Everything was dark and quiet as we traveled into Inkopolis's underground tunnels. We were the building/back up team. I agreed to set up the transporters, and knowing Acrilic, there was no way he would let me go without him. Even now, he led me by the hand. I was just worried he would get hurt or worse. He just wouldn't listen to me. I had the others to protect me, but he kept insisting, he had to be the one to do it. Chomp, Aoi, Hatoru, and Aria went on ahead to map out the area, and while we moved through the underground to set up the transporter. My team was Conch, Acrilic, Nana, Captain Cuttlefish, and Vector. We were supposed to stay here and wait in case Chomp and Aria get into trouble. Vector had the get away ship ready to go.
"Hey, the spot there isn't it?" Acrilic asked pointed to a wall, "Should I knock this wall down?"
"No! That wall's just a hidden door!" Captain put his bamboozler into a small indent on the wall and it opened.
"Humph, that's no fun..." Acrilic snickered, "I was bored, I kinda wanted to destroy something..."
"You can't do that... We'll make way too much noise" I smiled.
"I know, but this is so boring..."
"I told you, but you kept insisting on coming with me,"
"Well, I was worried about you"
"Come on now, I wasn't going to go out looking like other team. What's the worst that could go wrong?"
"Better safe than sorry, right?"
"You worry too much, but whatever..."
I walked into the room, started taking out my equipment, and working on setting up the kettle. It was not too hard to set up and now we waited for the kettle here to be synced up with the one in the lab. It wasn't long after, the other team returned. Aoi and Hatoru had should an upset look on their faces.
"Oh, you're back! What did you guys find?" Nana asked.
"I just... can't believe it..." Aoi just sat down onto the floor, "I don't recognize it at all."
"Everything was destroyed and everything is stained with ink..." Hatoru rubbed her arm, "normally our ink in games doesn't last more than three minutes, but if squids are killed their ink are left behind until we clean it... The fact that ink was everywhere... means..."
"Ah, shhh, my dears" Nana hugged them, "We will stop this madness, I promise."
"Honey," Captain joined in the hug, "We will as a family"
"I have located where Connie and everyone is being held," Aria leaned back.
"You have?! Where is she?" Chomp's eyes sparkled.
"There's just too much of a risk... if we go there now... BUT if we do go, we'll be able to rescue them. This maybe our only shot, before something happens to them."
"Look, I am not asking any of you to come. I will save them alone."
"I'm not leaving without you..."
"Aria, no. You are our future queen"
"That is only a title, it has not nearly enough meaning as you do to me. I'm coming whether you want me to or not."
"Hey, we're all here... So if we do get found let's give them one shell of a declaration of war!" Acrilic grinned.
"Yes, why not? Still, let's play it safe. Remember, the more people we save the more power we'll gain to take back our city!" Nana reminded us.
Aria showed us into the underground pipes that lead us to right under them. Soft snoring and crickets could be heard. Aria softly tapped on the ceiling. She then pushed a hidden door up. She rolled someone onto their side. We peeked out of the hole. I noticed that we were in a fully metal box with a small slot and a door with a small window.
"Corol?!" Nana made her way to the squid we rolled.
Everyone gather around him. He looked pretty unhealthy and very thin. He was just sleeping. I took a small note out of his hand.
"He's normally a light sleeper... poor thing..."
"Your friends are coming, don't give up hope. There is a door in this room. It is hidden under the floor." I read the note, interestingly it was written in Octarian.
Corol began to stir as he weakly look up at us.
"You're... here..." He smiled as tear ran down his face, "I waited for you... but I guess... I fell asleep... sorry..."
"Corol, are you okay? Where does it hurt?" Nana held his hand.
"I am... so hungry..."
"What?" Aoi looked at him.
"He's been starved." I took out some of my fish buns and handed them to him, "Here eat up, okay?"
He took no time at all to stuff his face. Nana slowed him down and held him tightly. He hugged her in returned.
"Hey, how are we going to get to the other side?"
"Well... We'll have to go through from outside. These pipes only lead to fighter's holding cells. "
"Okay, let's go." Chomp looked back at Corol, "I promise we'll come back for you soon."
"Okay, please take care of the others. Bye for now." He meekly smiled as he leaned against the wall.
With that we split up into different groups again to get as many squids out as quietly as possible. Acrilic, Chomp, Aria, and I worked on getting to Connie and the others. The door was just a simple glass door with no alarms. I guess, only because Sluggers aren't exactly tech savvy. Chomp unlocked the door and slowly opened it up. Some squids looked at us and we quietly shushed them. We quietly made our way to Connie and the others. Chomp gently held Connie in her arms. Connie's eyes fluttered open and jumped a bit. Every squid was quietly staring at us now. Their eyes shimmered with so much hope.
"Okay, listen very closely. We can't take all of you. We can only take some of you, but don't worry we'll come back as much as possible to bring more to safety." Aria whispered, "Please understand."
Everyone quietly nodded. They selected all the injured, sick, and children to go. It would be too suspicious if too many went missing. I hoped that this many people would go unnoticed. Connie and the others refused to go. No matter how Chomp begged and pleaded they would not change their minds. Aria told us to go stand watch outside.
I felt sick to my stomach about how they were being kept. I wished I could do more to help them. I noticed something happening on their arena. There were two squids there, one orange the other yellow. They were fighting. I unconsciously walked towards the arena.
Orange seemed to being winning, although she seemed reluctant to hit her foe. Yellow was fighting the best she could, but she seemed to be ill. Finally, she collapsed and dropped her weapon. Orange stood there, shaking. Yellow looked up at her and smiled. Orange dropped her weapons and hugged Yellow. Yellow looked shocked. The audience began booing and throwing things at her. A slugger started yelling at her. Orange refused to let Yellow go. Yellow started yelling as he brought out a blaster.
I rushed there without thinking. Acrilic followed right behind me. I tackled the slugger and knocked the weapon away. The audience gasped and became even more outraged.
"H-how dare you!" the slugger snarled, "Get them!"
"Well, this is a nice change," Acrilic grinned, "For the record, this is your fault."
I shot at the slugger and to my surprise, he screamed like if I shot him with acid. I shot at a couple more as I dodge a couple more of them. Orange pulled Yellow to safety and returned to help me out.
"Are you help to save us?!" she asked.
"Why did you come back?! Get you and your friend out of here!" I shouted at her.
"But-"
"Get your butt outta here, before I throw you!" Acrilic crackled as he smashed a hole into the wall.
The two got up and ran out.
"The SHELL are you two doing?!" Conch voice rang out from my earpiece.
"Sorry, I just-"
"CHANGE OF PLANS! TIME FOR ME TO WRECK!" Acrilic laughed as he splattered at the sluggers.
-Author's Notes-
(P.S. sorry about earlier idk what happened). Out of Curiosity, would you be interested in a story about Corol's mother? We already know how it's going to end, but idk I'm just already know what I am going to say so yeah. Thanks for reading!