Chapter 3...

Neptune was sitting alongside Rom...Well, the candidate in blue who had recently stopped everything...From breathing right the way through to energy levels. She was dead... But Neptune refused to believe that.

Neptune had hope.

Compa was in the kitchen while Histoire kept scanning the Tome's records for any sign that would relate to this particular occurance.

"Mmmm..."

Compa walked into the lounge and saw that Neptune was cuddling Rom, much the same as a mother would to say she hadn't given up - Not yet anyway.

It broke Compa's heart in a way. To see that, Neptune was trying for something that... May not even be possible.

"Nep...Maybe you should let her go."

Neptune instantly looked to Histoire who had floated back into the room. "Histy!" She stopped hugging Rom for a moment and looked to the Tome. "Please tell me you've figured something out! Anything!"

Histoire's look of dispondance...The look of regret... That was something that Compa knew only too well:-

Rom was permanetly dead. There was no bringing her back.

Neptune's lips quivered as she waited for Histoire's response. "S...She's going to be alright...Isn't she?"

Histoire floated to the desk nearby and sat still - Trying to compose herself. "This isn't going to be easy to hear Neptune. So I want you to listen to me. Don't do anything rash, do you understand?"

Compa took in a deep breath. She had seen this kind of conversation between a doctor and a termanly ill patient before. This was not the easiest news to hear - And the CPU of Planeptune was going to have to bear the brunt of it. Whether she liked it or not.

Neptune could already feel the water in her eyes but refused to let any tears form. She was hopeful that something could be done. ANYTHING at all.

"Neptune, Rom really is dead. I looked through the archives. She went through a shutdown that is evident from previous CPU's...More specifically if it hadn't been her - It would have been Ram or Blanc-"

Neptune's eyes started to water as she looked to Rom's lifeless body. "No...Please no..."

Compa exhaled and took in another deep breath. "I'm sorry Nep-Nep."

That was all the nurse could muster. She had to be here for Neptune...And consequently when Blanc would enevitably come looking for her little sister.

Neptune started to shake as her sadness overthrew her. She started to cry as Nepgear came through the kitchen turning everything off. With a look in her eyes that said she was there for her sister she walked over to Neptune and took the crying CPU into her arms. "Hey Sis... It's okay... I'm here...Cry...Let it all go..."

Histoire lowered her head as Rom's body hadn't disappeared. That was strange... Normally the bodies of the goddess' would disappear after their respective deaths - Wouldn't they?

So why...?

Nepgear looked over to Histoire as she cuddled Neptune/Tried to comfort her. "What is it Histoire? Did you think of something?"

Histoire put a finger to her lip. "Yes. I think Rom may still be somewhat alive... Just in some kind of stasis. I say this because she hasn't disappeared yet - Look."

Nepgear looked to Rom's body and nodded. "Yeah..."

Neptune looked over to Rom the second Histoire stopped talking and bit her lower lip. "Rom..." She whispered. "I'm so sorry..." She placed a hand on Rom's shoulder. "I'll help you..." She closed her eyes. "Let go of me Nepgear."

Nepgear let go of her sister without a second thought. "What are you- Wait, Sis!"

Neptune started to glow and when Nepgear tried to grab ahold of her - She was forced away from her.

"Sister!" Nepgear shouted as Neptune's glow brightened to the point Compa/Histoire and Nepgear couldn't even see her.

Just what was Neptune trying to do!?

To Be Continued in Chapter 4.