Chapter 7
Sarah's POV
"Marie, what's going on? Carp!" I said to no one. What's going on? "Guess I'll just have to find out after this mission."
I continued on. I saw two Octolings were marching around one of the Zapfish. One spotted me. I threw a bomb, splatting one while the one who saw me charged forward, spraying ink everywhere. I jumped back and retreated in my ink trail. She threw a bomb my way. I jumped forward. The bomb's blast propelled me forward while spraying ink all over my back. It stung badly, but I caught her off guard, unloading my splattershot and splatting her. After that, the Zapfish was mine.
"Nice moves!" A mysterious voice said.
I looked up to see there were two more Octolings, but their hair was black and had…seaweed in it? One was wearing the same shades as the others while the other had these weird-looking goggles on.
"Thanks!" Confidently thanked whoever said that. "Be honest, is this really your army's best? Because I've seen better enemy fighters in my best Turf War matches."
"Not even close, hon." The shades-wearing one smirked. "How about I give you a taste?"
She immediately did a Splashdown. I got out of the way just in time. She wielded a cool-looking Brush.
"Aw man, I didn't know we could bring Brushes!" I grinned. "Maybe you can wait here while I get mine?"
"Nope, not happening!" She swung her brush around like a mad squi-octopus.
She put her brush down and charged at me. I retreated in my ink trail, but she was a much faster runner than I was a swimmer. I jumped out and fired, but she dodged my shots easily.
"You're good!" I had to admit.
"Of course, hon" She bragged. "Nothing less from the elite!"
"Elite?" I asked. "Is that what that goofy seaweed is for?"
"Black hair and seaweed are in indicator of rank!" She sounded insulted. "The fact that you don't know that only showcases your ignorance."
She started swinging again. I kept moving, but she was fast. I kept getting hit. I threw a bomb at her, but she smacked it back with her brush. What is this, baseball? It burst in my face. Before I knew it, I was grabbed and thrown face-first into the ground. Geez, is this what Elite Octos are like? I turned my head. She had her brush raised; about to strike, she swung down as I quickly turned my body around, pointed my Splattershot, and unloaded everything.
*Splat*
Her ghost flew off into the distance.
That was too close.
I was panting heavily.
My hearts were pounding in my chest.
After a few seconds, I got up and turned to see the other Elite Octoling hadn't moved. She just smirked and walked off. What was her deal?
Once I got a hold of myself, I went off to find the other Zapfish. Splat after splats, these Octolings were a fair challenge, but not nearly as nightmarish as that Elite was. Every time I encountered one, I could swear I saw that goggles-wearing Elite in the corner of my eye. Before I knew it, I had six.
*Splat*
Okay, make that seven. I could see the glow of the last one in the distance. As I made my way over I saw it was…moving? Carp, more Octolings!
One rushed me while the other one attacked from above. I threw a bomb down and jumped back. The blast knocked the overhead attacker back while the other one dodged and charged me. I dodged her shots and fired.
*Splat*
The other Octoling was on the ground a bit disoriented, but slowly getting back up. Then, a thought came to my mind as I made my way toward her.
"So, are there any Octoling guys?" I asked. "So far all I've seen are gals. Is Octo Canyon a military boarding school or what?"
"Inkling scum!" She growled as she turned to shoot.
*Splat*
"Maybe so, but that doesn't answer my question." I remarked as her ghost floated off.
Now where's the-Zapfish glow…is…moving again?
I quickly ran after it, turning corner after corner.
After another turn, the glow stopped moving. I slowly made my way around the corner to find that Elite Octoling again, hunched over with her back turned, holding the Zapfish. I raised my weapon.
"Freeze!" I ordered.
She stayed still. I walked closer.
"Well done, you caught me." She said, back still turned. "And you took out all those other soldiers. You're the real deal."
"I'll be taking that Zapfish now." I said in my best commanding tone.
"You want it; you'll have to-EARN IT!" She quickly spun around; Dualie in her left hand, Zapfish in her right, only to find my Splattershot in her face.
"Heh." She smirked again, dropping her weapon. "Very well. Just let me get a good look at you."
"Huh?" I was confused.
She used her free hand to remove her goggles, letting them fall to the ground. Her eyes were blue and had rings around them rather than the black mask that Inklings do. She looked at me right in the eye.
"I'm Cassandra. Cass for short." She told me. "What's your name?"
"I'm Agent 4" I replied.
"I knew that, I meant your name." She seemed genuinely curious.
"Okay then, my name is Sarah." I finally said. "Now why'd you take your goggles off?"
"I just wanted to get a good look at the new blood." She stated. "You seem like you can handle yourself."
"Thanks?" I guess she's the honorable warrior type. "Um, the Zapfish?"
"Right." She sighed. "But first, a handshake." She held her hand out.
"May we meet again some time on the battlefield." She said with a warm smile on her face.
"Oh, um…okay." I reached my free handout to shake hers.
Huh, I heard of steel-tipped shoes, but steel-tipped gloves…wait. Why's there a wire attached to her glove? I looked at her.
Her warm smile turned into a sadistic grin. She squeezed the Zapfish in her arm and it sent out a bolt of electricity. I was immediately shocked in more ways than one.
The pain was unbearable. I couldn't stop screaming. Finally, she let go of my hand and I fell to the ground.
I was lying on my side.
I couldn't move.
My body kept twitching while I could see sparks between my fingers.
I could barely keep my eyes open.
"FFFFFFFAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" She started laughing hysterically.
"Oh, Octo! Oh my Cod!" She was catching her breath. "That was priceless!" Are all Inklings this stupid or is it just you?!"
I couldn't say anything.
"Hey, I'm talking to you!" She yelled while sending a kick straight to my face.
As if I wasn't in enough pain…I think my nose was-yup, it was bleeding…
"Are ya listening?" She asked. "Answer me!"
I still couldn't say anything. I just nodded my head.
"Good." I could tell she was grinning. "Alright, fall in!"
I heard the footsteps of more Octolings come closer. Carp, there were still more of them?
"Is this seriously the best Marie could do?" She knew who sent me. "What a joke."
"Let me tell you something, kid." She started. "There's gonna be a war. And you're gonna lose."
That wasn't true…Right?
"If you had trouble against us, there's no way you'd be able to beat Octo Samurai." She kept going. "Because you're a weak, gullible, pathetic, sorry excuse for an agent that'll never amount to anything. You just make me sick looking at you. You see the black hair? You see the seaweed? That means I'm an Elite! That means I'm of a higher class! That means I'm above a lowlife like you! I'll always be better than you!"
I couldn't tell if it was from the pain or her words getting to me, but tears started flowing.
"Aaaawwww, is da wittle Inkwing about to cwyyyy? She teased. "Good!"
*Thwack*
She kicked my stomach.
"Because you deserve it!" She added.
*Thwack*
She kicked the same spot again.
"That's for coming over and taking OUR Zapfish!"
*Thwack*
"That's for living comfortably above while I live in this shellhole!"
*Thwack*
"That's because you stupid agents piss me off!"
*Thwack*
"That's for making me throw up in my mouth from looking at your ugly face!"
*Thwack*
"That's for pointing a Splattershot in my face!"
*Thwack*
"That's for being an Inkling!"
*Thwack*
"That's for being pathetic enough to fall for the oldest trick in the book!"
At this point she just kept kicking the same spot over and over again.
"And these," She continued. "Are because I just-LIKE-KICKING YOU!"
After about a minute of kicking, she finally stopped.
"Okay, I've had my fun. Take her away." She said.
One walked over to grab me.
"Oh man, when the DJ sees we bagged an agent…" She started giggling.
The Octo that came to grab me then got shocked as soon as she touched me.
She paused for a second.
"Well, I guess we're just going to have to use ink to insulate her." She picked her dualie at me. "Unfortunately for you, we need to take this slow to keep you from being splatted, so this'll hurt for a while. Not that I care, just saying."
I could hear someone running towards us. I opened my eyes to see someone above us jump off a ledge and use a Splashdown. Splatting several Octolings and sending the rest flying back. I wasn't affected, so I knew it was friendly. I could barely keep my eyes open, but I could make out the shape…
Otis?!
