F3: Welcome to chapter 18 of my Neptunia story. So now IF has found out about her origin. Will this affect her in the future? The Neptunia Series is owned by Idea Factory and Compile Heart. With that said Let's Get Started.

Chapter 18: Manipulation.

It was late at night in Lastation as Uni and Kei were both sound asleep but once again only one person was still awake during the late hour and that was Noire who was busy looking over the data that Fuuki transferred to her earlier with her encounter with Gear Heart. She looked carefully at the data, trying to decipher it.

"So if this Gear Heart can steal share energy from the nation when she's in that form but the question is… who is Gear Heart? Maybe if I can find the identity of this person then we should have a conversation of how to reverse it." Noire replied, going over the data.

However, what she didn't know was that someone decided to enter her office.

"Lady Noire. You're still awake at this hour." Steamax replied making Noire jumped looking at the robotic ninja.

"Steamax! What are you doing here? I thought you'd returned home by now." Noire replied.

"Your sister, Lady Uni requested that I'd remain here for the time being… and to make sure you got some proper sleep." Steamax replied to which sort of surprised Noire for a moment.

"I'm fine for now but thank you for-." Before she could respond further, she would find herself being picked up by the robotic ninja and being carried over his shoulder.

"H-Hey! Put me down this instant!" Noire shouted, her face beat red from what he was doing.

"My apologies Lady Noire, but your sister was insistent you got proper sleep. You might be a goddess but a goddess cannot work without sleep." He said casually and walked out of the office with Noire in tow as she was completely powerless of what he was doing.

After practically being forced to take a break and get some sleep Noire laid on her bed staring at the ceiling still thinking about what all that data could mean and if she could find out the identity of Gear Heart as she closed her eyes and slept.

Watching from her satellite Croire began her first part of the plan as she brought out a silver crystal from her pouch.

"Let's start by planting the seeds of doubt." She said as the silver crystal was teleported to Noire's bedroom and floated above her before breaking into particles above her into silver dust over.

Seeing this was completed Croire's eyes glowed silver "Listen to the sound of my voice. Your future is dire. I will now show you your future." Croire's voice echoed inside Noire's head as her face scrunched up as she tossed and turned in her sleep.

[Dream]

Noire's eyes opened and it revealed that she was standing above the mountain path.

"Huh? What's going on?" Noire asked herself but then she saw large amounts of smoke coming from her Lastation as she ran toward the top of the mountain but once she got there, she let out a gasp. Her nation… was burning hearing the cries of the civilians. She was speechless of what she was witnessing but most importantly she noticed two figures in the distance but she was able to make out one of them being her sister Uni in her HDD but there was something wrong with her.

The other figure had her around the neck as she was greatly bruised and beaten and she was missing an arm. The other figure simply squeezed down on her neck as Uni was struggling to breathe. Just then with one twist Uni's neck snapped as she suddenly went limp in the figures grip as the figure tossed her to Noire.

Noire watched her sister fall near her as she noticed her sister had tears in her now lifeless eyes.

"This could've been avoided." The figure spoke sounding female as Noire looked up and saw who it was. It was Gear Heart looming over her.

"Now this nation will burn just like the rest." Gear Heart stated as she floated up to the sky.

Noire looked around and she saw in the distance Planeptune and heard the screams of the citizens but she somehow saw the bodies of Nepgear and Neptune lying motionless. The same was for both Lowee and Leanbox as their nations and CPUs were all laid motionless. She was the only one alive and it scared her as she stared up at Gear Heart.

"You're not strong enough. You never were strong to begin with." Gear Heart said as she held out a hand with energy flowing through it, pointing directly at Noire.

"Now. Burn." Gear Heart said as the energy pulsed out and Noire was covered by a blinding light.

[Dream End]

Noire's eyes shot open as she sat up in her bed breathing heavily as sweat dripped from her forehead. She was completely terrified at what she witnessed.

"This is your future Noire. Unless Gear Heart is eliminated your future will be nothing but burned to cinders. Eliminate Gear Heart and your future will be saved." Croire's voice said in her head.

"Gear Heart… must eliminate." Noire said quietly.

"Yes. It's not just your future but the others as well. Destroy Gear Heart. Protect the future." Croire's voice echoes in her mind.

"Protect… the future." Noire said again as she laid back down to rest hopefully without a nightmare filled dream.

In the safety of her home Croire watched as the seeds of doubt had been sown within Noire as she smirked evilly as now, she waited for what Noire would do.

=HDN=

Morning came to Lastation as Uni was already wide awake and in the training field with Steamax but instead of where her usual attire she was wearing a black two-piece body suit that expressed her hips and curves and showed off her stomach.

"Lady Uni, are you certain that this will work?" Steamax asked.

"Well, it's better than not trying. Besides, we need to make sure to get it down pact. Let's give it a shot." She spoke.

"Very well. Then I am ready when you are Lady Uni." Steamax said.

"Right. Begin Phase 1!" Uni called.

Steamax eyes glowed as he jumped into the air as his mechanical body separated into parts.

"Alright. Phase 2. Merge!" Uni called out as Steamax body rushed toward her. His arms opened as they adjusted to fit her, fitting her arms perfectly. Next were the legs as they rocketed toward her, she kicked the air as the legs fit around her legs adjusting to the size. The chest plate was next as it fit around her chest adjusting firmly to her size.

The rest came smoothly as the headpiece adjusted to her as now, she had a visor covering her eyes. His large shuriken came flying in and attached to her back like a backpack. On her right hip is Steamax's katana.

"Merge complete!" Uni declared.

"Can you still here me Steamax?" Uni asked.

"Of course, but it seems that now I'm interfaced with you. We are currently holding at 98% synchronization." Steamax answered.

"Perfect. Now let's give this a test run." Uni said summoning her rifle and pointed it at her targets as an indicator appeared on her screen.

"Target locked." Steamax indicated as Uni pulled the trigger as it hit dead center in the target.

Uni fired at the other targets hitting each one dead center. More targets appeared and this time she whipped out the shuriken on her back and threw it like a boomerang at the targets hitting each one with ease. The shuriken quickly returned to her placing it on her back.

"Well so far so good. Things seemed to be working properly." Uni stated flexing her arms.

"Shall we begin the agility test?" Steamax questioned as Uni nodded.

"Yeah. Let's do that." She said as an obstacle course quickly replaced the targets.

"Alright our first is to simply reach the goal over there before time runs out." He said to her as she ran straight ahead. She was ducking and dodging all sorts of obstacles standing in her way even using the katana to slash at an incoming target before reaching the end of the obstacle.

"Phew okay… that was a little intense for that run." Uni said tiredly as she returned to the starting position before disconnecting from Steamax as his body returned to normal.

"I must say that you handle it quite well Lady Uni." He said confidently.

"Yeah I think so too but we'll still have to practice it more often if we're going to get it down pact. I don't want to constantly use my HDD form for situations when it could be avoided." Uni added just then out of the corner of her eye she noticed her sister walking toward communication room with Kei at her heels.

Though Uni noticed that Noire had small bags under her eyes and a concerned Kei.

"Lady Noire, are you certain about wanting to talk with the others right now?" Kei asked.

"Yes. This is urgent so I must talk with them today. Even if it's just from a distance. This is very important that it just can't wait." Noire said as she headed into the other building with Kei. Uni and Steamax looked at each other with interest as Uni was first to move and followed her sister to the communications room.

Uni and Steamax carefully followed behind them as Noire and Kei were inside with Kei tolling away at the controls.

"Alright. Activating multi com link." Kei said as she pressed a button to link communications for the four nations as three screens appeared on screen as the other CPUs answered.

"Ah good morning Noire. You look rather fine this morning." Vert said first.

"Though why'd you call us? Is something the matter?" Blanc asked curiously.

"Yeah girl. What gives?" Neptune asked as well.

Noire let out a small breath before speaking "Sorry for calling all of you as I know you're busy. But there is something I that I need to tell you and something that I've recently discovered." Noire started as they all stared at her curiously.

"Recently, Steamax and my sister had found a hidden laboratory in the mountains nearby and inside it was data about Gear Heart and the capabilities she can do." Noire said.

"Really? So, there was something about her. What have you discovered?" Vert asked.

"I've discovered that Gear Heart as the ability to take away share energy from the very nation she stands on." Noire said.

"So, wait… that means when she appeared in Leanbox she was taking shares from my nation. That's rather… unsettling." Vert admitted.

"Yeah, but when I went shook her hand back in the forest it felt like I was drained or something. Really weird." Neptune added.

"And what about you Blanc?" Noire asked as Blanc perked up suddenly as she was now put in the hot seat.

"Um… well. I really haven't had much contact with Gear Heart after spotting her in the Hex Grasslands. She seemed pretty chill to me." Blanc stated.

"So we each had an encounter with her but we still don't know her actual identity. Honestly, I wish we had some help in that department." Noire said.

"And why's that? Is something the matter?" Blanc asked.

Noire couldn't help but think back to that dream she had or maybe it was a vision of the future events that were to come.

"I mean… what if Gear Heart is the enemy." Noire said which made every look at her strangely.

"Huh? I don't know about that. I mean she came out of nowhere and saved both yours and Vert's nation from monsters. Helped me get rid of monsters in the Grasslands and probably even helped Neptune. I'm not sure what you're getting at Noire." Blanc added.

"I don't know either. Maybe I'm just being paranoid but… I just get this odd feeling that she might be acting all nice and then she might just stab us in the back. I mean it's like you said Blanc she came out of nowhere. She could very well be the cause of the monster attacks." Noire said.

"Whoa their girl! Aren't you jumping the gun just a little. I mean why would she be the cause of the monsters if she's being getting rid of the monsters." Neptune said.

Noire sighed "I guess you're right. I might just be getting paranoid or maybe I'm just worried." She added.

"It's only fair to be worried but if you worry too much you're going to end up with grey hair and trust me that wouldn't look good for your complexion." Vert remarked.

"Thanks for that. I'm sorry if I bothered you all." Noire apologized.

"No need. You were simply voicing your concern." Blanc said as she let out a yawn.

"You okay Blanc? You look rather tired?" Noire asked.

"Well… with my more oracle taking maternity leave I'm stuck handling most of the other stuff she does and I haven't been getting much sleep." Blanc said.

"Blanc… I thought we've been over this before. Get some rest okay so you don't get sleep deprived again." Noire added with concern.

"I think I'll do just that." Blanc said as she disconnected.

"Talk to you again Noire." Vert added and disconnected.

"Yeah, I got to go check on big me and see if she's any better." Neptune added giving her signature peace sign before disconnecting.

Noire let out a breath of relief "I mean… I'm not that paranoid am I." Noire said.

"Let's not focus on that now Lady Noire. We should be getting something back from Miss Fuuki soon." Kei replied as they both exited the communication room.

Uni and Steamax watched her sister and the oracle leave the communication room and head back to the main room of the bascilicom.

"Wonder what they were talking about?" Uni questioned.

"It would appear that she was discussing with the other CPUs about Gear Heart and if she's an enemy or an ally." Steamax said.

"Gear Heart an enemy? I'm not sure about that. I mean she did help clear out the monsters here." Uni replied.

"Hm… you do have a point. However, we still do not know this CPUs identity. Although as I was listening, I seemed to have different reactions. While Lady Neptune and Lady Vert did come to the defense of Gear Heart, Lady Blanc was rather quiet throughout some of the discussion. I think she might be hiding something that the other CPUs know nothing about." Steamax replied.

"So… you think Blanc might know something about Gear Heart? Do we go and confront her?" Uni asked.

"I'm afraid without proper evidence it would be all for naught. Plus, if we push too hard, she will get rather furious with us and I would like not to incur Lady Blancs fury." Steamax said.

Uni sighed "Then I guess we'll just have to put in the work ourselves. Maybe I can contact Nepgear and see what she thinks of this situation." She spoke.

"Would that be wise?" He asked.

"Yeah. I mean Nepgear is more than a liable person that I can trust. Maybe I can get her to help figure out who this Gear Heart is." Uni said.

"Very well." Steamax added that the two walked away from the communication room as Uni had an idea in mind of what to do.

=HDN=

Meanwhile in the Planeptune Hospital in a room sat the older Neptune lying in a hospital bed with an IV drip in her left arm as Croire floated nearby standing watch over her. She looked over her lying form and went over every detail of her body from her long legs up to her neck, almost every part of her body was nearly perfect. Though she knew underneath that hospital gown was a large scar that stretched from under her right breast to her left hip. The doctors said that thankfully she wasn't injured any further.

Croire sighed as she could only do now was wait until she woke up. She then heard a groan as she saw Neptune stir as her eyes opened.

"Ugh… my head. What the heck happened?" Adult Neptune asked groggily.

"Hey, you big lug. How you feel?" Croire asked.

"Like I've been flattened by a fly whale." She added groggily as she got a good look at where she was.

"The hospital? Why am I here?" She asked again.

"Well… remember that giant monster attack. You were injured badly so Nepgear rushed you here. Luckily this place had your blood type for a transfusion though they wanted to make sure you were safe so they kept you overnight." Croire explained.

"Wow really. Was I really that banged up?" Adult Neptune asked.

Coire nodded "Yep. Though you're going to have a nice scar now." Croire mentioned knowing that might cheer her up.

"Whoa. Really!" Neptune said as she checked underneath her hospital gown and noticed the scar.

"Wow… okay that is kind of cool. Though I don't think mom will be happy about it." Neptune added.

"If we ever get back to the Ultra Dimension." Croire said but then Neptune remembered something else from the monster attack.

"Is everyone else, okay?" She asked and Croire nodded.

"Yep, everyone else is fine. Although… quick question. Do you have a spare clothing cause your parka was sort of ripped up after the encounter with the monster." Croire said as Neptune paled.

"Um… I don't think I do." She said with a blush on her face.

Croire only sighed at this "Don't worry. I'll get hold of Histoire and see if she has something for you to wear." Croire said as she floated toward the door as Neptune chuckled.

"You were worried about me weren't you." Neptune teased making Croire stop slightly.

"N-No I wasn't! I wasn't worried about you, okay. I knew you'd make it alright." Croire said a blush flaring on her face.

"Sure, you were thinking that. You're turning into a little tsundere Croire." Neptune added which only made Croire huff and floated out of the room. Though she couldn't help but think that she was right.

"Yeah, I know I give her a lot of crap but still… she shouldn't worry me like that again. Maybe… I can ask Nepgear something while I'm out." Croire thought as she floated out of the hospital and toward the basilicom.

=HDN=

IF let out a war cry and slashed at a green turtle monster killing it instantly before going to the next monster and slashing at it killing it too. It was a simple mission to kill off some more monsters in Ario Plateau plus it was a way for her to further test her abilities.

More monsters began gathering, seeing her as a threat as they charged at her trying to avenge their fallen comrades.

"Okay this looks like enough. Go Lightning Mode!" IF shouted as if her body suddenly became enveloped in a bluish white light making the monster halt their charge. Then the light faded revealing IF her body surrounded by a bright turquoise aura and her hair turned bright cyan but it was flowing with electricity and her eyes turned bright amber flowing with energy.

The first monster charged at her trying to swipe at her with its claws but IF wasn't there as she was suddenly behind him as she slashed at the monster at near lightning speed killing the monster instantly.

The other monster saw this and charged at her but she moved at lightning speed killing each monster in rapid succession. She reappeared behind the monsters she killed as they vanished in pixels.

Her Lightning Mode deactivated as she returned to normal as she then went to a knee trying to catch her breath.

"Okay maybe I should limit how much I should use that mode. Going to be tired after that." IF replied as she stood back up as she finished her mission before heading back to Lowee. However, throughout her trip back to the guild there was still many things on her mind.

"If I keep getting these new abilities… will I even be myself anymore. I mean this CPU memory core inside me is more than likely the reason for these new abilities I keep getting. I need to know more about me and I think I know who to talk too." IF thought as she went to and she hoped that her friend had an answer for her.

After arriving back at the guild and reporting her mission completed as she called her friend Croire to hopefully meet her at the guild. Not long a portal opened and Croire stepped out and stood in front of her friend.

"Hey girl how's it hanging." Croire greeted her, waving at her.

"Thanks for coming so quickly Croire. Honestly, I could use the company right now." IF said.

"Sure. Why don't get something to eat then we can talk?" Croire asked as IF nodded before leaving the guild.

The two of them went over to a nearby burger place to eat as they ordered their food.

"So what's bothering you? I'm sure there's something on your mind." Croire said.

IF didn't say anything for a moment but she then finally spoke to her. "I… discovered a few things from my father and who I really am but, honestly its still taking me some time to process this." IF said.

"So, what did you find out?" Croire questioned.

"I… I found out that I wasn't born like normal girls. I was created by a scientist who wanted nothing more than to use me as a weapon. Though from what my father told me he and his wife rescued me before I was fully activated. Then I guess after that he raised to how I am now." IF said.

"And that's a problem because…" Croire said.

"Because… I feel like there's more to me that I know nothing about. I mean after defeating another monster the other day I gained a new ability and I for some reason or another feel even stronger than last time. I don't mean just physically; I mean I'm mentally sharper as well. I just… want to know what's going on with me. I feel like I'm changing you know." IF said.

Croire hummed at her statement but internally Croire was grinning. "Perfect. Maybe this'll be a perfect opportunity to help her out to discover her destructive potential." She thought darkly.

"Well… maybe I can help with that." Croire said which grabbed her attention.

"Really? How?" IF asked.

"Let's eat first then I can show you." Croire said as the two received their order and ate but Croire couldn't help but laugh internally as she wanted to spread doubt in IF.

After a hardy meal Croire opened her portal to her little home in the rift as they stepped through it.

"Okay take a seat and I can do an analysis on you really quick." Croire said as she brought up a screen and started scanning IF from head to toe. Then the screen changed to something that Croire didn't expect.

"Hm… now this is something. It seems that you have the collective share energies of the four nations." Croire said which surprised IF.

"Wait! Huh!?" IF said as she went over to check the screen and looked at it and much to her dismay Croire was right.

"This is… all their share energies? But how?" IF asked.

"Maybe it has to do with your HDD. Though I'm not exactly sure." Croire said.

"Then how can you be sure it's my HDD that's doing this." IF added.

"I'm not sure but then I again I could be wrong. Did you have an encounter with an of the CPUs today?" Croire questioned.

"Well… I did encounter Noire in her HDD form yesterday. She seemed to be asking some questions." IF replied.

"Really?" Croire questioned as she hummed before she spoke up again.

"You sure that's all she was doing" She said as IF nodded.

"Time to put in that doubt." She thought with a smile.

"Hm… you know… maybe she confronted you because she fears what you might be capable of." Croire replied which surprised IF.

"She… fears me? I don't know about that. This is Noire we're talking about. She hardly fears anything." IF countered.

"You never know. The CPUs will do anything to protect their nation from any form of threat. Wasn't there like another goddess that tried to destroy Gamindustri some time ago. And what happened. The goddess banded together to take care of her because they feared just what this goddess was capable of. So, if they found out that you are Gear Heart then… well I wouldn't get my hopes up." Croire said.

IF was rather skeptical of what she was saying but then again… there was evidence that Rei Ryghts from the other dimension tried to destroy their entire nation and they did team up to defeat her. This did bring up some unwanted thoughts running into her head.

"I guess… you do have a point." IF replied.

"So, you need to keep your identity a secret so that way no one will know who you are." Croire replied.

IF nodded although she already knows one of the CPUs know who she was. She just hoped that Blanc wasn't going to tell them or even the twins.

"So remember. Tell nobody who you are okay." Croire replied as IF nodded in response before Croire opened a portal for IF to go through back but just as IF was stepping through the portal Croire slipped a silver crystal into her bag and closed the portal behind her.

"And now for the seeds of doubt to sow." Croire said as she had three more crystals left to use and they were for the other CPUs as her plan would be coming to fruition.

F3: And that is the end of chapter 18. Whatever Croire is planning is never and good thing. Let me know in the comments of what you think and don't forget to follow and/or favorite as well. With that said this is Fireuser3 and I'm Out.