Enemy

You trust people too easily, Cal.
Not everyone will be your friend.
That's why we tell you these things.
Don't go off with strangers,
And ask a lot of questions.

Pearl leaves, and Callie takes her place in the lobby, just one more inkling ready to turf. She's got a splat charger today—not her regular roller, which splats her, but this is for the best. Spike isn't in his regular alley, and Marie's waiting there, with a full ink tank and her hero charger and Callie's roller in reserve.

But Callie only manages three splats in one match with the charger, nowhere near Marie's average and she knows she's trying her hardest. Her teammates pat her on the back and tell her she's doing great for someone just learning; the charger on the other team—the octoslob's team—even gives her some tips. Callie only glances at the octoslob, doesn't seem too interested.

She hasn't given any sort of agent-worthy performance. And the Octoslob...

"They wouldn't send anyone but an elite out here," she murmurs into her microphone their fifth match together, keeping the octoslob in her sights, "but I doubt she was in combat. She's got no finesse with that roller, avoids everyone on the other team."

"Maybe used to another weapon?" Marie asks. "If she's adjusting from a shooter or charger..."

Callie shakes her head, though Marie can't see it, and takes a shot at a blaster getting too aggressive before focusing on the octoslob again, going down the ramps of Moray Towers. "No, not that. If she were trying not to draw attention to herself, she'd get one or two splats each match. This is more like she's trying to avoid any combat. Completely unlike anything we've seen or Gramps can advise us on."

Marie groans. "I'll make a note."

Another couple matches, and the octoslob finishes for the day. Callie shadows her to the locker room, where she stores her roller this time (good, that makes things easier) and heads to the building's lobby.

Now. Callie falls in step beside her."You're a bit cautious for a roller player, huh?" The octoslob glances at her, and Callie grins, being just as cheerful as she is on the news and as ignorant about the octarian's identity as most inklings. "You're strong, fast; you could've just mown us all over. Splat!"

The octoslob adjusts her headphones, glancing at Callie, then away. "I don't want to actually hurt anyone," she mutters. That... sounded surprisingly sincere.

Stick to the plan. Establish a reason for talking to her, keep her from being suspicious as they walk together. "No one wants to really hurt anyone, but splat battles don't really do anything. It just kinda stings a little. I use roller myself, mostly." Callie tries to meet the octoslob's eyes, not that she can tell through Callie's sunglasses. "It's just so much fun, waving that thing around!"

The Octoslob frowns, her brow furrowing. After a moment, she asks, "Were you on the other team?"

Absolutely. "Yeah. My cousin and I were on opposite sides last splatfest, and I lost. We had a bet." Callie takes a deep breath and watches the octoslob for any reaction as she adds, "I can only use a charger until the next one."

The octoslob giggles. Callie trips over her own feet as they emerge into the sunlight (oh thank cod the rain stopped). "Really, now."

No reaction to a cousin who uses the charger. No reaction to roller player. No 'This is an agent' instinct at all in the octoslob. Maybe she doesn't suspect their identities. Maybe she's very, very good. "Yeah. I had you in my sights a couple times but you never came close enough." Callie skips a few steps, keeping herself between the octoslob and the plaza, not touching her but nudging her in the right direction. Towards the alley. And Marie. "It was nicely done, though. Want to get some food? My treat!"

The octoslob adjusts her headphones again. Two more steps, she'll be in position. "What's the catch?"

Now.

Callie trips the Octarian, moving past her and grabbing her arm, giving her a shove-swing into the alley where Marie waits. The girl rolls, but Marie's got her charger ready, and Callie grabs her roller to guard the exit. Marie sounds downright menacing as she growls, in a falsely cheerful voice, "Just some curiosity. We'd love to know what an Octoling is doing in Inkopolis. Care to explain?"

"I," the girl says, her voice catching on the word, and Callie clutches her roller in both hands. The octoslob gasps twice, her breath ragged, and Callie looks at Marie.

Marie narrows her eyes and does something with the charger; there's a sharp snap sound and the octoslob's head snaps forward. "You what? Make it good, octoslob."

The girl's—the octoslob's shoulders shake. "J-just make it quick."

Callie almost drops her roller. She stares at Marie, who stares back, wide-eyed. The girl isn't trying to fight, or get away, or...

Marie shakes her head once, fast, and motions for Callie to say something. To do something.

So Callie takes a breath, because it really does seem like she's helpless. Callie has to use all her training as a singer to keep her voice even as she says, "There will be no need to splat you, if you answer our questions."

A choked sob escapes the girl. "Like I believe that." She pulls one hand from the muddy ground but stops herself before moving any further, though her shoulders shake. "If an inkling showed up in the domes, and I didn't deal with it? I'd be splatted myself, no hope for respawn, and they'd make it last. But I—I can't go back. They'll just make it take longer. So just—get it over with." Another choked sob. "I'm surprised I made it this long, really."

Callie lowers her weapon. "Cod," she mutters. Past the octoslob, Marie is doing the same. "Were you expecting this, 2?"

"I think we need to try a different tact," Marie says, and jerks her head further into the alley.

Callie nods, and slips away to the drain to Octo Valley, because they just—they just—

Octolings aren't supposed to be scared, to be crying, to have feelings like real people.