Hey everyone. I am going to apologize for like the millionth time about a lack of consistent updates. The school year for me is coming to a close and it's crunch time for a lot of my classes so it's a bit hard to find time to write. Anyways, really hope you all are enjoying the story and we're probably gonna get to some serious plot points soon on we get this whole mission with Agent 3 underway. Enjoy!

Shelly (a.k.a Agent 4) P.O.V:

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"Hey Shelly!" said Callie, "Christine's our newest agent!"

I had just come into the cabin to hang out with the Squid Sisters when Callie just dropped the news on me like a sledgehammer as soon as I walked in the door.

I looked at Callie who was still smiling happily at me while being completely oblivious to my shocked expression.

"Are you serious?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yeah she is." said Marie as she appeared besides Callie, "Christine is going to be helping you save the octarians."

My cod, all I wanted was peaceful relaxing afternoon with my friends. Now because of that octoling deception, it was quickly escalating into an argument.

"That's insane!" I protested, "I refuse to work with that...with that...with that octoling!"

Marie raised an eyebrow in a silent warning for me to keep my cool, "We understand you have a hatred for Christine but you will just have to learn to trust her."

I was practically fuming but I knew that I was not going to get anywhere in convincing Marie if I were losing my temper.

"I'm sorry Marie," I said calmly as I adjusted my glasses, "I just can't support this. You'll need to find a different agent to work with her."

"Sorry," said Marie, "You really don't have a say in this to put it harsly. Agent 3 is with Cuttlefish anyway."

"What about the failed lab experiment you decided to trust?" I commented snidely, "Why don't you let the octoling associate with her own kind."

I realized immediately that I had gone to far. Marie's face turned bright red at my comment and before I knew what was happening she struck me in the face with the back of her hand.

"Don't...you...dare...say that about Eight," she growled, "You and every other inkling above that grate is alive because of her!"

I looked at Marie's expression. I had been friends with her for a long time. She had gotten angry before but she had never once hit me. I had struck a nerve with her and suddenly felt very small before this incredibly angry girl.

"Listen," I said trying to be less provocative but still not giving ground, "I won't deny that that octoling saved Inkopolis but it really isn't our role to give up our land that we won to a bunch of traitors who lost to us in the Turf War."

"That was so long ago!" yelled Marie, "You just don't get it! The octolings of today have changed and so have we! You have no right to say Eight or Christine doesn't belong here!"

I began to get angry myself. I knew I was poking a dragon. I knew our friendship has been stressed to begin with since that octoling came but...I couldn't believe that they would actually do this to me. This was above the line. I'm not working with that octoling. I refuse.

I exploded in anger, "You want to have a bunch of thieves into Inkopolis who recently just stole our power supply?! If it were up to me we should have just wiped them all out at the end of the Turf War! All they do is just steal from us, cause us problems, and…" my voice was shaking as I struggled to finish my sentence as painful memories sprung to mind, "...kill us!"

Marie stayed silent and glared while Callie just looked away, she was obviously uncomfortable. I think Marie was backing down. Maybe she was actually listening! Good, maybe then she would abandon this insane plan and apologize. It was hard to tell though she still looked furious. I however was not letting down for a second.

"Look at the Squidbeak Splatoon!" I continued, "It used to be just me, you, Callie, and Agent 3. Now all of the sudden you've let two octolings, the very menace were trying to fight join our ranks! How can you possibly justify that and tell me that I'm the one not listening!"

Marie remained silent and just glared. Maybe I was getting to her.

"Well?" I inquired demanding an answer.

Marie simply cleared her throat. Her voice came out strained as if she was struggling to not scream at me. Her usual composure was kicking back in, "I should also note that unless I give you an explicit order to do so, you will not be splatting any octarians on this mission." she said calmly as if our explosive exchange a few seconds ago never happened. At this point I was puzzled. Why would we go on a mission to Octo Canyon if we weren't splatting octarians?

"Wait we're not splatting any octarians?" I asked with a sort of sinking feeling that I didn't want to hear the answer. I had stopped yelling.

"That is correct," replied Marie, "We're going to put a giant Killer Wail on Octavio's UFO and we'll play Calamari Inktation so we can free all of the octolings."

I didn't like this at all. Not one bit.

"What...what happens to the octolings then?" I asked nervously.

"What do you think?" said Marie without a hint of pity, "They go into Inkopolis and we welcome them with open arms."

This...this went against everything I stood for. I had worked hard, so hard, to stop just one freeloading octoling from infiltrating inkopolis but all of the octolings in Octo Canyon? That would mean Inkopolis would become full of enemies. Knowing how most of them think they would probably just stap us in the back and take over Inkpopolis. Not only that but it would be caused by the people who swore to protect Inkopolis from harm! That would be the end for me. Everything I had worked so hard for would be gone.

"This is stupid on all levels!" I yelled, "You're telling me we're just going to let all the octolings in after what they did to us! Your insane!"

"Shelly," said Marie softly, addressing me informally, "I know that you hate octolings but you're not giving them a chance. You need to trust me on this one."

"Trust?" I yelled, "Trust you to bring Inkopolis to its doom?! Trust you to let that filthy unfresh octoling work with me?!"

"Shelly," said Marie calmly, "I know your upset but I will have to fire you if you can't do this. This is completely necessary to protect Inkopolis. Octavio will be powerless without his soldiers. Think of it as beating Octavio once and for all."

I didn't know what to do. I can't lose this job. What will I do without it but the thought of seeing octolings all over Inkopolis made me want to vomit. To be completely honest, I was furious. I wanted to go up to the surface and splat that octoling like I should have done long ago. Then again, I had to think clearly and what would be for the greater good. In my line of work, being blind to your enemies in your rage is a fatal mistake.

I weighed my options. What is my goal? That's easy, to keep my job and let no octoling set foot in Inkopolis. I could only really do one or the other, not both. However, if I quit right now, I could seriously jeopardize Marie's suicidal plan and force her to think straight. But...what if she was lying about needing me? What if she could really find another agent like Agent 8 or Agent 3 to the job. Maybe this was all some master plan to get me to "befriend" the octoling. If that were true then the mission would most likely succeed and I would be jobless as octolings flooded Inkopolis' streets.

If I were to go through with it. I would be able to keep an eye on the octoling and make sure she doesn't do anything fishy. If I really needed to...I could even sabotage Marie's insane plans as a last resort if things get seriously dire. Even if Marie did succeed and Inkopolis falls to backstabbing octolings, I would be in a better position to fight back if I were an agent rather than a civilian.

Curse you octoling! You've tricked my two best friends! I've done everything to get rid of you! I've warned you. I've threatened you. I've rallied other inklings against you. I've nearly splatted you. I've even publicly humiliated you in turf war.

So why is it that you can't leave my friends and I alone? Why do you persist even after all I've done? It seems hopeless sometimes. Even now, many of the inklings I've rallied are either convinced that the octoling is nice or have told me they need to learn more first. It seems no matter what I do I can't get rid of you!

Meanwhile Callie and Marie both waited for my response.

I breathed in a deep sigh before uttering the one bittersweet word that Marie wanted to here,

"Yes."

Okay, I really like these Shelly chapters. I like writing from her perspective I guess. We're at what? Chapter 38? I never thought this fic would ever get this far. Thank you all for your continued support! Stay fresh!

Fight for All Fiction.

-Octoreader