CHAPTER 6: OUT OF THE FRYING PAN, INTO THE FREEZER
"Well, it took you long enough. I expected more from a CPU Candidate," says Kei as she turns around to see Nepgear, IF, Compa, and Ayden.
"We are sorry for running late, we had a run in with ASIC right now," responds Nepgear as she lowers her head a bit, still bothered by what Uni had said beforehand.
Ayden sees the pain in Nepgear's face and for a second despises Uni for what she said. "She didn't have to say all of that. If only she knew," he thinks.
IF and Compa stand by Nepgear's side and try to keep her spirits up, but it didn't seem to work. Kei wonders why Nepgear looks so down, but brushes that to the side.
"Anyways, Let us discuss business in a formal and orderly approach," continues Kei.
Everybody nods and they explain the situation that they currently are in at the moment and Kei just nods in understanding.
"I see. So you want to borrow our mascot disc in order to create another sharicite in order to save the CPUs," asks Kei.
Everyone nods once more, and she closes her eyes for a second. She then opens them back up and responds, "How about this, you get me some information on Noire, as well as, a two items I need, and I will reveal to you the location of the Mascot Disc."
IF shakes her head, "Just as I expected. You would want us to do something for you instead of doing this out of the kindness of your heart," she says.
Kei laughs a bit, "Kindness doesn't fall under the business category. Do we have a deal," she responds back.
Nepgear looks at IF, then Compa, and then Ayden and nods.
"A fair price," says Kei with a business-type smile that con-artist would use after striking a deal.
"But where can we find these items at," asks Compa.
"I hear that one of the items is dropped by one of the monsters in the Inner Depths of the Virtua Forest. I am sure you are familiar with the area since it is close by Planeptune. The second item on the list is somewhere in Lastation," answers Kei
"Wow, thanks for the exact locations of the items," says IF in a sarcastic tone.
"I wish you all success," says Kei as everyone turns and walks out the doors of Lastation's Basilicom.
As everyone starts heading down the street then all realize that Planeptune was another day's journey away, and everyone groans in despair.
After not saying anything for a while, Ayden finally speaks up, "I don't know about you gals, but I am not going to walk all the way back to Planeptune."
"Well how do you expect us to head back to Planeptune in a faster manner," asks IF.
Ayden then looks up at the sky and says, "Well author, do your thing."
"Wait now you're going to break the fourth wall to get to our destination," asks IF as she shakes her head.
"Well can you think of a better way," responds Ayden.
Before a full-on fist fight breaks out between IF and Ayden, the group strangely finds themselves in the midst of the Inner Depths of the Virtua Forest.
"Wow how convenient," says Compa as everyone realizes where they are.
Shrugging the fourth wall being broken, the group continues on with their search for the item that Kei needs. After what seems to be an eternity and after cutting through so many monsters, the group encounters a familiar and very reoccurring face.
"Well well well, if it isn't the three lesbians and their camera guy," says Underling as she approaches the group.
"That insult doesn't even make sense," says Ayden as he scratches his head trying to comprehend the insult.
"It doesn't have to you dumbass! I will finish you all off right now," yells Underling as she gets into a battle stance.
"Ge-Ge," says Compa as she pulls out her syringe.
Nepgear nods and attempts to transform, but Underling pulls out a controller and smiles devilishly.
"I don't think so princess. I want this battle to be equally leveled," says Underling just as she presses the button. Responding to the button press, four bots appear in front of the group and to everyone but Ayden's surprise Nepgear didn't transform.
"Gear, now would be a perfect time to transform," says IF but she notices Nepgear getting teary-eyed.
"I'm trying to but I can't," says Nepgear with tears rolling down her cheeks.
"I told you I was going to equally level the battle didn't I? These bots stop you from transforming into your HDD form. Now time to finish you all off," says Underling in a proud tone.
IF, Compa, and Ayden prepare their weapons and all adjust their positions so they can protect Nepgear, but Nepgear pulls out her beam saber and prepares to fight by their sides. It wasn't long before the group thinks it is the end of them; the bots are too strong and without Nepgear's ability to transform, it is too much for them to handle.
One bot surges right at Nepgear and Ayden jumps right in front of her to take the full blunt of the attack and collapses to the group.
Nepgear runs to Ayden and tries to get him up but it seems to be too late, he is out cold.
"Please wake up Ayden," says Nepgear desperately as she shakes his body, but there was no response. More tears fell from her eyes upon her cheeks, and IF yells, "Gear, behind you!"
Just as Nepgear looks behind her as is greeted by a bot, the bot suddenly falls to the ground and short-circuits. Nepgear hears a voice past the bot, "Do not worry fellow citizens; the heroine of Gamindustri has arrived to save you."
Nepgear stands up and sees a really fair-skinned flat-chested female wearing a black skin tight, revealing body suit with a red scarf, and black goggles in her blue hair which is worn up. She also has a gray and gold pouch strapped to her thigh and a prinny backpack on.
The female jumps into the battlefield and starts to fight against the bots with IF and Compa. Nepgear looks down at Ayden who is still out cold, and looks back up. She then runs to the others to join the fight against the bots.
With the help of the mysterious female, the bots all crash to the floor and short circuit. The girls look back at Underling who looks like she's going to lose her lunch.
"T-this isn't over," yells Underling as she turns and starts heading for the exit into the outer depths of the Virtua Forest.
"Get back here villain, and face the wrath of the heroine," yells the female while shaking her fist into the air.
The girls all then caught their breath for a quick second before going back to Ayden. IF and the "heroine of Gamindustri" pick Ayden up and IF tells them to head back to Planeptune's Basilicom.
A few hours have passed, and Ayden wakes up in a starch-white bed in the little hospital ward of the Basilicom. Not knowing where he is, Ayden starts to panic a bit, but cools down once he sees the girls enter the room.
"Thank goodness, you're awake. I did my best to patch you," says Compa upon entering.
Ayden stretches a bit and looks at the girls who are just staring at him, and says, "How long was I out?"
"About four hours," responds IF who is leaning against the wall.
Nepgear walks up to Ayden and puts her hand on his shoulder, "I'm so sorry. It was my fault that you got hurt," she says as she turns back on the water-works.
Ayden gives Nepgear a big smile and says, "It's not your fault at all. I couldn't let anything happen to Planeptune's CPU candidate, now can I?"
"You are a brave soul, and for that the heroine of Gamindustri says 'good job'," says the female as she breaks into the moment.
"Now Nisa, you can't just go and interrupt people while they are talking," says Compa like if she was a mother telling their kid that.
"Sorry, where are my manners at," Responds Nisa as she lowers her head a bit.
"Nisa? I've heard of that name before," says Ayden as he recollects his thoughts and pre-knowledge of the game.
All of a sudden, a heroic sounding song starts to play and Nisa does her heroine stance, "You must have heard of my heroic deeds then. I am Nisa, the heroine of Gamindustri, protector of the weak and defender of justice! Nice to meet ya," she says as she sticks her hand out to shake Ayden's.
Ayden takes her hand and shakes it but then starts to think, "Where is that music coming from?"
IF looks at Ayden and sees his expression and says to him, "So I am not the only one who hears that music too?"
Everyone laughs for a bit, and Ayden finally gets himself out of the bed. He stands up and stretches again, in which Nepgear hands him his rapier and his sheath. He takes it from her hand and reattaches it to his belt loops.
"Did you guys ever find the item that Kei needed," asks Ayden as he just remembered why they returned to the Virtua Forest.
"Yes, Nisa actually found it in the rubble of the bots that Underling had summoned. Now we need to return to Lastation to find the second item," answers Nepgear as she stands right next to Ayden.
Everyone nods and gathers their equipment to move on out.
"Nisa, you have been such a huge help. How can we ever thank you for everything you have done for us," asks Nepgear.
"There is no need in thanking the heroine of Gamindustri. I help everyone out in order to keep justice flowing," responds Nisa with a big smile and her heroine stance. "But, it has been a dream of mine to accompany a CPU and journey along with them," she says.
"What do you guys say," asks Nepgear as she looks at IF, Compa, and Ayden.
"I'm all for it. I mean she did save our lives," responds IF. Ayden then wonders why Nisa got a warmer welcoming from IF than he did.
"Oh yes, I agree with Iffy," says Compa nodding and smiling.
"The more the merrier," says Ayden smiling too.
"It's all settled then, welcome Nisa," responds Nepgear as she shakes Nisa's hand.
With that the group grabs their equipment and makes their way out of Planeptune and down back to Lastation.
Once again, the group finds themselves mysteriously back in Lastation only seconds after leaving Planeptune.
"Wow that's fast traveling," says Nisa as the group already knows how they reach their destination so efficiently.
"Wait, Kei never did say where this next item was right," asks Ayden and in doing so the group stops to think for a second and everyone groans once again. He was right, she never did mention where the second item is at.
Everyone stops right in their tracks and starts to think about where this item could be located at. Just as they were about to give up, they hear a voice behind them saying, "Need a hand with something?"
They all turned to see Zero standing there, and Ayden answers, "Maybe you can help us out Zero."
Nepgear and the other girls nod their heads and Zero scratches his.
"Well explain to me the situation and I may be able to be of some help. Since I'm on break, I won't charge you at all," responds Zero as he smiles but Ayden knew he was serious about what he said.
The girls explain to Zero the situation and after a few moments of him processing everything they said he responds, "Well if I am not mistaken, there is a monster terrorizing the Repeat Resort and it is said he carries a rare item with him. That can be your item right there."
"Sounds important enough to be it," says Ayden.
Zero decides to temporarily accompany the group to the Repeat Resort and the group decides to head out there without further delay.
After a while, they make it into the Repeat Resort which was still in shambles from the ASIC attack on it a bit of time ago. They decide to split up in teams to find this monster; Zero and Ayden will search the northern part, IF and Compa will search western part, and Nisa and Nepgear will search the eastern part since they came in from the southern part.
After minutes of splitting up Zero and Ayden are the first to encounter the great beast which was a flying dolphin (terrorizing right?). Zero unsheathes his sword and Ayden unsheathes his rapier, while doing so Nepgear and Nisa run up and prepare themselves for battle. IF runs up alone and pulls out her Qatar, but where is Compa?
As Compa is running after IF to get to the monster, she sees a small creature on the floor and it appears to be in pain. Compa quickly side tracks herself and gets to the small creature and heals it.
As the creature gets up, it turns out to be a rat. It dusts itself off and looks right at Compa.
"Are you feeling all better Mr. Rat," asks Compa with a smile.
The rat nods and says, "You…what is your name?"
"My name is Compa," responds Compa again with a smile.
"Compa huh," responds the rat.
Compa then realizes that she fell too far behind and needs to catch up with the others. She looks down at the rat and says, "I got to go Mr. Rat but be careful okay?"
She then runs off in the direction that IF and her were running in moments ago. The rat then smiles and says to himself, "Compa, what a beautiful name. It's a name that suits an Angel like her."
Compa finally makes her way to the group who were still waiting for her to start the battle, and as she ran up she pulls out her syringe and gets ready to battle.
"What took you so long Compa," asks IF as she now lunges towards the dolphin.
"Well, you see I…"
"Can we discuss this after the battle," asks Ayden as he and the rest of the group follow after IF and attack the beast.
It wasn't long before everyone dealt their final blow upon the creature and it fell and disappeared upon landing on the ground, leaving behind a glittering item.
Everyone catches their breaths and turns to Compa to see if she will explain why she showed up pretty late to the battle.
"Well you see I saw a small rat on the ground and I knew he was hurt so I couldn't just ignore him. I healed him up then I remembered we had to fight this beast so I ran as fast as I could to get here," explains Compa to everyone.
Everyone seems to accept Compa's explanation since she was a nurse-in-training, and part of the nurse code is not to leave anything that is hurt behind whether human or animal.
"Well let's get that item and," just as Ayden was about to finish his sentence someone cuts him off.
"You mean this item?"
Everyone turns around to see Uni holding the glittering item in her left hand and her rifle in the right.
"Uni, we need that item," says Nepgear as she approaches her.
Uni takes a step back and points the gun right at Nepgear, and everyone including Nepgear takes a step back.
Zero was closer to the path and decides that he didn't need to interfere with this little mishap; he turns and sprints down the path, leaving the resort in no less than a minute, though nobody noticed him leave.
Uni with her gun trained on Nepgear tosses up the item in her left hand and catches it, "Nepgear I challenge you to a fight. If I win, I take the item for myself, if you win I'll give it to you," she says.
Nepgear looks down and shakes her head, "I don't want to fight you at all. I'm sorry for not being strong enough back then," she says.
Uni then scoffs at Nepgear's response and suddenly transforms into her HDD form Black Sister.
"You got to do it Nepgear. If you don't, we can't save the CPUs, I know you don't want to, but right now, Uni is an obstacle that needs to be overcome," yells Ayden from the group.
Black Sister glares right at Ayden but secretly admires his courage and to tell Nepgear what he did.
"If I have to, I will fight," says Nepgear and she runs towards Black Sister to start the fight. It was quite a battle to watch; CPU candidate versus CPU candidate, and in the end Nepgear overwhelmed Black Sister and Black Sister ended up kneeling on the ground.
Nepgear was breathing heavily after the battle was done and she looks right at Black Sister who has tearing coming out of her eyes.
Without looking at the group, Black Sister tosses the item in the air and Ayden catches the item in his right hand. Nepgear walks up to Black Sister and puts her hand out, "Uni," she says.
Black Sister, who descends back into her human form, quickly sprints away from the group in the opposite direction. Nepgear put s her head down and starts to cry again, and everyone crowds around her and tries to comfort her.
Ayden starts to look around and notices that Zero is nowhere to be found. He comes to the conclusion that Zero needed to head back to meet with a client. After comforting Nepgear, everyone starts back for the Basilicom to give the items to Kei. While they were walking, Ayden still wondered where Zero went to, though he made an assumption, something didn't sit right with him.
On the other side of Lastation, Zero walks into an alleyway and leans on one of the walls, as if he is waiting for someone. Finally someone walks up to the alley and stands in the entrance of the alley.
"Took you long enough rat," says Zero with his eyes closed.
"You know I have a name right. Besides, where were you when I needed help," yelled the rat.
Zero shakes his head and says, "Well I was attempting to find where the mascot disc is."
"By helping those broads and that boy out," retorts the rat.
"Hey, I think they were close to finding the disc," responds Zero as he gets off the wall. His cellphone begins to ring and he pulls it out to look at it.
"We got new orders from the higher ups. I'm headed off to Lowee, and you got to stay here and find the mascot disc," says Zero after putting away his phone.
"That's Bullshit, I don't wanna stay here by myself," yells the rat.
"Orders are orders. Get Linda to stay with you," answers Zero as he heads out of the alleyway.
"That broad isn't good at anything besides getting her ass handed to her," says the rat as he heads out of the alleyway as well.
Both of them split and went their separate ways, but as Zero stands heading up the street he passes by the Basilicom as sees the group heading into it. He then thinks to himself, "I'm sorry I am not a hero like you kid." He then continues up the street, heading to his next destination.
"I hope you were successful in your quest to get the items," says Kei as her back is to the group when they walk into the Basilicom.
"Yes we were," responds Nepgear as she walks up to Kei and hands her the items.
Kei turns around and takes the items into her hands, and nods.
"This is perfect. Thank you for doing this," says Kei.
"Now, we need the location of the mascot disc, as promised," says IF as she steps up and stands next to Nepgear.
"Yes as the deal was. If my memory serves correctly, you can find the mascot disc either in the Endless Zone or the Septent Resort. If you split up into teams, then you can go to both locations and scout out the disc," says Kei.
"Sounds like a plan right gals," asks Ayden and the girls nod.
"Alright, Compa, Gear, and I will go to the Endless Zone. Ayden and Nisa, you guys can go to the Septent Resort," declares IF.
"Actually I think I will go and look at the Septent Resort with Ayden and Nisa," says Nepgear and she steals a quick glance at Ayden.
"Well, let's all go then. Where you go Gear, Compa and I will follow," responds IF and Compa nods.
The group then departs from the Basilicom and quickly head over to the Septent Resort, before ASIC gets there before them.
The group made it to the Septent Resort in no time and start sprinting to find this disc, cutting through enemies and not skipping a beat when it came to looking in every corner when everyone hears Nepgear call out, "I found it!"
Everyone quickly found Nepgear who was with the disc, and it seems that she was trying to convince the disc to come with them.
"Please, we need your help to save them," says Nepgear.
"I'm sorry, but my duty is to stay here. That is what Lady Black Heart told me to do, so that is my duty," responds the disc.
Just then the group hears a voice that comes from the opposite direction, "Finally I found it."
"That voice…Is that you Mr. Rat," asks Compa and to everyone's surprise a small rat walks up to the group with a giant wolf behind him.
"Compa my sweet, it must be fate that brought us together again," says the rat as he smiles in Compa's direction. "Come with my angel, and together we will defeat the CPUs and resurrect the Deity of Sin."
"W-What," says everyone in a surprised tone.
"Yes, I am Pirachu of ASIC and I am here for the disc and for Compa," says Pirachu with a devilish smile.
"But Mr. Rat, I don't like ASIC, so that means that I don't like you. You are my enemy," says Compa in a serious tone.
"So…you don't like me? And we are enemies because you don't like ASIC," asks Pirachu who now looks hurt from what Compa has said.
"Mhmm," responds Compa nodding her head.
In a rage, Pirachu let out a scream and starts stepping on the mascot disc, ultimately breaking it in the process.
"No," screams everyone.
"I guess I will kill you all now," responds Pirachu as he commands the wolf to attack and he starts to attack as well.
Everyone quickly springs into action and starts to fight; Ayden, IF, and Nisa taking down the wolf, while Nepgear and Compa work together against Pirachu. Moments later, the wolf was slain and Pirachu was on the floor.
"T-This isn't over you dumb broads and boy. I will come back for you Compa, I swear," says Pirachu as he gets himself up and runs away.
"Oh-no, what are we going to do now," asks Nepgear as she crouches down over the disc.
"I may be broken, but I still have my power. It seems that this can be good in nature. Take one of the pieces of me, and what power I have now you will be able to retain it and take it with you," responds the disc.
"Are you sure," asks Ayden as he steps near the shattered disc.
"Yes it will still work," says the disc.
Nepgear picks up a piece of the disc and keeps it with her, and the group thanks the mascot disc. Just as the group is about to leave, they turn and see Uni behind them.
"The mascot disc is broken," she asks and everyone nods their heads. Uni knew that it wasn't their fault but ASIC's fault since she actually saw the thing upon arriving to the resort.
"Uni, I don't want to be enemies. I want to save everyone and that requires all the help I can get," says Nepgear after a moment of silence.
Uni looks down and sighs. She knows that Nepgear is right and that fighting each other will get them nowhere.
"You're right. I accept your apology," says Uni.
Nepgear smiles and Uni returns a smile back. Nepgear offers for Uni to join the team but Uni still refuses, stating she still has things to do in Lastation, but reassured whatever negative feelings that were between them were gone.
Uni then turns around and heads out of the resort, but as she leaves she thinks, "Why am i still not strong enough?"
With that, the group heads out as well and decide it's best to rest a day before they head out to their next location: Lowee.
That night, while everyone settles down in the rooms that they rented, Ayden hears a knock on his door. He cracks the door open to see Nepgear outside the door.
"Oh Nepgear, why are you up so late," asks Ayden with a smile.
"I'm sorry if I woke you up. I wanted to talk to you," answers Nepgear.
He opens the door completely to let her in, and they both sit down on the bed.
"What happened earlier today, I am sorry that you took the attack for me," says Nepgear in an apologetic tone,
"Don't be sorry," says Ayden with a smile. "I did that because I wanted to protect you. I just can't let the CPU candidate take an attack like that. I would never forgive myself."
Nepgear looks up and has a single tear come down from her right eye; she wipes it away and smiles.
"Thank you Ayden for everything," she says as she stands up and hugs him.
This completely caught Ayden off guard, but he recovers from it after she lets go of him.
"Good night," she says with a smile as she turns to the door and leaves the room.
"Night," responds Ayden, being the only thing he could say. After the door closes, he jumps up and down out of pure excitement.
"Nepgear hugged me," says Ayden to himself as he lies back down on the bed. He closes his eyes and wonders what else he will see and experience on this journey. With that in mind, he settles down and falls into a deep sleep in which dreams about what will await him in Lowee, the good and the bad.
CHAPTER 6 END.