System Break

A blue flash of light emanated from the tree and two bear cubs sprung forth. They pounced on Mother and bit her playfully.

"Now," she said with a laugh. She petted them and let them suck on her fingers which were covered with honey.

"Shoo now, go and play. Come back when you're hungry."

They ran past Elred who raised a brow. "Two?"

Mother nodded. "I did not choose, two came so two it is."

"You know how big they will grow?" Elred asked.

"They are ancient Kodiaks; they will be the size of your workshop."

He sighed and walked towards the edge of the glade but when the willow flashed blue again, he turned and counted the wolf cubs. "Eight?" he said incredulously.

Mother laughed. "It is a large forest, why are you nervous?"

"I am concerned with the cost and the balance."

There were white, black and grey pups and one which was a mixture. Mother fed them glowing moss which was full of nutrients.

They nipped at Mother as she fed them, and she laughed. Two were rolling and biting each other in a play fight.

"Grow quickly little ones. Your home is this way," she pointed to the east. "Do not stray outside the forest. Not until you are grown."

The wolf pups ran over Elred's feet and between his legs. He scratched his chin and peered at the willow. It was quiet so he turned and walked through the forest with his ears pricked.

Talila approached Mother and sat. "Mother."

"Dear, it has begun."

"I see Mother. When will it be time for me to leave?"

"Soon. The gatekeepers will open a portal and you will ask for more volunteers. Stay a day and tell them what you have seen here."

"They will ask about Gisael."

"And answer them truthfully. With Benzhi's help she now wields the qi-blade and she is following him on his adventures. You are now guardian and she is with the protector."

"I wish you were going," Talila said.

Mother touched her face. "You know I cannot. Do not worry, the ones who do not accept would not come; it is the curious ones who will."

"How long until the bears grow?"

Mother looked into the forest and smiled. "They are special, they will grow quickly. We will keep them close and feed them nectar."

Talila sighed and nodded. She stood and said, "I will be ready." Without a backward glance she ran out of the glade and took to the trees.

One moment Mother was sitting next to the willow and the next she was gone.

<break>

Technician Shi peered at his screen with the PR woman standing behind him. She had a hand on his shoulder and wore a typically low-cut top showing her cleavage. Her smell wafted over him challenging his concentration.

"This is a good thing," she said. "The investor is happy and if it works you will get a new race."

Shi grumbled. "It's one thing to do this with military volunteers but a regular person?"

"What can go wrong? Your esteemed subject eleven will look after him."

Shi frowned. "A lot can go wrong; this is the old technology with the organic material which has to be shaped and evolved by the player."

Her lips pursed and she leaned over. "But he has you watching over him. Think of it, another race. This is a win, win, win."

"Most of the wins are for you and if it goes wrong - you know who gets the blame."

Her cheerful laugh echoed in his lab. "Shi you are a genius; you should not worry so."

Her turned and got an eyeful of breasts before he lifted his chin. "I pray it all goes to plan. Remember we lost one in five of the toughest military volunteers with this model."

She smiled. "This one is determined, and he signed a waiver. If anyone will take the blame it will be his escort. The twins place their trust in subject eleven and he can be your scapegoat if needed."

Shi looked back at his screens. "The twins are with subject eleven they know him."

"See. You have nothing to worry about. It is their friend who has asked for this. He wants to be the first dwarf."

"Dokkalfar is their name in Qi World 3."

"How quaint, I'll remember that for the marketing material when it becomes available. Speaking of material do you have any new skills we can sell?"

"Sell?"

"Yes. In game purchases."

Shi scoffed and looked at her face. "You're serious?"

Her scent wafted over him when she flicked her dark hair. "Darling, I'm always serious when it comes to money."

Shi guessed her perfume was as expensive as her cloths and jewellery. "We have four new body skills, but they're still inefficient. Regular players will run out of qi too quickly if they use them."

"Do what you need to do and get them to me."

"I can tone down the potency - lower cost, less effective."

"Perfect, we can sell a higher grade one later if it becomes available."

"I'll make it L1 then," he said. "You'll have it in a few hours."

"Subject eleven?" she asked.

He nodded.

"Hmm, I'll tell the directors to leave him in. He's too valuable to us."

"Please do, it'll be good to come from someone else other than me."

She tweaked his nose. "What would you do without your precious foreigner?"

Shi frowned. "My job."

She laughed and stood up suddenly. "Shi, you are so easy to tease. If you ever want to be a director, you need to grow a spine."

"Who says I want to? I'm happy here."

She sighed. "I like men with ambition."

Shi frowned at her. "I like women who're supportive."

She smiled demurely and blew him a kiss. "Goodbye Shi, until next time." She waltzed out and the automatic doors whisked shut behind her.

A message appeared on his screen. He replied, "Begin the transfer."