Nimbus Child I: Games of War

Chapter 7

Oki was out of it.

That was obvious to her sisters, friends and Kongō as well.

Kongō had (almost literally) stumbled across her while rounding a tree outside, the superbattleship leaning against it, curled up, face hidden against her legs.

"Little one?", she kneeled down and touched Oki's shoulder.

Oki didn't jolt or otherwise react.

"Oki?"

It took a while, but Oki looked up eventually, eyes not puffy, face emotionless.

That was strange, to say the least, especially for someone as lively as her.

She looked like a lifeless doll, or like the AI she might have been without a soul: "...Kongō-sama...?"

"Yes, that's me", Kongō shifted into a more comfortable position, "what happened, little one?"

Because something had obviously happened.

"I tried to pray", her voice was scarily devoid of emotion.

"Yes?"

Oki averted her eyes and looked at the ground without really seeing it: "I am useless, I can't do anything, I'm meaningless."

Kongō furrowed her brows.

What did that mean? Had she managed to contact God and heard something bad? Had she not gotten in contact at all? What had happened to put her into such a state!?

The fast battleship reached a hand out to touch Oki's cheek, caressing it softly: "Don't say such things, little one. What happened? Did it work?"

A numb nod: "She heard me. She can't help me, I have to help, but I can't..."

"What did she tell you?", Kongō enveloped the ship in her arms, "mayhaps we can figure something out."

Oki just shook her head in the limited space available: "She said I have to cause more pain to you all and that... that there is a demon", she made a small pause, "Wh-who wants to eat me and take my place.."

"A demon?"

"A ship..."

Kongō looked down at her, processing that. A demonic ship, yes? Interesting – worrying, but interesting.

"And that god can't help you?"

Another shake: "Saving me will kill the world, but if I die it will be safe. God doesn't care about me, she only cares about that ship, so I'll die"

Everyone else would be safe, at least, so that was okay, right? Shinano would be safe, Bismarck and her puppy would be safe too.

It was fine, it was fine, fine, fine fine fine.

"...That ship, do you know who it is?"

"No. I've only seen her once as a fire, I don't know who she is. I've never seen her again."

She never had felt that soul ever again – until recently she wouldn't have been surprised if that ship simply had died.

Kongō squeezed Oki, then pulled back to help her to her feet: "Come back inside with me, alright? Do not sit in the open while someone is preying on your soul, little one."

Oki followed along numbly, her body leading her through the motions on its own and following the direction Kongō decided.

The fast battleship led them to her vessel, sat Oki down inside and gave her something to drink while sitting down beside her.