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Chapter 3
The Next Day…
I was rudely woken up and sent to breakfast. I keep getting funny looks from the Octarians. Either from the fact that I might be the first Inkling they've seen, or they're having perverted thoughts. Probably both. This blasted outfit doesn't help either.
I'd just finished eating and was given the directions to my new 'work' area. I was on my way when I noticed some Charger-wielding Octoling with blue rings on his hair knocking on a door. He seemed frustrated.
"Um…whatever's the matter?" I asked.
He started making some hand signals I couldn't understand.
"I know Inkling sign language, but that's fairly different from that." I told him.
He, with a frustrated look, reached in his pocket and gave me a small touch-screen. He immediately started typing.
We're supposed to do squad training today, but my Captain won't leave her room.
"Why won't she leave?" I was curious.
She thinks she has feelings for an Inkling agent. She's been in her room obsessing about him ever since.
"If she has feelings, shouldn't she be able to feel them?" I tilted my head.
It's distracting her. She's annoying enough as it is. We don't need her unfocused as well.
"What will you do if she doesn't come out?" I wondered.
I'll just break in.
He then took out a small stick of some sort. It electrocuted a key pad next to the door and caused the door to open.
"Oh, hey Sharp…" The captain said, looking at a picture. "Do you think he has good hygiene? Do you think he might be a decent size down there?"
Sharp was glaring at her while typing on the pad. I could see what he was typing on my pad.
No. I never asked myself that about him. Never in my life have I ever asked myself that about literally anyone. Stay focused, please.
I saw her look at a pad of her own.
"Alright…" She sighed as she got up. "We'll train."
Sharp then left the room, probably going to their training area.
"What about your Pad?" I shouted.
Keep it. Communication will be easier for you, Inkling.
I have a name, you know. And it's worth more than yours will ever be.
"What about you?" The Captain asked me, showing me the picture. "What do you think?"
"I believe he was in the tournament." I think I remember him.
"He was." She confirmed. "Haaaa…I just…I wish I could see him again…"
"Why don't you?" I wondered.
"He's. An. Inkling." She said, a little frustrated. "And an agent…I'm going to have to think outside the box…"
"Well, good luck." I shrugged. "I should get to my new work area."
"Have fun, Princess." She waved goodbye.
She's pleasant enough, I guess…
30 Minutes Later…
Moving heavy boxes again…
Well, at least it smells better this time.
"OW!" Something hit my head.
I looked to see where it came from to find a snickering Octoling running away.
"What's her problem?" I grumbled.
"Can you blame her?" An Octoling next to me asked. "You Inklings are the reason we're down here anyway."
"I didn't do anything." I groaned.
"Exactly." He shrugged. "You Inklings forced us down here and to this day, you do nothing but hope we die and you forget about us."
"I didn't even know the Octarian Menace was still around until recently!" I told him. "Let alone squidnapping people!
"And you think ignorance makes you look better?" He tilted his head. "Maybe look at it from our perspective."
"That'll be quite difficult." I told him. "Aside from people like that being distracting, who would I even ask?"
"The Commander can freshen your view." He told me.
"He's the reason I'm in this Shellhole!" I spat. "I'm not talking to him!"
"Anyone here you do know of?" He raised an eyebrow.
"That Elise girl seemed nice." I guess.
"Yeah, unless you want her talking about your internal organs like she's undressing you with her eyes, I'd advise not doing that." He advised.
"Well…" Oh, wait! "The Captain of that mute Charger wielder seemed friendly enough."
"Cassandra?" He had a surprised look. "I mean, she's been acting oddly pleasant recently, but she's had a history of being downright cruel. No one really likes her."
"…Well…" I was thinking. "I guess…no! I refuse to speak to that villain!"
"…Right…" He rolled his eyes as he left. "…Inklings…"
I heard that…
Later…
I finished my shift, despite the looks and backhanded comments I received…I was given this card as well. Not sure what it is though…
I'm given free time…odd…
Whatever do Octarians do in their free time?
I decided to follow a few that were chatting. It seemed to lead to a lounge area. Elise did not show me this…
It appeared to be an area for the military personnel to socialize.
I already got a few odd looks upon entering.
There seemed to be several couches, some tables for games, and some food and drinks served here too. The food looked fast food quality and was mostly snacks. I suppose I'll get a drink…
I walked over to the bar.
"What drinks do you have?" I asked the…giant tentacle mass with a face.
"You got the credits?" He asked.
Credits? Wha-Oh yeah!
"Is this enough?" I pulled out the card.
He scanned it.
"You have 150 Credits." He told me. "Not bad. Now, what can One-Eyed Joe get ya?"
"I believe I asked what you had." I reminded the two-eyed Octarian.
"Oh yeah…" He remembered. "You seem a little young for the strong stuff, so how about an Octo Cola?"
"That's fine." I shrugged and sat at a stool.
He gave me a bottle of the Octo Cola drink. It was actually good. Must be based off of the Tenta Cola brand.
"You've gotta Octo Cola?" Someone next to me asked. "Ha! Baby drink."
I looked over to see that Captain from before. She had her face down.
"You alright?" I asked.
She raised her head.
"I'm Fiiiine…" She then looked at me. "Woah…hottie…"
What?!
"Weren't you fawning over an Inkling…agent, you said?" I backed away a little.
"Oh yeah…" She remembered. "But how do I…I…I!"
"You?" I was confused.
"No, Eye!" She pointed at her eye. "He'll help me out! He's a great guy…annoying, but…Yeah…I'll fool Sieg into lettin' me do this…thanks Anabella."
"Alice." I corrected her.
"Elise isn't here…" She replied. "She's like…like…like…have you ever wondered how words sound weird when you say them over and over again? Like, Like, like like like…ha…"
"Perhaps you should get some rest?" I suggested. "You seem out of it."
She was about to say something, but just nodded her head, grabbed her drink, and stood up.
"You're going to give that glass back, right?" One-Eyed Joe asked as she was leaving.
She turned around.
"Ha…Haha…Hahahahaha!" She started laughing, then walked forward. "You moving here was easily the sixth best thing to happen to me!"
She hit a wall and fell down, not spilling her drink at all.
"…Who put that wall there…?" She asked before getting back up and going through the door. "Stupid…wall…get'n in ma way…"
"…Does that happen often?" I asked the bartender.
"She gives me the most business." He told me. "And the biggest tab."
"I hear she's awful." I recalled.
"People have layers." He told me. "They can appear one way, but turn out to be another way. They can act a certain way, but often have a reason for acting the way they do. Point is, don't judge a book by its cover. The best and worst of people can surprise you."
…I suppose…