/Alpha: Nix: Restealth and follow them, Darsi. I want to know where Aledo Remis goes. Either he's doing this with his father's knowledge, or he has motives of his own.

/Alpha: Darsi: I'm on it. I'll keep you updated.

Darsi banked her Daiken and moved in the direction of the fleeing raiders. She stowed her rifle and was using her monoculars to scan the raiders.

[Whisper: Darsi to Nix] You ever plan on spending time in the real world again?

[Whisper: Nix to Darsi] Eventually, I would like to. My mother and sister are both buried in Camden; I want to visit them.

[Whisper: Darsi to Nix] Just don't forget you're Henry Jones, the VR lifer. Remember my family cabin in upstate New York?

[Whisper: Nix to Darsi] Sure. I stayed there for a few days.

[Whisper: Darsi to Nix] I just bought it out a few weeks ago, so it's all mine now. Feel free to use it if you ever need a place.

[Whisper: Nix to Darsi] You've been logging off?

[Whisper: Darsi to Nix] I spend quite a bit of time in Virtuna, as a customer of Vasai Virtual you can reserve 'out of game' stays to take care of personal matters.

[Whisper: Nix to Darsi] Virtuna? Those are the apartments we stay in during patches.

[Whisper: Darsi to Nix] I'm guessing you didn't try using the Com-station while you were there. Virtuna is plugged directly into the real world. You can watch the news, sports, contact friends and family. Originally it was set up for deep-stays to keep in touch with the outside world.

Nix had been using the Vasai banking options since he came back from the Gladis Hub Incident. There were a few menus that he hadn't explored fully.

[Whisper: Nix to Darsi] My family is here, and for obvious reasons, I can never contact my real friends again.

[Whisper: Darsi to Nix] It's an option. You could catch a Bill's game.

[Whisper: Nix to Darsi] How'd you know I'm a Bill's fan?

[Whisper: Darsi to Nix] You've got that heir of depression that all Bill's fans have.

[Whisper: Nix to Darsi] Funny. I'll probably schedule a few days in Virtuna to catch up on news and sports.

[Whisper: Darsi to Nix] Take your family with you, they probably miss a lot of things and don't even realize it. Ice cream, pizza, vodka... Let me know when you do; I might tag along.

[Whisper: Nix to Darsi] Sounds good maybe after these Four Corner Quests are done.

[Whisper: Darsi to Nix] I'll keep in touch. Ciao.

[Whisper: Nix to Darsi] Stay close to Aledo Remis. Cya.

**************************

1300 hours, Parliament Courtyards

Nebula sat comfortably across from Mai in the Northern Courtyards. "You're so cute, Gid. I can't stand it."

Mai laughed and paused to sip her drink. Nebs was one of three people in Colonial who knew that Gideon was a female in real life. She liked her male assassin avatar, but she didn't want to attach today's actions toward Gideon. It would be better if some unknown female disturbed the peace of Parliament.

/Pathfinder: Mai: Report.

/Pathfinder: Jiggs: Delyn Xai is still in the Xai Clan Office.

/Pathfinder: Roto: No sign of the target yet.

/Pathfinder: Paco: Nothing to report.

Nebs kicked her companion under the table. "Three o'clock, target sighted."

Tura Zen Dar entered the courtyard with two others. The small group paused for a moment while Zen used his hud to talk with someone.

/Pathfinder: Mai: Target is in the North Courtyard.

/Pathfinder: Jiggs: Shit. Delyn's on the move that Tura Raine is with him.

/Pathfinder: Mai: Delay them. Under no circumstances are you to injure Rain Xai. Nix would have our asses.

/Pathfinder: Paco: On my way to the courtyard.

/Pathfinder: Roto: Same here.

Jiggs moved around the corner and then dropped stealth. He pulled his hat off and smoothed back his mass of brown hair. He took two steps around the corner and then stopped as if recognizing the approaching Dhassi. "Tura Raine Xai?"

Raine nodded at the thief, dressed in black. He had an heir of mischief about him, the kind of person you knew was always in trouble. "Yes?"

Jiggs smiled and bowed deeply. "I'm here about an Alliance with the Xai Clan."

Raine pushed an errant strand of brown hair behind one ear before glancing at her Master. "We are already allied with the 12 Pillars. Guild Leader Nix brought us in a long time ago."

Jiggs nodded knowingly. "Of course. I'm talking about something different, this is an alliance of a familial nature."

Delyn shook his head slightly; his instinct was telling him that the human was up to something. "Sorry, friend, I don't have time for this." The pair neatly stepped around Jiggs and headed toward the stairs.

Jiggs smiled at the fleeing Dhassi. "You are really unconcerned by a proposal of marriage from Guild Leader Nix?"

Both Dhassi froze in place, they glanced at each other and then turned back toward the speaker.

"Marriage proposal," Raine asked?

***************

Mai was already stealthed and headed toward the target, while Paco and Roto moved in for support.

/Pathfinder: Mai: They are in a tight group. I'm going to take Zen down, do no interfere unless it looks like I might fail.

/Pathfinder: Roto: Understood.

/Pathfinder: Paco: Copy.

Mai has cast [Wild Nectar].

Mai's attack rating has increased.

Mai targeted Zen Dar and waited until she was within a meter of him before she used [Binding Barbs]. Thorned vines sprung up out of the ground to wrap around the three individuals who had been talking.

Zen Dar has been immobilized by Barbed Vines.

Gilyn Dar has been immobilized by Barbed Vines.

Frami Dar has been immobilized by Barbed Vines.

Mai slapped a black disc on Zen's shoulder and then plunged her dagger into his right eye. She thrust upward with all her strength before withdrawing the weapon and stabbing him in the side of the neck. She ducked his outstretched arms and moved behind him, her blade slicing deeply across the front of his throat. A scream of horror echoed in the courtyard as a fountain of blood erupted from the Dar Clan Leader's throat. Mai quickly used her dagger to gouge out his right eye before quickly stepping away and activating her stealth.

Zen Dar has been slain.

/Pathfinder: Mai: Everyone back to Loki!

/Pathfinder: Roto: Nice scream, Nebs.

/Pathfinder: Nebula: Thank you, been practicing that one.

/Pathfinder: Paco: Did you take out that bastard's eye?

/Pathfinder: Mai: I did. According to Tai'Qui, it's the right one that will be seeded in her minions.

A few minutes later, Pathfinder regrouped at Loki. Mai slipped off her guise ring again and became Gideon.

/Pathfinder: Jiggs: We get him?

/Pathfinder: Gideon: Yes. Put a black hand on him as well, so he won't be getting a rez.

/Pathfinder: Roto: Nix give you that?

/Pathfinder: Gideon: Yes. Well done, everyone. Target was taken down without collateral damage. My Mai disguise won't be tracked to any guild.

/Pathfinder: Paco: Is the eye freezing?

/Pathfinder: Gideon: No. It appears to be a normal eye. Tai'Qui gave me a special earth container if I were to find another Khione seed.

/Pathfinder: Paco: Creepy.

/Pathfinder: Nebula: Good job delaying Delyn Xai; if he'd joined in the fight, things would have turned out differently.

/Pathfinder: Gideon: How'd you delay Delyn?

/Pathfinder: Jiggs: I proposed marriage to Raine Xai.

Gideon stared at Jiggs for a long moment. The thief was known for his practical jokes. "Why would she care about some clown from Salamander? She'd probably kick your ass for even suggesting it."

Jiggs held up his hands in surrender. "That's what I thought, which is why I used Nix's name. Who's going to try and kick his ass?"

The rest of the group stared at him wordlessly for a few seconds before erupting in laughter. The normally stoic Gideon was chuckling as she walked toward the Emerald Inn. "He's going to kill you when he finds out."

Jiggs winced at the statement. "Good thing for me he's doing those Everspire quests."

Gideon smiled at her thief comic. "You know he has his Breach Commander abilities back? I fully expect you to disappear sometime tonight."

Jiggs froze in place. "Wait? What about the curse?"

Gideon shrugged slightly. "Seen him open Breaches recently."

Jiggs took two long strides and clamped his hands on his Guild Leader's arm. "Leave that part out, Gid! He doesn't have to know. That Xai pair were convinced that I was just messing with them."

Gideon nodded, his smile reflecting his mood. "I won't mention it. Let's find a room and monitor the eye again."

*****************

1430 hours, Dhou Province, Belatora

Wind whistled softly from his mount. "I didn't realize that Belatora was so large. "

From the air, the capital city of Dhou looked large and orderly. The foothills that surrounded the city had been flattened out, and the rocks used to construct the framework of the city. Although the same tan rocks were used to build everything, the builders had painted the roads white and the city walls a reddish-brown.

/Alpha: Bali: I see a tent city north of town. It's huge.

/Alpha: Ronnie: We going to see him now?

/Alpha: Nix: No. First, we'll get a room in Belatora and gather some intel.