Dual Fates

A Splatoon Fanfic

By The Impartial Hand

Chapter 4: Fugitives

Cobalt and Green's Apartment, Five Days Since the Octoling's capture.

"Hold up- you're saying the spy's name was Evergreen?"

"Yes, a Moray, large, imposing, loud-"

"Like this?" With a sinking feeling, Cobalt pulled up a picture of the police chief on his phone. 07-35 squinted at the picture, then nodded.

"Yes, yes that's him."

"Fuuuuck. Right, you sit here. Don't move. Persi, make sure she doesn't-"
"Move, got it." Cobalt and Green hurriedly left the room, and Morado, Callie and Marie left the apartment. They had reached the conclusion that the pop star's identities were probably safe, but if the Police Chief was a spy and he had been there, the rest of them were at risk. Morado had left to pack his stuff up at his apartment, and Green and Cobalt were hurriedly packing their stuff up. They had go-bags with the essentials, sure, but anything extra would be nice. Cobalt was done first, wheeling a suitcase out of his room with a bag slung over his shoulder.

"Right, Persi, your turn. You know where to meet us?"

"Vermillion's summer home, yeah?"

"Yep. We'll be heading out there as soon as Green's done. Stay safe"
"You say that like I haven't been an agent for over a year now." With that, Persimmon took off for her parent's house, thinking up a cover story for her older brother while she was on the way- luckily, her parents were off doing their thing, touring the world. Meanwhile, back at Cobalt and Green's apartment, they had just turned off onto the main road when the first sign of trouble appeared- unmarked black vans, 6 of them, pulling into the parking lot. Green pushed his crummy car as close to the speed limit as he dared go, 07-35 hidden in the back seat under a blanket and some miscellaneous supplies.

4 hours later, Vermillion's Summer Home

To call it a summer home was an understatement- the place was practically a mansion, just far away enough to be private but just close enough to have power and plumbing. Vermillion had apparently bought the place under the table from someone else in his mysterious line of work, and it had everything they'd need- including a hidden garage and a panic room, to make it look like nobody was there. Just in case.

"Right, so, just to make sure we've got the story right, run us through it again."

"Alright. I'm 07-35, of the seventh battalion. 07-34 is our commander, the one I was deployed with. We're used for espionage and infiltration missions, not large-scale battles, which is why we lack rotation designations. For the most part, we've been the ones recovering Zapfish from Inkopolis."

"Right. And so while we were out yesterday, Chief Evergreen comes by, frees 07-34, and leaves you behind. And you're telling me that's why you turned on them? Not buying it. Anyways, continue."

"Right... So after 07-34 was recovered, he was likely the one leading the operation to capture your commander. He's likely been taken to Octavio by now" *07-35 went to point at a map of the Octo Valley, and quick as a viper striking it's prey, Cobalt lashed out, grabbing 07-35's wrist. He pulled down her sleeve, revealing the brand on her arm.

"Right... And I'm sure you just got burnt like that for shells and giggles, right? Traitor's mark, I've seen it in a sunken sea scroll. They branded you for death."

Just then, their conversation was interrupted by movement upstairs. Leaving Green with 07-35, Cobalt headed up, cautious at first, then relaxing when he saw who it was.

"Morado, Persi, glad to see you both made it in one piece"

"Damn near didn't. Had to bail out a window, Evergreen's goons were waiting for me in the stairwells." Morado set his bags down, heading into the kitchen, while Cobalt went with Persimmon to get her stuff unpacked. Meanwhile downstairs, 07-35 had just finished mapping out the kettles in Sector 5 of the Octo Valley.

"...You know, if push comes to shove you'll need to fight, right?"
She nodded. "I've been trained to fight Inklings my whole life, I can manage-"
Green shook his head. "I was referring to the Octarians. They very well might send a hit squad after you. Breach of intelligence and all that jazz."
Her face paled, slightly. "Ah. That is... something I had not considered." She truly hadn't. 07-35 knew that any Octarian would kill her, given the chance, but... could she kill one of her former comrades, even if it meant saving herself?
"Tough question, isn't it? You don't gotta tell me right now. I don't expect you to be able to answer it on the spot. But it's something that'll probably come up eventually, and you need to be ready."
"Ready... to..."
"To kill, or get killed. We'll try and keep you safe now that you've defected, but if they swamp us I can't guarantee we'll be able to stop them all. Wouldn't be the first time the Octarians have taken one of us down."
She turned away, slightly, holding her face with one hand, a slight amount of shock on her face from the last addition. "...I see."
"What, you didn't know that? Agent 4, MIA for a long-ass time. He's probably dead by now. I'm surprised, really, I figured all of you would know one of us was down."
"We- the seventh battalion, just because we- they, just because they're elite doesn't mean Octavio tells them everything. 07-34 probably knew, but he's a commander, so he gets to know stuff like that."
"Just figured that you'd have better communication than that is all. Guess I overestimated Octavio in that regard."
"Could we... could we please-"
"Change the topic?" Green chuckled. "Sure. But if we're not talking about the Octarians, you don't gotta be standing up. Come on, sit down." He shifted over, patting the couch beside him. 07-35 hesitantly sat down beside him, before a look of surprise came over her face.
"Why... is this one so comfortable?"
"Why is- oh, yeah, you were sitting on a kitchen chair back at the apartment. What, surprised we have more than one kind of chair?"
"N-no... nothing back home is this comfortable."
"Really? Not even the beds?"
"No... I don't know if even the commanders get something this comfortable. The barracks I slept in only had wooden sheets for us to sleep on."
"Heh, sounds shitty. How do they expect ya to get a good night's sleep like that? Ugh, but that's getting back to the military... Well, I suppose we've asked you enough questions for now. You got any questions for me?"
07-35 paused for a second, thinking... "Why do you keep stealing the zapfish from us?"
The question was met by a hearty chuckle from Green, a chuckle that continued for over ten seconds before he caught a glimpse of the look on 07-35's face. "Heh... You're serious? The Octarians stole them from us. We need them for power, we've been using them for... well, a damn long time. Since the Great Turf war, if I remember what they taught us in elementary right. Mind you, now that I'm talking about it... Not sure how much of that is true. History being written by the victors and all that."
The two of them sat in awkward silence for a while, both of them questioning what they had been taught to differing degrees.

Meanwhile, in Inkopolis...

Callie stomped her foot in frustration.
"For the last time, we're not airing that garbage! It's slander, nobody's fact-checked it yet and when it turns out to be fake it's gonna tank our ratings! Do you wanna have to explain why you tanked the Squid Sister's ratings?"
"Er- No, sorry, but the Police Chief said you have to-"
"The police chief ain't the head of the network, Paul, he doesn't get to say what airs and what doesn't! We're not airing it, and that's final! He wants that garbage on the air, get some other station to broadcast it. Now, get out, Paul, we're about to go on air."

"Right, you're on in 3... 2... 1..."
"Hold on to your tentacles..."
"It's Inkopolis News time!"
"Before we reveal the stages, some special news!"
"Ooooh!"
"We've received-" The feed cut out to static, before cutting to a different news team. In the studio, though, Callie was just about ready to murder someone.

"Are you squiddin me? He hijacked our airtime to run his stupid smear campaign!? I'm gonna-"
"You're going to sit, be quiet, and watch."
"Ch-chief Evergreen!? What are you-"
"Sit. Quiet. Now."

A rather bored-looking Inkling woman was on the news, a drab grey indicating she had dyed her tentacles back when it was still "in".
"Attention, Inkopolis emergency news broadcast. Four Inklings are wanted in connection to the escape of two Octolings spotted days ago at Inkopolis Plaza. Any persons with information on the whereabouts of Green Jaune, Cobalt Azure, Persimmon Magenta, or Morado Seafoam are to report to the Inkopolis PD immediately, or leave an anonymous tip through their help line. Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming." The news broadcast unceremoniously cut out, showing only a still image of the stage rotation.

"Squid Sisters. You were at the apartment of Green Jaune and Cobalt Azure mere days ago. I somehow find it hard to believe you are unaware of their involvement with these Octolings. You can answer my questions now, or..." Multiple Octarians entered the studio, guns ready. "... you can come with me, and we'll get the information from you another way."
"You've got guts, coming in here and trying to threaten us. When our gramps hears about this-"
"Oh, you and I both know your "gramps" is a little preoccupied right now. So, what's it going to be? You come with us, or are you going to come- WHAT ARE YOU-" Evergreen was cut off as Marie's hair lit up, blazing green as her eyes lit up.
"Rule one of being a super star, always be ready for when some dummy tries to abduct you. Never know when a crazed fan might get too bold, you know." Marie capped that statement by activating the Kraken super she had ready, and at the same time, Callie drew a power-up can, activating a bubbler. The Octarians opened fire, but to no effect, the ink bouncing off the bubble or splashing harmlessly on the mighty Kraken form as Marie made a break for it. At first she made a break for the door, but as she slammed against it she realized it must be barricaded. The other doors probably were, too. Seeing no other option, she got a swimming start and crashed through the studio window into the strangely empty plaza- Evergreen must have pulled more than a few strings to manage that. As soon as Callie caught up, the pair super-jumped away, the frustrated Police Chief cursing and wiping in from his face.

Meanwhile, Vermillion's Summer Home

"Just got a text from Marie. Evergreen and his goons just tried to grab them in broad daylight, they're on their way here- Hey- No, Cobalt, stop, don't look over my shoulder like that."
Persimmon chimed in "Why not, Green, something you don't want him to see?"
"No, but still, it's a bad habit! We- Wait- Oh. OH. OH Shit."
Persimmon giggled, still poking fun. "What? She send you a-"
Green shot her an annoyed glance before cutting her off. "No, dumbass, serious here, we're in for it now"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, with Callie and Marie on their way here, we're out of agents. None of us can even go into the city without running the risk of getting arrested; we're screwed, they really thought this through."
Persimmon's face dropped. "Oh. Shit."

That Night

After all the commotion of getting the Squid sisters in, the two had immediately gone back out to run a perimeter search, and Cobalt and Persimmon had absconded to one of the rooms in the basement to... "talk"... leaving Green alone with 07-35. The two sat in awkward silence, at first, Green still not entirely comfortable around the prisoner, though...
"...So. You've seen some things now, had a chance to reconsider what you know. What do you think? Are Inklings really as bad as you were led to believe?"
She'd shift, nervously. "...Somewhat. What about..."
"Me? I've... been doing some digging. Lot of conspiracy theories, but... I think I've found a paper trail to chase once we get back in town. Something stinks, and... I think it might be us. Inklings, I mean."
"...Octavio was... very convincing. I believed I would be dead by now. I.. still can't shake the feeling I'll die."
"...Not happening on my watch. As far as I see it... You're stuck with us, now. Means you're under our protection. And, well... Although my skills are a little rusty, I'm pretty sure I can stop you from getting killed."
"...I could not ask you to risk your life for me."
Green deeply sighed, staring out the window. "...Eh. Honestly. My life... ain't worth much. I've done a lot of bad things in my life. Things most of the others don't know... Way I see it, I'm just making up for what I've done by being an agent.
"...I do not see it that way."
"Then, maybe you're better than me."