Chapter 1: Adaption
Summary:
The Squid Sisters and Captain talk about what is eating at her. However, Agent Three has an accident.
Notes:
Neo/New Agent 3= Sage
Captain= Brook
Agent 5= Elly
Agent 8= Willow
Agent 4= Clover
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
The new Captain listened as Agent Three entered another kettle. She heard it whistle, then silence with the sounds of Alterna echoed. Captain slouched, letting out a sigh.
Marie tapped her earpiece, silencing her comms so Agent Three wouldn’t hear. “What’s up with you?” Marie asked, putting herself in front of the younger inkling.
Captain scrunched her face, struggling to find the words. I’m supposed to be leading, aren't I? Why can’t I say anything to the new recruit’s face..?
“Don’t play the silent game with me, Brook. What’s going on?” Marie leaned closer, making it hard to back down from the question.
Captain hugged her arms close to herself, insecure. “It’s… nothing important…”
Marie creases her brow. “Bullshit. Is it about Agent Three?”
Brook looked away. “I don’t know.. maybe.”
“You know you aren’t in the condition to be doing agent work again. You have limits to listen to. Don’t go beating yourself up because it’s not you out there. We had this discussion many times.”
Man she saw right through me… “I can- I can handle some kettles, Marie. Why am I even letting this happen? I’m in charge.” Brook stood from her perch and paced back and forth. Marie watched, knowing full-well to let her talk.
“I hate sitting here and listening as this noobie does all the work. I hate that my body is half as strong as it used to be. I hate it when Three is trying to have a conversation and I just- don’t do anything and let you guys fill in the blanks for me. Why is her agent number Three!? That was my number. It’s weird calling her that. Why does Cuttlefish trust me so much with this?” Brook lowered her voice, taking off her hat and staring at it. “Why was it me..? I’m not the same as when I joined. I guess that is a bit of a good thing, but..”
Brook squeezed the hat in some anger but slowly released it as tears started to form. She sat back down, placing the Captain hat aside. She had this talk with Willow before, but it looks like her confidence died along with the latter’s disappearance.
Brooks' ear twitched at the sound of footsteps. She knew who it was. Callie stopped infront of her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“It was you he wanted because you have the best experience in the NSS. You're not popular like us. You have tons of combat skills. You have good leadership. You just don’t believe in yourself like we do. I know you miss Agent Four and Eight, but we all have our duties right now.” Callie moved her hand to tilt the inkling's head up to look at her. “As for her name, we recycle agent numbers when there isn’t a use for it. You got promoted. You are not an agent anymore. You're much more. We know you would like to do something more in the field, but you gotta stay here. You know why.”
Brook winced at the memory. The recovery after Tartar’s attempt was a grueling one. Once she got back on her feet and became a bodyguard for the Squid Sisters, the trauma she dealt with over the years came back to haunt her once again; another relapse.
Marie came forwards and placed the Captain hat back on Brook’s head. “You have a good strategy, now. You have us. I know the backline is rough, but you’ll be there when Agent Three needs you. Be the Captain you wanted to have around.”
Brook lowered her gaze. “What if… Something happens and they get hurt? Being a new agent is weighing. I should know. Four does…”
“Three wanted to be a part of this. You and the others did too. We know the sacrifices. Sage knows and she is still here. You need to get out of your head.” Callie placed a hand on her other shoulder. “When have you taken a break, Brook? Ever since Agent Four and Eight went missing, you haven’t relaxed since, have you?”
“I-… This is more important. There's something going on. And I’m the Captain, so I’m now responsible for everything.”
The Squid Sisters shared a look, one she knew all too well. A cousin to cousin talk in their minds.
“Stop- stop doing that.“
Callie smirked, leaning into her space. She felt like she was about to fall off the box she was sitting on but Callie leaned back. Brook didn’t have time to consider why before Marie slipped behind her and held her arms down in place.
“Fucking- what are you two doing?!” She struggled against Marie but the Squid Sister held tighter as Callie leaned in again.
“You need to talk.” Callie replied, cupping Brooks cheek.
She blinked, frozen. “I-I just did though.”
“No. That was the surface. What’s really going on here?” Callie rubbed her cheek with a thumb. It reminded her of…
A stray tear hit the ground. No. Don’t cry. Don’t. Marie stopped holding her hostage and turned her grip into a hug. Callie smiled at her softly, joining in.
Fuck. Brook tried to struggle away but it was a helpless endeavor. Why do they always know..? She stopped struggling, letting it happen as silent tears rolled down her face.
“You need to stop thinking everything is on you. We are here to help you, so let us—as a team. And one day, Eight and Four will come back, Gramps and Agent Three. Just chill out, okay?” Callie whispered.
“... Mhm…” The two let go, Marie handing her a handkerchief. The Captain whipped her eyes and relaxed in her spot.
Callie smiled and turned away, Agent Three was on the comms. She was in a kettle with a maze—simple enough. Nothing but a headache can go wrong with a maze. However…
For the last few minutes, Sage was complaining about the music and the level—seems she doesn't like enclosed areas. She was probably claustrophobic, if Brook had to guess. The three of them heard a pained high pitched-grunt and a thud. Then air passed. Then another thud.
Callie replied first “Wow, hey- Are you okay, Agent Three?” Marie immediately looked at the testing cameras. The maze was now on its side, meaning she had to paint the walls to swim up. Agent Three seemed to have fallen a good distance on her side, not a great position to land. She was shaking as she tried to stand but ultimately settled on her knees. The Captain heard panicked breathing through the comms as the agent clenched the sides of her head. Brook fixed her gaze at the scene. Then she saw why: Three’s hearing aids were scattered on the ground where she layed.
Fuck fuck- “Her ear things came off..” She remembered Marie mentioning she had hyperacusis: an overwhelming sense of hearing that can lead to pain and panic attacks. The level’s music must have been too overwhelming for her without the aids in.
“Sage?”
“Shit! We need to get to her!” Marie looked at Callie with urgency. Callie immediately ran and super jumped away.
“Fuck…” Captain stood up and started after Callie. She knew that jumping was a restriction, plus Callie would definitely beat her anyways. Marie ran up behind her with a medical box.
“Squid. Now.” She didn’t hesitate as she shifted. Marie scooped her up and started after Callie “Hold on.” Marie readied a super jump to the kettle.
A slight headache formed as they landed but Brook ignored it. They saw Callie already vanishing into the kettle.
Damn it. Damn it!
Marie made it to the kettle and jumped in, arriving at the scene.
“Let us in, Orca! She is hurt!” Callie yelled as Lil’ Buddy, who had been waiting for Sage to come back, kept running and bumping against the glass doors where Sage entered before.
“Subject can not have outside help,” It droned.
Brook wiggles out of Marie’s grip as she shifts back to humanoid form, putting her face to the glass in worry.
Agent Three was now fully collapsed on the ground, paralyzed with all the noise as her form shook, eyes closed tight and both hands almost clawing at her ears now.
Sage…
“We need to get in. How!?” Callie frantically looks around, looking down at Lil’ Buddy. She crouched down to stop his attempt to break the glass. He tried to wiggle out of her hold but gave up as he caught his breath. That little guy usually didn't have any thoughts behind those eyes, but his panic was clear; Sage meant a lot to him.
“Turn your comms off. She is already overwhelmed.” Captain started to punch the glass doors as Callie turned hers off, hugging the salmonid close to her chest to keep him from banging against the wall more.
“Cap- Your gonna-“ Marie warned.
“Shut up! She needs us!” Panicked adrenaline pushed through her as she charged a special. Let me in, bitch! I broke through a glass blender. This is not gonna fucking stop me- Once she heard the familair chime, she put it all in her right arm. A tornado of ink swirled around her arm as she punched the glass, breaking it. Brook fell off balance but stood up shakily as the Squid Sisters' shock only lasted a moment before running in, as well to help the Captain up.
“We got to super jump to the other side!” Callie called, “Sis, hold on to me!” Brook nodded, turning into a squid and shutting her eyes as the two cousins jumped. Brook felt dizziness hit her like a truck and Callie seemed to have noticed.
They landed and Callie sat her down. “Stay here, you can't match Sage’s ink to climb anyways.”
Brook wanted to ignore that but she was right. Plus she felt very dizzy right now. She only semi-nodded as the cousins and the salmonid made it up to where Sage was.
Callie sat Neo up in her lap as Marie put her plugs back in, hoping she would be okay enough to tell O.R.C.A to stop the level, but she only stopped shaking and went limp.
A dinging alarm went off—O.R.C.A seeming to realize the agent's vitals. “Sensors have detected an ‘unconscious’ subject. Enemies being deactivated. All foreign organisms will be teleported to lobby in T-minus three seconds.”
Wha- In an instant, they all were back at the lobby. Brook fell face first, head still spinning with a pulsating migraine.
“I’ll get Sage out of here. Call for Agent Five.” Marie spoke as Lil’ Buddy chirped and followed.
“Got it! I’ll get Brooky!” Callie butted in as Brook felt arms under her. “Hey sis, mind shifting again?”
Brook let out a grunt and slowly changed into her squid form. Her head felt like it was splitting apart, nevermind the bleeding from her fist.
What came next was a blur to her. She squinted her eyes and felt her back rest against something. She saw Marie leaning over Sage with a med kit. Then everything fizzled away.
Notes:
This fic has been in draft since the end of September of 2022 o-o It has been a long time coming e- A lot of lore and plot was changed throughout the production of this thing so hopefully I got it all lol.
But YAAAYYY is hereeee finally- And you are immediately met with angst. My favorite :)
Chapters are gonna be posted every Saturday so keep a look out! Comments & Kudos are pog :P
Chapter 2: Accidents Happen
Summary:
Sage’s POV of the accident and going home to her parents; very late, might I add.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Sage didn’t know what happened. She walked through the test doors and was meant by a maze. The music was disorienting and she didn’t know why. She tried to adjust the sound input but it didn’t work. It felt like a montra of orders. She heard this song in the last kettle, so it shouldn't be bothering her. Oh well… It's fine, I guess… The first part was relatively easy—just making it past the maze. The inkable walls made it easier. But for some reason, she got hit with some ink globs from the few octarians around. It was hard to concentrate. It kind of hurt more than usual. Something in the back of her mind wanting to attack something. Which was weird. Is this fuzzy ooze affecting me…?
When the maze flipped on its side, the feeling bugged her more and more. She continued to ink up walls and surge up them. It was a new concept she was still training to perfect. It made her neck hurt looking up so much. When she surged up a higher wall, she over shot it and slammed her head on the platform above her. It made her form violently go back to humanoid form, too fast for her to process as her aids fell off with her.
Then, everything was too loud and her head felt like it would explode. She vaguely heard the other agents but it was too much. There was a buzzing in her head, and the music of the kettle was hitting her with intensity without her usual protection. Her vision was swimming; Noise. Her face hit the cold ground as she heaved and wetness formed in her eyes. The buzzing turned high in pitch, like the loudest dog whistle coming out of ten amps. No thoughts or motion. Nothing at all. Just pain.
It’s all too loud. Her head felt it was going to burst any minute- The ringing and music. Then a sudden crash like glass shattering.
Muffles. Touch. Something.. or someone holding her up. The aids were in her ears again. Her eyes wouldn’t open back up. She can’t move. Can’t talk.
The noise was now a dull ring now. Then nothing.
…
…
…
…
…. …. .
… ….. …..
….. … … ……. ….
. . .
“_’m s__ry.”
.
.
.
..
…
“__t su__o_t hap__n.”
.
.
“_ g_t y_u…”
….
“Please. B_ o_ay…”
..
…?
Mm…..,. Mofnm mfhdehewherenwhbswhat…
..
……………..”A_k_ke?”
Mwmam. Waanx nwane wame wake…?
She felt a weight on her chest, a warm hand in her own.
White noise.
Mmm.. A smile reached her lips. It gave her remembrance of the one who picked her off the barren landscape she was trapped in. She tried to live in Inkoplis or Splatsville but her head would kill her and she would have an unwanted meltdown if she was there too long. It was tough being alone on a thread for years after losing her parents—her people. At least she had good survival skills, but the Splatlands were not ideal for long. She would take trips to the city, but that one day she spent too long dumpster diving and didn't make it home. But they found her with Lil’ Buddy’s help.
Her body was moved onto something, a bit of giggling. She felt—something breathing.
What..?
She had trouble opening her eyes. It felt as if weights were glued to them. She had a massive headache right now.
Then, something opened her eyes forcibly. But all she could make out was a cyan blurry blob in front of her and a light shining in her haze.
Then they closed. She let herself fall back into unconsciousness.
Brook tapped her foot anxiously, trapped by the weight of an unconscious Sage. As soon as Brook woke up with a bandaged hand from broken glass and a cold cloth on her forehead, the Squid Sisters immediately fussed over her and lectured her not to push her limits like that. Again. It was a fairly regular conversation, but whatever. The thing that wasn't okay were the two squids leaving Sage on her- Like this girl is so tall, jeez.. Definitely not normal for an inkling of her age.
Elly, or Agent Five, came to check on Sage, declaring that she was overstimulated with a minor concussion. She cleaned her ears carefully. Don't want Sage’s ears to be even more infected than it already was before.
Brook kind of wished she was pacing, but no. Elly was catching up with the two idols a bit away. Elly hasn't been around much. She was barely an agent, but she would still pop her head in. Made sense since Agent Four, her fiance, was still not back yet. Elly was in the same boat as her. No updates on sightings.
The inkling felt Sage twitch, making her freeze. She just realized that she was holding her hand still. Ah fuck.
It seemed the young agent was waking up, as she squeezed the Captain's hand and finally opened her eyes.
“Mmm. Mama..?” The young inkling mumbles. Fuck. Uhhhh-
“Oh! You're awake!” Oh, thank cod. Please save me from this mess you put me in, Callie.
Sage didn't pay attention to her, so Brook quickly turned squid to slip out of being called out that the New Squidbeak Splatoon’s leader, Captain Michiru of all people, was letting the newbie rest on her. Callie met Sage as she helped her up, but the new recruit looked back, confused about where the hand holding hers went. She hastily hid behind the box they rested on. Now she needs to casually walk in like she wasn't here.
Hm must have been nothing… Sage accepted Agent One’s hand, finding it a bit difficult to stand, feeling groggy with a headache still pounding in her head. Ugh. I want to go home… Callie smiled and held her in a hug. “I'm glad you're okay. We were worried about you, Agent Three.”
She didn't know what she was talking about, but she accepted the hug, purring into the top of Callie’s head with her uncanny height.
“I’m okay. I don't remember what happened but I just.. Wanna go home.” Sage said in a bit of a struggle, switching to her own language then back to Inkish. They parted as Agent Two gave her a nod. Lil’ Buddy seemed to notice that his friend was finally awake and climbed up Sage’s legs. Sage smiled and held her hand out for the small salmonid to rest in her hands. He snuggles his face in her fingers.
“Of course. Your parents must be worried you are not home. It’s 8pm now.”
Oh… Sage patted her pockets, trying to find her phone. She processed her words to Inkish before speaking.“Where is my phone?” Her gaze drifted to the new face in the area. She had long cyan wavy tentacles, and eyes a nice crimson. She notices a med kit and her phone in her hand. “Ah- I have it.” She walked forwards as One and Two stood at both her sides, Callie still supporting her up a bit.
“Hey. I'm Agent Five here. I'm more.. Less than part time here. I’m mainly the certified medic on the team, but everyone here is all knowledgeable about that stuff nowadays.” She smiled warmly as she held out her phone. “Bandit has been calling you.”
“A-ah.” She moved Lil’ Buddy to her shoulder and quickly took it, looking over the 5 missed calls and a few texts. “Oh.. um. I need- uh- I mean, I need to get home.” She looked down to see she was dressed in a tank and shorts. “Clothes?” Man, why is it so hard to talk in Inklish right now…
At that, she heard steady footsteps. She turned to see the Captain holding her clothes out to her. Sage looked down at her, seeing the bandages around her hand. She heard a faint sound of glass shattering, but shook it off. “ Thank you. ” Sage did a half nod, Captain gave a nod back. Sage took her clothes but rubbed her head, trying to find her words again. “ Can… Can you help me get dressed, Callie?”
“Sure!” She grinned and guided her to the structure behind the NSS perch.
Sage quickly whispered to Lil’ Buddy to wait for her at the grate, him jumping and running up to Marie.
“Lift your arms, please?” Callie asked as soon as they were out of prying eyes.
She followed the request as she slipped the maroon tank off, leaving her bra. Callie then slipped her sudadera roja sweatshirt on. Lastly, she put her arrow tossies blu’s on.
“There you go. Make sure to rest, okay?”
“Mhm.. What happened..?”
Agent One smiled sadly. “Your hearing aid came out. I think you surged pretty hard into a wall. Five said you have a minor concussion. That’s why you have been talking in your language a few times.” She then handed her the cephalo pods and she nodded shyly.
“Oh… I’m sorry..” Oh man.. That’s a bit embarrassing… shit, a concussion..
“Don’t apologize, silly. Accidents happen like this all the time. Cod knows you're not the only agent. Don’t waste time thinking about it, okay?”
“Okay...” The two walked back and neared the exit kettle. Sage's balance was a bit better but still hard to control.
Agents Two and Five were waiting there, Captain now sitting on their perch with papers in hand.
“Hey, Agent Three. The Captain said that Five is gonna escort you home. She actually knows your parents.”
“You do..?” She looked at the other agent.
“Yes! My girlfriend is actually on your moms’ team. Team Queer.”
Her eyes flashed in surprise. “ Wow, really ? You’re friends with my moms and Clover, right?”
“Mhm! Let's not keep them waiting, though. Bandit is probably panicking.”
“Yeah… Let’s go, then . Bye, One and Two! Cap.”
“See ya, later!”
“Come back when you're ready. Captain’s orders.” Marie called after them as Captain huffed.
Five, Lil’ Buddy, and Three slipped through and out to the other end in Splatsville. Sage rocketed forward a bit but Five steadied her. The sounds hit her but she can manage. She has been through the city without anything happening before. It is a bit more bothersome since she had a meltdown and concussed herself; her sensitivity is a bit higher right now.
“You okay? Not too noisy?” She whispered.
“Yeah- Yes. Just need to get home soon.” She bent down and picked Lil’ Buddy up and hugged him to her chest.
“Alright. You can call me Elly, by the way.”
“Okay. I am Sage.”
Elly smiled and the two walked on, Sage leading the way. Hm… if Elly is an agent… I wonder if Clover is, too…
As soon as her hand made contact with the handle, it immediately was out of her grasp as the cafe doors swung open.
“Oh thank cod!” Sage was met with a worried-sick inkling. Her short hair tips immediately changed to her yellow ink color with her ma’s red frecks at the tips. “Where have you been? I have been calling you.” She looked up and down as if checking. Sage silently hoped that nothing gave away how beaten she felt. Now that she thinks about it, Alyx is who she should be worrying about.
“Hey, Bandit,” Elly spoke up, placing her hand on Sage’s forearm for a bit of comfort. “Sorry she is late. Sage got a bit carried away in anarchy, today. I found her worn out in a match. Also, like- WHEN DID YOU HAVE A CHILD?! Didn't tell me that.”
Bandit blinked, “Ah, shiz. Alyx was supposed to tell you. That silly bean.” She shook her head with a smile. “Come in, dude! Come, come.”
“Oh, I don't want to impose. I can’t stay long anyways, sadly. I wanted to make sure Sage got here okay.”
Sage huffed and passed by Bandit and Elly, she held Lil’ Buddy closer to her chest as she walked in and up the stairs slowly, more slower than she wanted to go. She is a bit dizzy. Okay. Just need to be quiet and go to my room- Mom will be on my ass if they see me now.
When she reached the top, there was Alyx, arms crossed with their eyebrow poking up in a curious yet condescending way.
“O-oh.. hey, Ma ..” Fuck- talk inkling, talk inkling, Sage! “ How - How was your day with mama?” Darn it…
Their brows creased more, ignoring the question. “Mind explaining your absence, Sage?” Their eyes bore into her soul, looking her up and down.
She turned her body, not wanting them to see the scratches from her agent work. “Oh, uh- Just anarchy and time passed by too fast.”
Alyx didn’t seem to buy it. “Look at me, yeah?”
“Mm, why ?” Lil’ Buddy chirped in her arms at how much she was squeezing him, she released the tension in her arms and turned to clearly face the older inkling.
Sage fumbled as they looked up and down her own body, face showing that they saw something off. Their ears folded back as they squinted.
“Did something happen?” Okay. I can half lie with this- I got this.
“I, um.. Might have fallen in a match and um.. My aid fell out… and I hit my head a little.” They creased their eyebrows, translating that last part. They seemed to soften at that answer. “Elly helped me though, so... I’m good now.”
“Mhm…” The red squid trailed off, squinting slightly. “You seem to be awfully exerted for such a short period of time without protection.” They began moving away from the staircase. “Seems like you are concussed. Did no one come to your aid when your plugs came out or hit your head?” Shit- they know.
“I was… I wasn’t close to anyone when they came off.. the person who did notice first didn’t know what was wrong.”
Alyx hummed and decided to discontinue their pressing. It was obvious they knew there was something more to the story, but thankfully they wouldn’t mind waiting on this conversation for another time.
They stepped away from the opening to allow Sage up the stairs, holding an arm out. “C’mere, kiddo.”
Sage nodded, a slight blush of embarrassment coloring her cheeks as the warm hand of Alyx’s hand held her own. They pulled her in, once closer, securing the base of her head softly as they gave her a hug. “I’m just glad you’re safe.”
The three of them heard Bandit ascend the stairs. Before they saw her, Lil’ Buddy jumped off Sage’s shoulder and down the stairs, Sage almost yelled after him but Bandit appeared with the small salmonid on her face. “Buddy why.” A smile was on her voice however as she joined them, pulling Lil’ Buddy away from her face and resting him on her forearm.
“Was that Elly?” Alyx asked, cocking their head to the side and offering a light smile at the interaction. Bandit gave a smile back and walked in front of them to Sage’s room.
“Yup! You forgot to tell her about our literal child, babes.” She giggled as the two walked in, Alyx picking up Sage off the ground and onto the bed. It looked a bit silly given how tall Sage is.
“Oh. Well, shit. I forget easy, you know this,” They turned back to the young inkling. “There you go, kid. You need to rest up if that all happened, alright? Let Bandit know how you feel in the morning, I have lots of pain relievers downstairs.”
Sage nodded and reached for Lil Buddy. He instantly wiggled out of Bandit’s hands and into Sage’s. “Wait,” Bandit wrapped her arms around Alyx, hugging them. “Is something wrong?”
Sage tensed again, Alyx noticing and deciding to help fill the blanks. “Sage had a meltdown in anarchy and hit her head.”
Bandit froze and pulled away, looking worriedly at Sage. “What? Are you okay? Did you-“
Alyx cut her off by holding her cheek. “Relax. She is okay—just needs rest and avoidance of any other stimuli.” Bandit stares at them with a blush, the red freckles on her tentacles becoming scattered.
Now Sage feels like she shouldn’t be seeing this.
Alyx smirked, leaning in to peck the shorter inkling's cheek and turn to Sage like nothing happened as Bandit processed in her gay stupor. Sage had to admit that was funny.
“If you need anything, let us know. Can always join us in our bed, okay?”
“Mhm.”
Bandit shook out of her trance and came to the bedside.
“Have a good sleep,” She bent down and kissed her forehead. “I love you.”
Sage smiles. “Love you Mom, mama.”
Bandit smiled and the two walked out of the room holding hands, leaving the door cracked.
Sage sighed in relief as Lil’ Buddy gave a little chirp, then got comfy in bed with her.
She turned and rested on her side, falling asleep as the small salmonid nuzzled her cheek.
Notes:
I genuinely almost completely forgot to post this lol- Arcane distracted me lol-
I love writing my oc Bandit and Alyx lol- so fun :P
Chapter 3: Another Day, Another Dawn
Summary:
The Captain is becoming more and more stressed, while Sage takes the day off.
Notes:
Their is a lot of call backs from the first part in this one-
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
It’s been hours since Sage’s incident, making it almost midnight. Brook finds herself sitting on the ground with stacks of papers around her. Callie and Marie wanted her to go home but she refused. Worry and anxiety was keeping her here. So was the looming pressure. Doing this all sucked.
So much content and words and shit. Her head was forming a migraine again. After 30 minutes of trying to ignore it, it was so unbearable that she was left fallen over trying to steady her breath. She squeezed her eyes shut as she tried to breathe properly. I fucking hate paper work- How did Cuttlefish do this?
Brook wished Willow was here. She would know exactly what to do. Her body felt like it was in shock.
Okay. She’s panicking now, trying to move or do something other than being useless. Why? Why was it me? Look at me… Her shaky hands reach and grip the hat. She wanted to tear it apart but she knew how important it was. She drops her hands to the ground and grips it hard. Trying to will herself to sit but failing.
As she was struggling, she didn’t realize footsteps approaching until she felt a hand on her shoulder. Her instinct was to immediately take down whoever it was but when she tried, more pain flared in her brain.
A murmur was heard but it was barely audible. She can’t do anything. She is dead. Useless. She tried. She really did. Now Willow and Craig will be disappointed and hate her for being like this. Cod, I am so broken.
A light smack hit her cheek and she froze, looking at the person who slapped her. She saw Elly on her knees knitting her brows in concern.
“Hey. Are you okay? Well, I know you're not, but... What’s going on?” She lifted her hat off and started to help Brook sit up.
Brook huffed. “It’s nothing, really…”
“I beg to differ. You just collapsed looking at papers.” Great. She saw.
“…” Brook let Elly lay her against one of the boxes. “I’m not as strong as I used to be…” she mumbled.
“I can see that…” Elly sat besides her, leaning her head against the box behind her. “I’m guessing the relapse is still in effect?”
Brook looked intently at the ground. “Yeah… It’s like I have sanitization again—my body is the problem. Too much trauma for it to handle, I guess…”
“Mmm… I should have taken that mission, but didn’t get the time. Then that night accident…I’m sorry. I should have checked in more.”
“No, no. It’s okay. I deserved it, anyways. Callie and Marie are always right… and I didn’t listen.” Brook took her tentacles and caressed the scarred lines. She felt Elly’s gaze watch her.
“Any word from them on your end?”
The Captain sighed. “No… not yet.” It hung in the air, the chilly wind making them shiver. The unspoken question Elly and herself knew: Are Eight and Four alive?
She stopped her hands from sinking into her tentacles, aiming to try and stand. She wobbled, gripping the boxes to balance.
Elly stood with her. “You know, Sage’s parents… Did she ever tell you anything?”
Brook looked up with a hum. “I know bits and pieces but Marie probably knows more of her story. Sage was homeless since she was 10, until recently—until her adopted parents found her.”
“Really? That young?”
“Yeah… I don’t know. I worry for her…”
Elly smiled, offering her hands. Brook took them as the two walked over to the kettle. “She seems tough. That survival skill at her age is impressive.”
“Tell me about it. She can kick ass.”
Elly giggled, “Well I’ll take you home. You obviously can’t go on by yourself. I don’t want you trapped down here. It’s cold.”
Brook huffed in defeat. “Yeah, okay. Just... Please drive safely , alright?”
“Of course! No need to worry. I have your back.” They both jumped into the kettle.
Sage opened her eyes. Roaring flames were visible through the window. She covered her ears at the noise, curling into a fetal position as the fighting outside continued on. Her parents told her to stay put. She wanted to go help but she was just a kid. That would be dumb. The noise was starting to paralyze her.
There was a sound of a familiar horn, from their leader, no doubt. She knew what it meant as hot tears dripped down her face.
She moved the best she could with the luggage on her back, crawling through the back door with tears now stinging her eyes. Just as she reached the outside, a giant crab turned in her direction, holding some kind of gun. Fear took over Sage as she covered her face for impact. But she heard a slashing and peaked her eyes open.
Blazing purple eyes met hers as the tribe's leader stood tall above the now dead crab.
“You need to leave this place, young one.” She spoke in their native tongue. Sage’s voice didn’t work to respond, now frozen as she took in her leader's appearance for one last time: dark tanned skin like her own, tentacles tied in a high ponytail with suckers on the outside of her hair. She had a spiky-looking mask outlining her eyes. Her clothes were tethered and her cloak blew in the sandy wind.
She gave a rough smile, tossing her cloak to Sage. “Use this to keep cover.” She turned her back to go into another fight. She didn’t get the chance to see her other family.
Sage heaved once she was out, getting onto her feet. It was a grueling process—making it half a mile away in the night. She looked back at the camp now up in flames, the rest of the large crabs fighting against her clan.
She turned away, a sob wanting to release itself. But there was no time for tears in survival. She carried herself away just as her fathers said—as her leader said.
Once she was more of a good distance, she collapsed and breathed, hyperventilating won’t do. She reaches to take her bag off and digs inside.
She drank the canteen of water, then started to clean and patch her cuts and scrapes.
The ringing in her ears had stopped, bringing relief. But she knew that things wouldn’t be the same after this. She didn’t know if her whole family survived. It’s part of their culture to keep moving together.
Now she is alone.
Her eyes slowly open as the memory fades, she layed there, wiping the sweat from her brow. Lil’ Buddy chirped, nudging her face to give her reassurance.
She took a deep breath, looking over to see the time: now 10am. Most have slept in… Why didn’t ma and mama wake me? It is a school day… Probably wanted me to rest after the mission. She sagged her shoulders as she sat up, taking the small fry in her hands and softly hugging him to her chest. “Thank you...” There was a moment of peace, then Sage decided to get up for the day. She made sure to put her aids in her ears; no doubt they're still sensitive.
Sage changes her clothing to a hoodie and active leggings, checking her phone and seeing a text from Marie. The idol’s name was Margo so her parents wouldn’t freak out.
Margo: Morning, kid. Hope you slept well. The Captain ordered you to take a day or two off. I would prefer a week but we know how stubborn you are. Text me when you read this please.
Sage knitted her eyebrow at the forced break, but she supposed it was only fair. And her parents were sure to keep an eye on her.
Sage3: morning. i am good yeah. i take a break cuz my parents are worryed.
Texting still feels weird. She pocketed her phone as Lil’ Buddy jumped on her shoulder to head downstairs.
Downstairs was a bit slow, luckily. It was a bakery-cafe built with a housing part on the second and third floor. A few solo people took a table in a corner with a book or computer out. She had to get through the kitchen to be at the register, then the lobby. Bandit was humming to herself, making a drink. Alyx was missing; must be out and about, probably doing stuff in their band thing. Lil’ Buddy jumped off her shoulder and ran to hug Bandit's foot, the inkling flinched and looked down. She turned so Sage could see her face, giving a smile at the little salmonid. It took a while for Bandit to get used to having a kid, along with a salmonid. Bandit did get that notch on her eyebrow from a salmonid back when she used to do Grizzco shifts.
“Hey there, Buddy!” She turned around and greeted Sage. “Oh, and morning, Sage! I’m glad you slept in. Alyx and I decided to give you a day off school for today.” She placed the drink she was working on down and wrapped her arms around Sage's waist. Sage was significantly taller than Bandit, which was a bit funny. A small smile showed as she took the hug but quickly disappeared at her dream flashback. Hugging was something still new to Sage but not unwelcome.
“Morning, mama.” There was a slight sadness in saying that, making the other inkling rub her back.
“You okay, sweetie..?”
“Mm…” Sage pulled away as Lil’ Buddy jumped back on her shoulder. “Just remembered stuff…” the younger inkling hasn’t told her guardians about how exactly she ended up homeless at a young age.
Bandit hummed. “Well, if you need to vent, I’m always here for you.” They locked eyes, a glimmer of concern and yellow freckles showing on the tips of Bandit’s tentacles. Sage knew what it meant; yellow was her color.
“Okay. Maybe… you should finish that drink, mama.”
Bandit stuck her tongue out, making a “ppth” noise. “I guess so. Do you want anything this morning?”
Sage thought for a moment. “Uh. That one drink Ma likes.”
“Sage, that is a heavy espresso. I’ll give you less shots.”
“Ugh, fine.” She sighed sarcastically, going back upstairs to chill in the living room. She let a small smile appear on her face from how nice Bandit is. No doubt her partner bringing home a hurt kid and a salmonid the first time they met was an interesting meeting. Mind you, she wanted to run away from this new place out of fear and survival instinct. Plus, she spoke a different language than inklings, so there was a language barrier for a while.
Sage now realizes how lucky she ended up being. She wasn’t an easy kid to deal with. Heck, the first time Bandit ever hugged her she struggled to get away since it was so close to strangling someone in her eyes.
Sage sighed and sat down on the floor, legs forming into a butterfly as her back was supported by the couch. She leaned forwards, looking at the many parts that were scattered in front of her; she was trying to figure out how ink weapons worked. It was the way her tribe did things: one must know the ways of their weapon first in order to become one with it. The same goes for domestic animals. As of now, she analyzed a Wellstringer.
A hum sounded as she looked at each part of the stringer as Lil’ Buddy laid himself behind her on the couch. Thought’s surrounded her as the names of each part sounded in her mind, thanks to Alyx and her visits to Sheldon on occasion. She slowly put the weapon back together, Bandit popping in to give her the drink she requested.
After many hours, the clock turned to two in the afternoon. She stared down at her work, excited to show Sheldon if she did everything right. Not a bad day to start, mainly due to low stress and less noise.
Brook was not having a good day so far. Her brain didn’t let her rest. Her sleep was restless, thinking of how much this kid reminds her of yourself. She shouldn't feel this way. What's weird is that she doesn’t even know how to feel.
Whatever. She has a day off. She’ll get rest. She is safe. I need to look through more shit. Get it together, Brooklyn. You're not an angsty little teen anymore.
The Captain was looking through files of suspicious big time companies and the components of the fuzzy ooze from labs. Nothing seems to be falling into place.
She sighed a bit aggressively as she stood up and stretched.
Where is he? Where are Four and Eight? Is it connected? Are they all fucking dead? No, no, don't think like that. They are all capable- well, Cuttlefish has seen better days... yeah. No. Shit. I got to find him- She started to pace by herself at Alterna.
The Squid Sisters weren’t even here to slap the sense into her. Overthinking isn’t Brook’s thing, but with everything going on, it’s hard not too. She aggressively looked through the papers about labs. It reminds her too much of sanitization. The octarians here are weird and fuzzy. They don’t seem to be living zombies at least. Just another form of control over one’s victims? The labs haven’t done research on the ooze effects on an inkling yet. Luckily, Sage had yet to touch the stuff to Brook’s knowledge, or Callie and Marie. Well, apart from that one time, but it didn’t do anything to Callie, luckily.
Wait… the Judds?! Do they have something to do with it? They are the only mammals known, from what I know… Brook wracked her brain for an answer. Brook remembers the sunken scrolls she gathered while in Octo Valley. It mentioned Judd was in a hyper sleep by a human scientist, right? Where did lil Judd come from then…? Did Agent Four collect a scroll in Octo Canyon about it? I could ask Marie... But they are cats. What do they want with a fuzzy ooze like this? Fuck… Brook held the right side of her face, rubbing it a bit.
With a sigh, Brook got up. I need a break… I hate to admit it…
Notes:
Poor Captain :(
Chapter 4: Brewing
Summary:
Sage goes through the rest of the kettles, then the cutscenes play out my way! Captain and Marie hypothesize stuff too.
Notes:
I have yet again almost forgot to post cuz Arcane. Oopies-
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
A few weeks have passed since the incident happened. Sage had to slow down on the missions in order to clear suspicion from her guardians’ minds and her schooling. She had never been in school before, so she had a lot to catch up on. Not to mention also keeping her physical skills up. She can’t get rusty on her survival instincts now.
Sage was on the final site, as of recently. Luckily, school was out on fall break for a week. However, the first kettle was a bit of a challenge. She had to fight fuzzy octolings in the mist. They landed some hits on her; it made her head spin more than usual.
She could have sworn she saw someone distantly watching her, but she persisted. Marie relayed the strategy to ink turf and use her triple splashdown, from what the Captain said. She followed orders, her hearts beating with adrenaline. The mist served to stress her out. It cut her sight and she hated lacking any of her senses. Once she reached the end, she was gasping for air. Lil’ Buddy chirped in concern as she cleared the kettle. I never wanna go against actual octolings again… damn… As she left, she saw a silhouette, but when she blinked, it was gone. She looked around to see nothing, then finished the level.
When she surfaced, Callie greeted her and looked over her injuries. She had a few cuts and left over enemy ink on her. It seemed to be enough of a concern to order her back to base. Something about the look in Callie’s eye… Sage couldn’t quite place it.
Once they jumped back, Marie took a look at her and knitted her brow. “How are you feeling, Agent Three?” She pushed Sage down to sit due to her towering height, and put nitrile gloves on.
“Fine… Just a headache and a bit worn out by that kettle.” The agent felt Marie touch her mantle. Should I mention the figure I saw..? Could have been seeing things.
“You are out of the kettle, yet you still have enemy ink on you…” Marie brushed the stuff off. Sage saw it fall to the side, Lil’ Buddy ran over to it and ate it. Eugh, gross…
“Are you having any out-of-character thoughts or anything?” Callie asked, leaning over and lifting her sleeve. “I heard your armor break a lot.”
Agent Three huffed. “I am fine.” Don’t remind me…
Marie sighed. “You are just like a certain someone.” She shook her head and washed the cut, bandaging it with a Squid Sister-themed band aid.
“You guys don’t have to baby me for a few cuts and shots. I'm going to the next kettles.” Sage stood up once Marie pulled back. She grabbed Lil’ Buddy and super jumped back to site six.
She felt Captian’s stare from the corner of her eye.
Callie and Marie watched as the new agent left. “Welp, I better follow her. See you!” Callie waved and super jumped away.
Captain watched her go, then looked down. “Marie?”
“Hm?” The sister turned around, throwing her gloves off and putting her designer one's back on and grabbing her parasal to stand next to Brook.
“Do you think that ink works like… it … did? She was cut and the ink was… surrounding that area. That kettle had octolings. The same ones that…” She stopped at the thought. Those octolings did something to me back there…
Marie placed a hand on Captain’s shoulder. “I can’t say for sure, but it looks like nothing physically different is going on. You were targeted in that situation, Brook. Sage wasn’t. It was just a test.”
“...I hope you are right. I have a feeling that shit is gonna come real soon. I don’t want her hurt again. With all the sites Sage has cleared–the way she moves and everything–It looks similar to how Eight moves.”
Marie hummed and retracted her hand to grab her ‘Neo Three factopedia’ out. “I have been noticing that, too. With the little we know about her origin, I think she was around octolings when she was young. It can't possibly be from present years with her guardian parents being both inkling, unless they aren’t telling us something. So it stems from her birth years… Like, how can a child survive like that for years with no training? I have police records stating she stole from the food markets in the early City of Chaos years– she was never caught.”
“So she definitely was raised by some kind of octolings.”
“Yes. I have also noticed on cameras that she isn’t a regular inkling, either. I thought it was strange just from her height. But I’ve seen her mad. Her tentacles turn a purple color and gold waves pulse through them. The whites of her eyes turned green ….”
Brook turned around, shocked. “Show me that-” She leaned in to see Marie’s book: It was on site four, where she had to copy a template of boxes. She picked the charger but ended up using the squeezer instead. Brook stared at the image.
“It… almost looks like Octavio’s eyes… Do you… think she might be half octoling? I don't think Willow's eyes do that. Not that I remember, anyway.”
Marie nodded. “I hypothesize that she is half octoling. Everything is leading towards it. I don’t think she is aware of it, though–or her guardians, for that matter.”
“Fuck.” Brook leaned back in her perch and rubbed her forehead. “Damn, I want Willow here. She knows about this shit.”
“Yeah… In the future, perhaps?” Marie closed her book and hid it.
“Maybe…”
Site six proved to be the most difficult. She gets exhausted faster, along with taking more hits. It was a frustrating process. Some had lots of enemies to defeat, some making her think and slow down, and some timed. She missed the target missions now. She had a good eye. Her dad, Quinn, was a pro at any bow and learned a lot from him. She remembered spending the most time with him more than her other dad.
Now all she had left was the boss kettle. Deep Cut had been on her tail since she fell from the crater. They proved to be worthy opponents. Frye really had a way with dance and eels. Shiver has an elegant style and that mega shark thing. That meant Big Man was left. It was a shame, though, that Sage’s favorite of the three was that goofy manta ray. He had a funky ability, but the inky decoys couldn't fool her for long.
Now here she was, looking at what Deep Cut called ‘treasure.’ To her, it just looked like random parts. She considered herself pretty versed in mechanical parts by now but this was beyond her.
“I think it’s pretty clear that we have to get into that rocket somehow. Are you ready to try this?” Marie asked as they all gathered around the parts, even Captain. Three hasn’t seen her move from her spot in a while.
Neo nodded as Captain leaned over to whisper to Marie. She never saw Captain do that. “The Captain’s saying ‘This is the final confirmation. Are you really, super-ultra-mega sure you’re ready?’”
Neo grunted, “Yes, I’m ready.” She crossed her arms. Callie jumped up.
“Alright! Gramps has to be up there somewhere.” They all looked up at the rocket. “...But there’s too much fuzzy ooze in the way.”
“Yeah… Even Smallfry isn’t THAT hungry…” Lil’ Buddy let out a huffing noise behind her, safely on her ink tank resting pouch. “Um…” Marie looked back behind them to look at the parts. “I just know this would be useful somehow if we could combine it all… Maybe.”
“You’ve always got the answer, Agent Two! It’s totally worth a shot. Let’s do it!” Callie twirled in excitement, then proceeded to bolt over to the parts. Marie and Captain calmly followed as Neo stood dumbfounded at the determination they all had. Even Captain let a smile show with Callie’s antics. “By the power of chowder...Combine!”
Neo now sat there, watching as they worked and struggled. Lil’ Buddy cheered them on. It didn’t feel too long, though. She thought she must have dozed off at some point as they all stood and appreciated their work. Neo was still confused about what it was supposed to be. These people are crazy…
“Wow!” Callie squealed in delight and jumped energetically. “Look out, fuzz! Here comes Captain!”
Wait what- The two cousins gave the Captain a look and she nodded, stepping up to the contraption as her form glowed, as if she was building up a special. She took hold of the handles and lifted it up above her head as ink boiled in her tentacles. Neo saw a wince of pain but it quickly vanished as Captain threw the contraption in the sky towards the rocket, then launched herself after it.
Neo’s jaw dropped as the dust and snow the older inkling kicked up hit her face. She had never seen so much strength like that before- No wonder she is Captain…
They all watched as Captain met the handles again–in mid air, mind you– and started hacking away at the fuzzy ooze with speeds unmatched. Neo guessed it was a hand held lawn mower or something. The end result was captivating as Marie and Callie complemented the Captain’s work.
“Now then–smoothness aside–Let’s save Gramps!” The cousins did a little pose pointing to the rocket. Neo shook the shock away and super jumped to the ascending stairs next to the rocket. The cousins followed behind.
Once they all landed, Callie and Marie ran past her to the Captain. “Cap! Captain? Are you okay!?” She looked… bad. She landed face down on the snow until Callie helped her sit up as the Captain’s eyes practically spun in dizziness as she clenched her head. Her hands were bruised and cut, her mantle looked like it was leaking ink onto the ground like a bleeding wound. The Captain looked like they were going to pass out.
“You simply can’t go on… You’re hurt… again. Let us do the rest.” Marie spoke to the Captain as Callie helped her to lay again. It looked like the Captain wanted to argue, to say words in front of the new agent for once, but was cut off as a shout was heard.
“Wait one hot minute!” All but the Captain looked up to see Deep Cut. Neo was kind of angry at them. “That’s right… It’s us!” Frye yelled down at them. Neo didn’t pay them any mind as One and Two talked them down. Neo looked down at the now unconscious Captain and felt… worried? Lil’ Buddy jumped on the Captain's chest and tried to wake them, but it didn't work.
“Buddy- stop that…” Neo whispered harshly as she yanked him away and held him to her chest and looked over the Captain more. She never really got a good look at her until now. She was scarred from past fights, especially with that odd teal one around her right eye… What kind of fight did that come from..? Neo was about to lean over and feel if it was a burn or stain but Callie tapped her shoulder.
“Don’t worry about her. She always comes around.” She whispers with a smile.
“Alright, Agent Three. Get up there! Deep Cut is lending us a hand! We will meet you up there.” Marie said as Deep Cut all nodded in agreement.
Sage sighed and made her way up an ink rail as the others talked over the comms.
Notes:
:) I can't wait for you all to see what comes next.
Chapter 5: Stand Off
Summary:
Boss fight and the aftermath. Oof- That gotta hurt.
Notes:
Bit of a long one eh? Yeahhhhh- Boss fight time yippe!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Agent Three was exhausted from all the ‘phases’ she only slipped by. The encouragement from both the Squid Sisters and Deep Cut was nice, at least.
She ran as fast as she could up to the top platform where the tip of the rocket was. Cuttlefish was up there with a crazy man. The Squid Sisters were close behind as they all listened in horror as their foe finally revealed himself to be Mr. Grizz of Grizzco. Sage KNEW she HATED that place… Some employees there would always bother her about Lil’ Buddy, or worse.
As soon as they reached the top, the conversation they distantly heard ended with Cuttlefish's yell distorting and Grizz’s monologue ended. Once they made it, they all looked down to… What the heck is that…?
“Gramps! No!” Callie yelled, tearing up as Marie’s face looked like she was heart broken. Sage didn’t know how to feel; she felt conflicted—mad. She didn’t know Cuttlefish like the others did, but he was family… I did fail to save him after all… Just like…
A rumbling was heard as they all looked up to see the one who had been causing all this trouble. Sage was terrified as a giant dark purple bear, with fuzzy ozze spots on him, towered over them with his blank face. Now Sage REALLY hated Grizzco AND Grizz himself. “Welcome.” Grizzes voice boomed. Sage hasn’t felt this small since…
“Hey, you overgrown furball! Turn Gramps back into- Gramps!” Callie shouted angrily, apparently not afraid of the giant creature in front of her. She heard unsteady footsteps behind her and saw the Captain stop behind her, collapsing on her knees and breathing heavily. Before Sage could be concerned for her captain, Grizz spoke again.
“Valued employees… We appreciate your feedback. However, it won't be implemented at this time.” The platform shook under them. Now that Sage remembered where she is, she remembers she hates falling, too-
Marie spoke up as Captain stumbled and fell again as she tried to stand once more. “What’s that supposed to mean?!” They all heard the rocket start up as it slowly began to launch, with Grizz holding onto its side as it lifted up more and more off the ground. Sage stared in fear, paralyzed.
“It means the end of your employment… And the end of the world as you know it, to be clear. As for my memo, I will be coating the planet in fuzzy ooze in an effort to restore balance.” Mr. Grizz says as he hits the top of the fake sky. “Don’t call it Hairmageddon. HR doesn’t like it.” The rocket soars higher and higher. Sage can’t breathe.
“No… The rocket…” Callie says in heart-break. But it quickly vanishes as Marie snapped to look down at Gramps, Callie doing the same.
Lil’ Buddy jumps on Sage’s shoulder and taps her with his fins to snap her out of her panic. She breathed quick as she looked to see the Captain on her knees… Crying over the dried up Cuttlefish. Sage felt stress and anxiety fill her at the Captain’s distress but was quickly interrupted by the dried Cuttlefish floating in front of everyone. And then he spoke like he wasn’t some kind of mummified squid form. She remembered one of the scrolls looked like him…
“Hey wait! We are still in danger!” Callie bursts out as everyone’s shock settles, shaking Marie’s arm. Neo looks over to Captain, looking completely lost. “The rocket! The fuzz!”
“But we will never catch that rocket. It’s impossible.” Marie said, with her thinking face on. “What can we do…” Callie pouted in sadness, still attached to Marie’s arm. There was a pause until rushed steps were heard, then a shout. Oh… Them again.
“Hold up a sec!” Frye shouted. “Sounds like you folks need some help...” She smiled ear to ear as Shiver and Big Man stood in their positions. “And Deep Cut is here to steal the spotlight!” Funny enough, Frye itches her nose while Shiver flips her fan open. Though, what they did next made her head spin of how fast everything went.
Frye reached out, summoning her eels. They swirled up in the sky, dissolving into an ink tornado as the umbrella squid stands confident at her work, Callie jumps excitedly.
Shiver then steps up, summoning her Master Mega shark with her hand raised with her fan. It zipped around, making her head spin until Big Man came up to her and handed her a new headset and suit. “Aay!(Here!)”
Okay… This is happening… Neo put on the gear quickly and jumped onto Master Mega with Lil’ Buddy, grabbing the handles. It reved loudly like a motorcyle, making her flinch. Before she knew it, Mega launched up and swam up the ink tornado Frye’s eels left. Ooohhhh shiitttt- Neo wanted to go home, now. She didn’t want to be in the sky-
“Squid Jump, Three!” Marie yelled in the coms. Neo gulped and launched upwards after she passed through the underground and back up to the city, higher than she has ever been with her momentum.
“Go, Three! The fate of the world is in your hands!” No fucking pressure… Thanks Callie…
It felt like almost five minutes before she found herself landing on the rocket; it luckily didn’t go too far. Neo looked around, seeing glubs of fuzzy ozze and giant salmon eggs. She knew what this was.
“Where is Mr. Grizz?” Marie said through coms. A rumble was heard as one of the piles of ozze rose, revealing her enemy standing with his eyes glowing menacingly with his movement. Oh no… Lil’ Buddy hugged her leg
“Well, well. Such dedication to your work. I think you’ve earned yourself a break.” He took a battle stance, his very sharp claws coming out with ooze flying. “Now come here… SO I CAN BREAK YOU!” Lil’ Buddy ran around her and then retreated in his perch on her tank as Neo took a step back. She gulped nervously, wishing she could do that.
It all became a blur as she approached the giant bear, collecting salmon eggs. Once she dodged his claws, she pushed in, hitting one of the spots on him and then following it up with throwing Buddy. “You are not clocking out that easily.” He then vanished in his ooze surrounding him and reformed a distance away. He let out a roar as he laid and started to roll the whole rocket. “Move with the rotation, Agent Three!” Callie voiced as Sage’s hearts stopped for a moment, then ran to keep up. “Keep it up! You’re halfway through full rotation!” HALF?! She felt like she was gonna be sick. Three saw two platforms hanging off with eggs on them. She sluggishly grabbed them as the rotation stopped and Grizz stood up right. She felt dizzy as she threw Buddy at the fuzzy ink to divide. Once cleared, she fought off enemies Grizz threw at her, steadily grabbing more eggs. She approached him again to hit the spot but stood back as he slammed both paws down and clawed at her again. She barely avoided them with her distant dizzy feeling, but eventually she popped it and threw Buddy once again.
“Ah, a setback. But this is a GROWTH INDUSTRY!” He vanished again in the ooze, but eventually reformed as Callie asked where he went. He roared again, sending Tri-Strikes at her. She weaved away as she painted and ground and collected more eggs, one on a platform surrounded by ooze in the gaps. She quickly grabbed it and threw Buddy as another Tri-Strike was sent, making her jump back on the main platform. She advanced as enemies greeted her, until Marie spoke up.
“Looks like he’s going to roll again. Brace yourself!” She tensed as the ground began moving once again. She stopped shooting the enemies and inked a path, avoiding ooze walls. She felt dizzy and bile in her throat. She was back where she started as enemies fired at her again, Three returning it with her stomach turning still. Three, again, launched Buddy once she had enough eggs and walked forwards sluggishly.
“Mr. Grizz is sitting down! He is up to something…” Sage looked up as he started a wide killer wail. SHIT. She moved to the side as fast as she could with octarians trying to shoot her. Once Grizz was back up, he clawed again. She dodged and shot at enemies. Her brain was spinning as she saw the final spot, backing off for a second as he pounded his fists down again. She came forwards, popped the spot, and immediately reared back Lil’ Buddy to throw him but Grizz unexpectedly clawed twice quicker than usual. Sage dodges the first but the second violently cuts her calf on her leg as Buddy went flying and successfully hit him. She yelled out in pain, going to her knees. The world was spinning rapidly as she clung to her leg, her own blood seeping out of the wound. “Three, are you okay?!” Callie yelled.
“You are proactive, aren’t you... But it is time to clock out. In a few moments, Earth will be ruled by mammals once again.” Sage’s hearts were beating hard in her chest as pain clouded her vision, ears ringing with pressure. Grizz pulled at a gap in the rocket and ripped it, making a part of the rocket explode. She felt a rumble and her body being pushed back in open space as bits of debris cut her tentacles. She would be freaking out at that fact but she saw colors swim in her vision as she started to lose consciousness. All she felt was sickening pain in her leg and white noise, then nothing.
.
…
….
…..
Sage heard something… A beat her parents made her listen to a while ago. She slowly opened her eyes, seeing Buddy pat her face. “H… Hey…”
“Gahahah- It worked! Keep it going!” She slowly stood, wincing but feeling energized as she looked over to see-
“Wha.. Octavio?” She wiped her eyes in shock.
“No questions now, kid! Get up on top with your fish!” He pushed her up the ladder as Buddy followed and jumped in her hands. He started to glow, then he jumped and transformed into a giant fish in space.
Sage barely heard the other commentary as HugeFry, Frye named it, and Grizz faced off. The size of the two were now matched.
“You ready, Octavio?” Craig said.
“GYAH HA HA! Pilot hutch unlocked!” Sage saw a vacuum now protruding infront of her. “Fuzzbulls… meet my Ink Vac! Hop in, Agent Three!”
Sage stumbled to the hatch, pulling the lid up. “You heard him! Steer the Octobot King and vacuum those fuzz balls!” Callie added. She sat comfortably as she started to steer towards Grizz. Finally… Less running around… Sage knew that the Inkantation wouldn’t last long to drown out the pain of her leg. It was still leaving a path of blood, and now a puddle where she sat.
“We only have 3 minutes and 33 seconds before he slams into Earth! Hurry!” Marie reminded. That is about the same time before the pain hits…
Sage started to vacuum the ooze spot on Grizz while Buddy took his attention. However, enemies boarded the Octobot King. So much for being comfortable… She lifted the hatch and shot at the enemies. She soon returned fire and popped the spot in her own ink. His arm was covered, now. Octavio pulled the bot away for a moment as the two giants fought, then returned to target another spot with obstacles. Sage maneuvered around the fuzzy balls and closed in on the second spot. They had to time it right with Buddy and Grizz hitting each other. As soon as Buddy made a move to ram into Grizz, Sage targeted the spot. It left an ink splotch with her ink on his upper chest. They backed up again and advanced on the spot on Grizzes back. There was a circle of ooze balls, but she got through it. She felt her leg pain start to fizzle back. She didn’t focus on it as she sucked the spot, but the enemies interrupted her. She opened the latch, a wave of the enemy's ink trip caught on her foot. She winced but managed to splat them and the two springing octarian with a limp. She got back in and finished the third spot, covering his back now.
“This is it, Agent Three! It’s now or never!” Marie said. Octavio moved to the last point, the side of Grizz. Her ears were ringing and her leg was numb. Now is not the time, body… Come on- Almost!
Sage once again avoided the ooze balls and fought off the enemies that came at her as Craig warned about 30 seconds left. She got more damaged this time around but persevered throught the pain filling her body. The last spot popped.
“You got all the Fuzzballs…Now what? He is still on the move!” Callie panicked.
“I’ll tell you what!” Octavio piped in, “We fire that fuzz right back!” The vacuum transformed into a minigun.
“Blast the stuffing out of him! That is an order from your Captain!” With trembling footing, she sat back in and fired at Grizz. She pressed the trigger, all she could see was the ink being fired glow like a blazing sun until no ink was left leaving the minigun. She looked up to see a deflated Grizz through her blurring vision.
“It seems all my work… has been for nothing. The times have changed. The world can never be as it was. Moving forwards… is the future. I suppose this is it then.” Electricity buzzed from him as he looked up, then down. “You will not receive severance paaaay…” Sage felt a rumbling, and the Octobot rushing away as Grizz and the rocket exploded behind. Sage climbed from the hatch, body feeling heavy as the Inkantation stopped. She thought she saw Buddy going back to his original form, but her vision was filled with black spots as the temporarily-repressed cut on her leg came back with a fiery vengeance.
“GYAH, that was fun! Guess I saved the world. See, Craig? I can do good things, right, Kid?” She looked at the Earth for the last time. “Hey Kid?” Then she drifted out of consciousness.
The first thing Sage felt was her own breathing. Nice and steady. That wasn’t out of the ordinary. But then background noise made its way in, meaning she doesn’t have her plugs in. Fairly normal when she prepares to go to sleep. But then she remembers… nothing really. Why was she asleep? The noises were the sounds of light air conditioning, buzz of a ceiling light, and a steady beep. A thought crossed her mind. You don’t know where you are-
Her instincts were kicking in. Surprisingly, her body felt slow and sluggish. She had a hard time opening her eyes of how heavy they were, like they were glued shut. The room didn’t focus well as she forced her body to sit up and stand. Her head felt foggy, sweat dripping from her brow. She was hot—very hot. As she stood, her legs shook under her, one buckled wildly so quickly that she didn’t register the splitting and agonizing pain until she felt coldness on her cheeks. She writhed in pain, hearing herself make animalistic noises she didn’t recognize from her own voice. She clenched her calf where the pain was emitting from.
She didn’t feel or hear anything outside of what she was doing very well as loud white noise, her quick breath, and crowds of people talking overwhelmed her to the max. She fought against the force trying to stop her; biting it. The noise increased. She now clenched her head, almost clawing at her ears. She felt like she was fighting against more force until a pinch on her arm briefly registered through all the pain and emotions. She bites down on something once more, her venom leaking from her mouth as she didn’t realize she was losing consciousness as she slowly slumped.
Captain watched the whole thing. She was sitting in the chair in front of Neo Three’s hospital bed, deep in thought from all that transpired. After the fight with Grizz, Octavio rushed back to base. She never heard him sound worried about anything before. When they arrived, Octavio carried Sage out. The girl was badly beaten up; her bleeding leg being torn to shreds. Now Brook understood why Octavio was worried. Now the Captain felt guilt and heartbreak over her condition all over again. She didn’t pay attention to half the battle based on getting jumped by an octoling. She told the others to focus on Sage comms as she dealt with the adversary with Marie’s charger. Fighting a splattershot took longer than she liked…
Her ears perked up at the sound of movement, looking up. She watched as the kid woke up. She thought nothing of it, texting Callie and Marie that she was waking up. She started to come up to the bed to greet the kid for the first time for real but, Sage slowly sat up and began to stand. Brook froze. That was her first mistake. Sage tumbled to the cold tile floor like a rag doll. The IVs attached to her were ripped off as the girl clenched her bandaged leg, ripping the cloth as noises of a rabid animal came from the young agent. Her eyes were clouded and vibrant then usual, her tentacles were a more fuzzy texture. Fuck! The fuzz-
Brook pushed the emergency call button next to the bed and kneeled down to stop the kid from injuring her already very deep and infected wound. When she gripped her hands, she fought back wildly. Brook winced at the bites to her arm but refused to let go as doctors and nurses ran into the room, helping Brook restrain her as Sage moved to hold the sides of her head. They all get her back on the bed, losing some people from her kicking as everyone tries talking her down. It seems like she didn’t hear anything. The Jellyfish holding her uninjured leg yelled for sedatives.
Brook’s hearts were pounding in her chest as none other than Elly came through the door, hearing the order.
Brook forced the kids arm still as she injected it. All the hands holding her down kept strong until she slowly stopped fighting and slumped.
“You can let go now.” The Jellyfish said, snapping out of it as everyone else let go and checked over the agent.
Brook relaxed her hands and breathed for a moment, before letting go. Then Elly took her hand. Brook looked up at her, only to see the medic stare at her arm.
Oh. The adrenaline must have made her numb at how deep Sage was biting her in the moment. About five markings with blood dripping and bruising showed the abuse—along with something else.
“Let me help patch that, Brook.”
“…Yeah…Fuck…” So much for greeting her… Elly pulled her to the empty room on the other side, putting on new nitrile gloves on. For some reason, Brook felt extremely tired all of the sudden. She heard the muffled voice of Elly before her body seized and fell.
Notes:
Hooo boi-
Take a seat guys lol.
Chapter 6: Choices
Summary:
With Sage out of commission, the Captain is faced with changing a rule unbroken through the years. Not to mention the the fall out-
Chapter Text
Captain woke up feeling nauseous. She opened her eyes slowly, then looked to the side to see Callie. She was looking away from her, talking to someone. Brook willed to move her fingers, finding them enclosed.
Callie stopped talking and squeezed her hand. Oh… she was holding my hand.
“Hey, Cap. You okay?” She sat down to comfortably meet Brook’s eye level as Marie now entered her sight.
“Mm…yeah? What’s going on? Did I fuck up again?”
Callie smiled. “Not this time.”
“Apparently,” Marie started. “Sage went feral and bit you a lot. Elly was about to treat it but you seized and went unconscious right then and there. You're lucky she caught you before you hit your head.”
Brook took a moment to process that information. “How?”
Marie joined Callie in sitting down and sighed. “Elly and some others took a sample leaking from your arm. Sage… she has venom. And it paralized you.
“What?” Brook frowned in shock. How can Sage have venom? It seemed Marie read her mind.
“Yep. My theory was right. She is part octoling. The doctor conducted a DNA test to confirm.”
“No fucking way…” Brook whispered under her breath. It did make sense, but still.
“Yep! Can you move at all? Apart from your fingers?” Callie asked.
Brook willed her arm to lift, but it didn’t. She tried moving her leg and it didn’t. She could wiggle her toes and fingers, though. “Not really…”
Marie hummed. “Elly did say you might be temporarily paralyzed when you’re awake. Obviously. Venom thing.”
“Of course…” There was a knock at the door, Callie shouting a ‘come in.’
Brook looked over to see Elly walk in with a greeting. She was carrying a duffle bag, which was kind of strange, until she saw why.
Cuttlefish floated out of the zipper. “Squiddo! How do you feel?”
Brook blinked but smiled. “Hey. Yeah, I’m good. You know how it goes.”
He hummed and nodded to his granddaughters, talking with them as Elly approached.
“Can’t move I’m guessing?”
“Yuuuup.” Elly nodded in understanding.
“Well I thought Craig was due for a visit. He really wanted to come. I took extra measures so others won’t casually see…” Elly faded off, looking over to him. “A mummified inkling? Whatever that is???”
“Yeah… don’t ask. I’m surprised he is alive, though. Don’t know what I’d do without him around just yet…” Elly hummed, leaning over to check Brook’s wounds.
The three turned back to Brook. “Hey Cap? We uh… need to decide something.” Callie fidgeted nervously as Marie nodded. Cuttlefish sighed.
“As I have gathered… Agent Three has good guardians looking after her. We held back parent contact since this is NSS medical care.” Craig shook his head. “We need a plan to give an excuse. Sage will stay here, in the meantime.”
Oh. The NSS has always been strict on concealing identity to others; It was always a rule and customary to keep agent life separate and secret from others. Brook took a deep breath. She has been thinking about this rule when trying to talk to her Aunt and Uncle about her job. She always is guilty about lying so much during her teen years.
“Gramps. I…” Brook started as everyone waited for her response. It seemed the Squid Sisters knew what she was thinking and shook their heads to not talk about it. But she wants to.
“Brook. I know you are looking out for Three, but we can’t allow citizens to know.” Brook heard the disappointment in his tone. It stung hard. Fuck. Maybe he is right I’m just being selfish and-
“Logically, truth is better for this situation, Sir.” Elly interrupted her thoughts, looking Craig in the eyes. “I know Sage’s parents. And I know that Alyx will find out no matter what. The excuses we got away with won’t work this time because of her condition. Plus, she is a minor. Her parents have a right to know what she has been doing to help the NSS.”
Cuttlefish and Elly stared down one another for a moment. Then Marie cleared her throat. “The Captain of the NSS should make this decision.”
Then the next thing she knows is everyone staring at her. Oh, fuck me…
“Uh…” This should be an easy decision- Why am I hesitating-
“Brook. We can get around this problem.” Craig said as Elly looked at her with empathy.
Brook knitted her eyebrows, sighing again. “I’m sorry, Gramps, but I agree with Elly. It’s fucked up that agents have to keep this big secret. Sage is just a kid… and now she is badly hurt.” And you really should stop recruiting minors…
He floated backwards in surprise, thinking as Marie took his focus and started whispering to him.
Callie came up to her. “Brave decision, Cap.” She ruffled Brook’s head with a smile.
“You're not mad?” Brook questioned.
Callie shook her head. “I love Gramps, but he has kept some rules from forever ago still to this day. It’s good to have a change with a new captain, don’t you think?”
She processed her sister’s words and nodded, “Thank you. I just hope he thinks the same.”
“Oh, he’ll come around. Don’t worry.”
Brook looked over and watched Marie take the duffle bag and smuggle Gramps out of the room. I really hope so…
Sage felt like a caged animal. She didn’t feel all there. She was conscious of it, though. Her mind would just have these reactions of instinct. It starts and ends the same.
She wakes up confused and cornered, feeling tied by these things in her arms. As soon as she hears rapid beeping and begins to get up and pull what binds her, hands hold her down and try to reason. She didn’t care for reason, neither did her brain have time to translate in her state. She would feel a pinch in her arm and then she blinks out, until she wakes again and does the same thing. Each time they were ready. They put something over her mouth so she couldn’t bite or use her venom and cuffed her limbs. Someone monitors her and immediately calls in if she is waking up.
Sage knew she would lose each time. But she couldn’t stop it for some reason. She wanted to escape, to do something. She didn’t know what that something was. She just knew it was probably bad but wanted to relieve that itch SO badly. It was driving her mad.
Sage woke once again and was immediately restrained, but they didn’t make her sleep this time. She struggled as she saw Callie and an octoling step up.
“So? Does a good look say anything?” Callie asked the octoling.
He looked her up and down, thinking. Sage growled as he stepped closer. The ones holding her pulled her up so she didn’t head butt him, something they learned the last time.
“Yeah. She is definitely infected, but you all know that.” He grunted. “If she isn’t making any progress with it, bringing her something she holds dear might kick her out of it. Or suck it out with whatever inkling magical technology you have around.” He crossed his arms and stood next to Callie again. It seems he wasn’t pleased being here.
“Hm… Holds dear… I have an idea. But you're sure what brought you back won’t work on her?”
He looked at her up and down again. “That song might work wonders, but hearing it while just infected might bring back Grizz’s wants and her bad memory. I’m positive.”
“Hm. Okay… Thank you for the help, Toronto.”
“Hmf. Like I had a choice. Can I go now?”
“Right… Yeah, you're good.”
He left without saying another word while Callie approached Sage at a safe distance. The inktoling still tried to jolt forward.
“Don’t worry, Sage. I got a plan to help get you back. Promise.”
Sage stared into her soul for a second before growling. She felt one less person hold her back and sped to break free. But it was too late.
Brook took a deep breath. She was back on her feet but it has been two days since the fight. Sage hasn’t been on the best behavior still, not that it was her fault.
Elly was next to her, seeming to be just as nervous considering she was going to see her friends. But then again, they were gonna tell Sage's parents the truth. Brook wanted to wait longer, but after Callie and Toronto visited her a few hours ago, Callie said her parents would help her recover. Brook hoped they were right.
They all turned the corner and knocked on the bakery’s closed doors. It was 7pm now. It was better to talk when they were off work.
It took a bit, but she saw someone come up through the gaps of the blinds. Brook remembers her name to be Bandit. That brought up a memory she wasn’t too proud of the last time she saw her.
Bandit unlocks the door, opening it. “Elly, and Brook, right?” She looks worse for wear, like she hasn’t slept right and was ridden with anxiety. She looked so different from their first encounter. Though, she guessed it was fair, given their kid is missing… Her tip pattern colors changed too.
Brook nodded at her name being right as Elly took the lead. “Hey, uh- We need to speak to you and Alyx about something. Can we come in?”
Bandit paused, processing her words and looked almost confused, but nodded regardless. “Yeah. Of course.” She motioned them in and locked the door behind them. “Follow me upstairs.”
Brook felt really tense as they made it upstairs and Bandit led them to the couch in the living room. “I’ll grab Alyx. One second…” Bandit walked off.
“Oh, this isn’t good… Bandit is so… devastated…” Elly whispers under her breath.
“Mhm…”
They waited not too long. Bandit came back with Alyx in tow. They all sat down.
Brook remembers Alyx; only briefly with making eye contact from a distance the same day she met Bandit. They got a haircut, and deep purple-blue bags settled under their eyes, but they looked stone cold to their visitors. Bandit cleared her throat.
“Sorry. Um- What did you wanna talk about?” She took Alyx’s hand, seeing them squeeze back.
Elly nudged Brook’s shoulder. It was the Captain's job to do this. Elly was just support and trustworthy to the couple.
Brook sighed. “I… wanted to disclose the whereabouts of Sage.”
Brook watched as both of them reacted. Alyx took a sharp breath in and knitted their brows. “What.” They said flatly as Bandit had a look of shock but relief.
Hoookay. You're fine. Just do it. “First, I want to start from the beginning.” Alyx nodded as Bandit looked nervously at her partner.
“I am the Captain of the New Squidbeak Splatoon, NSS for short. It’s a secret agency sworn to protect inkling territory, created back in the Great Turf War. Elly here is Agent Five, our personal medic.”
Alyx nodded again, still stoic as Bandit looked at Elly in surprise. “And I’m sure you know of Clover, who is Agent Four.”
Bandit gasped at that. “And your kid is Agent Three. Our advisor recruited her. I tried to dismiss her when I met her, but she.. wanted to stay and help us. And she did. Got roughed up a bit… as you probably put it together by now…”
Brook watched as Alyx looked on in an angry and confused gaze but surprisingly didn’t act out, yet. Their ears folded back as they attempted to make sense of it all. Bandit just looked horrified, making Brook feel more guilty about the next part.
“Agent Three- er, Sage fought the one responsible for our problems. But in the process… her leg was deeply cut. She is in our agency’s hospital waiting to see what actions need to be taken.” She finally finished, a great weight on her shoulders vanishing. However, their reactions were next.
The two watched as Alyx ripped away from Bandit, approaching Brook. Oh shit they are gonna-
Brook let them slap her across the face. It hurt like hell. But she kind of deserved it… She felt she wasn’t the best Captain to Sage… “Are you fucking serious? You let her be an agent when she could have died! No kid should ever have that weight of the universe on her. And you-“ Alyx spun on their knee, flinching the slightest. “What kind of friend won’t tell me, us! You lied through your teeth for Sage.” Alyx was breathing very hard, tentacles rippling with colors of distress and anger. Elly didn’t falter her stoic face, the face Brook sees when she deals with families in the hospital. “And now after days of Sage missing, you decide to tell the truth now ?” After a moment, they faltered slightly. Their eyes darted between the two in front of them, possibly searching for words. Their expression softened only momentarily when repeating, “You lied for the sake of our child…”
“Alyx…” Brook looked over at Bandit, looking a total mess. She wiped her tears and stood. “Yelling won’t help right now.” The staring contest between Alyx and Elly broke. The two looked at one another, Alyx waving their hands in a repetitive motion before clenching their fists with an audible crack. In a solid motion, they flipped a table and stomped away to another room.
There was a silence, then Brook watched as Elly went over to Bandit and hugged her.
She listened to Bandit weep.
You did this to them. Captain turned away to give them space.
After the truth was out to Sage’s parents, Brook waited outside the shop for an hour. It was plenty of time for her thoughts to spiral out of control.
But when she heard the doors open, she tensed.
“Hey.” The familiar voice of Elly called. Brook couldn’t thank the agent enough for helping her with this. She felt so weak not being level headed in this situation. Brook slowly rises, lifting her eyes to see Bandit and Alyx follow behind her. Alyx avoided eye contact while Bandit weakly smiled. “They are ready to see her now… I told them about her condition and a few extra details...”
Brook nodded. “Right…”
A tense silence followed as they all filed in Elly’s car. Bandit was in the passenger as herself and Alyx were in the back. Of course.
They didn’t say anything to each other. Neither did the two up front. Brook hasn’t felt this awkward in a while.
When they all made it to Sage’s room, Alyx instantly looked over everything. No doubt they knew a thing or two about medical situations. Bandit just stared vacantly at the unconscious Sage and turned away to sit and hold down more tears.
Alyx noticed the restraints. “You said she has been reacting violently when she wakes up?” Their eyes focused on the gauze covering her leg, and they let out a breath. Some splotches of purple and her blood shown.
Elly stood with her. “Yes… the situation she was dealing with—she was exposed to something we call “Fuzzy Ooze.” It causes hostile behaviors and loss of will.”
Alyx reached out and grazed a hand over her mantle. “And make her… have this texture?”
Elly nodded. “Yes… it seems to keep growing every time she wakes up.”
They stood up straight. “Brook,”
Captain flinched as they turned to her, but nodded in acknowledgment.
“I’m not going to apologize for slapping you. But, I understand that being an agent, you're guaranteed to get hurt. Sage is stubborn, but you should have stood your ground and said no.” They walked over to Bandit, but didn’t sit down. “Bandit is terrified. Why did you let her fix so much of your problem?”
Everyone was looking at her for an answer. Brook sighed, turning to look at Sage's face.
“I wanted to do it all by myself, trust me. I’ve done it before. But time after time, I got hurt. The previous Captain made me stop for a while. And once I was an agent again, I failed again. And now I’m the Captain.” She looked over at the couple. “Everyday I feel like it was a mistake. I’m so physically fucked up I can’t be in the field. I couldn’t do it again. And when Sage came in… She was incredible. She was committed. I could never understand why she wanted this so badly when she was still a kid. But I think I have an idea.”
Alyx looked back at Sage, then at Bandit who was whipping her left over tears again. “I have an idea too…”
Bandit spoke up. “…She never told us what happened to her. She had no one when Alyx found her in the desert… I have a feeling that…” Bandit took Alyx’s hand. “She lost everything… Her home.”
There was a silence for a moment, Brook looked at Elly. She returned the gaze. “One of my right hand agents has been piecing it together. And we are sure of one thing. The hospital data backed it up, too.” Brook provides.
Bandit looked curiously at her as Alyx nodded. Brook also nodded to Elly.
“Sage is part octoling.”
Notes:
Omg welcome to the choas oc's Bandit and Alyx- And Toronto. Lot of ocs here. They be important from now on.
And if you confused about Toronto- He was the one who collapsed the crater and has been watching in the shadows of what Sage was doing. He was the one Sage saw in the Octoling kettle. He attacked Brook during the rocket boss fight while Callie and Marie helped Sage, Deep Cut too. He weakened when the idols sung the Inkcantation and Brook got the upper head! That is the background info for you-Comments are pog :P
Chapter 7: Finding One’s Sense of Self
Summary:
With the parents informed, it’s time to see if Sage can be herself again. And see if the Captain will utter her first words to the agent.
Notes:
This chapter is kind of everywhere and on the short side lol
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Sage woke up. The same routine of struggle happened but this time she was forcefully held down. She thought for a moment that the two people that came by before were back, but that wasn’t the case.
Sage struggled as two people came into view, their faces were blurred just like everyone else's were nowadays. The primal urge raged on as all she wanted to do was DO something; the something that kept itching and nagging but never gave a reason for what it could be. She just knew she had to escape and then she could know and finally-
“Sage..?” A familiar voice called. It made her pause and sharply inhale. Sage looked to where it came from. Right next to her. Draw in your prey. Sage froze as the voice spoke again. “Is it working..? Does she know me..?” Sage waited until she felt something lean on her. She immediately jerked to bite, but something held her head back with a firmness that was too hard to resist. She breathed heavily. Everything was held against her will now; her legs, her arms, hands, and now her own head. She heard herself whimper as she wiggled uncomfortably.
“Sage, you need to focus. We are here to help you, remember?” Another voice, probably the one holding her head. Remember what?
“You aren’t homeless anymore. We took you in, right?” Sage moved to look at the one she tried attacking. She was blue but that was all she could understand.
“Brook, hold her.” The voice behind said as another person that was green then took their place. The other person was red… red and blue …
“I found you barely conscious. Your Lil’ Buddy led me to you. I took care of you. We took care of you.” Red and blue stood next to each other. Sage felt Deja vu right now.
“And we adopted you and we became a family.” Blue added. She saw them touch hands. Hands… Sage squinted at them, slowly moving their eyes up to the face. Sage stared daggers at the two, trying to see their faces. “You attended school, and then you became an agent. You saved the world, Sage.”
Sage blinked. Looking down at her body. She saw a bandaged leg. Then looked at her dominant hand restrained against a bed. She clenched and unclenched, noticing her finger nails being longer than she remembered…
“Agent…” She spoke in her tongue, furrowing her brows. She began to see bits and pieces. She remembered fighting. Then a spaceship… and a… big… thing… She struggles against her binds. She sees two people smiling at her; one more hidden than the other. The word family made its way in her mind. She saw two standing and one sitting. The one sitting looked up to meet her eyes.
Sage breathed heavily with an anxious feeling. She saw fire. She saw her dad reading to her. She saw a bear slash at her. She saw her trembling hands holding her leg. She saw a smile from her leader. She saw blue smile with a morning greeting. She saw red strumming a guitar. She saw a salmonid climbing her person. She saw-
Everything pooled back in her mind all at once. It all became clear. But her hearts were beating so fast. She felt tears. She felt a splitting pain in her leg. The world was crumbling—the rocket- it threw her into space and she died. I’m dead. I’m dead. This isn’t real. Not real. No, no, no, I let them down. I failed. I couldn’t save anyone, I couldn’t-
She felt hands all over her as panic grew and all she could hear was her labored breathing and sound of fire roaring.
Until she felt warm—something around her- multiple. The more time passes, she realizes it was a hug. Everything calmed. She looks down to see her parents, and… The Captain..?
Sage finally calms down, but couldn’t take her eyes away from those who held her. When enough time passed, they all let go and Sage could see faces again.
She saw the Captain first, who looked relieved. She looked to the side and saw both parents; Bandit gripped Alyx’s arm from behind while the other stood over her.
“There y’go, kiddo… can you see us, now? Cod, you’re scaring the shit outta me.” Alyx patted Sage’s shoulder and sighed, releasing their grip around the young girl. “I have a feeling we should call Elly in.”
Sage saw Captain perk up and leave the room. “I got it…” Before Sage could be surprised by the Captain speaking, her parents took her attention again. “Yeah- Cod Sage… I almost had a heart attack.” Bandit mumbles, tears still in her eyes.
Sage looked down, seeing bandages upon bandages with new wounds showing through. Some IVs were attached to her veins as well. Then she looked down at her leg. It felt the worst of all. “I…” She looked back up to them and tears filled her vision. “I thought I could do it…”
Sage felt her chin quiver, tears blurring her vision. She tried to hold her breath but wasn’t successful, as she broke into a sob. Her parents immediately wrapped around her. Sage felt that Bandit was crying with her as Alyx gripped them both closer.
I thought I could do it. I didn’t prove myself- I thought I wouldn’t get hurt badly. I didn’t know Grizz was capable of all he did. I-
“It’s okay. It's okay. You’re alive and here now. Relax…” Alyx shakily whispers in her ear. “It’s okay. You’re safe now.” Sage would have never believed that Alyx would say such comforting words. She must have really scared them to hell and back.
Sage calmed, then sniffed. She lifted her arms, with difficulty, to wrap around them. “Thank you... moms.”
Bandit seemed to cry more at that as Alyx’s lips upturned into the most genuine smile she had ever seen. Sage let go of them both so Bandit could get a hold of herself, holding Alyx’s hand and the other wiping away the tears. “You okay?” Alyx said to their wife. Bandit smiled and nodded.
“Mm- y-yeah. Just. I love you guys…”
Sage blushed, looking down. Everyone then heard a knock on the door and it then opened to reveal Elly and the Captain.
Elly walked in with a concerned smile, wearing her nurse outfit. The Captain lagged behind at the door, looking almost anxious. She looked the same, minus the hat and headphones. That was still new to Sage to see them. Captain would always hide her face with the cap on.
“I see you’re back to yourself. We were worried that Grizz got full control of you.” She then looked at the other two. “Thank you, Bandit, Alyx. And sorry that this all happened.” Elly bowed in an apology.
“I’m not going to say it’s okay, cause it’s really not.” Alyx said, Sage flinched at that response. “But, you did what you could… you took care of our daughter and went against your better judgment for her. There’s respect behind that.”
Captain finally stepped up next to Elly as she stood straight again. But then she bowed. Sage had never seen Captain this…. What’s the word… timid? Expressive?
“Brook, please. Stand up.” Bandit said, letting go of Alyx to hold the Captain's shoulder. Wait… Captain has a name?
Captain rose again and sighed. “I really wanted to do more to help her…” She looked over at Sage. What..?
“Dude. You told us why. We understand.” Bandit comforted. Alyx nodded, though glanced between their arm and Brook’s face.
Captain looked to the ground but nodded slightly, then turned to look at Sage. Captain never looked at her this way before. She didn’t know what it was, but it was enough for Elly to speak up. “Uh, mind if we let Brook and Sage talk privately for a moment?”
Bandit and Alyx looked at one another and nodded, the two leaving with Elly behind them. Once the room was empty, Captain came to the side of the bed. “I’m sorry.”
Sage had to process that for a few seconds, then shook her head. “No, you don’t need to apologize to me…”
“I do, Sage.” She faceplants against the sheets and messes up her bangs. “You never heard me say a word until today. Or even show any kind of care to you-“ She hid her face in her hands. “I’m supposed to be your mentor, keep you safe. And I failed. Look where you are right now…” She finally let her hands fall either side of her. Then Sage saw a tear in her eyes. Never would she have ever thought that Captain would show or express this much emotion.
She honestly didn’t know what to say. So she let action do it for her. Sage lifted her hand, grabbing the Captain's arm. Before the older squid knew what she was doing, Sage slowly pulled the arm and sat up and off the bed. Her leg almost buckled but steadied against her grip on the other.
The inktoling gave the Captain of the NSS a hug. A long one given that the Captain seemed to not expect it. But a much needed one. After ten seconds, she hugged back. Sage heard the other’s breath, noticing that the panicked breathing slowed and her shoulders lowered, less tense.
Sage took a deep breath before letting go. “Are… are you proud of me?”
Captain smiled softly, and nodded. “Of course. Now get back on that bed… You shouldn’t be standing. Your parents just might kill me.” Sage didn’t realize how much weight she was putting on Captain.
“Yeah…” Captain helped her get back in bed. It is so still, here… “Hey… uh- where is Lil’ Buddy?
“Oh- right uh. He is with Callie and Marie. He really misses you.” Sage sighed in relief.
“So… what now?”
Captain let out a huff. “Well. First of all, you are on leave.”
Sage really wanted to argue with that, but logically it was for the best. “And second… We really need to find two of our agents.”
Sage nodded. “Who are they?”
Captain sighed. “Well I think you know Clover, right?”
Sage froze. “Yes…”
“She is Agent Four…” That makes sense with Elly being an agent… “And the other one, uh… you don't know her, but… Agent Eight.”
“There is an Eight? Who are agents Six and Seven then?”
“Mm- Well about that-” Before she could continue, Elly opened the door.
“Hey uh- sorry to interrupt but-”
Another person barged in, passing Elly. “BROOK, SHE IS BACK!” Callie proceeded to shove her phone in the Captain's face.
She looked confused but took her phone and read it.
Marina: Hey Callie! Um- so, sorry Pearlie and I have been MIA, but we just got back from a project and it might have gone wrong but it’s okay now! Agent Eight was with us and she really wants to meet with Brook again! She lost her phone and I can't seem to find Brook’s number :/
Captain felt her heart rate pick up and a massive weight lift upon knowing Eight was alive. She instantly started to type a response as Callie jumped around the room while Alyx and Bandit looked on, totally lost.
Callie: Tell her to meet back at the house ASAP
And paused.
Callie: This is Brook btw. Also you have some MAJOR explaining to do very soon.
Brook shoved Callie’s phone back to her and ran out the hospital.
Meanwhile….
Sage looked on as the Captain ran out. Callie giggles, Lil’ Buddy popping out behind her head and running to Sage.
“Brook just got news from her missing girlfriend, to fill the blanks.” She snickered. Sage let out an “oh” then hugged Lil’ Buddy and talked to him quietly.
“Callie… Privacy…” Elly scolded. “How the heck did you get here so fast? I thought you and Marie had an interview. And you could have texted me instead of running here.”
Callie blinked. “Mm. Yeah but I was too excited! Uh- I gotta go nowwww, byeeee~” and then Callie was off.
“Uh… Elly. You know Callie?” Bandit asked as they entered the room.
Elly sighed and nodded. “Yes- I know a lot of people. Is it okay if I leave you guys with Sage? Got to follow the Captain…”
“We got it, Thank you Elly.” Alyx nodded.
“Great- Talk laterrrr.”
There was a beat, then Alyx came forward. “So, you are gonna tell us everything . Right now.”
Oh no- Elly come back!
Notes:
:D Omg reunion coming in- You guys ready for the last chapter? I'm not and I'm the author-
Chapter 8: From Here on Out
Summary:
The reunion of Willow and Brook. And a sub-in agent.
Chapter Text
Agent Eight’s hearts were beating anxiously; she just got back from the Memverse. Admittedly, she could have left sooner but she couldn’t bring herself to be back home just yet. She had to save the other souls, all at once. But she was digging herself deeper to the point where Pearl stepped in and made her exit the virtual world to face the real one.
She lost her phone and her keys, Marina promised to look for them. Luckily, when she came back to this world, her familiar clothing was on her. But right now, Pearl and Marina left her at the doorstep of her home, completely locked out until she gets here. She just sat on the porch stair, thoughts running away from her for minutes turning into an hour.
She didn’t know how long she had been in the virtual world—She just left unannounced without a trace. She can’t imagine the emotions Brook dealt with. She felt terrible just waking up in a place she was trapped in for who knows how long. She wanted to say goodbye, at least, to her significant other had she known everything would go wrong. It was like the metro all over again but her friends were around ‘in person’ this time. It didn’t prevent all the fumbles and panic attacks from coming, though. She has a whole mess of emotions; she felt terrified, scared, anxious, mad, and hurt.
“Willow!” A shout was heard yards away, barely heard by her sobbing and loud thoughts. She snapped up from her curled position and saw the love of her life running to her like her life depended on it. Willow only sobbed more but stood up shakily as Brook slowed enough not to take her out. The inkling caught her in a tight hug. Willow instantly clung onto the other, dampening the poncho she wore. “Willow, oh my cod. I... What happened to you?” Brook tried to pull away to face the octoing but she tightened her grip, not wanting to move from the hug just yet.
“I…” She tried to calm her crying and breathing, but she found it impossible at the moment.
“Sh… Hold on, babe. Calm down. Do you want to go inside?” Brook asked.
Willow sniffed but nodded, deciding to shift to her swim form in Brook’s arms. The inkling instantly went with it and walked to the door, unlocking it as Willow hid her face in her partner's torso.
After a few minutes, Brook took them to their bed, laying down. Willow listened to the sounds of her hearts beating and the familiar warmth Brook brings. “Take your time… I just-” Willow felt Brook put a hand on the octolings mantle and lightly massage it. “I was so worried I wouldn’t see you again, especially after what happened... I got roped up in Alterna with the newbie and I wanted to drop everything to find you… But I know you can handle yourself. But I just- Cod.” She sighed. “I’m glad you are here, Willow. I missed you… And I love you. Okay?”
Willow slowly shifted back, now laying on top of Brook but still hid in her shoulder. “I missed you a lot too, Brook. I…” She sniffled, whipping her tears. “I did not mean to take this long. I was helping Marina with something and then it get compromised and we could not escape and I had to fight and do these tests and-”
Brook tensed and pushed Willow’s shoulder away to look at the octoling face to face. “Wait, slow down-” Willow looked into Brook’s mismatched eyes and she kept going.
“Everytime I failed, the elevator would go back to the start and at one point I had to fight Marina to save her and these weird bosses that almost looked like the Great Octo Weapons. And then I had to defeat Order who trapped people's souls and I had to stay longer to free them but I could not do all of them so I came back here-” A finger was pressed against her mouth.
“Willow- Stop for a moment.” She froze as Brook took her finger down, then took the octolings hands.
Willow calmed her breathing and closed her eyes. “I… was scared to come back to you. And I am so sorry…”
Brook paused for a second, but took her hand. “Why is that..?” Willow looked up to read her face, seeing confusion and a bit of heartbreak. She squeezed back and looked away.
“I guess I needed more time… At first, I would have given anything to get back to you, but… Once I defeated Order the first time… I was not ready… to face this reality. I kept overthinking this day. I kept panicking about what would go wrong. I thought you had gotten mad at me for some reason. Or found someone else. Or just… forgot about me all together.”
“Willow…”
“I know it is dumb. But Pearl talked to me about it. And I got the courage to come back. I… I was trying to free a palette. But I kept falling short and sent straight to square one. I… needed a break from it.”
Willow looked back at her partner, and hardened her gaze. “I have to thank Pearl later. But I swear… I’ll never forget or leave you. I don’t say I love you to just anyone, Willow. You know that.”
The octoling nodded and then leaned in and hugged Brook. The inkling returned it. “I would have never dated anyone better…”
“Mm… me neither.” They pulled away, Brook giving her a kiss on the cheek. Her face contorted into thinking suddenly. “Can you… wait here for a second?” Brook asks, now looking nervous.
“Yeah… sure.” She nodded and left for a moment. She heard shuffling around in Brook’s original room.
While Willow waited, Brook took a breather. Her hearts felt right again. It felt like it was aching for so long. Now she just had to find a way to give that ring she has desperately wanted to pop the question with. Where did I put it..? Oh, probably in my closet. She looked over to see her closet closed.
Brook soon stumbled back into the room Willow was waiting in, holding something behind her back. Brook remained stood up infront of her though. Willow didn’t think anything of it at first.
“So, um- I want to do this before I become a coward…” Brook took a deep breath. “And it’s been in the back of my mind for… Cod. Years, now.” She let out a scoff at that as Willow began to understand what was happening.
Willow felt her hearts stop when Brook went on one knee and looked into her eyes. She presented a ring: a silver band with a circular blue sapphire in the middle and tiny sapphires lining both sides. “Will you uh… give me the honor of marrying me, Willow?”
She felt tears running down her cheeks as her hands went up to cover her mouth. She then stumbled to get off the bed.
“Oh Cod, Brook. I-” She went to Brook’s level and kissed her. Her hands held the ones carrying the ring. It felt like heaven and the stars were aligning.
They kissed until they couldn’t breathe, breathing in each other's air with how close they were. “Yes… heh… I actually was going to propose to you as well, Brook.”
The inkling looked shocked. “Wh- What?!”
Willow giggled. “Yeah, just a second.” Now it was her turn. She walked to her closet just inches away and reached up to reveal a black box. She returned to Brook and presented the ring. It wasn’t too flashy, but it was a genuine gold band.
“Shit, Willow.” She started to laugh lightly. “Cod damn. Well. I obviously would say yes.” They both stood up, Brook holding a hand out. “May I?”
Willow nodded and gave her her hand. Brook easily slipped the ring on, giving a kiss after.
“May I?” Willow echoed back.
“Fuck yeah.” Willow then took the ring out the box, putting the latter aside, and slid Brook’s ring on. They held each other's hands for a moment, about to kiss and maybe a bit more, until a knock was heard.
Brook grunted while Willow giggled at their moment being interrupted. They both went to the door, Brook opening it. On the other side was Elly, albeit a bit out of breath. They both saw a look of happiness dawn on her when she met eyes with Willow.
“OH MY GOSH-” Elly immediately pulled the octoling in a hug, the other returning. “I am so glad you are safe! Everyone has been worried sick!” They pulled away as the octoling scratched behind her head, but then Elly took notice of the ring. She then looked at Brook.
“Oh. My. Cod. Did you just-?”
“Yes, yes- I uh- Finally did it. Though Callie will beat me up for not being able to witness it, heh.” Brook reached over and took the octoing’s hand.
“I'm so happy for you two! What a double suprise.” Elly settled, then a look of realization overcame her face. “I didn’t mean to ruin the moment. Damn… Sorry.”
“It is okay!” Willow smiled lightly. “I need to talk to you about something, actually. Come in?”
Brook squeezed her hand, as if questioning the sudden turn around. Willow only reciprocated as they gathered in the living room.
The couple sat opposite of Elly.
“It is about Clover.” Elly’s face immediately turned serious and nodded to continue. “Is she missing?”
“Yes. For the same amount of time you have been.”
“You have been gone for four months, by the way.” Brook added.
Willow nodded and sighed. “So… I have been in a virtual reality for that long, helping with a project Marina started to help people like me; regaining memories. Clover was helping with it, too, but I have not seen her anywhere. This project was a secret and in its beta. A virus corrupted the world as I was doing a beta run and got separated from Marina. A being called Order was using her creation to control people, trapping their souls and some other peoples wills. I got a few of them released, but… My last run was for Agent Four’s soul… So she is alive, but- I do not know her whereabouts apart from Marina telling me she was on her way to their studio for the beta run.”
The two inklings took that information. “I see…” Elly frowned. “Do you think she is in the world you were in?”
Willow nodded. “Most likely. I need to free her palette to move forward.” Willow reached out and took her hand. “I will find her. I’ll work my hardest. Promise.”
Elly nodded as they both pulled back. “Thank you. It hasn't been easy for me…” A lot of sadness overcame her. “And since she is kind of famous, people won’t leave me alone in public.”
“You didn’t tell me that- I could have helped.” Brook said.
“You have been busy. I can handle myself, anyways. Don’t worry. Just- Focus on getting her back.” The two nodded. “I’ll leave you guys to it. I’ll let the others know. Do you want me to say anything about the rings?” Elly stood.
“Yeah, no. We want to tell them ourselves.” Brook said. Willow paused but nodded.
“Alright. Got it.” Elly made her way to the door.
“Also, Elly, can you tell the others that we are having a meeting tomorrow at noon?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Gotcha! Have a good night you two.”
“You as well. Bye Elly!” Willow waved off as she closed the door behind her and left.
“So.” They looked back at each other.
“So.” Willow giggled.
“Imma cuddle the heck out of you tonight.” Brook smirked, grabbing the octoling’s hips.
“Oh yeah? That is all?” Willow pecked her cheek.
“Maybe.” Brook kissed back but on the lips, leading them to the bed ever slowly.
-3 days later-
Toronto let out a sigh, just about leaving his apartment with his old friends. “Oi! Come back to us, now! Don’t be gone long, fuzzy!” Coral called.
Toronto grunted “Yeah, whatever.” Closing the door behind him, he walked to Splatsville just blocks away. He kept ruffling his hair when no one was looking. The leftover fuzz made everyone question if he descended from someone called ‘Judd’? He didn’t know. Definitely an inkling thing, he guessed.
He popped out his phone, checking the directions as he saw an undercover Marie sitting just a bit away from the grate that led to Alterna.
He huffed, walking over to her. Once Marie saw him, she stood. “Took you long enough. Ready to go?”
Toronto only nodded. “Right… come on.” Marie led him through the grate once no one was looking. The transport was just as dizzying as the other times he snuck through this kettle.
They both popped out the grate and made their way to meet Callie, Captain, and Cuttlefish.
Callie was the first to welcome them. “Torontooooo hey!”
“Hi.” He responded stoically, kicking the snow at how awkward this felt. Returning to the people he tried to attack to ask for a job was not a great feeling.
“So? What is it?” The Captain ordered. “You sent Cal a text for us to talk. So. What?”
Toronto could tell the Captain didn’t like him. He didn’t like her, either. The one on one fight they had didn’t help the situation. But he cared less about what he did in the past. Maybe.
“I want to apply to be an agent, since your Agent Three is still…” He thought of a word that sounded nicer than ‘slacking off’. “Recovering.” In the army, no one cared that you were hurt. Unless you were a high rank like he was.
“You what?” The Captain did a double take as Marie stood by her cousin.
“Why would you want to be an agent?” Marie asked.
Toronto scoffed. “I know how to hold a gun and carry out reconnaissance. Among other things. I can be an asset to your group.”
“That doesn’t explain why you want to be an agent.” Captain said.
“…” He looked at her for a second, then looked away. “I don’t need to tell you why. Just know that I’m not trying to be a spy or something else of the like. My connections to the Octarian Forces and Grizzco are severed.”
“We do need a replacement for Sage…” He heard Callie whisper to the Captain. He hid a smile at how predictable their circumstances were.
He heard that Agent Three got out of Grizz’s influence, which was good. However, the deep gash Grizz gave her on the leg…. It didn’t look good. She can’t walk on her own for months from what he guessed.
He looked down to his hand, seeing the ink scar Captain gave him. His injury was child’s play compared to hers…
“Are you sure you want to do this? Don’t you like, kind of hate us?” Callie pressed, suspicion in her voice as she crossed her arms.
After everything settled down, Alterna was in need of a weekly recon agent. Neo Three was still recovering, Agent Eight was off in the Memverse finishing what she had started, Elly still reaching to be a doctor, and the Captain unable to perform agent work in general. That left the Squid Sisters to check in. But ever since the relaunch of Inkopolis Plaza and the fest performances, they have been swamped-
He grunted, rolling his eyes. “I do hate you guys. But. I require money.”
“Hmmmm-“ Callie hummed deep in thought as Captain rose from her seat.
“I don’t see anything wrong with you subbing in… But you are young.”
“Hah. Sure. Like you haven’t hired a 16 year old to do military work.” His voice oozed sarcasm.
The Captain sighed with a grunt. “Damn it, Cuttlefish. We will never live that down…”
The floating mummy of an inkling nervously laughed. “You must admit squiddo- all the agents grew into fine folk.”
Captain squinted at him. “Yeah… sure…” Sighing, she brought her attention back to the octoling. “I guess you're hired. Temporarily. You're gonna be Agent Zero.”
Cuttlefish raised his tentacle to say something. “And that is final. No fucking way this guy is also Agent Three.”
Callie and Marie giggled at that as Cuttlefish shrugged and continued doing, whatever the heck he does.
“Perfect.” Toronto smirked. “I’ll get to it now. Have any gear for me?”
“Oh, uh.” Marie butted in. “We need to order something for you… just wear your armor for now.” Marie leaned down and shuffled in the few boxes around. “But here is an earpiece for comms.” She handed them to him, popping them in. “And a hero shot.”
He took the gun handed to him, wanting to look at the weapon but he could do that later. This was one of the models that did cause terror in the domes in his hands. How ironic. “Aight. Bye.” Agent Zero jumped away.
Captain watched after him. “Are you sure about this Cal? He did try to kill us.”
“Oh pppthh. Like that hasn’t been an issue.” She smirked, her eyebrows going up and down in a teasing manner.
Captain blushed, looking at her ring. Callie had got her there.
She sighed and looked at the fake sky. I hope we find Clover soon…
Notes:
THEY FINALLY PROPOSED OMG OMG THEY DID IT- Took them long enough lol. I hope I did it justice- And a new agent- an oc too! I hope you guys like him being around in future fics I have yet to write.
The next part of this series is going to be about Agent Four. I wonder where she is hmhmhmhmmmmm- I still am working on it. It is very tricky writing her because NINTENDO REFUSES TO GIVE US AGENT 4 FANS INFORMATION ABOUT THEM- Ehem. Anyways, maybe in a few months I'll post the first chap. I don’t know- It is going.
In the meantime, please check out media I'm on! I post art on my agents accessionally and I stream on Twitch!
https://www.tumblr.com/cloverzbandit
https://x.com/cloverzbandit
https://bsky.app/profile/cloverzbandit.bsky.social
https://ko-fi.com/cloverzbandit26815/gallery
https://www.twitch.tv/cloverzbanditAlso I am made changes to the Character Sheet since some new things are know now!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Gl_LgiSBumph6RzAxLZgQAFF8fCfYY_QDqjwE0-P8qk/edit?usp=sharing
Bronze_Bookwyrm on Chapter 1 Sat 02 Nov 2024 08:13PM UTC
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