Pearl stared comet dead in the eyes, no emotion being shown in her gaze. Comet had never actually seen someone sanitized up close. When the salmonids and salmonlings were being chased by the sanitized guards when he first came to inkopolis, comet was too busy running for his life to get a good look at them. So far here in inkopolis, everyone was apparently watching a turf war, and comet had been too lost in thought on what marina would want with him to get a good look at the inkling who escorted him out of his cage. So this was his first time getting a good look at someone sanitized. Her teal glowing eyes made him uneasy.
"The best part is, You're bound to die no matter what! Being sanitized wipes away any and all emotions and feelings, so pearl wont hesitate to attack you! Plus it'll be like she's constantly at full strength. And, I know you wouldn't dream of harming Pearlie. Callie's best friend, the leader everyone is counting on to stay alive to take me down, and the only hope for you. By killing her you'd probably loose the trust of all your "friends". So I know this plan is full proof! You and the other team chaos members will be gone, and all back to my perfect world!"
...she's right. I wouldn't dream of hurting pearl, let alone kill her.
How am I gonna do this..
[We are not unfair though. We've gifted you a splattershot and inktank, as, what would be the fun of the inkling killing you right away?"
Comet narrowed his eyes at the small stand that popped out of the ground, with an ink tank and splattershot on top of it. The salmonling looked around, trying to find anyway out of this.
The walls were completely smooth and metal looking, so he couldn't claw his way up them. Plus the balcony marina and tartar were on extended slightly into the circular arena, so he'd have to climb up, then crawl under the small bit of ceiling and swing up over the rails, which would be impossible. To top it all off, his only exits were solid metal doors which needed key cards to be opened. So no way of getting out there.
I'm gonna die. Comet realized. I'm gonna die in their sick twisted game without ever seeing my friends ever again.
Taking a shaky breath, comet slowly walked towards the center, taking the ink tank and slipping it around his back, clutching the splattershot in hand. In an instant, comet jumped slightly as the metal stand quickly slid back into the ground. Hearing a low growl fill the air, comet looked up to see pearl holding a set of silver and blue dualies. Her eyes were narrowed, and she looked ready to attack. A chuckle could be heard from marina.
"Pearlie, kill him."
At those three words, the inkling began charging at the salmonling, comet yelped, and out of instinct he began running away. He could hear pearl chasing after him as he ran around the circular floor.
Crud crud crud crud what am I gonna d-
His thoughts were cut off as pearl leapt onto him, pinning him down. His weapon fell out of his hands and slid away from him on the ground. Comet let his natural fighting skills kick in as he managed to turn so he was laying in his back, quickly crouching his feet towards his chest and kicking her off him. Pearl went flying across the room, and comet expected her to take a moment to recover, worried he knocked the wind out of her or something. But pearl only immediately got right back up and began charging again, holding out her dualies and firing ink. Comet's eyes widened as he began running again, unsure of what else to do. Some ink hit his tail and he hissed at the pain, coiling it around his waist.
Eyeing his weapon on the ground, comet made a run for it, bending down and grabbing it as he ran. His chest was starting to ache with how much he was running, along with the fear pumping through him. Turning around, he fired a few hits from the splattershot, watching pearl dodge them expertly with a sinking feeling.
I can't beat her. She's too powerful.
Comet yelped as pearl tackled him again, landing on his back and ignoring the pain of it as his hands were locked with Pearl's, desperately trying to get the shorter inkling off him. Both of their weapons had fallen out of reach again, so it was really up to whoever lost their strength at this point.
And it'll be me. Because pearl can't get tired as she's sanitized.
This is it. I failed.
I failed callie, and 4, and Octavio, and Mizuta, and 8, and-"
"COMET! UP HERE!"
Comet managed to stretch his head to the side to look up. On the balcony, behind tartar in the doorway, was Mizuta and Callie. He couldn't see Marina's expression as she was behind him, but he could hear it in her voice.
"WHAT?! HOW DID YOU TWO BREAK OUT OF YOUR CAGES?!"
"Easy! Callie freaking reached her hand out of the bars and bunched the key card scanner thing, opened the door, and did the same for me and some others."
[Others? What do you-]
"HAHA, REVENGE"
Comet couldn't take being left out like this. With a new found surge of strength, he managed to push pearl off him and run to the other side of the arena to see what was happening. Octavio was there and had a victorious look on his face, marina being face first on the ground. He assumed he must of knocked her over, as agent 4 was sitting on top of her to make sure she didn't get back up. Marina easily was able to get back up though, 4 falling right off of her.
Dang it I forgot how light she is.
"TARTAR, GO START PLAN B"
[Way ahead of you]
Before anyone could stop him, the telephone had someone sunken into the floor. Comet couldn't see how since he was still below everyone.
"PEARLIE FINISH OFF THE SALMONLING, ILL HANDLE THE OTHERS."
Comet felt cold fear rush through him as he looked to see pearl getting off the ground at those orders. Callie's voice made him look up though.
"We snagged a little something for you after we escaped! This'll help!"
Comet held his claws out, catching the syringe Callie threw at him. Inside was a magenta colored liquid. Comet stared at it curiously, eyeing pearl as she went to grab her weapon. It'd be any second now before the fight began again.
"It's the cure! You can unsanitize her with it!"
Marina's eyes widened.
"How did you find that?!"
"8 gave it to us. Told us you kept it around only for her. Looks like you may actually still be good after all."
Comet smiled slightly, but quickly noticed pearl was charging at him again. Quickly forming an idea, comet turned so his side was facing pearl. Once she was close enough to him, he quickly rammed into her, knocking her to the ground again. Very quickly comet pinned down one of her arms with one of his claws, and held the syringe up with the other.
"I'm sorry if this hurts pearl."
Taking a breath, comet very quickly injected it into the arm he had pinned down. Pearl's flailing was cut short, and she stayed still, looking up at him. Comet didn't like that she was still green, but the teal in her eyes was already fading. Mizuta was leaning against the railings, staring down with concern. "Heck. I don't think it has an immediate affect.." comet looked up at her and nodded in agreement, pointing to behind her. "Marina's getting away."
Octavio snapped his attention behind him in time to see marina bolting out the door. The octopus was growling with frustration. "We gotta go after her!" 4 shook her head, signing something comet couldn't make out from where he was. Callie had a doubtful look at whatever 4 said. "I don't know, I agree with octavio. Capturing her is the most important thing right now-"
"I-If anyone's gonna g-get her i..itll be m-me."
Everyone's head snapped towards the arena's direction, everyone shocked to be seeing pearl. A few splotches of pale skin had already faded from the green. The very tips of her tentacles were starting to fade into pink, and her eyes were more dull gold then teal now. The inkling was weakly standing up, shaking slightly. "G..Get me up t-there." Everyone was shocked. Callie shook her head instantly. "Pearl no. You need to rest and get your strength back-"
"I.. I need to actually t-talk to-"
Pearl's talking was interrupted by her breaking into a coughing fit. Callie looked like she was about to argue again. Comet didn't blame her. She just got her best friend back and didn't want to loose her again. Plus she seemed so incredibly weak from, well, everything. But agent 4 stepped in front of Callie, shifting her yellow ink color to the same pink as pearl, and placing down a beacon. Pearl gave a weak smile, slowly but surely turning into squid form and super jumping to it. Mizuta had to catch her before she could fall over once she landed. Comet could just barely hear the octoling talking.
"Are.. are you sure you wanna confront her? She could capture you again pearl.."
Comet could see pearl stay silent for a bit before answering.
"Trust me."
Octavio sighed, closing his eyes. "Good luck.." pearl only nodded her thanks, getting up, and limping out the room. Worry pulsed through comet for the stubborn inkling, but Callie's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Ok comet, let's get you out of there."