Chapter 4: Get to Know Alterna, Your Only Choice
Sammy's voice is heard, "(Tyler! Big Bro! Are you OK? Wake up!)."
In Tyler's mind, he finds himself in his 10-year-old self hiding in the cabinet in fear. He held his legs together and trembling. A man and a woman are heard screaming in pain while gunfire and slashing are listened to.
"Mom…Dad…" he quietly mumbled while tears fell from his eyes.
"Tyler! Tyler!" the voices of his parents heard.
Everything soon went quiet until footsteps were heard leaving.
Once little Tyler opens the cabinet, the present Tyler wakes up to find him and Sammy in a large, spherical area deep under the Splatlands, with six snow and ice islands positioned around a central rocket launch pad.
"(Big Bro! Thank goodness, you're awake. I don't know where we are.)." Sammy licked Tyler's face.
"I can't believe we survived that all. But Cuttlefish and Octavio are gone. We should look around," said Tyler, picking up Sammy.
"…Hellooo!" a voice cried out.
"Did you hear that, Sammy?" Tyler asks.
"(Yeah! There must be someone else here, too.)," Sammy replied.
"HEY!" The voice is heard again.
The duo then sees three individuals near a camp. They are known other than Captain Terry, Agents 1 and 2, aka the Squid Sisters, in their Splatoon 3 forms. Captain Terry is sitting between Callie and Marie.
Callie then called out, "Agent 3! Over here! Whew! I'm so glad you're alright."
When the duo came over to them, Tyler said politely, "Hello, ladies."
"(I'm guessing they're the other Agents.)," Sammy added.
"You…are Agent 3. Gramps fully enlisted you and your Smallfry?" Callie asks.
"That's right. And my Smallfry is my younger brother."
"How cute, and yeah, I knew it. I see the look in your eyes that he's always looking for, despite the imitating face."
"I have RBF."
"Understood, and it's nice to meet you! I guess we should introduce ourselves… I'm Agent 1 of the New Squidbeak Splatoon!"
Then Marie said, "Hey. I'm Agent 2."
"C'mon, Agent 2. Get PUMPED! Anyway, one last crew member to introduce… This is our Captain Terry!"
"Peace up, my protégé. Captain Terry at your service," said Terry, giving out a peace sign.
Then Callie said while all three do their poses, "We're…the NEW New Squidbeak Splatoon!"
The duo looked at each other in confusion before Sammy whispered, "(I'm going to guess posing is a thing in this team.)."
After Tyler nodded in agreement, Marie then said, "Ahem. This place is huge and filled with that horrible Fuzzy Ooze stuff.… Anyway, it looks like you and Gramps got separated that fall. And now we have to find Gramps before he tastes it or something."
"Aw, you make it sound like it's not gonna be fun! …But seriously, please help us look for Gramps. So, uh… … … … … …," said Callie, while Tyler looked a bit annoyed and silenced.
"Oh, they're in. Probably just too excited about looking for someone else's grandpa to speak. So Gramps reeled in a new Agent 3… Glad to have you!"
"Look, ladies. Long story short, Sammy wants to help out looking for the Great Zapfish, and I have to tag along to keep him safe. Plus, he seems to like your 'Gramps,'" Tyler said.
"You got some problem with us?" Captain Terry asks.
"It's not you. It's me. Inklings and Octolings are never on my good side."
"But you are an Inkling…."
"And that's what I regret."
"I can tell you don't want to talk about it."
"Hmm-mmm. But how did you three get down here?"
"A stairway is the best way to get here."
Then Marie said, "We've never been here before either, but here's the out anyway… We think this place is called Alterna. Who knew it was beneath the Crater this whole time?! We have counted six different islands so far. What should we call them? Sites or something?"
"Uh, are you even gonna mention the HUMONGOUS rocket over there?! Look at that," said Callie.
"Way to steal my thunder. Anyway…we put a tracking device on Gramps, as one does. But now we're getting a strong signal from three different areas!
"Agent 3! Your mission is to check all 3 of those places out!"
"We upgraded your map a little bit. Tell us how much you love it!"
"Now, hold on! Are you single ladies gonna drop the ring on it and help me?" Tyler asks.
"I would love to help you with battle since you're my successor. But it sucks that Captains don't do fieldwork, and these two are here to prevent me from doing so," said Captain Tyler.
"Aren't there any other Agents that will help out?"
"Yes, actually. But my Squidhunk, Co-Captain Taylor, is on patrol duty back at the headquarters in Inkopolis. Our Agent 5, 6, and 7 positions are available. Agent 4 is at a family reunion. Agent 4.5 is on a summer trip to college. Agent 8 is helping out the Prince of the Octarians as an advisor. And Agent 8.5 is on an investigation assignment in the Deep Sea Metro for certain whereabouts of an old enemy."
Then Callie said, "Wait! Agent 3 is totally out of Power Eggs. Did you lose them all in the fall? YIKES! Your Hero Suit is all messed up too!"
"Oh, don't be dramatic. You're going to need Sardinium to fix you up. I mean, sure, Agent 3 will have to collect Power Eggs…and upgrade from scratch… But never mind that for now! I'm getting a strong Gramps-like signal from the next site over. Go check it out!" said Marie.
"It takes you that long to notice?" Tyler annoyed.
"Which part? The tattered Hero Suit, loss of Power Eggs, or Site Signal."
"Whatever makes you annoyed."
"Wow, nice comeback. I like it."
"It's a sink-or-swim world out there, so be careful! Agents 3 and 3.5, we're counting on you. And I try to call the other Agents for backup," said Captain Terry.
"Anyway, come on, Sammy. Let's head to a kettle," said Tyler.
"(You got it, Big Bro.)." Sammy follows him.
"There's something off about Agent 3," said Callie.
"Yeah, her voice sounds masculine, and my hormones are getting excited toward her," said Marie.
"Did I mention she's kinda a looker?"
"Well, I'll start the calling, Agents 1 and 2," said Captain Terry, taking out a communicator.
When the duo came to the Kettle location, Callie said, "Do you hear something?"
A robotic voice is heard saying, … … Activated! System check… OK. Authentication… All systems are nominal. Commencing biometric scan. Scan complete… No matches found! Commencing registration sequence. …Bzzzt… …Bzzzt… …Beep… BEEP!
"Uh, what is happening?" Tyler confused.
"Good day. My name is O.R.C.A. I am what you might call a…navigation system…for Alterna citizens."
"How mysterious. I like it."
"(Hi, O.R.C.A. Nice to meet you.)" said Sammy.
"Whoa! Where's that voice coming from?!" Callie questioned.
"Welcome to Alterna, citizen. Please enter your identification to proceed," said O.R.C.A.
"Ugh, it's like setting up a phone for the first time. I guess follow the instructions, Agent 3," said Marie.
"Processing…Processing…Processing… DING! Your name has been accepted. Thank you for registering, Agent 3."
"Cool, looks like it's official…Agent 3."
"My circuits are designed to measure your intellectual and physical prowess as demonstrated by your ability to complete missions throughout Alterna. You must reach a goal mechanism in each mission or complete an objective. Extraordinary citizens will complete many missions and receive many Power Eggs! You can expect a substantial Pow Egg payday for this first mission… May your enthusiasm result in success, citizen!"
"Is all of that going to be on the test? Because all I really heard was POWER EGGS," said Callie.
"That seems like the important part. We'll need plenty of those if we're going to find Gramps," said Marie.
O.R.C.A. then said, "One last thing. As you complete missions and become an ever-more-exceptional citizen, you will naturally gain increased access to the Alterna Log. Do not attempt to share the Alterna Log without permission. Please handle the information with care. And please consider this a threat. Have a nice day."
"(Free Power Eggs to eat up Fuzzy Ooze is all I heard.)" said Sammy.
"And since, like mysteries, I would love to read the Log," said Tyler.
"Let's do it," said the brotherly Inkling-Smallfry duo, beginning their first mission.
Meanwhile, in Inkopolis Square, Taylor is seen typing on a laptop.
"This is the longest time I have to be separated from my Squidbabe. But as Co-Captain. I have to keep an on our headquarters for the sake of Squidbeak Splatoon," he said.
"Taylor! Hey, Taylor!" a voice called out.
He turns to find Corey, Agent 4.5, coming over but trips and falls.
"Corey, good to see you again. But are you alright?" Taylor said while helping him up.
"I'm fine. Lately, I have been very clumsy for the past five years," he responded.
"How was your college trip?"
"Very fresh. Calamari Country is very entertaining."
"Hey, guys. It's been a while," said Elliott(aka Agent 8.5 and secretly Prince Octavius of the Octarians), who came over.
"Elliott, back from the investigation, I see," said Taylor.
"That's right, and I see Corey has come back too."
"Yep, the .5 Pack is back," said Corey.
"Well, on my investigation, I couldn't find any about Commander Tartar if he's alive or not. But I gain some very mysterious info from Iso Padre."
A memory of Iso Padre shows that he said, "If you want to give something to your leaders, here is some news to give. There are rumors of strange Octarians that are more unusual and possibly more destructive than the Sanitized Octarians being seen at the surface and the underground."
When the memory ends, Taylor says, "Is that so? This should get our Splatoon attention."
"Hey, wait a minute. I think I got similar news about it, too," Corey continued.
"During the trip, rumors about strange-looking Octolings doing some unlikely activity at Inkopolis Plaza have been rumors."
"I'm not going to guess that both your news is connected. This looks like a job for the .5 Pack."
Taylor's phone then rings for him to answer, "Hello? Squidbabe, I miss you so much. What's that? New replacements for senior positions? An Inkling and Smallfry Salmonid? But Squidbabe, my boys, and I got news about strange Octoling activities in Inkopolis Plaza. I love you, bye-bye."
"Captain Terry?" Elliott asks.
"Yep. Apparently, Cuttlefish has been kidnapped after hiring a confusing Inkling and their Smallfry Salmonid pet, and they are at an underground place called Alterna."
"The new Agent 3 tamed a Salmonid? That is amazing. I wonder if they can teach us for our Salmon Run jobs," said Corey.
"We should probably get to Inkopolis Plaza to see what is happening over there," said Elliott.
"And we can go to Alterna to help out when we're done."
"Let's move out, boys. Inkopolis Plaza," said Taylor, transformed into his Agent form.
"Aye-aye, Co-Captain," Corey and Elliott said, transforming into their Agent forms.
The boys then go to the train station to get to their location. Back at Alterna, Tyler and Sammy came out of the Kettle for Captain Terry and the Squid Sisters to come over.
"Excellent work, Agent 3," said Captain Terry.
"Much obliged, Captain Terry," he replied.
"Well, I tried to call the other Agents, but the guys in the group got caught up in some strange activity that needs to be observed. But we got Agents 4 and 8 here. Come on out, ladies.
Appearing before everyone, Chris and Owen came out in their Agent forms.
"So, you're the new guy. Nice to meet you," said Chris.
"I'm glad someone already knows I'm a boy," said Tyler.
"You're a boy?!" the Squid Sisters, Captain Terry, and Owen were shocked.
"Yeah, it's obvious that he is. He has feminine features," Chris said.
"We finally got a boy in our group!" Callie said in excitement.
"Eeee! Thank the Sea Gods that he is here," Marie added joyfully.
"Word of advice, it's best you stay away from Agents 1 and 2. They can be uncivilized when around guys," said Owen.
"Right…"
When Tyler makes Sammy clear a Fuzzball, four more Kettles are unlocked.
"Come on, Agents 1 and 2. At least let me help in the field," said Captain Terry.
"OK, fine. As long as you always be near Agent 3. He's a hunky dish of squid," Callie said.
"He seems rock solid and young. What a platter of sushi," Marie smirked.
"Uh…Captain, Agents 4 and 8. Let's move it," Tyler said.
"Alright then. Come on, ladies. Stay behind, Agents 1 and 2. Keep an eye out," said Captain Terry.
"We will…for Agent 3," said the Squid Sisters, sighing dreamily.
