Katrina dragged me down the darkened hallway, leaving crimson footprints of Mason's blood trailing behind her.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAMM3ApFCmsO
I gazed back at the computer room, where Mason was bleeding out alone.
338Please respect copyright.PENANATEIEZhe3wC
"Where are we going? Shouldn't I be searching for the Annihilation Code in the database?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAeKXt5QZ1d3
Katrina laughed. "You must not know much about the way Bionic Corp is run."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAbbBZmVutBI
I crossed my arms defensively. "I was a hacker for them, remember?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAWMNF9aIv6y
"Yeah, but you don't know them like I do. They'd never store something as important as the Annihilation Code in such an obvious spot. It has to be hidden somewhere we wouldn't expect."
338Please respect copyright.PENANArRaO0H2hSz
I need to put my foot down with her. Katrina is a loose cannon, I have to take what I want while I still have the chance. I took several deep breaths, but it didn't stop the rush of my pounding heart. I didn't know how Katrina would react to being stood up to. "We can go on your little treasure hunt after you take me to Patch."
338Please respect copyright.PENANANmjk6XG8xt
Katrina froze. "Um, no. We're getting the Annihilation Code first, then I'll free your uncle."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAy1f6I3O18t
I shook my head. "Patch will be dead soon if we don't save him. The code will still be here when we get back."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAyFXQe2eJzT
"How do I know you'll still help me after I give up my leverage? How do I know you won't turn on me after that?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAI0EGcytzt9
"Because I'm not a backstabbing traitor like you."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAmS41SoKlii
She flinched, it was very subtle, but I noticed. For some reason, my words had an effect on her. She shook herself out of whatever daze she was in and waved the pistol around haphazardly. "The person with the gun decides what we do next. Everyone knows that, Marisa. So, follow me." She guided me to the room full of newspapers. She flipped over one of the boxes and dumped the contents on the ground. "Don't just stand there, help me search!"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAE77oyOmMgJ
I crossed my arms and shot her an incredulous look."You think the Annihilation Code is hidden in a box of old newspapers?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAlwf0sK01Ht
"It's the last place anyone would expect."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAld76d00bLS
I rolled my eyes. "Maybe afterward we can check the dumpsters outside."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAjKtM92qcyX
"Great idea!" She said, not detecting my sarcasm. She unfolded the newspapers on the ground and began tearing through them for anything useful.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAt0EIDIea1M
"Why do you even need me to sift through old newspapers? I thought you needed a hacker."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAABvs9yiMa8
She shrugged. "You never know what you'll need on a quest like this one."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAJAG0eEX3PH
"I'm not even that good of a hacker. You could easily find someone better than me at Bionic Corp."
338Please respect copyright.PENANABDQsNZqizy
"I know, but you're the best I could do on short notice. Plus, I already have leverage over you."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAlDKM06GSre
"Isn't your boss going to wonder where you are?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAag9tYiyYc2
"Nope. That's what holograms are for. As long as no one touches me, it will look like I'm on patrol. Truly a marvel of modern technology. I don't know how I'd live without them."
338Please respect copyright.PENANA2060dVvPiz
"Can't they track your cybernetics?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAHfbp0ySfrO
She shrugged. "They can, but they won't unless they have a reason to believe I'm not where I'm supposed to be."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAj9rZ9kfs1R
I knelt beside her and sifted through the headlines.
338Please respect copyright.PENANA95Trr7WJFf
13 Workers Killed in Accident at Bionic Corp Factory. Employees Protest Unsafe Working Conditions.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAxKROHqQeY7
Bionic Corp's Cyborg Army Recruitment Program Targets Foster Kids and Low-Income Citizens.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAgtY7UvAGLC
Bionic Corp Workers Condemn Grueling Workload and Low Pay.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAA47rkGRWL5
Bionic Corp Conspiracy to Turn Troubled Youths Into Cybernetic Child Soldiers. Here's what you need to know.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAl28GEnqfna
Bionic Corp Ignores Stalking Reports Against Chief Financial Officer. Woman Who Reported Him Found Dead Weeks Later.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAxRcwbcAUPm
Bionic Corp Found Responsible for Toxic Waste Found in Florida Everglades.
338Please respect copyright.PENANA3mj81qMNNH
"Have you noticed how these headlines have something in common?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANA0DcXju1sbZ
"Yeah, Bionic Corp doesn't take kindly to slander. They sued until these articles were taken off the web permanently. They confiscated what few physical papers existed."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAnuHRMV1YYo
"It's not slander if it's true," I argued.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAn3pDjABbKK
"Sure, but there's not enough evidence to prove it, and our lawyers are vicious. They hardly ever lose." She set down the pistol in an empty gap on the floor between us. She carefully read the names of each journalist. "I annihilated several of these journalists, you know?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAb7WrfEEVtC
"Why are you telling me this?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAosHvVPC1ys
"Because I'm not allowed to talk about it with anyone. It's one of our rules that we never mention the murder after it happens. We're not even allowed to speak the names of the people we've killed after the deed is done. I'm sure they'd find a way to punish me for even thinking about them if it were possible. Soon they won't be able to afford to hurt me anymore. Once I'm the only person who has the code, I'll finally be safe," she whispered almost to herself.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAqBV05dlbEH
Just as we finally finished sorting through the first box, she poured out a second box on top of our previous stack.
338Please respect copyright.PENANADIhGxTAofk
"Katrina! You're making a mess." I scolded.
338Please respect copyright.PENANA0FIXSefCy4
"Who cares. Now hurry up, we have a whole room full of boxes to go through.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAQQs0hGkAZx
I let out several deep exhalations and relaxed my muscles. It took every ounce of my willpower to stop myself from losing my temper. She was acting like an impatient child, and I couldn't take it much longer. I want to go home. I studied Katrina as she flipped through the pages. Does she actually think the Annihilation Code is here, or is she trying to waste my time? "What are we doing here, Katrina? Why are you making me go through all these papers? What are you really looking for?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAQd0NxTKjwt
"My mother," She spoke, so softly I had to lean in to hear. "She was a revolutionary. She exposed Bionic Corp's shady business practices. She disappeared when I was a toddler. I've searched all over the world for any kind of trace of her, but there's nothing. It's like she never existed at all. I was hoping maybe in here I could find some remnant of her in here somewhere."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAZvnfIVNJPl
"She'd be disappointed in you."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAVHy8BVhoz5
"I know," she said, tears glistened in her turquoise eyes. "but look where all her rebellion got her. She's gone, and the world is no better than when she left it. What's the point in fighting back, Marisa? We might as well make the best of our situation. We can't stop Bionic Corp, no one can."
338Please respect copyright.PENANA6W7aeayeZo
I'd never seen her so serious. This version of her was so different from her bubbly persona. Which version was the real her? Is she Katrina Madden, the vivacious rock star? Oblivion, the ruthless assassin? Is she the lonely person I'm speaking to right now? Maybe she's a culmination of all of them. I don't have time to solve the puzzle that is Katrina Madden. Patch needs me. In a split second, I grabbed the gun between us and aimed it squarely at her forehead.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAX41OmGYhzu
"Katrina raised her hands in surrender. "Woah, woah, woah, calm down. Let's be reasonable here. There's no need to make any rash decisions. We can talk this through!"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAiUlGvMEYZ6
"I don't want to talk. I want you to take me to Patch, now." My hands shook as I fingered the trigger. I took deep breaths in an attempt to subdue my incoming panic. What was I doing? This is so unlike me. I don't hold people at gunpoint, I'm not even brave enough to go outside. I suppose desperate times call for desperate measures.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAz0PZompGDV
Katrina nodded vigorously. "Okay! Okay. I can do that for you, easy-peasy. Just don't shoot me. I haven't gotten my bulletproof steel skull enhancements yet. I can't take it!"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAWtiBatu2n5
My suspicions were correct. She's afraid to die. That's good. She has a weakness I can use to my advantage. As long as I'm holding this gun to her head, she'll do what I ask of her. "It's like you said, Katrina. The person with the gun decides what we do next. I say, take me to Patch!"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAiXitRPwk58
Katrina reluctantly nodded and turned towards the door. "It was very rude of you to turn a gun on me after I was vulnerable with you."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAFKcPTViUZZ
"It was very rude of you to shoot my brother."
338Please respect copyright.PENANA3SD79h495u
"Touché."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAiT17PZo3NX
I nudged the back of her skull with the barrel of my gun. "Less talking, more walking."
338Please respect copyright.PENANANXpAcxKRtF
"Okay, okay." She obliged my request and guided me up the stairs and outside the building.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAiwNgZNXXZo
I gazed out at the sea for any sign of Atlas or Chase, but I couldn't spot any trace of them.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAPnTUyuV6ZH
She meandered down the road, glancing back at me every couple of seconds to check if I'd let my guard down. Not today. Not ever.
338Please respect copyright.PENANA3l19MVnO7X
We stopped outside the garbage holding facility.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAElk7BTQCkT
"Here we are!" She gestured towards the dump like she was the host of a game show and the building was a car I'd just won.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAhoBnPd0lM2
"You hold your hostages in the garbage facility, of all places?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAa0V1BDpEx5
"Yep, it's the perfect location. No one wants to spend more time here than necessary, much less poke around." Katrina unlocked the door by using a microchip in her wrist.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAF1DOgoNeFo
"This whole operation feels illegal and unethical."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAcOL4lJi3If
"Oh, it is. It violates several local laws and The Geneva Convention." Katrina led me inside the facility and locked the door behind us.
338Please respect copyright.PENANA0AmIeGgLZf
I pinched my nose and stared at piles of garbage. "This is where Bionic Corp belongs." I didn't realize I'd said that out loud until I heard Katrina snort with laughter. "What? You're not mad at me for disrespecting your overlords?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAHC7x5NnR0h
She chuckled. "Hell no! I hate Bionic Corp. I probably loathe Bionic Corp more than most people do because I have the inside scoop. I know things the public would riot about if they ever discovered. I only work for Bionic Corp because I was drafted, just like Atlas and Mason and a bunch of others, but no one gives a damn about poor little me. Because I'm the bad guy and everything is my fault. That's what you think about me, right?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANArBaixoMhpf
I didn't respond, but she took that as an answer.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAKNCzniKi5P
"That's right, you think I'm the wicked villainess who's out to steal your firstborn child and make a coat out of puppies. That's how everyone sees me. No one seems to care that I've killed fewer people than Curseword or Vindicator. No one pays any mind to the fact that I was an orphan just like you because I'm Oblivion, and I'm the villain in your narrative!"
338Please respect copyright.PENANApqZZbHYZBH
"Maybe everyone thinks you're the villain because
you are one."
338Please respect copyright.PENANASZV3DLDNWV
"I knew you couldn't understand. You've always had it easy."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAHwAjfC4hoK
I clenched my fists. It took everything in me to restrain myself from punching her. "You think I had it easy? My life hasn't been all sunshine and roses, but I didn't become a remorseless killer like you."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAkcaSMH7KFo
"You don't know what it's like to be me! Your whole life, you've always had someone to take care of you. Your parents, your brother, your uncle, but me, I've been on my own since I was old enough to walk. I had to be violent to survive. I had to learn to relish it. The streets aren't a safe place for a little girl. It's kill or be killed out there. I did what I had to do to protect myself. So, no, I don't feel bad."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAaCOBC2fItm
"What about all the people you killed for Bionic Corp? That wasn't self-defense."
338Please respect copyright.PENANANxL8vOjae1
"I'm just following orders, Marisa. If I don't do as they say, they'll kill me and have someone else take my place. If I don't do it, someone else will."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAx5av6LpaQH
I frowned. "It's still not okay."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAbvAPS8Bnfp
"I know, I'm not asking you to excuse my actions."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAkoQE1I2FdD
"Then what are you asking for?" It felt like our conversations were going in circles. She insists she's not the villain, and I put her back in her place again and again. What is she hoping to gain from all this?
338Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4988Nkvfx
Her voice quavered ever so slightly. "I don't know."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAh5MTYkSCYJ
I wanted to deliver some kind of retort. I wanted to ridicule her for her lack of conviction. She hasn't seemed to care about anything at all or have any sort of self-awareness. Something held me back from speaking my mind. Maybe it was how sad and pitiful she looked at the moment.
338Please respect copyright.PENANANWxAKasSw6
After her brief moment of indecision, she began groping the back wall, rubbing her hands up and down, and applying pressure.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAo8pktBXIiT
I shot her a puzzled look. "What the hell are you doing?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANA8EfqyW3wnh
"I know there's a secret passageway around here somewhere. That's where they're keeping Patch."
338Please respect copyright.PENANA4pqyvReKjJ
"You don't know where the secret passage is?" I said, incredulous. "Don't you work here?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAJ2CDBuUD16
"I don't usually slum it with the prisoners, okay?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAeuqjuh69r5
I rolled my eyes and began feeling the wall beside Katrina.
338Please respect copyright.PENANALIrf61kEsc
"It won't open for you, silly. You need a microchip to get in."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAZaLXa4WBvX
Great. How convenient.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAIaa4dI1NZI
A small security bot whirred past us.
338Please respect copyright.PENANA79foPh0bDB
"Hey! You! Where'd the secret passage go? Did you guys move it while I was out?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAn6c9pUO7cw
He scanned her body from head to toe, then spoke. "Hello, Cyborg 11120189141 Call sign: Oblivion." He extended his little robot arm towards the opposite wall. "You're on the wrong side, miss. The passage to the holding cells is that way."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAtdoP8J8NrW
Katrina rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. "Whoops."
338Please respect copyright.PENANACkgVpmxUgc
The robot scanned me next. "Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert! This person is not authorized to enter this establishment. Intruder Alert!"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAaHCWiDu4YE
I fired two shots directly into the robot's circuit board.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAhIE0rFQJFV
Katrina shot me an approving smirk. "Thank you. I can't stand those little things. They're so annoying, and they're always in my way. I'm constantly tripping over them."
338Please respect copyright.PENANATbYb5LxBYn
"Bionic Corp's top assassin gets foiled by a bunch of tiny security bots?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAqZwMl7A5P5
"Hey, I'm a busy woman. I don't have time to look where I'm going."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAj8MnT0E8QU
I waltzed over to the back wall and motioned for Katrina to follow me. She did as she was told and joined me on the other side of the room. She moved her hand up and down, left and right, until she finally located the hidden scanner and the passage opened up.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAZ5jvsOORm1
We trudged down the long, darkened corridor until we reached a fork in the path.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAbCw1T2Wqth
"Which way do we go?" I asked.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAASuxwbB2Df
"Hold on, I'm thinking."
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"I can't believe you don't know."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAi4EKFJr6Or
"It's like I already said, I don't come here often."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAYDlsfGDdtN
"Halt!" A cyborg dressed in a Bionic Corp security uniform charged toward us with a rifle in hand. "Drop your weapons and identify yourselves."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAMR90BMyhjw
Before I had time to comply, he noticed Katrina and froze. "Oblivion, is that you?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAAXf9XRIqPn
Katrina gave a dainty little wave. "Hi, Jordan."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAdAF8LKm2zN
He poked her with the barrel of his rifle. A look of genuine surprise flashed across his face when his hand didn't phase through her. "How nice of you to actually show up to work for once."
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"Today is a special day, so I've decided to grace you all with my presence."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAE5sW8J5oir
Jordan played along with her antics. "What did we do to deserve such an honor?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAhTRFahAeUj
"I'm here on super important assassin business. I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you." She winked at him.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAxfKnItFgaX
He didn't look amused. He haphazardly pointed his rifle towards me. "Who the hell is that?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAdwtngjaU6Q
Katrina waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, her?" Katrina glanced at me like she'd never seen me before. "She's from the tech department. She's helping me out with some stuff."
338Please respect copyright.PENANALA625m1uFH
"Well, I'm going to need to scan your IDs. The whole place is on high alert. There was word of an intruder."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAU9cLyPQ6gZ
"That was me. Whoopsie. One of the security bots malfunctioned while it was scanning me. You know how stupid those little things can be. I don't know why we keep them around." Katrina nudged me in the side, signaling for me to play along.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAEfxUZNvgsw
"Um, yes. That is definitely what happened. Those dumb little robots were at it again."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAvQlMHKKiOb
"That is the most obvious lie I've ever heard. Care to tell me what's really going on, Katrina?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAJwUEV9ZFnn
"Listen, I'm going to cut to the chase, I need to release one of the prisoners."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAtS1hA4C0Js
He folded his arms across his chest. "No."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAL5GZxuB2Bz
Katrina pursed her lips into a pout, clearly unhappy with hearing the word no. "Come on, Jordan. Help me out. Are we not friends?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANA7n9XZF09Eb
"First, I don't have friends anymore, I have colleagues. Second, I can't just defy orders. I'm not you. I can't just do whatever I want with little to no consequences."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAUE2OEoEFnB
"Why does everyone keep talking about the consequences of my actions, all of a sudden? I've never had any before."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAsJHGFJgSA7
"That's my point, Katrina. Ever since you got promoted to top assassin, you've been able to get away with whatever you want. I don't have that privilege. Bionic Corp is willing to give you extra leniency because of your position, but if you keep slacking off, they're going to take you out and replace you. You hear me?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANA47imckE3gG
Katrina glanced down and twiddled her thumbs. "That's why I'm here. She gestured towards me. "This little pain in my ass right here won't help me unless I bust her uncle out of captivity. She's even pulled a gun on me, if you haven't noticed. So, I could really use a favor."
338Please respect copyright.PENANA0kWfgvxAso
He shook his head vehemently. "No. No way. I can't be involved in this. They'll torture me and strip me for parts!"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAhQfTCQ9I5R
"Only if you get caught."
338Please respect copyright.PENANA1qKKcIbC0p
"What's going to happen after you die?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAHq9KogMfrr
"Pfffft. I'm not gonna die. Nothing can kill me, I'm too awesome.
338Please respect copyright.PENANA7I7RdyHP7e
Jordan shook his head disapprovingly. "This is serious. Everyone dies at some point. What's going to happen when you die, and you're the only one who knows the code? Assassinations will be drastically harder to pull off."
338Please respect copyright.PENANAIT7BeO2BJ7
"Is that such a bad thing?" I muttered.
338Please respect copyright.PENANALeIgcZySY0
He pursed his lips in thought for several moments, then said, "I'm sorry, I can't help you."
338Please respect copyright.PENANA5fHxR9BBS9
"Okay, then." In the blink of an eye, she unsheathed a dagger and sliced open his hand. She extracted his bloody microchip. "If Bionic Corp asks, tell them I forced you to help. Thanks, Jordan!" Katrina grabbed my wrist and dragged me down the shadowed hallway.
338Please respect copyright.PENANA97yz2gTz0G
"You're not welcome!" He shouted after us but decided not to chase us down.
338Please respect copyright.PENANAQjMHdD9cZo
I was grateful, I didn't think I could outrun him.
338Please respect copyright.PENANA2rGLMorysi
We stopped outside a large steel door. "Is this where you're keeping Patch?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAJ5yscqzni3
"I think so. This cell either belongs to him or Chainsaw Pete. He's this crazed cyborg serial killer with chainsaws for arms. Why don't you go inside and check?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAp74wKZrJ8Y
I shot her an incredulous look. "Are you just trying to scare me?"
338Please respect copyright.PENANAQOcbTMI5Q6
She grinned like the Cheshire Cat. "Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not."
338Please respect copyright.PENANApcmIJz8HKz
Katrina handed me Jordan's microchip, and I scanned the keypad with it. I took several deep breaths and hesitantly slid open the door.
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