A sacred machine decided their fate. Two teams went to battle. One side was for tranquility. The other, for turmoil. Unlike the previous competitions, this was serious. Each individual that participated fought their hardest. In the end, Chaos came out triumphant while Order had to admit a humiliating defeat. Still, it seemed to be nothing but a silly tournament. All would be fine.

Afterwards, the Square was deserted. Team Chaos' leader went mad with power. Arrogance slowly distorted her, and people who took notice left. Somehow, Team Order had a plan for this. When nobody expected it, they captured her without leaving a trace. Since she was so haughty about her win, she had to pay the price.

Her name was Pearl. That's all she could remember at the moment. Because a former partner led the opposing side, she resided in a much more adequate room. It was better than where the others lived. There, no forms of entertainment were inside except for a television. Even then, approved TV shows and movies were all that played. The goal was to reset the minds of every Chaos participant. Any attempts hardly worked, yet they continued.

Most were made to forget about themselves through force. Their mementos were thrown out, never to be replaced. After the process, they could be morphed into individuals Team Order desired. Pearl was an exception. That dull, battered crown she wore was always under her protection. Nobody could touch it. Though the original was trashed, she thought its off-kilter replacement was genuine. All she needed now was to see how it looked on her.

There was a single flickering lightbulb in the room. Its brightness made Pearl hiss when she turned it on. Considering the habitual shade of the area, any amount of light was harsh. However, the mirror's position was revealed. Eager to inspect her appearance, she strolled over. She was a bit too short to see herself from where she was, so she stood on her toes. To her surprise, cracks covered the mirror. In this state, just a quarter of her face was visible.

Pearl's eyes weren't the shiny, golden optics they once were. The sclera of her left one was completely black and its pupil was blue. Small lines under them signified tiredness. Granted, she couldn't remember the last time she slept well, if at all. That wasn't even mentioning her skin, which was a lighter shade of that same blue. Her tentacles were no longer white and pink, instead being replaced by cyan and green. What she saw in the reflection was something else. It couldn't have been her!

Regardless of the dilemma, her expression remained blank. Inklings and Octolings with her same condition experienced either emptiness or exasperation. Any positive emotions were artificial.

Click.

Pearl turned around. Keys jingled near her chamber door. Here, administrators endlessly wandered the facility to check for any conflicts. Because of whatever they were afflicted with, sleep wasn't necessary. This was a specific time for one of them to pay her a visit, though. She wasn't too aggressive in the physical sense and generally kept to herself. There must've been some reason.

A masked octoling stepped into the room. The mere sight of these sanitized creatures boiled her blood. Despite her efforts in the Deepsea Metro, they still gained the upper hand.

"Ms. Houzuki," rasped the supervisor, "he's waiting for you."

Her eyes shot open. According to what she heard, 'he' was the sinister, menacing overseer. Few supervisors saw his face, never mind anyone else. The idea of meeting him worried Pearl. It was the first time she'd felt that way in a while. She nodded, with her and the supervisor walking into a long, empty hallway.

Save for the tapping of their shoes against the floor, the area was silent. Pearl didn't speak to her supervisor out of anger. The supervisor didn't speak because it wasn't necessary. Doors lined the corridor, all shut.

Once they passed the middle of the hall, though, noises began. First, small creaks. Then, banging metal. Screeching and howling were muffled. Each dwelling produced sounds scarier than the last. During the walk, they increased in volume. Groaning and wailing started as well. These were undeniable indications of suffering. Authorized programming affirmed this was part of the process. Nothing was done about them due to that. As if nothing took place, the trip continued.

"Ignore the screaming," the supervisor said. From then on, they resumed their muteness.

In the distance, a spacious room came into view. Pearl could perceive several details from far away. Another wretched mutant was behind a counter. Simple chairs bordered the perimeter. The current numbers were indicated by a glaring red sign. When close enough, the supervisor sat in place to let Pearl step in. Clamor still went on but was easier to block out. Ahead of her was a ticket dispenser. According to it, she was number twenty-seven.

Interesting patients were scarce. Sanitized Octarians made up a majority of them. Bored, Pearl took a seat and waited. Near her sat a scrawny young woman with a forlorn expression. Black tentacles hung by her sides. Though unfamiliar, she seemed the type to always have a smile on her face. Seeing her this way was upsetting.

"Number twenty-three," uttered a speaker above the counter.

The girl got to her feet, going through a door off to the side. Across from where she was seated, two girls were in a single chair. One folded herself into an uncomfortable position. Her attire consisted of a jacket and boots. Such bold clothing wasn't allowed in the building, so higher-ups likely wanted her to wear an appropriate outfit.

On her shoulder was a sleeping squid. Her form was blanketed by a yellow safety vest. Glowing headphones rested on her neck. She appeared tougher than the rest, possibly tough enough to take on an entire army. Still, that was improbable. This random girl could've been similar to the average inkling before being snatched up. Pearl could faintly recall that she was on Order's side. If so, she shouldn't have been here. Taking their practices into account, though, they probably took her by force.

"Number twenty-four, number twenty-five." Hearing that, they stood and left as well.

The remaining inkling that stood out acted strangely. His blank stare unnerved Pearl in a way nothing else could. Sanitized individuals retained a sliver of their old personality, but didn't have one to begin with. Why he drew her attention, she didn't know. They were both strangers to each other.

His distant nature contrasted with everyone in the waiting room. Most were jittery, yet he was completely still. In his past, he had to be the backbone of something. Pearl predicted that he was a former music legend whose powerful voice had vanished. No matter the situation, he remained serene.

"Number twenty-six." Like the three preceding him, he disappeared.

Pearl glanced at her ticket. It seemed she was next. She'd never been called here once during her time in the building. Every experiment they could've tried on her was done. Nothing could prepare her for whatever was about to happen. Questions flooded her consciousness. Those people she observed were insignificant, but the mystery surrounding them was exigent. Neither would leave her alone.

"Pearl?" someone called. Her anxiety vanished. "Pearl Houzuki?"

She stood, striding towards them. More of their features came into view. Thick and heavy locks hung to their shoulders. Their front tentacles were notable, as a few metal rings were pierced into each. A smaller tentacle sprouted above their forehead. Goggles and a mask covered any remaining details. There was a white coat around them, with a lanyard suspended from their neck.

According to the card attached, his name was Shiro.

"I'm glad that you were quick. We shouldn't keep him waiting any longer than he already is."

He rummaged in his pocket for a key, opening a nearby door. Upon entry, Pearl could see a flight of stairs with caution tape on the railing. If disobedience didn't lead to punishment, she would've asked about it. Instead, she strolled past, following her assistant up the stairs. Beeping and whirring machinery replaced the sounds of the lobby the higher they went.

With no conversation taking place, Pearl's mind began to wander. The photograph on Shiro's card was far from his actual appearance. He was smiling, and while it shouldn't have, it reminded her of something. Her past memories were wiped. Knowing that, she couldn't be thinking about any actual events. Maybe she was theorizing their life prior to what they did now.

Shiro's picture told Pearl that he was a prodigy. In her mind, no other explanation made sense. He must've also been important to Order's leader for him to be allowed to keep it. A friend, perhaps. Her shoulder was tapped, derailing her train of thought.

"We're here," said Shiro. "Based on how nervous you look, I assume I'll need to stay with you."

As much as she wanted to object, he was right. Besides, company would be nice when dealing with the supposedly ruthless overseer. He pushed the door open, letting her trudge in. White tiled the floor they walked on. Before them was a window. The city Order built after leaving Inkopolis could be seen through it. Regular people participated in regular activities free of any burden. Pearl wished she was one of them.

Loud crackling was heard from the ceiling. A barely-visible speaker was located there. Shiro stood up straight, coaxing Pearl to do the same.

"It's about time you two arrived," it criticized. "I would have never been able to carry out my plan at the pace you went."

Pearl cocked her head. Important as she was, somebody should've mentioned that plan to her. Shiro was quiet, simply bowing his head.

"Sincerest apologies, commander. Is there anything we need to discuss?"

"Do you really think I would enact anything so suddenly? I'm not rude, you know."

That was a lie. Worker or not, most were treated as replaceable. The primordial ooze they came from seemed to never run out. High-ranking staff could die and the commander would make new ones. He cared about nobody but himself and a few others. Calling him rude would be an understatement.

"Absolutely not!" blurted Shiro, embarrassed. "I apologize for the disrespect."

"Good. Anyway, it appears that everything has fallen into place. She's waiting on the fifth floor."

"Is that so? She was quite stubborn at first. What did you do to her?"

"Nothing. I'm not the type to harm anyone without reason."

"What about the ones who chose Team—"

"They asked for their fates. If they knew what was coming, they wouldn't have picked that side. Why do you stick up for such superfluous nobodies?"

Superfluous nobodies. The words echoed through Pearl's mind. Somehow, they dug up a memory she believed she'd lost. Her confusion about where she was turned to rage at who she heard. She thought he was dead and she'd never have to deal with him again. A camera was also on the ceiling, its lens focusing on her.

"I'm surprised you survived as long as you did. Ruling is in your blood, after all." The lens zoomed in. "What do you look so upset about? Aren't you happy to be a part of something bigger than yourself?"

"Please don't taunt her, commander. A certain someone wouldn't be happy with that. Besides, what about the plan?"

"Do you always have to defend her? At this point, she's forgotten about your entire existence. It's a useless effort."

"She's the one individual who can run the city properly. If you were in control, it would collapse. It's only a matter of time until you realize how terrible of a leader you are."

"How…dare you make such an accusation!" snapped the commander. "Get out and take that shortstack of a subject with you!"

"My pleasure."

Shiro seemed almost happy to leave. Pearl wasn't shaken by the outburst either. From what she could recall, the commander's ego was massive. He needed to be the center of attention at all times. When he wasn't, he'd fly into a rage. That was the one thing about him that didn't change.

To the exit's left was an elevator that opened its doors to show another scenic view. Everything out there was either white or blue. Pearl pressed her face to the back wall, completely distracted. The tip of a tall tower could be seen as the elevator began to rise. Carefree residents were on its balcony, watching the bustling metropolis.

Envy started to get the best of her. Nobody out there lived in a small, cramped room or dealt with an overbearing boss. They enjoyed whatever their town had to offer. Meanwhile, Pearl went through every torturous experiment possible. Personnel wouldn't stop pestering her, and the body she inhabited was slowly weakening.

Hushed voices caught her attention. The elevator had arrived, revealing another hall. Pearl left first, staying close to Shiro when he walked out. Unlike last time, the person accompanying her was nice. He managed to think for himself. 'She', whoever that was, must've requested most of his brain to be left untouched.

Workers padded through the area, clipboards in hand. Some stopped to greet the two as they advanced toward their destination. Since 'she' was on this floor, their minds were free from the commander's control. One employee in particular stood out. She leaned against a wall, scribbling in a notepad. Her uniform was akin to any other, but she wore a hat resembling a ring of calamari. Two tentacles were tied into a bow on the back of her head. Shiro stopped to speak with her, and Pearl stood beside him to eavesdrop.

"Good morning," he greeted. "It's quite a surprise to see you again. What're you writing?"

"Notes about an event. I spoke with her…" She pondered for a bit. "Twenty-five minutes ago. She said someone's visiting today. Hachi's waiting by her room in case they show up."

"That's good! Hachi's quite amiable, so she'll be more than happy to welcome them when they arrive."

Pearl didn't know why Shiro wouldn't admit they were the visitors. Judging by his actions, he didn't come off as secretive. While he spoke with the woman, Pearl could see her sneak a few glances and record more notes. Shiro said goodbye, continuing to walk forward. Pearl would've followed suit, but the voice of the woman caused her to turn around.

"Nice to see you again," she murmured. Pearl squinted, never having met her until now. There was definitely a smile under the mask she wore. Unwanted inquiries ran through Pearl's head. She kept her eyes on the squid as Shiro pulled her forward.

Her feet met uneven terrain, caused by her moving into another room. She fell to the floor as an automatic door closed. Shiro immediately bent down to pick her up. In front of them was a young girl who also wrote on a clipboard. Beyond her was a background one would expect to see in a broadcasting office. Curled viridescent tentacles stopped at her shoulders. Considering her location, this had to be Hachi.

"Oh!" Hachi looked up. "You're here early. Status?"

Pearl had no idea if status referred to physical ailments or not. Shiro answered for her.

"Visiting."

"And your reason?"

He passed Hachi a piece of paper, and her eyes widened when she read it.

"I see." She pulled on a rope extended downwards, retracting the backdrop. "Go right inside."

Nothing happened when Pearl walked in, but shrill beeping emitted from the roof when Shiro followed her. That same camera entered the office, spotting him with haste. As expected, the commander controlled the device.

"You again?!" He shrieked, moving to Pearl. "And what are you doing with him? He's not allowed to be here!"

A mysterious octoling cleared her throat.

"Don't you mock me! You're nothing but the team captain. You don't get to make the rules!"

The octoling didn't reply, pushing a button instead. Much to the commander's dismay, his gadget deactivated and its absence returned the studio to its previous tranquility. An empty chair was waiting, and a girl was sitting by it in another.

"Go on," Shiro whispered to Pearl from behind her. "Sit."

She frowned, shaking her head. Besides him, few people were to be trusted in the facility. To lose Shiro would mean losing her safety. The only other place she felt safe was inside her ill-lit abode.

"I'll be waiting for you in the other room," he reassured. "You'll do great."

He made a fist, extending his thumb upward and leaving the same way he came. Pearl ambled to the chair and sat down. Her head turned to inspect the octoling. Turquoise tendrils faded into green. She wore a black, sleeveless jacket. Boots and gloves of the same color sported silver, diamond-shaped zippers. A teleprompter was in front of her chair. Another red sign was above the studio's window. 'ON AIR' were the words Pearl deciphered.

One cold can of soda slid to the far end of the table, presumably for the inkling to drink. Dark, vacant eyes stared right through her. Pearl could see her face now. The sign flickered on, and she returned to her previous position. Before the show started, Pearl came to a terrible realization.

Who she saw was Marina.