Exodus: The Assassin's Path 31 Pioneer Bounty

It only took half a day to completely move out of his apartment. Orion Media had paid for the moving truck. After Quinn finished with his things, he started helping the movers with the Joki's stuff. A medical transport had come and picked up Renri, Tal had accompanied her leaving Quinn and Ben to finish the move.

"How the h.e.l.l did you manage this home so quickly Quinn?" It was no secret, Ben thought of Quinn as his own son.

Quinn laughed and gave him a wink. "Same old thing Pops."

Ben Joki gave Quinn a solemn nod, "you cheated right?"

"Yep." Quinn locked the Joki's door and dropped off both their keys at the Office. Quinn had paid out the remaining rent on both apartment leases and willingly forfeited the down-payments. He looked at his watch. In eight hours and eleven minutes, he managed to bring his family together.

By the time Quinn arrived with the movers, Tal had already settled Ren in one of the downstairs bedrooms. There were two bedrooms downstairs, and four upstairs. The old man had told Tal to take the other downstairs room but she refused.

Quinn grinned as he watched the two of them argue. It was, "old man legs vs. prosthetic, each feeling that the other needed the downstairs room more. 'd.a.m.n, I need popcorn for this.'

Surprisingly Tal won the argument by admitting she wanted to be next to Quinn upstairs. The old man stared at her open mouthed and then looked at Quinn. He had a happy look on his face as he started moving his things into the downstairs bedroom.

"Oh G.o.d really? That's about as low as I've seen you stoop Tal." Quinn could smell a con when he heard one.

Tal looked a bit guilty but picked up a box and started heading up the stairs.

"Stop.. put that down Tal." Quinn walked toward her and took the box from her arms. "How about I bring things up the stairs, and you bring them from the top of the stairs to our rooms?"

"Are you saying that because I have one leg?" Tal knew Quinn didn't care about her leg, she was still sensitive about not being able to do the things she wanted.

"No.. I'm saying it because you are a pretty woman, and hauling boxes up stairs is sweaty, man work."

Quinn grabbed another box and stacked it on the one he had, and then took the stairs two at at time.

"Fine, I agree." Tal didn't mind it if Quinn was being a bit s.e.xist. "You have to take your s.h.i.+rt off though!"

"Denied pervert!" Quinn came back down the stairs pa.s.sing Tal halfway as she climbed up.

"Pfft.. the things you say Little Q!"

The three of them had dinner around the island of a s.p.a.cious new kitchen. They were all tired, but each of them had a satisfied look on their face.

"Is that Anna Li going to come back?" Ben Joki had heard the story from Tal, he had already learned a valuable life lesson about making bets with Quinn.

Quinn shrugged. "I think so. I'm sure she has to move her things just like we did."

"That was a good idea getting a financial manager. I don't even want to know how much money you've made in the past two weeks." Tal finished off the rest of her beer and leaned back with a contented sigh.

"You took the room I was going to put her in, now I'll have to sneak past your room to get to hers," Quinn said.

"So I blocked your play then?" Tal gave him a innocent smirk.

"We'll see." Quinn winked at her as he started cleaning up dinner. The old man helped with everything and a few minutes later they had formed a was.h.i.+ng, rinsing and drying line.

"You know we could just throw everything in the dishwasher?" The old man was on dry detail, although he really wanted to play with the suds.

"Don't be jealous!!" Quinn smiled at him with his suds beard, Talia's laughter echoing through the kitchen.

"I like this room better Ren," Quinn sat on a chair next to her bed, a book sitting on his lap as he paused his reading. "I'll even paint it your favorite color."

He sat the book down and moved over to the window, "its pretty big right?" Quinn stared at the sleeping girl. "Honestly, I'd do anything if it meant you could hug Tal again, the last two years has been pretty hard on her."

The young man sat back next to the bed and started reading aloud once again. He didn't see Tal standing next to the door, one hand covering her mouth while tears spilled onto the hallway floor.

"Quinn?" Ben poked his head into Ren's room just as he finished the chapter he had been reading.

"Did Mari show up yet?" Mari was a retired nurse who on occasion would monitor Renri when Ben and Tal had to be somewhere.

"Hmm? Yeah she's waiting in the living room." The old man struggled a bit with occasional papers falling from his stack.

"All ready Pops?" Quinn shook his head at the pile of notebooks the old man had in his arms.

He kissed the sleeping girl's head and followed the old man into the other downstairs bedroom. Ben might look like an old hermit, but he was a ridiculous clean freak. There were already shelves of books neatly categorized and put away. It hurt Quinn's head to even think about it.

"I'm going to get ready!" The old man stacked his notes in a box near the door and climbed easily

into the small VR chamber. Quinn had only asked for four, but each of the six bedrooms had one.

"Quinn? I need your help up here!" Tal yelled from upstairs, she definitely wasn't a quiet woman.

"You good here Pops?" Quinn asked?

Ben gave him the thumbs up and the chamber door closed with a 'hissss.'

Quinn waved at Mari who was heading into Renri's room, and then bounded up the stairs, two at a time. He heard muttered curses coming from Tal's room. Walking in he rolled his eyes, the room was immaculate. Quinn remembered reading somewhere that really smart people were almost always clean freaks. "Oh G.o.d,what the h.e.l.l are you doing?"

The VR chambers had 'S' shaped seats that were made for reclining or sitting up.

Tal's face was slightly red as she tried to adjust the chair, "I can't get this to where I like it!"

Quinn offered his hand and helped her out. "For starters Tal, you were upside down."

Tal tilted her head to one side, "I was?"

Q sighed, smart people. He helped her in and settled the built-in neural net around her head. "Love you Tal." He smiled at her as he closed the VR chamber.

He walked into his bedroom and grabbed his old VR helm. "I wont be in long, just want to wrap up a few things before school."

Quinn lay back on his huge new bed and slipped the helm on. "I could get use to this. Log on TAP."

TAP Interface Acquired.

Synchronizing character data.....

Welcome Back Q, find your path!

Q found the old man wandering the market and quickly headed him off. "Hey Pops!"

"Hey Quinn! Oh sorry I mean Q." The old man had a huge grin on his face. "I want to see the new place!"

"That's right, you haven't been there yet, follow me." Q handed him an apple token.

"Oh, so through the portal to the warehouse right?" Pops fell in right beside Q as he made his way to the portal.

A moment later the two of them arrived at the warehouse. Tal was already huddled around the conference table with Remmy and Mojo. She glanced up when she heard the portal activate.

"Pops!" Tal smiled as he walked toward the table, there was no limp or tiredness to him.

Q nodded at Remmy and Mojo,"Pops, I believe you know everyone."

Remmy smiled and stuck out her hand, "nice to meet you Pops."

"You can call me Mojo if it suits you." Mojo wore a blue sleeveless s.h.i.+rt and black pants, quite the change from her normal clothes. She wore her white hair pulled back in a single braid that stopped just short of her waist.

"Thank you, Doc or Pops is fine if you wish." He shook Remmy's hand, while he looked around the room.

"I didn't expect we'd see you today Q'Ikah." Mojo gave him a quick embrace, "it's a nice surprise though."

"We have a few things to discuss, first the building should have an upgrade available right?" Q's eye caught the dark ringlet he had gifted her.

Mojo nodded, "we were just discussing the best options."

"Lets go with a market hub." Q opened up a trade window and gave Pops most of the credits he had on him.

Mojo nodded and opened her hud to make the choices. "I'm afraid we don't have much in the way of funding yet. Although we will see nice profit from the sell of Orion's forfeits."

"I just gave Pops 500 thousand credits," he patted the old man's shoulder. "That's faction currency now."

System Message: Pops has joined the Fora Development Group Faction.

System Message: Pops has been made Treasury Officer for the Fora Development Group Faction.

System Message: Pops has joined Task Force Raven.

Pops

Level 1

Strength 22

Endurance 21

Intelligence 59

Agility 16

Luck 35

Charisma 18

Pops stretched his arms over his head, his wrinkled face grinning. "d.a.m.n Q, now I feel like I'm twenty again!"

A market/trading hub appeared at the end of the first shelf, Q walked over when he saw it. "This baby is all yours. From here you can access every trading hub and auction house in TAP, you can access our entire warehouse inventory also."

"Hmm? Well.. what's this thing do." Immediately Pops started messing with the interface and bringing up multiple huds. "Oh.. I see, I see." He ignored the people around him as he settled in.

Remmy slid a chair over and pushed it against the back of his legs, her face split in a wide grin. "He's just like Tal!"

"Q'Ikah.." Mojo had been staring at him the entire time. "When we first met, I said some things. I see now that I was completely wrong about everything."

"Hmm? Hey don't worry about it." He reached out and squeezed her hand, "I would like to show you something though, check this out."

TAP: NPC a.s.sa.s.sin

Skill Name:Practice makes Perfect

Weapon Skill: Pistoleros 66

Weapon Skill: Halberd 60

Weapon Skill: Dagger 68

Weapon Skill: Demolitions 1

"What?" Remmy jumped at Q grabbing him as she stared at his hud. "Q, you can blow things up now?"

"I went back to the woods and took down all the trip lines we set up, I received the notification right after that." Q rubbed her pink hair.

"Q, you're my best friend ever!" Remmy squeezed him tight before letting go.

Q nodded, "yep, we can blow things up together now!" Q laughed at Remmy's expression, she looked like a little kid at Christmas.

"Have you tried to learn anything else Q?" Mojo's face was calm, but her tone sounded serious.

"No, not really. We spent a few hours setting up the demolitions though."

"You may be able to learn more skills Q, if so we must approach this cautiously." Mojo gave him a stern look. "Before we know more, don't expose yourself to any more skills."

"Hey, think if I rubbed everyone's back, I might get a ma.s.seuse skill?" Q rubbed his hands together. "I'm going to make everyone lunch! We could use a faction Chef right?"

Mojo narrowed her eyes at him. "That's you joking right?"

"Yep." 'Dang, she use to be an easier target.'

Mojo lips curved into the slightest smile, as she were proud of herself.

Q left the group to their own devices and activated the blinking mail icon.

TAP MAIL

Subject: See you in cla.s.s! Sender: Sinful Jinn Attachment:None

Subject: Contract Complete Sender:Jaded Ice Attachment:Deeds x4

Subject: No Subj Sender:TAP Attachment:Badge

Subject: No Subj Sender:TAP Attachment:TAP Coin

Subject: Pioneer Bounty Sender:TAP Attachment:Currency, Legal Doc.u.ments x2

"Open first mail."

Dear, Q

I had a great field trip. I spoke to my raid group today and asked for my release. Both Rhapsody and myself will see you tonight. You better show up for cla.s.s today!

Sinful Jinn

"Don't worry, I'll definitely be there."

"Open second mail."

System Message: Deed: Nomadic Red Dome x 4 has been deposited in your inventory.

Deed: Nomadic Red Dome

Unique:Temporary

Description: Can only be set up on

unclaimed Lands in TAP territory.

Must remain for six days before moving.

Q,

Here are the deeds you requested. Since my apartment is owned by the company I won't have any lease issues. I packed all my things and the company is flying me back to Vegas tonight. I will see you there.

Jaded Ice

"Those tents are awesome... she sounds a bit angry though."

"Open third mail."

System Message: Burning Star Badge has been deposited into your inventory.

Burning Star Badge

Unique:Heroic

Description: Strength and

Agility Stats are increased by

10.

System Message: Do you wish to equip Burning Star Badge?

"Yep. Open fourth mail."

System Message: 'Weathering the Storm' Coin has been deposited into your inventory. Do you wish to activate coin?

Weathering the Storm

Unique: Heroic

Description: You were

victorious against overwhelming

odds. Endurance Stat is increased by

10.

Additional Effect:The duration

of any s.h.i.+elding talent you

have is now doubled.

"Yep. Open fifth mail."

System Message: Property deed has been deposited into your inventory.

System Message: t.i.tle of Count has been deposited into your inventory.

System Message: 50 million credits has been deposited into your inventory.

Dear Q

Congratulations on uncovering the secret TAP cla.s.s: NPC a.s.sa.s.sin. Your prior t.i.tle of Baron has been upgraded to Count. Your t.i.tle ent.i.tles you to a monthly stipend in the amount of 100 thousand credits. You have been granted a Smithy, and are now allowed to purchase businesses in all TAP cities. The property deed enclosed grants you 5000 acres of any unclaimed lands in TAP territories. There are building materials and workers included in the land grant.

May you find your path.

Pioneer Bounty Inc.

"d.a.m.n, now that's just handy as h.e.l.l." He glanced up and noticed that everyone had gone about their business. Pops was busy at the market interface, while Tal was making adjustments to the mapping functions of the conference table.

They looked up when he approached. Tal looked like a girl eating ice cream. "We'll be going into the field soon," she said cheerfully.

"Then I've got something you will like." Q opened up trade windows with both Mojo and Tal at the same time. He sent Tal one deed and Mojo two. 'Best if I keep one also.'

Deed: Nomadic Red Dome

Unique:Temporary

Description: Can only be set up on

unclaimed Lands in TAP territory.

Must remain for six days before moving.

"Wow Little Q." Tal was reading the deed carefully, "d.a.m.n they are huge!"

"Where did you get these Q'Ikah?" Mojo's eyes looked almost angry. She grabbed his wrist and drug him back to the empty galley.

"Um... something wrong?" Q was sure he hadn't done anything, lately anyway.

The dark elf took a deep breathe and let it out slowly. "Are there any other miracles or acts of overwhelming generosity you'd like to share?"

"Nope nothing really, hey it's kinda private here." Q wiggled his eyebrows at her. "We going to kiss again?"

"...." Mojo.

Q laughed at the look on her face.

"So you did know it was me." Mojo whispered under her breathe.

Q nodded. "At the springs, I couldn't help myself, I was captivated." Q shook his wrist loose and walked back toward the conference table. He understood that the only wrong thing he could say, was that he thought she was somebody else.

Mojo watched him walk away. "Captivated?" She smiled and held up the ringlet he had given her. "That does have a nice sound to it."