They entered the airlock and cycled in silence. They trudged to the locker room. There were two parties of people in the locker room. They seemed to be trash talking.

Ros was surprised that she recognized one of the groups, Steve, Mikael, Hector, Gobi and Jake from the Ibsen group. They had been a frustrated fourth wave cadre of couch potatoes. In the other timeline they didn’t get off their collective asses for weeks yet.

Yet here they were, suiting up to go outside.

“Let’s ask them. They look like they would know.” One of the other group said. “Would it be better if we all stick together or split apart?”

“Have you been out at all yet?” Ros asked.

They all shook their heads. “Someone posted a copy of the suit training manual online this morning and we decided to try mining.” The only woman in the group said. She wasn’t Ibsen.

“Mining or monster farming?” Ros asked. She had a sudden thought and dropped one copy of each monster in the middle of the room, smallest first. She put her rubber gloves on over her suit gloves first.

“This is a vacuum squid. Local concentration hangs out near an unmanned guard shack just outside. Truth about spawns is that if you have an active quest, in this case the bounty sheet, the spawns will keep coming until everyone in the party has a full quest.

“If you want to farm squids make sure someone in the group has the quest open. If everyone has the quest open the spawn rate goes way up.

“Flimsies like the open ground and the sides of the chasm. They’re pretty hard to see, until you understand how they move,” she set the diaphanous raait on the floor, stretching it out.

“They float and they cling to rocks. They squeeze bladders of helium from side to side to raise and lower their sheets. This is a greater raait. A lot like the lesser ones inside. You won’t see them much until you start finding caves and loot deposits. In general if you can’t consistently kill a hex jelly leave the big boys alone, makes it harder to find good mining deposits, so what you’re looking for is hemisphere mounds on the canyon floor.

“Usually a bit of gold in a stone matrix, maybe some other metals or crystals. Stick to the roads and you won’t see these or these.” She put the legendary on the floor. It squelched in an intimidating manner. “If you see the big fellow, run. If you can’t run, the kill shot is a double tap, this and this. Before they’re ruined they look like a little indent on the face, below the jaw. He will be upright. So it will be below the teeth. Questions?”

“You two killed that thing?”

“She killed it.” Brandon said. “I was too busy shitting my pants and getting ready to run. She told me to hit the legs.”

“If he can’t move he can’t bite and the double tap is easier. I shot this with an E-23 and it took what, hon? Three? Four shots per spot? I don’t think it was five.”

“Three on the top, four on the bottom.”

“Thanks. How sweet that you noticed. Anyway,”Ros started to pick up the bodies again. “once you can kill the greater Raaits consistently you can invade their caves. Then you need a bag, a pick and a shovel. If you’re good at math you can qualify on a nanite controller, a nanite wielder will always be popular at any mining camp.”

“Are… are you the quest person?”

Ros looked at Brandon who was laughing at her quietly. “No. I’m just a hunter. Same as anyone. If you find anything you can sell it at the desk, but you would get a better price in the city. There’s no company customs enforcement anymore. My advice? Stick together and farm squids. They’re twenty coin each.”

The two groups left the locker room.

“You seriously can’t help it, can you? Teaching moment. Excuse me while I whip out these nightmares to show you.” Brandon snickered:

She eyed him disdainfully. “One of these days I’m going to throw a whole Moon Wurm at your feet like a cat that thinks it’s human is a horrible hunter.”

He erupted into laughter and started stripping out of his suit. Ros popped hers into her necklace as soon as she had her necklace back around her neck. She stood there, nude, waiting for him to notice. He noticed pretty quickly.

“Uh…”

“My spatial necklace is good enough to take an outfit off, store it and put it back on the same as it was.” She put the suit on and off a couple of times. “Nifty, huh.”

“The plumbing?”

“Yup, even the plumbing. Just have to fart to seal it.”

He shook his head. “There is no mistaking you for anything except what you are. Let’s get to karate. Why didn’t I think of not leaving my suit in my locker?”

She shrugged. “You’re only a couple years removed from Earth, not over thirty.” She led him into the showers and didn’t linger. She dressed in her gi and handed him one from the pile of them she’d invested in. They were cheap and she had a lot of storage space. She rolled up the mining bag and while she was in the toilet briefly she tossed it in the pocket treasure room.

They strolled through the chasm and Ros spotted more groups she knew had been hiding in the green zone at this point in the previous timeline. They got to the central lift and went up. There was a sign taped to the mirror.

Karate training

Moved to the

Fifth floor

Setsuko

They turned around and went back down. Setsuko was in the lobby, holding a sword. “Have you cleared the red gym?” She asked in her quiet, competent way.

“Yes.”

“We’re waiting in the first room on the right, that way. Two of our number are clearing for the first time. When they finish or perish we will begin. We have all day every day to train. I’m going to lead classes at 6:30 morning and evening.”

“Maybe we can get some of the military trained hand to hand specialists to pitch in.” Ros said.

“Maybe Ros will realize she’s teaching not learning.” Setsuko said, behind her hand without lowering her voice.

Brandon snorted. “I like you. We’ll go join the others.”

Ros was pleased by who she saw in the first room on the right. “I have something for you guys.”

She gathered Doug, Shirl, Del and Axel to give each of them a bag of refined Wurm poop.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“If there was anything unique or indivisible I kept it as my share. The rest is split four ways as evenly as the hall monitor could manage for me. I don’t even know what I kept, I had other logs to process.” She opened a trade to each of them. She didn’t know how much stuff was in the bags, but the logs were eight feet long and a foot to a foot and a half in diameter.

“Wow.” Shirl said. Then she looked up, guilt on her face. “Oh. Um… i… Uh…”

“You want Doug and you don’t share?” Ros clarified.

“Yeah.” Shirl blushed.

“I am very happy for you both, and I hope you make each other happy for a long time.”

Doug grinned at her and winked. “That’s the plan, ma’am.”

“So. Martin, how goes the plan to push the third wave into helping the fourth?”

“Remarkably well, although there is a second and third wave meeting in the 19th floor lounge at dinner tonight.” Martin smiled happily. “These four have been a lot of help spreading the word.”

“This one is kinda more badass than we thought she could be.” Brandon hitched his chin at Ros.

“We’re not inner circle only.” Shirl glanced at the other karate students, four of them, two Ros had never met. They were playing cards

Ros nodded emphatically. “Martin’s plan is supposed to be spread to everyone. My… we’ll talk about me later. Maybe even a little show and tell. I need a camera and to change my colors to do a bit of show and tell.”

“Good idea, actually. She killed the biggest raait I’ve ever seen.”

“A legendary.” Ros shrugged. “They’re more common then you’d guess. Usually in caves with openings too small for it to get out of. I think they spawn inside the cave.”

“So…” Axel looked around. “Should I be feeling on the outside of the might get lucky with Ros club? Because you’re kinda intimidating, Sir.”

Brandon snort laughed. “Apparently that’s completely up to her, but if I don’t get a turn soon I might die of heartbreak.”

“You’re just complaining because I’m a terrible tease and we showered together at the mine.”

Shirl gasped, looked outraged and then relaxed. She even smiled. “You’re going to end up with a harem.” She clucked, but she sounded relaxed and happy as she said it.

“We all just need to know she can beat us up easier than we can beat each other up.” Brandon said. He looked at Martin. “She wiped the floor with me. Armed and unarmed. Do not mess with the telekinetic chick. She’s got these knives…”

“Wait. Telekinetic?” Doug demanded.

“I waited to apply it. I wasn’t sure I wanted it, but it’s the absolute best. I do not regret it.” She grinned broadly. Her friends rolled their eyes at her and Ros was happy and a bit startled to realize she already had real friends. She needed to keep friends, not let herself get all isolated and alone in the crowd. Alone in the crowd, in the commander’s slot, sucked.

“I’m halfway done with the first round of potion quests. Oh, actually I have all the Grublings I need too. So that’s… oh, and I got three train flyers. That was an accident. I didn’t mean to get their attention.”

“Think you can demonstrate that without making us all shit ourselves?” Brandon asked.

She frowned. She sighed. “I mean of course, but I probably shouldn’t. I should barely be able to generate an ounce of killing intent, much less a blast that qualifies as a mental attack.”

“Wait, killing intent like that thing Franklin does?”

Brandon nodded.

Ros groaned and sat on the desk, which was right behind her. “You just have to… I mean you know how you’re in the zone and just killing things? How the world just falls away and you can practically kill something without even touching it? Think of what that feels like and then look at someone as if you could kill them without even twitching a muscle. You have to know that you are the biggest, baddest predator in any room and just… just be. Be the animal.” She shook her head. “I can’t describe it.”

“Yeah, you just described it perfectly.” Brandon said. “It was like a fear effect, but it was strong enough to draw the aggression of the flyers. They race towards danger.”

“Usually they’re the most dangerous thing in their environment.” Martin said. “I wouldn’t go looking for them.”

“She potted them out of the sky with those stupid unbalanced leaf knives.” Brandon said, disgusted.

“Yes.” Shirl murmured. “She likes those.”

“She training field killed me with the things.” Brandon mourned.

“She training field killed me eight times in ten minutes.” Del said. “With her bare hands.”

“Yeah. Deadly Dollface.” Axel shook his head.

Three more soft looking women in gis walked in.

“Oh. You’re Brandon. Second Wave.”

“Yeah, and that’s Martin, Second Wave.” Brandon said. “He’s more famous than I am. He’s done more shit.” He sat next to Ros on the desk and picked up her hand. She eyed him for a moment and allowed it.

She even went as far as to put her head down on his shoulder as they watched Martin try to navigate getting hit on by all three girls at the same time.

It was four by the time Setsuko came in. “Three more people just went in the red gym. I don’t think we’ll have class in there today.”

“We can go up five levels.” Martin said. “There’s a gym every five levels.”

“I think I want a day off.” Setsuko admitted. “I’ll be here at 6:30 am and I hope I will see some or all of you there.” She left.

Martin shrugged off the girls onto Axel and Del. “Brandon, Roslyn, I promised Franklin you would come see him the moment you were available.”

“Oh. Sure.” Ros said. “I’m ready. I also want to go back to the mine. I left without turning in my quests.”

“She’s a lieutenant.” Brandon said. “All flitter pilots are officers.”

“Son of a bitch.” Martin cussed. “Hey, we’ll see you for dinner at six.” He shook hands with all four of Doug’s team and left the room ushering Brandon and Roslyn so they didn’t stray.

The hall was clear. There were some people in armor talking to Setsuko. She broke off the conversation to call out, “we’re holding class on the tenth floor tomorrow. No conflict with the quest.”

They gave her the thumbs up and got in the lift.

“With the murders and the guide and Franklin putting the mine manuals we have online, the mentoring plan is really taking off. People are motivated, and the third wave suddenly seems aware they have a lot of hunting to do.”

The lift opened in the casino and it was louder than ever with people blowing their hunting money.

Sam was outside the lounge. He nodded as they went in.

“Why do you still live here?” Ros asked Franklin as she sat down.

“Where else would I live? It was the first nice bedroom I came to when I got here. I just never moved. Where would I go?”

“The dome houses?”

He eyed her. “Someone told me I could get in if I drove around. Seemed like work.”

“I know the lift code.”

He laughed. “No. Maybe organize your people into them, Martin. That lift lets out on the first floor.”

“It’s an express.” Ros nodded. “Actually that’s a particularly good idea. We could remodel. There’s a bunk bed pattern in the replicator.”

“I don’t know about that.” Martin said.

“I might make one of the clusters into my extended team.” Brandon said. “Remove the antisocial elements of the third wave from the mainstream of Martin’s cooperative mini societies.”

Ros activated the butterflies and started exploring the questions. “Yes, actually, that’s the better use. The strongest teams without any active need to visit the green zones take over the domes, all ten of the clusters. Recruit strong independent teams from other places. Mix the section groups together. Each dome is a six bedroom mansion with everything an earth mansion is likely to have plus an airlock and a slew of replicators. By the time the fifth wave arrives each mansion will be home to a team plus their significant others and anyone who is training with them. There is a servants quarters that would actually be excellent for apprentices. Removing portions of the strongest teams from day to day messing in the leadership of the green zone is a net positive no matter who takes the dome houses. I vote we hand pick the strongest teams who are not leaders and shuffle them so people they don’t know well are their neighbors. That will lead to all the strongest teams socializing across section boundaries.”

“Best thing is, we don’t need permission from anyone.” Franklin said pragmatically. “The section powers have no right to their lower levels. None of them even mark a territory past the green zone. They may howl, but if we move fast, within the next few days, it can be something the group leaders find out about as a fait accompli, already done.”

Ros consulted the butterflies, but nodded after just a few queries. “Yes. Exactly right, and Franklin, you need to stay where you are, unless you stay in the city.”

“I’m thinking about it. I want to thank you for what you did this morning.” Franklin said quietly. “I’m whole in a way I haven’t been since my fifties, and In other ways I haven’t been since my twenties. I got you something, and I really want you to use it extensively.” He set a long slender gift box on the table.

Ros frowned as she opened it. It was a strip of plastic. She Identified it.

Alibi Voice Modulator: Be someone else, coloration not included.

“Yes.” She laughed. “When I travel with you I’m going as Moira. I’ll color my hair and make my face washed out and pale.”

“Here.” Franklin put another box on the table, this one the size of a shirt box.

She opened it. It was a mask.

Alibi Mask: Be someone else. Mask can be treated with B grade or better cosmetics to prepare up to five comprehensive facial disguises. Makeup not included.

“Perfect. I could kiss you.”

“I mean… you could if you want to, but it doesn’t come close to the value of what you spent on me without hesitation.”

“Was everyone in the First wave as old as you?”

“Well… 83 to 96, I think. I would feel odd kissing a girl as young as you, I think. Give me some time to feel young.”

“Well, I’m giving Brandon a go tonight. We’ve spent all day hunting together and I’m afraid I’ve been teasing him unmercifully.” She put the disguise things away, determined to organize her aliases immediately if not sooner.

Brandon chuckled. “It’s been the best sort of torture. I… I think I’m signing up to be her bodyguard permanently.”

Ros swallowed hard. She liked that, if only she could be sure he’d be with her through the end, but no matter how she asked the butterflies, there was no certainty.