The early hours of the night had come and all was silent. However, rapid footsteps rushed through the gates of the Pigmy Mansion. Then there was a Super Jump.

"BOSS!" An Octopus landed through the window of Agent 3's room, turning back into the form of Oliver. He stood, looking around the empty room, panting heavily, unable to stay standing much longer. "Boss?!" He took a deep breath as velvet colored tears entered his eyes.

Marina suddenly swung the door open just in time to see Oliver fall onto his knees.

"Oliver!" she cried, running over and kneeling down. She held up his head, seeing him shuddered. "What happened?"

"Osca…" Oliver was almost breathless. "Oscarrrr…" His cry almost came out as a moan. "I came to get him… The Salmonids, they… Oh, cod…" He almost fell forward, until Marina caught up by the shoulders.

"They what?" Marina shook him. "They what?"

"They… took him…" Oliver wheezed. "My brother… They're gonna…" His hands balled up into fists. "I can't-" His breathing hitched. "Oscar…"

Marina gasped, a hand covering her mouth. She crawled over and got Oliver to lay against her, using her body as a support and stilled him with her arms.

"P-Pearl?" Marina called. "Pearl, get in here!"

Rapid footsteps came down the hall, and Pearl kicked the door open. "Where's the trouble?! Aw, carp! Oliver!" She ran over and held one of his hands. "What happened?"

"It's Oscar!" Marina said, tears escaping her eyes. "The Salmonids took him!"

"What?!"

Marina patted Oliver's head softly, wiping sweat from his forehead. "You're okay, Oliver. Can you stand?"

Oliver's only response was a whimper. His hands desperately gripped Marina for comfort, but they were trembling.

"Get him on the bed," said Pearl. "I'll get him something to drink."

Marina pulled a panic-stricken Oliver onto his feet and guided him onto Agent 3's bed, while Pearl dashed out of the room. She was sure their boss wouldn't mind him using it. His head landed against the pillows and Marina held his hand gently. He was taking deep breaths and was slowly calming down, but was still shaking.

"Oscar, where is he…?" he cried. "I… If anything's happened…" He gasped and sat up suddenly. "What they give him to-" Marina lowered him back down.

"Oliver, easy," said Marina. She shushed him as soon as she saw him shaking again. "We won't let that happen."

The Octoling boy trembled as tears escaped his eyes. Marina was tears, too, but it warmed her heart to see how much Oliver really loved his brother. She got on the bed, and held him close, and Oliver wasted no time hugging her. The girl held him firmly, but gently, and he was trying to relax.

"Where's Oscar?" Oliver said. His voice was almost a whisper.

"We're gonna get him back!" Pearl marched in with some tea on a small plate. "Some of the cooks were on their break, so I got some tea."

Marina looked at Pearl with narrowed eyes. The Inkling rolled her eyes.

"There's no water. They put some of that imitation stuff in it."

With Marina's help, Oliver sat up and drank his tea, slowly.

"What are we going to do?" said Pearl.

"You call Spyke. I'm gonna call the boss."

"On it!" The rapstar pulled out her phone and hurried out of the room. Marina, laid Oliver back down once his cup was empty and put the empty dish on the nightstand. His eyes drooped shut, the tea already relaxing him.

"I'll get him back!" the Octoling muttered. He formed a fist, gripping the sheets beneath him and his closed eyes tightened. "I'll-" Marina's hand took his, and he began to loosen his grip on the bed.

"No, we will! I promise." The response Marina got was another whimper. "I know you're worried. We all are." She wiped away the fresh tears from his eyes. "Just chill. Our boss will be here soon and we'll get him."

Oliver sniffled, leaning into Marina. He was so scared for Oscar, for Marina, for everyone and himself. Yet, he felt so exhausted beyond belief and a need to be with the Octoling he cherished as much as his brother. "I love you…"

Marina leaned over and kissed his forehead. "I love you, too…"


"Nothing personal, kid. Boss's orders."

And yet, it had felt personal. Jade laid on her bed, closing her eyes, despite the darkness over them already.

"In the darkness… everything is okay. Let your negative feelings fade away. Remember what your mission is."

She had been told and recited it over and over again. And it would work over and over again. Any doubts would fade away, and she would remember her goal: To fight for a better future for the Octarians, and take back what the Inklings stole! Their land, their freedom, her friends… her fiancé…

"Jade?"

The Octoling gasped. She sat up from her bed, breaking out from her silence and the dark shades on her eyes fell onto her lap. She looked across the room and saw Alex in the doorway.

"Oh, it's just you…" she said, wiping away one of the locks of hair on her face. "Are you feeling better? I forgot if you wanted to use the shades for a bit."

Alex chuckled. "Yep. I feel like a new Octoling, and no, it's okay. I'm good, for now."

"Alright…" Jade swung her legs over the bed and put her shades on the nightstand. She walked with Alex out of the room and they headed down the hall, leaving the residents quarters area. "So, how's our… 'guests'?"

"The farm girl is shaken up, but adapting, the Squid Sister seems to have taken a liking to talking to some of our personnel. Everyone loves her single, though, so I don't blame them."

Jade sighed, and crossed her arms. "Exactly. This is why Octavio wants her power."

Alex turned to her slowly. "So… what are we going to do about that Cici girl? Isn't she a Trow?"

"I wouldn't have minded testing on her like with Erray, but if we did we could lose Callie's favor, even if we decide to just get rid of her."

"Splat it…" Alex muttered. "And she doesn't even know anything about Agent 3…"

"Well, as long as we can keep Callie, she gets to stick around," Jade said with a shrug.

The two took a vehicle and went to another dome, going into one of the many small cities in the Octarian. This one was known for its liveliness. It had auditoriums, bars, clubs and shops. The streets were flooded at nightfall with bright lights and large crowds. The lights were a new audition, now that they had so much more power. The old water wheels connected to the canals to prevent flooding from surface rainfall hadn't been used in a while.

After the two got down from a vehicle at a giant stadium-like structure, they approached some giant doors and were led into the auditorium. There were many seats made of black cloth outlined with fuschia, placed neatly in rows and beautiful pink colored spotlights were shining down on the stage and from the stage there were lights shooting upward as well. Already, there were people entering the theater: Octolings, Octo Troopers, Isopods and other creatures. They all seemed excited and were each given a pink glow stick at the entrance.

Jade looked from behind the stage curtains, seeing all the people that were gathered.

"Wow. What a turn-out," Jade whispered.

"Well, the boss is ready," said Alex.

"And Callie?"

"She's getting ready in her dressing room."

Jade nodded. "Okay, well, it's almost show-time, so you check on Callie, while I introduce the Boss."

"Got it." Alex turned away but gave her a thumbs up as he walked towards Callie's dressing room.

The spotlights shined down on the stage and people began to cheer. Jade's voice echoed through the speakers as she spoke into the microphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Thanks for coming to our show tonight!" A great deal of fog surrounded the stage. "Can you guess who's on the stage?" People threw up their glow wands and waved them around, and cheering began to fill the room. "Back again after two long years! It's the one, the only, DJ OCTAVIO!"

Alex could hear all of the cheering and screaming. He looked past the curtains momentarily to see his general rise up from below the stage with his giant DJ music set. He held up his two sticks of Wasabi.

"DJ OCTAVIO! IN DAH HOUSE!" the DJ yelled. "Y'all ready for this?!"

Alex almost forgot himself, and kept searching behind the stage. He went towards the dressing room, the guards moving out of the way, and letting him pass.


Blushing faces covered in pink

Rushing bombs, exploding ink

We'll throw them, we'll shoot them

And every foe is through

Callie had finished singing, and took in the applause from the audience. It was the time that she and her cousin sung their solos. It was one of the last concerts they had done together before she was taken.

The Squid Sister giggled, waving back at the audience.

"Thank-you…" she said, taking a breath. "It really means a lot that-"

"Where's Marie?!" an audience member shouted.

"We want Tide Goes Out!"

"Um-" Callie raised her hand a bit to speak.

"Tide Goes Out! Tide Goes Out!" she heard from the audience. At the time, Callie could only laugh nervously, and wave a bit. The music for her cousin's song was already starting.

"And now, Marie's gonna be singing her solo song, 'Tide Goes Out'!"

As the audience cheered even louder for Marie, Callie wandered to the back of the stage. The spotlights shined down with green and people glow wands turned into green colors and they waved them around excitedly. The pink Squid Sister sighed and watched from afar.


"Marie isn't the same without Callie."

"Marie doesn't shine as bright without her."

"Please come back. Marie needs you."

Callie blushed as she looked in the mirror. Her dressing room was decked out with some of the finest outfits she had seen in Octarian territory. They were mostly black clothes, accented with some other colors, but the fabric looked really refined. The floors were plush with a black and pink checkered carpet and the warm pink walls were dimly lit by soft lights from the ceiling.

Callie had been given a new outfit, but she didn't know what to think now that it was on her. She had a black crop top that was revealing her midriff and the shoulders were sharp out. There were three pink stripes in the middle, only they were vertical and not horizontal. Instead an ikayaki accessory on her head, it was takoyaki, which she didn't mind. She had small Octopus earrings placed on her ears, low cut shorts and purple tights with sequins to make them sparkle. Her boots were black, along with her gloves.

"I don't know about this," Callie said, stretching out her hands, and checking herself out in the mirror.

"Were you listening?"

The Squid Sister turned to Cici who had been playing her the Off the Hook broadcast from a stolen phone.

Callie lowered her hands. She turned to her slowly.

"They miss you, Callie…" Cici said, softly. "We can't keep fooling around down here. It was fun when they let us leave our cell and talk to the other Octarians. Octo-Bob is hilarious and Jade isn't… too bad. I've liked learning about them and their culture, but did you forget that we're prisoners?!"

"They don't miss me…" Callie said, with a sigh.

Cici lowered her phone. "Excuse me?"

"Did you listen closely? They're not upset because I'm gone. They're upset because Marie is miserable without me!" Her gloved hands formed fists.

Cici quickly hid the phone when the door opened. It was Alex. Callie gasped and turned to the Octoling.

"Whoa…" he said. "You look… stunning!" He bit his lip a little, trying not to blush. "U-Um… The General expects you on stage in five minutes."

Callie smiled, her hearts being warmed by the praise. "Thank-you. I'll be there soon."

The door shut, and Cici covered her mouth. "But, Callie! They shot me in the back!"

"Well, I saw your brother get smashed in the head, while I was tied up and beaten!" Callie then hissed. "And if they find you with that phone, we're both going to be in big trouble!" Her hands landed on the counter where the makeup laid. "They make their feelings clear, while Inklings hide behind fake emotions, instead of just saying what they want! Here, they want me!"

"Erray…" Cici said. Her brother briefly crossed her mind. "Callie, what are you saying? Your cousin, your grandfather! Aren't they worried about you? Are you just going to abandon them?"

Callie stepped back, hugging herself. "No! I'm not saying that! I just…" She shut her eyes. If she cried, her makeup would run. "I don't know…"

Outside, the two could hear the roar of the audience. Callie finally moved and pushed past her fellow "prisoner."

"I have to go…" Callie opened the door and left Cici alone. She looked at her stolen phone and then around the dressing room. If Callie wasn't going to help, she would have to find a way out on her own!

As Callie walked onto the stage, she heard the loud cheering of an entire auditorium. Her hand blocked out some light, but there, she could see the thousands of fans, calling her name, and her name alone!

"W-Wait… They're happy for… me?" said Callie.

"Well, the both of us." Callie turned and saw DJ Octavio behind her. "Isn't it tentacular? They all love your little song. Now, are we gonna remix it or what?"

Callie could barely react before a mic landed in her hands. When she turned back to the audience who were still cheering. She nodded and the music started.

At first, she thought she was just singing Bomb Rush Blush, but then she realized that the DJ was quite literal when he said "remix." He had remixed Callie's song, putting his own twist on it.

Regardless, the audience loved it!


When the show was over, Callie came back to her dressing room and saw that Cici was no longer there. She assumed that she was taken back to base already. The Squid Sister went over to the desk, and slumped into the chair, hiding her head in her arms.

"Are you just going to abandon them?"

Every so often, a thought would enter her mind: What if she stayed? Would Inkopolis really suffer without her? It's all about Marie nowadays. She wasn't the one with her own show at 28:00 every night. She wasn't on talk shows and filming for a bunch of movies. And, what was her grandfather doing? Almost always not being around, because he's "gotta keep an eye on those pesky Octo-jerks!"

Callie then raised her head, hearing the door open. She shook her head. Why was she thinking like this?

What's happening to me? she thought as tears entered her eyes.

"Cal, we gotta head back," Jade said, poking her head through the door. "Ya ready?" The girl shut the door behind her and approached slowly. "What's with you?"

"S-Sorry… I was just…" she trailed off.

Jade looked in the mirror, seeing Callie's makeup run just a little. "Did something happen? Did Bob accidentally knock something on your foot again?"

"No. I… I can't stop thinking about Marie. Before you guys…" She stopped for a moment to think. "Before you guys brought me here, she and I were always together, but we got really busy, spending less and less time together, and when we were together, we were at each other's throats…" Callie covered her eyes. "So, why have I barely thought about her until now?"

Jade shrugged. "Well, we took you from her. So, it makes sense that you've been distracted." The Octolings turned to the door. "Now, co-"

"It's not it," Callie mumbled. She slowly moved her hands away from her face. "I don't miss her."

Jade froze right there and then. She turned back to the Inkling, red eyes locking with golden ones. "Wait, what?"

"I like it here…" Callie said, her voice shaky. "You guys all make me feel… like I am everything."

Jade grabbed a chair and sat down slowly. Ever since she had come here, her voice made so many of her fellow Octarians happy. The troops were talking more to one another, and playing with one another. When Octavio wasn't busy, more people would participate in his DJ parties.

Despite this, Jade's hearts were still filled with fear. Fear that everything would change, that Callie would turn away and take away everything that she and her cousin already have…

But this is what the general wants…

"Then… stay."

Callie looked at her. Jade wasn't glaring, she was focused, her hand was held out in a soft gesture for her to take it…

"I…" The Squid Sister hugged herself, rubbing her arms. "But, what about gramps… Marie… Agent-"

"Didn't Agent 3 abandon you?" said Jade. "Here, we do not take kindly to deserters… But, if you stay, you are treated like family. Besides, it's not everyday that we allow an Inkling into our ranks."

"But if I stay here… I'll abandon… everything…" said Callie. "I… It's so much." The girl sniffled, wiping her eyes.

Jade lowered her hand. She was obviously conflicted and crying. Seeing her like this, all confused and scared, reminded her of someone familiar. It was two years ago, and people all around her disappeared, and she didn't know what to do.

Callie reminded Jade of herself.

"Come with me," said Jade. She stood, and knew that Callie was following behind her.

When they made it back to the base, Jade for once let Callie into the personnel residents area and let her into her quarters. In the bedroom area, on the nightstand, were the dark shades that she had left earlier. The Octoling picked them up and presented them to her.

"These shades… DJ Octavio created them to help us when we were conflicted, or confused. We would forget about anything holding us back and be able to focus."

"F-Forget…?" Callie placed a hand on her chest. "But… I don't want to forget about Marie or gramps."

Jade sighed and placed them back down on the nightstand. "You won't… unfortunately." The thought of a certain Inkling entered her mind briefly. "But, they'll help suppress any negative thoughts you're having." The Octoling held one of her arms with the other hand. "I… I know it sucks to be outshined."

"Huh?" Callie's voice was almost a whisper.

Jade's hearts jumped. Her jaw was held tightly, scared to say anymore.

"I am one of the top Inklings here in the military," said Jade. "I love Octavio's music and I'm fully devoted to the cause. And so… I saw it as almost no surprise when the general chose me to be with his grandson. And yet… everyone's eyes on the prodigy combat engineer who had transferred from the Slimeskin Garrison. My combat skill meant nothing to her tech skill."

Callie stared at her, seeing Jade gather her hands. "I… I didn't expect his grandson to love me," Jade continued. "I just expected that he would honor tradition. And maybe… we would've been happy." She held out her hand. Callie shook, but she reached out and grabbed her hand, and when she did, she held her other hand over it. "Inkopolis and the rest of the surface is crazy! But down here… everything makes sense. We all have a place we belong to… and everyone is acknowledged."

Still, Callie remained silent. The Octoling grabbed her shoulder, making her walk with her out of the quarters.

"Well, the shades are there if you want them…"

Jade began to lead her out, and Callie glanced back briefly, seeing the shades on the nightstand.

The soldier left Callie in her room and then she started heading back, when Alex ran up to her at lightning speed.

"Jade! JADE!" he yelled.

The Octoling held out her hands and caught her friend, before he practically knocked her over. "What is it? Geez…"

Alex backed off and caught his breath. "It's… It's Oscar… Our allies found him."


The Ruins of Ark Polaris.

The last and biggest stronghold of the five locations near Inkopolis for the Salmonids was located in the ruins of what appeared to be a space shuttle. The structure was built with ramps and clear walls for climbing for Salmon Runs. It was surrounded by dark sand and the usual green polluted ocean. There were ink rails, one could take to get to the top quickly, which was where the basket was usually set.

But tonight, it was far from the subject of Salmon Run.

Agent 3 made it back to Pigmy Mansion, where Pearl, Marina, and a panic-stricken Oliver, told the news of their beloved Oscar. All their cries of terror, concern and rage were put aside for the Inkling with a plan. Well, it wasn't much of a plan, for their boss was as concerned as the rest of them. Salmonids breaking in and snatching an innocent kid without warning...

Agent 3 was not happy.

A ship cut through the waves. It looked like it was from Grizzco, but at the helm was none other than Marina. She was dressed in her clothes that she used when they broke into that Octarian base, as was everyone else… Pearl, Oliver, and tagging along were some extra muscle, Bass and Oceania.

The night brought a cold air as they made their way through the fog, with the ship's searchlight shut off for stealth.

Oliver stood at the edge with Agent 3. The Boss was unsure if the Octoling was shivering from the cold or fear of what happened. A Splattershot was on Oliver's waist and a Charger was on his back.

"You sure no one saw us?" said Oliver.

Marina, who was at the helm, shook her head. "No, it was pitch black all around the docks. Pearlie and I work there sometimes, so I don't think Mr. Grizz will mind if we borrow one ship for a bit."

Oliver turned back and faced the ocean. "We underestimated them."

"No," Agent 3 said, sharply. "They underestimated us! We are going to get your brother back."

"I swear! I will shoot everyone there!" Bass said, harshly.

"Bass, I need you to stay calm. All of you!" Agent 3 turned to the band of Cephalopods behind them. "Char and Oscar are waiting for us! Keep your heads clear! No one makes a move until I say so."

"Right!" the group said.

The ship was getting closer and closer. Everyone Super Jumped and landed on the shores. From there, they could see Salmonid activity. They were all over the place. They were on the ramps, at the top, and even inside the giant structure itself.

Agent 3 turned to Oliver and Bass.

"One last time. Are you sure the two of you are okay?"

"As I've said before, I'm fine," said Oliver.

Bass merely nodded. "I don't care about you, I just want Char back."

"Same to you," said Agent 3. Bass winced at how close the Inkling leaned in. "But unlike you, I care about both lives on the line." And with that, cape flowing in the wind, Agent 3 took the lead, while the other Inklings and Octolings followed behind, beginning the march like a wall up to the structure, linking hands briefly, and their ink colors all changed to a matching blue. "Who steals a coddamn child?!"

"I'm gonna let fly at those filthy fools!" Oliver muttered.

"Oliver, stay calm," said Marina. She gave his hand a squeeze with hers. Unfortunately, it wasn't Bass or Oliver's temper that Marina had to worry about.

"GET DOWN HERE, NOW!" the harsh shout shook everyone. "YOU MOLDY TRASH!" Everyone's eyes landed on the rogue agent, who was waving the Anti-Hero Shot around. Bass nearly charged forward, but Oceania, held him back gently.

"Easy…" she said.

A small band of a common Chum raced out to meet the group, leaving trails of green ink behind them. One them, frying pan in hand pointed at the rogue leader.

"Why… you here?"

Oliver and Pearl flinched in disgust. "It talks?!" the Inkling said. Marina shushed her with a finger to her lips.

"We've come for the boys," said Agent 3. "You must've known we would."

"Should not mess with us!" the Chum said. "Our eggs! Our waters!"

Agent 3 took a breath, shoulders rolled a bit.

"Whatever complaint you have with Grizzco, or otherwise… You took a young boy! That is not how we do things." A hand landed on the Anti-Hero Shot, strapped to the rogue's hip. "Hand them over."

"LeAVe!" the band of Chum demanded.

No Cephalopod moved a muscle. Agent 3 sighed. "You know… I never did expect any of you to be civil about this."

And almost immediately, the weapon was already in the rogue's hands and shooting at the Salmonids. Everyone else pulled out their weapons and started to open fire. Oliver and Bass ran for cover behind some forgotten crates, while Marina stood near some platforms.

"Keep your eyes open! They could come from above!" Agent 3 yelled. The rogue began to throw a round of ink bombs, jumping and dodging ink beams from Stingers.

Oliver, scope at the ready open fired at any Cohocks rushing out. Rows of blue ink were being left everywhere.

"Yeah, get some!" Pearl yelled. She jumped over the crates, dodging swings from pots and pans. She then jumped when the Jaws tried to nab her but she kept it mouth open with her legs and and threw a Splat Bomb down its throat, and it exploded.

Missiles started shooting through the air. Oceania, Squelcher in hand drew their fire towards her while Marina managed to get the cannons online. Bass tore through Cohock after Cohock, leaving puddles of blue ink on the ground as he made his way to one. Pearl got in the other one.

"Open fire!" 3 yelled at the two. And torpedoes filled with blue ink shot at the Flyfish, dismantling the missile cannons and sending the small fry tumbling down. The next were the Stingers, as well as the inkcoming Steelheads.

Back to back, Oceania and Oliver splatted Chum left and right until they could shoot the one controlling a Steel Eel.

The walls, the floor… everywhere was covered in blue ink by the time the area was silent. Agent 3's eyes fell on a metal door on the bottom that was sealed tight.

Bass was the first to dismount from his cannon. "So?!"

"Bass, Oliver! With me!" said Agent 3. "The rest of you stay out here and keep an eye for any other arrivals.

The Octoling gestured for Bass to follow and he did, tightly gripping his Blaster. He looked around seeing particles of blue ink beginning to rise. His hearts sank, beating rapidly in fear. Pearl, Marina, and Oliver were staring at the rising ink, as well, but in awe.

"Uh…" Bass tried to say something, but suddenly the ink rushed past him and a tornado like ink storm tore through metal doors sending them flying into the structure. Agent 3 rushed in and held up the Anti-Hero Shot.

"Get in there!" the rogue yelled. "Find Oscar and Char! And find the big Goldie in charge!"

"Ugh, disgusting…" Oliver pinched his nose at the stench. There was green ink everywhere. Pots and pans were hung on the walls like the room was some kind of armory. Eggs and Golden Eggs were hung up in nets, which Agent 3 quickly shot down. Oliver went to the right tearing apart rooms. "Oscar!" he yelled. "Are you in here?!"

"CHAR!" Bass kicked down a door and entered some kind of dark room. It was strangely lit pink and his jaw almost dropped and held up his weapon. There were rows and rows or Silver Salmonids, but they weren't moving. They were staring at the wall, unmoving. Maps were plastered all over the walls. It looked like layouts of the waters, and Inkopolis.

"Any sign of them?!" It sounded like Pearl.

"Not yet!" said Bass.

Meanwhile Oliver made it to one of the top floors and found some double doors that were jammed shut. He pushed and kicked it, but it wouldn't move. Agent 3 and Bass soon caught up.

"I've got this…" 3 muttered.

"I don't think your power will work on Salmonids," said Bass. "They don't have much ink in their bodies like us."

"No. But it'll work on us! I'll be damned if anything happens to them!"

Oliver suddenly glared, his ink color changing to red, and Bass felt even more enraged, his ink color changed to red as well.

"Now, get in there!" Agent 3 yelled.

All three of them pushed on the doors and they swung open, cabinets and chairs getting knocked over and dropping onto the metallic floor. A group of Salmonids scrambled for cover and Bass shook a Fizzy Bomb before tossing it at them. The three ducked behind the cabinet and it blew up.

Once the ink had settled, their team color settled back to blue. Agent 3 hopped over the cabinet and busted a closet opened pulling out a shining Goldie and pinning it against the wall. The two Cephalopods behind the rogue shot it some angry glares.

"You want me to shoot you, too, Salmon scum!" Agent 3 yelled.

"Splasterds!" the Goldie hissed.

"Where are the boys?!" Bass yelled.

"We lives in waters here for many years! No problems until you!"

"Where are the boys?!" Bass yelled louder. "Who took them?!"

"You shoot my frien-"

"Oh, and I will surely shoot the rest of them unless you start talking!" said Agent 3. The Goldie found their neck at the end of the rogue's weapon.

The Goldie merely growled. Bass grabbed them and slammed them against the wall once more. Oliver leaned in, locking his sharp green eyes with the creature. Teeth held tight, he spoke.

"Where. Is. The kid?"

The Goldie saw into the Octoling's eyes, remembering a face that no one could forget. This was no ordinary Octoling.

"You… traitor!" the Salmonid yelled, almost spitting with the shout. Oliver winced in disgust.

Agent 3 growled and yanked the golden creature along, pulling them to the door. The Salmonid screeched and struggled. "Alright. We get this thing outside!" the rogue said. Bass followed, and Oliver quickly checked for anyone hiding before following outside.

"Anyone else to deal with?!" Agent 3 spoke over the screaming Goldie as they were dragged down the ramps to the bottom floors. Then they could hear an engine in the skies. It was a helicopter.

"Nope," Oliver said, flatly.

"NOOOOOoOOooOOooooOOO!" the Goldie screeched. Bass and Oliver covered their ears but kept walking. Agent 3 didn't stop, no matter how scuffed up the Salmonid was getting. It made Bass force himself to look away. The rogue pressed a button on an earpiece.

"Hyperfresh, you know what to do."

"Are you sure?" Marina said, over the earpiece.

"That's right! Blow this dump to the ground!" Agent 3 shouted.

There was the sound of things being smashed, and walls getting knocked down. By the time they made it to the ground floor, the walls and floor were covered in blue. The Goldie yelled, seeing all the eggs and Golden Eggs being tied up in bags by Oceania and Pearl. They hoisted them over their back and carried them outside.

"You guys sure Oscar and Char aren't here?"

"We searched everywhere, Boss," said Pearl.

"LET… GO!" the Goldie screamed as they made it outside near the shores, where everyone met up. "You… Squidiot!" Up in the skies, Bass could see the helicopter overhead. It was shiny, made from the finest metal. Two propellers were holding it up in the air, while pink and blue green lights shined down from it. Neon lights were on the edges of the propellers, as well.

"There you go!" Agent 3 tossed the creature into the dirt. Giant suction bombs flew through the air landing all over the structure behind them. Blue ink began to rise into the air. With simply one wave of Agent 3's hand all of it splashed onto each and every bomb. All the Goldie could do was shiver and yell as each and every one of them went off with Agent 3's weapon pointed at them. Bass covered his mouth as the structure collapsed before them.

"Never… like you…" the Goldie said.

"Why did you take the boys, Goldie?!" Pearl yelled.

"StOLe oUr EgGs!" the Salmonid yelled, looking into 3's eyes, that were shielded behind goggles. "ShOoT oUr PeOpLe! We FoUnD hElP aNd ToOk It! No RuLeS iN wAr, FrEaK oF…"

The rogue knelt down.

"Where are Oscar and Char?"

The Goldie sat up, and Agent 3 stood, still holding the weapon at them.

"Friends give them to other friends at Lost Outpost…" the Goldie said. "There… or on the way back underground!"

Oliver gasped. He almost lunged at the creature until Pearl and Marina held him back. All Oliver could do was kick dirt at them.

"I WILL KILL YOU IF THEY GIVE HIM BACK TO MY GRANDFATHER!"

Oceania ran in front of Oliver and held out her hand.

"Your Highness, chill!" she said. "Let's get him out of here."

"Oliver…" Marina's voice made Oliver stop struggling. She put her hands on his shoulders and tears entered both of their eyes.

"I…" Oliver then trembled, and slowly Pearl was able to let him go. The two leaned their heads into one another.

"Let's go!" said Agent 3. "Pearl, Marina, take Oliver back on the heli. Bass, Oceania, and I will take the boat back to Grizzco Industries. Last thing we need is the fuzz on our backs for stolen property, but hopefully these eggs will probably make them forget about it."

"What about the Goldie?" said Pearl.

Agent 3 turned back to it, weapon at the ready when the creature attempted to stand.

"I leave you here to show them this as a message to anyone who messes with the Agents of Three!" And with that, the rogue smashed the barrel of the Anti-Hero Shot into the Goldie's face making it fall onto the ground, motionless.

Bass gasped, flinching in horror. The creature had a small wound on his head, green bleeding from the cut. Oceania, pulled on his arm.

"Come on," she said.

The group walked away, leaving the one Goldie in the shores of the fallen stronghold...