Marjorie pressed a large button on top of her desk, which caused bright lights to flicker and a loud siren to sound. "Security! There's been a break-in and something incredibly valuable was stolen! Scour the premises and find the thief at all costs!" She shouted her orders into a microphone hidden in the succulent on her desk.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIm6ok7fVAZ
I grabbed Atlas's arm and tugged him towards the open window. "Come on! We have to go while Marjorie is distracted!" I said through our cerebral link.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUQqE2Z5na
"I'll go get Marisa. You guys run," Katrina said. She dashed out of the room before Marjorie could stop her.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6LbowKGR3
Atlas didn't move, he stood there frozen with a haunted expression on his face.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoJtcQYevD
Tugged on his arm again, this time with much more force, but he still didn't budge. "Come on, pal. We need to leave! Now!"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaZUxSiZns
"I'm sorry I let him get away with the map," Atlas replied through the link. He sounded so broken.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGctIkUUN4
"I don't care about that; I care about you."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1iIfBKUfB
He met my gaze for the first time.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygbccYyIjc
"Listen, security will be here any minute. We're in big trouble if they catch us. Do you want to get arrested?
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7F0VKikn3
He shook his head.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtU2PXNMgIc
"Then we have to go."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezetfY1IeW
He gave a firm nod, then followed me out the window.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4zkBzR1UQ
Thank God! I was worried I was going to have to throw him over my shoulder and carry him out.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtPvUqGEQt
"Come back here, or I'll make your lives hell!" Aunt Marjorie shouted.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuxRxwgrpo
We didn't stop running.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13YMdOehvc
"She's already made my life hell," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBp3goIb3V
"Then I guess it can't get any worse," I replied.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOMyr8gmAB
"Unfortunately, there's always more to lose."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7BvQLLDdv
We scaled the fence once more. This time, the climb wasn't nearly so perilous. I was running on pure adrenaline. I escorted Atlas to a darkened alleyway near Sydney Harbor. "I sent a message to Katrina, the girls will meet us here soon," I said.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOycauPmfBK
Atlas didn't respond; he just stared out at the sea with a solemn expression.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1gJtQHidC
I tried to lighten the mood. "Do you wanna hear a joke?"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSuVuwqSXP
"Absolutely not."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaM20koVZR
Okay, then.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXMZPFdBe6
We stood in awkward silence for several minutes. Eventually, Atlas signed. "I'm so sorry about the map. I should've fought back harder."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhUotGJoWh
I rolled my eyes. "I already told you, I don't care about that."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5i5mFXDV8
"I did! Now I've ruined any chance of finding the Annihilation Code."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPONRtMhvbc
"That was never your burden to bear. You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlKszNciGZ
"You sound just like Patch."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UdAYgHcbF
I didn't know what to say, so I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhy1B24G08L
He pulled away from me. "They're going to kill him, and it's my fault."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcCdGgF57r
"It's not all your fault. It's not your fault Patch was kidnapped and held hostage. They forced you to make an impossible choice."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpbyj8mrcP
"It was all for nothing, we lost the map and Patch is going to die!" Atlas kicked over a trash can in anger, disturbing a family of cockatoos feasting on the refuse.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8j0Q2IHj6q
A local cleaning bot whirred by. It paused when it caught sight of the mess. We covered our faces, so the bot couldn't identify us and report us to Bionic Corp. The cleaning bot quickly swept up the fallen garbage and reoriented the bin to an upright position. "All better." The tiny robot said in its adorable voice.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZbrprJbq6
Atlas stared down at the trashcan. "I feel like nothing I do has an impact."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqfnHx3ovD
"You totally make an impact. You somehow made me into a slightly less awful human being. That's no small feat. You should be proud."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SAu6v6szL
"I didn't change you, you changed all by yourself."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzmdlIqbdk
"Yeah, but I would probably still be an asshole if we never crossed paths. Going on this crazy mission changed me for the better."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWIGd4umGe
The faintest of smiles tugged at his lips before his face fell back into its previous distraught emotion.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xLM6EmRsM
We dove into the shadows when we heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVwaVZG1GY
"You're going to need a better hiding place than that. Bionic Corp's soldiers have night vision, you know," Katrina remarked.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2hKn5FtWf
"Oh, yeah, I forgot about that," I said.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0P659TmAM
Marisa ran up to Atlas and threw her arms around him. "Oh my God, are you okay?"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwWRV5hz0Y
He shook his head.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqE07mEvkV
"It's been a rough night for all of us," I said.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcIdM48xno
"What took you guys so long?" Atlas asked.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OMnNdtrJG
"The whole party erupted into chaos after you guys left. It took ages to push through the crowd and find Marisa," Katrina said.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUy1d3zrCJv
"And you changed shoes, apparently. You weren't wearing those boots earlier," I said, gesturing to her sleek leather boots.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXzraSO1H6
"Duh, it's impossible to run in heels. Everyone knows that, Chase."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxP6YuGTe4
Clouds rolled in over the horizon and thunder crackled in the distance.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTTVGMHiFA
"Looks like a nasty storm is on its way. We should probably head... Wait, where are we going from here?" I asked.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVCX7cRCes
"Back to Ikigai II, Patch has a safe house on the north side of the island. We'll regroup there." Atlas signed.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7i8h4aSrsf
Marisa raised an eyebrow. "Patch got another safe house? Why didn't he tell me?"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdejE2HZxN
Atlas gave an apathetic shrug. "There are a lot of things he doesn't tell you."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblUEfHp2Xq
Marisa shot him a piercing stare. "I guess I have two family members that lie to me."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBfQrJqwZ9
Atlas showed no reaction to her comment. His face remained stiff and emotionless. "I don't have time for this," He signed and stomped towards Ikigai II.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoGsFKQo20
"Atlas, wait up!" I jogged after him. I'm so glad I'm an only child. I'm not cut out for dealing with sibling drama, and I love being the center of attention.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBmDLAfYgr
Lightning flashed in the distance as we trudged back to Ikigai II. Big drops of rain pounded the surrounding ground. Within seconds, we were soaked to the bone.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxqlEil4eU
Lucky for us, the Ikigai II customs agents were slacking tonight. They seemed as perturbed to be stuck in the rain as we were, so they didn't ask too many questions. We made it safely onto the island without much of a hassle. It's about damn time something went right for us tonight.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35VK8rNk9X
Marisa hugged herself tightly and shivered.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYDPMJ7yOV
Atlas slipped off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. It probably didn't help, considering it was completely soaked. It's the thought that counts.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLI2yaORGQp
On our walk to the safe house, we passed by the boardwalk.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhfgynVCzc
"Atlas, look! Your Hovercycle is still here!" I exclaimed. It was parked exactly where we left it. It hadn't moved an inch.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2fpjere2g
Atlas knelt beside the Hovercycle and examined it. "Someone stole the brake pads."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUAMrjUTRN
"What? Why?"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2r2YBl7Xk
"People will steal and sell anything they can find around here. I'm surprised they didn't steal more."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBZLhBDno1
"At least it's still here, right?"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQv0NOAL5n
Atlas wasn't listening. "I got a parking ticket, too." He gestured to a soggy piece of paper taped to the handlebars.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICJ1akSFLo
"That sucks," I said honestly.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgyXg3qQTm
Atlas frowned. "It's just the terrible cherry on the crappy sundae that is my life."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTo39lBQd6
I grabbed the Hovercycle by the handle and pushed it toward the safe house. It was the least I could do to help him.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdAbe4oxjh
"Thank you," he signed. A soft smile spread across his lips, as he grabbed the other handle and helped me push.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJ2fwJF2bu
Together, we wheeled the Hovercycle to the safe house. Atlas stashed it in the alley beside the building. Then he led us up a secret flight of stairs to the upstairs apartment.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8Soh27kfN
The safe house reeked of musk and decomposing sewage. I pinched my nose and coughed.
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Katrina stifled a gag.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbnY2sUdDc
This safe house is even more dilapidated than the previous one. The ugliest wallpaper I'd ever seen lined the walls. The color was somewhere between chartreuse and mustard yellow. Rats, cockroaches, and fungus seemed to have formed their own ecosystem within the walls. The old, worn couch in the center of the room had large holes with springs and stuffing sticking out. The light fixtures were missing, and the windows were boarded up. The only light came from a small lamp on an end table that looked like it had been knocked over one too many times. Something sticky had melted into the carpet, and my shoe was now stuck to it. Gross!
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu13543sJSR
"It may not be pretty, but it's safe for now," Atlas signed.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSFeNHFbd2
Katrina somersaulted onto the broken couch. "So, now what."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYW1vP0BmcH
We all stared down at the ground. No one answered. What could we do? Maybe I can take Atlas back to New Sacramento with me. He can forge a new life there, he's already changed his identity once, what's one more time?
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDOFyd3Fbt
I shifted my gaze to Atlas. He wrapped his arms around himself and watched the raindrops trickle down the windowsill. The lost and broken look in his eyes broke my heart. There had to be something I could do to help him. But what?
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdCU1YiZbW
"What happened at the party? You guys have been acting differently ever since. I want to know what happened," Marisa said.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOs6m3ArvH
Atlas sighed. "Everything was going according to plan until Marjorie returned to her office earlier than expected. He tried to hide, but she found us. She started to interrogate us."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkXkmerHRo
"That's when I got dragged in," Katrina said. "Those security guys are faster than I thought they'd be."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYA9SNbves
"What happened next?"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYvjcQLAFf
No one answered. Atlas refused to make eye contact.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJlmSEKyoP
Eventually, I spoke up. "We saw Patch."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtuq0xN7yd
Marisa gasped. "What? Where was he? Is he okay?"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbFr0y6aNN
I don't know where he was. She showed us live video footage of him in some kind of interrogation room. He's in rough shape. It looks like he took a beating."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JFIwcm8tg
Marisa buried her face in her hands. "Do you know how he got captured?"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrrXLgNc56
"Um..." I twiddled my thumbs as I debated how much I wanted to tell her.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjp6Hkrm51
"Please don't tell her. It'll break her heart," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWR4sPiPSRE
"She deserves to know the truth," I responded.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgaLdYbkEg
I let out a long, deep breath. "Patch was kidnapped by Bionic Corp while he was trying to flee the island."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxWQHZqZa8
"No. That can't be right. Patch would never leave without telling us!"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHbpgxU08j
"I'm sorry," I said.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDM1LCpHiRa
Marisa turned to Atlas. "Tell him he's wrong! Patch would never do such a thing!"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcp0CkqKeq
Atlas stared at her long and hard before finally giving in. "Marisa. He's telling the truth. Patch heard that Bionic Corp was coming after him, he got scared and made a run for it."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbS3skOVPtB
"There must be some sort of misunderstanding!" She protested.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUFYQUII4u
"There's not. He left us to save himself."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqpLh3gb6d
"Why would Bionic Corp let you call Patch?" Marisa asked.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIRiKuNZhA
"They gave me an ultimatum, hand over the map, or they'd kill Patch in twenty-four hours," Atlas signed.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhrOb14gQb
"And then Vindicator swooped in and stole the map," Marisa finished.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7DM9WQwJL
Atlas froze. "Wait, how did you know Vindicator stole the map?"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVSTfGbotz
She looked like a deer in headlights. "Oh, Katrina told me."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLISDbMsmom
Katrina shot her a puzzled look. "No, I didn't."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Efp4ICF0Z
Atlas slammed his fists on the counter. "Marisa, what did you do?"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jdDL9FHFh
"I was the one who turned off the lights, and I was the one who messed with everyone's Holowatches! Is that what you wanted to hear?"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipl3Qb9uoQ
My jaw fell open. "Why would you do that?"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FBxeAhXAv
"Because Vindicator promised me, he'd rescue Patch if I did one simple favor for him."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bmv9Amfau
"Did you forget the part where he wants me dead!"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBmYHaSN6j
"Of course not, but I did what I had to protect Patch! I thought you'd understand that. Besides, finding the Annihilation Code was never your responsibility in the first place!"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkc2KuqTAue
"Well, thanks to you, we lost the map, and Bionic Corp is going to kill Patch tomorrow!" Atlas stormed out of the apartment and slammed the door.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xeO4ZYYt7
"I'm going to go talk to him," I said.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYA3ol5cNt
"Go ahead, it seems like you're the only person he'll talk to these days." Marisa rubbed the heel of her palm against her chest.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2nXdmlpIE
I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly, and let out an uncomfortable chuckle. "Um, okay. I think I'm going to go now, bye."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4xFKWcOKQ
I knew I'd find him on the roof. Every time we used our cerebral link, our connection grew stronger. I could sense his emotions, so intensely they felt like my own. Now I know why Atlas was hesitant to form a link with anyone. They are a powerful and overwhelming thing. Knowing what I know now, I can't believe he agreed to form one with me.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoBZvIgH4o
I found Atlas curled up under an umbrella on the rooftop. He was furiously scribbling something on an ancient Holopad with one hand. With his other hand, he shoveled Flamin' Hot Cheetos into his mouth using chopsticks.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0fupycQoV
This was the sight of a man in desperation if I'd ever seen one. I tried to make my voice sound as gentle as possible. "Um, hey buddy, what are you doing?"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqe9N8AYSz
His cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I'm just working on an art project."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MijRR4QKg
I raised a skeptical eyebrow. "In the pouring rain?"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYRZ3IQgeR
He nodded.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyyivExe8A
"What are you sketching?"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DnLvc3hr5
"It's nothing." He leaned away from me, hiding the drawing from view.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRib7n4nnR
I snatched the picture from his hands.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCRDtp3zD9
"Give it back!" He tried to yank it out of my hands, but I wrestled it away from him.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oDsIaelfM
I held the drawing up to the light and studied it. I recognized the shape immediately. "You're trying to recreate the map."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tB0AMubN6
He tried to pry it from me again, this time I released my grip. "I saw it! I saw the last piece of the map!"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkhK9DHl7h
"Yeah, for a split second."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAs8uQVkxU
"I remember what it looked like! I can recreate it from memory! If we hurry, we still have a chance to find the map before Vindicator does."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqqB4eaKlA
I rolled my eyes and let out a long, exasperated sigh. "This is what Marisa was talking about! You need to let things go!"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2P5Teu1Ye
"Do you want me to let Patch die? Because that's what will happen if I do nothing!"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Uwr5S8Q7A
"Of course not, but I don't want you to die doing something stupid!"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3HcRPsrSa
"You can't stop me!"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2W8oc9lSb
"I know." I massaged my aching temples. "Once you set your mind to something, no one can stop you, but I'm sure Patch wouldn't want you to die trying to save him."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ezp1iCwdx
"I can't sit here and do nothing. I have to go."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Wr4LyrwMj
I sighed. "Then I'm going with you. I won't let you do this alone. If we go down, we go down together.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCFt6s6CAm
He threw his arms around me in a tight hug.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnwzOGKEmP
I returned his embrace, gently patting him on the back. "Now, let's go kick some ass!"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJbeu1NV8k
We heard the sound of rustling coming from behind a potted fern.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoynclbUvt8
Atlas crept towards it with knives drawn.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEHYL1cjGO
We peered through the branches to catch the sight of Katrina and Marisa eavesdropping.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtCoP1zQaQ
I placed my hands on my hips. "What the hell, guys? Don't you know eavesdropping is rude? Did no one teach you manners growing up?"
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHfGmpRqRa
"We're coming with you," Marisa said.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGqW2YdWma
Atlas shot daggers in her direction. "No."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbol5cmwMBI
"If you want to pull off this heist, you're going to need a hacker."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jYnaR2uTZ
Atlas tightened his lips into a firm line.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6BlsvPgU6
I folded my arms across my chest. "How do we know we can trust you? You've helped Vindicator before."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yxMkf1ipI
"I know you have no reason to trust me, but you won't find another hacker in time to save Patch."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrciCzrIn7
Atlas and I shot each other a questioning look.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47IvEcKujw
"What do you think?" Atlas asked through our link, so only I could hear.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlNF2ZeybP
I raised my shoulders in a half shrug. "I think she has a point. Our options are limited at the moment. I believe she cares about Patch and will do what it takes to save him."
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ37SqCNwuY
Atlas nodded.
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GIJAy4Md1
We turned our attention back to the girls. "Okay, you're in."
ns216.73.216.228da2
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