Casey stared at the woman in front of him. Massachusetts stood with her arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently. He looked away, suddenly aware of his gaze. While built much like her sister, she seemed to prefer a more modest wardrobe. Black stockings ran up her shapely legs, and her black skirt and tan blouse did little to hide her hour-glass figure. He was fairly positive shirts weren’t supposed to work like that. A web pistol belt hung on her waist, and he couldn’t help but notice the M1911 that peeked from the leather holster. His eyes drifted up to her face, meeting her piercing, brown-eyed gaze. Her stern expression reminded him of his and Sweet’s high school math teacher's. “Well, Lieutenant?” She shifted her hands, resting them on her hips. Casey sighed and squeezed his eyes shut. “What was the question again?” “I asked” Exasperation tinged her voice. “when Alabama is returning.” Casey hooked his thumb over his shoulder, gesturing at the computer monitor behind him. The feed of Alabama and Nevada sailing side by side played in a window on the screen. Alabama appeared to be having a very enthusiastic one-sided conversation with the other ship girl. "It should be a couple of days, so long as nothing horrible happens.” He slowly rose from his chair and stretched his arms behind his head, punctuated by the popping of his spine “I think the better question is, why are you here? And why are you looking for her? Shouldn’t you be reporting to the group up in Battleship Cove, or whatever?” “Don’t worry, they don’t know I’m gone.” She paused. “Yet. I believed it imperative that I check up on my sister first. I know she’s a handful, and I’ve already seen from the news reels that she’s acting foolish. She needs guidance to get her on a proper bearing.” She glanced at the monitor showing the live feed. “The same might also be said for Nevada.” Casey rubbed his chin, the stubble reminding him that he needed a shave. He looked over the battleship one more time. He didn’t notice it at first, but the twinges of a Boston accent ran through his ears. “Yeah, OK.” He leaned back in the cheap metal chair, mindful of its creaking. “Well, like I said, its gonna be a few days before they get back. Until then, we need to get you, and Nevada too, when she gets here, caught up on stuffs happening worldwide.” Massachusetts didn’t answer, but she inclined her head slightly. “We also should probably let Battleship Cove know you’re gone, too.” Casey rose from the small chair and strode to the door. “Let’s go inside the hotel, where it’s a little cooler.” He politely held the tent flap open for Massachusetts to exit, then followed her outside, only to immediately stumble over a new figure standing next to the entrance. The lithe girl couldn't have been older than seventeen. She studied Casey up and down through a pair of dark sunglasses, pursing her lips before blowing a large pink bubble. “Uh, who’s your friend?” Casey looked back to Massachusetts. The bubbled popped. “I’m Lionfish.” “Uh, huh. Anyone else I should know about before we continue, Massachusetts?” A simple shake of her head. “No. It’s just us two.” Silently staring at her with skepticism, Casey continued past her. Massachusetts motioned for the other girl to follow. The younger girl leaned towards Massachusetts. “Kinda rude, don’t ya think?” Massachusetts ignored Lionfish’s comment. __ Casey opened the door to the hotel’s break room fridge. He pulled out a Coke, offering it to Massachusetts. When she politely refused, he handed it off to Lionfish, and grabbed one for himself. He guided them to small folding table in the room's center. Casey cracked open his Coke and took a sip. “First thing I want to know is what you two have gathered, information-wise, since you’ve been back... The second, would be another explanation to as why you are down here," he set the can on the table, gesturing at the two ship-girls, “and not back in Massachusetts, reporting to the detachment there. All the museum ships have a similar over-watch. Hell, even the land locked memorials are being monitored, just in case.” Staring at him from across the table, Massachusetts crossed her arms-a move which accentuated her bust in a distracting way. Casey discreetly averted his gaze when he caught himself staring. Lionfish glanced between the two while she sipped noisily on her Coke. “We know there’s a war on,” Massachusetts finally spoke. “We don’t know who, what, or why, but we’ve seen some of the destruction, and we have seen a few of the newsreels on our way down here.” She leaned forward in her seat. “And before I answer your second question, I have one of my own: why the HELL were we surrounded by a small army?” Casey nodded, crossing his arms. “You’re right. You have every right to know that.” He looked up at the ceiling, mulling carefully over his words. “To be honest, things aren’t looking to great, right now. The Abyssals have been showing up worldwide for about two years now. No one knows where, why, or how, they got here, but they’ve been terrorizing the oceans and the world's coastlines almost non-stop. We’ve only just recently gotten anything close to handle on it all, but now everyone is strung out to thin.” “And what does that have to do with us, exactly? Lieutenant, it's pretty obvious that we aren’t any threat to you. We ARE you.” Detecting frustration in Massachusetts's voice, Casey raised his hands defensively. “Hey, you won’t get any argument from me on that. Hell, Ma’am, I can’t lie to ya: people are nervous.” He rose from his seat to pace back and forth, aware of Massachusetts's eyes tracking him. Lionfish lazily sipped her soda. Casey continued, “and I figure since you’re-ya know, you-then you have an idea how irrational the government can get as well. All the security and overwatch was a security measure. No one knew what side y’all would come back on.” “So you’re saying you doubted our loyalties, Lieutenant?” “I’m saying we didn’t know what would happen. Before the Abyssals’ attacks, ships coming back as spirits wasn’t exactly a thing. None of this is malicious, just meant as a precaution.” Casey dropped back into his chair. “Listen, I know this is a lot, given the circumstances. Hell, this whole situation is insane, but we need your help. Both of you.” Awkward silence dominated the small room as he met her stare again. Lionfish sipped her soda, her eyes lazily rolling from Casey, to Massachusetts, and back again. “So… are you two gonna make out, or what?” Massachusetts’s stern expression vanished for only a heartbeat. A wave of embarrassment washed over her face just long enough for her to focus on Lionfish. “Lionfish! This is NOT the time for your foolishness!” The sub-girl rolled her eyes and tilted back her Coke, chugging down the last dregs from the can. “Whatever, listen,” she arched the can into the trash can across the room. “there’s some crazy shit happening, and they’re taking precautions like what you’d expect. Now obviously they have some amount of trust in us, or else he’d have called the MP’s on us by now, right?” Casey nodded in agreement. “Yes! I just want to make this transition as smooth as possible. Let’s get you two set up with a room, and get you caught up on everything in more detail. We have plenty of time before the others get back.” Massachusetts sighed. “Fine, but I have my eye on you, Lieutenant.” She rose from the table, and walked out of the room. He shared a glance with Lionfish, who shrugged. "She has a tendency for the dramatic." __ “We’re here!” Nevada felt like Alabama was tugging her arm out of her socket. Mobile Bay slowly rose over the horizon. “Oh sugar, you’re gonna love it! The people are friendly, the city is beautiful, and the food is just marvelous~” Nevada rolled her eyes, and tried to detach the shorter blonde from her arm. “A little R an' R would be great, but how about we take the excitement down a few notches, huh?” Alabama loosened her iron grip, allowing Nevada to sigh in relief. The younger ship-girl was growing more excited the closer they got to land. Nevada slowed, realization hitting her. She was about to walk on land for the first time. Ever since she had returned, Nevada had been at sea. The idea of her feet on solid ground was still foreign to her, but Alabama had seemed to have taken to it as naturally as a ship to water. Her eyes drifted to Alabama, absently noting her black dress. She compared her own outfit: bright orange stained what once looked to be some form of naval uniform. A short skirt held up by a thick belt fluttered in the sea breeze, and her legs remained bare, except for her cowboy boots. Instead of spurs, like the cowboys of old, four props and two rudders crowded her heels. Her midriff peeked from below her shirt, which at one time had been a brilliant white. Nevada scowled, remembering her hull being painted orange, before being towed out to Bikini Atoll. The memory played out in her mind like a dream, as though viewed by an observer. She blinked, clearing her head. There would be plenty of time for answers. “And don’t you worry for a second about yer clothes, sugar. I’ll get ya fixed right up!” Alabama's bright smile shook Nevada out of her thoughts. “Huh?” “I saw ya lookin’ at your outfit all torn up like it is, but I’ll get that taken care of for ya!” “OK? Thanks, I guess...” Satisfied by the answer, Alabama returned to swerving back and forth, before something else caught her attention. “Nevada, look! They’re already waiting for us!” Nevada followed Alabama’s excited pointing to the silhouettes on the quickly approaching beach. “Not exactly much of a welcome party, huh?” “Well ain’t you just a big ol' ball of sunshine? We got a war goin’ on, ya know! I’m sure everyone else is just busy, is all.” Nevada sighed. “Sorry, I’m sorry. I haven’t exactly had a smooth few months, here.” She brushed her bangs from her eyes, looking back to shore. “Don’t you worry your pretty little head, sugar. Casey will get ya’ good and settled.” Alabama's beatific smile returned in full force. “Now get those boilers goin’! They’re waiting on us!” She grabbed Nevada’s hand again, towing her towards the waving figures. __ “Well, Massachusetts, here they come.” Casey waved at the distant figures. Alabama’s blonde hair stood out in stark contrast to the woman in orange next to her. “I love Nevada’s sense of style,” Lionfish remarked indistinctly around a mouthful of chocolate-covered candybar.  She chewed on her snack while dangling her feet in the water. “...Yeah. We may want to tread carefully on that subject.” Casey let his arm fall. Massachusetts raised an eyebrow. “Why is that?” “For now let’s say that not all of you girls were lucky to end up as museums.” He paused for just a second. “Or even scrapped, I guess. We’ll go through it when she gets here with Alabama.” Massachusetts nodded. As soon as the two ship-girls closed within shouting distance, Alabama cried out. Instead of slowing down, she sped up to get to shore as quickly as possible. Thick smoke billowed from her single stack as she plowed ahead. Nevada, unable to match her speed, fell hopelessly behind. “I think she recognizes you,” Casey mused. He thought for a second, and began to slowly ease away from Massachusetts. “I’m gonna go grab some drinks. Be right back.” Massachusetts arched an eyebrow as he trotted away. She glanced at Lionfish, and shrugged. Lionfish looked from Massachusetts, to Alabama, to Casey, and back to Massachusetts again. “Yeah, I think I’ll help him out.” Popping the rest the candy bar into her mouth, she hopped up and ran after Casey. Nonplussed, Massachusetts shook her head, and turned back to the sea. Alabama’s arms flailed wildly in the air, in something resembling a wave. An abrupt sense of unease suddenly seized Massachusetts; she might recognize her sister anywhere, but this would be their first time meeting face-to-face. Despite her misgivings, she found reassurance in Alabama's enthusiasm. That reassurance wavered, her brow furrowed, when she noticed that Alabama had yet to slow down. Comprehension dawned on the battleship as she looked over her shoulder at the retreating backs of Casey and Lionfish.  Too late, she started to backpedal “MAAAMMIIIIIIEEEEEEE!” By the time Alabama's voice reached her ears, Massachusetts's stride lengthened. When Alabama launched herself onto the shore, Massachusetts broke into a jog, then a full sprint, before the excitable blonde battleship impacted against her back. Dozen’s of men stopped their tasks to watch the blur of blonde hair, limbs, and nylon rolled by. “OhMamieIt’ssogoodtoseeyaImissedmybigsister-!” Alabama's words were a blur to the other ship-girl. Massachusetts just wanted the world to stop spinning, and for her sister to quit trying to smother her in a bear hug. “Geff. Ooff. Uhf. Meh.” Alabama stopped her attack for just a moment. “What was that?” Massachusetts gasped, “I said...” she struggled to free her head from under Alabama's arm, “..get off of me! I can't breathe, damn it!” “Oh!” Alabama jumped off of her gasping sister, and helped her to her feet. She pulled Massachusetts into a gentler hug. “Oooh! Welcome back, sugar! I’m so glad to see you again.” In that instant, an overwhelming feeling of happiness pushed everything Massachusetts had wanted to say from her mind; instead of reprimanding her sister, as she had intended, Massachusetts gave in and returned the hug. “They're done already? It was just starting to get to the good part.” “Shut up, Russels, can't ya see they're having a moment?” “I thought we were all gonna have a moment, for a minute there.” Russels leaned against his rifle. Massachusetts' eyes shot open, pinning the two men with an icy glare. “Uh, Brocheque, didn't we have that thing Captain Sweet wanted us to do?” Brocheque swallowed. “Yep, I think we do, let's git, shall we?” Massachusetts watched the two men hurry off, she could handle them later. Alabama finally released her sister and took a step back. “Well then,” she sniffed and wiped away her tears, “where's Casey? I thought I saw him waiting for us, too.” “He said something about getting everyone drinks, then walked off..." Massachusetts trailed off as realization hit her. "that son of a…!” Alabama blinked at the asperity in her sister's voice. “What's wrong?” “It's..." Massachusetts sighed. "Forget about it.” She muttered under her breath, “a little warning would have been nice, asshole.” “Hey! Bama, what's going on? Is that Mamie? Holy shit, it is!” Nevada ran up to the two sisters, stopping to catch her breath. “Heh, just give me a sec. You damn fast battleships. “Nevada?” Massachusetts arched an eyebrow. “Why are you... orange?” “Long story. For another time.” Nevada panted. “Girls, it has been far too long!” Alabama clapped her hands together. “We need to go find Casey and get everyone settled in!” “And I need a hot shower.” Nevada put in with a sigh. “Hey, who's this kid running up?” “That's Joseph! Hi, Joseph! Did ya miss me?” Alabama waved excitedly at the young man running to them. Joseph waved back, but halted as he took in the sight of the three shipgirls and their wildly varying states of dress. Alabama's tattered and torn black dress exposed a bit too much skin, contrasting sharply the garish orange Nevada. Seeing Massachusetts caused him to spin around and his face to flush crimson. “M-ma'am,” he stammered, “your shirt...!” Three pairs of eyes fell to Massachusetts's uniform.  Her blouse and under-shirt hung open, the buttons having shorn off when Alabama had tackled her, revealing her black lace bra. “Oh my, how stylish!” Alabama giggled after several seconds. Massachusetts opened and closed her mouth. Her eye’s shot back and forth, and her face glowed bright red. She pulled both sides of her shirt together, and ran to the hotel, leaving the other two girls, and Joseph. Nevada watched the fleeing woman for a moment. Then, her gaze shifted to Alabama, before finally settling on her own chest as she muttered something indistinctly "Oh!" Alabama snapped her fingers. "That reminds me, we gotta go get changed too! We can't go introducing you to everyone looking like that." "Looking like what?" Nevada huffed indignantly. "Looking like you just got plucked from a Florida orange orchard! Now come on and let's get you cleaned up.” Alabama grabbed the taller girl by the wrist, and dragged her in the direction of the hotel. Nevada resisted at first, but soon gave in—she decided that a nice, hot shower would be worth putting up with the bubbly blonde. "Joseph, you come, too." Alabama's iron grip found the young man's sleeve. "WHAT? W-why me?" His eyes darted around wildly. "Because, sugar, we need someone to help pick out clothes. Now let’s get to it!" Her two captives exchanged glances as they resigned themselves to their shared fate. "Is she always like this?" "It never ends,” Joseph whispered, a haunted expression on his face.