On the Other Side

Back at Base

Hood: Well, here it is...Poland

She stepped out of the bus, looking around her and hearing the Polish language spoken by everyone, and thanks to her cube, she understands them.

She walked out and around a bit since she's never been here before, spotting many things the Germans had and things they didn't.

Hood: Can't get sidetracked for long, this is still within Ironblood's reach so I have to move quickly if I don't want to get caught

She looked around, trying to find anything that can point her in the right direction to get out of Poland, she found nothing to help her.

Hood: Hmm...

She decided it would be better to ask someone.

Hood: Excuse me sir!

Man: Hm? What is it?

Hood: I'm new to this place, do you know if there's any way to Czechoslovakia?

Man: Of course! Just head down that way and get on the road. You should be close in a few hours if you catch a bus heading to Kraków

Hood: Thank you so much!

She left the man, who waved her goodbye.

Hood: Alright, it's probably not the best solution, but there's no way in hell a commercial plane would work with my ship signature in it, that's a sitting duck for Sirens to kill not only me but hundreds of civilians

She walked for a bit and found another bus station, with one of the buses heading for Kraków.

Hood: Lady Luck, are you making up for the many encounters with trouble I've been having?

She swears she could have hears someone go "uh huh!" somewhere.

Not paying it much mind, she made it to the station and waited for a bus to arrive, looking around and sightseeing from her seat while she waited.

Hood: From here, I need to pass through the Czechs, then Hungary and finally rush through the Balkans to the sea. It's stupidly risky, but I'm not heading through all of Asia to get there, and planes won't cut it, money is also a small problem so sailing there is my best chance. Thankfully I haven't sailed since I came to Denmark so I should have more than enough fuel for the journey

She heard the engine of a bus hiss as it stopped. Looking forward, a bus was stopped in front of her and a few others, with Kraków as the destination.

Hood: Time to continue this manhunt
—————

Zeppelin: How has she been?

Z23: Well...not good at all

Zeppelin: I guessed so...this is really getting to her

The two were walking in the dorms, both heading towards Bismarck's room to give her lunch.

The battleship in question had been cooped in her room for days ever since Hood ran off. Thanks to this, the girls elected a rotation system for them to bring food to her so she didn't starve herself.

Z23: I've seen her Zeppelin, she's got bags worse than that Laffey girl, and she barely acknowledged my presence

Zeppelin: And I'm guessing she hasn't been sleeping well?

Z23: No...I can sometimes hear her crying in the night...it hurts to hear it

Zeppelin looked forward again, displaying a small grimace as they walked. Eventually, they reached Bismarck's room, where they heard small mumbling from inside.

*creak*

Z23: Lord Bismarck?

She looked to the back of the room, spotting Bismarck in front of her desk looking through several reports, before saying something she can't really make out and writing it down.

She looked up to greet the two people who entered, with large, nearly purple bags under her eyes.

Bismarck: Ah, hello you two, what brings you in here?

Z23: I...came to deliver your lunch Lord Bismarck

Bismarck: I see, put it on my dresser over there then

Z23 walked over and placed it where she wanted, she walked over to the table Bismarck was at, simply watching her.

...

Bismarck: Can I...help you?

Z23: Lord Bismarck...

She walked around the table and put her hand on Bismarck's.

Z23: You need to rest yourself, this Hood ordeal's been tearing you down

Bismarck:*sigh* I know that, but I need to get her back here quick. She's the best commander we've had, add onto the fact that...well...

...

Z23: Alright, I understand, but please get some sleep. Your sister hasn't been the best since you locked yourself away, you know?

She walked back to the door, grasping the handle.

Z23: And for God's sake, remember to sleep in your bed this time ok?

Bismarck blushed a bit from embarrassment, since Z23 caught her several times knocked out at her desk.

Bismarck: I-I'll keep that in mind

Z23:*smiles* thank you
——

It was late at night, and Bismarck was laying down in her bed, staring at the ceiling. She was having trouble falling asleep, which is strange considering how tired she usually is at this hour.

Bismarck: What the hell's wrong? I can't sleep for the life of me!

She tossed around trying to get comfortable, but couldn't do it no matter how hard she tried.

Though, she felt a small pit fill in her chest, with it growing more and more each day, and she knew what it was.

Bismarck: I'm worried...how is Hood doing? Is she safe? Is she hungry? Is-

She shook her head, grumbling to herself.

Bismarck: Dammit! Stop being so hyperactive! She's Hood, she knows what to do and how to survive!...But, she doesn't know much about modern tech...but why? I came back 10 years after the war, same as everyone else...

Bismarck:*sigh* Thinking this much will keep me up, I need to sleep

She looked to the side of her bed, where Hood's old cap sat. She reached out to it and held it to her chest, smiling softly.

Bismarck: Hood...be safe...

With that, she drifted to sleep.
—————

?: Mhm...that's strange...I'll see what we can do

The girl put down the phone, and turned to the other person in the room.

?: Commander, I received word that the Royal Navy wants our assistance in the search of a runaway person

Commander: A runaway? Who is this that they need our help to find them?

?: Apparently, it's the ship HMS Hood

...

Commander: Hood's alive? I thought she was part of the ones who didn't return?

?: I guess she's been in hiding all these years

Commander: Well, I think we should help our British allies with this, considering how important Hood is to them. Enterprise, go gather some others willing to help

Enterprise: Of course

She stood up and left the room, while the Commander looked through his computer, pulling up a file titled "HMS Hood"

Commander: Hood huh? Were you hiding from them, or is there something else at play here? Guess only time will tell...

The sun shines into the room, going over the plaque with his name engraved in it.

"AirSpark"