"Go," I said. "Save him."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3rAmLRx5h
"But I promised him I'd take care of you," Chase said.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVLJ8g4HRf
My heart felt as though it was about to burst. Atlas told him to protect me?
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuk5mV14yq
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.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VSfjbH87Q
Chase nodded and sprinted out the door and up the stairs.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3V9tYhlZ1
"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.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOE7jPxG6LC
I let out a quiet squeak.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblVLq2Mmz9
He scowled at me.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZGKxt1wLL
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.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7sUdtuKRY
Vindicator glared at me with his piercing green eyes, as my typing became more intense. "What's going on?"
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfZkVa3iFz
"They're throwing me out. I can't keep up with their security. It's a miracle I lasted this long."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ihQFT9rdZ
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.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnM9ju1mrP
"It doesn't work like that! I'm just one person, I can't compete with Bionic Corp!"
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TseScnNUu
"Are you not one of the best hackers Bionic Corp ever had?"
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdtExonrD5
"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.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJk75Cmqs8m
He let out an enraged scream and threw the keyboard at my head.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnXmQJwlJH
I ducked, just barely missing it.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7tb52lIWl
"Hey! That's no way to treat a lady." Katrina leaned against the door frame and sharpened her claws with a nail file.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFp14ph6wtb
"Get out of here, Bionic Corp scum! This has nothing to do with you." Vindicator snapped.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxY0Ph8uRP5
Katrina just rolled her eyes, then smirked at me like we were part of some inside joke.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTX3JPnSgzf
"You look like hell," I deadpanned as I examined her torn clothes, tousled hair, and bloody face.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGp2uP3lsP
She ran her fingers through her tangled mass of curls. "Well, I did just fall out of a window, so."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28F4x9MNLT
I stood there and scowled at her.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZsC5BBvFB
"What? Are you not happy to see me?"
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJKIiqP3sY
"Take a wild guess."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuCrq6xuHy
"Yes?"
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23k035sScO
"Guess again."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHwwpvwNod
Oh, you're mad about the whole me being a Bionic Corp spy thing."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuuyhft1DU
"I trusted you!" I spat through gritted teeth. "We all trusted you!"
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp26SmLSW82
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."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvynl58uU8
"I'll never forgive you for betraying us."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPd6qo2XEeK
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."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJZhgO3UDn
"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.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuaGgi8VVe
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."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzRb1QLUQW
"No. You need my hacking skills. You don't care about me, you only care about what I can do for you." I spat.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDhzsrcHX1
"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."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6Ja4PN6ck
"I don't want anything from you, you treacherous bitch!"
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzdYFCzhkN
"Rude."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQswm2b9FbA
I stood tall and spoke with false bravery. "I'm never going to help you."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYWdUJaBGl
Katrina put on a fake frown. "Why all the animosity, Marisa? I thought we were friends."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkhDL5XXjG
"Are you joking? You attacked me and threatened me in my own home."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7u4p2vyxO
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."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVod3N9Hkzr
"You shot my brother!"
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgMjgIsIw6
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?"
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCZKBkjiY9
"I've heard enough, I told you to leave! Now go!" Vindicator shouted.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLcGh1usZn
Katrina rolled her eyes. "No, I don't think I will."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDonklAwsww
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?
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LqeititEr
"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."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbT8BDBWO82
"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.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYQ6dIfU7f
"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."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFa5lQkyGet
He paused to consider her offer. "What will you do once the code is destroyed?"
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjExrayTh2C
"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."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oCiff63D8
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?"
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIG7ytr7Aeq
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!"
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5GZswztUH
Vindicator tightened his grip. "I'm going to kill you and avenge your victims."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RqeE4UF2Z
She dug her claws into his face, leaving bloody, red gashes from his forehead to his chin.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJI1UXppF6
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.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoSYECcy3e
"If you're not with me, then you're my enemy," Katrina said.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1SaKab2YU
"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."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQySVMFSWFb
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."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPxzDeoKTG
"Is that a threat?" He said, shooting her an appraising glare.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKl959PapIp
"It's a warning. Stay out of my way." Katrina mauled his face again, this time aiming for the eyes.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipj4rGBD9H
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.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodykLa4X7j
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.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8Erw5uVDw
You're wrong.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1dzQdcdJN
Katrina linked her arm with mine. "Come on, bestie. Let's get out of here."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXBHuDm2e3
I jerked away from her. "Who said I'm going with you?"
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqr7WyfVdK
She giggled. "Don't play hard to get, Marisa. We all know you're going to join me in the end."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡald5RdD2uq
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."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLsvgWX1Wm
"We'll figure something out," I stammered.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGCRjNscMh
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.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWDA8AcIV4
I wrapped my arms around myself, hugging myself tightly. "Why should I believe you'll take me to Patch?"
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7n9FUdU0NE
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.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTPvJl7DDb
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.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMKZEXhMXl
A wicked smirk spread across her lips. "That's a deal. There's no going back on it now."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7h58taM8P
I sense of dread clawed at my chest. What had I just agreed to?"
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvratsBmhpk
Vindicator stood tall in the doorway, with his arms out. "You're not going anywhere. I won't allow it."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgWCqyiW5e
Oblivion pulled out her pistol and fired two shots into his heart. "I don't need your permission."
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlMGOVzOL4
He collapsed to the ground and clutched his bleeding chest.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBpGhPc8Sa
I glanced down at his crumpled form.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbgG6hWSeD
His breathing became slow and labored. Tears welled up in his beautiful jade eyes. "Please help. I'm not ready to die," He rasped.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uE1PdyupH
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.
279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgH430Q2PS
I was beginning to suspect that I'd made a terrible mistake.
ns3.128.31.155da2
然後按「加至主畫面」