Arc 2 Chapter 7
Izzy was put in a small room and was guarded from the outside by a few of Camper's gang members. She was sitting down on the floor her with face in her legs as she cried unsure what was going and why she and Cass had been kidnapped. Izzy picked her head and sniffled hoping that someone would look for her and Cassie.
"Cass, I hope you're alright, (Sniffle) I hope someone will come looking for us," said Izzy wiping the tears from her eye and downing her head back against her legs.
Thoughts were running through Izzy's head as she feared they were trapped and at the whim of Camper and his gang.
Meanwhile, Cassie was guiding Camper and his gang toward Urchin Underpass to see if there was any evidence or clues about the mysterious figure. As they got there they looked around but to no luck there was nothing. They made there way across the turf war stage and into the alleyway where Cass last saw the creature.
"It disappeared down this alleyway, I don't know where it went," said Cassie.
Camper looked around and saw no traces of the creature. "It couldn't have just disappeared, keep looking," demanded Camper.
"Hey, boss! look!" yelled one Camper's gang members as he pointed to a manhole lid.
"That's got to be the only way the creature got away," said Camper.
Camper's guys lifted up the manhole lid and looked down covering their noses from the smell.
"yuck! why on earth would anyone go down there? All well," said Camper in disgust.
He turned toward Cassie and pointed to her to go down the manhole. "Alright Cass, ladies first," said Camper snidely.
"Awww, aren't you a gentlesquid, and no I'm not going down there!" said Cassie sarcastically crossing her arms in protest.
"yes you are, you don't want anything to happen to your friend do you," said Camper with an evil grin pulling out his phone.
"Wait, Ross! I'll...go down," said Cassie as she downed her arms and head.
"That's a good girl, now start climbing," said Camper putting his phone back in his pocket.
Everyone had made it down into the sewers. They walked through the tunnel until they came across the abandoned maintenance room. The door was cracked and the light was still on. The inklings slowly crept toward the door with their ink guns out.
"Alright you two, check the room," ordered Camper as he pointed to two of his gang members.
The two inklings nodded and huddled up near the door. One inkling braced up against the wall and the other stood in front of the door ready to kick it open. The two inklings soon stormed the room but it was empty. "Boss, there's no one here!" shouted one of the inklings.
Camper and Cass walked in and looked around. No one was occupying the room but Camper spotted a smashed box in the corner. "Apparently someone has been staying in here, keep searching!" barked Camper as he had held Cassie's arm.
"yes, Camper!" the two inklings shouted as they left the room.
Camper slung Cassie to the floor on the crushed box that was used as a makeshift bed. "Alright! Start talking about the creature! What did it look like? Where did it go?" demanded Camper.
Cassie looked up and glared at Camper as she sitting on the crushed box. "Ross, I already told you I don't know where it went!" shouted Cassie angrily.
"I heard you tried to subdue it and your ink didn't have much effect on it, why?" asked Camper.
"Ross I don't know! All I know is it was tall and was wearing some kind of cloak. I didn't see its face but it didn't have tentacles on its head, it looked kinda like fur, like on Judd, I don't think it was an inkling or octoling," said Cassie looking at Camper with concern.
"well duh, of course, it wasn't an inkling or octoling!" shouted Camper in a smug tone.
Camper looked off and thought for a moment as Cassie was looking at him with concern and confusion.
"So, it's true what the octolings said, I thought they were full of crap, I thought they were long extinct," Camper said quietly said to himself.
"What? What is it Ross?, what do you know and what about the octolings?" asked Cassie hearing some of Camper's conservation.
Camper looked back at Cass. "That's none of your business!" shouted Camper.
"If the octolings are involved in this, then it is my business, If you put Inkopolis or anyone else in danger, I'll...," said Cassie with seriousness as she was cut off.
"You'll do what? You seem to forget that I have your friend and who's going to believe you anyway," said Camper in a smug tone.
"Believe what?" asked Cassie with concern.
"You ask too many questions, Cass. now enough! let's go!" shouted an irritated Camper as he grabbed Cassie up by the arm and shoved her out the doorway.
At the square in the new studio, Pearl and Marina were getting ready for the grand opening for the square. Pearl was looking in a mirror admiring herself while Marina was checking her equipment. After a moment Pearl turned around and looked at Marina. "Well, Rina you ready for tonight?" asked Pearl energetically.
"I guess so, Pearly, just making sure everything is working properly before tonight," responded Marina still checking her equipment.
"Rina, I'm sure everything will work fine, take a break you've been dealing with that all morning," said Pearl.
"Pearl, you know I want everything to go right at the grand opening, this is special, all the inklings will be there and I'm hoping the octolings will too," said Marina turning toward Pearl.
"I'm not so sure about the octolings, Rina. I mean they have been our enemies since, like a long time. Who's to say they still aren't, I mean even with the peace treaty that doesn't mean they might try something," said Pearl crossing her arms.
Pearl, that's not fair! It was the inklings that drove us underground with hardly any power, I mean I'm not mad anymore and I'm glad the inklings have given us a chance. " said Marina with an indignant tone with her arms crossed.
"Rina, I wasn't directing toward you, you're different, you're my friend and I just don't trust any of the other octolings is all," said Pearl with her hands out.
"Pearly you're always judging, that's still my people and you should give them a chance, you gave me a chance and taught me your culture, remember," said Marina calming down from Pearl's remarks.
"Alright Marina, I'm sorry, let's just focus on the concert and hope everything goes ok," said Pearl as she hugged Marina.
"(Sigh) I just wish you wouldn't be so critical of everything Pearly, but I'm glad to have you as a friend," said Marina with a slight smile.
"Hey! that's what I do yo!" said Pearl as Marina closed her eyes and shook her head.
After a while, as they headed back to their stations, Marina turned back toward pearl. "Hey Pearl," said Marina with a serious look.
"yeah, Rina?" asked Pearl.
"I hope the octolings don't try anything either, I hope they're true to the treaty, I wanna stay in Inkopolis and stay friends with you and the inklings," said Marina with a concerned tone.
"I hope so too Rina, I shouldn't have said all those things, I want us to stay friends too. I don't you to get driven out of Inkopolis because you're an octoling. I'll knock any buster that tries and haggle you or hurt you because you're an octoling," said Pearl with an angered tone clenching her fists.
Marina chuckled covering her mouth. "Pearly, you never change," said Marina with a smile.
"Hey! That's what friends are for Rina!" said Pearl pointing her thumb to herself.
The two then continued what they were doing. Pearl walked toward the back of the studio while Marina stayed up front continuing working on her DJ booth. Marina waited until Pearl was out of sight and quickly picked up her laptop and started typing. She opened up a message board and was typing a message to an unknown individual. after a moment a message popped up on her screen as she read it.
"So the rumors are true, (sigh) I hope this doesn't get out, who knows how Inkopolis will react," said Marina with a slightly distressed.
She typed and sent another message to the unknown individual and waited. After a moment another message came in and she read it.
She heard Pearl come back in the studio and she quickly shut the laptop and put it away. "Hey, Rina you seen my squidphone?" asked Pearl.
"Uh...there it is, you left in your chair, pearly," as she looked around and spotted the phone.
"Thanks, Rina, are you ok?" asked Pearl raising her eyebrow.
"Yeah, why do you ask?" said Marina slightly nervous.
'Nothing, It's just...your acting nervous or something," said Pearl.
"Well, of course I am, the concert is tonight," said Marina trying to throw pearl off.
"Yeah, you have been worried about that, well don't be, you'll do fine Rina!" said pearl assuring Marina.
Pearl walked to the back of the studio again out of sight. Marina gave a long sigh and took her laptop back out and started typing again.
"I gotta do something, but the concert is tonight, hopefully, nothing will happen before then," said Marina.
Blake was laying in a bed with his eyes still closed. He started to flinch as the old inkling Cuttlefish was sitting in a chair next to bed, still not believing the human he was dear friends with long ago was alive and laying in front of him.
"I... can't believe it... I just can't," muttered Cuttlefish shaking his head still in shock.
Blake mumbled and slowly opened his eyes. Everything was blurry as he allowed his eyes to focus and turned his head toward the figure looking over him.
"Huh... what's going on?...wh...where...am I?" asked Blake weakly.
He noticed the old inkling and jerked wide-eyed. "Who are you?!" What's going on!? Wait...are you?" asked Blake getting out of his fear.
Cuttlefish nodded to Blake and he soon got up off the chair with his cane.
"It's me Bucko, Captain Cuttlefish," said Cuttlefish.
"Ca...Captain? Is that... really you?" asked Blake trying to take in the captain's appearance.
"Yeah, Bucko it's me," said Cuttlefish softly.
"Captain!" shouted Blake as he reached over and pulled Cuttlefish in a hug.
"Woah! Bucko! I'm not young anymore!" said Cuttlefish in surprise from the embrace.
"Sorry Captain, but... It's been so long, I thought I would never see you again!" exclaimed Blake with tears in his eyes.
"Everything's going to be ok, I saw you laying in front of my door, I didn't know what to think, I'm... just glad to see you again," said Cuttlefish as tears started to form.
"Me too Captain, how long has it been?" asked Blake wiping the tears from his eyes.
"Bucko, it's been a hundred years," explained Cuttlefish.
"100 years!" shouted Blake in utter shock not believing what he just heard.
"It's true Bucko... I'm sorry, I wish I could've stopped Octavio," said Cuttlefish as he downed his head in remorse.
"Captain it's not your fault, it happened so fast. There was nothing you could've done," said Blake placing his hand on Cuttlefish's shoulder trying to console him.
Cuttlefish looked back up at Blake. Blake gave Cuttlefish a smile and a hug then gave him a serious look.
"Captain, then you and the inklings won the war, was Octavio stopped?" asked Blake.
"Yes, bucko, we won and Octavio was stopped, I... wanted to kill him after I saw you drop in that pod but... I didn't... I didn't want to lose another friend," said Cuttlefish in distress covering his eyes to hide his tears.
"Captain...I'm proud that you didn't kill Octavio, I still hold anger towards him for it but, (Sigh) I'm just glad you and the inklings stopped him," said Blake.
"Thanks, bucko, I don't think I could've lived with myself if I splatted that bastard," said Cuttlefish.
"Speaking of the war, how about Judd and, Ammoses," asked Blake.
"Judd is still around, he stays in the city, that fat cat does nothing but eat and sleep, he hasn't changed a bit," said Cuttlefish.
"Ammoses...Isn't around... he passed away years ago, bucko. I'm...sorry, but his grandson is running a shop in the city," said Cuttlefish sadly.
"I'm sorry to hear that, he was my friend too Captain...what about...Mimi?" asked Blake in a worried tone.
"I've talked to her, but it's been years Bucko, I'm not sure if she is still around, last I heard she was still running her store in Calamari County," said Cuttlefish.
Blake just remained silent as thoughts of losing his friends ran threw his head. Seeing Cuttlefish brought both relief but anguish hearing it had been a hundred years since he was thrown into that pod by Octavio. He felt the same as he did when he was found on the beach years ago by Cuttlefish and Octavio.
Blake sat back on the bed and recollected himself. He gave a long sigh and looked back at Cuttlefish. Cuttlefish looked back at him with a saddened look and then downed his head. Blake's stomach growled and Cuttlefish picked his head back up.
"sounds like your hungry, bucko," said Cuttlefish,
"starving captain," said Blake holding his stomach as he got up.
The two of them walked out of Cuttlefish's bedroom and headed to the kitchen to get some food.
Back at Camper's base, two inklings were standing guard in front of a door where Izzy was being held against her will. After a moment another inkling could be seen approaching the guards. She had purple tentacles under her cap with yellow eyes. She was wearing a jacket and tight black shorts like all other inklings. As she walked up to the two inklings. One of the inklings held his hand up to stop her.
"Hey! stop right there! what's your business?" demanded the inkling guard.
"I'm here to talk to the prisoner, orders from Camper," said the inkling girl with her arms crossed.
"We weren't told anything, get outta here!" yelled the guard.
"Alright, I tried doing this the easy way," muttered the inkling girl.
She pulled out an ink gun and shot at the guard knocking him against the wall.
"What the!" shouted the other guard.
She rushed him and hit him with her ink gun knocking him out like the other one. "Hmpf... they weren't so tough," said the inkling girl in a smug tone.
She slowly opened the door and looked inside and spotted Izzy sitting on the floor balled up against the wall with her back turned.
"Hey!" shouted the inkling girl.
Izzy turned and looked over her shoulder with teary eyes. "yes," said Izzy softly.
"Are you friends with that green tentacled inkling girl?" asked the inkling.
"Yeah, she's my friend, why?" asked Izzy with a distressed tone.
"I'm getting you outta here, come with me," ordered the inkling girl.
"What? Thank you! I..." said Izzy gratefully as she was cut off by the inkling girl.
"Save it, we gotta get outta here," said the inkling girl as she grabbed Izzy's arm and rushed out the door.
The two them ran through Camper's base evading any of his gang members. They managed to make their way near the exit until some inklings were at the doorway. They were messing with their squidphones not paying attention when all of a sudden one of them got a call.
"Hello?" said the inkling. after moment "What?! We'll be right there," he yelled. "You two! go and get the others, search the entire building!" ordered the inkling as he pointed to two other inklings.
The two nodded and squid formed slithering away. The inklings vacated the doorway and the coast was clear.
"Ok, come on," said the inkling girl that helped Izzy escape. The two then made their way to the doorway and looked out. "Alright, I think we're home free," said the purple-headed inkling.
"Just who are you and why did you help me?" asked Izzy.
"Their's no time for that, let's say I work with someone who wants to ensure no one gets hurt over this," answered the inkling girl.
"Well at least tell me your name," said Izzy.
"My name's Cleo, I've been a mole under Camper, watching him and getting information," said Cleo as she looked back at Izzy.
"Well thank you for freeing me Cleo, so why are you spying on Camper and his gang?" asked Izzy.
"(sigh) look, let's just focus on getting out of here and not worry about that," said Cleo with a serious tone.
"Are you some sort of secret agent or something?" asked Izzy.
Cleo pinched the top of her nose and was starting to get irritated from all the questions from Izzy. "Look, be fortunate I even got you outta there, now stop asking questions or..." said Cleo angrily as she was cut off by two of Camper's gang members spotting them at the doorway.
"Hey you!" shouted one of Camper's guys.
"Let's go!" yelled Cleo as she shoved Izzy out the doorway.
"Don't let them escape!" shouted the gang member as he pulled out his ink gun.
Cleo pointed her ink gun at the inkling and shot him, knocking him on the ground. She soon exchanged fire with the other member as he was soon hit too with the other. More inklings appeared and shot at Cleo. Cleo pulled out a splat bomb exploding and coating the area around the gang members. While they took cover she squid formed to catch up with Izzy.
The first inkling gang member she shot weakly sat up with his squidphone. "I'm... calling...Camper," he weakly said as he was dialing.
Blake was eating a krabby cake with Cuttlefish at the table. "Don't you get tired of these Captain?" asked Blake as he was eating, though he wasn't content with the cake.
"It's all I got bucko, you were pretty weak when I found you outside, I'm surprised you didn't starve to death," said Cuttlefish.
"I almost did if you hadn't taken me inside," said Blake as he laid the krabby cake down on his plate.
Blake had a hard time eating, smelling the filthy shirt that he was wearing as he threw on the floor.
"What happened to you bucko?" asked Cuttlefish with concern.
"(sigh) All I remember was waking up in that pod in what looked like a museum or something. I remember all these displays until this jellyfish guard shined a light on me and I had to get away," explained Blake.
"So, you were the one that was at the Shellendorf Institute, but you weren't alone. What I had gathered there were two others that were there as well. We believed they were trying to steal the metal pod you were in," said Cuttlefish.
"What? but why would anyone try and take that cryostasis pod unless they were... after me. But why?" asked Blake.
"I don't know Bucko, their's so many questions and no answers, I got my agents trying to figure that one out," said Cuttlefish.
"Wait...agents?" said a surprised and confused Blake.
"yes bucko, I started the squidbeak squad back when the Octarians stole the great Zapfish," said Cuttlefish as he tapped his cane on the floor.
'The octarians? wait I thought we won and I saw what I think was the zapfish back at that plaza in the city on this giant green tower," said Blake still confused.
"The Octarians were banished to Octo Valley along with Octavio but overtime the zapfish they had were fizzling out and we had obtained the great zapfish and others. Their domes were losing power so they stole our zapfish along with the great one per orders from Octavio himself," explained Cuttlefish.
"But, I saw the great zapfish at the plaza, so..." panned Blake still a little confused.
"We got the zapfish back and captured Octavio two years ago thanks to my young agent, agent 3 along with the help of agents 1 and 2, my grandsquids," explained Cuttlefish again.
"Agents 1, 2, and 3, grandsquids?" said Blake raising an eyebrow.
"A lot has happened while you've been gone but we signed a peace treaty with the octarians so hopefully they will not be a threat to the inklings anymore," said Cuttlefish.
"so the inklings and octolings are finally at peace," asked Blake.
"I hope so bucko, with Octavio captured, the octarians did recieve some of our zapfish to power their domes and the octarians themselves being allowed to come up to the surface, hopefully, they'll be no more fighting or taking the great zapfish from us anymore," said Cuttlefish.
"That's good to hear, I'm glad the races can finally resolve things and live in harmony again, I hated the great turf war. all the lives lost and homes destroyed, I just..." said Blake in anguish as he felt Cuttlfish grab his shoulder.
"I'm hoping It'll stay like that lad and we can catch up for lost time but for now let's get back to eating," said Cuttlefish as just then he heard voices coming from outside.
Cuttlefish looked out the window and saw that his granddaughters we coming back.
"Bucko! It's my grandsquids! They'll freak out if they see you! Hide in the pantry! Go!" commanded Cuttlefish frantically.
Blake scurried to the pantry and closed the door and cracked it to peek out without revealing himself.
Callie and Marie knocked on the door. Cuttlefish walked toward the door and opened it. "Girls, your back so early, what's wrong?" asked Cuttlefish.
"Hey gramps, we can't get a hold of Cassie and we've been to her apartment," explained Marie.
'Yeah, gramps she's not answering and she wasn't home neither, we're worried," said Callie with concern.
"I'm sure the lass is ok, If she can handle Octavio, she can handle anything else, hopefully, she'll turn up," said Cuttlefish trying to calm the girls down.
Marie looked over Cuttlefish's shoulder and saw that there were two plates set up on the table with one krabby cake halfway eaten. "Umm, gramps who was here while we were gone? asked Marie.
"Uh...no one lass," said Cuttlefish nervously.
"Then why's it set up for two people?" asked Callie.
"I was just hungry and uh..." said Cuttlefish as he had a had time explaining.
Marie walked over and inspected the table and saw the cake was half-eaten which was unlike her were grandfather to waste a good krabby cake. She then looked around and spotted Blake's dirty smelly shirt on the floor and then picked it up. Marie scringed from the smell and held it up away while covering her mouth and nose.
"Marie, what is it?" asked Callie.
"Gramps whose shirt is this? It stinks!" asked Marie.
"I had to do some laundry, it must have fallen out of the basket," answered a more nervous Cuttlefish.
"Gramps, this is too big for you to wear, and me and Callie always do your laundry," said Marie dropping the shirt and putting her hands on her hips with a serious face.
"I...uhh..." panned Cuttlefish as was sweating.
"Gramps, what's going on?" asked Callie in a serious tone crossing her arms.
"Gramps, you haven't been yourself since you saw that old squid badge, what's going on? what are you not telling us?" said an irritated Marie.
"Gramps we don't appreciate you hiding stuff from us," said Callie who felt disapproved of Cuttlefish's behavior.
Blake could see the grilling that Cuttlefish was getting and was unsure what to do and felt bad for hiding. He soon bumped into the shelf behind him causing a can to fall on his head. "owww..." moaned Blake from the impact.
The squid sisters jerked and turned toward the pantry Blake was hiding in. "Gramps, who's here?" demanded Marie as she picked up her ink charger and aimed it at the pantry door. Callie picked up her ink roller and prepared for anything. Cuttlefish noticed his grandkids closing in on the pantry worried they would shoot Blake if they saw him.
As Marie was about to open the door and Callie holding up her roller. Cuttlefish panicked and waved at his grandkids. "Wait, grandsquids! I can't lie to you anymore," said Cuttlefish as he downed his head.
"Alright, Bucko, come on out and meet my grandsquids," said Cuttlefish. Callie and Marie backed away from the pantry as the door slowly opened.
As Blake walked out and stood in from them. Callie and Marie went wide-eyed and gasped at the sight of Blake.
"Um...hey there," said Blake awkwardly as he rubbed his arm and gave a slight wave to the squid sisters. They were frozen in fear and confusion at Blake's sight seeing the only human they ever saw.