Splatoon Agent Zero

by drz1990

This is a story about a 16-year-old boy named Blake Carter who witnesses the end of his world. He, his family, and a few hundred humans disembark on a voyage aboard a giant spacecraft to escape the rising sea levels flooding all the landmasses. A turn of events and a devious plan are revealed causing Blake to escape the ship in a Cryopod and land back on earth frozen for 2000 years

75. Arc 3 Chapter 26

Arc 3 Chapter 26

Note: To all readers, sorry I haven't been releasing these chapters sooner but I've been having to redo the chapters as I go because they needed to be reworked. I haven't given up and we're nearing the end of this Arc. The Battle between Octavio and the agents is just now starting and will end in the next chapter. The final chapters will be bigger than previous ones as I've said before to reduce the number of chapters as I'm sure people are ready for closure of this Arc. Enjoy the read and as I said before I'm having to redo the final chapters so releases will take longer because of it.

Major Octsana and her loyalists were in a tense standoff with the squidbeak agents Blake and Izzy. Never suspecting the two to crash their little party, off loading the tampered emitter by request of the Red Queen. The two agents were unaware that the airship they hopped one was being manned by the rebel major and her crew until the saw them and sprung into action to stop them. The two sides kept their eyes locked on each other and their weapons drawn waiting for the other to make the first move. Though surprised at first, the major gave a sinister grin and looked at Blake with her comrades keeping their weapons on the human and inkling as she slowly stepped forward with her hands behind her back. "Well...isn't this a pleasant surprise. Come to watch the downfall of your precious city and the rise of the new octarian rule? Pity that you two won't be around to see its full glory as we crush any hope of you inkstains ever defeating and banishing us back underground again. Vengeance is bittersweet isn't it. Bitter for you and sweet for us. Now then... make it easy on yourselves and drop those weapons. You're outnumbered and outgunned. Don't waste your time trying to stop us," scoffed the rebel major.

The two of them stood with their weapons drawn on the crowd of rebels. The pair and the rebels stared down each other to watch and see who would shoot first. "Blake... I don't think you thought this through. She kinda has a point," Izzy whispered.

"I guess I got caught in the moment but it's not we've been in this situation before, right," Blake whispered back.

"Well what's it going to be fossil? I got more important things to take of, like finally enslaving these wretched inkstains," she sneered.

"That's agent Zero to you! I'm getting so tired of being referred to a museum display. And I'm getting sick of having to deal with the mediocre villain clichés. Let's just cut to the chase and get this over with," said Blake.

"Which is? Dare I ask," the major replied.

"kicking your octo butts and getting Callie back!" shouted Blake as Izzy was astounded by Blake's courage. The major started chuckling to herself until she went into smug laughter. "Ha! Really? You're bold I'll give you credit... if not stupid. How I see it you two were dumb enough drop in and get yourselves captured, especially you...what was it... Zero. A fitting name I should say the least," she said insulting Blake. The elite then turned to Izzy. "As for you squid, you should be dead. A little yellow ink puddle at the bottom of that dome. Don't worry, I'll make sure you die this time and It won't be so quick and painless as it was intended to last time. You're going to wish you hadn't ruined my plans and shot down my octozeppelins you little inkstain," said the major.

"Shut your mouth! If you even lay so much as a..." started Blake before getting cut off by Izzy. "No Blake!" she scolded him before turning her attention to the elite.

"I'm...not afraid of you anymore! I made a promise to a friend and I swore an oath to the squidbeak squad! You and the octo rebels will be brought to justice and you will answer for all the crimes you've committed!" exclaimed Izzy boldly.

"Way to gain some courage Izzy!" cheered Blake.

"The little inkstain's braver than I though she would be. I can say you two have put out quite an impression from the last time we met each other. No matter, that little ounce of bravery doesn't phase me or my troops. Now what's it going to be? the easy or the hard way?" she asked them. A plan popped into Blake's head that was risky but possibly their only way to deal Octsana and her goons.

"Izzy on my mark, go for the machine and I'll keep them busy," Blake commanded Izzy quietly.

"What! Blake no I won't let you make yourself a target!" she quietly protested.

"Izzy don't argue just do it, don't worry about me!" He scolded back.

"Whatever it is your planning will never work! Theirs no hope for escape!" said major Octsana she signaled her troops to apprehend the two agents.

"Now!" shouted Blake. As Izzy dove behind Blake and squid jumped to the hypnowave emitter behind the octozeppelin, Blake laid a barrage of ink toward rebels which they evaded into their octo forms except the major, who was struck in the shoulder. Two octostamps charged at Blake, only for him to knock them away. Two octolings that changed back focused on the human agent, one of them lobbed a splat bomb by his feet while another shot at him, dousing him with her purple ink.

Blake was coated with octarian ink from both the bomb and octoshot. He was struggling to stay in control of his body from the paralyzing effects the ink had on him. "I guess...I was wrong about the ink not being effective, it doesn't matter I...have to stop them," Blake jeered as he was slowly going numb. He tried to shoot at the rebels but one of them octo formed and tackled him until he was down on the ground.

"Seems the human hasn't had enough. Let's see how much more he can take," said one of the octolings ready to coat Blake again.

"Blake!" shouted Izzy seeing the human immobilized. She turned toward the machine but an octoling blocked her scene. "Going somewhere squid!?" she told Izzy before knocking the hero shot out of her hand and then swung her weapon at the inkling's head knocking her to the ground like Blake. "You should've come up with a better plan than that human!" the major told Blake as she held her shoulder.

"It was...worth a shot (coughing) I still hit you...didn't I (faint laughter), commented Blake snidely at the elite. She bared her beak and formed a fist before slugging Blake in the face. Blood was running out of his nose and mouth. "Laughing now?" she replied to his smug tone. "Get them up!" she demanded her unit. They grabbed up Blake and Izzy, forcing them on their knees. "Now... did you seriously think you could stop us. A fossil! and a pathetic squid. The Red Queen had ordered me to capture you alive but at this point I'm not in the mood to comply with her request. Give me a reason I should keep you alive?" she asked Blake harshly.

Blake remained quiet and shot her a glare as Izzy was trying to stay awake.

"Silent? Can't come up with an answer?" she asked him again before kicking him in the gut. Blake yelped and fell over. The major pulled him up by his collar and gave him an intimidating stare.

"Go screw yourself," Blake remarked. The major, yet again punched Blake in the face causing him to fall over again.

"Blake... (whimpering)" Izzy replied.

"You're a tentacle tip from joining the rest of your kind. I'm not sure what the red queen intends to do with you but I don't care. On her behalf I'll refrain myself from digging my knife into that talkbox of yours human. That inkstain on the other hand. I got no use of keeping her alive and I would ensure she pays for the trouble she has caused," she told Blake with a knife pointing in his face. The elite had one of her octolings hold her octoshot on Izzy.

"(coughing) Leave Izzy alone. This is between you and me," snapped Blake. "No human. This is between me and all those miserable inkstains that drove us underground until we died off. You can watch your little inkling friend die and theirs nothing you can do to stop me," the major gloated as she waved the octoling to shoot Izzy. Then all of a sudden a burst of ink landed on the octoling, splatting her with the octoshot dropping on the ground. The major and her unit turned toward an octoseeker that closed in on them. The shooter was none other than Sergeant Maxie. She octo formed and jumped down to rescue the two squidbeak agents.

"Sergeant stop! Your orders were to hold!" shouted another octoling sergeant onboard but Maxie ignored her.

Maxie dropped on top of an octoling rebel knocking her out. The rebels drew their weapons on the sergeant before getting splattered by the octoling soldier just as she aimed her octoshot back on the major. "Get your slimy mitts off him!" commanded Maxie as she held her weapon on Octsana.

Octsana grabbed Blake and got behind him with the knife against his throat. "Stand back! Unless you wanna see this fossil bleed all over the ground!" she ordered Maxie.

"Don't do it sarge!" Blake shouted.

"Shut up human!" She scolded as she drew blood with the knife.

"How about round 2 major. Unless you're a coward. Let Blake go and we settle this mono e mono like last time. Afraid you'll lose another tentacle?" taunted the sergeant.

The major growled and threw Blake down to the ground. "I'm no coward sergeant. I can beat you with my tentacles tied behind my back, I was easy on you last time but this time I'll make sure my knife is dug into that back of yours while I watch your ink drain out along with those agents," said the major as she juggled her knife.

"Do your worse Major!" responded the sergeant.

The major changed forms and attempted to launch a kick to Maxie as she changed back in midair but the sergeant jumped back. The elite rushed at Maxie as the two exchanged knife swipes. Blake opened his eyes and watched the battle between the octolings. The major charged her knife toward Maxie but she evaded and swung her knife toward the major only for her to avoid it as well. Overhead the octolings onboard the octoseeker were watching the fight but spotted more rebels dropping out of the octozeppelin overhead. "Oh carp! Maxie's a goner if we don't do something! Sarge what do we do!?" the young octoling asked her superior.

"Damn it! I guess we'll have to disobey orders as well. Have the pilot circle the octoseeker around the airship and provide fire on the enemy foot mobiles. Keep them away from the fight!" she ordered. The pilot veered the aircraft around the octozeppelin as the crew shot at the descending troopers. An enemy octosniper appeared coming out a hatch on top of the airship and fired at the octoseeker. "Carp! Octosniper! Take cover!" the sergeant shouted but one of the octolings inside was struck and killed.

"I'll focus on the sniper! The rest of you starting picking targets!" she ordered again.

On the ground. Maxie and the major were still going at it and the battle had reached a stalemate. Evenly matched the major was was getting weary and needed to figure a way to deal a final blow to the octoling sergeant. Both of them pulled off and stared each other down. "This is getting us nowhere," said the major.

"I (panting) agree. How about you just give yourself up and save the trouble," said Maxie.

"Like I would give in to a traitor like you. To think you were my pupil, before you turned on us. I'll admit your knifing skills have improved but unfortunately this battle must come to an end sergeant," said the major.

"Likewise, major. I once looked up to you but now I've seen you for what you are. If you have any ounce of honor left you'll surrender and answer for all that you've done. There's no point in fighting this anymore. We have to make peace with the inklings or suffer from our past mistakes. Give it up! It's over," said Maxie.

"Nothings over sergeant. Once those hypnowave emitters are activated all of the inklings will be under our control, then we'll storm the valley and you and the rest of those turncoats will perish. Our Victory is assured and theirs nothing you can do to stop it!" ranted the major.

The octoseeker crew were taking fire from the octosniper while one of their crew members was killed. The sergeant onboard lined a shot and knocked the octosniper off its perch, splatting on the top of the airship. The other octolings were shooting at troopers on the ground as they tried to reach Maxie and the major. They were running low on ink and pulled off to try and refill. The troopers finally reached the location of the four and approached Maxie from behind. "You're right sergeant, there is no point in fighting because it is over...for you!" yelled the major.

The last few octotroopers prepared to shoot Maxie as she turned around but her demise was interrupted by ink fire directed from Blake. During the monologuing, Blake fought the paralysis of the ink and reached for the octoshot with Izzy's ink and aimed it at the octotroopers killing two as Maxie killed the other ones while they were confused by the ink fire. "Interfering fossil!" she raved as she slung her knife at Blake's arm causing him to scream and drop the octoshot. As Maxie knocked off the last octotrooper she turned to see Octsana had attacked Blake.

"Hang on Blake!" she shouted. She ran over towards the two of them but the octoling she landed on after jumping off the octoseeker grabbed her from the ground. "Oh no you don't" she said weakly.

Maxie watched the major walk over to Blake holding his bleeding arm. The major pinned his arm down with her boot as Blake jeered in pain. She pulled the blade out of his arm and gave a sinister smile to the human. "Looks like the sergeant will watch her human crush die after all. You're not worth the trouble to be kept alive. Prepare to join the rest of your kind you miserable ape!" she scoffed as she held the knife up ready to finish him off.

"No! Blake!" she yelled reaching her arm out as the rebel had a hold of her. BANG! yellow ink struck the rebel's face as her eyes rolled back. Izzy held her hero shot up and turned to Maxie half-conscience. "Save Blake!" she shouted. Maxie stood up and chucked her knife at the major's back. The major froze with her knife drawn on Blake. Her expression turned to anguish and she reached behind her and felt the handle of Maxie's knife. She turned around and saw Maxie staring at her as she dropped her own knife.

"I gave you the chance major..." said Maxie as she stared down the elite.

Ink started to run out of the major's mouth as she tried to talk. "No, this... can't be...(coughing) I won't... be defeated..." the major tried to break up before she fell to the ground. coughing up ink she crawled toward Maxie as she was losing strength. She stared up at Maxie as she was in front of the sergeant's boots.

"As I said before...it's over," said Maxie brashly.

"No...this...isn't over (coughing) Not...by a long shot. (gasping) long live... the red queen..." she said weakly before giving her last breath. Ink was pouring out of her wound as she laid motionless on her stomach.

"Even in the end...you refused to accept peace (deep breath)," said Maxie. She turned back to Blake who was holding his arm. She ran over to check on him. Seeing him bleeding she pulled off her waist belt and wrapped it around his arm to form a tourniquet. "That'll stop the bleeding for a moment. I'm going to request a medivac and get you back to the octarian base medical center," said Maxie.

Blake stared at Maxie for a moment and bit his lip. He finally found the courage to apologize for his actions. "Maxie..." he said meekly.

"Yes, what is it Blake?" she asked in a stoic tone.

"I wanted to tell you...that I'm sorry for saying what I did back in the dome. That it was wrong of me to talk to you like that and I was being a real as...jerk. I've gone through so much that I couldn't take it anymore and I didn't realize that you had feelings for me. You've really helped me out in more ways than one and I...appreciate it. You've saved me multiple times and... some squidbeak agent I turned out to be... I can't even save my own ass. Sometimes...I wish was never found in that damn pod (deep breath)" said Blake in a melancholy tone. He sat up and wiped the blood from his mouth as he looked back at Maxie.

"Blake I forgive you," she said plainly. Blake slightly stunned by her change in demeanor looked up at the octoling who was smiling at him. "but first things first. You need to quit talking like that and accept the way things are. You need to be grateful you're even here. I'm glad I got to meet you and ever since you saved me back at the saltspray rig I've... fallen for you... Blake I wanna let you know that... I love you," said Maxie as she blushed. She kneeled down and pulled Blake's fake eye mask off. The Octoling sergeant quickly pulled him into a kiss before he could react. Izzy watched and gave a smile, thinking about Flash.

She pulled off and the two stared at each other. Speechless, Blake didn't have words to describe how he felt. Blake downed his head and gave a deep breath. "Blake... is something wrong?" she asked him.

"It's nothing... I just... I guess I didn't expect that but... I love you to Maxie," said Blake giving a fake smile. She smiled back as she helped Blake up. Blake looked at the major's dead body and a sense of both relief but also disappointment ran through his mind. He had mixed emotions about the death of the major. Wishing for a better outcome for the octoling even though she tried to kill him. "I'm sorry Blake but she chose her fate. She tried to kill you! If I hadn't stopped her then... I wouldn't be talking to you right now," exclaimed the sergeant.

"You did what you had to do and I'm thankful for it. You saved me...it's just I wish she would've changed her ways, then again...Octavio never did either," said Blake. The two heard coughing and spotted Izzy. Blake rushed over to check on her as Maxie followed.

"Izzy are you ok?" he asked the inkling.

"Yeah, I could be better. Just hurting a little," explained Izzy holding her head.

"Well hold Izzy. Maxie said a medivac was on the way," said Blake. Soon the octoseeker descended below and the octolings dismounted. "Sergeant Maxie!" shouted the other sergeant. "We had to pull off but we lost a soldier. Private Ren. He was killed by the enemy octosniper. I hope you had a good reason to disobey orders and get a soldier killed... and we gotta RTB ASAP. Base command is sending reinforcements to deal with the octo rebel fleet. Also, we're getting radio traffic from the inkling military. Their system has been down and their radar scrambled. They weren't aware of the rebel's invasion force. I'm not sure how this going to play out," said the sergeant.

"I'm sorry to hear the private got killed but right now I have two wounded non-octolings. I need to get them some medical treatment right away," said the sergeant going back to serious soldier persona.

"Sergeant Maxie I'm not sure if we can do that. You broke orders to hold and now you wanna take these two. An inkling and... wait that can't be the..." panned the sergeant as she lifted her goggles, staring at Blake.

"...Human. My name's Blake by the way. I'm staying back but I would really appreciate it if you took Izzy with you," finished Blake for the octoling as he requested aid for Izzy.

The octoling sergeant gave a bow at Blake's presence out of respect. She turned back to Maxie. "Very well, We'll take the inkling to get medically treated, just expect an ass chewing when we get back after they hear about you disobeying orders, not to mention bringing an inkling back to base," said the sergeant as she got onboard.

"What! Absolutely not Blake! You're bleeding and need to be patched up right away!" demanded Maxie.

"I'm sorry Maxie but as a squidbeak agent. I'm needed! Cuttlefish entrusted me to defend Inkopolis! I'm going after Octavio and getting Callie as I promised Marie I would do, Wether you loike it or not," said Blake zealously.

Maxie hid her irritation but quickly subsided and she faced Blake. "I can't let you do that! I'll go after Octavio!" she exclaimed.

"I've dealt with Octavio before, I'll be fine," replied Blake as he held his arm.

"And got stuffed in that pod again. You didn't necessarily defeat him, no offense. And things are different this time. You're not in the shape to fight so you're getting on that octoseeker and getting your ass treated, is that clear?" demanded the sergeant with her arms crossed. "Maxie, this isn't isn't up for debate. I'm finishing this one way or another... even if it means losing my life in the process," said Blake.

"If Blake's going so am I!" shouted Izzy all of a sudden.

"Izzy you're injuried and not in the shape to fight," Blake told her.

"So are you... like she said, your injured too, so why can't I go? I'm a squidbeak agent like you and sworn an oath to protect the inklings. Like you!" she reminded him.

Blake downed his head and closed his eyes as he gave a deep breath. "You got me there. Looks like I started something. (chuckling) Oh right... Let's go stop Octavio once and for all!" said Blake.

"I hate to admit it but you two are relentless. Facing strong odds and ready to take the fight to Octavio as hurt as you two are. You two alone won't be enough to face that egotistical blowhard so I guess me and these guys will be coming but first lets get that arm wrapped, Sergeant is there a first aid on the octoseeker?" Maxie asked the other sergeant.

"You're breaking protocols left and right. I'm not sure you're gonna have any stripes left sergeant," said the octoling as she shook her head in discouragement. She walked in the octoseeker to retrieve a first aid kit as private Ren's body was being accessed and placed to the side and out of the way.

"I could care less, plus I've been ordered to keep Blake safe and if he refuses to go back to base with me then I'll stay with him. I'm willing to take the punishment," said Maxie.

"It's your decision, sergeant," the octoling replied as she made inside the craft. After retrieving the first aid kit. Maxie wrapped up Blake's arm and Izzy took some painkillers. "You sure you wanna do this?" Maxie asked Blake. "Yeah, I'm sure sarge," he answered. She gave a fake smile and lowered her goggles over her eyes.

"Let's load up and make our way toward the center of the city. Once you drop us off head back to base. We'll find another back and just tell the lieutenant this was my call," Maxie told the sergeant.

"I'll wish you guys the best of luck, sergeant," responded the other sergeant.

The three of them boarded the octoseeker and found a place to sit. The trip to catch up with Octavio was quiet and awkward. The octolings constantly stared at Blake and Izzy but more so the human. Izzy remembered the bow that other sergeant gave Blake and was wondering why she did that. "What was that all about?" asked Izzy.

"What?" asked Maxie as Izzy mimicked the sergeant's bow. "Oh that, A sign of great respect, usually toward royal officials but in Blake's case. A human. Humans are highly revered but under Octavio we had to hide our admiration for them. Human technology had helped us out in many ways you couldn't believe. To know a human is alive in octarian society would be breathtaking not to mention all of Octopolis would treat it like you celebrate those stupid splatfest you inklings do... a slap in the face to all octarians if you ask me," said Maxie. "So don't get to cozy squid. We might want peace but not all octarians see it like that, they just aren't as "extreme" as the rebels," the sergeant continued.

"Like you?" asked Izzy.

"Listen... I necessarily don't hate you inklings its just... my people being banished in the domes. Your culture and your society just doesn't jive well with me. I've been disciplined for most of my life and I still haven't gotten over the inkling-hating propaganda they've pumped into our minds when Octavio was our ruler. I appreciate your services and Blake seems to like you so... you're cool with me but don't expect us to bosom buddies," commented Maxie.

"C'mon Maxie, ease up. The inklings aren't bad as a matter of fact you do remember I fought on the inklings side during the great turf war," reminded Blake.

The other octolings were whispering among each other after hearing that. "Wait...you fought in the great turf war? How old are you?" asked the crew's sergeant.

"Counting before I was frozen in the first place. I would chalk up over 2000 years old," answered Blake as the octolings muttered to one another. "I guess you think little of me now that you've heard I fought with the inklings during the war," said Blake.

"Honestly...no... that was a 100 years ago. We know Octavio started that war but we still honor our fallen ancestors. There's no hard feelings," said the sergeant.

"Really? Well that's nice to know," replied Blake, slightly surprised at the octolings indifference.

All of a sudden the octoseeker was struck by an ink missile. "We've been hit! We're going down!" shouted the twintacle pilot trying to maintain control of the aircraft. One of the rotors was hit and the aircraft was now spiraling out of control as it crashed into a small park. " Everyone! Hold on and brace for impact!" shouted the sergeant before the octoseeker descended and crashed into the ground below. The crew including Maxie, Izzy, and Blake were slowly recovering from the rough landing. "damage assessment," asked the crew's sergeant as she stumbled up. "The controls are fried...I guess this is our stop," said the twintacle pilot still dazed from the crash.

"Alright everyone, dismount," commanded the sergeant as the crew groaned and made their way out. Maxie helped Blake up and Izzy slowly got as she held her head. They got outside and were greeted by unfriendly company.

"Freeze! All of you!" shouted a voice in front of them. A large platoon of Inking soldiers were pointing their weapons at the group as they came out of the crashed craft. An Inkzooka user hopped down off the building after shooting down their octoseeker and multiple charger users lined their weapons on the gang from the nearby rooftops. The voice came from Captain Finn of the Inkopolis Defense Force. "You are under the apprehension of the IDF! You have violated the peace treaty by stealing the great zapfish and invading our city! Resist and there will be consequences!" ordered the inkling captain. The octolings including Maxie, Izzy, and Blake put their hands up.

"Captain they have an inkling with them, a captive perhaps," informed a soldier.

"Retrieve her and see these octopi are dealt with. I won't tolerate these octarian scum taking our inklings prisoner. Don't be hesitant to shoot if they try anything," ordered the captain again.

"Wait! Let me explain... we're not your enemy! The octo rebels are. We're members of the Neo-Octarian army trying to stop from attacking your city," explained Maxie.

"Like I would believe you octoling! You gotta come up with a better lie than that! Sergeant! Restrain these octopi!" she commanded.

"Izzy tell them!" exclaimed Maxie.

"It's true! The rebels are the ones that invaded Inkopolis! You gotta believe us!" She tried to explain.

"A likely story! They must've brainwashed these poor girl. I say we splat em' all and... wait what is that?" said the inkling sergeant as his focus turned on Blake.

"Yeah, what is that thing? It has inkling eye marks but no tentacles. What are you? Speak!" demanded Captain Finn.

"You're right I'm not an inkling I'm a..." Started Blake but was cut off by Maxie.

"Blake no! Don't give away your identity! If they find out what you are, who knows what they might do to you," Maxie told him, concerned about his welfare.

"Maxie I got no choice. Inkopolis is at stake and I can't hide forever," said Blake. The captain was curious of what Blake was about to do. He turned back to inklings nervously. "(deep breath) I'm a... human," he finally got out.

"Impossible! Humans have been extinct for thousands of years! What do you take me for?" shouted the captain not taking Blake's words credibly.

Blake then pulled his fake eye mask off revealing his unmarked eyes. The captain and the rest of the inklings froze in astonishment. The couldn't believe a real live human was standing in front of them. "No, it...can't be...how?" the captain tried to get out as sge stared at Blake wideyed.

"I can explain later but for now your city is in deep trouble. Octavio and the rebels have been placing hypnowave emitters around your city to control you! If they activate those machines there's no hope to take back Inkopolis and you'll be under Octavio's influence. You got to believe us! Why else would we be telling you this!?" reasoned Blake.

The captain was still in shock seeing Blake. She soon pondered on what the human was saying and whether or not believe the group or not. "Captain, it could be a trap. How are we supposed to trust them. They're octolings. I'm not buying this octo rebel story. They'll splat at the given chance," said the sergeant.

"You could be right but if what they are saying is true. Then we have no choice but to trust them. We'll take their word but be on guard and keep an eye out for anything suspicious. Order the unit to provide overwatch. If they do lead us in a trap...splat every one of them except the inkling and human," said the captain.

"You're not seriously going to believe them but fine... we'll let them take the lead. I don't like this one bit...and what's an inkling and a human doing in their possession?" said the inkling sergeant not trusting the group.

Just follow my order sergeant. I don't like this either but what are our options. If what they say is true then time is of the essence. As I've said; keep an eye out and ensure they don't try anything," she continued to tell the inkling sergeant, still untrusting of the octolings.

"Yes, captain," he replied, displeased with Finn's decision.

The group looked at each other, relieved of the inklings guard resolved. Blake and Maxie looked at each other for moment then back at the captain and her inkling unit. "You better be right about this octoling. We'll take your word...for now," she told Maxie.

"Thank you, As I said we were sent to deal with the rebels and stop them from taking over Inkopolis. Our target was an emitter in the downtown area of your city before you shot us down. Its not far but just a few clicks from here and I'm sure guarded by a platoon size element if not bigger. Expect air threats too. Now c'mon! We got no time to waste," said Maxie as she waved the inklings to follow her and the octolings to their assigned target.

Blake quickly grabbed Maxie's arm before she took off. "Maxie, you lead everyone else to the emitter. I'm going for Octavio. The sooner he's dealt with the sooner I can end all of this," said Blake.

"What! No we stick together! We..." argued the octoling before she was interrupted.

"Listen. It's time I settled this once and for all. As I said before. I made a promise to get Callie back and that's what I intent to do," He told Maxie.

"I'm going too Blake. You can't take Octavio alone," put in Izzy as Blake nodded.

"Blake...are you sure about this?" asked a concerned Maxie.

"I'm sure Maxie. I'll be alright... I'm agent zero, as if I've never said that before," said Blake rubbing the back of his head.

Maxie gave a nod and walked up to give Blake another kiss. She released him and gave him a pleading look. "Please make it back and kick Octavio's ass for me. Good luck Blake," she told him. The octolings and inklings stared at the two not expecting the heart felt moment. Maxie ran in front of the group and waved them to follow her to the target. "Wow, she...really likes you Blake," commented Izzy.

"Yeah...she does...well let's hunt for Octavio. It shouldn't be too hard to find that big head of his. He's going to get what coming to him for attacking Inkopolis and squidnapping Callie," said Blake as the two rushed away out of the park to find the octarian DJ.

Maxie was leading the octolings and inkling soldiers to the emitter while Blake and Izzy went for the octarian leader. The twintacle stayed with the crashed octoseeker as well as Ren's body. As they pressed on and toward the direction of the emitter, the young octoling private got beside Maxie, curious of her relationship between the human. "So...what was it like?" she asked Maxie.

"What was what like?" asked Maxie plainly.

"You...kissing that human. Have you guys...done it?" she asked again but the sergeant's googles nearly fell off as she stopped in place. The group came to a screeching halt once they turned their attention to the pair of octolings. Maxie and the young private.

"WHAT! No we haven't! What kind of question is that!? Look private It's just...I...you wouldn't understand. Let's just focus on reaching the emitter," said Maxie flustered and annoyed at the private's questioning.

"Oh I understand perfectly. You're in love with him. I wonder how command would think about that or the rest of the octarians for that matter. That you were fraternizing with a human," she commented. The group were both confused if not awkward about the situation.

"Let's just keep this to ourselves ok... after the rebels are defeated. Me and Blake we'll have to think of something but first things first, defeating the rebels so don't bring this up again. Besides I wouldn't care what anyone thinks, not even the empress herself," said Maxie trying to end the subject. The other sergeant and octoling with her looked at each other while the inklings were kind of curious themselves about a relationship between a human and octoling or an inkling for that matter. The group started to move again with Maxie quickly led the octolings and inkling army toward the target.

The private kept her opinions to herself and focused on the mission as Maxie had told her. It would be 20 minutes until they would reach the emitter. The overwatch teams soon spotted more rebels ahead of Maxie and the octolings and inklings on the street level. "Captain, this is corporal Gil, I've spotted enemy patrols ahead of your position as well as a large presence of octarians guarding the what I would assume is the emitter site. Me and my team will move up and provide sniper support," said the corporal over the radio.

"Appreciate the intel corporal. We'll split up into 8 squid teams and converge on the rebels' positions. Keep us informed of any changes and keep an eye on the target. If they power up the emitter inform us and we'll rush the site," said the inkling sergeant.

"Understood, corporal Gil out," the inkling replied. He turned back to his team, "Alright, advance and provide the ground teams support," he commanded them.

"Maxie and the octolings split off and focused on the emitter and the inklings split off into 8 man team like they said they would. They traversed down streets and alleyways to the site location. The captain grabbed the sergeant by the shoulder as he turned toward her. "I'm going to go with the octolings. I want them in tentacle reach. Keep your ears on the radio for anything suspicious," she told the sergeant.

"Be careful captain. I'm not sure if we can trust these octopi or not," said the sergeant.

The captain pulled out her N-Zap and followed Maxie and her team, keeping her guard up of any treachery. The inklings and octolings continuously pushed toward the site undetected. Maxie had still dwelled on Blake's decision to track Octavio down. Thoughts of regret and discomfort filled her head but she broke from it to try and concentrate her thinking on stopping the rebels and assuring herself that Blake would be ok.

In the meantime, Blake and Izzy were heading toward the direction of the square. They stopped to take a breather before going on. "Where would Octavio be?" asked Izzy.

"He can't be too hard to find. He always like to present himself and I'm sure he's riding that flying DJ booth of his. Even over a hundred years he still won't let go of his hatred from losing the war," said Blake.

"I knew you told me about the war and all. It's hard to believe him and the octarians were once friends with the inklings. I wonder why he despises us so much...I mean besides him and everyone else being driven underground...and having no power," said Izzy.

"It was the same reason humankind went to war with one another... the seawaters were rising and the land was shrinking. Resources we're dwindling and Octavio and his people got desperate. I think the power went to his head when he was appointed to take leadership of the octarians. Before then, Octavio was never like that. He was calm, collected, humble, like you or me. Everything changed when he saw the waters rising and looked for any excuse to take from the inklings and acquire even more power and territory. His appearance even changed. I wonder...what happened to him?" Blake asked himself, feeling sympathy for the octarian.

Izzy shrugged as Blake focused back on their mission. "Let's just push to the square and think of a plan. You can probably squid jump on top of that tall tower and see if you can spot Octavio," suggested Blake.

The two pressed on until they reached the entrance of the square and stopped in their tracks. They spotted a squad of octotroopers guarding the square but were spotted themselves. One of them gurgled and turned its weapon on the two. "Oh great! More of those stupid tentacles!" Blake exclaimed in aggravation.

The octotrooper grew mad at Blake's words and shot at the two as did the others. Blake and Izzy fired back. The inkling covered the ground with ink and dived in it to get the drop on the octotroopers. Blake coated the walls with ink after splatting a trooper and wall running to evade the ink fire. He jumped and knocked a trooper off its platform as he drove it and rammed it into another trooper, splatting it on collision. Izzy sprang out of the ink and splatted 2 octotroopers as she refilled. Blake shot at another approaching octotrooper before a twintacle out of nowhere kicked Blake off the platform.

It scowled at Blake ready to tackle him again. Blake stood up and rushed the octarian punching it as it retracted and punched Blake. "You're a tough one I'll give you that," commented Blake as he took another swipe at the twintacle but it grabbed his fist and threw him down. Blake jeered and held his arm. The twintacle charged at Blake as he stood and kicked the octarian down, dazing it. He then grabbed the octoshot and splatted the twintacle before it got up.

Izzy watched the fist fight and congratulated Blake, impressed with his skills. "So what now?" she asked him. As Blake started to answer they heard more octotroopers approaching the square from the entrance. An octostriker could be heard overhead scanning the square. "Hide!" shouted Blake as the two hunted for a place to get out of sight. All the doors to the shops were locked until Izzy ran toward the studio and discovered it was being occupied. She banged on the window to get the attention of the occupants. One of them rushed toward the door to open it. Izzy ran in and shouted Blake's name. Blake rushed toward the studio and ran in only to stumble into Izzy. The two got up and were stared at by the studio occupants. "Izzy!?" shouted a familiar voice. They then turned and looked at Blake. "Y...Y...You're the..." they stammered nervously as they pointed their finger at the human.

---

Marie and Jazz were combating Octavio on the rooftops. Both inklings exchanged taking pop shots at the hulking octopus in his flying octobot but weren't making any headway while his forcefield was still activated. He launched his robot fists at Marie before she squid formed and evaded the attack. He repeated the process once he turned his attention on Jazz and like Marie she squid formed and dodged the fist before it landed. "Hold still hipsters! While I remix both of your faces!" Shouted Octavio as he launched both fists at the same time. "Jazz! Watch out!" shouted Marie as she shoved the inkling girl out of the way. The fist struck right front of the squid sister and she was launched back as Jazz watched helplessly.

"Marie!" she screamed. Marie laid motionless on the roof as Octavio loomed overhead. "One hipster down. One hipster to go," sneered the octarian as he set his sights back on a scarred Jazz but then Marie started to moan. She slowly sat up until she stood, facing Octavio. "Marie?" responded Jazz. "You don't give up do you," commented Octavio.

"This isn't over Octavio. I won't go down that easily...not until you go down for killing Callie!" shouted Marie harshly.

"Stubborn to the end. This just makes splatting you that more savory hipster. Prepare to get dubstomped into oblivion!" boomed the octarian DJ.

Octavio launched his fist at Marie as she barely avoided the robot hand and landed beside Jazz. "Jazz, I need you to find the others and help them stop the rebels from turning on those emitters. I'll deal with Octavio now go!" she commanded the inkling girl.

"What! I won't leave you to deal with that dude! You're battered from that last attack!" exclaimed Jazz.

"I'll be alright. I don't need anyone else getting killed by this bastard. I can handle him, don't argue and just go Jazz!" she demanded her. Clutching her eyes she turned away and fled the rooftop to find Flash and the others. As Marie wasn't paying attention another fist was heading towards her but this time Octavio anticipated her movement and grabbed her with the other fist. "Gotcha hipster!" shouted Octavio as she yelped.

"Oh no, Marie!" screamed Jazz but she pressed on to find her team, seeing she wouldn't be able to help Marie. "Don't worry! I'll find Flash and the others. We'll back to resce you!" she shouted before squid jumping away.

Two octostrikers appeared and Octavio ordered them to follow her and deal with the squidbeak team Marie cobbled together. The octostrikers followed Jazz and the octarian DJ turned his sights on Marie. "And as for you. I guess I got a replacement after all. You might have rejected the preposition I offered before but this time, let's just say your not dropping out of this contract," said Octavio as he grabbed Marie out of the robot fist and wrapped her up with his tentacle.

"Why...don't you just...kill me you...coward," jeered Marie trying to keep her strength.

"I would if I hadn't need the use for you. Too bad your cousin Callie wasn't too complicit, if you didn't interfere, she'd still be here. Maybe I'll have better luck with you with her gone," said Octavio.

"You...monster!" Marie shrieked as tears formed in her eyes.

"Monster huh. Such a harsh word. It's you inkstains that are the real monsters that drove us back to Octo Valley to die! But not this time. It's ironic that a squidbeak agent will be the key to my victory once I've taken control of your precious city and all the inkstains you swore to protect. It's time you squid felt the suffering we felt when we grew dependant and powerless underground," said Octavio as he squeezed Marie tighter as she screamed in pain. Octavio then directed his octobot toward the square where he would begin his "performance" in front of Deca Tower.

Jazz was fleeing the scene trying her hardest to remember Marie's orders to hunt for the other inklings. Unaware she was being followed by two octostrikers that were tailing her until she would meet up with her team. "Oh where could they be? I gotta find them fast before anything happens to Marie," said Jazz as she squid jumped to another building. "Flash! Ben! Suki! Where are you guys!" she yelled out their names. She steadily listened and looked around for any sign of her friends but so far she didn't get a response. She was nearing Flounder heights when she saw a figure on top of an apartment complex just a couple of blocks away.

"Hold on a minute. Is that...Suki?" she said to herself. She aimed her charger down to look through the scope. "It is Suki!" she exclaimed in excitement. "SUKI!" she yelled but the inkling girl couldn't hear her. She soon got up and walked inside the building. "Carp! She couldn't hear me. I gotta find a way down there and tell her about Marie," said Jazz as she looked down and saw how far it was to the ground. She would risk getting hurt if she squid jumped down. She instead squid jumped to another building nearby until she would find a way to reach Suki.

Suki walked out the apartment complex and looked around. So far things were quiet, perhaps too quiet with no octo rebels in sight. Weary of her surroundings. Suki stayed on guard, slowly making her way out of Flounder Heights and toward the direction she last saw Ben and Flash escape from the pursuing octostrikers. As she walked past an alleyway a figure had hopped down a fire escape, watching her. Suki stopped to look around again until something dropped below to the bottom of the alley knocking over trash cans and scaring off a pack of sea snails. "What the. Who's there!? Show yourself or get a taste of ink!" ordered Suki who walked in the alley cautiously with her duelies aimed in front of her.

The sound of slithering could be heard behind a dumpster until a figure peeked out from behind the corner. Suki lined a shot until the figure waved their hands. "Don't shoot! Don't shoot! It's me!" the figure exclaimed coming out into the open.

"Jazz!" shouted Suki. She dropped her duelies to rush over and hug the inkling girl. "I didn't expect to see you again but I'm glad I did. Have you seen Ben or Flash anywhere?" she asked Jazz as she pulled off.

"No. I was hoping you did. I left Marie to find them. Wait. Marie! Octavio's got her! We gotta find them and before that big octopus splats her!" panicked Jazz.

"Jazz calm down! You're telling me that she got captured? And who's Octavio?"asked a slightly confused but troubled Suki.

"Octavio's the rebel leader. Look! I got no time to explain! Marie needs our help!" exclaimed Jazz as she started to tug Suki into heading back to save Marie.

"Jazz! Listen! Let's find those two inkheads first," said Suki as she pryed Jazz's hand off and grabbed shoulders. "But," responded Jazz. "I'm sure Marie can handle herself being a squidbeak agent. It's going to take all of us to fight this Octavio guy. The last time I seen those two it looked like they flew east. Maybe Arowana mall to lose those flying blobs that were chasing us. I say we head that way," asurred Suki trying to alm Jazz down.

"Ok but let me refill first," said Jazz as she placed her charger down.

The two inkling girls decided to go down the alleyway to avoid any unnessary attention. When they reached the other end, Jazz and Suki stopped when they heard approaching footsteps coming from around the corner of the street. "Hold on! Someone's coming. I say we get the drop of them so stay behind me when we jump out and splat them," said Suki as she held up her duelies. As the footsteps got louder Suki popped out and took a shot at the figures. "Whoa! What the squid!" shouted one of them. Suki went wide eyed and lowered her duelies as Jazz stepped out from behind her friend.

"F...Flash? Ben?" replied Jazz.

Suki's ink was within a couple of inches from striking Flash in the face. "What's the big idea shooting at us!" shouted an angry Flash. "I didn't know! I thought you might have been the rebels! We were just trying to find you inkheads!" shouted back Suki who was annoyed herself.

"Well we're not! And you almsot splat me!" growled Flash.

"Enough already! Geez! I know our nerves are shot but we need to stay focused. Me and Flash were headed to one of the emitter things when we got attacked. It's somewhere nearby, I think on the otherside of Flounder Heights. We were going to use the inkjets but Flash ran out of ink and I'm low myself. Did you two run into any rebels?" asked Ben trying to break the monotony. "No. Me and Jazz ran into one another just a couple of minutes ago. She just told me that... hold on is that an...Octoling!" said Suki pointing to Sam as she huddled behind a bus stop as the inklings were talking.

Suki pulled her duelies up but Ben blocked her shot. "Whoa! Hold up! She's with us! Don't splat her!" shouted Ben.

"What! She's one of those rebels! Ben, how could defend her!?" asked an apaud Suki.

"She's not one of them! Let me explain. Her name's Sam. We met her when me and Ben got attacked back in the mall. As we got attacked she never raised her weapon up. She surrendered and told us she regretted joining the octo rebels and just wants to go home. Even though Flash didn't believe her," said Ben as he gave Flash a look.

"Umm, with good reason. She's an Octoling. Her story could be a load of carp! She could be leading you two gulible squids into a trap or something. Did you ever thing about that?" asked Suki in disagreance.

"She's harmless. If she really wanted to kill me and Flash should would've already done it along with the rest of them. I believe her and she's probably our best option to getting to that emitter without arosing those rebels guarding it. We already have a plan thought out with her sneaking past them and sabotaging the machine before the rest of them catch on to what's happening," explained Ben.

"Yeah, a real foolproof plan. Don't say I didn't warn you when she leads you inkheads into an ambush," said Suki as she crossed her arms. Sam finally stepped up seeing Suki resolve her hostility.

"Please believe me. I would never do that! I...didn't realize how evil the rebels were. I was naïve and I believed what Octavio and the rebels said about us taking back what rightly belonged to us. How the inklings stole our honor and our freedom. I thought I was doing the right thing by joining them but when he threatened the valley and called us traitors my hearts sunk and I thought about family back Octopolis. This isn't what I wanted and my folks would probably be mortified with me if they knew I ran away to fight for the rebels. When I saw Inkopolis it reminded me of home but you're not the ones living underground. You have the real sky above you and breathing real air. You don't know what we have to go through to survive down there. Octavio may not rule over the valley anymore but we still suffer from the horrors of dealing with the power outages, dealing with food shortages, and the repercussions of Octavio's past regime, worrying about more octarians siding with the rebel's cause or doubts we'll ever keep peace with the inklings. The empress said she would ensure the octarians wouldn't have to worry about the problems we're having but things still haven't changed since Octavio was defeated 2 years ago. Tensions are getting high and I felt obligated to make sure my people would survive..." she told the inklings.

"That still doesn't give you the right to attack us!" shouted Suki. "I have to agree with her," commented Flash.

"Look! What's done is done. She says she regrets joining the octo rebels but if you were in her shoes what would you do? I don't know what she and her people go through everyday but it sounds horrible. That's why a wanna stop these guys so peace relations can continue again. For all of our sakes not just theirs," defended Ben. The octoling grew admiration for Ben seeing his sympathy for her and the octarians.

"You and your bleeding hearts Ben, especially in a time like this. If you three are going for the emitter then me and Jazz will go back and save Marie," said Suki.

"Save Marie? What do you mean!? What happened!?" asked Ben. "Jazz told me that Octavio, the rebels' leader captured her. She came back trying to look for us but I think we need to split up again. Concentrate on that emitter thing and we'll see if we can rescue Marie. Find us once you've dealt with the emitter," suggested Suki. "Got it, let's go Sam," said Ben as the octoling followed him.

As Ben left with her, Suki grabbed Flash by the shoulder before he tailed them. "Flash, I think we need to be cautious. I don't know whether to believe her story or not but Ben does. I know we have are differences but as of right now we need to stick together on this one. I just hate to see anything happen to Ben or anyone else for that matter. What if Ben's already being influenced by her or the rebels and this is just a ploy," said Suki.

"What! Ben would never..." exclaimed Flash as he was cut off. "I'm just saying. If he is being mind controlled somehow into believing her story then promise you'll do what's right if Ben decides to... side up with her," incinuated Suki.

"Are you asking me to splat Ben!? He's my best friend. sure we don't always get along but I can't do that!" Ben protested by Suki's implications. "If you don't then... I'll have no choice but to. I know he's your friend but think about Inkopolis. We're all done for if these guys turn on those machines. Then they'll be no stopping them. Sacrifices have to be made and you should now that being a soldier, Flash. Promise me you'll do what's right," said Suki.

"I...I... (deep breath) promise," muttered a conflicted Flash. "That's what I wanna hear. Now catch up to them before they get suspicious," advised Suki.

The group broke off again. Jazz and Suki headed back to save Marie as Ben, Flash, and Sam made their way to the emitter on the other side of Flounder Heights. Unaware to the inklings and octoling. Jazz and Suki were being followed by the two fat flying octarians. When the saw the inklings split up they decided to split themselves. "I'll follow the two inkstains and you follow the two other ones plus the traitor. Intercept them before they reach the emitter," the one octostriker told the other. "Roger that," it complied as it flew after the two girls. The leading octostriker followed the two inkling boys and Sam but stayed out of sight of the trio.

As the three of them navigated through the neighborhood. They finally reached what appeared to be a large parking lot with a courtyard just up the hill as the area was surrounded by tall buildings. "Um...Ben where are we? I thought we heading for the emitter?" asked Flash.

"This is a faster way than traversing down those pathways. I prefer a wide open area with cover than getting pinned in between the apartment blocks not to mention better visibility," said Ben.

"Better visibility for the rebels too. I would think we were more prone to getting spotted coming this way but your the leader." said Flash.

The three of them crossed over the driveway and ran toward a parked van until a bang could be heard and Ben fell to the pavement as a stream of ink shot out from across the parking lot on top of three story building. "BEN! Sniper! Get down!" shouted Flash as he threw off his inkjet and quickly dragged Ben to the van. Another stream of ink shot the rear of the van and the inklings were pinned down by the sniper fire. Sam quickly huddled behind a dumpster across from the two inklings as she watched them. "Ben! Ben! Are you alright!? Where ya hit!?" panicked Flash as he propped Ben against the vehicle. "Damn... maybe you were right Flash," Ben said as he clenched in pain, holding his leg.

"Oh squid, I'm glad you're still in one piece," said Flash relieved. He spotted the octarian ink on Ben's leg as well as his own ink, bleeding from the wound. "(cough) Flash, you and Sam keep heading toward the emitter on the other side of the parking lot. I'll draw the sniper's fire," said Ben weakly.

"Ben I can't..." Flash objected. "Don't argue and get to the emitter. Don't forget to take Sam with you, hurry (moan)," said Ben clutching his leg.

"You got it dude. Just don't die on me," said Flash. He then turned to Sam who was still huddled up. He gave her a nod and pointed toward the other side of the parking lot. Sam spotted an octosniper perched on the rooftop of a building. Sam nodded back at Ben and octo formed. She swam up to another car parked ahead of the inklings. Flash turned back to Ben who was situating himself. "I...got this. On my signal Flash I want you to squid form and swim up. Once you two get close enough. Take it out and push on. I'll catch up," advised the inkling who held out his 52 Gal.

"Ben are you sure about this. Theirs no way you can do anything with 52 gal," said Flash. "Just make myself a distraction. Now move!" demanded Ben.

Flash quickly transformed and moved up with Sam as Ben shot his weapon toward the sniper even though he didn't have the range. The octosniper shot another ink stream at Ben striking the hood of van. Ben quickly ducked down and the other two waited for Ben to shoot again and provide a window for the them to move without getting shot. "Ben said for us to take down the octosniper once we got within range," said Flash as Sam nodded. Ben picked his head back up and spotted an octoling at the far end of the lot with an inkzooka in her hands. "Oh shrimp! Get down!" shouted Flash as the two got down. The ink missile flew over their head and struck a car behind them causing it to explode. The octoling dropped the inkzooka and picked up her octoshot along with three more octolings converging in from the courtyard. "Looks like they know we're here. So much for the plan. Hope we can even make it to that emitter, " exclaimed Flash.

He stood up and returned fire with his duelies. The octolings took cover. "What are you waiting for!? Shoot back!" the inkling boy shouted at Sam. "But I...can't! They're octarians," she said as she covered her head. "They're trying to kill us! Once they find out you're helping inklings you're as good as an ink puddle!" he continued to rant. One of the octolings octo jumped behind a car in front of them and attempted to shoot Flash. Then soon an octopod appeared from the other side of the parking lot and ran toward Flash and Sam's position when it saw them. "What the shell is that thing!?" he said. The octopod was getting closer and Flash decided to shoot at it. Then it exploded into ink, damaging the cars around, including killing the octoling hiding behind one of them. "Walking bombs! You gotta be squiddin me. Sam! Get up and fight or we're as good as chopped chum!" demanded Flash. She uncovered her head and grabbed her octoshot. Still hesitant at shooting at her own kind.

"Hurry up and deal with those two!" ordered one of the octolings. A couple of more octolings appeared and laid down fire at Flash and Sam's location. Ben on the other hand was watching helplessly as his friend and the octoling were getting pinned down. The octosniper still had its trained eye on Ben waiting for him to slip up from cover. The octosniper fired a shot of ink, coming very close of hitting Ben in the head. "Sea slugs! I can't do anything with that tentacle keeping a bead on me but Flash and Sam are goners if I don't do something," Ben said in aggravation. "Think Ben!" he told himself as he tapped himself on the head. Then an idea popped in his idea. If it would even work. "This might be a crazy but what else can I do?," said Ben as he pulled off his inkjet. "Maybe I have enough ink. Sheldon's just going to have to forgive me later," he continued. The inkling planned on using the inkjet as a missile with hopefully enough ink in it to reach the octosniper and kill it. "Only got one shot at this," he said as he came out off of cover and aimed the inkjet at the sniping tentacle. The octarian spotted Ben and shot a stream of ink at him, striking him in the arm. Ben screamed and broke the controls to the inkjet causing it to propel toward the octosniper. The octosniper's eyes bulged before the inkjet struck it, splatting it into a burst of ink.

The octolings were completely stunned at what just happened causing Flash to take the opportunity to squid jump behind them and splat them before they could react. "And I thought the semi finals to the splatfest were hard. Glad that's over but was that an inkjet that creamed that tentacle? Wait. Inkjet. Ben! Oh carp!" shouted Flash as he dropped his duelies to go back and check on Ben. He spotted his friend lying on his back with a small puddle of ink forming beside him. "Ben! Hang in there!" he shouted again before rushing over to hold him up. "Ben! Speak to me! Ben!" he called out.

Ben started to move and moan. Sam rushed over behind Flash. "He's hurt pretty bad. Let me..." started Sam before getting cut off.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU SHOOT BACK!" roared Flash. Angered that Sam wouldn't retsliste aginst the rebels.

"I...I...I was scarred" she said meekly.

"It's pretty convenient that those rebels knew we were coming. As if they were waiting to ambush us," incinuated the angry inkling.

"They were probably sentries. If the emitter's nearby that would make sense," she explained.

"Ben defended you and now look what happened. I think you knew they were here and didn't say nothing! I knew I shouldn't have trusted you and if Ben dies, be sure you'll join those rebels," said Flash coldly.

"Flash. She had nothing to do with this (coughing)... It was my fault for taking us this way. Like she said they were probably guarding the emitter," Ben said weakly as he defended Sam.

"Ben hang on bro. Save your strength. I'll see what I can do," said Flash.

"Just get to the emitter before anymore rebels show up (coughing)," Ben iterated.

"I'm not leaving you to die here," protested Flash before turning back to the octoling. "Sam. You better not have anything to do with this. If you can help Ben then do it. Prove to me I can trust you," said Flash as kept his sights on the octoling girl. She rubbed her hand and started to assess Ben's wound when all of a sudden a large shadow casted over them.

"Still alive I see," said the octostriker hovering over the trio. "You inkstains made it... that's unfortunate. well as they always say if you want something done right then you gotta do it yourself. Let's see you survive this!" sneered the fat octarian.

As the octostriker locked on to the trio a barrage of ink coated the fat octarian as it splattered into ink as it fell on the asphalt. Flash and Sam turned to the source and spotted inkling soldiers storm the courtyard and parking lot where they were at. "Octostriker neutralized. Move up!" radioed in a splattling user. The inklings secured the area and surrounded the three. "State your business! Who are you and what are you doing out here! There's a curfew in effect!" questioned the inkling soldier. He had dark skin, yellow eyes, and purple tentacles underneath his helmet. Like the rest of the IDF soldiers he wore uniform with camo. The camo was greenish with arrow designs instead of splotches seen on typical camo. He welded a tentatek mk2 splattershot painted in camo like his uniform.

"Answer me inkling!" ordered the soldier again as Flash stared at him with his arms up.

"Sergeant! Isn't that privates Flash and Ben. They deserted the base 8 hours ago. They were placed on a BOLO list and are awaiting prosecution," informed a female inkling soldier. Wearing a uniform like the sergeant. She had fair skin, blue eyes, and yellow droopy tentacles.

"You're right corporal. Apprehend the three of them, especially the octoling!" ordered the sergeant. The corporal examined Ben's body and saw that he was gravely injured. "We need to treat that inkling before we cuff him. Bring the medic over here!" she demanded. An inkling medic with a rucksack rushed over and started to treat Ben as he pushed Flash out of the way.

"You and your friend are in deep shit once we root out the octarians and take you back to base for processing. What do have to say for yourself?" asked the sergeant brashly.

"Let Ben go. I'm the one that planned the desertion. Ben was just trying to talk some sense into me and get me to return to the base. He had nothing to do with this," replied Flash.

"He still went AWOL, You got a lot to answer to once we head back to HQ. You could've gotten your friend killed over all this... You're a disgrace to the IDF," said the sergeant. "And as for the octoling. She'll be questioned as well," he continued as he looked over Sam. She downed her head as to not look the inkling sergeant in the eyes.

"Sir if I may interject. She's not hostile. As a matter of fact me and Ben along with her help were going to disable the emitter on the other side of Flounder Heights. We ran into an ambush and Ben sustained injuries. I just hope he makes it," interrupted Flash.

"The medic says he suffering from life threatening injuries and we need to bring him back to base ASAP. He's treated him just enough to get him back for proper medical assessment," said the corporal as she walked over.

"Call in an medivac. As soon as he is treated and in shape to talk. He'll be questioned for his actions. None the less, his decision to leave the base to retrieve private Flash is unjustifiable. I would count your lucky stars private. If we hadn't come when we did. The three of you would've been nothing but puddles on the ground," said the sergeant empathetically.

"Well should I inform his father and let him know we located his son?" asked the corporal.

"Once he's loaded in the medivac, get in touch with Miles and command and give them the sitrep," answered the sergeant. "Yes, sir," she complied before looking back at Flash and shaking her head.

"What about the emitter?" asked Flash. "It's already been dealt with. If I were I would worry about the punishment you two will be receiving. Desertion will not tolerated! Is that clear," demanded the sergeant. "Yes, sir," Flash answered. "Well at least let me know what you're going to do with Sam," asked Flash. "The octoling? She'll be incarcirated and interrogated when we get back. After that, I'm not so sure," replied the sergeant.

"You won't have her...executed will you?" Flash asked, concerned for Sam's well-being. "She didn't resist so it'll be determined by the courts what will be done with her. She's still an octarian and still a threat, armed or not." the sergeant responded. A group of soldiers walked up from behind the inkling soldier. "Take them away," the sergeant ordered his troops. They cuffed Flash and Sam and lead them out of the sergeant's sight until transportation would arrive for the trio. It wouldn't be long until the chopper would take Ben back to base to get patched up while Flash and Sam were apprehended.

"What's the status on captain Finn and her unit?" asked the sergeant.

"We're tracking that they are in route to another emitter. Right in the middle of Inkopolis Plaza. Also she's being accompanied by a team of octolings," replied the corporal.

"Octolings? Are you sure that's credible intel corporal?" asked the bewildered sergeant.

"As credible as Marie winning the last splatfest but something even more disturbing is that a... human is in their presence as well," she replied again.

"A human! This has got to to be bad intel! I'll believe I have a shot at dating one of the squid sisters before I'll believe a human is among the captain and those octolings. What next the salmonids invading the city too!?" said the sergeant not taking the corporal's words seriously.

"Sir, I wasn't sure to believe it at first but this is coming from the captain herself. I wouldn't know what reason she would have to fabricate such farfetched information. A human...How could that be?" said the astonished corporal.

"I don't know but as of right now. My only concern is stopping the octarian threat. We'll get to the bottom of this human situation eventaully," said the inkling sergeant. It would a little while longer until the chopper would arrive and retrieve the inklings and Sam. The three of them found themselves in a dilemma if getting attacked by the rebels wasn't bad enough only for their saviors to place them in custody.

Meanwhile, Suki and Jazz were on the outskirts of Flounder Heights heading back to rescue Marie from Octavio but on their way. An octostriker dropped down out of nowhere and stopped the two. "Going somewhere squids?" It asked them. "Get out of our way you fat stupid tentacle. Or I splat that stupid smirk off your face!" demanded Suki raising up her duelies.

"I'll show you fat stupid tentacle!" yelled the octostriker as it launched an ink missile at the two girls. They split away and evaded the missile from striking the street where they were at. "Jazz! You good!?" asked Suki as she was laying on the sidewalk. "Yeah, I'm fine," she replied.

"I won't miss next time!" Jeered the octarian. It gained some altitude and locked on to Suki. "Suki watch out!" warned Jazz. She quickly threw up her charger and shot the bottom of the octostriker. It bellowed and launched the missile at the building beside Suki. Rubble fell down from the damaged building and Suki quickly transformed to evade the falling debris but a big chunk landed on her tentacle. She yelped in pain from being pinned and the octarian shook off the ink. "Pesky squid!" It shouted. Jazz lined up another shot but she was out of ink. "What's the matter? Out of ink already. What a shame. So I guess you won't be able to stop me from splatting your friend over there!" scoffed the octostriker.

Turning away from Jazz and focusing on a pinned Suki. She attempted to move the chunk of debris off her leg in bipedal form. The octostriker locked onto her and readied itself for another attack. "Oh no! Suki get out of there!" shouted Jazz behind a parked truck. Seeing she wouldn't be able to unfree herself in time. Jazz threw her charger down and rushed toward Suki to try and save her. The octostriker launched an ink missile and at a race to reach Suki in time, Jazz then ran between the missile and Suki herself. Time froze as the inkling girl helplessly watched Jazz get splattered by the inkstrike as she got knocked back against the building and freed from the debris in part. laying motionless on her stomach. Suki slowly lifted herself as she coughed. Feeling the effects of the splash effect. She slowly turned her head and saw nothing but a large puddle of octarian ink where Jazz ran in front of the missile. All that was left of Jazz was her clothes. "No...Jazz!" Suki cried but then the octostriker lowered itself down and snatched up the inkling.

"How heroic... At least I got one of you inkstains but don't worry you'll soon be joining her once I've squeezed all the ink out of you!" sneered the octostriker as it had a hold of Suki squeezing her into its fat gut. Suki's anger built up over the loss of her friend and broke free from the fat octarian and kicked it in the jaw. The octostriker jerked back and Suki flipped in the air as she pulled out her dualies and sprayed the octostriker right in the face. Lunching it back against a building, slamming into it. The octarian was dazed and peeled off the building landing on a truck below. It moaned and attempted to get up but fell over before splatting.

Suki landed back down in her squid form. "That's for Jazz," she said coldly. She turned back to the puddle and kneeled over. She picked up Jazz's cap and clutched it before she started breaking out into tears. It appeared that not only did Suki make a friend but lost one in the process. How will her friends Flash and Ben take the dreadful news once they found out?

---

20 minutes earlier, Sheldon and Melvin were on there way back toward the square as the octoling asked the little crab to get him back to meet up with Serena and Pearl. "Not to break the conundrum but you seem to care a lot for that girl. I could tell when me and agent 2 brought her back to the training grounds outside the canyon. A little crush?" He asked Melvin with a smile.

"Huh? No she's just a...friend," said Melvin as he turned slightly red. Sheldon raised an eyebrow and can read Melvin's expression. "We're both soldiers and I'm not sure it would be ethical to, you know... besides with everything we've been through I'm sure she's going to need time to recuperate from all the trauma. I'm just ready to end this war so we can head back to the valley and things go back to normal if they ever will," Melvin finished.

"Cheer up buddy. Things will turn around. I trust Marie will figure a way of stopping those guys," He assured Melvin. "I wonder what could've happened to agent 4 and Blake. If Octavio's here then where are they? I hope nothing happened to them," muttered the little crab quietly.

"It's not so much that it's what will the inklings think of us after this is all done and said. We've been framed for taking the great zapfish and now this. The idea was to try and contain the rebels and keep them in the canyon so we would avoid altercations like this," said Melvin. He growled and punched the dashboard.

"I think once the rebels are defeated. Marie and your friend can explain things once the inkling government gets involved," replied Sheldon.

"Let's hope so," said Melvin plainly. As the two were headed for the square. Something caught Melvin's eye. It was a large flying object and as they got closer. Melvin gritted his teeth and boiled with anger. It was Octavio, who hadn't spotted the flying truck yet. "There's that overgrown slug right now, he's gonna pay for what he did to Serena!" exclaimed Melvin angrily. He opened the cab door and Sheldon tried to coax him from doing anything drastic. "Melvin! Don't do it! You can't take Octavio head on like that not to mention get us shot down!" shouted the crab. "What about heading back to the square!" he shouted again.

"I Bet he's probably headed to the same place. I can't let him get a hold of Serena. Just go without me and I'll take care of Octavio!" shouted Melvin as he jumped out of the cab and landed on building below.

"Melvin! Oh sea snails!" exclaimed the little crab as continued on to the square eager to get back to the shop. Unaware that Marie was onboard the octobot king, being held captive from the octarian ruler.

Melvin watched Octavio fly over and hover toward the square. "I'm coming you old bastard," said Melvin as he octo formed and shot over no the next building keeping out of Octavio's sight.

Sheldon landed the truck behind his shop and drove down the underground garage. Once he got out of the truck he scurried to the radio to get in contact with Marie but got answer. After a few attempts he laid the mic down and decided to activate his drone. On top of his shop, opened a hatch and the drone flew out. "If I can't get in touch with agent 2 then maybe I can try and find her," Sheldon said to himself controlling the drone and watching the monitors.

10 minutes earlier, back at the studio, the situation was awkward to say the least. The two agents slowly sat up as Blake crashed into Izzy as he bolted in the studio to avoid being detected by the octo rebels that were approaching the square. They rubbed their heads as they sat up on their knees only to get stared at by a pair of wide eyes. "Izzy!?" shouted Pearl. Then Serena turned to Blake, recognizing him from back at Tentacle Towers. "Y...Y...You're the..." she stuttered pointing her finger at him.

"What the squid is that!" shrieked Pearl as she jerked back.

Blake and Izzy looked at each after the outburst. Then Izzy turned to Pearl. "Pearl it's ok! He's not going to hurt you guys!" exclaimed Izzy.

After a moment Pearl examined Blake and then Serena finally finished what she was about to say. "You're the...human," she said meekly.

"Human!?" shouted Pearl. "No why that's a human yo! They've been extinct for a freakin' long time! How could that be a human!?" she continued to rant.

"It's...a long story but right now theirs better things to worry about. Theirs more octotroopers coming into the square and if you didn't notice. You're city is being invaded by the octo rebels!" said Blake as he got up to brush himself off.

"We know that! Hey! Wait a minute...you can speak our language!?" said a stunned Pearl.

"Now's not the time to ask questions. We gotta do something and fast. It's just a matter of time until those talking tentacles find us," said Blake redirecting their focus back on the situation outside.

"Whoa whoa hold up... I'm not taking orders from some fossil. You shouldn't even be here and as far as I'm concerned you pose a bigger threat than those octo freaks outside," protested Pearl.

"Pearl how could you say that! He's my friend and he's trying to save the city. You just met him and your already throwing accusations at him for no reason other than he's a human," objected Izzy.

"Humans have been dead for llke thousands of years and do you know why? Because they're stupid and violent! They ended up just killing each other in the end and almost destroyed the planet in the process!" explained Pearl.

"How would you know?" said Blake, feeling insulted by the little inkling.

"I just do, ok," said Pearl crossing her arms with a scowl.

Blake just paused at Pearl's hateful comments as Izzy looked at him with empathy. "Blake...I'm sorry that she..." started Izzy as she placed her hand on his arm.

"No...she's right... as far as can remember. Humans... did kill each other off, while the others drowned from the rising seawaters. She has a right to feel threatened but that doesn't mean I won't help you guys defeat Octavio and stop the rebels from taking control of the city and the inklings," replied Blake.

"I don't find you threatening at all," said Serena who remained quiet this whole time. "As a matter of fact I think you're pretty noble to help the inklings. I've never met a human before and I hate to hear that your race wiped each other out. It's saddening to believe that you're the last of your kind," she continued as she approached Blake.

Blake gave Serena a half smile appreciating her sympathy until they could hear the humming of the octotroopers' platforms approaching. "Oh crap, everyone remain quiet," commanded Blake. The four of them backed away from the studio window and waited to see what the octotroopers were about to do. "Any signs of the attackers?" asked one octotrooper outside.

"Nothing yet. They couldn't haven't gotten far. Keep looking!" It ordered.

The humming started to fade as Blake gave a sigh of relief. "Looks like they don't know we're here but we still got to face Octavio. Is there another way out of this building?" asked Blake.

"Yeah, there's a back door," pointed Serena.

"What about the roof?" Blake asked again.

"Why would you wanna go up on the roof?" replied Serena curious to Blake's question.

"Because I need Izzy to reach that tower at the end of the square so she can get a bird's eye view of the area and see if she can spot Octavio," explained Blake.

"Oh then yeah, there should a roof access here somewhere," she answered.

"Don't help that fossil!" demanded Pearl.

"What! Why!? We need to help him if he's intent on stopping Octavio. Out of all people I would think you would want that so you can watch your stories again," exclaimed Serena as she put her hands on her hips.

"Hey! I would love nothing more to see that old has-been poser go down but do you really expect some noob and a fossil to really beat that big sea slug," said Pearl who was not convenced that the two agents would stop the rebels and their leader Octavio.

"This fossil! Has a name you know and yeah I'm going to beat that big sea slug. You're one to insult. Your name's Pearl? Who sure don't look like a Pearl to me, more like a lawn gnome," insulted Blake.

"What'd you call me you big ape! I got fangs and I ain't afraid to use them!" shouted Pearl as she bared her fangs a t the human.

"Those can openers you call teeth. I'm more intimidated by those dumb tentacles outside," shot back Blake who glared down the little inkling.

"Why you little... I'll show can openers when I dig into that leg of yours, you..." growled pearl ready to take a bite off Blake.

"Pearl that's enough! Both of you! (deep breath) You need to apologize, both of you," said Serena unsatisfied with the two's behavior.

"After her," snapped Blake.

"Go get inked fossil!" snapped back Pearl as she shunned him.

Serena crossed her arms and Pearl a disproving look. "Fine, you know what. The fossil can get splatted for all I care. And I'm not sorry!" she yelled as she stormed off.

Blake shook his head as he and Izzy looked for a way up to the roof. "What's her problem?" Blake muttered to himself. "Blake I wouldn't pay her mind," said Izzy. "I haven't done anything to her, besides refer her to an ugly yard ornament but besides the point, all because I'm a human. Do...other inklings think the same thing... that I'm some mindless... monster?" said Blake as Pearl's behavior towards him bothered him.

"Blake I wouldn't pay no mind to Pearl. You're not a monster and she doesn't know what she's talking about. Octavio is the real monster here and I don't know why she already despises you after you two just met," said Izzy.

"I know but still...(sigh) I shouldn't worry about her but worry about the city. Let's just get to the roof and see if we can spot Octavio," said Blake.

"Before you two got here I tried to get a hold my base but had no luck. I assume the rebels or the inkling military is jamming communications because of what's going. Best of luck you two," said Serena as walked over to Pearl.

They walked toward the back until they spotted the stairs going up to the roof. Once they reached the roof Blake spotted Deca Tower, on the ground level the troopers were still searching for the two agents and the octostriker that was patrolling had disappeared. Now was his and Izzy's chance while the troopers were occupied. "Alright Izzy are you ready?" he asked the inkling girl.

"I guess as ready as I'll ever be. Deca Tower sure is tall," she said nervously.

"Just take your time and don't get into a rush," said Blake.

Izzy gave a nod and jumped over to the next couple of buildings until she got near the unlit tower. "(deep breath) Well...here goes nothing," she said to herself before squid jumping toward the tower. She grabbed a hold of one of the advertisement signs before she fell. Looking at the ground below she started to get squeamish. "C'mon Izzy, you can do this," she assured herself. She climbed on top of the sign and squid jumped to the next one above her. After some time and courage she managed to hop to the top and held on to an antenna. "Wow, I can see all of Inkopolis from here, even the old plaza," she said. As the inkling agent looked around the sound of loud humming was emitting from over her and all of a sudden a large metallic craft descended down revealing that it was Octavio himself. Izzy gasped and bent down as to not get spotted. Blake watched and huddled down to avoid detection himself. He clutched his weapon and stared angrily at Octavio's floating robot. The flying DJ booth turned around revealing the operator as Octavio himself but he wasn't alone. Blake's mouth opened and his anger resolved into dread. "Oh no, Marie," he quivered.

Izzy stared in shock as she saw that Octavio had apprehended Marie. She was weak and half-conscious, wrapped in Octavio's tentacle. "You put up a pretty good fight hipster but not good enough to save your squid butt. I would ensnare you one way or another. Without that cousin of yours, I would have a difficult time to bait the inklings into listening to the song my hypnowave was hidden in. I can now begin my plan of controlling you inkstains and taking over the surface that you squids banished us from long ago that we rightfully derserve. Its time to end what had been started since the great turf war began. You will all soon witness the might of the new octarian empire and me as your new ruler. Inkopolis will be mine and soon those valley turncoats will meet their demise and pay for betraying me and siding with these wretched inkstains, starting with that empress," boomed Octavio.

"I'm so getting sick of the villain monologuing. Don't these guys come up with their own lines and gimmicks!? (deep breath) Right now I can't do anything to stop Octavio. He's got Marie and he could harm her if I even try to attack him. I got to think of something but what. How can I get him to release Marie?" he thought. He pondered and then he thought of an idea but it seemed as if it was his only option if it meant Marie's safety and all of Inkopolis. Blake was at an impasse and was stricken with frustration. He stood up and turned to Octavio before getting his attention.

"OCTAVIO!" he yelled.

Octavio turned and peered down at a figure standing on the roof of the studio. "Well if it isn't the bonehead. Come to rescue your the hipster inkstain... and I see your wearing a squidbeak uniform. Not surprising since you did turn against me back in the war and side with Cuttlefish and those damn squids. Come to stop my plans? Well I can assure things are different now and I won't be beaten. Cuttlefish isn't here to help you and I can guarantee this time I'll make sure you never come back to haunt me. If you even try and attack me then the hipster's granddaughter gets it!" sneered Octavio as he swung Marie around to show Blake. She was losing strength and having a hard time staying awake.

"Octavio! Let her go and hand over Callie while your at it!" Blake demanded.

"Oh that other hipster? Well I hate to break it to you but she's checked out of the performance...permanently!" said Octavio snidely.

"You're telling me that Callie's...dead?" asked Blake as his heart sank.

"Afraid so bonehead now be a good fossil and drop your weapon or Marie will be joining her," demanded the hulking octopus.

"You son of a bitch... OCTAVIO! GETTING STUFFED BACK IN THAT SNOWGLOBE ISN'T A GODD ENOUGH PUNISHMENT! YOU CAN COUNT ON ME PUSHING YOU OVER THE CLIFF LIKE YOU DID TO ME YEARS AGO! YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME AND NOW YOU'VE TAKEN CALLIE! I'LL MAKE SURE YOU PAY FOR THIS AND I WON'T BE AS MERCIFUL AS CUTTLEFISH WAS TOO YOU EITHER! LET GO OF MARIE AND FIGHT ME YOU OVERSIZED SEA SLUG!" Shouted Blake enraged with Octavio after hearing he killed Callie.

"Where did that spark of ferocity come from? Did I strike a nerve human? Your threats don't scare me and do you take me for a fool. You think I'm just going to let go of the hipster's granddaughter just like that!? No! How I see I'm holding all the cards. Inkopolis, your friends, and Marie. Face it fossil! You have no power over me so you might as well submit and bow to my presence ...and if you don't I'll squeeze every ounce of ink out of this squid until she turns pale," he threatened as he squeezed Marie. She yelped and gasped her breath.

"Marie!" he shouted placing his hand out. "Don't you do it Octavio! I swear I'll turn you into Calamari if you..." started Blake.

"THEN DO AS I ASK!" boomed Octavio.

Blake gritted his teeth and threw down the octoshot he was holding up at Octavio. He slowly kneeled down and gave a disingenuous bow to the hulking octopus. "Not good enough... I want you to grovel," said Octavio snidely.

"Why don't you make me," Blake muttered bitterly.

"Very well..." the octarian ruler commented. He took a hard swipe at Blake with is tentacle, launching the human against the stair access and landing on his stomach as if he was laying down to the DJ's request. "That's more like it," said Octavio. Blake tried to get up with his body bruised but he plopped back down and was slowly losing consciousness. "Blake! Hold on!" shouted Izzy on top of Deca Tower watching the whole thing. She squid jumped down only to be tackled by the octostriker and knocking her to the ground below in her bipedal form. She yelped and landed, losing energy to see the DJ looming over her. "Who are you supposed to be inksquirt! You're not that agent 3 that defeated me 2 years ago. Guess that hipster Cuttlefish recruited another agent to stop me. No Matter! I won't have a pesky squid get the drop on me. In fact once those hypnowaves take their effect. You can be my personal agent and your first mission will be disposing of that bonehead once and for all!" raved the DJ.

"I... won't be your agent Octavio...and I won't hurt Blake! He will stop you!" She protested as she laid on the ground.

"I don't think so squirt. You, that human and everyone else are doomed. I've done won this battle before it even started and I won't let some fossil or some wannabe hero inkstain stand in my way. It's over and you've loss! Mic drop! Octavio in tha house!" gloated Octavio as he gestured dropping a microphone before crossing his tentacles into an X, signifying his victory. The octotroopers surrounded Izzy as she finally sat up, still hurting from the hard landing. The octostriker floated above her ready to splat her at the command. "Permission to splat this squid, my ruler?" asked a twintacle among the troopers.

"Squish the little squid," replied Octavio.

"Yes, my liege," replied the twintacle. Blake had started to wake up after he fell unresponsive for the moment and saw Octavio had turned toward Izzy back in the square. He took the opportunity to stand up and run toward Octavio as he yelled and grabbed a hold of the octobot king. "Huh! What the!" jeered Octavio. Blake's weight shifted the robot, causing it to almost collide with the troopers on the ground. Izzy took advantage of the troopers dispersing and paying mind to the struggle between their ruler and the human. She quickly grabbed her hero shot and splatted three of the octotroopers and the twintacle. She squid formed to cover as the remaining troopers reacted. The octobot king was out of control as it struck the octostriker causing it to get thrown toward Deca tower. It dropped on it's stomach and was squashed by one of the advertisement signs that fell on top of it.

"I'm gonna remix your face fossil!" shouted Octavio as he still had a hold of Marie and was attempting to gain back control of the octobot king. Blake climbed up until he was in the cockpit. He lunged at Octavio and grabbed a hold of his tentacle. "You're gonna get what's coming to you Octavio! Consider your concert canceled!" Blake shouted. Octavio tried to knock Blake off his arm but the human still held on. Blake took a jab at Octavio and struck him in the cheek. The punch did little to effect the big octopus.

"Is that the best you got bonehead!? Let me show you how it's done!" Octavio scoffed. He knocked Blake off his tentacle and grabbed a hold of the robot fist before he fell off the flying robot. Octavio activated the fist and it shot Blake out toward a building. Blake yelled and jumped on the fist before it squished him against the wall. The fist retracted with Blake riding on top of it. Blake bared his teeth and locked on the stunned Octavio. He jumped off the fist and landed a powerful kick into Octavio's face. Launching him back against the DJ booth. Octavio bellowed from the strike and let go of Marie as they hovered above the square.

"Oh shit! Marie!" shouted Blake seeing her fall to the street below. Before she landed, she was caught by a figure that squid jumped out of nowhere. She was laid down by the figure as they stared at her. Marie moaned and slowly opened her eyes. She stared back at the figure and couldn't believe who had saved her. It was Callie who she thought was killed by Octavio. "Cal..." she said with widened eyes and a beyond stunned expression on her face. Callie gave her a smile before Marie sat up and quickly embraced her cousin. "Cal! It's so good to see again!" she cried.

"Me too Marie!" Callie cried back. They pulled off but had a hold of each other as tears were coming out of both their eyes. "Callie...I thought Octavio...killed you," she said still shocked but very relieved to see Callie alive.

"I'm not sure what happened? I woke up and started remembering everything that happened before, when I broke out of the trance of those shades. I saw Octavio grab you and I had to chase after you guys," explained Callie before she paused. "W...Where's Blake?" she asked her cousin. "Huh? Cal...what's wrong?" she replied seeing her cousin's troubled expression. The two then turned their attention back at the octobot king and saw Blake hanging over the cockpit. Blake stared at Callie and a smile grew on his a face a tear ran down his cheek. "Callie!" he cried. "Blake!" she called back. Octavio woke up from getting kicked and glared at Blake as his back was turned. In attempt to jump of the robot to hug the squid sister he was grabbed from behind by Octavio himself.

"Where do you think you're going!?" roared Octavio. He pulled Blake back into the robot as Marie and Callie yelled his name. Blake was now eye to eye with the enraged octopus. "I've had enough out of an interfering fossil like you! I won't lose this time and you can be sure I'll finish the job I did a hundred years ago. Cuttlefish isn't here to save you and neither are those two inkstain hipsters! I'll squeeze what pathetic life you have left in that body! This is the last time you'll get in my way! Prepare to join the rest of your kind human!" boomed Octavio as held Blake over the ledge of the octobot king. "Blake! No! Octavio let him go!" pleaded Callie.

"It's time you got kicked off the stage! For good!" jeered Octavio as he held Blake over the ledge of the octobot. Then suddenly a stream of ink struck Octavio in the head. He bellowed and dropped Blake but the human caught the bottom of the robot before he fell. Octavio rubbed his head and spotted the assailant. It was Melvin on top of Sheldon's shop. Then the drone dropped down out of nowhere beside Callie and Marie. "I knew I caught something on the feed but I wasn't sure if that was you or not agent 2. It's good to see you two reunited once again," said Sheldon with glee over the speaker on the drone.

"I'm glad Callie's back too," said Marie as she hugged her cousin. The three then turned their attention to Melvin who was pointing his weapon toward Octavio. "Wait that's Melvin. What's he doing here?" asked a confused Marie.

"He helped me with the truck. I ran into him sometime ago before he hopped out when he was intent on fighting Octavio once he spotted him. And a good thing too. He saved Blake from getting splatted," replied Sheldon.

"Octavio! It's time to end your reign of terror!" shouted Melvin. Octavio turned to the octoling boy with a glare. "I guess I gotta squish another pesky inkstain!" jeered Octavio.

During the whole battle with Octavio. Pearl and Serena watched from the studio window. Serena spotted Melvin on top of Sheldon's shop and was excited to see he was still alive after leaving with Sheldon to retrieve the truck. "Melvin! I gotta go out there and..." exclaimed Serena as she tried to bolt out of the studio. "...What!? Serena get back here!" shouted Pearl as she chased after the octoling girl. "Why do you I gotta play babysitter for these two?" Pearl muttered. As she chased Serena an octotrooper skidded out of nowhere and prepared to splat Pearl. "Wah!" Pearl shrieked but Izzy blasted the trooper as Pearl covered her eyes. "Pearl! You ok? That was close," said Izzy.

"What? Y...Yeah thanks homie. Just in time too before I unleashed my mad skills on that ugly tentacle! He was lucky yo!" said Pearl hiding her cowardice.

Blake was holding on to the octobot with all his might. "Blake hold on!" shouted Callie. Octavio focused on Melvin who was standing on Ammo Knights. "Let's see if you like some ink missiles!" shouted Octavio as he launched toward Melvin. The octoling changed forms and shot up toward the octobot king as the missile struck the shop. Melvin changed back and shot a barrage of ink at Octavio and the hovering robot. Octavio covered his head with his tentacle from getting hit in the face by the ink. Melvin landed on the turntables and struck Octavio with his octoshot. The octobot bot swayed as Melvin took another swipe at the bloated octopus but Octavio grabbed his octoshot and threw Melvin off the robot. He octo formed and landed on the street below. Blake climbed up but Octavio grabbed him by the neck. "I'm going to break every bone in your body!" he said harshly at the human.

"He's going to kill Blake! We gotta do something!" panicked Callie.

"Blake! Hang on I'm coming!" Izzy yelled as she squid jumped to the robot. "Let go of him!" she demanded as she shot at Octavio's face. Octavio jeered and Izzy grabbed a hold of Octavio's tentacle as to get Blake free from his grasp. The two jumped off the octobot as Octavio recovered from the attack. "That's it! I've had enough of you hipsters! It's time I dumbstomped all of you into oblivion! Prepare to eat my ink!" boomed Octavio. The flying robot lit up and roared with a loud deep horn. Octavio launched all of his ink missiles at his disposal as everyone took cover. Ink coated and exploded all over the square. Smoke littered the air as the inklings, octolings and Blake slowly recovered from the barrage and coughed, choking on the thick air. "Blake!...Marie!... Where are you guys!?" called out Callie as she coughed. Then a large shadow appeared out of the smoke from behind but as she turned around a large tentacle grabbed her and she was picked up, revealing it was Octavio who slowly ascended over the smoke.

"Cal!" screamed Marie seeing her cousin get taken by Octavio again. Izzy and Blake then turned and saw Callie wrapped by Octavo's tentacle. "Callie!" the both shouted in unison. "Looks like I got that hipster Cuttlefish's granddaughter... again!" sneered the DJ.

"Octavio! Let her go right now!" demanded Marie.

"Or what! You think you've beaten me!...I don't think so! The show must go on and I'm taking my little accomplice with me," replied Octavio.

"No! Marie! Blake! Help me! I don't wanna get brainwashed again!" pleaded Callie as she held her hand out.

"I won't let you take Callie again! It's time we settled this once and for all Octavio!" yelled Blake.

"Like I settled it with you a hundred years ago. Bring it on bonehead! If you want Callie back so bad then come and take her!" taunted the octopus. He pressed a button on the console of his robot. A beam shot from behind the flying DJ booth and a portal opened up revealing the arena inside the celphalon HQ back in the canyon.

"What...the..." panned Blake as he stared at Octavio and the portal behind him. "Consider this my last and final trick. An ace up my sleeve as you humans would say. Don't think I wasn't prepared for such an occasion fossil. This octopus is still as sharp as sea urchin unlike that hipster Cuttlefish," popped off Octavio as the octobot king was backing up inside the portal. "I'll be waiting Blake. Let's see who will come out the victor this time," he continued as he vanished into the portal.

"Blaaaaakkkeee!" cried Callie as she vanished along with Octavio.

"Callie!" screamed back Blake. They portal was slowly closing and they had to jump in before it shut completely. "We gotta go after them!" shouted Blake as he started to run up to the collapsing portal.

"Blake! Wait! Take this!" Sheldon shouted as he came out of the store waving something. He handed Blake what appeared to be a modified Bamboozler.

"What is this?" asked Blake staring at the ink weapon. The back of it was comprised of a bamboo cane handle but the shaft was covered by what appeared to look like some kind of tubular housing, sort of like a muffler. Also attached was what appeared to be a crank handle as if you would see on a fishing rod and crosshair sights on top of it like on anti-aircraft guns. This is a modified Bamboozler that is a cross between a regular bamboozler at the back and the other half resembling part of the rocket fishing rod with reel. The user can reel the crank to pump ink and shoot a burst of ink out of the enlarged barrel housing. This is a similar mechanic to the laser musket from Fallout 4 but I used the concept to the splatoon themed weapon that isn't in the splatoon game.

"Your old bamboozler. It's been modified. Unfortunately I don't have another hero shot for you to use but I feel this would be best for the occasion since you used it during the great turf war. Built by my grandpappy himself! Go get him pal!" shouted Sheldon. Blake smiled and gave a nod amd rushed toward the portal.

"Blake! I'm coming as well! I still haven't finished my mission and you're going to need a partner to stop that big jerk!" siad Izzy as she waved at him.

"Let's do this!" Blake replied but before the two jumped in. Sheldon threw two hero duelies toward Izzy. "Here! I didn't forget you neither agent 4. Figured those would be useful as well," said Sheldon. "My very own duelies! I always wanted to use some for turfing!" said Izzy as she hugged the two guns.

"Good luck you two!" shouted Marie.

Blake and Izzy jumped inside the portal after Octavio who had captured Callie yet again to bait the agents to face him on his own turf, hoping for a homefield advantage and no help from Marie and the others, deep inside Octo Canyon at the Celphapod HQ. Marie, the octolings, Pearl, and Sheldon were left behind but Marie was eager to come to their aid none the less. "Sheldon! You mentioned before that you and the octoling got the truck fixed," asked Marie.

"Uh yeah, why are you asking?" Sheldon responed.

"Because we're heading back to Octo Canyon right away. I don't know what else Octavio has in store especially if he just teleported himself back to his base, his home turf. Get the truck ready and I'm going to need another hero shot," ordered Marie.

"Ok Marie. I guess I'll go ahead and rearm the tenta missiles while I'm at it," said Sheldon as he headed back to his shop.

"There's no time Sheldon. Does the pop up stage and the speakers still work on board that flying jalopy?" asked Marie.

"As far I as know they should but why? What's that got to do with fighting Octavio?" asked a baffle Sheldon as he had a hold of the door.

"Let's just say I'm thinking outside the box. We're not gonna face Octavio like he think's were expecting too. We're going to fight fire with fire and beat him at his own game. Just trust me on this one," replied Marie.

"I'm not sure where you're going with this but I'm rooting for you Marie," said Sheldon.

"Have I let you down before?" she asked him with a hand on her hip and a slight smirk on her face.

"No, can't say you have but I'll double check and make sure everything's up and running. That stuff hasn't even been used since you two were taken off from spectating the splatfests and performing at the concerts," said Sheldon.

"Yeah...I know. The good ole days when we weren't doing field work and were enjoying life and filling the city with such optimism and energy. (sigh) Well maybe it'll be me and Callie's time to shine for one last time. Octavio isn't the only one that knows how to put on a show...but me and Cal can do it better. Let's hurry up and get to Octo Canyon. Can't have Blake and Izzy have all the fun," said Marie as her committed demeanor returned.

"Now you're talking. That's the Marie I know!" exclaimed Sheldon as he stepped into the shop.

"How about us? Are we tagging along?" Asked Serena as she and Malvin rushed over toward her.

"No, I want you guys to stay here and deal with the remaining rebels that are still in the city. Also if the army ever shows up, you guys need to explain the situation. The peace treaty is on the line and I'm sure the Inkopolis government is already accusing the octarians of attacking the city. If you want your people and the inklings to live in harmony and put our differences aside then I need someone to stay back and settle things so things don't spiral out of control than they already are or worse, your valley getting attacked for this, understand?" explained Marie as the two octolings had a dissappointed look on their faces. Melvin was eager to face Octavio again but knew the squid sister was somewhat right.

"I'm Sorry you two but it would be best if you stayed back. Me and Sheldon will provide support for Blake and Izzy. The battle with Octavio and the rebels isn't over yet and he took my cousin...again," said Marie as she got irritated at the fact Callie was kidnapped again.

"As much as I would love to kick Octavio's ass for putting Serena through so much shit. You have a valid point. We'll see if we can reason with the inkling army and the authorities about everything that's been happening and the situation with the octo rebels. Give Octavio a good beat down for me," replied Melvin.

"You got it. We'll make sure he never causes trouble again. I wish you two the best of luck," she responed.

"Likewise and thanks for saving Serena," said Melvin as he grabbed Serena causing her to blush.

"You're welcome. I hope things get cleared up. I hate for the inklings to decide to go to war with the octarians knowing that they weren't the ones that started the mess. One thing that does bother me more than anything else is why did they want Blake? I remember the saltspray rig incident but Octavio... hates humans or he acts like he does. Something doesn't make any sense," Marie questioned.

"I'm not sure if I should be telling you this but we don't think Octavio's been pulling the strings if he's not being pulled himself. I can't verify it but we've been tracking intel about another actor in this whole mess that's been working in the shadows and supplying the rebels with equipment and intel. This person is still mysterious and has been evading us for sometime know since we learned about their existence. Their identity is unknown and only goes by the alias "The Red Queen," relayed the octoling boy.

"The Red Queen? What kind of name is that?" asked Marie as Melvin pulled his hands up and shook his head. "Well let's hope this red queen gets apprehended like Octavio will. I hate to know that Octavio isn't the primary threat to peace among our races and the safety of our cities. I hope your government finds this red queen or whoever they are. Maybe once Octavio is captured then he can tell us...which I doubt he will. Stubborn old bastard," snapped Marie.

"Oh we'll get it out of him alright once we thrown him in deep dark cell for the rest of wretched life," scoffed Melvin.

"Melvin don't say such a thing. I know Octavio's evil but still I wouldn't wish such a thing on a person but I still wanna see Octavio imprisoned," scolded Serena.

"I don't think Octavio deserves any mercy. He tried to kill that human and if I didn't shoot. He'd probably be dead. Speaking of which. What's a human doing in the squidbeak anyway?" questioned Melvin.

"I'll explain later but right now I'm going to go check on Sheldon and see if we're ready to head out to Octo Canyon," she replied.

Marie hurried inside Ammo knights to see if Sheldon was ready to leave. She headed to Sheldon's workshop and spotted the little crab closing the back hatch of the truck. "Well everything's set and ready. I don't suppose this is going to be a battle of the bands is it?" said Sheldon with sarcasism.

"Not exactly or not until I get Callie back that is. I trust Blake and agent 4 will deal with Octavio. As long as Callie's life isn't put in any danger," said Marie. "Blake loves Callie... and he wouldn't do that," replied Sheldon as he walked over to Marie.

"I know," she muttered. "You're still in love with Blake...even though he rejected your feelings because you two are cousins and didn't want to put a bind between the two of you girls," said Sheldon.

"I'm not sure if I love him or not. I've convinced myself that he's a dear friend and trusted ally. Blake's family as gramps see's it. I won't let my emotions get the best of me and I won't get in between them. How I see it...Blake made his mind up...and I accept his decision. He's family like you said...and that's all that matters," said Marie hiding her true feelings for Blake. Sheldon turned away and hopped inside the truck and cranked it.

"Let's head out, we got an octopus to upstage," said Marie before hopping into the passenger seat. The truck rolled out of the garage and ascended above the square as the octolings waved goodbye to the two of them and Pearl retreated back into the studio.

---

Deep inside a disclosed facility, somewhere in the underground metro. Cuttlefish was stuck in a virtual reality simulation created by the Kamabo Company after getting thrown into the fake world by Xavier. In attempt to keep the elderly inkling occupied and from snooping around to possibly jeopardize his and Cleo's plans to supervise the tests that Agent 3 would undertake under the permission of their employer, Tartar. 5 minutes earlier Cuttlefish awoken to strange unfamiliar surroundings that he couldn't comprehend. The VR appeared to simulate an American suburb complete with inhabiting humans. Voices behind a fence caught the inkling's attention as one of them sounded vaguely familiar. He looked to see that it was Blake. Purely surprised and relieved to see his human friend, Cuttlefish attempted to get his attention but only got ignored. When another person called him to come into the house. Blake just phased through Cuttlefish leaving him agape of what was going on. Cuttlefish decided to follow Blake to seek answers to where he was and what was happening.

He looked and saw Blake speaking with an older human female. "But mom, that's not fair!" he protested to his mother. Cuttlefish could here Blake's voice as he walked down a hallway. He continued until he stopped at the edge of a staircase and spotted Blake talking to an older female human.

"No buts son. If you want me to buy that new game you've been wanting then your grades need to improve," she scolded him.

"What are they saying? I can't understand them, all I hear is gibberish... This makes no sense, How come I can't understand the lad?" Cuttlefish aked himself.

"Maybe because their human," said a voice behind Cuttlefish. Startled, the old inkling quickly turned around and saw Xavier standing behind with his hands behind his back.

"What's going on octoling!? Where am I!? I have a mind to clobber you, just wait until the lass finds out what you've..." raved Cuttlefish as he waved his fists before getting interrupted.

"I'm not worried about that agent of yours. She's with Cleo making sure she completes the tests so we can be finally complete that contract that Tartar put us on. Better she run the tests than me or Cleo. After hearing about that agent of yours dealing with those punks that hurt Cleo. She seemed like the perfect candidate to come down here. She thought of a way to lure you two down here by acting as if it was at her best interests for you to never come down here in the first place. You two were gullible enough to fall for the façade and fail to see the trap that was set for you," said Xavier snidely.

"Why you conniving octopus. You and that purple-headed wretch. I knew something wasn't right about her or this place. You're damn lucky I don't have my bamboozler right now or I'd ink you into next week, you confounded octopus!" ranted the tempered old inkling.

"And then you would have now way of getting out of this place. I have control and you don't. Like you I'm in a VR station too but I still have access to the system and I can leave anytime I want unlike you which I've blocked any way of you exiting so enjoy the scenery. The world before the seawaters wiped out human civilization. The promised land," said Xavier.

"I'm getting sick of this promised land nonsense. I want out of this place! This VR or whatever this is!" demanded Cuttlefish.

"Consider this a learning experience and a way of keeping you from meddling in our affairs. Not to mention you can get to know that human better... I have, him and his father. There's a lot you don't know and if you did, you'd have a different perspective of things... well I hate to run but I have things that need taken care of," said Xavier as dissappeared into pixels.

"What was that octoling going on about. What about the bucko and his father? Why not just tell me? I don't know what to believe but I do know the lad has nothing to do with this... or I hope he doesn't" Cuttlefish said to himself as he watched a disgruntled Blake walk past him and up the staircase behind the old inkling. Cuttlefish watched him go up and turned his head to give a sigh of frustration. "Looks I'm going to have to do some snooping of own if that octoling's going to keep me in the dark," he said to himself again. Cuttlefish followed Blake up the stairs and stopped just outside his room. He watched the human lay on his bed, his eyes were closed as his head was facing the ceiling.

Cuttlefish walked in knowing that Blake was just a figment of the simulated world he was in and knew talking to him would be pointless. He stood beside his bed and stared at him. "(sigh) Bucko, I've... known you for sometime now. We've been through thick and thin and faced impossible odds during the great turf war. You paid the price of losing the life you started out of that pod I found you in and I paid the price of losing a dear friend and companion. Time had crept by seeing everything change around me. The memories of the war soon faded as well as you lad. I stayed in Octo Valley to ensure another great turf war never happen and I questioned if I should've ever let Octavio live that horrible day. Everyone moved on... but I never did," said Cuttlefish in a melancholy tone.

Cuttlefish could hear footsteps approaching the doorway. He ran and hid inside the closet and watched an older man walk in. It was Blake's father, James. He stepped in and knocked on the wall to get Blake's attention. The young human sat up with a slightly agitated look. "Son, I know you're frustrated with your mother about not getting you that game but failed grades will not be rewarded," reasoned James.

"How am I supposed to do well in school if we're constantly moving around. Things haven't been the same since we left our old home back in the countryside. I hate living in town and I hate moving around. It's been one thing after another with this new company. I wonder where we'll move next. After all, I left all my friends behind and I quit caring whether I do good in school or not," said an agitated Blake.

"(deep sigh) Blake...I'm sorry that we're having to constantly move around every six months. Kamabo keeps reassigning me and I'm about to get promoted to head of the company's research department. I'm sure you can predict that we're about to move again and we are. We're moving to Los Angeles in a couple of days so you may wanna think about what to pack first son. I'm sorry," apologized James.

"No your not," Blake muttered under his breath.

"(deep breath) Son... It's not up to me that we can't settle down and that I can't get a permanent position with the company. This isn't only for the betterment of this family but for the whole country. With things slowly spiraling out of control around the world. Kamabo is working on ways for mankind to survive if things do turn bad but hopefully they won't. I'm not comfortable about us moving to Los Angeles after hearing about..." said his father before holding is tongue as to not worry his son on something he knew.

"Hearing about what dad?" questioned Blake.

"It's...nothing. I just hope the project is done in time," iteratedhis father.

"Project? What project? Dad what are not telling us? I have a right to now. I'm tired of moving around and now you're saying were moving to L.A. and you're having doubts and you won't tell me why!?" protested Blake as he had his arms crossed.

"Son! Calm down I don't want your mother and Amy to start worrying too. Once we get settled down in our new home I'll tell you. Right now I don't want to stress anyone more than they already are. This project is supposed to be completed within a month after we get to Los Angeles. I've also sworn to keep this information to myself but once the project is complete I'll let you guys now. Let's just say you wouldn't believe it if I told you what it was and why its vital for not only me but you, your sister, and your mother. I often times keep my work to myself once I get home. I deal enough with the stress at the office as it is. It's nice to come home and get everything off my mind and I guess that's the reason I don't talk about it," explained James to ease the tension.

"Sure dad, whatever you say," said Blake with false reassurance.

"Look, I know it's hard on you and I'll try and make it up to you. I'll consider getting you that game you've been wanting but you gotta also promise me to try and pull your grades up. I'll also throw in for us to go to the Santa Monica Pier when we get there. How about it?" motivated his dad.

"Bribery dad? Really?" said Blake sarcastically. He shook his head and looked back at his father. "I guess so dad. I'll do better in school but I like how you sugar coated the pier at the end. It would be fun to go there and spend some time together. Something we haven't done since our first home," said Blake as he crossed his arms.

"Thanks son and don't tell your mother. I don't wanna have to negotiate with her too. Things will get better and hopefully this will be the last time we move," said James. He got up off Blake's bed and headed toward the door. "Hey dad!" said Blake.

"Yeah, son," asked James. Blake paused for a moment for what he was about to say. "Umm, it's nothing," answered Blake as he kept it to himself.

During the two's conversation. Cuttlefish was watching the two talk on the bed. Still not being able to translate what they were saying, the word Kamabo got the old inklings attention. "Kamabo? Is that human working for Kamabo?" Cuttlefish asked. "If I could only understand what they were saying," said the old inkling to himself.

"That's a yes is all I can tell you," said Xavier out of nowhere.

"What's the big idea just popping out of nowhere. You trying to give me a heart attack you sneaking octopus!?" Cuttlefish raved as shook his fist at Xavier again. The octoling just rolled his eyes, showing no disregard for the inkling's nerves. "How would you know. I'm sure you can't speak their language neither," said Cuttlefish.

"No but I did uncover a lot of things down there. As I understand it. I believe that older human is a researcher for Kamabo. I came across his name and a photo ID in the system. or what I believe is his name. As I can assume watching the two. I guess you figured out that's the humans father," pinted out the octoling.

"Yeah, I figured that already octoling, so what about it? What are you going on about?" asked Cuttlefish snidely.

"If that human's father worked for Kamabo then what's to say the human isn't connected somehow. He was found in a pod with the company logo on it you remember correctly," Xavier reminded him.

"The bucko has got nothing to do with this! It's you and that girl that are behind all of this! You bring me to this place and now you're leading me along to some conspiracy that's got to with this company and the lad. You still expect me to trust you octoling? I would rather take my chances swimming with salmonids than believing you," ranted Cuttlefish, heavily resenting the octoling that forced him into the VR.

"Aww, I'm real hurt by that but I guess not. You can find out for yourself," replied Xavier as he dissappeared like before.

"I'm getting sick of that octoling just popping in and out like this. Why not just come out and tell me! Youngsters today have no respect for their elders. Guess It's up to me to get to the bottom of this. I better follow the lad's father and see if what that octoling was saying is true. I hate to leave you bucko but... wait a minute, he's not real or I don't think... ah, I don't know what's real and what's not... but what I do know is the lad appeared to have a good life before he was that frozen tin can. (sigh) No wonder you were eager to find your family. Maybe... their still alive, somewhere waiting to be found like you lad," said Cuttlefish as he walked up to Blake on his bed.

Cuttlefish headed downstairs to follow Blake's father and get answers on what Xavier was saying about the connection between him and Kamabo. The older human grabbed his coat and stepped out of the front door, closing it behind him. Cuttlefish headed toward the door and turned the knob but instead of stepping outside to the front lawn of the home. A bright light consumed Cuttlefish. "Simulation Complete. Ending File 10. Processing next data file. Lab simulation for serum experimentations begin. Welcome Dr. Carter," said a female computer voice among the bright light that consumed the environment around Cuttlefish.

Meanwhile, back at the deepsea metro. At station C, Cuttlefish wasn't the only one to wake up in a uneasy predicament. Cassie was laying on the floor of a large chamber, presumably the testing floor of station C as she and Cuttlefish were bound for. She woke up and moaned. "What happened? All I could remember was Cleo and that octoling..." said Cassie as she held her head. Still disoriented from getting shocked by Xavier. "Cleo!...It wasn't a dream! Ahhggh..." exclaimed Cassie before clutching her head from a migrane that suddenly hit her. "That squid chick is gonna get what's coming to her. To think I rescued her and now she gets me and Cuttlefish dragged down here to do these damn tests! Speaking of which. Whatever happened to him? He disappeared back at the metro. I gotta find him but first I need to figure where I am and how to get out of this place," said Cassie as she got up and looked around.

"You're not going anywhere!" shouted Cleo over the intercom.

"Huh, Cleo? Where are you! Show yourself so I splat you. Ya back stabbing squid! I wish now I wouldn't have saved your ass from Camper. Why are you doing this!? Answer me!" demanded Cassie.

"I assume we're not friends anymore. I'm really hurt but I'm truly sorry that you and the old inkling had to get dragged into this. You did save me and I'm in debt for that but I needed someone that was up to the tasks. Tasks I knew you could accomplish with your skills especially since you were the one that beat Octavio over 2 years ago. Agent 3," said Cleo.

"You're not sorry. You wanted me and Cuttlefish to come down here. I hate to break it to you but I'm not doing anymore of these so-called tests. So you can kiss my squid butt," Cassie objected.

"That's not up to you is it. Face it Cass. You can either do the test ot I'll have Xavier deal with that old inkling," Cleo replied.

"Where's Cuttlefish? What have you done with him!?" demanded Cassie.

"Finish the tests and I'll make sure not a tentacle is harmed on his head," she replied.

Cassie growled in defeat. She clenched her fists tight and realized that had choice but to ablige to Cleo's plans. "This isn't over. you better watch your back Cleo. Mark my words, I'll make sure you share a cell with Camper when this is over," said Cassie. She picked up her hero shot off the floor and scanned the large chamber she was in. "If I remember right, I think this is supposed to be station C," said Cassie. The humungeous room consisted of metal walls and metal columns running from the floor to the ceiling. Some had police tape wrapped around them that was pulled out to other columns forming a pathway around the chamber. Little caution barricades were also strung around the area with flashing lights like you would see on a construction sight. A diversity of different signs also littered the walls. Some in human language while others in what appeared to be oceanic (inkling and octoling).

Cassie continued down the police tape lined path until came across a large vent in the floor. As she stepped forward a gush of green liquid burst out of the grate and into the air. She quickly jumped back and saw something at the top of the geyser. It was an octotrooper but something was eerie about. When the geyser came down, the octarian dropped down on its platform. Cassie held her octoshot at it but it just stared at her. She noticed it had a pale green coloration to it and its tentacle was blue instead of red. It's eyes were the most creepy feature on it. They were black with green irises. "What...the shell," she muttered at the sight of the zombified trooper. Even its platform was different. The trooper final reacted after staring at the inkling. It gave a static-sounding gargle that sent shivers down the agent's back.

"Un-sanitized, attack un-sanitized," it said plainly in a robotic matter.

"Un-sanitized?" Callie repeated before the octotrooper opened fire on her with its pod blaster. Instead of ink it was shooting a green liquid. Cassie jumped in the air before the fluid hit her and launched an attack on her own. Splatting the little trooper. As she hit it, the little tentacle was knocked off its platform and like its projectiles it burst into green goo instead of ink. Cassie landed back down and studied the puddle the octotrooper was reduced to. "What's an octotrooper doing down here and what happened to it? Things just keep getting weirder down here. Does that octoling got something to do with this?" Cassie wondered.

She walked around the green puddle and kept going until she spotted three more vents coming out of the floor. As she approached them, more green goo shot up with an octotrooper each on top of the geysers until it receded and then the little troopers attacked Cassie. She evaded their attacks, splatting one and focusing back on the other two. "Attack un-sanitized!" one of them said mechanically. Cassie dodged their goo shots and inked the floor in front of them to get the jump on them as well as refill her tank. The troopers shifted around to see if they could find Cassie. "Where is un-santized?" one asked. Then Callie popped up from behind them and shot the discolored tentacles before they could retaliate.

Cassie turned and saw what appeared to be a large metal door on the far side of the chamber. It was still a long way out and she expected more hostiles to impede her travel. "I don't understand. Those were octotroopers but... they were...blue and those creepy eyes. It's as if they don't have any souls. Like they're... zombified or something and that green stuff wasn't ink. Maybe once I finish this test I'll get answers...and get to Cleo," said Cassie. Ahead of the path were metal walls and other obstructions. A giant traffic light and road signs as well as other objects could be seen floating in the space around the large platform that made up the floor of the chamber.

She ran forward but spotted some discolored octocopters that hovered toward her position. They gargled and started shooting balls of green liquid down of Cassie, covering the floor. "Why not give me a real challenge Cleo! I've dealt with the octarians when I defeated Octavio," gloated Cassie as she shot down the flying little tentacles. She squid formed and moved up to where the floor ended. Looking for a way to get across seeing multiple floating platforms over the bottomless gap, she soon spotted what appeared to be a rolled up mat on the edge of the floor. It was an inkfurler. Cassie looked at it and shot ink on it as it unraveled, making it a bridge toward a sponge block. Cassie shot the floating sponge and hopped on it before the inkfurler curled back up. More octocopters came down out of the pipes sticking out of the ceiling. Cassie spotted them and hurried to ink her way to the otherside.

Spotting more obstacles such as sliding platforms and more inkfurlers that were sitting vertically to form a wall when unrolled. Cassie squid formed and swam down the ink drenched inkfurler as the octocopters were gaining on her. She hopped on a platform and turned toward the octocopters as they started to shoot at her. Half of the platform was coated by the green substance and Cassie shot down one of them. Cassie was running out of surface as the remaining octocopters evaded her ink fire. She spotted a griplink over the chasm of the chamber and shot it to get snared up. She hopped off and to another moving platform as the zombified tentacles pursued her.

Up ahead were more moving platforms but Cassie also spotted spreaders, coating the surface with the green substance. Cassie jumped over the platforms and coated the surface with her ink and swam across before getting rolled by the spreader. She was finally giving the octocopters the slip but they held back for a good reason. Ahead of the path between the other side of the chamber and her was a zombified octostriker. It bellowed and shot an ink missile toward the inkling agent. "Holy squid! Where did he come from!" shouted Cassie as she jumped away from the impact area.

Almost getting blasted off the platform she was on. she climbed back up and rushed down the pathway. Going through obstacle upon obstacle until she reached the large platform at the end of the chamber. She squid formed to dodge the octostriker's anticipated attacks until she shot at the fat octarian propelling him back. It bellowed again and shot another ink missile at Cassie. Another attempt and the octostriker was propelled back again. "Wow. It should've splatted by now. Their stronger than I remember," said Cassie.

She evaded another missile and moved closer to octostriker. She jumped up and sprayed the octarian in the stomach until it flailed back and landed on the floor below. Cassie approached the downed octostriker as it laid on its back. It gave a weak gargle and Cassie steadied her hero shot on the creature as it spit up green goo. "Who did this to?" asked Cassie. "Am I actually feeling sorry for this thing," Cassie asked herself. The octostriker turned its head and faced the inkling agent.

"Kill...me..." the octostriker muttered. "What?" Cassie surprised by the octostriker's morbid request. Feeling sympathy for the infected octarian. She knew the creature was too weak to tell her anything and aimed her hero shot at it's head. Pulling the trigger and putting the octarian out of its misery.

"(deep breath) This is nothing like fighting Octavio and his army back in octo valley. This...unsettling place. Finding out that Cleo and that octoling are working for Kamabo and now these green octarians," said Cassie as she shook her head. She turned to the metal door and approached it. A red light came on above the doors and they soon opened. Inside was small chamber with another door on the other side. In the center of the room was an octagonal shaped plate with a metallic pad in the center with footstep markings on it.

"What's this supposed to be. It's not a spawn pad," said Cassie before stepping on it. As soon as she did the pad lit up and a hud appeared with different icons and gear. "Hey what's going on?" said Cassie as a glass case surrounded her and the pad. Red lettering appeared over the hud: Currently unavailable to user. It read. Then the opposing metal doors opened and in stepped Cleo. Cassie banged on the glass demanding she be released and face her. "Don't get so hostile Cass. I've just come to check on your progress," said the inkling girl snidely.

"Let me out Cleo! So I can kick your ass!" shouted Cassie still banging on the glass. Cleo just smiled and didn't give to the threats.

"What's with the sickly-looking octarians? You stooped low enough to help the octo rebels too?" questioned Cassie who was glaring down Cleo.

"Huh? Octarians? What are you talking about?" questioned Cleo.

"Don't give me that crap! You didn't send in those green zombie tentacles to splat me during the test," said Cassie.

Cleo had a confused look on her face and could tell the inkling girl honestly didn't know anything about the lifeless creatures that attacked Cassie. "You...didn't send in those octarians to attack me. Then who did? How about Xavier? He's an octoling. Did he have something to do with it?" giving the inkling the third degree.

"Xavier's back in the labs. He wouldn't have nothing to do with!" defended Cleo.

"You sure about that. If you ask me, I don't think that octoling's right in the head. What's that promised land he was ranting about before. Are you honestly going to go along with that garbage. What's to say he has something in store for you. He seems the type to hide things," said Cassie.

"Shut up! Xavier loves me! I won't have you planting thoughts into my head. I know what you're up to Cass and remember that I was the one that tricked you into coming down here. So your mind games won't work on me. Xavier and I are leaving for the promised land once these stupid tests are done and theirs nothing you can do to stop it! Not sure what else Tartar has planned for you but I don't care," she replied, showing no sympathy for the inkling agent.

"You're willing to get me killed and be with that octoling that's chasing some fantasy. I don't think your stupid. I think you're freakin' nuts! I swear Cleo, when I get out of here. Their won't even be a puddle left of you!" ranted Cassie.

"Keep making idle threats! See if I care," scoffed Cleo. The pad that Cassie was standing on hummed getting the inklings attention. Then all of a sudden the glass case lowered and Cassie pounced on Cleo, knocking her splattershot pro away. "I told you that I would kick your ass!" shouted Cassie as she sat over Cleo punching her in the face. Cleo growled and kicked the agent off of her. She stumbled and ran out of the metal door she came through. "Get back here you finkling!" Cassie hollered as she got up and chased after Cleo. The inkling squid formed back to the station as did the inkling agent. As Cassie swam through the corridor back to C station she got lost for a moment and spotted purple ink drips left on the floor by Cleo when she punched her in the face. She changed back and finally made it to the station. Back again her bipedal form. Cassie had her hero shot ready and scanned the station for Cleo as she disappeared.

"Cleo! Come out and fight me like a squid!" demanded the inkling agent.

Staying mindful, the squidbeak agent had her guard up and patrolled the platform of the metro station. Listening and looking around for any sign of Cleo. She spotted more tiny drips of purple ink on the floor and it appeared to be fresh. In the shadows a purple squid slithered out of range of Cassie and snuck past her toward the subway train. Cassie turned around and saw her board and shot at her. She evaded the fire and hopped on the train. "Cleo!" Cassie raved as she rushed toward the subway car. Jumping inside her self, Cassie was on alert and held her weapon up scanning the inside of the train. As she headed to the rear of the car Cleo hopped out from behind her. Cassie quickly turned to shoot her but Cleo dodged the ink and rushed Cassie. A brawl ensued, followed by Cleo getting pinned to the floor. Letting go of her hero shot prior to getting jumped. Cassie managed to reach over and club Cleo in the head with it. Cassie kicked the inkling down until she was pinned herself with the hero shot aimed in her face.

"Give me a reason! Give me one good reason I shouldn't splat you right now!" shouted an enraged Cassie as she had weapon against Cleo's head.

"Cuttlefish... I know (coughing) where he is," she said as she coughed up ink.

"Tell me where Cuttlefish is or you'll relive that moment when Camper tortured you back at the hideout!" threatened the agent.

"You ain't got it in you. splat me and Cuttlefish is as good as inked. Quite the conundrum is it Cass," said Cleo with ink running out of her mouth.

"For you it is," replied Cassie as she swung her hero shot on Cleo's head knocking her out. Cassie tied her up and sat her on one the train benches. The door to the front car opened and in crawled C. Q. Cumber. "You're done already? Well...I guess we'll head to the next..." started the sea pig conductor before he spotted Cleo tied up on the bench, out cold. "What's going on?" asked C.Q. Cumber then Cassie aimed her hero shot at the sea pig. "You tell me," she panned.

C. Q. Cumber was stunned and wasn't sure how to react put at gunpoint by the disgruntled agent. "I know the subway doesn't have seat belts but why is that inkling tied..." he started.

"I'm the one asking the questions here. Now answer me. Are you in on this? Did you know about Cleo and that octoling's plans... you better start talking sea pig," she demanded he answer.

"T...Take it easy inkling. I had no clue what they were up to. I'm just a conductor as I said before I never leave this train. So please don't do anything rash," he replied nervously.

"Not good enough. I think you know more than what you are saying," she told him.

"Please. I'm telling you the truth. Cleo and that octoling did ride the subway but I didn't know what they were up to once they got off. I did eavesdrop of some of their conversations though," he said.

"Conversations? What conversations? start spilling!" Cassie demanded again as she got closer to C. Q. Cumber with her hero shot on him.

"Don't shoot me! They were talking about subjects, The tests and that octoling was going on about the promised land. That's all I know. I swear!" exclaimed Cuttlefish fearing the inkling would do him in.

"Go on, I still think you know more. Why else would you get them around down here. I think you're collaborating with them if you ask me," said Cassie.

"Enough! Put that weapon down! C. Q. Cumber has got nothing to do with this," shouted a figure that opened the front car door.

"Hold on. I remember you. We talked back at Sturgeon Shipyard that night. What are you doing here?" asked Cassie recognizing the figure that stood over them.

"Like C. Q. Cumber we're nothing but pawns for Kamabo. Cumber is innocent. He had no say so in the matter to transport those two hooligans around the metro. If you want answers then I'll tell you but please calm down and falter your anger. I can assure you that old inkling is still alive. He's down in the labs being held captive by Xavier. The tests have been nothing but a front for something even more sinister. Those two don't realize what they've gotten into and this promised land sham they were guaranteed," explained Iso Padre.

"You know where the captain is? Then take us to him," asked Cassie.

"Be patient young lady. We'll get you to Cuttlefish but you need to know Tartar's plans first. He's the real culprit and unfortunetly... our employer if not master to put it more accurately," said Iso Padre.

"Who exactly is this Tartar? and what labs?" asked Cassie.

"I'll explain on our way there," answered Iso before he turned his attention back to the traumatized sea pig. "Well C. Q. Cumber if you're not to shaken up. You don't mind if you get us to the labs while I tell the inkling about everything that's been going on," requested the large isopod.

"Oh, no trouble at all. I'm just glad she didn't decide to shoot me. Glad this mess is resolved," said C. Q. Cumber with great relief.

"C.Q. Cumber (deep breath)... I'm sorry I put you through that...it's just. I've been through so much and with Cuttlefish's disappearance and all..." apologized Cassie as she was cut off.

"No hard feelings. I understand that those two put you through a lot and you're wanting answers. It's water under the bridge or should I say ink. None the less we'll take you take you to Cuttlefish and hopefully you can stop Tartar while you're at it," said C. Q.

"I don't know exactly know who Tartar is but if he's behind all of this and poses a threat to Inkopolis and all the inklings then I'll do my best to stop him," replied Cassie.

"He poses a threat to all life as we know it. Not only the inklings but everything. His diabolical plans must end and we're counting on you to stop him before anything happens," said Iso Padre.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure Tartar is defeated once I get the captain back but first I'll have to deal with Xavier and I think I'll use Cleo to do it," said Cassie as turned around and looked at the unconsciense tied up inkling girl.

"Well, we have no time to waste. Come sit down and I'll go over everything about Tartar and this company young lady," said Iso as he sat down on the bench as Cassie sat beside him.

The train was bound for Kamabo Labs as it past multiple stations. on the way their Iso Padre would explain Tartar's plans and the origins of him, the company, and the deepsea denizens onboard as well. Cassie was about to have her world rocked by the incomprehensible revelations that the big isopod was about to tell her and could change the outlook of society on the surface and possibly even Blake's role in all of this. As the rabbit hole goes deeper will Cassie be up for the challenge and she reach Cuttlefish before anything happens to him. Stay tuned and see what will happen next.