Previously on Chapter 100
The girls hit the beach under the gleaming sun and cool sea. The sight of the soaked Shipgirls was so alluring that it might make anyone reading wish they were there.
While the girls enjoyed the ocean, the boys had their own agendas on the beach. William's date night was ruined after a group of redneck Manjuus blew up a Hill Cliff. Despite his disappointment, William received a Bulin Custom MK-III as a gift for his research.
Lafayette and Friends built a sandcastle and offered their commentary. Lafayette also had to assist the Sakuran Girls in constructing their Japanese castle, complete with a pagoda mast made of sand. In the water, a lack in concentration led to a painful blow to his face, a failure of his Aegis Combat System to detect a bouncing ball.
Arizona, disguised at his station behind the counter, continued his employment, needing to hone his socializing skills at talking to different people for future espionage missions. Unexpected assistance came from a Stoic Maid, proving quite helpful.
But amidst all the commotion on the beach, one person was conspicuously absent: Lucas. He was nowhere to be seen... and here our story begins.
Tent Stall
As Arizona and Sheffield busied themselves serving their customers, their unlikely partnership made everything run smoothly, much like they would on their missions. Sheffield handled the counter and the customers, while Arizona managed the grill and fryer, often stepping in at the counter if any difficult customers appeared.
Sheffield wasn't particularly adept at dealing with rude or short-tempered individuals. Her cold demeanor often exacerbated such situations rather than diffusing them. It was in these moments that Arizona would intervene, using his newfound socializing skills to smooth things over.
Amidst the bustling activity of the tent stall, where customers were being served left and right, two figures rolled in on a wheelchair. One person was seated in the wheelchair, while the other pushed it.
Sheffield and Arizona paused briefly as the two caught their eye, their attention momentarily diverted before they returned to their tasks.
JS Maya wore a simple shirt to avoid complicating her medication and the recovery of her injured side. The comfortable shirt was easy to put on and wouldn't interfere with her healing. At her current rate, she was expected to recover within months, provided there were no disturbances or delays in her mandatory medication as prescribed by William.
Lucas had been assigned to look after her. While the Takao Sisters were perfectly capable of the task, this relatively easy duty had fallen to Lucas. Today, he was her Escort Destroyer.
"What can I get for you both?" Arizona asked, his tone welcoming as he finished serving the recent customer.
"Something more edible than any of the Hospital food," Lucas responded with his characteristic teasing manner.
As a result, he received a sharp elbow to his side from JS Maya, who didn't appreciate his teasing habit. The situation could have devolved into an embarrassing exchange between them, if left unchecked.
"It's not that bad," she interjected to clarify things. "Though it does lack some flavor, Takao and her sisters do provide some nutritious meals to aid my recovery," she explained.
"I see, something special then," Arizona said, twirling a spatula in his hand.
Lucas noticed the gesture and commented, "Another personality?"
"Nah, just a little touch of a character I was trying to embody," Arizona replied in his usual tone.
"This disguise of yours is quite a contrast to what we know," JS Maya observed. "Though, it's quite fun to see you manage a smile, not just your usual stoic expression."
Arizona sighed and confessed, "Well... to be frank, it's quite difficult to maintain a disguised smile while facing so many people. I'm used to being alone, cold, and silent. Quite a character for a Submarine, such as myself."
Lucas crossed his arms, observing. "Well, you're not the only one here." His gaze shifted to the person beside Arizona.
Arizona followed his gaze to his side, where Sheffield still wore her usual bland, stoic expression. "She's always like that," he said.
"I am not the type of agent who changes personality like you are. I accomplish my mission with minimal interactions," Sheffield stated in her cold manner.
'That really sounds like her,' Lucas thought, as Sheffield never deviated from her cold persona.
"So, about your order," Arizona said, breaking the momentary aside and returning to serve the waiting customers. "Food that is edible, easy to consume, and flavorful?"
"Yes."
Sheffield retrieved a notepad and pencil to take their order. "Drinks?" she asked.
"Milk tea?" Lucas said, a little unsure of what cold drink JS Maya might prefer.
Arizona, with the unspoken understanding between "Bros," seemed to have a brief mental connection with Lucas, having sensed his uncertainty.
'Really? A Milk tea?'
Lucas's brain: 'Yes, out of options.'
Sheffield felt the silent exchange between the two. 'What's with these two?'
"Milk tea," JS Maya confirmed, saving Lucas from potential embarrassment for life.
A Few Minutes Later
JS Maya and Lucas found a vacant table and settled down to eat their meals. Following William's health guidelines, JS Maya's food was strictly nutritious to aid her swift recovery. Lucas, on the other hand, had opted for a regular meal like everyone else.
"So," Lucas began, breaking the silence between them. "How's your wound? Will it heal as William predicted?"
JS Maya paused her eating, considering his question. "Yes. William does predict that I will heal quickly if I adhere to his recommendations and diet."
Lucas simply nodded. "Good... good... I really hated seeing you in that state; it worried me greatly," he said, his tone tinged with melancholy.
JS Maya chuckled, noticing his visible concern. "Come on, I'm not going to end up a vegetable. I'm only in this wheelchair because my mobility needs to be limited to not hinder my recovery."
"Yeah... it did give me some concerns," Lucas admitted, his melancholic tone slightly shifting.
JS Maya continued her previous thought, but Lucas interrupted her with a new topic. "Like I was saying, I'm going to the Sakura Empire tomorrow with my ship to get my broken Katana fixed. I'll be there for a week while I wait for it to be repaired."
"Do you know any swordsmith who can fix your Katana?" Lucas asked.
JS Maya thought for a moment. "Hakuryuu told me about a swordsmith she used to visit to repair her broken Katana. She said he's the only one who still practices traditional Katana forging. His work is meticulously crafted, as if it were made in a factory."
Lucas's face twitched slightly upon hearing that – Hakuryuu's Katana. He remembered that Hakuryuu's Katana often got hit by missiles multiple times, and he felt sorry for the poor soul who had to fix the broken blade without the aid of heavy machinery. He could now imagine the guy's dedication, knowing how enormous her Katana was.
"Seems that guy was talented," he said with sympathy for the swordsmith.
"Yeah, I know," she replied, and the two shared a laugh.
Another Time Skip to Chaos
Cmdr. Thomas stood silently, his brain struggling to process the rapid succession of events. One moment led to another, and he now found himself standing on the sand within the lines of a makeshift Volleyball Court with a net.
He had been hoping for some quiet time with Enterprise-6 at the beach after the earlier chaos, but that peaceful interlude was abruptly shattered as he found himself in the middle of a Beach Volleyball Tournament.
Fortunately, he wasn't alone on his team. Arizona, Lafayette, William, and Baltimore were also there. Their Team Captain was Saratoga.
Shipgirls gathered around to witness the spectacle of the match, all cheering for the Commander's team to win the Beach Volleyball Game. Both Enterprises were in the crowd, watching the unexpected match with a mix of uncertainty and amusement.
Enterprise-80 already recognized the inherent mismatch in the Commander's team. The uncoordinated teammates, especially the oddballs among them, would likely make this team a laughingstock against their powerhouse opponents.
Let's rewind back a bit to where this chaos all began, and how poor Cmdr. Thomas got himself into this kind of mess.
~Flashback~
On the beach, a surfboard with a crown – I mean, Queen Elizabeth– walked along the sand with her escorts of Cruisers and a particular Battleship: a Corgi with a Broad Sword.
"This is such a lovely day to have a rest, would you agree, Warspite?" Queen Elizabeth asked in the most British way possible.
"It is quite a lovely day indeed, Your Majesty," Warspite responded dutifully, like a loyal Corgi.
"Now then...." Queen Elizabeth clasped both of her hands. "Where should we rest in this crowded area?"
Cruiser Belfast answered. "This way, Your Majesty." She gestured towards a lavishly decorated folding chair with the fanciest beach umbrella one could possibly imagine in the British Monarchy.
"We prepared a pleasant seat for your arrival, Your Majesty."
"Oh, what a lovely set of chairs you've prepared, Belfast," Queen Elizabeth praised the Head Maid for her excellent job of preparing her seat.
Queen Elizabeth and Warspite enjoyed the calm and relaxing peace under the gleaming sun and the gentle crashing of waves on the sand. Their peaceful relaxation was complemented by ambient classical music of the era.
The Monarchy's brief respite didn't last that long as Saratoga confronted her. Behind Saratoga stood Baltimore, providing escort.
"The day has come for me to take that trophy out of your hand," Saratoga declared, her voice booming with challenge.
Queen Elizabeth remained unmoved in her seat. She simply lifted her sunglasses as she looked at her. "How so? Each year, we've won and taken home the trophy, earning the title of champion."
Saratoga gritted her teeth. Teams from other factions, including the Eagle Union, had consistently been defeated by the Royal Navy Team in Beach Volleyball.
In Basketball, however, the tables were turned. The Eagle Union utterly dominated other factions—and yes, the Royal Navy was among those. In that game, their powerhouses were Baltimore and the Cleveland Sisters. Then there's their big Battleships.
Saratoga chuckled evilly, as if she held the winning card to reverse their record. Today, they would finally take the trophy home.
"He, he, he... I will have that trophy off your shelf," she said, her tone almost threatening.
Queen Elizabeth faced her challenger. "I'll let you gather your team, and I'll call mine. Later on, we'll find out who takes home the trophy."
"So... you accept my challenge?" Saratoga asked, seeking confirmation.
Baltimore stirred, feeling a sense of unease about this challenge. "Are you sure about this? We don't have a team capable of standing up against the Royal Navy's best Team," she whispered, her tone worried.
"No. I have a team in mind," Saratoga responded confidently.
"I accept the challenge," Queen Elizabeth delivered her response, cutting through the two's whispers.
"Good then, this afternoon," Saratoga said, her tone firm and bold. She declared, slowly stretching her hand and pointing her finger in a slow, cinematic way, "the trophy will be ours."
"That's a deal then."
Queen Elizabeth watched the two depart to fetch their ragtag team of perceived rejects. She showed no sign of concern, instead wearing a defiant and cynical expression. As they left, she spoke.
"Belfast... gather the team, we have a challenge."
Cruiser Belfast bowed. "As you wish, Your Majesty."
At the Tent Stall
Arizona and Lucas both looked at Saratoga. Her story sounded exaggerated and doctored, yet the Royal Navy's winning streak seemed genuine to the Americans.
They exchanged glances, wondering why she was there, recruiting them so intensely for just a Beach Volleyball Tournament. Winning the game was tempting, but the effort involved wasn't there yet.
"You want us to play on your team to win the game?" Arizona repeated, as if the concept were alien to him.
Saratoga nodded, her expression gleaming as she saw the best options playing on her team.
"Yes." She began, her voice booming and hopeful, "With you two on my team, we will win and take home the trophy."
Baltimore wore a knowing expression, realizing that Saratoga would undoubtedly recruit the Modern Kansens to level the playing field against the Royal Navy Team. "So... this is your plan... convincing them to play on our team."
Saratoga turned to face her. "YES. I do believe they can," she said, her voice pitching higher with excitement.
Arizona sat, pondering. "The Maids are powerhouses on their own; their agility and quick thinking could be a problem for us." He paused before continuing, "But we can, in fact, match them. The Battleship has excessive strength at pitching. Then there's Warspite; she's an MVP at pitching."
"Yes, she's quite a powerhouse and difficult to deal with as soon as the ball hits the air," Baltimore said, matching his grim undertone.
"So that's why we're breaking their records with our own!" Saratoga's voice cut in, her hand raised emphatically.
"The stall is closed for the day as Miss Howe instructed, so I might be available for the game. But I don't know if the two of us would be enough to level the playing field," Arizona said thoughtfully.
"Yes, but breaking the record sounds tempting," Lucas muttered, his eyes on the sand below his feet.
JS Maya placed her hand over his. She knew he wanted to join but couldn't leave her. "You can't... you have other tasks. For once... have a rest."
Lucas thought for a moment, as all eyes were on him. It took him a few seconds until he gave his solid response. "Sorry, I can't join you guys."
Saratoga's face twisted; she had never expected Lucas to decline.
"But—But... the game, the trophy. And breaking their record!" she reasoned, trying to make him change his mind.
"Saratoga, we need to respect his decision. Lucas needs this time to recuperate what he's lost," Arizona said, sensing Lucas's distress concerning JS Maya.
"But."
Baltimore rested her hand on Saratoga's shoulder. "We need to respect it. There are still others; they might join if we ask them."
Saratoga conceded, unable to reverse his decision. "Fine, let's get the rest to join," she said, pointing her finger outward, as if delivering a winning speech.
Her tone was stern and defiant, though the sting of Lucas's rejection still lingered. She needed an air-defense ship good at defending their side, especially from a ball heading into their side of the court.
~Present~
"What the f*ck am I even doing here anyway? Ha-How?! I don't even know how to play Beach Volleyball! There are other options, why me???!" Cmdr. Thomas shouted, never having expected to participate in such a game.
"The truth, we're out of options." William said in a calm undertone, but the Commander found that explanation anything but calming.
"Out of options!" Cmdr. Thomas exclaimed, still agitated.
Arizona rested his arm on the distressed Commander's shoulder. "Don't worry, Commander, I'll protect you from any death ball."
"What?!" Cmdr. Thomas was both confused and scared. That information did little to alleviate his anxiety about the Beach Volleyball Game. He was the only human amidst a standoff of Shipgirls and Kansens.
Arizona elaborated nonchalantly in his usual quiet, cold, and deadly manner. "Death Ball is when the ball is hit or propelled with such great velocity that it could be considered deadly. And based on our opponents, it seems death balls will be everywhere." The structure of his brows hovering over his eyes and the forming pucker in his temple made it clear to Cmdr. Thomas that this was no ordinary Shipgirl Beach Volleyball game, but a contest of raw power.
William also rested his arm on the Commander's shoulder. "Don't worry, Commander, it'll be two birds with one stone."
"What do you mean by that?" Cmdr. Thomas asked, utterly confused by his statement.
William pointed towards the two Enterprises in the crowd. "If we win this Beach Volleyball, you'll prove to them that you're capable and have some skills."
Cmdr. Thomas sighed, knowing there was nothing he could do but try to impress them both, if he even could. "Alright. I'm betting my ass on your ass."
William patted him on the back. "You can bet your ass on my ass."
Arizona interjected dryly, "I doubt that."
William and Cmdr. Thomas turned their heads towards him.
"Explain," Cmdr. Thomas commanded, his tone shaky.
"Your chances of impressing both of them are closer to zero than scoring a point in this game. Remember... we're up against the Royal Navy's best Volleyball Players. Our chances were slim, and so are yours, Commander," he said dismissively.
William rested his hands on his hips. "Wow, you just crushed the Commander's chances. Worst wingman ever."
"Hey, just giving him the statistical probability of the outcome, but there's still one rekindling hope," Arizona said, as if uttering a magic phrase that caught their attention.
Cmdr. Thomas looked up, bewildered.
"We're Americans, we can pull things out of thin air."
William grinned. "Damn right." He then gave Arizona a high five, their biceps flexing under the sun.
Cmdr. Thomas was utterly confused as to why they always came up with such bizarre pronouncements.
William then waved at the crowd where Vestal and the Bulin Custom MK-III stood watching him from the edge of the sandy court.
"Look, your family is cheering for you to win," Cmdr. Thomas said, following his gaze.
William quickly responded, "I have no Wife and Daughter... yet."
Cmdr. Thomas and Arizona exchanged a look at Vestal and the Bulin Custom MK-III, then quickly turned back to William. "Seems like it," they both said in unison.
William's face fell into a frown. "Bullshit," he muttered in annoyance at the two.
William and the two then turned their attention to Lafayette, who looked like a lost child in the middle of a hallway, feeling uneasy and uncertain about what might happen next.
"The hell are you doing here? I thought you were here to cheer us on, not join us," Arizona said, looking down at Lafayette. He hadn't expected him to be on their team.
Lafayette scratched his head. "I don't know." He shrugged. "The Girls recruited me as soon as they heard Saratoga was recruiting a member for your team." He then shrugged again, his shoulders slumping.
Cmdr. Thomas exclaimed in concern, "Why didn't you refuse them? I didn't think your size would be an advantage in this match."
Tactically speaking, Lafayette's height was a disadvantage in Beach Volleyball, but his small frame made him agile, and with the use of his Aegis Combat System, he could potentially track the bouncing Volleyball.
He just needed to differentiate between a bouncing ball and bouncing... well, he needed to avoid repeating his mistake in the water.
Lafayette responded to Cmdr. Thomas's question with uncertainty. "Well... about that..." He pointed towards Laffey-459, who was giving him a thumbs-up.
"She's the one who put me into this."
"I guess she wants to see you win this, huh," Cmdr. Thomas said.
Arizona chimed in, "Or get decimated."
A moment of silence fell over the men, each lost in thought. They weren't entirely sure of their purpose in this game, but one thing was common in their minds: win. They had to win this Beach Volleyball game for PR.
Baltimore, in her one-piece swimwear, approached the men on her team. "Are you guys done chatting? The game is about to start," she said with a cheerful voice.
The boys looked at each other and then back at her. "We've got a problem," William said to her, his tone implying it was something for higher-ups to address.
"What is the problem?" Baltimore asked, quite confused by the seriousness in William's voice.
William looked at Cmdr. Thomas and then back at her. "Cmdr. Thomas has zero skill in Volleyball. He knows the game, but he's not an athlete."
Baltimore's cheerful demeanor shattered like a broken glass upon hearing that. She had already positioned him as a Middle Blocker.
"That's quite a problem indeed," she said as she frantically searched for the Commander's replacement, but her eyes darted to one small person in the group.
Lafayette gulped, realizing he was now being assigned a position that wasn't suited to his height. But hey, maybe his agility would play a role in this.
"Well, there's a trophy over there," she said, pointing at the Trophy adorned with ribbons. "Every year, there's a Beach Volleyball competition held to boost the girls' morale and camaraderie."
Everyone exchanged glances, a renewed vigor and motivation sparking in their eyes.
"Alright team, to your positions!" she announced.
Everyone moved to their designated spots on the sandy court.
Announcer's Booth
At the tent where the spectator seats were, Illustrious was the official announcer of the game, but Essex-12 was the unofficial co-announcer, her fiery commentary adding a unique flavor to the event.
"Hello everyone, and Good Morning," Illustrious announced to the crowd as the game was about to begin. "Today's Beach Volleyball will not be the same Beach Volleyball we know, because today is different— "
Before she could finish her sentence, Essex-12's voice boomed, injecting an American sporting spirit into the atmosphere. "That's right, folks! Today's competition will be different and deadly as f*ck!"
"De-Deadly???" Illustrious and the rest of the crowd were confused.
"That's right! There is no sportsmanship in this game, only victory! On the American Team, we have... Right Side Hitter: Aiz.... Aizen???"
Essex-12 was confused by the name on her list. She knew Arizona had a new codename, but come on, a character from Anime, and he was supposed to be an employee of some Cookie Shop no less.
Everyone in the crowd was puzzled as to why a man from a Tent Stall was one of the players. Some speculated he was filling a gap in the available players.
Arizona had a small smirk on his lips, pleased that no one in the crowd had recognized him. His undercover persona was working. However, his confidence wavered slightly when he spotted a familiar woman.
In the crowds, BB Arizona and Pennsylvania had brought a canvas to cheer for him, like a mother watching her child participate in sports. She was the loudest.
Arizona facepalmed. "Why of all people, why???" he silently questioned the universe as BB Arizona cheered loudly for her boy.
"That's quite embarrassing..." William said, captivated by the cheer. "She's cheering for you."
"And the loudest and proudest at that," Cmdr. Thomas added.
"That... was awkward," Lafayette chimed in, adding to the playful banter.
Arizona avoided the loud cheer, simply raising a hand and waving back, careful not to reveal his identity to the crowd.
Amidst the cheering, Essex-12's voice boomed in her announcement.
"The Middle Blocker... he's cute, he's small, but... terrible!!!!!!!!!!! The kid who breaks the stereotype that it's not about the size, it's about how you use it, Lafayette, my man...!"
Lafayette was a bit flustered by Essex-12's introduction. He did have a small fan base, but the loudest were the Beaver Squad, cheering for their Boss.
His friends were also there, offering mild encouragement, not as wildly enthusiastic as the Beaver Squad.
"The Opposite... the curvy, the boyfriend with tts, Baltimore! If any virgin MFS wants a boyfriend with tts who can win a fight – she's got it!"
"The Boyfriend with tits?" Baltimore murmured, never having expected that description.
"That's my sister for ya," Bremerton said proudly from the crowd.
"The Outside Hitter... the cranky, the old, the Scientist. Old-man William! No cranky joint gonna stop him from getting that trophy for his beloved Vestal!"
"I'm not old and cranky!" William yelled back, fist raised in the air.
But everyone cheered for William to win the trophy for Vestal. Vestal herself was flustered by the announcer's pronouncements.
"She's literally just throwing insults at us along with the announcements," Arizona muttered, his gaze fixed on the announcer's booth.
"She's enjoying it," Cmdr. Thomas added.
(Camera cut down to Lafayette)
"Seems like it," Lafayette said.
"Now the Hitter... He's your family-friendly officer, the man of his word, the Virgin Commander.... Cmdr. Thomas!"
"Did she just call me a what now??" Cmdr. Thomas was flabbergasted by Essex-12's announcement. That remark hit his pride, especially when the two Enterprises were watching him.
The Girls cheered for the Commander as always; he always had their backs.
"Don't flop this one-up, Commander. Miss Enterprise is watching your ass, don't... flop...!" Essex-12 yelled into the mic.
Cmdr. Thomas looked in the direction of the two Enterprises watching him. Enterprise-6 seemed concerned that he was facing Shipgirls in this match.
Enterprise-80, along with Frigate Belfast and Bunker Hill-76, meticulously calculated how many times the Commander would likely fail.
"Now the Libero, or the Team Capt. Saratoga..."
As Saratoga was introduced, she performed a series of flips, jumps, and dances with pom-poms, like a cheerleader, putting on a show for Team America. In her final flip, she landed perfectly on her two feet, hands spread with pom-poms, greeting the crowds with a wide smile.
"Go Team!"
Cmdr. Thomas had a smirk playing on his lips after Saratoga's cheer-dance. "You never fail to cheer everyone up, Saratoga."
"She's better off as a Cheerleader than a Beach Volleyball Team Captain," Lafayette commented.
William slowly darted his gaze downward at him. "Well... you better be our Mascot."
"I'm gonna win it, this time!" Saratoga declared, she'd been eyeing that trophy for years now.
"That's quite a bold proclamation coming from Team America's Team Captain, and now..." Essex-12 shifted, about to announce the next team. "For the opposite team, here comes--."
Illustrious cut in again, wanting to announce the Royal Navy Team. "In the other team, the Royal Navy Team."
Everyone fell silent as if a spotlight had focused on the Royal Navy Shipgirls. The atmosphere was hushed, like a model show was about to begin.
"The Right Side Hitter. She's the trusted and meticulous Woman, the Head Maid Belfast."
Everyone turned their heads towards Cruiser Belfast in her swimwear. Her figure was attractively highlighted, as if by an invisible spotlight.
Illustrious announced the second member of the team.
"The Middle Blocker is... ummm???? What?" Illustrious was confused by the name on her list. She checked multiple times for any error, but the list appeared authentic.
"My apologies for the sudden pause. The Middle Blocker: Laffey (200) ..."
Everyone's attention shifted to Cruiser Belfast's right. Laffey-200 stood there on the opposing team. She was going to play against Team America.
Gasps and confused reactions flooded the crowd as they hadn't expected her to be there. The odds of Team America winning the game plummeted to 'Impossible.' Their mixed bag of a ragtag group now had virtually zero chance of winning against Team Royal Navy.
Essex-12 quickly yelled into the mic in surprise at the sudden turn of events against Team America. "B*TCH! The F*ck are you doing there?!..."
"They give me a deal," Laffey-200 said nonchalantly.
"What did they bribe you with this time?!" The American Kansens asked in unison.
"We're F*CKED!" Lafayette cried out in fear.
"We're dead," Cmdr. Thomas wailed.
The turn of events was not in their favor. Laffey-200 was a literal powerhouse in defense and offense, and now the opposing team had the wild card.
Cmdr. Thomas was starting to lose his sanity as each second passed, feeling like a potato thrown inside a pressure cooker.
Dark shadows covered the faces of the American Kansens as Laffey-200 switched sides, clearly swayed by the bribery she received from the opposing team. They were certain she wouldn't play for the enemy without some kind of transaction happening in the dark, or under the table.
Queen Elizabeth laughed sarcastically, her laughter sounding as if the battle was already won. With meticulous planning, she had secured the powerhouse on her side.
"Ha, ha, ha.... You think you can outwit me, Saratoga. I, Queen Elizabeth, conducted the most powerful negotiation that will secure victory on my side. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha."
Saratoga growled at the missed out opportunity on her team.
Queen Elizabeth laughed like a villain, her head seeming to swell with her inflated ego, but her inflated ego would pop like any inflatable with too much air.
"Is she that dumb? She's literally dancing in her palms. It wasn't that long ago that she lost her crown against her, and now she's bribing her to play on her team. What kind of deal did you make this time, Your Majesty?" Arizona muttered, running calculations in his head.
"It's either food, or alcohol," William mused.
"Probably?" both uttered in unison.
"They said I can join their team in exchange for the Royal Navy Winery Stock," Laffey-200 said.
A record scratch. Queen Elizabeth almost choked on her own laugh. "Wait what?! That is not according to our agreement!"
"Well... there it is," William said as his speculation hit its mark.
"She goes to the other side for alcohol," Lafayette said flatly, as the deal was totally expected.
Laffey-200 stared right back at Queen Elizabeth, her red-ruby eyes glistening under the shadow covering her face. "The deal is over then." She stated flatly, then turned her back, taking a step as if to leave the court.
"Wait, wait!" Queen Elizabeth stopped her, wrapping her hands around her. "That's a deal, that's a deal..." She gave Laffey-200 puppy-eyes, trying to convince her. "Please don't leave the team," she pleaded.
Laffey-200 didn't even look her in the eye before turning back. "Deal."
Queen Elizabeth thought she could manipulate the 'Psycho Drunk Bunny' with booze. Little did she know, she was the one dancing in Laffey-200's palm.
"That was a quick turn.... She just played her like a damn fiddle," Cmdr. Thomas muttered, watching the unfolding drama on the opposite side of the court.
"Figures," Arizona, Lafayette, and William said, their dry undertones in sync.
Laffey-200 was back on the court, standing face-to-face with Team America's Middle Blocker, the kid, Lafayette. The matchup between them was like Baby vs. Goliath.
Laffey-200 was literally looking over down at him like an absolute unit compared to Lafayette's fraction.
"And now the Team Royal Navy: Sheffield. Our stoic maid who is dedicated to her job as one of the most efficient Maids," Illustrious announced.
"So, she's the one they call the demon blocker?" Essex-12 commented.
Illustrious responded delightfully, "Yes. Sheffield is very active in that field, blocking the ball from entering the Royal Navy side of the court."
Essex-12 covered the mic with her hand and whispered, "She's got to be a tough one," her eyes fixed on Arizona, who seemed to welcome the challenge.
Sheffield walked beside Laffey-200, facing her opponent. Arizona never broke his gaze as the two met on opposite sides of the net and opposing teams.
"Don't hold back because of me," Arizona said, wanting her to give her all in this match.
Sheffield responded coldly, "I'm not holding back even if it's you," she said, meeting his gaze.
"Good," he replied with a slight grin.
Everyone around them could sense the tension between the two. Was it love? Or hate? Everyone speculated.
Illustrious continued her introduction. "Outside Hitter Sirius."
Sirius walked forward to meet Cmdr. Thomas's gaze. Cmdr. Thomas found himself facing two 'Volleyballs' bouncing with the help of physics.
"The Hitter Mistress Warspite."
Warspite stood face-to-face with William. The two exchanged handshakes with sportsmanship, a brief moment of mutual respect before the coming storm.
"Libero, the Team Capt. Queen Elizabeth."
Queen Elizabeth walked onto the court like a celebrity, now face-to-face with Team America's Team Captain, Saratoga. Both leaders had their own distinct reasons for wanting to win the game.
At the Crowd
Both Enterprises speculated. They had been observing the entire situation and forming theories, but their predictions were now thrown into disarray. They hadn't expected Laffey-200 to join the Royal Navy side.
"Do you think they could win against Laffey?" Enterprise-6 asked, a hint of concern in her voice.
Enterprise-80 held her chin thoughtfully. "Laffey (200) is an Air-Defense Aegis Ship. Passing her defense with a Volleyball is like throwing quadcopters at her." She sighed, as if the situation was hopeless. "Maybe." That simple word carried more than just a single meaning, a sliver of desperate hope.
Hornet tilted her head, confused about the powerhouses on Team America. "Wait... can Arizona and Lafayette handle this on their own?"
"Yes," Enterprise-6 chimed. "Laffey is alone. Lafayette and Arizona can match her, and then there's William. They have the numbers on their side."
"Yes, they have the numbers... but Laffey was literally made to fight the numbers game. Arizona will certainly use his strength in the dark and silence. Lafayette is short on firepower, defenses, and height. William will just be a ball magnet at this point. Then there's Thomas."
The Yorktown Sisters turned their attention to the lone Commander, thrown into the danger of Beach Volleyball with the Shipgirls and Modern Kansens.
"And knowing Laffey, Thomas will be the first target for elimination."
Hornet and Enterprise-6 now felt sympathy for the Commander. They (just Hornet) were the ones who convinced him to join the annual Beach Volleyball tournament.
"Let's hope our boys can outplay her with their wacky ideas," Enterprise-80 said, her tone firm.
"Yes, knowing them... I'm not waiting for a miracle to happen," Bunker Hill-76 said in her serious undertone as she adjusted her glasses, already anticipating the absurdities to come.
The whistle is blown, and the game starts.