Chapter 567: Game Time (one) (1/2)

Gideon covered his face when he stepped through the Breach; he could feel the Inferno Leader staring at him. ”Don't even say it.”

”Say what?” Nix laughed aloud. ”That you're fucking awkward when it comes to talking to women?”

Gideon sighed loudly. ”This didn't start out as my character.”

”Really?” Nix had taken them to the stall where Midnight was being kept. He opened the stall gate and slipped a lead over her head. ”Come on, time to make a new friend.”

Gideon watched as Nix led the Demon horse to a large four-railed corral. A few hay bales and a large watering trough took up one small corner of the rectangular structure. ”My brother started playing while I was in college. When his business started to grow, I sorta took the Gideon character over.”

Nix closed the corral gate and removed the lead from Nightmare. ”And now Gideon is so awesome; you don't want to start over?”

Gideon nodded and slipped on her 'Mai' ring. ”This works good enough. Remember when I mentioned heading into Virtuna?”

Nix nodded. ”Baseball and partying, if I remember right.”

”Is tomorrow going to work? I know it's short notice. While we were in the Bone Fortress, the World Series snuck up on us. It's tied at three games each!”

Nix held up a hand to halt the conversation. ”Don't tell me who's playing! Can we change the venue to Vasai Virtual?”

”Fancy, but I don't have Vasai.” Gideon smiled slyly. ”I suppose you do?”

Nix nodded. ”I'll send you my Vasai ID so that you can invite your friends.”

”It will only be my college roommate Yams, my brother, and his wife.”

”I'm bringing Pon, Semmi, and a childhood friend.” Nix accessed his inventory.

[Token: Skeleton Mount]

Activate Token?

”Yes.”

A moment later, a large skeleton horse appeared in front of him; its eyes were as dark as coal. At seventeen hands, it was a bit taller than Nightmare, it's front and back legs well proportioned.

Gideon gawked at the bone mount. ”That thing is way bigger than mine!”

Nix moved closer, suddenly a bit disappointed that it was a skeletal mount. ”He's about the size of Flash. Better keep them separated.” He placed a hand on the horse's head while Nightmare investigated with a curious nose. The skeleton stomped a forefoot in warning, causing the mare to back away. ”Hey... Make friends! Let's see what the details are.”

Barnabus: Skeletal Stallion

Description: Barnabus was the mount of the Lich King, Blood Maw. It disappeared

shortly after its owner was slain by the Tautius, the Great King.

Immune to Fire

Endless Stamina

The sound of Gideon's laugh made Nix turn around. ”What's so funny?”

”They can't mate, Nix. The Bone horse has no...”

”Bone?” Nix smiled slightly but left the two horses in the corral and headed toward the gate. ”I wouldn't put money against it.”

Gideon slipped off his 'Mai' ring and fell in step beside Nix. ”How are we going to start an Offensive against so many at once?”

Nix shrugged. ”No shop talk. We're resting and relaxing, but the easy answer is; we kick one ass at a time until all the asses are kicked.”

”Catchy.” Gideon turned at the slight motion just inside her peripheral vision. ”Looks like my guys are here.”

Nix turned at the sight of Paco, Roto, and Jiggs walking toward them. He immediately shifted into his Basilisk form.

Jigg's round face widened in a grin. ”That basilisk form is bad-ass.”

Roto nodded in agreement. ”Hey, Gid. Where's Nebs?”

The Basilisk's yellow eyes stared at the group. ”Which one of you statues is responsible for my engagement to Raine?”

Roto pointed at Jiggs. ”That guy!”

Paco made a gesture toward the Pathfinder scout. ”Yep, it was Jiggs.”

Gideon nodded in agreement. ”Sure as shit.”

Nix has activated [Petrify].

Jiggs has been petrified.

Nix shifted back into his human form. ”Want me to open a breach back to North Haven?”

Gideon nodded; he was struggling not to laugh at the expression of terror on the statue's face. ”Yes, please.”

Both Paco and Roto were nodding in unison, glad to be leaving the vicinity of the Inferno Leader.

Nix opened a breach to North Haven and then waited until they exited before turning toward the statue. ”Everyone likes a jokester.” Nix patted the scout's rock-hard head. ”Just hang out here for a bit; we'll talk later.”

When he entered his Ranch house a few minutes later, Semmi and Shae were sitting on the couch talking while Pon sat at the kitchen island enjoying his beer. ”Pon!”

The old man looked up from his beer when Nix called his name. ”Hyai left you a lunch-box in the fridge. She went off with Min, Fajii, and Nansu.”

Nix shrugged and made a bee-line for the fridge. ”Want to head to Vasai Virtual tomorrow? Game seven of the World Series.” He deliberately spoke louder than necessary so that Shae would overhear.

Pon glanced over to where Semmi and Shae were sitting; they had definitely heard Nix. ”Same people as before?”

Nix nodded. ”Hopefully, the four of us and then Gideon and his buddies.”

Pon held up his beer in salute. ”Fucking Awesome.”

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