"Go," I said. "Save him."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRR0SZtnIT
"But I promised him I'd take care of you," Chase said.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fc5VexrLQ
My heart felt as though it was about to burst. Atlas told him to protect me?
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkNWLgr63Y
I motioned for him to leave. "Go! I can handle myself!" That wasn't true. I couldn't defend myself against Oblivion. I certainly can't fend off Vindicator alone, but Atlas is dying. I couldn't live with myself if he died, and we could've done something to stop it. It would be selfish of me to keep Chase here if there's any chance he can rescue Atlas.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqAYVzqIjZ
Chase nodded and sprinted out the door and up the stairs.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzon4eXQxs
"There, there. It's time for you to get back to work finding that code." Vindicator grabbed my shoulders and squeezed. It wasn't the comforting kind of touch, it was the threatening kind. It wasn't a suggestion, it was a command.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbS9EyrHAA
I let out a quiet squeak.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkDBh8z1YT
He scowled at me.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUR6Qq4BIfg
I took several shaky breaths. If you do what he asks, he won't hurt you. I repeated that mantra over and over again as my fingers glided across the keyboard. I can't stay in the system much longer. Their firewall is cracking down on me. I increased my typing speed, desperately trying to prevent myself from getting kicked out.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vUMio2Sfj
Vindicator glared at me with his piercing green eyes, as my typing became more intense. "What's going on?"
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCUt7wp3WL
"They're throwing me out. I can't keep up with their security. It's a miracle I lasted this long."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtbgx39XLG
He leaned in so close I could feel his hot breath on my face. "Well then, I suggest you start hacking faster," He barked, through clenched teeth.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3nUaXWOU8
"It doesn't work like that! I'm just one person, I can't compete with Bionic Corp!"
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDuj61iDmJ
"Are you not one of the best hackers Bionic Corp ever had?"
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicgNFqzjLh
"I'm not," I confessed. "I'm just me. I'm an average, boring person. I don't know who told you any different, but they're wrong." A notification popped up informing me I'd been kicked out of the server.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagBRTOHR0l
He let out an enraged scream and threw the keyboard at my head.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0NMENgbgK
I ducked, just barely missing it.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5AGplOeo1
"Hey! That's no way to treat a lady." Katrina leaned against the door frame and sharpened her claws with a nail file.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjau3J8nw8w
"Get out of here, Bionic Corp scum! This has nothing to do with you." Vindicator snapped.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRicVQWkHde
Katrina just rolled her eyes, then smirked at me like we were part of some inside joke.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡon45lP2Hn1
"You look like hell," I deadpanned as I examined her torn clothes, tousled hair, and bloody face.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeq3CeH8cN
She ran her fingers through her tangled mass of curls. "Well, I did just fall out of a window, so."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4NGeie9GA
I stood there and scowled at her.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKP9pzJV17q
"What? Are you not happy to see me?"
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijW2u9OZZF
"Take a wild guess."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG51aGonrJm
"Yes?"
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsTZgmYYwD
"Guess again."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshjUlajslP
Oh, you're mad about the whole me being a Bionic Corp spy thing."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZIfSy5Bmv
"I trusted you!" I spat through gritted teeth. "We all trusted you!"
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKlFs5css1
Katrina picked at the blood in her claws. "Why? I never gave you any reason to. All I did was hang out in your general vicinity, and you all trusted me with your secrets. It's not my fault you put so much faith in me."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkWIBAaJJI
"I'll never forgive you for betraying us."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnhZ4ui4ze
Katrina raised her shoulders in a half-shrug. "That's fair. You should know I'm just doing what it takes to survive in this cruel world. I didn't choose to be an assassin any more than Atlas did. I'm doing the best with the hand I was dealt."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwCd3d5NMl
"I don't care why you did it. Your motivations don't change the impact of your actions. You've hurt me, Atlas, and countless others.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo07JtdouCw
Katrina shot me an appraising smirk. "Listen, I have orders to kill you, but I'm feeling nice, so I'll give you the chance to stay alive if you do what I say. I'm doing this because I like you, and I'd hate to be the one to kill you."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzcncj9xx6
"No. You need my hacking skills. You don't care about me, you only care about what I can do for you." I spat.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0ZfNhDxym
"You don't have to say it like that. You make me sound terribly shallow. You're not entirely wrong, I do need your help, but I see this as more of a symbiotic relationship. You give me something I want, and I'll give you something you want."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQyAZNwjVh
"I don't want anything from you, you treacherous bitch!"
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPaQUCL0mq
"Rude."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeLLJ5zrU7
I stood tall and spoke with false bravery. "I'm never going to help you."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡey5ju96WLI
Katrina put on a fake frown. "Why all the animosity, Marisa? I thought we were friends."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNd6EWbQqh2
"Are you joking? You attacked me and threatened me in my own home."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡru6GHbzxLW
Katrina crossed her arms. "Yeah, but I bought you mozzarella sticks afterward, so we're even. Those weren't cheap, you know? You didn't even bother to say thank you."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIPj2EegXZ
"You shot my brother!"
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfhritiO4I
She resumed picking at her claws. "That is true. You got me there. I aimed for the hip. It was a warning shot. He should be fine as long as he doesn't drown, bleed out, or get eaten by sharks. Hey, did you know sharks can smell blood from over three hundred meters away? Pretty cool, right?"
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjXztZTcgB
"I've heard enough, I told you to leave! Now go!" Vindicator shouted.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JKu1BzXVz
Katrina rolled her eyes. "No, I don't think I will."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4JMpDdhaP
Before anyone had time to react, Vindicator grabbed her by the throat and slammed her into the wall. "You're going to need to find your own hacker. This one here is mine! Do you hear me?
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nWCoOUN6i
"She doesn't belong to you, creep. You don't own her. She can help whoever she wants. I think she'll find working with me far more compelling than working with you. Because all you have are threats of violence. I have something she desperately wants, something I think she'll do anything for."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9byxlrjYr
"So, you're just going to steal everything I've worked for right out from under me? Is that how this is going to go?" Vindicator shook her, sending her head thumping against the wall.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhC52khJDlF
"It doesn't have to go that way, Mason. Think about it, I want to destroy the code, you want to destroy the code," Katrina pointed at me. "she wants to destroy the code. Together, we can't fail."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCG9dfsCC7
He paused to consider her offer. "What will you do once the code is destroyed?"
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GvOEA8iJ7
"I'll continue living life, with my title of World's Best Assassin permanently intact. If I'm the only one who knows the Annihilation Code, I can never be upstaged."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnQlxXYb7u
Vindicator smashed her head into the back wall, he didn't like that answer. "Tell me, how does it feel to be a traitor to your own kind?"
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscBgZxNKzX
Katrina scratched at him, tearing open his leather armor, exposing the pale flesh underneath. "I don't have a kind, I've always been alone. Why should I care for my fellow cyborgs? They never looked out for me!"
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDO34sqh42A
Vindicator tightened his grip. "I'm going to kill you and avenge your victims."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKx0TYNxNO4
She dug her claws into his face, leaving bloody, red gashes from his forehead to his chin.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjf1kwd2zOV
Maybe, if I'm lucky, they'll kill each other. Two birds, one stone. Well, I guess in this scenario, the birds are hurling rocks at each other.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1ICMbyEH8
"If you're not with me, then you're my enemy," Katrina said.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveliTJ1gUJ
"You've always been my enemy. You're the antithesis of everything I stand for. You're the embodiment of Bionic Corp's cruelty and society's indifference towards the well-being of cyborgs. You repulse me."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzH8Uej1aiE
Katrina scanned the area. "You know what repulses me? This interior decor. This whole room is terribly gray. It could use a pop of color. Maybe some red. Your entrails would look great splattered over here. We could make a beautiful accent wall."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyEEDCHZUL
"Is that a threat?" He said, shooting her an appraising glare.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3CYUgQWYW
"It's a warning. Stay out of my way." Katrina mauled his face again, this time aiming for the eyes.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZofRaRCIu4
He keeled over and clutched his eyes, giving Katrina the chance to break free. Rivulets of blood and sweat poured down his face, and he let out a soft whimpering sound.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6yHcs8Wzu
My heart swelled with sympathy for him, despite my better judgment. I hope his eyes were cybernetic, if not, there's going to be some serious damage.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZPLhu50vE
You're wrong.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡax8ydVL6Ge
Katrina linked her arm with mine. "Come on, bestie. Let's get out of here."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzAlHHWMMp
I jerked away from her. "Who said I'm going with you?"
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGgAa3QivO
She giggled. "Don't play hard to get, Marisa. We all know you're going to join me in the end."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSs7U4whzZ
She shrugged. "Okay, whatever. Let your uncle die. I don't care. By the looks of it, he has..." She glanced down at her Holowatch. "Eight hours left to live, and you still have no idea where he is. Face it, you're helpless without me."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJkYc7w5ms
"We'll figure something out," I stammered.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtduubKPwD5
She laughed at me. It was a dry laugh without any real humor behind it. She was mocking me. She knew I couldn't do it alone, and she wanted to know how much I was willing to bargain for Patch's life.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJA1908PlS
I wrapped my arms around myself, hugging myself tightly. "Why should I believe you'll take me to Patch?"
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkzEdYsxIJ
She shot me a toothy grin. "You shouldn't, but you don't have any other options. You need me, and I need you. So, I say we call a truce." She extended a hand for me to take.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGvTa1FkKr
Joining her would be a risky endeavor. She would most likely betray me whenever she got the chance, I fingered the shock device in my pocket. I had a secret weapon to use against her, and she required my hacking skills if she wanted any chance of finding the Annihilation Code. Despite everything in me telling me this was a bad decision, I firmly shook her hand.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIpaqm5Ud6
A wicked smirk spread across her lips. "That's a deal. There's no going back on it now."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk99SGbpy0B
I sense of dread clawed at my chest. What had I just agreed to?"
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUrh7wkiBT
Vindicator stood tall in the doorway, with his arms out. "You're not going anywhere. I won't allow it."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzneF2s7Kb
Oblivion pulled out her pistol and fired two shots into his heart. "I don't need your permission."
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xOBe3IVKX
He collapsed to the ground and clutched his bleeding chest.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vH1d9bUx7
I glanced down at his crumpled form.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0MdWUNYZS
His breathing became slow and labored. Tears welled up in his beautiful jade eyes. "Please help. I'm not ready to die," He rasped.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgiRZDF11h
I reached down to offer him my aid, but Katrina wrenched me away. "Ignore him. We have more important things to worry about." She dragged me out the door, stepping on Mason in the process.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi69o0BJOro
I was beginning to suspect that I'd made a terrible mistake.
ns18.116.49.6da2
然後按「加至主畫面」