Kareshi ran into Cuttlefish's shack and over to the Squid Sisters. Barely able to see two feet in front of him. "They're good. All of the zapfish are still in Inkopolis… Well… Other than ours."
Marie pulled the curtains open, allowing light to come into the near pitch black room. "Great. So that means that Octavio is only trying to steal our zapfish."
"But why?" Callie asked. "I mean, surely one zapfish can't power all of Octo Valley." She reasoned. "And besides, what's so bad about letting them have one zapfish?"
"A LOT is wrong with allowing them to have one zapfish, Callie." Marie said.
"One zapfish can power one of their Great Octo Weapons." Kareshi explained.
"But you defeated them." Callie replied.
"They still have the blueprints. Yes, I destroyed one of each, but who's to say they can't make more?" Kareshi asked.
"Or if there's more that they did have time to build." Marie added.
"And who's to say you can't beat them again?" Callie asked.
Kareshi walked over to the carrier, picked up Shino, and held him out towards Callie. "My son." He said. "What would happen to him if I had to get splatted? What would Iho have to tell him?"
Callie's mouth hung open. "Kareshi… I-I didn't… I… I forgot all-"
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Three knocks on the front door caused everyone to tense up. Kareshi passed Shino to Marie, grabbed his Hero Shot and ink tank, and walked to the door. Hero Shot aimed at the door, ready to fire.
"Kareshi?" A female voice said from the other side. "A-are you there?"
Kareshi froze. "I-Iho?"
The female gasped. "Kareshi! It's me!" She said.
Kareshi threw his weapon and ink tank on the ground before excitedly opening the door. "Ih-"
BANG!
Kareshi fell back. Octo ink burning his shoulder. He looked at the woman to see that she was wearing a chestplate. One with an octopus symbol on it. "S-SHIRABERU!?" He cried as he put his hand on his shoulder.
Shiraberu stepped in. "Wow. You inklings are dumber than what I thought you were."
"W-where's Iho!? And why are you here!?" Kareshi stuttered.
She took a seat next to him. "Octavio wanted to ask her a few questions. When I went to her house, she was talking a bit too loud with her friend."
Kareshi gulped. "W-what did they say?"
Shiraberu leaned in so she was just a few inches from his face. "Where's the kid, Kareshi?"
Kareshi shook his head. "Kid? W-what kid? We don't have a kid."
"Cut the splat, Kareshi! I know you had one with her!" Shiraberu said harshly.
"We don't!"
Shiraberu aimed her Octo Shot at him. "Oh really?"
Kareshi gulped. "F-fine… We have a child together."
Shiraberu lowered her gun. "Now where is it."
"You'll never know where HE is."
"I have my ways, Agent Three. Either you hand over the child…" She pressed her Octo Shot against his head. "Or else Iho won't be seeing you for a long-"
TING!
"KARESHI! ROLL!" Marie yelled.
Kareshi rolled away from Shiraberu as she tried to shoot at him. "SON OF A-"
Marie pulled the trigger.
BANG!... SPLAT!
An Octo Shot, ink tank, and some clothes sat in a puddle of green ink.
Marie threw her Hero Charger down and ran down the stairs and over to kareshi. "Oh my cod! Are you okay!?"
Kareshi shook his head. "Ugh. This hurts like hell."
"Don't worry, this should be easy to treat." Marie explained.
"That's always good news. Is Shino okay?"
Callie walked down with Shino swinging in her tentacle. "Ow! Yes. But he- Ow! Sure loves my tentacles. Ow!"
Shino started giggling and laughing.
Kareshi smiled at him.
Callie then looked at his shoulder and gasped. "Oh no! Are you okay!?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Thanks for asking." Kareshi replied.
"Well, you're not fine, fine, but you're not splatted." Marie cut in. "Callie, can you get me the first aid kit?"
Callie nodded, walked into the kitchen and came out holding the first aid kit. "Here." She passed it to her cousin.
Marie nodded. "Thank you." She then started to tend to Kareshi.
"What will they do with my wife?" Kareshi asked.
"They won't do anything." Callie said. "I promise."
"W-what if they do, do something?"
"Then we show them why they don't mess with inklings." Marie explained.
Kareshi nodded. "Thank you both… This means so much."
"Don't mention it, Kareshi." Callie said. "We're only repaying you for saving our gramps. Twice."