Okay, I think it may have been Random Internet Pixies, combined with me being a floor from the wireless router. I hadn't thought much of that before since I still have "very good" signal up here with my laptop, but from now on I'm going to stay close to the base when the gates are open.
Sorry I missed ya at Orochi's Hal, I eventually stopped searching for him and opened the gates again. Eventually I managed to find him later. I bought the net you wanted for you, if you can't get one by tomorrow.
Thanks again for the fruit, too....