Chapter Text
The warmth from being surrounded by the steady hum of machines was the closest thing Crypto had to feeling at home. The dim light shining from monitors would occasionally flicker, and Crypto sighed. Yet another night searching for what really happened, for where his sister was hiding. It would not be easy to find her. After all, they had worked together in their hacking endeavors and her skills had likely increased exponentially in their time apart. He could hear the shuffle of the other legend’s feet making their way to their dorm rooms, friendly conversation and low laughter seeping through the door in muted tones. Years ago, missing the comradery would have hurt a bit, but over the years he had realized just how important it was to keep any kind of connection to a minimum, and to eliminate it altogether if possible.
The sound slowly diminished, and one by one the other Legend’s doors closed, their voices no longer audible. A couple remained, and Crypto’s curiosity was piqued as their tones were no longer friendly. Gently pressing an ear to his door, he determined who the voices belonged to. Wattson and Caustic were arguing again, though he could tell that Wattson had grown tired of the debate.
“Doctor, I have heard everything that you have to say. There is no amount of puppy-dog eyes that you can make that will change how I feel.” Wattson sighed.
“I hope that time sways your choice, Natalie.” Caustic responded, aloof as he walked down to his own room, his voice fading. “I know that logic will prevail over your… ideas about that boy.”
Crypto rolled his eyes. While he knew the truth of the hack situation and felt that in time Wattson would allow him to explain, there were no words for the distaste and anger that he harbored for the toxic scientist turned traitor. His flawed concept of science and research made the hacker’s blood boil. It was one thing to use his creations against opponents in the games, but it was another entirely to bring that kind of experimentation back “home.”
A soft knock on his door drew him out of his thoughts and was enough to startle him back a few small steps.
“I know you heard zat.” Wattson murmured on the other side of the door. “I am sorry that he treats you so, I don’t know why he continues to be so hostile. I- I’m just so tired of the lies and the sneaking around. I just want the truth. I want y- I want to be friends again. I am tired of not knowing.” There was a pause, and he could hear her hand slide down his door from where it had been placed. “Goodnight, Crypto. I hope that tomorrow brings us opportunity for the truth to be revealed.”
Her door across the hallway opened and shut, the sealing noise brining the brief interaction to its conclusion. Wattson finally wanted to know the truth. She wanted- or at least said that she wanted- to be friends again. Why did his heart begin to beat faster at the idea? He had been chasing the truth what seemed like his whole life, what was this step to excite him?
He shrugged as he returned to his monitors, tinkering with HACK as scans ran and simulations completed. No one would ever be able to access HACK again, but even once had been far too many times. Truth was coming. Not even the Games could stand in his way.