Breaking Barriers

The Great (Possible) Escape

Pinto Pengino:

"That's very kind of you, sir." Peso smiled kindly at Calico Jack, "But it's not necessary. You'll be safer back on your ship."

"Peso, matey." Calico Jack's eyes had a faraway look in them, like his mind had gone back to days long gone, "There's no way I can go back to me ship knowin' me grandson and his buddies are in danger. I'm stayin' right here until I know those lily-livered, speciesist pieces of sea gunk aren't coming back."

"That's very kind of you." Pinata beamed, still looking like she was on the verge of fainting from the visit the Purenkorps had paid us. I couldn't blame her. The whole room probably could hear my teeth chattering when they rattled our file cabinet.

"Why were they even here in the first place." Dashi asked, her knees pulled close to her chest and Tweak wrapped around her like a green, furry, rabbit-shaped safety blanket. We all glanced at Bianca, but she only shook her head.

"We were never told about the Purenkorps coming unless-" Her head snapped up and she gave Mr. Sheprook a look of pure terror, "Paul-" She whispered with a tremble in her voice.

"No!" Mr Sheprook boomed, but immediately quieted himself down, "No, it- it can't be. If anyone did happen to suspect they were here, they'd usually come to me first!"

"Either way," The Captain whispered, "They were here. We don't know why but they were here. The only thing that matters now is that we're all safe."

"For now." Ishka muttered forebodingly, "What if they come back?"

"They probably wont, lil missy." Ranger Marsh sighed from his spot beside Tweak, "The Purenkorps don't got anything to come back for, don't they?"

"Well, it's best that I get home soon." Bianca glanced at the clock, her face slightly tugged at by worry, "It wouldn't do to be late for work tomorrow morning."

"Understood." The Captain winked, "Everyone say goodbye to Bianca!" And cue the stampede of us running to hug Bianca.

"Bye, little bro." Bianca chuckled, hugging the Captain.

"Bye Bianca. Take care, alright?" The Captain hugged his sister back. Once she was out the door, he instantly rushed to the windows, and as I went to join him, I heard him mumble softly, "Whoever's listening, please make sure she gets home safe."
All I could do was wrap my arms around him and whisper, "She will." The Captain stiffened a little before turning around to face me, getting down to my level and softly cupping my cheek in his paws.

"What did I ever do to deserve such a good little boy like you?" He murmured with a little smile.

"You're the best Captain in the world, that's what."
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That night in my room, things took an interesting turn. Peso had fallen asleep almost the second he'd laid down in bed, so Pogo was trying to get me to do the same while Squirt and Inkling watched the whole thing with amused looks.

"Alright, fine!" Pogo threw up his flippers in defeat, "You can stay up a little later!"

"Yay!" I chirped as Pogo shushed me and gestured towards Peso. For the next hour or so, Pogo, Squirt, Inkling, and I discussed the first thing that came to our minds. Inevitably, we came to the war and  the invasion, and everything else we wished would disappear into thin air.

"You know what I miss about the pre-war era?" Pogo asked. I'd never admit it to him, but I was a little tired. Currently, I was snuggled into his chest, listening to him talk with Squirt and Inkling.

"What?" Squirt asked.

"I don't know." Pogo replied. The dim light of the room cast shadows upon his face. He looked far older than 21 at the moment. Then again, this war aged us all dramatically. Except Inkling of course, he's probably reached his maximum for aging, "I miss freedom, I miss not having the whole world staring at you, I miss not caring about what European governments are doing. I just miss living."

"Hear, hear!" Squirt raised his tentacles half-heartedly. Later into the night, when it was dark and keeping my eyes open grew more and more difficult, Inkling had told all of us in a deathly whisper.

"Paani told me before he left tonight; he's gotten in touch with a smuggler who can take us out of the country, but for a price." All of my sleepiness dissolved into thin air. I was stunned. A smuggler? We're we really that illegal that we needed a smuggler to leave?

"What?" Pogo seemed just as surprised as me. For a second, no one spoke.

"You heard me right, my boy." Inkling's face was set in stone, he was not kidding.

"But, what if we get caught?" Inkling's whole body sagged, but he didn't say anything. We all knew the answer to that.

"Then we would've died trying." I whispered under my breath.

"What if I don't want to die?" Squirt asked, "What if I just want to be free?" The only answer to that was the muffled sounds of a upbeat pirate song accompanied by very bad singing coming from the next room.