Hyperdimension Neptunia is owned by Compile Heart, Idea Factory, Sega and whomever else worked on it.

Chapter 38

"Thanks, Steamax." Uni said as she finished changing her underwear and putting on some pajamas.

"Anytime, Lady Uni." Steamax said, though he was turned away from her to give her some privacy. "I must talk to your sister about something now and..."

"Wait!" Uni grabbed his arm and clung to it tightly.

"L-l-l-l-lady Uni?!" Steamax stuttered but didn't move. He was about to say something when he felt her trembling. Turning his head, he looked at her and saw the fear on her face, the anxiety and he nodded. "What do you need?"

"Just... Just stay here, please? Until I fall asleep?" Uni knew she was tired, she knew she needed some rest and would feel better if she got some. She also knew that she was a total mess emotionally and having someone near her would comfort her at least a little bit.

"Very well." Steamax nodded and grabbed a chair from in front of her dresser to sit next to the bed while Uni laid down and covered herself up in blankets. "Lady Uni," he spoke up after several minutes and saw that she wasn't relaxing at all. "If you wish to talk..."

"I..." Uni trembled and shivered. "I was so scared, Steamax. I was alone, helpless, betrayed by someone I thought wasn't a bad person and the person who had me put something into me." She gasped as she felt Steamax's hand on her head, gently petting her. "St...Steamax?" She asked, sniffling.

"When your sister created me with these hands, I questioned why a robot would need soft hands. When I discovered I had receptors that could sense pain, I questioned her as well." Steamax still didn't know why he needed receptors that allowed him to feel things, but right now he wasn't complaining about it. "Right now, I'm thankful that she had the foresight to create me with such things."

Uni smiled at him softly. "Thanks, Steamax." Somehow the sensation of him rubbing her head was enough to help her relax enough to fall asleep.

While he watched her, Steamax's eyes weren't looking at Uni, but rather, he was scanning deep into her blood stream and noticed that she did have nanites going through her body. 'Amazing how these CPUs have bodies identical to humans, down to the same organs and everything.' It was quite interesting, even if their bodies burned through poisons and other maladies rather easily compared to humans. But he could see that the nanites in Uni's blood stream weren't being broken down and took note of it.

After making sure that Uni was sound asleep, Steamax got up and walked into Noire's office, though he left the door open slightly so that light could get into her room, figuring that she would appreciate not being in total darkness if she woke up. "My apologies for taking so long," he said in a soft voice, "Lady Uni was still suffering a great deal of distress and requested..." He stopped when Noire held up a hand.

"It's fine," she said and lowered her hand, crossing her arms under her breasts and hefting them up slightly, "I had you built to watch over her anyway."

"Before I forget, she was injected with nanites, I do not know if they are harmful to her, but I thought you should know about it." Noire narrowed her eyes and Steamax shivered softly. "Lady Noire, they do not seem to be doing anything, but I recommend injecting her with an anti-nanite solution after she wakes up."

"Alright, I'll do that. Now..." Noire narrowed her eyes at his right arm. "What's with that?"

"Ah, yes." Steamax removed his arm from the pilfered arm and dropped it on her desk in front of her. "The building that I rescued Lady Uni from had Progbots in it." Noire nodded as she listened. "They were covered in a material that was resistant to even my ninja star." Noire's eyes widened as she instantly realized the implications of that bit of information. "Not only that, but they were being created at the building and there were plenty of people who were overseeing everything and even people who were training and..."

"Enough." Noire stood up and was covered in a black light. When the light faded, Noire was replaced by her HDD self. Her outfit was a pair of metal boots over her feet with a black leg covering that covered her from her knees down to her boots while leaving her thighs completely uncovered. Her processor had a black strip covering her abdomen and crotch while her butt and hips were covered in a light blue bikini-bottom. The top of her breasts and chest was covered in a similar-colored blue covering while the center of her breasts and nipples were covered by a black strip with blue diamonds covering where her nipples would be. The underside of her breasts were fully exposed to anyone who would look at her, as was her shoulders, underarms and the sides of her abdomen and her back. Her hands were covered in clawed gloves with a thick bracelet around both wrists that had sharp blades on the sides of her arms. On her head were two hair clips that had some jagged blades that, with the way they were set up, made it look like she had a crown on. Her eyes had gone from a bright red to a more magenta color and her hair had turned white with red tips.

Like the other Voids in Gamworld, the area of her chest above her breasts was a black hole that pulsed with power, though in Black Void's case, it was covered by her processor. And like the other Voids in Gamworld, her power symbols were black and upside down while her Sclera was also black.

"Lady Black Void?" Steamax gulped, knowing someone was going to die.

Black Void said nothing as two shoulder pauldrons with sharp, blade-like tips, formed and hovered around her shoulders while the sides of her hips had what looked like two giant USB connectors float there beside her. "Steamax," her voice was deeper and oozed arrogance as she spoke while narrowing her eyes while six blue, jagged wings, formed on her back. "We're going, you're going to show me where Uni was held." Steamax nodded and stood up.

"What will happen?"

A small, sinister smile came to Black Void's face. "We're going to make an example out of all of them."

"Of course." Steamax nodded and the two quickly left, heading towards the place where Uni had been captured.

After they left, Kei narrowed her eyes and pulled out her flip phone before dialing a number. "Yeah, it's me. Listen, I don't care what it takes, get that project done by tomorrow, you hear me? Thanks to a screw up we're going to be out of time before we know it. Don't worry, I'll handle things on my end. Now go."

As she hung up, she sighed heavily. "What a pain." Kei knew it would be worth it in the end, but right now, it didn't really matter.

(-)

Down in the lower levels of Lastation...

"Nep Nep!" Compa yelled happily as she, Gust and Warechu came across Neptune, Rom, Ram and Peashy.

Turning and seeing the trio, Neptune waved back and smiled. "Compa!" Her eyes lit up happily as she saw the blonde. "Fancy meeting you here."

"Uh huh." Compa smiled with her hands behind her back. "Want to see something neat?" Neptune had a confused look on her face, but she nodded and Compa pulled her arms out from behind her. "Ta-da! I have hands now!"

"Woah!" Neptune ran up to Compa and grabbed the hands. "They're so hard and shiny! Did you beat up a robot for them?"

Compa giggled at the thought of doing that. "Nah uh, this nice man by the name of Mr. Anny gave me cybernetic arms." She rotated her wrist and flexed her fingers, much to the delight of Rom and Ram, who ran up to her and hugged her tightly.

"Um..." Neptune's face was screwed into one of confusion. "Compa, when you say Anny... Was he a pink robot who talks with a soft lisp and says things like 'honey' and acts like someone who's totally into playing for the other team?"

"Uh..." Compa rubbed the back of her head in confusion. "I don't know about playing for another team, but the way he talked was about right and he had pale skin, blonde hair and blue eyes and was really, REALLY handsome."

Neptune twitched as she heard that. "Anny... Did he have a voice that sounded like a woman's?"

"Yes." Gust nodded at Neptune. "He came across as a pervert too. Do you know him?"

Neptune sighed heavily and hung her head. "Man! Even him?! First Plutie, then him, who next? Copypaste?"

"Uh..?" Everyone said at the same time and Neptune sighed, shaking her head.

"No, no, don't worry, I'm just really stressed out right now." Neptune rubbed her forehead. "I thought I saw someone who knew me and it's been bothering me is all."

"And it is getting pretty late." Compa nodded, knowing that exhaustion wouldn't help Neptune's stress out. "So what should..?"

There was a ringing and Neptune reached into her parka to pull out her phone. "Huh, unknown number." She answered it anyway, figuring it was someone important. "Hello?"

"HEY!"

Neptune winced at the volume before blinking. "Wait a second, isn't that annoying voice Filyn?"

"Who are you calling annoying?" Filyn asked over the phone, her voice filled with anger. "Bah! Enough of that, is Compa, IF and the others with you?"

"Compa, Warechu and Gusty are." Neptune answered her. "What's up?"

"Chromey found this awesome place to rest! I'll give you directions and then I have to call Iffy. If you don't feel like walking, just find an elevator to the upper levels and take a taxi and we'll pay when you get here." Afterwords, she explained where to go and then hung up.

Neptune blinked as the call ended. "So... Who wants to go on an elevator ride?"

The others looked at her in confusion.

(-)

Several minutes later...

After getting out of the flying taxi, which Neptune had to admit was a lot more comfortable than she thought it would be, the group got out when Chrome came out of the hotel to meet them. "Here's your payment." She said to the taxi driver, who nodded and took off after everyone got out.

"So..." Neptune gawked at the hotel. "This place is nice. How did you afford it?"

Chrome smiled at her. "Amazing what happens when you catch a pregnant woman who fell backwards on some steps, huh?" She sighed at the confused looks she was getting. "She's the wife of the guy who owns this hotel and as a thank you we're getting a three day stay for free."

"Awesome!" Neptune cheered happily. "You're the best, Chromey!"

Chrome chuckled as another taxi pulled up and IF and Linda got out. After the group was together and Chrome, Linda and IF had gotten over their shock of seeing Compa with working hands, the group went inside the hotel. After stopping to talk to the manager, they were led to a large, fancy hotel room that broke off into several other rooms.

"This is so cool!" Compa gushed. "A six bedroom hotel room?! And each one has two beds and its own shower?!"

"Plus a television in each room?!" Neptune yelped and started snooping around. "Oh wow! There's a mini-fridge stocked full of stuff!"

"...It's a good thing we don't need to pay for any of this." IF muttered and hissed. "Um... I need to get rubbed down." She sighed as Linda grabbed her and dragged her into one of the rooms and closed the door behind her.

"How about we just relax right now?" Chrome asked, getting a cheer from the others. "There's also a pool downstairs, I think we should go later."

None of them made it to the pool. After relaxing, they ordered food and fell asleep on the beds after eating, all of them exhausted from the long day.

(-)

Meanwhile...

Black Void snarled as she smashed the last of the progbots in the basement that Steamax had lead her to. "Rats scurry fast when their hiding place is exposed, huh?" There wasn't much in the place and she knew that the people had quickly packed up and moved, though how they did so so fast was a mystery to her.

"My apologies, Lady Black Void," Steamax bowed to her, "I would have taken them out myself, but..." He stopped as Black Void whirled on him, her eyes gleaming in repressed anger.

"Steamax, your top priority in that situation was to rescue my sister, you did what you were supposed to do." She let out a huff of annoyance and flicked her multi-colored hair to the side. "I would rather they get away if you complete your mission than they all be dead if you failed."

"...Lady Black Void, I do not mean to presume, but it sounds like you care about your sister."

Black Void was silent, her eyes soft before she shook her head. "Care is too strong of a word, Steamax. As is concern. However, she is to replace me some day and I would hate to have to groom a new successor from scratch like I have with her."

Steamax nodded as he heard her reasoning. "Of course." Standing up, he scanned the building, which was a lot easier this time as most of the walls were destroyed, which didn't impede his scans. "There is no more life signs, there are a few more areas I cannot scan into."

Black Void chuckled as she motioned for him to lead her to the areas. "As if I'm stupid enough not to check every area of the map out."

"Yes." Steamax nodded.

'If they're working for those CPUs of the other nations, then I will make them suffer in ways they have never suffered before.' Black Void narrowed her eyes in anger as her eyes started to gleam. 'Not only those who dare to kidnap my sister, but those who ordered it. When I find out who you are, you will suffer. I swear it.'

To be continued...

Up next, a quick interlude.

I think that Uni would have such a reaction to being in the situation she was in, don't you?