Chapter 14 ~ The Ink Thickens
Felica nervously tugged at one of her pink tentacles as she walked along the street towards Octavio's house that lay near the outskirts of the city, it was an area that most of the Octarians preferred to live in.
The pink tentacled Inkling felt so excited at the news she was dying to tell her partner, but she also felt fear at how the Octoling would react. After all, this was not something they had planned to happen.
Felica reached Octavio's large impressive home and began to knock on the door rapidly before remembering that he had given her the spare key to his home weeks ago.
Blushing heavily and giggling at her own forgetfulness, Felica unlocked the door and came face to face with Octavio who had been in the process of answering the door.
The male Octoling seemed taken by surprise at the Inkling's sudden appearance, but then he started to smirk.
"You forgot about the door key didn't you?"
Felica smiled sheepishly before stepping forwards and wrapping her arms around Octavio who returned the hug.
"I love you…" whispered the Inkling as she nuzzled her face into Octavio's neck and breathed in his scent.
"Someone seems extra affectionate today." Muttered Octavio before playfully nipping Felica's ear, causing her to yelp in surprise.
"That's because I have something special to tell you." Whispered Felica before retaliating with a nip of her own to his neck, Octavio hitched in a deep breath.
"Oh really? What's that?"
This was it… Felica just hoped this didn't end in disaster. The Inkling broke the embrace and stepped back, Octavio noticed the scared look on her face and instantly became concern and worried.
"Felica? What's wrong? Is everything ok?"
Without a word, Felica reached forward to grab hold of Octavio's hands and pulled them towards her to gently place them on her stomach. The Octoling raised an eyebrow in confusion, the look of concern still filled his facial features.
"Remember how you always say that one day the two of us will live together happily for the rest of our lives? Do you… do you think you can make that three?" asked Felica hopefully, her deep brown eyes wide and staring.
"Three?" Octavio's confused expression abruptly changed to that of deep shock and bewilderment as his yellow eyes zoomed down to where his hands rested on the Inklings stomach.
"You're… pregnant?"
"Yes!" whispered Felica with pure happiness, her eyes started to glisten with tears.
"We're going to be parents! Are you… are you happy?"
Octavio continued to stare at his hands resting on the stomach of his partner, his lack of speech began to spark growing dread in Felica who started to feel her happy smile slip.
Finally, Octavio looked up, the biggest grin on his face Felica had ever seen.
"Happy? I'm ecstatic! I'm going to be a father! Oh Felica this is spectacular!" he yelled as he picked up the surprised Inkling and swung her around while laughing in joy.
"I can't wait to tell Cuttlefish! Me! A Dad!"
Felica cried tears of joy while wrapping her arms tightly around the Octoling's neck.
"Ahem…"
Octavio stopped swinging Felica to stare at the front door that had been left open. A pair of Inkboys wearing identical strange black jackets stood in the doorway, one green tentacled and the other orange.
"Sorry to interrupt your… moment." Said the orange tentacled Inkling as his cold grey eyes stared at Felica who flinched.
"Your friend Cuttlefish sent us to deliver a message."
"Cuttlefish sent you?" said Felica with a frown as she moved away slightly from Octavio who was also frowning.
"I'm sorry but… I don't recognise you two." Octavio said as he stared at the pair of them in suspicion.
"My apologizes… our work tend to keep us out in the field. It's not often we find ourselves in Inkopolis." Explained the green Inkling, his purple eyes as cold as his companion.
"Right… what's the message." Asked Octavio, looking serious and professional as he stood up straight, his hands moving behind his back.
To their shock, the two Inklings pulled out N-Zap weapons that were attached to their back. Felica noticed through her shock that the weapons looked different from their standard models.
"It's with the Inklings deepest regret that the decision to exile all Octarians from Inkopolis has been passed. The situation with the raising sea level has reached critical condition, there's simply no room on the island anymore for all of us."
"WHAT!?" yelled Octavio in disbelief and shocked anger. Felica bought both her hands to her mouth, her face filled with horror.
"This cannot be! Cuttlefish would never… I'll go see Cuttlefish and sort this all out, this is all a big misunderstanding! It has to be!"
"I'm afraid it's not." Said the orange Inkling as he took aim at the Octoling. "The Octarians would never leave the island willingly… unless we remove their leader."
Felica saw the Inkling finger the trigger and felt overwhelming panic and fear as she turned to move towards Octavio who looked bewildered.
"NOOOOOO!"
BANG!
… … …
… … …
"F-Felica?"
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"This doesn't make sense!" yelled Tela as she stood up from the table to stare at Ryu who looked at her in surprise.
"Saltwater filled collars? Saltwater based weapons? DJ Octavio's never resorted to these kind of methods, and his strange behaviour back at HQ. The way he sometimes acted, it was like… like he regretted what was happening."
Sora hissed as he got up from the table too.
"I'm not going to waste my time trying to understand the mind of a maniac!" shot Sora angrily, catching Tela by surprise. "All I care about is the fact he's going to restart the Great Turf War and the potential slaughter of thousands!"
"Well sorry for trying to understand the bigger picture here!" yelled Tela, glaring at Sora.
"The bigger picture is you Octarians once again trying to take something that doesn't belong to you!"
Tela took a step back as the anger disappeared from her face, she felt like she had been slapped. Sora continued to glare at her before suddenly looking horror-stricken.
"Tela I… I didn't mean…"
"It's fine." Said Tela as she sat down again, avoiding eye-contact with sky-blue tentacled Inkling as she forced herself to eat the remaining pancakes left on her plate.
"I'm just going to go get some things ready." Said Ryu quickly and left the kitchen, leaving behind an uncomfortable silent in the kitchen.
Sora sat back down next to Tela who continued to ignore him. She knew the Inkling hadn't meant any harm by his words, but nothing will change the fact that Tela was once one of the Octarian trying to take something that didn't belong to them!
A hand gently cupped Tela's face to moved it to the side so that it was facing Sora's own, regret and guilt filled his forest green eyes.
"Hey…" the Inkling said in a low whisper as Tela refused to make eye-contact.
"Tela look at me… please."
Amber eyes looked up as Sora went to lean his forehead against the Octoling's own, but Tela pulled back and pushed his hand away.
"I'm fine." She said shortly. "Don't make a fuss about it Sora."
Tela gasped when strong arms suddenly wrapped around her waist and pulled so that she ended leaving her chair and sitting on Sora's lap instead. The Inkling nuzzled his face into Tela's neck and held on tightly as the Octoling tried to squirm herself free.
"S-Sora let go!"
"No." came the muffled voice from her neck, she blushed heavily as she felt his warm breath fan over her skin.
"This is ridiculous! I said it was fine!"
"No."
Tela gave up and simply just sat there trapped in Sora's embrace, she couldn't help but feel her body relaxed against his body heat while his scent she adorned so much bought calmness.
"I'm sorry."
Tela opened her eyes which had flitted closed moments away, the comfortable silent now broken.
"I didn't mean to hurt you with what I said, I let my anger get the best of me. It's just…" Sora took a deep breath.
"Every time that slime ball Octavio gets mentioned, I can feel my ink boiling with this uncontrollable anger… he… I thought he had killed you…" Sora's voice went quiet at the end, it was then Tela realised just how much her supposed death had affected the Inkling. The thought mollified her.
"Sora… I wasn't trying to defend Octavio, I'm trying to understand. Something has been bothering me lately ever since I was kidnapped… there's something we're not seeing…" Tela rested her hands atop Sora's own and closed her eyes.
Sora shifted slightly and moved his head. "Hmmmm… maybe… but if we can take down DJ Octavio, everything should be fine. You'll get your sister back, and I…"
Sora shifted again and pressed his lips against Tela's neck, making the Octoling jump slightly as he gently nipped her flesh.
"I'll get you all to myself."
"S-Sora…" moaned Tela as the sky-blue Inkling began to bite her shoulder as his hands started to move south.
"What if Ryu c-comes back?"
Sora was about to respond when just then, they heard footsteps approaching, Tela had only just managed to jump back into her seat in time as Ryu re-entered the kitchen looking cautious.
"I've written all the details down and dealt with our friend. Can't have him reporting back that we known what their leader is planning." Said the spectacled Inkling as he handed Sora a file, Tela flinched knowing what Ryu had meant by 'dealt with'.
Sora open the file and flicked through the pages, his eyes becoming hard and narrow.
"I know this place, Slimeskin Garrison… this is where the zapfishes are being stored?" he muttered, his voice laced with slight confusion.
Tela also felt confused, of all the places to use… why Slimeskin Garrison? It wasn't the most secretive of places and very hard to guard. Something didn't feel right at all…
"Let me come with you! I know Slimeskin Garrison like the back of my tentacle." Said Tela turning to look at Sora who glanced up from the file in his hands with an expression of surprise.
"Back when I was in the army, I often did my training in Slimeskin Garrison. If Octavio really had stored the Zapfishes there, I'll find them in a flash."
Tela stood up and carried her plate to the sink.
"I don't know…" muttered Sora, his eyes staring intently at Tela who turned around and stared back with a raised eyebrow.
"Sora!" snapped Tela as she placed her hands on her hips. "I'm more then capable of taking care of myself out there. I survived on my own since I was 12, and that included taking care of my newly hatched baby sister! Let me come with you! Besides…"
Tela raised a hand and made a fist, her amber eyes glinting dangerously.
"I'll like to have a few words with my dear old ex-boss."
Sora still looked uncertain as he fidgeted on his chair. Ryu strolled forwards and placed a hand on the sky-blue tentacled Inklings shoulder, causing him to start slightly at the unexpected contact.
"Taking Tela with you is a huge tactical advantage Sora. I see no reason why she can't come with you."
"I know!" snapped Sora suddenly, catching the other two by surprise.
"I know… it's just…"
"Sora." Tela moved until she stood in front of the Inkboy, she leaned forwards to place both her hands on the back of his chair. Sora blinked and then blushed as Tela glared at him, her face awfully close to his.
"I'm coming with you, whenever you like it or not." said Tela with such conviction that the Inkling in front of her flinched slightly.
"I know you're worried about my safety and quite honestly? It's kinda sweet of you to be so concern about me." Tela blushed as Sora gave a small warm smile.
"But I need to come with you. This isn't just about the zapfish for me, this is much more personal. I need to know what Octavio has done with my sister, I need to know what's going on. So please! Let me come with you!"
Sora looked down for a second before shaking his head slightly, a look of resignation on his face.
"Guess I better let the other agents know that you'll be tagging along. You're so pushy you know that?"
Tela grinned widely before clamping his face between her hands and pressing her lips against his own, his mouth parted slightly in surprise.
"Thanks Sora!" beamed Tela after breaking the kiss and stepping back. Sora simply grinned back with a goofy expression, Ryu shook his head while smirking.
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Tela leaned her forehead against the window and watched as the world whizzed by, the floor of their compartment trembled slightly as the express train shot along it's tracks like a bullet.
The Octoling was hardly paying attention to the passing scenery as her thoughts lingered on the whole affair with DJ Octavio and the newly revealed Brine-Bringer weapon.
Why? Why create such a dangerous weapon that posed not only a threat to Inklings, but to Octarians as well? What could have possessed Octavio to even THINK of using salt-water?
Tela frowned slightly as she remembered Octavio's expressions during the day she was bought to him to be held hostage alongside with Cuttlefish and the other day when she had woken up in the lab.
When he had pulled those fleeting expressions, Tela couldn't help but feel he regretted what was going on. That's' what bothered her! If the older Octarian really did feel that bad about what was going on then why continue?
Tela could remember back before this whole thing had gotten out of control, Octavio was actually a very helpful and caring leader to his people. He went out of his way to create solutions to problems and ensuring everyone was safe despite their situation underground, and the strangest thing was... he had no interest in music.
Tela's eyes widen slightly as she lifted her forehead away from the cool glass of the train window.
That's was right! Octavio became suddenly obsessed with being a DJ the day he began to sprout message after message about how it was the Inklings fault above ground for their suffering. He had never blamed the Inklings before… this sudden change in their leader literally happened over night.
What had caused such a drastic change?
Tela jumped as she felt someone's hand touch her knee.
"You ok?" said Sora next to her, his forest green eyes filled with concern.
"Yeah of course!" nodded Tela quickly. "Stop being such a worry-squid, I'm just thinking about stuff."
"It's about Octavio isn't it?"
Ryu who was dozing off in the seat opposite them suddenly gave a jerk of his head, his attention being caught by the sky-blue Inklings words.
The Octoling hesitated at first, worried about the reaction she might gain if she told the truth.
"Yes."
Ryu seem wide awake now as his eyes darted between Sora who looked slightly miffed and Tela who looked on edge.
"Of course, you are." Muttered Sora with a slight shake of his head.
"I don't know why you want to believe that scumbag of an Octopus has some kind of secret ulterior motive for what he's done. He's crazy Tela, and the sooner we take him down the better."
Tela scowled at Sora before turning fully towards the window again. Does that idiot really not get it? Then again… he's an Inkling who's never had to deal with or experience the harsh reality of living underground like the Octarians have, he doesn't understand why this feels so personal to her.
Was she being unreasonable?
Sora gave her knee a slight squeeze, causing her to look back at him with a disgruntled look.
"Promise me you won't do anything stupid if we end up running into Octavio." Sora said with a hard expression on his face, his eyes filled with concern and worry.
"What?" replied Tela, her angry look replaced with that of surprise. "Why are you-"
"Just promise me ok?" said Sora in a rush, cutting off Tela before she could finish speaking. "I'll feel better bringing you along with me to Slimeskin Garrison if you do."
Tela stared blankly at Sora for a few seconds before glancing at Ryu who seemed to be watching them with curiosity.
"Please don't cast your vision towards me." Sniffed Ryu as he held up his hands slightly. "The nature of your conversation has nothing to do with me."
Sora squeezed her leg again. Anger flared up as Tela glared at Sora and without thinking, she wretched the Inkling hand of her knee with considerable force.
"You're unbelievable you know that!?" snapped Tela as she crossed her arms and legs and looked towards the window with a scowl.
Does he not trust her?
"Why are you getting angry!?" said Sora crossly as he rubbed his hand.
"Promise me you won't do anything stupid!" imitated Tela in a high-pitch voice as she continued to glare out the window.
"I'm not an idiot Sora! I… I thought you trusted me."
The air became heavy and tense. Tela felt angry tears welling and briskly wiped them away with the back of her hand.
Why was this upsetting her so much?
"I should have worded that better."
Sora leaned close to Tela so that his body pressed up against hers, shoulder to shoulder. She glanced at his sombre and guilty expression before focusing her eyes back on the window.
Ryu abruptly stood up and hurried off while muttering he needed the toilet, the others paid no attention to him as he disappeared.
"I don't like fighting with you Tela." Muttered Sora softly as he rested his chin atop the Octoling's shoulder.
Tela couldn't help but feel the anger fade away as she breathed out deeply.
"I don't like fighting with you either." She whispered as she closed her eyes and turned her head so that her cheek pressed up against the Inkling's own.
"I'm sorry for getting angry… my emotions are all over the place at the moment."
The two fell silent as they sat still, finding comfort in each other's presence. Tela moved her hand towards Sora's hand and intertwine her fingers with his.
Ryu didn't return until the train had slowed to a stop, when asked by Tela why he had been gone for so long, he merely shrugged his shoulders and grinned. Sora didn't seem bothered at all by his friend's absence, in actual fact, Tela could have sworn she saw him wink at Ryu from the corner of her eye.
Ryu bid them goodbye as soon as they left the station, Sora and Tela waved until the Inkboy had disappeared from sight due the swarming crowds still lingering around the streets.
"So what now?" asked Tela as they both began to walk along the street.
"We head over to Octo Valley." Replied the sky-blue Inkling with a grim expression as the Octoling blinked in surprise, she had thought they'll be heading to Sora's apartment.
"We need to gather the other agents and explain the situation." Sora lifted up the large file and gave it a little shake.
"And then?"
Tela stared as Sora hesitated slightly, before looking at her with determination.
"We take down Octavio."
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Capt. Cuttlefish happened to be pacing outside his shack in an agitated way when Sora and Tela finally arrived, the elderly Inkling looked up and yelled out in surprise and alarm when his eyes landed on the Octoling.
"It be you lass! Bless me timbers I thought you were a goner!"
Tela released Sora's hand as the Inkling held back with a grin, and rushed forwards to embrace the elderly Inkling who returned her hug in delight. After a few seconds Cuttlefish pulled back and gave Tela a scrutinising look.
"But lass… how did yeh survive?"
Tela blinked before glancing back at Sora who nodded with an encouraging smile.
"It's going to be a long story Cuttlefish." Replied Tela looking nervous as Cuttlefish smiled warmly.
"A very long story." Repeated Sora as he stood beside Tela and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Then let's go inside shall we? We'll all have a nice cup of tea and some Crabby cakes as yeh tell this long story of yours eh?"
So, for the next three quarters of an hour, Tela told Cuttlefish everything that had happened after the events of the rescue mission.
She told him about Octavio using her sister as a hostage and the saltwater collar in order to make her help them steal back the zapfishes, how Sora and Ryu had found her and saved her life, and the information about Slimeskin Garrison and the Brine-Bringer weapon Ryu had gained from the Octo-stealth he had capture.
Tela leaned back on the sofa and took a deep swing of her tea after she had finished talking. The Octoling had never realised just how much had been going until she had to talk about it all out loud.
"Hmmm well I'll be…" muttered Capt. Cuttlefish as he stroked his beard, his eyes narrowed in thought.
"I've never had believed my old friend to stoop so low as to use saltwater… this Brine-Bringer weapon poses a serious threat. Not good… not good…"
"I say we storm Slimeskin Garrison and steal back our zapfishes before that slime-ball Octavio does anything!" said Sora, shifting in his spot on the sofa next to Tela who glanced at him, a cup of tea clasped in her hands.
"With me, Agent 1, 2 and Tela here, we'll take him down before he even knows what's happening!"
"Hmmmm…." Cuttlefish stared hard at Sora's determine face before glancing at Tela who seemed slightly uneasy.
"It's true the sooner we tackle this problem the better lad, but I'll be blown back in surprise if we manage to catch Octavio off guard. That Octopus has more spies then the number of weapons Sheldon had created, getting to Slimeskin Garrison undetected will be hard."
"I might be able to help with that…" muttered Tela softly as both Cuttlefish and Sora looked at her in surprise.
"Crazy Old Janjan… Me and Levi have been living with her for the last couple of months. She used to work for Octavio 120 years ago… there's a chance her old Octoling suit might be stored away somewhere."
Tela looked up with sudden excitement as the plan in her head began to develop and grow.
"I can wear the suit and go to Slimeskin Garrison as a normal solder and give you guys the signal when the coast is clear!"
"That sounds like a great plan Tela but, I dunno… what if the Octarians realise you're an imposter?" said Sora looking concerned as he placed his untouched tea on the table.
"I'll be fine!" snapped Tela, glaring at the Inkling beside her.
"Janjan?" whispered Cuttlefish as realization dawned on his wizened face. He stared hard at Tela as the Octoling looked up, the elderly Inkling seem to be taking in every feature of her face.
Why was he looking at her like that?
"Your mother…" began Cuttlefish with a sudden strange expression on his face. "Is her name… Lela by any chance? Lela Garth?"
Tela suddenly froze in shock as Sora looked between her and Cuttlefish.
"Am I missing something here?" he asked in confusion and curiosity.
How… how does he know her mother's name?
"Judging by yeh expression lass, Lela Garth must be your mother. I had the pleasure of meeting her once, a long time ago when she came to explore Octo-Valley." Cuttlefish leaned back in his chair as his large eyes seem to mist over, lost in memories of years ago.
Cuttlefish had meet her mother in Octo-Valley? This little titbit of information seemed to suddenly open up a whole bunch of questions for Tela, like why her mother had gone above ground? Mum had always insisted she had never been to the top before due to her hatred of Inklings. So why lie?
"What happened then?" said Tela as she leaned forward, her eyes staring merciless at the old Inkling who seem to come out of his daydream to look back with a bemused look.
"What did mum do? Did she go to Inkopolis? What happened?"
Sora seem to be in state of bewilderment but nevertheless kept quiet as he watched the scene before him.
"Sorry lass." Said Cuttlefish looking slightly regretful. "But now is not the right time to explain."
Tela looked furious as she leaned back. Why mention her mother at all if he isn't going to tell what happened! It was like expecting a large delicious cake but only getting a tiny chocolate bar.
The Octoling was just about to open her mouth to argue when there was a loud knock at the door.
Capt. Cuttlefish who had been looking at Tela with that strange odd expression again suddenly perked up, delight filling his wizened features.
"Ar! That be me granddaughters! Come in lasses!"
"Granddaughters? You mean Agent 1 and 2!?" gasped Tela in sudden excitement despite the anger she was feeling moments ago. She had been wanting to meet them ever since Cuttlefish told her about them back when they were imprisoned.
Sora seem to brace himself for some odd reason and quickly wrapped his arm around Tela as the door swung open.
"Hey Gramps!" grinned a black and purple tentacled Inkgirl as she stormed in followed by another Inkgirl with white and green tentacles.
"Is Sora here yet? I want to tease him about his girlfriend again!"
"Honestly… you're too much some times. Leave the poor boy alone."
The two Inkgirls stopped in their tracks as their eyes zoomed onto Tela who had went stiff as a board at the sight of them, her amber eyes wide.
The famous Squidsisters from Inkopolis… were Agent 1 and 2?
"Hey Callie." said Sora with a forced grin as he gave a little wave. "Hey Marie, what's up?"
Callie's eyes fell to the hand resting on Tela's hip before looking at Sora with a sudden evil smile.