Navy Cosplay
        A story about cosplayers stationed aboard a US Navy ship.
        by angelofgod_98

        Chapter 1 - New friends at sea

        It was a busy evening aboard one of America's 'floating cities'; a nuclear aircraft carrier called the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Many of the enlisted crew were down eating dinner on the mess decks. It was quite crowded, as they were serving pizza that night, and that was always a favorite among the crew. After T-bone steak and shrimp, that is.
        A beautiful young woman with an Asian complexion sat alone at a table, observing those around her. Under her red NFP ballcap, her shiny black hair was pulled back into the Navy regulated bun. As she sat there, finishing up her customary salad and ice water, she was thinking to herself. 'It is so freaking boring out here in the middle of nowhere. I wish I could find some people on this ship who were halfway decent and could hold an intelligent conversation.'
        Across the large room, another girl was eating. This girl had short, sandy blonde hair. She was reading a large novel, oblivious to everything else around her. Across from her, a friend of hers sat eating, also reading. But instead of being a novel, she was reading a Japanese comic, called a manga. Her platinum blonde hair was in a complicated twist of a bun, which was authorized, even though it looked too fancy for some.
        In one of the mighty warship's gyms, yet another young woman was running fast on a treadmill. Her tanned skin shone with perspiration from the continuous running. Her brown hair was in a high ponytail, and it swung with every step she took. She was wearing headphones, and sung along quietly with the song. If anyone could hear her, she was singing in Japanese.
        Over the ship's loudspeakers, bells rang, announcing the time. Then an announcement came on, spoken by a male.

        "Good evening shipmates, this is the captain here. Just wanted to remind everyone that tonight we will be having the open mic night on the aft mess decks. So come on down and showcase your talents. Captain out."

        The three girls on the mess decks looked up at that announcement then went back to eating. The Asian girl smiled as she took her tray to the scullery to be cleaned. 'Finally,' she thought, 'something fun tonight. Might as well go see what it's all about.'
        At the other table, the girl with the manga put her book down and looked at her friend. "You know, Amy," she said, "We ought to check out this thing the CO was just talking about. It'll be a nice change from sitting in our shop doing nothing all night"
        The other girl didn't even look up from her novel. "Sure, Sandy."
        Sandy looked at her friend with an intense stare. "Did you even hear a word I said?" she asked, a bit perturbed.
        Feeling her friend's stare, she put a bookmark in her book and put it down. "Of course I did. You suggested we do the open mic thing tonight. Want to meet down here at around 2100?"
        Sandy grinned broadly. "Sounds like a plan to me!"

        Meanwhile, back at the gym, the woman who had been singing Japanese was off the treadmill and wiping her face with a towel when she heard the announcement. She looked at her watch and smiled. 'I can make that open mic thingy tonight. I'd better hurry and shower though, as I don't want to stand in front of everyone in sweaty gym clothes.' She rushed out of the gym and toward her berthing.

        2 hours later, a medium sized crowd had gathered in front of a small stage on the aft mess decks. The Asian woman was in the back area, observing the girl on stage that was currently doing magic tricks. From the other side of the room, the two friends hurried in. After that, the girl from the gym arrived, carrying a CD for her song. A smattering of applause was heard as the girl finished her magic tricks. A young man, clapping politely, stepped on stage.

        "Thank you, Airman Jones. Well done. Next up, we have petty officer Smith, who will be singing for us. Petty Officer Smith, please come up."
        Looking around, he sees a young woman, her blonde hair in a bun, stepped forward, handed him a CD, then stepped onto the stage. Taking the microphone, she waited for him to cue up her song. A catchy beat poured out from the speakers. The blonde haired girl began to sing.

        Kizutsuku tabi ni nani mo miezu ni Kokoro ni itsuwari daite. Toki no hayasa ni miugokitorezu Subete wo tozashite 'ta kedo”

        The two friends opened their mouths in shock, and then looked at each other in surprised. 'Japanese?' they both thought at the same time. The Asian woman, who was a few feet away, just watched the girl sing.
        'I LOVE this song!' the brunette thought as she quietly began to sing along with the girl on stage.
        About 4 minutes later, she finished the song. The room was quiet except for a few girls clapping wildly. Smiling at that, she stepped off the stage and took her CD back from the young man. The four girls, in different areas of the room, began to gravitate toward her. Before they could get to her, though, some guys reached her first. They started to laugh and tease her on the music she had just sung. The girls, seeing this, quickened their pace.
        “What the heck kind of music was that?” one of the burly guys asked in a teasing tone. He then began to mock her singing by mucking it up.
        The brunette girl, who had reached the girl first, stepped in between her and the guys, and faced the man who asked the question. “It's Japanese music that she sang. And quite well, I might add."
        The man stood his ground. "I didn't ask you to butt in. Go away."
        But she continued to face him. "No." she said. "I can't stand to see bullies like you tease people. It's not right, and I won't allow it."
        "What you going to do to stop me?" he asked. She just stood there and stared at him, raising her left eyebrow. He saw the look on her face and backed away. He threw up his hands. "Damn, I was only joking with her. Cool off." he said, then left with his group of friends in tow.
        The brunette looked at the girl she had defended. "Are you all right?" she asked. By that time, the 3 other girls had reached the group and heard her ask this question.
        She nodded her head. "Yeah." she replied, then saw the 3 others who had gathered around her. "Those guys do that all the time, so I am used to it. But thanks."
        "I certainly know THAT feeling." Sandy said with a small smile. "By the way," she continued, "That was excellent singing you did up there." Everyone nodded their heads in agreement.
        Smith grinned. "Wow. Never had anyone compliment me on my Japanese singing before. Thanks." She looked at them oddly, then continued. "Do you guys even know what that song is from or what it means?"
        Amy nodded her head. "It was the opening song to the anime Kaitou Saint Tail," she said. "It's one of my favorite animes."
        The Asian girl smiled. "I always preferred The Slayers series myself." The brunette then added in that her favorite would always be Bubblegum Crisis.
        Smith looked around at the group. "You guys are all otakus?" she asked with awe heard in her voice. Amy and Sandy both grinned and nodded their heads. The Asian girl smiled and replied that she was, indeed, an avid anime fan. Before anything else could be said, the young man stood up onto the stage again.
        "Thank you, Seaman Erikson. Next up, ET3 Haines. Petty Officer Haines, please come on down."
        Hearing her name being called, the brunette smiled and excused herself from the small group of girls. She handed her CD to the man and stood up onto the stage. Another catchy tune poured out of the speakers. After a few beats, she began to sing. The girls, who had been standing near the front, were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't catch onto what their new friend was singing till she had reached the chorus.

        "Daijoubu, we believe you. Daijoubu, we believe you. Daijoubu, we believe you. Shiinjite, iru no.

        "Hey." Sandy said with a smile, "That's Sailor Jupiter's theme song from Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon: Sailor Stars."
        It was at her own comment that something clicked in her brain. She looked at Haines, then at the 3 girls around her. They looked almost exactly like the Inner Senshi from Sailormoon. 'Now THIS is wierd.' she thought to herself. The girls all applauded Haines as she joined them a minute later.
        "Well done." Smith said. "Good singing there." Haines just looked at the ground and thanked her for the compliment.
        "Here we have been talking like old friends, yet we don't even know each other's names." the Asian girl pointed out. "Watashi wa Brianna. Brianna Trapp. I work in DC. Specifically, the NFP." she said, giving a slight bow.
        "I'm Stephanie Smith. I work in Engineering. Just call me Steph." The brunette then said her name was Erin Haines and that she worked in Supply.
        "I'm Sandra Brown, but my friends just call me Sandy." Sandy said. "And this is my best friend, Amy Perkins. We both work in Combat Systems." Amy smiled and said hello. Everyone smiled after the introductions were complete.
        "Hey you guys," Sandy then said, "I don't know if you noticed this, but the 5 of us look like the 5 Inner Senshi from Sailormoon." She nodded at Brianna. "Brianna could be mistaken for Rei-chan."
        Everyone looked at each other and exclaimed. "And Erin could be Makoto's double." Stephanie pointed out. "Not to mention the fact that you just sang one of her theme songs."
        "Steph, you're Minako's twin." Erin said, then looked at Sandy and Amy. "You two are the perfect visions of Usagi and Ami."
        Both girls laughed. "Too true." Amy said, then looked at her watch. "I hate to cut this short, but it's already 2200 and I've got to be at watch tomorrow morning at 0700." She looked at Sandy. "So do you, Usagi-chan."
        Sandy started to protest, saying that she could stay up later, but was met with her friend's stare. "Ok, ok, Ami-chan. You're such a spoilsport." She stuck out her tongue then turned towards the others. "Why don't we meet up tomorrow sometime?" She asked.
        Brianna shrugged. "I get off work at 1900. Anytime after that is fine with me."
        "So do we," Sandy said, "but our stupid supervisor doesn't let us go til around 2000. Later if we have to do maintenance on the system." She looks at Erin and Stephanie. "What about you, Mako-chan, Minako-chan?" she asked them.
        "I get off at around 1800." Erin said. Stephanie then replied that she was usually off shift by 1900.
        Amy clapped her hands together. "So, 2030 down on the forward mess decks sound alright to everyone?”
        Everyone nodded their heads in agreement. The group then separated. Amy and Sandy then headed to their berthing.
        "That was too cool!” Sandy said, then giggled. “I can't believe that we found more people on this ship that not only are otakus, but look like the other Inner Senshi."
        "I know." Amy said as they entered their berthing. "Can't wait to see what happens with this little group of ours." The two girls then began preparing for bed. Once they had showered and were in their pajamas, they climbed into their small 'coffin' racks.
        "Night, Usagi-chan." Amy said as she pulled the blanket over herself.
        "Night, Ami-chan." Sandy said after letting out a yawn. "See you in the morning."
        Meanwhile, the other 3 girls had also 'hit their racks' as well, and prepared for an exciting day the next day. And what a day it would be.

        Chapter 2

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