Another note.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAjfN1Wc80
Achlys led the group to a hotel and somehow managed to get into the penthouse suite. With cash.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oTyr7AauQ
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWWnOl8obQ
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRuggd5UzP
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHcJYch0rR
After the last confidential message he received, Abyss was afraid to open it .95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45YoTtjpwI
Still, curiosity killed the cat, and Abyss slowly ripped the seal.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gyjsLMfY6
His eyes glazed over the note which read:95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpoePqcLYT
Abyssal,95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuKjp9fb9b
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbLasCQaVX
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?95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmF3pW8yvm1
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QTKz41eAT
Thank you for your time and understanding. I can only hope you respond soon.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpGb6hlLba
Your friend,95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePbZHpPMh4
Nedi95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuze5AigbuF
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 Nedi95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1kosVqYMS
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1U6dAZntd
He pocketed the letter deciding to ask Achlys her opinions later, but the time never came.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡML8iFpuTGi
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0pxqlHW0w
That is until Achlys was gone for about two hours.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKhbDeafsP
Abyss went back to his room for a while and after a nap, Abyss saw the letter slipped out from his pocket.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXn3hMt6wMu
He pulled up the piece of parchment and searched for a blank piece of paper of his own.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nCzwzFMGg
After a little while, Abyss was able to start writing.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpAcRcKPvQ
Nedi,95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wBmC8w28A
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0HIfRwlxw
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlDpQazTHo
Whatever, it’s stupid. I shouldn’t be upset anymore. I destroyed PISTOL.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CT8U87jy2
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhgtM97ygF
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?95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ovXAWkzTZ
* * *
A new letter came 8 days later.
Abyss,95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡez9KSgSsVn
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAVOtDLrjy
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16rkJYvHm6
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6aCupVaJI
Hopefully we can keep in touch.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpIFPACe8o
-Nedi95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoM5jR8ZZx
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Bq4AF17KS
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uEYXYSnQg
Still, Abyss took anything he could get.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeiCNm2xTO
* * *
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFNk4TeQQW
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”.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgcRRtKOil
Eventually, Abyss sent a message to Nedi.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMzXzcVJ1H
Does this work?95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0R6fQsWXq
-Abyssal95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyKFMHDShc
It only took 13 minutes for Nedito respond this time.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CTkyARqx7
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBh5p5Cuj1u
Abyss stared at the message on the screen in bewilderment.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7XgJANSjK
How can I be happy? Are you okay? Where are you?95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTJX1uMF2S
Abyss waited a long time for Nedito respond. He waited 13 minutes, then 19 more.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfne0VoKVhp
Are you ignoring me?95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VmXio8DEC
Abyss aggressively hit the send button on this message. An almost instant reply.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmRP3Q0gS6
I can’t talk right now, and I couldn’t answer your questions anyway. It isn’t safe anymore. I have to go.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4y2BXmKGN6
Go where?!95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2F8sgNUUPg
Stay where you are, don’t message me anymore.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQumOYHh44q
This was the last straw. Nediwas being unreasonable. He couldn’t just say he was in danger and demand Abyss stayed in place.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pMmpUjiop
Abyss rushed out his bedroom door without even closing the laptop.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iTJ5GGoII
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCKvxbLgWH
“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-”95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYe414f6iA
“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.”95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOPkXJnkk2
The elevator dinged open, and Abyss walked in. The spirits of everyone else in the room fell.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1KLv8d15Y
“Where are you going?” the large man called out in desperation. “Achlys said you were in charge.”95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFj1UwKU957
“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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