Alliance Portal (conclusion)

QJ logged into Exodus, grinning at his own wisdom. Ringo postponed midterms and the review because of the day's events. "That's why you always invite your instructor." 

Lark was waiting for him at the Songbird. She pushed an arm through his and joined him. "Robin should be back tonight?"

"Maybe," QJ agreed, favoring his escort with a smile. "Doesn't matter; I've decided to keep you." 

Lark laughed at the comment; the fact that QJ could say it with a straight face made it even funnier. "I suppose you and Ren could share me." 

QJ frowned suddenly, immediately tapping the brakes. "Right... I retract my earlier statement. Have you talked to Ren lately?"

Lark nodded. "Every day, she asks me for a report."

"A report on what?"

The Songbird wiggled her eyebrows at him. "She wants to know what moves you tried to make on me. There's even a betting pool going." 

"Wait... Moves? I could have made moves?"  QJ put on a serious expression. "No one told me that."

Lark shrugged helplessly. "As your pretend girlfriend, I feel unappreciated." 

QJ chuckled at the statement. "Betting pool? Did Robin join in?"

Lark nodded. "She bet you'd behave yourself." 

"Damn it..."  QJ sighed helplessly. "I've become too predictable." 

Lark nodded in agreement. "There goes my chance for a [Free Pass] fling.

QJ laughed loudly. "There's no way Ren would give you a free pass." 

"Fine," Lark paused long enough at the Exodus gate to kiss his cheek. "Going to spruce up Robin's office, write a few updates for her to read when she returns."

"Thanks for everything!" QJ waved and gated directly into Thunder Keep.

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

"You are lovely, daughter."  Namei Sandhealer washed the orange-haired rogue's back while they talked amongst themselves. Lyra, the younger sister, was doing the same for Ra. 

Ra smiled in agreement; Robin was beautiful. What they didn't know was that she was also quite deadly. With her in the house, it would take the efforts of an army to harm them. "Older sister is also a great fighter."

Namei stopped and leaned over Robin. "Is that true, daughter? You are a fighter?" 

Robin nodded comfortably. She wasn't bothered by Namei's bare chest being pushed against her back. The women of the Sandhealer faction were genuine and generous to a fault. They had quickly welcomed her into their family and even given her the rights of the first wife. "I am here to ensure that no harm comes to our family. This includes all of you." 

Lyra grinned at her words, "I hope to meet them one day."  Robin had told her stories of the arena battles and her other sisters. "Maybe I will join your Songbird group also!" 

Ra laughed loudly, and after a moment, her mother joined in. "Don't get your hopes up; we've all heard you sing." 

Lyra made a face at her older sister; they were nearly mirror images of each other, with Lyra being a bit lighter-skinned. "That's not a requirement, is it? Can Robin sing?" 

Robin didn't answer; instead, she sang a soft lullaby that she used to hear Leah sing to QJ when he was a toddler. The Apple Princess had a lovely and soothing voice but was too shy to sing in public. The song's name was 'Young Prince'; Robin had only heard it sung by Leah. The three darker women in the bath listened as she sang. Her voice caused them to smile and sway with the words. When it was over, all three of them clapped. 

"So the Songbirds can all sing?" Lyra sighed; good-natured envy was written on her face. "Will we be able to meet him soon?"

Robin nodded. "My guess is that QJ will be the first one through."

Namei rinsed off her back, admiring the smooth muscles that rippled under her pale skin. "What is the name of the place you live?"

"My residence is at the Songbird Tavern, but I also have a small cottage in Ravenwood. While in GnG, I stay at Thunderkeep."

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

[Welcome to Guns and Gore, the Phoenix Server.]

Location: Thunder Keep

Time: 1355 hours

Server Population:74,605 Your current level is 52.

[Guild Message of the Day]

Midterms and reviews will be delayed three days. Make sure to use this time to prepare properly. 

QJ entered the guild hall by himself, the first time in weeks he wasn't accompanied by the shadow fiends. Ringo and Dessi were leaning against the podium, talking among themselves; oddly enough, they were the only ones in the auditorium.

"Hey QJ!"  Ringo greeted her Ace, favoring him with a bright smile. "I have a few documents that need a second signature." 

[Portal Activation Contract]

[System Message] Old Skool has completed the Berg to Basara Gateway questline. 

[System Message] One Problem has set the first portal at Thunder Keep.

[System Message] One Problem has set the second portal at the  Sandhealer Faction compound.

[System Message] Do you wish to enable the Berg to Basara Gateway?

"Yes," QJ answered. 

[System Message] Do you wish to enable the Basara to Berg Gateway?

"Yes," QJ immediately broke into a trot, followed closely by Ringo and Dessi. He skidded to a stop and placed his foot on the platform. 

[System Message] Permissions must be enabled for the new routes. 

"Enable all One Problem, Sandhealer Faction, and Old Skool members to use the new gate routes." 

[System Message] Permissions have been set. The Berg to Basara Gateway is open.

[OP: Dessi] What if someone else wants to use it?

[OP: QJ] Too bad for them. 

[OP: Ringo] The permissions can be adjusted once a week.

[OP: QJ] We can also issue portal tokens. 

[Guns and Gore Announcement]  Phoenix server: Gateway traffic between the Basara and Berg continent has been enabled. All guilds participating in the event will be awarded two levels. 

*Ding 53*

*Ding 54*

[OP: QJ] Nice! 

The Gateway lit up for the first time; after a moment, an orange-haired woman stepped into Thunder Keep's courtyard. Her eyes lit up when she spotted QJ, and without a second thought, she pounced on him. 

"QJ!"  Robin hugged him close, squeezing him happily. She stepped back long enough to kiss him before pulling him close again. 

QJ rested his chin on the top of her orange hair, content to stay in place for a long moment. "I missed you, Robs." 

Robin nodded in agreement. "We have business, right now." 

"Huh? We should welcome our guests first."  QJ protested as he was led away from the portal. 

"It's fine. I requested an hour, then I'm going to sleep for a week."  Robin winked at the Exodus Instructors. "We have important matters to discuss." 

[OP: Ringo] Welcome back, Robin. 

QJ noticed that Robin was activating the Gateway. "Briar Rose?"

Robin shook her head slightly. "Your place." 

The door to the VR chamber in QJ's room opened, and he took a moment to stretch before heading to the landing at the bottom of the stairs. Even though the entire home was mapped with VRP, certain things had to be accounted for. With this in mind, QJ logged out to open and close his bedroom door. 

Robin sat on the bed, already undressing by the time QJ locked the door. 

QJ disappeared into the VR chamber, appearing in his room an instant later in his GnG Avatar. "Need anything? Something to drink, maybe..." His words filtered off when the last of her clothes slipped to the carpet. 

An hour later, QJ eased out of bed, carefully not to disturb the sleeping Songbird. Robin was curled up with a pillow and blanket she kept in her inventory. 

[Welcome to Guns and Gore, the Phoenix Server.]

Location: Thunder Keep

Time: 1515 hours

Server Population:74,605 Your current level is 54.

When QJ arrived back at Thunder Keep, many members were online; a quick check on the guild screen told him that most of them were in Basara. 

The warm, dry heat of the Sandhealer compound brought back memories of their desert adventure. QJ glanced around the bustling courtyard until he spotted Ra. His sisters, roommates, and quite a few people he didn't know were crowded around her, listening as she recounted the [Test of Strength] quest. 

QJ paused on the outskirts of the group, listening to the pleasant sound of her voice. He remained undiscovered for quite some time before Ra glanced his way. Her beautiful, dark brown eyes widened in recognition before she rushed through the crowd and threw herself at him. 

"QJ!" Ra kissed him fiercely, her body plastered against his despite the stifling heat and audience. 

[OP: Sasha] Oh my... That's a nice greeting. 

[OP: Sarah] Indeed. 

She was exactly as he remembered: a dark, desert beauty with a heartstopping smile. 

After a long moment, Ra stepped away, but she retained QJ's hand in hers. "I can travel back and forth as many times as I want?"

QJ nodded. "I'll give you a proper tour of Thunder Keep."

"And Briar Rose?" Ra smiled innocently. 

[OP/Officer: QJ] There will be an officer banquet at my parent's house the day after tomorrow. Food and drinks in a mapped outdoor space. You can attend virtually or irl.

It was late in the evening when QJ finished showing his guest around. The last stop on Ra's tour was the spa. "Do the stories do it justice?"

Ra shook her head. Sasha and Sarah described this feature of Briar Rose, but seeing it in person was much more impressive. Two entrances featured walk-in closets, massage rooms, and a sauna. The bath was white tiled, with steps descending into the steamy water. A stocked mini-bar on the spa's small island was countered by the large ceiling window offering an impressive view of the blue sky. 

Ra was holding one of the large towels from the entryway. "I'll meet your parents soon?"

QJ nodded. "At the banquet." His sisters told Ra small bits about Exodus and the Heroes world. "We can postpone it if you are feeling overwhelmed." 

Ra shook her head, closing the distance between them until she could embrace him. "Beware a handsome man." 

QJ chuckled at the statement; it was one of her favorites. "You going to keep that towel? You can if you want." 

Ra turned her back to him,  glancing over her shoulder; her dark eyes were suddenly unreadable. "Help me with the ties, QJ." 

QJ watched as Ra unfastened a clasp at the nap of her neck, exposing a small portion of her smooth, dark skin. "Is that what you want? There's no need to rush." 

Ra leaned back enough to brush her lips against his. "No more waiting." 

**********

Except for QJ, all the residents were crowded around the kitchen island, focused on the hud feed being streamed from the Painted Lady. 

Wu spent a few moments improving the size and lighting of the display. "The cameras have IR (infrared) and motion awareness. Even if one of the Songbirds tried to break in, we'd know about it." 

Sato grabbed two beers, and after opening both, he handed one to Breeze. "Think QJ will show up?"

"Doubtful," Lotte guessed. "He's busy helping Ra and her family get settled." 

Nina hid her smirk by downing the rest of her drink. "Did you know the Sandhealer Faction controls three major cities?"

Wu nodded. "When the Burning Horse faction disbanded, the Raja gave their lands to the Sandhealers. This includes the port city of Sahleto, which is referred to as Leto."

Breeze scooted her chair closer to Sato, flashing him a smile when he glanced up. "Going to give us a grade, Wu? How is OP faring when compared to the guilds on other servers?" 

"There's no comparison," Wu replied. "OP has managed to upend several core powers and then step into the vacuum before anyone could react. As far as a grade... What's above an A+? Maybe an SSS rating?"

"Really?" Sato's freckled face was starting to turn red, a regular occurrence after more than two drinks. "Better than Righteous Hand on Legends?"

"I'd give the Legend RH a solid B," Wu admitted. "They have a solid power structure but..." His sentence was left unfinished as the warning lights from the Painted Lady's motion sensors lit up. 

In an instant, all eyes were focused on the island hud. 

"Holy crap," Breeze muttered. "What the hell is that?"