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.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTd6dPygg5
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.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LQRbv5k5z
"I'll go get Marisa. You guys run," Katrina said. She dashed out of the room before Marjorie could stop her.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNNeNdmpof
Atlas didn't move, he stood there frozen with a haunted expression on his face.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99e5xZiOLN
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!"
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRw8zbimSr
"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."
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He met my gaze for the first time.
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"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.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd66zVcJWPd
"Then we have to go."
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He gave a firm nod, then followed me out the window.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPej1DJ8Juy
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.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tauVzc7zt
We didn't stop running.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXKPtg115o
"She's already made my life hell," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3HNjRbfdG
"Then I guess it can't get any worse," I replied.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNY5tHoV0N
"Unfortunately, there's always more to lose."
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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.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCQ6GDY8H5
I tried to lighten the mood. "Do you wanna hear a joke?"
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCkaiM512k
"Absolutely not."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkEBkbCwIo
Okay, then.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4QUPVyHjc
We stood in awkward silence for several minutes. Eventually, Atlas signed. "I'm so sorry about the map. I should've fought back harder."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBqG4HWiX1
I rolled my eyes. "I already told you, I don't care about that."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTiXN2rbuG
"I did! Now I've ruined any chance of finding the Annihilation Code."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmGRvElo9v
"That was never your burden to bear. You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZ0PVXFr5C
"You sound just like Patch."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyFPFA2iQM
I didn't know what to say, so I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16TRsQxAHh
He pulled away from me. "They're going to kill him, and it's my fault."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqbClSibXO
"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."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQRNLm5tIp
"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.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztdEXqnE0q
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.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdidmvX7gDm
Atlas stared down at the trashcan. "I feel like nothing I do has an impact."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19aUsKJZIp
"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."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEvr5Th4wz
"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.
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Marisa ran up to Atlas and threw her arms around him. "Oh my God, are you okay?"
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyz4IWI3tB
He shook his head.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjKugsvREI
"It's been a rough night for all of us," I said.
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"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.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFf6wrnwS2O
"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.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uGjCwZbzD
"Looks like a nasty storm is on its way. We should probably head... Wait, where are we going from here?" I asked.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBKRM2EjM8
"Back to Ikigai II, Patch has a safe house on the north side of the island. We'll regroup there." Atlas signed.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQq8Jzqi5E3
Marisa raised an eyebrow. "Patch got another safe house? Why didn't he tell me?"
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuQ9K7q7tZ
Atlas gave an apathetic shrug. "There are a lot of things he doesn't tell you."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4y3UHQHHG
Marisa shot him a piercing stare. "I guess I have two family members that lie to me."
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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.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnN3wcj415a
"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.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWhXyX0DgX
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.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2iT8RpyPC
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.
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Marisa hugged herself tightly and shivered.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngju3ArQhr
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.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81CDm56GVC
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.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznCNBmkLNH
Atlas knelt beside the Hovercycle and examined it. "Someone stole the brake pads."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ElJsatStd
"What? Why?"
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"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?"
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOEP7Zy5M0
Atlas wasn't listening. "I got a parking ticket, too." He gestured to a soggy piece of paper taped to the handlebars.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwECyxdv3jh
"That sucks," I said honestly.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCAcyWtWMT
Atlas frowned. "It's just the terrible cherry on the crappy sundae that is my life."
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I grabbed the Hovercycle by the handle and pushed it toward the safe house. It was the least I could do to help him.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInoozhsq51
"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?
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5mK2brvTS
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?"
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34XkPNzCQJ
No one answered. Atlas refused to make eye contact.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡub6Px5MtgE
Eventually, I spoke up. "We saw Patch."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZtjHQ0yVf
Marisa gasped. "What? Where was he? Is he okay?"
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9IC3yiyky
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?"
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxBzZZmqlF
"Um..." I twiddled my thumbs as I debated how much I wanted to tell her.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIQKmZJQQS
"Please don't tell her. It'll break her heart," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCjZdQnahG
"She deserves to know the truth," I responded.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMI0jfQSGbv
I let out a long, deep breath. "Patch was kidnapped by Bionic Corp while he was trying to flee the island."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42q4l48w2M
"No. That can't be right. Patch would never leave without telling us!"
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06LXuXA5xZ
"I'm sorry," I said.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vn5pgK1mW
Marisa turned to Atlas. "Tell him he's wrong! Patch would never do such a thing!"
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD45bp2zTIk
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."
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"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.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vmwNDvk27
"They gave me an ultimatum, hand over the map, or they'd kill Patch in twenty-four hours," Atlas signed.
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"And then Vindicator swooped in and stole the map," Marisa finished.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesBQ9kUZzL
Atlas froze. "Wait, how did you know Vindicator stole the map?"
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSEa2e4mTC
She looked like a deer in headlights. "Oh, Katrina told me."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFUzMDabcz
Katrina shot her a puzzled look. "No, I didn't."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUowUOWZQg
Atlas slammed his fists on the counter. "Marisa, what did you do?"
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX09Qn1uaHK
"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?"
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANiTpOVvws
My jaw fell open. "Why would you do that?"
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKxXyWLgCa
"Because Vindicator promised me, he'd rescue Patch if I did one simple favor for him."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrBAmloK70
"Did you forget the part where he wants me dead!"
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lo7X3i2vy
"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!"
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaSAmNMwPC
"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.
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"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.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18SugovNLz
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.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9LINTar8H
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?"
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcoAUgndT9
"It's nothing." He leaned away from me, hiding the drawing from view.
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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.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9m8hpMQQKE
I held the drawing up to the light and studied it. I recognized the shape immediately. "You're trying to recreate the map."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DgfscOcdB
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!"
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBD8CFcWP8
"Yeah, for a split second."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFhl7Ym0GO
"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."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQSgxiwAqW
I rolled my eyes and let out a long, exasperated sigh. "This is what Marisa was talking about! You need to let things go!"
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnNsghrKbG
"Do you want me to let Patch die? Because that's what will happen if I do nothing!"
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5B5148Pl7
"Of course not, but I don't want you to die doing something stupid!"
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUQAqwjj1I
"You can't stop me!"
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGP00qIgiD
"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."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzCdqawnwL
"I can't sit here and do nothing. I have to go."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnbO2IimNZ
I sighed. "Then I'm going with you. I won't let you do this alone. If we go down, we go down together.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCpSQRZhOP
He threw his arms around me in a tight hug.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3WJFS5S92
I returned his embrace, gently patting him on the back. "Now, let's go kick some ass!"
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQCXlEFCny
We heard the sound of rustling coming from behind a potted fern.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchdGqEcLuZ
Atlas crept towards it with knives drawn.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprjhNfKhZO
We peered through the branches to catch the sight of Katrina and Marisa eavesdropping.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnBXMo1H04
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?"
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbqEwc2qS4
"We're coming with you," Marisa said.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjf5IsFeNwp
Atlas shot daggers in her direction. "No."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5T0bWNHrmg
"If you want to pull off this heist, you're going to need a hacker."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx23egnaxeM
Atlas tightened his lips into a firm line.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SGHFq6b8z
I folded my arms across my chest. "How do we know we can trust you? You've helped Vindicator before."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJcOzNT5nf
"I know you have no reason to trust me, but you won't find another hacker in time to save Patch."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRWyQFq8dL
Atlas and I shot each other a questioning look.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3vIfHwuzZ
"What do you think?" Atlas asked through our link, so only I could hear.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJrSUfafRS
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."
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZhP3U29Q4
Atlas nodded.
370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPjmIGdq5w
We turned our attention back to the girls. "Okay, you're in."
ns216.73.216.239da2
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