Chapter 2

Test#1

A Splattershot and Splat bomb…

Holding a weapon…

It feels…familiar…

Well, time to go through.

Okay…a weird forest…underground…

"Target acquired." An almost robotic voice said.

I looked up to see a…green Octoling? Is that normal?

"Octolings are your friends, right?" Cuttlefish asked over the comms. "Maybe try talking to them?"

That…cold, unfeeling expression…

"Uh…I doubt that-"

"Destroy." The weird Octoling started firing at me.

"I don't think that's gonna work!" I told the Cap'n as I got behind cover.

"Maybe try talkin' a little louder?" Cuttlefish suggested.

She kept firing at me while I used the trees for cover. I fired back, but was mostly missing.

I…can't seem to hit her…I'm getting closer, but I'm having trouble.

I soon threw a bomb at her, which she dodged, but she landed close enough that I could hit her.

*Splat*

Her ghost flew away.

The gate then opened.

Okay.

I can do this.

"Seek and Destroy." Another voice said.

"More trouble!" The Cap'n shouted. "Double trouble!"

Of course…

As if my apparently awful aiming didn't give me enough trouble, now I have to fight two of them?!

I saw the marker of where one would land and rushed over. As soon as she hit the floor, she got splatted point blank.

Yes!

The other one had a Roller.

I had more range.

I kept somewhat of a distance and eventually enough of my shots hit her enough to Splat her.

Another gate opened.

I hurried through.

From above I could see another green Octoling form. She had two weapons…interesting…

We started firing at each other until she started flying in the air with some sort of special device.

"Hey, no fair!" I shouted. "What even is that thing?!"

She ignored my words as she started firing at me with some sort of cannon. I rushed away, trying to avoid her. Eventually, she landed and started firing at me. She's good with those dual weapons. She managed to hit me more than a few times, but I eventually got the upper hand and splatted her.

The gate opened right after.

I made my way in and there were some kind of floating objects. I decided to fire at them and they formed into one object in the ground. I touched it and-

TEST PASSED!

Some kind of transportation system launched me back to the entrance and dropped…some sort of colorful item in my hand.

I arrived back on the train shortly after. I was immediately told by CQ that the item I got was called a…mem cake…apparently they'll help restore my memories, but I'm not so sure.

"Oho!" Cap looked at his walkie-talkie. "I hear something! Come in, Agent 3! Agent 3, do you copy?!"

"Mic check, one-two, who the heck are you?!" A loud voice on the other side shouted.

"EXCUSE ME?" Cuttlefish was surprised.

"Pearl!" Another voice interrupted. "Didn't anyone teach you to respect your elders?!"

"Hwa-?!" Cap was confused. "Who am I speaking to? Where is Agent 3?! State your names!"

Somehow that question ended with a…ugh…rap battle between the Cap'n and the loud person named Pearl on the other side.

"OK, you two…That's ENOUGH!" An angel stepped in. "Mr. Cuttlefish, was it?We found a radio here and heard your transmission. We're currently on Mount Nantai. Where are you calling from?"

"Mount Nantai…" Cuttlefish remembered. "Why that's just about where Agent 3 and I were! Agent 8 and I were in the area, but someone seems to have taken us deep underground…"

It was then that the other voice introduced herself as Marina. Apparently she can analyze our surroundings and help somehow. A hacker, maybe?

Well, anyway…after that conversation ended, I decided to select another station and we were off.

After a couple minutes, the Cap'n looked at me.

"So…maybe you were a civilian?" The Cap'n guessed. "I mean, it didn't look like you could fire yer weapon very well…"

"What's that supposed to mean?" I narrowed my eyes.

"I-I don't mean nothin' bad by it." He assured me. "I just was wonderin' since Octolings have to get some training when they get their full forms. Maybe yer a natural who only got 3 months?"

"I'm…not sure…" I replied. "When I had that weapon in my hand, it felt like one of the most natural things in the world for me…maybe I was just a lousy soldier…"

"Well, don't be hard on yerself, Eight." The Cap'n tried cheering me up. "Maybe you were a special case. I heard of some Tubelings getting different career paths. Maybe you were one of them."

Maybe…

We soon arrived at the station and I stepped off into the next test area.

Well, time for this special case to find her way out of here.

Elsewhere…

Another day, another bundle of CQ points…

Wait, is that…?

"Hey, Iso Padre." I waved. "You gonna ride the train again?"

"Indeed." He nodded his head. "There's a young squire going through the tests. Perhaps I'll find some good conversation as well as a few mem-cakes for my collection."

Another one?

I wonder if it's an Inkling or Octoling? Maybe a Jellyfish? Oh, but I haven't seen an Eel in a while. I'll have a look on the monitor.

I walked over to one and selected testing feed.

Oh, the Baller. That was a fun timewaster.

She completed it. A good start for her…her…why does she look…familiar?

Wait…is that…?

Octo…she's…alive?!

I…I…I need to get on that train!

...

Seriously?! Gone already?!

Ugh...

I guess I'll wait for the next one then...