Arc 2 Chapter 12
Time stood still for a moment as the squid sisters and Off the hook as they were staring down each other unsure why the other was doing here. Just then, Marie shook her head and snapped back into reality noticing her's and Callie's disguises were blown from the may lay. Marie's mask and hat were laying on the floor as well as Callie's cap and sunglasses were also knocked off. "Oh, crude!" was all that Marie could get out. "What's the matter Marie!?" asked a panicked Callie.
'Our Disguises Cal!" shouted Marie with a blush.
Callie then spotted her sunglasses and black cap on the floor. She panicked and felt her head frantically. "Oh, No!" shouted Callie realizing her identity was revealed.
"Callie!? Marie!? What are you two doing here!? Wait, that was you two back at the square?!" exclaimed Marina who was in utter shock.
"I knew I recognized them!" shouted Pearl.
"Wait! We can explain!" exclaimed Marie waving her hands.
"Well you got a lot of explaining to do cuz, you two were supposed to head back to Calamari County!" shouted Pearl with aggravation and shock.
"We um... Well,...Marie," said Callie frantically as she turned to Marie to help her out.
Marie downed her head and gave a sigh. "A guess we can't hide it...We're...agents...for the squidbeak squad," explained a defeated Marie.
"Squidbeak Squad? What are you talking about?" said Pearl with her arms crossed.
"Our gramps operates it...we...watch over Inkopolis, we helped get the great zapfish back from the octarians and Octavio," explained Marie.
"Well Agent 3 was the one who brought back the great zapfish and caught DJ Octavio," said Callie as she pointed to Cassie.
Cassie was rubbing her head and recoiling from the fall. She turned towards pearl and Marina carrying a half conscience Cleo. She then blushed and downed her head unsure how to react to the duo.
The duo seemed to not notice Blake was lying on the floor as their eyes were glued to the squid sisters. Blake moaned as Marie covered his mouth and moved to shield Blake's body out of sight. "What was that?" asked Marina.
"Uh, nothing the three of us are still hurting from the fall," said Marie as she gave a nervous smile.
"What were you guys doing in there in the first place? Why are you three here anyway?" asked pearl with impatience.
Just then Cleo gave a moan and coughed. "Who's she?" asked Marie with concern clearly seeing Cleo was badly hurt.
"Her name's Cleo, she was... tortured by Camper's gang...she needs medical attention immediately, that's why we were here, we followed Izzy here," explained Marina.
"Wait, Izzy! Where is she!?" asked a frantic Cassie.
"Just a moment Cass, one thing at a time! (sigh) First things first, let me see your aid kit Cass, we need to treat her first, put her on the floor," ordered Marie as Cass handed her the red pack. Marina placed Cleo on the floor with Marie kneeling down treating her wounds. Pearl and Cass watched over while Blake was still lying on the floor with Callie on top of him.
"(sigh) I'm sure how we're going to explain this one, Blake," said Callie in relief. "Blake?" said Callie as she looked around until she found out she lying on Blake, not to mention where she was sitting, in his lap.
Callie turned red-faced and yelped with embarrassment. She quickly got off Blake and looked over him. "I'm Sorry! I'm sorry Blake!" Callie exclaimed trying to apologize.
"What? It's ok Callie, I'm sure you didn't mean it," said Blake as he was rubbing his head trying to relieve Callie from the awkward situation.
"So...you're ok with me, I mean I..." said Callie blushing, trying to get her words out.
Cassie then turned around facing the two and gave a long sigh. "Hey! Cal! Blake needs to hide or get out sight before Pearl and Marina see him!" She shouted quietly.
Blake and Callie shook their heads looking for a hiding spot for Blake. Blake then turned back to the closet and rushed inside it and closed the door. Callie got up and walked over to Cassie and the group treating Cleo.
Blake peaked out of the door and gave a sigh. "Deja vu, I'm hiding in a closet from two more girls, what a day it's been," said Blake.
Marie had finished up treating Cleo and got up. "This will help, but she needs to be taken to a doctor, I'm not sure how you're going to be able to get her outta here without getting caught though," said Marie.
The group pondered what to do when all of a sudden. "(cough) don't worry about (cough) me just... find Camper and... stop him," said a weak Cleo who had soon woke up.
"No, we're not doing that! you need a doctor and soon," said Marie with protest.
"I'm fine, just...go," said Cleo.
"Marie we may have to get her out through the front doors, I know we'll run the chance of getting caught packing Cleo out, we'll just have to deal with Camper another time," said Cassie.
"(sigh) agreed, let's go," said Marie.
Marina picked up Cleo with the help of Marie. Cassie led the group down the hallway with Marie and Marina carrying Cleo on their shoulders. Pearl stayed behind them and Callie waited back until they got their distance so she could talk to Blake. Once they started moving away Callie approached the closet and opened it.
"(sigh) they're out of sight Blake, just stay behind but far enough where they won't see you," said Callie.
Blake nodded and started to come out of the tiny room. Blake gave a sigh as he faced Callie then looked down.
"Callie... I'm... sorry I'm putting you guys through all this, now an inkling could've been killed because of me, maybe I should... just give myself up to Camper and his gang, It's me they want, not you guys!" said Blake in a depressed tone.
"No! Blake! Camper has to be brought to justice for what he's done and like Marie said. We don't want to lose you and neither does gramps, we may never see you again!" said a distressed Callie as she rushed to hug Blake.
Blake hugged Callie back but slowly pulled her off and gave her a serious look. "Cal, I... have to... I don't want to see anyone else get hurt because of me," said Blake.
"I... won't let you!" shouted Callie as tears started to form in her eyes.
"Callie listen! I'll never forgive myself if you, Marie, Cassie, or anyone else gets hurt or killed because of me," said Blake wiping Callie's tears off her face.
Callie's face had darkened as she looked down with thoughts stewing through her mind. She saw how selfless and courageous Blake was and how she desperately didn't want him to hand his self over to Camper. She bit her lip and quickly looked back up at Blake with her golden eyes. She gulped and quickly latched to Blake's face and gave him a deep kiss. Blake froze and was in complete shock from what Callie had done.
Callie broke away after several seconds with a beet-red face and tried to contain her emotions for the human. "Ca...Callie, what was... that? I..." was all Blake got out as he was at a loss of words.
Callie turned her face as she became extremely nervous, as to hide her true feelings for Blake. "I...I...I don't know what came over me!" said Callie frantically.
Blake just stared at Callie with a look of shock and Callie turned her head again to hide her blushing face. "I'm s...sorry Blake I..." said Callie nervously as she covered her face.
"Hey Callie!" a voice down the hallway yelled.
"That sounded like Pearl, quick hide back in the closet Blake!" said Callie as she panicked.
Blake shook his head snapping back into reality and rushed back in the closet and closed the door.
Pearl came around the corner and saw Callie. "Cal, what are you doin'? Marie was worried about you, we need to go!" shouted Pearl out of breath.
"I'm... fine, I'll catch up," said Callie.
Pearl studied the squid sister and saw that she was hiding something. "Um, Cal what's going on? who were you talking to?" said Pearl with a serious look crossing her arms.
"Huh, no one! It's just I, was thinking out loud, that's it," said Callie nervously trying to hide her lie.
"Right, well...let's get back to Marina and them," said Pearl as she started to turn and walk back down the hallway.
Callie saw Pearl get out of sight around the corner and wiped her forehead. "Phew, that was close, ok Blake just remember what I said," said Callie as she opened the door to talk to Blake.
Blake nodded and was still speechless from Callie's expression. Callie smiled at Blake with a warming expression on her face. "I...wanna talk...later, after we get out of here," said Callie, as she slowly closed the door but unknown to her knowledge, Pearl was peering around the corner watching Callie talk to someone on the other side of the closet door.
"Who was she talking to, wasn't their four of them, who's the other?" said Pearl as she froze in thought. Pearl shook her head as she heard Callie approach and decide to hold off on grilling Callie about why and her cousin were there and who was she talking to in the closet.
"Oh, hey pearl, um, I'm ready to go," said Callie hesitantly.
Pearl raised an eyebrow and gave a small sigh, "C'mon let's catch up with them," said Pearl as she waved off toward Callie and the two of them ran down the hallway toward the rest of the gang.
Back in the closet, Blake had much running through his mind. Blake was wondering why Callie had kissed him and noticed that she had acted oddly around him for some time, not long after they met. Blake downed his head and gave a deep sigh. "I know she liked me but I didn't know she liked me that much," said Blake. Blake picked his head back up and peered out to see if anyone was around.
Blake held on to the doorknob and looked to the direction the gang went. Blake gave another sigh and shook his head. "I'm sorry Callie, but you remind me too much of Mimi and you're Cuttlefish's granddaughter, you're practically family to me," said Blake as he slowly made his way down the hallway being extra cautious around his surroundings.
Izzy was squirming trying to get out of the octoling's grasp. "Hey, Hey, Hey! Hold on squid! I'm not gonna hurt you," explained the octoling.
"What!? you're not?" said a shocked Izzy still in squid form.
The octoling put the scarred squid down on the floor. Izzy just stared at the blank-faced octoling that was standing over her. She soon turned back to her bipedal form and studied the octoling.
"Wait, did you... save me?" asked Izzy still shocked by the octoling.
The octoling just remain quiet for a few seconds until she turned and walked away. "Don't mention it, squid," said the octoling with no emotion.
"Huh, hey! wait up!" shouted Izzy as she ran toward the octoling walking away from her.
The octoling stopped and turned toward Izzy with a blank expression. "What?" said the octoling brashly.
"I just wanted to thank you for saving me," thanking Izzy.
"Don't mention it, I wasn't here to save you, I'm here on important matters, so stay out of my way inkling," was all the octoling could say.
"geez, you don't have to be rude about it, what are you doing here anyways?" asked Izzy.
"none of your business, squid. If I were you, I would get out of here before more of those ink stains show up," said the octoling coldly as she turned back around to walk away unconcerned about Izzy.
"Hold up! I wanna come with you!" shouted Izzy as she reached out to the octoling.
The octoling stopped to turn, slapping Izzy's hand away. She had an irritated look on her face behind her goggles. "Don't think, saving your squid butt as a favor and no I don't need your help, you'll just get in the way squid!" said the octoling angrily not in the mood for an argument.
"well at least tell me your name," said Izzy rubbing her hand.
"(sigh)...just call me Spider," said the octoling.
"Spider?" said Izzy with a confused look.
"It's my codename, that's all you need to know," said the octoling getting agitated.
"Ok, ok, but why did you save me?" asked Izzy still confused.
"Let's just say I was sent on a mission to stop Camper and his goons, just didn't want anyone getting killed and the blame fall back on the octolings," explained Spider.
"But you're an octoling why would the octarians be concerned about this?" asked Izzy.
"Quit asking questions squid! I got a job to do, so fall behind and keep up or I'll knock the ink right out of you!" snarled the octoling as she was losing her patience with Izzy.
"Ok! I'll stop asking! don't hurt me!" exclaimed Izzy as she was waving her hands in surrender.
"Good, now come on," said the octoling as she waved for Izzy and continued walking down the hallway.
Izzy was unsure what her savior's problem was but she decided it would be best to do what she said.
Camper and some inklings walked back into the hideout ready to interrogate Cleo. They were greeted by more inklings that rushed up toward him with panicked looks on their faces. "Um, camper," said one of the inklings nervously. "Oh great, what know!" shouted Camper expecting to hear bad news.
"Boss, we lost the purple-headed girl but we don't think she escaped on her own, she and her rescuers have gotta still be in the building," explained another inkling.
"What do I have you guys for! idiots! I should splat all of you!" yelled Camper startling the other inklings.
Camper turned is head and pinched his nose. He growled and turned back to the inklings that informed him. "Fan out and search this place! Now!" barked Camper as the inklings scattered to hunt for the intruders.
The inklings looked through rooms and down hallways. So far they had no luck finding Cleo's rescuers. They made their way back to Cleo's cell down a hallway in squid form hoping to stumble upon any clues.
Off the Hook, Cleo, the squid sisters, and Cassie were slowly making their way down toward the end of the hallway with Blake trailing behind at a distance. Cassie was leading the group when she spotted the end of the hallway. "We're almost there," said Cassie. It seemed the gang was halfway out of the hideout when all of a sudden squids appeared at the end of the corridor.
"Intruders!" shouted one of the squids. "Inform Camper!" yelled another squid.
"Oh crap! Guys run for it! shouted Cassie as she shot at the squids. The squids dodged the ink shots and turned back to their other form and fired back at Cassie and the group. Cassie, Callie, and Marie got into fighting positions and aimed their weapons at the inklings. The inklings took cover at the end of the hallway.
"Quick you guys head back and look for another route!" shouted Marie.
Marina nodded as she still held on to Cleo who was unresponsive. "Pearl! give me a hand!" should Marina as Pearl rushed over and took Cleo by the arm and slung it over her shoulder.
"Rina...I'm too... short, this is...a little difficult," groaned Pearl struggling to keep up Cleo.
"Pearly! you just have to try, let's head back the way we came," said Marina. The three of them stumbled back toward the room Cleo was in while Cassie and the squid sisters held back Camper's gang of inklings. The three of them made it around the corner as Blake panicked as he saw them approaching not noticing him yet.
"Shit! Why are they coming back this way! I gotta hide somewhere fast!" shouted Blake as he frantically looked around for a hiding place. He then decided to head back toward the direction of Cleo's room to evade from being spotted.
As Pearl, Marina, and Cleo pushed back, Cassie lobbed a splat bomb toward the inklings. "Splat bomb! Get back!" shouted an inkling. The inklings squid formed and dove back from the blast as Cassie and squid sisters followed Marina and the others.
Blake ran into a large lobby area and looked around for a hiding spot. He then decided to instead go down another hallway on the opposite side of the lobby. Blake rushed down the hallway and was soon met by more squids that were slithering down the hallway towards him. "Gotta hide! Gotta hide!" scrambled Blake as he hid in a side room before the inklings spotted him.
As the squids slithered by Blake peered out of the door and saw they were gone. "Phew, that was too close," said Blake with his back against the wall. Blake examined the room as it seemed large. he turned on a light switch and saw multiple ink-based weapons laying against the wall and on tables as well as ink tanks. "This must their armory or something, look at all these weapons," said Blake in amazement.
Blake walked around admiring the weapons. "I'm used to a bamboozler, but I didn't know inklings had weapons like these," said Blake. he soon stumbled across some splat bombs laying on a table as well as an inkstrike pad and torpedo. "Woah, what is this thing?" asked Blake as he stared at the inkstrike pad.
After a moment Blake heard footsteps coming towards the door, "Hurry up and arm yourselves!" shouted a voice. An inkling came bursting through the door as Blake dove out of sight behind a crate. "Alright! Grab any weapon you can!" shouted the inkling again as more inklings scrambled to grab ink guns and splat bombs. Blake managed to quickly snatch a splat bomb before the inklings rushed in.
"All right does everyone have a weapon!?" asked the inkling in a commanding tone.
"Yeah, Camper we're ready to fight," said an inkling.
"Good! let me grab the inkstrike pad and... wait," said Camper as he noticed that the inkstrike pad had been moved.
"Someone's been here," said Camper as he picked up the pad.
"Search the room!" yelled Camper directing the inklings. They had their weapons drawn looking around equipment and under tables for anyone else that was in the room.
"Oh crap! I can't let them find me!" quietly shouted Blake. He then looked at the splat bomb he took and thought of a plan. he decided to Jump up and lob the splat bomb toward the inklings. "What the! Splat bomb!" shouted one of the inklings. The inklings dove for cover as a few weren't so lucky and got hit only knocking them out. Blake rushed out around the group while they were in shock but Camper spotted him running out of the room.
"Who... was that?!" asked Camper recovering from the event. "That didn't look like an inkling... you two go after it!" shouted Camper as two inklings nodded and squid formed out of the room and pursued Blake.
Meanwhile, the gang made their way back to the large lobby surrounded by small rooms. They could see inklings coming down the surrounding hallways. "Looks like this ius gonna be our last stand," said Cassie cocking her hero shot.
"Don't say that Cass!" said a scarred Callie.
"Alright, get ready, Marina, Pearl get Cleo back to the room she was in and stay hidden," ordered Marie.
"But what about you three?" asked Marina distressed.
"We'll be fine, just go!" shouted Marie gesturing Marina to go. Marina nodded and she and Pearl carried Cleo to the small room she was found in.
"I've been ready to shoot these jerks all day," jeered Cassie.
Marie then thought about Blake. "Hey, wait a minute! Where's Blake, I haven't seen him!" asked Marie in light panic.
"I told him to stay back so Marina and Pearl wouldn't see him, I don't where he went to," explained a frantic Callie.
Marie facepalmed and shook her head. She looked over to Callie with a displeasing look. "Cal! you supposed to keep an eye on your boyfriend!" shouted Marie.
"I know but, wait... he's not my boyfriend!" shouted Callie embarrassed by what Marie had said with a red face.
"You two stop bickering, here they come!" shouted an agitated Cassie.
squids had slithered out from the hallways and surrounded the three of them. They then soon shifted to their humanoid form and aimed their weapons at Cassie and the squid sisters. The room stood still as the three were unsure how to get out of their dilemma. They were well outnumbered and concerned that they would eventually find Marina and the others in the room.
"Drop your weapons!" shouted one of the inklings.
"We have you surrounded!" shouted another one.
The three of them didn't flinch as they locked on to the inklings that had surrounded them. "What do we do guys?" whispered Callie.
"I... don't know," replied Marie.
"Stop talking! Who are you and what are you doing here?!" shouted an inkling. Cassie was wearing her hero gear while Callie and Marie were still in their disguises unrecognized by the gang members.
"Speak! Or we'll splat you where you stand!" shouted the inkling again.
After a moment the inklings waited for the three intruders to answer but the inkling's patience was wearing thin. Cassie contemplated on a plan, but it could cost her life if it meant for everyone else to escape. Cassie gave a long sigh and turned to the squid sisters who looked back over to her with puzzled concerned looks.
"Guys...it's been a pleasure working with you," said Cassie.
"Cassie...what are you talking about?" asked a concerned Marie.
"I'm going to provide you guys a way out, just go when I lob the first splat bomb," whispered Cassie.
"No Cass! You'll get killed!" shouted Callie.
"It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make if it means you guys escaping," said Cassie.
"Agent 3, I won't let you do that!" exclaimed Marie.
"Marie, didn't you tell me that agents are willing to defend all inklings at any costs?" said Cassie reminding Marie of the squidbeak oath.
"I...(sigh) We appreciate your services and we'll never forget you, should you fall in the line of duty," said Marie with saddened giving a false smile.
"Cassie...no, We..." said Cassie with tears forming.
"It's ok Cal, I knew what I was getting into when I joined Squidbeak, I just never thought it would fighting my own kind though," said Cassie trying to reassure Callie.
The squid sisters nodded and got ready to make a break for it once Cassie gave the signal. Though the cousins didn't want to go through with the plan and were praying for a miracle to happen.
Blake was running down the hallway with two squids chasing behind him. Blake was running out of options as he saw no doors to run in and the squids were gaining on him. He turned the corner and saw a ventilation shaft on the side of a wall that was open. He rushed inside of it and closed the vent. The two squids rushed by and hadn't noticed him going into the vent. They changed back and scratched their heads. "Where did it go! We almost had It!" said a frustrated inkling. "I don't know? Let's keep going," said the other one. They squid formed back and kept going down the corridor.
"(sigh) good, they're gone, now to see if I can get back to Callie and them," said Blake as he crawled threw the ventilation system. He squeezed through going threw every bend he came across until he reached the end of another vent. He opened it to see if the coast was clear. he looked down both directions of another hallway and saw no one.
As Blake crawled out and brushed himself off he heard loud voices coming from the end of the hall back towards the large lobby. he slowly approached the end of the hall and peered out. His face turned to that of horror. Cassie, Callie, and Marie were surrounded by inklings that had ink guns drawn on them. Blake had froze, unsure of what to do without giving himself away. Blake then thought and had no choice but to give himself up hoping the inklings would let them go.
"Times Up!" shouted one of the inklings.
The inklings were ready to fire on the girls once they were given the command. "Alright, then...inklings fi..." shouted the inkling as he was cut off by a figure that came out of the shadows of the hallway across from them. The inkling went wide-eyed as well as the others when they turned to see the figure. It was Blake with his hands up, the inklings near him jumped and quickly backed away from Blake unsure what he was.
"Don't kill them! I'm the one you want!" yelled Blake in surrender.
Cassie, Callie, and Marie were wide-eyed and in utter shock to see Blake walk out and reveal himself.
"Blake no!" yelled Callie.
"Well, well, well...isn't this a surprise," said a voice that came from behind the commanding inkling. The inkling turned around and were startled. It was Camper holding his N-Zap pointed at Blake. "Sir, We...uh..." was all the commanding inkling could get out before Camper shot him a glare.
"Can it!" shouted Camper at the inkling as he gulped and moved away.
"So, my information was true, it was a human in that pod, after all, the octo rebels were right then," sneered Camper.
"Octo rebels?" said a dumbfounded Marie.
"That's right, they paid me to retrieve the pod that was dug up at Piranha pit, but unfortunately this human had to escape, lurking about, around the city, hmpf... and I thought humans were intelligent, willing to give yourself up for these pathetic excuses of inklings," sneered Camper with a smug tone.
"They're my friends...and they're not pathetic, the only one I see pathetic is you!" jeered Blake glaring at the inkling.
Camper had gotten angered by that comment and bared his fangs at Blake pointing the weapon back up on Blake.
"Pathetic huh, I should just splat your friends in front of you fossil, then we'll see who's pathetic! yelled Camper in anger.
"How about just you and me, if you got the guts that is!" shouted Blake tough-talking trying to give the girls an opportunity to flee.
"Hmpf, human, I could beat you with one tentacle tied behind my back but then again, I've never played by the rules," said Camper with an evil grin.
Camper activated his Inkstrike and the torpedo jerked about on Camper's back until it took off and flew into the air. The torpedo went straight for Blake and he didn't have time to evade as it struck in front of him. Blake was consumed by an explosion of ink and was launched back into the wall behind him. Blake yelped in pain as he hit the wall hard and landed on his stomach on the floor motionless covered in ink.
"BLAAAKKKEEE!" screamed the girls. Callie saw that Blake wasn't moving and she started to cry on Marie's shoulder.
"Bastards! You'll pay for that!" yelled Cassie in anger ready to kill her ex-boyfriend.
Camper just gave her a smug look with an evil smirk.
The room was full of tension as you could cut it with a knife. Cassie was waiting for the opportunity to lunge at her ex-boyfriend Camper. The squid sisters were consoling one another for the loss of Blake hoping to get out of their situation and Blake was on his stomach covered in ink with no signs of life. It appeared that the gang was doomed as they had little to no options to escape and get free from Camper and his gang.