Authors Note: Part 2 of my year-end special. Writing onto the new year. So…suffice to say, this probably would be the final piece for the year. So, yeah, enjoy. And now, on to the chapter.
Another couple of days passed by Inkopolis. Album stores have now in their hands the Squid Sisters' first album since the kidnapping of Callie, marking the triumphant reunion of the duo. The new duo in charge of the turf news, CoralStar, was proving to be a worthy successor to Off the Hook, Riva and Lumi providing their own charm to the casts. And as for Off the Hook themselves…they enjoyed the privacy that came with their stepping down from celebrity status.
*Evan's apartment…
Evan was waking up to another day…nothing special. Or so he thought, as he was going to pay a visit to the family manor, to see his family, which he didn't relish all too much. He reluctantly got up out of his bed, stretching out his arms, dawdling around his balcony.
"Hmmmh." he sighed. "Gotta see how my sibs doing." he said to himself. He then went to prepare some breakfast himself, while piddling away on his phone, to view stage updates for today, despite having no intention of turfing today.
He then soon got to freshening himself up, and was ready to leave moments later. He then soon called up a cab going to the family compound. The ride was quiet, but Evan was texting Callie along the way, chatting to her about his homecoming.
"Hey Cal, going to my folks. Seeing with my sibs. Wish me luck." he told Callie.
"Hope all goes well." she replied. "Just remember, call me when you need to." she added.
"Thanks, Cal." Evan told her. The cab soon approached the sprawling compound. Soon, Evan can see the brass house number: 717.
The house butler, a jelly, rushed over to the gate, seeing a cab pull over right by the entry path. Soon, Evan hopped off the cab, heaving his bag onto his shoulder, feeling a sense of dread as he approached the manor, a sense of dread creeping on him, as he approached the grandiose attitude.
"Greetings, master Evan!" greeted the jelly butler. "Long time no see, young master!" he curtseyed the green Inkling.
"Ah, Nijel, it has been long indeed." greeted Evan, sighting the old jelly butler. "How are my siblings?" he asked the elderly jelly.
"Master Evan, your siblings have been waiting for you." stated the elderly jelly. At those words, three squidlings of various growth and color rushed to greet their fully formed brother, the youngest latching onto him.
"Amelia!" Evan happily greeted his youngest sibling, a 4-year old pink squidling.
"Brother! It has been too long!" said the second youngest sibling, a cyan squidling who is a little more taller and formed than Amelia, at 7 years of age.
"Ewan!" he greeted the cyan squidling.
"What had you been up to?" said the eldest sibling, having traces of humanoid features, being at an age close to Inkling maturity, 12.
"I see you're becoming more humanoid, Ross." Evan appreciatively smiled. "How have you been, guys?" he asked the three young squids.
"Nothing much…it's just us and the household help most of the time. Mom and dad are always too busy for us these days…with that Marina expose and what not…" Ewan reported sadly.
"Yeah…only Nijel plays with us…" Amelia sadly told Evan.
"And the servant kids too." added Ewan. "Even when they're home, they're always accompanied by those creepy and big Inkling men." he added.
"Yes, they were always talking about 'purging Inkopolis of scum' or something." Ross reported.
"Too many people going missing on the TV." Amelia sadly added.
"Saw that too." Evan replied to her. "Hey, play room?" he asked the three.
"YAY!" chorused the three squidlings. The siblings practically ran up to the said room, where there were all sorts of gadgets: an S-Box, an SS4, and some Splatendo Switches on a table. Nijel then, as if on cue, brought them snacks and drinks.
"Snacks and drinks, master." Nijel said, as he set down said snacks and drinks on a table. "Enjoy." The butler smiled at his young masters. He hadn't seen the young Currents this happy in a long time. He then smiled as he went away to attend to his other duties.
The siblings played a good amount of hours with all the game systems they had. Soon, Evan went to the kitchen to help with the dinner, helping the kitchen staffs, who were Inkling maidens.
*Around Inkopolis Square…
The Square was going on a nostalgic trip, as the new Squid Sisters album played many times today over the sound systems. Plaza veterans were appreciating it the most, as it was a hard throwback back to their heyday in the Plaza, as the reigning idols back in those times. Jesse was smiling a little bit, hanging out with her sister in a nearby café, agreeing to play some Turf War with her.
Jesse was quietly sipping on her drink, quietly reflecting on what happened between her and Marie. Did she really need to lash out like that, she wondered. Celia was busy watching guides on her phone on how to best play a Turf War.
"Maybe I am working too hard…" she thought to herself. "All that coin and for what?" she thought on. "Screw that telephone…" she seethed internally.
"Hey sis!" called up Celia. "We on?" she asked her sister.
"Huh?" said Jesse, her reverie interrupted. "Oh. Right. Let's go!" she beckoned her absently. The sisters heaved their weapons, heading straight to Deca Tower after paying for their drinks. The sisters then had a look at the featured arenas for Turf War.
"Hmm, interesting picks…" Jesse surveyed the two available arenas: "Moray Towers…and…hmm, Wahoo World?" Jesse said, surprised. "Hey, this may be a 2-in-1 deal, Celia." she told her younger sister.
"Whoa, Wahoo World!" Celia's eyes lighted up. "Cangototheridesafter,please,please,please?" she feverishly asked her sister. Jesse sighed at the hyperactiveness of her young sister.
"Hmm. Just don't get splatted, and maybe I would think of it." Jesse replied, going into the Tower, heaving her E-Liter 4K.
"Please?" Celia pleaded, with her Jr. in hand.
"Alright…"she sighed. "But promise me you wouldn't get unnecessarily splatted, ok?" she sternly reminded the yellow Inkling. "Come." She beckoned her sister. They made their way to the Turf lobbies. Together, they made their way through the double row escalators, Jesse slinging her E-Liter on her shoulder. They soon made their way to the first lobby they saw, Lobby A. There, a few cephs were already in queue, watching the ongoing match.
The sisters sat down on the vacant spaces on the couches, Jesse sitting by her lonesome on a bean bag, while Celia sat beside another Inkling, an indigo guy with the classic top-tails, holding a Tentatek Splattershot in hand. The assigned stage for the lobby was Moray Towers, which made Jesse smile a little. She after all is a sniper, and Moray Towers is notorious for being a Charger haven. Already, the other players were muttering in fear or devising strategies for when Jesse ends up on the opposite sides.
Soon, it was time to take to the field. Naturally, the sisters were together on one side, joined by Celia's seatmate from earlier, and a male Octoling wielding Kensa Dualies. The teams then lined up to take the shower to confirm their colors for the match.
The colors for the match were the classic orange and blue. The sisters and their teammates took the orange side, and soon flew off to Moray Towers to start the match. Jesse's team submerged in the spawn point, as well as the opposing team.
3…2…1… The match started.
"Celia, go with the Dualies guy. I'll be on this ledge." Jesse told her sister. Blue team was making their way down their tower to meet their team. Already, a firefight was beginning on the central platform, the opposing frontline engaging Celia and her teammates.
The opposing team was made up of two gals, and two guys, but only a single player is an Octoling. They were wielding a Splat Roller, a Sploosh 7, a 96-gal Deco, and an Explosher. Already, they were feeling the burn of the range disadvantage, frantically dodging globs from the Explosher, aside from the two threats in the Splat Roller and the Sploosh was trying her hardest not getting splatted by the Roller player. She was doing better against the Sploosh 7 user, who was dealing with her Kensa Dualie friend. Both teams did their job beforehand of painting their respective home areas. Orange was having the upper hand, largely due to Jesse's efforts with the E-Liter.
"Watch out, Hammer!" Jesse blurted to her sister.
"What?" Celia said, then turned around to see an Ultra Stamp from the Sploosh 7 user, panic suddenly setting in.
"Move!" the boy on the Kensa Dualies barked to Celia, shoving her aside so she can be spared the Ultra Stamp's wrath. The Dualies user then rolled to the side, effectively splatting the user. He however was splatted immediately by the Explosher user.
"Aww." said Celia, lamenting her friend's splatting. She then made her way to confront the culprit, morphing to dodge the deadly globs of ink that the Explosher lobbed at her. A moment's pause is what Celia needed to throw a Splat Bomb right at the offender's head. It clattered to the floor before bursting in an orange blast, a blue ghost rising up from the explosion.
Meanwhile, Jesse was duly setting up Ink Mines near her station, so to block off any intruders that can somehow slip past her sniping, which so far, no one has done yet. She then continues to aim for anyone targeting Celia or her frontline teammates. The 96 Gal Deco user made a gambit for Jesse, but was overwhelmed by the newly-respawning Splat Roller user, being outmatched by the speed of the Roller user, as he desperately tried to shoot the opposing user, but the slow fire rate proved to be the undoing, meeting the end with a horizontal strike to the face.
Soon, the match came to its final minute. Teams were frantically turfing, desparate to edge the opposition.
The Sploosh was darting around, desperately using the inking coverage to turf whatever he can, but was being severely hampered by the E-Liter of Jesse, eventually getting splatted before he can bother Celia and the Kensa Dualie user.
The Tentatek user went on ahead of the other two, dodging the Explosher's globs of explosive ink. Orange team was having the upper hand, creeping upon the lower ramps of the enemy. Both the 96-gal Deco user and the Explosher were desperately trying to hold off three of Team Orange advancing, using the narrow ramp to their advantage.
Already, the three were receiving damage from the Explosher's splash damage. They were trying their hardest yet not to get an unfortunate splatting before the match's end.
Ten…Nine… The Explosher user was desperate to fend off Team Orange's onslaught.
Eight…Seven… The Splat Roller was trying it's hardest to help her Explosher friend, but was dealt with by the Kensa Dualie.
Six…Five… Celia easily dodged the 96-Gal's shots, opening fire once near enough.
Four…Three… The Sploosh 7 made a desperate attempt for the E-Liter user that is Jesse, but was foiled by Team Orange's Tentatek Splattershot, using range advantage to maneuver the shot, the Sploosh 7's range failing the user.
Two…One… Jesse swam down, aiming to help with the Explosher. She closed her, focusing on her target, opening once she let go of the trigger. She scored the perfect hit, right as the whistle blared, a blue ghost streaking upward.
Both teams soon made it at the ground floor of the skyscraper arena, with Judd and Lil Judd decidedly peering at both teams. The map's final state was brought up, and soon…
"Orange Team… wins!" swiftly declared Judd. Both teams acknowledged each other in sportsmanship, exchanging congratulatory greetings and high-fives.
"Was I good out there, sister?" Celia asked Jesse eagerly.
"It's a lot better than your first match with Evan, I am sure of it." Jesse began, "Still a lot to improve on, but good, regardless." she smiled at her younger sister. "Come, we've only begun." she beckoned her sister.
That was all Celia needed to hear, as both soared back to Deca Tower to await their next match. They soon landed in Wahoo World, with different teammates than before. The sisters then set out to give it their all as soon as the whistle sounded.
*Meanwhile...NSS HQ, unidentified trailer park…
The Captain called up both Pearl and Marina to HQ, for an important matter, as he said. The former popstars were eagerly waiting on what Cap has to say. To add to how important the meeting was, the Squid Sisters, Callie and Marie were there, as well as Eight, the same Octo they helped out from the Deepsea Metro a good year and a half now ago.
Finally, the Cap stood up.
"Ah, yes, lassies." began Cap. "You do know why you are here, yes?" he asked. Both nodded in silence.
"Today marks the day where you will be formally part of the NSS." the Cap formally smiled. As if on cue, Sheldon brought out two cases of what presumably is new gear. The horseshoe crab opened the briefcases, and there lay what appears to be two sets of what looked to be Hero Gear, except it didn't look like anything they saw from them previously.
"Now then lassies…your Hero Gear." Craig smiled gently at them. Both cannot contain their excitement seeing the new gear.
"This…is…dope!" Pearl exclaimed, her gold eyes gleaming with excitement.
"This looks actually good!" beamed Marina, putting on the new jacket. Both beheld their new gear, amazed about the handiwork of the new suits.
"Sheldon…how?" was all Marina could say, after a while.
"The Cap tasked me this sometime after you guys defeated NILS." Sheldon began with a smile. "It was the first thing he tasked me after not hearing from him some time after Agent 3 defeated Octavio." he narrated. "As soon as he finished, I immediately get on to making these!" he squeaked happily.
"Your help was enough proof to induct you lasses into the Squidbeak." Craig smiled at the two former popstars. "Besides, it wouldn't hurt to have more limbs in the Splatoon." He smiled appreciatively.
"These two Hero Suits also debut new technology!" Sheldon proudly beamed. "I have made many formulations, and the ones in the suits have the most reliable version!" he added.
"What tech?" both girls asked.
"It can adapt any power you can find in Turf War!" Sheldon beamed. "Swim Speed, Run Speed, Ink Recovery, name it, it can do it!" he beamed. "Soon, I shall even implement it into the older suits." he beamed.
"Now that's something!" Marie popped up in excitement.
"I shall tell Evan of this!" Callie excitedly said.
"Ah yes, tell all Agents." agreed Craig. "Pearl…you…" Cap faced Pearl, "…you…are now Agent 6." he firmly declared. "You will partake in many a covert adventure in the interest of Inkopolis." he began. "You will face many a battle with the enemies of Cephalo-dom." he added. "And most of all, as Agent, you will devote your life to protecting Inkopolis from all harm." he patted the small Inkling rapper. "I have seen your potential. I believe in that." he assuredly told Pearl.
"It's an honor Cap. To be along these dedicated people." Pearl declared. "I don't have anything worthwhile to do anymore now we quit the News gig." She somberly said. "But hey, I'm with friends right? And that's all I need." she smiled, peering at everyone present.
"And as we have discussed, Marina will be the second laboratory hand of the Squidbeak!" he happily declared. "However, I must ask you this lass…will you take yet the mantle of an Agent?" she asked the tall Octoling.
"Even without an Agent mantle, I shall do all I can." she declared with a firm tone. "It's the only way I can ever repay for all those war machine I set upon Three." she added in a somber tone. "I shall also be able to field test everything Sheldon and I can come up with!" she happily declared. "I do have fighting experience, after all!" she added.
"We shall count on all of that, Marina." Marie told Marina gently. Marie's phone soon rang, then whipped it out to see a picture of Jesse and Celia in Deca Tower waiting for the next match.
"I see Three is having some bonding time with lil sis." Marie observed, smiling. "Maybe I got to her." she said. "She does need time with the little girl." she said.
"Right then buckos, resume!" declared Cap. At once, Marina and Sheldon went back to their computer arrays to resume research, while Pearl engaged Callie in a sparring match, Callie on her Roller while Pearl opted for her favorite pair of Dualies. They soon began with the match, predictably rushing to meet each other for a clash.
Pearl rolled to avoid Callie's vertical flicks, but barely so, as Callie was faster, with an experience advantage over the shorter Inkling. Pearl was barely hitting Callie, and soon enough, she got splatted, ending the session.
Pearl soon rose up on the Spawn Pad, complimenting Callie's victory.
"This Hero thing is serious stuff huh?" said Pearl finally, catching her breath.
"Happy to help, Agent Six." Callie said in her most Callie of manners. "Happy to help a fellow Agent out!" she happily told Pearl.
"Thanks, Cal." replied Pearl. "Oh, it's lunchtime already?" she checked her phone clock, "Maybe that's why I lost." she deadpanned.
"Come on. Tell Marina and my cuz too." Callie told the cream/pink Inkling. The four girls then soon set out for a nearby food truck park which served various cuisine.
*Back at the Current manor, later that evening…
"So, what brings you here, boy?" said a gaunt elderly Inkling. The man had size, and his hair was a darker shade of Evan's. Beside him was his wife, their mother, a severe-faced female Inkling with the bun hairstyle. Her face was holding on to the last vestiges of its haughty beauty, the sky-blue hue of her tentacle helping with that.
"Had to see my good ol little siblings." Evan answered coolly, while he was downing the meat.
"You can do that every day had you not ran." shot Mr. Current. "Were you fraternizing with those scum while you were there?" he shot the question at the younger Inkling.
"I do not know anything about scum in Inkopolis father." Evan answered off-handedly. "All I got are good friends." he added. "And quite a rank in the Turf ladder." he added again hurriedly.
"I see you made progress in that childish hobby of yours." Mr. Current simpered.
"It's not just some hobby!" protested Ross. "It's THE sport!"
"Hmph, whatever." deflected Mr. Current. "I say that all the Octos should have been eliminated in the war." he bragged.
"Are they all that bad?" innocently asked Amelia.
"Like I said child, they're scum!" he reiterated hotly. "You would do well to read your history lessons more, girl!" he shot at Amelia.
"How sure are we that we are correct?" wondered Ewan.
"It's not a debate, Ewan. No eight-legged freak should be on the surface, ever!" grumbled the elder Current.
"Back to that dinner, kids." said Mrs. Current in a flat tone. The family proceeded with their dinner in a tense silence, more so between Evan and their father. They soon finished and Evan and his siblings dealt with their homework and projects. The Current couple meanwhile received a group of visitors in the reception hall, discussing various matters.
I barely made it. Just before the year…and decade ended. Well, in my timezone, at least. Also, this chapter debuts one idea I have for Hero Mode: customizable power-ups. You can set the main and sub abilities as you need. You would, however, need to unlock more slots and abilities as you progress through the story. Stay tuned for more ideas! Anyway, see y'all next chapter guys. Happy new year! Catfish out.