"I really shouldn't have given her full access to the base," Thorson groaned as the Sakura equivalent of reverie was broadcast via the base's air raid alarm system. The commander checked his watch, 0700. Akashi was even obeying orders. It would be almost impossible to formally reprimand her. "That crafty little cat." With a grimace he drew himself upright and rubbed his face with his hands. Four hours of sleep was definitely not enough, but he gave small thanks for the fact that he'd been able to spend the night alone. He knew he'd be hard pressed to deny a soft spot forming for Laffey and Akashi, but his own sense of decency mandated he remain mostly clothed in their presence. When it became clear that the two of them had chosen to spend the night somewhere else in the dorm, quite possibly together, Thorson stripped down and enjoyed a few hours of comfortable, solitary sleep. "Those girls are still going to be the death of me," he complained, throwing on his uniform as he remembered receiving not one, but two kisses from his fleet the day before. As he entered the dilapidated hallway of the union dormitory he felt his spirits lighten as morning sunlight streamed through the open front door, left ajar by the shipgirls. Thorson didn't see any of them on his way to the bathroom, which now had running water again, or near his office once he stepped outside. Raising a hand to his brow he surveyed the port from his elevated vantage point. The new USS Downes still graced the dry dock below. "Well at least that's over with," he spoke to himself, recalling how once Cassin and Downes had been healed he'd ordered all the girls on base to retire to whatever room they chose, including the Pennsylvania itself where the newer shipgirls had spent the night in familiar territory. His head still groggy, Thorson made his way down the stairs and across the docks to the civilian area of the base. He finally arrived at the galley and pushed the door open, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"Good morning, Shikikan!" Akashi called eagerly, waving to him from one of the many identical, long cafeteria style tables that filled the spacious area from wall to wall. Thorson took a chance to take in the space now that it was a bit more occupied. All the girls on the base still easily fit into one corner of the room, near the doors that led to the kitchens. The serving area was still unmanned, unnecessary when there were so few diners, but he saw it had been expertly cleaned by the bulins and that the ceiling fans had been repaired, ensuring good air circulation throughout the room. The linoleum tile floor was nothing special, but it too had been cleaned and shined since his arrival. His shoes clacked quietly as he walked across it to join his small fleet. He passed the bulins first, who had claimed a table for themselves.
"Everything alright after last night?" He asked.
"No problems, Commander! Worst we had was wet clothes but we solved that just fine, buli," the 'chief mechanic' assured him.
"Oh? I didn't know we had laundry facilities on the base," Thorson replied.
"There might be around here somewhere, but bulins just made a fire in an old oil drum!" A chorus of 'buli' went up around him as the miniature mechanics seemed quite pleased with their solution.
"Just…make sure the labs are adequately ventilated," Thorson requested, giving them a nod of approval before moving on. He came to Akashi next. She was sitting next to Laffey along with Cassin and Downes across the table from them. Brooklyn and the other three shipgirls he'd not yet been introduced to came next before a long stretch of empty bench separated them all from Tennessee and Pennsylvania, who were eating and whispering to one another. Akashi reached out and Thorson walked over to her, not particularly surprised when she hugged him around the waist.
"Did Shikikan sleep well?" She asked as Laffey looked up at him with her usual doe eyes.
"Just fine. You and Laffey had a sleepover?"
"Hai, Shikikan! Akashi and Laffey had much to talk about!" She confirmed.
"I believe you," he said with a faint sense of foreboding. "For now though I think I should say hello to our new guests. Where's Shiranui?"
"She just went into the back, Commander," Laffey answered. "There is oatmeal and a few other things prepared. Laffey and Akashi are not as good as the Commander though."
Thorson took a moment to look down at the two of them with a smile on his face before resting a hand on each of their heads and petting them for a moment. "Thanks a lot you two," he said simply, earning contented smiles from them both. "Cassin, Downes, how are your new limbs holding up?"
"Good as new!" Downes replied, twirling a spoon between her new fingers for emphasis before brandishing it at him. "But seriously Commander, I don't know what sort of thing you have for destroyer sized girls but count me out."
Thorson threw his head back and laughed to the ceiling. "Thank God, a shipgirl with absolutely no interest in me whatsoever!" He declared, turning as Laffey made an annoyed noise. "Don't look at me like that, Laffey."
"Laffey thought Commander enjoyed kissing."
Silence fell in the cafeteria as all the shipgirls stared at him. Thorson brought his hands to his face and took a deep breath, reminding himself that Laffey was an extraordinary fighter…and a bit of an airhead. "Laffey, listen to me. Akashi, this goes for you as well. I don't know what Chicago or anyone else told you about intimacy, but those sorts of things are typically private. When we're here in the cafeteria and other public places on the base we shouldn't be discussing those things. We should be making friends with our new comrades and ensuring we're always ready for battle, alright?"
Cassin and Downes shared a confused but approving look behind his back as Brooklyn stared at him with ill-concealed interest. Laffey had cocked her head to the side and was clearly thinking hard while Akashi twiddled her thumbs and refused to meet his eyes. "Laffey understands. Linking with the Commander was very nice, but left Laffey feeling very confused," she explained, causing Thorson to feel a small twinge of guilt.
"And that's why I'm not going to reprimand you or anything of the sort," Thorson confirmed. "For now, enjoy your breakfast, alright? We can speak later. Oh and Downes, for the record it's not me who's interested in pint-sized shipgirls. They're interested in me; Lord only knows why."
"Modesty isn't one of your finer traits, Commander Thorson," Brooklyn opined before daintily bringing a spoonful of oatmeal to her lips. When she'd swallowed and taken a sip of water she continued. "But I think you know well enough why. It's one of the reasons we've decided to stay here," she declared, motioning to the three girls seated with her as well as Cassin and Downes. Thorson nodded to her.
"You have my thanks, Brooklyn. I'll work on the modesty thing," he promised with a self-effacing chuckle. "And you three have my sincerest apologies. It's been very hectic since your arrival."
"Yeah, we get it. No big deal, Commander. Thanks for patching up Cassin and Downes by the way, it was tough seeing them bedridden like that. Anyway, my name's Cleveland and this here is Portland and Indianapolis."
Thorson took a moment to look over the shipgirl who'd addressed him so casually despite having never spoken to him before. She was thin and tall with an athletic build, sporting a black skirt with red trim, a blue and white long sleeved shirt, a white cape with an anchor brooch, and star spangled knee socks. Her deep red eyes and golden blonde hair were the highlight of what Thorson had to admit was a cute face. Not pretty in the traditional sense, he considered, but certainly possessing of its own unique appeal. He returned her broad smile.
"You'd fit right in at my family's Independence Day parties, Cleveland. How'd you get away with those socks for so long?"
"You mean these?" Cleveland asked, turning sideways on the bench and extending her leg for all to see and giving Thorson an unimpeded view of her shapely thighs. "When you've got aim like I do people let things slide, hm hm hmm! Uh…you won't make me change now that I don't have a ship, right?"
"I think I'm the only one here who's even got a regulation uniform. It's no problem, Cleveland. Carry on. Portland, Indianapolis, I'll speak with you both today at length. For now…" Thorson rested his hands on the table and leaned in conspiratorially, "I think I need to go figure out what's got our big boats so grumpy." His whisper drew a giggle from Portland, who seemed to always have her arm around Indianapolis' small shoulders. With a nod to them all he crossed the empty space and sat down next to Pennsylvania. Tennessee's death glare had followed him the whole way.
"Morning sunshine," he goaded her before turning to his left, trying not to let his glance fall to the broad opening of the battleship's uniform. Were she not so imposing a presence he'd be tempted to consider her an ideal pin up model. "Pennsylvania, how are you feeling after your journey?"
"Do you enjoy pissing off battleships?" She shot back with a piercing look. He felt a bit of relief in the life that had returned to her green eyes.
"I'll take that as an affirmative," he said with a smirk.
"Oh just cut the shit, would you? Brooklyn might be taken in by your little show but I'm not sticking around this tropical harem island. Penny, finish up and let's leave," Tennessee hissed, looking like she wanted to strangle Thorson.
"I would appreciate if you wouldn't speak to Shikikan that way. He may be an idiot, but he is not the man you seem to think he is," Shiranui interrupted in her usual monotone, placing a well-worn mug in front of Thorson. She had floated silently up behind him and Pennsylvania, her eyes possessing a strange fire that he'd not seen before. Even her will o' the wisps were brighter than he remembered.
"Is this…coffee?" Thorson asked with unconcealed surprise, inhaling the tempting scent as the beverage warmed his fingers.
"We have no filters and the tin was at least a decade old, Shikikan. But it was still sealed and unopened. It won't taste good but it won't poison you either. You look like you need it," Shiranui explained. Thorson took a tentative sip, tasting the bitter brew as a few grounds made their way past his lips.
"Yeah, that won't be winning any awards but I feel better already. I'm just glad we didn't need that infirmary last night. Thank you, Shiranui," he said earnestly. Tennessee snapped, slamming the table and standing defiantly.
"I can't take this anymore. You see, Penny? He's got them running around like maids getting him coffee, and from the sound of it those two pipsqueaks are already warming his bed. Is this what you wanted? You could have stayed in Hawaii if you wanted to fuck Union trash. I'd rather have faced the firing squads!"
"You're out of line, Tennessee," Pennsylvania said darkly, gazing at Thorson out of the corner of her eye. The cafeteria had again fallen silent as the bulins made a tactical retreat out the front door, whispering animatedly and looking fearfully over their shoulders. Every ship was looking at the Commander as he studied his coffee, his fingers crossed and resting on his upper lip.
"You believe you can run this facility better, Tennessee? Because I wager that any of the tiny members of my so-called 'harem' could beat you in a fight."
"I never said anything about-"
"So you just want to complain from the sidelines, soldier?" Thorson raised his voice. "You want to criticize your superiors without shouldering any of the duties of command yourself?"
"Duties of command? You're joking, right?! How is anything here related to your so called duties?" The blonde battleship shrieked.
"My duty is to raise an army capable of killing the species that gave us the wisdom cubes. So yeah, things won't operate the same way they did back at Pearl Harbor. But I've had enough of your shit, Tennessee. You win a fight against Laffey and you can run the base. And I mean a fist fight. Should be no problem, right? You lose and you can either join me or be shot. Refuse the challenge and I'll shoot you right here and now. The blood will come out of the linoleum, I'm sure." Thorson's threat hung in the air as everyone held their breath. Tennessee looked like she was about to pop a gasket, but he also saw fear in her eyes, the threat of a firing squad suddenly made proximate and real as Thorson rested his hand against the grip of the 1911 he kept holstered at his side. She looked to Pennsylvania.
"Don't drag me into this, Tenn. You got yourself into this mess; you get yourself out of it." Pennsylvania crossed her arms over her bosom, glancing coldly between her fellow shipgirl and Thorson. Tennessee shook her head furiously.
"Fine, I'll stomp that little destroyer into the ground," she muttered before storming out of the building. Thorson motioned for Laffey to join them as Shiranui floated back into the kitchens with a parting word.
"Finally, a ship even more idiotic than Shikikan."
"Will Laffey have to fight Miss Tennessee?" The bunny destroyer asked him, settling down so that her hip was bumping against his. Thorson nodded.
"Yes, but I have a plan. She's never seen your rigging, Laffey. You'll be just fine. Want to hear it?"
"Ok Commander!"
A cool breeze ruffled the hair of the shipgirls as they all stood together near one of the wet docks. Thorson had specifically chosen the location, though he now joined the others as Laffey calmly stood and stared at Tennessee, who was cracking her knuckles.
"You really want to fight for that pervert?" She demanded.
"Laffey does things with the Commander because Laffey wants to, but that is private now. Commander said so. Miss Tennessee doesn't understand."
"No, and I damn well don't want to. Now come here and don't make this too hard on yourself," Tennessee ordered, stalking up to Laffey. Before she could throw a punch the bunny girl looked over at Thorson and fell backwards off the docks and into the water. A chorus of concerned shouts went up from the new Union girls, but Akashi giggled and even Shiranui sported a thin smile on her face as everyone ran to the edge of the dock only to see Laffey dancing across the water with her rigging out and activated.
"Come Miss Tennessee, Laffey will fight now!"
Tennessee eventually managed to shake off her surprise after staring dumbfounded at Laffey for a long moment. "How the hell am I supposed to come after you like that? And what is that stuff?"
"That is rigging," Thorson replied coolly, earning himself another glare. "Laffey, you can come back now!"
At Thorson's order Laffey leaped back onto the docks and faced the battleship anew. "Laffey will not even use her guns. It would not be fair for Miss Tennessee."
"Why you little runt, I oughta-" Tennessee halted her advance towards Laffey and cried out as the destroyer activated her searchlight and directed it right at the battleship girl's ice blue eyes. As she staggered about thanks to her temporary blindness, Laffey approached her calmly and gave her a small push into the ocean. Akashi and Downes let out a cheer for Laffey as Pennsylvania and the cruisers snickered at Tennessee's hearty helping of humble pie. The jovial atmosphere didn't last long as Thorson drew his pistol and racked the slide.
"Akashi, fish her out." He demanded.
Tennessee had never felt such humiliation in her short life. Nothing Hawkins or the other Union commanders had done could match the trap Thorson had set for her. The concrete of the docks pained her knees as she looked up at the barrel of Thorson's pistol, her hair matter to her head and dripping into a small pool of seawater below. The salt tasted awful.
"What's your decision, Union battleship Tennessee? Shall I finish what the Sakura couldn't, or are you going to join us and fight?" Thorson asked, no trace of compassion in his voice. Akashi and Laffey were holding hands and looking on with great apprehension, not used to seeing this side of Thorson. Pennsylvania had fixed Tennessee with a hard look, though it wasn't clear what answer she thought her sister in arms should give.
"Well? It can all be over right now, Tennessee," Thorson continued. "There's plenty of time for one final act of defiance if that's how you want to be remembered."
"What will happen to me?" Tennessee whispered, though to her credit she did not flinch away from him or his firearm.
"Only God knows what happens to those who pass on," Thorson replied sadly, thinking of Arizona.
"I meant if I surrender."
"Then you'll be interviewed, have your ship reconstructed, be fitted for rigging, and then you will fight as part of my fleet in whatever manner I decide is most effective."
"That's it?" She asked in almost hopeful disbelief.
"I would never waste my time with a vile, jaded woman like you." Thorson holstered his pistol after rendering his judgment, leaving Tennessee to exhale and collapse onto hands and knees behind him. He stalked past the assembled shipgirls, not wanting his anger to end up affecting them. He needed to be alone.
"Uh…Commander Thorson?" Brooklyn tried. He paused a moment, his back stiff as he took a deep breath.
"Downes, assist the maintenance crew with whatever they need in getting your ship ready for combat. When that's done, ensure you can link with it and operate all systems on your own. Find me when you're finished and we'll fit your rigging. Laffey, assist the others in moving their personal effects from the Pennsylvania to the dormitories. Brooklyn, when that's finished the current project on this base is construction of a new living space. Akashi will need help while the bulins are occupied with the Downes and Pennsylvania. Are there any questions?"
"No sir," Brooklyn replied seriously, bringing her hand up in a salute that was quickly copied by the other shipgirls present, many of whom had never seen Thorson as anything but kind and caring.
"Then carry on. Dismissed."
As Laffey led the other shipgirls away, Pennsylvania approached Tennessee and knelt at her side, offering her an arm and hoisting her upright on shaking legs. "You alright, Tenn?"
"He was going to really kill me, wasn't he?" She cried, feeling her heart beating as though she'd run a marathon.
"Yes Tenn, he was."
"Am I really…"
"A hateful, jaded bitch? Yeah, right now that just about sums it up. If you'd taken the time to actually watch you'd have seen that they reach out for him far more than he reaches out to them."
"Sorry, Penny. I just…after they let Oklahoma die…" Tennessee whispered as they began to walk towards their old ship.
"I don't blame you, Tenn. I'm not saying you need to now but if you really want to apologize, apologize to Thorson," Pennsylvania advised calmly.
"That…will take time."
"Well…" Pennsylvania reflected, finally taking a good look at the lush green of the island foliage, the blue of the Pacific, and the skeleton of a new wooden dormitory far up the slope of the base. "We just might have bought ourselves a bit of time."