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Chapter 21

Octo Valley…Beth's POV

All this searching and no sign of Octavio…where did that geezer go?

"Mei, got anything from the radio chatter?" I asked.

"No." Mei shook her head. "Not a single peep about Octavio returning."

"Maybe there's a clue in his home…" I suggested. "We should check his…uh…personal dome?"

"You're right, he has a personal dome." She nodded her head. "We can't get in though…"

"Mei, are you forgetting you're talking to the squid who took him down two years ago?" I smirked.

"And the top-tier, best of the best Elites and security systems are put to use guarding his personal dome." She told me. "We can't sneak in and we can't fight our way in."

"Must be protecting something really important in there…" I guessed.

"Most of the royal family resides in that dome." She informed me. "They get the best of the best."

"How many are there, anyway?" I asked.

"Octavio had 8 children." She replied. "And all but one had 8 children."

"Woah, they got busy…" I was surprised. "What happened to the last one though?"

"Killed by Inklings on Mount Nantai." She sighed. "It was a sad day for all."

"I've…never heard of that…" I was intrigued. "The Cap'n never even mentioned that…"

"He probably didn't know either." She shrugged. "No one likes to talk about it."

"That bad, huh?" I guessed.

"It was his favorite." She explained. "Marked to be the heir even, but he died. To this day, Octavio still hasn't named an heir."

"Hm…" That could explain some… "Call 3.5. Maybe he found something."

She nodded her head and turned on the radio.

"This whole trip must be a trip down memory lane, huh?" I looked at her.

"Last two years are like a dream." She remarked. "I remember a bit, but it's very fuzzy."

"And before that?" I wondered.

"It was mostly me, Guyver, and later Zoey." She told me.

"You lived with Guyver's parents, right?" I remembered. "What were they like?"

"They were pretty nice to me," She replied. "But Guyver had a falling out with them after they tried setting us up together."

"Gross." It really was.

"So what about your parents?" She turned to me. "What were they like?"

"Uh…ha!" I crossed my arms. "I was an orphan! Raised on the streets by killers and thieves!"

"Really?" Her eyes widened.

"No she wasn't." Arnold tuned in over the radio. "Her parents live a country over."

"Shut up, Arnold!" I hissed. "I mean, 3.5…carp…"

"Why'd you say lie, Three?" Mei looked sad.

"They're just really embarrassing." Arnold answered.

"Anyway," I wanted to change the subject. "Find anything, 3.5?"

"No." Arnold answered. "Think he moved to a different settlement?"

"It's possible." I acknowledged. "He just wants to give us a self-guided tour of all the settlements, doesn't he?"

"Well, I'm gonna keep looking." Arnold said. "I think I'm getting close to where he was staying the last time he was here."

"Okay, 3.5. Good luck." I ended the transmission.

"…You okay, Mei?" I noticed she seemed distracted.

"S-sorry, it's just…" She seemed upset. "We're actually getting close to…dome 36…"

"…That's the one you lived in before moving with Guyver, isn't it?" I guessed. "The one that collapsed…"

She nodded her head.

"Maybe we should keep moving…" I suggested. "Best we don't bring up some bad memories."

"Yeah…" She agreed.

Later…

Well, this is where I fought his Octobot King, but still no sign of him.

"Be-er…Three?" Mei spoke.

"Yeah, Mei?" I looked over to her.

She was staring at stadium seats overlooking the long pathways I fought on.

"Do…do you think my life would've been better…if I was born a squid?" She asked.

"Why're you asking that?" I was concerned.

"It's just…everything goes badly for us Octarians…" She sighed. "Sometimes, even back then, I'd wonder what my life would be like if I was something else…"

"Mei…" I walked over and put my arms around her. "I'm not the best at emotional support, but you don't live down here anymore. You have a better life now, and frankly I think you're great just the way you are…"

"Heh…you did say I'm adorable…" She remembered.

"Well, yeah…" I blushed a bit.

I then started blushing a lot when she pressed her lips against mine. A few seconds passed before she pulled away.

"You okay?" She looked confused.

"Y-yeah…" I whimpered. "It's just…you haven't kissed me there until now…"

Her eyes widened and her face got red.

"Oh dear…" She was a bit embarrassed herself. "Well…first time for everything, right?"

"Eheh…yeah…" I guess… "W-well, if he isn't here, we might as well head back."

Mei nodded in agreement.

"3.5, we're heading home." I radioed Arnold.

"Alright," He replied. "I think I'm close to the Commander's dome. I'll head back in a bit."

"Okay, just don't get captured and brainwashed again." I told him.

"Same to you." He replied.

Right…I'm one to talk…

Octo Canyon…Arnold's POV

Decently guarded, as expected.

Huh…I expected a dome filled with hallways and rooms, but it's one of the large, open domes. And they've built some large buildings to resemble old pre-war Octarian architecture. Interesting…

Well, Octos have style…I'll give them that…

O-kaaay…apparently the nearby guards also styled themselves after pre-war Octarian guards…I'm sensing a theme here…

If this is a pre-war look, I wonder if Octavio stayed here last time…I'll take a closer look…

Alright…past the guard towers…towards the wall…huh…the wall here feels warm…and is that steam? What's over there?

I climbed up the wall for a look.

Hm…hot water…oh, some Octolings girls. They're-OH COD!

I lost my balance and fell back to where I was.

Huh…an open bathing area…I was not expecting that…Oh wow, my face is red…

Wait…

I turned my head to find an Octotrooper staring right at me.

Oh shark…

"I found the Intruder!" She called out. "The intruder is here!"

I bolted as fast as I could.

Wait…she found the intruder? They knew that I was here?!

Carp…there must've been hidden cameras!

I quickly found a spot to hide as the guards passed.

I can't believe I got found out that easily!

…

Okay…they're gone…

I need to find the nearest kettle out of here…

Schematics…schematics…yes! Just a few more turns!

And there it is. Surprised no one's watching it though…oh well…

"There you are…" A voice behind me said. "Batter up!"

I turned around just in time to see the bat hit my face, then black.

…

Another POV

"Yes!" I squealed. "I found you!"

"Cass, I know you wanted to hit on him," My partner noted. "But I'm preeeetty sure that's not what that means…"

"Shut up, Eye!" I hissed. "All that matters is that he's here! Thanks for your help though, you may leave now."

"Okie-dokie…" He took his leave.

I stomped on his headphones, breaking them, and grabbed him by the legs.

"Geez, you're heavier than you look!" I remarked. "Oh well…you're coming with me, dearie…"

Sorry everyone for the wait, by the way. I had to finish one story to lighten the load a bit. But now, with one finished, I only have two to work on right now, and continuing the story at that. Well, hopefully it'll be worth the wait and I hope you enjoy!