Agent 38: In The Making

Chapter 19: Missing Agent

Agent 3 stormed back to Cuttlefish Cabin, furious with himself.
     You shouldn't have left her! His thoughts yelled. She'll be dead by morning. If it had been Agent 4, or somebody whose opinion you didn't respect, you would've saved them!
     So why do you respect hers? Whispered another part of his mind. She's just another person, untrustworthy and backstabbing like everyone else. And she's an Octoling.
     He stopped walking and clenched his fists. I don't know... Because she saved me? Because she seems different?
     It's because you like her, dimwit.
     The realization of this fact hit him like a brick in the face.
     Nuh uh. No way. Not in a million years. I've never liked somebody! How would someone who I barely know change that!?
     That other part of his mind stayed silent as he was launched into the air, trying to get back to Tentakeel Outpost.
     He opened a frequency on his headphones. "Hello, Agent 4? Do you read me? Over."
     "Yes, I read you," Said Aaron over the com set. "What's up? Over."
     "The Purifiers showed up at the Depot," Three explained. "We were in over our heads, and they took Agent 8."
     "Woah." He breathed. "Knowing you, I'd be sure that you would've stopped them. How'd they get away?"
     Three sat down on the edge of the ground, a massive sea of ink at the bottom of the long fall. "Eight told me to leave." He admitted. "I listened to her."
     "Uh oh!" Aaron said in a mocking tone. "Is the mighty Agent 3 finally giving in for someone?"
     "Four, not the freaking time!" He yelled. "We just lost our best Agent! We have to get her back!"
     "Uh, right." Four said. "Sorry. So, Agents 1 and 2 are scoping out the Purifiers' base. I can tell them to stay longer in case Agent 8 is taken there?"
     Three shook his head as he landed at Tentakeel Outpost. "Tell them to send me their location. I'll find them there and get her myself."
     "Three, they might not like tha-"
     "Four, just do what I freaking say! Open a frequency and tell them." Three cried, frustrated. Aaron ran around the bend to see him walking towards the Cabin. He waved cheerily, but he ignore it, storming past the Inkling. Three sat down in front of the computer and opened a frequency.
     "Agents 1 and 2, do you read me? Over." He said in a serious tone.
     "This is Agent 1, I read you. Over." Said Callie's voice over the com set.
     "I'm here too. Over." Said Marie.
     "Good." Three said. "Listen, a gang of Purifiers showed up at the Depot. Eight and I were in for a big fight, and they captured her before I could stop them. I think they're taking her to the base, because the apparent leader said Sarai was one of her best friends. Oh, Eight's real name is Sarai, by the way."
     "I knew it!" Marie whisper-shouted into the mic. "She's working with them!"
     Now this got him really mad.
     "She was fighting them, you dimwit!" Three said. "She has amnesia, remember?"
     "What do you want us to do, Three?" Marie asked, avoiding the question.
     "Send me your location." He said. "I'll go to you, then you both come back once I get there."
     "Agent 2 will be staying with you." Callie said firmly. "That's the best deal you're gonna get."
     "Fine." He growled. "Send me your coordinates and I'll meet you there."
     "Got it. Over." Said the Squid Sisters in unison.
     He pulled the headphones down and banged his hand on the table. "They can be so stubborn sometimes!"
     "I think that's how they see you." Said Aaron. He glared at him.
     Three's phone beeped and he opened up Marie's text messages. The coordinates led to the nearest launchpad that would take him straight to the base.
     Around an hour later, he found the launchpad, but it was hidden very well, in a trash filled alleyway. He pushed aside the broken boxes and twisted cans and saw it, quickly diving into it. He shot right out, landing with a splat next to Marie. She grabbed him by the wrist and sprinted towards another hallway with large windows lining the left wall. One of them was open, and Marie peeked into it. It seemed to be an abandoned dojo. The green Squid Sister jumped into it, and shot at the ground. It instantly ripped open, indicating they were on what could be a tarp. He jumped through the hole, Hero Shot gripped firmly in hand, and fell longer than he expected. Three tucked into a roll, landing silently, and Marie thumped down next to him. They were in a massive room with no windows. It was littered with cars, boxes, and weapons of all kinds.
     All of a sudden, he heard screaming that sounded a lot like Eight's. He swiveled his head in the direction it was coming from, and Marie quickly led the way, a weird pair of sunglasses covering her eyes. A duo of footsteps could be heard ahead of them, and Marie aimed at the people ahead. As soon as they came into view, Three dodge-rolled behind them (Much to his and Marie's surprise, since he had no Dualies) and chokeholded them both.
     "Tell me where your prisoners are kept and maybe I'll let you live," He whispered. "Or you cane face the ink of my friend over here."
     Marie aimed her beam at the forehead of the man in his left arm. "Never." He spat.
     Marie splatted him.
     She aimed her beam at the other one's head. "Got any ideas?"
     "Down the flight of stairs, to the right, and down the next flight of stairs. There are cells all around that floor, you can't miss 'em." The guy in his right arm said nervously. "I d-don't know which cell everyone's in, though. You'll have to check them all."
     "Don't you dare tell anyone that we were here, or you'll be dead by morning." Three added menacingly, letting go. The boy ran away from them, eyes worried.
     Three whirled around and started sprinting towards the flight of stairs, following the instructions the Octoling had given him. Soon, they'd arrived at a room full of cells, each door with several locks on them. Gasping, panting, and screams echoed from at least three of them, making him wonder what was going on in there.
     "Miku, I'm sorry!" Yelled Eight's voice. "I was scared! You heard the Inkantation, you know what I'm talking abo-" Her words suddenly cut off with a shriek of pain and a thundering whipcrack. He ran to all the doors, banging on them, instantly desperate to save her. The first door opened to a female Purifier, ink smeared across her face. He saw that the person inside wasn't Eight and splatted her.
     "Marie, help the guy inside." He whispered, and ran to bang on another door. It swung open on the first knock, and the girl held a whip in his hand. It was Miku. He smashed his Hero Shot across the Purifier's face (Knocking her out) and ran to the girl inside, who turned out to be Eight. She was on her knees, hands chained to the ceiling, tears streaming down her face. He saw with rage that there were whipcracks all along her body; on her arms, legs, back, neck, even her face, and shuffled around in his pockets until he found that paperclip again.
     He fiddled it into the lock and undid the first one, and Eight let out a sob of pain as Three unlocked the other one. As soon as he was done, she threw her arms around him with another sob. "I-I never thought I-I'd be this h-happy to see y-you," She whispered, both her voice and her body trembling.
     "Shh, It's ok." He said, wrapping his arms around her shaking body. "I'm here now. We can get out of here."
     "Y-yes, please." She mumbled. He gently picked her up bridal-style and carried her out of the torture room. Marie staggered out of her room, an Inklings' arm slung across her shoulders.
     "Are we good to go?" She asked. Eight shook her head.
     "M-my brother i-is in that r-room," She said, lifting a shaky hand to point at the last room that still echoed with screams. "W-we need to g-get him."
     Three gently set her down and ran to the next room. He didn't bother knocking, he downright kicked the door. Apparently, Three kicked it hard enough to break it, and burst into the room. Another Purifier stood in front of a male Octoling captive, who was tied to a chair, fire in his eyes.
     Once the boy saw him, recognition flashed in his eyes. The Purifier heard the noise of the door breaking down and sped towards Three with a glare, Octobrush in hand. He smirked and instinctively dodge-rolled out of the way (Ok, how do I keep doing that? He thought), then whacked the Purifier with his Hero Shot. Three turned to Gabriel, who was staring at him with anxious eyes as he untied him.
     Gabriel stood up with a groan. "Did you get my sister?"
     "Yes." Three replied. "Let's get out of here."
     As they ran out into the hallway, Eight spotted Gabriel and her eyes lit up, and she staggered to her feet, leaning against the wall.
     "G-Gabriel!" Eight yelled, voice raspy. He saw his older sister and threw his arms around her whiplashed body, squeezing her tight. They stood there for a minute before Gabriel let go and eyed her up and down.
     "What happened to you?"
     "I-I'll tell y-you later. We h-have to g-go."
     Eight limped against the wall towards him, and Three gently picked her up again. Gabriel smirked but kept quiet as they ran up the stairs, and burst into a room full of Octolings with vengeful eyes. And, in the middle of them, Miku, blue eyes glaring at them all.

Welp. Two chapters in one day. CONSIDER THYSELVES LUCKY!
But srsly, hope u enjoyed.
Word count: 1702