(Remaster) The Abyss Calls Out

Day of Closing

Creak...

...

Click!

"G-Good morning Iowa...it's my turn to help you for the day."

Silver hair fluttered as the turned to her, the light purple eyes trying to convey the happiness that she believed Iowa would have liked to see. Sadly, all she got was a blank star with that single pink eye, with no emotions swimming in them.

Enterprise was hopeful that the sight of her would get Iowa at least some sort of emotion, some sort of happiness...turns out she was too optimistic. "Anyways...I have some soup for you."

"..."

She sighed. "Sorry..."

She went over to her and pulled out a table, gently repositioning Iowa so that she can swallow the soup. Enterprise took the bowl in her hand, and she carefully began feeding her.

...

...

"We're almost done Iowa."

...

...

Clink!

After a painful amount of awkward silence, Enterprise finally finished feeding her the bowl, and she put it to the side, standing. "There! Now I guess we should go out for now...if you want to that is."

"..."

"...Right...sorry..."

Enterprise got up and went behind her, taking her to the door and out to the Halls. It was another beautiful day, but the spirits of the base were at a low after the retrieval of Iowa. Everyone they passed in the halls quieted, looking away from the duo and refusing any and all eye contact.

It saddened Enterprise to see them all like this, all overburdened with guilt at how much Iowa had suffered, and how much more she is going too now that she's crippled. She looked up to this woman as an inspiration, a symbol of what it meant to be as a Shipgirl...but now she's just a poor soul strapped to a chair.

The woman who inspired her to be better, become greater...reduced to nothing.
—

Thunk!

"Dammit!" Enterprise grumbled, missing the target again despite training all morning to hit it. "How can I not hit this damn thing?!"

She took another deep breath, pulling the string back as another arrow appeared, ready to be fired. Letting it fly, she watched it scrape by again, missing the target.

She growled in frustration, drawing again, but feeling a hand stop her arm from pulling the string any further. She looked over her shoulder, expecting to see Yorktown there ready to scold her for being up so early to train again, but the grip on her bow ceased as she saw the famous pink eyes of her nation's lead battleship.

"I-Iowa?!"

"That's right, and who are you?"

Enterprise tried putting her bow away, but then realized she already dropped it. She blushed up a storm from embarrassment, but quickly saluted to her. "E-Enterprise! Second ship of the Yorktown Carriers!"

"Jeez kid, no need to shout so loud..." Iowa picked her ears, and Enterprise wanted to crawl in a hole for being so outlandish in front of her role model.

Although, she soon heard Iowa laughing, and when she looked up, the Battleship pulled her into a one armed hug, crushing her neck in it. "Come on, I was joking! No need to get so flustered kid."