Niki woke up from her nap, and stretched her arms. She grabbed her ink tank, her C.Q device, and headed into the next car. As she walked into the car, she was greeted with the sight of Kai splayed out on the chairs in an uncomfortable position.
Niki walked up to him and poked him with her finger, "Hey Kai? Are you okay? You don't look too hot."
Kai moaned, his face was pale and scrunched up like a sponge. Niki turned him over on his back, and placed the back of her hand on his forehead.
"Yikes, it looks like you have a bit of a fever. You can rest today Kai okay? Just take it easy."
Kai didn't respond. Whether it was due to pain or feeling tired, he just rolled over back into the position he was originally in and continued to sleep.
"Okay, it looks like it is up to me today! Now, what levels do I want to do..." Niki searched the map of the subway to see what tests were available. "Aha! This one looks fun! Spin Octo Station? It looks like the goal is to... well, spin!" Niki chose the station, and was transported there.
She entered the capsule as usual, and chose the Dynamo Roller as her weapon. Paying the fee, she leaped into the level and secured her checkpoint. She inked her way to a pinwheel in front of her and aimed her weapon high. A platform revealed itself beneath her, and Niki jumped to the other side.
She looked out from behind the wall, and spotted her next targets- three Octarians waiting for her to show up. A bomb was thrown to the other side of the wall and her enemies were splatted.
"Nice Niki! You did that easily!" Niki passed the first checkpoint, and continued on with the level. She follows the path getting to the next checkpoint and shot the other pinwheel. Three Octarians were waiting on the upper side of the wall, looking for their next target. One swoop of her Dynamo Roller later, they ceased to exist.
She jumped on a platform that led her to a higher level and hopped down onto the solid platform beneath her. A few pelts of pinwheels later, the test was over.
"Alright, I did it! I think I'm gonna do another one so, let's see-" Niki heard a slight groan coming from the seats next to her. "Kai are you ok?"
"Nikiii- I'm cold!" Kai whined as he swung his arm from the other side of his body to now touching the floor. He laid face down on the subway seats with his arms draped across the side. "Nikiiiiii- give me a blanketttttttt-"
"Excuse me? I ain't your personal maid. Find someone else to get one." Niki crosses her arms and raised her eyebrow.
"But I'm sick-" Kai moaned.
"So? I'm sure you'll be better soon, and why would you think that I have a blanket?!"
"I don't know. I thought that you can make one or something."
"What- You know what? No, go make one yourself."
"Niki-"
She rolled her eyes, "What?"
"Do you have any medicine that will make me feel better? Pain relievers? Anything?"
"Kai! I can give you some medicine! But you won't like it!"
"What does it do?"
Niki glared, "It'll knock you into tomorrow, that's what it'll do!"
"So when can I take it?" He asked oblivious to what she said.
Niki smacked her hand onto her head, "Oh my gosh, Kai, you're an idiot."
"Hey!"
"Well, I'm gonna complete some more tests. I'll be back in a few hours." Niki picked a test, and left the train.
Kai's mind drifted in and out as he laid on the stiff seats. His eyes closed shut, but jolted back open as the subway stopped at a new station. The faintest sound of tiny shoes pacing back and forth bounced against his ears.
"Excuse me, sir. Are you...dead?" She lifted up his tentacle by her thumb and index finger. Kai shot open his eyes and the little girl fell backward. "Please don't hurt me!"
Kai sat up normally in the seat, "Woah, I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you. I'm Kai! What's your name?"
"I don't remember my name," The little girl said quietly. "Everyone just calls me Agent 8 or 8."
"Well, it is very nice to meet you Agent 8! Wait a minute! I'm agent 9 and my friend is agent 7!" Kai said excited.
"Wreally?!"
"Yeah! Just wondering, did you lose your memory too?"
"I don't wreally remember anything, so I guess so?"
"Why don't you come and sit over here? There is enough room!"
"Oh, okay." She shuffled over to the seats, but struggled to hoist herself up.
"Here, let me help you!" Kai picked her up and sat her right next to him. "There! That's better."
"Thank woo, Mister Kai."
"No problem, 8! So, why are you here?"
"I need to complete tests."
"You have to do that too? Oh my gosh! I'm so glad Niki and I aren't the only ones!"
"Yeah, but it's wreally wreally scary." She shivered.
"And it can be really painful too."
"It make my back hurt."
"Oh yeah! That thing that the C.Q. puts on our backs! And blows up when we mess up! What even is that stuff in that bomb thing?"
"I don't know..."
"Me neither, it looks weird too. It's like it can cut through anything with the right amount of force."
"Like those Octo Washie things?"
"Yeah! I hate those things! They're the worst!" A shiver flew down his spine and he looked down at his feet.
"Mhm!"
"Ugh! That thing can burn!"
"Yeah.....Wait, what does that mean?" She tilted her head.
"Never mind... So, who are you completing the tests with?"
"No one." 8 looked down at the floor.
"What?! You mean..." Kai asked.
"I'm alone."
"Wow! That's impressive!"
"....I think I have to do more tests. I'm really sorry Mister Kai."
"Aww, it's okay! We can talk again soon 8! Oh, and you can just call me Kai." He smiled.
8 hopped off the chair and walked towards the door. "Okie dokie, Kai! Thank woo!"
"Bye 8!"
"Bye-bye!" She exited the subway, and the doors closed.
Kai laid back down on the seats. Maybe this isn't so bad after all.