Inkopolis Down
Chapter 9
The Strategem
"I am now Arnie." Arnie told Splat and Paprika, "I will cancel my vendetta against you, Splat."
"Glad to hear it." Splat said, "We're sorry we made such a big scene... It is obvious that you had a true change of heart."
"Is it true you saved our daughter?" Paprika asked,
"Yes, mom, twice." Cepha told her, "He was there for m-" she stopped when there was a knock on the door,
"I'll get it." Splat said as he went to get the door,
"Cepha, I think it's time for me to go." Tint told his girlfriend, "My mother will probably get worried again."
"Ok, Tint." Cepha gave him a peck on the cheek, "Take care."
"Splat!" a voice said, and in came a cop that was getting on in years, "Did you see the new- AH!" he yelled, "SPLAT! IT'S THE FIEND!" he held out his pistol,
"Officer Calamaird, no!" Paprika stood in the way, "Stop!"
"What!?" Calamaird said, "What do you mean!? That's the monster who tried to kill us!"
"He's good now, Officer." Splat told him.
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"I see.." Calamaird said as he finally calmed down, "So your daughter found him and helped him?"
"Yes, sir." Cepha responded, "It was my boyfriend and I who helped him." she held Tint's hand,
"I am no longer Starly." Arnie said, "Call me Arnie." he extended his hand,
"Uh... Pleasure, Arnie..." Calamaird shook his hand cautiously,
"Now what was it you wanted to talk to us about, Calamaird?" Paprika asked the old police officer,
"Oh, yeah!" Calamaird said, "There has been another attack on the city... 24 casualties. I thought it could be Starly once more, but I now see my prejudice is thrown away."
"Who could it have been then?" Splat asked,
"We know." Tint spoke, "We were there at Atlantis Bank!"
"There was a woman there." Cepha informed, "That's where Arnie protected us!"
"Yes." Arnie stood, "I'm afraid there is another like me... However, she is not the same species as myself."
"What is she then?" Calamaird asked,
"We concluded that she was a brittle star." Tint told him, "Probably humaniod-ed like Arnie."
"She's much faster than I, and she can regenerate at a much faster pace." Arnie informed them, "However, she cannot take that much punishment- but she can still wave off small SMG fire."
"You think you can take her on?" Paprika asked him,
"Think?" Arnie chuckled, "I know I can, my only concern is that she is caring an inkzooka like the first time I saw her."
"Heh.. What a charmer." Calamaird scoffed, then stood up to answer a call on his cell,
"So, do you need our help?" Splat asked,
"Yes." Arnie muttered, "You distract her long enough for me to hopefully take her out."
"Maybe we'll find another wood chipper?" Paprika joked,
"I hope so." Arnie chuckled, "Fastest way to get rid of-"
"Guys." Calamaird returned, "There's a major attack on downtown Inkopolis. Single perpetrator, female, and 50 splatted."
"That has to be her." Cepha said, "Tint, will you join us?"
"I would never leave you in such crisis." Tint chuckled, "Plus, my E-Liter 3K is the only gun I see here that can blow her to bits."
"Son, you haven't met our family yet." Splat scoffed.
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"What in the world?" Cepha said as she walked inside an armory, "Is this what was behind the locked door in the basement all this time!?"
"Yes." Paprika mumbled, "Ever since our battle with Arnie, we prepared ourselves just in case he should ever return."
"A .96 Gal." Arnie looked a the weapon, "With extended magazine..."
"That's illegal to own!" Calamaird chuckled, "Heck, most of the guns here are illegal."
"Sawed off Luna Blaster." Splat came out with his weapon, "My personal favorite."
"That would punch a hole in anyone." Arnie observed,
"What are you gonna get, love?" Splat asked Paprika,
"You know me... I'm a simple girl." Paprika smiled as she grabbed a modified Splattershot Pro,
"I'll take the .96 Gal."Arnie said, "I'm really feeling it..."
"I'll keep my E-Liter." Tint told Cepha,
"I want this one." Cepha mumbled as she grabbed a Sploosh-O-Matic, however, it was black and the trumpet head was smaller,
"Let an old man have a new toy." Calamaird laughed and grabbed a Rapid Blaster, "Like this one."
"I guess we should move it." Arnie told them, "That woman is just going to keep splatting."
"Let's take my car." Calamaird smiled.
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"Take the car, you said." Arnie growled as they were all crammed inside the tiny police car,
"Could be worse... We could be riding Cepha's motorbike." Tint said, and they all laughed.
"You know what, I could get used to you." Splat chuckled,
"Remember when you and I were here?" Paprika sighed,
"Yeah..." Splat responded, "When we were being hunted by a blood-thirsty seastar with poisonous spines and automatic weapons... So romantic."
"I remember." Calamaird chuckled, "You two were so young and scared... Poor Paprika was guarding her eggs with her very life."
"Yeah..." Paprika mumbled,
"I remember when you guys didn't let me ride." Arnie joked,
"How much longer until we reach downtown?" Cepha asked,
"We just need to go through Urchin Underpass and we'll be there, dear!" Calamaird responded, and their blaring police car roared down the highway.