Splat Force: The Gifted; Chapter 6

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W E L C O M E ! ! !

This is Nomad here back with another chapter of Splat Force: The Gifted.

As promised last week, This chapter will dive into, and maybe even reveal the mysteries behind the red-haired man.

This will also be a long chapter again, and will not feature the main trio.

Without further ado, It's time to get on with the show!

(This Chapter has been Remastered)

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(Chapter Hub)

C H A P T E R 6: T H E R E D - H A I R E D M A N

The guards of Bluegill Town have been acting more protective and aggressive over the past few days. The speculated reason was because of the big story on the news. This didn't stop somebody from trying to get into Bluegill, however, as Henry walked through the gates.

Both guards marched their way towards him. Oliver showed more fierceness.

"Hey! Show your ID!"

He demanded. His behavior shifted the moment he had a clear, up-close look at the man.

"Henry...? You're here?!"

"Good to see you, Ollie!"

Henry replied before turning to Barry.

"Oh, and good it see you too, Barry!"

"W-What are you doing here?"

Barry asked, the stuttering in his voice signaled his disbelief.

"I'm doing great, my friend!"

He answered with a smile.

Henry sighed, thinking about the whole situation.

"Well, over the past week, I've felt anxious about the red-haired man, the one I saw at the Once Great Symbol. It was only after looking back at the footage that I had recorded that I realized that I recognized him."

"Okay, but why are you here?"

Barry asked.

"Because I need to find a way to conclude who he is, and the best way for me to do that is to look into Commander Allen's old files. There might be something there."

He explained. The two guards looked at each other, confused about what Henry was trying to do. But since they had trust in him, they decided to withdraw and let him through.

Henry walked past his old friends and entered Bluegill. Walking through the town felt nostalgic for him, as he hadn't been there in so long. The silent breeze still gives him goosebumps to that very day. It was the cold feeling of the town that he'll never forget.

After walking through the town, he finally found the shed. He walked towards it, disregarding the tape around it. He walked inside the shed and pressed the button against the back wall, opening up the elevator.

After a ride in the elevator, Henry was now in the old Splat Force base. The memories of the war all began to come back to him. He knew from first glance that the base was not like it used to be. It was run down, dark, and dusty. The thick dust made Henry cough.

Henry entered the office, walking straight to the desk. He saw that the files had been left out for his reading. After reading through them, he finally came across a match. Someone who matched his new Octoling friend. perfectly. At the top of the file was the Octoling's name:

'Bolton Vulcan'

Henry looked at it and took in a deep breath. The cold, unforgettable air flowed through him. He put the rest of the files back in the desk drawer where they belonged whilst keeping the file that he needed, putting it away in his pocket. Now that his business was done, Henry left the base.

Henry exited Bluegill's gates and started walking towards the bus stop. Upon arriving at the bus stop, he sat down and took out the file. He didn't focus on any of the writing, he was saving that for when he got home, he instead looked deep into the eyes of Bolton Vulcan. He was invested in him. Who was he? What did he mean by what he said at the Once Great Symbol?

Eventually, Henry decided to put away the file in the meantime. However, the moment he looked up from his pocket he saw what looked like his Octoling friend in the distance. Sane figure, same red hair, same dark robes, same cape.

Henry felt his heart race. He held onto his chest with his right hand as he took in deep breaths, closing his eyes whilst doing so. After opening his eyes back up, the figure was gone. Thankfully, he was never there to begin with, it was all in his head.

Henry felt incredibly concerned by what had just gone on in his head. Before he was able to take time to process it all, the bus to Inkopolis City arrived.

"Hi... one trip for Inkopolis City, please!"

He asked as he gave the bus driver two and a half cash. He took his seat at the front just before the bus started moving.

1 0 M I N U T E S L A T E R . . .

The bus arrived at its destination. Henry got off and started walking down the street. Henry was weary during the whole eight minutes of walking with him turning his head around every five steps to check if he was being followed. Thankfully, he was in the clear, or so he thought. Neither Henry nor anyone down on the ground was able to notice a caped figure at the top of the roof of one of the tall, local buildings.

He arrived at an apartment building. After going through five floors, he finally reached his floor. He walked through the hallway until he found door thirty-nine. He got out his keys and unlocked the door. As soon as he walked inside, he went straight to his work desk, forgetting to close the door. He sat down on his desk, got out the file and started to read it:

Name: Bolton Vulcan

Age: Unknown

Species: Octoling

Gifts: Pyrokinesis

Relatives: Wife (Status Unknown), Two Kids (Status Unknown)

Hair Colour: Red

Weapons: Blade

Background: Unknown

Threat Level: Critical.

'This person has killed countless of our men, including Majors Jamie Stewart and Chester, all in one day... Alyssa mentioned to me that something happened to his own family during the Baxter Village fight. Whatever happened must've turned him into this monster. Action has to be taken when the time comes.

-Rex Allen'

He sighed as he read out the two names mentioned. Henry was so focused on the file that he never noticed his open front door. That move by him was a grave mistake.

After analyzing the file, he caught a glance at the clock next to him. It was now quarter-past six.

"Oh squit... I have only fifteen minutes!"

He exclaimed to himself as he put the file back in his pocket.

Henry rushed to the front door, still not taking notice of his front door, an action that would only serve to haunt him later. He rushed down the stairs to meet the woman in the taxi.

"Hi, Henry Spence, is it? You have an interview with the Squid Sisters. They have paid me to pick you up for tonight's interview. Would you like to get in?"

The driver offered, sounding polite. Henry smiled and gave her a thumbs-up before getting inside.

As the Taxi drove away, the caped figure quietly made his way up the apartment stairs, knowing that Henry lived there after watching him leave. He checked every single floor until he finally found Henry's open apartment. Now, the caped figure stood at his doorstep

The figure entered the apartment slowly and stealthily, making sure to not make a sound. The figure remained in the shadows, finding the darkest corner of the room, and hid himself in his cape. All he could do now was wait for Henry to return...

"So what's your name?"

He asked. Henry always thought it was kind to start a conversation with a taxi driver.

The driver smiled at Henry's conversation starter. It wasn't every day that someone started the conversation and not her.

"The name is Laurel, Laurel Taylor."

"Right then, Laurel, mind if you tell me about yourself?"

He asked.

"Well I graduated from Todarodes College two years ago. I never had the best grades, so the best I could get was an internship for this taxi job. You don't really get paid that much for these jobs, depending on who you serve but luckily my girlfriend has allowed me to live with her."

She explained, making sure she was still looking at the road.

"I see, how long have you had your job for?"

Henry asked.

"Well I started a program a year ago and I somehow did well for myself. That program was how I met Charlie, who is my girlfriend. We had similar tastes in music, we both liked Squid Sisters and all those other pop stars. We turned those relatable things into a relationship. So overall, I'm glad that I took the program."

Laurel replied, feeling proud of herself.

"I'm proud of you."

Henry replied in pride, wanting to give her the biggest pat on the back.

It wasn't long until the taxi arrived outside of the studio. Henry reached into his pocket and tried to get some money out to pay.

"Oh you don't need to pay me, I was paid to pick you up for this interview. Good luck!"

Laurel said, giving him one smile. Henry gave her a thumbs-up as he got out of the car and was escorted into the building. The interview was about to begin.

1 0 M I N U T E S L A T E R . . .

"Grab onto your tentacles because it's time for the main story!"

Callie said, opening the main story part of the show.

"May we please introduce tonight's very special guest: former Major of the Splat Force, Henry Spence!"

Marie called out. Henry walked onto the set waving at the crowds and shook both Callie and Marie's hands.

"Welcome to the show Henry!"

Callie greeted, face full of smiles.

"Oh, and thank you for your service all those years ago!"

"No need to thank me, Callie, I was just a guy doing the right thing..."

Henry replied, quietly questioning his choice of words as if he had baggage over the Gifted Wars.

"What brings you here tonight?"

Marie asked, now on the edge of her seat.

"I have collected information about the red-haired man."

He answered. The audience was now going dead silent.

"How did you get the information?"

Marie asked. She wanted to know what his source was.

"I recently went back to the old Splat Force base and found Commander Allen's old files containing information about various gifted individuals. The one I have with me now was his last file, his last case. This file I have is about the red-haired man, who is named Bolton Vulcan. His gifts are a form of Pyrokinesis, or fire for those who don't know the term. He carries a blade with him, a blade which has killed many of the Splat Force ..."

He sighed, thinking back to those he lost.

"That asshole killed my friends... I'm gonna make sure he sees justice!"

Callie was starting to feel worried.

"I-I don't know if Inkopolis is safe, or anywhere in general. We've already had the great zapfish taken, twice as a matter of fact in recent years, and we've already had a massive human statue almost wipe us out. Not to mention the Gifted Wars, which I'm pretty sure started two decades ago now. I don't know if Inkopolis is really a safe place anymore..."

"But here's the thing, Callie, every dark turn has a hero. Look at the great turf war. we had brave warriors fight for our land. The Gifted Wars had brave men like Frederick Evans, Rex Allen, and the Splat Force lead into battle against Terrador and his goons. I'm sure Bolton will meet his match, eventually."

Marie comfortably assured, patting her cousin's back. Henry just sat there looking at the ground. Feeling uneasy about Callie's words, even after what Marie said.

L A T E R T H A T N I G H T . . .

After the interview had ended, Henry was escorted back to the taxi. He got in and sat down.

"How did it go?"

Laurel asked, sounding curious.

Henry took some time to respond, his head was still filled with conflicted emotions.

"It went well, to be honest."

"So this Bolton fella you described sounds like bad news. I'm gonna make sure Charlie stays away from the likes of him. But as Marie said, there can be heroes in these dark times, like you, for example."

She assured, remaining optimistic.

Henry smiled, but it was a small smile.

"Yeah... I certainly hope for defenders..."

The taxi arrived at the apartment building. Henry waved Laurel goodbye as he walked up the stairs. He walked up to his floor, towards door thirty-nine... it was open. Panicking, He rushed inside and immediately locked the door behind him. He walked over to the kitchen and poured himself a drink. He took the drink into the living room and over to his desk before hearing a very subtle creak. Something wasn't right...

He put his glass down and looked behind him.

"I had a feeling you were gonna turn into a problem."

A cold, strict voice called out from the shadows.

Henry was in shock as he saw what looked like a silhouette of a man in the shadows of his living room.

"Who is there?!"

He yelled, the voice sounding suspiciously familiar. It then hit him.

"Wait... y-you're him!"

The silhouette walked into a faint light, coming from the lamp on the desk, revealing the very Octoling, with several faded cuts and red, long hair.

"You stepped in my way, Henry Spence. With me now being outed for the world to see, I now have to carry out my plan carefully."

Henry was now face to face with the man who killed many of his friends.

"What? Your plan to make the gifted rise?"

He slowly walked towards the box, next to the fishing rod. He opened the box and, without any hesitation, picked up his old splattershot from inside it. Within a flash, he was already aiming the weapon at him.

"Not a chance!"

Bolton stared him down. His face showed no emotion whatsoever.

"This is your last warning, Henry Spence. If you put down that splattershot then we won't have to go in that direction."

He gently assured, as he pulled out a blade. Henry became too intimated to even bear the sight of Bolton's blade. That blade brought back memories of war, memories of the loss of his friends, some caused by that very blade. Despite Bolton trying to offer peace between them, Henry acted from his emotions...

B A N G , B A N G , B A N G ! ! !

Bolton started swinging around his blade, deflecting all the bullets that came his way. Eventually, Henry ran out of ammo and threw his Splattershot at him, to which Bolton slashed at it, cutting the weapon in half.

"I feel sorry for you, Henry. You've just thrown your life away, and for what? Though it'll be easy knowing that you're leaving no one behind. No wife, no kids, no one..."

Bolton whispered as his blade started to glow with colors of fire.

Henry clinched his fists, knowing that what he was about to do would be his last stand.

"This is for my friends!"

He yelled, before charging towards Bolton, ready to punch at him. Unfortunately, Bolton struck his blow faster...

S L A M ! ! !

As soon as Henry was one step away from punching him, Bolton slammed his blade through Henry's stomach.

"It didn't have to be this way, Henry. You could've lived the rest of your life in peace, fishing the pond in your spare time, but, you stood in my way..."

He said to him before forcing the blade out of his stomach. Henry fell onto the floor, lifeless.

Bolton closed Henry's eyes and picked his body up, taking it to his bed. He placed him on the bed and put the bed sheets over him. He walked back into the living room. There was no sign of damage, the blade's heat melted all the bullets that were fired at him.

He grabbed his blade once again and closed his eyes, pointing his blade straight forward and moving it around in a circle until it began forming a small flame circle. On the other side of the circle was the field by the Once Great Symbol. He walked through the circle and into the fields before the circle closed behind him. He was gone...

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 6! And yes. I just left you all on a deadly cliffhanger, sorry not sorry. All I can say is prepare to face more of them in the future...Until then, have a great day! ^^

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