1Squelch and Slosh: Repeat Offenders
FYI, fish-word curses will be explained in a glossary at the bottom!
Saturday, 12:24
The brothers were still approached throughout the week. Of course, Ryan took it well and Jack did not. Ryan had made some new friends and acquaintances. A lot of people pretended to know Ryan well for their benefit. Ryan had played a long slightly, but he was no fool. Fortunately, it turns out some people were actually interested in getting to know Ryan and not exploit him. It was as if they hadn't noticed him before. He had made three new friends: Robert, Amy and Leo. The three had been friends before but were keen on letting someone else into the group.
Leo had decided to arrange for the four of them to meet for lunch in Inkopolis Square. Despite Ryan's numerous appeals that he had no money and this was a bad idea, they (mostly) persisted. Robert didn't really understand Ryan's situation but Leo and Amy kept insisting they would split Ryan's bill. Therefore on that Saturday, almost a week since the poor siblings took down some Octarians there, Ryan would return to the Square. It was not too long of a walk from his apartment yet by the time he got to the rather busy Square he was quite tired.
Ryan had no clue where his friends would be. He was equipped in a blue tee, but sported the sand simple headband and clownfish basics he wore a week ago, causing many to notice him as Slosh. Ryan couldn't help but smile.
Woah, aren't you the guy from Sunday?
I was there! You were awesome!
You know, Marina and Pearl want to interview you!
Where's that taller one with the red cap?
"Hey, would you mind signing my hat?" Asked a tall fellow holding a stylish straw boater and a black marker.
"Sure, sure," Ryan replied happily as he scribbled his 'Slosh' signature on the red ribbon.
"Thanks dude!"
After his first customer was satisfied, a large amount of others came to Ryan for signatures, pictures and even short videos. Ryan was glee to help every single person he could, but he wasn't able to. For one, there were about fifty Inklings, Octolings, Jellyfish and other creatures who wanted to meet this hero. The other reason was that Leo and Robert had noticed the commotion and made their way to Jack. Leo was an average-built fifteen year-old in a Skalop blue-to-white gradient top, black shorts, stylish sunglasses and light-blue Takoroka sports shoes. His two large purple tentacles at the back of his head flapped around slightly as he came over to Ryan. Robert was a chunky lad, made of more fat than muscle, with small, yellow, spiky tentacles going down the middle of his head. He was equipped in a white shirt with long grey sleeves, red-mesh sneakers, grey shorts and had a purple visor strapped around his head. Robert and Leo pushed through the crowd.
"Ryan, hey," called Leo through the busy gathering. Ryan noticed and realised he would be holding his friends up if he spoke to every person. He apologised and said he had to go as he had arranged to eat with his friends, etcetera. Everyone was understanding and reasonable.
"You've created quite the attraction," Robert laughed.
"I guess so…" Ryan responded.
Leo gestured to an empty table a few steps away near to Ye Olde Cloth Shoppe, a rare find in the busy Inkopolis Square.
"Shall we sit?" He suggested.
The three of them sat down and waited for Amy. They conversed until a shorter than average, dark-skinned Octoling came their way. She was wearing a white and black Parasol over her four long and magenta tentacles. They fell down to her white t-shirt with an anchor design on it.
"Hello, guys," Amy smiled, "Sorry I'm a bit late. My train was delayed."
"That's alright," Leo reassured.
"Have a seat," Ryan added.
Amy took the remaining chair at the table, sitting next to Leo and Robert.
"Speaking of delays and traffic…" Robert chuckled, "You should have seen the audience Ryan was attracting a few minutes ago!"
"It was mad. I don't even think Marina and Pearl get that sort of attention!" Leo sniggered.
"I wouldn't say that," Ryan defended, "It was just a small gathering, nothing specta-"
"Small gathering! Ha!" Howled Leo as he thumped the table to exaggerate his point.
"The people still eyeing us is a small gathering!"
At this, many people who had been looking (and snapping photos) of Ryan/"Slosh" grew self aware and turned away.
"Wow," Amy interjected, quietly, "Sounds like coming to the Square maybe wasn't a great idea…"
"No no, I think it's fine. Rather fun, actually," claimed Ryan. He was interrupted during his last word as a large television screen below the Great Zapfish roared to life, switching from alternating advertisements to a screen with pink, light blue and white shapes. Accompanying music played through large (somewhat hidden) speakers as text appeared and the shapes moved away to reveal two figures. One was an Inkling with white tentacles that had pink on the end wearing a white coat sorting on a beanbag chair, and the other character was an Octoling with long black tentacles behind a movable DJ set. The Octoling had light blue finger- and tentacle tips.
"Y'all know what time it is!" Announced the Inkling, who was called Pearl.
"It's one o'clo- I mean it's Off the Hook coming at you live from Inkopolis Square!" The Octoling, known as Marina called, emphasising the word 'live'.
The rest of the standard radio broadcast continued as usual, with the duo revealing the current Turf War, Ranked and League battle stages. Everyone in the square was fairly quiet, with few interruptions throughout the news report.
"And that's all-" Pearl began, "Wait, Marina! Hold your sea-horses!"
"Wh- uh… I didn't say anything…" Marina responded.
"It seems like Slosh is in the square! Right now!" Pearl exclaimed, clearly excited, "You do remember what happened last Sunday, right, Marina?"
In the standstill Inkopolis Square it seemed as though all eyes had fallen on Ryan.
"Of course. Anyway, I think that's all th-"
"Woah! Slosh, you better get your comrade round for tomorrow at twelve o'clock you've got an interview!" Shouted Pearl joyfully.
"We'll do it live," Marina spoke up, "But unfortunately that's al-"
"Marina, don't steal my lines!" Argued Pearl, after a brief pause, "And that's all the time we've got! Until next time…"
Pearl stood up from her beanbag as Marina pushed away her black DJ set. Then in unison, accompanied by a hand gesture, they said, "Don't get cooked, stay off the hook!"
The large screen shut off, and Inkopolis Square resumed to normal function. Leo turned to Ryan, who couldn't help but smile.
"Seems like you'll be busy tomorrow."
"I wish. My mum doesn't want me to be interviewed," sighed Ryan.
"Huh. That's a shame," Amy reassured, "Maybe some things are for the best."
"Maybe my mum doesn't need to know where I'll be," Ryan thought out loud, "There's no way my brother will come if I tell him he's gonna get interviewed, so…"
"You cunning little billfish," Robert joked.
"Watch the language, Robert…" Leo suggested, "Should we get something to eat? I'm starving!"
Sunday, 11:37
"I'm telling you Jack, you've got to come!" Ryan spoke to Jack, "We've got free tickets, it's rude if you don't show up."
"So where are they?" Jack asked, confused.
"We don't need them. They'll let us in; they know who we are."
Jack reluctantly sat up on his thin mattress, groaned and sighed, "Okay, I'll come then…"
Ryan walked out of their small bedroom into the kitchen/dining area, smiling to himself. He called out, "Mum! Jack and I are going out! We'll be back to make lunch."
There was a reply which sounded like confirmation. Of course, if she knew what they would be doing, she would not have approved. Jack was just finished tying his laces on his muddy blue shoes and had thrown his crinkled red cap on his green tentacles. He came to join his brother.
Ryan turned around, "You may want to bring a pen to sign stuff, I've got one. We need to hurry, it starts at quarter-past."
"Relax," moaned his older sibling, "We have plenty of time."
12:03
"We don't have plenty of time!" A panicking fifteen year-old shouted to his brother after seeing the clock display on the live news in Inkopolis Square, "Hurry up!"
Jack was at least fifteen paces behind Ryan, and he didn't care at all. That really angered Ryan, but he couldn't exactly do much about him. They had just arrived in a bustling square, and quite a few people had recognised the two as Squelch and Slosh. Ryan had great difficulty telling fans that he couldn't sign their gear right now as he had to get to Off the Hook. However, these fans and Off the Hook weren't the only people who had planned to meet the duo that day…
He was called Bruno. He had his eyes on the targets. He was a twenty year-old Octoling under influence of the menacing Octarians via his earpiece and goggles. Except he wasn't wearing hypnoshades, hypnogoggles or anything of the sort. Well, actually, he was wearing special contact lenses - a spectacular invention. An almost revelation of hypnosis engineered by the Octarians. It allowed almost total disguise to blend in with Inkling society, apart from small embedded earpieces that provided extra hypnotising.
Bruno had been sent out in some 'fresh' 'gear' consisting of a red bandana, a grey tee, jet black shorts and some mesh sneakers. He didn't know why Inklings liked to wear this sort-of-baggy clothing, but who was he to ask? In fact, he couldn't. He couldn't question what he was sent out to do out loud, or anything he'd done. His mind was a slave to Octarians, and so was his body.
He had a simple black backpack with some tools he needed for his operation. His task was to assassinate some Inkling boys who were going to be having a live interview. Bruno didn't know how the Octarians got that intel, but whatever happened, here he was, tasked with killing some people. He had been reassured that these criminals were murdered, as they had "brutally executed" a comrade (and imprisoned another). If Bruno was told to shoot himself with his gun, he would barely be able to resist. However, he did still have somewhat of a conscience, and through all the lies his masters had told him he had built up a burning hatred for Inklings and rogue Octolings who lived among them.
Bruno watched with malicious intent as an Inkling with a red mesh cap exposing his green tentacles, sky-blue tee and blue lo-tops accompanied by an slightly shorter Inkling with light-blue tentacles, navy green tee and orange shoes walked into a building in a wide alleyway by the subway. There they went. But how would he get inside? There was a beefy guard of a species Bruno had only learned about in class, over ten years ago: the lobster, he thought. Whatever it was, it looked like it had a hard shell around its entire body. Maybe Bruno would have to squeeze past undetected in octopus form.
Meanwhile, Ryan and Jack had been allowed into the studio and were being taken to the recording room by a receptionist. The building that housed the studio was rather bland but modern. It had white walls in the corridors with framed music discs and awards.
"Ryan, what are we doing here?" Jack asked, irritated. Ryan just looked at him and smiled.
"Here you boys are," she showed them to a door with a light above it that read 'LIVE', "You're a little late, but I doubt they'll mind."
"Thanks," Ryan spoke as he opened the door.
By now, Jack was obviosuly confused. His brother had just tricked him - he didn't want to be doing an interview. He couldn't just leave, that was rather rude. So many people knew who he was now, if he disgraced the meeting be would probably get shunned by all. Jack had no choice. He had to stay.
"In other news, scientists have discovered why the Calam-" chatted Marina to the camera, before being interrupted by an opening door.
"Shut up, Marina! Look, Squelch and Slosh have arrived! Time for the interview!"
The crowd behind Pearl and Marina's TV seemed to cheer. There were four foldable chairs by the camera opposite the large television screen. It didn't take long to move things around, yet Marina switched to a "Technical Difficulties" image while they did. Jack made sure to give his brother an "accidental" stamp on the foot. When Marina put them live again, the brothers were sitting in front of the TV, facing the camera; Pearl and Marina were facing them but positioned so portions of them could be seen on camera.
"We are delighted to have you here," announced Marina, "...Squelch and Slosh? What are your real names?"
"I'm Ryan," Ryan responded, gesturing to his brother, "and this is Jack."
Jack nodded at the mention of his name.
"So, onto the events almost a week ago," began Pearl, "You were fairly accurate with your shot, Jack, you must have participated in many battles."
Jack was annoyed that he was being picked on, but what could he do? Inside he was reluctant, but on the outside he was cheerful as he said, "What? A battle? I wish. I've never played one before. The closest thing I've done is practise in the training warehouse."
Jack was going to say a bit more, however he was semi-interrupted by a stunned Pearl and in shock Marina. He could only imagine all the shocked spectators.
"What do you mean," Marina asked, "You've never played a battle before?"
"Well, I can't really afford it. It's not like I could make any money fro-"
"But you were amazing, you could easily become profreshional!" Blurted Pearl.
"Yeah, how come your so good anyway?"
"Well, as I said, I train a lot in the grounds behind Ammo Knights."
"Ryan - do you train there too?" Pearl wondered.
"Yeah, we go almost every week," answered Ryan.
"Okay then. Moving on," declared a still disbelieving Pearl, "were either of you nervous while you took down terrorists?"
"Well, it was mostly adrenaline y'know…"
"It just felt like I had to do it. I'm not really sure why I went through with it," Jack was about to say 'because of all the fame', or at least that was in his head, when he added, "because of - it should have been quite scary."
"Yes," agreed Marina, "you both put your life on the line."
"And, erm, what do you, uh, think about the casualty, John Barnacup?"
The casualty. The brothers may have well been casualties themselves after Pearl spoke because those words cut through them like bullets. That guy that… died. Neither brother focused enough to register someone had died even when they saw the recount on the news. Ryan remembered the witness reports about the guy that died had spoken to the Octarian-Octolings.
"He was very brave and what happened was very unfortunate," commented Ryan.
Jack was in a world of his own. Someone died, he thought. Someone got killed! Someone carping died! Oh Cod, it's all coming ba-
Suddenly, the door to the studio burst open and an Octoling with a single yellow tentacle draped over his head and a red bandana over his mouth ran into the room. Immediately the four others in the studio saw what was in his hand. He was holding an N-ZAP. It was painted jet black.
"I'm gonna kill you all, you placodermi scum," screamed Bruno. He was terrified, actually. He was finally going to kill some vicious Inklings.
Pearl, Marina, Jack and Ryan had stood up when the Octoling arrived. They were all horrified. The members of Off the Hook stood together and looked to the brothers for anything. Ryan's hand had been touching his short pockets since this intruder showed up. He could feel something. What is this, he thought, hang on… it was his pen he had taken to sign things with! He could use it to provide a distraction.
Bruno noticed Marina. He had been told that some Octolings were not loyal and had left the domes to become oppressors like the Inklings. He wanted to kill her now. She was worse than an Inkling. But he was instructed to kill the Inklings with the cyan and lime tentacles first. Octolings under hypnosis could disobey orders if they knewbexactky what they wanted to do. But he didn't want to…
"Hey, you, bichir!" Bruno shouted, enraged, "Inkling sympathiser! Traitor!" He was advancing on Marina, slowly. Ryan saw he was not looking his way. As Bruno passed Ryan, he quietly took his pen out of his pocket. He had to do something fast, before Marina got her hearts blasted. Instinctively, he threw the pen at the terrorist's head.
Bruno turned round, but as he did so, Ryan charged at him, specifically his hand. Jack caught on and began to wrestle with the Octoling. After twisting his hand, Ryan got a hold of the pistol gun which was presumably loaded with water. However, as he took it, it flew into the air and landed behind Ryan and Jack, under Pearl and Marina's desk. Jack and Bruno were punching each other hard. Jack was getting hits to Bruno's face as he held his head down, and Bruno was punching Jack's stomach relentlessly. Jack had to release his headlock before his stomach was ground to a pulp. Marina and Pearl had been delivering a few hits, but after Jack released Bruno he kicked and punched them away, onto the ground.
Ryan had rushed to grab the weapon of the floor.
"Hey, hey!" Ryan spoke, carelessly waving the gun near Bruno. It was so close to him that Bruno grabbed his wrist and pulled Ryan so that the gun was facing away, behind the terrorist. He began kicking the fifteen year-old and prying his fingers off the gun. Jack realised that he could join the fray and get Bruno off Ryan. He ripped Bruno's arm off the weapon and Ryan released it so Jack could take it. Bruno pulled Ryan down onto the floor.
Jack was still standing, holding a water-filled weapon, pointing it at the terrorist. He had seen and rushed backwards, hitting into the desk and lying on top of it. Ryan rose to look at the enemy.
"Who are you?" Demanded Jack.
"Eh… Bruno," he wheezed, weak.
Something had been knocked out of Bruno, though. He felt slightly different. Something was out of tune. Sure, his nose and mouth were inking badly, but that definitely wasn't it. What am I doing? Sent here to kill some people… how would I have returned, anyway? I've been used. Bruno felt violated. He realised he had lost. He was lying on a flat desk, but he still had a backpack on.
Strangely, a weird broadcast was going through his hypnolens and earpieces. It was irresistible.
Error. Error. Systems faulty. Proceed to die. Do it. You are not valued anymore. You are corrupted.
Bruno took these words on board. He couldn't refrain. He was useless now. A traitor. He knew he was, thinking that the Octarians were bad. He must cease to go on.
"I have another gun," whispered an in-pain Bruno, smiling. Goodbye, everything.
Jack was shocked, and couldn't take any risks, and fired into Bruno's chest. Water jetted in a powerful spray, making a mug-shaped hole in his chest. He died instantaneously. The modified N-ZAP was so powerful Jack was blown backwards a bit, nearly falling over.
Marina and Pearl had helped quite a lot during the fight. They had been delivering hits onto the terrorist who was clearly trained in hand-to-hand combat. Jack and Ryan seemed a bit experienced, no doubt they had probably fought each other years ago.
Jack was just staring at the person he'd just killed. Did he even have another gun? He broke the long silence by dropping the N-ZAP, clutching his abdomen and croaked, "My stomach…" before collapsing.
"Oh, carp," observed Pearl.
Sorry that took a while to come out. I've somehow been busy (hard to accomplish during these times, right?). So yeah, looks like we've got some repeat offenders, if I do say so myself. They're just in the right place at the right time, really.
As I mentioned above, here's a glossary:
Billfish - like a swordfish. I used it as an insult because it sounds like one.
Bichir - kind of like an eel. Remove the last two letters to find a homophone for a swear word.
Carp - plain old fish. I'm sure you understand what word that's in place of.
Cod - plain old fish (again). In place of God.
Placodermi - plain old (very old, actually extinct) beaked fish. It kind of sounds like an insult.
Thanks for reading. I hope this was adequate.
