It's time for a brand-new Neptunia story! This takes place shortly after the Demon Lord Etna arc of 'The Misadventures of Hyperdimension Peashy'... but this story won't spoil the events of that arc... yet. Also, part of the title is censored to avoid spoiling an early plot twist. Hope you enjoy!

ON WITH THE SHOW!

Ho-Hum and the Alien Visitation

A Hyperdimension Neptunia Fan Fiction

by Derald Snyder

Prologue- The Instigation

In an underground bunker in an unknown location somewhere in the world of Gamindustri, several sinister figures were shuffling about, covered in shadow so no one could recognize them...

"Attention, may I have your attention please," One figure raised his hand, a little taller than the others, with small horns on his head. The other figures immediately ceased their shuffling and muttering to focus on him. "Thank you. Now then, I believe that we finally have enough members to initiate operations, so at this time, I hereby announce the official inception of Ho-Hum!"

"Yaaaay!" One figure jumped for joy, clearly a child in size and stature, a few other figures cheering and/or applauding.

"About damn time!" another shadowy figure spoke, her voice clearly female. "Now I can finally get my revenge on those damn CPUs!"

"Watch your language!" a man spoke up, his angular shadow suggesting he wore armor. "There are children present, remember?"

"Yeah, CPUs aren't dams!" the kid spoke up, "they don't hold back water!"

"*A-hem!*" the horned shadow cleared his throat loudly, causing the argument to cease. "Now then... as I have said to many of you before, our aim is to cause trouble for the four CPUs that currently rule Gamindustri. They have become lazy, complacent, and are not keeping up their physical fitness! Therefore, it is up to us to disabuse them of the notion that this peace will last forever!" Cheers were heard in the bunker. "However, I must stress that this is NOT about insurrection, nor rebellion against our beloved goddesses! This is about keeping them on their toes, holding their feet to the fire, so that when a real threat does come about, they will be prepared to meet it head-on, instead of flailing about helplessly as they try to regain their lost levels!"

"Yeah, yeah, let's get this show on the road already!" the woman from before yelled.

"So what's our first evil plot gonna be-chu?" a small mouse spoke up beside her.

"I have already sent Generic Ninja #25 to fire the opening salvo, so to speak," the leader explained. Turning to the armored man, he then spoke, "Generic Soldier #20, is your operation ready to proceed?"

"Yessir!" Soldier #20 saluted. "That CPU won't know what hit her!"

"Excellent! As for you, Underling #3, I do have an assignment for you, in Lowee."

"Lowee?!" the rude woman cried in protest. "You're sending me to cold, slowly Lowee?! No freaking way!"

"Yeah, I don't have my winter coat grown in yet-chu!" the rodent agreed.

"My, my..." the leader's voice became low and threatening. "It seems someone is not very grateful that I rescued them from maximum security... perhaps you would like to return to your nice, warm, 8'x8' stone cell?"

"Urk!" the woman sweat-dropped. "O-on second thought, Lowee's not quite that bad this time of year..."

"W-what she said-chu..."

"Better," the horned man nodded. "Now then, this what I want you to do... blah blah blah blah..."

*Meanwhile, in Planeptune City...*

"Man, am I starved after doing that Quest!" said Neptune, main character and CPU of Planeptune. Stretching a bit, she said, "At least it's Pudding Tuesday today- 30% off any flavor!"

"Is that why you were so eager on getting the Quest done today?" queried Nepgear, CPU Candidate and younger sister to Neptune. "So you wouldn't miss out on this pudding deal?"

"Well, duh!" Neptune affirmed with a grin. "Besides, these guys know me... I'm one of their best customers!" She promptly pushed her way into the greasy spoon diner, a bell chiming as she and Nepgear entered. "Hello, guess who!" A few voices called out to their goddess in recognition.

"Good afternoon, Miss Neptune, Miss Nepgear," a casually-dressed server greeted them. "I assume you're here for our Pudding Tuesday offer? We have a brand-new mystery flavor for you to try..."

"Sweet! I'll take it!" Neptune proclaimed happily.

"I'm not really hungry," Nepgear deferred. "I'll just take some water for now..."

"Right away! Go ahead and take a seat, ladies," the server gave a brief bow before heading behind the bar.

The two promptly sat at one of the tables by the window, Nepgear prompting, "So, you come here all the time? I don't remember being here..."

"I took you here once," Neptune replied, "But that was just before that junk with us getting beat up by Magic and tied up in lewd positions for three years... not surprised if you blocked it out."

"Oh, goodness..." Nepgear shuddered from that awful ordeal, before attempting to take her mind off that by looking around the diner, trying to see if anything looked familiar. "Hmm... it almost rings a bell, but..."

"Here we are, ladies!" the server from before interrupted them, sliding a glass of ice water in front of Nepgear, while a plate of purple-colored pudding was set in front of Neptune. "Enjoy!"

"Oh, you know I will!" Neptune exclaimed as grabbed her spoon and dug in. After a few bites, however, she slowed to a stop...

"*slurp* Does it taste bad?" Nepgear inquired curiously, setting her water down.

"Bleah..." the CPU licked her lips and smacked them a few times. "Hey server, what's in this pudding, anyway?"

"I'm glad you asked," the young man responded. "It's got a little bit of sugar, a little bit of tapioca, and lots and lots of... eggplant."

"EGGPLANT?!" Neptune's eyes shrank to circles as she dropped her spoon and clutched her neck. "Gahhh! Eggplant pudding...! I've been poisoned...!" She promptly collapsed off the chair and sprawled over the floor. "Cough... Everything's... going dark... Nep Jr... I leave Planeptune..."

"Neptune, noooo! Don't leave me!" the CPU Candidate as she knelt by her stricken sister. Thinking quickly, she pushed two fingers down Neptune's throat, inducing her to vomit out the pudding. "How could you serve her- huh?!" Her eyes shrunk to circles as only a white-dotted outline remained where the server had just been standing! "W-where did he...?!"

"He went out the back!" the manager yelled. "That's guy's not one of our workers!"

"What?!" Jumping to her feet, Nepgear ordered, "Call an ambulance for Neptune! I'm going after him!" She promptly jumped over the bar and ran through the door...

"Right away!" the old man promptly grabbed the land-line phone...

"Sorry! Excuse me!" Nepgear apologized as she shoved past the chefs, running through the kitchen and back room, slamming open the door to outside...

...But she couldn't see anyone in the rear parking lot. "Huh...?" Being such a wide open space, there weren't many places to hide... Looking to her left, Nepgear saw a dumpster full of trash, as well as a garbage can sitting nearby. "Wait... why have a garbage can there when you can just throw it in the dumpster...?" Frowning, she promptly marched over to the can, whipping off the lid with a cry of "Ah-ha!"

...but there was nothing but rotting fruit, meat and fish heads, the horrid smell soon hitting her nostrils. "Uuughh!" the goddess cried in disgust as she pinched her nose shut. "Guess he's not in there..." Quickly slamming the lid back down, Nepgear stepped away to breathe in some fresh air. "Looks like he got away... guess I better go back and check on Neptune..." Shaking her head at her failure to catch the culprit, the CPU Candidate headed back inside...

But a few seconds later, the side of the garbage can opened, the server poking his head out, a clothespin on his nose. "You'll have to do better than that to spot a ninja, Lady Nepgear." With that, he ducked back inside and shut up the can, which then sprouted a pair of legs and jogged off...

*To be continued...*

Don't worry, Neptune will survive... but will the other CPUs become victims of Ho-Hum's 'sinister' aspirations? All I'll say is, Vert and Blanc better watch their backs! See you at Chapter 1! ;)