Chapter 4 – Prejudice
Day 2
Planeptune – Torres' Shop
"We're back, Torres!" Soren called out as he opened the door, leading the others inside like before.
"Torres? Isn't that…?" IF raised an eyebrow hearing that name as she followed Soren inside with Neptune and Compa.
"Hello everyone, welcome back! Looks like mission complete…hey, if it isn't Miss IF. It's been awhile." Torres had a look of amusement when IF came into his view.
"Eh, Iffy knows Mister Torres?" Neptune tilted her head in puzzlement at this new revelation.
"So it is you, who knew?" IF found the whole situation amusing for some reason as she turned to Soren. "So you know him too?"
"Uh huh. He hooks me up with most of the monster jobs Sis and I take up around Planeptune."
"So, you three must've met Miss IF on the job you went out on. I take it you're traveling with them now Miss IF?"
"Yeah, someone has to keep these two in line," IF waved her hand at Neptune and Compa, "while Ren here covers our backs."
"Ren huh? Sounds like you two have gotten close already, if you're calling him by a nickname." Torres looked smug behind the counter as he folded his arms.
"No, it's just that he calls me If instead of IF, though compared to being called Iffy…"
"Eh, I thought you liked that name Iffy?" Neptune spoke up with a cute look. "It's so cute!"
"I thought I told you not to call me that!" IF shook her head before turning to Torres. "Anyway, we're here to report that the Sand Worm has been taken care of."
"Good, good, I'll file it with the Basilicom so come back here to pick up the bounty, alright?"
"One more thing Torres," Soren spoke up, "Could you give us the rest of the jobs right now? After visiting the Basilicom we'll take care of the rest of the requested jobs."
"Sure thing," Torres scrounged up the rest of the papers and handed them to Soren. "Just don't go too far and strain yourselves now."
"Ugh, whatever. Let's get going to the Basilicom now." Soren looked at the three girls, and they nodded before they left the shop.
Planeptune – Basilicom
"Whoa! So this is a Basilicom? It's so big and towering and pretty and stuff! But where is everyone?"
Neptune looked around the perimeter in awe as Compa, IF, and Soren came up behind her. IF was busy checking the forums on her cell phone as she answered Neptune's question. "Hiding from monsters. Despite monster hunting efforts, Planeptune seems to be more ravaged by them compared to the other three landmasses."
"Seriously? I mean, I know that the monster hunting requests have increased lately, but…" Soren looked at IF with disbelief in his eyes as she gave a sigh.
"I know, and it doesn't help that each landmasses' military is tied up in trying to keep the peace. Anyway, Neptune, go talk to the Basilicom's staff. They'll communicate with a different one and we'll be on our way."
"Okay then, I'll be back in a jiffy!"
"I'll wait here to keep Compa and Ren company. Ask them anything you want while you have the chance."
As the three watched Neptune run off towards the Basilicom, Soren asked, "You sure we should let her go by herself?"
"I'm sure she'll be fine." IF gave a wave with her hand before crossing her arms. "Anyway, what's with you? You look a bit tense standing there."
"Sorry If, it's just that I a bit uncomfortable being near the Basilicom. This is actually the second time I've been this close to it, since the Sanctuary of Planeptune doesn't have a…very good view of surface humans."
"Eh? Why?" Compa was a bit surprised hearing that, that she tilted her head in confusion.
"Because humans on the surface don't seem to really have a goddess they worship." Soren saw IF raise an eyebrow, while Compa's mouth opened a bit. "Apparently a few Sanctuary members joined the expedition team to the surface over twenty years ago after the first explorations went well. I'm not really sure on the exact details on what happened, but what I do know is that the Sanctuary people found the surface people to be…distasteful for not believing in any gods or goddesses. Word spread like crazy to the other Basilicoms shortly after they returned, and now surface humans are considered to be on the 'list', just above Guild members and heretics."
IF narrowed her eyes hearing that, while Compa tilted her head in confusion. "But wouldn't surface humans be considered heretics too?"
"Not really… While Planeptune's Sanctuary is still bitter over whatever happened back then, the other three landmasses' Sanctuaries see surface humans as 'convertible' compared to heretics. From what I've heard from Sis and Torres, the other landmasses are making their own plans to send expedition teams down to the surface, though one wonders how Leanbox is gonna accomplish that, given it's technological state of mind…"
"So, what about you?" IF spoke up as she looked at Soren with a calculating look. "Do you believe in Planeptune's CPU, Lady Purple Heart?"
Soren looked around for any eavesdroppers before shaking his head and whispering, "Sorry, but I've never given the goddesses much thought in general. It's mostly because I've spent most of my life on Planeptune fighting monsters and learning from old textbooks Sis manages to bring home."
"Wait, you learn from old textbooks?" Compa looked shocked hearing that. "Don't you go to school?"
"Nope, I'm pretty much home schooled," Soren replied with a shrug, "Sis didn't want me to face the, um, prejudices at school, or something around those lines from what she's said. She gets enough heat from the Basilicom people about it, even though she's a Planeptune citizen."
"You know Ren, you've been talking about this 'Sis' person a few times. She's obviously your adoptive sister from the sounds of what your saying, but care to tell us who she is?"
"Oooh, Ren here has a sister? What's her name?"
Neptune's sudden reappearance spooked the other three a bit before Compa greeted her, "Oh Nep-Nep! You're done already?"
"Uh huh, just had to write our names down and got an explanation on how the Basilicom works. Anyway, what's your sister's name Ren? It sounds like a bit of juicy character development."
"It's nothing too important Neptune. Her name's Arf, and she's a monster hunter like me, though she's a veteran and is quite strong. She's the one that taught me everything I know about fighting and monster hunting."
"Arf? That name sounds kinda familiar…" IF looked thoughtful as she put a finger to her chin, trying to remember something.
"Everyone seems to remember her title rather than her name first. People around the four landmasses tend to call her the Fiery Maiden."
Neptune and Compa had a 'who's that?' look on their faces, while IF's eyes widened a bit as the news hit her. "Wait, she's THE Fiery Maiden?-!"
"Fiery Maiden huh? Sounds cool, but what does that even mean? It sounds like she lights herself on fire or something." Neptune mused.
"It's just some fancy title the people stuck on Sis when she started getting really well known in the monster hunting business, and it's based on how her red hair looks when she fights monsters." Soren gave a sigh as he put a hand to his hip. "Sure she's strong, but to be honest, I don't know why people make such a big deal out of it."
"A big deal?" IF looked at Soren like he was crazy. "It's a really big deal among monster hunters and mercenaries! Fiery Maiden Arf is one of the strongest monster hunters in Gamindustri, if not the number one strongest. I heard she defeated an Air Leviathan by herself!"
"…At least no one knows the true story of how she got rid of that thing…" Soren muttered to himself.
"Wow, I'm sensing a fangirl moment here from Iffy!" Neptune said with an appraising look in her eye.
"I am not a fangirl!" IF snapped, "I just find the Fiery Maiden to be inspirational at times, and so do a number of G-, I mean, adventuring females! Now her on the other hand…"
"Miss IF?"
"…Nevermind. We should really take on those two jobs we got from Torres. It's not like they'll solve themselves."
Watching IF walk off, the rest of the party looked at each other as Neptune said, "Sounds like Iffy's hiding something…!"
"Can't it wait 'till later Neptune? Else we'll be here all day!"
"Wait for us Miss IF!"
Planeptune – Evil Cave
"What's a Gelatin Cell?" Neptune asked as the party was on the look out for monsters.
"I'm not really sure, but what I do know is that it's the center of Dogoo monsters." Compa tried to explain.
"Those slimes? Makes me wonder what the client is actually going to make with them. It sounds like biotech to me." Soren raised an eyebrow as he poked a few rocks with Yukihira.
"Does it really matter? We're just here to obtain five of them for the client. Who cares what they're used for." IF commented.
"Um, quick question. If these Gelatin Cells are the center of Dogoos, how are we going to get them out?"
Everyone stopped as they looked at Neptune and they gave it a thought. Soren eventually said, "I guess we'll have to cut them open and extract them."
"Eww, does that mean we have to actually touch them?-! No way I'm doing that!" Neptune said with a sour face.
"Um, m-me neither. I don't have the proper tools for it…" Compa added.
Soren was about to say something when IF gave him a stare, which was joined by the other two once they saw what she was doing. Eventually he caved in with a grunt. "Fine, I'll handle the extractions, but you girls have to subdue them first."
The girls gave nods of approval and started searching for Dogoos, with a slightly irritated Soren behind them.
Planeptune – Neo-Geo Front
"Uh, so what are we looking for again?" Soren asked as the four walked through the complex.
"I think it's a blue wolf monster we're looking for," IF replied, "From what the victims say, that's what it looks like, an overgrown blue wolf."
"Should we transform Ren? If it's fast, then it might be necessary." Neptune suggested.
"Wait, transform?" This was news to IF as she raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, Soren here can transform like Nep-Nep can, though it is a bit different." Compa explained.
The four of them stopped as IF looked at Soren. "It's not exactly a transformation, it's more like armor appearing on my body… Look, it's better to show you instead."
Taking out Yukihira Type 3, Soren held it out as he tried to remember what he did last time. "Um, let's see… Yukihira…deploy…set up?"
[Execute, stand by ready.]
"Eh, did Soren's blade just talk?-!" Neptune shouted before a light flashed, and when it died, Soren was in IS mode, the exoskeleton making him a bit taller than before.
"Wow…that was impressive… Just like her transformation."
"I think that light might have gotten the monster's attention…" Compa pointed towards the Blue Shadow, which was cautiously stalking towards them. Neptune transformed into her HDD form as the others readied their weapons."
"Looks like we found our bounty, let's get 'em!" IF shouted as they dashed towards the Blue Shadow to fight it.
Planeptune – Central City Park
"I'm so tired…" Neptune moaned as she collapsed on a bench.
"Me too…" Compa sat down beside Neptune, looking as tired as her.
Both IF and Soren looked at the two on the bench as IF commented, "You know, for a couple of newbies, you two did pretty well for your first day."
Soren nodded as he rubbed his backside. "I agree, since it's a bit hard to start off in the monster hunting business, just look at the military. Anyway, maybe we should call it a day?"
IF gave Soren an amused look as she watched him continue to rub his backside. "Jeez Ren, it's not like that Blue Shadow actually bit your ass."
"It was this close If, this close if you and Neptune didn't kick it off me in time, even with the armor." Soren put two fingers close together as he stopped rubbing.
"Whatever. I agree we should call it a day. If we head over to the Sky Harbors now, I'm sure one of those two will faint on the way there."
"I can keep going…" Neptune tried standing up, but she fell back on the bench with a moan.
"Ugh…let's go home Nep-Nep," Compa looked a bit more composed then Neptune, but she still panted in fatigue. "I don't think I can go on…"
"Yup, they're exhausted."
"Not to mention I feel a bit tired myself…"
"Zzzz…"
IF and Soren saw that Neptune had fallen asleep on the bench. Compa only looked when Neptune leaned on her due to shifting. "Oh dear…Nep-Nep's fallen asleep, and I don't think I have the strength to carry her anymore…"
"I'll carry her," Soren volunteered as he went over to Neptune to pick her up, and proceeded to carry her piggyback. "What about you Compa? Can you walk?"
"I-I think so…" Compa got up a bit shakily, but nearly fell backwards, if not for IF catching her.
"Whoa there, let me help you Compa."
"T-Thank you, Miss IF…"
IF frowned a bit at the formality but she shook her head and asked, "Could you tell us where you live? We'll take both you and Neptune home."
"Sure…"
As Compa told IF the directions to her apartment, Neptune snuggled a bit on Soren's shoulder while muttering in her sleep, "Mmm…strawberries…"
"…Strawberries?" Soren was puzzled by Neptune's sleep talk and wondered if she was dreaming when a sudden thought came to him. As the party started walking, Soren carefully freed an arm, ran his hand through his hair, and took a sniff. The strawberry sent hit his nose and he sighed, "Shoot, I accidentally used Sis' shampoo again…"
"What was that Ren?"
"It's nothing If. By the way, where should we meet up tomorrow? The only places I can think of are Torres' shop and the park we were just in."
"Hmm…the shop sounds good. Is that okay with you Compa?"
"I'm okay with that too…"
"…No violating the party rule… Zzzz…"
The latest sleep talk from Neptune made the three look at her before IF and Soren shrugged and moved on. The newly formed parted walked forward, unaware of what was in store for them in the future.
"…How cliché… Zzzz…"
…