The Time from Before

Another Step to Functionality

For the first part, where Allen will be actively participating, the three of them will map the general layout and mark potential enemy positions. They also need to mark the number of enemies, any paths they may take, and so on.

The second part is beyond what he signed up for. He couldn't care less, really. But, if he had to explain it, just think 'organized assault'.

"Any questions? I could think of a few off the top of my tentacles, so I'm sure some of you do, too." Marina looked around the room.

...

"Wait, so Allen isn't helping us fight?" Agent 4 raised his hand, looking over to the human in question.

"No, it isn't something we agreed upon. There was a contract and everything." She smiled and waved to Allen, who was, admittedly, zoning the hell out.

He waved back, but went right back to daydreaming.

"Oh yeah, how are we getting there?" Marie, surprisingly, piped up.

"By metro, until we have to walk. I don't think there's a pipe over there. The Agents had to walk, anyway. What was the temp, guys?" She looked over to the Agents.

"It was super shuc–"

"Let's just say it was hot." Agent 3 interrupted Agent 4, gaining a salty look from him. She didn't care, really.

"Ugh, do we HAVE to do this? They can't be doing all that much, anyway. Not without the Zapfish, anyway." Pearl sighed.

"Doesn't really matter if they're doing a coddamn thing, really." Agent 3 spoke, her voice laced with hostility. "I find their screams rather satisfying."

"Could anyone answer that question that isn't a psychopath?" Pearl looked away from Agent 3, her face slightly concerned.

Marina then paused, grabbing her phone. She started to type, before abruptly stopping and putting it away.

"Alright, if we're all good here, let's head out!" Marina clapped her hands again.

Everyone got up and started to leave the room, Allen following from behind.

"Just follow the Agents. The rest of us keep in touch remotely, but we can't really for you. Oh, and don't say anything at all. We're taking the metro, so disguises are a must. And you, uh, stand out. Speaking a different language would garner more than a few weird looks." Marina chuckled, playfully punching Allen's arm.

This action, however, caught Pearl's attention.

"Alert, Cv-7 has completed the written translation of the Inkling Language. Wireless transfer will take roughly half an hour. Vocal translation will begin now."

Allen pulled out his PDA and looked at the screen.

"That's... So convenient." Marina peered over and looked at the screen as well.

"The software engineers are a different breed, that's for damn sure." Allen put the PDA in his back pocket. "So, keep quiet, don't make eye contact, and follow the kids into battle."

...

"I guess they're still kids, but if you're making a short joke, there is another fantastic candidate just over there. At least Pearl's used to them." Marina sighed.

"Even with the entire population almost as short as she is?" Allen paused for a moment.

"Inklings are pretty brutal. Octolings are shy, but they're really competitive. It's all about fighting, I guess." Marina sighed again, walking faster to lead the group from the front.