Chapter 28: Home

Daniel barely struggled against his cuffs as two police officers escorted him down a dark hallway, occasionally passing by lights that illuminated his angry, grim, defeated expression. The voices in his head were on full attack, screaming at him from all angles without shutting up, as he passed by some "demons" in the darker parts of the hallway, grinning at him. At this point, they resembled Ayesha's horrifying smile. Something that would now haunt him forever.

Sergeant Johnson was standing by what was now his cell, a solitary confinement room. "Well, well, well… look who it is… man of the hour. The one man who has created so much buzz these past few months."

Daniel stopped, staring at him, as the guards continued to hold him.

"...How does it feel? You killed your parents, tried to kill your sister, worshiped a terrorist organization, ruined the NSS, and then tried to tear down the city. Bet you wish now that you had just remained a good boy, huh?"

"...No…" Daniel admitted. "…I think my only regret now is that I didn't burn myself down with that house…"

"Oh, boohoo, the murderer finally feels regret. I hope it sticks, because you'll have plenty of time to sulk over it for the rest of your life. You're never going to see your sister again. Or anyone meaningful to you."

"...Won't I?"

"You absolutely won't."

"...One day, officer, you're going to regret not killing Jessica when you had the chance… and worse than that… you're going to regret not killing me…"

"...We'll see." He turned to the guards. "Lock him up."

Daniel continued to stare at him as the guards shoved him into his cell, and Johnson stared back all the way until the door closed. A buzz sounded and a light turned red as the door locked behind him.

He looked around at his new home a bit as he sat down. Now, he was faced with a fate worse than death: he was trapped, alone, with his own twisted mind, and all the horrors it could possibly throw at him. His eyelid twitched some more, as he angrily stared at the wall.

A Week Later

It took some time for the city to begin recovering from the traumatic events Daniel had unleashed, but now, things were starting to look brighter for Inkopolis, on a particularly sunny day where they finally had a cloudless, happy blue sky, the sun shining down.

Granted, things weren't going back to normal. They probably weren't ever going to go back to normal. Life in the city was a bit different now, whether people wanted it or not, but at least now, there was again some hope for a positive future. A future in which now, people looked up to the vigilante hero that had saved them as an actual hero, in spite of everything negative she had done. Teenagers and artists were painting murals and graffiti of Agent 3 on some walls throughout the city, their perspective on her finally changed. Word had definitely gotten around.

At the orphanage, the orphans were once again situated back home and happy, running throughout the halls and playing games with each other, just like Jessica and Vanessa used to do when they were younger.

Vanessa was in her room, still crippled when it came to her leg, and had been supplied with crutches to help her walk. She was laid back on her bed, seemingly in deep thought about what she was going to do next, as she browsed her phone, looking through articles online about Agent 3, which had also grown more positive.

Dana knocked a little on the door, and entered slowly, holding a tray of food. "Brought you some food. Since you won't come out and eat otherwise." She set it down on the nightstand.

"Thanks…" Vanessa replied, setting her phone down as she sat up.

Dana was able to get a glimpse of what she had been looking at. "…Thinking about her a lot?"

"...Feels like she's all I can think about lately…"

"I know the feeling. Someone who has impacted your life so much that you just can't take your mind off of them. Like my old husband, for me."

"...It's different…"

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but at first, nothing came out, as she stood there silently for a few moments. "…I'm going to meet with Jessica today. I have a favor to do for her. You can come and talk with her."

"...I don't know if I should… I mean… I think we should… go our separate ways… she's clearly…" She looked back at the article. "…She has her own life again."

"...Doesn't mean that you can't be a part of it."

"I know what you're saying, but… it's like I said. We weren't meant to be." She leaned back. "…She made her own mistakes, and then I made mine… putting us together would be like setting a time bomb."

"...You've… made mistakes, yes. But I still think your intentions were good."

"...No… I was selfish… now, Susan is still dead, and I almost got the city destroyed…"

She sighed. "…Well… as much as we all do stupid things… I believe you still deserve happiness. So… come on down with me. You can talk to her. Find closure with her, if you must."

"...You just go…" She replied, curling up a bit without touching her food.

"...Alright. Just make sure you eat up, then. I want that tray to be empty by the time I get back." She went back to the door.

"...Ok…"

Dana gave her a last smile, before she headed out, closing the door.

Vanessa looked out the window, going back into deep thought.

Later

Inkopolis Cemetery

In Loving Memory

Jessica Murdock

Friend - Savior - Hero

Those were the words that had been inscribed onto Jessica's tombstone some months ago, and it had been sitting still ever since. At least, until some men started to pull it out of the dirt, as they got to work with refilling the hole it had been placed in so that the cemetery wasn't wasting space.

Jessica herself and Dana stood by and watched, pretty silently, until Jessica spoke up. "…Thank you for this."

"No, it's no problem." Dana replied. "You have no idea how relieved I am to know that you're returning to your normal life."

"...Yeah, well, I don't know what else I'd do if I didn't. I guess, that's… one thing I realized, after hiding away for so long. Some things you find, you… just can't be whole without… I'm started to get it now, why you spent so much of your life helping orphans more than yourself."

"That's very true…" She replied. "…I'm glad that you finally realize it."

"...Took me too long."

"Yes, it did… but… the past is the past. Can't change it. All we can do is look to the future, try and mold it into the best future we can."

Jessica just nodded a bit, and watched as, soon, her former tombstone was taken away, replaced with a fresh patch of dirt.

"...I can give you a place to stay for a while if you need, or, I can help you find somewhere." Dana continued.

"You've done enough, Dana." She turned to her. "…Thank you."

"You're always welcome, Jessica." She extended her arms to embrace her into a hug, which she returned, before they broke off. "My offer still stands, regardless."

Jessica turned to look a couple yards away, noticing a couple familiar figures. "…I think I'm good on that front. You won't have to worry about me."

"If you say so." Dana nodded, before she turned and noticed them as well. "Well… I guess I'll leave you to it, then."

Jessica nodded at her, and Dana gave her a last smile, before she turned to leave. Jessica turned to Cap'n Cuttlefish and Bridgett, who had somehow known to find her here, and she smiled a bit as she walked up.

Teary-eyed, Bridgett suddenly ran up to her and threw herself into a hug with her, catching her off guard. Cuttlefish just stood idly by, smiling at them as he held his cane. He had already started practicing his normal hygiene practices again, and looked much better than he did while he was in prison.

Jessica returned the hug, before Bridgett broke off, wiping a tear. Jessica moved to hug Cuttlefish next, who gladly returned it.

"So, um… I hear you've been looking over the city again." Bridgett said as they broke up.

"I have." Jessica replied, turning to her.

"...You're here to stay, this time?"

"Unless I die, yeah. Like I just told Dana, I don't know what I'd do otherwise. At least Daniel's put away now, hopefully for good, so… I get a clean slate. I get to focus on all-new problems, now. Hopefully not quite as large-scale."

Bridgett nodded gratefully, smiling.

"...What about the rest of the Splatoon? What's up with them?"

"The Splatoon isn't really… an organization anymore. It probably won't be again." Cuttlefish told her. "But, your Sergeant friend has really lightened up to us. It took some persuasion, but I managed to convince them to end their house arrest early, so they should be getting out soon, and charges on us have all been dropped. All we have to worry about now is the police breathing down our neck from now on."

"...I think Johnson trusts us. As long as we don't do anything stupid."

"Johnson trusts us. The rest of the IPD still seems shaky on the topic. Nothing we can do about that, honestly, it's gonna take some hard work to get anyone to truly trust us again."

"What happens if we get caught doing something they don't like?" Bridgett asked.

"More prison time. We'll need to be careful."

"...Yeah, well, I don't do careful." Jessica replied.

Cuttlefish couldn't help but chuckle a little. "…It's good to have you back, Agent 3."

She nodded in response, but at that moment, Jessica's new phone buzzed. She took it out to look at it. It was a phone that Johnson had supplied her with, and the officer had just sent her a text, instructing her to meet him on the station roof after sunset.

"...Speaking of police, I'd better get going soon." Jessica put her phone back in her pocket.

"Alright, young lady…" Cuttlefish replied, before he gave her another hug. She hugged him back, and they again broke off. "I'll be seeing you around."

"Yes you will."

He smiled underneath his beard, and turned to head off. Bridgett, meanwhile, was lingering where she was, looking as if she still had something she wanted to say.

Jessica turned to her. "…What's up?"

"...Just… where are you gonna be staying?"

"I'm looking for an apartment. In the meantime, I've been sleeping down in the bunker, but that's temporary."

"...Funny that you should say that, because… I've also been looking for an apartment. You know, like what I told you… before you left."

She raised an eyebrow. "Finally getting out of the house, huh?"

"Yeah… and now that you're back and all… maybe we can… find an apartment together? And that way… we can help each other?"

She thought about it for a moment, before she nodded a bit. "…Yeah, ok. Sounds possible."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Just give me some time to find somewhere, and we'll figure it out."

"Alright." She stared at her, before she also leaned in for another hug, which Jessica again returned. They held it for a good moment.

The Orphanage

As Dana returned home, passing by some kids in the foyer, the first thing she did was go back to check on Vanessa, to see if she had finished up her food like she asked. However, as she knocked on the door and slowly entered, she was met with a completely empty room instead.

In the hour that Dana had left, Vanessa had apparently finished eating, took care of the tray, tidied up her room, including the bed, and had packed up her short number of belongings, before leaving without a single trace. Not even her crutches remained.

Dana looked around, sighing. She had no idea where Vanessa would've gone, but she supposed that if Vanessa wanted to leave, that was her own choice. She just hoped that she would remain safe and healthy. With nothing left to do, she stepped back out, closing the door.

That Night

Inkopolis Police Station

Sergeant Johnson was waiting on the roof of the station building, patiently waiting for his meetup as it got dark out, a coffee in his hand as he tapped his foot and kept an eye on his watch. He was standing up there for several minutes, actually, but as more time passed, it looked more and more like Jessica wasn't going to show up. He looked around again, sighed, and was about to head back inside when he heard a voice call out to him.

"Commissioner Gordon much?"

He turned back to see Jessica land on the roof as she jumped onto it, once again wearing her complete Hero Outfit, cape included. She stood up straight as she walked over to him.

"...Gotta admit, I like the look." Johnson told her. "Shoes are a bit silly, but I did always think that you nail the whole caped vigilante look."

"It's Cuttlefish's design, not mine."

"Well, then tell him I said it." He sipped his coffee.

"Did you need something, Sergeant?"

"Not much." He leaned against the railing. "I just wanted to make a deal with you. I heard that you've already been becoming active in the city again since our supposed 'Judgement Day'."

"Well, crime's not gonna stop itself."

"Unfortunately true, but that's exactly why I called you here."

"You wanna yell at me over it?"

"Exact opposite, actually. I just wanted to tell you to keep doing what you're doing."

She raised an eyebrow a bit. "…You're already lucky enough to have kept your job the last time you let me go, you really wanna put your job on the line again?"

"It was never about my job. At the end of the day, I'm just trying to help out the city. Any way I can. Regardless of what Hertz or the other police think, I think you're a big help." He sipped his coffee again. "I'm going to be keeping a close eye on you and the Splatoon, don't get me wrong. I do still have to do my job, and like it or not, you guys are still on our radar. But from now on, I want to help. Even if secretly. I can help you track down criminals on our radar, and vice versa. It will be our own personal agreement, and I'm really hoping that you just keep it between us if you're in."

She thought about it. "…That does sound like it could help."

"It's the least I can do. The city owes you a great debt. A debt I can't fully repay."

"You won't have to worry about that. From here on out, I'm just here to help."

"I was kind of hoping you'd say that. Yet, still, I can't promise you that you won't get arrested if you get caught again."

"That's fine. It was always the risk anyway."

"...So, we have a deal, then?" He extended a hand.

She looked at it, before he took and shook it, nodding. "It's a deal."

Before Johnson could reply, his radio suddenly went off. "We have an active shooter and robbery situation down on Inker Street…" It started explaining the full situation.

Soon after, they could hear police sirens start up, as a couple police cars left the parking lot and began driving in that direction.

Johnson turned back to Jessica. "…Well, looks like there's already a job for you."

Jessica nodded and walked off, jumping up onto the railing as Johnson said one last thing.

"...Thank you for everything, Agent 3." He finished. "I look forward to working with you more."

She turned back to him briefly, and gave him a nod. "Just wait until the fun starts."

Johnson stood back and watched as Jessica launched off in a super jump in the direction of the police cars. She came to a landing on another roof, on which she rolled back to her feet and kept running, enjoying the feel of just being active again. Maintaining her speed, she flipped over some small building gaps, and even leaped over a billboard at one point. She soon came across an alleyway between two tall buildings, which she swiftly maneuvered, kicking off the bricks that formed the walls before she used her squid form to slip in an out of a fire escape. As she leaped out of the alleyway, turning the corner toward her destination, she used her grapple hook to swing off of the building and into action, her cape flowing behind her.

The End

Alright! This whole story has been almost a year in the making, longer if you include planning, and although I didn't intend for it to take so long, especially after NSS:U only took me a month, writer's block and some other stuff did get in the way. I wanna give a huge thank you to those of you who stuck this whole violent trip out and left reviews when you could. It makes me so happy whenever I get the emails, it really does, and it does really help with motivation. So, seriously, thank you.

Now... what happens next? Here's the thing, I actually have a lot of plans for this universe, and I just have so many notes stacked up because of brainstorming I did while writing this. As far as short term projects, I'm planning on going full-swing on NSS:OD soon, and yes, Jessica will be coming back as a main character. I have quite a few ideas for it right now that I'm getting eager to write so expect that soon. As far as other projects, I have ideas for some standalone one-shots that will help expand on this universe, and you may be seeing some familiar faces in them... As far as my next big project like this and NSS:U, though... I plan on having details for it on my profile soon, since I know what it is and I've been silently planning it for a while. So keep an eye out for that if you want.

Last thing. Before anyone asks, yes, I do have ideas for a direct sequel to this, again centered on Agent 3. But, assuming things go well, that will be a project I will tackle in the far future, yet I figured I could say now that the concept already exists and I have a pretty good idea of what's gonna happen in it.

Until then... make sure you all stay safe and healthy, and I shall hopefully see you again in NSS:OD. Bye! *waves*

It was a somewhat busy day at the Inkopolis airport; Following the recent events that had happened to the city, there were understandably many people that were growing too paranoid to live there at this point.

One particular Octoling was walking down to catch her plane in time, and had hidden herself in a full hoodie and sunglasses, her head down and hands in her pockets. She looked as if she didn't want anyone to see her skin, specifically.

Her walk was going normally, until a man accidentally bumped into her, knocking the glasses from her face. "Oh, I'm sorry, miss." He politely apologized, and made up for it by picking it up and handing it back to her.

"Thanks, babe." She reached forward and took it, revealing that her hand seemed... robotic.

He froze a bit when he saw it. The technology looked unlike anything he had seen before. And then he got a look at her face... Her skin was an unnatural shade of green, while her tentacles were blue with green tips. Even worse, her eyes were a horrifying shade of dark green, with blue pupils. His own eyes widened a bit as he backed off.

"Oh, don't be afraid, darling... it's just pain… and that's all we have…" Ayesha slipped her glasses back on and grinned at him.