"Wow, Commander. Quite the smooth talker, huh?" Eagle asked as she walked onto the bridge of the Norfolk.
"Huh? Oh, it's you, Eagle." Isaac said as he sat on his chair, looking at the screens in front of him.
"Such a warm welcome." Eagle said sarcastically with a smile.
"Sorry, love. Just... have a lot on my mind. Norfolk's out right now so I have to man the data center." Isaac said.
"Well... How about your lovely wife comes and keeps you company?" Eagle said as she pulled up a chair next to him.
"You know, I think I'd like that." Isaac said as he pulled Eagle into his lap, allowing her to rest the back of her head on his shoulder.
"Commander... We're exposed up here, what if someone sees?" Eagle whispered.
"Let them see. It's not like we're doing anything dirty right now." Isaac said as he kissed her cheek.
"Commander~" Eagle said softly as she turned her head so he could kiss her properly. He did not disappoint her.
"OOO!" A voice came from outside the door. Isaac looked and saw Surcouf with the other subs sitting by the doorway.
Isaac released Eagle's lips as she turned bright red and hid her face in his clothes.
"Can I help all of you peeping toms?" Isaac asked.
"Did we just witness something great?" Surcouf asked.
"Well, she is one of my lovers, so it is only natural." Isaac said as he looked at them.
"Hmmm. But I have never seen you do this with Friedrich or... I'm so sorry." Surcouf said as she covered her mouth as the other subs hung their heads.
"Come in here and close the door." Isaac said sternly.
"I didn't mean to bring it up..." Surcouf said.
"Relax you four. I'm not upset." Isaac said.
"Still, I know it's a sensitive topic." Surcouf said.
"I haven't told anyone, because I want everyone to give her some space, especially based on what she asked of me." Isaac said.
"Who?" Surcouf asked as the other subs looked up at him.
"Vengeance has made great strides in helping bring Nimi back to us. She has just asked to only have certain people around her at the moment." Isaac said.
"What?!" Surcouf and 37 cried as they slammed the table.
"Nimi is currently undergoing a procedure to rebuild her body from Explorer cubes. But right now, Vengeance has made Nimi just like Norfolk. I don't fully understand it, but all I know is that it's still the same Nimi we know and love." Isaac said as he watched the look of peace cross their faces.
"That makes me happy." 47 said softly as the other Ironblood subs nodded.
"No wonder you've been looking so well lately." Surcouf said as she looked at the screens.
"Yeah. It has really taken the pain away. Knowing that she will be among us again. But please, do not go and crowd her. She does not seem to want to be around a lot of people... and for someone who has died, she deserves that liberty." Isaac said as the subs all nodded.
"What have you four been up to? I know that you four haven't left the harbor since we arrived." Isaac asked.
"We have been watching the fish." 110 said.
"I see. How about you four patrol the harbor. We need everyone doing something, no matter how trivial those things may seem." Isaac said.
"We'll get right on it, Commander." Surcouf said as she herded the young Ironblood Submarines off the bridge.
Isaac looked down at Eagle and was met with a pout.
"What?" Isaac asked.
"I got my kiss interrupted..." Eagle said as she turned on his lap to face him.
"... And it makes me upset that my husband didn't close the door beforehand." Eagle continued as she looked into his eyes.
"I'm sorry. What ever could I do to make it up to you?" Isaac asked as he held her hips.
"Hmm." Eagle thought for a minute before she looked at him again.
"Let me sit here until Norfolk returns. She can watch the feed while you make me dinner. After that... we can have dessert." Eagle said as she leaned her chest against him.
"I like the sounds of that. It's been far too long since you and I had a night to ourselves." Isaac said as his hands explored her sides before her hand slapped him.
"Nope. Dessert comes after dinner. Not before, my dear husband." Eagle said with a bashful smile.
"You've become quite forward since our talk." Isaac said softly as he pulled her head to his own.
"My husband told me that everything would be okay. He said that he would love me no matter what. So in addition to carrying out my missions... I have decided to go for what I want." Eagle said.
"That is fantastic, my love." Isaac said.
"And do you know what I want right now, my dear husband?" Eagle asked.
"What would that be?" Isaac asked.
"You." Eagle said promptly, snapping open one of the buttons of her shirt and leaning in for another fiery kiss. Isaac took her up on the offer as the sudden shift in weight sent them both to the floor.
"Much more rowdy than last time too." Isaac whispered as their lips parted.
"I'm gonna give it my all. Just for you." Eagle said softly as she kissed him again.
"Are you okay, Nimi?" Norfolk asked.
"It doesn't hurt so bad. It feels weird though." Nimi said.
"How so?" Norfolk asked.
"I... I can't describe it. My body feels normal again, but yet I can still feel your hand somehow." Nimi said softly.
"That is quite normal. When we first created the technology, this is how the cubes did things. But as we made them better, the process became more instantaneous after a longer decompression period." Vengeance said.
"Has anyone told you that it feels nice to have a Siren that doesn't want to kill us?" Nimi asked as she chuckled at her own attempt at humor.
"Technically, Norfolk is just as much Siren as I am. She is a living database for all Sirens currently active on earth at this moment." Vengeance said.
"It is true. But I have sworn sole allegiance to Commander Isaac... who is currently enjoying some time with his lovely carrier on my bridge." Norfolk said as he held her head in her hand.
"I'm glad. Liebling has been injured and so busy as of late... Eagle has been getting a bit lonely. But knowing her, she was the one who went to him." Nimi said.
"That I can also confirm." Norfolk said.
"I hope you can't feel what goes on in the Commander's quarters..." Nimi said.
"Not currently... But once I get a body... I might be able to convince him to let me experience it firsthand." Norfolk said as Nimi gasped.
"You?!" Nimi cried.
"What? Just because I am a projection doesn't mean I can't feel like that." Norfolk huffed.
"Liebling is a bit of a womanizer, huh?" Nimi asked.
"Maybe, but he loves all of you. I was with him when he got into it with Friedrich of all people." Norfolk said.
"HE DID WHAT?!" Nimi cried.
"Apparently Gangut got Friedrich drunk before their departure for their hunt. Isaac seemed desperate for another option to keep Friedrich on base until she was sober. He only relented after Gangut gave her word that Friedrich would remain sober for the rest of the hunt." Norfolk said.
"Wow... I knew Liebling was bold... but that was flat out crazy." Nimi said.
"On that, we can agree." Norfolk said.
"Well... I guess I can't be mad. After all... I was the one who told him it was okay to fall in love with anyone who shared the same feelings. And he has been doing well to not play favorites." Nimi said with a small smile.
"Don't worry, Nimi. I won't hog him." Norfolk said with a wink.
"One of us will have to be with you to make sure you keep your word. After all, you are his personal Command ship. He sleeps there every night, so nothing could stop you from sneaking in like a succubus." Nimi said.
"How rude... I wouldn't kill him, but he'd be too tired to move." Norfolk said as the two girls laughed together.
"Norfolk, you should leave for the moment. Nimi is about to finish her procedure. The I will need to reset the system to begin yours, if that is your wish." Vengeance said.
"It is." Norfolk said.
"Alright. Please head out until I come for you." Vengeance said.
"Norfolk..." Nimi said.
"Yes, Nimi?" Norfolk asked.
"Thank you for coming to visit. It means a lot that you and Liebling came by to keep me company after all this." Nimi said.
"We will be here for you, Nimi. You and everyone else." Norfolk said as her projection disappeared.
"Jeez, Isaac. I told you to wait until after dinner." Eagle said as she pulled her shirt over her chest.
"Sorry. I couldn't help myself. You gave me a glimpse of what was to come, and I wanted it." Isaac said.
"Oh you... I can't stay mad. It felt amazing. But you better not think you're anywhere near done. You owe me AFTER dinner this time." Eagle said.
"Gladly." Isaac said as he fixed his shirt.
"Well... I hate to say this, but if what I felt was anything to expect, you owe me too, Commander." Norfolk said as she appeared in the doorway. Eagle blushed and yelped upon hearing her voice.
"Don't try to hide it. I felt it while I was with Nimi just now." Norfolk said.
"So it's true then. Nimi is really alive?" Eagle asked as soon as she found her voice.
"Yes. She should be getting done with her procedure any minute." Norfolk said.
"I'm sure she will need her rest. Being back in a physical body will mean she will need sleep and food." Isaac said.
"I will ensure that Vestal and the Nurses monitor her." Norfolk said.
"Thank you." Isaac said.
"I will be going in for my procedure as well. The next time you see me, I'll be just as physical as Eagle is in your lap." Norfolk said.
"So you have decided then?" Isaac asked.
"I have... on more than one thing." Norfolk said.
"Oh?" Isaac asked as Eagle also looked at her.
"I have been around for over two weeks now. I feel like I've been made a part of the fleet. I want to experience everything a girl can after I get my new body." Norfolk said.
"I'm not quite sure I understand." Isaac said.
"I want you to show me what being a girl of this fleet can be." Norfolk said.
"I'm still not understanding..." Isaac said as Eagle looked at him.
"Dummy... she likes you. Despite you trying to be as professional as you can be with her, she has found you attractive enough to want to get to know." Eagle said.
Norfolk nodded at Eagle's assessment.
Isaac looked at Norfolk in dumbfounded awe.
"You are intelligent... if not a bit rash. It's not your strength, but your brain that makes me want to know more. Vengeance said it best, I am just as much a Siren as she is. No amount of steel and wishful thinking can change that. But with my allegiance sworn to you, I am not your enemy. Sirens by nature want to learn. To experiment. To test. And you are an anomaly among the humans I have come across in my few short weeks. I want to learn more. And the bashful faces of three of the most prominent girls in the fleet tell me that I also want to know what happens behind those closed doors." Norfolk said as she hid her face.
"Wow, commander. Becoming a bit of a womanizer, huh?" Eagle teased as she hugged him, her embarrassment gone after Norfolk's confession.
"I guess..." Isaac said as he looked to the ceiling.
"I won't force you, Commander." Norfolk said.
"Norfolk... You'll have your wish. But for now, let's focus on getting to know one another first." Isaac said.
"That is all I can really ask for." Norfolk said as Vengeance poked her head in.
"I moved the equipment from Z-23. You can follow me if you are ready." Vengeance said.
"Well... Let's head to the crew quarters. That would probably be best." Norfolk said as Vengeance nodded and wheeled the equipment down the corridor.
"Good luck, Norfolk. I look forward to seeing you in person." Isaac said.
"Me too, Commander." Norfolk said.
Norfolk left the bridge, leaving Isaac and Eagle alone on the darkened bridge.
"Let's go grab stuff for dinner and bring it here. It looks like we're on watch." Isaac said.
"Yay! Date night." Eagle clapped as she fixed her uniform, getting up and following Isaac down to the kitchen.