Neptunia Guild Files: Fate/book one

A Hyperdimension Neptunia Fan Fiction

by Derald Snyder

Section 63: Plan of Attack

*Back at the motel...*

"Does that feel better, Tamamo?" Compa asked as she worked her healing magic on the kitsune's face.

"A little bit," Tamamo grunted in response. "Still feels kinda tender, though..."

"So, Tatsu was killed by the Hassan?" Archer reiterated.

"Only because Caster tackled me out of the way at the last moment," IF sighed, still a little shaken from the close call. "She was also the one who effectively defeated the Hassan by destroying his cursed arm..."

"Although King Hassan had to bail us out when that cursed spirit went on the rampage," Rider appended.

"That guy again?!" Lancer gasped. "What, did he save you 'cause the evening bell didn't toll?!"

"Pretty much," IF nodded. "Being a close friend of the main protagonist of the series has its advantages. Anyway, our informant told us that Kamesh is planning to kill all the other mob bosses at the meeting, most likely so he alone rules Planeptune's underworld..."

"Well, if what I've heard about that new power he's got is even half-true, he could pull it off easily," Lancer said grimly.

"But I'm thinking that the other mob bosses have heard the rumors as well, and will try to come up with contingency plans," Archer mused. "If things go badly, the situation could devolve into a shootout and maybe even outright war in the streets..."

"That would be bad," Cyberconnect2 stated. "So how do we stop that from happening?"

"By stopping the 'meeting' from taking place to begin with," IF replied. "Although, I'm not quite sure how we could do that..."

"Could we not just pull the fire alarm or something?" Nero suggested.

"I don't think that'll work," Archer disagreed. "These guys will be on-edge to begin with, the fire alarm going off might just prompt those with itchy trigger fingers to start shooting..."

"Wait! What if we set off the sprinkler system in that conference room?" Cyberconnect2 snapped her fingers. "And then Tammie could use her magic to turn the water into fog! They won't start shooting if they can't see what they're shooting at!"

"That's brilliant, Cyber!" Tamamo agreed, grinning. "And then Nero can yell at everyone to evacuate if they don't get the hint!"

"Heh, that might just work," Lancer chuckled. "So I guess meanwhile, the rest of us go after Kamesh himself?"

"And I'll be the bait," Rider spoke up. "Since we're already acquainted, I can get him to focus his attention on me while Archer snipes him from behind..."

"And if he misses, I'll throw my spear right at his head!" Lancer added.

"I don't miss," Archer shot back.

"But what if one of his bodyguards takes the arrow?" Lancer countered. "I highly doubt he's gonna be all by himself..."

"Then the rest of us will handle the bodyguards," IF stated. "It's risky, but it's likely our best shot."

"I just hope Kamesh doesn't simply decide to kill Rider for 'betraying' him all those years ago..." Saber fretted.

"Nah, that's not his style," Lancer shook his head. "Any 'problem' ladies, he leaves to his subordinates. Of course, we also gotta remember that Shredder might there too, if Kamesh bothered to bail him out..."

"That could be a potential wrinkle," Archer admitted. "We'll probably just leave him to Saber if he shows up..."

"And I will not falter," Saber vowed.

"Sounds like we have a plan, then," IF affirmed.

"Let's just hope everything works out, desu..." Compa fretted.

*Meanwhile...*

There was a knock at the door of Gil Kamesh's hotel room. "Enter," the mob boss spoke, turning as a few police officers entered, with an unmasked Shredder escorted by them in handcuffs. "Ah, so it seems Saki has failed again... not that I'm too surprised."

"Though we'd cut out the middleman for bail, if ya know what I mean," said the leader of the corrupt cops, rubbing his thumb and fingers together expectantly.

Kamesh heaved a sigh, getting up and going over to a briefcase nearby, unlocking and going through it, pulling out a small stack of bills. "Will this do? I would advise you not to be too greedy..."

"I'll take it," the corrupt cop acquiesced, gesturing to his subordinates, who promptly unlocked Shredder's handcuffs, another handing him his helmet and claws which he promptly donned. Money in hand, the cop said, "Alright, bail's paid. Good doin' business with you. Let's go, boys." With that, he and the others left.

"...Am I to be punished for my failure?" Shredder said hesitantly.

"You were just a distraction this time. Whether you succeeded in killing those Guild agents or not didn't matter," Kamesh spoke. "At least you fared better than your sensei..."

"Tatsu? What happened?" Shredder tensed up.

"Unfortunately, it seems my assassin made a mistake and killed the wrong target, before being taken out by the Guild, or so I heard," Kamesh sighed. "Such a waste. Tatsu still had his uses... but now you will have to step up in his place, as my bodyguard for the meeting in the hotel's ballroom. Surely you can manage that, at least..."

To his credit, Shredder managed to keep his composure at the news, simply bowing from the waist. "As you will, Mr. Gil Kamesh." He then turned and marched out of the hotel room... but once the door had closed, he let out a cry of anger and punched the opposite wall, leaving punctures from his gauntlets. (Damn you, Planeptune Guild...! I swear, I will get revenge, no matter what it takes...!)

"You do realize, any damage you do the the hotel is coming out of your paycheck," Gil's muffled voice called from the other side of the door. Shredder flinched and ducked his head in humiliation, quickly exiting via the stairwell with the classic ninja's speed.

*Section 63- End*

A/N: Oh look, this series isn't quite dead yet. Figured I might as well get this finished before going back to my other projects...