Another note.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsyzuX8XEv
Achlys led the group to a hotel and somehow managed to get into the penthouse suite. With cash.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXbnNy3lnT
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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjWwNokvxK
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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5RGUxbzNz
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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyclnnCb2P
After the last confidential message he received, Abyss was afraid to open it .76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKn20PtKfae
Still, curiosity killed the cat, and Abyss slowly ripped the seal.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDzRKz96xa
His eyes glazed over the note which read:76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvGC3GArda
Abyssal,76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQMIaGcQXt
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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXF0ExRDRU
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?76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYJajMxluu
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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIh6kosmsJY
Thank you for your time and understanding. I can only hope you respond soon.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZf8iMa4wj
Your friend,76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtIngWBFGT
Nedi76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf34eUWIpN7
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 Nedi76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWU2MODGSJ
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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWkKQaD42n
He pocketed the letter deciding to ask Achlys her opinions later, but the time never came.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4eoJee1QD
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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcHqdPdhqE
That is until Achlys was gone for about two hours.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhTlcIFawZ
Abyss went back to his room for a while and after a nap, Abyss saw the letter slipped out from his pocket.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6p8cI1fNzQ
He pulled up the piece of parchment and searched for a blank piece of paper of his own.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfmTTWIllt
After a little while, Abyss was able to start writing.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLptqkqEbWB
Nedi,76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHg0qRqnzVq
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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4UR2O5iDV
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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbE7xOrl37
Whatever, it’s stupid. I shouldn’t be upset anymore. I destroyed PISTOL.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqmjVY5iDm
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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZOPNTjUQA
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?76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpew9nGCVqY
* * *
A new letter came 8 days later.
Abyss,76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4LINh0u5F
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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVG3ZbT0IQs
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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6EuKnAMd7
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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGSgkScdLa
Hopefully we can keep in touch.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpGSE00mCc
-Nedi76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xaBqQVnMb
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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyAqxonlgn
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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PUnG4Glcd
Still, Abyss took anything he could get.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqH4J7XrG2
* * *
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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCLHYe5jsC
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”.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1748K50BVb
Eventually, Abyss sent a message to Nedi.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiss6l44wnM
Does this work?76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6dYXLoO4Z
-Abyssal76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KC4dq0zd5
It only took 13 minutes for Nedito respond this time.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlxymkJsrE
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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKe9ilkVnD
Abyss stared at the message on the screen in bewilderment.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdy7lGki9PX
How can I be happy? Are you okay? Where are you?76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8VAWXeISt
Abyss waited a long time for Nedito respond. He waited 13 minutes, then 19 more.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19XOFVRtqa
Are you ignoring me?76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXHmuHFSAU
Abyss aggressively hit the send button on this message. An almost instant reply.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXE6SAee91
I can’t talk right now, and I couldn’t answer your questions anyway. It isn’t safe anymore. I have to go.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbz4gY8g9D
Go where?!76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3uhcCc7M3
Stay where you are, don’t message me anymore.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRG4E8B252
This was the last straw. Nediwas being unreasonable. He couldn’t just say he was in danger and demand Abyss stayed in place.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4QStwgoNQ
Abyss rushed out his bedroom door without even closing the laptop.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjRrpGLNNu
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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkDtR9OiN1
“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-”76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ShUgJ668X
“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.”76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Oh7qckHu2
The elevator dinged open, and Abyss walked in. The spirits of everyone else in the room fell.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdFHeuBR86
“Where are you going?” the large man called out in desperation. “Achlys said you were in charge.”76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWopFw9Hq4S
“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.
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zphoR8gr1
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cu7b0Dp0C
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33Uzg5IazM
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwChbhOUOx3
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hSKbjCgnr
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgdQrqQAGB
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAFIdMTspO
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsCp8OJKQ4
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxsXDdiar7
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcynjTdZDfW
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1T7fv5SHo
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63UEPw05QV
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUXyHwMB02
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY60xPOeok9
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJD1nxZcYs
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrnScBCRzN
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63nhh6lauk
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPieXpkJxQ
→ Request update
and then Add to home screen.