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.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MmLDe1wDb
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.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFov7O2aKjr
"I'll go get Marisa. You guys run," Katrina said. She dashed out of the room before Marjorie could stop her.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0S2XnORAA
Atlas didn't move, he stood there frozen with a haunted expression on his face.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNveAriLERl
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!"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUtalZQ5Ld
"I'm sorry I let him get away with the map," Atlas replied through the link. He sounded so broken.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ld0VLZFyr
"I don't care about that; I care about you."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhVoEbNJd1
He met my gaze for the first time.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hstT1FaH1
"Listen, security will be here any minute. We're in big trouble if they catch us. Do you want to get arrested?
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNT1Qs8IemD
He shook his head.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZu012FgbCm
"Then we have to go."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ieWQ71hTP
He gave a firm nod, then followed me out the window.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4J0I2Cc76s
Thank God! I was worried I was going to have to throw him over my shoulder and carry him out.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8b3oo4vE7
"Come back here, or I'll make your lives hell!" Aunt Marjorie shouted.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnfkjn6laO
We didn't stop running.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKkYfFak6E
"She's already made my life hell," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7MHQabRDx
"Then I guess it can't get any worse," I replied.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0LDGMEa2P
"Unfortunately, there's always more to lose."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVnxfZMXjN
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.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowO63PHwzw
Atlas didn't respond; he just stared out at the sea with a solemn expression.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWInfZrS38M
I tried to lighten the mood. "Do you wanna hear a joke?"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ004EzWEopv
"Absolutely not."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yjPCxl31X
Okay, then.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGY2QdfxrtA
We stood in awkward silence for several minutes. Eventually, Atlas signed. "I'm so sorry about the map. I should've fought back harder."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWR0OmRrxTj
I rolled my eyes. "I already told you, I don't care about that."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJD2yPWe1Y
"I did! Now I've ruined any chance of finding the Annihilation Code."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlInh3Zild
"That was never your burden to bear. You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsZcPwLWF1
"You sound just like Patch."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJl1hMMjoF
I didn't know what to say, so I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3osnnjBqDX
He pulled away from me. "They're going to kill him, and it's my fault."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WcNSCLxg1
"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."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheMG1ykETj
"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.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1hPxIWgzg
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.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcIaNn82Df
Atlas stared down at the trashcan. "I feel like nothing I do has an impact."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgI0ZyzB1uL
"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."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZfPZWmHOO
"I didn't change you, you changed all by yourself."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPz0Dkl2a0l
"Yeah, but I would probably still be an asshole if we never crossed paths. Going on this crazy mission changed me for the better."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEWLVahpFD
The faintest of smiles tugged at his lips before his face fell back into its previous distraught emotion.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdU86Mp8mc
We dove into the shadows when we heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BiAQgDQcU
"You're going to need a better hiding place than that. Bionic Corp's soldiers have night vision, you know," Katrina remarked.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRqweM5Bxx
"Oh, yeah, I forgot about that," I said.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FUGGrmpj8
Marisa ran up to Atlas and threw her arms around him. "Oh my God, are you okay?"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCxFvuayrw
He shook his head.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxgeYv6uXk
"It's been a rough night for all of us," I said.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHCeiCkOOB
"What took you guys so long?" Atlas asked.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHe3WKBHDz
"The whole party erupted into chaos after you guys left. It took ages to push through the crowd and find Marisa," Katrina said.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeTIMH3Z46
"And you changed shoes, apparently. You weren't wearing those boots earlier," I said, gesturing to her sleek leather boots.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLvcfdhYSN
"Duh, it's impossible to run in heels. Everyone knows that, Chase."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoy5U6dm3B
Clouds rolled in over the horizon and thunder crackled in the distance.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnc9fbSegm
"Looks like a nasty storm is on its way. We should probably head... Wait, where are we going from here?" I asked.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nPPBviRXX
"Back to Ikigai II, Patch has a safe house on the north side of the island. We'll regroup there." Atlas signed.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHpaLcJu3m
Marisa raised an eyebrow. "Patch got another safe house? Why didn't he tell me?"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0GXSIMo3w
Atlas gave an apathetic shrug. "There are a lot of things he doesn't tell you."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUgfmV8YdU
Marisa shot him a piercing stare. "I guess I have two family members that lie to me."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZDoQiYRWs
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.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SA7rHoPK3
"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.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXS89QanKSX
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.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIlFN5ilak
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.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIWB7kgVyS
Marisa hugged herself tightly and shivered.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz91w4zfmJK
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.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0oVyTyMBK
On our walk to the safe house, we passed by the boardwalk.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8QbJyCSV2
"Atlas, look! Your Hovercycle is still here!" I exclaimed. It was parked exactly where we left it. It hadn't moved an inch.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV65F1phJCh
Atlas knelt beside the Hovercycle and examined it. "Someone stole the brake pads."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoXQYJrwsN
"What? Why?"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0tb1gEede
"People will steal and sell anything they can find around here. I'm surprised they didn't steal more."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3Stz8XZBM
"At least it's still here, right?"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODymIO7IUD
Atlas wasn't listening. "I got a parking ticket, too." He gestured to a soggy piece of paper taped to the handlebars.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TJ80wqROy
"That sucks," I said honestly.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg50t9PCUSJ
Atlas frowned. "It's just the terrible cherry on the crappy sundae that is my life."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeBzAA0ulF
I grabbed the Hovercycle by the handle and pushed it toward the safe house. It was the least I could do to help him.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1STvQN9fNN
"Thank you," he signed. A soft smile spread across his lips, as he grabbed the other handle and helped me push.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofcQ1RKFvl
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.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWs2FUqdLiX
The safe house reeked of musk and decomposing sewage. I pinched my nose and coughed.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7KHIa9Cuy
Katrina stifled a gag.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmr9MD1IjoY
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!
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6mkSieMEK
"It may not be pretty, but it's safe for now," Atlas signed.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPDCkwQDpR
Katrina somersaulted onto the broken couch. "So, now what."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6WV4QaUVv
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?
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44UxPdEXjo
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?
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrdknVwSrb
"What happened at the party? You guys have been acting differently ever since. I want to know what happened," Marisa said.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPRCMGu4bT
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."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NfhjXKYdA
"That's when I got dragged in," Katrina said. "Those security guys are faster than I thought they'd be."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpX2jatYpsT
"What happened next?"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxOCpdLm2E
No one answered. Atlas refused to make eye contact.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91hCeqy82T
Eventually, I spoke up. "We saw Patch."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYTlETVqRY
Marisa gasped. "What? Where was he? Is he okay?"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAe6qU0QpxY
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."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoKBGsCpIj
Marisa buried her face in her hands. "Do you know how he got captured?"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOHlrpxHSg
"Um..." I twiddled my thumbs as I debated how much I wanted to tell her.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfO7u3vGV5
"Please don't tell her. It'll break her heart," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1nHShqnke
"She deserves to know the truth," I responded.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCuwKyeubP
I let out a long, deep breath. "Patch was kidnapped by Bionic Corp while he was trying to flee the island."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqS8kZ7hTvp
"No. That can't be right. Patch would never leave without telling us!"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHdrpIbfNl
"I'm sorry," I said.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNM7Rk6Hkk
Marisa turned to Atlas. "Tell him he's wrong! Patch would never do such a thing!"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvLH3DxCYx
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."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEBA9pb1Nt
"There must be some sort of misunderstanding!" She protested.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwE0ibG8E9B
"There's not. He left us to save himself."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbHfKJsYYp
"Why would Bionic Corp let you call Patch?" Marisa asked.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3puN8AXWH
"They gave me an ultimatum, hand over the map, or they'd kill Patch in twenty-four hours," Atlas signed.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0V11dRNyk0
"And then Vindicator swooped in and stole the map," Marisa finished.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnzV84h4V1
Atlas froze. "Wait, how did you know Vindicator stole the map?"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFdbTMuP47
She looked like a deer in headlights. "Oh, Katrina told me."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJOn0KgdR1
Katrina shot her a puzzled look. "No, I didn't."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkBYjYDued
Atlas slammed his fists on the counter. "Marisa, what did you do?"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTM4nPI8th
"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?"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMCcmaF1Pk
My jaw fell open. "Why would you do that?"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkphoSWVo3
"Because Vindicator promised me, he'd rescue Patch if I did one simple favor for him."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyaCRknit6
"Did you forget the part where he wants me dead!"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhqoXlDSRK
"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!"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5Hglie4RI
"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.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGPeG2dmi7
"I'm going to go talk to him," I said.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNj9XSyZJz
"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.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhz2dhYfsuS
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."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD46gPrrbOh
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.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijNvzGrdnB
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.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4r9ScMGEUi
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?"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByVuLpbc7C
His cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I'm just working on an art project."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1OwD4kgqM
I raised a skeptical eyebrow. "In the pouring rain?"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphpCDiFxMf
He nodded.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySMC9fYqWy
"What are you sketching?"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNDduLMITI
"It's nothing." He leaned away from me, hiding the drawing from view.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuzvBxP3uo
I snatched the picture from his hands.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjArACZvGr
"Give it back!" He tried to yank it out of my hands, but I wrestled it away from him.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPT8Np3RukA
I held the drawing up to the light and studied it. I recognized the shape immediately. "You're trying to recreate the map."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztrQUCjwAa
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!"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz43J0olAtw
"Yeah, for a split second."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewx6WoKYE4
"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."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CXPMciRrX
I rolled my eyes and let out a long, exasperated sigh. "This is what Marisa was talking about! You need to let things go!"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpREcrIpkm
"Do you want me to let Patch die? Because that's what will happen if I do nothing!"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2ZYdkQf8i
"Of course not, but I don't want you to die doing something stupid!"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4bBK6uKoX
"You can't stop me!"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrWuH6oPlI
"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."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsRh2dfCu5
"I can't sit here and do nothing. I have to go."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSPqkwKwK6
I sighed. "Then I'm going with you. I won't let you do this alone. If we go down, we go down together.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFUJd2B4vV
He threw his arms around me in a tight hug.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMF6OUEM9x9
I returned his embrace, gently patting him on the back. "Now, let's go kick some ass!"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRbbvg9f3O
We heard the sound of rustling coming from behind a potted fern.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ576xAzCiEJ
Atlas crept towards it with knives drawn.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIn2FcCpjvj
We peered through the branches to catch the sight of Katrina and Marisa eavesdropping.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoK8CqNAMi
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?"
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLf3LFP3Maj
"We're coming with you," Marisa said.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaSGabTFH9
Atlas shot daggers in her direction. "No."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡky5f027cEh
"If you want to pull off this heist, you're going to need a hacker."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZ6y8M9Vt1
Atlas tightened his lips into a firm line.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GkNOzXt7E
I folded my arms across my chest. "How do we know we can trust you? You've helped Vindicator before."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEvQxVUedU
"I know you have no reason to trust me, but you won't find another hacker in time to save Patch."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ99jMRh06r
Atlas and I shot each other a questioning look.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLRzLzzK2t
"What do you think?" Atlas asked through our link, so only I could hear.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUPo3aTduj
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."
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5ccTX76Zd
Atlas nodded.
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2wRTjpFUF
We turned our attention back to the girls. "Okay, you're in."
ns216.73.216.135da2
and then Add to home screen.