Chapter 3

Zander's Beats…Sarah's POV

Right past the Hook store and right before Donnie's Mega-low prices…ah, the place where I got my first music player…which left me broke…right before Grizzco saved me. I went right inside.

As usual, there were splenty of other squids inside. Some fish, Jellies, oh cool, Octolings now, and…wait, isn't that guy from Wet Floor? Maybe just a look alike…anyway…where's…aha!

"Clair!" I walked over to the counter towards the person who I didn't know was an Octoling until after becoming an Agent.

"Oh…hey." She seemed half asleep. "What's kraken?"

"Nothing…it's just that I've been having things on my mind…" I told her.

"And you decided to come to me because…?" She seemed confused.

"You helped me find the perfect music player and the best deals here." I said. "I need your wisdom once more."

"I'm not some sort of life advice guru." She remarked. "I just sell stuff."

"Please…?" I gave her puppydog eyes.

"Alright." She gave up. "What'cha want?

"I just got a new roommate and I did something really nice for him." I explained. "I can't go into specifics, but it was something pretty unusual for someone you just met."

"Is he good looking?" She bluntly asked.

"Yes…" I answered surprisingly fast. "I-I mean, yeah…but I don't know why think and did that."

"Maybe you have a crush." She suggested.

"A-a crush?" I was shocked by the suggestion. "You really think so?"

"Well, a while ago my sisters and I all crushed on the same guy, but it never went anywhere." She explained. "It was mostly on his looks and reputation."

"Was it back in your Octarian army days?" I asked.

"Y-you know I'm an Octoling?!" She was shocked I said that. "Since when?"

"Well, it wasn't until recently that I found out," I told her. "But I don't think of you any different, honest! I mean, the guy I'm talking about is an Octoling too."

"An Octocrush, eh?" She smirked.

"I don't have a crush!" I assured her.

"You admit that he's good-looking, that you did something for him that you wouldn't normally do for someone you just met, and you're blushing." She stated while counting her fingers. "I'd say you have a crush."

"But I barely know the guy!" I told her.

"Crushes aren't based on how much you know someone." She informed me. "Chances are it'll go away, unless of course you don't want it to."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.

"It means it can go however you want it to go." She said.

"Ugh, you're supposed to be helpfuuul…" I whined.

"Look, get to know the guy." She said. "If your crush fades, then that's that. If not, then…"

"Then…?" I waited for an answer.

"Look, I'm not your mom, figure this out yourself." Her patience ran out. "Now are you going to buy something today?"

"Oh-uh, yeah…" I grabbed an Ink Theory CD.

After a few minutes I stepped out of the store. Beth was waiting outside.

"Hey." She half-smiled.

"Hey…" I waved.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"Clair says I have a crush." I told her

"You totally do." She put it bluntly. "I could tell."

Is it obvious?

"So why're you here?" I asked.

"Agent 2 wanted to talk to you." She said. "She liked your idea with the goggles."

"Really?" I was surprised. "Guess I'll head over there then."

"Well, I'd better got going then-wait, is that the new Ink Theory album?" She looked at me. "You're alright, squidkid. I think I'll head inside too…See ya."

She went in the store while I headed to Inkopolis Square. I was about to go through the manhole to Octo Canyon when…

"Hey, Sarah!" I turned to see Guyver there.

"Guyver!" I was startled. "What're you doing here?"

"Well, you see, this is the current place to be," He explained. "So naturally I'd be here."

"G-good point…" I admitted. "So what're you doing?"

"Well, I was going to go to the Shoal when I noticed a familiar Inkling walking this way." He said in his usual weird tone. "And lo and behold, here you are. You know Grizzco's closed today, right?"

"I-I know." I told him. "I was just checking when they'll be open next."

"You were right." He admitted. "It is a nice place to work. I'm already a Profreshional."

"Really?" I was impressed. "You do ranked too?"

"Yeah, I just got to B in Rainmaker and almost an A in Clam Blitz." He boasted. "C in the others, but I haven't played them as much.

"I'm an A in Tower control and an S in Rainmaker!" I boasted. "B in the others because I'm focused on getting that S to X"

"Nice." He clapped. "What weapon do you main?"

"Brushes for the win!" I cheered. "You?"

"I'm pretty utilitarian in my weapon choices," He said. "But I especially admire Brushes for their speed."

He likes brushes too?

"Well, I'm gonna check the times. I'll see you later." I waved goodbye, checking the Grizzco times while making sure he was gone before diving through the manhole. I arrived on the other side to see Callie and Marie.

"Geez, you guys have anything better to do?" I asked.

"Hey, I'm watching our prisoner until the Cap'n gets back." Marie defended herself.

"And I'm doing research for an upcoming film role." Callie lied.

"A documentary on laziness?" Marie mumbled.

"So I heard you wanted to talk to me?" I stopped them before they argued.

"Yes, it seems the Octarians have a spy somewhere in Inkopolis." Marie informed me. "They're also interested in the tournament coming up soon."

"Why would they be interested in a Tournament?" I wondered.

"We've been trying to ask DJ Octavio if he knew anything, but it seems he has no involvement in this." Marie explained. "My guess is they want to see who the best fighters in Inkopolis are."

"Since Cass is involved, our guess is it's an operation from Octo Gorge." Callie chimed in. "We already sent Arnold and Otis out to scout the area."

"How do you even get there?" I asked.

"It's actually pretty far out." Marie told me. "About an hour's flight from Octo Valley actually. However, our manhole in Inkopolis Park gets you there in a few minutes."

"Are you there often?" I wondered. "I know about Octo Canyon and Valley, but Octo Gorge was barely mentioned."

"That's because Gramps wanted to keep his base of operations close to wherever Octavio was." Marie explained further. "We have a Cabin there, but it rarely gets used."

Callie's phone buzzed. She just got a text.

"Had." She said. "We HAD a Cabin in Octo Gorge."

"What?" Marie was shocked to hear that. "What happened?"

"Apparently they smashed it." Callie told her. "There are also Octarians patrolling the surface and guarding the Kettles, so they can't get close."

"…Seriously?" Marie was dumbfounded. "I thought it was Octarian policy to stay below or something."

"Boy in charge must've changed the rules." Octavio chimed into our conversation.

"You know something we don't?" I asked him.

"A lot, actually." He taunted.

"Like what?" I wanted an answer.

He glared at me. I'm pretty sure he was smirking.

"I know ya don't wanna go messin' around in that place." He told me. "You gonna die if ya do."

I glared back. Before I could say anything, someone came through the entrance. I turned to see a grey-eyed Octoling. My jaw dropped.

"…Guyver?!"