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.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQtnNK0mTu
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.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUvWhABReK
"I'll go get Marisa. You guys run," Katrina said. She dashed out of the room before Marjorie could stop her.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyizTRBdMU7
Atlas didn't move, he stood there frozen with a haunted expression on his face.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyu2k0kfTh
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!"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9M0AgJ2lnQ
"I'm sorry I let him get away with the map," Atlas replied through the link. He sounded so broken.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcF8uEVSFC
"I don't care about that; I care about you."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUmjyOP9X4
He met my gaze for the first time.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9cqL0MxnG
"Listen, security will be here any minute. We're in big trouble if they catch us. Do you want to get arrested?
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyhxrK2aQ3
He shook his head.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlA83TTHkA
"Then we have to go."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQLPtJoQkZ
He gave a firm nod, then followed me out the window.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVM89yQr6sn
Thank God! I was worried I was going to have to throw him over my shoulder and carry him out.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXDfQk8Kcs
"Come back here, or I'll make your lives hell!" Aunt Marjorie shouted.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzosx6H7yZ
We didn't stop running.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFr1AJnIytY
"She's already made my life hell," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyVMI1fx1z
"Then I guess it can't get any worse," I replied.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYth77LRGHl
"Unfortunately, there's always more to lose."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvF6M2Ilsky
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.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9rkb2GIIX
Atlas didn't respond; he just stared out at the sea with a solemn expression.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpqqH9hc3k
I tried to lighten the mood. "Do you wanna hear a joke?"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTgnSCd2Kb
"Absolutely not."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxWhpse0G6
Okay, then.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGp7ImELOWE
We stood in awkward silence for several minutes. Eventually, Atlas signed. "I'm so sorry about the map. I should've fought back harder."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WYF873Htz
I rolled my eyes. "I already told you, I don't care about that."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHiLz2DHqO
"I did! Now I've ruined any chance of finding the Annihilation Code."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbI9AdjVbry
"That was never your burden to bear. You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1D86R9e7y
"You sound just like Patch."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSA2AffCe6s
I didn't know what to say, so I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDPORFCgLq
He pulled away from me. "They're going to kill him, and it's my fault."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjagNLcoFs
"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."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDjGKNH0n2
"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.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaQSDnW5U5
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.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvIalHzVr9
Atlas stared down at the trashcan. "I feel like nothing I do has an impact."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJaECaAPl3
"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."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8ewieeClS
"I didn't change you, you changed all by yourself."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMLTxvo8vu
"Yeah, but I would probably still be an asshole if we never crossed paths. Going on this crazy mission changed me for the better."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNvETwZRNA
The faintest of smiles tugged at his lips before his face fell back into its previous distraught emotion.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NrZM0JUwz
We dove into the shadows when we heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLehoD4FbUc
"You're going to need a better hiding place than that. Bionic Corp's soldiers have night vision, you know," Katrina remarked.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAciHMyRgsu
"Oh, yeah, I forgot about that," I said.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9glJBm2FD
Marisa ran up to Atlas and threw her arms around him. "Oh my God, are you okay?"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBaOlMpsv1
He shook his head.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQwQnEb36Q
"It's been a rough night for all of us," I said.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUEHJcyg1w
"What took you guys so long?" Atlas asked.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5MHz48cXJ
"The whole party erupted into chaos after you guys left. It took ages to push through the crowd and find Marisa," Katrina said.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjf2K6a6gs
"And you changed shoes, apparently. You weren't wearing those boots earlier," I said, gesturing to her sleek leather boots.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmZiQIbwNI
"Duh, it's impossible to run in heels. Everyone knows that, Chase."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaXCq21vJj
Clouds rolled in over the horizon and thunder crackled in the distance.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92o43DF01L
"Looks like a nasty storm is on its way. We should probably head... Wait, where are we going from here?" I asked.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgqgaIHgYd
"Back to Ikigai II, Patch has a safe house on the north side of the island. We'll regroup there." Atlas signed.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpWLcs5xM1
Marisa raised an eyebrow. "Patch got another safe house? Why didn't he tell me?"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3naFHmtnXm
Atlas gave an apathetic shrug. "There are a lot of things he doesn't tell you."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCJTSHl68m
Marisa shot him a piercing stare. "I guess I have two family members that lie to me."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZs7mVvFZn
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.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO21RLO990s
"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.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweW2Y8Otgm
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.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdsJ0EdXl4
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.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCNJnx56aT
Marisa hugged herself tightly and shivered.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHYPkcMg2N
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.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9XiwfXGfN
On our walk to the safe house, we passed by the boardwalk.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOgX4kiJvv
"Atlas, look! Your Hovercycle is still here!" I exclaimed. It was parked exactly where we left it. It hadn't moved an inch.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0fAOLjHwo
Atlas knelt beside the Hovercycle and examined it. "Someone stole the brake pads."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySlQHMcPE5
"What? Why?"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Q5nvNyBm2
"People will steal and sell anything they can find around here. I'm surprised they didn't steal more."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLcdgfknrX
"At least it's still here, right?"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXW33Xwws27
Atlas wasn't listening. "I got a parking ticket, too." He gestured to a soggy piece of paper taped to the handlebars.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyDWPFVie3
"That sucks," I said honestly.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJJkfFDv8i
Atlas frowned. "It's just the terrible cherry on the crappy sundae that is my life."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjGuO8gao1
I grabbed the Hovercycle by the handle and pushed it toward the safe house. It was the least I could do to help him.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDHJdiZowX
"Thank you," he signed. A soft smile spread across his lips, as he grabbed the other handle and helped me push.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyvUqFYobv
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.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtpkCg4xWj
The safe house reeked of musk and decomposing sewage. I pinched my nose and coughed.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPaddXz49D
Katrina stifled a gag.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb22CrYpH1n
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!
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqCQyd9bAs
"It may not be pretty, but it's safe for now," Atlas signed.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7HykP4EA6
Katrina somersaulted onto the broken couch. "So, now what."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZ5z6c1Q3x
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?
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAprDzKvkiH
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?
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3wkJLVIPv
"What happened at the party? You guys have been acting differently ever since. I want to know what happened," Marisa said.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrusNFS450B
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."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtw5cv2fy6
"That's when I got dragged in," Katrina said. "Those security guys are faster than I thought they'd be."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5XhoobM0y
"What happened next?"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5DknWpqtg
No one answered. Atlas refused to make eye contact.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6v0WFFKS70
Eventually, I spoke up. "We saw Patch."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGh3nqWYIH
Marisa gasped. "What? Where was he? Is he okay?"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVk6QkjtAB
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."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOA9wartRqd
Marisa buried her face in her hands. "Do you know how he got captured?"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpF74qYplo
"Um..." I twiddled my thumbs as I debated how much I wanted to tell her.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgQFVSZpMT
"Please don't tell her. It'll break her heart," Atlas said through our cerebral link.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyAPDO10BF
"She deserves to know the truth," I responded.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlp9UfZfog
I let out a long, deep breath. "Patch was kidnapped by Bionic Corp while he was trying to flee the island."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpShoYtT6v
"No. That can't be right. Patch would never leave without telling us!"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVE1gaABKo1
"I'm sorry," I said.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ws0RYhnpS
Marisa turned to Atlas. "Tell him he's wrong! Patch would never do such a thing!"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrp4yRkCpQh
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."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0BgrdhAIn
"There must be some sort of misunderstanding!" She protested.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIpEHxCUPb
"There's not. He left us to save himself."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijBaOYWQdC
"Why would Bionic Corp let you call Patch?" Marisa asked.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWGVKYzp35
"They gave me an ultimatum, hand over the map, or they'd kill Patch in twenty-four hours," Atlas signed.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Aiqqgv6WT
"And then Vindicator swooped in and stole the map," Marisa finished.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡludMvKTfEC
Atlas froze. "Wait, how did you know Vindicator stole the map?"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNXKs6ln0K
She looked like a deer in headlights. "Oh, Katrina told me."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhpMH1REEr
Katrina shot her a puzzled look. "No, I didn't."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vnmkvzu69
Atlas slammed his fists on the counter. "Marisa, what did you do?"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMXbzeRbKQ
"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?"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYLjgn8uzA
My jaw fell open. "Why would you do that?"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvCydQtWSg
"Because Vindicator promised me, he'd rescue Patch if I did one simple favor for him."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCZdf7FQBo
"Did you forget the part where he wants me dead!"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJ49ZcZvL0
"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!"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKn1l3GB737
"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.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSAYhwzoPH
"I'm going to go talk to him," I said.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYBRARCPQX
"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.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPAgh136yg
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."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbvTigEbGb
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.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bD2fCK9ix
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.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uDyv8SW1v
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?"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIvBcjaWov
His cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I'm just working on an art project."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrk9bRd3P5
I raised a skeptical eyebrow. "In the pouring rain?"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxUcNrGg5i
He nodded.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCQzsKz552
"What are you sketching?"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13EDHdtC5X
"It's nothing." He leaned away from me, hiding the drawing from view.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukcJeHXqHE
I snatched the picture from his hands.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCGDTp48e3
"Give it back!" He tried to yank it out of my hands, but I wrestled it away from him.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsRRiwkFR3
I held the drawing up to the light and studied it. I recognized the shape immediately. "You're trying to recreate the map."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOrO1Eed8r
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!"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaL10TW6KW
"Yeah, for a split second."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowYuARqHsZ
"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."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Q5fRC25JC
I rolled my eyes and let out a long, exasperated sigh. "This is what Marisa was talking about! You need to let things go!"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eqvaszE7h
"Do you want me to let Patch die? Because that's what will happen if I do nothing!"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOLbFdEjSD
"Of course not, but I don't want you to die doing something stupid!"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ILkyYoiSq
"You can't stop me!"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkSevN3xYh
"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."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpusZ93QHQy
"I can't sit here and do nothing. I have to go."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOISWUL3Rh
I sighed. "Then I'm going with you. I won't let you do this alone. If we go down, we go down together.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf58nIO5fbK
He threw his arms around me in a tight hug.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICIDs960CZ
I returned his embrace, gently patting him on the back. "Now, let's go kick some ass!"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIryIFk8pQ
We heard the sound of rustling coming from behind a potted fern.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRV7wL0NW3
Atlas crept towards it with knives drawn.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8zL9TcUJi
We peered through the branches to catch the sight of Katrina and Marisa eavesdropping.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbCdJZ9DQY
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?"
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBo6hPH0AEo
"We're coming with you," Marisa said.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nsQiG4niO
Atlas shot daggers in her direction. "No."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaAmni30T4
"If you want to pull off this heist, you're going to need a hacker."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgC331pot7W
Atlas tightened his lips into a firm line.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUs2oqOpIb
I folded my arms across my chest. "How do we know we can trust you? You've helped Vindicator before."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GOzbXbOlW
"I know you have no reason to trust me, but you won't find another hacker in time to save Patch."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnA1IDD4A93
Atlas and I shot each other a questioning look.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2W6QgE6ai
"What do you think?" Atlas asked through our link, so only I could hear.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2rnvPfr8U
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."
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKh1usG491v
Atlas nodded.
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVLgU3AHuo
We turned our attention back to the girls. "Okay, you're in."
ns216.73.217.6da2
