Another note.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMylM8GezL6
Achlys led the group to a hotel and somehow managed to get into the penthouse suite. With cash.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDQPLg1SER
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.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDT8ufErpL
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.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHD6ZBM4hm
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.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzTEdgeflY
After the last confidential message he received, Abyss was afraid to open it .18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuhNDRwaqe
Still, curiosity killed the cat, and Abyss slowly ripped the seal.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWJFStsUHW
His eyes glazed over the note which read:18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NRJz4kdtb
Abyssal,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerCeA0hmWd
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.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLdrG8pq7O
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?18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jRKUlNVMr
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.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdQU0V1bxz
Thank you for your time and understanding. I can only hope you respond soon.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDWC2W089T
Your friend,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhh9GGXYH9D
Nedi18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDP0wXWbbP
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 Nedi18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6MQ1HkV3a
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.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTO9jdyT2o
He pocketed the letter deciding to ask Achlys her opinions later, but the time never came.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHijUj2fnAv
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.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOId7wDckK
That is until Achlys was gone for about two hours.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRI3SdkFPk3
Abyss went back to his room for a while and after a nap, Abyss saw the letter slipped out from his pocket.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcc1JWCAXJL
He pulled up the piece of parchment and searched for a blank piece of paper of his own.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55qX93KejL
After a little while, Abyss was able to start writing.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMc5eIIRDv
Nedi,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dSxuUSD68
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.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7YDkg2Vqy
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.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0rrY4I648
Whatever, it’s stupid. I shouldn’t be upset anymore. I destroyed PISTOL.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbQ2nSkxrp
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.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqS9R2bBrb0
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?18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRqxb2f2he
* * *
A new letter came 8 days later.
Abyss,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cOT4ZuRAE
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.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9mnfkLkh7
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.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tT8icQx81
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.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zbuaHhE7c
Hopefully we can keep in touch.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpl1DBK32D
-Nedi18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvR0Jz0eUpH
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.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ69X15Fc3Q
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.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgB2R5ND3C
Still, Abyss took anything he could get.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2e1nk6zdl
* * *
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.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkw0bTZB8AK
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”.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoZ59Z0O92
Eventually, Abyss sent a message to Nedi.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn57SdlXvJM
Does this work?18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93aq6lGYeP
-Abyssal18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDBL6wnG7i
It only took 13 minutes for Nedito respond this time.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRh3pYc76xV
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.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokEbeXdAtB
Abyss stared at the message on the screen in bewilderment.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlbPDoWjvM
How can I be happy? Are you okay? Where are you?18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKbzwl06JG
Abyss waited a long time for Nedito respond. He waited 13 minutes, then 19 more.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuRLX8StQN
Are you ignoring me?18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoetPrPMIE
Abyss aggressively hit the send button on this message. An almost instant reply.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecwghJVrFG
I can’t talk right now, and I couldn’t answer your questions anyway. It isn’t safe anymore. I have to go.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQDK6Ra2P9
Go where?!18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcqFH4h1Mm
Stay where you are, don’t message me anymore.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOiipF44pN
This was the last straw. Nediwas being unreasonable. He couldn’t just say he was in danger and demand Abyss stayed in place.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhHSux1i9e
Abyss rushed out his bedroom door without even closing the laptop.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LBHaHH9X6
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.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Rf7cfhjNM
“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-”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BKUsFfXeN
“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.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5W0lzbDNV
The elevator dinged open, and Abyss walked in. The spirits of everyone else in the room fell.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcxzH0Klem
“Where are you going?” the large man called out in desperation. “Achlys said you were in charge.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZLh61UQ09
“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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