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.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLqedKQ4wG
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.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEZloDvW1O
"I'll go get Marisa. You guys run," Katrina said. She dashed out of the room before Marjorie could stop her.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UGlRaTmHq
Atlas didn't move, he stood there frozen with a haunted expression on his face.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxo8l0dIWNu
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!"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNknVNeVxyu
"I'm sorry I let him get away with the map," Atlas replied through the link. He sounded so broken.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpJpjLxzim
"I don't care about that; I care about you."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tf4PC4UZu
He met my gaze for the first time.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbf1EEDOs4
"Listen, security will be here any minute. We're in big trouble if they catch us. Do you want to get arrested?
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3as6W7H8yP
He shook his head.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0Mwl3smIl
"Then we have to go."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmzr8UDJdm
He gave a firm nod, then followed me out the window.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjTCj4QkyQ
Thank God! I was worried I was going to have to throw him over my shoulder and carry him out.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoml2MT7Bqt
"Come back here, or I'll make your lives hell!" Aunt Marjorie shouted.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdBOSUAlWf
We didn't stop running.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQCUOi9O8F
"She's already made my life hell," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQshvfZFCMA
"Then I guess it can't get any worse," I replied.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznsmRbUjAY
"Unfortunately, there's always more to lose."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6803ZPLmB
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.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNT7YIS2TNM
Atlas didn't respond; he just stared out at the sea with a solemn expression.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMJT9tcuoM
I tried to lighten the mood. "Do you wanna hear a joke?"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8L5bx9ll1a
"Absolutely not."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdhcWS7KUA
Okay, then.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtHpm6DeuE
We stood in awkward silence for several minutes. Eventually, Atlas signed. "I'm so sorry about the map. I should've fought back harder."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPdJssi5hJ
I rolled my eyes. "I already told you, I don't care about that."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsN7dkJ9ia
"I did! Now I've ruined any chance of finding the Annihilation Code."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aleIAHbln
"That was never your burden to bear. You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQd3jSNBU6m
"You sound just like Patch."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5Sutujj3v
I didn't know what to say, so I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFx3gZYv23
He pulled away from me. "They're going to kill him, and it's my fault."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAykU6ZGor
"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."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9N84l7oUSf
"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.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs05TCyyncJ
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.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryxvIIOw1X
Atlas stared down at the trashcan. "I feel like nothing I do has an impact."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHX91NaeLp0
"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."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWvn1E5CW1
"I didn't change you, you changed all by yourself."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXr0q9kptq
"Yeah, but I would probably still be an asshole if we never crossed paths. Going on this crazy mission changed me for the better."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuvQtnR90C
The faintest of smiles tugged at his lips before his face fell back into its previous distraught emotion.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAalvMEU9Ol
We dove into the shadows when we heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5bWoScRRn
"You're going to need a better hiding place than that. Bionic Corp's soldiers have night vision, you know," Katrina remarked.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8hchjzlvK
"Oh, yeah, I forgot about that," I said.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHVrcUbyyd
Marisa ran up to Atlas and threw her arms around him. "Oh my God, are you okay?"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1aMrz5oEV
He shook his head.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzz95zzEkTS
"It's been a rough night for all of us," I said.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3M8bxyeL3W
"What took you guys so long?" Atlas asked.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVA0lsj4jPv
"The whole party erupted into chaos after you guys left. It took ages to push through the crowd and find Marisa," Katrina said.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyY3vBAyXLT
"And you changed shoes, apparently. You weren't wearing those boots earlier," I said, gesturing to her sleek leather boots.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVNsrXcPll
"Duh, it's impossible to run in heels. Everyone knows that, Chase."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFl9Q9szNjf
Clouds rolled in over the horizon and thunder crackled in the distance.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXVBYD5iDR
"Looks like a nasty storm is on its way. We should probably head... Wait, where are we going from here?" I asked.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJXXIPAvEL
"Back to Ikigai II, Patch has a safe house on the north side of the island. We'll regroup there." Atlas signed.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1LQefZ3eP
Marisa raised an eyebrow. "Patch got another safe house? Why didn't he tell me?"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWNfq2H6bn
Atlas gave an apathetic shrug. "There are a lot of things he doesn't tell you."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYi43URtLHM
Marisa shot him a piercing stare. "I guess I have two family members that lie to me."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlTmCPgpku
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.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGGvgDHq6F
"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.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdH7dn2xSc
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.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PkU9jUWwA
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.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouMIwjWlaC
Marisa hugged herself tightly and shivered.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HzD7NtKd6
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.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNI7O67zAnT
On our walk to the safe house, we passed by the boardwalk.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2ZRhh9NiM
"Atlas, look! Your Hovercycle is still here!" I exclaimed. It was parked exactly where we left it. It hadn't moved an inch.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhdFr3qmuh
Atlas knelt beside the Hovercycle and examined it. "Someone stole the brake pads."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XCidnA9JR
"What? Why?"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEgsTnAu8l
"People will steal and sell anything they can find around here. I'm surprised they didn't steal more."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWkk2HjqCf
"At least it's still here, right?"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSX3IRzTfC2
Atlas wasn't listening. "I got a parking ticket, too." He gestured to a soggy piece of paper taped to the handlebars.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuKbHMCNLP
"That sucks," I said honestly.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyngukOyHjq
Atlas frowned. "It's just the terrible cherry on the crappy sundae that is my life."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUq9fZwmHl2
I grabbed the Hovercycle by the handle and pushed it toward the safe house. It was the least I could do to help him.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcjbjOMd47
"Thank you," he signed. A soft smile spread across his lips, as he grabbed the other handle and helped me push.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQrJPO6UPz
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.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1O2DyKdHy5
The safe house reeked of musk and decomposing sewage. I pinched my nose and coughed.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnRW9fzNRn
Katrina stifled a gag.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3OX0mx9cq
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!
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoh8FrgH0EZ
"It may not be pretty, but it's safe for now," Atlas signed.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFdH2kMkax
Katrina somersaulted onto the broken couch. "So, now what."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1seUyIvqP
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?
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCS3qrppq5
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?
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzBUI6WcOA
"What happened at the party? You guys have been acting differently ever since. I want to know what happened," Marisa said.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZifQWbOwz
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."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQgDaLGqcs
"That's when I got dragged in," Katrina said. "Those security guys are faster than I thought they'd be."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaur4joOuT4
"What happened next?"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCYZqq1vJd
No one answered. Atlas refused to make eye contact.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeaPzXsyHC
Eventually, I spoke up. "We saw Patch."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMlHFewYFr
Marisa gasped. "What? Where was he? Is he okay?"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcRqlsHgFU
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."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQc26Rj1wyF
Marisa buried her face in her hands. "Do you know how he got captured?"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCobDxnJiL
"Um..." I twiddled my thumbs as I debated how much I wanted to tell her.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrZnp1ddBL
"Please don't tell her. It'll break her heart," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdst1UIgM2
"She deserves to know the truth," I responded.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5kZpXLg3m
I let out a long, deep breath. "Patch was kidnapped by Bionic Corp while he was trying to flee the island."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRx7DNBKil
"No. That can't be right. Patch would never leave without telling us!"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6esxKA0REO
"I'm sorry," I said.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJBHXNpnFz
Marisa turned to Atlas. "Tell him he's wrong! Patch would never do such a thing!"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7z3quCiAv0
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."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jDi2wUJeC
"There must be some sort of misunderstanding!" She protested.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bK5nMjNeu
"There's not. He left us to save himself."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYm2gnS4ii
"Why would Bionic Corp let you call Patch?" Marisa asked.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGByrfrEHA
"They gave me an ultimatum, hand over the map, or they'd kill Patch in twenty-four hours," Atlas signed.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROqrgzMAKK
"And then Vindicator swooped in and stole the map," Marisa finished.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEGKdXWA0e
Atlas froze. "Wait, how did you know Vindicator stole the map?"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDBWZsHSSk
She looked like a deer in headlights. "Oh, Katrina told me."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2W2aia8aX
Katrina shot her a puzzled look. "No, I didn't."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAOdPNswrc
Atlas slammed his fists on the counter. "Marisa, what did you do?"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApOwajfy6W
"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?"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmcIOpNzzz
My jaw fell open. "Why would you do that?"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEo4aqHprm1
"Because Vindicator promised me, he'd rescue Patch if I did one simple favor for him."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BUn2eEy9z
"Did you forget the part where he wants me dead!"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcrzebUHBc
"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!"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZ35Vm1JnQ
"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.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxUlXfhoIW
"I'm going to go talk to him," I said.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25gmSNFhw7
"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.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfZeXtSwRy
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."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ciGEA4W2B
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.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHOyimZOvE
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.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqscfV0cjTV
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?"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8CkdsJmVr
His cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I'm just working on an art project."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemdK4XpOz4
I raised a skeptical eyebrow. "In the pouring rain?"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSVwoVtPMk
He nodded.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DUVUlD34x
"What are you sketching?"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc39gmCJnid
"It's nothing." He leaned away from me, hiding the drawing from view.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vKhiEJNlW
I snatched the picture from his hands.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8D1Vbrse5
"Give it back!" He tried to yank it out of my hands, but I wrestled it away from him.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kSXvn12xI
I held the drawing up to the light and studied it. I recognized the shape immediately. "You're trying to recreate the map."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYv8AejAPX
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!"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vZ4c2bjad
"Yeah, for a split second."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wXYfJ9sy4
"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."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrtB00NiK9
I rolled my eyes and let out a long, exasperated sigh. "This is what Marisa was talking about! You need to let things go!"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavnXKo4R82
"Do you want me to let Patch die? Because that's what will happen if I do nothing!"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN43yRji4Ex
"Of course not, but I don't want you to die doing something stupid!"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ813NQDK883
"You can't stop me!"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQj6Kfy8i4
"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."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujSI15OPDX
"I can't sit here and do nothing. I have to go."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoM8WcLHsKL
I sighed. "Then I'm going with you. I won't let you do this alone. If we go down, we go down together.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqItT0BzWb
He threw his arms around me in a tight hug.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIno1kZKSn
I returned his embrace, gently patting him on the back. "Now, let's go kick some ass!"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR88k0Dvs8u
We heard the sound of rustling coming from behind a potted fern.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRRt90O2sP
Atlas crept towards it with knives drawn.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnByPFHyWEf
We peered through the branches to catch the sight of Katrina and Marisa eavesdropping.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XZnPoTHnT
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?"
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhDCmd9r22
"We're coming with you," Marisa said.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6nBMNTCt2
Atlas shot daggers in her direction. "No."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4hCZ1I5Yl
"If you want to pull off this heist, you're going to need a hacker."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavmhEMbaIA
Atlas tightened his lips into a firm line.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaDnttZ52q
I folded my arms across my chest. "How do we know we can trust you? You've helped Vindicator before."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9Jp5XJnWu
"I know you have no reason to trust me, but you won't find another hacker in time to save Patch."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICzO1WBtqi
Atlas and I shot each other a questioning look.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcI8iU6WbvG
"What do you think?" Atlas asked through our link, so only I could hear.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygBBJOIKbP
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."
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJro5EIJhs
Atlas nodded.
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NVykRMO0F
We turned our attention back to the girls. "Okay, you're in."
ns216.73.216.75da2
and then Add to home screen.