Prinz between her and the wall.

"So she lives." Saratoga hummed, looking Prinz Eugen in the face a moment. After a moment, the cruiser's eyes cracked open, Prinz narrowing her eyes somewhat at that. Saratoga laughed somewhat heartily as she leaned forwards, Prinz already angling her face up to meet her.

Just as Sara's lips met hers.

They stayed that way a moment, Prinz all but pressed to Sara before they parted, the cruiser renewing her hugging of the carrier again.

"You have a bad dream?" Saratoga asked. Prinz shook her head at that.

"Just missed you is all." The cruiser told her. Saratoga nodded at that somewhat, chuckling somewhat as she did so.

"I don't know what I did to deserve you, gonna be honest." Saratoga answered her. At that, Prinz Eugen finally offered a smile. At that however, Admiral Hipper knocked on the door.

"It's safe for us to come in right? We're not gonna find you doing awful things to Prinz, are we?" She called through the door. Saratoga rolled her eyes at that as the cruiser laying with her giggled somewhat as Sara called back.

"Why yes! Yes I am!" She called back. There was a brief moment's pause at that before the door to the room opened, admitting the two other heave German cruisers into the room. Saratoga rolled her eyes at that as she snuggled into Prinz again. "Didn't even stop them. Pringles, I think Bubbles and Hipster are a little lewd." She reasoned. Prinz giggled at that, all but putting her face in the crook of Sara's neck as Admiral Hipper rolled her eyes at that.

"Look, I don't intend to ever see my sister doing anything remotely spicy with you." Admiral Hipper said. "But she just woke up-"

"Which is the best time to get the fluids moving." Saratoga offered in response, offering a waggle of her brow at the cruiser. Hipper blinked somewhat at that, as if digesting what she'd just been told, before scowling somewhat. Blücher laughed at that as Hipper swatted at the Carrier. But Saratoga had defenses, and that was the fact that Prinz Eugen's hand shot up almost immediately, grabbing her sister's wrist in an easy motion as she peered at her sister from her spot within Sara's hold. "Heh." Saratoga added.

"You're with a deviant, you know that, don't you Prinz?" Admiral Hipper asked as she glanced at her sister. Prinz Eugen only smiled up at her older sister, prompting Hipper to roll her eyes at that as she stepped away from the two. Saratoga took that as her cue to snuggle further in with Prinz, their legs entwining somewhat. Even more so than that, one of Prinz's hand wrapped around the Carrier and came to a resting position on Sara's aft. Arching a brow at that, Prinz only offered a sly smirk, planting her lips on Sara's once again as she offered a light squeeze. Saratoga arched a brow at that somewhat.

"I thought as the American of This duo, I was supposed to be the handsy one." She said as she looked to Prinz. The cruiser simply shrugged her shoulders somewhat at that, taking another squeeze before leaning into Sara again. Saratoga offered a small chuckle at that, kissing Prinz's head before snuggling into her. But once again, as she laid there holding Prinz next to her, that stupid song wouldn't get out of her head.

The devil went down to Georgia, he was looking for a soul to steal.

Sara rolled her eyes.

He was in a bind 'cause he was way behind and he was willing to make a deal.

—/—/—/—/—/—

"I'd like a transfer back to the Med." The words left her mouth all too easily. But she watched as the Admiral seemed to recoil almost at the sound of them, the blonde glancing up to the battleship before her. Jersey watched her a moment as she seemed to collect her thoughts a moment before slowly opening her mouth to respond.

"You want a transfer." The Admiral asked after a moment. "Back to the Med?" She finished. When Jersey nodded in response to the question, her eyes meeting without hesitation.   "Can I ask why?" Anya finally inquired.

"Now that I'm back I can keep doing my job. My sisters are in good hands with the fleet and the Med is still crucial territory for us. For the Italians. For Europe in general. And there's people relying on me to make sure it stays that way." She said. Anya paused a moment at that, looking to the battleship before sighing.

"I admire your duty to the service, Jersey, I do. But the situation in the Med is fluid right now. Even if we sent you, even if began to entertain the idea of allotting the transfer to happen, it's not for certain when or if you'd ever touch the water over there." She said. "The Italians don't even want their own ship girls over there right now, not with the big fuckers still potentially prowling around. And I can't say I blame em." She said.

"Admiral-" Jersey tried.

"Look, Jersey, I cant begin to try and understand how you're feeling right now. And I'm guessing your first day of sleep wasn't the greatest if your luck is like anyone else's around this place. But if I'm being honest with you here, and I feel that I should, I really think you should hold off for a while. Acclimate to being human for a few weeks before you go off running to the next battle." She said

"There's people relying on Me Admiral and I feel-"

"Jersey, I'll say it again, the situation in the Med is far too fluid. The Abyssals that engaged you vanished not longer after only to verify your sinking. For all we know, they could still be in the area." She said before sighing somewhat, rubbing her face a moment. "Here's what I'll do. I'll keep my ear on the situation over there over the next few weeks, get in touch with Admiral Sonferi. If, in a few weeks, there comes a situation or a length of time when I think that you'd have a good chance and you still want this, I'll see what can be done. But right now, everyone's watching the area, waiting to see what happens next. All in all, my hands are tied." She said.

Jersey only watched the woman a moment before huffing, her shoulders slumping at that. Anya watched the battleship a moment before she sat back down at her desk, looking to the battleship. "Can I ask you something Jersey?" The woman inquired. After a moment of silence, debating the question a moment internally, the battleship offered only a quiet nod. "Why do you want to leave?" She asked. Jersey sighed somewhat at that.

"I... dunno?" She said. "It's kind of hard to explain but I just feel like I'm... intruding almost. I didn't come over like Mo. I wasn't brought to Japan for the purpose of joining the fleet. I met my end out on the water. Caused my sisters pain. What kind of sister makes her younger sisters live through her death only to show up two days later? After one of them's been crying her eyes out?" She said. "It doesn't seem... it doesn't feel right to me." She answered. Anya paused a moment at that, offering slight hold before nodding at that.

"Like I said, I can't begin to try and understand where you're coming from." She said. "But what I do know is that your sisters are glad to have you. Spend some time with them, let your mind ease a little before coming back to me with the same request. See if time doesn't change your mind." She said. Jersey paused a moment before glancing to Anya.

"You don't want me leaving, do you?" She asked. Anya shrugged.

"Not so much me as I worry how it would affect Johnny." She said, glancing at the battleship. Jersey paused at that moment before seeing the logic in it, offering a quiet sigh. Nodding to the blonde, Jersey took her leave, walking her way out of the Admiral and Captain's office. And there, she ran into Maryland, just now entering the HQ. Upon spying the battleship, which wasn't a challenge at all, even in the slightest sense, Maryland offered the Iowa smile coupled with a wave thrown in for good measure.

"Hey Jersey." Maryland greeted. "The obvious aside, hows life treating you?" She asked.

"You mean the whole a day and a half?" Jersey asked with a chuckle. Maryland offered a shrug as she stopped in front of the taller battleship, a hand going to her hip.

"It is what it is." Maryland answered. Jersey nodded at that.

"True." She said. "I'm gonna be honest, when I heard that Colo and WeeVee weren't on base yet, I found myself a little surprised." Jersey said. Maryland shrugged at that somewhat.

"If they get here before we hit our limit, cool. But I'm gonna be honest. If they don't, it's not that big of a deal. I'm not in that much of a need of my sisters right now and I know San Francisco is looking forwards to her sisters. If I need sisters, I can go bug Arizona and Oklahoma for some sisterly time before they grow tired of me." Maryland laughed somewhat. Jersey chuckled somewhat at that for a moment before nodding, offering Maryland a passive wave. She made way for the exit as the Standard made way for the Admiral's office. Pausing a moment, she watched Maryland vanish within before leaving the building.

Only for the very same thoughts to return to her mind that had brought her there in the first place.

Jersey sighed.

This was gonna be a long day, she could already tell.

—/—\—

The day had come and gone, now winding down as dinner began to encroach upon the fleet. The fleet was all but settled into the mess hall at this point, more than ready to engage in food and conversation for yet another day.

And much of the Fleet was already in the middle of such a way, already engrossed in their meals as they talked with their tables. One such table was a table composed of largely American cruisers. Specifically, Chicago, Houston, Augusta, Newport News, San Francisco, Cleveland, and Denver. A brief pause in the conversation, the only clear noise Was the sound of Denver shoving a handful of French fries into her mouth.

"Charming, aren't we?" Chicago asked, glancing at the cruiser. Denver scowled at the CA, Cleveland patting her sister on the back as San Francisco chuckled somewhat from her spot at Chicago's left side.

"I am compwetwey choming, tank you very much." Denver said through a mouth full of fries. Cleveland rolled her eyes at that choice however, shaking her head somewhat as Augusta offered a laugh of her own at that, Chicago's lip curling somewhat.

"Careful." San Francisco chuckled as she looked to Denver. "She might just punch you for it." She said. Chicago arched a brow at that as she looked to San Francisco, the cruiser in question shooting Chicago a grin a moment. The glasses adorning heavy cruiser shook her head somewhat at that as Houston arched a brow.

"I thought it happened the other way around." Houston inquired. San Francisco offered a small chuckle at that as Chicago nodded at that.

"That's because it was." She said. San Francisco nodded at that for a moment as she gestured to the cruiser.

"Yes, can confirm." She said. "But I'm not the one who still won't talk about what she and Mississippi got up into in the bathhouse." She said, waggling her brow at Houston. At that, Chicago offered another roll of the eyes as the full table now seemed to focus in on Chicago. All except for Newport News.

"And what exactly does that mean?" Cleveland asked as she glanced at the heavy cruiser. Chicago rolled her eyes at, glaring at San Francisco a moment. After which, she sighed, shaking her head.

"It was nothing. There was nothing. Frisco's making a big deal out of nothing." The cruiser sighed. San Francisco chuckled at that somewhat as she put a fry in her mouth.

"Debatable." Frisco offered. "But we'll let it slide." She said as she looked to Newport News, who hadn't even offered a word into their conversation. "Hey, Newport, you okay over there? You haven't said a single thing so far." She said. After a moment, this prompted Newport News to glance at the cruiser, her crimson eyes offering a small, curious glance.

"Hmmm? Yes, did you need something?" Newport News asked, looking to San Francisco. The cruiser shrugged.

"You've been pretty quiet for a while. I'm just wondering if everything's all good." She said. Newport News offered pause at that a moment, offering a confused glance, before suddenly nodding in understanding, offering the cruiser a smile.

"Why yes, I'm okay." She said. "Simply watching the carriers." She told them. Four of the present cruisers offered pause at that as Cleveland and Denver offered chuckles at that, the two light cruisers looking to the other four.

"Newport here is an avid fan of the Essex class." Cleveland offered, glancing at the heavy cruiser in question. San Francisco paused a moment at that, taking a glance of her own at the four Essex class sisters across the mess hall. After a moment, San Francisco nodded.

"I mean, I can see why someone would be a fan of them. They're pretty agreeable-"

"Delectable." Newport corrected, offering a small smile to San Francisco. The heavy cruiser paused at that a moment, glancing to the cruiser a moment.

"Okaaaay." San Francisco offered, glancing at the woman. Newport News only offered her a smile before going back to her previous position of watching the four Essex carriers seated within the carrier armada at the far side of the mess hall.

In another part of the Mess Hall, Anya had her eyes on Newport News. And she didn't even need to guess what the CA was so focused on. Much to the amusement of both Captain King and Admiral Herkunft.

"Are we missing something about Newport News that you would like to share with the rest of the class?" King asked as he looked to the blonde woman. Anya sighed somewhat as Sofia chuckled.

"When we were doing that last summoning, Newport over there licked her lips when she learned that there were more Essex's on base. And she's been easily chatting it up with either Hornet or Shangri-La ever since she's been on base. And right before dinner, she was having a conversation with Yorktown." Sofia explained, much to the surprise of Admiral Herkunft. "I don't want to hit the nail on the head, but I would think it obvious that Newport has an end goal here." She said.

"It would certainly seem that way." Ishigara answered. Anya sighed somewhat at that as Admiral Herkunft.

"As long as it is kept from the younger girls at a good distance, it is not a problem, no?" She asked. "After all, War or not, this is their life. Should they not be allowed to do as they wish on their own downtime?" She asked. Anya sighed somewhat at that, nodding as she did so.

"I would like to think so, yeah. But this seems a little out there. Especially since Newport seems to be running a multi-target operation here. The Essex class is over 20 in number of members. It's doubtful that she intends for a relationship with that kind of look, but the idea of her bouncing around them is likely to get someone hurt. That many people? This seems like a bad idea waiting to happen." She said.

"But again, like it was said, this is their life." Ishigara supplied. "If they can make it work, who are we to say they shouldn't?" He asked. Anya sighed at that somewhat as she glanced at the cruiser once again, offering pause a moment.

"I figured at one point there would eventually come a day when we get a promiscuous ship girl. I just never expected for them to have a target so encompassing." She said. "I'll get to the bottom of her intentions before anything kicks into gear, make my judgements then." She said. "That's all I really can do, given that she hasn't actually started making any moves." She said.

"Ahhh, American ship girls. So glad they're not my concern. I think I'd pull my hair out just trying to deal with the Fletchers on a daily basis." King supplied.

"Though you do have sixteen destroyers of your own now that are still acclimating to base, Vampire aside. Well that period is over, well, one can only hope the Fleet from down under is somewhat controlled. Because I mean in the end." Sofia reasoned. "There's two of us. But only a singular you." She reasoned, pointing her fork at the man.

"Okay fair fair." King admitted. "But the American fleet is just about max. I'd think that would allow the two of you some breathing room before we start thinking about a possible expansion. Allows the two of you to get to know the girls you have as is." She said. "Meanwhile, my Fleet gets antsy any time they see Vampire on the water." He said.

"When is your fleet's rigging supposed to arrive?" Anya asked. "It'd be nice to get your destroyers up to speed. We're slacking in our destroyer numbers compared to what the ideal fleet is. We need more." She said.

"Looks like that may have to fall to the British." Saradia reasoned. "At least for the time being." She answered. Those at the table nodded as Ishigara did so.

"Perhaps we will get lucky in that regard in the coming days." He reasoned.

"It would be nice to have an adequate adjustment period. That was the one good aspect about the first seven crossing over and no more following immediately." She said. "It gave the first seven time to adjust."

"It's all a moot point without the leadership for the other four navies of the fleet." Sofia offered. "Planning for something like that isn't the easiest without some modicum of actual planning." She reasoned. Anya nodded at that as King nodded as well.

"And asking for girls to come through so we can hit that limit that much faster doesn't seem like a good idea. That's how we end up with a hundred girls in one summoning, some of which may not be ecstatic at their current situation." He reasoned. The other four commanders nodded at that for a moment.

"Jersey?" Someone called from behind them. The table turned their heads to find Jersey standing from the table she shared with her sisters and a few others, her sisters looking up at her a moment before the oldest of the Iowa's turned and made way for the Mess Hall door. Leaving the building, Anya could only offer a sigh for a moment at that, eventually looking as if she was going to get up and go after her. All before Sofia put a hand on the woman's arm.

"Before you get up and go get yourself knocked down by another Iowa class battleship, hold off a moment. She's already being pursued." Sofia said, jerking her head over the Mess Hall. Blinking somewhat, she found two battleships in particular already giving chase, following after the Black dragon. Anya only watched for a moment, still debating on following after them for a moment before she relented.

She knew Jersey was in good hands.

—/—\—

Jersey offered a sigh as she sat down, easing herself onto the edge of the water, her legs hanging off the edge as she attempted to clear her mind. The chilly wind nipped at her skin, cooling her over as she looked out over Tokyo Bay. In the distance, she could make out the form of Mo's hull moving in formation with a couple more ships, the force making way for the Open Pacific. She watched a moment at that before offering herself a quiet sigh, closing her eyes.

"Would've been so much easier had it been you first, Iowa." She said to no one but herself. "Would've been so much better for everyone. I'm not half the leader you are." She said. The breeze of Tokyo bay was her only response, gently blowing its way over her a moment later. But Jersey's eyes never left the horizon, watching the waters go on about their business.

"I never met Iowa." A voice said from behind as two pairs of footsteps made themselves known. "But that sounds like you're asking for a slap upside the head." One said.

"My my, who knew the Black Dragon worried about such things." The second said. Jersey frowned somewhat at that, turning her head to look at who approached her. And she found her answer.

Battleships Arizona and Mutsu. Jersey scowled somewhat at this, watching the two for a moment.

"What're you doing out here Jersey? Your sisters are inside." Arizona said, looking at the battleship. Jersey only offered a roll of the eyes at that, once again looking ahead. Pinching the bridge of her nose somewhat, Arizona muttered something under her breath before approaching Jersey, taking a moment before carefully sitting herself down next to the Iowa. Mutsu however elected to remain standing behind the two, her hands clasped behind her back as she did so.

"They made a mistake bringing me back. I'm not what Mo needs. I'm not what Tucky or Illy need. Who they need is Iowa." She said. "She's the leader, the president's ship. She's the one who needs this spot, not me. Couldn't even finish a fight right." She said. Arizona watched them battleship a moment at that, her eyes wandering over for a second before looking out upon the horizon herself.

"Tell me. What can Iowa do that you can't? Lead? Jersey, you're less than two days since you've crossed over. Under father unfortunate circumstances I might add. You can't honestly expect it to become easy for you so quickly, do you?" She asked, looking to the battleship. When Jersey didn't reply, her eyes unwavering from the horizon, Arizona sighed, glancing up at the battleship behind them. Mutsu met eyes with the standard a moment before her gaze fell upon Jersey, looking upon her from behind. Eventually, the battleship approached Jersey's other-side, adjusting her skirt as she easily took a seat next to the battleship.

"Tell me, Battleship New Jersey, is it the sense of failure that drives these thoughts within you?" Mutsu asked as she looked to the battleship, her green eyes watching the woman for all she could get. "Is it the sense of failure that drives you to think like this? Is that what this is?" She asked. Jersey held a moment at that, pausing somewhat to consider the question before nodding somewhat at that, her crimson eyes meeting Mutsu's green in a quiet exchange. Mutsu only nodded somewhat at that.

"While I can see why you would think that way, while I can see the logic in it, I don't hold sympathy for it, for that train of thought. Tell me New Jersey, are you aware of how I met my end in the first life of mine? Back when i sailed the waves as my steel hull?" She asked. Jersey offered pause at that a moment, thinking about the question for a moment, as if she was trying to recall the information requested. But when it was clear that she didn't, she simply shook her head. Mutsu offered a small nod. "My third turret went up." She said. "In port. It was suggested to be sabotage, and I can hardly remember the day. Compared to me, you're a success story. You went down, but you went down fighting to your last breath." She said. "Far more than I ever did."

"I went down with my crew." Jersey fired back.

"Then you gave them a final resting place they'd be okay with." The battleship returned. "They knew the risks when they found themselves on a battleship. You were their home and and they served with you all the way to the bitter end, something every ship can only dream of having a crew as ready as yours was. Luck was not on your side, but it rarely favors anyone." She said. Arizona nodded at that.

"And you say that someone else would be a better fit, but why? Because you think yourself not wanted after your display?" Arizona asked. "Back during the war, after the seventh, our country cried out for me, mourning the loss of me and my children. But you Jersey, the world weeps for you. They weep for the loss of a guardian that's been there for years, simply waiting for her time to shine once again, only to have it taken from you. No one hates you Jersey, and most would be more than glad to show you that." Arizona said. "But the most obvious facet is this. You are no longer alone, and you will stay as such. We're a fleet. We stick together."

"Ain't that the truth." Mississippi offered from behind them. And soon enough, her footsteps joined others. In only moments, Jersey watched as the entirety of the Battleship population of Yokosuka took a seat on the water's edge alongside her, from Oklahoma and Nevada all the way to Totomi and Louisiana, all easing themselves into positions down the line from her. Pausing a moment, leaning forwards as she took a look to her right, and then to her left, she only found multiple faces looking back at her, her sisters included.

Sighing somewhat, Jersey held a moment before huffing. "You're all a bunch of sentimental saps." She said, prompting a line of laughter and the like up and down the row of gunslingers. "But uh... thanks." She said. Mutsu chuckled somewhat at that, looking to the battleship.

"It's not gonna be easy at first, of that most of us will tell you. But you're far from alone and closer to support than you've ever been." She said, glancing at Jersey. The Battleship only a nodded at that a moment, meeting Mutsu's gaze once more for a moment before looking ahead, back to the Horizon, as did many of the battleships now present. But after a moment of silence, Jersey once again leaned forwards, taking a long look down the right side of the row before switching a few moments later, taking an equally long look down the left. Arching a brow at this somewhat, growing more and more curious about what she was doing, Arizona looked to Jersey.

"Jersey?" Arizona asked. Hesitating a moment, Jersey looked back to Arizona.

"Ari, Haru's your girl right?" She asked, glancing at the Kongo class seated next to Arizona. The standard nodded as some of the other battleships, Maryland, Musashi, Bismarck, and Strasbourg offering their own nods to the question. "Oh... so uh... I thought Asians were supposed to be flat... what gives?" Jersey asked, glancing at Arizona.

A collective sigh from the row of battleships went up into the air as Arizona's palm Met her face, Jersey only offering a lop sided grin as she did so.

The only laughter at the moment came from the Japanese battleship sitting next to J.

—/—\—/—\—/—\—

Bristol didn't know where she was, she didn't know what she was looking at. She didn't know anything aside from the fact that it was dark and she was here.

But where was here?

She could just barely make out the forms of trees around her, various sizes and shapes filling the darkness around her. It made everything a little more creepy then she'd prefer, but she supposed she could deal with it.

All the way until the lights she hadn't seen before lit up the branches of one of the trees, providing Bristol with light. She only looked up into the branches a moment, finding the lights there all too pretty amongst the darkness. Until she realized there was a pathway leading to the tree with the lights. Smiling to herself somewhat, she began to make her way for the towering tree, it's branches expanding every which way.

But as she approached the tree, the thickness of it almost hard to imagine for a regular tree, she realized there was people laying under it. Or, to be exact, seated against the trunk of the tree. It took Bristol a moment to adjust, a moment to try and figure out who all the way until she realized she'd know the two of them anywhere, being unable to help her own smile that overcame her lips.

The Admiral and Maryland.

Bristol giggled somewhat as she looked over the two of them, Anya all but lounging back against Maryland under the light of the tree branches. The battleship's arms were wrapped around the Admiral's middle and it looked as if the two of them were asleep under the tree if the Admiral's laid back head was anything to go by. Bristol watched the two for a moment, standing within the light of the tree before someone came around the trunk of the tree, her eyes going to Anya and Mary first before she seemed to note Bristol.

The Crimson eyed woman standing at only 5'7 offered Bristol a warm smile as she reached a hand out for the destroyer, gingerly ruffling the girl's hair. Bristol giggled somewhat at the figure, the woman offering another smile in turn before she turned away from the destroyer, glancing at Anya and Mary one last time before walking off towards the darkness. But it didn't stay dark, not for long as yet another tree lit up within it's branches, the lights tied between them making it easy to see. But even then, Bristol couldn't make out who was sitting at the base of the tree.

She approached, walking away from the Admiral's tree a moment, seeing if she could make out of the faces of the three lounging back. But whatever she tried, it didn't work, their identities still remaining a secret from her. Frowning somewhat, Bristol put her hands on her hips in a huff before going to walks forwards, intent on finding out who they were. All before the crimson eyed woman put a hand on the destroyer's shoulder, holding her back a moment. Bristol looked up to her, and the woman only offered a smile.

Frowning somewhat at that, she took another glance at the supposed trio for a moment before turning away, just as the crimson woman began to walk away as well, all but heading in to the darkness all before a third tree lit up before her. Giggling to herself, Bristol ran ahead of the crimson eyed woman, the figure only smiling somewhat as she watched her go, offering her own silent laugh. Her jet black locks ran to her shoulders.

As Bristol ran for the tree, she almost immediately picked out a figure, sitting against the truck like she had before. There, sitting against the tree trunk was the Captain. Bristol giggled for a moment before glancing around, seeing if she could spy someone else. And she did as her eyes wandered over the branches. Sitting high in the tree was Zuikaku, lounged back against the branch she was sitting on as she watched below, her eyes befalling the Captain. After a moments, Captain Algerona only offered a smile as she glanced up at the woman, meeting eyes with her all before Zuikaku looked away in a huff.

Algerona only seemed to smile at that, looking back down to the ground. But as she did so, Bristol seemed to note that the grass under the Captain's tree was frosted.

But only under her tree.

Bristol watched the grass a moment, confused. It was too warm for frost, so why was it here?

She was only able to stare another moment or two before the short, curvy crimson eyed woman placed a gentle hand on the destroyer's shoulder, tugging her a moment. Looking back, Bristol found yet another tree had lit up. And already, even as Bristol laughed to herself and ran for it, she could already make out the forms of Arizona and Haruna, the American battleship's arms wrapped around Haruna's middle, the two standing amongst the light. Arizona pulled her head back a moment before leaning in and planting a kiss on Haruna's lips. A light dusting overcame her cheeks, but she didn't pull away.

Bristol only giggled a moment at that, watching them before turning away, where another tree had lit up. And another. And another. Bristol watched as the path lit up with them, showing the way to the next. Which she followed, and came up across a tree that seemed to be owned by Atlanta and Tenryuu. But the branches were decaying, and the wood was cracked. Atlanta herself sat with her back to the trunk, leaning against it.

Tenryuu did the same, on the other side.

Bristol frowned somewhat at that, watching Tenryuu a moment before looking to Atlanta. She waited for them to come back to the middle, but neither of them budged. Wanting to make something happen, the destroyer went to go for one of them, only to be stopped when the Crimson eyed woman placed a hand on her shoulder once more, holding her back. Looking up to her, Bristol gestured to the two, frowning. But the woman only shook her head, offering them a passive glance before walking away towards the next tree.

There she found Missouri sitting with her head leaned back against the large tree, waiting a moment. A second later, Souryuu dropped down from the branches, only to stumble forwards and land on Missouri. The battleship only laughed, wrapping her arms around the Carrier as she pecked the Carrier on the cheek with a kiss. Souryuu seemed to enjoy it all, only leaning back against the Iowa with ease. Bristol only watched a moment longer before moving on, following after the crimson eyed woman. They approached another tree, where Bristol immediately spied Langley.

The American carrier however was far to busy having a silent conversation with Houshou, who was seated at her side, the two of them talking quite animatedly. Bristol watched the two of them a moment, even taking a look up at the tree's branches high above before turning away, finding at the crimson eyed woman was already moving on. Bristol followed suit, and soon came across the next two.

Sitting there under the tree was Washington and Kirishima, the two of them asleep together, Kirishima leaning against the taller battleship as the two leaned back against their tree. Bristol only giggled somewhat at that for a moment before turning away, once again heading for the next tree. And there she found Saratoga.

The woman was standing about under the tree, glancing back and forth as if she was watching for something.

That's when movement caught Bristol's eye, a shadow dancing around behind the tree. Saratoga obviously heard it too, as she made way to look behind the trunk of the tree, Bristol almost afraid of what she'd find. Afraid of what the woman might run into. But she didn't have to wait for long as the woman was suddenly tackled from behind the tree, sending she and the mystery figure spinning to the ground. And then Sara laughed.

Bristol laughed too. Until she caught sight of white hair.

Shokaku.

The destroyer could only watch in confusion somewhat as Saratoga's and Shokaku's lips met, Shokaku wrapping her arms around the woman's neck as she did so.

Where was Prinz Eugen?

A bad feeling began to creep up within Bristol, just as thunder rolled in the distance. And she heard it.

That laugh. The wild, uncontrolled laugh. It echoed over the area with ease, chilling Bristol to the bone. But Saratoga and Shokaku didn't seem to mind, even as it echoed in the distance as the thunder rolled. Bristol could see lightning flashing as the storm moved closer and closer, offering the destroyer no peace of mind. She took one last sparing glance at the two for a moment before moving on. But this, she found the crimson eyed woman missing. Pausing a moment, looking for her, she noted the path continued. Into the darkness.

Pausing only a moment, taking one last look around for the crimson eyed woman, she continued down the path, leaving the light behind and venturing into the darkness. It was hard to make out, and she could barely see, but the path was there. Waiting for her.

Walking along, the light to grow further and further away. She could just barely make out the forms of trees lining the way, still growing. Around them, she could barely making out the silhouettes of those they belong to. She couldn't make out any tell tale features of who they were. But she didn't have the time.

She soon came across yet another fully grown Tree. But at the base, she could just barely make out someone moving.

And then the lightning struck again, striking the branches and limbs of the tree above them, igniting it. Before long, the flames spread along the upper levels of the tree, illuminating what sat below.

There, Bristol found Enterprise, her eyes shadowed from view as she seemed to be tying something. Pausing a moment, the thought of approaching her entered Bristol's mind, the thought of trying to figure out what was going on. But as she watched Enterprise work, she briefly wondered what she was doing.

But as the flames above them continued to grow, engulfing more and more of the tree, a shadow passed over her vision. Glancing up, her eyes almost unwilling to leave E, she eventually flicked her gaze upwards.

Bristol whimpered.

She no longer wondered what E was doing.

She just wondered how long the body had been up there.

Swinging in the wind.

The cackling laugh came down hard, almost shrieking in her ears.

And then she woke up.