Author's Note: Nothing to report here, other than the recent 3H fever I'm having. Otherwise, carry on.
"Is this true, Sheldon?" asked Evan, being the first one to speak after the silence.
"I cannot fully ascertain, but it is turning out to be true in large parts." said Sheldon. "Already, Sanitized have been sighted in these places since their attack at the Hotel." he said, tabbing in some surveillance footage.
"I believe it can be the only logical conclusion, as to why they're abducting Inklings." Marie finally stated.
"This situation gets more dire." remarked Captain Cuttlefish. "All these young buckos, abducted from their homes…" wheezed the elderly veteran.
"It's a good thing the turf scene is relatively still alive at this rate." remarked Jesse. "Alive enough to host Turf Wars and Competitive without major hitches." she added.
"Adding to that, I have recently seen a rise in hurtful activity to my fellow species." chimed in Shannon. "Random Inklings doing bad things to Octolings." she added.
"That's awful!" Callie exclaimed.
"Indeed." agreed Craig. "This behavior is unacceptable!" he groused.
"Dealt with some of those ruffians some time ago." added in Evan. "Harassing the Octos that were my teammates that time…but proved to be just plain ol chumps." he smirked.
"Everyone is a chump compared to you, Evan." purred Callie, to Marie's facepalming.
"In other news, you being here means we can start training!" squeaked Sheldon. "I…have developed new prototypes for our arsenal!" beamed Sheldon.
"Alright, what have you cooked up, crab man…"said Marie.
"Yeah, what's the deets, Sheldon?" curiously asked Callie.
"I believe we would need to expand our Agent's options. And Marina here has perfected a wonderful training simulation!" beamed Sheldon.
"You're too kind." blushed Marina. "Anyway, Pearl was testing the new AI while we were waiting for you." she stated. "It can perfectly simulate the movements of any weapon user, complete with dodging, refilling, and even hides strategically!" beamed Marina. "Took me weeks to code it, but I needed a hobby after our departure from the show business." she added.
"Phew!" breathed out Pearl, "That AI gave me sweat, I can say that much." she said, wiping sweat off her brow. "Can't compare still to the real thing tho." she remarked. "But ol crab man here has been making them goods!" she screeched excitedly.
"Ah yes, the weapons!" Sheldon said, heaving a few large boxes onto the table. "Take a good look, Agents!" he beckoned them. At once, the Agents got to opening the boxes, and one made Marie's eyes gleamed.
"Yesssss…An even bigger-ranged sniper." Marie said in calm excitement, grinning.
"Yes! The Hero Liter!" Sheldon beamed proudly. "Based on the stock E-Liter I sell in my shop, there are a few additions I have made!" he began. "And you have an option…" he flicked a switch in the gun, "to turn on scope and otherwise!" he beamed, a scope rising out of the gun-barrel.
"That's nifty!" said Marie. "Perfect for every occasion!"
"And…it has range upgrades too! Also, it can fire faster now, taking shorter now to charge than the standard version!" he added. "Go on, try it out!" he encouraged Marie, who obliged. Later, at the shooting range…
"Wow, this is magnificent!" beamed Marie. "Now that's excellent work, Sheldon!"
"Now, for a test against a real opponent!" declared Sheldon. "Agent Three, why don't you pick up the Charger over there?" he beckoned the orange Inkling, who obliged without a word. Soon, the sniping duel started.
"This stops once one of us is hit, yes?" clarified Jesse.
"Indeed." said Sheldon, "Now then…begin!" he said he blew a whistle. Immediately, the two ran off to opposite ends of the training hall. Marie first fired a shot, which made Jesse dodge, lining up a shot in retaliation. Marie deftly dodged the shot, the ink thudding on the wall she was hiding in. She relocated to get a clear shot at Jesse
"D'ah squit!" she muttered, as she saw the long ink trail flying her way. She also relocated to get a good shot at Marie, but…a green shot grazed her shoulder, signaling the duel was over.
"Aw damn." was all Marie can say.
"Still the best, huh, Agent Two?" Jesse said to Marie.
"I'd like to say we're of equal talent." Marie opinionated. "You learned a lot since your foray in Octo Valley and Deepsea Metro. The latter of which…" Marie trailed off.
"I appreciate the compliment, Marie." Jesse simply said, walking back to the mobile home/headquarters. "but…you taught me that." she told Marie, as they were walking to where the rest of the Agents, Pearl, Marina, and Cap were standing.
"Hey, don't underestimate yourself, Three. You have grown a lot…I wish I have been with you after what happened in that subway." she told Jesse.
"Hmph, its fine. No need for pity." simpered Jesse. "I've done well on my own thanks." she added in a sour and sarcastic tone.
"Jesse." began Marie. "You weren't like this in Octo Valley." she sternly told the orange inkling. "I know being makeshift mom and dad to Celia has been a hard time for you." she held Jesse's shoulder. "And the events of the Deepsea Metro…that had been a blow." she sighed.
"You don't say?" Jesse sarcastically remarked.
"Agent Three." Marie's tone became a little angered. "You have kept this attitude for too long!" she said, letting out her annoyance. At the sound of Marie's angered voice, Jesse was shocked.
"Jess!" blurted out Evan.
"I'll be inside." Jesse walked off. Sheldon was confused at the exchange that just happened, and then showed the rest of his wares to the remaining Agents, who were shocked at what just happened.
"Ever since that mess in the Metro happened, she has never been the same squid." remarked Cap. "She has been distant, burying herself in Turf, Salmon Run, and that day job of hers." he lamented. "Goes home, but never home, you know what I mean?" he sadly sighed, shaking his head.
"She didn't solely stick to Chargers…until after the happenings of the Metro and NILS." sadly commented Callie. "The sanitization must have disarranged something inside her….or unleashed something." she theorized.
"Yeah. Edginess." Marie sarcastically shot, then shook her head. "Alright, Sheldon, what are we having else?" she asked the weaponsmith crab, resuming composure.
"Mmm? Ah yes. The Hero Dapples!" snapped up Sheldon. "It fires faster than our standard, albeit at the cost of range. In addition, it has faster rolls, and recovers ink faster! Regardless, it still is a dependable asset for close quarter combat." he told them. "Here, try them on, Four!" he gave the new-fangled pair to Evan. He then took them and tried firing at the target dummies.
"Agent Four, would you like to face off with my AI?" Marina asked Evan.
"That sounds nice!" Evan perked up. "Let's see what that thing's got!" At once, Marina booted up the AI and a photo-realistic version of a Sanitized soldier, complete with Dualies. The match then started.
*Meanwhile, inside the camper…
Jesse silently seethed to herself in the camper. Soon, Shannon came in.
"Are you alright, Agent Three?" she tentatively began.
"Yeah Shannon, back to the training hall." Jesse grunted dismissively.
"Three, it's alright to just let it out, you know?" offered Shannon, sitting beside her.
"It's just…" Jesse sighed, "I've got so much to do! Being a good provider for Celia, being the best player, the best Agent, those things don't come easy, you know?" she went on.
"I know Agent Three. But…you're my inspiration. The whole reason I, and the rest of Inkopolis in alive today." Shannon assured her. "You're more than sufficient…Jesse." she patted her on the shoulder.
"Heh, thanks, Five. Now, why don't you join up with the Agents? I'll be there in a bit." she waved off Shannon. "I just…need a moment." she sighed.
*Meanwhile, in the Square…
Two Octolings, male and female, came out of Deca Tower, exhausted, but otherwise happy, as they were happily talking to each other, and they came out even hand in hand.
"You did hella good out there, Josh!" Ecca told her blue companion.
"I can say the same for you, lovely." he smirked teasingly.
"Aww, you're too kind, love." she cooed. "So where to, handsome?" she asked Josh.
"Well, snack, probably. Heck, I say dinner is in order! On me, of course." Josh offered.
"Sure thing, you cutie Octopus." she happily accepted. They then soon departed for a restaurant in downtown Inkopolis, somewhere between the Square and the Plaza. They then approached a Dragonfish cuisine place, named Shrimp Li's. The place was in full swing, as cooking smoke wafted through the kitchen.
"Now I'm even more hungry…" Josh muttered, his hand wrapped around Ecca's.
"Me too!" she giggled, leaning on the male Octoling. "Let's go get a table!" she beckoned her companion. They soon found a place for two, then sat down their belongings beside them. They soon called up a waiter and told their order.
"Yo, I'll have the chao fan and siomai cup. Hit me up too with a can of Squid-a-Cola." Josh told the jelly waiter.
"I'll be having the Dragon noodles. And a Squid-a-Cola too." Ecca told the waiter.
"Would that be all?" the waiter asked.
"Yes." they both said. The waiter then went off to the kitchen to tell their order, leaving the Octoling couple to themselves.
"Mmmm, I can't wait for the food!" Josh grinned. "Especially when I am about to share it with such a pretty Octo like you." he winked at her.
"Heh. Aww. You're too kind, Catfish." she responded, blushing. "But hey, thank you for choosing me. I still don't know how you came to that conclusion. Besides that night." She again blushed green. "I never thought I'd willingly submit myself like that again." she smiled.
"Hehe, I never expected to get some that night…that quickly." Josh smiled. "I'd never forget that night. And since then…I wanted to know more of you." he solemnly told Ecca. "Know the woman behind the sheets, so to say." he added.
"At first, I thought you were one of those types of guys who only like to get into my pants. But, I was pleasantly wrong." Ecca smiled. "I may just have bumped into a decent guy." she lovingly looked at Josh.
"Now YOU'RE the one that's too kind." Josh said, smiling. "Back in Octo Canyon, you may have heard rumors about me being a skirt chaser. A pervert, even." he recounted.
"Heard the girls talk about it. With that face, I can believe it." she smirked. Josh chuckled.
"I may be, but once I get close for real…then it's a whole different story. In fact, it's a whole different tale altogether." began Josh, tapping his foot.
"Hmm?" curiously asked Ecca.
"All the ladies think I'm too weird of a guy to be a suitable mate." Josh began. "Some thought me too touchy. Not a lot of gals had interest in me. Although, some became my friends." he related, sighing.
"Well, I wasn't that much of an angel myself." Ecca told Josh.
"Hmm?" Josh was now curious. "I swung both ways, and truth be told, I still do now. Especially, given our…interesting population, to say the least." she narrated. "Had a lot of flings back with my fellow soldiers." she related. "And then…Squidbeak happened." she sighed. "Well, for the best, probably."
"Agreed. We wouldn't be here if Squidbeak didn't happen." Josh agreed with Ecca.
"I may have never met you if they never happened." Ecca smiled. "So, our order coming yet?" she said, changing the subject.
"I dunno yet, but it should be not too long now…" Josh mused, "I'm kinda starving…"
"Mmm." replied Ecca. Later, their order came.
"Here it is!" happily pointed out Josh.
"Chao fan and siomai?" asked the jelly waiter.
"Right on." nodded Josh.
"Dragon noodles?" asked the jelly waiter.
"That's me!" pointed out Ecca. Soon, they began eating. Both stuffed themselves with gusto, only mumbling in appreciation of how good the food is. Later, they took a breather to talk.
"Oh damn, this is good." gasped Josh, wolfing down his rice.
"Mmmh, sho ghoood!" Ecca agreed, in the middle of wolfing her noodles down. Josh chuckled at his companion's manners, earning him a playful glare from Ecca.
"Careful Ecca, you might choke on them." Josh chuckled. The two continued to wolf down their order, chugging their drinks in between. The two exchanged funny faces at each other, then told more tales, and engaging in small talk not long after.
"Damn that was good." Ecca smiled, and then broke into a burp.
"Oof. I can tell." Josh smiled. "I like my girls as themselves." he said, as if to assure Ecca it was ok to be like that around him. "I wonder how much was all this though?" he wondered.
"It's something, I can tell. But it don't matter when I'm with you." Ecca smiled, blushing. "But I most certainly would like to keep my pockets healthy." she added. Soon, the bill arrived. It was not too much a hefty price, and Josh paid for both of them. Soon, both of them exited the place, happily holding hands.
"Selfie?" offered Ecca. Josh obliged, posing for the phone camera that Ecca held up.
The two casually strolled off, without a set destination in mind yet, but certainly didn't want to be home yet. Ecca was holding on to Josh's arm throughout that stroll, occasionally giggling. They were the picture of a couple madly in-love.
"Here we are, strolling the night away…not a clue of where to go." Ecca said, still clinging on to Josh.
"Maybe chill by the park?" Josh mused. "It's kinda nice there." he opined, spotting the nearby park, overlooking the former turfing hub. They soon walked over and settled on a bench right in front of the dancing fountain, Ecca leaning on Josh, while Josh did the same in return.
"I wonder, should be go to the bar again?" asked Josh.
"Relive that night?" Ecca smiled naughtily. "Sounds like a plan." she smiled.
"Hmm, when, then?" Josh replied.
"Probably some time." Ecca replied. AT that moment, Ecca craned her neck to see a familiar pink-haired Octoling male. "Hey…I know that guy." she said, tapping Josh.
"Yeah…Is that…" Josh squinted.
"Ecca! Josh." the pink Octoling greeted the pair.
"Fabian!" Ecca greeted him.
"I see life in Inkopolis has been treating you well." he told Ecca. "And the propaganda prodigy." he took notice of Josh. "I assume life in Inkopolis, for how short, is being kind, yes?" he asked the blue Octoling. Already, a mild air of tension was brewing between the two guys.
"Aye. Although, there were a few misfits who tried messing with me and my teammates." Josh told him in a formal tone. "Quickly, they were put in their place." his tone reverted to the relaxed one he uses normally.
"So, where you have been?" Ecca asked Fabian.
"Taking up an education at Inkblot." Fabian replied. "Term papers and all that." he snickered.
"That's quite a workload." said Ecca.
"Yeah. How about you?" Fabian asked Ecca.
"Me? Working in the studio's storage. Only just recruited Josh too!" she happily told Fabian.
"Is that so?" Fabian can only say. "I see you have been busy." he replied.
"So, what have you exactly studying, Fabian?" Ecca asked.
"Me? Ah yes, Inkology! The study of the very thing that makes us, us!" Fabian beamed. "Who knows what hidden intricacies we may bear witness to, eh?" he proudly beamed. "I may be a renowned doctor, even?" he joked. Both Ecca and Josh chuckled, Josh a tad less so.
"So then, what brought you here?" Josh asked Fabian.
"Ah, was on my way back home." Fabian off-handedly said. "Well, I should leave you to your…rendezvous, then?" he asked them.
"Hmm, you sure?" Ecca asked hesitantly.
"I won't disturb your date any further." Fabian said. "So, toodles, I'm off." he said, starting to walk away. "Let's turf sometime, with the rest of the gang."
"That could work!" Ecca hollered. "A private battle, even?" she followed up.
"Yeah, see you soon!" Fabian hollered. The pink Octoling then made off on his way alone, back to his apartment, scheming his next move for the Revolution, and against Josh, snickering evilly.
"Plan in motion." Fabian said to himself. "Your misery has begun, Joshua Catfish. You never deserved to be the prodigy of the Propaganda team." he bitterly thought. "You were never as talented anyway. It could have been anyone BUT YOU!" he bitterly spat, as he made his way home.
*Meanwhile…
"Didn't expect him around here." said Ecca.
"Me neither." replied Josh. "So, evening stroll back to your apartment?" he asked.
"Sure." Ecca smirked. "Along with your favorite hobby: me." she naughtily smiled.
"Coddamit Ecca." Josh laughed. "Well then, I shall oblige." he mischieviously smirked. They then went on their way to Ecca's place, tickiling each other and just being a general picture of a couple in love on the way there. They soon hailed a cab to her place and rode off.
*Meanwhile, at Tiger Prawn Estates…
Marina and Pearl settled into the sofas, a tad bit tired but otherwise none the worse for wear. The pair deposited their belongings onto the nearby floor. Pearl then booted up the television to watch some Turf Matches while changing to her housewear.
"So that's what it's like huh? Being Squidbeak." Pearl mused, as she was flipping through channels.
"I guess so. Although…that exchange between Marie and Jesse though. It was…rather concerning, to say the least." Marina observed. "She still is reeling from the events of the Deepsea Metro." she added.
"Well, getting your brain scrambled does that to you." Pearl remarked, setting the TV on a Turf News channel, which was rounding up Pro League news from all divisions. She already then had completely changed to her housewear.
"Yeah." Marina sighed, heading to the kitchen. "It may have…wracked her head on several different areas. Brought out something that wasn't there…or rearranged something that it revealed…unsavory traits." Marina speculated.
"Kinda like a ransacking, you say?" Pearl asked.
"Mmm, something like that." Marina agreed, as she proceeded to the kitchen. "Anyway, what's up for dinner?" she said, as she opened the fridge to pick said dinner, going through the contents of the fridge.
"Surprise me!" Pearl called up. Marina then brought out the ingredients for their dinner tonight. Pearl then continued watching TV, opting to watch a series this time, while Marina was cooking. While cooking…
"Sigh…whatever happened to Jesse…it seems…it had long term effects on her…" Marina mused to herself. "She may not be controlled anymore…but…the side effects the goo inflicted on her…" she went on, as she was cooking. "I must do research. Before this all spirals out of control…" she promised. Soon she was done cooking, and she set down the dinner.
"Dinner yet?" asked Pearl, seeing the food.
"That's an affirmative, Pearlie." Marina smiled, gesturing Pearl to come eat with her. "Come, dinner awaits." she beckoned.
"Faster than a squid can Super Jump!" Pearl beamed, racing to the dinner table.
Later…
"I should ask Sheldon to help with the research about Three's side effects." began Marina.
"I'm afraid it may not be a scientific matter, but an emotional one." Pearl remarked. "The girl's got a lot on her plate." she sighed. "Being breadwinner, player, and Agent at the same time." she shook her head.
Marina just sighed at the thought of it all. "I wonder, how the new girls are doing?" she asked.
"Pretty sure they're fine." Pearl dismissively said. "Anyway, SquidFlix?" she offered Marina.
"Can't say no to my Pearlie!" she smiled.
Alright then…it has begun. Huge thanks to the people who helped me with certain themes in this chapter. Shout-out to Isalover on Discord for helping me with the restaurant name. Anyway, find out what shenanigans will unfold next chapter! Catfish out.