Author's Note: Sigh. So many things happened, back to back to back. A lot of things in my IRL and Discord now are different between this chapter and the last. My keyboard still is really hobbled with a vowel missing. But I can't let this thing die off because of my own failings and feelings. And so I push on.


The Square still buzzed with the usual amount of life, despite the recent events, although, the denizens lacked slightly the usual happiness in the vibe, the talk of the strange craft that descended in New Albacore Hotel and the kidnappings being the dominant topics. Turf Wars still thrived as much as it always did, however, even that was affected, being painted with a more somber tone as constant reminders of public safety for the players and general public filled the Square.

Today though was a little brighter, as a famous Squidtuber group called The Last Laugh was meeting in the Square today for a fan-session. Much talk surrounded them, as every corner of the Square was abuzz talking about them. They were comprised of two Inklings and two Octolings; one was female while the rest are male. Their group are famous online for filming their exploits, including Salmon Run. The lead figure, a fair-skinned Inkling male with purple slicked-up tentacles, was bantering with another fair-skinned Inkling male, this one having pink hair with a small twin-tail out the back, and bangs hanging sideways underneath a Strawboater Hat. They were commonly known as Vian and GG, respectively. Following them around are two Octolings, one a dark-skinned male with the Octofro, and the other a female with brown skin and neck-length tentacles, commonly known as Etce and Jay. They were being swarmed for autographs already by the adoring crowd, jockeying to get close to the popular quartet.

However, elsewhere, in the alleys, a not-so-nice gathering…no, a nasty new practice is being conducted by three thugs with bandannas covering half their faces. They were beating up an unfortunate lone Octoling, back against the wall and absolutely smattered in bruises his color.

"Octo filth!" one thug with the fuschia skinhead cut growled, letting loose another kick to the abdomen. "Pay up you filth, you don't desrve that!" he yelled, picking the already beaten victim to punch him in the face.

"H-hey, that's my Salmon Run pay…" the Octoling protested weakly, lip already swollen.

"Oh sorry, what?" mocked another of the thugs, accompanying it with a kick to the side of his own. This one had the same skinhead cut, but is yellow instead of the magenta the other one had.

"Tch. Pests, pests all of you!" their leader with neck-length green tentacles scoffed. "This…" he lowly growled, picking him up by the head, "…is what you deserve!" he bellowed, slamming the unfortunate Octoling's head into the wall.

This unsightly and downright ugly spectacle went on for a while, but soon, people heard the yelling and the cries for help, and they were soon abuzz about it.

"The SSS will purge you all!" declared the first thug proudly. As soon as that was heard, an Inkling who heard the yell immediately called InkPD, probably knowing about the SSS from the news.

"Someone help him!" another Inkling cried out, alarmed. A few people from the Square bolted off to help the Octoling, while most stayed with the celebrities. Not much later, a pair of Ink PD cars arrive. As soon as the thugs saw people, they immediately fled the scene and made themselves scarce. The sight of police cars in the Square proper was enough to cause a little uneasiness among the crowd. The policemen clambered down their cars, and headed immediately to the scene of the crime.

"Alright, anybody care to tell what happened here?" questioned a gruff-voiced officer sporting light skin and blue slicked-up tentacles.

"There was this beating going on, they were ganging up on this lone Octoling, and when you came, they fled!" chimed the female Inkling rather frantically.

"Another one of those huh?" another officer, with a green skinhead cut, sighed. They then went through the usual measures, most importantly including sending the heavily beaten Octoling to the nearest hospital, while a few witnesses were taken to the station for statements.

"Things have been getting crazier since those green freaks came descending upon those weird ships on New Albacore Hotel some weeks ago…" a third officer sighed, writing down the statements then fixing the holster to his service N-Zap. Soon, they were done with the witnesses, and they went on to do other things.

Back at the Square, The Last Laugh were already entertaining Private Battles with their fans, locking out The Reef and Walleye Warehouse as their battlegrounds. Groups of four were already forming quite the queue in the Private Lobbies, hauling various Turf weaponry from standard Splattershots to unconventional ones such as the Squeezer and the Flingza Roller. Parties of four at a time were admitted to complete a whole battle. Before and even after the battles, they occasionally got selfies from the group of personalities.

Soon, it was time to call it a day. The Last Laugh cut off their session and thanked everyone for coming today.

They then exited Deca Tower and addressed the crowd gathered there, who were either to watch or didn't make it to a match in time. The purple-haired Inkling went up first.

"Hey guys!" he addressed the crowd. "Yeah, thank you for all turning up!" he cheerfully greeted the fans, chuckling rather nervously, seeing a few disappointed faces.

"Remember guys, you all are great, no matter the rank!" reminded Jay, the female Octoling. She soon joined her teammates.

"That's all for today guys, thanks for coming!" greeted the one with an Octofro and dark skin. They were seen out with raucous cheer, and soon, they were out of sight. The Square may have calmed down a bit, but the chatter was still buzzing, for two very different reasons: the celebrities' visit and the latest case of racist violence. Soon enough, it was time for the news, and the first item, sure enough, was the latest statistics of Octoling violence, followed by report about the latest atrocities the Squid Supremacist Society did, mostly going as SSS for short.

Suddenly, every monitor and screen in Inkopolis seized up for a while, revealing an unfamiliar logo that is most likely the SSS logo. The view switched to a dark room with a silhouette of an intimidating Inkling dressed rather well.

"Good evening everyone." greeted the eerie but gentle male artificial voice. "Allow us to introduce who we are." he began. As if on cue, a few more figures appeared. The lead figure resumed his speech. "We are the Squid Supremacist Society, dedicated to the purification of Inkopolis."

Evan, who was just got home from Turfing, was absolutely revolted as the transmission went on. Joshua was watching the news when the transmission came on, and was seething more when it came on. Cap was already irritated when his radio cut off, and more so once he heard what it was all about.

"The Great Turf War has given us the opportunity to build this prosperous city we call home." A figure to the left began. "Through the centuries, it has stood and kept up to the test of time." It continued. "But as with recent events, the filth had begun to show." A figure to the right of the lead one spoke, cuing familiar footage: Marina's speech in the final Splatfest's results show. When the footage played, everyone was gasping on various degrees, while others wondered what was it for. Callie snapped to her TV the moment Marina's voice spoke. Even Marie, closeted in her room, gasped a little when she heard the audio from the footage.

"Who are those filth, you may ask? None other than the very vermin we fought in the distant past, the Octolings! They dared start the war, and now they're leeching of the fruit of our victory?!" ranted the central figure. Everywhere, people gasped, including the very subject of the rant themselves.

"These scumbags!" growled Craig. "They dare use the Great War as an excuse for this bullcrap!?" he yelled, desperately looking for a way to shut off the transmission, but to no avail. Sheldon interevened, but no success either.

"They have made their way into our media, into our businesses, and may very well have made their way into their homes, in hopes of claiming our treasured city for themselves." rasped the left figure. "But there is a way against that." it offered.

"Root out the filth that has pervaded our society. And if any Inkling tries to get in the way, they are also the enemy, and are to be treated with extreme prejudice. Join the cleanse." Beckoned the right figure.

"Make Inkopolis Inkling again." The central figure ended, before flashing the Squid Supremacist Society logo. Just as how quick they came, they exited the same manner, resuming all gadgets to their normal operations.

*Evan's Apartment…

"So…they've finally made their move huh?" he scoffed. "I got to tell them about this…but with what's going on..." he sighed, thinking about the current situation. "Once I find out what's going on…they'll pay…hard." he muttered darkly to himself. "I just wish Callie is ok…and Marie too…" he sighed, finishing changing into his house wear. He then booted his console on for a few games.

*Joshua's home…

Aside from anger, worry started to stir within the blue Octoling. Specifically, about a certain green female Octoling, and whether she's safe. There was also the matter of his own safety that made things worse for him. He lay there, on his bed, emotionally tired. Dinner came, but the food just didn't taste as good, only getting a meager amount on plate at best.

*Inkopolis, outside GrizzCo…

Jesse has completed another grueling shift for the night, leaving GrizzCo with an ample amount of reward money to take home to Celia and Cap. Jesse then glanced at the evening news displayed at the bigger digital boards, and heaved a deep sigh. She then headed to the train stations to get on with getting home. The atmosphere was mixed at best, alleviated only by the recent appearance of the famous SquidTube group The Last Laugh.

Celia meanwhile was busy going through her studies, preparing for the next day's quizzes. It was deep into the night when Jesse came with food.

"Sister, you're home!" Celia pepped up. "Did you see those creepy guys earlier?" she gushed, eyes widening.

"Yeah…assholes, they are." she grumbled, hugging her. "Hey, Cap came here? Here, I got something." she said, setting down the package on the modest table. Both opened it up, after Celia got the bowls and plates out.

"What is happening out there, sis?" she asked Jesse, concern forming on the yellow squid's face. "There's this group calling themselves the SSS, and they're telling us Octos are bad people…" she said.

"Load of bullsquit, Celia, don't believe them." she gruffly dismissed the claims. "I have many Octo companions, they're good people." Jesse assured her. "Come on, I'm sure you're starving, Celia." she beckoned her to her side, leaving the books where they are. The sisters then ate their long overdue dinner, discussing various things over the dinner table.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, around the darker and seedier parts of Inkopolis, unsavoury things were happening to various Octolings around the city. A truck can be seen being loaded with incapacitated Octolings and Inklings alike. Loading said cephalopods were Sanitized soldiers, disguised as truck crew. Vats and vats were hauled into the truck, which then zoomed off into the blackness.

The truck then soon reached the port, where a ship was awaiting, manned by Sanitized soldiers in full gear, most wielding Octo Shots. The truck personnel were carting the captives, and then they joined their brethren, sailing off into the seas. By the time the captives were into the base's drop off point, some were already stirring awake…only to realize the horror they're in for, being in a cold, metallic, and unwelcoming place. One by one, the soldiers started dragging the captives out of the pods and into the sanitization facilities.

Already, screams can be heard inside, with the lab assistants shoving all kinds of needles into the subjects. Said needles were then filled with the familiar Sanitized cyan. In another part of the labs, screams compounded with the whirr of bladed machinery made for a mortifying atmosphere overall. In another room stood the results: hollow versions of their former selves all sporting the sickly cyan-green skin tone and blue green hair.

"Wh—where am I?" gasped one captive female Inkling.

"Dude…this doesn't look like Inko—whoa, what the hell-aaaagh!" yelped an afro male Octoling, as soldiers forcefully clasped him onto an injection chair, gripping him as tight as possible. All captives were collared as to prevent swimming in ceph form. The restraints dug into everything they were latched on, also doubling as an injection tube, their screams and wails fizzling out.

A horrible cacophony of gasps and screams filled the place, all overseen by a few Elites, perched in a station above them, wearing lab coats on top of their standard gear. They were monitoring the atrocities going on below them, making sure everything is according to standard. The newly created soldiers blinked to lifeless life, staring blankly forward, completely still.

The more resistant Inklings and Octolings however, are being spared no quarter, as assistants with saltwater sticks and electric batons beat the captives into the Sanitization facilities in various places, eliciting yelps and screams from the victims. There was also a lot of digitized shouting, as the assistants and soldiers yelled at the captives to force themselves into the chambers.

In her chambers, Commander Stormsurge was talking to some high ranking scientists about the latest yield of Sanitized troops. They were discussing weapon assignments and improvements in the AI coding.

"Commander, SI 050 up to SI 070 are now ready to deploy." a ghastly looking jelly head scientist reported. "We now have 70 Sanitized Inklings at your command." he added.

"Very well, any update on SI 071 up to SI 100?" she asked him curtly.

"They are being calibrated for weapon mastery and battlefield tactics, Commander." a prawn scientist piped up. "They under extreme scrutiny as we speak, Commander." he added.

"Excellent work, but not quite enough yet." she said in a flat tone. "If we are indeed to storm Inkopolis, the cause will need more of both Octolings and Inklings. Every tentacle you get matters." she emphasized. "Status report, Procurement?"

An Elite answered this time, apparently in charge of said department.

"We have obtained yet another batch of raw material, Commander." she reported. "The scientists are now Sanitizing them as we speak." she finished.

"And what about that other thing I've tasked you to?" curtly asked the commander.

"Working as intended, Commander Stormsurge. They'll be without their best marksman…or should I say…woman." reported the Elite. "Shall we mobilize then?" she asked the Commander, smirking as she heard the report.

"Heheheh." she laughed quietly but sinisterly. "To the war room, we shall mobilize." she ordered the Elite. Soon, she was seating at the center of the table, discussing the plan to systematically defeat the New Squidbeak Splatoon, starting with ambushing the headquarters, and then eliminating all the members, all while not drawing attention to the Revolution.

"Well then, here's the assignements. Alpha, assault the HQ, and seize all the schematics and plans…we may gleam something, no matter how little." she told the Elites, with the apparent Alpha squad leader nodding. "Bravo through Delta, eliminate remaining member of the Splatoon." she ordered, as she put up the targets' pictures onto the projector. "Eliminate every last one of them. Echo through Foxtrot, you will reinforce The Cleaners, once there's no Squidbeak left to defend Inkopolis." she declared with venom in her digital voice. "You have your orders…carry them out. The Revolution demands it. Dismissed." she ended the meeting, the Elites scattering to their task.

*The next day…

Inkopolis rose again to meet another day, and so did the draggled New Squidbeak Splatoon. Marie was already up with her eyes more visibly inkshot than their usual. Cap just groaned at the sight of his granddaughter in her current sight. Cap decided to make breakfast for them, seeing as Marie wasn't herself. She still had to go for certain projects, and she and Callie had to put up an act that everything was peachy-keen.

"This ain't over." Marie hissed at Callie. "Now, we have a job to do. You better do your part." she snarled at the pink Inkling. Both of them stepped out into the photoshoot, people none the wiser about what was going on behind the scenes. The duo struck poses and made faces like nothing's going on, yet Marie was glaring daggers at Callie anytime anyone else wasn't looking. Later…

"Go. I don't want to see the hoe that stole my man." said Marie to Callie venomously. Both went into their own cars and sped away from the pace. Soon enough, Callie was about to cry as she was calling Evan's number, and by the time Evan answered, tears are falling from her eyes.

"H—hic-hello? E-sniff-van?" Callie tried to compose herself, but horrendously failing.

"Cal? Did she say something?" Evan responded, caution in his tone.

"She…she was horrible…and very angry…sniff" Callie tried to speak clearly, but the tears were clearly impeding her speech. "I'm c…coming o-over…" she was clearly sobbing, struggling to see clearly now.

"Hey, drive safely ok?" Evan reminded her, concern etched all over his voice. "Pull over if you can't do it ok? Last thing everyone needs is a car accident." he reminded her. Callie just nodded on the other side. "Hey, I'm hanging up, and going home now. See you there." he bade her goodbye, as he ended the call.

Callie then continued driving, despite the tears streaming down her eyes. Soon enough, she was at Evan's apartment complex, the guard courteous enough not to pester Callie for autographs. Callie took the elevator immediately and went straight for the floor Evan was in; the third floor. Lucky for her, there wasn't many people around, but regardless, she was sobbing full-tilt. She then knocked on 304, Evan's unit.

"Come in." came Evan's voice.

Callie didn't say anything, sobbing into the male Inkling's chest. The junior Agent hugged the senior Agent tightly, both not saying a word, both slumping into the sofa, tears streaming into Evan's shirt. Evan then said the first word.

"Cal…it's gonna be alright. We gotta be strong. Inkopolis needs us…more than ever." he gently reminded Callie. "That's not Marie that spoke to you, that was the substance." he assuaged his recently-made-official girlfriend.

"I-I know, b-but…it still hurts…" Callie said, still sobbing slightly. "She's like…everything since I was little! We already had been split apart once, on my account no less…and here I am again…" she whimpered.

"That first time ain't your doing, and so is this one." Evan assured him. They would stay that way for a good while, all the way into the evening.

Above the Inkopolis night skies, squads of Sanitized troopers are mobilizing, and some even…are rapelling down Evan's apartment complex at that very moment. Evan and Callie then grabbed their gear and shut off the lights, going through the other entryway amidst the rising chaos.

"Hmph. Of course they will. Bastards." Evan said, tightening his grip on his Hero Dualies.


And just in time for closing out Halloween too! And just in time for All Saint's Day too, in our country. Sorry for the long wait y'all, I wasn't in a state to write after everything that has happened to me in between. Like I said, I'm never gonna let this story die. And so here it is again. Hoping to return to at least a monthly schedule, get back into the rhythm. That'll be eberything, see you next chapter.