Arc 2 Chapter 9
three figures could be lying under a makeshift shelf near a beach. One was an older man, and the other two were females, one older and one younger. "Dad, well we ever see Blake again or get back to ship," asked the young girl with concern.
"I'm not sure Amy, I hope the Ark got my message and Blake's pod will eventually wash ashore," said the older man.
"James, I hope we see our son again, I miss him," said the older lady sadly.
"Me too dear, Me too, all we can do is pray for a miracle," said James.
"I'm going to give Blake such an ass-chewing," said Amy in an angered tone.
"Amy, don't be like that, we're a family, and the last thing we need to get angry with your brother," said the mother.
"Let's be calm, we'll get through this, we're all scared but we need to be hopeful and clear-minded, I'm going to go see if I can find more firewood," said James.
He got up and walked into the forest leaving his family on the beach. The two females peered back at the ocean hoping to see any signs of Blake's pod or a rescue shuttle coming to pick them up.
After a few minutes, the mother saw something in the sky headed towards them, it was getting closer and closer. It was a rescue shuttle like the one they were on when they descended from the Ark Polaris. The mother and daughter's face turned to that of joy and relief seeing they were about to get rescued.
"JAMES!" yelled the mother. James ran back to his family and rushed beside his wife. "Hon, what is it!" exclaimed James.
"Look! We're saved!" shouted and pointed the wife.
James rushed forward closer to the beach, jumping and waving, "We're over here!" shouted James, as well as his family, rushing beside him flailing their arms.
"The flares!" yelled James as he ran toward the supplies and dug through the equipment to find the flare case. He found them and opened the case. He loaded the flare gun and rushed back to the beach and shot it in the air. The flare got the attention of the small ship and turned back to the island the family was stranded on.
"Oh, thank God! It's been hours but I'm glad they sent a rescue team down for us," said James anxiously.
The ship hovered in front of them and turned towards its side. The side hatch opened and a figure appeared in the doorway. The faces of the family turned from joy to fear to see who it was. It was the director with his guards behind him. "Shame on you James for leaving us, abandoning your project, your work, I'm disappointed but don't you worry, we'll take good care of you and your family and ensure that you never escape again," said the director snidely.
"Get them!" commanded the director. soon his guards dropped off the ship and ran towards the family with their SMGs. "Down on the ground!" yelled one of the men.
"You two, run for it!" shouted James to his wife and daughter.
"Dad, no!" yelled the daughter in fear.
"James, we won't leave you!" shouted the wife also in fear.
"Just do it, It's me he wants!" ordered James.
The two females ran for the jungle with James staying back with his hands up. One of the armed men walked toward James and clubbed him with his gun knocking him on the sand. James coughed and was rolled on his stomach and restrained by one of the guards. He was pulled up and faced toward the director.
"Quite bold James, I had wished it never came to this, but you've forced my hand, I was going to spare you from the project but now I'm not so sure," said the director with a smug tone.
"I told you the serum was unpredictable and I'll have no part you plan, what you're doing is heinous, you should be thrown off that ship and just suffocate in space, you son of a bitch," shouted James as he glared at the director.
"I doing what needs to be done, how much longer until this little island disappears or any other land for that matter, our world is gone and the sea levels won't drop anytime soon, all we can do is adapt and overcome and you fail to see that!" shouted back the director.
"I'd rather die than be a part of your operation, you piece of shit, All those people, you gave them no choice in the matter!" yelled an enraged James.
"No, that would be too easy, you and your family are going to be a part of my side project," sneered the director.
"Leave my family out of this! This is between me and you Irons!" jeered James.
"Oh, don't worry my men will find your daughter and wife, don't you worry, I won't leave them here to fend for themselves, don't want to separate you from your family and as for your son, we'll keep looking for him if he's still alive, a shame though," said the director snidely with a chuckle.
"Alright! get him aboard the shuttle and find those two, the ark will be going into cryostasis in the next couple of hours," commanded the director.
The two guards shoved James as the shuttle lowered down. The guards directed James onto the shuttle and sat him down keeping guard on him. Two other guards ran into the jungle to catch Amy and her mother.
The two gals ran though the jungle scared out of their wits. feeling deep guilt for leaving James behind even though he commanded them to get away. "Mom, what about dad!" shouted a saddened Amy as she looked back.
"Amy, I'm sorry. I didn't want to leave him neither, but he would want us to be safe, we'll think of something but for now, we have to keep running," exclaimed the mother running taking hold of Amy's hand as they ran through the jungle.
"Mom! I'm getting tired can we stop and rest," asked the daughter out of breath.
"We can't Amy or we'll get caught, we have to keep going," said the mother.
"Well then let's hide, I can't run anymore," said Amy.
The mother looked around and saw some bushes near them. "Ok, then let's hide in there." pointed the mother. The two of them got behind the bushes out sight. After a moment the two of them heard footsteps running towards them and saw the guards stop and look around.
"Where did those two go!?" asked one of the guards.
"I don't know! They ran this way! Let's keep going and maybe we'll catch up to them," said the other guard.
The two guards eventually left and the two gals walked out of the bushes looking toward the direction the guards went. "That was a close one, I'm glad they're gone," said the mother.
"what do we do now, mom?" asked Amy.
"I don't know, Amy, I just hope your father is ok, let's head back to the beach while they're gone," suggested the mother.
The two of them rushed towards the direction of the beach when all of a sudden the mother was struck with something and began to feel groggy and her pace slowed down. She soon became very weak and got on her knees waving at Amy. "Amy... wait, I... can't feel my legs and I feel drained all of a sudden," said the mother trying to stay awake.
"Mom! what's wrong with you?!" shouted Amy in deep worry.
"I... don't know," replied the mother weakly. Just then Amy noticed a tranquilizer dart in the back of her mother's leg.
"Mom what's that!?" pointed Amy in fear and confusion. "Oh, no...Amy!...Run!" shouted the mother before she went unconscious.
"Mom! No!" yelled Amy with tears in eyes. She ran toward the beach until she was struck by a tranquilizer dart, like her mother. She had soon lost energy and stumbled down to the ground. She struggled to keep awake but was unsuccessful. She soon blacked out before she could hear footsteps approaching her and blurred dark figures coming out of the brush holding what looked like rifles.
Blake awoke from the dream of his family and shook his head to wake himself. He sat trying to clear his head and gave a long sigh. He looked around the room and saw that Cuttlefish was still asleep. He decided to get up and quietly walk out of the bedroom. We walked into the kitchen and then through the den. He saw Callie and Marie were still asleep in their sleeping bags and paused for a moment looking at them.
He gave a slight smile and a sigh. "They seem such nice girls. I hated that I scared them like that," said Blake as he soon turned back to the front door and walked away.
Unknown to Blake, Callie wasn't fully asleep and her ears twitched as he walked out the door. She slowly opened her eyes and turned her head towards the front door. "Blake?" she said. She soon sat up and looked toward Marie who was still asleep then back toward the door.
Blake was outside, it was still dark and the night was cool and quiet. Blake walked over toward ledge overlooking Octo Valley. He stared into the valley for a bit and looked down with a long sigh.
"So much has changed, It feels like waking out of that pod back on the beach years ago. I don't think I'll ever find my family, they could be dead for all I know," said Blake depressingly.
Blake gave a sniffle and wiped a tear from his eye. He looked down as he sat on the ground. "Blake?" a female voice asked behind him. Blake jumped and quickly turned around toward the source of the voice. To his shock, it was Callie with a concerned look on her face holding her hands together.
"Callie,... what are you doing here?" asked Blake startled.
"I heard you walk out the door and I was just a little concerned was all, what's wrong?" asked Callie seeing that something was bothering Blake.
"It's just... everything's changed, It feels like I woke out of that pod all over again like when your grandfather found me on the beach years ago. (Sigh) I'm the last human left, my race is extinct, my friends are gone, and my family is more than likely dead...I sometimes wish... maybe Cuttlefish never found me and I drowned with the rest of humanity," said Blake sadly with tears starting to form.
"No Blake! Don't say that! I'm glad you're here and so is Marie and gramps. Things will get better," said Callie as she hugged Blake making him blush a little.
"I remember the story you told me and Marie about your family, maybe their's hope Blake, you just have to keep looking and me and Marie will help you," said Callie assuring Blake with are hands on his shoulders.
"Thanks, Callie, I trust you guys, your grandfather is probably the closest of a family I got, he's like a brother to me or should I say grandpa now," said Blake with his sadness going away and giving a light chuckle.
"That's the spirit, things will get better, you'll see," said Callie with a wide smile.
"Well it's still late, I guess we better get back to the shack and go to bed," suggested Blake.
"Oh-uh, do you mind with we hold hands, it's kinda dark out here and I'm a little afraid," said Callie.
"but you walked over towards me from the shack didn't you, by yourself," said Blake raising an eyebrow.
'Well, it's just, uh... I saw you and I guess I forgot about my fear of the dark," said Callie hiding her expression rubbing the back of her head with a blush.
"It's alright Callie, I'll take your hand," said Blake holding out his hand.
"you will? thanks, Blake" said Callie with her blush disappearing.
The two walked back to Cuttlefish's shack holding hands as Blake was guiding Callie. Callie turned and looked at Blake with a smile. She soon noticed a scarred bite mark on his neck and by the shape of the mark, it looked like it was from an inkling. Callie's smile vanished and she turned her head back forward. The two walked back in the shack and Callie went back to her sleeping bag and laid down.
"night, Callie," said Blake quietly as not to wake up Marie.
"good...night, Blake," said Callie hesitantly with conflicting thoughts running through her head as she gave a quick sigh when she turned toward her cousin.
Blake laid back down on his sleeping bag and soon fell asleep. Thoughts were racing through his head about Callie's behavior and how she reminded him of someone he knew, but couldn't put his finger on it.
Izzy had managed to get away from Camper's guys, but with the cost of Cleo getting captured. She had stopped and bent over to catch her breath.
"Cleo... I'm sorry...I'll...get you out, I promise," Izzy said sadly with tears forming.
Izzy stood back up with a saddened face and walked toward the end of the alleyway. She looked around and saw she was near the new Inkopolis square. As she walked she admired the new shops and looked over the new Deca tower. "Wow, so this is the new tower, I heard this was where the turf war lobby was located, this is cool," said an amazed Izzy.
She shook her head to remind herself about Cleo and trying to find Cass.
"Izzy, snap out of it, this is no time to think about turf wars, I gotta find Cassie and get her to help me bail Cleo out, I just hope she's ok," said Izzy as she ran through the new square, just then she saw two figures in the window of the new studio, it was Pearl and Marina of Off the Hook.
Izzy looked and approached the glass. She waved at the two to get their attention, but no luck. She then decided to bang on the glass and yell at them. Marina was fooling with her equipment when movement caught her eye. "Huh?" she said.
"Pearly, their's someone outside hitting the window, I think she might need help," said Marina with a concerned tone.
"What?" said Pearl as she turned toward Marina.
"It's probably just an excited fan," said Pearl with indifference.
Pearl then turned and looked outside toward Izzy with an angered face. "Hey! the square isn't open yet! So come back tonight during the concert if you want an autograph," yelled Pearl as she signaled the inkling to leave.
Izzy looked at Pearl with surprise then shook her head. "No! I need your help!" shouted Izzy as she went to pound on the glass again.
Pearl growled and glared at the inkling for a second then turned to Marina. "Rina, call security and get this squid off the window," said Pearl insensitivity.
"Pearl, I think she wants our help. We should go out there and ask her what's wrong. Something must've happened," said Marina as she got up.
"Yeah right, like I said, probably just a frantic fan," said Pearl crossing her arms.
Marina walked outside to meet Izzy to see what was wrong. "What's the matter?" asked Marina to Izzy.
"Thank you for hearing me out, It's...my friend, she's in trouble! I need help! Please! Help me!" pleaded Izzy with tears trying to from.
"Where's your friend?" asked Marina as Pearl came walking out with an irritated expression.
"She got captured by this gang of inklings, she stayed back so I could get away, but I think she got caught, now I feel bad, Please! Help me!" explained Izzy as she pleaded with Marina and Pearl.
"Yeah, likely story, like I'll believe any of that," said Pearl in a smug tone.
"Pearl!" shouted an angered Marina as she turned and gave Pearl a mean look.
"Please excuse her, now where is your friend?" asked Marina as she turned back to Izzy with her anger subsiding.
"We ran out of this abandoned building and down an alleyway, like I said she stayed back so I could get away and I ran as fast as I could and ended up," explained Izzy as her fear was subsiding.
"It's ok, we'll see what we can do, what's your name by the way?" asked Marina giving Izzy a reassuring smile.
"It's...Izzy, Izzy Beaks and I'm a huge fan of yours! I can't believe I'm meeting off the hook right now, this is so fresh!" said an excited Izzy pumping her fist in the air.
Marina gave a chuckle and pearl just gave a sigh and shook her head. "Well I'm pleased to meet you, Izzy, I'm sure you know who we are then," said Marina.
"Your Marina and Pearl, I have all your songs on my phone! I still can't believe I'm talking to Marina from Off the Hook!" shouted Izzy as she was about to faint.
"Woah slow down, don't get too excited we need to focus on your friend," said Marina with her hand on Izzy's shoulder snapping Izzy off cloud 9.
Izzy shook her head and looked back at Marina. "You're right marina, I'm sorry, It's just..." said Izzy nervously.
"It's ok, just lead the way," said Marina as Izzy nodded.
Izzy and Marina were headed toward the alleyway at the end of the square. Just then Pearl grabbed Marina's hand. Marina looked down at Pearl.
"Marina, how do we know if she's telling the truth, I mean we could be walking into an ambush of fans or something," said Pearl with an indifferent look.
"Pearl, I believe her, She came to us for help and I'm not going to deny her that," said Marina.
"We gotta finish getting ready for the concert, Rina, why can't she go to the cops about this yo," said marina crossing her arms with an exacerbated look.
"Pearly she needs our help, It can wait until we get to the bottom of this," said marina.
"Fiiinnneee... but don't say I told you so if it's a trap or something," whined Pearl as the two followed Izzy to the alleyway.
The previous morning, Cassie was asleep as she was sitting against a dumpster near the empty plaza. After a moment Cassie's eyes slowly opened and she gave a stretch and yawned. She looked around and finally realized what had happened and where she was at. "What time is it?!" Cassie asked her self in panic.
"I don't have my squidphone, but by the look of things it seems pretty late," said Cassie as she stood up and peered around the dumpster she had sat against.
But what Cassie didn't know it was very early in the morning, way before the time an inkling would ever wake up. It was still night time at 3:00 in the morning and Cassie saw there was no one in the plaza. The plaza was spooky with none of the inklings walking around to the shops and hanging out, talking about turf war matches. It looked like a ghost town out of a creepy horror movie or something.
"Man this place gives me the creeps," said Cassie. "To think this was the hot spot of turf war players, now it's just plain deserted," said Cassie as she was looking around the empty plaza clutching herself.
Cassie then decided to head to the studio and see if the squid sisters were staying there or not, She walked up the ramp going to the studio and looked inside. Everything had been packed up or taken out. She walked around to the studio doors but they were locked. She contemplated what she should do, thinking the squid sisters probably weren't here.
"Maybe I should try Cuttlefish's," she said to herself. "He's going to kill me though for waking him up at this time of the night, but I gotta do something! Izzy's in trouble and I gotta get some help! Everyone's probably been blowing up my phone, They'd ring my tentacles for that!" said Cassie.
She soon thought of a plan and had decided to head back to her apartment in flounder heights and retrieve her Hero shot, a weapon issued to squidbeak agents. "I'll save Izzy myself, even though I'm running the risks of getting caught again, don't worry Izzy I'm coming!" shouted Cassie as she ran toward the ramp and jumped off to the ground below her. She squid formed and hastily slithered away back to her apartment.
It had been a while since she finally got to her apartment. She made her way up to her room and got her hero shot out as well as the rest of her gear for when she went on missions. She went into the kitchen and grabbed a soda out of the fridge and chugged it down. She belched and threw the soda in the trash and headed out the door. "Here I come Ross! You better be ready for when I kick your squid ass!" shouted Izzy as she made her way down.
Cassie left her apartment and made her way out of Flounder heights and toward the direction of Camper's hideout. Thoughts were running through her head how to get inside undetected and not putting Izzy in any more danger than she's already in right now. Cassie had to be cautious and smart on how to deal with Ross and his gang without them threatening Izzy. Just then Cassie heard a whooshing noise and all of a sudden an octopus dropped down in a small burst of ink and took on its other form. "So we at last Agent 3," said the figure.
It was an Octoling soldier staring down at Cassie. Cassie froze and was utterly shocked seeing an octoling appear in front of her. After a moment she shook her head and recollected her thoughts. "What the! You gotta lot of nerve coming here! Treaty or not!" shouted Cassie baring her teeth as she glared at the octoling soldier.
Cassie held her Hero Shot up at the octoling preparing to splat her. "Hold on! before you decide to shoot me, I have some information you might want to hear," said the Octoling with a displeasing look with her arms crossed.
"What would I want to hear from you octoling?! What reason would you be here and information would I want?!" demanded Cassie as she still had her weapon on the octoling.
"Pfff... stubborn squid, (sigh) I was ordered to give you information about Camper and his dealings with the octo rebels," explained the octoling still displeased talking to agent 3.
"octo rebels? what are you goin' on about? Ross,... um Camper is just a thug and a criminal looking out for himself, I know him, I... used to date him," said Cassie as she turned her head.
"Hmmm, I'm sorry to hear that, shame. back to matters, the Octarian government believes he has making deals with octo rebels, selling them reverse engineered inkling weapons, human artifacts presumably technology and was intending to steal a pod that was found at one of your excavation sites and delivered to your institute," explained the octoling slowly letting her guard down.
"What? He would never work with these "octo rebels" or whatever. He may be a criminal, but surely he wouldn't put Inkopolis and everyone in danger," said Cassie as she laid her weapon down a little off the octoling, but still had her guard up.
"You'd be a bit surprised, as you said he's only looking out for himself," said the octoling.
Cassie was disappointed at what she had heard and angry at the fact Ross would do this. Cassie looked down with anger in her eyes and clenching her fists.
"Well, anyway, we have been posing as the octo rebels in hopes to retrieve the pod and keep it out of the hands of the octo rebels," said the octoling.
Cassie looked back up at the octoling with a questioned look. "What was in that pod anyway? why do the octo rebels want it? Explain?!" asked Cassie in an angered tone.
"(sigh) I don't know why I should explain our intentions to you ink stain but fine... (sigh) Inside is what we believe was a... human," said the octoling as Cassie's jaw dropped and in disbelief at what the octoling had just said.
Cassie shook her head and looked hard at the octoling. "Bullshark! humans have been extinct for thousands of years! You think I would believe that! lying octopus!" shouted Cassie as she had her Hero Shot back on the octoling staring at her.
"You think I would be lying about this?! What else would I have been ordered to tell you this?! What else could I explain why that creature fled from you and your ink had little effect on it, back at that underpass," explained the octoling with anger on her face.
"Wait, how?" asked a shocked Cassie wondering how the octoling knew about this.
"We've been keeping tabs on everything that's been happening since that metal pod opened and that human escaped," explained the octoling.
Cassie was speechless knowing that the octolings have been spying on her and everyone else.
"Anyways, We've had a mole under Camper listening for him so he didn't try anything or botch the plans up to retrieve the pod for us, unfortunately, he did and now we have a big problem. the octo rebels have caught wind of this and may try and meet up with Camper or worse capture the human themselves, we can't let that happen," said the Octoling approaching Cassie as she had her Hero Shot still on the octoling.
"You're not telling me enough information on why these octo rebels want that human if that's what was really in that pod?" asked Cassie.
"I have no time to explain all the details squid, for now, we believe Camper has become suspicious of us. We believe our mole has been compromised because she had activated here emergency beacon we gave her just in case she was in trouble if she was found out. Their's no time, you have all the information you needed to hear, best of luck stopping Camper... for our sakes," said the Octoling.
The octoling backed and changed to her octopus form and octo jumped out of sight. Cassie looked up as she saw the octoling vanish.
Cassie came back to reality and remembered she had to rescue Izzy.
"Dang octopus," said Cassie as she sighed.
"A human, alive, that can't be, but then why would that octoling tell me this? I gotta inform Cuttlefish and the squid sisters about this, It's gonna take some time before I can get to the plaza though. I'm too tired to squid form and the sun's about to come up, I better hurry," said Cassie as she left for the plaza.