"C'mon Indy! Time to go meet the Commander!" Portland sang gleefully, practically skipping towards the cement building that featured the base's radio tower. Indianapolis allowed her elder sister to keep hold of her hand, looking down at her budding chest with a hidden sigh. It had always been this way, her and Portland, Portland and Indy. She'd always been in the shadows. Even her skin was darker, as if to prove the point. Without hesitation Portland led her past the desk where Brooklyn had just seated herself and burst through the door to the Commander's office. He stood to greet them.
"Oh? Two ships for the price of one?"
"Hi Commander! I'm Portland, as you know, and this is my adorable little sister Indy! Go ahead Indy; you should greet the Commander too!" Portland declared jubilantly, standing behind Indianapolis with her hands on her shoulders. Indy sighed and looked at Thorson.
"Good morning, Commander. Indianapolis reporting for duty."
"It's a pleasure to meet you both. Thank you for escorting Indianapolis here, Portland. You may leave us now," Thorson said, unsurprised at how quick the bubbly smile left Portland's face.
"But Commander, Indy is my precious little sister. I can't leave her with some strange man!" She declared defiantly.
"Sister, please…"
"No, Indy. I need to protect you!"
"I envy the two of you, you know that?" Thorson said, walking casually to the other side of his desk and squatting so that he put of a less intimidating air. He looked at them both. "I'm an only child. Plenty of cousins, sure, but I've never had a sister or brother of my own. It's good that the two of you are so close. Portland, there may come a time when you and Indianapolis are forced to operate separately during this war. Both she and you need to learn how to complete solo missions, even if you operate better in tandem. I just want to talk to your sister, to help facilitate that ability. I'll leave the door open and Brooklyn will be just outside, alright? Besides, if Cleveland is all alone with Akashi and Laffey I think she could use your help, Portland. Cassin didn't look like much of a worker. I will call for you next if necessary."
Portland began shifting her weight from foot to foot, but a sparkle seemed to have lit in Indianapolis' heterochromatic eyes. "Sis, I'll be alright with the Commander. I'll come get you when we're finished."
"IDNY!" Portland wailed, collapsing to her knees and hugging the slim girl tightly around her bare waist. "Don't grow up and leave me alone!"
Thorson stood and began to rub Portland lightly on the head, only now noticing that she and her sister both had unruly strands of hair that formed some sort of heart-like shape above their heads. It was nothing short of adorable. "You're very lucky, Indianapolis."
"I know, Commander. Sis, it's alright. I'll always be your little sister, Portland. Let me talk with the Commander."
Portland sniffled and rubbed her nose. "Alright, Indy. Take good care of her Commander, or I'll punch you really hard!"
"Duly noted, Portland. I'll see you soon," Thorson replied calmly, seeing her out of the building as Brooklyn rolled her eyes behind him. With that miniature crisis out of the way Thorson returned to his office where Indianapolis had already seated herself in the chair for visitors. Her feet just barely touched the floor. He respected her space and returned to his own chair. Why can't a single one of these girls dress like regulation military, he complained silently.
"Thank you, Commander."
"I'm sorry?"
"I love my sister but sometimes…a bit of peace and quiet is better," Indianapolis told him, confidence slowly creeping into her voice now that she had been allowed some one on one time with the leader of the base.
"I suppose I can understand the sentiment," Thorson agreed, scratching his chin. "But let's talk about you, shall we?"
"Sure. Will I be able to get rigging?" Indianapolis asked with a hint of excitement in her still mostly monotone, soft voice.
"Yes, I believe you will. Admittedly I've only accomplished that feat with Laffey, but we'll see if Downes is able to produce her own. If she can do that I'll have two independent confirmations that shipgirls who have a ship and desire rigging can generate it when exposed to wisdom shards. Speaking of which, could I ask you to examine these?" Thorson again produced the shards from Laffey's operation. Indianapolis turned her head up at them.
"She's not bad, but I don't want to fight that way."
"Oh? And how do you want to fight, Indianapolis?" Thorson asked curiously.
"If they can't hit me, they can't kill me," she told him, looking a bit bashful at the words that came out of her own mouth. Thorson pondered her statement for a moment, knowing she'd been assigned to a heavy cruiser. Perhaps she didn't mean dodging and maneuvering.
"If you don't mind my saying, Indianapolis, you're dressed a little lightly for that kind of thing. Are you cold? I know we're on a relatively tropical island and all but the nights can still get chilly, not to mention the sea itself."
"Oh, no I'm alright," she whispered, blushing and looking away as she realized Thorson must have been looking at her body, at her skin. She could feel herself flush hot. "The Pandora reactor is more than enough."
"I…excuse me?" Thorson leaned over the desk to look at her closely, observing her black and gold horns and blue and yellow eyes. I've never heard of or seen a project with that codename. "What exactly is a Pandora reactor?"
"I don't know, Commander."
"Uh…alright? Could you elaborate on what you do know about the Pandora reactor?" He scratched his head and tried again, unable to be frustrated with the shipgirl that earnestly seemed to want to answer his questions. Indianapolis kicked her feet back and forth as she pondered the question.
"It's inside of me," she began, looking up as though to catch a glimpse of her horns. "I think that's why I have these horns and my sister doesn't. I think it can protect me."
"Do you think if I gave you the power of a wisdom cube you could make it a reality?" Thorson asked. Indianapolis nodded.
"I can build my own ship now, right?"
"Yes. Given what Downes was able to accomplish I'd say that's well within the realm of possibilities. Speaking of new ships, Indianapolis, why did you leave yours?"
The slim, tanned girl considered his question for a moment before answering in the same mild voice. "When Pennsylvania told my sister about what happened, about where she was going, she insisted that I come too so that I would be safe."
"She sounds like an excellent big sister," Thorson said kindly. Indy frowned.
"It's difficult sometimes, to be me when she's around."
"Would you like to work alone in combat?"
"No, we work well together. I meant other times," Indianapolis continued with melancholy in her voice. Thorson walked around the desk so he could stand next to her. She looked up at him.
"Commander?"
"I see you. And I see your sister. I know you're not the same ship. Thank you for speaking with me, Indianapolis. You can tell Portland that until the drydock is open I don't need to meet with her." As if in direct response to his words Downes' voice hailed him from the radio room.
"Heya Commander, good news! Everything's squared away and ready to rock. See? She's already in the wet docks!" The destroyer girl informed him proudly as Thorson escorted Indianapolis outside. As promised, the new and improved USS Downes was resting in the nearest wet dock to the labs, next to the Pennsylvania's dock. Thorson nodded with approval, thrilled to see four ships in the port below. The bulin crews had switched their focus to the Pennsylvania, examining the hull and moving materials necessary for repair. He hoped there hadn't been any arguments. The commander thought to try something one more time.
"Downes, you're ready to fight?" He asked. She looked up at him with elation in her eyes.
"You bet, Commander! Ready to blow things up on your command!"
"Will these help?" Thorson asked, holding out the used shards. He could see Downes' eyes widen as she reached for them, possessed with the same sort of air that Laffey had just before she got her rigging. Thorson grinned triumphantly as a shock ran through him the moment Downes touched them, the glow turning brighter and brighter as she brought them to her chest. Indianapolis stepped back in shock, bumping into Brooklyn who was equally curious, and then horrified, at Downes' suddenly unconscious form. Thorson was ready, however, having gently taken hold of the destroyer girl and kneeling so he could effectively cradle her to him. He tilted her head and looked at the back of her neck. Sure enough he found a shimmering mark there in the shape of the crossed anchors of the Union Navy, except instead of an eagle and shield, a stylized detonation accented them. He couldn't help laughing aloud. "Yeah, that fits you alright."
"Mmm…what happened?" Downes asked groggily as her eyes opened and she looked up at the blue of the sky. She was tense, something felt wrong. "Commander, my body hurts. I feel like I'm going to explode here."
"Downes, stand and prepare for battle," Thorson ordered, releasing her and watching as her body seemed to immediately relax. The shipgirl closed her eyes as the air around her shimmered and resolved into her rigging. On her right was a platform in the shape of part of her hull that sported two single barrel 127mm guns and an AA battery. On her left was a quad torpedo launcher and an additional AA mount that connected to the boiler on her back via two large cables. In her left hand was a final 127mm gun mount, one that she stared at in awe. As with Laffey, her feet had gained small red fins that he was sure would help her skate over the ocean if need be.
"This is so damn cool," Downes whispered, leveling her left hand at the Union dorms.
"Oh no you don't young lady, I sleep there!" Thorson yelled, grabbing her and turning her around until she faced the two unused dormitories to the right of his office. "Now you can fire."
"Bombs away!" Downes cried happily, sending a full three shot volley into the far building and watching as sections of wall crumbled away. One shell managed to sneak through a window on the top floor, detonating and throwing debris through the roof.
"My word!" Brooklyn gasped, holding onto Indy's shoulders. The heavy cruiser was staring in awe.
"Now Downes-" Thorson was cut off as Downes, weighed down by her rigging, turned and slammed herself into him in a bear hug.
"This is so damn cool, Commander! I can't believe I almost died without getting to do this!"
Thorson's reprimand died in his throat as he gently brought a hand around her shoulder. "Just…help Askashi clean up the mess, alright?"
With the drydock now open and Cassin insisting that she was better suited to remaining on base and drinking a coke, Thorson escorted Indianapolis to the labs, along with Portland. He needed heavier escort ships anyway. As they reached the docks they found the two battleships waiting for them. Thorson decided on a less casual approach. He saluted and the two of them returned it, Pennsylvania more eagerly than Tennessee.
"Any issues with the repair crews?" Thorson asked, pleased that Pennsylvania looked far more comfortable than she had following the attack in Hawaii.
"They're a bit overeager but it feels normal, Commander," the battleship reported. He nodded.
"Good. We're going to see about rebuilding the Indianapolis. The two of you are welcome to observe. Tennessee, if you intend to fight again I'd recommend you come along," Thorson added, waiting to see how she would react. The buxom woman said nothing but did nod curtly at him. He considered it good enough. Soon the five of them were assembled in front of the conductive matrix. Thorson looked down at Indy. "I can't handle the cubes on my own, not if they haven't been used before," he explained, indicating the small chest nearby. "Why don't you go pick out a couple?"
Indianapolis did as bade; opening the chest as Portland eagerly looked over her shoulder. The taller cruiser girl pointed this way and that but Indianapolis took her time and considered the stock before her, eventually reaching in and selecting two cubes that seemed to work for her. Thorson showed her where to place them before giving her final instructions. "I want you to think about your ship; not your old ship, but what your ideal version of the Indianapolis would be, complete with the Pandora reactor, alright?"
"Yes, Commander. I'll give it a shot."
"That's all I ask. Don't worry, you should be able breathe the moment the chamber fills completely."
With a nod, Indianapolis stepped into the matrix. Thorson had to restrain Portland from leaping into the other chamber as the device became operational. Without Akashi and the bulins in the lab it was almost eerie how quiet it was, the other union shipgirls watching with interest as Indianapolis began to float within the seawater and softly spread her arms.
"Commander, what's happening to Indy?!" Portland asked worriedly as the girl's palms and chest began to glow softly. He stroked his chin in thought.
"If I had to guess, I'd say she's willing a new weapon into existence. Look at her face, Portland. Does it look like she's in distress?"
"No, Commander. She looks happy," Portland agreed, suddenly possessed by a thought. "I'm going to go outside and make sure her new ship is coming in alright. Don't you dare let her drown, Commander!"
Thorson smiled as Portland tore out of the labs for the docks, the girl's black, star-spangled bikini top barely containing her chest. He looked at Pennsylvania.
"She ever slow down?"
"Not that I've seen, sir."
"He's sir, now?!" Tennessee demanded.
"You really want to do this again, Tenn? Give it a rest," Pennsylvania snapped. "Sir," she accentuated with a devastating look at her partner, "I understand that the reconstruction of this fleet takes precedence, but we need to talk."
"I couldn't agree more, Pennsylvania. The word treason has been used far too frequently on this base over the last two days," Thorson replied, noticing that Tennessee had the decency to hang her head in shame. "Tennessee."
"Yes…sir?" She eventually said, looking up at him.
"What was the last time you were able to work out?" He asked, keeping an eye of Indianapolis now that he had Tennessee's attention. The slim cruiser girl had already fully consumed one of her cubes.
"The day we met, sir."
"Why don't you explore the civilian areas of this base, see if you can find a gym? If you have any issues with access, find me or Akashi," he suggested.
"You'll tell him?" Tennessee asked Pennsylvania, causing Thorson to cock a brow. The raven-haired battleship nodded.
"Everything. Now go pump some iron. I'm sure the commander will find you when he needs a second battleship in the water."
"Which will be as soon as I'm able," Thorson confirmed. "You're dismissed, Tennessee."
"Very well, sir." With a hard glance she turned on her heel and left, leaving only Thorson and Pennsylvania to watch as Indianapolis floated serenely, surrounded by her hair in the water.
"Did you bury her?" Pennsylvania finally asked after a long moment of silence, her voice strained. "It's a nice place to rest."
"No," Thorson replied quietly. Pennsylvania didn't say anything, but he could feel her glare on him. It didn't feel so different from facing down her main batteries. "Her cubes are too valuable to leave to rot…or whatever it is cubes do."
"There's no bringing someone back from the dead, Commander," the battleship insisted harshly. "I know."
"Who was it?"
"Oklahoma. She was busted up even worse than Cassin and Downes. Command did nothing; bandaged her wounds and just waited. They let her die. Do you understand me, Thorson? They didn't try to radio for Vestal or anything. They let her die and they could have done something!" Pennsylvania raged quietly, looking over at Indianapolis as the girl finished processing her final cube. "Nevada couldn't take it. She tied a couple of main battery shells to her legs and jumped. Eventually her cubes floated back up. Arizona is gone, Commander. I'm asking you to bury her so I can move on and kill every last Sakura bitch I can get my hands on."
Thorson glanced briefly at Pennsylvania to acknowledge that he heard her and that she was out of line. He moved forward and gently caught Indy as the girl stumbled a bit on her way out of the conductive matrix. "How do you feel?" He asked.
"A bit cooler, Commander. Did it work?" She inquired.
"Why don't you head on outside and take a look. Portland should already be there; she couldn't contain her excitement. I'll be along shortly, alright?"
"Yes, Commander. Do I get my rigging soon?"
"Soon as your ship is declared seaworthy, combat ready, and moved to the wet docks. See to it now," he encouraged, sending the young cruiser off with a thin smile. It faded as he turned back to Pennsylvania. "What color were their cubes, Penny?"
"You don't have the right to call me that, Commander."
"You called me Thorson. Consider us even. Answer the question, Pennsylvania," he demanded, squaring away to face her down.
"Blue, like they'd never existed."
"And they will never exist again. But your sister is not dead. She's as alive as Shiranui, which seems damn well close to being alive as far as I can tell. Nevada gave up and Oklahoma died hopeless…I get it. Your sister didn't."
"What the fuck makes you so sure," Pennsylvania whispered, her jaw quivering with rage and sorrow.
"Come see for yourself."