Our Bonds

Since it autumn, I had the fairies install a small dining table in my office with a basket of roasted chestnuts. Everyday, some girls will come in for relax and snack on the roasted chestnuts. This little table will be our meeting table between the carriers. Akagi, Kaga and Shinano each sat on the sides of the table while I, with Zuihou-chan on my lap, sat at the remaining side.Rei, Amagi and Kii, who is a battlecruiser and battleship, sat on the sofa. Even before starting our conversation, Rei attacked the tail of a startled Kii.

"Hm? But you don't have a mental cube core like us, right? How will you be able to create items with thought projection? Or use them in your attacks?" (AL Akagi)

"Eh? Your Commander didn't say anything about it?"

"He was hiding something from me?!" (AL Akagi)

"Uh-oh..." (Amagi)

"Oh boy..." (Kii)

Akagi's hair and tails flared up. I must have stepped on a landmine. I heard that Akagi is one of the few yanderes in the alliance, but I never knew it was this bad.

"Calm down, Nee-sama. Maybe Commander felt that it wasn't necessary to tell is." (AL Kaga)

Nice save, Kaga.

"But... We swore to share even our deepest secrets. To think he would-" (AL Akagi)

What kind of oath did you swore?!

"Akagi, that wasn't a secret. Remember, he was pretty busy that day. He might have forgotten to tell us." (Amagi)

"Hmm... That must be it. I wish I could have done something to ease his burden." (AL Akagi)

Shinano is already beginning to fall asleep. We better get started.

"Let see... Where do we start?"

"I told you before, Shigure-chan and I already sunk once. Normally if a shipgirl sinks, there is a chance for her to come back. But she will lose all of the memories from her previous life. However, Shigure-chan and I were able to retain our memories from four years ago." (Zuihou-chan)

"How is that possible?" (Kii)

"We aren't sure either. The general consensus is that the the two of them were the results of sinking the Abyssal Phoenix Princess. Since the Sirens made use their negative emotions and memories to create her Abyssal form, Zuihou-chan was able to recall everything. We are still not sure why Shigure-chan appeared as well, but as long as Admiral is happy, everyone else is happy. Geez, Kii, you are so fluffy." (Rei)

"Commander Rei... Please... Not so rough. Amagi-senpai, please help..." (Kii)

"Give it up, Kii. Once they start fluffing your tail, you are going to be stuck for a long time." (Amagi)

"These girls were there the other day for a test. Akashi and Vestal wanted to do a scan on them. They found a red mental cube acting as a separate entity within their bodies. And this girl burned her hands when she tried to create a gem."

I pulled on Zuihou-chan's cheeks,

"Oww~ Don puu on mwy jeeks!" (Zuihou-chan)

"That's... kind of neat." (Kii)

"Since you managed to do it, there is no need to ask us of advice, right?" (AL Kaga)

"That's not the issue. I want to ask how am I going to use this power in my attacks?" (Zuihou-chan)

"Like a skill?" (AL Kaga)

"Yes. Shigure-chan was able to give her attacks a burning effect. I want to do the same too." (Zuihou-chan)

"Wait here. I will show you the data."

I got up and took the stack of doc.u.ments on my desk related to the 'Pyro-shell' experiment. I passed them to Akagi and Amagi for a look.

"This is... interesting. The current equipment could not take the energy influx. So modifications had to be made in order to withstand the input." (AL Akagi)

I picked Zuihou-chan up and sat her on my lap as I return to my spot.

"A napalm effect. My DOT damage reduction may not be able to withstand it." (Amagi)

"That's what I need advice for. Is that any way I can do something similar?" (Zuihou-chan)

"It's impossible, with the current equipment. If Shigure-chan's standard equipment couldn't handle the first test, there is no way yours can handle it without modifications." (Kii)

"I would like to avoid giving all the planes we have an overhaul. It's going to take a long time to modify every one of them."

"But if we don't, I might destroy them in the process. I don't want that." (Zuihou-chan)

"Then why not create your own?" (Shinano)

All eyes were on Shinano. We thought she had fallen asleep. Her head was on the table when we were telling Zuihou-chan's story.

"If you can forge your own, you need not worry." (Shinano)

Why didn't I think of that?

"That's right. Why not create your own planes?"

"Create my own? How do I-" (Zuihou-chan)

"But aren't you all able to do that already?" (AL Kaga)

"No. Tis' the same as me." (Shinano)

"Shinano, are you talking about your Hope's Tempest?" (Amagi)

Shinano simply nodded her head, before letting it fall back to the table. What kind of name is that? It sounds cool!

"Shinano's skill, Hope's Tempest, allows her to launch additional Saiuns to make our enemies easier to defeat. She can launch it along with her usual air fleet." (Amagi)

Zuihou-chan looks confused. She doesn't seem to understand anything that was just discussed. How do we make it simpler for her? Akagi took out a shikigami paper and let it burst into flames. In a split second, the flame engulfed paper transmuted into a plane and started flying around it's owner.

"Something like this." (AL Akagi)

"But I already can do- Oh! You mean create aircrafts by myself? Without using the planes in the hanger?" (Zuihou-chan)

"Yes. Since you can create a gem, you should be able to create an air fleet." (AL Kaga)

"Let's start with one first. Try creating a stationary aircraft."

I don't want her to injure herself again.

"Okay. I'll try." (Zuihou-chan)

Zuihou-chan cupped her hands and closed her eyes.

"Think about the shape you want to take. The thinks you want it to do. Once you got it down, slowly let the energy flow out of your body. Dont worry if you fail. Even Akagi took three sessions to summon her first plane. Ufufu~" (Amagi)

"Amagi-nee-sama!" (AL Akagi)

There was a flash of light, but this time, there wasn't any heat.

"Um..." (Zuihou-chan)

"What kind of aircraft is that?" (Kii)

"It... resembles a cat?" (Shinano)

"Isn't that..." (AL Kaga)

Resting on Zuihou-chan's palm was a fireball with cat ears. There are distinct features on it. It had two holes on either side, and teeth which stretched across from one to the other. This was a dangerous weapon we were familiar with.

"Zuihou-chan... Why did you create an Abyssal Cat Fighter?"

She just looked at me, with obvious confusion and fear in her eyes.