Another note.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFj4thGbQz
Achlys led the group to a hotel and somehow managed to get into the penthouse suite. With cash.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDJEClmafP
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs07FOcToKH
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvDHEIFwXj
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6n6AFpzO0g
After the last confidential message he received, Abyss was afraid to open it .23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpBADC5ctG
Still, curiosity killed the cat, and Abyss slowly ripped the seal.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYk4w0buJN
His eyes glazed over the note which read:23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwKJBaofud
Abyssal,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30hCYQi8XQ
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWQvrAgE96
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?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKPdHdHTRO
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEp7BMWki8m
Thank you for your time and understanding. I can only hope you respond soon.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcY8PWhROe
Your friend,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdDu7H6qyC
Nedi23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ByiKKv3sN
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 Nedi23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppyb7ILGLY
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSdgjTNXdD
He pocketed the letter deciding to ask Achlys her opinions later, but the time never came.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMrgrPns3Z
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RxYGSLrmb
That is until Achlys was gone for about two hours.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPOnUOcQEK
Abyss went back to his room for a while and after a nap, Abyss saw the letter slipped out from his pocket.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCuq2nmlFJ
He pulled up the piece of parchment and searched for a blank piece of paper of his own.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmixQnp0m5p
After a little while, Abyss was able to start writing.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrqIpKe76n
Nedi,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYScNGiJS0E
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4Ka7J3LGU
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTUR6OgU31
Whatever, it’s stupid. I shouldn’t be upset anymore. I destroyed PISTOL.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQASMCm1a5y
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSspZeQRppp
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?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0o6ke35Ltp
* * *
A new letter came 8 days later.
Abyss,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyOghaasqz
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb46lmsoG6e
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEg3azZHe1a
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStQfE53kYD
Hopefully we can keep in touch.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBYWIRkP2x
-Nedi23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtF6uwqu3s
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKO9qwXM2Gk
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9j4Y2SLJy9
Still, Abyss took anything he could get.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ewzo3oQpI
* * *
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWajHzeTVz9
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”.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOtECT493l
Eventually, Abyss sent a message to Nedi.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQfnouJ4Qy
Does this work?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwLeec839D
-Abyssal23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17AzrQjpAs
It only took 13 minutes for Nedito respond this time.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZ36eeM6wN
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IXH5dqhEy
Abyss stared at the message on the screen in bewilderment.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kuhAQ4u9c
How can I be happy? Are you okay? Where are you?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAIBawOnIg
Abyss waited a long time for Nedito respond. He waited 13 minutes, then 19 more.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHr4XqwLJ9
Are you ignoring me?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBhbp2QC8O
Abyss aggressively hit the send button on this message. An almost instant reply.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQj0tZpSXf
I can’t talk right now, and I couldn’t answer your questions anyway. It isn’t safe anymore. I have to go.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1p2BM6jvOn
Go where?!23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJ2V1SrO2s
Stay where you are, don’t message me anymore.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0q8cNcwWl
This was the last straw. Nediwas being unreasonable. He couldn’t just say he was in danger and demand Abyss stayed in place.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFTXLSCy2u
Abyss rushed out his bedroom door without even closing the laptop.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAivUFIeeMz
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuiAss2Jqc
“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-”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN36oPBdNEW
“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.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbdu7ql0OK
The elevator dinged open, and Abyss walked in. The spirits of everyone else in the room fell.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53jpnsx71w
“Where are you going?” the large man called out in desperation. “Achlys said you were in charge.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDSrTWFTcJ
“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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