When QJ arrived at his shop a short while later, he was surprised to see Ringo and Dessi talking outside his door.
Ringo offered him a smile, but her face was rather somber. "Hey QJ."
Dessi grinned at him; the 1st year Ace always made her smile. "Thought you'd be spying on the Painted Lady."
QJ laughed at the comment. "That makes it sound like I'm a voyeur." He unlocked the door to his shop and ushered them in before closing it behind them.
"Ringo and I were discussing some of the discourse in the ranks, mostly from my class."
QJ wasn't surprised by the statement. The GnG freshmen upstaged the third years in every meaningful category. "Any specific incidents? Or are you two trying to put out fires before they happen?"
"The latter," Ringo admitted. "They helped us get this Keep but weren't part of the Doubler Canyon record or the Defend challenge."
"Don't get me wrong," Dessi said hastily. "They are proud to be part of OP; some wish they were more involved."
"Understandable," QJ replied. "Got a fix?"
Both of his teachers shook their heads.
"I do," QJ stated while spreading the freshly drawn blueprints on his workbench.
Usually, if QJ placed gun designs where someone could view them, they would crawl over each other, trying to get a look. In this case, both teachers were staring at him. "I have a few ideas regarding new designs," he quipped, deciding to string them along a bit more.
Ringo relaxed suddenly; if her Ace said he could fix the potential issue, it was as good as solved. "Share your thoughts."
"Old Skool moved their HQ because they wanted to continue to develop without hindering us." QJ sat on the stool beside his workbench while Dessi and Ringo considered his statement.
Dessi's reluctance showed on her face. "We've all put down roots here; developing elsewhere presents many problems that would slow down our progress."
"Not necessarily," QJ replied. "The Burning Horse Faction used to have a stronghold in Sahleto (Leto). OP is allied with the Sandhealer Faction, which means we can get quests from the Raja and Royal Family."
Ringo snapped her fingers. "Right! The Sandhealer faction was given all of the Burning Horse assets. With a strong position in the city and alliances already in place, the 3rd years should continue their growth."
Some of the worry faded from Dessi's features. "We'd be the Basara branch of OP?"
"Yes," QJ agreed. "Gaining a foothold in Basara has given us an advantage. Increasing our presence there by sending a large contingency allows us to spread our focus without weakening our current position."
Dessi pursed her lips slightly; she was tempted by the offer. A potential Basara branch of OP would enjoy the same benefits as Maelstrom. "Can you sweeten the deal?"
QJ nodded. "As the Sandhealer Faction Leader, I'll appoint you Regent of Sahleto. This will give you three surrounding settlements, in addition to the port and the stronghold."
"Done!" Dessi flashed a bright smile; that was more than enough assets for the Basara branch to develop smoothly.
[Guild Message of the Day] All 3rd years take the portal to Basara and wait for Dessi.
Further conversation was interrupted by a door slamming in the hallway; a short while later, it was repeated and then again. This pattern continued, slowly getting closer until QJ's shop door was finally thrown open. A petite female dressed in sand-colored robes stood in the doorway, her dimples showing in a smile threatening to consume the entire room.
[In Sign]
"At last! I have found you." Dara rushed into the room, bowing respectfully before throwing herself at QJ. Her arms wrapped around his waist and squeezed tightly momentarily before stepping back.
"Dara!" QJ patted the top of her head; the Sandhealer ghost barely reached his chest. "Your words are perfect."
Dara nodded. "Of course, you gave me my voice. I will never lose it again."
Ringo smiled warmly at the interaction before raising her hands tentatively [Also in Sign]. "I didn't realize you could sign QJ."
"This is Dara. I taught her to sign last time I was here."
"Nice to meet you, Dara. I am Ringo, and this is Dessi."
Dara bowed her head slightly. "This ghost is honored to meet you both."
"Have all the ghosts found their voice?" QJ asked.
"Yes. It is as you said." Dara glanced around the room. "This is where you work? Robin told me about it."
QJ nodded and pointed to the door that marked his private entrance to the Commandant's office. "She works in there. I need your help with something, Dara."
"My answer is yes," Dara replied, not bothering to hear the request first.
"OP is taking over the old Burning Horse stronghold in Sahleto. We'll need a few dozen Ghosts, guards, and other staff."
"Many of us lived in that stronghold when we were with Burning Horse. Will fifty ghosts be enough?"
QJ nodded. "It's a good start."
"I will return later," Dara waved at the group, smiling at Dessi, who seemed confused. "The sun-haired woman doesn't understand my voice?"
"No," QJ answered. "Move your personal items to the room across the hall. You can live there if you like."
In an instant, the ghost was gone. Dara's steps could be heard running down the hallway.
Ringo smiled at the doorway, lost in thought for a moment before glancing at her Ace. "Why did you teach her sign?"
"She's part of a group called Ghosts. They are a rogue class who have been enslaved as scouts and fighters. Their tongues are removed when they are young."
Dessi's gasp of horror was loud in the quiet room. "Oh god... that's horrible, QJ."
"Yeah... Hey!" QJ raised an eyebrow at the OP Guild Leader.
Where did you learn to sign?"
"My baby sister was born deaf." Ringo didn't say anything else; from her demeanor, QJ sensed that she didn't want to discuss it further.
[OP: Lotte] Something big is going on in Exodus.
[OP: QJ] Define big! Like a parade or something?
[OP: Lotte] Very similar to what happened when you declared Redline.
[OP: QJ] On our way. Aji? Are you monitoring?
[OP: Aji] Of course. I'll wake Robin.
QJ and his companions gated into the Exodus gaming hub a short while later. Right away, he noticed the commotion.
Lotte was waiting near the gate. "What the heck is this?" Her black hair was tied in a single braid that hung down her back.
QJ scanned the formation lining up in front of the GnG gate. Leah Fintree was standing in front of the Raven Battalion.
"It's everyone, even Dad and mom."
Q sat quietly on a black horse, with his hands resting casually on his gnome pistols; like everyone else, he wore black Raven armor.
Ringo and Dessi shamelessly stared at the Fora leader. Without saying or even moving, he was surrounded by an aura of intimidation.
Lotte nudged the GnG instructors before QJ noticed they were staring at Dad. "Why would they be here?"
Not sure why. Only NPCs can enter without a gaming character from GnG." QJ spotted Jinn, Ro-Ro, and Crow. " I better find out."
Lotte pulled his arm and pointed to Remmy, walking toward them carrying a long metal case.
QJ nodded and headed the pink gnome off. "Remmy! What's going on here?"
Remmy smiled sweetly. "Don't worry, QJ. I will definitely protect Quinn." She patted him on the back and then marched past him.
QJ frowned at the departing gnome. "Dad must have found a way to enter GnG, or else he would have only sent the NPCs."
[OP: Lotte] Only NPCs? What about the NPC Assassin?
[OP: QJ] Shit... I never even considered that. TAP recognizes him as an NPC if he's actively wearing one of his guises.
Ringo shook her head slightly. "Even if he could, Jinn and Crow couldn't."
QJ watched as the TAP force went through last-minute checks. "Somehow, Dad plans on going in."
Dessi looked at QJ in surprise. "How would he manage that?"
QJ scowled while considering the potential deployment. "How is the wrong question."
Ringo nodded in agreement. "You should ask why they want to enter GnG and why Exodus would allow it."
Dessi felt a tinge of jealousy at the interaction between student and teacher. They were a great team. "The reason for allowing it would be simple. The members of the Fora Faction are very popular. Stream anything with them in it, and everyone opens up their hud."
QJ snapped his fingers suddenly. "Cross game Guild wars?
At that moment, QJ's hud buzzed, and Robin's sleepy face smiled at him.
QJ wasted no time in asking. "Do you know anything about Fora entering GnG today?"
Robin's sleepy eyes immediately cleared. "What?"
"All of Raven Battalion is sitting at the GnG Gate waiting. They must have left you in the dark because you are on a leave of absence." QJ could see that his girlfriend wasn't happy.
"Right..." Robin's pretty face was etched in a frown.
"Hey, Robs..."
She looked up at him while slipping on her shoes. "Sorry, QJ, even my sisters kept quiet about it."
"You know how secrets work, Robs. I'm temporarily releasing you from your Commandant duties. Feel free to take whatever action you wish."
Her smile came back as she finished gathering her things. "Okay, see you later, hun!"
[Exodus System Message] Cross Game Guild War between Righteous Hand and the Fora Development Faction will occur today from 1300 to 1800. Members of either group may invade the other's territory at that time.
QJ stared at the message. "Sweet Mother..." He opened his hud and contacted Chainy; she seemed surprised to see him.
"QJ... I assume you saw the message?"
He nodded at the white-haired Rider. "Yes. Just a moment please." He contacted his dad, hoping that he would pick up. Quinn's smiling face stared at him from his hud.
"Need something QJ?" He really wasn't doing anything other than waiting.
QJ patched Chainy into their feed. "This is Chainy. I am not sure if you knew her alt on the Phoenix Server. Her main is still a member of Haven, from Legends."
"Hey, Q." Chainy felt her heart race every time she spoke to Quinn. He was her natural nemesis.
"Hi, Chainy." Quinn gave his son a blank stare.
"Haven is just as strong as Righteous Hand; they fight regularly over territories. If you were to coordinate your attack on their Guild with Haven striking them somewhere else..."
Chainy didn't bother to hide her eagerness. Her Slinger was semi-retired, but something like this was beyond tempting. "The Southern Continent. There are three large cities and several mines. We've never considered them before because the price would be too high."
QJ tried to get read on his dad, but his father's face gave nothing away." "Talk to each other; perhaps a temporary alliance will benefit everyone."
"I'll log my slinger in and bring her to the GnG Platform."
Quinn nodded in agreement. "We'll work something out. Thanks, QJ."