Another note.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcokcoCP6EK
Achlys led the group to a hotel and somehow managed to get into the penthouse suite. With cash.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROqUa5znsQ
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQFOZ1hmYo
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcQw0Gql9G
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHci3NBGYn
After the last confidential message he received, Abyss was afraid to open it .42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsb8d1Nd2d
Still, curiosity killed the cat, and Abyss slowly ripped the seal.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlA9vmMnZ80
His eyes glazed over the note which read:42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmZonbkRZP
Abyssal,42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCn6xpA5Bfb
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40Ah2Auok6
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?42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeHafhGJW5
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsusXIdY3xb
Thank you for your time and understanding. I can only hope you respond soon.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYFBniWRs2
Your friend,42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsY74tkiti5
Nedi42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQiKS1V5Sc
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 Nedi42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CfFKP2RC0
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ571MzuaCNk
He pocketed the letter deciding to ask Achlys her opinions later, but the time never came.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPF7l0P0GoB
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNaTLb2VdC
That is until Achlys was gone for about two hours.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAx7pUAlgvE
Abyss went back to his room for a while and after a nap, Abyss saw the letter slipped out from his pocket.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkAYQSf6nw
He pulled up the piece of parchment and searched for a blank piece of paper of his own.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrk79zrdCaV
After a little while, Abyss was able to start writing.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmv3sDesar
Nedi,42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4egUgGhjVz
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYFIKbQ5O0
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNVhijfZv2
Whatever, it’s stupid. I shouldn’t be upset anymore. I destroyed PISTOL.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOEpYm01Vo
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlQ0cATWBV
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?42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5aVuXyhOS
* * *
A new letter came 8 days later.
Abyss,42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBFBqpFTbx
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70SBQtj1aF
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOvLrry6gv
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqEw6yIQyk
Hopefully we can keep in touch.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOma6KSlecN
-Nedi42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQwrjkJDJo
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQPPD3Vrjc
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaByN2Xx0j
Still, Abyss took anything he could get.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyVfRQBsBm
* * *
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJxengnORb
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”.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoq3bofIlPu
Eventually, Abyss sent a message to Nedi.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcetRrPm2a
Does this work?42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCfo3dLLCn
-Abyssal42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLxbGJT9Qd
It only took 13 minutes for Nedito respond this time.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVW8qMjZU6l
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSsrf9QvHa
Abyss stared at the message on the screen in bewilderment.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVVLhTQetN
How can I be happy? Are you okay? Where are you?42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtEkGhVhd7
Abyss waited a long time for Nedito respond. He waited 13 minutes, then 19 more.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4S8WwYcl3
Are you ignoring me?42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqPke7mV8R
Abyss aggressively hit the send button on this message. An almost instant reply.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1gLmx0CYT
I can’t talk right now, and I couldn’t answer your questions anyway. It isn’t safe anymore. I have to go.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1Y1EhEbQX
Go where?!42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6EB6PCljm
Stay where you are, don’t message me anymore.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6l9wtRPrm
This was the last straw. Nediwas being unreasonable. He couldn’t just say he was in danger and demand Abyss stayed in place.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPQC40iaak
Abyss rushed out his bedroom door without even closing the laptop.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtUbUWJfS2
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZX7WlHTFCA
“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-”42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXfmmDf7mH
“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.”42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodQRO1xtQ0
The elevator dinged open, and Abyss walked in. The spirits of everyone else in the room fell.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVY2Jzjw8wD
“Where are you going?” the large man called out in desperation. “Achlys said you were in charge.”42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiXxu6FT91
“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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