The Olympian Sisters #2 The Great War

Chapter 25

NEW YORK AUGUST 1917 "ARIZONA"

I watched as the other battleships headed out to sea. I longed to join them, but according to Washington, Britain had large supplies of coal, not oil and bringing an oil tanker was not an option. There were too few around to be sacrificed to a torpedo or mine.

"Don't worry, Arizona. I'll bag a sub for ya if you want." Nevada said. "Do good out there. Kick stern, you know the drill." I replied.

She grinned. "No problem!" She said. I stood back, allowing her and the others to pass. It weighed heavily on me that of the ships I watched leaving now, many would not come back.

"Ah, don't worry about it. There's plenty to do here." My captain said. I gritted my teeth. "I'm a fighting ship. The least I can do is to go where the fighting is and fight for my country." I growled. He sighed.

"Come on, the coast'll need patrolling now that the fleet's left home." He said. Reluctantly, I admitted he was right and allowed him to take me on patrol along the New York coast.

Several hours into it, I heard a ship. "Halt and identify!" I called with more force than was necessary due to my frustration.

"Arizona? It's me, Olympic." The ship replied. Through the fog, I could just make out her enormous shape.

"Olympic!" I sang, rushing forward. "Hey there." She laughed, nuzzling me. "How are you?" She asked. "I'm ok." I replied. "Patrolling is boring though." I added.

"You're not in danger though." She said. "But that makes it worse. From what I've been hearing, my fleet's survival is even at best. That means that half of the ships that go will never come back." I growled. Olympic sighed.

"America thought it best that her deputy stay on the Home Front." I muttered. "You're deputy?" She asked. I nodded. "Of the whole fleet?" She asked. "Yeah, I guess you could say that." I admitted.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked. "You never asked." I replied. "It would've been nice to know that my American sister is deputy of her fleet." She growled. I shrugged. "Sorry." I mumbled.

Olympic relaxed. "It's ok." She replied. "You headed into New York?" I asked. "Yes." She said.

"Come on, I'll escort you in." I said. "Won't you get in trouble?" She asked. "No, it's part of the job and Pennsylvania's not around to scold me on it." I replied.

"I heard about your fight, I'm sorry." She said. "It wasn't your fault. Pennsylvania just doesn't appreciate the true meaning of friendship. It's been coming on for a long time." I said.

"Still, I'd hate to think that you split up because of me." She said. I shrugged. "We never were close anyway, it doesn't matter."

But it did matter. I wouldn't admit it to Olympic but Pennsylvania's breakup did bother me. It ruined any chance I had, if any at all, of getting close to her.

I did my best to hide it from Olympic but I'd never mastered the art of controlling my emotions.

It was one of those things that set me apart from the other battleships and I could tell from Olympic's expression that she didn't buy the guise for a second. But she had the good sense and respect to drop it.

"I'm really proud of you, Arizona. Deputy, you earned it." She murmured. I smiled. "Thanks." I said.

I halted outside the entrance to the harbor. "This is as far as I go." I said. Olympic nodded.

"Stay safe out there, alright?" She asked. I nuzzled her. "I will, I promise." I replied. She dipped her head and entered the harbor.

I had never wanted a ship so badly in my life. I wanted Olympic. I wanted all of her. If only she was a navy ship instead of a merchant ship. If only she was American instead of British. If just one of those 'if only's' were true, life would be so much easier.

But if one of those were true, would I have loved Olympic in the same way?