Chapter 30

Days Later…

I returned to the old Ammo Knights backroom. I found the DJ, Ivan, and Sylvia all there already. It seemed Octavio just got done playing a song.

"Hey guys!" I waved. "What's going on?"

Sylvia then turned to me. I noticed she wasn't in her usual Ghillie suit, but a Camo Zip Hoodie and a Camo Mesh hat.

"…Oh, hi Tim!" She waved. "Not much. Ivan's just chilling out here and Octavio wanted me to listen to some songs he's been working on."

"Oh really?" I looked at Octavio. "What genre?"

"Oh, it's da newest, hottest thing in Octaronica!" Octavio told me. "Heh heh…the Inklings'll love it!"

"Broadening your fanbase, huh?" I guessed. "Well, glad you have someone to help you."

"Oh, she's bein' a big help." Octavio remarked.

"So is the ducky club still looking for me?" Ivan asked.

"I…what…?" I tilted my head. "N-no, I don't think so…I never heard of anyone looking for you."

"Oh, cool!" Ivan got up. "Because my friends and I are supposed to play Oubliettes and Omuras this weekend and I don't want to miss that!"

"Seriously?" Octavio glared at him.

"What?" Ivan shrugged.

Octavio just shook his head as if he was disappointed. Must not like table-top games...

"Oh, smile for the camera!" Octavio raised the phone.

"Oh, cheese!" I grinned.

A slash took my picture.

"Good. Good." Octavio typed on the phone. "So what're ya plannin' fer later?"

"I'm going a party." I told him.

"Oh, can I come?!" Sylvia asked.

"I'll ask Sheryl." I told her. "For now though, what do I learn today?"

"Honestly, I'm runnin' outta things to teach ya." Ocvtavio said. "Yer learnin' so fast."

"But you're planning something big tomorrow, I'm sure." I guessed. "Right?"

"Yer birthday?" He raised an eyerow. "Oh, I've got somethin' very special planned. You'll see…"

"So Sylvia." I turned to her. "Wanna do some Salmon runs?"

"Sure!" She agreed.

"Hey, just come back later, girl!" Octavio said while scratching a disk. "I need ma test audience!"

"Why don't you use Ivan?" I wondered.

"Because he's not-uh…fresh enough…" He replied.

Ivan then looked at him with an offended expression.

"I will." Sylvia assured him.

Hours Later…

After a few shifts with Nina and some deadpan squid girl in a Tentatek hat, we returned to my apartment to find George and his sisters packing their instruments in a van with Stuhf helping them.

"Alright…" George said. "That's about everything…oh, hey little man! Whatcha up to?"

"You going to the party?" I asked.

"Yeah." He nodded his head. "We'll be out all night, so sorry if you wanted to hang out."

"Sheryl said I could come." I told him.

He then glared at Sheryl.

"I gave him rules!" Sheryl defended herself. "Plus, he told me he's never been to a party before!"

"…Fine…" George agreed. "But it'll be a little cramped on the ride there."

"That's fine." I shrugged. "DJ said Octarians are good at making room."

"Well, get in then." George opened the door.

"Come on, Sylvia!" I said as I hopped in.

Sylvia took a seat too. Stuhf went in after us.

"Oh, she's coming too?" George asked, surprised. "Well, now it's really going to be cramped."

"I have an idea!" Sheryl shouted as she jumped onto Stuhf. "I'll sit on his lap!"

George just rolled his eyes and closed the door. He and Carol then took the two front seats.

"So…" Sheryl turned to face Stuhf. "What's with those white rings on your spikes?"

"It means they're poisonous." He answered. "Be careful now…"

"So you're deadly, huh?" Sheryl asked. "You know, I think I'll take that risk..."

Eeewww, now they're kissing…

Twenty Minutes Later…

We arrived at the place. It seemed like whoever was hosting the place rented the whole building.

"So whose party is it?" I asked.

"Pearl's." Carol answered. "She just felt like having a party."

"Oh, I know her!" I told her.

"You do?" George asked, surprised.

"Yeah!" I nodded my head. "Guyver got Marina to teach me some DJ stuff!"

"He wasn't kidding?!" George was shocked now.

"Hey, where do you want this?" Stuhf asked, lifting a drum.

"Just a sec!" George called out before facing me and Sylvia. "Alright, so what rules did Sheryl set for you?"

"Only drink water, soda cans, and punch we know is okay, and stay in areas with lots of people." I told him.

"Good." He nodded his head. "Now you'll follow us in, have fun, and try to stay out of trouble."

We nodded our heads and followed them in.

Inside was…pretty loud. There were a ton of people there and there was loud music being played by another act. It didn't take long for my friends to have their stuff set up.

"Alright, we play in an hour, so for now we can have a little fun for now." George told his sisters.

He then turned to us.

"Now there are several dance floors," He pointed them out. "Game rooms, snack bars, and movie rooms, so take your pick. Stick together as best as you can, especially if you want to leave early. For now, the rest of us will find something to-aaand Sheryl and Stuhf are already gone."

"Well, I'm sure they're off having fun." I shrugged.

"Yeah…well, see ya." George waved. "I'm gonna get something to drink."

"Hm…I'm gonna try out one of those game rooms." Sylvia said. "You?"

"I'll see if Pearl wants to say hi." I told her.

We did a high five and went our separate ways.

This place is huge though…where would I even find-and there she is. Sitting on one of the couches. She seemed to be talking to a grey-haired squid girl in a green outfit.

"Hey Pearl!" I shouted as I ran over.

"Hm?" She looked over and recognized me. "Hey man! What're you doing here?"

"My friends are playing later." I told her.

"Wait, let me guess…" Pearl took a moment. "Name Pending? I'm let'n some small local bands have a chance in the spotlight here and that's the one after this one, so…"

I nodded my head.

"Oh, this is Marie!" She introduced me to her friend. "Y'know, from the Squid Sisters!"

"…Squid…Sisters…" I took a moment. "O-oh yeah! I listened to one of their songs once!"

The calm smile on Marie's face dropped.

"You've…heard of us…right?" Marie asked.

"Not until this week, no." I shook my head. "You famous?"

"Are you for eel?!" Marie had a face of pure disbelief.

"Ba-hahaha!" Pearl laughed. "He knew about us before comin' here! Watch out, Marie…we're stealing your potential fans!"

"I hope this doesn't mean we'll be has-beens soon…" Marie groaned.

"Hey, you seem familiar…" I noticed. "Have we met before now?"

"Um…not that I remember…" Marie thought about it. "So how do you know Pearl?"

"Marie, this is Reena's little protégé!" Pearl told her. "Made a song all by himself the other day!"

"Impressive…" Marie did a half-smile.

"Oh, where's Marina?" I wondered.

"She's busy." Pearl said. "She's helping Marie's cousin and friends with some stuff. Oh, I'm gonna get some more punch. BRB!"

Pearl than got up and left.

"…So…which settlement are you from?" Marie seemed genuinely curious.

"Cirrina Countryside." I answered, taking a seat.

She then looked confused.

"I meant Octarian settlement." She clarified. "You from the Canyon? The Valley?"

"Never been to either of those places." I replied. "I grew up in Cirrina."

"That's…unusual…" Marie remarked. "Buuuut it does explain how you've never heard of us. I've met someone from there who hadn't heard of me before coming here. I guess lack of culture is rampant there."

"Is it Sarah?" I guessed.

"H-how'd you know?!" Marie looked surprised.

"I know Sarah and she's from Cirrina, so I just guessed." I shrugged.

"Oh…" Marie said, a bit embarrassed.

"So you know Sarah?" I leaned forward. "Do you know where she and Guyver have been lately?"

"Um…I…do know Sarah…and Guyver." She admitted. "They're…um…helping us with some stuff."

"Well, I hope they're back tomorrow." I said, leaning back. "Can't have them miss my birthday."

"If I get the chance, I'll tell them." She told me. "Promise.

"Thanks." I grinned.

"So, who are your band friends, anyway?" She asked.

"Oh, here they are!" I showed her a picture on my phone. "The girl with the tied up hair is Carol, the girl with the long hair to the side is Sheryl, and the guy with the spiky hair is George."

"Hey, I've seen him before." Marie recognized him.

"You do?" I then remembered. "Oh yeah, he did mention face-planting during a stage dive at a music competition you judged at."

"No, from-wait…" Marie was remembering. "That was him?! Oh wow…I remember now…the people in the audience were jerks that day."

She then looked at her phone.

"Well, I have to go." She got up. "If we see each other again, I'll help you become more cultured."

"Aw, but wouldn't you like to see my friends play?" I whined. "George is a big Squid Sisters fan."

"I'd love to, kid. Trust me, I would." She assured me. "But this is important."

I nodded my head and she left.

…I guess I'll go find Sylvia in one of the game rooms. George did tell us to stay together…and we split up immediately…I've become worse at doing what people say lately...