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: Lastation's Hotel

Six days after drop...

After missing the ship which set sail with Linda and Warechu on it, Rookie and the girls went to a hotel, closest to the port as they can catch it early. As they brought two rooms for the night, Compa, Broccoli and RED wanted to hang out with Nepgear as they went in the first room.

"Me and Compa going to hang out with Nepgear in that room" RED informed as she closed the door, IF and Rookie look at each other.

"*Sigh* Guess you're with me..." IF sighed when the door opened and RED's head popped out of the door.

"Enjoy, staying together~" She gave them a yukkuri glare as she slowly went inside the room, closing the door.

"..."

'...What the hell with that girl?' Rookie wondered as IF lightly blushed.

"...Let's just ignored that and go to our room..." She suggested and Rookie nodded, they went inside their room which has two beds, a bed table between them with a lamp, a bathroom, a television and other stuff I don't bother adding... "I'll be taking a bath" She then walks to the bathroom.

With Rookie alone in the room while IF taking a bath, he checked his phone which IF gave him a couple days ago.

'Just like old times' He then examined his phone by going to random apps such like GBC (Gamindustri Broadcasting), Weather reports, games that IF usually plays and a photo app as he looks at the photo albums, he saw something unexpected in the album... It's a photo of Compa, sleeping on the bed peacefully with her pink nightwear as he sweatdropped. 'It is me? Or IF has a bit of a dirty mind?' He wondered as he put his phone away and decided to watch some television, he turned on the T.V with the remote and jumped on the bed.

A couple of minutes later...

IF just finished her bath as she dried herself with a towel and put her black tank top and her shorts, she carried her oversized jacket and her belt of phones out of the bathroom and she saw Rookie, simply watching television as he looks at her and waved.

"I know you can talk, Rookie..." IF narrowed as he took a deep sigh.

"What is it, IF?" Rookie asked her.

"*Sigh* You need to stop being anti-social, Rookie..." IF stated as she sits on the other bed with her arms folded.

"No, I'm not..." He responded.

"Yes, you do..." She responded back.

"…Why are you bringing this up, IF?" He questioned.

"Because..." She then paused. "I have NO idea why I brought that up..." She honestly pointed as he took out his phone to show that photo.

"Also, why do you have a picture of Compa, sleeping with her nightwear?" Rookie showed her the photo, her reaction was blushing hard like a tomato.

"OH, YOU DID NOT SEE THAT?!" IF snatched the phone away from Rookie as he tilted his head.

"Care to explain?" He asked.

"Well..." She looked away then explained. "I was late out in Planeptune and decided to crash at Compa's place for the night" She then further explains. "I woke up to get a drink of water and checked with Compa till..." Her face turns really red. "I saw her like that..." Then she looks at the photo.


Flashback...

As what IF said, she woke up in... Probably in the morning... As she gets herself a drink of water and then checked if Compa's awake. She was walking to Compa's bedroom, drinking her water, she opens the door. After opening the door, she froze in place as she saw her sleeping peacefully with her pink nightwear... Without any blankets covering her body... She splits out her drink and stared at her with shock till Compa moved her body with a big smile as she mumbled in her dream.

"I always be with you, Nep-Nep~" She mumbled in her dreams.

'What the hell did I entered in?' IF questioned herself as she pulls out her phone and took a photo of her beauty sleep. After that, she slowly backs away and closes the door silently. "I think I'll go get something for breakfast..." She suggested and walked to the kitchen, didn't say a word on that reaction...


Present...

"...Please don't tell Compa?" IF begged.

"I'm not gonna tell Compa about that photo, honest!" Rookie waved his palms, being honest.

"Promise?" She narrowed.

"Cross my heart. And hope to die" He crosses his chest, IF blinked then giggled.

"Uhh... I think you miss 'stick a needle in my eye', Rookie" She corrected.

"You do know that I'm wearing a helmet, right?" He questioned.

"Don't you ever get out of your armor?" She asked.

"Nope" He simply answered.

"Can I see your fa-"

"Nope..." He cuts her off with the same answer as IF sighed.

"Okay... Let's get to bed so we can get to the next ship early" She suggested as Rookie nodded, he turned off the television and turned off the lights, leaving the lamp on the bedside table on while IF gets comfortable in the bed as he lied down on the other bed. "Hey, Rookie?"

"Yeah?"

"What was your life like on Luna?" IF asked as she faced at Rookie.

"Well... I'm just a regular kid. Going to school, play games, being lazy and so much more that I don't even know..." Rookie explained.

"How come you want to become a ODST?" IF pulls a good question.

"...Well... Have you ever heard of the Human-Covenant War?" He asked.

"No, I haven't heard of that... Is it like a war between nations?" She guessed.

"No, but much worse... The Covenant are an alien organisations that glassed many of our home planets" He explained.

"How many home planets?" She asked.

"Almost all of them, Earth was our last home planet" He answered which surprised IF with her eyes widen.

"How many people were killed?" She questioned yet again.

"...Billlions... Billions of people were killed by the Covenant" His voice darkens, giving a shockingly chill up her spine.

"Oh my... So, that's the reason why you become a ODST huh, Rookie?" IF has no word to comment his answer...

"That was my second reason, IF..." Rookie noted.

"What was your first reason?"

"My first reason was... I want to be like my father..." He answered.

"Hmm?" She raised her eyebrows in surprised. "Your father was an ODST as well?" She asked.

"Yeah... My father was one of the best ODSTs, he told me stories about his battles against the Insurrection" He explained.

"Who's the Insurrection?" IF questioned.

"Not who. What... The Insurrection is kinda like the ASIC but they've been a threat even after the Human-Covenant War" Rookie continued. "My father was a hero to me, protecting humanity from the darkness... Just like the heroes in the comics" Then he chuckled.

"So, what happened to your father?" She asked.

"*Sigh* My father died during the Human-Covenant War..." He sighed which shocked IF as he further explains. "Me and my mother had a good time, having our father back from the war... But when the Covenant arrived at Harvest, one of colonies very far from Earth. He had to join the war effort..." Then silence between the two.

"..."

"..."

"...I... I'm sorry about your loss..." IF apologized as Rookie shook his head.

"There's no need to say sorry. What happens in the past, always stays in the past..." He stated and IF giggled.

"Well, it's nice to share your story with me" She smiled.

"Yeah... Goodnight, IF"

"Goodnight, Rookie" They both said their goodnights as IF turned off the lamp, leaving the room into complete darkness as she covers herself with the blankets and went to sleep.


At the Leanbox...

Meanwhile at the Leanbox's Basilicom in the middle of the night, a light skinned woman was doing some paper work overtime in her office. She has very long, curly mint colored hair worn in a high ponytail, her eyes are an almond-red color. She wears a revealing black dress with long boots and gloves that end at her wrist, along with a black neck piece with a white sphere in the center that has a small green x in the center and two small pieces of purple cloth with black ribbon-cloth segments that have longer cloth pieces dangling with green sparkled coloring inside on both sides of her hips and her skirt is practically non-existent on the dress, being a simple cloth in front of her lower area.

After she finished all of the paper work she received, she dropped her head on the desk in depression.

"It's been three whole years and still, my darling Vert hasn't come home..." She sighed, worried about her darling Vert. "I guess I got to take my beauty sleep" She stretches her arms, yawning as she grabs the paper and carried it, walking through the hallway but what she noticed that there were no guards or anybody around.

"Eh? I thought I ordered those guards to patrol these areas" The women thought as she looked around, but what she didn't noticed was somebody's in the shadows. The women walked pass the shadow as it slowly sneaks up to the women as she still feeling suspicious of her surroundings. "Where are the rest of the gua-"

*Bonk!* Something slams onto the back of her head, felt like metal as she felled unconscious, dropping the paper work she was holding.

"Jeez~ I'm weren't expected their Oracle to be such a blindeye..." The shadow was Linda as she noted, she then picks up her unconscious body but having a difficult time, carry the women's tall body. "Oi! Come help me carry her body to the truck, you rat!" She called.

"I'm not a rat, you underling, chu" Warechu stated.

"Just help me, dammit!" Linda swore as the mouse pouted and helped her carry the unconscious body outside the Basilicom, at the back where the truck is parked. They flew the women into the back of the truck as they both entered the front.

"So, what now, chu?" He asked.

"Mr Idon'tevencare told us to go to an abandoned underground station right at the mountains south from here" She explained as she starts up the truck.

"Hmm... I wonder what kind of gift our boss going to give, Miss Underling, chu?" Warechu calls her the name which the girls called her back then... Linda was offended.

"Would you SHUT UP! You stupid rat!" Linda yelled as they drove away from the Basilicom but something was left behind at the back of the Basilicom, it was the Oracle's black neck piece, lying on the ground as a cat walks up to the neck piece and stares at it then towards the outskirts of Leanbox.

"Meow~" The cat responded.


The next day...

Meanwhile on the next day, Rookie and the girls got ready as they went to the port early at 7 o'clock.

'We woke up and made it very early today, so I'm sure that we'll able to get on a ship' Nepgear thought as the group was walking through the port, Broccoli was for some reason, a bit sleepy as her eyes are half opened.

"I'm so sleepy... I need a nap, nyu..." She noted.

"Are you okay?" Compa asked which the neko girl didn't respond, the she got herself an idea to keep her fully awake as she grabbed something in her nurse pouch. "Luckily, I packed some great nursing tools" She pulled out a needle shot which is filled with pure caffeine inside the shot. "Here, a shot of pure caffeine!" She smiled as IF blinked.

"I'm no nurse but, that's probably a really bad idea... Let's take a look at the departure times" IF suggested as the group walked up to a big screen, showing the departure and arrival times... Till they noticed that all the ships that was departing today was canceled. "Huh? Wait, why is everything listed as being canceled?!" She questioned.

"Don't know, Iffy... Maybe that staff lady might know" Compa noted. The staff lady was at a desk nearby the group, wearing her business suit with a bow on her hair. The group walks up to the staff lady.

"Umm... Excuse me, miss" Nepgear gets her attention.

"Oh, hello. How can I help you?" The staff lady asked the group.

"Yeah, umm. How come all the ships departing today being cancelled?" She responded which the staff lady sighed.

"All the ships were suddenly malfunctioned. We're not sure what happened to them but, it will take some time to get them working again..." She explained as RED sniffed into the air like a dog and frowned.

"I smell a rat! And an underling! Those two know how to get under your shirt, don't they?!" She exclaimed.

"Is there no other way there? We really, really need to get to Leanbox today" Nepgear begged for the staff lady.

"I'd love to help, but... Hmmm... I wonder if it's okay to ask for some people to help..." The staff lady thought.

"Huh?" Everyone was confused, tilting their heads at the staff lady.

"You see, one ship here is under maintenance. We want it to put in service while we repair the others... But we're missing a few parts to get it working again" She explained. "That's why I wonder if you would able to help"

"We'll be able to ride for free. For all time, right, nyu?" Broccoli asked.

"Naturally..." The staff lady shrugged. "We'll be happy to accommodate you all, free of charge" She then smiled which shocked the group.

'Well that's a pretty good reward' Rookie commented as Broccoli smiled as well and nodded.

"It's a deal" She agreed. "Let's do this fetch quest, nyu"

"Uh, I really wish you'd consult the rest of the party for that sort of thing, but... Whatever..." IF responded with a shrug.

"Alright, we need an anchor, a sail and a figurehead for the ship. We really appreciate this" The staff lady nodded.

"Okay! Let's get those parts, people!" RED shouted as they went off to get the missing parts.

"Hey! Wait up, guys~!" Compa have to suffer yet another run as she started patting. "*Pat* *Pat* You guys know I can't run very fast!" She loudly stated.


A few days later...

After almost over three days of searching the parts the staff lady requested, they found all of them from different locations... Probably around the Goddamn world...

In Lastation, the group was carrying the parts they found but... Problem is that anchor and the figurehead are way too heavy to carry, Broccoli got a solution and pulls out two blue glowing cubes, she calls them Extractor cubes which they store objects that are unable to be carry by personnel and summoned the objects, stored in the cubes... Don't question the logic behind this... Nepgear was the one who was carrying the Extractor cubes and they soon head to the port, they met with the same lady from yesterday.

"Hello. How can I help yo-" The staff lady paused as she saw the same group in front of her. "It's you five from before" She exclaims.

"Yep! And we got the parts you've requested" Compa responded and the lady smiled.

"That's wonderful!" They show them the sail as Nepgear pulls out the two Extractor cubes out of her pockets.

"The anchor and the figurehead are in these cubes. They're too heavy to carry..." Nepgear explained.

"I understand" The staff lady understood as the group gave her the parts she requested. "Brilliant! Many thanks to you all. Just wait for a moment while my crew gets everything ready to go" Then she went away with the parts and the group waited for her.

A few hours later...

As they sat at a row of chairs, waited for a few hours, Nepgear was playing one of her games in her N-Gear as Compa, RED and Broccoli watched her play while IF and Rookie was sitting next to each other with their right head, holding their heads in boredom, RED turned her head to the two as she grinned.

"So~ How's your time together back at the hotel?" RED asked them which she got their attention.

"It was fine, nothing too special..." IF answered which was a lie with Rookie nodding in agreement, RED's eyes widen.

"Eh? You just did nothing special?! Haven't you two confessed your love?!" RED questioned which caught everyone's attention...

"EH?! What are you talking about, RED?!" Her face was blushing yet again as for Rookie, he facepalmed his helmet.

"I-I think it's rude to question people's relationships, RED..." Compa sweatdropped.

"It's not rude! I just wanted to get more wifeys~" RED shed some fake tears from her eyes then she zoomed to Rookie, face to face... In his personal space as her hands slammed to his laps with her face a few centimeters from his helmet, he jumped in surprised. "You got to tell me what you did back at the hotel! Please, Rookie!" And she still shedding fake tears.

'YOU'RE INVADING MY PERSONAL SPACE, RED!' His mind was screaming like hell but in his luck.

"Get off of him, you creep!" IF kicks her off from Rookie's personal space. RED was lying on the ground; her eyes became swirling as she unconscious for the meantime. And finally, the staff lady has returned with a smile on her face.

"Thank you for waiting. The ship is ready to depart!" The staff lady informed them with good news.

"Goodie!" Nepgear puts away her N-Gear and stood up. "Let's get going" And everyone stood up as well with Compa carrying RED's unconscious body.

"Yeah. I just hope those two nitwits haven't done anything ridiculous in Leanbox yet..." IF hoped.

'I hoped that as well' Rookie agreed.

"Follow me, people" The staff lady led the group to the ship, they climbed aboard and set sail to Leanbox to meet Chika, the Leanbox's Oracle... Which she was kidnapped and taken away last night...

Later...

As the ship sailed through the sea, Rookie, the girls and RED who regain her conscious were looking out towards the endless blue ocean. They suddenly meet a huge killer dragon whale with long flippers, black spikes on its back and a dragon-like face as they jumped out of the water with a long and loud roar then it falls into the sea, causing a massive splash.

"Whoa! That's a Dragon whale!" RED exclaimed. "This my first time to see one of them with my very own eyes!" She smiled.

"They're very rare, nyu" Broccoli explained.

"And very dangerous to deal with. But they're passive so we should be fine" IF added as RED pointed to a group of dolphins, jumping up and down.

"Look, dolphins! Oh~ I wish I can pat one of those~ They're so cute!" Compa exclaimed as she cuddled herself, smiling.

"Hey, what's that?" Nepgear asked as she pointed to a rock and on the rock, was a big bullfrog with a tail and a fin.

"That's just a sea frog..." IF answered.

*Croak~* The sea frog responded.

'This is relaxing, seeing those girls smile makes me smile as well' Rookie commented as they stare at endless ocean. 'Wonder how's my team is doing back at Earth?' He wondered.


At Leanbox...

After travelling on the ship, they finally arrived at Leanbox. The group exited the Leanbox's port, seeing a more simplistic in terms and futuristic corporate buildings, warehouses, skyscrapers, and typical urban structures as they see a huge, towering structure from here.

"We made it" Nepgear was relieved.

"Hmm... At first glance, everything looks to be peaceful..." IF looked around and saw nothing bad happening.

"Yup but... Um, how do I say it?" Compa holds her chin with her right hand, thinking of something. "The place we're in... It feels..." Then she looks around and whispers. "Like a ghetto~"

"With no CPU or Candidate left in Leanbox, faith must be down to zilch, nyu" Broccoli stated.

"What's next? Go rat and underling hunting?" RED guessed as she frowned.

"We're going to the Basilicom. The Oracle was desperate to Nepgear, remember?" IF reminded them which reminded Rookie about the Oracle being desperate to him. "I'm sure Underling and the rat are here for the same reason we are, so finding them is just a matter of time" She explained.

'I wonder why she's so desperate towards me?' Rookie wondered and he shrugged. 'Welp, gotta find out what Histoire was trying to say...' And then they walked their way to the Basilicom.

Later at the Basilicom...

As Rookie and the girls arrived at the Leanbox's Basilicom, Nepgear opened the doors.

"Hello? Oh, I see someone" She looks around as she saw a figure behind a desk. "Excuse me, are you Chika Hakozaki?" She asked.

"..." She didn't respond.

"Um, Miss Chika? Maybe I'm wrong?" She muttered but she caught her attention, the lady's eyes widen.

"Huh? What the he-O-oh, yeah. My name's totally Chika Hakozaki" She introduce herself. "Perchance, are you... Nepgear?" Chika asked.

"Wow, I'm really happy that I've become so recognizable" She smiled.

"Huh? Uh, well... No, you're not, but..." The Oracle started to tremble.

'What the- Does she notice me? Something not right' Rookie activated his night-vision which is a bit static due to the crack, the girls are highlighted green but Chika appears to be highlighted red. 'Why is she highlighted red. This is really suspicious' He glared at the Oracle.

"Of course, she recognized you, silly" Compa giggled. "She asked for you to come see her, right, Ge-Ge?" She asked which made Nepgear giggled as well.

"Hehehehe. Yeah, you're right" She agreed.

"I did?" Chika raised her eyebrows.

'Okay, this really... Really suspicious...' Rookie noted.

"Yes. Histoire said that you wanted me to come and see you. So, um, here I am!" Nepgear smiled yet again.

"See... You? OH, yeah~ That's right! Jeez, yeah, awesome. I really needed to see you and crap" Chika responded with a small smile as for the others blinked.

"Uh... Well, not to sound rude, but why did you want Nepgear here so bad?" IF asked.

"Uhhhh... Ummmmm... Oh, right! I wanted you to help me get rid of a annoying monster" She explained as IF twitched.

"So, you called her all the way here for a simple monster slaying quest?" She questioned.

"Uhhh... Well, Leanbox has no CPU now, so it's a struggle for us to defend against even a dogoo..." She answered.

'A dogoo? What kind of military power do they have?!' Rookie questioned as well.

"And that's why I was hoping for the help of the battle-seasoned CPU Candidate, Nepgear" She finished which made Nepgear lightly blushed.

"G-goodness! She just called me battle-seasoned! I'm flattered, but I'm still just a rookie..." She honestly stated.

"No need to be modest, you broad. Er, so anyway, show off your skills against the monster found nearby" Chika ordered. "I don't think it'll pose much of a threat for someone with as much presence and personality as Nepgear~" She commented which made Nepgear blushed harder.

'Broad? Wait a minute... That sounds familiar...' Then Rookie widen in surprised. 'Could it be- No, it can't be that Underling' He thought.

"G-golly, I'm probably blushing so hard right now. Okay, leave it all to me!" Nepgear obeyed.

"Um, Nepgear, we have to ask her some questions too, remember?" IF reminded her.

"O-oh, of course. We came here to request aid from Leanbox's Mascot" She replied. "Would you be able to help us locate it?" She asked.

"Uh, yeah, sure~ I'll tell you where it is when you get back, alright?" She answered which surprised the group.

"Whoa! That was easy" RED commented.

"How co-opera-tative" Compa commented as well but for some odd reason, she can't pronounce cooperative...

"Thank you very much!" Nepgear thanked her but forgot to ask something. "Oh, but if we took the Mascot, wouldn't Leanbox be in danger?"

"Meh, ain't a big deal. I mean, it's just a Mascot, so take it if you want it, I guess" Chika shrugged.

"..."

'...' Both IF and Rookie glared at the Oracle.

"Wow, that's a relief to hear" Nepgear sighed and then fistpumped. "Okay, I'm gonna go show that monster how tough and cool I am!"

"Yeah, sure. I look forward to hear some good news real soon" Chika nodded and they walked out of the Basilicom to fight an annoying monster?

"Wow, Ge-Ge. You're so... Hyped..." Compa recalled.

"Yup!" Nepgear nodded with a big smile as they close the door behind them. The Oracle sigh in relief.

"Whew~ That was too damn close" She wiped a sweat off her forehead. "What a pack of idiots, fooled by my fool-proof disguise!" It is revealed that Chika was Linda all along.


At the Basilicom's front entrance...

"Hey... Did everyone else get the feeling that something was off back there?" IF asked them which they look at each other.

"Huh? What to do mean 'off'?" Nepgear raised her eyebrows in confusion.

"That Chika lady... She hardly sounded professional, and gave us info without any resistance" She pointed out. "Something about her attitude doesn't sit right with me..."

"Do you think? Iffy, it's very rude to judge Miss Chika by using your own lofty standards..." Compa stated which Broccoli shook her head.

"No, she was really sketchy, nyu" She agreed with IF.

"But an Oracle is an Oracle. They're not allowed to be bad people, right?" RED questioned.

'Nope, something's not right with Chika...' Rookie agreed with IF as well.

"Maybe you're being too critical of her, IF" Nepgear sweatdropped then IF sighed in defeat.

"*Sigh* Let's just take care of that monster annoying Leanbox" Then they went back to Leanbox, but Rookie stood there and the girls didn't even notice him as they walked away.

'Wow, why do people don't take things serious sometimes... Huh?' Rookie saw a snow cat, staring at him.

"Meow~" The cat responded as it walks to the back of the Basilicom, he decided to follow the cat as he grows suspicious towards Chika. He walks to the back of the Basilicom, only to find the Oracle's black neck piece lying on the ground.

'Interesting, all along that Chika was a imposter... But where's the real one' He picks up the black neck piece and puts away in his Rucksack then suddenly, he saw a girl but not a normal girl. She has dark brown eyes brown hair and wears a green mob cap, having black cat ears, with a gold earring in the left one, and two tails. Her dress is red with a white bow on the collar, with gold trimming and light pink frills at the bottom. The dress has light pink sleeves, wearing socks with long pink color on her fingernails.

The cat girl smiled, making a cat face as she tells him to come using sign language. She turns her back and ran.

'Wait up, girl! She must be leading me somewhere' Rookie thought as he pursues the cat girl, running towards the outskirts of Leanbox and to the high mountains.


Somewhere in an Unknown location...

"General! I have urgent news!" Beta seems to be worried as we back with the unknown, the robot went back to the room where Spectre as he opened the door.

"What is it? I'm busy with something..." Spectre was in the middle of planning their next move with the ASIC, not knowing who they are...

"I'm sorry to interrupted you but, the Gap women has sent one of her shikigamis to Gamindustri" Beta explains the situation. "And they leading the ODST to the abandoned station where the Leanbox's Oracle is kept" After he explained, the robot caught his attention.

"Those youkai bastards!" Spectre growled in frustration and turns to Beta. "Get our troops from there back to base and activate the cloaking generators! They must not get ANY evidence of our appearance!" He angrily ordered.

"But sir, with due respect, who's gonna guard the Oracle?" Beta asked.

"Get Incendio to guard her, he'll can burn that ODST into ashes" Spectre answered as he clenched his hands.

"Yes, General" Beta nodded and went away, obeying his orders. The general continued his planning as the hologram table is still showing the city of Planeptune as he frowned.

"Your move, gap hag..."

"Your move~"


Author's notes:

Did she really sent her bakeneko to lead Rookie?

Neptune: Meh, I'm fine with that... It's very nice that you explained his backstory

That was made up, he doesn't have a backstory in canon...

Neptune: What about those characters you put in from last and this chapter?

They're just minor characters, that's all...

*Neptune's stomach growls*

Neptune: Nepu~ Do you have any food, I'm hungry, Acey~

I can make your favorite pudding cake *Neptune smiled*

Neptune: Yippee! Pudding cake! You're the best!

Hehehe, of course I am... *And they went to the kitchen*