The Reluctant Hero (Splatoon)

Chapter 10

"Heralded by loud explosions, the Great Octoweapons quickly stormed the Inklings' central stronghold. Victory for the Octarians seemed all but certain, but due to a plug being carelessly pulled from its socket, their hopes were dashed."
—Sunken Scrolls 1:13 (3.4)

Sunday, 10:27 a.m.
Cuttlefish Cabin

The next morning, a truck pulled up outside the shack. Cole saw it on the live camera feed, a box truck painted black and green and covered in decals. It must have arrived before he woke up.

Marie sat at the table, checking her phone. She looked up at Cole as he walked into the central room. "You ready to go up?" she asked. "Our ride is here."

"Did you tell Cece?"

"Yup, she said she'll scout out the place for us and get us a report as soon as she can."

Cole grabbed his phone and the backpack of supplies, and they went outside. The driver stepped out of his truck to greet them. He was a short fellow, standing a full head shorter than Cole and clad in a faux military uniform. A red handkerchief was tied around his neck, and a set of thick goggles made his eyes look gigantic. A helmet, or maybe a shell or hair, even, sat on his head. He smiled at Cole, revealing buck teeth.

"Hello, hello! You must be the new guy!"

"This is Sheldon," said Marie. "He's not officially affiliated with the NSS, but he helps us out from time to time. Thanks for coming all the way out here, Sheldon."

Not officially affiliated? Cole wondered what being officially affiliated with the NSS even meant, given that all their operations were a secret in the first place. Who else was not officially affiliated with the NSS that he didn't know about? Why was Cole even needed if Marie had Cece, all the other informants out in Octarian country, and now Sheldon? Any of them could be helping her with this mess instead of him. He'd have to ask Marie about what affiliation actually entailed, later.

Marie tossed her bag into the back of the truck, and Cole followed suit. The cargo area was packed with boxes of ammunition and gun parts.

"Like what you see?" Sheldon asked, catching Cole looking at the boxes. "Wait until we get back to the shop." Okay, the thing on his head was a shell, then, Cole figured. Sheldon was a horseshoe crab.

The three of them squeezed into the two-seater cab, with Marie taking the passenger side and Cole sitting between her and the driver's seat. Sheldon took them off the back roads and put them on a route directly to Inkopolis.

"What's your name, new guy?" Sheldon asked.

"Uh, Agent 4."

"I mean your actual name."

"...Cole."

"Nice to meetcha, Cole. I'm Sheldon Shellendorf. I run a weapon store."

What a fitting name, Cole thought to himself but did not say aloud. The truck barreled down an empty highway as greens, yellows, and greys streaked by outside. Signs pointing toward the city hung overhead.

"Sheldon is a talented weapon designer," Marie chimed in. "He designed all our gear himself."

That got Cole's attention.

"Aw shucks, Marie!" The horseshoe crab gushed, pretending to be embarrassed.

Cole asked, "You mean you made the stuff back there? The gadgets and guns?"

"Well, I didn't make all of it, per se, but I designed it all, yes." came Sheldon's reply.

"Do you make any other guns that can go in either hand? Like, for, uh, left-handed folks?"