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.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvSAdewWbT
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.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7ZWXBD30y
"I'll go get Marisa. You guys run," Katrina said. She dashed out of the room before Marjorie could stop her.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebTcuvimM2
Atlas didn't move, he stood there frozen with a haunted expression on his face.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCenhl27cmZ
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!"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4iCKnxPI1
"I'm sorry I let him get away with the map," Atlas replied through the link. He sounded so broken.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfSWIDP9r6
"I don't care about that; I care about you."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZ5BXnlEcu
He met my gaze for the first time.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QaaJfOObX
"Listen, security will be here any minute. We're in big trouble if they catch us. Do you want to get arrested?
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmv2tHbZE1
He shook his head.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzGLCd57aa
"Then we have to go."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UQRCYBtyW
He gave a firm nod, then followed me out the window.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4JYVOjwu5
Thank God! I was worried I was going to have to throw him over my shoulder and carry him out.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdnw93qqv8
"Come back here, or I'll make your lives hell!" Aunt Marjorie shouted.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMPt8TirPh
We didn't stop running.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6wo0dDLdp
"She's already made my life hell," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRKNxIRFB9
"Then I guess it can't get any worse," I replied.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkagJiS3dS3
"Unfortunately, there's always more to lose."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRxjw4r8UF
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.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ87yX1pdGb
Atlas didn't respond; he just stared out at the sea with a solemn expression.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡST7jcfb7nI
I tried to lighten the mood. "Do you wanna hear a joke?"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycFp7zACST
"Absolutely not."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaqEFKoRHV
Okay, then.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhYivnzH9D
We stood in awkward silence for several minutes. Eventually, Atlas signed. "I'm so sorry about the map. I should've fought back harder."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PXChVBBcJ
I rolled my eyes. "I already told you, I don't care about that."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUenXAs3X9f
"I did! Now I've ruined any chance of finding the Annihilation Code."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoT1SoXWOt
"That was never your burden to bear. You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wcWhLGsdY
"You sound just like Patch."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sb9vovVOy
I didn't know what to say, so I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6N6m9Zz2GS
He pulled away from me. "They're going to kill him, and it's my fault."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUe8eTE81lU
"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."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4rkMHdzBk
"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.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCYO741zU1
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.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5241sddxb
Atlas stared down at the trashcan. "I feel like nothing I do has an impact."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTuzTqjrQt
"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."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwwTBoa9yV
"I didn't change you, you changed all by yourself."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofcGi57KA6
"Yeah, but I would probably still be an asshole if we never crossed paths. Going on this crazy mission changed me for the better."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWF3uncSbk
The faintest of smiles tugged at his lips before his face fell back into its previous distraught emotion.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJfzUQnEz4
We dove into the shadows when we heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKxwDDx778
"You're going to need a better hiding place than that. Bionic Corp's soldiers have night vision, you know," Katrina remarked.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTEZfyqA3Z
"Oh, yeah, I forgot about that," I said.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6Qjy8hFtG
Marisa ran up to Atlas and threw her arms around him. "Oh my God, are you okay?"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0VVSplBBs
He shook his head.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCqamjnyBL
"It's been a rough night for all of us," I said.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6pzIN5NCz
"What took you guys so long?" Atlas asked.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrNoNz5ucY
"The whole party erupted into chaos after you guys left. It took ages to push through the crowd and find Marisa," Katrina said.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYiy5IMqYS
"And you changed shoes, apparently. You weren't wearing those boots earlier," I said, gesturing to her sleek leather boots.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AbvXy1ODF
"Duh, it's impossible to run in heels. Everyone knows that, Chase."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDt151TmBc
Clouds rolled in over the horizon and thunder crackled in the distance.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8f5BhQIzO6
"Looks like a nasty storm is on its way. We should probably head... Wait, where are we going from here?" I asked.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5RnEXNqdv
"Back to Ikigai II, Patch has a safe house on the north side of the island. We'll regroup there." Atlas signed.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBzZmYoKrJ
Marisa raised an eyebrow. "Patch got another safe house? Why didn't he tell me?"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoqrEYRV84
Atlas gave an apathetic shrug. "There are a lot of things he doesn't tell you."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcih5EfNNB
Marisa shot him a piercing stare. "I guess I have two family members that lie to me."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7fuQBPf95
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.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtF7N5BfG5
"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.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqQguWVOm5
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.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODU4SRzt3t
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.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc989Kf5OUe
Marisa hugged herself tightly and shivered.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRXoMrv4Oy
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.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaGO2nDL9E
On our walk to the safe house, we passed by the boardwalk.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xBsnir2CW
"Atlas, look! Your Hovercycle is still here!" I exclaimed. It was parked exactly where we left it. It hadn't moved an inch.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyQ9ZzLroa
Atlas knelt beside the Hovercycle and examined it. "Someone stole the brake pads."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqvDC0tAJ5
"What? Why?"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjXOdXvsAv
"People will steal and sell anything they can find around here. I'm surprised they didn't steal more."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7S1zE37icf
"At least it's still here, right?"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMPfHUD5cM
Atlas wasn't listening. "I got a parking ticket, too." He gestured to a soggy piece of paper taped to the handlebars.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwsrAb1A03
"That sucks," I said honestly.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUKsJNIDwx
Atlas frowned. "It's just the terrible cherry on the crappy sundae that is my life."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzfDOOsrQ8
I grabbed the Hovercycle by the handle and pushed it toward the safe house. It was the least I could do to help him.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IrGGZfMcM
"Thank you," he signed. A soft smile spread across his lips, as he grabbed the other handle and helped me push.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lpUxMaKnI
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.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMFZfagbpO
The safe house reeked of musk and decomposing sewage. I pinched my nose and coughed.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJFB8Xn5Bg
Katrina stifled a gag.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSI1opKpSS4
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!
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIRV6WFp2S
"It may not be pretty, but it's safe for now," Atlas signed.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOduFdFfmQ9
Katrina somersaulted onto the broken couch. "So, now what."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIkiRaBKUD
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?
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSmaDT4UA7
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?
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpvyo2PKcZ
"What happened at the party? You guys have been acting differently ever since. I want to know what happened," Marisa said.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQHQyfHxqF
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."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBumEoAGOl
"That's when I got dragged in," Katrina said. "Those security guys are faster than I thought they'd be."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQT6MXFlKtM
"What happened next?"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqa71iKTT9G
No one answered. Atlas refused to make eye contact.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaH7G4BjYRf
Eventually, I spoke up. "We saw Patch."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklsVRXFBu3
Marisa gasped. "What? Where was he? Is he okay?"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfb67RLcXI
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."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4tn2nnMnr
Marisa buried her face in her hands. "Do you know how he got captured?"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPApwvooYV
"Um..." I twiddled my thumbs as I debated how much I wanted to tell her.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ez3TP82uv
"Please don't tell her. It'll break her heart," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSliRqu0YAN
"She deserves to know the truth," I responded.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzbkC1JFpX
I let out a long, deep breath. "Patch was kidnapped by Bionic Corp while he was trying to flee the island."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4m6sTvpokl
"No. That can't be right. Patch would never leave without telling us!"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfpb7WpMqv
"I'm sorry," I said.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmFYRj4jmg
Marisa turned to Atlas. "Tell him he's wrong! Patch would never do such a thing!"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQnCPpUrzU
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."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4nfhLtrw9
"There must be some sort of misunderstanding!" She protested.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9PvdAtlHu
"There's not. He left us to save himself."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPFe4gAg5Y
"Why would Bionic Corp let you call Patch?" Marisa asked.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBeZxAQLnc
"They gave me an ultimatum, hand over the map, or they'd kill Patch in twenty-four hours," Atlas signed.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtMNMe27q7
"And then Vindicator swooped in and stole the map," Marisa finished.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwy5G838Qac
Atlas froze. "Wait, how did you know Vindicator stole the map?"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKzn7daIb0
She looked like a deer in headlights. "Oh, Katrina told me."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMN8jkXSzSu
Katrina shot her a puzzled look. "No, I didn't."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEMqduSF4C
Atlas slammed his fists on the counter. "Marisa, what did you do?"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbQcjqgxOQ
"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?"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9WBkKQdyY
My jaw fell open. "Why would you do that?"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsUT3hcSPh
"Because Vindicator promised me, he'd rescue Patch if I did one simple favor for him."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevvXKNQ7DS
"Did you forget the part where he wants me dead!"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRhPttE3wl
"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!"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9uDCGw1Mh
"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.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGy3TZPGQCy
"I'm going to go talk to him," I said.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYGrmed0g5
"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.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBCCljkRim
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."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrcX8YsFfJ
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.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWgC3bzKkI
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.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0b3a0ld0M
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?"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtK7whMhzR
His cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I'm just working on an art project."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyu7nIaLOF
I raised a skeptical eyebrow. "In the pouring rain?"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeQD81gZm6
He nodded.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsQrWR90Jh
"What are you sketching?"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lRozeSelB
"It's nothing." He leaned away from me, hiding the drawing from view.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnlEwGC1St
I snatched the picture from his hands.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsN5cx4KrJv
"Give it back!" He tried to yank it out of my hands, but I wrestled it away from him.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkE2ENNTtVq
I held the drawing up to the light and studied it. I recognized the shape immediately. "You're trying to recreate the map."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMt7AQpC1YD
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!"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1AFAFPW77
"Yeah, for a split second."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9BPlhDywm
"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."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyZHYRBfGt
I rolled my eyes and let out a long, exasperated sigh. "This is what Marisa was talking about! You need to let things go!"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AZD987w8M
"Do you want me to let Patch die? Because that's what will happen if I do nothing!"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6ui14iA8Q
"Of course not, but I don't want you to die doing something stupid!"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgpX8Q9xVQ
"You can't stop me!"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjDjmuK7fK
"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."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XZuojZh7G
"I can't sit here and do nothing. I have to go."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvjnBWAgEY
I sighed. "Then I'm going with you. I won't let you do this alone. If we go down, we go down together.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLITKImnFaX
He threw his arms around me in a tight hug.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPKlitjPvo
I returned his embrace, gently patting him on the back. "Now, let's go kick some ass!"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrlR3gdSRP
We heard the sound of rustling coming from behind a potted fern.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCa670DnVqe
Atlas crept towards it with knives drawn.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGi73oq8CNj
We peered through the branches to catch the sight of Katrina and Marisa eavesdropping.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAL07rCigZr
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?"
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuBbRvMv69
"We're coming with you," Marisa said.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOTbvgj19e
Atlas shot daggers in her direction. "No."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3mvjZLZ8X
"If you want to pull off this heist, you're going to need a hacker."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXy70ajt1W
Atlas tightened his lips into a firm line.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyKNrS8Cs7
I folded my arms across my chest. "How do we know we can trust you? You've helped Vindicator before."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtrBuHBJoq
"I know you have no reason to trust me, but you won't find another hacker in time to save Patch."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAYlrpeY7J
Atlas and I shot each other a questioning look.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSRxLc3mpB
"What do you think?" Atlas asked through our link, so only I could hear.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWt1GJdSyS
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."
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh92XpMsUTy
Atlas nodded.
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrKdwDdgY9
We turned our attention back to the girls. "Okay, you're in."
ns3.14.132.221da2
