Chapter 24

The Next Day…

"And that's what all the buttons and switches do." Octavio pointed out. "Now, practicing with 'em is the tricky part. I suggest taking one of these home and practicing on your own from time-to-time."

"Right." I nodded.

"Hmmm…" He was thinking. "Also, I suggest getting a computer and figurin' out the Splatnet. You can find tons of material to work with online."

I nodded again.

"…Well…now that that's outta the way…" He looked at me. "Time to educate ya on yo history, boy!"

"I already know about the Great Turf War…" I reminded him.

"I mean, after that." He said. "You know 'bout the power crisis, and the Zapfish, but ya gotta learn how we've held up all those years. How we've done whatever we could to survive."

"That…" I thought about it. "That actually sounds like a good idea."

"Great!" He cheered. "Now let's get started!"

He then spent about an hour telling me about some Octarian history. It was boring and interesting at the same time. He then started telling me how a bit of their technology works.

"Wait, so you control a giant floating robot with your music?" My eyes widened. "How does that even work?"

"Controls are a bit awkward at first, but ya get used to 'em very quickly!" He told me. "It's like motion controls, but better!"

"…That's awesome!" I cheered.

"Yeah, it is!" He agreed. "Play yo cards right, and maybe you'll get to pilot it someday…"

Woah…he'd let me?

I hope I do…

"So…can we try out some music?" I asked.

"Sure." He agreed. "I'll show ya some of what I got…just watch and learn…"

He then proceeded to scratch some records, turn on a beat, and play…I don't know what, but it sounded good.

"So, how was that?" He asked.

"Awesome…" I couldn't lie. "Looks like I made the right choice after all."

"Heh…good ya got workin' ears." He said, crossing his arms. "Now, your homework is to get a computer, figure out how to work it, and we'll work out some remixing programs."

I gave a determined nod.

"For now though…" He sat down. "…I'm curious…how was life in the Countryside?"

Weird thing to suddenly ask…oh well…

I sat next to him.

"Well, it was much quieter than the city." I said. "It has a nice view, especially at sunset. I remember playing by myself by the creek while mom kept an eye on me."

"She do that a lot?" He asked.

"Yeah, to keep me safe…or so she said…I don't know…" I replied. "I think she just didn't trust anyone. I was actually scared to go near anyone for the longest time. It wasn't until fairly recently that I could go to the market by myself. I still didn't talk to anyone there though…was too afraid to do so, and mom would chase them off."

"Wait, so she raised you all by herself?" He raised an eyebrow.

"No." I answered. "She had Gramps to help."

"Gramps?" He looked confused.

"His name's Gerald Ligo. He's not my real gramps…surrogate maybe?" I explained. "He apparently fought in the war back in the day and used some of his retirement money to make sure we didn't starve."

"Ligo…That name's familiar…" He said.

"He's Sarah's grandpa." I told him. "Though I didn't find that out until right before I left."

"Ah, so she's involved…" He stroked where his chin would be.

"Do…do you always stay in Octopus form? I asked.

"Most of the time, yes." He answered.

"Why?" I wondered.

"Many reasons, partially for style." He told me. "I play concerts. I gotta appeal to different generations. I mean, what kid would wanna see some old geezer on-stage?"

I guess that makes sense…

"…What about you?" He asked. "You wear those goggles all the time?"

"Yeah…" I nodded my head. "Mom never wanted people to see my eyes. Not Inklings, not even Octolings."

"Makes sense…" I heard him mumble. "But that Inkling girl…Sylvia…she's seen 'em."

"A few people have." I admitted. "Sylvia has, George and his sisters have, my former roommate Ben has, a-and this one other guy too, but…I don't want to talk about that…"

"What happened?" He was curious.

"I-I…don't wanna talk about it…" I said again.

I held my arms, which started shaking now.

"…Hm…" He seemed in-thought. "Well, I say keep up the goggles thing on the outside."

"I was planning on it anyway." I shrugged. "I scared off some Inklings that were bullying some Octolings with this…Kraken ability…and the Octolings ran off when they saw me."

"Huh…so that's why they thought-yeah, try to limit your use of that." He told me. "…So those yer mama's goggles?"

"They were my dad's." I told him. "They're all we have of him."

"…Can I see 'em?" He surprisingly asked.

"…Sure…" I handed them over.

He looked at them, seemingly in-thought for about a minute before handing them back.

"Yo mama took good care of 'em." He said. "That's an old model and it still has its night vision, and-"

"IT HAS NIGHT VISION?!" I was surprised to hear.

"Uh…yeah…" He seemed surprised by my surprise. "It also has infrared, X-ray, and a built-in UV light."

"How do I use those?" I needed to know.

"Tap the right side to switch visions." He told me. "And if ya have a connection, holding down the left side activates communications."

I immediately started using the different vision types.

"Woah…" I was in awe. "I can see the Shellendorfs in the other room! All this time, I never knew this was here!"

"Troops had a tendency to forget about that too." He shrugged. "We actually dropped most of the different visions in the newer models to cut costs."

Wait…he mentioned communications…

I held down the left side.

"Woah!" I was in awe again. "I can add all my friends' numbers here!"

"Go for it." He encouraged me. "They're technically yours now, so go nuts. They have to be charged every now and then, but it should work with any extension cord."

I then checked the time.

"Well, thanks for the help, Octavio!" I shook his tentacle. "I'm gonna go…buy a computer now."

"A'ight." He nodded his head. "See ya tomorrow."

I walked out of the old Booyah Base, adding my friends' numbers to the goggles.

"Tim!" A familiar voice called out.

I stopped to notice it was Ivan.

"Oh, hi Ivan!" I waved. "What're you doing here?"

"Long story short, framed for a crime." He told me. "Trying to lay low until things quiet down with the rubber duck society. Got any ideas?"

What...?

"Well, there's the Ammo Knights training room if you'd like a roommate." I pointed in the direction. "Just don't tell anyone he's there."

"Oh, the place where couples make out?" He looked over. "Sure, why not?"

Not sure what that meant, but okay.

He walked over to the Ammo Knights.

Well, time to buy a computer. I think I'll get a laptop. That sounds nice.