Legends

Chapter 59: The Prodigal Daughter

Iowa paced the docks with an air of absolute impatience. Normally at this time of day, she'd be out on the gun range laying waste to inanimate targets as she imagined they were Abyssals. The Abyssals she couldn't get to in time to save Washington. She'd failed. She'd been the one to cut the tow line. And now that battleship's daughter was arriving. Her nuclear powered, trident carrying daughter. Iowa paced some more.

She was not known as a worrier. Ask anyone, hell ask even her and she'd say she'd always preferred to face a challenge with guns before thinking about it. But this was different and Iowa would be the first to admit that she had changed since Washington's death. A battleship should be strong. A battleship should be quick to fire and temper her anger with a wisdom only the grand dames of the sea could possess. A battleship should never feel fear and yet that was precisely what Iowa felt.

The late morning fog hid the submarine's approach even more than usual. The pickets had sighted her coming into Puget Sound but nothing further was reported leaving Iowa to mentally count the time it would take for Georgefish to traverse the distance.

At last, her form could be seen coming through the mist. Even though she was surfaced, it was still hard to make her out from a distance. Some innate ability that all submarine kanmusu possessed. Iowa knew Albacore and Archerfish abused it to terrify New Jersey to no end. But Georgefish in contrast made for a serene figure of composure as she traversed the harbor.

Only when she got closer could Iowa make out her features. She had Washington's red hair and even tied it the same way. Her uniform was much more modern however. She had an all black swimsuit streamlined for underwater operations and a pair of black shorts over the top. A utility belt hung from those shorts and Iowa took note of all the bags of gear. Some of them had a telltale red stripe and she knew those were her missile silos. Her torpedo bags were practically empty. She'd left her mark against the Abyssals. The only marking on her pale skin was a tattoo on her upper right arm that made Iowa tear up seeing it. The number 56 wrapped in wreaths.

She stepped effortlessly onto the shore, dismissing her rigging as she did so. She barely stood as tall as Iowa's shoulder. For a moment she simply stared at the battleship, then she held out her hand in greeting. "Iowa."

"George Washington." Iowa returned, clasping it.

"You know I prefer Georgefish so you can dispense with the formalities." She said. "The Admiral's expecting me."

"I know, follow me." Iowa led the submarine into the base. Georgefish's stiffness was a bit of a wound to her but she honestly wasn't sure what she should have expected.

Admiral Williams was waiting for them when they arrived. "Report." He growled as Georgefish stepped into the center of the room and offered a textbook salute.

"Aye sir." Georgefish launched into an explanation of her activities. "After sinking the fleet off Los Angeles I detected indications of another fleet to the south. My hunch was correct and I found a substantial base in Chile. Since I didn't get updated orders, I limited my attacks and stuck purely to reconnaissance." She pulled out a folder and for the first time Admiral Williams was able to appreciate the combination of modern technology and kanmusuism evading Abyssal barriers to provide a clear and unobstructed picture of their activities with a clarity that would make the CIA blush.

What followed was three hours of intense questioning. Georgefish was completely unphased by it all, offering answers crisply and not wavering in the slightest in her discipline. Iowa expected nothing less of a modern nukeboat. They had been notorious sticklers she recalled. The briefing could have carried on if both Iowa and Georgefish' stomachs hadn't grumbled.

Williams was quick to give his two kanmusu a break. "We'll come back to this tomorrow. In the meantime, Georgefish I hereby assign you the rank of Lieutenant full grade. After you've eaten, I want you to report to Vestal for a quick check up." He ordered.

"Aye sir."

"Iowa, show her out."

"Yes sir."

Once out of the admiral's office and on the way to the mess hall, Georgefish dropped her professionalism. "Mom doesn't blame you." She said softly.

"What?" Iowa was very surprised. "How- you spoke to her. How is that possible?"

Georgefish offered her a slight smile. "Time works differently in the locker." She replied. "I don't fully understand it myself."

"That." Iowa choked. "Thank you." She rasped.

Georgefish nodded. "Understand I said she doesn't blame you."

"But you do?" Iowa almost dreaded the answer.

"I did." Georgefish admitted. "But I'm less inclined to be angry about it as I once was. After all, what would be the point?"

Iowa nodded. It stung even though the submarine was well within her rights to place blame. "You know Gale, that is your other mother is on base. She's been grieving Washington heavily. Seeing you might do her some good."

"Yet I do not know where to find her." Georgefish replied. "I would not mind a guide."

It was an olive branch and Iowa was quick to grasp onto it and show the submarine to Gale's quarters. The warrent officer opened the door at Iowa's knock. "Yes, do you need something Iowa?" She asked.

Georgefish stepped forward. "Hello mom." She greeted and Gale's jaw dropped in shock. The submarine smiled. "My name is USS George Washington but I go by Georgefish."

Gale immediately embraced her, sobbing. Both were crying, everyone was crying. And for once Iowa wasn't offering tears of sorrow. Her own pain receded in place of the joyous reunion she now bore witness to.