Another note.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmkyF9d9ic
Achlys led the group to a hotel and somehow managed to get into the penthouse suite. With cash.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyKygpKUSn
The lady at the desk reached for the phone during check-in, but Abyss figured Achlys found a work around. He couldn’t remember. In fact, nobody could.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9QGDktUaH
He probably would have dwelt on the bizarre circumstance had it not been for room service coming at the crack of dawn with a letter to Abyss. No one was awake yet. Abyss was trained to be an early riser by the Rosork, and apparently it worked. He was up by 5. The letter came around an hour and a half later.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzKbMXr62E
Abyss looked down at the enclosed envelope. He didn’t know why notes kept coming. He didn’t recognize the name, Mark or why the return address seemed to be coordinates, (38, -97), but here was a confidential stamp on it. Abyss didn’t quite understand how or why this letter found its way here and could contain anything confidential.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLAB52iKWD
After the last confidential message he received, Abyss was afraid to open it .22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9lHU36sp8
Still, curiosity killed the cat, and Abyss slowly ripped the seal.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCw2RrCjlu
His eyes glazed over the note which read:22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDs79YdAgx
Abyssal,22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6VRjgcdq4
I hope this letter finds you well, I only really have a hunch where you could be. I read about the “attack” on a rebel base, and through some digging, I discovered you were behind it.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo79pN0qZeG
As a curious outsider, I would like to hear your side of the story. No one will know about this contact. I want to know if this was a planned attack or just you lashing out, if there was anyone else involved, maybe the entire article is a rouse to cover something else up. Was there a reason behind all this that you could tell me about?22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTedfjx4JSh
I should probably introduce myself. Nedi The name on the envelope is different because I don’t want the police to track me. With such a unique name, it probably wouldn’t be hard.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hHvfQFGus
Thank you for your time and understanding. I can only hope you respond soon.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZG3302tS9r
Your friend,22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18Gfrme3bP
Nedi22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp92lOHJ2It
Abyss stared at the letter with utter confusion. Friend? This person was already calling themself a friend of Abyss? Even Achlys didn’t feel that way to Abyss yet. And what kind of name is Nedi22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FzOIjMxDH
Abyss wasn’t sure if he should respond part of him was somewhat relieved for whatever reason. He wouldn’t figure out that it was being given the opportunity to talk that made Abyss appreciate the letter despite how strange it was.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCSERsm9ej
He pocketed the letter deciding to ask Achlys her opinions later, but the time never came.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFBlhgqa2S
Achlys left saying she would be back with Queen Ember a week or two later to advance her plans to stage two. She advised everyone to stay here, much to Abyssal’s annoyance. The other guys shared this annoyance, meanwhile, the lady and Lucy were more than willing to stay in the suite to process current events and unwind. Lucy was just scared to do anything, which tugged at his heart. He shook off the thought but was now properly distracted from the letter.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGq1WgJ2db
That is until Achlys was gone for about two hours.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dJB6VA9Yq
Abyss went back to his room for a while and after a nap, Abyss saw the letter slipped out from his pocket.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7u2ewXtJi
He pulled up the piece of parchment and searched for a blank piece of paper of his own.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmsztvYtAw
After a little while, Abyss was able to start writing.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFAwGQL1l1
Nedi,22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ryor2aW2F
Your letter found me. I don’t know how. The truth is, earlier today, I wasn’t sure if I should trust you. Then I figured that I could share some things with you. Achlys left for a while, so you’re the only person I could think of who isn’t afraid of me. Besides, even if we just met in a letter, I think I trust you more than Achlys’ allies. I can’t explain it.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAZ2Fkc3UY
The truth is, I was upset. PISTOL sent my brother to die, and I wasn’t there with him. Achlys says it isn’t my fault. I have a hard time believing her.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJx9zKESPgH
Whatever, it’s stupid. I shouldn’t be upset anymore. I destroyed PISTOL.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSJdexCarj
Abyss marked the send address with the coordinates and hoped the letter would find its way back. He addressed it to... Mark. If an uncommon name would have exposed Nedi he wouldn’t be having that problem with a name like this false one.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXf19fDdelE
Abyss gave it to one of the people who worked at the hotel and retreated to his room to think. He thought about Volt, Mirio, Merry, and he couldn’t stop thinking about Achlys. He wondered if she was alright. He didn’t know why she asked for so much time for her mission. Did she know something he didn’t? Did she expect something bad to happen?22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEoNR7SAbO
* * *
A new letter came 8 days later.
Abyss,22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCPRXX0zVg
The letter you sent me was an unexpected treasure. I am thrilled that you responded, but the response took longer than I expected. I waited a week.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6b0QB39t6
I made an account on an obscure website called Facebook. I thought this might be a faster way to communicate if you have access to the internet.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDMkoz3Pbd
As for your brother, I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say. There’s so much I want to tell you, but things are crazy here. People keep talking about oncoming war with the aliens. Is that crazy? The aliens have given us so much, but it turns out that was out of greed and manipulation. Surprising, I know.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgQSqfHBRX
Hopefully we can keep in touch.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwARGv4qgxO
-Nedi22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalNRykNpzV
Abyss tore the sides of the envelope in frustration. He had to figure out how to get access to the internet and learn how to use it. The Rosork never allowed Volt and Abyss access to human technology. It was too primitive and full of distractions. Rosorken technology was efficient. Communication across 2 or 3 solar systems was normally plenty. Besides that, ships, and the cartridges, the Rosork didn’t need much. They believed entertainment was one of the reasons humans advanced so slowly.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvBFycaJH6
Still, Abyss spent the rest of the day looking for a computer. He had to ask one of the employers, and they said they had an old computer Abyss could keep. The laptop was a dinosaur that barely functioned. It used something called Windows 11, which was supposed to be far outdated.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4J77heegR
Still, Abyss took anything he could get.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vA4fNtm5K
* * *
Nedi was right. His name was incredibly unique. After scrolling past some consumer protection laws crap, Abyss found the strange website named Facebook. He clicked the blue button and was taken right to Nedi’s page.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0CyX1igMD
It took Abyss about 40 minutes trying to figure out how to make an account. He had to work around not having a... “email” or a “phone number”.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxvj1Gf6KE
Eventually, Abyss sent a message to Nedi.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtME9ekDlU
Does this work?22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzSVWIfkay
-Abyssal22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtvNPksGcy
It only took 13 minutes for Nedito respond this time.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXvyo1hZKB
It works. Keep laying low. Something big is going to start any day now. You need to stay safe. Besides, your brother wouldn’t want you to take revenge on everything. He would just want you to be happy.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJPMVNmlLx
Abyss stared at the message on the screen in bewilderment.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9FsvWkvrJ
How can I be happy? Are you okay? Where are you?22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2NrzWEodi
Abyss waited a long time for Nedito respond. He waited 13 minutes, then 19 more.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchD0CKJjrp
Are you ignoring me?22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG70wvgwLJZ
Abyss aggressively hit the send button on this message. An almost instant reply.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vkAOb4EaL
I can’t talk right now, and I couldn’t answer your questions anyway. It isn’t safe anymore. I have to go.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9cKgzKo4I
Go where?!22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1NedptTzs
Stay where you are, don’t message me anymore.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0o1z6vWhY
This was the last straw. Nediwas being unreasonable. He couldn’t just say he was in danger and demand Abyss stayed in place.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFfoQH5Sig
Abyss rushed out his bedroom door without even closing the laptop.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4hZJle0jL
The others waiting in the lobby were talking and laughing. “Knock it off, Vivian!” Lucy giggled as the older girl ticked her. The young boy glared at the two and the larger man placed a hand on the boy’s head.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuitNPIW5u
“And there’s our emo teenager!” The man bellowed jovially, throwing up his arms. Abyss froze for a second before shaking his head and moving to the elevator. “What are you, deaf?” He asked, moving away from the younger boy and to Abyss. “Don’t approve of my phraseology? We all talked about the rolls we would have in our hypothetical families, see? I’d be the dad, Lillian’s the funny aunt, Antonio’s the stubborn middle child, Lucy’s the youngest, and you’re the oldest son who hides in his room all depressed. Achlys is your-”22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkliAZogtLt
“I don’t care,” Abyss said stubbornly, pressing the button. “I don’t even know you guys. Now if you’ll excuse me, some things are more important than playing house. Besides, my father never did crap for me. I don’t need a new one.”22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRRt1kmyyy
The elevator dinged open, and Abyss walked in. The spirits of everyone else in the room fell.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOovF3gHBn
“Where are you going?” the large man called out in desperation. “Achlys said you were in charge.”22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmB5TO7MUf
“Some job I’ve done. You’re in charge now, Dad. I’m out of here.” The elevator door closed and cut off the bitter farewells.
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