I came out of the store defeated.
Lucas walked up too me, he didn't say a word, he just held me.
We went to the metro station. I was still feeling down. Lucas was just holding me; a lot of people gave us strange looks. Eventually I was able to speak.
"I blew, i just know it. I couldn't answer any of the questions, the ones i did answer were absolute nonsense, i made a fool out of myself"
"Its okay, its okay, I know, just, calm down, what's done is done."
"But, how am I supposed to help pay for rent, I need a job, without one, you won't be able to pay for both apartments anymore" I said, still sniffling.
"Don't worry about that, come on, I know how to calm you down"
We were on the metro for half an hour, I didn't move the entire time, I wasn't usually one who would be hit so hard by something like this, but it just felt personal. Jelfonzo had been very nice about it, but I felt like I just needed to be able to contribute. Eventually I felt the train slow down. I looked out the window. I saw small, traditional houses. In the distance, I could see a dock, and further on the ocean. to the east was a large temple like structure that looked to be under construction
"Where are we, I asked, still fixated to the window."
"This is home of Skipper Pavilion, the town of Coral Bay. Its where I come to when I'm feeling down. Come on, I know an amazing place where we can eat"
"Ha-ha, did he really? What did you say?" I said, trying to hold back laughter as we walked down the deserted street. The sun was beginning to lower in the sky, tinting it orange.
He did, I told him if he didn't believe me, he could go volunteer as a target, he should have nothing to worry about if he was correct. The idiot tried to have me fired after that because the upgraded tenta-missles worked perfectly as planned. He got hit by every single one. Fortunately, Sheldon took my side."
"People" I said, slowly shaking my head and smiling. "Listen, I want to thank you, you've taken my day and turned it around"
"Oh, its nothing, besides, I'm sure you'll find another opportunity."
"And if you don't, i can always just abandon you" he said with a huge grin plastered across his face.
Oh you, i stood on my toes and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
We walked in silence after that, just enjoying each others company. Eventually we found a bench near some market stalls. they had closed for the day and the street lamps were just flickering on. we were enjoying the peace and quiet. when suddenly we heard a voice
"Look what he have hear"
We spun around, an inkling with a blaster emerged from the darkness of an alley, his face was covered by a skull mask. By now it was almost twilight, the shadows of his eyes were long and deep.
"Is that a brother and his sister?" spoke another voice from behind a different stall, another inkling with the same mask, he was holding a pair of splat dualies.
"And aren't they just so cute together" another one, a splattershot.
There were three of them, we looked at each other and stood up from the bench and began backing up slowly
"We were just leaving" muttered my brother
I felt an arm around my neck, then a muzzle against my head.
"I would hate it if something were to happen to such a cute family," came the voice from behind me. "Don't you guys think?"
I was terrified. The cold metal of the weapon was pressed against my ear. the inklings arm was crushing my throat
"Help, Lucas! Let go of me."
"Hey, hey guys, please, I have money, you want money? Take it, just leave us." Lucas pleaded, he reached into his pocket and took out his wallet.
"We don't want money, do we boys? We have enough already"
They laughed and shook their heads
"No, we want her"
"Lucas's eyes widened, no, I will not allow it." He drew his N-Zap from his coat and pointed it at the man holding me.
"Aww, look at that, your big brother wants to protect you." He leered into my ear.
The inkling with the blaster smacked Lucas on the head with the barrel.
"No! someone, help! Please, don't hurt him, I'll do what you want" I was crying. The blaster guy stood near Lucas with the barrel pointed down at him, the other two slowly began walking towards me. the guy holding me pushed me onto the ground, they tore my jacket off. I was sobbing now. All i could do was look at Lucas helplessly as the inkling began kicking him.
"Please don't, I closed my eyes."
"Get. Back. Now." Growled a deep voice from behind me.
I opened my eyes and spun around on the ground. At the end of the street stood a figure.
The inklings assaulting me looked up, momentarily distracted. I tried to wiggle away.
"Keep away from us, if you know what's good for you, you'll not disturb us"
They turned back and saw me trying to escape, they dragged me back and tore my shirt, one of my pant legs ripped off as well. I screamed. I cried, then I was silent, resigned to my fate. I lay still. Then I heard it. the telltale whine of a hydra splatling charging.
The inklings froze. They stopped focusing on me and redrew their weapons.
"Last. Chance."
"You must not be from around here, see, we own these streets. You can't take us, there's four of us and one of you"
"You are correct, I'm not from around here, and there are four of you, but that doesn't change your fate."
There was silence. Then, the roar of the splatling. I closed my eyes. When the noise stopped there were three piles of ink where my assailants had stood. I was then yanked off the ground by the inkling with the blaster. The hand was trembling. The figure began walking towards us. I could now see him clearly. An octoling, his red eyes glinting in the last slivers of sunlight. His jaw set with grim determination. He was wearing a north country parka and an old captains' hat with a strange logo on it.
"I'm warning you, stay back." yelled the inkling with the blaster, now pointing his weapon from me to the approaching octoling
His voice was quivering. The octoling walked straight up to us and punched the inkling in the face, a few centimeters from my head. The inkling collapsed. I sank to my knees. The octoling walked over and set his hydra splatling on the inklings chest before catching me from falling to the ground, he laid me down gently.
"What's your name?" he asked, his tone much softer and gentler than before.
"Cynthia" I stuttered, my eyes suddenly widened, "where is Lucas"
I sprang up and ran to his body, he was just coming to when I got to him. He sat up quickly.
"Where is she, don't hurt her!" Lucas shouted.
"It's fine, I'm here" I frantically tried reassuring him.
"What happened, you were about to be…"
"I know, I know, but then this octoling here saved me" I said pointing at him, he was standing by watching us embrace.
"Oh thank Cod. You saved her. I cannot begin to describe how thankful I am for your intervention Mis…ter…" Lucas began
"Its Captain, actually. Captain Kyuzane Nori of Grizzco. Industries, but you can just call me Zane for short, or Captain for that matter..."
"Thank you so much, we owe you our lives. If it weren't for you those scoundrels would have had their way with my sister."
"It was a pleasure" said Zane as he took off his hat and made a small bow. "Speaking of scoundrels…"
Zane turned towards the inkling with the blaster, currently trying to worm his way out from underneath the immense weight of the splatling, his fingers searching for his lost weapon.
"What are we going to do with you" sighed Zane as he squatted down to look at him. "What do you say friends, should he be allowed to live."
The inkling looked fearfully from Zane to us.
"Yes, let him go, I think he understands the consequences of his actions." I said calmly, the answer, in fact, surprised me. It also surprised Lucas judging from the way we looked at me.
"Well put miss, this boy here did not attempt to rape you, I can see you have a good heart. You do not hold a grudge"
Zane took the splatling off his body and the inkling stood up, "thank you, thank you, thank you." The boy stuttered.
"Well he hit me unconscious" said Lucas quietly, rubbing the back of his head.
"Fair point," said the captain, spinning around and knocking the boy out in a single punch.
"Now let's get you two someplace warm shall we" said Zane as he shook his hand out after delivering the mighty blow. "Might want to put something on their miss."
"Oh, right!" I exclaimed, clutching my chest just as my bra began slipping down.
"Here" said Lucas, handing me his sweater. I put it on. I stood on my toes and kissed him on the cheek
"Thanks for standing up for me"
"No problem, although much use it did, I was knocked out cold in a couple of seconds, you'll have to teach me some moves there Captain"
We looked over to where Zane was standing, he had a telescope out and was looking down the street towards the shore.
"Everything all right, I asked" setting my hand on his shoulder.
"Oh Cod" he muttered, lowering the eyeglass.
He looked over at me. His face was grim, his skin pale.
He took out a radio from his pocket and began shouting into it.
"Sound the alarm! To the docks, get the cannons online!"
He hefted his splatling onto his shoulder before quickly yelling to us. "Quick, grab one of their weapons"
He gestured to the weapons of our now fallen assailants.
"What's going on!" I screamed as I picked up the Blaster.
"Well I hate to put you kids at risk so quickly after such a traumatic event but it seems I have no choice. Those beasts tick to their own clock." yelled Zane as he pulled the brim of his cap down on his head.
"To the docks!" was what I think he said as he sprinted off down the street.
Lucas and I followed quickly behind. An ear-splitting siren began wailing through the town as we ran. People from all over the port were rushing now down to the docks as well. In the distance, I saw a ship begin to turn and its horn could be heard for miles around.
"Bring her to port now! Get those cannons ready! Set system to orange!"
Zane was still yelling commands into his Radio. Further down I could see the dark, twilight water stirring and bubbling. The sun just barely glinting over the horizon.
"What's going on!" we both yelled at Zane in unison.
He stopped talking in his radio and looked at us.
"Salmon Run."
. . . .
How about that! dramatic change from the first chapter eh? I love the idea that salmon runs are a big enough problem they have sirens for them, kinda like for tornadoes, so that's where that came from
This new character Zane is going to have an important role in the coming chapters. He's a bit gruff but kind at heart, he treats his crew with kindness, and who knows, he may be getting a new addition
BTW, ages are as follows, Cynthia: 19, Lucas: 24, Captain Kyuzane: 32, just for reference
Also, I mentioned previously that there were some changes to the story, read the first chapter if you are getting confused.
Stay tuned for the next chapter, might not happen till next week, but tell me what you think so far.
Au Revoir