Chapter Two – Zap-napping back the Zapfish
"Octoling down! I repeat Octoling down! Rookie platoon H20 to front centre NOW! Do not let Agent 3 get the Zapfish! I repeat DO NOT LET HIM GET THE ZAPFISH!" screamed an Octoling commander, the kelp flowing freely from her head of black tentacles to signature her statues in the army.
Tela rushed forwards and skidded to a halt in front of the mini zapfish behind her. The hands holding her Octoblaster shook violently as sweat poured down her face. Other newbie Octoling stood on either side of her. Nearly all showed the indicators of fear.
Tela swallowed heavily as she tried to calm her rapid breathing and the shuddering of her arms. This would be the first time she came into contact with Agent 3, an Inkling. From what she had seen and heard, the purple Octoling knew she was going to be splattered.
This Inkling… he was a monster. Splattering every Octarian and Octoling in his path to retake the zapfish they had stolen, as if… as if they were nothing.
How could this happening? Why didn't DJ Octavio ever tell them that the Inklings were this strong!? Everything seem to be going great a few weeks ago.
Until reports started to pour in of whole platoons going missing along with the zapfish they had been guarding.
Tela watched with growing darkness in her heart as more and more faces of the octarians she had been training with disappeared.
Soon it became apparent that an Inkling by the codename Agent 3 had been clearing out their bases one by one, stealing back the zapfish and desecrating entire platoons.
The young Octoling shuddered as she remembered going on a scouting mission and witnessing first-hand the destruction and deadly precision Agent 3 bought.
Monster.
A burst of bright sky-blue ink shot towards them and Tela gasped with deep rooted fear as the Octoling standing only a few inches away from her was splattered, Sky blue ink splashing over Tela and causing her to hiss in pain. Quickly she dived into a pool of purple ink in octopus form and sped away in the hopes of a better advantage point.
With a burst of speed, she skimmed up the wall to one of the platforms and quickly reverted back, training her weapon down and hastily scanning the area where the ink blast had come from.
Sure enough, Agent 3 leaped into the air and over the ledge, gunning down the Octolings that had remained by the zapfish.
Tela couldn't help but marvel at the Inkling gracefulness and skills. His body was cladded in black armour and black shades hid his eyes. His sky-blue tentacles tied back in a short ponytail. This male Inkling certainly was different from the males of her species and yet… there was something about him that tugged at Tela's curiosity.
It's his colour. Thought the young Octoling as she watched him mesmerized. It reminds me of the sky.
Tela suddenly snapped back to reality as she realised she was the only one left now. All the others have been splattered and her commander was nowhere to be seen.
Agent 3 cocked his gun on his shoulder after checking to see if the area were free of Octolings. (Tela had transformed and hide in her own puddle of ink.) Then strolled up to the zapfish to claim what he had come for.
No! no! no! NO! thought Tela desperately as she leaped out of her purple ink towards the Inkling. She couldn't stand by and watch another zapfish go! They were too important!
I have to do this for Levi! I promise to take her to see the real sky one day!
The Inkling astoundingly didn't sense Tela come charging up behind him, his gaze too focused on the zapfish as he reached a hand out.
SLAM!
"GET AWAY YOU INKLING SCUM!" screamed Tela as she slammed the butt of her weapon into the back of Agent 3's head, then she bought up her knee as the Inkling reeled forwards from the impact and slammed it hard into his stomach. The Inkling gasped in surprised pain as he skidded backwards away from the zapfish.
Before he could have a chance to recover, Tela slammed her foot down hard on his arm then clutched his spattershot pro and aim her own gun in his face.
Thanks to the shades he wore Tela had no idea what his expression might be. She hoped it was fear.
"Stupid Inkling!" she hissed as Agent 3 simply stayed still, watching her. "Time to say goodbye you monster!"
Both Octoling and Inkling stared at each other as Tela tried to press the trigger. It felt as if the world had stopped moving. It grew so silent that Tela swore she could hear her own heartbeat rapidly slamming against her ribcage painfully. Sweat poured from every pore in her skin. She still hadn't pulled the trigger.
I need to do this! I have to splatter him! He deserves this! Why should he and the rest of his no-good species live a happy life while the rest of us rots down here! Pull the trigger Tela come on! PULL THE DAMN TRIGGER!
Seconds ticked by and still the trigger hadn't been pulled. Agent 3 hadn't moved a muscle and shown no sign of confusion at the situation thanks to the shades covering his eyes.
More seconds ticked by.
Then Tela gave a half sob as she lowered the gun. She couldn't do it. She couldn't pull the trigger. It had been so easy in the in-simulation chambers. So why was this so different and hard!?
The young octoling ripped the goggles from her face and hissed at the Inkling on the floor, angry ink tears flowing down her reddening cheeks.
"Take it you damn bastard!" she snarled as she stepped back, freeing Agent 3 arm. Then she leaped into a nearby purple ink pool in her octopus form and splashed away as fast as she could, not wanting to wait around for the Inkling to splatter her.
Bzzt! Come in Agent 3! Is everything ok lad?
Agent 3 watched the retreating Octoling with a mixture of curiosity and confusion.
"I'm fine. Securing the mini zapfish right now." He replied to the voice of Cap'n Scuttlefish's issuing from his radio. He watched the Octoling until she vanished from sight and turned his attention back to the task at hand.
Tela exited the kettle and rushed towards the main base, tears of embarrassment and shame still dripping from her face. Why couldn't she just splatter him like any normal and sane Octarian would have done? Now thanks to her… another zapfish was gone, and the lives of Octarians that would obviously be taken in the next encounter with agent 3 will be on her hands.
An Octoling commander who had been stood at the entrance reading something on a clipboard in her hand looked up and seemed surprise at the appearance of Tela.
"Tela from Rookie Platoon H20? I have been informed by your commander that you have all been splattered by agent 3? How is it you are still alive?"
Tela skidded to a halt and resume the position of respect demanded when addressing a commander. "Reporting Commander Lucia! I managed to escape Agent 3 as he cleared out the base. I'm the only one who survived."
"And yet…" said the commander with a slight scowl. "The zapfish your PLATOON was supposed to be guarding has been taken by the Inkling."
Tela hung her head down in shame.
The commander gave a titter of annoyance as she tapped the clipboard against her elbow. Her red ringed yellow eyes narrowed as they glance at the now squirming Octoling.
"Take the day off tomorrow rookie."
Tela glanced up, her eyes widening in bewilderment and her mouth gaped open slightly. Take the day off? But… wasn't the commander mad at her? "C-Commander Lucia! Than- "
The Commander Octoling cut across Tela with a scowl. "And then the day after YOU are going to head to the secure base whose details will be given to you shorty. You will help the platoon there to protect the zapfish assigned to them."
Tela stood up straight and showed the Octarian salute of respect. "Yes, Commander Lucia!"
The Commander stood up straight and smirked, her perfect white fangs glinting. "However, failure to protect the zapfish again will result in… well. Just don't bother coming back Tela. Just splatter yourself instead. There's nothing worse than a soldier who can't do their job. You're Dismissed."
Tela was gobsmacked as she watched the Commander give her a smug stuck-up smile before walking away to head inside the base.
Did… did she seriously suggest Tela kill herself if she failed again!? That! That was horrendous! The young Octoling felt the life leave her as she suddenly dropped her head down, trying the blink back the tears that were threating to come.
If she failed again then, her career as a soldier was over. No more protecting the stolen zapfish that will help usher in a brighter future for the Octarians. It was true that this could be accomplished without Tela in the army but, she wanted to be a part of it. Someone who helps to end the darkness her kind has suffered from for so long. To help her sister grow up beneath real skies and clouds.
It was her dream.
Tela shook her head and made her way inside, heading up the stairs and towards her room. All the while having thoughts race around her head. The young Octoling gave a huff of discomfort as she realised the sudden complication she was going to have with Levi. After all, if she really did fail. Then who is going to take care of the little Octarian child?
I really hate to do this but, I'm going to have to ask old crazy Janjan to take Levi in. Levi's going to hate me for this! Thought Tela as she screwed up her eyes and tried to ready herself for the obvious storm that was going to brew.
Old crazy Janjan was a withered up 120-year-old Octoling who took in Tela and Levi in her care when their parents had died. Tela managed to bolt from her creepy house with Levi as soon as she had turned 16.
How Janjan is still alive is anyone's guess, and judging by the antics of the crazy old lady she wasn't about to cop it any time soon.
Tela braced herself for impact and quickly opened her door.
"TELA!"
GLOMP!
The Octoling reeled backwards as something squishy slammed into her chest, knocking the wind out of her.
"You didn't get splattered!"
Tela gave a nervous chuckle as she looked to the side, avoiding her sister's gaze. Something her sister picked up on instantly as she raised an eyebrow, concern starting to edge into her face.
"Tela? Is something wrong?" she gurgled, lifting a tentacle and patting her sister's chin.
Tela signed as she finally looked at her sister in the eyes. "I'm taking you to Janjan's tomorrow to go live with her for a bit. Just… just for a week for so. Ok?"
Little Levi's face instantly shifted from concern to blind panic and horror. "What!? WHY!?" she wailed as she clung harder with her little limbs.
Tela gave a grunt and walked into her room shutting her door, not wanting the scene her sister was creating to be a public viewing for entertainment.
"Oh, stop being such a baby!" she snapped angrily as Levi started to sob, her bottom lip wobbling as fat inky tears made tracks down her cheeks.
"I'm going on a mission after tomorrow and I don't know when I'll be back. There's no way I'm leaving you on your own for so long. I need to know you're going to be safe ok?"
Levi stopped her tears as Tela placed her on the bed before making her way to the wardrobe to change.
After changing into a sky-blue nightgown and placing her Octo-armour away safely, he noticed Levi sulking and pouting with her back turned partially towards her. The Octoling breathed hard through her nose, closing her eyes and rubbing her temple with her fingers.
"Look, I don't like it either." She said as she closed the wardrobe doors and made her way over to sit on the bed.
"I don't like the idea of you not being with me, but I wouldn't do this without good reason. I just…"
Levi turned around to peek at her sister at the sound of her voice breaking.
"I just want you to be safe and happy. I want you to be able to grow up in a world where broken down platforms and horrible underground cave worlds are a thing of the past." Tela gave a shuddering breath as she moved to lay down on the bed, her Lilac ringed amber eyes staring up the mouldy ceiling in thought.
"I love you Levi. I love you so much it hurts sometimes. You're the only family I have. The only thing that keeps me going." Tela closed her suddenly shiny moist eyes, trying to hold back the sudden wave of emotions. Then she snapped them back open as she felt a weight travel up her waist to rest at her chest. Her amber eyes meet the green one's of her sisters.
"I love you too Tela."
The Octoling smiled warmly and pulled the little Octarian into her arms, shuffled around to lay on her side before flicking the light switch next to her bed. In the semi-darkness, the two sisters fell asleep in comfort of each other.
"Well howdy do Tulip!" crowed Old Crazy Janjan as she opened her door. Her pale red tentacles tied up in a bun and her green eyes looking enlarged and creepy like as they peered through large round spectacles at the figure of Tela looking on edge with a nervous smile. Little Levi sat perched on her sister's head.
"It's Tela." Said the young Octoling almost sounding automatic as if it was something she had to correct all the time. Janjan who stood hunched over in the doorway peered up at Levi and gave a heartily cackle of delight.
"Why it's little Lulu too! Look how much you have grown little lassie loo!"
"Her name is Levi." Said Tela in that same tone of voice as she pulled off the straps of a large brown duffel bag off her shoulder.
"Thanks for agreeing to take care of her Janjan. I know it was short notice and all."
Old Crazy Janjan simply waved a hand and smiled a toothless smile. "Nonsense Tulip. I loved having the two of you live with me, especially when your poor dear parents left us. Bless their Octo hearts."
Tela shifted slightly in discomfort. She walked past Janjan and placed the duffel bag in the hallway.
"Well this is it little Shrimp." Tela gently lifted Levi off her head and placed her on the worn-out carpet of the hallway. The young Octoling bent down on one knee and rubbed the little Octarian's head.
"Be good for Janjan ok? I'll come back for you as soon as I can." Levi nodded her head before jumping forwards and embracing her older sister. Tela returned the hug, then stood up and made her way the front door.
"Thanks again Janjan."
"Oh, hush your inksack lassie loo! I already told you it's no problem. You just concentrate on completing your mission ok? Don't a worry about your little Lulu. She's in good hands."
Tela raised an eyebrow at the old wizened Octoling, somehow not feeling reassured. Then she casted one last smile at Levi before closing the door. She gave a huff at the sudden twist in her gut before letting go of the door knob and forcing her legs to move, taking her slowly farther away from her sister. It was horrible.
She had to keep reminding herself that this was all for a good cause. Now it was time for business. Tela dusted down the Octo Armor and checked to see if her inktank and Octoblaster were all in working order.
The octoling finally reached a kettle and stopped before it, pulling her Octo-goggles down. She was going to make good use of her day off by staking-out at one of their bases which contained a zapfish. If Agent 3 turned up which, stopping to consider it now was quite an impossibility. She could spy on him and hopefully take him down when he least expects it.
If she splatters him today then, no way in Octo-hell will she fail in her mission tomorrow. It wasn't a fail-proof plan but it was the only plan she had.
She just hoped he would come.
3 hours later found Tela trying to hold back a yawn as she laid on an iron bar high up in the shadows of a warehouse ceiling. Her weapon trained down to the clearing below showing a squad of Octarians and Octolings guarding a Zapfish. Large metal containers surrounded them. so far, the Inkling hadn't shown up yet.
I bet he doesn't show up, I'm going to waste my whole day being cold and hungry for nothing. This is so stupid… Tela thought as she moved her head to the side and rested it on her arm closing her eyes. She tried to ignore the slight chill that had been creeping through her body from the last hour.
I'll head back home tonight, properly catch a cold knowing my luck. I'll wake up tired, head to the base for my mission and then get insta-splattered. Oh Mom… Dad… I wish you guys were still here.
Tela started to drift off to sleep after another hour of hiding in the dark, until that is a shrill cry of anger startled her awake.
"Woah!" cried Tela, almost falling off her perch in her hast of training her weapon down below. The Octarians and Octoling were suddenly racing around, shooting their purple ink in one direction.
It's him! Agent 3!
Tela felt her stomach give a flip as the familiar sky-blue Inkling appeared, his splattershot pro shooting continuously at his enemies. The Octoling couldn't help but watch with awe as he fought his way across the warehouse, making it look as if he was simply taking a stroll in the park.
Yet something seemed… different, in the way he fought compared to last time. Tela couldn't quite put her finger on it. He fought the Octarians the same as before but the Octolings…
Tela watched as Agent 3 cornered a purple tentacle Octoling. Then felt her mouth drop open as the Inkling shot the Octoling in the face, or rather shoot the Octo-Goggles off. Agent 3 seem to study the girls face before leaping away as the Octoling attempted to shoot him. Agent 3 quickly splattered her before continuing.
"He's checking their eyes?" whispered Tela confused, her amber eyes narrowing behind her own Octo-Googles as she watched the Inking splatter another Octarian. Why? Is he looking for a certain target? Then she noticed something else, he was only checking Octolings with purple tentacles. Purple tentacles!?
Tela reached up to brush her fingertips against her own purple tentacles. Was he… was he searching for her!? A wave of panic quickly overcame her. She tried to aim her Octo-Blaster at the Inkling but once again found she couldn't pull the trigger.
"Dammit not again! What is wrong with me!?" snarled Tela angrily. She looked on as Agent 3 finally finished off every Octarian and made his way to the zapfish.
Hot boiling shame seem to rise to the surface as Tela gritted her sharp teeth together. She tried once more to the pull the trigger, her palms growing sweaty as her trigger finger twitched.
"Come on you can do this." She whispered, aiming the gun with deadly focus. "He's right there. Just pull. Just pull it!"
Agent 3 stopped in front of the zapfish and started to look around, as if waiting for something. His pointy ears giving a flick every now and now as he focused his hearing. Hearing for what she wasn't sure of.
"What is he waiting for?" Tela grew unnerved as the Inkling just stood there looking around.
After what seem an age, the Inkling finally grabbed the mini zapfish and began to make his way out of the warehouse. Tela slammed her head on the surface of the pillar she laid on and groaned, her moment gone as Agent 3 left the building.
"So so so so stupid!" chastised the Octoling as she repeatedly banged her head to every 'so' until finally she jumped down to land on a metal container, a large red mark on her forehead as she tried her best to avoid the sky-blue ink that nearly covered the whole of the warehouse.
"He's just a stupid Inkling! Why am I so scared of splattering him!? Am I really that soft-hearted and weak?" Tela use her Octo-Blaster to shoot a path of purple ink to the door so she could safely make her way out. She jumped into her ink in octopus form and glided out of the warehouse.
Once outside, she made her way over to a wall jutting out of the ground and leaned her back against it, slumping down to the ground. She pulled off her goggles and threw them down before burying her face in her arms that rested on her knees which she had pulled up.
"Rough day huh?"
Tela looked up with teary eyes before leaping to her feet and screaming, pressing herself against the wall as Agent 3 stood in front of her with a smirk.
Oh, my Octo it's him!
The Inkling took a step closer, Tela felt her breath get caught and her heart miss a beat as he leaned forwards.
Despite the dark shades hiding his eyes, the octoling felt as if the Inkling was staring into her amber eyes. This closeness, the fear, it was just too much as Tela swung her fist forwards to collide with the Inklings cheek. Then she bolted.
Tela pumped her legs as fast as she could in sheer desperation. If she could just reach the kettle then she'll be transported to safety. There's no way the Inkling would follow her to the main military base… right?
SWOOSH!
Apparently not. A quick glance over her shoulder revealed Agent 3 chasing her down with terrifying speed.
SPLASH!
"Wah!" squealed Tela as she suddenly fell and face planted the floor, her feet were no longer moving. The reason became obvious as the Octoling pushed herself up with her hands and glanced back to see her Octo-boots covered and stuck in a puddle of sky-blue ink. The stupid little Inkling had shot her feet!
"You're really odd." Said the voice of Agent 3 as he casually walked past the struggling Octoling and stopped in front of her to squat down to her level.
"Excuse me!?" burst Tela angrily as she tried to rip her feet out of the puddle, they moved but only slightly.
The Inkling merely shrugged his shoulders at her response before leaning forwards and quickly unclipping the Octolings inktank.
"Hey! Give that back you stupid Inkling!" snarled Tela as she took a swipe at her inktank, but agent 3 merely jumped back and tossed it carelessly behind him. She watched with wide-eyed horror as the tank cracked, Purple ink sluggishly pumping onto the ground.
What is he doing? Why isn't he splattering me like all the rest? Thought Tela, her heart pounding terribly at the mere fact that her Octo-Blaster was now useless without the inktank.
Agent 3 went back to staring at her, Tela just wished he would take off his shades so she could have a chance at figuring out what the Inkboy was thinking. Then she gave a little start as the Inkling stood up and smirked. Tela felt a slight blush gracing her cheek at the way his fangs glinted, and… did her heart just skip a beat?
"You're not like the others you know." Said Agent 3 as Tela gaped at him in surprise. It wasn't a question, it was a statement.
"Eat saltwater you stupid squid!" snapped Tela, angry at the fact her blush had grown more at his words. She managed to twist her body partially around and grabbed one of her legs with her hands, renewing her effect in trying to free herself.
Agent 3 clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Says the one whose species stole our zapfish."
The Octoling now saw red as she once again faced the Inkling. "Maybe if YOUR species wasn't so damn lazy and a bunch of self-centred IDIOTS who only think of themselves, WE wouldn't have stolen the zapfish!"
The two stared at each other, Tela panting slightly at her outburst. The Inkling then shook his head and stood up. "Just because you believe that doesn't mean you have the right to steal. I think you Octarians are the stupid ones."
With that he turned and walked away, his weapon resting on his shoulder. Tela stared at him in bewilderment as she tried to process his latest words. 'Just because you believe in that.' Just because you believe in that!? What did THAT supposed to mean!?
"INKLNG SCUM! WAIT TILL I GET OUT OF HERE! I'M GOING TO TEAR YOU LIMB FROM LIMB! ARRRGH!"
Agent 3 continued walking without glancing back as he waved a lazy hand in the air. "Sure, you will. It's not like you had multiple opportunities to splatter me before, right?"
Tela snarled at his sarcasm. Oh, how she hated Inklings! Agent 3 marched over to a kettle that Tela had never used before and disappeared into it in his Squid form.
Huh? So that's how he got here. That kettle leads to… Octo Valley, right? I remember Dad taking me there once.
Then an idea popped into the Octolings head, filling her with determination. If she couldn't protect the zapfish by splattering the stupid Inkling. Then maybe… she could re-STEAL them back! Thoughts of the consequences she could face if she failed weighed heavily on her heart, but she had to try. For Levi.
Tela focused on her boots and quickly untied the laces with nimble fingers, then she pulled her feet out and stood up. Free at last! Though standing on dirt and small stones in her black socks did feel a little uncomfortable.
"If DJ Octavio managed to sneak into the Inklings territory without detection, then I can too." Muttered Tela as she raced up to the same kettle that Agent 3 used and dived into it in her Octopus form.
"Oof!" the Octoling was spat out after transporting though the kettle and landed face first into the ground. After spitting out dirt with disgust, she stood up and looked around. Octo Valley seemed to be the same way as Tela remembered it. Bright blue skies, fluffy cotton white clouds and the delicious smell of plants and fresh air.
"Avast! Another zapfish for the count aye lad? At this rate, the ole' Great zapfish will be back in Inkopolis where it belongs!"
Tela fell into a crouch and began to slowly sneak forwards towards the source of the voice.
"I kinda enjoyed this mission Cap'n Scuttlefish. It was more… interesting then I thought it would be."
Tela narrowed her amber eyes at the new voice. It was agent 3, no doubt about it. The octoling fell to the floor and began to shuffled forwards until she could peek around the corner. In the clearing ahead stood an old Inkling in a sailor get-up in front of a board plastered with…. Were those pictures of Octarians? The old man Inkling must have been Cap'n Scuttlefish. Agent 3 stood in front of him smiling and chatting away.
"Aye lad. Go get some rest or whatever you young'un's do these days. Just remember to head back tomorrow lad for your next mission." Chuckled Cap'n Scuttlefish as he stroked his beard. Agent 3 nodded and then walked off with a wave.
Tela watched as he jumped into a grate in Squid form. So… that led to Inkopolis?
"Hmmm… the lad seems more chirper then usual lately. Avast! I suppose it be nothing to do with me! Haw hahah!"
Tela frowned as she soon realised the old Inkling wasn't going to move anytime soon, and there was no way of getting to that grate without walking past him.
Cap'n Scuttlefish, unaware of the dilemma of the Octoling only a few feet away from him began to lean against the board, his large eyes drooping and his head bobbing slightly.
"Aye. All this standing around makes an old squid tired. Time to hit the deck for a few kips I reckon. (Yawn)" the Inkling made his way to sit in an old rocking chair in the corner and soon had drifted off to sleep.
Damn… either I'm lucky or Karma is waiting to play an almighty prank on me. Thought Tela as she continued to lay in wait in case the Inkling hadn't really gone to sleep. She was painfully aware of how loud her heart pounded as the minutes ticked by.
It was only 15 minutes later did Tela deemed it safe to move from her spot and slowly tiptoe forwards. Sweat began to drip from her forehead as she got closer and closer to Cap'n Suttlefish. She held her breath as she finally came level with him, her palms were sweaty and she clamped her mouth tight as possible to prevent any noise escaping.
Don't wake up. Don't wake up. Don't wake up. The Octoling chanted repeatedly in her head as the grate came closer. Finally, Tela stopped and stared down at the grate right in front of her, it was quite late into the night now so there shouldn't be too many Inklings hanging around right?
Ignoring the fact that this could go horribly wrong, the young Octoling swallow hard in anticipation and jumped into the grate in Octopus form.