A Loose Stitch

Uni stood outside of Noire's office at the Basilicom. It had been a couple hours since she had left the National Game complex. Most everyone had left the region. Lowee and Leanbox had stationed some troops around the floating Citadel. News coverage would routinely show images of the Citadel as people discussed what all this could mean for the future of the goddesses and Gamindustri.

After White Heart battled Corisonde no one had seen her. Uni was sure she was in the Citadel. Waiting. In this case, though, Corisonde didn't know what she was waiting for.

Uni knocked on the door.

"Enter!" her sister shouted out.

Uni stepped in to find Noire speaking with Kei, Ganache, and Eas. The three had been on site when everything happened and Noire had been speaking to them for the last hour. Prior to that Noire had sent her Generals out across Lastation. Uni guessed Noire expected an attack, but who Noire expected to attack them Uni wasn't so sure.

"Uni, what is it?"

"Uh," Uni had her hands behind her back, "Noire, I was hoping I could talk with you for a moment."

"Not now Uni, can't you see I'm busy?"

Kei eyed Uni for the briefest of moments, "Lady Black Heart. There are some matters we three can discuss without keeping you, at least for a moment. It should be no trouble."

Noire sighed, "Okay, okay."

She stepped around the desk and others and walked out into the hall. Kei smiled at Uni who smiled back and then stepped out into the hall as well. Noire shut the door.

"Okay, what is it Uni?"

"Well," Uni moved a foot back and forth on the floor. "I just wanted to say that I know … what you saw."

"Okay."

"And that I could never kill you, Noire."

"Gosh, Uni," Noire shrugged and laughed. "I know that."

"Do you, though?"

Noire looked into Uni's eyes, "I know you wouldn't."

Uni couldn't tell if Noire was being honest or not.

"Anyway, I just needed to let you know that," Uni said.

"Is that all? Uni, you're my little sister, I would never hurt you and I know you wouldn't actually kill me, pff."

Uni hugged Noire who was surprised, her arms out in the air before she awkwardly starting patting her sister's back.

"Noire, I just want you to know that I love you. You're always so strict with me but I know it's only because you want me to be strong like you."

"Uhhhh, of course, Uni," Noire blushed.

"I love you, Noire."

"I … love you too."

Uni let go, sniffed, and smiled. Noire smiled back and Uni walked away. Noire looked after sister and frowned.

"I'm so stupid," she muttered to herself.

She went to go after her sister then stopped. Her hands shaking. She clenched them into fists then threw the door open to her office.

"Ah, Lady Black Heart," Kei said. "Did Uni have something important to say?"

"Oh no, we were just discussing some of the things we noticed today, nothing too important."

Meanwhile Uni was on a lift going down to R&D far under the Basilicom. Stepping off onto floor 12B she entered a passcode and stepped into a small facility.

Along the walls were explosives launchers. On desks were bomb pieces and explosives in development. The room was essentially an arsenal of newer tech. Weapons of the explosive type.

"No more hesitation. This is it," she said in the silent space.

Far away in Lastation Neptune and Nepgear finally arrived to find Blossom, Val, and Histoire waiting for them in the Basilicom lobby.

"Oh good, you two are finally here," Histoire said.

"Hey now," Neptune said, "we came back as soon as we could. We had to patch up Blanc before sending her home, and the maglev is really full right now, what with all the people fleeing what is apparently a homocidal maniac who wishes to kill us all."

"Yes, about that," Blossom said. "I was not yet on site so all I saw was what was on the news."

"Same," Histoire said. "This Corisonde person, she truly defeated White Heart in battle?"

The two sisters nodded.

"And what did she show you?" Histoire asked Neptune.

"Uh, perhaps we should talk someplace more private," Neptune said.

Nepgear and Neptune told the General and Oracle as much as they could. Afterward Histoire was deep in thought.

Blossom spoke to them, "To catch you up on the rest of the world, Lastation has gone mobile, on the defensive."

"Does Noire really think Corisonde will attack?" Nepgear wondered.

Blossom eyed them both, "My opinion is that her mobilizing her forces is a show of force … for the rest of us."

"What the goodness? She can't honestly believe we would try to kill her and Uni?"

Blossom shrugged, "If she met a Uni that had personally killed her in another dimension, then we can only guess at what she is thinking."

"And what are you thinking Histy?" Neptune asked.

Histy had a finger to her chin, "I am not sure. But this whole situation seems odd. We set up the games and she shows up right before your match? Bombs ready? She must have been planning this for some time."

Val spoke next, "This is all our fault, the four of us, I mean. If we hadn't wanted to have the games for all nations to gather-"

"Ah come on, Valley-poo," Neptune said. "The games were a great idea."

"But this Corisonde person took complete advantage of them," Histy said. "All the goddesses and candidates present, except Rom and Ram. And you said she had wondered where they were. We had nearly five-hundred thousand people gathered to witness her introduction and threat. And the fact that she wants the people of Gamindustri to know they can influence her … game as well."

"It was well orchestrated," Blossom said.

"Perhaps she really has truly been to many different dimensions," Val said softly.

"It would seem so," Histy pondered out loud.

"So we need to surprise her," Neptune said.

"Yeah," Nepgear piped up. "We need to do something she hasn't planned on."

"But what?" Blossom asked.

"We would need to know what other kinds of dimensions she has seen," Histy said, but didn't sound enthused. "If we had more information about her we could plan accordingly."

"Hey Histy," Neptune said loudly, "could you maybe try to get in contact with other versions of yourself like you have done before?"

Histy nodded slowly, "I could, but we all know this hasn't been reliable. If it were then we would have had a gate to another dimension by now."

"But, we gotta try."

Histy nodded again, "Yes. I can try. But, it may take some time, again, and I won't be able to help much while I try to focus."

"That's okay little Histy," Neptune said. "We'll watch the fort for ya and keep things under control."

"We do have seventeen days," Blossom said.

"Okay," Histy said. "I'll be upstairs then. I estimate it will take two days for me to make a connection. If someone could please try to be around in two days."

"Will do," Neptune shouted.

Histy left to upstairs. Val bowed herself out. Blossom turned to leave but stopped.

"Yes, Blossom?" Nepgear asked.

"I know you love your nations, you CPUs I mean. And us Generals will stand by you. But don't underestimate Corisonde's threat to the common people. If we don't find a solution soon I fear our nations will crumble in chaos."

The two sisters nodded and Blossom walked away. Nepgear seemed lost in thought. Neptune was watching her sister as Nepgear mumbled something, as if speaking to someone.

"What's up there, Nep Jr.?"

Nepgear startled, "Wha? Oh, nothing."

"Just making sure, little sis," Neptune smiled at her.

Nepgear smiled back and then left to upstairs as well. Neptune watched her sister go, frowning.