Lisa Frank 420, Modern Computer
One day, Nepgear discovered a Macintosh Plus..
...
Chapter 1 : I don't understand
It was spring cleaning in Planeptune. Neptune took the smaller pile while Nepgear did the most work. The lilac sister complained on how the big sis were so lazy and irresponsible.
Though she just left it aside.
'After all, what can change the nature of a man?' she thought.
While sorting out the old computers left behind by their ancestors, Nepgear came across an interesting old model labeled 'Macintosh Plus'.
The main machine were integrated with the monitor, making it similar to small ATM machine. It was yellowed due to age and patches of dust piled up on it.
Nepgear thought of the old computer as cute, she spent quite a bit of time cleaning it, she ditched her current job.
With the power cable, mouse and keyboard ready, Nepgear went back to her room and booted up the Mac Plus.
...
Moments ago, carrying back the peripherals to her room, Nepgear happily hummed a tune. It was Go Love and Peace by Ayane.
Nepgear was just good at singing before, but since her Idol performance with Neptune, her crystal-clear voice gave enchanting feel to their entire abode.
Hearing her little sister's beautiful singing, normally it'd help Neptune sleep better, but Nepgear normally wouldn't sing unless there's something going on.
"Oi, Nep Jr—what's kickin'?"
Neptune already finished her cleaning earlier, she opt to relax in bed for a while. She made a strange expression while Nepgear's eyes shone like diamonds staring at the old comp.
'Eh, it's Nep jr alright.' Neptune thought of it as a given.
Honestly, Neptune were also interested in such retro machine, but it's just a little bit. In her memories, the current Mac PC's would have a white background with a bitten apple symbol, but the actual result left her dumbfounded.
As the Mac Plus booted, there's not even a loading screen; it immediately displayed a picture with pink background: a cut-off statue of god Apollo on the left, below it were patterns of checkered black-pink expanding through the horizon, adjoining with the picture of cityscape overlooking the sunset sky and tranquil ocean beneath.
It's title was green-texted MAC-purasu (written in Japanese katakana), separated by a green line, below were also a bunch of Jap letters. Right beside the 'plus' katakana there's also a green-gem symbol with ten protrusions coming outta it.
Both Nepgear and Neptune couldn't even register such logic. This was just so unreal.
'Even New PC's weren't capable of such feat, needless to say, old ones.' Nepgear conjectured.
As the sisters were admiring the picture, music started playing from the old computer, although Nepgear hadn't even plugged the audio jack.
It started with a mellow sounding synth-string with a melancholic tone, it's layering and mixing created an otherworldly sensation, as if you're drowning in the shopping mall fountain in the 90's or waiting your mother to pick her favorite Soap Opera VHS tapes while you're busy playing with Pager.
When you watch anime VHS with yellow text and lots of artifacts using a CRT TV, you need to shove the video jacks correctly or the colors would be screwed up. Plus points if the picture was all tinted greyscale and you had to smack the TV few times to regain color.
Further plus points if you brought a new color TV only to watch black-and-white movies.
The slow drums echoed throughout the sound channel, followed with a low, baritone singing voice like a man's. His words were cut off before he could say anything else.
'I do-'
After a minute or so from the vocals, it finally formed out its lyrics.
It's your move, I've made up my mind
Time is running out, make a move
Oh, we can go on, do you understand?
It's all in your hands...
Neptune thought the lyrics were 'It's all in your head' prior Nepgear's correction.
It went on with the same loop of instrumentals for good minute; the looped singing of a different phrase resound.
Few more repeats and there came the next lyrics.
I'm giving up on trying
To sell you things that you ain't buying
Ye...yeah...
One more of the same line, continuing with 'it's your move...'
Near the end, there's a moment of disjoint and chaos between the melody, ending up decrescendo from its climax.
...and the song conclude.
"What a weird song."
As the sisters were curious about when will the actual computer went to its OS desktop screen, the song replayed itself—still with the same Roman statue background. This time, the sisters couldn't even do anything beside intently listening.
'Fuck, if only I'd known that...' cursed Neptune
While it's just one or two times more, it was still bearable, but seeing as the song still wouldn't stop, Neptune tried exercising her willpower to break through the restraint.
'Shares, give us your power!'
The sisters end up using the same method to free themselves.
Somewhere in the Planeptower, the Sharicite 'blinked', with instant of passing—an overpowering, invisible presence loomed over Planeptune. Gathering the myriads of lights all over. It conjoined into twin spots heading towards the Planeptower, gradually blossoming in Lilac hue towards both of them. It enveloped their bodies in a blinding light.
The old computer cracked open and disintegrated; leaving behind a pink colored portal in its wake.
The restraint was very strong, for it needing lots of share energy to burst open.
The sisters felt significantly weaker. The Sharicite itself got dimmer, fortunately it kept its ethereal luster.
'Damn, if just breaking the seal took so much power, how strong would the monsters within be?' Neptune felt chills running down her spine as she issued emergency calls to everyone nearby.
Be it her trusty friends Iffy and Compa plus Histoire. The other CPUs and their Candidates; any people that might help.
Like being struck by a devil's luck, the signal was lost and the sisters couldn't even leave their own room as a barrier seem to be formed in the space of open doors.
The windows also had barriers on. Most of all, it sucked since the sisters didn't carry their weapons at all. Punching and kicking the barrier did nothing to it.
"Sis...I'm so sorry, if only I could hold myself back."
"No use crying over split milk Nep Jr, we just hafta clean up the mess."
"It's easy for you to say...we didn't even knew how dangerous the dungeon was."
"Then, do you have a better idea rather than jumping in straight away? I say no for dispelling the barrier with our Share Energy, as it felt even stronger than the restraint applied to me earlier, didn't you feel the same?"
The lilac sister nodded...but she still felt uneasy to her sister jumping the gun too fast.
"...but, we really should call the others via other ways."
"Even if they're our friends, it doesn't mean they would help us in a heartbeat. They're actually very busy themselves and don't you think our predicaments so far had been pretty silly? If I were to tell you-I got locked in my Basilicom from listening to junk computer that's playing weird music, would you believe me, Nep Jr? Hmm..."
That's in the fortunate case one manage to find an escape gap.
Even if they tried destroying the walls one by one, which hopefully didn't have any barriers, the people who watch them would start thinking of their CPUs as Loco. For Neptune, it didn't seem worth tarnishing her image over it.
'I am strong, I just had to tough it up abd beat whichever comes. Sometimes I wish Nepgear would grow a pair.'
While she talked Nepgear out, Neptune noticed something amiss. She followed her gut feeling and scrutinized the portal a lil' bit..
"I'm afraid not, sis."
"I see that you're still not convinced, Nep Jr! Contrary to the restraint and barrier, the energy presence coming from the portal was very weak!"
"Even if it's so, we should carefully plan."
"Anyway, I don't want to lost the shares I painstakingly worked on, okay? Plus, we already got through much worse. A lot of those damn devices actually transported us without a prior notice—this one's better."
"In that case then, shall we sleep for a bit?"
"As expected from my baby sister."
"On a second thought, wouldn't you be worried monsters might come outta the portal, sis?"
"Should be okay...I think? There didn't seem to be any leaks from the other side..."
Neptune definitely wouldn't know that since she's not an Oracle, she just felt it's gonna be alright. To the simple her, it's all 'bout gut feelings, no need for complicated stuff.
Actually, if she actually studied about her Nation, she could derive an example from Virtua Forest, the beginner's dungeon. Like, about it's energy level and the type of monsters inside-plus whether there's one of dungeon breaks somewhere.
Since Neptune were lazy, she didn't know anything 'bout it.
Also taking note of cases where monsters appeared in towns, according to her, it was either a device that summoned them like the Discs or it was a portal connecting both dimensions, like between Zero and Hyper Dimension.
Even if the Mac Plus, to some extent, act like the Disc, it didn't summon monsters right away, but instead a portal.
In the end, there's still no conclusive circumstantial evidence, as it end up in a new case altogether—causing unnecessary Paranoia.
Neptune's ignorance probably saved themselves of hesitation.
In the worst case scenario of the monsters popping up, there were two cases.
Of the monsters able to went through the barrier or not. If they could, it'd be very bad, though it all depend on their power levels. Seeing as Gamindustri were at peace, the news of sudden monster outbreak would be sky hot and their friends would've helped out in a flash. Even if Planeptune would suffer damage, it wouldn't be hopeless.
..but it's only if they're intelligent. Monsters with actual intellect could be counted with fingers in the entire HDN series, at least the main one.
Though Neptune were concerned about some possible intelligent being able to control monsters, she was like: fuck it, power of FRIENDSHIP triumphs anytime.
Although this also meant she couldn't stop being Friendzoned by Noire outside Fanfics and Doujins.
In any case, uncontrolled simple fiends would just charge straight at the sleeping sisters, whose battle instincts were honed for many years. Especially Neptune, she'd be able to wake up from even a bit of killing intent.
If the monsters were very strong, they probably could use lure the monster so destroy the barrier, or any blockade and gather reinforcements while kiting.
That way, they would also look good since they didn't destroy the walls the people built for the sisters. Better let the monsters take the blame.
If anything didn't else didn't work, this was their home turf; they had all the advantages as the patron CPU and Candidate. The home-team buffs were incredible—that's why, the previous Console War were all fought on Neutral Ground and no one had the galls to directly invade a Nation, even three-on-one.
Even Purple Heart herself need the cooperation of three CPUs to defeat.
Who knew if lilac girl got stronger? All the time she kept lazing around, or perhaps there's something behind the scenes?
"I'll believe in you sis."
The sisters took a quick shower and napped for a bit. It's been a while since they bathed together but since they were both nervous and excited 'bout going in, no time were spent on lewding.
It's also been a while since they slept in the same bed. Feeling the warmth of each others' bodies; smelling the pleasant aroma of the soap and shampoo, it made them able to doze off straight.
...
They roused from slumber with fresh mind, followed with deep relief with no sign of monsters popping.
The lack of weapons end up without hitch. They simply disassembled Nepgear's desk legs and prepared to jump into the portal.
[2x Wooden Sword acquired]
"Sis..."
"What's up, Nep. Jr?"
"I could only wield lightsabers and special swords."
Standing atop a chair, Neptune took one of the wooden sword and use it as an extender to pluck off the neon lights in the ceiling. Seeing as it's still not night, it were still visible without direct illumination.
Nepgear received both the lamp and wooden desk leg. It didn't take long for her to search the double-tape.
Stick them together and it's done.
[1x Wooden Lightsaber acquired!]
If she had access to her workshop, she definitely could forge something powerful for both on the go, but no. There weren't any suitable forging materials, although with her current tools in the box, it was enough.
The lilac sister took her time by collecting the most essential tools based on weight / efficiency and stuffed her trusty toolbox.
'This dungeon's definitely not that simple.' thought Nepgear.
To Neptune, however, she made a carefree smile.
"Thank you so much, sis. Let's us go."
..and their adventure began.
Author's Note :
Some of you who're familiar with game, you might mention Conquest Ending due to my explanation about Nation invasion.
In case of Conquest Ending, however. Bear in mind that Planeptune dominated the Share amount by around 55% or more for it to get triggered, possibly offsetting the 'Home Team' buff while the other Nations were left by only a meager amount, or possibly even close to none.
Compared to that, the 'boosted' Planeptune faction could also bring together two more super-powered allies to fight, and even more with party member switch, versus weakened Sovereigns. For some reason, only the CPUs and their Candidates retaliated.
...
Changelog : added some descriptions 'bout Conquest Ending, man I totally forgot that one.
Changelog 2 : edited some parts. I notice my writing was a bit sloppy after re-reading. I hope the sentences flow better.
Writing an Ongoing series for the first time in a while. Don't expect regular updates since I was kinda busy IRL and I was kind of a slow writer, but I'd try to finish it the best I could, given time,.
It's just going to be a short one, got it all planned out to the ending.
Hope you guys enjoy it. Whether or not you do, thanks for taking your time to read.
Any comments 'bout the story, feel free to tell me through Reviews or PM. I was still lacking in experience and ability as an Author so any kind of suggestions might be able to help me smoothen up the next chapters I planned out.
See you later in the next chapters!