"Alright, take that over to residential area six," Pyra says as Caveira had brought in a van loaded with the inkling made parts needed for the generators Edric made.
Edric hums as he looks over said parts, his inkling device put to the side as he feels through with his human arm. "This should allow for at least ten more. Maybe enough to power one more dome fully as long as no surge happens," he explains, at least wearing his translator as that didn't require as much power when he changed.
"Edric," Marie says, tapping her foot at him.
"Yes?" he asks, still gathering parts. "I miss something or a generator about to blow up?"
"I made lunch ten minutes ago," Marie informs.
Edric sighs and hangs his head. He then smiles and looks over to her. "Head in work. You know how I would get."
"I do, but Callie and I are waiting for you at the dinner table," Marie reminds.
Edric sighs and tosses back the parts. "Alright. Be right there," he says gathering his things.
"We won't see each other for a bit, we have to go do our job, but in a few days, we will come and take you back home with us," Marie informs.
Edric keeps smiling. "And I will be waiting for you two until then. Besides, I have good company."
"Caveira also says get back into playing condition. She has a date lined up for your return," Marie informs.
Edric chuckles at that. "Guess I can play and train with these guys," he says, looking to the octarians working.
"She said in the same way you originally trained," Marie says as they walk together.
Edric groans. "Yep…that will do it."
"Also, Caveira will not be joining us. Said she is testing Tsunami today," Marie informs.
Edric shrugs. "That's fine. Tsunami does need to live up to the team's standards after all."
"I think she already does," Marie says as they enter to see Callie fidgeting a bit, ready to eat.
Edric smiles and sits next to her, wrapping an arm around her. "Sorry about being late. Work got to me," he says giving a small hug.
"Feed me and you are forgiven," Callie says cheekily, activating his device.
Edric chuckles and uses a spoon to start feeding her. "Am I now?" he asks smiling, giving her even a small kiss on the cheek.
Callie smiles and responds by wrapping her tentacles around him.
"That's a yes," Edric says happily as he keeps feeding her. "…say, how would you two like a pet?" Edric asks after a bit.
"Pet?" they both ask, slightly confused.
"Yeah…Hai says we should enter project repopulation. That involves bringing back quite a few animals that were lost like cats and dogs," Edric informs.
"Cats…" Callie says slowly, almost liking the sound of that.
"Dogs?" Marie asks curiously.
"So would you want a pet?" Edric asks.
"Please…" they both say, leaning towards him.
"When we start, you two must be there and you must decide together what that pet will be," Edric informs.
"Cat."
"Dog."
Both Callie and Marie look to each other now.
"You will have plenty of time to talk it over," Edric informs before thinking. 'No reason we can not get both maybe? I guess depends on the house.' The three kept eating midway, though Callie and Edric started to take turns feeding each other.
Marie watches them happily and smiles at how Edric is smiling rather than worrying. And soon he would be in their home with them. Hopefully without worry about him.
"So how did your address to the octarians go Callie?" Edric asks.
Callie smiles and leans against Edric as he ate. "Very. They trust me and respect even Edric so well. They actually came to me and said when it comes to technology, they want Edric there."
Edric sighs. "And how did they take going up to the surface to live with Inklings like you?" Edric asks.
"They were hesitant at first then Pyra told them what you said to tell them. Many seemed upset, but won't go against it I think," Callie says.
Edric nods sadly. "Yeah. It had to be said. Besides, they are greater builders than I ever expected. So they might be able to build up a place…or even finish up the area near my base."
"Well, they could make a town. The area where your base is. It's also the site of a failed expansion of inkopolis," Marie informs.
"Right," Edric nods. "I believe it was geothermal? I think Hai can give them some plans to help with it all. They deserve all the help they need. I really don't need it all anymore. Just the occasional ones for my bracelet and glasses and whatnot," he says smiling, rubbing Callie's back.
"Why would they do that when they have your generators?" Callie asks using her tentacles to rub his back.
Edric smirks at her. "Backup power. Just in case generators aren't up to snuff either."
"Oh, by the way, I had a patent for them filed under Caveira's name," Marie informs.
Edric raises an eyebrow towards her, holding a smile. "How much more paperwork for her?"
"Not too much," Marie says.
Edric shrugs and snuggles up closely to Callie. "As long as we get things done. I just want them to be happy after all…and safe."
"By the way…Marie, should we, you know…" Callie says trailing off.
"Pick out rooms for possible future squishies ahead of time?" Marie asks, knowing what she was thinking to act like that.
Edric just smiles and continues to eat, knowing this is a conversation between them.
"Should we?" Callie asks, turning blue.
"A bit too soon for that kind of thought," Marie informs.
Edric still continues to eat, but catches the tone in Callie's voice. "We have a long future ahead of us," Edric says pulling her into his lap. "And should I bring up that I don't want any secrets between any of us? Kinda ruins a lot of things," he says, stroking her tentacle.
"We are not telling you your Christmas gift," Marie informs.
"Christmas? Really?" Edric asks with a snarky expression. "Okay. I think that can get a pass."
"What's Christmas? It's Christmas," Marie says with the same look.
Edric frowns and takes out his translator to look at it for a quick moment. "Strange."
"What?" Callie asks.
"What did you say?" Edric asks.
"Christmas," Callie repeats.
"Christmas?" Edric repeats back. "Ok, my translator is saying Christmas, but from your expressions, that is not what you are saying," he explains.
Marie hums as she thinks about it. "We will ask Hai about it," Callie says before getting him to become a squid.
Edric smiles and lays back in her arms as he starts to relax while she pets him.
"Practicing for a squishie?" Marie asks smirking.
Edric gives a small snark before snuggling into Callie's arms a bit more.
"Yes," Callie informs smiling.
"You girls are so sweet," Edric compliments, sighing in relief.
"Don't dress him up, ok?" Marie requests.
Edric raises a nonexistence eyebrow to them. "You have clothes for squid forms?"
"Think some winter wear mostly and things to dress squishies up in," Marie says.
Edric chuckles. "You girls have any you own? Maybe look cute in?"
"You will see this winter," Callie informs smirking.
Edric smiles and nuzzles her again. "You two would make good mothers. Besides, who wants to mess with you?" he asks cheekily.
"Come on now Callie. It's movie marathon time," Marie says as Callie starts to pale a bit.
Edric grins. "What's this? Scared of another horror? I can hold you," he offers up to her.
"I may get through it then," Callie says looking down to him.
"By the way. Marie, you said I could pick, right?" Edric reminds.
Marie smiles. "Yeah. Why? Got an old human one?"
"A few. Tell me, has Hai told you about the Tremors series?" Edric asks smirking.
Marie smiles even wider. "No. But I want to be surprised."
"The inkling subtitles really help?" Edric asks Callie who was laying in his lap as they and Callie's octoling posse finished watching the first movie.
Callie hums happily, nuzzling her head against his lap. "Yeah…really do. Guess I have to practice reading without looking at it a lot."
"So what did you think about the movie that is literally older than I am?" Edric asks.
Callie giggles. "Really fun to watch actually. The monster and everything…is that how all humans were back them?" she asks, the other octolings looking towards him for an answer.
"Eh…some. Though Bert and his wife were far from the average humans. So ready for two?" Edric asks looking to Marie.
Marie grins. "Please. I am curious. Watching humans in these old films is kinda cool."
"Bah!" one of the octolings yells behind them all, making the other jump a bit in the air.
Edric, seeing this, chuckles a bit with Marie.
"NOT FRESH!" a few yells, throwing wrappers at the laughing octoling.
"Alright. Continuing on to 'Tremors 2: Aftershock'," Edric says, getting up to put in the movie.
Marie and Callie smile at each other before Marie clears her throat. "Edric…this is enjoyable…but you will not be stuck this way, will you?" she asks, a hint of worry in her voice.
"No," Edric says putting in the next movie before going back to in between the two. "Now the worms will turn."
"Did you have any monsters like this back then?" Callie asks curiously.
"Oh, no. This is all for our entertainment. You see, humanity basically was the only species that dominated the world as a whole. The rest were just animals. We had no major predators like these things," Edric tries to explain.
"Major? What about a minor?" Callie asks, wondering what did they face.
"Let me put it this way. We advanced to the point where we were putting animals like that into preserves," Edric informs.
Things were silent for a moment before Marie sighs. "Would you have done that to us?"
"Ah, no. The species I believe you evolved from was in the ocean. Ironic as now that is lethal to you all, but we were a landlocked species," Edric informs.
Callie giggles a little. "And now we are too."
"Like this, I am not sure it would have happened," Edric says as a poor man was crawling on a pipe to avoid the ground. Obviously scared out of his mind.
"He is so dead," Marie says, recognizing him as the first kill in the movie.
Edric nods as he leans against her. "Almost like avoiding water."
"From the looks of it though…wouldn't being on that pipe confuse the graboid a bit like parts of it like where he is are suspended in the air?" Callie asks.
Edric smiles. "Very astute. Yeah. It would. So it waits for the loud noise it knows he will make. It knows he has to come down sometime."
"Oh boy, can already see what he is thinking," Callie says as the man looks at a van.
Edric grins. "Yeah. Evolution. Gotta love it."
"Humans were stupid?" Callie asked confused.
Edric shakes his head. "No…well…some. But basically, if you think about it, he won't get far since it will tip over the van before he can drive off."
"Or pull it underground like the last movie," Marie adds.
Edric nods. "That too. Honestly, movies are sometimes just fun to watch, have popcorn, and just laugh or enjoy without a problem. And I sometimes just want to fall asleep to some."
"Feel free. My lap is open as a pillow," Marie says.
Edric smiles and leans his head onto her lap as so, sighing happily. "Yeah. This is nice."
"Hey, no fair," Callie whines a bit.
"Squid and in my arms," Edric offers, rolling onto his back and holds out his arms towards her.
"Acceptable," Callie informs transforming and climb into his arms.
Edric smiles up to Marie and she rolls her eyes amused. "How about we watch the movie now?" she says, stroking his tentacles.
"She loves us," Edric says, making Callie giggle.
Marie gives a light tap to his head. "Hey. No teasing," she says playfully.
"You know it is true," Edric says smirking before starting to watch the movie again.
"He's so cute," Callie whispers, watching as Edric sleeps away without a care on Marie's lap. Marie slowly stroking his tentacles as she smiles. "At least we know what else we are going to do once we bring him home."
"Before or after showing him around?" Callie asks.
"After and showing him his new room. My room," Marie informs.
Callie smiles and kisses his cheek, making him groan and turn his head towards her, still sleeping. "He'll love it. I'm sure."
"Try cleaning up your room before taking him to it," Marie instructs.
Callie groans and hangs her head. "Fine. Fine fine."
"Now come on. Time to take him to bed Ms. Muscles," Marie teases.
Callie smirks back. "Shows that I can protect him better if needed."
"Now. Also, thought you wouldn't want to stall holding him," Marie says.
Callie keeps smirking, her tentacles wrapped around him. "I just want to catch up right now. We both missed too much. That reminds me…Caveira," she whispers, leaning close to not let Edric hear.
"I am thinking we let her sweat a bit more and I want to get up please," Marie states, referring to him being on her lap.
Callie shakes her head and pulls Edric off of her and onto her lap. Marie smiles and gets up to stretch as most of the tired octolings start to get up and do the same. While Pyra leans over and looks closely at Edric as he snuggles into Callie's chest. "I haven't taken the time to really look at him. He seems…more handsome than I thought."
"Mine," Callie hisses at her, wrapping her tentacles around him.
Edric groans, slowly wrapping his arms around the inkling. "Warm…"
"Stage one still. Come on," Pyra says snickering as she grabbed her significant other.
"See you in a few days," Lemir says being dragged away.
Callie shakes her head before smiling down at Edric as he snores quietly, nuzzling his head against her. "Cal…" he whispers.
"…you know, I think you are right. Time for bed," Callie says, quickly picking Edric up and carries him off.
"No doing that till after he moves in!" Marie calls after her.
Callie pouts towards her now, holding Edric protectively.
"Come on. Let's head to bed and we can sleep with our cutie there," Marie says.
Callie smiles now as she carries him away to the bed.
"We are going now. Back to work. Be good and train hard," Marie says before giving Edric a kiss.
Edric smiles as he looks over their regular hidden outfits.
"And get ready to move in," Callie adds before getting a kiss of her own.
Edric chuckles and gives another kiss to her cheek. "And you avoid any glasses for a while."
"Still not found yours?" Callie asks.
Edric shakes his head, adjusting his current sunglasses that Marie had given him. "No. Not that bothered because I can make another once I get to the printer."
"Speaking of, we are returning it to the base," Callie informs putting on her own glasses.
Edric smirks and leans over past her to look at the octolings and they whistle innocently as possible. "Yeah. My base is better for power."
"We talked to Caveira as well. Tsunami is in so have fun training with your new teammate," Marie informs.
Edric chuckles. "I'll be sure to push her. By the way, where is Caveira anyway? Haven't seen her since like a few days ago," he asks, a little worried.
"Said would be busy planning your come back," Callie informs.
Edric now grins at the thought. "What? Fireworks and the whole show business?"
"Leave that to her. See you in a few days," Marie says suggestively before leaving.
Edric kept grinning before looking to Callie who gives another kiss to his cheek and then walks off with a little wave. Edric just waves back as he watches them leave through the grates with the octolings following.
"Tsunami!" Edric calls after they exited through a grate.
Tsunami leans over from around a walkway, a small chef's hat on her head. "Yeah?"
"Get ready. You about to see my current home," Edric says.
Tsunami starts to look excited and rushes off to get ready, dropping her hat in the process. Edric chuckles as he walks off to grab whatever he has and tries to prepare for whatever the octolings must have done to his place.
Edric looks over the place. The octarians had obviously started customizing as the walls were painted and there were insignias on the wall as well. "Hai, activate," Edric calls.
There was a heavy grinding sound was heard before the lights flickered and soon Hai's hologram appears.
Edric takes another look around before sighing. "Tell the bots…clean the place up as best they can. All the ink and everything, make it clean. Any broken furniture, recycle it. And as for the data, make sure nothing was compromised."
"Does that include what Ms. Lucky has done?" Hai asks.
Edric stops and thinks about it for a moment. 'They will be the ones living here,' Edric considers. "Forget the cleaning of the ink for now. But institute rules against willy nilly doing this," Edric instructs.
Hai screeches before calming down. "Of course sir."
Tsunami groans and lets go of her ears from the sudden noise. "Is he always like this?"
"Only when processing. Now we have a lot of spare rooms. We will find an empty one and you can put your stuff there, then we can get to training. Also, we should eat something before we start as we are going to be doing this all day," Edric informs.
Tsunami looks around a few times, trying to get the layout of the building. "So…roomy. I am actually used to very small apartments. This might take some getting used to."
"This was actually a secret human lab. We were researching a few things. Well…I say we, but I was basically just an engineer," Edric says giving her a smile.
Tsunami now has a look of realization on her face. "That explains all that stuff you make and your tricks."
"Yeah. Hai started up a number of projects back up like he was programmed to do. Though, I think he will start caring for the octarians full time soon," Edric says as they arrived at a room.
Tsunami hums. "You are giving this place up?"
"Well, I am with Callie and Marie and well…I kinda went into a rut for a while. Aka, my absence from the turf wars. So they decided I am moving in with them so I don't fall into another one of those," Edric says.
Tsunami tilts her head curiously. "So…you and Lucky weren't…?"
"For the fifth time, no. Lucky is agent three and she has been on an assignment this entire time," Edric says.
Tsunami sweatdrops. "Sorry…I still had to ask. You just were gone for enough time to make it look like you had a squishy with her."
"We really need to squash this rumor," Edric says as she dumped her stuff and he leads her to the pods he used for training.
Tsunami hums and looks over the pods. "So this is how you guys got so good? Is it…training pods?" she asks, looking back at him and sees his surprised expression. "Comics," she says, raising her hand slightly.
"Get in. You are about to experience next level training," Edric informs and two of the pods opened up.
Tsunami looks excited and jumps right in, looking around inside and sees all the wires and knobs before seeing the helmet. "…not that advanced? Can't just put us in some kind of ink and then we get sent to this place?" she asks humorously.
"Don't move and only look forward," Edric instructs, getting in his own pod as well. Tsunami nods and looks out towards the wall with a funny poster of a squid hanging from a tree. "Blame Lucky," he calls as the door closes and a helmet slowly drops onto her head.
Tsunami focused on the poster and soon the world faded to white and she found herself in a white abyss with Edric nearby. "Welcome to Frontier's special training course," Edric says, waving a hand to nothing.
Tsunami spins around in place, looking around, before stomping the ground and hears a hollow thud. "Cool…so what can this make?"
"What can't we make is the shorter question," Edric says as the world started to morph around them.
