Azur Lane: Return of Davis

Chapter 14: 黒匣

January 20, 1942

After taking a (well-deserved) nap (I've been active for 37 hours, I needed sleep), I gathered the representatives of each nation (alongside Belfast and Vestal) to discuss the Black Wisdom Cube I found and what Ray told me.

"Listen, I know to some of you girls this sounds blasphemous, but I do believe Hernandez Ray was telling the honest truth when he told me all of that."

Z23: "Wonderful, but how do you trust him?"

"I won't say, because it's our little secret, but I followed his instructions, and everything I found matched with his words." I found, within the hidden compartment, 2 Wisdom Cubes, 1500 ¥10 coins, and the blueprints to the name-ship of the Amagi-class battlecruiser. He was actually trying to revive Amagi. "And, with what I experienced yesterday, it all matches up."

Belfast: "Can I ask something?"

"Shoot."

Belfast: "Sorry if this is out of line, but why are you sneaking looks at me?" The cast of girls look at me.

I raise both my hands. "It was in between the meeting and my kidnapping. I passed out and had a weird-ass dream."

Q.E.: "Where you did some unholy things to Belfast?"

"No... How do I explain this?" I look to Belfast. "Actually, I'll ask you later."

Belfast: "Eh?" Bel's blush is strong, especially after Liz's comment.

I unwrap the bundle on my desk. The Black Wisdom Cube starts glowing. "This, after all, is more important than some dream." Though I wouldn't mind if what Liz thought my dream was came to reality...

Z23: "This... Das ist unglablich!"

"Vestal, pull me out if I start screaming in agony, okay?"

Vestal: "Wait, what?!"

I grab the Black Wisdom Cube with my bare hands.

The Black Wisdom Cube is slightly larger than normal Wisdom Cubes, being 1,331cm³, instead of the 1,000cm³ that normal Cubes are. I've touched Wisdom Cubes before; it was one of the major points as to why I am in this position right now. When I touch them, I feel the "will of humanity;" the "collective unconscious," as Carl Gustav Jung put it. But with the Black Wisdom Cube, I feel... not will, but potential.

The potential of ones who reached great things [Year 1941 A.D., American President Franklin D. Roosevelt]. Those who defied their odds to take the world in their own hands [Year 51 B.C., Egyptian Queen Cleopatra VII]. Names start flooding in, and I don't even recognize some of them [Year 1961 A.D., American President John F. Kennedy]. Obviously, though, since some of this "potential" is locked to the future.

Year 2009 A.D., Japanese high school student Makoto Yuki. Year 2012 A.D., Japanese mafia member-turned legend Kazuma Kiryu. Year 0008 of an unknown era, Nibelheim-borne Cloud Strife. Year 1718 A.D., Welsh pirate Howell Davis.

Howell Davis? Didn't King George VI mention him?

And then the pain kicked in.

It's subtle, but something's wrong. It's a pain within the very core of my being (I think).

"...I see..." I open my eyes.

Belfast: "Jason? Your eyes... they're purple."

"Purple?" I look to the window. The glare of it gives enough of a reflection to show that, yes, my eyes are now glowing purple instead of a natural green. I let go of the Cube.

"This Cube represents 'potential.' Why would the Sirens have this kind of Cube, though?"

Will and Potential... A subtle connection. I feel like we're slowly getting small pieces of this massive puzzle... but it's not enough. My eyes revert to normal.

"...No matter. Enterprise. Elizabeth. Z23. As representatives of the Eagle Union, Royal Navy and Ironblood, I ask that the three of you locate a secure location to hide the Cube. A place where all three of you know yet hidden enough so curious eyes won't find it. Secrecy is our top priority. None must learn of the Cube's existence, nor what it is capable of. I trust you three can come to a consensus?"

Enterprise: "Understood, Commander. Consider it done."

Q.E.: "As if we need to do so! But I will listen to your request, peasant! Rest assured that I, Queen Elizabeth, shall hide this God forsaken Cube in a place where none can find it!"

Z23: "Count on me, Kommandant."

"Good. Please don't touch it with your bare hands. I'm crazy enough to do it, but it could kill you if you aren't careful." I hide the Cube. "Now, onto another matter that I wanted to discuss, and looping us back a bit: Hernandez Ray." Belfast, Z23, Vestal and Enterprise freeze up at the mention of the name. Liz doesn't but knows of the implications of the name. The infamous previous Commander. The paedophilic perverted bastard who ruled this base.

"Again, I fully put my trust in him. He went through his story in immense detail, almost as if he relived that day over and over again. I propose we release him–" The girls who experienced Ray open their mouths, "–under the condition that I keep a very tight leash on his ass. His mistakes are my own and I deserve the same punishment he receives if he steps out of line. Does that seem fair?"

Mulling it over, the girls nod.

That was easier than I thought. "Right. I'll talk to Admiral Sakaguchi for his release."

Q.E.: "Oh, speaking of Sakaguchi..." She looks to me, her fake-as-hell bratty nature in full force. "She's Japanese, is she not? She could be a spy for the Sakura Empire. Are we sure we can trust her?"

Belfast: "I've been thinking the same. As well, you seem to say 'Hirata' more often than you say 'Admiral.' Do you two have some... special relationship that we aren't aware of?"

God damnit, Bel. Now all the girls here are looking at me all suspicious-like.

"No, Admiral Sakaguchi and I aren't dating." A breath of relief from somebody. Couldn't tell who. "Now, enough of that. She is American born. She was adopted into an American household. She never knew her parents. She is about as American as I am. She helped Z23 during the entire Siren Ray debacle. She is clean."

Z23: "I trust her."

Enterprise: "So do I."

Vestal: "Aye!"

"Belfast? Queen Elizabeth?"

Q.E.: "I'm still suspicious of that Jap."

Belfast: "I have to agree with the Queen on this one."

"Even if I don't vote on this because of my bias, it's still 3 to 2, Belfast, Elizabeth. You girls are in the minority."

I sigh. Rolling over to my computer, I load up Hirata's file.

"Care for me to read her file?"

---

Yep, looks like this one's going out Tuesday. Expect 2 chapters tomorrow!

"Wisdom Cube" is shortened to just Box (匣) in the Anime or Cube (キューブ) in the game. So, Black Wisdom Cubes would be Kuro Hako (黒匣).