Arc 3 Chapter 18

At the Inkopolis Defense Force base, Flash and Kirk had just got done with their weapon training on the range. They went through a wide range of weaponry including the new splattershots, splat rollers, splat bombs, and other ink-based weapons. Flash did sufficient on the ranged weaponry such as the splattershot but wished we had is splat dualies while Kirk did well on the splat roller.

After the two got done they hung around outside the range talking about turf war games. "I hate to hear that you lost your last battle, bummer dude. I hope you find that girl Izzy and let her know you're sorry and all," said Kirk.

"Yeah, She's the reason I joined the IDF. Maybe if she saw that I'm willing to defend Inkopolis and put my life on the line, heck maybe be a war hero. Then she'll come back to me. Though my friends didn't like the idea and thought it was the stupidest decision I could make," said Flash.

"You joined to impress a girl. I hate to say this but I kinda agree with your friends. You shouldn't have made a rash decision like that. You've should've joined because you wanted to. Not to try and impress a girl that you don't know if she shares the same feelings as you do," said Kirk trying to reason with Flash.

"You sound like my friend Ben. I was hoping you'd understand where I was coming from Kirk, I didn't think an inkling like you would think I was a dumb squid too because I joined the IDF over Izzy," said a disgruntled Flash, disproving Kirk's attitude towards him.

"Dude! you're taking things out of context. I didn't say you were a stupid squid. I'm just saying joining the IDF over Izzy wasn't a smart idea," said Kirk defending himself.

"Well, I'm tired of listening to people. I don't care what friends may think. all I know is that I wanna win over Izzy's heart and if joining the IDF is the only way then..." started Flash as he was soon interrupted.

"You still stuck on that squid girl," said a voice.

The two looked to the source as Flash heard the voice. he knew it was familiar. Flash looked to the figure and he locked his eyes on them. "Ben!?" shouted Flash.

"Wait, you know that squid?" asked Kirk as he turned to Flash.

Ben had his arms crossed with a displeased glare at Flash. "I overheard your conversation and yes he should've listened to his friends," said Ben.

"Ben, what are doing here!? And why are in a uniform?" asked a stunned Flash.

"I went ahead and enlisted too, after all my dad is in the IDF," said Ben as he stepped closer. "Listen Flash, we've been friends since school and Me and Jazz have always watched your back and bent over backward for you. Jazz is worried sick and what about your family! I'm tired of coming to the rescue and it's time for you to find out what an ink head you are," said Ben as he pointed his finger at Flash.

"Just shut up and let me make my own decisions. I'm tired of people dragging me down and telling me what I should do. I didn't expect you to come here and brag to me about what a dumb move I made," exclaimed an agitated Flash.

"Well someone's gotta watch your squid ass! I'm always having to during the turf war matches. You wouldn't have made it without me and Jazz watching your back while you show off and go guns a-blazing. I'm sick off pulling your slack and so is Jazz!" shouted Ben angrily.

"I never asked for you guys to watch my back! I can handle it! So don't come at me for something I never asked from you guys!" shouted Flash again gaining the attention of the surrounding inklings.

"Guys! You're drawing negative attention! If the captain comes over here then..." explained a concerned Kirk to be interrupted by Ben.

"Me and Jazz don't count on you asking us when to step in and help you! That's what friends do! We consoled you and cheered you up after that falling out with Suki. We were there for you then! If you don't appreciate anything that we've done for you then you can SPLAT OFF!" yelled Ben in anger.

The inklings were soon spectating the verbal fight among Flash and Ben. The two were almost face to face both locking glares on each other, baring their fangs and balling up their fists. Kirk attempted to get in between them to break them up to be pushed away. He sat on the ground witnessing a fight that was brewing among the two inklings.

"I don't need you and Jazz!" jeered Flash.

"And we don't need someone who just treats us like crap!" jeered Ben.

The two were waiting for one or the other to land the first hit when all of a sudden a figure was pushing through the crowd. "I want all of you squid to disperse now! Privates! At ease and report to my office on the double!" shouted the captain who finally made it to the two inklings that were about to spar with one another.

Ben and Flash turned to face the captain, which in turn stopped their confrontation. The two of them stood at attention and saluted the captain before heading to her office as she demanded. Ben and Flash don't speak or even look at one another on their way there. The two of them finally make it to Captain Finn's office and shove one another to get inside first.

"What's this all about?!" demanded the captain who stood up from behind her desk. She was glaring at both inklings and was very displeased with their actions. "Answer me!" she ordered.

"Captain, it was just a personal dispute. It won't happen again," answered Ben.

The captain turned and looked at Flash who remained quiet for a moment. "Well, what do you have to say?" asked the captain.

"I'm sorry captain, It's just we've known each other and things just got heated in the moment. He was my friend but he insisted that I didn't join the IDF. He thinks I'm a stupid squid who can't be depended on to make choices on his own!" sneered Flash whipping a glare toward Ben.

Ben looked at him and bared his teeth. "You egotistical squid! We were just looking out for your well-being! If it weren't for me and Jazz you wouldn't have made it to rank A in the turf war games. We're always pulling your weight around. You..." said an angry Ben in an outburst but was cut off by an irritated captain.

She pinched her nose trying to refrain from clobbering both of them but instead yelled at the two of them getting their attention. "Shut up the two of you!" she yelled.

"Yes, Captain!" the both said in unison as they stood at attention.

"I don't wanna see or hear of this happening again! You're both soldiers now! So act like it whether you want to or not or so help me I'll make sure the both of you scrub the floors and toilets with your tentacles until you turn pale white! Got it!" she shouted.

"Understood!" Ben and Flash responded, startled by the captain's outburst.

"Good! Now I want you two to shake on it and makeup. You're both in the IDF and you will respect one another as you will respect the IDF and it's values," commanded the captain.

The two look at each other and force themselves to shake each other's hand. They pull off and cross their arms looking away from one another. "(sigh) good enough I guess but remember as I said not another confrontation or fight, understood!" said the captain.

They both nod and the captain crosses her arms behind her back slightly relieved at their resolve. "You're both dismissed, now get out of my office!" ordered Captain Finn as she turned and waved her arm facing away from the two inklings.

They give one a displeased look and walk out the door. Ben shuts the door and looks at Flash who's got his back toward him with his arms crossed. "(sigh) I hate its come to this. But it's either me or Izzy and apparently you've made your decision. I wish you luck," said Ben as he walked away from Flash.

Flash just ignored Ben who he heard walk away and turned toward him as he got further down the hallway. "I'm sorry too... this was my decision to make and if this is the only way of getting Izzy back then so be it," said Flash as he turned and walked in the other direction.

It appeared the two inklings wouldn't let their differences aside and went their separate ways. Flash walked out of the main building of the IDF HQ and Kirk approached him. "So... how did everything go?" asked Kirk.

"I don't wanna talk about," mumbled Flash.

Kirk nodded and Flash kept walking, heading back to the barracks. Not wanting to talk or be bothered. Ben made it to the end of the corridor and punched a nearby locker. "Stupid ink head! He's just making things worse for himself," said Ben in irritation. "(deep breath) I'm done trying to reason with him. If he wants to go off and get himself killed then by all means," said Ben before covering his eyes.

"Ben?" replied a voice in front of him. He uncovered his eyes and saw his father, Miles in front of him with a bewildered expression. "Dad," responded Ben.

"S...Son! What are you doing here? You should be at home and why are you in uniform... oh no...you didn't," said Miles.

"Yeah, dad... I joined the IDF but only because of Flash! He did this stupid stunt of enlisting because of this girl he met and..." started Ben only to be waved off by his father. "We'll talk about this later, you're in deep trouble and does your mother even know about this!?" asked his disgruntled father wanting a better explanation for his son's actions.

Ben turned his head down. "No," he answered to his father. His father gave a deep sigh of irritation and waved his son to follow him. "Come with me," he told his son as they both left.

Blake moved up to the second floor and into another lobby. He looked around and saw that the floor appeared clear. He headed into one of the rooms and heard an octotrooper patrolling the floor. He snuck inside the room with the octarians back turned but he stumbled on a can laying on the floor. This alerted the octotrooper as it jumped and turned around. "Huh!" it exclaimed. It spotted Blake and shouted "Intruder! The human is here!"

Blake shot the octarian with his new weapon. A burst of ink shot out and quickly disposed of the octarian as it burst into ink quickly. "Whoa!" shouted Blake at the weapon's high rate of fire. He moved up and heard more octarians move in on the second floor searching for Blake. Blake ran down another collection of rooms and heard another approaching octotrooper heading for his position. Blake got ready, hugging the doorway as the octotrooper appeared. He kicked the octarian off its platform and shot it on the floor. He soon heard more octarians on the floor.

"Fan out and search the area for that human!" shouted a twintacle.

Blake ran through the rooms until he ended back near the lobby he was first in. A small group of octotroopers spotted him. "There's the human! Fire!" one of them shouted.

Blake took cover behind the doorway as they launched a barrage of ink at him. Blake took any opportunity he could get, blasting at the octarians. He managed to kill one with two more spreading out to try and suppress his fire. One of the octotroopers attempted to flank Blake with the other one keeping the attention of the human on him. Blake tried to shoot at the octotrooper but had no luck. Soon he heard the other octotrooper come around the corner of a hallway in the room he was in.

"Trying to get the drop on me huh," said Blake as he left his cover and hid behind a turned-over desk. The octorooper came around and blasted the wall where Blake was but didn't see the human. The other octotrooper moved up to the doorway to meet up with the other one. "where'd he go?!" shouted one of the octarians.

Blake popped out from behind the desk and shot both octotroopers before they could react. "Dumb tentacles," sneered Blake.

Blake moved back to the lobby and spotted another flight of stairs going up. As he climbed the stairs he heard something coming down. There were octoballs rolling down the steps toward Blake. Blake shot the octoballs before they could smush him, leaving yellow ink puddles. He made it up to the next floor, once he got past the octoballs while Marie was on top of a building facing Tentacle Towers. She was keeping an eye out for any threats and she soon spotted approaching Octostamp DXs arriving. They parked in front of the main entrance and multiple octolings dismounted rushing inside the building.

"Oh No, Blake! More octolings have arrived. I hope you're ready to use that new special," shouted Marie over the radio.

"Thanks for the heads up! I've been slowly making my way up to the top this building, It's been full of octarians as well, so far I've been getting past them," said Blake over his headset.

"Well prepare to face more, I don't wanna give away my position until I start seeing you. I've noticed the walls toward the top are missing but I haven't sen any other octarians so far," said Marie. Soon three figures near the top floor walked down toward an exposed area on the building. Marie spotted them and looked down her charger scope. "Wait a minute, Blake, I see three...octolings near the top," said Marie. She continued to look at them. One was an octoling wearing a cape, one an octoling regular without a weapon with her arms behind her head, and the last one with a different style of tentacles. She was wearing the new goggles and had her octoshot aimed at the unarmed octoling.

"Hold on, I think I recognize one of the octolings it's hard to tell, she must the sergeant! She's being escorted down by two other octolings, I'm going to see if I can shoot them before they harm her," said Marie.

"Marie, wait! It's too risky, I don't want you taking a chance of missing one of the rebels or hitting the sergeant," advised Blake.

"What! I won't miss! You doubting my marksmanship?" said an irritated Marie.

"It's not that! I...don't want the rescue mission getting botched. I can make my way up and you can provide overwatch if anything should happen," said Blake defending his comment.

"(sigh) fine! Just trying to make things easier," said Marie.

The sergeant-major, Maxie, and Serena were on one of the top floors waiting for Blake to make his way up. "Once that human gets here and sees his little lover, he'll have to surrender. if he doesn't I wanna see her reduced to an ink puddle," said the sergeant-major turning toward Maxie and Selena.

"He's not my lover first of all! And second I know he'll outsmart a jaded octopus like you. I hope you he kicks you octobutt good you dumb broad," said Maxie.

The sergeant-major clutched the sergeant's tentacle as she yelped. "Listen here missy, I could just throw off this building right now and just ambush the fossil!" the sergeant-major sneered.

She pushed the sergeant back and she landed on the floor. "Hmpf... I'm not sure what you see in him and I'm not sure why the red queen wants him so badly," said the sergeant-major.

"Red...Queen?" jeered Maxie as she slowly sat up.

The sergeant-major remained quiet and looked up at Serena. "Get her up and let's move," ordered the sergeant-major.

"Yes, ma'am," said Serena as she pulled Maxie up.

As they continued, Serena whispered to Maxie. "Hang on Sargeant, as soon as her guard is down I'll get you outta here," she said.

"Let's hope you do before Blake gets here," said Maxie.

"Who's Blake? His he another octoling that got sent to rescue us?" asked Serena.

"I'll explain later, let's focus on the plan for now," said Maxie as they headed down a flight of stairs.

Meantime, Blake was shooting more octotroopers and a twintacle on the floor he was on. He spotted a room with the outer wall missing. He felt the outside breeze hit against his body. The large exposed room was empty and on the far side was where the ceiling had fallen down and formed into a ramp to the upper floor. He approached the ramp and soon spotted something on the upper end.

There were three objects above with glowing purple eyes. They ran down toward Blake. They appeared to be torpedo-like figures with legs and they were getting closer. "What the!" shouted Blake as he shot at them. They were octopods, literally running bombs that rushed at their enemies and then explode when they got close enough. When Blake hit one of them it exploded into a burst of ink causing the one beside to go off as well. But the last one behind them ran at Blake as he didn't have time to react. The octopod detonated and launched Blake back. He was lying on the ground in pain from the burst of ink. He attempted to try and get up and grab his weapon but he soon heard footsteps approach from behind.

A small group of octolings approached the doorway and aimed their octoshots at him. "Don't move!" shouted one of the octolings. Blake held up his hands in surrender as the octolings moved in on him and grabbed the rapid splatter beside him. After a moment three more figures showed up, above the ramp in front of him. It was the sergeant-major, the sergeant, and Serena.

"Well, well, well, look what we have here," sneered the sergeant-major. Blake glared at the octoling and saw the octoling sergeant that helped him back at the Saltspray Rig. "Blake! Are you ok!" shouted the sergeant.

"I'm...ok...are you?" he asked covered in ink and jeering in pain.

"That's Blake? What on earth is he?" asked Serena in absolute shock.

"He's a human, Serena," said Maxie quietly before she turned back to Blake.

"Well, I hate to break up this touching moment but the Red Queen has been dying to meet you, not sure why," said the sergeant-major with indignity. "Get him up!" she ordered as the octolings grabbed and picked Blake up since he was covered in ink and nearly paralyzed by its effects.

"Get an octoseeker here now!" ordered the sergeant-major. "bring the fossil up to the roof along with the traitor," she continued as the octolings dragged Blake up the ramp. Serena guided Maxie up as well. Maxie had a look of remorse for Blake and Serena saw her expression unsure what to make of the situation of seeing a live human. The whole group made their way to the upper floor readying for the octoseeker to arrive and take them back to the rebel base.

Major Octsana was onboard the octoseeker headed back for the rebel base. She had lost the octozeppelin fleet to the Neo-Octarian army and managed to escape, failing the mission. She feared what would happen once she reported back to her leader DJ Octavio but at least the inkling agent was dealt with she thought as a side note. Soon her phone went off, it was the Red Queen calling. The major answered it, "Yes, my queen," she replied.

"How is the status with Octavio and the assault on Inkopolis?" she had asked.

"(deep breath) My queen...we lost the fleet and the assault on Inkopolis had been stopped by those valley turncoats. Someone has been on the inside leaking intel to someone back in Octo Valley. Don't worry my queen, I'll get the bottom of this and once I find out they'll..." started the Major before she was interrupted.

"A small set back..." replied the Red Queen.

The major was a little stunned by her response. "Ma'am?" she said. "Inkopolis isn't the prize, though the inklings will play a key part of our operation. I'm already ahead of the game just in case things don't go accordingly. I predict a retaliation from DJ Octavio and everything has been put into place once he continues his obsession of taking over the inkling capital. Octavio is playing right into my hand and once he's in position he'll be knocked off and you will assume temporary leadership until our operation is in its final stages. Once we have the human in our possession and the vault is opened we'll be in total control of everyone," said the red queen.

"But what about the octarian government? Anything we do and they'll stop it as long as a spy is giving up information," replied the major.

"We will deal with them once they come out. For now, you will continue the plans and follow Octavio's orders for the time being even if he's "veered off course". He will be of no use once our objective is complete and control of Inkopolis and the inklings will be under our command. After that we'll deal with Octo Valley, I've already made plans for them as well," said the Red Queen.

"My Queen...are we sure, we need to dispose of Octavio, I've been under his command for my entire..." started the major but was cut off. "You question my plans!? He is of no use after we take command of the surface! Whose allegiance do you fall under!? Mine...or his?" shouted the angered Red Queen.

"...Yours, my queen," replied the major.

"Good answer...Octavio has failed the octarians for far too long. We have been cooped up underground, fearing when the power will eventually run out. He has failed as a leader and it's time for a new regime to step in. Freeing him was essential for the operation and now he's pulling on his leash, thinking he'll break free and take command once again. I'll give some lead way but only so much. Octavio is narrow-sighted and fails to see anything past his blunders and thinks beating the inklings will solve all of our problems," said the Red queen.

"But the inklings are our enemy, why not let Octavio take command and defeat them as we should've over 2 years ago?" asked the major.

"Because the inklings will be under our rule but I have other things in store for the squid. Don't doubt my methods major. It has been me that's been supplying you and those rebels with equipment. You and those rebels would be nowhere if it weren't for my leadership, the Octarian government would have defeated you months ago if it weren't for my strategizing. Get that through your head Octsana or you'll be "replaced" and I'll find someone who will obey my commands and not question them. Understand!" shouted the Red Queen harshly.

"My apologies, it won't happen again. We will go through with the operation as planned," said the major.

"See that it doesn't. Continue back to base and inform Octavio about the attack on the fleet. Keep me informed of the situation and keep playing along with the big octopus," said the red queen.

"Roger, my queen," replied the major. The red queen hung up with the major clutching her phone as she bared her fangs in anguish. The other octolings saw her behavior and dared not bother her. Major Octsana gave a deep breath to calm down and placed the phone back in her pocket. She stood up and faced the rest of the octolings. "Once we arrive at base we'll inform Octavio about the attack on our octozeppelin fleet. Afterward, we'll follow further orders from our leader and hopefully restrengthen our forces and continue the assault without any setbacks," said the major. "We will continue our plans and squash those inkstains once and for all! The rebels will achieve victory and the octarian government will not stop us! All hail Octavio!" she shouted.

"All Hail Octavio!" the octolings shouted with their fists in the air.

"5 minutes until we reach base," shouted the twintacle pilot.

"I wonder how Octavio will take this news.," said the major. She was not eager to face Octavio knowing she had failed him, putting his trust in the major to lead the assault. Once the octoseeker landed the octolings dismounted followed by the major. "Everyone report to your stations and await further orders!" ordered the major.

The octolings saluted and departed. Major Octsana stared at the command center where Octavio resided. She gave a deep breath and headed toward the large facility, fearing what Octavio would do once he heard the octozeppelin fleet was defeated by the Neo-Octarians.

Minutes ago, a hand could be seen laying a phone down on a table. A large padded chair was being occupied by a figure behind it faced away. The chair swiveled around with the darkened silhouette of an octoling. Her appearance was shrouded by the darkness of the unlit room, only revealing her green eyes and red irises. She placed her hands together in discontent from the major's behavior from before she got off the phone with her.

The silhouetted octoling gave a deep breath and closed her eyes. "The major is proving herself to be unreliable. That human should be in our possession by now and the octozeppelin fleets should've done attacked Inkopolis. How much more will she prove her worthlessness," she said as she crossed her arms. She opened her eyes and turned her chair around facing a large screen. She stood up and walked over toward it. "She has one more chance to prove herself. If she fails me yet again then I'll have no choice but to decommission her permanently. I will not tolerate failure and she will be replaced by someone who can complete the task!" shouted the Red Queen.

She downed her head and crossed her arms behind her back. "Get ahold of my agent that is overseeing the unit sent to the vault. I wanna know what their progress is," said the Red Queen as she turned to her two guards in front of her desk.

"Yes, my queen," the two male guards said in unison.

Marina and Melvin were on Mt. Nantai talking about their life stories but Melvin was truly intrigued by Marina leaving the underground domes to look for a new life on the surface. She discussed about breaking free from Octavio's influence and starting a career in music with her friend Pearl. Melvin was astonished and had soon wished that someday he would do the same and explore the lifestyle of the surface and maybe find an inkling girlfriend too.

"I can't believe you left Octo Valley, so all this time you've been in Inkopolis. I've heard about octolings leaving and deserting to look for a better life. I can't blame them though. Life on the surface. The sun, the air, a new fresh adventure, maybe someday I'll do the same once the rebels are dealt with. (sigh)" said Melvin.

"Yeah, it was scary at first. I wasn't sure what to do or if the inklings would accept me or not. I was an engineer and weapon designer for the octarian army and now I was on the surface unsure how to start my new life until I met Pearl. Me and her met here as a matter of fact, on Mt. Nantai. She introduced me to the inkling culture and she asked me to be her partner," said Marina.

So you and Pearl are this band called "off the hook", I think you said. That's awesome, I'm glad you got to make friends with the inklings and left the valley. Maybe all of us octarians can soon be friends with the inklings again and live in peace," said Melvin.

"Me too, Melvin (sigh) I just hope Pearl will be alright. I...hated that I left her. She's like a sister to me. We've been thick as siblings for a while and now with everything going on I don't want anything to happen to her because I'm an octoling," said Marina depressingly.

"Yeah, you told me why you left, bummer. You said you came up here to clear your mind," said Melvin.

"Uh-huh, I thought coming back to the first place where me and Pearl first met would ease my troubles. I don't wanna go back underground. I like the surface and if the octarians find out that I deserted my post then they could lock me up or worse...have me splatted!" exclaimed Marina in distress.

"Marina, you gotta understand that you left because Octavio was enslaving us. There's a new octarian government and I don't think you'll be charged for any crime. They'd be crazy if they did. You had no other choice!" explained Melvin.

"Still, I don't wanna think that I have to go back to the valley because I'm an octoling. I like the inklings and Pearl is my best friend. I like my life on the surface and I worked hard to get where I was at," said Marina still stressing out.

"Well, I don't think you should Marina, You like life on the surface and you shouldn't have to go back underground. Why not go back to Inkopolis, I'll stay here and see if I get a hold of this Sheldon dude again, we've been waiting here for over an hour now. This is frustrating and I think I'm going to go take a walk," said Malvin as he got up and headed under the octopus archway by the shack.

As Melvin left, Marina headed over by the radio to retrieve her duffle bag she had hidden. She whipped out her laptop and placed it on the table. She pulled out a flash drive and inserted it. Multiple windows of data popped up on the screen from before when she was in her lab. "Well, I guess this will give me time to continue on my pet project," she said to herself as she typed away.

A minute passed by as she ran through the data she had collected from back at Pearl's. There was something that she didn't notice before. She looked closer at what appeared to be a diagram of a DNA strand. The strand was human from a sample she had taken back from Octo Valley before she left. "Wait a minute...this can't be..." she said to herself. She ran a side by side comparison to that of a oceanic DNA strand and looked at the two. DNA of an inkling and octoling were very similar except for a few codes that set the two apart but the human DNA on the other hand.

Marina shook her head and looked again. She frantically typed away and scrolled through the data again for anything to back the claim that she had just saw. She backed away from her laptop with a stunned expression. "If there's any truth to this then... this could change everything, even stopping the war. Is this why the octo rebels wanted Blake" said Marina.

Melvin was on the other side of the archway in the training grounds. He looked around and noticed how the area was laid out and spotted targets floating on the ledge. Was this some kind of training area he thought to himself. He looked back to the direction of the octopus archway and then thought to himself. "Who would train way out here," he said.

He turned back to the targets. "I wish I had my octoshot right now, then I'd catch up on my shooting skills," he said himself. He looked around and spotted something on the other side of the training grounds. They looked like weapons but he didn't recognize them. He octo formed and swam over. He changed back and looked at the ink-based weaponry that was perched on a rack against the wall as if they were ready to be used.

"These have to be inkling weapons. I've never seen weapons like this before," said Melvin as he grabbed a hero shot Mk2. He aimed it back at the training grounds and pulled the trigger. "This is cool, I wish the octarian army had weaponry like this," he said. "I don't even have my ink tank since I lost everything when I was captured by Obi. Octarian ink probably wouldn't work in this thing anyway, Still, I love to try it out," the octoling boy said as he placed the hero shot back down. He then looked at a hero charger and grabbed it.

The hero charger was heavier and longer. He looked down the weapon, admiring it when all of a sudden a voice shouting his name caused him to jump and almost drop the hero charger as he fumbled with it. "Melvin!" shouted the voice as he turned around and saw Marina looking at him. "Melvin, you shouldn't be messing with that. We don't know who it belongs to," she said with her hands on her hips.

"I was just looking at it. I've never messed with inkling weaponry before, that's what I assumed they are anyway," said Melvin.

"Well, I wasn't sure what you were doing but their's something I want you to come look at," said Marina as she waved him to follow. The two left the training grounds and through the archway. They headed over to Marina's laptop. "This is what I wanted you to see," said Marina as she sat down and turned her laptop toward him. He hunched over the table and looked.

"What am I looking at exactly?" he asked dumbfounded.

'Its DNA, you know our genetic makeup," replied Marina.

"Sorry I slept through science class, explain it to me," said Melvin as he rubbed the back of his head.

Marina shook her head and turned the laptop back to herself. "In layman's terms, it's what we're made of. This is octoling DNA and this is inkling DNA," said marina as she pointed at the two DNA strands on the monitor. Melvin looked at the diagram. "Yeah, they're similar. So what?" he asked.

She popped up another window that showed a human DNA sample. "This is human DNA, specifically of a sample I got back in Octo Valley. Look at it and then look back at the oceanic DNA," she told him. Melvin placed his hand under his chin. "OK, they look similar too...wait a minute, did you say human?" he asked before backing away slightly stunned at what he saw.

On the roof of a building facing the tentacle towers was Marie frantically looking for any sign of Blake. She heard fire and then an explosion on the headset followed by a scream and then nothing. "Blake! Blake! Come in!" she shouted on her headset. "Blake please come in!" she shouted again. She was deeply concerned and looked down her scope to find Blake or any octarians. She feared that he was captured or worse...dead.

Blake was being dragged up by the octolings. Serena was guiding Maxie up in the front while being led by the sergeant-major. "Blake...don't worry...you did your best and that's all that counts. I know you're stronger than this and I know we'll escape once that time comes," said Maxie quietly. Serena heard Maxie and looked back toward the sergeant-major, she knew right now that their opportunity to get away may have been narrowed.

"Once, we get back to base, detain the both of them. The human will be handed over to the red queen once she hears the human is in our possession and as for the traitor...execute her!" sneered the sergeant-major.

Blake was slowly getting his strength back as the effects of the ink was slowly wearing off. His squidwatch suddenly came on with the symbol of two inkling silhouettes showing up, signaling the ink decoy special was activated. Still weary he attempted to move his arms. With all of his stamina he managed to break free as he broke from the octolings grasp. He kicked the octoling that had a hold of his rapid splatter 3000 and grabbed once she hit the floor.

The other two octolings jerked back and quickly aimed their weapons at him. "You're outnumbered human! Don't even think about it!" shouted one of them.

"You think so, well I gotta trick up my sleeve (literally)," said Blake as smashed the squidwatch and three ink-based clones of himself appeared. "What the!" shouted the other octoling as they were shocked by the ink decoys appearing.

Blake aimed his Rapid Splatter at the octolings as well as the decoys. "Shoot them!" shouted the Sergeant-Major. Blake and the decoys opened fire on the octolings splattering one while the other managed to splat one of the decoys leaving two and Blake. He took cover as he fired at the other octoling while the other decoys followed his movement. One of the copies shot at the remaining octoling while she exchanged fire, causing them both to splat at the same time.

Blake laid his splatter down as the other decoy was all of a sudden splatted by the octoling he kicked while he got his weapon back. He shot as she sat on the floor with her octoshot aimed where the slain decoy was and Blake splatted her before she could shoot him. Another ink shot was fired and struck the Rapid Splatter out of his hand and sliding off the ledge of the building and down below.

Blake was disarmed and was facing the Sergeant-Major with her octoshot pointed at him. "Neat trick fossil but you've run out of luck," sneered the sergeant-major. She then turned the weapon on Maxie who was being held beside her. "Surrender now! And I won't turn the redhead into a puddle!" she commanded.

Blake held his hands up in defeat. "Please don't...I...surrender. Just let her go. It's me you want," said Blake. Seeing his nobility, Maxie felt deep remorse. "Blake..." she said to herself.

"Aww, how noble of you, but no doin'...you're in no state to make demands...now come here!" she shouted waving her octoshot at him. Blake approached with his hands still up. She grabbed him by the collar and glared at him. "I think you should pay for killing my troops. If it weren't for the Red Queen I would've shoved you off this building fossil," she sneered coldly before striking Blake in the head with the octoshot. "Get up and let's go!" she shouted. Blake got up and she shoved him with his octoshot toward the rooftop.

As the group headed to the rooftop Marie saw them through an exposed portion of the building. She saw the three octolings and Blake being forced in front of them at gunpoint by the caped octoling rebel. "Oh no, Blake!" exclaimed Marie seeing Blake had been captured.

"I told him I should've taken the shot," she said in aggravation.

She took a deep breath and looked back down her scope. The group stopped and the sergeant-major turned toward Serena and Maxie. "There's no sense in taking them both. You know what, go ahead and execute the sergeant here," said the sergeant-major.

Serena looked nervously at the sergeant-major after she gave the order. "I see it fitting that your old teammate should shoot you with the human watching that you admire so much," said the sergeant-major. "Do it private!" she ordered to Serena.

Serena hesitated for a moment and gulped. She aimed her octoshot at the sergeant's head and was nervously clutching the weapon. "I gave you an order, private...now shoot her!" she barked.

Serena nodded her head and tried to think of a way out. "No! Don't shoot her!" shouted Blake.

"Did I ask for your input fossil!" sneered the sergeant-major. "SHOOT HER! NOW!' yelled the sergeant-major at Serena.

A shot rang out and Blake was frozen by fear of what had happened. He saw a small splatter of ink in the direction of the three octolings and closed his eyes not wanting to see the outcome but things were not what they seemed. Serena was struck by Marie's charger and fell down dropping her octoshot. Her goggles also flew off across the floor with the sergeant and sergeant-major froze in shock of what just happened.

"SERENA!" cried Maxie.

"What the!" shouted the sergeant-major as she turned to the source of the shot and saw Marie perched on the rooftop across the street.

"Sniper!" shouted the sergeant-major as she grabbed Blake and used him as a shield. She took her octoshot and fired at Marie from over Blake's shoulder. Marie quickly took cover and hunkered down. "Tell your inkling friend to stand down! Now!" shouted the sergeant-major as she held the weapon against Blake's head.

"Why don't you just shoot me now and get it over with!" jeered Blake. The sergeant-major knew that Blake needed to stay alive so she aimed her octoshot at Maxie who was kneeling down trying to hold back her tears.

"Then how about I shoot your friend then," said the sergeant-major.

"Agent 2 stand down!" shouted Blake over his headset. Marie had no choice but to cease her actions and comply with the command. "You got what you wanted, now let the sergeant go!" jeered Blake as the octoling still had her arm around his neck. "How touching that you're willing to stick your neck out for this turncoat, guess I see why she has a thing for you. It won't matter anyhow since the rebels will declare victory over those inkstains and valley traitors," said the sergeant-major.

"I'm sick of people like you and the rebels! I've lost many friends to people like you back during the great turf war! I was hesitant back then but not anymore, don't think I won't kill you if you so much as harm my friends!" sneered Blake with a furious expression.

"So bold, empty threats from an extinct race. Remarkable that you've survived all this time. Maybe that's why the red queen wants who so badly but very well... I'll spare the little redhead. Her demise is coming as well as the rest of them eventually," said the sergeant-major.

The sergeant-major slowly took her weapon off Maxie and clubbed Blake in the back of the head dazing him to ensure he didn't put up a struggle.

Maxie rushed over to Serena's body. She had a green ink splat on her armor and wasn't breathing. "Serena! Serena! Answer me!" shouted Maxie shaking Serena's body. "Serena, No!" jeered Maxie as she started to cry over seeing her friend get killed. Maxie soon turned toward Blake and the sergeant-major as they were making their way toward the roof. "Blake..." she said but then turned back to Serena's lifeless body unsure what to do.

Marie peered out from cover and saw Blake and the rebel on the far side of the floor, bound for the rooftop. Marie aimed her charger at the two and wanted to stop the sergeant-major but her hands shook the charger and she couldn't find it in herself to take the shot and chance hitting Blake. "Dammit!" she shouted in defeat. She placed her charge behind her back and squid formed. She squid jumped across the building to the tower where Maxie was crying over Serena.

She walked over to the sergeant whose face was darkened. "Are you ok?" she asked the sergeant. Maxie clenched her fist after hearing Marie's voice and turned to her with a furious expression , baring her fangs at the inkling with tears in her eyes. "OK!?" she shouted as she quickly grabbed Serena's octoshot and shot at Marie. Marie jumped back to avoid the ink fire. She quickly pulled out her Hero charger from the altercation.

Marie saw the octoling was apparently furious with her, but what? "Hey! I just saved your ass!" shouted an agitated and confused Marie.

"You killed my friend!" jeered Maxie baring her fangs and locking her eyes on Marie. The octoling was outraged and was in no mood to be reasoned with.

"Friend? But she had her weapon on you!" exclaimed Marie still having her guard up.

"She was acting! Waiting for an opportunity to catch those rebels off guard! You didn't see her halter after that..." shouted Maxie as tears were forming in her eyes.

"Listen, me and Blake came all this way to rescue you, I didn't know! Now, lower your weapon! " ordered Marie.

"You inklings are all alike, you take and take more from us. I should've never let Blake go with you! Now he's been taken and my friend is..." jeered Maxie before she shot at Marie.

Marie rolled out of her shots and lined her charger upon the enraged sergeant. She shot the octoshot out of the sergeant's hands. She charged at the octoling and attempted to kick her down but the octoling grabbed her and threw her against the wall knocking the charger out of her hand. Marie was laying on her stomach while Maxie looked at the charger and kicked it out of Marie's reach. She shook her hands and grabbed Marie and hemmed her up against the wall. She was strangling the squid sister as she bared her fangs intending to end the inkling that killed her friend. Marie was thrashing and finally punched the octoling in the face as she pushed her down. she took the opportunity to grab her charger and knock her down with it. She had the octoling pinned to the floor.

Maxie opened her eyes and saw the barrel of the charger aimed at her face. "Go ahead! Take my life you squid! You've taken everything else!" shouted Maxie with tears coming.

"Why do you hate us so much? What did we ever do to you!" shouted Marie in anger over the octoling attacking her after trying to save her life.

"What's it matter! You've taken our pride, our freedom, my friend and now..." said Maxie trying to contain her emotions.

"Ungrateful octopus! You speak of if you're the only ones that have lost anything! You've taken my sweet cousin from me! You sound just like Octavio!" shouted Marie in anger.

"Don't compare me to that tyrant! Damn squid! Just shoot me and get it over with!" yelled Maxie in an outburst.

Marie saw how much despair the octoling was in and felt some sympathy for her. Marie gave a deep breath and pulled the barrel off the octoling's face. Soon a mumble got the two's attention. They looked over and saw Serena was starting to move her head. She mumbled again and opened her eyes.

"Serena?" replied Maxie as she looked at her friend with astonishment.

Marie was at a loss of words thinking that the shot should have killed her but fortunately, it didn't. The young octoling slowly sat up still in pain from the shot as she held her chest. Serena coughed up ink and gasped for breath. "Serena!" shouted Maxie as she hurried to get up and rush over to her friend.

"Maxie," she replied.

"Serena! You're alive, I'm so glad you're ok!" shouted the sergeant as she embraced the octoling she thought was dead.

"Oww, ow, ow, Serena not so hard... I'm still hurt," said Serena still in pain.

"Oh, sorry private, I'm just glad to see you're not dead, but how did you survive?" asked Maxie.

"It must be the new armor we were issued," replied Serena but the shot I took, it still hurt I think I need to be treated and soon," said Serena.

Maxie was still wearing the old octoling armor but Serena was issued the neo-octoling armor. The armor managed to stop the ink from punching through but still caused inner trauma on body. She was still affected by the charger shot being how powerful it was.

"She's going to need some medical attention, I'll get a hold of Sheldon and see if he can pick us up. I'll get her treated back at Mt. Nantai. It's the best I can do since I'm the one that shot her," said Marie.

"Thank you so much, I'm...so sorry for what I did, I was consumed by rage after seeing you shoot Serena...I thought I would never see her again," said Maxie in deep remorse as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

"It's...ok...I forgive you, I know about loss and I would feel the same way if I were in front of Octavio right now after taking Callie away from us," said Marie.

"I think I saw your cousin back at the rebel base, she was lying motionless on a bed. I'm not sure what they were doing to her," said Maxie.

"That's why we wanted to come and rescue you. We were sure you knew where my cousin and hoped you could lead us to her," said Marie.

Maxie looked back at Marie and nodded. "I'll help you get your cousin back since you've offered to help Serena," said Maxie as she stood up. She held her hand out to the squid sister as a sign of truce and trust. Marie looked at her for a moment and gave a smile. She shook the octoling's hand and Maxie had a smile come across her face as well. "I hope...we can be friends after this," said Marie.

"I do too," said Maxie. "You inklings aren't all bad...I need to get over my animosities and look to a better future, a future where our races can come together, let's stop this war and stop Octavio and his goons!" exclaimed Maxie.

"I'll get Serena, you catch up to Blake before that octopus gets away with him," said Marie.

"I will! take care of Serena," said Maxie as she picked up the octoshot and chased after the sergeant-major and Blake.

Marie looked back at Serena who was fighting to stay conscious. "It's ok, I gotta friend coming to get us. I'll get you treated a soon as I can and I'm sorry I shot you, I thought you..." started Marie as she kneeled down to the octoling.

"It's ok, you were looking out for the sergeant and I can respect that. You didn't know," said Serena as she gave Marie a smile.

Marie smiled back and the two of them waited for Sheldon's arrival as the sergeant pursued the octoling and human she hid her feelings for before the octoseeker got there.