The Predator of the Depths

Pain of Loss

Grey clouds loom over the Main Azur Lane base. Soldiers move about the base as not a ship girl is in sight. Inside Head Quarters Alicorn is slowly walking down the hall, dragging a hang on the wall as she keeps the other over her stomach. 

Her yellow eyes have a dull glow to them as she stares at the ground. Having just got discharged from the hospital, she was summoned by her Mother to the Commander's office.

After a few minutes of walking Alicorn finally arrives at the office, and at the moment as well; Enterprise steps out. Enterprise's Lilac eyes and Alicorn's yellow eyes meet. Enterprise's face softens as she moves out of the way, and lets Alicorn walk in.

"Thank you." Alicorn mutters as she walks past Enterprise.

The older Ship-girl reaches a hand out to Alicorn and puts a hand on her shoulder. Alicorn looks back at her as she stops, and they stare at each other for a few moments, before Enterprise walks off.

Alicorn enters the room and closes the door behind her. She looks over to her mother as she walks over to the desk and stops in front of it.

Yorktown has her hands clasped in front of her face, as she stares down at her desk. Her eyes are red and puffy. She lets out a sigh and looks up at her daughter.

"4 Azured ships dead, hundreds of humans dead, and 3.2 million dollars in supplies destroyed." Yorktown starts. "What... happened."

"Equus was there, and she had a nuclear armament." Alicorn informs. "She was able to fire and kill them."

"In the report it says you refused to fire through Purifier to kill Equus, why is that." Alicorn remains silent and Yorktown's stare hardens. "Why... Is that?

Alicorn grits her teeth as she looks down, and grips the hem of her dress. "I... I couldn't kill my... sister."

"She's not your sister." Yorktown says in a low angry tone.

"She's my family!" Alicorn looks up to her mother, but flinches as Yorktown slams a fist into her desk and yells.

"I AM YOUR FAMILY! THAT MONSTER IS NOT!"

"She my be a monster, but she's still my sister."

"She's a Siren! A monster, a threat to humanity and peace!"

"...I'm a Siren, does that mean I'm a threat." Alicorn stands up to her mother.

"You are not a Siren." Yorktown straightens up. "You are a living Bio computer. You are my daughter. Purifier is nothing, she's just a monster that was used as a basis for your combat coding."

Alicorn lowers her gaze as Yorktown continues.

"And you chose her over your real family."

"I didn't-"

"YOU CHOSE HER! Over four of the best ships I had to offer, your family, your sister. And you let them die for a threat to our very existence."

Alicorn grits her teeth as tears prick at the corner of her eyes.

"We're holding a funeral for this Sunday..." Yorktown spins her chair around, looking out the window. "But I need you prepared for a mission to assist Commander Sicilia on Monday night, so I need you in the water Saturday morning to rendezvous with them."

Alicorn eyes widen. "But I'd miss the funeral. You can't-"

"I will do what I want, Alicorn. This is your punishment. Now, leave my office and get some rest... you'll need it."

Alicorn opens her mouth to say something, but after a few seconds she just lets out a grunt. She turns around and stops out of the office, tears dripping from her eyes.