Arc 2 Chapter 10
It was morning and the sun was shining through the windows of Cuttlefish's shack. No one was stirring except for one figure. Blake had woken up and slowly sat up as he looked around and stretched. the human had turned around and saw Cuttlefish was still asleep and gave a long sigh.
Blake was relieved to be with Cuttlefish again but was still troubled about waking out of that pod and losing his friends long ago. He quietly walked out of the room as to not wake up Cuttlefish and stepped into the kitchen. He saw that Callie and Marie were still asleep and gave a chuckle. "Inklings do sleep-in pretty late," said Blake quietly. He made his way to the front door and walked out.
Blake held up his hand over his eyes to get adjusted to the light from being in the sewers for weeks. His eyes finally adjusted and looked back over toward Octo Valley. He studied the valley and remembered when it was once apart of the inkling territory. After a while, he gave a long sigh and recanted the memories from back during the great turf war.
Something caught his eye further over the ledge of the valley. It was covered up and Blake walked over to uncover it. "What is this? It looks like a giant tea kettle," said Blake.
As Blake studied the giant kettle a grumble could be heard that spooked Blake a little. he looked over the kettle and saw a giant octopus in what appeared to be an even larger snow globe. With curiosity, he walked over to the snow globe and studied the giant octopus. The octopus was a magenta color wearing a samurai helmet and it had a glowing green x-shaped scar on its tentacle.
"That's a big octopus," said Blake amazed.
The octopus stirred and slowly opened its eyes. The giant octopus blinked a few times and couldn't believe who was standing in front of him. It was none other than the captured DJ Octavio who was stuffed in a snow globe 2 years ago by Cassie also known as Agent 3. Octavio believed he was dreaming or being haunted by the human who he stuffed in the metal pod years ago.
Octavio closed his eyes tight then opened them again to make sure if he was dreaming or not. "It can't be," said Octavio with a deep voice utterly in disbelief seeing Blake.
"Huh?" said Blake with a surprised look.
"you're...supposed to be dead... you can't be real," said Octavio staring at Blake.
"What? Do... I know you?" asked Blake baffled.
"You don't remember me?" asked Octavio.
"um... should I?" asked Blake still confused from the giant octopus.
Octavio closed his eyes and gave a sigh. "Is their a brain in that thick skull of yours, you should know who I am, fossil..." said Octavio as he opened his eyes staring at Blake.
Blake continued to stare back at Octavio studying him. Unsure who was and why he knew him, then it soon dawned on him with a look of shock.
"Oc...tavio?" said Blake raising an eyebrow.
"You got it bonehead, but how are you alive? I stuffed you in that pod and dropped down the valley, you should be dead," said Octavio for no regard of Blake.
Blake couldn't believe it was Octavio. He remembered his last encounter with the Octarian leader and when he tried to kill him long ago.
Blake's blood began to boil and his face turned that of rage. disregarding what he said to the squid sisters and about forgiving Octavio. Seeing Octavio just reminded him of how he lost his friends during the great turf and being frozen in time again. Blake pounded on the glass as Octavio jumped and backed away with fear that the human was about to do him in.
Blake made no success in breaking the globe and backed away. "YOU TOOK MY FRIENDS AWAY FROM ME! YOU STARTED THE WAR! YOU STUFFED ME BACK IN THE WRETCHED METAL POD! YOU TOOK MY LIFE AWAY FROM ME! WE WERE FRIENDS YOU BASTARD! I LOST MIMI! AND NOW I'M NOW GONNA..." screamed Blake as he picked up a large rock and held it up intending to break the globe and pummel Octavio to mush when a voice shouted from behind and something held his arm back.
"BUCKO! DON"T DO IT! He's not with it!" shouted Cuttlefish as he held his arm with his bamboo cane. Blake turned around and faced Cuttlefish. His eyes were red from anger and tears seeing the octopus that left him for dead. Blake gave a deep breath and dropped the large rock and looked back at a frightened Octavio.
Blake's anger subsided as he saw the squid sisters behind their grandfather with concern and shock on their faces especially Callie. "You're... right, Captain. I...just, snapped, I could have...oh, god!" exclaimed Blake as he fell to his knees and cried with his hands covering his face.
Blake soon felt someone hug him from behind. He uncovered his face and turned to look over his shoulder. It was Callie with her head pressed against his, comforting him from his outburst. Blake's tears subsided and he sniffled and looked down toward the ground feeling regret from his actions.
"Blake, I'm sorry what happened to you but please don't kill Octavio," pleaded Callie with tears starting to form.
Blake felt a hand on his left shoulder. He turned and saw Marie giving him a slight smile. "Blake, remember what you told me, that you didn't hold a grudge against Octavio," said Marie reminding him.
Blake nodded to Marie and felt another hand on his right shoulder and turned his head. It was Cuttlefish giving him a reassuring look. "Bucko... let it go, I did. seeing him drop you in that metal pod years ago, I wanted to kill him too but I spared him, knowing it wouldn't bring you back," said Cuttlefish.
Marie and Cuttlefish joined Callie hugging Blake for a moment before the three of them let go. Blake rose up and turned to the three. "th...thanks, you guys, for stopping me from doing something I could never take back, even though he tried to kill me," said Blake wiping the tears from his eyes.
Blake turned and looked back at Octavio. Octavio was confused by his change in disposition knowing if the shoe was on the other foot he would want to kill him too. Blake approached the snow globe and looked up at Octavio. "I... forgive you," said Blake as his anger was completely gone.
Blake turned away from the globe and faced the gang who was smiling and proud that Blake forgave Octavio. Blake gave a smile back then sighed. "I wish you three didn't see me like that, It's just..." said Blake as he was cut off.
"It's ok Blake, we understand, it's hard to forgive Octavio for what he did to you," said Marie.
"I'm proud of you Blake, I know how cruel Octavio is but he doesn't deserve to be killed, your a better person than that," said Callie excitingly.
"She's right lad, old Octavio may be callous but I spared him and so can you, I forgave him a long time ago, now let's get back to the shack and eat some krabby cakes," said Cuttlefish.
"uuuhhhh...Krabby cakes, again! Captain...really?" moaned Blake as he gave a sigh and followed the three back to Cuttlefish's shack.
Octavio just rolled his eyes and turned away from the group relieved to not get throttled by the human.
The three of them made it back inside the shack with Blake not looking forward to eating any more cakes.
A figure could be seen tied to a chair with their head down surrounded by four other figures looking at the tied figure. The figure was an inkling that was covered in bruises with purple ink coming out of their mouth. The figure appeared to be beaten up. "we're not gonna ask you again, who are you and who are you working for?" demanded one of the inklings.
The purple-tentacled inkling tied to the chair looked up at the figure that was interrogating them. It was Cleo who was tied to the chair glaring at the inkling who was questioning her. "I already told you, I'm not working with anyone, I'm just a turfer who got sick of Camper lording over us and kidnapping those two inkling girls," said Cleo.
"Ha! You really think I believe you! Your pretty good for a turfer and a little too interested in freeing those girls. We know there's been a fly on the wall watching us since we tried to steal that metal pod for the octarians. Now! Tell us who you're working for and why you've been spying on us or else!" demanded the inkling baring his teeth.
"Bring it on! I'm not telling you anything!" yelled Cleo as she bared her teeth back.
"Alright then," said the inkling as he pulled out a knife.
"One last chance or I start cutting off your tentacles," said the inkling with a sinister grin.
Cleo had horrified expression on her face as she gulped. "You wouldn't," said Cleo in fear.
"I would, all you have to do is talk," said the inkling.
"N...Never," said Cleo trying to hide her fear.
"Very well, hold her down!" shouted the inkling
two other inklings grabbed Cleo's chair and laid her down on the floor. Cleo was now facing the inkling with the knife. The inkling grabbed one of her tentacles and cut it at the lobe but not all the way through. Cleo yelped in pain as her ink was running on the floor. "Now tell us! or I'll cut all the way through, I hate to cut off those pretty tentacles of yours," jeered the inkling.
"Screw you!" yelled Cleo clinching in pain.
"Have it your way, Hold her!" he commanded the inklings.
The inkling then positioned his knife to her tentacle lobe when the door swung opened. They were interrupted by an inkling yelling at them to come to another room with information from Camper. The inkling with knife growled and glared at the inkling that swung the door open. "Fine, saved by the bell," jeered the inkling to Cleo. They picked Cleo back up in her chair as she was panting heavily.
"Don't think this is over, I'll be back and you better think hard about talking or I'll turn you into sushi" said the inkling snidely as he punched Cleo in the stomach almost knocking her down with purple ink flying out of her mouth. The inklings left out of the room as Cleo was coughing up ink. She picked her head back up and tried to reach into her black shorts even though her hands were tied. She pulled out a small octopus-shaped device with a button and small antennae on it.
"I hope this thing works," said Cleo mumbling as she pushed the button. the button flashed red and she slipped it back inside her thin black shorts. "I hope help arrives soon, those octolings owe me," said Cleo. Cleo then gave a sigh and downed her head as she was weak from the interrogation.
Izzy had lead Pearl and Marina to the alleyway where she escaped from the three walked for minutes until she came to the spot where Cleo told her to get away. Izzy spotted purple ink on the ground and feared the worst. "Cleo, no" cried Izzy as she started to cry.
"Izzy, what happened?" asked Marina with concern as she went over to hug Izzy.
"This is where Cleo was when I..." is all Izzy could get out as she cried on Marina's shoulder.
"Pppfff... you really believin' this, Rina," said Pearl insensitively.
"Pearl! (sigh) I don't think she'd be crying if she was making this up," said Marina angrily.
Marina looked back toward Izzy who had tears in her eyes. "Don't worry I'm sure she's ok, we'll find her," said Marina with a reassuring smile.
"You...You will (sniffle) thank you, Marina," said Izzy as she hugged Marina.
"uuuhhh, yeah, yeah, we'll find you friend and all," said pearl with indifference.
"Do you know what could have happened to her?" asked Marina.
"Well if she's still alive, then she could've been captured. It was this gang we escaped from; their leader's name I think was Camper. He was grilling us for information about that mysterious creature that my friend had shot at back in Urchin Underpass," said Izzy.
"Wait, you and your friend saw the creature?" asked Marina shocked.
"yeah... my friend chased after it but it disappeared near the plaza, we don't know where it went," explained Izzy.
"your friend chased it, she must have very brave, I wonder what this creature could've been?" said Marina still in shock.
"I'm not sure, but my friend Cassie said she shot at it and it didn't phase it, much, I don't think it could've been an inkling or octoling, I'm not sure," said Izzy.
"Ink had no effect on it, fascinating," said Marina as she turned her head with her hand under her chin. "So, what I was told was true," mumbled marina quietly.
"What was that Marina?" asked Izzy hearing her mumble.
"Oh, nothing. let's just find your friend," said Marina.
"Rina! I'm heading back to the studio! there's no proof that this story of hers is true and we have to finish preparing for the concert tonight," said Pearl irritated as she crossed her arms.
"that's fine pearl, me and Izzy will find her friend if you wanna head back to the studio," said Marina as she put her hands on her hips.
Marina and Izzy continued down the alley toward Camper's hideout. They soon heard footsteps run behind them and saw pearl waving at them. "Geez! OK! I'll help you find your friend! said Pearl as she walked over to the two.
She approached Izzy and put her finger in her face with an angry look. "If your lying to us about this, so help me I'll rip your tentacles off you little squid, fan or not, now let's go!" said Pearl angrily making Izzy shiver in fear.
"Pearly! (sigh) Izzy please forgive her, It's just we've been preparing for the concert for days, it's just Pearl and me have been looking forward to the square opening for the city, but we need to find your friend, that's more important, " said marina with her hand on Izzy's shoulder.
Pearl just crossed her arms and her anger subsided. Izzy was thankful that off the hook would help her find her friend and Pearl had comforted her before they continued on down the alleyway. But unknown to them they were being watched.
A figure was watching over them from a building nearby. The figure was an octoling that had watched the group go through the alley. "It seems like that agent's friend got away from Camper's gang. They're headed back to try and free our informant, but their gonna need help," said the octoling. She then turned and pondered about Marina as if she looked familiar.
"That octoling with the two inklings...I'm sure I've seen her before, hmm... I'll have to keep an eye on them, but first I have to inform my commander about this," said the octoling as she walked away.
Back at Cuttlefish's shack, the squid sisters were about to leave and head back to the city. They had done ate breakfast and Marie wanted to go and try finding Cassie before the concert. "Well, gramps me and Callie got to run and see if we can go find Cassie," said Marie.
"Best of luck to ya, hope you find the lass," said Cuttlefish.
"Bye gramps, Bye Blake, I wish you could go with us and see Inkopolis," said Callie.
"Cal, if we took Blake with us, the whole city would panic making it much harder for us to find Cassie, we already have enough problems to deal with," said Marie shaking her head.
Marie then got stuck in thought. She had an idea but it was risky. "Hey, gramps don't we have some spare clothes here for when we're out doing field work?" asked Marie to Cuttlefish.
"Umm... I think so, I think they're in the bedroom drawer," said Cuttlefish.
Marie went into the bedroom and looked in the bottom drawer and saw their spare disguises. Marie grabbed her spare hoodie and Callie's spare sunglasses. She walked back in the den and gave them to Blake. "Here, Blake, a hoodie and sunglasses to hide your face and hair, I don't want the whole city going into a panic," said Marie as she handed him the stuff.
"ok, but why do you want me to go with you? I mean I don't want to run the risk of getting revealed," said Blake in surprise.
"Well, like Cal was saying, you could see Inkopolis without having to sneak around all the time and you can help me and Callie look for agent 3, besides I think Callie would love for you to come and keep her company, I'm sure she has a lot of "questions" for you," said Marie giving a smirk toward her cousin who was red-faced and flustering from Marie's comments.
"Alright gals, quit all this bickering and go find that agent," said Cuttlefish as he tapped his cane in irritation.
"Yes, gramps," said the girls in unison as they were startled by the cane.
"(sigh) Bucko, be careful out there and stay incognito, ok," said Cuttlefish to Blake.
"I will captain," said Blake reassuring Cuttlefish.
The three left Cuttlefish's toward the storm drain back to the city. Inside the tunnel, the three of them walked, It seemed the tunnel ran for miles and would've been a lot quicker if the squid sisters could squid form and race down the tunnel but they didn't want to leave Blake behind.
"Blake?" asked Marie.
"yeah," responded Blake.
"I was wondering, how can you speak our language? I wanted to ask before but I didn't get a chance, meeting you just put my mind into shock, I was thinking that gramps might have taught you back when you and him fought in the great turf war," said Marie looking at Blake as they were walking.
"long story short, the metal pod I was in had a device in it that allowed me to understand and speak your language when I met Cuttlefish and Octavio," explained Blake.
"Really, human technology is so... well fascinating, I don't know where inklings would be if we didn't study and use the technology you humans left behind. It's like that metal pod that you were frozen in," said an amazed Marie.
"Yeah, Blake. I mean our turf war weapons are based on human artifacts that Sheldon dug up at his excavation sights, I mean he's always been fascinated by human technology and culture. It would be nice if you could meet him, I think he would fall out and have a heart attack if he met you," said Callie.
"turf war? Cuttlefish I think said something about a sport that inklings play called that, I was confused as the only turf war I knew was the great turf war years ago," said Blake.
We'll explain later, I just wanna focus on finding agent 3 and making sure your cover's not blown," said Marie.
"You'll love it, Blake, though I'm not sure if you could play or not," said Callie.
"Cal, he's a human, he can't squid form or jump. not to mention ink doesn't have any effect on him, I don't think," said Marie as she looked back at Blake.
"Well, your agent shot me with an ink gun, it felt weird at first but then my back started to go numb and my leg too, If it wasn't for the adrenaline I think would've been paralyzed but I did get away. it lasted for an hour and really stung afterward," said Blake.
I hate to know if I got covered then it possibly could have killed me, I don't know what's in your squid ink, but I didn't like getting shot, so I'll have to pass on these turf war games your talking about," said Blake.
"Yeah, maybe it would be best if you didn't compete, I wouldn't want anything to happen to you and besides I think only inklings can play anyway," said Marie.
"I wouldn't want anything to happen to you too Blake, we just met you and you may be the only human to in existence," said Callie with concern.
"It must be difficult to be the only one of your kind left," said Marie with sympathy.
"yeah...I was hoping...I'd find my family but I'm sure their dead now, I keep having these dreams about them and I don't know what it means," said Blake depressingly.
"Blake, don't give up hope, I mean you survived in that pod-thingy, maybe your family did too and their out there somewhere," said Callie trying to cheer Blake up.
"Thanks for trying to lift my spirits Callie, but the likely hood of them surviving as I did are pretty slim," said Blake facing Callie.
The three continued until they reached the end of the tunnel and out of the storm drain back into the vacant plaza.
They headed toward the plaza studio as Blake looked around. This place looks more familiar to me now that their's no inklings hanging around. It feels like I've been here before, but I can't place my finger on," said Blake as he pondered.
"I don't see how, you woke up out of that pod weeks ago, though you were around during the great turf war, I'm sure how long Inkopolis has been here, maybe you have been here and don't know it," said Marie.
"maybe, I'm not too sure," said Blake.
"What I understand from our history this was an ancient human city, I don't know anything else other than that, Me and Cal moved from Calamari county when we were 14 years old," explained Marie as the three were walking through the plaza.
"huh, you left home at 14 years old?" asked Blake in surprise.
"yeah Blake, inklings leave home at 14, its when we are able to gain our ability to change forms and when inklings can compete in turf wars." explained Callie.
"It's just a young age, well for a human's perspective anyway, that's very fascinating. I remember when Cuttlefish showed me he could change forms, it freaked me out," said Blake.
Just as they made it to the studio a figure dashed behind them up the ramp. "CALLIE! MARIE!" yelled the figure. When they turned both girls went wide-eyed and froze in place. The girls shook their heads in unison and yelled "CASSIE!?"
Izzy, Pearl, and Marina were outside Camper's hideout peering above a short wall watching inklings guarding the front doorway of an abandoned building. "So this where you and your friend escaped from?" asked Marina.
"Yeah, this is were me and Cassie were taken to, Camper and his gang took us here wondering if we knew about the creature that me and Cassie encountered back at Urchin Underpass, Cass refused to tell Camper about the creature so he had his inklings take me to another room, after that, Cleo rescued me and we escaped until she..." said Izzy as she started to get depressed about Cleo getting caught.
"Izzy, don't you worry, we'll think of something," said marina putting a hand on Izzy's shoulder.
"Rina this is crazy! What can we do! We need to get a hold of the cops yo!" shouted Pearl with her hands in the air.
"I hate to say this but she's right Izzy, we aren't gonna be able to handle this, we don't have our turf weapons with us and we don't know what we'll be dealing with," explained Marina.
"If the police show up they could hurt Cleo or worse...we gotta do something!" exclaimed Izzy in distress.
"Izzy, if we do anything, we could run the risk of getting caught ourselves," explained Marina.
"Well, I'm gonna go save Cleo, help or not!" shouted Izzy aggravated.
Izzy squid formed and slithered towards Camper's hideout. "Izzy, Wait!" shouted Marina trying to stop her.
"Let her go Rina! stupid squid, she's not gonna listen, let's call the cops," said Pearl.
"Pearl! we can't just let her go in there! I'm going after her!" said Marina as she octo formed and went after Izzy.
"Rina! uuuhhh... wait for me!" yelled pearl as she moaned and squid formed after Marina.
The three snuck inside the Camper's hideout in an attempt to find and free Cleo and stop Camper and his gang. As they made it in the decrepit and graffiti-ridden building, they snuck past the inklings and crept threw vents to avoid detection. As they made it deeper in the building security was getting tighter with inklings carrying ink guns. "Make sure no one gets past here unless they know the password, got it!" ordered an inkling to another. The inkling nodded while the other walked off.
"Well great, what do we do now," said Pearl irritated as they were back in their bipedal form looking around a corner.
"I don't know but I bet Cleo is being held up ahead somewhere," said Izzy.
"Izzy, like I said we don't have our turf weapons and I'm not sure how we're gonna get past those guards," said Marina.
"Don't worry, I think have a plan," said Izzy.
"Oh great, can't wait to hear it," said pearl sarcastically.
Marina just turned and gave Pearl a displeased look. "What? she got us in this dilemma in the first place!" yelled Pearl quietly.
Marina shook her head and turned back to Izzy. "I hope you know what you're doing Izzy," said Marina.
"Don't worry Marina, I got this, I hope," said Izzy as she looked back at the gang members.