Azur Lane: Rebirth

Ch12: Escape

I awaken to the sound of thunder as lightning repeatedly lights up the otherwise dark room. My strength has returned so after confirming that I'm alone in the room, I stand and begin making my way towards the door, grabbing my remaining clothing from the chair by my bedside as I do.

At the door, I first listen for any sounds before cracking it open only to find that there are no guards posted outside. Smiling to myself, I arm one of my secondaries before making my way down the hall. 

Lightning continues flashing, my only light source in the dark. As I reach the end of the hallway, I'm surprised to find that even the main hall is empty. What's more, from here I can make out that all lights within the dorms are currently off which simply never happened when I was still flying their colours. 

Flipping one of the switches, I'm surprised to find it doesn't turn on the light. I flip another and another but the reaction is the same. No light.

Me: Is there an outage?

No one answers. Of course, they don't. I'm the only one here. That was silly. 

Moving to the front doors, I'm about to open them when they bust in. Standing in the doorway, even as my gun points their way at point-blank range, is Seydlitz.

Seydlitz: I see you didn't need our rescuing you after all.

Me: Our?

She steps aside to show what seems like the entire armada at her back, There's much fighting off in the distance but ultimately it becomes clear what's happening. There is a power outage because Iron Blood has done something to the grid. There is no one guarding me because my new nation has come for me.

Z23: Lady Hood!

Her small frame crashes into mine like a freight train and she's quickly joined by the others from my flotilla on the day we got separated. Everyone comments on how good it is to see me in good health but honestly, I should be the one saying so to them. I thought-

Drake: So this is where your true loyalties lie. I should have known you were always their spy-

All: What?

Drake: Die!

She charges straight for me, sword drawn as her guns make ready to fire but she barely takes the first three steps before Bismarck knocks her out with a metal post.

Bismarck: It is good to catch up and all but can we not do this later? We're still in the midst of a battle, you know!

Me: You're right, let's head home.

Elizabeth: Hood!

I turn to find the Royal Navy charging towards our position. Rather than fight, everyone turns away from the incoming foe and begins making their way back to Iron Blood.

Elizabeth: HOOOD!

Her screams of anguish don't even bring the slightest feeling of pity from me as I turn my back on her, on my prior life. I lived that life a slave to their expectations and died for it. I have no intention of returning to that life. It's no way for a girl to live and I know that now, having lived in Iron Blood for some time.

Elizabeth: HOOOOD!

Behind us, guns open fire but they all fall short as we exit Royal Navy waters for good, it's landscape vanishing behind the horizon as we cross the channel.

Bismarck: Do you miss them?

...

...

...

I missed you. I missed all of you.