It had been a week since the dungeon was finished. Agent 4 was a lot better with the Runeblade, and Jacopo cleared it for class use. Marie had spent a huge amount of time shooting targets, and spent a day in the nearby town, relaxing. Agent 3 had given out the squads friend codes to Rago, Frozo, Rukhar, and Jay. She also landed a job as a generator technician, which she took very seriously. It also payed better than a normal student job, so she had already purchased her own Credits Wallet. Callie on the other hand, had not had a good time. For the past 4 days, she had awoken screaming about Captain Cuttlefish, Marina, Pearl, and Agent 8. Marie had tried to calm her down, but nothing really worked. Finally, Marie went to Axel for help.

"So that's... Not a good thing." Said Axel. "I know what happened was traumatic, but still... I seldom see a case of PTSD that bad. I'll see what I can do..."

"Thanks Mr. Axel. Everyone is worried about her." Marie said gratefully.

She left, hopeful about Axel's capability. After all, maybe Axel had some calming trick he could use?

10 minutes later.

Axel came in through Callie's door like a normal person. Marie and Rukhar were both trying to comfort her, unsuccessfully.

"Callie?" Axel said softly. "Marie told me there's something bothering you. Do you wanna talk about it?"

"It's just... It's just... I'm Soo worried!" Callie cried. "We've been here like a month, and I don't know what happened to Gramps and 8!"

"Oh. That's... Not a fun thing to have on the mind, huh?" Axel said.

"No. I wish I could see them, but I know I can't. I'm not strong enough to go back..." Callie sobbed.

"Callie. While I told you I can cross the universe, but it is dangerous, I neglected to say something else." Axel said.

"What?" Sniffed Callie.

"I can look at other dimensions, even talk to people there. I just need to peek at your memories to find them, ok?" Axel asked.

"Will it hurt her?" Asked Marie.

"No." Said Rukhar. "He does it all the time."

Axel laid his human hand on Callie's forehead, and skimmed through her mind.

"Gotta go back a bit... And I think this is it? Tan tentacles, god awful slouch?" Axel said.

"That's Gramps." Said Marie.

"There's an octoling with him." Said Axel.

"Agent 8." Said Marie.

"In that case, I'll open a visual portal. No, you can't go through it." Said Axel "but you will be able to hear them, and they will be able to hear you."

He closed his eyes for a moment, and a sparking, golden-orange portal border appeared. It flickered for a moment, before connecting.

Cuttlefish POV

There are bubbles. Also water.

"Wrong Cuttlefish, Author!" A voice called through time and space.

"My bad!" Another voice replied.

Captain Cuttlefish POV

Cuttlefish was just talking with agent 8 about the Octarian forces finally moving in again, when suddenly a fiery circle just appeared right in front of him.

"Yo yo yo cap'n!" Pearl yelled behind Cuttlefish. "The shell is that thing?"

"It looks like a fiery circle." Said Marina, bewildered. "But why it is here?"

Agent 8 poked it. Suddenly, the group saw a sight they never thought they'd see again. And what else they saw blew their minds, like no mind has ever been blown.

Callie POV

"I'll get agent 3 and 4!" Said Marie.

"Whawha? Gramps, is that you?" Callie asked, shocked and already crying.

"Callie... You're ok..." Cuttlefish said, equally emotional.

"Yo yo! Good job not dying out there girl!" Said Pearl.

"Pearlie! That's not nice!" Marina protested.

"3?" Agent 8 asked.

"Marie said she was going to get her, just wait a bit." Said Callie.

"Mind explaining... Literally everything?" Asked Cuttlefish.

"Oh boy... Where to start..." Callie said.

20 minutes later.

Marie had come back with agents 3 and 4, accompanied by Rago and Jay respectively. Rukhar was not happy to have Jay in the same room as him again. Frozo turned up a bit later, wondering why everyone on his friends list was in the same room. Needless to say, Cuttlefish and Marina were very surprised at everything going on, while Pearl and 8 were completely oblivious.

"I see... Said Cuttlefish. "So you were going to be splatted, but the spooky metal man saved you, took you to a high school thing, gave you a big weapon, and taught you and the other agents to fight, and along the way you made friends with a bunch of humans, who all have very clashing personalities."

"Pretty much." Said Marie.

"That's your grandpa? He looks like he's going on 120 years old!" Said Jay.

"Why, that's so kind. I'm really over 130." Said Cuttlefish.

"Meme." Said 8.

"Nooooooo" Rukhar moaned. "You got another squish, Jay. Dammit!"

"Lol XD sry not sry lol." Said Jay.

His laugh was cut off as Rukhar lunged at him.

While they brawled on the ground, Cuttlefish turned to Axel. "That you for saving my grandsquids. If I may, when can they come home?" He asked.

"Yeah, being the best is too easy without competition!" Said Pearl.

"Pearlie." Marina said in a disappointed tone.

"I don't know." Said Axel. "They need at least 5,000 health just to survive entering the multivoid once, and another 5,000 to leave. So it will take time, or the right rare gear." Said Axel.

"I'm not gonna pretend I understand, but ok." Said Marina. "They gotta get stronger."

"Yes." Said Axel. "What I can do, is leave a crystal with Callie, so she can call you anytime. As for the Octarian invasion, well, I'll send you something too. It's like a canned special, but dangerous. Use it wisely."

Axel drew a funny yellow Stone from his cloak, and pushed it through the portal.

"You said we can't go through." Said Marie.

"You can't. This is my portal. And I can't just pull you through." Said Axel. "By the way, my scanner says everyone of you guys expect Callie is up to 6,000 health by now. Callie has 7,200."

"So soon." Said Marie.

"Yes." Said Axel.

"How did they get there in the first place?" Asked Cuttlefish.

"Returning here doesn't harm me, or anyone I may be carrying." Said Axel. "Only leaving is that way."

"I don't like this messy science." Said Marina.

"I live with it. And I still don't like it sometimes." Said Axel. "Well, feel free to chat, I gotta go do... Diplomatic crap."

Axel vanished.

The group went in the have a fairly civil chat. After a while, Cuttlefish noticed Rukhar blushing everytime Callie acted happy or cute. But more importantly, Pearl noticed, and no force on the planet can stop Pearl from saying embarrassing things.

"Yo Rook! You crushing on Callie there?" She asked.

Rukhar turned Ruby red, and started hyperventilating.

"I think that means yes." Jay smirked.

"I think you just about killed him." Said Rago, straight faced.

"I think I'm gonna heal him real quick, he's frothing at the mouth a little. Said 3, prepping the basic fluid supplement spell."

Cuttlefish looked shocked.

"Oh right. I forgot to mention Axel taught us how to use magic." Said Callie.

Cuttlefish was at a loss. Luckily, the rest of the talk went smoothly, before Cuttlefish went to bed.

"You Rook! Good luck, tigerfish!" Pearl called, as agent 8 poked the portal, and it closed.

That night, Callie slept soundly. Meanwhile, Rukhar was not, thinking about what Pearl had said, and how it only bounced off Callie, and no one else.

"At least I can tolerate them... Besides Jay..." He mumbled, trying to fall asleep. It took a few hours, but he finally did.