Ayanami was sitting beside Saratoga along with several of her Ayanami-Class sisters and her three Sendai-Class light cruiser seniors as they occupied the games room in the evening, today's date being the 28th of April.
They watched a man sing and dance on a large LED screen before them with what seemed to be two dozen extras, the singer in question possessing a handsome face and slicked-back hair as he wore a dark leather jacket, a striped shirt beneath it, form-fitting jeans and dark shoes.
Elvis Presley was on-screen as he performed "Jailhouse Rock" while the CD player, a slim flat metal box, kept track of and displayed the amount of time which had passed on the disc as it played the black-and-white recording of the famous American singer.
Saratoga was seated amidst a pile of CDs and CD casings as the Lexington-Class carrier scratched her head with the eraser tip of the pencil which she held, looking down at the complied list of major American events and influential Americans post-World-War-2 as she confirmed with the ship girls surrounding her.
"Alright, so this this is Elvis Presley, and according to this list,"
Gesturing to the list with the pencil in her hand.
"He was a famous American singer, along with Michael Jackson, Britney Spears and the Beatles, amongst others, am I right?"
Ayanami, seated beside the American carrier, leaned towards her in order to inspect the list Saratoga held in her hand.
And although the list was extremely simplified, it was still a somewhat "comprehensive" list of important Americans and various significant events which shaped American history and its culture.
United Nations (League of Nations) formation
NATO (Also League of Nations) formation
Cold War (Soviets vs. Americans; no Hot War)
Cuban Missile Crisis
Neil Armstrong/ Buzz Aldrin on the moon
Korean War
Vietnam War
2008 Financial Crisis (Great Depression)
9/11 (Al Qaeda, Osama leader)
Afghanistan War
Iraq War/ War on Terror
Soviet Union collapse
Creation/ Destruction of Berlin Wall
Elvis Presley
The Beatles
Britney Spears/ Madonna/ Lady Gaga
Michael Jackson
Stevie Wonder
Star Wars/ Star Trek (Flash Gordon(?))
Black, Women, LGBT rights movement
Muhammad Ali
Michael Jordan
Rosa Parks
Steve Jobs (Apple)
Bill Gates (Microsoft/Windows(?))
Hippie counterculture
The internet
Disney (and that one weird mouse)
The Simpsons/ South Park/ Family Guy
Titanic (Film about Jack x Rose, not ship x iceberg)
Jurassic Park
Lord of the Rings Trilogy
2001: A Space Odyssey (Not made in 2001)
JFK assassination
Martin Luther King Jr. speech and assassination
Malcolm X assassination
Charles Manson (Helter Skelter)
Jim Jones and Jones-town Massacre
Columbine Shooting
Clinton sex scandal
Nixon Watergate Scandal
Killing Osama bin Laden (Operation Neptune Spear)
Hurricane Sandy and Katrina
Black president Barack Obama
Ushio nodded meekly, answering the carrier's question as she looked back at the TV screen.
"Yes, a-and I believe, with this, I think we've covered the basics. I-I hope this helped ease your sense of loneliness and helped you learn a little more about your homeland…"
Naka gave the Lexington-Class carrier a radiant smile as she bopped her own head with her left fist and consoled the American.
"Don't worry, Saratoga-chan! We, the Sendai-Class sisters, will keep you company should you require it! I'll be there for you in the morning, and Jintsuu will replace me when I go for my afternoon idol training. Sendai loves night battles, and since you're an American carrier with night battle capabilities, you will certainly get along well with her!"
Ayanami looked over her shoulder in order to observe Jintsuu, who was sitting in a respectful, albeit slightly relaxed seiza position, while Sendai was perfectly mimicking a corpse as her splayed, prone body occupied a significant portion of the room while she slept soundly, and they were all gathered here today in order to help Saratoga learn a little more about America in its post-war years.
The carrier had already learnt about the world's various technological developments, so the Japanese destroyers and light cruisers decided that today's focus would be more on America's social, cultural and and even political developments.
They had covered several historical events and had highlighted a few important people who had influenced America's post-war history, although everyone stressed that this was far from an extensive history lesson.
Saratoga turned before nodding towards everyone in order to acknowledge their help, looking around with a thankful look in her eyes as she addressed them all.
"Thank you. All of you. Even though I was entirely prepared to learn about these things on my own, I must thank everyone for the amount of additional information you all have supplied me with and the amount of guidance you all have provided me with."
Shikinami waved it off as she explained, noting how their world had radically changed and they had to change their views in order to keep up with the world, lest they be left behind.
"Eh, it's nothing. We're now allies, and we shouldn't let history drive a wedge between us and isolate each other with our xenophobia and hatred, lest we be picked off by the Abyssals, country by country. Xenophobia will mean a lot of bad blood between every country's ship girls, and that certainly doesn't help anyone win the Abyssal war, so I'm sure everyone's trying to keep an open mind about things."
Saratoga nodded as she commented,
"Yes, but things might get rough when I meet the Atago-Class heavy cruisers and Ryuujou-san, because I bombed the former while sinking the latter."
Ayanami raised an eyebrow as she commented on the personalities of the three ship girls in question, reassuring the Lexington-Class carrier that there really wasn't anything to be worried about.
"That's not really a cause for concern, because even though Takao-san may be a little cold towards you, Atago-san's warm personality will make up for it in spades. They're the polar opposites of each other, and I think you will get along with them, so there's that. Ryuujou-san may need a little time to get used to your presence, and your…"
Ayanami brought her hands up to her chest before pushing them out in a BOING motion while puffing out her cheeks in order to refer to Saratoga's generous bust before explaining.
"... Since Ryuujou's rather lacking in that department. But in the end, I believe they will accept you since you're now a member of our base, and we've got more pressing issues to address. Like, say, another war which is currently going on around us?"
Saratoga nodded mutely in response, and Jintsuu leaned in to place a silent, yet firm hand on the carrier's shoulder in order to help reassure her without saying a word.
Ayanami smiled upon seeing everyone do their best in order to help Saratoga and try to be friends with her, and was in the process of ejecting the stopped disc from the CD player when an announcement was made on the PA system and Admiral Haru's voice resounded throughout the games room, and by extension, the entire naval base as everyone looked up at the overhead speakers.
"Admiral Haru here. Just a quick heads-up for the 1st Fleet. The 1st Fleet is to assemble on the 14th of May in order to sortie. Due to several complications and delays, the temporary fleet composition for the 1st Fleet will be Haruna, Naka, Jintsuu, Saratoga, Ayanami and Shigure until further notice. A private message will be sent to you by the Coordinators before tonight as a reminder, and make use of this time to work on your teamwork, since we understand that some of you have not worked together before. That is all."
Ayanami blinked in confusion, but Naka was the one to glomp Saratoga and Ayanami as she cheered about being in the same fleet as the both of them, squealing in glee.
"Alright! Looks like the four of us are going to be in the same fleet for now! Let's all do our best!"
While Jintsuu gave them a small smile, placing her palms on the floor and touching the tatami floor with her forehead, rising from her kowtow as she commented.
"I agree. It is an honor to be a part of the 1st Fleet, and it will be interesting to witness the might of an American carrier in real time. Let us do our best together."
Sendai was barely affected by the sudden announcement, only shifting on the floor in order to lie on her side as she muttered a satisfied,
"... Fishcakes…"
Saratoga looked down in order to contemplate the sudden announcement about the temporary roster update, as well as why she was being sent out into battle so soon.
"I heard that a large-scale battle was going to occur, and this was why everyone was doubling their training efforts. And I think this may be why Admiral Felix asked me to stay here in Yokosuka, so that I can help you all. But to my knowledge, that's two-thirds of the 1st Fleet who've been replaced, and why are so many of them unavailable?"
Ushio brought up her legs to her sizable chest and looked down at her knees dejectedly, Shikinami doing her best to comfort her by giving her a back pat as she remarked fearfully.
"Uuu… I think it's because of the Flying Dutchman , Saratoga-san. It destroyed Ayanami-nee's fleet at the Battle of Mikura Jima Island…"
Everyone's eyes turned to her, and Ayanami started to sweat as she did her best to try and reassure everyone.
Fortunately, it was a skill which came to her naturally since she was the name-ship of the Ayanami-Class, and was thus responsible for leading and helping several of her sister ships who were in this base.
"Now, now. The Dutchman shouldn't be able to hurt us on land, so we have nothing to worry about right now. It wouldn't dare to attack us where our strongest battleships and carriers are located. It may be strong, but it's certainly not invincible."
"Strong enough to crush four fleets at once, though…"
Shikinami muttered darkly under her breath, and Ayanami's eyebrows creased in a disapproving, deadpan expression as she had told her sisters about what happened at Mikura Jima Island in confidence.
Shikinami looked away while raising her arms in mock-surrender while the Lexington-Class's eyes widened, and Saratoga's expression darkened as she leaned in to ask Ayanami for a favor.
"Ayanami-san, I'd like to review your memories of this Battle of Mikura Jima Island in order to discern the abilities of this new Abyssal enemy."
Ayanami nodded as she sent the Lexington-Class carrier the memory file in order to keep her updated and to sate her curiosity, although she was quick to tell her about another witness who could be of more use to her.
"Well, Shigure-san is a better witness, since unlike her, who was right next to the Abyssal aviation battleship as it rose from the depths, I was further away and couldn't see much. But the destruction it can potentially cause is already evident from what I saw, so I believe I can at least help you in this regard."
Saratoga nodded grimly, and she looked down as she reviewed the memory file regarding the Battle of Mikura Jima Island while Naka placed a questioning finger on her cheek as she innocently asked.
"I understand if Tatsuta-san, Junyou-san and Hiei-san are unable to sortie so soon, but isn't Tenryuu-san training with Abukuma-san right now, and is perfectly capable of sortieing?"
But Jintsuu considered the question for some time before answering her sister with a plausible explanation.
"Well, perhaps it's because the Admiral didn't want to sortie one Tenryuu-Class cruiser without the other, since Tenryuu-san would probably be distracted with thoughts about Tatsuta-san's well being, and this might endanger her in battle."
Ayanami, after thinking about the two Tenryuu-Class cruisers, wasn't so sure about Jintsuu's theory and suspected that something might be up with the two light cruisers, but she believed that the Admiral herself was probably behind her two teammates' temporary absence from the battlefield and had a good reason for it.
So if the Tenryuu-Class cruisers were unable to answer her questions as to why they were grounded for the time being, she'd simply make sure that they were doing well before respecting their privacy.
Saratoga then looked up as she nodded grimly, now understanding how a submersible battleship came out of left field and caught them off-guard with the element of surprise, but the Lexington-Class carrier decided to try and put everything around her back in its rightful place before going for dinner, commenting.
"Well… No point thinking about and discussing these matters on an empty stomach. Let's put these CDs back where they belong, and let's get going."
Everyone nodded and agreed unanimously, and Ayanami helped to place the CDs back in their rightful covers before closing them and placing them back in the large drawer located inside the games room, hearing the Lexington-Class carrier address everyone with a question while they worked.
"And I'm still a little confused about this human body which we reincarnate into. Why is everyone female?"
Surprisingly, Naka was the one who gave Saratoga an explanation which was cobbled together by various theoreticians over the years, explaining the quasi-philosophical concept behind the ship and how it related back to them being female.
"Oh, that's easy! When you think about it, why did sailors in the past sometimes talk about their ships as though they were female?"
Saratoga considered the question as she picked up the few snack wrappers left on the floor, having brought some snacks in beforehand in order to feed herself should she get hungry, dropping them into the bin as Naka answered.
"Well, when you take away all our weapons and armor, as ships, we're ultimately vessels who ferry humans across the ocean as they eat, sleep and live within us. In a sense, we act as incubators, sustaining the livelihood of our inhabitants with our resources and protecting them from the elements. Unlike planes, which can only last a day at most without resupplying and for a tank, several days, ships can theoretically sail the seas for several months without resupplying at a port. And don't quote me on this, but I think the Nimitz-Class super-carriers can stay on the ocean for 70 days without resupplying its food stocks, and 90 at the maximum. Sustaining life within our hulls for extended periods of time while our armor, and even our cannons protect them, I suppose it translates into a feminine humanoid in the eyes of our makers."
Naka then shrugged as she continued packing up the games room, noting.
"At least, that's the accepted consensus, since even our supposed makers, the Fairies, believe this to be one of the most reasonable explanations. We always joke that if a World War 2 tank were to be theoretically recreated as a human, it'd likely come out as a boy, since the tank guns would be represented by their, you know…"
Ayanami noted Saratoga nodding a little too vigorously as her cheeks colored, Naka continuing with her explanation.
"And if you wish to stretch things even further, I suppose you can say that even the ocean, deep and dangerous it may be, is where life was first created, and where it flourished before the first fish crawled onto land. To create and sustain life is a sacred ability, and since we were created to sail the seven seas and are in our element when we step onto the ocean, perhaps it was meant to be poetic when we are created as female humanoids in order to embody this trait. This is one theory which has weathered many criticisms and doubts throughout the entire course of the Abyssal War to become one of the most convincing explanations we have so far."
Saratoga nodded sagely before looking up from the small stack of papers which she was arranging, looking towards everyone as she asked.
"Oh, and I must ask. Do we have any swimming lessons, since we now inhabit human bodies? I don't wish to be caught off-guard on the off-chance that our boat slippers are blown off by torpedoes, and I can't even keep my head above the surface of the ocean."
Shikinami answered without thinking twice,
"Well, I don't think you have anything to worry about, since our bodies float while alive and sink when we die. Besides, I don't think you have even less to worry about than we destroyers do."
Shikinami then jerked her left thumb behind her while giving Ushio a mischievous look as she eyed her sister's abnormally large breasts, commenting offhandedly.
"I mean, you have big boobs like Ushio-chan, and they're essentially your fuel tanks. And last I checked, Ushio-chan had no problems floating on the surface of the pool since they also act as pseudo-flotation devices."
Ushio hugged her breasts while squeaking,
"Kya!"
And was slightly tearing up in the corner of her eyes, Ayanami noting all this out of the corner of her eye along with Saratoga's slight blush as she chided noncommittally.
"Shikinami, stop teasing Ushio and Saratoga-san and get back to work."
Shikinami raised her arms in mock surrender as she looked away, a small smirk plastered on her face as she remarked.
"Alright, alright…"
Ayanami looked to Saratoga as she explained the inner workings of a ship girl, and how learning to swim wasn't very high on their list of priorities.
"Saratoga-san, our bodies are capable of passively floating on the surface of the ocean, even though we wear boat slippers in order to help us sail and walk on the surface of the water. And if you check, the ability to swim is already pre-programmed into our minds, even before we were brought back into this world through various means."
Saratoga nodded patiently before retorting politely.
"Yes, I understand that we all already know how to swim. But I prefer to practice this skill for real in order to hone this skill when in a controlled environment, rather than call upon this ability for the first time in my life in a time of crisis."
Everyone then looked to each other, Jintsuu remarking about how it was probably wise to at least know how their pre-programmed skills worked in practice, instead of keeping it unused in their minds until a dire occasion called for its use.
"Well, Saratoga-san does have a point.
It seems rather asinine to passively store this skill in our minds until the occasion calls for it, and panicking while attempting to use it for the first time while in the heat of battle may cost us our lives."
Naka leaned in to ask Saratoga, looking strangely enthused about the notion of having everyone take a day off in order to get some swimming lessons, and recommended the next course of action to a slightly taken aback Saratoga.
"Oh! You should go ahead and explain this to Admiral Haru, I'm sure she'd love to have swimming lessons with everyone!"
Ayanami lifted an eyebrow upon hearing that since she understood that their Admiral, upon realizing the chance to see her ship girls and girlfriends in swimsuits and bikinis, would likely get a nosebleed while immediately allowing this lesson to be carried out, possibly even taking advantage of her status as Admiral to make it mandatory for every ship girl in Yokosuka.
After explaining this to everyone, the Lexington-Class carrier flinched as she realized the possible implications, asking worriedly.
"But I don't have a swimsuit, Ayanami-san. What happens then?"
Ushio suggested,
"Well, we can get Admiral Haru to place an order for a tailored carrier-sized school swimsuit, I suppose…"
But Shikinami waved the suggestion aside, preparing herself in order to perform an impression of the Admiral as she did so.
"Oh, puh-lease. I think if you were to bring up this problem with Admiral Haru, I think her response would be…"
Clearing her throat, Shikinami made a slightly lewd expression and executed a passable impression of Admiral Haru's voice and mannerisms as she remarked.
"'Oh, you don't have a swimsuit? Don't worry, my dear. I know of this one shop in town where they sell these pretty little, and I mean little little bikinis for a well-endowed girl like you to wear. And since I pretty much determined your three sizes by ogling your body when you weren't looking, you don't have to worry about measurements. Oh, please ignore this spontaneous nosebleed I'm getting, ehehehehe…'"
Shikinami held her nose with her right fist as her impression of Admiral Haru's lust-filled giggle was hot and bothered, Saratoga blanching as she started to sweat upon realizing what she was going to have to contend with, looking around shiftily as she asked the various occupants of the games room for help.
"W-Well, I still want to participate in some swimming lessons… Will someone please help accompany me to the nearby town in order to get a swimsuit, preferably something modest?"
Ayanami exhaled as she looked up at the pleading carrier, accepting Saratoga's request as she slid the drawer shut after storing the CD casings neatly inside and turning back to face the Lexington-Class carrier.
"Alright, I'll follow you, Saratoga-san. But it'll be after the 14th, since I wouldn't want to rush things when we need to focus on our training and sortie."
Saratoga nodded in relief as she bowed towards Ayanami as a gesture of gratitude, Jintsuu and Naka looking interested about this trip to the nearby town as Jintsuu politely offered.
"If you don't mind, perhaps we might be of some assistance in this endeavor of yours if we were to accompany you on this trip."
To which Saratoga replied with the same amount of respect and formality.
"I shall take you up on your offer, Jintsuu-san. And to take things even further, we might as well get everyone to join our little trip in order to unwind after our next sortie, no?"
Naka then piped up with another suggestion for the other three ship girls in the room who were now members of the 1st Fleet, since she had never worked with either Ayanami or Saratoga.
"Well, that's a fine idea for another day, to go on an outing with everyone after the sortie! But Saratoga-san, Ayanami-san, Jintsuu-chan, like what Admiral Haru said over the PA system, would you all be interested in some training sessions with our newly formed temporary 1st Fleet? There's no substitute for practice, and we need to make sure that our teamwork is up to par in order to get everyone home safely, hmm?"
Ayanami nodded, now feeling the pressure pile on again now that she was going to sortie again with two thirds of her original fleet taken out of action.
But then again, looking at Saratoga, Naka and Jintsuu, she felt that things might go a little smoother this time around.
Haruna was a respectably strong Kai fast battleship, Saratoga was an American carrier, Naka and Jintsuu were strong Kai light cruisers, and Shigure had gained more battle experience after participating in a battle against an Abyssal Princess.
They could do this.