Another note.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRhm1iJbUB
Achlys led the group to a hotel and somehow managed to get into the penthouse suite. With cash.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iAN55FMvz
The lady at the desk reached for the phone during check-in, but Abyss figured Achlys found a work around. He couldn’t remember. In fact, nobody could.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpECQruFNG
He probably would have dwelt on the bizarre circumstance had it not been for room service coming at the crack of dawn with a letter to Abyss. No one was awake yet. Abyss was trained to be an early riser by the Rosork, and apparently it worked. He was up by 5. The letter came around an hour and a half later.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt21Lx9hzpt
Abyss looked down at the enclosed envelope. He didn’t know why notes kept coming. He didn’t recognize the name, Mark or why the return address seemed to be coordinates, (38, -97), but here was a confidential stamp on it. Abyss didn’t quite understand how or why this letter found its way here and could contain anything confidential.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjyEM4yY2U
After the last confidential message he received, Abyss was afraid to open it .108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9HIaM0i2R
Still, curiosity killed the cat, and Abyss slowly ripped the seal.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlBFMFw8C9
His eyes glazed over the note which read:108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApSmhBO4n2
Abyssal,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodymgahcl7
I hope this letter finds you well, I only really have a hunch where you could be. I read about the “attack” on a rebel base, and through some digging, I discovered you were behind it.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ25qaK2Vns
As a curious outsider, I would like to hear your side of the story. No one will know about this contact. I want to know if this was a planned attack or just you lashing out, if there was anyone else involved, maybe the entire article is a rouse to cover something else up. Was there a reason behind all this that you could tell me about?108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAd5rq7FFD
I should probably introduce myself. Nedi The name on the envelope is different because I don’t want the police to track me. With such a unique name, it probably wouldn’t be hard.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7T7LiVDG4
Thank you for your time and understanding. I can only hope you respond soon.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXaHTALYo0
Your friend,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2ZLJs9WsQ
Nedi108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisCNfy6A65
Abyss stared at the letter with utter confusion. Friend? This person was already calling themself a friend of Abyss? Even Achlys didn’t feel that way to Abyss yet. And what kind of name is Nedi108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXbDtwokCN
Abyss wasn’t sure if he should respond part of him was somewhat relieved for whatever reason. He wouldn’t figure out that it was being given the opportunity to talk that made Abyss appreciate the letter despite how strange it was.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QTsUVKlOs
He pocketed the letter deciding to ask Achlys her opinions later, but the time never came.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvRkG9OMeC
Achlys left saying she would be back with Queen Ember a week or two later to advance her plans to stage two. She advised everyone to stay here, much to Abyssal’s annoyance. The other guys shared this annoyance, meanwhile, the lady and Lucy were more than willing to stay in the suite to process current events and unwind. Lucy was just scared to do anything, which tugged at his heart. He shook off the thought but was now properly distracted from the letter.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeiF0wUQXs
That is until Achlys was gone for about two hours.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaGzanUtb1
Abyss went back to his room for a while and after a nap, Abyss saw the letter slipped out from his pocket.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOLK4iGRZ1
He pulled up the piece of parchment and searched for a blank piece of paper of his own.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1urmmlNPgV
After a little while, Abyss was able to start writing.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKk7fywGU9
Nedi,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTapZVCkOor
Your letter found me. I don’t know how. The truth is, earlier today, I wasn’t sure if I should trust you. Then I figured that I could share some things with you. Achlys left for a while, so you’re the only person I could think of who isn’t afraid of me. Besides, even if we just met in a letter, I think I trust you more than Achlys’ allies. I can’t explain it.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3gtelUInp
The truth is, I was upset. PISTOL sent my brother to die, and I wasn’t there with him. Achlys says it isn’t my fault. I have a hard time believing her.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9K5JKVO3F
Whatever, it’s stupid. I shouldn’t be upset anymore. I destroyed PISTOL.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudMhxE4us1
Abyss marked the send address with the coordinates and hoped the letter would find its way back. He addressed it to... Mark. If an uncommon name would have exposed Nedi he wouldn’t be having that problem with a name like this false one.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosHq8Qsebv
Abyss gave it to one of the people who worked at the hotel and retreated to his room to think. He thought about Volt, Mirio, Merry, and he couldn’t stop thinking about Achlys. He wondered if she was alright. He didn’t know why she asked for so much time for her mission. Did she know something he didn’t? Did she expect something bad to happen?108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVywaEOSsww
* * *
A new letter came 8 days later.
Abyss,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiMEFyQzW4
The letter you sent me was an unexpected treasure. I am thrilled that you responded, but the response took longer than I expected. I waited a week.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgVc107UJA
I made an account on an obscure website called Facebook. I thought this might be a faster way to communicate if you have access to the internet.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7KEjhs1yf
As for your brother, I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say. There’s so much I want to tell you, but things are crazy here. People keep talking about oncoming war with the aliens. Is that crazy? The aliens have given us so much, but it turns out that was out of greed and manipulation. Surprising, I know.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRm0wztAJ35
Hopefully we can keep in touch.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2StRfMZyD
-Nedi108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhnCZjCq2E
Abyss tore the sides of the envelope in frustration. He had to figure out how to get access to the internet and learn how to use it. The Rosork never allowed Volt and Abyss access to human technology. It was too primitive and full of distractions. Rosorken technology was efficient. Communication across 2 or 3 solar systems was normally plenty. Besides that, ships, and the cartridges, the Rosork didn’t need much. They believed entertainment was one of the reasons humans advanced so slowly.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFykEJlsjrj
Still, Abyss spent the rest of the day looking for a computer. He had to ask one of the employers, and they said they had an old computer Abyss could keep. The laptop was a dinosaur that barely functioned. It used something called Windows 11, which was supposed to be far outdated.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGYMz36RYm
Still, Abyss took anything he could get.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqnmHPYvdf
* * *
Nedi was right. His name was incredibly unique. After scrolling past some consumer protection laws crap, Abyss found the strange website named Facebook. He clicked the blue button and was taken right to Nedi’s page.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI89zeC4LRW
It took Abyss about 40 minutes trying to figure out how to make an account. He had to work around not having a... “email” or a “phone number”.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtWgVpC3WU
Eventually, Abyss sent a message to Nedi.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHmrHDLJjG
Does this work?108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1z37JaimD
-Abyssal108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuhrteBbpJ
It only took 13 minutes for Nedito respond this time.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqM9QNS1MyN
It works. Keep laying low. Something big is going to start any day now. You need to stay safe. Besides, your brother wouldn’t want you to take revenge on everything. He would just want you to be happy.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnCvXjG2Ag
Abyss stared at the message on the screen in bewilderment.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSphZeWV7j
How can I be happy? Are you okay? Where are you?108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqXaj9GODx
Abyss waited a long time for Nedito respond. He waited 13 minutes, then 19 more.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7jrRuyTRc
Are you ignoring me?108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0PRxq3uaF
Abyss aggressively hit the send button on this message. An almost instant reply.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSVPAyaJyy
I can’t talk right now, and I couldn’t answer your questions anyway. It isn’t safe anymore. I have to go.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIuNFOfRYQ
Go where?!108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsVMQ6yrb9
Stay where you are, don’t message me anymore.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQwzy8DYCB
This was the last straw. Nediwas being unreasonable. He couldn’t just say he was in danger and demand Abyss stayed in place.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37wCL1ACfT
Abyss rushed out his bedroom door without even closing the laptop.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFxd2dg30H
The others waiting in the lobby were talking and laughing. “Knock it off, Vivian!” Lucy giggled as the older girl ticked her. The young boy glared at the two and the larger man placed a hand on the boy’s head.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2dXbMEOBz
“And there’s our emo teenager!” The man bellowed jovially, throwing up his arms. Abyss froze for a second before shaking his head and moving to the elevator. “What are you, deaf?” He asked, moving away from the younger boy and to Abyss. “Don’t approve of my phraseology? We all talked about the rolls we would have in our hypothetical families, see? I’d be the dad, Lillian’s the funny aunt, Antonio’s the stubborn middle child, Lucy’s the youngest, and you’re the oldest son who hides in his room all depressed. Achlys is your-”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFIsdoISlR
“I don’t care,” Abyss said stubbornly, pressing the button. “I don’t even know you guys. Now if you’ll excuse me, some things are more important than playing house. Besides, my father never did crap for me. I don’t need a new one.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVddZwr9dZ
The elevator dinged open, and Abyss walked in. The spirits of everyone else in the room fell.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWPmTwEb3H
“Where are you going?” the large man called out in desperation. “Achlys said you were in charge.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooDIh64FFn
“Some job I’ve done. You’re in charge now, Dad. I’m out of here.” The elevator door closed and cut off the bitter farewells.
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