Arc 2 Chapter 18
Izzy was back in Inkopolis square after leaving the wharf waving goodbye and wishing luck to Cassie and them. Thoughts and worries were stewing through her mind after Cassie left. She started seeing the square fill with turf players eager for the new tower to open up the lobby. She got behind the large crowd of inklings and was curious to see what was going on. There were A ranked turf players in front of the tower lobby taking in requests for team recruiting.
Many of the inklings were jumping and raising their hands hoping to get picked by the seasoned turf players. Inklings were shoving and pushing trying to get upfront to be picked while Izzy was jumping up and even climbing up the shoulder of a player until she was knocked down. "Watch it rookie!" shouted the inkling to Izzy as she was sitting on the ground.
"Sorry! I just wanted to see what was going on," said Izzy to the agitated inkling.
"Nothing that would concern a rookie like you, I can tell, because you're carrying a starter kit like all the other fresh new turfers. You wouldn't last 5 minutes in a match," said the inkling snidely.
The inkling was a female with pink short tentacles. She had a dark-complected skin tone with orange eyes. She wore a white tank top with a squid logo on it and a black undershirt beneath it with black tight shorts. She also donned a baseball cap on top her head as she glared at Izzy.
"The name's Suki so you know and I'd appreciate it if a little rookie squid like you stays outta my way, got it!" Suki said sternly.
Izzy looked back at the inkling girl and nodded. She slowly got up and brushed herself looking at an indignant inkling.
Izzy turned away pouting from the inkling's behavior and slowly walked past the square's studio.
Marina was inside sitting at her DJ booth when she spotted Izzy walking past the window with a depressed expression.
Marina walked out to greet Izzy and see what was wrong. She grabbed Izzy from behind her shoulder startling her as she turned around to see who it was. It was Marina giving her a comforting smile. "Hey Izzy, what's the matter?" she asked.
"It's nothing, Marina," said Izzy with a saddened tone as she turned and downed her head.
"It doesn't look like nothing to me, so what's the matter," asked Marina again.
"It's just... maybe I shouldn't be here, I don't know what I was thinking, coming to Inkopolis. I'll never be a good turfer like Cassie," said Izzy depressingly.
"Well, you won't be if you don't compete, It'll be ok Izzy," said Marina trying to console Izzy.
"No, it won't, Cassie had to go on a mission and I got belittled by a turf war player!" exclaimed a frustrated Izzy.
"Izzy, I'm sure it was important, She'd want you to compete. You've been eager about playing since you came here," said Marina.
"I wish Cass was here with me, Marina. It's just I'm intimidated by the more experienced turfers. I'll never get to join a team. I might as well head back to the county," said a distressed Izzy dropping her starter kit. She ran off to sulk as Marina yelled at her. Marina picked up her case and chased after her.
"Izzy, Wait!" yelled Marina catching up with Izzy. She saw Izzy go behind a dumpster and sit down on the ground crying. Marina peered around the dumpster with the starter kit seeing Izzy covering her eyes.
"Izzy?" said Marina as she kneeled down comforting the crying inkling girl.
Izzy was crying behind the dumpster. Marina went over to put her hand on her shoulder.
After a moment Izzy's tears resided and she looked up at Marina. She sniffled and slowly got up hugging Marina. "(sigh) I...wanna wait until Cass gets back... before I start playing in the turf battle, Marina," said Izzy.
"You... sure?" asked Marina
"Yeah, It's not that big of a deal. Cassie's my friend and I want her to be here to cheer me on," said Izzy getting her composure back.
"Well, Cassie's very fortunate to have a friend like you. It's good your putting your friend before the turf war battles. I'm sure you'll become great turf war player Izzy," said Marina with a smile.
"Thanks, Marina, that means a lot coming from you," said Izzy.
"You're welcome, well here's your starter kit. I gotta head back to the studio, I'm sure Pearl is wondering where I went to. We gotta give the news report on the opening of the new Deca Tower before the lobby opens, I'll see you another time," said Marina as she handed Izzy the starter kit and walked away waving.
"Bye, Marina," waved Izzy as Marina headed back to the studio.
Izzy decided to head to the tutorial area and train with her splattershot jr. before playing in the turf battles. She was hoping Cassie would make it back before she got on a team and played.
Back at the Saltspray Rig, Cassie was pursuing Camper in squid form. He had weaved threw obstacles and slipped past the octo rebels that were fighting the octarian forces that boarded the rig. He made it to the rear section of the rig and reached a dead end. There were no ladders or stairs or platforms he could make it to escape. He formed back and looked behind him to see a little green squid appear on the opposite side of the rear deck.
Cassie changed back to her bipedal form and stared at Camper with determination to capture her ex-boyfriend. "You've run outta options Ross, their's no way out so give up while you can," said Cassie with her hero shot pointed at him.
"Hmpf, I've always got an option," sneered Camper.
"What the coward's way jumping off the deck and dissolve in the water?" asked Cassie.
Camper saw that one of his crew members climbed on a walkway with a charger aimed at Cassie right after their confrontation.
"Nope, it's gonna involve you turning into a puddle of ink," sneered Camper eyeing the charger user on the walkway.
"How's that!?" shouted Cassie trying to resist splatting the inkling.
"This, SHOOT HER!" yelled Camper to the charger user. The charger user lined up his shot and fired at Cassie. Cassie turned to the charger user but it was too late, she was hit in the chest which made her fly back and yelp from the shot. Her weapon flew to the side and she laid on her back motionless on the deck.
Camper smirked and walked over to Cassie's lifeless body and kneeled over. He looked proudly down on Cassie admiring her defeat. "I told you I had an option, It's too bad though, an experienced turf player like you getting defeated like that, shame, but it was inevitable. You should've walked away from this when you had the chance, Cass," said Camper snuggly as he got up and turned away.
Just then Cassie's hand started to move and ball up into a fist. She quickly grabbed her hero shot laying beside her and shot the charger user splatting him. Camper jerked seeing the charger user shot and turned back to Cassie who was standing, aiming her weapon where the charger-welding inkling was. He was dumbfounded seeing Cassie pull off playing possum and soon she aimed the hero shot back at him. She pulled the trigger and shot at Camper only hitting him in the arm. He yelped in pain and stumbled back clutching his numb arm.
"Give up Camper!" shouted Cassie intending to shoot again if Camper still remained persistent.
"You little, ummm" jeered Camper in pain from the shot.
Cassie closed in on him and he frantically looked around and spotted the charger laying on the deck from the slain user. He squid formed rushed torward it while Cassie shot at him before he could reach it. He changed back and grabbed the Charger and dove behind cover. He soon quickly peered out and shot at Cassie with the charger. She managed to avoid the shot.
Cassie dove behind cover before Camper fired another shot. Butch and two other inklings arrived at the rear deck with their weapons drawn, they spotted Camper kneeling behind a crate. "Boss!" Butch yelled as he rushed over to Camper with the two other inklings. They saw that he was injured and asked what had happened. "Nevermind me! Deal with the green-headed brat!" jeered Camper still in pain.
Butch and the inklings turned towards Cassie with their weapons drawn on her. "Looks like you're outnumbered," said Butch as they approached where Cassie was when all of a sudden two squids flew on the deck and landed in front of the three inklings. They changed back revealing that it was Callie and Marie holding their weapons. "She's not anymore!" shouted Marie. "Yeah! let's make this fair!" shouted Callie.
"Ha! That makes 3 against 4! I don't see how that's fair for you!" sneered Camper as he came out with charger, fighting the pain of his arm.
"No! that's 4 against 4!" shouted another voice coming from behind Cassie and the group. Cassie turned around, her eyes widened shocked to see Marie and Callie on top of the tank. She then turned behind her and saw Blake carrying his old bamboozler, giving her a smile.
"Blake?!" said a shocked Cassie seeing the human. He turned his head and gave her a grin. "We thought you might need help dealing with these assholes," said Blake.
Cassie looked back at him and gave a grin and turned back to Camper and his gang hopping out of cover beside Blake.
"Looks like we got ourselves a turf war match, you ready to get your ass handed to ya, Ross!" shouted Cassie proudly.
"Bring it! I'll turn all of you into ink puddles and then that human is mine!" sneered Camper gripping the charger in his hand.
20 minutes earlier, While Cassie chased after Camper, Callie and Marie made their way to the upper deck of the rig. They saw the octarians fighting octarians and were unsure what was going on so they got behind cover to avoid getting hit.
"What's going Marie!?" asked a panicked Callie.
"I don't know, why are they fighting each other?" asked Marie to herself.
After a moment the octarian unit pushed forward while the rebels fell back. The squid sisters took this opportunity to run behind the octarians and get across on the other side of the deck and continue searching for Blake. "Alright Cal, we'll cover more ground if we split up, try and avoid any of the inklings and the octarians if you can," said Marie.
"You got it, Marie," said Callie.
"Good, I head to the left side, you head to the right side and we'll meet up at the rear deck," said Marie as she squid formed and left. Callie gave a sigh and moved cautiously to the right side of the rig. She spotted more octarians ahead talking and giving gestures. She decided to squid form and move further up to avoid detection. When she got close she hid behind some barrels on the platform. One of the octarians was getting a message on her radio and the two octo formed and headed down the walkway past Callie.
"Phew, I'm glad they left, now to find Blake," said Callie as she changed back and continued walking down the platform. As time went by she heard voices down below where the small pier was but one of the voices sounded familiar. When she got to the ledge she saw Blake and Octoling holding a knife. Blake was pleading for the octoling not to hurt him but the octoling appeared to be not listening.
"Oh no! Blake!" shouted Callie as she rushed down to the staircase. She was not gonna let this octoling harm her human crush. She approached the top of the stairs and started to make her way down until she heard Blake's voice and the octolings's voice approaching upward. She couldn't make out what they were saying from the loud waves from below the rig so she decided to wait and ambush the octoling that had Blake.
Their footsteps were getting louder as they were getting closer to the top. Callie readied her roller and prepared to splat the octoling that tried to harm Blake. She assumed the octoling was leading Blake up the stairs and would be the first person to walk up. Just when the octoling and Blake were nearly at the top as Callie popped out from cover and swung her roller down on top of the octoling.
"Don't you dare hurt Blake!" Callie yelled as she swung down the roller.
The octoling was frozen in surprise as the roller came down, just then Blake rushed in front of the octoling and shielded her from the roller attack. He was slammed in the back and thrown downstairs holding onto the sergeant. They both tumbled down below with Blake landing on the bottom panel with the sergeant landing on top of him.
Oh No! Oh No! Blake! Are you ok!" shouted a panicked Callie as she dropped her roller and rushed down after them.
The sergeant picked herself up and slowly opened her eyes. She rubbed her head from the landing and quickly noticed that her face was very close to Blake as he sat up from the fall almost bumping his head into hers. The two met eye to eye and froze from the positions they were in. The sergeant's face began to blush as her goggles were knocked off from the fall. Blake gulped and was unsure what to do.
Just then Callie ran up to the two of them frantically. "Blake! Blake! Are you..." exclaimed Callie as she noticed how Blake and the octoling were positioned.
Callie froze at the sight and after a moment she snapped. "Get off of him!" she screamed at the octoling.
The octoling turned to her revealing her green eyes and the scar on her cheek. It's not what it looks like squid!" shouted the sergeant red-faced and with a look of indignation.
Callie backed up startled by the octoling's uproar then it occurred who she was. "Wait! your the octoling from back at the hideout!" exclaimed Callie in relief.
"Yes, squid, and why did you just try to slam that roller down on me!" roared the octoling.
"Wait! I'm sure she didn't mean too!" exclaimed Blake holding the sergeant back from jumping on Callie.
"I...I...I thought you were going to hurt Blake! I saw you with that knife!" explained Callie frantically while waving her hands in defense.
"I was freeing him from those cuffs you dim squid!" said the agitated sergeant.
"Both of you stop!" shouted Blake at the two of them.
The both of them looked back at him seeing his annoyed expression. "Look It was just a misunderstanding, I'm just glad no one got hurt, Callie was just looking out for me. She thought you were one of the rebels," explained Blake trying to pacify the situation.
The octoling turned away and crossed her arms.
As Blake walked over to Callie he jerked from the roller hitting him the back. Blake clenched in pain and Callie rushed over to him. "Blake! your hurt...I'm so sorry...I" started Callie concerned over Blake as he cut her off.
"Callie, it's ok, you didn't mean to, I'll be fine," said Blake as Callie soon rushed over and hugged him. The sergeant turned towards them hearing Blake was hurt and saw the squid sister hugging him. A pained look fell on her face as she saw the two hug one another, then turned away.
The two pulled off and rubbed their heads. "Where's Marie?" asked Blake.
"Me and her separated so we could find you, we were supposed to meet each other at the rear deck when we found you," explained Callie.
"Well I guess we'd better head that way then," said Blake.
"Hold on, I need to take you back to the octoling base, I'm not risking you getting captured again," said the sergeant sternly.
"Sergeant I'll be fine, I can..." said Blake as he was interrupted. "This isn't up for debate, You need to come with me, that's my orders," replied the octoling with her voice getting sterner.
"Please, let Blake go, I won't let him captured by those octo-jerks," pleaded Callie.
The octoling gave her an indifferent look and crossed her arms. After a few seconds, she gave a sigh and shook her head. "Very well then, you can take the hum... I mean Blake with you, being your such good friends, but I expect you to guard him with your life and please don't slam your roller on any of my guys, got it squid! I'm going to catch up with my unit and I want us to meet back at the main deck of this rig once the octo rebels have retreated," said the octoling not wanting the human to leave away with the squid sister. Conflicting thoughts were running through her head between the inkling and the human.
"I will! You can count on me!" I won't let anything happen to Blake!" exclaimed Callie excitedly.
"Good, I'm heading out and I expect you to keep your word squid," said the sergeant as she octo formed and headed back up to the main deck.
"What does she have against inklings? I don't understand why she can't be friends," said Callie as she looked back.
"Just let it go, Callie, we gotta go meet up with Marie anyway," said Blake.
Callie nodded and the two of them headed up the stairs and continued on to the rear deck where they were supposed to rendevous with the other squid sister.
On the left side of the rig, Marie managed to slip past any octo rebels that were near her and made it past the left deck and continued on to the rear deck of the rig. She had run down a catwalk leading to the rear deck of the rig, she saw that it was clear and continued on.
But unknown to her a figure was hiding behind a pile of barrels on the side of the catwalk on a covered platform. Marie caught the attention of the figure when she rushed past it. It noticed she was wearing a neon vest like the inkling that kicked Camper down at the pier. The figure walked out and it revealed to be Loppy by her cyan blue long tentacles and eyes to match with the mask-like marking around them.
"Who was that?" asked Loppy as she saw Marie disappear up ahead.
She was deciding whether or not to follow her but decide to follow and see if she could help her.
As Marie got closer she could hear some familiar voices. She stopped and snuck up behind a large tank and peered on to the rear deck. She saw Camper and three other inklings shoot at Cassie as she dove behind cover on the opposite side of the deck.
"Oh crap! Cassie! I gonna do something," shouted Marie quietly.
She squid formed and slithered behind the tanks facing out from the main body of the rig and made her way to the other side to aid Cassie when she heard two more voices approaching from the walkway. She decided to hide around the corner and see who it was. It was Callie and Blake running up toward her. She decided to grab them before they could reach the deck and get spotted by Camper and his guys.
Marie grabbed the both of them behind the large tank where she was at. The two of them were surprised as they stood and looked at Marie wondering what was going on.
"Marie?" exclaimed a surprised Callie. "Shush!" responded Marie placing her finger across her mouth to signal Blake and Callie to stay quiet.
"Marie, what's going on?" asked Callie quietly.
Look, on the other side of the tank on the rear deck," said Marie quietly.
Callie and Blake peered around the side of the tank and saw Cassie hunkered down behind a crate with Camper behind another and three of his crew members drawn on Cassie's location.
"(gasp) Cassie's in trouble! We gotta save her!" panicked Callie.
"We will, I have a plan," explained Marie.
The three of them huddled up and devised a plan to save Cassie from the four inklings that had her pinned down. "Me and Cal will jump out with our weapons before Camper and his goons can ever think to splat Cassie. That'll give time to get Blake ready and get Cassie outta there if things start going south, I don't think Camper will resist our little turf match on the rear deck," said Marie with a mischievous grin.
"But Marie, It'll technically be 3 vs 4 how can..." said Callie as she was cut off.
"Blake's going to be our 4th player," said Marie.
"Huh?" responded Blake and Callie in unison.
"But Marie, Blake doesn't even have a weapon and how's he..." said Callie as she was cut off again.
"Gramps thought Blake might need this," said Marie pulling his old bamboozler out a duffle bag she was carrying.
Blake stared at his old Bamboozler recanting the memories he had with it.
"I think gramps thought you could put to good use," said Marie. Before we left the shack. Cuttlefish grabbed Blake's old bamboozler just in case. He handed it to me before we reached the wharf, so I could hand to Blake just in case we got into a situation like this," explained Marie.
"But Marie, He doesn't even have an ink tank," said Callie.
"Gramps thought about that too, He fixed and modified your bamboozler. He filled the barrel with his ink so you're very limited on how many shots you can get off, so make them count," explained Marie.
Blake nodded and held up the bamboozler. "I'm kinda curious to see you in action, Blake," said Marie with a smile.
"It's been a while, so don't expect much," said Blake.
"You can do it Blake!" shouted Callie before remembering to stay quiet and covered her mouth.
"Alright, Are we ready?" asked Marie. Blake and Callie both nodded clutching their weapons.
"Ok, let's do this and Blake, remember what I said if things don't look good," said Marie.
Both Callie and Marie jumped out of cover on top of the tank they were hiding behind after hearing Camper's men say that Cassie was outnumbered.
"Not anymore!" shouted Marie on top of the tank.
"Yeah! Let's make this fair!" shouted Callie.
"Ha! That makes 3 against 4! I don't see how that's fair for you!" sneered Camper as he came out with charger, fighting the pain of his arm.
On cue, Blake ran from behind the tank and behind Cassie, standing next to her.
"No! that's 4 against 4!" shouted another voice coming from behind Cassie and the group. Cassie was surprised and looked to her right and saw Blake carrying his old bamboozler.
"Blake?!" said a shocked Cassie seeing the human. He turned his head and gave her a grin. "We thought you might need help dealing with these assholes," said Blake.
Cassie looked back at him and gave a grin and turned back to Camper and his gang hopping out of cover beside Blake.
"Looks like we got ourselves a turf war match, you ready to get your ass handed to ya, Ross!" shouted Cassie proudly.
Sergeant Maxie was on the main deck while her unit dispersed through parts of the rig apprehending the octo rebels. While she stood in the middle of the main deck a figure was watching her from the shadows. The figure gave a sinister grin and pulled out a knife. She watched the octoling behind her goggles that are commonly issued out to octoling soldiers. She waited for her opportunity to ambush the red-tentacled octoling that turned her back away from her direction.
"I have you now," jeered the figure quietly. She octo formed and jumped in the air in an attempt to pounce on the octoling. The octoling regular looked up and evaded the attack and jumped back with the elite landing a couple of meters in front of her. "repeating the same attack from before, that's not like you old friend," said the sergeant as she faced the elite.
"hmpf, I guess you didn't pay attention then, Sergeant," sneered the elite. The octoling didn't notice that while the elite was in mid-air she lobbed a splat bomb to where she knew the sergeant would jump to.
The octoling gave her a confused look and heard a noise behind her. It was splat bomb but before she could react it detonated and exploded making the octoling fly forward. She landed right in front of the elite with her back covered in ink. She couldn't move as she was in pain from the explosion. The elite grabbed her by the tentacles and slung her almost throwing her off the deck. She tumbled near the ledge and looked back at the elite. She gritted her teeth trying to stay conscience from the pain she was in.
The elite approached the octoling with her knife unsheathed glaring at her nemesis. She pressed her boot against the sergeant's back as she yelped in pain while she gave a devilish grin. "I guess this is the end of the line for you, old friend. It's too bad you couldn't see things my way, you would've made a great commander for my unit but that option is still on the table. So call off your that unit of yours and maybe I'll spare you if you join the octo rebels," said the elite pressing harder against the octoling's back.
"S...Screw...you!...I'll never...join you!" clenched the Sergeant baring her fangs.
The elite got annoyed and let her foot off the octoling's back. She picked up the sergeant by her tentacles and pressed the knife against her neck.
"Hmpf, stubborn to the end, very well Sergeant, enjoy your last breath because I'm going to..." said the elite as she was cut short as the octoling found enough strength to clench her right fist and punch the elite in the face. The elite yelped and stumbled back letting go of the sergeant.
The sergeant was kneeling down catching her breath. She looked back to the elite that was recovering from the blow. Her goggles were knocked off revealing that the sergeant hit her in the right eye where her scar was. While holding her eye she glared back at the sergeant gritting her teeth.
The sergeant slowly got up and spit out some ink from the splat bomb and glared back at the elite. She got in a fighting stance resolving the pain and pulling her knife out ready to fight her old mentor.
"So, that's how it is, alright then," said the elite taking her hand off her eye and picking up her knife.
"Let's end this, major," said the sergeant flipping her knife.
The two had gotten ready to battle each other as they had their knives out. They both stared down each other waiting for someone to make the first move.