Chapter 2: Welcome to Deepsea Metro

As Owen and Cap'n Cuttlefish walk down the path, they come across a remote test facility.

"What in the devilfish is this place?! Proceed with caution… Owen," said Cap'n Cuttlefish.

"Yes, Cap'n. It looks like a test facility for weaponry," said Owen.

"You're a smart cookie. Are you?"

"Yes."

"Hey! That's an Octarian vault! You need a key to open it. Being an Octarian and all… you sure this place doesn't look familiar?"

"Yes, affirmative."

Then Owen gets on a rail, and it takes her to a room; full of strange boxes. When she stands on a platform, it gave her a Splattershot Jr. & Splat Bombs.

"Booyah! That contraption back there gave you a weapon," said Cap'n Cuttlefish.

As Owen blows some of the boxes and crates in the room to find the key, Cap'n Cuttlefish said, "It doesn't seem like any other Octarians are here… This place must be abandoned."

When she reached the highest floor in the room, she found the key and said, "key secured! Now to unlock that vault!"

When she went back to the platform, it took her weapon, and as she climbs back to Cuttlefish, he said, "that contraption stole your weapon back! Buncha hooey if you ask me!"

When Owen unlocks the vault, Cap'n Cuttlefish said, "this looks a little sketchy, but… You're gonna have to check it out."

"We better get going if we want to escape," said Owen, walks down the path with Cuttlefish.

As they were walking, they come across the Deepsea Metro Central Station, and Cap'n Cuttlefish said, "Well, we found a way out…."

But when they stopped, he said, "sort of… Uh…"

"This place stinks. Smells like raw material down here," said Owen, covering her nose.

"Nope, that wasn't me! AAAH! That noise! There's a bomb countdown!"

"Oldtimer…. It's that phone ringing over there."

They see an old telephone ringing. Owen runs to it, and Cuttlefish walks towards it.

"It's a Box Phone that people used back in the 20th century. This place more than a century-year-old. I wonder if it still works," said Owen, examining the phone.

"I don't know, Ms. Owen. I don't trust a phone that looks like a face," said Cuttlefish.

When Owen makes the Telephone stop ringing, the Telephone said, "[SEARCHING FOR USER ID…] [USER 10008 CONFIRMED] Greetings, 10,0008. Your current location is Deepsea Metro Central Station."

"Well: steam me, side me with melted butter and call me a crab! A talking phone," said Cap'n Cuttlefish, surprised.

"You can talk by yourself?! You'll worth a fortune," said Owen, impressed.

"My primary function is to facilitate your journey to the promised land. Pleased to make your acquaintance. [ASSESSING COMMUNICATION EFFICIENCY…] [EFFICIENCY: 12.42%] [ENABLING CONTEMPORARY SPEECH MODE] What is cracking, home skillet? Let us bounce to the promised land fo sho. I am bout it, so listen while I [SLANG_NOT_FOUND] you the facts," said the Telephone.

"What's he saying? I don't speak phone," said Cap'n Cuttlefish.

"He saying that he'll give us the facts about the promised land," said Owen.

"I think the promised land he speaks of is Inkopolis."

"You have spent your life in the dark. Your eyes are closed to the new hotness that awaits. The promised land. A utopia of light beyond your wildest dreams. It is all that and a bag of cool beans. I will you to the promised land now," said the Telephone.

"Really," said Cap'n Cuttlefish, happily.

"NOT! HA HA HA. Psyche out."

"WHAT?! WHY I OTTA!"

Cap'n Cuttlefish tries to attack the Telephone, but Owen keeps him from harming it.

While she's stopping him, the Telephone said, "only cats who have proven themselves can [ERROR] the promised land. Do you dig, dog?"

"He is talking about Judd the Cat and Li'l Judd," said Cuttlefish.

"I don't think that's what he meant," said Owen.

"There have been 10,007 applicants so far, which makes you applicant 10,008. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, you. Good luck and [SLANG_NOT_FOUND]. This is Deepsea Metro Central Station, the realio dealio central hub of the facility. Here are your CQ-80 and CQ card. They are so bad," said the Telephone.

When the Telephones spits out the CQ-80 and CQ card, he said, "guard them with your lizzife, because if you lose them, you will be [ERROR]. Now come on, ride the train. Outie 5000."

"Applicant 10,0008, eh? That's a beakful. I think I'll call you Agent 8. If that's ok with you, Ms. Owen," said Cap'n Cuttlefish.

"Well…. Octo = 8. I can roll with it," said Owen.

"Very well. This "promised land" must be the surface. I wonder how deep underground we are…."

"Judging the atmosphere of this place, it's stench and times it with how old this place is…. We're 13,443 kilometers away from the surface. We're in the mantle section of our world. It's a good thing that we're not near the inner or outer core. But the mantle is made of magma; this place must be all magma-proof. The builders might make the place out of nickel alloys, iron, tungsten, molybdenum…."

"Ok, ok! I get it! There's no time to waste! You must have a brain filled with 1000 brains of geniuses."

"Having a super gifted brain is both a blessing and a curse."

"C'mon, Agent 8! Grab those new dealie-dos and get moving!"

"Aye aye, Cap'n!"

As Owen picks them up, a subway train comes to their station and stops.

"All aboard! Let's take a ride, Agent 8," said Cap'n Cuttlefish walks in the train with Owen.

When the train carries them, Cap'n Cuttlefish sat down while Owen holds onto the bars.

"I'm pooped, Agent 8. Gonna rest my cuttlebones here for a bit," said Cuttlefish.

"You should. Every senior citizen must have their 45 to 70 minutes of rest requirement," said Owen.

When C.Q. Cumber walks into their car, he said, "thank you for using Deepsea Metro today. I am your humble conductor, C.Q. Cumber."

When Owen and Cuttlefish saw and heard him, Cuttlefish said, "you gotta be squiddin' me! A talkin' sea slug?!"

"Pardon me? I take it this is your first time riding with us…."

"Cap'n, it's Actinopyga echinites. And what a fine and attractive specimen it is! Judging its appearance and high masculine voice, it's a male," said Owen, correcting him while picking Cumber up and adoring his cuteness.

"Oh! Thank you, kind ma'am," said C.Q. Cumber, flattered and blushed by Owen's words.

"I'm sorry, Agent 8. But what is he again," said Cap'n.

"He's a cerulean blue Actinopyga echinites. Or better now in English: a sea cucumber," said Owen, putting Cumber down.

"Here's the deal… We're in a vast underground facility operated by the Kamabo Corporation… it's a series of test chambers connected by the Deepsea Metro subway system. I see that you have a CQ-80 device. I take it your aim to reach the promised land," said C.Q. Cumber.

"That's right! We want out of here," said Cap'n Cuttlefish.

"Understood. The promised land is a paradise to which we denizens of the depths are forbidden entry. To reach it, you must pass a test at each Deepsea Metro station. You must also find and collect the four thangs. When all four thangs have been gathered, the door to the promised land shall open."

"That's awful. Such unique species from the underground derives a chance to encounter the surface," said Owen, saddened by what she heard.

"So all we gotta do is pass some tests and find some thangs, and we can go home," said Cuttlefish.

"I believe so… Let me show you to your first test, ma'am," C.Q. Cumber.

At the Octarian Weaponry Room: Research Lab Section, Elliott enters a room filled with chemicals, tables, computers, shelves filled with documents, analyzing scanners, and microscopes. There was no one in there.

When Elliott puts on a lab coat, he said, "no wonder nobody works here. We Octarian never research anything. But I'm glad I'm the only one who can work here. I can do anything to find Owen."

When he goes to the computer, he looks up Squidbeak Splatoon.

When it popped up, he said, "interesting… so they were the group defeated us in the Great Turf War. Here it is! Members… Cap'n Craig Cuttlefish…. His profile has a lot about him that Octarians uncovered. He also had twins: a daughter and a son… Ammoses Shellendorf…. I heard of him. He is one smart horseshoe crab. He has a great taste for weaponry designing. Shamefully, he died a few years ago… Judd? The Cat? …. How was he part of that group…."

When he pulls up the Current members, he said, "yes…. exactly what I need…. The Cap'n is still alive? He must be the older man that was kidnapped by that being that token Owen…. Agent 1 & 2…. The Squid Sisters are in the group?! …. That's amazing; which makes sense because they're granddaughters of the Cap'n…. Agent 3…. Hm? There's nothing much about her except her identity. Her name is Terry. She must be the one who got kidnapped too…. She's cool-looking, actually. What's this, Agent 3.5? Taylor? He must be her boyfriend…. Agent 4…Chris…. She must be a newbie to the group. She quite toughie…. But whoever kidnapped Cap'n Cuttlefish and Agent 3 must be their enemy and owner of the ink I found at the scene of the crime."

As he writes down the info in his notebook, the whistles blow, and he said, "must be quitting time. I better get going."

Back with Owen, Cap'n Cuttlefish, and C.Q. Cumber, Owen said, "let me get this straight. Using my CQ-80 device, I can use the map screen of the Deepsea Metro, and I can select any destination on the screen. Even the train is far from it; you will take me there, no matter what?"

"Correct, Miss," said C.Q. Cumber.

"Ok, my first destination will be A05: Fake Plastic Station."

"Very good departing for the first test."

At the Octarian Palace…. The palace looks like Kumamoto Castle except for its Octarian theme. DJ Octavio is in front of a tall narrow golden door with a sign that says Octavius's room.

DJ Octavio knocked on the door and said, "Octavius! Are you in there?"

"Yes…. What do you want…. King Octavio," said a male voice.

"Octavius…. It's time for lunch. The chef prepared you with your favorite dish."

"King Carb with sides of melted butter and rolls?"

"Yes."

An Octoling opened the door. The Octoling is dress-up in Japanese traditional Prince Emperor Kimono Clothes. But instead of black and white, they're in purple and green. The Octoling also wore a golden traditional Japanese straw hat. The hat formed a shadow over the Octoling's face, which makes a face unseen.

"I'm glad you came out of your room… Octavius…. Come! Let's enjoy our lunch," said DJ Octavio, walking down the hallway with Octavius.

"Yes….father."