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.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8lwu617Hx
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.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIdYYa8q9m
"I'll go get Marisa. You guys run," Katrina said. She dashed out of the room before Marjorie could stop her.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYd03OiosmM
Atlas didn't move, he stood there frozen with a haunted expression on his face.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeotmTJ3BT
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!"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusaBIH6sCB
"I'm sorry I let him get away with the map," Atlas replied through the link. He sounded so broken.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XO4IQsGAV
"I don't care about that; I care about you."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyFWcy8SWg
He met my gaze for the first time.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPIQ2oYuuF
"Listen, security will be here any minute. We're in big trouble if they catch us. Do you want to get arrested?
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd43HkY1iQv
He shook his head.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuh6SvqXhE
"Then we have to go."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCkxmTM19y
He gave a firm nod, then followed me out the window.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVszlxPHeW
Thank God! I was worried I was going to have to throw him over my shoulder and carry him out.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0HWQWzlT6
"Come back here, or I'll make your lives hell!" Aunt Marjorie shouted.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzer37Dn7n
We didn't stop running.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbpwtsNLHw
"She's already made my life hell," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡti79USdHlB
"Then I guess it can't get any worse," I replied.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgHnRZG1xi
"Unfortunately, there's always more to lose."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVS7ADFSoki
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.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVEVYywbBU
Atlas didn't respond; he just stared out at the sea with a solemn expression.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpYj5LZJLn
I tried to lighten the mood. "Do you wanna hear a joke?"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmqv1rDd44
"Absolutely not."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlB7iJ2yUje
Okay, then.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JOG5JnYQV
We stood in awkward silence for several minutes. Eventually, Atlas signed. "I'm so sorry about the map. I should've fought back harder."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33y5yYMk2G
I rolled my eyes. "I already told you, I don't care about that."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWA563on0LC
"I did! Now I've ruined any chance of finding the Annihilation Code."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBkYDyV2oN
"That was never your burden to bear. You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGfludtyYk
"You sound just like Patch."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqL4fwOKzTn
I didn't know what to say, so I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvi53i0rzCo
He pulled away from me. "They're going to kill him, and it's my fault."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoFnwyTIwO
"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."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcijRYq8Abs
"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.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pNILUia11
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.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eR0MnzJqt
Atlas stared down at the trashcan. "I feel like nothing I do has an impact."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZgcaNjDao
"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."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsc1LKoiPVW
"I didn't change you, you changed all by yourself."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ndcmY0NFo
"Yeah, but I would probably still be an asshole if we never crossed paths. Going on this crazy mission changed me for the better."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4iQAN6kNF
The faintest of smiles tugged at his lips before his face fell back into its previous distraught emotion.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2xNnUlPU4
We dove into the shadows when we heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Nrhu6AE0l
"You're going to need a better hiding place than that. Bionic Corp's soldiers have night vision, you know," Katrina remarked.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGGt0DJZzr
"Oh, yeah, I forgot about that," I said.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZB5GXOUGou
Marisa ran up to Atlas and threw her arms around him. "Oh my God, are you okay?"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnMby6OaNp
He shook his head.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sRUkyjgkc
"It's been a rough night for all of us," I said.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyvO5Be92x
"What took you guys so long?" Atlas asked.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAul8XtYL13
"The whole party erupted into chaos after you guys left. It took ages to push through the crowd and find Marisa," Katrina said.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91NxWnknQV
"And you changed shoes, apparently. You weren't wearing those boots earlier," I said, gesturing to her sleek leather boots.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllNfXTyvv4
"Duh, it's impossible to run in heels. Everyone knows that, Chase."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPbbM8wE64
Clouds rolled in over the horizon and thunder crackled in the distance.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCc72c7YQP
"Looks like a nasty storm is on its way. We should probably head... Wait, where are we going from here?" I asked.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5JAe49FQ0
"Back to Ikigai II, Patch has a safe house on the north side of the island. We'll regroup there." Atlas signed.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBuQaGt3uz
Marisa raised an eyebrow. "Patch got another safe house? Why didn't he tell me?"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQO0HsTbLq
Atlas gave an apathetic shrug. "There are a lot of things he doesn't tell you."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDM7hXi9Eb
Marisa shot him a piercing stare. "I guess I have two family members that lie to me."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndHfUISRKj
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.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILvoZqhv5y
"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.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXlYy0nXl5
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.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyM00vzL8nj
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.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8q7qESUUDE
Marisa hugged herself tightly and shivered.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenp8XUD0k0
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.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsNDkh3Zxq
On our walk to the safe house, we passed by the boardwalk.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNjTRc7Z8K
"Atlas, look! Your Hovercycle is still here!" I exclaimed. It was parked exactly where we left it. It hadn't moved an inch.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrnTU9RHeU
Atlas knelt beside the Hovercycle and examined it. "Someone stole the brake pads."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1Ht5oGDZT
"What? Why?"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN619vu481k
"People will steal and sell anything they can find around here. I'm surprised they didn't steal more."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsE0pi7MHZ
"At least it's still here, right?"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlYT7YI9fw
Atlas wasn't listening. "I got a parking ticket, too." He gestured to a soggy piece of paper taped to the handlebars.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfaWxZM7Vw
"That sucks," I said honestly.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83FS6bTWb0
Atlas frowned. "It's just the terrible cherry on the crappy sundae that is my life."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKPSWhUHkS
I grabbed the Hovercycle by the handle and pushed it toward the safe house. It was the least I could do to help him.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JI1D9CowY
"Thank you," he signed. A soft smile spread across his lips, as he grabbed the other handle and helped me push.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeXEAxsBM5
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.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2G0G2MdwP2
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!
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvet6A41yj4
"It may not be pretty, but it's safe for now," Atlas signed.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbfPnyLFYp
Katrina somersaulted onto the broken couch. "So, now what."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQ6N4aAjf4
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?
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOy6IFl2sR
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?
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vu7kuZhJg
"What happened at the party? You guys have been acting differently ever since. I want to know what happened," Marisa said.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UmBAWVDfQ
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."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaQzyurNFN
"That's when I got dragged in," Katrina said. "Those security guys are faster than I thought they'd be."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRw1RZA8H4
"What happened next?"
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No one answered. Atlas refused to make eye contact.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLB8Ft0Ncav
Eventually, I spoke up. "We saw Patch."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSrauTsWvN
Marisa gasped. "What? Where was he? Is he okay?"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gxdHbxhpW
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."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuTsgORck5
Marisa buried her face in her hands. "Do you know how he got captured?"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSA30GDZim
"Um..." I twiddled my thumbs as I debated how much I wanted to tell her.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEm6Oe2UDAt
"Please don't tell her. It'll break her heart," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mqVnwA8dG
"She deserves to know the truth," I responded.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3QQfnfRjE
I let out a long, deep breath. "Patch was kidnapped by Bionic Corp while he was trying to flee the island."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdS6SURnEB
"No. That can't be right. Patch would never leave without telling us!"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3xbuCC8ES
"I'm sorry," I said.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJWVF4W4yx
Marisa turned to Atlas. "Tell him he's wrong! Patch would never do such a thing!"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEjukJhRDr
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."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhLjOzFgDW
"There must be some sort of misunderstanding!" She protested.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1Wnyc7Uce
"There's not. He left us to save himself."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9kMNt2MdT
"Why would Bionic Corp let you call Patch?" Marisa asked.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8HIROKV9Q
"They gave me an ultimatum, hand over the map, or they'd kill Patch in twenty-four hours," Atlas signed.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBRIGPymV8
"And then Vindicator swooped in and stole the map," Marisa finished.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJG9DE28Yx0
Atlas froze. "Wait, how did you know Vindicator stole the map?"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy97cojN9Sz
She looked like a deer in headlights. "Oh, Katrina told me."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04yzSdP4Oo
Katrina shot her a puzzled look. "No, I didn't."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLUOlHR9Dz
Atlas slammed his fists on the counter. "Marisa, what did you do?"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsqWbjAJoa
"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?"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNP75YXWuf
My jaw fell open. "Why would you do that?"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3jhjX5CID
"Because Vindicator promised me, he'd rescue Patch if I did one simple favor for him."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLcwtywBwY
"Did you forget the part where he wants me dead!"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RerD9SoEV
"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!"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6sAkobSv0
"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.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa75IgWDOJa
"I'm going to go talk to him," I said.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsa8902G89
"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.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtVjx5lUWF
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."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdokVL9KFv1
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.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nyQRSRF8e
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.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoAcm2LRFs
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?"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFVxAFT1f8
His cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I'm just working on an art project."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLD0mzduOH
I raised a skeptical eyebrow. "In the pouring rain?"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuhIZRPd3a
He nodded.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjmGKuSApW
"What are you sketching?"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7a500oGiJ
"It's nothing." He leaned away from me, hiding the drawing from view.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWv2HgZd8hy
I snatched the picture from his hands.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCTe9xYDwE
"Give it back!" He tried to yank it out of my hands, but I wrestled it away from him.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7CGQ60HNL
I held the drawing up to the light and studied it. I recognized the shape immediately. "You're trying to recreate the map."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCbxdHCpG8
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!"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVo8tbWWxY1
"Yeah, for a split second."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXv3ynSsJVd
"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."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiUsXRietD
I rolled my eyes and let out a long, exasperated sigh. "This is what Marisa was talking about! You need to let things go!"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQu4MFXGS3M
"Do you want me to let Patch die? Because that's what will happen if I do nothing!"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10sNoJu4fJ
"Of course not, but I don't want you to die doing something stupid!"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQW7gImTDC
"You can't stop me!"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWMqoXkNzv
"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."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUsrCGSVIH
"I can't sit here and do nothing. I have to go."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5a6bMimXDj
I sighed. "Then I'm going with you. I won't let you do this alone. If we go down, we go down together.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQY6Pbx1hy
He threw his arms around me in a tight hug.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRbPtsqqtW
I returned his embrace, gently patting him on the back. "Now, let's go kick some ass!"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGHZ2tMiD1
We heard the sound of rustling coming from behind a potted fern.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrT96NPTD9
Atlas crept towards it with knives drawn.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt14xZdrrgG
We peered through the branches to catch the sight of Katrina and Marisa eavesdropping.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3odFWXn2O
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?"
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Z1G8t02md
"We're coming with you," Marisa said.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PjeStgQ5C
Atlas shot daggers in her direction. "No."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7P0i4wgyS
"If you want to pull off this heist, you're going to need a hacker."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCBcQLl8wk
Atlas tightened his lips into a firm line.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXbhYlttnE
I folded my arms across my chest. "How do we know we can trust you? You've helped Vindicator before."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3cDRiChXm
"I know you have no reason to trust me, but you won't find another hacker in time to save Patch."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5Ip4CLZ8T
Atlas and I shot each other a questioning look.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyyGTCNbby
"What do you think?" Atlas asked through our link, so only I could hear.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGE3NJKUPQG
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."
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hBls0A9ag
Atlas nodded.
432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZytMUPdvN
We turned our attention back to the girls. "Okay, you're in."
ns216.73.216.238da2
