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.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbkMyWMkda
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.
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"I'll go get Marisa. You guys run," Katrina said. She dashed out of the room before Marjorie could stop her.
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Atlas didn't move, he stood there frozen with a haunted expression on his face.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFK46SdFAYb
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!"
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhjzNvNy6q
"I'm sorry I let him get away with the map," Atlas replied through the link. He sounded so broken.
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"I don't care about that; I care about you."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdL3vph5lb
He met my gaze for the first time.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMspEdA72b9
"Listen, security will be here any minute. We're in big trouble if they catch us. Do you want to get arrested?
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He shook his head.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnx16KlCyb
"Then we have to go."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf56meF3qif
He gave a firm nod, then followed me out the window.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCUCJgVZRD
Thank God! I was worried I was going to have to throw him over my shoulder and carry him out.
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"Come back here, or I'll make your lives hell!" Aunt Marjorie shouted.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmpORSpPaJ
We didn't stop running.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMR9b0BeQQc
"She's already made my life hell," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMUS3NxkLS
"Then I guess it can't get any worse," I replied.
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"Unfortunately, there's always more to lose."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe10xrZG9dp
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.
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Atlas didn't respond; he just stared out at the sea with a solemn expression.
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I tried to lighten the mood. "Do you wanna hear a joke?"
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyNFAJPQpf
"Absolutely not."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMUbAGE0gf
Okay, then.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqCyHt273U
We stood in awkward silence for several minutes. Eventually, Atlas signed. "I'm so sorry about the map. I should've fought back harder."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPq3bgfnfD
I rolled my eyes. "I already told you, I don't care about that."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDljB7f5qoP
"I did! Now I've ruined any chance of finding the Annihilation Code."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0whKBvasih
"That was never your burden to bear. You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCC4e2XkGb
"You sound just like Patch."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8n9RLETmmH
I didn't know what to say, so I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCayoLPuloo
He pulled away from me. "They're going to kill him, and it's my fault."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4kSEBZK6K
"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."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYcafxQ1TP
"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.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eh1F7aAWX
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.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIHu9g5Weh
Atlas stared down at the trashcan. "I feel like nothing I do has an impact."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFIyhYXXc7
"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."
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"I didn't change you, you changed all by yourself."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhCjyeh7rJ
"Yeah, but I would probably still be an asshole if we never crossed paths. Going on this crazy mission changed me for the better."
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The faintest of smiles tugged at his lips before his face fell back into its previous distraught emotion.
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We dove into the shadows when we heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
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"You're going to need a better hiding place than that. Bionic Corp's soldiers have night vision, you know," Katrina remarked.
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"Oh, yeah, I forgot about that," I said.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv936Srap0x
Marisa ran up to Atlas and threw her arms around him. "Oh my God, are you okay?"
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMExoWnGAeK
He shook his head.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8c2LNaSKf2
"It's been a rough night for all of us," I said.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡks3kZfRPBs
"What took you guys so long?" Atlas asked.
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"The whole party erupted into chaos after you guys left. It took ages to push through the crowd and find Marisa," Katrina said.
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"And you changed shoes, apparently. You weren't wearing those boots earlier," I said, gesturing to her sleek leather boots.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0h1ah4HdiI
"Duh, it's impossible to run in heels. Everyone knows that, Chase."
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Clouds rolled in over the horizon and thunder crackled in the distance.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5JdW6uKMf
"Looks like a nasty storm is on its way. We should probably head... Wait, where are we going from here?" I asked.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabo8iUp67U
"Back to Ikigai II, Patch has a safe house on the north side of the island. We'll regroup there." Atlas signed.
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Marisa raised an eyebrow. "Patch got another safe house? Why didn't he tell me?"
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrZPBPTzsp
Atlas gave an apathetic shrug. "There are a lot of things he doesn't tell you."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DIWvYfY5X
Marisa shot him a piercing stare. "I guess I have two family members that lie to me."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiLCvcAZnl
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.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIibhEHVju
"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.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkDTrWBiJM
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.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLY3BIZudqG
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.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8Bmvixycl
Marisa hugged herself tightly and shivered.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1HHTePibp
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.
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On our walk to the safe house, we passed by the boardwalk.
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"Atlas, look! Your Hovercycle is still here!" I exclaimed. It was parked exactly where we left it. It hadn't moved an inch.
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Atlas knelt beside the Hovercycle and examined it. "Someone stole the brake pads."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYXKOin4nr
"What? Why?"
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnFpwSF2cd
"People will steal and sell anything they can find around here. I'm surprised they didn't steal more."
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"At least it's still here, right?"
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Atlas wasn't listening. "I got a parking ticket, too." He gestured to a soggy piece of paper taped to the handlebars.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7ipmtGALw
"That sucks," I said honestly.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAONyrgCu8G
Atlas frowned. "It's just the terrible cherry on the crappy sundae that is my life."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yFCVQQdL8
I grabbed the Hovercycle by the handle and pushed it toward the safe house. It was the least I could do to help him.
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"Thank you," he signed. A soft smile spread across his lips, as he grabbed the other handle and helped me push.
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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.
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The safe house reeked of musk and decomposing sewage. I pinched my nose and coughed.
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Katrina stifled a gag.
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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!
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"It may not be pretty, but it's safe for now," Atlas signed.
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Katrina somersaulted onto the broken couch. "So, now what."
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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?
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsENj4Dawhh
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?
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"What happened at the party? You guys have been acting differently ever since. I want to know what happened," Marisa said.
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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."
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"That's when I got dragged in," Katrina said. "Those security guys are faster than I thought they'd be."
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"What happened next?"
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No one answered. Atlas refused to make eye contact.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FzzDyuw30
Eventually, I spoke up. "We saw Patch."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2crP9V93rZ
Marisa gasped. "What? Where was he? Is he okay?"
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rmYKMM5t9
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."
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Marisa buried her face in her hands. "Do you know how he got captured?"
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"Um..." I twiddled my thumbs as I debated how much I wanted to tell her.
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"Please don't tell her. It'll break her heart," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
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"She deserves to know the truth," I responded.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4pptZth0R
I let out a long, deep breath. "Patch was kidnapped by Bionic Corp while he was trying to flee the island."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21HhXyQ34g
"No. That can't be right. Patch would never leave without telling us!"
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhxvphFZLd
"I'm sorry," I said.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSE8mjWKsR
Marisa turned to Atlas. "Tell him he's wrong! Patch would never do such a thing!"
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPbGcylV90
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."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUSxtEg1ds
"There must be some sort of misunderstanding!" She protested.
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"There's not. He left us to save himself."
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"Why would Bionic Corp let you call Patch?" Marisa asked.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkc8IOHGJ4A
"They gave me an ultimatum, hand over the map, or they'd kill Patch in twenty-four hours," Atlas signed.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsHyS2TuWM
"And then Vindicator swooped in and stole the map," Marisa finished.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr83crDAQNQ
Atlas froze. "Wait, how did you know Vindicator stole the map?"
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONqGZnl2xh
She looked like a deer in headlights. "Oh, Katrina told me."
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Katrina shot her a puzzled look. "No, I didn't."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsAExWtQKH
Atlas slammed his fists on the counter. "Marisa, what did you do?"
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6KJeoQmo0
"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?"
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfeib5Txej
My jaw fell open. "Why would you do that?"
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelfiurzeFQ
"Because Vindicator promised me, he'd rescue Patch if I did one simple favor for him."
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"Did you forget the part where he wants me dead!"
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0DAXIsebP
"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!"
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynPuaHQt8i
"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.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTVgGpJGJi
"I'm going to go talk to him," I said.
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"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.
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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."
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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.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPhSr8eX6f
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.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRch9sedKTV
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?"
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His cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I'm just working on an art project."
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I raised a skeptical eyebrow. "In the pouring rain?"
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He nodded.
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"What are you sketching?"
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"It's nothing." He leaned away from me, hiding the drawing from view.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctkp54tNDQ
I snatched the picture from his hands.
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"Give it back!" He tried to yank it out of my hands, but I wrestled it away from him.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2n2tmwsWAZ
I held the drawing up to the light and studied it. I recognized the shape immediately. "You're trying to recreate the map."
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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!"
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiezgo3fOY
"Yeah, for a split second."
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"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."
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I rolled my eyes and let out a long, exasperated sigh. "This is what Marisa was talking about! You need to let things go!"
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdlv4kd6n7
"Do you want me to let Patch die? Because that's what will happen if I do nothing!"
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZpb66SWdm
"Of course not, but I don't want you to die doing something stupid!"
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidi4LmJQfI
"You can't stop me!"
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RDlfhEEk3
"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."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡip3uP5VIiA
"I can't sit here and do nothing. I have to go."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡac6FwYcBdm
I sighed. "Then I'm going with you. I won't let you do this alone. If we go down, we go down together.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRASOd1gY2
He threw his arms around me in a tight hug.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rKJnQm2kx
I returned his embrace, gently patting him on the back. "Now, let's go kick some ass!"
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We heard the sound of rustling coming from behind a potted fern.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54NPbveKtB
Atlas crept towards it with knives drawn.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJY1ONJJ1a0
We peered through the branches to catch the sight of Katrina and Marisa eavesdropping.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlhvEu54wC
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?"
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"We're coming with you," Marisa said.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2co4JNGQz
Atlas shot daggers in her direction. "No."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcHi0gQBfI
"If you want to pull off this heist, you're going to need a hacker."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr47ZSpLTc6
Atlas tightened his lips into a firm line.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExzJo4c6OK
I folded my arms across my chest. "How do we know we can trust you? You've helped Vindicator before."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1uWLEUd70
"I know you have no reason to trust me, but you won't find another hacker in time to save Patch."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknz8hfIlxU
Atlas and I shot each other a questioning look.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvo94wJBVmi
"What do you think?" Atlas asked through our link, so only I could hear.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31XmSt7T6v
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."
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK523ojKsaq
Atlas nodded.
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlO9U1DTRX
We turned our attention back to the girls. "Okay, you're in."
ns216.73.216.30da2
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