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.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguUoGqKMs0
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.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmRFYAy2d4
"I'll go get Marisa. You guys run," Katrina said. She dashed out of the room before Marjorie could stop her.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37uQ5AbbHf
Atlas didn't move, he stood there frozen with a haunted expression on his face.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLHA3fu1K4
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!"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQswEuhf62
"I'm sorry I let him get away with the map," Atlas replied through the link. He sounded so broken.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6zcJPMWd6
"I don't care about that; I care about you."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNK2v8gAoV
He met my gaze for the first time.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrakdafqmP
"Listen, security will be here any minute. We're in big trouble if they catch us. Do you want to get arrested?
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJshgPrUtV5
He shook his head.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPy8K8cifn
"Then we have to go."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NH00n2ooI
He gave a firm nod, then followed me out the window.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51MrKMZUyu
Thank God! I was worried I was going to have to throw him over my shoulder and carry him out.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOR6qChekz8
"Come back here, or I'll make your lives hell!" Aunt Marjorie shouted.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ28NVPv0oP
We didn't stop running.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX31Az61Y3O
"She's already made my life hell," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FAx31FOgt
"Then I guess it can't get any worse," I replied.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFzx7pvuKN
"Unfortunately, there's always more to lose."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76pfJMI9Hg
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.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBP01sLMK1d
Atlas didn't respond; he just stared out at the sea with a solemn expression.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgbPtKHMTv
I tried to lighten the mood. "Do you wanna hear a joke?"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhC2y1Gdu0r
"Absolutely not."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreR8Pyqnmx
Okay, then.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1Jmxz5V0f
We stood in awkward silence for several minutes. Eventually, Atlas signed. "I'm so sorry about the map. I should've fought back harder."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3q6hPtwVRv
I rolled my eyes. "I already told you, I don't care about that."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBwgJzK2Vd
"I did! Now I've ruined any chance of finding the Annihilation Code."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOW0CvEJn5I
"That was never your burden to bear. You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFBAdUiR1J
"You sound just like Patch."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIv0cB8gb2e
I didn't know what to say, so I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVCGkbkVUQ
He pulled away from me. "They're going to kill him, and it's my fault."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUTKZTfKAm
"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."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEaxFyaZm3
"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.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBnvKC0Hnm
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.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVvf4b1HFD
Atlas stared down at the trashcan. "I feel like nothing I do has an impact."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMlnaFCrcv
"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."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsblEpEjbh
"I didn't change you, you changed all by yourself."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvatZqhwkmY
"Yeah, but I would probably still be an asshole if we never crossed paths. Going on this crazy mission changed me for the better."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9aMmmTVLh
The faintest of smiles tugged at his lips before his face fell back into its previous distraught emotion.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54I3LVLYMs
We dove into the shadows when we heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFSjQgSXiv
"You're going to need a better hiding place than that. Bionic Corp's soldiers have night vision, you know," Katrina remarked.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnv0QQqbMw
"Oh, yeah, I forgot about that," I said.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MkmjJ05DT
Marisa ran up to Atlas and threw her arms around him. "Oh my God, are you okay?"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrzy5R0Lgy
He shook his head.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoT9VIScLB
"It's been a rough night for all of us," I said.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTe01rNmqu
"What took you guys so long?" Atlas asked.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyjf4W9HGR
"The whole party erupted into chaos after you guys left. It took ages to push through the crowd and find Marisa," Katrina said.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpn9osAbbTd
"And you changed shoes, apparently. You weren't wearing those boots earlier," I said, gesturing to her sleek leather boots.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkWAjuX4de
"Duh, it's impossible to run in heels. Everyone knows that, Chase."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvcvdCwU0m
Clouds rolled in over the horizon and thunder crackled in the distance.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgPCG7d8aQ
"Looks like a nasty storm is on its way. We should probably head... Wait, where are we going from here?" I asked.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrEgynInG8
"Back to Ikigai II, Patch has a safe house on the north side of the island. We'll regroup there." Atlas signed.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTb4PTVMOol
Marisa raised an eyebrow. "Patch got another safe house? Why didn't he tell me?"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡai5Esqiwm0
Atlas gave an apathetic shrug. "There are a lot of things he doesn't tell you."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡee91GvEovG
Marisa shot him a piercing stare. "I guess I have two family members that lie to me."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsdrbaxama
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.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppeCPS090p
"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.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXvgibNb0E
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.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWQ5vis0Kx
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.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15rayZt8mi
Marisa hugged herself tightly and shivered.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rk2TquBQ0
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.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndNXGv7VVj
On our walk to the safe house, we passed by the boardwalk.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7aOFY45Zt
"Atlas, look! Your Hovercycle is still here!" I exclaimed. It was parked exactly where we left it. It hadn't moved an inch.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIoNQf9Ckc
Atlas knelt beside the Hovercycle and examined it. "Someone stole the brake pads."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00hpsdsDUf
"What? Why?"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcw2gSowFRA
"People will steal and sell anything they can find around here. I'm surprised they didn't steal more."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7zhb6Zx4z
"At least it's still here, right?"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6vAjPZgCj
Atlas wasn't listening. "I got a parking ticket, too." He gestured to a soggy piece of paper taped to the handlebars.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiRz0VlFlf
"That sucks," I said honestly.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgthh5Xq27o
Atlas frowned. "It's just the terrible cherry on the crappy sundae that is my life."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayF81tQ0nq
I grabbed the Hovercycle by the handle and pushed it toward the safe house. It was the least I could do to help him.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXsl7F4brB
"Thank you," he signed. A soft smile spread across his lips, as he grabbed the other handle and helped me push.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6uXiuFM8S
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.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLeMXU3cZX
The safe house reeked of musk and decomposing sewage. I pinched my nose and coughed.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBKL4pxzsp
Katrina stifled a gag.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBh14sB9Sj8
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!
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtfpKubuTV
"It may not be pretty, but it's safe for now," Atlas signed.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhirJyzdLRW
Katrina somersaulted onto the broken couch. "So, now what."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwG6v9DcR94
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?
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9udWNFqQsd
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?
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mBz2m8T1e
"What happened at the party? You guys have been acting differently ever since. I want to know what happened," Marisa said.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIG1ka8J62
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."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcjBeNZlrT
"That's when I got dragged in," Katrina said. "Those security guys are faster than I thought they'd be."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYznUco24v
"What happened next?"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LKkrAnmxH
No one answered. Atlas refused to make eye contact.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhynNP8smN
Eventually, I spoke up. "We saw Patch."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxilB3R8FiM
Marisa gasped. "What? Where was he? Is he okay?"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFpj5EMVvp
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."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqHKsTRsYB
Marisa buried her face in her hands. "Do you know how he got captured?"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVD4YuRcXk
"Um..." I twiddled my thumbs as I debated how much I wanted to tell her.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXXIWDBVDW
"Please don't tell her. It'll break her heart," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡME9epzGI2o
"She deserves to know the truth," I responded.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54gL6xa3r8
I let out a long, deep breath. "Patch was kidnapped by Bionic Corp while he was trying to flee the island."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKdxQnh9dc
"No. That can't be right. Patch would never leave without telling us!"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrIVKbT0DI
"I'm sorry," I said.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMDzVqMx6J
Marisa turned to Atlas. "Tell him he's wrong! Patch would never do such a thing!"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjcpwUCuxr
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."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uOMbOHL8r
"There must be some sort of misunderstanding!" She protested.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXWVBarBOK
"There's not. He left us to save himself."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIwbN8njyx
"Why would Bionic Corp let you call Patch?" Marisa asked.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRjJU9q2u4
"They gave me an ultimatum, hand over the map, or they'd kill Patch in twenty-four hours," Atlas signed.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJIAn9vjx0
"And then Vindicator swooped in and stole the map," Marisa finished.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFD9EBk76Rx
Atlas froze. "Wait, how did you know Vindicator stole the map?"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8k4fyNFW6z
She looked like a deer in headlights. "Oh, Katrina told me."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVP5mRtEpri
Katrina shot her a puzzled look. "No, I didn't."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIUpTiDwIR
Atlas slammed his fists on the counter. "Marisa, what did you do?"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMd9JuanPp
"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?"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfD4BkYnep
My jaw fell open. "Why would you do that?"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzojtAB6Od
"Because Vindicator promised me, he'd rescue Patch if I did one simple favor for him."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9ESwl0aQ8
"Did you forget the part where he wants me dead!"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTotge1FRpS
"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!"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtat8ne8ZKp
"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.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVPpcLAS16
"I'm going to go talk to him," I said.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6H3FsWQsT
"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.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxmRvMw2Qu
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."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDLT7m75o3
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.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTzVNOHjcD
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.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xGlEIoDft
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?"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsr0QXDGCF6
His cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I'm just working on an art project."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFt0syymvcA
I raised a skeptical eyebrow. "In the pouring rain?"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJhV3vHxeU
He nodded.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydYx6wsuGh
"What are you sketching?"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE43uowwnNz
"It's nothing." He leaned away from me, hiding the drawing from view.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyywAYXBk65
I snatched the picture from his hands.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsYG6bEQzK
"Give it back!" He tried to yank it out of my hands, but I wrestled it away from him.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4lwgtgEQF
I held the drawing up to the light and studied it. I recognized the shape immediately. "You're trying to recreate the map."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOc2hpajbgt
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!"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3M1bEU6ed
"Yeah, for a split second."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuzZGT4U0c
"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."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMM93Q5ncBD
I rolled my eyes and let out a long, exasperated sigh. "This is what Marisa was talking about! You need to let things go!"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhGmucH1UT
"Do you want me to let Patch die? Because that's what will happen if I do nothing!"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBw3ShZmeGU
"Of course not, but I don't want you to die doing something stupid!"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPiIVo0zvC
"You can't stop me!"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjquzeZr9R
"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."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5seLIOEdgt
"I can't sit here and do nothing. I have to go."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkh6ZRuILN
I sighed. "Then I'm going with you. I won't let you do this alone. If we go down, we go down together.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaulyF4T3p
He threw his arms around me in a tight hug.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBUEjJkQVZ
I returned his embrace, gently patting him on the back. "Now, let's go kick some ass!"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrJghsDmBP
We heard the sound of rustling coming from behind a potted fern.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4JZQDto0m
Atlas crept towards it with knives drawn.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHztCNv8qmD
We peered through the branches to catch the sight of Katrina and Marisa eavesdropping.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfb2LHdVW4C
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?"
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFjqcmUbk1
"We're coming with you," Marisa said.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2vlK3v6Yx
Atlas shot daggers in her direction. "No."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXFOLslljP
"If you want to pull off this heist, you're going to need a hacker."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAOPXCefFd
Atlas tightened his lips into a firm line.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMALwuELUb
I folded my arms across my chest. "How do we know we can trust you? You've helped Vindicator before."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWC6onW5wI
"I know you have no reason to trust me, but you won't find another hacker in time to save Patch."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjeeXF0HxF
Atlas and I shot each other a questioning look.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QQyoFhmhM
"What do you think?" Atlas asked through our link, so only I could hear.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNVTLnbYjl
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."
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfptxZcb66U
Atlas nodded.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ757VEkBIBh
We turned our attention back to the girls. "Okay, you're in."
ns216.73.216.228da2
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