"This Second Life Is Going Great So Far...  Reliving That Again Should Not Be A Problem..."

-----------

It's the year 20XX. Humans are all extinct. No signs left. The only evidence left is the washed-up items on the shore. Some scientists theorize that maybe. Just maybe. Some are still alive and running for survival out there. But only time will tell.

"Help!" a young Brooks shouted, but no one responded. "Help!" Brooks shouted again, no one. Seems he was good as dead. No one hears him, no one sees him. No hope left, and nothing to cling no more. Stuck in an escape pod of some sort. It was the first time that he has awoken in a very, very long time.

...


... "Wait..." young Brooks told himself. He was hearing something from above. An engine of some sort. Knowing that some person is above him, he started to hit the door of his escape pod trying to make a single wave of noise that can be heard at the surface.


"Hey! Come here!" He was panicking while he was trying to get help. He cannot let this chance slide. "HEY!" Brooks shouted on top of his lungs. He was trying his best to save his breath but this was his chance. To escape. Finally.


~~~


"Huh?" A certain Inkling heard something from down below. "Hey! Stop right here." As soon as he commanded, the boat stopped and waited for more sounds to make sure he wasn't hearing things.

"Why are you stopping here Cap't? Do you see anything?" A weird Horseshoe Crab asked.

"Shut it Shellendorf. I'm hearing something.." The Inkling kept silent as he tries to hear the noise he heard earlier.

He almost gave up on finding the direction or the location of the "mystery" sound. But then...

WAM!

"Woah! You heard that Shellendorf!?" He sure heard something now.

"Yes, i did Cap't. Do you know where is it at?" Shellendorf followed.

"Do you think you can swim this? I might dissolve if i do." The Cap't suggested. Knowing he might die if he swims in water.

"Okay, then Cap't. I'll check." The Horseshoe Crab was getting ready to dive in...

Sploosh...

The crab dove into the water. Now underneath, he checks for objects that could be making a sound. Or something that has light in it. Because it might be a survivor that he can save. But his vision is kinda flipped. Literally. Because he was swimming upside-down.

"Hmmm.." He kept hearing the slamming noise over and over again... So he finally started to follow the sound leading to the location.

A little while later...

"I see it!" But before that, he went to the surface to check at "Cap't" and to tell him the "slamming noise" comes from here.

"Cap't! This is the place!" He waved a "Cap't" trying to get his attention.

"Huh? You see it?" Lo and behold, he was snoring on the boat. But he woke up quickly to try to get the boat to come to Shellendorf's location.

"Just get your ass over here you snoring dork. We have a person to save!" He whined.

"Alright, alright. I'll get there. Just check if that's actually someone making a sound." "Cap't" fired back.

"Right." He dove right back down the water to see what's the thing that's making noise.

He looked at the thing that was making all the noise... He saw as some sort of long metal circular "thing" with a little circle almost making it look like a window. And it was lit. There was some light source there. Interested, he checked it out.

"Alright... Don't mess this up for yourself..." Shellendorf noted to himself.

He swam down again, check the big, large metal pod out.

"Ug. I can't pull this stupid thing out." Shellendorf complained. As he was holding on a round handle. And yes, he can't pull it out. He has to twist it. 

"Hey! Are you doing work down there?" Cap't Cuttlefish screamed from the boat. He seems he's getting impatient.

"Shut it will you?" Shellendorf fired back at the gray Inkling. "Why can't i pull this thing out?!" he screamed out of frustration.

"You supposed to turn it! Not pull it out!" Cuttlefish explained.

"Oh for cod's sakes." Shellendorf face-palms. "Okay! I'll turn it now. Wait for a sec." he added. 

~~~

"Yes! I'm getting helped out!" Brooks screamed in joy inside the pod. 

"Here!" the crab finally opened the door. As soon as it happened, water came splashing down on the young Brooks. He screamed underwater. Caught off-guard by the sudden water on his face. 

"I got you." The crab grabbed Brooks and swam as fast as he can to the surface...

"I see you!" Cuttlefish said excitedly. "Finally. Another rescue completed." Cuttlefish added. The two were patrolling near the Octorians waters for a few weeks now and the first time that they have a rescue.

"Here!" the crab threw Brooks lightly onto the boat of the 2. And the crab climbed up onto the boat as well.

"Okay! We're outta here lads!" Cuttlefish started the boat engine getting ready to depart from the patrol area.

At the Squidbeak Splatoon's hideout...

"Oh! What happened Captain?" an Inkling stormed onto the seashore to see Cuttlefish and Shellendorf come back from patrol. "You found anything Cap?" Another Inkling walked to the shore checking the situation.

"Get medical supplies quickly!" Cuttlefish commanded with authority. "Double time! We have a survivor!" Shellendorf added.

"Right!" the two Inklings ran swiftly to the supplies area in search of medical supplies. 

2 minutes later...

"Here Captain!" the Inkling gave Cuttlefish a med-kit.

"Thanks, solder." Cuttlefish thanks the Agent as he grabbed the med-kit from her hands. "It will take a while so sit tight there." As he put Brooks in a medical bed.

"What's with the golden hair? That looks fresh on him." A Squidbeak Agent stated. With envy within his tone.

After a while...

"You're patched up. Cod, you had a lot of bruises and cuts. What happened?" Cuttlefish asked the young Brooks. But he couldn't understand what's he's saying...

"..." Brooks pointed to a whiteboard on the mission board. He couldn't understand a word that they're saying. All he hears are "woomy", "ngyes?" and other words he couldn't understand.

"What's with that whiteboard? Wanna write something?" Shellendorf asked confused.

"Now that i think about it, look at his hair Captain." an Agent pointed at Brook's hair.

"Huh?" Cuttlefish said getting confused. "Hmm.." Cuttlefish looked at Brooks's hair and looks at one of the Agent's hair.

"So?" Shellendorf stated.

"I don't see any difference." Cuttlefish said. Still couldn't make out what's the difference.

"..." Brooks tried to stand up from his bed and pointed at the whiteboard. 

"Okay...." Shellendorf took the whiteboard down and grabbed a whiteboard marker and gave it to the young Brooks. 

"..." Brooks smiled as he took the whiteboard and started writing on it.

"What's he doing?" Cuttlefish asked.

"He doesn't probably understand our language it seems. Foreign creature i see." Shellendorf said as he put a finger onto his chin. Making a thinking face.

"What foreign? This is an Inkling." Cuttlefish said with a tone of reassurance.

"Cod, thank cod I'm here to help you in your miserable life." Shellendorf sighed as he also facepalms...

"!!!" a young Brooks alerted the people in front of him. As he finally wrote something on the whiteboard.

"Huh? What is it kiddo?" Cuttlefish asked. Looking at the whiteboard. "I can't... Understand your language. Huh? You don't?" Cuttlefish asked confused.

"I think i finally concluded, you guys." Shellendorf stated out of nowhere.

"What is it, Shell?" Cuttlefish asked curious about the conclusion. 

"I think he's a human." Shellendorf said in a stern tone.

"What?! No way." Cuttlefish denied as he looked at Brooks. "We found a survivor from millennials ago." Shellendorf added.

"Yes. I'm a human." Brooks's whiteboard text says that.

"So. What are we gonna do with this boy?" Shellendorf asked.

As the leader of Squidbeak was thinking, Shellendorf had a worried look on his face. Knowing he might put this little 7-year-old kid on this squad. Full of profreshionals. Having this kid here he would die before he even started. And to make it worse, the supplies are becoming scarce... The next supply delivery doesn't come until 2 weeks from now.

"You know what, stay with us kiddo. You don't have to worry. We will protect you." Cuttlefish said. As he tried to make Brooks happy and not fear them anymore.

"I kinda understand what you're saying now.." Brooks's whiteboard text told them.

"Should i teach him about "Inkish"? " Shellendorf suggested. 

"Are you sure to take that challenge Shell?" Cuttlefish questioned Shellendorf's ability to teach. Knowing he has lapses of anger...

"I'll try to keep my calm this time around. I mean, it's a kid." Shellendorf assured everyone.

"I trust you..." Cuttlefish said while he sighs...

"Go on kiddo, and first. What's your name lad?" Cuttlefish asked in a raspy tone.

"..." Brooks wrote quickly on the whiteboard...

"Prince Brooks." Brooks's whiteboard text showed.

"I see. Come with me." Shellendorf gestured Brooks to follow him as he walks away from the medical tent and onto the training yard...

"..." Brooks jumped down off the bed and ran towards Shellendorf.

"Are we going to be fine with this kid to babysit?" an Agent asked Cuttlefish.

"Don't worry. Plus, where would he go? I and Shell already saved him." Cuttlefish said confidently.

2 weeks later...

"Cuttlefish." Shellendorf said to Cuttlefish as he's using binoculars. Checking for any weird tide changes in the sea today.

"What is it lad?" Cuttlefish asked Shellendorf.

"The kid is already training in the training yard. He's playing around the monkey bars." Shellendorf stated. Seeming to not worry about the hazard of playing on the monkey bars at 7 years old.

Cuttlefish immediately stood up from the scouting spot and ran to the training yard to check on the young Brooks. Fearing he might got hurt from the fall.

At the training yard...

"Brooks!?" Cuttlefish screamed. 

"Hello, Commander!" Brooks screamed as he almost finished the monkey bars. 

By this time, Brooks already knew "basic" "Inkish" language and can talk with the language a bit fluently... 

"He has a good core body strength. He finished that as a 7-year-old." Shellendorf said.

"But you can't just let that kid do that Shell. Be more responsible!" Cuttlefish told Shellendorf with an angry tone.

"Look! I finished Commander!" Brooks smiles from the distance. As he landed on the ground safely.

"See? And by the way, the supply delivery to this hideout is coming tonight. So don't sleep early Cuttlefish." Shellendorf stated. 

"Finally. We finally got supplies." Cuttlefish sighed. "And by the way, is there reinforcements?" Cuttlefish added. Hoping for new members to join the ops team.

"There is. At least 2 or 4 of them. This yard or this hideout is gonna get crowded real soon." Shellendorf stated.

"Hope we have more than enough food for everyone for the next 2 weeks." Cuttlefish said worriedly.

"We'll not eat dinner for a few nights if it means feeding the others. Sacrifice for the better of the team." Shellendorf suggested.

"Can we do more walks Shellendorf?" Brooks asked with begging eyes. Suffice to say, Shellendorf just couldn't say no. 

"Ugh... Fine. Same place Brooks?" Shellendorf asked with irritation on his face.

"Yes!" Brooks said without observing his expression. He hasn't developed his observant nature... Yet.

Another weeks pass by...

The young boy finally learned all the "Inkish" language. Even "advanced" "Inkish" the little boy is a fast learner. Which is rare. And can help him a lot in a pinch.

"How are you?" Brooks asked a new Agent that is been deployed to the ops team at the training yard...

"I'm fine. But i'm busy right now. Sorry, buddy. " The new Agent told Brooks. 

"Okay. I'll leave then..." Brooks goes running again in the bright sunlight...

5 years later...

Location: Squidbeak Splatoon's HQ. Away from Inkopolis...

"Don't be nervous boy." Cuttlefish told the teenager Brooks. He is 12 years old at the time.

"But... I don't fit in this position..." Brooks said nervously...

"It will be nerve-wracking at first, but believe me, the job gets easier when you're used to commanding the platoon." Cuttlefish told Brooks. Seemingly didn't cared about Brooks statement before. He wanted to give Brooks some of the keys of the platoon. As the leader of Squidbeak is getting old...

Brooks sighed. As he had no choice but to relent to the Captain's wishes. He breaths in... And out... He huffs... He puffs... As he said his first command.

"Attention!" Brooks exclaimed to the Agents. With a hint of nervousness in his voice. Unsure if he made the Agents move.

"Sir!" All of the Agents shouted back in unison at Brooks.

"I told you kiddo." Cuttlefish said to Brooks. "It's not that hard until you say the first command." He added.

"But how about you? Can you still command the platoon?" Brooks asked Cuttlefish with worry on his voice.

"Don't worry lad, me and Shell aren't going anywhere. We'll be here observing. What can you do without me right?" Cuttlefish said in a jokingly manner. Waiting for a reaction from anyone.

...

No one even reacted. Thus, Cuttlefish got embarrassed so he wants to leave. But needed a reason for it.

"I'll just go to the bathroom lad. Be right back." Cuttlefish said in a rare hurried tone as he is gone into the woods...

"His bathroom is in the forest?" Brooks questioned.

"Shhh!!!" The Agents shouted at Brooks. They really didn't want the Captain to hear them.

"Oh. Okay then." Brooks said to them with a reassuring tone...

A few weeks pass by... *(It's basically a montage of what Brooks did over the years..)

"One more swing Brooks. We can't have a vice-captain of Squidbeak being a wimp on the battlefield." Shellendorf said at Brooks in a frustrated tone...

"O-okay..." Brooks said panting heavily. As he swings the heavy Roller one last time...He is doing Roller swinging drills. And the 2 have been training for 2 hours... Straight.

"Okay. Back to push-ups. After that, we're done. Come on double time!" Shellendorf said with urgency...

"R-r-right..." Brooks stuttered while he walks again on the muddy floor of the forest...

A few months later...

"Looking fresh with the new gear eh?" Cuttlefish complimented.

"I do? Can i distinct myself from the other Agents though?" Brooks suggested. Since he wanted a different color than the other Agents of Squidbeak.

"Well then lad, you choose your color, you get it." Cuttlefish stated.

"Gold. That's what i want." Brooks said with confidence within his voice. 

"Wait, is it to match your hair color?" Cuttlefish questioned.

"Well... Part of the reason. But mostly for distinctiveness..." Brooks said as he looks at his shining golden hair of his.

"Well if you ask it, you get it, lad. I'll tell the guys to change your gear color..." Cuttlefish said with a thumbs up.

"..." Brooks nods as he gives the thumbs up back...

2 years later...

Age: 14

"We're getting attacked by Octolings. We're gonna be reinforcements. Get ready! 10 minutes to prepare!" Shellendorf stated with authority. "Cuttlefish is already on the battlefield. We're coming in as the 2nd backup!" 

 "SIR!" Agents said as they all run to their separate tents to get their gear and everything sorted out.

"Now you Brooks. Have you done everything?" Shellendorf turned to Brooks, asking him.

"Yes, sir." Brooks told Shellendorf.

"Okay then, we'll wait for them, debrief the objective, and let's get to the battlefield." Shellendorf looked at the Agents as they scrap around their tents, looking for their stuff.

"We'll win this!" Brooks said with confidence.

"Your naive-ness again Brooks." Shellendorf said worriedly. "We lost the first major battle because of an embarrassing mistake. We can't say the outcome until we get there solder." Shellendorf added.

"B-but.." Brooks stuttered.

"I don't wanna hear it. You're the vice-leader. Be smarter than that. We might win, but we might lose also. This is war. Remember that young one." Shellendorf told Brooks.

"Okay. I'll do what you've said years ago." Brooks stated.

"..." Shellendorf smiled at Brooks. Which was very, very rare. "That's the vice-leader i trained."

"Yeah." Brooks smiled back.

After the debrief...

"Okay, everyone! Let's get to the trucks let's go! Double time it!" Brooks commanded with fierceness... Which was rare. But the Agents followed, and immediately sat on the back of a transport truck.

"Let's go. I'll drive." Shellendorf told Brooks as he goes to the truck himself.

"Right." Brooks said as he follows the soon-to-be-historian Shellendorf.

Everyone gets in the truck and they leave the camp successfully. And got to the battlefield at the right time. When the Inklings are finally on the offensive and about to secure a major base of the Octos and almost near to defeating the Octolings for the first time in the war.

At the battlefield...

"Here we are! Let's go men!" Shellendorf commanded.

All of the Agents jumped off, and loaded their weapons and gone to the battlefield.

"Where's commander?" Brooks questioned.

"I don't know yet young one. But let's hope he's safe." Shellendorf said to Brooks. Seemingly worried too about his comrade.

"But let's go. We can't miss this." Brooks said as he started running to the battlefield...

A few minutes later...

"How's the situation, everyone?" Brooks said to the Agents.

"There are few survivors over here!" An Agent shouted at Brooks's direction.

"Okay! Medic come with me!" Brooks said as he ran to the injured Inkling.

"Sir!" a medic said running following Brooks.

"Take this guy on the medical tent on the base over there. Where we parked our truck. Go!" Brooks commanded.

"Sir yes, sir!" The Agent saluted and carried the injured Inkling back to the main base.

"Now everyone else, let's go forward! They probably need us right now." Brooks told all the Agents as he started running forward...

All of the Agents followed Brooks as they ran forward with him. And they ran a long one. Probably 1/2 a marathon. Everyone was getting tired, but Brooks always told them they were close. As along the way, they saw Octos and Inklings alike lying on the ground... Lifeless. No sign of life. And the chaos of all kinds of colors. Splattered everywhere like a Sprinkler with no sign of stopping.

"I see a solder!" Brooks shouted at the Agents. "We're here everyone! We'll have a break at the Octoling base!" Brooks added.

After they got to the Octoling base that the Inklings just took over, we have gone in there and asked for any food. Well, Brooks asked. Not the Agents. But the soldiers who participated didn't have any food or snack with them. Brooks gets it though, this was a full-blown war. Not waiting for someone to make a move then make a move on them. And the Inklings were on the offensive. But they seem to take a break. From the exhaustion of the resistance of the Octoling base. But Brooks wanted to see C. Cuttlefish. Which was nowhere on the base. He seemed he was outside of the base...

"I'm gonna find commander. I'm gonna be right back." Brooks told the Agents. "You guys can go around the base. But as soon as i say the command, you come back here okay Agents?" Brooks added.

"Sir yes, sir!" The Agents shouted all of the same time...

"Okay." As Brooks said as he left the Agents alone as they also went on different directions to see the just captured Octoling base...

Brooks looked all over for the old captain. Seemingly not seeing him in any nook and cranny of the base. Brooks also even looked at every corner. But there was only one place that he didn't check, well. There's 2. The towers and the outside of the wall of the base...

"Alright... I'll check the tower first..." Brooks told himself as he climbed the long ladder to the top of one of the towers...

He got there but was distracted by the chaos on the ground. But it's not just Inklings and Octos on the ground anymore... The bodies were also littered by the debris of the Octoling vehicles that they used for the war. But didn't seemed to be a major impact. As all of them were destroyed. And even more inky mess on the ground. He felt bad for the soldiers that died in this gruesome battle for the remaining land... We can't let this go on. We have to win the remaining battles that we're gonna have in front of us.

"..." Brooks looked around down to the ground as he desperately trying to find his captain.

After a while of non-stop rotating his head, he finally found him. He seems to be commanding or planning another offensive strike. Which is gonna be great. For Brooks. Since he's gonna get a taste of a real battle. Where you die, you die. Real naive from him isn't it? He doesn't know the weight of death is does he?

"Commander!" As Brooks shouted from the tower. But was kinda skeptical if he even heard him shout. I mean, he getting old after all.

"Huh?" Cuttlefish heard the familiar voice, but he can't find that person left and right.

"Up here, commander!" Brooks shouted more loudly than the last one.

"Oh! Okay. Come here, lad." Cuttlefish commanded Brooks.

Brooks jumped down from the tower to the wall and then to the ground. 

"Why did you do that lad? That was dangerous." Cuttlefish said worriedly. " I can't have my backup leader being injured. Anyways, the next plan is gonna be..." Cuttlefish added.

After a debrief...

The debrief consists of plans, plans, and other plans. But mostly strategies for the next base that the Inklings we're gonna attack. The vehicle factory. The intel told Cuttlefish that they mass-produce vehicles. Which was unheard of before. But if that factory's still working, the war will not end sooner. 

"So, where's the vehicle factory?" Brooks asked the old commander.

"It's in the direction we're facing now. 2 kilometers of walking though. We lost most of our vehicle battling the Octo vehicles. But we're gonna attack at night. So the Octolings have a taste of our old mistake." Cuttlefish said with the seriousness within his voice.

"I see. But do we have a "backdoor" of some sort? Or we gonna go in there gun blazing?" Brooks asked.

"We do. But it's gonna be a tight process." Cuttlefish said.

"Are we going in vents?" Brooks asked Cuttlefish. He said that because he probably knew what's the "backdoor"...

"Yeah... How did you predict my statement?" Cuttlefish asked with confusion within his face.

"I already got your answer as soon you said "tight process"," Brooks said with a grin on his face.

"Anyway lad, we're gonna go there an hour from now. It's... 9:21 PM..." Cuttlefish said as he said looking at the moon. It seems that he knows what time it is based on moon positioning...

"I'm probably never gonna get how do you even get the time right with just the moon..." Brooks said amazed.

"You just gonna have the feel... And training." Cuttlefish said with his same old, raspy tone. "Anyway, get ready your Agents. You're gonna go to the backdoor. And then, as soon you open the main door, we and the solders are gonna get in the battle okay vice-leader?" Cuttlefish asked Brooks. Saying the plan one last time.

"Yes, sir." Brooks said with confidence.

"Now, eat or something before you go. You gonna need every burst of energy you have for this. The factory is massive." Cuttlefish said with worry.

"No worries. I'll make sure me and my group are safe. Your best solders are not gonna go anywhere." Brooks said with that same confidence with his voice.

"Okay, kiddo. You go now. I'll stay here." Cuttlefish said waving Brooks off.

"See you later commander!" Brooks said as he started to walk back in the captured base.

Inside the base...

"Now, where do i go first. I don't have anything to do here. I'll just rest..." Brooks said as he walks to the nearest bench on the base.

Brooks found the desired bench he was finding for a good minute. He sat down and contemplating on should he sleep on the bench or have a nap standing up. He chose the 3rd option. All of the above. He slept on the bench but slept upside up.

45 minutes of sleeping/napping or both later...

"Eh... What..." Brooks murmurs silently as he slowly woke up from his short slumber. Seems he didn't get any Inklings looking at him sleeping. At least, he doesn't see anyone now. Anyone would stare on a person sleeping upside up.

Brooks stood up from the bench. He started walking slowly to the place where he told the Agents to split up or go tour the base for yourselves. But he was still sleepy at the same time as he's walking. So he looked like he was "sleep-walking".

A-kun: Ha.

"..." Brooks rubbed his eyes to finally get him up to speed. And he also yawned. Really. Really. Silent. It didn't even seem a yawn at this point. Finally, in his normal form, he walked to the same place where he commanded all the Agents.

At the place...

"AGENTS!!!" Brooks shouted on top of his lungs. And it was painful to shout. And every Inkling in his radius looked at him weirdly. But then...

He started to hear footsteps in fast successions in the distance. Means, they're running for their lives. And after 10 seconds, all of the Agents got there just in time before Brooks got impatient of waiting.

"How are you all?" Brooks asked the platoon.

"I'm good." One of the Agents said.

"Right." Brooks nods. "But. We're going on a mission right here right now. I hope your gear is ready. We're going to an important place to help the Inklings to secure victory more quickly." Brooks told everyone.

"Where is it, sir?" Another one of the Agents asked.

"The vehicle factory of the Octolings. They're mass-producing vehicles there. If we don't do something to that place, we're guaranteed to lose the war as a whole." Brooks said intending to instill fear to the Agents.

"That's insane..." An Agent said. Seems the inserting fear technique is working quite beautifully.

"And that's why we're going to destroy it. It will destroy 50% of the Octolings military. But i think there's so much more than just vehicles. But let's not hope for the worse. We're here to get the good mindset going in the missions right?" Brooks asked the platoon.

"Sir, yes, sir!" All of the Agents bellowed. Seems that they are ready.

"Are you ready!?" Brooks asked them with a shout.

"SIR!" The Agents shouted back again. Seems one "sir, yes, sir." wasn't enough for this golden-haired human...

"Alright let's go!" Brooks said as he moves to the outside of the base. Trying to meet up with Cuttlefish. To get the mission started.

Outside of the wall again...

"Oh hello, again lad. Are we starting the mission now?" Cuttlefish said surprised as he sees all of the Squidbeak Splatoon Agents following him.

"It's not on me, it's on you commander." Brooks told Cuttlefish.

"Okay. The mission is a go. You go on first. I'll group up the soldiers before we go to. It might take long, so you go first lad." Cuttlefish said to Brooks.

"Okay then. Alright! You heard the leader, let's go!" Brooks said while he starts walking towards the vehicle factory...

After a bit of walking later...

"..." Brooks started to pant heavily. As for the other Agents, not so much. Brooks just realized he hadn't drunk any water before any of the 1-hour break he had. He was getting thirsty as hell.

"Is there a problem sir? You're panting so heavily..." A female Agent said worriedly to Brooks.

"No worries... I'm all good." Brooks said with reassurance. And soon as he said that, he started coughing heavily now. And he's on the ground.

"You seem thirsty... I'll grab some water for you." The female Agent kneels to Brook's level. "Here you go, sir." As the Agent gave Brooks a bottle of water...

"But i don't wanna make you guys thirsty later..." Brooks said with worry for the other Agents.

"We have plenty of water to go around, sir." The female said with more reassurance than Brooks earlier.

"I'll believe you then..." Brooks said as he drank all of the water.

"Were you that thirsty sir?" The female said amazed as she saw you drank the water so quickly.

"Yeah... Sorry if i depleted the whole water bottle." Brooks said.

"Okay... Let's keep walking guys. We're near the place. We're going in a backdoor by the way." Brooks added while he stands up, and started walking again to the factory...

"Sir!" All of the Agents said as they all followed Brooks again.

The walking would last for more... 30 minutes to be exact. But it was worth it since they got to the place much quicker than they had expected...

"We're here..." Brooks said to the Agents.

"Sir. Where's the so-called "backdoor" you're saying we go in?" An Agent asked.

"I don't know. But it is there." Brooks told the Agents.

"How could you be so sure?" The same Agent asked again.

"I'm not too sure either... I mean, i got the Intel from the commander's scouts." Brooks told everyone. "Okay... I think we have to split up. Check on all sides. See if there's an entrance. Or just a vent entrance as commander would say it." Brooks suggested the platoon...

"Sir." All of the Agents split up in different directions. As for Brooks, he went on the right side with some of the Agents...

As Brooks was walking, he kinda felt something... Something "eery"... Like something bad or good will happen... He kept that in mind in case if something really bad happens. He's forced to be more careful now. He doesn't want his platoon-mates dead in this factory. He needs them to see the victory of the Inklings. Than dying not seeing the victory of your race. He felt weird thinking about that. Since he was a truly, truly, foreign species. But he shrugged it off and went on his merry way...

After a bit of waiting later...

"Come on... Where is it?" Brooks said 59% inpatient. He was looking at the right and the backside of a while now. No luck it seems for the golden-haired human...

"I've found it!" An Agent shouted from the left side. "I don't know if it will open..." The same Agent added.

"Then break it. It can't be that hard right?" Brooks shouted back at the Agent.

At the left side...

"Here it is sir." The Agent showed the vent. And for some reason, it was conveniently fit for the Inklings to go in. Almost like, it's screaming "This is the weak point!"...

"Good. See if it goes off. So we don't have to break it..." Brooks suggested. "If not... We'll use this!" Brooks said as he shows off a crowbar.

"Okay..." The Agent said he started trying to pull off the vent cover... As he tried, tried, and tried again, suffice to say, he was doing a... Decent job to say the least.

"Here!" The struggling Agent finally pulled off the vent cover. Making an entrance for the Agents.

"Go in first guys." Brooks said to the Agents...

"Sir." As the other Agents said and went in the vent one by one.

As they were going in, Brooks was just there, thinking, dozing off again. Thinking about that same thought from earlier. Dozing off out of his mind. Hope he doesn't that same thinking will affect him any bit for this operation.

"..." Brooks goes in the vent silently... "Guys... Stay frosty... I can't have you guys dead." Brooks said with worry within his tone.

"Don't worry. Sir Brooks. We'll keep an eye out on every move and every action we take." A female Agent said. 

"You make sure of that statement." Brooks said.

Inside the factory...

"Clear." The first Agent has finally gone off the vent and into a power room.

The Agents went out one by one until the last one arrived. Brooks. 

"Guys. This seems like the main power room we went out. This is a jackpot." Brooks said with a serious tone. "I want 3 Agents to stay in this room for an emergency. We could shut out the power if we get in a bad situation. We do have night vision goggles right?" Brooks asked the platoon.

"We all have it, sir. Don't worry." The same female Agent answered.

"Okay, good. I'll pick you, you and you. Stay in this room" Brooks pointed at the 3 male Agents in the room. "The rest of you all, on me." Brooks said with true seriousness. And focus.

"Sir!" The remaining Agents followed Brooks. 

The Agents have gone out of the power room. And saw not much resistance. Well. The place was massive and the Octolings in there we almost non-existent. But Brooks wasn't gonna let down his guard one bit now. He truly believed that something bad is gonna happen.

"Stay with me Agents. I have the Bubbler as special. I can activate it at any time. So stay with me close." Brooks said to the Agents.

All of the Agents nodded and went on the control room which was at the other bridge. But they have to go through some moving platforms to get there though. So basically, wall-running is needed.

"I see that place. We could probably turn the door open if we get there" Brooks said.

"I'll wall-run." Brooks volunteered before anyone could say anything or any objections... "I've been wanting to try this tactic since my training camp days..." Brooks said.

"You need to be safe sir." A female Agent told Brooks.

"I'm fine. I've practiced this for a long while now. Don't worry fam." Brooks said with confidence.

As the golden-haired Agent starts warming up his legs but after that, he leaped on a sideways platform and did a wall-run. But he was losing ground quickly so Brooks had to jump to another platform quick. 

"I'm good!" As Brooks finished the wall-run leaving the Agents amazed...

"Now. The control room." Brooks said while he's kicking down the control room door. 

The door got smashed, they got access, and Brooks is about to get the door open for the soldiers and Captain Cuttlefish to storm in and take over the factory.

"And... Click. And click..." Brooks as he's checking around the buttons. And he saw a particular button that got his attention...

"Stop production..." Brooks murmured to himself. This is might be good. Okay. "Click." As Brooks clicked the button stopping mass-production momentarily.

The platforms stopped moving. This is phase 1. And Brooks also pressed the "open main door" button. Thus, the infiltration was successful. But now, he only needs to take out the Octolings that might be on the area going guard work...

Meanwhile...

Cuttlefish's troops were already on the front door. Took the guards out silently, and got around the CCTV cameras. Now, they are just waiting on the door.

"Get ready folks, the Agents are probably already in by now..." Cuttlefish said to the lads...

Just a bit later...

The door opened, and the whole force came barging in and shooting whatever what they can shoot. A pretty foolish move for the solders... But nothing's gonna stop them now. It's not Cuttlefish has a megaphone-like voice. He was old. Barely can shout. Nor can command such a big unit like this. 


Meanwhile...


Brooks eliminated 5 Octolings coming in the control room to get rid of the golden-haired human. Meanwhile, the other Agents are just still standing there doing nothing.


"I'll put up a bridge! Just give me a minute to understand the buttons! And protect me while at it!" Brooks shouted to the Agents from the other side.


"We got it, sir!" A male Agent said as he positions himself at the edge of the ledge. As he readies his Charger for backup Octolings.


Few minutes have gone by, Brooks still doesn't understand a letter of their language. He barely got taught of Octoling dialect. So what does he do? Presses anything and everything in the control room. And fortunately, he pressed the "Bridge Activate" button in his 3rd try. Hope the other 2 presses won't bite him later. Maybe.


After that, mechanical sound can be heard from the distance as the moving platforms "form" together to make a bridge for the Agents to cross the gap or should i say cliff.


"You good guys?" As Brooks threw a Seeker behind him and splatted an Octoling. Which made the Agents utterly amazed by what he did.


"We can't fall behind of the actions guys let's go! Let's show them why we're called Squidbeak Splatoon!" He said as he runs off the control room with the Agents following him.


By that "motivation" speech or sentence he just made, he and the Agents were ready now. As for Cuttlefish's group, however...


"Fall back!!!!" One of the lieutenants screamed to the Inkling solders. "Aghh!!" As he got sprayed all over by a turret fully loaded with violet ink. And he's dead. 


Cuttlefish just stood there frozen. Almost all of the soldiers were getting terrorized by the ruthless Octoling soldiers that just came in as backup.


"Cuttlefish sir!!" As one of the soldiers screamed to him which made Cuttlefish come back to his senses and also started running away from the "kill zone".


Meanwhile...


"Inkstrike." An Agent said. As he pulls out a tablet to where they'll shoot the massive missile. Hoping to turn the tide in this battle.


Whoosh...


And the missile is fired. And the other Agents also used their specials. Bomb Rush, Inkzooka, Killer Wail, you name it.


The specials rained terror to the supposed "kill zone". Making a big impact immediately as they hit the ground. The Octolings can't see Brooks and the Agents since they were so high up that even binoculars will have a problem finding them.


"Brooks! Most of the Octolings are in the control room trying to find you! Get out of there! And the factory is on lockdown! They're closing every nook n' cranny there!" Cuttlefish said in Brooks's walkie-talkie on his back pocket.


But despite the inefficient spot to put his walkie-talkie, he still heard it and let's just say he kinda panicked. But he still was calm at the same time. But his panicked expression kinda slipped out to his commanding style. 


"Okay! Octolings are here right now and trying to find us! Let's get out of here! They're also putting this place on "lock-down" also!" Brooks said loudly so all of the Agents could hear him.


The Agents moved from their spot and paced to the "backdoor" again. Trying to get out of this place.


All of them were running across the bridge until shiz hit the fan and multiple Killer Wails are going for them. And to make it even worse, one of the female Agents slipped and is on the ground. Pretty cliche not gonna lie... But moving on.


"Here! I'll get you up!" As Brooks pulled the female Agent or should i say, pushed the Agent toward the "safe" side where the Killer Wails were not targeting them.


"Sir Brooks!!!" The female Agent screamed. 


The Killer Wails finally fired and the sound was so ear-crushing the bridge where Brooks was on was also broken by the immense pressure by sound-waves. 


"NOOOO!!!" All of the Agents screamed. As Brooks falls in the seemingly endless fall.


50 minutes later...


"Uh..." The golden-haired Agent is struggling.


As Brooks tried to get up, his legs and back are so destroyed that one hit on his back will definitely make his spine go out of commission.


"Take him away." A mysterious voice barked at his subordinates.

The Octolings put a gag on Agent 7 and walked away into the darkness.


In the storage room of the said Octoling factory...


"Tell me. Who are you?" An Octoling said as he kicked Brooks in the face.


As for Brooks though, he was dead silent. He wanted no part in selling his comrades out. He'd rather die not involving his commander, and his platoon he's commanding.


"Come on you Inkling scum!" As an Octoling made a left-hand swing at Brooks's face. 


"..." Brooks sat there silently.


"I can't get anything off of him. Shall we dispose of him?" An Octoling asked his higher-ups.


"Whatever. Kill him, torture him, do what you want. It's your reward for guarding the factory well against the Inklings." A higher-up said before he stepped out of the storage room.


The remaining Octolings in the room started to laugh sinisterly. Knowing that they'll torture the determined Agent to no end.


"You heard the man." The Octoling smirked devilishly. 


As they started to roam around the room and get the "things" that they'll use to torture Brooks, Brooks meanwhile, just didn't wanna hear anything. He thought about his human life. Why he's even here in the first place. And in pure defeat, he whispered his last words into existence before his timely death.


"Guess we're doing this huh? Sorry, mom and dad. If i disappointed you." He muttered under his breath.


He looked slightly up and saw the Octoling just had a pistol loaded with mini-bullets that will kill him. Slowly. But the golden-haired Agent doesn't know that the bullets are "mini" so he just puts his head down again in utter defeat. 


But then. The wall 3 inches from him exploded into pieces. The Octolings panicked, scrambling to get their weapons. But too slow. As they got shot one by one by the same Agents that Brooks led. Accompanied by your lovable old man, Captain Cuttlefish.


The Agents secured the perimeter as the alarms in the factory roared in noise making the sleeping Octolings scrambling. While the chaos ensues again, Cuttlefish freed Brooks from his ropes holding his hands together on his back. And one of the Agents helps Brooks up since his fall was so painful. He got assistance from two Agents as Cuttlefish coordinating the Agents to what to do to give Brooks cover to get out of the factory.


"W-why..." Brooks asked... Thinking why did they even try to save him. But he couldn't say or do anything now. The escape was on. If they fail, all of them will die with him. But they were up for the risk. And doing whatever they can to get Brooks out of there.


"Don't fret Brooks! We'll get you out of here!" Cuttlefish screamed at Brooks while he was still commanding the Agents. 


Brooks just couldn't talk back. He had no voice. He can speak but chose not to. He put his head down as ink splatters all over the place. Hitting the walls of the dark, gloomy factory.


They are almost to the exit. Hijacked Octoling tanks waiting for them and a lot of infantry. Safety was almost assured. But then. 


The Octolings self-destructs another bridge falling down to squish them to death. Luckily, the bridge didn't hit the running Agents. But they are trapped. The hijacked tanks fired at the debris blocking the exit for Squidbeak Splatoon. They were doing good work. The debris will be gone in a few dozen shells from the tanks. Which they had a lot of.


Meanwhile, the Agents were not ready to take out debris after debris to get out. They had to cover Brooks. They laid him on the ground, and started to shoot to give suppressing fire.

Brooks closed his eyes. He saw how he was born. How he was raised. And after lapses of moments of his life before the tides. He opens his eyes. He finally knew the reason why he got chosen to make humanity go forward. 

"I'm not gonna die."

After that, he miraculously stood up. The pain from his back was numb. He can't feel anything in that area. He grabbed a Charger from one of the Agents and started to snipe every Octoling that he sees. And he activates his special. Which was Bubbler. The luck that he got was tremendous. With the invincibility shield, the other Agents used their specials as well. The desperation from the Agents was too real. As they cause destruction all over the Octolings and almost wiping them out. The debris situation was also getting better. As it was so thin that 3 shells would clear it out making the exit usable again.


But luck would easily run out again for young Brooks. As one of the cannons of the factory aimed. Loaded. And fired at Brooks. The blast destroyed all of the shields and flew Brooks to a sharp rock which hit as neck and almost made a hole in his neck. In absolute pain, he curled up on the ground. Which the numbness was gone and the back pain was back to make him suffer again.


But somehow, someway again, Brooks had just a slither of energy to say this. 


"LEAVE! I'LL STAY BEHIND! THE PEOPLE NEED YOU CAPTAIN! NOT ME!" Brooks screamed at the top of his lungs. Cuttlefish heard this. And he was not amused by what he said.

"No! We'll leave here alive!" Cuttlefish screamed. 


Precious time is running out. The window for escape is closing faster than how fast they're firing their guns. They just can't get Brooks alive. The 2nd part of debris are gonna fall clogging up the exit again. They had to make a decisive decision now or they will not get their golden-haired Agent out there alive to see the soon-to-be victory over the Octolings.

While he was still wincing and curled up in pain, he ignored again the pain and picked a charger that he used just now. And started to snipe again while he was on the ground. 

The cannon was ready to fire again. But not at the desperate Inklings, but the debris above them. Just above Brooks. Brooks saw this. And screamed.


"The cannon is gonna fire at the debris again!" Brooks screamed in agony.


"Come on, COME ON! Get him outta here!!!" Cuttlefish commanded so loud you could hear his echo vibrate throughout the factory. As he gets shot on the shoulder.


Then in a moment of true heroism. His last heroic act, he threw a Splash Wall

The Inklings are trying their best to get Brooks outta there finally. The Agents run out and Cuttlefish while Brooks still lagging behind due to his equipment being heavy. And here we are. The Climax. His...

Demise.

The cannon fired and the debris fell immediately on the ground. Which buried Brooks. Into black empty darkness. While the others outside, particularly Cuttlefish. Screamed in defeat as they failed terribly on the rescue mission. But that's war. You win some, you lose some. This is war gentlemen.



A year later... After the war...


"Take out the debris! We need to get in this facility!" The C. E. O commanded the diggers.


"Sir!!!" The diggers started to dig out the debris that's blocking the way.


After a bit, the diggers emptied the debris and making a way in. But they got a shocking discovery. 


"Sir... You may want to look at this." A digger pointed to something. A body. 


"Woah! Medics! Take him to your ambulances." C. E. O told the medics who were chilling in their vehicles.

After the exploration... At F. A. O HQ...

"1... 2... 3..."

CLEAR!





Another few years pass by...

"Hello? Anyone on the radio?" Someone asked.


"Oh, hello "Codex". How are you doing today?" A monotone voice asked.


"Pretty good so far. No mission on Octarians today?" Codex asked.


"Um, no. But you'll have your first expedition to Inkopolis Plaza. Just like he said we do a few days back." The same voice said.


"I'm excited. How much time left for me to prepare?" He asked.


"2 hours from now. I'm already at Inkopolis. I'm just waiting for you."  


"Oh, you asshole. Okay. I'm getting ready now Cross." Codex answered.


"Do it quickly. I don't have all day." Cross barked at Brooks.


A few hours later and a car ride later... At the Calamari County Airport...

"Yo Cross, where's my ticket? You haven't told me about that earlier." As Codex turns on his earpiece on his left ear.


"This may sound shady as hell, but go to one of the printers on the departing line. You'll see it. Left side." Cross instructed Brooks.

"Uh-huh..." Brooks said suspiciously. "Are you doing shady stuff again bro?" 


"Just listen to me dammit. I'll print you a ticket. The organization has already got you paid bro. Get the ticket, and just wait for the departure area." Cross cursed.


"Oh, my god dude..." I facepalmed. 


"Okay. You got the ticket?" Cross asked.


"Yeah. I'll be going to the departure area now. I'll see you in Inkopolis." Codex told Cross.


"Alright. I'll be waiting. And don't blow your disguise." Cross made sure the Codex he will not do the one thing that will destroy his cover.

"Yes, i know. Laterz." As Codex turns off his earpiece and goes to the departure area.


After an hour of waiting for the plane, he finally got on the plane and ready to go to Inkopolis Plaza. His dream is coming true...


After he puts his luggage into its compartment, Codex wore his wireless headphones as he sits in his corresponding plane seat. Which was 25C. He listened to lo-fi Squid Sisters songs. And some other unknown artists that he liked.

"I gotta sleep... I gotta be awake when i arrive. Not braindead." As he yawns and started to sleep slowly. But he was interrupted.


"We are getting ready before the flight. But before we go, our crew will instruct you how to use our safety measures in the plane, in case of a bad accident." A speaker interrupted loudly to all of the speakers inside the plane.


Codex sighed heavily as he got irritated by the continuous babbling of the crew. But apparently Codex didn't care about his safety in the plane. Which a big "no-no". But anyway, after the info-heavy explanation, the golden-haired boy finally started to sleep with the music of his headphones making the sleeping process easier.


10 minutes before landing in Inkopolis...


"Alright passengers, we are landing in 10 minutes, keep your tentacles ready." The same speaker's voice told the awake and some sleeping passengers. Which with still the high volume from earlier, Brooks immediately woke up from his short slumber.

"Uh... What?... Thank god..." Codex removes his headphones and started to drink some water, and after that, started to clean up his bag. Making it neat and easy to navigate when they get to the ground.


After the cleaning of his bag, the plane finally hit the landing strip. After bumpy jolts making the plane hop up and down a bit, the plain finally, painstakingly, finally stopped.


"Time to get out now..." As Codex pulls out of his luggage and put his bag on his back and started to walk slowly... But surely out of the plane...


After the scanning of his luggage, Codex turned on his earpiece to see if Cross still waiting for him patiently. Or just run out of it.


"Cross? You here? What gate are you waiting at?" Codex told blindly in his earpiece. Seeing if Cross even hears it and responds.


"Oh, you here now? Oh crap. I'm currently at Gate 5. You going out there?" Cross asked and responded out of nowhere. Kinda startling Codex. 

"No. my ticket says i'm going out at Gate 3. The hell man, and here i thought you knew the info of the "totally" legal ticket you gave me." Codex whined.


"Cut me some slack. The organization just gave this to me blindly. Hold on. I'm getting there." Cross started to get up from his spot and started to run to Gate 3. Which was a good distance from his position.


After a bit, Cross finally caught up and waiting at Gate 3 for Codex to come out.


"Hey, Brooks." Cross blankly said out of nowhere.


"Yeah?" Codex confusingly answered.


"I see you. In the blue and white colored beanie." Cross said as he put his hands way up in the air for Codex to see him.


"Ooohh.. I see you." As Codex runs out of Gate 3 and does their "signature" handshake with Cross. 


"What's up! What took you so long?" Cross jokingly asked Codex.


"Not funny Cross. We have business to do here. We have to get going." Codex said.


"Huh. I barely see you like this. Interesting." As Cross murmured the last part.


"I'm hungry as hell. Is there a restaurant nearby? And affordable? To afford your crippling budget." Codex said while smirking all smug-like at Cross.


"You're also not funny. But a bit of driving, we can get to a pretty good restaurant." Cross explained to Codex.


"Wait... "Driving"? You have a car?" Codex said amazed. As he never knew that Cross would have much money to own a car.


"Yeah. Follow me. We're going there now." Cross walked to the parking lot and carrying one of my bags. Bro move right there. I commend that.


After we got in the car, Cross swiftly drove to the nearest restaurant as fast as he can.

At the restaurant...


As he goes out of the car, we get into the restaurant. And i tell you, the number of people in there was astounding.


"What. The. Hell." Codex said in absolute shock.


"What should we get?" Cross asked. 


"Just get whatever you think it's good then takeout." Codex told Cross.


"Okay. I'll make it quick. Here. Just wait in the car." Cross gave the keys to Codex and started to line up at the cashier. Which it was a long-ass line.

"Alright. Just don't take too long ordering." Codex said as he walks out of the door to the parking lot where Cross's car was parked.


After a long wait. Much to Codex's eagerness to finally eat, Cross finally got to the car with 2 plastic bags full of food for the 2 to chomp down.


After the massive massacre of the food that Cross bought...


"And oh, by the way, Cross." Brooks as he glugs down the final bit of his water bottle.


"Yeah?" Cross answered.


"Can we go to the Inkopolis Graveyard? The agency told me to go there." Codex excused. To be real, he wanted to see something there.


"Graveyard? Okay. I'll not question it." Cross turned on the engines of the car and started to go to the graveyard.


At Inkopolis Graveyard...


"Wait here. I'll be quick about this." As Codex goes out of the vehicle and goes inside the graveyard.


"What's up with him today? He's been acting weird..." Cross told himself.


The graveyard was wide. Pretty spacious for a lot of people to be buried on. But Codex wasn't there for no reason. He has gone to the "Graveyard Of Heroes". Which it had its place.


And after entering the "Graveyard Of Heroes", he started to look around a certain grave. A reminder of his past. Which he will visit for one time and one time only.


His "Grave".

R. I. P

Agent 7

21XX-21XX

"Damn. So it was true. God, that agency sure knows everything." Codex sighed as he inspected the grave and after that, he went on his merry way back to the car. 


"What's taking him so long..." Cross as he continues to play around his phone while waiting for Codex.


"I'm back. Let's go to the Plaza now." Codex out of nowhere opened the door and went in and sat back to his seat.


"What's the deal on that pointless exploration? It's not like someone from our agency died or something." Cross confusingly asked Codex.


"Don't worry about it. Let's just go." Codex as he wears his headphones again.


"Okay." As Cross locks the car doors and starts driving to Inkopolis Plaza. Where their new journey begins.


At Inkopolis Plaza...


"Well. Here we are "Brooks". Inkopolis Plaza. A new place to call home." Cross smiled at Brooks. 


"Well then. A lot of "Adjustments" is in order." Brooks chuckled.


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

A-kun: Oh... My... God... Finally. FINALLY! (but the release date was supposed to be July 1, 2019.) So crap. But since this is finished, i can finally work on this book again like normal! So i'm finally out of the mind-boggling pain. So we're back to the normal update schedule! (which it's still out of place. shez. still working on my motivation.) Anyways. Enough with this, and i'll be seeing you all NEXT CHAPTER! BYE!

Word Count: 9416 Words. (holy... fwk.)

9/16/19
9:42 PM