Chapter Text
“You are proactive, aren’t you… “
His voice is emotionless, cold, and sterile to the ears. The static tone of his corporate words lay heavy in Neo’s mind, accompanied by the blank, fixed gaze of the bear’s eyes staring down at them, white and soulless.
Threaded through Mr. Grizz’s matted fur was a familiar yellow ink, the smeared aftermath of a battle yet finished; the result of Neo’s progress so far. Most, if not all of the unnatural growths that had then protruded into pulsating lumps of hazardous fuzzballs had been eradicated thanks to the help of the cephalopod’s trusted Smallfry, who had been quick to confide in the safety of the backpack after the last attack, thankfully safe.
Gripping their weapon securely, the Agent winces slightly at the wounds that bit back. They knew they themselves weren’t faring well, having been dealt many blows against the sickly ooze and onslaught of Mr. Grizz’s own strikes. The constant strenuous exposure had already whittled away at their armour multiple times, to the extent where their legs had started to shake slightly, though they did their best to ignore it.
In front of them, the bear heaves slightly, a low hoarse grumble that brings Agent 3 a small bit of satisfaction; the bear was exhausted. They were sure of it. Surely, the battle was nearing its conclusion.
A noise crackles in Neo’s ear and they jump at it before reminding themselves of their communicator. Sure enough, the familiar sound of Agent 2’s voice bleeds through the cracks.
“Keep vigilant,” she begins, caution lacing her tone. “He’s been nothing but trouble so far. Be prepared for anything.” Gone was her casual tone, and for a moment, 3 notes how nerving it was to hear the Inkling speak with such seriousness. A reminder of the weight of their actions against the very thing seeking to destroy the world.
They nod.
Agent 3 could feel the thrum of their hearts beating against their chest wildly, the firm hold on their weapon tightening once more. Agent 2 was right; the fight had been unpredictable to this point. Fuzzy Octarians that had littered the body of the ship, spontaneous outbursts of Inkstrikes, turned to eruptions of ooze by Mr. Grizz’s claws. The startling realization the mammal had an altered version of a Killer Wail had them barely escaping the echoing threat with minimal damage.
No, Neo wouldn’t let their guard down yet.
Mr. Grizz shifts.
Lowering their stance instantly, heeding their friend’s words, the cephalopod watches as the fuzzy ooze begins to latch onto the bear’s limbs, writhing around once more.
Another attack, then.
Agent 3 takes no time to scour their eyes rapidly upon the metal base of the rocket, pinpointing quick escape points. Most of the fuzzy ooze had already been diminished thanks to their Little Buddy, leaving the rocket clear of most obstacles apart from Mr. Grizz himself. Even still, hypervigilant of the bear in front of them, they watch with bated breath for his next move.
They were ready for this.
They had to be.
Mr. Grizz huffs from where he stands, expressionless gaze boring down at the inkling. “But it’s time to clock out.” He starts in familiar monotone. “In a few moments, Earth will be ruled by mammals once again.” He persists, deep tone laced in finality.
Leering forward, he shifts again as a pool of ooze bubbles from below his feet, a low growl emitting from him.
Not. Good.
“What does he mean by that?” Shiver’s voice comes to life from the communicator, tone threaded in urgency; others add to the outcry.
“I thought we got all his weak spots. How is he still up?!”
“What’s that rumbling- “
“No- “ A new voice protests.
Mr. Grizz’s arms raise swiftly, the action startling the Inkling.
“Agent three- move. Now!”
For one moment, Neo takes to the realization that the voice had come from the Captain. Startled by the unfamiliar voice, their words take yet another moment to register, giving only seconds to realise what was happening.
By that time Mr. Grizz’s arms had already begun to descend upon the metal frame of the rocket and the cephalopod’s blood runs cold.
“Get out of there!”
The Captain’s words were deafening, but blind terror had already taken a hold.
Colliding with the structure below their feet, the metal groans underneath the bear’s paws at the intensity of the action. Steel tears, surging like a wave in a storm as Mr. Grizz holds their gaze, unwavering; he knew what was going to happen.
The alarmed voices of their friends become muffled against their ears as Agent 3 could only watch as cracks split forth from the metal plating, sickly ooze jerking against the frame in the aftermath of the strike.
Dread twisted within their gut, fear paralyzing; Neo’s hearts leap to their throat.
The effect was instantaneous.
Light scorched the pathway, scattering through rips that broke through the metal surface like a hot knife to butter, effortlessly annihilating anything in its path. A deafening explosion followed, a rising amalgamation of metal, ooze and searing hot inferno expanding, detonating towards the Inkling in rapid progression.
Panic seized Agent 3’s entire being, fear choking them. They’re mind screamed to run- to do anything. Barely, Neo could hear the panicked cries of familiar muffled voices from their communicator, but their echoes were drowned out as the growth of destruction advanced towards them.
Petrified, a million scenarios flickered in their mind, a ghastly understanding of the unimaginable crashing against their very existence as realization hits them.
They weren’t going to make it out of this, were they?
Agent 3 wanted to cry at the thought- just wanted to go back.
Yet time was not kind; an instant later, the explosion struck.
Reaping the whirlwind of inaction, an anguished cry of pain released from the cephalopod as the impact shattered the very ground they stood upon, unbearable heat rising, the blaze twisting even higher from the ruptured vessel, sparking like firecrackers. The force is enough to thrust the Inkling upward, momentum ricocheting the Agent against the sharp, jagged steel fragments that littered the atmosphere, tearing at their being.
Neo can’t stop it- can’t think, can’t breathe.
The cries in their ear don’t deafen down, only seeming to intensify in panic alongside the splitting cacophony of ringing, yet Agent 3 can’t do anything as the extreme pain writhes across their body, their hearts stammering as their conscious slips away, energy knocked out of them.
Their eyes, hazy and unfocused, start to close. Yet, there, right in front of them, is grey. Spots of red. Wide, curious eyes. The word ‘buddy’ flashes in the Inkling’s mind, and their hearts ache at the thought, an attempt to raise an arm towards the floating shape, but it hurts- it hurts so much.
Their eyes shut.
And everything goes still.