Orange stared at the paper he held. This little scrap of paper? This'll help us find Agent 3? he wondered incredulously. The squiggles on the paper appeared strange to Orange. He had never seen anything like them, and certainly couldn't make heads or tails of them. "Cap'n Cuttlefish, how are we going to decode this?" Orange asked.
"Well, there's the problem. Agent 3 knew how to, but I don't. You're going to have to find someone who can translate," came the reply.
"Do you think there could be someone in Inktopolis?"
"Perhaps, but if they have a brain, they'll be hiding. Most people would taking as mighty suspect right now if someone has associated with Octarians." At this, Orange's heart fell. Inktopolis was such a large city, one specific person making an effort to not be found would be practically impossible to locate. He tried to make a list of all the places to look, but it immediately became too long to remember. Next to him, Pink's lips were moving like she was doing the same thing, but she too had to give up trying rather quickly. "Well, let's get ya back here. We'll start trying to translate that note."
IIIII
After the short trip through the converted sewer and out into the plaza, Orange and Pink we're surprised to find it was already night time. We couldn't have been looking around for the entire day! Orange thought.
Cap'n Cuttlefish provided an answer to Orange's unspoken question. "Oh yeah, forgot to tell ya. Time goes faster in that pipe, too. It takes the same amount of time to travel the full distance to walk the shortened distance, ya just don't feel it."
"So," Pink said, "what kind of person are we looking for? They won't be an Octarian, for sure, but who else might know the language?"
"Well, ya got to get someone well-travelled," Cap'n Cuttlefish started, " then they've got to be…" His voice trailed off in Orange's mind as he stopped paying attention, instead thinking of good places to look.
"Ok, wonderful! I know just the place!" Pink exclaimed happily.
Oh great, now she has an advantage. I'll need to get lucky, now, Orange lamented.
"Hey Orange, do you think we should stay together and combine ideas, or split up and cover more ground?"
"Umm… How about we split up…?" If we stay together, she'll ask me for ideas, and I don't have any. If Cap'n Cuttlefish listens to us, I don't want him to hear me floundering.
"Ok! Where are you going to go first?"
"Well, I was thinking maybe I could just look around here first, see if I can find anyone around the apartments."
"I'll make sure to stay away from them! Good luck!"
"Yeah, you too," Orange ended the conversation, not really meaning what he said. Confused and unprepared, he wanted to sit down on the stairs to the Inkopolis news broadcast room, but he knew he couldn't do that in front of Cap'n Cuttlefish's gaze. I need to put together a plan! I can't just let Cap'n Cuttlefish down! Orange, aware of the need for urgency to save his reputation, speed walked around a corner, just out of sight. What will I do, what will I do?
Then, suddenly, Orange heard a strange scuttling noise, followed by a creak and a slurp. He jumped back, mildly frightened by the suddenness and proximity. It sounded like it was right next to him! A quick glance around a garbage can revealed a strange looking creature, unlike any other Orange had seen before. Its face was hidden in shadow cast by long, dark, and spiky hair, and it was crouched over a large shell with a hole in the top. "Oh man, these are good. Love these Splatfest things. So much food."
Orange had a new thought. Say, this guy looks like he isn't from here. Perhaps he knows about the Octarians! Stepping out from his cover, Orange announced himself. "Excuse me sir, do you think you could help me?"
The creature spun around quickly, holding out a shiny object like a knife. "Wot? Who? Where are ya? Whadda ya want?" He made a few quick jabs forward into the darkness, just missing Orange.
Orange stepped forward to allow light to fully reveal himself. "Don't worry, I mean no harm. I just need help."
"Oh, you're one of those Inklings. I tell ya, I ain't got nuthin' on me! Ain't done nuthin' wrong! Never!"
"I didn't think you did, nor do I intend to do anything if you did. I simply need help. You look like you aren't from here. Are you well-travelled?"
"Well, I mean, I guess I've been around," the creature responded, seemingly interested. "By the way, the names Spyke. I don't like to get too settled anywhere, for… certain reasons. I figure I could help ya, for a price."
"Say, could you decifer some Octarian for me?"
"Octarian? My, don't hear that request much. I suppose I could." He then seemed to try to mutter to himself, but Orange could make out what he was saying. "Very rare talent, oh yes! Can charge this ignorant boy mountains for it!" He then turned around, and raised his voice. "I believe I can. I'm quite the academic, you see. Know all those old languages. But I'm afraid it'll cost you. Very rare talent, I guarantee you won't find anyone else that could do this job. At least, not that won't attack you on sight." He paused to chuckle quietly at his own joke, but stopped when he saw Orange's serious face, thrown into a strange twilight on only one side by a flickering light. "SO, let's get to business. I say it'll be a bargain at a measly 100,000 cash. Won't find any other offers, I guarantee."
100,000?! He must be out of his mind! There's no way I'll pay him that. Orange calmed himself before speaking. "Say, 100,000 seems a wee bit high. It's a small letter, only a few words. It can't take over a minute or two. I'd pay 10,000, not anywhere close to 100,000."
"10,000?!" Spyke clapped his hand to his mouth and gasped, then settled into a sort of offended sadness. "Why do you insult me so? Only 10,000, for my great service? Do you doubt my abilities? Or do you not have enough?" A sort of wicked glint crept into his eye at the last point. "Are you lacking in cash? I assume you, we can find other forms of payment that won't hurt too much."
"No, I assure you, I mean no offence, nor am I lacking in the ability to meet your demands." Orange desperately hoped Spyke would believe his bluff. He thought of the approximately 25,000 cash in his pocket, and grimaced at the thought of what would happen if he couldn't pay. "I simply… um, well… I think that there could be someone else here you don't know about. One that could help me. My partner already thinks she knows someone."
"Wot?!" Spyke appeared enraged. "Another? But I swear I'm the only one here!" His voice fell into a wordless, inaudible muttering, growing to a screeching roar of anger and disbelief. "Just tell me who it is, and I'll only charge you 50,000. I'll even take your 10,000!"
Wow, he hates competition. Must really like money. I'm sure I can take advantage of that. Orange considered how to best maneuver around Spyke, convincing him to provide his services while still believing Orange knew of the other person. "Well, how 'bout you come with me, and I'll show you the letter so you can decipher it, then I'll get my partner to tell you who their guy is."
"Do I need to come with ya? Can't ya just bring the thing here?"
"Do you want to know your competition?"
"Fine, I'll follow ya."
Orange led Spyke out of the alleyway where he had been crouched into the well-lit plaza. At first, Spyke reeled back from the light and tried to stay in the shadow, but eventually followed right behind Orange. A quick message whispered through an earpiece to Cap'n Cuttlefish resulted in both his and Pink's return within a couple minutes. Orange was happy to notice that Pink was alone and seemingly frustrated. "Cap'n Cuttlefish, this guy named Spyke reckons he can solve our problem. Care to see?"
The paper was passed into Spyke's long-fingered hangs, and he frowned at it. He tapped his cheek with his right pointer finger, and nodded his head gently a few times. "Ok, ok," he murmured in a low voice. A few minutes passed as Orange, pink, and Cap'n Cuttlefish stared at Spyke and Spyke stared at the paper. "Ok, I think I've got it," Spyke finally announced triumphantly. As he pointed to different parts of the writing, he clarified what it meant. "See, right here it says 'valley', but before that, here," he pointed to a group of scribbles near the top, "It says abandon. Then down over here it says 'transport to new base.' And, though I don't understand it, here it says 'cryo chamber ruin' and 'remake'. It looks like instructions on how to get to a new base designed around some sort of cryo chamber. I'm sure you'll understand it better than me. Now, about that name…"
Pink looked confusedly at Orange. "What name?"
"Oh, yeah," Orange responded, "I told him you'd tell him who it was you knew that could understand Octarian as payment for his services."
"What person I knew? I never said I knew anyone who could understand Octarian!"
"You said you had an idea of where to look!"
"That was just an idea! Obviously I didn't find anything!"
As soon as Pink's words sunk into Orange's mind, he became scared. Uh oh. I told Spyke I'd pay him like this, and now I don't have anything. What'll I do? He then spoke, trying to salvage the situation. "Hey Spyke, you know how I said I'd pay you by telling you about that guy? Yeah, well looks like that won't work out. How about the knowledge that you've helped us?"
"Whadda ya mean ya can't pay me like that? ARE YOU TRYIN' TA STEAL MY HARD WORK?!" Spyke yelled. His face became red with anger, and he rushed at Orange, arms outstretched.
"Run!" Orange yelled to Cap'n Cuttlefish and Pink. Quickly, Cap'n Cuttlefish disappeared into the tunnel to Octo Valley, but Spyke didn't seem to care. He only wanted Orange. Orange moved towards the grate, but was cut off by Spyke. Now walking slowly and menacingly, Spyke pushed Orange back, breathing incredibly hard through flared nostrils.
"I won't let you stiff me, boy, even if it means I have to take some desperate measures."
"Uhm…" Orange gulped, wishing he could disappear into a puddle of ink and swim away. He could feel a sense of hopelessness settling in. A cold breath of wind stirred the back of Orange's shirt, right before it hit a freezing metal wall with a small thump. Oh no oh no, what do I do now? There's no way I can get past Spyke to the grate, but Cap'n Cuttlefish already went down it and I don't know where Pink is. Orange kept his back sliding down the wall, producing small squeaks in the darkness that now surrounded them. Uh oh, I'm working myself into a corner. But there's nothing else I can do! Now Orange felt his body slide into a corner made by the wall and a fence separating the plaza from the residential streets. Spyke's grasping fingers worked their ways to inches away from Orange's shoulders.
"Oh yes boy, you'll pay for your treachery. No one pulls one over on me."
"Quick, Orange, duck!" Pink's voice rang out from behind Orange, over the fence on a balcony. Orange threw his body down onto the hard ground as a glob of ink sailed over his head and hit Spyke high in the face.
"Argh!" Spyke screeched. "I can't see! Get it off!"
"Quick Orange, run to the grate!" Pink's voice rang out. Orange ducked under and dodged around Spyke's flailing arms and settled into a dead sprint across the plaza, feet drumming.
"Ah ha, there you are! I won't let you escape!" Spyke had cleared the ink off of his eyes and now ran after Orange. His significantly longer legs granted him speed, and allowed him to close the gap between him and Orange. Orange was five yards from the grate, three yards, one yard…
"Ugh!" Orange grunted as Spyke's hands closed around his ankles. Spkye landed hard on the ground following his all-out leap, and pulled down Orange with him. So—ugh—close! Just one foot and I can transform and reach it! Pink had already made her way down the tunnel, leaving Orange with no help near. He kicked furiously, trying to shake free. A loud grunt and a loosening of the hands around his ankle told him he had found his mark. One more yank freed him. Yes! I'm out of here! Orange scrambled forward a tiny bit, morphed into a squid, and fell down, away from Spyke and into freedom.