"Thank you for coming back."
She opened her eyes to see the ballroom again and the person waiting for her, hand outstretched, palm welcoming.
Soft music played, and the ballroom was dimly lit, but that was fine.
Gone were her uniforms, and so were his, replaced with a simple black suit and a long, white dress.
And around them, the smiling faces of people. Those she had known for years and those she had only met recently. Sisters-in-arms, her friends, and those she considers family.
"I knew you would make it back."
Enterprise could feel her heart swell.
"Welcome home, Enterprise."
"I'm back," she said, taking the offered hand, her fingers brushing against his.
So
profoundly
warm.
"I'm back, Commander."
***
No, she wasn't there.
She opened her eyes for real this time to find out she was lying on the flight deck. The storms had completely passed, and the skies had cleared up, the clouds parting to let the sun shine through.
"Enty!"
Hornet was kneeling beside her, worry etched onto her face. She'd never seen that girl so close to tears.
"Thank God..."
She was quickly enveloped by her sister, whose hug was so tight that Enterprise could hear her bones creaking.
"I'm okay, Hornet."
"Idiot," Hornet grumbled, burying her face in Enterprise's hair. "Idiot...idiot...idiot."
Enterprise let her sister cry and stroked her back gently.
Essex and Saratoga were nearby, looking as if they were on the verge of turning on the waterworks of their own.
"Are you hurt anywhere? Oh God, the blood—" Saratoga latched onto her arm.
Enterprise looked at the blood she coughed up, staining her uniform.
The pain still rippling through her body and the blood she had spat out was a small price to pay, she thought.
"I'm fine."
"We...still need to have Vestal check on you," Essex interjected. The concern on her face was beginning to grow more pronounced. "I...I should've been with you. Maybe then, you wouldn't—"
"No, don't say that." Enterprise shook her head. "You can't blame yourself."
"But...but..."
Enterprise gave them a warm smile.
"I'm just happy that you guys are safe, okay? I...was worried."
They were not in any better condition than her; their uniforms were torn and bloodied, she noticed, but the injuries were superficial.
"I...I thought I was supposed to be the reckless one!" Hornet muttered, finally letting her go, her cheeks puffed. "Big sis Yorktown will chew you out for this!"
"You are going to tell on me, Hornet?" Enterprise laughed, ruffling her sister's hair so hard her hat fell.
"N-No..."
"She won't, but considering what you did, Yorktown will find out. Heck, everyone will," Essex added, trying and failing to suppress her grin.
Of course, Enterprise mused. And maybe what comes next will not necessarily be pretty.
But as the surviving pilots and crew gathered on the flight deck, the cheering was so loud she could hardly think.
She couldn't help but laugh.
With Hornet's help, she stood up. Not that she needed help, but her sister wouldn't take no for an answer.
"You saved us all, Enty," Saratoga whispered, "I don't know what you did or how, but I know it was because of you that we survived."
"We would've died if not for you," Essex continued.
"Thank you, sis."
They hugged her, and the cheers grew even louder.
"Enterprise!"
The voice she had wanted to hear the most.
She turned and saw Commander Halsey running toward her, his face a mix of joy and relief. Above him was Grim, whom she'd left out of the action, much to her guilt.
"Enterprise!"
He caught up and immediately took her hand.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"
"Sir. No worries, sir. I'm...okay," she replied, a little breathless.
Grim landed near her, nuzzling her legs, and Enterprise reached down to stroke his head.
"Sorry for worrying you, Grim. Sorry for leaving you out of all these. I don't want to lose you..."
The bird shook his head, squawking softly.
"I don't want to lose you too, you know..." Commander Halsey added, and Enterprise saw his smile and how he was shaking.
"Sir—"
The embrace was unexpected, but she wasn't surprised or annoyed.
Wasn't this what she had wanted for so long?
She wrapped her arms around his back, feeling his hands on her hair, his chest pressing against hers. The tears wetting her shoulder were not her own, but it didn't matter.
She let him cry and rubbed his back.
Time seemed to stand still as the moment stretched.
Until a cough broke the silence, and they both looked to see Admiral Roberts standing not far away, her arms crossed.
"Sorry for interrupting your regulation-breaking moment, you two," she began, a wry smile on her face replacing the brief frown, "but I have something to discuss with Enterprise. I'm sure medical attention is the least of her priorities right now. But I'll be quick."
Right after that, she turned to the rest of the crowd.
"And all of you, back to your stations! You've all seen your hero. Now, move out!"
As the crowd began to disperse, the admiral turned to them.
"Ma'am," Enterprise mumbled. "I apologize for causing this disturbance...and for going off on my own. My actions have been derelict and inexcusable."
"Save it. We need to talk. Commander Halsey, you are dismissed. Go get yourself some rest; you deserve it."
"Admiral," Commander Halsey spoke. "Please, if there is a problem, I'm willing to—"
"This is not a request. Get out of here, Commander. And thank you for your hard work. We will be taking it from here."
Enterprise didn't like the look on his face.
"It's okay, sir," she whispered.
He nodded and stepped back.
"Good. Now, let's go, Enterprise."
***
"Sit."
Admiral Roberts sat across from her.
"How are you feeling?"
"Not...the worst, ma'am."
"I see. Well, let's cut to the chase. Explain why you...did what you did."
She didn't have to ask what the Admiral meant.
"I...I knew they were interested in me. They called me...anomaly. I don't know why or how, but I guess they wanted to see what I could do. I thought...when I spoke with them, I thought...I could use their curiosity to challenge them—"
Admiral Roberts raised a hand, signaling her to stop.
"They?"
"I don't know who they are...but believe me, ma'am, the more I talked to them, the more I'm convinced of something I've been suspecting for so long."
"What do you suspect? Tell me, Enterprise."
"That...this war, this invasion, was not a conquest. They didn't want to exterminate us. They...only wanted to test. To see what we could do. Ma'am, this had been nothing but a grand experiment. I don't know what they want or why, but that's all I know. They have been holding back at times, ma'am. They could've wiped us out, but they didn't. It's almost like they were waiting for something."
Admiral Roberts leaned forward, her chin resting on her clasped hands.
"And?"
"They didn't want us dead. Not yet. That battle could've ended faster than we thought, and many more would've perished, but they held back. So...I'm not sure what put the idea in my head, ma'am, but...I came to them. Maybe just like they had expected me to. I challenged them, betting on their curiosity getting the better of them. If I won, then they would leave for good. And if I lost, then...they could take me, experiment on me instead of the world. It was a risk, and I didn't know how much it would work, but...it did, and that's what matters. Because I know even if we won this battle, they would just raise the stakes, ma'am, and come back to push us to our limits."
"I see," Admiral Roberts massaged her temple, the frown deepening. "So, basically, you went against orders to make a questionable gamble with the enemy and won. That's a lot, Enterprise. And...you have things you are not telling me. Correct?"
Enterprise shuffled her feet.
"Yes....Ma'am."
"Spill it. I know you won't lie."
She wasn't sure how the Admiral would take the news. But...
"They spoke of timelines, ma'am...like we're not the only ones they had been testing. Like this wasn't the first time. And...and they told me that we...the KANSENs were not created by humanity alone."
The darkening of the Admiral's face was all the answer she needed.
"...I see," she whispered, her tone low. "I bet they are insinuating you and your fellows must've been created through their indirect intervention, right? That would explain...a lot. DARPA, the DoD...they wouldn't be able to create a soldier with the memories of a warship, not today, and especially not at the height of the Cold War. None of us really knows what the hell they had been working on, but despite some, ah, let's say, opposition, you lot have continued to serve admirably to this day, and nobody is even talking about it anymore. Makes you wonder....and well, this also explains those clones we encountered. Why they all seemed so similar to you."
"Ma'am...will this—"
"Worried about if word of this gets out? Then don't speak of it, and I will not speak of it. Let us take this little secret with us to our graves. As far as the public knows, we won this battle, and the enemy is no longer here to menace us. That's all. Nothing less, nothing more. And you will not be court-martialed for this, and I will personally sabotage any attempt to do so. That, at least, I could promise to our hero. That's all I need to know. Dismissed."
"Ma'am!"
Enterprise stood and saluted, and the Admiral returned the gesture.
"Of course, you could talk about it with Commander Halsey if you want. I doubt he will see you any differently. Don't let me catch you two fraternizing until we make it back to port, though."
"Y-Yes, ma'am!"
She wasn't sure if the old lady was joking or not, but she was smiling, and that was good.
"If you weren't a KANSEN, you would have been promoted many times over. It's unfair, but all I can offer you is my deepest gratitude for saving the world. I'm sorry."
"I only did what I must, Ma'am."
"...you can go, Enterprise."
"Aye, aye, ma'am."
She closed the door and exhaled.
***
The battered fleet returned without fanfare.
Only Lady Liberty and the orange break of dawn welcomed them as they sailed into New York Harbor. There was no welcoming party, no cheers or crowds, no band, and no journalists.
But it didn't matter, for they had fought, and they had won.
She had told Commander Halsey the truth, and true to Admiral Roberts' words, he didn't look at her any differently.
He, in turn, filled her in on the aftermath of her duel right after she lost consciousness. How the enemy fleet just phased out of existence, even their wrecks, leaving nothing, as if they had never been there.
Just like a scientist meticulously putting away his equipment, making sure nothing was left behind lest it cause trouble.
He didn't speak much after that, and she left him be, to process everything. To grieve his lost crew, if needed.
Now, they were heading for Madison Square Garden again, his steps springier.
The refugees were in better shape. Reese and Janine, who were still busy attending to them as volunteers, were wide-eyed as soon as they noticed her, their mouths agape.
"Enterprise?! You...you...Does that mean...this..."
"Yeah. We won. This war...it's over."
"Holy...Oh my god. Thank you. Thank you! We can go home! I can't believe it!" Janine hugged her.
"I...thank you, Enterprise, Commander Halsey..." Reese choked, "Thank you..."
"Hey," Commander Halsey patted him on the back, "it's our duty to good people like you."
"I hope I can repay this someday," he whispered.
"Nah, save it, Reese. By the way...have you seen Amy?"
Reese and Janine exchanged looks.
"Oh, yeah. Must be playing with Jessie and the other kids again. Oh, I'm sure she will be really happy to see you two again."
"That's why we're here," Commander Halsey interjected, a bright smile on his face. "Well then, see you two."
They bid the pair goodbye and headed deeper into the arena.
***
Amy was indeed playing with the other kids, a ball in her hand.
She didn't seem to have noticed them yet, but Enterprise didn't mind. The Commander, too, was content to let her be for a while.
It wasn't long before she caught a glimpse of them, though, and the ball she was holding fell out of her grasp.
"Jerry! Enty!"
She ran, almost stumbling more than once, but Enterprise and the Commander were ready.
The hug was tight, and Enterprise could smell the shampoo on her hair. It brought back a flood of emotions she couldn't control.
"You're back! You're back!"
"Yeah, Amy, we're back. I'm sorry it took so long."
"Did you beat the bad guys? Did you?!"
"We did," Commander Halsey answered. "Amy...you're finally safe."
The girl didn't speak. Instead, her body started to shake.
"Amy?"
"Jerry..."
Her sobs were muffled as she pressed her face against the Commander's coat.
"Amy. You're safe now. It's all over."
"I was scared," Amy sobbed. "I was really, really scared. I was so afraid that the bad guys would get me. Would get you..."
Soothing circles rubbed against her back, and she slowly calmed down.
"Yes, sweetie. But don't be afraid. You're safe, and I'm not leaving you again."
"Really? Promise me!"
"I promise. I will always be here."
Amy looked up, her eyes wet and swollen, her face stained with tears and snot, and her nose a bright red.
"And Enty?"
"I will be here for you if you need me, sweetie," Enterprise said, kissing her on the cheeks.
It was the first she'd ever given to the girl, and it came naturally.
The girl sank deeper into their embrace, her eyes fluttering.
"Thank you..."
"Amy...can I tell you something?" Commander Halsey asked.
"Uh-huh?"
"Sweetie, can I ask about...your dad? Your mom?"
She didn't answer, the silence stretching, the air suddenly chilling.
"...."
"Sweetie, it's okay to remember them. Remember them, Amy."
"Dad....nice. Ever since...Mom went to heaven, Dad always tried his best. Dad was always there...even when he's tired...or sad...Mom's pancakes were really nice. Mom's smile was nice, and so were her hugs. Dad's was...nice, too. But...but...but..."
She was beginning to tremble, and Commander Halsey held her tighter.
"Mom...dad...dad! Dad...dad! Mom! MOM! DAD! PLEASE! I DON'T WANNA BE ALONE! I'M SCARED! I'M REALLY SCARED! PLEASE COME BACK! COME BACK!"
Her screams and cries were raw and desperate, and some of the refugees were starting to stare, and some even seemed concerned.
"Shhh, it's okay, Amy. We're here, okay?" Enterprise whispered. "I'm here."
"Please...please..."
"Sweetie, they are not coming back, but we're here. We're here. Jerry and Enty. We're not leaving."
"Dad....daddy....."
"We're here, Amy. It's okay. It's okay..."
Comforting a girl, much less one that finally allowed to grieve, was not something Enterprise was used to, but she didn't care.
It was all that mattered.
"Dad...I wanna see Daddy...I want Mommy..."
"It's okay, Amy," Commander Halsey said, stroking her hair. "Let it out. It's okay. We're here. We're not going anywhere."
"Jerry...Enty..."
"It's okay. It's okay..."
They sat in silence, rocking back and forth, with Amy's tears staining Commander Halsey's uniform, the ball the girl had played with long forgotten. Jessie, though seemingly worried, didn't come over, as if she knew that this moment belonged only to them.
"Jerry....Enty...please..."
"Don't worry, sweetie. We're here. And we're staying here. With you," the Commander reassured her, his voice low.
The girl was a mess of emotions, one that a child so young shouldn't be, but Enterprise realized that she'd been keeping them bottled up inside, hiding her fears from everyone, even her— especially her—and that was also her fault.
Amy had adapted to the horrors on the road, and she wasn't supposed to. She merely saw her and Commander Halsey as an example.
"Jerry...Enty..."
"I'm not going anywhere, sweetie. Neither is Enty."
"Enty?"
"Yeah. I'm not leaving, sweetie. I'm staying here with you, always."
"Really? Don't...don't leave...please..."
"No. Hey...Amy. Sweetie, look at me."
She did, her eyes bloodshot and swollen.
"Why don't we find...make a memorial? To remember your parents by. How does that sound?"
"I....wanna...."
"That's good. That's good, sweetie. And....uh....if...if you want...we could...live together. I don't know if I could be as good as your dad, but...uh..."
The Commander was a bit flustered, but his words were firm.
"But...oh, sweetheart, I don't know why, but I've...I've come to think of you as my own. Maybe it's selfish of me, but I've grown to love you, Amy, and I want to keep you safe. But if you don't want to, or if you're uncomfortable, then I will understand."
Wide, tearful eyes stared up at him.
Hope, uncertainty, longing.
"So...we could be a family?"
"Y-Yeah. Yeah. If you want. I would be more than happy to be your family, sweetie. But, if you are not ready, or you are not comfortable with it, I understand."
"So....you....will be my da...dad?"
"I don't know if I could replace your father, Amy, but I will try. As much as I could. And if I'm not, then maybe I could be...an uncle. A brother. Anything."
"Anything?"
"Y-Yeah. If that's okay. We won't pressure you. The most important thing is...that you're safe. You can be happy again."
The girl thought for a moment...before throwing herself at him.
"Yes...! Yes! I want...to be with you! And Enty...!"
"I guess that's a yes, huh, sweetie?"
"Uh huh...! I'm....so happy...! Jerry, Enty...daddy! Dad! I'm so happy! Mom!"
Enterprise ran a finger across the corner of her eyes.
It was a first.
A first, she mused. A proof that she was more than just a weapon.
That she could be more.
"I'm...happy too, Amy. Me too."
Her eyes and the Commander's met.
"I hope you don't see this as, uh...you know, a proposal. Not, uh, that I wouldn't want it. Just..."
Enterprise chuckled, though she was equally flustered.
"No need to rush, Commander. No need to rush."
"Y-Yeah."
"Dad...mom..."
The little girl in his arms had fallen asleep, her sniffles and whimpers growing quieter. But she had a big smile on her face.
"Sleep well, sweetie," he whispered. "We will be here."
"Yeah," Enterprise echoed. "We will be here."
***
Arlington had been untouched by the conflict, miraculously, despite its proximity to Washington and the battle that had raged over the city.
Perhaps one day, there will be a memorial honoring the fallen from the war, but today was not that day.
Commander Halsey was standing before his brother's grave, laying flowers on the grass, beside a framed, childish drawing of two adults and a little girl.
"Hello, James," he began, "I'm sorry it took me so long to come here. And, uh, I hope you don't mind my girl putting this drawing of her...late parents on your gravestone. She needs a place...to remember, you know. But hey, knowing you, you would be glad to let her, wouldn't you? I wish she could meet her uncle. She would've admired you as I've always done."
He sighed, pulling Amy closer and gesturing for Enterprise to come.
"James...I'm glad you didn't have to live through this. Glad mom and dad didn't have to. It was hell. I've been wounded, Enterprise has been wounded, pushed to our limits and beyond. I thought I was going to die many times. But we won, and the threat is gone. Forever. And all these times, I pushed through because I wanted to protect something. America. The country. My country. And the people, the people who needed me. Just like you did, even if you had to go so far away, even if I could only honor your sacrifice, never knowing what you have been through. You had done the same, and you would've done it again, no matter the odds. You were my hero. You inspired me to protect that which matters most, and that's what I have done and will continue to do. You were my hero, James. Thank you."
"Dad, can...I put a flower too?"
"Sure, sweetie."
The girl walked to the gravestone, a rose in her hand, and placed it next to the bouquet.
"Hello, Uncle..." she smiled at the grave.
Enterprise looked on, a smile tugging her lips, feeling the Commander drawing her closer.
"We'll be leaving Arlington soon. They have begun the reconstruction efforts. I will be helping where I can. The world's going to be a different place, but it's for the better. Amy's going to have a chance to grow up. To be happy. And that's why you and I serve, right?"
The Commander didn't speak again, content to let the silence and the wind do the talking.
***
New York had begun regaining its lights.
Elsewhere across the country, other cities and towns were rebuilding.
The rest of the world, too, had begun to heal.
The implant removed from her body, as she found out, had disappeared from the labs before thorough testing could be done on it. She thought it was for the best.
Besides, this was a far more pressing matter.
"Is...is this...uh, really needed?" Enterprise whined as Yorktown fussed over her appearance.
"Enty, honey, even if you don't need it, it doesn't hurt to get dolled up every once in a while, you know? Especially now that the world is no longer facing certain doom."
"But I've never needed it—"
"Don't fight it, Enty," Vestal chimed in. She was definitely enjoying this a lot, Enterprise grumbled. "Yorktown, the lipstick is a bit too much, don't you think?"
"I agree. Let's tone it down a bit."
"No! It's still fine. Let's just not make her look like a clown. And Enty, dear, sit still, will you?"
"I am sitting still, come on!"
***
The so-called victory gala was in full swing. The whole affair was a muted one, but now the dead had been properly honored, and the living had begun celebrating.
Even elsewhere, she was sure the refugees and service members were celebrating, too.
The foreign KANSENs that had been stuck in New York City were there, as were Coast Guard and Air Force bigwigs, who were responsible for coordinating the defense of the city.
Not everyone knew what she did, and she was all right with it. Admiral Roberts had agreed to keep their secrets, and she trusted the Commander would, too.
She didn't need the Medal of Honor or a pat on the back.
All that mattered was that they had won.
Amy was there, too, clinging to Commander Halsey as he spoke to Lieutenant Colonel Flint, whose A-10 apparently managed to reach New York. The reunion was a boisterous one, and the Commander didn't seem to mind.
Admiral Roberts was chatting with the KANSENs, the mood lighter, the air more relaxed.
Enterprise smiled.
It was nice.
An impromptu band had formed, music was being played, and people were dancing.
The Commander glanced at her, seemingly weighing in on something, but before he could decide anything, Amy detached herself from him and came over to her, a bright smile on her face.
"Mommy!"
"A-Amy?!"
"Oh my, Enterprise, how come I don't hear about this?" Yorktown teased, her eyes glittering.
"M-Mommy?! Are you gonna dance with Daddy?!"
"Amy..."
"Dance with us!"
"You heard her, Enty," her sister said, nudging her.
"Sis..."
Amy had pulled her away, and she could see Hornet joining Yorktown, both now looking awfully amused—but also proud, for some reason. They both flashed a thumbs up at her, and she could only groan...and yet she smiled back.
"Dad! Mom's gonna dance with us!"
"I'm coming, Amy, wait for me."
And for all his hesitation before, the Commander didn't have any of it as he led her to the dance floor.
Their girl's jubilant smile must've something to do with it.
"May I have this dance, my lady?" he bowed. She answered by taking his hand.
"Of course."
They began their dance, Amy sandwiched between them, giggling all the way.
And that certainly didn't help.
He was still a disaster on two legs; he stepped on her feet, and Saratoga and Hornet were snickering.
Just as she'd expected.
Just as they had promised, though, they were dancing.
After everything they had been through, after everything they had lost, here they were.
And this was only the first step.
"Thank you, Enterprise," the Commander said. "For everything."
For a moment, she'd thought of giving the usual modest excuse, but she decided against it.
She, too, deserved to feel good about this.
"Same goes for you, Commander. Thank you. For everything. But...this is only the beginning, right?"
"Yeah. Only the beginning...of something new."
"Something new..."
How cheesy.
But it felt right.
So was the feeling of his lips against her forehead, a quick one, mirroring what she gave him back in Wilmington.
Amy noticed and laughed.
Hopefully, Admiral Roberts didn't.
But for now, it was good.
It was enough.
Whatever was to come, she was sure they would face it together.
Again, and again, and again.