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

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Chapter 80

"Boy, I feel kind of embarrassed going off like that." Neptune giggled as the group sat at a large, round table in the corner of the room. Nepgear and Chrome sat on either side of her with Rom and Ram sitting on either side of them with Filyn, Peashy, Uni with Steamax next to her and Cave sitting across from Neptune.

"I can imagine." Cave smirked at her. "I can't believe how much you look like our CPU."

"Well..." Neptune began and wondered how to explain it before mentally shrugging. "I'm from Gamindustri."

"...Gamindustri?" Cave asked, confused and she could see that Nepgear was a little confused as well, but it seemed like she had some clue as to what was going on. "I've never heard of that place."

"I'm not surprised," Chrome told her, "after all, it's an entirely different universe." Chrome and Cave both gave Neptune a look demanding she explained things in detail.

"Well..." Neptune trailed off and scratched her chin. "It's like Chrome says. I'm from another dimension."

"You expect me to believe that?" Cave asked, a look of curiosity on her face.

"Well," Neptune tapped her chin, "not really, but then again, how do you explain me looking so much like your CPU?"

"I dunno," Cave gave her a flat stare, "maybe you're a clone of our CPU?" She blinked as Neptune's face suddenly smacked into the table. "Uh..?"

"Now I know how Noire felt when I called her a clone when I first ended up in Plutie's world." Neptune muttered against the table. She lifted her head and gave Cave a flat stare.

"I can guarantee you that Neptune is not a clone." Histoire, who was in front of Neptune, "and yes, she is from another dimension."

Cave looked at Histoire and shook her head. "I do not know you, but it's not worth arguing over." She looked at Nepgear and then at Neptune. "And what is your plan for Lady Nepgear?"

"Well..." Neptune trailed off and looked at Nepgear, smiling softly, "I want to help her become a good CPU, not a Void."

"But my sister doesn't want me to become a Void either." Nepgear pointed out to Neptune, who looked at her in surprise. Nepgear looked kind of nervous at the look she got. "She told me that she didn't want to fight me to the death or anything."

Uni snorted at hearing that. "Considering how she treats you, I think she has some other reason for not wanting you to become a Void." Nepgear was confused and Uni sighed, before clarifying. "I saw how she was treating you yesterday." There was a smoldering look of anger in her eyes. "That was... Disgusting."

"Did the bad Neptuna tie her up?" Peashy asked.

"Or break her ribs?" Rom asked.

"Or make her watch while she hurt others?" Ram asked.

"What the heck?!" Nepgear's eyes were wide and blank. "No! My sister just made me pretend to be a dog and go for a walk."

"While putting a collar and leash on your neck and making you beg to get a cookie." Uni shot back at her.

"But that's just how she plays and..." Nepgear tried to defend herself before Chrome interrupted.

"Neptune, did you ever make your sister in your world do stuff like that?"

"Well," Neptune tilted her head, "there was the time that I had to run off with Plutie and the others and I had Nep Jr. watch the babies and I forgot to get her a gift. And I kind of shoved all my work off on her for awhile before that..." Neptune grimaced. "I don't want to talk about it, I was a bad big sister then."

"The fact that you're upset by how you were back then shows that you've grown." Chrome pointed out to her. "Plus I have a feeling that your younger sister didn't need as much guidance as Rom, Ram and Peashy have needed."

"Well..." Neptune looked at Nepgear and smiled. "Yeah. My Nep Jr.'s a bit of a pushover, but she's earnest and she stands up for herself more these days. But she was always a hard worker who wanted to make everyone happy."

"I see," Cave said while her eyes were closed. "I don't know if I believe that you are from another dimension, but I can believe that you are different from our CPU at least." She opened her eyes and gave Neptune a serious look. "I have a message to give you. The CPU wishes to meet with you in two days, probably around noon."

"To fight, huh?" Neptune sighed and she rolled her eyes at Cave's confused look. "I've fought every other Void that I've met so far, why wouldn't I fight me?" Neptune had a confused look on her face. "So if I fight me, does that make me..."

"No." Chrome told her. "Whatever you're thinking, no."

Cave chuckled and stood up. "I see, well, there's one other piece of information I wish to pass on." Neptune nodded and Cave looked at Nepgear for a few moments before looking back at Neptune. "Would you be so kind as to watch over Lady Nepgear for the next couple of days?"

"What the heck?!" Nepgear had a shocked expression with blank, white eyes with black rings around them. "What are you saying, Cave?" She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "I hardly know them!"

"Forgive me, Lady Nepgear," Cave told her, "but I would feel better if you were watched over for a couple of days."

Nepgear sighed. "I guess..."

"Hey," Ram spoke up, smiling at Nepgear, "it'll be fun. Big Sis Neptune is awesome." Nepgear smiled back at her, though it looked somewhat forced to everyone at the table.

"If that is all, I must be going." Cave bowed to them. "I do have to make sure that the Knights are informed of this development." Straightening up, she turned and left, her body moving in such a way that most people in the room had to stop and stare as she walked out.

"Boy I hope she doesn't walk near traffic when it's busy," Neptune had a lewd grin on her face as she giggled at the thought of Cave's hips and butt distracting people while driving.

"I hope you're not thinking it's funny if people would get hurt while distracted while looking at her rear end." Chrome gave Neptune a disappointed look and Neptune shook her head.

"No! I don't want anyone getting hurt!" Neptune protested. "It was a lewd thought, I couldn't help but giggle."

Chrome sighed and gave Neptune a rueful look. "Get your mind out of the gutter." She rolled her eyes at the pout that Neptune gave her.

There was a sudden giggling sound and Neptune and Chrome both looked at Nepgear as she held her hand over her mouth while she giggled. "What the.. hee hee, it's like I'm watching a comedy sketch on television."

"Lady Neptune, Lady Chrome, I wish to speak to the two of you in private." Steamax spoke up as he stood up, along with the other two. "Lady Uni, I..."

"It's fine, go." Uni nodded and smiled at Nepgear. "I think we should introduce ourselves, huh? You know me and I'm the CPU Candidate of Lastation."

"Pea next!" Peashy held her arms into the air. "I'm from Leanbox and I'm supposed to be a good CPU too!" Nepgear looked at Uni to translate and Uni sighed.

"She's the CPU Candidate from Leanbox." Uni supplied for Nepgear. "She's kind of stupid but she's a good girl."

"Pea is not dumb!" Peashy gave Uni a dirty look.

Uni shook her head. "No, you aren't, but you don't say the right thing when you talk and come across as stupid."

"Oh." Peashy pouted.

"I'm Ram," Ram smiled at Nepgear, "and this is Rom," she motioned to her sister, "and we're the CPU Candidates of Lowee."

"...How does that work?" Nepgear asked and Rom, Ram, Filyn and Uni all shrugged, none of them were certain either.

"I'm Filyn," the one-eyed girl spoke up, "former CPU Candidate of Eden." She sighed at the confused look Nepgear gave her. "I was the final CPU Candidate born before the Fearicite came to be. And Eden no longer exists."

"Ah!" Nepgear instantly understood. "Sorry for your nation disappearing." She gave Filyn an apologetic look and Filyn shrugged at her.

"I barely remember Eden, it's harder on Chromey, she was the CPU when the Fearicite came into being." Filyn shrugged at her.

"I am Histoire," Histoire spoke up, joining in the introductions. "At one point my job was to protect and guide Gamworld while assisting the CPUs. Sadly, as you can see, that currently is impossible."

"Um..." Nepgear looked at Filyn, "You said that Chromey was the CPU of Eden, right?" Filyn nodded, "so that makes her your big sister, right?"

"Yeah, why do you ask?"

"Well," Nepgear looked a little nervous, "she seems really close to the girl that looks like my big sister, so..."

"That girl is your big sister," Histoire interrupted. "Another version from another dimension, yes, but she is most certainly your big sister. As for why they're so close, I cannot answer."

"Because they spend a lot of time together." Ram pointed out. "Miss Chrome has been a lot of help for Big Sis Neptune on our trip."

"I see." Nepgear smiled and looked at the group. "So, what now?"

"I want to get stronger." Rom said, a fire in her eyes. "I want to prove to that stupid magic girl that she's wrong about me and Ram."

"I see..." Nepgear smiled at her, not really getting it, but she understood the desire to get stronger.

(-)

As the three got into a spare room, Steamax looked at Chrome and Neptune, the latter of whom closed the door behind her, before looking around, his eyes glowing softly. "Okay, there's no listening devices in here." He said, his voice soft and turned back to Neptune and Chrome. "I was thinking, since we have the CPU Candidate of Planeptune, would either of you object to me assassinating the Void of Planeptune?" Both of them looked at him in surprise and he continued to speak. "As she is sleeping right now, it would be easy to sneak in and eliminate her."

Neptune looked a little conflicted and wasn't sure how to answer when Chrome gave her shoulder a squeeze. Neptune looked at her and Chrome smiled softly. "Chrome?"

"With how your Fearicite infection is going, I worry about you." Chrome told her and looked at Steamax. "Do it."

Neptune nodded after thinking for a few more moments. "I know that Nep Jr. will probably hate me for this, but... The me of here is pretty bad, right?"

"It'll be done." Steamax said as he turned and walked to the window before opening it and disappearing through it.

"Chrome..." Neptune began and looked down. "...Did we do the right thing?"

Chrome pulled Neptune into a tight embrace. "I don't want you becoming a Void, Neptune. If we can keep you from fighting right now, that would be for the best." She sighed softly as Neptune hugged her tightly.

Even if it meant making Nepgear angry at them, Chrome would rather have the Void of Planeptune dealt with quickly and quietly like assassination rather than fight her. 'I won't let you become a Void, Neptune.' Chrome thought to herself as she tightened her hug. 'I promise you.'

To be continued...

Neptune, Steamax, let's hope this works.