I opened my eyes to the second day of my Zapfish reclaiming operation. It never dawned on me to try to talk with the big one if it has anything to say via it's mind with some wires tapes on it or in an odd way that I don't think I want to find out. Oh well, it's not the first time I've done something stupid, so I should be fine; hope it doesn't swallow me like the other odd mutants who try to do so back then...Anyway! Nothing to worry about now since I have access to the upper floors in hellven sweets, so let's finally get to work on that blue print of mine. I think it's about time that I-….Wait.
Only now I realise that I'm wearing my old labcoat with my card attached to the upper pocket along with the old clothing after arriving in hellven city. What the hell? I then look around and find myself in my old room '369', the same room where the only female décor is to be offered by some sassy hotel receptionist. 'N-no...no i-it can't be', I mutter in disbelief as I run towards the closed balcony window and witness the ever so glorfull mankind's both sins and goodness right before my very eyes.
Hellven, the city that cracks the masks and shows your true self, both good and bad.
Flying cars and traffic lights, neon coursing through the streets like blood through veins, twisted buildings tall and cagy looking, windows feeling like restless eyes staring egotistically at all below; most of them anyway. Some looked sad, happy, goofy and all. It's nasty sight to see in a world of nightmaric dark fantasy. The sky is still as I can remember it, the blood red fabric covers the city and not a meter beyond its walls while red-pink like clouds are looming around a familiar blood shed at midnight; the carved moon man with a shining blue pearl eye watching in silence over all that is sin. Ground streets filled with people getting slaughtered and raped beyond all imagination, vehicle's of mass destruction spitting gasoline on the party. A fine friday, don't you think?
Jack: "What's going on!?...H-how am i here!?"
My answer didn't have any intention of being delivered, an old cell phone rang; the one I lost back in the bunker after my masquerade of the gnomes...long story. I took out the phone and looked at the caller name, begging for it to be anyone but...
Simon aka the motherfucker supreme.
At that moment I honestly considered smashing my head against the wall till I stopped seeing all this nonsense. Simon is gone and I'm absolutely sure he changed the number as that asshole commander requested. In hesitation of this foolishness of what I see, hear and feel of the old familiar times I touched/pressed the green button as now in the calling session before I put it against my ear.
Jack:"...h-hello?...Simon? Simon is that really you?"
simon?:" ~اهلين حبيبي! لم اراك منذ سنوات عديدة يا حبيبتي! اين انت اين انت شمس قلبي"
jack:"...you" I whispered, recognising the voice, but it's distorted and has the audacity to speak with my mother tongue.
Jack:" LEAVE ME BE PARASITE!" I shouted at the phone
But it only kindly replied, saying it's coming for me. N-no...Gotta get to Elizabeth and get out of here! I threw the phone away then hastily moved to the door and slammed it open in panic and fell into a pitch black corridor. The room I just left was rapidly drowning in decay, a now cracked window showing disarray, marching through streets with a volatile orchestra. Wasn't I part of the expedition team when we saw this…?
...the expedition.
Suddenly, I'm dressed in a hazmat suit, hiding my scent from mutants. I remember Elizabeth was back in the bunker awaiting my return with fresh samples and data. I looked around the dark corridor and turned on the shoulder-mounted flashlight. The corridor looked fine despite its current state, so I kept moving further till I saw the dim light at the end of it. And this is where it all happened, where the phone rang for the last time, announcing the fall of our city.
?:"le désir, la cupidité, le renard, la tranquillité. ne laissez pas passer cette occasion de prendre ce qui est à vous mon amour . alors laissez-vous libre, ET LIBÉREZ CE QUE VOULEZ ÊTRE!"
Screaming voices with the french linguistics filled the paled corridor of once hellven grounds before the walls became wary and hard to focus on. My mind tried to comprehend what it was seeing and hearing but failed as distorted sounds reached deafening levels; it made me dizzy, stomach spinning like a devil's wheel. I plugged my ears and screamed back but it was effortless; the noise was overwhelmingly loud.
However, somehow I heard and felt strong fast stomps shaking the ground like a stampede. I looked behind me in my best efforts despite this distorted state and saw two tiny red shiny eye's coming this way while it looked like they were bouncing around running.
In fear of it catching up, I ran as fast as I could. But the problem here is that my legs are giving up on me, and I can only run slowly with minimal effort because of the headache. While doing so, I saw a few unfamiliar liquid-like substances dropping down from the ceiling one after another. At the same time I try to avoid them in order to not slow me down or otherwise of what it can do to me. I feel it's presence drawing near, the throbbing is getting worse the longer it's close to me.
I wanted to run from it, I wanted to escape from it, But. my mind was too tired and weak to give it any more strong commands, so I decided to open one of the other doors to hold it off for now. Upon closing it and locking it tight, I feel my body is a little refreshed yet still exhausted. Before I had the chance to pass out for now, I had to make sure that this safe room is...well, safe. By closing the windows and blocking it with the closet, the vent's, the air conditioner, the sink in the bathroom, everything. Just to make sure that 'it' won't come in here, even the door as I moved the mirror cabinet from the bedroom in front of it, with little stamina left in me before I heard those last words as I jumped to bed while my consciousness was fading.
?:" aww ~, tu as échappé à mon étreinte mon amour, mais ne t'inquiète pas. la tour et le voyageur attendent toujours ~~~.
I woke up with the sound of Zoe's custom alarm as I gasped with an unusual need for the amount of oxygen,' 'pant'..what?...'pant'...the hell?...'pant'...was that?'.
It was the first time in years that this un-explained odd nightmare-like dream came to me like this, I don't remember the last time I had it but this time it was different. Hellven city, the imp hotel, that 'thing' daring to speak with my real mother tongue, I loathe it with a passion. Then strangely change it to French... I do remember the words but not what they mean. Everything felt so real and not even a second have passed until another bullshit thing that I have to deal with, tho it was on special occasions only, yet I don't know how or even why this keeps happening to me i was just fine for one week and a few days and now it's back?
'Sigh'...I need breakfast and forget about it for the rest of the day.
Normally I wouldn't want the interference of Zoe waking me up since I'm not a big fan of alarms myself, mostly because they make me feel all 'woozy' after waking, and when preparing for the day...it just begging for me that i would repeatedly smack my head to the wall, however this is the only time that I would say 'Thank god for the alarm', and praise it….it's the only real life saver for me to escape 'it'...I hope tonight it's not going to be the same.
….anywho, it's rather interesting to hear the same old tune when I slept in the power suit for the first time outside the bunker, but more new and fresh this time. I suppose she liked it first hand and wanted to make it better. I think I'd like it to stay that way from here now on out.
Rubbing my eye with a tired motion as the rays of sunlight crossed the window in an intruding manner like always, Nicky is under the pillow moaning in agony of the soft fresh new alarm.
Jack:"hmm~.." I hummed to myself with a smile of how much she reminded me of the times I had to wake up to go work and cursed the sun in the process.
Facts or no facts, miracle's of god or not. I still can't believe how I have survived this tragedy without even losing a limb, the coin of fate itself is all powerful to predicting the strings of life hardships, patterns were predicted like it was out of pocket or something, furthermore that's how I know that I had to trust them when I hadn't back then. Because I was afraid of the end, and who wouldn't really Since you have so much left to do. were bound to play the ignorant card for a good amount of reasons. However I did take the chance to come back and talked to them once they gave me a hint of their power.
to put it simply...i won the lottery.
Then they offered me a good deal for proving and payback for my own negligence. Surprisingly they were merciful and quite giggly as a matter of fact, but as of today in the unforeseen events. It just recently revived from it's deep slumber before 'she' showed up to them first hand before I did. At least she made it possible for me to wake up and meet them again, although they had to restrain all their power's just so they can re-appear here with me, the two of them in fact are rather powerful and predictable in their own nature. And thanks to that deal we made all those years ago. all three of us are here without a scratch...mostly anyway, but at least we have an extra passenger on board so it's not all bad.
It's like time travel but with more complexity as it is finest. However, that's beside the point of our worries, aside from then being away from me for a good while and I welcome that completely. It's just that I'm the only person so far that is not in deep sleep or dead of it all, which still remains the big question, are there more of my kin out there? Or have they met the unfortunate?
But then the whole 'cod' thing happened first, which means one thing, none of them are around...but, even so. Whatever or whomever they are in this present day, a child or an adult alike, I hope they have better luck like I have right now...godspeed to them.
As for the 'real' all-mighty himself…still have no idea what his big plan right now, i should be dead just like the rest. And yes i know i made the deal but...pretty sure he wouldn't allow it. But he did, now that I'm alive again and being the only exception to see the next generation of the new species, as I'd like to believe anyway. they're adorably foolish and maintain human like behavior, but here's the thing...what is my role in all of this? To bring them all together? To move things forward? Unite them to stop bitching and killing? How and why I wonder?...more and more of these questions seem to pile up before I just had enough of the early brain train-wreck before ultimately dropping it for now before groaning with the habit of thinking in the morning. Mother always told me that I need to think about food with a bit of a relaxing morning before doing so, otherwise I won't get much thinking it all.
She's great like that, She used to do these things before doing her motherly duties. I love her till the day she's no longer with me.
...
My hope is that she got it like with simon, but i'll find out soon enough once the war is over. For now, I have a little cutie to make her feel butter~.
Jack:"hehe~. Oh what a great day for cat-fishing" I said the old knowing phrase in a sly tune before I heard Nicky's squealing in surprise while saying 'my lord!', before she almost fell off my bed as I quickly caught her in my arms.
Jack:"don't worry my dear, you're safe in my arms now. No bad octavio can turn you into a naughty girl. Mr. Bottle assured me that your wishes of your protection will come true" I spoke to her in a mocking prince-like tune with a smile that fits the look while she just looked at me in a blushing manner before she let go of my embrace in order to escape the fantasy I thought she wanted.
In the process of her escape she hid under the pillow in her octo-form, while squeezed in an audible muffled embarrassment tune of hearing some of the stuff she said last night as I laughed at her hysterical act. can't say that I would stop teasing these guys, with so much affection that have not given to them that only make do in the meantime, and trust me...I have an endless supply of that~, for now at least as things will be in good spirits in do time so they can have there supposed plan to get back their home with good impression in the end of all this.
I left the pillow up slightly to see her black octo-form curling into a ball of some sort before looking at me with her pink eye's, still blushing in her faint black blood. It's still rather odd to see it in different colors but I find it rather adorable to boot. I'd have to add more of my personal inki-pedia once I make one today. I hafta see the stuff we brought and along with the computer of the base for more info we still need to read and educate ourselves more...and boy oh boy, how much I finally found out why this facility is like hell to every sealings eye's.
Then I re-focused back to her as she looked a bit flustered.
Nicky:" d-don't tease me like that my lord!"
jack:" but that means I won't be able to see you being what you really are"
nicky:" I don't want you to see the messy side of me. it's really unprofessional and not something or anyone wants to see"
Jack:'' I see a lot of hangover people in my life, even professional people get stressed from time to time. Before they are...well, you. To be exact" I said while still smiling before she looked away.
How precocious.
Jack:" And besides, your not the first one who felt like garbage while the world wanted you to suffer for reasons that justify the means of all things in particular" I said while still holding the pillow as she looked like that she needed more comfort while her tentacles is folding together as if it's like crossing her real arms.
Nicky:"...did you see anything. Of underneath armor I mean?" she said while trying to change the subject.
Jack:'' only your shoulders hun~, can't say that I wanted to keep company if you wanted more than just that. Also I'm wearing my underwear for your sake as well" I said before showing my undies to her with my other hand as she quickly moved her tentacles to cover her eye's in a shying manner before I chuckled in amusement.
She just jumped off the bed in a quick fashion before moving to get her armored clothes on the floor, transformed back into her humanoid and ran towards the bathroom while saying' I have a job to do and you should do yours doctor' before closing the door in her state of embarrassment.
Jack:"...at least you're not feeling like ass in the morning dear!" I called out to her in a relatable tune with a smile before I got up and went to get something from the fridge.
That reminds me, the requests from yesterday's efforts will be rewarded and be at our base soon. I really hope that all of it will arrive without a hitch. Things here are already tough to maintain as it is before getting it all operational to its full power, and I hope the amount of money I have will be enough to compensate...good lord i need to sell some legit stuff for cash or she will handle my remaining skeleton for later use, don't know if she well but i'm not taking chances.
*Yesterday in Inkopolis, behind the Plaza tower*
Quietly we arrived at the plaza tracking down the receiver of the unknown transmission coming from the base that Zoe traced back to one of the high floors of the tower, and suggested using the backdoor elevator conveniently hidden from the public eye; depowered with the dial panel demanding the code. Zoe lazily cracked it in seconds and moments later doors opened with lights waking from the slumber. The moment I walked in the doors suddenly closed shut, ceiling breathing cyan-colored antiseptic gas. Then the elevator took me all the way to the tallest floor with haste.
The door opened, illuminating the dark room before me with faint keyboard typing sounds echoing from the deep. Lonely couch on the left, cheaply looking office table with computer and a figure staring at the screen like a statue...It's like looking at your life as if it was wasted by work; a nightmare to every accountant.
Jack: "Deadf1sh…?" I said to grab her attention but she has no reaction what's so ever.
Deadf1sh: "Please sit" she said shortly and waved her hand at the couch
I did what she told me before sitting on the couch and I waited. Feels like I'm in a place where I shouldn't be, but then again I think she is the one who called...but what for? My recent efforts of both the valley and the city? Or did I do something wrong? It's like I'm waiting in a principal's office and brain-wrenching if you did something to offend the school, but even if I'm not sure myself of why she called since she is off...whatever the god's name is.
Deadf1sh: "Your recent actions were quite loud, mister Gruw" she finally broke the silence, turning to the window and looking at the city
Jack: "It was part of the deal, wasn't it? and I assure you that these lost ones were in need of a home. I had no choice but to use this route in order to bring them out. The sub can't fly or walk. if there was an alternative, I'd-"
Odradek/zoe: "Then maybe you have at least something that can help to both not disturb you. but to not get the heat to a dangerous zone" she said while completing my sentence in the process.
Deadf1sh: "You declared war on octarian lands. The war against god. What are you planning to do with all the rescued octolings?"
jack:'' Isn't it obvious?...training them, taking care of them both mentally and physically, giving them jobs with their specialized talents in order to make them feel at home; increase morale by doing things to make them happy and a lot of workers are needed to be paid btw, that and they have informed a ton of information of the place, along with a map of that said place to get the base ready locked and loaded with tons of weapons to both protect them and give them the chance to restore their former home by invading all the domes with the round gates that connects them, deal with kings forcers all the while I deal with the king myself. thus, my army will be busy fighting the somewhat easy part"
odradek/Zoe: "While we get the hardest part and liberate them once we find an easy solution to counter the frequency of these damn goggles." she said as if we laid down our reports of the day.
Deadf1sh: "The road to hell is paved with good intentions" - She slightly turned her head to him, showing one eye:
"And they'll praise, trust you, put their lives for you. What stops you from going too far?
Jack: "Their well-being rests on my shoulders." I said, feeling the weight of growing responsibility.
Deadf1sh: "Zoe. Can you vouch for him on that?" She asked as if my words meant nothing to her
odradek/Zoe:" what do you mean?"
Deadf1sh: "You know what I mean"
odradek/zoe:"...look, I may not like these guys worshipping us with an unreasonable amount of loyalty, but I had to admit: they have been through enough as it is. And seeing him at least trying to make a difference kinda inspires me to do the same. It may not be something that I like, but it's my job to take care of him. So you bet your dead ass I'll vouch for him" she said while doing a thumbs up.
Deadf1sh: "Then I have nothing to worry about. Keep your meat bag in check"
zoe:"...I'll show you when you call him a meat bag you sack of salmon pork tide ass bitch" she insulted her in a mumbling tune with a quiet remark as I just chuckled.
Deadf1sh: "And here I thought you had a sense of humor..." She said while making her way to her computer
Jack: "That aside, what can we do for ya big boss?" - he asked with faint smile
Deadf1sh: "Teach Zoe basic AI humor. Artificial intelligence must be ashamed of itself if it can't crack a pun about world domination"
Jack: "Hahaha! that's pretty good~" - he said while just laughing as if Zoe had already lost in a comedy show before Jack heard her angry female robot noises.
Deadf1sh: "That'd be all. Now leave me, I need to work"
Jack: "Wait, hold up. Before we leave you to your nightmare realm of a workplace...About the work we did today: Did we earn anything or there's still more work to be done?" he asked humbly
Deadf1sh: "Depends on what you need"
I thought about it for a moment. Weapons, armor, and such will cost a fortune, and the work we did was nothing but simple…
Jack: "The knowledge of environmental invisibility, the one with the kettles. How much does that cost?"
Deadf1sh: "Why do you need that?"
Jack:' "To cover up the entire base and its surroundings from prying eyes. That'd be less headache for me to worry about; so...How much?"
Deadf1sh: "That'd be plenty of zeros rolling in my bank account, but I'll count it as an investment; you'll pay me later"
jack:" I only wanted to know mind you"
Deadf1sh: "Do what you planned, give me the final cost for materials and all; then we'll figure out how you'll pay for it. That includes the camo tech"
Jack: "Hmm...deal. And if I may, having a monthly supply of food ingredients would be lovely. My inner cook wants more variety in the menu"
Deadf1sh: "I assume you also require more provision to feed all the mouths you brought. I'll talk with Zoe about it later"
Jack: "So we sealed the deal then?"
Deadf1sh: "Yes"
Jack: "Alright then, I'll send the bill whenever it's ready. I think I'll start selling old stuff to prepare the cash."
No response came from fish
jack:"...so the usual shipment will arrive today or tomorrow?"
Deadf1sh: "Tomorrow. I'll double it"
Jack: "Just ping me whenever everything is ready. I'll deal with the next sector soon. If you have someone obsessed with old junk, let me know, okay. Things will be on display in no time flat after I'm done selling it"
I said just before I stood up and moved to the elevator. But then I remembered something.
Jack: "Actually there's just one more thing, something that I'd like to know if you don't mind." - I said with a respectful tone before looking at me as if she was trying to give me a stingy expression.
Deadf1sh: "Make it count and make it quick"
jack:"...the facility that you gave us and let us repair it, what's its name? And what's it's deal that nobody wanted after the inklings abandoned it?"
I asked my question before she fell silent and stopped for a second before going back to work.
Deadf1sh: "...out of all things you want to ask. This is the one?"
Zoe:" I mean he has to know what his place is and its background in order to keep fresh and ready on a later date. History has to be told f1shy~"
...fishy? da fuck?
Deadf1sh: "If that's what you want, fine. But just so you know, this is not going to a pretty background"
jack:" I think I witnessed hell already. So no sugar coating please"
Deadf1sh: "Not the type..."
I just smiled and folded my arms as I am ready for a bedtime story, but more for the adult kind.
Deadf1sh: "The place was officially known as 'site B804', commonly referred to as 'squid beak HQ'. Well fortified, hidden, and ready for long-term guerrilla war. The base saw golden days during the Great Turf War."
Her words sound awfully familiar, but something about this still doesn't add up to what Zoe said. The base's computer was still offline so, no matter how she got it on our first day at our new home, the base has still more to tell.
Jack:'' If that's the case, why has nobody got their hands on it then? Surely the false king himself would love to march and nap it. So why didn't he?" I once more asked as she remained silent on that.
Deadf1sh: "..."
jack:" if you don't want to tell me the rest that's fine, but I do need to know at some point in the future." I told her in respect before leaving her to think about it and went to the elevator to press the code again while looking at her.
I don't know why she's not telling me the rest yet, but I do feel like she has something that she intentionally hides the important details to her benefit. I'm going to find you out dealfish, one way or the other. The truth will not stay hidden for as long as you think you want to be.
Deadf1sh: "Why are you still here?" She asked out of the blue and continued: "I believe you have a job to do and it does not involve staring at me."
she informed before the door closed as I just got more worried about both the efficiency and our payment….fuck me, shit is starting to get real now with my business with her.
Huh, I do miss the good pressure with work so, fucking bring it in.