Edric wakes, feeling a lot better. He didn't feel sluggish anymore as he got out of the bed. Marie smiles as she starts to make a meal for him as he gets up and moving. "And how are you, my dear mate?" she asks playfully while setting some food out for him.
"I think I have gotten passed the drugging," Edric says getting up and walking over to her before hugging her.
Marie smirks. "Are you sure? Maybe you sure still drugged enough that you want me to bed you?" she asks teasingly and gives a flick under his chin.
"We could do that anyway," Edric says before picking her up bridal style.
Marie chuckles and traces a finger along his face. "But Callie will get jealous."
"That is why we are waiting for her. Now, what is the plan?" Edric asks taking a seat with her in his lap.
Marie sighs. "We have to find a way to get those glasses off of her. So really, its either holding her down and getting it or shooting it."
"I have tried the first one. So sniping them is the most reliable choice," Edric says holding her now.
"Did you try as a human?" Marie asks curiously.
"No, the octolings watching us too closely to try. Besides, Callie is very strong physically," Edric reminds.
Marie smirks. "You could have tried it. I doubt you would get splatted as a human."
"I can't be splatted as a human, but then I couldn't have pulled off my escape," Edric says scratching her head.
"Oh, and what a daring escape it is. Full of ink blasts flying everywhere, and inkplosions, and the last second jump to freedom," she says sarcastically.
"With or without Callie trying to bed me the entire time?" Edric asks.
Marie smirks. "And sexual escapades. How can I forget? How can this handsome guy in front of me being such a charmer to even gain the eyes of such a villain?" she playfully says and snickers at the end.
"Alright, we will continue this later. What has happened while I slept?" Edric asks.
"Another zapfish, another day. Caveira called and said she is on her way with your new gear. And agent four is taking a small break at the moment before heading off again," she explains and points towards one of the open-aired buildings where a tentacle was hanging loosely from the side. "Tell me these were full buildings with walls back in your day," Marie requests as he starts to eat a little.
"I am unsure. I had heard the domes were being made in case we couldn't stop what many believed was coming. But they were still being built when I went on ice," Edric informs.
Marie leans over and kisses his cheek comfortingly. "Then they are beautiful anyway. They make good open homes. And she isn't complaining. When are you going to show you're a human?" she asks, nodding her head to agent four.
"After this is all over. Like Lucky, it would distract too much," Edric informs.
Marie gives another kiss to his cheek. "How much do you miss her?"
"I am starting to get worried as it's been nearly half a year since she and your gramps left and no word since," Edric says very much concerned.
Marie slowly gives him a kiss on the cheek now and smiles comfortingly at him. "Lucky is one of the best inklings around. If anyone can fight and survive, it's her. And I think it would make a good story for any squishes we might have. How Lucky can tell her story of how she might have bested a big bird even from scooping her up and then flying back down without a parachute," she says smiling.
"That sounds like her," Edric says before the two started eating together.
"Hey. You started without me?" they hear and suddenly a metal case was placed on the table beside them. Both of them looking over and sees Caveira smiling at them. "So I guess you are better now?"
"I think the drug has worn off," Edric says waiting for her to join them.
Caveira keeps smiling and walks over to his other end and sits beside him. "I'm glad. Because I know you would want some payback."
"I am more concerned getting Callie back than that," Edric says reaching out and rubbing her head.
Caveira hums happily and enjoys the much-needed petting. "We will…after…"
"No," Edric says quickly, guessing what she was about to say.
"Really?" Caveira asks.
"Yes," he says with a sigh. "No hitting her after."
"Aw!" Caveira whines.
Edric rolls his eyes amused. "But I will allow you to kiss me afterward as soon as we get Callie back and cleaned up."
"If she can get to you before Callie can," Marie adds smirking.
Edric leans over to Caveira and grabs her before kissing her as Marie kept eating without care. "There. That should hold you off for a bit," Edric says playfully to the inkling girl.
"Squid glomp," Caveira says suddenly.
Edric blinks before grunting as Marie and Caveira jumps and hugs him in squid form and leaves him laughing as they even tickle him. "Girls…stop…" he laughs, trying to stay upright in his seat.
"Why should we?" Caveira asks before dropping a bit to find Edric also now in squid form.
Edric keeps chuckling before hugging them both as best he can. "I love you girls. More than anything else besides our two missing inklings."
"Come on. We have to finish eating," Marie says patting the two.
Edric smiles and looks up to where the agent is sleeping. "Should I get her?"
"Please do," Marie says returning to inkling form.
Edric sighs as he changes back and starts to walk to the inkling girl. Both Caveira and Marie starting to eat what they could in the meantime. Edric hums as he comes across the inkling girl sleeping away in a makeshift bed of sheets on the ground and bends down and shakes her shoulder. "Hey, time to get up and get some breakfast," he says softly.
Four grumbles in her sleep and tosses and turns a bit.
Edric smirks and leans down to her ear. "Hey, Edric wants to give you an autographed version of his weapons," he says before snickering. Four's eyes shot open and raised up, looking around before seeing him. "Sleep well?"
Four begins to look around before sighing. "Yeah…" she says dejectedly.
"I don't even know your name," Edric says, tapping his chin as he looks her over. He notices that her tentacle hair was actually short and it seems like the ends almost acted as a cover for her face. She did wear the hero's outfit that Marie seems to have updated for everything and her hero shot lying beside her with her tank. Edric took note of how it was not like Lucky's hero shot. Instead of the paintball gun look, it now resembled an old FN P90 to a suspicious degree. Her sharp red eyes looking up to him that seems to contrast well with the current darker shade of yellow she is sporting.
Four sighs as she stands and brushes off her clothes to at least look presentable for him. "Tsunami. It's nice to…well, properly meet you," she says, holding out a nervous and shaky hand towards him.
Edric sees this and takes her hand and shakes it before pulling her into a hug. "Welcome to squidbeak splatoon," Edric says before letting her go.
Tsunami was left blushing at the sudden move and turns around to hide her blue face. 'He actually hugged me!'
"Oh, sorry. Marie should have told you. I am a bit physical in displays of emotion," Edric says walking back out the building and looks over the area. "But that doesn't mean I take enjoyment of places like this. So…peaceful."
"You going to eat with us?" Marie asks walking up. Tsunami stays quiet as she watches the two hug before Marie looks over to her. "You want to eat?"
"Oh…uh…sure," she agrees, watching almost embarrassed that she is seeing Marie act this way towards the biggest player in the games and a legend no less. "I can join," she adds while seeing Edric lead Marie back down again with his arm around her waist with Tsunami following.
"She is wondering how you can do that so easily with me," Edric says smirking.
"Oh? I will tell you why after we eat four," Marie informs.
Tsunami nods as she kept following back to their table and sits down across from them as Edric digs in like a mad inkling with the other two looking on in amusement. 'Must have been worse for him than I thought.'
"Alright, now that we started. We met at the studio. Edric was hired as a stagehand before the last time the great zapfish was stolen. Callie and I also got him started in the turf wars," Marie explains.
"Didn't help I was bored," Edric pipes up with his mouth full and gets a tap from Caveira for doing that. "Sorry," he says after swallowing before eating away again.
"So how did Frontier get formed then?" Tsunami asks.
Caveira smiles. "That was with me. He eventually started to hang out with me and he questioned my battling skills."
"I was the one who asked you if you wanted to form a team," Edric reminds.
Caveira smirks towards him. "After you asked about teams in general. But yes. We did, but needed two more. That was X and Lucky. Lucky being the agent we brought on before you. And so, team frontier was made and we really did a fine job at many tournaments. Still handed black tar's tentacles back at them," she boasts a little.
"How is the rivalry our teams have developed going?" Edric asks.
Caveira smiles at him. "Still as strong as when you left it. We are going between the top five places on the leaderboards in fact."
"Oh?" Edric says.
Caveira shrugs. "X is really keeping them all in line. But it is not as good without all of us there helping it along."
"Well, I am coming back into the games. Save me a spot for next month," Edric informs as they finished eating.
Caveira giggles and leans over before kissing his cheek. "It will always be open for you. Now…where were we? Seems we got sidetracked," she says looking back to the blue-faced Tsunami with the other two also looking over, Marie leaning on Edric's shoulder.
"Are you currently on a team?" Edric asks.
Tsunami stops and clears her throat while looking away. "Well…not really. I just did a game here and there with some free play matches. Then I got swept up in this."
"Caveira?" Edric asks looking to her.
Caveira chuckles. "We can think about it once we get her in a match and see how she will do firsthand."
"You got a shot at being in Frontier after we deal with this situation," Edric says smiling at her.
Tsunami squeals internally at being able to join the team, but tries to not let it show on her face.
"She is happy," Edric says smiling to Marie who does a dignified giggle.
"Use the Octarians to improve your skills," Caveira says getting up and starts heading out.
Marie smiles as she felt Edric's arms wrap around her again. "And possibly see if you can lead that one chasing you away from here. If we are discovered, then she might send the entire army down on us."
"…Marie…should we tell her who that one is?" Edric whispers into her ear, unsure if it will affect the way she fights.
Marie sets down her umbrella. "We should. Four, you should know the one who has been hunting you is none other than agent one. She is under the octarian's control because of the effect of the glasses she wears. You would know her better as Callie," Marie informs.
Tsunami's breathe gets caught in her throat as now her memories of facing her felt so differently. Almost as if she was going for the kill and not as to stop her. "So…lead her away…right?"
"That is tough. Callie is very good at tracking. Maybe not as good as our ninja here, but she is still good," Edric says, referring to Marie. "In fact, she may have narrowed down our location quite a bit," Edric says, scratching Marie's tentacle hair as he thought.
Marie moans happily, moving her tentacle around his arm more. "We should have a plan, but we will need time. If you can buy us more time, then we can handle her as best we could."
"You are telling you haven't been setting traps while you thought I was sleeping?" Edric asks.
Marie smiles up to him. "I am hoping it doesn't come to that and we can end it quickly."
"It happened last time though," Edric reminds.
Marie slowly reaches up and boops his nose. "No. You didn't see anything," she says waving a hand around in front of him.
Edric smiles before turning into a squid which she caught, allowing him to relax in her arms.
"I'll…be going now," Tsunami slowly says, getting up and walking away.
"Be safe," Edric calls, waving at her.
Marie giggles as she jumps into the grate and she looks down at him. "Now how about we get into bed and rest up?"
"Sounds good…how long until Callie finds us you think?" Edric asks as she carries him to the bed.
Marie hums. "I say about a week or so."
"Then we should prepare," Edric says letting her lay down with him still in her arms.
Marie hums. "Well, too bad. Because you will be the bait."
"I am fine with this plan as long as you keep snuggling me," Edric says rubbing against her.
Marie giggles. "There is no objection," she says, nuzzling and snuggling back.
Edric sighs as he swings in his hammock, pretending to sleep. He had been at this for an entire day already as he waited. Marie was waiting in some boxes in one of the buildings as she kept watching. Though half of the time, she just watched him sleep so peacefully and wishes it could be this every day for him. Edric kept swinging when he heard a familiar sound of some inkling coming through a grate.
It was silent for a bit before he hears steps walking toward him and feigns being asleep before it stops right beside him. The sun is then blocked out from his closed eyes before he feels someone leaning over him. "I found you," he hears the unmistakable voice of Callie before he feels her kiss his lips for a second. "And I'm taking you back. Don't worry. I will treat you better than you ever will be in your life," she whispers.
"Callie," Edric mutters, continuing to pretend to be asleep, wrapping his arms around her.
Callie smiles as she looked him over, trying to see anything wrong with him before wrapping her arms around him and lifts him up with her surprising strength. "Now how to get you into a squid form to take you back through the system?" Callie questions.
Edric groans and rolls onto her, wrapping his arms tighter around her. "I'm…sorry…" he mumbles.
Callie smiles and kisses his cheek. "I forgive you," she says before grunting when something smacks into her head and sends them both down. Callie groans as she tries to lift a hand but it falls as Edric sits up and lifts up his new glasses to look at her.
"Finally got you, Callie," Edric says spying her glasses now a bit away on the ground before pulling her into a hug.
Callie groans, rolling her head against his chest.
"Bring her inside," Marie says holding her hero charger.
"Nice shooting my kunoichi," Edric teases lifting her up and carries Callie inside.
Marie smiles as he passes by her. "I aim to please."
"Clever girl," Edric says smiling as she armed the traps.
Marie sighs as he places her in the small house onto the bed. "Now we need to worry if she was followed."
"I don't doubt she would be. She is very valuable and we both know that me making them generators to power their system makes me too valuable to let go. Also, she most likely told DJ that I am a human," Edric says, petting Callie's head, waiting for her to come out of this.
Callie groans again before slowly opening her eyes and turns toward him. "Edric…?"
"I am here. I am glad you are not hurt," Edric says now holding her.
Callie moans quietly, burying herself into him. "Edric…I…"
"Easy now, my mate," Edric says, helping her sit up.
Callie starts to tear up as she kept holding him tight, hardly noticing the other inkling walking up to them. "I'm sorry…"
"It's alright," Edric says petting her before Marie comes over with some fries.
"These might cheer her up," Marie says placing the fires next to them and Callie slowly pulls her head away from Edric's chest and looks at the fires before smiling and crying up to Marie.
"Feel better?" Edric asks smiling.
Callie sniffs and nods. "Yeah."
"We may be spoiling her too much," Marie says smirking.
"I don't know. What do you think Callie? Do we spoil you too much?" Edric asks with a similar smirk.
Callie gives off a sniffling giggle. "Don't do this to me guys."
"Ok, we will later. For now, we have to get ready for those who would be coming as well," Edric says letting go and walking over to the table and grabbing the hero dualies. "You ready?"
Marie smirks and holds up her hero charger. "You have to ask?"
"You rest Callie," Edric instructs looking back at her as she tries to get up again.
Callie looks to them both with a little worry. "But I can help."
"You made friends with them, didn't you?" Edric asks.
Callie seems to be troubled as she thinks on that. "I…think so…"
"Then let me and Marie handle it," Edric says smiling at her.
"But…" Callie starts, getting up before being pushed back by him onto the bed.
Edric chuckles. "Hey, it's me. I know what to do with these guys, okay?" he asks, making sure she stays down.
"Don't worry. We prepared for this," Marie adds.
"And I fixed most of them," Edric also adds, grinning happily. "Rest up, stay out of sight," he says before sliding the door close. "Let's get to it," he says, walking back to Marie.
Callie sat there worried and soon she started hearing explosions and a lot of shots happening outside the door.
"Where is she?!" the octoling yells as she holds up Edric by the arm and her barrel in his face.
Edric smirks and quickly grabs her wrist before swinging up and around her arm, the octoling yelling out as she was thrown to the ground and then gets a pistol barrel held against her head. "Safe with us. We won't hurt her…in fact, you could be useful," he says, keeping her pinned by her arms.
"That is the last of them," Marie says looking to the closest respawn generator and the octoling see the others who were splatted contained in glass orbs.
Edric sighs. "Yeah. Those containers are a pain to deal with. So we're saving a lot of time by capturing you like this," he explains and presses the gun more against her. "We got so many questions. Would you be willing to tell?"
"Go gabaha yourself," she spits up at him.
Edric blinks and hums. "Maybe I haven't gotten the octoling version here," he says to himself before sighing. "Look…I'm trying to help you here. I want to save you guys at least."
"Say that again to him and I will turn off the respawner and splat you," Marie threatens, a bit livid as she points her own weapon into her face.
Edric frowns a little and pushes the gun away with his shoulder. "Come on. Please help me out here. I really want to save you guys. Heck, I am willing to still build those generators."
The octoling growls before Callie walks out. "That's enough Pyra," Callie instructs.
The octoling looks over in surprise and almost in reflex to salute but was still held down by Edric. "Callie…wait…" she says, noticing she wasn't wearing her glasses.
"Pyra. You know that you shouldn't say such things to other's mates," Callie reminds.
Edric raises an eyebrow and almost wanted to crack a joke, but he kept his mouth shut to let her speak.
"But," Pyra says, trying to interject.
"No, buts," Callie informs.
'Wow…strangely hotter and sexier than normal,' Edric thinks as he watches Callie stare down the octoling.
Pyra slowly nods and backs down. "Now then. Will you two release them?" Callie asks.
"Soon as we know they won't shoot us in the back," Marie pipes up.
"Callie?" Edric asks, leaning onto her shoulder.
Callie stares down Pyra and they both stare at each other before Pyra looks away and nods, easily breaking. Her gaze then turns to the containers of the octolings that Edric noticed they were all octopus swimming around in ink. All the octopuses staring at them quickly broke their gaze and looks down when Callie gives a somewhat hard glare.
Edric takes a big breath before putting his guns away and gets off the octoling before pulling her to her feet. "Just…don't make any bad moves," he warns and walks off to free the others. Her view moving to Marie that was behind him as she holds up her gun and taps her feet, staring her down.
"So now that is over with, come on you," Callie says pulling Edric away.
"Oh boy…" Edric spoke, being dragged past the now freed octolings as they watch him in pity.
"Still at stage one," Pyra comments.
Edric blinks as he is pulled into the little hut and Callie slams the door closed. "So…bit of cuddling?" he asks, raising an eyebrow.
Callie smiles before jumping at him, changing into a squid midway and latches onto him. "Woomy."
Edric smiles as he hugs her back, giving a small nuzzle to her. "I was so worried about you."
"I love you. Now tell me, how did Marie get you out?" Callie asks.
Edric gives a small chuckle. "She didn't. I did. I faked myself being knocked out and snuck out in your bag. I'm sorry if I worried you," he apologizes, petting her squid head softly.
"How? I made sure you were there when I closed the door," Callie asks in surprise.
"Marie taught me some ninja moves," Edric jokes.
Callie stares up at him before smiling and burying her head into his chest. "I missed you…even when hypnotized. And I was so worried."
"I know, but this may cheer you up. Marie says I am to move in with you both permanently," Edric informs.
Callie sniffs and tears up, her tentacles wrapping tighter around him.
"No tears. Just love," Edric says, turning into a squid as well and hugs her.
Callie squeaks and falls as Edric hugs her, now on top of her. "…I just want you…you and me together."
"We already are," Sai says patting her head before pulling her along where there were more fries waiting.
Callie stares at the sight before drooling and reaching for it.
"You don't get to touch them. You have to rely on me to feed you," Edric says smirking.
Callie blushes deep blue and looks toward him. She then changes back with a smile and opens her mouth, giving a sly look at him. Edric turned back into an inkling as well and started to feed her as she lays against him. Callie moans as she eats away while they hear shuffling outside. Edric smiling as he feeds her each of the fires while she slowly runs a hand across his side. "Sorry to interrupt, they are waiting on any orders since it seems they are Callie's underlings," they hear from the outside.
"Tell them to get comfortable and tell Pyra and Lemir that does not mean try for a squishy," Callie calls.
There was some throat was heard and then silence. "Yeah. They heard it."
"Then we are all good Marie. Also, we need to talk. Come in," Callie instructs.
Marie smiles as she opens the door and climbs in before shutting it behind her, Edric seeing the octolings sitting around and looking around the place before the door closes.
"Go set up the other hammock. They are in the shed. And then take a load off," Edric calls.
The octolings look at him in surprise before they rush off. Marie giggles as she sits down beside him and makes sure the door is closed. "So now that we have Callie back…we have to figure out our next move."
"Like who's room is he staying in?" Callie asks holding onto him as he kept feeding her.
"Both," Edric spoke up, shutting up Callie with another fry. "I'll…have Hai make another larger bed for all of us. And consider also Lucky and Caveira too. Don't want them to easily fall off," he explains, putting a fry into Marie's mouth before she could speak.
"Edric. You are moving into our house. Not staying at your bunker," Callie reminds.
"Isn't that what I said?" Edric asks back. "I just mentioned making a bed for all of us at your place."
"Edric, when you have seen all of our home, you will be able to plan. But till then, he sleeps in my room," Marie informs.
Callie sits up and glares at her. "No fair. Why does he get to stay with you at that time? I still want him too."
Edric hums to himself in the meantime as he thought about it all.
"Oh, you can, but he is staying in my room as yours is still a huge mess," Marie informs.
"It's not that bad," Callie tries to defend. "It's organized chaos and you can still walk through it."
Edric hums again. "There is still Lucky and Caveira."
"If you so much as look at that pile, it will come down like an avalanche," Marie informs.
"Caveira will be pushing her way through anything to get to me at least," Edric points out.
"WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON HERE!?" Tsunami's voice is heard from outside.
"SHIT! We got forgot Tsunami!" Edric realizes and quickly slams open the door to find said inkling aiming at the octolings who were resting in hammocks and staring shocked at the inkling. "Whoa now! Hold your fire!" he calls as he rushes up to her.
Both girls behind him rushing out as Edric kicks the gun out of Tsunami's hands as one-shot flies off and hits one of them, but didn't splat them. "Okay…we probably should have left a note for you," he says as he slowly turns her away, but keeps a strong grip on her arms.
"Hold on agent four. I will explain everything," Marie informs.
Tsunami glares at her. "Better. Because I am still tempted to turn and fire at them."
"I don't think they noticed," Edric says, turning her to see Pyra and Lemir too engrossed in each other to notice.
"Good. Then let's do this," Marie says before giving her a slap upside the head. "Think before shooting."
Tsunami rubs her head as she blushes blue.
Edric sighs. "Okay. Now, we have those guys with us on our side. Oh, and they listen to Callie more," he explains, pointing over to the inkling who gives a small wave. "Oh, yeah. Callie's back. Should have said that first," he says smiling.
"I…" Tsunami gulps as she considers getting out something.
"Besides that, it's time to plan out some of the next moves. Since Callie is out of the line of fire, we can worry less about that part. But now is how Octavio will react to this and what he might do. If Callie did what I think she did, she might have told him where we are. That's the worst case," Edric explains, slowly leading Tsunami away with Callie and Marie following him.
"Marie…you remember my request?" Tsunami asks.
Marie sighs. "Yes. Yes, I do."
"What?" both Edric and Callie ask together.
"Can I get theirs as well?" Tsunami asks a bit nervous.
Marie blinks slowly at her with Callie and Edric looking to each other and shrugging. "Fine," she says before they look back and see only an inkling shaped smoke cloud that blew away into the wind.
"Wait…what are you promising from us?" Callie asks.
'Please don't let it be pictures of us in the nude,' Edric thinks.
Tsunami suddenly lands in front of them after super jumping and holds out a pen and autograph book before she opens it up to a page where Marie's name is already signed.
"Oh," both of them say together as Callie took the autograph book and signs it stylishly. When she gave it to Edric, he decided to be a bit cheeky and wrote, 'To my cute fan and hopefully future teammate, Tsunami, Edric.'
Tsunami took it back and reads over what he wrote before blushing dark blue and slowly turns on a heel and closes the book. Edric smirking as she walks away to place it with her things. "What did you do?" Marie asks, smirking as well at the reaction she made.
"Oh, nothing much," Edric says smirking to her.
"You are evil."
"Yes. Yes, I am."
