Chapter 14
Sarah's POV
"So what happened?" I asked Marie.
"I don't know." Marie answered. "That Octoling sniper had me on the ropes the whole time and he just left not long before you show up."
It was then I realized that Cass probably wasn't bluffing.
"Anyway, what happened with you?" Marie asked. "Did you get your brother back?"
"Yup," I held up my Otis-in-a-Bottle. "He's right here. Zapfish too."
"Then let's get out of here." Marie said.
I couldn't agree more.
5 minutes later…Otis's POV
After what felt like dreamless sleep, I was finally let out. I expected a slow, painful respawn, but instead found myself respawning instantly with Sarah wrapping her arms around me. I returned the favor.
"S-Sarah!?" I was surprised.
She just held me tightly, not letting go.
"How'd you find me? I asked her. "Aren't you still hurt? What happened?"
"I'll tell you in a minute. She said, not breaking the hug. "Don't ruin the moment."
After thirty more seconds, the hug started getting awkward.
"Okay Sarah," I said. "You can let go now."
"No." She didn't let go.
"Let go." I repeated.
"I don't wanna!" She hugged tighter.
"Sarah, how do you expect me to stop treating you like a kid when you do this?" I asked.
"I don't care!" Her mind was made up.
"Is this for the beakbrush thing?"
"Maybe..." The cheeky squid replied.
"As great as familial hugs are," Marie came to my aid. "We still have a job to do."
"Right." Sarah finally broke the hug and sat on the bench. "I'll catch ya up after you beat the Octoboss."
"Alright, I'll be back before you know it." I quickly ran off to beat the boss.
After a couple minutes, I was on the other side of the boss kettle. Sheldon wanted me to use Dualies this time. I guess I'll make due.
Another Zapfish, another tentacle grabbing it. This time, the boss rising out of the enemy ink looked like a giant box.
"I'm BAAAAAAAAACK!" A sound came from the boss.
"Did that thing just talk?" Sarah asked.
"Wait, I know this guy!" Marie said. "It's Octostomp!"
"Octostomp?" Sheldon asked. "But didn't Agent 3 take him down years ago?"
"I guess he's back for more." Marie replied. "You've got this, Agent 4!"
"Splat that thing, bro!" Sarah shouted. "It gives me the creeps!"
In no time at all, I dodged its slam attack, climbed up, and splatted the tentacle on the other side.
Then, as it got back up, it suddenly gained some kind of covering.
"And I brought this sweet new coat!" The Neo Octostomp roared.
"Unthinkable…" Sheldon said. "His armor is completely uninkable!"
"Gotta hand it to these Octarians." Marie commented. "They sure know how to go big."
"Try hitting the big 'Hit here' buckle right where its nose would be." Sarah actually gave some good advice.
As I swam up, it gained a large splatling-type weapon on top and started firing at me. The shots were fast, but I dodge-rolled just in time.
I shot at the buckle. He tried to stomp me, but I dodged to the side. When he got off, I shot it some more and the coat came off.
It didn't take long for it to charge at me again. Luckily, it was fairly easy to dodge. After it slammed down, I inked a trail on its side and splatted the tentacle.
"Ew, I just noticed that thing had tiny legs." Sarah cried. "Can this thing get any grosser?"
It got back up again, the coat predictably came back on and it suddenly it had three faces.
"GAAAAAAGH!" Marie freaked out. "THIS DUDE JUST GREW TWO MORE FACES! "
"EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS THING IS WRONG!" Sara freaked as well. "HURRY UP AND PLAT IT ALREADY!
I kept firing at in as it kept trying to stomp me. The stomps were getting harder to dodge since I couldn't go to the sides anymore. Thankfully, after a few more shots, the coat, and the faces were blasted off.
"Yes!" Sarah cheered.
After charging one more time, I went up its side and splatted the tentacle a third time. I jumped back and watched its weird-looking legs spin around before it exploded.
"Ah," Sarah sounded relieved. "No more grossness."
"You've been oddly quiet." Marie pointed out.
"Not really much to say." I said. "Anything I could think of, you guys already said."
I grabbed the Zapfish and made my way back.
"Soooo….anyone else want pizza?" I suggested.
"Again?" Marie asked.
"Why not?" I responded.
"Ooooh, let's get a Meat Lover's this time!" Sarah cheered.
"As long as you're paying." I told her.
"What?" Sarah seemed shocked.
"I had to pay for your breakfast after you left the diner yesterday." I explained. "This'll even it out.
"Fine." Sarah conceded.
30 minutes later…Pizza Party
The band of heroes had been enjoying a good meal, sharing many conversations and laughs. Even taking the time to bring everyone up to speed.
"So why didn't you splat her? Otis asked. "After all she did?"
"Eh, she seemed to have her own problems." Sarah explained. "Plus I thought it would get the message across better if she knew I could splat her, but didn't."
"Surprised she didn't beat that out of you." Otis said, impressed. "Since when did you start acting mature?"
"Hey, I can be mature." Sarah corrected.
"And call pajamas 'jammies' and hold hugs long after they become awkward." Otis quipped.
"You call them what?" Marie started chuckling.
"Nothing!" Sarah wanted to end that conversation.
"Any way, I want to thank you both again for all you've done so far." Marie started. "I think it's time I told you about my other purpose in asking for your help…"
Sarah and Otis sat there watching Marie intently.
"When we met, I told you I was searching for the Great Zapfish. But I'm afraid that's not the whole story." She continued. "You see…Even more than the Great Zapfish, I want to find my cousin Callie. She vanished on the same day as the Great Zapfish!"
"Yeah, we know." Otis told her. "It was all over the news."
"Otis told me." Sarah added. "I already thought that was part of why we were here."
"…Wait. You already knew?!" Marie asked, surprised. "Phew. Cool."
Marie looked relieved to get that off her chest.
"…So anyway. I'm Agent 2 of the New Squidbeak Splatoon, and Callie is Agent 1." Marie explained. "Then there's Agent 3, who's currently out with our grandpa, Cap'n Cuttlefish. They won't be back for a while…and I have no idea where Agent 3's friend went."
"Wow." Otis thought to himself. "Both Marie and Callie were secret agents the whole time. They just keep getting cooler…"
"I was supposed to be protecting Inkopolis while the Cap'n was away, but then Callie…The Great Zapfish…" Marie was looking down. "Sorry I didn't tell you sooner…We'd be totally sunk without you agents."
"It's alright Marie." Otis reassured.
"I know we'll find Callie if we keep looking!" Marie sounded more determined now. "Think you can see this thing through?"
"Of course!" Otis replied.
"Heck yeah!" Sarah added.
"Lea…No…LEAVE NOW!" A voice came from the radio.
"Huh? Who's there? Marie asked the voice. "If you get in our way, the agents will mess you up!"
"Sounded like that announcer girl from the Octo Samurai fight." Otis pointed out.
"Maybe Octavio got a radio girl or something." Sarah suggested.
"Well, if he did, I'm just now hearing about it." Marie said.
"…So…you mentioned Agent 3 had a friend?" Sarah asked.
"Yeah, the unofficial Agent 3.5." Marie told her. "I was to check on Octo Canyon while he was told to watch our Octarian prisoner."
"What happened?" Otis asked.
"That's the weird thing." Marie continued. "After Callie vanished, I came to get his help in Octo Valley, and he and our prisoner were gone. No sign of a struggle or anything."
"Huh." Otis replied. "Think we'll run into him around here?"
"If you do, he's got some serious explaining to do." Marie made clear.
Elsewhere…
"Well, Octostomp failed…again." A female figure pointed out.
"I really thought those upgrades would help," Octavio admitted. "But I guess there's no fixin' failure."
"So what's next?" The figure asked.
"The Cleanser of Inklings, The Octo Shower!" Octavio announced. "That sucka's armed to the beak!"
"Buuut…there's no such thing as overkill, DJ." The figure stated.
"Oh, really now?" Octavio was intrigued. "You plannin' something', girl?"
"Well, what if we pushed progress on your little…pet project?" She suggested.
"Ya think so?" Octavio wondered. "Actually, yeeaah…That sounds like a great idea. I'm lovin' how devious you've been lately."
"Yeah!" The figure cheered. "I'm a Devious Diva!"
"Gya ha ha ha!" Octavio laughed. "A'ight let's go pay him a visit."
