Disclaimer: Salvation - Plot ©XT3 on BlackVoid, XT1 on Devaintart and XT3100 on fictionpress. Black Void © XT3 on BlackVoid, XT1 on Deviantart and XT3100 on fictionpress. Splatoon © Nintendo All Rights reserved
Rated: M
Black Ice Vortex
Book 2: Salvation
Chapter 2
"Ridge," Nu held onto her egg in the capsule. Nu was sitting on a chair in a wide-open room with a curved window. The room itself was a lounge of sorts. The curving started from the ceiling and curved down and intro the floor on the entire west most wall. On the outside was the open ocean mountains. Nu held onto her egg with her child as she stood at the west wall that had a window to the lightless ocean.
"Nuclear," she heard her name get called from behind her. Looking back, she saw Ridge sitting at one of the many tables. With a set of blue jeans and white shirt and shoes. He was on one of the white floating chairs that were right next to the floating white table. Walking over. She slowly looked around the room.
'The ancients,' She thought. 'I can't believe that they still live.' She stopped as she stood next to human that saved her. "Ridge." She rolled the words off her tongue. "Ocean." She said and pointed with one hand to the glass wall in the room.
Ridge smiled and nodded, "Looks like we are getting somewhere."
"#$ $% ," Nuclear responded with a sad face.
Scratching the back of his head, "Well—I guess we are not all the way there."
"RIDGE!" A new female voice screamed making Nuclear jolt in place. On the eastern side of the room the floor was raised up by a step. On this floor, it was completely open and on the wall, where the open white doorway laid. In the door way Roxy walked into the room. "I need you to come with me!"
"What now?" Ridge sighed as he looked over to his friend that walked over to him. The door closed behind her and Nuclear only watched the female starred at her for a second.
"They are getting released!" She grinned.
Ridge froze, something that Nuclear took note of. She tugged on his pants again. "Ridge?" She paused. "What the matter?"
"Wait a minute," Roxy looked down at the Inkling again. "You're speaking our language?"
"She only knows a few words here and there," Ridge snapped out of his funk. "But I have been making process over the last two weeks." He smiled and looked back at the orange Inkling. "So I have gotten to the point where we can talk to one another. Granted, broken. But we can still talk non-the less."
"Regardless," Roxy shook her head. "You are wanted for when we awaken them."
"Why the hell do I need to be there?"
"Because," Roxy smiled. "This comes from the top."
"Ok I get it," Ridge shook his head. "Ready to come Nu?"
"She can't-!"
"Fuck. The. Rules." Ridge hissed. "I am taking Nu with us."
Roxy blew out of her mouth up to her hair. "Fine." She threw her hands up in the air. Turning around she walked off to the door. "Bastard, don't blame me for the black lash you'll get!"
Nu glanced up to Ridge, "Ridge? You ok?"
Ridge laughed gently. "Yeah I am." He got out onto his feet. "Come on," Ridge smiled at the squid. "You'll want to see this."
….
….
Ridge walked through the sliding doors to be greeted with the sight of the converted power cell room. Nu followed her savoir into the chamber with Splash still in his egg case.
'It's so big!' She thought. Staying behind Ridges' legs the whole time she continued to gaze over the room while Ridge stood next to Roxy and one more human. 'So white!'
Nu cranked her neck to see four glass pipes full of a blue liquid flow out from the area of the walls. Her eyes followed the glass tubes that held the water to the massive center pillar that rose out of the center of the floor. With its silver top and matte wall, her orange eyes were drawn to the front of the pillar. 'Are those people?' She wondered. She tugged on Ridge's leg to grab his attention. "Ridge?" She spoke and pointed at that two in the machine.
…
Roxy watched her friend look down at the squid, after the set of five got dragged out of their conversation. "Looks like your pet wants attention."
One of the other humans in the group only shook his head while Ridge had a sweet drop. "Very funny." He directed at his friend. Looking down at Nu. "Yes?"
"People?" She pointed at the two that was in the chambers.
Ridge looked over to the two in the machine and nodded, "Humans." He told the squid looking over to the others. "So, shall we awaken them?"
The man spoke up and nodded, "Yes." He paused before he looked at Ridge. "You'll be doing the honors."
His head twitched for a second before Ridge did a double take and pointed at himself. "Me?"
"Yes you!" Roxy remarked ticked. "You heard the boss, didn't ya?"
Ridge held up his hands. "Alright. Alright." He sighed, "Fine. I'll awake them." Not letting the others yelled him anymore he slowly walked over to the power cell. Taking a few minutes, he slowly hit the switches. And with a little bit of a hiss the panels arose.
Slowly the two in the cells opened their eyes. The male slowly lifted his arms and tried to make his body move. Yet his body remained unresponsive till after a few minutes the muscles started to work. He rolled his head to see the man who awoke him. "How long?"
"A couple thousand years," Ridge answered as the first hybrid stepped out of the cell with his wife. "Then I guess my kids got busy based on your hair kid."
"Ridge!" Nu cried as she bolted over to the male and stood next to his legs.
"Oh?" Hydro cooed. Glancing over to his gifted wife who was stretching. "Looks like I won our bet." He sung with a grin.
Scarlet rolled her eyes and looked over to the squid. "Fine you won." As she said that Roxy and the elder man stepped over to them. "And who are you two?"
"My name is Roxy," Roxy introduced herself. "I'm a engineer in Liquid Nano tec." As she spoke, Scarlet's eyes sparkled.
"My name is William," The older man with gray hair spoke. "I am the leader of the settlement."
"Leader?" Hydro repeated. "Since when did the settlement need a leader?"
"Since we doubled in size," William informed them with hands behind his back.
"DOUBLED!" Scarlet and Hydro gasped.
"Indeed," William spoke. "We had to build a second settlement in a mountain on the over side. And thanks to the both of you we were able to power both settlements."
Scarlet calmed down and spoke, "If we are awake. Then we must have solved the power problem."
Roxy spoke up and nodded, "We got it sorted a while ago but we had a few things to be taking care of."
"A couple thing?" Hydro rose an eyebrow.
"But we took care of it," Ridge told him. "But one of them was your notes and predictions on the squids and octopus!"
Hydro smiled as he squatted to look Nuclear in the eyes. "I can tell that she might be one of your countless reasons."
"How did you know that she was a she?" Roxy asked.
"I'm a Marine Biologist," Hydro replied. "Granted now I'm not sure if she's a marine creature now." Laughed Hydro as he stood back up.
Scarlet smiled at her husband till she looked at William. "So, I take it the scientists were able to build the fusion hearts."
William nodded, "Yes they did. We now have six fusion heart cells that can power our cities." He paused to let the words sink in. "It's why we were able to let you out."
"So, I get to join the Science division?" Scarlet smirked.
"You'll be in charge," William simply told her.
The red head squealed while her Husband laughed. "What?!" Roxy screeched. "Why the hell does she get put in charge suddenly! She just woke up!"
"Who designed and created Liquid Nano Tech?" Scarlet grin and leaned forwards.
"Ehh," Roxy squeaked. "You."
"Yep!" Scarlet grinned. "And I made the hydrogen fusion cells shrink from the size of this room to scuba tanks." She stood up and grinned with Hydro smiling. "So, if I was to hazard a guess. Then that must be why I am being made in charge~" Looking over to William she received a nod.
"I guess you're my descendant, right?" Hydro asked Ridge. "I mean you're a like me.
Ridge laughed. "Well yes and no…"
Hydro just blinked as he took in the others. "Scratch that…. Felix and Katie were either busy or…"
"You can say that," Ridge nervously laughed. "They both had kids and-"
"And my kids had kids." Hydro finished for him. "I guess over the generations over DNA got mixed into every human."
"Pretty much," Roxy spoke up.
Scarlet blinked, "But you only have our type of eyes…"
William caused and drew all eyes to him. "Not everyone has your traits. But everyone here has your eyes and are able to breathe underwater." The older man paused. "I don't know the details about why though."
Hydro nodded but then smiled, "I think I know why." Scarlet turned look at him and he continued. "It's DNA traits like hair color was. Most likely we added a few more options to some of the traits with our DNA."
"That's actually what happened," Ridge spoke.
Scarlet smiled softly, "Now that makes sense." She paused and stretched her arms. "I don't know about you but I am ready to get out of this room. I feel like I just awoke from a long ass nap."
…
…
"You guys suck!" A small voice complained. A set of four kids was running through the halls. Three of them stopped to wait for the short one of the group. An early stage Inkling was glaring at his friends. Splash, since grew up. The settlement learning both English the main human tongue and his species native language. Splash was wearing a white shirt with a blue squid on it and black shorts. And as an early staged inkling, his body was completely transparent and it was a dark blue color. He lacked hair as simply had two small tentacles forming a small bang.
The others in the group of four was all humans. The closest to him was a young male with brown who was six years old like the rest. He wore a green Xbox shirt and dark green pants with black sandals. Max's olive eyes looked at his small friend with a laugh. "Come on! We don't want to be late to the park!" He smiled.
"Yeah!" The only girl in the group added. Her dark pink hair covered some of her face. Her emerald eyes looked at the inkling. She wore a white dress and tan sandals.
The last boy was dark skinned with glasses. He looked over and spoke, "Come on Splash!" Then smiled, "We don't want to be late!"
"You kids going somewhere?" A female asked.
They all turned to look at the woman. "Mom!" Splash yelled at the Inkling. Before them Nuclear stood with her orange tentacles going down her face in the typical bangs. "I thought you were with Mr. Ridge!"
"I needed to get a few things taken care of," the adult inkling spoke as she stood taller than a child. She smiled, "And Splash I told you to not over do it!"
"Mom!" He blushed.
His mother laughed softly. "Just don't cause trouble you four." She told the kids. They all nodded and ran off leaving the mother alone. She smiled, "Splash you are becoming quite the little boy." She smiled, 'I just wish Blue was here to see you.'
…
…
Years passed by and Splash and his friends grew up into good looking young adults. As the only Inkling only the group of four, Splash was naturally shorter than his human friends. Looking around the submarine, 'Ironic that I'm in the same one that Uncle Ridge saved me and mom in.' The inkling told himself.
Wearing the standard black research suit that all surface going scientists had to wear. He leaned against the couch in the lower half of the ship. Looking against the inner black walls of the ship. 'I wonder if I'll meet any more of my kind?'
"Something the matter?" A voice mad him jump.
"Damn it Sarah!" Splash cursed. "don't startle me like that."
Sarah just laughed, "Sorry." Sarah over the years gained a solid chest…. Which she teased Splash with. A lot. Sitting down next to the squid. "You were just so quiet. I was worried about you. You have always been the hyper one of us four." She put an arm over his shoulders.
Signing, Splash leaned forwards making Sarah redact her arm. "I've just had a lot on my mind."
Katie's face fell into a soft concerned look. She leaned forwards with hands on her lap as she looked at him on his level. "It's about the surface, right?"
Weakly Splash nodded and didn't look her in the eyes. "Add to the fact that I have never seen the sky nor any of my kind other than my mother."
Sarah sighed, "Splash. You know that Hydro convinced the leaders to let you save other inklings and take them back with you."
"Oh, that old geezer," Splash snarked.
Sarah let out a solid laugh, "Your mother wouldn't like you talking about him that way."
"Well it's an accurate fact," Splash remarks. "I mean he's over two thousand years old!'
"Ok you got me there," admitted Sarah. "I guess it's the fact that you might meet other Inklings."
"That's what got me worried," Splash sighed.
Tilting her head, "But your mother taught you your species language. You don't need one of the translators to talk with them."
Splash looked at her, "Sis. What if they don't understand me?! I raised among humans! All I know about my kind is just from my mother!"
"Bro you're over thinking it," Sarah tried to calm her friend down. "And your mother taught you how to speak oceanic."
Splash leaned into the couch and sighed, "Probably. But it's just going to be so weird to meet my own kind!" He looked her in the eyes.
"I see your point," Sarah admitted. "Well." She paused. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."
The inkling sighed, "Alright. No need to over think it right?"
Flashing a smile, "That's the spirit!" Sarah beamed. "Perhaps some games would help cheer you up?"
Splash grinned, "Fine but I want to play some Forza!" He laughed.
…
…
Splash stepped out into the ships wing as the rain poured down. Looking out to the small beach on the forest shore line. "So much rain!" The squid cried over the com system.
"Glad you got one of our suits! Or we'd lose our squid," one of the guys joke.
"Fuck you Mark!" Splash laughed.
Mark looked back at the only short one, "I'd rather not."
"That's not what I meant!" Splash blushed in his suit as the others just laughed.
Sarah cut in, interrupting the laugher. "Come on. We need to collect the data we need."
"And find a location for a surface base," John spoke up as he looked at Sarah.
"What?"
"A location that we can set a hidden outpost."
"Oh... Yeah." Sarah weakly laughed. "I forgot about that."
Shaking his head Splash sighed. He then ran past the group to their surprise to jump into the deep water. After a minute, he spoke. "Come on! Let's move our asses and get this over with!"
Giggling with a soft smile, 'That's my bro.' Sarah thought. Jolting off the wing into the ocean, Sarah followed her brother from another mother to the shore line.
Mark tapped John and motioned him to follow. "Come on!" He laughed and dove into the water.
"Why me," John sighed. Following suit, he swam to the shore line. Once they were all on the mini beach, John sent commands to the sub to have it auto submerge to hide.
'Glad they taught me how to swim…' Splash thought. He looked around his friends. "Alright now what?" He asked.
This time Mark spoke. "We are supposed to gather data remember?"
"I know that," Splash remarked. "I mean where are we going to get the data? In the forest? North? South? East? West?"
"Very funny," Mark shook his head. "We'll be going East first."
The rest nodded, "Then let's go." John spoke. "And about the hidden outpost problem." He walked west with the others following suit.
"What is that?" Sarah asked as she followed him through the forest. Looking down she started to feel the ground raise up in a gentle hill.
"I was using a done to find a place and I found a giant long beach cave east." John pushed a branch out of the way. "I think it'd be perfect and add to the fact that its five miles long."
"Bullshit," Splash laughed. "There is no way that!"
The four stopped as they found another mini beach before them. "Another one?" Max blinked.
"The caves are just a little way past here." John looked over his shoulders at three. "It'd be great because the caves can only be accessed from the water."
'Water only.' The words rung in Splashes mind. "Access only by water." Shaking his head, a bit of annoyance came to his face. "So how the splatting fuck am I to get in?!"
"By boat," supplies Max.
"Very funny," Hydro sighed. Right as he opened his mouth to speak he stopped and stared at something else across the sand.
Sarah waved her hand in front of her bros face and asked, "What's the matter?"
"Inklings."
Freezing in place they looked out to the small clearing, the group of four watched over to the other side.
Violet purple with a very pink neon hue shown up under the light reflected in the pouring rain. Her pink eyes shook in fright as the water drops burned her and two other companions. "Come on!" The violet one cried. She cried tears and her two friends struggled over the small grass field. Her two long tentacles reached her waist.
Behind her a yellow one with Dark skin came in after her as the rain pelted his body. The last of the three was a light skinned girl with deep dark blue tentacles.
"Cod! This splatting stings!" The Yellow one cried as the rain ate way at his exposed skin. Parts of his body was being ate way and dissolving and his two companions were not fairing any better.
"Come on!" The blue girl cried let's keep going!" She panted as she started to fall to the grass.
Pain…. It hurt, 'Oh shrimp.' The violet girl cried as she fell to the grass. "I can't go on…" She fell into the wet grass.
"Violet!" The Male went to pick her up but froze as a small pinging was heard above them. 'The rain stopped?' He thought.
"Look!" The last one of the three pointed to the sky. A small black disk was pulsing a light blue light as it just floated in the sky. But what was the most interesting thing being all of the rain that slide out and around them in a dome like shield.
"Damn glad I found you three." Splash smiled in his suit as he walked over to them. The boy lifted the girl up and tried to walk backwards but he was stopped. The Blue inkling prevented him from moving.
"What's the big deal?" He yelled.
"My arm," She held it up.
He starred at it. Dry. It was dry as a silver liquid was covering all of the missing flesh and dissolving holes. "He's saving us." She told him.
"How would you know."
"A girl just knows."
The boy sighed but yelped as the silver liquid wrapped around his legs to fill out all of the holes. As he looked over his cuts he felt Violet stirred awake as her cuts was getting bandaged by the silver liquid. "What?" Violet moaned.
As she looked up and shuttered while she stopped and starred at Splash who was guiding the Nano tech with his hands. And in return Splash could only stare into her eyes as he stopped.
Behind Splash, his three friends stepped out from the forest to allow themselves to be seen.
"Looks like little Splash got a crush!"
"FUCK YOU!" Splash flipped off his longtime friend. He turned and looked back at the inkling girl and spoke. "Are you alright?" He asked as the rain pelted the force field dome that protected them and the two-other inklings in the group.
The one girl who was staring at him stammered, "Y-you c-can un-understand us?" She hugged herself tightly. "And speak o-our lan-language?"
"It's my spices native language…" Splash told them making the three go wide eyed and shell shocked. He froze and put a hand over her mouth as she was about to speak. "Quiet." He softly spoke. "Here they come." He then went invisible as the rest of his group disappeared as well.
The three turned and looked out of the half sphere to see a few beings move from behind the trees. "Shrimp…" One of the three squids gulped.
The Pink girl shook in place as she stood weak in the knees. "No..."
Behind the trees on the bench was three figures that slowly walked out.
"What do we have here?" The male Octoling laughed. "Trying to run in the rain…." He stopped talking as he watched the rain collide with the barrier. "What the splat?" The Octoling that was about to speak up behind him opened her mouth only for her head to burst apart. The Octoling turned around to her body fall the wet grass. "What the splat!"
His eyes and his third companion with the three inklings, went wide as water ate away at the body. "Octiva…" He stuttered. Suddenly ink sprayed out in his vision as the last Octoling in his cell lost his head. "Great-" Pain. Pain shoot through his body only to it to leave as his head burst into ink while his helmet got torn off.
Violet starred with wide eyes as she watches the three fell to the ground turning into nothing as the water finished them off. "Their-"
"Gone." Splash smiled as he reappeared under the falling rain.
"You splatted them!" The Yellow Inkling gasped.
Gripping his arm, Splash looked away. "There is a difference between Splatting and killing." As he fell into silence his sister figure appears with her hand on his shoulder.
"ki eng?" The dark blue inkling repeated. "But they'll just respond!"
"No." Splash told them. "Killing, is forever. They'll never come back."
'They'll!' Shock covered the three inklings faces.
"Splash we need to get them to the boat to reconstruct their bodies." Sarah told her Inkling friend.
"I know," Splash could only respond.
Looking away Violet got lost in thought. 'Never come back? But they should respawn.'
Splash smiled sadly as he looked at the three inklings, "Come on. I need to rebuild your bodies."
Confusion cover the male inkling. "Rebuild?"
Splash didn't respond as the dome around the three collapsed around into a giant thin bag with the disk being drawn to Splash. It reformed into a not for Splash to grab and hold. With a hug, the bag shrank to hold the three tightly togather.
"Wait! Where are we going?" Violet turned to look at Splash with wide eyes.
"Home." He smiled, "A place where the Octoling can't go."
Finally! I got this done! Took a long time but it's worth it. Now this marks the end of the two chapter Prologue/mini series. Regretfully we will not be seeing them in the future chapters. I mostly wrote this because I have too many ideas and by writing this it allows me to write it and blend it into the story.
Even though it might seem like its unrelated, this does cover a few things I wanted to cover. Hydro and Scarlet awaking. And well mostly World Building. So hopefully you will enjoy this and wait for the next chapters to come out.
