Bab 40

Jiangsu's POV:

I can feel my face heating up as I run. It's not the first time I've seen my sister kiss someone but for some reason, this one seems to affect me more. As a result, I've run away to avoid embarrassing myself but as I come to a stop, I realise that I am lost. I had been so focused on escaping that I didn't even realise I left the beach and now, I find myself in front of a massive door. 

Pushing it open reveals what looks like a food area but as there are so many persons I don't know there I refrain from entering, instead, closing the door whilst praying no one saw me. Moving on, I soon find myself inside a building moving down a long hallway. I'm not even sure how I got here. 

As I continue down the hall, the sound of someone coughing reaches me. Quickly identifying the door the sound came from, I open it slowly to find a lady lying down in bed. Quitely making my way in, the door closes behind me as I walk towards the bed.

????: Vestal? Is that (coughs) you?

She looks towards me but thanks to the darkness of the room, she doesn't see me until I step into the dim light coming through the window. 

????: Oh...hello.

Me: Are you sick?

She doesn't respond, instead, smiling as she motions with her hand for me to come closer. 

????: What's your name?

Me: I'm Jiangsu! What's yours?

????: My name is Yorktown. It's a pleasure to meet you, Jiangsu.

She coughs some more and for the first time, I notice just how suffocating the room feels. Heading over to the window, I open it and shift the curtains to let both air and light in. She flinches but doesn't complain, instead, saying thanks before trying to sit up. Not willing to allow her to strain herself, I quickly return to her side to help her.

Yorktown: Thank you. 

Me: You should go outside.

Yorktown: I can't...I-

Me: You can't stay locked in here. You need to go out and play! 

Yorktown: I...I can't. I was damaged and haven't left this room since.

Her expression shifts to one of sorrow as she speaks. I don't know what happened to her but whatever it was seems to upset her a lot. Still, as I continue thinking about her situation, her name returns to memory and after a quick scan through my own data, I remember one of my crew mentioning something about a carrier called Yorktown being sunk in a similar way to how we sunk some American ships after my big sister was attacked. 

Me: You sunk? 

Yorktown: I...Is that what they are (coughs) saying about me? 

Me: I don't know. I just arrived here with my big sister. 

Yorktown: Your sister?

Me: Yeah! Her name is Zhejiang. Do you know her?

Yorktown: Well, I have heard about her but I don't think we've had the pleasure of meeting. 

Me: Well, I don't know what happened to you but my big sister sank and if she can recover from it then so can you! 

Yorktown: Oh?

Me: So come! 

I don't wait on her reply, instead, tugging on her hand to get her to follow me but she doesn't move.

Yorktown: I really can't.

Me: What use is a carrier that refuses to go in the water? 

A look of astonishment crosses her face but I don't stop there.

Me: A carrier's main purpose is to support its allies far from home. It operates as a mobile airport but if you aren't even willing to deploy your ship, aren't you even more useless than an abandoned runway? At least the runway can still be used in an emergency but you...you're just locked up in here. At least go outside!  3

Her astonished look quickly changes to anger as I continue speaking but I don't know why she's getting upset. After all, am I not telling the truth? My big sister was attacked and sunken by an American carrier and she still recovered and came back to save me and fight for our nation. How can this lady call herself a carrier if she refuses to do even that? She refuses to protect her friends. She refuses to even leave her room! I can't stand it! 

Yorktown: I'm sorry but I'll have to ask you to-

Me: NO!

Yorktown: Excuse me?

Me: I won't leave until you step out of this room. You're acting like that Enterprise lady who my sister had to drag out of her room earlier because she refused to do anything.

Yorktown: What?

Me: If you don't come outside with me to play, I will drag you out there the same way my big sister did to that lady. 

As I finish my declaration and stare at her with the most serious face I can muster, she suddenly starts laughing. Even as her coughing intensifies, she doesn't stop, instead, laughing until she can't support herself and starts falling off the bed. 

I don't understand what's happening but I rush to her side to prevent her from falling and with my help, she manages to reposition herself back into a sitting position. When she finally finishes sitting up once more, she looks my way and I suddenly feel the need to put distance between us. Still, before I can move, she smiles before looking off into the distance with a look I've never seen before on her face.

Yorktown: You remind me of someone I lost long ago. 

Me: I do?

Yorktown: Yes...a younger me. Jiangsu?

Me: Yep?

Yorktown: Thank you. Thank you for coming in here and reminding me of who I am.

She reaches over with her hand and pats me on the head, much to my delight. I offer my best smile and she laughs in response before shifting so that her feet now hang off the side of the bed.

Yorktown: Can I ask for your assistance? 

Me: Sure! What can I do to help? 

Yorktown: I haven't moved for a very long time. It'll take some time to get used to it so will you please bear with me? 

Me: Need me to help you stand? 

Yorktown: Please.

Complying, I move to her side and with some effort, she finally manages to stand. As she gets used to being on her two feet once more, I bring her the top she points out. After helping her into it, I walk her to the door.

Yorktown: I...I don't know if-

Me: You can! Remember? You promised to play with me! 

She looks down at me and laughs before nodding. Together, we open the door and step outside.