Chapter Nine: So it Begins
The last time Agent Four and Marie will see the sun will be today. From what they have heard from Agent Eight, no sunlight can be found. Their backpacks packed with everything they will need. Pearl insisted on using the CQ Points Agent Eight has not spent. Reluctantly, they agreed to carry Agent Eight's submarine-like CQ-80 and the card. Agent Three has been taking care of Agent Eight while she is becoming used to inkling life and its cultures. Marina has been giving updates for the past few days, consisting of maps and guesses as to where Commander Tartar could be. Agent Three relayed that Agent Eight recommends not taking the sun for granted, which Agent Four and Marie drew sincerely.
Agent Four is quite disappointed. He only became used to living with Marie and her odd habits, only for it to be taken away. Both Marie and Agent Four were told by Pearl that they need to sleep in the Metro if the situation comes to the worse. Marie and Agent Four cringes at the possibility of sleeping in the metro, every time the thought comes to mind. Agent Four has created a plan, using the given map, to explore as much of the metro as an entire day could give.
Agent Four drives both him and Marie to the alley behind Pearl and Marina's studio. They know an entire day of walking in a metro would not be kind to their bodies. Agent Four exited the vehicle before giving the keys to Pearl for safekeeping.
"No joy rides Pearl," Marie reminds.
Pearl laughed, "How would you tell?"
Admittedly, Pearl's comment scared Marie a tad. She knows Pearl and Marina can just take the vehicle, and if they clean up, she would not notice. However, Pearl driving her vehicle around is not what is worrying her. What is worrying her, is becoming lost in the metro. She nor Agent Four had never used the metro. Every single inkling in Inkopolis knows how sketch the metro can be, even when looking from the outside. Both can only rely on the map they were given, Agent Eight's testimonies, and instinct. Marie and Agent Four placed all of their gear in the back of the studio before they made their way up the stairs to the roof of the studio. During the day before, Agent Four asked Pearl and Marina if he and Marie could have access to the roof before they head to the metro. They accepted the request, and were given access to the stairs. As Marie emerged from the trapdoor, to see the sun blinding her crossed pupils.
"Weird isn't it," Agent Four comments.
Marie turns her head to face Agent Four, "What's weird?"
"Well," Agent Four continues, "we haven't worked together much, at least on the field. The only time we have was the whole 'Callie being squidnapped and everything.' Even then, you really only distracted DJ Octavio while I inked him."
Marie bit her lip, "Yeah you're right."
Agent Four waits till Marie creates a larger response, which took a moment.
"I'm glad it's happening," Marie adds as she smiles at Agent Four.
Agent Four smiles back before scratching his neck. His fingers met with his vest, which reminded him of a question.
"Did you call it a 'Hero Suit' just to make me feel better about wearing this thing," Agent Four asked as he pointed to his yellow vest.
Marie grew red in embarrassment, "Well, um...maybe."
Agent added, "and, it kind of smelled weird."
"I'm sorry Four, I had to make sure you're in. I really needed you to help me get Callie back," Marie apologized, "it was the only suit I could give you. I was really worried you would back out. Besides, I couldn't use my celebrity status to convince you."
Agent four took her hands, "Don't worry Marie, besides, I am glad you convinced me."
Marie smiled, "If you say so Four."
Agent Four used his right hand to guide her neck forward as he moves his forehead to meet with hers, "I do."
They kept still like a statue while their faces were flared by the sun. For hours, they spent time in each other's company before the sun finally disappeared in the cityscape of Inkopolis. The buildings finally blanket the shy star. Evening hit, and Marie and Agent Four made their way downstairs. Pearl and Marina have already left the studio. Sweetly, donuts were seen in a basket, on a small table with a note that said "for you two." Marie and Agent Four inhaled the donuts, before making their way to the metro.
"To the deep blue," Agent Four whispered before stepping into the downward ramp.
"Mhm," Marie whispered back.
Waiting for the nearest train, Agent Four and Marie became disinterested with their surroundings. A particular octoling saw its intended pair of targets. As the train arrived, Agent Four and Marie prepared for the train to stop by tightening their gear. The doors open, and a large rumble was heard. An elite octoling with an octoshot kicked Marie and Agent Four into the train. Agent Four quickly splated the octoling that was on top of him, while Marie scanned the area. The train is filled with octolings! Agent Four and Marie assumed defensive positions, being back to back. Marie charged her charger, as Agent Four threw a splat bomb, bouncing it up from the ceiling. The bomb ended up in front of Marie, causing the five octolings to retreat. This gave Marie enough time to completely charge her charger and to aim. Marie released the ink and splated three nearest octolings. Agent Four saw six octolings attempting to ink him, however the ink were not reaching him. Marie realized the situation and began walking forward, with Agent Four walking backwards. Agent Four checked his ink, and signaled Marie of his limited ammo. Marie charged her charger before switching places with Agent Four. Three octolings became ink. Agent Four swam forward to chase down the two remaining octolings. He popped out of his ink before rolling forward and closing the range. Agent Four was grazed and slowed by the flying ink before he dissolved them. Marie was hit with more than a splash of ink before her charger was able to release its full power. One octoling remained, and was finished off by Agent Four swiftly swimming underneath Marie and showering the octoling with his dualies.
With both able to rest, they check on each other's health. Marie was cleaned up by Agent Four's careful drying, while Agent Four just swam in his own ink to recover. It dawned on them that their radios, their main form of communication to the outside, were inked. The radios were rendered unusable. Both saw the dire situation they were placed in, as the train seemingly sped up. The pair quickly made their way to the front car, where controls are to be expected. They finally reached the end car, and kicked through the door. An octoling was there but was splated by Agent Four's unprecedented reaction time. The octoling must've heard them and shot the control panel. With only one option of escape, a door leading to the tunnels was pried open by Marie's charger. Both inked the ground and entered their squid form. A stop appeared and both launched themselves onto the stop. The launch with the added speed of the train caused both to hit a wall and almost lose all of their ink.
"Owwww," Marie screeched while trying to stand.
Agent Four caught Marie falling, while not screaming himself, "It's okay, it's okay, I have you Marie, shhh shh shh sh."
Marie clung onto Agent Four and screamed in pain in his vest. Agent Four sat and leaned onto a wall, while Marie dug her face into him. Agent Four wrapped his arms around her head and back.
"Don't worry, don't worry, I'm here, I'm here," Agent Four whispered with a hint of sharp pain.
Marie cried in pain as Agent Four bites his lip to hide his pain. The floor beneath them was covered in their own ink, but that caused little to no relief. Agent Four, still feeling Marie's scream into his vest, tried humming to distract her from her struggles. Marie listened, but the massive loss of ink and the force of slamming into a wall still flowed throughout her body.
"Please, keep holding me," Marie begged in agony.
"Don't worry, I'm here, I'm here," Agent Four whispered in misery, "I'm not leaving, I'm here."
For hours straight Marie cried and screeched into Agent Four, as Agent Four tears through his tongue and lips to cover his own torment. The ink beneath them slowly helped them recover, but did not give enough strength to give them the ability to enter their squid form. For now, the pair can only recover by waiting. The two adhered to each other, not one tentacle apart from the other's tentacle. Agent Four and Marie melted into each other. The pain was enough for Marie to start ripping into Agent Four's clothing. Agent Four did not care, all he wanted was to take her pain away, but even he could not sooth her. For now, they wait.
