The Kaga Saga

Part 21: Rebirth

Enterprise was still pinning Kaga against the reef. All Kaga could feel was an unbearable pain she never felt before. The attacks from the American carrier were devastating the effects showed. Nevertheless, Kaga was determined to fight her way out and reclaim the treasures she found. Enterprise was still pointing her secondaries at Kaga and was prepared to execute her properly.

"It's time you give up already. You know you can't win!" Enterprise threatened.

"You won't get away with this... I will survive... Hyaaaaaaahhh!!!" Kaga retaliated with her secondaries.

The shots forced Enterprise to back off and keep distance. The American noticed that Kaga was glowing again. Her powers have been triggered by her determination. The secondaries came flying and managed to scratch Enterprise's hull. Sakura 0 watched from above while still avoiding Enterprise's fighters. He was the last plane left.

"I will... not... go... down!" Kaga said as she continued firing.

"All aircraft, engage!" Enterprise ordered.

One by one, bombers attacked Kaga and started to whittle her down. The damage was extensive but she didn't care. She kept firing as she slowly crept closer to Enterprise. Sakura 0 was screaming for Kaga to stop but she ignored the calls. Enterprise started firing her secondaries and Kaga could feel nothing but pain. But it didn't matter, she wanted to get back at the traitor. Soon enough, she could not go any further. She started sinking and keeled over a bit. Her engines were dead as well. As a final parting gift before she went under, Kaga fired one last round that left a burn mark on Enterprise's deck. She returned the favour by firing back and that was enough to finally sink her.

"Too bad Kaga. The treasure is mine and let's face it. You have no chance of defeating me."

Kaga was shocked. She had lost and was unable to speak after taking so much damage. All she could do now was sink. Sakura 0 cried out her name as she sank beneath the waves. The ace had nowhere else to go. Enterprise ordered her aircraft to return and she prepared to head out to Midway and get the treasure.

"Leave him. Let him watch his carrier sink before he runs out of fuel and dies with her." Enterprise told her fighters.

Beneath the surface, Kaga looked up and wondered what went wrong. She was getting further away from the light. She was finally sunk after a long and crazy journey. Will this be the end? She wasn't ready to die but death was ready for her. She wasn't so sure if she would enjoy the afterlife either. Whatever would happen, she was just not ready for what was to come. It got darker and darker the deeper she went but after she drowned completely, everything became bright. What was happening?

Kaga was wide awake. She appeared to be floating again but everything around her was all white. There was no sky and the water was clear as day although its depth was infinite. There was no sun or clouds, just white light.

"Where am I?"

"Oh hi Kaga. Welcome to the afterlife." Takao appeared from behind.

"Takao!? Are you dead too?"

"No no. I'm just here to run another one of my franchises. The afterlife brings me lots of money."

"So, I guess I'm dead."

"Well actually, you are in the state of limbo."

"Limbo?"

"Yeah. The council has not decided if you should stay dead or not. I'm a member as well. C'mon, follow me. We will determine your fate."

So Kaga followed Takao through the unknown world of the afterlife. There was nothing around but quiet before the pair arrived at a special area. In front of her was a group of ships she was familiar with. It was the Council of Fate. They were the ones to determine whether Kaga should stay sunk or be resurrected. The Council consisted of Takao, Nicholas, Leberecht Maas, Hiei, Emerald, Arizona, Kirov and Tosa. Four of them were the ships that Kaga sank. The odds didn't look good in her favour.