Operation - Retrieval

We have just returned back from Lastation to Planeptune after getting information from Falcom on the whereabouts of the Treasure Gem. The flight back only took three hours. Three hours to devise a plan to get that sword from LAN Castle and hide it from Nepgear and the others.

I made sure that no one here knows I’m not from this dimension, but IF is getting suspicious after the talk with Kei. Knowing information about the Hyperdimension is nice, but I can’t let on knowing too much at this point. I’m surprised that Histoire don’t know that.

Then again, this is the same person that it took her three days to figure out how to bring Neptune back from the Ultradimension.

“Is there something wrong?” Speak of the little devil.

“I’m just thinking about a way to help out.” I replied.

“What do you mean Mak-Mak?” Compa inquired.

“Well…” I started. “I’m not used to fighting a lot. Compared to you three, I’m the weakest in skill and experience unlike IF who works at the guild or Compa who is a nurse and able to patch us up. Despite being held for three years, Nepgear at least knows some swordplay and can transform.”

It’s the honest truth. I have knowledge of swordplay, but I have little strength to use.  In real life, experience trumps theory in every field, including warfare. I’m lucky that the enemies thus far are easy to defeat. Unlike the games, no one here can get a level up.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, “No one can get that strong fast.” IF countered. “Everyone has to start somewhere.”

“I know.” I replied. “It’s getting late, I’m going to sleep. I won’t be able to help in the Virtua Forest Depths if I’m sleep deprived.”

“Oh, let me show you to a guest room.” Nepgear volunteered.

I followed Nepgear to one of the guestrooms as I started planning out how to get to the secret area of LAN Castle. Knowing the layout from the game is one thing, the monsters are another. If I learned anything thus far, the opponents are smarter than their counterparts.

“We’re here.” Nepgears voice brought me out of my thoughts. I looked at the door as she continued, “Do you need anything?

“No thanks.” I smiled. “Some sleep will do just fine.”

“See you in the morning.” She quickly left to join with her friends.

I opened the door to the room. Inside was a single bed, a round coffee table, a desk and a T.V with some systems. I walked in and closed the door. I looked at my watch and saw it was getting pretty late. I looked out the window and looked for a way to escape without getting noticed. Being up a few floors isn’t ideal for my normal escape through a window.

“I’ll wait an hour till they fall asleep.” I muttered to myself.

I decided to sit at the desk to write in my journal. The last thing I want is to lose my memory and say something I shouldn’t have. Bringing it out of my watch, I started to write down in it.

‘Sixth day in Gamindustri so far. Nothing new happened, besides plot. I almost exposed myself after having too much fun poking flaws at Lastation’s oracle. IF is getting suspicious and may think I work with ASIC. I want to tell her the truth, but the future isn’t set in stone if I interfere a lot. I need to get stronger in order to properly help out in fights. For now, the fight with Underling is tomorrow and Red will show up.’ I stopped for a bit and thought of something. ‘I wonder what Red will do seeing how a male is after one of her wiffes, wives I CAN’T SPELL IT! Right now, I’ll rest after the plane ride.’

“And I need to work on my English.” I sighed. “I’ll worry about it after I get out of this mess.” I brought out my PSP and the Lastation handheld consul box, “I should see if the charger works before I leave. Opening the box, I moved the contents to the side until I got the charger. I compared the charger plug to where it goes in my game system. “And it only fits in the PSPgo. Too bad I won’t be able to play my old games. At least I still have music and games from PSN on my PSPgo” I plugged the charger in the wall and connected it to my PSPgo as I put the older system back in my watch.

After two hours passed, I swapped out my leather equipment for a red shirt and black pants and shoes in my hands. With socks on my feet, I quietly opened the door and closed it. Making my way to the elevator, I made sure no one was around to see me awake. Once I made it to the elevator, I entered it and hit the first floor.

“So far so good.” I muttered. The elevator opened to the entrance of the Basilicom. “Now, to get there and back before they wake up.” With that, I left the Basilicom and made my way to LAN castle.


It’s now midnight as I made it to LAN Castle on foot. I equipped the handgun I had bought back in Lastation and quietly made my way inside the castle. The doors creaked as the doors opened. Stealthily, without my shoes on, I wade my way towards the bookcase where the secret hall is. Moving the correct book, a secret passage opened.

“Where the hell are the mobs in this place?” I questioned to no one. “Something’s off here.”

I made my way to the round room where the dull sword laid on the floor as no monsters were around. Without knowing what this sword was, you would never know it grew in power for every goddess killed. I picked up the rusted weapon as I head footsteps behind me.

“You will doom the world…” a ghostly voice whispered. I turned around and saw a female CPU. She had long, silver hair and dull, yellow eyes that were looking at the sword. She had a yellow body suit with some wear and tear. She had no wings on her back and her foot wear was high heels. “You will follow the path of a tyrant.”

I stepped back from the CPU, “I’m not going to do that.” I quickly replied.

“Only those who wish to destroy know where thy blade lies.” She metalized a one handed sword and pointed it at me. “I shell destroy you before the night is over!”

She charged strait at me with killing intend. I narrowly sidestepped out of the way and ran to the adjacent room. While running, I pulled out the gun and fired off a shot towards her chest and another at her legs. While it did hit, the bullets were ineffective towards the unknown CPU. Without a second thought, I put the gun in hammer space and armed myself with the old sword. When my opponent caught up to me, her sword glowed black.

“Take this!” she roared.

Making a slashing motion with her weapon, a wide, dark red, beam of said slash rushed towards me. I ducked underneath it and rushed at her. Taking a swing at her, she deflected it with her own weapon. I moved my stance from an offensive to a defensive one as I was near something more powerful then myself.  She did something I didn’t expect, she roundhouse kicked me, sending me to another room.

*Snap*

“Ack! I broke a bone in my left arm. “I can’t last long like this!”
The goddess walked towards me as I stumbled back up. “Your determination is admirable. But, you’re too weak to defeat me!” Her sword started to glow black again as she pointed it at me. I didn’t have time to dodge this time due to her being at close range.

“This fight ends here!”

I’m woefully underpowered in this one sided fight. Nothing on me can do a dent or can be easily blocked! There is got to be something I can do to at least exploit or I’ve failed in protecting the future! As I was pondering on what to do, I noticed that time went slower. No, I was going faster!

“Die for me!”

Taking a chance, I dived to the right from the attack as the wall was damaged. With sword in hand, I charged at her from the side as she made another slashing motion.

*Slice*

Blood was now dripping onto the floor. My attacker now had a sword going through her chest as I had taken a swing to my left arm. While I still have my arm, I can’t ignore the pain that’s going through my body! Her weapon fell to the ground as she slumped. The sword had its first taste of CUP blood and it probably wants more.

“I’ve…” she moaned in pain. “…failed…” she started to close her eyes. “…you.” Her body went up in a bright white light along with her weapon. Once the light was gone, I was the only one in the room.

“Crap,” I fell to the floor in pain. “While I won, I don’t think I can make it back in time.”

“Heeeh, someone is already here.” A familiar voice called out. I looked up to the voice and faced Purple Sister. This isn’t the one I know! This one has the Lilac mk2 AND Gehaburn! “How could that be? No one should have found this spot until the others have been freed from the graveyard.” She looked at my wound and tilted her head. “What happened?”

“You know,” I tried to reply sarcastically, “I sneaked out of the Basilicom in order to prevent the conquest to happen and I happened to fight a ghost that destroyed my left arm.”

“Ehh, prevent the conquest.”  Did I just trigger my death!? “Why would you do that?”

“I would rather destroy Arfore instead of sealing her so some a-hole could resurrect her like she some sort of vampire.” I replied. “Besides, I don’t want this version of her to go through the pain of killing her friends and her sister.” I paused as I closed my eyes and moved my arms to the side, “If you want to kill me before that happens, take you shot right now.”

For a moment, I felt nothing. Then, I felt a hand on my left arm. “Why would I kill you if you’re going to prevent the pain and suffering?” I opened my eyes and I saw hollow eyes looking into mine. “If you prevent this dimensions version of me from going that route, I will not kill you.”

“I was going to hide the sword in the vault underneath the Planeptune Basilicom.” I remarked honestly.

“Why there?” I have to be honest here.

“If I hide it there, no one will know what it is.” I replied. “It’s in its dormant state at the moment and it looks like a rusty sword. If this version of you went looking for it, underneath the Basilicom would be the last place to look.”

“I see.” Her left hand gently held my wounded arm as light appeared. I felt relief as the pain was gone. “If you keep your promise in keeping her away from this weapon,” she gestured towards the rusty weapon in my hand. “I’ll let you live.” Once the light faded, my arm felt normal again. With a light smile on her face, a bright light blinded me. “I’ll see you again, Makoto… Good luck.”

I didn’t get time to ask how she knows my name before the light vanished and I was, once again, alone in the room. “Thank you for the second chance.” I stood up and stretched. I looked at my watch; I’ve been here for an hour! “I got to get back quickly before someone wakes up!”

With that, I dashed out of the secret hall and LAN Castle in order to make it back in time.


“This is why I hate gym class.” I was wheezing once I made it back to the Basilicom. I was in the elevator and hit the bacement button. Once the door opened, I walked forward and looked at the vault.

“Now, how to get in here…” I looked at the keypad and took a shot at the passcode once I took out my phone from Earth. “7833464” To my surprise, the door opened. “Really, Neptune? Out of all the things you could have thought, pudding” I sighed and opened the vault. Inside were untested game consoles and credits. I placed the sword on the back wall and closed the vault. “Now, to get out of here and in bed before someone sees me.” I locked the vault and walked back to the elevator.

I took off my shoes and hit the top floor. “To think I would meet her here of all places” I put my hands in my pocket when I felt a note in my left pocket. I pulled it out and read it. “If I find out that you pirated another game, you’ll be punished~” The elevator doors opened, “Why do I feel the need to yell I need an adult.” I walked out of the elevator and…

“Where have you been?” Oh crap, Histoire! “You’ve been gone for five hours. Care to explain?”

“I went out for a walk and got lost.” I lied. “I couldn’t sleep so I went out to get some fresh air.”

“And here I thought you were going to be honest.” What do you mean by that? “Seven days ago, there was an abnormal surge near Gamindustri Graveyard and you happened just happened to be in the area.” She pulls out a familiar game system, “Or having something that shouldn’t exist here.”

“How do you know it shouldn’t exist?” I inquired.

“The information stored on this device implies false information when I scanned it earlier. “ She knows how to turn it on! The last thing I watch was... “It also explains why you know a lot more then you let on.”

“Would you believe that I was warped here in a freak thunderstorm back in my dimension when I was about to start up a game?” I have to break the temporal time directive.

“What does the game have to do with this?” Histoire questioned.

“Well…” I’m about to get lectured, aren’t I? “The game starts off with a hopeless battle as four of the strongest goddess’ are captured along with one of their sisters. Three years later, a plan was devised and was carried out by one of the goddess’ friends and free them, only to get the younger sister of their friend.” And here’s the kicker… “Depending on the player’s action, different endings can happen ranging from a good ending, the true ending, and an ending where the young sister must till her divine brethren in order to power up the ultimate +1 weapon but loses sanity overtime due to killing her older sister and friends that she made in the course of the journey.” That was a mouthful.

I looked at the Oracle, to see her shaking, “What you are saying is that you knew some events were going to happen.” What’s this? Histoire is about to evolve! “You do realise this isn’t a game! If you die here, you die for good! What were you thinking in going to a place with something that a human with you skills can’t handle! Even if this was a game in your dimension, your presence can, and will, change the flow of events!” Congratulations, Histoire has evolved into… “Now’s not the time to make jokes!” Did the forth wall just break!? “IF and Nepgear are able to fight at a reasonable level with Compa behind them. You on the other hand don’t have any fighting experience. Even knowing that, you still went out with cloth clothing on instead of the leather you bought a few days ago!”

“Calm down Histoire.” I said to the hyperventilating fairy. “It was hope for the best and not use the sword I put in the vault or leave it there and pray that Nepgear, IF and Compa don’t believe in the rumors about the sword. That sword only gets its strength with every CPU it kills and the unlucky user is Nepgear! Do you know how soulless she is AFTER she had to kill Neptune! There is a reason why people avoid that ending like the plague after all.”

“And your life is more important than something that may not happen?”

“Yup.” I replied to her shock. “I have nothing back home besides two friends who will miss me and a store owner that will lose one of their biggest customers. My escape from all that shit is videogames like the Hyperdimension series or watching space exploration shows on the internet. As far as my parents are concerned, they want me to be ‘perfect’ just like my sister.” And sleep with many people, but we don’t talk about that.

There was silence until she talked again. “If there was a way back to your home, then…”

“I would rather stay here to be honest.” It’s true. While those three will miss me, I know they wish me the best. “If I found a way back to my earth and one way ticket back here, I would say my final goodbyes to my friends and stay in Gamindustri if I can get along with everyone here. Heck, I’ll try and bring my unmodified consoles here so the goddess and compare the systems.”

“Unmodified?”

“Yeah,” I replied while rubbing the back of my head. “We have different languages back on Earth and different regains. With different regains came regain locks. In order to play some games, you need to own a console from that region or use illegal means to play them.” I brought out my PSP from the hammer space “Even I’m guilty of that. While the device in your hands has on-board storage, it can’t read the disks. It’s why I was this device as all my illegal needs while the smaller one has all the content I bought myself.

I gave a light chuckle. “I can understand the want for free games, but most people here don’t understand that the developers rely on sales to produce more games. If a game doesn’t do well in sales, the publishers won’t ask the devs to make more games. Therefore, less quality games on the market and more broken and half-baked games on it.” I took a breather. “Before you start lecturing me on piracy, I was already warned earlier. Something tells me that she’ll take joy in punishing me.”

“I see” was the response I got. More silence followed. “Anything I should know before you go to sleep?”

“We’re going to get Red the wifey hunter.” I deadpanned. “And we may need bandaging because we get into a heated battle in the forest tomorrow. If you would excuse me, I need to sleep. One near death experience is enough for one night. If you wish to continue this disgussion, please let me know when were alone. While I trust IF, Compa can’t hold a secret for long.” I walked towards my room when I heard her voice

“Have a good night then, Makoto.”

I’ll try Histoire, I’ll try.