QJ stretched lazily while covering a yawn. The S-shaped seat of his VR chamber was comfortable enough to sleep in, but the chatter of voices outside his door motivated him to get up. He was hungry, and supposedly, Nina ordered food. "Hopefully, she didn't get eggplant pizza with feta cheese."
When he opened his bedroom door, three pizza boxes greeted QJ from the kitchen island. All his roommates were already sitting down, deep into discussing the day's events.
"That bomb popped up right in front of me," Breeze swung both hands like she was at batting practice. "Launched that bad boy right into their faces."
QJ sat beside Lotte and scanned the choices: Pepperoni and sausage, Hawaiian, and Cheese pizza. He grabbed his favorite, surprised that it was one of the choices since he was the only one in the house who liked Hawaiian pizza. "You get this just for me, Nina?"
The purple-haired demon smiled and nodded. "Thanks for the free levels today! The branch guild is going to Summit with you, so I appreciate all the hard work."
"You'd have loved today," QJ took a large bite of his pizza, relishing the taste as Lotte pushed a beer before him. "Tully was a surprise. He snapped my lariat! Good thing I carry a spare."
Breeze nodded in agreement. "He was hard to move around; he started ignoring taunts and went after the healer."
"I was helping Tai grind levels just outside of Leto. She had just leveled when suddenly there were two more!" Nina nudged Wu with her elbow. "Thanks for streaming it to the branch guild chat."
Wu grabbed a second slice of cheese pizza, trying not to frown at Sato, the human vacuum cleaner. "We need to hire a multi-media manager. Today's raid cemented your place in the GnG hierarchy. Even the guys from the older servers are impressed."
Over the next half hour, the pizza slowly disappeared while the small group poked fun at each other.
"Good job searching that caboose, Sato." QJ snaked the last piece of cheese pizza before Sato could grab it. Instead of eating it, he placed it on Lotte's empty plate.
"Hey!" Sato protested the blatant thievery. "There was nothing there."
QJ's expression showed his doubt. "Engineer Trahern walked out with a big wood case. By her admission, it was from the safe in the caboose."
"Nope," Sato denied. "The safe was unlocked and empty when I checked it."
"Classic misdirection," Wu guessed. "Could have been a second safe that you didn't find."
Sato stubbornly shook his head. "No way."
QJ grinned suddenly. "I could just ask her since she's my companion now."
"Huh?" Sato exchanged glances with Wu, who only shrugged.
"She gave me a bind-on-pickup character card when she left." QJ leaned back and drained the last of his third beer. "The size and shape of the case is familiar. My guess is she is a sniper."
"Sniper companion?" Breeze shook her head in disgust. "I'd rather have a healer."
Wu's expression showed he was intrigued by the idea. "The character cards must be part of the new content. There are no player-owned railroads in GnG."
"Don't really need them," QJ admitted. "The Berg continent is by far the most developed. Merchants and players use the portals."
"I have my own forum!" Breeze used her hud to scan the GnG forums while she nursed her beer. "Looks like I'm pretty popular with the boys."
QJ chuckled. "This is how it starts. Rising popularity, fan clubs, media scrums, and personal managers."
Wu tapped his chin. "Is Anna your manager?"
QJ nodded. "She has six clients; I'm one of them. Once we graduate from the Academy, Obreen Corp will appoint representatives for anyone who wants one."
"I might need one before that," Lotte admitted. "I have no idea what I'm doing. Do I convert my credits to dollars? Where should I invest?"
"I'm glad you brought this up," Wu replied. "My Aunt used to manage gamers. Yu stepped away to pursue other interests, but she was pretty excited during the Train heist."
QJ snorted. "I'm sure sure she was. Could you ask her to represent some of the house members?"
Wu nodded. "Couldn't hurt. All she can say is no."
**********
[Ravenwood at Sunrise]
Quinn banked into the thermal, closely followed by Nightingale; neither looked happy. Their eyes glowed red, signifying they were using the Ba'Avriel [Hunt] ability.
[Ravenwood: Leah] Do we need more people?
[Ravenwood: Q] No, but if we don't find her in the next few minutes, I'll have to wake QJ.
[Ravenwood: Mojo] What did the message say again?
[Ravenwood: Nightingale] She said she felt lost and asked me to find her.
[Ravenwood: Mojo] Is that all?
[Ravenwood: Nightingale] Only that she needed to see Quinn.
[Ravenwood: Leah] I'm going to call Redline!
Quinn tried for the tenth time in as many minutes to make contact.
[Ra's hud had been temporarily disabled]
Far below, Ra sat calmly beneath the thick canopy of Ravenwood's forest. A swirling shield of water hid her presence from those who searched by heat. Before her was a small stone altar that she spent several minutes constructing before topping it off with a large silver basin. Ra removed two white cushions and placed them on either side of the altar.
She hovered her Water Staff over the basin; an instant later, the shield surrounding her disappeared, and the basin was filled with glowing water.
Within seconds, she felt their presence. They swooped under the canopy near the opening provided by the river and landed lightly a few meters away.
"Ra?" Quinn called. The dark woman sat with her back to them, giving no indication that she'd heard his words.
"Welcome," Ra's calm voice caused the duo to relax visibly. "Thank you for coming."
Nightingale had to fight to keep the frown on her face. "Are you okay? What's this about?"
Ra gestured to the two cushions placed next to the stone altar. "I invite you to join me."
[Whisper: Q/Nightingal] At least she's okay...
Ra turned to smile at the tall man. "Would you join me, Father? This is important."
[Whisper: Nightingale/Q] She called you father; that's so sweet. It could be one of her water rituals.
Q knelt on the cushion next to Ra. "You caused us to worry."
Ra's brown face showed a complete lack of remorse. Her dark eyes glanced at the Songbird. "Please join us, Lara Sy."
Nightingale's face flushed deep red; her mouth opened to protest, but no words came out. She knelt on the remaining cushion, suddenly wishing she had ignored Ra's strange request.
Ra held her staff over the silver basin, causing its contents to swirl peacefully. "Father, dip your hand in the basin and hold up its contents for me to see."
[Ravenwood: Nightingale] Wait Quinn! This is...
Quinn shook his head slightly at her, silencing whatever the Songbird Operative was going to say. He scooped up a portion of the basin in his hands and held it out.
"Lara Sy, dip your hand in the basin and hold up its contents for me to see."
Nightingale found that her eyes seemed unable to focus correctly. She stared at the edge of the silver basin, finding its glowing contents hypnotizing. She did as Ra asked, dipping her hand into the water and holding it out.
"Water is the source of all life. It binds our bodies, soothing us when nothing else will. Father, if you would share that water with another person, you must speak the words aloud."
Quinn nodded, his eyes focused on the water he carried. "Lara Sy, would you share the water with me?"
Ra smiled at the suddenly petrified Songbird. "No words are necessary, Lara. If you wish, extend your hand and display your willingness."
Lara's pale hand extended slowly, shaking slightly when it touched Quinn's.
"Life and Water form a symbiotic circle, each relying on the other. As water is meant to be shared with another, so is life." Ra gently grasped their wrists, tilting inward until their hands and the water they contained combined. "If you are willing to share the water until it is gone, speak the words."
"I will share the water with you until it is gone," Quinn smiled at the crying Songbird.
"I..I will share the water with you until it is gone," Lara replied.
Ra's words, although spoken softly, carried the hint of substantial power. "One day, our water will fade, leaving behind only dust. Until that day, cherish every moment, both the good and the bad. Bow your heads and drink the water until it is gone."
Ra waited until they did as she asked before extending her staff over the basin. The contents of the silver basin left its container and resumed its position at the tip of Ra's staff. "Blessed by water, in the presence of the Wielder; arise as husband and wife."
Quinn stood slowly, his handsome face smiling at Lara. He leaned forward until their lips touched. When the pair finally parted, they found themselves alone; the altar, cushions, basin, and Ra had disappeared.
***********
"QJ?"
QJ opened one eye before pulling his pillow over his head. "I stayed up late, Ra."
Ra noted his red eyes and messed up hair. She held out a hand, smiling when it passed through him. "You had a party and didn't invite me? Is this payback for the fountain?"
QJ nodded. "Yep, that's what this is. Want me to log in?"
Ra nodded and removed a large quilt from her inventory. "If it's no bother."
"At least my hangover will disappear," QJ staggered groggily to the VR chamber, shutting the door with a hiss.
When he returned a few moments later, Ra was reclining comfortably on his bed. "Been up long?"
Ra nodded. "Most of the night, I was purifying myself for a ceremony.
"What kind of ceremony?" QJ asked. With his headache gone, he suddenly felt like smiling.
Ra eased closer to him when he joined her on the bed. "I hope you don't mind, but I married your Father."
QJ favored her with a deadpan expression. "Isn't he way too old for you?"
"HAHAHAHAHA," Ra's laughter echoed in the room; she pulled the covers over them and held him tight. "What am I going to do with you?"
QJ waggled his eyebrows at her. "I have three suggestions, all of them end with 'ing.'"