I stood slowly as my mental form connected once more with my physical self.

"Is it safe to release the big guy?" I shrugged toward Lili as I looked over the creatures features. The fish like being looked rather peaceful in its slumber as it snored in the most awkward way possible.

"Does the big guy look aggressive in this state?" I tilted my head a little to the side as the eyes twitched ever so slightly. "Oh, I think it's waking up." Slowly, the fish's eyes blinked open and looked up toward Lili and I was a confused gaze.

"Small children, greetings."

"You fucking talk?" I couldn't help but chuckle at Lili's shock as the fish gave her a confused look.

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Yeah, Lils, why wouldn't they?"

"Well I can openly admit to seeing some crazy shit as a psychonaut in training, but talking fish? That's fucking new."

"My name is Linda, child. Address me as such, please."

Linda?

"Ironic." Lili gave me a curious look as I just shot her a sheepish smile. "I'll explain later."

"Human children," I brought my gaze back toward the creature as her gaze was now on the little prison I had made for them. "Is this necessary?"

"Well you did try to kill me." I nodded along with Lili as I crossed my arms over my chest.

"And I don't take trying to kill my best friend lightly."

"Only your best friend?" Lili gave me a smirk that caused a deep blush to take over my cheeks.

"Well, I-."

"Oh relax, Raz, I know I'm not the only person you would protect like that." She let out a joyful laugh as I felt my heart beating within my throat.

Oh. That's what she meant. Not that she was teasing about only being a friend.

Not like I totally don't want to change that or anything totally not.

I cleared my throat for a moment before looking over toward Linda once more.

"But anyway, can we trust you now, Linda? Not going to try and take us out of existence, right?"

"While free from him? Absolutely not, human child." I gave them a nod before releasing my psychic energy that entrapped them. The ice dissipated and dropped to the lake floor. "I thank you, child."

"The name's Razputin. But you can call me Raz." I dropped my hands to my sides before nodding over toward Lili. "This is Lili."

"Ah yes. My apologies."

"I have some questions for you, Linda." I crossed my arms over my chest once more as I grew serious. "Would you mind?"

"By all means." Linda sat up so she was sitting before us before giving me a small nod. "Ask whatever it is you wish."

"Do you remember much before you were hypnotized?"

"I remember little from before. A lot while during, though. It has been ages since I was a slave to my own mind, land lover."

"What do you remember exactly?"

"Do you wish for my life story or just pieces I believe you desire?"

"Just the important bits for now." Linda gave a small nod before bringing herself up to her feet.

"I was given a new mission by my creators new partner."

"Creator?" I shared Lili's confusion as I tilted my head to the side.

"My father, my creator, which ever way you want to look at it." I started to note some distinct features of the fish as he spoke.

One eye larger and a different color than the other. Speaking of his "creator" as if they're a monster from a lab. This has mad scientist all over it.

"Doctor Loboto, isn't it?"

"You know him?"

"Of him, more like it." I shrugged at the idea before grabbing my goggles and adjusting them up my forehead ever so slightly. "He's a friend of a friend I suppose."

"Ah yes. Acquaintance."

"Though not a friendly friend that's for sure." Linda nodded as they put their arm like fins behind their back.

"Did not expect as such."

"Especially with while 'trying to kill us thing' I thought that would be pretty obvious after all." I could audibly tell Lili was rolling her eyes at us as I continued to speak. "But nonetheless. What was the mission here? Do you know what Doctor Loboto and Coach are planning?"

"All I know is that there were blueprints and brains involved. Anything more, I wasn't aware of."

"Blueprints?" I reached up to rub my chin in thought as Lili whispered the word to herself. "I bet it's for some kind of physic device if brains are involved but for what? What would coach need a dentist for? What kind of machine would he be using to need that kind of madness included?"

"I know in Grulovia that there was a history of using psychic scientist of different practices to make special equipment for the crown." I shivered at the idea as I remembered some of Nona's old diaries that spoke of our mother country. "My aunt was one of them as a 'psychic expert'." I used air quotes as I continued with my thoughts. "They used her to practice certain weapon ideas and skills that would use already in place psychic methods to try and expand upon them."

"So like weaponizing the brain in more ways than just mental, but by adding them into a physical process more than before?"

"Exactly." I looked toward Lili as a remembered a study in particular. "For instance, in one my aunt's diaries, there was an entry about a machine gun that could be controlled by hydrokinesis. The bullets and turning mechanics were replaced by pure psychic energy in the form of water that could then be solidified once ejected from the barrel. It was never finished on due to my aunt refusing to go through the process, but it could be something like that."

"Weaponizing psychic abilities with physical weapon attachments." Lili shook her head in disbelief before giving me a worried look. "Could you imagine what people would do with those kind of tech? They could make it where solders are literal brain bubbles in tanks or something! Brainless bodies in pods waiting to be used by either bodiless brains of madmen while their real brains are off fighting wars!"

"Dictatorships could be endless."

"And wars could be a lot more devastating than ever before." I cringed at the idea as Nona's words flowed within my mind.

These monsters have no clue what they're messing with. The lives that they put at risk the more they mess with psychic weaponry. They don't see the effects yet, but they will be endless the more they mess with things they don't understand.

I closed my eyes for a moment as the last sentence echoed in my mind.

This is why there are Psychonauts, this is why the world needs us.

I opened them slowly before looking back at Linda.

"We need to find where Loboto is hiding. We need to stop him." I stepped forward as a sense of duty swelled in my chest. "But first we need to get back to Agent Cruller so we can get further assistance and figure out what the hell we're up against here. Can you take us back toward the camp?"

"Most definitely, young Aquato." I gave the fish a curious look.

"I never said my full name."

"With eyes like those," Linda cracked a toothy grin before answering completely. "And a tie to my being, it's hard to not tell, human."

"Wow," Lili took in the moment before looking over toward me with a smirk. "Even fish know the Aquato name. That's one hell of a legacy there."

"For all the wrong reasons." I muttered the words for a second before rubbing at the back of my neck.

"Each being makes their presence in this world, water lover." The fish spoke in a matter of fact tone as it's deep voice was smooth to the touch. "But it's one that you may embrace or hide from. Your choice." I stared at the fish blankly as a dumbfounded look took over my face.

"You have no clue how humans are to people like me do you?"

"Not a single bit."

"It shows there." Lili snickered as I sighed. "Let's say that we can tell you weren't treated the best either, and I sure as hell understand your pain there, buddy."

"Were you also experimented on?"

"Nope but I can tell you there would be tons of people that would kill for the chance at it."

"I love that you two found comfort in one another like this is some kind of underwater Alcoholics Anonymous meeting but," Lili gestured at the bubble surrounding us. "I'm not the water creature here and we have important things to do here." I gave her a small smile as Linda chuckled at her joke.

"Enjoyable child." I gave Lili an amused look as Linda's attempt at a compliment.

"Alright." I gave Linda my attention again. "Give us a lift?"

"Not sure if your friend will enjoy it, but I have a way of getting you both out of here."

"BLEH!" Lili gave a disgusted grunt as she shook her head like a wet dog as we emerged from Linda's mouth and onto the shore by the docks of the camp. "I'd rather ride in those damn water bubbles again than do that again." I chuckled at Lili as I moved my goggles onto the top of my head.

"This is one of the many reasons I wear a helmet and goggles at all times." Lili just made another disgruntled noise as Linda's fin like hand emerged from the water.

"Take this children." She extended her hand toward me and placed a skeleton like horn in my hand in the shape of a fish. "Blow on this horn and it will call for me. Whenever you need me, know I will be there when I hear it." I gave the fish a large smile before turning my bag to rest in front of me and placing the horn in there safely.

"Will do, Linda." I adjusted my bag so it was behind me once more before giving them a small wave. "Thank you for all your help."

"Anytime, Aquato." The fish slowly lowered into the water, but before she disappeared completely, she spoke once more. "Fellow water creatures must stay together." Lili gave a disgusted grunt once more as I turned my attention toward her again. This time she was ringing her hair out from what seemed of fish saliva as she scrunched her nose. I couldn't help but smile softly at the sight as the little lines that appeared between her eyes were more endearing than anything else.

"Remind me to never follow through with yours and your water friend's plans like that ever again without the details." She flipped her pigtail a little bit so it was out of her face and over her shoulder before turning toward me. "That was the most disgusting bullshit I have ever done in the name of psychic adventures."

"I bet not the weirdest though." I smirked as Lili rolled her eyes at me with a small smile.

"Not wrong, but I would rather die than do that again."

"Noted." My smirk grew as I slipped my hands into my jacket pockets. "Want to explain everything to Ford when we see him?"

"Sure, but I'd rather forget the traveling in a fish mouth part."

"What? Afraid to admit you went above and beyond for the psychic world?"

"No, just rather forget it already." Lili led the way toward the tree stump attached to the route to Ford's lab as I let out an amused laugh.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Lils."

"Love you too, Aquato." I felt my heart skip a beat as I caught up beside her to see the soft smirk on her lips as she looked ahead of her.

If only she meant it.

I smiled softly to myself as I let silence take over us.

But maybe it's best to not talk about how you feel after getting out a fish's mouth.

My grin turned to a smirk as I glanced toward her.

Let's wait till there's a better time at least.