This wasn't the first time Eight had been to Inkopolis Plaza. After seeing it referenced so many times in magazines found throughout the metro, it had been one of the first places she wanted to visit. She had been more than a little disappointed when she found it nearly deserted, populated only by a handful of people who enjoyed the nearby skate ramps. Most of the hip-happening shops had been replaced with more mundane ones too; although, the Squid Sister's old studio had been turned into a gift shop for their merchandise and still seemed to be drawing a decent crowd. Next door, one outlet was being converted into a café.
One thing that hadn't changed was the large screen that overlooked the plaza. As part of the buildup towards the new final splatfest, the screen had been playing the events of every splatfest the Squid Sisters had hosted from first to last.
For Eight, it felt a little special seeing them from back then. They seemed so youthful, and they even had a kind of innocence to them they didn't seem to have anymore.
The large screen read 10:10, time for her to go. She didn't want to arrive too early lest she potentially give away the operation. Fortunately, the lack of people in the plaza made it easier to sneak into the sewers unnoticed and the route to Cuttlefish Cabin was shorter from the plaza.
She swam along the sewers in octopus form, wondering how she was going to keep Captain Cuttlefish from either trying to interfere with the operation or going crazy.
Well, I suppose I wouldn't be happy either if my subordinates conducted an unauthorized operation, especially one so risky. Still, the Captain isn't unreasonable. Surely he wouldn't have been opposed to-.
A hand suddenly reached out from a small alcove and grabbed her, pulling her into the alcove with it.
Eight struggled, wriggling her eight tentacles, but a familiar voice spoke to her in quick, sharp tones. "Settle down, Agent 8. We've got trouble.
Captain Cuttlefish? Eight went still and the elderly inkling released her. He gestured for her to take a peek at the grate just ahead.
Eight shuffled along in her octopus form and used her suckers to climb up the sides until she reached the grate on top and then made absolutely certain to camouflage herself before pushing gently up through it. What she saw made her blood chill.
Octolings, roughly a dozen in number, stood around Cuttlefish cabin, all armed and wearing goggles except for one, clearly the senior officer. Worse than that, however, Octavio was free.
"You didn't take as long as the last ones to get me out, so I'll give you credit for that, at least," she heard Octavio say. "But did it really have to take so long?"
The officer bowed in apology. "I'm sorry, My Lord. We- I've only been in command a few weeks. I came as soon as I thought there was an opportunity."
"Nevermind," Octavio groused. "The inklings stupidly sent all their agents out to free some prisoners from the Polip Prison facility. By now, they're probably on their way back."
Eight tensed. Octavio had managed to hear all of their planning? She supposed it shouldn't have mattered given that he was imprisoned, but now, suddenly, it seemed careless.
"That's why I was hoping to get you to safety before they do," the officer continued. "If we hurry we can-."
"If we hurry we can set up an ambush," he interrupted.
The officer flinched. She looked shocked, even horrified at the suggestion. "But, My Lord, there are only a dozen of us, against all four agents. Even in an ambush scenario we-."
"And just what do you think would happen if we ran away from here?" Octavio bellowed. "As soon as they found me missing they'd chase after us. You'd have to fight them regardless. This way, we have a chance to take them out when they least expect it, right in front of their own headquarters."
Eight felt a surge of panic. If they managed to create a killzone and caught the agents by surprise - tired, and burdened with their charges, they just might succeed in taking them all out. She couldn't let that happen.
The officer seemed reluctant but she saluted and began passing out orders. The other soldiers were a mix of eagerness and apprehension but did as instructed, heading back the way they came to a more advantageous position. Octavio followed them, chuckling to himself.
The officer grabbed one soldier, holding her back.
"You stay and watch that grate," she pointed in Eight's direction. "We don't want anyone coming up behind us."
The soldier, who couldn't have been more than fourteen, formed her lips in a near pout but wandered towards the grate as instructed. That done, the officer hurried after the rest of her command and Octavio. Eight felt sorry for her.
Dropping from the grate, she hurried over to Captain Cuttlefish who was still waiting in the alcove.
"They are setting up an ambush for the agents."
"I heard." Cuttlefish grunted. "Agent 3 and Agent 4 should have been on their way back from their mission a while ago, at least in time for me to get a message off to them before those eight-legged bottom-feeders arrived. Erm, no offense. I've tried calling Agents 1 and 2, but they're not answering."
"Hm," was Eight's reply to that. It seemed the captain was unaware that Callie and Marie were also on this mission and that Three and Four were not doing the mission they had been assigned by him, at least not yet.
"I am sure they are on their way now. Perhaps they ran into trouble on the way back."
"Probably a distraction to keep them busy while they freed Octavio," Cuttlefish grumbled. "Did they leave a guard?"
"Just one. I think I can handle her."
"Risky. Coming out of that grate, you're vulnerable."
"True, but she will not be expecting an octoling."
"Which just makes it more likely she'll shoot first without checking her target."
"It will work," she assured him. "I can make it work."
She didn't wait for his approval. She made her way back to the grate and peered out of it again. The girl left behind sat on a patch of grass next to the grate, octoshot in her lap. Eight was glad she had worn her uniform for today, as well as her ink tank. Unfortunately, her octoshot was in the cabin.
We'll, this is still nothing compared to the metro. She took a deep breath and passed through the grate.
The guard was late in noticing her, not reacting until Eight had nearly finished reforming. Startled she leapt to her feet and pointed her octoshot at Eight, taking a few steps back, and then lowered it slightly when she recognized her as an octoling.
"Hello," Eight greeted casually. "Are you lost?"
The guard frowned and looked around. "N-no. I'm standing guard. What are you doing here? Why did you come through that grate?"
"Because I needed to come here."
Eight could imagine the girl blinking in confusion behind her goggles as she took another step back.
"Why did you come here?" She asked, rephrasing her earlier question.
"Because I was needed here."
The guard frowned. "You're reinforcements?"
"Something of that sort." Eight stepped off the grate and began walking casually towards Cuttlefish Cabin. The guard, looking more puzzled than ever, followed her.
"Wait, how do I know you're not a mimic?"
Eight looked back at her over her shoulder without breaking stride. "An inkling mimic? Such a thing exists?"
"For all we know they could."
Eight shrugged her tentacles. "I've seen plenty of inklings but I've never seen a mimic."
"But that's exactly what a mimic would say."
Eight sighed and walked into the cabin. It had often been a mess, despite Marie's best efforts, but this was probably the worst Eight had seen it. Papers were strewn everywhere, drawers and cabinets were all opened and even the futon bed had been tossed aside. But, the map was untouched, as were the cork boards, so it wasn't the worst ransacking.
Eight wandered over to one of the lockers where the agents kept items they didn't want to risk losing on a mission. They had all been opened and she made a quick check. Three and Four's phones were both still there and although things had been rummaged through, there didn't appear to be anything missing, just displaced.
"We were told not to disturb anything until lintelligence could get here," the guard told her.
"I'm sure they'll appreciate that."
Eight went to her own locker and pulled out her octoshot and a pair of binding straps, pleased to see them untouched. The guard lifted her octoshot warily but Eight just smiled at her.
"What's your name, soldier?"
The guard frowned. "Trooper Vella Stormhook."
"Stormhook is a good name for a soldier."
Vella smiled proudly. "I thought so. It is my father's name; my mother's name is Turfer."
Eight stiffened and she stared wide-eyed at the other octoling. "M-my mother's name is Turfer."
Vella paused and then lifted her goggles, revealing a pair of stunned amber eyes. "Conko Turfer?"
"Yes!"
They shared a gasp and then, without thinking, Eight ran over and hugged her, her hearts soaring.
"I can't believe it. I'd given up on ever meeting one of my sisters."
Vella hugged her back, almost clinging to her. "I never thought I would meet one of my older sisters either. I thought you all probably died during one of the inkling invasions."
Eight frowned and pulled back. "What inkling invasions?"
Now it was Vella who frowned. "How could you not know?"
"I fought in the battle against Agent 3 alongside Octavio," Eight explained. "That was my very first real battle. I don't remember it ever being referred to as an invasion though."
Vella gaped. "You fought the Green Demon? You lived?"
Eight felt her hearts sinking again. The mention of Three reminded her why she was here. She had let herself get carried away. She was going to have to do something she honestly didn't want to.
"Yes, I lived. In fact, Agent 3 saved my life."
Vella frowned, eyes filled with confusion. "She… did?"
"Yes, Vella - Sister. Now I'm here to save yours."
Vella shook her head. "No, they're setting up an ambush and they're led by Lord of War Octavio-."
"There are four agents coming," Eight interrupted sharply. "Two of them have fought Octavio one on one before and come out victorious. I'm sure I don't need to tell you about Agent 3's reputation. It's well earned and Agent 4 is also highly skilled. Not only that, they're coming with other octolings, former prisoners."
"The Polip Prison," Vella acknowledged. "Yeah, we know. But if they're prisoners-."
"They're only crime was following orders," Eight replied harshly. "They did what they were told, what Octavio told them to do, like good soldiers. Yet, they were punished for it because they were 'inconvenient.' That's hardly the octarian ideal."
"But… then why would the inklings…" She trailed off, her face scrunched up in confusion.
"Rescue them?" Eight asked. "Because it was the right thing to do. And now, I have to do the right thing."
In a single flowing motion, she dropped her octoshot, and knocked Vella's own weapon from her hands. Vella was so stunned that she was unable to react when Eight grabbed her and forced her to the floor. By the time she fully registered what was happening, Eight had already bound her hands behind her back with one of the binding strips, too tight to let her transform.
"What are you doing?" Vella cried, struggling as Eight fought to bind her by the ankles.
"Saving you, like I said." Eight bound Vella's feet and then, carefully, pulled the communicator off Vella's tentacle, unable to look her sister in the eye. "I'm sorry, but I can't let you interfere."
She stood and heard Vella whimpering. It broke her soul more than she feared it might.
"Why are you doing this? Are you a traitor?"
"Some might call me a traitor," Eight replied softly. "But whatever people call me, right now I'm going out there and I'm going to save your squad, if I can." She sighed. "I'm sorry. I know you're confused, angry, feeling betrayed, but I don't have time to explain everything. I will later though, I promise. Hopefully, when I do, you can find it in your soul to forgive your big sister."
Eight started to leave but paused at the threshold. Then, she slowly reached into her pocket and removed her phone. She scrolled with her thumb to her music app and then set it on the floor next to Vella, who stared at it.
"Maybe this will help. I'll be back soon."
Eight left the cabin just as the first beats of Calamari Inkantation played, tears stinging the corners of her eyes, not looking back.
Captain Cuttlefish was tottering towards the cabin when she emerged.
"Nice job, Agent 8. Pretty clever how you took her out. Hope you didn't add to the mess in there too much." He was joking but Eight couldn't bring herself to smile. That wasn't his fault though.
Eight took a deep breath to calm herself.
"She is tied up inside. Please do not harm her."
Cuttlefish paused, his old brows creasing. "You took her prisoner?"
"I will take responsibility for her when I return."
"That's not what I-." He cut himself off and waved his hand. "Never mind. We have more pressing things to deal with, but where are you going?"
"I have to stop the ambush. I'm going."
"Don't be hasty. Once I get a hold of Agent 3 and 4, they'll know it's there."
"But if they positioned themselves well, then Three and Four will have to go through the killzone to get to them. I cannot allow that."
Cuttlefish sighed. "Fine, but try not to get in trouble before you have backup."
"I'll do my best." Eight fastened Vella's communicator to her own right-front tentacle, then ran after the other Octarians.
Three crouched atop a pile of concrete rubble, scanning left and right for signs of movement. There was a slight wind now, gently kissing her face with fresh, cool air, very welcome after the intense fight in the dome. Although, if she was honest, she had the easiest time of everyone down there.
She glanced behind her where Four sat perched atop a piece of reinforced concrete sticking up from another pile of rubble like an extended finger. She alternated between holding her charger and occasionally looking at something through the scope. She bounced in place a little bit, eager to get moving.
Below, sheltered within a ring of debris, the former prisoners were enjoying a simple meal of protein bars supplied by Callie and Marie. Apparently, they had just eaten prior to the alert going up and so urged the agents to keep going rather than stay in the dome and eating there. Even Marie had to admit that staying in the dome where they could be trapped inside was probably pretty stupid and so amended her plan.
It was easy to see Marie's earlier logic though. Even surrounded by mounds of debris, the group was vulnerable and there was a lot of other debris around that could act as cover for any approaching foe.
The liberated octolings seemed delighted to be out of their prison and in the open air. They chewed slowly and thoroughly on their food and took frequent, careful sips of water. Once they had rested a bit, they would continue towards the cabin.
Three's headphones crackled as Captain Cuttlefish's voice came through.
"-ome in. Agent 3, Agent 4, do you read me?"
Here it comes, Three grimaced.
"Agent 3 here."
"Agent 4, here." Four's voice sounded pained.
"Finally," Cuttlefish sounded very relieved. "Where have you been? Wait, what are Agent 1 and 2 doing there? Who are all those octos? Did all of my agents decide to take prisoners today?"
Three frowned. "What do you mean?"
"We have a prisoner in HQ that Eight captured. Won't tell me anything useful though."
"I'm a prisoner of war, and I was never told I had to say anything to you."
Three stared across the gap to Four and they both shared the same look of confusion.
"Why is Eight suddenly taking prisoners-." Three cut herself off as a horrible realization dawned on her.
"Right," Cuttlefish growled. "While you lot were off making friends, Eight was here helping me protect headquarters and all of Inkopolis from an invasion! Octavio's escaped and Eight's run off to stop an ambush that's waiting for you just beyond here."
Three cursed inwardly. Eight was probably going to try and talk down the other octolings, getting them to surrender or just go home. Maybe she would use non-lethal ink to try and take them down. That was never ideal. Non-lethal ink didn't just allow your opponent to put themselves back together after about five to ten minutes, but it also took more shots to bring down an opponent.
"Put the girls on," Cuttlefish demanded.
Three flashed blue and climbed down the rubble pile. Marie watched her approach and eyed the headset in Three's hand, and then looked back at Three.
"We're not here."
"He has a camera on us," Three said. "He can see you."
Marie's mantle turned maroon and she reluctantly accepted
"Hi, Gramps."
"Don't 'hi gramps' me, young lady. You two are in a huge amount of trouble right now. If it weren't for all the octos waiting in ambush for you I'd hustle over there and whack your behinds until they glowed blue!"
The two older girls grimaced, violent ripples travelling through their mantles.
"So, I'm guessing that someone snuck up behind us and have us cut off?"
"And ransacked our HQ and freed Octavtio, again, and now Eight's run off to… well, I honestly don't know what she plans to do against two whole squads of octos. I just hope she'll wait until you get there, which you better do quickly!"
"Okay, we get it," Marie said. "We'll do it."
"Now, Agent 2."
"Yes, sir."
Marie returned Three's headset. "You and Four go on ahead and take care of that ambush. We'll get home when we can."
"Understood. We'll come back for you once that's done."
Marie flashed green and then Four trotted up.
"Can I have my dualies back?"
"Might as well." Marie traded weapons with Four and then the two younger agents hurried off.
"Four," Three said as they jogged along. "I need a favour and it's going to sound stupid. We might even get in trouble."
Four laughed. "We're already in trouble. As soon as the Captain's finished with Ma- with Agent 1 and 2, it'll be our behinds he goes after next."
Three smiled grimly. "I guess so. Listen, here's what we need to do."
Author's Notes:
So, yes, I gave Eight a little sister. Typically, Eight is the little sister character in Splatoon stories, so I wanted to try and do something different. I think it adds a little more weight to what's about to happen in the next chapter too, along with any future decisions that Eight makes. Stay tuned for the next chapter where the ink hits the fan.