Chapter 8: Gospel of the Prophet

Splatoon Headquarters…(Shepard's POV)

Maybe I just... no. Gotta make it unique. Tell them your story, what's to come of the future. Yeah, that might just make a decent one.

*Knock Knock Knock*

Eh, I'll finish it later. Might as well get the door.

...

"Oh hey, I haven't seen you in a while."

It was the hybrid. She'd disappeared out of the blue, and had been gone for what I'd only guess to be about four or five hours while I was trying to write out some lyrics to a song I was planning on releasing. It's actually pretty impressive how she's the largest and strongest out of anyone in the shack, -me included- but surprisingly enough, no one seems to notice her. She's just… well, there.

"I ran out with Klara to do some basic training at one of the splatoon outposts. Turns out I'm a half-decent shot. She thinks if I continue doing as well as I did on simulations, I'd be able to join the splatoon soon enough." She seemed to chuckle at the last bit, but I honestly wouldn't be surprised, given her strength and speed.

"Honestly, I think you'd do a damn fine job." Well, I wasn't lying.

"Awww, thanks!" She gave me a hug, and I'm surprised my spine didn't crack. Probably because they don't have the added strength from bones (lucky for me). Whatever the case, she let go and asked;

"So, I've seen you at that desk for the past few days. What'cha been working on?"

"Wait, days?" I don't know why, but it only felt like I'd started working on it earlier this morning.

"Yeah, you've passed out in your chair three times from exhaustion. I had to take off your shirt and clean it earlier because you drooled on it." She said with a grin.

"Ya know, I was kind of wondering why I woke up without a shirt on... well, in any case, I appreciate it." I walked off, and thought to myself Thank god it wasn't on the hoodie.

I was nearly back in my room before Akali called out:

"Wait! You still haven't answered my question!" from the main room.

"Oh, right! I'm working on writing lyrics to a song. You can check it out later, if you want to." I invited her.

"Sure!" She replied.

*Thirty Minutes Ago... (Leo's POV)*

Where is she going?

…

Wait, is she following Akali?

…

Splat it!

I'd been following an Octoling around for ten to twenty minutes by now. I originally spotted her back at the square, trying to blend in, but she didn't have the thinner and more brightly colored tentacles of the octolings that hung around the square to socialize. She had black tentacles, and I saw what seemed to be an earpiece hanging on her ear. I soon started following her, and she began moving erratically throughout the square, like she was trying to lose me, even though she didn't know I was there. I never let myself fall into her line of sight, or let her out of my sight.

Soon enough, I saw who she was hunting for. Akali had been training with Klara and I earlier for a few hours to see if she had a good shot, probably because she was tired of running for years on end, and wanted to wrap her head around a weapon she could use, whether it be in self-defense or just screwing around. She had left the outpost a little before noon, and as soon as she came back to the square, the octoling got off her bench and began following Akali.

She snuck around behind Akali, just as she left the crowded square on the way to the HQ. I had to get her off Akali before she found the headquarters, and compromised us all. I had dualies in my pocket, so I'd be fine if a fight broke out. All I have to do is find the right place. She followed Akali silently through a narrow alleyway, and that was close enough to home. I jumped off the roof I was standing on, and rolled as I hit the ground.

"So, what do you think you're doing here?" I said as I drew my daulies.

She looked over her shoulder, and said:

"Leaving."

She super jumped away, and I didn't give chase, as not only would that cause a panic, but all I needed was for her to get away from Akali and the HQ. I walked back to the Square, just to make sure she wasn't waiting among the crowd. After a careful look-over, I resumed my patrol.

Octarian Dome-?

Octarian High Command… (? POV)

"Sir, I found her."

"Ah, so Cassandra's report was accurate after all…"

"What's next, Commander?"

"Continue to monitor the square, but do not engage in armed combat. Understood?"

"Roger."

"Let's see what those Inklings are up to."

*One Week Later...*

Splatoon Headquarters…(Shepard's POV)

Well, it's finally done. After about two weeks, I've made the song to the best of my ability. It was one of many to come, but first I figured I'd probably want to get something that would allow me to use some sort of social media to at least spread the word, as I definitely wouldn't get anywhere selling records in a place like this. Luckily I knew just the right person to help me out. I walked over to the broadcasting station for Off the Hook, and sat down in the main lobby, telling one of the guards I was here to talk to Marina. After a minute passed, the guard returned and said: "She says you can come in, sir."

Well, let's not keep her waiting.

"Hey Jackson!" Marina called in a sing-song voice.

"Hey Marina. So, I've been getting back into music, and I have a song I'm about to release. Thing is, I have no way to upload it or to spread the word, so I was wondering if there's any way to integrate your tech into my phone, so I can use the same stuff as you guys. That possible?" I asked.

"Yep, in fact I actually did it once or twice way back when, just to screw around with some relics, but that was a while ago, and I'm a teeny bit rusty now… Basically, yes, but it'll take a little while. Maybe just under a week."

"Alright, thanks Marina." I handed her my phone, and then said; "You've really been a huge help. If there's anything I can do to repay you, just ask, ok?"

"Yeah... no problem, Jackson."

She took my phone and walked away, and (I swear on my life) she seemed to be blushing a tiny bit. I laughed to myself and started the walk back to the shack. Day had already moved to sunset, and sunset was slowly fading into night. I told Akali about the new song and me finally getting some sort of social media, and she congratulated me, (albeit slightly sarcastically) before asking;

"Hey, so... if you're coming out with a new song, can I be the first to hear it?"

We both laughed, and I told her I might even let her get the album for free. I watched TV for a bit, and after a little while, Akali fell asleep with a blanket tucked around her, with a smile across her face nearly a mile wide. I got bored, so I turned off the TV, and went to my room to get some sleep. Apparently the Inklings got here before me, because I saw a glow through the bottom of the door showing the lamp in their room had been turned on, probably so Klara could read. She did seem to be a bit of a bibliophile to be fully honest, but I used to be into reading myself, so I didn't blame her. Leo on the other hand, did. As I was lying down, I could hear him saying "Klara, turn off the splatting light before I long-arm it out the window." I chuckled to myself, closed my eyes, and let the warm, gentle, void of unconsciousness slowly take me over.

*One week later*

A week had passed by and not much new happened. Marina and Pearl talked about an upcoming 'splatfest' (whatever that was) and I mostly talked to the squiddos around the plaza and screwed around in the arcade. I even got a couple of highscores, so there's that. It was about midway through the day, and while I was sitting down on a bench facing the sea, I reached down in my pocket to take a picture, only to turn up empty-handed and remember I didn't have my phone.

"Oh right... I should probably head back to see if Marina's on schedule with that upgrade." I though aloud.

*10 Minutes later*

*Knock Knock Knock*

"Yeah?"

"Hey Marina, it's Jackson. Is my phone ready yet?"

"Oh! Right!"

She opened the door and held my phone in her hand. She handed it over and I took a second to look at it. She'd given it a black and gold makeover, as well as it now sporting a new look to it's OS.

"I installed most of the things you'll need on a regular basis, beyond that, the operating system has been upgraded to be up to date, and I also gave your case a nice little makeover to match your gear." She summarized with a proud smile.

"Thanks Marina, I'll figure out the rest from here. Have a good one." I said.

"No worries. See ya later!" She called as I left.

I grinned as I walked along the vibrant streets of Inkopolis, now thinking of all the new possibilities I now held in my hand.

This is gonna be the start of something beautiful.

*Author's Note: Well, I'm finally back. Sorry for being gone for so long, but now it's summer I'm gonna start getting back into writing whenever I have enough time to crank out another chapter. I'll see if I can get another chapter out over the weekend to make up for lost time. As always, thanks for reading, and have a good one. I'll see you guys come the next chapter.*

P.S: I've given Chapter 7 a much needed rewrite as I just personally thought that it could've been written a helluva lot better than how I did it the first time around. Head back to it should you want to see the changes.