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The door opened slowly: Grina was standing still, with her arms stretching down. Her mouth was downturned, her eyes pointing forward. She began walking, pushing the door with her left hand while looking at a desk. A pair of rectangular glasses were resting near a keyboard and a blue cup.
"... my plans... shattered in a matter of seconds... so much for saying to get out of this dump... so much indeed..." She stopped in front of the desk, as her right hand picked the pair of glasses. "I... I really feel like staying in my room... probably forever."
Grina walked towards her bed, turning behind... and falling backwards, with her back hitting her bed. Her arms stretched forward, her tentacles flew a bit upwards, then falling back down.
"... my mind is so empty... but I don't feel like filling it with stuff... I prefer it to be empty... ... I don't know what I'm saying." Her eyes closed, as her eyebrows went up. "But does that even matter, now? I'M RUINED! I'M STUCK INSIDE THIS TERRIBLE DUMP!"
Her hands curled into fists, clenching tightly.
"Might as well keep my brain empty... I would eat garbage here, anyway." Her eyes opened, slightly watery. "Why my friends give too much care about that overrated project, anyway?! Who the sick cares if others are harmed?! I'll splat them out if they try that stunt on me and my friends!"
Grina growled.
"Besides, I know that sooner or later, they would probably get too bored with the whole thing and quit everything... and what WE did all this time, in other words? Just risking our lives and becoming more depressed, that's what!"
She sighed loudly.
"I should had woke up sooner… the fact I didn't had the time to wear my contact lenses, was the sign… I-I had to postpone the plan for tomorrow! Why I listened to that stupid voice singing victory?! WHY?!"
Suddenly, music starts playing: Grina jumped a bit.
"Hmm?! What Bars want now…?" Her left hand picked up her smartphone, as her eyes were seeing its screen. "… dad? Weird… let's hear what he wants."
Her left thumb pressed the smartphone screen, as her left hand brought the device on her left ear.
"Hello daddy!" Grina's irises were looking towards the ceiling.
Hello Greta! How are you, my dear?
"I'm fine, dad…" Her irises moved to her right. "… you?"
Let's say yes…
"Hmm… let me guess: you got some work to do at the studios, right?" Grina's right forefinger rotates clock-wise around her right tentacle.
Yes, a commercial about Ink-Fly. I was the one who auditioned for it.
"Of course because you have a dear friend working in the higher offices… right?" Grina's right hand went on her stomach.
Yes, Greta. I remember I presented him to you, once.
"Yeah, yeah… I know…" Grina's mouth opened wide, as a loud yawn came out.
Ok… … sigh… Greta, there is something important I wanted to tell you.
"If that's yet again, another endless speech about the acting career… I'll close the call." Grina's eyelids lowered to the middle, as her mouth slightly downturned. "Right now, I'm already sick of dealing with people… for today."
Greta, it's another thing.
"… another thing… … about mom?" Grina's irises went to her right, as her face kept her previous expression.
No… sigh… earlier, I received a call from Mirii.
"YOU RECEIVED WHAT?!" Immediately, Grina raises her posture while frowning a lot.
Greta, wait! Let me explain.
Grina growled, as her teeth gritted.
"She… wh-what she said to you?!" Her right fist was clenching a lot.
Not much… just the fact you are aware of Project Neo.
"… so?" Grina snorted, as her right hand grabbed her left hip.
Greta… I know about that project too. But I preferred to not tell anything more to your friend.
"I… I don't see where this is going, dad." Grina's right hand rested on her forehead. "The rest of the world knows that Project Neo is bad… although, I'm trying everything to stay out of it!"
… sigh… Greta… there is something you don't know…
Grina's face was pointing forward.
It's about… your grandpa…
Grina's face became paler.
He was an active worker of the Project Neo… back when that project was mostly harmless. He was one of the members who proposed the existence of the Turf Wars as we know it.
Grina's eyes were getting a bit watery, her mouth opened a bit.
He was very active, especially in this part of the project for several years… until something began going wrong. Something he never explained to me, nor to your mother.
"STOP IT!" Grina was frowning a lot. "YOU ARE SAYING LIES, HOPING THAT"
Greta, no. I'm saying the truth… I can even prove that right now.
"N-no…" Grina shivered, sniffing loudly. "… no…"
If you go to the Inknet and type something like Project Neo and your grandpa's full name… you will see his photos back when he was still at work.
Immediately, Grina's left hand carried the smartphone in front of her face: immediately her thumbs were pressing on the screen, going through a white page, typing words… suddenly, her irises shrunk.
"NOOOO!"
Her eyes were seeing the image of an Inkling man shaking his hands to another man, as both were looking at the camera and were smiling.
Your grandpa was forced to leave the city, buying his house in Inkspray Inkland. After a brief while, me and your mother went in this island as well. Because of how expensive that house was, your grandpa couldn't buy us a separate house in the city center... at first I didn't reacted well at all.
"Wh… wh…" Grina's irises disappeared.
But then, seeing how his house had the latest security technology… I never complained about his house choice. Besides, he preferred a lot more our previous one rather than a luxurious apartment… much easier to ignore from any unwanted attention from those who work for Project Neo.
"… why you never told me about this…?" Grina sniffed loudly.
I would… but it was your grandfather in person to deny such possibility. He… he had several fears, especially those concerning you. All of them rose from his mind, ever since you were born on this island. He kept promising that he would have done anything to protect you.
"… he… he really said th-that…?" Grina's eyes were getting a bit watery.
Yes. At the same time, he wanted to make you think of happy thoughts and dreams… he would have paid millions, if that would had prevented you from being involved into this living nightmare. In the meantime, I was becoming an icon in the entertainment industry…
"AAAAAHH!" Grina's right fist hit her bed. "I KNEW IT! YOU CREATED THIS WHOLE STORY TO MAKE ME THINK"
Greta, don't assume things you don't know at all! In fact, at first I didn't even wanted to involve you in the studios!
Grina's mouth opened, as her eyes expanded.
I… I wanted to keep my family out of this business. I would hate to hear Paparazzi or some kind starting fake theories and bad rumors about me and my family! … meanwhile, your grandpa was trying to give you a hobby. He heard that the Turf War Station would had opened a new branch on the island… branch which never happened.
"N-no?!" Grina's irises shrunk. "How could I lived my young years without knowing this?! It feels stupid!"
Because it happened when you were very young… from there, your grandpa began talking about the Turf Wars, hoping to make you interested. When he saw that the Turf War Station abandoned the branch idea, he regretted talking about it to you… he was seeing you more and more attached to the whole idea of following your mother's steps, which was making him even more worried than before!
"Wait… is that the reason why mommy would go on a rant about my ambition?!" Grina jumped out from her bed.
Yes… she couldn't stand seeing your grandpa all that worried. At the time, as you remember, I was traveling around because of my job. If I was more present, I would had done the same… however, despite his worries, your grandpa preferred to see himself more interested into Turf Wars rather than making your little heart break.
"Noooo…" Grina's teeth gritted as her eyes were getting watery. "… h-he wanted me… to…"
He lied to you, Greta. He didn't know what to do, at that point… … that's when I step in, trying to give you the passion for acting. Little did I knew, you were a natural at this… and your grandpa was extremely pleased with the whole idea!
"Ggghh! Nnnn…" Grina's teeth gritted even more.
Especially when he looked at you, while you were in the tip of your young career… always smiling… always anxious to get on the stage and act with all your passion. He told me he was genuinely interested into your career… I'm sure you remember that he asked more questions about your career than about your Turf War skills.
"… that's why he seemed to talk more about my career and my acting…" Grina's head lowered, as her right fist clenched.
After a long time, me and your mother were more relaxed than usual… your grandpa was happy, you were happy. I was planning to give you a part for that movie… don't remember the name! Around that time… your grandpa would receive a call from a dear friend of his.
"A… friend?!" Grina's eyes expanded, as her irises shrunk, her mouth flattened and her gritting teeth exposed.
He was asking him a favor… and that favor was to testify in a trial against Project Neo. His friend said that if things were going well, the nightmare would have been expelled… your grandpa immediately accepted. Not really for his friend… he accepted because of you. He wanted you to live in full happiness, without having the slightest of the worries. Not even remotely… he was still afraid, albeit less than before, that Project Neo would have returned to torture him and the others he cared about.
Grina's face darkened.
He said to me and your mother that he would have gone alone with his car, since he didn't wanted Project Neo collaborators to identify us. Although, he was carrying a gun with him, just in case someone might indeed attack him… … when he was walking towards his friend's house… … I refrain myself from saying more. I think you wouldn't react well about this…
The smartphone was resting on the bed.
His friend was a witness who could never testify the truth… but he wasn't afraid to tell me about the facts. Then I reported back to your mother. … the culprit was one of the Project Neo collaborators, which his friend could recognize. I'm sure your grandpa did the same… … and that's what I know about the events. All of it.
Grina's head was on her knees, as her arms were hugging her legs.
… I'm sorry, Greta… this is mostly my fault. Your grandpa would have listened to me, if I said to him that going to testify was a bad idea! I should had insisted more… I could had saved him. The thoughts about finally defeat this nightmare were so strong, I agreed with his hasty choice without further questions!
"… dad…"
A right hand slowly picked up the smartphone.
Yes, Greta?
Her mouth was still for a moment.
"… I have to go."
My dear daughter… … I wish you good luck.
Grina's upper side of her face was covered into the darkness.
Oh, look at the time! The shootings are about to start! Greta, feel free to call me later on, ok?
"… ok." Greta stands up from the bed. "Bye…"
Bye bye!
Tuuuu…
Grina's right hand was grasping the smartphone: suddenly, she sprinted towards the door! She opened the door and rushed through the corridors. Some adult Inklings were walking through, either holding a business bag or saying words next to another adult Inkling. Grina passed them, as almost all the adults turned their sights over the girl.
Her feet stopped in front of a door.
Knock knock!
Step noises were coming from behind the door… as it opens, with Mirii standing still in front of the girl. Mirii frowned a bit.
"What are you doing"
Grina walked forward, pushing Mirii forward with her right hand and pushing the door backwards with her left hand. Mirii's irises shrunk, as her eyes opened.
"GRINA?!" She frowned a lot.
"My dad told me you called him…" Grina's eyes were covered in darkness.
"N-nnngghhh!" Sweat covered her forehead, as her teeth gritted. "W-well… I"
"Mirii… what are you doing, now?" The darkness faded, revealing Grina's eyes colored in red.
"Now…" Mirii's head turned to her right, as her left hand went over her left ear. "… I was ordering a new gadget from the Inknet."
"What about Project Neo?!" Grina's hands went on her hips, as her face frowned. "You don't have anything new to look for?!"
Mirii's head immediately turned forward, as her eyes expanded and her mouth opened.
"… your dad… he said something about Project Neo?!"
"… look at your face…" Grina's eyes squeezed a bit. "Thinking into snooping around others' own affairs… you disgust me, you know that?"
Mirii's irises shrunk.
"Just because things went well, it doesn't mean you can bash into others' as if you are the law. YOU ARE NOBODY TO DO THAT, DO YOU HEAR ME?!" Grina's arms folded. "NEXT TIME, I'LL SPREAD SOME SECRET OF YOURS IF YOU PULL THAT SHIP AGAIN!"
Mirii's throat swallowed silently.
"Grina…" Her eyebrows went up.
"No." Grina's head shook. "Let's not think about this, ok? I'm waiting for the next location to visit."
"… for now, I don't have a lead to follow." Mirii's head rose. "Except that area in space… but I still have to figure out how to open those automatic doors, as well as defeating that liquid-like creature lurking around. I don't think I would fight that monster with my bare hands… nor I want to run experiments in the open, since that creature might use a skill which would completely throw me out of guard."
"Then, I'll go there and do the kicking job!" Grina's right thumb went on her chest, as her eyebrows lowered down near her eyes. "I'll blast that door wide open with some explosive too, if that's what it takes! I will blast that creature too, if I'm seeing it blocking my way!"
"Grina, d-don't be so hasty!" Sweat jumped out from Mirii's head. "W-we cannot get out of the Headquarters just like that! I have nothing in my arsenal for covering our presence from the Agents, nor I possess any logical defenses to save the team from being kicked out from the organization!"
"You are talking, as if I want to stay in this dump…" Grina snorted. "… it's giving me a huge headache. It's almost making me kick those darn walls!"
"Grina, relax…" Mirii walked in front of the girl, as she sighed. "… I promise that we 4, not only will get out of this organization as soon as possible… but I will use everything necessary to see the project completely wiped out of its existence. Right after ordering my new gadget, I was thinking to search on the Inknet for more information about the project."
"… I'll do that, as well…" Grina turned behind. "… before I go…"
Mirii's head rose.
"… forgive my previous words, Mirii." Grina walked in front of the door. "I couldn't keep myself from exploding like this. I hope you will understand…"
Grina's right hand went over the door handle, pushing it down: the hand pulled the door, as the girl walked forward with her right hand grabbing the door handle staying on the side, which pulled the door towards herself.
Mirii's eyes were seeing the door closing, releasing a clicking noise.
"… could have I done better than this…?" Mirii turned behind. "Sticking my nose into others' affairs… is that the best I can do?"
Her feet walked towards a chair.
"With all my intelligence and gadgets… I can't help but feel that a better solution was always there, waiting to be chosen by me." Mirii's bottom sits on the chair. "… I have to remember this… sooner or later, I will be able to see that solution which I couldn't even imagine."
Her right hand went on a mouse device, her irises were pointed at a compilation of words and images depicting shoes, shirts, glasses…
"Hmm… those shoes could be useful for my case… they completely nullify any noises, thus I could run at full speed without my enemies noticing me. I'm going to buy those for now… I prefer keeping my money for other utilities, so I'm going to put those other ones on the wishlist…"
Mirii's right forefinger pressed on the mouse device's left button once. Her right hand slides the device to her right. Music began playing. Mirii's right hand hovered to the right, passing a notepad and landing on the smartphone. Her right hand picked it up, carrying it towards Mirii's face.
"… Tonna." Mirii's right thumb pressed on the smartphone screen, as her right hand went over her right ear. "Tonna?"
Hi Mirii! Just now, I received a new mission task for you 4 right now. Come here, please.
"Understood." Mirii's head rose. "I'll pick up Hunley, while you phone Grina and Bars."
Wait, why I should phone them as well? Couldn't you just
"Do you want the other Agents being aware that the Inkinators are on a mission?" Mirii frowned slightly, as she stands up.
Her feet took one sidestep to the right, as Mirii's left hand went over the mouse device, sliding it on a mouse pad depicting two mountains with the tip covered in snow and a forest below.
Ah, I see now! Ok ok, I'll do it… just don't be late. After the briefing is done, I have another one immediately after as well… I decided to hold the briefing inside my office, so I can already prepare the next one while I'm waiting for your arrival.
"Ok." Mirii nodded, as her irises were seeing the laptop screen turning black. "I'll get there with Hunley, as soon as possible. See you later, Tonna."
Bye.
Mirii's right thumb pushed the red circle on the lower-middle part of the smartphone's screen.
"… sigh… I really wanted to check that new smartphone trailer… I'm still thinking about changing this one, since I cannot install certain applications which I could really use."
Mirii stands up, turning to her left.
"I don't have enough time to think of another way to watch that trailer sooner…" She began walking forward. "… instead, I should begin warming-up mentally: I will need all my energy, if I want to deliver a perfect performance on the next mission."