Isaac walked through the port as he looked for the bulins.
"Commander? How was your visit with Vengeance?" Norfolk asked as she appeared on his wrist.
"It went really really well." Isaac said with a smile.
"Oh? I have to say I wasn't expecting that." Norfolk said.
"Jeez... are you always such a pessimist, Norfolk?" Nimi asked as she too appeared on his wrist.
"Wait... what?!" Norfolk asked as she looked at Nimi, who was now sharing the same area on Isaac's wrist.
"Hi~" Nimi said with a small wave.
"Is THIS what Vengeance has been working on?!" Norfolk cried as she reached out to touch Nimi, finding something solid within her touch, causing her to gasp.
"That seems to be the case. Now we're on the hunt for an Explorers wisdom cube so that Vengeance can rebuild her body." Isaac said.
"Wow... to think that doing such a thing could be possible..." Norfolk said as Nimi turned to look at her.
"Thank you, Norfolk." Nimi said softly.
"What for?" Norfolk asked.
"For taking care of my Liebling." Nimi said softly as she leaned over and gave Norfolk a peck on the cheek.
"What is concerning to me is how I can feel this... How are you... solid when I touch you?" Norfolk asked.
Vengeance came over, seeing both displays on Isaac's wrist.
"Well, I hope you don't mind, Norfolk. I physically connected Nimi to your mainframe, basically putting her in your little world. It was the only way to give her a form that could be viewed. I'll have her out when I get a cube from Isaac." Vengeance said.
"I guess... I can deal with it... But now it is making me wish for a body as well. Not being able to touch... has never felt so lonely until now." Norfolk said.
"I'm already doing it for her, I don't see why I can't do the same for you... although... making a body for a walking Siren Encyclopedia... doesn't sit right with me." Vengeance said.
"Remember Vengeance, you're on our side. She has no reason to dredge up your secrets." Isaac said.
"I guess so." Vengeance said. "Well, if I'm doing this, I'll need at least 3 Explorer cubes. 1 for Nimi. 2 for Norfolk." Vengeance said.
"2?" Isaac asked.
"In all reality... the being you know as Norfolk was actually meant to control a battleship class rigging for the Sirens. She was only placed in storage due to how easy it was to take over." Vengeance said.
"So... I'm not utilizing her power to the fullest?" Isaac asked.
"No you are. The extra processing power allows your cruiser to outperform any AA cruiser on the seas. And that is my analysis after comparing Norfolk to say... the Cleveland class sisters." Vengeance said.
"Well... as fun as it is to compare... we're getting off track. I need to grab the bulins and collect some cubes." Isaac said as Vengeance looked at him.
"You want to destroy those cubes? That's how you do it." Vengeance said as her rested her prosthetic arm in her other hand.
"They are quite delicate if they need to be. I mean, the head bulin did all the intricate work that made up the mechanisms for your arm." Isaac said.
"I won't stop you, but you had better make sure that they're careful." Vengeance said.
"You know they won't hurt you, right?" Isaac asked.
"With all due respect, Isaac. The Sirens took years to develop the armor for drone ships. Those little demons manage to peel several feet of armor like a tuna can. Those things are monsters." Vengeance said.
"Well those monsters are going to help me get cubes. So I'll be heading off now." Isaac said. Vengeance nodded as she returned to Z-23.
"Alright. We need a bulin to help." Isaac said as the head bulin waved at him from the Norfolk. Isaac motioned for her to come to him.
"We have a job?" The bulin asked as she ran over.
"Nope. You're coming with me." Isaac said as the two of them walked towards the front line.
"What are we doing, Commander?" The head bulin asked.
"We're going to extract wisdom cubes from the Explorers." Isaac said as he pointed to the lines of covered bodies.
"Bismarck, we mustn't go this fast. The waves are rocking the hull far too much to be safe." the Purin said.
"What do you mean?" Bismarck asked as she led the four ships of their fleet.
"I strapped down the barrel, but we must not be careless. There is enough powder in that barrel to destroy everyone here, as well as kill hundreds on shore depending on the wind." The Purin said.
"I see. So we just need to reduce speed?" Bismarck asked.
"Or find a way to stop the ship from rocking." The Purin said.
"I see. Then we shall slow to 20 knots. Hopefully we can adjust our heading as well to be perpendicular to the waves." Bismarck said.
"Alright everyone, Slow to 20 knots. I've been informed that we are running hot." Bismarck said over the radio.
Everyone in their fleet complied immediately with her order. Elizabeth was surprisingly quiet about it.
"Queen Elizabeth, are you alright?" Bismarck asked.
"Yes, of course. Why do you ask?" Elizabeth asked.
"You're quiet. Knowing you, I would have expected resistance." Bismarck said.
"You said it yourself, we are running hot with a weapon capable of leveling cities and turning the sea to glass. While I am usually fearless... this is something that does in fact scare me." Elizabeth said.
"Move to the back. Heinrich and Zara, come up and sit on the flanks." Bismarck said.
"Yes, Lord Bismarck." Heinrich said as she maneuvered around Elizabeth.
"As a gift, I'll put the most distance between us. Hopefully that puts you at ease a little." Bismarck said as she looked ahead.
"Thank you, Bismarck." Elizabeth said softly as they steamed down around Brazil.
"It looks like you got the process down." Isaac said as the Head bulin extracted an intact cube from the body of an Explorer.
"How did you learn that?" Isaac asked.
"I learned by watching Alice and Arizona." The head Bulin said. She handed Isaac the cube after cleaning the black liquid from it.
"I'll get this to Vengeance." Isaac said.
"You need more?" The head bulin asked.
"Just two. I want to give Norfolk the option to have a body of her own." Isaac said.
"Alright then, Commander. I'll have it done for you in a bit." The head Bulin said.
Isaac stood and took the cube into his pocket.
"Nimi?" Isaac asked as she appeared on his wrist.
"Yes, Liebling?" Nimi asked.
"I'm going to have to return you to Vengeance for a bit. But don't you worry, when you wake up, I'll be there to smother you in the love I thought I had lost." Isaac said as he patted her head.
"Okay." Nimi said dejectedly.
"I'm sure it will only take a few hours." Isaac said.
"You had better be there... or I won't forgive you." Nimi said with a soft smile.
"I'll sit there and watch then. I can give orders from your vessel." Isaac said as he walked to the Z-23.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way, Liebling..." Nimi said.
"You know I'll be there." Isaac said.
"I know you will." Nimi said as she looked at him.
"When I open my eyes, and see your face with my own eyes once again... maybe then the nightmares will end." Nimi said softly.
"I will make them go away for good. I promise you." Isaac said as he walked up the gangway and below deck.
"I'm guessing you got the cube?" Vengeance asked.
"We did. Do you know how long it will take for her to have her body back?" Isaac asked.
"Give me a few hours. This isn't like unpacking her data using one of your fancy little devices. I have to physically rebuild her data to match this cube." Vengeance said as Isaac looked at Nimi.
Her display flickered a bit before she reappeared in a new outfit.
"What was that?" Isaac asked.
"Sorry. I accidentally nudged the computer." One of the nurses said.
"Nimi, are you okay?" Isaac asked.
"Of course. I don't feel different, it just looks like a new outfit." Nimi said as she looked at herself. A small fish like object swam around her display before coming to rest in her hands.
"Hmm?" Nimi asked as she looked down.
"What is that?" Isaac asked.
"It looks like a fish, Liebling." Nimi said as she hugged the fish.
"I wonder if it's part of your rigging." Isaac said.
"It certainly looks that way. Somehow... it makes me feel better about you having to leave for a while." Nimi said.
"I guess you can't argue with that. So? What'll you name it?" Isaac asked, giggling a bit
"I'm not going to name it, Liebling. But if I had to... Isaac. I'd name it after you." Nimi said.
"HA!" Vengeance laughed loudly.
"What?" Isaac asked.
"I like it. Isaac the fish. Hard to catch, much harder to hit, and always slips away when you aren't looking. Just like you." Vengeance said as Isaac looked at her, unimpressed.
"Haha. Very funny. Just get back to work. I have work to do." Isaac said as he allowed Nimi to return to the room projector.
"I will return, my love." Isaac said as he walked out of the room. Nimi began to cry a bit as she gripped the fish tighter.
"Are you okay?" Vengeance asked.
"It just... hurts. Watching him go knowing I won't be by his side until later. I... I gave my life to save him. But now I'm scared that the next time he walks out that door... he'll be gone forever." Nimi said softly, tears falling down her cheek as she squeezed the fish in her grasp.
"Nimi... Believe me, if Oceana couldn't kill him, then he'll be fine for a few more hours until he comes back for you." Vengeance said.
"I know that... I think I just needed someone to say it." Nimi said as she watched Vengeance work
"Your body will begin to build itself around your display. That's how I have this set up. So I am going to have to ask you to lay on the bed. Your muscles will be weak until you get a feel for them again." Vengeance said.
"Will it hurt?" Nimi asked softly.
Vengeance remained silent.
"I see." Nimi said as she went and laid on the bed next to the computer.
"I can't risk shutting your consciousness down for this. You have to stay awake." Vengeance said sympathetically.
"I have been through worse... My Liebling will be here to greet me when I come to. I just know it." Nimi said softly.
"I will personally drag him from his desk to be here for you." Vengeance said, causing Nimi to smile a bit.
"Thank you... Let's get this done and over with." Nimi said as the procedure began.