Chapter 25: Meeting Team Planeptune again
Note: Readers please listen to Cod 4 SAS Spawn intro while reading this:
Our dreams take us to the sewers once again, but at least this time I am with my sisters and we have our G Con 45's equipped.
The place is more lit up and we find there is a long table with seats at one end. We decide to sit down as we can only guess this will be where we'll meet Neptune, Plutia and Nepgear, as at the other end there are 3 seats for them, which are farthest away from us.
"Any trouble from Neptune and we'll be ready. Let's Do this." I say to them.
"Yeah there's no way we'll lose to them. We'll beat them again just as we did before." Noire adds speaking with much pride.
They all nod as we expect them to come, we're ready for their inevitable arrival.
Note: Readers please listen to Cod 4 Spetznaz Spawn intro.
I now see Purple Heart, Purple Sister and Iris Heart in front of me, walking towards the table. What shocks me is that Iris Heart appears like in the games; her woman hood is back along with her hair. She has no cuts on her body at all, and I wonder how she managed to recover as if it has never happened? I kinda expected them to come especially in this form, but seeing Plutia like that is an unpleasant surprise.
"Take no prisoners buddies." Neptune says.
"ahhhh, ha ha ha, ha ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha…ha ,hoo, hoo, he ,aha ,ha ,hoo, he ha ,aha, and I thought my jokes were bad." Plutia says failing miserably at flirting, acting really smug.
Already I grow tired of their presence and they barely walked in, just as the rest of my team, I look at Noire's face showing nothing but anger, and desires for them to die. Though I have the same thoughts myself.
"Gimme one reason, why I shouldn't have my girls here pull your heads off?" I say firmly to them.
"How about a magic trick?" Neptune replies trying to sound playful.
"I'm gonna make this water, disappear." She says, slamming a glass of water hard on the table.
She then gulps it down quickly placing the glass down, as all 3 of them sit down.
"Da, Daaaaaaaa. See now it's gone." She says.
Lame trick. At least it's better than having a pencil stuck in a place where the sun don't shine.
"Oh and by the way these plug suits, they're not cheap at all. It's only fair I let you lot know being as you bought them." Plutia says looking so smug.
Uni then stands up annoyed, probably due to them being annoying and making no sense; I don't blame her at all. It's not like they stole from us or anything.
"Please Uni, I think we should hear what they have to say." Noire says to her trying to sound calm.
Uni then sits down reluctantly, I can sense her frustration, her anger that we all have.
"Let's wind the clocks back some time ago. We the CPUs of our various nations were the strongest in Gameindustri. I mean what happened, you, you lost your guts, huh? You see a girl like me." Nepgear says.
"Joke." Uni says, with me and Noire laughing as well as agreeing.
I can tell this bothers Nepgear, but how can she serve her two older sisters knowing the crimes they have committed?
"A girl like me, please listen. I know why you choose to act as if you care about your landmasses, I know why you are always working hard in Lastation. The deity of sin: Arfoire. You see Arfoire has shown Gameindustri your true colours unfortunately…"
I have heard of Arfoire but I have never even seen her. Could Arfoire be behind this? I must say some of what she says makes sense, well ish? I mean we do care about our landmass, but she's implying we have encountered Arfoire before but we haven't. What's her point anyway?
"…The Sages? They're just the beginning..." Nepgear continues.
I also remember the Seven Sages, but again I've never encountered them here, do they all exist? Come to think of it, what in Gameindustri is she on about? Though maybe it may have something to do with what's going on here.
"…And as for you being here to save the day?" Nepgear then points at me.
"Arfoire cannot be stopped by conventional means, she'll find you and make you die. I know the types of people when I see them and….." Nepgear refers to me.
If I was talking to her via Skype or satellite, I would have switched her off by now. She talks about nothing but nonsense. I mean sure we face invasion and had to deal with unknown forces, but I'm not sure I can connect that to Arfoire. There isn't even any proof that she exists.
"What do you propose?" Noire asks.
"It's simple we kill Arfoire with this sword." Neptune says showing it us.
It looks old and rusty, yet dark; I think it's the Gehaburn sword from the Conquest Ending. I'm guessing because I haven't seen it itself, I only remember hearing about it.
"If it's so simple, why haven't you done it already?" Uni asks.
"Because killing her is not simple Uniwooney, we need your help guys." Neptune says knowing full well that they annoy us.
"What do you want?" Noire asks them with much irritation.
"Your lives. I'm afraid for this sword to work it requires the life of a CPU, this includes yours and Black's and Uni's. The only way the sword will be powerful enough is if only one CPU remains." Nepgear explains.
I think I've had just about enough of this nonsense.
"Now why on earth should I believe you lot? For one thing where is your proof that Arfoire even exists?" I ask her with a lot of mistrust and anger. Anything involving the deaths of my CPUs is bad news to me.
They then show us a video showing ASIC running amok in Gameindustri, and Arfoire being revived. But interestingly enough it's in a similar format to the video that showed Noire working with Avenir, I notice there are no clips of Lastation at all. Wait… I know what it is, it's the Conquest Ending footage from Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2, but how did they get it? This proves to me even more that they're probably lying, and perhaps there is no Arfoire causing destruction.
"You know funnily enough I think we both know where that video came from. Also you used that same trick before to try to get me to kill Noire, so why should I believe you now?" I ask with anger and with a lot of mistrust in my voice.
"When we tried to get you to kill Noire before, it was to help save Gameindustri, to power up the Gehaburn. I did it to try and ease the pain of killing Noire; I know that you only harm villains, so I had to make Noire look like a villain for you to do it. Please if you don't kill each other yourselves, you will be forced to do it anyway." Nepgear pleads with us.
I still don't buy it. Though it concerns me to know how they would do it.
"Why are you even doing this Nepgear? What happened to doing stuff together? If Arfoire did indeed exist and the Gehaburn is the only way, I'd rather me, Noire and Uni go down together as a unit, than to fight each other to the death just so only one of us can save Gameindustri. Congratulations Nepgear, you have become Arfoire. The very person you wish to stop." I say with much anger and plenty of rage.
Nepgear then starts crying.
"Do you think I want this? There is no other choice, it's the only way we can save Gameindustri." Nepgear speaks sounding rather upset.
Save Gameindustri or destroy Gameindustri.
"No it's not we can fight together. Do you not think that even though Arfoire wants the world to fall, that with your plan you'd be doing her job? Considering how you like to brainwash me with footage from your game, I would have thought you'd remember that Arfoire did not dodge your attack, because her mission was accomplished. Why should only you survive and the other CPUs die with their nations, just so a villain can be defeated?
You know what come to think of it not only have you failed to convince me about your plan, or even about Arfoire being a massive problem I think I know the truth about this. You want us to fall because we have beaten you lot badly in the previous wars don't you? Yeah that's probably what's all this about. You can't stand the fact that Noire is a winner, nor can you stand the fact that Noire is the most popular. Nor can you stand the fact that Noire gets the glory because she works hard, she's earned it. You're just a bunch of sore losers and you know it to be true. You don't fool me." I say speaking with plenty of passion and emotion.
I can tell that it bothers them. I even see Nepgear about to cry some more, but I have no sympathy for her. If Arfoire existed and if it was done my way, Nepgear (assuming she'd win of course) wouldn't have all the guilt, all the blood on her hands. Even if we were to lose, at least we'd be fighting together and we can die together.
I know what it's like to have blood on my hands, and the best way to do it is to avoid doing so, not embracing it. Though I was forced to wipe out masses of enemy troops and will probably do so again, we are at least working on a way to revive them and bring an end to this needless conflict. But after a short while of thinking, I find that the sadist starts to speak.
"Awwwww Neppy Junior, there's no need to cry. She said it's the only way to do it, the fact is you have no choice in the matter, apart from choosing who lives and who dies out of you 3. When that is done you will then fight the surviving Lowee CPU with us on camera, which will be watched by everyone in Gameindustri." Plutia says putting her hand on Nepgear, she seems annoyed but her anger means nothing to me. I have no fear of her.
I don't like the sound of that at all; Lastation is doomed to have only one CPU as we will end up killing each other, whether we do it on our own terms or not. Worse still something tells me Planeptune won't do the same, and yet we're forced to fight a Lowee CPU together on TV. It sickens me as I remember how wonderful Blanc, Rom and Ram were; it would be horrible to have to fight them now only to probably…..kill them.
But wait a minute, why on earth would they want to put that on TV? That's a bit odd; then again they probably want to see Blanc get humiliated in front of Gameindustri, as revenge for their losses.
"How can we be sure that you will do the same as we have to do?" Noire asks them with much mistrust in her voice.
"You only need to be concerned with making sure only one of you is still alive by tomorrow night, so that we can fight the Lowee CPU together." Neptune says sounding quite jolly about it.
"Don't you think it's a bit unfair to have the Lowee CPU on her own?" I ask Neptune with much sarcasm.
"True, but you can take that place and Lastation could be the lone CPU if you would like?" Neptune replies in a similar tone to me.
I feel very angry, frustrated at the very thought. I hated the idea of fighting against my own CPUs, now it's gotten worse as it is required for me to kill them. It baffles how they're able to pull this off with their brainwashing. If only I knew a way to get out of this, but right now there's nothing I just hope I can come up with something, as I'd like nothing more than to make them pay for what they did to us.
"Fine Planeptune and Lastation versus Lowee, not that we have any choice or anything." I say reluctantly with much sarcasm.
"This is for your own good, you'll get a chance for Lastation to survive. If we don't deal with this now, soon your precious nation will be reduced to rubble by the Deity of Sin. Imagine that, Noire being dead along with that nation of hers." Plutia says while laughing quite manically.
I think my sister is reaching breaking point with anger, as Noire then angrily hammers the table with her fist really hard.
"ENOUGH FROM THE NEPS!" Noire yells with anger.
I can see the anger on her face as she stands up along with the rest of us, while they stand up; all of us have our respective guns drawn out ready to shoot each other if need be. We have G Con 45s while they have their Sega Stunner Light Guns.
"Whoa let's not blow this out of proportion." Plutia says.
"You think you can insult us, make us kill each other and just walk away?" Noire asks with anger.
"Yep we'll do it a kajillion times apart from the killing of course." Plutia says with confidence.
"I'm putting the word out: 500 credits for the Neps dead, 1000 alive so I can teach you lot some manners first." Noire says rather angrily. If looks could kill the 3 Neps would be dead by now.
"Think of it as punishment for standing against us, and for ruining my beautiful body." Plutia says while laughing and flirting in vain.
"Your body never was beautiful to begin with, and you got what you deserved for torturing all of those innocent people. You know what I'd happily do it again." I reply coldly to her.
"We'll come back tomorrow; one of you will get to face the Lowee CPU, awesome sauce." Neptune replies smiling.
After which the dream is now finally over and we all wake up, panting and scared. Though we are all sweating a lot, we're relieved that we're all here in one piece.
But I don't think I can recover so easily, as my HUD then informs me that we have to choose who is going to survive, and if we don't: we'll end up killing each other confirming what they have been saying. I sigh with frustration, sadness and despair.
I guess I have experienced a variation of the Conquest Ending, at least in that version we would fight and die as a team but sadly Noire and Uni died, could this be the same? Could it be that I am meant to kill Noire and Uni to save Lastation from Arfoire? Thing is I'm not convinced at all with what they're saying to me.
If anything it's worse than the conquest ending, because we would have to fight each other. Something I'm very keen to avoid at all costs.
Not to mention I would have to fight either Blanc, Rom or Ram, but my gut feeling says it's Blanc. Yet alongside me would be Nepgear, Neptune and Plutia, although I reckon it would be just Neptune and Plutia. Funnily enough I remember in Victory when Noire, Plutia and Neptune fought and beat Blanc, and it's so lousy how they try to recreate the very things I hated in the series.
I then look at my two wonderful sisters Noire and Uni who both feel so warm and yet so sad.
"You OK guys?" I ask them.
They both nod at me and I can see that they're trying to smile, but they both look glum from their faces and their body language.
"What do you propose we do? I mean it looks as if we have no choice but to kill each other." Uni says trying to hold back the tears due to the situation.
Despite the situation I will not resign to my fate just yet. As we can at least discuss this situation and go from there.
"I want to analyse what they said to us if you don't mind. Can you guys remember what else they said apart from us killing each other?" I ask them.
"Sure, it's probably a good idea. I remember you once teaching us not to be give in to situations such as this. I do remember them saying that Arfoire will destroy us, unless we use that cursed sword, of course it requires the lives of CPUs." Uni recalls.
"Yeah they said that the survivor would team up with them to face Blanc as well." Noire adds.
"And have that battle filmed to feed Planeptune's ego." I add further.
"But if it's a battle over who lives to kill Arfoire and who dies, why film it?" Uni asks sounding rather puzzled.
"Good question, plus which if it was a fair fight, then why do they want one of us to join up and take out Blanc?" Noire asks with much suspicion.
"Well they claim it's to stop Arfoire but I'm not convinced. For starters have you two even encountered Arfoire here, or even heard of her here?" I ask them both.
They both shake their heads. Just as I suspected.
In that case why do they know about Arfoire, if she has never been encountered here? Then again the same could be said for my sisters knowing Arfoire's existence, despite not seeing her here. If my memory serves me correct in mk2, it was known in the beginning that Arfoire existed, there was also a time when the CPUs were tied up, but here Noire was always here or in NeutralLand, and not a single trace of Arfoire was here. Perhaps we have encountered Arfoire where we were originally from, though I have no memories of this. One thing that does make me wonder is if Arfoire was to exist here, would she be as evil as she was in the series?
I say this because despite Arfoire being a villain I have no hatred for her, and dare I say I liked her. Because she really despises Neptune as do I. While she wanted to destroy the world, I'm not sure if I wanted to live in their world there. At least with this Lastation I can live here forever, and it's nice to see my CPU being a successful leader. I just wish I knew a way to get out of this, or else it could die. Unfortunately I find that thought rather distressing, so I attempt to distract myself by asking more questions.
"Hmmmm Have you two ever heard of the Gehaburn Sword?" I ask them both.
Once again they both shake their heads.
Thing is that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Although I do believe there is no deity of sin in this universe. I mean why have us ganging up on Blanc, giving her a 2 on 1 match maybe even 4 on 1? Because I doubt Team Planeptune will leave one CPU standing.
It really does make me think that perhaps they want revenge.
"I wonder if they want me to fight Blanc with them, so that we can both be punished. I say this as despite the falling out, I have not fought Blanc at all. Maybe they've noticed this and wish for us both to fight. Perhaps they wish to join me in the fight as to cause more suffering to me." Noire speaks with much grief and sadness.
I can tell she doesn't want to fight Blanc. I cannot blame her and I admire her for still holding out hope, as although they haven't seen each other and are technically at war, she still views Blanc as her friend, her ally.
"So then you'll be full of guilt and they'll wipe you out with ease. Then they will have gotten rid of Lastation and Lowee, so they can triumph once again." I add.
Not to mention they use what happened in the games, so they get their way and no one will stop them.
"One question, who will be the survivor?" My youngest sister asks with a lot of sniffing, holding back the tears.
I can see her with much sadness, at the thought of only one us being allowed to live. I hate having to answer that question, it's rather unfair.
"I propose Black should survive because that way he can carry on ruling Lastation sufficiently. He's also the least affected by the brain washing; besides wherever we end up, I will always be there for you." Noire says with reassurance and love to Uni even giving her a hug.
While I hate the idea of me living without them two, me being the survivor does seem to make a lot more sense.
"I agree, I want you two to be together as always just as you have been the longest. That being said while I know I'll do a good job running Lastation, I'm concerned that the people will work out I have killed you both. And I'm not sure I could live with your blood on my hands, I don't think Lastation could either." I speak sounding quite sad, this whole thing is crippling to us all and emotionally painful.
"That's a true point; maybe we're better of dying along with Lastation together.
I'd prefer it if we fought and died together, rather than turn on each other anyway." Uni says.
My HUD then informs me that only 2 of us can die rather than all 3 of us.
"I think that's unanimous, but unfortunately I have to survive. Maybe what I'll do is take down the Planeptune CPUs, and then perhaps just commit suicide. I just don't think it's good for me to rule Lastation alone, knowing I killed you two to save it. It's against what I stand for, not to mention the people will have lost faith anyway. Ideally we need to speak to Blanc about this. Even if she has fallen out with us we need to warn her about their intentions." I speak trying to sound optimistic by coming up with suggestions.
"I'm afraid she won't speak to us even so, one of us would probably die anyway. I believe unless we find a way out of this, we're doomed." Noire responds sounding quite glum.
"The main issue is the fact that I will have to kill the both of you, plus Blanc assuming it's her I face unless…." I think aloud.
"…Unless we find a way of convincing them we're dead, when we're not." Noire says.
That's it, that has to be the way. Thinking about this idea boosts my confidence, as at least we may have a way out without having to kill each other. But the thing is though how could I convince them that I did the deed? But at least I have some strategy in mind, which is good as having a plan and strategy is what calms me down, and is what will help us triumph through predicaments.
"OK I think I have a plan on how to deal with this. Noire I want you to find about Arfoire, find out if she exists, and if so find out if the Gehaburn is the only way to stop her.
Uni I want you find out about the Gehaburn itself, find out if there are other ways to make the sword powerful other than CPU lives, and find out how the sword knows whether a CPU has died or not.
I'm going to try and find a way of speaking to Blanc, she won't speak to you but she may speak to me. We need to try and at least come up with a strategy for her when she fights the Planeptune CPUs." I order calmly.
"Be careful, you're going to have to disguise not just your appearance, but also so that Blanc recognises you as someone from Lowee." Noire explains.
"Thanks but won't she recognise it's me?" I ask her with curiosity.
"She will but she is at war with anything Lastation, and you're Lastation." My CPU explains.
I suppose it makes sense especially to avoid potential suspicion.
"OK Thanks, I'll try and find a way and if it doesn't work then let them brain wash us. Because even if they get their way, we'll still be defiant towards them to the end." I say with determination.
We all agree and have a nice long hug. I enjoy them as it shows our powerful bond we have together. I just hope this won't be the last hug but at least we have a strategy, something we can try as opposed to resignation, and I refuse to resign to our fate.
"Don't worry we'll get out of this mess. I promise." I say to them both.
I see them both smile after I said that, I start smiling as well. It's nice to know that we have a lot of faith in each other. And even if there's no certainty and they recognise that I'm not certain, they definitely admire me for it. They certainly like how I'll refuse to give in. I must not doubt myself as I've proven Noire is innocent and I have held of an attack twice, I can do this.
After hugging each other and making the most out of it, trying not to let the situation bother us, we head for breakfast. I hope it's not our last one together, as it's a privilege to dine with them as well as to enjoy the delicious cuisine they have.