Chapter 33

Later…

Alright, we're waiting next to Deca Tower. Now where are they…?

"Hey guys!" We heard a voice shout. "We're here!"

It was Sarah and Guyver.

"Hey guys-uh…" Something was off. "You two okay? You look…uh…thinner…"

"It's a long story that we don't feel like explaining." Guyver said.

"Wanting to lose weight is fine, but anorexia isn't." Sylvia said.

"We aren't anorexic." Sarah sighed. "We just…had a rough week."

"Remind me never to join the Splatoon…" I mumbled to Sylvia.

"Wait, how do you know about that?" Sarah heard me.

Carp!

"Uh…I-uh…Sylvia told me!" I admitted.

Sarah and Guyver then glared at Sylvia, who gasped at my betrayal.

"Well…he showed me his eyes!" Sylvia ratted me out.

They then looked at me, surprised.

"W-well, i-it was a mutual exchange of secrets!" I told them. "I'm in on your secret and she's in on mine. I won't tell anyone though. Promise!"

Sarah sighed and Guyver facepalmed.

"…I'd care more, but I just wanna relax." Sarah shrugged. "So…movie?"

"Movie!" Sylvia and I shouted in unison.

"Then it's settled." Guyver nodded. "…Hey, what happened to your arm?"

"Uh…burned it…" I replied.

"Got a little carried away with the Crust Bucket's fryers I'm guessing?" He guessed.

"Y-yeah." I lied. "Just don't talk to Sean about it…it was my fault for not being careful, but he still feels a little guilty…"

"So Tim's gonna be doing some other stuff for a while." Sylvia backed me up.

"Well, hope it heals soon." Guyver hoped. "Now…what movie to see?"

"Hey," Sarah was looking at my hip. "Is that a Fishing Lure?"

Okay, what is with this thing?

Meanwhile…

We finally arrived.

Inkopolis.

This…is a very big city…pretty crowded too…especially when compared to Cirrina…

I hope he didn't have too hard of a time when he first got here…

"So where does Tim live?" Stanley asked.

"I think he said it was Bream Pond Apartments." I remembered. "Oooh, I'll surprise him!"

"Well, I'll go find my children too." Stanley shrugged. "I know they live at Flounder Heights, so it shouldn't be too hard to find them."

"And you, Gerald?" I wondered.

"Erm…I'll just do my own thing for a bit until it's time fer the party." He decided. "Keep in-touch with yer phones, now."

We all nodded and went our separate ways.

1 Hour Later…

Alright, this should be the place.

Aw, my little Octim…

I knocked on the door.

After a few seconds, an Inkling boy opened the door.

"Hello," I waved. "I'm here to see my son?"

His eyes widened and he froze.

"Ben, close the door!" I heard a green-haired Inkling girl yell as out came…an Octotrooper?!

I grabbed it before it could leave. It's still pretty small, only a foot high…

Wait…

"Did Tim get a haircut?!" I demanded an answer.

"H-he left the parlor and then these things came to life and they followed me home!" An orange-haired Inkling girl shouted. "Why did they come to life?!"

"Do you know where our daddy is?" The Octotrooper asked.

"How many are there?" I asked.

"F-four total…" The Inkling boy said as he got up.

"Okay, I can handle this…" I sighed. "Now, is my boy here?"

They both got wide-eyed.

"He…doesn't live here anymore…" The boy admitted.

I gave them an icy-cold death stare.

"…Explain…" I ordered.

5 Minutes Later…

"I…cannot…believe you!" I really couldn't. "I trusted you with my baby boy and you almost let him starve to death, bribed and blackmailed him, tried to remove his goggles, and kicked him out!"

They all had guilty faces.

"Alright, so where does he live now?" I asked.

"I think he said he lives with his band friends." Ben told me. "Last time I saw him that is…"

"Oh, okay." That's a relief since he likes them. "And where do they live?"

They all fell silent.

I took a deep breath.

"Okay." I decided getting angry would be pointless. "You three are going to help me find him."

"What?" Andrea was surprised.

"We should." Ben agreed. "We haven't been good roommates. Probably best to help out and leave on good terms, right?"

"…Alright, Benny." Lisa nodded. "But what do we do with…these things?"

We all looked at the little Octotroopers.

"You have video games, right?" I asked.

"Yeah." Andrea nodded. "Brought some from home."

I had them stick the Octotroopers in front of a Squidbox and the little Inklings were surprised to see them sitting still and playing.

"That'll keep them busy all day." I told them. "Now come on."

They all followed me out of the place.

One Hour Later…Inkopolis Square

We decided to split up. I had Lisa go with Andrea while Ben went with me.

I don't get it…why isn't he answering my calls?

"This isn't working…" I sighed. "Where did you last see him, anyway?"

"Last time I saw him, I was helping him get some turntables and stuff." He told me.

"Turntables?" I was confused. "Why?"

"Apparently he wants to be a DJ." He shrugged.

"I said no DJs!" I couldn't believe it. "What else has he done behind my back?!"

"Maybe Crusty Sean knows." Ben suggested. "Tim works for him, right?"

"Tim works at Grizzco now." I told him. "Apparently it pays more."

"So you won't let him do ink battles, but you let him fight Salmonids?" What?

"Fight…Salmonids?" I was confused. "Tim said he collects eggs…"

"Yeah." He nodded. "Salmonid eggs."

"…What…?" I stood there, shocked.

His eyes widened too.

"I'm guessing…he didn't tell you that…?" He got nervous.

I had to process this…

I then noticed Gerald.

"Gerald!" I called out as I walked over. "You see Tim anywhere?"

I noticed he was talking to another old squid…Cuttlefish?! A-also an old Horseshoe Crab…Ammoses Shellendorf! And two squid girls before turning to see me.

"Ah, Amphia!" He was pleasantly surprised. "How's Timmy?"

"I'd like to know that myself!" I said. "He moved to a new apartment and I don't know where, he fights Salmonids apparently, and he won't answer my calls!"

"Who are we talking about?" The black-haired squid girl asked.

"My son Octim." I answered and showed her a picture.

"Hey, wasn't he on Sarah's Turf War team?" She asked the grey-haired squid girl.

"T-Turf…War…" I couldn't believe it. "My son…is playing Turf Wars?"

"Oh dear…" Gerald scratched his head.

I sat on the ground, rubbing my temples in frustration.

"What's wrong?" Grey girl asked.

"I told him SPECIFICALLY…No Ink Battles!" I shouted. "What else has he been doing behind my back?! Taking off his goggles in front of everyone?!"

"What do goggles have to do with anything?" Grey girl was more confused.

"Amphia," Gerald put a hand on my shoulder. "I know yer upset now, but maybe you can help these four. There's apparently a bad apple in Inkopolis and they could use all the help they can get. I'd go m'self, but I've got birthday stuff to schedule. We'll find him, don't worry."

"…Maybe…" I sighed. "But why would he blatantly disobey me like that? I don't understand…"

"Could be the years of being sheltered," Gerald guessed. "He got tired of bein' cooped up and started enjoying the full extent of the freedom he has, maybe it's the lack of a proper father figure in his life…or maybe it's just puberty. He should be hittin' that about now, right? Late bloomer maybe?"

I made a deep sigh.

"I'll just go…" I got back up. "I'll chew him out for this later…"

20 Minutes Later…Inkopolis Plaza…

"Geez, I kinda feel bad for this place…" The girl named Callie said. "And a liiittle creeped out by the ghost town vibes."

"Wait, this is where I last saw Tim." Ben said. "I helped him get his musical equipment in the old Ammo Knights."

Cuttlefish and Ammoses looked at him, then at me.

Wait, why would if this bad guy's in the Ammo Knights, why would Tim need musical equipment there?

I pushed my way into the store and the others followed.

I then shoved the training room door opened and saw…

Oh Octo…

Him…?

Why is he here?!

He turned and noticed me.

"Ah, Amphia!" Octavio looked pleasantly surprised. "Glad you've finally come back…"