"Go," I said. "Save him."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4EhNuOE1z
"But I promised him I'd take care of you," Chase said.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDklULIWBw1
My heart felt as though it was about to burst. Atlas told him to protect me?
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp21ZfzpIij
I motioned for him to leave. "Go! I can handle myself!" That wasn't true. I couldn't defend myself against Oblivion. I certainly can't fend off Vindicator alone, but Atlas is dying. I couldn't live with myself if he died, and we could've done something to stop it. It would be selfish of me to keep Chase here if there's any chance he can rescue Atlas.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznnLi7zm4E
Chase nodded and sprinted out the door and up the stairs.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zTmOIYNrz
"There, there. It's time for you to get back to work finding that code." Vindicator grabbed my shoulders and squeezed. It wasn't the comforting kind of touch, it was the threatening kind. It wasn't a suggestion, it was a command.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlw2D0WoEs0
I let out a quiet squeak.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaierVoS1fJ
He scowled at me.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcgQuex6FT
I took several shaky breaths. If you do what he asks, he won't hurt you. I repeated that mantra over and over again as my fingers glided across the keyboard. I can't stay in the system much longer. Their firewall is cracking down on me. I increased my typing speed, desperately trying to prevent myself from getting kicked out.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAt1cbfO6qY
Vindicator glared at me with his piercing green eyes, as my typing became more intense. "What's going on?"
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlP963YYINd
"They're throwing me out. I can't keep up with their security. It's a miracle I lasted this long."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHXKCYalz2
He leaned in so close I could feel his hot breath on my face. "Well then, I suggest you start hacking faster," He barked, through clenched teeth.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXVL6szscf
"It doesn't work like that! I'm just one person, I can't compete with Bionic Corp!"
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcrJpF2Dod
"Are you not one of the best hackers Bionic Corp ever had?"
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSkht2qZT1
"I'm not," I confessed. "I'm just me. I'm an average, boring person. I don't know who told you any different, but they're wrong." A notification popped up informing me I'd been kicked out of the server.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HErsPiYb1
He let out an enraged scream and threw the keyboard at my head.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLoQGJN8XM
I ducked, just barely missing it.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJ5KChLukp
"Hey! That's no way to treat a lady." Katrina leaned against the door frame and sharpened her claws with a nail file.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiurlKZNhq
"Get out of here, Bionic Corp scum! This has nothing to do with you." Vindicator snapped.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdp8M6yVCJ0
Katrina just rolled her eyes, then smirked at me like we were part of some inside joke.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAqwSWFcKR
"You look like hell," I deadpanned as I examined her torn clothes, tousled hair, and bloody face.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKV5KrqnzTe
She ran her fingers through her tangled mass of curls. "Well, I did just fall out of a window, so."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFK5Nf9ASn3
I stood there and scowled at her.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyyMg7QeZs
"What? Are you not happy to see me?"
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV51lqQHZ3L
"Take a wild guess."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehUdubE21n
"Yes?"
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmEt1mm6LN
"Guess again."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhogDTs0ct
Oh, you're mad about the whole me being a Bionic Corp spy thing."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxfZc28ghq
"I trusted you!" I spat through gritted teeth. "We all trusted you!"
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DPxwAxxgJ
Katrina picked at the blood in her claws. "Why? I never gave you any reason to. All I did was hang out in your general vicinity, and you all trusted me with your secrets. It's not my fault you put so much faith in me."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbznrhfjtC
"I'll never forgive you for betraying us."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeRFynUiMX
Katrina raised her shoulders in a half-shrug. "That's fair. You should know I'm just doing what it takes to survive in this cruel world. I didn't choose to be an assassin any more than Atlas did. I'm doing the best with the hand I was dealt."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2A6riwY8ns
"I don't care why you did it. Your motivations don't change the impact of your actions. You've hurt me, Atlas, and countless others.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwAT1gl1ug
Katrina shot me an appraising smirk. "Listen, I have orders to kill you, but I'm feeling nice, so I'll give you the chance to stay alive if you do what I say. I'm doing this because I like you, and I'd hate to be the one to kill you."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuF9ts0COB7
"No. You need my hacking skills. You don't care about me, you only care about what I can do for you." I spat.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWq2WCBZBPn
"You don't have to say it like that. You make me sound terribly shallow. You're not entirely wrong, I do need your help, but I see this as more of a symbiotic relationship. You give me something I want, and I'll give you something you want."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uXG4KvH4B
"I don't want anything from you, you treacherous bitch!"
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7v0oZomyCX
"Rude."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsZSrEx1BZ
I stood tall and spoke with false bravery. "I'm never going to help you."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKCLoYLmmV
Katrina put on a fake frown. "Why all the animosity, Marisa? I thought we were friends."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xs8M3gBzi
"Are you joking? You attacked me and threatened me in my own home."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NceGIcy2E
Katrina crossed her arms. "Yeah, but I bought you mozzarella sticks afterward, so we're even. Those weren't cheap, you know? You didn't even bother to say thank you."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexDF4UXAYg
"You shot my brother!"
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHq0t1pbaI
She resumed picking at her claws. "That is true. You got me there. I aimed for the hip. It was a warning shot. He should be fine as long as he doesn't drown, bleed out, or get eaten by sharks. Hey, did you know sharks can smell blood from over three hundred meters away? Pretty cool, right?"
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwECnKBTlCb
"I've heard enough, I told you to leave! Now go!" Vindicator shouted.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSeZ53R5kJ
Katrina rolled her eyes. "No, I don't think I will."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaq5NqPrGu
Before anyone had time to react, Vindicator grabbed her by the throat and slammed her into the wall. "You're going to need to find your own hacker. This one here is mine! Do you hear me?
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiptPBGj1T
"She doesn't belong to you, creep. You don't own her. She can help whoever she wants. I think she'll find working with me far more compelling than working with you. Because all you have are threats of violence. I have something she desperately wants, something I think she'll do anything for."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNMWUqUZmn
"So, you're just going to steal everything I've worked for right out from under me? Is that how this is going to go?" Vindicator shook her, sending her head thumping against the wall.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmVtALzRcA
"It doesn't have to go that way, Mason. Think about it, I want to destroy the code, you want to destroy the code," Katrina pointed at me. "she wants to destroy the code. Together, we can't fail."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvO7TRv8T0K
He paused to consider her offer. "What will you do once the code is destroyed?"
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rhejAFRwj
"I'll continue living life, with my title of World's Best Assassin permanently intact. If I'm the only one who knows the Annihilation Code, I can never be upstaged."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnv165pn87M
Vindicator smashed her head into the back wall, he didn't like that answer. "Tell me, how does it feel to be a traitor to your own kind?"
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhB7TB7kKF
Katrina scratched at him, tearing open his leather armor, exposing the pale flesh underneath. "I don't have a kind, I've always been alone. Why should I care for my fellow cyborgs? They never looked out for me!"
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31V67fMsit
Vindicator tightened his grip. "I'm going to kill you and avenge your victims."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhg6MfKvq7
She dug her claws into his face, leaving bloody, red gashes from his forehead to his chin.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpE0a2kz7B9
Maybe, if I'm lucky, they'll kill each other. Two birds, one stone. Well, I guess in this scenario, the birds are hurling rocks at each other.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySJB9KiEUE
"If you're not with me, then you're my enemy," Katrina said.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhG3o3uVVZC
"You've always been my enemy. You're the antithesis of everything I stand for. You're the embodiment of Bionic Corp's cruelty and society's indifference towards the well-being of cyborgs. You repulse me."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybqlTLBSZQ
Katrina scanned the area. "You know what repulses me? This interior decor. This whole room is terribly gray. It could use a pop of color. Maybe some red. Your entrails would look great splattered over here. We could make a beautiful accent wall."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2kUfS4uhV
"Is that a threat?" He said, shooting her an appraising glare.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppq8m2v2II
"It's a warning. Stay out of my way." Katrina mauled his face again, this time aiming for the eyes.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfh8XBJh7D
He keeled over and clutched his eyes, giving Katrina the chance to break free. Rivulets of blood and sweat poured down his face, and he let out a soft whimpering sound.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXa95vS5Za
My heart swelled with sympathy for him, despite my better judgment. I hope his eyes were cybernetic, if not, there's going to be some serious damage.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyGHN0rss8
You're wrong.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyVVPty7hf
Katrina linked her arm with mine. "Come on, bestie. Let's get out of here."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5e3m5FdBYC
I jerked away from her. "Who said I'm going with you?"
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8rSqHtJyX
She giggled. "Don't play hard to get, Marisa. We all know you're going to join me in the end."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEe7Wp3Jlcr
She shrugged. "Okay, whatever. Let your uncle die. I don't care. By the looks of it, he has..." She glanced down at her Holowatch. "Eight hours left to live, and you still have no idea where he is. Face it, you're helpless without me."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvF8FtIYaix
"We'll figure something out," I stammered.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqd3Yu6ds9z
She laughed at me. It was a dry laugh without any real humor behind it. She was mocking me. She knew I couldn't do it alone, and she wanted to know how much I was willing to bargain for Patch's life.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyw24GHjVES
I wrapped my arms around myself, hugging myself tightly. "Why should I believe you'll take me to Patch?"
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJT0EVWROl
She shot me a toothy grin. "You shouldn't, but you don't have any other options. You need me, and I need you. So, I say we call a truce." She extended a hand for me to take.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcL0llZeAHy
Joining her would be a risky endeavor. She would most likely betray me whenever she got the chance, I fingered the shock device in my pocket. I had a secret weapon to use against her, and she required my hacking skills if she wanted any chance of finding the Annihilation Code. Despite everything in me telling me this was a bad decision, I firmly shook her hand.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIjlmi78YZ
A wicked smirk spread across her lips. "That's a deal. There's no going back on it now."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXHU0pXXsB
I sense of dread clawed at my chest. What had I just agreed to?"
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHScyZDKYFP
Vindicator stood tall in the doorway, with his arms out. "You're not going anywhere. I won't allow it."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0L7x38Y5wS
Oblivion pulled out her pistol and fired two shots into his heart. "I don't need your permission."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BXT4CyVOT
He collapsed to the ground and clutched his bleeding chest.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqT5fi5mwzb
I glanced down at his crumpled form.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4TFdPeRNo
His breathing became slow and labored. Tears welled up in his beautiful jade eyes. "Please help. I'm not ready to die," He rasped.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZcutIC6RL
I reached down to offer him my aid, but Katrina wrenched me away. "Ignore him. We have more important things to worry about." She dragged me out the door, stepping on Mason in the process.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMzaXtgF5e
I was beginning to suspect that I'd made a terrible mistake.
ns216.73.216.109da2
