Chapter 11: The Darkest of all Pasts
Tyler and Sammy soon arrived with the last Treasure thing.
"We got all the Treasure, I think," said Tyler.
"And I fixed your Hero Suit, thanks to the Sardinium you collected," said Owen, putting away a sewing kit.
"I appreciate your help, Agent 8."
"Aw, why couldn't we fix it for him," the Squid Sisters complained.
"Because you two are boy crazy," Chris answered.
Marie replied, "Uh-huh…uh-huh…"
"You crushed it, Agent 3! And I also have some CHOICE things to say about Deep Cut," said Captain Terry, giving a thumbs up.
"Wouldn't want to be them right now!"
But then Cuttlefish's transmission came up and said, "Ksssh! …ead me? Come in! Do you copy?!"
Callie responds, "Gramps! We read you! Not, uh…exactly loud and clear, but we read you! What's up?"
Marie added, "Are you OK? What's happening where you are?"
Cuttlefish said, "Hah! Finally got this dadblasted thing workin' again. OK, so…here's my report. I'm bein' held captive by someone or something callin' themselves Mr. Grizz. I heard THAT loud and clear."
"We already figured that out," said Chris.
"As for where I am? Beats me. But my left knee is achin' something fierce, which means I'm at altitude. Somewhere high up!"
Then Marie said, "Well, that's a pretty good hint. There's only one place that fits the bill, right?"
But then Mr. Grizz is heard, "Well, well. Your injured knee may have betrayed this location, but don't expect any workers' comp! Thank you for this, by the way. I won't underestimate the legendary leader of the Squidbeak Splatoon again. I'll just go ahead and deal with you now…before you become an actual inconvenience. Boys…"
Then Cuttlefish said, "Wait a min-HEY! Taylor, Corey, and Prince Octavius are you?! What happened to you?! What's that? Whaddaya think you're doin'? Gyaaah!"
"…Huh. That didn't sound great for Gramps…" said Marie.
"Gramps! We're coming for you! Stay strong!" said Callie.
Captain Terry panics with Chris and Owen as she says, "Did you even hear that?! Taylor, Corey, and Prince Octavius are there as well! Our boyfriends are in trouble too. We got to save them! Just as soon as we figure out how to get to wherever they are…"
"Do you think some of this stuff we collected might come in handy?" Tyler asks.
("Tyler, why don't you take a closer look at it? It might just be our ticket into that rocket.") said Sammy.
"I think it's pretty clear we have to get into that rocket somehow. Are you ready to try this, Agent 3?" Owen asks.
"Yep!" Tyler said.
"Oh, hey! Is all your Hero Gear the way you want it?" Chris asks.
"Sure is! Let's go!"
"This is the final confirmation. Are you really, super-ultra-mega sure you're ready?" Captain Terry asks.
"For the last time, I AM READY!"
Then Callie pointed to the rocket, "Alright. Gramps has to be up there somewhere. But there's too much Fuzzy Ooze in the way."
"(Ugh! I can't eat all that)" said Sammy, looking disgusted.
"Even Sammy isn't THAT hungry," Tyler noticed.
Then everyone looks at the treasures for Marie to say, "Um…I just know this would be useful somehow if we combine it all…"
Callie commented, "You've always got the answer, Agent 2! It's totally worth a shot. Let's do it! By the power of chowder…COMBINE!"
With the Squid Sister, Captain Terry, Chris, and Owen working together to combine the 3 Treasures, they're assembled into a lawn mower-like tool.
"Oooooohhhh," Captain Terry, Chris, and Owen were amazed by this.
"Oh, yeah. This will be worth a million sand dollars at the scrap bank. Pure fortune millionaire," Tyler commented.
"WOW! Look out, fuzz. Here comes the Captain!" said Callie.
Captain Terry then gets on her sitting book on her feet with arms crossed.
Marie says, "OK, Captain Terry! GO!"
After nodding, she powered up to throw the tool towards the rocket and super jump after it. Grabbing it once more and slashing it all around, Captain Terry begins mowing down the Fuzzy Ooze at the speed of light.
"Cool!" Tyler and Sammy commented while astonished.
With the Fuzzy Ooze gone and the Alterna Space Center sparkling clean, Marie said, "So smooth…It's smoother than my skin now. No fair!"
"You did it, Agent 3. Now then, smoothness aside…Let's save Gramps," Callie added.
"Alright, ladies. Let's jump to it!" Tyler said as everyone followed him.
But when they find Captain Terry near the broken-down tool, they rush over for Callie to say, "Cap! Captain Terry! Are you OK?!"
"Ugh! This pain," Captain Terry mumbled.
"You simply can't go on? You sprained a tentacle? Well, we won't let you down. We'll go on with you!" said Marie.
"Or Owen and I can carry you," said Chris.
"Ally-oop!" said Owen, as she and Chris held Captain Terry in their arms together like they were sitting on a chair in cheerleading style.
"C'mon, Agents. Let's-" said Marie.
But then a voice is heard, "WAIT, ONE HOT MINUTE!"
"Oh, no. I recognize that big mouth of a voice," said Tyler, annoyed.
Deep Cut soon showed up for Frye to say, "That's right…it's US! You didn't think we were going to just GIVE UP, did you? Tell me you didn't!"
"Nope," Tyler rudely remarked.
"(Geez, Tyler. Simmer down, will ya?)" said Sammy.
Shiver then said, "Giving up is for the weak. Do we look weak?"
"Judging how I've beaten you all, no offense to Big Man but an offense to French Frye and Shiver Fin Soup, yes," said Tyler.
"(They're still our favorite idols, Big Bro.)" Sammy trying to calm him down.
Then Frye said, "So! Last chance. If you don't want to tangle with Deep Cut, put down the treasure and walk away."
"Ay! (What they said!)" Big Man added.
As Tyler turns his back to not look at Deep Cut, Marie says, "Oh, that thing? Yeah, we're done with it. It's all yours."
Deep Cut was surprised and shocked, for Shiver said, "You're done with it? Done…with treasure? What's wrong with you?"
Callie replied, "Plenty! But don't worry about that. If this pile of junk makes you happy, you can have it!"
"Did-Did you just openly admit there's something wrong with you and Agent 2, Agent 1?" Tyler confused.
"This is a trick, right?" Shiver said while Deep Cut looked at each other in disbelief.
Then Frye said, "You expect us to believe you're just going to give us the treasure? After, well, everything? Wait…why am I fighting this? WOW, thanks!"
Frye then sat down with Shiver and Big Man on their knees to bow before the New Squidbeak Splatoon in apology.
She said with such guilt to close her eyes, "I feel kind of…not good…about each of us fighting you to the death. Our bad. And you're just GIVING us this!"
Shiver added with her hand close to her eye, trying not to shed a tear in sorrow, "Seriously. Such a boss move. Actually…why don't YOU be our boss?"
"Ay! (New boss! Can I get a raise?)" Big Man said.
"What?!" Tyler surprised.
"Did I just hear clearly that they want to work for us?" Chris asks.
"It seems so. Besides, our Agents 5, 6, and 7 positions are looking for applicants," said Owen.
"This alliance might just work out…Ow, owie, ouch," said Captain Terry.
Jokingly, Callie said, "Boss Marie?! Ahaha! Looks like you have your own employees now. Have fun with that!"
"Oh…I'm going to have to approve their time cards, aren't I?" Marie facepalmed.
"This is a shocker. I never thought Inklings and Octolings would forgive and forget. Inklings are always easy to manipulate due to simple-mindedness, and Octolings try to act so innocent, which they couldn't," Tyler shakes his head.
Felt offended, Frye said, standing up with her bandmates, "Hey, now! Listen here, Missy!"
"I'm a boy."
"YOU'RE A GUY?!" Deep Cut shouted in shock.
"I know? And he's a charmer, too," Callie blushed.
"I can't get enough of his looks and personality. Sour cream delicious," Marie added.
"Now that I got a good look at him. I can see what you mean. Even I'm feeling like I'm melting by staring at him," Shiver said while fanning herself and moving her shoulders.
"I don't care if he's a hottie with a nice junk in the trunk! You can't go talking to others like that," Frye said, trying to hide her flustering.
"Why shouldn't I? I hate Inklings and Octolings to my very soul," Tyler replied, surprising everyone but Sammy.
"Ay? Aaay? (Um? You're an Inkling yourself?)" said Big Man.
"I know and despise it so. Let's get this rescue mission over it so we won't see any of you again," Tyler said, trying to walk away.
"OK, time out! We're not leaving until you learn to be respectful to everyone," said Chris.
"I won't. No Inkling and Octoling deserve me as a friend or anything else!"
"We tried being nice to you all day. Couldn't you cut us some slack," Owen said.
"No!"
"Why not?! Why can't you?!" Captain Terry shouted.
"BECAUSE THE OCOTLINGS AND INKLINGS KILLED MINE AND SAMMY'S PARENTS!"
His yelling was so loud that it echoed all over Alterna. This horrified everyone to be silenced. But then Tyler begins to cry, which makes everyone feel guilty. He then fell to his knees, with Sammy trying to comfort him.
He continued, "The Octolings and Inklings took everything from me. The Octolings came and killed my parents to ransack us. Even though I avenged them by killing them back, it didn't feel good. Then Sammy's parents came and took me in as their own. I thought I would finally find peace, but no! The Inklings just showed up out of nowhere and killed his parents right before us! I was just a child back then, and Sammy was an egg too. He'll never get to know his parents because of those Inkling monsters! The Octolings took my innocence, and the Inklings took my mental state! I lost so much!"
He begins to cry very loudly while gripping his heart. Captain Terry then gets off of Chris and Owen to walk toward calling Tyler. She sits before him while he pouts. She then, with comfort, hugs him.
"I'm….I'm so sorry….I just want…to get rid of the pain…," he trembled while embracing her.
"It's alright. You deserve so much more than pain and regret," Captain Terry said with a comforting voice.
Chris, Owen, and the Squid Sisters then join in the hug to give Tyler comfort.
"I'm not cold-blooded enough not to join in," said Shiver as Deep Cut joined the hug.
"If you need to talk some more, we'll be there," Frye said.
"Aaay! (Big Man is always there for his friends and teammates!)" Big Man said.
While wiping his tears away, Tyler said when the hug was finished, "Thank you, everyone. Now, let's continue to save Cuttlefish and that .5 Pack."
Tyler then gets Sammy in his Ink Pac, goes towards an Inkrail, and activates it.
"We'll meet you at the top, Agent 3," said the Squid Sisters, blowing kisses at him.
As Tyler climbs upward, Frye says, "I can't believe they turned out to be so nice. And so FAMILIAR. Where have I seen them…"
"I can't stop thinking about poor Gramps…all alone up there somewhere. We've got to focus and move on!" said Marie.
"Don't forget my, Chris's, and Owen's boyfriends are up there too," said Captain Terry.
"Where the heck are M.C. Princess and DJ_Hyperfish when we need them?" said Chris.
"And Elliott too! How can he miss out on this?! And how did Mr. Grizz get his mites on my Prince?" said Owen.
"You're our only hope, Agent 3!" said Callie.
"I mean…we're standing right here. We're helping, too!" said Shiver.
"Ay! (Yeah, don't forget about us. Let's go!)" said Big Man.
"Oh, sure. NOW they want to help," said Marie.
"Alright, people. We're in," said Tyler.
"(Mr. Grizz, you better watch out!)" said Sammy, as they entered a dark entrance.