Splat Force: The Gifted; Chapter 4

(Thx for the feature, glad that people are enjoying it! ^^)

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W E L C O M E !

This is Nomad, returning with yet another chapter of Splat Force: The Gifted.

I'm not going to say much this time other than, this is gonna be a longer chapter.

Without further ado. Enjoy the chapter!

(This Chapter has been Remastered)

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(Chapter Hub)

C H A P T E R 4 : T H E S H E D

It was now the weekend. With no school to get up early for, Drift stayed within his warm bedsheets for almost the entire morning, but noon was approaching and he had to get up fast or else he would miss breakfast. He tried to get out of his leaf green bed sheets but was unable to as he was too comfortable, making him unable to move.

K N O C K , K N O C K ! ! !

"Drift, you awake?"

Frederick called out from the other side.

"Yeah I am!"

Drift called back, letting him know he was awake.

"Well why aren't you up yet?"

Frederick asked him

"I can't get out of bed I'm too comfortable!"

Drift replied snarkily.

Frederick opened the door and walked into the room, removing the bed sheets. Drift's entire body went into mild shock from the temperature change.

"Well, now you feel the cold breeze, you have no choice but to move!"

Frederick said with a jokingly sinister grin.

"If you want to get breakfast, you best get it soon."

After Frederick had walked out of the room and closed the door. Drift finally got up. He put on his multi-colored coat, and black tros before walking out of his room and down the small hallway and arriving at the kitchen.

He opened the cupboard and got out a box of Mem-Cake cereal. He poured the cereal into a plain black bowl, not adding milk. He entered the living room and sat at the dining table. He watched the Squid Sisters' News Of The World whilst eating.

"Today's top story is that there have been strange sightings at the Once Great Symbol, the abandoned castle outside of Mount Nantai that has been used as a tourist destination for decades."

The calmer of the duo stated, easing their audience into the story with context.

"So scary!"

Callie remarked childishly before giving her small sentence.

"Our source for this information is an Inkling man named Henry Spence. Here is what he had to say!"

"Henry Spence?!"

Frederick exclaimed in shock. From the tone of his voice, Drift felt that the name was familiar to him.

On the TV, a speaker icon moved into the top right corner as the audio tape from the man began to play.

"I was returning home from a hike I did on Mount Nantai. Whilst ing the castle, I saw this fire circle thing form out of nowhere on the path and this man walked through and entered the castle. Naturally, curiosity got the better of me and I followed. I overheard the man saying that the Gifted Shall rise, whatever that meant. He must've heard me try and run because he caught up to me and asked who I was. I looked into the eyes of that man and I saw...I don't even know how to describe it other than it had this murderous glint."

He said before pausing mid-sentence to the specific details of the man.

"Whoever it was had red flowing hair and a ragged cape. From the looks of his facial features, he's an Octoling."

"That sounds serious and I hope things are patched up soon!"

Callie said worryingly.

"For more information about this case, please stay tuned as more info could be revealed over the next few days."

"Do you know that man, Dad?"

Drift asked, curious as to what his shocked reaction was about.

Frederick didn't reply at first, he was fixated on what was said. Eventually, his words hit him and he opened his eyes, turning his head around to look at Drift, who still sat at the table.

"Sorry, w-what was that?"

"I was asking if you knew that man on the TV?"

Drift repeated

"Oh, I do, yeah. Henry Spence, one of the six Splat Force Majors. He was amongst the original six, alongside me, Rex, and three other men: Jamie, Chester, and Oscar."

He explained.

"Henry was always the daredevil of the group, always taking the biggest risks and pulling the biggest stunts whenever necessary. He had a rough childhood but he worked to fight past that."

"Oh wow. What happened to the original six? Are they still around?"

Drift asked.

"At least three to four of them, depending on whatever happened to Rex. I'm still here, as you can see, as is Henry. Oscar I believe went off to be with his family. Unfortunately, we lost Jamie and Chester during the war, both on the same day..."

Frederick answered, his tone becoming downer towards the end of the sentence before lighting back up with the next one.

"Thankfully, they were avenged by us ending the war. Unfortunately, their killer was never found, even to this day, he is still out there."

"I hope they find him eventually."

Drift replied before leaving the living room with the empty bowl. Once both the plate and spoon were placed in the dishwasher, he returned to the living room to ask an important question.

"Did they have a base? The Splat Force?"

"You'd be more shocked if they didn't!"

The retired Commander answered with a chuckle.

"We did. It was located at Bluegill Town, at the very back of it. On the outside, it looks like a normal shed with nothing interesting in it but on the inside, or at least down below underground, it's this massive shed full of training equipment, weapons, and even break areas, should they be needed."

Drift began to stroke his chin over the name of the town. He could've sworn he heard it somewhere before.

"Bluegill Town? That's where that new Zane kid lives at."

"Huh? I didn't think anyone else lived there. It's not that far away from Inkopolis. I believe it's to the far southeast of the Calamari County. It's only a twenty to thirty-minute drive."

He said, mildly curious as to how would still be living there.

"It's a safe place. The last time I checked, the place had good security... that was around twelve years ago."

"Oh..."

Drift replied, stunned, not knowing how to pick up on that, nor if he should trust the word of his father.

"If you're wanting to go then feel free to! I never learned how to drive so you might have to get a bus there."

He informed. Even though he was older and past his prime, there were still things that he never had the chance to do, yet.

Drift smiled and his face lit up.

"Really?!"

He asked. Frederick nodded with a smirk.

"Thanks Dad, you're awesome!"

"Haha! You're welcome, son!"

He replied.

"I believe you can still use that digital ticket of yours to get on."

"Yeah I can, that's how I get to school."

He laughed.

"Good point. Your old man isn't great with technology, as you can see."

He said as the pair of them chuckled.

"If I'm not here when you get back then I'm most likely at the gym. Gotta use my hip sometime!"

"Alright then. Love you, Dad!"

Drift said as he left the room and headed to the front door.

"Love you too! Watch those roads!"

Frederick called out.

Just as Drift opened the door and walked out, he heard his father.

"I will!"

1 H O U R   L A T E R . . .

After two separate bus journeys, a short one to the bus station in Inkopolis and the next to Bluegill Town, the bus finally arrived at Drift's desired destination. On the bus polls, Drift pressed a red button, signaling to the driver that someone wanted to get off. The driver pulled over and opened the doors.

Drift walked off the bus. He was surprised to actually see people walk around like a normal town. Maybe it wouldn't be as dead of a town as he thought. Though as he crossed over to the other side and began to walk down the stone pathway, his hopes faded.

As he grew closer to the gate, the houses became more and more abandoned and the bushes grew longer and longer. The chill breeze sent shivers down Drift's body.

At last, he made it to the gate. Drift saw two guards stare him down and gulped to himself. In a flash, he got his phone out and began to message Zane.

'Hey! I know this is awkward for a first message but I'm at Bluegill, for my own purposes before you ask, and there are those two guards there, looking at me. Assuming you are in town, could you let me in?'

After the message was sent, Drift put his phone away into his pocket and tapped his foot whilst whistling.

M E A N W H I L E W I T H Z A N E . . .

'Okay then...? On my way now'

He replied before standing up from his bed. He put on his Kensa White Boots that laid by his door.

As Zane walked downstairs, he overheard what sounded like the start of an argument between his parents during the rare time in which they were together. He tiptoed to the open door and leaned his head in and saw his father in the flesh for the first time since he had moved to Bluegill Town. His father had deep grey, slit-back hair and a goatee. Zane was taken aback by the goatee, not having the chance to see it until that moment.

"Robert, please listen to me. We moved over to Inkopolis so that we could have a fresh start and relax, not overwork ourselves!"

She exclaimed to him, as she explained, their original plan was to hopefully get closer as a family, guess that's not gonna happen.

"Listen to me, this job is what is going to keep us here, it's giving us the money to live here. If I just give up, we will either be moving again or we would be living on the streets of Inkopolis. Now, I'm pretty sure you don't want any of that to happen now would you?"

He asked her, he held one of his hands in the other, he wasn't standing up straight, it looked like he had been overworking himself.

"Yes it gives us the money we need, it gives us more than enough, but you are never here for us! Why do you think I became a nurse? Not only to help people but to also get us the money we need, Rob! Even after telling you about it you just went and got a visual effects job, and then we hardly ever see you again!"

Selina exclaimed once more, face-palming in disbelief.

"Well yeah, being an effects artist requires all my time and patience! It's very important to me! It's worth more than staying at home!"

He struck back. Little did he know that those words harmed his Wife.

"Even more important than your family, your wife who you said that you would protect till the end of time. Your son, someone who you are meant to look after and raise! Come on Rob this is ridiculous!"

Selina snarled, sounding increasingly disgusting.

"Look Zane is closer to you than me so why don't you-"

He said before being cut off.

"What do you mean Zane is closer with me?! He hardly knows any of us! The only time he gets with any of us now is in the mornings and even then it's only for like twenty minutes! Rob, could you act any less selfish!"

She snapped at him, it wasn't easy knowing that her child is not spending enough time with her, or Robert.

What the both of them didn't know was that Zane was lurking by the door. He quietly sighed. He hated all the constant screaming and shouting that came from them whenever they were around each other these days. He wanted out but there was no way. Luckily, the situation with Drift was a good enough distraction. Without turning back, Zane walked to the front door and left the house.

B A C K W I T H D R I F T . . .

Feeling confident now that Zane was on his way, Drift marched his way past the gates as the guards approached.

"Excuse me, may I see your id please?"

Oliver asked.

"I don't have an id, a frien-"

Drift replied before getting cut off.

"Yeah kid, you need id to get in!"

Barry exclaimed.

"If not, scran!"

"Barry, you idiot, he's waiting for his friend!"

Oliver bickered, punching his friend in the arm.

"I know! I just wanted to test my tough persona!"

Barry bickered back with a grin.

"Barry, we have a job to do! Your behavior is unprofessional!"

Oliver shouted back, hitting him in the head with the tip of his Splattershot.

"Ow! What do you mean unprofessional? Do you really think our job is professional?!"

Barry shouted back.

Drift found it hard to tell if they were messing with each other or if they were falling out. His train of thought was interrupted by the arrival of his friend.

"Hey? You doing good?"

"Yeah, feeling a lot better now. Wanna head off whilst they're... peacefully talking to each other?"

Drift asked. The pair of them took one look at Barry and Oliver arguing and immediately made up their mind. They headed off down the left pathway that Zane came down and turned a corner.

Surprisingly, it didn't take long for both guards to notice the absence of Drift.

"Great job, Barry, we lost him!"

"Eh, we'll let him off, for now!"

He replied.

The two boys walked across the road and entered Morray Lane. Whilst walking, Zane finally got to speak up.

"Thanks for dragging me out, had some rough stuff going on at home, but why are you here exactly?"

"My Dad that there is some kind of Splat Force base here. He said it's at a Shed at the back of this town."

Drift explained.

Zane paused in his tracks, turning to face Drift.

"You mean that shed a couple of turns away?"

"Wait, you know about it?"

Drift asked surprised before thinking reasonably.

"Oh yeah, you probably live here of course so you are bound to know."

"I can show you it if you want?"

Zane offered, hoping to help him find it.

"Yeah, that would be great!"

Drift accepted. The two boys started walking toward the location.

"How does your father know about the shed? He doesn't live here, right?"

Zane asked him. As they turned the first corner.

" what I told you about family matters being personal?!"

Drift asked. From the mildly uncomfortable tone of voice, it was easy for Zane to tell how frustrated he was becoming with him invading his privacy.

"Right, sorry about that..."

Zane replied, scratching the back of his head.

"It's okay."

Drift muttered as they continued their small journey.

Eventually, both Zane and Drift arrived at the Shed's location. No one was guarding it. However, there seemed to be tape around the entrance of the Shed. However, the door was open, not to the acknowledgment of the boys at first.

"Well here it is."

Zane said.

"It's probably best we don't go in, who knows what could be down there."

"Are you kidding me? This Shed is the whole reason I'm here, Zane!"

Drift replied with mild angst as he charged toward the Shed.

"Drift! I-"

Zane yelled, reaching his arm out to him, but it was no use. Seeing Drift dash forward without hesitation awoken curious feelings from within.

"Ugh! Wait up, Drift!"

Drift ducked down to avoid the tape was into the Shed, with Zane temptingly following behind. However, things weren't as his father said things were. The place was small and squared as he said, there were spider webs all over the place, it looked like the shed was being used for equipment now, with it containing lawnmowers, chains saws, and various other equipment.

Just as Drift could feel underwhelmed, he noticed that the bookshelves were spread open. On the walls between the two bookshelves was a singular button. Drift walked forward and pressed it. After ten seconds, a door opened up revealing a dusty and creaky elevator. Both boys walked inside and the doors closed. The elevator started going down.

"Drift, did you notice the door? No one has been here for about a decade, at least I think. We have no idea who could be inside."

Zane said, nervously.

"Huh. Maybe the person already left but kept the front doors open."

Drift suggested, trying to be positive with an unlikely case.

The elevator stopped, and not long after, the doors opened up to a dark room.

"Hey Zane, do you see a light switch somewhere?"

Drift asked, not being able to see a thing.

Zane looked around for one until he faintly saw a switch on the wall. He pulled it and the room started lighting up. However, the lights were consistently flickering. Both boys were still able to see the room, but only barely.

"Oh my..."

Drift said in shock, looking around the room. The room was as big as what his father had told him. However, there were some differences to counter what he said.

For one, the weapon stationary was still there but was empty. It seemed that all weapons had been removed. The shooting range had been taken down and all the practical equipment related to it had gone. The stage was still there, but it had nothing on it, not even a mic stand. The resting area still had tables and benches but that was just it. Next to it in the corner was a door, presumably to an empty kitchen.

"You saw what was on the TV, right?"

Drift asked, assuming that Zane even watched the news

"That ruined castle and the gifted must rise guy? Yeah, I saw it."

Zane answered him.

"I do watch the news, you know?"

Zane entered an abandoned office on the left wall, an office once owned by the two Commanders. The only appealing thing in there was a desk at the back of the room. He approached the desk and saw a small draw from behind. He opened it to see what was inside. He saw a list of files with names:

'Jordon Lance, Terrador, Kamala Sabrina.'

Upon looking further into it he found a file on just one name. It described an Octoling with red, long hair, just like what the hiker had said on the news. Before Zane could glance at the name, he was called out by Drift.

"Zane, what do you think would happen if another Gifted war happens?"

Drift asked concerned, having negative thoughts.

"I have no idea the exact specifics but my Uncle Oscar once said that the Splat Force tried to tie up loose ends, so there shouldn't be a reason for another war, right?"

He answered. As he returned the files to their resting places and walked out of the office.

"Wait, you're Uncle told you that?."

Drift asked before noticing some footprints on the floor. He leaned down at rubbed it with his finger, causing it to smudge.

"Zane? Hey Zane?!"

"Y-Ye-Yeah?"

Zane answered, starting to feel concerned about his friend's tone of voice.

"There are footprints, and they are recent... someone is definitely here!"

Drift said as he started to panic.

Zane ran to Drift's side to have a look at it. He was right. Someone was in the base with them!

"We need to get out of here, now!"

He exclaimed before both he and Drift rushed over to the elevator, with the latter turning off the lights before entering. Drift pressed the button repeatedly before the doors finally closed and the elevator went up.

The handle of a door at the bottom left corner of the room turned and the door opened slowly. An Octoling in its swim form slithered out from the open door. Once the coast was clear, the Octopi emerged into her Octoling form. She was a woman with deep blue, shoulder-length hair. She wore full black clothing to blend in with the environment.

Without her steps making a sound, she made her way to the office and opened the drawers, pulling out that very Octoling file that Zane loomed over. She was fixated on the photo. She put it away as fast as she got it out before exiting the base. Who was this woman? What was she trying to seek out? Again, only time will tell...

T O B E C O N T I N U E D . . .

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T H X F O R R E A D I N G ! ! !

Thx for reading Chapter 4 of Splat Force: The Gifted. If you have any questions, please ask me in the comments below. Have a great day! ^^

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