I sauntered down the staircase with Marisa by my side. Where were we going? I don't know. What were we looking for? The Annihilation Code, I guess. I'll be honest, I don't really know what we're looking for here. Isn't the Annihilation Code a song? How do you find a song? I'm so confused. I'm still fairly sure we're in a normal spa, but if searching this place gives Atlas peace. I'm willing to do it.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2eBMe6Uon
"So, what do you think we'll find down there?" I asked Marisa.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6i2jz13eAh
"I don't know," she muttered as she hugged herself tightly.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sBpytl1vZ
"These are a lot of stairs. Why the hell do they have so many stairs? They should install an elevator."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzKNWxdE6p
Marisa just nodded along.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qurCDVfXW
"Do your legs hurt? Mine do. Well, I guess I only have one leg now, but it hurts." I stopped talking when I realized she'd come to an abrupt halt. "Hey, are you okay?"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqodmSlHxW3
She shook her head, and tears welled up in her eyes.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9LDLGrnYP
Oh, no! She was crying! I don't usually do well dealing with people in emotional distress but spending time with Atlas had given me some practice.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUn21BcsXbm
I patted her head. "There, there. Don't cry."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceoytt1LLu
She sobbed louder.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzo3H7v117
Okay, I needed a new plan. I tapped my toes in a repetitive motion as I tried to come up with something to say. Then I remembered I had an infinite amount of knowledge at my fingertips. I typed, How to console a crying person? Into my cybernetics. I pulled up an article on the topic and began skimming. Step one: Witness their feelings. What the hell does that mean? "Um, I witness your feelings."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡje0zGf4Log
She glanced up at me through tear-soaked lashes. "What?"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIyqah4S8o
I returned my attention to the article. Step two: Affirm that their feelings make sense. "Your feelings are valid."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCRDGLYMXX
"What would you know about my feelings?"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sR2rMsEDX
"Nothing," I confessed. "I don't know anything about how you're feeling." I sat down on the stairs and patted the space next to me. "Do you want to talk about it?"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOQREIpqJc
She chewed on her lip anxiously as she eyed the space next to me. She reluctantly slumped down next to me.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK49HmySw0r
I closed the article so I could give Marisa my full attention. 'Now tell me what's wrong."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkZn9hE0ji
She buried her face in her hands. "Atlas hates me."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dzYLzYGtG
I rubbed gentle circles on her back. "What are you talking about? Where would you get a crazy idea like that?"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhH6hTY57l
She didn't look up. "I can tell he's furious with me for talking to Vindicator. I don't blame him. I know it was the wrong choice, but I was scared, and I didn't know what else to do. He made me feel so stupid."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoFDnSDaUB
I gave a sympathetic nod. "He could've been less harsh."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwBAoMhTO9
Marisa shot me a quizzical look. "You're not going to make excuses for him?"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJg4rSQSHI
"Nah, he's responsible for his outbursts. I understand why he's upset, but that doesn't give him the right to be an asshole. Just because we're friends doesn't mean I have to excuse everything he does."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4O9en8N6PR
She wiped her tears away with her sleeve.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc450wXbU92
"I know he doesn't hate you. He adores you." It was true, I could sense Atlas's feelings through our link. His affection for his sister was unmatched.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18rX1vwm29
"How do you know that?"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlDPM8ntEM
"I can sense it," I said before remembering Marisa didn't know about our cerebral link. "Because I'm... um... an empath." I decided to roll with it. "Yeah, I'm an empath, and by using my mystical empath powers, I can say with absolute certainty that Atlas adores you."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGx27ozTyVd
"I know Atlas formed a cerebral link with you." She said.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXSfQQIpXU
I chuckled nervously. "What? No. We would never do such a thing. That would be irresponsible and annoying. Who wants someone in their head all the time? Not me!"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspRVCJzVcg
She crossed her arms and shot me a dubious look.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQCdy6qTp1
"Okay, fine! I'll admit it. We formed a link. It was his idea."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcT9HWCL1YQ
A wistful smile spread across her face. "I'm not upset.
I always hoped, when he finally opened up about his trauma, I'd be the person he'd talk to."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJGwsZq4rp
"I'm sorry."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziCJk9NaL8
"Don't be. It's just that we were so close as kids. We told each other everything. Ever since joining the army, I feel like I hardly know him. It's like he's an entirely different person." She stared down at her empty hands. "I want my little brother back."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJ28bZYWnf
I gave a sympathetic nod as I listened. "I get it. You miss the person you grew up with. I can't imagine how hard it is to watch someone you love, change before your eyes."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgR1is9Zu19
"I still love him, you know? He's so different now, I don't know how to connect with him anymore."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXqEjvZh8F
Let me just say, as someone who has connected with Atlas recently, the Atlas I know is pretty amazing. He's smart and compassionate and so talented." I rolled up my sleeve to proudly reveal the seagull painted onto my arm.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNud0sMHHFd
The smallest trace of a smile formed on her lips. "You're a good friend. I can see why Atlas likes you so much."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsbDIHZgck
"Of course, he likes me. I'm flawless and everyone adores me."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1K19j0uryG
"Thank you for listening to me." She tried to wipe away the remainder of her dripping makeup with her sleeve.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjt2V92tjZ0
I rifled through my pockets for a handkerchief I could offer her. I was still wearing my outfit from the top party. Everyone else changed before coming here, but I got distracted and lost track of time. I felt a piece of paper brush against my fingertips. I took it out of my pocket and unfolded it. It was the charcoal drawing Atlas had done of me.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1zCrN5WVm
Marisa caught a glimpse of the sketch in my hands and let out a soft gasp. "Did Atlas make this?"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeS9gOvyxHk
I nodded.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEIZ3VA0Q7
"It's beautiful! His art has improved so much! He captured all the details perfectly. He has a gift, doesn't he?"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMyT7k1Mh9
I nodded. Her pride for her little brother made my heart swell. I knew it wasn't too late to mend their relationship. Unless Bionic Corp kills us before they get the chance. I thought glumly.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaPdYWp4mm
Marisa promptly stood up and dusted herself off. "That's enough crying. Let's keep moving."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4n9E4oKPE
I rose to my feet and followed her downward.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXGOxEJyFZ
After descending several flights of stairs, we found ourselves in a pitch-black corridor. The cold, dank air raised goosebumps along my skin. Marisa grabbed a flashlight out of her pocket, and I activated my night vision. There were three doors along the hallway. One to the left, one to the right, and one at the very end.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ995aibCuqp
Marisa and I shared a wary glance as I reached for the doorknob to the first room.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2Poz8gNN6
"Wait!" Marisa said in a hushed tone. "We shouldn't be snooping around here. This is probably just an ordinary small business, and we're trespassing. Let's just go."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZBZwUcE0g
She had a point, but I was too curious to leave now. I pushed open the door and looked around. The room was filled with metal shelves with cardboard boxes stacked on top of them. I grabbed one of the brown boxes and rummaged through it. It contained a large stack of books and newspapers. "Who the hell still reads newspapers?"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KOkprIF9b
"See? There's nothing here!" Marisa said.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC15EueNXQ9
"We've still got two more rooms to check."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0aqI1efsv
She rolled her eyes so hard; I think she caught sight of her brain. "Fine, but make it quick."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcGtxV0GFj
The second room contained nothing but a series of beige file cabinets.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKMZ0gdRqH
We promptly moved on to the third door. I tugged on the handle, but it refused to budge. "It's locked."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt84xHUkrB6
"Can we go now?"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXV0LAi6gif
"Nope." I used every ounce of my strength to rip the door off its hinges. I tossed the crumpled remains of the metal door aside. Thank you, cybernetic enhancements!
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLt7c5i5fW1
Marisa let out an exasperated sigh. "I guess we're adding property damage to our list of charges."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPakK59WnJR
"Don't worry, I have spectacular lawyers. They've gotten me out of tons of sticky situations."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYj46tS5dg
"I don't have lawyers!"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuL1TEx3sNH
"I'll lend them to you."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4fYXBwvIl
The third room was pitch black except for the faint glowing blue light from a large computer screen. We hesitantly tiptoed towards the computer. As I scanned the room, I noticed a tiny red blinking light in the top corner of the room. I zoomed in with my cybernetic vision, to try to identify the light's source. It was a security camera! I hid my face from the camera's lens, then crushed the device with my cybernetic fist. I released my grip and the debris clinked to the ground. I smirked. "Not today, Bionic Corp."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibtOdpnKf8
Marisa approached the computer and examined it. "This is one of the fastest and most expensive computers on the market. This model can store over one hundred sixty terabytes of data. This is the same type of computer Bionic Corp used to use when I was in the army."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkiGCv5NA4
"Do spas typically have computers like this?"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkZVSrlEWS
Marisa shook her head. "No, they do not."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmluH3csTU
"So, Atlas was right to suspect something suspicious was going on here?"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAusPprihm
"I guess so." Marisa sat down in the leather office chair and tried to access the computer. A notification popped up on the screen, demanding we enter the password.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQ9CCUZI3n
"Do you think you can hack in?"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCWWGsoV6y
"I can try. This is a newer model than I'm used to working with." She cracked her knuckles and got to work. Her acrylic nails made a clicking sound as she tapped on the keyboard.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxN1wlF9fc
"Are you okay with being out of the house this long? I know it's anxiety-inducing for you."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuZQG4s9jK
She kept her focus glued to the screen. "Nope, I'm not even remotely okay, but I have to keep going. Hacking is a good distraction."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOGYxYXdOD
I admired her tenacity. "Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyKcoaBHNF
"Yeah. Can you face the wall or something? I can have people staring at me while I hack.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOHwAvCYme
"Yeah, I can do that." I pressed my forehead against the wall and stared at the chipped paint. I'm already bored. I counted every cobweb in the room several times, then slumped down in the corner. I wonder what Atlas is up to. I hope he's found something more interesting than this. He hasn't contacted me through our cerebral link, which probably means there is nothing to report.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUNcd54eVc
"I'm in!" She threw up her arms triumphantly and leaned back in her chair. "Their firewall is pretty tough, so we don't have a lot of time."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGI4RssOeI1
"Great job!" I moved next to her so I could have a better view of the screen. "What are we looking at?"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8e3Hd48O7g
Marisa studied the screen. "It looks like a database." She skimmed the files. "What would you like me to look for?"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwfy0FqvJz
"Search for the Annihilation Code!" I suggested.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDB4Yuonwge
Marisa typed the words into the search bar.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Rnj9HXE2q
０RESULTS FOUND
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4bKJdFie0
"Dammit! I was hoping it was here. Atlas is going to be devastated."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FObgzfJPh
"Don't lose hope yet. Bionic Corp wouldn't leave the Annihilation Code lying around, listed under its own name. They'd most likely encrypt it somehow."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBclCJEImr5
I nodded. "Good thinking." I wouldn't have thought of that. "Where should we begin searching?"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiR69hrMoE
"I have no idea." She confessed. "We may have to go through every individual file to find it."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAfZVpgefu
"Fun," I said in a monotone.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvQTeAQU3l
Marisa clicked on one of the files to open it.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJUdipSh2U
Cyborg: 1052652512 Call sign: Abyss
Cyborg: 2391419201514 Call sign: Ace
Cyborg: 2652 Call sign: Adrenaline
Cyborg: 139121 Call sign: Aftermath
Cyborg: 54231184 Call sign: Alchemist
Cyborg: 38114412518 Call sign: Alpha
Cyborg: 5221 Call sign: Alpine
Cyborg: 41149 Call sign: Altitude
Cyborg: 1122524 Call sign: Ambush
Cyborg 101145: Call sign: Ambrosia
Cyborg: 114208151425 Call sign: Anaconda
Cyborg: 21715 Call sign: Angler
Cyborg: 815182119 Call sign: Anubis
Cyborg: 10211291 Call sign: Arachne
Cyborg: 18525331 Call sign: Artemis
Cyborg: 71857151825 Call sign: Apparition
Cyborg: 75145 Call sign: Astro
Cyborg: 41131514 Call sign: Avenger
Cyborg: 1491 Call sign: Avalanche
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzU10xK0HK
Marisa let out a quiet gasp. "It's a record of every cyborg soldier that's ever worked for Bionics Corp!"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6nFdD30ea
"Can you scroll downward? I'll tell you when to stop."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFWPS35EUv
She nodded and began scrolling. She paused when we reached Cyborg: 3118121519 Call sign: Curseword.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7rqX214A5
I shook my head, and she kept scrolling. That's not who I'm looking for. We continued to skim through the list for what felt like an eternity. All the names and numbers were beginning to blur together. "Stop!" I shouted.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkjZTQ2W4U
Marisa froze.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOeR2CMSLt
Cyborg: 451291 Call sign: Nightshade
Cyborg: 149381512119 Call sign: Nocturnal
Cyborg: 1259121 Call sign: Nyx
Cyborg 11120189141 Call sign: Oblivion
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbula6La4US
I pointed to Oblivion's folder. "That one."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4jYqnMRHr
"What are you looking to find in there?"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHx3EcKVvJ5
"I don't know, maybe they've got a weakness we can exploit or maybe a family member we could threaten."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlUnIfjXeW
"Chase!" Marisa scolded.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZliYtcKA9k
"What? Oblivion isn't afraid to play dirty; why shouldn't we do the same?"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMoRVJXZ1u
Marisa hesitantly clicked on the file.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbkOucdX1l
Oblivion
Duty: Assassin
Name: Katrina Madden
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVq0vAmQVc
Holy freaking fudgeballs! She was playing us the whole time? That can't be right, can it? It doesn't add up! Either way, I need to warn Atlas. I activated our cerebral link and reached out to him. "Atlas, are you there?"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4tE2AtMXs
"Yes, I'm here. What's going on? Did you find anything downstairs?"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFMFYc5HOK
I let out a long sigh of relief. He was safe. For now, anyway. I let out an anxious sound that resembled a chortle.
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8ITUB0RXR
"Um, okay."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYxdh1KVTU
"Oblivion is in the building."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1VM0qMKPJ
"Where?"
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dKc0BRc0f
"She's with you right now. Atlas, Katrina is Oblivion."
347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02Y4k82pIl
I felt a cold metal fist close around my neck, cutting off my air supply. "What do you think you're doing here?"
ns3.23.59.191da2
