... zzzzzzz... zzzzzz... ...
... uh... ... uh...?
... yawn...! ... wh... what happened...?
Wh... where am I...? I... I see a light… …
"Well awake, little Squid!"
AAAH! WHO SAID THAT?! … uh? Who's that woman…?
"Did you sleep well, Hun?" She said… nicely?
"… who are you…?"
"Huh?! Wh-who am I? Hun, d-don't tell me that you… already forgot?"
Forgot what…? I… I remember being with my little sister… and then… and then nothing…
"… where am I? This isn't my house…" I looked around, puzzled by all this weird stuff around.
Whoa, that woman got scared! Oh, there is also a man with her: both were Inklings.
"Oh no! I can't believe that the sleeping bomb made you forget almost all the morning!"
The morning?! It's already lunch?!
"Uhm… very perplexing, indeed…" The man adds in. "This boy sure doesn't have an easy life…"
Glancing at the woman again, she… wasn't very happy for some reason. Even before, when she talked to me the first time… or was it?
"I'm so sorry, Hun… if I knew beforehand that such bomb could cause this disaster…!" She was feeling really bad about it…
"Ehm…" I-I'm so confused… what's she talking about?!
A bomb? What's a bomb? And who are those people?! Urgh… my head is exploding…
"Please, tell me your name." I asked gently.
"I'm Tonna. Do you remember it?"
Tonna… …
"No… never heard of it." Only now I noticed that I was still in my Squid form!
"You heard of it, Hun! Except you forgot…" She sighs sadly.
Tonna turns over that man…
"Doctor, do you have any idea why the poor boy has such memory loss?"
"Well, I did the medical tests just fine… he's in pretty good shape! Except, well… that disease…"
"NO, DON'T TELL HIM ABOUT THAT!" She quickly shuts his mouth.
"Disease…? I… have one? … AH RIGHT! I do have one!" I turned back into myself, sitting on… a white bed…?
"N-no, wait a darn second…! Yo-you are fine, Hun…! Very strong and healthy!" She does a forced smile… I can see that.
"That's ok, I already know that…"
She stood in silence… with watery eyes.
"I'm not from Inkopolis… I come from the farms. The only reason I'm here now, is because someone promised me a cure for it…"
"… I see… that someone is Mr. Tarfo, isn't it…?" Tonna asked, rubbing her eyes.
"Yes. I… … hey… how do you know him?!" I frowned, getting more suspicious.
"Because I work for the Inkopolis Security Team… and he's the leader. You are inside the Headquarters."
"Inside where?!" I don't like that word, for some reason…
"Ehm… the building where all the agents reside. You are one of us, you know."
Oh… OH NO! I'M ALREADY TRANSFERRED?! I DIDN'T EVEN GET THE CHANCE TO SAY GOODBYE TO MIRII!
"How did I get up here?! I want to see my friends again, for the last time!" I jumped out of the bed, with the intention of doing just what I announced.
"Hun, stop!" She holds me! "It's ok: you already met with all your friends."
… is she saying the truth?
"For the matter, we also brought your sister here as well."
MY SISTER?!
"She is here too?!"
Tonna nodded with a smile.
"Well, she wanted to see you actually… I… think…" Uh? Why she's confused…?
"Where is she?!" I asked impatiently!
"In your room. Wanna see her?" She smiles.
"Please! I bet she's really missing me!"
The woman giggles.
"Follow me, then."
Oh good! I can't wait to hug my sister again! She must be very happy to stay with me, too… … uuuuhh, wait… there is something I didn't like about Tonna… did she said something weird before? … naaah, who cares! I'm about to see Fara!
Well… I hope to remember this place, soon: it feels like a maze! We entered inside an empty room…?
"Your floor is the 4th. Remember that, ok?" She explained with a smile.
… aaaah, this is an elevator! She pushes the button with the number 4 on it… and the elevator quickly goes up, after closing its doors. Sounds are coming out… I like it! Makes me want to move a bit!
Tonna giggles, then she said "Do you like this elevator music?"
"Yeah, it's pretty good! Mine didn't have one…"
"Agents are treated very good! Think that most of the time, we don't have much time to enjoy the luxury of the Headquarters."
Ding!
Oh, we have arrived! The corridors aren't looking much different from the previous ones, though… at least, Tonna seems to know where my room is.
"We are almost there, Hun. Before we enter, there is something you should remember."
"Uhm? What's it?" I asked.
"Your ID card can only unlock your room inside this building. Also, you are no longer a student in the public High School… you'll follow lessons designed for you." Then she smiles warmly. "Guess who's going to be your teacher…"
Hmm… ehm… urgh…
"So… any ideas?"
"… what's a teacher?"
… she left her mouth open.
"Ehm… I kinda forgot what was a student, too… or even a High school! Those two words don't sound really new, but I can't think of"
"A teacher derives from the word teach. A teacher is also a person…" She explains. "Thus, a teacher is someone that teaches you useful facts."
"Ooooh… so you are a teacher!"
"Bravo!" She claps. "I'm a teacher! But not just any teacher… YOUR teacher!"
"Ah, great! That's… hey, wait a minute! Aren't you an agent?"
We stopped near a door.
"Yes… but I'm also your teacher. With me, you are going to learn everything essential for your job as an agent."
Aaaaah, now I get it! That sure is convenient!
"Great! But why we stopped…?"
"Because we are arrived, Hun!" She shows me a door. "Use your ID card to get inside."
I have it? Let's see… … incredible. I have that thing with me! That means, Tonna was saying the truth…! I wonder what did I miss… anyway, this door doesn't look much different from the other one. Maybe the way to open it, must be the same…
Click.
Indeed it was! I opened it!
"Good! You still remember how to open a door!" She claps again. It's making me shy…!
"Thanks…" I smiled.
"Big bro?"
That voice… FARA! There she is! My sister was sitting on my large bed! Huh? I have a large bed…? OOF!
"BIG BRO!" She was squeezing me! "Whe' 'ave ya bee'?!"
"Aaaah, I-I was… ehm… where I was again…?"
"The Medical Room." Tonna answered.
"Ah, thanks! The Medical Room! The… … th-the Medical Room?!" I… remembered everything…
"Yes…? Don't tell me, you suddenly remember"
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH! I hided under my bed!
"NO, HUN! PLEASE CALM DOWN!"
"FARA, GO NEAR ME!" I shouted to my little sister!
"Wha's 'oin' on?!" She asked.
"THEY WANT TO HURT US!"
"Hun, there is no need to worry!"
No need to worry?! How can I forget such dangerous weapon?!
"You already did the medical tests!"
"So?! I… huh? I did the tests…?" I raised my head.
"Yes." She nods. "That means the syringe is no longer needed."
… really…?
"Syrin'? Hun 'as 'cared 'f 'hat…?" … my sister asked?
"Ehm… can you repeat that, again?" Tonna had trouble understanding my sister…
"She said, if I was scared of that…" I got out of the bed, dusting myself off.
"He was! We stopped him, by throwing a sleeping bomb!"
Here it goes the sleeping… thing again.
"An' ya 'urted 'im?!" My sister was growling.
I fear that my sister is going to bite the woman…
"No, we didn't touch a tentacle of him! He fell asleep… the sleeping bomb makes people sleep." Tonna explains. "Hun did all the medical tests, while sleeping. He's fine, little one!"
"… ya 'ould 'ave 'old me 'bout it… Hun 'an 'et scare' easly, ya kno'!" Fara scolds Tonna, while folding her arms.
"Wait, I lost you at told!"
"In other words, if she was with me, I'd calm down for real…" I admitted: my sister does make me more brave…
"Ye'! I kno' 'hat a syrin' 'as! Mah big bro wul' undirstu' bett' wi' mah 'ords!"
Tonna… ehm… I think she's left clueless.
"If you are referring to the previous events, you couldn't stop biting the agents!" She tried… but she said something unrelated.
Driiiin!
A familiar sound is heard… and Tonna didn't hesitate to take that box, usually Mirii has in her hands!
"Yes?" She talks to us…? Ah no, to the box! "… yes… uh-huh… now? Ok, I'll bring him there."
She puts the box away.
"Hun, we have to go now." Tonna announced, becoming serious…
"He'! Wha' ya wan' to do, 'ow?!" She hugs me, growling at the woman.
"Nothing harmful! Your brother has to complete other tes-I mean… a task!" Is she was going to say a test?!
"Wha' 'ask?!" She was showing her fangs at Tonna…
M-my sister is scaring her…
"Yo-you can come too! It's like a little game, he has to participate!" She gulped.
A game? Hope is going to be fun…!
"Let's go, Fara." I smiled with a lot of expectation!
"Ya sur'?" She looks at me, worried.
I petted her, to reassure my little sister.
"Yes. We can trust Tonna. She's a nice lady, after all." I looked at her, with a smile.
She exchanged it, then she gives sign to follow her.
"Then, follow me. We'll not take too long… I promise!"
If she said so… my sister kept hugging me, with all her strength. I could her voice whispering something I couldn't understand… maybe she was talking about me? Or was she saying to send away Tonna? Her hug was giving me a lot of warmth… and I couldn't help, but stroke her head slowly. She followed my hand movements, enjoying every bit of it.
After closing the door, I couldn't remember how many steps we made to reach… what was that room again? Training room? I think was it… but again, I was too distracted to remember, since I chatted with Tonna, while Fara was hugging me like she wants to protect me.
It was making me a bit embarrassed… but I was enjoying it as well: it was making me think about the good old times, back to the farms. Fara always helped me carrying the tools for work, giving me some company while I harvest the fields…
"Hun? Hello?" AH! Tonna was asking!
"Hello!" I waved my hand!
… but she wasn't waving hers…
"I saw you distracted for a moment… are you all right?" She asked again.
"Yes… I'm all right!"
"Ar' ya sur'?" My sister was now in front of me.
"Yes, I'm sure!"
"Sure sure?"
"Sure sure!"
"Sur' sur' sur'?"
"I'M SURE! What's with you two now?!" I almost flipped myself!
"Sorry! Is that… I'm a bit worried about your task…" She wasn't looking at me…
"What's the matter? Do I have to do risk myself or"
"No no…" Tonna shook her head. "You said earlier, that you need to work here in order to cure yourself from the disease…"
"While we were getting here? Yes, I said that. So…?" I don't understand what her point is…
"Well… I… had a little suspicion…" She's rolling her thumbs… doesn't look positive. "Maybe I was wrong before…"
"Before?"
"I said that you were one of us… actually… that could not be true."
What the?! I-I'm not an agent?!
"Look, I don't know exactly what they have in mind… please memorize this: try to be as skillful as possible with your Squid ability. Do you understand?"
"Uhm… ok! I'll try!" I looked at Fara, trying to ask her some comforting hug with my eyes!
She understood, slowly hugging me. Aaaaah… I feel much better now!
"Sssh, now…" Tonna opened the door slightly, lowering her voice. "There are people inside. No noises are allowed."
Me and my sister nodded and walked together inside the… Training Room, I guess. Wow! It's huge! I don't even know where to start, with all those stuff around the area! It's like I'm seeing a road and someone accidentally throws around the furniture!
On the room's sides, there were giant stairs where Inklings sit on them… are those all agents? On the right side, near the road, I can see a sea urchin, a male Inkling and Mr. Tarfo behind a white table. Uhm… it looks like they want to eat, while looking at me completing a Squid task!
Tonna whispered something to Fara and both walk away from me. I wonder why… oh, they found a seat on those giant stairs. Kinda odd their dimensions: what you do with giant stairs? I don't think I ever saw giant Inklings walking around
"Welcome everyone to the games!" AH! Mr. Tarfo stood up! "Thank you for coming here to assist, for the first time in the history of Inkopolis Security Team… the Squid task!"
The agents on the sides were clapping and exulting to me! … to me?! I-I want to hide…
"In this special event, we are going to follow the feats of a young boy coming directly from the humble farms… Hun!" He pointed at me!
Uuuuuuhhhh… the claps increased… I could hear whistles too! I seriously need to hide… maybe for one entire year!
"I see a big excitement… but the announcement isn't done yet! There is another person to present! Everyone, please give applause to… Giulius!"
THOMP!
YIKES! A man jumped out of nowhere! The crowd voice and whistles became much louder too!
Giulius?! I can't believe this!
GIULIUS!
We want to know the newest Krak-On shoes!
The male Inkling stood in pose… he's very tall and has a beard! I trembled, when he grins at the agents!
"WHO WANT TO SEE SOME KRAKEN JUSTICE?!" Wow, his voice is very loud! He almost broke my eardrums!
"Meeeee!" The crowd shouted, followed by another round of applauses!
Once everyone became silent, Mr. Tarfo spoke again.
"Eh eh eh, always ready for a challenge Mr. Giulius!"
"YES! ONE WRESTLING MATCH WASN'T ENOUGH FOR THIS KILLING MACHINE!"
AAAAH! He stomped the ground so hard, that I jumped unintentionally! The crowd cheered.
"WHERE IS THE CHALLENGER?!" He looks around… then, he looks at me! "YOU?!"
I nodded, while gulping in fear.
"GOOD!" He coughed. "I'm ready to challenge you!"
Despite he wasn't yelling, his voice was still loud…! I was slowly walking backwards…
"Hey, don't escape! I don't eat Squids…"
Oh, really? Phew…!
"I SQUASH THEM!"
OH NO! He simulated that, by hitting his own palm!
"Ah ah ah ah ah ah! Just kidding!"
…
"You should laugh often, kid! It's good for the health!" He shows his hand to me…
Oh-oh… I don't like this… YEOUCH! MY HAND! HE LITERALLY SQUASHED IT WITH HIS HANDSHAKE!
"Now, let's hear the rules!" He turns over Mr. Tarfo. "EXPLAIN!"
"Very well." Mr. Tarfo took a piece of paper from the table. "Ahem! The rules are simple… the games will be divided into 2 sections: a race and then a fight."
I HAVE TO FIGHT HIM?!
"First, we start off with the race. The rules are simple: reach the finish line before your opponent does!"
The finish line…? … oh, wait! There is a giant paper hanged with two little sticks, with a line under it. On the paper, it's written Finish.
"You have to swim in your Squid form, between the red and blue barriers."
Uh… yeah, along the "road", I can see red and blue barriers on its sides.
"Avoid the obstacles and come in first place! Please, don't attack your opponent and don't do shortcuts."
What's a shortcut?
"If Hun wins the race, he can access to the fight against Giulius! So, good luck at the challenger!"
Everyone, except Giulius, was applauding to me.
"Ah ah ah ah! Sorry kid, but this race has already a winner… ME!" He points at himself, with a grin!
Why he's saying that? We didn't even start the race yet…! All right, I have to win this challenge if I want to become a real agent!