Another note.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJc9D3RuhF
Achlys led the group to a hotel and somehow managed to get into the penthouse suite. With cash.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0gc2W2GkN
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpc3N6fsOg
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wxq67Zt0s
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuq54OrwI5
After the last confidential message he received, Abyss was afraid to open it .31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDQ3ZK8rmQ
Still, curiosity killed the cat, and Abyss slowly ripped the seal.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSMsCOsB9v
His eyes glazed over the note which read:31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZvcPHy2OC
Abyssal,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7JbTeChBN
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWvuUctAiA
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?31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAroInIQ39
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhn1sjp4ulR
Thank you for your time and understanding. I can only hope you respond soon.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYp6otWoUBK
Your friend,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpj4lkXls1I
Nedi31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUsJ8DwO3v
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 Nedi31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QYOQnhTOU
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjEUoKnhn3
He pocketed the letter deciding to ask Achlys her opinions later, but the time never came.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzA8vyiIEP
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWcl6LSaJX
That is until Achlys was gone for about two hours.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaqljZqYYo
Abyss went back to his room for a while and after a nap, Abyss saw the letter slipped out from his pocket.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NVZ9dKG3m
He pulled up the piece of parchment and searched for a blank piece of paper of his own.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtz5WFV6mQ
After a little while, Abyss was able to start writing.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEixk9KLbi
Nedi,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxZIIxTucl
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtzadYrE47
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXf2u7M3C5O
Whatever, it’s stupid. I shouldn’t be upset anymore. I destroyed PISTOL.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8ARk2ToKQ
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNtupjwp4r
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?31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfLhoFrDiY
* * *
A new letter came 8 days later.
Abyss,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdW3cQB8SFr
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ITUEU8oY1
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYNn8BYRW4
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHysVFPR7K
Hopefully we can keep in touch.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZs2UoFsdKV
-Nedi31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzDc5adYj5
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2CFx4UtYc
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1h2lHcCnJ1
Still, Abyss took anything he could get.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIVLGDc7r8
* * *
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlBq4ijXEy
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”.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdi7MQn4HdN
Eventually, Abyss sent a message to Nedi.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pb5EByA6O
Does this work?31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEKuXrr5AE
-Abyssal31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseCVut5lpw
It only took 13 minutes for Nedito respond this time.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAnbodL4MQ
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68z0aDDtCz
Abyss stared at the message on the screen in bewilderment.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqTUBrc38r
How can I be happy? Are you okay? Where are you?31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmEEpuazZb
Abyss waited a long time for Nedito respond. He waited 13 minutes, then 19 more.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPR0dgQ7OwN
Are you ignoring me?31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYM6rxoREX
Abyss aggressively hit the send button on this message. An almost instant reply.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOytqBGABM
I can’t talk right now, and I couldn’t answer your questions anyway. It isn’t safe anymore. I have to go.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZv7rANXo83
Go where?!31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKLWwOD8MM
Stay where you are, don’t message me anymore.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlvoJNUFGE
This was the last straw. Nediwas being unreasonable. He couldn’t just say he was in danger and demand Abyss stayed in place.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFZTvnFUvV
Abyss rushed out his bedroom door without even closing the laptop.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWM6OlPABZ
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.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJp1jtWtNG2
“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-”31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDorFxfPu3
“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.”31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MioiPDbPF
The elevator dinged open, and Abyss walked in. The spirits of everyone else in the room fell.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pGOkTRJWg
“Where are you going?” the large man called out in desperation. “Achlys said you were in charge.”31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPpMNjUd18
“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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