Chapter 7: Rail Pass
Back at Inkopolis Plaza, the .5 Pack is still following the army of Fuzzy Octolings. While hiding behind the Inkopolis Tower, helicopters show up to drop down baskets filled with Golden Eggs from Salmon Run.
"The Golden Eggs?" Taylor whispered.
"Didn't we collect those during our part-time jobs at Grizzco Industries?" Corey whispered.
"Yes, and this must be where they all end up. But why? And did the Octolings steal them?" Elliott whispered.
Coming out of the center, a hatch opened up for cargo trucks to come up. The Fuzzy Octolings then start to load the Golden Eggs into them.
"A secret hatch?! When did they work on it?" Corey questioned.
"Co-Captain, what's your order?" Elliott asked.
"My order is to get on those trucks. It's the only way we can figure this out. Follow my lead," Taylor whispered.
The .5 Pack tip-toed to the trucks, but Corey tripped and fell. This caught the Octolings' attention, but Taylor and Elliott immediately dragged Corey underneath a car to hide. The Octolings then went back to work when they didn't spot them. The boys gasped quietly. The .5 Pack then climbs up a truck to be on top. When all Golden Eggs are loaded, the trucks return to reveal a secret underground cave street leading Southwest.
"They must've worked on this for years," Taylor commented.
Elliott said when the trucks started up, "We better hang on. Especially you, Corey."
"I know. I know," Corey responds before the trucks drive on the street.
At Cryogenic Hopetown, Captain Terry and Chris are waiting for Owen to be down with the Kettle Rail Pass. Tyler and Sammy are clearing the pipes open with 4000 Power Eggs. Once they were done, Tyler began to feel exhausted, so he sat down to rest. Sammy gets on his lap to cuddle. Tyler then starts to feel sad as he closes his eyes. He then begins to go through another memory. Papers and documents were burnt on the floor. His 10-year-old self then traumatizingly looked at two corpses of Inklings in his living room with their ink spreading all over. They are the remains of his parents. His father had shot holes all over his body and holding a Tri-Stinger. And his mother had cuts on hers and bore a Gold Dynamo Roller.
Little Tyler gasped and began to cry, shouting in horror, "MOM! DAD! NOOOOOOOOOO!"
He then turned his head towards the window. In the distance, he can faintly see two Octolings with their goggles glowing purplish-blue while covered in his parents' ink. One was holding a .96 Gal and a Range Blaster. They show merciless and unregretful smirks while snickering. Little Tyler breathes heavily with a shocked expression. But his shocked look slowly went to enrage mode before grabbing his father's Tri-Stinger.
The memory ended when present Tyler heard Captain Terry say, "Agent 3 and Sammy, we're back."
As soon as he saw Owen coming towards him, he pointed his Hero Gear at her and said, "Stay away from me, Octoling!"
This shocks the three before Tyler realizes what he's doing.
"Sorry. I thought you were the enemy. Let's head to Site 4, pronto," said Tyler, going into the pipe.
"Huh?" the three girls said in worry.
Once they got in the pipe, Callie said, "… … … AHHHH! I was holding my breath. Don't try that at home."
"Uh, most of them can, Agent 1," Tyler said.
"Aw, why can't you say my real name, cutie?"
When the group came out of the pipe and into Landfill Dreamland, Marie said, "Ew. This place is kind of a mess. But WAIT! Something on that high ground over there is blasting out a SUPER-strong signal!"
"That must be Gramps! Let's get going, Agent 3!"
"Alright, whatever."
"Wait, Agent 3. What was that back there? Aiming your weapon at Owen?" Chris asks while protecting Owen.
"…I…don't want to talk about it."
"You're getting us worried about you. If you want to talk, we'll be here to listen," said Owen.
"Now's not the time. It's time to get cleaning, ladies."
When Tyler walks off, Captain Terry says, "Poor kid, what could be haunting him like this?"