Chapter 7: Repercussions

Cobalt's Apartment, 8:00 am

Green didn't even have the slightest idea how he was going to go about talking with the Octolings. Cobalt was having a Night Terror, AND THEY LEAVE? What the hell? This is how they repay him? They had to be punished. However, Spyke had said that they didn't look like they were intending to go back, more like they were getting away from the Police Chief's brother. And they did come back… Cobalt was already out; no doubt he was in the middle of a match of Rainmaker right now. That's good, he needs it. First day this week with Rainmaker, and goodness knows he wouldn't play Turf War. Not after… Him.

"Excuse me"

He turned around. Sev was up, and Violet was behind him.

"Yesterday, we… We left the apartment. Cobalt was having a nightmare, a I thought we should find a doctor. I pressured 07-35 into it, so whatever our punishment is, please don't punish her."

Green was rather surprised that Sev confessed, although, it did make sense now. "I don't feel that you should be-Thud Thud Thud"

He was cut off by a slamming on the door.

"Quickly, hide in the closet in my room." Sev bolted. Green turned to the door. "WHO IS IT?"

"Police, open up"

Green started opening the door. "Ah, Officer Evergreen! I wasn't expect…"

It wasn't Officer Evergreen at all. It was Chief Evergreen.

"O-oh! Chief Evergreen, wh-why are you here?" GxJ smiled weakly. This was the last person he wanted here right now.

"Although it is your day off, I regretfully inform you that my weapon requires immediate repair. I'll pick it up from your workshop at 7:00 sharp". With that, Chief Evergreen dropped a cracked Teravolt, then briskly walked away. Green blinked, then shut the door. Then he fell over from sheer nerve-racking adrenaline. Finally, when he saw Chief Evergreen leave the building, he called out: "Alright, it's safe now!"

Sev walked out. "Sir, if I may add one more thing…"

"What is it?"

"Do you know who the agents are? I have critical news."

"What about?"

"Only an agent may hear this."

"Spit it out."

"I insist, only an agent of the New Squidbeak Splatoon may hear this."

"You're currently speaking to Agent 7. What is it?"

Although Sev was slightly shocked by this news, he continued. "One of the names Cobalt said last night. Indigo...

Arowana Mall, 8:10

Cobalt had just finished another match of Rainmaker with his squad, when he made up his mind. He had to tell Callie. "Hey, Callie…"

The black and pink tentacled pop star, the squad leader, turned to him. "What is it, Cobalt?"

"I need to tell you something. It's about Indigo."

At the mention of her missing boyfriend's name, Callie perked up. "What?"

"He's… Well...He's probably…"

His phone cut him off. Scrambling, he answered it. "Who is it?"

"Cobalt! Get back here now, you need to hear this! It's incredible!"

"Okay, just let me tell Callie that I'm done for now."

"Bring her, this involves her as well!"

"Okay, okay. See you soon." He flicked off his phone. "Hey Callie, Green's got some news for me, so I gotta go. But he says you should hear it too."

"Alright, fine. Marie, I'm going to see Green!"

"Oh! I'm coming too, I need a weapon fixed"

Cobalt's phone buzzed, signaling a text from Green. •Tell Marie that I'm already working on an order, so I can't fix her charger again. -Green• "Sorry, Marie. He's busy."

"Then I'll come with anyways"

"Alright then! This way."

Cobalt's Apartment, 8:30

"Green, we're here! What it it?"

"Sev will-" Callie cut him off, hissing. "Is that an Octoling? Why do you have one here!?"

"Err… Well… We don't."

"What do you mean you don't? He's right there!?"

"We don't have one. We have two."

"Two?! What the he-"

"Hey! You'll want to hear this, Miss."

"Don't cut me off, creature!"

07-35 walked into the room. "Don't call my commander that!"

Sev loudly cleared his throat. "Anyways, last night, Cobalt said a name in his sleep. Indigo. I find this strange, since around the same time the news says he went missing, we took an agent as our prisoner."

"What? You took an agent prisoner? Not possible, all agents are accounted for!" Callie clamped a hand over her mouth, eyes widened. Cobalt and Green both looked at her, before Green finally asked.

"Uh… Callie? How would you know that?"

Marie groaned. "You and your big mouth. Surprise! We're agents 1 and 2!"

No one knew how to react. They looked at each other, then at Sev, then at Cobalt. Callie started. "I think you have some explaining to do."

"Me? What did I do- Oh. OOOOHHHH. That. Well, y'see… I was about to tell you that before Green called."

"You mean to tell me that you've been lying to me for three YEARS!? You told me you didn't know where he went, and yet you WATCHED HIM GET CAPTURED!?"

"No. I didn't. He told me to go on without him."

"LIAR!" Before Sev, Green, 07-35, Marie, or Cobalt could react, Callie started flailing on Cobalt. In the 5 seconds before Green, Marie, 07-35 and Sev could pull her off, she left Cobalt with a shiner, a fat lip and a bloody nose. Cobalt simply fell over, dazed. However, before the pop star could say anything more, she was met with a firm shove out the door.

"USELESS! USELESS PIECE OF RUBBISH! YOU STUPID,LYING IMBECILE! YOU LET ME BELIEVE THAT HE WAS OKAY, AND NOW THIS!? DON'T EXPECT ME TO SHOW UP HERE ANYTIME SOON! DON'T EVEN BOTHER COMING TO PRACTICE TOMORROW, YOU'RE OFF THE SQUAD!" Callie stormed off. She had a call to make.

Meanwhile, Inside The Apartment

Shaken by the events that just transpired, Cobalt sat down with a cold pack for his bruises. Green was about to talk before Marie spoke up. "We need a safe place. A storage unit, or a place out of town, or something. But we need it now."

Cobalt, still slightly dazed, replied. "I mean, Vermillion has a private retreat. He gave me the spare key, we could go there. But why do we need- oh. OH. OOOOHHHH. Right. Angry Callie, illegal occupants, plenty of police officers. Right. Vermillion dug a secret escape tunnel under his bed."

Marie was about to start for her car, then stopped. "Two things. One, where does the tunnel exit. Two, you live on the fifth floor how the actual fu-" Green interjected.

"Just… don't. Rule one of my life, don't question Vermillion's life. Ever."

Just then, a distant siren could be heard. Cobalt looked at Green and Marie, who had tensed up. "It's cool, someone just probably tried to shortchange Spyke again." The siren was joined by a chorus of sirens. "Uhhh, yeah. Marie, get your car to the dumpster behind Mcsquiddles. The one on 4th street. Go, hurry!" Marie dashed out of the apartment. Cobalt turned to Green. "You remember the directions he gave us?"

"Are you sure it's safe?"

"Yes. he never told anyone. He bought it off of some millionaire, there was no public paperwork. He keeps it in a safe at the house."

Green nodded. "Then let's go. SEV! VIOLET! WE NEED TO MOVE! GET IN VERMILLION"S ROOM!" The sirens grew louder and nearer. "Cobalt, throw all the locks and the door bar! Let's roll out!" Green ran into vermillion's room, then moved a trash can to reveal an escape tunnel large enough for an Inkling or Octoling to fit through in their respective sea creature turned to Sev and 07-35, and gestured towards the hole. "Get in, but wait for us inside."

The two Octolings turned into their Octopus forms and jumped into the turned to the entryway of the room. Cobalt sprinted in. Persimmon ran in too. Green's eyes narrowed.

"Not to offend, but why is she here?"

Persimmon piped up. "I heard sirens, and got here just before Cobalt barred the door. Let's go."

Green stopped her. "Are you sure about this? We won't be coming back for a while."

Persimmon nodded, then jumped into the hole. Green turned to Cobalt. "She's a keeper, Cobalt. Don't let her get away." Cobalt jumped into the hole, and, in squid form, Green moved the trash can back over the hole as he entered. Just then, the police started slamming the door. The group was already in Marie's car by the time the bar broke.

Backroad, Calamari County, 12:00

"Ugh, are we there yet?"

"Almost, Marie. Take this next left. Into the forest."

"Alright. Where are we going, anyways?"

"Our roommate has a private retreat out here. There is literally no way for us to be found."

"Let's just hope they aren't following us." Cobalt looked at his girlfriend. "Hopefully"

Cobalt's Apartment, 11:00

"Broth- I mean, sir! There is no one left here, sir!"

"I can tell that. Tell me something I don't know."

"The Chicks at Hook & Sinker give policemen a discount, sir!"

"Buh.. What!? WHY WOULD I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT SUCH AN IMMORAL PLACE LIKE THAT RIGHT NOW!? I WANT CRIMESCENE DIAGNOSTICS, NOT INFORMATION ON CHEAP HOOKERS!"

"O-Oh. Right. Well, your Teravolt is here. And there are no other weapons. It looks like they went on vacation. I mean, Barred doors aren't uncommon here, given the reputation of this building."

"I would love to argue, but it wouldn't be the first time Green has went on vacation while I was waiting for a weapon. Get in the car, we need to talk to miss Callie about truthfulness"

"Sir! There is an escape tunnel, sir! And an urchin reports seeing the two Octolings and two Inklings get in Marie Squidbeak's car in the alley that the tunnel exits!"

"...Or not. Well then, we have a report to make."

Takyo, 5:00 PM (12:00 Inkopolis Time)

"...And, on other news, Two inklings, Marie Squidbeak and Persimmon Magenta, have been reported as kidnapped by the Inklings known as Green Jaune and Cobalt Azure. Anyone with information are encouraged to call the Inopolis police, at…" Those words caught the attention of a certain neon green Inkling, who simply paid for his meal. When the waitress walked away, he muttered "that doesn't sound right, now does it?" then walked out of the restaurant. He was going to buy a plane ticket, as he had been gone for too long.

Vermillion was going home.

Author's Note: Duh Duh DUUUUUUHHHHHH! Cliffhanger! Oh, and yes, the Inkopolis police listed Marie and Persimmon as kidnapped. Kidnappers get found quicker than missing persons. Also, largest chapter yet! Wot wot? See you next week!