Chapter Text
-At Echo's House-
Echo was too tired for this bullshrimp. She somehow put the cereal on the stove because she was so coddamn tired.
The revelation of Agent 1 being Callie had really shook her up. She remembers being in school with her!
Not in a good way, though. She always saw Callie as this... annoying kid. She made Echo feel so useless! When Echo found out Callie was a famous popstar, Echo's blood BOILED.
Echo was so much better than that nobody. Callie was extremely optimistic and energetic as a kid. Echo was an absolute jerk to her back then. But... seeing Callie in person NOW? It was... so horrible. Callie didn't remember Echo at all, why would she?
When Echo saw how Callie helped her after the Octo Oven fight... Echo realized that Callie didn't deserve that hate towards her back then. Callie showed some sadness in her eyes... like someone died or something.
Did... did Marie die or something? Is that why Marie is missing? Did the Octarians... kill her? That could explain why Callie had a hatred for the Octarians.
Echo decided that she had some apologizing (and a tiny bit of questioning to do).
[Agent 4(20)]: callie we need to talk. meet me at octo canyon
[rollingWithEnergy]: um
ok i guess
[Agent 4(20)]: 3, come too
[The_Night_Trade]: Okay.
-At Octo Canyon-
Echo came out of the manhole, seeing Callie already waiting.
"Hey Callie," Echo said, "I have some stuff to get off my chest and some stuff I need to ask."
"What?" Callie questioned, "Is this how you ran away last time you here?"
"S-sorta... I um... do you remember me? From Calamari Elementary school?" Echo asked.
"Huh? No, I... Oh! It's... you..." Callie says, tearing up, "You... you'd always pick on me..."
"I know. And I regret it deeply..." Echo solemnly says.
"You were so mean... Why'd I pick you to be Agent 4?" Callie asked sadly.
"I'm sorry... I'm different now. I promise." Echo remorsefully says.
"I forgive you..." Callie says.
After a minute or two, Echo breaks the silence, "I have something I need to ask."
"What?" Callie asked.
"What's got you down in the dumps? Even before I started talking about me being a d___," Echo firmly questioned.
"Nothi-"
"Don't lie," Echo interrupted.
"It's about Marie... I... I just... I feel like the Octarians took her... She's probably screaming for my help..." Callie said, unaware that Marie is in fact, not screaming for help even though she Marie is screaming.
"Is she... dead?" Echo asked, a bit too bluntly.
"I DON'T KNOW! It's all my fault... IwonthefinalsplatfestandMarieleftmepossiblygettingherselfkilledand-" Callie rambled.
"Callie, please rela-"
"IT'S ALL MY FAULT!"
"Shh, Callie," Echo tried to say reassuringly, "It's okay. Marie isn't dead. And she absolutely wouldn't be mad at you," Echo said, "Look, I'm bad at socializing, but I can tell when people are overthinking, okay?"
"Thanks, Echo," Callie said, wiping her tears.
Agent 3 happened to come through the manhole right at that moment, "Was I late?"
-Meanwhile, in Cephalon HQ-
"UGH! I HATE THOSE STUPID INKLINGS SO MUCH!" Marie screamed, but not for help, but out of anger instead. DJ Octavio tried to reassure her, "GYAH HA HA! Don't worry, it was only our weakest Octoboss. We still have the Octo Samurai, Ultra Octostomp, and Octo Belt."
"You are right... I can't help but think that pink inkling looks fami-" Marie started to say as the hypnomask beeped, signaling extra hypnogas being released. "Uuoogh... my head feels weird..."
"It's nothing," Octavio reassured her, "Now c'mon. We have more Turquoise October songs to make."
"Coming, DJ!" Marie said, following. But Marie was wondering on the way there... What was that girl's name? Callie? Why was she so familiar? Whatever. It was an friendly enemy inkling. It didn't matter to Marie who that was. Marie was an Inkling Octoling after all. Octavio told Marie that the more she wore the mask, the less confusing things would be. No reason to doubt Octavio.
Marie followed Octavio to the studio.