The Reluctant Hero (Splatoon)

Chapter 12

"We Octarians dwell in a world deep underground... ...connected by a network..."
—Sunken Scrolls 1:2 (1.2)

Monday, 10:00 p.m.
The Reef

Streetlights, neon signs, and windows glowed in the distance, but the corner of 17th and 214th was completely dark. There were no lights from any direction for at least three blocks. Cole stood under the awning of a closed Mel's Shells and Bells, shielding himself from the light rain. All around him were cranes, rubble, and scaffolding. His boots were caked with mud, and wherever the ground lacked pavement there was soupy black dirt.

The Reef was normally a popular shopping district. Recently discovered safety code violations, however, had forced several building complexes to temporarily close and renovate. Since the affected stores had moved all of their goods out, nobody hired nighttime security to watch over the construction site. The Octarians, of course, were more interested in energy than merchandise. Because the Reef didn't exactly need power right now, several Zapfish remained completely unguarded inside the shops, forgotten. The Octoling cell must have thought this a perfect opportunity to steal them.

Cole clutched the back handle of his gun. His other hand repeatedly flicked the switch between semi and fully automatic. Marie confirmed getting into position almost half an hour ago, and Cole was waiting for her signal. His mind wandered back home to thoughts of his brothers, but he pulled it back to the present. Then his mind began to worry about botching tonight's mission. What if both he and Marie missed, and their targets got away? Nat was still out there, too. Was she okay?

Cole took a deep breath and took his finger off the switch. His attention needed to be right here, right now. Nothing else mattered. Wait for the signal. Shoot anyone still standing.

"Spotted," came Marie through his earpiece.

Finally. He turned toward 214th Avenue, gun at the ready. If the thieves didn't run straight into Marie's fire, then they'd run into him. And he had a pretty scary weapon.

"Three total. Tagging the one in the back," said Marie.

Cole felt his vision sharpen, and his mind collected itself. Make this fast, he said in his head. He heard sloshing footsteps coming his way, close enough to make out against the pattering rain. He approached the street corner slowly.

"One down."

A shout. Someone muttered something.

"Two down."

The footsteps got louder and faster—too close for comfort. Cole turned the corner and opened fire. Just five feet away from him, an Octoling fell to her knees and collapsed, having taken several rounds to the chest. A pair of goggles covered her eyes, but her face visibly contorted with pain.

Cole grinned with delight. He used to believe that fully automatic fire was a wild and uncontrollable thing, but in reality, it was impossibly smooth. Yesterday was the first time he had ever fired a fully automatic gun, and it was still just as satisfying today. The feeling of sheer power was unparalleled. No wonder this stuff was illegal.

Behind the Octoling he had shot, another figure lay slumped on the ground. Cole supposed that she was Marie's first target, knocked out from the serum. But something didn't add up.

Where was the third Octoling?

"She's running down 16th, follow her!" Marie radioed in.

Cole looked down at the dying Octoling in front of him. A tranquilizer dart stuck out of her shoulder.

Oops.

He stepped around her body and broke into a run.

"She went into the bike park, Agent 4!"