Chapter 8

The Pit…Sarah's POV

Papa had returned. Okay Callie, work your magic.

"Hi Papa." Callie walked over. "Can I um…talk to you for a sec?"

Papa seemed confused, but walked over to her. She pulled him down a corridor just within earshot.

"I-uh…think I could use that…comfort you offered…" Callie told him. "After everything that's happened…"

"But you have someone." Papa remembered. "You said so yourself."

"It's just…we've been drifting apart…" She lied. "He's been so busy and I can't take it anymore…"

"Talk to him." Papa told her. "If he cares about you, he will listen. You may get that chance if you cooperate…"

Papa then walked back this way.

That didn't work…need a new plan…

"Papa," Guyver got his attention. "We have a request."

"What request?" Papa tilted his head.

"We'll get you Terry back IF you set these people free." Guyver said.

"If you don't do it willingly, I will make you." Papa said. "Those who take my children don't make demands of me. The others go free if they can strike me down."

Wait…

"How about I fight you then?" I suggested. "I'll fight you and they go free?"

Everyone was looking at me when I suggested that.

"Are you certain, little squid?" Papa asked. "I fight to the death…and I've never lost…"

"I know." I crossed my arms. "So how about it?"

"Heh…heh heh heh…" Papa seemed amused. "Alright…I'll give you time to prepare yourself…"

He then took his leave. I noticed Finnia in the group of Salmonids with a worried expression. She left with the rest of the Salmonids without a word.

"Sarah…um…WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Guyver started freaking out.

"Bluffing." I answered. "Apparently Papa's too noble to be the other guy in Callie's relationship, so I figured this'd be the perfect distraction."

"Because all of the gladiators would be watching the fight." Callie realized. "We'd already be outside and would just have to get the Saucer at just the right time…I'll radio Marina!

Callie started calling Marina through her headset. Guyver then walked towards me.

"Please be careful, Sarah." He sighed. "I'd really hate it if anything bad happened to you."

"I'll be fine." I assured him. "I can handle it."

"Oh, I know you can." He assured me. "I'm just letting you know."

Two Hour Later…

It was all set up.

Me vs. Papa.

I was given a large fork while he held a Trident. Similar enough, I guess…

He stuck his trident in the ground, dropped the upper parts of his armor, the shirt because why not, and…okay, so he's ripped...Still kept the helmet though…

He seemed to be waiting for something…oh…

I took my agent's jacket off. Well, I still have this chestplate that barely protects anything.

Papa tilted his head.

"What?" I called out. "It's technically armor, but girl has to keep her modesty, doesn't she?"

His head nodded a bit as if he was chuckling a bit.

He then took a battle stance.

I took one too.

"It doesn't have to be this way." I told him. "We can both go away alive, with prisoners freed, and you with Terry back."

"You accepted the rules." Papa said. "My rules. You cannot back out. My will shall not be defied!"

I looked over at where the gladiators were seated. Most were watching in anticipation for what would happen next while Callie and Guyver had worried expressions on their faces. I gave them a confident 'I've got this' nod and returned my attention to my opponent.

"Fine…" I replied. "But what happens next is on you."

He remained where he was, clearly wanting me to attack him first.

I obliged him with a quick swipe at his feet that he easily blocked. I then made another swipe at his hands that he dodged. He then knocked me back.

"You won't kill me with those strikes." Papa taunted.

"Because I'm not trying to kill you!" I replied.

"Ah, you wish to disarm me…" Papa then set his Trident down. "You'll find I'm still dangerous without my weapon…"

I decided to drop my weapon too and put my fists up.

I ran up and threw a punch, but he easily blocked it, grabbed me, and slammed me on the ground.

"Fighting a larger, stronger, much more skilled opponent in unarmed combat…" Papa remarked. "Not…the smartest strategy…in fact it was very stupid…"

He wasn't wrong.

"Sorry to say, but your life ends here." He told me as he grabbed me and picked me up. "A nice effort though…I'll remember you…maybe..."

He carried me over to where his trident was, picked it up, and…stopped.

We could all hear a sound.

Papa and I looked up to see the Flying Saucer hovering over us.

"What are they doing here?" Papa was confused.

I then swung my foot back, then quickly forward, right between his legs.

The impact made him drop me and fall to his knees.

"NOW!" I called out as I turned into a squid and Super jumped onto the Saucer.

Callie, Guyver, and all of the Inkling and Octoling gladiators immediately did the same and entered the saucer from an opening in the top.

"Ha!" I chuckled. "Went off without a hitch!"

Before I could enter the Saucer, a dark green thing flew through the air and landed on the Saucer

Wait…that pointed head…those tentacles…

It shifted forms and readied its Trident.

"YOU HAVE DEFIED ME!" It shouted. "No one. NO ONE! IS GETTING OUT OF HERE ALIVE!"

Oh Cod…

Not only is he not a Salmonid...

Papa's an Inkling…

"You're an Inkling!" I shouted.

"Hm?" He seemed surprised by what I said. "Oh, you misunderstand…I was reborn in this form after I destroyed the Terror."

"You actually believe that?!" I glared at him. "Since when does a Salmonid as tall as Deca Tower turn into a normal sized Inkling?!"

"What are you implying?" He was confused.

"You didn't kill the Terror." I told him. "You are the Terror!"

He seemed to stop when I said that.

Uh…

He then started shaking and holding his head.

"Are…um…hello?" I tried getting his attention.

He was mumbling something.

"Lies of a squid…lies of a squid…lies of a squid lies of a squid lies of a squid-" He kept repeating.

"G-guys?" I called into the saucer.

"LIES OF A SQUID!" He charged at me with the Trident in hand.

I had no weapons…I was-

"I'm back!" Callie shouted as she jumped out with a Roller in-hand.

Before Papa could react, the Roller smacked him, sending him flying off of the Saucer.

"Now will you get in already?" Callie asked. "We're waiting for you."

"Y-yeah…" I followed her in.

I sat down on the floor. Guyver sat next to me.

"Well, that worked out." Guyver remarked. "Just…try not to scare me like that."

"I'll try." I said, leaning on him.

"You-uh…want a jacket?" He asked. "I mean, I don't mind you showing off what ya got, but it's a little chilly in this Saucer."

"Aw man," I groaned. "I left my jacket!"

"It's fine." He shrugged.

"No it's not!" I whined. "Marie gave it to me…"

"I'm sure she cares more about you than the jacket." He assured me.

"Yeah…" I nodded. "It's still a little chilly though…"

"Callie, can Sarah borrow your pink Jacket?" Guyver asked.

He then caught the jacket after Callie threw it over and put it around me.

"So where're we going?" Jade asked.

"Inkopolis!" Callie answered. "Home, sweet home!"

"Inkopolis huh?" Jade tilted her head. "Will they accept Octolings?"

"They won't even know you're Octolings." Guyver told her.

"Well, that's good…" Jade sighed. "So…is my Squad Leader there?"

"What's her name?" Guyver asked.

"Clair." Jade answered. "She's part of a group of Elite siblings."

"Oh, we know her." I told her. "She works at a music store."

"Well, it's good to know she made it." Jade then took something off. "Give her these for me."

I caught what she threw. They were military dogtags.

"You don't wanna give them yourself?" I was confused.

"She'll understand." Jade remarked. "I've never been one for mushy reunions. I'll find my own place in the city."

I guess that makes sense…from an Octarian point of view…to me, it doesn't make any sense...

"What about Harold and Clair's sisters?" Jade wondered.

"Clair's sisters are mindless zombified drones in an ancient testing facility and we have no idea who Harold is." Guyver told her.

"Huh…" Jade seemed to be thinking. "I hope that softy didn't get himself killed…"

Suddenly, we felt a bumb on the ship…then another…

We looked out the window to see Salmonid Motherships bumping into us.

Of course we wouldn't be in the clear just yet…

"Crank up the Speed, Marina!" Callie shouted into her headset.

We started to fly faster. However, the Motherships started flying faster as well. They weren't bumping into us anymore, but they were on our tail.

We just need to find a way to shake them off…