Eight's helmet had stopped transmitting GPS coordinates. R1 had stopped moving, and they were unresponsive. There was no good outcome. A full splatoon was on their way out now, to find out what had happened to the two soldiers. Whatever it was, someone was going to pay dearly for it.

——————

Octavio's residence was a small modern style house, a white, geometric building with an oddly homey feel nonetheless. It sat on the outskirts of Inkopolis plaza, near the edge of the valley, with a stunning view behind it.

"When Marina Ida took over, another general and I fled the military." Octavio narrated, "We thought it would be safest to stay away from the NSS, so we kept contact between us to a minimum. Once things were settled inside the city, we came back with fake IDs from Spyke and came here. It doesn't draw attention, and if we don't come out often people won't recognize us."

"Who's the other general?" Ado asked, "Anyone I'd know?"

Octavio pursed his lips as they stepped onto the front porch.

"Maybe." He replied briskly, "Come in."

He opened the door, and showed them inside. The interior was minimalistic, a clean white design that reminded her of the lab. The furniture was all black and auburn, a pleasing combination on the blank palette. On the couch was an older octoling, maybe seventy years old or so, with bright green tentacles. He wore a simple black kimono, a cup of coffee held in his lap by slender but strong hands. His face was hard and chiseled, but there was a softness about him that seemed to negate his otherwise ominous appearance.

"Hey." Ado nodded with an small half-hearted wave, following Octavio and Ribbon inside. He smiled and nodded back, raising his hand in greeting before taking a sip of his drink. He seemed oddly familiar, but she couldn't think of how she'd know him.

"Have a seat." Octavio offered, "Coffee or tea?"

"Coffee." Ado replied curtly, "Black, if you don't mind."

"Of course."

He disappeared back into what must've been the kitchen, and she sat down on the black leather couch across from the other resident.

"I suppose the general didn't tell you who I am?" He began tensely, setting his cup down.

"No." Ado replied, her curiosity rising by the moment. She didn't know many octolings, and she felt like she would remember if she knew someone like him.

"I worked with your father in the military." He went on. Ado leaned back in her seat, wracking her brain for who he might be.

"Okay." She said cautiously, waiting for him to continue.

"I..." he trailed off, and sighed, "I was his father."

It took a moment for the realization to really sink in. A myriad of emotions flooded in, swirling around in a disorganized battle to come out on top. She wanted to be thrilled that she still had family left, but at the same time furious for never knowing him. She wanted to be confused at why they'd never met, and excited to know him now. Was any of it true though? Could it be? Was this all a big hoax?

"I know it's a lot." He said, grimacing, standing up, "But it's true."

"You have... a lot of explaining... to do." Ado was beginning to tear up. She didn't know why. She was just tired. She was a mess. She just wanted to go home.

"I was in the war with your father." He explained slowly, "I... fought with him, for the octolings. I hope you understand. We were only trying to save our—"

"I know." She cut him off, raising her hand in protest, "I understand. I'm not mad at him. I would've done the same thing."

He looked stunned, taken aback, for a moment, but soon continued.

"I'm glad." He said with a small smile, "I'm glad you see he was a good man."

"I like to think that."

"So... you never knew him?"

Ado shook her head.

"Not really." She sighed, "He put his loyalty to his people first and I respect that. I grew up fine without him, alright?"

"Okay." He responded quietly, "Sorry."

She silently dismissed his apology. She didn't want to hear it.

Octavio re-entered the room, a white tray in his hands. He took a moment to analyze the situation, and Ado realized she was nose-to-nose with her... grandfather.

"You two have met?" He asked cautiously, setting the thin tray down on the glass table in the center of the room. Neither one answered, nor stood down.

Ado was the first to break their staring contest, looking away with a short huff of spite. She sat back down, refusing to reestablish eye contact with him. He soon took his seat across from her, and folded his hands patiently. Ado picked her drink from the table between them, and leaned back, making herself comfortable. Octavio sat down next to her grandfather, and Ribbon nestled in with him on the side of the couch.

"Mom never told me about you." Ado stated bitterly, eyeing him with the same hostility.

"That's unfortunate." He replied with an air of strange sincerity, "Your father told me all about you."

"He did?"

"You would've thought he was the only one in the world to ever have a daughter." He chuckled, "He loved you. You know that, right?"

"Yeah." She mumbled, "I know."

"I'm Ataro." He offered suddenly, "If you never knew."

"I didn't."

"Adeleine, right?"

"Ado."

"Okay."

She turned her eyes to Octavio.

"So did you read the note?"

"As soon as you were out of sight."

"Alright." Ado nodded, taking another drink of her coffee, "I've got a crew at Cuttlefish Cabin, waiting for me to come back. You got anything dry?"

Octavio gestured back toward the kitchen.

"Closet's in the master bedroom, if it fits you can wear it."

"Thanks." She acknowledged concisely, standing up and setting her cup down. She slowly walked back to the bedroom, feeling her still damp clothes sticking to her skin as she stood up, and treading lightly as not to stain the floor. The bedroom was, like the rest of the house, bare and deliberate. The bed was low and monochromatic, and the closet she'd been directed to was small and square. When she opened up the door, there were only two very large kimonos, Octavio's old military uniform, and a set of Mk II Octoleet armor. She pulled out the armor a bit, eyeing it, and decided it was small enough to at least try on. She glanced at the bedroom door, and, after nudging it closed, peeled off her Hero Suit and the loose black outfit beneath it, replacing it with the tight, polyester black leggings and undershirt of the octarian military. After draping the silver armor plates over her shoulders, and strapping it on in what she believed to be the proper fashion, she wadded up her Hero Suit, tucking it under her arm, and opened the door again. Everyone was standing again. Ribbon was by Octavio's side, their matching armor glinting in the low sunlight seeping in through the window. Ataro was standing on Ribbon's left, his demeanor disarming but far from harmless.

"Y'all are restless today." She commented, stretching her arms as she returned.

"There's not much time left to waste." Ataro countered, "You said there are people waiting for you, didn't you?"

Ado grunted, "There seems to be a lot of that going around."