"Damn, this thing is uncomfortable." Nix shifted slightly on the Gemini throne and brought up the Champion menu; as the Palace Nemesis, Nix could bestow the blessings of the Gemini Temple on his champion.

"It makes me happy to see someone sitting on the Gemini Throne once again." Elune's voice carried from the northern archway.

"Have you had a chance to explore the Palace? I'm assuming that it has changed a bit." Nix was starting to understand the Gemini High Priestess, her entire being was consumed by what she considered her calling.

Elune's duo-colored face nodded. "My sanctuary is my larger, the lower levels didn't exist, I'm afraid you must explore those, most likely they are dangerous. In general, everything is much larger. The Acolyte rooms on the upper level are much more numerous."

Nix watched as she approached and handed him a large cylindrical object. It had the same black and white coloring as the throne. He had already noticed the round indention on the smooth surface where he rested his arm. "I'm assuming this goes here?"

Elune shrugged. "I do not know. This is part of the upgrade I believe. It appeared on the altar this morning while you were entertaining your Archon friend."

Nix knew that his high priestess had a vast knowledge of Oasis and dhassi cultures. "You know about Archons too?"

"Only enough to know that she is one."

"You have my permission to leave the Temple whenever you like if that is your wish."

Elune stared at him for a moment before bowing her head slightly. "Thank you, Nix."

Nix kept his face expressionless, it had taken him a long time to convince her to drop the title when addressing him, sometimes she would forget and call him Lord. He inserted the cylinder into the arm of the throne, immediately a large hud (heads up display) popped up in front of him.

Elune moved beside him, staring at the menu. "Acolyte menus, equipment, quests, and skills that can be given to them."

Nix whistled, "not given, earned. It looks like a point system."

"You must choose Acolytes carefully Nix, I believe choosing from Oasis could prove problematic." Elune reached around him and brought up the Head Acolyte Menu.

"What's the difference between the Head Acolyte and the High Priestess?"

"You get to decide that. In the past, I worked closely with the Head Acolyte. He was always out on missions while I'll take care of the Gemini Temple."

"I see no problem with keeping your duties as they were before."

[Summons: Ea'Shadai, Cali, Torrent]

Elune gasped at their sudden appearance. "Arch Winds?"

Nix nodded. "What were the results of the task I asked you to complete."

Cal stepped forward, he was the strongest of the three and their spokesperson. "You only need to say the amount Nix, there are hundreds willing to answer your call."

Nix studied the screen in front of him. "The limit for Acolytes is two hundred for this Palace. We don't need that many. Let's start with Fifty."

Cal nodded his white-feathered head. "Do you wish to pick them?"

"I will trust my Arch Wind companions in this matter. Please see to it."

Nix watched as Ea'Shadai formed a wind-tunnel and all three entered quickly.

"Wind tunnel to Air'Voilla?" Elune's face was lit up in a smile. "I've read about it, I would love to go there once."

"Arch Winds will make good Acolytes. Will you manage their training until I find a proper Head Acolyte?"

Elune nodded. "I can manage."

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

"Morning Sunshine." Nix greeted Semmi when he arrived at the Guild Office a few minutes later. She was busy looking at the week's dockets.

She favored him with a sly smile. "Lord Nix."

He hadn't spoken to her since they released Ishna and her followers. "Still angry with Pon?"

Her smiling face quickly turned into a frown, she nodded slightly and stared at her hud.

"It's none of my business Sem, personally I think you can do better. But." Semmi glanced up at him. "But?"

"It's easier to meet someone's expectations if you tell them ahead of time."

Semmi started muttering to herself, her face looking angry.

[Whisper: Nix to Pon] We're heading to Loki today. If you're not a complete idiot, try to make amends with Semmi.

[Whisper: Pon to Nix] Me? She hit me and then stomped off like I did something wrong.

[Whisper: Nix to Pon] It's probably the first time a female has liked you without money changing hands, figure it out, old man.

[Whisper: Pon to Nix] Semmi likes me?

[Whisper: Nix to Pon] Maybe she'll come to her senses and find someone who's not an old bastard.

/Inferno: Nix: You busy Junie?

/Inferno: Jun Li: No. Need something?

/Inferno: Nix: Could you meet me at the Gemini Temple after the raid today?

/Inferno: Jun Li: Will you be back from Loki by then?

/Inferno: Nix: Should be.

Semmi gave up on being mad, her pretty face showing curiosity. "Why do you want to see Junie?"

"Um... Well, I'm going to seduce her. Any advice?"

Semmi's laughter echoed in the office. Her wide smile showed all her teeth. "Bring lots of booze, and maybe a large toolbag."

"To remove the giant stick she has shoved up her ass?"

Semmi laughed again, her blonde head nodding. "I love Juni, she has her odd quirks."

"With any luck, they'll be able to finish 9.2 and 9.3 today while we are at Loki." Nix brought up his hud and started looking at his messages.

Semmi leaned back in her chair and ran her fingers through her short blonde hair. "You talk to Mina yet?"

Nix shook his head. "Not lately, with Shae visiting, I didn't really have the time."

"What kind of relationship do you have with her Nix?"

"A very good one, based on mutual trust and like." Nix glanced up from his hud. "Why?"

Semmi shrugged. "You're important to the Aquarions, much more so than the rest of us."

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

[0945 hours, Phai City]

/Alpha Team: Nix: Do we have the signatures?

/Alpha Team: Semmi: Yes, I've already submitted the 12 Pillar contract to Parliament.

Instead of an Alliance based on handshakes, Inferno offered the other human guilds a written contract that clearly spelled out everyone's duties.

/Alpha Team: Wind: There's an entire city of dhassi there right? They aren't going to like us coming in and taking over.

/Alpha Team: Nix: No worries, I know a thing or two about diplomacy.

/Alpha Team: Pon: This I gotta see.

/Alpha Team: Semmi: The large city there is located on the coast, there's a dock, but no shipyard.

/Alpha Team: Nix: Don't they have naval battles on Oasis?

/Alpha Team: Semmi: No, not really. They dhassi don't even have a real navy. Just a loose conglomerate of merchant and cargo ships.

/Alpha Team: Nix: That's what I like to hear.

/Alpha Team: Wind: Are we going to become Pirate Kings?

/Alpha Team: Nix: Yes. Look into shipbuilding in Oasis Sem. /Alpha Team: Semmi: I can already tell you they don't have ships in bottles that you can purchase.

[Your Team has been invited to join the 'Alliance Channel.' Do you wish to join?]

"Yes."

/Alliance: Gideon: Hey guys, we're almost there. Introduce yourselves to our Inferno friends.

/Alliance: Paco: I'm Paco, an officer in Salamander.

/Alliance: Nebula: Call me Nebs and sing out if you need heals.

/Alliance: Roto: I'm Roto, another Ranger wannabee.

/Alliance: Jiggs: I'm Jiggs, the best Fire Mage in Oasis.

/Alliance: Pon: The hell you say... magic

/Alliance: Gideon: He's actually a scout, he loves to f*ck with people.

/Alliance: Jiggs: The best scout in Oasis!

/Alliance: Wind: I'm Wind, nice to meet you.

/Alliance: Semmi: Sem here, future Guild Leader of Inferno.

/Alliance: Pon: Pon, I live to burn shit...

/Alliance: Fajii: I'm Fajii, Lord of the Scorched Earth Temple.

/Alliance: Gideon: How we playing this Nix?

/Alliance: Nix: We'll take the portal directly to Loki and then start Diplomatic relations with the dhassi who reside there.

Nix stepped onto the Phai City platform and chose Loki.

The Portal to the freshly minted Loki was located on a small peninsula outside of town. From the small rocky outcropping, you could see the entire city. The city walls were made from yellow stones. The buildings they could see from their vantage point were from the same material.

/Alliance: Semmi: Nice view.

A small path from the portal led down a short hill to the front gate of the city. Nix brought up the territory menu and pulled up the port city menu.

[Loki territory]

[As a new territory, you have several city options that are only available one time. ]

[City Menu]

) Rename City

) Edit Buildings [One time]

) Expel Occupants [One time]

Nix chose option one.

[Please choose a new name.]

"Loki City."

/Alliance: Pon: Wow boss, put a lot of thought into that one.

/Alliance: Semmi: Easy to remember.

The healer called Nebs moved closer to Nix and peeked at the hud. "There's an edit option? Awesome, this city is built bassackwards."

/Alliance: Gideon: Nebs is a city planner irl. I had her look at maps of this city since it's going to be our new home.

/Alliance: Nix: I'll have to rely on your advice then Nebs.

The group walked down the hill, stopping at the front gate which was closed.

/Alliance: Nix: Why would the gate be closed?

/Alliance: Gideon: Typical dhassi hospitality.

A few moments later, three Fir'Dhassi appeared on top of the wall. They peered down at them with weapons drawn. "State your business humans."

Nix nodded. "By Parliament decree, this is now a human territory. I'm Nix, the temporary Governor of Loki. Open the gates at once.

Two of the Fir'Dhassi drew back their bows and prepared to fire, the third smirked at the group below. "Leave now humans, and don't come back."