Better Eight Than Never

Chapter 18: Disarmed

Warning: This chapter contains actual non-cartoon violence, some minimal gore, and some torture. I think it's mild, but read at your own risk.

As the smoke filled the world outside the tank he found himself in, Toda squeaked as loudly as he could. He heard Jill screaming his name, and wished she could also hear him. This glass was so thick, he wouldn't have been surprised if even his captor couldn't. The tank was swung around as the Octoling ran out of the shop and fastened the container to his back. Toda tried his hardest to keep track of where he was running, but it was far from a smooth ride. He was quickly getting nauseous, and all the back alleys he found them running through looked about the same. He focused more on keeping himself from throwing up instead, it seemed like an obtainable goal.

Eventually progress slowed, and the bobbing up and down actually became bearable. Toda attempted to take in more of the surroundings, but all he could tell was that the walls were made of bricks, and it looked just as old as the rest of the alleyways in this forgotten part of the city. He squirmed in the tank, trying his hardest to knock himself free of the octoling's back, but failed to make any progress.

"Cease that at once, you pack of slime." The octoling snarled, then turned toward one of the walls of the alleyway.

Toda couldn't see what he was doing, but was able to see the other side of the alley, which had a brick with something carved into it. What was that, some sort of winking face? The 'XD' emoji? There was a clank and then they began to move again, and passed through a doorway which from what little Toda knew had probably not been there before. It slid closed behind them with an old groan.

"Oswald! What are you doing back already!?" The octoling barked, grabbing Toda's tank with his tentacles and unhooking it from his back. "I told you not to come back until you'd captured the sirens!"

As Toda was pulled to the front he got to see the room around him, which looked like some sort of small warehouse turned mechanics lab. There were some tables that were soldered to the floor, each with tools and scrap metal strewn about the tabletop. One corner of the building had tables arranged in a L-shape that was like a counter top, a portable burner was on one table, and a basin had been set into another one like a sink, and yet another table in this area was much cleaner than the others, but still had some scattered scrap here and there. It was in this area of the room that another octoling stood, arms folded and tentacles gently swishing. As he turned his head Toda gave a startled squeak. He was the octoling who'd attacked the underpass!

'Ey Orion! Ya know, this whole 'get tha sirens' thing is kinda new ta me, but where exactly in this plan is gettin' back 'lil miss recon, eh? Isn't tha tha entia reason we're up 'ere?" Oswald asked, the scope on his mask spinning to focus on Toda. Instinctively he shrunk back from his gaze, even though there was barely anywhere to go.

"Are you questioning my authority, Oz?" 'Orion' asked, momentarily shaking Toda's tank.

"No, I ain't!" Oz replied with a huff. "But ya told me we were gonna get 'er!"

"She's not as important as apprehending the sirens." Orion snapped. "Take this squid and get a sample of his ink ready for Orvokki. He's a color we haven't recorded yet." He thrust Toda at Oswald, who took the tank gingerly.

"Ya know this woulda been a lot more fun if ya 'adden't lied ta me." Oz grimaced, flipping the tank up to rest on his shoulder. Toda yelped as he was turned upside down and his tentacles fell over his eyes. He couldn't see what was happening anymore.

"The government isn't run by truth you scoundrel." Orion said. "Now get to work. You'll have to take that sample back down to the domes yourself. If you're lucky maybe we'll get that defective apprentice of mine back next shift, but if I were you I'd keep my mouth shut."