Snyderverse Neptunia Snippets
by Derald Snyder
Snippet 35- Community Service, So To Speak
Timeline- Somewhere after 'Law & Order: Leanbox'.
*At the local prison's visiting room...*
Samantha Lisand, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit with handcuffs on her wrists, walked in and sat down at the table. Across from her was a mildly handsome man with short brown hair, a medium build, and iron discipline in his mouth, dressed in a black suit and tie with sunglasses on his face. "Miss Lisand, I presume?"
"Who are you and what do you want?" Samantha cut to the chase.
"You may call me Agent Malkovich, from the Leanbox Guild," the man introduced himself. "We've reviewed your case and your history, and I have been sent to make you an offer: community service in lieu of jail time, so to speak."
"Oh, really?" the blonde raised an eyebrow, looking him over. "...You're former military yourself, aren't you?"
"Good eye, milady," Malkovich affirmed, pulling off his sunglasses, revealing stern grey eyes. "Used to serve as a commander, before getting wounded saving a soldier's life. So now I work as an investigator for the Guild. As you've probably already surmised, I was sent to recruit you due to our similar backgrounds..."
"You remind me of my old CO," Samantha stated. "I resigned the army when he left his own brother to die, 'for the sake of the mission', as he put it," she spat with disgust. "But then we met up a few years later, realizing we were working the same case, so to speak... but every member of the squadron save one were killed, and my CO gave his life to save mine. And I was only prevented from being arrested and court-martialed due to said lone survivor vouching for me..." She sighed and shook her head. "What is wrong with me, baring my soul to a stranger like this..."
"Perhaps it's an effect of cabin fever, from being cooped up in prison," Agent Malkovich shrugged. "In all seriousness, your talents as a hunter are too great for them to go to waste here in jail... you would be a valuable asset to us, milady."
"What about my suit and arm cannon?" Samantha pointed out. "They were confiscated by the police as evidence..."
"We'll get that taken care of, don't worry."
"Right... so what's the catch?" the blonde narrowed her eyes.
"Put simply, you will belong to us," Malkovich replied. "You'll be tracked at all times, you go where we tell you, sleep where we tell you. And disobeying orders- without damn good reason- will land you right back here to serve out your sentence, with no hope for early parole. But hopefully, being former military, you would be disciplined enough to know better..."
Lisand was was silent for a minute, her eyes closed in thought. (He's right that I'm starting to suffer from cabin fever... some freedom would be better than none at all...) Her eyes then opened. "...All right, I accept. On one condition..."
"And that is?" the agent raised an eyebrow.
"I want you as my handler," Samantha stated. "If you're a former military commander, then taking orders from you should be easier to handle..."
"I see," Malkovich gave a slight smile. "I'll have to discuss that with my superiors, but I have a sneaking suspicion that your condition is what they desired in the first place..." He stood up, Samantha following suit. "If everything works out, you should be out of here in about a week, and then we can get the details of your... contract worked out. Any objections, lady?"
"No, sir," Samantha responded, the two shaking hands to affirm their agreement.
"Please... call me Adam."
*And so, about a week and a half later...*
Samantha Lisand strode through the halls of Leanbox Guild HQ, her blonde ponytail bobbing with her steps, now dressed in a form-fitting light blue catsuit with Leanbox's sigil imprinted over the right breast. Making a right, she pushed through the doors to the garage where the Guild's cars and tools were kept... "Mechanic, is my suit ready?"
"Yes, ma'am!" the NPC nodded. "All systems functional, energy tanks at 100%."
"Excellent. Let's do this." The chamber opened...
Her right arm slid into the bulky green cannon, which promptly lit up.
Dull orange-colored armored boots clanked on the concrete floor.
And lastly, a red helmet was slid over her head, the visor lighting up with a green hue.
Just then, Adam Malkovich walked into the garage, having swapped his suit and tie for a field jacket, cap and jeans. "Lady, are we ready to..." he trailed off as he beheld the powered armorsuit with bulky shoulders walking toward him. Seeing it in storage was one thing, but to see it occupied and moving... "Well, it, ah, certainly makes you look taller, doesn't it, Lady?"
"Now you see why so many mistake me for a man," Samantha deadpanned. "I assume we're ready to head out?"
"Yes, right this way," Adam nodded. "I feel the need to reiterate, we need the suspect brought in alive, though allowances will be made for any of his subordinates foolish enough get in your path."
"I'll try to keep the casualties down. I got in enough trouble killing one man last time... even if he was an army soldier."
"Very well then, let's move out," Adam ordered, the two heading for the nearby hover-van...
*Snippet 35- End*
A/N: This was actually supposed to be Snippet 36, but I ended up finishing this one first. If you want to see the mission itself, let me know. Also, the next snippet should be the Peach/Uzume rematch.