(Start in Hotlantis. HARMONY and SHIVER are standing on either side of the cash register. HARMONY is staring into the distance.)

Harmony-It's all so clear to me now. How did I not see it before? This store is my home, retail my true calling.

Shiver-Um, are you okay?

Harmony-I know what I must do: I need to quit the Chirpy Chips and ask Barry for a full-time job.

Shiver-Are you sure? That seems like kind of a downgrade to me.

Harmony-Weren't you going to leave your record label?

Shiver-Yeah, to create my own, but Frye and Big Man backed down, so I guess I'm stuck here.

Harmony-Did you not like it there?

Shiver-Well, no, but I'm not just going to leave my friends.

Harmony-I see. I feel bad leaving my bandmates, but they'll understand.

(She goes silent, her eyes still caught in a thousand-yard stare.)

Shiver-Uh...

(She waves her hand over HARMONY's face.)

Shiver-Hello? Aren't you supposed to be checking out my stuff?

(HARMONY snaps out of it.)

Harmony-Oh! Of course.

(She begins scanning the items on the counter. Opening theme. Cut to Inkblot Art Academy. FRYE and BIG MAN are commentating.)

Frye-We're here at Inkblot Art Academy for another Rainmaker match!

Big Man-Team colors orange and blue are.

(BRIDGETT and HIRO are blue. BRIDGETT has a Splat Roller. SHUMI, INKURA, and SPIDER are orange.)

Big Man-(booth) It a battle isn't called?

Frye-(booth) Whoops. Sorry. I messed up.

Big Man-Ready...

Frye/Big Man-Go!

(The players launch onto the arena. BRIDGETT flings her roller forward and swims through the ink.)

Frye-Both teams are headed for the Rainmaker. Who will make it there first?

(BRIDGETT throws a curling bomb at the Rainmaker.)

Frye-Ooh, a curling bomb. Clever!

(The orange team breaks the Rainmaker shield.)

Big Man-Orange the shield breaks.

(BRIDGETT throws another curling bomb. She reloads while she waits for it to explode. The path is immediately covered by orange ink. She throws another curling bomb. INKURA rides in on her Reefslider, splatting two blue girls with Dualie Squelchers.)

Frye-No one's making a move for the Rainmaker.

(INKURA grabs the Rainmaker.)

Frye-Just kidding. Inkura has it, and she's...(booth) carrying it the wrong way?

Big Man-(booth) She strategy of some sort must have.

(BRIDGETT rolls into the center. She gets splatted by an incoming Booyah Bomb. INKURA runs to the checkpoint with the Rainmaker and jams it in. BRIDGETT respawns.)

Frye-Orange is at the checkpoint.

Bridgett-Wait, what?

(She super jumps behind the checkpoint. She hides from the incoming Rainmaker shots. She gets splatted by INKURA's fizzy bomb.)

Big Man-Orange the checkpoint to made it but not much farther.

(BRIDGETT respawns and launches onto the arena.)

Frye-No one has the Rainmaker. This is blue's chance to swoop in and take it.

(BRIDGETT throws a curling bomb ahead of her and swims to the right. The two Dualie Squelcher girls are firing at the Rainmaker shield. BRIDGETT does a vertical fling, breaking the shield. Her special finishes charging.)

Frye-(booth) Whoa! Bridgett just SPLIT that shield open!

(INKURA activates her Reefslider, splatting one of the girls. BRIDGETT drops her Big Bubbler. Once she notices that no one's paying attention to the Rainmaker, she swims in and grabs it.)

Big Man-Bridgett the Rainmaker has!

(BRIDGETT swims past HIRO.)

Hiro-Don't worry. I'll cover you.

(BRIDGETT turns left. She sees SPIDER firing at her and steps back.)

Bridgett-Better watch my step.

(INKURA splats her from behind.)

Frye-(booth) Ooh! Splatted from behind!

(BRIDGETT respawns and super-jumps to the landing on the right. The Rainmaker shield has been broken. She throws a curling bomb. Once she's sure there's nowhere nearby. She throws another curling bomb, grabs the Rainmaker, and swims in the path.)

Frye-(booth) Bridgett's making a big push for blue, and no one's even noticing.

(BRIDGETT makes it to the checkpoint and sees INKURA firing on the other side. She jumps up and puts the Rainmaker in the checkpoint.)

Big Man-Blue the checkpoint through has broken, too!

(BRIDGETT covers up the spot behind the checkpoint and swims away.)

Frye-And left everyone else to take it the rest of the way.

(BRIDGETT begins madly flinging her roller, trying to shield herself from SPIDER. She swims up a block to the left to find SHUMI's Killer Wail breaking the Rainmaker shield.)

Bridgett-Oh! That's...pretty clever.

Frye-Orange has the Rainmaker.

Bridgett-Oh.

(She jumps up and swings at the boy with the Rainmaker, splatting him instantly.)

Frye-Ooh! That's gotta hurt!

(BRIDGETT reloads and starts swinging at the shield. Her special finishes charging. She jumps down and drops her Big Bubbler. She grabs the Rainmaker.)

Big Man-Bridgett the Rainmaker and the lead gets.

(BRIDGETT backs into her Big Bubbler to escape orange fire just as it disappears.)

Frye-(booth) Bridgett, you gotta go!

Big Man-(booth) Go go go!

(BRIDGETT runs up the ramp to enemy base. A fizzy bomb tumbles behind her.)

Frye-Whoa! She's not even fazed!

(BRIDGETT swims towards the goal.)

Frye-Get it to the goal!

Big Man-(booth) Frye, we're people for root not supposed!

Frye-(booth) Yeah, but I don't care!

(BRIDGETT jumps up to the goal and jams the Rainmaker in.)

Frye/Big Man-GAME!

(Fade to the cafe. BRIDGETT has a big grin on her face.)

Judd-And the winner is...Team Blue by knockout!

Bridgett-Yes. I did it. I won.

Hiro-Bridgett, we won.

Bridgett-I'm sorry. Were you holding the Rainmaker?

Shumi-I didn't see that loss coming. I didn't even see you coming.

Bridgett-I'm just that sneaky.

Spider-How? Rollers are, like, the clunkiest weapon class.

Bridgett-Says Mr. Splatling.

Spider-Hm, you're right.

(ZAKI comes up the stairs.)

Zaki-Guys, we need you down at Alterna.

Bridgett-Now? But I'm on a roll.

Zaki-We have one last signal to investigate, and Mari's itching to get her husband back.

Bridgett-Okay...

(She gets up, as do SPIDER, INKURA, and SHUMI. Cut to site 6 of Alterna. SPIDER, INKURA, SHUMI, and BRIDGETT pop out of a kettle on top of another building.)

Marie-Alright, guys. It's been fun, but we need to get to that signal.

Bridgett-Sheesh, okay. We'll get onto it.

(They ride on a ride rail in between two towers in the middle of a site. They swim up the tower to the right. At the top is a kettle. They dive in. Cut to the antechamber of site 6-2. They land on the middle circle. SHUMI, SPIDER, and INKURA step out of the way. The equipment circle comes up around BRIDGETT. It equips her with a Hero Shot. They walk up to the door, and it launches them to the start.)

ORCA-Climb the enemy-filled tower to reach the goal.

Bridgett-Uh, guys. I think we're at the wrong kettle.

Marie-Ugh, whatever. Let's just make our way out of this one.

(They run forward. A door opens up for them, and they run inside a building. The goal can be seen through a window at the back of the room.)

Inkura-I'm seeing a tower, but I'm not seeing a lot of enemies.

(Three Troopers appear in front of them.)

Spider-There they are!

(He shoots them down. The floor they're standing on starts moving down.)

Shumi-Uh oh. This is the opposite of climbing.

Marie-Oh. I guess we're going down now. Sure.

Spider-I could have sworn the goal was right there.

(He points out the back window. There are a bunch of enemies on the other side.)

Inkura-It was.

(BRIDGETT waves at a Copter right next to the window.)

Bridgett-Hey, buddy! How are you doing, buddy? Aw, you little idiot! Which side of the glass am I on, huh? Who's the animal, huh?

(The floor stops moving. A door opens in the back.)

Mikado-Door's open! Looks like we have a surprise waiting.

Bridgett-I'm coming in!

(She runs through the door and splats the Copter.)

Mikado-That's not what I was talking about.

(A Sniper's laser focuses itself on BRIDGETT's head. The rest run through the door. They hide behind some short pillars and look through the tower ahead of them.)

Spider-Oh. This must be the tower they were talking about.

(SHUMI steps out.)

Shumi-Suo ban rei, fubei! [Go get 'em, guy!]

(She throws YANGHAI at a Trooper near the bottom.)

Shumi-Lu ban no shang! [Show 'em what's up!]

Mikado-That goal is up above you! You just have to climb this nightmare tower of death...somehow.

(SHUMI swims on top of a pillar. While that Trooper is being beaten up, the others run to that save pillar. YANGHAI splats the Trooper.)

Inkura-Ooh, that's gotta hurt.

Shumi-Yanghai, disui!

(YANGHAI jumps back to her. She runs to the side of the tower and throws YANGHAI at a different Trooper. The others follow her. A Trooper appears in the back. INKURA splats it. SPIDER inks up a path in the back, and they swim up. Another Trooper appears in front of them. BRIDGETT does a Splashdown, splatting it.)

Bridgett-Boom! You can do your little disco dance all you want, but it's not gonna save you.

(They run along the first level of the tower. Another Trooper blocks them. SPIDER splats it. INKURA splats another Trooper. The Sniper focuses on them, but they keep running. They reach the right side of the tower. There's another Trooper blocking them. BRIDGETT splats it. INKURA inks up the wall next to them, and they swim up. There's a Trooper and two Copters waiting for them BRIDGETT splats the Trooper and one Copter, but the other Copter is too far away. SPIDER splats it instead. SHUMI turns left and finds a Trooper. She splats it. Then they find the Sniper.)

Bridgett-There it is!

(She splats it. INKURA inks up the wall in front of them. They swim up. There are three Copters at the top.)

Bridgett-Hello. And goodbye.

(She does a Splashdown, splatting the Copters.)

Bridgett-Thank you very much.

Zaki-I didn't think Splashdowns worked like that.

(INKURA inks up another wall, and they swim up.)

Mikado-Anyone else picking up a reeeeeal sinister vibe up here? Is it just me?

(BRIDGETT breaks two boxes in front of them. One of them has a Triple Inkstrike launcher.)

Spider-I dunno, but I'm picking up these Inkstrikes.

(He picks up the Inkstrike launcher.)

Marie-Triple Inkstrike? Yeah, something rough is coming up. You can throw up to three strikes. Make 'em count!

(They swim up another wall. They find the goal with a Sniper and two Troopers behind it. SPIDER throws the Inkstrikes at the enemies, aligning the pen in the process.)

Spider-I didn't mean to hit that. Well...

(He shoves it in.)

ORCA-Mission complete.

(Fade to site 6. The agents come out of that same kettle.)

Bridgett-Um, I think we were supposed to go over there.

(She points at the really tall tower with the really big kettle on top.)

Shumi-Yeah, that would make sense.

(They ride on the ride rail leading to the other tower. BRIDGETT opens up the kettle. INKURA finds a sticker on the floor with BIG MAN's logo.)

Inkura-Is that what I think it is?

Shumi-Oh, no. We're gonna have to fight Big Man, aren't we?

Spider-We're not gonna get anything done just standing around. Let's go!

(He and BRIDGETT dive in, followed by INKURA and SHUMI. Cut to the antechamber of site 9999. They appear on the center circle. SPIDER, INKURA, and SHUMI get out of the way. BRIDGETT gets equipped with a Hero Shot. They walk through the door, and it launches them to the start.)

ORCA-Fight your way to the exit.

(The agents stand on a long plank. There's a large, circle-shaped arena below them. A mysterious figure is already standing on it.)

Zaki-Hm. Hmmm! We're picking up a strong signal. It might be Keiso!

Marie-Come on! It's gotta be Keiso.

(Just then, ETSU's voice echoes through the arena.)

Etsu-Welcome to Alterna, where yesterday's mistakes are today's innovations.

Bridgett-That voice! It can't be...

Shumi-So it's not Big Man.

(They step on a launchpad. It launches them onto the arena. The mysterious figure turns around. It's ETSU wearing a manta ray suit and a mask highly similar to BIG MAN's, but the lower half of his face is still visible.)

Etsu-Hold it right there!

Bridgett-Dr. Etsu?!

(Commercial break.)

Etsu-This treasure isn't yours! You can't have it!

Bridgett-Why do you care about the treasure? Why are you fighting us?!

(ETSU starts waving his hands around each other in front of his chest. [At least, we assume they are because that's what the fins on the suit are doing.])

Etsu-I wouldn't fight you if I didn't have to, but THIS IS FOR SPLATSVILLE!

(Green ooze covers his body. He dives into a puddle of ooze on the arena. A blue silhouette of a manta appears on the floor.)

Spider-What?! This makes no sense!

Etsu-Check out my sweet moves!

(The silhouette begins moving around the arena, leaving a trail of blue and green mottled ink. [NOTE: If you can replace the typical boss theme with the Phantamanta theme from Mario Sunshine, that would be awesome.] All the agents can do is watch him. That is, until a blue splat bomb pops out of the ink.)

Inkura-Um, maybe we should do something.

(They run away. The silhouette charges towards them. They jump out of the way. SHUMI starts shooting at the silhouette. It splits up into smaller silhouettes.)

Marie-The shadow is splitting up!

Inkura-Come on, it's gotta stop sometime!

(She begins firing at the mess of silhouettes. Once they're all gone, ETSU pops out of the ink.)

Bridgett-I didn't want to have to do this.

(She shoots ETSU. A bunch of blue-green ink explodes out of him. He jumps up. The mask has fallen off of his face.)

Etsu-Can you guess which me is the REAL--wait, you're already done? And hold on. I know this is going to sound crazy, but I was brainwashed just now, and you sort of un-brainwashed me, so thanks for--

(The suit dives into the ink, taking him with it.)

Etsu-THAT!

Bridgett-What's going on?

(The silhouette begins sliding across the floor again.)

Etsu-I don't know! This suit has a mind of its own!

(BRIDGETT closes her eyes and starts firing at the silhouette again. It splits up into smaller silhouettes. All of them seem to be gone.)

Bridgett-I shot them all. Where is he?

(SPIDER points at a larger silhouette that got away.)

Bridgett-Oops.

(She starts running towards it, but she trips and falls in the blue-green ink. SPIDER starts firing at the silhouette instead.)

Etsu-Bridgett, do you know what that goop is?

(BRIDGETT gets up and wipes the ink off of her face.)

Bridgett-It's Octarian ink, right?

Etsu-Mixed with Mantar neurotoxins.

(The silhouette vanishes.)

Spider-Where did it go?

Inkura-For once, you're not hallucinating. Where is it?!

Etsu-(voice-only) First, you'll pass out. Then you have no control over how much goes into your body.

(The silhouette reappears on a different corner of the arena.)

Shumi-There!

(She runs over to it and starts shooting it.)

Etsu-You might not be able to feel your limbs. You might not be able to move. You might not be able to breathe!

(SPIDER runs in and helps SHUMI.)

Etsu-It's deadly stuff!

(SHUMI hits the last silhouette. ETSU pops out of the ink again.)

Marie-He's out again! Get him, agents!

(BRIDGETT shoots ETSU. More green ink explodes out of him. He gets up.)

Etsu-Wait a minute! Why are we still fighting?

Spider-Isn't the suit controlling you?

Bridgett-Don't worry! I'll get it off!

(She runs toward ETSU. She starts trying to rip the suit off of him.)

Etsu-Stop! Bridgett, stop! Who knows how much of that stuff you'll get on you?

(BRIDGETT manages to get the headhole over the bubble. Then she pulls it down until his regular clothes can be seen underneath.)

Bridgett-There.

Etsu-Um, thanks?

(He steps out of the suit. It begins flopping around without him. It falls off the edge of the arena.)

Etsu-It's a good thing I wore clothes under that thing.

(A vault at the back of the arena opens. A plank extends out of it with an engine on it.)

Etsu-And what's that?

Shumi-It's the treasure!

Etsu-And who are you?

(They walk up the plank.)

Mikado-Well, it's not Keiso, but we should probably grab this thing anyway since we fought for it.

(Fade to the Splatoon camp. The Splatoon, ETSU included, is standing on the edges of a large metal platform where the three treasures have been placed together.)

Zaki-You crushed it, agents! I also have some CHOICE things to say about Mr. Grizz. Wouldn't want to be him right now!

(Just then, they hear a transmission from MARIE's communication device.)

Keiso-(voice-only) Ksssh! ...ead me? Come in! Do you copy?

(MIKADO picks up the communication device.)

Mikado-Keiso! We read you! Not, uh...exactly loud and clear, but we read you! What's up?

(MARIE snatches the communication device from her.)

Marie-Are you OK? What's happening where you are?

Keiso-Hah! Finally got this dadblasted thing working again. OK, so here's my report. I'm being held captive by someone or something calling themself Mr. Grizz. I heard THAT loud and clear. As for where I am? Beats me, but my left knee is aching something fierce, which means I'm at altitude. Somewhere high up!

Zaki-Oh, no. He really is a 21-year-old senior citizen!

Marie-Well, that's a pretty good hint. There's only one place that fits the bill, right?

(She looks up at the rocket. MR. GRIZZ's voice comes through the communication device.)

Grizz-Well, well. Your injured knee might have betrayed this location, but don't expect any workers' comp! Thank you for this, by the way. I won't underestimate Agent 4 of the Squidbeak Splatoon again. I'll just go ahead and deal with you now before you become an actual inconvenience.

Keiso-Wait a min--HEY! What's that? What do you think you're doing?! Gyaaah!

(The transmission cuts off.)

Marie-(trying to hide the fact that she's internally freaking out) Huh. That didn't sound great for Keiso.

Zaki-You think so? I don't think it did.

Mikado-Keiso! We're coming for you! Stay strong!

(Pan to the rocket.)

Mikado-Just as soon as we figure out how to get to wherever you are.

(MARIE points her foot towards the treasures.)

Marie-Do you think some of this stuff we collected might come in handy? Agents, why don't you take a closer look at it? It might just be our ticket to the rocket.

Bridgett-Actually, before we do anything, why does my face tingle?

Etsu-Uh...

(Cut to inside TIMO's trailer. The whole Splatoon is gathered inside. BRIDGETT and TIMO are sitting in the chairs. ETSU is dabbing BRIDGETT's face with a cotton ball.)

Etsu-And...all better. It's a good thing we had some extra cotton balls lying around. And some extra Octarian ink.

(He pats TIMO on the head. TIMO grabs his wrist.)

Etsu-He's a feisty one.

Marie-Sorry. He only accepts head pats from me.

Zaki-It's a long story.

Bridgett-Why couldn't we have used your ink?

Etsu-You don't remember? My ink's been mixed with Mantar neurotoxins. I'll be fine, but I won't be inking for a while without the threat of killing someone.

Inkura-My question is how Mr. Grizz got his hands on Mantar neurotoxins.

(ORCA's voice comes through TIMO's tablet.)

ORCA-Big Man had a bit of a spill while Deep Cut was first surveying the area. Mr. Grizz decided to take it for himself and start replicating it.

Spider-Ew.

Marie-That reminds me. Where is Deep Cut?

Bridgett-They quit.

Others-What?

Bridgett-Shiver was the only one who wanted the treasure. Once she was beat, the other two convinced her to back down.

Zaki-Well, that's one fewer thing to worry about.

Bridgett-We have Dr. Etsu back, too, and we know that Keiso is in the rocket.

Marie-Yeah. We just need to figure out how to get in there.

Mikado-You suggested using the treasure.

(MARIE sighs and leans against the wall.)

Marie-I was just saying things. It's going to take a technological genius to figure out how to use them to get past that pile of Fuzzy Ooze and in the rocket. I wish we hadn't left Off the Hook behind. Marina was the best engineer I've ever known. Timo, you got any ideas?

Timo-Sorry. I'm a software guy.

Zaki-Uh, hello. One of them is a bunch of blades. I suggest we super-jump over there, cut all the Fuzzy Ooze, and climb up to the launchpad.

(MARIE starts snickering.)

Zaki-What? I'm just brainstorming ideas.

(MARIE hugs her.)

Marie-Zaki, you are too much. I'm so glad I have you.

(She lets go.)

Marie-If we find Keiso, and he's dead...

Zaki-I'm not marrying you.

Marie-I wasn't going to say that. I was just going to ask you for your help taking care of Megui. I don't think I can do it alone.

Zaki-Me? Mari, please. I don't think I'm capable.

Mikado-I can do it! I love kids!

Inkura-Me too!

Etsu-And me!

Marie-Maybe not you. You still got my sister arrested.

Shumi-Wait, what?

Marie-He's the one who called the cops on Kara.

Etsu-What I'm trying to say is if we lose Keiso, you've still got us. You're never gonna be alone, Marie.

Marie-Thanks.

(She sniffles. A single tear rolls from her eyes.)

Marie-Aw, look. You're getting me all misty-eyed. Can someone get me a tissue?

(TIMO gets a tissue and holds it out to her. She takes it and starts wiping her eyes.)

Shumi-Can we just focus on finding Keiso alive?

Marie-Yeah. Good idea.

Zaki-You heard it right here, guys. Tomorrow, we storm that rocket.

Spider-Tomorrow?

Zaki-Yeah. I'm tired.

(She leaves. Cut to a music video set at Coral Reef Records. SHIVER and FRYE are dancing and singing to "Bounce and Blast Off" in front of a green screen.)

Shiver/Frye-Bounce and blast off.
Show we're the best of

Frye-All,

Shiver-But I know

Shiver/Frye-We'll get up and never say no.
In a face-off,
We'll have 'em running away from the sound.
Bounce and blast off.
We're in a place of

Frye-Love.

Shiver-We're ringing.

Shiver/Frye-Been through war and come back singing.
In a face-off,
We won't be running away from the sound.

Shiver-Bounce and blast off.
Show we're the best of
Bounce and blast off.
Show we're the best of

Director-Cut!

(The music stops. The DIRECTOR walks up to SHIVER and FRYE.)

Director-That was amazing, girls! These duets were a great idea. Now we can hear what it's like to hear two voices singing together. You've got flair. You've got moxie. You don't need Big Man cramping your style.

Frye-Excuse me?

Shiver-Isn't it you people who added Big Man to the group in the first place?

Director-Um...

Frye-You think Big Man is cramping our style? Big Man's got more style in one fin than you have in your entire body!

Shiver-You added him because Mantars make more money, and what, you just want to throw him out?

Director-I never said that.

Frye-Do you not care about us? Do you think we're just your little pawns?

Shiver-Do you have any idea what Big Man's done for us? Do you have any idea how many songs he's produced for us?

Frye-More than you, that's for sure!

Shiver-The only reason we can rap for this song is because he taught us how!

Frye-If there's no Big Man, then there's no Deep Cut!

Shiver-Big Man is our friend, and we're not gonna let you insult him anymore!

Frye-If you don't apologize in the next five seconds, I'm out.

Shiver-I don't even need five seconds.

(She leaves.)

Director-Wait, Shiver!

Frye-That's five seconds. Bye, fish.

(She leaves next. Cut to the lounge outside the studio. BIG MAN is sitting on one of the couches. SHIVER and FRYE enter.)

Shiver-What happened in there? I thought you liked it here.

Frye-I can take the translucent shirt, but when they start messing with my friends, that's when I draw the line.

Big Man-What happened?

Shiver-Mr. Shikao said you were cramping our style, so we're quitting.

Big Man-Quitting? But what we are to do supposed now?

Shiver-Start our own company, and the only way to get the money is with...

(FRYE and BIG MAN gasp.)

Frye/Big Man-The treasure!

Shiver-You heard it right here, guys. Tomorrow, we go back underground and steal that treasure.

(The three of them group-hug.)

Shiver-I knew you'd be on board eventually.

Frye-You hear that, Splatsville? Deep Cut's gonna rule the world!

Shiver-Whoa! That might be a bit much.

Frye-Okay.