Susan drove as fast as she could through the raging sandstorm. She'd been driving for quite a while now, but didn't dare to stop. She had to get as far away from the battle as possible. She felt pain in her chest and her face was sore from all the sand bashing up against her skin. She could barely see in front of her, but regularly glanced at a compass installed in her sled. She didn't know her exact location, but she knew she'd been located somewhere Northwest of Splatsville. So if she kept going Southeast, she'd eventually end up in territory she was familiar with and could make her way back home.

Susan looked back to make sure no one was following her. Behind her was endless darkness, not a shimmer of movement or light anywhere. Susan took a deep breath and looked back ahead. She was safe. All she had to do now was to get out of this damn storm.

Susan wasn't sure how much time had passed. The storm was finally letting up, and she could properly see her surroundings. She had taken shelter inside a large wreckage. Driving in a sandstorm wasn't exactly the best solution, and now that she was far away from the battle zone, she could take shelter. Susan stepped outside and checked on her sled for damages. The engine looked alright, and it didn't appear to be leaking any fluids. Susan exhaled and sat down, exhausted. The sun was getting pretty low on the sky, and Susan should probably get going. The parts she'd salvaged back at the wreckage was still intact, and she might be able to make it back to the city before the market closed down. Suddenly, a sound came from Susan's pocket. The radio! Susan had been trying to get it to work for the last few hours, but to no avail. Susan fumbled with the little device and put it up to her ear.

"Susan! Susan, come in!" Anna's worried voice came from the other end. Susan coughed before she answered. "Anna!"

A cry of relief came from the other end. "Oh thank cods you're alright! I've been trying to contact you for hours! What the heck happened?! Where are you?!"

"Anna, Anna, I'm alright," Susan said reassuringly. "I got knocked out and woke up with a raging sandstorm outside. The radio didn't work and a lot of crazy stuff happened."

"What happened?" Anna asked on the other end and Susan could hear her type something on her computer. Susan realized it was too complicated to explain it over the radio. "I think I'll just tell you when I get home. But right now, I need to get there. I have no clue where I am and I can't see any familiar landmarks."

"Why didn't you stay at the wreckage?" Anna asked. Susan exhaled and stood up. "Like I said, it's best I tell you when I get home."

"Alright, no need to panic," Anna answered and was typing something on her computer. "Captain Anna has got your back! So, do you have any clues that could tell you where you are?"

"Nope, nothing at all," Susan answered and looked around the landscape around her. "All I know is that when I started driving, I just kept going Southeast. Not sure for how long though."

"Alright, alright," Anna mumbled on the other end. "What's the angle of the sun where you are?"

"Hold on a sec," Susan said and put down the radio. Then, she took out her charger and placed it so it rose from the ground at almost 90 degrees. Then, she positioned herself so that she faced North. Using the shadow of her charger, she calculated the angle of the sun and walked back over to her radio. "Yeah, it's around a 215-degree angle," Susan said and waited as Anna typed on her keyboard. After a few seconds, Anna answered. "You're far too South," she said. "If you go East-by-Northeast, you should eventually get into some familiar territory."

"Got it," Susan responded. "I'll drive to town as fast as I can."

"Alright, just be careful, okay?" Anna said with a concerned tone. Susan smirked. "I will! I'll also stop by the market and see if I can get some decent cash for this scrap. Maybe I'll make it before it closes."

"Alright, sounds good," Anna said on the other end. "Oh, and could you check something for me? I heard rumors they're selling some tracking beacons down at the market. If we can get our hands on some trackers, I can just monitor your position from my computer."

"Yeah, I'll go check on that," Susan said and began packing up. "I'll catch you later! Susan out!"

Susan put the radio back in her pocket and sat down in the sled's seat. She had a long drive ahead of her. She sighed as she started the engine and drove off.

Susan sighed in relief as the towers of Splatsville began to creep over the horizon. She'd been driving for an hour and a half, and the sun was beginning to disappear behind the sand dunes. She removed her goggles and stared at the city as her sled went up and down the waves.

Splatsville. The only neutral city in the Splatlands. Almost every other territory was controlled by some group or clan. They were always at war with each other, fighting over territory and resources. Some people didn't want to live that kind of life and established a neutral zone. A place where all fighting between the clans was prohibited and punishable by law. It was the only city that somewhat resembled Inkopolis. There was a government that people voted for, and they were supposed to keep us safe. Susan laughed. "That isn't exactly working for them."

It was true that the surrounding clans didn't dare raid them, because of the number of people living in Splatsville, but that didn't mean they were safe. The government had attempted to establish some kind of economy, but it had been at the brink of collapse ever since the beginning. Sure, there was food to buy, but only if you could afford it.

Susan looked dreamily up at the sky. The stars were beginning to appear, one by one. Susan sighed. If only she could leave. Fly away and never go back. Rise higher and higher until she was floating amongst the stars. She looked back down, a feeling of disappointment in her gut. But that wasn't possible. She was stuck down here, on this horrible earth, waiting for a day that would never come. A day of peace. Every day, she worried if it was her last. Scavenging was a good solution in the short term, but eventually, all wreckage would be milked dry of anything to sell. Then what? She'd go back in living on the streets, living on scraps. Alone, forgotten. Eventually, she'd rot away, deep in the undergrounds of Splatsville.

Susan sighed. At least she'd have Anna with her. They'd been together ever since the flood. They had relied on each other to stay alive. If Susan went back to living on the streets, they'd at least be together.

Susan looked at her watch. She still had time to stop by the market. She preferred to do it tonight. If she went tomorrow, it would be pretty cramped, and hauling a large bag around wasn't easy in a large crowd.

"Which reminds me," Susan murmured. She had to search for that tracking beacon when she got there. She'd promised Anna she would look for one. "Having one of those certainly wouldn't hurt," Susan thought and sped towards the city.

"Finally!" Susan sighed as she stepped off her sled. Her body was aching after the long ride. Getting off to stretch out her limbs was a relief. She pushed her sled into a small shack and locked the doors. She was at the outskirts of Splatsville. Susan yawned and looked at her watch. An hour before the market closed down. She had more than enough time. She strapped the bag of scraps onto her back and began to make her way downtown.

After about 15 minutes, she saw the lights of the market shining throughout the street. There weren't many people around, which was a relief to Susan. Now she could take care of business in peace.

The market was a large square in the middle of Splatsville. It had once been a normal square, but some people began to use it as a black market. Eventually, there were so many people who used it that the police gave up on stopping it, and it became an actual market. There were hundreds of booths in all directions, selling all kinds of stuff.

Susan wandered around, examining the wares that were available. Most of the things were either too expensive or completely useless to her. A fancy charger caught her attention for a little while, before she realized it was just some aftermarket product. A cheap replica of an actual charger. Susan sighed. She loved her Kensa charger, but it was getting kind of old. If she could get her hands on a newer charger, that would make her life a lot easier. But alas, she had to be realistic. A brand-new charger would cost her a fortune, and that was money she didn't have, nor could spend. She had to place survival over her own personal needs.

"If only Sheldon was still around," she murmured and continued to wander through the market. Sheldon had disappeared after the flood, and no one knew about his whereabouts or if he was even alive. She had bought everything from Sheldon back then.

Finally, Susan found the booth she was looking for. It was one of the larger booths, since it was one of the most popular. It was so popular, the owner had to hire guards to ensure no one stole anything. As Susan strode past the guards, she gave them a wave. They waved back with smiles on their faces. They knew her, and knew they didn't have to worry about her.

Susan put down her bag and leaned over the counter. "Margret!" she called. Loud bangs came from the back, and a raspy voice answered. "Coming!"

Susan examined the tables. "Tracking beacon, tracking beacon, tracking beacon," she murmured as she scanned around. She didn't see anything that could resemble a tracking beacon. However, if Susan had to be completely honest, she didn't have a clue what a tracking beacon looked like. She should probably ask Margaret about it.

From behind the shelf in the back stepped an old lady. She was small, with white hair and the warm eyes you'd expect from a grandmother. But Susan knew you shouldn't underestimate her. Looks could be deceiving. Margaret had once been ambushed by a bunch of gangsters once, but it hadn't gone like the gang planned. In the end, it was the gangster that needed saving, not Margaret.

Margaret smiled and hugged Susan. "I was getting worried you wouldn't show up tonight. It's unusual for you to come so late. I hope nothing bad happened."

"Eh, it was nothing," Susan said and smiled. "Just got caught up in a storm."

"Oh well," Margaret said and brushed her hair out of her eyes. "I'm glad you made it out safely. Got anything to sell, dear?"

"Yeah, I found some stuff I thought you might buy," Susan answered and picked up the bag off the ground. Margaret examined the bag before continuing. "Looks like quite the haul. You just wait here while I evaluate it. Feel free to look around."

Margaret picked up the heavy bag and made her way to the back. "You want me to help you with that?" Susan called, worried for the old woman. Margaret laughed. "Not at all, dear! You look exhausted, and I don't want you to overdo it! Besides, I might be old, but I still got some fight left in this old body!"

Susan smiled. "True that," she murmured and began to look around. Nothing really caught her eye, but what really captured her attention were three boys talking amongst each other. Susan positioned herself so she could listen in without seeming suspicious.

"Dude, did you guys hear about what happened today?" a small, green-haired inkling asked the other two. An octoling with long, curly hair answered. "I heard something about a battle, but that's about it."

"Wait, really?!" the third one, a red-haired inkling, asked excitedly. The other inkling continued. "Yeah! A bunch of the clans banded together and attacked Randall's group! There was a massive battle between them!"

"What?!" the other inkling exclaimed. "Which side won?"

"I'm not sure," the first inkling answered. "But I've heard rumors telling me that Randall's group is falling back, with the clans right behind them!"

"That's so cool!" the octoling said. "Do you think they'll finally be able to beat Randall's group?"

As the boys continued, Susan let her mind drift. "Cool? If they had been there like I was, they would've had different opinions on this battle."

Susan sighed. "Kids these days," she thought. "You'd think they'd be more aware of their surroundings and the state of the world now that they lived in an apocalyptic crisis. But no, they just remained as oblivious as ever, if not more oblivious."

Susan was sure she hadn't been this daft when she was younger, nor did she think anyone she knew had been like that.

"You alright dear?"

Margaret's voice ripped Susan out of her thoughts. "Yeah, just tired is all," she replied and walked over to where Margaret was sitting. Margaret was holding a clipboard and a calculator, as she examined the scrap Susan had brought. "How much is it worth?" Susan asked and leaned up to a pole sticking out of the ground. Margaret rubbed her chin as she wrote something down on the clipboard. "I can pay you 10,000 for the whole lot, if you're good with that."

"I'll take it," Susan said. Margaret nodded and wrote something down. "Boys!" she called and turned towards the guards. "Could you take this haul to the back? And when you're done, you can go home. I can take care of the rest."

"Yes ma'am!" they said and picked up the bag of scrap. Margaret made her way to the counter and began pulling out cash from behind the desk. "How are things going?" Margaret asked out of nowhere. "Are you getting by? Have enough money to pay for a home and food?"

Susan hesitated. She didn't expect Margaret to ask such a personal question. "Well, yeah," Susan said abruptly. Margaret looked up and raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"

Susan nodded. "Yeah, don't worry about that."

Margaret shrugged and continued to count cash. "Just know that if you ever need money, you and Anna can come and work here at the shop. It's only a matter of time until I won't be able to take care of the shop, and I can't ask the guards to do anything. I'd offer good pay."

Susan looked at her, surprised. "Really?"

"Of course my dear," Margaret replied and gave her a warm smile. "Who's going to take care of my shop once I'm gone? I couldn't think of a better person than you and Anna."

Susan blushed. "Thanks a lot Margaret, but I'll need to think about it."

Margaret smiled and stroked Susan's cheek. "I understand dear."

Then, she handed Susan a bundle of cash. "Here's the money. Was there anything else?"

The question ripped Susan out of her thoughts. "Oh yeah, Anna asked me to pick something up for her."

"And what might that be?" Margaret asked and stepped behind the counter. Susan put the money in her pocket and leaned over the table.

"She told me you were selling some kind of tracking beacon."

Margaret smiled and picked up her clipboard. "Ah yes, I thought you and Anna would be interested in something like that. Let me get it for you."

As Margaret went to the back, Susan looked through the piles of wares at sale. Magnets, compasses, knives, and much more.

"Just a bunch of garbage," she muttered. But then, something caught her eye. It was a small mirror. Susan picked it up and examined it. It was one of those mirrors girls kept in their pockets for when they were applying makeup. It looked just like the one she had owned back before the flood. The outer shell was blue, with red stripes, and the inside had two mirrors.

Susan had never been interested in makeup, but she'd always used one of these during turf war. She'd use it to peek around corners. But she had lost it a long time ago. She grasped the mirror in her hand. Memories came flooding through, memories of the time back then. A time without worry, a time of laughter.

Margaret came from behind the corner, holding something that looked like an antenna. "Here you go!" she said and placed the device on the table. Susan jumped as she was ripped out of her thoughts. "Oh… thanks," she said. "How much?"

"I know it's quite pricey, but the lowest offer I can give you is 15,000" Margaret replied, stroking her chin. Susan nodded, her mind not in the right place. "Alright, I'll take it," she said and pulled out the 10,000 cash, along with her card. While Margaret was finishing up the payment, Susan lifted up her hand and examined the mirror. Should she?

"Uhm," Susan said hesitantly. "How much does this cost?"

Margaret looked at the mirror, then back at Susan and smiled. "Keep it."

Susan looked at her surprised. "But—" she protested, but she was interrupted by Margaret.

"No 'But'" she said. "Keep it, it's yours. It'd be a shame if a pretty girl like you didn't have one."

Susan wanted to protest, but she knew better than to try changing the old lady's mind. "Thanks," she murmured and put the mirror into her pocket. Margaret winked her and pushed the antenna towards Susan.

"Thanks for the business!"

Susan smirked and strapped the antenna on her back. Margaret turned around to face her. "And Susan. Please think about my deal."

Susan nodded and walked off. She let her mind wander, as she made her way back to her house, the mirror bouncing around in her pocket. She picked it up again, and looked at her own reflection. "Pretty, eh?" she murmured to herself. "Not in my eyes."

She closed the mirror and continued into the night.