27th Kettle in Cephalon HQ...

*Blop!*

When Agent 4 pops out from the Kettle, he observes the enemy defenses immediately and silently from afar. Then, he takes a deep breath before going head-to-head against the Octolings.

Lai: ...Guess there's no turning back right now...

While jumping down from the platform and walking forward in clear open, both of his hands reaches out to the grip, taking out the Hero Roller and the Octo Charger from his back and his Hero Shot still strapped at his lower back. Then, he dashes straight towards, decided to put up an intense battle with all the Elite Octolings instead of sneaking around with stealth. The troopers noticed him immediately.

Trooper: Oh carp! It's-!

Before he can finish, Agent 4 blasts out the trooper's head with the Octo Charger. The gunshot alerted the other Elite troopers and they all went armed to their tentacles. Agent 4 rushes through their defenses with Enemy Rollers in the front line without any hesitation. As they all land their hits on him, his Hero Roller blocks all of their attacks while clashing up against their Rollers at once and his strength was superior than all of them. His other hand grabs the muzzle edge of the Charger and swings at them horizontal. Making them all darted away from him and giving him a chance to strike back. He dashes towards and sweep-pasts them out in one blow with another horizontal swing. He flips the Charger back and snipes a blaster who's trying to cut in. He flings his kick to the other one's waist who equipped with an Octobrush. The impact causing her to back away and bear the pain she just received, he jumps and lands a powerful strike on her. She forms a block with her weapon but his strength overwhelmed her weapon's durability. The hit causing it to break in half and splatting her out in the end. He proceeds his way to the center. The shooters are firing at him in their position and some of them are hiding inside their ink, trying to ambush him. He dashes and swifts in zig-zag, shaking off from their aim. His left arm lifts up the Charger, sniping them off, thrusting and shoving some of them back who's trying to capture him. He splats them out and darts back, trying to catch his breath.

Lai: Carp... Too many of them...

Trooper: Looks like we got a good fighter here, it'll be great if we bring one of those Agents back to our lord!

Lai: Not a damn chance...

He closes his eyes, his mind dwells on his beloved Inkling. Callie, the purest and the dearest girl who were being by his side in his whole life as his main source of dedication and motivation. Then...

*Crack..*

Trooper: !?

He unleashes his war cry and rushes towards them in almost hypersonic, his run speed increased despite the weight of his weapons carrying around him. His mobility not affected by enemy's ink at all. He melee strikes one of them and snipes another two of them in one sweep. He then dashing towards the trooper, splatting him then dash from enemy to another one.

Trooper: Shoot! Call the reinforcement!

Lai: !?

Several Octoseekers rises up from the stage and it startled Agent 4. He turns back to escape from their stomp attacks. Then, he counters back by super jumping over them. He transform back to Inkling Form in mid-air and snipe each of their propellers off. Making them loss balance to fly and crash onto the stage. Then, a loud explosion spreads across the stage as well. He casually walks towards the scene. Sniping the troopers before they can even escape from the crash, leaving one of them for interrogating. He grabs the Octoling's hair and asks in threatening but calm tone.

Lai: Now... Where is she?

The trooper grunts and tries to spit in his face. Agent 4 blocks it with his Roller. He taunted..

Lai: Nice try, scrubs..

He stands up, prepare to roll and crush his head over with his Hero Roller until he got splatted completely. Then, he proceeds back in collecting Mini Zapfish and seeking out the Sunken Scroll after the course is clear. Also splatting the Octolings who just landed on their markers when on the way.

Timeskip...

Agent 2's POV

I'm currently in 26th Kettle, Paradise Lanes. Heading and splatting the Octarians along my way to the Zapfish. I also worried about the other's doing, especially Lai... He must be very mad and despair at the same time.. And what I feared the most is.. Things not gonna end well for everyone. Gramps, Agent 5 and Agent 6, the relation between the Inklings and the Octolings and especially, the three of us.. I stop in the mid-way, closing my eyes to focus my mind on mission. Then, I keep on going forward. As I finally reach to the Zapfish. I saw a puddle of enemy ink around the Zapfish Bulb. I lift up my Charger while charging up the shots. Warning the enemy to reveal itself.

Agent 2: I knew you're there so come out now!

???: Ah! You got me! But wait! Don't shoot!

Agent 2: And why should I trust you!?

???: I have something to talk with you! It's about Callie!

Agent 2: !?

I lower my weapon a bit but still holding on my guard, wonder if she could be trusted or not. She reveals herself behind from the bulb, with no weapons on her hand as well. Then, she introduces herself.

Octavia: The name's Octavia. You must be one of the Agents, right?

I nodded with cautious looks.

Agent 2: Yeah.. Can't you see the gears?

Octavia: Just confirming tho.. Anyway, I've been taking care of her since my grandfather, Octavio brought her in the Octo Canyon.

I curse under my breath as soon as I hear the name that I hated the most..

Agent 2: That bastard...! But wait.. You're his granddaughter!?

Octavia: Yeah... But we don't have time to explain. Let's grab the Zapfish and get out of here.

Agent 2: ...Okay... But I still don't trust you, Octavia..

Octavia: Whatever.. Let's put a stop of this while we still can.

Meanwhile...

Agent 5: You think this is the last of 'em?

Agent 6: Maybe.. Let's meet up with Agent 2 first and see how she's doing.

Agent 5: Right. Let's go.

They both jump and land on a saucer where it just pass below them with the Zapfish in their hugs. Then, they head to 26th Kettle where Agent 2 is. They surprised that she's with an Octoling as they arrived. Agent 2 notices them as well.

Agent 5: Yo! Why you're hanging out with an Octoling here?

Agent 2: She said she's been with Callie since the start.

Agent 5: So she's on our side now?

Agent 2: I don't know... Agent 6?

Agent 6: Okay, sure. I'll take care of her. Are all of the Kettles had completed?

Agent 2: Yes. Agent 4 and I had cleared each 2 lairs. I assume that you two had cleared the last two of them?

Agent 5: Yeah, I went alone in the Octogalaxy while Agent 6 go on to the other one.

Agent 2: Okay. Let's head back to the center.

The four of them jump onto the saucer and decided to proceed to the center where the final boss Kettle is. They saw Agent 4 was just sitting on top of the Kettle with his Hero Roller laying on his lap and an Octo Charger just leaning against the Kettle from afar.

Agent 2: Agent 5? Agent 6? Take the Zapfishes and the girl back to the Cabin. And come back here when you two get ready.

Agent 6: Sure.

Agent 5, Agent 6 and Octavia all super jump to Tentakeel Outpost with the Zapfishes they had collected. Giving her a moment alone with Agent 4. Agent 2 lands on the center and slowly walk in front of him. His codename is the only word that she can say.

Agent 2: Agent 4...

He stares at his Roller and replying back to her with a hey. She then looks at the Hero Roller on his lap and the Octo Charger. She tries to say something but her mind and her thoughts had failed her. Only thing between them is just silence. Until Agent 4 replies to her.

Lai: So you knew about it, right?

Agent 2: ..Yeah.. I was worried too at that time..

She questions..

Agent 2: Did you fought those Octo Slobs with these?

He slightly nods and his face buried inside his arms.. Breathing in deep inhale and exhale.

Lai: I destroyed all their Flooders.. Just like how I deal with those boys back at the warehouse.

Agent 2: Oh cod..

Lai: I could have stay with her at the train station so we don't have to worry about her.

Agent 2: We didn't expect that it would happen so quickly.. It was all Octavio's fault.

He then grits his teeth and slams his fist onto the Kettle as soon as he hears the name and it startled Agent 2 completely. Leaving a bend on the steel.

Lai: I told him NOT to mess with us, didn't I!? I swear I'm gonna destroy everything he had after all of this carp!

Agent 2: Calm down, Lai! I knew we both hated him the most but he's got Callie! We both don't really know what he had done to her!

His body starts trembling in fear. Agent 2 lays her hand around his shoulder to pull him to her side.

Lai: Damnit..! Why it had to be her..

Agent 2: We'll save her in the end. Just don't get too worked out..

His head rests onto her shoulder, cooling down his emotion. Then, he replies to her with calm tone.

Lai: I had made a promise for you since the start, remember? Promising that I'll protect the Squid Sisters..

Agent 2: Yeah... I still remember that clearly.. And you're already doing a great job for us.

Lai: But I still let the Octarians get their hands on her..

Agent 2: It's not your fault obviously.. We were just getting too excited for our hometown trip. I know you can't forgive yourself because of the decision you made.

Lai: Then what should I do?

Agent 2: Just promise me one more thing..

Lai: Huh?

Agent 2: I don't care what happen to the three of us. Promise me that all of us here will be safe and sound getting out of here. Can you do that?

He nods..

Lai: I'll try..

Agent 2: Great, I have to head back to check out on Sheldon and Gramps. Agent 5 and Agent 6 will be here with you soon.

Agent 2 stands up and when she's about to to leave. Agent 4 stops her.

Lai: Hey..

Agent 2: Hm?

His fist lifts up..

Lai: Thanks.. Let's save our city and Callie as well, together.

The Green Inkling chuckles and do a fist bump with him..

Agent 2: Together..

They both smiled.. After that, Agent 2 super jump to Tentakeel Outpost. Soon, it was Agent 5 and Agent 6 who just super jump back to Sector 5. Joining up with Agent 4 once again.

Agent 5: So where the heck did you had gone to!? It's cool that you single-handled all those slobs but leave some of them for me, will ya!?

Agent 6: Ahehe... ^^" At least he's fine in the end.

Lai: *sigh* Yeah, at least I didn't throw my life away.

They all stared at the Final Boss Kettle.

Agent 6: Uhm... Should we go in there?

Agent 4 starts wondering and shrugs..

Lai: I don't know... A part of me doesn't want to.

Agent 5: Ah don't be such a small fry. I bet I can take him out all by myself.

Agent 4 retorted back..

Lai: Then, why don't you just go in there and bust them out, huh!? 💢

Agent 6: Guys! There's no point fighting here! Just get in there already!

Agent 5 grunts and Agent 4 just rolls his eyes up..

Agent 5: Ugh.. Fine..

Lai: ... (At least I don't feel hatred at all.)

Agent 5 enters first, then Agent 6 and Agent 4 and they all send to the deepesr lair of Cephalon HQ.

End Of Chapter...