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.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAG1eCn1XHx9
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.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAhZHfCgiAgO
"I'll go get Marisa. You guys run," Katrina said. She dashed out of the room before Marjorie could stop her.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAW6nsPguEE0
Atlas didn't move, he stood there frozen with a haunted expression on his face.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAuerLfmaZ9O
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!"
123Please respect copyright.PENANA3TiCro99sS
"I'm sorry I let him get away with the map," Atlas replied through the link. He sounded so broken.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAjxsEL2ewng
"I don't care about that; I care about you."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAjjH0KOgk7h
He met my gaze for the first time.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAo91hEhHJLj
"Listen, security will be here any minute. We're in big trouble if they catch us. Do you want to get arrested?
123Please respect copyright.PENANAF3Jaz48VE6
He shook his head.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAbQk3SHscGY
"Then we have to go."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAAUDrenjZj5
He gave a firm nod, then followed me out the window.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAvvDntW7ojq
Thank God! I was worried I was going to have to throw him over my shoulder and carry him out.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAatvp2Gj1HO
"Come back here, or I'll make your lives hell!" Aunt Marjorie shouted.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAeT8BCPVu5I
We didn't stop running.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAF0QgyYML8d
"She's already made my life hell," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAiQu8FMOb5J
"Then I guess it can't get any worse," I replied.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2ynsJf5yl
"Unfortunately, there's always more to lose."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAxh89cAPB7A
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.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAw6SATOn1GK
Atlas didn't respond; he just stared out at the sea with a solemn expression.
123Please respect copyright.PENANATNHdwRZOHi
I tried to lighten the mood. "Do you wanna hear a joke?"
123Please respect copyright.PENANA8ZnJi8Jd8V
"Absolutely not."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAFVQUw4wERk
Okay, then.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAN2Gtirmxv5
We stood in awkward silence for several minutes. Eventually, Atlas signed. "I'm so sorry about the map. I should've fought back harder."
123Please respect copyright.PENANA0g5Kq7btAM
I rolled my eyes. "I already told you, I don't care about that."
123Please respect copyright.PENANA2hZY5SZUXK
"I did! Now I've ruined any chance of finding the Annihilation Code."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAFyyJ3yy9NF
"That was never your burden to bear. You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders."
123Please respect copyright.PENANARibANtji7Q
"You sound just like Patch."
123Please respect copyright.PENANA82mZ7VGJCH
I didn't know what to say, so I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
123Please respect copyright.PENANA0JWZm7JZG3
He pulled away from me. "They're going to kill him, and it's my fault."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAHKrUOk8FAx
"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."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAQIQDz6OlBv
"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.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAlvfPALPVHb
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.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAM3QTAOs7BC
Atlas stared down at the trashcan. "I feel like nothing I do has an impact."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAT9MaJo3thm
"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."
123Please respect copyright.PENANA9P10y4BZxK
"I didn't change you, you changed all by yourself."
123Please respect copyright.PENANA4CGKnn270t
"Yeah, but I would probably still be an asshole if we never crossed paths. Going on this crazy mission changed me for the better."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAuQ11FkuLQb
The faintest of smiles tugged at his lips before his face fell back into its previous distraught emotion.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAmBFm6flVMf
We dove into the shadows when we heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
123Please respect copyright.PENANA6EePwlSKjA
"You're going to need a better hiding place than that. Bionic Corp's soldiers have night vision, you know," Katrina remarked.
123Please respect copyright.PENANA5csnk7U5pi
"Oh, yeah, I forgot about that," I said.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAz9ytm8H298
Marisa ran up to Atlas and threw her arms around him. "Oh my God, are you okay?"
123Please respect copyright.PENANAI8RU0pNqjT
He shook his head.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAu297w21frQ
"It's been a rough night for all of us," I said.
123Please respect copyright.PENANA2Agf4lHmXd
"What took you guys so long?" Atlas asked.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAMJKeUqwYmL
"The whole party erupted into chaos after you guys left. It took ages to push through the crowd and find Marisa," Katrina said.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAVceSyWqksG
"And you changed shoes, apparently. You weren't wearing those boots earlier," I said, gesturing to her sleek leather boots.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAvicy5Gr1Uz
"Duh, it's impossible to run in heels. Everyone knows that, Chase."
123Please respect copyright.PENANANmJOOlBry2
Clouds rolled in over the horizon and thunder crackled in the distance.
123Please respect copyright.PENANARldHu37JMy
"Looks like a nasty storm is on its way. We should probably head... Wait, where are we going from here?" I asked.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAcSRjqnAbvu
"Back to Ikigai II, Patch has a safe house on the north side of the island. We'll regroup there." Atlas signed.
123Please respect copyright.PENANApmDObwbzHu
Marisa raised an eyebrow. "Patch got another safe house? Why didn't he tell me?"
123Please respect copyright.PENANA0FQsKLJsWG
Atlas gave an apathetic shrug. "There are a lot of things he doesn't tell you."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAOzbrrOwDZH
Marisa shot him a piercing stare. "I guess I have two family members that lie to me."
123Please respect copyright.PENANA4LF1ZaaSF1
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.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAM5WnufpCRG
"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.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAWh6yrZXBUf
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.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAwhC4RHVZgu
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.
123Please respect copyright.PENANABHiY0opuEj
Marisa hugged herself tightly and shivered.
123Please respect copyright.PENANApCotkySoTt
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.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAFoIyzxheBk
On our walk to the safe house, we passed by the boardwalk.
123Please respect copyright.PENANA6JPifaBaSV
"Atlas, look! Your Hovercycle is still here!" I exclaimed. It was parked exactly where we left it. It hadn't moved an inch.
123Please respect copyright.PENANA6Ts0VVPXrn
Atlas knelt beside the Hovercycle and examined it. "Someone stole the brake pads."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAxuPrsDqwcx
"What? Why?"
123Please respect copyright.PENANA2pjMTpIiME
"People will steal and sell anything they can find around here. I'm surprised they didn't steal more."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAxyUIrOUzGl
"At least it's still here, right?"
123Please respect copyright.PENANAZHjhDy2b76
Atlas wasn't listening. "I got a parking ticket, too." He gestured to a soggy piece of paper taped to the handlebars.
123Please respect copyright.PENANA0H6vIP4p3W
"That sucks," I said honestly.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAqmpOlycWFq
Atlas frowned. "It's just the terrible cherry on the crappy sundae that is my life."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAsIUclN7dbu
I grabbed the Hovercycle by the handle and pushed it toward the safe house. It was the least I could do to help him.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAc3NesXaiJC
"Thank you," he signed. A soft smile spread across his lips, as he grabbed the other handle and helped me push.
123Please respect copyright.PENANARMyvd0iV9o
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.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAdNjed30vBZ
The safe house reeked of musk and decomposing sewage. I pinched my nose and coughed.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAdMXtMj77hf
Katrina stifled a gag.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAYQkwEMXHlv
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!
123Please respect copyright.PENANA6fk4SkOIJa
"It may not be pretty, but it's safe for now," Atlas signed.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAoJ3ktg6DnB
Katrina somersaulted onto the broken couch. "So, now what."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAYB7kTbZNyT
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?
123Please respect copyright.PENANAVEoPantHp5
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?
123Please respect copyright.PENANAQuUpXaC2M4
"What happened at the party? You guys have been acting differently ever since. I want to know what happened," Marisa said.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAAdZ9Ronvkx
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."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAv3bnF8x7aH
"That's when I got dragged in," Katrina said. "Those security guys are faster than I thought they'd be."
123Please respect copyright.PENANA6oOdcbkVdO
"What happened next?"
123Please respect copyright.PENANAaq0dxM3ZZl
No one answered. Atlas refused to make eye contact.
123Please respect copyright.PENANA5Qk0tGYJR0
Eventually, I spoke up. "We saw Patch."
123Please respect copyright.PENANABYY0p60zTi
Marisa gasped. "What? Where was he? Is he okay?"
123Please respect copyright.PENANAaUSmmJnXLP
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."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAEWnutcDJiJ
Marisa buried her face in her hands. "Do you know how he got captured?"
123Please respect copyright.PENANAjCkifdF3QR
"Um..." I twiddled my thumbs as I debated how much I wanted to tell her.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAZG0SpjZhcO
"Please don't tell her. It'll break her heart," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAoXUhARCRLk
"She deserves to know the truth," I responded.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAW7hu85ptj8
I let out a long, deep breath. "Patch was kidnapped by Bionic Corp while he was trying to flee the island."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAcJxaQ5SVW7
"No. That can't be right. Patch would never leave without telling us!"
123Please respect copyright.PENANA6zBbtLGzye
"I'm sorry," I said.
123Please respect copyright.PENANADDvHSqGFVD
Marisa turned to Atlas. "Tell him he's wrong! Patch would never do such a thing!"
123Please respect copyright.PENANAx0uzbVpINd
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."
123Please respect copyright.PENANA40yreCexhg
"There must be some sort of misunderstanding!" She protested.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAB0u0pWLwZ7
"There's not. He left us to save himself."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAKnOOGrTOxt
"Why would Bionic Corp let you call Patch?" Marisa asked.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAvV8pW8Z5p0
"They gave me an ultimatum, hand over the map, or they'd kill Patch in twenty-four hours," Atlas signed.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAFtiFUpID2M
"And then Vindicator swooped in and stole the map," Marisa finished.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAKt7GVZ5u4P
Atlas froze. "Wait, how did you know Vindicator stole the map?"
123Please respect copyright.PENANAxTELGvLJHX
She looked like a deer in headlights. "Oh, Katrina told me."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAXxXcVQhU8k
Katrina shot her a puzzled look. "No, I didn't."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAdAq06ADpBU
Atlas slammed his fists on the counter. "Marisa, what did you do?"
123Please respect copyright.PENANA00NF0VMdit
"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?"
123Please respect copyright.PENANA5rvs9VmRCN
My jaw fell open. "Why would you do that?"
123Please respect copyright.PENANAsDjOIeczkQ
"Because Vindicator promised me, he'd rescue Patch if I did one simple favor for him."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAVqYpVMofZ1
"Did you forget the part where he wants me dead!"
123Please respect copyright.PENANARwYbuD9Qot
"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!"
123Please respect copyright.PENANASxOhSyIG3F
"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.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAGJiqITInXJ
"I'm going to go talk to him," I said.
123Please respect copyright.PENANA3SXZB59RCx
"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.
123Please respect copyright.PENANA8VpBLhh7PX
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."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAfbbBEJAKVt
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.
123Please respect copyright.PENANANgRy3abuir
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.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAkM5b0oMyny
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?"
123Please respect copyright.PENANAR8aSzOrnYv
His cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I'm just working on an art project."
123Please respect copyright.PENANADGibSmoI9C
I raised a skeptical eyebrow. "In the pouring rain?"
123Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZIHHGUlIX
He nodded.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAE9uzsmiku3
"What are you sketching?"
123Please respect copyright.PENANAdqV5tV52cX
"It's nothing." He leaned away from me, hiding the drawing from view.
123Please respect copyright.PENANACcoAQgE4Vd
I snatched the picture from his hands.
123Please respect copyright.PENANA9gWHQhxaBy
"Give it back!" He tried to yank it out of my hands, but I wrestled it away from him.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAFJHlpzmFxD
I held the drawing up to the light and studied it. I recognized the shape immediately. "You're trying to recreate the map."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAujeLkt0AS8
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!"
123Please respect copyright.PENANA2HM0e5SYgc
"Yeah, for a split second."
123Please respect copyright.PENANANneWvnnafF
"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."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAIoIu5Rj2Dm
I rolled my eyes and let out a long, exasperated sigh. "This is what Marisa was talking about! You need to let things go!"
123Please respect copyright.PENANACHtOsxYKLo
"Do you want me to let Patch die? Because that's what will happen if I do nothing!"
123Please respect copyright.PENANAJr3cm3mMLA
"Of course not, but I don't want you to die doing something stupid!"
123Please respect copyright.PENANAzWzqsnwUrM
"You can't stop me!"
123Please respect copyright.PENANAdgzesFMD9u
"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."
123Please respect copyright.PENANA8ACB7kqijd
"I can't sit here and do nothing. I have to go."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAK24asiAkd4
I sighed. "Then I'm going with you. I won't let you do this alone. If we go down, we go down together.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAry8hC2Dpkg
He threw his arms around me in a tight hug.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAO5jE5KUIiG
I returned his embrace, gently patting him on the back. "Now, let's go kick some ass!"
123Please respect copyright.PENANAuOE2oRa4hI
We heard the sound of rustling coming from behind a potted fern.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAPYSt2S84ZK
Atlas crept towards it with knives drawn.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAlLYZGGeaz1
We peered through the branches to catch the sight of Katrina and Marisa eavesdropping.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAtSVWmxI8CI
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?"
123Please respect copyright.PENANAWZgVzb5tzH
"We're coming with you," Marisa said.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAF7oLRSdQvq
Atlas shot daggers in her direction. "No."
123Please respect copyright.PENANACJB2DK2vP2
"If you want to pull off this heist, you're going to need a hacker."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAzFDD5tUzTu
Atlas tightened his lips into a firm line.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAWLnkLy1tS2
I folded my arms across my chest. "How do we know we can trust you? You've helped Vindicator before."
123Please respect copyright.PENANASt9UuisGgu
"I know you have no reason to trust me, but you won't find another hacker in time to save Patch."
123Please respect copyright.PENANApLsDl807Tn
Atlas and I shot each other a questioning look.
123Please respect copyright.PENANACXLui42kIM
"What do you think?" Atlas asked through our link, so only I could hear.
123Please respect copyright.PENANAqZa9YdFk26
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."
123Please respect copyright.PENANAWKSAky7oQu
Atlas nodded.
123Please respect copyright.PENANASvUrxrZYvm
We turned our attention back to the girls. "Okay, you're in."
ns 172.70.178.215da2