Well figured with the last content update hitting Splatoon, I'd post something here.

Chapter 2: What's next?

Kelp was just at his locker, getting his stuff ready. "All right squid, you've got some explaining to do!" Kale said slapping him on his back.

Kelp just cried out in pain. Every muscle in his body hurt. "Don't do that Kale!" Kelp cried out. "It hurts, everything hurts, I never knew such pain existed..." he just collapsed towards his locker, and tried to support himself with his shaking arms.

"Are you okay?" Kale asked.

"Do I look okay?!" Kelp snapped back.

Kale just nervously laughed. "Uh... No..." He said. "Listen, I tried calling you last night, and you never picked up, what were you doing?" Kale asked.

Kelp just weakly laughed. "Turf war, after turf war. I went and got a membership, and well... I lost track of time and kind of stayed there until after midnight, and... well when I woke up this morning, I could barely move..."

At those turf wars, he was having a blast. After the first few games, River and Arden stopped being hostile towards him. With Artemis they were able to win a couple of games, and after that they had all exchanged numbers and agreed to meet up once again.

"Alright, Squid! You're going to have to spill it." Kale said, bringing Kelp back to reality. "How did you meet him? How did you know him, let alone get on the team."

Kelp just began to nervously laugh. He was secretly dreading this moment, and how he would probably have to endlessly repeat it throughout the day. "I was just at the right place at the right time, and we actually have two classes together, and... We sat beside each other in art." Kelp replied. "He's in our history class, he was the person who angered the teacher yesterday."

"What?!" Kale said rather surprised. "That's him!?"

Kelp just nodded. "Yeah."

"No way..." Kale replied. "I should have realized that he was new..."

"Well, in your defense, weren't you the one who said 'who cares about history? Who cares about the great Turf War? The Octarians are never coming back!' and you rarely pay attention to that class anyways." Kelp laughed.

"Well now I have a reason to pay attention." Kale replied. "Well, I guess I'll see you in second!"

With that, Kale ran off, and Kelp was left alone. He honestly dreaded this moment, at least if Kale was with him, he could try to brush people off. At least in the hallways people weren't stopping to talk to him. But as soon as he entered into his first period class he was suddenly bombarded by other inklings.

"How do you know Leviathan?" They would ask.

"Um, pure coincidence?" He would reply. His only hope was that both Ink and Ika were also going through something similar. He was also a bit nervous about Levi, now that the word was out, how was he getting around school. Was he drawing crowds?

First period was just slow and painful. He could hear the whispers traveling around the classroom. For the first time he really noticed just how uncomfortable the seats could be. How hard and solid they were. But eventually it ended. A few people stopped him in the halls to say congratulations, but nothing else, since they were most likely rushing to their second period class as well. When he got to his second period class, waiting outside the classroom was Levi. Inklings were passing him by, not paying any attention. There was the odd inkling that gave a 'wait, is that?' look, but they just continued on their way.

"Hey." Kelp said.

"Hey yourself."

"I'm surprised you're back here."

"Eh, don't really want to be. I kind of just wanted to meet up with you, and didn't know where you were coming from, so want to skip?" Levi laughed.

"Yeah, sure." Kelp said. He had already looked ahead. There was nothing important that they were going to learn in history today.

"Ah good." Levi said. "I'm glad, I can't say that I really wanted to go back into that class. I may transfer out to a different one..."

They quickly walked away before the teacher came and saw them. Quickly Kelp pulled out his cell phone, and texted Kale. "Hey, I'm skipping, want to meet up at the usual spot?"

The reply was almost instantaneous. "Yeah, sure."

"Here, follow me." Kelp said. He began to lead Levi through the hallways, until they eventually got back to Kelp's locker. Waiting right beside it was Kale.

Kale was just looking at Kelp a bit confused, and then at Levi. "Is that?"

"It is." Kelp replied. "Um, this is my friend Kale."

"Nice to meet you." Levi said.

"Kale, you know who this is, and don't say it out loud."

Kale just nodded. "It's nice to meet you too." He said.

The hallways became emptier and emptier, and then the second bell rang. There were a few inklings who just began to rush to their next class.

"So where do you want to go?" Kelp asked. "We normally go to a strip mall about a 5 minute walk away from here. The hall monitors at least don't bug us there."

"Well, I wanted to go and maybe get something to eat, but well, I think I need to talk to a few people first." Levi replied.

"Ah, okay, well, don't let me get in the way."

"No, you're included in the people I need to talk to Kelp." Levi said.

"Well don't mind me then." Kale sighed.

"Oh, yeah, sorry." Kelp said. "I asked him to skip with us."

"He can come too." Levi said. "It's going to eventually be public knowledge anyways, so I see no reason to hide it." Kale seemed a bit relieved about that. "Follow me."

"Wait public knowledge?" Kelp said a bit confused.

"Yeah, don't worry about it." Levi replied. "Just follow me, and I'll explain everything."

Levi began to lead them through the hallways. Eventually leading them to the club room.

"Um should we really be here?" Kelp said.

"We're ranked members now, we have the right to be here as much as any other ranked member."

"Then what about me?" Kale wondered.

"Just get in there." Levi said as he forcefully pushed him in. Kelp followed behind and walked into the club room.

Kelp looked around a bit surprised. It somehow felt different this time. While he came here a few times before, mainly just to deliver his sister's lunch which she had forgotten, it always felt different. There was an intimidating air around the place. But now, that air seemed to have vanished. He just looked around, looking at the various posters that decorated the walls. Each moment he was questioning 'was that here yesterday?'. The only time his eyes actually froze and stayed focused on something was when he saw his sister sitting behind a desk.

"Why aren't you in class?" Naomi asked.

"I'm sorry sis, but Levi asked me to skip, and... Hey, wait, why aren't you in class. Second isn't your spare." Kelp said.

Naomi just let of a sigh. "Well, I was told to come here to the club room for some reason. Just remember when we get home, we're having a long talk because I want to know where you were and what you were doing last night. And need I remind you about your current school attendance."

"Can we save the sibling quarrel for later?" Levi said.

"Yeah, some of us would like to know why we're here." Ink added on.

Kelp just froze, trying to figure out if they had been in the room the whole time. "Yes, we've been here the whole time." Ika said.

"How did you know what I was thinking?!" Kelp said surprised.

"I wouldn't be a good charger if I couldn't figure out what my opponents were thinking." Ika replied. "Besides, it was written all over your face."

Kelp just nodded. "I see."

"Yeah, kid, if you ever think of being a charger. You have to put yourself in your opponents shoes, and think 'where are they going to run to next?'" Ika said. "The laser scope can only frighten them so much. If you can't predict and hit them, you're useless as a charger."

Kelp just nodded, he was intimidated by her. It was like she was looking through him.

"Just relax." Ink said patting Kelp on the back. Kelp just jumped away in surprise.

"What the!?" Kelp said. "When did you get right there?!"

Ink just laughed. "Oh, sorry. It's a bad habit I guess from the days I was a roller."

"You erase your presence, and attack from the shadows." Levi replied, with a huge grin on his face. "You are an old pro. I am so glad I came here! And of all the people I got to form a team with. This is great! If it's with you guys, it's possible!"

"And what do you mean by that?" Ika wondered.

Levi just sat down. His happy expression had faded. He just looked around the room. "Sit down." He said. Ink, Kelp, and Kale followed suit. "I called you all here because things are about to change here at Inkopolis Private Academy."

"And what do you mean by that?" Naomi asked.

"This blew up far more than I thought it would." Levi sighed.

"And?" Naomi asked.

"How do we move up in rankings?" Levi asked.

"Well, you have to wait a week until the next time you can participate in a battle." Naomi explained. "At most you can only go up two ranks, so from 9 to 7..."

There was just silence. "We have a month then." Levi said. "So we can move up by then."

"A month until what?" Kelp asked.

"The Regional School Tourney." Naomi said. "And if you're here for that, I just want you to all know, we only send our top three teams to this one. And the fourth ranked team would also be on standby."

"Okay."

"This can wait a while, but if you're also thinking about climbing ranks, if or when you get to the fifth rank here in the school, you're going to need two more people to be in your squad." Naomi said. "However, once you reach rank 5, you can only move up 1 rank at a time."

"This seems needlessly convoluted." Levi said.

"Also, as new team members, know that your attendance and grades are important." Naomi said. "If you're failing, or constantly skipping, you can and will be pulled from the team. So, Kepkep, you're going to have to stop skipping."

"Yes, right!" Kelp said rather nervous.

"That seems fair enough." Levi said. "Anyways, here is the reason why I called you all together. Last night I received a phone call from a former team mate in Apex."

The cell phone just began to ring. Levi just opened his eyes and cursed at it. He reached over at the bedside table and picked up the phone, and looked at the caller display. He cringed at the number. He was just going to send it to voicemail but decided he better actually answer it. It was better to get the pain out of the way now instead of ignoring it. The person on the other end wouldn't like it if he was ignored.

"Hello Cetus." Levi sighed.

"Oh, that was quick..." The inkling on the other end laughed. "Were you expecting this call?"

"Honestly, I wasn't expecting it this soon." Levi said. "But I probably should have known it was coming sooner. Especially with what I did to your brother's Squad."

"So you did know, and you challenged him anyways." Cetus replied.

"No, I wasn't the one who challenged him, I was just an innocent bystander who was there to go along with the ride." Levi replied.

"And what a ride it was. I saw that match Levi. It was trash. You left us to go play some kiddie games with them?"

"If by 'left' you mean kicked off and evicted by you guys, then yes." Levi replied.

Cetus ignored Levi's comment and just continued to talk. "I'm disappointed, I thought you were made of stronger stuff."

"I thought your brother would have been too." Levi replied.

"He will be dealt with accordingly, and soon know how to properly wield a roller. A grueling boot camp should do the trick, don't you think?"

Levi just froze. "He's your own brother! You would subject him to that hellish training?!"

"He's trash. Maybe he will actually be half decent when he comes back, unlike the inkling who left us."

"What crap are you spouting now? I left you? You must have some different recollection of the events than I do." Levi replied. "Besides, this isn't some game, this is war Cetus."

"War?" Cetus replied. "Levi, you have no idea what war is, what you're doing is petty revenge. You're fighting a battle that you can't win and you're dragging some idiots with you."

"Am I?"

"Not with that team. That charger didn't know what she was doing. And that other shooter was a complete and total noob. But that one shooter. Ink, now there's a name I haven't heard in a long time. He's doing well, that's nice to see."

"Why wouldn't he be doing well?" Levi asked.

Cetus just laughed. "Oh, you don't know anything at all, do you Levi? I don't know if it's what you intended, but your little action has got our attention."

Levi just lied there in silence.

"What's wrong? Stunned into silence?" Cetus wondered.

"No, I just really want to go back to sleep. And you're certainly boring me to that point." Levi muttered.

"Well, that's fine. Sleep while you can. Because we'll be waiting. And soon your peaceful days will be over. Consider this a warning, and your last chance to run away because the next time we talk, it won't be on friendly terms."

That was all that Cetus said before hanging up.

"The reason why I joined here was I figured it was my best bet in finding a squad that could help me enact my revenge against Apex." Levi replied.

"What?!" Kelp and Kale shouted out rather surprised.

"The reason I'm not with them any more is well, I was essentially kicked off by them." Levi replied.

"And was there a reason for that?" Ika said rather bluntly.

"Sort of." Levi replied. "'You are just supposed to go where I tell you, and do what I say. Nothing more, that is your role.' I wasn't allowed to be autonomous. And when I went and did my own thing, they perceived me as a threat."

"So, 'you're a pawn, when we tell you to run your response should be 'how far?' When we tell you to jump your response should be 'how high?'' That's it, right?" Naomi asked.

"Basically." Levi replied. "Apex and other teams are not happy places. Turf War has changed."

"Turf War has changed?" Kelp said a bit surprised.

Levi just nodded. "How much do you know about the Great Turf war 100 years ago?"

"That it was a battle between the Octarians and us the Inklings, for domination of land when rising sea levels were threatening to wipe out everyone." Naomi said.

Levi just nodded. "Yes. That was a turf war with a purpose. But now, they've been transformed into a spectator sport."

"And what's bad about that?" Kelp wondered.

"That in itself is fine, but, even that's changed now." Levi said. "It's no longer fun. You know what I'm talking about, don't you Kelp? Yesterday you showed your love for Turf Wars. You felt them in their purity after ours. You went and signed up."

Kelp just nodded. "Right!" he said.

"Turf Wars in the big leagues aren't like that." Levi said. "They're different... They're mechanical, so much that Turf War has become a well oiled machine."

"What do you mean by mechanical?" Ika asked.

"Everything is controlled." Levi replied. "Gear, clothes. Squad members are monitored. To the point that everything is rigged."

"What?!" Everyone shouted.

"It's not the Squad's fighting out there. It's the corporations. Professional Turf Wars are controlled down to who wins. It's decided by who gives the most money. That underdog story, or that team that had the bad opening to the season, and just barely hanged on. It's all orchestrated. It's a drama production, and the athletes are just actors, dealing with the script that they're given." Levi explained.

"But that's... insane!" Kelp said.

"If they do so, they get a nice hefty paycheck and after a few years can live the rest of their life in luxury." Levi said. "If they don't, well, you're tossed aside and forgotten about rather quickly. I got off rather easy, they didn't try to do a drug scandal on me."

"Wait what?" Ink said.

"Yeah, those scandals about drugs being found in the possession of inklings, and then they go into rehab for some addiction. Another part of the production." Levi replied. "They disobeyed orders and were thrown away. Their lives ruined in the process to set an example."

"That's just crazy." Ika said. "You'd need a large organization to do this and keep everything under wraps."

"They do." Naomi said. "It's called Central."

Everyone just looked at Naomi in shock. Even Levi was surprised. "I'm surprised you know about them."

"I'm the head of one of the highest ranked Turf War Clubs at a high school in the country." Naomi replied. "I need to know my stuff, even if I don't act like it."

"Well, Central isn't exactly all that well known, they are kind of more of a behind the scenes type. Really all I know about them just amount to rumors and gossip like theres this rumor that they are working to create genetically modified inklings, and make the perfect turf war team." Levi said. "But I'm sure you all know that's not a Turf War."

"A Turf War is never fair. It is an extremely cruel world." Ink said. "Inklings are never born equal, and accidents do happen. Sometimes they're even intentional."

Levi just nodded in agreement. "Thank you. So, that's why I'm here. I'm here to fight Turf Wars themselves and what they've become."

"By fighting in a school tournament?" Naomi said a bit bluntly. "Hate to break it to you, but we're kind of amateurs."

"I know." Levi replied. "But what makes you think that they won't be coming for you next? Condition them early so that they don't break the rules and fight against it. Who knows, maybe they all ready have their seeds here. They've been planted and are ready to grow."

"I'd say that would make sense."

"The professional world is rigged. We need to fight it. That's why I came here. I was going to eventually make a Squad."

"And you're plan is?" Naomi wondered.

"I'm going to keep winning Turf Wars, no matter what." Levi said. "Keep winning, moving up, and then enter the big leagues, and fight there. Reject their notion of what turf wars are, expose them, and win to break the cycle."

Naomi just sighed. "You think it will be that easy. Well, I'm interested in seeing where this is going, so I won't complain. But you're going to have to make your way through our club, and through our rules first."

"Of course." Levi said.

"Now then, if you excuse me, I actually have classes to attend. Kelp, you can skip this period, but this is the last straw." Naomi just got up and left the room.

"Of course." Kelp shouted out to her.

They just sat there in the room for several minutes trying to digest the information. Ink eventually stood up. "Levi, can I talk to you for a few minutes, alone?" He asked.

Levi just nodded. "Yeah, I don't see anything wrong with that. Kelp, Kale, you two don't mind?"

"No, not at all." Kelp said. "Actually if that's all, we're going to start our way to that strip mall."

"Ah okay, I'll catch up later then." Levi said.

The two just walked out of the room, and out of the school, slowly making their way down the street and to the strip mall. There was a pizza parlor there that they just went in and ordered a few slices of pizza. The two sat down at a table, and waited for Levi to join them. But he never came.

They had to return back to the school and resume their day.

For the rest of the day, all Kelp could really think about was what Levi had explained. When he finally saw him in art he decided that he had to know.

"I've been thinking about it all day, and I need to know. Is what you said the truth?" Kelp asked.

Levi just nodded. "It is. Hate to break it to you this way... Sorry squid, but it's all rigged."

Kelp just nodded. "To be honest, it doesn't surprise me. When watching it, the story lines were always sending red flags off in my head. Were they just that good at making things up on the spot? Were they hyping things up in the event of a massive pay off at the end, and just got lucky?"

Levi just nodded. "It's the truth, and yet, people eat it all up."

Kelp just nodded. "I can believe it." He said. "I mean I believed it myself."

The rest of art class they just payed attention to the teacher who was currently detailing some techniques for painting. "Now then, I have an announcement to make." The Teacher said. "We're going on a field trip to the Museum d'Alfonsino next week. Be sure to pick up a permission form on your way out of class today."

Everyone just groaned rather bored. "The only time that place is any interesting is during turf wars..." Someone said.

Levi couldn't help but laugh in agreement.

The bell rang, they picked up the permission form and then made their way out to club practice. Their exercises consisted of warming up, doing some laps around the school, before finally partaking in some mock turf wars. They just all had their names added into a hat and were randomly drawn into squads of four. Much to his dismay, Kelp wasn't paired with Levi, Ink, or Ika.

They however were rather attentive and watching from the bleachers. "He's improved since yesterday." Ika said.

Levi just nodded. "During art he said he was up past midnight doing turf wars."

"He doesn't want to let us down." Ink said.

"Looks like we better stay on our toes." Ika laughed. "We don't want to let him down."

After the mock turf war, Kelp made his way to the bleachers. Levi just threw him a water bottle, which he caught, and he began to drink. "Stay hydrated." Levi said. "You don't want to dry out."

"Right." Kelp said.

Levi just got up, as it was currently his turn. They continued through the various rotations and mock turf wars. Eventually club activities were over, and they were sent to the changing rooms to clean up and change back into whatever they were going to wear on their way home. However on the way to the changing rooms, Kelp saw Kale just leaning against a wall. Kelp just quickly rushed up to his friend.

"Kale, what are you doing here?"

"Well, I figured I'd stick around to walk you home and talk." Kale said. "It's not normal we get to walk home together. I'm normally back here doing club activities, you rush home to play Calamari of Duty."

"Oh yeah, that's right." Kelp laughed. "Although, I wasn't exactly going home."

"Oh?"

"The Battle Lobby." Kelp replied. "Club practice may be over, but I'm still far behind everyone else, and I don't want to be a liability to my team."

Kale just nodded. "Is what Levi said true?"

"Yeah, I talked to him during art." Kelp replied. "He insisted that what he said was true."

"You guys are going to need two more people to join the team if you reach rank five..." Kale said.

"Yeah, but I figure we've got a while until that time, so we'll worry about it then." Kelp replied. "I'm not sure if the others are thinking that, but I feel that my job is to focus on the here and now."

"That's fair." Kale replied. "You mind if I join you at the battle lobby?"

"You do turf wars?!" Kelp said rather surprised. "I didn't know that?!"

"Eh, there was a few birthday parties where we did turf wars." Kale replied. "But that's about the limit of my experience."

"Ah, okay." Kelp replied.

"But I'm willing to participate if you are." Kale said.

"Okay!" Kelp replied. "Well we can learn together, and watch over each others backs."

"Right." Kale said.

Kelp came in through the door, and waiting at the table in the kitchen was Naomi. She was drinking something. "You're earlier tonight." She said.

Kelp just looked up and smiled. "Yep. Well, you know it's a school night, and everything. And you made a big deal about me staying out late, and I guess I need to actually pay attention in class now if I want to continue club activities."

Naomi just laughed at her younger brother. "When did you get so responsible?" she wondered. "Well go get to bed, and I better not find you playing Calamari of Duty when you should be sleeping."

"Yeah of course, although, why are you up so late? Wait, did big bro Hydros call?"

"No sorry. I was just making sure you got back safely." Naomi replied.

"Oh, you don't have to worry about me sis." Kelp said. "I'll be fine."

"Yeah, I know you will be." Naomi said.

As Kelp went into the washroom Naomi just breathed a sigh of relief. "You're safe Kepkep, that's all that matters."

After Levi had made his announcements, Naomi had noticed someone looming outside the club room. She just excused herself, and made her way out of the club room and quickly did a sharp turn to enter into a stairwell to catch an older Inkling who was doing his best to try and appear like he just got to the top of the stairs.

"Coach Flynn, eavesdropping really doesn't fit you." Naomi said.

"Noami, what are you talking about?" Coach Flynn asked. "I just got here."

She pulled out a concealed inkbrush, assembling it and holding it out in front of her. "You can quit lying right now." She said.

"Naomi." Coach Flynn said. "You're a smart girl, you should know what they were just talking about is dangerous."

Naomi just stared at him. "So, did Central send you as well?"

"Naomi, you must understand what they are trying to do is crazy and dangerous. Maybe it would be best if you stopped your little brother. You don't know what might happen."

"Are you trying to threaten me?" Naomi said, the air around her suddenly became much colder, and the two just stared at each other.

"I would do no such thing..." Coach Flynn said.

Naomi just glared at him.

"I'm just here for your own protection, Naomi." Coach Flynn said. "You don't know how dangerous Central is. You should quit ahead of time, so your childish delusions don't get you into trouble. You who has no idea how the real world works."

Naomi swung the inkbursh and stabbed it forwards, narrowly missing his head. "Don't you dare talk to me about how the real world works." She snapped. "Especially if you actually are from Central!"

Naomi just took a sip of her drink. "As long as you are safe Kelp."

Notes:

Don't really have any notes this time.

Names:

Hydros: Named after the greek primordial god.

Flynn: There is no actual meaning behind this name. It was just the first thing that popped into my mind.