Spoiler Warning: This story is a spin-off from my "Life in Inkopolis" series and continues from "Life in Inkopolis: The Tournament chapter 18." If you haven't read it, I recommend reading it, as well as my other stories.
The Hostage
Chapter 1
Octo Gorge…
Alice was staring into the eyes…well, goggles…of an Octarian Commander.
"Look here, you…" Alice tried being intimidating. "I have no idea who you are, but-"
"I just told you, my name is Sieg." The commander repeated himself. "Sector commander of the Octarian forces in Octo Gorge."
"I don't care who you are!" Alice glared at him. "If you don't set me free right now, my father will-"
"Oh, this is fascinating." Sieg remarked. "Please, by all means, tell me what your father will personally come over here himself and do to me with his own hands that should have me shaking in my boots."
"H-how dare you!" Alice stood up. "I am Alice Notodarus, a-"
"I know who you are." Sieg replied.
"Stop interrupting me!" She shouted. "I am Alice Notodarus, and I will not be held hostage by you!"
"And how will you back up those words?" Sieg wondered.
"I-I'll have you know that my family is very wealthy!" Alice replied. "My father has many connections!"
"And that gives you power over me?" Sieg tilted his head.
"It's clearly more than you have if you decided to kidnap me!" She crossed her arms.
"Do you feel like you are above anyone here?" Sieg wondered.
"I like to think I am above lowlifes who sink to squidnapping!" Alice answered.
"And why do you think we've abducted you?"Sieg asked.
"Ransom money?" She guessed. "I mean, we are of the upper class."
"Currency isn't an issue in the settlements and is not why you're here." Sieg told her. "It's power."
"Power?" Alice immediately understood. "So you want me because my family breeds Zapfish, is that correct? You want Zapfish for the energy they produce."
"Good, you're learning." Sieg remarked. "By now, your father is wondering what happened to you. We are going to work on contacting him and guaranteeing your safe return if he agrees to cooperate with us."
"And you needed to squidnap me for that?!" Alice was baffled.
"It was to get his attention." Sieg explained. "At this point, it's clear your kind wants us buried and forgotten. I decided that concern for one of their own might convince them to cooperate."
"And if he doesn't?" Alice narrowed her eyes. "What will happen to me if he doesn't?"
"I'm sure he will." Sieg told her. "You're his only child after all. From what I've heard, he's a good father, and I heard good parents will do anything to protect their children."
"I suppose you're going to lock me in a decrepit cell somewhere?" Alice guessed.
"You're suggesting that we spend valuable resources keeping you in a room doing nothing and getting three meals a day and not awaiting a sort of criminal trial?" Sieg shook his head. "That's comfort in Octarian society, regardless of improvements I've made to the Gorge. No, you will work like all the others. It won't be dangerous labor mind you, but you will work if you want to eat."
"And what's to keep me from escaping?" Alice wondered.
"Attach them." Sieg commanded and metal clamps were put on her limbs and neck. "Those are very similar to your surface-world 'house arrest' devices. I have a set number of areas you're allowed in. Step outside those areas and these will deliver a shock. Not enough to permanently damage, but enough to knock you out and send a signal to nearby squads of your location."
"You think you can do this without consequences?" Alice tilted her head. "The authorities will come to save me and splat you!"
"No they won't." Sieg shook his head. "The New Squidbeak Splatoon, who tried keeping you away from us, likes to keep things a secret and will likely convince your father to do so as well. Sorry to say, but the only group looking for you numbers in the single digits."
"You won't get away with this, you scoundrel!" Alice shouted.
"I'm not a scoundrel," Sieg told her. "I'm just someone who's willing to get his hands dirty for the future of his people. Now Elise, please give her the tour of the areas she's allowed in before giving her work."
"My pleasure, Commander!" Elise saluted. "Right this way!"
One Hour Later…
Elise started showing the Alice around the domes. From the barracks where she'd be sleeping, to the large, obstacle course domes, to the long hallways, and even a Boss Kettle.
"And this is one of our boss kettles." Elise pointed out. "As you can see, Octolangelo XVII, grandson of our previous Sector Commander, is working on his newest work of art!"
Sitting on a large, moving chair in front of them was a large, somewhat thin, tentacle-like creature with 4 limbs, a vest, scarf, and artist's beret. He had a thin tentacle mustache and ponytail. He seemed lost in-thought as he was painting.
"Um…should we say hello?" Alice asked.
"Oh, no!" Elise told her. "No one must stop Octolangelo when he's in the middle of crafting a masterpiece. If someone interrupts him when he's working, he goes into a blind fit of rage and turns into a battle-ready monster with the sole desire to splat any and every living being in the room so he can get back to painting. Don't talk to him when he's working and don't gaze upon his art until it is finished."
Alice decided to keep that in mind.
"Wait, boss kettle…" Alice turned to Elise. "Why do you call it that?"
"They house our Octobosses." Elise explained. "Some of them are immensely strong Octarians while others are re-purposed Great Octo Weapons."
Alice couldn't help but admit to herself that she was learning quite a bit that day. For one, that the Octarian Menace was still around causing trouble, two, they have very advanced technology, and lastly, they want Zapfish.
"Now to show you to where you will be working." Elise urged her to follow.
"Um, if you don't mind me asking, what exactly do you do?" Alice was curious to know.
"Oh, I'm my squad's medic and support!" Elise told her. "I make sure my teammates are in perfect condition and that they're ready for any mission!"
"Oh, the medical field." Alice said. "That's nice."
Elise got wide eyed.
"Indeed it is!" Elise remarked. "I have an expansive knowledge of the medicinal sciences and anatomy from my father as well as observing surgeries and performing dissections! Recently, some of our Salmonlings brought something very special to the Canyon and we transported it here!"
"Salmonlings?" Alice was confused. "Whatever are those and what did they bring?"
10 Minutes Later…
"And here he is!" Elise removed the cover. "Just look at him!"
"Oh Cod…" Alice felt like she was going to throw up. "Th-they brought in a dead body?!"
"Not just any dead body!" Elise told her. "This cephalopod is a hybrid! We already performed the autopsy and we removed his organs for research and experimentation. I have a few experiments in mind myself. It seems he was stabbed in the neck in some sort of scuffle before falling into the water."
"W-what's wrong with his ears?" Alice noticed they looked off.
"They were mutilated at some point, possibly decades ago judging by the scarring." A doctor came in. "My belief is it was self-inflicted."
"But why would he do that, Gracie?!" Elise asked, petting his hair-tentacles. "Look at him…he's beautiful…"
"Remember he lived with Inklings." Gracie reminded her. "They probably didn't see him that way and he wanted to fit in."
"Oh, the questions I'd ask him if I could…" Elise lamented. "What did his shifted form look like? How many attempts did it take to conceive him? If I cut one of his tentacles off, would it make an…Inktotrooper?"
"Well, unless you can figure out a way to get the answers from his brain, those questions will go unanswered." Gracie said.
"I'll sure try…" Elise said, glaring at her. "I'm allowed to operate on cadavers."
"Um, excuse me…are you two colleagues?" Alice asked. "Friends?"
"No, I'm just here temporarily to observe and gather whatever information I can from this hybrid." Gracie explained.
"Why you were chosen is beyond me…" Elise grumbled.
"Because no one trusts you with a scalpel on a living being after the nightmare that was your father." Gracie told her.
"My father was a great man…" Elise grumbled as she took Alice out of the room.
"Well, now to your work." Elise told her. "We'll start you out with helping the minor Salmonlings with moving materials."
"Again, what are Salmonlings?" Alice wanted an answer.
"You'll see soon." Elise assured her. "Oh, and don't worry. They're a bit rowdy, but you'll get used to them."