Joey - I was thinking exactly that when writing this too. I'm trying to push my creativity to the max for this. Hopefully, it'll come out as planned
Zelkova48 - I have to imagine this rarely happens to Frye. I bet she has a lot of admirers, but no one downright claiming love for her.
He couldn't believe how well things were falling into place. It was like the Cods were on his side, but he buckled down and went over his grand plan. He had to make sure everything progressed smoothly.
He couldn't disappoint the people and his precious Amada after all.
To dispel the doubt in his audience, he had to think more outside the ink tank. He couldn't come up with any basic performance. It had to be a routine that would push Bolero to his utmost dancing limit, to go even further beyond his initial dance with Frye.
'I have a lot of work to do.'
Xxx Bolero xxX
Syrus watched his pet Smallfry happily devour his breakfast.
"Slow down, Ken," he cleaned the Salmonid's face. "No one is going to steal your food. How is it that after all these years, your appetite never ceases to amaze me?"
Ken continued to fill his stomach, only stopping to chew when his caretaker's sister walked into the kitchen.
Syrus noticed Maya too and raised a brow as she smiled at him with a mischievous grin. It was almost as if she was challenging him.
"What?" he said in response.
"You sneaky cephalopod," she stated.
"… Excuse you?" the Octoling tilted his head.
"I can't believe I didn't figure it out sooner. I knew you, Zane, and Luke were up to something. That explains where you three have been disappearing off to lately."
"I do not know what you are talking about."
Maya's hair turned into a maroonish color, matching the confidence she was exuding.
"I figured it out," she said and moved to the other side of the dining table, where she took a seat and steepled her fingers together much like her elder brother.
"Okay," Syrus leaned on his knuckle. "I'll play along. What did you figure out?"
"Who Bolero is," Maya watched for any changes in her sibling's expression, but he remained steadfast through the accusation.
"Did you? Why waste time with me then?"
"Because you're gonna help prove it."
Syrus raised his brow again.
"You want me to prove it? How? I have no idea, nor do I want to know. I'm just trying to survive until this nonsense is over."
His sister laughed. He noticed her gaze was unwavering. She was determined.
"Syrus, you don't have to be nervous. You can trust your sister. Just confess and say it's you."
There was a moment of silence until the male chuckled at his sister's claim.
"Maya, you don't seriously believe I'm the culprit, right? Where did you even get that notion?"
"Listen well, dear brother," Maya folded her arms to bolster her confidence. "I have your scheme unraveled. It started with the letters Frye read. I thought it was sweet at first, but then I listened deeply to what was written. Then I realized. You also write poetry."
"Only because you said I needed a hobby aside from working," Syrus countered. "You suggested poetry, Zane suggested dancing, and Luke suggested painting, but I haven't mastered that one yet."
"And I'm glad you took my advice to heart. However," she rose from her chair. "You made one little miscalculation."
"And that is?"
"I recognize your way of speaking."
There were still no changes in Syrus' posture.
"Maya, are you saying the things Bolero wrote are exactly what I would write?"
"Precisely."
Syrus couldn't believe this was happening. He expected this sort of thing from Zane, not his little sister.
"No wonder you've been looking at me weird," he sighed. "Okay, let's say I am the poet. How could I deliver the poems? Deep Cut's studio is well-guarded."
"Not well enough," Maya began pacing back and forth. "If Shiver is to be believed, Bolero managed to leave them on multiple days without being noticed. That takes skill. Alongside that, I rewatched the dance multiple times and analyzed Shiver's commentary, and she always pointed out how fluid Bolero could get down. I've seen you fight hundreds of times."
Maya paused and placed her hands on the table.
"As for getting in and out undetected, let me point out how easily Bolero got to safety. It wasn't even a contest. The only one I can think of with the skills and knowledge to do that is you, Syrus," Maya pointed at her older brother, "YOU are Bolero."
Another moment of silence filled the room. The only noise perceived was Ken happily munching on his food as he watched the sister present her case. All the while, the brother remained calm.
"I shouldn't have expected anything less from the imagination of a ten-year-old," he replied. "Your vocabulary is commendable though. Likewise, I commend you for your efforts, but let's go ahead and address the kraken in the room. How can I be Bolero when I was at work during the competition? Are you saying Uncle Tobias and I are liars?"
"No, I'm saying you and Luke are craftier than you look."
"Luke was nowhere near me."
"Just admit that you've been caught, Syrus. The faster we get this to Deep Cut, the less likely I'll be stuck with a Roller for a week."
The brother shook his head.
"That's your biggest concern?"
"Yes, I can't use Rollers. They're trash."
"Hey, Rollers can be very advantageous in the right hands. Every weapon has its perks."
"Oh yeah? Why do you hate Splatlings so much then? I'm a Hydra Splatling main."
"Too bulky, and I never said I hated the class. I said I prefer mobility over destructive capabilities, and the Stringer and Splatana classes offer more synergy with my style of combat."
Syrus mulled over the prosecutor's case.
"Even my own sister is against me," he groaned. "Never thought I'd see the day."
"I'm not hearing any counterarguments."
"Like I said, Luke was elsewhere while I was working."
Maya's smile widened.
"Let's ask him then."
Before Syrus could respond, a couple of knocks rapped at the front door.
"Maya! We're here!"
Syrus looked at his grinning sister.
"You're ganging up on me?"
"I'm laying all my cards on the table."
Syrus went to answer the door and was hugged by one of the visitors, who was a pair of twins. The boisterous one was a female Inkling with magenta hair done in a double bun and bright blue eyes.
"Huh?" She looked up, and her face brightened even more. "Oh! Hey, Syrus, what's up man?" she beamed.
"Isabella," he ruffled her hair. "Good to see you doing well. Where's Sophia?"
"H-Hello, Frater (brother)," the second guest peeked around the corner, her voice soft. She had the same magenta-colored hair and blue eyes, but her hair was done in a ponytail.
Syrus nodded, petting her on the head too.
"Good morning, Sophia."
"You off today, Syrus?" Isabella asked.
"I am, but there are some things I need to take care of today."
"I'm here, too," another voice spoke up.
An Octoling sharing many of Syrus' features approached the ex-soldier. He had the same red eyes as Syrus and an identical face, but he had yellow hair as opposed to Syrus' blue. He didn't have a scar like Syrus, but there was a significant one over his left eye, and to add to the similarities, he too had a pet Smallfry that popped out of the bag to see the scenery.
"Yo," he greeted his twin and shook hands.
Syrus leaned against the doorsill.
"She convinced you to come, huh, Luke?"
"Convinced? She yelled at me to hurry up. I barely finished feeding Levi."
"That's what that was? I thought she was yelling at Isabella."
"Great, everyone's here," Maya grabbed the twins and ushered them inside. "Luke and Syrus, take a seat."
She closed the door behind them and took a spot next to Sophia, who faced Syrus and nearly cowered from his hardened gaze.
"Alright, what's this about?" the blue-haired Octoling inquired.
Side by side, the two Octarians were two halves of a coin. Syrus appeared more serious while Luke was more laidback like Zane and smiling wide at the three prosecutors.
"F-Fratres (Brothers), I have the evidence to prove Syrus is Bolero in disguise!"
Sophia covered her mouth after shouting, but Maya encouraged her to stay strong.
"Et tu, Sophia?" the accused was appalled. "I expected this from Isabella."
"I-It's nothing personal, Frater Syrus. Please, don't hate me afterward, but I know you and Luke are in cahoots. I also know how you're able to make the plan work. You can't be in two places at the same time, but there is a way to make people believe it."
The boys let the girls get their thoughts in order.
"How's Zane? He told me you two made some new friends," Luke brought up.
"Yeah, we met them a couple of days ago while exploring. They're pretty cool. Zane fell in love with one of them at first sight though."
"For real?" the yellow-haired clone chuckled. "Woke up and decided he was going to shoot his shot."
"Right, and of course, I must play wing-ling. That's why I'm still here, well, besides this."
"Alright!" Maya clapped her hands to grab the boys' attention. "We're ready."
"Finally, I have places to be," Syrus stated.
"You hush and listen," his sister demanded. "Now, Sophia, the floor is yours."
The shy girl calmed her nerves.
"Right, here we go. First, I want to talk about your schedules. I know you and Luke work different shifts, but you tend to get their early, so it's possible for you and Luke to cross paths as he's leaving. During his shift, you, Syrus, already had the plan in mind, and Luke was good to go as your body double."
"Objection," Syrus stated. "We have one major facial feature that tells us apart, and regardless of any cover up, it's conspicuous."
Syrus gestured to his face, specifically the x-shaped scar between his eyes. Simultaneously, Luke pointed to the single scar over his eye, noting that there was no blemish between his eyes.
"Luke and I have different scars, and Grizzco prohibits the use of visors, so our faces are always exposed. It's impossible to miss our blemishes."
"You bring up a great argument, Frater," Sophia nodded. "And you're right. It is impossible to miss your scar, but let's say you gave your teammates a reason to avoid looking at you."
"You're grasping at straws now."
"Just humor me. Did you honestly want to compete in the contest?"
"Yes, I did. I knew I wasn't going to win, but I thought I'd give it a shot."
"I bet this upset you," Isabella commented.
"It did, and I was mad for the most part."
"And that's how you kept people away," Sophia stated. "The dark cloud above your head told people not to mess with you. That's all you needed. Luke, did you work every morning during Splatfest?"
"First and third day, yeah, but I was with you all during the second day," he answered.
"And because Luke already completed his shift, he agreed to cover yours so you could still perform," Maya spoke up. "He can easily copy your mannerisms so no one would suspect the swap, and just to make it easier, Isabella," she snapped her fingers.
The boisterous twin presented a container of blue ink to the yellow Octoling.
"Absorb the ink please."
Luke nonchalantly obliged and turned his yellow hair to blue like Syrus'. Now, the two looked even more alike.
"Uncanny, isn't it?" Maya smirked. "If I didn't know my brother, I'd say Luke was him."
"To make it more convincing," Sophia continued. "Luke kept his head down to simulate your aggravation. It's easy to tell when you're in a bad mood, and your intimidation will make it so that only Uncle Tobias would try to talk to you. You arrived at work early, and no one questioned it because they're used to that. Then, you met with Luke, swapped clothes, so one would notice, went to perform as Bolero, and after the dance, you hurried back to switch places, and no one figured it out."
Syrus and Luke let the words swirl around before clapping for the prosecutors. Both were impressed.
"I'm not saying you're right," Syrus told them. "I'm just amazed. You would make a fantastic detective, Sophia. As usual, your level of observation is highly formidable."
"That's for sure," Luke nodded.
She started to blush at the compliment.
"Although," both stopped clapping and spoke as one unit. "There is one teeny tiny hitch in your evidence."
"R-Really?" Sophia went pale.
"They're bluffing," Maya declared. "They knows we have 'em cornered."
"Auntie Olivia," Syrus called out, to which the girls raised a brow. "She trains the new additions and determines who follows who. Out of the Parental Four, she knows everyone the best. Every habit, every extension of their arsenal; Auntie can tell who is who based on body language."
Syrus folded his arms and leaned back in the couch.
"Do you all think that the wife of Uncle Tobias, my captain, wouldn't notice their squad members swapping places?"
Maya and the Inkling twins traded agape looks.
"Not to mention," Luke added his two coins, "Syrus would've had to leave Grizzco without fooling Captain Olivia, Uncle Tobias, AND Daddy Chase, run here to change clothes, and get into position. Everyone would've seen him. The streets are crammed during Splatfest. Eyes are everywhere."
Maya fell to her knees in defeat while Sophia lowered her head.
"In conclusion," Syrus rose from the couch. "Your case is incomplete."
Maya turned to her brother in disbelief.
"It can't be. All the pieces fit perfectly."
"You have the pieces, but you don't have the puzzle."
"Dang it!" the younger sibling pounded the floor, her hair turning to a fiery red. "We were so close!"
"Hold on," Sophia raised her head. There was a fire in her eyes the elder Octarians rarely saw in her. "I'm not giving up. I'll go back over the evidence. There might be something I missed."
"You're more than welcome to try," Syrus stated. "If that will be all, may we go now?"
"We'll get you next time, bro," Maya declared and ran to hug the boys.
The twins hugged them too.
"Yeah, that'll be the day," Syrus hugged them back. "Look out for yourselves and call if something comes up."
"Love you," the siblings said to each other.
Syrus whistled for the now well-fed Ken to take his spot in the bag and stepped out into the scorching Splatland's heat with Luke and his Smallfry, Levi, behind him.
Maya, Isabella, and Sophia watched the two leave before looking at each other.
"We're not giving up," Maya declared, pumping her fist. "We're gonna find out who Bolero is."
"Yeah!" the twins cheered and high-fived each other.
Xxx Bolero xxX
Three steps were a new record. It took Syrus three steps after leaving his apartment for someone to demand his unconditional surrender. The number of hunters grew every day, but there was something the hunters didn't know about Syrus.
He had crazy ideas.
After escaping more pursuers, separating from Luke, and giving many pursuers heart attacks, the ex-soldier rushed through the square into the pristine utopia that was Man-o'-Wardrobe, where the proprietor of the establishment, Jel La Fleur, greeted him in his usual posh tone.
"Ah, you are here, Syrus. Good. Although, I see you also brought your… companion with you."
Ken wailed in greeting.
"Ken is a good boy. I assure you. I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to see me."
Jel wouldn't openly admit it, but he held slight favoritism towards the ex-soldier. He was one of the jellyfish's most beloved customers.
"Your request seemed urgent, and I know you're a trustworthy shopper. I figured I could spare a few minutes to hear you out."
"And I'll make sure to express my gratitude properly. Long story short, I'm looking to have a dress made for a special friend, and you are the only one with the masterful technique needed to bring it to life. I can pay of course, and you need not worry about material or design. I already have everything you need."
It was normal for the denizens of Splatsville to request Jel's expertise. Being fashionable was hard at times.
"Allow me to see these materials," he requested.
Syrus obliged and pulled out a separate, smaller bag from his backpack.
Jel peeked inside the bag and found large spools of red and black fabrics. He examined them carefully, tracing his tentacles along the threads.
"Fascinating, and of such good quality. Splatlandians never cease to amaze."
"There's a project I'm working on, and this dress is crucial. I need it to be perfect."
Syrus took out a small notebook, flipped through its pages, and showed the jellyfish a drawing of a long two-tone dress mainly colored black with red highlights.
"Hmm, I admire your taste. Nothing too flamboyant but still striking, especially with these subdued colors."
"My friend doesn't know about this, and I would like for no one to lay eyes upon it until the designated time. I understand you already have enough work to oversee, and I certainly don't mean to rush you, but, if possible, do you think you can have it ready within a month?"
Jel La Fleur held back a scoff. Even if his clientele was one of his favorite shoppers, Jel maintained his professionalism.
"What kind of question is that? I am Jel La Fleur!" he declared proudly. "There is no artistic vision I cannot bring to fruition! I will take on your request and make sure your friend looks radiant."
Jel ushered Syrus to follow him.
"Come, there is much to discuss."
Xxx Bolero xxX
After finally finishing his errands, the secret agent arrived back at Alterna. Upon his arrival, he was greeted by Captain Clora and Agent 2.
"There you are," the white-haired agent walked up to him. "Are you okay?"
"For the time being," Syrus grumbled as they walked to the campsite. "Sorry to keep you waiting. I had some important errands to take care of first. It doesn't help when you're constantly being shot at."
"According to Agent 7, people get shot all the time. I don't know what to think about that."
"Splatsville is inhabited by rival gangs. Turf wars become more literal at times, but we're smart enough to settle disputes at designated areas. People also used to value an Octoling's life, but everything changed when the bounty was declared. I'm fine though. Stealth and evasion have always been my strong points."
"Feel free to catch your breath. Agent 1 and Agent 7 are exploring the second island for more sardinium. We're way ahead of schedule, so no need to push yourself."
Syrus exhaled.
"Roger," he adjusted his bag and let Ken roam the site. "While I have you here, there is something I need to ask, Marie."
Clora's posture straightened up, but she was not quick enough to warn Agent 2 in time.
"What is it?"
Clora pinched the skin between her eyes as Agent 2 realized her confirmation.
"Wait!"
"Hmm, did not think that would work," Syrus said.
The girls shared another look. There was no use hiding it.
"How long?" the white-haired squid inquired.
"Since I first laid eyes on you. I knew you and Agent 1 looked familiar. Not many squids have hair color as rare as you and Agent 1. The first squids who came to mind were Callie and Marie of the Squid Sisters. Put two and two together and well…"
"You don't seem all that surprised," Agent 2 pointed out.
"Oh, I'm very surprised, but that's a discussion for another time. I wanted to ask about the other agents. Old man Cuttlefish mentioned an Agent 4, 5, 6, and 8. Will we meet them at some point?"
"After our Alterna mission is over," Clora spoke up. "You boys are doing well, so I believe the five of us can manage just fine without extra backup. Once everything settles down, I'll see about letting them visit."
Syrus stretched and watched Ken roam freely.
"I'm looking forward to it. Now, there's an important topic I need to discuss with you, captain."
Clora gave 3 her undivided attention, her brow rising as the male agent pulled out a folder and handed it to her.
She looked at him, saw him nod, and looked inside. The folder consisted of a few documents and a picture of another Octoling who looked much like Syrus.
It was Luke.
"Luke? Your friend, right?"
"Yes, I would like you two to meet. He's very dependable and highly skilled in combat, and I believe he would make a great agent."
"Why are you showing me this?"
"On the off chance I can't be here, I know someone who can fill my spot and help Agent 7. He also has a pet Smallfry, so clearing the fuzzy ooze won't be an issue, and as I said, his combat skills are commendable."
Captain Clora examined the documents and photo again. It amazed her how professional her fellow agent was. It was strange, but she admired the attention to detail.
"I will take it into consideration," she replied.
"Thank you, captain. I owe you one."
"You can start by getting a move on. I want the second site cleared today and the signal investigated."
Agent 3 whistled Ken back to his backpack.
"Consider it done. By the way, Callie is single, right?"
Marie hesitated to answer. She had been watching Agent 7 critically to make sure he wasn't just some punk squid trying to get handsy with her cousin.
"She is," she said, trying not to sound irritated.
"Just making sure. Is dating allowed within the Splatoon?"
"If it doesn't affect the team or hinder performance," Clora responded sternly.
"Not a problem."
Syrus made sure he had everything and bid the ladies farewell, super jumping to the start of the second site.
"He's starting to scare me," Marie commented after he left.
"Reconnaissance is standard procedure for him," the captain replied. "Frankly, I like the formality. I can only imagine how he behaves at home."
Marie had no arguments, but a tiny smirk adorned her face.
"He's the only one to figure it out on his own."
"Hush," Clora looked away, grumbling how it took her months to figure out their secret.
Xxx Bolero xxX
Agent 3 landed at his destination and began scouting. Some of the kettles have been worked on, and the fuzzy ooze had been pushed back to the central tower. Everywhere else was clean.
"Good job, Zane," Syrus said aloud. "You have your priorities straight."
"You say that like I'm a slacker."
Agent 7 addressed the blue-haired Octoling with a toothy grin. Not too far behind, Agent 1 waved excitedly to the ex-soldier.
"Took you long enough," she remarked. "What happened?"
Syrus had to refrain from using her real name.
"Apologies, I was being prosecuted by my little sister and her friends."
Zane looked confused. "Maya did? I didn't expect her to turn against you. What did you do?"
"According to them, I'm the poet leaving Frye love letters; therefore, they now believe I am Bolero."
"… Are you?" Agent 1 inquired.
"While I do occasionally write poems, I am not Bolero. I couldn't be, but my sister thinks otherwise. She had this whole court spiel ready. She even had our pal, Luke, stop by to prove it. Then, I had to evade everyone who wanted to shoot me. Anyway," he sighed. "I'm alright. Did anything exciting happen after I left?"
"Zane showed us the videos. I see why everyone's so hyped. If I was whisked away like that, I'd be head over heels too," Agent 1 sighed and then got serious. "You can't let Bolero win though, Agent 3. You still have a chance to win Frye over."
"I recall not saying I liked her in that manner."
"You didn't deny it either," she countered. "Love is my forte, and as a maiden of love, I promise to help you guys get your girls."
Syrus didn't want to dim Agent 1's glow, so he chose not to retort.
"We'll happily accept your guidance," Agent 7 said.
"That's the spirit; don't be afraid to ask for help. I'll leave you two to your business, but be careful. I'm going to hand Agent 2 the other sardinium. We'll have your hero suits looking better than ever."
The female agent winked and went about her business.
All the while, Zane had a big dumb goofy smile on his face as he watched her leave.
"This is why I'm glad you did your job," Syrus said.
"Dude," he slung his arm around Syrus' shoulder. "She's an angel. After you left, we hung out the entire time. She's been doing this agent work for a long time now."
"I'll admit, she's a sweet girl. I see why you're so infatuated. I'm just glad you're getting to know delightful girls instead of the gunslingers we have in Splatsville. You owe me though. She is single, and the captain said dating is permitted so long as it doesn't hinder team dynamics."
Zane jumped in excitement.
"Leave it to you, bro."
The Inkling calmed down.
"Okay, I cleared most of the kettles except for like three small ones. Ken ate his fair share of the fuzzy ooze. Only spot left untouched is the tower."
The boys got to work. Agent 7 showed 3 around the site and noted the more noteworthy spots. After that, they dove into the first incomplete kettle.
Xxx Bolero xxX
She was astonished by the vastness of the underground. There was much to explore and a lot of treasure to claim.
Frye's eyes widened as she heard the omniscient A.I blurt out an order.
"Unauthorized personnel prohibited beyond this point," it stated.
Frye laughed, liking how passive aggressive the robot was. However, this meant visitors have entered the chamber.
A huge smile spread across her face as she got into position. She knew who was coming, and her three hearts began to race at the prospect of another challenge.
When she first arrived, she instantly fell in love with the place. The massive platform and huge surround sound speaker could provide Frye with the best dance party the world had ever seen.
Unfortunately, O.R.C.A must've read her mind because she told the idol the exact same thing about unauthorized personnel.
Her favorite part of the chamber was the huge vault that remained locked. Frye's treasure hunting senses flared up to eleven, desperately wanting to know what sacred gift was waiting for her.
She chose to focus on the intruders at hand. There was an Octoling to question.
From her perch high above the platform, she could see the two Splatlandian agents peer out into the inner chamber.
She disregarded Zane and set her sights on Syrus. It was hard to tell with his visor in the way, but he was preoccupied on the vault, and Frye knew he was up to something.
Her mind raced as she considered her options. Confrontation was inevitable. She and Deep Cut made it clear no mercy would be shown.
Frye watched Syrus land on the platform.
'Perfect.'
O.R.C.A's voice rang out as she answered the boys' inquiry. Zane couldn't use the launchpad.
"For this challenge, the goal is to fight your way to the exit. Both challengers have taken their position."
Frye snapped her fingers.
'Let's get this party started!'
Above the vault door were monitors that suddenly displayed video. Some of them had the Deep Cut logo while others had a picture of a moray eel.
It was her time to shine.
"'BOUT TIME YOU CAME!"
Frye descended from the heavens and stood before the Octoling with a confident smile on her pretty face.
"I've been waiting for you, Syrus. Did you miss me?"
The Octoling couldn't help but smile back.
"More than you know. It's a pleasure to see you again, but I didn't think you'd be so eager either. Did I make that good of a first impression?"
Frye giggled.
"You can say that, but don't get it twisted," the idol assumed a fighting stance. "I wasn't satisfied with our last talk. You're up to somethin', and it looks like I have to beat it out of ya. This time, no one can interrupt."
"If you wanted to talk to me, all you had to do was ask. I'm not hard to find. Unfortunately, I'm afraid now isn't the time for chitchat. I have a mission to complete. If you wish to dance, I will not hold back."
Frye was hoping he'd say that.
"That makes two of us. I don't wanna waste time either, so just make things easier on yourself and spill the ink. I can tell you're tough. If you give me what I want, I'll let you join my crew and we can split the treasure. Whaddya say? Deal?"
"Your offer is very tempting, but I have to decline," he answered. "Although, I suppose I might know a thing or two."
"I knew it!" Frye stomped the ground. "You do know who Bolero is!"
"Maybe. Maybe not," Agent 3 taunted. "If you can show me the fire that Bolero lit inside you, I might sing for you."
Frye revealed her teeth. No punches were thrown, but they were already deep in the midst of battle.
"I don't think you can handle my flare. If Bolero couldn't douse my fire, you definitely can't."
Syrus didn't back down. He removed his visor and put it in his bag for safekeeping. He wanted to fight the idol with his own eyes.
"Then I'll accomplish that which even he was unable to do. But, I would hate to defile that beautiful face of yours."
This caused the idol to explode in a hearty chortle.
"Why does this feel so familiar? Seriously, who are you?"
"As of now, I'm the new Agent 3 of the New Squidbeak Splatoon. Back when I was in the Octarian military, my codename was Phantom, but for you, I'd prefer if you just call me, Syrus."
"Did he rehearse this or something?" Agent 2 commented.
"Dude works in mysterious ways," was all Zane could say.
Frye punched the inside of her hand.
"Fine by me, Syrus. We'll do this the fun way… DANCE BATTLE TO THE DEATH!" she pulled out her pungi flute and played a beautiful tune. "Eels, get your wriggly butts out here!"
From seemingly nowhere, a yellow-faced, void-eyed Octostomp rolled into Frye's blind spot, but without worry, the idol leaped high into the air and landed on the cube's top as it came to a stop.
"You're not just facing the eel deal! I'm the current heiress of the Onaga Clan! I'll see if you're worthy to dance on the same stage as me!"
Three giant moray eels burst from the yellow ink and shook the chamber from their ferocious screech.
Syrus' expression turned cold. He was ready for battle.
"HUP, HUP, HUP! LET'S DANCE!"
The cube stood on its corners and started spinning at full tilt. On the tip stood Frye, whose flawless form bounced as she played elegantly on her flute. Despite the swift rotation of the cube, the ebony idol maintained perfect posture and concentration.
Syrus admired her even more.
"Third dance! Hundred-Eel Vision!" the idol chanted.
Her army of eels slithered out of the Octostomp and swam through the air. They hovered in formation, locked eyes on the target, and began spewing bullets of ink at the enemy.
Agent 3 evaded, proving to be more agile than Frye anticipated. His eyes darted back and forth, and his counter shots flew true. Amongst the chaos, the secret agent saw through the illusion in Frye's tactics. He disappeared into his ink and swam around the battlefield. Hopping out randomly, he sniped two different eels, one without the black mask, and one with the mask.
The maskless eel simply vanished in a puff of smoke. However, the one with the mask sped back to their master and cowered into the yellow cube, and the force of their return coerced the massive Octostomp to shake violently. In turn, the dancing idol staggered slightly.
"Saw through my dance, huh?" Frye braced herself for the next impact. Her main eels were dealt with in quick fashion, but it wasn't enough to deluge the smoldering flame of her dancing vehemence.
"Don't get ahead of yourself! This is only the beginning!"
The remaining eels vanished.
"Mixing it up! Let's see you handle this, hotshot!"
Frye switched up the melody.
"First dance, Eel Downpour!"
The sky grew dark as the eel army took its place high above the arena.
"Devour your prey, guys!"
Like Tenta Missles, the serpents cascaded upon Syrus.
The ex-soldier stayed on the move, expertly weaving around the wriggly snakes and their tenacious bite. His Octarian nickname showed its colors as he mysteriously vanished from the eels' vision. One spot him, dove to attack, but would be assaulted by an unforeseeable arrow.
'He moves fast.' Frye commented, colored impressed he was able to stay calm under the pressure. 'Flexible too.'
Syrus leaped out of his ink and surprised the idol with a well-placed shot to her perch that forced her to dodge.
"GAH! WHAT GIVES?!"
With the final eel slamming into the Octostomp, the massive cube came to a complete halt as Frye steadied herself.
Meanwhile, Syrus fired several more shots and created a line of blue ink leading up to his opponent's position. He dove into the blue goo and surged up the trail, popping out at the top, and pulling back on his Tri-Stringer to take Frye out, but his shot missed its mark as Frye twirled out of the way and distanced herself from the subsequent explosion.
Syrus landed on the head of the Octostomp and was immediately attacked by the ebony idol. Frye used her pungi as a bat to assault the Octarian.
Agent 3 blocked with his bow.
The adversaries were face-to-face.
"Did you think I'd go down that easily?" Frye spun her instrument between her fingers. "You're making fun of me, Syrus, and I don't like that!"
Frye was relentless. Her strikes were stronger than her slender and lithesome body would have one believe.
Syrus parried each blow, his arms tingling from every heavy swing. He was driven to the edge.
Frye roared. "THIS! IS! MY STAGE!" and stabbed at him.
With a quick spin, Syrus evaded his opponent and threw out a kick to send her off, but the idol displayed more of her athleticism and somersaulted over the counter, performing multiple backflips to gain some space.
'Yes! YES! I'm having so much fun!'
Frye pounced on her prey.
On top of the Octostomp, the two exchanged a flurry of attacks, dancing around the other's guard, but couldn't gain the upper hand. Somehow, their feet didn't get tangled and offset their balance. They were two halves of the same whole, dancing in perfect harmony. The compatibility was not lost on them.
"You're amazing, Syrus!" Frye stated with a dangerous glint in her eyes.
"As are you, Frye," he used his arm to defend against a roundhouse kick aimed at his head.
In the exchange, Syrus' Tri-Stringer was kicked out of his hand and launched skyward.
"Run those hands," Frye demanded and continued her assault.
She didn't expect her opponent to change his fighting stance and attack her with a series of quick but well-placed jabs. One socked her across the face, and another drove itself into her stomach.
Frye buckled under the impact and felt the air escape her nonexistent lungs.
Syrus had the advantage. He leaped forward and brought his knee up to her chin.
"Gah!" Frye was sent flying off the cube.
The ebony idol crashed into the ground and rolled a few feet away.
Without a moment's hesitation, Syrus dashed forward and picked up his Tri-Stringer. Pointing it at Frye, he pulled the trigger and unleashed a barrage of ink bullets.
But Frye had one final trick up her sleeve.
"Second Dance! Moray Whirlpool!"
The air erupted with a grandiose display of light and sound. Frye's eel army raced around the Octostomp at high speeds, creating yellow rings to encase the cube and save their master from Syrus' projectiles.
Before he was completely encompassed, Syrus jumped off the Octostomp and shot the ground beneath him, preparing a pool of ink to dive into.
"This ain't over yet!" Frye stated.
She climbed on top of her eels and rode them around the battlefield. Her army lowered to the ground and swam in an ever-expanding circle. They forced Syrus out of hiding and set to sink their teeth into his squishy flesh.
Narrowly escaping the jaws of death, Syrus tried to think of a counterattack. His mind went into overdrive as he deftly evaded the eels and shot down the ones with masks. His foe didn't let up. He tried to catch his breath, but the eels refused to give him a chance.
"Grind this fool into PASTE!" the charmer ordered.
Syrus took off in the opposite direction of the whirlpool and deployed a couple of splat bombs. The explosions served to open a gap in the vortex, giving him room to rush back to the idle Octostomp.
"You can't run from me, Syrus!"
Frye broke away and chased down the Octoling.
"Your luck just ran out!"
The idol's mount opened its mouth wide, letting a loud screech blare in Syrus' ears.
Agent 3 was panting, but his mind was an impenetrable fortress, focused and strong. He had another plan.
He clutched another explosive tightly in his hand.
'Abeamus! (Let's go!)'
He jumped forward and pivoted. Time seemed to slow down as Frye spotted the splat bomb being tossed into her eel's wide-open mouth. There was no time to warn it, and a curse rose in the dancing gangster's throat as the eel ate the bomb and simultaneously rammed Syrus into the Octostomp.
Multiple events occurred in the span of a few seconds after the explosion erupted. Frye was blown away and thrown to the floor, the eel was completely decimated by the bomb's blast, and Syrus was slammed into the broad side of the Octostomp, the air expunged from his body.
As the impact left them motionless, the cephalopods felt their worlds go dark.
"Agent 3!" Agent 1 cried out. "Are you alright?! Agent 3!"
"Syrus!" Zane shouted, gripping the railing with all his strength.
Neither responded.
Ken, miraculously surviving throughout the whole ordeal, crawled out of the comfort of the backpack and cried out for his caretaker. The Smallfry tried multiple tactics. He bounced on the agent's back, slapped him with his flippers, but it wasn't until he bumped Syrus several times did the Octoling finally react.
Syrus stirred. He could barely hear his teammates and little buddy call out to him. Trying to stand, a sharp, searing pain ran through his body and forced him down.
'Quod malum (That hurt.)'
Light returned to his world. The first thing he saw was Ken bobbing up and down beside him. He could also hear his fellow agents inquire about his well-being.
"I'm… fine," he grunted.
With enough effort, the Octarian managed to get to his knees and then to his feet. His body staggered, threatening to fall, but the agent carried on.
Syrus picked up his little buddy and soothed his worries, petting him gently.
"I'm alright, Ken. Your guardian is tougher than he looks."
"I'll say," he heard Frye speak.
She was several feet away, kneeling on one knee, and looking at him with a look in her eyes he couldn't decipher.
"Not afraid to hit a girl I see."
Syrus sighed, and yet, he laughed at the situation.
"When your military mainly comprises of female soldiers, you either grow past certain gender roles or be a punching bag. I chose to fight. Besides, Splatlandians aren't afraid of anything."
"You're Cod damn right, hot shot. I guess you can tango with the best after all, but I'm not through with you yet. Let's mix it up one more time."
Syrus grabbed his bow and whistled Ken back into the bag.
Frye readied her flute.
"End this, eels... Final dance, Great Moray Transformation."
Syrus burned the beautiful scene of Frye's summons coming to life, globules of yellow ink dancing around her like raindrops as the army of serpents assumed a fish-like formation and set their sights on the panting Octoling.
One eel broke formation and went to Frye's side, carrying her back to the top of the Octostomp, where she performed with the remaining embers of her passion.
"Great," Syrus mumbled. "Here we go again."
He prepared himself.
"Make those eels squeal!" yelled Captain Clora, unable to keep silent any longer.
Syrus nodded.
"Sir yes sir."
The eels charged at the Octoling. Their first attack failed with their prey diving out of their reach, and on the second attempt, the target managed to eliminate two of the masked eels before seemingly disappearing in the rampage.
Syrus gritted his teeth. He stifled a painful groan as he fired his Stringer. He moved with agility, but he was struggling. His legs were about to give out. The intense sting from the eel's bite was a poison sapping at his strength.
'Mane in digitos tuos. Iuppiter ne perdas. (Stay on your toes. Don't lose focus.)'
Frye knew the battle had to end. It was a shame. She was having too much fun with the soldier. Her opinion of him skyrocketed.
"Hard to believe you were right here this entire time."
She heard the bursts from her eels popping and prepared for the final confrontation.
Syrus swam back to the top of the Octostomp and saw Frye waiting for him. She was equally tired. The constant dancing, playing, and fighting finally caught up to her.
"I hate our fun has to end. I like playing with you," she admitted. "You know how to show a girl a good time."
Syrus smiled.
"I was hoping to share the stage with you last week. You have no idea how upset that made me."
Frye gave the Octoling a wink.
"Glad to make it up to ya. Let me ask you somethin'. Do you know why I hosted a dance tournament?"
His Octarian habit of tilting his head shined through as he contemplated the question.
"I thought it was just for fun. You are known for your dancing spells."
Frye shook her head, chuckling at the response.
"Shiver says a lot of things. She ain't wrong though. I do love to dance. It's the same reason we're after the treasure," she said.
This was new information.
"And what would that be if you don't mind me asking?" Syrus inquired.
However, the idol wouldn't divulge that information willingly.
"That's for us to know. I won't lie though. I think you're amazing. Now I really hate I couldn't crush you in the dance off. If you dance as well as you fight, you might give me a run for my coins."
Syrus was happy to have received Frye's praise.
"Think I can beat Bolero?"
The idol crossed her arms and scrunched up her face.
"Hmmm, maybe. Then again, Bolero does know the ancient dance of Salsa and Tango. That's a hard combo to beat, even for me. Sorry, cutie, you're gonna have to settle for third."
The Octoling sighed.
"Oh well, at least I can take gold when I beat you here."
His opponent sneered at the comment.
"Don't flatter yourself. I'm still burning everything to the third degree."
Syrus secured his bow to his back, a notion that made Frye weary and excited.
The rivals mustered enough strength to run. They closed the distance and began another dance of close-quarters combat.
Frye still had her instrument and used it as an extension of herself while Syrus stuck to his refined martial arts.
The former jumped back and rushed forward with a side sumersault and then went for a double dropkick, aiming to knock the Octoling flat out.
Syrus dropped low to the ground in a split, feeling the force of Frye's strike whizz over his head as she landed behind him. The ex-soldier then stood on his hands and gyrated around, throwing his leg out, and knocking Frye's balance off track before she could find stability.
"WHOA!" she yelped and fell on her back.
As quick as she fell, she felt the weight of Syrus pin her down. She opened her eyes to see three arrows aimed at her head. She tried to move, but her arms were pinned by the archer's legs.
"Checkmate," he stated.
She couldn't muster the strength to throw him off, and her flute was stolen by his pet Smallfry.
She had no other choice.
"… You win," she conceded.
Syrus breathed a sigh of relief. He removed himself off her person and extended a hand to help her up.
Frye hesitantly accepted. It was bad to accept the enemy's pity.
She didn't enjoy the sensation of their hands touching for long and drew it back.
"Thank you for a fun fight," Syrus said. "Ken, give her back the flute."
The Smallfry set the flute on the floor and returned to his caretaker's side.
Frye should be angry she lost the fight, but it didn't affect her as much. She was satisfied with the fight. She gave it everything she had.
"I was right about you. You're very tough," she complimented her adversary, giving him that indecipherable look again. "I hate you're playing for the wrong side, but maybe you can entertain me again next time."
"Looking forward to it," Syrus nodded towards her. "Maybe I'll have a few new moves to show you."
"Don't get smug. You haven't heard the last of Deep Cut. Bet you'll miss me."
Before she could leave, Syrus grabbed her hand.
"Wait, I have a favor to ask."
"What? That wasn't part of the deal."
"Humor me."
Frye was skeptical, but deep down, she wanted to enjoy another chat.
"What is it?" she obliged.
Syrus let go of her hand.
"I need your help with a project I'm working on."
This piqued her interest.
"What project?"
"I can't say just yet. I'm still working on the ins and outs, but when I have everything prepared, I want you to be my partner."
It was a sudden request, and Frye was more inclined to refuse. She had no reason to team up with the enemy, and there were more important issues to focus on.
The enigmatic dancer continued to elude her. Part of her was hoping Syrus knew anything, but he was too tight lipped. During their fight though, she noticed a couple of things.
"Question," she huffed. "How long have you been in Splatsville?"
Syrus tilted his head for a second.
"About eight years. I lived in Splatsville for a short time."
'That's plenty of time.'
Frye crossed her arms and looked Syrus up and down with a scrupulous eye.
"A'ight, I'll help you, but this doesn't mean we're allies. Step up to me again, and I'll make you pay."
The two shook hands, their agreement solidified. However, Syrus wasn't satisfied with a simple farewell, but before he could act, Frye dropped another smoke bomb and disappeared from the chamber in a less than stellar fashion. The bomb sent her flying out of the room.
After the battle was over, Agent 7 was able to use the launchpad to fly over and check up on his friend.
"You okay?"
"Yeah," he gave one last big exhale. "I'm good. Tired and sore, but I'm good. I haven't fought that hard in a while."
"Great, but that awesome, man. I haven't seen you fight that hard in a minute."
The boys jumped down from the cube.
"She pushed me to my limit. I thought I was a goner a couple of times," Agent 3 replied. "The other part was us relieving some… unspoken tension."
Agent 7 frowned. "Unspoken tension?"
"That's the only way I can describe it."
"Yeah, your conversation can confirm, and what's this big project you got lined up? I don't remember you mentioning it to me."
"We would also like to know," Agent 1 interjected.
"Later," said the Octoling. "The door is opening."
The vault door hissed and revealed its contents. A bridge extended from the arena to the vault, allowing Agent 3 and Agent 7 to proceed. Inside, a beam of light peered down from the heavens and enveloped what appeared to be a blue-colored frame of sorts in its magnificent glow.
"The shell is that?" Agent 7 inquired.
"It's got the same reading as Gramps. Well… you fought for it, Agent 3, so nab it anyway," Agent 2 said.
Agent 7 tested the weight. It wasn't as heavy as he expected.
"We can move this easily, but how are we gonna get it back to camp?"
"O.R.C.A., may we have your assistance please?"
"Affirmative."
Xxx Bolero xxX
Frye collapsed to the ground with a massive "Phew," leaving her lips.
She rolled on her back and peered up at the pseudo sky as her body recovered from her recent brawl.
"What happened to you?"
Shiver stood over her, giving Frye a look over, and noting the rough shape of her body.
"I had a little too much fun," she grinned. "He's stronger than I thought. Kneed the taste out my mouth."
"Syrus? He did what?" Shiver frowned, collapsing her fan.
"Don't worry about it," Frye tried to mitigate her best friend's anger. "I got in a few licks myself. He ain't walking out of her without some help."
"Hmph, I'm still going to give him a piece of my mind when I see him."
"Dude's a beast. He said he used to be in the Octarian military."
"That explains a lot. He does behave more like a soldier than a rowdy punk. Did they take the treasure?"
Frye sighed, which told Shiver everything.
"A minor setback," the blue-haired Octoling stated. "Big Man and I already located two more good spots. We just have to get through that fuzzy abomination."
Frye groaned in response.
"Don't worry, we'll make it. We've come this far, no way we're giving up now."
The two friends shared a laugh.
"Call it a day?" Shiver suggested.
"Yeah, I think I need it. Just leave me here. I'll catch up with you guys soon."
Shiver nodded and left Frye to her devices.
She was alone now, but she was content. The fight was a reminder of why she planned that tournament in the first place.
Frye closed her eyes and let her mind wander. She was thinking about the mysterious dancer, Bolero, and the hot shot secret agent, Syrus. Two different adversaries who pushed her to the limit, and yet, she was sure they were connected somehow. It had to be a coincidence someone of equal abilities showed up shortly after Bolero appeared.
'Same vibes, same level of remarks, and facts still point Syrus away from Bolero. There must be something else.'
She had to hope Bolero paid her a visit soon.
Until then, Frye would bide her time and prepare herself for whatever project Syrus had in the works.
She smiled, feeling a little bit better.
'A little more chaos could do me some good.'