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Chapter 8
Friday Night…
I was given permission to go to the lounge again, escorted obviously.
I got an Octocola from Joe and asked him about that Merisse girl. He told me she wasn't here yet, but would let me know when she was. I sat down and played Piano while I waited. I noticed more Octarians were in the lounge today…actually, it seemed more have been showing up since my first time visiting the lounge. I'm uncertain why…
After a while of playing, a Twintacle gave me a piece of paper with the note She's Herewritten on it. I stood up and walked to the bar. One-Eyed Joe nudged his head towards an Octoling woman upon seeing me and I sat next to her.
"Hello." I greeted her. "Merisse, I assume?"
She looked over to me, surprised to see me talking to her.
"Oh, uh-yeah." She replied. "Hey, you're that Inkling girl I've heard about."
"I imagine my being here was news all around." I shrugged.
"Well, that and your music." She added.
"My…music?" That caught me off guard.
"Yeah, I heard your piano playing." She told me. "A lot of my subordinates were talking about you. You're becoming somewhat popular here…"
My eyes widened at that. The Octarians like my piano playing?
"So what's a semi-celebrity like yourself doing talking to me?" She wondered. "You seemed to already know my name, so I assume you were looking for me?"
"You…could tell that?" I was surprised.
"I work in the security wing." She then took a sip of her drink. "We're trained to be able to read people. Pick up on subtle clues like someone's use of words and tone. So why do you want to talk to me?"
"Uh…w-well, I was wondering how much you knew about Sieg." I told her. "I was told you were active in the Gorge before he became Commander. I'd appreciate it if you could share some insight on him."
"…Why?" There came the question.
"I want to know more about him." I explained. "It's an odd curiosity. I he does things I don't understand. He squidnaps me, but acts like and treated as someone noble, he seems to respect others, but despises being touched. I don't understand him at all and when I ask, he refuses to answer."
"…So you decided to come to me because you heard I might know something?" She guessed.
"Yes." I nodded my head.
"…Well…if it gives you Inklings a better understanding of us and how we aren't all huge monsters like in your old war propaganda, then I'll share what I know." She actually agreed.
"Alright, what do you know?" I asked.
"Well, from what I know, Sieg came out of the tubes, like many of us did." I had no idea what that meant. "But I hear he came out a little earlier. No idea what happened between that and then, but he ended up getting basic training when he was 14. There, he trained under Cass."
"Wait, Cass?" I recognized the name. "As in his squad's Captain?"
"The very same." She confirmed. "I wanted to be her friend once, but I cut that short when she whipped him with a smile on her face."
Wait…
"S-so those sizable scars on his back were from when he was whipped?" I asked.
"He has scars from that?" She seemed surprised. "I mean, it looked like it hurt, but wow…"
She didn't know?
"Yeah, Cass beat him down for a whole year before they lost to the Splatoon." She explained further. "After that incident, Sieg changed…"
"Changed?" I tilted my head.
"Yeah, he was a shy, scared, wimp for the longest time." She said. "But after the Splatoon encounter, something in him snapped. He injured Cass's arm right after and stopped taking carp from anyone."
"Huh…" That was interesting… "So what happened after that?"
"He rose through the ranks." She continued. "He became one of the Commander's Lieutenants after an infamous one named Sasha suffered from an 'accident' ."
Accident…sure…
"What'd she do?" I was curious to know.
"You're better off not knowing." She assured me. "She was very much disliked by her recruits…Let's just say Sieg probably went through every kind of abuse you can imagine."
…Oh Cod…
"W-wait, Cass abused him too…" I pointed out. "Why's she on his squad?"
"Shell if I know." She shrugged. "Sieg says she can lead a squad efficiently enough, but I don't know…"
"Maybe there's more?" I guessed.
"Maybe…" She guessed. "I know is he wants to improve our living status. The Gorge wasn't the best place to be before he took power…in fact, it was a cesspool…he improved it though…a lot…"
Hm…
"So…he's improving the Gorge, but…he doesn't like being touched because he was badly abused?" I guessed.
"Probably putting it lightly, but I guess…" She took another sip.
"…That would explain that part…" I said. "But what about those pictures in his office?"
"No idea." She shrugged. "Asked once and he didn't want to answer. From the tone of his voice when he asked, I don't think he'll ever want to answer."
I took a second to think about that…
How to get more answers…?
"If you want more answers, I'd suggest asking Elise." She recommended. "I'm sure you've probably noticed his strength? Elise's father was a Doctor who worked on him, so he was probably subject to some sort of crazy experiment."
Experiment?
"You…seem to be oddly interested in helping me…" I noticed. "Why?"
"I feel like the guy has a few too many secrets." She told me. "It's the job of the security wing to watch over the Gorge, search for traitors, and make sure we're all open and honest…I want to make sure he truly has our best interests in-mind."
"I can see that." I really could. "So my next lead is Elise then…"
"I would say so." She nodded her head before taking another sip. "In the meantime though, why don't you show me some of your piano playing?"
"You know what?" I looked at her. "I think I will."
I returned to the piano and continued playing. A few watchers clapped after I was finished. That admittedly brought a smile on my face. I gave them a small wave before leaving with my escort to my sleeping pod.
Tomorrow is a new day with more answers…
