Neptunia Guild Files: Fate/book one

A Hyperdimension Neptunia Fan Fiction

by Derald Snyder

Section 58: Getting Unpacked

"Talk about a cheap motel, mikon," Tamamo said as she and Nero unpacked, looking about the slightly gritty room, which had two cheap spring mattress beds.

"We're trying to stay under the radar, you know," Sharon pointed out as she unpacked as well. "Which means not shouting and drawing attention to yourself, Red Saber."

"I was quiet enough when we snuck into that museum to confront Shredder the first time!" Nero mildly protested.

"Well, good, then keep it up," Rider half-snarked. Just then, there was a knock at the door, the trio immediately on guard, Rider cautiously approaching said door and turning the knob...

"Geez, it's just me," Lancer pushed the door open. "I don't think the mob's onto us just yet..."

"They will be soon," Rider countered. "IF's trench coat is unmistakable, after all..."

"The perils of bein' Neptune's right-hand lady," Lancer shrugged. "You'd think she'd try to change coats when goin' under the radar, but she's all, 'this is the only coat with enough pockets for all my phones!' Geez, just leave a few home, then!"

"I have enough trouble handling one cell phone," Nero sighed. "...Tamamo, are you staring?"

"What, I can't appreciate the eye candy?" Tamamo shot back.

"Your tail is wagging like you're in heat!"

"I am not in heat! Believe me, you'd know if I was!"

"Oh, I think I know my friend's tics by now!" Nero crossed her arms.

"Hey, hey, I don't blame your foxy friend bein' attracted to me," Lancer chuckled knowingly. "Lots of ladies find it hard to resist my charms..."

"I don't," Rider snorted.

"Then I would implore you not to entice her!" Nero asserted, putting herself between the two. "Business before pleasure, as they say!"

"Hey, I can be professional enough," Lancer shrugged. "Anyway, I was just gonna say, if we wanna catch the mob off-guard, you three should take care not to be seen with IF and Compa. Element of surprise an' all that."

"I don't know if these two should be seen with me either," Rider mused. "I mean, it's been several years, but if Kamesh recognizes me..."

"You think he might still want to marry you, mikon?" Tamamo half-snarked.

"I'd be fortunate if that was the case," Rider snarked back, rolling her eyes.

"Well then, at least he wouldn't try to kill you outright," Nero pointed out. "But you could do much better than him, I'm sure!"

"Thanks, Nero. Now if only I could find a guy that didn't stare at all the wrong places off the bat..." She gave a knowing glance to Lancer.

"Yeah, yeah, I can take a hint... I'll shove off," Lancer sighed, exiting the motel room.

"Kind of harsh, mikon," Tamamo observed.

"With him, you kind of have to be for him to get the hint," Rider grumbled.

Outside, Lancer was making his way over to IF and Compa's room when a shadow caught the corner of his eye. "Hey, who's there? Show yourself!" he cried as he unslung his lance, moving slowly towards the shadows... his ears then picked up the sound of quiet footsteps rushing off. "Great... must be one of Kamesh's spies. So much for the element of surprise..." Shaking his head, he hurried to IF and Compa's room to tell them the bad news...

*D-60 Grand Hotel, Penthouse Suite*

Gil Kamesh sat nearby the patio window, sipping at a glass of fine wine... his appearance hadn't changed much in the years since his ill-fated relationship with Rider, though one could see evidence of a facelift if they looked closely enough. Currently he was wearing a simple formal button-up shirt and black slacks with matching leather shoes, though said shirt was currently untucked. A yellow-colored diamond cut gem rested on a table nearby, seeming to almost glow under the room's lights...

There was a subtle knock at the door. "Enter," Kamesh spoke, neither moving or turning his head. He heard the door open, then near-silent footfalls entering the room, which clued him in to who it most likely was. "Report, Hassan."

"Milord, it appears that fool Setanta has called for backup from the capital city," stated the thin man dressed in all black, wearing a white skull mask over his face. "I have confirmed that Agent IF herself is here, as well as her partner Compa, along with a few others that I was unable to discern. I did catch some of their conversation, however- there appear to be three females, one veteran and two newbies."

"Two newbies? That IF must have quite the confidence in their abilities to bring them here," Kamesh mused. Standing from his chair, he turned to face the Hassan directly. "Well, then, let us see what these new Guild agents are capable of. Gather the rest of the Hundred Faces and look for an opportunity to strike. If they are as good as IF thinks they are, they won't die from a blitz by your clan. If not... well, that will teach her a lesson she'll never forget, now won't it?"

"It will be done, Lord Gil Kamesh," the Hassan bowed, turning and taking his leave. After he was gone, Gil walked over and picked up the phone by the bed, dialing a number...

"Saki. It appears that the Guild agents who foiled our previous plot have come to strike at us directly. Get with Tatsu and make sure your new ninja recruits are ready for combat... I have sent the Hundred Face Hassans as the vanguard, but they are more suited for espionage then combat... If they should fail, you may have the chance to redeem yourself from your previous failure..."

"Understood, Master. We will not fail you again," the Shredder's voice responded.

"See that you don't. I have no patience for useless minions." With that, Kamesh hung up, sauntering back to the patio window, looking at the nearly full moon in the sky above... "If these new female agents are strong enough to not die right away, perhaps I may consider adding one or more of them to my concubines..." A lustful smile spread across his face...

*To be continued...*

A/N: Been a while since I updated this one, huh?