And then X got some most unwelcome news over comms. Hyper Storm H groaned audibly as he reported in, “sorry, boss, I had to get outta there. There’s this nutjob in a mask and his minions going in from the front. Expect them to come up from behind.”
“’Masked nutjob’ sounds like Scarface, another General,” said Nana, “he’s an honourable guy, all things considered, but he’s also no joke in a fight. He’s got something of a rivalry with Ethan and Ayane, too. He uses a custom Gold Dynamo Roller.”
“Right, it’s fine, Pigsy, we’ll deal with him,” X said, hand where his ear was as they stopped to recharge, “ladies, has anyone else showed up? Who was that on the intercom system, anyway?”
“Axl’s father, Red Slade,” Marina said, “I should’ve realised they had a connection sooner, but he’s a General, too. He’s laid-back and casual, but he’s still dangerous. And if I had to hazard a guess, Botos is probably there too. He’s a coward and a glory-hog who takes credit but does barely any of the work himself.”
“I’m guessing Axl’s home life wasn’t fantastic if he never brought up up before now,” Zero said, keeping an eye out.
“Also, keep an eye out for Morrigan Aensland,” advised Alia. “Apparently she’s here for her own reasons. Gate’s working with something demonic, and it’s unnerving Dr. Light.”
“Geez, she’s still around? Guess Makai’s still kickin’ even after humanity went bye-bye,” Punk chuckled.
“Also, X, she kissed your girlfriend to recharge and got real into it to seduce Marie with her powers,” Pallette noted.
X took a deep breath, containing his anger. Sure, at least Morrigan didn’t go further, but… Not cool. “Noted. I’ll… I’ll handle her.”
“Be careful, gents. Whatever’s down there has got Dr. Light real worried. All the more reason to shut down this lab now rather than retreat,” the Cap’n advised.
Enker nodded, “X, Zero, go on ahead. We’ll handle Scarface. You need to reach and help Agents 1 & 2.”
“Yeah, we can hold the line just fine!” Buster Rod G grinned, giving a thumbs up.
“This cramped corridor is perfect for me to rampage, they won’t have room to dodge!” Punk laughed, slamming his fist into his palm.
“Let’s not get too carried away, but yes, we have the advantage in this terrain,” Mega Water S nodded.
Ballade crossed his arms. “Even if we get shut down, it’ll be worth it if you can complete the mission. We can’t afford to fail at this juncture.”
Zero nodded to X, “you heard them. Let’s go.”
X bit his lip, but he knew they were right. “Just get out if things get too hairy, okay? We’re counting on you guys.”
He then dashed away, with Zero following, as the other robots set up their defensive line…
Callie panted as she slumped against a wall, taking a moment to catch her breath. That last skirmish had been tense, considering she had to use her Roller for half of it while stuck in swim form. Now she knew how the junior agents felt. Thankfully, her new Hero Suit helped a lot for protection, even in her swim form.
Still, no time to lose. Hopefully the Agents would be making their way towards her and Marie, so she needed to move quickly and meet them halfway. Unfortunately Ferham had gotten to them first, but Gramps had been keeping her up to date - Artemis had ambushed her and splatted her. Good. That’ll buy some time for them to recover and face her down for a more fair fight. Also, Gramps said something about a succubus running around to be wary of? Maybe he was finally losing his marbles.
She got moving, rolling the floor in front of her as she broke into a run. However, as she turned a corner, she ran right into someone who was somehow floating right over her Roller, and she crashed head-first into a pair of leather-covered ‘pillows’, causing to to tumble back onto her butt. “GAH!”
“Watch where you’re going, bloody hell,” the female Inkling in front of her sighed. She was wearing an Octoling soldier’s uniform. Callie realised that she hadn’t actually felt the metal part of the uniform, as if it was fake, and yet it looked real enough. The Inkling looked over Callie, and licked her lips, moving right up in her face with astonishing speed, “oh, you must be Callie. I wonder what you taste like.”
Callie gulped, realising that, firstly, this was probably the ‘succubus’ Gramps was warning her about, secondly, she was hot as shell, thirdly, she had four wings, and fourthly, this woman’s chest was almost as big as her head. “How do you walk around with those things?!”
Gramps immediately chimed in. “Agent 1, get away from her before she-”
“You like ‘em? Maybe if we hit it off, you can play with them later~” The woman teased (her name was apparently Morrigan, if she recalled correctly?) as she suddenly put her hands on Callie’s cheeks, and pulled her in for a kiss before she could react.
Callie’s entire body was suddenly flooded with heat, and she immediately began reciprocating before she even could think about it consciously, putting her arms around her and sneaking in a cheeky butt-grab out of pure selfish desire. Holy carp did this feel really good. She wasn’t sure if this was love or just pure lust, she just wanted to make out with this mysterious woman for as long as possible, completely ignoring Gramps’ panicked call-outs from her headset.
She didn’t even notice when another wave of energy washed right over them, especially since, for some reason, it didn’t affect either of them…
While they had been slowed down a bit by Octarian forces trying to flank them, Iris was relieved by the fact that said forces were thinning out as they got closer to Callie and Marie, heading back towards where the team had come in. Hopefully X and Zero would be able to rendezvous with them soon as well. Morale had shot up significantly, however, now that there were only three seperate groups to worry about, and both Ethan and Ayane were ahead of them, too.
And then disaster struck, as another energy wave washed over the four of them, causing Artemis, Karlene and Koji to groan in pain as they were stunned. While it briefly tingled Iris’ body, she didn’t feel at all encumbered. “Are you okay?!”
“Not at all… I can’t move,” Koji groaned.
“Wait, why can you move? That’s not fair,” Artemis said.
“I… I think it might be Yamato absorbing the energy and protecting me, somehow,” Iris admitted, looking at her sword. She was getting a strange feeling from it now, including a desire that she strangely found herself agreeing with, in a way.
I need more power…
Then she realised that whatever was keeping her in swim form was now loose. She focused, trying to change back, struggling as had as she could. But finally, she dislodged it, shifting into her bipedal form, panting. “I… I’m back to normal!”
“That’s good, we can work with that,” said Karlene, “Iris, grab one of us and get to Callie and Marie, on the double! We’ll be okay, as long as you can get back to us with the new Hero Suits.”
Iris nodded, but she wasn’t sure who to take…
Colonel finally spoke for the first time this entire mission. “Artemis is most vulnerable with just that sword, and she can’t use both Dualies. She’ll benefit the most from getting fixed up sooner.”
Iris found herself agreeing with that assessment, sheathing Yamato and picking up Artemis with both arms, breaking into a run as she held the helpless Inkling against her belly, Red Queen dragging behind them. “I’ll come back for you guys!”
“Thanks… Iris…” Artemis groaned, though she giggled a bit.
It didn’t take long for Iris to realise why. She blushed as she noticed Artemis’ face was pressing up against the underside of her chest (an accidental consequence of how Iris was carrying her). But for some reason, she decided to take the opportunity to make metaphorical lemonade out it it. “Enjoy it while you can, Arti, you’ll have to pay me back for that later.”
She heard Artemis cough. She could barely see her blushing madly. “Babe, I don’t have a curvy bod like you do, not sure how I can pay you back in the same way…”
“Well, you don’t quite compare to me up top, but maybe if you lay off the burgers your butt might become smaller than mine.”
Artemis squeaked in panic. “M-My butt’s not fat!”
Iris laughed, “sorry, sorry, I couldn’t help it!”
“You know, you’ve been teasing me a lot more lately, Iris,” Artemis pointed out. “You’re not as prim and proper as you used to be.”
“Yeah, I guess I am. Well, you are fun to tease, but…”
“I think you’re getting more self-confident, bit by bit. Colonel hasn’t surfaced in weeks, either.”
“She’s still there, but… Yeah. Maybe it’s because I’m around people who just… Like me for who I am.”
“Well, either way, I’m just gonna keep enjoying this, if that’s alright with you. I’ll get moving as soon as I can move again.”
As much as part of her was embarrassed about it, Iris couldn’t help but smile. Sure, it was a bit weird, but she got an odd thrill out of it, especially since it was her girlfriend doing it, and she knew Artemis wouldn’t do it if Iris minded. Maybe Marina and Pearl had a similar dynamic to their relationship…
Marie groaned as she slunk back around a corner, desperately trying to keep a hold of her Charger in her swim form. She’d be able to change back soon, she just needed to hold out. Unfortunately, Octarian troops were coming right at her-
She suddenly heard a yell and buster shots, along with Octarians being splatted.
Silence briefly reigned, before she heard the sounds of familiar footsteps, and she raised her Charger.
X came around the corner, with bits of ink on his blue form, and not looking like he was going to fall down at any moment, but he smiled as he saw her. “Marie!”
“At least you can fight properly, unlike me right now,” Marie chuckled weakly, as she lowered her weapon. “You look like squit.”
“Turns out Gate’s weapon limits my energy reserves, I can’t take many shots before I go down,” X smiled, as he picked up Marie, “let’s go find the others and get moving. Zero should be at Callie’s position right about now.”
“You’re lucky you’re cute, otherwise I’d be mad at you picking me up,” said Marie, blushing a bit. Still, she felt awkward, considering what she had very recently experienced.
X suddenly became serious. “I heard about what Morrigan did. Are you okay?”
Oh. That only made things a lot more awkward. The fact that X didn’t seem to be mad at her put her mind at ease, though. “Y-Yeah. You’re not mad at me for what happened, right?”
“Why would I be? She’s the one who put you under her spell and forced a kiss on you.”
“Well, when you put it that way…”
“Come on, let’s go,” X chuckled as he started running, heading back the way he came, holding her with both arms, specifically her back and tentacles.
Wait a minute. It didn’t take two seconds for Marie to realise what was happening to her at that moment. “Isn’t this a bridal carry?!”
“I guess it is, but I figured it’d be comfortable for you. Would you rather I carry you under my arm?” X remarked. Since when did he get this sassy?!
Marie thought about the alternative option, blushed, and shook her head. Under his arm would be even way less dignified and comfortable. “N-No, it’s fine…”
X chuckled, kissing her on the forehead as he continued to run. “It’s rare to see you like this. It’s cute. Besides, you should be conserving your energy after Morrigan drained some from you, so you really shouldn’t be running around, and it’s just faster to let me carry you.”
Marie wasn’t sure how to feel about this, but she knew he was absolutely right. If she didn’t know him better, she wouldn’t believe what he was saying was entirely earnest. Why did her boyfriend have to wear his heart on his sleeve all the time? Well, sure, that’s what she liked about him, but still… She wondered if it was the rare moment of vulnerability that was ‘cute’ or that she was just on the back foot for once. “Right… You’re right. Let’s just get over to the others, I’ve got some cans to deliver…”
Then she froze. “Oh cod. Actually… X? You’ll need to put me down the instant I can change back?”
X blinked. “Why?”
“Because if Callie catches me like this, she’ll never let me live it down.”
“Get the hell away from my girlfriend,” growled Zero, beam saber held inches away from the side of Morrigan’s neck. The reality of the situation tempered the lustful haze Callie was immersed in, but it still was taking a while for it to sink in.
Morrigan sighed as she got off Callie slowly, Zero still holding the energy blade close to her neck as she looked into his eyes. “Party pooper, no kiss for you. Hmm… Tastes like strawberries.”
Callie blinked, feeling a bit drained. Right, she must’ve drained some energy from her with that kiss… How much, though? She felt like she’d need some time before she could stand up again. Still, wow. Still, she might need a shower later after that experience.
“You’re a looker, for sure, but not interested. I doubt you’d get anything out of it, anyway,” said Zero, still staring back with an intense gaze.
“You’d be surprise. You wouldn’t be my first robot lover,” Morrigan remarked with a sultry smile, her eyelids lowering in a seductive gaze that sent a pleasurable shiver down Callie’s spine. Even when she wasn’t the direct target, that woman knew how to press Callie’s buttons.
“Again. Not interested. I know you helped Agent 5 and Agent 12, so I’m willing to let you just scram for now,” said Zero, gaze not wavering. He was so cool. “Why are you even here by yourself? I thought someone like you would have an army.”
“That’s not how I operate, handsome,” Morrigan chuckled, as she walked away. “Besides, who said I was alone?”
Before Zero could ask her to elaborate, she disappeared around a corner.
Zero sighed, deactivating his saber, and knelt in front of Callie. “You okay, babe?”
“Feelin’ woozy, and… Uh… Other things,” Callie blushed, realising that that just happened in front of her boyfriend, which was no shortage of awkward, “she just kissed me, but I feel like I just had sex.”
Zero sighed, picking her up with both arms in a bridal carry, “let me carry you. I think you’ll need to conserve your energy after getting drained like that.”
“Aw, Zero, you’re so sweet~!” Callie giggled, kissing him on the cheek, putting her arms around his neck, though she had her Roller folded and on top of her so she could still keep it with her. How did she get so lucky to land such a considerate boyfriend? Though that reminded her of something else. “Ah… We’re gonna have to deal with one of my exes, since she’s here-”
“-Ferham, yes, I know. What happened between you two, anyway?” Zero asked, as he got moving, breaking into a brisk jog.
Callie winced. “I don’t know. I got my head fixed up, and she just… Disappeared. I swear she was in the audience in that big fight. Was she not there to hear the Calamari Inkantation?”
“She was. And apparently she was there for the first ‘concert’,” Alia said over the comms.
That hit Callie like a truck. Did… Did the Calamari Inkantation not work on Ferham?! That wasn’t possible, right…? Even Octavio was affected by it on some level! “No… No way…”
Fortunately, Pearl was still around to cheer her up with this golden line. “Well, on the bright side, your cousin got kissed by Morrigan too, and now X has her in a bridal carry as well!”
Oh. Oh cod.
“Zero. Dear. I need you to speed up. Now.”
“Huh?”
“We need to get to X and Marie before he puts her down. I NEED TO SEE THIS.”
Firstly? She was gonna ask Gramps for footage of that kiss and use it to tease Marie. Secondly? She wouldn’t miss seeing Marie in a bridal carry for the world. She never thought she’d see the day when Marie would actually let a guy do that to her willingly!
And as luck would have it, the two pairs came across each other at an intersection, just as Marie managed to change back into her normal form. Marie sighed, “okay, X, put me do-” then she saw Callie and her face when pale. “Oh squit.”
Callie grinned from ear to ear as she basked in the glorious sight. It was everything she ever wanted. “Well, well, well, lookie here~! You look cute in X’s arms, cous.”
Marie cleared her throat, quickly getting back on her feet. “Really, Callie? You’re gonna make a big deal out of this?”
“Hey, I’m not the one insecure about it,” Callie giggled as Zero helped her back onto her feet.
X suddenly whispered something into Marie’s ear, and Marie suddenly smirked, holding a hand in front of her mouth in that classic fashion that was both nostalgic and yet also an immediate flag that she had something up her sleeve to taunt Callie with. “I heard you might have a new member of your harem, Cal.”
“I know Morrigan kissed you too, Marie.”
“I’m not talking about Morrigan, Cal. You never told me you dated an Octarian General.”
Now it was Callie’s turn for her face to pale up. She knew Marie would find out about Ferham sooner or later, but still… “Ah… Yeah… About that-” then something Marie just said finally struck her, “wait, WHAT DO YOU MEAN, ‘HAREM’?!”
“Agent 1! Agent 2!” Fortunately, breaking the awkwardness, Ethan came running, carrying Ayane in squid form under his arm. Apparently he had changed back. Callie immediately noticed the black neck-band he was wearing, identical to the ones worn by the Octolings in the enemy ranks. “And X and Zero! Good to see you guys are okay!”
Ayane waved a tentacle, “hey. We figured out that those black bands the enemy are wearing make them immune to Gate’s weapon, and we got one off them. But I drew the short straw.”
“Good work, you two,” Marie nodded, pulling the bag off her back and opening it up. She tossed two cans to the agents, “open these up. The new Hero Suits won’t completely negate the weapon’s effects, but they will shorten the duration a lot.”
Ethan nodded, catching the cans and opening his up. His clothes suddenly transformed, layering over with new body armour much like Callie and Marie’s, which, again, included proper armour plating on the torso and limbs, and for extra style points, fingerless gloves. “Whoa, these are spiffy!”
Ayane cracked hers open, but while energy flowed around her body, she didn’t look any different, because squid form. “Guess I gotta wait before I can see how it looks on-”
“We’ll fix that! Gotta test something, first!” Pallette’s declaration came with a sudden burst of energy, which caused Ayane to suddenly change forms.
Ayane panted as she fell to the floor, and groaned, getting back up onto her feet. Her new hero suit was similar to Ethan’s. “Could’ve used more warning, Pallette… What the heck did you do?”
Ciel explained, “we’re testing out a potential sorta fix for your ‘status effect’. Basically using your Hero Suit’s energy supply as a means of ‘inverting’ it - you can’t change into swim form for the time being.”
“Honestly? I’ll take it,” Ayane said, looking herself over. “Definitely feels more padded and protected.”
“I’ll say, it actually looks like proper combat gear rather than, well, repurposed hi-vis clothing,” Zero chuckled.
X smiled, “that’s what happens when you have corporate funding behind your R&D.”
Callie grinned, “you two look so cool in those!”
That’s when Iris came running as well, carrying Artemis. Callie couldn’t help but notice that Artemis was distinctly enjoying the way she was being held. “Oh, good, we found you! Are those the new Hero Suits?”
Marie raised an eyebrow. “How on Earth are you also back to normal?”
“I’m not sure, but I have a hunch. Does it matter?”
“No, not really. Put these on,” Marie said as she tossed two more cans to Iris.
Iris and Artemis opened their cans up, and Ciel triggered another burst in Artemis’ upgraded suit, causing her to change back as well - their suits went from a simple hoodie to a full-fledged flexible plated armour combat suit, still retaining some visual aspects, but overall looking more professional and protective. Both styles of Hero Suit shared a large circular blue ‘gem’ on the torso.
“DUDE. Armor plating? FINGERLESS GLOVES?!” Artemis grinned, checking herself out, “this is the coolest upgrade I ever could’ve imagined!”
“It definitely feels lighter than the suits Dr. Light gave Axl and I when we were escaping from the Metro,” Iris said in astonishment as she stretched in her new suit.
Callie grinned wider. “Wow, those look really good on you two!”
Artemis grinned back, “I’ll say! Thanks a ton, Ciel!”
“They’re still in the testing phase, so they might not work as well as you’d expect right now,” Ciel warned. “Still, they should be more effective at protecting you for now. We’re very close to figuring out the right way to neutralise Gate’s weapon.”
“Alright, what’s the situation, then? We gotta go back to the others and then fight our way through the enemy Generals,” Ayane said, stretching.
“Red’s here, and knowing Botos, he’s probably come running to scrape some of the glory,” Alia advised.
“Scarface is attempting to attack you from the rear, the Killers and the Genesis Unit are holding him off for now,” Layer said.
“Wait, Scarface is here?!” Ethan grinned, slamming his fist into his palm, “shell yeah, I’m gonna go fight him!”
“Negative, Agent 3,” Marie said sternly, “you’re the only one here who is completely immune to Gate’s weapon right now, until the girls figure it out or we get more of those neckbands.”
“That’s right, kiddo. Your job is to take out Gate’s weapon. You’re our strongest front-line fighter, aside from X and Zero,” said Gramps. “Get those Hero Suit upgrades to the rest of the team, and assault the enemy position.”
Ethan grumbled to himself briefly, but nodded. “Yes, Cap’n. Well, no time to waste, then. Let’s go regroup and show the enemy they’ve messed with the wrong splatoon! BOOYA!”
Everyone responded with a resounding “BOOYA!” back, and took off running. There was much work to be done, and Callie was eager to get into a proper fight again.
