Beep Beep Beep
That was all I could hear. I couldn't see anything and my body was like lead. But it felt like someone had put something on me, like a blanket but... Lighter.
Beep Beep Beep
'Come on you didn't think I would just let you die like that?' The Author spoke out of the darkness 'Our story doesn't end here mini me so get your head back in the game'
"How?" I replied though my lips would not move "I'm not a CPU so I can't take hits like them"
'Yeah well about that' The Author chuckled 'They are helping you with that and thanks to my influence here and there I've sent something to help you. This stuff won't break as easily as your previous gear'
"What is it?" I asked curiosity overtaking my thoughts.
'Not saying. It's a secret' The Author laughed 'Just stand by for a supply drop, now back to sleep you go'
With those words I slowly starting drifting off again into the darkness..
After what felt like an eternity I heard something faint but growing louder and closer. And as it got louder I could make out it was a female voice.
"Bzzzt up!"
"Huh? Up?" I tried to look up I couldn't see anything, I have no idea if my head moved or not.
"Bzzzt up! Bzzzt up Bzzzt dammit!"
Was that.. Noire? She sounded really distressed.. I need to get to her. My arms moved sluggishly but I still crawled towards her voice.
"Come on get Bzzzzt. I'll get you extra Bzzzt if you do!"
That sounded like Neptune, her usual playful tone sounded.. Broken... They both needed my help. Pulling myself along with renewed strength I felt like I was close to their voices.
"WAKE UP!"
"WAKE UP!"
Slowly my eyes opened. The roof above me was bright white like it was still new, my nose was assaulted with various smells but one prevailed above all. Flowers... The smell that you get in hospitals.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Sounds like I've been hooked up to a heart monitor and its sudden urgency is probably showing I'm awake. Suddenly two dark shapes came into view, one had long dark hair while the others had purple hair. Their eyes were slightly puffy and I could see tear tracks on them.
"Kept you waiting huh?" I managed to say through the oxygen mask over my face.
This caused both smiles and fresh tears to track down their face as they both hugged me at the same time. Reaching up I managed to pat their backs as my arms wouldn't go any higher than that. "I don't mean to be rude but maybe you girls should call a nurse so they can give me a check up" with a slight nod Noire pressed a small button beside me and within minutes the queen of ditzy fan service arrived.
"Ah you're awake!" Compa almost shouted in joy before rushing over and ushering the girls oh of the way to start checking over me, removing my oxygen mask so I could speak easier. "You've healed rather well all things considered"
"How long have I been out?" Deciding it was best to not freak her out that I already knew her name.
"Four weeks" Neptune spoke up from behind Compa as she checked my temperature.
"Damn..." I muttered before I remembered something. "Ah I missed Plutia's party!"
"Not really, she was distraught when she heard the news that you were put in a coma so it was put on hold" Noire smiled softly, wiping away a tear.
"A coma? Don't people usually stay in that for a hell of a lot longer than 4 weeks?" I tried to sit up but Compa simply pushed me back down.
"Normally yes but we helped in speeding up the progress.." Noire trailed off so I looked at her, noting how she looked slightly nervous.
"What did you do?" I asked looking between Neptune and Noire.
"Well we sort of linked with you while you were out" Neptune started scratching the back of her head "It was Histoire's idea really so you would be linked to the share energy"
"Meaning?" I asked still confused.
"You're currently linked with my sharicite and Neptune's" Noire summed up. "That's why all of your wounds have healed without a trace and well..."
She picked up a mirror and held it so it reflected my face. In my right eye I could see a faint purple power symbol and in my left a white power symbol like Black Hearts hair.
"That is... Awesome!" I smiled blinking and see if they were still there.
I heard some grumbling and saw Noire hand Neptune some money "Did you girls make a bet on me?"
"It was whether or not you would freak out over your eyes" Neptune beamed "Noire thought you would freak out"
"I'm going to give you small adrenaline shot so you'll be able to move by yourself but don't push yourself too much today. Your body will still need time to heal" Compa said before a small needle was pushed into my skin and I suddenly felt like I hadn't been completely destroyed by a dragon.
Pushing myself up slowly I looked down at my clothing to find I didn't have any top on. And I had lost weight and gained some muscle? "The hell?"
"Um.. Side affect of doing that you kinda got pushed into peak condition" Noire mumbled looking away while Neptune openly stared.
"While I'm not complaining a bit of warning before you made me a model would of been preferred" I replied looking over my body. I didn't have a six pack or really evident muscle I could see my arms were looking tougher and my chest had less flab to it. "Crap I might start enjoying this"
There was a brief pause as I looked up too see all of them looking at me before all except Neptune looked away again.
"Can I put some clothes on so you girls can concentrate?" I raised an eyebrow and smiled as Noire fumble around in a bag behind her before putting some clothes onto my bed and with the help of Compa pulled Neptune out.
With a chuckle I reached into the bag and started pulling the clothing on only to realise when I picket up the black and white bomber jacket that I was looking a hell of a lot like James Heller from Prototype 2. Except less of the mutation power and more of the CPU link kind.
Taking a deep breath I stepped out of the room and saw Noire and Neptune standing just to my right so I moved over to them.
"You look good" Noire commented.
"My thanks darling" I winked at her.
"So is it true you kissed Noire on her cheek?" Neptune blurted out causing Noore to squeak in shock and cover Neptune's mouth.
"I wonder who told you that" I raised an eye brow at Noire's increasing blush "Yes I did. Want me to prove it?"
Neptune nodded quickly before Noire could stop her. So deciding to go with the flow I kissed Noire on the cheek again, causing her to freeze up like she did the first time.
"Aw so cute!" Neptune giggled an turned away her hands on her hips as she started going on about how she knew we would get together but I was barely listening. I could see she was pretty jealous and a bit upset, it was so obvious even I could see it so with a shrug and a prayer to the lords of YOLO. I kissed her cheek too.
The effect was instant, she blushed, span around and lost her footing so she fell on er butt.
"W-wha!?" She almost squeaked as Noire giggled at her shock.
"Like I said before I'm not making anything official yet. So I'm open for anyone Miss I'm jealous at all the attention Noire gets" I chuckled as she froze up again an started blushing some more. "Shall we get out of here? We don't want to disturb the pairings and everyone else is probably worried"
So after Neptune got up we left the hospital, giving a short wave and thank you to Compa as we left. Looking around I could see we were in Planeptune.
"So after I hit the ground how long did it take for you girls to kill that dragon?" I asked looking around taking in the calm atmosphere of Planeptune.
"Um.. Well it didn't take long" Neptune chuckles nervously
"You all went nuts huh?" I raised an eyebrow as Neptund nodded fiercely
"For good reason!" Noire protested.
"Don't worry I'm not mad" I chuckled patting Noire on the head "Just glad to be alive"
"Well duh" Neptune smirked "The party is going to be amazing!"
"Plutia and her lot are all still here?" I asked.
"No they all went back to their dimension after the first week and we just need to send a message to them" Noire replied
"Blanc and Vert? Have they gone back to their nations?"
"Yes but they will be here within a few minutes when they find out you are awake and moving"
"Well we don't have to tell them just yet, let's wait till tomorrow or something that way I can be fully healed when they arrive"
"Oh? You aren't just saying that to spend more time with us?" Neptune spoke up with a sly grin.
"Who? Me? Never! I would never do something like that" I winked at her
"How very forward of you. Planning to change this into an M rated story now?" Neptune giggled as I stumbled upon hearing that.
"Nope that's not happening Nep" I grumbled looking away feeling my cheeks heat up slightly.
We soon entered the Basilacom we were greeted by a very excited Nepgear and by greet I mean she almost went flying past us while she tried to apply the brakes. If you couldn't guess she was transformed and went too fast in her excitement.
"Ah you're okay!" She exclaimed, beaming.
"Yeah just about. Try not to hit me though" I chuckled "I'm still on unsteady feet"
"I-I wasn't going too!" Nepgear protested shaking her head rapidly.
"I know I'm just messing with you" I chuckled before patting her on the head.
"I had to a least tell Nep junior as you're gonna be staying here for a while" Neptune spoke up from behind me.
"I am?" I asked looking back at Neptune.
"Yeah you can't go back to Lastation in your current condition" she nodded "It was my idea really"
"Compa told you that I had to stay here didn't she?" I raised an eyebrow as she looked shocked
"Did linking with you give you the power to read minds and look into our pasts!?" Neptune gasped
"No it was just really obvious" I responded lightly poking her nose
"Um... What do you mean by linking?" Nepgear spoke up, cocking her head to the side. Why is it all girls do that when they are confused it's just too cute dammit.
"Let's go up to the Basilacom. I'll explain there" I sighed heading towards the elevator when Nepgear stopped me.
"Um the elevators are broken" she called out from beside the stairs
"Why?" I started walking over already dreading going up those stairs.
"Plutia was a little mad that you were left in such a state and she couldn't as she said "punish those for harming you" so she accidentally broke it" Nepgear chuckled nervously as I could almost see a pissed Iris Heart tearing apart anything that got in her way.
"That explains one. There are two elevators" I pointed out.
"Neptune got bored" Nepgear replied causing me to look at Neptune and raise an eyebrow in question.
"Historie has banned all of us from entering any dungeon till you awoke as she thinks something suspicious is happening right now" Neptune rubbed the back of her head with an awkward smile on her face. "So I got a little too excited when Histore had an idea to heal you quicker"
"Real smooth Neptune" Getting up to the stairs I looked between them all to see an almost endless set of stairs. "Oh fuck that. Time skip Neptune?"
"Would be best" She nodded sadly as we started trudging up the stairs.
-20 minuets later-
"Finally at the top!" Nepgear cheered as she walked into the room. Noire behind her only looking a bit out of breath. Me and Neptune on the other hand we were still crawling up the last set of stairs.
"It... hurts" I managed to say between ragged breaths.
Neptune could only nod as we reached the same floor as Noire and Nepgear, crawling over to a bean bag we simply lay there slowly falling asleep from exhaustion when Noire poured a cup of ice cold water down both of our backs; causing us to jolt awake and dance around trying to get the ice out.
"What was that for!?" I shouted as I finally got the last ice cube out.
"You need to explain to Nepgear what it means now me and Neptune are linked to you" she replied pointing at Nepgear as she sat on a chair.
"It would be better if I explained it" Histoire's spoke up floating over to the four of us.
"I can go back to sleep then" I smiled closing my eyes before I felt fresh ice cubes go down my back "Ok! Ok! I'll stay awake!"
Histoire's cleared her throa for a second before she began to explain everything "As you are now linked to not only Planeptune's sharicite and Lastation sharicite so you, like the CPU and CPU candidates you won't take any permanent damage from attacks from attacks but that is the limit to what you have access too. Or it would be if you were not linked to two seperate power sources. It is unknown how much power you have now as this has never happened before"
There was a brief pause as my brain attempted to take in what she said.
"So... I'm like Nepgear but weaker?" I asked "and I'm the first to ever do this?"
"To your first question we don't know how much power you could have. You could by all rights be as strong as a CPU candidate but unable to transform or just even stronger than what a normal link would give" Histore nodded to herself. "And to the second you are. Before links have been temporary and used in times of war so a champion could be as red to fight if a goddess was not allowed. Not only is yours a permanent link but a double link"
"I'm so hoping I'm like a CPU candidate" I chuckled leaning back and stretching.
"Um I have a question" Nepgear raised a hand timidly "Nepgear is my sister but what would that make Thomas?"
Now I would say there was a pause but it was more our brains having to slowly contemplate what the correct answer would be.
"How bout I leave it to you to decide on what your calling me? I'm not too good at this stuff" I chuckled.
"Okay well we should run some tests to see what level of power you actually have" Neptune bounced up and started hopping around in excitement.
"You... aren't turning into a mad scientist about this are you Nepgear?" I asked her worried for my life.
"Me? No I'm just interested in the power my half brother has" Nepgears eyes seemed to be infused with a purple flame.
"I'm not going to come out o this the same am I?" I muttered getting up and following behind her.
"No I don't think you will" Noire replied watching me go. "Should I help him?"
"No we'll need to know before we can send him out on missions again" Histoire replied but at this point I can barely hear them as I followed Nepgear down the steps and into a dark room. In the centre sat a massive steel chair.
"Please sit down" Nepgear chuckled darkly indicating to the chair.
"All of my instincts are telling me to flee" I muttered. "But for the sake of this Fanfiction I shall find out my power"