18 months after the bomb
Agents One and Two were running across the rooftops of the Arowana district. The two were decked out in full hero gear with their signature Mk 1 hero roller and hero charger firmly in their grasps. Down below an inkling in a dark coat and hat sprinted through the deserted streets. The two agents had been following up on an armed robbery of a nearby electronics store and had found this strange inkling at the scene. He had run off before they had gotten a good look and the two were now in hot pursuit. The inkling ducked into a dark alleyway and the original agents dropped down from the rooftops, blocking the only exit. Both agents removed the safety lock on their weapons and they became fully lethal. Glowing an ominous red instead of the usual blue.
The two nodded at each other before slowly advancing into the dimly lit passage. The faint glow of their weapons and headsets illuminating a silhouette in front of them. Abruptly the twilight was pierced by a single ray of light, blinding them temporarily. An engine roared to life.
"Two!" yelled Agent One, tackling her cousin to the ground as the inkling screamed past them on a small motorcycle. Two quickly turned and fired her charger at the bike with pinpoint accuracy, blowing it's tire and causing it to spin out. It hit a wall and it's rider was flung from the vehicle.
The inkling groggily got to his feat and drew his splattershot, firing wildly as One charged. With grace and finesse, Agent One glided towards the criminal, avoiding every shot before landing a quick bicycle kick to the assailant's jaw, knocking him on his back before pinning him to the ground with her roller. The inkling snarled and squirmed in a bestial fashion; eyes crazed. One was shocked looking down at the inkling beneath her roller. The Inkling seized this moment of hesitation and squirmed free, losing a massive chunk of flesh and ink as he scraped himself out from between the pavement and the weapon. He got only a few steps before his head was blown off by Agent Two's charger.
They both slowly approached the ink puddle of the crazed squid and their eyes widened at what they saw. It was a of a much thicker consistency than normal ink and pulsated a sickly green. It radiated heat.
"Its time. You know that we can't put it off any longer. This time we need the full team. Just call them Callie."
"Codammit Marie! Don't you understand! I've already tried. They don't answer. They won't answer."
"Then we're going to go get them. It's too important this time. They've had a long enough break."
"How would we even know where to find them. We never really knew their addresses in the first place."
"You're right. But… I did happen to have Sheldon put trackers in Four's headset. Ya know, in case she decided to bail on me when I first recruited her."
"Marie! Sometimes I can't believe you..." smiled Callie
"One last mission." said Marie standing up from the puddle.
Two figures approached a secluded café tucked away in a side street off Angler road. It was a quaint little establishment. Painted a dull red which at its peak would have been a brilliant crimson. The evening light glinted off the old glass that covered most of the front facade, which had become fogged up from years of grime and dust. A few neglected planter boxes hung from the rusting metal awning which at one point was clothed by a striped tarp. Above read an old neon sign spelling out the name of the eatery. Café Morelle.
Ding dong chimed the little bell that hung above the door, alerting the staff that a customer had entered the café. At the moment, only one employee was working. She had green eyes and her yellow hair was cropped short. A muted yellow jacket, which at one point would have been a blinding neon yellow-green, was unzipped over a plain black tee. On her head she wore an open top cap with the café's name on the brim.
"Sorry, we're closed." she said, turning around from wiping down a table. She dropped the spray bottle and cloth when she saw who had come through the door.
"Hey Four"
"Callie? Marie? What are you guys doing here?! How did you guys find me?!"
Before the flabbergasted inkling could get any further Marie cut her off. "Look Four, please, calm down. We need your help. And I know that we are still probably the last squids you want to see after the last mission, but there was nothing to be done. Yes, you threw the bomb. But if you hadn't many more would have been killed."
Four looked a bit apprehensive, but she finally gave in.
"No, its okay guys. Its just, I'm surprised to see you here is all. I was under the impression that it may be the best thing if I just stayed away from all… you know. I wasn't trying to avoid you two personally. I just didn't want to get involved in any more agent work." she said with a sad smile. "Come on, we can talk upstairs in my room, follow me."
The three inklings made there way to the back of the café towards a set of stairs. They ascended without a word and came into Four's apartment. It was a bit cluttered and had a low ceiling. A small bed lay off to the far side with the hero headset containing the tracker lying on the windowsill next to it.
"I know it isn't much, but the manager was kind enough to let me live here in exchange for work, so its all I can really expect. Please, take a seat." said Four as she gestured to an old couch. She herself pulled a chair away from the small desk facing opposite the couch and plopped herself down as the two icons took their seats.
"Listen Four, we know that you three blame yourselves for what happened, and we all carry some blame. But you have to know it wasn't your fault. Any of your guys' fault." began Callie. "You have to snap out this melancholy. Its not healthy."
"When I first met you, you could barely contain your eagerness, bouncing up and down, making jokes, playing pranks." added Marie. "What happened girl?"
"Thanks guys." chuckled Four quietly. "Thanks for caring. No, you guys are right. I don't pretend like there was anything different I could have done. I can only imagine what you guys went through with how selfish we've all been abandoning the Splatoon."
"Actually Four, that's why we're here. Something has resurfaced."
"Okay. I'll do it. For the Splatoon." stated Four, some of her old personality seeping back. "I can't just wallow around forever, its time I get back in action. I've never been… down below. But I've heard stories. I will help you in whatever way I can."
"Great! That's one member back on board. We're beginning to have a team. Say Four, do you happen to know where Eight and Three are?" questioned Callie. "I don't think Marie has trackers for those two."
"Huh?"
"Nothing!" quickly exclaimed Marie, clamping her hand over Callie's mouth. "Do you know where Three and Eight are?"
Callie squirmed under Marie's grip while she smiled nervously. Four squinted suspiciously before shaking her head and responding.
"I don't know where Three is. He's gone off my radar entirely. But I've kept in contact with Eight. He and I even hang out. He was formerly a soldier and knows how to deal with death so I kinda doubt the actual bombing was what made him desert. I think he's actually just scared of facing you."
"Scared of us?" asked Callie, as the group made their way down stairs towards the squid sisters' car parked outside.
"Lets just say he's told me what his army days were like. And he has a reason to fear his commanding officers when he fails." Said Four darkly as they climbed into the vehicle.
"Here, put these on" said Four handing Callie and Marie each a hat and mask to disguise their appearances as they began driving. "You remember how quiet and cautious Eight used to be when we first met him. Well he's changed a bit."
"Changed how?" asked Callie as she donned the mask and hat.
"Well he's still that same stoic octoling from before but... Lets just say, his hobbies are rather extravagant, and not entirely legal." ended four ominously.
The three inklings had driven for about twenty minutes towards the mountains and had stopped halfway up at a small car park. Streetlamps cast a pale orange glow along the street and shadows beyond the luminescent bulbs seemed to lurk from the foliage that adjourned the pass. They trudged up for a few minutes until they came to a corner with a few other inklings and octolings leaning on the guardrail. They looked kinda sketchy. Couple that with the fact that they were out at night and it was enough to put the squid sisters on edge. Four meanwhile, approached them confidently and greeted them like old friends.
"Aye! Marcus my man. Is it on? How far are they?"
"Yo my girl, how you been?" replied who appeared to be Marcus. "They just started."
Callie and Marie exchanged confused glances, as Four walked back towards them.
"Now what?" Asked Callie, "Where is Eight?"
"Just wait," replied Four as she leaned against the guardrail.
The two cousins settled in beside Four puzzled as to what was happening. Not long after could a faint sound be heard in the wind. A whine that carried down the mountain to the ears of the inkling trio. The sound was becoming louder and more defined. Soon it became apparent to the squid sisters what was going on as headlights could been seen up on a higher portion of the mountain.
"He isn't… is he?" asked a confused Callie.
The squeal of tires echoed down the mountains as the vehicles drew nearer. It wasn't long before two cars could be seen up the road from where they stood. Driving at intense speeds the two vehicles in a scream of rubber on asphalt barreled down the road. One was a yellow Aqazda Rx-7, and the other was a black Sea80. The corner the three agents were at was a double hairpin. The one car seemed to sensibly slow down, where the other kept up speed.
"He must be mad!" screamed Callie "He's going to hit the guardrail!"
Four was impassive while the car showed no sign of slowing down.
"I knew it! He's going too fast! There's no more room to slow down!"
The Octoling behind the wheel was of slim build, with dark red eyes and had a single red tentacle drooped down over his head. A mask concealed his face and he had a hat lying on the passenger seat which he had cast aside for the time being he used to conceal his tentacles. His knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel, shifting gears furiously. His engine revved past 3000 RPMs and the octoling could fell his whole car lurch as the turbo lag occurred. He was now right behind his opponent who had started ahead of him and had held his position. Fortunately, he was racing on his home pass and he knew exactly where he would overtake his opponent. A double hairpin just up ahead, he could see the turn just now.
Eight's grip tightened as he approached the turn, quickly jerking the wheel entering over steer. He would have crashed if he were a less experienced driver. But the over steering caused the weight to shift and he drifted flawlessly through the turn, his rear bumper just centimeters from the guardrail.
"What the shell!" exclaimed Callie and Marie in unison. A smile ghosted Four's face as she saw the shocked expression on the pop duo's faces.
"C'mon you guys." said Four gesturing back to the car "We can meet him at the top, he'll likely drive back up to see if there is anyone else to battle against."
The two dumbfounded Squid sister climbed back into the car and headed to the top. The park at the peak was mostly deserted, a few cars and their owners were talking and paid no mind to the trio. Not long after did the two cars from earlier pull back up into the lot. The driver of the RX that had been overtaken got out of his car to go talk with the others. The guy finally broke away from the group and walked back to the other Sea80, he held out a large pouch of coins and dropped it into the driver's palm.
Four began to walk towards the Sea80, the cousins a few steps behind. Eight finally got out of the car when he saw the yellow tentacled girl approach.
"Four? What brings you here?" said Eight casually. "I was under the impression that our next rendezvous was tomorrow at 7:00 for…" Eight dropped off as he saw who was standing behind Four. His hand began twitching and he clenched his fist. Not out of anger, but out of fear. He tried as calmly as he could to open the door of his car and climb back in.
"No wait!" cried Four, throwing herself through the window. "Eight listen, they just want to talk."
After a while Four was able to drag Eight back out and she took his keys in case he tried to make a break for it. Being an octoling, and a quiet one at that, Eight one of the hardest people other than Octavio that Agents One and Two had ever attempted to read. He was usually quite professional and could keep a straight face when needed. But they both could tell he was terrified.
"So, how have you been keeping Eight?" started Callie nervously, attempting to break the ice.
"I've been well thank you." Eight responded flatly, not giving much to go off with.
"That's good. Heh. So, you like racing cars now?" ventured Callie, looking for an easy way out.
Marie foresaw that this careful dance of words was going nowhere and decided to just get on with it.
"Eight, we need to talk. The Splatoon is in-"
"Please! Forgive me, I couldn't disarm it! Please, forgive me, forgive me…" burst Eight, dropping to his knees. His hands were still trembling in fear.
"Eight, Eight, EIGHT!" shouted Marie. "It wasn't your fault. We don't blame you, none of us do. We aren't even here to talk about the bomb."
Callie stooped down and helped the octoling to his feet.
"It's okay Eight, whatever you think you did wrong, you didn't, and there won't be any repercussions. Please, just take a deep breath. Its about something else." She was then tackled by Eight in a ferocious hug.
"I'm sorry I left. I couldn't bear the thought of facing you guys. I thought you might execute me for my failure. I was assigned with the task of diffusing the bomb and i was unable to do so."
"What!?" Gasped the idol inklings in shock.
"Yes, standard military procedure." sniffled Eight.
"Well Eight, you should know by now that we don't always follow procedure, and we are no Octarian army."
Another couple minutes passed of Eight sniffling before he finally calmed down.
"Thanks guys" said Eight, the last of his tears stopping. "Sorry I tried to run."
"Ha! That's okay, we would have caught you anyway." Chuckled Four playfully knocking her hips against his. Eight swayed back and raised his eyebrow.
"Catch Me? In That?" said Eight, puzzlement evident in his voice as he pointed to the Squid sisters car. "No offence, Four, that car is of insufficient modifications and tuning to compete with my car."
Four rolled her eyes and tossed Eight's keys back to him. "Marie, can I borrow your keys for a second?" she said with the most fake innocent smile that Marie had ever seen on the sly inklings face.
"Whoa now hold on. First Eight, we need to talk. Its about…"
"C'mon Marieeee. Don't kill the mood, we can talk back at the café, it's getting late and Eight just insulted your car. We can talk about it in the morning. I have a couple extra mattresses that I can lay out for you guys." whined Four.
"I did no such thing. I was mealy pointing out the obvious flaws with you previous claim, Four." Said Eight, clearly back to his regular self.
"Ya Marie! It'll be fun!" said Callie, who was just happy that her friends were acting like their old selves again. "The mission can wait!"
"But this is illegal! Aren't you worried that the cops will catch you." protested Marie.
"I am not" began Eight. "The cops honestly do not care much about the races that go on around here. We are pretty organized and everyone knows when to steer clear of the pass. It is all very safe for bystanders so the police allow it. I know of three who even spectate."
"Fine… Here Four" said Marie in a resigned voice handing the young agent her keys, although her trademark smirk ghosted her face. She was secretly impressed at how much Eight had managed to come out of his shell. She could remember a time where the octoling agent would not even eat out as not to be seen in public. Now he was racing up the side of mountains! Maybe this time among other tech heads had done him good. Even if he was still a bit stiff.
"Yes!" cried Callie, pumping her fist. "I'll go with Eight, you go with Four."
"Okay, I'll see you at the café Four" said Eight with a polite smile, that came off as both respectful and taunting. "Come Callie"
Eight and Callie got into the black Sea80. Four and Marie followed suit, but with Marie's car. They lined up at the top of the pass. One of Eights racing friends started the countdown
"10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, go!"
A squeal of tires and the they shot of like arrows from a bow.
"Ha Ha HA! we OWNED you guys, that was awesome Eight! You have to promise me to take me for more rides. That was so much fun!" screamed an ecstatic Callie, who bounded through the door of Café Morelle with Eight following.
"Fun?!" cried a ghost white Marie, who came in next. "That was terrifying!"
"Oh lighten up Marie" said Four, it wasn't that bad. "Besides, if you weren't screaming in my ear to slow down the entire time we might have won."
"Excuses." said Eight with a small smirk.
"What did you say punk?!" said Four walking over to Eight. She swung at him, but he dodged and grabbed her wrist. She stumbled and fell into his arms. They stared into each others' eyes until Callie quickly piped up.
"You guys aren't seeing each other are you?" asked Callie with a confused look.
"What?! No?!" cried Four quickly, standing up. She started stuttering various denials while trying to avoid making eye contact him. Marie just smirked before asking Four to go and arrange sleeping bags.
"But we see each other at least five times a week..." quietly uttered a confused Eight.
Finally they were all settled in. Before drifting of asleep Callie turned to Marie on the floor and whispered to her. "This is going better than I expected. We might actually have a chance if we can get the rest of them back."
"Don't worry, we'll get them back. All of them."
. . . .
Once again, I am blind as a bat so I'v gone over the chapter once again fixing errors and plot points I missed before. I Really appreciate the effort people go to to help me improve my story. I am sure that I will make many more mistakes so please bear with me. Some plot changes include a general overhaul to Eight's personality as well as a few more fixes here and there to help with the flow. Thanks for reading
- Au revoir