Skull x Headphones (Splatoon Manga)

Part 12: Capture

Forge and Headphones walked in silence.

Their previous attempts at conversation had not gone well, all ending either with Forge getting angry and sad or Headphones just getting confused with all the manual talk she was spitting out.

The alleyway they were walking down was covered in graffiti, and it was clear this place wasn't walked down often.

It made it the perfect spot to hide something, or someone.

Headphones looked around. She wondered how Skull was doing, and where the rest of her team was. 

She looked over to Forge. She was obviously upset, but whether she was mad or sad, Headphones couldn't tell.

Suddenly, a burst bomb fell on them from above. Forge immediately brought out her Rapid Blaster, and shot upwards towards where it had come from. Since whoever threw it was behind a ledge, Headphones couldn't reach them, but Forge had no problem exterminating the threat. A pack from the splatted victim fell down from the building's roof, thudding upon impact.

The two girls cautiously examined the bag.

There was nothing inside, yet if you were in squid form you would have no problem getting in...

Headphones left it be, but Forge wasn't done yet. She pulled out a pocket knife- an actual knife- and tore a slightly bulgier side of the pack open. Out fell a piece of metal, with a crosshatched side, that had a blinking red light. 

"Wha-" Headphones started to say, but Forge put her finger to her lips. It was clear that the metal was recording anything they said, and maybe even tracking movement.

In one swift movement, Forge slammed the hilt of her knife on the metal, causing it to shatter. She then picked up the pieces and disposed them into two different garbage cans. 

"It's okay to talk now." She announced. Headphones let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding.

"What was that...?" She started.

"It was a transmitter. Tracks your movement, but only if you're carrying it. Can also record voices, but only advanced ones can do that. Compact ones are harder to make, but easier to use. Only way to get rid of one is to destroy it."

"Wha- How do know all this?"

Forge suddenly looked uncomfortable.

"Have you used one, or...?

Forge's look told her the answer.

"Why would you need a transmitter? I can't think of any reason you would need one, unless you were spying on someone-" Headphones gasped.

Forge had the tiniest frown on her face, which was covered by down-turned eyebrows and sweat.

"Why would you track someone? Did you-" Any other question Headphones had were cut off by Forge yelling, "Shut up!"

She looked close to tears. "I- I snuck one in commander's parka the other day, because-because-"

She took a deep breath. "I loved commander. So strong, and courageous..." She got lost in thought temporarily, only to snap back to reality.

"But I wanted to see what he did outside of training, practices, meets, those things. And the transmitter recorded him going to Aloha's, and..." Forge's voice was so shakey, she almost couldn't speak properly.

"And the audio recorded them saying that they loved each-other, occasionally intercepted by kisses." She said. Forge was crying now, in full sobs, as her tears cascaded to the floor. She broke down, falling to her knees, putting her hands on her face.

"Is- Is there something wrong with me? Was it my fault Commander did not like me romantically? Am I not g- good enough?" She cried.

"N-No! It's not your fault!" Though Headphones wasn't so sure. Forge could be bossy, and her temper could sometimes get the best of her. It wasn't like her to suddenly break down and cry.

"Whatever Army does, know it's not your fault." She tried to comfort, but since she had never been faced with a situation such as this, she didn't know what to say.

Suddenly, they heard footsteps.

Suddenly snapped out of her breakdown, but still in tears, Forge dove and crouched behind a dumpster and held her Rapid Blaster at the ready. Headphones knelt down and grabbed her Charger, but didn't start charging it as she knew it would make the laser reticle appear. 

"So we agree that the next two we bring, male or female, will be thrown in the chamber, correct?" Said a distorted voice. 

"Yes, that will work. It would be more conveniant if it were male, but either will do. Now that we have a stustainible source of gender arrangement, it will not matter."

At the most perfect possible timing, Forge jumped out and fired a direct shot on each figure, who Headphones had not been able to see.

"What were you doing?" She commanded, though it was evident there were still tears on her face.

Headphones took this as her cue to jump out as well and charge her charger. This was where she got her first glimpse of the passerby.

Just like the S4, their skin had a greenish tint and dark shades on, but unlike the S4, they had gear on that Headphones had never seen before. It was kind of like a bikini, but with more metal. What was stranger about this was the fact that they were both males. And one of them was recognizable.

"Aviators?" She said in shock, almost dropping her weapon.

"You wish for us to provide information, but that cannot happen." He said, again, in the distorted voice. Headphones reeled back. His voice sounded... wrong.

The other inkling took this opportunity to throw a toxic mist at the ground, slowing both Headphones and Forge down. In one swift movement, he grabbed Headphones and turned into squid form, getting read to Super-jump.

"No!" Forge yelled, and grabbed onto Headphones's leg right as they flew into the air.

Where am I?

Who am I?

Oh. Right.

I'm Skull.

How could you have forgotten?

I feel... hollow.

Like I'm inside of me.

Watching my body move.

Watching my body...

Do...

Oh...