115 Neural Network (part four)

[Nora Salo has been temporarily blinded.]

[Gaia: QJ] We're back in the center instance! We lost Nora.

[Gaia: Ringo] No worries, she's here. Hurry back. 

Lotte dived past the blinded target, her [Grappling] cable wrapped around the target's neck, yanking her upside down. 

Sato accelerated into a steep climb, followed by Ringo. 

Sato has [Grappled] Nora's right arm.

Ringo has [Grappled] Nora's right arm.

An anguished cry turned into a scream of misery as Nora was torn in separate directions; a bone-chilling snap preceded a sudden splash of blood as the limb was forcibly removed. 

[Nora Salo has been crippled, and her battle efficiency lowered.]

Lotte released her grapple and reversed directions, heading upward; she opened up on the target. 

[Gaia: Ringo] Light her up! 

[Kneecap]

Jigsaw has slowed the target by forty percent.

[Sniper](Headshot Bonus x Critical Strike)

Chainy has hit the target for 37,939 damage.

Chainy has hit the target for 88,322 damage.

[Double Direct Shot]

Lotte has hit the target for 16,430 and 19,515 damage.

[Six-Gun Fan]

Ringo has emptied her gun into the target for 15,414 damage, 13,174 damage, and 13,111 damage.

[Six-Gun Fan]

Lotte has emptied her gun into the target for 15,414 damage, 13,174 damage, and 13,111 damage.

[Tendon Slice]

[Critical Hit]

Sato has hit the target for 23,540 damage.

A loud gong sounded before Nora was sent rocketing toward the ground, rocks, and soil tossed into the air in a cloud of dirt and bloodmist. 

[Gaia: Sato] Who the hell was that?

[Gaia: Jigsaw] That was Maya! 

Maya rose from the debris, her new shield sporting a head-sized dent in the center as she accelerated into the air. 

[Gaia: Tempest] The hay is in the barn, bitch! 

[Gaia: QJ] I banned you from saying that... 

QJ and Anya returned to the battle just as an eerie quiet settled over the area. 

"QJ... I hate you to the core." Nora stood on the shore. Her blackened, bloody, mutilated body still pulsed with power but also something else, a deadly poison. "I made a mistake fighting a bunch of gamers. Your time here is limited, but I can stay and hide forever..." 

Nora flipped the members of OP the bird with her remaining hand and disappeared. 

[Gaia: Ringo] Stealth?

[Gaia: QJ] No, she's gone. 

[Gaia: Anya] I know where. 

Anya headed back toward the cavern with QJ hot on her heels. 

[Gaia: Ringo] We'll stay here and defend the settlement. Don't let her escape.

[Gaia: Lotte] End that bitch, once and for all. 

[Daiyu/QJ] Damn... this stream has a lot of viewers.

[QJ/Daiyu] How many?

[Daiyu/QJ] Mid-nine figures and climbing. 

QJ followed Anya back into the cloud instance, which once again was passable. Unfortunately, Nora wasn't there. "Fuck us, sideways... She isn't here." 

Anya nodded. "I know, but she will be." 

QJ glanced at the Spider Queen; Anya's serene face showed certainty. "How would you know that?"

"Because I'm going to bring her here."

The sentence brought panic to QJ's eyes. "No, Anya. I forbid it."

Anya extended a pale hand, interlocking her fingers with QJ's. "We'll lose her, Minion. She could be hiding anywhere in Gaia."

"Fuck..." QJ cursed loudly, his sharp mind trying to figure out how to avoid this scenario. "FUCK!" 

[QJ/Daiyu] Redline! Cut all streams now! Redline, cut all streams now! 

An instant later, the green stream light on QJ's hud turned red. 

QJ stepped away from the Spider Queen and nodded. "Do it. It's the only way. Whenever you're ready." 

Anya nodded; stepping forward, she kissed QJ's cheek and smoothed out his dark hair. 

QJ calmed himself and spoke clearly. "In the sun that is young once only, time let be play and be golden."

[Voice recognized; Passphrase Accepted.]

[Angel the Spider Queen has released her shackles.]

The cloud instance suddenly calmed, and endless code streams circled Anya like a brilliant halo of light. She waved her hand slowly, and an arched doorway appeared; a moment later, a shocked Nora Salo was pulled through. 

Nora Salo turned slowly, confusion written clearly on her face. "How did you bring me here?" She raised both hands to attack, but nothing happened. 

QJ and Anya advanced while holding hands. Nora was unable to move, held in place by an irresistible force. 

"What is this? Where is my power? How come I can't move!" Nora's voice rose in pitch and panic as the duo approached. 

"You do the honors, Minion." Angel focused on Nora, her hands waving in an elaborate pattern for a few brief moment before stopping. "That should do it. This time, she will never return." 

Nora's avatar had become transparent; there was a terror written in her expression, a deeply seeded fear of death. "What? I can't be... Wait! You're an HAI!" 

[Point Blank] (Critical Strike/Exposed Wound) 

QJ has hit the target for 110,000 damage.

Fire scorches your target for 22,204 damage.

Nora Salo has received a Mortal Wound.

[Nora Salo has been slain.]

QJ watched without expression as Nora Salo's avatar vanished into nothingness. After several seconds, he glanced at his childhood friend. "What are you going to do now?"

Anya was sitting crosslegged. "I'll need some time to repair the shackles; six hours should be enough. You'll have to relock them when I'm finished."

"Open the doorway, I'll be back." QJ smiled calmly and bent down to kiss the top of her head before exiting the cloud through a small archway.

QJ let himself freefall for a few seconds before activating his [Glide] ring and turning toward the portal exit. He frowned suddenly as a thought occurred to him. 

[QJ/Daiyu] You've been listening. 

[Daiyu/QJ] Yes. This personal chat isn't attached to the streams. 

QJ grimaced, his thoughts racing. 

[QJ/Daiya] There is no danger.

[Daiyu/QJ] We're talking about an HAI. Even though it's Angel, covering this up is serious- beyond serious. Who else knows?

[QJ/Daiyu] Mom, Dad, Naomi and Anna. And now, you.

[Daiyu/QJ] And now, me. 

[QJ/Daiyu] You're part of our family. We look after each other, no matter what. 

[Daiyu/QJ] Am I part of your family? I don't know... Just knowing something like this is dangerous. 

[QJ/Daiya] Yes, you are, and I'm asking you to keep this secret.

QJ equipped his jetpack and landed near the exit leading to the portal. Daiyu's silence was deafening as he walked toward the doorway. The red streaming light on his hud suddenly turned green, indicating they were back online. 

*Wu* Sorry for the glitch, everyone. Everything suddenly cut out for no reason.

[Gaia: QJ] Nora Salo is dead; the portal key is ours. Mission accomplished.

[Gaia: Ringo] You guys finished her off?

[Gaia: QJ] Yes, she was hiding in the cloud. Anya was forced to exert quite a bit of her life force defending Nora's attacks; she'll need seven or eight hours before she's ready to travel. 

QJ walked down the circular hall, contemplating his next move. The sounds of his guildies cheering told him they were approaching. 

[Daiyu/QJ] I agree but require something in return. 

[QJ/Daiyu] Done. 

[Daiyu/QJ] Not going to ask? Very brave, QJ.

[QJ/Daiyu] Doesn't matter... 

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

QJ sat between Lotte and Ringo, staring into the lodge's fire; Kenzo was across from them while Breeze and Sato danced with the Silverfang Clan.

The smell of woodsmoke, the sound of music, the thrill of victory, and the taste of Silverfang wine put OP in a festive mood. 

Kenzo accepted a bite of whatever meat Mika Silverfang was eating. "I'm going to miss you guys." 

Mika smiled and nodded in agreement; her tanned face and white hair clashed under the firelight. "My mom is a bit taken with you, QJ. We'll invite her over for some wine before you leave." 

Kenzo laughed before taking a long drink from the wine flask. "It's an old tradition."

Lotte hugged QJ with one arm. "What tradition?"

"Drink too much and then make poor decisions," Mika answered. 

[Gaia: Lotte] Make sure Sun doesn't run off with QJ.

[Gaia: Breeze] Right. We'll lock him down. 

[Gaia: QJ] Really? 

Several hours later, OP gathered around the portal, preparing to leave. QJ returned to the Cloud instance to find Angel while the Silverfang Clan said their goodbyes. 

[Gaia: Ringo] We received word from Exodus, Kenzo. You could come with us if you want. 

[Gaia: Kenzo] That's tempting, but I've made a life here. When OP goes through, I'll disassemble the portal. 

Breeze wrapped up Kenzo in a tight hug. "You're so cool!" 

Kenzo accepted the heartfelt hugs from OP. He was tempted to follow them to Exodus, but there was too much in Gaia for him to discover, and there were people he couldn't bear to leave. 

QJ returned a short while later with Anya. The Spider Queen looked paler than usual but seemed healthy otherwise. 

QJ shook hands with Kenzo. "Got something for you." Without pause, he handed over his jetpack. 

After a moment, the rest of OP did the same. They were unusable in GnG; if they ever needed one, QJ would be fine getting more.

[Gaia: Kenzo] Wow... Thanks, everyone! My gliders work well, but this can reduce travel time. 

[Gaia: Ringo] Enough chatter... Everyone on the platform. Are we returning to Asperia?

[Gaia: QJ] No. Since we have the key, our destination is Ravenwood; the rest of Exodus is still shut down.

Kenzo stood between Sun and Mika Silverfang, waving at OP until they suddenly disappeared from view. Without pausing, he placed a hand on the portal and disassembled it to his inventory. 

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

[System Message: Legendary Multi-World Quest Updated.]

Part I : [Disconnected]

Use the Asperia Gate to exit Exodus and arrive safely in Gaia. 

(Complete)

OP entered Gaia and made contact with the natives.

Part II: Find the Portal Key.

(Complete)

OP confiscated the portal key.

Bonus Mission: Eliminate all targets. (Complete)

Part III: Return to Exodus while your ally destroys the portal.

(Complete) All members of OP have returned to Ravenwood, and the portal in Gaia has been shut down.

[System Message] All members of One Problem receive a fighting companion (Wolf). 

[System Message] One Problem Keep has been upgraded to Capitol City (Continental). 

QJ glanced at his stats, noticing the new companion icon; he skimmed over the description. "Damn, can't be summoned for raids." 

"QJ!" Robin's familiar voice yelled from close by before she jumped into his arms, her bright smile lifting his somber mood. 

QJ kissed the Songbird soundly as Ravenwood members mobbed the entire OP group. "It's good to be back."

Ra waited patiently with his parents and Anna. Of course, she butted in front of them and grabbed QJ. "You were gone so long!"

"Feels that way," QJ agreed. "Unfortunately, we have to log off."

The VR chamber in QJ's room opened with a quiet hiss; his body felt sluggish even with the suit on as he walked slowly into the bathroom. 

"Felix Soma ordered pizza for everyone! Get cleaned up and eat before you crash." Wu's voice carried from the kitchen into everyone's room. 

A short while later, a freshly showered QJ joined the rest of OP. He felt too tired to eat, but he knew it was necessary. "Make sure to drink water too."

Wu was already handing out bottles of water, his smile stretching from ear to ear. "Man... I missed you guys!" 

"It must have been quiet," Nina agreed. "Did you guys read the awards? What does Capitol City mean for us?"

Wu shook his head. "When OP Keep became a City Fort, it was already the biggest Guild Keep in GnG. I have no idea what this means, but the forums are on fire.

"We the bad guys?" QJ asked.

Wu shrugged. "A third of the forums say you weren't awarded enough, another third says the reward is adequate, and of course, the last third say OP sucks and should be given monetary awards only." 

QJ forced himself to drink two bottles of water and a couple of slices of pizza before returning to his room. To his surprise, Lotte followed him and shut the door. 

"May I sleep here?" 

QJ nodded, smiling when she dug into his dresser and pulled out one of his t-shirts. "I kinda wished Kenzo returned with us, but I understand why he didn't."

Lotte took off her bathrobe and slipped into QJ's shirt while he watched. "You didn't turn around."

QJ laughed and climbed into bed. "Why the hell would I do that?" 

Lotte's dark hair was pulled back from her face, revealing the scars that were usually hidden. Her lips found his as she pressed against him. "I think we should... you know..."

"I do know," QJ replied with a smile that could melt butter. 

At 0700 the following day, QJ slid out of his warm bed, making sure to let Lotte sleep, as he gathered his running gear and tiptoed into the hallway. A noise pulled his attention to the upstairs rail, in time for him to see Wu exiting Nina's room. He slipped his gear on stealthily and headed outside without disturbing anyone. 

"You're the man, QJ!" Mike waved as QJ passed the gate before motioning for Khadira to follow.

"I still need a tail?" QJ asked. 

Mike nodded. "Until Tal says different."

QJ sighed and started running. His legs felt good as the miles slipped away. By the time he stopped to do pull-ups and push-ups, he had worked up a good sweat. 

"With Nora Salo taken care of, OP can get back to business. I hope they don't cancel the rest of the Goodwill games." QJ paused long enough to drink water. "And the World Leader Summit is coming up." 

The rest of QJ's workout was spent making plans for OP; with the Keep being upgraded, that would definitely mean more staff. The thought made him frown; he might have to use the Silverleaf assets. "They are working out well in the casino," QJ admitted before reentering the housing development and slowing to a walk. 

Wu was making breakfast when he entered the house, which was odd since the OP Information Broker usually skipped the meal. "Feel like pancakes?"

QJ nodded. "Ten minutes, need to wash up a bit." 

Ten minutes later, Wu slid a plate in front of a freshly showered QJ. "I saw you leaving and thought I'd surprise you with breakfast." 

QJ raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

Wu laughed and shook his head. "I got lots of stuff to tell you..."

QJ meant to check the forums when he got up but getting back into his routine seemed more important. "What's up?"

"Exodus Station will open today, but all gaming worlds will remain closed for the next week." Wu opened his hud and glanced at his notes. "You and Ringo have an interview at noon with Exodus today."

QJ tried to frown, but the mouthful of pancakes turned it into a wide smile. "These are good, Wu! What else you got?"

"The Goodwill Games are canceled, but TAP Academy is still going to host the closing festival." Wu sipped from his coffee cup, readying himself to give QJ more news. "And..."

QJ glanced up at the long pause. "And what?"

"My Aunt Yu is going to remodel her house, mostly in the basement where I used to live." Wu sighed heavily. "She's is into DIY crap and wants me to help."

QJ laughed at the contradiction. "She wants to do it herself with your help?"

Wu nodded. "She also implied that you would be joining me."

"She did?" QJ considered the matter while adding more syrup to his pancakes. Yu lived in Seattle, definitely further than he wanted to drive.

Wu shrugged helplessly. "Aunt Yu can be a bit much. I'll tell her no."

QJ shook his head. "No, we'll fly out there and help her out. Since GnG is closed, neither of us has much to do." 

"Bro!!" Wu grinned suddenly. "Just like that?"

"Of course," QJ replied.