Disclaimer: I do not own any of the material of the Hyperdimension Neptunia series or the Halo series in this story as they belong to Microsoft, Compile and Idea Factory…
The Rookie
Location: Lowee Global Expo
Three days after drop...
BGM: Deference For Darkness - Halo 3: ODST [0:00-0:50]
After a having a conversation with Histoire about how he got here and why he wanted to protect them, Rookie lied down on a crate with his Gun-Blade on his chest and looked at the blue sky as he remembered what he said at his dying breath back at his dimension.
"Years ago, I told my father it was 'just dirt.' But it's not just dirt. It's where we live. It's our dirt, dammit. And more importantly, it's about who's standing on that dirt. Those children. Your family. Your friends. And those freaks are going to pay for every piece of dirt they've taken from us."
Then Rookie hopped off the crate, leaving his Gun-Blade on the crate as he looked around the area he was in, seeing nobody and took his helmet off. Revealing his facial appearance, having tan-colored skin with black hair and brown eyes as he looked at his visor, seeing a reflection of himself.
"I had become a shadow of myself. A robot. Hitting my mark and killing the enemy, and waiting for the one day a stray flash of energy would kill me."
Then he quietly spoke a low tone voice. "I promise that I'll remember him through my life and protect the innocents from the Covenant... Even though I'm in another dimension... I wanted to protect my new friends. Even with my life, I want to see them feel happy..." And he heard a sound of plane coming nearby as he quickly put his helmet on and saw two girls flying over him. 'Hmph... Seems they're done' He soon grabs his Gun-Blade from the crate and put it on his back then a familiar voice shout at him.
END BGM
"There you are, Rookie! Where were you?!" Rookie jumped and turned around to see IF, Nepgear, RED and Compa as for IF who was upset at him disappearing all the time.
'...' Rookie shrugged.
"*Sigh* You know, Rookie... You shouldn't disappear like that. You know how me and the girls felt back at Lastation when you were gone..." IF went closer to Rookie and took a deep breath. "So please. Don't disappear again would you?" IF looked up to Rookie with a worried look on her face.
'IF...' Rookie put his hand on her shoulders as her face blushed but didn't care as she put her left hand on his hand and she smiled. Rookie smiled as well but then fades as he thought about the words he said to him.
And more importantly, it's about who's standing on that dirt.
Those children.
Your family.
Your friends.
And for IF, she felt relaxed as she thinks about it. 'When I first met him, I thought he was our enemy but I was wrong. Rookie is different compared to the other soldiers, he saved Nepgear twice and that poor girl... I wanted to do the same thing like Rookie. I wanted to protect Nepgear and all of the CPUs after three years of creating one small sharicite' Then Rookie rubs her head with his left hand, messing with her hair, she giggles as he let go after that emotion moment then...
"That... WAS AMAZING, IF IS GONNA BE ROOKIE'S WIFEY, OOOOOH, I GOTTA WRITE THIS DOWN AS WELL..." RED have to ruin everything, pulling out her note book and wrote it down, IF blushed more and growled.
"RED you little-" Then RED noticed what's gonna happen to her and ran away from her. "Get back here!" IF gives chase.
"No way! I must write this down to get more wifeys!" RED explained as they ran around the area, Rookie sweatdropped.
'...Welp, can't stop them' Rookie rolled his head as Compa and Nepgear was speechless.
"Goodness... She is worried about him?" Nepgear whispered to Compa, surprised.
"Well. Iffy's been acting different the last time I saw her..." Compa stated as Nepgear nodded.
"I GOT YOU!" IF finally got her, pinning her down as she whines.
"No fair! I need those notes so I can get more wifeys!" RED explained.
"Have you ever heard of a word 'Privacy'?!"
"Hmm... Do we have something to do rather fighting each other?" Compa asked which stopped both IF and RED.
"Huh?" IF quickly releases RED and stood up. "Ahem. You're right Compa, let's head to the Basilicom" As both IF and RED dust off their clothes and they all walked out of the Expo.
'...Did she went to her old self?" Rookie has no idea what's going on with her and his relationship with her...
Back at Earth
Romeo and Buck
Location: NMPD Headquarters
Three hours after drop...
BGM: Skyline - Halo 3: ODST
Meanwhile at the New Mombasa Police Department HQ, Romeo and Buck sneak past the Covenant that was inside the HQ, patrolling around the HQ, both ODSTs has finally reached at the Landing Pad where Mickey and Dutch would pick them up as they open the doors, Buck steps forward out of the door with his Assault Rifle out.
"Clear?" Buck asked.
"Yeah... We're good" Romeo simply answered as they walked on the Landing Pad, Buck got three of his men found but still worries about Dare and the Rookie as he tries to contact him.
"Hey Rookie, you out there? Respond, that's an order..."
"*Sigh* Give it up, Gunny... Even if he ain't dead, he's lost in that soup. Our comms can't cut through that" Buck stopped and stared at Romeo.
"Oh, give up, huh? What if it were you down there?"
"Just saying..." Romeo shrugged. "I ain't dead..." As he walks past Buck, he shook his head.
"Oh~, you're a piece of work, Romeo..." Buck commented as they walk on the Landing Pad, the Police Pelican where Mickey and Dutch are, flies towards the Landing Pad.
"Welcome aboard, ladies. First stop, anywhere but here" Mickey responded as it started to land, two Banshees flies from the buildings as Buck and Romeo noticed them.
"Banshees on your six!" Then Banshees open fire at both the Police Pelican and the two ODSTs on the Landing Pad. "HIT THE DECK!" Buck shouted as both drop to the floor, the Banshees fires its Fuel Rod Cannons, damaging the Police Pelican's thrusters, they've lost control of it as it slides across the Landing Pad, over Romeo and Buck.
"We're losing her!" Dutch shouted on his comms as the two Banshees pursue the smoking Police Pelican. "Watch out!" As Romeo and Buck got up, their ride was gone as they both furiously fire at the Banshees even though it won't work.
"RAAAARRRRGH!" Buck roared in rage as he contacted Dutch and Mickey. "MICKEY! DUTCH! STATUS!" No response from them... Then Buck angrily stared at Romeo.
"Alive or dead? We're pulling them out! You hear men?!" Buck angrily said as he calmed down, they both get their weapons fully reloaded. "Make some noise. I got your back..." And they ran back to the HQ. "Back inside, let's find that Pelican!"
"What about those Covenant we side-stepped on the way up?" Romeo asked.
"Now we get to kill them" Buck quietly answered as Romeo chuckled.
"Also, thanks for picking such a tall building. I'm really digging all these stairs" Romeo commented, giving him a thumbs up as Buck stopped and stared at him.
"Do you ever get tired of bitching, Romeo?"
"Do you ever get tired of busting my balls?" Romeo responded back then an awkward silent...
END BGM
"..."
"..."
"...Point taken..."
The Rookie
Location: Lowee's Basilicom
Three days after drop...
After a tiring walk back to Lowee, Rookie and the girls have finally arrived at the Lowee Basilicom.
BGM: $100 - Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 2
"Whew... All that excitement set us back, but we made it to the Basilicom" Nepgear happily glad. "Pardon us, is anyone here?"
"Yes, welcome to Lowee's Basilicom" A lady responded, the lady looks a graduate student as she wore a short white dress under a red, long jacket like robe with gold linings and buttons, she has a graduate hat, a long milk-blue hair, dark blue eyes with a pair of glasses. As she looked at Nepgear, she was surprised. "Oh my. Forgive my presumption but... Are you Planeptune's-"
"Yes. I'm Nepgear, CPU Candidate of Planeptune and we came here today because we need your help..." Nepgear explained.
"Well for a CPU Candidate to come all this way must mean there's very important to discuss" The Lady smiled as she forgotten to introduce herself. "Oh pardon my manners. I am Mina Nishizawa, Lowee's Oracle. How may I be of service?"
"Well... It's a long story..." Then they explained everything to her and she was surprised.
"I see..." Mina understood as she thought about the part with Rookie. 'A man in armor fell from the sky, very interesting...' Mina seem interest about Rookie's journey with them as she continue speaking. "So you seeking our Mascot's power..."
"So?" Nepgear hoped but not as lucky as Mina frowned.
BGM: Premonition of Battle - Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 2
"Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do to help you..."
"Uh-oh, why not?" Compa asked.
"Lowee's Mascot has an important mission and if it leaves, our nation will be flooded by unprecedented chaos" Mina explained.
"May if I ask what its mission is?" IF asked about the Mascot mission.
"I do apologize, but the importance of the Mascot's mission is so great that it is classified"
'Classified, huh?' Rookie was reminded of O.N.I as they always up to no good... Always~
"But there are bad people out there trying to find them and beating them up into a pulp!" RED tried to convince Mina but she stands there, silent.
"Well, if she can't tell us everything, then we have to track it down the old fashioned way" IF narrowed.
"I trust that no harm will come to it when you'll find it so I have no reason to stop" Mina honestly said which surprised everyone.
"O-kay?" Compa was very confused.
'Alright? I guess she is NOT overprotected of the Mascot... Weird...'
"I be rude of me if I shoo away suck well-traveled guest without giving you something so-" Then she suggested them. "Oh, How about a story? Do you know Lowee's lore regarding the Deity of Sin, Arfoire?" Mina asked them which made Nepgear and Rookie very interested.
'Arfoire? Is that the Deity of Sin's true name? This will gonna be interesting' Rookie wanted more info as same as Nepgear.
BGM: Tear Drop - Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 2
"I've never heard any stories of it then, no"
"Arfoire is said to be born in Lowee. But before I continue, do you know what the Deity of Sin is?" Mina asked them.
'Is this some kind of History lesson?' Rookie wondered.
"Now I think about it... No, not really" Nepgear shook her head.
"ASIC is trying to revive it, I think is some kind of God that grants them power" IF guessed.
"No..." Mina shook her head. "There's no such a convenient god does not exist in this world. In fact, 'Deity' is hardly an appropriate descriptor" She explained
'Interesting... Keep explaining, lady' Rookie nodded a few times, understanding the story of the Deity of Sin.
"The Deity of Sin exists solely to bring destruction and chaos. No moral can control its power" Mina continued. "It was even said that Gamindustri was in a blink of disaster when The Deity of Sin was first born in this world"
"Gamindustri destruction..." Nepgear was soon shocked of this.
'Gamindustri destruction? This... This world was in the edge of total destruction' Rookie was shocked which begs the question. 'Why? Why would ASIC revive a monster that can destroy Gamindustri? Those evil bastards...' Rookie clenched his fists.
"So why would these ASIC people want to revive a big baddie like that?" RED asked.
"Yeah, would they get hurt too?" Compa added.
"ASIC doesn't truly wish to revive it... It's a tool, a ploy, used to increase their organization's clout but if they properly done their research on the Deity of Sin, they wouldn't spread word of it to the public"
'That's a very good reason but why make it a tool?' Rookie wondered.
"Maybe those low-ranking ASIC members are being used, too" IF said.
"If so, I will question the leader's sanity. This would ultimately lead to their own destruction as well" Then Mina ended the lesson. "i hope this story shed a bit of light on the situation" And everyone was shocked of the story.
END BGM
"A being that acts as a harbinger of destruction..." Nepgear imaged what will it be if the Deity of Sin is revived. "Arfoire..." She muttered. "So that's what ASIC worships"
"Wow, I know, I'm short but this is going over my head" RED commented. "So like... What do we do now?" She asked.
"Nothing changed" IF answered. "All we have to do is to beat ASIC, their leader and whatever that stands in our way"
"Oh okay! Much easier to understand. You're kinda my type too, Iffy~" RED teased.
"Said the one who teases my feelings towards Rookie..." IF folded her arms, quietly muttered as they heard footsteps coming in their direction as it was the twins, Rom and Ram, running to the Oracle.
BGM: Minicar - Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 2
"Mina! Food!" Ram demanded.
"Hungry~" Rom begged as they both are really hungry.
'Looks like we got some hungry puppies to feed...' Rookie joked.
"Now, now, kids. Mind your manners, we have guests right now, could you two please wait for a bit longer?" Mina asked the twins.
"Guests?" Ram was confused as they looked at the guests and was soon shocked. "AHHH! IT'S THE CPU BULLY! She came here to bully us more!" Ram screamed.
"Eek!" Rom quickly hides behind Ram.
"CPU Dummy?" Mina was shocked of them, mocking their title names. "Heavens, child, that is quite rude!"
"Well actually, just before we came here..." And the girls told Mina about their encounter with the twins and was shocked again.
END BGM
"Oh, now I see. They misbehaved and attacked you, did they? I'm truly sorry..." Mina quickly apologized.
"No, no, please. There's no need to apologize" Nepgear panicked.
"No" Mina shook her head. "As their guardian and their educator, I fear I must extend my apologies on their behalf" She explained as she looked at the twins. "Now then. What do you say, kids?"
"Lame! Why we have to apologize? I'm not going to apologize to that CPU dummy" Ram refuses followed by Rom.
"Yeah, yeah" She nodded.
"No. That's not you supposed to say in this situation, try again!"
"Wait... I know you!" Ram pointed her finger at Rookie. "You that man I asked back at town!" She shouted which shocked Nepgear and the others.
"Wait... Rookie, do you know this kid?" IF asked and he nodded.
"Hmmm? Did you say, Rookie?" Ram asked.
"Yeah... Why?" Compa asked Ram as she began to grin that Rookie noticed.
"Oh no...' Rookie knew what's gonna happen next. 'Don't you dare...'
"Pffft... Pfft"
'Don't you fucking laugh'
BGM: Comedic Time - Megadimension Neptunia VII
"PFFT, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Ram then started laughing.
'Goddamn it!' Rookie swore as Ram fell and rolled around on the ground.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! ROOKIEEE! WHAT ARE YOU, A NEWB! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Ram was still laughing which made both Mina mad and Rookie... Totally pissed off...
'I swear, I'll throw a soda can at that girl if I see one...'
"Hmmm, Ram?" Rom poked her sister as she was STILL laughing.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, CAN'T STOP! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Ram!?" Then Rom began to shake her in panic.
"Hehehe... What is it, Rom?" Ram asked as she pointed at Mina and Rookie which are towering above them. Mina eyes were shadowed with bright stars and Rookie... Well, was giving them the death stare... Both has dark auras around them.
"Kids... What. Do. Good little girls... Say?" Mina creepily asked them one more time as the twins were shaking in fear and finally apologized.
"I'm so sorry. Really..." Ram apologized as well as Rom.
"Sorry..." As they both said sorry to them, Rookie accepted their apologizes.
'I accepted your apologizes' Rookie smiled as he pat Ram on the head which surprised Rom, as for the others...
"Mhmm... Do any of you felt a dark, scary aura between them?" Compa asked, sweatdropped.
"Yeah. I guess we learnt that never mock a person by its name..." IF learnt.
"And their appearance..." RED added as she sweatdropped as well.
"Yeah..."
"Please don't worry about it. We actually wanted to asked them for help, too" Nepgear explained and asked but Mina refuses.
"As their guardian, I must vehemently refuse that request. As you can see, they are still children" Mina explained. "But... If they wanted to assist you as fellow CPU Candidates, perhaps I could make an exception"
"No! I don't play with dummies!" Ram shouted.
"Uh-huh!" Rom nodded.
"*Sigh* Seems hopeless... Whatever, we said we wanted and got what we could so let's go" IF said.
"I'm sorry we couldn't offer that much but I may warn you that Lowee has a recent uptick in crime" Mina explained. "Rumors have even begun, saying that it heralds the start of something unprecedented. Do be careful" Mina warned.
"We will, thank you. I hope we meet again soon..." Nepgear thanked her as Mina bowed to them as they leave the Basilicom and started to track down the Lowee's Mascot the old fashion way...
Author's notes:
Rookie's Face has been revealed but nobody was there... Shit and yeah, Ram mocked his name and he was pissed. Why? Because everyone knows what rookie means.
Okay. Last week, after doing most of issues after getting my computer, doing school work and having a break but... I done some changes in this story, the first that I updated Chapter 5, now with a improved scene with the main CPUs, changed the title, added Rookie in the Character section on my profile and changed the last part of Chapter 11 because I felt that a bit... Too much in my opinion.
