Author's Note: This chapter may involve some adult talk & some inappropriate language & innuendo. In this story(at least), Inkling is Splatoon English.(Was it officially that already?) Also, my character in this chapter may feel a little Marty Sue-ish. That's going to be all. Enjoy.
The whole Splatoon that's inside the underground shelter/HQ listened closely for sounds of the enemies. When they were certain the menace had gone, all breathed a sigh of relief, and tended to their mates. Soon after, Agent 3 & 4 clambered down the underground base & joined the party, still heaving from the intense fight they had with their Octarian enemies.
"Phew, good grief!", said Evan, Jet Squelcher in one hand, breathing heavily.
"Are you alright, Four?", said Callie, a slightly worried look in her face.
"Nothing I can't handle, One.", he replied.
"Glad to hear that!", she said, her tone back to the usual chipper tone it always had, cheer returning to the former idol's face.
"Oh, Callie, if you only know...", mumbled Jesse in the distance.
"Hey, Evan, are those OctoTHOTs at you again?", Callie, having heard 3, asked Evan, her brows furrowed at him.
"Nothing I can handle, One.", Evan said bashedly, a shy expression crossing the handsome Inkling's face.
"Those horny squits.", Callie said, "I bet their breath stinks of each other's skank, ahahaha!", she laughed shamelessly, which made Eight furrow her eyes a little, having been formerly a part of that same army.
"And that's why I left the Canyon.", Shannon heaved out. "You'd think they'd tire out from all that libido but apparently it makes them stronger...", she trailed off wearily.
"Are we gonna talk about their sex life or what?", Marie jabbed at her cousin, a little bothered by the conversation. "Well, according to my research in the Canyon, Octo males are a rarity so...", she trailed off, her hand still on her Charger.
"That attack though.", spoke up Marina solemnly. "They hadn't been that organized in a long time since I left.", she mulled over.
"Yeah, no kidding.", said Marie, as she went more serious. "Flanking, formations? Definitely not some just some skirmish.", she said. "And...that ship. I had never seen that in my life. Marina, are you sure that's not Octarian design?", she asked the Octoling DJ.
"No, Marie. We don't have anything like that.", Marina replied. "But the weapons... I sure recognize those.", she added. "Those used before we went under were a bigger version of the Tenta Missiles.", she stated. "And their explosive weapons seem to have an effect on us.", she added.
"Like, I am recovering slower from enemy shots.", said Pearl, examining the grazes on her shoulder. "And I can't refill my gun like I do normally in a Turf War...", she added.
"And both regiments from both the Canyon & Valley were in on the jig.", stated Agent 3. "The Elites were from the Valley, while the regular ones were from the Canyon. Recognize them by the armor.", she stated.
"What they'd want with Octavio though?", said the Captain, lounging in his chair, easing up.
"We dunno, Cap.", said Marina. "But whatever they are planning, it won't be any good.", she said, a fierce look crossing her turquoise eyes. "NILS may be just the beginning, Cap.", she added dreadfully.
"NILS?", Evan asked, a little confused.
"Before I came to Inkopolis, we had to stop this machine from gooing Inkopolis over.", Shannon related to the male Inkling, in answer to his question. "We had to ink the thing over & around, and believe me, it's more stressful than it's sounds.", she related, shivering from having to retell the story. Marina, having seen the signs, took it from there.
"I had to craft these Hyperbombs to help then Eight over here,", Marina continued, nodding to the smaller-tentacled Octoling. "While she inked those bombs to burst, I continually tossed these giant Suction Bombs to ink the statue, stopping it from getting full charge.", she added.
"And when Eight was done went with the inking, I finished him off for fuckin' good with my personal Killer Wail!", Pearl chimed in excitedly. "I watched as the innards of that monster blew up and sank into the ocean. Good riddance!", she added.
"I hyped that up, ya know?", said Cap'n Cuttlefish.
"So... that was happening while I was knocked out?", said Jesse, perplexed. "I only remember knocking out that blender squit that had Cap & her in there.", she added, peering over Shannon, not wanting to trigger any more of the ordeal. "And then, that muthafucker happened.", she snarled, alluding to the fight she didn't want to do: her vs Agent 8(now 5), influenced by the cuckoo AI, Tartar.
"Whoa, that was some messed-up squit!", Evan said, horror crossing his handsome face. "No wonder I can hear some...noises from that subway in the Square.", he stated. "I can't imagine all the horror you had to slog through, Shannon.", he said, nodding in concern for what he heard.
"Anyway, Marina and I need to be off to the studios before 5. You know, usual Inkopolis News duties. That sort.", said Pearl offhandedly.
"Probably one of the last times we'll do it.", Marina quipped half-jokingly. "Then maybe we could stay longer & chat?", she added. "And maybe do collabs?", she asked to the Squid Sisters.
"I'd be down.", Callie said simply, fiddling with her Roller.
"Your concert together will be the best I'll know!", Eight/Five exclaimed happily.
"Like, yeah!", Evan agreed happily. "I'mma cop front row tickets and no one can say otherwise!" he declared loudly. "Not even my family!", he said.
"And that's why you were on Team Friends in the FrostyFest.", Jesse commented a little snidely. "Was on Team Fam though.", she added.
"Care for some refreshments, Agents?", Marie asked the room, heaving cans of soda for the Agents to share. She had a pair of Pepsi cola cans about her, another pair of Royal Goldfish orange sodas, and a pair of Bullfish rootbeer.
"I got the Pepsi!", Callie immediately sprung up, as she copped both cans of Pepsi.
"Callie you seriously gonna have squid diabetes.", Marie said, shaking her head in disbelief laughing at her antics, as she put down the drinks for the Agents. Evan took an orange soda, Jesse took a rootbeer, Pearl took another rootbeer, and Marina took the last orange soda, leaving Agent 5 aka Shannon without a drink.
"Hey Shannon, what would you like?", Marie asked the young Octoling.
"Just a 7-Sprite will do, Marie. ", she answered, duly getting one from the fridge. She returned a moment later carrying both Shannon's and her drink, both 7-Sprites. All of them glugged down their drinks in relative silence, conversing about their encounter with the Octarian brigade earlier. As soon as the Off the Hook duo finished their drinks, they made to stand up and bid their friends farewell.
"Oh, right, the crew must be waiting for us.", Marina said, as she checked her smartphone. 3:12 pm. They should make it with taking a bite at Crusty's.
"Yeah, they're kinda anxious to see us after that Splat Bomb Marina here just threw.", Pearl said, as she joined her Octoling friend, putting on her King Flip Mesh once more, while opting to tuck the shades to her Zekko Hoodie.
"Right then, see you later?", said Callie, finishing up the last of her Pepsi
"Maybe. Call you up if we could.", replied Marina. The duo clambered out of the underground hideout, having returned their temporary weapons to the shack. Both then swam down the hatch, making way to their parked bike in the gasoline station once they emerged out of it. Pearl hurriedly put on her shades and started on their way back to the Square.
The duo hurriedly walked out the former capital, slightly jogging to hurry up. Fortunately, all they had to deal with was a few puzzled stares, which was easily ignored. A few minutes later and they were in an inconspicuous open area, the duo Super Jumped to the bike, using Marina's Beakon a good deal. Both thudded right beside the motorbike, a big black one with cyan pinstriping on the tank, and her insignia on the sides.
Pearl clambered on to the front, the short Inkling having a little difficulty with the task, and Marina soon rode on, after assisting her colleague/friend. She then put on her helmet & kick-started the bike to life, peeling out of the gas station after a brief top-up. The ride from there to the studios at Inkopolis. Both were silent, Pearl choosing to let Marina drive. She could save the chit chat for later.
They arrived at the studio's parking lot sooner than they expected. It only took a 30-minute drive from the gas station to here, in the Square. Marina & Pearl made a beeline for the food truck, which was quite crowded as usual, but nothing the duo can handle. Or so they thought.
Several Inkling and Jelly paparazzi swarmed the duo, armed with cameras & cellphones for recording purposes. A cacophony of questions hounded the duo, shocking even the prawn cook of the Crust Bucket, baffled at the unusual amount of people in front of him & his food truck.
"What's the next move?"
"Why would you do that?"
"Is this the end of Off the Hook?"
"Any plans after Inkopolis News?"
"What made you do it?"
Questions violently struggled to be heard by the shocked duo, who strained to continue on with their business of getting something to eat from the Crust Bucket. Pearl, who was losing patience quick, confronted the paps, struggling to keep things civilized.
"Ayo, we'd settle this OK?", said Pearl to them, while Marina was ordering 2 Shawaffles in the background. "In a presscon if you want! Now. let us. actually. GET A BITE!", she reiterated firmly, using whatever height she can muster, staring heatedly at the paps, exasperation clearly straining her words. The paps continued shooting questions, prompting Marina to take action, but Sean volunteered nonverbally to step in, tapping Marina, stepping out of his food truck.
"You heard what the lady said! Now swim along if you ain't getting a bite!", barked the shrimp cook sternly to the paparazzi. "You guys be the reason the Squid Sisters working relationship got strained!", he boomed at them, as they slowly walked away from the duo, and past some Inkling & Octoling crowds taking a breather from the everyday Ink Battles, still scratching their heads from what they saw.
The prawn stepped inside his truck once more and got to cooking the duo's order once the situation settled down. He was back to his usual self as he was cooking the Shawaffles the duo ordered.
"Yo, that was real honest of you, Marina.", the shrimp cook began, as he was frying their order.
"Like I said to Pearl, we need to stop the prejudice on the Octolings.", Marina replied.
"Those rascals. Only here for the damn controversy, never here for the actual good squit.", snarled Pearl, sitting on the metal seat nearest to the truck. "I swear, they were waiting for months for a big scoop, and they got it.", she mused sourly.
"Showbusiness is a bitch to manage sometimes.", mused the cook. "You practically live in a glass house all your career, and scope out anything they could make a story on.", he added.
"Like, they dunno even half the story.", said a new voice approaching the truck.
"Whoa there, newbie, who you may be now?", said Pearl to the blue-tentacled Octoling, who had the basic newbie gear, but has changed his shoes to a pair of Red Hi-Horses.
"Joshua Catfish." said the Octoling. "Marina was my superior formerly.", as he looked around to scout for eavesdroppers. "Glad to see she is as lovely as ever." he said, a smitten expression crossing the Octoling's fair face.
"Private Catfish?", as Marina turned around, barely recognizing the Octoling.
"Yes ma'am.", Joshua said, as he blushed a little, making Pearl snigger a little.
"I remember you from the Propaganda Division!", Marina cordially said to the Octoling, nodding in earnest. Joshua then sat down on a chair to the right of Pearl & Marina's table, out of courtesy.
"Yes, I remember passing by your office at times!", Joshua said, his pitch heightening. He then set down his Splattershot Jr on the table to order a meal, a Seanwich.
"So Josh, I take it you just made it here?", said the elder Octoling.
"Yeah. A few Turf Wars in Skipper Pavilion & The Reef, no big.", recounted the young Octoling, returning to his seat. Pearl squinted at Joshua, her gaze inspecting every inch of this newfangled Octoling.
"Anybody give you a hard time, kid?", Pearl said finally, facing Joshua.
"Well, in my first match, there were these assholes who harassed me & my team.", he replied. "We won though.", he added nonchalantly. "Bunch of racist squits, yammering about how weak Octolings are weak and such.", he added. Marina scowled a little at those words.
"Yo kid, got their names?", Pearl asked him.
"Some douche by the name of Luke Crowley.", he said. Pearl's eyes widened at the name mentioned. And here she was, thinking she had finally moved on from her past of drugs. Pearl's face changed into one of deep thought mixed with worry & shock. She hadn't heard from that bastard for years and rightfully so.
"Then he had those lackeys on the Clash Blaster, the Octobrush, and on the N-Zap.", he added, oblivious to Pearl's stunned silence. He only noticed when he ended speaking, then something clicked within the Octoling's head. "Whoa, that Pearl? You are THAT Pearl?", he gasped.
"Yes kid, I am.", she said finally, heaving heavily. "They mention me or something?", she asked, as Marina got their orders from Crusty Sean, occupying the seat next to Pearl's.
"Something about you owe them this & that.", said the young Octoling.
"Hey Catfish, come here with us!", Marina said, which made Joshua blush a little once more.
"Don't be shy kid, let's snack together while you wait for yours!", Pearl encouraged the young Octoling, picking up his bag & Splattershot Jr to move seat directly in front of Pearl's position. Marina then continued what Pearl & Josh were discussing earlier.
"So Josh, you said you faced Crowley & his gang earlier?", she inquired the blue Octoling.
"Yup, and they were on about how he is Agent 4 & all that.", he recounted.
"Marie & Callie would just facepalm at that sight!", Marina said, shaking her head in laughter at the brash claim. "And Cap would be just dissapointed at that kid.", she added.
"Still having delusions of grandeur, I see.", said Pearl, scoffing at what she heard.
"That guy still doing Turf Wars huh?", Marina said to Josh. "Last time I heard, they were banned because they physically injured an opponent in a Ranked Battle match.", she mused, handing the food to Pearl, digging into her own Shawaffle.
"Damn squits. I...quit that fucking life a loooong time ago!", Pearl said exasperatedly, munching into her Shawaffle. "Hol'up, ain't there a law against drugs in Ink Battles?", said Pearl, her eyes furrowed.
"I dunno, I only got here.", said the young Octoling, as he stood up to get his Seanwich from Crusty Sean.
"Oh, right.", said Pearl, heaving a deep sigh before she spoke again, choosing to chow down before uttering a word. "I sometimes just wish their respawn pads fail so I can be done with them! Or for the authorities to can them off to jail where they can rot!", she ranted. "I wish that trip to Mount Nantai wasn't one of those 'I dunno what to do' moments induced by cocaine!", she continued, calming down a little after.
"Hey now Pearl, that was the past, OK?", Marina assured her friend, soothing her by running her hand at the back of the small Inkling. Said Inkling heaved a sigh, then shook her head in sadness & bitter memory.
"Hey now. You're probably the best pop duo I know of.", assuaged the young Octoling. "Perhaps besides the Squid Sisters.", he added hastily, as he consumed his Seanwich.
"Oh don't indulge us in the bullsquit kid.", scoffed Pearl. "Watcha know about the industry?", she shot at Joshua, who fell silent momentarily, unable to speak temporarily.
"Pearl, you're scaring the kid!", Marina chided Pearl.
"Ah, it's fine, ma'am.", Joshua said to Marina. "It's not like I knew anything else aside from Turquoise October and DJ Octavio, which was the only music allowed in the domes back then.", he recounted, looking back at his past with the Octarian military junta.
"Hey, no need to call me ma'am, you know.", Marina gently reminded Joshua. "I am not your superior anymore.", she added. "This is Inkopolis, kid.", she reminded the young Octoling. "We are not in the military anymore.", she chided gently.
"Ahehe.", was the only response Joshua mustered.
"So kid, have you been doing good in your battles so far?", asked Pearl imposingly, sinking her break into the last of her meal.
"Yeah, aside from that Connor guy. Been 4-2 since that round.", he recalled. "Met this Celia girl, saying she's some Jesse's young sis or something.", he said. Both girls looked at each other briefly, knowing full well who is Jesse: Agent 3. "Anyway, do you also Turf?", he asked the duo.
"A squid who doesn't Turf isn't a squid kiddo!", said Pearl. "Even though we have our duties, we make sure to do some turf at least once.", she said. "Heh, you should see me on the Enperry Splat Dualies, younglin'!", she said proudly.
"I swear, you Dualie mains are all going Squidroy Jenkins!", she laughed & shook her head once more. "Like, rush the opponent without a care in the world.", she mused. "Personally, I think before I engage in battle. That's why I am a Brella main.", said Marina, finishing her Shawaffle.
"Wait a minute kid, how the hell did you hear what exactly we were talking about?", Pearl questioned the young Octoling. "Like, didn't you just come here?", she added.
"The moment I jumped into the Square, you broadcast-con-bombshell dropped.", he answered. "I kinda figured that Marina here is that high rank official that they said AWOL-ed after falling to Calamari Inkantation. I was only...uhmm...around Elementary Age back then?", he said, struggling to remember. "I only heard the battle from my parents. The Agent 3 fight that is", he said.
"Is that so kiddo?", said Pearl.
"How's society? Ya know, before you went.", Marina asked Joshua.
"Well... ", Josh sighed before continuing. "A little less oppressive now that Octavio is outta there, but the officials taking over aren't exactly good alternatives.", he said. "Mom was talking about getting out of Napalm Dome and relocate to Inkopolis. My bro & sis already are here, and are ranked A-plus overall.", he finished.
"You also saw the paps around here, Josh?", Pearl said to the Octoling.
"Yeah. Me and a few more people.", he replied, looking around to refer to the crowd. "Bunch of nasty rumourmongers I say.", he added.
"Yeah." Pearl agreed. "Oh, gotta go, we have to freshen up for the next broadcast!", Pearl said as she saw the time from her phone: 4:38PM. The duo made to leave Joshua to his business. Marina turned to face Joshua once more to bid him farewell.
"Hey Josh, see you around OK? Don't get cooked, stay off the hook!", she called out to the now-lone Octoling in his chair, finishing the last of his Seanwich.
"Yeah sure! Numbers would be nice!", he called back, as the duo walked further & further away from the blue Octoling, leaving him to fawn over his former superior in solitude. He can't help but be enticed by Marina's...everything basically. She was smart, beautiful, and kind. Joshua didn't have the last one much in school, because everyone was busy training up to Elite.
"Marina, you still are as lovely as ever." he mused, picking up his Splattershot after drinking his bottled water, and going on his merry way.
After-Chapter Bits:
The NSS are still fine...for now. And really, Catfish? Fawning over your former superior? Tune in for more splat-tastic adventures next time in: Inkopolis: Dawn of Unity!