Eternal Tears
Book Two: Hopeless
Chapter II-Project Atlantis
Kwazii's heart stopped functioning for a moment. "W-what?!"
"Ya heard me."
This was impossible! How can the most bubbly, carrot loving mechanic be the daughter of the horrid mastermind of this whole thing? Kwazii tried to convince himself that he heard wrongly, and that he didn't clean his ears last night. However, the fact was that he had an excellent sense of hearing, and he cleans his ears every night without fail.
"Matey, please listen to me! You are making a terrible mistake!" Kwazii pleaded, grabbing her by the shoulders forcefully, shaking her violently, trying to get his message across. Too bad for him that Tweak had already made up her mind and was too stubborn even for the cat who was at this point stooped so very low to actually beg her.
"Look Cap, I know you're worried and you care for me, but right now my father of all creatures has finally executed the project," Tweak spoke, trying to keep calm and was failing miserably. She shrugged his paws off her shoulder before facing him straight at the eye. "Since the day I ran away from home and became an Octonaut, I had feared that this day would come. Now that it has finally arrived, I can have my chance to knock some sense into him. Please, you have to let me go!"
Kwazii's face showed reluctance, resembling an overprotective parent who refused to grant permission to his child to a party. Only that the situation outside wasn't a party. However, he had seen the stubbornness of Tweak, and no matter how much valid points he brings up, it would be thrown into the wind by the bunny. With a heavy sigh, he said, "Alright. But please be careful. I don't want to lose anyone else."
Almost instantly, Tweak's face lit up with radiant joy as she scurried to the Gup D. Before he knew it, she was already out at the chaotic masquerade.
...
It was worse when you're actually out in the chaotic mess than looking through inside a ship. The screams were so loud that it was damaging her sensitive eardrums, and the bloodstained water was making it hard to see where she was going. Tweak thought that the blood would provide her cover from the divers, but whoever these divers were, they had excellent eyesight. They swung their spears at her and some opened fire, aiming their guns at her head as they tried to get a clear shot through the hard glass.
Unfortunately for them, Tweak had driving skills only a professional could do. With the Gup D's slim figure and her pro stunts, she was able to avoid the horrid weapons from hitting her and the Gup. She poured all her concentration into her driving, for she had only one destination in mind-her father.
It felt like a hundred years have passed, which only could have been minutes that Tweak finally arrived at the submarine. The humongous machine looked very menacing; the black metal sparkled despite the very little sunlight penetrating through the ocean. It's sleek design reminded her of a dolphin, and it's length reminded her of a blue whale. Or rather a dolphin-whale hybrid.
Tweak had seen drawings of this submarine in her father's office, but seeing it in real life made her jaw drop to the floor. When she first saw the sketch, she thought of it as a regular drawing her father did during his spare time, so she shrugged it off. When she discovered her father's horrid project, she felt like ripping the sketch to shreds before burning it and throwing the ashes to the sea.
Determinedly, Tweak called Dashi to help her hack the radio in the submarine. When she did, Tweak began her fateful conversation with her father.
"Father."
"..." The animal at the other side was speechless, as if something was stuck in his throat. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Tweakster? Is it really you honey?"
"Of course it's me. Though I'm rather surprised you still remember my voice."
"It's been so long since I've last seen you. My, you sound so grown up. I wonder how the little bunny with pink bows has grown over the years. Come inside dearie. Don't want to see ya in cuts and bruises, now do we?"
There was a loud groaning noise, gears inside the machine started functioning. The hatch gingerly opened, and Tweak drove the Gup in the hatch. She entered a dark and cold chamber. The cold temperature of the chamber made her shiver. Yes, the temperature was so low that she could feel it from inside of the Gup. She wrapped her arms over her body to keep warm. She wondered what kind of air this was, as she couldn't feel any cold when she rode the Gup D in the freezing arctic waters.
The ground below her shifted and began rising up. Shortly she was being led into a much larger chamber. The lights flickered to life, and Tweak exited her vehicle. A wave of piercing cold washed over her, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around her, as if trying to make a cocoon for herself like a caterpillar.
Tweak could spot an elevator up ahead, probably the way to the control room or something. She pressed the button and the elevator doors groaned open.
Really, how old is this submarine? It looks so new on the outside, but on the inside everything groans and squeaks annoyingly.
Tweak didn't have the time to press the buttons to take her to her destination, it automatically took her to the control room. It was nothing like the control room in the Octopot. It was way, way more complex. In fact, everything from buttons to screens were a dizzying blur of colours, and just by looking at it gave Tweak a headache.
However, it was not the technology Tweak was interested in. It was rather the animal sitting at the chair, expertly skimming through the buttons and the screens were flashing with words and numbers that seemed like Greek to her. When he felt the presence of someone else in the room, he automatically stopped his actions and did his breathing exercises again. After a final exhale he said, "Tweakster, honey?"
"Father, it's me." Tweak said flatly.
Said father turned his chair around to face her. He was a light green rabbit who looked in his early sixties, though he hid his wrinkles by smothering them with some sort of powder that was the identical colour as his fur. He wore a black lab coat that made him look like Batman from a comic book for some reason. He topped off his outfit with black boots and a hat. Did I forgot to mention that he also wore black shades?
He tilted his shades down and raised his eyebrows. "Ah, is it you! My, you have certainly grown up! My Tweakster has grown up! How wonderful!" He grinned widely all the while as he gushed at how Tweak looked and how matured she had gotten for a whole five minutes. It was as if she had never angered him from running away. It was more like they were on extremely good terms, and then they got separated by the cruel hands of fate, and then reunited after overcoming many challenging obstacles. Cliché? I know.
"Yes yes, I know. But I'm not here for chit chat and tea." Tweak said a matter of fact, not wanting to waste any more time, as another passing second meant another sea creature killed.
He raised both his eyebrows peculiarly and his face showed mock bewilderment. "And what might that matter be, my Tweakster?"
"I want answers-"she pointed a paw to her right-"to why you're killing those innocent sea creatures out there. Whatever have they done to you?!" She yelled, her voice shaking slightly, but she tried her best to conceal it.
Tweak's father stared at his daughter for as a tense silence filled the room for a moment. He then let out a snort, and then a deep chuckle before he totally lost his bearings. He cackled in the most villainous way possible, his laughter echoing throughout the room. He smacked his left paw on his forehead and use his right paw to slap his lap repeatedly. His shades fell off his face, and when he stopped laughing, he whipped his head towards his daughter, his eyes reflecting madness and pure evil.
"Why? WHY?! YOU MEAN YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW?! AHAHAHAHAHA!"
Oh sweet carrot cake, kill me now.
"Oh Tweakster, I thought that you were an intelligent rabbit with an outstanding memory." He shook his head in mock disappointment. "Guess I was lying to myself all these years."
"DAD! STOP BEATING AROUND THE BUSH! I WANT AN ANSWER NOW!"
"Oh sweetie, don't you remember Project Atlantis?"
Tweak gasped as memories rushed in her mind. Yes, she remembered it clearly now! Everything made so much sense! Those papers… those journals… those contracts… yes! Everything clicked together like puzzle pieces in Tweak's mind. Of course! Project Atlantis! That darned project that was planned since her grandparents time! When Tweak was younger she had never believed in Atlantis, and thought her father's plans would never succeed. She thought that it was stupid, searching for something that doesn't even exists. It was like running in a maze that has no entrance or exit. He was definitely a persistent one.
"This is perfect, don't you think so too Tweakster dear? Very soon Atlantis will wake up from its millennium sleep, rising up from the waters like a phoenix being reborn! I would then make a fortune from this ancient city! Oh, imagine me swimming in those riches!" His crazed expression softened into a concerned look. He held her paws with genuine care and said, "join me Tweakster. I know I failed as a father, but I'll try to fix that. I can make you happy, and I get to see your beautiful smile once again. Please."
His words made Tweak's already angered soul flare like the sun. How dare he, casually asking Tweak to join him in his inhuman acts, claiming that all this is for her own good, that it would make her happy. Ugh, how cocky can he get?
"Make me happy? MAKE ME HAPPY?! YOU ARE BRINGING PAIN AND MISERY TO THE INNOCENT CREATURES OUT THERE JUST FOR THE SAKE OF SATISFYING YOUR GREEDY DESIRES, AND YOU SAY THAT IT'S FOR MY OWN GOOD, AND IT WILL MAKE ME SMILE AND LAUGH AND SAY THAT YOU'RE THE GREATEST DAD EVER?" Tweak stopped to take a couple of deep breaths, not breaking the hatred glare that she is giving her father. "You were never a good dad to begin with. You're a pathetic excuse of a parent. If you actually made a decent living and not commit and sins, at least I can forgive you. But THIS?! HOW DO YOU EVEN EXPECT ME TO GIVE YOU A SHRED OF UNDERSTANDING? TELL ME!" Tweak's throat burned after all that yelling, but it was worthwhile to have a look at his pain-stricken look etched on his face. However, her victory was short lived as her father's expression returned back to neutral as he lazily pressed a blue button.
The screen showed the events happening outside. The divers were done killing all the sea creatures, and they injected a large amount of disinfectant in them and retreated back to the submarine. The camera shifted and she could see the Octopod very clearly, and it was not in any good shape-the windows were broken, dents covered the hard orange cover of the octopus-shaped submarine. The worst thing was that one of the sleeping chambers that made up the 'tentacles' of the ship came off. It needed repair-and fast, or else the engines that are non-resistant to water would start to fail. However, it wasn't the fact that the Octopod was ruined that made her worry… it was her crewmates safety.
Tweak hated to admit this but, she was genuinely concerned for them. Granted, the others (except Kwazii, Inkling and the Vegimals) gave her sour looks every time she passes by them, but they were in her team for carrot's sake! She is definitely not a heartless creature like her father.
Tweak's father gave a small smile to his daughter before he thrusted something into her head. She could make out that it was something small yet hard like a stone. Touching her left temple where the device entered, she couldn't sense any cut or anything; it was still smooth as though nothing pierced through it.
But that thing that he stuffed into Tweak's brain was still in there-it was vibrating slightly and emitting a little heat.
"Get out of my head you...! What have you done to me!" Tweak yelled as she tried to get rid of the device in her head by hitting her temple and tilting her head in hopes that it would drop down from her ear.
He laughed cruelly. "Ah ha ha ha ha~ it's hopeless Tweakster. Give up."
"What have you done!"
"I can give you a period of time to reconsider my offer; it's either your pathetic crew or me."
"I'll never join your side!"
"Keep on telling that to yourself Tweakster... keep telling yourself that..."
The pain was uncontrollable. It was growing, and the heat intensified. Pain and heat... it was too much. Tweak wanted it to stop. Anything...anyone... just make it stop.
Please...
...
Dear Tyco,
Thank you for the final design of your submarine. We will work on it right away.
Yours sincerely,
Martine Pte Ltd.
...
Dear Tyco,
We have a generous supply of workers you can hire. For your convenience, please head down to Basement 2, #05-428 to discuss further.
Yours Sincerely,
Martine Pte Ltd.
...
Dear Tyco,
Yes, we have all the equipment ready. The bottles are safely sealed, the weaponry are in top shape (we've given it a test run), and the disinfectant is the ultimately best quality one we could get; you won't believe how many lengths we've gone to get it for you. After all, you're our best customer, and we always treat our best customers what they deserve.
Ah, good luck on your mission. We wish you the best of luck. We hope you remember us, we might not recognize you in all those accessories after your mission.
Yours sincerely,
Martine Pte Ltd.
...
"Tw..."
"Tweee..."
"Tweak."
"Yohoo~"
"TWEAK!"
Splash!
Tweak jolted awake to the icy water that smacked her face. She shook her head wildly like a dog which just stepped out of a pool and took a few deep breaths.
"At last me hearty, you woke up!" A pirate-like voice spoke.
"Took you long enough." Another voice said.
Tweak's vision cleared as she looked around. She was lying on a bed in an unfamiliar room. "Where are we? What happened?"
"Well, we tried to stop those divers, but they were too strong! They had the upper hand with all those weapons! When we were injured, they took advantage of the situation and attacked the Octopod. Avas, they destroyed the Octopod!" Kwazii explained with a tinge of range in his voice.
Tweak scoffed. "And I expected you to say that your life hanged by a thread and the divers stole all our stuff and burnt the Octopod to shambles."
The cat was known best for over exaggerating any story or adventure he told. If he were chased by two reef sharks, he would tell you that twenty great white sharks were hot on his tail. Thus, it was hard to believe any story he shared. In the end, Barnacles would just tell the others the modified version of the story.
"What? This situation is no joke! How can I not be serious? I'm a captain for pirate's sake!" Kwazii felt insulted. She didn't think he was mature enough to be captain? Well, the next thing he was going to say would prove her wrong!
Tweak's face turned from unimpressed to shock. "Oh no! The Octopod! I have to fix it! Or else...!" She was about to leap off the bed and dash out of the room when a flipper grabbed her arm. "Let go! I need to-"
"Not now Tweak. You're still recovering from your injury. You can't work in your condition!"
The rabbit let out a humourless laugh. "And why do you even care? I'm still your enemy, remember?"
Peso crossed his flippers to his chest. "No you're not. Even though we aren't really on good terms, you are still my crew mate, and as my job as a medic, I help any creature who's hurt or sick."
Hearing his words made Tweak's eyes widen in shock. After all the bossy attitude she gave him, the scoffs she sent his way, he still cared for her? At first she refused to believe him, thinking that he was just saying it to soften her, and then he would attack her when she thought that everything was over. However, she saw in his eyes that he was sincere about it and he actually meant his words.
"I... I don't know what to say. After all I've done to you, you are willing to forgive me?"
"As Dashi said, it's not good to hold onto a grudge, but rather let it go." Peso said kindly with a smile
"Besides, I hired mechanics to repair our ship, so just sit back and relax. You deserve a break after all the hard work you've done for the Octonauts." Kwazii said. They were lucky that they were near a civilized country, and Kwazii used most of his money to hire workers to repair the Octopod while they took a short break after all the challenges they have faced. Not to mention that they have a rather huge obstacle ahead of them now.
"You still hadn't answered my other question. Where are we?" Tweak asked as she scanned the room. It was a relatively small room, but the carpet floors and posh furniture made it unlikely to be a regular civilian home.
"We are temporarily staying in a motel. Don't worry, the Professor has it all covered." Kwazii said nonchalantly, waving a paw to nobody in particular.
Peso grabbed his medical bag from the coffee table. "Alright, we'll leave you to rest now. Remember to have lots of rest, drink plenty of water and please, no strenuous activities. If you need help with anything, just ask me or Dashi, my room is next to yours, and Dashi will be your roommate. Goodbye." Peso then left the room along with Kwazii, leaving Tweak alone with her thoughts.
Just what did Tyco stuff in her head? Whatever it was, it surely hasn't been removed by any of the Octonauts, as Peso never mentioned anything about a chip stuck in her brain. She needed to watch out for any side effects that might be caused by the device in her. Surely it wasn't anything good, and Tweak didn't want to hurt anyone.
Just then, the door opened and Dashi walked in, carrying a small plastic bag. "Hey Tweak. I hope you're feeling better. By the way, I bought us some cakes to lift your spirits up. Oh, this carrot cake is famous for its sweet yet natural flavour! You must try it!"
Dashi's kind gestures made Tweak feel horribly awkward. She felt truly bad for the way she treated her in the past. Dashi really was a very generous and forgiving girl, which was no wonder she is the most likeable among the crew. However, a few simple carrot cakes cannot repair their broken friendship bond. If Tweak wanted to truly mend things up with her, she needed to sincerely apologize face to face.
"Uhh... Dashi... I kinda need to tell ya something."
Dashi looked up from the table where she was setting up the cakes. "Yeah?"
Tweak wanted so badly to coil her ears in a twist, but she couldn't show that she was nervous. With chattering teeth, she muttered something unintelligible.
"I'm sorry, what was that?"
"I'm... s-s-sorry..."
Dashi looked surprised. "Why do you ever need to apologize? I've forgiven you already."
"You... you really mean that?"
The dog giggled. "Of course I do! Am I a creature who is unforgiving and unreasonable?"
Tweak shook her head.
"I never believed in holding grudges would solve anything. Every day you would think about that person with burning hate and rage, and ways of stabbing said person on the back, and then that person decides to take his or her revenge. Basically, it's 'you attack me, I attack you' cycle that never ends. Get what I mean?"
"Yeah… you really have a point there."
"Why yes."
"So that's probably the reasons why the cold war never seemed to end, huh? We just keep on blindly attack each other…"
"Anyways," Dashi took a plate with a delicately sliced carrot cake on it and handed it to Tweak. "Enough with all the sad stuff, everyone is getting over it, and so should you."
Tweak politely accepted the cake. "Certainly. Mhmm, this is some good stuff. Can I have more?"
Dashi giggled while holding a fork in the air with a small piece of chocolate cake on it. "Eat up your first serving first, and then ask for seconds."
This was meant to be submitted on Tuesday, but nooooo my parents won't allow me to use the computer. So now I'm secretly using my dad's Ipad to submit.