SPLAT

CRACK

CRUNCH

A body fell onto the ring. Netherrealm stared at it. It was a man in his early twenties. Dark skin with orange eyes, the whites of his eyes turning a bloodshot red. As blood dripped from his eyes and mouth onto the ring. Netherrealm stared down at the body. His only friend, died because of him. This wasn't supposed to be like this. The blurred figures of the crowd were silent. Before a voice broke Netherrealm's focus on the body, a hissing whisper of a declaration."If he dies, he dies…" Netherrealm looked up to see a blurred figure as the ring was now gone.

Netherrealm was in an office. A dark skinned man with a red suit, a goatee in his late forties had his hands folded across his desk. His baritone voice was calm, but had a veiled fury behind it. "Netherrealm, how much do you think a man's life is worth?" He asked. Netherrealm frowned as he looked down. "My son is dead because of you, he was worth more than you could ever muster up. Under the Families Agreement, you will serve under my family until his blood is paid in full. Blood Law," The Patriarch of the Muspel Family said.

Netherrealm was now on an empty street. He was now in Vanir Family territory. The nice compound was their headquarters. He had one thing on his mind. Their blood, he walked towards the door and opened it. As in front of him, sprawled across the floor, unconscious and broken are Vanir Family members.

Snow began to fall from the ceiling as Netherrealm looked up to see the night sky. He heard the sound of a baby crying. He saw a nude, unprotected baby screaming in the snow. Before the wind started to drown out any noise. As the blizzard engulfed the baby. The wind carrying the screams of children lost in the snow. Netherrealm looked down to see the white snow is starting to turn red. He stepped back to see a twisted human hand sticking out of the snow. Bones poking out of flesh as Netherrealm began to run away. Stepping over the bodies of everyone he left behind.

You are a weak child.

You are just a little boy.

You will never have the power you want.

Unless you look to me…

I can help you like no one else can.

Netherrealm stopped running across the bloody snow and looked up. To see the shape of a woman. Glowing red eyes of a devil staring at him from abyssal shape. Her long hair billowing in the wind. As she reached out her black, bloodied hand. Netherrealm looked up to see the dragon that was on his back fly above him, towards Mt. Snowhead. Lowee's crown of the Phendrena Range. Where the supposed Elder Dragon Temple lay. He looked at the devil and took her hand.

Now wake up…

You have a job to do.

Netherrealm's eyes shot open. As he laid in a hospital bed. A cast over his right arm. Bandages along his body as he wore a hospital gown. He must've passed out from blood loss after they left the apartments. He looked over at his bedside to see a cookie tin. With a note over it. He picked up the note, Mrs. Lovett sent him some chocolate chip cookies for him. He couldn't help but smile at the gesture. He looked out his window to see that the sun was up. Most likely noon at the moment. He remembered the destruction of the apartments. He's gotta find a new place to live. Actually, he could probably just crash at Compa's apartment until they leave on their big trip. Or whatever IF is staying. Or wait, the Basilicom's CPU quarters probably has a guest room. That would be one hell of an upgrade, even if just for a few days… He's actually considering living with a CPU. That realization hit him like a train. What has he even been doing for these last few days?

Then he thought of the other tenants. He's set, but what about them? He heard that they claimed he took out the Vanir Family for them. That was just a byproduct of a selfish action. The air became dry as he remembered once more being slumped against a wall. This time, seventeen years old and in a compound. Unconscious bodies in front of him sprawled all over. Standing in front of him was a man in black, holding a revolver. He took out the Vanir Family not for anyone, but it was to satisfy his own desire for retribution, to die in battle. He'll ask around and see if the other tenants found new homes.

The doctor soon entered and talked with Netherrealm. Injecting him with a healing potion. They apparently have been doing that to steadily heal him overnight. With the last one finished, he was allowed to leave the hospital. They asked if he had any family to call. Netherrealm just replied, "not in Planeptune." Before leaving the hospital. Wearing his usual black long sleeve, black Kung-Fu pants and tabi boots. He needs to get all of his equipment replaced, and he's got no money to do so.

He took out his phone, then realized he never asked for Compa, or IF's phone numbers. He internally slapped himself for that. He began to head to Compa's apartment. Eventually he reached it, after asking around and getting lost. He stood outside of her door and knocked on it. Compa opened the door and before Netherrealm could say anything. She wrapped him in a hug. Burying her face in his chest.

"I am… so happy you're safe!" She said, sounding like she's on the verge of tears. Netherrealm just stood there, he didn't hug back. He just, didn't know how to respond back to this, affection. Compa didn't mind, she just held him. "You should've told us," Compa said frustratedly. She pulled off of him and gave him a flick to the nose. "Hey! The hell?!" He exclaimed.

"You could've died! You're part of the team! If Iffy and I were there. You wouldn't have been so injured!" Compa scolded him. Waving her finger in his face with a hand on her hip. She soon ran out of steam. "We all were worried about you…" Compa sighed. Netherrealm just nodded in response. Not knowing what to say.

"And Netty… Nep-Nep got replacements for your equipment all commissioned and paid for! So we gotta wait for that and for Nep-Nep to fully establish herself. She's at the Basilicom and we're going to see her!" Compa explained. Netherrealm blinked in shock, that Neptune just did that for him. Didn't ask to help, but she just helped. It just, doesn't make any sense on why people are helping for free.

"Compa… because my home is destroyed as fuck. Can… I stay here until we leave?" Netherrealm asked. Compa agreed without hesitation. Letting him inside of her home. Netherrealm had a duffel bag of all he had. So unpacking was rather easy, Compa offered her bed but Netherrealm decided to crash on the couch.

Soon there was another knock on the door, it was Neptune. Compa was surprised to see her here personally, "Nep-Nep, you're here fast!" Neptune chuckled nervously, "While I could rely on my instincts sometimes, unfortunately a lot of my knowledge of… CPU stuff, is gone. So I'm kinda relying on people who were apparently my direct subordinates to sort everything out. All I did was make sure they can be trusted to not do anything stupid, in case I used to be stupid or something. Anyway, I've got one hell of an apartment, y'all have gotta see it." Compa smiled excitedly, "I'd love to! And do you know where Iffy is?" IF then walked in, "Just got here."

The four walked out of the building, and three of them started to move toward the Basilicom before being stopped by Neptune. "Um, aren't we gonna head to the Basilicom now?" asked IF. "Yep, but we won't have to mess with the crowded entrance and long elevator," replied Neptune as she pointed in the opposite direction. The three turned around to see a military transport VTOL lowering onto a landing pad, hovering just above the ground. "Really pulling out all the stops huh?" Netherrealm asked. "Apparently it's the norm for a CPU bringing guests. Well, more than one at least," Neptune replied, "...Or I could try to carry all of you at once–" "Yeah, no thanks!" IF said before Netherrealm could reply. The four stepped into the aircraft and Neptune gave a thumbs-up to the pilot. The doors automatically shut and they lifted off, going directly up until they were above the majority of the skyscrapers.

Netherrealm sat down and leaned back against the wall. Compa sat down next to him. Giving him a bright smile as IF sat down on the other side of Netherrealm. Neptune sat down next to IF, then swung her legs back and forth. As they waited to be taken to the Basilicom. IF looked at the pilot and few armed guards to make sure they couldn't hear her then whispered to Neptune, "So, do they know you're…" "Nope, they think I'm an agent of hers. So don't say anything. Please," replied Neptune, addressing the other two as well. IF nodded, "Alright. But, does anyone know?" Neptune counted on her fingers, "So there's you three and Histy, plus my closest advisor. Only the latter is gonna be able to tell me anything new right now.

"Tell you anything new huh? So who is this oh so connected person?" Netherrealm asked sardonically. Neptune shrugged, "Well the truth is, I barely ever knew her. She's the replacement for Arfoire, who's betrayal came in the time since I was last in Gamindustri. We never actually met before I forgot everything. But anyway, she goes out and gathers information while taking action anytime I can't due to risks or whatever. Basically, the Yang to Histy's Yin. I think… Did I get that right Netty?" Netherrealm grunted before replying, "The fuck are you asking me if you got that right? I don't know this person, I was asking you, dumbass." "I believe she was asking about that little comparison, because you're the one into all that old culture," IF replied calmly. "It's a better culture than what we have now," Netherrealm said bitterly as he sneered at the Basilicom getting closer and closer out the window. IF shrugged, "Then why isn't it what we have now?" "Fuck you," Netherrealm replied childishly.

The transport landed on a platform two-thirds up the Basilicom, actually touching the floor and shutting down this time. Compa shivered as they stepped out onto the platform, "It's suddenly so cold!" "Yep, we're pretty high up," IF replied as she directed Compa to look over the edge. Compa did so, and squeaked before quickly backing into Netherrealm, "That's a very long drop…" Netherrealm's hands were on her shoulders. "Let's keep it moving," he advised. The three then heard an unfamiliar voice, "Welcome back, my Lady." Neptune waved, "Heya, promised it wouldn't take long!"

The young adult woman walked out onto the platform. She wore a dress, long gloves, and comfy-looking boots. All of it was a mix of red and purple, with yellow highlights. Her hair was yellow-orange in a short ponytail, her eyes big and blue. She wasted no time in introducing herself, "Greetings, friends of Lady Neptune. My name is N-Sha." IF shook her hand, "IF. While the Guild mainly works with Histoire, I have heard a fair bit about yourself. Especially since well, no offense…" N-Sha nodded, "None taken. I am well aware of the suspicion toward me, given the betrayal of my predecessor and Histoire's disappearance leaving me with unintentional unchecked power for a little while. I greatly respect your work regardless, and am glad you have been holding up despite Histoire's disappearance. Or capture, as it appears to be. Speaking of, we should head inside. I have been attempting to gather some information the Guild alone won't be able to provide, to assist in your new mission to rescue Lady Histoire." Neptune nodded in agreement, and they all made their way inside.

Compa, IF, and Netherrealm all looked around as they couldn't believe they were in the Basilicom's upper levels. All for differing reasons. Compa as a worshiper of Purple Heart was left in awe. IF as a Guild Agent was brimming with ambition. Netherrealm as the Champion of Underground Fighting was left with a bitter taste in his mouth. Neptune shrugged, "Well, I'd show you around all the important government stuff but, yeah." N-Sha smiled, "Don't worry, in time I'm sure you'll figure things out again. And I'm sure you're interested in giving your friends access to this place." Neptune nodded, "Yeah, if you could…" N-Sha pulled out three key cards, "I already did. You three now have access to the majority of the upper levels at least for the duration of this investigation." IF and Compa thanked her and each took one. Netherrealm stared at the key card for a second. Before reluctantly taking the last one. Neptune turned toward Netherrealm, "Netty, I know you're not a fan of the CPUs. There's something you're not telling us about, but I hope I can at least get you to trust me. As a separate person from Purple Heart."

Netherrealm puts the key card in his pocket. "I'm doing this to get paid, nothing more or less. So don't lecture me about trust," Netherrealm replied coldly. Neptune nodded, then eyed Compa for a moment before showing everyone to her living quarters and giving a quick tour of the place. Once everyone had seen the place they gathered in the living room, finding places to sit. N-Sha pulled out some materials she already had prepared and spread them out on a table for everyone to see, among them a few different components which looked similar in origin to Histoire's prison. Neptune took out hers and set it next to the rest. IF and Compa looked them all over and IF looked curiously at N-Sha, "These, look correct. What's going on here?" N-Sha nodded, "They are the other components to the device. Not the same one though." IF nodded, "And I'm guessing we need the exact same ones?" N-Sha directed everyone to a series of photos, "That is correct. That device wasn't exactly meant to be disassembled while in use. Lady Histoire likely will not be retrieved in one piece if we were to swap out any part of it, if these tests by its manufacturer are to be believed. Even the power source must be the same, given it is magic-based." Neptune looked over the power cell, "And we know Arfoire hasn't done so herself, given Histy isn't well, dead." IF pulled the battery out of one of her many phones and connected it to one of the other replica parts, making it glow a little, "Though she could've used them for something else, and we'd be none the wiser. Or rather, the other CPUs may unknowingly doing so." N-Sha nodded, "I do agree with Lady Histoire herself that the other pieces would best be given to the other CPUs to keep them out of our hands. However, that brings about our next problem. Negotiations with the others would be possible thanks to Histoire being able to provide her testimony, though the status of each of them is questionable, to say the least." IF pulled out another phone and pulled up some of her own notes, "I heard Lowee has completely closed off its borders, blocked civilian communications as well. It's been an ongoing crisis for the Guild, we have no idea what may be happening to our branch up there." N-Sha put a hand on IF's shoulder, "Luckily they seem to be safe for now, but I'm afraid that's only the least of it. It's not just civilians, Lowee has broken off all diplomatic communications and is in the midst of a military build-up. Lastation is doing the opposite, cutting military spending and attempting to build stronger economic relations with everyone else. Leanbox and I haven't been very receptive, as Black Heart herself seems to have vanished with her government acting independently. I would recommend we make further contact with Leanbox first, given our similar courses of action regarding the other two. At the very least we'll be able to effectively fight Lowee, should it come to that." Neptune slowly nodded, only partially understanding what N-Sha was talking about. IF and Compa both shrugged, having no objections.

Netherrealm after a bit of silence, decided to speak up. "...I think I can get us into Lastation, and possibly meeting with Black Heart… And alright, if we're gonna head to Leanbox then so be it. I am just saying for when it's time to go to Lastation, I got a way in" he said. N-Sha looked at him curiously, "How exactly?" Netherrealm grit his teeth. "I know a guy who is a bit high up in the chain of command," he replied. Neptune shrugged, "Well one connection is better than none." "I'll make the call…" he said as he got up. "...Wait, I can't make international calls. Anyone got a way to make cross island calls?" Netherrealm asked. As he's too broke for the international plan for his phone. IF handed him a phone.

Netherrealm flipped it open and walked out of the room. Wanting to keep it private as he made the call to Lastation. Eventually he came back and handed the phone back to IF. "Alright, I got us a meeting in the Basilicom," Netherrealm said as he sat back down. N-Sha turned to walk out of the room, "I will arrange your flight. Make whatever preparations you need." Netherrealm watched her go before taking a deep breath, trying to hide his anxiety about heading to Lastation soon.