Chapter 3:Black Sister
After another annoying loop I managed to pass the forest dungeon, we were reporting our mission to our boss, Histoire, since she is obviously our boss we do all the work and she stays her only doing research... dying sure make me bitter. After some talk they decided it's the best to chase Linda (they still call her Underling...poor her.) So our new destination is Lastation, finally a place I know, it was interesting to visit Planeptune but I'm more curious to see how were in the past the places I know. Since if I'm truly in the past it should have changed, if my memory serve me right the last Tulipe was killed 50 years ago, so I must be, at least around that much in the past, let say 50 randomly. Our goal is recruiting the CPU candidate, someone strong that can transform like Nepgear and... will eventually die. I asked Histoire if the showy super sexy transformation called HDD could be used by a human, my guess is since I've the power of 7 CPU inside me(still can't believe it but heh) maybe I can achieve similar result if it's true best case scenario I'm changed into a gorgeous woman worst case I'm forced into drag, Histoire said she couldn't answer right away, I'll have my answer once we're back from the tripe, which I'm sure will go smoothly.
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" Wow, Lastation sure look like it's a place filled with industrial machinery." Nepgear looked overjoyed by the view of Lastation...a familiar view for me.
"Is this your first time visiting?"
"Yes though my sister did tell me about it. Sometimes she brought gadget back saying they were 'future-proof'."
"Well it's true they're ton of gadget and it's pretty cool, when it works, I mean for someone like me who is bad with machinery it's hell. I always liked more Lowee, I have to admit however that those gadgets truly make life of most people easier and once you understand how it works it's actually pretty funny until you blow your house with a coffee machine." Trying to entertain good relationship with my comrade, like this they'll more likely save me.
"Whoa Arch you sure know a lot about Lastation, you're a resident?"
"I used to live here with my parents when I was around 14." I stayed like one year...we had a tendency to move a lot, before all this crap happen we were gonna go to Planeptune.
"Anyway I'm pretty good with technologies, so do you mind showing me around." Ungh me and my big mouth, Nepgear is looking at me with puppy eyes filled with stars, how can I tell her kindly that I rather got buried under sand and broken glass( well maybe not) than go anywhere with her?Why am I even bothering talking to her.
"Keep the girly shopping stereotype locked inside for now. We've got a lot of business to take care of." Thanks IF, with Nepgear now focused again we headed to the guild. "Since you lived here you can show us the direction, just to make sure you're not lying." Well it must have changed a lot, but I can try.
"The only time I went to the guild was to ask them to look for my Dad who went missing after he blew the TV." They looked at me strangely. "Did I just said it loud?"
XXXX
We arrived outside of the guild, a huge bizarre shaped edifice in the middle of water surrounded by lot of bridge, and to my surprise... nothing has changed(well it's more will change...argh it's confusing me): not the guild, nor the city, nor the whole damned Landmass! It's strange, way too strange, I even say it's creepy. I mean between 3 years okay I can believe it but in 50 years(or more) nothing will change here? What the hell does this mean?
"Something wrong Arch?"
"Aaah IF, Compa don't scare me like that." IF talked behind me while I was busy being desperate in a corner.
"You're always scared."
"True, where's Nepgear?"
" Looking for quests, since you was freaking out alone babbling incoherent things we thought we better speak with you."
"It's pretty kind coming from you IF."
"Why so? Did you think I was some kind of phsyco?"
"If I say yes you kill me?"
"Yes."
"I see, so no." Compa giggled and IF grinned, I myself indulged into a laugh.
"You don't have to feel sad or scared, you proved we could trust you." I was moved to tear mainly because Compa was saying crap but anyway it's still beautiful."And what do you think about Archy , Iffy?." Well obviously she must be a little suspicious about me but I don't blame her, I mean I suddenly felt from the sky! And somehow I like her she is the most sensible of the group after all.
"Well, I misjudged him, he is courageous and ready to fight even when the odd are against him." Why are they holding me in such high regard? Even IF... I tried to abandon them...well it was another loop and... " One the other hand it's alarming to see him become insane in a corner."It can't really by helped did you know... wait, what did Compa said?
"What with this name? It's Arch not Archy!" It's way more important than what IF just said.
"But you need a cute nickname." Why am I gonna choke otherwise?...maybe she's threatening me, something like:If you don't have a nickname you better die...but her current look...
"Don't give me this little teary eyed yorkshire look, Arch is already a nickname, every member of my family is given one by the other, my uncle, for example, was called Théophile and everyone was calling him Paul."
"..."
"Are you sure they had understood what a nickname was and how it works?"
"It makes sense in context!"They're glaring at me in silence. "I think..." still glaring "...A little?..." *Glare*"...no it doesn't." I sigh defeated
"So mister what's your true name? Like this I'll give you a wonderful nickname" I don't want to give it, mainly because of time paradox, I sigh in defeat.
"Alright if you want you can call me Archy." She wasn't listening.
"Wow, look like Ge-Ge made a cute little friend at the Guild." Compa has the concentration span of a goldfish or what? Before I could say anything Nepgear alongside a girl about the same age as her, came out of the guild, when I told her age...she will look exactly the same in 50 years or something let just said she was a teenager.
"Oh you weren't doing quests alone. Hmph. I guess it makes sense since you like a frail twig" The frail twig can kick your ass you know? So the pleasant girl called Uni was Wearing a black dress with milky blue lining, an odd belt like piece with a bow behind it and a big circle with white lining connecting the dress to her collar. She has long black hairs worn in pigtail held with light blue and black ribbons and red eyes , I agree with Compa she is cute and strangely attractive...I don't know why but I just want to be with her. "If you go with a group of people of course the quests are easy." Well it's the goal of it to begin with, I mean why bother with hardship when you can let other work for you. "Let's get this over with."
"What's the quest by the way?" We've begun walking without me knowing where we headed.
"Just destroy some monster infesting the surrounding." ...The only thing that'll change is whether or not we can die while buying milk..eh, in a sense my future isn't that bad.
XXXX
While we were heading back toward the guild after completing the quest(the monster were some fish and badly drawn thing), luckily I didn't die, I stayed behind the girls, with Uni using her giant rifle to keep the monster at distance, it got smoothly, I'm in a good mood now.
Nepgear and Uni were happily chatting like good friends, aaah so heartwarming.
"No kidding I don't think she's smiled like that ever since we rescued her." Really? Didn't notice well I've other thing to worry about and I don't really care about her.
"I'm getting jealous, Iffy. I've known Ge-Ge way longer than this girl."
"Don't turn into a green eyed monster over that bratty little kid."
"Iffy you're the one who has green eyes you know?" Speaking like that with them is funny and pretty relaxing, it's not because I'm in the past that I can't have fun too.
"W-what? It was a figure of... Oh doesn't matter more seriously what level are you Arch?"
"I think I already told you...2."
"Yeah but shouldn't have you level upped since then?" I look at my stats...let's see level 2, didn't change...for next level need...
"I don't see my EXP..." That's weird you mean...level 2 is my maximum?
" Wait that's..."before I could hear the rest, something familiar happened, I felt something cold behind me in contrast to the warm thing covering my legs...a blade was sticking out of my stomach "Arch!"
"Archy!"
"One down."I heard the voice of my killer it was that damned Linda, how am I supposed to expect that? Why did she choose to kill me first? Am I that much an eyesore...or maybe this blow is lethal because of my low level
XXXX
Death End...white room big slot, okay how was I supposed to expect that? Dammit it's way too difficult: I can die every fucking second, I can't level up and I can't go on internet or ask people on Chirper in hope of finding a Walkthrough dammit! Give me an easy mode at least!
XXXX
I awaken...
"Archy are you okay?" Compa looked at me with a concerned look, IF was a little ahead waiting for us while Uni and Nepgear were chatting without paying any attention.
"Ungh Compa? What is it?"
"You suddenly stopped for no apparent reason and you're eyes suddenly lost theirs light." It looks like I got send back just before I was killed...so Histoire isn't the checkpoint...oh yeah Linda...I've to tell them...no Compa and IF are too weak the only one who has a chance is Nepgear but I can't let those two be attacked...and where is Linda waiting is she flying? Maybe if I alert Nepgear fast enough. I quickly ran toward the CPU and her friend.
"Oh look who is coming, the coward boy."
"Uni it's not very nice." What's worse Uni putting me down or Nepgear being nice.
"Not the time you two, listen..." I don't know what to say, I'm too nervous, heh "...kapi kapa, pakoko kabana." what I'm saying must make sense!
"Aaaaagh!" Before they could comment on the sheer stupidity of what I 've just said it was too late, they won't be finished so easily...
"Yaaaaaah!" I charged toward Linda my knife out in order to distract her...it worked she was ready for the impact.
"IF? Compa?" At that moment I turn and run back toward Nepgear, now that everyone is focused on the right person, I better get safe.
"Heh. And the chaperones are out of the picture. Time to care of the little kiddies and the big dumbass!" At least she didn't call me a kid...I examine behind Linda the unmoving beaten girls...they're still breathing, I sigh relieved.
"Who is this uncouth hag?" Yeah it's the first time Uni saw her
"Troubles." I answered on reflex when I hear Underling immediately I think troubles
"More precisely."
"This is Underling. She's one of ASIC's lowest-ranking peons, isn't that right?" Nepgear not understanding or understanding too well.
"Shut your food hole! Stop calling me that!"
"I think her name was Linda but anyway to sum up:troubles."
"ASIC? So she work with Arfoir's minions. Stay back Nepgear and sissy boy I'll handle this myself." Her eyes narrowed and her tone became lot more sharp if she could kill with a glare Linda would be death.
"No can do. I'm fighting too. She hurt my precious friends again. I'll never forgive that." Then you better kill her no because you're not convincing.
"Hah! Don't try to act cool, little girl. I let my guard slip last time, but it'll different now you're a pusho-huh?!" Both Nepgear and Uni shot at the same time, a white light enveloping them and...Ungh?...my chest...it hurt...
"Aaah...aaah...aaah..." I can't breathe...I fall on my knees sweating heavily... losing consiouness...why does...aaah...Uni... like...Nepgear...HDD...?
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I'm in Lastation ruel, my mind is empty I'm facing Uni...she's angry and determined...I don't know why but I can feel it, like she's a part of me, a part I want back.
"3#8/12 #{#é..." She is saying something but I don't understand a thing...what kind of language is this anyway? Doesn't matter I can't speak myself.
"\#[[|\]#37#{\[" Someone else is speaking behind...I can't turn around my eyes are locked on Uni she's more important , I know what to do I *** her ...
XXXX
Once I awakened both Uni and Nepgear were back to normal and talking, they didn't notice me, I feel weird, look like I was unconscious for the duration of the fight, losing consciousness then awakening shortly after... I know how our TV was feeling...and why she blew up.
"Uni you're Lastation's CPU Candidate! I'm so glade. We've been looking for you!" For sole answer she clicked her tongue looking elsewhere. "You'll fight with us, right? We've got to save your sister and protect Gamindustri together." Is Nepgear blind or what? Uni doesn't seem to be in mood.
"Don't touch me traitor!" Even worse than what I was thinking.
"Huh? Traitor?" Traitor: someone who backstab someone else, you don't know this word?
"Why are you here? Why were you saved while my sister got left behind!?" Ah! I can answer that, it's my fault actually, I opened my mouth to speak but no words came. "She refused to take me along three years ago. If she just let me go, maybe I could've saved her. If I went instead of you..." Trust me you wouldn't have mad any difference, tell her Nepgear.
"I'm...I'm sorry. I admit that I failed three years ago, but it's not too late to save you-"
"Shut up! Don't ever, ever, ever talk to me again. We aren't friends. Period!" Uni ran off, what should I do? Chase after her, follow her, be with her, black became the only color I could perceive..and soon everything was pitch black...I was moving , running even, searching for a light...why, why...I don't know I just advanced...afraid of not knowing where I was going.
"Wait! Hey where are you going?"
"Mister?"I heard something, IF? Compa? I'm scared, scared, help me, I want to scream it...Idon't know how to produce sound, .
XXXX
Black,black, black..
"Whoua! Argh ,chhhh, ouch, ." You know when you hit the ground without expecting it, it hurt a lot more...the shock restored my sight the first thing I saw was Uni slamming her feet on my stomach and her gun close to my face. "H-Hello how was your day?" I really don't know what to say so I take word and place them randomly to form a sentence.
"Why where you following me?"It would like to know too.
"I wasn't, it was you, who forced me to follow you!" She didn't seem amused and even mad a click with her gun. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, very, very, sorry, it's just you seemed so angry and I don't like Nepgear so much and had I know I would have freed your sister..." I panicked so much I told her everything and anything that could possibly affect her
"You know my sister?" She looked confused and pulled out of my face the rifle. I assumed a siting position on the ground, taking time to catch my breath.
"I'm sorry, I came along Compa and IF, by chance, to the Graveyard where the goddesses and Nepgear where held hostage, we had only enough Sharicite to freed one person and escape with her, I was the one who freed Nepgear since she was the closest."
"I see...did you saw my sister how was she?" Uni was trembling.
"What does she look like in HDD?" It doesn't matter they were all in the same position.
"Black armor with white hairs." Make sense Uni looks like this too when she is in HDD
"She was restrained unable to move." No need to enter into detail. " The other wanted to save everyone but a monster way too much powerful attacked us and..." I make sure to omit how I reacted and what I thought of the scene
"It's enough...I know it wasn't her fault but I couldn't help it, I was thinking it was unfair...I'm weak...have I went with my sister I would just have been a burden and I would be in the same situation than the other." She clenched her fist, her face turned down, trembling a little.
"Let's tell this to the other, you know...even if it's hard we must allies ourselves, it's a war..." Yeah please don't complicate my situation further for no reason.
"I can't, I don't know what to do if I meet her again, apologizing? It's too hard." She sat too on the ground, knees between her arms, it's hard to apologize? Saying I'm sorry is hard? She can't pronounce the sound? You're fucking kidding... but now that I think about it... it doesn't matter which one find the mascot since they both oppose ASIC.
"You know Nepgear was weaker before but she managed to become stronger thank to the power a mascot character."
"Mascot?" I told her everything I know about the mascots.
"Do you know where to find one?"
"No...but I know someone who certainly do." She got back on her feet and began to leave then turned her head toward me. "You're coming sissy boy."
"Don't have the choice, it's safer with you and I've lost the other."Well ...I'm happy... why? I don't know but just thinking about us alone...urgh...I feel a little nauseous all of the sudden, my chest tightening...I can't be... . "Could you call me Arch?"
XXXX
"I see, the Basillicome, good guess, it's the Oracle of Planeptune who spoke to us about that in the first place." We entered the place who was exactly like Hisoire one, there was a short little white haired boy dressed in black, did I say he was short? "Hey, you it's the place of work of the Oracle it's not a place for little boy to play." He looked at me with a dull expression, I couldn't see any trace of emotion.
"Hum, Arch..." Uni pointed the document he was holding.
"Oh, sorry my bad." He began to smile a little. "So can you tell the Oracle that the sister of Black Heart is here and want to speak with her." Dropped the smile. "What? If you don't hurry, you won't make a good trainee."
"Hmm, I don't know how to tell you that..." Uni spoke uneasy.
"Because obviously you can't be the Oracle, hahahahaha."
"But I'm." A calm voice and surprisingly very mature one, fitting to a boy.
"Continue to believe it."Young one those days, always doing joke.
"But she is." I posed a moment, Uni just confirmed what he said...but Uni said the oracle was a girl.
"It's a boy." Turned back to him. "What's your name?."
"I'm Kei Jinguji, nice to meet you."Not any emotion in the voice again.
"My pleasure, see it's a boy, Kei is a boy name."
"No I'm a girl." Same calm voice, I realize now that I have offended the oracle, the person who rule the land.
"... Aaaaaah! I'm sorry! Very sorry please don't execute me by having cars roll on me!" While begging I got on all four and repeatedly bowed slamming my head on the ground.
"I don't do those kinds of thing, Uni you have found an interesting comrade but wouldn't it been better with your fellow CPU candidate."
"..." She didn't answer. "We're not here for that..."
"I know the mascot character."
"How do you..."
"My job is to gather information, for example I know that Compa, IF and you are Planeptune resident and..."
"Wrong."
"What's wrong?" She seemed a little irritated.
"I only was in Planeptune for some week, in fact I don't know very well Planeptune, not at all you can say." She now seemed genuinely worried, did I say something wrong? She still took back her usual look before pursuing.
"Hmph, strange, but anyway you're not here to talk, you need some information I have in my procession but I won't give them for free, I need something of equal value."
"How dare..." Uni was about to say something when I stopped her.
"Seem fair enough what do you want exactly?"
"Happy to see someone sensible once in a while. I would like for you two to search for Hematite."
"Wait a minute, I'm okay with exchanging things since 'when you're good at something you shall never do it for free' but ask for something possible." Hematite is extremely rare and valuable jeez, I found it once by chance and by selling it I would have lead a life without needing to work anymore, but I got robbed...anyway it's past.
"You're misunderstanding, we already spotted Hematite, we just need you to recover it by beating some monsters."
"Then it's a easy job we'll do it." Easy for you Uni not for me.
"Then it's settled." She told us the location, we were about to depart when... "Could you wait a moment Uni I need to talk with your friend."
"Okay."
"No please don't leave me alone, please!" She smiled waved goodbye and left. "So what do you want? If it's about calling you a boy..."
"I know you betrayed your party to follow Uni." Fell like being stabbed and I'm a specialist about being stabbed. "While I can't approve this conduct and I'm genuinely confused about the lack of information about you, the fact that you chose to do it for Uni reassure me in a way but I want you to promise me to never betray her... and if you dare break this promise..." Her voice was a lot more menacing and scary, like a blade pointed at my throat. "...Then I will become your enemy and I wont take rest until you're punished." I silently nodded. " I want to hear it."
"I promise no matter what happen I always be Uni ally even if the world turn against her." I said straight like a stick.
"I expect no less." She smiled, truly in what kind of trouble have I again ended in? Do I really look like a reliable person so much? If that's the case I need to change my look.
XXXX
"So your point is that you can do anything as long you're strong?"
"I won't say anything but you need to be strong to save the world." While going in direction of the location of Hematite, we were chatting a little for passing time and I asked Uni about how she would save the world, thus this answer, if she is right I'm pretty much not the right person for this job like I first thought.
"How should I apologize to Nepgear?"
"You know saying sorry, look I always do it." But it never works.
"I know...but it's so hard...fighting is easier." She is a very strange person.
"Then what about conveying your feeling through a fight!" I clenched my fist in front of me and assumed some pose that a hot-blooded pilot of giant robot wouldn't deny, it was of course a joke, no sane person would take it seriously.
"Through my fist...uh." She clenched her own fist with a determined look. I don't feel responsible the slightest for what is gonna happen.
"Look I think it's the monster." Pointing in the direction of the monster, I was hoping she would forget it.
"Gotcha! Give it up already and drop that Hematite!"
"Hum?"
"Agh! N-Nepgear!"
"Uni were you looking for Hematite too?"
"Y-Yes but why are you...? Well, I mean...the other day...that is, it's weird to just apologize, but you suddenly appeared out of nowhere and..." Ah, Uni is trying to apologize, great everything will be settled peacefully and we'll form a team anew.
"I'm so glad you're okay. I was worried. We parted ways so unexpectedly. Kei asked you to do this right? Why don't we defeat the monster togeth-" Wait, wait, wait is she even listening?
"Hey look who is here?" I turned to face the voice who belonged to IF she was with Compa and another girl with bright dark blue hair rather long but worn with curled stand, blue eyes, she wears a revealing black outfit with big cuffed sleeves over a pair of gray gloves. Underneath her outfit is a grayish wrap/bandage styled top. She wears a big, loose scarf and she has a pair of goggles on her head. She look cool, I guess but she has a very flat chest, of course since she is with the other she must be super strong so better not mention this point.
"Yo, IF how..."
"Why did you left us?" What a frightening voice and look
"Hm? Come on it's not like it was a big lose..."
"It doesn't matter you left us, you betrayed us."
"That's right the goddesses punish those who abandon their party."
"Compa can I remind you that the..."
"Answer!" IF is really pissed, I never saw her like that before, it's like she is gonna kill at any given second
"Argh, but there is a monster and..."
"It's fine the other too are arguing."
"Excuse us mister monster, could you please give us a few more minutes?" Am I dreaming or did he agree?
"I'm sorry IF but I thought that it wasn't fair that Uni leave like that, I followed her because I wanted to reconcile her with Nepgear and I thought that if she finds the mascot then maybe..."
"I see... so you didn't have any ill intend, you was just being naive I forgive you." The way she said it and how she isn't looking at me isn't really convincing. "But look like your plan failed miserably." The two CPU candidate were arguing they were ready to stop the other from having the Hematite, I wasn't worried it was more childish than violent.
"Yeah, I knew it but I had to try." It would have worked had Nepgear not screwed everything.
"Hey, common citizens can't we just smite evil already?" The new girl speak strangely...and she seems eager to fight...not a good sign.
"Let them bitch for a while longer. we don't need this resentment to steep." Meanwhile, Compa is drinking tea with the monster, well if she become friend with it, we maybe won't even have to fight.
"By the way who is your new companion?"
"Oh, right..." The concerned girl cleared her throat and...
"Grr? Grrrrr!" Grrrr? Weird name... wait it wasn't her name it was the monster or monsters they were 3 of them rather small cat with punk hairs cut. Like alway I hid behind the girls, next to Compa. Only IF, Nepgear, who stopped her fight with Uni to rescue us, and the blue haired girl is participating. I'm rather curious to see how she do.
Nepgear took the first monster easily using her Mirage Dance, she really got a lot stronger and is more confident she doesn't use clumsy attack anymore they're now precise and assured.
"Justice Blade!" What the...she scared me screaming like that... wait she is wearing a penguin shaped backpack...strange tastes. The blue girl took out a yellow gun, a laser blade extended from the tip, using that she slashed at the monster. Actually Nepgear was the one who defeated the monster with the most ease she took care of two: her and finished the one IF was fighting. Once the way was cleared I closed the distance with the girls.
"So can we finish the presentation." I'm really curious to know her.
"Oh...right." She cleared her throat.
"This is Nisa." The girl calling Nisa nearly felt on the ground.
"Hey, don't cut me while I'm doing my introduction."
"We don't have time we have a job to do." A white flash came out of nowhere, this time my chest didn't hurt and I didn't lose consciousness, Uni had assumed her HDD form she was wearing a black armor and had white hairs and green eyes.
"Face me Nepgear. If I win you'll leave the Hematite with me."
"You're still going on about that?"
"I want to face you one-on-one. Please" She took what I said seriously?
"Fine I'll do it." A quiet but determined voice.
"Ge-Ge what're you saying?"
"Let them duel. This is serious. Whose justice is more just!?" I won't point the stupidity of what she just said but strength isn't justice.
"Good. Don't hold anything back. If you go easy on me I'll be even more upset than I am now!"
"You don't have to tell me that. I don't intend to lose...ever again!"Nepgear too assumed her HDD form. I glared at Uni she glared back, I smiled to her, it's the only thing I can do to encourage her, I think she too smiled before turning back to Nepgear, I'm not sure. The duel of two friends who aren't able to understand each other. All I can do is look. I'm secretly cheering for Uni.
Uni opened the match by shooting at Nepgear with her new canon, the intended target managed to avoid every shot, it looked a lot like those game on Arcade with spaceships, this battle is a battle of position, Uni is a long range fighter while Nepgear is a close range one, however in her HDD form her sword can shoot like a gun too and she mad use of it, while avoiding another yellow projectile she shot with her own weapon, Uni blocked it with her canon but it slowed her down enough to give the purple sister a chance to close the distance, she jumped in the air and delivered a diving attack which was blocked too by the black one own weapon. Planeptune candidate still having the upper hand oriented her weapon in such way that she could shoot right at her opponent, she did,Uni was able to escape unharmed by bending her body with difficulty, she then tried to hit Nepgear using the weight of her canon, she jumped over the weapon, readjusting her aim Lastation candidate tried to deliver a point blank shoot, Nepgear hit with her sword, getting the canon out of the way leaving the long range fighter open and throwing her out of balance, taking advantage of this the gunblade wielding goddess chained with the Mirage Dance. The HDD form of Uni was disabled, she felt on her knees, short on breath. Nepgear canceled her HDD form as well standing as the winner.
"There I win."
"Hmph I went easy on you. I let you win this time, but it won't happen again." Blatant lie, I don't know what I must point first...Aaah! She ran of I began to chase after her but after two step I force my body to stop...no, I can't, I'm not betraying Uni but Nepgear is the one that survived, if I stay with her I think I'll find the answers. Fighting my urge to follow Uni, I slapped my face with both hand, getting back my senses ready to follow until the end Nepgear, Compa, IF and... I turn toward Nisa.
"By the way why are you accompanying us?"