"I swear, sir Cuttlefish, I'm telling the truth!" Donver called desperately. Her wasn't really expecting a friendly welcome, but of course, messy business like this never did go to plan.
"Bucko, I should've seen you for what you were ages ago," he growled. "I should set agent 3 on you. No, even better - I should do this myself! Agent 3 had enough trouble with Octavio!" he pulled his walking stick on Donver, and not for the first time that day, Donver felt like he deserved better.
Sure, his story wasn't a nice one. Built by humans to wipe out Octarians and Inklings alike, he was sent out in this strange future to cause a war; but when both sides managed to live - twice - being touched by agent 3 brought his emotions chip online, and now he had the power to refuse the system telling him to start wars.
Agent 4, a sweet young girl with delicate cyan tentacles, cowered inside the small shack Cuttlefish called home. Her baby-blue eyes stared fearfully into Donver, and he felt ever so nervous as he tried to convince the rickety old war hero that he was there to help. He longed to reach out to her, though he did not know why.
It was at times like this he wished Iko didn't exist.
That human - that guy - he had done Donver's job for him this time. Setting Octolings loose from jail. Letting them corrupt his leader once again, into stealing the Zapfish and hurtling the planet into chaos once again. It was all his fault this time, and now, just because he had no control a century ago, he was being blamed for nearly starting the disaster that would start the human downfall all over again.
Donver couldn't bring himself to just straight-up murder him. No, that was too violent and too hard for his code to handle. After all, he was agent 3. He did release the emotions chip which let him stop trying to kill the world. But regardless, the little guy had to go, and he needed Cuttlefish to help him stop the next war. Already he could feel the hum of Octoling activity below him. Only two weeks ago Reine had dispatched one who was trying to hack the system.
Donver didn't get Reine. She was a smarter Inkling than most, and seemed to know more than she should - no, she's probably just another Octoling. But a smart one. Who is willing to kill comrades to complete her purpose; utter destruction. Yes, that had to be it.
"Sir," he proclaimed. This was it. he wasn't going to live anyway, so he may as well prove himself in death. "I know you don't believe me. I've had my fair share of sins to feed that fire," he moaned, "but I want to help protect the inklings and the Octarians. It's those damn Octolings, programmed graffiti on the Octarian name, which caused this horrible mess in the first place."
"You are an Octoling," Cuttlefish stated, raising his Bamboozler.
"Octolings are machines. I was able to hack my own system and revolt." He confessed, and at this, Cuttlefish scoffed.
"Then water will kill you. It don't kill inklings or octarians, but if what you say is true..." He pulled a small object, like a super soaker, from his pocket, and with a pull of the trigger, Donver accepted his fate.
A loud boom sounded as the inner electronics of the machine crackled. The left leg fell off lifelessly, and with a few crackles, all that was left of the Octoling was a pile of wires and metal and processed ink. Cuttlefish looked on in shock.
So they boy was telling the truth.
Agent 4, Agent 3's niece, approached cautiously, looking concerned for the machine. It was times like this that Cuttlefish regretted his life choices - but it was all in a day's work protecting the Inklings of Inkopolis. She blinked away tears as she held the last powered wires in him in her small hands.
"You've realized he was telling the truth, then?" A clear voice rang, and Cuttlefish raised his head to see a tall girl, seemingly of a race long forgotten, standing before him.
"I am Reine," she stated, approaching calmly. "I am a human modified by the survivors to do their bidding, even in their death. As Donver was, I refused the directions of the system, although it was mostly thanks to chance that I could in the first place." Cuttlefish stared up at the towering figure. Sure, she was not much larger than a regular Inkling, but Cuttlefish's age did not let him be any taller.
"Miss, will you help us fight in the stead of this traitor to the Octoling cause?" Cuttlefish asked, looking up at the human who stood before him.
"I would have even if you hadn't asked," she replied, pointing to a Dual Squelcher attached to her belt, "but as my most effective plan includes your co-operation, that is convenient." She turned to the kettles that lay strewn about Octo Valley.
"I must first stop the source of the wars from starting another. Then, once I recover him, we will prepare for a final war against the Octolings. Once we eradicate them, perhaps the Octarians and the Inklings can finally sort out a peace between themselves..." Cuttlefish looked hopefully at the holographic sky hopefully for the first time. This girl, though only having spoken for a few minutes, had already gained his trust, and now her voice and talk of peace filled his stomach with hope. His old friendships might return, and he would have something more than war to think about in his old age. Something worthwhile.
He thought of agent 3, agents 1 and 2, his grandsquids, and sweet young agent 4. Now they had hope to be kids for once, to really enjoy life.
He attacked the project with a new gusto. He was ready, now, to begin the true final battle.
