The door let out a loud creak as I pulled it open.
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeq8cuQYtiq
"Are you here to beat me some more? The first three times weren't enough? Can't you give me a break, Jordan? Listen, I'm really sorry about your friends, but I never told them to rebel against Bionic Corp, they did that all by themselves. You can't really hold me responsible for their decisions."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NOsPrygJA
I'd know that voice anywhere. That was the voice that raised me. That was the voice that used to complain about work while he made me grilled cheese sandwiches. That was the voice that would whisper comforting words in my ear after having a nightmare. I peeked through the crack in the door. My voice quavered as I spoke. "Patch?
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrrry3F6Wu
He glanced up to meet my gaze. "Marisa?" He shook his head. "I must be seeing things."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdE80iXRT1
I entered the room and knelt beside him. He was fastened to a cold metal chair. Bionic Corp had stripped him of all his cybernetic parts, leaving him unable to move or fight back. They'd removed his eye patch leaving nothing but an exposed empty socket. His skin was bloodied and bruised from the brutal interrogations he endured. I threw my arms around him, not caring about getting his blood smeared on my clothes. I cupped his face in my hands. "I'm not a mirage. I'm really here. I came to rescue you."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Oai8Uyplf
Tears well up in his one remaining eye, "Marisa, you should've stayed away. You shouldn't have risked yourself to save me. I'm not worth it. You need to get out before anyone finds out you're here!"
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TZAUvSuQc
"Too late, a security bot spotted us on the way in. They already know she's here. There's no point in being noble now. You might as well let us save you while we're here," Katrina said.
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IdFXqVAyp
"Can't believe you did this! Don't you know how dangerous this is? Now you're at risk."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrg747b4hg
"I've always been at risk, this isn't anything new." I tried to wipe the blood off his face, but he pulled away. "Please, let me take care of you."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTZxOxocBz
He tried to pull away from my touch. "I don't deserve your affection. How could you possibly forgive me after I left you?"
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhPw5k1Kym
"Because I love you. I can't just leave you like this."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRtIMszDnz
"You're not mad at me?"
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWmsgqPY7g
"No, I'm furious. You tried to abandon your family, and it's going to take me a long time to forgive you, but that doesn't mean I want you to die." I wrapped a comforting arm around him. "We're going to get you out of here, okay?"
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmzS9qiy2P
Patch nodded, then he made eye contact with Katrina and scowled at her. What the hell are you doing here, Oblivion?"
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJeJQGGtFf
"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm breaking your deadbeat ass out of containment, so you're welcome."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9bLrvoT6M
Patch shot her an incredulous look. "Yeah, but why are you doing it? I know you never do anything out of the kindness of your heart, Katrina."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIp6ywaDFH8
I shot them both a puzzled look. "Wait. He knows your secret identity?"
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8pSutE5hL
Patch nodded. "She removed her helmet in front of me several times."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi45Z4uTvtB
I scanned her appraising. "Why would you do that? What do you gain from revealing yourself?"
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2yewFx4dG
"Nothing. It's just really sweaty under the helmet. You should try wearing it for a day, then you see how moist and confining it is in there."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNMqXX0WRP
I didn't know if I believed her explanation, but I dropped the topic.
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcxp1fFz7D
Katrina shouted at one of the cleaning bots zipping through the hallway behind us. "Hey, you!"
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nHBrMlywt
The robot came to an abrupt halt and stared up at her. "How may I be of assistance, Cyborg 11120189141?"
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQdCFDZHWj
"I need some cybernetic parts for a medium-sized adult man. Preferably two arms and two legs, but we can make do with whatever you can find."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIRrCZVRDm
"Would you like me to fetch anything else for you?"
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICiBfRx0ZD
Katrina glanced back at us. "Yeah, bring us something to cover up that disgusting eye socket. I can't bear to look at it any longer."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPGW0mm8CG
The cleaning bot gave a curt nod and zoomed away as fast as its tiny wheels could carry it.
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡah8snZ0Y14
"Sorry, my missing eye is repulsing you. It's such a shame you're forced to look at it," Patch said sardonically.
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uUV9ETJH5
"It's okay. I forgive you for being ugly," she replied.
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqVFLym79F
I jumped to Patch's defense. "It's not his fault he's missing an eye!"
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfe0prfFlQK
A frown spread across her lips. "You should be nicer to me, Marisa. You never would've found him if it wasn't for me!"
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEG1rNvu2p1
I scoffed. "Yeah, you've been so helpful."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCciZn7zO3
"What is that supposed to mean?"
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOu4R9txniO
"Face it Katrina. You're helpless. That's why you need me. Because you're not smart enough to find the Annihilation Code by yourself."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthKwT4LVQD
"Let it go, Marisa. Don't waste your breath arguing with her," Patch advised.
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjkGPwdARf
"Stay out of this Pedro, this is none of your damn business," Katrina snapped.
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XJ4QWMAAC
I ignored Patch's advice and continued scolding Katrina. "The only thing you've done today is waste my time and shoot my brother."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFDSYQGqRr
"She did what?" Patch seethed. He clenched his teeth and an inferno of rage glistened in his eye. I had no doubt he would've strangled Katrina right then and there if he were able.
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDzmvYEo3g
Katrina waved her hand dismissively. "Don't look at me like that. I wasn't trying to hit any vital organs."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwllSrYOXv
"Did you hit any vital organs?" Patch asked.
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhov6GiupeM
She shrugged. "I don't know. I was too busy falling out of a window to notice."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGunajrnkw
"Then you threw him off the edge of Ikigai II," I added.
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxRqKQPn2f
"He can swim."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAc0QEiXCC
"Not with a gaping bullet wound, he can't."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwWl67n0DC
"Gaping is a strong word, it was merely a flesh wound. Chase went barreling after him into the icy depths. Together their chances of survival are really high, like almost 30%. I'm sure they'll be fine."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zN3tUoY4g
"If anything happens to my boy, I'll hunt you down and kill you! You hear me?"
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIodUtMWpu
Katrina folded her arms across her chest. "Oh gee, I'm so scared of you. I'm trembling. I don't know how I'll beat an old man without arms or legs."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbFt65nOp5
I stood in front of him using my body as a shield in case Katrina tried anything.
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa87sDboDQO
Just then the cleaning bot returned to the cell holding three items.
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTnszz9GdM
Katrina shot the cleaning bot a disgusted look. "What's going on here? This is only half of the stuff I asked for!"
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHXIuH7FiI
"You see, the problem is these are very heavy, and I am very small. I am just a cleaning bot, I am not meant for these kinds of tasks. I am only meant for cleaning."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiakau649H
Katrina rolled her eyes and took the items from the robot's grasp. "It's impossible to find good help around here." She held up one of the items, which was a tie-dye t-shirt with a graphic of a cat wearing sunglasses and doing a thumbs up printed onto it. "What the hell is this?"
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmywcDXwqZ
"I offer you my sincerest apologies if my findings are not to your liking. I did the best I could with the information you gave me. Are you interested in filling out a survey to help me improve my programming?"
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYFfvL8FXM
"No! Get out of here." Katrina waved the bot away.
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESlKq0I1PP
"I don't see why you couldn't have gotten the parts yourself," Patch said.
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaqlIqm9rv
"I never do something if someone else could do it for me. That's why I bamboozled your nephew into stealing the map for me. Why should I waste my time stealing from some of the most dangerous people in the world if Atlas could do it instead?"
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtme1oQxbO
"So, you're lazy," Patch said.
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jGIwPxQ3b
"It's called working smarter, not harder. You should try it sometime."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0VckAEsJu
I rolled my eyes and yanked the items out of Katrina's grip and knelt beside Patch. I slid the cybernetic leg onto his residual limb, applying pressure until it was secure. I did the same thing with the cybernetic arm. I ripped up the cat t-shirt and fastened the strips of fabric around his head to cover his vacant eye socket. I hoisted him up and helped him stand on the rickety leg. The bionic leg was designed for a much smaller person, so Patch had a hard time gaining his footing. He trembled as he rose from the chair. He faltered, nearly toppling over. He grasped onto me for support. He threw his arm around me in a tight embrace.
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9y5g1X50v
I just stood there dumbstruck. I didn't know how to react to this show of affection after his betrayal.
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnx8EDVz2ha
"I love you, kid," he whispered into my ear. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJxcD6ApHL
I set my anger aside and returned his embrace. I clung to the feeling of him, savoring every moment. There was a part of me that feared I'd never see him again. Getting to hold him again was a comfort I didn't know I needed. "I love you, too, old man."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgqOqyQEPo
He'd usually object and scold me for calling him an old man, but today he just held me tighter, and I never wanted to let go.
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSr12vvMlU
Katrina picked at her claws jadedly. "Hooray happy reunion. Now, let's get the hell out of here before someone catches us."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7rd8FWm7j
I caught a flash of jealousy in her eyes that I know I wasn't meant to see. For a moment, I wondered if she had anyone in her life who cared for her. She mentioned growing up alone. Did she ever find someone to support her? All these thoughts swirled around in my head until I remembered that I don't care. Her woes aren't any of my concern.
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6csH6U2RqM
"Seriously? I was expecting to try to make a run for it as soon as you got what you wanted."
316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Q6TPNBqAZ
"It's like I said earlier, I'm not like you."
ns18.191.31.104da2
