Chapter 44:
"…My head hurts…" I massage my temples. Damn you Ronald Linn Rivest!
"… Jared, is it those again?" Neptune's grip on my hand tightened.
"No, not those. I kinda used my head a little too much" I assure her by petting her head.
"So, you mean that you're the type of dork that knows a lot when he's serious huh? Man, I feel really relieved that our heads isn't that all gapped!"
*CHOP!*
"Owwwiee…" what the hell are you saying woman?
Having arrived at some factory, the following lines above had just happened. The factory looks like it was just abandoned a few years ago, since the foliage isn't all that thick and the building itself is not all that deteriorated.
*BEEP!* *BEEP!* *BEEP!* *BEEP!*
"The response is getting stronger. I think we're close to the terminal receiving the video feed" Nepgear announces as her… um, radar emits a series of sounds.
"So they're hiding in a factory they tried to destroy before? They found our only blind spot…" at least they're using their head Noire.
"Sounds like you've already decided that this criminal is one of the Seven Sages" Neptune voiced out.
"Of course it is! Who else could it be!?"
"A horrible person, perhaps…" I answered.
"Well, like, some kind of crazy Noire-lovin' maniac…"
"Cut it out! I thought you were going to reflect on what you said earlier!"
"Before we get on our knees and reflect, let's get to Noire's crazy lovin' maniac before he gets to us first" the first move is always the most important one.
Walking towards the factory, with Nepgear in the lead, I push open the doors to the warehouse section of the factory. Letting the girls in, I observe as I close.
The place is filled with mountains and mountains of junk. Scraps of metal on one mountain, another mountain dedicated to papers, another mountain dedicated to more junk. The place isn't all that bright either. I look for the switch by hugging the wall.
"It's like a haunted house!" Plutie said.
"Yeah, it looks really, really creepy…" Noire agreed.
"Pfft! No ghost will be able to scare me!"
"Neppy is so brave!"
"Goodness, I can't find the lights" Nepgear feels the wall for anything.
"Me neither Nepgear. Have you checked the corner?" although our eyes have gotten used to the darkness right about now, we can't actually walk through this place without proper light.
"Goodness, there are so many webs here!"
"Careful for any big ones…" where is that switch?
"Guah! I really can't see anything"
"Is it just me or did the place got darker?" Noire said.
"So this is a haunted house! Neppy, let's go exploring"
"Um… Ah… let's wait for Jared…"
I search and search by feeling the walls, I've also encountered my fair share of spider webs here. I try to hold back sneezing from all this dusts. Eventually I reach the far side corner. I feel a few more times before I get back.
"I found it!" thank you, Nepgear! With a light run, I head back towards the 3 girls that I left.
"I'm turning it on!" hearing the sound of the switch, the lights came back to life.
"It's so dusty here…" Plutie said.
"Whoo… Thank goodness that the lights are back!" Neptune is relived.
"Why do you sound relieved?" Noire notices.
"Well, I really don't like it if some other dude from your fan club decided to kidnap me and do all sorts of things!"
"If that happened, I'll murder the bastard" I'll do him like I did with Yvoire and countless others. That'd be nice.
"Don't worry, Jared. I won't get kidnapped! I'll beat him real good and you can do the rest!"
"You're really trying to turn me into a demon lord character, huh…" this woman really does give you some headaches. In a good way, mind you.
"I'm back…!" we all turn to Nep...geaaaaaaaaaaaar!
"NEPU! IT'S A GHOST! IT'S A GHOST!" Neptune screamed her lungs out as she hides behind me and uses me as a shield against the abomination.
She really isn't an abomination though. Nepgear is just covered from head to toe a bunch of spider webs. She looks so ghostly, that I would be really surprised if she passes through physical objects.
"Nepgear… Look at yourself for a moment…" I said to her.
"Eh…? Goodness, why am I covered in spider webs!" you only noticed that now?
"Nep Jr.? Oh, it's just Nep. Jr! I thought it was ghost or something…"
"Neppy, Neppy…" Plutie tugs on Neptune's sleeve.
"You're afraid of ghosts, aren't you?"
"Nepu? Me, the main character afraid of ghosts, meeh... that's impossible"
"Oh really? I think I remember about our first date that you were-MmmFgh!" she just covered my mouth.
"Pfft! You're afraid of ghosts, what are you 12?" Noire laughed through her nose.
"Grrr! At least I'm not afraid of being alone"
"I told you already that I'm not that lonely!"
"Sis… doesn't like ghost huh… I better take note of that" what are you whispering over there sister-in-law to-be.
"Ha—ACHOOO!"
"Look, you're sneezing over there, Nepgear. Come here so we can help you brush the webs off"
"*sniff!*…O-Okay…" she walks over to us.
*BEEP!* *BEEP!* *BEEP!* *BEEP!*
"I'm picking up a big reaction. We must be getting close" Nepgear announced.
After getting all the webs from Nepgear, we continued exploring until we were stopped by yours truly. We're under an old light shining from above, like a spotlight for a show. Looking around, there isn't anything all that much to hide a server or a terminal. Ahead is no more than another set of walking, and behind is…
"Mmm, correctamundo, sweetie. Maybe this problem was too easy for such a smartypants" …a mysterious voice of a woman is heard.
"Show yourself!" Noire demanded as we all turn towards the source.
"Aww, but Noire didn't solve it. It must be hard for someone dumb to act smart around her friends" he added.
"Oh, so Noire is dumb…" Plutie said in a 'oh so that's what it was!' tone.
"How sad for Noire, forcing herself just to look smart" it isn't bad to be dumb.
"I had an inkling that was the case. She probably works so hard because it makes her look smarter" Neptune added.
"You're the very, very, very last person I would want to hear that from! Come on, show yourself!" she changed the subject at the very last minute.
"Don't such a pushy pussy cat. I'll come out without being forced to do so, okay?" and stepping into the light is a… robot?
The robot is cranberry jello pink in color with several other parts on his shoulders, arms, legs, back, and feet that are green in color and glowing. He also has a hint of yellow-orange on his suit in the mid-torso and arm regions.
"I assume you're the idiot who's doing whatever you want with my nation, huh?"
"Wow, a robot…! No, wait… It's more like the kind of thing you wear as a power suit…!" beware, the electronic otaku is seeing heaven.
"Uh, Nep Jr., why're your eyes all glowing stuff now?" the big sister asked in concern.
"Ooh, it's Noire…! The real deal, in the flesh…!" the robot with a madam-voice says in ecstasy.
"Its eyes are totally the same!"
"Wh-What's wrong with this thing? It's grossing me out..."
"Pardon me. I got a little too worked up!" the robot inhales and exhales in an attempt to calm himself (?) down.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am the Seven Sages' wizard, working behind the curtain..." he...uh... I'll call it robot. Put a hand on it's heart.
"The super hacker! Anonydeath!" wow... I'm really starting to question the parents who thinks up these crazy names.
"Noire, I would really like it if you would referred to me with a cute little pet name, like Anny" isn't that 'cute little pet name' something common now? You have shallow desires robot.
"No way! There's no way in hell I'll call you that!" ...and this is the reason why Noire doesn't have any friends.
"Hey, even though he has a really manly design, why does he sound so frilly and poofy?"
"Stop, Plutie. There are things in the world that should be left unanswered"
"Just as he said sweetie. Don't worry about the boring details. Gender is a non-issue for robots, you see" so you're... what? A hermaphrodite?
"Besides, my heart is more pure than the hearts of every maiden in the whole world!" the robot spreads its hands high as if showing us something grandeur.
"He's a cool-looking robot, but underneath it all, he seems slightly disturbed..."
"And just like that, my sister no longer cares about a really cool robot design"
"At least she didn't go head over heels for a robot with questionable features" that would absolutely be terrible.
"He's gonna drive me insane. What do you want? What will you gain by doing this to my land?" and why would the robot drive you insane? Because he's a fan?
"It's all for love..."
"Huh..."
"Wow..." I'm flabbergasted.
"Uh-oh, he confessed to you..." Plutie is excited.
"Those raven-black hair, those sexy and taut twintails... Your adult face that glows with innocence..." wow...
"Your contrary attitude and hints of otakudom... Mmmm! You are a home run to the stadium of my heart!" Bwaahahaha! Whoo... Double wow!
"What the hell are you going on about!? How does any of that relate to hacking!?" flustered level now on level 2.
"Well, shy nerds tend to tease to the girl they like, no? It' the exact same thing!"
"What a world! Noire has a friend and even a secret lover here!" Neptune said in complete astonishment.
"It seems Noire here is more famous than we thought, in terms of relationships that is"
"Don't say that he is my secret lover! Why would you like me if your heart is like a pure maiden?"
"When it comes to love, I am pure. And if it's pure, then there's nothing wrong if it's 2 girls!" Anonydeath answered without shame.
"Hooraay for same gender marriage..."
"Yes, there is! There is something majorly wrong! And don't patronize him!" Noire directed her anger to me. I raise my hands in defense.
"Mmmm... I would watch you work every day through my secret camera and never grow bored..." isn't it getting obvious that you're the one that planted that bug inside her room?
"So cute, sitting at your desk and holding back tears while trying to do your best..."
"I kind of figured Noire's fans would be like this..." Nepgear said.
"These weirdos are known as the fungus amongus. And this is proof that they thrive in Noire's presence" Neptune, please don't categorize Noire's fans as an organic dried mushroom. Unless they are part of the band Incubus.
"That's not true! This guy's just especially insane"
"Oh, and the times you would take a break to pose in front of the mirror, or sew cosplay outfits..."
"I see... So Noire does cosplay..." it seems I have a lot to learn.
"The faint smile on your face as you check your hardrive. Mmmm!" now that sounds weird.
"HAAAWAAAHWHAAAHAA!" Noire screamed.
"...Noire do you really do all that when you're alone?" Nepgear questioned.
"Your image is questionable now, Noire"
"Don't talk to her right now. You'll get bad grades or whatever. Nepgear, Jared, try to make new friends" Neptune advises both of us.
"I... I don't do those things! He's making it all up! There's no way I would... would..." and there's no way we would believe you if you're panicking like that.
"Oh, my aching heart! If you insist on being so stubborn, I'll broadcast the videos worldwide!" now that's an interesting thought, Anonydeath.
"What!? S-stop it! Please don't do that!" Noire begs with almost tears in the corner of her eyes.
"I'm kidding. I would never waste my precious data of you by giving it to the world!"
"Ugh... This guy takes the cake. He's the worst villain we've faced by a wide margin" for you that is. We're learning a lot from him.
"Mmm, what a lovely expression! Nothing beats the real thing. Webcams pale in comparison!" of course they are.
"Awww, hey... You're not allowed to tease Noire..." Plutie comes to the rescue!
"Plutia..."
"Oh, what's that? But it would be such a waste not to tease a girl who's begging for it" Anonydeath replied.
"No, I understand that..." Bwahaahahaahahaha!
"You agree with him!?" HAHAHAHAHA! She is, woman!
"Just like that, Plutie's switch has been flipped on. If this keeps up, then..." Neptune said as she pulls me to step back.
"There's only one person who's allowed to tease Noire..." Plutie glows...
" '...And that is me!' " and madam goddess came.
"Oh man, just as I thought...!"
"Uh-oh... She's appeared... This Plutia is traumatizing..." what did she do you, Nepgear?
"H-Hey! Don't just transform just because you feel like it!" Noire said.
"Ooh, scary. I figured since we're both the same type of person, we could become skank sisters..." Anonydeath invites.
"What a shame. Unfortunately, I have a case of megalomania. Noire, Neptune, Nepgear, and that boy..."
"All of them are pets!" and when did I signed up for that?
"Well, she's gonna do what she's gonna do. Nepgear, we should transform and protect ourselves!" Neptune quickly told her sister.
"O-okay..." the sister glows...
" 'I can resist her a little bit in this form, anyway...' "
" 'Aww... I don't change much...' "
"It's good for you that you get to change and all, but I'm completely exposed to her dominatrix..."
" 'You're a passerby, right? You can handle her...' " Neptune said with a smile.
"Goodie, everyone transformed! I like that you show more skin, but the cuteness factor decreased" Neptune still looks cute whichever though. And Nepgear doesn't change all that much.
"Noire, could you pretty please with sugar and diamonds and hot fudge stay on top like that?" Anonydeath begs.
"No. As if I'd do you any favors" Noire is a stubborn girl. She glows...
" 'You've invaded my privacy, so I need to pay you back with spades!' "
"Aww, I don't like this one. I like the normal Noire. Besides, this one's got white hair..." the robot complains.
"A shallow love..."
" 'How sad. Your lust for Noire only extends that far...' " and don't call it lust, madam goddess.
" 'I need to think up a meaningful punishment to give to the fool who teased my darling pet...' "
"I can't wait! While I love to dish it out, sometimes I'm fine with taking it, too!"
" 'Don't hold back, Plutia! Grind this perv to dust!' " Noire commanded.
" 'Mmm, Noire gave me permission to play. I don't plan to hold back anyway, so that's fine' "
" 'If those two take things too far, we're going to have to stop them. Understand?' " Neptune told me and Nepgear.
" 'Aww... I don't think I can...' "
"Roger that" a katana appeared before me, I catch it before it falls.
"I'm not okay with just sitting back and getting whipped, however" Anonydeath said as 9 blades, of the same color scheme, surround it in vertically.
"Neptune..."
" 'Yeah?' "
"I have a plan..."
" 'You always think of one' "
" 'Get ready perv!' "
*BANG!*
