The quartet and Noire have arrived back in Lastation. "Are you sure no one will recognize you?" IF asked the CPU of Lastation. "Of course, the CPUs haven't appeared from Celestia for so long. They'll recognize my HDD, but not my human form," Noire replied.
"What's HDD?" Neptune asked and Noire groaned. "Hard Drive Divinity, it's the true form of a goddess. You used HDD against me," Noire quickly explained, not wanting to teach her old enemy a lesson. "Oooohhhh, so that's what we actually look like? I look so cool," Neptune gushed about herself.
"Would you stuff it Neptune?!" Noire demanded. "Acting like that makes it hard to keep your friends Noire. Unless you have no friends?" Neptune teased, putting her hands behind her head. Noire flinched at the words 'no friends'. Which didn't go unnoticed by Neptune.
"Wait, when you came down from Celestia. Did you not make any friends?" Neptune asked and Noire puffed her cheeks, clenching her fists. "So Noire is a loner?" Compa asked. "Shut it! I have plenty of friends! You'll see!" Noire cried. "Stage one is denial," IF said and Netherrealm chuckled. Noire grabbed her hair and growled in frustration.
The quartet and Noire saw the people were stopping and whispering. Noire's eyes widened when she saw Seiryū, his secretary Kei, along with some bodyguards. Seiryū spotted Netherrealm and smiled. His violet eyes scanned the others with his older brother.
"Brother! It's been too long!" Seiryū exclaimed and gave a one armed hug to Netherrealm. Netherrealm returned it and had something on his face that rest of the quartet couldn't believe their eyes. Netherrealm had an honest to goddess smile on his face. He's genuinely happy to be with his little brother again. Despite some resentment about Seiryū leaving Netherrealm to make it big in Lastation, and never calling.
"I was only gone for day you fucking dumbass," Netherrealm ruffled Seiryū's slicked back hair. The brothers seperated from the hug. Seiryū had realized the quartet and Noire were watching intently Seiryū fixed his hair and waved to the quartet and Noire.
"Forgive me, I was caught up. Netherrealm and I haven't seen eachother in years. We recently met and haven't had the time to fully reconnect," Seiryū explained with a professional but happy tone. "Are you like, um, Netty's lover?" Neptune asked and Netherrealm inhaled at that. Then he punched the top of Neptune's head.
"Are you that fucking dense?! This is my little brother you absolute brainlet! Why the hell would you even insinuate that?!" Netherrealm yelled at Neptune who chuckled nervously, raising her hands in mock surrender. "Hi Seiryū, my name's Compa, I'm a nurse in training," Compa introduced herself with a sweet smile. Seiryū shook her hand and looked at IF.
"The name's IF, i'm the gust of wind blowing through Gamindusti," IF introduced herself with a cocky smirk. Seiryū raised an eyebrow at 'gust of wind'. "We might have some things in common," Seiryū winked and looked at Neptune.
"And this one is...?" Seiryū asked Netherrealm. "Neptune, she's a useful pain in the ass," Netherrealm replied. "Don't slander me Netty!" Neptune whined. "I'm Neptune, like, sorry for uh, sayinsaying what I said about you being Netty's best bed friend," Neptune apologized to Seiryū.
"I don't recognize the uniforms of your men," Netherrealm commented on the white body armor of the guards. They aren't typical Lastation guards. "They are a police force I founded I call The Order. The guards are too incompetent for my tastes," Seiryū explained.
The Order members surrounding Seiryū and Kei stood straight when they were being acknowledged. "Boss, we need to head back. You are needed on the Sub level," One guard said to Seiryū. "I'll come by when I wish to. I'm talking with my older brother," Seiryū replied with a frustrated frown.
"But sir-!" The Order member clamped up at Seiryū's cruel gaze. He turned to the quartet and Noire. "I wish to personally invite you and all your friends to the Tech Expo soon. I want you to be there for Avenir's finest moment," Seiryū said and handed five tickets to Netherrealm.
"See ya there bro," Netherrealm said and gave Seiryū a light jab on the shoulder. Seiryū smiled and hugged Netherrealm tightly. Netherrealm returned the hug, not wanting to let his little brother go. Yet business calls and Seiryū waved goodbye. While Kei and Noire stared at eachother before the entire entourage left.
Netherrealm looked at the tickets with a wistful expression. Before putting them in his inventory. "Well, there goes my skepticism on you being the big brother to the CEO," IF said and Netherrealm smirked smugly. IF scoffed and shook her head, muttering 'asshole'.
They walked to The Guild to turn in the quests they completed while searching for Noire. The girls still had Seiryū on their mind. How both similar and different the two brothers are. Similar faces, the exact same eyes, that same smirk. Clearly the trademark rage is in Seiryū. Neptune, IF and Compa wondered what Netherrealm and Seiryū's biological parents were like.
"That's your little brother? He gives me the willies," Compa shivered. Seiryū, despite his friendly demeanor. Had a calculated and cruel look in his violet eyes. Which is offputting since Seiryū and Netherrealm have the same eyes. Netherrealm never had that type of look. More of a raging, yet arguably merciful demon than a frigid predator.
"Yeah, but did you guys see what was on his suit? It was a pin with a silver dragon on it. Like Netty's tattoo," IF pointed out. They reached The Guild and Compa went in to turn in the quests. Netherrealm clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Yeah, are Netty and Seiryū both part of a secret underground cult?" Neptune theorized.
"That's ridiculous, it's obviously because they're both criminals. So it's probably some gang sign," Noire said to Neptune. "Nah, it's gotta be some magic rune that gives powers," IF also added to the conspiracy. The three turned to Netherrealm as he caressed his back longingly.
"None of those, Dad and Papa used the 'Silver Dragon' as a symbol. It's more of a family crest than anything. Dragons are supposed to be apex predators. Wise, strong and filled with pride. I got this tattoo when I moved to Planeptune. So they're with me in a way," Netherrealm explained. "Dawww, that's so sweet of you. You're our very own shadowy teddy bear," IF teased.
"Fuck off, I'm never opening up to you all again!" Netherrealm exclaimed. "Isn't your friend supposed to be out by now?" Noire asked and Netherrealm raised an eyebrow. Something wasn't right. The four entered The Guild to see it deserted. The back door was open.
"The hell?! Compa! Compa! Where are you?!" Netherrealm yelled out. "Compa!" IF also yelled with a scared look on her face. Neptune ran out the back door. Noire watched this display with her arms crossed. This display of concern and love for a friend. Noire feels something in her heart. She has to help them, but she doesn't understand why.
Neptune came back into the deserted guildhall with a baseball in her hand. IF checked the desk to see the clerk tied up and gagged with a terrified expression on her face. IF untied the gag and the got the clerk to explain what happened.
A group of people led by a woman entered the busy guildhall. Before clearing everybody out and the woman asked the clerk questions about Netherrealm. When the clerk, fearful for her life answered the questions. She was left tied up and when Compa entered. She was knocked out and tied up. Then taken to the back inside a vehicle.
Netherrealm absorbed this information and he asked what did the woman look like. She had long black hair in a ponytail, with her bangs separated like a bowlcut. An open gold snakeskin jacket and steeled toed dress shoes. Black trousers and no shirt, only a black sports bra. To expose her abs. Shadows under her eye and a black eyepatch over her right eye with a gold dog on it.
Netherrealm roared and kicked the desk, breaking it into pieces. Kyoken is here, and she kidnapped Compa. All to get at Netherrealm. "Kyoken is here?!" IF asked in shock. "Jeez, who figured that Netty's stalker would follow him wherever he'd go," Neptune sighed. She's not being sarcastic, she had no idea Kyoken was this persistent.
"Ummm, who's Kyoken?" Noire asked. "She's the boss of the Skoll-Hati Crime Family. Apparently she's been stalking Netty for who knows how long. She rules the streets of Planeptune," IF explained to Noire. Noire processed that information and looked at the baseball Neptune brought in.
"The Lastation Batting Center, that's where they're keeping her," Noire said. As the CPU of Lastation, she knows her nation like the back of her hand. Knowing that the only way to play baseball is at the batting center. Noire put together where Kyoken had taken Compa.
"Then let's go!" Netherrealm exclaimed and nearly rushed out the door. IF grabbed him by the wrist. Then she socked him in the jaw, sending Netherrealm to the floor. Netherrealm stood up and glared at IF. "Don't rush in, going in like this will only get you killed. You end up hurt because you want to fight things. Get a grip, we're going to save Compa," IF scolded her friend calmly.
"Woah! Iffy! Netty! Don't have inter-party conflicts!" Neptune said, getting between the two of them. "Iffy's right Netty, you gotta calm down. Compa wouldn't want to see you like this," Neptune said and hugged Netherrealm tightly. Netherrealm inhaled and exhaled deeply. Before returning the hug. IF joined in on the group hug before Noire cleared her throat.
"Hello! We have someone to save!" Noire called out to the trio. Netherrealm narrowed his eyes at Noire as IF and Neptune separated from the hug. Why is Noire going out of her way to help them? She has no obligation. He'll bring this up later.
Because Netherrealm has to save the woman he fell for. Someone he believes is too good for scum like him. He entered Battle Mode and they all left The Guild. Heading for the batting center. Where Compa is being held, and an eager Kyoken is waiting.