In the late morning The CPUs of Planeptune and Histoire arrived outside of In-D. The goddesses changed into their human forms as they landed.
"Whoa, that was a trip!" Neptune jumped a few times to get the feeling in her legs again. "So where do we find Quincy again?"
"I believe you should know since you were the one who met him." Histoire looked at the city of In-D. "This is truly a wonder of a nation. Let's search for someone who can point us to the basilicom."
Neptune pumps her fist as her legs were back to normal. "Right-o! Ready Nep jr?" Nepgear was silently staring at the city with stars in her eyes. "Nep jr, you okay there?"
"It's so pretty... How does it work? How are the buildings actually growing with the trees?" Nepgear started walking into the city.
"Uh, Nep jr?"
Histoire let out a long sigh. "I think she'll be fine. Let her go for now, we'll call her when we're done."
"Oh okay then!" Neptune and Histoire entered the city, near the entrance they found a machine with roots growing out of the ground. On top of the machine was blue orb that created a holographic image of the city. "This is too wow!"
"Please speak you destination." A robotic voice spoke from the machine.
"We'd like to find the basilicom." Asked Histoire. The largest tree in the holograph turned red. "Looks like were found our destination."
"Alright! Let's get going!" Neptune looked around to see the biggest tree, once found she took Histoire and took off in a dead run.
Going through the city Histoire saw several of Planeptune's missing people. She was happy to know they were okay but still felt betrayed that they'd choice to leave for this new nation.
Neptune was more interested in the buildings the people. The paths of light connect the trees and carrying everyone to the higher levels, it was all so pretty to Neptune. As they got further into the city Neptune slowed to a walk as there were more paths of lights connecting everything.
The branches blocked some of the sun to keep the city from being too hot, the sun still came through to mix with the lights, giving the city a feeling of enchantment.
"This place is almost something from a fairy tale book." Commented Neptune.
Histoire couldn't help but agree. "Very true. Please Neptune, can we hurry up again?"
"Ahh, why?"
"Did you forget why we're here?"
Neptune pouted the rest of the way as she walked to the largest tree in the city. Arriving at their destination Neptune stepped on a metal panel and was lifted up to the mid-level of the tree and outside the basilicom. Unlike the ground level with all of its streets made of metal, the paths were made of polished wood with metal railing growing from the wood.
The doors to the basilicom were made of wood with metal growing over it like vines, the doors opened inward to allow Neptune and Histoire to enter.
The basilicom hall was filled with orbs of light hover in the air. On the sides of the hall were large stain windows though very little light came through them. A blue carpet stretched from the doors to the front deck, along its sides were pew growing from the wood floor, the frames were metal with the seats made of wood.
Neptune and Histoire approached the front desk to find a small white duck wearing a top hat and holding a pen with one wing on the desk.
"Hello!" Neptune placed Histoire on the desk and looked at the duck. "It's so cute!" The duck quaked and put down the pen. On the desk was a phone, the duck slid its foot on the phone and it starting ringing.
"Hello?" Quincy's voice came from the phone.
"Quincy?"
"Neptune? What brings you back?"
"I just came to see my new friend! Oh, and Histoire wants to meet you too."
"Okay then, Hat can you take them to the lounge for me?"
The duck quaked and hung up, it jumped off the desk and waved its wing for the girls to follow.
...
On the ground streets of In-D Nepgear wondered aimlessly as she took in the sights. Everything about the city was a mystery as she wanted to know how it worked. Stopping at one of the many trees and pressed her hand on it, the wood and metal mixed together perfectly.
The sound of clanking metal caught her attenuation, Nepgear turned to the sound and saw a shop selling machine parts. Nepgear gleamed and ran to the shop, inside the shelves were filled with different odds and ends. Nepgear quickly began grabbing several metal parts and devices.
As Nepgear reached out and grabbed a hard drive from the shelf another hand grabbed it at the same time. Nepgear's eye followed the hand to a boy with silver hair. "Excuse me, I kind of need this."
"So do I." The boy gently pulled on the hard drive. "I saw it first so it's mine."
"I reached for it and got her first. So I should have it." Nepgear also starting pulling the hard drive closer to her. "I need it for one of my projects."
The boy smiled as he pulled harder on the device. "I need it for one of mine too. I'm sure that's another one around here for you."
Nepgear smiled as well as she pulled harder on the device as well. "Then why can't you look for it, please I need it."
"Why do you need it?" The two were locked in a stalemate.
"Why do you need it?" Nepgear returned the question.
The boy looked over Nepgear then around the shop. "How good are you with machine?"
"I've built a mech once."
The boy smiled as he became interested. "Tell you what, you let me have this I let you come and see what I'm working on."
Nepgear thought about but still didn't let go of the hard drive. "Can I get to tinker with it?"
"If you're as good as you say, I'd appreciate the help." Nepgear let go of the device and walked with him to purchase the parts she had. "So you got a name?"
"Oh right! I'm Nepgear."
"I'm Tech-u." The two paid for their items and walked out of the shop. "So where are you from?"
"I'm from planeptune, I'm visiting with my sister and friend, but I got side tracked. Now I don't know where they are."
"Are you moving to In-D?"
"N-No."
"Who are you seeing?"
"The CPU."
"Why would you be seeing him?"
Nepgear thought about it for a moment then decide to be honest. "Because I'm the CPU candidate of Planeptune."
Tech-u did a double take that this news. "Really."
"Is that bad?"
Tech-u shook his head as he waved his hand. "No. To be honest with you, I'm also a candidate."
"Really?!" Nepgears surprised by her luck.
"CPU candidate silver brother Tech-u is my full title. But I'd like it if you just called me Tech-u."
Nepgear nearly jumped in glee. "Yes, and you can just call me Nepgear."
"Deal. Come on I'll take you to my basilicom. Our older siblings will meet us there soon or later."
...
Quincy arrived outside the lounge where his guests were waiting. Each time Quincy grabbed the handle was overcome with fear and backed away. "I can't do it." Quincy leaned against the wall opponent of the door. "Why is she here? Did our last meeting not go as well as I thought?" The CPU sank to the floor. "I already have two other CPUs who want to me fail, I can't have another one."
Tech-u's words from yesterday echoed in Quincy's mind, he took a deep breath and stood up. "How will In-D believe in me if I don't believe in me?" Quincy stood by the door and reached for the handle. "Here we go." Quincy put on his game face and opened the door. "Sorry for the wait, welcome back to In-D."
Stepping inside Quincy to find Neptune with a fairy on an opened book along with a duck beside her.
"Hi Quincy!" Neptune jumped up to greet Quincy.
"Hello as well." Histoire also welcomed Quincy.
"Hey Neptune." Quincy gave a formal bow to the CPU and turned to the fairy. "And you are?"
"I am Historie, oracle of Planeptune."
"A pleasure, I'm Quincy." The duck quaked to Quincy. "You too Hat."
"Hat?" Asked Neptune.
"He's the oracle of In-D, Hat."
Neptune and Histoire looked at the duck then back to Quincy. Historie was the one to ask. "A duck?"
"Yes, he's been helping me for almost as long as I've been around. I was walking around In-D and saw Hat walking down the street writing on paper with a pen. It was so cute I had to take him home."
"And you made him your oracle?"
Hat quaked at Histoire and Quincy nodded. "He's very good at his job."
Histoire hung head and sighed. "Am I really competing with a duck?" Histoire shook her head. "Anyway, we're here because I wished to meet you."
"Well met then."
Histoire circled around Quincy. "What are your plans for your nation?"
"Why are you concerned with how I run my nation? I just want In-D to thrive, it's not my aim to destroy the other nations. Shares are needed for a nation to exist, we fight for them, yes, but that doesn't mean we need to be greedy and take them all."
"Says the one with two thirds."
Qunicy grinned as he raised his hand to his chin. "Does that mean I'm working too hard, or is your goddess not working hard enough?"
"Neptune is doing just fine for-"
"Ahh!" Neptune was on the floor with her arms up as Hat attacked her. The duck flapped his wings as he kicked at Neptune, she covered her face with her arms to keep Hat from hitting her.
"Hat, enough!" Quincy snapped his fingers and Hat stopped and flew back to the table, he crossed his arms and smirked. "You were saying?"
Histoire buried her face in her hands. "Neptune...
"I just wanted the hat."
Quincy chuckled a bit. "Hat doesn't like anyone touching his top hat." Hat quaked to Quincy, who took a cracker from his coat and tossed it to the duck. "Need a hand?" Quincy reached into his coat again, this time pulling out one of his gauntlets. Putting it on he raised his arm and a teal energy formed around Neptune, lifting her up to her feet.
"How did you do that?"
Quincy took off the gauntlet and showed it to Neptune. "My matter gauntlets. With them I can create and energy and manipulate it however I what." Quincy put his piece of armor back in his coat. "It's still early, what's say we take this to my place? I have a pile of games for Neptune to play while Histoire and I talk business."
"What games do you have?"
"What do you like?" The answer got Neptune to follow him out of the lounge, she picked up Histoire as Hat flew up and landed on Qunicy's shoulder.
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