Mon Mon Nepu Nepu 12

Whoa!  Our N-Gears double as cell phones?  That's pretty impressive but I shouldn't be surprised considering IF is involved, and she seems like someone with a lot of influence with all the Guild work she does.

"Nepgear!  Uni!  Someone answer the call already!"

Uni had fiddled about with the touch screen and got the ringing to stop.  IF's voice was now coming in loud and clear when she answered the call.  "We're here IF.  The Slimes have been exterminated and we're on the way back."

"Ah, there you are.  I assume everything went smoothly?"

I entered the conversation and finished explaining things for the both of us as we walk through and exit.  I don't think we need to mention another encounter with Red even though nothing happened.  "Well, the Slimes did something weird and turned into a giant...King or something, but we took care of that.  We also found a pair of gems but they don't seem to be anything special outside of being well, huge."

"A King Slime?  Assuming it was blue, a congratulations are in order...later.  I need the both of you to head to Haneda and pick up some things.  It'll make traveling back here a breeze and you'll save yourselves a little time.  Call back when you get there."

I didn't get a chance to ask her what we were going to pick up before she ended the call, but it shouldn't take too long to reach Haneda since we're already out of the fort.

"Ok Gear, according to this all we need to do is head north for a little while and we'll be set."  Uni seems to be able to navigate the N-Gear just fine as she pushes the digital buttons and pulls up a small map detailing the area.

I pull mine out and try to do the same, messing about with options until I pull up a map as well.  "Goodness, I don't even recognize some of these places."

Parts of Gamindustri are so much bigger from what I'm used to, although the Planeptune area looks about the same with the exception of this unmarked fort.  The canyon and forest near Haneda and the lake surrounding Lan Castle, all have orange dots near them...and if I remember correctly that meant that those areas, while dangerous, could be explored.

I look up from the N-Gear and see a small city coming into view as Uni puts hers away.  I put mine away as well when she suddenly speaks up.

"Do you think we've done a good enough job to make up for our first mission yet?"

"Of course."  The thought of an impatient Uni gets me smiling and I smirk a little.  "You're really anxious to fly again, aren't you?"

She nodded and let out a sigh.  "Yeah, but all this walking isn't so bad.  I get to give my wings a rest after all and I don't have to haul you around.  N-not that you're heavy or anything, I-I don't want to always carry you around without you returning the favor or..."  Her voice trailed off immediately when she turned away from me as she tried to stop herself from saying something embarrassing.

I giggled even more as she got herself even more flustered as we entered Haneda.  Everyone nearby was going about their business so quietly that it seemed like if someone made too loud of a noise they'd get in trouble or something.  The first couple of people I spoke to refused to speak and only shook their heads as they ran off.

"Hey Uni,"  I whispered.  "do you have any idea what's going on?  Why is everyone acting so scared?"
Before she could answer the sound of rowdy men could be heard heading toward us.  These men sound like they could be trouble...

"Psst, over here!"  A woman's voice whispers to us followed by a hand signaling us to come their way around a corner.  Uni and I silently but cautiously head over to her...if they're willing to explain what's going on that would be great.  I doubt they would try to start up trouble, they sound nothing like the loud men that are almost here.  Their laughter fills the air as the sounds objects breaking get closer and closer.

When we got near her the mysterious woman she snatched us forward, covering our mouths and pulling us around the corner, holding close to her body.  "Don't panic...wait for them to finish their business..."  It was hard not to panic when someone catches you off guard like this, but I think this person really wants to help us but their hand...no, their whole body felt so cold as she held us tightly.

"Gwaaahahaha!"  A gravelly laughter boomed from the small plaza Uni and I was standing in as the sounds of the other men went quiet.  "What's the matter?  Without your precious 'adventuress' you people are spineless!  Don't count on her saving your hides...ever again."  The woman holding us tensed up as the loud voice broke into laughter again as more rugged voices started joining.

After a few more crashes and screams from the citizens, the man who sounded like the leader started speaking once again.  "We'll be back same time next week you chumps!  This haul was weak, and if you don't want to end up like your precious mercenary you'll work twice as hard to give us the good stuff!"
The loud mob of men started stomping off, cheering and laughing as they made off with their stolen loot.

When the coast was clear we were released and I was able to turn and get a good look at the woman holding us...and she wore very familiar clothes.  Her boots matched the rest of her clothes blue and white color scheme, and her leggings reached all the up to her shorts.  The shirt she wore exposed a lot of midriff but anything farther up was a mystery.  She wore a cloak that hid her shoulders and head completely obscuring her face...but I'm confident that this is Falcom.

"You two almost put yourselves in danger just standing around like that on today of all days."
I wanted to confirm my suspicions and see if she was in fact...Falcom...but she was hiding her identity for a reason so it'd be best if I found out what's going on around here.  "Why are they just letting bandits rampage through the city?  Why didn't anyone stand up to them?"  I did my best to not let my frustration get the better of me as I asked her what was happening to Haneda though, the last thing I need is losing control when we could be in danger again.

"You heard him...the adventuress that resided here was defeated and they're free to do as they please.  There aren't any other adventurers nearby and going to the Guild will only make things worse.  Outside help would bring down the wrath of Toughman himself...unless whoever came to help was strong enough to stop all of them."  She took a good look at us and leaned back on the wall, as if waiting for one of us to chime in.

Uni folded her arms and turned her nose up to the idea.  "Let me guess, you want us to do something about the bandits, right?  I don't think Gear and I have the time to-"

"Gear?  As in...Matriarch Neptune's little sister, Nepgear?"  This woman said that with such excitement that she got off the wall and grabbed my shoulders in disbelief, staring intently at me with her red eyes.  "You're Nepgear!?"

I silently nod as she brushes her red hair out of her eyes, regaining her composure and backing away from me a little.  "Forgive me, it's just...Lady Neptune had entrusted m-...that adventuress with the protection of this region so she could 'fry bigger fish'...or I've heard.  But you, Lady Nepgear, you can help these people in their time of need.  I don't think I'm suited for this task, but I would be more than willing to help if you if you chose to do so."

"Of course I'm willing to help!  I don't know how exactly we'll put a stop to these bandits, but I can't stand by knowing that defenseless people are being treated like this."  I hesitate to ask but I have a hunch that she's 'involved with this adventuress', but it doesn't hurt to play along.  "What's your name, Miss..."

"Romancia.  Just Romancia is fine.  I assume your feathered friend is Lady Noire's younger sister, Uni?"  She was about to reveal her face, but shook her head and turned to shake Uni's hand.

"That's right, but I'm only helping out because Gear is a kind enough person to make time for you, so don't get the wrong idea or anything."  Uni was never any good with letting people know how she felt but I could hear a little excitement in her voice.  "What kind of fools are we going to be dealing with anyway?"
Romancia started leading us out of town as she started to explain the situation.  "The bandits used to reside in Darxide just south of Haneda, and were quiet for the most part."

"Darxide?"  I don't remember going to any place with that name but it sounds like she's talking about that fort we were just at.  "You mean that broken down fort?"

"Yes, that's where their hideout used to be until they got scared off by some petty Slimes."  Romancia stops just at the entrance of the city and looks down clenching her fists.  She mutters something under her breath before setting off again.  "Sorry, I'm good to go now.  Those bandits were mostly cowards until Toughman appeared, and now they're organized and actively harassing people...mainly Haneda.  He's the real threat but he sends his number two out to do all his dirty work."

We've left the city by now and Uni proposed at an idea that could end this quickly.  "So if we take care of the big one will the others flee or whatever?  We need to take care of this as soon as possible before IF has our hides."

As long as we're swift about taking the leader, Toughman out quickly, this shouldn't take up too much time.  If they're really as cowardly as Romancia says, they'll scatter and not want to bother anyone again.  Hopefully IF will understand that we can't just let something like this go unattended.  Now that we're outside Romancia pointed northwest and picked up the pace a little.

We quickly followed and did our best to make small talk with her, but she didn't say much about herself outside of putting herself down constantly.  It was a little depressing to see her say such things about herself like this...even if she lost that's no reason to carry on like this.  I don't know the exact details behind all of this and I won't have her moping around any longer.  I'll have Fal-er, Romancia smiling and back to her old self in no time.

After a short while we finally reached the bandits new hideout.  "Lady Nepgear, Lady Uni...this is Kolibri Canyon.  The search for Toughman begins..."