Colin checked his notebook again to make sure they were going in the right direction before putting it away in a more permanent location. They had walked through half of the city (which, in Devan's opinion, was barely a village) until they managed to get closer to the center.
"Why aren't we just teleporting there?" Marissa asked after about 20 minutes of walking.
"We don't really know exactly where we'll end up," Colin answered carefully. "It's a general-location thing."
He's right, Devan confirmed. Honestly, it's also a bit tiring. I'm not exactly the strongest time-traveller out there.
"Oh," Marissa replied absently. "I see." She kept walking. Luckily for her, they didn't have far to go.
"So this is what Booyah Base looked like one hundred years ago..." Marissa mused as she stood in front of the stately home. "It looks... like it doesn't get much attention."
The old mansion-esque house had kelp growing up its walls, if that was any indication of what state it was in. The white cement-like material was merely a sad grey-brown now, mold at its edges, and the wood window-frames were rotting, leaving behind broken glass that had come loose from common weather.
"He should be in here," Colin explained. "See? Mad Scientist. Rotting old mansion in former site of..."
I think you're talking to thin air, here.
"What?" Colin looked up, and began to jog after Marissa, who was already walking into the building.
The door was weak enough that Marissa simply pushed it open, ignoring the lock. The two walked in and cautiously called out for their target.
"Hello!?" Colin called, hoping to direct his voice towards Shellendorf. "Anyone home?"
A faint voice came ringing from the basement. The three time-displaced heroes looked at each other before playing a brief game of Marco-Polo to find him.
"Oh, here's where you are," Colin said with relief as the Horseshoe crab came up the stairs. He raised an eyebrow but said nothing until they were all seated in the generally not-well-cared-for living room.
"What brings you here?" He asked seriously. "I swear this is my property, you know. I may only be sixteen, but it's still-"
"Were not here about that," Colin waved him off, causing the Horseshoe crab to sigh in relief.
"What is it, then?" He asked, wincing.
Colin checked his notebook, which Devan was already handing to him. "We're here... for destiny purposes. You're a weapon smith of sorts, right?"
"Yes," Ammoses said, eyebrow twitching. "But I'm afraid there's not much call for them around here. Not that that's a bad thing, but..." He shrugged. "I figured that since the Octarians have been around, there'd be reason to need them."
Colin sighed. "There will certainly be need of them soon."
"Say what?" Ammoses said, standing up. "Does that mean-"
"Calm down," Marissa said, putting a hand on the young teen's shoulder and pushing him back down gently. "Devan? You're good at explaining these things. Could you?"
Of course, Devan replied, causing Ammoses to jump and bite off something that wasn't meant for polite company. If I may? Colin supported her as she leaped onto Colin's lap.
"Sweet mother of crabs, a talking animal," Ammoses said faintly.
Colin, the picture?
"Sure." Colin dragged out the scroll again, putting it down on the table. Ammoses adjusted his glasses, but it wasn't long before they fell off as he froze in shock. He slowly looked up at the two teens (and one time-travelling dog) in front of him.
"How?" He asked weakly.
"Time travel, apparently." Colin replied. "Although I guess you'll know how by experience soon."
"You figured out Time Travel?" Ammoses repeated, barely believing his ears. "I would say it was rottertot, but... it's so unbelievable that there's no way it could be fake. If you get where I'm coming from..." He sat down heavily and buried a chin in one hand.
"I'll help you, but I don't know how much help I'll be." Ammoses decided. "My name is-"
Ammoses Shellendorf, Devan but in. We know.
"Devan, you're going to freak him out," Colin said gently. "I'm Colin. Marissa over here is my friend, and one of the inklings in that photo. Now we just have to find Cap'n Cuttlefish and prepare."
"For what?" Ammoses asked, then he stopped. "Oh."
He stopped. "I guess... I'm ready to put my life on the line, if it's for Inkopolis." He looked like there was more to it than 'Inkopolis', but didn't say it.
"It's not that bad, actually," Colin said. "We're from after the war itself, so we know that you don't die in it. Perfectly safe. Kind of." He looked to Devan, who nodded in agreement.
"Oh," Shellendorf looked more positive at that. "I see. That's good."
"I suggest you make yourself a weapon or two," Marissa commented, after a glance at the notebook. "It would be silly to go into war without one."
"Yeah... you guys will need weapons too-"
"We have some already," Colin said, showing him his Bamboozler.
"That's..." Ammoses looked at a loss for words. "That's the fabled Cuttlefish brand one, right?" His voice shook.
"Yeah." Marissa replied. "It was the one in the picture." Ammoses glanced at it to confirm, then shook his head.
"I'm fine," he said. "It's just... there are only a few in existence..."
Dude. We come from the future. It's not like it's hard to get them in the future.
"Oh, really?" he said, interested. "That sounds nice."
"Actually..." Marissa began. She signalled to Colin, who listened closely.
"You think he got his inspiration for weapons from the future?" Marissa whispered.
"Dunno," Colin admitted. "Devan?"
Check the notebook. It would show you.
"Oh, right," Colin agreed, feeling foolish for a moment. "Oh. Yeah, you're right."
"What's this about?" Ammoses said.
It's about inventions, Devan explained. In the future, you're pretty famous. Invented loads of weapons and stuff. Basically, we're discussing whether you got those ideas from a Bootstrap paradox, which apparently you are, according to the magical time-travel notebook.
"Bootstrap paradox?"
"Something from nothing," Colin explained simply. "Go forward in time, get the idea, go back in time, invent it for your past self to find."
"Confused," Ammoses admitted after a moment. "But I'm sure I'll understand soon."
"Good, because I say we go forward in time and get those super-special unfinished masterpieces," Marissa suggested. "There are three weapons that have blueprints but were 'incomplete'. I think we should be able to complete them, or at least try."
"Sounds interesting," Ammoses admitted. "Let's do it."
To the future we go!
VRRRRRRMMMMMCLUNK
"That sounded like one of those new-fangled cars when the engine falls out," Ammoses commented. "Does it always sound like that?"
"Not this again." Colin sighed. "She likes to be creative with the sounds. Just live with it." Ammoses nodded dubiously and got up.
"Where is this?" He asked, as Marissa and Colin got to their feet. Devan hadn't considered the consequences of teleporting out of a sofa, apparently.
"Blackbelly Skate Park," Marissa answered. "C'mon, it's not far to Inkopolis. Just... uh... here." She handed him a bandana, which he secured around his mouth. "Some of your relatives live here, and.. well. Time travel." Ammoses nodded, then followed them out of the Skate Park and into the Plaza.
"Whoa."
He couldn't stop staring. After a few moments, he said, "This... is Inkopolis?"
"Yeah," Marissa replied proudly. "It was founded off of your plot of land, actually. Right over there," She pointed to Booyah base. "See? Kelp is still growing up the sides." He squinted into the darkness and nodded.
"Why is it late at night, by the way?" He asked. "time travel-"
So that we can sneak into Ammo Knights without people knowing. Devan explained, ruffling her fur. We're exactly twenty-four hours before Marissa's birth, by the way. Just to prevent any paradoxes.
"So that's why Ammo Knights still doesn't have a second floor," Colin mused. "It must still be run by Sheldon's dad."
"Sheldon's who?" Ammoses repeated.
"Your grandson," Marissa answered. "Sheldon, is the one who runs Ammo Knights at the time I went back. He's pretty famous himself, since he's so young, but you were a bit more revered because of the whole Squidbeak Splatoon thing. Which is what we're doing." Ammoses nodded, trying to keep up.
"It all feels a bit surreal," he admitted. "Time travel and all that."
It'll wear off soon enough, Devan commented. Did for me.
"Let's head for Ammo Knights," Colin announced. "Devan, any idea how to get in?"
The roof.
"What?" He looked over. "Oh, I see. Construction. How convenient."
Once they'd managed to climb the kelp up to the roof and jump in, the group of four, led by Colin, managed to get into the storage room. Sorting through, Colin managed to snag three of the bright-blue prints, and after that he nodded to Devan.
Where next?
"Let me check," Colin said, opening the notebook again. The writing shivered for a moment and reoriented itself.
"Huh," Colin said. "Octo Valley, about... hold on... eighty-four years ago. About around the time the war had gone on for about six months."
I repeat what Marissa said about tenses. It hasn't happened to us yet.
"Don't remind me..." Marissa moaned. "I'm just glad it hasn't happened much yet."
Hey, if it does end up being like that, it'll most likely be in the past, right? So forget it.
"Devan... just stop."
Hmph. Be that way. See you eighty-four years ago.
BONK
Colin picked himself up off the hard ground and shook himself, before glancing about. He was behind a large tank, and after making sure Marissa and Ammoses were perfectly upright, he jumped up himself and turned to them.
"So... Devan? Where are we?"
In a battle. Jump!
Colin jumped over a shot from a charger. After that, he pulled out his Bamboozler.
"EVERYBODY GET DOWN!"
Everyone got down.
"Okay, follow me," Colin ordered, recalling the many years of experience escaping from his own father. "First. This tank looks good for a takeover. Ammoses, Marissa and I will cover you. See if you can get in." Ammoses nodded seriously, adjusting his helmet, and the three ran forward, into good positions.
Charging his bamboozler, he pointed at the nearest Octarian and shot her into oblivion. He took a few shots to his side without much reaction and whacked a few people charging at him on the head with his weapon.
"I'm in!" Ammoses reported, grabbing Marissa's arm and pulling her in. "C'mon!" Colin ran over, breaking an oncoming bullet with his Bamboozler and jumping in himself.
"That was close," Ammoses gasped. "I didn't think I'd make it, but you took shots for me..."
"No problem, I'm immune." Colin explained. "Long story." He started inspecting the small tank.
"Guys?" Marissa said shakily. "I... think we have a problem over here." She promptly held a hand over her mouth and took a few steps back from the back room.
"What?" Colin moved in.
"Oh."
A/N: Welcome to the newest episode of 'I suck at finding a good place to end a chapter'! Today, Darkford gives you a big chapter with an ending that will make you wonder if I'll ever update again!
But honestly, I'm so sorry. I've been practically dead for a week, and it sucks. I had an inspiration drought and I managed to forget about an entire project over the course of one weekend. *sighs dramatically* ah well, better go write some more to make up for the chapter drought...