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.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpDvoDrR08
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.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Hth6nrMkL
"I'll go get Marisa. You guys run," Katrina said. She dashed out of the room before Marjorie could stop her.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAKzMGBKYx
Atlas didn't move, he stood there frozen with a haunted expression on his face.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCgfciDAgr
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!"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiKPMkIkNt
"I'm sorry I let him get away with the map," Atlas replied through the link. He sounded so broken.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyLPgIolWK
"I don't care about that; I care about you."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vKjzFaCnv
He met my gaze for the first time.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6NUMce4ZH
"Listen, security will be here any minute. We're in big trouble if they catch us. Do you want to get arrested?
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOD5rUicz5f
He shook his head.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJXb1zaHRV
"Then we have to go."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fADEGarwq
He gave a firm nod, then followed me out the window.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduEOqlSfZN
Thank God! I was worried I was going to have to throw him over my shoulder and carry him out.
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"Come back here, or I'll make your lives hell!" Aunt Marjorie shouted.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRe0fmPLZx3
We didn't stop running.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCUA3F8z7I
"She's already made my life hell," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfS2v4G7RwU
"Then I guess it can't get any worse," I replied.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtXK2rPE00
"Unfortunately, there's always more to lose."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRgUtDhDQM
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.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eECSwc2iZ
Atlas didn't respond; he just stared out at the sea with a solemn expression.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzulI5RfSau
I tried to lighten the mood. "Do you wanna hear a joke?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdET6PCPpQ8
"Absolutely not."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtddde8LT6z
Okay, then.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOuv11CgtC
We stood in awkward silence for several minutes. Eventually, Atlas signed. "I'm so sorry about the map. I should've fought back harder."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWc8Hrgi2h
I rolled my eyes. "I already told you, I don't care about that."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw36aDQWyeE
"I did! Now I've ruined any chance of finding the Annihilation Code."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMBD9Pv2Iy
"That was never your burden to bear. You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwXu82oTnx
"You sound just like Patch."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIfGQeR39f
I didn't know what to say, so I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQXd4McdXS
He pulled away from me. "They're going to kill him, and it's my fault."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPILwlXTmt
"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."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbuVenc4Xe
"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.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKdl1r0fDj
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.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2DCCLaDz3
Atlas stared down at the trashcan. "I feel like nothing I do has an impact."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxbhZ2josr
"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."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBzBdghVVb
"I didn't change you, you changed all by yourself."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5catIg01hc
"Yeah, but I would probably still be an asshole if we never crossed paths. Going on this crazy mission changed me for the better."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpk7rP0U7Zc
The faintest of smiles tugged at his lips before his face fell back into its previous distraught emotion.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FmMoBOfkA
We dove into the shadows when we heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
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"You're going to need a better hiding place than that. Bionic Corp's soldiers have night vision, you know," Katrina remarked.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujeXGD9VBt
"Oh, yeah, I forgot about that," I said.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfLZ3A2Ab6
Marisa ran up to Atlas and threw her arms around him. "Oh my God, are you okay?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0kkkycp0d
He shook his head.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxj2auVTZj
"It's been a rough night for all of us," I said.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UqN7OItAC
"What took you guys so long?" Atlas asked.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTud5wdFb3m
"The whole party erupted into chaos after you guys left. It took ages to push through the crowd and find Marisa," Katrina said.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHovPYgNu7
"And you changed shoes, apparently. You weren't wearing those boots earlier," I said, gesturing to her sleek leather boots.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4QnYOS6B4
"Duh, it's impossible to run in heels. Everyone knows that, Chase."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90aH6muHla
Clouds rolled in over the horizon and thunder crackled in the distance.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xso7TOiKg
"Looks like a nasty storm is on its way. We should probably head... Wait, where are we going from here?" I asked.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReXVFoIYt1
"Back to Ikigai II, Patch has a safe house on the north side of the island. We'll regroup there." Atlas signed.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGb2V273AZ
Marisa raised an eyebrow. "Patch got another safe house? Why didn't he tell me?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpyQL2PWos
Atlas gave an apathetic shrug. "There are a lot of things he doesn't tell you."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LjSkFAINS
Marisa shot him a piercing stare. "I guess I have two family members that lie to me."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIKOEiBBZh
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.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7SQOHffmf
"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.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtWkyRSGld
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.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AHCVVJisc
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.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfy3UCIslRW
Marisa hugged herself tightly and shivered.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjMxcapbOO
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.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOenkfV7SZ
On our walk to the safe house, we passed by the boardwalk.
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"Atlas, look! Your Hovercycle is still here!" I exclaimed. It was parked exactly where we left it. It hadn't moved an inch.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OdSanN9Pn
Atlas knelt beside the Hovercycle and examined it. "Someone stole the brake pads."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqMdXnnhOx
"What? Why?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKDO9IGlf0
"People will steal and sell anything they can find around here. I'm surprised they didn't steal more."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiaOnNpwzP
"At least it's still here, right?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEyc8095Wq
Atlas wasn't listening. "I got a parking ticket, too." He gestured to a soggy piece of paper taped to the handlebars.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnDvGbPyPK
"That sucks," I said honestly.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwgixsfAtl
Atlas frowned. "It's just the terrible cherry on the crappy sundae that is my life."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QhADcqXtD
I grabbed the Hovercycle by the handle and pushed it toward the safe house. It was the least I could do to help him.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ags38un5N
"Thank you," he signed. A soft smile spread across his lips, as he grabbed the other handle and helped me push.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47Kun4VIFu
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.
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The safe house reeked of musk and decomposing sewage. I pinched my nose and coughed.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHG901V9VN
Katrina stifled a gag.
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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!
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16rzbts0WO
"It may not be pretty, but it's safe for now," Atlas signed.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeO2R9vXWRd
Katrina somersaulted onto the broken couch. "So, now what."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZtFqS4NbX
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?
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVNHq86EBL
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?
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"What happened at the party? You guys have been acting differently ever since. I want to know what happened," Marisa said.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WR88KNXH5
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."
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"That's when I got dragged in," Katrina said. "Those security guys are faster than I thought they'd be."
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"What happened next?"
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No one answered. Atlas refused to make eye contact.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGm1vuARDov
Eventually, I spoke up. "We saw Patch."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkufrdjtZyL
Marisa gasped. "What? Where was he? Is he okay?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOYZJtTsIZ
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."
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Marisa buried her face in her hands. "Do you know how he got captured?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRAw5jn68u
"Um..." I twiddled my thumbs as I debated how much I wanted to tell her.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBEDtwR1hy
"Please don't tell her. It'll break her heart," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Gcnvv4huW
"She deserves to know the truth," I responded.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSS0mrnAHv
I let out a long, deep breath. "Patch was kidnapped by Bionic Corp while he was trying to flee the island."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxIc0Fl3ZZ
"No. That can't be right. Patch would never leave without telling us!"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYTD1pyqOh
"I'm sorry," I said.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BfjMfHYqt
Marisa turned to Atlas. "Tell him he's wrong! Patch would never do such a thing!"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHK8tYfaUD6
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."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWV5lb8SSd
"There must be some sort of misunderstanding!" She protested.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbhwoqNB0q
"There's not. He left us to save himself."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EoSkkK3Z5
"Why would Bionic Corp let you call Patch?" Marisa asked.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoCYPVxOKH
"They gave me an ultimatum, hand over the map, or they'd kill Patch in twenty-four hours," Atlas signed.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdW5570fhYi
"And then Vindicator swooped in and stole the map," Marisa finished.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6x888YAaNY
Atlas froze. "Wait, how did you know Vindicator stole the map?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3SgBs6ANj
She looked like a deer in headlights. "Oh, Katrina told me."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25Z4NhSBX5
Katrina shot her a puzzled look. "No, I didn't."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa66wrLwLDY
Atlas slammed his fists on the counter. "Marisa, what did you do?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8nk2eHffz
"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?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgWLxV8C0z
My jaw fell open. "Why would you do that?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzJvDHBOBv
"Because Vindicator promised me, he'd rescue Patch if I did one simple favor for him."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhgMxZAJOq
"Did you forget the part where he wants me dead!"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePasXvUpO0
"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!"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjPBE2O5st
"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.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWnpuHSA9i
"I'm going to go talk to him," I said.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIFofWNlNl
"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.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURLWdaUHqI
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."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpzt75lMU1
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.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTrY2hg2tz
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.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMJ1y0m87S
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?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3vcMcPfPS
His cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I'm just working on an art project."
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I raised a skeptical eyebrow. "In the pouring rain?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8m8C6Xbd7
He nodded.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DodzzpbGN
"What are you sketching?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLfdje2F0w
"It's nothing." He leaned away from me, hiding the drawing from view.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tpV1DJkcA
I snatched the picture from his hands.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYnZk9eIS5
"Give it back!" He tried to yank it out of my hands, but I wrestled it away from him.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJGr0iq5DN
I held the drawing up to the light and studied it. I recognized the shape immediately. "You're trying to recreate the map."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCFUt2sYpv
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!"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmViLWsHcqp
"Yeah, for a split second."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyBfUfFOEc
"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."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlZZmZiL1b
I rolled my eyes and let out a long, exasperated sigh. "This is what Marisa was talking about! You need to let things go!"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXey5WbC3HK
"Do you want me to let Patch die? Because that's what will happen if I do nothing!"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklKNub1Qvz
"Of course not, but I don't want you to die doing something stupid!"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQw5ZuAKgk
"You can't stop me!"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMStBiectC
"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."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQMj3gkQFd
"I can't sit here and do nothing. I have to go."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mmNF0m5l3
I sighed. "Then I'm going with you. I won't let you do this alone. If we go down, we go down together.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrLdzkKetv
He threw his arms around me in a tight hug.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAGVHzQAio
I returned his embrace, gently patting him on the back. "Now, let's go kick some ass!"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiilDattZRS
We heard the sound of rustling coming from behind a potted fern.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaBf14rhcD
Atlas crept towards it with knives drawn.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KF7Z0H9F8
We peered through the branches to catch the sight of Katrina and Marisa eavesdropping.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeMc2754CE
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?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqN2aTjvOY
"We're coming with you," Marisa said.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEvHYnsGfF
Atlas shot daggers in her direction. "No."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhTmvMt9Q5
"If you want to pull off this heist, you're going to need a hacker."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOBmNJ8B6p
Atlas tightened his lips into a firm line.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxYAPU6vQe
I folded my arms across my chest. "How do we know we can trust you? You've helped Vindicator before."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8zgGkpTba
"I know you have no reason to trust me, but you won't find another hacker in time to save Patch."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTnca6yMH4
Atlas and I shot each other a questioning look.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwkG4lhONV
"What do you think?" Atlas asked through our link, so only I could hear.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeg4A24yCEE
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."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCVCG74SVm
Atlas nodded.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttVISzITAL
We turned our attention back to the girls. "Okay, you're in."
ns216.73.216.224da2
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