The Kaga Saga

Part 16: Grave Diggers

"Give it a round for the hero carrier who took out the biggest and baddest kaiju to ever exist!" A citizen of Alotau cheered. The message was directed to Kaga while the Guardians of the Coral Sea watched silently in disappointment that they didn't get the credit they deserved. Kaga felt bad for them and decided to speak up.

"People please. I wasn't the only one who defeated this kaiju. In fact, I wasn't the one who dealt the killing blow. I want you to praise the Guardians of the Coral Sea, especially Zuikaku over here. Her ace was responsible in taking down the kaiju along with mine." Kaga spoke the truth.

The Guardians were glad she mentioned them and the citizens cheered them on as well. "Well Kaga, I appreciate you giving us credit. Now that is a characteristic of a true hero." Zuikaku thanked. Kaga had thoughts of being a hero. She never knew she was one as she believed all she did was following orders from others or commit questionable crimes.

"A hero huh? Is that what I really am?" Kaga pondered.

"OK, so we got the crown. Where do we have to go now?" Enterprise interrupted her.

"Huh? Oh. According to the Chip, our next destination is to search for the Neverust which happens to be stabbed into the deck of a sunken ship in Ironbottom Sound."

"Ironbottom Sound eh? I remember being there. I took part in a war there 20 years ago. Also, that place is a war memorial."

"Well, looks like we'll be grave robbing now."

"Well I wish you guys good luck in what you're searching for." Zuikaku said.

"You don't want to come with us?" Kaga asked.

"Even if Kaiju Titan is dead, we still need to be on a lookout for other kaijus that might try to attack the coast. With your help, we'll know how to prepare for the next category 5."

Shoho had a brief conversation with I-168.

"I am Shoho."

"Arf arf."

"I am Shoho."

"Bark, bark , growl, woof!"

Nobody knew what they were saying.

The Guardians of the Coral Sea said their farewells and parted ways with Kaga's flotilla. Kaga and her posse sailed straight for the Solomons, in search of an ancient stainless steel sword that never rusted in its lifetime, hence the name Neverust. In reality, stainless steel can still rust but this sword did not. When Kaga, Enterprise, Ark Royal, I-168 and the mercenaries arrived to their destination, they did not know where to look. Then they spotted an oversized destroyer, I mean light cruiser. She noticed they were looking at her and went up to them.

"Greetings travellers. My name is Atlanta and I am the caretaker of Ironbottom Sound. Are you here to pay your respects for the fallen?"

"Actually, we are looking for a sword called the Neverust." Kaga was interested if Atlanta knew anything.

"The sword? What sword? I know nothing about a sword that never rusts." Atlanta tried to hide the truth.

"Oh really? I know it's located here and if you aren't going to help us, we'll find it ourselves."

"No, please! Don't go searching for it, it's cursed!"

"So what, I've been through worse. If you don't want to help, then fine."

"OK, you win. I'll help you find that sword but don't blame me when I say 'I told you so.'"

Atlanta gave in, and nervously tried to help Kaga and her crew. Why was she so worked up? It's not like the spirits will kill them if their dead hulls were disturbed. "Well this is the spot." Atlanta said nervously. Kaga ordered I-168 to sniff out the seafloor and bark back at her if she saw something. The sub went down curiously around the hulls of several dead warships. After a quick sonar reading, the sub has discovered the Neverust stabbed into the deck of an old battleship. She barked back to Kaga, and the carrier went to her position. Kaga's anchor was dropped and used as a hook to pick up the sword. She caught something and she pulled it up. She was getting a bit of resistance as if something was grabbing her chain and pulling it down in place. Regardless, she pulled the object loose and came in contact of the sword she was looking for.