Chapter 99 - Eagle 1 Returns to the Nest (1/2)

Gray and Verona drove back to Gray's base. They chatted about various subjects, nothing important really, although Verona did seem interested in how things were going with Yurika.

"We're seeing each other, I guess?" Gray said a little unsure.

"Well, you are or you are not, you need to be clear with her otherwise it will only hurt her!" Verona lectured Gray.

"It's not that... it has some complications." Gray said and he explained the circumstances around Yurika's forced marriage to Verona.

"That... is troublesome indeed." Verona thought for a minute. "Why her though?"

"That's exactly what I'm trying to figure out! She doesn't know him anywhere from the past and he isn't exactly keeping a close eye on her as far as I can tell!"

"Just kidnap her then and beat the guy up if he tries to take her back..."

Gray blinked twice as he stared at Verona, her beautiful face had an evil grin on it causing Gray to pause as he never expected her to suggest that.

Verona laughed at Gray's expression and said "I'm kidding! Seriously though, I'll see what I can find out about this guy for you. Yurika is a wonderful woman, although a bit immature, but that is part of her charm sometimes."

Gray said cheekily, "Does that mean you find yourself attracted to her as well?"

Verona playfully slapped Gray "Not that way, pervert! I mean I'm drawn to her personality, she's open, loud, and full of life. A lot of the things that I used to be before..." Verona let her voice trail off and didn't complete her thought.

"Before what?" Gray asked.

"I'll see how today goes... I don't really know you well enough to share that yet, but I do feel that I can trust you so just be patient."

Gray felt it must be something fairly heavy if Verona wasn't willing to share yet and let it go as if it was never brought up. "So, what do you know of Alterra Corporation?"

"Not that much... I was once asked to pick up some documents from their research division and got a peek at it, but I was trying to fend off this weird researcher that was drinking Dr. Pepper because he kept flirting with me and calling me Verona-chan."

Gray stifled a laugh picturing Ginro flirting with Verona while she had the same expression of disdain he can recall from when he was still working with her at his old programming job. "Yeah, that's Ginro for you, he's actually not that bad once you get past that part of him."

"How do you get past that part?"

"Might have to knock him out." Gray said bluntly.

Verona laughed melodiously and Gray smiled at her. "Hey, your laugh used to be... well... super annoying, what happened?"

"Nothing happened, it just seems that even when I don't pay attention to it my laugh is still normal in the game."

Gray was super relieved to hear this because he still had at least 4 hours total left with her in the truck since he had to drop her back off later, and if that terrifyingly obnoxious laugh came out even once he would have to pull the truck over after hearing it each time.

"That's good! So my next question... why can't you rent a truck?"

Verona sighed and said "Carly, Beth, and I thought that since this was a game, the trucks were free to use for players, so we each took one and drove like maniacs towards New Venice. Beth ended up wrecking hers though, when I smashed in to her truck. That was also one reason why I had Gene take me home since it was cramped in their with 3 people. Long story short, we found out you had to pay to use them and since we only brought one of the three back, we were suspended from even renting a truck for a month."

"You told me you only stole one truck."

"...and that's all they could prove since we only showed up in one truck at New Venice and returned to Laguna Base with one truck. Did you know Carly is one hell of a driver I must say!"

Gray shook his head, his perfect image of Verona was slowly faltering in his head, and honestly he thought she was better this way anyways. "I'm just glad you're alright! Bullhorn is a bit brave and she can get very reckless!"

"Who is bullhorn?"

"Carly! She didn't tell you?"

"No, she seemed a little loud to me, but not in a bad way. She was actually very sweet... and talked about you a lot, at least she did before the mixer."

Gray felt a small pang of sadness at this, but realized it was for the better since the longer she let her infatuation continue, the more it would've hurt her. "She earned that nickname from being the battle cry before the start of large battles in other online games, at least that is what she says. Spoon says it was because she got drunk at a party, put on a viking helmet, and stabbed somebody with one of the horns when she charged at them."

"Ok, Spoon? Who thinks of these names?"

Gray sighed and said "I didn't make that one up! You probably know him as Jim, but he claims he got that name for being a master of spooning. Of course the sad truth is that he got it because of an accident that involved him smashing his own teeth in and damaging his jaw while he was running with a spoon in his mouth."