Chapter 4: Departure

"Wasn't that just the sweetest thing you ever saw?" Marina asked, peering over the edge of Tentakeel Outpost to spy on the two best friends below on Slimeskin Garrison. She adjusted the focus on her binoculars to see the two closer up. Marina watched as Agents 4 and 5 sat down beside each other. Agent 5 began talking to Agent 4, but he didn't seem too happy. Maybe he was explaining where he had been?

"Quit spying on them. They need their privacy." Marie said, munching on a pineapple-free pizza slice in her shack. "I know what it's like to be reunited with a close one. Trust me, a lot of crying is involved. A lot."

"Aww, but look at them! The cutie and her friend look so… well, cute together!"

"Agent A, now isn't the time for matchmaking. Besides, Agent 4 already has a love interest."

Marina snapped her head towards Marie, who was still munching away.

"How would you know that? *gasp* Have you been stalking her?"

"No. She has Squinstagram."

"Ah. I see," Marina said before returning to her position on the floor. "Also, can you call us by our actual names?"

"Hmm?"

"Like, you keep calling Chloe Agent 4, and you address me as Agent A all the freaking time."

"Well, Agent A, while we're in Octo Canyon we should use these undercover names in case anyone's spying on us." Marie glared at Marina.

"Fine! I'll stop watching them!" she yelled. She threw her binoculars aside and grabbed a tub of ice-cream from her backpack. She sat down on the floor in front of Marie's bench. The two ate in a comfortable silence, the only sounds being the sounds of chewing, the wind, and, very faintly, Agent 5's voice from down below.

Eventually Marina finished her ice-cream and threw the tub over the edge of the floating outpost. She sat and stared blankly into space for a minute or two, before hearing a *BONK!* noise.

"OUCH! WHAT THE CARP!" Agent 5's voice could be heard from below. Marina barely held back a giggle.

"SORRY!" she yelled back. It wasn't long before a very angry Ryan super-jumped up to Tentakeel Outpost, with Chloe following after him. He landed with a THUMP, and immediately headed for the shack. Chloe tried to stop him, but she decided it was best if she just let him release all his built up anger.

"Which one of you threw that?!" Ryan furiously yelled, blowing his tentacle away from his eye.

"Uh, that would be me, sweetie," Marina grinned, raising her hand a little. Ryan stomped over to her and pointed between her eyes. Marina shrank in a bit of fear.

"What was that for? And who even are you?!"

Marie and Marina stared blankly at Ryan. "Uhh… what? You don't know who I am?"

Chloe spoke up. "Did you forget that he was missing for two years? He knows who you are, Agent 2, but he doesn't know *ahem* Marina is."

"Ah, then allow me to introduce myself," Marina happily exclaimed, grabbing something out of her backpack: a smartphone. She plugged in a pair of headphones, and before Ryan could even react Marina slipped them onto his head and turned on a song.

The faint sound of 'Ebb Flow' by Off the Hook played through the headphones. At first, Ryan just listened to the tune. But soon enough, a smile formed on his face. He started bobbing his head to the music.

"Hey, this is really good!" Ryan said to the madly grinning Marina. "Who's the other singer?"

"Oh, that's Pearl. She can spit lyrics like no other rapper!"

"Huh, neat," Ryan said, handing the headphones back to Marina. "I like your music. It's really good. BUT, you still hit me on the head. The same spot Chl- Agent 4 hit me. And that hurt. Don't think you can butter me up like that."

"Alright, fine. I'm sorry. Are ya happy now?"

"*sigh* yeah, whatevs. Is it fine if I crash in your… shack, thing, Agent 2?"

"Go ahead," Marie said, gesturing towards the bench.

"Thanks," Ryan said before falling asleep the moment he lay down.

"Welp, I guess the song got rid of all the anger that had built up over the years," Chloe said, sitting down on the floor in front of the bench. She found Marie's pizza and began eating a slice.

"Say, Agent 4, did he tell you where he had been for so long?" Marina asked, turning to face Chloe.

Chloe swallowed the pizza in her mouth. "Oh, he said he got stranded in Octo Valley after an accident in the middle of a Salmon Run, and the Octarians found him, brainwashed him and forced him to execute inklings."

Marie and Marina looked at her in shock and horror.

"That… that's fucked up," Marie said.

"Yeah, I know. I want to bring him justice. But that's not all… he said that when they finally let him go, he saw Agent 3.

"Agent 3! Really?" Marina asked.

"Yeah, you heard me. Apparently when they captured him, they had no more prison cells so they let Ryan out so he could take his place."

"Wait, so that means…" Marie gasped. 'Agent 3 is working for the Octarians? And against his will?"

"Bingo. Ryan told me that he was screaming for him to come save him. But… I don't really believe it."

"You don't believe Ryan?"

"No, I don't believe that Agent 3 would be crying out to Ryan for help. I mean, he wouldn't know that he's an agent, and I know that he only trusts agents himself. Unless…"

"Unless he already knew," Marie said in realisation. "What are you getting at?"

"I haven't deciphered this puzzle yet… but from the information Ryan gave me, I know there's more information, aside from the fact that Agent 3 was brainwashed. There has to be a bigger picture. Are we really hearing the truth? We can't leave any stones unturned; we've gotta go find more information. Marie, you were gonna send us on a stealth mission, right?"

Marie composed herself. "Yes, that is correct. Using Agent A's extensive knowledge of the Octarian base, your agility and Agent 5's impressive stealth, you three can find all the information you need. I'll communicate with you using this headset." She reached behind her and pulled out a pair of headphones similar to the agents'.

Suddenly, static came out of the speakers, which shocked everyone. It even woke up Ryan, who came to stand beside Chloe. The static continued, before a voice was heard.

"Agent 2, can you hear me?"

Marie gasped. "Agent 3! Is that you!"

"Yeah, it's me, now get over here, quickly! They're about to brainwash me! Listen up, this is incredibly important. I know what they're gonna make me do. They're gonna have me execute Inklings for them. And when you come for me, they're gonna send me out to fight you. It's all a trap, a setup. So if you do come, I need to say in advance… I'm sorry."

More static, then another voice. This one was raspy, and menacing.

"Aww, how touching. Too bad you agents will have trouble finding out if he's telling the truth. See ya later!~" and the transmission cut.

Agent 4 immediately pulled out her weapon. She began scanning the area around her.

Ryan spoke up. "Agent 4, what are you doi-"

The sounds of sloshes and an Octarian being splatted interrupted him. Chloe stood tall.

"They're spying on us. When that mysterious voice said we'd 'have trouble deciphering the truth', I knew he was listening to our previous conversation before calling. Listening through one of his spies."

"And if I know the boss, he'll keep spying on us 'till we do what he wants," Marina said. Chloe looked over her shoulder.

"You know that guy?"

"Not very well. He was my boss, I didn't know him by name."

"Well, there's only one thing we can do now.," Chloe said, pulling out the map of Octo Canyon. She navigated to Sector 5.

"What's that?"

Chloe tapped the screen and switched to squid form.

"It's octo-huntin' time."