Hero's Charge: A Splatoon Story (Agent 4 x Splatoon)

Chapter 4: Training

Marie: The training grounds are this way.

After a quick conversation with the Squidbeak Splatoon and their new member, Marie and James made their way to the Squidbeak Splatoon's training grounds.

Marie: Here we are.

James entered after Marie into the training grounds for Squidbeak Splatoon. What James saw was breathtaking. He saw many targets in the shape of a cephalopod, some of them were even moving. He saw platforms, beams, targets, and he soon realised what he agreed to do.

James: (I'm part of the biggest agency group in Inkopolis)

Marie: So, what do you think?

James paused, completely speechless.

James: It's... awesome.

Marie: Well, thank you! We've been spending years upgrading this training ground. You may not believe this, but it started from a broken wooden shack with only a few targets, to this.

James: You must have been working really hard.

Marie: We were. The last time we did a big mission, it was to get the Giant Zapfish back from Octavio. Oh, how times have passed.

James: It was hard to believe that you and Callie were all behind this. You saved Inkopolis while entertaining us in the process.

Marie: You're right. The last people Inkopolis would expect to be agents are us. Now they understand how much we care about Inkopolis.

James: Must have been a time to be in Inkopolis.

Marie: Wait, you weren't there at the time?

James: No, my hometown is Splatsbury. I left home to become a professional Turf War player.

Marie: And I dragged you into this?

James: Well, no. I can think of this as an even better opportunity. Who knows? Maybe I'll get famous from this.

Marie: Try to be a bit humble, James. We don't know how this is going to play out yet.

James: I got my hopes up a little too high.

Marie: You did. Now, let's get training. We'll start you with these targets.

Marie pointed to the targets that weren't moving. They both walked up to them.

Marie: I want you to start behind this wall and dodge roll in front of this target and take it out by surprise.

James: Okay, sounds easy enough.

James lined himself up behind the wall and readied his dualies.

*BAM*

James quickly dodge rolled and took out the target within milliseconds. Marie was in shock.

Marie: Wow, I guess you aren't much of a rookie.

James: I've been practising back at Splatsbury. I wanted to come in with an immediate impact.

Marie: Alright, let's bump it up a little. *she motioned him to go back to where he started* We'll start behind the wall again.

James: Alright

Marie: What I want you to do is the same thing, but after taking out the first target, do a second dodge roll to take out the target to the right of it.

The second target was to the right of the first target, but it was much farther away in terms of reach. James didn't know this, which is why Marie told him to do this.

*BAM*

James quickly dodge rolled, taking out the first target. With his fast reflexes, James dodge rolled forward with his dualies still shooting, and he took out the second target.

Marie: Impressive. Let's keep going.

For the next hour, Marie was training James to see everything he was capable of, from sneak missions to breaking and entering missions, James looked like he could do it all.

The clock struck 7, and it was time to finish up.

Marie: Well, would you look at the time. It seems that we're done for the day.

James: Already? I could do this all day.

Marie: I can tell, but we're done for now. I'll be seeing you tomorrow.

James: Good to know. I'm excited for this.

Marie: Okay, I'll see you then!

James: It was great meeting you.

Marie: It was great meeting you too. Bye for now.

James: Bye!

The two inklings gave each other a farewell and James was on his way. He walked past the shack when he heard someone call his name.

Kath: James! Over here!

James saw Kath outside the shack, waving at him.

Kath: So, how was it?

James walked up to Kath

James: It was great. It all went well. She was impressed by my skills.

Kath: Well, that's great to hear! It's a pleasure having another agent on the Squidbeak Splatoon.

James: I'm happy to help.

Kath: Maybe you could show me your skills sometime. Maybe I could give you a few pointers.

James: I'd love to learn from a veteran like you.

Kath: I'd be delighted to help you in any way possible.

James: Awesome. I guess I'll be on my way now.

Kath: Wait, I was supposed to register you in our communication system, so we could get in contact with you whenever you need.

James: Alright. Sounds good.

Kath registered James in the Squidbeak Splatoon's communication system.

Kath: I'll also give you my number if you ever wanna chat with me. *she put her number in James' Squidphone*

After a quick chat with Kath, James was soon to be on his way home.

Kath: I'll see you later, alright?

James: Yeah, see you later.

James made his way out of the Squidbeak Splatoon base and back to Inkopolis, where there were much more people now compared to that morning.

James: (It seems like everyone's awake now. I should get home before the guys think that I'm missing.)

After an introduction to the Squidbeak Splatoon and a great training session with Marie, James was back in Inkopolis and now he was on his way home.

James: Well that was an early morning I won't forget.

James finally made it home where the guys were starting their day. Once they heard the door open, they breathed a sigh of relief.

Harrison: Where have you been, man? We thought you went missing.

Max: Nah, I thought he was doing some early morning training.

James paused for a second

Max: I was right, wasn't I?

James was still silent. He didn't know if he was allowed to tell his mates about the new job he has. Is he an undercover agent? Or is he allowed to spread it to the public?

James: Yeah, I was training.

Max: I knew it! But our next game is next week...

James: I know. I just thought I'd just improve some of my skills. I am a rookie, after all.

Max: True, true. We are all rookies.

Harry: But James is better than all of us.

James: Aw, come on, Harry, I'm not THAT good.

Harry: You are! You're the reason that we're here.

James: I'm glad to hear that. Why don't we just relax for today? I'm exhausted after the match yesterday.

Max: And the training.

James: Ah yes, and the training!