Arc 2 Chapter 13
Izzy and the octoling that saved her were running down a flight of stairs toward the lower levers. Once down they ran into a large room that appeared to be some kind of conference room with tables placed together surrounded by chairs. As they walked around the tables the octoling heard something and stopped. "Stop," she told Izzy.
"What is it Spider?" asked Izzy.
"I don't think we're alone," replied Spider.
"Hmm...crap! get down squid!" shouted Spider as she grabbed Izzy down to the floor. A shot of ink came close to hitting Izzy and the octoling. The shot came from above the suspended ceiling. It was dark and two sets of red lights in the form of eyes moved back and forth through the rafters of the ceiling.
"That was close, you alright squid?" asked Spider as she got off of Izzy.
"Yeah, thanks for saving me again, and it's not squid! my name's Izzy!" said a relieved but also irritated Izzy.
Spider turned and looked up, she turned her goggles on to infrared, even though oceanics put off a low heat signature she would still see the figure in darkened areas. As she scanned, she didn't see anything until a figure flew down with her boot out in an attempt to knock spider off her feet. Spider jumped back from getting kicked as the figure landed in front of them. It was the octoling elite that had talked to Camper before with the scar across her eye.
"Ha, if it isn't the little interloper, didn't think they would send a little shrimp like you for a mission like this," said the octoling elite smugly.
Spider was just slightly shorter than your average octolings as the elite was taunting her. "Well, if it isn't Scarface, a smart ass, as usual, didn't think you show you're pretty little face again after getting that scar across your eye," sneered Spider.
The elite bared her teeth and took the goggles off her face revealing her green eyes and blue irises. She also had purple eye marks like other octolings for say the scar that ran across her right eye. She glared at the octoling regular with the intent to finish her off.
"Don't think I've forgotten how I got this," said the elite as she pointed to her scar.
"I'm guessing you didn't come here for a little meet and greet did you," said Spider placing her hands on her hips.
"If you have to know, yes I'm working with those inkstains manning this hideout and yes, I'm well aware of your little mole, thought you and the new octarian government were going to put a monkey wrench in our little scheme didn't you but I was two steps ahead of you and your false ruler," said the elite in a smug tone.
"You will be stopped and your band of misfits, the octarian government will not stand by and let you jeopardize the peace treaty you traitors," said Spider.
"Traitors huh, how I see it, you're the traitors! You just discarded our ruler Octavio and sold us out for some zapfish when we could have taken over the Inkling territory like we should have done a hundred years ago!" exclaimed an angered elite staring down the octoling.
"You know as well as I do! We've would've never made it if we didn't pursue a treaty with the inklings and obtained enough zapfish to power the domes, at least the squids allowed us to come up and visit or reside in the city, at least they gave us their word, Octavio was too focused on building more octoweapons to think of a better alternative energy source to power our domes," said Spider also staring down the elite.
"you and those other turncoats would side with those inkstains over Octavio and the rest of your kind! I'm going to enjoy killing you Sargeant," jeered the elite.
"Bring it on! Major," shouted Spider getting into a fighting stance.
Marina was watching and had looked in horror as Blake had been struck by the torpedo from the inkstrike as a tear fell down her face. She covered her mouth to cover her whimpering seeing the human lay motionless on the floor. Marina knew of Blake from her reports sent by someone on her laptop unknown to everyone else. She wiped her eyes and a look of dread came across her face.
"Rina! what's going on?!" asked a concerned Pearl.
"Huh, nothing! We need to stay out of sight, the girls are surrounded by Camper and his gang and their's nothing we can do," said marina.
What!? we gotta do something!" shouted Pearl.
"Shush, Pearly we're not even armed and Cleo needs to be taken to a hospital," said Marina getting aggravated at Pearl.
Pearl crossed her arms. "Pfff, I would've run out there and started kicking their squid butts with my mad skills yo," said Pearl doing Kung fu poses.
Marina just rolled her eyes and placed her hand over her forehead shaking her head embarrassed by Pearl's actions.
"How is Cleo doing?" asked Marina.
"She's still out yo," replied Pearl.
"All I can do is pray for a miracle," said Marina.
During the stand-down, Cassie gritted her teeth and was ready to pounce on Camper for killing Blake when his guard was down when all of a sudden Blake's body started moving as he raised up coughing ink.
"Blake?" said a shocked Callie still crying as she lifted her head of Marie's shoulder looking toward Blake.
"Impossible," said a shocked Camper.
"You failed to realize...that ink...doesn't have much effect on a human, but I'm still weak, I can hardly move," said Blake as he gritted his teeth in pain.
Callie rushed over to Blake and sat him up, laying his head on her lap. She wiped the ink off his face as he gave her a smile. Callie smiled back as she asked him if he was ok.
"Yeah, I'm (cough) fine, Cal," said Blake.
While Camper was still speechless, Cassie took the opportunity to pounce on Camper and disarm him. Camper yelped as Cassie threw punches at him as she had him pinned to the floor. "Get off me Brat!" screamed Camper as he was trying to block her hits. "You sorry bastard! This is for hurting me and my friends!" yelled Cassie. She then swung her Hero shot toward his head but was blocked when Camper held out his N-Zap to stop the strike.
Cassie applied as much force as she could toward Camper with him holding her weapon back with his N-Zap. He then kicked her off and stumbled up. "I'll deal with you later, focus on grabbing the human, he's the real prize," barked Camper. The inklings then focused on Blake and Callie aiming their weapons.
Marie jumped in front of the two with her Charger. "Cal, get Blake out of here! Me and Cassie will hold them off!" ordered Marie.
Callie nodded and she picked Blake up by his arm around her shoulder. Cassie was sitting up on the floor with her hand on her head recoiling from the kick. "Hang on Marie!" yelled Cassie as she saw Marie fighting off some off Camper's guys.
Marie was taking shots at the inklings that were further out splatting them while hitting them with her weapon if they got too close. An inkling with a roller attempted to swing their roller on top of Marie. Marie blocked the roller with her Charger and flung the attacker back. The inkling made another attempt to swing down the roller on top of her only to be splatted from behind by Cassie.
Marie looked at Cassie and thanked her. Marie and Cassie shortly turned toward the inklings and got ready for another onslaught. Meanwhile, a group of inklings moved in on Callie and Blake with their ink guns drawn. "Hand over that human!" shouted one of the inklings.
"You're not hurting Blake!" yelled Callie as she placed Blake down and pulled out her roller.
"So be it!" shouted the inkling.
The inklings shot at Callie as she twirled her roller blocking the shots. When they got done she jumped at the first inkling slamming her roller down on him turning him into a puddle of ink. The other inklings looked in horror as they tried to refill their tanks. Callie swung her roller at another one throwing him against the wall. he splatted as soon as he landed on the floor. The third inkling didn't have time to refill as Callie jumped in front of him giving him an evil look.
"Don't splat me! I don't need this job!" screamed the inkling boy as he dropped his weapon and squid formed out of the area. Callie giggled with her hand covering her mouth. She turned and saw Blake being dragged by one of Camper's guys and came to her senses. "Let go of Him!" yelled Callie as she swung the roller over her shoulder.
The inkling dropped Blake and aimed his splattershot jr. at Callie hitting her in the chest. Callie yelped and fell back, dropping her roller. "That'll teach you squid," sneered the inkling as he continued to grab the human.
"Callie," said Blake weakly as he wanted to punch the inkling that was dragging him away. Blake tried to struggle to get free as another inkling came and helped the other one drag him off. "quit fighting human!" shouted the inkling as he took his splattershot jr. and hit Blake in the face knocking him out. Blake blacked out and Callie reached out toward Blake screaming his name as she was lying on her stomach.
The fighting continued on as more of Camper's guys were getting splatted. They were no match for Cassie and Marie as the two agents flipped, dove, and maneuvered from the attacks and shots the inklings were landing on them. Cassie was shot in the back when she landed back down with her guard down. She kneeled down in pain, thankfully she was wearing splat armor or she would be an ink puddle. "Cass!" shouted Marie rushing over to her shooting another inkling that tried to rush her.
"Little intervening squid," sneered Camper as he was the one that shot Cassie with his N-Zap. An inkling rushed over to Camper and reported to him that Blake was in their possession. "Good, we got what we wanted, have the guys fall back," ordered Camper.
"But sir, what about the girls?" asked the inkling.
"leave them to lick their wounds, we got what we wanted! We'll call that octoling and inform her that we have the human and to meet us outside of the city," said Camper as he walked off.
Marie was helping Cassie get up while scanning and looking for Callie and Blake. She soon spotted Callie lying on the floor and rushed over toward her. "Cal! Cal!" shouted her cousin. She kneeled over and turned over Callie who was still breathing. Callie slowly opened her eyes and stared at Marie. She quickly sat up and hugged Marie. "It's ok, Cal," exclaimed Marie hugging Callie.
"No, it's not," exclaimed Callie with sadness in her voice. "They got Blake!" she explained.
"What?" said a concern Marie.
"I'm sorry, Marie...I...I couldn't save..." exclaimed Callie as she started crying.
"Cal, It's ok...we'll find him," said Marie as Callie wiped her tears sniffling.
Marie helped Callie up as Cassie walked up to them. The group then heard a pair of footsteps running down the hallway towards them. They got their weapons ready but when they saw the two figures finally enter the room, they froze but Cassie went wide-eyed as she recognized one of the figures and dropped her hero shot on the floor.
15 minutes earlier, Spider and the elite she referred to as Scarface were locked into hand-to-hand combat. Izzy stood back crouched behind a chair watching the two octolings fight each other. Spider threw punches at the elite but she evaded all of them. "Ha, is that the best you got Sarge?" sneered the elite.
Spider growled and attempts to throw a hard jab at the elite only for the elite to grab her arm and throw her to the floor. The octoling coughed as she laid on the floor from being thrown. The elite quickly jumped up and attempted to stomp the octoling. Spider rolled away and the elite missed her mark.
Spider got back into her fighting stance and signaled for the elite to come at her. The elite bared her fangs and clenched her fist. She rushed at the octoling regular and threw her own punches. one punch managed to hit Spider in the jaw as her goggles flew off revealing her eyes. unlike the elite's eyes they were white with green irises but still had purple eye rings like other octolings.
She recoiled from the punch holding her jaw and spit out magenta ink on the floor. "Not bad major," jeered the octoling wiping her mouth.
"Hmpf, you can still take a beating Sargeant. I love it when my opponent can actually fight back," said the elite smugly getting back into fighting stance.
Spider got ready for the elite as she didn't notice the elite had a knife hidden behind her as a deterrent if she felt she was faltering.
"Let's go then," said spider.
The elite lunged and grabbed hold of the octoling trying to pin her to the floor. Spider managed to free her arm and punched the elite in the face knocking her backward. The elite covered her face as Spider took the opportunity to land a kick to the elite's gut making her fly back.
"You're slipping major, must be age," said spider with a smug tone.
The elite gritted her fangs and held her gut from the blow. She sat up and glared at the regular that was soon looming over her. She growled at Spider and spat ink out. The elite soon had a devious grin on her face looking at the octoling. "Seems I'm not the only one slipping," sneered the elite as she had her hand on the knife behind her.
Izzy noticed the elite grabbing the knife behind her and shouted at Spider. "Spider! Look out!" showed Izzy pointing at the elite. Spider turned toward Izzy with the elite pulling the knife out and lunged at the octoling. Spider turned back to the elite and at the last second she backed up but the knife tip left a cut on the side of her cheek. The elite was aggravated that Izzy warned her before she could stab the octoling.
"Little inkstain!" shouted the elite as Spider managed to grab the elite's arm the knife was in and threw her over her body. The elite flipped in the air and landed on her feet bending her knees so she couldn't land on her back. The elite turned toward Izzy and Spider with a glare. "This isn't over!" shouted the elite as she soon received a call.
Izzy rushed over to check on Spider who was covering the cut on her cheek. "You're hurt," said Izzy. "I'll be fine, it's just a knick," said the octoling as she turned away.
The elite had just got off the phone with Camper with a sinister grin. "Well, unfortunately, I gotta run, too bad I can't stay in play, we got our prize," said the elite as she waved at Izzy and spider. she octo formed and slithered away out of sight.
"Hey, get back here coward!" shouted Spider as she started to run after the elite holding her cheek. "Wait! Spider! What was she talking about when she said prize?" asked Izzy as she held onto her shoulder.
"I don't know? unless she meant..." said the octoling as she realized with a worried look on her face.
"What? What is it?!" asked Izzy with concern.
"We gotta go now! Keep up squid!" exclaimed the octoling picking up her goggles as the both of them made it out of the room and switched to their other forms and slithered down to the lower levels as fast as they could.
At the end of the hallway they changed back and spotted Cassie and the squid sisters in the middle of the large lobby. The group noticed them and drew their weapons but laid them down when they saw Izzy. Cassie dropped her weapon and rushed over to hug Izzy as she was excited to see her friend again.
"Izzy, I'm so sorry I got you dragged into this mess, I hope we can stay friends!" exclaimed Cassie as she started to cry.
"Cass, It's ok, It's not your fault and yes...we're still friends," said Izzy holding onto Cassie's shoulders giving her a toothy smile.
Cassie sniffled and wiped the tears from her eyes, "you don't blame me?" asked Cassie in a pout.
"No! I don't! you're my best friend Cass," said Izzy with tears starting to form in her eyes.
The two hugged again as the octoling just crossed her arms and shook her head. "(sigh) squids..." said Spider with no emotion.
Cassie looked over to spider and stared at her. "Just who are?" asked Cassie snidely.
"Yeah, just what is an octoling doing here anyway?" asked Marie defensively as she picked up her charger.
"Wait! She saved my life! Don't hurt her!" shouted Izzy as she got in between them and the octoling.
"Huh? She...did, but why?" asked a bewildered Marie.
"Look...I just didn't want anyone getting hurt or killed. I'm on a mission for the octarian government to retrieve the human so it would stay out of the hands of the octo rebels," said Spider with her arms crossed with an indifferent look behind her goggles.
"Wait, Camper mentioned something about the octo rebels, but you're an octoling. Why would you go against you're own kind?" asked Marie still confused.
"The octo rebels aren't adhering to the peace treaty and have been stealing ancient human-based technology with the help of Camper and his crew to start making octoweapons again even though they have been forbidden to due to the treaty recommendations. Their intentions on taking the human is still unknown but we know it can't be good," said the octoling.
"Oh no, poor Blake!" said Callie with tears returning.
"What would they want with Blake?" asked Marie comforting Callie.
"We don't know? Wait, it has a name?" asked the octoling.
"Yes he does, He's also our friend and why should we trust you anyway octoling," said a distrusting Cassie.
"Why else would I save your friend there, my intentions are to follow orders from the Octarian government and ensure the races can stay at peace even though the rebels don't," explained the octoling displeased with Cassie's demeanor.
"Ok, Octoling, so where would they take him?" asked Cassie still not trusting the octoling.
"I don't know, hopefully, our source will inform us on something, if he gets taken into Octo Canyon, he'll be much harder to find," said the octoling.
"Octo Canyon?" asked Cassie.
'It's unknown territory on the other side of Octo Valley. It's where we believe the octo rebels are operating at. It was abandoned years ago as the power was going out in the domes," said the octoling.
"Wait...I think I know where that's at, It's near Mt. Nantai I think," said Marie.
"We have no time to lose, let's go before the human get's out of our reach," said the octoling.
Marina had stayed hidden until the group decided to head out. She came out of the room to get Marie's attention. "Marie!" she yelled.
"Marina? you guys ok? how's Cleo?" asked Marie.
"Not good, we gotta get her to a hospital fast!" exclaimed Marina.
"Alright, I'll call the police and an ambulance. Izzy, you and Cass grab Cleo and get her outside until the authorities arrive, ok," commanded Marie as the two girls nodded and grabbed Cleo as Pearl came out carrying Cleo on her shoulder. "about damn time!" sneered Pearl relieved to not carry Cleo anymore.
Marina watched Cassie and Izzy carry Cleo when they were stopped by Spider. "Wait!" shouted Spider. She stepped toward Izzy and Cassie.
"let me see her," asked the octoling. She picked up her head and looked over the badly hurt inkling. "It's her, the mole," said Spider.
"the mole, what are talking about?" asked Cassie.
"She's been working with us, spying on Camper and informing us about his activities, she's been a big help," said Spider laying Cleo down.
"Why would she help you?" asked Cassie in confusion.
"the same reason I am, to ensure peace and stability among the races. She's been secretly dating an octoling guy for some time even though the races would be against it," said Spider.
"Wait, an inkling and octoling? dating?" said a bewildered Cassie. "Is that even possible?" asked Cassie.
"don't see why not, I could care less, I'm going to give her a shot to get her by until she gets some professional help," said Spider.
Spider shot something in Cleo's arm as she flinched and moaned. "There, that'll do for now," said Spider.
Izzy and Cassie picked Cleo back up and started to carry her out of the area. Cassie turned her head to the octoling and thanked her for the help. The octoling just remained silent and didn't say anything as she turned back to the group.
Marina caught Spider's eye as if she had known her before. Marina looked nervously at the octoling as she tried to cover her face. The octoling approached Marina and took off her goggles. "You look... familiar, have I seen you somewhere?" asked Spider.
"Umm...I... don't think so," said Marina nervously.
"I swear you look like someone I knew," said Spider placing her hand under her chin.
"Listen here octopus! She says she's never seen you, so back off!" yelled Pearl as she got in front of Marina baring her fangs.
Spider just gave Pearl a look and shrugged. She turned away and mumbled to her self. "Nah, it couldn't be anyway,"
Marie looked over to Pearl and Marina. "Hey you guys, thank you for everything you've done, I really appreciate it," thanked Marie as she walked over and shook Marina's hand as she blushed and rubbed the back her head. Pearl just crossed her arms and looked at Marie. "I wanna explanation Cuz when this is all done," said a displeased Pearl.
"Fine, pearl but I'm still grateful you helped us out," said Marie with a smile.
Pearl just raised her eyebrow and sighed. "sure thing cuz," is all she said.
Marie looked back at Marina. "I think you guys have a concert to perform tonight don't you," said Marie reminding them of the square opening.
"Oh my gosh! You're right! Pearly! We gotta go and get ready!" shouted Marina with her hands on her cheeks in shock. She grabbed Pearl by the hand and drug her away out the door rushing back to the square for their concert tonight. "Woah! Rina! Not so fast!" they could hear Pearl shout down the hallway as the two left.
Marie just shook her head and looked back at Callie and Spider. "So what do we do next?" she asked Callie.
"I don't know about you two, but I'm heading back to my superiors to report the situation, hopefully, we'll have some leads and... no offense but I don't work with squids," said Spider as she walked away. She approached the hallway and before she left she turned to the squid sisters and pulled her goggles off.
"You guys...aren't bad, for squids," she said giving a quick half-smile and placing the goggles back on her eyes. She octo formed and slithered away down the hallway out of sight. Marie and Callie just looked at each other.
"So what do we do Marie? What about Blake!?" said a concerned Callie.
"Let's just head back to gramps, I'll get a hold of Cass and inform gramps about the situation, I know he'll be pained by this, but we have to devise a plan," said Marie.
Callie just downed her head grieving over losing Blake. She felt a hand on her shoulder looking up to see Marie giving her an assuring smile. "Cal (sigh) it's not your fault, we... were unprepared, we didn't know what we were running into," said Marie.
Callie looked at her cousin then turned away. "I want him back too," said Marie. "He's your boyfriend after all," said Marie with a smirk trying ease the guilt off her cousin.
"He's not..." said Callie as she turned back to her cousin. Callie then turns her head again hiding her emotions for Blake.
"You love him don't you Cal," asked Marie knowing that her cousin had been infatuated with him since they first met at Cuttlefish's.
"I...do, he's...charming and selfless and brave, I think he's the one Marie," said Callie turning back to her cousin.
"Yeah, it's hard to not fall for a guy like that. but you do know he sees us as a family because of gramps," said Marie looking at her cousin.
"I know but I wanna be more than friends and family, Marie," said Callie biting her lip.
"Look, Cal, if you wanna be more than friends then you should let him know how you feel," said Marie.
"But I...what if he doesn't wanna..." said Callie hesitantly as Marie cut her off.
"Callie, if that's how it is then that's how it is, you gotta remember what all he's been through, he may not be ready," explained Marie.
Callie froze in thought about what her cousin had said. "I'm... gonna try anyway, I...wanna let him know how I feel," said Callie snapping out of thought.
"Alright Cal but let's get to gramps and find him first, that way you can let him know," said Marie.
"Ok, Cuz, let's find Blake!" shouted Callie as she jumped up with her fist in the air going back to her normal self.
The two of them squid formed and left out of Camper's hideout and headed back to the plaza to inform Cuttlefish about Blake being kidnapped once they got to his shack. The two were not eager to get back unsure how to break the news to their grandfather, that his friend and once battle buddy was taken by the Camper and the octo rebels. Cass and Izzy managed to get Cleo help from the police and paramedics that arrived as they informed the authorities on what happened, skipping the mention of Spider, The squid sisters and Off the hook being there. Spider returned to octo valley to report to her superiors of the situation and Marina and Pearl were getting ready for the concert tonight.
In the meantime, Blake was being carried in a cargo truck heading out of the city, he was still uncosciense laying on the floor of the truck tied up with some rope. Camper was sitting down looking at the human. "To think an extinct species is lying on the floor in front of us, just to think how much he's worth. I wonder why those octo rebels want him so badly or for that matter all those octarians. What does it matter as long as I'm paid for it," said Camper.
"Wow so this is a human, I wondered what they looked like, I saw the fossil in the shellendorf institute," said a female gang member.
"It's nothing special, I hope he gets dissected, worthless fossil," jeered Camper.
"I think he's kinda cute, for a fossil," said the female inkling.
"Loppy, you think everything's cute, I don't know how you joined my crew," said an irritated Camper.
"You thought I was cute," said Loppy looking at Camper with her arms down.
"Yeah, I did, maybe when we get done with this job, we could settle down somewhere nice, maybe at moray towers or somewhere," said Camper.
"I wouldn't mind living near the beach, I like the sound and smell of the ocean," said Loppy as she sat next to Camper.
"For you, anything babe," said Camper as the two shared a kiss.
The truck continued on as it made its way to the outskirts of the city. Camper and his gang planned on meeting up with the elite and the octo rebels outside the city somewhere to finish the job they were supposed to pull off. let's hope Blake can get out of this one.