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: Leanbox's Basilicom

Twelve days after drop...

It took almost a day to travel back to Leanbox thanks to the encountered monsters appearing out of the blue but now, they returned back to the city. Rookie and the girls reported to Chika who's still inside the Basilicom doing paperwork and she was very happy to hear the news.

"Oh. Looks like you save the Mascot, after all" The Oracle smiled.

"Yes, but... We were hoping that we could take it with u-" As Nepgear was about to ask the Oracle's permission to have the Leanbox Mascot.

"Yeah, sure" Chika quickly put into conclusion and answered which shocked everyone.

'Wow... That was quick...' Rookie was surprised about Chika's quick and bold decision to let the group keep their Mascot unlike the two Mascots back at Lastation and Lowee.

"Huh? Is it really okay?" Compa worrying questioned.

"Hang on. You're not another imposter, are you?" IF asked with a frowning face.

"Of course not" Chika confirms she's not an imposter. "But I do have one condition, though" Then she explains her reason by putting her face in front of Nepgear's. "You must save my darling, Vert post-haste!"

"Y-yes, Miss Chika" Nepgear trembled a bit as the Oracle took her face away from her and the Candidate shook her head. "We plan to. We won't rest until we save everyone"

"Ah~ Perfect!" Chika claps her hand in joy.

'Guess she really cares about her, huh?' Rookie gave himself a sweatdrop.

"But Miss Chika, will Leanbox be safe without the Mascot's protection?" Compa asked.

"It's just for a little while, no?" The Oracle shrugged. "I can handle things around here while you rescue my darling Vert" Then she saluted like a soldier. "It's all for the sake of my priorities and my dearest sister Vert is the top of the top!"

"Oh, I see... Well, if that's really okay with her, then..." Nepgear paused for the moment till IF spoke.

"Does it matter?" She asked a rhetorical question as she continued. "If you ask me, she's way easier to work with than any of the others" She stated.

"If the Oracle said so, then there is no issue with my departure" The Mascot spoke. "I desire to join you, myself. After witnessing the abuse of the Mascot discs, I cannot let the perpetrators off easy"

"Thank you very much" Nepgear thanked the Mascot and she received the Leanbox Mascot disc. Chika however, started to notice that someone's missing.

"But, wait. I don't see 5pb.. Where is that kid?" The Oracle asked and Cave responded.

"She has been hiding behind my broad and powerful back this entire time..." Cave said in detail as the shy idol shows up behind her back and waves.

"H-here I am... Hello~" 5pb. lightly smiled with an awkward giggle.

'Guess she's a bit comfortable with Cave and I' Rookie commented.

"Oh. Just so you're here. This involves you, too, so listen up" Then the Oracle started to explain the situation they're facing. "ASIC's teachings spread quickly while I was captive. We must take drastic actions to reverse this" She demanded.

"O-oh, okay..." And the idol starts to scratch her head. "So, umm, what does it have to do with me?" She asked.

"I need you for my plan to work. We're going to hold a giant concert, with you as the headliner!" Chika answered with a big smile. "Are you up for it, kid?" Then she asked the idol as her eyes widen and gained enough confidence to stand in the open.

"Yes! Just leave it to me!" 5pb. answered which made the Oracle happy.

"That's the spirit, kid!" She shouted as the girls began to look at each other. "Oh, and one more thing. Rookie and Cave, can you two stay here for a moment while the rest of you are outside?" Chika then caught both of them off guard while the girls got confused but exited out of the Basilicom, leaving the Chika, Cave, and Rookie inside as the doors were closed shut.

"Chika? Why do you want to talk to us in private?" Cave questioned and the Oracle sighed.

"I know it's a bit weird but I've been hearing strange reports that really worries me" Chika explained.

'Well, this ain't good...' Rookie thought.

"What kind of strange reports?" She asked and the Oracle opened a draw in her front desk, bringing out a bunch of newspapers which was released recently. As they examined the recent newspapers, they found was rather strange as articles talks about military equipment and blueprints stolen, vehicles' been sabotaged as well as civilians' vehicles, a couple of guild members went missing during quests but what was shocking to them was an article about a guild member found dead deep inside an unknown forest by a group of scouts who were sent to look for the missing members.

Rookie, however, started to examine the incident as it declared that the person wasn't killed by a monster but by another person due to the discovered used ammunition on its body as they described it as 'quite burnt'. They only showed the ammunition extracted from the dead body on the newspaper because it was a bit gruesome which he was expected, a few bullets from an M16 Rifle. The ODST remember the ones who use it, one of those soldiers he saw when he was outside the abandoned outpost with modified M16 with flamethrowers attached to them, chasing a certain cat girl.

"When did this happened?" Cave frowned, questioning the Oracle as she folded her arms.

"It got released a few days ago, they know it's not ASIC but something else..." Chika explained.

"We actually fought against them..." Cave spoke which shocked Chika as they haven't explained the entire story.

"Wait, what?!" She exclaimed as Cave began explaining about their encounter with Incendio. After a few minutes of explaining to Chika about him and his purpose, the Oracle folded her arms again with her eyes closed. "So. You're telling me that this person was from another organization who's allied with ASIC but have no information about them?" She asked them and both nodded to her question. 'Oh dear~ I'll need to contact Histoire about this...' She thought.

"I wish we could capture him for interrogation of their plans but he died along with all the information in him..." Cave preferred as the Oracle then picked up a file folder out of her desk drawer.

"Well, you did your best, Cave but..." Then she gave her the file as she opens it. "That's not that I'm worried about..." After she opened the file and starts examining it along with Rookie peaking over her shoulder, it gave them a stinging feeling up their spines. It was a photograph that was taken not too long ago, there was a tall building, towering above the person who took this photo. The most interesting thing that the two saw was a hooded person on top of the building, holding a sniper rifle in the person's hands, ready to shoot somebody.

"When did this photo taken?" Cave asked as the Oracle's head looked down then up to her eyes.

"Well, the information I was given was it was taken from the last concert in probably a day ago..." Chika assumed. "We might have an assassin roaming around the city..."

'Last concert?' Rookie wasn't sure due to his absences, chasing down a certain catgirl into the woods.

"So, that's why you're very worried?" Cave asked and the Oracle nodded.

"Yes. If this is a real thing and that the assassin IS targeting that kid. This will completely ruin my plan to restore Leanbox and I'm NOT gonna lose that kid!" The Oracle shouted as she slams her fist onto her front desk then pointed to Cave. "So, I need you to overwatch the rooftops around the concert along with your team" She told Cave and the two looked at each other as Rookie wondered why is he here?

"But why do you need to bring this soldier?" Cave asked.

"Well. Rookie is an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper which they're the best of the best and takes high risking missions so, it'll be a good idea that Rookie would join you during the patrol" Chika explained as Cave stared at Rookie for a few seconds then nods in agreement.

'She's right on that…' He corrected.

"The Rookie will be a good addition to our patrol, Chika. We won't let you down" She told which the Oracle smiled.

"Good… By tonight, get your team and be ready for anything. And don't tell the other girls, Cave... I don't want them to get involved with that assassin" She tells them as they nodded, they turned away and exited the Basilicom. As Cave and Rookie exited the Basilicom, the girls were waiting outside for them.

"So~ I was wondering why the Oracle need you two in private?" RED was the first one to ask them but they ignored her as they continued walking.

"Where are you two going?" IF frowns, asking them a question as Cave turned to her and spoke.

"Chika has tasked us with a mission but it's classified" She answered then the two walked away which made the rest of the girls worried about them but IF however, was beyond worried till she shook it off of her head...


Meanwhile, at nightfall...

In the middle of the night, there were lots of posters of an incoming concert this night starring the idol of Leanbox, 5pb.. The People of Leanbox were very excited to have another concert prepared, but some were very upset as some of them were apart of ASIC, but there's one person of a million who is glad. It was the assassin, sent by General Spectre to assassinate 5pb. during the last concert but was blown thanks to that Underling who is trying to do the same thing as she was supposed to do her role as an Oracle imposter which failed miserably.

Now, he knows about the concert which is going to be held at the center of Leanbox as there is a huge park located in the center of the city, this is known as 'Emerald Park'. If you guys haven't read the last chapter, this is a memorial park to remember Emerald Heart's sacrifice to protect her people. While the concert is already set up, the girls were walking to the backstage as they're invited by the idol herself.

"Goodness. Look at that crowd" Nepgear commented as they saw a massive amount of people standing in front of the stage.

"After seeing this, I get what Chika was going for. This could fix the Leanbox situation in a single go" IF figured.

"It made perfect sense to me!" RED shouted which the brunette doubted. "After all, it's a concert with my wifey candidates!" Then she smiled with her eyes sparkled.

"Yeah. Whatever..." She muttered as they entered the backstage, the idol was inside as she was very happy to see them.

"Hello everyone! I'm glad that you all made it" 5pb. waved at them as the girls waved back to her.

"Hello, Miss 5pb.. Thank you for inviting us" Compa thanked her then Broccoli noticed that they aren't the only ones who got invited.

"You got some surprise guests, nyu" Broccoli noted as the others turned around, seeing none other than both Uni and the Twins.

"Uni? You got invited?" Nepgear asked with a big smile.

'Great... They got invited as well...' Uni thought as she turned her head away from her. "*Sigh* Even though I was invited, doesn't mean I want to come to this concert or anything" She sighed as for the Twins…

"My first concert... I'm so excited! Aren't you Ram?" Rom asked and her twin nodded.

"You bet! We're gonna brag all about this to Mina when we get home!" Ram answered.

"Are they also CPU Candidates?" The idol asked and the girls, as well as the three Candidates, nodded which she smiled... Even though she's a shy girl, it means nothing when doing music-related stuff... "I'd love it if you would all listen to my songs" Then she noticed that Cave and Rookie were missing from the group. "Where's Rookie and Cave?" She asked as both Uni and the Twins tilted their head in confusion.

"They're said they have a mission but didn't put into much detail" IF answered which made the idol a bit down, she then decided to come confront her as she whispers to her. "Hey, don't worry, Lyrica. I'm sure they'll be ok" The idol then looked at her in the eyes and nodded. "Now come on, the spotlight's all yours"

"Whoops! I forgot that I'm the opening act. I better get going. See you all later, okay?" Then everyone nodded as 5pb. ran to the front stage.

"She looked really pumped up about this concert, huh?" Nepgear commented which everyone agrees with.

"Yeah, makes you wonder where she hides that shy nature of hers" IF replied.

"But how come she's become confrontable when you approached her, hmm?" RED then asked the brunette which she went a bit paled. "Do you have any connections with her?"

"W-wh-what are you talking about?!" She then questioned the girl.

"I heard that she called her 'Lyrica', nyu..." Broccoli added which made the situation worse.

"Wait... *Gasp* Is that her real name, Iffy?" Compa asked her which caught the attention of every girl inside the backstage till IF gave up and sighed.

"*Sigh* Yeah... Lyrica is her real name and a close friend of mine..." She explained the truth. "We both met when me and Compa were with Nep" Then she began to explain the entire story between her and Lyrica but we'll tell in another day.


On the rooftops...

As the people gathered at the front stage with 5pb. starting the concert, Rookie was standing on the rooftops from the west of the concert as he equipped himself a jetpack along with his Automag, his Gun-Blade and a taser gun which Cave gave him during a briefing with her team, even though replacing his rucksack which has his equipment and ammunition, he can able to skip over gaps between building instead of jumping with a high chance of failing and killing himself in the process...

'Well, things are going well' He watched the concert go live as the people cheered in excitement till he saw a girl jumping over gaps, towards him. She was one of Special Missions Department, equipped with the same jetpack he had, a futuristic hand sword, a SOCOM pistol and a taser gun. She was in her late teens as she had brown hair with brown eyes, wearing armor on her chest and her side hips, wore a grey dress, covered by a green cardigan with white lining, a pair of black gloves and boots.

"Hey, Trooper!" The girl called him, getting his attention. "Seen anything suspicious?" She asked and the ODST shook his head. "Okay then, I'm gonna leaped that way so see ya!" She then points to his left and leaped over another building, patrolling the rooftops as Rookie stood his ground and watches the concert from above.


With the girl...

Meanwhile, the girl continued leaping on another building as she scans for anybody. "Nothing..." She then sighed and continued her patrol. 'I don't get it... Why did she so worried about me?' She thought, leaping onto another building as the girl remembered the briefing and the introduction before nightfall.

Flashback...

"Team, this is the Rookie. Rookie, this is my team" Cave and the ODST were inside a Leanbox SMD base, in a locker room as there were four individuals, two males on a bench and two girls next to the lockers. One of the males has a red bandana, covering his entire hair as he has red goggles. Wearing a green camouflaged pants and shirt, covered by a military tactical vest and a pair of large boots as he holds a huge battle axe with its blade curved like a crescent moon. The other male has a full military outfit on with a grenade belt filled with ball-like explosives and a helmet that has a Leanbox symbol on it which covers his hair and his eyes as he holds a modified M79 Grenade Launcher with a vertical grip, a different reload system and a 50mm barrel that can fire grenades but with a add-on 38mm barrel attachment as the result... It can now fire rockets or small APHEBC shells... Don't know how he did this or why he needs that much firepower but let's just not question the logic behind this... Rookie, however, is unsure about how that man can able to see in combat...

We all know what the girl looks like but one of the females who's next to a locker has the same outfit as the male who went too far on his weapon... She then holds a round shield and a big mace that is ALSO modified, now it has the ability to fire explosive... Magic? As I said, don't question the logic...

'Are they on a death squad or something?!' Rookie questioned after examining the members as Cave introduced them to him.

"This is James Smith, a highly ranked specialist on weaponry and the one who is in charge of the team while I'm absent" She then introduced James.

"Hey..." James responded.

"And this is Karl Flak and Karla Flak, the Flakvierling Twins. Even though they're reckless in their actions, they can get the job done" Then Cave introduced to the Demo-Twins as they both saluted to them.

"Karl Flak-"

"And Karla Flak-"

"ARE REPORTING FOR DUTY, MA'AM!" They shout in unison as they mostly saluted to Cave.

"And this is our newest member of the team, Hoshi Satou" And Cave introduced him to the girl who's in fact, a recruit of the team.

"Hi, Mister!" Hoshi cheerfully greeted the ODST as she shakes his hand. "It's nice to meet you" But the girl continued shaking his hand for a minute.

'Will this kid stop shaking my hand?' Rookie wondered.

"Okay, that's enough, Hoshi" Cave politely told her as Hoshi obeyed and let go of his hand.

"So, this is the trooper the people have rumored?" James questioned which received a nod from Cave. "Alright... What's our quest for bringing order to Leanbox, Cave?" Then he asked again.

"The Oracle has a plan that will able to restore Leanbox for good" Cave answered and James was very relieved for the news.

"Finally~ *Clap!* It's been too long, sitting here doing absolutely nothing-"

"It's been almost a week now" Hoshi interrupted him as James glared at the girl.

"I was being sarcastic..." He corrected.

"Ahem..." Cave then gets her team's attention. "Continuing on. The Oracle ordered us to patrol around a concert coming at nightfall' guarding the idol of Leanbox against an unknown assassin who's wearing a hood to hide his identity"

"One assassin? Ha! You're making me laugh, ma'am! We can able to take that son of a gun without hesitation!" Karla doubted.

"OORAH!" Karl added a battle cry which James gave them a slap on the back neck. "AHH/OWW!" They both yelled in unison.

"Quit being so reckless, you two!" He demanded as the Flakvierling Twins glared at him.

"What do you mean 'unknown', Miss Cave?" Hoshi asked.

"This assassin was behind the sabotaging of the vehicles, military raids, and the missing Guild members, according to the Oracle's gathered intel..." Cave explained about the intel Chika has given her which shocked the four members.

"One person? Did all of that? Even the found guild member in the newspaper?" The girl questions her leader and she nods, her eyes became widened in shock as for James frowned.

"If that assassin can perform such a risky act... Then we're in the shit hole if we let this slide..." He stated and Cave nodded.

"Correct. That's why we have to protect the idol at nightfall, during her concert" And she explained. "I predict that the assassin will be deployed on top of the buildings. Therefore, we will be equipped with jetpacks" Then Cave points at the Karl and Karla. "Flakvierling Twins. You're guarding the east side of the concert"

"Roger that!" The Twins obeyed in unison yet again.

"Hoshi and Rookie will guard the west side of the concert while James and I guard the front of the concert" Cave then finished her sentence as Rookie and Hoshi stared at each other.

'Why did she gave me that girl as my partner... I'm not a babysitter...' Rookie thought.

"Ufufufufu~ Guess, we're partners now, huh?" The girl gave herself a giggled as Rookie rolled his head and nods.

"ALRIGHT! Let's hunt down this son of a bi- Er I mean, assassin!" Karl has forgotten that there is a child inside and almost swore in front of the girl.

"Hell yeah!" As the Flakvierling Twins fist pumped into the air and about to grabbed their weapons, Cave stopped them.

"And you won't be using your weapons for this mission..." After she told them, the Twins was about to whine and complain, she further explains. "We can't use any firearms or explosive weapons because it will cause the entire crowd to panic and it'll ruin the Oracle's plan!"

"...Well, she makes a very good point though..." James agreed.

'Yeah...' Rookie replied as the Flakvierling Twins have no choice but to agree with her.

"Therefore, we'll be using melee weapons, silent weapons, and tasers if we can able to capture this assassin" Cave stated as she sees that James has a battle axe, Karla has a mace, Rookie has his Gun-Blade and a silenced pistol, and Hoshi has a hand sword and a SOCOM pistol but Karl has nothing but his modified grenade launcher. Cave then gave him a shovel... Just a shovel as Karl examined it and accepted his weapon.

"Hmph. This will do..." As Karl puts away his grenade launcher, Cave to gave everyone a taser gun.

"Everyone knows what the plan is?" Cave asked her team and Rookie as they all nodded. "Good, meet at the concert at night"

"Yes, ma'am!" Her team said in unison as they all except for Rookie exit out of the locker room, Cave stopped Hoshi as she looked at her leader.

"Hoshi, I know that you want to prove yourself to be part of our team but I warned you, never underestimated your opponent, is that understood?" She warned her.

"Yes, ma'am..." The girl nods as she exited out, she heard her leader speaking to the ODST but couldn't make up for what she's saying to him.

Present...

Meanwhile, Hoshi was still continued leaping to building to building, careful to not overextend as she remembers what Cave has said to her.

"I know that you want to prove yourself to be part of our team but I warned you, never underestimated your opponent, is that understood?"

'*Sigh* I know what I'm doing, Miss Cave' The girl thought as she was about to leap onto another building, a door on top of the rooftop was immediately opened. Hoshi then hid behind two chimneys on the rooftop as she watched the scene, seeing what was shocking is it's the hooded man holding a wide briefcase in his hand. As the man went at the edge, he puts his briefcase down and opens it, pulling out none other than a sniper rifle as it has missing parts but the girl knew he has all of the sniper's parts. Hoshi was about to contract Rookie and the others but then stopped for a moment.

'Wait... No... I should do this by myself' She decided not to contract them which was her biggest mistake. As she readied her taser gun, aimed at the hooded man and fired, getting a direct hit on him, his body trembled onto the ground after a shocking hit from the back. 'Wow, that was easy...' Hoshi thought as she got out of hiding, she walked to his body and began to handcuff him. "I thought Miss Cave said that person's dangerous" She muttered till...

"Oh~ I'm dangerous, alright~" The man spoke out after he heard her muttering while he was on the ground, Hoshi suddenly went frozen then got swept by the man as he got up, he violently grabbed her by the neck and held her up to the air. "Tch, tch, tch. You really want to prove that you're useful. Well, this-" Then he slams her entire body into the ground, dropping all of her weapons on her including the taser gun she was holding.

"Gah!" Hoshi yelped in pain after she made a rough contract with the ground.

"Ain't you time to shine, little girl" And he finishes his sentence as the girl pull herself together and tried to grab her hand sword which is the nearest to her but the man stomped his foot on her chest as Hoshi stared at his shadowed face under the hood.

"Im-impossible! How did you survive fifty thousand volts?!" Hoshi questioned.

"Hmph! You'll never know what's under the hood, girl" Then suddenly, he raised the back of his sniper rifle then her vision went totally black after a hard smack to her forehead.

*SMACK*


Meanwhile...

Back with Rookie, he was still watching the concert go on while he overwatching the rooftops around till he suddenly hears someone on his radio COM which the team was able to connect to for some reason.

"Rookie..." It was Cave speaking through his COM. "I know you can hear me, but I can't able to contract Hoshi" She stated which made both her and Rookie worried in a split second.

'This can't be good...' Rookie thought as he looked at the direction Hoshi has gone to, he began to start his search for the little recruit.

"I feared that she's might be in trouble... Please find her, Rookie" She ordered but little she know, he got a head-start on his search.

'I hope she didn't encounter that assassin Chika has talked about...' Rookie hoped.


Later with Hoshi...

Unfortunately, on top of a rooftop where Hoshi was on, the little girl was knocked out cold as the assassin was assembling the sniper parts together, he heard some noises from the ground, he then investigate the noise and noticed that it's from the concert as he uses his scope to see what's going on, he saw a band group on the front stage who are getting dissed by the audiences as the idol noticed they're delusional and shoe them off.

"I swear if ASIC is trying to prevent this concert from going. I'm blaming them for the failure that's going to occur soon" Assassin was very pissed at what's going on now as it like the last assassation attempt, he favors shooting individuals in the head at the right moment where everyone has happiness and joy. The hooded man finishes assembling his sniper rifle which is Stealth Recon Scout sniper rifle with a suppressor at the barrel as he closed the case, he loaded up his rifle with a 6-round .300 Winchester clip. The assassin then scoped at his target and it has gotten worse at the concert as the audiences are booing. '*Sigh* This is too boring...' Then he turned to Hoshi unconscious body and shrugged.

'Might as well give our cannibal gargantuars a little meat snack~' He smirked as what he meant by 'little meat snack', he means Hoshi is the little meat snack. The assassin put down his SRS sniper rifle and walked up to her as he began to tie her up with ropes, covering her mouth with tape so she won't scream for help and blindfolded her eyes.

After a few minutes, the assassin has finally finished tying her up as he heard a sudden shout from the ground.

"Now what?! Who are these chicks?!"

'Chicks?' The assassin noticed it came from the concert as he ran to the edge of the rooftop and in his surprise when he uses his scope, he sees not only Nepgear on the front stage but the other candidates from Lastation and Lowee, Uni, Rom, and Ram. 'So, this is the girl Incendio has failed to eliminate' He thought as he waited for the results and suddenly, the crowd began to cheer with joy. 'That was unexpected... But in a good way~' He then smirks and ready his SRS sniper rifle, aiming at Nepgear's head as the Candidates dance and sing for their enjoyment. 'As what I heard, this girl's goal is to free the captive CPUs at the Graveyard' He then calculated and steady his aim. 'This is the end of the line, hero girl~' And right before he pulled the trigger, he felt the wind has changed course in an odd way and turned around, looking his surrounding till he looked up...

And saw Rookie, using his jetpack while he was about to slice him with his Gun-Blade.

*Ding!* The assassin was able to evade his attack as well as saving his sniper rifle from Rookie's Gun-Blade as it collided with the floor. "Well, that was a surprise. Encountering the trooper who defeated the pyromaniac back at the abandoned outpost" He commented as Rookie pull his Gun-Blade out of the floor and glared at him, noticing the little girl, Hoshi is all tied up. He took no hesitation as he pulls out his Automag and fired at the assassin but he has a trick up his sleeve, the assassin put his sniper rifle on his back and began to dodge the Automag's bullets, coming close in person to the ODST, he grabbed something in his hood then pulled out a longsword with its blade made out dark colored steel with glowing blue plasma on the edges as he performed a slice.

*Slice!* But unfortunately, Rookie was able to back away from his sharp blade. Instead, he sliced his Automag in half as its barrel fell onto the ground as Rookie looked at his silence yet sliced pistol, leaving a glowing mark on it. 'Damn, that's a sharp sword he got under his hood' He commented as the assassin took a few steps back, giving him space as he dropped his sliced Automag on the ground.

"*Sigh* I'm gonna make this quick so I can assassinate that girl in that sailor uniform" He stated but Rookie was blanked about what girl he's talking about, till he realizes he referring to Nepgear as he turned to the concert and saw Nepgear and the other candidates singing and dancing on the front stage. "Well, my actual target is the idol of Leanbox but change of plan, now I'm going to kill her~" Then he smirked.

'Damn it. If I die here, it's the end of the line for us...' Rookie then glared at the assassin, grabbing his Gun-Blade. Unfortunately, he can only use his blade due to his gun on the Gun-Blade makes a lot of noises, especially when it's on Automatic. Suddenly out of nowhere, the assassin took his first move by charging towards the ODST as he collided his longsword against Rookie's Gun-Blade.

"I'm gonna finish what Incendio started and THIS TIME! It'll be swift and silent like the King Cobra's deadly venom~" The assassin clenched his longsword as well as Rookie clenching his Gun-Blade.

'Don't jinx it, buddy!' Rookie then leaped to the right and used his jetpack to evade his slashes till he grabbed a MAC-10 with a suppressor out of his hood. 'Ah, you gotta be kidding me!' And the assassin fired his MAC-10 as he uses his jetpack to get behind cover which is behind a wall on top of the roof where's the door is located.


Meanwhile...

During Rookie's engagement with the assassin, Cave was finished doing her rounds as James stood his ground while overwatching the crowd as they continued cheering the CPU Candidates.

"Done with your rounds?" James asked and she nodded, walking up to him as they both looked at the candidates on the front stage. "If they didn't stand up to the stage then this whole plan would fail miserably..." He commented.

"I agree with you, James" Cave replied as she began to contact the other members of her team. "Flakvierling Twins. How's your patrol at the east?" She asked through her coms which her team has equipped when they began patrolling.

"Our location's clean. No trace of the target, ma'am" Karl responded.

"Excellent, keep searching for the assassin" She replied as they ended the call then Cave contacted Hoshi again. "Hoshi, are you still there?"

"..." The girl didn't respond.

"Hoshi? Respond, that's an order!" She contacted her yet again.

"..." But no response was heard from her.

"I don't understand..."

"What's the matter? Hoshi's still silent?" James came next to her as she answered.

"Yes... She should have responded after I contact her..." Then she tried to contact Rookie. "Rookie, what's your status?"

*Bratatatatatata!* But all she heard was gunfire from a small machine gun as her eyes widen. "What's wrong?" James frowned as he asked.

"Rookie's in trouble! He must have engaged with the target" Cave turned to him. "Contact the Flakvierling Twins, I'll support Rookie" She then readies her jetpack, ran towards the edge of the building and leaped off the building as James contacted the others.

"Karl! Karla! Rookie has found the assassin! Get here quickly so that we'll rendezvous to Rookie's position!"


Later with Rookie...

Meanwhile, Rookie is still behind cover as he's being suppressed by the assassin who was firing his silenced MAC-10 as the bullets were hitting at the walls.

'How am I going to deal with this?!' Rookie questioned, he predicted that going into a melee head-on would be suicidal and firing his Gun-Blade would cause the crowd into a panic according to Cave. As he looked around his surrounding but nothing but empty space with only two chimneys till he saw a SOCOM pistol on the ground who is presumably Hoshi's pistol till she got knocked out cold as he heard footsteps coming towards.

"You know you can't hide forever!" The assassin walked slowly and quickly reload his MAC-10 as his footsteps grew louder, Rookie sneak his way at the other side. Luckily, the assassin didn't hear him walking on the other side as he goes against the wall and after he loads a new clip on his MAC-10, he pulls the bolt on top of his MAC-10 and he aimed behind the cover he's in but noticed Rookie isn't there. 'The hell? Where did that trooper go?' He asked himself as he looked around the area and suddenly, saw him sneaking to the dropped SOCOM pistol. "You bastard!" He shouted and began firing his MAC-10.

*Bratatatatatata!* As Rookie heard the gunshots, he quickly grabbed Hoshi's SOCOM pistol and took cover behind the two chimneys while dodging most of the bullets as a few bullet hit him but luckily his battle armor has ballistic protection on it, he starts to return fire at the assassin as he was able to hit him off-balance, exposing his right hand holding his MAC-10. Rookie shoots his hand as the bullet penetrating through his flesh.

"Arrggh! Bloody hell!" The assassin screamed in pain as he drops his MAC-10. Rookie then kept firing the SOCOM pistol as the assassin quickly act and blocked the incoming bullets with his longsword on his left hand. This gave the ODST a winning chance as he dashes to the assassin with his Gun-Blade ready, both blades soon collide as the two furiously slash each other, Rookie has to use both arms to time his blocks as for the assassin, he has enough strength to hold his longsword with one hand.

*Slash!* *Clash!* *Slash!* *Slash!* *Clash!* *Shiiiiiing!* Until the assassin slashes into Rookie's Gun-Blade and pulled it off his hands as his weapon fell onto the ground. "Hmph. Guess I wo-" As soon he finishes his sentence.

*Punch!* He was suddenly punched in the face by Rookie's own fists as he felled onto the edge of the rooftop, unconscious and Rookie soon groans from punching him in the face, full power. 'Ow~ I've never punched someone since training...' He commented, referring to his ODST training as he stared at the unconscious assassin. '*Sigh* Well... That was totally anti-climatic...' He sweatdropped as soon he grabs his dropped Gun-Blade, Cave arrives and descends onto the rooftop.

"Are you okay, Rookie?" Cave questioned as she received a nod from the ODST. "Do you see Hoshi?" She then asked again and Rookie pointed to the girl lying down on the ground, tied up as her eyes widened, she ran to her, she used her sword to cut the ropes and rip the tape off her mouth. Even though it's painful, she was knocked out cold as Cave checked her pulse and then sighed. "She's okay. Thank the Goddesses..." She was relieved as Rookie smiled, seeing her lightly hugged Hoshi.

'That's adorable...' Rookie commented. And surprised, the assassin faked himself to be knocked out cold as he quickly took a peek, seeing the ODST distracted on a woman who untied Hoshi. The assassin quietly took his SRS sniper rifle and continued to finish his mission... Till he realizes that the concert... Has already ended as the crowd goes away with joy, shouting out repeatedly 'CPUs!'

'The concert just ended?!' The assassin stared as he turned around and glared at the two, he pulled out his SRS sniper rifle and aimed at the woman's head in his scope. 'I'm not going empty handed!'

Rookie then turned to see if the assassin's still unconscious but frankly not as his eyes widened, seeing him holding his sniper rifle and aiming it at Cave's head. As the assassin fired his sniper rifle, time ticked with every second and heartbeat in his chest, he ran as fast as he could, ramming her body along with Hoshi away till...

*Shatter!* The bullet directly hit his left armored shoulder pad, shattering it into pieces but even though it absorbs much of the bullet's penetration, it was able to penetrate through his ballistic protection and pierce in his shoulder, shattering the bones inside his body as he falls down to the ground with his right hand covering his wound. 'Fuck! First my chest, now my left shoulder?!' Rookie swore as he clenched his teeth, resisting the utter pain.

'What the fuck?! Stop being a goddamn hero!' The assassin swore, loading his next bullet and soon points to Cave's head yet again as he pulls the trigger, he heard a faint battle cry.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-"

'The hell is that sound?' After he said that, he turns up to the sky and sees a flying soldier with a shovel going for a ground pound on him. 'Oh shit!' He shouted in his mind as he rolled away to dodge the soldier's ground pound.

"-aaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" The soldier who came from the sky was Karl himself as he pounded his shovel into the ground, creating smoke around him. "*Pat!* *Pat!* Huh?" After the smoke clears, he saw only the concrete cracked by his shovel. "Where's that son of the bitch?!" As he looked around the area, the rest of Cave's team has arrived as James ran to Cave who's standing with Hoshi on her arms.

"Are you alright, ma'am?" He asked.

"I'm alright, thank you" She answered as James looked at the unconscious Hoshi.

"What about her?" He asked again and was given the same answer from Cave. "Where's that ODST?" Then he asked yet again till Cave's eyes widened as she remembered that she was rammed by him after she heard a gunshot. Cave turned to Rookie, seeing him down on the ground with his right hand covering his wound, she gave him Hoshi's unconscious body and ran to him.

"Are you okay, Rookie?!" Cave questioned him but only she heard was a moan as she turned his body around and examined his wound, taking his hand away as it has blood on it and saw a big wound on him. "*Gasp!* He needs medical aid! Karla! Call the ambulance!" She demanded as Karla quickly called for an ambulance. "Rookie? Can you still walk?" She asked and he nodded to her as Cave helped him to get up to his feet while Rookie still feels pain on his left shoulder, covering his wound again with his hand. "Karl! Rookie needs some assistance" She then called for Karl, getting his attention.

"But what about the target, ma'am?!" Karl questioned as Cave thought for a second about the assassin as she turned to his other twin.

"Karla, after you finished the call. You and me will continue to search for the assassin" She told her as Karla nodded in agreement while the Karl assists Rookie and James carry Hoshi downstairs where they'll meet the ambulance. Meanwhile, Cave then called for the Oracle.


Back with Nepgear and the others...

After the concert, Nepgear and the girls went back to the Basilicom as the Oracle's plan to restore Leanbox was very close to failure but successful in the end.

"Well done, girls. Everyone seemed quite enamored with you" The Oracle then did a pose with a smile on her face. "Naturally, my plan was a success~" After she said that sentence, IF rolled her eyes and nods in agreement.

"Yeah. If they didn't step up, I'm pretty sure you'd be quelling a mass otaku riot right now" She predicted about the results if the candidates didn't step up to the front stage which the Oracle began thinking about it then shook it out.

While the other candidates stood there with them as Uni couldn't get rid of her blushed face. "That was so embarrassing. I'm never doing something like that again" She stated, folding her arms folded. "But I do feel that we got a lot of shares out of it, so it wasn't a waste after all... Back to Lastation I go!" And without a second thought, Uni soon walks to the Basilicom's doors as the Twins looked at each other.

"We should go home too, Rom. Mina is gonna be so proud, she might buy us a new game for us!" Both Ram and Rom smiled as her twin sister giggled.

"Oh... Everyone's going home?" Nepgear however, was a bit sad with a pouted face to see the candidates going to their nations without accepting the offer a long time ago as Uni opens the doors outside, she turns to the Planeptune's CPU Candidate.

"Stop making that pouty face. It's not like I want to, but... I have my own things to do... Bye!" Then Uni leaves the Basilicom as well as the Twins.

"Bye-bye, Miss Nepgear..." Rom waved her goodbye as Ram like always, didn't like Nepgear.

"Stupid Rom, don't say bye to her! C'mon, we're leaving, it's almost past our bedtime!" And they walked away till Chika got a call from her phone.

"Hello? Chika speaking... Oh, hey Cave!" As the girls only heard mumbling from her phone till... "Rookie is- WHAT?!" The Oracle's eyes widen, startled most of the girls especially IF as Rom stopped walking to the doors and turned. "I-I understand... Well, keep on searching for him. Alright. Cya, Cave!"

"Goodness. What happened, Miss Chika?" Nepgear asked.

"Does it relate to that 'mission' Cave spoke about?" IF added as she frowned.

"Is Mister Rookie alright?!" And Rom added which surprised the girls.

"One question at a time, ladies" Chika sweatdropped. "And ain't you suppose to go back to Lowee" Then she asked Rom as she doesn't have words to answer, Ram soon frowned after her twin sister ran away like that.

"Rom! We need to go, now!" She demanded but Rom didn't listen to her.

"Is he okay, Miss Chika?" She asked her again.

"He's okay, little one. He is probably at the Leanbox's hospital by now which is not that far from here" The Oracle answered.

"Can we see Rook-Rook?" Compa asked and Chika nodded, the group then ran out of the Basilicom to the Leanbox's hospital but Rom was stopped by her twin sister.

"Are you listening to me?!" Ram questioned.

"We got to see Mister Rookie!" Rom shouted as she ran with the group.

"ROM!" She yelled at her but she ignored her and she exited to the Basilicom as Ram has no choice but to join them in the hospital. "AHH! Stupid Rom!" She yelled yet again in anger and followed her twin sister, leaving only Chika in the building.

"*Sigh* Kids these days..." She sighed till after a few minutes later, the idol of Leanbox came inside the Basilicom, panting a lot.

"*Pant!* *Pant!* *Pant!* Did they gone already?" 5pb. asked her and the Oracle shooked her head.

"Nope, they just went to the hospital" She answered.

"Huh? Why?" She asked again but shook her head. "Nevermind!" Then she leaves the Basilicom as the Oracle sighed in relieved.

"I should thank them for keeping her alive in the shadows..." Chika whispered to herself and soon walks away.


Author's notes:

Wow! That was far too long for a delay like that!

Neptune: It took you what, three months to write over seven thousand words?

Hey, 90% of the chapter is written freely, including some researching and some thinking.

Neptune: Pfft! Yeah sure~ Ufufufufu~

With due respect, Neptune~ I need to know the weapons, character designs and personality, armor, and rewrites in order to write this chapter!

Neptune: Yeah, you're right... Sorry, Acey...

That's alright. Besides... *Brings a present* Even though we're a week late, here.

Neptune: FOR ME?! *Opens the present* *GASP!* It's a twenty packet of pudding! And you got a new game for me! *Suddenly hugs Ace* Thank you so much!

No problem, Neppy~ But where's my present?

Neptune: Hmmmmmmm~ *Changes into her HDD form* How about a date? *She smirks*

*Ace blushes* Yeah... Want to go Fuyuki City?

Purple Heart: Oooo~ Going exploring the Fate universe, hmmm?

You're right about that. *Walks out of the room*

Purple Heart: What happens if we suddenly get involved in the fourth AND fifth Holy Grail War?

As long we act like citizens in the city, we'll be fine. Besides, they'll have to think twice before facing the wrath of a Guardian like me~

Purple Heart: I hope not... *They both leave the room*


[Quick note]

I'm very sorry for the very long delay (Especially for that Guest...). It just a lot of shit has happened last year.

Also yes, 90% of the chapter is carefully written by me and trust me, it's difficult as hell.

But... It was worth it in my view.

P.S For that guest who's been asking about the group going to Lowee again, Rookie (And him ALONE) will be going to Lowee BEFORE Rom gets sick while Nepgear and the girls go to Falcom's home... I know it's minor spoilers but it's in the Re;Birth 2 story.

Also, more minor OCs cause why not, it extends the storyline.