Chapter 2: Danger

One week later, Neptune and Nepgear are sitting in front of their T.V., the latter admiring the former's determination to beat the game she was playing.

"Sonic Jump!" Neptune's face of triumph quickly turned into one of defeat as she buried her face into her bean bag, kicking her feet into the air. "Dang it!" Blinking his eyes, Nepgear sat there and watched, turning his attention to his hands. In the past week, the boy learned a lot about his country and what his sister did… mostly from Histoire and IF. Compa taught him how to make tea, although he had trouble getting the tea exactly the way Compa did. Neptune… well, she entertained Nepgear at least.

"Nep-Nep!" Compa and IF walked into the room as Neptune turned off the console, painfully accepting her defeat at the hands of the time limit. Nepgear smiled upon seeing IF and Compa, standing up and swiftly walked over to the duo. "Hi, Ge-Ge!" Compa happily wrapped her arms around Nepgear. "How are you?" Nepgear returned the hug while nodding his head.

"Um, I'm okay." Grinning, IF reached into her pocket and pulled out a white smartphone with a purple N on the back of it.

"Here, Gear." Letting go of Compa, Nepgear gingerly took the phone, eyes blinking in confusion.

"What's this?" IF placed an elbow Nepgear's shoulder, putting a finger on the object in his hand.

"This- Is a cell phone, a smartphone, specifically." IF began to describe the uses of a phone to Nepgear, who nodded his head as tried to absorb all the information he being given at once. As Neptune walked over to the trio, Compa turns to Neptune, a wide smile on her face.

"What's up, Compa?" Compa put her arms on Nepgear's shoulder, leaning on him.

"Nep-Nep, let's go shopping?" Neptune tilted her head to the side.

"But we already got groceries last week." Compa shook her head, waving a finger side to side.

"No, Nep-Nep. Not for food, but for Ge-Ge!" The boy looked up as his name was called, having somewhat grasped what his brand new phone did.

"Did you call me?" Giggling, Compa patted Nepgear on the head.

"Yessy, we're gonna take you out and get some new things!" IF nodded her head.

"Compa's been wondering what kind of stuff Gear likes, but since he was just born a while ago. We really don't know what he likes or dislikes yet." Nepgear put a finger to his chin, closing his eyes. After a moment of humming to himself, the boy smiled and opened his eyes.

"I like my sister… and Histoire," Nepgear then looked at Compa and IF. "I like Miss Compa and Miss IF too." Smiling at his words, IF patted Nepgear on the back while Compa nuzzled her cheek against Nepgear's.

"That's sweet Gear, but there's gotta be other things that you like." Neptune forced herself into the group.

"Guys, let's go! I wanna get something to eat!" Everyone laughed Neptune simple desires and decided to leave in an hour.

After asking Histoire if she wanted anything, which was for Neptune to work hard, the party decided that they should get Histoire a new pen.

"One that glows in the dark like a Sharicite!" IF shrugged her shoulders at Neptune's suggestion as Compa skipped ahead of the group. Nepgear lagged behind, staring at everything he could look at. Luckily, the boy noticed that he was behind and ran after his friends and his sister, arm outstreched.

"W-wait!" As Nepgear ran towards his comrades, the boy slammed into an older woman, who was passing by, knocking her over. "Oh my gosh!" Nepgear skid to a stop and turned to the fallen woman. "Are you okay?" Hearing Nepgear's voice, IF turned around, calling out to Compa and Neptune.

"Hey!" Nepgear flinched as the woman barked at him. "Watch where you're…" As soon as the woman looked up to glare at Nepgear, only for her anger to fade as her eyes landed on the boy's face. "..going." Worried, Nepgear crouched over, reaching out to her.

"I'm so sorry!" The woman faintly nodded as Neptune, IF and Compa reached Nepgear.

"Hey Gear, what happened?" Nepgear looked to his friends as he helped the woman up, who blushing a bright red now. Neptune noticed the woman's blush and how hard her was gripping her brother's hand.

"Hey…" Nepgear turned to the woman, who looked at him with hearts in her eyes. "What's your favorite color?"

"Fa-Favorite!? Uh-" The woman pulled Nepgear closer.

"What's your favorite food?"

"U-Um…" The woman then put her hands on Nepgear's shoulders, nearly pressing her forehead against Nepgear's, making the boy uncomfortable.

"What's your name!?" Now, the woman's eyes resembled swirls, terrifying Nepgear as the woman breathed heavily. IF an arm on the woman's shoulder, pulling her away. Compa wrapped her arms around Nepgear protectively and Neptune stood in between the woman and Nepgear, crossing her arms. "Hey, wanna get marr-"

"Hold on there, little Miss Eager." Prying herself away from IF, the woman glared at the Guild Agent.

"Hey, watch it! I'm trying to snag a hunk!" IF rolled her eyes at the woman.

"Yeah… about that, I doubt you want to do that." The woman gritted her teeth.

"And why not!?" Nepgear, afraid of the woman's constantly rising voice, pressed himself against Compa, who stepped back and turned Nepgear away from the carnivorous woman. Neptune cleared her throat. The woman narrowed her eyes at Neptune, leering at her for a second before widening her eyes. "Oh, you must be that guy's- Mebjear's- little sister! Aren't you the cutest little thing~!" Neptune blinked as everyone stared at the woman. IF shook her head.

"Is this your first time to Planeptune?" The woman glared at IF again, prompting Compa to frown.

"I only came here to find a hot guy, Lowee only has old people and kids. This guy, however…" The woman waggles an eyebrow at Nepgear, who hides behind Compa. Neptune clears her throat again.

"Excuse me, miss hungry face muncher, but I don't like you hitting on my younger brother." The woman gave Neptune a look, then she laughed.

"What!? No way! You're kidding!" The woman walked over to Neptune and leaned over her. "You're just a kid!" Sighing, Neptune stepped back, engulfing herself in a flash of light. "Wha-!?" Nepgear's eyes widened as the flash of light died down, revealing Purple Heart, who put a hand on her hip.

"Well, this 'kid' happens to be the CPU of Planeptune." IF gestured towards Purple Heart, who looked at the woman coldly.

"Wa-Wait, as in the goddess?!" Purple Heart glanced at IF, then to Compa and Nepgear, waving at her little brother. Dazzled, the boy silently waved back.

"Anyways," Purple Heart looked at the woman, raising an eyebrow. "Was there something you were saying before?" Terrified, the woman stepped back. Bowing her head in shame, the woman prostrated herself.

"I'm sorry!" Before anyone could get a word in, the woman got and ran away, leaving dust clouds behind her.

"..." Shaking her head, Purple Heart immersed herself in the light again, returning to the smaller and happier Neptune. "Ah, that was embarrassing~!" Neptune ran over to Nepgear, hugging him. The boy, happy to see his sister again. "Don't worry, Nep Jr.! I'll scare away all the evil old ladies that try to take you away." Nepgear nodded before pausing and blinking.

"Um… Neptune?"

"What is my lovable and adorable brother?"

"What did you just do?" Neptune looked up to her little brother.

"HDD?"

"Hey, Nep. Gear, come on. We don't have all day!" Neptune and Nepgear turned to see Compa and IF standing nearby, the former waving to her friends while the latter was looking up something on her phone.

During their trip to the mall, the girls found a lot about Nepgear. While the boy didn't like anything that most pubescent boys liked, he was especially disturbed by anything perverted, they did find out that Nepgear had a strong love for mechanics, especially anything that could transform or change shape. IF and Compa had bought Nepgear an amateur's engineering kit alongside a book called An Idiot's Guide to Building Robots And Other Things Similar to It. Neptune bought a ton snacks to take home, most of which she ate with Nepgear while playing video games.

Now back in the Basilicom, Nepgear watched his sister play a game from Lowee, something that Blanc, another CPU that Nepgear had yet to meet, had lent to the Planeptune CPU. The boy watched as his sister controlled her character towards a red flower, transforming his clothes white and red and allowing him to throw fireballs.

"Neptune?" The Nep sibling in question hummed as her character jumped onto of a flag post, pulling down the flag and running into a castle as fireworks popped up in the background.

"Mmm?"

"What's HDD?" Neptune turned to her little brother, scratching her cheek.

"Well, Nep Jr. … I've had this ever since I could remember, so I don't think that I could tell you exactly what it is."

"Perhaps, you can ask me." The Nep siblings turned around to find Histoire floating next to them, IF and Compa having entered the room. "HDD is a form that CPUs take in order to unleash their true potential." Nepgear clasped his hands together, eyes wide in amazement.

"So what Neptune did the other day was…" Histoire nodded. "Wow, HDD sounds amazing… I wonder if I can do it." Histoire's face hardened.

"You cannot." Blinking, Nepgear looked at Histoire.

"Huh?" Histoire shook her head.

"My apologies, I did not mean you cannot ever attain HDD. Rather, it is too early for you." Nepgear let her head drop, eyes downcast. Compa patted him on the back.

"It's okay, Ge-Ge. You wanna get some pudding? The old lady at the park is back today." Neptune stood up, arm high in the air.

"I wanna go~!" Histoire cleared her throat.

"Neptune, stay. IF, if you could, stay here as well." Pouting, Neptune sat back down while IF shrugged. Compa and Nepgear waved good bye as Histoire watched them leave.

"Come on, Histy! I did my work this month… this time." IF chuckled. "Why won't you let me get some pudding?!" Histoire shook her head.

"I am pleased with your work ethic this month, but that is not my concern." IF crossed her arms.

"Then what's up? You're normally not this concerned about anything, except for that time you were trapped in your tome when the shelf fell over and no one was here." Histoire coughed into her fist, her face turning a faded red.

"A-Anyways, you must not allow Nepgear to attempt HDD." Neptune tilted her head, confused.

"Why not? Is it because he might turn into a hunk and get a harem?" Histoire sweatdropped.

"No, it's because of Nepgear's unstable." IF and Neptune darted towards Histoire, startling the small girl.

"What do you mean unstable?!" Neptune nodded her head.

"Yeah, Nep Jr. is the most stable person… except for IF, that is." The girl sighed in relief when IF dropped her eyebrow.

"Nepgear is unstable as in that he is not as deeply connected to Neptune's Sharicite as Neptune is. Nepgear would not have enough power to use HDD safely." Neptune blinked her eyes.

"So he can, as in right now?" Histoire nodded.

"Yes. Nepgear can activate HDD as easily as Neptune can, but should Nepgear attempt to use HDD, he will not only use up all of his energy, but a part of his life force as well." IF's eyes widened as Neptune blinked her eyes, her face blank. "As such, you must keep Nepgear's interest in HDD as far away as possible." Neptune looked at Histoire, worry in her eyes.

"Histy, when will Nepgear be able to use HDD?" Histoire shook her head.

"Not for a long time." IF narrowed her eyes.

"Any specifics?" Histoire closed her eyes.

"... Nepgear cannot use HDD until three centuries or so."

"Three centuries?!" IF shook her head in shock. "That's way too long!" Histoire opened her eyes.

"That is, unless Nepgear is prepared for it." A drop of sweat rolled down Neptune's face.

"What are you blabbering about, Histy?" Histoire sweatdropped before clearing her throat.

"If you take Nepgear on Quests, the a part of the Shares you gain will directly feed into Nepgear, alongside that and training his body to become sturdier. Nepgear will be able to use HDD normally." IF furrowed her eyebrows.

"Wait, you said Gear has to be 'sturdier'." Histoire nodded.

"Yes, although he is a CPU, he does not have the protection of the Sharicite yet. Because of his weak connection to the Planeptune Sharicite, Nepgear is as fragile as normal person, minus aging." Neptune's eyes widened, fear entering her heart.

"Wait, does that mean that Nepgear can-"

"Die?" IF and Neptune froze as a sorrowful frown wrote itself onto Histoire's face, forcing the Oracle to turn around and look away. "...Yes."

Suddenly, IF's phone began to ring, startling everyone in the room. IF fumbled around, searching for which phone was ringing. Pulling out her personal phone, IF looked at the collar ID.

"It's Compa." Putting her phone to her ear, IF stood up and walked away from Histoire and Neptune. Neptune turned to Histoire, determination, something Histoire wasn't used to seeing on the CPU, on her face.

"Histy…" Neptune stood up, walking up to Histoire, turning HDD as she did so. "I will train Nepgear, and make him the best CPU that he can be." Smiling, Histoire took Purple Heart's hand into her own.

"I see, if you are able to train Nepgear properly, the time it would take for him to efficiently use HDD will decrease significantly." Purple Heart nodded.

"By how much?" Histoire closed her eyes again, opening them sooner than the last time.

"In theory, Nepgear will be able to use HDD in about three years." Sighing in relief, Purple Heart smiled.

"Thank you, Hist-" IF ran over to Purple Heart and Histoire, fear in her eyes.

"Girls, we have trouble!" Histoire let go of Purple Heart, surprised.

"What's going on?" IF held up her phone.

"Compa called, saying that she can't find Nepgear!" Both Purple Heart and Histoire widened their eyes, Purple Heart stepping back.

"What?!" Purple Heart turned to the balcony, floating into the air.

"Neptune, wait!" The CPU looked at Histoire, paranoid. "You don't know where Nepgear is!"

"I have start looking at least!" IF grabbed Purple Heart's foot, shaking her head.

"You don't have to." IF held her phone up. "I had Gear's phone planted with a GPS. So…" IF looked at her phone, nodding her head. "Good, it looks like the signal's still in the park and Compa should still be there." Purple Heart nodded and picked up IF.

"Histoire, we'll be back as soon as possible."

When the two arrived at the park, the sun had begun to set. Purple Heart and IF found Compa by the pudding stand, waving. The two touched down nearby. Compa ran towards the duo, tears in her eyes as the bag of pudding swung side to side.

"Comapa! What happened?" Compa shook her head while trying to prevent her tears from spilling.

"I dun… I don't know!" Compa sniveled as IF rubbed her back. "Wh-When we got to the pudding stand, I to-told Ge-Ge to wait here ca-cause I had to use the bathroom. Bu-But when I got back… he wasn't THEEREEEEEEE!" Purple Heart pulled Compa into a hug and nodded at IF, who nodded back and pulled out her phone. Turning opposite of the stand, IF pointed towards the wooded area of the park.

"The signal's over there!" The trio rushed through the woods, keeping close to IF as she kept her eyes on her phone, making sure the signal was still there, "Good, the signal's not moving." Purple Heart clenched her fist, thoughts of what could have happened to Nepgear flying through her mind.

The thought of finding Nepgear lying in a clearing, beaten up and bruised.

The thought of finding Nepgear collapsed on the ground, having attempted HDD.

The thought of…

Of…

The thought of her little brother… dead.

Purple Heart shook the thoughts out of her head as IF stopped in front of a abandoned wooden shack. When Purple Heart opened her mouth, IF held out a hand, pointing at the building and at her phone.

This was it. The place where Nepgear's phone, and hopefully Nepgear was.

As the girls approached the shack, they could hear quiet murmurs within the decrepit building.

"What is wrong with this guy?"

"He won't get excited."

"Why not?!"

"Of course not! He's too innocent!"

"I guess we'll have to do it all the way then."

"Are you nuts, this is Lady Purple Heart's brother?!"

"Um, why is everyone whispering? I thought we were gonna get a gift for my sister."

"Yes, hold on darling. Your sister will get the greatest gift in a bit so hold on. Quick, blindfold him!"

"...O-Okay then, but I think Compa's going to get worried… Um, why are you covering my eyes?"

"Are you sure this is okay?"

"It is! I found him, so he's mine!" That was all Purple Heart wanted to hear. Tapping IF on the shoulder, Purple Heart summoned her weapon. Once IF and Compa backed away, Purple Heart pointed her sword at the rotten door.

"Critical Edge!" Busting through the door, the dust and wood chips settled to reveal a group of young women under a barely working lightbulb, crowding around a blindfolded Nepgear. The boy's tie was undone, his shirt to be half undone and revealing his sleeveless, pink-striped undershirt. Nepgear's belt was unbuckled and one of the women had her hands on Nepgear's pants. Purple Heart narrowed her eyes as Compa pointed at the one who was undressing Nepgear.

"Nep-Nep, that's the creepy lady that Ge-Ge bumped into last week!" The woman Compa pointed at paled. Purple Heart stepped forward, weapon over shoulder.

"Is that Compa?" Nepgear bounced in his chair, causing the woman to get off of him and revealing he was bound to the chair by his arms and legs. "Hi, Compa! Sorry I disappeared, these nice people said that I could get Neptune a nice gift." Purple Heart's eyes darkened. Frowning, the CPU pointed her weapon at the women.

"Hand over my little brother." Nepgear perked up at the sound of his sister.

"S-Sis, is that you?!" The boy had recognized Purple Heart's over time, smiling once he realized she was here "Surprise!" All the women looked to Nepgear, then to Purple Heart, then to the woman that was getting touchy-feely with Nepgear earlier.

"I told you it wasn't worth it?!"

"We told you not to do this!"

"Yeah, so?"

"That is Lady Purple Heart!"

"This is SO not cool!" The other women prostrated themselves in front of the goddess, beggin for mercy. However, the woman who pursued Nepgear last week just put her hand on her hip.

"Oh my god, it's just three girls. What can they do?" IF herded the other women out of the shack while Compa freed Nepgear and pulled him away. Purple Heart stabbed sword into the ground, frightening the woman. The goddess cracked her knuckles, walking towards the woman, who now cowered on the chair that Nepgear had been bound to.

"I'll show you."