"Go," I said. "Save him."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopzGeKPwb1
"But I promised him I'd take care of you," Chase said.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjfkigU9Rg
My heart felt as though it was about to burst. Atlas told him to protect me?
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7kgm3ovsj
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0avw9QNhk
Chase nodded and sprinted out the door and up the stairs.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68yEnWYTvw
"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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbntXRRySd
I let out a quiet squeak.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtXG0ZtWJo
He scowled at me.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIq8D1mapEq
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRZD2WOOF4
Vindicator glared at me with his piercing green eyes, as my typing became more intense. "What's going on?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6bliMJJys
"They're throwing me out. I can't keep up with their security. It's a miracle I lasted this long."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrXUcKs3WN
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0I93QAc5GD
"It doesn't work like that! I'm just one person, I can't compete with Bionic Corp!"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtn3xiobCWW
"Are you not one of the best hackers Bionic Corp ever had?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BybgNw8M7
"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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tRi9DPWei
He let out an enraged scream and threw the keyboard at my head.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPmctTeZ1c
I ducked, just barely missing it.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJOneTK5O3
"Hey! That's no way to treat a lady." Katrina leaned against the door frame and sharpened her claws with a nail file.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fp4bATlGw
"Get out of here, Bionic Corp scum! This has nothing to do with you." Vindicator snapped.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXP5P67eRc
Katrina just rolled her eyes, then smirked at me like we were part of some inside joke.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1de5aoUJ9
"You look like hell," I deadpanned as I examined her torn clothes, tousled hair, and bloody face.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlmEG152Hb
She ran her fingers through her tangled mass of curls. "Well, I did just fall out of a window, so."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjWr5fB7sb
I stood there and scowled at her.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvraIRWwH4L
"What? Are you not happy to see me?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4AZdi7fZw
"Take a wild guess."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Fxi6YNW9t
"Yes?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazLeoUWPMS
"Guess again."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygIVwmXGFu
Oh, you're mad about the whole me being a Bionic Corp spy thing."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFs1ZD5Wcm
"I trusted you!" I spat through gritted teeth. "We all trusted you!"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPAokPh77u
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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3u9ZEDTcIp
"I'll never forgive you for betraying us."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jNRU6NNuS
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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8cGeUmKNA
"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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPU7KUQuOYN
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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwQupFH3Ar
"No. You need my hacking skills. You don't care about me, you only care about what I can do for you." I spat.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jEN4ts3sC
"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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08pFuwWVms
"I don't want anything from you, you treacherous bitch!"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4s3FRRKXHe
"Rude."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yQqAjAC5I
I stood tall and spoke with false bravery. "I'm never going to help you."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVywPDSyJdk
Katrina put on a fake frown. "Why all the animosity, Marisa? I thought we were friends."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBXzsFD4kB
"Are you joking? You attacked me and threatened me in my own home."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Iz4vZTGVf
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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAvMQfP4tK
"You shot my brother!"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJY5bsiysQ
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?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqq489EzkEt
"I've heard enough, I told you to leave! Now go!" Vindicator shouted.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoP2KATUk9V
Katrina rolled her eyes. "No, I don't think I will."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteq1FiIegR
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?
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkySpTGsjj7
"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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWrVom7UEr
"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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBubhZLPWik
"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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeFQvE3jY9
He paused to consider her offer. "What will you do once the code is destroyed?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXOD72QTSm
"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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HvEwCjOmA
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?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPT33DeIFP
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!"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5eAQBGWvz
Vindicator tightened his grip. "I'm going to kill you and avenge your victims."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAvByH9DUA
She dug her claws into his face, leaving bloody, red gashes from his forehead to his chin.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa93Fzpq0tv
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYqH719OIF
"If you're not with me, then you're my enemy," Katrina said.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlJY7UhJoo
"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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Oqjks10SF
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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3AAonYOF6
"Is that a threat?" He said, shooting her an appraising glare.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WDvG5e9Rj
"It's a warning. Stay out of my way." Katrina mauled his face again, this time aiming for the eyes.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG30NERVpvN
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFn0WQ6Slf
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacwrg7trsU
You're wrong.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVQQFuryXK
Katrina linked her arm with mine. "Come on, bestie. Let's get out of here."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfyaKpg2Pg
I jerked away from her. "Who said I'm going with you?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAC39lHQoi
She giggled. "Don't play hard to get, Marisa. We all know you're going to join me in the end."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5aVSR21Tq
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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfr1ErVCbua
"We'll figure something out," I stammered.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP933cPMqCO
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbJp7WJvls
I wrapped my arms around myself, hugging myself tightly. "Why should I believe you'll take me to Patch?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkgINYtrgf
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1YH79hPiw
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFn2ok9ryy9
A wicked smirk spread across her lips. "That's a deal. There's no going back on it now."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLODB72QsUK
I sense of dread clawed at my chest. What had I just agreed to?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3xYKIdF5Z
Vindicator stood tall in the doorway, with his arms out. "You're not going anywhere. I won't allow it."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvryLWoHug9
Oblivion pulled out her pistol and fired two shots into his heart. "I don't need your permission."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UbIPbHUfT
He collapsed to the ground and clutched his bleeding chest.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOL1rTAFf0
I glanced down at his crumpled form.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEAFtlQ7cj
His breathing became slow and labored. Tears welled up in his beautiful jade eyes. "Please help. I'm not ready to die," He rasped.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmKvd6wYyD
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmhxNsYtqO
I was beginning to suspect that I'd made a terrible mistake.
ns216.73.216.95da2
然後按「加至主畫面」