"We've gotten so far. We won't be stopped this time. I'm coming."

=================

At the group's apartment...

Third Person's P. O. V

Back in the apartment, the 3 Inklings and Cross are sitting on the couch. And their morale is in shambles since Nikki told Andrew and Glen about the terrible news. Glen is very sad but tried to be optimistic and Andrew... Is still being Andrew.

Nikki's P. O. V

I still can't believe this. But it's not the time to weep. We'll get him back. No matter what.

Cross: I informed the F. A. O of the bad news. And they're sending out their best recon teams to get him back. 

Andrew: I'm ready to go. Let's get him back. 

Glen: Me too!

Cross: You guys need to hold your horses. We don't know where they're gonna bring Brooks at.

Nikki: How long are we gonna wait?

Cross: I really hope it's not for long. But we can't chase the Octolings without a gameplan.

Nikki: I can make a plan. You need to let me think though.

Then someone knocked on our door. There's no one else that knows our apartment except for the Squid Sisters and Luna. So I opened the door.

Agent 3: Good morning.

Nikki: Oh! Come in. 

Agent 3: Thanks. *goes in the apartment*

Cross: Any news? 

Agent 3: We're also trying to track Brooks's location at the moment. As soon as we get the coordinates, we're immediately coming after him. *sits down on the couch*

Cross: I see. How will they track him though? 

Agent 3: Not quite sure yet. But I feel the base will be underground. But above ground.

Cross: Huh? *confused* What do you mean by that?

Agent 3: Brooks was kidnapped with a truck right?

Cross: Yeah?

Agent 3: The Octolings have been doing all their work underground. And it's weird doing an operation on the Plaza above ground. So it's probably an Octoling base above ground. It's confusing I know. 

I'm so confused... But I kinda get what she means at the same time. 

Nikki: Can you cook something Cross? I'm getting very stressed. *holds her head in stress*

Cross: Okay then. Just be calm. What do you want?

Nikki: Your best dish.

Cross: I'll try my best. *stands up and goes to the kitchen*

Andrew: Okay. Let's think about this plan we're having. 

Agent 3: Your planning already? 

Nikki: Well, we're planning for the strategy of attack. 

Agent 3: Hm. I have experience in dealing with Octolings. I can help you with that.

Nikki: Thanks... Wait, I haven't asked for your name yet. 

Agent 3: I'm not supposed to tell my name. But call me "3". *smiles slightly*

Nikki: But you have to tell me after the commotion is over. I can't keep calling you "3" forever.

Agent 3: Okay. Done deal. 

Glen: *drinks a bottle of water*  ...

Cross's P. O. V

Cross: *looks into the pan* ...

I'm making some... Eggs and some Fried Shrimps. And I'm also cooking up some fluffy rice to go along with the meal. 

Cross: *sigh* *still thinking about what just happened* ...

What did Brooks do to get kidnapped? What did he do? I wished I could have done some more about the situation. But...

15 minutes ago... 

Cross: *goes in the bathroom* ... *looks in the mirror*

Did something happen in my eyes?

Cross: *inspects his eyes* ...

Nothing is wrong with my eyes. No injury, no scars, nothing. How do the hell can I even do that. It would be a great advantage to have if I knew how to trigger that "time stop" effect.

Cross: *washes his face* ...

Anyway. Until I know the secret of this anomaly in my eyes, I'll start not worrying about this and worry about the rescue mission coming up.

Back to the kitchen...

Cross: The food is ready, people. *turns off the stove*

I put down the food on the table and the guys came to the table as I grabbed the rice cooker and brought it on the table as well.

Nikki: That looks great! 

Cross: Mhm. Dig in people. 

Nikki: *grabs some rice and grabs some shrimp* ...

I sat there on the chair watching them eat. I'll check on my phone real quick.

Cross: *checks his phone* ... *checks his messages* 

Huh? Someone is texting me? Probably Luna. 

A-kun: If you don't know Team "MASK", read the (Non-Chapter) "New Characters Inkcoming!"

Back to the story...

Cross: Sheesh. Being forceful...

Nikki: You've been staring on that phone for a while. 

Cross: Oh, sorry. Did you finish your food? 

Nikki: Yeah. The others have put their plates on the sink. I'll wash the dishes. You seem down.

Cross: *sigh* Thanks. I'll be taking a rest. 

Nikki: Okay. *stands up and goes to the kitchen*

Cross: *stands up to go his room* ...

I immediately went to my room and laid myself on the bed and started to sleep. 

At a mysterious location...

Third Person's P. O. V

The place is pitch-dark, many factory-like machines are running around the clock. Making some kind of machines of war. And our protagonist is getting pulled by the neck with a neck chain by Cristovelle.

Brooks's P. O. V

Cristovelle: Get moving! *pulls Brooks* 

Brooks: Mmmm! *screams but has tape on his mouth*

I look in front of me, I see a rather large figure in front of me. Don't tell me...

Quintavius: We got him, sir.

DJ Octavio: Good. Take him to the interrogation room. We need all the information we can get from him, if it doesn't work, brain-wash him. I'm not wasting this time on an unruly creature.

This is my main target. Hm. As soon as I get out of this, I'm going straight after you. A win of war means nothing if I can't eliminate the cause of this whole mess.

Quintavius: Okay sir. Get him into the room. 

Then I'm getting pulled again into the "interrogation" room. Seems like help is not gonna be coming anytime soon huh. I've been in the truck for 3 hours. And immediately I'm getting treated like this. Okay. It's fine. I'll get through this. I'll do my best. And I'm hoping for the best. 

In the interrogation room...

Brooks: *sits down on the chair* ...

Cristovelle: *sits down also* Now... 

I looked at the table lifelessly. I'm trying to get outta this peacefully and without me getting brain-washed. If it gets to that, I don't know how well the guys will get me out of it.

Quintavius: I'll take care of this. I have serious questions about him.

Cristovelle: Okay. *stands up*

Quintavius: Aren't your species supposed to be dead?

Brooks: Yes. 

Quintavius: But why you're alive? And I know there's more that are alive.

Brooks: Not my problem. At least I know I'm living. Plus, what do you get by kidnapping me? I don't know some top secret stuff that will jeopardize myself and others.

Quintavius: Shut your mouth. 

Brooks: *mentally sighs* ... (Oh, of course.)

The interrogation continues. 

Back at Inkopolis Plaza...

Cross's P. O. V

Nikki: CROSS! *screams*

Cross: *wakes up* H-huh? 

Nikki: The location of Brooks has been tracked!

Cross: This quickly? *gets off the bed* 

Nikki: Yeah! Hurry! 

I'm already dressed up for the occasion. But I gotta wash my face first before getting my weapon, my trusty Octobrush. But I'm also bringing a secondary weapon just in case. Which is the Splat Dualies. Everyone is doing that right now. I mean, it's a pretty smart idea. But I don't know about the ink tank. But it can make me switch from each weapon. And also use the Subs and Specials of each weapon. Pretty genius right? I pretty much contradicted what I said earlier but that's fine.

~~~

Cross: I'm good! Let's go! 

Everybody leaves the house and I locked the door before catching up to them. 

Marie's P. O. V

Driver: Get in! 

I and Cal went in the car and also Gramps. He is also gonna join. And we ready our weapons. We're taking him back. 

Driver: Where to Ms. Marie? 

Marie: At this location. *shows the map to the driver*

Driver: Can I borrow for this for a second? I'll follow the GPS. 

Marie: Okay. *gives the phone to the driver* And please step on it. It's a rescue mission.

Driver: *gets the phone* Will do Ms. Marie.

Callie: I'm ready to destroy the Octolings! They're not gonna get away with this.

Capt. Cuttlefish: Agent 3 and you Agent 2 is going in there. Agent 1, you need to hack the systems of those Octolings. We can't have Brooks's friends get held back by traps. 

Marie: Okay, Gramps. 

Luna's P. O. V

I and my crew are going to the Plaza right now in our car. And I texted Cross to meet me at the bus station and he said that he's already. But traffic is stopping us.

Luna: How long will we have to stay on this stupid stop sign?

Terrence: Not for long. Don't you see the timer on the side of the signs? 

I looked and he was right... It was 12 seconds left before the green light. It wasn't my fault. Totally.

A-kun: Okay. You haven't heard of "Terrence" before right? So. This is Luna's Ops Team. "The Wolves". Known for their covert ops. 

Crew Members:
1.) Luna Skyler (Leader)
2.) Terrence Davis (Male)
3.) Coralis Sea (Female)
4.) Aqua Cortez (Male)

Back to the story we go...

Aqua: *snickering at the back of the car* ...

Coralis: Stop laughing on a minor mistake. The sunlight was blocking Luna's vision.

Aqua: I apologize. *still giggling* 

Terrence: You're like a girl huh. 

Aqua: Better than being obsessive over the Squid Sisters.

Okay, the light turned green. As I drove past multiple vehicles, I still hear arguing between the two.

Luna: Can you guys stop mocking each other in such an important matter? *looks at the back*

Coralis: You're in trouble! *in a mocking tone*

The two fell silent before I snapped my head back onto the road again. We don't wanna die because of these two idiots. 

Aqua: I'm sorry. But you said we are going to the Plaza. What are you going to do there?

Luna: Meeting up with my friend, Cross.

Aqua's P. O. V

Oh, him AGAIN!? What is this? Over the past week, she mentioned him so many goddamn times that I lost count. This human is really pulling her in. And I'm not gonna let that happen. I'm not letting my chance be gone in an instant.

Aqua: *mentally sighs* ...

Luna: Something the matter? *looks at the rearview mirror*

Aqua: Nothing. *lays himself on the window looking out*

Meanwhile...

Cross's P. O. V

We are inside the car and loading up our weapons and setting up our ink tanks. 

Cross: Are you all set and ready to go?

Nikki: Yeah! *loads weapon up and fixes her ink tank*

Andrew: Always ready. 

Glen: *nods her head* ...

Cross: I'm actually waiting for someone. I'm sorry if I'm bothering you guys again.

Andrew: Again?

Cross: I'm waiting for her again. But... *looks out the window* 

I see multiple black cars weirdly on a parallel/straight-line formation. I mean, it could be anyone, but I think that's the F. A. O convoy cars. Probably filled with agents also. The CEO is sure panicked by the kidnapping.

Luna: *pulls up next to Cross's car* ... *puts down the window* 

Cross: *pulls down the window as well* Don't keep me waiting. You are late.

Luna: Sorry, sorry!!! I apologize.

Cross: Anywho, let's get going. *puts the window back up*

We started driving to the location. Which is a pretty big compound. But we have a plan. Well, for us 4 anyway...

Back at the apartment... 29 minutes before the group left...

Nikki: Okay. We'll just bring the weapons we're best at. And. A better idea, let's bring two weapons. But we don't need two heavy weapons. For your secondary weapon, just bring a light weapon. Like a Dualie for example.

Andrew: Uh-huh. That seems good.

Glen: I'll just bring the Luna Blaster Neo. I'm not confident with myself switching between weapons.

Nikki: All fine. 

Cross: *comes out of the room* I'll bring the Octobrush and the Splat Dualies.

Nikki: Not a bad idea either.

Andrew: Since you all wanna be so mobile, I'll just bring my trusty Carbon Roller. It's still my favorite weapon but it gives me so much more mobility.

Nikki: Then I'll bring the Tenta Brella. I have only bought the weapon recently. But I think I can use it perfectly.

Cross: Don't let me down.

Nikki: I won't... Since we all know what our weapons are gonna be, you know what formation of attack we're going for right?

Everyone in the room nodded except me because of confusion. Is something missing that I don't know? Or maybe I just haven't listened to Nikki's ability to lead.

Nikki: You're confused right, Cross?

Cross: Well, yeah. But I get it. Based on our weapons. You don't need to tell me.

Nikki: Well, then. The plan has been "planned" out, we're getting out of here. 

Back in the car... Too many flashbacks in one chapter damn.

Brooks's P. O. V

Cristovelle: GET IN THERE! *kicks Brooks into the cell*

Brooks: Oww!!! *hits face on the wall*

Cristovelle: *locks the prison cell* What are we even doing with him anyway!? He should die already!

Quintavius: We'll use him for our cause.

That's quite a way to say brain-wash but okay. You're trapping me in this cell. Good thing I truly came prepared. They're gonna regret not brain-washing me sooner.

Quintavius: Let's go. Rescue teams are on the way. Let's get ready. *walks away from the cell*

Cristovelle: *glances at Brooks before walking away* ...

These scum. I'm getting out of here ASAP.

Brooks: *pulls out the pocket knife from his pocket* ...

I'm ready. 

====================================

A-kun: 3 more chapters to go. How do you think this will all work out? I know this chapter is again on the shorter end of the spectrum but I'm making sure that the next one's are gonna be longer, and more juicer than the last. Anyway, hope you all enjoyed the chapter and see you in the next chapter. BYE!

Word Count: 2398 Words.

1/22/20
12:23 AM