Neplunker Depths - Biome: Crystalline Caverns
Estimated Hazard Level: 1

Sounds.

First they came distant. Then the clattering against rock like hammering nails. Loose stone and debris trickled and tumbled, the noises carrying them along like echoes. Then hushed commotion.

Then for the first time, light shined beneath the tunnels of a hollow earth.

A glowing flare sailed through the air and Neptune could only be in awe at how it tumbled on… and on… and on… down the empty void. It finally landed down below, a mere flicker in a field of darkness. What little the flare illuminated revealed stalagmites, rolling terrain, and the faint shine of crystal fields that faintly twinkled to the eyes.

She whistled (or at least, tried to). "Wow, look at that. What a cave!... What's that smell?"

"Looks like we've arrived at a major cavern," observed Blanc as she busily studied the terrain scanner. The handheld display rendered their immediate surroundings as a fuzzy green cross-section but the unexplored remained an inscrutable blank that she could only guess.

Behind them, Noire and Vert stepped forward. Their lights downward, they carefully walked until the ground suddenly veered down. They craned their necks but the fathoms were too shrouded in shadows to see.

The Lastation CPU surveyed her surroundings but found the veil of black too overbearing. Their headlamps were usable but she found their glow feeble. She prodded Neptune on her pauldron.

"W-w-woah! Don't startle me like that!"

"Well, what are you waiting for?" pressed Noire. "You're the scout. Get out there!"

"Okay, hold your horsebirds…" Reaching behind her, Neptune produced her grappling hook, the green device still bulky for what was meant to be a handheld winch. Taking aim at her flare's light, a hook shot forward and in an instant Neptune was lurched forward at high speed.

"Woo-hoo! Gotta go fast- Oof!"

Noire and Blanc could only shake their heads. The patch of rock, long unseen and untouched by humans, now had the dignity of being the landing site of Neptune's faceplant.

"... I'm okay!" their scout called out. "The rock sure tastes like, well, rock. Also it still smells around here."

"Yeah yeah, we hear you." Noire crossed her arms as she paused. "... Great. So how do we get down?"

"Terrain scanner's updated," Blanc quietly announced. Almost absent-mindedly she slowly turned to the side. "Looks like… I can make a way down here."

"Oh, how about this?" With an idea in her head, Vert put down her weapon to fetch for a tool of her own. Trading her cumbersome gun for a contraption that looked like a cannon emblazoned in safety orange, she brandished her zipline launcher for the others to see. "I'd say this is the perfect opportunity for-"

*Chugga-chugga-chugga-chugga-chugga-chugga!*

Lowering her twin drills, Blanc wiped her brow thankful as she was to be donning a hardhat and safety goggles. "That should do it."

Noire followed after her through the recently carved staircase, happy to have stable ground for her feet. "Not bad, Blanc. Being the driller does have its perks."

Left behind, all Vert could do was pout. But so miffed she was by her denied opportunity that she failed to notice the pitter-patter of mechanical feet. Something bumped into Vert from behind, eliciting a surprised yelp. "Eh? What?! No wait-!"

Vert teetered off balance and her world became upside down as she flopped down the steep slope, grunting and squealing with each bump and tumble.

Instantly all attention was drawn to the outcries of their fallen friend. Neptune rushed over, looking over Vert who lay in a tangled heap. "Vert, you okay?"

"Oww…" groaned the Leanbox goddess as she tried to raise her head. "What- Mmph!"

The M.U.L.E. continued its march, having finished its vertical descent with the alacrity of a spider. But with the mind of a simple automaton, it wounded up rolling right over Vert. Four legs stomped over the busty blonde before mercy finally arrived when the M.U.L.E. came to a stop and planted itself down with a meow-like call, its reunion with the team's relative position complete.

Noire stared baffled at their machine's simple-mindedness. "... A mining company's ubiquitous robot and example of hi-tech for the average laborer, programmed to act like a moron."

"Maybe you can improve it," muttered Blanc. "Miss Engineer."

Noire immediately turned away with a huff. "N-no way! I don't want to be accused of tampering with company property - we're just working with them after all!"

To this Blanc could only shake her head. But as she did, she noticed the faint glimmer on the walls all around her. Tossing a flare, the CPU of Lowee saw colored strips laid along the carpet of drab gray-blue rocks and intricate purple crystal growths. Intrigue became aflame when the specks twinkled brightly back to Blanc who recognized them as something valuable.

"Hey, found something here!"

Reaching for her issued pickaxe of worn wooden grip and rough-hewn iron, Blanc swiftly went to work chipping away at the rock. The earth was sturdy but against someone who regularly wielded a sledgehammer (and an oversized axe as a goddess), the rock gave way to surrender the glinting gems. The stone surface tinked but the crystals crunched crisp against the swings. By intuition Blanc knew she found something valuable.

"Guys, this must be it - this must be the morkite we're looking for!"

"You are correct, Blanc! You've found the first vein of the morkite we are to collect. The cavern you are in must have more."

Spurred by the encouraging discovery, Noire now viewed the faraway glimmers with hungry optimism. "Let's spread out! Find anything of value!"

"Hi-ho, it's off to work we go~!"

In unison the team went in separate directions, the lights of their headlamps and flares linking them together like a web. It did not take long for more calls of enriching finds to sound off one after another. "Found some more here!"
"These crystals got to be worth something, right? They're nice looking and even purple!" ("Sadly, no.")
"My, this is just like CraftMiner! I do hope I can find some diamond for my pickaxe."

In between the voices, the sound of rhythmic ticking and pounding filled the air. Valuables were gathered and the containers became swelled with the spoils. Soon the next step in the mining process arose: to deposit the goods so that they may start the cycle anew.

Noire hoisted her metallic pouch. Compact as it was, it weighed like an anchor in her hands as heaps of morkite and whatever else looked valuable that wasn't just rock jiggled in the open lid. "Alright, got to dump this. No way am I carrying this around me with all this stupid gear on my back. (Damn, why did I have to carry so much stuff?)"

A grunt from Vert as she set down her gatherings agreed with the sentiment. "Now I see why something like that M.U.L.E. is necessary. A depository that can walk is so highly convenient."

The twintailed girl turned to see the robot in question, its bright eye-like lamp prominent. "Hey! Hey M.U.L.E.!"

"Mrrow." Popping up on its four feet, the robot turned to make its way towards the two. The M.U.L.E. shuffled close but the pace seemed uncertain.

Noire tapped her foot, waving her hand to get its attention (if it had some sort of eye). "Hey. I'm right here. Hello?"

The M.U.L.E. resumed its walking but then drifted in another direction before plopping down. It still remained some distance away from Vert and Noire. The latter could only sigh bitterly. "I swear, I'm going to have a word with whoever programmed that thing."

"Count me in," commented Vert, memories of the recent incident as fresh as the M.U.L.E.'s footprints still all over her. Her grudge with the automaton would remain as long as they were.

Thus the two consigned themselves to drag their loads, heaving them up to feed their finds straight into the waiting chutes. The sight of all the minerals and loot spilling combined with the relief of lost weight made for the most satisfying of sensations as gems and valuables tumbled inside the M.U.L.E. with gratifying clacks.

They were not alone as Neptune joined them, bringing in her own haul. "Woah, you two got this much already? That was fast."

"But of course, Neptune," bragged Noire. "What did you expect from the head of the most industrialized and hardworking nation in Gamindustri?"

"Don't start patting yourself on the back yet - I'm not far behind!" challenged Blanc as she deposited her finds which included a more colorful variety of neon-blue gemstones, speckled yellow crystals, and fossils of spiral-shaped creatures from time immemorial. "Found a vein of dystrum and even bismor."

"So uh, tangent time," interjected Neptune. "What do we even do with this stuff? Like, what's it even for?"

"The minerals you collect are useful for a variety of applications," explained Histoire. "The exact uses would be a lengthy explanation, but morkite has been employed as a viable fuel source. Raw morkite exists naturally in crystal form with its more refined self in liquid and gaseous elements. For as common it is, it is still sought as they can only be found deep underground."

"Of course, anyone who's cracked open a geology textbook would this," gloated Noire. "This is basic stuff."

"Says the one who knows next to nothing about machines to be an engineer," grumbled Blanc.

"S-shut up!"

"..."

Vert glanced up. "Hm? Did someone say something?"

"Huh? Say what?"

"I could have sworn I heard something," wondered the Leanbox goddess.

"You're just imagining things," claimed Noire.

"..."

"There it is again!" Vert exclaimed.

"Um… three-two-one-not-it!"

"Neptune, this isn't the time for a stupid joke!" snapped Noire. Having now caught the noise with her own ears, she now readily believed her rival goddesses' worry. Spinning around, her light sliced across but the darkness was too thick for it to cut. She prepped a flare but found even it unable to discern what lay in the shadows beyond their view.

"..."

Everything was quiet enough to hear a pin drop. All eyes watched anxiously around them.

It was then Blanc remembered something. "Neptune…" she whispered.

"Gah! Don't scare me, jeez!"

"Use your stupid flare gun!" the petite goddess growled in annoyance.

Their scout feigned her innocence with a silly gesture. "Oh right, forgot I had the dang thing. Geez this is some heavy-duty equipment…"

Whipping up her yellow industrial flare gun (which in her opinion had no right to be as large as it was) Neptune took aim upward. "Let there be light!" she declared dramatically before she pulled the trigger.

In an instant, a glare like the sun exploded amid the four goddesses. Even as the source shot off like a shooting star, the radiance was blinding. Eyes adjusted for darkness flinched in pain as hot light washed the darkness away, the interior bathed in incandescent white that turned night into day. At once, the entire cavern was brought into clarity, all mysteries and uncertainties brought into the literal light.

It just so happened that they numbered in the dozens, crawling all over the walls and ceiling like spiders they resembled. Now exposed, the glyphids' hisses turned into snarls, multiple gnashing oversized mouths aimed at their prey: the four unsuspecting arrivals.

Screams nearly slipped out of everyone's dropped jaws as the arachnid monsters made a beeline towards them in a swarm. The glyphid mob roared at the goddesses with gaping jaws hungry for flesh.

The nearest of the creatures found its head perforated by a bullet. Deepcore GK2 assault rifle in hand, Neptune sprung into action as she opened fire on the horde. She leapt forward to meet the charge with gunfire, dispatching monsters in rapid succession while hopping away from those that wandered close. Magazine run dry, a glyphid took the chance to attack only for a quick pickaxe to find its way into its head.

"Hiyaah!" Neptune cried, now fending for herself with her tool-now-turned melee weapon. "Cross Combination (Miner Edition)!"

Another group of glyphids surged forward with snapping teeth only for a cold breeze to wash over them. A howling gale swept through, slowing their advance until soon they advanced no more.

Blanc had no time to admire the newly-formed ice statues nor her chosen Cryo Cannon before she bounded forward, her own pickaxe raised high over her head.

"Begone!" she bellowed as she slammed the blade against the ground, her great strike sending shockwaves all around her. Frozen and brittle to the touch, the iced-up creatures shattered like glass.

One glyphid who escaped from the frost charged oblivious to the power of Lowee's CPU before it met a flying axe to the face. But where one fell, Blanc could see more taking its place. And she didn't have a bottomless supply of axes to spare for them. "Could use a hand here!"

"Working on it!" Shotgun in hand - designated the Auto 210 but officially referred to as the "Warthog" - Noire tried to hold her ground. But the weapon proved cumbersome to wield as in her other hand, a hammer was busy whacking her given contraption as it grew with each hurried strike. Although glad for the sentry gun to be engineered in such a fashion as to be assembled through forceful blows (the means which would forever elude her), Noire found her situation less than ideal.

"Build - you - stupid - piece - of - crap!"

Finally the turret beeped, coming to life with a miniature searchlight and heeding its owner's call with immediate automated fire. Relieved to now have it operational, confidence rose in the Lastation ruler's heart. "That's more like it!" Noire happily declared. "Double the firepower, twice the result! No way I'm going to get beat now!"

"Two guns? How about just one!" dared Vert, her voice barely audible over the continuous roar of her "Lead Storm" minigun. Its three barrels spun in a blur as they let rip a stream of tracers cutting across the incoming mob like a scythe. The gargantuan weapon came with it the firepower to match as Vert held her ground, turning one glyphid after another into swiss cheese with contemptuous ease. The trickle of casings came as a stream that pooled by Vert's feet. Though not a weapon of refined elegance or tastes, the signature gun of the gunner class gave its wielder a sense of elation.

"Mmmm~. Never thought I'd be having so much fun with a weapon like this! It's almost relaxing~ (and it feels so good in my hands~)."

The skirmish went on, the opponents and their tools unlike what the CPUs have known but the experience of fighting nonetheless familiar. From swords, hammers, or spears to lowly pickaxes and weaponry, they were never strangers to combating monsters that roamed the wild. But even as swiftly as they could be dispatched, monsters were always a threat to civilization no matter where they are or what they were.

Prior to their arrival in the caves, the goddesses had thought it most ominous that a mining corporation, even one as distinguished as Deep Rock Gamindustri, possessed a sizable armory of guns and dangerous contraptions.

Now they found out why.

Before they knew it, the dozens became handful. Then a trickle with the defeated remains dissipating into light. The last vestiges of the swarm continued with their attack, not realizing how futile it was as the four miners turned what was a battle into a mop-up.

As Blanc lowered her pickaxe, she noticed the daylight from Neptune's flare waning. But even as the shadows slowly returned, she found no more beasts to worry about. "I think that's the last of them."

Popping off one last shot, Noire took a breather as she reloaded. "I think so too."

"Is everyone alright?"

"Yeah. We just had our first run-in with those things," reported Noire as she confirmed with a quick glance that all were without a scratch. "But we got them all… and some goodies too."

"Excellent. Please resume the mission when you are ready. The quota is partially complete."

Lowering her weapon, Noire took stock of her surroundings. With all the monsters slain their bodies had already vanished, but the memories of their eight-legged appearances remained fresh in her mind. They were unlike anything they had ever encountered. Even compared to the colorful hosts of creatures and enemies roaming about - jello-like dogoos, creatures of neon-light, robots, and even dragons - the glyphids stood out with their unsettling alien-like appearance. She could still recall their fanged mouths devoid of any eyes and their insect-like movement.

But she cleared her head of those thoughts. Easy as it was to dispatch a mob of them, it was clear that they were the threat plaguing the mines. She, like all the other CPUs who fought by her side so often, had faced down ancient evil, deities mad with power, and other world-/dimension-ending catastrophes on multiple occasions. These subterranean critters will not be an insurmountable obstacle.

With their positions now secure, Noire took the opportunity to review her equipment. Her eyes quickly fell on her sentry as it scanned for potential targets that were no longer around. With a proud smile, she patted her automated turret. "Who's a good little machine? (Sorry I called you 'crap'.) You and I did good work out there!"

"Ahem. I think I did the most," asserted Vert as she shouldered her minigun away. "I do have the biggest gun after all."

"Yeah, to compensate for everything else," snarked the Lastation CPU. "If it's a contest, I'd get the most kills because I have my sentry for help!"

"Relying on a machine to do your hard work? I'd never thought I'd hear you admit that, Noire. If anything, you'd only get half the credit."

"Buzz off you gun-toting slack-off! Shooting things are all you'll be good for down here."

"Hey Noire!"

The black-haired girl could only sigh with exasperation as she turned. "What is it now, Neptune?"

"Ooga-booga!" exclaimed the girl who shoved her face before Noire's, her scary (and silly) expression framed in contortion of light and shadow. So sudden it was that even one as straight-laced as Noire recoiled in fright.

"AHHH!" she screamed before a gunshot boomed out.

Now it was Neptune's turn to be frightened as she retreated away from the smoking barrel of Noire's shotgun. Her eyes wide and white as dinner plates undersold how close she was to catching errant buckshot to the cranium. "H-h-heh, e-easy Noire…"

"Don't scare me like that!" hollered the black-haired goddess. "Especially in a place as dark as this, where we're miles below the surface, from any civilization, surrounded by a ton of creepy-crawlies, and- AHH!"

She whirled around in frantic scramble but found nothing. "W-what was that?! What touched me just now?!"

As the three edged away from the hysterical deity (especially one armed with a shotgun), they all stared nervously at Noire. "Um…"

"Uh, Noire? Don't touch your head."

"My head…?" repeated their engineer. "Just what is…"

Her eyes went wide the instant her fingers graced something on her head that wasn't hair. Something gooey, sticky, and smelly…

"Ah… AHHHHH! Ew ew ew ew ew ew get it off, get it off!"

As mad screaming echoed throughout the cavern (the likes of which only happened once when Noire's secret cosplaying was exposed), Neptune could only look aside in apprehension. "So that's what the smell was… bat dung. Never change, Neplunker; never change…"

"... wash up with every shampoo I can find a-and- Oh no, I did step in it! It's all over me now~~!"

Over the comms, Histoire had no comment.

The whole tunnel shuddered with a monstrous groan.

Immediately everyone braced as the entire cave shook, the sensation of an earthquake felt on every surface, from every rock. The earth seemed to shudder and churn, like the sleepy doldrums of an ancient god trying to sleep… or trying to awaken.

In a second, the quakes ceased. The vibrations stopped and dust stood still, but the feeling of danger never ceased in the hearts of the four as they cast wary glances at all the cracks that ran like broken veins.

"Sheesh…" complained Neptune. "It's almost like someone really doesn't want us here."

"And that's already on top of every bug that's here," grumbled Blanc as she picked herself up. She brought up the terrain scanner, checking their progress. "There's a bend in the tunnel coming up. The next chamber shouldn't be far ahead."

Peering ahead, Neptune could see there was indeed a turn. Resuming the lead, she readied another flare in her hand. Coming around the corner, she threw it out, expecting another light-filled corridor. What she got was something more unexpected.

She watched as the flare's glow filled the room as it fell through the air. And it kept falling - falling, falling, falling until it finally hit rock bottom, revealing a shocking pit below. Looking over the edge, Neptune saw that their path was a jagged chasm. And their exit was on the other side.

Her expression was shared by the rest as they peered down into the pit. Neptune gulped at the fissure that lay in their path. "So like… how do we get across this?"

Blanc sighed as she consulted her terrain scanner. "From the looks of things, I might be able to carve a path around. Might take a while…"

With great anticipation, Vert reached for her zipline gun. "Oh! What about-"

Noire brushed past her with impatience. "To hell with this." Pulling out a lanky orange and black tubular cannon, she quickly checked her grip. Finding the rear cylinder spinning quietly to signal operation, Noire took aim. Blobs of orange were punted from the wide-rimmed muzzle whereupon they expanded from the impact, flattening into wide discs and hardening in an instant thanks to the chemical make-up of the concrete-like material. Within seconds, an improvised bridge was formed.

"... Well, what're you waiting for?! Let's get across!" commanded Noire who swept her hand to her handiwork.

Once again, their gunner was made to quietly accept her denied moment to shine.

Neptune pondered with fascination at the artificial platforms but her curiosity also came with skepticism. "Are we sure they'll work? I don't know what they're made of, but-"

An elbow from behind gave her a sharp jab on her back. Neptune teetered forward onto the bridge but to her amazement, it held up. Her startlement melted into astonishment as it even passed her impromptu test of hopping up and down. "Holy moly, it does work!"

Noire rolled her eyes. "Of course it would work, it's plastcrete after all! Now are we going to get moving or are we going to sit here?"

Spurred by the assurance of the bridge material, Blanc and Vert followed Noire with the M.U.L.E. trailing behind. At the front, Neptune was still impressed by the orange material, the color and texture reminding her too much like a wheel of cheese. In fact…

"Hey, do you think this even tastes like cheese?"

"Are you stupid? This is basically concrete - you know, cement. No way will it taste even anywhere like cheese and don't even try! So put your pickaxe away!"

"Okay, fine…" groaned the Planeptune CPU in disappointment. Then another thought popped in her head. "We can still break this stuff if we wanted to, right?"

"... Why are you even asking that right now?" complained the black-haired goddess.

Neptune quickly turned away with a renewed pep in her step. "Just wondering~!" ('Don't even do it don't even do it, be still my intrusive thoughts!')

Finding her feet back onto solid earth, Neptune was relieved to continue the exploration. Now back into the swing of things, she resumed the cycle of leading the group through the light of glowing flares.

The pattern then struck a snag when, as she readied for yet another flare to banish the darkness, Neptune turned the corner to see it already done for her. She stopped to marvel at the new sight that awaited them as yet another surprise by the caves.

"Ooh! Glowy crystals!"

The group paused to behold a family of great poles of bright blue minerals jutting from the up high and down below, bathing the rocky passageway in serene light. Their glow in the dark caverns made for a dazzling sight that instilled comfort. With the luxury of natural light, the CPUs gravitated close towards them.

Neptune approached a pillar of solid light with pickaxe in eager hands. "They glow! They're making bright light on their own! That means they're worth something, right?"

"Slow down, Neptune. They're not that unnatural," reined in Blanc who kept her expression cool. "They're glowing blue crystals; you seen them in practically every cave. They glow simply because… well, because it's what they do."

"Yeah, you see these kind of crystals up in Gamindustri too," added Noire. "Ever been to Vekter Cave over at Lastation? It's a tourist spot in part thanks to all the glowing crystals you'd see."

The mundane truth sucked all the air out of Neptune's sails. "Awww… and I was hoping it was something new."

"Hehe. I wouldn't have mind if they were a new discovery either," Vert remarked as she marveled at the majesty of the blue glow, familiar as it was.

"That'd be nice - bring back something even if it's just to look pretty," Noire admitted. "But we're getting distracted. If there's nothing we need to get here, then let's keep moving."

Resuming the expedition, the team found themselves seeing more of the glowing crystals protruding from surfaces. Their light mirrored off of smooth skins of mundane marble columns and sharp-edged quartz to create a mystifying and attractive aura.

At the front, Neptune couldn't help but let her eyes wander at them. With their paths lit up by ambience, she felt no need to keep tossing flares to guide them (they had pockets full of them but they don't grow on trees). And from the natural glow, Neptune saw no trace of the hostile glyphids even as she paid careful attention to the ceiling and walls. The many cracks and recesses were vacant save for peculiar chimneys of bubbly rock and the occasional sighting of a giant worm wriggling around.

"Ugh. Why do the worms have to be so big?"

Noire kept a grip on her weapon as she eyed the ugly gray-skinned grubs. "They don't seem to care about us. But eugh…"

"Still more of the glowing blue crystals," called out Vert. "We must be in the more picturesque part of the system."

Blanc confirmed the sighting, wondering how much more they would find. But she narrowed her eyes. "Something's a bit off…"

"Maybe this should be another tourist spot," joked Neptune as she continued walking. "'Neplunker: Crystalline Cavern Tours' sponsored by Deep Rock Gamindustri, shooting gallery optional. Heh, come to think of it, did anyone bring a camera?"

"... Wait, Neptune-!"

"Huh? What is it? Wha- ErBebRebrEbreBr!"

Everyone flinched as their scout inadvertently waltzed straight into arcing electricity. Lightning framed Neptune's silhouette in harsh flashes as untold amount of voltage found itself given an unexpected conduit in the form of an oblivious girl. The lightning abated, finally freeing the frazzled Neptune from its grasp. She fell backward dazed and given a new tan.

Noire was upon her in an instant, hastily dragging her back away. "Neptune! Neptune, are you alright?"

The lilac-haired girl twitched before she sputtered back awake. "... Wow, that was tingly! You should try it, Noire."

"Yeah, looks fun… Not. Just what the hell was that?"

"D-did something happen?"

The Lowee goddess examined the situation. Ahead of them lay blue crystals, yet even as they appeared to be so Blanc knew otherwise. She studied them with scrutiny, knowing that despite looking benign there was one key difference.

"They're not ordinary glowing crystals - they're something else. These ones send off electricity to and from each other!"

"Oh dear. Is Neptune alright?"

"Yep! I'm A-okay! Just a little… shocked! Hehe… ow."

Vert scanned for a solution. But with only one way to go, it meant there was no alternative but through the blue crystals, now regarded with suspicion and utmost caution. "It seems we have no other option but to force our way through these electro-crystals."

Blanc nodded grimly and as she looked through her inventory, something gave her food for thought.

"Alright, here's what I'm going to do…"

Hunkered behind an outcropping (and their deployed M.U.L.E.), Noire, Vert, and Neptune watched as Blanc inched closer and closer to the electro-crystals. They sat inert save for the occasional beam of static, the flashing light making it clear just how thick the web of electricity was.

Blanc nudged herself until the nearest crystal began fizzling. Thankful that she was deemed not conducive enough to be ensnared by the crystals, she decided this was the closest she can get and enacted her plan. In her hand she raised a brick-shaped block. At first glance the object could be mistaken as a battery or an over-engineered game cartridge but upon flicking a switch that conceived a rapidly-flashing red light and a beep, its true nature was made evident.

Taking a breath, Blanc took aim before she threw the device forward amid the nest of the shocking rocks. She bolted away, a remote in her other hand. "Explosives placed! Take cover!"

She scurried behind a rock and pressed the button. A great explosion rang out, waves of hot air whipping past with debris and dust that washed over the cavern. The cave itself bucked from containing the thunder that boomed within its confines.

When the dust settled, heads tentatively poked out. Where there was once a natural mouth in the cave, there was now only a carved crater. A void filled the place of arcing electricity, the shattered remains of the electro-crystals strewn about like pieces of glass.

Satisfied, Blanc stood up and dusted herself off. "Well that worked. We can move on without problems."

"Good going, Blanc," Noire complimented. "Now let's proceed!"

Climbing over the charred crater, the team advanced to the next stage. Neptune resumed leading the way, though she now viewed any blue glow with more care lest she repeat the earlier shocking experience. But it wasn't long before she stumbled upon yet another new find.

She skidded to a stop before a new glowing aura. "Woah, another glowing crystal! But it's… red?"

"Hey don't get too close," warned Noire. "I've never seen anything like it. It could be dangerous."

Vert kept her distance but a tingling sense gave her doubt. "And yet… there's a peculiar aroma coming from it."

"Is there?" *Sniff-sniff* "Wow you're right. There's something sweet from this thing."

Noire could only stare in disbelief. "Are you out of your mind? Maybe it's some kind of lure to get your guard down."

Pushing past Neptune, Blanc reached towards it with her pickaxe. The blade wandered close to the glowing red crystal eliciting no reaction. Still not convinced, she gently poked at it causing a portion to break off to the surprise of everyone. Neptune scooped up the broken part, the piece slowly crumbling even in her grip.

"What a weak crystal," she remarked.

"I don't think it might even be one. I just tapped it…"

But the sweet scent lingered and in her hand the smell only grew stronger. Up close, the red mineral reminded Neptune of something, and with that hypothesis…

Expressions from both Blanc and Noire turned horrified. "N-Neptune! Don't just stick that thing in your mouth! That's gross!"

To Neptune's startlement, the red mineral crunched readily in her cheeks like candy. In fact, it even tasted like one - sweet, scrumptious, and absolutely delectable, like pure sugar to rival the very nectar of gods! So amazed by the taste that she couldn't help but express it aloud.

"Woah! You got to try this, guys!"

Seeing their companion's expression of ecstasy, Blanc and Vert took their chunks of the red crystal. Like before the chunks broke off with little effort, even shedding fine powder in both of their palms as they studied the mysterious but seemingly benevolent resource.

Vert was the next to try it, becoming promptly taken aback by its flavor. "My, my! This truly is something marvelous!"

Blanc quietly munched on her portion, her expression blank but full of serenity. "I think… I could eat this forever if I wanted to…"

Seeing the two be in bliss, Noire felt the allure to try it herself. Unable to stand being the odd one out, she caved in. "F-fine. I'll take one." Snapping off a piece for herself (making sure to slip her glove off beforehand for sanitary reasons), Noire was about to pop it in her mouth before she hesitated, wondering just what the heck she was thinking by taking a chunk of underground rock to eat.

She weighed the risks, caught in the crossroads of temptation and restraint before settling with a timid lick. Her furrowed brow eased up in an instant as a pleasant taste graced her senses. "Damn this really is good…"

Off to the side, Neptune snickered. "Ooh, guess we know how Noire likes it. So sensual~."

The twintailed goddess's cheeks became as red as the tasty gem. "S-s-shut it! You saw nothing!"

"Okay, whatever you say," chuckled the purple-haired girl. With the good spirits winding down, she stretched her back and shoulders. "Woooo, that was good… In fact, I even feel good; better than last time."

"Maybe this crystal heals while tasting delicious," suggested Blanc. "Or at least, puts your mind at ease."

"Hmm, an interesting discovery. Perhaps there is merit in investigating this 'red crystal' and its supposed healing properties further. Feel free to collect some samples so they may be studied."

The idea was met with full approval from Vert. "I can't wait to sprinkle this in my tea!"

"Or mix it into chocolate bars," added their petite driller. "And when they sell, it'll be an instant top product! A chocolate bar unlike any the world has seen or dreamt of! There'll be a wonderful factory to make use of this crucial ingredient, overseen by a whimsical and eccentric entrepreneur, and…"

"I think we all know what you're referencing there, Blanc," Neptune anxiously cut in. "Allow me to chime in before your idea gets struck down by copyright."

With the last scraps of the red sugar-like crystal collected, the team resumed their journey. The tunnel lead them further down a winding path that twisted and turned like a scrunched-up string until it ended. Amid cool-faced rock, a patch of loose compact dirt marked the extent of the tunnel.

But not of the cave system. Taking her cue Blanc went ahead, her twin drills already in hand. "I got this."

*Chugga-chugga-chugga-chugga-chugga!*

Loose earth dispersed into dust and speck against the mechanical brawn of industrial drill bits, offering scant resistance as Blanc carved the way. When the dirt ceased spraying did she recognize that she had reached empty air - the path was made.

The four stepped inside to find another darkened cavern. Weapons at the ready, they waited as Neptune took aim with her flare gun. "Wakey-wakey!"

Light of a star was summoned above their heads, flooding the chamber with light. In an instant the interior revealed itself to be vast, the ceiling arched and high, the ground descending into a pitted bowl, and with walls promising more within its shadows and inlets. But what they did share was a wealth of patterns and colors, marble spikes and quartz dazzling among strips of teal, blue, and even gold.

Everyone fell into awe. Hearts leapt at the sight of variety and its abundance. There was no doubt that they had done it - they had found the motherload.

Neptune shot off with her grappling hook. "Last one in is the D-ranked miner!"

The three goddesses scrambled forward. "Hey!"

And the race was on, sounds of tinkering pickaxes filling the cave like a rising choir. The four spread out amongst themselves, each seeking a portion of the earth to chip, chisel, and dig away. Pieces of rock tumbled from each blow like rain, bringing with them pieces of the spoils not already stuffed into their sacks.

Noire hauled her load, never minding the trip required to drag it back to the M.U.L.E. "Morkite! There's more than enough morkite we need to complete the quota!"

"And that's on top of everything else," agreed Blanc as she busily yanked precious minerals loose from the ground. A collection of hollomite, dystrum, and morkite sat in her container, awaiting eager retrieval from the depths. But of the goods found, nothing twinkled more than gold.

"Gold, gold, gold~!" happily sang Neptune. "We're gonna be rich! No wonder gamers love to collect things. It's their second nature to get anything they can."

"Oh this is heaven to me, you know," replied Vert as she became one with her pickaxe, scouring the rocks for loot. As she dug into hardened stone with the determination of a hungry predator searching for a feast, it slowly occurred to her that the particular rock she was excavating was exhibiting a faint green glow. Curious, she continued digging until, when she pried away a slab, she was greeted with brilliant glow.

The light could not be ignored as even the other three felt the emerald radiance behind their backs. "Wow, what is that?"

Adjusting to the light, Vert lowered her arms to find a great hunk that burned bright green. "I don't know. I've never seen anything like it."

Blanc's eyes slowly widened with realization. "Wait. If I'm not mistaken, that's jadiz! That's purified jadiz right there!"

"Um, is it any good?" inquired Neptune. "It glowing really green is giving me bad vibes. (It's safe to be even near it, right?)"

"Valuable is valuable," asserted Noire. "Let's take it with us."

The Leanbox goddess complied. Recognizing it to be too big for her bucket, she carefully lifted it in her arms, feeling its dense weight. Up close, Vert could hear the jadiz audibly hum with energy as she made her way to the M.U.L.E. With a grunt, she heaved it into the open chute, gingerly slipping it through the entryway. To her surprise, the whole thing (which was roughly the length of her arm) was able to fit inside amid all of their findings with no problem. A cursory examination of the M.U.L.E.'s dimensions only compounded that mystery.

'Where do all the minerals fit inside?'

"Good work, everyone! Morkite quota met."

Hearing this, a celebratory cheer erupted from Neptune. "Woohoo! Nice job, everyone. Victory for the Rock Rangers!"

As she struck an exaggerated pose, Noire could only gawk at her in bafflement. "'Rock Rangers'?! What makes you think we're some kind of corny team?"

"Isn't it obvious? We're so look like the typical sentai hero team - we even got the outfits to match!"

Noire flustered, reminded of the fact that she, like everyone else, was donned in rugged jumpsuits decked with gear and decorated with their associated colors - green for Vert, white for Blanc, purple for Neptune, and black for herself. "N-no we don't!"

"Come on, Noire. I wanna see you pose! Show off a little, I know you want to!"

"Ahem!" sharply interrupted Histoire. "Now that the primary objective has been accomplished, the next step will be crucial so pay close attention. In order to get you and the M.U.L.E. out, the drop pod will be sent down. However, we cannot accurately acquire its exact position to drop the pod close by. So when you send the signal, it is imperative that you reach the drop pod with all haste before it leaves!"

Hearing the next troubles awaiting them, the goddesses exchanged looks. Coming down was the easy part; the voyage, though fraught with dangers could be overcome with the tools and skills they possessed. And now came the time for their brief excursion near the center of the earth to end and for them to return to the surface. They were quite some ways from home but where oceans or dimensions could be crossed, the long stretches of earth would not be so simple.

Their vehicle which delivered them here was their only ticket out. They would do well not to miss it.

Without a word, everyone readied their weapons. Neptune checked her Deepcore's magazine, Noire confirmed a shell in her Warthog's chamber, Blanc kept her Cryo Cannon close at hand, and Vert glanced at her Lead Storm's ammo counter.

On the M.U.L.E.'s backside, a chute was switched out for a great conspicuous red button. "When you are prepared, press the button on the M.U.L.E. to summon the drop pod."

The four CPUs exchanged looks again. "Okay. Ready?"

"Ready," they chanted in unison.

The button was pressed. A purring whirr came as an acknowledgement to the next phase of the mission. There was no turning back now.

Then the cave shook. Everyone braced for another routine quake. Neptune found its occurrence to be all-too convenient. "That had nothing to do with us!... Right?"

"Let's hope not," muttered Blanc. The tremors subsided but she remained too tense to relax. The cave was still again. All was quiet.

Then…

A muffled thud rang through the cavern, vibrations of an impact carried through solid rock. They could not see what it was, but when the M.U.L.E. rose up they didn't need to be told the answer.

"The drop pod has arrived! The cave system has been shaken up so please follow the M.U.L.E. - it will lead you to it!"

True to the Oracle's word, the robot began marching away back to the mouth of the tunnel they came through. A series of green holographic arrows marked its trail as it walked off to a destination only it knew.

Noire wasted no time gesturing to everyone. "Come on! Let's get out of here."

"Rock Rangers, let's bring it all home!" whooped Neptune as the team pursued their mechanical companion.

"We are not the Rock Rangers!"

The scout tried to think as she jogged after the M.U.L.E. "Okay… How about 'Spelunker Squad'?"

"No that's not any better!"

"'Cave Crew'? 'Geo Gang'? Do you think any of our readers would be fine with us using 'Rock Raiders'? Would they even know where it's from?"

"Neptune, will you shut up?!"

A faint roar echoed through the mines. All thoughts vanished upon hearing the guttural bellow from the dark.

"Um, everyone… It seemed that the drop pod's arrival has again sent reverberations throughout the system. Underground activity has intensified! My scanners indicate that the glyphid population is now fully aware of your presence and are converging upon the drop pod!"

"... Shit," Blanc cursed.

"Return to the drop pod as quickly as you can! It will depart in T-minus 5 minutes!"

"Move it!"

The team raced through the tunnels as fast as their feet could carry them. Their breaths too were in a race of their own as they tried to keep up with the goddesses' haste. Everything was a race against time.

Green markings continued to guide them like breadcrumbs, the source just out of reach as it barely outpaced them. The goddesses followed both the M.U.L.E.'s trail and that of their own spent flares, landmarks of familiar ground.

Then the trail took an unexpected turn into the unfamiliar as the M.U.L.E. slipped into a great fracture that was never there before.

"Wait for us~!" wailed Neptune who chased after it with outstretched arms. Everyone tried to pick up the pace until sounds of upturned rock came up around them.

Emerging from the earth, the glyphids snarled at the fleeing miners. Pincers and teeth were swiftly met with bullets and blade as the deities continued running. Between fleeing and fighting, they would have to do both.

Slipping into the side passage taken by their automaton, a quick flare showed the way. Neptune spotted the M.U.L.E.'s trail as it went up a ledge. "Up there!" she called out.

With a running start, she ascended with a jump. "Like a kangaroo!" The other three followed after her example, mounting up the short obstacle with little trouble (to the fault of the assortment of gear that was on their backs). But there was hardly any chance to catch a breather before they continued the escape, anxious to catch up to the M.U.L.E.

Ahead, movement in the darkness drew their attention. Silhouettes of glyphids warned them of an oncoming swarm. Raising her assault rifle, Neptune fired upon them, muzzle flash lighting her way in sporadic glimpses. The creatures encroached upon the Planeptune goddess but the shout of shotgun blasts warded them off.

As Neptune and Noire cleared the way up front, the growls of more glyphids from behind became the concern of Vert and Blanc. Catching them give chase in the corner of her vision, the Lowee CPU whirled around to let loose with her Cryo Cannon. A snow-white gale buried their pursuers, freezing those caught. Yet the swarm was determined to push through, their tenacity answered by a hose of gunfire courtesy of Vert.

The minigun let out a long and continuous rip as it covered the rear passageway in lead. Their gunner maintained the storm of bullets as she slowly backed away, her concentration devoted to mowing down their pursuers wherever they appeared. The barrage grew hot, the bullets flooding out even hotter until-

Smoke and steam spilled from her gun. The weapon suddenly stopped working as a burning red heat sink popped from the top to desperately eject heat.

The gunner in green looked upon her disabled weapon with heartbreak. "Ah! No not the red ring, why now?!"

"Vert, c'mon!"

With a yelp she took flight as the swarm continued their advance, their numbers formidable even after the barrage. Seeing the glyphid horde hot on their heels, the goddesses could only run.

Neptune and Noire burst through the opening and like moths, their eyes became drawn to lights that signaled salvation. "There it is!"

"Drop pod departing in T-minus 3 minutes," reported Histoire. "It's just within reach!"

Relishing the grand sight of their escape vehicle with its twin floodlights sweeping the armored hatch like eyes, they were anxious to finish the last stretch. But in her impatience, Noire's foot landed in empty air. Neptune yanked their engineer back just in time before she stepped over the ledge. Noire's heart skipped from the close shave. Peering down into the chasm, only the endless darkness stared back. The rift in the ground stretched to the sides, offering no recourse for the crew.

Vert and Blanc skidded to stop as they panted. But the final obstacle stole what remained of their breath as they gandered at it with their own eyes.

"... You have got to be shitting with me," their driller muttered.

Neptune quickly looked around but found that the green trail had not misled them. "W-where's the M.U.L.E.?"

Following the arrows, the answer began to sour as they went along the wall, then up to the ceiling. There the CPUs gawked at the sight of their stout-legged machine scamper among stalactites without a care in the world.

Noire glared at its agility with outrage. "Oh come on! That's so cheap!"

"Platforms!" Blanc blurted out. "We need a bridge!"

Noire fumbled for her platform gun but the sounds of incoming roars instilled her with dread. "They'll get us first before that happens…" she glumly admitted, beholding the vast width and depth of the fissure with worry. Between them and the sheer drop, their options were rapidly dwindling - time, even more so.

But not all was yet lost. As she stashed her minigun away, Vert produced their final hope rested in her hands. "Then let's use this!"

Shouldering the zipline gun and taking aim, she fired off a cable. The harpoon-like spear impaled itself into dense earth and the rope that followed it became taut, its other end secured by a mooring.

"Get across. Hurry!" Vert urged as she stowed the tool away and exchanged it for a mechanical clip that clasped to the heavy-duty cable like a magnet. With a hop she was away, the clip taking her over the chasm. Noire, Blanc, and Neptune earnestly followed her lead in time to dodge the snapping jaws of their pursuers. The zipline carried the combined weight of the goddesses without even a sag in the cable and while the mechanical clasps carried them automatically, the journey was slow. Even though the motorized clips were securely attached to their harness, Noire couldn't help but cling to it with her own hands. Her feet hung suspended over the bottomless pit, over the endless black that lead to the center of the earth, and if for whatever reason she was to fall…

She shivered, scolding herself for looking down.

Mass gunfire signaled the return of Vert's minigun as she laid down fire. Dangling solely from the attached clip from the zipline, she swayed from the recoil, the tracers spitting nearly everywhere. But the wild fire was met with no complaints, the goddesses all-too gratified to hear the roar of the machine gun. Taking inspiration, Noire and Neptune followed suit, shotgun and assault rifle in action to swat down the glyphids wherever they were. Wanting to contribute in some way, Blanc sighed as she dug out a dinky little Subata 120 pistol from the depths of her belt pocket, the time having arrived for the diminutive afterthought to shine.

They covered their steady retreat through energetic fire, the bugs continuing their pursuit through all means necessary as their numbers flooded through every opening, every crevice, and everywhere.

Neptune couldn't believe her eyes as she saw them emerge from all sorts of places. "They're in the walls - They're coming out of the goshdarn walls!"

"The ceiling!" Looking up, the four witnessed the horde crawl after them, the very path their M.U.L.E. took now the creatures' greatest concentration. Even the very machine that was their escort, still en route overhead, seemed to be leading the bugs straight to them. Blanc cursed at the terrible irony.

Vert raised her aim to the pursuing bugs until she sensed her feet touch earth once more. Detaching herself from the zipline, she was pleased to see that it had deposited them right in front of the drop pod. Ramp down and outer shell open, escape was within reach. "Everyone, get in!"

"Drop pod departing in T-minus 2 minutes."

The four hopped off from the rope to make a break for the waiting vehicle, relieved to have made it. But as they crowded by the entryway, a new problem arose. The blast doors were wide open yet the final layer of mesh-layered gate sat still and unmoving.

"Hey, open up!" cried Neptune. "We're right here!"

Noire grunted as she clawed at the barrier, frantic to see sanctuary just a step away. "Let us in! LET US IN!"

"Screw this…" growled Blanc as she readied her pickaxe in a threatening manner, her eyes shrouded in shadow save for a murderous aura.

As Vert joined the huddle by the hatch, she heard the steady pitter-patter of the M.U.L.E. as it too finally arrived. Marching ever so calmly around the side of the pod, it then stopped before it floated up towards an extended armature. Reeling it in through unseen force, the crane-like arm docked with the M.U.L.E. and began to tuck it in.

A clang was heard from within the escape vehicle, oblivious to Blanc's ears as she held her pickaxe high over her head. "Alright you bastard door. Take-"

Suddenly the door slid open and a body shoved them all forward. All four piled inside in a heap. Having accomplished in pushing everyone inside, Vert exhaled in relief. "We're in at last!"

"Acknowledged! M.U.L.E. docked and all hands accounted for."

As the multi-layered doors snapped and sealed shut from the caves outside, the confines brought with it the aura of reprieve. The team collectively sighed in weariness, glad to have made it safe.

"Retrieving the drop pod. Please hold on to something."

The vehicle lurched up with a start before it rose like an elevator. Then it picked up speed… and then more until it zoomed off like a rocket. Debris banged against the pod's surface as it throttled back up to the surface with the same speed and intensity as it had delivered them before.

Still tangled in the uncomfortable pile on the ground, the four goddesses could only cling to each other for their dear lives in the hellish express trip up.

A great winch whirred and growled, spinning feverishly as it a great thick cord flew by in a blur. Then the pace began to slow, the vigorous motors slackening with a winding purr.

From the bottom of the cratered quarry, a great cylindrical canister was pulled from a hole. Dust trickled from the drop pod as the industrial crane reeled it in like a fisherman hauling his big catch. With the vehicle now returned from the depths, it was then ferried along overhead rails where a great metallic building awaited it. Twin doors trundled open with squeaky creaks to welcome the pod inside before they closed shut.

Returning to its dock, the drop pod stopped by an elevated catwalk where Histoire awaited. As clamps held the vehicle in place, their security gave permission for the blast doors to slide open. Pressurized air hissed out as the internal atmosphere acclimated with the surface.

"Welcome back, everyone!" happily greeted Histoire. "And a job well-

"... Um, everyone?"

Praise prepared by the Oracle trailed off as she beheld the sight of the four goddesses sprawled in a mess, expressions in stupor and eyes in spirals.

But in spite of their state, they had all arrived safe and sound. Histoire could never deny that. A gentle smile looked over the four guardian deities who had ruled the land - as competitors, rivals, saviors, friends. Never a dull moment for Gamindustri, so long as the goddesses found new sights to see, new history to write, and new stories to tell.

And no matter what, they would be together.

"Good work, everyone. DRG - and Gamindustri - will have much to look forward to in the coming days."

Assignment 1 - Crystalline Caverns
Objective: Secure Morkite Quota
Mission Status: COMPLETE

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Yet another crossover idea conjured in the depths of my mind. I've written some stories for Neptunia in the past before moving onto other projects but have since revisited the franchise so it's been on my mind. Combined with me getting into Deep Rock Galactic, a thought popped to combine the two in a peculiar alchemy. We'll see how it goes.

While this is a crossover between two unlikely game franchises, part of the fun in formulating ideas was to try and merge recognizable elements between them. Neplunker was a location first introduced in Megadimension Neptunia VII and immediately proved an ideal setpiece for the Hoxxes substitute, especially with how intentionally challenging Neplunker was ingame (sidenote, it still triggers me). The thing about the CPUs being unable to transform from the first chapter was a simple justification on why the goddesses would need to use DRG weaponry and equipment, including pickaxes. Also from the first chapter the little mention of the caves shifting around was an attempt to explain why the drop pod would leave after the team arrives (as well as allude to DRG's procedural level generation).

The fic will also incorporate some classic DRG-related jokes and gags, such as the M.U.L.E./Molly's behavior which the dwarves so often bring up in their voice lines and how much the gunner's ziplines get looked down upon. There will be more references down the line (including the obvious ones) so stay tuned.

With that said, there'll be some deviations that you will recognize if you play the game. Besides the absence of dwarves, expect some of the gameplay rhythms and elements to be treated with, shall we say, "realism". Minor things like regular flares being in finite amounts (they just carry a lot of them) are just the tip of the iceberg. The drop pod also being pulled up by a cable (a really long one) is both because they're not operating from an orbiting space station and also to partly explain why/how the drop pod can lift off without obvious means of propulsion. Cave traversal will also be more methodical and strategic to adapt gameplay into a written narrative.

Up next, a little downtime to explore the base and repercussion of their first successful mission! The caves of Neplunker will only grow more challenging from here.