436 Assassination: Zen Dar (1/2)

/Alpha: Darsi: I'm on it. I'll keep you updated.

Darsi banked her Daiken and moved in the direction of the fleeing raiders. She stowed her rifle and was using her monoculars to scan the raiders.

[Whisper: Darsi to Nix] You ever plan on spending time in the real world again?

[Whisper: Nix to Darsi] Eventually, I would like to. My mother and sister are both buried in Camden; I want to visit them.

[Whisper: Darsi to Nix] Just don't forget you're Henry Jones, the VR lifer. Remember my family cabin in upstate New York?

[Whisper: Nix to Darsi] Sure. I stayed there for a few days.

[Whisper: Darsi to Nix] I just bought it out a few weeks ago, so it's all mine now. Feel free to use it if you ever need a place.

[Whisper: Nix to Darsi] You've been logging off?

[Whisper: Darsi to Nix] I spend quite a bit of time in Virtuna, as a customer of Vasai Virtual you can reserve 'out of game' stays to take care of personal matters.

[Whisper: Nix to Darsi] Virtuna? Those are the apartments we stay in during patches.

[Whisper: Darsi to Nix] I'm guessing you didn't try using the Com-station while you were there. Virtuna is plugged directly into the real world. You can watch the news, sports, contact friends and family. Originally it was set up for deep-stays to keep in touch with the outside world.

Nix had been using the Vasai banking options since he came back from the Gladis Hub Incident. There were a few menus that he hadn't explored fully.

[Whisper: Nix to Darsi] My family is here, and for obvious reasons, I can never contact my real friends again.

[Whisper: Darsi to Nix] It's an option. You could catch a Bill's game.

[Whisper: Nix to Darsi] How'd you know I'm a Bill's fan?

[Whisper: Darsi to Nix] You've got that heir of depression that all Bill's fans have.

[Whisper: Nix to Darsi] Funny. I'll probably schedule a few days in Virtuna to catch up on news and sports.

[Whisper: Darsi to Nix] Take your family with you, they probably miss a lot of things and don't even realize it. Ice cream, pizza, vodka... Let me know when you do; I might tag along.

[Whisper: Nix to Darsi] Sounds good maybe after these Four Corner Quests are done.

[Whisper: Darsi to Nix] I'll keep in touch. Ciao.

[Whisper: Nix to Darsi] Stay close to Aledo Remis. Cya.

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1300 hours, Parliament Courtyards

Nebula sat comfortably across from Mai in the Northern Courtyards. ”You're so cute, Gid. I can't stand it.”

/Pathfinder: Mai: Report.

/Pathfinder: Jiggs: Delyn Xai is still in the Xai Clan Office.

/Pathfinder: Roto: No sign of the target yet.

/Pathfinder: Paco: Nothing to report.

Nebs kicked her companion under the table. ”Three o'clock, target sighted.”

Tura Zen Dar entered the courtyard with two others. The small group paused for a moment while Zen used his hud to talk with someone.

/Pathfinder: Mai: Target is in the North Courtyard.

/Pathfinder: Jiggs: Shit. Delyn's on the move that Tura Raine is with him.

/Pathfinder: Mai: Delay them. Under no circumstances are you to injure Rain Xai. Nix would have our asses.

/Pathfinder: Paco: On my way to the courtyard.

/Pathfinder: Roto: Same here.

Jiggs moved around the corner and then dropped stealth. He pulled his hat off and smoothed back his mass of brown hair. He took two steps around the corner and then stopped as if recognizing the approaching Dhassi. ”Tura Raine Xai?”

Raine nodded at the thief, dressed in black. He had an heir of mischief about him, the kind of person you knew was always in trouble. ”Yes?”

Jiggs smiled and bowed deeply. ”I'm here about an Alliance with the Xai Clan.”

Raine pushed an errant strand of brown hair behind one ear before glancing at her Master. ”We are already allied with the 12 Pillars. Guild Leader Nix brought us in a long time ago.”

Jiggs nodded knowingly. ”Of course. I'm talking about something different, this is an alliance of a familial nature.”

Delyn shook his head slightly; his instinct was telling him that the human was up to something. ”Sorry, friend, I don't have time for this.” The pair neatly stepped around Jiggs and headed toward the stairs.

Jiggs smiled at the fleeing Dhassi. ”You are really unconcerned by a proposal of marriage from Guild Leader Nix?”

Both Dhassi froze in place, they glanced at each other and then turned back toward the speaker.

”Marriage proposal,” Raine asked?

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