The Time from Before

Another Step to Functionality

> Not a single time, thank you. I'm not even sure how that would work.

> Well, Inklings and Octolings have similar reproductive parts to humans. Or so I'm told. I think that's what I read online...?

> I don't have the heart to believe you. I'll leave it at that.

> Leave what?

> Tell me about your other friend. Marie, I think her name was.

> Oh, my cousin?

> Sure.

And again, they immersed themselves in conversation. With Allen's 'masterful' topic change, they've moved on to her cousin, Marie.

And no, if you're reading it as Ma-ree, you are a psychopath.

> She's actually pretty caring, but super cold to people she doesn't know.

> Isn't she some sort of idol, too?

> Yep! Me, Marie, Marina, and Pearl are all idols!

> Figured as much. Tell me, what made you want to become one?

> I just like making music and squids smile. Marie and I have been inseparable, so we just naturally began singing together when we were young. We weren't super good or anything, but it was a blast. But, after a while, we got pretty popular and we're named idols. So...

> How close are you to Marie?

> Super! We go waaaaay back, back when we were really young! The stupid things we used to do... Aw man, what a time!

> Nostalgia is one hell of a drug.

> What about you? How did you join the Apricot Doors?

...

> The Arctos Dominion...?

> Yeah, that one!

> Right. Well, back when humans were still around, you weren't an adult until the age of eighteen. That was a universal law set by the UA. And, in my country, you were supposed to be in school by the age of five, and either in college or the workforce at eighteen. So, after high school, I went ahead to college and got an Engineering Degree. However, I was recruited before I went to college, so I was in training when I got the degree.

> So, like, you joined when you were just an adult? And you went to college... Well, what did you do in the Apples Dilemma?

> I can't really go into detail for a lot of different reasons...

> Aw, c'mon, it'll be fun!

> If I told you more than a few combat stories, then I would have to kill you. I could tell you things about the Dominion, but not what I've done personally. Oh, I guess I could tell you about the things I did in Basic, but even then, there isn't anything interesting.

> Give me a combat story then. It can't be anything too bad, right? Splatfests are as close as I get for combat, so, you know.

> Alright. Back when I was barely out of Basic, I was stationed on a planet that had a booming oil industry. I was in charge of the Anti-Air missile systems at the time, as I was the only one who had actual training with it, and actual specialists were almost a month out. Funny story, we were attacked about a day after I arrived, and only an hour after I was introduced to the missile system, I was frantically pressing buttons and, well, I got maybe seven, maybe eight missiles off the launchers before a dozen enemy missiles slammed down on a few oil posts. Now, those missiles that were launched did hit what they were trying to hit, but the flames of the oil posts that were hit towered over the entire oil field. We spent nearly six days putting those fires out.

Allen continued his story, with Callie enjoying everything. He kept the gruesome stories out of whatever he typed, mostly because of Callie's innocence.

...

...

...

"Mission site update: Cv-7 has detected an additional thirty targets. Caution is advised."

"Didn't I tell you to be quiet?" Allen grabbed his PDA from his pocket, looking at the screen.

* Sorry.

'You're going to make me feel bad.' He thought.

He looked up from his PDA and stared at the city before him. It was a sprawling metropolis of colorful buildings, neon signs, and giant speakers that blasted music. According to Marina, this city was called... Splatsville. That was... a really unfortunate name. It fits the whole squid theme, but still...

"You and the other Agents will walk from here. Just follow Agent 3, as she actually knows where she's going." Marina's voice came from inside the train car, through one of the doors. She sounded cheerful, at least. "Good luck!"

The door slammed shut and the train sped off into the city, leaving Allen and the two Agents behind.

Allen and the two Agents had been dropped off at a small station near the edge of the city. From where they were, Allen could hear distant music coming from the city center. It was loud and upbeat, with lyrics that he couldn't understand.

"What a vibe." He murmured under his breath.

Allen jumped down from the platform into the sand, which covered most of the ground outside the city. He pulled out his PDA again and followed the western direction. His PDA would guide him to the target location.

* Vocal translation complete. Due to the distance between this Unit and the bunker, satellite transfer will be used. Wireless transfer will take roughly three hours.

Allen read the message on the screen, swiped it away, and pulled up a compass.

West it is.

...

...

The sun was scorching hot. It burned Allen's skin and made him sweat profusely. He wished he had brought some sunscreen or, maybe, a hat. He almost asked his PDA what the temperature was, but after a little forethought, he decided not to.

The other two, however, were in dire need of some sort of hydration. They were in a much worse state than him.

Allen sighed as he realized he had left the Agents far behind. He stopped and looked back at them. Agent 3 was dragging Agent 4's lifeless corpse across the sand, trying to keep going. Agent 4 had collapsed a few minutes ago, overcome by heat exhaustion.

Allen walked back to them, feeling sorry for them. He grabbed his backpack and swung it around. Opening it up, he pulled out his trusty canteen and popped off the lid. He then proceeded to pour some of the lukewarm water onto Agent 4's face.

He shrieked and jumped up, startled by the sudden splash of water. He looked around, confused and disoriented. But, refreshed.

He offered the canteen to Agent 3, who grabbed it eagerly and gulped down the rest of the water. She gasped for air as she handed him back his canteen.

'Wow. Thanks.' He thought sarcastically, stuffing the canteen back into his bag. He checked his backpack and rifle, making sure they were secure. He turned west again and continued walking.

He should've asked if the heat was going to be this bad.