Exodus: Guns And Gore 31 Sins Of The Father

"They look really nice, right? Comfortable together." Suzie was grinning when she spoke, of the two, she was really feisty. If you wanted a fight, she'd give you one.

Taylor nodded, "really comfortable."

Suzie crossed her fingers. "She's got her arm around his neck but she has to be more confident."

"A bit more confidence," Taylor agreed.

**********

"Take a breather Lotte." QJ wrapped an arm around her waist to support her while she leaned against him. He could feel her heart racing from the effort. "Great job, you are really working hard."

Lotte smiled, "you always say the right thing." Her feet kicked slowly while she rested her arms on his shoulders. His face was right there, clear blue eyes and an easy smile. "I use to be really pretty, before my accident I mean."

"What's that even mean? You are very pretty, current tense." QJ trod water while she rested against him.

"You know what I mean, my scars are hideous." She pushed away from him and started treading water again, he was easy to talk to.

QJ watched as she worked, "I really don't see them," he said truthfully."

She blushed slightly but didn't say anything else, she was starting to struggle when the two minutes finally elapsed. She clung to his shoulders, her heart racing again. "Are you blind? They are hard to miss at this distance." She stared at him, her face only a few inches away. "What are you thinking about?"

QJ shrugged, "your b.o.o.bs of course."

Lotte looked down, she was pressed up against him. "Rascal..." She was too tired to move away, "well, they are scarred too."

"Hmm... I don't believe it." He smiled innocently at her.

Lotte laughed, "want to see?"

QJ nodded, "yep."

"Hey, guys!" Raina Hall walked out the kitchen door holding a tray with drinks and sandwiches. "You guys are really working hard."

"Yep." Lotta swam easily to the shallow end and started walking back and forth.

QJ continued to tread water. Until she was done, then he helped her into her wheelchair and pushed her to the patio table. Her mom had sat down and was working on her hud.

"How are things at the Academy Raina?" QJ grabbed a sandwich off the plate and took a big bite.

Raina looked up from her hud, it was very obvious why all of her daughters were pretty. She was a very attractive woman. "It's great, everyone is so nice to me." She studied QJ with a slight smile on her face, his name came up regularly at the Academy.

"I'm glad it's working out, our cla.s.s wouldn't be the same without Lotte." QJ leaned back in his chair while he sipped his c.o.ke.

Raina couldn't keep her smile from widening. It was clear to her that Lotte was thriving at the Exodus Academy, she suspected that it was due in part to this boy. "Better move it along you two, almost time to get back."

QJ quickly finished lunch and after saying goodbye head headed back. Anna and his mom were sitting at the kitchen island. "Looking good Nan, hey mom." He hugged his mom and messed up Anna's hair.

"Hey, don't do that to women my age." Anna patted her hair down, but it didn't stay.

"Right, sorry Nan." He grinned at her and headed for his bedroom, pausing in the doorway he looked back. "Are those Red Dome Tents you use to have Exodus compliant?"

Tal nodded, "yep. Want to borrow one?"

"Yes, if that's okay."

"I'll have Nuna send you one right away."

"Great, thanks, mom." QJ stepped in his room and closed the door.

QJ logged into the Exodus platform and walked past the Songbird, Lark was out front chatting with Ren as they worked the door. "Heya guys!"

Ren hugged her brother, "on the way to the Academy?"

QJ nodded, "yep, lots to do."

Lark waited until they were done then she kissed him on the cheek. "I heard you are stealing Songbirds to come work at your Keep. Don't forget about me if you need someone else!"

QJ laughed, "I'll let you know."

Jali and Bali were waiting patiently for QJ next to the gaming hub. They bound toward him when he came into view. He entered the Academy and headed toward the stables, Ringo was waiting for him.

"Head to the office first QJ." Ringo smiled when she said it, she knew QJ wanted nothing to do with the Administration.

"If I'm the Dean, why do I have to listen?" QJ stomped off leaving his teacher alone in the stables. A few minutes later he walked into the Deans office. Rachel Brenner was sitting at the a.s.sistant's desk.

"Good Afternoon Miss Brenner."

Rachel looked up from her desk, she looked like a fish in the water. There were multiple huds open as she jumped back into the fray. "Please call me Rachel. I've sent several doc.u.ments to your office. Unfortunately, they require the acting Dean's signature."

"Hasn't this mess been ironed out yet?" I'm just a student you know." QJ frowned at her and opened the office door, he paused for a moment and looked back. Rachel was wearing a dark blue business suit, her dark hair was spiked slightly. "You look really nice today Rachel."

"Thank you QJ." She favored him with a smile, "let me know if you have any questions."

QJ spent the afternoon working with Rachel, he didn't imagine the Dean worked so hard. "Are you sure I have to do all this?"

Rachel nodded, "apparently Dean Tomas had let quite a few problems stack up."

"QJ looked at his hud, the whole day is shot. When is the Board going to select a new Dean?" QJ had been told by his dad that they were able to come to an agreement and that a new Dean would be selected soon.

"I don't really know QJ." Rachel felt bad for the small lie. The board was more than willing to let QJ sit in the Dean's seat until things cooled down. They figured the Riley's were less likely to burn it to the ground when QJ was the acting Dean.

Ringo and Dessi walked into his office a few minutes later. Ringo gave him a sympathetic look, "kept you working all day?"

QJ nodded, he waved the two teachers in and closed all his huds. "Rachel said if we knocked it all out today, then I could be with the cla.s.s the rest of the week."

"That's good, we will be spending the next two days working on Captured with the third years."

Ringo and Dessi waited while he wrapped up the last few items. The three of them walked out of the office together. There were three people waiting for them.

QJ waved at his cla.s.smates. "What's up, guys?"

Junzo, Malox, and Wreed were the three Riders in the freshmen cla.s.s. The reason they had been able to finish the Doubler Canyon Raid was mostly due to these three shooters and QJ.

Junzo seemed to have been elected speaker, "think we can build a few sniper nests at the Keep?"

"Woah... that's a great idea. Why don't you talk to Robin about it." QJ hadn't given Keep Defense much thought.

Ringo nodded in agreement, "I like it. Nice job guys."

Dessi stared as the three Riders left at a run. "How the h.e.l.l did you guys land four shooters like that? If I had even one of them."

Ringo smirked at her friend, "don't forget about Chainy."

"c.r.a.p..." Dessi looked depressed as they exited the Academy.

"I have something that will cheer you up, you'll have to hang out with me tonight though." QJ opened his hud, a moment later Anna's face smiled back at him.

"Heya handsome."

"Hey Nan, can you order some pizza? I'm going to eat quick and then get some stuff done in GnG."

Anna nodded, "it's just me and you tonight so we'll eat early."

"Something for me?" Dessi let her frown fade, "I want to check out the land you mentioned anyway. Give me an hour."

QJ nodded and waved to both of them.

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

Anna sat the pizza box on the island and headed toward the fridge. The shower in QJ's room had shut off a few minutes earlier so she grabbed a sixpack from the fridge and waited.

QJ walked out of his room wearing a white t-s.h.i.+rt and jeans. His dark hair was still damp from the shower. "Looks like my timing is great!"

Anna nodded, "you really look like your dad QJ."

QJ sat down and they joined hands. "What brought that on?"

"Thank you for the food."

"I've been thinking about having a baby." Anna watched him for his reaction.

QJ grinned at her. "Really? You'd be an awesome mom." Anna was in her late forties, but with advances in medicine and extended life spans, it wasn't uncommon for women her age to start families.

"That's what your dad said." Anna smiled back at him and helped herself to a large slice of pizza.

"I bet mom cried right?"

Anna nodded, "yep."

"Thinking about an anonymous donor?"

"Of course, who could I ask for that. What would I even say? Excuse me, could I borrow your seed?" Anna's pretty face turned red and she covered her face. "This girl is embarra.s.sed."

QJ started on his second piece of pizza. "Going to use the old fas.h.i.+on method? Or involve Science?"

"...." Anna.

QJ laughed, "Sorry Nan, I said too much."

An hour later QJ donned the VR suit and stepped into the chamber.

Welcome to Guns and Gore the Phoenix Server.

One Problem Guild Keep 5 PM, Player population 31,201. Your current level is 22.

System Message: You have a package waiting.

QJ logged into the Keep Hall, no one was around yet. He accessed his mail and received the package. It was from Nuna, the Fora Quartermaster.

Deed: Nomadic Red Dome

Unique: Temporary

Description: Can only be set up on

unclaimed Lands in TAP territory.

[Exodus Compliant]

Additional Description: May only be

used on private property when in non-TAP

worlds.

"Awesome." QJ trotted up the stairs and headed to his workshop. He froze in place when he opened the door. The entire s.p.a.ce had been transformed. Nearly everything from Briar Rose had been brought. "Now this is a shop."

He walked toward the side door and opened it slowly. Robin was sitting at her desk studying area maps. She looked up when he stepped in.

Robs smiled slightly, watching as he walked over and leaned against her desk. "Do you like your shop?"

QJ nodded, "love it Robs, thank you." He grabbed her hand and pulled her back into his shop. He stopped at his workbench and then rummaged through the drawers until he found a small block of wax.

"What's that for?" Robin looked curious, she often used wax blocks to make keys.

"Grip it comfortably, then squeeze until your hand sinks in a bit." QJ watched as she did what he asked. He took it from her and held it up.

"Going to make me gloves or something?"

QJ did his best to look mysterious. "The first rule of hideout guns is that they must fit perfectly."

Robin laughed, "is there a second rule?"

"Yep, it must be carefully hidden. Where no one can see it." QJ let his eyes wander down Robin's slim figure.

A knock sounded at the door before it was slowly pushed open. A slim medic with pale blonde hair waved at him. "Hey, guys!" Dessi hid her smile, she could tell that she had definitely interrupted something interesting.

"I want to check out a few things at Briar Rose Robs, will be back later." QJ waved and headed toward the door.

"Okay QJ, let me know if you need anything." Robin watched as he left with Dessi. She waited for a moment and then took the door back to her office.

QJ and Dessi headed to the Keep Courtyard, two third years were waiting for them.

Dessi introduced them. "QJ this is Umber and Til."

Umber was a giant, huge body and bald head. He reminded QJ of Onion. He extended a giant paw of a hand. "Umber, level 18 Cav. Shotguns and Sword."

The second person was QJ's height but was frighteningly thin. His light brown hair was shoulder length and tied into a topknot. "Til, level 18 Raider. Sixguns and Dagger."

"Nice to meet both of you, QJ, level 21 Wrangler, Shotguns, and pistol."

All four of them mounted up and rode toward Briar Rose. Umber's horse was the biggest horse QJ had ever seen in GnG.

"What's the plan QJ?" Dessi brought up her hud as they rode, she was looking at the Quarry. If they could hire some masons, they might be able to save quite a bit of credits.

"We'll head toward the land I showed you. There is a nice Quarry and west of that there are a couple of dozen acres of fields." QJ took them pa.s.sed his house, all three of them stared in disbelief.

Dessi shook her head. "I heard you describe it to Ringo, but d.a.m.n QJ."

They rode through the Quarry and stopped in the fields. Someone had planted clover at one time, but it had long since overgrown. QJ turned south and rode for a minute before dismounting next to a river.

"A water source is nice, building supplies. We could hire a few farmers to plant some crops if we wanted. Not a bad location really." Dessi glanced at QJ, "what's the price?"

"There's no market now, so how can I sell? I'll give you a five-year free lease. At that time you have the option to pay whatever price the Maelstrom Housing and Development Office puts on it."

Umber looked up from the river, he had taken off his boots and waded in. "Five years will give us plenty of time to raise our capital."

Dessi sighed, she really wanted to take the deal. QJ was being more than fair. The cost of building a keep would take up credits and playtime. It would greatly hamper the growth of her third years.

"I understand your concerns Dessi, which is why I brought you this." He handed her the deed to the Red Dome Tent.

Deed: Nomadic Red Dome

Unique: Temporary

Description: Can only be set up on

unclaimed Lands in TAP territory.

[Exodus Compliant]

Additional Description: May only be

used on private property when in non-TAP

worlds.

Dessi stared at the deed in her hand. "How big are these?"

"Pick a spot and see, although I have to activate it since it's my land."

Dessi looked at her students, "right. Let's go away from the river a bit more." She grabbed her horse and walked toward a nice level area about a hundred yards away. "What do you think of this spot QJ?"

"Close to the Quarry and the water source." QJ shrugged, "we can always move it a bit if you decide you want to."

"Okay," Dessi motioned for her two students to join her. "Place it for us please."

QJ nodded and activated the deed.

System Message: You have chosen to activate the Nomadic Red Dome Tent on Briar Rose. Is this correct?"

"Yes."

A moment later a giant Red Dome Tent appeared before them. QJ didn't even get a chance to speak before all three of his companions raced inside.

He followed behind them, the Silverleaf Women still had one in Ravenwood. They had the option to build homes, but many of them decided to stay in tents.

The inside was mostly empty. There were a few dozen spots for cookfires, each of these locations had long wooden tables next to them. The third years would have to buy their own smaller tents, but this would make an ideal place for them. There were bathing areas on the far side of the tent.

Dessi walked up to one of the long tables and activated its hud. "Wow, the hud is huge." She walked back toward QJ, while her students headed toward the bathing area to check it out. "Thank you again QJ."

"You're my date for the Star Crossed Ball, have to treat you nice right?"

Dessi's smile widened, "that's right."

"I'm going to head back to the house, let's meet up later Dessi."

Dessi watched him walk off. "Call if you need anything."

QJ pulled up to the front gate of his house, there were several white tents pitched outside. The sound of hammers and saws were everywhere.

Two Darkelves approached him, one held a bow and had a quiver full of wickedly sharp looking arrows. The other had twin scimitars peeking over his back in a shoulder harness. QJ smiled at them. "Younger brother QJ greets the Jol Clan."

The ranger extended his hand, "it's our honor QJ. I'm Zed and this is Foli."

"What's your status Zed?"

"I have a small squad of fighters, most of them are currently scouting out the area. There are two dozen craftsmen. We have several wagons of building supplies, Aji is in the house somewhere."

QJ looked around, they were already repairing the stone wall. "Who is Aji?"

"Aji Sai will be the Briar Rose Majordomo." Zed looked down when he spoke, it was obviously something that he disagreed with.

The Sai had attempted a coup several years ago, it had been put down by Fora. Mojo had personally banished Jana Sai and had killed their Clan Matriarch, Taiga Sai. Later on, Quinn had slain Kimo Sai during the Mata Ru. Mojo had eventually forgiven the Sai Clan and restored their place in the Dark Elf culture. Although Jana Sai was still banished to Fenway, she was also welcomed back.

"What's Aji's relations.h.i.+p to anyone my parents may have killed?"

"She is the daughter of Kimo Sai." Zed scowled when he said it. Kimo Sai had dark plans for Mojo and Serli. His plans were ruined by the Mata Ru candidate. He had been executed according to clan law years ago.

"I'll find her in the house." QJ turned toward the front door, both Darkelves started to follow him. "It's fine brothers, carry on out here."

The double doors that had once been the front door had been removed as the Jol craftsmen continued their work. QJ ducked inside and walked through the entryway. A small door next to the entry closet had been left open, for some reason he felt Aji might be in there.

The stairway descended to a small platform, did a right angle and then descended again. "It's a d.a.m.n bas.e.m.e.nt." QJ's night vision engaged as he approached another door. He stepped inside to a large room lined with benches. "The h.e.l.l is this?" It looked like a place of wors.h.i.+p or a shrine.

A banshee like scream from close-by sent s.h.i.+vers down his spine. He pulled his shotgun and ran past the benches to a small door. He kicked it in and then abruptly stopped himself. The door opened up to a large pit, there was a small walkway at the top. It was here that QJ perched. Six cloaked figures below surrounded a dark elf girl in white robes. She carried a long staff and was swinging it in wide circles to keep her attackers at bay.

*Fade*

You have faded from view.

QJ slid down the steep sides of the pit and charged into the circle. He slammed his shotgun into the neck of the nearest a.s.sailant, causing him to drop to the ground.

A Waylo Maelstrom apostle has been stunned.

He grabbed the dark elf by the hand and then fired point-blank and the nearest person.

*Blast*

A Daywalker has been stunned.

QJ has. .h.i.t target for 3,455 damage.

"This way!" The girl ran towards a door on the far end of the pit, they bolted through it and quickly barred it with a huge timber. An eerie voice made them both freeze in place.

YOUR BLOOD BELONGS TO THE DARK PRINCE!!

The heavy door was being hammered on by the other side, but thankfully it seemed to be holding. "We can't stay here." QJ looked around the room, there was only one other door.

"I'm Aji. Thank you for a.s.sisting me."

"I'm QJ." He glanced at the long staff she was carrying. "Are you a cleric perhaps?"

"Me?" Aji shook her head. She was tall for a dark elf, she seemed thin but with the robe she was wearing it was difficult to tell. "This is just a walking stick. I can't fight at all."

QJ stared at her in disbelief. "You're not a rogue or a ranger? Not even a cleric?"

"No, I'm a scholar."

"Sweet Mother... What kind of dark elf doesn't train fighting skills?"

"The kind whose father has sinned grievously."