Volume 8, Episode 6: The Girl's Golden Gift
"Yao Xiao Long springs from the boards, HUP, attempts a six-thirty, UUF DA, and sticks the landing!"
I brush myself off and silently congratulate myself for the cool fall recovery.
"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen." I handsomely reply to the imaginary crowd. "Especially the ladies." This may sound crazy, but I think I'm beginning to have a thing for the Sirens' lead singer. "The great Solar Xiao Long is available for any and all crime-fighting neeeEEEDDS-UNF!" I trip on something and fall.
"But please, no autographs. That would be embarrassing." I groan as I get back up. Huh. Looks like a tripped on a Beowolf skull. Well, I THINK it's a Beowolf skull. I can never remember if Grimm leave those behind after dying.
I look around. I see a locked door with an electronic lock. I smirk. Looks like I'm gonna need my lock-pick kit.
"HWA-TA!"
I punch the lock…..and nothing happens. It usually works. Ow. My fist hurts.
I hear a rumble, I look up, then immediately wish I hadn't.
"Uh oh!" I yelp. "Last time I checked the Hunter's Handbook, collapsing ceilings were a bad thing!"
C'mon Yao! Think! What was it that Dad said?! Let's see….
…
A Few Hours Earlier
"The brain, like your muscles," My dad, Yang, says. "requires training and discipline to gain peak performance."
"…"
…
SERIOUSLY?! THAT'S ALL I CAN REMEMBER?! I GOTTA START PAYING ATTENTION MORE OFTEN!
The ceiling looks as if it's gonna come crashing down any second. Panicking, I rush over to the lock. Okay, what would Black do?! C'mon, Yao! FOCUS! You promised Dad you'd try harder!
C'mon….I remember Black giving me a lecture about electronic locks. Blah, blah, blah, something, something, something….wait a minute….
"…And the most low-tech way to crack an electronic lock code is to look for the worn and smudged keys. This will be the set numbers for the code. The keys with the most wear and smudge will be the first and last numbers."
YES! I REMEMBER! THANKS, BRO! OH MAN, YOU HAVE MY ETERNAL THANKS!
Now to figure out the sequence. After examining the number wear, I basically punch the numbers in like I'm using my fists.
2-0-1-3….YES!
The door opens, and I dive out just as the ceiling crushes the floor. Any hesitation and I would have been a flat fighter.
I continue forward, hoping to reunite with the rest of my team.
…
These children have proven themselves to be more resourceful than Sister and I anticipated. They've mastered their individual challenges, but one more still remains.
Now, let us see if they have the training and knowledge to survive intact.
