Re;birth Hacker

Reload: Grave Robbing

It's been around three years since I reset the world, and three weeks since I joined Nepgear on her journey to save the CPUs. We've been to the four nations and gathered the four Mascots prevailing there. Between our adventures, I have tried contacting the Nepgear from my dimension, but the Cyatch+ has been acting up again. After traveling back to Lastation from the port, we walked all the way back to Planeptune. I turn to Nepgear as we walk through the streets of Planeptune. "So...know how we'll save the others? Or are we just rushing into this blindly like always?" ~ "I'm sure Histoire will have something prepared, let's just hope." ~ "That's what I'm worried about..." Nepgear opens the Basilicom doors as Histoire welcomes us back. "Welcome back, all of you. That must have been quite the adventure for you." Red looks around in awe, something we should all be getting used to by now. "Wow, this is Planeptune's Basilicom? The other one's were nice, but this is definitely the coolest of all." 5pb. nods. "I wonder how many people would be able to fit in this giant place if I held a concert here..." 'Wouldn't recommend it...' Broccoli looks over to the two admiring the craftsmanship of the Basilicom. "You two should stop hanging around with your mouths hanging open. You look like country bumpkins, nyu." 'That's...one way of putting it.' IF looks over to Histoire, ignoring those three. "Just like you asked, we've secured the help of all the nations' Mascots." ~ "So I can sense. Also, with the Shares you have regained, we have been creating a new Sharicite." ~ "Once that's made..." ~ "Correct. We can once again attempt to rescue the CPUs." Compa suddenly cheers, "Yippee-skippee!" Prompting me to teleport away from her and to my usual post on the ceiling rails. "Stop doing that!" Red looks over to Histoire. "We're saving the older CPUs? Dude, I can't wait to see my more mature wifeys...!" 'Stop that.' 5pb. looks to the side, muttering under her breath. "I might get the chance to perform in front of all four CPUs...!" 'Don't get your hopes up...' Broccoli nods. "One small step for us, one slightly bigger step toward world peace, nyu." 'Slightly, yet not even an inch.' IF clenches her fist. "This time, I won't fail..." 'Yeah! Cause now you have us to fail with you!' Nepgear looks down before looking back up at the rest of us. "Um... Please wait a moment!" Compa looks over to Nepgear. "What is it, Ge-Ge?" ~ "Um, the other CPU Candidates... Maybe we should have them come with us, too..." Histoire looks over to Nepgear quizzically. "Was that not already part of the original plan?" IF shakes her head. "They all refused. It'd be a waste of calories to traipse all over trying to get them to agree now." Nepgear looks over to IF. "I guess, but..." IF's phone suddenly goes off, prompting her to step aside and take the call. "Oh, hold on. It's one of my phones. 'Intelligence Bureau Cutie' is calling me. Hey, what's up? Huh? You're kidding! Okay. Okay, sounds good. You be careful, too. Bye." Compa looks over to IF as she hangs up. "What is it, Iffy? You look like a sourpuss right now." 'More than usual.' "Of course I do. ASIC activity in Lowee exploded. Over ninety percent of their Shares were stolen away." Shocked Histoire is shocked. "That many?! Absurd... What could have happened there?" ~ "She didn't have that much intel. It really must've happened out of the blue." Nepgear looks over to IF. "Do you know if Rom and Ram are okay?" ~ "Weren't you listening? The Guild hardly has any info yet." Histoire shakes her head. "I cannot be certain, but if so many Shares were taken, the CPUs will present some serious side effects. This must take priority, despite it being a different nation. It may impact our overall strategy. Creating the Sharicite will take some time. So I ask that you all go and investigate this incident." Nepgear nods. "Okay, we will. I just hope those two are okay..." Dark Aura surrounds the group as we teleport out of the Basilicom.

(Location Update: Lowee Basilicom)

The Dark Aura disperses as we drop into the Basilicom, surprising Mina who was over near the back. "Oh, if it isn't you girls. What brings you back to Lowee?" Broccoli looks to Mina. "What's the deal? You look like crap, nyu." ~ "I do? My apologies... I haven't been able to get much sleep these past few days." Nepgear looks to Mina. "What about Rom and Ram? Are they doing okay?" Speak of the devil, Ram comes out from the back. "No... We're not, dummy..." 5pb. looks over to Ram shocked. "Oh, dear. She looks very sick..." Nepgear kneels down to Ram's level. "Ram, where's your sister?" ~ "Sleeping. She's asleep more than she's awake, ever since that day." IF looks over to Mina. "'That' day? What day? What's going on here, exactly?" ~ "We're unsure, ourselves. We only know that we suddenly lost a great deal of Shares, leading to this..." ~ "Got it. We should investigate the cause first, and then..." Nepgear stops IF. "Please slow down, IF. Rom and Ram's health comes first." Red looks over to Nepgear. "How can we help sick CPUs?" 'Drugs.' "By getting their Shares back. If we do that, the two of them should get better, I think..." 'That too.' Broccoli sighs. "Get ready to rinse and repeat if the Shares are stolen away again, nyu." ~ "I know, but... Hmm, Miss Mina? Do you have the equipment needed to craft Sharicite here?" ~ "Y-Yes, all Basilicoms do. I know the method to make it, but why do you ask?" ~ "If we recover some Shares, can you make it into Sharicite immediately? Is it possible in small amounts?" IF sighs. "Fine. Not like you'd change your mind, anyway..." Ram looks over to Nepgear. "Can you really save Rom...?" ~ "Not just her. You, too. I'll go get some Shares right away, okay?" Mina turns to Nepgear. "W-Wait a moment, please! I appreciate this, but we couldn't possibly ask for your help again..." ~ "Don't worry. We want to help." ~ "But someone not from Lowee helping in our affairs puts us at a global disadvantage, and..." ~ "So are you saying we should sit back and watch those two suffer?!" ~ "N-No, I'd love your help, but as an Oracle, I must consider the political implications, so..." I reappear in a puff of Dark Aura near the back and point to Mina, Phoenix Wright style. "Screw politics!" Broccoli turns to Nepgear. "Don't force your kindness. Honor their decision, nyu." ~ "Honor their decision? But then, what choice do we have left?" ~ "Compromise and negotiate a deal that both parties can agree on, nyu." ~ "Negotiate, huh? Okay, I get it! Miss Mina, we'd like to help Rom and Ram... But in turn, I ask that you have both CPU Candidates assist us in our journey." ~ "Is that really a good deal for you? It sounds like I'd be the only one to benefit from that." Ram turns to Mina. "Accept it! C'mon, stop talking and save Rom! Please!" ~ "Ram, you mustn't agree on something that us adults need to discuss!" ~ "All right, it's a deal, then. I'll go get some Shares, I promise!" With that, we follow Nepgear out of the Basilicom, Mina sighing. "She really muscled her way through that deal, didn't she? Perhaps I'm not fit to be an Oracle..."