Took long enough, eh? Had classes, but forsee an early update in the future.

Here we go.

"Wait… What? Whoah!" I utter, before I immediately misstep and lose my footing.. I barely catch myself by flipping my weight backwards, but either way I slam my entire weight onto my arms.

"You… You were…You are talking about the Candidate of Planeptune, right?" asks Financier, who offers me a hand to stand myself back up. I gratefully accept, after quickly wiping my now-dirtied hands onto my pants.

"Wait. What's going on with Nepgear?" asks IF from behind us.

"Wait, no IF, I'm no-"

"I thought you were in a relationship with Purple Sister? That is why I found you on the floor wrapped around... uhhh…" Financier begins, before she glances towards the audience she has unwittingly gathered. "Never mind? Eheh…?"

She even has the cheek to scratch the back of her neck, after dropping a bomb like that.

"Derek… What does she mean by..." states IF, who rolls her eyes and shoots me a look. "Do I even want to know?"

"Well… Uhh…" I sputter, glancing about for a convenient exit. No go, we're still in a tunnel. "I-I can explain!"

I can't explain! Dammit Financier! I can't even remember what happened...

RED is staring at me with an expression of both intense interest, and slight anger. If it were directed at anyone else, it'd be hilarious. Not so much when I'm the target.

"I… Uhhh… It was an accident?" I verbally flail, brain not responding to my desperate attempts to try and cover myself. "She's… ummm... she's not my type anyway!"

The words aren't even out of my mouth before I slap my own forehead. Stupid.

I receive flat, unamused expressions back. The hall drops to silence for a good second or two, before I finally receive a response.

"Seriously, Derek?" sighs IF, who at least seems to have eased up her stare.

"I'm… I'm pretty sure I just woke up in the same bed as her… It was right after the twins captured us, right?" I half-continue, half-ask. I glance towards Financier for confirmation, but she stares back confusedly at me. Eventually though, she seems to understand.

Financier nods slowly, before she pauses and turns back towards me. "Wait, So who exactly were you talking about earlier, then?"

I'm not liking the deeply amused expressions that are beginning to appear on the rest of the group. "I'm… Going to scout ahead, 'kay?" I reply, probably a bit too quickly. "Please don't… Please don't ask me that question again."

I flee forward before any further questions can be asked. Crisis averted, or at least avoided for now.

The descent abruptly stops, with the tunnel splitting into three branches. With the way forward no longer obvious, I step to the side, to allow the others to catch up. I trust them enough to not gossip too much about it, but it doesn't mean that the idea of it isn't embarrassing...

I let loose a slight sigh. I don't want to answer that question, because I honestly don't know. I raise my hands up towards my face, and rub my eyes.

The rest of the group soon reach where I am, and fortunately for me, it seems that they aren't whispering or giggling towards each other. Financier still seems to be slightly confused, so it looks like they actually didn't end up telling her.

IF's grinning slightly as she nods towards me though. I roll my eyes back at her.

"Alright." states our guide, as she quickly gazes down each of the corridors. "Okay, if I'm remembering correctly... That way leads to the R&D section, which we don't want to go… Jails should be… that way!"

She then points down the leftmost path. With nods all around, we continue onwards.

These halls really aren't any more interesting than the ones before us. I mean, they're built for function, and not for looks… but man…

"So I'm slightly curious, Financier. Just how long were you down here?" I ask, if only to kill the time.

Financier goes silent for a moment, probably running numbers in her head. "About a week, actually. They invaded the Basilicom… set up their forces… I'd say four, five days?"

Compa chimes in from behind us. "Wait, how have you been feeding yourself? It's not healthy to not eat for that long…"

Financier grins sheepishly. "I, uhh… Well, I found one of the Candidate's cereal stashes… and one of the drinking fountains is close enough to a secret door that I can pop in and out without being noticed. I've definitely eaten worse, but it's definitely done my diet no favors."

Ah. Yeah, just one of those boxes would have enough calories in it to last a month.

Compa frowns, but nods her head. "Remember to eat healthy after we finish this… Wouldn't want to go and get sic-"

"I wonder where those Candidates are hiding?" asks a nearby, unfamiliar voice.

Almost immediately, the group stops and drops to a crouch. A summoned knife is instantly in my hands. Benefits of having a quick-summon weapon, I guess.

I'm definitely not the only one glancing about frantically as I try to locate the source of the noise.

"Man, doesn't matter. Boss says that we just need to wait them out. Time's on our side here, yeah? But yeah, the sooner I can get out of here, and the sooner I can get away from these creepy things, the better."

The voice is coming from…

Carefully, I press my ear against a nearby wall, and the voices become clearer. Just how thin are the walls here? I'd knock on them, but that'd be both stupid and probably dangerous.

Slowly, I turn back towards the others, and find Marvy and RED doing the same thing.

"We're almost there." whispers Financier, quiet enough so that she is barely audible, "We won't open the door until they're all gone."

The hallway is silent, save for the sound of our exit slowly grinding open. The moment there is enough space to allow a human passage, Marvy rushes out crouched low. The door is closed behind her in an instant.

Three breaths later, a quiet "It's clear!" reports back to us through the wall. One by one, we step out, and seal our path of egress with the gentle press of a slightly-discolored brick. Our way out quickly closes behind us, trapping us with our decision.

"The dungeons are just up ahead." states Financier, flipping her bladed fan in her hand nervously. "I don't know how many guards might be in there… If any of them get out…"

Then they'll be right on top of us, I suppose. The walk through the shortcut took us about ten minutes, so we have about that amount of time for reinforcements to arrive at our position. Probably more, but it's better to expect the worst.

"We just need to take them all down before they can get away, then?" responds Marvy, who flips a strangely-shaped kunai drawn from… somewhere. "We're good at that, right?"

"Right." I respond. "That's our usual strategy, anyway. It's just we actually need to be good at it, this time."

Financier blinks at all of us, as we get prepared. "Wait, so no plan? No strategy to stop them from getting away?"

RED chuckles. "We don't need no plan!~ We totally got this!~"

Financier sighs, but draws her bladed fan. "Goddesses help u-"

A sudden noise causes us all to jump. Our weapons are all ready for combat, as we scan the hallways for the sudden disturbance.

"Oh…" sighs IF in relief from somewhere behind us. "That's just Nepgear and Uni checking in. They made it to safety and are waiting for us by the Global Expo."

One by one, we let loose shaky breaths. "I'm… Uhhh…" states IF, as she fiddles with her phone, "I'm... just going to turn on airplane mode."

"That's probably for the best."

The dungeons are about what I imagined them to be. Solid metal bars encompassing dozens of stone cells, each filled with miserable-looking people. IF is forced to pull Compa backwards, to prevent the nurse from retching and drawing attention to herself. A few of the prisoners are so badly beaten that their entire faces have swollen to a deep purple. Another handful are covered in nasty-looking scratches. The rest are mostly fine, but definitely have seen better days.

"Eugh." shudders Marvy, who looks rather green herself. "They didn't even bother to heal them before they threw them into the cells…"

"What's stopping them from healing themselves after they're locked up?" I ask, mentally debating whether or not to slip a healing item through the bars. Really wish I had some area of effect heals… That'd be useful right now.

"Never been put in jail? Good for you." IF responds, as she slowly rubs Compa's back. "They build jail cells with wards to prevent the usage of any special or magical ability. It's standard design and stops criminals from breaking out. It also disrupts the inventory and credits systems. The first one has a pretty obvious reason, but they had to add the second one after a Leanboxian criminal managed to run an entire business from inside of a jail cell."

MAGES. rubs her forehead and winces. "Being in close proximity to such wards tends to inflict a dreadful headache onto me. It usually has such an effect on those as deeply attuned to magic as I am. The average person is able to recognise it as a barely audible buzz."

I don't hear anything. At least, nothing more than usual. I suppose it's for the best.

"So they can't heal themselves… Or each other?" I repeat, eyes darting from injured prisoner to injured prisoner. "They haven't been in there long enough to naturally heal themselves…"

I shudder involuntarily as I try to imagine the situation of the people in the cells. Even without bleeding or crippling wounds, being injured in this world is still far from enjoyable. Especially to such an extent as these people are. "I'm feeling less and less merciful by the moment." I state, tearing my eyes away for a moment. "Give me a sec, I'm going to take a closer look."

"Be careful."

As stealthily as I can, I creep forwards, drawing the gazes of a few of the prisoners. Frantically, I shake my head back at them, and fortunately, they remain quiet. A few even move between me and the ASIC troops ahead, granting me a small amount of cover from their gazes should they turn my direction.

From my new vantage point, I can see what lays ahead of us. I count about… two dozen? Strangely enough, more than half of the guards seem to still be wearing the Basilicom uniform… Did they just never end up changing? Why not? They must've been here for a few days, at least...

"Heh heh. Not so tough now are ya?" proclaims one of the male ASIC goons, who is leaning in towards a cell, tongue stuck out. He's wearing the usual ASIC uniform, and fortunately seems to be too busy to notice me. "You idiots should all just give up! Don't you get it? We control half of the CPUs in Gamindustri! And that's not counting the other four our leaders have taken out of the picture already! You have already lost! Heck, all we need to do is roll over those two other CPU bitches, and this whole world's ours!"

I slowly retreat backwards, and nod towards the group. "I count at least twenty four… It might be a trap."

IF blinks back at me, as she runs the math in her head. "Two dozen? That doesn't… Eugh. We're going to have to go for it anyway. This is our only shot."

"I will attempt to immobilize that group of four in white located towards the back of the room." states MAGES. "I would recommend neutralizing the rest of the hostiles as quickly as you can."

"Marking the jackass in the grey uniform by the cells. He seems important, or at least important enough to take down first." I add, pointing towards my quarry. "I'll try to clean up after I get him, but I need to make sure he's out before I move on."

The rest of the girls mark their targets, and together, we charge into the room.

We barely make a sound as we charge into the cell-filled room. We don't have to.

Because the deafening cheers emanating from the cells more than makes up for it. The sudden rush of noise seems to daze a few of the ASIC minions, but the rest jump to action to engage us.

My target drew my ire is quickly introduced to my crowbar, just as a flash of blue solidifies into a thick casing of ice around three more of the thugs. Around me, the now-familiar sound of metal clashing on metal begins to ring out. As does the unfortunately-familiar whoosh of a weapon swinging towards me.

I step backwards out of an incoming strike from my left, and hammer down hard on the nearest hostile. Said hostile makes no sound, save for a rather primal snarl as they're forced backwards, shaking their head clear. Tougher than usual, huh? We should still be fine.

Two more charge towards me both wearing Basilicom garb, and both brandishing axes. Behind them, I can see another female soldier frantically shuffling through a handbag. I can't get a good shot at her from here.

"Get that one!" I shout, as I kick away one of the axe-wielders, and step inwards to block the second one's strike. "I'm pinned down here!"

Now close enough to get a good look at my opponent, I meet my opponent's eyes.

"What the fuck?" I utter, losing concentration just long enough to allow it to disengage and draw backwards one more. It makes a gutteral noise, and circles around to find another opening. I stumble backwards, to make sure it can't counterattack.

Its eyes are definitely not human - I see neither emotion, nor any sign of intelligence in its eyes. Its pupils resemble shapeless voids. The vicious snarl engraved across its face clashes with rest of its almost-serene expression.

Beside me, I can see Marvy sink her blade into the creature I had knocked backwards but a moment ago. She recoils in horror the moment it begins to fade into data, the creature shrieking in pain the entire way.

"Wh-what?" she stutters, as she glances between her weapon and the final fading traces of binary. She's open long enough that the second, circling monster decides to take its chance, and lunges towards her axe ready. I intercept it by kicking it aside. Shakily, Marvy whispers her thanks, but backs up slightly from the foe.

I don't know if they're monsters, or of they're something worse. All I know is that they are disturbing, and I want them gone as soon as possible.

"Financier! What the hell are these things?" I shout, as I attempt to take down the new aggressor non-lethally with a blow to the knees. No dice: not even a moment after it begins to slow down, I'm faced with a rapidly disintegrating being. It fades to dust right before me.

Glancing around to check the situation, its soon obvious that the others are facing similar problems. Compa seems to have withdrawn from the battle entirely, and is glancing fearfully from foe to foe. IF is defending her as best as she and, but seems just as disturbed. MAGES. seems to be having the most success, choosing to immobilize the drones rather than attempt to subdue them.

RED… Seems to have knocked the handbag girl unconscious, and seems to be glancing between us unsure of who to help. Good job, RED. And the handbag girl hasn't faded either… What the hell is going on?

"I… I don't know!" stutters Financier, who weaves under a sloppy, but violent incoming blow, before counterattacking in an attempt to disarm her attacker. "I've never seen… I've never seen this before!"

Counting the remaining combatants, I can see only four downed, four frozen, and another four immobilized, along with only seven more actively fighting. On the ground amidst the fighting, I can see credit chips. All of the downed combatants are wearing ASIC uniforms… Is there a pattern? Are any of these things people?

I can feel bile rising as I turn back towards the combat. I don't know what these things are, but if I do nothing, people will be hurt…

I grit my teeth, and re-enter the battle.

A quick lunge with a conjured knife at one of the things menacing IF dissipates its form. She stares at me confusedly for a moment, before she gulps, nods, and joins me in the mop-up.

The creatures, while unintelligent, definitely are much stronger than the thugs. A few are even able to smash their way out of their icy shackles, forcing us to put them down. Still, eventually we cut our way through their ranks, wincing as we deal each lethal blow.

Soon, we're left with nothing but the unconscious, a few frozen solid, and a single drone, which can do nothing besides lash at us mindlessly with its shortsword. MAGES. is kind enough to triple-freeze it onto the ground, ensuring that it will be unable to escape. Behind it, I can see RED making faces at the thing.

MAGES. is the first of us to speak. "I've… I've never encountered such a being… To imagine such horror existing..."

Compa looks about ready to hurl. "Ooog…" she murmurs, "Does fighting these meanies break the Hippocratic Oath?"

Thrice, the being swings at us, mindlessly screeching in rage. Although it is pretty obvious that disarming it would be for the best, but none of us are willing to get within striking distance of the thing. "I… I..." I begin, before I shake my head clear. "Help me find the keys to open the cells… Maybe someone will know what these things are."

A bit of shuffling through pockets later, and we retrieve the cell key. Our captive… thing definitely isn't feeling any more talkative, and still lashes at us should we approach it even the slightest. Still, we manage to open the locks, and soon the prisoners are slowly filtering out into the main area, where they are now able to be healed. It seems that a few of them are trained medics too, if the sudden appearance of bags marked red crosses is of any indication.

Understandably, pretty much all of them avoid the creature at all costs. We quickly loot the pockets of, and then shuffle our unconscious foes into the now-vacant cells, before locking the door with them inside. After all, might as well use what we have.

The frozen ones are put into a different cell. After all, there's no point putting the confirmed humans and the mystery basket into the same cell.

Compa wanders off into the crowd bearing bandages, probably to assist the Basilicom medics. Hopefully healing people will take her mind off of this. Hell knows that I want to take my mind off of this too.

Still, we've still got a job to do, and I guess relaxing can wait.

"What'cha got, MAGES.?" I ask, as I break away from the cells, and walk closer towards our resident… uh… mage and her captured test subject. She hasn't moved from her position since we stopped fighting. "Any idea what this thing is?"

The mad magician rises back upwards to her feet, although she definitely steps backwards to safety first. "According to the diagnostic spells I have cast upon it, this creature does not seem to be human in nature. Furthermore, unlike what I had previously feared, it does not seem to have ever been a human at any point in its existence. It is entirely a monster."

Marvy lets loose a sigh of relief. "Oh thank the Goddesses… I was worried that they had done something terrible to innocent people…"

"I have named this being a 'Shade', as it resembles a human in image, but not in nature." continues MAGES.. "I do not quite understand how or why it resembles a human, but I can only assume that ASIC will be using them as disposable muscle. I also recommend destroying it as soon as possible. Would either of you two do the honors? I am focusing on keeping it entrapped and I do not want to risk having it break loose."

With a nod, I fling a knife directly into the hollow between the Shade's eyes. Finally, it ceases its flailing as it fades into nothingness.

"Nice." states Marvy, who shudders slightly. "Man, those things are creepy. Way worse than anything I've fought in a long time."

The entire group nods in agreement at that statement.

"Excuse me! Pardon me!" shouts a familiar voice from behind us, coming closer and closer as it makes its way through the crowd. Soon, the unmistakable form of Lowee's Oracle breaks through. She's definitely seen better days, but defiance and urgency burn in her eyes.

"Have you see the twins? Are they all right?" she asks, the moment she makes eye contact. "They haven't hurt them, have they?"

IF and I exchange glances, before I bite the bullet and speak up. "They're still under ASIC control, but they seemed to be fine superficially when they attacked us. Do you have any idea what we can do to free them?"

Mina frowns, but does not seem surprised. "Those fiends… If they still have control over Rom and Ram, then they must have infiltrated the Sharicite building… To think that they managed to get into something so important…"

"The Sharicite building?" asks Financier, chipping in from behind us. "Doesn't that need a special key to get into? I thought security around it was extremely tight?"

"Correct." replies Mina. "And unfortunately, they currently possess mine. It is quite fortunate that I happen to know both Rom and Ram's CPU access codes, so we should be able to enter regardless."

"Miss Oracle?" asks Marvy, "Can you open the door to the Sharicite building for us then? We want to save the Candidates, but we can't get in there by ourselves."

Mina closes her eyes for a moment, before she sighs. "It is truly a dire time when we must rely upon other nations to defend something so key to our own nation. Still, I would be thankful to assist you in accessing the building."

"Great." I state, before I turn towards our agent. "IF. Think you can have Uni and Gear meet us there? If we're lucky we can smash whatever's causing the problem and be out of there before ASIC can collapse in on us."

"It'll be tricky, but we shou-"

"Excuse me." interrupts Mina. "But if you believe that Lowee will not assist in the recovery of its own Basilicom, you are sadly mistaken. I do believe that you remember that we are in possession of a not-insignificant number of troops?"

Oh right. Those troops.

"Don't worry. I will arrange to have the forces assault a different portion of the Basilicom, which should allow your group to assault the Sharicite building. I will join you, as I believe you require my services in opening the door. Also, with all honesty, I have the urge to show those in charge of this little uprising just what I think of their conduct." Mina draws a staff and twirls it in emphasis.

I can almost hear MAGES. perking up in interest. Hoo boy. It seems she might be taking notes afterwards.

As Mina wanders off to talk to her staff, Compa finally breaks free of the crowd, exhausted, but satisfied expression on her face.

"I think I might've overdone it a little… Oopsie." she murmurs, as she leans against a nearby cell.

MAGES. hands her a small bottle of something, which she gratefully chugs. Meanwhile, IF seems to be busy phoning in our backup.

Me? I'm just walking around listlessly, desperate to get this over with. Too much drama in too short of a time. It's driving me mad.

But I suppose I can hold on for just a bit longer. It'll be worth it, in the end.