The adventures of Prinz Eugen and the young engineer Volume 1.

No. 2 Chapter 15

Making his way up onto the bed, he was apparently left alone since he could hear the more and more distant footsteps of the doctor. "What happened to you?" Asked a girl's voice. "I played with a power that I barely know anything about in order to fix a rigging that was almost destroyed." He answered. "Are you one of the destroyers who got injured during the last battle against the Sirens?" He now asked her. "Yes, I was told I was too damaged to be repaired." She answered, sounding rather sad. "Don't you worry, my friends Fritz, Otto and I worked on your rigging and if my attempt was successful, it should have fixed your rigging. I also know that there are two Bulins here that are there to help you recover Erich Köller." He said encouragingly. "You helped Fritz in trying to fix me and my rigging?" She asked, surprised. "Thank you for trying. I am sorry you got hurt while doing so." She apologized. "Don't worry, it will be fine and all worth it, when it all works out." He said, trying to sooth her. They were interrupted by the doctor. "Isn't that lady a bit too small for you to make acquaintances with?" He asked. His inappropriate humor did not find any sympathies with either of his two patients. "Tough audience I see." He concluded. "Here is your ointment for the burns on your hand. I will apply some to the back of each hand and you can carefully spread it like you are soaping your hands." He explained while applying the ointment. The young engineer spread the ointment on his hands, causing a light stining sensation. Meanwhile the doctor seemingly left him and paid attention to the other patient. "Do you take care of the Shipgirls as well?" Asked the young engineer. "More or less. I am not a self sacrifice pixi, but first aid stops them from bleeding out as much as it prevents you from bleeding out. Although their blood is worse than any corrosive acid I had the misfortune to work with. That is because of the high amount of energy in their blood." He stated. Apropos, there is your girlfriend outside, wanting to see you, as well as one of the engineers. Should I let them in?" The doctor asked. "My Girlfriend?" Asked the young engineer. "You engineers are more or less married to the ships you take care of. Might as well love them now that they are people." Said the doctor and chuckled. The doctor's weird sense of humor did not appeal to the young engineer. "Prinz Eugen is not my Girlfriend. But please let the two in." Said the patient to his doctor. "Sure." Was the answer he got.The footsteps of the doctor became more distant. Shortly after the sound of two pairs of shoes came closer to him. "There you are. What were you thinking doing stupid stuff like that again. Especially without any proper protective gear." Prinz Eugen accused him. "It was a risk worth taking." He answered abashedly. "You are normally cautious about everything you do, but since we were in the Northern Pairlairment you seem to have become reckless." Think about your Godfather and friends. They care and fear for you." She accused him further. "I know. I just get carried away when my passion is in it." He agreed. "Become more careful, alright?" She asked him. "I will try." He replied. "Okay. So what happened to you and what did you do?" She asked.
The next couple of minutes were spent telling Prinz Eugen about what the engineers were up to and what he tried to do and what kind of injuries he suffered.

"So, did it work?" She asked at the end. "I have no idea. I could not see the result." He answered her latest question. "Here I can help out." Interjected Fritz Mahler, who had spent time with Z-13 while the cruiser and young engineer were talking. "Wiedling sent me in after they got you out and I assessed what you did." He explained. "And what else can I say other than that you are an insane genius." He overstated. "I have no idea how you did it, but when I arrived at Z-13s rigging, it had come back to life. The refited hull seems to work completely fine with the fixed and altered rigging core. All we need to do now is to heal Z-13 and adapt her to her rigging." He concluded. "You mean it worked out?" The young engineer asked, surprised. "It sure did." Was the answer. The young engineer sat there in silence with a wide grin on his bandaged face. "He looks like a retarded pirate wearing two eyepatches and smiling like a fool." Exclaimed Prinz Eugen laughing. "Could you please stop calling me any form of stupid please?" Asked the young engineer, being ripped out of his racing thoughts and excitement. "If you don't behave like an idiot we will." Said Fritz chuckling. "Anyways, I am sure we will be able to discuss all of these topics when you can see the results yourself. I for once will leave and try to reorganize the mess we made." With that Fritz seemed to leave.

"Can I ask you something?" Prinz Eugen asked the young engineer. "You just did." Was his reply in a serious tone, which was discredited by his grin. "Oh haha.You think that was funny right?" She asks ironically. "I was wondering about this morning. You seemed upset." She asked the question she wanted to ask. "Yes, I was not fine with you sleeping in my bed. I let a lot slide but that got too personal. I disliked you just entering my house and my private room the first time you came with me. But actually taking up such a private place as one's bed is a step over the line even I can't just tolerate." He explained. "Why did you not say anything?" Prinz asked. "What was I supposed to say? I don't like you to be in my bed, please get out?" He asked. "There is no way I could have made you get out, especially with your strength and power. If I were to try to get you out there you could literally break every bone of my body with ease. Not to mention the mockery." He explained further. "So you felt powerless and I used or abused my power monopol." She concluded for herself. "Pretty much." He agreed. "I didn't want that to happen. I thought I would tease you but I did not want to play power plays to such a level." "Was that an apology?" He asked her. "I guess so." She answered shyly. The young engineer did not need his eyes to see the cruiser squirm in an uncomfortable situation. Neither could Prinz Eugen overlook the widening of a grin that once more creeped up on the young engineer's face. "Wait a second. Did you just mess with me and made me feel bad?" She asked. "Perhaps?" He answered before bursting out in laughter. "Seeing the ever smooth Prinz Eugen squirm uncomfortably is a feast. For once you are the one that was uncomfortable and insecure." He chuckled further. "I admit it. You got me." She admitted. "I believed I had played my game too far." "You did go too far. But don't worry. I would and will tell you when you are pushing it too far and afterall I am used to your shenanigans by now. Although my patience was strained by your actions" He assured her. "You can be lucky you are already in a hospital." She said while giving the young engineer a nuge strong enough to make him fall over backwards. "I guess so. Thank god I already got injured and was therefore spared the wrath of the mighty cruiser sisters." He chuckled.